Creating possibilities for collective creativity : Brokerage Functions in Practice-Based Innovation

In the network era, creative achievements like innovations are more and more often created in interaction among different actors. The complexity of today‘s problems transcends the individual human mind, requiring not only individual but also collective creativity. In collective creativity, it is impossible to trace the source of new ideas to an individual. Instead, creative activity emerges from the collaboration and contribution of many individuals, thereby blurring the contribution of specific individuals in creating ideas. Collective creativity is often associated with diversity of knowledge, skills, experiences and perspectives. Collaboration between diverse actors thus triggers creativity and gives possibilities for collective creativity. This dissertation investigates collective creativity in the context of practice-based innovation. Practice-based innovation processes are triggered by problem setting in a practical context and conducted in non-linear processes utilising scientific and practical knowledge production and creation in cross-disciplinary innovation networks. In these networks diversity or distances between innovation actors are essential. Innovation potential may be found in exploiting different kinds of distances. This dissertation presents different kinds of distances, such as cognitive, functional and organisational which could be considered as sources of creativity and thus innovation. However, formation and functioning of these kinds of innovation networks can be problematic. Distances between innovating actors may be so great that a special interpretation function is needed – that is, brokerage. This dissertation defines factors that enhance collective creativity in practice-based innovation and especially in the fuzzy front end phase of innovation processes. The first objective of this dissertation is to study individual and collective creativity at the employee level and identify those factors that support individual and collective creativity in the organisation. The second objective is to study how organisations use external knowledge to support collective creativity in their innovation processes in open multi-actor innovation. The third objective is to define how brokerage functions create possibilities for collective creativity especially in the context of practice-based innovation. The research objectives have been studied through five substudies using a case-study strategy. Each substudy highlights various aspects of creativity and collective creativity. The empirical data consist of materials from innovation projects arranged in the Lahti region, Finland, or materials from the development of innovation methods in the Lahti region. The Lahti region has been chosen as the research context because the innovation policy of the region emphasises especially the promotion of practice-based innovations. The results of this dissertation indicate that all possibilities of collective creativity are not utilised in internal operations of organisations. The dissertation introduces several factors that could support collective creativity in organisations. However, creativity as a social construct is understood and experienced differently in different organisations, and these differences should be taken into account when supporting creativity in organisations. The increasing complexity of most potential innovations requires collaborative creative efforts that often exceed the boundaries of the organisation and call for the involvement of external expertise. In practice-based innovation different distances are considered as sources of creativity. This dissertation gives practical implications on how it is possible to exploit different kinds of distances knowingly. It underlines especially the importance of brokerage functions in open, practice-based innovation in order to create possibilities for collective creativity. As a contribution of this dissertation, a model of brokerage functions in practice-based innovation is formulated. According to the model, the results and success of brokerage functions are based on the context of brokerage as well as the roles, tasks, skills and capabilities of brokers. The brokerage functions in practice-based innovation are also possible to divide into social and cognitive brokerage.

The Forms and Functions of Multilingual Practices in Early Modern School Drama from the King‟s School, Canterbury

