Helluntailiikkeen spiritualiteetti : Tilastollinen tutkimus Helsingin Saalem-seurakunnan tilaisuuksiin osallistuvien spiritualiteetista

Yleisellä tasolla tutkimuksen kohteena oli Suomen helluntailiikkeen spiritualiteetti. Tutkimuksen kehysperusjoukkona oli Helsingin Saalem-seurakunnan tilaisuuksiin osallistuvat ihmiset. Aineisto kerättiin kyselylomakkeilla syksyllä 2004 Saalem-seurakunnan tilaisuuksissa. Täytettyjä lomakkeita kertyi 230. Vastaajien ikä vaihteli 13-87 vuoteen ja heistä 36% olimiehiä. 70% kuului Saalem-seurakuntaan ja 17% johonkin toiseen helluntaiseurakuntaan. Ei-helluntailaisia oli 13% vastaajista. Rajoittuneelta osin käytössä oli myös 500 vastaajan vertailuaineisto Kallion kaupunginosan alueelta. Tämän niinsanotun Case Kallio -aineiston vastaajat olivat pääsääntöisesti heikosti sitoutuneita kristinuskon oppeihin sekä hartaudenharjoittamiseen. Vastaajista 50% oli miehiä. Ikä vaihteli 18-39-uoden välillä. Teoreettisena lähtökohtana tutkimukselle toimi yhdysvaltalaisen Daniel Albrechtin empiirinen tutkimus helluntailais-karismaattisesta spiritualiteetista. Hän määrittelee helluntailais-karismaattisen spiritualiteetin muodostuvan kolmesta tekijästä: uskomuksista, käytännöistä sekä niin sanotuista sensibiliteeteistä. Sensibiliteeteillä tarkoitettaan asennoitumista toimintaa kohti. Albrechtin luomien kategorioiden pohjalta laadittiin kyselylomakkeeseen kaksi mittaria. Toinen mittasi koko helluntailaisen spiritualiteetin kenttää kuvaavia perustekijöitä, joihin sisältyivät uskomukset, käytännöt sekä sensibiliteetit. Toinen mittari keskittyi mittaamaan vain yhtä spiritualiteettimääritelmän osaa, sensibiliteettejä. Helluntailaisuuteen painottuvan näkökulman lisäksi tutkimuksessa käytettiin hyväksi David Hayn spiritualiteettinäkemystä. Hän määrittelee spiritualiteetin arkitodellisuuden ylittäväksi tietoisuudeksi. Hayn laatimien kategorioiden avulla kartoitettiin yleisinhimillistä spiritualiteettia. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää Saalem-seurakunnan spiritualiteetin ilmenemismuotoja ja eroavaisuuksia suhteessa taustoihin. Lisäksi verrattiin Saalemista kerättyä aineistoa vertailuaineistoon (Case Kallio) sekä selvitettiin kahden erilaisesta lähtökohdasta nousevan spiritualitteettinäkemyksen yhteyttä toisiinsa. Tutkimus oli luonteeltaan kvantitatiivinen. Tutkimusmenetelminä käytettiin tilastollisia testejä sekä faktorianalyysiä. Faktorianalyysin rinnalla käytettiin niin kutsutta Bayes-mallinnusta, jolla ei ole parametrisille menetelmille asetettuja tiukkoja käyttöehtoja. Saalem-seurakunnasta tutkimustulokseksi saatiin 11 eritasoista spiritualiteettiulottuvuutta. Albrechtin esittämät seitsemän sensibiliteettikategoriaa löytyivät lähes sellaisenaan aineistosta, kun taas helluntailaisen spiritualiteetin perustekijöiden sekä yleisinhimillisen spiritualiteetin kohdalla käytössä olleet mittarit eivät toimineet täysin odotetulla tavalla. Kahta erilaista aineistoa voitiin vertailla yleisinhimillisen spiritualiteetin osalta. Yleisinhimillinen spiritualiteetti ei ollut vieras ilmiö kristillisestä opista ja hartaudenharjoittamisesta vieraantuneille vastaajille. Kuitenkin se sai korkeampia vastauspistemääriä helluntailaisten parissa. Kyseistä spiritualiteettia eriytyi kuvaamaan kaksi ulottuvuutta: yhteisöllinen altruismi sekä arjen kauneus. Pelkästään Saalem-seurakunnasta kerätystä aineistosta eriytyi lisäksi kolme helluntailaisen spiritualiteetin perustekijää: sana ja missio, johtajakeskeisyys sekä ylistys -ulottuvuudet. Samasta aineistosta nousi kuusi sensibiliteettiulottuvuutta: ylistys,yleinen puhdistuminen, seremoniallisuus, armolahjat, tavoitteellisuus sekä hengellinen puhdistuminen ja muutos. Toinen ylistysulottuvuus kuvasi ylistyksen merkitystä, toinen ylistystapaa. Saalem-seurakunnasta kerätyn aineiston keskiöön asettui sanaa ja missiota kuvaava ulottuvuus. Korkeimman vastauskeskiarvon sai tavoitteellisuusulottuvuus, samoin kuin molemmat yleisinhimillistä spiritualiteettia kuvastaneet ulottuvuudet saivat korkeita vastauskeskiarvoja. Helluntailaisen spiritualiteetin ulottuvuudet korreloivat positiivisesti yleisinhimillisen spiritualiteetin ulottuvuuksien kanssa. Tulokset voitiin yleistää koskemaan Helsingin Saalem-seurakunnan jäsenistöä sekä pääkaupunkiseudun helluntailaisuutta. Koko Suomen helluntailiikkeen kohdalla tuloksia voitiin pitää suuntaa-antavina. Avainsanat: helluntailiike, spiritualiteetti, Saalem, kvantitatiivinen tutkimus, monimuuttujamenetelmät, Bayes-mallinnus, Daniel Albrecht, David Hay

