Thermoregulation in reindeer

Thermoregulation was studied in Finnish reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L) on captive and herded individuals during 1977-85. Newborn calves maintained a high rectal temperature (Tre) (+39 to +41°C) even at —23°C by increasing heat production 5- to 6-fold through non-shivering thermogenesis, stimulated by cold-induced noradrenaline (NA). Plasma NA and thyroxine (T4) were high (18 ng/ml and 459 nmol/1) in neonatal reindeer. Sensitivity to exogenous NA was lost during the first 3-4 weeks of life. At +20°C and above, calves increased Tre (ca 1°C), oxygen consumption and heart rate, thereby showing poor heat tolerance. Thermal conductance was low in a cold environment, but rose sharply as ambient temperature (Ta) increased above + 10°C. The Tre of adults (+ 38 to +39°C) was independent of Ta (—28 to +15°C). Coarse (hollow) hair density and length in adults averaged 2000/cm2 and 12 mm on the legs, 1000/cm3 and 30 mm on the abdomen and 1700/cm2 and 30 mm on the back (calves 3200/cm2, 10 mm), respectively. The dependence of skin temperature on the Ta was linear in excised fur samples, but complex in living animals being strongest in the legs. Serum adrenaline correlated with the weight, age and total lipids. Serum NA and dopamine-fi-hydroxylase were highest in spring and decreased by autumn. Serum T4 was highest in summer and lowest in spring

Conceptions of Adult Education Teachers-in-Training Regarding the Media Literacy Education of Older People: A Phenomenographic Study to Inform a Course Design

This phenomenographic study represents part of an ongoing design-based research initiative to inform the design of a new course on older people’s media literacy in the adult-education teacher-education context. The aim was to describe the conceptions of teachers-in-training regarding media literacy education for older people. The data consist of students’ written assignments in which they defined the concept of older people, their societal roles, and of the media literacy education targeting them. The participants included teachers-in-training (N = 22) from a Finnish university’s teacher education program. The data were analyzed qualitatively with the aim of exploring how these students define “older people,” the kinds of roles they perceive older people as having, the pedagogical content and approaches they see as most useful in media literacy education targeting older people, and the kinds of learning aims they set for themselves in the course. The results reveal implications for the design of the abovementioned new course

FIN-LARSP-MENETELMÄN SOVELTUVUUS MORFOSYNTAKTISTEN TAITOJEN ARVIOINTIIN KIELELLISESSÄ ERITYISVAIKEUDESSA

Artikkelissa selvitetään suomen kieleen sovelletun Language Assessment,Remediation and Screening Procedure -menetelmän (FIN-LARSP)käyttökelpoisuutta morfosyntaktisten taitojen arvioinnissa kolmella lapsella (4;1–4;9), joilla on kielellinen erityisvaikeus (KEV). LARSP kehitettiin alunperin englannin kieleen mutta siitä on myöhemmin tehty sovelluksia useisiin kieliin. Nyt esiteltävän pilottitutkimuksen tulokset osoittavat, että tieteellisessä tutkimuksessa FIN-LARSP puolustaa hyvin paikkaansa suomenkielisten lasten morfosyntaktisten taitojen analysointi- ja diagnosointimenetelmänä. Pilottitutkimuksemme tulokset ovat linjassa muiden menetelmien (IPSyn) antamien tulosten kanssa. Lisäksi tutkimus osoitti, että tutkituilla KEV-lapsilla morfologiset taidot ovat jäljessä syntaktisia taitoja, mitä ei ole aikaisemmin raportoitu. Sen sijaan kliinisessä puheterapiatyössä erityisesti menetelmän työläys ja lingvistinen vaativuus voivat muodostua käytön esteeksi.Avainsanat: FIN-LARSP-menetelmä, kielellinen erityisvaikeus, morfosyntaksiKeywords: FIN-LARSP method, morphosyntax, specific language impairmen

