Photoluminescence of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells

In this thesis is studied the influence of uniaxial deformation of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well structures to photoluminescence. Uniaxial deformation was applied along [110] and polarization ratio of photoluminescence at T = 77 K and 300 K was measured. Also the physical origin of photoluminescence lines in spectrum was determined and the energy band splitting value between states of heavy and light holes was estimated. It was found that the dependencies of polarization ratio on uniaxial deformation for bulk GaAs and GaAs/AlGaAs are different. Two observed lines in photoluminescence spectrum are induced by free electron recombination to energy sublevels of valence band corresponding to heavy and light holes. Those sublevels are splited due to the combination of size quantization and external pressure. The quantum splitting energy value was estimated. Also was shown a method, which allows to determine the energy splitting value of sublevels at room temperature and at comparatively low uniaxial deformation, when the other method for determining of the splitting becomes impossible.

Magnetic and transport properties of InGaAs quantum wells with Mn

In the present work structural, magnetic and transport properties of InGaAs quantum wells (QW) prepared by MBE with an remote Mn layer are investigated. By means of high-resolution X-ray diffractometry the structure of the samples is analyzed. It is shown that Mn ions penetrate into the QW. Influence of the thickness of GaAs spacer and annealing at 286 ºС on the properties of the system is shown. It is shown that annealing of the samples led to Mn activation and narrowing of the Mn layer. Substantial role of 2D holes in ferromagnetic ordering in Mn layer is shown. Evidence for that is observation of maximum at 25 – 55 K on the resistivity temperature dependence. Position of maximum, which is used for quantitative assessment of the Curie temperature, correlates with calculations of the Curie temperature for structures with indirect interaction via 2D holes’ channel. Dependence of the Curie temperature on the spacer thickness shows, that creation of applicable spintronic devices needs high-precision equipment to manufacture extra fine structures. The magnetotransport measurements show that charge carrier mobility is very low. This leads to deficiency of the anomalous Hall effect. At the same time, magnetic field dependences of the magnetization at different temperatures demonstrate that systems are ferromagnetically ordered. These facts, most probably, give evidence of presence of the ferromagnetic MnAs clusters.

Vuorovaikutuskouluttajana työyhteisöissä

This thesis concerns organizing a workshop about interaction in the various communities represented by Helsinki city's social welfare department. There were seventeen workshops altogether and they were organized in different communities; for example, in a children's daycare centre. The aim was to gain experience in the planning and organizing of these kinds of workshop. The workshops focused on dealing with interactive quetions arising out of the very community which was taking part in the workshop. These questions were discussed and handled using a technique called forum-statues. This means that the problems arising from the community were presented as living pictures to the group. There was also a short theoretical element concerning interactions between people, self-esteem, the different phases in developing a group, and the effects of conflicts in groups. There was a high degree of interest in the research and places were soon filled. The workshops consisted of a warming part with a lot of playing, a deepening part with questions arising out of the group, and a relaxation and feedback part at the end. The basis of the workshop was similar for all seventeen workshops. The athmosphere in workshops was discussive and open. The participants were engouraged to express there opinions and point of views. Feedback from the participantswas very positive. The participants obtained new points of view, according there fellow workers, and the community spirit improved. Shortage of time was, unfortunately, a problem. With more time, it would have been possible to go deeper into the problems of interaction within the community. Ceratinly, the research proved that there would be great demand for this kind of workshop in future.

