Ajatuksia kirjoittamisesta

Kandidaattitutkielmani koostuu kolmesta vuosina 2008, 2006 ja 2015 kirjoitetusta esseestä sekä kirjoittamiseen liittyvistä ajatuksistani ja kirjoittamisen kokemuksistani yhdistettynä minulle tärkeiden kirjoittajien ajatuksiin. Työssäni olen käyttänyt useita lähdekieliä lainauksia myöten. Aina kun päädyin unessa tuohon vihreään huoneeseen, minut valtasi tietty, sanoin kuvaamaton tunne. Unihuoneen ikkunan takana sade on juuri lakannut ja näen yleisen saunan. Ja joku vanha juutalainen mies kantaa poikaansa tai pojanpoikaansa kylvetettäväksi. Unessa ajattelen, että se saattaa olla joku minulle tuntematon rituaali. Vihreän huoneen nostalgia kohoaa fyysiseksi nautinnoksi. Minut valtaa onnen tunne, ja se pysyy minussa vielä heräämisen jälkeen. Vastaava tunne valtaa minut, kun kirjoittaminen sujuu – ohitettuani kaikki tekosyyt ja syyt, miksi tänään ei voisi kirjoittaa. Joskus kirjoittaminen lähtee käyntiin, kun kirjoitan muistiin juuri näkemäni unen. Minä en kärsi alemmuuskompleksista, köyhyydestä tai rakkaussuruista. Minut ympäröi hyvälaatuinen, kirjoittamiselle hedelmällinen humus. Minun tapauksessani syy kirjoittamattomuudelle on hyvin yksinkertainen: olen laiska. Minä en tunne Ernest Hemingwayn kuvailemaa valkoisen arkin kauhua, mutta myönnän tuntevani näkymättömän kynnyksen, joka tekee aloittamisesta vaikeaa

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE IN LATVIA – A CASE STUDY

Urban agriculture is developing rapidly in the world, paying significant, often primary attention not only to the economic but also to the social and environmental functions of the practice. Urban agriculture in Latvia is relatively underdeveloped, most of the practice is realized in small amounts in households for self-consumption. Similarly, evaluating produced volumes and results in the context of commercial practice and community and public projects, it is in a developmental stage. Urban agriculture in Latvia has also been little researched so far, and the practice does not have a specific legal status that would enable precise determination of the scope of the practice, financial and trend analysis. However, the practice is developing, especially in the form of community gardens. The aim of this study is to determine and describe economic and social aspects of urban agriculture in Latvia. In order to achieve the aim, a systematic theoretical review was used to determine the definition and boundaries of the practice of urban agriculture, analysis and synthesis methods were used to identify and characterize trends, and a case study was used to summarize the economic and social aspects of the practice specific to Latvia. Results of the research confirm that social aspects dominate in urban agriculture in Latvia - in aims, motivation, functions and advantages of the practice. But in terms of risks, the most important are economic aspects, which are also the main hindering factors in the development of urban agriculture in Latvia

Potential of Pyrolysis for valuable products obtaining from wheat straw lignin produced by CIMV technology

Two configurations of fast pyrolysis realized in flowing (inert gas flow) and ablative-type reactors were used for phenolic fraction obtaining. The maximum yield of phenolic compounds was achieved at 450 degrees of Celsius in the case of ablative reactor usage (7,6%). Application of catalysts (Na+ and K+) allowed to increase the yield of phenolic compounds up to 8,5%

THERMAL DEGRADATION ANALYSIS OF WOOD TREATED WITH FIRERETARDANTS

Fire hazard control in wooden constructions is very important. For this purpose, fire retardants are used, which change the thermodestruction of wood and reduce combustion. The aim of the present research project was to study and compare the fire–protective properties of fire-retardants and to explain the chemical process of pyrolysis, namely, degradation in treated and untreated wood. The influence of fire-retardants on the wood thermal stability and the amount of volatile products was estimated on the basis of thermal analysis results. The volatile products (above 50%) of the pyrolysis process were identified, and the mechanism of the influence of fire-retardants on wood thermodestruction was studied.The presence of toxic compounds, formed by pyrolysis, was evaluated. The results of the study have shown that analytical pyrolysis is a modern, precise method for identifying the toxic compounds of volatile products in processes of both wood pyrolysis and combustion. The application of analytical pyrolysis enables a prompt determination of the fire protection degree of building wood constructions

Academic rejection: The coping strategies of women

This paper offers insights into the coping strategies employed by women researchers when handling academic rejection. Female researchers identify four main coping strategies for handling the rejection of an academic paper and the failure of a funding application. The study identified common coping strategies implemented by academic women, and determines whether these strategies are consistent regardless of the type of rejection being dealt with. The research found conflicting responses from the women between their tips or suggestions to others on how to best handle rejection, and the actual coping strategies employed

At risk policy and early intervention programmes for underperforming students: Ensuring success?

