Farmer research and extension

In this brief, we learn that "combining technical innovations with collective action initiatives has been shown to lead to substantial farmer benefits. A number of farmer-led research and extension (FRE) approaches incorporate collective action for different purposes and at different stages in the innovation process. Collective action can be useful in sharing knowledge, setting priorities, and experimenting with, evaluating, and disseminating technologies." The authors describe various participatory research approaches such as farmer field schools (FFSs), local agriculture research committees (CIALs), farmer research groups (FRGs), and farmer innovation approaches (FIAs) from Text.Poverty alleviation ,Collective action ,

Collective action and property rights for sustainable development

Local innovation is the key to sustainable improvement in agricultural production, natural resource management, and rural livelihood systems. One of the main lessons of participatory research is that involving stakeholders in the early stages of research and development leads to better targeting of technologies, a greater sense of local ownership, and often more economically secure livelihoods. Participatory research approaches have been shown to reduce the time between the initiation of research and the adoption of new technologies and to increase both the rate and speed of adoption.The process of participating in research can also have a significant impact on farmers’ human and social capital. Combining technical innovations with collective action initiatives has been shown to lead to substantial farmer benefits. A number of farmer-led research and extension (FRE) approaches incorporate collective action for different purposes and at different stages in the innovation process. Collective action can be useful in sharing knowledge, setting priorities, and experimenting with, evaluating, and disseminating technologies. Participatory research and collective action tend to reinforce one another.Where strong norms of collective action and social capital exist, they create a climate conducive to joint experimentation and sharing of innovation. Collective action can be instrumental in motivating participation, coordinating the actions of multiple resource users, spreading risks, managing environmental spillovers, and scaling up the benefits of participatory research.When seeded by external facilitation and scientific partnership, a carefully nurtured process of participation also has the potential to strengthen social networking, cooperation, and organization

Fasta fyrir skurðaðgerð : „ekkert eftir miðnætti“ – gömul klisja

Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn Skoða/Opna(view/open)Sú hefð að fasta frá miðnætti, aðfaranótt aðgerðardags, á sér langa sögu en árið 1946 fjallaði Mendelson um hve hættulegt bakflæði magainnihalds ofan í lungu getur verið. Í kjölfar þess var farið að styðjast við þá vinnureglu að aðgerðasjúklingar skyldu fasta frá miðnætti og var sú regla viðhöfð að minnsta kosti næstu 50 árin eða þar til ný þekking kom fram. Með nýrri þekkingu var sýnt fram á að langvarandi fasta er ekki nauðsynleg líkt og talið var en þrátt fyrir þá vitneskju hefur víða reynst erfitt að innleiða nýtt verklag um styttri og breytta föstu. Höfundar kynntu sér þetta efni í diplómanámi sínu og vakti það áhuga okkar vegna þess misræmis sem greinilega er á því vinnulagi sem tíðkaðist á okkar vinnustað og í fræðunum. Í þessari grein verður fjallað um vinnuleiðbeiningar varðandi föstu fyrir skurðaðgerð sem gefnar voru út árið 1999. Við segjum frá könnun á einni legudeild Landspítala Hringbraut og hvernig unnið hefur verið að því að breyta verklagi að frumkvæði hjúkrunarfræðinga með innleiðingu nýrra leiðbeininga um föstu sjúklinga fyrir skurðaðgerð

Pohjoismainen puolustusliitto poliittisen keskustelun aiheena Ruotsissa vuosina 1948-1949

