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Climate change (CC) has widespread impacts on human and natural systems and thus threatens the future of contemporary youths. Only a few studies on climate change education (CCE) have been published in Finland, and no research has been conducted on upper secondary education. Thus, this study investigated Finnish university students' views on CCE in upper secondary schools. According to them, the most common goals in CCE are increasing and structuring knowledge, developing thinking skills, and encouraging action both today and in the future. The respondents considered preconceived notions and opinions stemming from their inner circles, the media, and social debate to be the most difficult factor in teaching about CC. CCE was perceived to provide either a weak or relatively weak capacity to follow a climate-friendly lifestyle. By increasing and diversifying teaching and strengthening multidisciplinarity, climate-friendly lifestyles can be improved. The respondents' views on current and future CCE differed most clearly concerning motivation and inclusion, which are not prevalent in contemporary teaching. The results indicate, however, that the university students were motivated to increase and develop CCE, and according their answers, their own capacity to address different aspects of CCE was relatively good.

Systems thinking is considered an important skill when teaching biology and sustainable development in the 21st century. The key to understanding biodiversity and thus sustainability in biology is understanding reproduction as a phenomenon. The aim of this study is to analyse student teachers’ systems thinking levels regarding sustainability in connection with reproduction, biodiversity and sustainable development. Second-year primary school student teachers from one Finnish university (N = 174) participated in a questionnaire, and their open-ended answers were categorized using content analysis. The results indicate that most of the student teachers had a relatively low level of systems thinking concerning sustainable development and its relation to the concepts of biodiversity and reproduction. The study also showed that student teachers with higher interest towards biology had a more sophisticated level of systems thinking. For developing sustainability understanding, teaching focusing on the specific systems thinking skills concerning processing and understanding of wholes is crucial.

Abstract Background Streptococcus intermedius is a member of the S. anginosus group and is part of the normal oral microbiota. It can cause pyogenic infections in various organs, primarily in the head and neck area, including brain abscesses and meningitis. However, ventriculitis due to periodontitis has not been reported previously. Case presentation A 64-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with a headache, fever and later imbalance, blurred vision, and general slowness. Neurological examination revealed nuchal rigidity and general clumsiness. Meningitis was suspected, and the patient was treated with dexamethasone, ceftriaxone and acyclovir. A brain computer tomography (CT) scan was normal, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Gram staining and bacterial cultures remained negative, so the antibacterial treatment was discontinued. Nine days after admission, the patient’s condition deteriorated. The antibacterial treatment was restarted, and a brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed ventriculitis. A subsequent CT scan showed hydrocephalus, so a ventriculostomy was performed. In CSF Gram staining, chains of gram-positive cocci were observed. Bacterial cultures remained negative, but a bacterial PCR detected Streptococcus intermedius. An orthopantomography revealed advanced periodontal destruction in several teeth and periapical abscesses, which were subsequently operated on. The patient was discharged in good condition after one month. Conclusions Poor dental health can lead to life-threatening infections in the central nervous system, even in a completely healthy individual. Primary bacterial ventriculitis is a diagnostic challenge, which may result in delayed treatment and increased mortality.

As many as one third of the patients diagnosed with schizophrenia do not respond to first-line antipsychotic medication. This group may benefit from the atypical antipsychotic medication clozapine, but initiation of treatment is often delayed, which may worsen prognosis. Predicting which patients do not respond to traditional antipsychotic medication at the onset of symptoms would provide fast-tracked treatment for this group of patients. We collected data from patient records of 38 first-episode psychosis patients, of whom seven did not respond to traditional antipsychotic medications. We used clinical data including medical records, voxel-based morphometry MRI data and inter-subject correlation fMRI data, obtained during movie viewing, to predict future treatment resistance. Using a neural network model, we correctly predicted future treatment resistance in six of the seven treatment resistance patients and 25 of 31 patients who did not require clozapine treatment. Prediction improved significantly when using imaging data in tandem with clinical data. The accuracy of the neural network model was significantly higher than the accuracy of a support vector machine algorithm. These results support the notion that treatment resistant schizophrenia could represent a separate entity of psychotic disorders, characterized by morphological and functional changes in the brain which could represent biomarkers detectable at early onset of symptoms.

