17 research outputs found
An atypical Bacillus anthracis infection in a bull-A potential occupational health hazard
Bacillus anthracis infecting cattle is usually identified based on the typical symptom: sudden death. Bacillus anthracis causing atypical symptoms may remain undiagnosed and represent a potential occupational health hazard for, that is veterinarians and producers, butchers and tanners. In the year 2004, one case of sudden death in a dairy farm in southern Finland was diagnosed as bovine anthrax. Four years later 2008, an atypical case of anthrax was diagnosed in the same holding. The bull was taken to the Production Animal Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki because of fever, loss of appetite and a symmetrically swollen scrotal sac. Penicillin treatment cured the fever but not the swollen scrotum. Before the intended therapeutic castration, a punctuate consisting of 10 ml fluid collected into a syringe from the scrotal sac was cultivated on blood agar at 37 degrees C. After 24 hr, an almost pure culture of a completely non-hemolytic Bacillus cereus-like bacteria was obtained. The strain was identified as B. anthracis using Ba-specific primers by the Finnish Food Safety Authority (RUOKAVIRASTO). After the diagnosis, the bull was euthanized and destroyed, the personnel were treated with prophylactic antibiotics and the clinic was disinfected. In this particular case, treatment with water, Virkon S and lime seemed to be effective to eliminate endospores and vegetative cells since no relapses of anthrax have occurred in 10 years. This case is the last reported anthrax case in Finland.Peer reviewe
Description of two Serratia marcescens associated mastitis outbreaks in Finnish dairy farms and a review of literature
Background Infection with Serratia spp. have been associated with mastitis outbreaks in dairy cattle herds. Environmental contamination or a point source, like a teat dip product, have often been observed to be potential sources of such outbreaks. We describe two Serratia marcescens associated mastitis outbreaks associated with a contaminated teat dip containing a tertiary alkyl amine, n,n-bis (3-aminopropyl) dodecylamine in two dairy cattle farms in Finland. S. marcescens strains isolated from milk and environmental samples were identified by the MALDI-TOF method. Results Six specimens (n = 19) on Herd 1 and all specimens (n = 9) on Herd 2 were positive for S. marcescens. Positive specimens were from mastitis milk and teat dip liquid and equipment. Bacteria were not isolated from the unopened teat dip canister. The same clone of S. marcescens was isolated from milk samples and teat dip samples within the farms. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis results to the S. marcescens isolates from these two different herds were tested with unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic average clustering analysis. The isolates were not same clone in both herds, because similarity in that test was only 75% when cut-off value to similarity is 85%. Conclusions Our investigation showed that the post milking teat dip and/or temporary containers were contaminated with S. marcescens and these were most likely the sources for new mastitis cases. The negative result from the unopened teat dip canister and positive results from refillable containers demonstrated that the product itself was not contaminated with S. marcescens at the production unit, but became contaminated at the farm level.Peer reviewe
Finnish DMP evaluation guidance
This guide gives some general tips for evaluators. It can be used when evaluating DMP by students, peer reviewing or when evaluation is conducted by a data steward. The working group hopes you develop the guidance further in order to meet your specific needs and policies.Ideally data management plan will be read and evaluated together with the research plan. In the DMP context, ‘data’ is understood as a broad term. Data covers all the information and material research results are based on (like codes, software, notes, etc). </p
Processes of elite power and low-carbon pathways: experimentation, financialisation, and dispossession
What is a low-carbon pathway? To many, it is a way of mitigating climate change. To others, it is about addressing market failure or capturing the co-benefits attached to low-carbon systems, such as jobs or improved health. To still others, it represents building adaptive capacity and resilience in the face of climate change. However, these interpretations can fail to acknowledge how pathways of low-carbon transitions can also become intertwined with processes and structures of inequality, exclusion and injustice. Using a critical lens that draws from a variety of disciplines, this article explores three ways through which responses to climate change can entrench, exacerbate or reconfigure the power of elites. As society attempts to create a low-carbon society, including for example via coastal protection efforts, disaster recovery, or climate change mitigation and renewable energy, these efforts intersect with at least three processes of elite power: experimentation, financialisation, and dispossession. Experimentation is when elites use the world as a laboratory to test or pilot low-carbon technologies or policy models, transferring risks yet not always sharing benefits. Financialisation refers to the expansion and proliferation of finance, capital, and financial markets in the global economy and many national economies, processes of which have recently extended to renewable energy. Dispossession is when elites use decarbonisation as a process through which to appropriate land, wealth, or other assets (and in the process make society more majoritarian and/or unequal). We explore these three themes using a variety of evidence across illustrative case studies, including hard and soft coastal protection measures (Bangladesh, Netherlands), climate risk insurance (Malawi), and renewable energy auctions and associated processes of finance and investment (South Africa and Mexico)
The Tuuli Project : Accelerating Data Management Planning in Finnish Research Organisations
Many research funders have requirements for data sharing and data management plans (DMP). DMP tools are services built to help researchers to create data management plans fitting their needs and based on funder and/or organisation guidelines. Project Tuuli (2015–2017) has provided DMPTuuli, a data management planning tool for Finnish researchers and research organisations offering DMP templates and guidance. In this paper we describe how project has helped both Finnish researchers and research organisations adopt research data management best practices. As a result of the project we have also created a national Tuuli network. With growing competence and collaboration of the network, the project has reached most of its goals. The project has also actively promoted DMP support and training in Finnish research organisations.Many research funders have requirements for data sharing and data management plans (DMP). DMP tools are services built to help researchers to create data management plans fitting their needs and based on funder and/or organisation guidelines. Project Tuuli (2015–2017) has provided DMPTuuli, a data management planning tool for Finnish researchers and research organisations offering DMP templates and guidance. In this paper we describe how project has helped both Finnish researchers and research organisations adopt research data management best practices. As a result of the project we have also created a national Tuuli network. With growing competence and collaboration of the network, the project has reached most of its goals. The project has also actively promoted DMP support and training in Finnish research organisations.Many research funders have requirements for data sharing and data management plans (DMP). DMP tools are services built to help researchers to create data management plans fitting their needs and based on funder and/or organisation guidelines. Project Tuuli (2015–2017) has provided DMPTuuli, a data management planning tool for Finnish researchers and research organisations offering DMP templates and guidance. In this paper we describe how project has helped both Finnish researchers and research organisations adopt research data management best practices. As a result of the project we have also created a national Tuuli network. With growing competence and collaboration of the network, the project has reached most of its goals. The project has also actively promoted DMP support and training in Finnish research organisations.Peer reviewe