Pro gradu -tutkielmani käsittelee kolmen Ruotsin politiikkaan vaikuttaneen henkilön mielipiteitä sekä niiden muutoksia koskien pohjoismaista puolustusliittoa vuosina 1948-1949. Lisäksi tutkielmani tarkastelee myös heidän suhtautumistaan Tanskan ja Norjan ulkopolitiikkaan sekä maiden päättäjiin. Ruotsi, Tanska ja Norja kävivät vuonna 1948 neuvotteluja Pohjolan yhteisestä puolustusliitosta. Neuvottelut päättyivät vuoden 1949 alussa Ruotsin vaatiessa puolustusliiton puolueettomuutta ja Norjan puolestaan edellyttäessä yhteistyötä muun muassa Yhdysvaltojen kanssa. Lisäksi tarkastelen myös Ruotsin sisäpolitiikan sekä Suomen ulkopoliittisen aseman vaikutusta puolustusliittoa koskeviin asenteisiin. Tutkimuksen pääasiallisena lähdeaineistona toimivat Ruotsin pääministeri Tage Erlanderin, ulkoministeri Östen Undénin ja kenraalimajuri Helge Jungin päiväkirjamerkinnät. Tutkielmassa ovat edustettuina pääministerin, diplomaatin sekä sotilaan näkökannat. Tutkimusmetodillisesti tutkimus on kvalitatiivinen tutkimus, joka pyrkii vastaamaan annettuihin tutkimuskysymyksiin aineiston pohjalta. Lisäksi yhtenä tutkimusmetodina toimii myös lähdekritiikki. Keskeisimpinä tutkimustuloksina voidaan mainita ennen kaikkea Ruotsin ja Norjan ulkopoliittisten linjojen eroavaisuudet, jotka vaikuttivat myös ruotsalaisten asenteisiin. Lisäksi Tanskan ja Norjan puolustuksen heikkous lisäsi kielteistä suhtautumista puolustusliittoon. Kenraalimajuri Helge Jung korosti myös Suomen aseman merkitystä ja Ruotsin mahdollisen NATO-jäsenyyden vaikutusta Suomen ja Neuvostoliiton välisiin suhteisiin. Pääministeri Tage Erlanderin kantaan puolestaan vaikuttivat myös henkilökohtaiset mielipiteet Norjan ulkoministeristä

Suomalaisen teollisen puurakentamisen vientimarkkinoiden vetovoima tekijöiden arviointi

Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on arvioida suomalaisen teollisen puurakentamisen tulevaisuuden markkinoita. Tutkimus on toteutettu analysoimalla sekundäärimateriaalia, aikaisempia tutkimuksia sekä luomalla tulevaisuuskuva suomalaisesta teollisesta puurakentamisesta ja erityisesti sen viennistä vuoteen 2030 mennessä. Tämä analyysi perustuu kvalitatiivisiin yksilöhaastatteluihin ja backcasting menetelmällä analysoituun asiantuntijapaneeli dataan. Lisäksi, tutkimus vertailee puutuoteteollisuuden tämän hetkistä tilannetta ja tulevaisuuden näkymiä Suomen, Ruotsin ja Viron välillä analysoimalla sekundäärimateriaaleja, aikaisempia tutkimuksia sekä asiantuntijoiden näkemyksiä. Tutkimus toteutettiin kahden erilaisen kvalitatiivisen datasarjan avulla. Puolistrukturoidut temaattiset asiantuntijahaastattelut kerättiin Suomesta, Ruotsista ja Virosta. Asiantuntijahaastattelut käytettiin saamaan laajempi ymmärrys kotimaisesta teollisen puurakentamisen tämän hetkisestä tilanteesta ja vientimahdollisuuksista niin Suomesta, Ruotsista kuin Virosta. Suomalaisista asiantuntijoista koostuva paneeli kokoontui luomaan ideaali visiota teollisen puurakentamisen sektorista Suomessa ja sen viennistä vuonna 2030. Paneeli kokoontui työpajaan, missä ideaali visiot muodostettiin. Lisäksi, ennakko- ja jälkikyselyt olivat osa asiantuntijapaneelidataa. Tämä data käytettiin tunnistamaan lupaavimmat teollisen puurakentamisen vientimaat/alueet ja kokonaisuudet (esimerkiksi, viedäänkö materiaaleja, moduuleja vai rakennusprojekteja). Tulokset korostavat, että tarvitaan mahdollisimman pian konkreettisia yhteisiä toimenpiteitä tiedonjaon ja teollisen puurakentamisen markkinoinnin osalta. Perustuen kansainväliseen markkinoidenvalintamallin, joka yhdistää datan workshopista, haastatteluista, kirjallisuudesta ja kyselyistä vuonna 2030 tulevaisuuden markkinat ovat Keski-Eurooppa, Yhdistyneet Kansakunnat sekä Pohjoismaat. Muuten suomalaisten asiantuntijoiden näkemykset lupaavimmista viennin kokonaisuuksista vuonna 2030 vaihtelevat tuotteiden, osaamisen ja projektien välillä. Tutkimusprosessin aikana tunnistettiin, että tulevaisuuden markkinat tarvitsisivat tarkempaa tarkastelua erityisesti yrityksien näkökulmasta. Suomalaisilla asiantuntijoilla on vaihtelevia näkemyksiä teollisen puurakentamisen viennistä ideaali visiossa vuonna 2030. Tutkimus osoitti, että asiantuntijoiden näkemykset ovat jakautuneet. Useat heistä uskoivat, että vuonna 2030 Suomen tulisi viedä enemmän osaamista ja projekteja. Toiset taas uskoivat, että Suomen tulisi keskittyä jatkojalostetuiden materiaalien vientiin. Kuitenkin, kaikki asiantuntijat olivat samaa mieltä siitä, että Suomen tulisi aktivoida kotimaanmarkkinaa ja harmonisoida sääntöjä, millä on ollut positiivisia vaikutuksia kyvykkyyteen ja osaamiseen. Ideaali visiossa, vuonna 2030 Suomi on kehittänyt verkostojaan ja yhteistyötä metsäteollisuuden keskuudessa, mutta myös muiden toimijoiden kanssa. Suomella on avoin jaettu digitaalinen alusta tiedonjakoon, ja standardit sekä määräykset ovat kehittyneet. Vuonna 2030 puurakennusteollisuus on vetovoimaisempi opiskelijoille ja asiantuntijoille kuin nyt ja kotimaanmarkkina on laajempi. Lisäksi Suomi on kasvattanut tietotaitoaan ja osaamista teollisesta puurakentamisesta. Suomalaiset asiantuntijat näkevät, että tulevaisuuden teollisen puurakentamisen vientimarkkinat ovat Kiina, Pohjoismaat, Saksa, Venäjä ja Keski-Eurooppa. Kiina nähtiin tulevaisuuden markkinana sen suuren markkina-arvon, nousevan ympäristötietoisuuden, vaurastuvan keskiluokan sekä lisääntyvän urbanisaation takia. Kuitenkin, Kiina ja muut kasvavat markkinat täytyy ottaa huomioon varauksella, koska niitä ei korostettu Viron, Ruotsin tai kirjallisuuteen perustuvassa data-analyysissa. Toisaalta, Pohjoismaissa on samanlainen rakennuskulttuuri, ne sijaitsevat lähekkäin ja puunkäyttö on lisääntymässä. Yleensä ottaen, teollisen puurakentamisen kulttuuri ja ympäristötietoisuus ovat kasvussa Euroopassa ja erityisesti maissa, joissa on puurakentamisen perinteitä, kuten Keski-Eurooppa. Ruotsalaiset asiantuntijat näkivät markkinapotentiaalia ja kilpailukykyä Keski-Euroopassa ja Itä-Euroopassa, mutta data Ruotsista on rajoittunut tutkijoiden näkemyksiin. Virolaiset asiantuntijat näkivät potentiaalia Yhdistyneessä Kuningaskunnassa, Saksassa ja Irlannissa vuonna 2030. Teollisen puurakentamisen tulevaisuuden markkinat ja vientikokonaisuudet, jotka jakoivat asiantuntijoiden näkemykset tarvitsisivat tarkempaa tutkimusta.The