NEW FLAWS FOR QUALIFICATION OF CAST STAINLESS STEEL INSPECTION

ABSTRACT For decades, cast austenitic stainless steels (CASS) have presented a challenge for inspection. However, recent advanced inspection technologies have shown promise in inspecting CASS materials with wall thicknesses that were once considered impossible

Increasing Prevalence and High Risk of Associated Anomalies in Congenital Vertebral Defects : A Population-based Study

Background: Congenital vertebral anomalies are a heterogeneous group of diagnoses, and studies on their epidemiology are sparse. Our aim was to investigate the national prevalence and mortality of these anomalies, and to identify associated anomalies. Methods: We conducted a population-based nationwide register study and identified all cases with congenital vertebral anomalies in the Finnish Register of Congenital Malformations from 1997 to 2016 including live births, stillbirths, and elective terminations of pregnancy because of major fetal anomalies. Cases were categorized based on the recorded diagnoses, associated major anomalies were analyzed, and prevalence and infant mortality were calculated. Results: We identified 255 cases of congenital vertebral anomalies. Of these, 92 (36%) were diagnosed with formation defects, 18 (7.1%) with segmentation defects, and 145 (57%) had mixed vertebral anomalies. Live birth prevalence was 1.89 per 10,000, and total prevalence was 2.20/10,000, with a significantly increasing trend over time (P < 0.001). Overall infant mortality was 8.2% (18/219); 3.5% (3/86) in patients with formation defects, 5.6% (1/18) in segmentation defects, and 12.2% (14/115) in mixed vertebral anomalies (P = 0.06). Co-occurring anomalies and syndromes were associated with increased mortality, P = 0.006. Majority of the cases (82%) were associated with other major anomalies affecting most often the heart, limbs, and digestive system. Conclusions: In conclusion, the prevalence of congenital vertebral anomalies is increasing significantly in Finnish registers. Detailed and systematic examination is warranted in this patient population to identify underlying comorbidities as the majority of cases are associated with congenital major anomalies.Peer reviewe

Fear of childbirth after medical versus surgical abortion. Population-based register study from Finland

Introduction To evaluate the effect of method of induced abortion and other abortion-associated variables on the incidence of fear of childbirth in subsequent pregnancy. Material and methods This population-based register study cohort includes all nulliparous women with their first pregnancy ending in an induced abortion in 2000-2015 and subsequent pregnancy with live singleton delivery between 2000 and 2017 (n = 21 479). Data were derived from three national registers maintained by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. We divided the study population in three cohorts: (a) medical and (b) surgical abortion during first trimester ( Results The overall incidence of fear of childbirth was 5.6% (n = 1209). Altogether, 19.2% (n = 4121) of women underwent cesarean delivery. The odds were elevated especially for elective cesarean delivery (odds ratio [OR] 9.30, 95% CI 7.95-10.88, P <.001) in women with fear of childbirth. In multivariable analysis, the odds for fear of childbirth (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.94) and cesarean delivery (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.84-0.90) were decreased in women with a history of first-trimester medical abortion compared with those with first-trimester surgical abortion. Second-trimester medical abortion had no effect on the odds for fear of childbirth (aOR 1.04, 95% CI 0.71-1.50). Maternal age of 30-39 years and interpregnancy interval over 2 years were additional risk factors for both fear of childbirth and cesarean delivery, but surgical evacuation of uterus after the abortion was not. Conclusions One first- or second-trimester medical abortion does not increase the odds for fear of childbirth, and cesarean delivery related to it in subsequent pregnancy when compared with first-trimester surgical abortion. Older maternal age and longer interpregnancy interval emerged as risk factors for fear of childbirth.Peer reviewe

Paras käytettävissä oleva tekniikka (BAT) perunan ja juuresten koneellisessa kuorinnassa ja käsittelyssä

Tässä raportissa esitetään parhaan käytettävissä olevan tekniikan (BAT) mukaisia tuotantomenetelmiä ja päästöjen käsittelymenetelmiä perunan ja juuresten kuorimoille ja niille raaka-ainetta toimittaville yrityksille. Suomessa on nykyisin noin 200 kuorimolaitosta, jotka toimittavat kuorittua perunaa ja juureksia suurkeittiöille ja elintarviketeollisuudelle ja laitosten määrä on edelleen kasvussa. Lisäksi on monia satoja viljelijöiden ja tukkukauppiaiden varastoja, joissa esikäsitellään kuorimojen raaka-aineeksi toimitettavia perunoita ja juureksia lajittelemalla, erottamalla multaa ja pesemällä. Suurin osa kuorimolaitoksista on perustettu maatilan yhteyteen käsittelemään pääasiassa tilalla viljeltyjä raaka-aineita. Monet laitokset käyttävät myös muualla viljeltyjä raaka-aineita. Kuorinnassa syntyvän kuorimassan hyötykäyttö tai muu käsittely ja toiminnasta syntyvät jätevedet ovat ympäristönsuojelun kannalta merkittävimmät asiat kuorimolaitoksilla. Kuorimassa on koostumukseltaan olennaisesti samanlaista kuin käytetty raaka-aine ja soveltuu periaatteessa erinomaisesti eläinten, lähinnä nautakarjan, rehuksi. Myös lajittelutähteet voidaan hyödyntää toimittamalle ne mahdollisuuksien mukaan rehuksi kotieläimille tai riistalle. Lajittelutähteiden, eli epämuodostuneiden, pilaantuneiden sekä ali- tai ylimittaisisten perunoiden tai juureksien, määrään voidaan vaikuttaa kasvukauden aikaisilla viljelytekniikoilla ja toimenpiteillä. Jätevesikuormituksen vähentämiseksi on ensisijaisen tärkeää kerätä kuorimassa solunesteineen talteen niin, että solunestettä ei pääse käsittelyyn johdettavan jäteveden joukkoon. Tällöinkin muodostuu kuorinnan jälkeisistä huuhteluista, tilojen ja laitteiden pesuista ym. melko väkeviä jätevesiä, joiden kuormitus on kuitenkin murto-osa solunestepitoisista vesistä ja joiden käsittely on olennaisesti helpompaa kuin väkevien, paljon solunestettä sisältävien jätevesien. Raportti on tarkoitettu suomalaisten yritysten ja viranomaisten käyttöön parhaan käytettävissä olevan tekniikan määrittelemiseksi erityisesti ympäristölupien käisttelyssä. Se antaa myös yleisölle tietoa alalla sovellettavista tekniikoista

