Päivä päivältä enemmän ja enemmän : Suomen toistokonstruktioita

Day by day more and more. Repetitive constructions in Finnish The study describes syntactic repetition in Finnish. Under investigation are short repetitive constructions in which the construction is connected by a morpheme, for example, päivä päivältä day by day , uudelleen ja uudelleen again and again . The study is a qualitative corpus-based study. It has three study questions. First, the study analyses the grammatical structure of repetitive constructions. Secondly, repetition is an iconic phenomenon, and the study investigates the motivation for repetition. Why and where is repetition used? Thirdly, the study will tentatively explain the syntactic productivity of the constructions. Syntactic repetition has semantic and pragmatic functions of which three are the most interesting. Firstly, it changes the aspectual interpretation of utterances. Durative situations become continuative, and semelfactive iterative. Secondly, repetition is also used to intensify expressions. Thirdly, repetition can be used to express superlative meanings. Repetition has many pragmatic functions. For example, it carries affective meanings in conversation. Repetition can also be used as an expressive tool in narrative contexts.

7 päivää -lehden aukeama multisemioottisena tekstinä

Sensaatiolehden teksti, joka koostuu monista kuvallisista ja kielellisistä elementeistä, on tutkielman aiheena. Tutkielmassa vastataan kysymykseen, millainen tämä teksti on, kun sitä tarkastellaan multisemioottisesti. Analyysin lähtökohdaksi otetaan neljä merkityksen muodostumisen tasoa: tekstin rakentuminen (kompositio), maailman hahmottaminen (ideationaalinen merkitys), maailmaan osallistuminen (interpersoonainen merkitys) ja intertekstuaalisuus ynnä oletuslukijat (rekontekstualisointi). Teksti toimii yhtaikaa jokaisella tasolla. Aineistona on 7 päivää -lehden aukeama, jossa on Pop-palat-palsta. Aineistoa lähestytään deskriptiivisesti, eikä sitä arvoteta hyväksi tai huonoksi. Tutkielmassa käytetään viitekehyksinä systeemis-funktionaalista kieliteoriaa, kriittistä tekstianalyysiä ja sosiosemioottista visuaalista teoriaa. Tutkielma kuuluu tekstintutkimuksen alaan. Tekstiksi luetaan tässä työssä sekä visuaalisten että verbaalisten semioottisten merkkijärjestelmien tuotokset. Analyysissä osoitetaan, millaisen kokonaisuuden kuva ja kieli muodostavat, miten ne pelaavat yhteen ja millaista merkitystä yhteispeli viestii. Aikaisemman suomalaisen multisemioottisen tekstintutkimuksen kohteeksi ei ole otettu aikakauslehtiä saati sensaatiolehtiä. Elementtien muodostama kokonaisuus mahdollistaa lukijalle monta eri reittiä edetä tekstissä; teksti on multilineaarinen. Tärkeimmiksi elementeiksi erottuvat valokuvat ja otsikot. Sekä kuvassa että otsikossa, juttutekstissä ja kuvatekstissä etualaistetaan sama henkilö. Etualaistettu henkilö esitetään usein valokuvassa kahden henkilön välillä aktiivisena toimijana, hän on otsikossa tekijä sekä juttutekstissä ja kuvatekstissä teema. Osa otsikoista on puhekuplassa, ja muutenkin otsikoissa on vallalla verbaalinen prosessityyppi. Kuvan henkilöt puhuvat suoraan lukijalle. Referaattiotsikoiden totuudellisuus on otettu aukeamalla rennosti. Tätä selitetään moniäänisyyden käsitteellä: kuvan henkilön ja palstan kirjoittajan äänet kuuluvat otsikoissa samanaikaisesti. Tärkeä tutkimustulos on se, että otsikoita ei ole merkitty referoinniksi tyypillisten referointikonventioiden tapaan, vaan johtolauseen paikan ja tehtävän täyttää valokuva. Kuva kehystää referaattiotsikon. Lukijaan otetaan läheinen kontakti: häntä pyydetään vastaamaan viikkokilpailuun, kuvien henkilöt vaativat katseellaan lukijaa osallistumaan, valokuvat on rajattu sosiaalisti läheisiksi, käytetään arkikieltä. Aineistoteksti on ennen kaikkea sosiaalista. Analyysissä osoitetaan tekstin tehtäviä, joita ovat sosiaalisuuden lisäksi mm. kaupallisuus, viihteellisyys ja juoruilu. Tekstipiirteistä erityisesti kirjasinlajit ja -leikkaukset nähdään interteksteinä muihin aikakauslehtiin. Aukeaman kokonaisuus tulkitaan analogiseksi kollaasitaiteen kanssa. Räväkät kuvat ja otsikot yhdessä juttu- ja kuvatekstien ym. elementtien kanssa muodostavat multisemioottisen kokonaisuuden, jossa koodien perinteiset tehtävät sekoittuvat: visuaalinen on myös verbaalista ja verbaalinen visuaalista.

