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Today, digital games are considered important tools for learning, but using them in early childhood education and care (ECEC) has raised the question of educators' roles when children play an educational digital game. The aim of this study was to explore how ECEC educators differed in their attitudes and perceptions toward and ways of supporting children's digital gameplay and how these differences were associated with children's gameplay. The data were collected by interviewing seven ECEC educators in four ECEC groups in which 30 children aged 5–6 years played an educational Emotion Detectives game. The log data were also analyzed. Research Findings: Based on the differences in support discovered, the educators were found to represent two groups: a non-supportive group (NSG) and a supportive group (SG). Compared to the NSG, the children in the SG played more and were more successful in their gameplay. Practice or Policy: The findings of this study emphasize the importance of organizing regular gameplay sessions when children's development is supported using educational games and of monitoring that all children have opportunities to get enough practice by playing. In addition, educators need to familiarize themselves with the game to be able to discuss it with children, motivate them to play, and help on demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is an ongoing debate regarding the value and applicability of brain-based understandings of addiction. This study examines how professionals in the Finnish addiction service system view this matter. Methods: The study participants (n = 997) were recruited at different levels of policy-making, treatment, prevention work, education, administration and research. We created an online questionnaire containing both multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. Results: There was a broad agreement among survey participants regarding the relevance and importance of brain-based understandings, per se. The support seemed to have increased a great deal in the past decades. On a closer view, a dichotomous attitude prevailed among the respondents: They expressed robust support for etiologies and ontologies of brain-based addiction, but simultaneously acknowledged some greater risks with neurocentrism and with wider implementations of neuroscientifically based interventions. New divisions of responsibility and the weakening of rights among concerned parties were presented as risk scenarios. The respondents feared that a medicalization of addiction would sideline social approaches. Conclusion: The Finnish addiction service professionals were not prepared to let brain-based ideas of addiction guide the country's addiction services but saw them as a useful supplementary hermeneutic and pedagogic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to explore changes in pedagogical awareness of teaching early mathematical skills among teachers in early childhood education (N =7) when participating in a tailored professional development (PD) program in mathematics. The program, which was designed around principles of transformative learning, was aimed at strengthening the conscious and holistic teaching of early mathematical skills to 3- to 7-year-old children. Research Findings: Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews revealed that teachers enhanced their pedagogical awareness of teaching early mathematical skills concerning developmentally appropriate mathematical content, child-initiated mathematical learning and holistic mathematical teaching in different daily situations and play. Data obtained from pre-PD and follow-up questionnaires completed by teachers confirmed a sustainable increase in their pedagogical awareness of numerical and spatial reasoning. Recognizing children's interests, reflecting on and examining one's own practices individually and collaboratively, and taking actions to develop teaching and learning practices aligned with those of the PD program comprised the foundation for the transformative process. Practice or Policy: It was concluded that PD programs in mathematics enhance teachers' pedagogical awareness of teaching early mathematical skills holistically when they are tailored to the needs of teachers, include reflective elements, and follow principles of transformative learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the influence of the social class and political party preference on support for fossil fuel taxation in Nordic countries. Additionally, we examine how age confounds the relationship between party preference and support for fossil fuel taxation. We utilize Round 8 data from the European Social Survey from Finland, Norway, and Sweden (n = 5021). According to the results, party preference was a more significant factor than social class when explaining citizens' fossil fuel taxation attitudes. We found attitudinal polarization between Left-Green and Populist Right supporters. Interestingly, we did not find differences between the parties from the traditional left‒right dimension. Also, we found that differences between the Left-Green and Populist Right supporters were more remarkable among the younger cohorts in Sweden. We conclude with a discussion on interconnectivity between new political cleavages and climate policy, which direct the attitudes of a citizen by party preference in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An educator's competence influences the implementation of evidence-based education and the overall quality of social and health care. This study aimed to identify distinct competence profiles from Finnish social, health and rehabilitative care educators, as well as describe which personal and professional characteristics influenced belonging to a certain profile. Data were collected from 28 educational organizations located throughout Finland using the Health and Social Care Educators' Competence instrument. The survey was answered by 422 educators. The performed K-means cluster analysis identified three distinct educator competence profiles, which differed in terms of self-assessed expertise in various competence areas and certain background characteristics. The results highlight that educational institutions should concentrate on refining the digital competence of educators, which requires networking, collaboration, and work-related pedagogical competence. The differences in evaluation identified for the three profiles demonstrates that more experienced educators should mentor their less experienced counterparts to ensure a high quality of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, geoid models have been validated using GNSS-levelling benchmarks on land only. As such benchmarks cannot be established offshore, marine areas of geoid models must be evaluated in a different way. In this research, we present a marine GNSS/gravity campaign where existing geoid models were validated at sea areas by GNSS measurements in combination with sea surface models. Additionally, a