Abstract Minimally invasive and non‐invasive hemodynamic monitoring technologies have recently gained more attention, driven by technological advances and the inherent risk of complications in invasive techniques. In this article, an experimental non‐invasive system is presented that effectively combines the capabilities of spectrometry, photoplethysmography (PPG), and arterial pressure measurement. Both time‐ and wavelength‐resolved optical signals from the fingertip are measured under external pressure, which gradually increased above the level of systolic blood pressure. The optical channels measured at 434–731 nm divided into three groups separated by a group of channels with wavelengths approximately between 590 and 630 nm. This group of channels, labeled transition band, is characterized by abrupt changes resulting from a decrease in the absorption coefficient of whole blood. External pressure levels of maximum pulsation showed that shorter wavelengths (630 nm) probe high‐pressure arteries. The results on perfusion indices and DC component level changes showed clear differences between the optical channels, further highlighting the importance of wavelength selection in optical hemodynamic monitoring systems. Altogether, the results demonstrated that the integrated system presented has the potential to extract new hemodynamic information simultaneously from macrocirculation to microcirculation.

Abstract Results from two independent clinical validation studies for measuring hemodynamics at the patient's bedside using a compact finger probe are reported. Technology comprises a barometric pressure sensor, and in one implementation, additionally, an optical sensor for photoplethysmography (PPG) is developed, which can be used to measure blood pressure and analyze rhythm, including the continuous detection of atrial fibrillation. The capabilities of the technology are shown in several form factors, including a miniaturized version resembling a common pulse oximeter to which the technology could be integrated in. Several main results are presented: i) the miniature finger probe meets the accuracy requirements of non‐invasive blood pressure instrument validation standard, ii) atrial fibrillation can be detected during the blood pressure measurement and in a continuous recording, iii) a unique comparison between optical and pressure sensing mechanisms is provided, which shows that the origin of both modalities can be explained using a pressure‐volume model and that recordings are close to identical between the sensors. The benefits and limitations of both modalities in hemodynamic monitoring are further discussed.

Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors are widely used to measure a variety of physiological parameters, from heart rate to clinically important peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2). The ease of obtaining a PPG signal simply by placing the sensor on a body site with even remotely sufficient vasculature (typically the wrist, finger, earlobe, or temple) can easily lead to overlooking the aspect of appropriate sensor contact pressure (Pc). We sought to investigate the effects of Pc from the perspective of: (i) SpO2, (ii) pulse arrival time (PAT), and (iii) PPG features. Consequently, we developed a finger cuff device to measure multispectral (green, red, and infrared (IR)) PPG signals at different Pc levels. The SpO2 values were found to increase, driven by the IR component, above the theoretical maximum of 100% slightly after the level of the mean arterial pressure. The maximum variation due to Pc was approximately 1.9 percentage points. PAT values calculated using the waveform feet of the red and IR channels were the most robust. PPG features were also sensitive to varying sensor Pc levels, with each feature showing a rather unique response. However, in general, a Pc between 20–30 mmHg (a slight Pc) and the level of diastolic blood pressure is likely to produce the best results on the features. Overall, the results showed that sensor Pc is a source of inaccuracy in PPG analysis and therefore should be given more consideration in device designs.

This study belongs to assessment-related research and aimed to investigate Finnish high-school students' (n = 211) topic-specific epistemic beliefs about climate change and whether the Norwegian topic-specific epistemic beliefs questionnaire (TSEBQ) was also valid among Finnish respondents. Thus, research data were not only derived from the TSEBQ but also from topic knowledge tests and students' views on their favorite school subjects and interest in science subjects. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the statistical model, originally based on 49 questions, was congruent with the Norwegian four-factor model (Certification, Source, Justification and Simplicity). However, according to the reliability analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the performance of the Simplicity factor was unclear. In CFA, the three-factor structure (without Simplicity) was supported. The effects of topic knowledge, topic interest and gender on the TSEBQ factors were examined by using hierarchical regression analysis (HRA). The TSEBQ was shown to be a reliable tool for measuring the topic-specific epistemic beliefs of Finnish students. More specifically, the results support the claim that topic-specific epistemic beliefs can be educationally and culturally bound. HRA showed that students' topic knowledge in chemistry and biology was related to certainty of knowledge and justification for knowing. Moreover, female students performed significantly better in topic knowledge and more often planned to pursue a science career in the future.

