Advanced particle containing glasses for photonics

This work studied different techniques to prepare particle containing phosphate glasses. Additionally, a process to sinter these glasses by hot uniaxial pressing was studied and developed. Our goal was to prepare to create transparent, particle containing glasses for photonic applications. So far, the challenges have been to prepare these glasses without significant agglomeration or corrosion of the particles during glass preparation. Erbium and ytterbium containing YAG nanoparticles and erbium containing 75 NaPO3 - 25 CaF2 (mol-%) glass-ceramic microparticles were mixed in with 90 NaPO3 - 10 NaF (mol-%) phosphate glass raw materials and already molten phosphate glass. In addition to YAG and glass ceramic particles, erbium and ytterbium doped NaYF4 particles were mixed with powdered glass and sintered into a solid glass. The effects of the sintering process on the particles were studied using commercial luminescent microparticles. Parameters for the sintering process were optimized to produce transparent glass successfully. The produced glass is clearly transparent, but has a brown coloration to it. The source of the coloration is presumed to be either nanoscale defects scattering shorter wavelengths of light or carbon contamination. Luminescent particles survived the sintering process unchanged according to our luminescence measurements and therefore we presume the process to be safe for other particles as well. YAG agglomerates were visible to the naked eye inside the glass when they were added in the glass batch. When added in the melt, the particles stayed on the top and did not diffuse inside the glass. According to emission measurements, the structure had changed in both cases. The glasses had an inhomogeneous distribution of particles and emission. The sintered glass had unchanged emission spectrum compared to the pure particles and a tenfold increase in emis-sion intensity relative to other methods of preparation. The resulting glass was not transparent due to particle agglomeration. Glass-ceramic particles did not survive the glass manufacturing or addition into the molten glass. Sintering glass-ceramic particles with the host glass produces a somewhat transparent glass, but with a narrower emission spectrum. NaYF4 particles containing glass was also transparent with an unchanged emission spectrum. The particles were agglomerated and the glass had crystallized at the glass-particle -interface

Outline of the Finnish system of certified carbon footprints of food products

The basic structure of a system called Certified Footprints of Products (CFP system) is outlined in this discussion paper. The CFP system could produce strict and reliable data needed for generating product-oriented carbon footprints in Finland. Central parts of the CFP system are a national CFP programme, product category rules (PCRs), a chain or actor-wise monitoring plan, validation of the monitoring plan, and reporting and verification of data, and an ICT-system to support data sharing. The system is designed around activity-based monitoring data, and every actor would be responsible for data on its own activities. Linkages to existing environmental management systems are taken into account. The CFP system is still just a theoretical structure. It needs further development prior to full-scale introduction. For the food sector, a new architecture for data acquisition and quality assurance, development of existing mechanisms and consolidation of them in the CFP system are needed. Additional research is needed regarding emissions from agricultural production

ÄKK loppuraportti - Rakennusten ääniolosuhteiden käyttäjälähtöinen kehittäminen

Hankkeessa luotiin vankat tieteelliset perustelut sille, mitä ilma- ja askelääneneristävyyden mittalukuja ja taajuusalueita Suomessa kannattaisi käyttää tulevaisuudessa. Näyttö perustuu psykoakustisiin tutkimuksiin ja mittausepävarmuustarkasteluihin. Asuinhuoneistojen ääneneristysvaatimuksia ei tarvitse kasvattaa nykyisestään. Toimistohuoneiden välisen ilmaääneneristävyyden ohjearvoja tulisi kasvattaa 5 dB. Vanhoissa kerrostaloissa tulisi julkisivu- ja ikkunaremonttien yhteydessä kiinnittää huomiota ääneneristyk- seen, koska vanhoissa kerrostaloissa havaittiin voimakkaan ympäristömelun alueilla tavanomaista enemmän melun häiritsevyyttä. Ulkovaipan ääneneristyksen suunnittelun ja toteutuksen yhteydessä tulisi unenlaadun kannalta kiinnittää huomiota ensisijaisesti ääneneristävyyteen suurilla taajuuksilla

