482 research outputs found
Diversity and function of anti-modified protein autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease particularly affecting synovial
joints. Anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies (ACPA) are detected in the serum of about 2/3
of RA patients and are being used to classify the disease. These autoantibodies may occur years
before any signs of arthritis which implies that they are a cause rather than a consequence of
disease. By using modified autoantigens to detect ACPAs in large patient cohorts and by
purifying polyclonal autoantibodies from patients, the hunt for disease promoting autoantigens
has been going on for decades. However, the relationship between ACPA specificity and any
functional effects remains unclear. In order to understand the evolution, specificity, and
function of autoreactive B cells in RA, the focus of this thesis is the generation of monoclonal
antibodies (mAbs) from paired variable heavy- and light-chain immunoglobulin (Ig) sequences
from identified single B cells from various RA tissue compartments.
We have identified citrulline-reactive autoantibody producing plasma cells in the synovium of
RA patients with established disease. By generating single plasma cell derived mAbs, we
learned that such autoantibodies may be directly involved in the pathogenesis of RA by
promoting bone degrading osteoclasts. The mAbs were all multireactive to citrulline-peptides
and citrullinated proteins, but with unique distinct binding patterns. We recognized glycine in
+1 position to the citrulline and a fraction of the citrulline-reactive mAbs cross-reacted with
carbamyl-peptides. In addition, the identified plasma cells displayed features of high somatic
mutations and fragment antigen binding (Fab) variable N-glycosylation sites introduced by
affinity maturation. By analyzing a selection of RA patient B cell derived mAbs for reactivity
against apoptotic cells and activated neutrophils, we learned that a subset of the citrulline
reactive mAbs bound nuclear antigens. Interestingly, a fraction of these mAbs could target
nuclear histones independently of the citrullinating enzyme PAD by binding to acetylated
histones. We explored the extent of the ACPA mAb multireactivity and cross-reactivity by
acknowledging the importance of neighboring amino acids in addition to glycine in +1 to the
citrulline. By analyzing the bone marrow plasma cell repertoire of RA patients, we observed
differences in Ig-frequencies and variable Fab N-linked glycosylation sites between ACPA+
and ACPA- patients. We also found RA patient bone marrow plasma cell clonotypes. In
addition, we identified citrulline-reactive bone marrow plasma cells that could bind activated
neutrophils which strengthen previous reports of citrullinated histones as ACPA targets. Lastly,
we identified autoantibodies against the oxidation-induced post translational protein
modification adducts malondialdehyde (MDA) and malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) in
the bone marrow and lung of RA patients and individuals that also harbor ACPAs. A majority
of these autoantibodies, that can promote osteoclastogenesis, need cross-linked MAA-protein
for recognition independent of protein backbone.
Taken together, the generation of RA patient single B cell derived mAbs, have revealed
remarkable features of the autoreactivity that increases the understanding of B cell involvement
in the pathogenesis of RA
Selective Friendship? A Study of Immigrant Segregation within Finnish Classrooms
This thesis investigates the within-school segregation of Finnish students using survey data on friendships. The difference in academic performance between students with and without immigrant backgrounds is large, and in order to make it smaller, the study environment for students with immigrant backgrounds must be understood. Identifying the extent to which students with immigrant background experience a different social environment is one step in that direction.
Individual segregation is the extent to which the social network of an individual is composed of individuals similar to each other regarding some specific trait. This study investigates the existence of individual segregation in Finnish schools using information on who the fifth grade students participating in the study are friends with. The individual segregation level is calculated based on the background of friends, dividing students into two groups: students with or without immigrant backgrounds. This gives an indication of the possible segregation at an individual level, created through friend choice. Additionally, the correlation between individual level segregation and age at arrival to Finland and academic skills respectively is studied.