new geoid model, calculated using the newly collected marine gravity data, was validated. The campaign was carried out with the marine geology research catamaran Geomari (operated by the Geological Survey of Finland), which sailed back and forth the eastern part of the Finnish territorial waters of the Gulf of Finland during the early summer of 2018. From the GNSS and sea surface data we were able to obtain geoid heights at sea areas with an accuracy of a few centimetres. When the GNSS derived geoid heights are compared with geoid heights from the geoid models differences between the respective models are seen in the most eastern and southern parts of the campaign area. The new gravity data changed the geoid model heights by up to 15 cm in areas of sparse/non-existing gravity data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent scholarship has argued for media organizations' need to radically innovate to ensure their survival in the future. This study deploys the innovative learning culture (ILC) framework to qualitatively study innovation and learning in a legacy public service media organization. While innovation and learning are linked, the learning processes of professional journalists have received only little attention. Through an analysis of a development network operating in a public service media organization, we identify characteristics of ILC in the network and how those characteristics manifest in practice, as well as examine contextual factors that shape ILC. Our findings indicate that innovation and learning processes in the network are shaped by journalistic practice, technology and platforms, and organizational strategy. Importantly, the organization's technological environment is seen to encourage mimicry in learning and innovation processes, leading to exploitative rather than explorative innovation. The study contributes theoretically to ILC by providing an organizationally situated understanding of the framework that accounts for institutional tendencies in media innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examine how political party preference and politically active social media use associate with social media behaviors – namely, conformist, provocative, and protective – in the context of the current political sphere in Finland. In our empirical analysis, we use a nationally representative dataset collected from 3,724 Finnish citizens in 2018. Our research confirms the assumption that there are notable differences in the social media behaviors of the supporters of different political parties. Additionally, our research shows that politically active social media use increases the occurrence for all three aforementioned behaviors. The study's results also confirm that major differences in online behavior exist among the new identity parties' supporters, who rely heavily on post-materialist and neoconservative political values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finland was the first European country to introduce a nation-wide mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination policy for healthcare workers (HCWs) by mandating that administrators of health care institutions only employ vaccinated HCWs. In this study, we examine the effects of the new policy and the view of HCWs on the new policy. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in Kuopio University Hospital among HCWs working in close patient contact. The statistics on vaccination coverage were obtained from the hospital's own databases, where employees were asked to self-report their suitability for work. An anonymous survey was sent to HCWs in 2015–2016 (n = 987) and 2018–2019 (n = 821). Vaccination coverage increased from 59.5 to 99.6%, according to the hospital's own records. Among the survey respondents, the seasonal influenza vaccination coverage of HCWs increased from 68.2 to 95.4%. 83.8% of doctors and 49.4% of nurses supported the new policy. 12.7% of doctors and 41.5% of nurses found the new mandate coercive or that it restricted their self-determination. Our study confirms the positive effects of mandating the administrators of health care institutions to only employ vaccinated HCWs. The majority (57.9%) of all HCWs supported the new policy, with doctors being more compliant than nurses. Finland became the first European country to mandate influenza vaccination for HCWs by mandating that administrators of health care institutions only employ vaccinated HCWs. After the new act, the vaccination coverage of HCWs increased close to 100%. Most of the HCWs supported the new act and did not find it coercive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Submicron ZrO2 fibers with three different Sb-doping levels (5, 10 and 15 cation%) were produced with an electroblowing synthesis for removal of 99TcO4–. The Sb-doped ZrO2 fibers showed high selectivity toward 99TcO4–, which was not interfered by ClO4–, NO3– or Cl– ions and showed no selectivity toward ReO4–. The optimal pH range for the 99Tc separation was 2–6 but the Sb-doped fibers maintained very high uptake level throughout the studied pH range of 1–10. According to the uptake experiments, Sb(III) is assumed to reduce Tc(VII) to Tc(IV) that is then adsorbed by the zirconia surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal threats are a growing concern in European democracies in light of risks of terrorism. At the same time, we are witnessing a visible trend of political polarization across the countries. Therefore, there is a need to understand how risk perceptions have changed over time ideologically and demographically. This article provides a novel look into risk response over time while considering potential ideological links to the phenomenon. The analysis is based on four comparable population surveys collected between 2004 and 2017 (N = 7,775) in Finland. Findings showed that terrorism risk perception was highest in 2004 and declined during the 2010s despite multiple terrorist attacks in Western Europe. Terrorism risk perception became ideologically based in 2014 and 2017, and the decrease in terrorism was explained by the deepening of political polarization. Overall, the findings reflect the evolution of risk perception over time depending on values, attitudes and goals, here linked to political ideology. These findings help us to deepen our understanding of the significance of recent political movements and emerging parties affecting not only political systems but also the realignment of traditional parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes Stephen Jay Gould's concepts of time's arrow and time's cycle as a conceptual tool to analyse NATO's burden-sharing disputes. It argues that the controversies on burden-sharing in NATO can be assessed in terms of their cyclic or arrow kind nature, rendering some disputes more likely to recur than others and providing different kinds of starting points for their forecasting. The study identifies four cyclic categories in which burden-sharing has transformed into a political debate