Hiljaisen tiedon siirtymisen mahdollisuudet ja esteet mentoroinnin avulla

Työn tavoitteena oli selvittää, millaisia mahdollisuuksia ja esteitä hiljaisen tiedon siirtymiselle mentoroinnin avulla oli ”Yritykset opiskelijoiden kummeina” – projektissa. Tutkimuksessa kartoitettiin millaiset yrittäjän ja opiskelijan ominaispiirteet tukevat ja estävät hiljaisen tiedon siirtymistä. Lisäksi tutkittiin millaista tietoa mentorointiprosessissa siirtyy sekä kysyttiin opiskelijoiden mielipiteitä kummitoiminnan kehittämisestä tulevaisuudessa. Empiirisen tutkimuksen kohderyhmä oli projektiin osallistuvat Lappeenrannan teknillisen yliopiston opiskelijat. Tutkimus toteutettiin sähköpostikyselynä tammikuussa 2004. Tutkimuksen tuloksena oli, että 58 % vastaajista koki oppineensa hiljaista tietoa projektin avulla enemmän kuin kykenevät sanoin kertomaan. Projektin avulla työllistyi 16 % ja harjoitustöitä yrityksille opintoihinsa liittyen teki 14 % vastaajista. Tiedon siirtymisessä mentoroinnin avulla tärkeimmäksi tekijäksi nousivat opiskelijoiden kyky vastaanottaa tietoa sekä yrittäjän kärsivällisyys opettaa. Esteinä hiljaisen tiedon siirtymiselle koettiin olevan kiire ja aikataulujen yhteensovittaminen.

The high-speed induction motor: calculating the effects of solid-rotor material on machine characteristics

A method for the analysis of high-speed solid-rotor induction motors in presented. The analysis is based on a new combination of the three dimensional linear method and the transfer matrix method. Both saturation and finite length effects are taken into account. The active region of the solid rotor is divided into saturated and unsaturated parts. The time dependence is assumed to be sinusoidal and phasor quantities are used in the solution. The method is applied to the calculation of smooth solid rotors manufactured of different materials. Six rotor materials are tested: three construction steels, pure iron, a cobaltiron alloy and an aluminium alloy. The results obtained by the method agree fairly well with the measurement quantities.

Electrical characteristics of eddy current position sensor

In the thesis the principle of work of eddy current position sensors and the main cautions that must be taken into account while sensor design process are explained. A way of automated eddy current position sensor electrical characteristics measurement is suggested. A prototype of the eddy current position sensor and its electrical characteristics are investigated. The results obtained by means of the automated measuring system are explained.

Occlusal and dentofacial characteristics of the deciduous dentition and treatment effects of the eruption guidance appliance in the early mixed dentition

The aim of this investigation was to analyze the dental occlusion in the deciduous dentition, and the effects of orthodontic treatment carried out in the early mixed dentition with the eruption guidance appliance. The deciduous occlusion and craniofacial morphology of 486 children (244 girls and 242 boys) were investigated at the onset of the mixed dentition period (mean age 5.1 years, range 4.0-7.8 years). Treatment in the treatment group and follow-up in the control group were started when the first deciduous incisor was exfoliated (T1) and ended when all permanent incisors and first molars were fully erupted (T2). The mean age of the children was 5.1 years (SD 0.5) at T1 and 8.4 years (SD 0.5) at T2. Treatment was carried out with the eruption guidance appliance. Occlusal changes that took place in 167 children were compared with those of 104 untreated control children. Pre- and post-treatment cephalometric radiographs were taken, and the craniofacial morphology of 115 consecutively treated children was compared with that of 104 control children. The prevalence of malocclusion in the deciduous dentition was 68% or 93% depending on how the cut-off value between the acceptable and non-acceptable occlusal characteristic was defined. The early dentofacial features of children with distal occlusion, large overjet and deepbite differed from those with normal occlusion. However, the skeletal pattern of these three malocclusions showed considerable similarity each being characterized by a retrusive mandible, small maxillo-mandibular difference, convex profile, retrusive lower incisors, and large interincisal angle. In the treatment group, overjet and overbite decreased significantly from T1 to T2. Following treatment, a tooth-to-tooth contact was found in 99% of the treated children but only in 24% of the controls. A Class I molar relationship was observed in 90% of the children in the treatment group, and in 48% in the control group. Good alignment of the incisors was observed in 98% of the treated children, whereas upper crowding was found in 32% and lower crowding in 47% of the controls. A significant difference between the groups was found in the mandibular length, midfacial length and maxillo-mandibular differential. The occlusal correction, brought about by the eruption guidance appliance, was achieved mainly through changes in the dentoalveolar region of the mandible. In addition, the appliance seemed to enhance the growth of the mandible. Treatment in the early mixed dentition using the eruption guidance appliance is an effective method to normalize occlusion and reduce further need of orthodontic treatment. Only few spontaneous corrective changes can be expected without active intervention.

