Pulp and Paper Fiction: On the Discursive Legitimation of Global Industrial Restructuring

Despite the central role of legitimacy in social and organizational life, we know little of the subtle meaning-making processes through which organizational phenomena, such as industrial restructuring, are legitimated in contemporary society. Therefore, this paper examines the discursive legitimation strategies used when making sense of global industrial restructuring in the media. Based on a critical discourse analysis of extensive media coverage of a revolutionary pulp and paper sector merger, we distinguish and analyze five legitimation strategies: (1) normalization, (2) authorization, (3) rationalization, (4) moralization, and (5) narrativization. We argue that while these specific legitimation strategies appear in individual texts, their recurring use in the intertextual totality of the public discussion establishes the core elements of the emerging legitimating discourse.

Druvan - Den personalekonomiska nyttan av mångdimensionell företagshälsovårds- och personalutvecklingsverksamhet baserad på Metal Age-konceptet i Dragsfjärds kommun (2002-2005)

Under åren 2002-2005 förverkligades Druvan-projektet i Dragsfjärds kommun, vilket innebar en dramatisk ökning av företagshälsovårdsinsatserna. Företagshälsovårdsutgifterna ökade från 20 € per anställd till över 400 €. Den totala satsningen på personalens hälsa ökade ännu mer. Innehållet i Druvan baserade sig på den s.k. Metal Age-metoden. Metoden går ut på att arbetsgemenskapen tillsammans identifierar utvecklingsbehov och –åtgärder. Projektet ledde till en stor mängd utvecklingsåtgärder och därpå följande effekter på personalens hälsa, trivsel och samarbete. Som en del av åtgärderna utarbetade kommunen en personalrapport för de aktuella åren. Under projekttiden utvecklades personalens arbetsförmåga betydligt gynnsammare än förväntat. Den ekonomiska analysen visade att det investerade kapitalet gav en avkastning på 46%. Nyttan uppkom som resultat av minskad sjukfrånvaro och färre förtidspensioneringar. Druvan-projektet stöder de tidigare bedömningarna, enligt vilka det finns ett klart utrymme för att öka satsningarna på företagshälsovård i vårt land. Detta gäller speciellt arbetsplatser vars satsningar på företagshälsovård är betydligt under genomsnittet. Dragsfjärds kommun har beslutat göra Druvan till en bestående struktur inom kommunen. Guy Ahonen är professor i Knowledge Management, speciellt personalekonomi vid institutionen för företagsledning och organisation vid Hanken. Ove Näsman är ledande företagsläkare vid Dalmed OyAb i Dalsbruk i sydvästra Finland. Båda har forskat i årtionden kring effekterna av ökat välbefinnande i arbetet.

Environmental and climatic dependences of stable isotope ratios in tree rings on different temporal scales

This work examines stable isotope ratios of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen in annual growth rings of trees. Isotopic composition in wood cellulose is used as a tool to study past climate. The method benefits from the accurate and precise dating provided by dendrochronology. In this study the origin, nature and the strength of climatic correlations are studied on different temporal scales and at different sites in Finland. The origin of carbon isotopic signal is in photosynthetic fractionation. The basic physical and chemical fractionations involved are reasonably well understood. This was confirmed by measuring instantaneous photosynthetic discrimination on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). The internal conductance of CO2 was recognized to have a significant impact on the observed fractionation, and further investigations are suggested to quantify its role in controlling the isotopic signal of photosynthates. Isotopic composition of the produced biomass can potentially be affected by variety of external factors that induce physiological changes in trees. Response of carbon isotopic signal in tree ring cellulose to changes in resource availability was assessed in a manipulation experiment. It showed that the signal was relatively stable despite of changes in water and nitrogen availability to the tree. Palaeoclimatic reconstructions are typically based on functions describing empirical relationship between isotopic and climatic parameters. These empirical relationships may change depending on the site conditions, species and timeframe studied. Annual variation in Scots pine tree ring carbon and oxygen isotopic composition was studied in northern and in central eastern Finland and annual variation in tree ring latewood carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotopic ratio in Oak (Quercus robur L.) was studied in southern Finland. In all of the studied sites at least one of the studied isotope ratios was shown to record climate strongly enough to be used in climatic reconstructions. Using the observed relationships, four-century-long climate reconstructions from living Scots pine were created for northern and central eastern Finland. Also temporal stability of the relationships between three proxy indicators, tree ring growth and carbon and oxygen isotopic composition was studied during the four-hundred-year period. Isotope ratios measured from tree rings in Finland were shown to be sensitive indicators of climate. Increasing understanding of environmental controls and physiological mechanisms affecting tree ring isotopic composition will make possible more accurate interpretation of isotope data. This study also demonstrated that by measuring multiple isotopes and physical proxies from the same tree rings, additional information on tree physiology can be obtained. Thus isotopic ratios measured from tree ring cellulose provide means to improve the reliability of climate reconstructions.

