East Finland Research Articles

Multidimensional Care Poverty Among East Asian and Nordic Older Adults.

This study uses the care poverty framework, focusing on both individuals and structures. In this context, structures are represented by 2 welfare states: Taiwan, an East Asian welfare system and Finland, a Nordic welfare state. This study explores multidimensional care poverty rates and examines 3 realms of individual factors (health status, sociodemographic factors, and care support availability) among older adults in these long-term care (LTC) models. We analyzed data from the 2019 Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Ageing Survey and the 2020 Daily Life and Care in Old Age Survey in Finland to compare the rates and factors of care poverty in these 2 culturally and structurally different countries. Our analysis revealed different rates of care poverty in personal, practical, and socioemotional care needs in the 2 countries. Under a familistic welfare regime, Taiwanese older adults had higher personal care poverty rates than their Finnish counterparts. Those living alone faced more personal and practical care poverty. Conversely, Finnish older adults, under the Nordic welfare model, experienced more practical and socioemotional care poverty. Those with high care needs and disadvantaged social status and support were more likely to experience personal and practical care poverty. Socioemotional care poverty varied with the availability of support and health status in both countries. The study highlights the impact of 2 LTC policies and cultures on older adults' multidimensional care poverty, identifying disadvantaged older adults under different welfare-transforming LTC models. Taiwan's budget-constrained LTC policies and high family reliance contrast with Finland's inadequate attention to the practical and socioemotional needs of its aging population. This study suggests that holistic LTC policies are needed in both countries to improve the well-being of older adults with limited support and health issues.

Soil organic carbon sequestration potential for croplands in Finland over 2021–2040 under the interactive impacts of climate change and agricultural management

CONTEXTCropland soil organic carbon (SOC) stock can be increased by agricultural management, but is subject to various factors. The extent and rates of SOC sequestration potential, as well as the controlling factors, under different climate and management practices across a region or country are important for policy-makers and land managers, however have been rarely known. OBJECTIVEWe aim to investigate the extent and rates of SOC sequestration potential over 2021–2040 under different scenarios of climate change and Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) practices, and quantify the impacts of climate change and SSM practices on the SOC sequestration potential, for croplands across Finland at a spatial resolution of 1 km. METHODSRothC model is run iteratively to equilibrium to calculate the size of the SOC pools and the annual plant carbon inputs. Then, it is applied to investigate the SOC sequestration potential over 2021–2040 under different scenarios of climate change and SSM practices. Finally, facorial simulation experiments are conducted to quantify the impacts of climate change and SSM practices, alone and in combination, on SOC sequestration potential. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONUnder the combined impacts of climate change and SSM practices, the SOC sequestration potential during 2021–2040 relative to 2020 will be on average − 0.03, 0.007, 0.05, and 0.13 t C ha−1 yr−1, respectively, with carbon input being business as usual, 5%, 10%, and 20% increase. This is equivalent to an annual change rate of −0.04%, 0.009%, 0.07%, and 0.17%, respectively. Therefore, a 20% increase in C input to soil will not be enough to obtain a 4‰ increase per year over the 20-year period in Finland. Carbon input will promote SOC sequestration potential; however, climate change will reduce it on average by 0.28 t C ha−1 yr−1. Across the cropland in Finland, on average, the relative contributions of C input, temperature, and precipitation to SOC sequestration potential in 2021–2040 will be 56%, 24%, and 20%, respectively, however there is a spatially explicit pattern. The SOC sequestration potential will be relatively high and dominated by C input in west and southwest Finland. By contrast, it will be relatively low and dominated by climate in north and east Finland, and the central part of southern Finland. SIGNIFICANCEOur findings provide the information as to where, how much, and which SSM practices could be applied for enhancing SOC sequestration at a high spatial resolution, which is essential for stakeholders to increase cropland SOC sequestration efficiently.