Profiles of Second Language Learners in Bilingual Education: A Comparative Study of the Characteristics of Finnish and American Students

The purpose of this comparative study is to profile second language learners by exploring the factors which have an impact on their learning. The subjects come from two different countries: one group comes from Milwaukee, US, and the other from Turku, Finland. The subjects have attended bilingual classes from elementary school to senior high school in their respective countries. In the United States, the subjects (N = 57) started in one elementary school from where they moved on to two high schools in the district. The Finnish subjects (N = 39) attended the same school from elementary to high school. The longitudinal study was conducted during 1994-2004 and combines both qualitative and quantitative research methods. A Pilot Study carried out in 1990-1991 preceded the two subsequent studies that form the core material of this research. The theoretical part of the study focuses first on language policies in the United States and Finland: special emphasis is given to the history, development and current state of bilingual education, and the factors that have affected policy-making in the provision of language instruction. Current language learning theories and models form the theoretical foundation of the research, and underpin the empirical studies. Cognitively-labeled theories are at the forefront, but sociocultural theory and the ecological approach are also accounted for. The research methods consist of questionnaires, compositions and interviews. A combination of statistical methods as well as content analysis were used in the analysis. The attitude of the bilingual learners toward L1 and L2 was generally positive: the subjects enjoyed learning through two languages and were motivated to learn both. The knowledge of L1 and parental support, along with early literacy in L1, facilitated the learning of L2. This was particularly evident in the American subject group. The American subjects’ L2 learning was affected by the attitudes of the learners to the L1 culture and its speakers. Furthermore, the negative attitudes taken by L1 speakers toward L2 speakers and the lack of opportunities to engage in activities in the L1 culture affected the American subjects’ learning of L2, English. The research showed that many American L2 learners were isolated from the L1 culture and were even afraid to use English in everyday communication situations. In light of the research results, a politically neutral linguistic environment, which the Finnish subjects inhabited, was seen to be more favorable for learning. The Finnish subjects were learning L2, English, in a neutral zone where their own attitudes and motivation dictated their learning. The role of L2 as a means of international communication in Finland, as opposed to a means of exercising linguistic power, provided a neutral atmosphere for learning English. In both the American and Finnish groups, the learning of other languages was facilitated when the learner had a good foundation in their L1, and the learning of L1 and L2 were in balance. Learning was also fostered when the learners drew positive experiences from their surroundings and were provided with opportunities to engage in activities where L2 was used.

Molecular Characteristics of Neuroblastoma with Special Reference to Novel Prognostic Factors and Diagnostic Applications

Molecular Characteristics of Neuroblastoma with Special Reference to Novel Prognostic Factors and Diagnostic Applications Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics Annales Universitatis Turkuensis, Medica-Odontologica, 2009, Turku, Finland Painosalama Oy, Turku, Finland 2009 Background: Neuroblastoma, which is the most common and extensively studied childhood solid cancer, shows a great clinical and biological heterogeneity. Most of the neuroblastoma patients older than one year have poor prognosis despite intensive therapies. The hallmark of neuroblastoma, biological heterogeneity, has hindered the discovery of prognostic tumour markers. At present, few molecular markers, such as MYCN oncogene status, have been adopted into clinical practice. Aims: The aim of the study was to improve the current prognostic methodology of neuroblastoma, especially by taking cognizance of the biological heterogeneity of neuroblastoma. Furthermore, unravelling novel molecular characteristics which associate with neuroblastoma tumour progression and cell differentiation was an additional objective. Results: A new strictly defined selection of neuroblastoma tumour spots of highest proliferation activity, hotspots, appeared to be representative and reliable in an analysis of MYCN amplification status using a chromogenic in situ hybridization technique (CISH). Based on the hotspot tumour tissue microarray immunohistochemistry and high-resolution oligo-array-based comparative genomic hybridization, which was integrated with gene expression and in silico analysis of existing transcriptomics, a polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and poorly characterized amplicon at 12q24.31 were discovered to associate with outcome. In addition, we found that a previously considered new neuroblastoma treatment target, the mutated c-kit receptor, was not mutated in neuroblastoma samples. Conclusions: Our studies indicate polysialylated NCAM and 12q24.31 amplicon to be new molecular markers with important value in prognostic evaluation of neuroblastoma. Moreover, the presented hotspot tumour tissue microarray method together with the CISH technique of the MYCN oncogene copy number is directly applicable to clinical use. Key words: neuroblastoma, polysialic acid, neural cell adhesion molecule, MYCN, c-kit, chromogenic in situ hybridization, hotspot

Blended learning and student time-use in engineering education

Aiheen laajempi artikkeli on julkaistu konferenssi-CD:llä.