The primary aim of this qualitative study was to identify the landscapes that 7-12-year old Mexican students (n = 440) would like to conserve by analysing their drawings. Another aim was to determine the environmental relationship and environmental values of 5th and 6th graders (n = 152) by studying their texts. The data were analysed using mixed methods. In this study, landscape is understood as a visual experience of the environment, comprising the visible features of an area. Based on the results, all of the three main landscapes--nature, social and built--were deemed worth conserving. Beyond students' immediate environment, the polar regions, North America, Australia and Africa were mentioned; Europe and Asia were not. The landscape drawings were realistic and carefully made, and the descriptions attached to them were clearly written. The environmental approach was mainly humanistic, and aesthetic values were appreciated by both genders. Utilitarian values were mentioned more often by boys than girls. The students' descriptions reflected their environmental relationship, e.g., concern about nature, showing causal relationships, appreciation and affection. Concern or worry was often accompanied by the mention of human's responsibility in the students' texts, but they seldom considered their own activities in relation to the environment. The students depicted threats to nature, but they externalized themselves from the mechanisms threatening nature. In addition, they did not show familiarity with natural processes and scientific terminology. The study reveals that it is not only theoretically important to have distinct values, but these also need to be recognized by individuals. If the humans' pro-environmental actions are to be promoted through education, it is important to study students' values, as they may be important barriers to behavioral change. As students showed concern about preserving nature, teachers can discuss environmental values and different ways to take action and make changes with them, in order to avoid anxiety.

Understanding and learning geographic knowledge and applying it to sustainable development (SD) depends not only on the knowledge itself, but also on how it is taught and studied. The teaching and learning methods for promoting sustainability in geography have not been thoroughly studied. This qualitative study examined articles on geography teaching and SD. The material was selected using keywords related to geography education. The study describes 17 articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals from 2008 to 2018. The focus group varied from primary to higher education. The proportion of teaching and learning methods were determined. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The foci of the analyses were the teaching and learning methods, topics, goals, and levels of thinking skills. Additionally, features of the teaching methods used in geography education, including outdoor education, to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) were investigated. Different teaching methods used together and interactive learning were the most often preferred. Group work and teachers' presentations were mentioned in 12 articles, and inquiry-based learning and argumentation in half of the articles. The most often written expressions promoting SD in geography education concerned environmental sustainability (42%), followed by social (25%), economic (19%), and cultural sustainability (14%). The most emphasized features of the current teaching methods were active participation, thinking skills, animation, evaluation, dialog, demonstrations, and information and communication technology skills. The whole school approach and forward-looking perspective in geography should be implemented in school education to reach the SDGs and to support SD.

In many studies, the focus has been on students' written scientific argumentation rather than on their spoken argumentation. The main aim of this study was to relate the quality of spoken argumentation to groups' learning achievement during a collaborative inquiry task. The data included video recordings of six groups of three upper secondary students performing a collaborative inquiry task in a virtual learning environment. The target groups were selected from a larger sample of 39 groups based on their group outcome: two low, two average, and two high-outcome groups. The analysis focused on argumentation chains during the students' discussions in the planning, experimentation, and conclusion phases of the inquiry task. The core of the coding scheme was based on Toulmin's levels of argumentation. The results revealed differences between the different groups of students, with the high-performing groups having more argumentation than the average and low-performing groups. In high-performing groups, the students asked topic-related questions more frequently, which started the argumentative discussion. Meanwhile, there were few questions in the low-performing groups, and most did not lead to discussion. An evaluation scheme for the quality of the arguments was created and the spoken argumentation was analyzed using a computer-based program. The results may be used to benefit subject teacher education and to raise teachers' awareness of their students' scientific, topic-related discussions.

IntroductionIn March 2020 many countries around the world, including Finland, implemented lockdown measures to mitigate the unprecedented impacts of the coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) on public health. As a result, school and daycare settings closed indefinitely and working from home became the new normal for a big part of the workforce, which came with increased homeschooling and childcare responsibility for mothers.MethodsIn this article we present the findings from maternal responses to open ended questions on psychosocial well-being, and experiences of combining work, family life and homeschooling during the COVID-19 national lockdown in Finland in March–May 2020. Working mothers’ responses (n = 72) were analyzed through the lens of Karasek’s job demand-control model, focusing on how the mothers experienced the demands of their life during the lockdown, and how they saw their possibilities to control the situation.ResultsThe findings indicated important variation in the level of experienced demand and control and associated compensatory factors during the COVID-19 lockdown across different subgroups of working mothers.DiscussionThe findings have implications for understanding strain and plausible supports among working mothers during the COVID-19 lockdown as well as in the face of acute adversity including the next possible public health crisis.

Children explore their environment through experiences and each experience is meaningful in developing their environmental consciousness and identity. On the basis of the drawn landscape experiences, the present qualitative study set out to find out what landscapes the participating students deemed worth conserving. The data consisted of the drawings of 11- to 16-year-old Finnish (n = 311) and Swedish (n = 246) students. Deductive and inductive content analyses were used to analyse the data. The results showed that all three landscape types; nature, built, and social were presented in the drawings. Nature and built landscapes were the most frequent types, with the proportion of nature landscapes increasing and that of built landscapes decreasing with age. There were gender and cultural preferences: boys drew built landscapes more often than girls; and Finnish students drew summer cottages, a cultural phenomenon typical of Finnish landscapes, which was not found in Swedish drawings. Similarities in Finnish and Swedish data were identified e.g., in forest and water and "cultural landscapes". Some of the students displayed a more distant, observing role, whereas others adopted an active one in relation to all three landscape types. The results are discussed in connection to the landscape theories and earlier findings of the drawn environments.