Real-Time PCR : A Molecular Approach to Investigate the Role of Intestinal Microbiota in the Pathophysiology of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common multifactorial functional intestinal disorder, the pathogenesis of which is not completely understood. Increasing scientific evidence suggests that microbes are involved in the onset and maintenance of IBS symptoms. The microbiota of the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract constitutes a massive and complex ecosystem consisting mainly of obligate anaerobic microorganisms making the use of culture-based methods demanding and prone to misinterpretation. To overcome these drawbacks, an extensive panel of species- and group-specific assays for an accurate quantification of bacteria from fecal samples with real-time PCR was developed, optimized, and validated. As a result, the target bacteria were detectable at a minimum concentration range of approximately 10 000 bacterial genomes per gram of fecal sample, which corresponds to the sensitivity to detect 0.000001% subpopulations of the total fecal microbiota. The real-time PCR panel covering both commensal and pathogenic microorganisms was assessed to compare the intestinal microbiota of patients suffering from IBS with a healthy control group devoid of GI symptoms. Both the IBS and control groups showed considerable individual variation in gut microbiota composition. Sorting of the IBS patients according to the symptom subtypes (diarrhea, constipation, and alternating predominant type) revealed that lower amounts of Lactobacillus spp. were present in the samples of diarrhea predominant IBS patients, whereas constipation predominant IBS patients carried increased amounts of Veillonella spp. In the screening of intestinal pathogens, 17% of IBS samples tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus, whereas no positive cases were discovered among healthy controls. Furthermore, the methodology was applied to monitor the effects of a multispecies probiotic supplementation on GI microbiota of IBS sufferers. In the placebo-controlled double-blind probiotic intervention trial of IBS patients, each supplemented probiotic strain was detected in fecal samples. Intestinal microbiota remained stable during the trial, except for Bifidobacterium spp., which increased in the placebo group and decreased in the probiotic group. The combination of assays developed and applied in this thesis has an overall coverage of 300-400 known bacterial species, along with the number of yet unknown phylotypes. Hence, it provides good means for studying the intestinal microbiota, irrespective of the intestinal condition and health status. In particular, it allows screening and identification of microbes putatively associated with IBS. The alterations in the gut microbiota discovered here support the hypothesis that microbes are likely to contribute to the pathophysiology of IBS. The central question is whether the microbiota changes described represent the cause for, rather than the effect of, disturbed gut physiology. Therefore, more studies are needed to determine the role and importance of individual microbial species or groups in IBS. In addition, it is essential that the microbial alterations observed in this study will be confirmed using a larger set of IBS samples of different subtypes, preferably from various geographical locations.

Museoesineitä Itä-Karjalasta : Väinö Tuomaalan jatkosodan aikana keräämä esinekokoelma ja sen syntyhistoria