The influence of crystallization conditions on the filtration characteristics of sulphathiazole suspensions

Cooling crystallization is one of the most important purification and separation techniques in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. The product of the cooling crystallization process is always a suspension that contains both the mother liquor and the product crystals, and therefore the first process step following crystallization is usually solid-liquid separation. The properties of the produced crystals, such as their size and shape, can be affected by modifying the conditions during the crystallization process. The filtration characteristics of solid/liquid suspensions, on the other hand, are strongly influenced by the particle properties, as well as the properties of the liquid phase. It is thus obvious that the effect of the changes made to the crystallization parameters can also be seen in the course of the filtration process. Although the relationship between crystallization and filtration is widely recognized, the number of publications where these unit operations have been considered in the same context seems to be surprisingly small. This thesis explores the influence of different crystallization parameters in an unseeded batch cooling crystallization process on the external appearance of the product crystals and on the pressure filtration characteristics of the obtained product suspensions. Crystallization experiments are performed by crystallizing sulphathiazole (C9H9N3O2S2), which is a wellknown antibiotic agent, from different mixtures of water and n-propanol in an unseeded batch crystallizer. The different crystallization parameters that are studied are the composition of the solvent, the cooling rate during the crystallization experiments carried out by using a constant cooling rate throughout the whole batch, the cooling profile, as well as the mixing intensity during the batch. The obtained crystals are characterized by using an automated image analyzer and the crystals are separated from the solvent through constant pressure batch filtration experiments. Separation characteristics of the suspensions are described by means of average specific cake resistance and average filter cake porosity, and the compressibilities of the cakes are also determined. The results show that fairly large differences can be observed between the size and shape of the crystals, and it is also shown experimentally that the changes in the crystal size and shape have a direct impact on the pressure filtration characteristics of the crystal suspensions. The experimental results are utilized to create a procedure that can be used for estimating the filtration characteristics of solid-liquid suspensions according to the particle size and shape data obtained by image analysis. Multilinear partial least squares regression (N-PLS) models are created between the filtration parameters and the particle size and shape data, and the results presented in this thesis show that relatively obvious correlations can be detected with the obtained models.

Verkkosovellus oppimistyylien selvittämiseen ja tilastointiin

Oppimistyyleillä määritellään opiskelijan mieltymykset tavoissa, joilla hän vastaanottaa ja omaksuu helpoiten uutta tietoa. Opiskelijan henkilökohtaiseen oppimistyyliin vaikuttavat opiskelijan luonteenpiirteet ja ominaisuudet. Uusien asioiden oppiminen on helpompaa, jos opettajan käyttämä opetustyyli on ainakin osittain yhteneväinen opiskelijan oppimistyylin kanssa. Tässä diplomityössä kehitetty verkkosovellus on tarkoitettu opiskelijoiden käyttöön heidän oppimistyyliensä selvittämiseksi. Opiskelijat rekisteröityvät sovelluksen käyttäjiksi ja antavat samalla itsestään taustatietoja. Tämän jälkeen opiskelijat tekevät sovelluksessa oppimistyylit selvittävän testin. Taustatiedot ja testitulokset tallennetaan tietokantaan. Testituloksen ja oppimistyyleistä tarjolla olevien lisätietojen avulla opiskelijat voivat kehittää omia opiskelutapojaan. Testi on mahdollista tehdä myöhemmin uudelleen, ja tällöin opiskelijat näkevät omassa oppimistyylissään tapahtuneen kehityksen. Opettajat voivat käyttää sovellusta opiskelijoiden testituloksista muodostettavien tilastojen seuraamiseen. Näin opettajilla on mahdollisuus nähdä mitä oppimistyyliä heidän pitämilleen kursseille osallistuvat opiskelijat edustavat. Tämä tieto auttaa opettajia opetussuunnitelman teossa. Sovelluksella voidaan myös muodostaa opiskelijoiden taustatietoihin perustuvia tilastoja tutkimustarkoituksia varten.

Optimization of wind blade design including its energetic characteristics

The goal of the Master’s thesis is to develop and to analyze the optimization method for finding a geometry shape of classical horizontal wind turbine blades based on set of criteria. The thesis develops a technique that allows the designer to determine the weight of such factors as power coefficient, sound pressure level and the cost function in the overall process of blade shape optimization. The optimization technique applies the Desirability function. It was never used before in that kind of technical problems, and in this sense it can claim to originality of research. To do the analysis and the optimization processes more convenient the software application was developed.