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A systematic review of total IgE reference intervals − A 2024 update
Full text linkBackground
Total IgE (tIgE) is a frequently requested analyte in patients presenting with symptoms of atopy. Although tIgE has limited clinical utility in the diagnosis of atopic diseases, it is still important that appropriate reference intervals are provided to the intepreting clinician. Concerns have recently been raised whether laboratories may be using outdated tIgE reference intervals. The aim of this study was therefore to perform the first systematic literature review of tIgE reference intervals to aid laboratories in choosing appropriate sources.
Methods
A search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library from time of inception to July 2024. Eligible studies had to provide an estimate of paediatric and/or adult tIgE reference intervals using current generation immunoassays. The methodology followed PRISMA guidelines, and the study protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023396441).
Results
A total of 1667 records were screened of which 20 studies remained after full text review. The studies included 23 910 individuals and covered 18 countries. Upper reference limits varied significantly, with participant selection (inclusion or exclusion of in vitro confirmed specific IgE sensitised individuals) and statistical methods identified as the most important factors influencing the upper reference limit.
Conclusion
This review emphasises the need for laboratories to carefully evaluate the participant selection criteria and employed statistical methods whilst determining which tIgE reference intervals are the most appropriate to report to clinicians. Further efforts must also be made to harmonise and improve the reporting of tIgE reference interval studies.publishedVersio
Lekende arbeidsdesign og jobbengasjement: Hvilken betydning har individuell kreativ fantasi og konkurranseorientering?
Full text linkStudiens hensikt er å undersøke sammenheng mellom daglig anvendelse av et lekende arbeidsdesign og daglig jobbengasjement, samt hvordan personlighetstrekkene kreativ fantasi og konkurranseorientering påvirker denne sammenhengen. Studien benytter et kvantitativt dagbokdesign for å undersøke hvorvidt høy kreativ fantasi og høy konkurranseorientering forsterker sammenhengen mellom daglig anvendelse av et lekende arbeidsdesign i form av moro og konkurranse, og daglig jobbengasjement. Studien er gjennomført i en operativ kontekst med et utvalg på 86 kadetter fra Sjøkrigsskolen. Kadettene har svart på daglige spørreskjema over en periode på 20 dager på seilas, samt et generelt spørreskjema i forkant av dette. En flernivåanalyse ble gjennomført for å teste studiens hypoteser, og effektene er kontrollert for jobbengasjement dagen før. Studiens funn viser signifikante positive sammenhenger mellom begge fasettene av lekende arbeidsdesign og jobbengasjement. Videre er det en signifikant positiv sammenheng mellom trekket kreativ fantasi og daglig jobbengasjement. Denne sammenhengen ble ikke funnet mellom konkurranseorientering og daglig jobbengasjement. Det ble heller ikke funnet støtte for studiens hovedhypoteser som foreslår at trekkene kreativ fantasi og konkurranseorientering forsterker sammenhengene mellom et lekende arbeidsdesign i form av moro og konkurranse, og jobbengasjement. Mulige forklaringer på studiens funn, samt teoretiske og praktiske implikasjoner blir diskutert.The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between daily use of playful work design (PWD) and daily work engagement, as well as how the personality traits creative fantasy and competitiveness can impact this relationship. This study uses a quantitative dairy design to examine if high trait creative fantasy and high trait competitiveness can strengthen the relationship between daily use of PWD designing fun and designing competition, and daily work engagement. The study was conducted in a naval operational context with a sample consisting of 86 cadets from the Norwegian Naval Academy. The cadets completed daily questionnaires over the course of 20 days, as well as a baseline questionnaire beforehand. A multilevel analysis was utilized to investigate the hypotheses, and the effects were controlled for work engagement the day before. The findings revealed significant positive relationships between both facets of PWD and daily work engagement. Further, there was a significant positive relationship between trait creative fantasy and daily work engagement. However, this relationship was not found between trait competitiveness and daily work engagement. Nor did the findings reveal significant support for the main hypothesis which suggests that trait creative fantasy and trait competitiveness enhance the relationship between PWD designing fun and designing competition, and work engagement. Possible explanations of the findings and suggestions for theoretical and practical implications will be discussed.Masteroppgave i arbeids- og organisasjonspsykologiMAPSYK345INTL-SVINTL-JUSMAPS-AOPINTL-HFINTL-MNINTL-MEDMAPS-PSYKINTL-PSYKINTL-KM
