Online Earthquakes

Institute of Seismology, University of Helsinki, provides several online earthquake maps. EQ-Search Tool (http://www.seismo.helsinki.fi/EQs/query.php) is an online map service which allows the user to search for earthquakes within the North European earthquake catalogue (FENCAT). Data in the catalogue is further supplemented with more recent events found by seismic analysts during the daily processing of seismic events. ISUH also provides a global map of significant earthquakes from a Finnish perspective in the past 7 days. The map, LUOVA-järistyskartta (http://www.seismo.helsinki.fi/EQs/jaristyskartta.php), is based on LUOVAsystem, which is an official natural hazard alert program in Finland. Currently this map is available only in Finnish.Non peer reviewe

Tooling for interoperability and integrity between primary data sources and data infrastructures

In Geophysical Research Abstracts. Vol. 20.Peer reviewe

The CHEMARTS cookbook

How can we make flexible and transparent wood-based materials? What kinds of materials can we derive from trees, while still respecting the preciousness of nature? Could the innovative use of renewable cellulosic materials change our material world? The CHEMARTS Cookbook gives both simple and more advanced ideas and recipes for hands-on experiments with wood-based materials. The book showcases the most interesting explorations focusing on raw materials that are processed either chemically or mechanically from trees or other plants: cellulose fibres, micro- or nano-structured fibrils, cellulose derivatives, lignin, bark and wood extractives. Get inspired, test our recipes either at workshops or chemistry labs, and develop your own experiments

Self-Standing Lignin-Containing Willow Bark Nanocellulose Films for Oxygen Blocking and UV Shielding

Developing the bio-based barrier material to substitute the petroleum-based one is the trend in functional packaging applications. Utilization of the abundantly under-appreciated bark biomass is attractive from the sustainability point of view; however, an upgraded approach is required to maximize the performances of the lignin-containing cellulose nanofibril (LCNF) films from willow bark. Herein, hot water extraction (HWE) and microfluidization were studied for their effect on the yield of LCNF and its film performance after treatment of aqueous p-toluenesulfonic acid. The resultant HWE films were superior to the nontreated ones regarding yield, moisture, and oxygen barrier properties. In particular, the HWE films achieved an oxygen permeability of 3 cm(3).mu m/ m(2).kPa.day at 50% relative humidity, which is among the lowest achieved for single bio-based materials and comparable to commercially available synthetic barrier films. The LCNF films attained complete blocking of UV light transmission within the wavelength range of 290-400 nm. Overall, this study shows that HWE pretreatment not only allows the recovery of high-value extracts, but also significantly improves the yield of LCNF and its barrier performances. The biocompatible, lignin-containing, and self-standing hydrophobic nanocellulose films show promise as a barrier layer against UV radiation and oxygen permeation in food packaging and other applications.Peer reviewe

High speed slurry-pot erosion wear testing with large abrasive particles

One of the testing methods used to simulate slurry erosion in laboratory conditions is the slurry-pot method. In this work, a novel high speed slurry-pot type erosion wear tester was constructed for testing of materials used in mining and other mineral handling applications. In the tester, the samples are attached to a vertical rotating shaft on four levels in a pin mill configuration. High speeds up to 20 m/s at the sample tip can be achieved also with large abrasive size up to 10 mm. In the tests, the equipment proved to be functional and durable even with the high loads created by the high speeds and large abrasive sizes. There are, however, variations in the slurry concentrations inside the pot during testing, leading to different wear rates at the different sample levels. Therefore, a sample rotation test method was developed. By rotating the samples evenly through all sample levels, the overall deviations between samples will be minimized. Furthermore, with the sample rotation method up to eight materials can be tested simultaneously. The slurry-pot is suitable for testing various materials, such as steels and rubbers

Enhancing Biobutanol Production from biomass willow by pre-removal of water extracts or bark

