Probing functional groups at the gas-aerosol interface using heterogeneous titration reactions: a tool for predicting aerosol health effects?

The complex chemical and physical nature of combustion and secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) in general precludes the complete characterization of both bulk and interfacial components. The bulk composition reveals the history of the growth process and therefore the source region, whereas the interface controls--to a large extent--the interaction with gases, biological membranes, and solid supports. We summarize the development of a soft interrogation technique, using heterogeneous chemistry, for the interfacial functional groups of selected probe gases [N(CH(3))(3), NH(2)OH, CF(3)COOH, HCl, O(3), NO(2)] of different reactivity. The technique reveals the identity and density of surface functional groups. Examples include acidic and basic sites, olefinic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) sites, and partially and completely oxidized surface sites. We report on the surface composition and oxidation states of laboratory-generated aerosols and of aerosols sampled in several bus depots. In the latter case, the biomarker 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, signaling oxidative stress caused by aerosol exposure, was isolated. The increase in biomarker levels over a working day is correlated with the surface density N(i)(O3) of olefinic and/or PAH sites obtained from O(3) uptakes as well as with the initial uptake coefficient, γ(0), of five probe gases used in the field. This correlation with γ(0) suggests the idea of competing pathways occurring at the interface of the aerosol particles between the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for oxidative stress and cellular antioxidants.

The Mont Collon mafic complex (Austroalpine Dent Blanche nappe) : permian evolution of the Western European mantle