Käsittelen tutkimuksessani monikielisyyden ilmenemistä Canterburyn katedraalikoulun oppilaiden 1600-luvun loppupuoliskolla esittämissä näytelmissä, jotka löytyvät käsikirjoituksesta Lit.Ms.E41 (Canterburyn katedraalin arkisto). Tämä käsikirjoitus sisältää puheita ja näytelmiä, joiden kielinä ovat englanti, latina ja vähemmissä määrin myös kreikka. Useissa näytelmissä esiintyy koodinvaihtoa näiden kielten välillä, ja tutkielmassani selvitän, millaisia syntaktisia ilmenemismuotoja ja pragmaattisia merkityksiä koodinvaihdolla on. Teoreettinen viitekehykseni on yhdistelmä filologista ja lingvististä lähestymistapaa. Olen sisällyttänyt tutkielmaani aiemman koodinvaihdon tutkimuksen lisäksi Brownin ja Levinsonin kohteliaisuusteorian, jonka avulla erityisesti puhujien välisiin sosiaalisiin suhteisiin liittyviä koodinvaihdon funktioita voidaan luokitella. Koska historiallinen koodinvaihto on tutkimusaiheena vielä melko tuore, käsittelen perusteellisesti erilaisia metodologisia ratkaisuja. Valitsemani metodi yhdistää perinteisen filologisen lähiluvun pragmaattiseen analyysiin, jonka kautta työssäni vaikuttavat muun muassa rationaalisuuden ja empatian käsitteet. Analyysini perusteella kävi ilmi, että erityisen yleinen koodinvaihdon funktio on mahdollistaa intertekstuaalisuus, jolla edelleen voidaan ilmaista esimerkiksi solidaarisuutta eli sosiaalista läheisyyttä tai loukata puhuteltavaa. Solidaarisuus oli myös ilman intertekstuaalisuutta yleinen koodinvaihdon funktio. Näiden lisäksi koodinvaihdon funktioita olivat muun muassa kasvoja uhkaavat teot, eufemismit, stilistiset efektit sekä diskurssin avustaminen. Syntaktisten ilmenemismuotojen osalta keskeisin havainto oli, että koodinvaihdon ja lainaamisen erottaminen ei ole tarpeellista tai edes kannattavaa kaikissa tilanteissa. Lisäksi voitiin todeta, että valittu metodi soveltui hyvin aineiston analysoimiseen, ja sitä tulisi soveltaa mahdollisuuksien mukaan laajempaan materiaaliin sekä muiden pragmaattisten ilmiöiden tutkimiseen.

TR(i)P, TR(i)P, hooray : new functions for TRPC2 and TRPC3

Kalciumjonen påverkar många aspekter av cellbiologi, från fertiliseringen av äggcellen till tillväxt och differentiering av alla typer av celler. Störningar i hur kalciumjonerna transporteras in och friges i cellerna kan ha stor betydelse för hur sjukdomar framskrider. På grund av detta är det viktigt att studera hur kalciumtransportörer såsom kalciumkanaler fungerar och hur de påverkar cellernas funktioner. I avhandlingen har klassiska transient receptorpotential (TRPC) katjonkanaler studerats. Dessa kanaler är permeabla för kalcium och aktiveras nedströms av G-proteinkopplade receptorer. Resultaten som presenteras i avhandlingen visar på nya funktioner för TRPC2- och TRPC3-kanalerna. Utöver TRPC3-kanalens roll i plasmamembranen, där den medverkar i receptorreglerat kalciuminflöde, tyder våra resultat på att TRPC3 har en potentiell intracellulär roll. Vid överuttryck av kanalen lokaliserade kanalen till endoplasmatiska nätverket där kanalen friger intracellulärt kalcium. TRPC2 har en viktig funktion i möss där kanalen reglerar hur djuret reagerar på feromoner. Våra resultat tyder på att TRPC2 är involverad i autokrin sfingosin-1-fosfat (S1P)-signalering. S1P som produceras i cellerna transporterades ut från cellerna varpå det aktiverade S1P2-receptorer på plasmamembranen. Diacylglycerol som bildas som en följd av aktivering av S1P2-receptorn aktiverade i sin tur inflöde av extracellulärt kalcium. Våra resultat indikerar att TRPC2 är kanalen som förmedlar detta kalciuminflöde. I sköldkörtelceller studerades nedströms effekter för TRPC2. Kanalen reglerade negativt cAMP-produktionen i cellerna vilket hämmar extracellulärt signalreglerat kinas 1/2 (ERK1/2). När uttrycket för TRPC2 minskades i cellerna, ökades produktionen av cAMP och fosforyleringen av ERK1/2, vilket resulterade i ökat uttryck för receptorn för sköldkörtelstimulerande hormon. Slutligen, presenterar vi resultat som tyder på att TRPC2 är viktigt för sekretion av prekursorn till sköldkörtelhormon.