Multiple meanings and boundaries of growth in shrinking regions in East and North Finland

Growth stands out as a key development object in contemporary green economy policies. It is particularly interesting in the Nordic context such as in East and North Finland, where many regions are rich in natural resources, but also shrinking and lagging. Therefore, their regional development is simultaneously framed by an expected sustainability transition that alternates between green growth and degrowth agendas, and the socio-economic phenomenon of shrinkage. This article examines how growth is understood and framed among regional development actors, with special interest placed on different meanings, possible critics, and the boundaries of growth. The interviewed actors are positioned as intermediaries who possess special knowledge regarding regional development. The interviews show that the understanding of growth in this context requires various framings that combine global, regional, and local perspectives on sustainable development, as well as the burdens of shrinking and lagging regions balanced against cohesive and inclusive promises of green growth. The hegemonic frame is approached through a lens of green growth, yet the shrinking population remains in the background. Growth appears as a favoured means to tackle societal problems, which reflects a mission-oriented goal setting. Critical statements are directed at growth policies and funding instruments that do not seem to promote cohesive and inclusive growth. The clearest boundary for growth relates to nature, but it is far too early to make interpretations on an intentional degrowth agenda. From the regional actors’ perspective, setting boundaries for growth in a context of long-term shrinkage, sparse population, and extensive natural surroundings seems trivial. Handling the peripheries’ societal problems related to shrinkage and their struggle for resources appears as the more relevant mission that also requires growth in various forms.

Cardiovascular risk factors predict age at death in 60-year follow-up of the Seven Countries Study.

To study age at death (AD) and its determinants in cohorts of middle-aged men followed-up until extinction. A total of 9063 middle-aged men enrolled in 10 cohorts of 6 countries (USA, Finland, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece and Japan) within the Seven Countries Study were examined and then followed up for 60years until extinction. AD was computed and a small number of risk factors were tested through multiple linear regression as possibly related to attained AD. AD ranged across cohorts from 71.8years in East Finland and 80.5years in Crete with levels roughly lower in the USA and Northern Europe and higher elsewhere. Across cohorts, the correlation coefficients of systolic blood pressure (R = -0.58) and of CVD prevalence (R = -0.65) versus average AD were the only significant ones. At the individual level in the pool of all cohorts, a multiple linear regression model showed that age, vigorous physical activity, never and ex-smokers were favorably related to AD, while the reverse was true for systolic blood pressure, heart rate, serum cholesterol, CVD prevalence and silent ECG abnormalities. BMI had a parabolic relationship with AD. The predicting power of single risk factors, expressed in years gained or lost, was relatively small, but arbitrary combinations of several of them produced large differences in AD. A small number of CVD risk factors were strongly associated with AD in a life-long follow-up.

Regional sustainability transition through forest-based bioeconomy? Development actors' perspectives on related policies, power, and justice

Forests and forest-based bioeconomy have central roles in the contemporary sustainability transition. However, the transition towards a bioeconomy is loaded with tensions regarding economic growth, ecological integrity, and social justice. These tensions reproduce varying transition discourses. Political actors at the level of the European Union (EU) and nation states take part in the processes creating the discourses and aim to govern the forest bioeconomy-based transition in certain directions viewed as favourable.The transition tensions are strongly felt in regions that are rich with forest resources but poor in terms of economic and political power, called ‘forest peripheries’. In this study, we explored how the forest bioeconomy discourses are downscaled in the development of the forest peripheries in East and North Finland. We examined the ways in which the regional development actors interpret prevailing forest-related policies and reproduce or challenge associated forest discourse(s). The focus was on the linkages between the macro-policies and the regional development, uncertainties that relate to the practical implementation and realisation of the policies, and the conflicts and power relations between the policies, practices, and the actors behind them. As a research strategy, we used embedded triangulation, where the interviews of development actors as initial data were contrasted with policy documents as the supportive data.For the analysis, we used the critical discourse analysis.From the policy documents, we identified the ‘You can have it all (if you close your eyes)’ discourse as the most hegemonic discourse, which aims to merge all the sides under the sustainable forest bioeconomy that favours the biomass regime. From the interviews, we identified three interlinked regional forest bioeconomy discourses: 1) ‘You can have it all is possible’, 2) ‘You can have it all is dependent on many ifs’, and 3) ‘You can have it all runs into conflicts’. The first discourse reproduced the hegemonic discourse, power relations appeared to be vertically unproblematic, and relatively manifested just transition for the forest peripheries. The second discourse produced an alternative discourse, which displayed more dependencies on the qualities of economic actors under the biotech regime. Power relations appeared to be more horizontal and complex, with a random just transition. The third discourse manifested tensions between the ideological aspirations of the policies and the practical reality in the forest peripheries. Conflicts arise from disharmonies between policy implementation and regional needs, cultural clashes, and misrecognition of the regional perspectives. The discourse reflected skewed power relations in vertical and horizontal manners. The transition appeared to be unjust in many ways because the external benefits seemed to be regarded over the regional ones.

