Porous silicon optical filters in gas sensing applications

In this thesis, the gas sensing properties of porous silicon-based thin-film optical filters are explored. The effects of surface chemistry on the adsorption and desorption of various gases are studied in detail. Special emphasis is placed on investigating thermal carbonization as a stabilization method for optical sensing applications. Moreover, the possibility of utilizing the increased electrical conductivity of thermally carbonized porous silicon for implementing a multiparametric gas sensor, which would enable simultaneous monitoring of electrical and optical parameters, is investigated. In addition, different porous silicon-based optical filter-structures are prepared, and their properties in sensing applications are evaluated and compared. First and foremost, thermal carbonization is established as a viable method to stabilize porous silicon optical filters for chemical sensing applications. Furthermore, a multiparametric sensor, which can be used for increasing selectivity in gas sensing, is also demonstrated. Methods to improve spectral quality in multistopband mesoporous silicon rugate filters are studied, and structural effects to gas sorption kinetics are evaluated. Finally, the stability of thermally carbonized optical filters in basic environments is found to be superior in comparison to other surface chemistries currently available for porous silicon. The results presented in this thesis are of particular interest for developing novel reliable sensing systems based on porous silicon, e.g., label-free optical biosensors.Siirretty Doriast

Cast immobilisation in situ versus open reduction and internal fixation of displaced medial epicondyle fractures in children between 7 and 16 years old. A study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Introduction Medial epicondyle fracture of the humerus is a common injury in childhood. There is uniform agreement that minimally displaced fractures (dislocation 2 mm dislocation without joint incarceration or ulnar nerve dysfunction. We hypothesise that there is no difference in treatment outcomes between nonoperative and operative treatment.Methods and analysis This is a multicentre, controlled, prospective, randomised noninferiority study comparing operative treatment to non-operative treatment of >2 mm dislocated paediatric medial epicondyle fractures without joint incarceration or ulnar nerve dysfunction. A total of 120 patients will be randomised in 1:1 ratio to either operative or nonoperative treatment. The study will have a parallel nonrandomised patient preference arm. Operative treatment will be open reduction and internal fixation. Nonoperative treatment will be upper limb immobilisation in long arm cast for 4 weeks. Data will be collected at baseline and at each follow-up up to 2 years. Quick-DASH is used as primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes are patient-reported pain, differences in range of motion, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, cosmetic visual analogue scale and Mayo Elbow Performance Score.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval has been obtained from Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) ethical board HUS/1443/2019. Each study centre has obtained their own permission for the study. A written authorisation from legal guardian will be acquired and the child will be informed about the trial. Results of the trial will be disseminated as published articles in peer-reviewed journals.</div

Soluble CD73 in Critically Ill Septic Patients Data from the Prospective FINNAKI Study

Background CD73 dephosphorylates adenosine monophosphate to adenosine that is an anti-inflammatory molecule inhibiting immune activation and vascular leakage. Therefore, CD73 could be an interesting mediator both in sepsis and acute kidney injury (AKI). We aimed to explore the soluble CD73 (sCD73) levels and their evolution in critically ill patients with severe sepsis and, second, to scrutinize the potential association of sCD73 levels with AKI and 90-day mortality. Methods This was a post-hoc laboratory analysis of the prospective, observational FINNAKI study conducted in 17 Finnish ICU during 5 months in 2011-2012. Plasma samples of 588 patients admitted with severe sepsis/shock or with developing severe sepsis were analyzed at 0h (ICU admission) and 24h, and additionally, on day 3 or day 5 from a subset of the patients. Results The median [IQR] sCD73 levels at 0h were 5.11 [3.29-8.28] ng/mL and they decreased significantly from 0h to 4.14 [2.88-7.11] ng/mL at 24h, P Conclusions Compared to normal population, the sCD73 levels were generally low at 0h, showed a decrease to 24h, and later an increase by day 5. The sCD73 levels do not seem useful in predicting the development of AKI or 90-day mortality among patients with severe sepsis or shock.Peer reviewe

Avaimet terveelliseen ja turvalliseen rakennukseen (AVATER) – Yhteenvetoraportti

THL, TTY ja Kuntaliitto tekivät selvityksen rakennusten kosteusvaurioiden ja sisäilmaongelmien ennalta ehkäisystä, ratkaisemisesta ja käyttöä turvaavista toimenpiteistä. Selvitys toteutettiin kokoamalla tietoa mm. kirjallisuuskatsauksin, kyselyin sekä verkostotapaamisten ja työryhmätyöskentelyn avulla. Hankkeessa esitetään suosituksia toimintatavoiksi ja tutkimustarpeiksi. Koulujen sisäilmatilanne on parantunut, mutta noin 10 – 30 % kunnista kokee koulujen sisäilmatilanteen haastavaksi tai jopa vaikeaksi. Kunnat tarvitsevat ohjeistusta erityisesti toimenpiteiden kiireellisyyden määrittelyyn ja kohteiden priorisointiin. Rakennusten kunnossapitoon ja ennakoivaan korjaamiseen tulisi panostaa enemmän. Rakennukset tulee tutkia aina kokonaisuutena. Jatkuvaan tiedonkeruuseen ennakoivaa kiinteistönpitoa varten tarvitaan toimintamalli. Hankkeessa kehitettiin kosteudenhallinnan perehdytyskoulutusta rakennustyöntekijöille ja päivitettiin terveen talon toteutuksen kriteerejä. Kehitetyt toimintamallit tähtäävät uusien rakennus- ja korjaushankkeiden onnistumiseen ja niistä hyötyy erityisesti kiinteistönomistajat. Edellytys toimintamallien hyödyntämisestä tulisi kirjata tarjouspyyntö- ja sopimusasiakirjoihin. Asuntojen kosteus- ja homevaurioiden siivoukseen ja irtaimiston uusimiseen tarvitaan ohjeistusta ja koulutusta biosidikäsittelyjä tekeville yrityksille. Ilmanpuhdistimia voi käyttää väliaikaisesti esim. remonttia odottaessa, mutta tarve on arvioitava tapauskohtaisesti. Tiivistyskorjauksissa laadunvarmistuksen ja seurantamittausten sekä näiden suunnittelun ja dokumentoinnin tärkeys korostu