among NATO members during the post-Cold War era: geopolitical change related to Russia; periods of US foreign political retrenchment or renewal; the passivity or activism of European NATO members; and during NATO or allied out-of-area operations. Moreover, the study suggests an arrow kind of direction in burden-sharing disputes, indicating an expansion of disputes to cover comprehensive security, resilience, security co-operation and diplomacy, and to engulf also NATO partner countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to map the information-seeking habits of population groups in a digital economy. The growing use of technologies in the modern online era has increased the availability of information regarding services and items through user-generated content and applications. However, the potential for leverage through ICTs may not be evenly distributed across different consumer segments. We use population-level survey data used as the basis for the official statistics in Finland to find differences according to gender, age cohort, education, income and residential area. The results show that Finns are active in using different channels of information acquisition. We found significant differences in how information is obtained between population groups. Men and younger cohorts are more accustomed to using a variety of services and sources for seeking out information. The results also highlighted educational differences that have been rooted in the Finnish information society. Using a nationally representative data, the article points out digital inequalities linked to potential differences in consumer benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied geoid validation using ship-borne global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) on the Baltic Sea. We obtained geoid heights by combining GNSS-inertial measurement unit observations, tide gauge data, and a physical sea model. We used two different geoid models available for the area. The ship route was divided into lines and the lines were processed separately. The GNSS results were reduced to the sea surface using attitude and draft parameters available from the vessel during the campaign. For these lines, the residual errors between ellipsoidal height versus geoid height and absolute dynamic topography varied between 0 and 15 cm, grand mean being 2 cm. The mean standard deviations of the original time series were approximately 11 cm and reduced to below 5 cm for the time series filtered with 10 min moving average. We showed that it is possible to recover geoid heights from the GNSS observations at sea and validate existing geoid models in a well-controlled area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the environmental and end-users' viewpoints, electrospun ion exchange fibres provide highly efficient and sustainable material for separation of for example trace pollutants, such as radionuclides and heavy metals. This work aimed to reduce the amount of ion exchange material needed per unit volume of raw material subjected to an ion exchange process. We present a very simple process to electrospinning of sodium titanate fibres, but also test results of ion exchange kinetics measurements. Sodium titanate fibres are very promising material and it is possible that by exploiting electrospun inorganic sub-micron fibres the ion exchanger mass required for a given capacity can be decreased significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-administration of different substances is a widespread practice in the context of hard drug use. Among others, alcohol combined with certain substances produces potentially dangerous interactions. This article explores how people who combine alcohol with benzodiazepines or psychostimulants perceive these practices and how they share their perceptions in Finnish and Swedish online discussions. This is carried out by analyzing discussants' use of metaphoric expressions. We found that the metaphors given to the use of these substance combinations reflect their pharmacological characteristics. Through that, the metaphors and meanings were different depending on the substance alcohol was combined with. Moreover, we found that, in the realities the metaphors create, the control of use was differently conceptualized. The different aspects of control could be divided into three categories that, however, were not related to any specific substances but overarched all metaphors: 1) controlling pharmacological risks, 2) controlling social appearance and 3) ignoring control. As our findings bring out, often the actual health dangers and risks of the studied substance combinations were bypassed, and the control was rather understood either as a form of socially appropriate behavior or wholly ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political party member perceptions of risk continue to attract a great deal of attention in current public discourse and media coverage, yet little research exists in terms of a comparative analysis of Finnish political parties' views on the issue. Party members are in many ways a highly significant social group, one that exercises a great deal of decision-making power in modern civil societies. This article provides a novel and up-to-date look into the key areas of perceived risk held by the members of Finland's political parties, in addition to a comparison of inter-party differences and similarities. The analysis is based on a unique survey data-set of the members of Finland's six major political parties (N = 12,427). Included are the Finns Party, Centre Party, Left Alliance, Social Democratic Party, Green League and National Coalition Party. Together, these represent the political spectrum in Finland. Risk factors included primary categories dealing with various national, institutional, cultural and economic issues. Also included in the analysis was a look into whether length of party membership affects risk concern for the included issues. Findings showed that national and external risks were more of a concern for the Finns Party, while the Left and the Social Democrats considered economic issues a greater risk than did others. Furthermore, economic risk was most concerning to the left while external risks were generally viewed in line with the current centre-right administration. Some notable differences between old and new party members were also found. Findings emphasize the importance of understanding how political party members differ in their views of various societal risks while providing new points of comparison between those parties toward improved clarity of the national political landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kindergarten teachers from different cultural backgrounds attribute various meanings to children's autonomy. There seems to be cultural differences in early childhood education curricula with regard to how a child's autonomy is described and how it is supported. This qualitative study asks: how do teachers narrate their perspective and pedagogical