Jatkosodan aikana kerättiin Suomen valtaamalta alueelta Itä-Karjalasta tuhansittain museoesineitä Suomen museoihin. Kansallismuseon kokoelmiin kerättiin esineitä lähinnä suomenheimoisilta mutta myös isovenäläisiltä. Tämän tutkimuksen kohteena on lähes 400:n esineen kokoelma, joka toimitettiin Kansallismuseoon vuosina 1941 1944 ja merkittiin kansallisuudeltaan venäläiseksi. Näistä venäläisistä esineistä suurimman osan keräsi alikersanttina palvellut Väinö Tuomaala. Tutkimukseni tarkastelee Väinö Tuomaalan kokoelmaa ja etsii syitä siihen, miksi kokoelma on sellainen kuin se on, miksi se ja koko venäläisten esineiden kokoelma syntyi ja mitkä seikat vaikuttivat Tuomaalan esinevalintoihin. Tutkimuksen teoria rakentuu museologisen kirjallisuuden varaan. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan Väinö Tuomaalan kokoelman keräyskonteksteja. Keräyskonteksteihin kuuluvat kokoelman kerääjä, keräysajankohta ja -paikka sekä yhteenkuuluvat esineet, eli muut venäläiset esineet. Kerääjän tarkastelussa huomioidaan hänen henkilöhistoriansa ja etsitään mahdollisia keruuseen vaikuttaneita tekijöitä. Keräysajankohdan tarkastelussa huomio kiinnittyy keruuympäristöön, eli vallitseviin olosuhteisiin ja aatteelliseen ilmapiiriin, joiden vaikutuksen alaisena keruu suoritettiin. Primääriaineisto koostuu Kansallismuseon alaisen Kulttuurien museon yleisetnografisten esineiden kokoelmaan kuuluvista 198:sta Väinö Tuomaalan keräämästä esineestä verifikaatteineen, jotka ovat osa 393 esinettä käsittävästä venäläisestä kokoelmasta. Aineisto sisältää myös eri arkistojen materiaalia. Kansallisarkiston Sörnäisten toimipisteestä, entisestä sota-arkistota, löytyneitä sotapäiväkirjoja ja Tuomaalan kantakorttia on tutkimuksessa käytetty jatkosodan tapahtumien esittämiseen. Museoviraston hallinto-osaston arkiston kirjeet ja pöytäkirjat ovat antaneet tietoa kulttuurikeruun organisoinnista. Väinö Tuomaalan arkistokokoelma Seinäjoella sisältää Tuomaalan keräämää perinneaineistoa, hänen puheitaan, lehtikirjoituksiaan ja kirjeenvaihtoaan. Myös Evijärven kunnantalon kotiseutuarkistosta löytyneet kirjeet ovat valottaneet Tuomaalan jatkosodan aikaista keruutoimintaa. Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seuran arkistot ovat tarjonneet materiaalia jatkosodan aikaisesta kulttuurikeruusta. Koko venäläisten esineiden kokoelma syntyi sattumalta ja organisoimattoman toiminnan tuloksena, jossa aktiivisia toimijoita olivat yksittäiset kerääjät. Intohimoisesta suhtautumisesta kansatieteellistä keruuta kohtaan johtuen, Tuomaala olisi todenäköisesti kerännyt museoesineitä missä päin Itä-Karjalaa tahansa. Väinö Tuomaalan Itä-Karjalassa keräämä esinekokoelma oli luonnollinen jatke hänen kotiseudullaan aloittamalleen keräystoiminnalle. Tuomaalan jatkosodan aikana keräämä kokoelma on kerääjän mieltymysten mukainen yritys kerätä vanhaa itäkarjalaista, kansallista talonpoikaiskulttuuria. Tuomaala pyrki keräämään klassista kansatieteellistä aineistoa monipuolisesti kansankulttuurin eri elämänalueilta. Tuomaalan esinekeruussa näkyi vahvasti talonpoikaiskulttuurin ihannointi ja halu pelastaa osa siitä tuleville sukupolville. Yrityksen onnistumiseen vaikuttivat sodanajan olosuhteet sekä aatteellinen ilmapiiri. Esineiden saatavuudella oli merkittävä osa kokoelman muodostumiseen, samoin Tuomaalan käsityksillä heimokansoista, Suur-Suomesta ja venäläisistä. Keruuvalintoihin ja keruun jatkumiseen vaikuttivat myös Kansallismuseon henkilökunta ja työstä saatu tunnustus.