IntroductionAngiopoietin 1 (angpt1) is essential for angiogenesis. However, its role in neurogenesis is largely undiscovered. This study aimed to identify the role of angpt1 in brain development, the mode of action of angpt1, and its prime targets in the zebrafish brain.MethodsWe investigated the effects of embryonic brain angiogenesis and neural development using qPCR, in situ hybridization, microangiography, retrograde labeling, and immunostaining in the angpt1sa14264, itgb1bmi371, tekhu1667 mutant fish and transgenic overexpression of angpt1 in the zebrafish larval brains.ResultsWe showed the co-localization of angpt1 with notch, delta, and nestin in the proliferation zone in the larval brain. Additionally, lack of angpt1 was associated with downregulation of TEK tyrosine kinase, endothelial (tek), and several neurogenic factors despite upregulation of integrin beta 1b (itgb1b), angpt2a, vascular endothelial growth factor aa (vegfaa), and glial markers. We further demonstrated that the targeted angpt1sa14264 and itgb1bmi371 mutant fish showed severely irregular cerebrovascular development, aberrant hindbrain patterning, expansion of the radial glial progenitors, downregulation of cell proliferation, deficiencies of dopaminergic, histaminergic, and GABAergic populations in the caudal hypothalamus. In contrast to angpt1sa14264 and itgb1bmi371 mutants, the tekhu1667 mutant fish regularly grew with no apparent phenotypes. Notably, the neural-specific angpt1 overexpression driven by the elavl3 (HuC) promoter significantly increased cell proliferation and neuronal progenitor cells but decreased GABAergic neurons, and this neurogenic activity was independent of its typical receptor tek.DiscussionOur results prove that angpt1 and itgb1b, besides regulating vascular development, act as a neurogenic factor via notch and wnt signaling pathways in the neural proliferation zone in the developing brain, indicating a novel role of dual regulation of angpt1 in embryonic neurogenesis that supports the concept of angiopoietin-based therapeutics in neurological disorders.

Abstract Background Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) plays a role in physiological pain sensation and opioid analgesia. For example, NPFF potentiates opiate-induced analgesia and the delta opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole inhibits NPFF-induced antinociception. The nature of the interactions between NPFF and opioid receptors seems to be complex and the molecular mechanisms behind the observed physiological effects are not known. Results We used a stable Chinese hamster ovary cell line expressing c-MYC-tagged human delta opioid receptor to study the interactions at the molecular level. Our results imply that NPFF can directly modulate the activation of delta opioid receptor in the absence of NPFF receptors. The modulatory effect, though only moderate, was consistently detected with several methods. The agonist-induced receptor trafficking was changed in the presence of (1DMe)NPYF, a stable NPFF-analogue. (1DMe)NPYF enhanced the receptor activation and recovery; opioid antagonists inhibited the effects, indicating that they were delta opioid receptor-mediated. The binding experiments with a novel ligand, Terbium-labeled deltorphin I, showed that (1DMe)NPYF modulated the binding of delta opioid receptor ligands. The levels of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinase and intracellular cAMP were studied to clarify the effects of NPFF on the opioid signaling mechanisms. Application of (1DMe)NPYF together with a delta opioid receptor agonist enhanced the signaling via both pathways studied. Concomitantly to the receptor trafficking, the time-course of the activation of the signaling was altered. Conclusion In addition to working via indirect mechanisms on the opioid systems, NPFF may exert a direct modulatory effect on the delta opioid receptor. NPFF may be a multi-functional neuropeptide that regulates several neuronal systems depending on the site of action.

