scholarly journals Reconstructing “Positive” Nationalism: Evidence from Norway and Sweden

1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hjerm

This article sets out to compare nationalism or nationalist sentiment in the two neighboring countries of Norway and Sweden, since it has been claimed that nationalism differs both with respect to the degree of nationalism and the connotations it has in these two countries. In spite of the claimed differences between the two countries, this article shows that Norwegians and Swedes have to a similar extent nationalist sentiments and that xenophobia and protectionism follow in the footsteps of such attitudes in both the examined countries, indicating the negative sides of nationalism. Moreover, the two countries also show similar patterns regarding which groups in society that are most inclined to show nationalist sentiments.

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia Gerdenitsch ◽  
Bettina Kubicek ◽  
Christian Korunka

Supported by media technologies, today’s employees can increasingly decide when and where to work. The present study examines positive and negative aspects of this temporal and spatial flexibility, and the perceptions of control in these situations based on propositions of self-determination theory. Using an exploratory approach we conducted semi-structured interviews with 45 working digital natives. Participants described positive and negative situations separately for temporal and spatial flexibility, and rated the extent to which they felt autonomous and externally controlled. Situations appraised positively were best described by decision latitude, while negatively evaluated ones were best described by work–nonwork conflict. Positive situations were perceived as autonomous rather than externally controlled; negative situations were rated as autonomously and externally controlled to a similar extent.


1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Lecrubier ◽  
F Fouque ◽  
M Chignard ◽  
M H Horellou ◽  
J Conard ◽  
...  

Three family members from two successive generations showed a moderate bleeding disorder. The bleeding times (Duke and Ivy-Borchgrevink) were both constantly prolonged. Platelet aggregation induced by ADP and adrenaline showed no second wave; collagen at low to moderate concentrations failed to aggregate and release ATP whereas higher amounts aggregated and released. Aggregation and release due to thrombin, ristocetin and synthetic epoxy derivatives (U 44069 and U 46619) were normal. Arachidonate (A.A.) was inactive and was not converted into thromboxane (TX) A2 activity evaluated on the rabbit aorta strip. The patient’s platelets did not respond to A.A. when PRP from an aspirin treated control was added. Platelet phospholipids (PL) were labelled by 14C - A.A. before stimulation by thrombin (T). Radioactivity of the PL of the propositus' platelets was affected with T to a similar extent as 5 laboratory controls, indicating that the phospholipase activity was not impaired. In contrast, no TXB2 was found: 0.9 p. cent as compared to 6 p. cent of total radioactivity in controls.Our data suggest a deficit in cyclo-oxygenase particularly since the levels of PGE2, PGF2a and PGD2 were within the limits of detection. These results seem to rule out the possibility of a TX-synthetase deficiency with excessive production of anti-aggregating PGs. This study suggests that transmission is autosomal dominant and confirms that cyclo-oxygenase is not needed for aggregation and ATP-release by high amounts of collagen.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simiao Chen ◽  
Klaus Prettner ◽  
Michael Kuhn ◽  
Pascal Geldsetzer ◽  
Chen Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractVisual inspection of world maps shows that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is less prevalent in countries closer to the equator, where heat and humidity tend to be higher. Scientists disagree how to interpret this observation because the relationship between COVID-19 and climatic conditions may be confounded by many factors. We regress the logarithm of confirmed COVID-19 cases per million inhabitants in a country against the country’s distance from the equator, controlling for key confounding factors: air travel, vehicle concentration, urbanization, COVID-19 testing intensity, cell phone usage, income, old-age dependency ratio, and health expenditure. A one-degree increase in absolute latitude is associated with a 4.3% increase in cases per million inhabitants as of January 9, 2021 (p value < 0.001). Our results imply that a country, which is located 1000 km closer to the equator, could expect 33% fewer cases per million inhabitants. Since the change in Earth’s angle towards the sun between equinox and solstice is about 23.5°, one could expect a difference in cases per million inhabitants of 64% between two hypothetical countries whose climates differ to a similar extent as two adjacent seasons. According to our results, countries are expected to see a decline in new COVID-19 cases during summer and a resurgence during winter. However, our results do not imply that the disease will vanish during summer or will not affect countries close to the equator. Rather, the higher temperatures and more intense UV radiation in summer are likely to support public health measures to contain SARS-CoV-2.