aim of this study is to assess future export markets for the Finnish industrial wood construction sector. This is done by analysing secondary materials, previous studies and creating a future vision of Finnish industrial wood construction sector and particularly its exports by the year 2030. This analysis is based on qualitative individual expert interviews and a backcasting analysis using expert panel data. In addition, the study compares the current status of the forest industry exports and future assessments between Finland, Sweden and Estonia by analysing secondary materials, previous studies and expert views. The study was implemented using two different qualitative data sets. Semi-structured thematic expert interviews were collected from Finland, Sweden and Estonia. Expert interviews were used to get an in-depth understanding of the current status of the domestic industrial wood construction sector and the related export opportunities in Finland, Sweden and Estonia. A panel made up of Finnish experts were invited to create an ideal vision of the industrial wood construction sector in Finland and its exports for the year 2030. The panel gathered at a workshop, where their visions were created. In addition, pre- and post-event-questionnaires were part of the expert panel data collection, and this data was used to identify the most promising export countries/regions and the entities of exports in the industrial wood construction sector (e.g., whether to export materials, modules or construction projects). The results emphasised that concrete collaborative actions are needed as soon as possible in knowledge sharing and the industrial wood construction marketing. Based on the International market selection model (IMS), which is employed in this study and combining all the information from the workshop, interviews, literature and questionnaires have proven that the most promising future markets would be Central Europe, the UK and the Nordics by 2030. Otherwise the Finnish expert views of most promising export entities by 2030 varies between products, know-how and projects. During the research process it was realised that future markets need to take a closer look especially from the companies’ perspective. Finnish experts have varying views of the industrial wood construction export in their ideal vision for 2030. The study proved that the experts’ views were divided. Many of them desired that Finland should export more know-how and projects in 2030. Others believed that Finland should concentrate on the export of value-added materials. However, all the experts agreed that Finland should activate the local market and harmonize the regulations, which has had a positive influence on competence and know-how. In the ideal vision for 2030 Finland has improved its networks and co-operation inside the forest industry but also together with other fields. Finland has an open digital platform for knowledge sharing and the standards and regulations are more advanced. The wood construction industry is ideally in 2030 more attractive for students and experts than now, domestic market is wider and Finland has gained more experience and knowledge in the field of industrial wood construction. Finnish experts saw that the future exports markets for industrial wood construction are China, the Nordics, Germany, Russia and Central Europe. China was seen as an attractive market due to the size of the market, rising environmental awareness, wealthier middle class and increasing urbanization. However, China and other emerging countries have to be treated with caution, because they were not highlighted in the Estonian, Swedish or literature-based data analysis. Secondly, the Nordics construction culture is similar, location is nearby and the use of wood is increasing. Also, the harmonization of standards with Nordics came up in the expert data. Overall, the practise of industrial wood construction and environmental awareness are increasing in Europe, especially the countries where there are traditions in wood construction like countries in Central Europe. Swedish experts saw market potential and competitiveness in Central Europe and Eastern Europe, but the data from Sweden is limited to researchers’ opinions. The Estonian experts saw market potential in the UK, Germany and Ireland by 2030. However, the future markets for industrial wood construction needs a closer look as well as export entities, which divided the expert’s views

