The Health Impacts of Climate Change: Getting Started on a New Theme

Climate change is widely acknowledged as a key global challenge for the 21st century, and is projected to significantly affect population health and human well-being. All of the climate change-related changes in weather patterns will affect human health, from boosting mental well-being to mortality from largescale disasters. Human health can be affected both directly and indirectly. For various reasons, the health sector has been slow in responding to the projected health impacts of climate change. To effectively prepare for and cope with climate change impacts, public health must move from a focus on surveillance and response to a greater emphasis on prediction and prevention. The targeted agenda program dialogue identified three priorities for climate change related health actions: heat waves, vector-borne diseases; and malnutritio

Two sides of biogas : Review of ten dichotomous argumentation lines of sustainable energy systems

Societal debates are often constructed through dichotomies influenced by various factors such as cognitive capabilities of individuals, culturally shaped valuation processes, underlying societal struggles for power and prestige, economic competition, technological changes or lock-ins and operation logic of the media and social media. Debates over emerging technologies of renewable energy provide an illustrative example of this polarisation. Based on national-level studies focusing on the development of the biogas sector in Finland, we identify ten pertinent dichotomies of renewable energy and discuss their implications for the transition towards a more sustainable energy system. The dichotomies include: producer vs. consumer, urban vs. rural, local vs. national, domestic vs. foreign, centralised vs. distributed, food vs. energy, environment vs. economy, traditional vs. innovative, long-term vs. short-term, and private vs. public. These diverse and deeply rooted dichotomies structure societal debate. In some cases they may encourage and guide critical thinking, but they may also hinder the renewing of the current energy behaviour and energy system. Societal capabilities that enable the bridging of different but inherently linked dichotomies are a key precondition of sustainable energy transition.peerReviewe

Frequency-comb-referenced mid-infrared source for high-precision spectroscopy

We report on a tunable continuous-wave mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator (OPO), which is locked to a fully stabilized near-infrared optical frequency comb using a frequency doubling scheme. The OPO is used for 40 GHz mode-hop-free, frequency-comb-locked scans in the wavelength region between 2.7 and 3.4 x03BC;m. We demonstrate the applicability of the method to high-precision cavity-ring-down spectroscopy of nitrous oxide (N2O) and water (H2O) at 2.85 x00B5;m and of methane (CH4) at 3.2 x03BC;m.Peer reviewe

Computational Model of Ca2+ Wave Propagation in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial ARPE-19 Cells

Abstract Objective Computational models of calcium (Ca2+) signaling have been constructed for several cell types. There are, however, no such models for retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Our aim was to construct a Ca2+ signaling model for RPE based on our experimental data of mechanically induced Ca2+ wave in the in vitro model of RPE, the ARPE-19 monolayer. Methods We combined six essential Ca2+ signaling components into a model: stretch-sensitive Ca2+ channels (SSCCs), P2Y2 receptors, IP3 receptors, ryanodine receptors, Ca2+ pumps, and gap junctions. The cells in our epithelial model are connected to each other to enable transport of signaling molecules. Parameterization was done by tuning the above model components so that the simulated Ca2+ waves reproduced our control experimental data and data where gap junctions were blocked. Results Our model was able to explain Ca2+ signaling in ARPE-19 cells, and the basic mechanism was found to be as follows: 1) Cells near the stimulus site are likely to conduct Ca2+ through plasma membrane SSCCs and gap junctions conduct the Ca2+ and IP3 between cells further away. 2) Most likely the stimulated cell secretes ligand to the extracellular space where the ligand diffusion mediates the Ca2+ signal so that the ligand concentration decreases with distance. 3) The phosphorylation of the IP3 receptor defines the cell’s sensitivity to the extracellular ligand attenuating the Ca2+ signal in the distance. Conclusions The developed model was able to simulate an array of experimental data including drug effects. Furthermore, our simulations predict that suramin may interfere ligand binding on P2Y2 receptors or accelerate P2Y2 receptor phosphorylation, which may partially be the reason for Ca2+ wave attenuation by suramin. Being the first RPE Ca2+ signaling model created based on experimental data on ARPE-19 cell line, the model offers a platform for further modeling of native RPE functions.Public Library of Science open acces

Hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of adult patients with Covid-19 infection in a primary care setting (LIBERTY): A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the treatment of adult patients with PCR-confirmed Covid-19 infection in a primary open-care setting, as compared to placebo. The study hypothesis is that treatment with HCQ will reduce the risk of hospitalization because of Covid-19 infection, and the sample size estimate of the study is based on the need to test this hypothesis.The secondary objectives of the study are:to evaluate the safety and tolerability of HCQ in the treatment of adult patients with PCR-confirmed Covid-19 infection in a primary open-care setting, as compared to placebo;to collect experience of the use of HCQ in the treatment of Covid-19 infection in outpatients, in order to be able to identify patient characteristics that predict specific treatment responses (favourable or unfavourable); this objective will also be addressed by post-hoc subgroup analysis of the study results and by meta-analysis of pooled patient data from other clinical trials of HCQ in outpatients; andto evaluate the impact of Covid-19 infection and its treatment on the mental health and well-being of the study participants.In addition, if the data allow, the study has the following exploratory objectives:to evaluate the extent and duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding by PCR testing of nasopharyngeal swab samples in study subjects treated with HCQ, as compared to placebo;to evaluate the extent and time course of SARS-CoV-2 virus-specific antibody responses in serum of study subjects treated with HCQ, as compared to placebo;to evaluate other possible biomarker changes in blood in study subjects treated with HCQ, as compared to placebo;to explore the possible effects of genetic variation in drug metabolizing enzymes on HCQ-related outcomes in the study population;to explore the associations of HCQ-related outcome variables with other patient characteristics, e.g. HLA haplotypes, HCQ concentrations, demographic variables, disease history and concomitant medications.Trial design: This is a phase 2, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group treatment trial comparing HCQ with placebo in outpatients with Covid-19 infection. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the two treatment arms.Participants:Main inclusion criteria: 1. Males and females >40 years of age, or 18-40 years of age with one or both of the following: i. diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2); ii. BMI > 35 kg/m(2);2. Valid independent informed consent obtained;3. Symptoms typical of Covid-19 infection, according to criteria specified in the study protocol. The onset of symptoms must be within 5 days of enrolment;4. Positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result of a nasopharyngeal swab sample.Main exclusion criteria:1. Suspected severe or moderately severe pneumonia, presenting with any of the following: respiratory rate > 26 breaths/min; significant respiratory distress; or SpO(2) <= 94% on room air;2. Requiring treatment in the hospital, according to the treating physician's judgement;3. Any contraindication to treatment with HCQ;4. Pregnancy or lactation.The trial will be conducted at seven study sites in a primary public health care setting in the region of Satakunta, Finland.Intervention and comparator: Participants will be randomized to receive either HCQ capsules at 300 mg twice a day for one day and then 200 mg twice a day for 6 days, or placebo capsules for 7 days.Main outcomes: The primary endpoint of the study is the number of hospitalizations due to Covid-19 infection within four weeks of entry into the study.The secondary endpoints of the study include the following:duration and severity of Covid-19-related symptoms, as reported by daily self-assessments;number of Intensive Care Unit treatment episodes due to Covid-19 infection within four weeks of entry into the study;number of deaths due to Covid-19 infection within four weeks of entry into the study;number of treatment-related adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs);all-cause hospitalizations and mortality within six months of entry into the study; andself-assessed symptoms of anxiety, as assessed with repeated administration of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7).The exploratory endpoints of the study include the following:extent and duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding and virus-specific antibody responses in serum; andpossible other blood biomarker changes.Randomisation: Eligible study participants are randomly allocated into two treatment arms (1:1 ratio). The randomization list has been generated using Viedoc (TM) (Viedoc Technologies AB, Uppsala, Sweden) that is used as an electronic data capture system for this study.Blinding (masking): The participants and all study personnel remain blinded to the treatment allocation by having both IMPs packed in identical containers. Masking of the treatments was performed by re-formulation of the IMPs so that the HCQ capsules and the placebo capsules have identical appearance.Numbers to be randomised (sample size): 600 participants are to be randomised with 300 in each arm.Trial Status: Protocol version 2, dated 14 July 2020; recruitment is expected to start in December, 2020, and to be completed in June, 2021.Trial registration: EudraCT 2020-002038-33, registered 26 June 2020Full protocol: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). The protocol has been redacted to conform with privacy regulations by deleting the names and contact information of individuals mentioned in the protocol but not listed as authors in this communication. In the interest of expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol

Two sides of biogas: Review of ten dichotomous argumentation lines of sustainable energy systems

Societal debates are often constructed through dichotomies influenced by various factors such as cognitive capabilities of individuals, culturally shaped valuation processes, underlying societal struggles for power and prestige, economic competition, technological changes or lock-ins and operation logic of the media and social media. Debates over emerging technologies of renewable energy provide an illustrative example of this polarisation. Based on national-level studies focusing on the development of the biogas sector in Finland, we identify ten pertinent dichotomies of renewable energy and discuss their implications for the transition towards a more sustainable energy system. The dichotomies include: producer vs. consumer, urban vs. rural, local vs. national, domestic vs. foreign, centralised vs. distributed, food vs. energy, environment vs. economy, traditional vs. innovative, long-term vs. short-term, and private vs. public. These diverse and deeply rooted dichotomies structure societal debate. In some cases they may encourage and guide critical thinking, but they may also hinder the renewing of the current energy behaviour and energy system. Societal capabilities that enable the bridging of different but inherently linked dichotomies are a key precondition of sustainable energy transition.</p