Palvelusopimukset tienpidon hankinnoissa

Infrarakentamisen toimintaympäristö on muuttumassa. Aikaisemmin julkinen sektori hallitsi toimialaa, mutta markkinat ovatavautumassa. Teknologian kehittäminen siirtyy julkiselta tilaajataholta yksityisille ja osaaminen yritysten kilpailutekijänä korostuu. Julkisen sektorin tehtävänä on luoda edellytyksiä tällaiselle toiminnalle. Toimintoja tullaan Tiehallinnossa ulkoistamaan yhä enemmän. Uusissa palvelusopimusmalleissa yhdistetään tieverkon tai tuotteen kunnon hallinta, toimenpiteiden ohjelmointi sekä palvelujen hankinta. Tästä muodostuu yhtenäinen prosessi, josta palvelun tuottaja vastaa. Nykyisin käytössä olevassa hankintamallissa edellä mainitut toiminnot on hajautettu useammalle eri vastuutaholle. Tämän työn tavoitteena on tarkastella palvelusopimusmallin soveltuvuutta hankintamenettelyjen eräänä vaihtoehtona. Lähtökohtana on tehdä ajallisesti pidempiä, sisällöllisesti laajempia sopimuksia. Palvelusopimusmallia voidaan soveltaa moniin hankintoihin. Tässä työssä tarkastellaan palvelusopimusmallia päällystetyn tieverkon ylläpidon hankinnassa. Uusien toimintatapojen käyttöönotossa on tärkeää saada alan toimijat yhdessä kehittämään näitä malleja. Työssä on haastateltu alan toimijoita ja heidän mielipiteet on otettu huomioon suunniteltaessa palvelusopimuksen sisältöä. Uusi sopimusmalli motivoi innovatiivisiin ratkaisuihin. Niiden syntymistä edesauttaa yritysten verkostomainen toiminatapa ja kumppanuuden syventäminen. Jokainen yritys voi tällöin keskittyä omaan ydinosaamiseensa. Samalla toimintojen kokonaistuottavuutta voidaan parantaa. Riskien hallinta on eräs tärkeimmistä asioista palvelusopimusmallin mukaisen toiminnan onnistumiselle. Riskien tunnistaminen ja niiden jakaminen eri osapuolten kesken oikeuden mukaisesti tulee sopimusmallissa hallita. Merkittävänä riskitekijöinä nousivat tässä työssä esiin, vaikeasti hallittavat, pitkän sopimusajan tuomat uhat.

Investigations of GaAs based heterostructures for spintronics

In the present work are reported investigations of structural, magnetic and electronic properties of GaAs/Ga1-xInxAs/GaAs quantum wells (QW) having a 0.5 - 1.8 monolayer thick Mn layer, separated from the quantum well by a 3 nm thick spacer. The structure of the samples is analyzed in details by photoluminescence and high-resolution X-ray difractometry and reflectometry, confirming that Mn atoms are practically absent from the QW. Transport properties and crystal structure are analyzed for the first time for this type of QW structures with so high mobility. Observedconductivity and the Hall effect in quantizing magnetic fields in wide temperature range, defined by transport of holes in the quantum well, demonstrate properties inherent to ferromagnetic systems with spin polarization of charge carriersin the QW. Investigation of the Shubnikov ¿ de Haas and the Hall effects gave the possibility to estimate the energy band parameters such as cyclotron mass andFermi level and calculate concentrations and mobilities of holes and show the high-quality of structures. Magnetic ordering is confirmed by the existence of the anomalous Hall effect.