«Et innblikk i en verden som er totalt forskjellig fra min»: En kvalitativ studie av hvordan helsepersonell i spesialisthelsetjenesten opplever utredning og behandling av psykosesymptomer hos personer med fluktbakgrunn
Full text linkNyere forskning tyder på at personer som har opplevd flukt har en høyere relativ risiko for å utvikle ikke-affektive psykoselidelser sammenlignet med befolkningen i eksillandet og øvrige grupper migranter. Det er likevel begrenset kunnskap om hvordan helsepersonell erfarer det å gi helsehjelp til denne pasientgruppen. Formålet med denne undersøkelsen var derfor å utforske hvordan helsepersonell i spesialisthelsetjenesten opplevde utredning og behandling av psykosesymptomer hos personer med fluktbakgrunn. Fjorten helsepersonell med varierende yrkesbakgrunn besvarte en kvalitativ digital spørreundersøkelse, før seks av disse deltok i utdypende kvalitative forskningsintervjuer. Ved hjelp av refleksiv tematisk analyse ble fem hovedtema utviklet: (1) Det krever mer å behandle psykose når språk og forventninger divergerer, (2) Usikkerhet preger forståelsen av psykosesymptomer, (3) En følelse av trygghet i møte med utfordringer, (4) Utvikling som fagperson og menneske og (5) Et emosjonelt møte med urettferdighet. Helsepersonell i undersøkelsen opplevde at kultursensitive perspektiver hadde vært mangelvare i egen utdannelse, og oppfattet et behov for kompetanseheving i systemet rundt seg. Mulige implikasjoner for opplæring av helsepersonell foreslås, inkludert behovet for kultursensitive perspektiver og diskusjoner av etiske dilemmaer knyttet til samarbeid med tolk.Hovedoppgave psykologprogrammetPROPSY317PRPSY
Recovering legacies: Property and heritage conflicts with returning Jews to Castilla between 1492 and 1525
Full text linkThe consequences of the Expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 in relationship to their properties is an open topic for research. This master thesis focuses on some cases related to property claims started by the following generation of Jews who returned to Castile after converting to Christianity. The research question for this master thesis is: How had the right of second-generation Jews to claim their antecessors’ properties evolved at the Chancillería of Valladolid from 1492 to 1525? To answer this question, this master thesis analyzes three pleitos and several executive writs through a classic empirical-critical method, exposing and discussing the contents of those documents in the process. This master thesis is split into three analysis chapters, each one related to a different period based on the regent monarch at the time. As this master thesis shows, the passage of time has been an important factor in the development of those lawsuits, as later lawsuits met more difficulties for the plaintiffs to get a favorable sentence.Historie mastergradsoppgaveHIS350MAHF-LÆHRMAHF-HI
Rapid Drops in Environmental CO2 Levels and its Effects on Acid-base Regulation, Osmoregulation, and the Prevalence of Nephrocalcinosis in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) parr
Full text linkAtlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr were exposed to three different regimens of oxygen saturation and water CO2 levels in duplicate freshwater RAS systems, with two cycles of increase and drop in these parameters. The control group had stable environmental CO2 (<5 mg/L) and oxygen saturation (90 % O2) throughout the experiment. The CO2 group experienced two cycles of: 7 days of steady increase in environmental CO2 (5-30 mg/L), 14 days of environmental hypercapnia (30 mg/l), and an immediate drop in CO2 (back to <5 mg/L), 14 days of steady low CO2 (<5 mg/L), then another identical cycle of CO2 increase, hypercapnia, and CO2 drop. The CO2 + O2 group underwent the same CO2 regimen as the CO2 group, but with a simultaneous alteration of oxygen saturation: increase (90 % to 120 % O2), hyperoxia (120 %), instantaneous drop (120 % to 90 %), repeated twice.