support of children's autonomy, and what kinds of similarities and differences in the pedagogy and practices can be found in Finnish and Greek early childhood education (ECEC) contexts? The data of this qualitative study consist of a semi-structured questionnaire of 14 kindergarten teachers and observations of their pedagogical practices in the day care groups of 4- to 5-year-old children. The results suggest that teachers' overall conception of autonomy was identical, but the different cultural contexts and curriculums affected the way the teachers emphasized and valued different dimensions of autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the processes used at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, Japan, to purify the waste effluents generated in the cooling of damaged reactors. These include primary cesium removal with the Kurion zeolite system and the SARRY system utilizing silicotitanate to remove radiocesium from water recirculated to reactors for cooling. Another process is the ALPS system to purify the retentates of the reverse osmosis plant to further purify the water from radionuclides after primary cesium separation. In ALPS, a major role is played by the transition metal hexacyanoferrate product CsTreat and sodium titanate SrTreat in the removal of radiocesium and radiostrontium, respectively. The performance of these four exchangers (zeolite, silicotitanate, hexacyanoferrate, and sodium titanate) is critically analyzed with respect to processing capacities and the decontamination factors obtained in the processes. Furthermore, general information on preparation, structure and ion exchange of these ion-exchanger categories is given with additional information on their use in nuclear waste effluent treatment processes. Finally, the importance of selectivity and associated factors are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to explore the incidence, microbiological etiology and outcome of febrile neutropenia among adult hematological patients following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Methods: The study population consisted of patients who received ASCT between 1 December 2006 and 30 November 2012. The epidemiology was compared to a retrospective series covering eleven previous years at the same institution. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients, who had been identified as a risk group in the retrospective study, received ciprofloxacin prophylaxis from January 2008. Results: Altogether, 142 out of 178 of the included patients (80%) developed febrile neutropenia. The blood cultures were positive in 24 cases (17%). Of all bacteremia’s, 88% were caused by Gram-positive and 12% by Gram-negative bacteria. The number of Gram-negative bacteremia were significantly lower in the prospective study compared to the retrospective study (3/142, 2.1% vs. 23/265, 8.7%, p = .01). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was prevalent in the retrospective series but not discovered in the present series. Enterococcus faecium was found more frequently in the prospective study (6/142, 4.2 vs. 2/265, 0.8%, p = .02). The infectious mortality among patients with febrile neutropenia was 4/142 (2.8%) in the present series and 9/265 (3.4%) in those who received ASCT in 1996-2006. Conclusion: Most patients who received ASCT developed febrile neutropenia and a minority had bacteraemia. In comparison to the earlier time period, the incidence of Gram-negative bacteraemias decreased, probably due to ciprofloxacin prophylaxis in NHL patients, but simultaneously the incidence of Enterococcus bacteraemias increased. Infectious mortality during febrile neutropenia was low in both series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socio-demographic profiles and occupations of the members of the Green League and other Finnish political parties are examined using survey data collected from the members of Finland’s six major political parties (n = 12,427). Significant differentiation in occupational structure is revealed among Green party members. The importance of understanding how Green party members differ by background is emphasised while providing new approaches to studying party members’ interests and goals. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The deduction of a regularly spaced gravity anomaly grid from scattered survey data is studied, addressing mainly two aspects: reduction of gravity to anomalies and subsequent interpolation by various methods. The problem is illustrated in a heterogeneous study area and contrasting test areas including mountains, low terrains, and a marine area. Provided with realistic error estimates, Least Squares Collocation interpolation of Residual Terrain Model anomalies yields the highest quality gravity grid. In most cases, the Bouguer reduction and other interpolation methods tested are equally viable. However, spline-based interpolation should be avoided in marine areas with trackwise survey data. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports that since 1991, Enterococcus faecium have been listed as the second leading nosocomial pathogen and are among the five most common causative agents of bloodstream infections.The issue of the emergence of Enterococcus faecium as a significant clinical problem at an adult haematology ward is discussed.

This study examines the process through which children build a sense of community in small groups in a day care centre. The study asks the following: how does children’s sense of community develop, and what are its key features? Data were collected by applying ethnographic methods in a group of three- to five-year-old children over eleven months. The results show that children’s sense of community developed through three stages. In the first stage, it evolved gradually through experiences in joint play. In the second stage, stable friendships were formed and strengthened in play. In the third and final stage, sense of community was fully established and children’s emotional bonding was strong, manifesting itself in affective and physical closeness, sharing and caring and togetherness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has been recognized as an independent prognostic factor for sepsis mortality in intensive care units. No data are available on kinetics or prognostic value of ADMA in hematological patients. We evaluated the ability of ADMA to act as a predictor for complicated course of febrile neutropenia, defined as bacteremia and/or septic shock in adult hematological patients receiving intensive chemotherapy. This prospective study included 87 adult hematological patients with febrile neutropenia after an intensive chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or after an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Plasma ADMA and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured from the onset of fever (d0) and for 2 days (d1–d2) thereafter. The levels of ADMA were stable or had only minimal changes during the study period. There was no difference between the levels at any time-point in patients having complicated course compared to those without it. On the other hand, CRP levels were significantly higher on d1 (p = 0.016) in patients with bacteremia and/or septic shock than in those without. ADMA was not able to differentiate hematological patients with a complicated course from those without complications. Elevated ADMA levels are probably associated with organ dysfunction, which is rare in this group of patients, of whom about 95% can be successfully managed at the hematology ward. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The specificities and cross-reactions of antibodies induced by citrulline- and homocitrulline-containing proteins may give implications on the role of citrulline- and homocitrulline-binding antibodies in the pathogenesis and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here we use rabbits as an experimental model of antibody development in RA. Thirty-two animals were immunized with peptide antigens containing either homocitrulline or citrulline. The sera were tested for binding to CCP and MCV antigens and to peptide sequences related to carboxyterminal telopeptides of type I and II collagens and containing arginine, citrulline, or homocitrulline. The binding of CCP and MCV antigens to antisera against homocitrulline-containing immunogens could be inhibited by human serum albumin containing homocitrulline, whereas similar binding to sera against citrulline-containing immunogens was not inhibited. The antisera induced with citrulline-containing collagen telopeptides recognized type I collagen-related antigens in a sequence-specific manner, as antibody binding to both citrulline- and homocitrulline-containing peptides was inhibited by corresponding citrullinated and native peptides. In contrast, type II collagen-related peptides were recognized by the antisera in a ureido group-specific manner, as their binding to homocitrulline-containing peptide was inhibited by both citrulline- and homocitrulline-containing, but not native peptide. Binding of the citrullinated type II collagen peptide could only be inhibited by the similarly citrullinated peptide. In conclusion, antibodies induced with citrulline or homocitrulline-containing antigens bound antigens in a ureido group-specific manner, recognizing citrulline and homocitrulline also in other sequences than those used in the original immunization. In competitive situations the amino acid present in the immunization antigen was favored. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This review considers the chemical and biotechnological synthesis of acids that are obtained by direct oxidation of mono- or oligosaccharide, referred to as sugar acids. It focuses on sugar acids which can be readily derived from plant biomass sources and their current and future applications. The three main classes of sugar acids are aldonic, aldaric and uronic acids. Interest in organic acids derived from sugars has recently increased, as part of the interest to develop biorefineries which produce not only biofuels, but also chemicals to replace those currently derived from petroleum. More than half of the most desirable biologically produced platform chemicals are organic acids. Currently, the only sugar acid with high commercial production isd-gluconic acid. However, other sugar acids such asd-glucaric andmeso-galactaric acids are being produced at a lower scale. The sugar acids have application as sequestering agents and binders, corrosion inhibitors, biodegradable chelators for pharmaceuticals and pH regulators. There is also considerable interest in the use of these molecules in the production of synthetic polymers, including polyamides, polyesters and hydrogels. Further development of these sugar acids will lead to higher volume production of the appropriate sugar acids and will help support the next generation of biorefineries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutropenic fever is common in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy for hematological malignancies. The clinical course may be aggravated by infectious complications like severe sepsis, septic shock or even death. We prospectively studied 100 patients with neutropenic fever and evaluated human plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) during the fi rst 3 days after the onset of fever as a prognostic biomarker for complicated clinical course, defined as sepsis or septic shock. Complicated course was observed in 21 patients (21%). There were no significant differences in cfDNA levels between the patients with or without complications on any study day when all the patients were analyzed as one group. In subgroups according to hematological malignancy, patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) had lower cfDNA levels than patients with lymphoma. Among AML patients d0 cfDNA/leukocyte ratio and among lymphoma patients d0 cfDNA was associated with subsequent development of sepsis or septic shock. cfDNA deserves further studies in hematological patients with sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large-scale and long-term research and development projectForest management inspired by natural disturbance dynamics(DISTDYN) was initiated in Finland in 2009. The aim is to examine how variation in spatial and temporal scales of felling affects forest structure and biota. Harvesting methods applied in this project include selection, gap, partial and clear felling with variable retention. Rehabilitation is also applied as dead wood is intentionally increased while harvesting. The motivation of the project lies in the growing interest in using natural disturbances as an inspiration of forest-ecosystem management and in the recognition that mid- to small-scale disturbances are a characteristic feature of unmanaged Fennoscandian forests. The effects of felling methods are studied at the stand scale. However, a unique aspect of the project is the focus on landscape-scale impacts of different harvesting alternatives by comparing ca. 150-ha landscape units with varying harvesting regimes. Overall, the project aims at creating a long-lasting multidisciplinary research infrastructure. It also addresses core issues of forest-ecosystem management, including ecological, timber-production, economic and socio-cultural performances of alternative harvesting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in which the authors examine the use of a soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor as a biomarker to diagnose patients suffering from infectious complications and neutropenic fever resulting from intense chemotherapy for hematological malignancies.

The article explores the structure of diamonds focusing on inclusions and their relationship to the geology of the Earth. Details related to diamond formation and the Earth's mantle as well as types of inclusions such as carbon spots and diamond-in-diamond are presented. Peridotitic inclusions including chrome diopside, olivine, and sulfides are also discussed.

