Eastern Finland Research Articles

Virtual communication is commonly used in Finnish interstitial lung disease multidisciplinary meetings

ABSTRACT Multidisciplinary meeting (MDM) is a core element in the diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases (ILD). The aim of the study was to investigate the implementation and key elements related to ILD MDMs in Finnish specialized care, which is characterized by long travel distances and a large number of small centers treating patients suffering from ILDs. An electronic questionnaire was sent to ILD experts working at five academic centers of Finland regarding the implementation of ILD MDMs with the focus on utilization of virtual communication. Responses were received from all academic centers of Finland (n = 5) whose catchment areas cover all of Finland. ILD MDMs were organized in each center approximately every two weeks and the core participants included a radiologist, respiratory physicians, junior staff, pathologist and a rheumatologist. All non-academic centers could refer their patients to be evaluated in ILD MDM of an academic center. Virtual communication was utilized by all academic centers in the implementation of ILD MDMs, being most common among small centers located in Eastern and Northern Finland. Virtual access to ILD MDM of an academic center was available in most parts of Finland, enabling small centers to benefit from the ILD expertise of academic centers.

Taxonomy of Thelidiumauruntii and T.incavatum complexes (lichenized Ascomycota, Verrucariales) in Finland.

The taxonomy of lichen species morphologically similar to Thelidiumauruntii and T.incavatum in Finland is being revised. Based on ITS and morphology, ten species occur in Finland. All species are restricted to calcareous rocks. The Thelidiumauruntii morphocomplex includes six species: T.auruntii, T.huuskoneniisp. nov., T.pseudoauruntiisp. nov., T.sallaense sp. nov, T.toskalharjiensesp. nov. and T. sp. 1. In the ITS phylogeny, T.auruntii, T.pseudoauruntii and T.sallaense group together, but the remaining species are placed outside of this clade. All the species have northern distribution in Finland, occurring on fells in NW Finland and/or in gorges in the Oulanka area in NE Finland. The Thelidiumincavatum morphocomplex includes four species: T.declivumsp. nov., T.incavatum, T.mendaxsp. nov. and T. sp. 2. This morphogroup is not resolved as monophyletic in the ITS phylogeny, with only T.declivum and T.mendax forming a strongly supported group. Thelidiumincavatum is rather common in SW Finland, with one separate locality in eastern Finland. Thelidiumdeclivum occurs only in the Oulanka area. Thelidiummendax occurs in the Oulanka area, but one locality is known from eastern central Finland. Thelidium sp. 2 is known from one locality in SW Lapland.

Evaluating neural network models in site-specific solar PV forecasting using numerical weather prediction data and weather observations

The effective use of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations implies the integration of solar PV output into overall energy consumption planning, optimization, and control. Moreover, day-ahead trading of electricity in Europe makes day-ahead solar PV forecasting utterly important, and thus its accuracy becomes of particular interest. Data-driven PV forecasting models are typically trained using numerical weather prediction (NWP) data, the availability of which represents one of the main obstacles in modeling. In this study, we investigate an alternative scenario, in which an artificial neural network (ANN) is trained on weather observations and then tested on NWP data to simulate the model's use in operational PV forecasting. In the experiments, solar PV output data, historical weather observations, and historical NWP data were collected from three sites in eastern Finland. The results showed that, although training ANN on observational data leads to a slight decrease in its performance compared to ANN trained on NWP data, it still outperforms a physical model. In practice, this alternative scenario means that if historical NWP data are not available for model training, observational data allow effective model selection and parameter tuning, and then generalization error estimates are gradually updated using online NWP data.

Increasing selenium concentration in Finnish organic milk using participatory action approach

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for animals. In Finland, Se supplementary feeding and Se-enriched macronutrient fertilisers are used in conventional farming because the Se availability from soil is extremely low. The objective of this study was to improve Se concentration in organic milk by replacing sodium selenite (SS) in mineral-vitamin mixture with selenium yeast (SY) either completely or partly (50/50). The feeding experiment was conducted on 15 certified organic dairy farms in Eastern Finland during spring 2008. The cross-over design consisted of three treatments (SS treatment, SY treatment, and SS/SY treatment), three experimental periods (28 days each), and three farm groups (different order of treatments). Replacing SS with the same amount (0.2 mg Se kg-1 feed dry matter) of SY more than doubled Se concentration in organic milk and their mixture resulted in slightly lower Se concentrations. In conclusion, SY supplementary feeding is needed to improve Se concentration in organic milk and Se supply to cows, their calves, and consumers.