Effects of Mean Luminance Changes on Human Contrast Perception

Background When we are viewing natural scenes, every saccade abruptly changes both the mean luminance and the contrast structure falling on any given retinal location. Thus it would be useful if the two were independently encoded by the visual system, even when they change simultaneously. Recordings from single neurons in the cat visual system have suggested that contrast information may be quite independently represented in neural responses to simultaneous changes in contrast and luminance. Here we test to what extent this is true in human perception. Methodology/Principal Findings Small contrast stimuli were presented together with a 7-fold upward or downward step of mean luminance (between 185 and 1295 Td, corresponding to 14 and 98 cd/m2), either simultaneously or with various delays (50–800 ms). The perceived contrast of the target under the different conditions was measured with an adaptive staircase method. Over the contrast range 0.1–0.45, mainly subtractive attenuation was found. Perceived contrast decreased by 0.052±0.021 (N = 3) when target onset was simultaneous with the luminance increase. The attenuation subsided within 400 ms, and even faster after luminance decreases, where the effect was also smaller. The main results were robust against differences in target types and the size of the field over which luminance changed. Conclusions/Significance Perceived contrast is attenuated mainly by a subtractive term when coincident with a luminance change. The effect is of ecologically relevant magnitude and duration; in other words, strict contrast constancy must often fail during normal human visual behaviour. Still, the relative robustness of the contrast signal is remarkable in view of the limited dynamic response range of retinal cones. We propose a conceptual model for how early retinal signalling may allow this.

Neoarchean sanukitoid series in the Karelian Province, Finland

Sanukitoid series intrusions can be found throughout the Archean Karelian Province of the Fennoscandian shield. All sanukitoids share the same controversial elemental characteristics: they have high content of incompatible elements such as K, Ba, and Sr as well as high content of the compatible elements Mg, Cr, and Ni, and high Mg#. This composition is explained by an enriched mantle wedge origin in a Neoarchean subduction setting. This study concentrates on sanukitoid intrusions and tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite series (TTGs) from Finnish part of the Karelian Province. The collected rock samples have been studied in the field and under microscope as well as for their whole-rock (including isotopes) and mineral compositions. The new data together with previously published analyses help us to better understand the petrogenesis, tectonic setting and reworking of the Archean rock units. TTGs from the Karelian Province form a voluminous series of granitoids and reworked migmatites. This study divides TTG series into two subgroups based on their elemental composition: low-HREE (heavy rare earth element) TTGs and high-HREE TTGs indicating pressure differences in their source. Sanukitoid series is a minor, divergent group of intrusions. These intrusions are variable sized, and the texture varies from even-grained to K-feldspar porphyritic. The elemental composition differentiates sanukitoids from more voluminous TTG groups, the SiO2 in sanukitoids varies to include series of gabbro, diorite, and granodiorite. U Pb age determinations from sanukitoid series show temporally limited emplacement between ~ 2745 2715 Ma after the main crust forming period in the area. Hafnium, neodymium, common lead, and oxygene isotopes indicate well homogenized characteristics. Recycled crust has made a variable, yet minor, contribution to sanukitoids, as evidenced by oxygene isotopes and inherited zircon cores. A proposed tectonic setting for the formation of the sanukitoid series is slab breakoff of oceanic lithosphere in subduction setting, with sanukitoids deriving from an enriched mantle wedge. The proposed setting explains some of the peculiar features of sanukitoids, such as their temporally limited occurrence and controversial elemental composition. Sanukitoids would occur after cessation of the regional growth of Archean crust, and they could be derived from mantle wedge previously enriched by melts and fluids from oceanic crust and sediments. A subsequent event during the Paleoproterozoic Svecofennian orogeny at ~1.9 Ga affected the appearance and microstructures of the rocks as well as caused redistribution of lead between minerals and whole rock. However, the deformation was not able to obliterate the original geochemical characteristics of these sanukitoids.