Abstract Background In rat, deafferentation of one labyrinth (unilateral labyrinthectomy) results in a characteristic syndrome of ocular and motor postural disorders (e.g., barrel rotation, circling behavior, and spontaneous nystagmus). Behavioral recovery (e.g., diminished symptoms), encompassing 1 week after unilateral labyrinthectomy, has been termed vestibular compensation. Evidence suggesting that the histamine H3 receptor plays a key role in vestibular compensation comes from studies indicating that betahistine, a histamine-like drug that acts as both a partial histamine H1 receptor agonist and an H3 receptor antagonist, can accelerate the process of vestibular compensation. Results Expression levels for histamine H3 receptor (total) as well as three isoforms which display variable lengths of the third intracellular loop of the receptor were analyzed using in situ hybridization on brain sections containing the rat medial vestibular nucleus after unilateral labyrinthectomy. We compared these expression levels to H3 receptor binding densities. Total H3 receptor mRNA levels (detected by oligo probe H3X) as well as mRNA levels of the three receptor isoforms studied (detected by oligo probes H3A, H3B, and H3C) showed a pattern of increase, which was bilaterally significant at 24 h post-lesion for both H3X and H3C, followed by significant bilateral decreases in medial vestibular nuclei occurring 48 h (H3X and H3B) and 1 week post-lesion (H3A, H3B, and H3C). Expression levels of H3B was an exception to the forementioned pattern with significant decreases already detected at 24 h post-lesion. Coinciding with the decreasing trends in H3 receptor mRNA levels was an observed increase in H3 receptor binding densities occurring in the ipsilateral medial vestibular nuclei 48 h post-lesion. Conclusion Progressive recovery of the resting discharge of the deafferentated medial vestibular nuclei neurons results in functional restoration of the static postural and occulomotor deficits, usually occurring within a time frame of 48 hours in rats. Our data suggests that the H3 receptor may be an essential part of pre-synaptic mechanisms required for reestablishing resting activities 48 h after unilateral labyrinthectomy.

Abstract Background Hibernation is a state of extremely reduced physiological functions and a deep depression of CNS activity. We have previously shown that the histamine levels increase in the brain during hibernation, as does the ratio between histamine and its first metabolite, suggesting increased histamine turnover during this state. The inhibitory histamine H3 receptor has both auto- and heteroreceptor function, rendering it the most likely histamine receptor to be involved in regulating the activity of histamine as well as other neurotransmitters during hibernation. In view of accumulating evidence that there is a global depression of transcription and translation during hibernation, of all but a few proteins that are important for this physiological condition, we reasoned that an increase in histamine H3 receptor expression would clearly indicate an important hibernation-related function for the receptor. Results In this study we show, using in situ hybridization, that histamine H3 receptor mRNA increases in the cortex, caudate nucleus and putamen during hibernation, an increase that is accompanied by elevated receptor binding in the cerebral cortex, globus pallidus and substantia nigra. These results indicate that there is a hibernation-related increase in H3 receptor expression in cortical neurons and in striatopallidal and striatonigral GABAergic neurons. GTP-γ-S binding autoradiography shows that the H3 receptors in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra can be stimulated by histamine throughout the hibernation cycle, suggesting that they are functionally active during hibernation. Conclusions These results show that the histamine H3 receptor gene is one of the few with a transcript that increases during hibernation, indicating an important role for the receptor in regulating this state. Moreover, the receptor is functionally active in the basal ganglia, suggesting a function for it in regulating e.g. dopaminergic transmission during hibernation.

There are very few studies concerning the importance of teaching methods in biology education and environmental education including outdoor education for promoting sustainability at the levels of primary and secondary schools and pre-service teacher education. The material was selected using special keywords from biology and sustainable education in several scientific databases. The article provides an overview of 24 selected articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals from 2006-2016. The data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Altogether, 16 journals were selected and 24 articles were analyzed in detail. The foci of the analyses were teaching methods, learning environments, knowledge and thinking skills, psychomotor skills, emotions and attitudes, and evaluation methods. Additionally, features of good methods were investigated and their implications for teaching were emphasized. In total, 22 different teaching methods were found to improve sustainability education in different ways. The most emphasized teaching methods were those in which students worked in groups and participated actively in learning processes. Research points toward the value of teaching methods that provide a good introduction and supportive guidelines and include active participation and interactivity.

Individuals' perceptions of their knowledge can have an important role in shaping their cognition and influencing their behaviour. However, there has been a scarcity of studies in biology on how perceived knowledge relates to actual knowledge. The focus of this article is on quantitative results analysing and interpreting student teachers' perceived knowledge of biological content in relation to their actual animal and species name knowledge linked to the ecosystem in which they live. K-means cluster analysis and ANOVA were used. The results show a high- and low-level perceived knowledge cluster group among the participants. They further indicate that the difference in actual animal and species name knowledge between these cluster groups remained the same during the five years of the study. The student teachers with a higher level of perceived knowledge tended to have better actual animal and species name knowledge than those in the low-level group. The actual animal name knowledge in these cluster groups was similar with regard to the local Finnish ecosystems but differed concerning the exotic species by year. The year that the participants enrolled in the study programme had an impact on their actual animal and species name knowledge. Strategies for coping with work-related demands and maintaining engagement in one's career would be important additions to the teacher education curriculum.

