IT investment evaluation: why hasn ’t it become an organization routine?

In this study we attempt to understand why formal evaluations of IT investment projects have not yet become an organizational routine. Using survey data gathered from business and IT managers in Sweden, we tested the research hypotheses about the factors influencing the attitudes and behaviour of managers towards using formal evaluation methods based on the theory of planned behaviour. We found that the intent to use formal evaluation methods in an organization is determined by the attitudes of the managers towards the formal methods, the common beliefs of the organization about the formal methods, and the perceived ability to perform formal evaluations. Interestingly, we found that the attitudes toward formal methods are determined mostly by the perceived usefulness of the methods and not by the perceived ease of use of these methods, suggesting that the decision to use formal methods is most likely based on rational analyses rather than individual preferences. We also found that awareness and selfefficacy contribute to the use of formal methods via influences on organizational beliefs and perceived ability to perform evaluation tasks. These findings provide some interesting managerial implications for advocating the use of formal methods in organizations

Effects of overstory tree density, site preparation, and ground vegetation on natural Scots pine seedling emergence and survival in northern boreal pine forests

Natural regeneration is a commonly used forest regeneration method in northern Finland. It is not known, however, what would be the optimal overstory density and ground vegetation composition for seedling emergence and survival, and if site preparation is needed to accompany overstory density manipulation. We studied the effects of overstory density (unthinned control and thinning to 50,150, and 250 trees.ha(-1)) and ground vegetation removal (mechanical site preparation with disc trenching) on the number of naturally germinated pine seedlings and survival of individual seedlings over a period of 8 to 11 years. Bare mineral soil was a superior seedbed compared to intact vegetation cover, even though the mortality rate was high on mineral soil. Greater cover of lingonberry, crowberry, and slash had a negative effect on seedling number. Seedling mortality was initially high (60% died during the first 2 years) but decreased throughout the first 5 years. The survival rate of seedlings located in the mineral soil of the upper part of the disc trencher track was twice as high as that of seedlings located in the lower part of the track. High coverage of hair mosses (Polytrichum spp.) was associated with poorer seedling survival. An overstory density of 50-150 trees.ha(-1) with site preparation seems to be an efficient treatment to promote regeneration under these circumstances

Effects of overstory tree density, site preparation, and ground vegetation on natural Scots pine seedling emergence and survival in northern boreal pine forests

Natural regeneration is a commonly used forest regeneration method in northern Finland. It is not known, however, what would be the optimal overstory density and ground vegetation composition for seedling emergence and survival, and if site preparation is needed to accompany overstory density manipulation. We studied the effects of overstory density (unthinned control and thinning to 50,150, and 250 trees.ha(-1)) and ground vegetation removal (mechanical site preparation with disc trenching) on the number of naturally germinated pine seedlings and survival of individual seedlings over a period of 8 to 11 years. Bare mineral soil was a superior seedbed compared to intact vegetation cover, even though the mortality rate was high on mineral soil. Greater cover of lingonberry, crowberry, and slash had a negative effect on seedling number. Seedling mortality was initially high (60% died during the first 2 years) but decreased throughout the first 5 years. The survival rate of seedlings located in the mineral soil of the upper part of the disc trencher track was twice as high as that of seedlings located in the lower part of the track. High coverage of hair mosses (Polytrichum spp.) was associated with poorer seedling survival. An overstory density of 50-150 trees.ha(-1) with site preparation seems to be an efficient treatment to promote regeneration under these circumstances.Peer reviewe

Exome sequencing followed by large-scale genotyping suggests a limited role for moderately rare risk factors of strong effect in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with strong heritability and marked heterogeneity in symptoms, course, and treatment response. There is strong interest in identifying genetic risk factors that can help to elucidate the pathophysiology and that might result in the development of improved treatments. Linkage and genome-wide association studies (GWASs) suggest that the genetic basis of schizophrenia is heterogeneous. However, it remains unclear whether the underlying genetic variants are mostly moderately rare and can be identified by the genotyping of variants observed in sequenced cases in large follow-up cohorts or whether they will typically be much rarer and therefore more effectively identified by gene-based methods that seek to combine candidate variants. Here, we consider 166 persons who have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and who have had either their genomes or their exomes sequenced to high coverage. From these data, we selected 5,155 variants that were further evaluated in an independent cohort of 2,617 cases and 1,800 controls. No single variant showed a study-wide significant association in the initial or follow-up cohorts. However, we identified a number of case-specific variants, some of which might be real risk factors for schizophrenia, and these can be readily interrogated in other data sets. Our results indicate that schizophrenia risk is unlikely to be predominantly influenced by variants just outside the range detectable by GWASs. Rather, multiple rarer genetic variants must contribute substantially to the predisposition to schizophrenia, suggesting that both very large sample sizes and gene-based association tests will be required for securely identifying genetic risk factors. © 2012 The American Society of Human Genetics

SMOS calibration and validation activities with airborne interferometric radiometer HUT-2D during spring 2010

In this paper we present calibration and validation activities of European Space Agency’s SMOS mission, which utilize airborne interferomentric L-band radiometer system HUT-2D of the Aalto University. During spring 2010 the instrument was used to measure three SMOS validation target areas, one in Denmark and two in Germany. We present these areas shortly, and describe the airborne activities. We show some exemplary measurements of the radiometer system and demonstrate the studies using the data

Kotimaisen järvi- ja merikalan dioksiinien, furaanien, dioksiinien kaltaisten PCB-yhdisteiden ja polybromattujen difenyylieettereiden pitoisuudet