Kaakkois-Suomen lapinraunioiden ikä ja kulttuurikonteksti

Lapinrauniot ovat Järvi-Suomen varhaismetallikautiseen (n. 1900 eaa.-300 jaa.) pyyntiväestöön yhdistettyjä kiviröykkiöitä. Tavallisesti ne esiintyvät yksittäisinä tai korkeintaan muutaman röykkiön ryhminä. Monista lapinraunioita on löytynyt palanutta ihmisen luuta ja joistakin myös hauta-anneiksi tulkittuja esineitä. Osasta ei ole kyetty paikallistaman mitään merkkejä hautauksesta. Jotkut ovat vaikuttaneet löytöjensä perusteella uhriröykkiöiltä. Tässä tutkielmassa selvitellään Etelä-Savon, Etelä-Karjalan ja Pohjois-Kymenlaakson lapinraunioiden ikää ja kulttuuri-kontekstia uusien lapinraunioajoitusten, alueelta aiemmin saatujen luonnontieteellisten ajoitusten ja sijaintitutki-musten avulla. Luonnontieteellisen keskusmuseon ajoituslaboratoriossa teetettiin tutkielmaa varten AMS-ajoitukset tutkimusalueen kolmesta riittävästi luulöytöjä tuottaneesta lapinrauniosta. Sijaintitutkimuksia toteutettiin suorittamalla tilastollisia vertailuja kaikkien tutkimusalueen lapinraunioiden sijoittumisesta suhteessa tekstiilikeramiikkaa (n. 1900-500 eaa.) ja/tai Sär2-keramiikkaa (n. 900 eaa. 300 jaa.) sisältäviin asuinpaikkakohteisiin. AMS-ajoitusten perusteella Iitin Hiidensalmen palanutta luuta, kvartsi-iskoksia ja astiamaisen luonnonkiven sisältänyt lapinraunio on rakennettu 1505-1385 eaa., Ristiinan Haukkavuoren palanutta luuta sisältänyt lapinraunio 1450-1305 eaa. ja Savonlinnan Häyrynjärvi A:n lapinrauniokohteen palanutta luuta, kvartsi-iskoksia sekä Sär2-keramiikan siruja sisältänyt röykkiö kaksi 415-230 eaa. Ajoitustulokset osoittavat, että lapinrauniorakentaminen on omaksuttu Järvi-Suomen kaakkoisosissa jo varhaismetallikauden alussa. Yhdessä aiempien lapinraunioajoitusten kanssa tämä viittaa siihen, että röykkiörakentaminen ei ole levinnyt Järvi-Suomen alueelle lounaisen Suomen pronssikautisesta rannikkokulttuurista (n. 1500-500 eaa), vaan sen taustalta löytyy luultavammin Perämeren rannikolla jo kivikaudella harjoitettu röykkiörakentaminen, jota ei ole kyetty yhdistämään minkäänlaisiin hautausrituaaleihin. Ajoitukset myös vahvistavat hypoteesia, jonka mukaan lapinrauniotradition varhaisvaiheisiin ei ole kuulunut esineiden eikä keramiikan laittaminen röykkiöihin. Ajoitusten vertailu tutkimusalueen aiempiin arkeologisiin ajoituksiin osoittaa, että lapinrauniot eivät ainakaan heti korvanneet maalauskallioita rituaalipaikkoina, vaan kalliomaalausten luona suoritettiin uhrirituaaleja vielä lapinrauniotradition omaksumisen jälkeen. Pienimuotoista kaskiviljelyä on harjoitettu alueella jo ennen lapinrauniorakentamisen omaksumista, mutta pyynti pysyi alueen pääelinkeinona ilmeisesti koko varhaismetallikauden. Varhaismetallikautiset asuinpaikat ovat alueella tyypillisesti leirimäisiä, mikä viittaa harvaan ja liikkuvaan asutukseen. Tutkimusalueen lapinrauniot ja tekstiilikeramiikkaa/Sär2-keramiikkaa sisältävät asuinpaikat ovat tässä tutkielmassa suoritettujen sijaintitutkimusten perusteella keskittyneet toistensa läheisyyteen, vaikka kaikkien lapinraunioiden läheisyydestä ei varhaismetallikautista asuinpaikkaa löydykään. Erityisen usein lapinraunioiden läheisyydessä näyttävät sijaitsevan asuinpaikat, joista on löydetty sekä tekstiilikeramiikkaa että Sär2-keramiikkaa. Tämä viittaa siihen, että lapinraunioiden luokse on palattu yhä uudelleen ja uudelleen. Ne ovat ilmeisesti toimineet rituaalisina kiinnekohtina liikkuvaa elämää viettäville yhteisöille. Roomalaiselle rautakaudelle (0-400 jaa.) ajoitetuista lapinraunioista on muualla Suomessa tyypillisesti löydetty metalliesineitä. Tutkimusalueen lapinrauniosta ei ole tehty yhtäkään metalliesinelöytöä. Tämän perusteella on mahdollista, että lapinrauniotradition myöhäisimpiä kehitysvaiheita ei ole alueella koskaan omaksuttu.

