Long-Term (2001–2020) Nutrient Transport from a Small Boreal Agricultural Watershed: Hydrological Control and Potential of Retention Ponds

Agriculture contributes significantly to phosphorus and nitrogen loading in southern Finland. Climate change with higher winter air temperatures and precipitation may also promote loading increase further. We analyzed long-term nutrient trends (2001–2020) based on year-round weekly water sampling and daily weather data from a boreal small agricultural watershed. In addition, nutrient retention was studied in a constructed sedimentation pond system for two years. We did not find any statistically significant trends in weather conditions (temperature, precipitation, discharge, snow depth) except for an increase in discharge in March. Increasing trends in annual concentrations were found for nitrate, phosphate, and total phosphorus and total nitrogen. In fact, phosphate concentration increased in every season and nitrate concentration in other seasons except in autumn. Total phosphorus and total nitrogen concentrations increased in winter as well and total phosphorus also in summer. Increasing annual loading trend was found for total phosphorus, phosphate, and nitrate. Increasing winter loading was found for nitrate and total nitrogen, but phosphate loading increased in winter, spring, and summer. In the pond system, annual retention of total nitrogen was 1.9–4.8% and that of phosphorus 4.3–6.9%. In addition, 25–40% of suspended solids was sedimented in the ponds. Our results suggest that even small ponds can be utilized to decrease nutrient and material transport, but their retention efficiency varies between years. We conclude that nutrient loading from small boreal agricultural catchments, especially in wintertime, has already increased and is likely to increase even further in the future due to climate change. Thus, the need for new management tools to reduce loading from boreal agricultural lands becomes even more acute

The Effect of Fabrication Method on Passive UHF RFID Tag Performance

In passive Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), transponders or tags are used to label objects to be identified. In this study passive tag antennas were produced using etching, screen-printing, and gravure printing methods. The threshold and backscattered signal strengths of the tags were measured to determine the effect of different manufacturing methods on the tags' performance. Conductivity, skin depth, thickness, and the quality of the conducting layer have a major effect on tag performance. Each manufacturing method sets its own boundary conditions on the processibility of the high quality conduction layer and such conditions need to be considered in tag design. Tag design also affects the manufacturing parameters used in the different techniques. The results of the study show that each of the studied fabrication methods can be used to manufacture reliable RFID tags

Myocardial tissue characterization in patients with hereditary gelsolin (AGel) amyloidosis using novel cardiovascular magnetic resonance techniques

Gelsolin (AGel) amyloidosis is a hereditary condition with common neurological effects. Myocardial involvement, especially strain, T1, or extracellular volume (ECV), in this disease has not been investigated before. Local myocardial effects and possible amyloid accumulation were the targets of interest in this study. Fifty patients with AGel amyloidosis were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, including cine imaging, T1 mapping, tagging, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging at 1.5 T. Results for volumetry, myocardial feature-tracking strain, rotation, torsion, native T1, ECV, and LGE were investigated. The population mean native T1 values in different segments of the left ventricle (LV) varied between 1003 and 1080 ms. Myocardial mean T1 was 1031 ± 37 ms. T1 was highest in the basal plane of the LV (1055 ± 40 ms), similarly to ECV (30.0% ± 4.4%). ECV correlated with native T1 in all LV segments (p Peer reviewe

The Impact of the Use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides on Honey Bees in the Cultivation of Spring Oilseed Crops in Finland in 2013–2015

