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Kynjadýr í kaprún: Dýr í myndverkum á klæðum og í handritum frá miðöldum
No full textÍ þessari ritgerð eru skoðuð dýramyndverk í sex handritum frá Þingeyrum og fjórum frá Helgafelli, allt handrit sem eru aðgengileg á stafrænu formi, ásamt níu miðaldaklæðum sem hafa varðveist og eiga uppruna sinn að rekja til Íslands. Margar kirkjur áttu altarisklæði sem eru talin hafa verið saumuð í nunnuklaustrum. Handrit voru skrifuð í munkaklaustrum og algengt var að upphafsstafir og spássíur væru skreytt dýramyndum. Slíkar myndskreytingar geta veitt innsýn inn í hugsanahátt miðaldafólks og þekkingu þeirra á dýrum á þeim tíma en konungsvald og guðsdýrkun hafði mikil áhrif á myndverk á miðöldum. Markmið ritgerðarinnar er að varpa ljósi á þau dýr sem birtast í þessum myndverkum í handritum og á klæðum, ásamt því að greina frá tegund dýranna, tíðni þeirra, birtingarmynd og tengingu þeirra við kristni trú eða sögurnar sem þau birtast við. Dýrin eru flokkuð í húsdýr, villidýr, kynjadýr og ógreind dýr. Greint er frá undirtegundum húsdýra, villidýra og kynjadýra en kynjadýr án heita voru greind út frá einkennum þeirra. Niðurstöður rannsóknarinnar leiddu í ljós að samtals eru 443 dýr í myndverkum handritanna og klæðanna samanlagt. Þar af eru 58 húsdýr, 120 villidýr, 259 kynjadýr og sex ógreind dýr. Kynjadýrin eru áberandi mörg en flest þeirra teljast til skrauts. Sum dýranna er að finna í birtingarmyndum kristinnar trúar en önnur tengjast konunga- eða Íslendingasögum
Samspil æðaþels og krabbameinsfrumna í þrívíðu ræktunarumhverfi
No full textPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly malignant disease and remains one of the deadliest types of cancer. PDAC has one of the lowest 5-year rates compared to other cancers, or about 13%. One of the main characteristics of PDAC is its dense stromal formation and complex tumor microenvironment. Organoid culture is a novel method to culture primary cancer tissue in vitro, and a way to simulate the complex microenvironment of tumors. As a research model, organoids can both serve as a powerful research tool, and could potentially enable patient-specific drug testing and for the development of a better individualized treatment for patients. However, it can be challenging to culture cells from primary pancreatic tissue due to the tissue often being from fine needle biopsy or in cases where the patient has received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, consequently the number of cells is often limited, and the cells are often not efficient.
Endothelial cells have been shown to increase proliferation of PDAC cell lines in 3D co-culture condition. The aim of this project was to evaluate the cellular interaction between PDAC cell lines and endothelial cells, firstly by assessing the endothelial cells in a 3D co-culture setup, their capillary-like structure in on-top assays, their ability to proliferate and how long they function on top of gel and embedded in gel, and secondly to evaluate if there are any phenotypic changes in gene expression after PDAC cell lines have been cultured with endothelial cells. Two pancreatic cancer cell lines were used, Capan-1 and MIA PaCa-2 as well as primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).
Capan-1 and MIA PaCa-2 were cultured as spheroids in mono- and co-culture with HUVEC cells and the results confirmed that HUVEC cells support the proliferation of the PDAC cell lines. HUVEC cells form fully formed capillary-like structure on top of Cultrex gel in 24 hours which breaks down in 72 hours in both mono- and co-culture with PDAC spheroids. We showed that Capan-1 proliferates in an on-top assay in mono- and co-culture with HUVEC by staining them with the proliferation marker Ki-67 where the absence of Ki-67 expression in HUVEC cells indicated that they do not proliferate in an on- top assay. We also showed that GFP positive HUVEC cells do not proliferate in Cultrex gel in mono- or co-culture with PDAC spheroids by assessing the GFP positive signal, their viability decreased rather rapidly and was diminished by day 10. We assessed the effects HUVEC had on the gene expression on our PDAC cell lines by performing RT-qPCR analysis and immunofluorescent staining and the results showed that the most profoundly changes in gene expression in the co-culture setup comes from the HUVEC cells that are used in the assay. Overall, the results of the project show that HUVEC cells could be good to use as a support in the future to help the PDAC proliferation, for the purpose of growing organoid cultures from primary tissue to use for drug testing and for personalized therapy.Briskirtillskrabbamein er lífshættulegur sjúkdómur og er ein banvænasta tegund krabbameins þar sem 5 ára líkur eru mjög lágar samanborið við önnur krabbamein eða aðeins um 13%. Ein af helstu einkennum briskirtilskrabbameins flókin samsetning millifrumuefnis í æxlinu sem einkennist af ríkulegum og þéttum bandvef, bandvefsfrumum og æðaþeli. Öræxlarækt (e.organoid) er aðferð þar sem frumur úr frumæxlisvef eru ræktaðar í þrívíðu ræktunararumhverfi sem líkir við flókna örumhverfi æxlisins sem in vitro æxlismódel, öræxlarækt gæti eflt þróun á betri einstaklingsmiðaðari meðferð fyrir sjúklinga. Hinsvegar getur það verið erfitt að rækta frumæxlisvef úr briskrabbameinum því vefurinn er oft tekinn með nálarsýni eða skorin eftir að lyfjameðferð er hafin, sem veldur því að magn frumna er oft takmarkað og/eða erfitt er að rækta frumurnar.
