Breeding success and survival in relation to major effect loci affecting the age at maturation in Teno river Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

There is an age at maturity related trade-off between breeding success and survival in Atlantic salmon, and sex specific patterns exist in the expression of this life-history trait. A recent study identified three candidate genes, vgll3, akap11 and six6, which had a major effect on this trait. Sex-dependent dominance was also observed in the gene vgll3 with the strongest association to sea-age (years in ocean prior to maturation). This was assumed to be an adaptation to sexual conflict resulting from different optimal age at maturity between the sexes. However, direct effects on fitness were not investigated previously. Therefore, the aim of this study was to fill some of these knowledge gaps by studying sea-age candidate gene related breeding success and survival. A dataset of 167 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci interspersed through the salmon genome including loci tightly linked with the sea-age candidate genes was gen-erated for Teno river Atlantic salmon by sequencing DNA from one adult cohort and a subsequent cohort of juveniles on four consecutive years. Breeding success was studied by observing the trans-generational change in the sea-age candidate gene genotype fre-quencies and vgll3 genotype related mate choice, and survival by observing the change of genotype frequencies in freshwater juveniles. A significant deviation was observed between adult and juvenile vgll3 and six6 geno-type frequencies. The homozygous vgll3 genotype promoting later maturation in both sexes was significantly higher in juveniles than in adults, presumably due to better breeding success of males with this genotype. Homozygous six6 genotype with oppos-ing effect was similarly enriched. No vgll3 related mate choice nor change in genotype frequencies among juveniles was observed. These results show that these two genes af-fect the breeding success and likely marine survival, but further studies are needed in order to assess the lifelong fitness effects of different genotypes

Environmental accounting in the European Accounting Review:a reflection

We reflect upon how European Accounting Review has conceived of environmental accounting (and to some extent social/sustainability accounting work) over its 30-year history, with the aim of discussing ways in which environmental accounting research can further develop, both within and beyond this journal. After outlining the broader social and ecological context from which environmental accounting has emerged (and noting that this context is evolving in substantive ways), we provide an overview of the types of research published in EAR. We combine these elements to identify three themes that we argue are critical for the direction of future research: the financial materiality of ecological issues and the impact this has on risk; how environmental accounting practices are constructed; and how a new relationship between nature and society may affect accounting practices. We finally conclude by envisioning a future of environmental accounting research that dovetails with the sustainability ambitions that can be draw from an examination of the detailed targets that underpin the Sustainable Development Goals

Increased B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Concentration Is Associated with Reduced Coronary Vasoreactivity in Patients with Dilated Cardiomyopathy but Not in Healthy Young Subjects

Background/Aims. Natriuretic peptides are associated with the cardiovascular disease risk under a range of different circumstances. However, less is known about whether this association is found also in young healthy subjects. Methods. 9 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and 26 healthy young subjects were studied. The myocardial blood flow measurements were performed basally and during adenosine infusion using PET. Results. S-proBNP concentrations were significantly higher (2153 ± 1964 versus 28 ± 17 ng/L, P = .000002) and adenosine-stimulated flow lower (1.6 ± 0.8 versus 3.6 ± 1.1 mL·g−1·min−1, P = .00001) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy when compared to healthy subjects. S-proBNP concentration was inversely associated with adenosine stimulated flow in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (r = −0.75, P = .019) but not in healthy subjects (r = −0.06, P = .84). Conclusions. Natriuretic peptides are inversely associated with coronary vasoreactivity in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy but not in healthy young subjects. Since reduced coronary vasoreactivity seems to be one of the earliest abnormalities in the development of coronary artery disease, this might indicate that natriuretic peptides are not predictor of cardiovascular disease risk in healthy young subjects

Scenario simulations of future salinity and ecological consequences in the Baltic Sea and adjacent North Sea areas-implications for environmental monitoring

Substantial ecological changes occurred in the 1970s in the Northern Baltic during a temporary period of low salinity (S). This period was preceded by an episodic increase in the rainfall over the Baltic Sea Watershed area. Several climate models, both global and regional, project an increase in the runoff of the Northern latitudes due to proceeding climate change. The aim of this study is to model, firstly, the effects on Baltic Sea salinity of increased runoff due to projected global change and, secondly, the effects of salinity change on the distribution of marine species. The results suggest a critical shift in the S range 5-7, which is a threshold for both freshwater and marine species distributions and diversity. We discuss several topics emphasizing future monitoring, modelling, and fisheries research. Environmental monitoring and modelling are investigated because the developing alternative ecosystems do not necessarily show the same relations to environment quality factors as the retiring ones. An important corollary is that the observed and modelled S changes considered together with species' ranges indicate what may appear under a future climate. Consequences could include a shift in distribution areas of marine benthic foundation species and some 40-50 other species, affiliated to these. This change would extend over hundreds of kilometres, in the Baltic Sea and the adjacent North Sea areas. Potential cascading effects, in coastal ecology, fish ecology and fisheries would be extensive, and point out the necessity to develop further the "ecosystem approach in the environmental monitoring". (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Tegaserod Treatment for Dysmotility-Like Functional Dyspepsia: Results of Two Randomized, Controlled Trials