Metsäpuiden taimituotantoa ja joulupuiden kasvatusta uhkaavat taudit

KatsausArtikkeli on yhteenveto kotimaisista ja kansainvälisistä tutkimuksista, joita on tehty metsäpuiden taimien ja joulupuiden kasvatusta haittaavista sieni- ja Phytophthora-taudeista. Mukana on myös lyhyet maininnat viruksista ja bakteereista, jotka voivat levitä siementen mukana. Katsauksen tavoitteena on helpottaa IPM-torjunnan (Integrated Pest Management) ohjeiden laadintaa. Taudeista kerrotaan oireet, isäntäkasvit, tartuntatavat ja olosuhteet, joissa puut altistuvat taudeille sekä mahdolliset kasvatukselliset- ja muut torjuntatoimenpiteet. Kasvinsuojeluaineita, joita on mahdollista käyttää, ei tässä luetella, koska niiden valikoima muuttuu ja supistuu jatkuvasti

Future export markets of industrial wood construction – A qualitative backcasting study

The forest sector can play a major role in the transformation to a sustainable bioeconomy, driven by climate change, population growth, and accelerated urbanization. However, in most contexts, the industrial wood construction markets, as a promising field for sustainable bioeconomy, are still at a niche level. The analysis in this study concerns the preferred future export markets for industrial wood construction for the Finnish wood construction industry, as viewed by a panel of industrial, policy and academic experts. The aim is to identify promising export markets for Finland, and to identify required pathways by 2030. A qualitative participatory backcasting method was applied to explore the future visions of the industrial wood construction (IWC) sector and its export markets, as well as the pathways from the current towards the envisioned future. Thirty-five experts formed a panel which produced five visions of the development of industrial wood construction sector exports from Finland, covering the period 2020-2030. All the visions foresaw that the domestic market needs to develop first, to build up the competencies needed to fuel the growth in the exports. Asia, particularly China with its rapidly growing markets, and Europe, with its growing sustainability awareness, commonly appeared as the most promising areas for export growth. The resulting visions differed in terms of export portfolios, varying from more traditional wood materials and products to product-service-solutions. The policy measures identified to accelerate the envisioned growth included harmonization of product and building standards and regulations in the Nordic region and beyond, developing the educational base, and using of digital solutions in building new networks and communication in the IWC sector.Peer reviewe

Stimulating neuroprotective and regenerative mechanisms in Alzheimer disease

The processes involved in neuroprotection and brain repair are an important aspect of the preservation and restoration of neuronal functions affected by pathological lesions. Mechanisms that stimulate, manage and regulate these processes thus hold potential for the development of treatment strategies for Alzheimer disease (AD). The aim of this thesis was to increase our understanding of the stimulation of neuroprotective and regenerative mechanisms, in particular with respect to amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation and other pathological processes associated with AD. Mounting evidence suggests that the continuous loss of cholinergic neurons and nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex could be mediated through an interaction between α7 nAChRs and Aβ species. In paper I, we investigated interaction of α7 nAChRs with different forms of Aβ, and the functional consequences of these interactions. We found that α7 nAChRs play an important role in mediating neuroprotective actions against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity, and that the assembly form of Aβ is important for the interaction with α7 nAChRs and the downstream effects in neuronal cells. Fibrillar Aβ appears to cause cytotoxic effects by blocking α7 nAChRs, whereas oligomeric Aβ seems to activate α7 nAChRs to modulate calcium-dependent synaptic function. In paper II, we characterized the neuroprotective and neurotrophic actions of amyloid-modulatory candidate drugs (–)- and (+)- phenserine and its primary metabolites, and investigated the primary signaling pathways responsible for mediating these effects. (+)-Phenserine increased the proliferation of mouse neural progenitor cells in culture via activation of MAPK signaling pathways, including elevated cortical levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in mouse brain. In paper III, we investigated the modulating effects of (+)-phenserine on the changes in brain synaptic function, hippocampal neurogenesis, and inflammatory cells at different stages of amyloid pathology. (+)-Phenserine increased proliferation of neural progenitor cells, and increased the maturation of newborn neurons in the hippocampi of young adult Tg2576 mice but not in older mice with advanced Aβ plaque pathology. In paper IV, we investigated the effects of stem cell transplantation and modulation of Aβ and α7 nAChRs on endogenous neurogenesis and astrocytosis, graft survival, and cognition. Intrahippocampi transplantation of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) improved spatial memory in young adult Tg2576 mice, and increased endogenous hippocampal neurogenesis. (+)-Phenserine increased graft survival but blocked the hNSC transplant-mediated increase in endogenous neurogenesis, indicative of interfering mechanisms of action. We found that α7 nAChR-expressing astrocytes accumulated along the needle track after transplantation, and that the numbers of these astrocytes correlated with the degree of endogenous hippocampal neurogenesis. Hence, we postulate a hitherto unexplored role for α7 nAChR-expressing astrocytes in neurogenesis and tissue remodeling. The clinical implications of stimulation of neuroprotection and brain repair in the course of AD are currently under investigation. However, it is my hope that the cumulative findings presented in this thesis will provide a better understanding of the possibilities and limitations of these therapeutic strategies that aim to change or halt the clinical progression of AD