Localization, Frequency, and Functions of Filled Pauses: Five American Politicians’ Use of er and erm in the Talk Show Larry King Live

Tämän pro gradu– tutkielman tavoitteena oli testata täytettyjen taukojen (er ja erm) esiintymistiheyttä, sijaintia kieliopillisessa rakenteessa sekä funktioita Kjellmerin (2003) korpus-tutkimuksessa. Materiaalina käytin viiden yhdysvaltalaisen poliitikon puhetta keskusteluohjelmasta Larry King Live. Tutkimuksessani sovelsin Kjellmerin tutkimusmenetelmiä, joita muokkasin huomattavasti suppeampaan materiaaliini sopiviksi. Lähestymistapani oli täten induktiivinen toisin kuin testatussa tutkimuksessa. Materiaalini oli tarkoituksellisesti rajattu, sillä halusin selvittää, kuvaavatko Kjellmerin laajaan materiaaliin perustuvat tutkimustulokset myös täytettyjen taukojen käyttöä suppeammassa materiaalissa. Materiaalini (kokonaisuudessaan 101 minuuttia) transkriboin ortografisesti. Analyysissäni arvioin täytettyjen taukojen esiintymistiheyden puhujakohtaisesti ja koko ryhmälle suhteuttamalla täytettyjen taukojen lukumäärän kokonaissanamäärään. Tämän jälkeen tein perinteisen kielioppianalyysin rakenteista, joita edeltää tai joissa esiintyy täytetty tauko, ja täytettyjen taukojen sijainnin perusteella luokittelin ne sana-, lauseke-, ja lausetasolle. Lopuksi analysoin täytettyjen taukojen käyttöä soveltaen Kjellmerin ehdottamia funktioita (hesitaatio, vuorottelujäsennyksen merkitseminen, huomion herättäminen ja kontaktin luominen, korostus ja korjaus) ja niiden piirteitä omaan materiaaliini. Tutkimukseni perusteella täytetyt tauot esiintyvät tutkitun viiden poliitikon puheessa suhteellisen usein. Puhujakohtaiset eroavaisuudet olivat kuitenkin huomattavat. Kieliopillisen luokitteluni mukaan sana-, lauseke- ja lausetasot eivät täysin kuvaa täytettyjen taukojen sijoittumista, sillä täytetyt tauot edelsivät mm. määre-lauseita, jotka eivät vastaa lausetasoa englannin kielessä. Materiaalini funktioanalyysi osoitti, että täytetyt tauot yleensä vastaavat yhtä tai useampaa Kjellmerin ehdottamaa funktioita. Lisäksi tutkimukseni mukaan täytetyillä tauoilla on ainakin yksi rakenteellinen funktio. Analyysini perusteella Kjellmerin tutkimustulokset ovat siis pääosin sovellettavissa suppeampaan materiaaliin. Puutteiksi hänen tutkimuksessaan osoittautuivat funktioanalyysille tärkeän kontekstuaalisen informaation puute sekä keskittyminen täytettyihin taukoihin, jotka esiintyvät vain tietyissä kielioppirakenteissa. Yleisesti voin tutkimukseni pohjalta todeta, että täytetyt tauot ovat vielä vajaasti tunnettuja ja että kieliopillisen sijoituksen ja funktioiden lisätutkimus on tarpeellista.

Novel Functions of ErbB4 and NRG-1 in Development and Cancer

Cells communicate, or signal, with each other constantly to ensure proper functioning of tissues and organs. Cell signaling is often performed by interplay of receptors and ligands that bind these receptors. ErbB receptors (epidermal growth factor receptors, EGFR, HER) bind extracellular growth factors and transduce these signals inside of cells. ErbB dysfunction promotes carcinogenesis, and also results in numerous defects during normal development. This study focused on the functions of one member of the ErbB receptor family, ErbB4, and growth factor, neuregulin-1 (NRG-1), that can bind and activate ErbB4. This study aimed to find novel functions of ErbB4 and NRG-1. Hypoxia, or deficiency of oxygen, is common in cancer and ischemic conditions. One of the key findings of the work was the identification and characterization of a cross-talk between ErbB4 and Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), the central mediator of hypoxia signaling. ErbB4 activation by NRG-1 was found to increase HIF-1α activity. Interestingly, this regulation occurred in reciprocal manner as HIF-1α was also able to increase protein levels of NRG-1 and ErbB4. Moreover, expression of NRG-1 and ErbB4 was associated with HIF activity in vivo in human clinical samples and in mice. Reduction of functional ErbB4 in developing zebrafish embryos resulted in defects in development of the skeletal muscles. To study ErbB4 functions in pathological situation in humans, clinical samples of serous ovarian carcinoma were analyzed using tissue microarrays and real-time RT-PCR. A specific isoform of ErbB4, CYT-1, was associated with poor survival in serous ovarian cancer and increased anchorage independent growth of ovarian cancer cells in vitro. These observations demonstrate that ErbB4 and NRG-1 are essential regulators of cellular response to hypoxia, of development, and of ovarian carcinogenesis.

