Transition in RE in Finland

In this chapter, we will discuss key questions regarding religious education in Finnish state schools today. Recent years have shown that issues related to dialogue, citizenship skills, social integration have moved into the forefront when discussing religious education (Jackson 2014a). Similarly, several researchers have analysed the challenges that diversification, secularisation and post-secularity create for education in religions and non-religious worldviews in Finnish state schools (Ubani et al. 2019a). When we refer to Finnish society in a post-secular context, we do not wish to overstate the rising impact of religion in Europe, but acknowledge the resurgence of public religion and the emergence of an increasingly pluralistic public sphere in Finland too. We convey criticism of the secular normativity of schools and of the liberal-secular foundation of the mainstream approaches of multicultural education, which have emerged against a backdrop of the notion of post-secularity (Coulby and Zambeta 2008; Ubani 2013a). In the Nordic context too, scholars have criticised the othering of non-secular and non-Western worldviews in educational thinking and practices (see e.g. Berglund 2017; Poulter et al. 2016).Peer reviewe

Biological degradation of oil sludge: A review of the current state of development

Oil sludge is a thick viscous mixture of sediments, water, oil and hydrocarbons, encountered during crude oil refining, cleaning of oil storage vessels and waste treatment. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are components of crude oil sludge, constitute serious environmental concerns, as many of them are cytotoxic, mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic. Improper management and disposal of oil sludge causes environmental pollution. The adverse effects of oil sludge on soil ecology and fertility have been of growing interest among environmental scientist and an important consideration in the development of efficient technologies for remediation of contaminated land, with a view to making such land available for further use. Oil sludge can be treated by several methods such as physical, chemical and biological processes. The biological processes are mostly cost effective and environmentally friendly, as they are easy to design and implement, as such they are more acceptable to the public. Compost, the product of biological breakdown of organic matter is a rich source of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. These microorganisms can degrade the oil sludge to less toxic compounds such as carbon dioxide, water and salts. Compost bioremediation, the application of composting in remediation of contaminated environment, is beginning to gain popularity among remediation scientists. The success or failure of compost bioremediation depends on a number of factors such as nutrients, pH, moisture, aeration and temperature within the compost pile. The bioavailability and biodegradability of the substrate to the degrading microorganisms also contributes to the success of the bioremediation process. This is a review on the biological remediation technologies employed in the treatment oil sludge. It further assesses the feasibility of using compost technology for the treatment of oil sludge, as a better, faster and more cost effective option.Key words: Biodegradation, bioremediation, composting, oil sludge, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Automated Well Test Analysis I

Due to the continuous search for cost effective and less time consuming means of obtaining reservoir and well parameters(k, S, etc.), well test analysts have sought for other means of automating the well test interpretation process. Although nonlinear regression is central to the automation process, its use is limited by the subjective selection of the regression reservoir model. This is due to the difficulty in distinguishing the characteristic behavior/features of the pressure (or pressure derivative) response hidden behind noise or of ambiguous plots and this usually leads to wrong parameter estimation. To forestall this problem of model selection, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) approach has been developed to identify the features necessary to discriminate these different models. This approach completely automates the well test interpretation process and involves the generation of a representative dimensionless pressure derivative data and the extraction of symbolic data from the pressure transient data. This symbolic data is matched with the generated dimensionless pressure derivative data and subsequently used by the AI system to chose the reservoir model and make initial model parameter estimates. Nonlinear regression is then used to refine these estimates. The part 2 of this paper presents the analysis of the results of this approach

Challenges of Religious Literacy in Education : Islam and the Governance of Religious Diversity in Multi-faith Schools

