Current status of the waste-to-energy chain in the County of North Savo, Finland

The aim of this report is to describe the current status of the waste-to-energy chain in the province of Northern Savonia in Finland. This work is part of the Baltic Sea Region Programme project Remowe-Regional Mobilizing of Sustainable Waste-to-Energy Production (2009-2012). Partnering regions across Baltic Sea countries have parallelly investigated the current status, bottle-necks and needs for development in their regions. Information about the current status is crucial for the further work within the Remowe project, e.g. in investigating the possible future status in target regions. Ultimate result from the Northern Savonia point of view will be a regional model which utilizes all available information and facilitates decision-making concerning energy utilization of waste. The report contains information on among others: - waste management system (sources, amounts, infrastructure) - energy system (use, supply, infrastructure) - administrative structure and legislation - actors and stakeholders in the waste-to-energy field, including interest and development ideas The current status of the regions will be compared in a separate Remowe report, with the focus on finding best practices that could be transferred among the regions. In this report, the current status has been defined as 2006-2009. In 2009, the municipal waste amount per capita was 479 kg/inhabitant in Finland. Industrial waste amounted 3550 kg/inhabitant, respectively. The potential bioenergy from biodegradable waste amounts 1 MWh/inhabitant in Northern Savonia. This figure includes animal manure, crops that would be suitable for energy use, sludge from municipal sewage treatment plants and separately collected biowaste. A key strategy influencing also to Remowe work is the waste plan for Eastern Finland. Currently there operate two digestion plants in Northern Savonia: Lehtoniemi municipal sewage treatment sludge digestion plant of Kuopion Vesi and the farm-scale research biogas plant of Agrifood Research Finland in Maaninka. Moreover, landfill gas is collected to energy use from Heinälamminrinne waste management centre and Silmäsuo closed landfill site, both belonging to Jätekukko Oy. Currently there is no thermal utilization of waste in Northern Savonia region. However, Jätekukko Oy is pretreating mixed waste and delivering refuse derived fuel (RDF) to Southern Finland to combustion. There is a strong willingness among seven regional waste management companies in Eastern Finland to build a waste incineration plant to Riikinneva waste management centre near city of Varkaus. The plant would use circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler. This would been a clear boost in waste-to-energy utilization in Northern Savonia and in many surrounding regions.

Logistics of North-West Russia and Rail Baltica: Standpoints of Private Sector

The main aims of the present report are to describe the current state of railway transport in Russia, and to gather standpoints of Russian private transportation logistics sector towards the development of new railway connection called Rail Baltica Growth Corridor, connecting North-West Russia with Germany through the Baltic States and Poland. North-West Russia plays important role not only in Russian logistics, but also wider European markets as in container sea ports handling is approx. 2.5 mill. TEU p.a. and handling volume in all terminals is above 190 million tons p.a. The whole transportation logistics sector is shortly described as an operational environment for railways – this is done through technical and economic angles. Transportation development is always going in line with economics of the country, so the analysis on economical development is also presented. Logistics integration of the country is strongly influenced by its engagement in the international trade. Although, raw material handling at sea ports and container transports (imports) are blossoming, domestic transportation market is barely growing (in long-term perspective). Thus, recent entrance of Russia into World Trade Organization (WTO) is analyzed theme in this research, as the WTO is an important regulator of the foreign trade and enabler of volume growth in foreign trade related transportation logistics. However, WTO membership can influence negatively the development of Russia’s own industry and its volumes (these have been uncompetitive in global markets for decades). Data gathering in empirical part was accomplished by semi-structured case study interviews among North-West Russian logistics sector actors (private). These were conducted during years 2012-2013, and research compiles findings out of ten case company interviews. Although, there was no sea port involved in the study, most of the interviewed companies relied in European Logistics within significant parts in short sea shipping and truck combined transportation chains (in Russian part also using railways). As the results of the study, it could be concluded that Rail Baltica is seen as possible transport corridor in most of the interviewed companies, if there is enough cargo available. However, interviewees are a bit sceptical, because major and large-scale infrastructural improvements are needed. Delivery time, frequency and price level are three main factors influencing the attractiveness of Rail Baltica route. Price level is the most important feature, but if RB can offer other advantages such as higher frequency, shorter lead times or more developed set of value-added services, then some flexibility is possible for the price level. Environmental issues are not the main criteria of today, but are recognized and discussed among customers. Great uncertainty exists among respondents e.g. on forthcoming sulphur oxide ban on Baltic Sea shipping (whether or not it is going to be implemented in Russia). Rather surprisingly, transportation routes to Eastern Europe and Mediterranean area are having higher value and price space than those to Germany/Central Europe. Border crossing operations (traction monopoly at rails and customs), gauge widths as well as unclear decision-making processes (in Russia), are named as hindering factors. Performance standards for European connected logistics among Russian logistics sector representatives are less demanding as compared to neighbourhood countries belonging to EU.