Streptavidin - A Versatile Binding Protein for Solid-Phase Immunoassays

Streptavidin, a tetrameric protein secreted by Streptomyces avidinii, binds tightly to a small growth factor biotin. One of the numerous applications of this high-affinity system comprises the streptavidin-coated surfaces of bioanalytical assays which serve as universal binders for straightforward immobilization of any biotinylated molecule. Proteins can be immobilized with a lower risk of denaturation using streptavidin-biotin technology in contrast to direct passive adsorption. The purpose of this study was to characterize the properties and effects of streptavidin-coated binding surfaces on the performance of solid-phase immunoassays and to investigate the contributions of surface modifications. Various characterization tools and methods established in the study enabled the convenient monitoring and binding capacity determination of streptavidin-coated surfaces. The schematic modeling of the monolayer surface and the quantification of adsorbed streptavidin disclosed the possibilities and the limits of passive adsorption. The defined yield of 250 ng/cm² represented approximately 65 % coverage compared with a modelled complete monolayer, which is consistent with theoretical surface models. Modifications such as polymerization and chemical activation of streptavidin resulted in a close to 10-fold increase in the biotin-binding densities of the surface compared with the regular streptavidin coating. In addition, the stability of the surface against leaching was improved by chemical modification. The increased binding densities and capacities enabled wider high-end dynamic ranges in the solid-phase immunoassays, especially when using the fragments of the capture antibodies instead of intact antibodies for the binding of the antigen. The binding capacity of the streptavidin surface was not, by definition, predictive of the low-end performance of the immunoassays nor the assay sensitivity. Other features such as non-specific binding, variation and leaching turned out to be more relevant. The immunoassays that use a direct surface readout measurement of time-resolved fluorescence from a washed surface are dependent on the density of the labeled antibodies in a defined area on the surface. The binding surface was condensed into a spot by coating streptavidin in liquid droplets into special microtiter wells holding a small circular indentation at the bottom. The condensed binding area enabled a denser packing of the labeled antibodies on the surface. This resulted in a 5 - 6-fold increase in the signal-to-background ratios and an equivalent improvement in the detection limits of the solid-phase immunoassays. This work proved that the properties of the streptavidin-coated surfaces can be modified and that the defined properties of the streptavidin-based immunocapture surfaces contribute to the performance of heterogeneous immunoassays.

Molluscan radiations and landscape evolution in Miocene Amazonia

This PhD study aims to exploit the rich archive provided by the Miocene mollusc fauna of the Pebas Formation and other inland Miocene Amazonian formations to reconstruct landscape evolution and biotic development in lowland Amazonia during the Neogene. Over 160 samples from more than 70 Pebas Formation outcrops mostly collected by the author were processed for this study. Additional samples were collected in Andean areas of Colombia and Venezuela and further material from other northwestern South American basins was studied in museums. Pebas Formation samples and well log data made available by Occidental Peru from three wells in the Marañon Basin in Peru were also investigated. During this study four genera and 74 species from the Pebas Formation have been described and a further 13 species have been introduced in open nomenclature, and several species were reported for the first time. The number of mollusc species attributed to the Pebas fauna has increased from around 50 to 156. The Pebas fauna is characterised as aquatic, endemic and extinct, and is a typical representative of a long-lived lake fauna. Fluvial taxa are not common, (marginal) marine taxa are rare. An additional molluscan fauna from the Miocene Solimões Formation of Brazil, containing 13 fresh water species was also described. The newly documented fauna was used to improve biostratigraphic framework of Miocene Amazonian deposits. Twelve mollusc zones were introduced, the upper eleven of which cover a time interval of approximately seven million years covered previously by only three pollen zones. An age model calculated for the borehole data indicates that the Pebas Formation was deposited between c. 24 and 11 Ma. The areal distribution of the outcropping mollusc zones uncovered a broad dome structure, termed here the Iquitos-Araracuara anteclise in the study area. The structure appears to have influenced river courses and also contributed to edaphic heterogeneity that may have been in part responsible for the current high biodiversity in the study area. The Pebas system was a huge system (> one million km2) dominated by relatively shallow lakes, but also containing swamps and rivers. The system was fed by rivers draining the emergent Andes in the west and lowlands and cratons to the east. The Pebas system was located at sea level and was open to marine settings through a northern portal running through the Llanos Basin and East Venezuela Basin towards the Caribbean. Cyclical baselevel changes possibly related to Mylankhovitch cycles, have been documented in depositional sequences of the Pebas Formation. The composition of the Pebasian mollusc fauna implies that the system was mostly a fresh water system. Such an interpretation is matched by strontium isotope ratios as well as very negative δ18O ratios found in the shells, but is at odds with oligohaline and mesohaline ichnofacies found in the same strata. The mollusc fauna of the Pebas Formation diversified through most of the existence of the lake system. The diversification was mostly the result of in-situ cladogenesis. The success of some of the Pebasian endemic clades is explained by adaptation to fresh water, low oxygen, common unconsolidated lake bottoms (soup grounds) as well as high predation intensity. Maximum diversity was reached at the base of the late Middle to early Late Miocene Grimsdalea pollen zone, some 13 Ma. At the time some 85 species co-occurred, 67 of which are considered as Pebasian endemics. A subsequent drop in species richness coincides with indications of elevated salinities, although a causal relation still needs to be established. Apparently the Pebas fauna went (almost) entirely extinct with the replacement of the lake system into a fluvio-tidal system during the Early Late Miocene, some 11 Ma.