By the termination of the project, both experimental groups (CO2 group and CO2 + O2 group) showed a significantly lower body mass than the control group (p<0.05). This signifies the decrease in fish welfare associated with environmental hypercapnia and hyperoxia. Blood and urine pH, bicarbonate, and TCO2 were elevated compared to the control group in both experimental groups during hypercapnia/hyperoxia and 3 hours after the drop in CO2 and O2. This effect can be attributed to respiratory acidosis and subsequent pH buffering by raising plasma bicarbonate levels. This increase in pH in the blood and primary urine in the kidney tubules creates optimal conditions for the precipitation of minerals (calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphate) in the tubules. After the “drop”, the fish in the experimental groups excreted significantly less [Ca2+] than the fish in the control group, even though plasma levels were similar between groups. This could be speculated to be caused by kidney precipitation and the prevalence of nephrocalcinosis.
Plasma TCO2 and [HCO3-] were higher in the CO2 + O2 group than in the CO2 group, supporting the hypothesis that environmental hyperoxia in combination with hypercapnia leads to decreased gill ventilation and exacerbates the accumulation of CO2 in the plasma. This causes a stronger compensatory reaction with more bicarbonate reabsorption in the kidney tubule. There is a marked increase in Na+/K+ ATPase activity in the gills and the kidneys in both experimental groups compared to the control group, three hours and two weeks after the first “drop”, which could signify that these transport proteins are working to stabilize acid-base balance.Masteroppgave i biologiBIO399MAMN-BIOMAMN-HAVS
Development and evaluation of reference feed intake models for meagre (Argyrosomus regius)
Full text linkThe aim of the study was to identify a basic reference feed intake model to facilitate understanding of the impact of temperature as the key environmental factor, along with body weight and dietary composition. These basic models should provide the baseline for further research to advance precision farming practices and support efficient production for meagre (Argyrosomus regius). Several reference models, with different levels of complexity, were built using data from scientific publications and feeding tables, followed by evaluating 27 different models using various fitting methods. Each model's mean absolute percentage error was estimated through repeated 5-fold cross-validation (with n = 200 iterations). Models were divided into four categories based on the inclusion of temperature and diet composition parameters: simple feed-independent models, complex feed-independent models, simple feed-dependent models, and complex feed-dependent models. The best model from each category was identified, followed by an assessment of the overall best. Consistent with dynamic energy budget theory, models using a fixed body weight exponent of 2/3 demonstrated better fit. Feed-dependent models incorporating lipid levels outperformed feed-independent ones. Additionally, simpler models with temperature parameters effectively predicted feed intake at optimal temperatures, while more complex models predicted intake better above the thermal optimum. The reference models selected in this study can be applied to estimate feed requirements over time for production or experimental trials, benchmark feeding to isolate the effect of other variables, support growth models and alternative feeding tables, and provide decision support.publishedVersio
The use and subjective experience of sleep apps and their relationship with personality characteristics among young adults
Full text linkIntroduction: Sleep app use has become widespread in recent years. Still, understanding of characteristics of users and the impact of sleep app usage remains limited.
Methods: A sample of 940 young adults (18–30 years) living in the UK were recruited from Prolific (online research platform offering researchers access to survey panels) and invited to participate in a survey on the use and experience with sleep apps. Both sleep app users and non-users were invited. The survey included questions about demographics, morningness (Horne–Östberg Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire-reduced scale), insomnia symptoms (Bergen Insomnia Scale), personality (HEXACO: Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness to Experience), in addition to sleep app usage and how such use is experienced. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify characteristics of sleep app users. Factor analysis was used to elucidate dimensions of sleep app use experiences. Scores on the items making up each factor were then regressed on demographic variables, morningness, insomnia symptoms and personality.
Results: In all, 36.8% of the participants reported using or having used sleep apps. Use was positively associated with age, insomnia symptoms, and conscientiousness. The factor analysis revealed three factors coined: trust/objectification (trust in sleep app results), negative (e.g., becoming stressed) and positive (e.g., prioritize sleep more) perceived effects. Trust/objectification was positively associated with age and agreeableness, and inversely related to high education and openness to experience. Insomnia symptoms and emotionality were associated with perceived negative effects. Morningness and male gender were associated with perceived positive effects whereas high education had an inverse relationship with perceived positive effects.
