Showing papers by "University of Bergen published in 1983"

The New Institutionalism: Organizational Factors in Political Life

Abstract: Contemporary theories of politics tend to portray politics as a reflection of society, political phenomena as the aggregate consequences of individual behavior, action as the result of choices based on calculated self-interest, history as efficient in reaching unique and appropriate outcomes, and decision making and the allocation of resources as the central foci of political life. Some recent theoretical thought in political science, however, blends elements of these theoretical styles into an older concern with institutions. This new institutionalism emphasizes the relative autonomy of political institutions, possibilities for inefficiency in history, and the importance of symbolic action to an understanding of politics. Such ideas have a reasonable empirical basis, but they are not characterized by powerful theoretical forms. Some directions for theoretical research may, however, be identified in institutionalist conceptions of political order.

Organizing Political Life: What Administrative Reorganization Tells Us about Government

Abstract: We examine the political history of twelve twentieth-century efforts at comprehensive administrative reorganization in the United States. These efforts account for only a small fraction of administrative changes and do not seem to have had a major impact on administrative costs, efficiency, or control. They have been a source of frustration for presidents and others and have become regular and unlamented casualties of experience. Nevertheless, the idea of comprehensive administrative reorganization has been persistently resurrected by the political system. The history of comprehensive reorganization suggests that short-run outcomes are heavily influenced by the problematics of attention; that influence over long-run administrative development involves affecting gradually evolving systems of meaning; and that reorganization rhetoric and ritual affirm an interpretation of life at least as much as they are bases for short-run political decisions. We suggest some implications of such conclusions for a more general understanding of the organization of political life.

Dietary habits and lung cancer risk.

Abstract: A previously reported negative association between a high index of dietary vitamin A and lung cancer incidence was confirmed in an extended follow-up, covering 11 1/2 years, of 13,785 men and 2,928 women, Responses to a postal questionnaire provided the dietary information. Relationships between the major dietary items and lung cancer were explored for various diagnostic subsets of the 168 lung cancer cases diagnosed among the study subjects. Analyses were stratified for sex, age, residence characteristics, cigarette smoking and, at times, socioeconomic group. Although the data do not permit a firm interpretation in terms of risk enhancement by a marginal retinoid deficiency, we found that the apparent protection afforded by higher intakes of vitamin A or its provitamins was particularly strong for lung cancer appearing as squamous-cell carcinoma and among those with higher alcohol intakes. The individual food items which showed the strongest negative association with lung cancer were carrots and milk. These two items made a major contribution to the vitamin A index and its variation among the respondents.

Structures and textures in Triassic braided stream conglomerates (‘Bunter’ Pebble Beds) in the Sherwood Sandstone Group, North Staffordshire, England

Abstract: In the northern parts of the Needwood and Stafford/Eccleshall Basins, England, the Pebble Beds of the Sherwood Sandstone Group contain thick successions of texturally mature, fluvial pebble/cobble conglomerates which are organized into either horizontal or cross-stratified sets. The horizontally lying sets, generally coarser grained and more poorly sorted than the cross-bedded sets, are usually disorganized and either matrix- or clast-supported, although thin lenses of well-sorted, occasionally openwork units, interpreted as falling stage phenomena, are often present. The cross-stratified conglomerates have foresets exhibiting remarkable textural organization, with a coarse, bimodal (sometimes matrix-supported) part grading upwards or being abruptly overlain by a finer, well-sorted (occasionally openwork) part and finally capped by sandstone. These rhythmic textural changes are attributed partly to an avalanche process at high stage and partly to falling stage conditions. The most common types of vertical association are thick successions of horizontally bedded conglomerates (up to 20 m) and sequences of an upwards coarsening nature (2-12 m) in which cross-stratified sets are overlain by flat-lying sets. The environment of deposition of the gravels is interpreted as one in which water depths at high stage were greater than depths in most modern braided stream plains (proglacial or alluvial fan) but shallower than depths associated with the Pleistocene catastrophic floods from which texturally mature, giant gravel bars have been recorded. Recent braided streams with relatively confined channels and considerable bar/channel relief are better analogues. In particular, medial or mid-channel bars with a two-tier structure (subaqueous and partly emergent portions) may explain the upward-coarsening sequences in which horizontally lying conglomerates overlie cross-stratified conglomerates. The thicker sequences of horizontally stratified conglomerates represent proximal, longitudinal bar deposits. Sheets of pebbly sandstone and argillaceous sandstone lying between the conglomerates, and commonly occurring towards the top of the succession, largely represent deposition from sandwaves and dunes. Finer, interbedded, argillaceous sandstones, siltstones and mudstones are interpreted as overbank and waning-flood deposits. Basin-forming tectonism of increasing intensity probably caused the initial coarsening upwards of the lower part of the succession, whilst more stable tectonic conditions and decreasing relief on the margins of the basins and in the areas of provenance in the Midlands and the Hercynides, account for the upwards-fining of the upper part of the succession.