Rakennuksen ääniolosuhteiden suunnittelu ja toteutus

Tilan tarkoituksenmukainen käyttö edellyttää sopivia ääniolosuhteita. Ääniolosuhteet vaikuttavat esimerkiksi oppimiseen ja vuorovaikutukseen, työskentelyyn, toipumiseen sairaudesta, lepoon ja kokemukseen ympäristön miellyttävyydestä. Ohjeessa esitetään menettelytavat rakennuksen ja sen tilojen ääniolosuhteiden suunnitteluun ja sitä kuvaavien ominaisuuksien todentamiseen. Ääniolosuhteiden suunnittelun tarkoituksena on hallita äänen etenemistä, heijastumista ja vaimenemista käyttötarkoitukseltaan erilaisissa tiloissa. Ohjeessa opastetaan menettelytavoista, joiden avulla ääniolosuhteita koskevat vähimmäisvaatimukset voidaan saavuttaa. Hyvät ääniolosuhteet riippuvat sekä rakennuksen ominaisuuksista että käyttäjästä. Ohje ei tarkastele tilan käyttäjän toiminnasta aiheutuvaa ääntä

Weather and biotic interactions as determinants of seasonal shifts in abundance measured through nest-box occupancy in the Siberian flying squirrel

It is much debated whether the direct effects of weather or biotic interactions determine species’ responses to climate change. For example, an important biotic factor for herbivores in northern ecosystems is the availability of winter food. If the food availability changes because of the changing climate, it likely has major impact on the abundance of herbivores. To evaluate this, we need to know the relative roles of weather and biotic interactions, such as food availability and risk of predation, for the species. Here, we utilize long-term data on nest-box occupancy by Siberian flying squirrels (Pteromys volans) in Finland during 2002–2018. We built binary models with nest-box occupancy in different seasons as a response variable. Weather, winter food (tree mast), and predator presence (the Ural owl, Strix uralensis) modified seasonal nest-box occupancy patterns of the flying squirrel. However, the effect of weather was only important in the summer. The negative effect of predators was clear for adults but, surprisingly, not for overwinter survival of apparent juveniles. Considering the relative importance of different factors, winter food availability had a clear positive effect in each season. Our study supports the view that the effects of climate change mediate through multiple biotic interactions. In forest ecosystems, responses of masting trees to weather likely play an important role in species responses to climate change.</p

Response of Various Yb3+-Doped Oxide Glasses to Different Radiation Treatments

The radiation effects of electrons and protons on the spectroscopic and optical properties of oxide glasses doped with Yb3+ in various glass systems were investigated to understand the impact of the glass composition on the glass photo-response. Changes in the optical and emission properties were seen after the radiation treatment, and the magnitude of the changes depended on the irradiation source and dose. For all the investigated materials, the absorption coefficients in the 200–550 nm range increase post-irradiation, revealing the formation of defects in the glasses during the irradiation. While the spectroscopic properties of the tellurite glass remain unchanged, a small reduction in the Yb3+ emission intensity was seen after irradiating the phosphate, borosilicate, and germanate glasses, indicating that a reduction of Yb3+ to Yb2+ might occur in these glasses during the radiation treatment. The changes in the optical and spectroscopic properties after proton irradiation are small as they are localized at the surface of the glasses due to the shallow penetration depth of the proton in the glass. Even though the doses are small, the electron irradiation produces larger changes in the optical and spectroscopic properties since the electrons penetrate the entire volume of the glasses. All the changes in the optical and spectroscopic properties of the glasses were successfully reversed after a short heat treatment revealing the reversible nature of the photo-response of the investigated glasses.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Predictive value of plasma proenkephalin and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in acute kidney injury and mortality in cardiogenic shock

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent form of organ injury in cardiogenic shock. However, data on AKI markers such as plasma proenkephalin (P-PENK) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (P-NGAL) in cardiogenic shock populations are lacking. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of P-PENK and P-NGAL to predict acute kidney injury and mortality in cardiogenic shock. Results: P-PENK and P-NGAL were measured at different time points between baseline and 48 h in 154 patients from the prospective CardShock study. The outcomes assessed were AKI defined by an increase in creatinine within 48 h and all-cause 90-day mortality. Mean age was 66 years and 26% were women. Baseline levels of P-PENK and P-NGAL (median [interquartile range]) were 99 (71-150) pmol/mL and 138 (84-214) ng/mL. P-PENK > 84.8 pmol/mL and P-NGAL > 104 ng/mL at baseline were identified as optimal cut-offs for AKI prediction and independently associated with AKI (adjusted HRs 2.2 [95% CI 1.1-4.4, p = 0.03] and 2.8 [95% CI 1.2-6.5, p = 0.01], respectively). P-PENK and P-NGAL levels at baseline were also associated with 90-day mortality. For patients with oliguria 6 h before study enrollment, 90-day mortality differed significantly between patients with low and high P-PENK/P-NGAL at baseline (5% vs. 68%, p 105.7 pmol/L and P-NGAL(24h) > 151 ng/mL had unadjusted hazard ratios of 5.6 (95% CI 3.1-10.7, p <0.001) and 5.2 (95% CI 2.8-9.8, p <0.001) for 90-day mortality. The association remained significant despite adjustments with AKI and two risk scores for mortality in cardiogenic shock. Conclusions: High levels of P-PENK and P-NGAL at baseline were independently associated with AKI in cardiogenic shock patients. Furthermore, oliguria before study inclusion was associated with worse outcomes only if combined with high baseline levels of P-PENK or P-NGAL. High levels of both P-PENK and P-NGAL at 24 h were found to be strong and independent predictors of 90-day mortality.Peer reviewe