This chapter seeks take part in an emerging research where religion is approached as a whole school endeavor. Previous research and policy recommendations typically focused on teaching about religion in school, but the accommodation of religious diversity in the wider school culture merits more attention. Based on observations in our multiple case studies, we discuss the multi-level governance of religious diversity in Finnish multi-faith schools with a particular focus on the challenges of religious literacy for educators. The three examples we present focus on the inclusion of Muslims in Finnish schools and in particular on the challenges for educator (1) in interpreting the distinction between religion and culture, (2) in recognizing and handling intra-religious diversity, and (3) in being aware of Protestant conceptions of religion and culture. A theme cutting across these examples is how they reflect the tendencies either to see different situations merely through the lens of religion (religionisation), or not to recognize the importance of religion at all (religion-blindness). We argue that religious literacy should be recognized and developed as a vital part of the intercultural competencies of educators.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of super-disintegrant potential of acid-modified starch derived from Borassus aethiopum (Aracaceae) shoot in paracetamol tablet formulations

Purpose: To evaluate the super-disintegrant potentials of acid modified Borassus aethiopum starch (AMS) in comparison with native starch (NS) and commercial disintegrant sodium starch glycolate (SSG). Methods: Compatibility of AMS with paracetamol powder was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry. Seven batches of paracetamol granules and tablets were prepared by wet granulation. AMS and NS were employed as disintegrants at concentrations of 2.43, 4.86 and 9.72 %w/w, respectively while 4.86 %w/w SSG was used as standard disintegrant. All the batches of the granules were compressed under the same compression settings. The properties of the granules as well as those of the tablets were assessed. Results: AMS was compatible with paracetamol powder as no noticeable interaction was observed in FTIR study. The paracetamol tablets formulated using AMS as disintegrant demonstrated satisfactory friability, weight uniformity, hardness, and superior disintegration characteristics to the formulations containing NS and SSG as disintegrant. Even at a lower concentration (2.43 %w/w), AMS possessed better disintegrant property than NS and SSG. AMS and NS had dimensionless disintegrant quantity of 1.447 and 0.005, respectively. As expected, increase in AMS concentration showed a decrease in disintegration time. Conclusion: AMS could be a potential low-cost super-disintegrant in formulation of paracetamol tablets. Keywords: Acid modified starch, Borassus aethiopum, Disintegrant, Compatibilit

Polymeric Biomaterials for Wound Healing Incorporating Plant Extracts and Extracellular Matrix Components

Biomaterials are constructed to promote or stimulate the processes of wound healing. Polymeric biomaterials can be used to hydrate the wound and serve as barrier to pathogens with plant extracts, antimicrobial agents and extracellular components incorporated to stimulate the healing process. The biological and physical augmentation provided by extracellular matrix derived implants continues facilitate innovation in biomaterials utilized in management of nonhealing wounds. Tissue-processing methodologies can birth extracellular matrix-based devices with characteristic post-implantation responses ranging from the classic foreign body encapsulation of a permanent implant, to one where the implant is degraded and resorbed, to one where the processed extracellular matrix implant is populated by local fibroblasts and supporting vasculature to produce, a viable and metabolically active tissue. Extracellular matrix components and plant extracts have been shown to possesses pharmacological properties with potential for use in the treatment of skin diseases and wound healing. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory assays, and wound healing assays have been shown to support the dermatological and wound healing usage of these medicinal plants extracts

Encountering religious diversity : multilevel governance of Islamic education in Finland and Ireland

Recent decades have witnessed a change in European governments’ policies from benign neglect to active management of religious diversity, where Islam is often seen as the most challenging for the European social order. However, the ways that this “management” is justified and undertaken varies from country to country and depends on the issues at hand. This paper will take up the issue of Islamic education in Finland and Ireland where it is incorporated into the public school system and where the state has taken an active role in order to control Islam in the field of education. The main argument of this article is that the “management” of Islamic education in both of the above-mentioned countries is ridden with contradictions arising from the difficulty to balance between an emphasis on particular national traditions, on the one hand, and public policies concerning religious diversity, on the other hand. Theoretically, the article will employ the perspective of multilevel governance which helps to widen the perspective from the state as a primary explanatory to different agents of the civil society in encountering religious diversity.Peer reviewe