Immunochemical analysis of cod fish allergen M: locations of the immunoglobulin binding sites as demonstrated by the native and synthetic peptides.

Abstract: The major allergen of codfish (Allergen M) is a muscle protein belonging to the family of calcium binding parvalbumins. The primary structure of the molecule was established and the molecular weight was estimated from the sequence data to be 12,328. Allergen M consists of 113 amino acid residues and one residue of glucose. A molecular arrangement of three domains (AB, CD and EF--the latter two bind one Ca2+ ion each) was described for Allergen M, analogous to carp parvalbumin pI 4.25. The suggested structure was based on the extensive intramolecular amino acid homologies and the immunochemical cross-reactivities of the intact molecule and the two major isolated fragments. The immunological structure of Allergen M was studied by: 1. Modification of certain amino acids residues and study of the reactivity of the modified derivatives. 2. Examination of the immunochemical reactivity of a large number of overlapping peptides obtained by limited and selective tryptic hydrolyses. 3. Solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) of segments selected in regard to the reactivity of pre-examined native peptides. The immunological reactivity of the derivatives of Allergen M was assigned by: 1. Rocket line immunoelectrophoresis and quantitative precipitation using rabbit anti-Allergen M in precipitating antibody-mediated reactions and, 2. RAST/RAST-inhibition and PK test/PK-test inhibition using sera from individuals allergic to codfish in IgE-mediated reactions. The modification of Tyr-30 and Arg-75 in isolated and purified peptides indicated that the former was part of a reactive site whereas the latter did not contribute to the activity. Masking of Arg-residue or unchelating the two calcium ions from the native Allergen M, with the resulting perturbation of the tertiary structure, decreased the allergenicity by approximately 25%. Two major fragments of Allergen M were produced and purified: TM1 (residues 1-75) comprising domains AB and CD, and TM2 (residues 76-113) covering domain EF. Both were immunologically reactive; TM1 showing intermediate reactivity between Allergen M and TM2. A high degree of immunological cross reactivity was evident between TM1 and TM2. The finding was in concert with the high intramolecular amino acid homologies of Allergen M, and suggested that the reactive sites were repetitively distributed along the polypeptide chain. The immunological reactivity of several long-sequence overlapping peptides obtained by limited and selective trypsin hydrolysis of Allergen M was studied. The immunologically reactive sites were accordingly assigned to the following regions of the chain: 1. Residues 33-44 on the junction between the AB and CD domains.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Studies in subjective probability III: The unimportance of alternatives

Abstract: In four experiments, student subjects were asked to estimate probabilities for a list of two to ten exhaustive, non-chance events, covering a variety of situations, both of prediction and diagnosis. Only in the two-alternative case a majority gave estimates which add up to unity (or 100%). As the number of alternatives increased, the total probability increased far beyond 100%, indicating a non-distributional probability concept. For instance, the probability that a person has committed murder was considered to be quite independent of his being one of three or one of five suspects. Even when subjects were told that the list should be extended with two additional alternatives and were allowed to correct their earlier estimates, few thought it necessary to do so, and corrections went equally in both directions.

Diagenetic Reactions in Sandstones

Abstract: Although aspects of sandstone diagenesis were studied earlier as a part of sedimentary petrology, it is only in recent years, particularly through the use of SEM, that it has developed into an important subject. Increased oil prices have also produced incentives for oil companies to look more carefully into the mineralogical and geochemical nature of sandstone reservoir rocks and to try to understand diagenetic processes. The purpose of this research is: 1. To improve our ability to predict the distribution of porous sandstones to help oil prospecting; 2. To model the distribution of porosity and permeability in sandstone reservoirs as a part of production geology; 3. To obtain a detailed knowledge of the mineralogical and textural composition of sandstone reservoirs, and also of the chemical and physical reactions that may occur between minerals and any fluids that are injected into the reservoir. These are required in secondary and tertiary recovery methods for hydrocarbons.