Training executive functions in the laboratory and in real life : cognitive consequences of computer-based exercises and bilingualism

The question of the trainability of executive functions and the impact of such training on related cognitive skills has stirred considerable research interest. Despite a number of studies investigating this, the question has not yet been solved. The general aim of this thesis was to investigate two very different types of training of executive functions: laboratory-based computerized training (Studies I-III) and realworld training through bilingualism (Studies IV-V). Bilingualism as a kind of training of executive functions is based on the idea that managing two languages requires executive resources, and previous studies have suggested a bilingual advantage in executive functions. Three executive functions were studied in the present thesis: updating of working memory (WM) contents, inhibition of irrelevant information, and shifting between tasks and mental sets. Studies I-III investigated the effects of computer-based training of WM updating (Study I), inhibition (Study II), and set shifting (Study III) in healthy young adults. All studies showed increased performance on the trained task. More importantly, improvement on an untrained task tapping the trained executive function (near transfer) was seen in Study I and II. None of the three studies showed improvement on untrained tasks tapping some other cognitive function (far transfer) as a result of training. Study I also used PET to investigate the effects of WM updating training on a neurotransmitter closely linked to WM, namely dopamine. The PET results revealed increased striatal dopamine release during WM updating performance as a result of training. Study IV investigated the ability to inhibit task-irrelevant stimuli in bilinguals and monolinguals by using a dichotic listening task. The results showed that the bilinguals exceeded the monolinguals in inhibiting task-irrelevant information. Study V introduced a new, complementary research approach to study the bilingual executive advantage and its underlying mechanisms. To circumvent the methodological problems related to natural groups design, this approach focuses only on bilinguals and examines whether individual differences in bilingual behavior correlate with executive task performances. Using measures that tap the three above-entioned executive functions, the results suggested that more frequent language switching was associated with better set shifting skills, and earlier acquisition of the second language was related to better inhibition skills. In conclusion, the present behavioral results showed that computer-based training of executive functions can improve performance on the trained task and on closely related tasks, but does not yield a more general improvement of cognitive skills. Moreover, the functional neuroimaging results reveal that WM training modulates striatal dopaminergic function, speaking for training-induced neural plasticity in this important neurotransmitter system. With regard to bilingualism, the results provide further support to the idea that bilingualism can enhance executive functions. In addition, the new complementary research approach proposed here provides some clues as to which aspects of everyday bilingual behavior may be related to the advantage in executive functions in bilingual individuals.

Evaluation of methods for estimating energy performance of biogas production

This study focused on identifying various system boundaries and evaluating methods of estimating energy performance of biogas production. First, the output-input ratio method used for evaluating energy performance from the system boundaries was reviewed. Secondly, ways to assess the efficiency of biogas use and parasitic energy demand were investigated. Thirdly, an approach for comparing biogas production to other energy production methods was evaluated. Data from an existing biogas plant, located in Finland, was used for the evaluation of the methods. The results indicate that calculating and comparing the output-input ratios (Rpr1, Rpr2, Rut, Rpl and Rsy) can be used in evaluating the performance of biogas production system. In addition, the parasitic energy demand calculations (w) and the efficiency of utilizing produced biogas (η) provide detailed information on energy performance of the biogas plant. Furthermore, Rf and energy output in relation to total solid mass of feedstock (FO/TS) are useful in comparing biogas production with other energy recovery technologies. As a conclusion it is essential for the comparability of biogas plants that their energy performance would be calculated in a more consistent manner in the future.