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine a University's at risk program and ask is the intervention strategy working? The program seeks to assist at risk students who may be experiencing difficulties transitioning, for example from school into university. The program also seeks to identify problems and suggest remediation strategies before attrition

Information richness and trust in V-commerce: implications for services marketing

Purpose: The potential for e-commerce is limited by a trust deficit when traders do not interact in a physical, bricks-and-mortar context. The theory of information richness posits that equivocal interactions, such as ones requiring trust, can be facilitated through communication media that transmit multiple cues interactively. We examine the potential of information-rich virtual worlds to reduce this trust deficit compared with more traditional web-based e-tailing environments. Design/Methodology: Rather than focusing on stated intentions we adopt an experimental approach to measure behaviour. Participants receive performance-related financial incentives to perform trust games in different information-rich treatments that represent three retail environments: a physical environment representing bricks-and-mortar trade, an electronic environment representing web-based online retailing and a virtual environment representing virtual world retail. Findings: We find that the two dimensions of trust significantly differ between the treatments. In particular, as hypothesised, both trustingness and trustworthiness are higher in the virtual than in the electronic environment. However, contrary to our hypotheses, physical trade is not associated with greater trust than virtual trade. Implications: We extend previous research by demonstrating how the information richness of the virtual world interface can promote e-commerce by deepening trust between trading partners. Our research also complements existing work that approaches product and service interfaces through the lens of servicescapes. The findings also contribute towards the development of services marketing practice and the design of e-commerce environments

Radiographic assessment of findings in the maxillary sinus using cone-beam computed tomography

OBJECTIVES. To assess the presence of anatomic variations and pathology of the maxillary sinus using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) of the maxilla where pre- implant surgery is planned. MATERIAL AND METHODS. This retrospective study evaluates a sample CBCT scans of 34 dental patients (68 sinuses). CBCT is used to assess maxillary sinus mucosa and outflow and prevalence of septa. The mucosal thickening was measured and the sinus outflow was classified as open or obstructed. RESULTS. Mucosal thickening was found in 48.5%, septa in 20.6% and total opacity in 2.9% of the sinuses. Maxillary sinus outflow was blocked in 26.5% of the scans. Strong association between radiological signs of maxillary sinus ostium blockage and thickened mucosa was observed. CONCLUSIONS. Anatomic variations and lesions of the maxillary sinus were common findings in CBCT examinations of the maxilla required for dental preprosthetic planning. Routine CBCT scans, including maxillary sinus ostium are recommended for risk assessment prior to surgery.publishersversionPeer reviewe

PYROLYTIC OIL - A PRODUCT OF FAST PYROLYSIS OF WOOD RESIDUES FOR ENERGY RESOURCES

The application of renewable energy resources for energy production becomes increasingly urgent worldwide. Fast pyrolysis is one of the trends of obtaining liquid fuel from solid biomass.The aim of the present study was to investigate the yield, chemical composition, physical properties and water amount of hardwood pyrolytic oil (PO) depending on the pyrolysis and pre-treatment conditions in an ablative type reactor.The results of the analysis of the heat capacity of pyrolytic oil show an increase in this parameter from 12 MJ/kg (without drying) to 15-16 MJ/kg, drying the wood, and then pyrolysing it.Pyrolytic oil with a decreased amount of pyrolytic water and a high heat capacity was obtained in an ablative type reactor, drying the wood and then pyrolysing it. For the pyrolytic oil obtained in the two-stage fast pyrolysis equipment process, pH increases

COMPETITIVENESS OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN LATVIA

Social entrepreneurship is an important component of the European social market economy that is based on the principles of solidarity and responsibility and the priorities regarding the individual and social goals; it promotes social responsibility and social inclusion. However, in practice, social enterprises face various problems that negatively affect their competitiveness. The present research has set an aim to examine the competitiveness of social entrepreneurship in Latvia. To achieve the aim, a case study was carried out to identify the factors affecting the competitiveness of social entrepreneurship and its competitive advantages and disadvantages in comparison with conventional enterprises. The research found that the key competitive advantages of social entrepreneurship were the story told by social enterprises and their employee motivation, while the negative effects regarding competitiveness were as follows: the lack of government support for social entrepreneurship, insufficient information in society about social entrepreneurship and the social value created by it, as well as various other factors in the internal environment of an enterprise.  KEYWORDS: social entrepreneurship, social enterprise, competitiveness.JEL CODES: L3