Comparison and integration of MEG and fMRI

MEG directly measures the neuronal events and has greater temporal resolution than fMRI, which has limited temporal resolution mainly due to the larger timescale of the hemodynamic response. On the other hand fMRI has advantages in spatial resolution, while the localization results with MEG can be ambiguous due to the non-uniqueness of the electromagnetic inverse problem. Thus, these methods could provide complementary information and could be used to create both spatially and temporally accurate models of brain function. We investigated the degree of overlap, revealed by the two imaging methods, in areas involved in sensory or motor processing in healthy subjects and neurosurgical patients. Furthermore, we used the spatial information from fMRI to construct a spatiotemporal model of the MEG data in order to investigate the sensorimotor system and to create a spatiotemporal model of its function. We compared the localization results from the MEG and fMRI with invasive electrophysiological cortical mapping. We used a recently introduced method, contextual clustering, for hypothesis testing of fMRI data and assessed the the effect of neighbourhood information use on the reproducibility of fMRI results. Using MEG, we identified the ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex (SMI) as a novel source area contributing to the somatosensory evoked fields (SEF) to median nerve stimulation. Using combined MEG and fMRI measurements we found that two separate areas in the lateral fissure may be the generators for the SEF responses from the secondary somatosensory cortex region. The two imaging methods indicated activation in corresponding locations. By using complementary information from MEG and fMRI we established a spatiotemporal model of somatosensory cortical processing. This spatiotemporal model of cerebral activity was in good agreement with results from several studies using invasive electrophysiological measurements and with anatomical studies in monkey and man concerning the connections between somatosensory areas. In neurosurgical patients, the MEG dipole model turned out to be more reliable than fMRI in the identification of the central sulcus. This was due to prominent activation in non-primary areas in fMRI, which in some cases led to erroneous or ambiguous localization of the central sulcus.

Array-based gene expression, CGH and tissue data defines a 12q24 gain in neuroblastic tumors with prognostic implication

Neuroblastoma has successfully served as a model system for the identification of neuroectoderm-derived oncogenes. However, in spite of various efforts, only a few clinically useful prognostic markers have been found. Here, we present a framework, which integrates DNA, RNA and tissue data to identify and prioritize genetic events that represent clinically relevant new therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for neuroblastoma.