Clear evidence of individual level segregation among immigrants is found. Students with immigrant backgrounds are more likely to have friends with immigrant backgrounds and more likely to be lonely, as in have no friends. However, neither correlation between in- dividual segregation and age at arrival nor correlation between individual segregation and academic skills can be found. This could be explained by problems with the data, but can also indicate that peer effects in class are smaller than what was expected based on previous research. It seems that also segregation patterns differ from what has been found in similar American studies. More research need to be done, but this thesis shows that students with immigrant backgrounds experience a different social environment when it comes to friends than students with non-immigrant backgrounds do, as the share of friends with im- migrant backgrounds is significantly higher for students who themselves have immigrant backgrounds
Building Biospheres Reserves through Collaborative Governance : a study of organisational forms and collaborative processes in Swedenâs biosphere reserves
In June 2019, Sweden received its seventh biosphere reserve. Biosphere reserves are part of UNESCOâs global programme Man and the Biosphere (MAB), which commenced in 1971 with the aim of enhancing the relationship between humans and the environment. There are more than 700 biosphere reserves in the world that strive to be model areas for sustainable societal development. In total, Swedenâs biosphere reserves account for about seven per cent of the countryâs total surface area.
The report describes the development that has taken place in Swedenâs biosphere reserves regarding their organisational structures and their formation processes. The report is based on semi-structured interviews and conversations with about 60 key informants in combination with extensive analysis of documents. Based on the biosphere reservesâ mission to promote collaboration and dialogue for sustainable societal development, the report describes the challenges and success factors that have emerged since their establishment and discusses these in relation to issues concerning organisational change, representativeness, legitimacy and organisational effects.
The report shows that the biosphere reserves are characterised by extensive collaboration among different stakeholders and organisations, but run the risk of mission drift due to their hybrid organisational character and their interactive working methods. The report also reveals several significant qualitative results of the biosphere reservesâ organisational processes. In several of the biosphere reserves, people have started to perceive and relate to their environments in new ways as a result of the work. The collaborative work processes have also contributed to resolving several natural resourcerelated conflicts. Finally, the report provides recommendations for supporting the work with biosphere reserves in Sweden
Shared Places, Separate Spaces : Constructing Cultural Spaces through two National Languages in Finland
Finland is a bilingual country with 2 national languages, Finnish and Swedish. The Swedish-speaking school institution aims to protect the minority language by maintaining a monolingual school space. In this article, the construction of linguistic and ethnic difference in educational discourse and practice related to the national languages in Finland is analyzed by using discourse analysis, feminist and post-structural theories. By analyzing ethnographic data and public debate, we argue that discursive and material practices related to spatiality have a significant role in constructing difference and otherness in the Finnish school context. Essentialist categories are produced but also contested from the positions within the cultural spaces at school and in society at large.Peer reviewe
Bluetonguen maahantulo ja leviÀminen Suomessa : riskiprofiili
Bluetongue (BT) on vektorivÀlitteinen mÀrehtijöiden virustauti, joka kuuluu
Suomessa vastustettavien, helposti leviÀvien elÀintautien ryhmÀÀn. Taudin
oireet ovat epÀspesifisiÀ, ja niihin kuuluvat muun muassa kuume, haavaumat
suun limakalvoilla, nielemisvaikeudet, turvotukset pÀÀn alueella ja ontuminen.
Bluetongue-tautia ei ole koskaan todettu Suomessa. Viime vuosina BT-tautipurkauksia
on todettu aikaisempaa pohjoisempana. Suomen kannalta lÀhimpiÀ
tautipurkauksia on todettu Ruotsissa ja Norjassa.
TÀssÀ riskiprofiilissa tarkastellaan BT:n maahan tuloon ja tartunnan edelleen
leviÀmiseen liittyviÀ riskitekijöitÀ sekÀ tartunnan leviÀmisen seurauksia. Tarkastelussa
on huomioitu Suomen ilmaston ja elÀinpopulaation erityispiirteet.