A Framework for the Evaluation of Biosecurity, Commercial, Regulatory, and Scientific Impacts of Plant Viruses and Viroids Identified by NGS Technologies

Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies and bioinformatics have generated huge new opportunities for discovering and diagnosing plant viruses and viroids. Plant virology has undoubtedly benefited from these new methodologies, but at the same time, faces now substantial bottlenecks, namely the biological characterization of the newly discovered viruses and the analysis of their impact at the biosecurity, commercial, regulatory, and scientific levels. This paper proposes a scaled and progressive scientific framework for efficient biological characterization and risk assessment when a previously known or a new plant virus is detected by next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Four case studies are also presented to illustrate the need for such a framework, and to discuss the scenarios.Peer reviewe

Maan ja veden omistus: ongelmia, tietoa ja tutkimustarpeita

Suomessa valtaosa biomassan tuotannossa olevasta maatalous- ja metsätalousmaasta on yksityisomistuksessa. Maanomistuksen muutoksessa päätrendejä ovat olleet omistuksen rakenteen sekä omistajien arvojen ja tavoitteiden muutokset. Rakenteellisista muutoksista tärkeimpiä ovat olleet maaomistuksen polarisaatio, pirstoutuminen ja suuruusrationalisointi, aktiivimaatilojen väheneminen, omistajien ammatillinen eriytyminen, kaupungistuminen ja tietyiltä osin myös ikääntyminen. Näillä muutoksilla on suuria vaikutuksia biotalouteen, ruoan ja raakapuun tuotantoon ja tulevaisuudessa entistä enemmän ekosysteemipalvelujen tuotantoon. Tässä raportissa maanomistajuutta tarkastellaan kokonaisuutena. Raportissa nostetaan esiin maanomistukseen liittyviä ongelmia ja tutkimuksen vastauksia niihin. Ennen kaikkea pyritään olemassa olevan tiedon perusteella luotaamaan tulevaisuuden tutkimustarpeita. Raportissa tarkastellaan aluksi maanomistusrakenteen muutosta tilan sukupolvenvaihdoksien ja omistajien muutoksen näkökulmasta. Tarkastelua laajennetaan maanomistajien arvojen, tavoitteiden ja käyttäytymisen kuvaukseen. Raportti tarkastelee myös epäselviä omistusoikeuksia ja psykologisen omistajuuden näkökulmaa. Tilusjärjestelyjen, sekä pellon ja metsän vuokrauksen lisäksi raportissa käsitellään yhteisomistusta, osuustoimintaa sekä institutionaalista omistusta. Metsästysoikeuksien tarkastelun jälkeen luodaan katsaus maanomistajatutkimuksessa käytettävissä oleviin rekistereihin. Lopuksi vedetään yhteen tärkeimpiä tulevaisuuden tutkimustarpeita.Artikkelit: Jussi Leppänen, Harri Hänninen ja Sami Myyrä. Maanomistusrakenne ja sukupolvenvaihdokset, s 7-12. Harri Hänninen, Heimo Karppinen ja Sami Myyrä. Maanomistajat bioresurssien tuottajina ja kuluttajina, s. 13-17. Heimo Karppinen, Sami Myyrä ja Eija Pouta. Maanomistajien arvot, tavoitteet ja niiden muutos, s. 18-21. Pekka Salmi, Jari Setälä, Erkki Mäntymaa, Rainer Peltola, Eija Pouta ja Antti Miettinen. Määrittelemättömät omistusoikeudet ja omistajuus, s. 22-28. Annukka Vainio. Psykologinen omistajuus, s. 29-31. Pasi Rikkonen, Sami Myyrä, Harri Hänninen, Jussi Leppänen ja Pekka Salmi. Tilus- ja yhdistämisjärjestelyt keinona parantaa rakennekehityksen hallittavuutta ja kilpailukykyä, s. 32-38. Teppo Hujala, Sami Myyrä, Harri Hänninen ja Sami Ovaska. Pellon ja metsän vuokraus – tarve vauhdittaa vai jarruttaa? s. 39-42. Pekka Salmi, Olli Niskanen ja Esa-Jussi Viitala. Osuustoiminta, yhteisomistus, yhteishallinta ja institutionaalinen omistus, s. 43-46. Jani Pellikka. Maanomistajat, metsästysoikeus ja metsästys, s. 47-51. Harri Hänninen. Rekisteriaineistojen käyttö maanomistajatutkimuksissa, s. 52-56. Heimo Karppinen. Lopuksi, s. 57-58.201