The Neomehi project studied how neonicotinoid-based plant protection products affected honey bee colonies in oilseed rape and turnip rape cultivations in Finland. The final report combines the results of the growing seasons of 2013 and 2014. The experimental protocol included four trial fields where spring turnip rape was cultivated. Each trial field was treated in a different manner with neonicotinoid insecticides: without neonicotinoids, foliar spraying with neonicotinoids (thiacloprid) against pollen beetles, and/or seed treatment with neonicotinoids (thiametoxam) against flea beetles. The plant density and crop growth were determined in the trial fields. Additionally, the number of honey bees and other pollinators was assessed with the applied line transect method during the growing season. Five test bee colonies were located at the edge of each trial field. The performance of the bee hives was examined and the amount of bees and brood was counted 4-5 times during the summer season. A census was also done in autumn and in spring in order to acquire overwintering data. The bees and bee hive products from the test bee colonies were analysed for residues of neonicotinoids. Moreover, in the epidemiological pilot study (also called survey study in the text) of 2013-2014, residues were also analysed from samples collected as a survey from bee hives from five different geographical areas in Finland. In 2013, the sampling was optimized so that half of the bee hives were located close to oilseed cultivation and the other half far from oilseed cultivation. The crop growth was normal in three of the trial fields during the growing season of 2013. In one trial field (seed treatment with neonicotinoids), the crop growth probably suffered because of the variation in drilling depth. In 2014, both trial fields with uncoated seed had to be redrilled after flea beetles severely attacked the young plants in the fields. Therefore, the blossoming of turnip rape in those trial fields was delayed from late July to the beginning of August. The yield was low as well. The number of honey bees in the trial fields was higher when crop growth was good and lower when crop growth was poor. In three of the four fields that were treated with foliar spraying with a neonicotinoid (thiacloprid), the number of honey bees decreased after the treatment. The number of honey bees did, however, clearly increase 2-3 days after the foliar treatment. Both the adult and brood population dynamic curves of the test bee colonies were compared between trial sites. The adult bee population curves illustrated possible minor damages caused to the bee colonies in the sprayed test sites. The test bee colonies recovered from these casualties in two weeks. The average range of food consumption for the bees during overwintering and the overwintering index (the relation of the number of adult bees in spring compared to the number of adult bees in the beginning of overwintering) demonstrated typical levels compared to normal bee colonies in South-West Finland and there were no difference between the trial fields. Two of the test bee colonies lost their queen during winter 2013-2014. In 2014, one of the test colonies died due to suffocation because the pollen collector at the flight entrance was blocked by drones. The second test colony was lost because of robbing by other bee colonies after harvesting. A third test colony lost its queen during winter 2014-2015 and a fourth became a drone layer in the early spring of 2015. The winter losses of the test bee colonies did not differ from the average winter losses (7% in 2014 and 10% in 2015) in the South-West of Finland. The results of the first and second growing season did not indicate that seed coating with neonicotinoids affected the success of the bee colonies, but spraying the flowering field can be detrimental to the bee colonies that are located at the edges of the trial fields. The results of the residue studies indicated, however, that residues of neonicotinoids migrate into bee hives with pollen and nectar and are very common residues in honey bee hives around Finland. In this case, interest is focused on the seed treatment neonicotinoids thiametoxam and clothianidin, which are the most toxic pesticides to bees. The total residue levels of thiametoxam and chlothianide, especially in nectar, resulted in an estimated exposure, which is close to the chronic and acute sublethal risk limits presented in literature. Therefore, such a risk cannot be fully excluded on the basis of these residue studies.ABSTRAKTI Neomehi-hankkeen tärkein tavoite oli selvittää vaikuttavatko neonikotinoideja sisältävät torjunta-aineet pölytyspalvelussa käytettyjen mehiläispesien menestykseen ja talvehtimiskykyyn. Hankkeessa tutkittiin kahden kasvukauden ajan minkälaisia vaikutuksia rypsinviljelyssä käytettävillä, neonikotinoideja sisältävillä torjunta-aineilla on mehiläisiin suomalaisessa öljykasvin viljelyssä. Nyt julkaistava hankeraportti kokoaa yhteen kaksivuotisen Neomehi-hankkeen keskeisimmät tulokset. Koejärjestely sisälsi neljä kenttäkoetta kumpanakin kasvukautena 2013–2014, joissa viljeltiin rypsiä. Neonikotinoideja sisältäviä insektisidejä käytettiin eri tavoin kullakin pellolla. Koepellolla joko ei käytetty neonikotinoideja tai ruiskutettiin neonikotinoidilla (tiaklopridi) kirppoja vastaan ja/tai käytettiin neonikotinoidilla peitattua (tiametoksaami) siementä rapsikuoriaisia vastaan. Kasvien kasvua ja kasvutiheyttä seurattiin, ja pelloilla vierailevien mehiläisten ja muiden pölyttäjäryhmien esiintyminen laskettiin kasvukauden aikana. Kunkin pellon laidalla pidettiin viittä mehiläispesää. Mehiläispesien kuntoa seurattiin ja mehiläisten ja niiden jälkeläisten lukumäärä laskettiin vähintään neljällä eri tarkastuskäynnillä kesän aikana. Vahvuuslaskentoja tehtiin myös syksyjen 2013 ja 2014 aikana sekä keväällä 2014 ja 2015. Tällöin saatiin tarkempaa tietoa molempien hoitovuosien talvehtimisesta. Mehiläisiin ja mehiläispesän tuotteisiin kerääntyviä neonikotinoidien jäämiä analysoitiin kaikista kenttäkokeen pesistä. Kenttäkokeen lisäksi molempina kesinä 2013–2014 kerättiin näytteitä mehiläispesistä otantana viideltä eri alueelta Suomessa (epidemiologinen pilottihanke, otantatutkimus). Vuonna 2013 otantatutkimuksen näytteet valittiin siten, että puolet pesistä sijaitsi lähellä rypsinviljelyä ja puolet kaukana. Kasvien kasvu ja kukintojen tiheys oli normaalia kolmella koepellolla vuonna 2013. Yhdellä pellolla kasvu ei ollut niin hyvää johtuen todennäköisesti väärästä kylvösyvyydestä. Vuonna 2014 peittaamattomalla rypsin siemenellä kylvetyt kentät jouduttiin kirppojen vioitusten takia kylvämään uudestaan, jonka seurauksena niiden kukinta oli vasta heinä-elokuun vaihteessa. Pölyttäjälaskennat osoittivat, että pääsääntöisesti mehiläisten lukumäärä pellolla oli korkea, kun kasvin kasvu oli hyvä ja kukintoja runsaasti ja toisaalta taas mehiläisten lukumäärä alhainen kun kasvin kasvu heikkoa. Tällöin esimerkiksi ympäristössä olevat luonnonkasvit houkuttelivat mehiläisiä merkittävästi puoleensa. Koekentillä, jotka käsiteltiin neonikotinoidi-ruiskutuksella, ei mehiläisiä juuri havaittu heti ruiskutuksen jälkeen. Muutama päivä käsittelystä mehiläisten lukumäärä pellolla oli kuitenkin palautunut ruiskutusta edeltäneeseen tilaan. Ensimmäisen ja toisen kauden tulosten perusteella havaittiin, että neonikotinoideilla kukkivaan kasvuston tehdyt ruiskutukset saattoivat alentaa hieman koepesien aikuisten mehiläisten määrää. Mehiläispesät kuitenkin toipuivat menetyksistä kahden viikon kuluessa. Myös talvenaikainen ruoankulutus sekä talvehtimisindeksi (mehiläisten lukumäärän suhde syksyllä ja keväällä) asettuvat tyypillisiin arvoihin, joita mehiläisyhdyskunnille on mitattu Lounais-Suomessa, eivätkä eri koekenttien mehiläispesät poikenneet toisistaan tässä suhteessa. Talven 2013–2014 aikana kaksi pesää menetti kuningattaren. Toinen pesä oli koekentällä, jota ei käsitelty neonikotinoideilla ja toinen kentällä, jossa neonikotinoideja oli käytetty siementen peittaukseen. Hoitokaudella 2014 yksi pesistä tukehtui, kun kuhnurit tukkivat siitepölykeräimen. Toinen pesistä menetettiin koekentällä 3, kun muiden pesien mehiläiset ryöstivät sen tyhjäksi sadonkorjuun jälkeen. Talvella 2014–2015 yksi pesä menetti emonsa ja yhden pesän emo alkoi munia kuhnureita aikaisin keväällä 2015. Talvehtimistappiot eivät eroa koko Suomen keskiarvosta (7% 2014 ja 10% 2015). Jäämätutkimusten perusteella neonikotinoidien jäämiä siirtyy siitepölyn ja meden mukana mehiläispesiin. Peittausaineiden jäämät (tiametoksaamin, klotianidiinin) ovat erittäin yleisiä mehiläispesissä ympäri Suomen. Mitatut jäämäpitoisuudet etenkin medessä johtavat arvioon altistumistasosta, joka on lähellä kirjallisuudessa esitettyjä kroonisia ja akuutteja subletaaleja riskirajoja. Jäämätulosten perusteella ei voida siis täysin pois sulkea tämäntyyppistä riskiä.201

