Strategic Decisions over Innovation in the Finnish insurance Market: the Arrival of Usage-Based Car Insurances in Finland

For most insurance customers in Finland, and around the world, price is their main criteria to buy or not to buy an insurance. At the same time, risk management is the biggest challenge for the companies. Usage-based insurances based on telematics technology could provide the customers with a chance to significantly lower their car insurance payments and offer the companies a possibility for very efficient risk management. Car insurances based on the technology are already on sale in many countries, but not yet in Finland. What is argued in this thesis, is that the regulations in Finland have affected the insurance companies’ business models which then have affected the competition. This has then led to a situation when it is not necessarily a strategically sound move for insurance companies to strive for telematics despite its possible benefits for them and the customers. Although this is the starting point, the results of this thesis should not just solve this particular problem, but to generate a more widely usable mechanism. In the literature review of this study subjects of disruptive technologies as competitive advantages, business model innovation as competitive advantage, regulation as an obstacle to business model innovation and the relationship of innovation and imitation are all observed. The theoretical framework created from these subjects helps to understand the findings of this study, and supports the final mechanism presented in this thesis. To both, find out an answer to the dilemma of the Finnish insurance market, and to create a mechanism applicable for other issues as well, grounded theory was selected to be the basis for the methodology of this study. For data collection seven interviews were conducted with managers who were well informed in the competitive situation of the market and their company’s strategy. The respondents represent different insurance companies, and account for almost the whole car insurance market in Finland. Based on the findings, and what was discussed in relation to the theoretical framework, it was found out that the high level of regulation has molded the business models of the insurance companies to be similar to each other, which then creates competition where the competitive measures are alike. Also, telematics as a concept is outside the companies traditional comfort zone towards ambiguity and legislation, and it might threaten the profitable status quo so the companies are slow to adapt it. It is then argued that companies should run tests to lessen the level of ambiguity, and to be prepared for sudden changes, create strategic alliances with telematics stakeholders to make imitation more difficult, and finally to diversify away from car insurances to lessen their dependency on that part of the market. It is also proposed that the theory found in this study could be used for example to study the development of the health care industry and the challenges presented by modern information technology in the Finnish taxi-industry and in the area of consumer banking

Karkali naturpark

esit

Eri ympäristömelulähteiden häiritsevyys Suomessa

Tieliikennemelulle altistuu enemmän ihmisiä kuin muille ympäristömelun lähteille, ja tieliikenne korostuu usein ympäristömelun haittoja koskevassa keskustelussa. Tieliikenne on kuitenkin vain yksi monista ympäristömelun lähteistä. Tässä artikkelissa tarkastellaan ensimmäistä kertaa koko Suomen kattavassa aineistossa sitä, kuinka yleistä eri ympäristömelulähteiden kokeminen häiritseväksi on arkielämässä

Optimized dispersion of nanoparticles for biological in vitro and in vivo studies

Background: The aim of this study was to establish and validate a practical method to disperse nanoparticles in physiological solutions for biological in vitro and in vivo studies. Results: TiO(2) (rutile) dispersions were prepared in distilled water, PBS, or RPMI 1640 cell culture medium. Different ultrasound energies, various dispersion stabilizers (human, bovine, and mouse serum albumin, Tween 80, and mouse serum), various concentrations of stabilizers, and different sequences of preparation steps were applied. The size distribution of dispersed nanoparticles was analyzed by dynamic light scattering and zeta potential was measured using phase analysis light scattering. Nanoparticle size was also verified by transmission electron microscopy. A specific ultrasound energy of 4.2 x 10(5) kJ/m(3) was sufficient to disaggregate TiO(2) (rutile) nanoparticles, whereas higher energy input did not further improve size reduction. The optimal sequence was first to sonicate the nanoparticles in water, then to add dispersion stabilizers, and finally to add buffered salt solution to the dispersion. The formation of coarse TiO(2) (rutile) agglomerates in PBS or RPMI was prevented by addition of 1.5 mg/ml of human, bovine or mouse serum albumin, or mouse serum. The required concentration of albumin to stabilize the nanoparticle dispersion depended on the concentration of the nanoparticles in the dispersion. TiO(2) (rutile) particle dispersions at a concentration lower than 0.2 mg/ml could be stabilized by the addition of 1.5 mg/ml albumin. TiO(2) (rutile) particle dispersions prepared by this method were stable for up to at least 1 week. This method was suitable for preparing dispersions without coarse agglomerates (average diameter < 290 nm) from nanosized TiO(2) (rutile), ZnO, Ag, SiO(x), SWNT, MWNT, and diesel SRM2975 particulate matter. Conclusion: The optimized dispersion method presented here appears to be effective and practicable for preparing dispersions of nanoparticles in physiological solutions without creating coarse agglomerates

