The effect of student aid system on equality of opportunities and graduation times in higher education in the Nordic countries

This thesis studies the effect of student aid system on equality of opportunities and graduation times in higher education in the Nordic countries based on the existing literature and empirical research. The topic is relevant and current issue especially in Finland due to recent cuts made by the government to the student aid system which have raised many critical opinions regarding these cuts. The purpose of this thesis is to make an objective evaluation on the effect of the past reforms made to student allowance and student loan in the Nordic countries in the past decades. The main observations are that loan based incentives have had the biggest positive effect on decreasing graduation times in higher education. The studies also show that there isn’t enough evidence to support the claim that students with lower income families would be more risk averse regarding taking up student loans. Also there seems to be no evidence backing the statement that increasing student allowance increases the equality of opportunities. If the goal of the policymaker is to create incentives for decreased graduation times through student aid system, then a loan based system with loan refund based incentives for students graduating on time seems to be a much better instrument comparing to increasing the proportion of student allowance. I also conclude that there are no simple answers or single truths regarding a perfect student aid system which leads to the point that the goodness of the outcome of the system is dependent on the goals of the policy makers and every student aid system is a compromise made to optimize the goals of the policy makers

Children and gender inequality: evidence from Finland

This thesis studies the impact of the arrival of the first child on the labor market outcomes of women and men in Finland. Using Finnish registry data from 1988-2015 on parents who had their first child between 1993-2005 and an event study method I show that the impact of children on women is negative, large and persistent while men are almost completely unaffected. Up to five years before the birth of the first child there is little difference in labor market outcomes of men and women, but one year after the birth of women's' annual labor earnings drop by 61 %, total annual income by 30 % and participation rate by 26 % compared to year before the birth. The child penalty, the percentage by which women fall behind men due to children, in annual labor earnings after ten years equals to 21 %, 10.4 % for participation rate and 16.9 % for total annual income. The child penalties are persistent for all three outcomes even 20 years after the birth. When comparing men with and without children there is no visible difference in the development of labor market outcomes but women with children experience a significant drop in earnings and participation rate compared to women without children

Opas vastamainoksista markkinoinnin AMK-opiskelijalle

Tämän toiminnallisen opinnäytetyön produktina tehtiin opas vastamainoksista markkinoinnin ammattikorkeakouluopiskelijalle. Oppaan tavoitteena oli, että sen luettuaan opiskelija tietää mitä vastamainokset ovat, ja minkä vuoksi ne ovat tärkeitä. Tavoitteena oli myös kannustaa opiskelijoita toimimaan tulevissa ammateissaan kestävästi. Projekti alkoi maaliskuussa 2024 teoriaosuudella, jossa määriteltiin mitä mainokset ovat, miten ne vuorovaikuttavat yhteiskunnan kanssa ja analysoitiin mainostajan vastuuta suhteessa kuluttajaan. Koska työn pääaihe vastamainokset liittyvät vahvasti mainonnan etiikkaan, etsittiin vastausta kysymykseen ”manipuloiko mainostajat kuluttajia?”. Lähteiden pohjalta aiheen huomattiin jakavan mielipiteitä. Toisten lähteiden mukaan mainostajat manipuloivat kuluttajia paljon, kun taas toisten mukaan kuluttajiin vaikuttaminen olisi vaikeaa. Eroavista näkemyksistä huolimatta voitiin vetää johtopäätös, jonka mukaan mainostajat ovat ainakin jossain määrin kykeneviä vaikuttamaan kuluttajiin, mutta raja pelkän vaikuttamisen ja oikean manipuloinnin välillä on häilyvä. Seuraavaksi opinnäytetyössä syvennyttiin vastamainoksiin ja mainoskritiikkiin. Aihetta käsiteltiin esimerkkien avulla ja esiteltiin mainonnan sekä yhteiskunnan eri aiheita tai epäkohtia, joista on tehty vastamainoksia. Valittuja aiheita oli konsumerismi, viherpesu, pinkkipesu tai sateenkaaripesu sekä politiikka. Aiheiden esittelyn jälkeen analysoitiin vastamainonnan vaikutuksia kuluttajiin, mainostajiin sekä yhteiskuntaan. Tässä hyödynnettiin esimerkkejä onnistuneista vastamainoskampanjoista. Todettiin, että vastamainosten onnistumista on vaikea mitata, koska ne ovat usein vain pienehkö osa suurempaa missiota, joka koostuu monesta eri toiminnosta. Opinnäytetyön toiminnallisessa osuudessa luotiin opas vastamainoksista. Oppaan tekoon hyödynnettiin erilaisia ohjeita oppaan tai opetusmateriaalin tekijälle. Prosessi alkoi vertailuanalyysilla, jossa vertailtiin erilaisia vastamainosoppaita keskenään. Vertailuanalyysin tuloksia hyödynnettiin oppaan teon myöhemmissä vaiheissa. Osana prosessia järjestettiin myös asiantuntijahaastattelu elokuussa 2024, jossa haastateltiin vastamainoksia tekevän tahon edustajaa sekä työpaja lokakuussa 2024, jossa testattiin oppaan konseptin toimivuutta. Työpajaan osallistui kahdeksan ammattikorkeakouluopiskelijaa tai vastavalmistunutta, joiden opintoihin kuului markkinointia. Työpajan tulosten perusteella opas täyttää tavoitteet, eli sen avulla opiskelija oppii, mitä vastamainokset ovat sekä motivoituvat toimimaan kestävämmin omalla alallaan. Valmis opas vastamainoksista markkinoinnin AMK-opiskelijalle on 38-sivuinen PDF-tiedosto, jossa esitellään vastamainoksia sekä niiden aiheita esimerkein ja annetaan ohjeet vastamainoksen tekemiseen