2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (3) ◽  
pp. H1141-H1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon J. Andresen ◽  
Frank M. Faraci ◽  
Donald D. Heistad

MnSOD is the only mammalian isoform of SOD that is necessary for life. MnSOD−/− mice die soon after birth, and MnSOD+/− mice are more susceptible to oxidative stress than wild-type (WT) mice. In this study, we examined vasomotor function responses in aortas of MnSOD+/− mice under normal conditions and during oxidative stress. Under normal conditions, contractions to serotonin (5-HT) and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), relaxation to ACh, and superoxide levels were similar in aortas of WT and MnSOD+/− mice. The mitochondrial inhibitor antimycin A reduced contraction to PGF2α and impaired relaxation to ACh to a similar extent in aortas of WT and MnSOD+/− mice. The Cu/ZnSOD and extracellular SOD inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) paradoxically enhanced contraction to 5-HT and superoxide more in aortas of WT mice than in MnSOD+/− mice. DDC impaired relaxation to ACh and reduced total SOD activity similarly in aortas of both genotypes. Tiron, a scavenger of superoxide, normalized contraction to 5-HT, relaxation to ACh, and superoxide levels in DDC-treated aortas of WT and MnSOD+/− mice. Hypoxia, which reportedly increases superoxide, reduced contractions to 5-HT and PGF2α similarly in aortas of WT and MnSOD+/− mice. The vasomotor response to acute hypoxia was similar in both genotypes. In summary, under normal conditions and during acute oxidative stress, vasomotor function is similar in WT and MnSOD+/− mice. We speculate that decreased mitochondrial superoxide production may preserve nitric oxide bioavailability during oxidative stress.


2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 5231-5240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joonhong Park ◽  
Jerome J. Kukor ◽  
Linda M. Abriola

ABSTRACT In Ralstonia pickettii PKO1, a denitrifying toluene oxidizer that carries a toluene-3-monooxygenase (T3MO) pathway, the biodegradation of toluene and trichloroethylene (TCE) by the organism is induced by TCE at high concentrations. In this study, the effect of TCE preexposure was studied in the context of bacterial protective response to TCE-mediated toxicity in this organism. The results of TCE degradation experiments showed that cells induced by TCE at 110 mg/liter were more tolerant to TCE-mediated stress than were those induced by TCE at lower concentrations, indicating an ability of PKO1 to adapt to TCE-mediated stress. To characterize the bacterial protective response to TCE-mediated stress, the effect of TCE itself (solvent stress) was isolated from TCE degradation-dependent stress (toxic intermediate stress) in the subsequent chlorinated ethylene toxicity assays with both nondegradable tetrachloroethylene and degradable TCE. The results of the toxicity assays showed that TCE preexposure led to an increase in tolerance to TCE degradation-dependent stress rather than to solvent stress. The possibility that such tolerance was selected by TCE degradation-dependent stress during TCE preexposure was ruled out because a similar extent of tolerance was observed in cells that were induced by toluene, whose metabolism does not produce any toxic products. These findings suggest that the adaptation of TCE-induced cells to TCE degradation-dependent stress was caused by the combined effects of solvent stress response and T3MO pathway expression.


1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Mainwood ◽  
M. Alward ◽  
B. Eiselt

Rats were fed on a diet containing 1% β-guanidinopropionate (Gp) to deplete their muscles of creatine. The apparent energy reserves (creatine phosphate (CrP) + ATP) of rested state diaphragm muscle strips were found to be 79% depleted by this treatment. To determine if the effective energy reserves for contraction were depleted to a similar extent, the response to direct electrical stimulation (0.2-s tetani) was measured in the presence of inhibitors of respiration (NaCN) and glycolysis (iodoacetate). Only 4 ± 1 contractions could be elicited from strips from Gp-fed animals. Normal strips gave 15 ± 2 contractions under the same conditions. For both sets of diaphragms the energetic cost of contraction in terms of ~P was approximately 1 μmol/g wet weight. The mean level of Pi generated following stimulation to exhaustion was 10.1 μmol/g more in normal than in depleted strips. It is concluded that no significant additional energy stores such as phosphorylated Gp are readily available for contraction in muscles depleted of creatine by Gp treatment.