Isänmaa ja Ranska : Suomalainen frankofilia 1880-1914

In Finland the period 1880 -1914 constituted an essential phase in the creation of the great national project as well as it was a golden time of Francophilia. With Francophilia, i.e. French-mindedness, is here understood a collectively upheld strong sympathy towards France and French culture. However, the Francophilia of late nineteenth century Finland was free from apparent political intentions and remained a chosen disposition. The strength of its drive was not only based on the older European admiration of everything French, but also on the growing fascination for a novelty emerging besides the traditional influences of the Germanic culture. In Finnish society Francophilia mostly worked as an opposite force to the most confined conceptions of what was considered national ; as a consequence France came to denote more than a country and Francophilia contained an important symbolical meaning in the construction of the Finnish nation. The main tasks of the study are to introduce as the first large historical presentation of the subject a covering examination of the many descriptions of Paris-phases of assorted artists, authors, and intellectuals, to clarify the mental relationship of the Finnish intelligentsia to France prior to national independence, and finally to provide these developments with case studies of certain life paths. However, the examination is not biographical, because the starting point remains within the rhetoric arguments of Francophilia and patriotism as these appeared within the public sphere. Historical persons have thus been dealt with primarily as reflectors of the then-current French-minded mentality. Such Francophiles in Finland were first and foremost Werner Söderhjelm, Juhani Aho, L. Onerva and V. A. Koskenniemi. The networks of the Finnish cultural field are mostly displayed through these examples. In previous research the intensive relationship of Finnish artists and authors with France has not been connected with actual concepts of nationalism. The respective periods of the intellectuals in Paris have simply been viewed as devoid of ideological links with the contemporary advancement of the fatherland, or even as opposites to the patriotic pursuits in Finland. From the viewpoint of this study these now canonized creators of a Finnish culture are primarily seen as patriots and fellow countrymen, and only secondly as artists and artist s colleagues. The dissertation is constructed as both a regional survey of the idealization of France and a study of Finnish history through the mirror of Francophilia. As such France only held an instrumental role for the receiving culture, i.e. for the construction of Finland, as no "objective truths" were sought for in France. Keywords: France, francophilia, Finnishness, national project, Paris

Across the Oceans : Development of Overseas Business Information Transmission, 1815-1875

Earlier studies have shown that the speed of information transmission developed radically during the 19th century. The fast development was mainly due to the change from sailing ships and horse-driven coaches to steamers and railways, as well as the telegraph. Speed of information transmission has normally been measured by calculating the duration between writing and receiving a letter, or between an important event and the time when the news was published elsewhere. As overseas mail was generally carried by ships, the history of communications and maritime history are closely related. This study also brings a postal historical aspect to the academic discussion. Additionally, there is another new aspect included. In business enterprises, information flows generally consisted of multiple transactions. Although fast one-way information was often crucial, e.g. news of a changing market situation, at least equally important was that there was a possibility to react rapidly. To examine the development of business information transmission, the duration of mail transport has been measured by a systematic and commensurable method, using consecutive information circles per year as the principal tool for measurement. The study covers a period of six decades, several of the world's most important trade routes and different mail-carrying systems operated by merchant ships, sailing packets and several nations' steamship services. The main sources have been the sailing data of mail-carrying ships and correspondence of several merchant houses in England. As the world's main trade routes had their specific historical backgrounds with different businesses, interests and needs, the systems for information transmission did not develop similarly or simultaneously. It was a process lasting several decades, initiated by the idea of organizing sailings in a regular line system. The evolution proceeded generally as follows: originally there was a more or less irregular system, then a regular system and finally a more frequent regular system of mail services. The trend was from sail to steam, but both these means of communication improved following the same scheme. Faster sailings alone did not radically improve the number of consecutive information circles per year, if the communication was not frequent enough. Neither did improved frequency advance the information circulation if the trip was very long or if the sailings were overlapping instead of complementing each other. The speed of information transmission could be improved by speeding up the voyage itself (technological improvements, minimizing the waiting time at ports of call, etc.) but especially by organizing sailings so that the recipients had the possibility to reply to arriving mails without unnecessary delay. It took two to three decades before the mail-carrying shipping companies were able to organize their sailings in an optimal way. Strategic shortcuts over isthmuses (e.g. Panama, Suez) together with the cooperation between steamships and railways enabled the most effective improvements in global communications before the introduction of the telegraph.

Tyhjyyden reunalla, helvetin kannella : Yhtenäisen subjektin hajoaminen Saul Bellowin Herzogissa

The study shows that the reading paradigm derived from codes Roland Barthes presented in his S/Z exposes the postmodernic nature of Saul Bellow s Herzog (1964), and embodies in which way the novel is organized as a radical rewriting of modernism and its ideology. I explore how solid, compact and modernistic subject breaks down at every level of Herzog s narration. I actually argue that the heteroglossic novel is representative of an early American postmodern movement in literaure, and it should by no means be dissected narrowly as a realistic or naturalistic novel at all. The intertextual code verifies that the interpretation of Herzog remains inadequate if one doesn t take account of the novel s significant intertextual references to other texts. In fact, even the mind of Moses Herzog, the protagonist of the novel, is a mosaic of citations. It emerges from the dissertation that the figure of Don Quixote follows Moses Herzog as an ambiguous shadow while the professor of history struggles with his anxiety and anguish, and travels in a mentally confused state around the U.S. for five days in the early 1960s, encountering the impending atmosphere of transition as the country is on the threshold of a significant cultural and social change. There is a strong necessity for updated interpretation of Herzog partly because its centrality to Bellow s own career as a writer but mainly because it has been previously read trough modernistic lenses. I shall try to proof in my study that American Jewish Saul Bellow s (1915 2005) Herzog escapes any kind of simple, elemental or essentialistic construction or reading and in real terms it doesn t offer any comprehensive, total or coherent solution or system for those philosophical doctrines it criticizes and makes fun of. The philosophical, conceptual and cultural substance of Herzog does not constitute an independent or autonomous theoretical tract which would have a life of its own. Altough the novel reflects the continuity of Bellow s writing it is clearly some kind of conscious or unconscious experiment during his long career as a writer. He hasn t been so radical before or since the publication of Herzog. It is unarguably his most postmodern novel.The reading paradigm based on specific codes demonstrates how deep into the basic questions of his personal life and existence itself he must dive in oder to find his many ways towards authentic or primordial self in fragmented and shattered world which is constanly rewritten and which makes human being a tourist of his own life. In that ongoing process the protagonist has to accept the ultimate plurality of his mind and self. He must confront that the modernistic definition of identity as a solid, monolithic and stable entity has broken down into different, inconsistent and even contradictory possibilities of identification. Moses Herzog embodies obviously Stuart Hall s description of the postmodern self his identity has turn into a movable feast.