Sýnt hefur verið að æðaþelsfrumur auki vöxt og lifun á briskirtilskrabbameinsfrumulínum í þrívídd þegar þær eru í samrækt. Markmið með þessu verkefni var að skoða samspil briskirtilskrabbameinsfrumnanna og æðaþelsfrumna, í fyrsta lagi með því að skoða æðaþelsfrumurnar í þrívíðri samrækt, netmyndun þeirra ofan á geli, getuna þeirra til þess að fjölga sér og hversu lengi þær eru lífvænlegar, bæði ofan á geli og inni í geli, og í öðru lagi að skoða hvort að æðaþelsfrumurnar breyti svipgerð eða genatjáningu briskrabbameinfrumnanna eftir þrívíða samrækt. Tvær briskrabbameinsfrumulínnur voru notaðar í þessu verkefni, Capan-1 og MIA PaCa-2 ásamt einni æðaþelsfrumulínu, HUVEC.
Capan-1 og MIA PaCA-2 voru ræktaðar sem spheroidar í einrækt og samrækt með HUVEC frumum og niðurstöður staðfestu það að HUVEC frumur styðji við vöxt á briskrabbameinsfrumulínunum. HUVEC frumur mynda fullmótað net ofan á geli á 24 klst sem brotnar niður á 72 klst, bæði í einrækt og samrækt með briskrabbameinsfrumulínu spheroidum. Við sýndum að Capan-1 frumur fjölgi sér ofan á geli í einrækt og samrækt með HUVEC frurmum með því að lita þær fyrir Ki-67, þar sem við mátum enga Ki-67 tjáningu í HUVEC frumum sem bendir til þess að þær fjölgi sér ekki inni í geli. Við sýndum að GFP jákvæðar HUVEC frumur fjölgi sér ekki inni í geli í einrækt né samrækt með briskrabbameinsfrumulínu spheroidum með því að meta GFP jákvæða tjáningu, sem minnkaði frekar hratt og var horfin eftir 10 daga rækt. Við mátum áhrif HUVEC frumna á genatjáningu briskrabbameinfrumulínufrumnana með RT-qPCR mælingu og ónæmisflúrlitun og sýndu niðurstöður okkar að mestu genabreytingar sem sjást í samrækt koma frá HUVEC frumunum. Heilt yfir sýna niðurstöður verkefnisins að HUVEC frumur gætu verið góður valkostur til þess að ýta undir vöxt briskrabbameinsfrumna í þrívíðri rækt, þegar ætlunin er að nota krabbameinsfrumurnar í frekari rannsóknir eins og lyfjanæmisprófanir og einstaklingsmiðaða meðferð fyrir sjúklinga.Vísíndasjóður Landspítalan
Manifestation of Anxiety in Children with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Tic Disorders: A Comparison with Children Undergoing Assessment for Suspected Neurodevelopmental Conditions
No full textGeðraskanir geta haft veruleg áhrif á daglegt líf, félagslega færni, líkamlega heilsu og námsárangur barna. Vísbendingar eru um að geðheilsu barna hafi hrakað á heimsvísu undanfarin ár og að viðeigandi úrræði séu takmörkuð. Áráttu- og þráhyggjuröskun (ÁÞR) og kækjaraskanir eru geð- og taugaraskanir sem geta haft mikil áhrif á líðan og virkni barna. Þrátt fyrir fjölda rannsókna er þekking okkar á þessum tveimur röskunum þó enn takmörkuð. Meginmarkmið þessarar rannsóknar var að kanna tíðni kvíðaraskana og stöðu tilfinningavanda meðal barna sem greindust með annað hvort ÁÞR eða kækjaraskanir þegar þeim var vísað í greiningarferli vegna hugsanlegra taugaþroskafrávika, samanborið við börn í klínískum samanburðarhópi. Þátttakendur voru 462 börn á aldrinum fimm til átján ára sem vísað hafði verið í greiningarferli til Þroska og hegðunarstöðvar heilsugæslunnar á árunum 2013 til 2022. Notaðar voru upplýsingar úr tvennskonar greiningarviðtölum, auk þess sem svör foreldra og kennara við kvarða sem metur tilfinningavanda voru greind. Helstu niðurstöður leiddu í ljós að marktækur munur var á tíðni kvíðaraskana hjá börnum með kækjaraskanir og börnum í klíniskum samanburðarhópi, en svo reyndist ekki vera í tilfelli barna með ÁÞR. Börn með ÁÞR og kækjaraskanir voru þó hvorutveggja metin með meiri tilfinningavanda en börn í klíniskum samanburðarhópi, bæði að mati foreldra og kennara. Einnig reyndist marktækur munur á mati foreldra og kennara á tilfinningavanda barna með ÁÞR og kækjaraskanir. Rannsóknin dregur fram mikilvægi þess að aukin þekking á þessum röskunum sé nauðsynleg svo hægt sé að veita viðeigandi aðstoð og bæta lífsgæði barna til framtíðar.Mental disorders can significantly impact children's daily lives, social skills, physical health, and academic performance. In recent years, children's mental health has been deteriorating globally, while appropriate resources are often limited. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and tic disorders are neuropsychiatric conditions that can profoundly affect children's well-being and functioning. Despite extensive research, knowledge about these disorders remains limited. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of anxiety disorders and emotional difficulties among children diagnosed with either OCD or tic disorders when referred for assessment of potential neurodevelopmental disorders compared to children in a clinical comparison group. Participants were 462 children aged five to eighteen years who had been referred for neurodevelopmental diagnostic assessment in Iceland between 2013 and 2022. Information from two kinds of diagnostic interviews were used, and parents’ and teachers’ responses to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were analyzed. The findings revealed no significant difference in the prevalence of anxiety disorders between children with OCD and those in the clinical comparison group. However, children with tic disorders had a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety disorders compared to the clinical comparison group. Additionally, children with OCD and tic disorders scored significantly higher on measures of emotional difficulties according to both parent and teacher reports. A significant difference was also found between parent and teacher evaluation of emotional difficulties in these groups. This study highlights the critical need for increased knowledge about these disorders to provide appropriate support and improve the quality of life for affected children in the future
Synjun á komu EES-borgara til Íslands : rannsókn á beitingu d-liðar 1. mgr. 94. gr. útlendingalaga nr. 80/2016 og samræmi hennar við EES-rétt, íslenskan rétt og almennar réttarreglur
No full textThis dissertation examines the extent to which refusal of entry to EEA citizens under Article 94(1)(d) of the Foreign Nationals Act No. 80/2016 can be justified under Icelandic and EEA law. The provision allows for derogation from the free movement of persons on grounds of public policy, public security, and public health, even in cases involving undesirable but not unlawful conduct. Through an analysis of the relevant legal framework and recent decisions by the Immigration and Asylum Appeals Board (‘KNÚ’), this dissertation identifies growing concerns related to proportionality, legal certainty, and the effective implementation of EEA obligations. Particular attention is given to two 2024 KNÚ cases involving the refusal of entry to a Romanian sex worker, highlighting procedural gaps, reliance on police records containing non-criminal data, and the broader implications for fundamental rights. The findings indicate that although such refusals may fall within the formal scope of lawful derogations, current practice in Iceland risks breaching the principles of foreseeability and proportionality required by EEA law. The dissertation concludes with targeted de lege ferenda proposals, including amendments to Article 7 FNA, improved access to Article 34 SCA advisory opinions, fuller implementation of Protocol 35, and structural police reform to ensure EEA-consistent practice.Í þessari ritgerð er fjallað um í hvaða mæli synjun á komu EES-ríkisborgara til Íslands á grundvelli d-liðar 1. mgr. 94. gr. útlendingalaga nr. 80/2016 geti talist réttlætanleg samkvæmt íslenskum og EES-rétti. Ákvæðið heimilar frávik frá frjálsri för einstaklinga á grundvelli allsherjarreglu, almannaöryggis og lýðheilsu, jafnvel þótt háttsemin sem um ræðir sé ekki refsiverð samkvæmt landslögum. Með greiningu á viðeigandi réttarreglum og nýlegum úrskurðum kærunefndar útlendingamála (KNÚ) eru dregnar fram vaxandi áhyggjur varðandi meðalhóf, réttarvissu og skilvirka innleiðingu á EES-skuldbindingum. Sérstök áhersla er lögð á tvö mál frá árinu 2024 þar sem rúmenskri kynlífsverkakonu var synjað um komu til landsins. Þar koma fram annmarkar á málsmeðferð, notkun lögreglugagna sem fela ekki í sér refsiverða háttsemi og víðtæk áhrif á grundvallarréttindi. Niðurstöðurnar gefa til kynna að þótt slík synjun falli formlega undir heimildarákvæði, þá er framkvæmdin í dag líkleg til að brjóta gegn skilyrðum EES-réttar um fyrirsjáanleika og meðalhóf. Ritgerðin lýkur með hófstilltum de lege ferenda tillögum, þar á meðal breytingum á 7. gr. útlendingalaga, aukinni heimild til að leita álits EFTA-dómstólsins samkvæmt 34. gr. EES-samningsins, fullnægjandi innleiðingu á bókun 35 og nauðsynlegum kerfislegum umbótum á verklagi lögreglu til að tryggja samræmi við EES-reglur
Geese, Crowns, and Teacups: Objects that Perform within a Contemporary Political Discourse
No full textHumans derive meaning from symbols and objects based on lived experience. I draw from my own personal experiences and that of my ancestors. My cultural background helps frame my artistic practice to decolonialization through both storytelling and historical research. I use the crown as an object to criticize colonization and its practices throughout the world. The crown is an easily recognizable object that is also a symbol of power, which is acknowledged worldwide regardless of its form.