Avaimet terveelliseen ja turvalliseen rakennukseen (AVATER) – Yhteenvetoraportti

THL, TTY ja Kuntaliitto tekivät selvityksen rakennusten kosteusvaurioiden ja sisäilmaongelmien ennalta ehkäisystä, ratkaisemisesta ja käyttöä turvaavista toimenpiteistä. Selvitys toteutettiin kokoamalla tietoa mm. kirjallisuuskatsauksin, kyselyin sekä verkostotapaamisten ja työryhmätyöskentelyn avulla. Hankkeessa esitetään suosituksia toimintatavoiksi ja tutkimustarpeiksi. Koulujen sisäilmatilanne on parantunut, mutta noin 10 – 30 % kunnista kokee koulujen sisäilmatilanteen haastavaksi tai jopa vaikeaksi. Kunnat tarvitsevat ohjeistusta erityisesti toimenpiteiden kiireellisyyden määrittelyyn ja kohteiden priorisointiin. Rakennusten kunnossapitoon ja ennakoivaan korjaamiseen tulisi panostaa enemmän. Rakennukset tulee tutkia aina kokonaisuutena. Jatkuvaan tiedonkeruuseen ennakoivaa kiinteistönpitoa varten tarvitaan toimintamalli. Hankkeessa kehitettiin kosteudenhallinnan perehdytyskoulutusta rakennustyöntekijöille ja päivitettiin terveen talon toteutuksen kriteerejä. Kehitetyt toimintamallit tähtäävät uusien rakennus- ja korjaushankkeiden onnistumiseen ja niistä hyötyy erityisesti kiinteistönomistajat. Edellytys toimintamallien hyödyntämisestä tulisi kirjata tarjouspyyntö- ja sopimusasiakirjoihin. Asuntojen kosteus- ja homevaurioiden siivoukseen ja irtaimiston uusimiseen tarvitaan ohjeistusta ja koulutusta biosidikäsittelyjä tekeville yrityksille. Ilmanpuhdistimia voi käyttää väliaikaisesti esim. remonttia odottaessa, mutta tarve on arvioitava tapauskohtaisesti. Tiivistyskorjauksissa laadunvarmistuksen ja seurantamittausten sekä näiden suunnittelun ja dokumentoinnin tärkeys korostu

Enhanced Photoluminescence in Acetylene-Treated ZnO Nanorods

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods were manufactured using the aqueous chemical growth (ACG) method, and the effect of thermal acetylene treatment on their morphology, chemical composition, and optical properties was investigated. Changes in the elemental content of the treated rods were found to be different than in previous reports, possibly due to the different defect concentrations in the samples, highlighting the importance of synthesis method selection for the process. Acetylene treatment resulted in a significant improvement of the ultraviolet photoluminescence of the rods. The greatest increase in emission intensity was recorded on ZnO rods treated at the temperature of 825 degrees C. The findings imply that the changes brought on by the treatment are limited to the surface of the ZnO rods.Peer reviewe

Systemic Dosing of Thymosin Beta 4 before and after Ischemia Does Not Attenuate Global Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Pigs

The use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross-clamping causes myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (I-RI) and can lead to reduced postoperative cardiac function. We investigated whether this injury could be attenuated by thymosin beta 4 (TB4), a peptide which has showed cardioprotective effects. Pigs received either TB4 or vehicle and underwent CPB and aortic cross-clamping for 60 min with cold intermittent blood-cardioplegia and were then followed for 30 h. Myocardial function and blood flow was studied by cardiac magnetic resonance and PET imaging. Tissue and plasma samples were analyzed to determine the amount of cardiomyocyte necrosis and apoptosis as well as pharmacokinetics of the peptide. In vitro studies were performed to assess its influence on blood coagulation and vasomotor tone. Serum levels of the peptide were increased after administration compared to control samples. TB4 did not decrease the amount of cell death. Cardiac function and global myocardial blood flow was similar between the study groups. At high doses a vasoconstrictor effect on mesentery arteries and a vasodilator effect on coronary arteries was observed and blood clot firmness was reduced when tested in the presence of an antiplatelet agent. Despite promising results in previous trials the cardioprotective effect of TB4 was not demonstrated in this model for global myocardial I-RI.Peer reviewe

Effect of remdesivir post hospitalization for COVID-19 infection from the randomized SOLIDARITY Finland trial

We report the first long-term follow-up of a randomized trial (NCT04978259) addressing the effects of remdesivir on recovery (primary outcome) and other patient-important outcomes one year after hospitalization resulting from COVID-19. Of the 208 patients recruited from 11 Finnish hospitals, 198 survived, of whom 181 (92%) completed follow-up. At one year, self-reported recovery occurred in 85% in remdesivir and 86% in standard of care (SoC) (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.47-1.90). We infer no convincing difference between remdesivir and SoC in quality of life or symptom outcomes (p > 0.05). Of the 21 potential long-COVID symptoms, patients reported moderate/major bother from fatigue (26%), joint pain (22%), and problems with memory (19%) and attention/concentration (18%). In conclusion, after a one-year follow-up of hospitalized patients, one in six reported they had not recovered well from COVID-19. Our results provide no convincing evidence of remdesivir benefit, but wide confidence intervals included possible benefit and harm.Peer reviewe