Värit kauhuelokuvien työkaluna : värien käyttö pelottavan tunnelman tehostamiseksi

Tässä opinnäytetyössä käsitellään kauhuelokuvia sekä niihin liittyviä värivalintoja. Työn tarkoitus on tarjota sen lukijalla yleiskuva siitä, miten värit edesauttavat tekemään kauhuelokuvista pelottavampia ja mihin pelko perustuu. Samalla tavoiteltiin oman osaamisen kehittämistä värien ymmärtämisen sekä kauhukonseptitaiteen parissa. Opinnäytetyön alkupuoli on varattu aiheen alustamiselle, jossa kerrotaan kevyesti värien ominaisuuksista. Värien ominaisuuksiin kuuluu termejä, joiden avaamisen jälkeen työ siirtyy käsittelemään värien aiheuttamia tunteita. Tämä toimii pohjustuksena kauhuelokuville, joita tarkastellaan ja analysoidaan värien roolin näkökulmasta erinäisten lähteiden avulla. Tämän jälkeen opinnäytetyö siirtyy käsittelemään konseptitaidetta sekä sen roolia elokuvatuotannossa. Toiminnallinen osa koostuu omasta kauhukonseptitaiteesta omaan kuvitteelliseen kauhuelokuvaan, jossa testataan lähdemateriaalissa opittuja asioita käytännössä. Tuloksena voidaan todeta värien ja konseptitaiteen olevan keskeinen osa kauhuelokuvatuotantoa. Konseptitaide luo pohjaa koko elokuvan tuotannolle ja on suuntaa antava monille tuotantoryhmän jäsenille. Värit puolestaan ovat elokuvaohjaajien tapa toteuttaa visuaalista suuntausta, tunnetiloja ja assosiaatioita sekä välittää informaatiota. Opinnäytetyössä todetaan myös, että värit ovat universaali ja samalla yksilöllinen kokemus, joka pohjautuu yksilön omiin kokemuksiin ja kulttuuriin, jolloin elokuvakokemukset ovat yhtä lailla myös yksilöllisiä

Optimization of immunomagnetic separation for cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem cells

BACKGROUND: There is a growing interest in cord blood as a source of primitive stem cells with the capacity for multilineage differentiation. Pure cell fractions are needed for the characterization and in vitro expansion of stem cells as well as for their use in preclinical research. However, enrichment of stem cells is challenging due to the lack of stem cell-specific markers and gentle protocols for the isolation of highly pure stem cell fractions. Protocols developed for the enrichment of peripheral blood-derived stem cells have been found to be suboptimal for cord blood. RESULTS: In this study, immunomagnetic cell sorting protocols to purify CD34+, CD133+ and Lin- cells from fresh and cryopreserved cord blood were optimized. Reproducible purities of up to 97% were reached. The selected cells were highly viable having substantial colony-forming potential. CONCLUSION: The optimized protocols enable rapid enrichment of highly pure hematopoietic stem cells from both fresh and cryopreserved cord blood

Serological profile of torque teno sus virus species 1 (TTSuV1) in pigs and antigenic relationships between two TTSuV1 genotypes (1a and 1b), between two species (TTSuV1 and -2), and between porcine and human anelloviruses

The family Anelloviridae includes human and animal torque teno viruses (TTVs) with extensive genetic diversity. The antigenic diversity among anelloviruses has never been assessed. Using torque teno sus virus (TTSuV) as a model, we describe here the first investigation of the antigenic relationships among different anelloviruses. Using a TTSuV genotype 1a (TTSuV1a) or TTSuV1b enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the respective putative ORF1 capsid antigen and TTSuV1-specific real-time PCR, the combined serological and virological profile of TTSuV1 infection in pigs was determined and compared with that of TTSuV2. TTSuV1 is likely not associated with porcine circovirus-associated disease (PCVAD), because both the viral loads and antibody levels were not different between affected and unaffected pigs and because there was no synergistic effect of concurrent PCV2/TTSuV1 infections. We did observe a higher correlation of IgG antibody levels between anti-TTSuV1a and -TTSuV1b than between anti-TTSuV1a or -1b and anti-TTSuV2 antibodies in these sera, implying potential antigenic cross-reactivity. To confirm this, rabbit antisera against the putative capsid proteins of TTSuV1a, TTSuV1b, or TTSuV2 were generated, and the antigenic relationships among these TTSuVs were analyzed by an ELISA and by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using PK-15 cells transfected with one of the three TTSuV ORF1 constructs. The results demonstrate antigenic cross-reactivity between the two genotypes TTSuV1a and TTSuV1b but not between the two species TTSuV1a or -1b and TTSuV2. Furthermore, an anti-genogroup 1 human TTV antiserum did not react with any of the three TTSuV antigens. These results have important implications for an understanding of the diversity of anelloviruses as well as for the classification and vaccine development of TTSuVs