LisÀksi on selvitetty taudin mahdollisia seurauksia, sekÀ millÀ edellytyksillÀ
tartunta voisi Suomessa jÀÀdÀ endeemiseksi.
Suomessa esiintyy ainakin neljÀ Culicoides-suvun lajia, jotka on ulkomailla
yhdistetty BT-virukseen. Ilmatieteen laitoksen kymmenen viime vuoden tilastojen
mukaan lÀmpötilat ovat olleet riittÀvÀn korkeita tarpeeksi pitkÀÀn
mahdollistaakseen polttiaisen ja BT-viruksen lisÀÀntymisen ja leviÀmisen
koko maassa, mutta ilmastolliset olosuhteet ovat taudin kannalta suotuisimmat
Ahvenanmaalla, EtelÀ- ja LÀnsi-Suomessa.BlÄtunga (BT) Àr en vektorburen virussjukdom som drabbar idisslare, och
rÀknas i Finland till de djursjukdomar som med lÀtthet sprider sig och som
skall bekÀmpas genom myndighetsÄtgÀrder. Sjukdomens symptom Àr
ospecifika, men i dem ingÄr bland annat feber, erosioner i munslemhinnan,
svÄrigheter att svÀlja, svullnader i huvudregionen och hÀlta.
BlÄtunga har aldrig pÄtrÀffats i Finland. Under de senaste Ären har
sjukdomsutbrott av BT pÄtrÀffats lÀngre norrut Àn tidigare. De för Finland
nÀrmaste sjukdomsutbrotten har pÄtrÀffats i Sverige och Norge.
Riskfaktorer som pÄverkar sjukdomens möjlighet att komma till Finland,
dess fortsatta möjlighet att spridas inom landet och dess följder har
granskats i denna riskprofil. KlimatförhÄllanden och djurpopulationens
sÀrdrag har speciellt beaktats. Dessutom har sjukdomens konsekvenser och
möjligheter att förbli endemisk i landet studerats.
I Finland finns Ă„tminstone fyra slag av Culicoides-svidknott som har kopplats
ihop med BT-virus utomlands. Enligt Finlands meteorologiska instituts
10 senaste Ärs statistik har temperaturen visat sig ha varit tillrÀckligt hög
tillrÀckligt lÀnge för att möjliggöra att vektorerna och BT-virus skulle kunna
föröka sig och spridas i hela landet, men vÀderleksförhÄllandena Àr ur
ett sjukdomsperspektiv mest fördelaktiga pĂ„ Ă
land och i södra och vÀstra Finland.Bluetongue (BT) is a vector-borne viral disease of ruminants, which is
classified in Finland as an easily spreading disease which has to be controlled.
The symptoms of the disease are non-specific, and are for example fever,
erosions on the mucous membrane of the mouth, difficulties in swallowing,
swellings in the head and lameness.
Bluetongue has never been found in Finland. In the last few years,
Bluetongue outbreaks have been detected further north than previously.
The outbreaks closest to Finland have been in Sweden and Norway.
In this risk profile we study the risk factors related to BT coming to Finland
and spreading further and what the consequences would be if the disease
should spread. In the study, the Finnish climate and the specific features
of the animal population have been taken into account. In addition, the
possible consequences of the disease and under what conditions the disease
could remain endemic in Finland have been investigated.
In Finland there are at least four species of the Culicoides family which
have been connected with the BT virus abroad. According to the statistics of
the Finnish Meteorological Institute for the last ten years, the temperatures
have been high enough for long enough in order to make it possible for
the Culicoides biting midges and the BT virus to increase and to spread
throughout the whole country. The climatic conditions however, are more
favourable to the disease on Ă
land and in Southern and Western Finland
Afrikkalaisen sikaruton mahdollisia maahantuloreittejÀ : riskiprofiili
Afrikkalainen sikarutto on lakisÀÀteisesti vastustettava helposti leviÀvÀ sikojen ja villisikojen virustauti, jolla on myös vakavia sosioekonomisia vaikutuksia. Akuutissa tautimuodossa elÀimillÀ esiintyy syömÀttömyyttÀ, korkeaa kuumetta, verenpurkaumia iholla, veristÀ ulostetta sekÀ mahdollisesti ripulia. Kuolleisuus on lÀhes 100 % ja tauti johtaa kuolemaan 7-10 vrk tartunnan jÀlkeen. Tauti ei tartu ihmisiin.