The One and The Many : In the works of Heraclitus, Parmenides and Lao Zi

This paper concentrates on Heraclitus, Parmenides and Lao Zi. The focus is on their ideas on change and whether the world is essentially One or if it is composed of many entities. In the first chapter I go over some general tendences in Greek and Chinese philosophy. The differences in the cultural background have an influence in the ways philosophy is made, but the paper aims to show that two questions can be brought up when comparing the philosophies of Heraclitus, Parmenides and Lao Zi. The questions are; is the world essentially One or Many? Is change real and if it is, what is the nature of it and how does it take place? For Heraclitus change is real, and as will be shown later in the chapter, quite essential for the sustainability of the world-order (kosmos). The key-concept in the case of Heraclitus is Logos. Heraclitus uses Logos in several senses, most well known relating to his element-theory. But another important feature of the Logos, the content of real wisdom, is to be able to regard everything as one. This does not mean that world is essentially one for Heraclitus in the ontological sense, but that we should see the underlying unity of multiple phenomena. Heraclitus regards this as hen panta: All from One, One from All. I characterize Heraclitus as epistemic monist and an ontological pluralist. It is plausible that the views of Heraclitus on change were the focus of Parmenides’ severe criticism. Parmenides held the view that the world is essentially one and that to see it as consisting of many entities was the error of mortals, i.e. the common man and his philosophical predecessors. For Parmenides what-is, can be approached by two routes; The Way of Truth (Aletheia) and The Way of Seeming (Doxa). Aletheia essentially sees the world as one, where even time is an illusion. In Doxa Parmenides is giving an explanation of the world seen as consisting of many entities and this is his contribution to the line of thought of his predecessors. It should be noted that a strong emphasis is given to the Aletheia, whereas the world-view given is in Doxa is only probable. I go on to describe Parmenides as ontological monist, who gives some plausibility to pluralistic views. In the work of Lao Zi world can be seen as One or as consisting of Many entities. In my interpretation, Lao Zi uses Dao in two different senses; Dao is the totality of things or the order in change. The wu-aspect (seeing-without-form) attends the world as one, whereas the you-aspect attends the world of many entities. In wu-aspect, Dao refers to the totality of things, when in you-aspect Dao is the order or law in change. There are two insights in Lao Zi regarding the relationship between wu- and- you-apects; in ch.1 it is stated that they are two separate aspects in seeing the world, the other chapters regarding that you comes from wu. This naturally brings in the question whether the One is the peak of seeing the world as many. In other words, is there a way from pluralism to monism. All these considerations make it probable that the work attributed to Lao Zi has been added new material or is a compilation of oral sayings. In the end of the paper I will go on to give some insights on how Logos and Dao can be compared in a relevant manner. I also compare Parmenides holistic monism to Lao Zi’s Dao as nameless totality (i.e. in its wu-aspect). I briefly touch the issues of Heidegger and the future of comparative philosophy.

Ainasta Sariin ja Otosta Kimmoon : Suomenkielistä homonyymiparista etunimistä 1800-luvun lopulta noin vuoteen 1980

Tutkielma selvittää homonyymiparisten suomalaisten etunimien suosionvaihtelua eri aikoina eri alueilla. Tarkastelu rajoittuu ajanjaksoon 1800-luvun lopulta noin vuoteen 1980. Tarkoituksenani on kuvata myös sitä ympäristöä, jossa nimenantajat ovat valintansa tehneet. Nimen on hyväksytyksi tullakseen noudatettava yhteisön senhetkisiä nimimalleja. Kulttuurissa tapahtuvat muutokset heijastuvat henkilönnimistöön, esimerkiksi varsinaisista etunimistä voi puhua vasta sitten, kun nimijärjestelmään kuuluu lisäksi sukunimi tai säännöllisesti käytetty lisänimi. Homonyymiparisella etunimellä tarkoitan sellaista etunimenä käytettyä tai sellaiseksi tarkoitettua propria, jolla on Nykysuomen sanakirjan mukaan yleiskielessä sitä äänteellisesti vastaava ei-proprinen, merkityksellinen sana. Tätä kutsun proprin homonyymipariksi. Nimen rinnalla olevan homonyymin merkitys ei useinkaan sinänsä ole vakiinnuttanut nimeä, mutta on nimiryhmiä, joiden homonyymiparit muodostavat merkityskenttiä: Ilta (< Mathilda) on saanut tukea nimistä Aamu ja Päivä. (Huom. *Yö ei ole etunimi.) Ajanjaksojen homonyymipariset suosikkinimet muistuttavat toisiaan ja ovat rakenteeltaan toistensa ja samaan aikaan suosiossa olleiden muiden nimien kanssa samankaltaisia.

Occupational burnout and health

Occupational burnout and heath Occupational burnout is assumed to be a negative consequence of chronic work stress. In this study, it was explored in the framework of occupational health psychology, which focusses on psychologically mediated processes between work and health. The objectives were to examine the overlap between burnout and ill health in relation to mental disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, and cardiovascular diseases, which are the three commonest disease groups causing work disability in Finland; to study whether burnout can be distinguished from ill health by its relation to work characteristics and work disability; and to determine the socio-demographic correlates of burnout at the population level. A nationally representative sample of the Finnish working population aged 30 to 64 years (n = 3151-3424) from the multidisciplinary epidemiological Health 2000 Study was used. Burnout was measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey. The diagnoses of common mental disorders were based on the standardized mental health interview (the Composite International Diagnostic Interview), and physical illnesses were determined in a comprehensive clinical health examination by a research physician. Medically certified sickness absences exceeding 9 work days during a 2-year period were extracted from a register of The Social Insurance Institution of Finland. Work stress was operationalized according to the job strain model. Gender, age, education, occupational status, and marital status were recorded as socio-demographic factors. Occupational burnout was related to an increased prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders and alcohol dependence among the men and women. Burnout was also related to musculoskeletal disorders among the women and cardiovascular diseases among the men independently of socio-demographic factors, physical strenuousness of work, health behaviour, and depressive symptoms. The odds of having at least one long, medically-certified sickness absence were higher for employees with burnout than for their colleagues without burnout. For severe burnout, this association was independent of co-occurring common mental disorders and physical illnesses for both genders, as was also the case for mild burnout among the women. In a subgroup of the men with absences, severe burnout was related to a greater number of absence days than among the women with absences. High job strain was associated with a higher occurrence of burnout and depressive disorders than low job strain was. Of these, the association between job strain and burnout was stronger, and it persisted after control for socio-demographic factors, health behaviour, physical illnesses, and various indicators of mental health. In contrast, job strain was not related to depressive disorders after burnout was accounted for. Among the working population over 30 years of age, burnout was positively associated with age. There was also a tendency towards higher levels of burnout among the women with low educational attainment and occupational status and among the unmarried men. In conclusion, a considerable overlap was found between burnout, mental disorders, and physical illnesses. Still, burnout did not seem to be totally redundant with respect to ill health. Burnout may be more strongly related to stressful work characteristics than depressive disorders are. In addition, burnout seems to be an independent risk factor for work disability, and it could possibly be used as a marker of health-impairing work stress. However, burnout may represent a different kind of risk factor for men and women, and this possibility needs to be taken into account in the promotion of occupational health.