Blood ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 945-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Hilmo ◽  
TH Howard

We utilized flow cytometric analysis of NBDphallacidin-stained cells to measure F-actin content, expressed as fluorescent channel numbers, and we compared the microfilamentous cytoskeletal organization in neutrophils from healthy neonates (36 to 38 weeks gestational age) and adults. Basal F-actin content in neonate cord blood neutrophils is higher than that of adults. The elevation is intrinsic to the cell and not related to parturition because basal F-actin content of neonatal cells obtained by venipuncture (days 1 to 8 of age) is also elevated (38 +/- 10, N = 15) when compared to adults (21 +/- 7.0, N = 27). The rate of N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced actin polymerization is similar in adult and neonatal neutrophils and is maximal by 30 to 45 seconds at 25 degrees C. Adult, neonatal cord, and neonatal venipuncture neutrophils increase F-actin content to a similar extent following 0.5 mumol/L fMLP activation (52 +/- 18, N = 27; 58.7 +/- 18, N = 18; 51.5 +/- 7.0, N = 15, respectively). However, the relative increase in F-actin content following fMLP activation is much greater in adult (2.37-fold) than neonatal neutrophils (1.28-fold). This difference is due to the elevated basal F-actin content of neonatal cells. Comparison of distribution of F-actin content among basal, neonatal neutrophils reveals two subpopulations of neutrophils with respect to F-actin content--approximately 25% with F-actin content similar to that of adult neutrophils and 75% with F-actin content greater than that of adult cells. Following fMLP activation, the subpopulations disappear. The results suggest that abnormalities in microfilamentous cytoskeletal organization of neonatal cells may, in part, be responsible for decreased chemotactic response of neonatal neutrophils.


2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-63
Author(s):  
Svetlana A Tatarkova ◽  
Satvinder Khaira

We have characterized a broad range of liposome formulations with varying DcChol:DOPE ratio. Subsequent addition of DcChol to liposomes increases its positive surface charge. However, loading the nuclear acids did not neutralize the overall negative surface potential to a similar extent. The liposomes were tested by transfection of DNA in living cancer cells.


Author(s):  
Bogdan Grachev

This article attempts to &ldquo;objectify&rdquo; and conceptualize the concept of &ldquo;Eurasia&rdquo;, determine its ontological characteristics as the sociopolitical space of development of the Russian civilizational project, as well as delineates the contours of this space within the framework of a project-constructive methodological orientation. The author refers to the history of formation of holistic representations on Eurasia within the scientific thought, giving special attention to the contribution of geopoliticians, and emphasizing the implementation of theoretical provisions in real politics. The empirical basis relies on the two megaprojects that are implemented in practice: the Silk Road Economic Belt initiated by China and the Eurasian Economic Union (which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia), as well as the &ldquo;Greater Eurasia&rdquo; as a potential way of their interlink and development of the space for cross-civilizational dialogue on the continent. The main conclusions are as follows: 1) Eurasia is determined both as the goal of the Russian project of civilizational development and as the space it can be realized within. At the same time, the space for the development of Russia-Eurasia is described as the natural environment of the Russian civilizational project, the space of the &ldquo;primary circle&rdquo;. Special role is played by the creation and development of the Eurasian Economic Union, which unites the countries that have faced the escalation of nationalist sentiment after the dissolution of the Soviet Union; 2) The &ldquo;Greater Eurasia&rdquo; is designated as the &ldquo;secondary circle&rdquo; of the Russian civilizational project, a space for continental cooperation, determines by new political reality. &nbsp;3) Certain zones of civilizational confrontation and contradictions on the continent have been identified. The author believes that the need for conceptualization of the concept at hand lies in the significant sociopolitical formative potential.


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