Ownership and governance of Finnish infrastructure networks

This research report investigates and analyzes the pros and cons of different ownership and governance models of infrastructure networks. The report covers most infrastructure networks: transportation networks (roads, streets, railways, airports, harbors) and utility networks (water and sewage, energy and electricity). There is no unifying solution that would fit all sectors in terms of the most efficient ownership model. However, in many sectors reforms are needed towards more elaborated client-supplier frameworks to ensure greater efficiency and cost transparency. Surprisingly, traditional organizational structures do not seem to impact on financial returns of those networks that provide user-financed services. In Finland technical infrastructure networks are typically owned, administered and managed by the public sector as they are considered public goods and critical assets for the wellbeing of citizens. In many ways the sectors have remained passive and with little interaction towards more innovative service provision solutions or organizational models. In terms of developing the networks’ services and their profitability, the greatest business opportunity would result from allowing open entry to market and competition in contracting. This would mean abandonment of negotiated contracts and proactive evolution of functional markets. The scope of business opportunities will increase in all aspect of service delivery; from management to engineering and economic studies, asset management systems, construction and maintenance works, and the labor to do all that

Identification and Validation of Human Papillomavirus Encoded microRNAs

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The extreme weather risk indicators (EWRI) for the European transport system

The European 7th Framework Programme project Extreme Weather impacts on European Networks of Transport devised a holistic analysis of extreme weather risks for the transport system. The analysis provided an overview of extreme weather risks, or a risk panorama. The risk panorama was built on a probabilistic approach to extreme weather phenomena occurrences and on vulnerability analysis based on selected macro-level economic and transport system indicators of the member states of EU-27. The panorama covers all transport modes and views infrastructure-related risks, time delay risks, and accidents risks. In addition to climatic circumstances, the devised risk indicator is also dependent on regional circumstances, such as population and transport density and income level. This paper describes the construct and application of an extreme weather risk indicator (EWRI). EWRIs are counted for each country and each transport mode separately. Furthermore, this paper also presents the most significant extreme weather events in different parts of Europe and on the transport modes they affect the most

Association of CT findings with invasive subtypes and the new grading system of lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract Aim: To predict the differentiation between invasive growth patterns and new grades of lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) using computed tomography (CT). Materials and methods: The CT features of 180 surgically treated LAC patients were compared retrospectively to pathological invasive subtypes and tumour grades as defined by the new grading system published in 2021 by the World Health Organization. Two radiologists reviewed the images semi-quantitatively and independently. Univariable and multivariable regression models were built from the statistical means of their assessments to predict invasive subtypes and grades. The area under the curve (AUC) calculation was used to select the best models. The Youden index was applied to determine the cut-off values for radiological parameters. Results: The acinar/papillary patterns were associated with ill-defined margins, lower consolidation/tumour ratio and air bronchogram. The solid growth pattern was associated with a well-defined margin and hypodensity, and the micropapillary (MP) subtype with spiculation. From Grades 1 to 3, the amount of air bronchogram decreased and the consolidation/tumour ratio increased. In the sub-analyses, the best model for differentiating Grade 2 from Grade 1 had the following CT features: solid/subsolid type, consolidation/tumour ratio, well-defined margin, and air bronchogram (AUC = 0.783) and Grade 3 from Grade 2: size of the consolidation part/whole tumour ratio, size of the consolidation part, and well-defined margin (AUC = 0.759). The interobserver agreements between the two radiologists varied between 0.67 and 0.98. Conclusions: Air bronchogram, consolidation/tumour ratio, and well-defined margin are among the best imaging findings to discriminate between both invasive subtypes and the new grades in LAC

High-resolution LiDAR mapping of glacial landforms and ice stream lobes in Finland

Newly available high resolution airborne LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) technology is generating unprecedented next-generation imagery of Earth surface features. LiDAR datasets are being employed by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) as part of a new national geological initiative (Glacier Dynamic database: GDdatabase) to rapidly and cost-effectively map glacial landforms and sediments left by the last (Late Weichselian) Fennoscandian Ice Sheet (FIS). There is a high demand for such data in hydrogeological, geoengineering and mineral exploration projects and also for the identification of glacial landforms that provide key information regarding ice sheet rheology, growth and decay. An important step forward with this new technique is the recognition of paleo- ice stream corridors with fast flowing ice (> 3 km yr-1 based on modern ice sheets), surrounded by stagnant or sluggish-flowing ice. Precise geomorphic criteria are now available for recognition of paleo-ice streams, based on the elongation of subglacial streamlined bedforms and the presence of megascale glacial lineations. Flow sets of drumlins and megascale glacial lineations can now be mapped in high resolution using LiDAR and are now seen as genetically related forms in a continuum that records increasing ice flow velocity and the creation of a low friction bed. This paper briefly outlines the nature of the GDdatabase and the methodology behind its construction and provides examples of principal bedform types that record the dynamic interplay of paleo-ice stream lobes in the Finnish sector of the last FIS

Immunohistochemical Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Expression in Human Insulinomas

Insulinomas are rare functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, which metastasize in 10% of cases. As predicting the prognosis can be challenging, there is a need for the determination of clinicopathological factors associated with metastatic potential. The aim of this study is to evaluate the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) expression in insulinomas and to analyse its association with clinicopathological features and patient outcome. This retrospective study involves pancreatic tumour tissue samples from fifty-two insulinoma patients. After histological re-evaluation, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples were processed into tissue microarrays and stained immunohistochemically with a monoclonal GLP-1R antibody. Forty-eight of the forty-nine (98%) non-metastatic tumours expressed GLP-1R, while one non-metastatic, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)-related tumour and all three of the metastatic tumours lacked GLP-1R expression. The lack of GLP-1R expression was associated with impaired overall survival, larger tumour diameter, higher Ki-67 PI and weaker insulin staining. Somatostatin receptor 1–5 expression did not differ between GLP-1R-positive and GLP-1R-negative insulinomas. In conclusion, the lack of GLP-1R expression is associated with metastatic disease and impaired survival in insulinoma patients. Thus, GLP-1R expression could be a useful biomarker in estimating the metastatic potential of the tumour and the prognosis of surgically treated patients.Peer reviewe