Seismic Imaging of Mineral Exploration Targets: Evaluation of Ray- vs. Wave-Equation-Based Pre-Stack Depth Migrations for Crooked 2D Profiles

Seismic imaging is now a well-established method in mineral exploration with many successful case studies. Seismic data are usually imaged in the time domain (post-stack or pre-stack time migration), but recently pre-stack depth imaging has shown clear advantages for irregular/sparse acquisitions and very complex targets. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of both ray-based and wave-equation-based pre-stack depth imaging methodologies applied to crooked-line 2D seismic reflection profiles. Seismic data were acquired in the Kylylahti mining area in eastern Finland over severely folded, faulted and subvertical Kylylahti structure, and associated mineralization. We performed 3D ray-based imaging, i.e., industry-standard Kirchhoff migration and its improved version (coherency migration, CM), and wave-equation-based migration, i.e., reverse time migration (RTM) using a velocity model built from first-arrival traveltime tomography. Upon comparing the three different migrations against available geological data and models, it appeared that CM provided the least noisy and well-focused image, but failed to image the internal reflectivity of the Kylylahti formation. RTM was the only method that produced geologically plausible reflections inside the Kylylahti formation including a direct image of the previously known shallow massive sulfide mineralization.

Meet the First Authors

Meet the First Authors

Health check-ups as interventions for work disability management: supervisors and occupational healthcare follow the recommendations to a great extent

ObjectivesWork disability management is a problem globally. This study was designed to find out whether the initiation, process and outcome of health check-ups (HCUs) follow the national legislation and whether...

Properties and Stability of Mining-Induced Meromixis in Two Small Boreal Lakes in Eastern Finland

Mine waters are a significant point source stressor for aquatic environments, not only due to their acidity and high metal concentrations, but also because of their high electrolyte concentrations. Ion-rich mine waters can disturb the seasonal mixing of lake waters, even leading to permanent stratification, i.e. meromixis. In this study, we investigated two small natural lakes receiving waters from closed Ni-Cu mines. To characterize the present chemical and physical conditions of these two boreal lakes, we collected water samples and in-situ water column measurements seasonally in 2017 and 2018. We modelled the stability of meromixis in the lakes under varying physico-chemical and meteorological conditions with the MATLAB-based open-source model code, MyLake. Chemical analyses and water column measurements show that both lakes are currently meromictic with a chemocline separating the circulating, well-oxygenated upper water from the non-circulating, hypoxic bottom water. The main anion was SO4 in both lakes, while the main cations were Ca, Mg, Na, and K. Elevated concentrations of conservative elements flowing from the mine areas are crucial in maintaining the meromixis. Modelling scenarios suggest that the meromixis would be sustained for several decades even if the external load ceased completely. Lake morphology and sheltered surroundings also seem to contribute to maintaining the meromixis in these lakes. Consequently, our results indicate that small headwaters are sensitive to persistent meromixis even when external loading is mild.

Journal Digest: Treatment-Emergent Mania, Fingerprint Scans, and More

Journal Digest: Treatment-Emergent Mania, Fingerprint Scans, and More

Longitudinal Analyses of Diet Quality and Maternal Depressive Symptoms During Pregnancy: The Kuopio Birth Cohort Study.

Depression and diet quality appear to be associated in the general population. Nevertheless, little is known about their relationship among pregnant females. The aims of this study were first, to investigate longitudinally whether or not diet quality is associated with depressive symptoms during pregnancy; second, to examine whether or not variation in diet quality during pregnancy predicts variation in depressive symptoms; and third, to explore how individual dietary components are associated with depressive symptoms. A longitudinal secondary analysis of the Kuopio Birth Cohort Study in eastern Finland was conducted. Data were collected from pregnant females during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. The participants were 1,362 pregnant females who entered the study between 2012 and2017. Depressive symptoms, as measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depressive Scale during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy were used as continuous variables. The main analyses consisted of linear mixed model analyses adjusted for potential confounders to longitudinally assess the association between diet quality as measured by the Healthy Eating Index-2015, calculated using data from a food frequency questionnaire completed during the first trimester and third trimester, and depressive symptoms during the study period. An exploratory set of linear mixed models was also used to longitudinally assess the associations between selected individual food frequency questionnaire food groups and depressive symptoms. Descriptive analyses revealed that 12.3% of the participants had clinically relevant levels of depressive symptoms (ie, Edinburgh Postnatal Depressive Scale score ≥10) during either the first or third trimester. Longitudinal modeling suggested that depressive symptoms in pregnant females tend to remain stable throughout pregnancy. Females with a poorer quality dietalready displayed higher levels of depressive symptoms during the first trimester of pregnancy (β= -.038 ± .016; P= 0.022). Variation in diet quality did not predict variation in depressive symptoms over the course of pregnancy (β= -9.741× 10-5 ± .001; P= 0.869). Females entering pregnancy with a poorer quality dietalso displayed higher levels of depressive symptoms compared with females with a higher quality diet at the beginning of pregnancy, and this association remained constant throughout pregnancy. Further research is needed to assess the direction and the potential causality of the observed associations between diet quality and depressive symptoms.