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74639/1/j.1572-0241.2008.01953.x.pd

Threatened habitat types in Finland 2018: the Baltic Sea. Red List of habitats. Part 2: Descriptions of habitat types

This report is a partial translation of the final report in Finnish on threatened habitat types (Threatened habitat types in Finland 2018, Part II: Descriptions of habitat types, The Finnish Environment 5/2018) that presents a total of 420 habitat types. This report includes all the evaluated habitat types of the Baltic Sea, as well as six new marine habitat types, which were described but not yet evaluated (NE). Also included are habitat types regarded as of least concern (LC) and those with deficient data (DD). For each habitat type a description, distribution map, photo, and the reasoning behind the assessment result are presented. The descriptions of the habitat types include their characteristics, geographical variation, connectivity to other habitat types, occurrence in Finland, reasons for being threatened and future threats, trend in the state of the habitat type, correspondence of the habitats type with habitat types covered by statutory protection, and whether the habitat type is one for which Finland has an international responsibility. Part I of the final report (in Finnish Suomen luontotyyppien uhanalaisuus 2018, SY 5/2018 and in English Threatened Habitat Types in Finland 2018, FE 2/2019) presents the assessment method for threatened habitat types, results and reasoning of the assessment, and proposals for measures prepared by the experts groups. In the whole country 186 habitats types were assessed as threatened (48% of the number of habitats types). The share of threatened habitat types is much larger in southern Finland (59%) than in northern Finland (32%). The assessment was conducted by broadly-based expert groups in 2016–2018. This was the second assessment of threatened habitat types in Finland. This assessment was conducted using the international IUCN Red List of Ecosystems method. Because of the new assessment method, the results of the first and second assessment of threatened habitat types are not directly comparable with each other. The conclusion that can be made, however, is that the decline and degradation of habitats has not diminished

The Early neo2 Registry:Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation With ACURATE neo2 in a European Population

BACKGROUND: ACURATE neo2 is a transcatheter aortic valve implantation system consisting of a self-expanding bioprosthetic valve with supra-annular leaflet position and featuring innovations to facilitate placement accuracy and reduce paravalvular regurgitation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The goal of the Early neo2 (Early neo2 Registry of the ACURATE neo2 TAVI Prosthesis) was to gather real-life data on safety and efficacy in a European transcatheter aortic valve implantation population treated with ACURATE neo2. Data were collected from 554 consecutive patients treated with ACURATE neo2 at 12 European sites (mean age, 82 years; 66% women; mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation II, 4.5%±3.8%) between September 2020 and March 2021. The composite primary end point was the occurrence of any of the following: postoperative (in-hospital) paravalvular regurgitation grade ≥2, in-hospital acute kidney injury stage 3, postoperative pacemaker implantation, 30-day death, and 30-day stroke. The primary end point occurred in 12.6% of patients. The 30-day rates for all-cause death and all stroke were 1.3% and 2.7%, respectively, and 1.5% of patients exhibited stage 3 acute kidney injury. A total of 34 patients (6.2%) received a postoperative permanent pacemaker. Per core laboratory–adjudicated echocardiographic analysis, mean postoperative aortic valve gradient was 7.6±3.3 mm Hg, and 2.8% of patients exhibited paravalvular regurgitation grade ≥2. CONCLUSIONS: In this report of postmarket use of the ACURATE neo2 valve in a real-world transcatheter aortic valve implantation population, patients exhibited favorable postoperative hemodynamics and clinical outcomes and a low rate of postoperative pacemaker implantation.</p