This study investigates how well prepared student teachers are to implement species identification in school. Data were collected with the help of a questionnaire and a PowerPoint presentation in which local plant and animal species were presented. Participants (n = 357) correctly identified, on average, 23% of the plants and 44% of the animals. They identified plants mainly by flower characteristics and leaves, and animals mainly by shape and colour. Family and school were key sources of participants' knowledge of species. The self-estimated competence of participants to identify species was positively correlated with their taxonomic knowledge and the amount of time they had spent on species identification during their own schooldays. The number of correctly identified plant and animal species increased with interest in identifying species and participation in species identification courses. Participants considered learner-centred education and experience-based learning, and the use of living organisms to be most important when identifying species in school.

Background and purpose: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the commonest reason for revision after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We assessed the risk factors for revision due to PJI following TKA based on the Finnish Arthroplasty Register (FAR). Patients and methods: We analyzed 62,087 primary condylar TKAs registered between June 2014 and February 2020 with revision for PJI as the endpoint. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the first PJI revision using 25 potential patient- and surgical-related risk factors as covariates. Results: 484 knees were revised for the first time during the first postoperative year because of PJI. The HRs for revision due to PJI in unadjusted analysis were 0.5 (0.4–0.6) for female sex, 0.7 (0.6–1.0) for BMI 25–29, and 1.6 (1.1–2.5) for BMI > 40 compared with BMI < 25, 4.0 (1.3–12) for preoperative fracture diagnosis compared with osteoarthritis, and 0.7 (0.5–0.9) for use of an antimicrobial incise drape. In adjusted analysis the HRs were 2.2 (1.4–3.5) for ASA class III–IV compared with class I, 1.7 (1.4–2.1) for intraoperative bleeding ≥ 100 mL, 1.4 (1.2–1.8) for use of a drain, 0.7 (0.5–1.0) for short duration of operation of 45–59 minutes, and 1.7 (1.3–2.3) for long operation duration > 120 min compared with 60–89 minutes, and 1.3 (1.0–1.8) for use of general anesthesia. Conclusion: We found increased risk for revision due to PJI when no incise drape was used. The use of drainage also increased the risk. Specializing in performing TKA reduces operative time and thereby also the PJI rate.

Voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels play important roles in regulating neuronal excitability. Kv channels comprise four principal α subunits, and transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic auxiliary subunits that modify diverse aspects of channel function. AMIGO-1, which mediates homophilic cell adhesion underlying neurite outgrowth and fasciculation during development, has recently been shown to be an auxiliary subunit of adult brain Kv2.1-containing Kv channels. We show that AMIGO-1 is extensively colocalized with both Kv2.1 and its paralog Kv2.2 in brain neurons across diverse mammals, and that in adult brain, there is no apparent population of AMIGO-1 outside of that colocalized with these Kv2 α subunits. AMIGO-1 is coclustered with Kv2 α subunits at specific plasma membrane (PM) sites associated with hypolemmal subsurface cisternae at neuronal ER:PM junctions. This distinct PM clustering of AMIGO-1 is not observed in brain neurons of mice lacking Kv2 α subunit expression. Moreover, in heterologous cells, coexpression of either Kv2.1 or Kv2.2 is sufficient to drive clustering of the otherwise uniformly expressed AMIGO-1. Kv2 α subunit coexpression also increases biosynthetic intracellular trafficking and PM expression of AMIGO-1 in heterologous cells, and analyses of Kv2.1 and Kv2.2 knockout mice show selective loss of AMIGO-1 expression and localization in neurons lacking the respective Kv2 α subunit. Together, these data suggest that in mammalian brain neurons, AMIGO-1 is exclusively associated with Kv2 α subunits, and that Kv2 α subunits are obligatory in determining the correct pattern of AMIGO-1 expression, PM trafficking and clustering.

Teachers play a crucial role in supporting the development of students’ environmental knowledge and skills for responding to environmental change, but previous research has not sufficiently explored teachers’ perceptions of this matter. The article reports on a survey aimed at studying subject student teachers’ (SSTs, n = 113) perceptions of environmental problems, their interest in sustainable development (SD) and their own role as environmental problem solvers. The material was gathered using a questionnaire and analysis by quantitative methods. Urban environment and infrastructure problems were the most frequently mentioned. Problems of ecosystems and indifference and a lack of information were also mentioned often, while the least noted were problems of human wellbeing. The majority of SSTs were interested in SD, but interest in SD was dependent on the discipline studied and gender. Two-thirds of women and one-third of men were very interested, and more than half of biology and geography SSTs were very interested. Over half of SSTs reported that environmental problems had to be solved by someone else; only about one-seventh perceived themselves to be solvers. The SSTs felt that they could influence the solutions to environmental problems more often on a local than on a regional or global level.