Aiming to understand the importance of debarking on the controlled utilization of phenolic-rich willow biomass, biobutanol was produced from it by using Clostridium acetobutylicum. Acid-catalysed steam explosion and enzymatic hydrolysis (EH) were investigated before the acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. The hydrolysable sugar yield and ABE fermentation efficiency were found to decline progressively from willow wood (WW) to HWE WB (hot water extracted willow biomass), WB (willow biomass) and the WW + HWE (willow wood plus the artificial willow bark water extracts), indicating that the pre-removal of water extracts or the bark can significantly improve ABE yield. Notably, the ABE productivity of WW achieved 12.7 g/L at the solvent yield of 31%, and the butanol concentration (i.e. 8.5 g/L) generated by WW is relatively high among the reported lignocellulosic-derived biomass. Additionally, it is hypothesized that under acidic conditions and high temperatures the fructose present in willow water extracts form hydroxymethylfurfural during steam explosion, which then spontaneously condenses with phenolic substances of willow bark to form a solid furanic precipitate. The formed furanic precipitates play inhibitory role in the enzymatic hydrolysis and are thereby deleterious to the ABE fermentation.Peer reviewe

Aurattoman viljelyn vaikutukset kevätviljojen satoon ja laatuun : Kuuden koevuoden tulokset

VokKirjasto Aj-kEffects of ploughless tillage on the yield and quality of spring cereals : Results after six year

Mild alkaline separation of fiber bundles from eucalyptus bark and their composites with cellulose acetate butyrate

High surface lignin content (i.e. 34.6 %) sclerenchyma fiber bundles were successfully isolated with a yield of 71 % by a mild alkali (NaOH dosage of 5 wt%) extraction of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) bark under 100 degrees C for 60 min.. The mechanical properties of the composites prepared by hot pressing of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) sheets with the fiber bundles were evaluated. The fiber bundles exhibited good compatibility with CAB due to their hydrophobic fiber surfaces. The mechanical properties of the fiber bundle/ cellulose acetate butyrate composites revealed the maximum at a weight ratio of 25:75, which demonstrates the promise of utilizing these isotropic aligned fiber bundles as the reinforcement to the cellulose acetate butyrate without the addition of plasticizers for composite uses.Peer reviewe

Ympäristömelun vaikutukset

Ympäristöministeriö julkaisi vuonna 1977 kansainvälisten meluvaikutusten asiantuntijoiden Maailman terveysjärjestöille (WHO) kokoaman selvityksen pohjalta julkaisun "Ympäristömelun vaikutukset". Tämän jälkeen tietämys melunvaikutuksista on syventynyt ja laajentunut, minkä takia julkaisun päivitys on tarpeen. Uusi julkaisu käsittelee melun vaikutuksia käyttämällä samaa ryhmittelyä, jota WHO käyttää ulkoisista tai sisäisistä syistä johtuvien sairauksien ja niiden seurannaisvaikutusten yhteydessä. Vaikutuksia ovat kudos- ja elinvaurion lisäksi toiminnallinen vaurio, toiminnanvajaus ja haitta. Julkaisussa lähtökohtana ovat nimenomaan melun vaikutukset eivätkä melun akustiset äänipiirteet, kuten äänekkyys. Julkaisu esittelee ympäristömelun eri vaikutukset painottaen niiden yleisyyttä ja merkitystä. Niistä häiritsevyys on merkityksellisin. Sen ohella käsitellään melun haitallisia vaikutuksia uneen, kognitiivisiin toimintoihin erityisesti lapsilla, puheviestintään, sydän- ja verenkiertoelimistön toimintoihin sekä joskus aiheutuvaa kuulovauriota. Uusimman tutkimustiedon mukaan pitkäaikaisen altistumisen ympäristömelulle on todettu lisäävän riskiä verisuonisairauksiin. Julkaisussa kiinnitetään lisäksi huomiota meluherkkyyteen, jota ei ole aiemmin otettu riittävästi huomioon. Julkaisun liitteenä ovat WHO:n suositukset ympäristömelusta vuodelta 2000

Separation of fiber bundles from willow bark using sodium bicarbonate and their novel use in yarns for superior UV protection and antibacterial performance

The development of a mild and green method for separating natural fiber bundles from willow bark is an essential step in exploring and preserving their natural functions. The isolation of well-oriented fiber bundles from the bark of a fast-growing willow hybrid solely using sodium bicarbonate under mild conditions was successfully demonstrated. Additionally, Lyocell fibers were mixed with an equal amount of the willow bark fiber bundles and proved their ability to convert into spun yarns, which provided excellent protection for ultraviolet radiation (UPF > 140). Moreover, these yarns demonstrated strong antibacterial activity (A > 8) against the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in complete eradication of viable bacteria after 24 -h incubation with the material. A laundering treatment had no effect on the UV protection or the antibacterial performance. Utilizing these inherent properties from natural fibers for technical textile applications is very promising.Peer reviewe