Early Childhood Caries and a Community Trial of its Prevention in Tehran, Iran

Varhaislapsuuden karies ja sen ehkäisy kehittyvän terveydenhuollon maassa Varhaislapsuuden karies on merkittävä kansanterveysongelma varsinkin lapsirikkaissa maissa ja väestöissä. Karieksen hoitaminen vie paljon voimavaroja ja aiheuttaa mittavia taloudellisia seuraamuksia. Karies voi ilmaantua lapselle jo vauvaikäisenä, pian ensimmäisten maitohampaiden puhjettua suuhun. Alle 3-vuotiaiden karieksesta on kuitenkin niukasti tilastotietoja. Maailman terveysjärjestökin suosittaa tietojen keräämistä vasta 3-vuotiaiden ikäryhmästä. Heistä kariesta sairastaa Suomessa 16 %, Yhdysvalloissa 25 %, Englannissa 30 %, Iranissa 46 % ja Saudi-Arabiassa 61 %. Tämä väitöstutkimus selvitti karieksen esiintymistä ja sen vaaratekijöitä 1─3-vuotiailla Teheranissa. Lisäksi tutkimus arvioi perusterveydenhuoltoon sisällytetyn karieksen ehkäisyn tuloksellisuutta. Tutkimuskohteiksi arvottiin Teheranista 18 neuvolaa. Jokaisessa oltiin 4 päivää, jolloin kaikkia rokotuksiin tulleita 1─3-vuotiaita äiteineen pyydettiin osallistumaan tutkimukseen. Kahta lukuun ottamatta kaikki äidit suostuivat, ja aineistoon tuli kaikkiaan 504 lasta äiteineen. Kaikki 1-vuotiaat, 242 lasta äiteineen, valittiin karieksen ehkäisykokeiluun. Sitä varten neuvolat jaettiin kolmeen ryhmään, joista kaksi (A ja B) oli koeryhmiä ja yksi (C) oli vertailuryhmä. Tutkimus alkoi äidin haastattelulla. Siinä selvitettiin perheen koulutus- ja tulotaso sekä lapsen ruokinnasta imetyksen kesto, yösyötöt ja päiväaikaan nautitut makeat. Vielä kysyttiin lapsen ja äidin suuhygieniatavoista ja äidin kokemuksista lapsen suun puhdistamisessa. Sitten hammaslääkäri tutki lapsen suun ja kirjasi karieksen ja hammasplakin esiintymät. Suun tutkimuksen jälkeen äiti ja lapsi siirtyivät rokotushuoneeseen. Koeryhmissä (A ja B) äidit saivat terveydenhoitajalta suunterveyttä koskevan esitteen ja kehotuksen lukea se huolellisesti. Lisäksi ryhmässä A terveydenhoitaja kertoi suun ja hampaiden terveydenhoidosta saman esitteen avulla, ja neuvolan henkilökunta muistutti suunhoidon tärkeydestä puhelimitse kahdesti seuraavan puolen vuoden kuluessa. Vertailuryhmässä äideille ei annettu suunhoidon ohjeita. Kaikissa ryhmissä äitejä muistutettiin seuraavan rokotuskerran ajankohdasta, muttei mainittu tulevaa toista hammastarkastusta. Varhaislapsuuden kariesta sairasti ikäryhmästä riippuen 3─26 % tutkituista 1─3-vuotiaista, ja 65─76 %:lla oli hammasplakkia. Äideistä 68 % harjasi hampaansa päivittäin ja 39 % puhdisti lapsensa suun päivittäin. Mitä useammin äiti harjasi omat hampaansa, sitä paremmin hän huolehti lapsen suun puhtaudesta. Rintaruokinta oli yleistä eikä lisännyt kariesvaaraa. Yöllä pullomaitoa saavilla karies oli 5 kertaa yleisempää kuin muilla. Neuvolassa saatu ohjeistus ehkäisi selvästi karieksen syntyä puolen vuoden kokeessa.