I am particularly interested in how objects act as performers in settings that are unusual to evoke a strong reaction from the viewer, allowing them to challenge their understanding of what is felt versus what is being perceived. In this way, people have a greater opportunity to question power dynamics in society, especially covert power. It is important to use objects in place of a human performer because I notice through my research that objects, and associated symbols, are easier to relate to when the human identity is separated from that of the object. I use spontaneity, stream of consciousness, as well as trial and error as major contributors in my approach within my artistic practice. The title of my thesis, Geese, Crowns, and Teacups: Objects and Perform within a Contemporary Political Discourse, refers to objects used in previous artworks that highlighted the issues of colonization within a multi-layered approach that comes together in my solo exhibition Ruritania
Neurological observations
No full textThe fundamentals series is a collection of articles that present key procedures and competencies, as outlined in the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Future nurse: standards of proficiency for registered nurses. In this article, Barry Hill and colleagues outline how to perform neurological observations and special considerations for a mental health setting
Nurses' experiences of providing dementia care in acute hospital settings.
No full textIncreasing numbers of older people admitted to acute hospitals have dementia. For nurses, providing dementia care in acute settings involves unique challenges such as ensuring staff and patient safety and managing the stress caused by insufficient resources. To explore nurses' experiences and challenges when caring for patients with dementia in an acute general hospital setting. This study used a qualitative approach and semi-structured interviews to explore participants' experiences of caring for patients with dementia. All permanent nurses working in three acute medical wards in one NHS trust ( n =120) received an email inviting them to take part. Eight nurses volunteered to be interviewed. Three main themes were extrapolated from the thematic analysis of interview data: attributes of dementia care; planning care effectively; and staff education and training needs. Participants emphasised the importance of person-centred care and the challenges involved in providing such care due to staff shortages, which could result in frustration, exhaustion and stress for both staff and patients. Nurses in acute care settings need additional education and training to improve their knowledge and skills in relation to dementia care. The involvement of families is important for the optimal care of patients with dementia on acute hospital wards. [Abstract copyright: © 2025 RCN Publishing Company Ltd. All rights reserved. Not to be copied, transmitted or recorded in any way, in whole or part, without prior permission of the publishers.
Understanding postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome
No full textPostural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is a clinically significant condition affecting numerous patients across the UK. This article aims to enhance understanding and management strategies for registered nurses by exploring its pathophysiology, clinical presentations, diagnostic processes and treatment protocols. PoTS, characterised by an excessive increase in heart rate on standing, presents multifaceted symptoms impacting patients’ quality of life. Effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach encompassing pharmacological treatments, lifestyle modifications and psychological support. This review seeks to provide nurses with the knowledge to improve patient outcomes and advocate for holistic car
Spatial Sea Χωρικά Ύδατα
No full textThis paper is a reflective account on the aesthetic modalities under which the site-specific installation Spatial Sea – Χωρικά Ύδατα (2016) created a contested space of politics, heritage
and everyday life at the St George’s Gate in the venetian fortifications of Heraklion Crete. In Spatial Sea, the cultural and architectural context serve to create an intervention that sustains and at the same time interrupts the site’s spatial continuum