Koli Calling Conference Report

Koli Calling is a single-track conference covering a range of topics related to education in the computing disciplines. The 22nd Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research was held in the beautiful Koli National Park from November 17-20, 2022. The conference was held in cooperation with the ACM and SIGCSE and was organized by the University of Eastern Finland and the University of Toronto Mississauga.

The Consumer Value of Nature-based Tourism: An Examination of National Park Visitors

The following text is based on the lectio praecursoria presented at the defense of the doctoral dissertation ‘The Consumer Value of Nature-based Tourism: An Examination of National Park Visitors’ on 23 September, 2022, at the University of Eastern Finland. The full version of the dissertation can be found at https://erepo.uef.fi/handle/123456789/28295

Near‐Infrared Spectroscopic Characterization of Cardiac and Renal Fibrosis in Fixed and Fresh Rat Tissue

AbstractInvited for this month‘s cover are the collaborating group(s) of Center for Biospectroscopy at Monash University and Austin Health at the University of Melbourne, University of Eastern Finland and the University of Queensland. The cover‐art shows a handheld near‐infrared spectroscopic probe to detect fibrosis in real time using a murine model. More information can be found in the Research Article by John A. Adegoke, Jaishankar Raman, Bayden R. Wood, and co‐workers.

Recognising older people's individual resources and home-care-specific tasks in home care in Finland: A document analysis of care and service plans.

Comprehensive care and service planning in home care is tailored to older people's individual needs and resources in order to support them living at home. However, little is known about how these individual resources and home-care-specific tasks are recognised in older people's care and service plans. To describe the content of care and service plans in older people's home care with special attention to their individual resources and home-care-specific tasks. This was a document-based cross-sectional study with mixed-methods analysis, carried out in Eastern Finland during Spring 2018. A document analysis using the deductive Finnish Care Classification (FinCC), and an inductively developed framework of older people's care and service plans (n=71). The data were analysed with descriptive statistical methods. Altogether, 1718 notes were relevant to the FinCC main categories: 707 (41%) focused on older people's needs and 1011 (59%) on nursing interventions. We identified 1104 notes based on the 26 inductively developed main categories: the majority (n=628, 57%) focused on individual resources and the remainder (n=476, 43%) on home-care-specific tasks. Increasing age resulted in fewer notes on safety and sensory functions. There were fewer notes on resources related to sleeping and wakefulness after longer care and service periods. An increased number of home visits resulted in more documentation on tasks related to pharmaceutical issues, including repeat prescriptions. Individual resources for older people were documented, to some extent, in their care and service plans. It is necessary to review these alongside home-care-specific tasks that support older people's independence and safety at home. Individual resources need to be recognised in order to enable home-care professionals to provide tailored, high-quality home care services. Home-care-specific tasks should be supported by documentation with updated, sensitive home care classifications.

Disease burden caused by respiratory syncytial virus compared with influenza among adults: a retrospective cohort study from Eastern Finland in 2017–2018

ObjectivesRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most important causes of lower respiratory tract illnesses. In this study, we examined the number and severity of RSV infections among adult...

Religious participation in the local communities of 17th-century Eastern Finland

In recent years, the perspective of lived religion has drawn attention toward the everyday religious practices of the laity. In early-modern Europe, the realm of the sacred could be approached in different ways from within the mundane world, and religious practices were tightly intertwined with social life. In local communities, religious ideas and practices taught by the church in varying ways intermingled with traits from local religious traditions. This article examines the different ways of religious participation available to the rural inhabitants of late 17th century Eastern Finland, a part of the kingdom of Sweden during the early modern era. Applying the concept and approach of lived religion, the article analyses how Eastern Finnish peasants adjusted their religious practices to their individual circumstances. The article also examines different kinds of interaction and influences affecting the choices of the laity in the sphere of religion. The article is based on surviving court and visitation records from the province of Savo, a rural area where distances between households were often large and many people had to travel a long way to reach the nearest church. It is in the article emphasized that while physical distances and other factors such as infirmity could restrict one’s ability to participate in religious activities at the parish church, the laity had different kinds of practices to choose from and they even created ways of religious participation for themselves. Religious practices could include participating in household feasts on holy days or bringing offerings to a devotional site near the household or in the forest. It is argued that while there were many traditional elements in the sphere of religion passed on to following generations, people also adopted and adapted new ideas in their everyday religious lives.