Pain among employees : risk factors and consequences

The overall objective of this study was to gain epidemiological knowledge about pain among employee populations. More specifically, the aims were to assess the prevalence of pain, to identify socio-economic risk groups and work-related psychosocial risk factors, and to assess the consequences in terms of health-related functioning and sickness absence. The study was carried out among the municipal employees of the City of Helsinki. Data comprised questionnaire survey conducted in years 2000-2002 and register data on sickness absence. Altogether 8960 40-60 year old employees participated to the survey (response rate 67%). Pain is common among ageing employees. Approximately 29 per cent of employees reported chronic pain and 15 per cent acute pain, and about seven per cent reported moderately or severely limiting disabling chronic pain. Pain was more common among those with lower level of education or in a low occupational class. -- Psychosocial work environment was associated with pain reports. Job strain, bullying at workplace, and problems in combining work and home duties were associated with pain among women. Among men combining work and home duties was not associated with pain, whereas organizational injustice showed associations. Pain affects functional capacity and predicts sickness absence. Those with pain reported lower level of both mental and physical functioning than those with no pain, physical functioning being more strongly affected than mental. Bodily location of pain or whether pain was acute or chronic had only minor impact on the variation in functioning, whereas the simple count of painful locations was associated with widest variation. Pain accounted for eight per cent of short term (1-3 day) sickness absence spells among men and 13 per cent among women. Of absence spells lasting between four and 14 days pain accounted for 23 per cent among women and 25 per cent among men, corresponding figures for over 14 day absence spells being 37 and 30 per cent. The association between pain and sickness absence was relatively independent of physical and psychosocial work factors, especially among women. The results of this study provide a picture of the epidemiology of pain among employees. Pain is a significant problem that seriously affects work ability. Information on risk groups can be utilized to make prevention measures more effective among those at high risk, and to decrease pain rates and thereby narrow the differences between socio-economic groups. Furthermore, the work-related psychosocial risk factors identified in this study are potentially modifiable, and it should be possible to target interventions on decreasing pain rates among employees.

Prevention of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention - emphasis on dietary composition and identification of high-risk individuals

Type 2 diabetes is an increasing, serious, and costly public health problem. The increase in the prevalence of the disease can mainly be attributed to changing lifestyles leading to physical inactivity, overweight, and obesity. These lifestyle-related risk factors offer also a possibility for preventive interventions. Until recently, proper evidence regarding the prevention of type 2 diabetes has been virtually missing. To be cost-effective, intensive interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes should be directed to people at an increased risk of the disease. The aim of this series of studies was to investigate whether type 2 diabetes can be prevented by lifestyle intervention in high-risk individuals, and to develop a practical method to identify individuals who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes and would benefit from such an intervention. To study the effect of lifestyle intervention on diabetes risk, we recruited 522 volunteer, middle-aged (aged 40 - 64 at baseline), overweight (body mass index > 25 kg/m2) men (n = 172) and women (n = 350) with impaired glucose tolerance to the Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS). The participants were randomly allocated either to the intensive lifestyle intervention group or the control group. The control group received general dietary and exercise advice at baseline, and had annual physician's examination. The participants in the intervention group received, in addition, individualised dietary counselling by a nutritionist. They were also offered circuit-type resistance training sessions and were advised to increase overall physical activity. The intervention goals were to reduce body weight (5% or more reduction from baseline weight), limit dietary fat (< 30% of total energy consumed) and saturated fat (< 10% of total energy consumed), and to increase dietary fibre intake (15 g / 1000 kcal or more) and physical activity (≥ 30 minutes/day). Diabetes status was assessed annually by a repeated 75 g oral glucose tolerance testing. First analysis on end-points was completed after a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, and the intervention phase was terminated after a mean duration of 3.9 years. After that, the study participants continued to visit the study clinics for the annual examinations, for a mean of 3 years. The intervention group showed significantly greater improvement in each intervention goal. After 1 and 3 years, mean weight reductions were 4.5 and 3.5 kg in the intervention group and 1.0 kg and 0.9 kg in the control group. Cardiovascular risk factors improved more in the intervention group. After a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, the risk of diabetes was reduced by 58% in the intervention group compared with the control group. The reduction in the incidence of diabetes was directly associated with achieved lifestyle goals. Furthermore, those who consumed moderate-fat, high-fibre diet achieved the largest weight reduction and, even after adjustment for weight reduction, the lowest diabetes risk during the intervention period. After discontinuation of the counselling, the differences in lifestyle variables between the groups still remained favourable for the intervention group. During the post-intervention follow-up period of 3 years, the risk of diabetes was still 36% lower among the former intervention group participants, compared with the former control group participants. To develop a simple screening tool to identify individuals who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes, follow-up data of two population-based cohorts of 35-64 year old men and women was used. The National FINRISK Study 1987 cohort (model development data) included 4435 subjects, with 182 new drug-treated cases of diabetes identified during ten years, and the FINRISK Study 1992 cohort (model validation data) included 4615 subjects, with 67 new cases of drug-treated diabetes during five years, ascertained using the Social Insurance Institution's Drug register. Baseline age, body mass index, waist circumference, history of antihypertensive drug treatment and high blood glucose, physical activity and daily consumption of fruits, berries or vegetables were selected into the risk score as categorical variables. In the 1987 cohort the optimal cut-off point of the risk score identified 78% of those who got diabetes during the follow-up (= sensitivity of the test) and 77% of those who remained free of diabetes (= specificity of the test). In the 1992 cohort the risk score performed equally well. The final Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) form includes, in addition to the predictors of the model, a question about family history of diabetes and the age category of over 64 years. When applied to the DPS population, the baseline FINDRISC value was associated with diabetes risk among the control group participants only, indicating that the intensive lifestyle intervention given to the intervention group participants abolished the diabetes risk associated with baseline risk factors. In conclusion, the intensive lifestyle intervention produced long-term beneficial changes in diet, physical activity, body weight, and cardiovascular risk factors, and reduced diabetes risk. Furthermore, the effects of the intervention were sustained after the intervention was discontinued. The FINDRISC proved to be a simple, fast, inexpensive, non-invasive, and reliable tool to identify individuals at high risk of type 2 diabetes. The use of FINDRISC to identify high-risk subjects, followed by lifestyle intervention, provides a feasible scheme in preventing type 2 diabetes, which could be implemented in the primary health care system.