Uusi asunto-osakeyhtiölaki osakkeenomistajan ja tilintarkastajan näkökulmasta

Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli esitellä 1.7.2010 voimaantullut asunto-osakeyhtiölaki osakkeenomistajan ja tilintarkastajan näkökulmasta. Työssä keskitytään pääasiassa osakkeenomistajan näkökulmaan ja tilintarkastajan näkökulma on valittu tukemaan sitä. Olemme sisällyttäneet hallituksen ja isännöitsijän osakkeenomistajan näkökulmaan, koska ne liittyvät niin olennaisesti osakkeenomistajaan. Toinen tavoite oli tuoda esille uuden lain olennaisimmat muutokset. Työssä käsitellään niitä lain lukuja, jotka ovat valittujen näkökulmien kannalta kaikkein olennaisimpia. Idea opinnäytetyön aiheelle on saatu Savonia-ammattikorkeakoululta eikä työllä ole toimeksiantajaa. Työn tutkimusosuus toteutettiin kvalitatiivisena eli laadullisena tutkimuksena haastattelemalla neljää Kuopiossa työskentelevää isännöitsijää eri isännöintiyrityksistä. Haastattelut toteutettiin lomakehaastatteluna ja haastatteluissa keskityttiin lain muutoksiin ja siihen miten uusi laki vaikuttaa eri asunto-osakeyhtiön osapuoliin. Kaksi haastatelluista isännöitsijöistä työskenteli valtakunnallisissa isännöintiyrityksissä. Kaksi muuta isännöitsijää työskenteli vain Kuopiossa ja Siilinjärvellä toimivissa isännöintiyrityksissä. Tutkimuksesta selvisi, että uuden asunto-osakeyhtiölain keskeisimmät muutokset ovat osakkeenomistajan ilmoitusvelvollisuuden lisääminen kunnossapitotöihin ja hallituksen velvollisuus esittää yhtiökokouksessa selvitys tulevista viiden vuoden kunnossapitotarpeista. Tutkimuksesta selvisi myös, että isännöitsijän ja hallituksen tehtävät ovat lisääntyneet uuden lain myötä. Lisäksi tilitarkastusvelvollisuutta 30 huoneiston yhtiöissä pidettiin hyvänä asiana ja haastateltavien mielestä kaikissa asunto-osakeyhtiöissä täytyisi olla hyväksytty tilintarkastaja. Työstä on hyötyä etenkin nykyisille ja tuleville asunto-osakeyhtiön osakkeenomistajille ja sellaisille henkilöille, jotka eivät ole aiemmin tutustuneet asunto-osakeyhtiölakiin. Lukija saa kattavan kuvan uudesta laista ja sen tuomista keskeisimmistä muutoksista. Edellytykset lain muutokselle ovat selkeästi olleet olemassa ja uusi laki ohjaa asunto-osakeyhtiöitä järjestelmällisempään kiinteistöjen ja rakennusten kunnossapitoon. Viittauksia muihin lakeihin on vähennetty ja näin ollen lain luettavuus on selkeytynyt, jolloin tavallisen kansalaisen on helpompi ymmärtää lakia.The new housing corporation law came into effect on 1 July 2010. The objective of the thesis was to present the new housing corporation law from the shareholder’s and auditor’s viewpoint. The thesis focuses mainly on the shareholder’s viewpoint and the auditor’s viewpoint was chosen to support the main viewpoint. The shareholder’s viewpoint also covers housing corporation boards and property managers because they are relevant to the shareholder. The second objective was to present the most important changes of the new law. Only the most essential chapters of the law concerning the chosen viewpoints were dealt with. In the research part of the thesis, a qualitative method was used and four property managers from Kuopio were interviewed. The interview questions were created in advance and dealt with the changes in the law and their effect on the various parties of housing corporation. Two of the property managers worked in nationally operating companies and two worked in companies with regional operations in Kuopio and Siilinjärvi. The research results indicate that one of the main changes in the law was the shareholder’s obligation to report on maintenance work that was about to be done in an apartment. Another major change was the obligation of a housing corporation to report at a general meeting on the upcoming maintenance work due in five years. The amount of workload of property managers and housing corporation boards increased because of the change in law. In addition, the auditing obligation of housing corporations consisting of at least 30 apartments was regarded positive although the interviewees thought that all housing corporations should be audited. This thesis is especially useful for present and future housing corporation shareholders and for persons who are not familiar with the housing corporation law. The thesis provides the reader with a comprehensive description of the new law and the most essential changes in it. A need for change in the law clearly existed and the new law leads to more systematic property and building maintenance. References to other laws have been reduced, which has made the new law more readable and easier to understand for ordinary citizens