Microsite occupancy and spatial structure of regeneration in three late-successional Norway spruce forests in northern Europe

A comparison of microsite occupancy and the spatial structure of regeneration in three areas of late-successional Norway spruce dominated forest. Pallas-Ylläs is understood to have been influenced only by small-scale disturbance; Dvina-Pinega has had sporadic larger-scale disturbances; Kazkim has been affected by fire. All spruce and birch trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ?10 cm were mapped in five stands on 40 m x 400 m transects, and those with DBH < 10 cm on 2 or 4 m x 400 m subplots. Microsite type was inventoried at 1m intervals along the centre line and for each tree with DBH < 10 cm. At all study areas small seedlings (h < 0.3 m, DBH < 10 cm) preferentially occupied disturbed microsites. In contrast, spruce saplings (h ? 1.3 m, DBH <10 cm) at all study areas showed less, or no, preference. At Pallas-Ylläs spruce seedlings (h < 1.3 m, DBH < 10 cm) and saplings (h ? 1.3 m, DBH < 10 cm) exhibited spatial correlation at scales from 32-52 m. At Dvina-Pinega saplings of both spruce and birch exhibited spatial correlation at scales from 32-81 m. At Kazkim spatial correlation of seedlings and saplings of both species was exhibited over variable distances. No spatial cross-correlation was found between overstorey basal area (DBH ? 10 cm) and regeneration (h ? 1.3 m, DBH < 10 cm) at any study area. The results confirm the importance of disturbed microsites for seedling establishment, but suggest that undisturbed microsites may sometimes be more advantageous for long-term tree survival. The regeneration gap concept may not be useful in describing the regeneration dynamics of late-successional boreal forests.

Dental identification and aspects of medico-legal investigations of the Finnish victims of the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake on 26 December 2004

Tsunami waves of the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake on 26 December 2004 claimed approximately 230 000 lives and started the biggest identification operation in Interpol's history. The aim of this study was to resolve methods of the identification and results received. The viewpoint is mainly that of forensic odontology, but also includes other means of identification and results of the medico-legal examination performed in Finland. Of the 5395 victims in Thailand, approximately 2 400 were foreigners from 36 nations including 177 Finnish nationals. Additionally, a Finnish woman perished in Sri Lanka and a severely injured man after the evacuation in a hospital. The final numbers of missing persons and dead bodies registered in the Information Management Centre in Phuket,Thailand, were 3 574 ante-mortem (AM) and 3 681 post-mortem (PM) files. The number of identifications by December 2006 was 3 271 or 89% of the victims registered. Of Finnish victims, 172 have been identified in Thailand and 163 repatriated to Finland. One adult and four children are still missing. For AM data, a list of Finnish missing persons including 178 names was published on 30 December 2004. By February 2005 all useful dental AM data were available. Five persons on the list living in Finland lacked records. Based on the AM database, for the children under age 18 years (n=60) dental identification could be established for 12 (20%). The estimated number for adults (n=112) was 96 (86%). The final identification rate, based on PM examinations in Finland, was 14 (25%) for children (n= 56) and 98 (90%) for adults (n= 109). The number of Finnish victims identified by dental methods, 112 (68%), was high compared to all examined in Thailand (43%). DNA was applied for 26 Finnish children and for 6 adults, fingerprints for 24 and 7, respectively. In 12 cases two methods were applied. Every victim (n=165) underwent in Finland a medico-legal investigation including an autopsy with sampling specimens for DNA, the toxicological and histological investigation. Digital radiographs and computed tomography were taken of the whole body to verify autopsy findings and bring out changes caused by trauma, autolysis, and sampling for DNA in Thailand. Data for identification purposes were also noted. Submersion was the cause of death for 101 of 109 adults (92.7%), and trauma for 8 (7.3%). Injuries were 33 times contributing factors for submersion and 3 times for trauma-based death. Submersion was the cause of death for 51 (92.7%) children and trauma for 4 (7.3%). Injuries were in 3 cases contributing factors in submersion and once in trauma-based death. The success of the dental identification of Finnish victims is mainly based on careful registration of dental records, and on an education program from 1999 in forensic odontology.

