The Reorganisation of Provincial Territories in Light of the Imperial Decision-Making Process : Later Roman Arabia and Tres Palaestinae as Case Studies

The dissertation examines Roman provincial administration and the phenomenon of territorial reorganisations of provinces during the Imperial period with special emphasis on the provinces of Arabia and Palaestina during the Later Roman period, i.e., from Diocletian (r. 284 305) to the accession of Phocas (602), in the light of imperial decision-making. Provinces were the basic unit of Roman rule, for centuries the only level of administration that existed between the emperor and the cities of the Empire. The significance of the territorial reorganisations that the provinces were subjected to during the Imperial period is thus of special interest. The approach to the phenomenon is threefold: firstly, attention is paid to the nature and constraints of the Roman system of provincial administration. Secondly, the phenomenon of territorial reorganisations is analysed on the macro-scale, and thirdly, a case study concerning the reorganisations of the provinces of Arabia and Palaestina is conducted. The study of the mechanisms of decision-making provides a foundation through which the collected data of all known major territorial reorganisations is interpreted. The data concerning reorganisations is also subjected to qualitative comparative analysis that provides a new perspective to the data in the form of statistical analysis that is sensitive to the complexities of individual cases. This analysis of imperial decision-making is based on a timeframe stretching from Augustus (r. 30 BC AD 14) to the accession of Phocas (602). The study identifies five distinct phases in the use of territorial reorganisations of the provinces. From Diocletian s reign there is a clear normative change that made territorial reorganisations a regular tool of administration for the decision-making elite for addressing a wide variety of qualitatively different concerns. From the beginning of the fifth century the use of territorial reorganisations rapidly diminishes. The two primary reasons for the decline in the use of reorganisations were the solidification of ecclesiastical power and interests connected to the extent of provinces, and the decline of the dioceses. The case study of Palaestina and Arabia identifies seven different territorial reorganisations from Diocletian to Phocas. Their existence not only testifies to wider imperial policies, but also shows sensitivity to local conditions and corresponds with the general picture of provincial reorganisations. The territorial reorganisations of the provinces reflect the proactive control of the Roman decision-making elite. The importance of reorganisations should be recognised more clearly as part of the normal imperial administration of the provinces and especially reflecting the functioning of dioceses.

Pajala–Kolarin ja Soklin kaivosten rata-, satama- ja meriväyläinvestointien sekä kaivosten toiminnan vaikutukset valtion ja kuntien verotuloihin

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli arvioida Pajala–Kolarin ja Soklin kaivosten rata-, tie-, satama- ja meriväyläinvestointien sekä kaivosten toiminnan vaikutuksia valtion verojen ja veronluonteisten maksujen kertymiin. Lisäksi tarkasteltiin vaikutuksia Kolarin ja Pajalan kuntien sekä Soklin kaivoksen läheisten Itä- ja Pohjois-Lapin kuntaryhmien verokertymiin. Laskelmat suoritettiin yleisen tasapainon (CGE) RegFinDyn -aluemallilla vuosille 2008–2020. Pajala–Kolarin kaivos toisi valtiolle yhteensä 374,0 miljoonaa euroa verojen ja veronluonteisten maksujen lisäkertymää. Suomen osuus lisäkertymästä olisi 206,1 (55,1 %) ja Ruotsin 167,9 (44,9 %) miljoonaa euroa. Valtio saisi väyläinvestointiensa kokonaiskustannukset takaisin noin vuonna 2022 eli 15 vuodessa, vaikkei Ruotsi osallistuisi rahoitukseen. Kolarin kunnan verokertymä kasvaisi vuosina 2011–2014 yhteensä 66 %:lla ja vuodesta 2017 lähtien 12 %:lla vuoteen 2012 verrattuna. Pajalan kunnan verokertymä kasvaisi vastaavina vuosina yhteensä 97 %:lla ja vuodesta 2017 lähtien 15 %:lla vuoteen 2011 verrattuna. Soklin kaivos toisi valtiolle yhteensä 178,9 miljoonaa euroa verojen ja veronluonteisten maksujen lisäkertymää. Valtio saisi väyläinvestointiensa kokonaiskustannukset takaisin noin vuonna 2030 eli 21 vuodessa. Kaivoksen läheisen seitsemän kunnan ryhmän verokertymä kasvaisi vuosina 2011-2014 yhteensä 30 %:lla ja vuodesta 2019 lähtien 1 %:lla vuoteen 2007 verrattuna.

Improving outcome of childhood bacterial meningitis by simplified treatment : Experience from Angola

Background Acute bacterial meningitis (BM) continues to be an important cause of childhood mortality and morbidity, especially in developing countries. Prognostic scales and the identification of risk factors for adverse outcome both aid in assessing disease severity. New antimicrobial agents or adjunctive treatments - except for oral glycerol - have essentially failed to improve BM prognosis. A retrospective observational analysis found paracetamol beneficial in adult bacteraemic patients, and some experts recommend slow β-lactam infusion. We examined these treatments in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients and methods A retrospective analysis included 555 children treated for BM in 2004 in the infectious disease ward of the Paediatric Hospital of Luanda, Angola. Our prospective study randomised 723 children into four groups, to receive a combination of cefotaxime infusion or boluses every 6 hours for the first 24 hours and oral paracetamol or placebo for 48 hours. The primary endpoints were 1) death or severe neurological sequelae (SeNeSe), and 2) deafness. Results In the retrospective study, the mortality of children with blood transfusion was 23% (30 of 128) vs. without blood transfusion 39% (109 of 282; p=0.004). In the prospective study, 272 (38%) of the children died. Of those 451 surviving, 68 (15%) showed SeNeSe, and 12% (45 of 374) were deaf. Whereas no difference between treatment groups was observable in primary endpoints, the early mortality in the infusion-paracetamol group was lower, with the difference (Fisher s exact test) from the other groups at 24, 48, and 72 hours being significant (p=0.041, 0.0005, and 0.005, respectively). Prognostic factors for adverse outcomes were impaired consciousness, dyspnoea, seizures, delayed presentation, and absence of electricity at home (Simple Luanda Scale, SLS); the Bayesian Luanda Scale (BLS) also included abnormally low or high blood glucose. Conclusions New studies concerning the possible beneficial effect of blood transfusion, and concerning longer treatment with cefotaxime infusion and oral paracetamol, and a study to validate our simple prognostic scales are warranted.