Cost-effectiveness analysis in South Karelia Central Hospital

The target organization of this study, otherwise South-Karelia Social and Health Care District (Eksote) provides health, senior, family and social welfare services. South Karelia Central Hospital provides special health care and offers health services from all of the most important medical specialties. Eksote has in use 15D instrument to measure the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of their patients before and after their interventions for observing the health effects of the medical care. Furthermore, 15D allows measuring the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health care when comparing these before and after results of the 15D measurements and adding the costs of the interventions into this research. The main purposes of this study were to analyze the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of medical care in South Karelia Central Hospital by using the gathered 15D data to calculate effectiveness and cost-effectiveness ratios and to analyze the reliability and availability of the data. Study has been conducted using literature review and quantitative research methods. The results indicate that from the patients within the eight units selected to this study the 15D change information was available from the 52 %, the 15D change and the cost information from 38 % and the information of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) produced and the cost information from 35 %. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of medical care were greatest at the units of Pain Outpatient Clinic and Rheumatic Diseases Outpatient Clinic. The most effective medical care is given in the unit where the average price of one produced QALY is the highest (Orthopedics). However, the calculated standard deviations pointed out that there are great variances in the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness within the units also.

[Alla marcia Karelia-sarjasta]

Soitinnus: orkesteri.

Prediction of market switching and delisting events from OMX First North Nordic multilateral stock exchange

This thesis studies the predictability of market switching and delisting events from OMX First North Nordic multilateral stock exchange by using financial statement information and market information from 2007 to 2012. This study was conducted by using a three stage process. In first stage relevant theoretical framework and initial variable pool were constructed. Then, explanatory analysis of the initial variable pool was done in order to further limit and identify relevant variables. The explanatory analysis was conducted by using self-organizing map methodology. In the third stage, the predictive modeling was carried out with random forests and support vector machine methodologies. It was found that the explanatory analysis was able to identify relevant variables. The results indicate that the market switching and delisting events can be predicted in some extent. The empirical results also support the usability of financial statement and market information in the prediction of market switching and delisting events.

Chart of a portion of North-West Greenland : altered according to the positions and measurements obtained by the Swedish expedition of 1870

Kartta kuuluu A. E. Nordenskiöldin kokoelmaan

Map of the north coast of Russia indicating the proposed trade route of the Obi-railway

Kartta kuuluu A. E. Nordenskiöldin kokoelmaan

Behring's Sea and Arctic Ocean from surveys of the U.S. North Pacific Surveying Expedition in 1855 John Rogers commanding and from Russian and English authorities : additions to July 1868

Kartta kuuluu A. E. Nordenskiöldin kokoelmaan

First North -markkinapaikka vaihtoehtoisena rahoituksen lähteenä suomalaisille kasvuyrityksille

Tässä tutkielmassa pohditaan First North -markkinapaikalle listautumista osana kasvuyrityksen rahoitusta.

A new & accurate map of the North Pole with all the countries hitherto discovered situated near or adjacent to it as well as some others more remote. Drawn from the latest and best authorities and regulated by astronom.l observat.ns by Eman. Bowen.