Integrated climatic impacts of forestry and fibre-based packaging

The purpose of this study was to examine the integrated climatic impacts of forestry and the use fibre-based packaging materials. The responsible use of forest resources plays an integral role in mitigating climate change. Forests offer three generic mitigation strategies; conservation, sequestration and substitution. By conserving carbon reservoirs, increasing the carbon sequestration in the forest or substituting fossil fuel intensive materials and energy, it is possible to lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere through the use of forest resources. The Finnish forest industry consumed some 78 million m3 of wood in 2009, while total of 2.4 million tons of different packaging materials were consumed that same year in Finland. Nearly half of the domestically consumed packaging materials were wood-based. Globally the world packaging material market is valued worth annually some €400 billion, of which the fibre-based packaging materials account for 40 %. The methodology and the theoretical framework of this study are based on a stand-level, steady-state analysis of forestry and wood yields. The forest stand data used for this study were obtained from Metla, and consisted of 14 forest stands located in Southern and Central Finland. The forest growth and wood yields were first optimized with the help of Stand Management Assistant software, and then simulated in Motti for forest carbon pools. The basic idea was to examine the climatic impacts of fibre-based packaging material production and consumption through different forest management and end-use scenarios. Economically optimal forest management practices were chosen as the baseline (1) for the study. In the alternative scenarios, the amount of fibre-based packaging material on the market decreased from the baseline. The reduced pulpwood demand (RPD) scenario (2) follows economically optimal management practices under reduced pulpwood price conditions, while the sawlog scenario (3) also changed the product mix from packaging to sawnwood products. The energy scenario (4) examines the impacts of pulpwood demand shift from packaging to energy use. The final scenario follows the silvicultural guidelines developed by the Forestry Development Centre Tapio (5). The baseline forest and forest product carbon pools and the avoided emissions from wood use were compared to those under alternative forest management regimes and end-use scenarios. The comparison of the climatic impacts between scenarios gave an insight into the sustainability of fibre-based packaging materials, and the impacts of decreased material supply and substitution. The results show that the use of wood for fibre-based packaging purposes is favorable, when considering climate change mitigation aspects of forestry and wood use. Fibre-based packaging materials efficiently displace fossil carbon emissions by substituting more energy intensive materials, and they delay biogenic carbon re-emissions to the atmosphere for several months up to years. The RPD and the sawlog scenarios both fared well in the scenario comparison. These scenarios produced relatively more sawnwood, which can displace high amounts of emissions and has high carbon storing potential due to the long lifecycle. The results indicate the possibility that win-win scenarios exist by shifting production from pulpwood to sawlogs; on some of the stands in the RPD and sawlog scenarios, both carbon pools and avoided emissions increased from the baseline simultaneously. On the opposite, the shift from packaging material to energy use caused the carbon pools and the avoided emissions to diminish from the baseline. Hence the use of virgin fibres for energy purposes, rather than forest industry feedstock biomass, should be critically judged if optional to each other. Managing the stands according to the silvicultural guidelines developed by the Forestry Development Centre Tapio provided the least climatic benefits, showing considerably lower carbon pools and avoided emissions. This seems interesting and worth noting, as the guidelines are the current basis for the forest management practices in Finland.

Seasonal and short-term variation in denitrification and anammox at a coastal station on the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea

Benthic processes were measured at a coastal deposition area in the northern Baltic Sea, covering all seasons. The N-2 production rates, 90-400 mu mol N m(-2) d(-1), were highest in autumn-early winter and lowest in spring. Heterotrophic bacterial production peaked unexpectedly late in the year, indicating that in addition to the temperature, the availability of carbon compounds suitable for the heterotrophic bacteria also plays a major role in regulating the denitrification rate. Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) was measured in spring and autumn and contributed 10% and 15%, respectively, to the total N-2 production. The low percentage did, however, result in a significant error in the total N-2 production rate estimate, calculated using the isotope pairing technique. Anammox must be taken into account in the Gulf of Finland in future sediment nitrogen cycling research.