A randomized trial comparing cadexomer iodine and standard treatment in the out-patient management of chronic venous ulcers

Abstract: Ninety-three patients with treatment-resistant venous ulcers were included in a multicentre randomized trial to compare cadexomer iodine and the standard treatment used in each centre combined with compression bandages, in healing venous ulcers. The mean duration of ulcers before the trial was more than 2 years. With standard treatment the mean ulcer size increased slightly during the 6-week trial whereas with cadexomer iodine the ulcer size was significantly reduced. Cadexomer iodine was more effective than standard treatment for reduction of pain, removal of pus and debris, removal of exudate, stimulation of granulation and reduction of surrounding erythema. Bacterial infection of ulcers increased or did not change during treatment with the standard therapy whereas cadexomer iodine significantly reduced infection with Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other pathogenic organisms. A correlation was seen between the time taken to reduce or eliminate infection with Staphylococcus aureus and rate of ulcer healing. Four patients complained of transient pain in the ulcer after application of the cadexomer iodine. It is concluded that cadexomer iodine increased the rate of healing of infected chronic venous ulcers.

The Effects of Directional Facial Cues on Electrodermal Conditioning to Facial Stimuli

Abstract: The present two Experiments demonstrate that the orientation of angry facial expressions is a critical cue when faces serve as conditioned stimuli during aversive electrodermal conditioning. Experiment 1 demonstrated that responses conditioned to angry faces directed toward the subjects showed significant resistance to extinction whereas responses conditioned to angry faces directed away extinguished immediately during extinction. Experiment 2 was designed to investigate whether the orientation factor was effective only during extinction, i.e. whether the orientation was a performance variable, or if the observed effect originated from factors active during acquisition, i.e. if the orientation primarily influenced learning. When the orientation was shifted between the acquisition and the extinction phase, it was found that it did not matter what direction the faces had during acquisition; it was only during extinction that the faces needed to be directed toward the subjects to evoke persistent responding. These results suggest that the subjects acquired a conditioned response to the angry face regardless of its direction, but that this learning effect remained only when the angry face was directed toward the subject during extinction.

Interferon in suction blister fluid from psoriatic lesions.

Abstract: Interferon (IFN) (at least 16 units/ml) was demonstrated in suction blister fluid obtained from lesional skin in nine of thirteen patients with psoriasis vulgaris and in two patients with allergic contact dermatitis, but not in blister fluid from unaffected skin. IFN was detected in only three of the sera from the patients with psoriasis. The difference in results between the blister fluid and the sera from these patients was statistically significant (P less than 0.025). Evidence was obtained which indicated that the activity was probably IFN-gamma (immune IFN), but the additional presence of IFN-alpha in some of the fluids could not be excluded. The data indicate that IFN is produced locally in the psoriatic lesions, most likely by activated T lymphocytes.

Time course of changes in nociception after 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine lesions of descending 5-HT pathways☆

Abstract: Intrathecal injection of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT) in rats produced selective lesions of the descending 5-HT pathways. Spinal 5-HT levels gradually fell to less than 10% of controls within 10 days of 5,6-DHT administration with no recovery evident within 4 weeks. The uptake of 14 C-5-HT into crude spinal synaptosomes was similarly reduced. The uptake of 3 H-NA into spinal synaptosomes was unaffected, as was the uptake of 14 C-5-HT and 3 H-NA into cortical synaptosomes. Following 5,6-DHT, tail-flick latencies were reduced by 20–30% during the first post-injection week, but returned to control levels during the second week. Intrathecal or systemic administration of the 5-HT receptor antagonist metergoline significantly reduced latencies of normal rats and of 5,6-DHT treated rats tested after the second week when the response was normalized. Metergoline did not, however, further reduce the latencies of lesioned rats during the first post-injection week. It is concluded that functional adaptation involving 5-HT neurotransmission compensated for the selective lesion of descending 5-HT pathways induced by 5,6-DHT.

Phagocytosis of bacteria by human leukocytes measured by flow cytometry.

Abstract: A new method has been developed for the evaluation of the phagocytic activity of human leukocytes using fluorescently labeled bacteria and flow cytometry. By simultaneous measurement of cellular light scatter and fluorescence, extracellular bacteria, phagocytes, and nonphagocytes could be discriminated and quantified. All leukocytes assumed to be capable of phagocytosis were phagocytosing, and about 90% of these cells were polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes. Within 15 min 85% of the bacteria were phagocytosed and each phagocyte contained an average of 15–20 bacteria. The phagocytic capacity of the leukocytes from healthy individuals showed minor interindividual and day-to-day variations. This method facilitates a rapid and accurate in vitro evaluation of the phagocytic activity of human leukocytes.

Effect of Estrogen on Vitamin D Metabolism in Tall Girls

Abstract: To determine the effect of estrogen on vitamin D metabolism in pubertal girls, we studied 16 tall girls treated with a daily dose of 4-8 mg estradiol valerate to curtail excessive adult height. In all but one girl the plasma concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D) increased to values significantly higher than the corresponding pretreatment value (P less than 0.0005). The ratio of 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (24,25-(OH)2D) to 25-hydroxyvitamin D decreased in all girls (P less than 0.0005). The vitamin D binding protein (DBP) also increased significantly after estrogen (P less than 0.025), and there was a significant positive correlation between the plasma concentration of 1,25-(OH)2D and DBP (r = 0.66; P less than 0.0005). The free fraction of 1,25-(OH)2D remained unchanged after estrogen. It appears that estrogen treatment increases the plasma concentration of 1,25-(OH)2D. The effect might be explained by the concomitant increase in DBP and/or by estrogen stimulation of renal 1 alpha-hydroxylase.