Lukion opettajien ääni - Aineenopettajien käsityksiä muutoksista ja visioista lukiossa

Tulevaisuusorientaatio on tullut entistä tärkeämmäksi myös koulumaailmassa johtuen yhteiskunnassa nopeasti eteen tulevista muutoksista. On myös esitetty epäilyjä, että tulevaisuuteen reagoimisessa heikoin tilanne olisikin juuri kuntatason päätöksenteossa. Ymmärrys ja tieto opettajan työstä nimenomaan opettajan omasta perspektiivistä tarkasteltuna mahdollistavat lähtökohdan ja edellytykset todelliselle koulun uudistamiselle. Peruskysymys, johon tässä tutkimuksessa etsittiin vastausta oli: Millaisia ovat lukion aineenopettajien käsitykset lukion muutosprosesseista ja miten he visioivat oman lukionsa ja yleensä lukioiden tulevaisuutta? Aineiston keruu osui ajankohtaan, joka oli hyvin otollinen tulevaisuuden tarkasteluun, sillä uusi opetussuunnitelma otettiin käyttöön kaikissa Suomen lukioissa viimeistään lukuvuonna 2005-2006. Tutkimuksessa oli mukana kaksi hyvin erilaista lukiota Länsi-Suomen läänistä eli pieni maaseudun lukio ja hyvin suuri kaupunkilukio. Tutkimusaineiston keruu eteni kaksivaiheisesti: informoitu kysely ja teemahaastattelu. Tutkimusjoukon suuruus oli yhteensä 20, joista puolet oli miehiä ja puolet naisia. Aineenopettajien käsityksiä muutoksista ja visioista tutkittiin fenomenografisen tutkimusotteen avulla. Fenomenografiassa kiinnostuksen kohteena ovat ihmisten erilaiset käsitykset todellisuudesta ja näin saatava ymmärrys tavoista, joilla ihmiset kokevat tilanteita ja maailmaa. Organisaation muutosprosesseja voidaan kutsua myös oppimiseksi. Tutkimuksen oppivan organisaation näkökulmat perustuivat juuri yhteistyössä tapahtuvaan yhteisen toiminnan kehittämiseen. Aineenopettajien käsityksiä työyhteisöstään tarkasteltiin seuraavista oppivan organisaatiomallin näkökulmista: vuorovaikutus, päätöksenteko sekä rehtorin ja aineenopettajan rooli ja asema työyhteisössä. Aineenopettajien keskeisimmät käsitykset muutoksista lukiossa viime vuosina kohdistuivat aineenopettajan ammattirooliin ja lukio-opiskelijaan sekä opiskelijalta vaadittaviin lukio-opintoihin. Muutokset ammattiroolissa korostavat tutkimustulosten perusteella aineenopettajilta vaadittavia muitakin kuin opetettavien aineiden hallintataitoja. Suoranaista ammattitaidon puutetta opettajat kokivat varsinkin ryhmänohjaustehtävien yhteydessä, osittain myös uusien oppimisympäristöjen, esimerkiksi verkkopedagogisten taitojen, yhteydessä. Opettajien lisäkoulutuksen tarve koetaan konkreettisena, mutta sekä koulutusten sisältöihin, järjestelyihin ja ajankohtiin että koulun sijais- ym. järjestelyihin kaivattaisiin parannuksia. Verrattuna aikaisempiin tutkimuksiin näyttäisi siltä, että luokaton lukio on saanut opettajat enenevässä määrin huolestumaan opiskelijoiden syrjäytymisriskistä ja hyvinvoinnista. Opiskelijoiden syrjäytymisriskin kasvu lukio-opintojen aikana nouseekin yhdeksi lukion pessimistiseksi skenaarioksi. Muista pessimistisistä skenaarioista lukiolle, jotka saattoi johtaa tutkimustuloksista, voidaan mainita työyhteisön demokratiavajeen syveneminen sekä opetussuunnitelmasisältöjen ja ylioppilastutkintovaatimusten välisen kuilun syveneminen. Aineenopettajien käsitykset oman lukionsa visioista olivat sisällöiltään pääosin välineellisiä ja ne kohdentuivat kaikki opiskelijoihin. Esimerkiksi työyhteisöllisiä kehittämisajatuksia ei visioissa ilmennyt. Myöskään visioinnin dynaamisuus ei aineistossa korostunut. Aineenopettajien käsitykset visioiden arvopohjasta heijastivat perinteistä suomalaista arvomaailmaa eli itsekuria, velvollisuudentuntoa, kuuliaisuutta esivaltaa kohtaan ja perinteisten arvojen kunnioittamista. Sen sijaan antiikista perityviä Sokrateen edustamia keskustelua ja auktoriteettien kyseenalaistamista ei arvoissa ilmennyt, eikä myöskään uusliberalistista individualismia. Käsitykset visioiden synnystä näyttävät parhaiten selittävän opettajan muita käsityksiä liittyen visioon, visiointiin ja työyhteisöllisiin vaikutusmahdollisuuksiin sekä opettajan tulevaisuusorientoitumiseen.. Käsitykset vision syntytaustasta voidaan jakaa seuraaviin pää- ja alakategorioihin: 1. auktoriteettikeskeinen visiointi: johdon linjaus tai valtakunnallinen linjaus, 2. yhteisökeskeinen visiointi: yhteisöllinen linjaus tai toiminnallinen linjaus ja 3. yksilökeskeinen visiointi. Pessimistisimmiksi eli vähiten tulevaisuusorientoituneiksi opettajiksi työyhteisössä osoittautuivat ne opettajat, jotka pitivät oman lukionsa visiota koulun johdon sanelemana. Monet teoriat oppivasta organisaatiosta korostavat johtajuuden merkitystä työyhteisöä kehitettäessä. Johtajuuden merkitys nousi tämänkin tutkimuksen aineistosta keskeisesti esiin. Pyrkimystä kohti oppivaa organisaatiota opettajien puheista löytyy paljonkin, esimerkkeinä viittaukset johtajuuden ja vuorovaikutustapojen kehittämistarpeisiin. Sen sijaan opettajien puheet omista työyhteisöllisistä kehittymistarpeistaan, ns. alaistaidot, jäivät vähäisiksi. Tutkimustuloksista on luotu sovellusmalli kouluyhteisöjen visioinnin ja muun kehittämistyön tueksi.