Relocation of Nordic Manufacturing

Manufacturing industries have had an important role in the export-driven economies of the Nordic countries. Manufacturing companies from these countries have increasingly been moving production abroad in recent years. However, backshoring of previously offshored manufacturing is attracting growing attention among researchers and policy-makers. This phenomenon, and its consequences for the renewal of manufacturing, are yet little understood.The research project “Reshoring of manufacturing (ROaMING): Disruptive Technologies, Business Ecosystems and Performance Information as Key Enablers” focused on increased understanding of production relocation trends in the Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. The aim was to create in-depth knowledge on the status of and potential for relocating manufacturing as a source of renewal of the manufacturing sector. The research approach consisted of quantitative and qualitative parts utilizing both available databases and new data collected through a large-scale survey and case research.The report consists of five main content chapters. First, the survey results of offshoring and backshoring trends in the Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, and Sweden are presented. Then we discuss the use of financial information in decision-making regarding manufacturing offshoring and backshoring. Thereafter the results of a study on manufacturing innovations and the adoption and implementation of new manufacturing technologies are reported. The fourth chapter presents the results of a study involving two manufacturing companies on the role of business ecosystems in manufacturing relocation decisions. Finally, the fifth chapter explores the global production investments made during the period 2005-2015 by large manufacturing firms with headquarters in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden.The results among the Nordic manufacturing firms indicate that offshoring is clearly more common than backshoring. The manufacturing relocations by Nordic firms are geographically wide-ranging. The most important regions for offshoring and of backshoring are Eastern and Western Europe, the Nordic countries, and China. Offshored production is typically cost focused, whereas production relocated to the Nordic countries is relatively complex and technology-intensive, seeking access to technology, skills and knowledge, and proximity to R&D and product development. Movement of production is expected to continue both offshore and back. The reinforcement of the Nordic countries as a strong base for high value-adding manufacturing firms can be influenced by policy measures and future research.Policy implications, as well as future research proposals are noted as the result of this study. Cost competitiveness in the Nordic countries needs to be ensured in relation to their reference group in the competition. This also exerts pressure for continuous productivity improvements through technological advances and process improvements. Access to skills, knowledge and technology are important factors for Nordic manufacturers to relocate production. Therefore product, process and supply chain innovation, as well as colocation of R&D and production, need to be promoted. Policy-makers need to pay attention to maintaining the Nordic innovation systems. Many firms seem to lack a clear strategy or analytical capabilities for manufacturing location decisions. Expertise on managing global manufacturing networks should be enhanced. Follow-up on the extent, drivers and benefits of production relocations of the Nordic manufacturing firms is needed to enhance the fact-based understanding of the longer-term trend of manufacturing relocations

KP-LAB Knowledge Practices Laboratory -- External release of end-user applications

deliverablesThis deliverable describes the M24 release of the End user applications for knowledge practices software v2.0.0. The deliverable includes the technical development performed until M24 (January 2008) within WP6 according to Description of Work 2.1 and D6.4 M21 specification of end-user applications. The current release is comprised of two set of tools: 1. Shared Space Tool The shared space and the accompanying support material can be found on the Internet at: http://2d.mobile.evtek.fi:8080/shared-space 2. Map-It. The installer program for Map-It v2.0.0 is available at: http://www.kp-lab.org/intranet/testable-tools/kp-lab-tools/map-it/map-it-2-0.0 Please consult the "Getting Started" Note before installing and using Map-It: http://www.kp-lab.org/intranet/testable-tools/kp-lab-tools/map-it/getting-started-with-map-it 3. Change Laboratory tools The release targeted for the end users participating in the trials planned to be conducted in the CL Working Knot can be accessed via the following link: http://2d.mobile.evtek.fi:8080/shared-space/cl.html Anyone who wishes to try the software out but is not participating in the Change Laboratory trials should use the development deployment on: http://mielikki.mobile.evtek.fi/shared-space/cl.html The M24 release of Semantic Multimedia Annotation tools is still delayed. The release of CASS Memo Client has been postponed to be included in the M28 release in DoW3

Randomised comparison of provisional side branch stenting versus a two-stent strategy for treatment of true coronary bifurcation lesions involving a large side branch:the Nordic-Baltic Bifurcation Study IV

Background - It is still uncertain whether coronary bifurcations with lesions involving a large side branch (SB) should be treated by stenting the main vessel and provisional stenting of the SB (simple) or by routine two-stent techniques (complex). We aimed to compare clinical outcome after treatment of lesions in large bifurcations by simple or complex stent implantation. Methods - The study was a randomised, superiority trial. Enrolment required a SB≥2.75 mm, ≥50% diameter stenosis in both vessels, and allowed SB lesion length up to 15 mm. The primary endpoint was a composite of cardiac death, non-procedural myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularisation at 6 months. Two-year clinical follow-up was included in this primary reporting due to lower than expected event rates. Results - A total of 450 patients were assigned to simple stenting (n=221) or complex stenting (n=229) in 14 Nordic and Baltic centres. Two-year follow-up was available in 218 (98.6%) and 228 (99.5%) patients, respectively. The primary endpoint of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 6 months was 5.5% vs 2.2% (risk differences 3.2%, 95% CI −0.2 to 6.8, p=0.07) and at 2 years 12.9% vs 8.4% (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.13, p=0.12) after simple versus complex treatment. In the subgroup treated by newer generation drug-eluting stents, MACE was 12.0% vs 5.6% (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.17 to 1.17, p=0.10) after simple versus complex treatment. Conclusion - In the treatment of bifurcation lesions involving a large SB with ostial stenosis, routine two-stent techniques did not improve outcome significantly compared with treatment by the simpler main vessel stenting technique after 2 years