Cardiac manifestations in Finnish gelsolin amyloidosis patients

Introduction Finnish gelsolin amyloidosis (AGel amyloidosis) is an inherited systemic amyloidosis with well-known ophthalmological, neurological and cutaneous symptoms. Additionally, cardiomyopathies, conduction disorders and need of cardiac pacemakers occur in some patients. This study focuses on electrocardiographic (ECG) findings in AGel amyloidosis and their relation to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) changes. We also assessed whether ECG abnormalities were associated with pacemaker implantation and mortality. Materials and methods In this cohort study, 51 genetically verified AGel amyloidosis patients (mean age 66 years) without cardiac pacemakers underwent 12-lead ECG and CMR imaging with contrast agent in 2017. Patients were followed-up for 3 years. Results Conduction disturbances were found in 22 patients (43%). Nine (18%) presented with first-degree atrioventricular block, six (12%) with left anterior hemiblock, seven (14%) with left or right bundle branch block and two (4%) with non-specific intraventricular conduction delay. Low QRS voltage was present in two (4%) patients. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) concentrating on the interventricular septum and inferior parts of the heart was present in 19 (86%) patients with conduction abnormalities. During the follow-up, only one patient received a pacemaker, and one patient died. Discussion Conduction disorders and septal LGE are common in AGel amyloidosis, whereas other ECG and CMR findings typically observed in most common cardiac amyloidosis types were rare. Septal pathology seen in CMR may interfere with the cardiac conduction system in AGel amyloidosis, explaining conduction disorders, although pacemaker therapy is rarely required.Peer reviewe