Maatilatalous ja sen vaikutus vesistöjen kuormittajana Lounais-Suomessa

Agricultute as a contributor to water pollution in Southwestern Finland.

Phylogeography and demographic history of Lacerta lepida in the Iberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula is recognized as an important refugial area for species survival and diversification during the climatic cycles of the Quaternary. Recent phylogeographic studies have revealed Iberia as a complex of multiple refugia. However, most of these studies have focused either on species with narrow distributions within the region or species groups that, although widely distributed, generally have a genetic structure that relates to pre-Quaternary cladogenetic events. In this study we undertake a detailed phylogeographic analysis of the lizard species, Lacerta lepida, whose distribution encompasses the entire Iberian Peninsula. We attempt to identify refugial areas, recolonization routes, zones of secondary contact and date demographic events within this species. Results support the existence of 6 evolutionary lineages (phylogroups) with a strong association between genetic variation and geography, suggesting a history of allopatric divergence in different refugia. Diversification within phylogroups is concordant with the onset of the Pleistocene climatic oscillations. The southern regions of several phylogroups show a high incidence of ancestral alleles in contrast with high incidence of recently derived alleles in northern regions. All phylogroups show signs of recent demographic and spatial expansions. We have further identified several zones of secondary contact, with divergent mitochondrial haplotypes occurring in narrow zones of sympatry. The concordant patterns of spatial and demographic expansions detected within phylogroups, together with the high incidence of ancestral haplotypes in southern regions of several phylogroups, suggests a pattern of contraction of populations into southern refugia during adverse climatic conditions from which subsequent northern expansions occurred. This study supports the emergent pattern of multiple refugia within Iberia but adds to it by identifying a pattern of refugia coincident with the southern distribution limits of individual evolutionary lineages. These areas are important in terms of long-term species persistence and therefore important areas for conservation.

Snoring and sleep apnea in children

Snoring is a primary and major clinical symptom of upper airway obstruction during sleep. Sleep-disordered breathing ranges from primary snoring to significant partial upper airway obstruction, and obstructive sleep apnea. Adult snoring and obstructive sleep apnea have been extensively studied, whereas less is known about these disorders in children. Snoring and more severe obstructive sleep apnea have been shown to have a harmful effect on the neurobehavioral development of children, but the mechanisms of this effect remains unknown. Furthermore, the correlation of this effect to objective sleep study parameters remains poor. This study evaluated the prevalence of snoring in preschool-aged children in Finland. Host and environmental risk factors, and neurobehavioral and neurocognitive symptoms of children suffering from snoring or obstructive sleep apnea were also investigated. The feasibility of acoustic rhinometry in young children was assessed. The prevalence and risk factors of snoring (I) were evaluated by a questionnaire. The random sample included 2100 children aged 1-6 years living in Helsinki. All 3- to 6-year-old children whose parents reported their child to snore always, often, or sometimes were categorized as snorers, and invited to participate to the clinical study (II-IV). Non-snoring children whose parents were willing to participate in the clinical study were invited to serve as controls. Children underwent a clinical ear-nose-throat examination. Emotional, behavioral, and cognitive performances were evaluated by Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-R) and NEPSY-A Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment (NEPSY). Nasal volume was measured by acoustic rhinometry, and nasal resistance by rhinomanometry. Lateral and posteroanterior cephalometry were performed. A standard overnight ambulatory polysomnography was performed in the home environment. Twenty-six healthy children were tested in order to assess the feasibility of acoustic rhinometry in young children (V). Snoring was common in children; 6.3% of children snored always or often, whereas 81.3% snored never or occasionally. No differences were apparent between snorers and non-snorers regarding age, or gender. Pediatric snoring was associated with recurrent upper respiratory infections, otitis media, and allergic rhinitis. Exposure to parental tobacco smoke, especially maternal smoking, was more common among snorers. Rhinitis was more common among children who exposured to tobacco smoke. Overnight polysomnography (PSG) was performed on 87 children; 74% showed no signs of significant upper airway obstruction during sleep. Three children had obstructive apnea/hypopnea index (OAHI) greater than 5/h. Age, gender, or a previous adenoidectomy or tonsillectomy did not correlate with OAHI, whereas tonsillar size did correlate with OAHI. Relative body weight and obesity correlated with none of the PSG parameters. In cephalometry, no clear differences or correlations were found in PSG parameters or between snorers and non-snorers. No correlations were observed between acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, and PSG parameters. Psychiatric symptoms were more frequent in the snoring group than in the nonsnoring group. In particular, anxious and depressed symptoms were more prevalent in the snoring group. Snoring children frequently scored lower in language functions. However, PSG parameters correlated poorly with neurocognitive test results in these children. This study and previous studies indicate that snoring without episodes of obstructive apnea or SpO2 desaturations may cause impairment in behavioral and neurocognitive functions. The mechanism of action remains unknown. Exposure to parental tobacco smoke is more common among snorers than non-snorers, emphasizing the importance of a smoke-free environment. Children tolerated acoustic rhinometry measurements well.