"Serum Cholesterol in East and West Finland in Summer 1956 and Winter 1957 and Its Regulation – Discussion on Dietary Fats, Silicon, Selenium, Magnesium, Weathering and Climatic Factors"

"Serum Cholesterol in East and West Finland in Summer 1956 and Winter 1957 and Its Regulation – Discussion on Dietary Fats, Silicon, Selenium, Magnesium, Weathering and Climatic Factors"

Notícias

Notícias

Indications of Changing Solar Activity and North Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature in Fennoscandian Climate

Solar-climatic correlations were examined over the timescales, corresponding to solar cycles of Schwabe, Hale and Gleissberg, during the last 3–4 centuries using eight proxy and direct indices of: (a) summer climate in Fennoscandia, (b) sea surface temperature in the North Atlantic and (c) solar activity. Using novel and improved data records new evidences of a link between solar activity, North Atlantic sea surface temperature and summer temperature in Northern Fennoscandia were obtained. No solar footprint was found in the temperature proxy from East Finland. The results show that this relationship is rather complex and varies depending on the timescale considered and also varies regionally.

Discussion on Different Seasonal Variation of Serum Cholesterol in East and West Finland 1956-57 - Milk, Magnesium and Acid Soluble Silicon

Individual coefficient of variation in serum cholesterol values has been reported to be 5-10 % [1]. Sometimes this variation can be higher, especially in East Finland between June1956 and January 1957 [2]. Role of environmental factors is discussed. Inflammation can elevate serum cholesterol and apoB/apoA ratio [3]. TNF-alpha and IL-6 are reported to increase cholesterol synthesis many-fold via elevation activity of HMG-CoA reductase [4].

IMPLEMENTATION OF DBSCAN CLUSTERING ALGORITHM WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE OBJECTIVE CLUSTERING INDUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY BASED ON R AND KNIME TOOLS

Context. The problem of the data clustering within the framework of the objective clustering inductive technology is considered. Practical implementation of the obtained hybrid model based on the complex use of R and KNIME tools is performed. The object of the study is the hybrid model of the data clustering based on the complex use of both DBSCAN clustering algorithm and the objective clustering inductive technology. Objective. The aim of the work is the creation of the hybrid model of the objective clustering based on DBSCAN clustering algorithm and its practical implementation on the basis of the complex use of both R and KNIME tools. Method. The inductive methods of complex systems modelling have been used as the basis to determine the optimal parameters of DBSCAN clustering algorithm within the framework of the objective clustering inductive technology. The practical implementation of this technology involves: the use of two equal power subsets, which contain the same quantity of pairwise similar objects; calculation of the internal and the external clustering quality criteria; calculation of the complex balance criterion, maximum value of which corresponds to the best clustering in terms of the used criteria. Implementation of this process involves two main stages. Firstly, the optimal values of the EPS parameter were determined at each step within the range of the minPts value changes. The charts of the complex balance criterion versus the EPS value were obtained for each minPts value as the results of this stage implementation. Then, the analysis of the obtained intermediate results was performed in order to determine the optimal solution, which corresponds to both the maximum value of the complex balance criterion on the one side and the aims of the current clustering on the other side. Results. The developed hybrid model has been implemented based on software KNIME with the use of plugins, which have been written in software R. The efficiency of the model was tasted with the use of the different data: low dimensional data of the computing school of East Finland University; Fisher’s iris; gene expression profiles of the patients, which were investigated on lung cancer. Conclusions. The results of the simulation have shown high efficiency of the proposed method. The studied objects were distributed into clusters correctly in all cases. The proposed method allows us to decrease the reproducibility error, since the solution concerning determination of the clustering algorithm optimal parameters was taken based on both the clustering results obtained on equal power subsets separately and the difference of the clustering results obtained on the two equal power subsets.