0-meridiaani: Lontoo. - Koordinaattiasteikko: N90°-55°[50°].

Sanelua vai vuorovaikutusta? - Soteva, Karelia ja Porin Konepajan sotakorvaustuotanto 1944–1952

Tämän tutkimuksen aiheena on yksittäisen metalliteollisuusyrityksen asema sotakorvaustuotannossa sekä kanssakäyminen Sotakorvausteollisuuden valtuuskunnan (Soteva) ja Neuvostoliiton sotakorvauksista vastaavan valtuuston eli ”Karelian” kanssa. Sotevalla oli asetuksin määrätty valta sotakorvausten järjestämisessä ja tarvittaessa valtuudet puuttua teollisuuslaitosten tuotantoon sekä yrityssalaisuuksiksi katsottaviin seikkoihin.Karelian mittavat oikeudet nojautuivat puolestaan rauhansopimukseen. Tutkimuksen pääkysymyksenä on, kuinka paljon yritys sai päättää sotakorvaustuotannostaan ja mitkä seikat siihen vaikuttivat. Esimerkkinä toimii Rosenlew-yhtiöön kuulunut Porin Konepaja Oy. Tutkimus on tapaustutkimus, jossa päälähteenä on käytetty Porin Konepajan sekä Sotevan välistä laajaa kirjeenvaihtoa ja yrityksen vuosikertomuksia sekä Lars Holmströmin Porin Konepajalle sijoittuvaa yrityksen sotakorvaustuotantoa käsittelevää muistelmateosta. Lähteitä lähestytään laadullisen sisällönanalyysin keinoin. Sotakorvausurakasta suoriutuminen edellytti toimijoiden välistä luottamusta sekä yhteistyötä. Sotevalla oli vaikeuksia teollisuuskentän kapasiteetin tuntemisessa ja tuotantoa pyrittiin sijoittamaan suurempiin yrityksiin, joihin se myös luotti. Suuremmille yrityksille annettiin myös verrattain tasavertainen neuvotteluasema tuotantoon liittyvissä kysymyksissä. Myös valmistettavalla tuotteella oli vaikutusta. Tutkimuksessa perehdytään tarkemmin myös Sotevan ja teollisuuslaitosten yhteistyöhön, johon vaikutti esimerkiksi se, että teollisuuskenttä piti ideologisesti kiinni normaalin kaupankäynnin periaatteista, joita ei voitu valtion näkökulmasta sotakorvauksissa soveltaa. Sotevan kankea byrokratia sekä hinnoittelu koettiin ongelmallisiksi. Kanssakäymiseen vaikutti merkittävästi myös Neuvostoliiton vastaanottajataho Karelia, jolla oli myös omat valtuutensa ja agendansa puuttua teollisuuslaitosten toimintaan. Erittäin tiukka laadunvalvonta on melko usein yleistetty poliittiseksi painostuskeinoksi, mutta ainakin Porin Konepajan tapauksessa kyseessä oli eri tavoitteet. Tutkimuksessa avataan myös tuotantolaitoksen keinoja vaikuttaa vastaanottajatahoon ja keskinäiseen luottamukseen. Viime vuosikymmeninä on purettu sotakorvausten myyttiä, eli aikanaan poliittisesti värittynyttä uskomusta siitä, että sotakorvaukset loivat Suomen metalliteollisuuden.Tässä tutkimuksessa sivutaan myös yksittäisen yrityksen hyötynäkökulmaa käsittelemällä sotakorvausten ja Sotevan avulla saavutettuja etuja. Sodanjälkeisessä tilanteessatärkeyslistalla ensisijaiseen sotakorvaustuotantoon osallistuminen voidaan katsoa hyödyttäneen yrityksiä. Tuotannon kehittäminen ei olisi ollut mahdollista ilman Sotevanmyöntämiä hankintalisenssejä ja luottoa. Samanaikaisesti Soteva tarvitsi motivoituneitayrityksiä sotakorvauksista suoriutumiseen, mikä osittain hillitsi suoranaisten mahtikäs kyjen antamista.