Pelvic organ prolapse surgery and quality of life-a nationwide cohort study : Nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life are nowadays considered as the most important outcomes of pelvic organ prolapse treatment, and large, prospective clinical studies reporting the patient-reported surgical outcomes are needed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of female pelvic organ prolapse surgery on health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction and to determine predictors of outcome. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective nationwide cohort study consisted of 3515 women undergoing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse in 2015. The outcomes were measured by validated health-related quality of life instruments (generic 15D, Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20, and Patient Global Impression of Improvement) at 6 months and 2 years postoperatively. The baseline predictors of outcomes were studied with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In total, 2528 (72%) women were eligible for analysis at 6 months and 2351 (67%) at 2 years. The mean change in the total 15D score suggested a clinically important improvement at 6 months but not at 2 years. However, an improvement in sexual activity, discomfort and symptoms, and excretion was observed during both follow-up assessments. Altogether, 77% and 72% of the participants reported a clinically significant improvement in Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 at the 6month and 2-year follow-ups, respectively. A total of 84% were satisfied with the outcome and 90% reported an improvement in comparison with the preoperative state with Patient Global Impression of ImprovementI. The strongest predictive factors for a favorable outcome were advanced apical prolapse (adjusted odds ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.58-2.70) and vaginal bulge (1.90, 1.30-2.80). Smoking was associated with an unfavorable outcome as measured by Patient Global Index of Improvement-I (1.69, 1.02-2.81). CONCLUSION: Pelvic organ prolapse surgery improved health-related quality of life in 7 of 10 patients over a 2-year follow-up period, and patient satisfaction was high. Apical prolapse beyond the hymen and vaginal bulge were the most consistent predictors for improvement. Our results suggest that patients should be encouraged to stop smoking to avoid an unfavorable outcome.Peer reviewe

DYSLEKSIARISKILASTEN PUHEEN JA KIELEN PROSESSOINNISTA

Tässä katsauksessa esitellään päätuloksia Lapsen kielen kehitys jasuvuittain esiintyvä lukivaikeuksien riski -hankkeeseen liittyvästä neljästäkielitieteellisestä väitöstutkimuksesta. Hankkeessa on seurattu 200 lastasyntymästä kolmannelle luokalle saakka. Puolet lapsista on perheistä, joissaainakin toisella vanhemmalla on lukivaikeus ja siten myös lapsella on riskilukivaikeuteen; puolella lapsista tätä riskiä ei ole. Päätutkimuskohteina olivatvarhaisen kielenkehityksen fonologiset ja morfosyntaktiset prosessointitaidot½-, 1 ½- , 2- ja 2 ½ -vuotiailla lapsilla. Tutkimustulosten mukaan jo hyvinvarhaisessa vaiheessa lasten puheen prosessoinnissa on nähtävissädysleksian ennusmerkkejä sekä fonologiselta että morfosyntaktiseltakannalta. Nämä ennusmerkit liittyvät esimerkiksi keston havaitsemiseen taituottamiseen, sanojen tavoitteluun ja sanojen rakenteeseen sekä prosodianettä fonotaksin kannalta ja ilmausten morfosyntaktiseen kompleksisuuteen.Tietoja mahdollisista kielen prosessointiin liittyvistä ennusmerkeistä voidaanhyödyntää käytännössä, kun pyritään auttamaan riittävän aikaisin ja sopivallatavalla juuri niitä lapsia, jotka koulussa todennäköisesti joutuvat kohtaamaanvaikeuksia lukemaan ja kirjoittamaan oppimisessa.Avainsanat: Dysleksia, lapsen kielen kehitys, fonologinen prosessointi, morfosyntaktinen prosessointiKeywords: Dyslexia, early language development, phonological processing,morphosyntactic processin

Sequencing of Lynch syndrome tumors reveals the importance of epigenetic alterations

Genomic instability and epigenetic aberrations are important classifiers of human tumors, yet, their interrelations are poorly understood. We used Lynch syndrome (LS) to address such relationships. Forty-five tumors (11 colorectal adenomas, 18 colorectal carcinomas, and 16 ovarian carcinomas) were profiled for CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP) and somatic mutations. All tumors showed high-degree microsatellite instability. Panel sequencing of 578 cancer-relevant genes revealed the average number of 1433, 1124, and 657 non-synonymous somatic mutations per colorectal adenoma, colorectal carcinoma, and ovarian carcinoma, respectively. Genes harboring mutations with allele frequency 25 % or higher in at least 31 % of tumors were regarded to be possible drivers. Among 72 and 10 such genes identified in colorectal and ovarian tumors, respectively, the most frequently mutated genes BRD4 and MLL2 (62 % of colorectal tumors) and ARID1A (50 % of ovarian carcinomas) are involved in epigenetic regulation. The total number of somatic mutations or mutant genes per tumor were significantly associated with CIMP. Our results suggest that even in an inherited disease, tumor type-specific epigenetic changes are significant and may result from regulatory changes (CIMP) or structural events (mutations of epigenetic regulatory genes). The findings are clinically relevant since many of the affected pathways can be therapeutically targeted.Peer reviewe