Tautia esiintyy sekÀ kesy- ettÀ villisioissa suurimmassa osassa Saharan etelÀpuolista Afrikkaa ja Sardiniassa. Vuodesta 2007 lÀhtien tautia on esiintynyt Kaukasuksen alueella ja vuonna 2011 lÀhellÀ Suomen rajaa: Leningradin alueella ja Kuolan niemimaalla.
TÀssÀ riskiprofiilissa kartoitetaan reitit ja tapahtumasarjat, jotka voivat johtaa siihen, ettÀ afrikkalainen sikarutto tulee Suomeen ensimmÀisen kerran. NÀistÀ oleellisimmat ovat: maahantulo infektioalueella matkustaneiden ihmisten mukana, infektoituneen lihan tai lihatuotteen mukana, elÀvien kesysikojen ja sperman mukana, kontaminoituneiden elÀinkuljetusajoneuvojen mukana, kansainvÀlisen liikenteen ruokajÀtteen mukana ja Suomeen vaeltavan infektoituneen villisian mukana.
Tilatason tautisuojaus sekÀ tehokas ja kohdennettu tiedottaminen taudin vaaroista ovat avainasemassa, kun halutaan suojata Suomen sikaelinkeinoa afrikkalaiselta sikarutolta.Afrikansk svinpest Àr en virussjukdom som bör bekÀmpas genom lag. Sjukdomen förekommer hos svin och vildsvin, den överförs lÀtt och har Àven betydande socioekonomiska följder. I det akuta
stadiet förekommer hos djuren aptitlöshet, hög feber, hematomer pÄ
huden, blod i avföringen samt eventuellt diarré. Dödligheten Àr nÀstan 100 procent och sjukdomen leder till döden 7-10 dygn efter smittan. Sjukdomen smittar inte pÄ mÀnniskor.
Sjukdomen förekommer bÄde hos tama svin och vildsvin i största delen av Afrika söder om Sahara och pÄ Sardinien. FrÄn och med 2007 har sjukdomen förekommit i Kaukasusregionen och Är 2011 nÀra grÀnsen till Finland: kring Leningrad och pÄ Kolahalvön.
I den hÀr riskprofilen utreds rutter och hÀndelseförlopp som kan leda till att den afrikanska svinpesten för första gÄngen pÄtrÀffas i
Finland. De mest vÀsentliga Àr: mÀnniskor som reser in i landet frÄn resor i infektionsomrÄdet, infekterat kött eller köttprodukter, levande
tama svin och sperma, kontaminerade djurtransportfordon,
matavfall frÄn internationell trafik och infekterade vildsvin som
strövar över grÀnsen till Finland.
De viktigaste medlen för att skydda den finska svinindustrin frÄn den afrikanska svinpesten Àr att skydda gÄrdar mot sjukdomen samt en effektiv och riktad information om sjukdomens faror.The African swine fever is a viral disease that spreads easily to domestic pigs and wild boar and has considerable socioeconomic consequences as well. Statutory measures are required to combat African swine fever. In the acute phase of the disease pigs can show symptoms including high fever, haemorrhages in the skin, anorexia, blood in stool and possibly diarrhea. Mortality rates can reach almost 100 per cent, and death appears within 7-10 days from infection. The disease is not spread to humans.
The disease occurs as well as in domestic pigs as in wild boar in the largest part of sub-Saharan Africa and in Sardinia. Since 2007 the disease has occurred in the Caucasus region and in 2011 near the border of Finland: the Leningrad region and the Kola Peninsula.