The German Military Entrepreneur Ernst von Mansfeld and His Conduct of Asymmetrical Warfare in the Thirty Years War

The dissertation examines aspects of asymmetrical warfare in the war-making of the German military entrepreneur Ernst von Mansfeld during his involvement in the Thirty Years War. Due to the nature of the inquiry, which combines history with military-political theory, the methodological approach of the dissertation is interdisciplinary. The theoretical framework used is that of asymmetrical warfare. The primary sources used in the dissertation are mostly political pamphlets and newsletters. Other sources include letters, documents, and contemporaneous chronicles. The secondary sources are divided into two categories, literature on the history of the Thirty Years War and textbooks covering the theory of asymmetrical warfare. The first category includes biographical works on Ernst von Mansfeld, as well as general histories of the Thirty Years War and seventeenth-century warfare. The second category combines military theory and political science. The structure of the dissertation consists of eight lead chapters, including an introduction and conclusion. The introduction covers the theoretical approach and aims of the dissertation, and provides a brief overlook of the sources and previous research on Ernst von Mansfeld and asymmetrical warfare in the Thirty Years War. The second chapter covers aspects of Mansfeld s asymmetrical warfare from the perspective of operational art. The third chapter investigates the illegal and immoral aspects of Mansfeld s war-making. The fourth chapter compares the differing methods by which Mansfeld and his enemies raised and financed their armies. The fifth chapter investigates Mansfeld s involvement in indirect warfare. The sixth chapter presents Mansfeld as an object and an agent of image and information war. The seventh chapter looks into the counter-reactions, which Mansfeld s asymmetrical warfare provoked from his enemies. The eighth chapter offers a conclusion of the findings. The dissertation argues that asymmetrical warfare presented itself in all the aforementioned areas of Mansfeld s conduct during the Thirty Years War. The operational asymmetry arose from the freedom of movement that Mansfeld enjoyed, while his enemies were constrained by the limits of positional warfare. As a non-state operator Mansfeld was also free to flout the rules of seventeenth-century warfare, which his enemies could not do with equal ease. The raising and financing of military forces was another source of asymmetry, because the nature of early seventeenth-century warfare favoured private military entrepreneurs rather than embryonic fiscal-military states. The dissertation also argues that other powers fought their own asymmetrical and indirect wars against the Habsburgs through Mansfeld s agency. Image and information were asymmetrical weapons, which were both aimed against Mansfeld and utilized by him. Finally, Mansfeld s asymmetrical threat forced the Habsburgs to adapt to his methods, which ultimately lead to the formation of a subcontracted Imperial Army under the management and leadership of Albrecht von Wallenstein. Therefore Mansfeld s asymmetrical warfare ultimately paved way for the kind of state-monopolized, organised, and symmetrical warfare that has prevailed from 1648 onwards. The conclusion is that Mansfeld s conduct in the Thirty Years War matched the criteria for asymmetrical warfare. While traditional historiography treated Mansfeld as an anomaly in the age of European state formation, his asymmetrical warfare has begun to bear resemblance to the contemporary conflicts, where nation states no longer hold the monopoly of violence.