Neurocognitive changes in early-stage Parkinson's disease : functional and structural brain correlates of memory and verbal functions

Resultaten påvisade små, men mätbara försämringar i minnes- och verbal förmåga hos personer som haft Parkinsons sjukdom under tre år. Jämfört med en kontrollgrupp uppvisade Parkinsonpatienter avvikande responser i hjärnans elektriska aktivitet under en korttidsminnesuppgift, och de presterade även sämre i olika typer av andra minnesuppgifter. Försämring i en specifik typ av minnesuppgift korrelerade med förminskad volym i höger hjärnhalva. Samband hittades också mellan sämre verbal förmåga och förminskad volym i djupa hjärnstrukturer. Förminskad hjärnvolym har tidigare påvisats hos dementa patienter i senare sjukdomsstadier. Forskningsresultaten bidrar med ny kunskap om kognitiva symptom och deras neurala bakgrund vid Parkinsons sjukdom. De tyder också på att tidig kognitiv funktionsnedsättning kan identifieras, vilket kan bidra till utvecklingen av sjukdomens behandling. Parkinsons sjukdom är den näst vanligaste neurogeriatriska sjukdomen efter Alzheimers sjukdom. Symptomen uppstår som följd av förminskad produktion av hjärnans transmittorämne dopamin. Parkinsons sjukdom har traditionellt betraktats som en progressiv motorisk sjukdom. Ny forskning tyder på att multipla hjärnsystem skadas, vilket resulterar i att även tankeprocesser påverkas. 75-80% uppskattas insjukna i demens 10-15 år efter diagnos, men det kognitiva sjukdomsförloppet och orsaken till demenssymptomen är tillsvidare okänd. I Finland uppskattas ca 10-12 000 personer ha Parkinsons sjukdom, varav ca 3 000 uppskattas ha demens. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tutkimuksessa todettiin lieviä muutoksia muisti- ja kielellisissä toiminnoissa alle kolme vuotta sairastaneilla Parkinson-potilailla. Potilailla havaittiin poikkeavia aivosähkötoiminnan vasteita lyhytkestoista muistia mittaavan tehtävän aikana. Potilaat suoriutuivat myös verrokkiryhmää heikommin useissa muistitehtävissä. Heikentynyt tahaton muisti liittyi pienempään aivokuoren harmaan aineen paikalliseen tilavuuteen. Heikompi kielellinen suoriutuminen liittyi pienempään harmaan aineen tilavuuteen aivojen syvissä rakenteissa. Pienentyneitä aivorakenteiden tilavuuksia on aiemmin todettu dementoituneilla Parkinson-potilailla sairauden myöhemmissä vaiheissa. Tutkimustulokset tuovat uutta tietoa Parkinsonin taudin kognitiivisista oireista ja niiden aivoperäisestä taustasta. Tulosten perusteella on mahdollista tunnistaa jo varhaisia kognitiivisia muutoksia, mikä voi mahdollistaa tehokkaamman hoidon kohdentamisen. Parkinsonin tauti on Alzheimerin taudin jälkeen toiseksi yleisin neurogeriatrinen sairaus. Oirekuva liittyy aivojen dopaminergisen järjestelmän rappeutumiseen. Perinteisesti liikehäiriösairaudeksi luokiteltu sairaus vaurioittaa lukuisia muita aivojärjestelmiä aiheuttaen muutoksia myös mm. ajattelutoiminnoissa. Pitkään sairastaneista 75–80 prosentilla esiintyy dementiaoireita, mutta oireiden syy ja kehityskaari tunnetaan toistaiseksi huonosti. Suomessa on arviolta 10–12 000 Parkinson-potilasta, joista noin 3 000 arvioidaan kärsivän dementiaoireista.

Excessive functions, Appell polynomials and optimal stopping

The main topic of the thesis is optimal stopping. This is treated in two research articles. In the first article we introduce a new approach to optimal stopping of general strong Markov processes. The approach is based on the representation of excessive functions as expected suprema. We present a variety of examples, in particular, the Novikov-Shiryaev problem for Lévy processes. In the second article on optimal stopping we focus on differentiability of excessive functions of diffusions and apply these results to study the validity of the principle of smooth fit. As an example we discuss optimal stopping of sticky Brownian motion. The third research article offers a survey like discussion on Appell polynomials. The crucial role of Appell polynomials in optimal stopping of Lévy processes was noticed by Novikov and Shiryaev. They described the optimal rule in a large class of problems via these polynomials. We exploit the probabilistic approach to Appell polynomials and show that many classical results are obtained with ease in this framework. In the fourth article we derive a new relationship between the generalized Bernoulli polynomials and the generalized Euler polynomials.