In the risk profile different routes and chains of events which could lead to the African swine fever entering Finland for the first time are identified and described. The most obvious ones are: people who have travelled in the infected area, infected meat or meat products, with domestic pigs and sperm, contaminated transport vehicles, catering waste from international transport and infected wild boars crossing the border to Finland.
The key measures to protect the Finnish swine industry from the African swine fever are high biosecurity of farms and effective and aimed information on the risks of the disease
Becoming tolerable : Subject constitution of Roma mediators in Finnish schools
Although Finnish politics relating to the Roma tend to be perceived internationally as fairly successful, several obstacles exist for the Roma in education and the labour market. Training of Roma mediators has been actively promoted in Finland to improve the school performance and equality of Roma pupils. This article, based on ethnographic research, focuses on exploring how the current discursive terrain around the topics of tolerance and prejudice functions in the everyday work of mediators. It is argued that the present discourses in school expose the mediators to unequal power relations of tolerance. The terms for being tolerated are set by the potential tolerating actors, the school community. The mediators aim to supply knowledge about the Roma and try to address prejudices as representatives of the Roma. The study identified three different strategies that the mediators used when encountering prejudice: making sure one does not seem too different, parody and feigning naivety. The analysis suggests that the present discursive terrain creates obstacles to addressing inequalities, discrimination and racism in educational contexts. The responsibility for tackling discrimination is placed on the shoulders of individual Roma - not the whole school community.Peer reviewe
The Finnish mathematics teachers' lexicon : A focus on organisation and relationships
Peer reviewe
Taking steps towards institutionalizing multicultural education â The national curriculum of Finland
Internationally multicultural education research has pointed to the need to move from superficial to social justice-oriented multicultural education. However, realising this goal in policy and practice is a challenge. This study takes Finland as a case and examines the discursive developments of multicultural education in its national curriculum 1994â2014. Despite being a country which is known for emphasising equity and equality in education, superficial forms of multicultural education have prevailed. However, the results of this study show that the curricular discourse is clearly moving towards social justice education where multicultural perspectives are an integrated part of the curriculum. The 2014 curriculum, which came into effect 2016, emerges as a policy which aims to foster ethical and respectful students with a sense of fairness and an open attitude towards all kinds of diversity. The challenge for Finland is to ensure implementation and advance transformativeness in future curriculum reforms.Peer reviewe
DÀr förÀndringens vindar blÄser
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r 2007 anmĂ€lde tvĂ„ företag intresse att etablera vindkraftverk i ett skogsomrĂ„de i HĂ€lsingland. FrĂ„gan uppmĂ€rksammades av GĂ€vleborgs fĂ€bodförening (GFF) som ifrĂ„gasatte exploateringen. Den hĂ€r uppsatsen undersöker hur GFF, genom att belysa fĂ€bodbrukets, landskapets och vindkraftens historia, mobiliserar sig i konflikten. Inspirerad av narrativ analys har jag undersökt texter publicerade av GFF, med slutsatsen att historiebruk anvĂ€nds för att belysa landskapets vĂ€rde, att levandegöra platsen och att problematisera den förĂ€ndring som vindkraft kommer att innebĂ€ra. Fallet kan ses som ett exempel pĂ„ hur marginaliserade verksamheter gör motstĂ„nd mot exploatering.In 2007 two companies expressed an interest in building wind turbines in a forest area in HĂ€lsingland. A summer farm association in GĂ€vleborg (GFF) opposed the proposed wind farm. This essay explores how the association uses narratives of the history of summer farms, landscapes and wind power to mobilize in the conflict. Inspired by narrative analysis I have studied texts published by GFF during the conflict and drawn the conclusion that history is used to elucidate the landscapeâs values, to bring to life the importance of place and to problematize the changes that wind power inevitably will cause. The case can be seen as an example of a marginalised groupâs resistance towards exploitation of land
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