The media, as a source of information, is supposed to have a significant role in effecting people's environmental knowledge and attitudes. The purpose of this study was to find students' perceptions of environmental issues as presented in the media and how students in Finland, Lithuania and Sweden used these media sources in the matters related to environmental issues. The most important source of environmental knowledge was found to be the Internet, followed by newspapers, television, school and education. In their own lives, students discussed environmental issues every day and, to some extent, in social media, discussion forums and blogs. In Finland, newspapers represented the most important source of environmental knowledge; in Lithuania, environmental organisations were the most prevalent, and, in Sweden, it was in a school or educational context. Based on these results, it was concluded that, in order to reach both genders of students in different countries and to more greatly benefit from all sources of information, a variety of media should be used in education for sustainability.

Protamine is an arginine-rich peptide that replaces histones in the DNA-protein complex during spermatogenesis. Protamine is clinically used in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery to neutralize the effects of heparin that is required during the treatment. Here we demonstrate that protamine and its 14–22 amino acid long fragments overcome the neurite outgrowth inhibition by chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) that are generally regarded as major inhibitors of regenerative neurite growth after injuries of the adult central nervous system (CNS). Since the full-length protamine was found to have toxic effects on neuronal cells we used the in vitro neurite outgrowth assay to select a protamine fragment that retains the activity to overcome the neurite outgrowth inhibition on CSPG substrate and ended up in the 14 amino acid fragment, low-molecular weight protamine (LMWP). In contrast to the full-length protamine, LMWP displays very low or no toxicity in our assays in vitro and in vivo. We therefore started studies on LMWP as a possible drug lead in treatment of CNS injuries, such as the spinal cord injury (SCI). LMWP mimicks HB-GAM (heparin-binding growth-associated molecule; pleiotrophin) in that it overcomes the CSPG inhibition on neurite outgrowth in primary CNS neurons in vitro and inhibits binding of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) sigma, an inhibitory receptor in neurite outgrowth, to its CSPG ligand. Furthermore, the chondroitin sulfate (CS) chains of the cell matrix even enhance the LMWP-induced neurite outgrowth on CSPG substrate. In vivo studies using the hemisection and hemicontusion SCI models in mice at the cervical level C5 revealed that LMWP enhances recovery when administered through intracerebroventricular or systemic route. We suggest that LMWP is a promising drug lead to develop therapies for CNS injuries.

Background and hypothesis: Delusions are characteristic of psychotic disorders; however, the brain correlates of delusions remain poorly known. Imaging studies on delusions typically compare images across individuals. Related confounding of inter-individual differences beyond delusions may be avoided by comparing delusional and non-delusional states within individuals. Study design: We studied correlations of delusions using intra-subject correlation (intra-SC) and inter-subject correlation of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal time series, obtained during a movie stimulus at baseline and follow-up. We included 27 control subjects and 24 first-episode psychosis patients, who were free of delusions at follow-up, to calculate intra-SC between fMRI signals obtained during the two time points. In addition, we studied changes in functional connectivity at baseline and during the one-year follow-up using regions where delusion severity correlated with intra-SC as seeds. Results: The intra-SC correlated negatively with the baseline delusion severity in the bilateral anterior insula. In addition, we observed a subthreshold cluster in the anterior cingulate. These three regions constitute the cortical salience network (SN). Functional connectivity between the bilateral insula and the precuneus was weaker in the patients at baseline than in patients at follow-up or in control subjects at any time point. Conclusions: The results suggest that intra-SC is a powerful tool to study brain correlates of symptoms and highlight the role of the SN and internetwork dysconnectivity between the SN and the default mode network in delusions.

People's knowledge about nature, their interest in nature, their nature experiences, and their values and emotions regarding nature are factors that promote people's positive views on environmental issues and sustainability. Knowing the variation and patterns in teachers' and student teachers' views is an essential step in considering the ways in which sustainability might be interpreted and enacted in schools and in teacher education. The aim of this study is to analyze student teachers' views on the importance of species and species identification in general and as a part of their professional development regarding their understanding of biodiversity and sustainability. A total of 426 student teachers in Finland, Norway, and Sweden answered a questionnaire consisting of fixed and open-ended questions. Mixed methods were used: t test and analysis of variance for quantitative data and inductive and deductive, model-based content analysis for qualitative data. According to the majority of student teachers (85%), both species identification and biodiversity are important for sustainability; species identification in general was important to 58% of them. Their statements about importance contained mostly ecological views (46%), followed by emotional (17%), educational (16%), and utilitarian (11%) views. The remainder of the student teachers' statements (10%) contained negativistic or indifferent views. The reasons for the low percentage of educational views are discussed. The implications of the results for teacher education worldwide are emphasized, especially the importance of those teaching methods that have the potential to increase student teachers' understanding of sustainability.

