U.S. unconventional monetary policy and fragility in emerging market debt funds

This thesis analyzes the sensitivity of emerging market debt mutual fund flows to U.S. unconventional monetary policies after the global financial crisis. First, I find that fund flows were affected by large-scale asset purchase announcements made by the Federal Reserve during 2008-2014. Additionally, outflows of emerging market debt funds are more sensitive to bad performance than their inflows are sensitive to good performance, i.e., they exhibit a concave flow-to-performance relation. However, the relation changes during Quantitative Easing, which may increase asset managers’ incentives to reach for yield. In contrast, the sensitivity of bad performance strengthens when the policy is lifted. These results point to the possibility of fragility in emerging market debt funds

Zoning and weighting in urban heat island vulnerability and risk mapping in Helsinki, Finland

Climate change is likely to increase the risks related to heat waves in urban areas. We map spatial pattern of heat wave vulnerability and risk in the Helsinki metropolitan area in southern Finland. First, we assess differences that zoning, i.e., differences in spatial units of analysis, and weighting, i.e., weights given to indicators when constructing the index, cause in map production. Second, we evaluate how maps of consensus and certainty could pave the way for visualizing and assessing uncertainties in risk and vulnerability indices. For vulnerability, we use socioeconomic data using 5 different zoning options and 11 different weighting options. For risk, we add two extra layers to vulnerability maps: hazard map showing the spatial pattern of heat based on Landsat satellite images and exposure map showing the spatial pattern of population. We found that when different zoning options are used, the spatial pattern of vulnerability may differ dramatically. In risk maps, the differences between zoning options are smaller. Contrary to previous literature, differences in indicator weighting alter the final maps slightly. The consensus and certainty maps show their potential, e.g., in pointing out areas which may have both high risk/vulnerability and high certainty for risk/vulnerability. Finally, we discuss other possibilities in tackling the uncertainties in mapping and propose new avenues for research.Peer reviewe

Antenatal hemodynamic findings and heart rate variability in early school-age children born with fetal growth restriction

Background: According to epidemiological studies, impaired intrauterine growth increases the risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Heart rate variability (HRV), which reflects the autonomic nervous system function, has been used for risk assessment in adults while its dysfunction has been linked to poor cardiovascular outcome. Objective: We hypothesized that children who were born with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and antenatal blood flow redistribution have decreased HRV at early school age compared to their gestational age matched peers with normal intrauterine growth. Study design: A prospectively collected cohort of children born with FGR (birth weight = -2SD. Conclusions: Early school age children born with FGR and intrauterine blood flow redistribution demonstrated altered heart rate variability. These prenatal and postnatal findings may be helpful in targeting preventive cardiovascular measures in FGR.Peer reviewe

Fetal hemodynamics and language skills in primary school-aged children with fetal growth restriction : A longitudinal study

Aim: Long-term follow-up studies on children born with fetal growth restriction (FGR) have revealed a specific profile of neurocognitive difficulties, including problems with speech, language and literacy skills. We hypothesized that problems with communication skills, including language use and literacy skills of FGR children at primary school age are associated with prenatal circulatory changes. Methods: Ultrasonographic assessment of fetoplacental hemodynamics was performed prenatally in 77 fetuses. After a follow-up period of 8-10 years, assessment of reading and spelling skills using standardized tests and the Children's Communication Questionnaire (CCC-2) was performed to measure different language skills in 37 FGR children and 31 appropriately grown (AGA) controls, matched for gestational age. Results: Increased blood flow resistance in the umbilical artery (UA PI > 2 SD) during fetal life showed odds ratios of 3.5-19.1 for poor literacy and communication skills and need for speech and language therapy. Furthermore, FGR children with prenatal cerebral vasodilatation (cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) <-2 SD) had significantly poorer literacy and communication skills, at primary school age compared to the AGA controls. Abnormal CPR demonstrated odds ratios of 4.2-28.1 for poor literacy and communication skills and need for speech and language therapy. Conclusion: Increased blood flow resistance in the umbilical artery and cerebral vasodilatation are associated with poor communication, language, and literacy skills at early school age in children born with FGR. These findings indicate the need for continuous follow-up of this group and timely targeted support to ensure optimal academic outcomes.Peer reviewe