Predictive value of plasma proenkephalin and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in acute kidney injury and mortality in cardiogenic shock

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent form of organ injury in cardiogenic shock. However, data on AKI markers such as plasma proenkephalin (P-PENK) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (P-NGAL) in cardiogenic shock populations are lacking. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of P-PENK and P-NGAL to predict acute kidney injury and mortality in cardiogenic shock. Results: P-PENK and P-NGAL were measured at different time points between baseline and 48 h in 154 patients from the prospective CardShock study. The outcomes assessed were AKI defined by an increase in creatinine within 48 h and all-cause 90-day mortality. Mean age was 66 years and 26% were women. Baseline levels of P-PENK and P-NGAL (median [interquartile range]) were 99 (71-150) pmol/mL and 138 (84-214) ng/mL. P-PENK > 84.8 pmol/mL and P-NGAL > 104 ng/mL at baseline were identified as optimal cut-offs for AKI prediction and independently associated with AKI (adjusted HRs 2.2 [95% CI 1.1-4.4, p = 0.03] and 2.8 [95% CI 1.2-6.5, p = 0.01], respectively). P-PENK and P-NGAL levels at baseline were also associated with 90-day mortality. For patients with oliguria 6 h before study enrollment, 90-day mortality differed significantly between patients with low and high P-PENK/P-NGAL at baseline (5% vs. 68%, p 105.7 pmol/L and P-NGAL(24h) > 151 ng/mL had unadjusted hazard ratios of 5.6 (95% CI 3.1-10.7, p <0.001) and 5.2 (95% CI 2.8-9.8, p <0.001) for 90-day mortality. The association remained significant despite adjustments with AKI and two risk scores for mortality in cardiogenic shock. Conclusions: High levels of P-PENK and P-NGAL at baseline were independently associated with AKI in cardiogenic shock patients. Furthermore, oliguria before study inclusion was associated with worse outcomes only if combined with high baseline levels of P-PENK or P-NGAL. High levels of both P-PENK and P-NGAL at 24 h were found to be strong and independent predictors of 90-day mortality.Peer reviewe

Compressive stress-mediated p38 activation required for ER alpha plus phenotype in breast cancer

Breast cancer is now globally the most frequent cancer and leading cause of women's death. Two thirds of breast cancers express the luminal estrogen receptor-positive (ER alpha + ) phenotype that is initially responsive to antihormonal therapies, but drug resistance emerges. A major barrier to the understanding of the ER alpha-pathway biology and therapeutic discoveries is the restricted repertoire of luminal ER alpha + breast cancer models. The ER alpha + phenotype is not stable in cultured cells for reasons not fully understood. We examine 400 patient-derived breast epithelial and breast cancer explant cultures (PDECs) grown in various three-dimensional matrix scaffolds, finding that ER alpha is primarily regulated by the matrix stiffness. Matrix stiffness upregulates the ER alpha signaling via stress-mediated p38 activation and H3K27me3-mediated epigenetic regulation. The finding that the matrix stiffness is a central cue to the ER alpha phenotype reveals a mechanobiological component in breast tissue hormonal signaling and enables the development of novel therapeutic interventions. Subject terms: ER-positive (ER + ), breast cancer, ex vivo model, preclinical model, PDEC, stiffness, p38 SAPK. Reliable luminal estrogen receptor (ER alpha+) breast cancer models are limited. Here, the authors use patient derived breast epithelial and breast cancer explant cultures grown in several extracellular matrix scaffolds and show that ER alpha expression is regulated by matrix stiffness via stress-mediated p38 activation and H3K27me3-mediated epigenetic regulation.Peer reviewe