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) genetic variability under natural infection scenario reveals a complex network of viral quasispecies

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) is a virus characterized by a high evolutionary rate, promoting the potential emergence of different genotypes and strains. Despite the likely relevance in the emergence of new PCV-2 variants, the subtle evolutionary patterns of PCV-2 at the individual-host level or over short transmission chains are still largely unknown. This study aimed to analyze the within-host genetic variability of PCV-2 subpopulations to unravel the forces driving PCV-2 evolution. A longitudinal weekly sampling was conducted on individual animals located in three farms after the first PCV-2 detection. The analysis of polymorphisms evaluated throughout the full PCV-2 genome demonstrated the presence of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) especially in the genome region encoding for the capsid gene. The global haplotype reconstruction allowed inferring the virus transmission network over time, suggesting a relevant within-farm circulation. Evidences of co-infection and recombination involving multiple PCV-2 genotypes were found after mixing with pigs originating from other sources. The present study demonstrates the remarkable within-host genetic variability of PCV-2 quasispecies, suggesting the role of the natural selection induced by the host immune response in driving PCV-2 evolution. Moreover, the effect of pig management in multiple genotype coinfections occurrence and recombination likelihood was demonstrated

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) genetic variability under natural infection scenario reveals a complex network of viral quasispecies

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) is a virus characterized by a high evolutionary rate, promoting the potential emergence of diferent genotypes and strains. Despite the likely relevance in the emergence of new PCV-2 variants, the subtle evolutionary patterns of PCV-2 at the individual-host level or over short transmission chains are still largely unknown. This study aimed to analyze the within-host genetic variability of PCV-2 subpopulations to unravel the forces driving PCV-2 evolution. A longitudinal weekly sampling was conducted on individual animals located in three farms after the frst PCV-2 detection. The analysis of polymorphisms evaluated throughout the full PCV-2 genome demonstrated the presence of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) especially in the genome region encoding for the capsid gene. The global haplotype reconstruction allowed inferring the virus transmission network over time, suggesting a relevant within-farm circulation. Evidences of co-infection and recombination involving multiple PCV-2 genotypes were found after mixing with pigs originating from other sources. The present study demonstrates the remarkable within-host genetic variability of PCV-2 quasispecies, suggesting the role of the natural selection induced by the host immune response in driving PCV-2 evolution. Moreover, the efect of pig management in multiple genotype coinfections occurrence and recombination likelihood was demonstrated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Torque Teno Sus Virus (TTSuV) in Cell Cultures and Trypsin

Torque teno sus virus (TTSuV), a member of the family Anelloviridae, is a single-stranded, circular DNA virus, widely distributed in swine populations. Presently, two TTSuV genogroups are recognized: Torque teno sus virus 1 (TTSuV1) and Torque teno sus virus 2 (TTSuV2). TTSuV genomes have been found in commercial vaccines for swine, enzyme preparations and other drugs containing components of porcine origin. However, no studies have been made looking for TTSuV in cell cultures. In the present study, a search for TTSuV genomes was carried out in cell culture lineages, in sera used as supplement for cell culture media as well as in trypsin used for cell disaggregation. DNA obtained from twenty-five cell lineages (ten from cultures in routine multiplication and fifteen from frozen ampoules), nine samples of sera used in cell culture media and five batches of trypsin were examined for the presence of TTSuV DNA. Fifteen cell lineages, originated from thirteen different species contained amplifiable TTSuV genomes, including an ampoule with a cell lineage frozen in 1985. Three cell lineages of swine origin were co-infected with both TTSuV1 and TTSuV2. One batch of trypsin contained two distinct TTSuV1 plus one TTSuV2 genome, suggesting that this might have been the source of contamination, as supported by phylogenetic analyses of sequenced amplicons. Samples of fetal bovine and calf sera used in cell culture media did not contain amplifiable TTSuV DNA. This is the first report on the presence of TTSuV as contaminants in cell lineages. In addition, detection of the viral genome in an ampoule frozen in 1985 provides evidence that TTSuV contamination is not a recent event. These findings highlight the risks of TTSuV contamination in cell cultures, what may be source for contamination of biological products or compromise results of studies involving in vitro multiplied cells