The ores of rare earth elements (REEs) are usually digested in concentrated sulfuric acid media, which dissolve the REEs as main product with heavy metals as byproduct. In the present work, inorganic ion exchangers based on silico-antimonates (SiSb) were synthesized and characterized. SiSb mixed with metal oxides were prepared in molar ratio 2:1 with different aging time. In batch experiments, radionuclides Eu-152 and Co-57 were taken to represent the lanthanides and heavy metals, respectively. The sorption behavior was examined and distribution coefficients were evaluated for different effective conditions such as sulfuric acid concentration, pH, shaking time, metal ion concentration, and aging time. The new inorganic SiSb materials are characterized by rapid kinetics for Eu(III) and high adsorption selectivity for Co(II). The results showed that the SiSb are acidic in character and that their cation-exchange properties are better in low acidic media. Sorption efficiency is highly correlated with the structural framework, which depends on exchangeable water content. Various chelating agents were tested for desorption of the retained Eu(III) and Co(II). Maximum separation factors were obtained with SiSb materials after 2 or 3 days aging, providing efficient exchangers for the separation of economically valuable REEs from heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We compared biomarkers and their changes as predictors for bacteremia and severe sepsis during neutropenic fever after intensive chemotherapy in hematological patients. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), semi-quantative procalcitonin, aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cortisol, lactate, plasma antithrombin and fibrinogen were measured daily from day 0 to day 3/day 4 in 89 neutropenic fever episodes of 65 hematological patients. The best predictors for bacteremia and gram-negative bacteremia were procalcitonin and its change, with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals of 2.63 (1.56-4.44) and 3.20 (1.77-5.80) for bacteremia and 4.14 (2.00-8.58) and 5.04 (2.18-11.63) for gram-negative bacteremia, respectively. For severe sepsis, the best predictors were CRP and fibrinogen, with ORs of 1.94 (1.07-3.52) and 1.92 (1.05-3.54). Factor analysis provided two predictive factors: procalcitonin-NT-proBNP-antithrombin factor predicted gram-negative bacteremia and CRP-fibrinogen predicted severe sepsis. Applying a combination of markers reflecting different aspects of infection might improve the recognition of risk for complications in patients with neutropenic fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare semi-quantitative procalcitonin with C-reactive protein in predicting bacteraemia in haematological patients with neutropenic fever. Methods: A total of 77 patients treated with intensive chemotherapy for haematological malignancy at Kuopio University Hospital were candidates for study entry. Eleven of these patients did not fulfil the criteria for neutropenic fever, and 66 patients were finally included. Nineteen patients had acute myeloid leukaemia and 47 had received high-dose chemotherapy supported by autologous stem cell transplant. Ninety neutropenic fever episodes in these 66 patients fulfilled the study entry criteria, with microbiological cultures, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein measurements available. Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein were analyzed at the onset of each neutropenic fever episode on day 0, and then daily from days 1 to 4. Results: Bacteraemia was observed in 21 episodes (23%) and the criteria for severe sepsis were fulfilled in 13 episodes (14%). Half of the bacteraemic episodes were caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The kinetics of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein were similar, with increasing levels for 2 to 4 days after the onset of fever. The procalcitonin level on days 1, 2, 3 and 4 was associated with bacteraemia and Gram-negative bacteraemia, but not with the development of severe sepsis. On day 1, a procalcitonin level above 0.5 ng/ml had a sensitivity of 57% and 70% and specificity of 81% and 77% to predict bacteraemia and Gram-negative bacteraemia, respectively. Conclusions: An elevated level of procalcitonin within 24 h after the onset of neutropenic fever predicts bacteraemia and Gram-negative bacteraemia in haematological patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litter size (LS) has been included in the Finnish mink breeding goal for several generations. Still, the phenotypic trend in the average number of pups per mated female has slightly decreased while animal size (AS) has increased. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for pregnancy rate (PREG) and felicity (FEL), and their genetic correlations to LS and AS. The estimated heritabilities were low for PREG (0.032) and FEL (0.026). The genetic correlations between LS and PREG (0.34), and LS and FEL (0.53) were clearly positive. Thus, on average females having genetically larger LS have higher PREG and FEL. The genetic correlation between AS and PREG was low (-0.13), and correlation between AS and FEL was moderate (-0.27) indicating that larger animals are more likely barren or lose their kits during pregnancy or right after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glassy, nanocrystaline antimony-doped hydrous tin dioxide was alkali precipitated from acidic metal chloride solution. The material has good thermal stability and granular physical form that enables its use in a conventional column. The material shows excellent, almost quantitative, uptake properties for 99Tc radionuclide. Its distribution coefficients (Kd values) for 99Tc were typically over 1 000 000 (ml/g) in solutions of one molar ionic competition (at neutral pH) and the uptake remained high over a broad pH range (2-112, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). By comparison, conventional cation/anion resins yielded Kd values of less than 200. The Tc uptake mechanism of antimony-doped tin dioxide is most likely a sorption process that cannot be categorized as typical cation or anion exchange. Redox reactions between Tc and Sb were speculated as being the phenomenon. Thermal treatment increased the materials crystal size from amorphous to ∼15 nm and changes in the oxidation state of antimony from +3 to +5 occurred at temperatures above 400°C. Also, the material's Tc uptake properties were increased by the thermal treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is considered as a prognostic marker in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, but no data are available on NT-proBNP kinetics in hematological patients with neutropenic fever. Altogether 70 hematological patients with neutropenic fever were included in this prospective study. NT-proBNP and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined at the beginning of the neutropenic fever (d0) and then daily up to 3–4 days. The median NT-proBNP (interquartile range) increased from 