Coronary heart disease mortality trends during 50 years as explained by risk factor changes: The European cohorts of the Seven Countries Study.

The purpose of this study was to relate risk factor changes during decades with 50-year coronary heart disease mortality in European cohorts of middle-aged men of the Seven Countries Study. In the 1950s-early 1960s, nine cohorts of 6518 men aged 40-59 years were examined in five European countries. Smoking habits, systolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol were measured at entry and five times during the next 35 years and a comprehensive Risk Factor Change Score was created. Coronary heart disease mortality data was collected during a 50-year follow-up, modelled by the Weibull distribution, whose shape (Weibull shape) was related to the Risk Factor Change Score by linear regression. The Risk Factor Change Score showed slight declines in the Finnish and Dutch cohorts, moderate or large increases in the other cohorts. These effects were related to a decrease of smoking habits in all cohorts, an increase of blood pressure in all cohorts except East Finland, a decrease of serum cholesterol in Finland and the Netherlands, whereas serum cholesterol increases were slight in Italy and large in Serbia and Greece. Weibull distribution shape for coronary heart disease mortality showed slight deceleration in one Finnish and the Dutch cohorts, large acceleration in the Serbian and Greek cohorts. The correlation coefficient of the Risk Factor Change Score versus Weibull shape for the nine cohorts was 0.78 (R2 = 0.60; p = 0.0132). Spontaneous long-term changes of major coronary risk factor levels were associated with changes in the same direction of coronary heart disease mortality risk modelled by the Weibull distribution, expressing a kind of 'natural experiment' with an outcome that matches those of controlled preventive trials.

Satellite tracking of red-listed nominate lesser black-backed gulls (Larus f. fuscus): Habitat specialisation in foraging movements raises novel conservation needs

In contrast to many other gull species, nominate lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus fuscus, nLBBG) have shown generally decreasing population trends throughout their breeding area in northern and eastern Fennoscandia over the past decades and are now red-listed. Interspecific competition, predation, increased disturbance, organochlorine poisoning and food shortages were suggested as main reasons for the overall decrease. Here we contribute to a better understanding of population declines by comparing foraging movements of satellite tracked adult gulls in three geographical areas of Finland (West, South, and East) that differ in their population trends. Our analysis examines potential differences and preferences in the feeding site behaviour of adult gulls. Our comparison of the three geographical areas showed that nLBBGs preferred feeding at fur farms in West Finland, waste dumps in South Finland, and lakes and fields in East Finland. We found individual gulls of this purportedly generalist species to be highly specialised in their foraging behaviour, particularly those that might be associated with their survival probabilities. We hypothesise that differences in foraging behaviour and food availability during the breeding season are partially responsible for differences in demographic trends between populations. Specifically, we identify potential local conservation problems such as shooting in birds visiting fur farms. Our data suggest that the effective conservation and management of endangered nLBBGs could be aided by simple actions in the breeding areas in addition to better protection throughout the annual movement cycle.

KAIP ĮSIGYDAVO KNYGŲ XVIII A. SUOMIJOS IR RYTŲ PRŪSIJOS LIUTERONŲ KUNIGAI: ASMENINĖS BIBLIOTEKOS IR SAVITARPIO PAGALBA (anglų kalba)

The article strives to draw parallels between the cultural contexts of the Lutheran clergy in East Prussia, where Kristijonas Donelaitis lived, and in Finland. East Prussia was part of the Prussian and Finland part of the Swedish Kingdom. The Lutheran Protestant church was state-church in both of the realms. The German culture naturally dominated in East Prussia, but its influence in Sweden and Finland was also strong. There also are parallels in the linguistic situation in East Prussia and Finland. There was a Lithuanian-speaking minority in East Prussia and a Finnish-speaking majority in Finland, both of which were shadowed by the dominant language and culture, German and Swedish, respectively. The priest served as a link between the dominant culture and administration and the common people. Two Finnish priests, Matthias Salamnius (1640–1691) and Johan Frosterus (1720–1809) that can be compared to Donelaitis in their literary production, are presented. The existence of non-theological books in the private libraries of Finnish priests is analyzed using the data in estate inventories. Information about forms of cooperation in the distribution of books, such as book circles and professional reading societies are presented in both Finland and East Prussia.