The iPSC perspective on schizophrenia

Over a decade of schizophrenia research using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural models has provided substantial data describing neurobiological characteristics of the disorder in vitro. Simultaneously, translation of the results into general mechanistic concepts underlying schizophrenia pathophysiology has been trailing behind. Given that modeling brain function using cell cultures is challenging, the gap between the in vitro models and schizophrenia as a clinical disorder has remained wide. In this review, we highlight reproducible findings and emerging trends in recent schizophrenia-related iPSC studies. We illuminate the relevance of the results in the context of human brain development, with a focus on processes coinciding with critical developmental periods for schizophrenia.Peer reviewe

Hyperspectral Imaging Reveals Spectral Differences and Can Distinguish Malignant Melanoma from Pigmented Basal Cell Carcinomas : A Pilot Study

Pigmented basal cell carcinomas can be difficult to distinguish from melanocytic tumours. Hyperspectral imaging is a non-invasive imaging technique that measures the reflectance spectra of skin in vivo. The aim of this prospective pilot study was to use a convolutional neural network classifier in hyperspectral images for differential diagnosis between pigmented basal cell carcinomas and melanoma. A total of 26 pigmented lesions (10 pigmented basal cell carcinomas, 12 melanomas in situ, 4 invasive melanomas) were imaged with hyperspectral imaging and excised for histopatho-logical diagnosis. For 2-class classifier (melano-cytic tumours vs pigmented basal cell carcinomas) using the majority of the pixels to predict the class of the whole lesion, the results showed a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval 81-100%), specificity of 90% (95% confidence interval 60-98%) and positive predictive value of 94% (95% confidence interval 73-99%). These results indicate that a convolutional neural network classifier can differentiate melanocytic tumours from pigmented basal cell carcinomas in hyperspectral images. Further studies are warranted in order to confirm these preliminary results, using larger samples and multiple tumour types, including all types of melanocytic lesions.Peer reviewe

Practical guide for preparation, computational reconstruction and analysis of 3D human neuronal networks in control and ischaemic conditions

To obtain commensurate numerical data of neuronal network morphology in vitro, network analysis needs to follow consistent guidelines. Important factors in successful analysis are sample uniformity, suitability of the analysis method for extracting relevant data and the use of established metrics. However, for the analysis of 3D neuronal cultures, there is little coherence in the analysis methods and metrics used in different studies. Here, we present a framework for the analysis of neuronal networks in 3D. First, we selected a hydrogel that supported the growth of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurons. Second, we tested and compared two software programs for tracing multi-neuron images in three dimensions and optimized a workflow for neuronal analysis using software that was considered highly suitable for this purpose. Third, as a proof of concept, we exposed 3D neuronal networks to oxygen-glucose deprivation- and ionomycin-induced damage and showed morphological differences between the damaged networks and control samples utilizing the proposed analysis workflow. With the optimized workflow, we present a protocol for preparing, challenging, imaging and analysing 3D human neuronal cultures.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Contribution of astrocytes to familial risk and clinical manifestation of schizophrenia

Previous studies have implicated several brain cell types in schizophrenia (SCZ), but the genetic impact of astrocytes is unknown. Considering their high complexity in humans, astrocytes are likely key determinants of neurodevelopmental diseases, such as SCZ. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocytes differentiated from five monozygotic twin pairs discordant for SCZ and five healthy subjects were studied for alterations related to high genetic risk and clinical manifestation of SCZ in astrocyte transcriptomics, neuron-astrocyte co-cultures, and in humanized mice. We found gene expression and signaling pathway alterations related to synaptic dysfunction, inflammation, and extracellular matrix components in SCZ astrocytes, and demyelination in SCZ astrocyte transplanted mice. While Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified SCZ disease and synaptic transmission pathway changes in SCZ astrocytes, the most consistent findings were related to collagen and cell adhesion associated pathways. Neuronal responses to glutamate and GABA differed between astrocytes from control persons, affected twins, and their unaffected co-twins and were normalized by clozapine treatment. SCZ astrocyte cell transplantation to the mouse forebrain caused gene expression changes in synaptic dysfunction and inflammation pathways of mouse brain cells and resulted in behavioral changes in cognitive and olfactory functions. Differentially expressed transcriptomes and signaling pathways related to synaptic functions, inflammation, and especially collagen and glycoprotein 6 pathways indicate abnormal extracellular matrix composition in the brain as one of the key characteristics in the etiology of SCZ.Peer reviewe