Modern diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus infections and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease

Infection by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) occurs in approximately 95% of the world s population. EBV was the first human virus implicated in oncogenesis. Characteristic for EBV primary infection are detectable IgM and IgG antibodies against viral capsid antigen (VCA). During convalescence the VCA IgM disappears while the VCA IgG persists for life. Reactivations of EBV occur both among immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. In serological diagnosis, measurement of avidity of VCA IgG separates primary from secondary infections. However, in serodiagnosis of mononucleosis it is quite common to encounter, paradoxically, VCA IgM together with high-avidity VCA IgG, indicating past immunity. We determined the etiology of this phenomenon and found that, among patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) primary infection a large proportion (23%) showed antibody profiles of EBV reactivation. In contrast, EBV primary infection did not appear to induce immunoreactivation of CMV. EBV-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a life threatening complication of allogeneic stem cell or solid organ transplantation. PTLD may present with a diverse spectrum of clinical symptoms and signs. Due to rapidity of PTLD progression especially after stem cell transplantation, the diagnosis must be obtained quickly. Pending timely detection, the evolution of the fatal disease may be halted by reduction of immunosuppression. A promising new PTLD treatment (also in Finland) is based on anti-CD-20 monoclonal antibodies. Diagnosis of PTLD has been demanding because of immunosuppression, blood transfusions and the latent nature of the virus. We set up in 1999 to our knowledge first in Finland for any microbial pathogen a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for detection of EBV DNA in blood serum/plasma. In addition, we set up an in situ hybridisation assay for EBV RNA in tissue sections. In collaboration with a group of haematologists at Helsinki University Central Hospital we retrospectively determined the incidence of PTLD among 257 allogenic stem cell transplantations (SCT) performed during 1994-1999. Post-mortem analysis revealed 18 cases of PTLD. From a subset of PTLD cases (12/18) and a series of corresponding controls (36), consecutive samples of serum were studied by the new EBV-qPCR. All the PTLD patients were positive for EBV-DNA with progressively rising copy numbers. In most PTLD patients EBV DNA became detectable within 70 days of SCT. Of note, the appearance of EBV DNA preceded the PTLD symptoms (fever, lymphadenopathy, atypical lymphocytes). Among the SCT controls, EBV DNA occurred only sporadically, and the EBV-DNA levels remained relatively low. We concluded that EBV qPCR is a highly sensitive (100%) and specific (96%) new diagnostic approach. We also looked for and found risk factors for the development of PTLD. Together with a liver transplantation group at the Transplantation and Liver Surgery Clinic we wanted to clarify how often and how severely do EBV infections occur after liver transplantation. We studied by the EBV qPCR 1284 plasma samples obtained from 105 adult liver transplant recipients. EBV DNA was detected in 14 patients (13%) during the first 12 months. The peak viral loads of 13 asymptomatic patients were relatively low (<6600/ml), and EBV DNA subsided quickly from circulation. Fatal PTLD was diagnosed in one patient. Finally, we wanted to determine the number and clinical significance of EBV infections of various types occurring among a large, retrospective, nonselected cohort of allogenic SCT recipients. We analysed by EBV qPCR 5479 serum samples of 406 SCT recipients obtained during 1988-1999. EBV DNA was seen in 57 (14%) patients, of whom 22 (5%) showed progressively rising and ultimately high levels of EBV DNA (median 54 million /ml). Among the SCT survivors, EBV DNA was transiently detectable in 19 (5%) asymptomatic patients. Thereby, low-level EBV-DNA positivity in serum occurs relatively often after SCT and may subside without specific treatment. However, high molecular copy numbers (>50 000) are diagnostic for life-threatening EBV infection. We furthermore developed a mathematical algorithm for the prediction of development of life-threatening EBV infection.

Winter feeding strategies for suckler cows in cold climatic conditions

In Finland, suckler cow production is carried out in circumstances characterized by a long winter period and a short grazing period. The traditional winter housing system for suckler cows has been insulated or uninsulated buildings, but there is a demand for developing less expensive housing systems. In addition, more information is needed on new winter feeding strategies, carried out in inexpensive winter facilities with conventional (hay, grass silage, straw) or alternative (treated straw, industrial by-product, whole-crop silage) feeds. The new feeding techniques should not have any detrimental effects on animal welfare in order to be acceptable to both farmers and consumers. Furthermore, no official feeding recommendations for suckler cows are available in Finland and, thus, recommendations for dairy cows have been used. However, this may lead to over- or underfeeding of suckler cows and, finally, to decreased economic output. In Experiment I, second-calf beef-dairy suckler cows were used to compare the effects of diets based on hay (H) or urea-treated straw (US) at two feeding levels (Moderate; M vs. Low; L) on the performance of cows and calves. Live weight (LW) gain during the indoor feeding was lower for cows on level L than on level M. Cows on diet US lost more LW indoors than those on diet H. The cows replenished the LW losses on good pasture. Calf LW gain and cow milk production were unaffected by the treatments. Conception rate was unaffected by the treatments but was only 69%. Urea-treated straw proved to be a suitable winter feed for spring-calving suckler cows. Experiment II studied the effects of feeding accuracy on the performance of first- and second-calf beef-dairy cows and calves. In II-1, the day-to-day variation in the roughage offered ranged up to ± 40%. In II-2, the same variation was used in two-week periods. Variation of the roughages offered had minor effects on cow performance. Reproduction was unaffected by the feeding accuracy. Accurate feeding is not necessary for young beef-dairy crosses, if the total amount of energy offered over a period of a few weeks fulfills the energy requirements. Effects of feeding strategies with alternative feeds on the performance of mature beef-dairy and beef cows and calves were evaluated in Experiment III. Two studies consisted of two feeding strategies (Step-up vs. Flat-rate) and two diets (Control vs. Alternative). There were no differences between treatments in the cow LW, body condition score (BCS), calf pre-weaning LW gain and cow reproduction. A flat-rate strategy can be practised in the nutrition of mature suckler cows. Oat hull based flour-mill by product can partly replace grass silage and straw in the winter diet. Whole-crop barley silage can be offered as a sole feed to suckler cows. Experiment IV evaluated during the winter feeding period the effects of replacing grass silage with whole-crop barley or oat silage on mature beef cow and calf performance. Both whole-crop silages were suitable winter feeds for suckler cows in cold outdoor winter conditions. Experiment V aimed at assessing the effects of daily feeding vs. feeding every third day on the performance of mature beef cows and calves. No differences between the treatments were observed in cow LW, BCS, milk production and calf LW. The serum concentrations of urea and long-chain fatty acids were increased on the third day after feeding in the cows fed every third day. Despite of that the feeding every third day is an acceptable feeding strategy for mature suckler cows. Experiment VI studied the effects of feeding levels and long-term cold climatic conditions on mature beef cows and calves. The cows were overwintered in outdoor facilities or in an uninsulated indoor facility. Whole-crop barley silage was offered either ad libitum or restricted. All the facilities offered adequate shelter for the cows. The restricted offering of whole-crop barley silage provided enough energy for the cows. The Finnish energy recommendations for dairy cows were too high for mature beef breed suckler cows in good body condition at housing, even in cold conditions. Therefore, there is need to determine feeding recommendations for suckler cows in Finland. The results showed that the required amount of energy can be offered to the cows using conventional or alternative feeds provided at a lower feeding level, with an inaccurate feeding, flat-rate feeding or feeding every third day strategy. The cows must have an opportunity to replenish the LW and BCS losses at pasture before the next winter. Production in cold conditions can be practised in inexpensive facilities when shelter against rain and wind, a dry resting place, adequate amounts of feed suitable for cold conditions and water are provided for the animals as was done in the present study.