KAIP ĮSIGYDAVO KNYGŲ XVIII A. SUOMIJOS IR RYTŲ PRŪSIJOS LIUTERONŲ KUNIGAI: ASMENINĖS BIBLIOTEKOS IR SAVITARPIO PAGALBA (anglų kalba)

The article strives to draw parallels between the cultural contexts of the Lutheran clergy in East Prussia, where Kristijonas Donelaitis lived, and in Finland. East Prussia was part of the Prussian and Finland part of the Swedish Kingdom. The Lutheran Protestant church was state-church in both of the realms. The German culture naturally dominated in East Prussia, but its influence in Sweden and Finland was also strong. There also are parallels in the linguistic situation in East Prussia and Finland. There was a Lithuanian-speaking minority in East Prussia and a Finnish-speaking majority in Finland, both of which were shadowed by the dominant language and culture, German and Swedish, respectively. The priest served as a link between the dominant culture and administration and the common people. Two Finnish priests, Matthias Salamnius (1640–1691) and Johan Frosterus (1720–1809) that can be compared to Donelaitis in their literary production, are presented. The existence of non-theological books in the private libraries of Finnish priests is analyzed using the data in estate inventories. Information about forms of cooperation in the distribution of books, such as book circles and professional reading societies are presented in both Finland and East Prussia.

Aging People as Communal Actors

This article discusses the variety of social activities of aging people in a community. The first aim of this study is to explore how to overcome two dichotomies—public–private as spheres of everyday life and third–fourth age—and by overcoming these, to make visible the personal social resources of older people, which are not usually recognized in policy discourses or in social policy research. Second, we ask whether the problem-oriented rhetoric of aging in Finnish social and rural policy can be challenged from the perspective of aging people’s activities. The article analyzes older people as actors of a rural village community and overcomes the two dichotomies mentioned above from the theoretical context of agency. In this research, rural East Finland is a case with which to investigate social relationships between people. We suggest that seniors not only participate in a variety of communal activities but also act in their homes, which are culturally coded as the territory of private life. By “just being there,” people also produce and reproduce rural communities in many ways. This is a form of action that has been largely ignored by policies, policymakers, and social studies.

Paleomagnetic and geochronological studies on Paleoproterozoic diabase dykes of Karelia, East Finland—Key for testing the Superia supercraton

Paleomagnetic results are presented for two Paleoproterozoic mafic dykes in the Taivalkoski area in northern Karelia Province of the Fennoscandian shield where, based on K-Ar data, the crust has seen minimal effects of the otherwise pervasive 1.8–1.9Ga Svecofennian orogeny. Within this study a new U–Pb baddeleyite age of 2339±18Ma has been determined for one of the E–W trending dykes (dyke AD13).The paleomagnetic results show that a strong Svecofennian overprinting is pervasive in the area. Upon thermal or AF demagnetization four remanence directions were obtained. Most typical are the secondary Svecofennian remanence direction A (intermediate down to the NNW) and remanence direction B (intermediate down to the NNE). Component D (D=115.4°, I=50.5°, α95=2.6°) yielding a virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) D (Plat=−19.5°N, Plon=263.3°, A95=3.1°) is obtained from baked rocks for dyke WD, and based on a positive baked contact test is interpreted to represent the primary magnetization dating from about 2.4Ga. Dyke AD13 carries only secondary A and B components, its unbaked host migmatites carry reversed A (AR) component, and the baked host rock carries a component D′ (D=134.5°, I=−7.3°, α95=8.8°), which yields a VGP pole D′ (Plat=−20.4°N, Plon=257.3°, A95=7.6°), possibly representing magnetization at 2.3Ga.The new paleomagnetic data from the Karelia Province compared to similar-aged paleomagnetic data from the Superior Province does not support the recently proposed Superia configuration, based upon dyke swarm trajectories.