127 (57–393) ng/L on d0 to 542 (194–1385) ng/L on d4. The increment of CRP was from 35 (17–61) mg/L on d0 to 109 (56–109) mg/L on d2. Neither serial NT-proBNP nor CRP predicted development of severe sepsis, but NT-proBNP was significantly higher in patients with previous cardiovascular disease than in those without. NT-proBNP seemed to reflect cardiac distress, but it did not help to predict the development of severe sepsis in this patient group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated plasma lactate and impaired lactate clearance have been associated with poor outcome in patients with severe sepsis. No data are available on the kinetics or prognostic value of plasma lactate in haematological patients with neutropenic fever. A total of 70 haematological patients with 94 episodes of neutropenic fever were included into this prospective study during the period 2006–2008. The median age of the patients was 56 (range 18–70) y. Nineteen patients received therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia and 51 patients received autologous stem cell transplantation. At the onset and on days 1, 2, and 3 of each neutropenic fever episode, plasma lactate and serum C-reactive protein were determined. Criteria for severe sepsis were fulfilled in 13 neutropenic episodes. An elevated plasma lactate level was infrequent at the start of neutropenic fever (5%). There was no association of lactate level with the development of severe sepsis. Two patients died of septic shock, 1 patient with an exceptionally high and increasing level of lactate and the other patient with a normal lactate level. An elevated plasma lactate level at the start of neutropenic fever is not common and does not indicate severe sepsis, but high lactate and an impaired lactate decrease may signify a fatal course in neutropenic fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of nanoporous manganese oxides for metal uptake from hydrometallurgical solutions were studied. Layer-structured OL-1 and tunnel-structured OMS-1 were synthesized by means of a hydrothermal route and then supported on silica. Competitive uptake of metals and acid was studied using equilibrium, batch kinetic, and fixed-bed measurements. The experimental data were correlated with a dynamic model, which also accounts for the dissolution of the framework manganese. Results show that silica-supported OMS materials can be utilized to separate copper from nickel and cadmium. Behavior of the composites can be explained reasonably well with the presented model and the parameters estimated from the data of the unsupported oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fertility traits have been included in the Finnish blue fox breeding goal for several generations. However, genetic trend in reproductive performance has been undesired due to unfavorable correlations to other important traits such as animal size (AS). The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for pregnancy rate (PREG) and felicity (FEL), and their genetic correlations to litter size (LS) and AS. The estimated heritabilities were low for PREG (0.028) and FEL (0.049). The genetic correlations between LS and PREG (0.63), and LS and FEL (0.75) were clearly positive. Thus, on an average females having genetically larger LS have higher PREG and FEL. The genetic correlation between AS and PREG was close to zero (-0.05), but correlation between AS and FEL was moderate (-0.27) indicating that larger animals are more likely barren or to lose their pups during pregnancy or right after birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding for larger size in the blue fox has been successful. Today, most of the animals are large and fat at pelting time, but obesity is also more common. Extreme fatness is detrimental especially for young vixens, because fattening followed by fast and pronounced weight loss for the breeding season has a negative impact on litter size and other fertility traits. Fatness needs to be taken into account in new breeding strategies, and easy ways to record it are required. We developed a simple and quick body condition scoring (BCS) method for the evaluation of stored body fat in foxes. Correlated BCS with ultrasonic measurement of subcutaneous fat thickness, whole-carcass fat content, body weight, grading size and animal length was positive. We suggest that the BCS method can serve as a useful and practical tool for assessing the degree of fatness in the blue fox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious complications are the main reason for early treatment-related mortality after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). We evaluated retrospectively microbiological aetiology, risk factors and clinical consequences of severe sepsis in this patient cohort. From 1996 to 2006 a total of 319 patients underwent ASCT at our institution. Antibacterial prophylaxis was not used. Neutropenic fever occurred in 83% (n=265) and was complicated by severe sepsis in 5% (n=17) of patients. Severe sepsis tended to be more common in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) than in other patients (9% vs 3%, p=0.009). Bacteraemia was observed more commonly in patients with severe sepsis (76% vs 22%, p<0.001); Pseudomonas sp. was found in 30% (n=5) of these patients. Kinetics of C-reactive protein (CRP) more commonly coincided with, rather than predicted, the development of severe sepsis. All other observed risk factors for severe sepsis (length of neutropenia, fever and blood culture findings) were late indicators. Severe sepsis was fatal in 9 patients (53%), and all had NHL (p=0.003 compared to other patients). Severe sepsis is an important cause of early mortality after ASCT, especially in NHL patients. Ways to prevent development of severe sepsis or predict its development might reduce early mortality among ASCT recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate etiology and consequences of neutropenic fever in AML patients. Two hundred and ninety neutropenic periods following chemotherapy in 84 AML patients were retrospectively evaluated. Neutropenic fever was found in 280 periods (97%). Severe sepsis developed in 35 occasions (13%) and 9 patients (11%) died due to severe sepsis. In 165 episodes with neutropenic fever (59%), the potential causative organism was found in blood cultures. Gram-negative bacteria were more commonly found in patients who developed severe sepsis (40% vs. 23%, p = 0.03). CRP after 2 - 3 days from start with fever was higher in patients with severe sepsis (190 mg/L vs. 96 mg/L, p < 0.001) but the rise in CRP rather coincided than preceded with the development of severe sepsis. Severe sepsis is associated with significant mortality in AML patients. Earlier methods than CRP are needed to predict development of severe sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A database containing pathogen-specific information on mastitis has been established in Finland. The data consist of the results from routine milk samples collected from clinical and subclinical mastitis and