Background:. Because of the increasing number of total hip arthroplasties (THAs), even a small proportion of complications after the operation can lead to substantial individual difficulties and health-care costs. The aim of this study was to develop simple-to-use risk prediction models to assess the risk of the most common reasons for implant failure to facilitate clinical decision-making and to ensure long-term survival of primary THAs. Methods:. We analyzed patient and surgical data reported to the Finnish Arthroplasty Register (FAR) on 25,919 primary THAs performed in Finland between May 2014 and January 2018. For the most frequent adverse outcomes after primary THA, we developed multivariable Lasso regression models based on the data of the randomly selected training cohort (two-thirds of the data). The performances of all models were validated using the remaining, independent test set consisting of 8,640 primary THAs (one-third of the data) not used for building the models. Results:. The most common outcomes within 6 months after the primary THA were revision operations due to periprosthetic joint infection (1.1%), dislocation (0.7%), or periprosthetic fracture (0.5%), and death (0.7%). For each of these outcomes, Lasso regression identified subsets of variables required for accurate risk predictions. The highest discrimination performance, in terms of area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), was observed for death (0.84), whereas the performance was lower for revisions due to periprosthetic joint infection (0.68), dislocation (0.64), or periprosthetic fracture (0.65). Conclusions:. Based on the small number of preoperative characteristics of the patient and modifiable surgical parameters, the developed risk prediction models can be easily used to assess the risk of revision or death. All developed models hold the potential to aid clinical decision-making, ultimately leading to improved clinical outcomes. Level of Evidence:. Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

This study aims to find higher education students' perceptions about environmental issues and how the perceptions are related to perceptions of media coverage. This study investigates higher education students' perceptions of the seriousness of environmental issues and their relation to perceptions of media coverage. Higher education students perceived a global problem, lack of clean water, as most serious environmental problem. Media has had an effect on students' perceptions on environmental issues: when students perceived the problem as serious they also perceived the information in media concerning it appropriate. Students perceived that the media underestimate and obscure some environmental problems such as biological diversity and global warming. It was concluded that higher education educators need more knowledge of students', future decision makers' concerns and perceptions about environmental issues to develop more effective teaching practices in higher education. Through education environmental issues literacy, which is a precursor for engaged protection of the environment, can be fostered. This study offers some insights into higher education students' perceptions of the media's role in environmental issues.

Knowledge of species, interest in nature, and nature experiences are the factors that best promote interest in and understanding of environmental issues, biodiversity and sustainable life. The aim of this study is to investigate how well student teachers identify common local species, their interest in and ideas about species identification, and their perceptions of the importance of species identification and biodiversity for sustainable development. Totally 456 student teachers for primary schools were tested using an identification test and a questionnaire consisting of fixed and open questions. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to get a more holistic view of students' level of knowledge and their preferred learning methods. The student teachers' ability to identify very common species was low, and only 3% were able to identify most of the tested species. Experiential learning outdoors was suggested by the majority of students as the most efficient learning method, followed by experiential learning indoors, project work and experimental learning. They looked upon the identification of plants and animals as "important" or "very important" for citizens today and for sustainable development. Likewise, they looked upon biodiversity as "important" or "very important" for sustainable development. Our conclusion is that teaching and learning methods for identification and knowledge of species and for education of biodiversity and sustainable development should always include experiential and project-based methods in authentic environments.

The PTEN induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) gene is mutated in patients with hereditary early onset Parkinson's disease (PD). The targets of PINK1 and the mechanisms in PD are still not fully understood. Here, we carried out a high-throughput and unbiased microarray study to identify novel functions and pathways for PINK1. In larval zebrafish, the function of pink1 was inhibited using splice-site morpholino oligonucleotides and the samples were hybridized on a two-color gene expression array. We found 177 significantly altered genes in pink1 morphants compared with the uninjected wildtype controls (log fold change values from −1.6 to +0.9). The five most prominent pathways based on critical biological processes and key toxicological responses were hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling, TGF-β signaling, mitochondrial dysfunction, RAR activation, and biogenesis of mitochondria. Furthermore, we verified that potentially important genes such as hif1α, catalase, SOD3, and atp1a2a were downregulated in pink1 morphants, whereas genes such as fech, pax2a, and notch1a were upregulated. Some of these genes have been found to play important roles in HIF signaling pathways. The pink1 morphants were found to have heart dysfunction, increased erythropoiesis, increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factors, and increased ROS. Our findings suggest that a lack of pink1 in zebrafish alters many vital and critical pathways in addition to the HIF signaling pathway.