Maternal asthma is associated with increased risk of perinatal mortality

Background Asthma is the most common chronic disease during pregnancy and it may have influence on pregnancy outcome. Objectives Our goal was to assess the association between maternal asthma and the perinatal risks as well as possible effects of asthma medication. Methods The study was based on a nationwide Finnish register-based cohort between the years 1996 and 2012 in the Drug and Pregnancy Database. The register data comprised 962 405 singleton live and stillbirths, 898 333 (93.3%) pregnancies in mothers with neither confirmed asthma nor use of asthma medication (controls), and 26 674 (2.8%) pregnancies with confirmed maternal asthma. 71% of mothers with asthma used asthma medication. The diagnosis of asthma was based on the mothers' right for subsidised medication which is carefully evaluated by strict criteria including pulmonary function testing. Odds ratio was used in comparison. Premature birth (PB), low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), neonatal death were the main outcome measures. Results Maternal asthma was associated with adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for perinatal mortality 1.24 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.46), preterm birth 1.18 (1.11 to 1.25), low birth weight 1.29 (1.21 to 1.37), fetal growth restriction (SGA) 1.32, (1.24 to 1.40), and asphyxia 1.09 (1.02 to 1.17). Asthma treatment reduced the increased risk of preterm birth aOR 0.85 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.96) but mothers with treated asthma had higher risks of fetal growth restriction (SGA) aOR 1.26 (1.10 to 1.45), and asphyxia aOR 1.37 (1.17 to 1.61) than mothers with untreated asthma. Conclusion Asthma is associated with increased risks of perinatal mortality, preterm birth, low birth weight, fetal growth restriction (SGA), and asphyxia. Asthma treatment reduces the risk of preterm delivery, but it does not seem to reduce other complications such as perinatal mortality.Peer reviewe

Extended spectrum penicillins reduce the risk of omphalocele : A population-based case-control study

Peer reviewe

Combining population genomics and ecological niche modeling to assess taxon limits between Carex jemtlandica and C. lepidocarpa

Carex section Ceratocystis (Cyperaceae) is a group of recently evolved plant species, in which hybridization is frequent, introgression is documented, taxonomy is complex, and morphological boundaries are vague. Within this section, a unified taxonomic treatment of the Carex jemtlandica-Carex lepidocarpa species complex does not exist, and Norway may currently be the sole country accepting species rank for both. Carex jemtlandica is mainly confined to Fennoscandia and is thus a Fennoscandian conservation responsibility. This motivated us to test the principal hypothesis that both C. jemtlandica and C. lepidocarpa represent evolutionary significant units, and that both deserve their current recognition at species level. We investigated their evolutionary distinctiveness in Norway, using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing and ecological niche modeling. Our genomic results reveal two genetic clusters, largely corresponding to C. jemtlandica and C. lepidocarpa that also remain distinct in sympatry, despite clear indications of ongoing hybridization and introgression. The ecological niche modeling suggests that they occupy different environmental niches. Jointly, our results clearly show that C. jemtlandica and C. lepidocarpa represent separately evolving entities that should qualify recognition as evolutionary significant units. Given the high level of introgression compared to other hybridizing species pairs in Carex we recommend treating C. jemtlandica as a subspecies of C. lepidocarpa.Peer reviewe

Increasing Prevalence and High Risk of Associated Anomalies in Congenital Vertebral Defects: A Population-based Study

Background: Congenital vertebral anomalies are a heterogeneous group of diagnoses, and studies on their epidemiology are sparse. Our aim was to investigate the national prevalence and mortality of these anomalies, and to identify associated anomalies.Methods: We conducted a population-based nationwide register study and identified all cases with congenital vertebral anomalies in the Finnish Register of Congenital Malformations from 1997 to 2016 including live births, stillbirths, and elective terminations of pregnancy because of major fetal anomalies. Cases were categorized based on the recorded diagnoses, associated major anomalies were analyzed, and prevalence and infant mortality were calculated.Results: We identified 255 cases of congenital vertebral anomalies. Of these, 92 (36%) were diagnosed with formation defects, 18 (7.1%) with segmentation defects, and 145 (57%) had mixed vertebral anomalies. Live birth prevalence was 1.89 per 10,000, and total prevalence was 2.20/10,000, with a significantly increasing trend over time (PConclusions: In conclusion, the prevalence of congenital vertebral anomalies is increasing significantly in Finnish registers. Detailed and systematic examination is warranted in this patient population to identify underlying comorbidities as the majority of cases are associated with congenital major anomalies.</p