Providing emergency contraceptive pills in pharmacies

Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn View/OpenObjective: Use of the levonorgestrel emergency contraception (EC) pill has become more common after being made formally available in pharmacies without prescription. It was investigated how pharmacists in the capital area of Reykjavik supply EC to clients. Material and methods: A total of 46 pharmacists of all working ages and both genders were asked to answer a questionnaire concerning how they sold the emergency contraception pill over the counter (84.8% reply rate). Results: Four of five used <5 minutes to discuss emergency contraception with the client, but almost all enquired about time from intercourse. While only 20% asked about the woman s health, most considered concomitant drug use and potential interaction with levonorgestrel. Only about 50% pointed out that EC did not protect against sexually transmitted disease, (3/4) pointed out the need for permanent contraceptive use, 95% asked about previous EC use, but only 30% would provide EC again in the same menstrual cycle. One half of the pharmacists sold EC to men/teenage boys and wished to assist them with taking responsibility, while the others only sold the drug to the woman. Of those prepared to give the drug to the men, 55% asked to speak over the telephone with the woman to ensure correct prescription and information. Nearly a third would never or rarely provide consultation in private. Conclusions: Pharmacists agree mostly about main points in supplying EC, but not as regards provision to women through their male partners. Provisons for consultation can be improved. Key words: Key contraception, emergency contraception, pregnancy. Correspondence: Reynir Tomas Geirsson, [email protected]: Notkun neyðargetnaðarvarnar með levónorgestrel-töflum hefur orðið algeng eftir að bein afgreiðsla í apótekum var heimiluð. Kannað var hvernig lyfjafræðingar á höfuðborgarsvæðinu afgreiða neyðargetnaðarvörn. Efniviður og aðferðir: Alls voru 46 lyfjafræðingar af báðum kynjum og á öllum aldri beðnir um að svara spurningalista (svarhlutfall 84,8%) um hvernig þeir afgreiddu neyðargetnaðarvörn. Niðurstöður: Fjórir af fimm eyddu <5 mínútum í að ræða um neyðargetnaðarvörnina, en nær allir athuguðu tímalengd frá samförum. Fáir (20%) spurðu um heilsufarsvandamál, en lyfjanotkun og milliverkun við levónorgestrel var oftast könnuð. Tæpur helmingur benti á að neyðargetnaðarvörn dygði ekki gegn kynsjúkdómum, en 3/4 nefndu reglubundna getnaðarvörn. Nær allir (95%) spurðu um fyrri notkun neyðargetnaðarvarna. Aðeins 30% afgreiddu neyðargetnaðarvörn aftur í sama tíðahring. Helmingur lyfjafræðinganna vildi afgreiða karlmenn og aðstoða þá við að axla ábyrgð, en aðrir aðeins konuna sjálfa. Af þeim sem afgreiddu karlmenn sagðist helmingur (55%) ræða við konuna í síma til að tryggja rétta ávísun og upplýsingar. Nær þriðjungur ræddi sjaldan eða aldrei við skjólstæðinga í einrúmi. Ályktun: Lyfjafræðingar virðast sammála um meginatriði í afgreiðslu neyðargetnaðarvarnar, en þó ekki hvað varðar afhendingu til karla. Aðstaða til að ræða viðkvæm málefni við skjólstæðinga mætti víða vera betri