Metaanin muodostumisen mallintaminen kaatopaikalla

Methane-rich landfill gas is generated when biodegradable organic wastes disposed of in landfills decompose under anaerobic conditions. Methane is a significant greenhouse gas, and landfills are its major source in Finland. Methane production in landfill depends on many factors such as the composition of waste and landfill conditions, and it can vary a lot temporally and spatially. Methane generation from waste can be estimated with various models. In this thesis three spreadsheet applications, a reaction equation and a triangular model for estimating the gas generation were introduced. The spreadsheet models introduced are IPCC Waste Model (2006), Metaanilaskentamalli by Jouko Petäjä of Finnish Environment Institute and LandGEM (3.02) of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All these are based on the first order decay (FOD) method. Gas recovery methods and gas emission measurements were also examined. Vertical wells and horizontal trenches are the most commonly used gas collection systems. Emission measurements chamber method, tracer method, soil core and isotope measurements, micrometeorological mass-balance and eddy covariance methods and gas measuring FID-technology were discussed. Methane production at Ämmässuo landfill of HSY Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority was estimated with methane generation models and the results were compared with the volumes of collected gas. All spreadsheet models underestimated the methane generation at some point. LandGEM with default parameters and Metaanilaskentamalli with modified parameters corresponded best with the gas recovery numbers. Reason for the differences between evaluated and collected volumes could be e.g. that the parameter values of the degradable organic carbon (DOC) and the fraction of decomposable degradable organic carbon (DOCf) do not represent the real values well enough. Notable uncertainty is associated with the modelling results and model parameters. However, no simple explanation for the discovered differences can be given within this thesis.