EU-kalat -projekti toteutettiin, koska haluttiin saada tietoa kotimaisen kalan sisältämistä ympäristömyrkkypitoisuuksista. Tietoa päätettiin hankkia sekä Itämeren kalan että sisävesikalojen tärkeimmistä ympäristömyrkyistä: dioksiineista, joille oli asetettu EU:ssa enimmäispitoisuusraja, PCB-yhdisteistä, joiden sääntelyä EU:ssa osattiin odottaa, bromatuista difenyylieettereistä, joiden tiedettiin kertyvän kalaan sekä myös raskasmetalleista (julkaistaan erillisenä julkaisuna), joiden sääntelyä EU:ssa oli tarve tarkistaa. Suomen oli täytettävä myös ne edellytykset, jotka EU oli asettanut antaessaan Suomelle ja Ruotsille erityiskohtelun dioksiineja koskevassa lainsäädännössä. Lisäksi oli kiinnitettävä huomiota myös kotimaisen kalan sisältämien epäpuhtauksien aiheuttamiin seurauksiin kalastajille ja kalanjalostusteollisuudelle. Tutkimuksesta ilmeni, että dioksiinien ja PCB-yhdisteiden kertyminen kalaan on ennen kaikkea kalalajin ominaisuus. Ongelmakaloiksi jäivät lohi ja suurikokoinen silakka tässä järjestyksessä. Molemmista analysoitiin moninkertaisia pitoisuuksia dioksiineja enimmäispitoisuuteen (4 pg TEQ/g tuorepainoa) verrattuna. Sekä silakalla että lohella dioksiinipitoisuudet korreloivat iän mukana; mitä vanhempi kala sitä enemmän dioksiineja. Kaikki muut kotimaiset kalat paria poikkeuksellista tutkimustulosta lukuun ottamatta alittavat dioksiinille asetetun enimmäispitoisuusrajan. Myös kasvatetun kalan dioksiinipitoisuudet jäävät selvästi alle enimmäispitoisuusrajan

A framework to evaluate the viability of robotic process automation for business process activities

Robotic process automation (RPA) is a technology for centralized automation of business processes. RPA automates user interaction with graphical user interfaces, whereby it promises efficiency gains and a reduction of human negligence during process execution. To harness these benefits, organizations face the challenge of classifying process activities as viable automation candidates for RPA. Therefore, this work aims to support practitioners in evaluating RPA automation candidates. We design a framework that consists of thirteen criteria grouped into five perspectives which offer different evaluation aspects. These criteria leverage a profound understanding of the process step. We demonstrate and evaluate the framework by applying it to a real-life data set.Comment: This is an accepted manuscript for the "RPA Forum" at the "Int. Conference on Business Process Management (BPM 2020)". The final authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-58779-6_1

Kioto+ mission : Global and accurate monitoring of forest, land cover and carbon

This publication presents the results of a feasibility study on a proposed superhigh resolution satellite mission Kioto+. The study was conducted by an international consortium in response to the 2005 call for ideas for Earth Explorer missions of the European Space Agency (ESA). Kioto+ offers reliable and global data to near in-situ measurement accuracy on land cover and forest cover. It also gives information about their development over time. A super-high resolution optical instrument is proposed to achieve statistically representative and precise measurements. The information will greatly improve our understanding of the global carbon and water cycles, and the credibility of estimates of terrestrial carbon storage. The imagery will also give globally accurate training and validation data for wall-to-wall imaging instruments. The mission is named Kioto+ because the projected timescale of the mission (post-2011) means that it will primarily have relevance to successor treaties of the Kyoto Protocol to the FCCC of the United Nations

Tolerability of ORM-12741 and effects on episodic memory in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Introduction: ORM-12741 is a novel selective antagonist of alpha-2C adrenoceptors. This trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of ORM-12741 in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory phase 2a trial was conducted in 100 subjects with AD and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Participants were randomized to receive one of two flexible doses of ORM-12741 (30–60 mg or 100–200 mg) or placebo b.i.d. for 12 weeks in addition to standard therapy with cholinesterase inhibitors. Efficacy was assessed primarily with the Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) computerized assessment system and secondarily with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Results: A statistically significant treatment effect was seen in one of the four primary CDR system end points, Quality of Episodic Memory (P 5.030; not adjusted for multiple comparisons), favoring ORM-12741 over placebo. NPI caregiver distress scores also favored ORM-12741 (P 5.034). ORM12741 was well tolerated. Discussion: This is the first clinical trial providing evidence on an acceptable safety profile for ORM12741 in patients with AD and neuropsychiatric symptoms. In addition, the trial provided hints of potential therapeutic benefit, primarily on episodic memory, in this patient population.</p

Biomonitoring of selected persistent organic pollutants (PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs) in Finnish and Russian terrestrial and aquatic animal species

Background: The Finnish and Russian animal species (semi-domesticated reindeer, Finnish wild moose, Baltic grey seal and Baltic herring) samples were biomonitored in terrestrial and aquatic environments for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). Results: Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) was clearly the most contaminated species. The mean PBDE concentration in grey seal was 115 ng/g fat, and the highest WHO-PCDD/F-PCB-TEQ (toxic equivalent set by WHO) was 327 pg/g fat. In Finnish, reindeer WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ varied from 0.92 pg/g fat in muscle to 90.8 pg/g fat in liver. WHO-PCDD/F-TEQ in moose liver samples was in the range of 0.7–4.26 pg/g fat, and WHO-PCB-TEQ in the range of 0.42–3.34 pg/g fat. Overall moose had clearly lower PCDD/F and DL-PCB concentrations in their liver than reindeer. Conclusions: Terrestrial animals generally had low POP concentrations, but in reindeer liver dioxin levels were quite high. All Finnish and Russian reindeer liver