Matkailun mahdollisuudet opiskelijoiden yksinäisyyden ehkäisemisessä

Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli tutkia, onko matkailulla mahdollisuuksia opiskelijoiden yksinäi-syyden kokemusten vähentämisessä ja ehkäisemisessä. Aihe syntyi kiinnostuksesta selvittää, onko esimerkiksi matkailun mahdollistamilla olosuhdemuutoksilla tai kansainvälisellä vuoro-vaikutuksella vaikutuksia yksinäisyyden ytimessä olevien ongelmien lievittämiseksi. Koska tutkimusaihe oli uusi eikä sitä ollut sellaisenaan tutkittu aikaisemmin, tavoitteena oli selvittää ilmiötä kokonaisuudessaan. Tutkimus toteutettiin kvalitatiivisin tutkimusmenetelmin. Aineistonkeruumenetelmänä käytettiin puolistrukturoitua teemahaastattelua, joka toteutettiin seitsemälle opiskelijalle talven 2016 – 2017 aikana. Haastatteluilla selvitettiin opiskelijoiden arkea, sosiaalisia suhteita, yksinäisyys- ja matkailukokemuksia sekä kielitaitoa. Haastateltavat olivat iältään 20 – 27 -vuotiaita Jyväskylässä opiskelevia nuoria aikuisia. Haastatteluilla pyrittiin selvittämään haastateltavien subjektiivisia ja aitoja kokemuksia teema-alueiden ohjaamana. Teemahaastattelurunko muodostettiin teoriaperusteisesti tukeutuen aiempaan tutkimusaineistoon yksinäisyyden hallintakeinoista. Haastattelut nauhoitettiin, litteroitiin ja analysoitiin. Aineiston perusteella selvisi, että matkailusta löytyy yhdistäviä tekijöitä yksinäisyyden lievittämiseksi erityisesti ulkopuolisuuden kokemuksia vähentämällä. Yksinäisyyden ja ulkopuolisuuden potentiaaliseen lievittymiseen vaikuttivat kielelliset ja kulttuurilliset tekijät, sosiaali-suuden lisääntyminen sekä itsevarmuuden kohentuminen. Johtopäätöksenä voidaan todeta, että tutkimus antoi selviä viitteitä matkailun hyödyistä yksinäisyyden vähentämiseksi. Näiden päätelmien perusteella on muodostettu hypoteeseja, joilla pyrittiin vastaamaan tutkimuksen alussa asetettuihin tutkimuskysymyksiin. Työn tulokset synnyttivät myös useita jatkotutkimusmahdollisuuksia, joita on esitetty lopuksi pohdinnassa.The purpose of the Bachelor’s Thesis was to find out whether travelling had possibilities in alleviating loneliness experienced by students. The subject arose from the interest to find out, how changes in circumstantial factors or means of international communication could affect the problems behind loneliness. The aim was to explain the phenomena, because the research theme was new and it had never been studied as illustrated above. The survey was implemented by using qualitative research techniques. The research material was collected by semi-structured theme interviews which were organized during the winter 2016-2017 for seven students with different backgrounds. The purpose was to look into their daily lives, social relations, experiences with loneliness and travelling and their language skills. The interviewees were young adults aged from 20 to 27 currently studying in Jyväskylä. The individual interview was considered appropriate for finding out the subjective experiences of the participants defined by the research themes. The themes provided a framework for the interview. The interview structure was based on the previous research and theory, related to coping methods of loneliness. The data was recorded, transcribed and analyzed. The results showed that traveling could alleviate loneliness especially by reducing the experiences of the state of outsiderness. The potential factors appeared to be the changes in culture and language as well as positive effects on social behavior and self-esteem. As a conclusion, the research provided clear evidence that travelling had many benefits in preventing and reducing subjective experiences of loneliness and outsiderness. The results of the re-search engendered new hypotheses and many new questions remain to be further scrutinized, which have been discussed at the end of the thesis