Mikkelin Pursialan pohjavesialueen haitta-aineet

Mikkelin talousvedestä kahden kolmasosan tullessa Pursialan pohjavesialueelta on alueen suojeleminen tärkeää. Pohjaveden laatua uhkaavat etenkin alueella sattuneet pohjavedenpilaantumistapaukset. Merkittävimmät pohjaveden pilaantumistapaukset ovat VAPO Oy:n sahan aiheuttama pohjaveden pilaantuminen kloorifenoleilla (CP) ja VR:n ratapölkkykyllästämön aiheuttama pohjaveden pilaantuminen kreosoottiöljyllä sekä Rinnekadun Nesteen aiheuttama pohjaveden pilaantuminen MTBE:llä. Alueella on tehty tutkimuksia ja kunnostuksia pilaantumiin liittyen, mutta näiden tuloksia ei ole aikaisemmin koottu yhteen. Tämän työn tavoitteena oli koota tulokset samaan aineistoon. Työssä keskityttiin kloorifenolien leviämisen tarkasteluun sen Pursialan pohjavedenottamolle muodostaman suurimman uhan vuoksi. Kallioperätietojen, maanpintatietojen ja näytetietojen pohjalta laadittiin myös pienoismalli CP-pilaantuman leviämisen kokonaiskuvan hahmottamiseksi. Työn tavoitteena oli lisäksi tehdä riskitarkastelua CP-pilaantumaan liittyen ja etsiä keinoja hallita havaittuja riskejä. Riskinhallintaan liittyen työssä tutkittiin kloorifenoleilla pilaantuneen alueen maaperä- ja kalliotietoja sekä pohjaveden laatutietoja. Pursialan pohjavedessä on runsaasti rautaa ja mangaania sekä aggressiivista hiilihappoa. Pohjaveden pH on alueella noin 6,5, lämpötila noin 7,5 ºC ja happipitoisuus noin 0,7 mg/l. Pursialan kaupunginalueen kallioperässä on havaittavissa VAPO Oy:n sahalta vedenottamolle etenevä kalliopainanne, jota pitkin CP etenee. Alueen kallioperä on kiillegneissiä, jossa on pohjois–etelä-suuntaista rakoilua. Maaperätuloksien perusteella on havaittavissa vettä hyvin johtavien maakerrosten jatkuminen koko vedenottamon ja sahan välisen matkan, mikä tarkoittaa, että CP-pitoisella pohjavedellä voi olla aiemmin oletettua nopeampikin yhteys sahalta vedenottamolle. Suurin CP-pitoisuus noin 100 000 µg/l on mitattu KY-5-altaan kohdalle asennetun M14-pohjavesiputken pohjasta. Talousvesiasetuksen raja-arvo CP:lle on 10 µg/l. Sahan ja vedenottamon puolivälissä on havaittu yli 10 000 µg/l meneviä CP-pitoisuuksia. Suurin vedenottamon kaivoista (kaivo 10) mitattu pitoisuus on 149 µg/l. Jakotukilta raakavedestä otetuissa näytteissä tai talousvedessä ei ole kuitenkaan havaittu talousvesiasetuksen ylittäviä CP-pitoisuuksia. Pienoismallin perusteella CP sijaitsee sahan alueella lähellä kallionpintaa ja hajaantuu koko pohjavesipatjaan vedenottamolle päin mentäessä. CP-mittaustuloksissa on havaittavissa pulssimaisuutta. Tämä johtuu todennäköisesti Saimaan pinnan vaihtelun seurauksena muuttuvasta rantaimeytyneen pohjaveden määrästä. Saimaan pinnan nousu näyttäisi tuloksien perusteella nostavan CP-pitoisuuksia saha-alueella ja laskevan lähellä vedenottamoa. Pohjaveden pintatietojen perusteella tehdyn tarkastelun mukaan pohjavesi voi kulkeutua sahalta vedenottamolle parhaimmillaan noin vuodessa. Työssä arvioitiin KY-5–liuoksen vuosittaiseksi käyttömääräksi noin 648–970 m3. Allassakkaa arvioitiin syntyneen yhteensä noin 10–31 m3. Pohjaveteen arvioitiin joutuneen toiminnan aikana yhteensä noin 3 000–4 000 kg CP:tä. Kloorifenolit esiintyvät pohjavedessä lähes täysin kloorifenolaatteina. Kloorifenolien hajoaminen ja muuntuminen pohjavedessä on epätodennäköistä. Käsitteellisen mallin mukaan kloorifenolipilaantuman suurimmat riskit aiheutuvat kloorifenolien mahdollisuudesta pilata Pursialan vedenottamon talousvesi. Tällä hetkellä riskejä hallitaan kloorifenolien leviämisen tarkkailulla, sahan ja vedenottamon puolivälissä sijaitsevalla koepumppauksella sekä varautumalla aktiivihiilijauheen syöttöön talousvesiprosessiin. Koepumppauksen avulla on saatu ylös tällä hetkellä noin 69 kg kloorifenoleita. Tutkimuksen perusteella suositeltavimmat riskinhallintatoimet tulevaisuudessa ovat sahalla sijaitseva kunnostuspumppaus, sahan ja vedenottamon väliin sijoittuva suojapumppaus- ja vesiverhoyhdistelmä sekä sahan rannan kautta tapahtuvan rantaimeytymisen estäminen.