Surface coatings on dental cementum incident to periodontal disease. I. A scanning electron microscopic study.

Abstract: Root surfaces of extracted human teeth with advanced periodontal disease were studied by the apically migrated junctional epithelium, the topography characteristic of uninvolved cementum was frequently masked by a surface coating. The thickness of the coating increased in a coronal direction where it often blended with calculus. The observations indicate that this surface coating may originate from the inflammatory exudate and corresponds to the dental cuticle. The findings also indicate that the coating may be mineralized and may contain exogenous substances. These observations illustrate a need for further study and reexamination of the rationale for removal of tooth substance during scaling and root planing.

Autosomal dominant partial lipodystrophy associated with Rieger anomaly, short stature, and insulinopenic diabetes

Abstract: We describe the clinical findings and natural history of an autosomal dominant form of partial lipodystrophy found in four affected individuals from three generations in the same family. The lipodystrophy was present from infancy/early childhood, involved primarily the face and local areas on the buttocks, and was nonprogressive. Affected individuals also had the Rieger anomaly, midface hypoplasia, short stature, retarded bone age, and hypotrichosis. An affected woman developed insulinopenic diabetes mellitus at 39 yr and another had glucose intolerance at 55 yr.

Palynology of sheep's faeces: relationship between pollen content, diet and local pollen rain

Abstract: Pollen analysis was made of sheep's faecal pellets, collected at various times during the period 1974–1977 from a paddock and from pastures, both near Bergen in western Norway. The results are compared with the available data for the seasonal pollen rain from the same area. No relationship was found between the pollen rain composition and the pollen content of dry fodder samples, harvested in the same area. Pollen analysis of faeces provide virtually no information about the quantitative composition of the vegetation of the sheep's environment, but do provide valuable information about their diet.

Simultaneous measurement of phagocytosis and phagosomal pH by flow cytometry: role of polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocyte granules in phagosome acidification.

Abstract: Human polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes (PMNLs) phagocytosed fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled Staphylococcus aureus. Free bacteria, phagocytes, and nonphagocytes were discriminated and quantified by flow cytometry (FCM). The relative fluorescence of phagocyte-associated and free bacteria (Nf:N) was calculated by dividing the mean phagocyte fluorescence by that of the free bacteria and the number of phagocytosed bacteria. Bactericidal capacity and chemiluminescence were measured by standard methods. The red-to-green fluorescence ratio of acridine orange-stained PMNLs (R/G) was measured by FCM. Degradation of bacteria was monitored by the reduction in FITC and ethidiumbromide fluorescence of bacteria liberated from the phagocytes. Bacterial FITC fluorescence was pH dependent. Nf:N was 0.5 to 0.7. Using a standard curve for the interrelationship between bacterial fluorescence and pH, phagosomal pH was 5.0-5.5. Phagocytes, kept at 4 degrees C for 24 h had Nf:N approximately 1, did not degrade bacteria, but killed them and emitted chemiluminescence. NH4Cl increased phagocyte fluorescence by 27% and decreased R/G by 50%. Cyanide and azide did not affect Nf:N. Nf:N of phagocytes from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease was 32% below, and R/G was 32% higher than the controls. Acidification of the phagosomes seems to be related to discharge of PMNL granule contents and independent of the respiratory burst.

The Charnley versus the Christiansen total hip arthroplasty. A comparative clinical study.

Abstract: Charnley total hip arthroplasties (THA) and Christiansen THA were carried out in two concurrent groups of patients, consisting of 113 hips in 87 patients and 90 hips in 81 patients respectively. The mean age of the patients was about 65 years, two thirds had idiopathic arthrosis, and only two had rheumatic hip disease. The two groups of patients were similar with regard to sex, age, weight, etiology of arthrosis, and standard laboratory tests, but different with regard to the surgeons who operated on them. Postoperative films showed that the stems of the prostheses were in the neutral and the varus position in the Christiansen group, and in the valgus, neutral and varus position in the Charnley group.Neither group had any deaths, or deep infections in the postoperative period. Only minor postoperative complications were noted. At follow-up, 5-8 years later, the failure (revision) rate of Charnley THA to Christiansen THA was 1 to 7.7 and 1 Charnley cup was revised as against 19 Christiansen cups. The metho...