Crop diversification in the future cropping systems: current situation of crop rotations in Finland

On the current research project (MONISOPU, www.mtt.fi) one of the aims are to produce more information on the actual crop rotation practices, which are essential for further planning of arable land use in a farm scale, locally, and nationally as well as for political decision makers

Axonal Kainate Receptors Modulate the Strength of Efferent Connectivity by Regulating Presynaptic Differentiation

Kainate type of glutamate receptors (KARs) are highly expressed during early brain development and may influence refinement of the circuitry, via modulating synaptic transmission and plasticity. KARs are also localized to axons, however, their exact roles in regulating presynaptic processes remain controversial. Here, we have used a microfluidic chamber system allowing specific manipulation of KARs in presynaptic neurons to study their functions in synaptic development and function in vitro. Silencing expression of endogenous KARs resulted in lower density of synaptophysin immunopositive puncta in microfluidically isolated axons. Various recombinant KAR subunits and pharmacological compounds were used to dissect the mechanisms behind this effect. The calcium permeable (Q) variants of the low-affinity (GluK1-3) subunits robustly increased synaptophysin puncta in axons in a manner that was dependent on receptor activity and PKA and PKC dependent signaling. Further, an associated increase in the mean active zone length was observed in electron micrographs. Selective presynaptic expression of these subunits resulted in higher success rate of evoked EPSCs consistent with higher probability of glutamate release. In contrast, the calcium-impermeable (R) variant of GluK1 or the high-affinity subunits (GluK4,5) had no effect on synaptic density or transmission efficacy. These data suggest that calcium permeable axonal KARs promote efferent connectivity by increasing the density of functional presynaptic release sites.Peer reviewe

Reducing cardiac implantable electronic device-induced artefacts in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Objectives Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-induced metal artefacts possibly significantly diminish the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), particularly cardiac MR (CMR). Right-sided generator implantation, wideband late-gadolinium enhancement (LGE) technique and raising the ipsilateral arm to the generator during CMR scanning may reduce the CIED-induced image artefacts. We assessed the impact of generator location and the arm-raised imaging position on the CIED-induced artefacts in CMR. Methods We included all clinically indicated CMRs performed on patients with normal cardiac anatomy and a permanent CIED with endocardial pacing leads between November 2011 and October 2019 in our institution (n = 171). We analysed cine and LGE sequences using the American Heart Association 17-segment model for the presence of artefacts. Results Right-sided generator implantation and arm-raised imaging associated with a significantly increased number of artefact-free segments. In patients with a right-sided pacemaker, the median percentage of artefact-free segments in short-axis balanced steady-state free precession LGE was 93.8% (IQR 9.4%, n = 53) compared with 78.1% (IQR 20.3%, n = 58) for left-sided pacemaker (p < 0.001). In patients with a left-sided implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, the median percentage of artefact-free segments reached 87.5% (IQR 6.3%, n = 9) using arm-raised imaging, which fell to 62.5% (IQR 34.4%, n = 9) using arm-down imaging in spoiled gradient echo short-axis cine (p = 0.02). Conclusions Arm-raised imaging represents a straightforward method to reduce CMR artefacts in patients with left-sided generators and can be used alongside other image quality improvement methods. Right-sided generator implantation could be considered in CIED patients requiring subsequent CMR imaging to ensure sufficient image quality.Peer reviewe

Mitigating agricultural nitrogen load with constructed ponds in northern latitudes : A field study on sedimental denitrification rates

Constructed agricultural ponds and wetlands can reduce nitrogen loading from agriculture especially in areas where warm climate predominates. However, in cold climate temperature-dependency of microbiological processes have raised the question about the applicability of constructed wetlands in N removal. We measured in situ denitrification rates in a constructed agricultural pond using N-15-isotope pairing technique at ambient light and temperature throughout a year as well as diurnally. The field IPT measurements were combined with a wide set of potentially important explanatory data, including air temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, precipitation, discharge, nitrate plus other water quality variables, sediment temperature, oxygen concentration and penetration depth, diffusive oxygen uptake and sediment organic carbon. Denitrification varied, on average, diurnally between 12 and 314 mu mol N m(-2) h(-1) and seasonally between 0 and 12409 mu mol m(-2) h(-1). Light and oxygen regulated the diel variation of denitrification, but seasonally denitrification was governed by a combination of temperature, oxygen and turbidity. The results indicated that the real N removal rate might be 30-35% higher than the measured daytime rates, suggesting that neglecting the diel variation of denitrification we may underestimate N removal capacity of shallow sediments. We conclude, that by following recommended wetland:catchment - size ratios, boreal agricultural ponds can efficiently remove nitrogen by denitrification in summer and in autumn, while in winter and in spring the contribution of denitrification might be negligible relative to the loading, especially with short residence time.Peer reviewe