submitted to laboratories all over the country. In the database, bacteriological information has been recorded on an individual cow basis. A total of 77,051 pathogen records submitted to the database from 1 January 2004 to 1 January 2006 were retrieved for this preliminary report of pathogen distribution. Staphylococcus aureus (18.26% and 17.73%) and coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) (17.57% and 23.51%) were the most frequently isolated pathogens from the milk samples. Seasonal and regional differences in pathogen distribution were also found. The pathogen information is primarily used for targeting the antimicrobial treatment of the cow, but also for designing specific mastitis control strategies for the herds. Pathogen data can also be useful for national mastitis control programmes and breeding programmes of dairy cattle for the selection of more resistant animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the state of the disease and verify the diagnoses during a 7-24-month follow-up of adult patients with newly diagnosed inflammatory joint diseases in a defined population. Methods: Patients with previously undiagnosed synovitis in at least one peripheral joint or signs of inflammation in sacroiliac, glenohumeral or hip joints were enrolled on their first hospital visit in 2000 and followed-up for up to 24 months in Kuopio. Results: A total of 138/173 adult patients completed a mean 13-month follow-up. During the follow-up the diagnosis was specified for 15/81 (19%) patients previously classified as undifferentiated arthritis (UA). Eight patients developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Of 28 patients with RA, 92% were on disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and 75% had a combination treatment with two or more DMARDs. According to the diagnosis at baseline, 75% of cases with RA, 38% with spondyloarthropathies (SpAs) and 42% with UA had active synovitis or arthralgia at follow-up. In multivariate analysis, older patients at disease onset were less likely to be in remission (p = 0.011). Conclusion: The diagnosis could be specified for 19% of patients with UA. Fifteen of 20 patients with RA had an active disease despite treatment with DMARDs. Patients with SpAs and UA had a better short-term outcome. Patients with active disease need aggressive therapy in all age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrulline formation through the deimination of arginine residues has recently been identified as an enzymatic post-translational modification of proteins that could be related to breaking the tolerance to self-antigens in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Autoantibodies recognizing citrullinated peptides are highly specific indicators of early rheumatoid arthritis. However, current knowledge of the natural proteins that are citrullinated does not explain the main manifestations of the disease, that is, progressive damage to cartilage and bone - tissues rich in extracellular matrix. Several collagen types are present in the joint, where they provide the structural scaffold of the tissues. Recent findings indicate that both the ubiquitous Type I collagen and the cartilage-specific Type II collagen can be enzymatically citrullinated in vitro. Synthetic citrullinated peptides related to collagen sequences can be used as antigens. Autoantibodies to these citrullinated forms are found in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. This review summarizes what is known regarding the occurrence of citrulline in a major class of extracellular matrix proteins, the fibrillar collagens and the significance of autoantibodies to citrulline in these proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic parameters were estimated for lactation average somatic cell score (SCS) and clinical mastitis (CM) for the first three lactations of multiparous Finnish Ayrshire cows. A multi-trait linear sire model was used for estimation of covariance components, and the efficiencies of single- versus multi-trait multi-lactation (MT) sire evaluations were compared. Heritability of SCS and CM in the first three lactations ranged from 0.11 to 0.13 and 0.02 to 0.03, respectively. Within lactation, genetic correlations between SCS and CM ranged from 0.68 to 0.72. Within both traits, across-lactation genetic correlations were lowest between 1 and 3, and highest between 2 and 3, with estimates ranging from 0.75 to 0.86 and from 0.81 to 0.98 for CM and SCS, respectively. Residual and phenotypic correlations were low and ranged from 0.09 to 0.13 and from 0.10 to 0.13, respectively. The absolute difference between genetic and residual correlations was from 0.5 to 0.6. Within-lactation genetic correlations between traits that are much less than unity suggest a multi-trait model for genetic evaluation of mastitis resistance. Comparison of model prediction performance between single-trait (ST) and MT models using a data splitting method showed that the MT model was more stable in predicting breeding values in future records of animals. Especially, for young sires and CM, the SD of EBVs from the MT model was 14 to 23% higher than the ST model, indicating more effective use of information in terms of revealing more genetic variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines how Muslim women and teenaged girls based in Finland construct their appearance in the Finnish cultural context. Basing of study on interviews conducted in capital areas; Feelings about individuality and communality in dress; Use of some phenomenological aspects to give greater depth to understanding.

Three different tin antimonates with Sn:Sb ratios of 1:3.8, 1:1.2, and 13.5:1 were tested for decontamination of radionuclides (60Co, 63Ni, 137Cs, and 90Sr). The exchangers were tested in acidic solution (0.1 M HNO3) and in two floor-drain water simulates containing Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ ions. High decontamination factors and processing capacities were obtained for Co, Ni, and Sr. The studied tin antimonates were applicable for column use, though clogging of the column beds did occur, particularly when treating high calcium concentration solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin antimonates of different structure were studied for their uptake of cobalt and nickel in the decontamination of floor drain water and neutral bond water simulates. Selectivity was observed to vary with the structures and degree of crystallinity of the tin antimonates (pyrochlore, rutile, and mixed metal oxides). High selectivity for cobalt of exchangers with pyrochlore structure is attributed to ion exchange of cobalt inside the tunnel structure; nickel uptake evidently took place mostly at the outer surfaces of the materials. Electrostatic forces governed the ion exchange of rutile tin antimonates owing to their particle hydrate structure. With some limitation, the prediction of nickel uptake on tin antimonates from the more abundant cobalt uptake data is considered possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]