PDM system functions and utilizations analysis to improve efficiency of sheet metal product design and manufacturing

This study will concentrate on Product Data Management (PDM) systems, and sheet metal design features and classification. In this thesis, PDM is seen as an individual system which handles all product-related data and information. The meaning of relevant data is to take the manufacturing process further with fewer errors. The features of sheet metals are giving more information and value to the designed models. The possibility of implementing PDM and sheet metal features recognition are the core of this study. Their integration should make the design process faster and manufacturing-friendly products easier to design. The triangulation method is the basis for this research. The sections of this triangle are: scientific literature review, interview using the Delphi method and the author’s experience and observations. The main key findings of this study are: (1) the area of focus in triangle (the triangle of three different point of views: business, information exchange and technical) depends on the person’s background and their role in the company, (2) the classification in the PDM system (and also in the CAD system) should be done using the materials, tools and machines that are in use in the company and (3) the design process has to be more effective because of the increase of industrial production, sheet metal blank production and the designer’s time spent on actual design and (4) because Design For Manufacture (DFM) integration can be done with CAD-programs, DFM integration with the PDM system should also be possible.

Choosing the target loci : heat shock factors HSF1 and HSF2 as regulators of cell stress and development

Heat shock factors (HSFs) are an evolutionarily well conserved family of transcription factors that coordinate stress-induced gene expression and direct versatile physiological processes in eukaryote organisms. The essentiality of HSFs for cellular homeostasis has been well demonstrated, mainly through HSF1-induced transcription of heat shock protein (HSP) genes. HSFs are important regulators of many fundamental processes such as gametogenesis, metabolic control and aging, and are involved in pathological conditions including cancer progression and neurodegenerative diseases. In each of the HSF-mediated processes, however, the detailed mechanisms of HSF family members and their complete set of target genes have remained unknown. Recently, rapid advances in chromatin studies have enabled genome-wide characterization of protein binding sites in a high resolution and in an unbiased manner. In this PhD thesis, these novel methods that base on chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) are utilized and the genome-wide target loci for HSF1 and HSF2 are identified in cellular stress responses and in developmental processes. The thesis and its original publications characterize the individual and shared target genes of HSF1 and HSF2, describe HSF1 as a potent transactivator, and discover HSF2 as an epigenetic regulator that coordinates gene expression throughout the cell cycle progression. In male gametogenesis, novel physiological functions for HSF1 and HSF2 are revealed and HSFs are demonstrated to control the expression of X- and Y-chromosomal multicopy genes in a silenced chromatin environment. In stressed human cells, HSF1 and HSF2 are shown to coordinate the expression of a wide variety of genes including genes for chaperone machinery, ubiquitin, regulators of cell cycle progression and signaling. These results highlight the importance of cell type and cell cycle phase in transcriptional responses, reveal the myriad of processes that are adjusted in a stressed cell and describe novel mechanisms that maintain transcriptional memory in mitotic cell division.

Operations management in courts of justice - outlining functions, challenges and development possibilities

Professional services are an increasingly important group of economy and related to them there has been identified a fairly new concept called professional service operations management. However professional service operations management is still quite under-researched area which needs further research especially in specific contexts. This study aims to respond to that need by examining courts as an environment for operations management. As a result there is a preliminary structured description of what operations management is and could be in courts. The study also aims to inspire and tentatively classify possible areas for future research. Courts are examined based on three common perspectives for typical characteristics of professional services which can be identified in literature: the nature of customer role, the nature of professional work and the nature of process and product. The examination is based on research data from several research projects conducted in Finland and other European countries. Based on the examination it can be said that the operational environment of courts is highly complex and demanding because the case as an object of operations management tasks is challenging, the process sets strict requirements to the handling of the cases and the workforce is hard to direct.