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown on Monitoring and Treatment Balance of Finnish Coronary Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

We aimed to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on monitoring and treatment balance of Finnish coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. We used data from the electronic health records on 1604 CHD and 10,136 T2D patients aged 18‒85 years in Eastern Finland. Measurement and levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) of CHD patients and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of T2D patients were assessed monthly during January 2019-June 2021. Interrupted time-series analysis design was utilized to examine the effect of the lockdown on proportion of patients monitored and treatment balance. Reductions in frequencies of LDL testing of CHD and HbA1c testing of T2D patients were observed during the national lockdown. Downward trend in average LDL was observed from January 2019 until June 2021. Average HbA1c values increased from January 2019 to March 2020 with an additional increase by 2.04 mmol/mol (0.80 to 3.29) in April 2020. However, there was a downward trend in monthly average HbA1c during the lockdown until June 2021 with an additional change in level by 0.61 mmol/mol (95% CI 0.06 to 1.16) in July 2020. The lockdown decreased the frequency of monitoring among both CHD and T2D patients. Meanwhile, monthly average LDL had a steadily improving pattern in CHD patients during the follow-up while temporary worsening in HbA1c in patients with T2D was observed at the time of the lockdown. The lockdown may have introduced selection in patients who had their treatment outcomes monitored. Better self-management of risk factors among patients is also possible.

Simulating Soil-Plant-Climate Interactions and Greenhouse Gas Exchange in Boreal Grasslands Using the DNDC Model

With global warming, arable land in boreal regions is tending to expand into high latitude regions in the northern hemisphere. This entails certain risks; such that inappropriate management could result in previously stable carbon sinks becoming sources. Agroecological models are an important tool for assessing the sustainability of long-term management, yet applications of such models in boreal zones are scarce. We collated eddy-covariance, soil climate and biomass data to evaluate the simulation of GHG emissions from grassland in eastern Finland using the process-based model DNDC. We simulated gross primary production (GPP), net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and ecosystem respiration (Reco) with fair performance. Soil climate, soil temperature and soil moisture at 5 cm were excellent, and soil moisture at 20 cm was good. However, the model overestimated NEE and Reco following crop termination and tillage events. These results indicate that DNDC can satisfactorily simulate GHG fluxes in a boreal grassland setting, but further work is needed, particularly in simulated second biomass cuts, the (>20 cm) soil layers and model response to management transitions between crop types, cultivation, and land use change.

"Refractory SOC-Carbon Capture, Pectin, Silicon, Water and Lignin-Assessments"

Timo Töysä* Author Affiliations Physician, Specialty General Practice (Retired), Iisalmi. Student of University of Eastern Finland Received: October 20, 2022 | Published: October 27, 2022 Corresponding author: Timo Töysä, Physician, Specialty General Practice (Retired), Iisalmi. Student of University of Eastern Finland, Email Id: timo.toysa@fimnet.fi. DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2022.46.007414

Soil, Driving Speed and Driving Intensity Affect Fuel Consumption of Forwarders

Fuel consumption is one of the key parameters in mechanised forest operations, particularly on lower bearing capacity soils, as wheel chains or bogie tracks can have a strong effect on it. This study aims to analyse the fuel consumption of several individual wheeled cut-to-length forwarder set-ups with different types of bogie tracks on peatland using automatic recording of data bus information. Two types of forwarders, 8-wheeled and 10-wheeled, and three types of tracks were tested on peatland in Eastern Finland. A mixed-model approach is the basis to study the fuel consumption as a function of the soil bearing capacity, the number of passes of the machine on the same soil, the section (curve or straight) and other variables related to the machine performance and set-up, for a total of N=27,928 fuel observations on three machines in 33 plots (trail segments). The model results in an R2=0.78; the number of passes increases the fuel consumption significantly, while the soil bearing capacity did not affect the fuel consumption. There are, however, important differences between the machines performance, which are addressed in the model. By contributing to the knowledge on the connection between operational conditions and fuel consumption, the study can contribute to the aim towards a sustainable forest operation through minimizing negative environmental impacts and providing the necessary tools for further research efforts.