Vuilleminia erastii sp. nov. (Corticiales), an amphi-Beringian species and revision of the occurrence of Vuilleminia comedens in North America

Vuilleminia is a basidiomycete genus the species of which have resupinate, corticioid fruiting bodies. It is apparently a North Hemisphere genus, and the majority of its species are distributed in Europe and western Asia. In North America, there are two reports of Vuilleminia comedens. Detailed study of North American specimens and comparisons with additional collections led to the conclusion that they belong to a new lineage named Vuilleminia erastii sp. nov., whose distribution extends from western North America to East Asia, Siberia, and Finland. The species is recognized by the decorticating fruiting bodies with preference for species of Betulaceae in the boreal zone, relatively small allantoid basidiospores, and little-developed cystidia with apical appendix.

<i>Vuilleminia erastii</i> sp. nov. (Corticiales), an amphi-Beringian species and revision of the occurrence of <i>Vuilleminia comedens</i> in North America

Vuilleminia is a basidiomycete genus the species of which have resupinate, corticioid fruiting bodies. It is apparently a North Hemisphere genus, and the majority of its species are distributed in Europe and western Asia. In North America, there are two reports of Vuilleminia comedens. Detailed study of North American specimens and comparisons with additional collections led to the conclusion that they belong to a new lineage named Vuilleminia erastii sp. nov., whose distribution extends from western North America to East Asia, Siberia, and Finland. The species is recognized by the decorticating fruiting bodies with preference for species of Betulaceae in the boreal zone, relatively small allantoid basidiospores, and little-developed cystidia with apical appendix.

Regional differences and secular trends in the incidence of epilepsy in Finland: A nationwide 23-year registry study

Regional variations and temporal trends in the incidence of new-onset epilepsy are clinically important and may offer clues on how to prevent epilepsy. We examined regional differences and secular trends in the incidence of new-onset epilepsy in the Finnish population based on the nationwide full-refundable antiepileptic drug registry and the population registry in the years 1986-2008. The overall incidence of epilepsy was significantly higher in eastern Finland than in middle [risk ratio (RR) 1.08 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.05-1.12)), p < 0.0001] and western Finland [RR 1.32 (1.30-1.35), p < 0.0001] but it was declining from 1986 to 2008 in all regions [RR 0.83 (0.81-0.84), p < 0.0001]. The mean annual decline was 0.6%. Although the incidence of epilepsy was falling from 1986 to 2008 in childhood [annual decline 1.9%, RR 0.80 (0.75-0.86), p < 0.0001] and in middle age [annual decline 0.8%, RR 0.88 (0.84-0.93), p < 0.0001], it increased significantly in the elderly (age 65 years or older) in all of Finland [annual increase 3.5%, RR 1.25 (1.18-1.33), p < 0.0001], and particularly in east versus west Finland [RR 1.48 (1.42-1.55), p < 0.0001]. As a result, starting with the year 2000, the incidence rate of epilepsy was higher in the elderly than in children for all of Finland. In view of the falling incidence of epilepsy in childhood and middle-age in all of Finland from 1986 to 2008, the significant increase in the incidence of epilepsy in the elderly is of concern. The regional increase of epilepsy may offer clues for allocating resources and, possibly, population epileptogenesis between west and east Finland and for strategies to prevent epilepsy in the elderly.

Records of land use and medieval settlement history in Vuonninen, Dvina Karelia, Northwest Russia

AbstractAlthough the documented history of Dvina Karelia (northern Russian Karelia) does not begin until the second half of the 16th century, individual finds of prehistoric artifacts point to earlier human occupation. The present paleoecological study of the Vuonninen area is the first of its kind concerning prehistoric land use in Dvina Karelia, a large region extending from Finland to the White Sea. It is based on the pollen analysis of sediments from Lake Ylä‐Kuittijärvi near the old Karelian village of Vuonninen. In its general features, the picture of the early stages of cultivation and human activity in the village of Vuonninen is comparable to results from East Finland, the Karelian Isthmus, and the northern shores of Lake Ladoga. The first, minor indications of human influence appear in the sediments of the 4th–6th centuries A.D. in Lake Kuittijärvi. Distinct and unambiguous signs of human activity appear in the pollen record in the 12th century. This is particularly evident in the decreasing proportion of Picea, caused by the clearance of spruce forest. The beginning of cultivation is dated according to Secale pollen to the beginning of the 15th century. Intensive arable farming emerges in the early 19th century in the form of regular occurrences of Secale and Hordeum pollen. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.