Vadelman (Rubus idaeus) kasvunsäätö proheksadioni-kalsiumin avulla

Vadelman (Rubus idaeus L.) viljelyala on kasvanut Suomessa voimakkaasti viimeisten viiden vuoden aikana. Vuonna 2005 vadelmaa viljeltiin 473 hehtaarilla. Vadelman satoindeksi on alhainen. Sen pääverso on pitkä, mikä hankaloittaa hoitotoimenpiteitä. Kasvin satoisimmat silmut ovat pääverson kärjessä, joten latvontaa ei kannata tehdä. Suomessakin haluttaisiin kehittää vadelman kasvihuonetuotantoa satokauden pidentämiseksi. Kasvihuonetuotannossa vegetatiivisen kasvun säätäminen on vielä tärkeämpää kuin avomaan viljelyssä. Proheksadioni-kalsium (ProCa) on gibberelliinisynteesi-inhibiittori, jonka on havaittu lyhentävän nivelvälejä sekä lisäävän versojen ja lehtien hiilihydraattipitoisuutta mm. omenalla (Malus domestica Borkh.). Tämän Helsingin yliopiston soveltavan biologian laitoksella toteutetun tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää, miten ProCa vaikuttaa kahden kesävadelmalajikkeen ensimmäisen vuoden versojen vegetatiiviseen kasvuun ja edelleen sadontuottokykyyn. Tässä pro gradu -työssä tutkittiin ProCa:n vaikutusta kahden kesävadelmalajikkeen vegetatiiviseen kasvuun, satopotentiaaliin sekä versojen ja silmujen hiilihydraattipitoisuuksiin kesällä 2005 ja talvella 2006. Koetaimina oli 120 Tulameen-lajikkeen ja 150 Glen Ample -lajikkeen tainta. Taimet käsiteltiin kesäkuussa ja käsittely uusittiin osalle taimista neljän viikon kuluttua ensimmäisestä käsittelystä. Koekäsittelyitä oli neljä: ProCa 100 ppm, ProCa 200 ppm, ProCa 100 ppm + ProCa 100 ppm ja ProCa 200 ppm + ProCa 200 ppm. Kontrollikäsittelyitä oli kaksi: vesi sekä vesi + vesi. Kesän aikana havainnoitiin pääverson pituuskasvua ja nivelien määrää. Kesän kasvatuskauden päätyttyä Glen Ample -lajikkeen silmujen ja versojen liukoiset hiilihydraatit ja tärkkelys määritettiin entsymaattisesti. Kylmävarastoinnin jälkeen (71 vrk) tammikuussa 2006 taimet siirrettiin hyötöön kasvihuoneeseen. Hyödön aikana havainnoitiin silmujen puhkeamista ja kukintaa. Hyödön päättyessä hanka- ja pääversojen kuivapaino sekä hankaversojen pituus mitattiin. Kesän 2005 aikana ProCa lyhensi uusien nivelvälien pituuksia väliaikaisesti 1 4 viikon kuluttua käsittelystä. Nivelien lukumäärässä ei tapahtunut suuria muutoksia. Tulameen-lajikkeella kasvu kiihtyi käsittelyn vaikutuksen loputtua. Nivelvälien lyhentymisen takia pääverson kokonaispituus jäi kontrolliin verrattuna 35 % lyhyemmäksi Glen Ample -lajikkeella (ProCa 200 + ProCa 200) ja 14 % lyhyemmäksi Tulameen-lajikkeella samalla käsittelyllä. Myös käsittely ProCa 200 vähensi pääverson pituutta 6 % kontrolliin verrattuna Tulameen-lajikkeella. ProCa-käsittely lisäsi versojen ja silmujen hiilihydraattipitoisuuksia, mutta tuloksissa oli paljon hajontaa. Glen Ample -lajikkeella kaksinkertaiset käsittelyt vähensivät puhjenneiden silmujen osuutta 8 15 päivän kuluttua hyödön aloittamisesta 24 29 %, mutta käsittelyiden väliset erot tasoittuivat hyödön loppuun mennessä. Lisäksi kaksinkertaiset ProCa-käsittelyt vähensivät kukkien määrää 29 44 % 33 65 päivää hyödön alusta, mutta erot tasoittuivat hyödön loppuun mennessä. Käsittelyt eivät vaikuttaneet Tulameen-lajikkeen silmujen puhkeamiseen ja kukintaan. Satopotentiaalissa ei ollut eroa ProCa-käsittelyiden välillä kummallakaan lajikkeella. Glen Ample -lajikkeella hankaversojen kokonaismäärä väheni 27 32 % kasveilla, joita oli käsitelty kaksi kertaa ProCa:lla. Hankaversot olivat kuitenkin vastaavasti 29 43 % pidempiä. Tulameen-lajikkeella ProCa 100 -käsittely vähensi hankaversojen määrää 15 %, mutta hankaversojen pituuteen käsittelyillä ei ollut vaikutusta. Käsittelyillä ei ollut vaikutusta hankaversojen nivelvälien pituuteen kummallakaan lajikkeella. Tutkimuksen perusteella kesällä annetulla ProCa-käsittelyllä voidaan lyhentää pääverson pituutta, mutta satopotentiaaliin käsittelyllä ei ole vaikutusta. Käsittelyajankohta on kriittinen, koska kukkasilmujen kehitys näyttäisi häiriintyvän, jos ruiskutus tehdään loppukesällä.