Maailmanhistoria - yksityistetty!

Nimekkeen selitys: Historioitsija René Groussettin ja kirjailijoiden H. G. Wellsin ja Octavio Pazin käsitykset maailmanhistoriasta.

Libanon ja Syyrian kansannousu

Lebanon has been largely stable during the tumultuous Arab Spring, but the country remains vulnerable to internal and regional instability. In addition to Lebanon's volatile internal conflicts, Lebanon is particularly exposed to increased regional tensions. While renewed tension in South Lebanon is often considered the most likely cause for instability in Lebanon, the deepening conflict in Syria now poses the greatest threat to Lebanon. This publication examines how the uprising in Syria affects both the internal stability of Lebanon and the South Lebanon conflict, arguing that the uprising in Syria greatly complicates Lebanon's internal power balance, elevating internal tensions, while also changing the context within which the South Lebanon conflict takes place.

Perspektivmöten i skola och handledning : lärares tankar om specialpedagogisk handledning

To create a more inclusive school, an increase in multidisciplinary cooperation is needed. One possible form of collaboration could encompass the special education teacher taking on the role of a consultant for other teachers in need of support in working with heterogeneous groups of pupils. Previous research shows that special education teachers see the role as consultant as diffuse and complex. The overarching aim of the present study involves deepening the knowledge on how consultation in a special educational context can be understood and developed based on teachers’ descriptions on this particular form of activity interpreted against various perspectives on consultation. The study is qualitative in nature and rests on a hermeneutic interpretive research tradition in combination with an abductive approach. The theoretical framework consists of two different approaches to consultation: the directive and the non-directive approach. The approaches differ regarding particular emphasis on advice and reflection during the consultation and with respect to who or what should be the focus of the consultation. The two approaches are here studied through various theories such as social learning theory, Bruner's theory of scaffolding, Roger’s humanist psychology, and constructivism. Semi-structured interviews were held with eighteen special education teachers (n=9) and class teachers (n=9) working in the compulsory school. The overall interpretation of the results shows that special education consultation can be understood as three different types of consultation. Consultation as counseling which harmonizes with the directive perspective on consultation is the most prominent type. In the consultation as counseling conversation, the special educational knowledge transfer is central and the focus is placed on the pupil. Although special education knowledge transfer emerges as a unique aspect of special education consultation, there are several inherent challenges in this type of consultation that can be addressed in that teachers also describe two other types of consultation. In the reflective consultation, there is a move away from the pupil focus and toward a focus on the class teacher and the use of reflection. The reflective consultation harmonizes with the non-directive approach to consultation. This type of consultation does not as of yet have a prominent place in the Finland-Swedish school context and at this stage it is not seen as a legitimate type of consultation according to the teachers’ descriptions. Despite this, certain aspects of the reflective conversation could be given more space in the development of consultation within special educational contexts. The co-operative consultation is characterized by the teachers acting as teammates and using professional exchange as a strategy for consultation. Both teachers' knowledge is seen as central, and rather than the special education teacher acting as the expert and moderator, the teachers control the consultation together and jointly move the work along. The co-operative consultation enables the focus to move from the pupil toward the context, which can lead to the development of inclusive practices. The results indicate that this type of consultation holds potential in the development of special educational consultation that takes place between equal colleagues. The co-operative consultation opens up for a third collaborative approach to consultation, where aspects of the directive and non-directive perspective can merge and develop. The thesis concludes with the proposal that special pedagogical consultation can be understood from an integrated perspective. The characteristics of the consultation can vary depending on the type of problem or situation, while co-operative consultation can be seen as the ideal as equal colleagues meet in consultation conversations. In order to develop the co-operative consultation, both teachers are required to have knowledge of consultation as a practice, to be part of a collaborative school climate, and that teachers are provided with enough time to take part in consultations.