Discussion: The use of sleep apps was widespread. Different responses to sleep app usage were observed and linked to various individual variables. The findings suggest that perceived effects of sleep apps usage should be considered in light of individual differences. Research on sleep apps is still in its early stages, and several suggestions (recommendations) for future studies are outlined.publishedVersio
Linguistic interference of colombian spanish speakers in Oslo, Norway. A study of linguistic contact between Norwegian and Spanish
No full textDenne masteroppgaven undersøker språklig interferens og kodeveksling blant spansktalende colombianere bosatt i Oslo. Studien bygger på en kombinasjon av kvantitative og kvalitative data innhentet via et nettbasert spørreskjema, og tar for seg hvordan interferens kommer til uttrykk innenfor bestemte semantiske domener, hvilke motivasjoner som ligger bak kodeveksling, og hvilke sosiolingvistiske faktorer som påvirker disse språklige praksisene. Resultatene viser at kodeveksling mellom spansk, norsk og engelsk er utbredt og avhenger av konteksten. Kodeveksling forekommer oftest i uformelle sammenhenger, og skyldes ofte et ønske om å effektivisere kommunikasjon, følelsesmessig uttrykk, et virkemiddel for humoristisk effekt eller grunnet opparbeidede språkvaner. Selv om de fleste informantene er bevisste på at de blander språkene de behersker, er det en betydelig andel som rapporterer å ha kjent på språklig usikkerhet. Faktorer som alder, norskkunnskaper og botid i Norge påvirker både frekvensen av kodeveksling samt oppfatningen av interferensen. Studien konkluderer med at kodeveksling ikke nødvendigvis er et tegn på lav språkbeherskelse, men heller et strategisk og sosialt forankret verktøy som reflekterer de identitetsuttrykk og kulturelle navigasjoner som preger migranter i flerspråklige samfunn.This thesis explores linguistic interference and code-switching among Colombian Spanish speakers residing in Oslo, Norway. Based on an approach of mixed methodology combining both quantitative and qualitative data from an online questionnaire, the study examines how interference manifests in specific semantic domains, what motivates code-switching and lexical borrowing, and which sociolinguistic factors influence these practices. The findings indicate that the alternation between Spanish, Norwegian and English is widespread and context dependent. Code-switching occurs most often in informal settings and is frequently driven by communicative efficiency, emotional expression, emphasis or humoristic effect, or habits. While most participants are aware of their language alternation, a significant portion also reported having experienced linguistic insecurity. Factors such as age, level of Norwegian proficiency, and length of residence in Norway are shown to contribute both the frequency and perception of interference. The study concludes that code-switching is not a sign of linguistic deficiency, but a strategic, expressive, and socially embedded resource that reflects the complex identity negotiations experienced by migrants in multilingual societies.Mastergradsoppgave i spansk og latinamerikastudierSPLA350MAHF-LÆFRMAHF-SPL
Early marriage among men : experiences from a rural community in Baitadi district, Nepal
Full text linkBackground: Child marriage, or early marriage, is defined as any formal marriage or informal union between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child. According to Phase I 2016-2019 report of the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage, it was estimated that 115 million boys worldwide were married before turning 18 years old. Approximately 1 in 21 young men were married during their childhood. Young boys who enter matrimony are compelled to shoulder adult responsibilities for which they may be unprepared.
Objective: To identify perceptions, experiences, and life opportunities associated with early marriage among former child grooms in Nepal.
Data Materials and Methods: A qualitative and phenomenological study design was used in this research. This study was done in the Baitadi district of Nepal. Two primary methods (Focused Group Discussion and Semi-structured Interview) were used to collect data. Altogether one FGD and 11 interviews were conducted through self-developed interview and FGD guides, and all the information from the FGD and interviews were recorded, then transcribed and thematically analyzed.
Results: Participants were married between the ages of 12 and 18 years, aligning with the prevailing societal trend at the time of their marriage. Family circumstances and responsibilities, assisting ageing parents with household activities, fulfilling parental wishes, economic constraints, and societal, traditional, and cultural norms and practices were found to be root causes of early marriage, as narrated by the study participants. Soon after marriage, it was found that boys and young men were obliged to prioritize family obligations over personal development. The focus of their life shifted to economic provision, caring for family, and managing household and parenthood responsibilities. This often led to school dropouts and limited work opportunities later in life. The study found that in recent years there has been an evolution in marital practices. People are no longer restricted to arranged marriages, and many marriages are delayed until the early 20s or later.Master's Thesis in Global DevelopmentGLODE36