"Ai, noi muslimithan ei kai saa tehdä enkeleitä" : Uskonto ja uskontokasvatus monikulttuurisen päiväkodin arjessa ja kasvattajien puheessa

Tämä tutkimus on etnografisesti värittynyt kvalitatiivinen tapaustutkimus. Tutkimus kohdistuu varhaiskasvatuksen uskontokasvatukseen. Tutkimuskohteena oli eräs helsinkiläinen monikulttuurinen päiväkoti. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli havainnoida päiväkodin arkea sekä haastatella päiväkodin kasvattajia (lastentarhanopettajat, lastenhoitajat) uskontoon ja uskontokasvatukseen liittyvistä kysymyksistä. Tutkimuskohteen valintaan vaikutti päiväkodissa käynnissä ollut projekti, jonka puitteissa päiväkodin uskontokasvatusta oltiin kehittämässä ns. monikulttuuristen aamuhetkien muodossa. Tarkemmat tutkimuskysymykset ovat: 1. Miten uskonto ilmenee monikulttuurisen päiväkodin arjessa? 2. Millaisia diskursseja eli puhetapoja monikulttuurisen päiväkodin kasvattajat käyttävät puhuessaan uskontoon ja uskontokasvatukseen liittyvistä kysymyksistä? Aineistonkeräämisen menetelminä käytettiin osallistuvaa havainnointia ja haastattelua. Tietoa tutkimuskohteesta kerättiin myös kasvattajatiimeille suunnatun kyselyn avulla. Vaikka tutkimuskohteena oli koko päiväkoti, niin käytännössä päiväkodin arki näyttäytyi tutkijalle yhden ryhmän toimintaan osallistumisen kautta. Tutkija vietti päiväkodissa yhteensä 28 päivää ja haastatteli 14 kasvattajaa. Kenttäpäivät jakautuivat kolmeen jaksoon aikavälillä 30.11.07–31.3.08. Ajankohdiksi oli valittu jakso ennen joulua, jakso ennen pääsiäistä ja jakso niiden välillä tammi-helmikuussa. Aineiston analyysissa ammennettiin sekä sisällönanalyysiä että diskurssianalyysiä käsittelevästä menetelmäkirjallisuudesta. Saatuja tuloksia peilattiin mm. varhaiskasvatuksen uskontokasvatusta ohjaaviin asiakirjoihin (Opetushallitus 2000; STAKES 2005) sekä Mohammed Abu-Nimerin (2001) malliin uskontojen välisen sensitiivisyyden kehittymisestä. Havainnointiaineistosta ilmenee se, miten varovaisesti, ongelmalähtöisesti ja välinpitämättömästikin kasvattajat suhtautuvat uskontokasvatukseen liittyviin kysymyksiin. Päiväkodissa aloitetut projektityöntekijän organisoimat aamunavaukset olivat kuitenkin tuomassa uudenlaista kielenkäyttöä ja myönteisen asennoitumisen mallia niin sisältöaluetta kuin eri uskontoja kohtaan. Niissä olikin havaittavissa sillanrakentamista erityisesti kristinuskon ja islamin välille. Tämä oli ymmärrettävää, sillä 55 % lapsista oli kotitaustaltaan kristittyjä ja 31 % muslimeja. Kaiken kaikkiaan päiväkodissa uskonnon ilmenemiseen liittyneet tilanteet voitiin jakaa karkeasti kolmeen luokkaan: yllättävä arki (erityisesti ruokailu ja pukeutuminen), joulun ja pääsiäisen aika sekä monikulttuuriset aamunavaukset. Haastatteluaineistosta muodostettiin viisi erilaista kasvattajien tapaa puhua uskontoon ja uskontokasvatukseen liittyvistä kysymyksistä: 1. Omaa uskontoa puolustava puhetapa. 2. Uskontojen välistä tasavertaisuutta korostava puhetapa. 3. Uskontokasvatusta vähättelevä ja kiinnostumattomuutta ilmentävä puhetapa. 4. Uskontokasvatuksen etäistävä puhetapa. 5. Uskontojen aiheuttamaa hämmennystä ilmaiseva puhetapa. Kontekstin muodostetuille puhetavoille antaa havainnointiaineisto. Kaiken kaikkiaan on havaittavissa, että kasvattajien eriasteiset henkilökohtaiset suhtautumistavat ovat vaikuttamassa kasvatustoiminnan suunnitteluun ja sen toteuttamiseen, tässä tapauksessa toteuttamatta jättämiseen. Ne myös vähentävät kasvattajien ammatillista asennoitumista uskontokasvatuksen sisältöalueeseen. Kun kokonaisuutta peilattiin Abu-Nimerin malliin, todettiin, että eri uskontojen kohtaaminen haastaa kasvattajat paljon voimakkaammin kuin eri kulttuurien kohtaaminen. Kasvattajien tulisikin mm. tunnistaa uskontojen ja katsomusten erilaisuuden itsessään aiheuttamia tunteita, jotta mahdolliset kielteiset tunteet eivät olisi vaikuttamassa kasvatustilanteissa. Mallin peilaaminen päiväkodin arkeen ja kasvattajien puhetapoihin lisää ymmärtämystä siitä, miten syvälle menevästä asiasta kulttuurien välisessä kommunikaatiossa on kyse, kun siihen lisätään uskontojen ulottuvuus - tässä tapauksessa uskontokasvatuksen ulottuvuus monikulttuurisessa ja moniuskontoisessa päiväkodissa.