Prevention and Management of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Finland

The National Asbestos Programme initiated by FIOH in 1987–1992 constituted a key instrument for the implementation of the National Strategies. In addition to the four tasks included in the FIOH proposal for the Ministry, the programme also contained a research section and a great deal of training supported by a wide element of awareness raising and information dissemination. One of the important aims of the Asbestos Programme was to raise awareness among the public at large

Ilmastonmuutos ja vesihuolto - varautuminen ja terveysvaikutukset

Ilmastonmuutos vaikuttaa monin tavoin myös Suomessa säähän ja ilmastoon, esimerkkeinä lämpötilan nouseminen, sateisuuden lisääntyminen, muutokset sään vuodenaikaisvaihtelussa ja äärevien sääilmiöiden yleistyminen. Sään tiedetään vaikuttavan monin tavoin vesihuoltoon. Monet ennustetuista muutoksista voivatkin aiheuttaa ongelmia talousveden valmistuksessa käytettävän raakaveden laadussa tai vedenjakelussa, ja siten lisätä juomaveteen liittyviä terveysriskejä. Suomessa on toistaiseksi kiinnitetty vain vähän huomiota vesihuollon kautta välittyviin ilmastonmuutoksen terveysriskeihin. Ilmastopaneelin rahoittamassa hankkeessa ”Ilmastonmuutos ja vesihuolto: varautuminen ja terveysvaikutukset” (2017 –2019) pyrittiin muodostamaan kokonaiskuva ilmastonmuutoksen merkityksestä vesihuollolle Suomessa. Kokonaiskuvan muodostamisessa hyödynnettiin koti- ja ulkomaista kirjallisuutta. Hankkeeseen sisältyi myös vesihuoltolaitoksille suunnattu kyselytutkimus, jonka avulla pyrittiin selvittämään muun muassa sitä, millaisia ongelmia sää aiheuttaa vesihuollolle tällä hetkellä, millaisena ongelmana ilmastonmuutos nähdään, ja miten muutokseen on varauduttu. Lisäksi hankkeessa arvioitiin ekonometrisesti vesihuoltoon liittyvien terveyshaittojen ja toisaalta niihin varautumisen aiheuttamia kustannuksia. Ilmastonmuutoksen hillintätoimet ovat tärkeä osa ilmastonmuutoksen ja vesihuollon kokonaisuutta ja kustannuksia, mutta niitä ei ole käsitelty tässä raportissa. Muuttuva ilmasto vaikuttaa myös raakaveden saatavuuteen sekä jätevesihuoltoon, mutta jätevesihuolto on rajattu tämän hankkeen ulkopuolelle ja saatavuutta on käsitelty vain kyselyaineistoon liittyen. Hankkeen tuottamat tiedot edistävät osaltaan sopeutumista ilmastonmuutokseen vesisektorilla.nonPeerReviewe

Source-specific fine particulate air pollution and systemic inflammation in ischaemic heart disease patients

Objective To compare short-term effects of fine particles (PM2.5; aerodynamic diameter Methods We followed a panel of 52 ischaemic heart disease patients from 15 November 2005 to 21 April 2006 with clinic visits in every second week in the city of Kotka, Finland, and determined nine inflammatory markers from blood samples. In addition, we monitored outdoor air pollution at a fixed site during the study period and conducted a source apportionment of PM2.5 using the Environmental Protection Agency's model EPA PMF 3.0. We then analysed associations between levels of source-specific PM2.5 and markers of systemic inflammation using linear mixed models. Results We identified five source categories: regional and long-range transport (LRT), traffic, biomass combustion, sea salt, and pulp industry. We found most evidence for the relation of air pollution and inflammation in LRT, traffic and biomass combustion; the most relevant inflammation markers were C-reactive protein, interleukin-12 and myeloperoxidase. Sea salt was not positively associated with any of the inflammatory markers. Conclusions Results suggest that PM2.5 from several sources, such as biomass combustion and traffic, are promoters of systemic inflammation, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.Peer reviewe