I volontari italiani nelle Waffen-SS. Il pensiero politico, la formazione culturale e le motivazioni al volontariato. Una storia orale

My doctoral dissertation examines the experiences of the Italian volunteers in the Waffen-SS troops using in-depth interviews with former volunteers as the main primary source. This phenomenon, even if significant in size (depending on the source, some 15 000-20 000 Italian men volunteered in the Waffen-SS), has been hitherto largely unknown to historical research. The available literature on the Italian volunteers, mainly written by military history enthusiast journalists and methodologically weak, concentrates mainly on the combat operations and military organization, and offers a rather stereotypical profile of the volunteers. My dissertation does not aim to reconstruct the military history of the different divisions of the Waffen-SS in which Italian volunteers operated but instead to examine the subjective, private and intimate experience of the volunteers in order to understand the motivations, attitudes, beliefs and cultural and family background, as well as their political ideas. The main objective of my doctoral dissertation is to discover the ideological precepts of the volunteers’ political credo. As the last phase of fascism and its ideology, often defined as the “Germanisation” or “Nazification” of fascism, is still the object of wide academic debate, a better understanding of the volunteers’ ideology also contributes to deepening overall knowledge of the nature of this last phase. The theoretical frame of my dissertation lies in oral history, in particular in the postmodernist approach to oral history, through which I reconstruct the volunteers’ ideology. In-depth interviews with former volunteers are the main primary source, but multiple data collection methods have been adopted. Phone interviews and correspondence with the volunteers have also been considered as primary sources. In addition to interviews and correspondence, family archives consisting of diaries, correspondence with the volunteers’ relatives and photographic material have also been collected and examined. An ethnographic observation of the volunteers’ domestic spaces has been conducted during the in-depth interviews, and photo self-elicitation techniques have been used in cases where the volunteers were willing to share their photographs. An exhaustive portrait of the ideological structure of the volunteers has been obtained, as well as of the cultural and social origins of the values that contributed to the rise and adoption of this ideology. Further, the volunteers’ motivations to enlist have been clearly reconstructed, together with their cultural, political, social and military backgrounds. The results of the research are particularly relevant both for comprehension of the Italian phenomenon of volunteering in the Waffen-SS and for the reconstruction of the ideological dynamics of the last phase of fascism. The volunteers’ political and ideological system, which can be defined as the Italian SS-fascist ideology, disagrees strongly with the vaguely described ideological profile offered by previous studies that describe volunteers as generically “super-fascist”. The research also offers the opportunity for a deeper understanding of the final fascist ideological trajectory, currently defined, not without a certain level of approximation, as the “Germanisation” or “Nazification” of fascist ideology.