R��sum��: Le complexe du Mont Collon (nappe de la Dent Blanche, Austroalpin) est l'un des exemples les mieux pr��serv��s du magmatisme mafique permien des Alpes occidentales. Il est compos�� d'affleurements discontinus et d'une stratification magmatique en son centre (Dents de Bertol) et est compos�� �� 95% de roches mafiques cumulatives (gabbros �� olivine et/ou cpx, anorthositiques, troctolites, wehrlites et wehrlites �� plagioclase) et localement de quelques gabbros pegmatitiques. Ces faci��s sont recoup��s par de nombreux filons acides (aphtes, pegmatites quartziques, microgranodiorites et filons anorthositiques) et mafiques tardifs (dikes m��lanocrates riches en Fe et Ti). Les calculs thermom��triques (��quilibre olivine-augite) montrent des temp��ratures de 1070-1120 �� 6��C, tandis que le thermom��tre amphibole-plagioclase indique une temp��rature de 740 �� 40��C �� 0.5 GPa pour les amphiboles magmatiques tardives. La geobarom��trie sur pyrox��ne donne des pressions moyennes de 0.3-0.6 GPa, indiquant un emplacement dans la cro��te moyenne. De plus, les temp��ratures obtenues sur des amphiboles coronitiques indiquent des temp��ratures de l'ordre de 700 �� 40��C confirmant que les r��actions coronitiques apparaissent dans des conditions subsolidus. Les ��ges concordants U/Pb sur zircons de 284.2 �� 0.6 et 282.9 �� 0.6 Ma obtenus sur un gabbro pegmatitique et une pegmatitique quartzique, sont interpr��t��s comme des ��ges de cristallisation. Les datations 40Ar/39Ar sur amphiboles des filons m��lanocrates donnent un ��ge plateau de 260.2 �� 0.7 Ma, qui est probablement tr��s proche de l'��ge de cristallisation. Ainsi, cet age 40Ar/39Ar indique un second ��v��nement magmatique au sein du complexe. Les compositions des roches totales en ��l��ments majeurs et traces montrent peu de variations, ainsi que le Mg# (75-80). Les ��l��ments traces enregistrent le caract��re cumulatif des roches (anomalie positive en Eu) et r��v��lent des anomalies n��gatives syst��matiques en Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf et Ti dans les faci��s basiques. Le manque de corr��lation entre ��l��ments majeurs et traces est caract��ristique d'un processus de cristallisation in situ impliquant une quantit�� variable de liquide interstitiel (L) entre les phases cumulus. Les distributions des ��l��ments traces dans les min��raux sont homog��nes, indiquant une r����quilibration .subsolidus entre cristaux et liquide interstitiel. Un mod��le quantitatif bas�� sur les ��quations de cristallisation in situ de Langmuir reproduisent correctement les concentrations en terres rares l��g��res des min��raux cumulatifs montrant la pr��sence de 0 �� 35% de liquide interstitiel L pour des degr��s de diff��renciation F de 0 �� 45%, par rapport au faci��s les moins ��volu��s du complexe. En outre, les valeurs de L sont bien corr��l��es avec les proportions modales d'amphibole interstitielle et les concentrations en ��l��ments incompatibles des roches (Zr, Nb). Le liquide parental calcul�� des cumulats du Mont Collon est caract��ris�� par un enrichissement relatif en terres rares l��g��res et Th, un appauvrissement en terres rares lourdes typique d'une affinit�� transitionnelle (T-MORB) et une forte anomalie n��gative en Nb-Ta. Les roches cumulatives montrent des compositions isotopiques en Nd-Sr proches de la terre globale silicat��e (BSE), soit 0.6<��Ndi<+3.2, 0.7045<87Sr/86Sri<0.7056. Les rapports initiaux en Pb indiquent une source dans le manteau enrichi subcontinental lithosph��rique, pr��alablement contamin�� par des s��diments oc��aniques. Les dikes m��lanocrates Fe-Ti sont repr��sentatifs de liquides et ont des spectres de terres rares enrichis, une anomalie positive en Nb-Ta et des ��Ndi de +7, des 87Sr/86Sri de 0.703 et des rapports initiaux en Pb, similaires �� ceux des basaltes d'��le oc��anique, indiquant une source asth��nosph��rique mod��r��ment appauvrie. Ainsi, la fusion partielle du manteau lithosph��rique subcontinental est induite par l'amincissement post-orog��nique et la remont��e de l'asth��nosph��re. Les filons m��lanocrates proviennent, apr��s d��lamination du manteau lithosph��rique, de la fusion de l'asth��nosph��re. Abstract The early Permian Mont Collon mafic complex (Dent Blanche nappe, Austroalpine nappe system) is one of the best preserved examples of the Permian mafic magmatism in the Western Alps. It is composed of discontinuous exposures and a well-preserved magmatic layering (the Dents de Bertol cliff) crops out in the center part of the complex. It mainly consists of cumulative mafic rocks, which represent 95 vol-% of the mafic complex (ol- and cpx-bearing gabbros and rare anorthositic layers, troctolites, wehrlites and plagioclase-wehrlites) and locally pegmatitic gabbros. All these facies are crosscut by widespread acidic (aplites, quartz-rich pegmatites, microgranodiorites) and late mafic Fe-Ti melanocratic dikes. Olivine-augite thermometric calculations yield a range of 1070-1120 �� 6��C, while amphibole-plagioclase thermometer yields a temperature of 740 �� 40��C at 0.5 GPa. Pyroxene geobarometry points to a pressure of 0.3-0.6 GPa, indicating a middle crustal level of emplacement. Moreover, temperature calculations on the Mont Conon coronitic amphiboles indicate temperatures of 700 �� 40��C, close to those calculated for magmatic amphiboles. These temperatures confirm that coronitic reactions occurred at subsolidus conditions. ID-TIMS U/Pb zircon ages of 284.2 �� 0.6 and 282.9 �� 0.6 Ma obtained on a pegmatitic gabbro and a quartz-pegmatitic dike, respectively, were interpreted as the crystallization ages of these rocks. 40Ar/39Ar dating on amphiboles from Fe-Ti melanocratic dikes yields a plateau age of 260.2 �� 0.7 Ma, which is probably very close to the crystallization age. Consequently, this 40Ar/P39Ar age indicates a second magmatic event. Whole-rock major- and trace-element compositions show little variation across the whole intrusion and Mg-number stays within a narrow range (75-80). Trace-element concentrations record the cumulative nature of the rocks (e.g. positive Eu anomaly) and reveal systematic Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf and Ti negative anomalies for all basic facies. The lack of correlation between major and trace elements is characteristic of an in situ crystallization process involving variable amounts of interstitial liquid (L) trapped between the cumulus mineral phases. LA-ICPMS measurements show that trace-element distributions in minerals are homogeneous, pointing to subsolidus re-equilibration between crystals and interstitial melts. A quantitative modeling based on Langmuir's in situ crystallization equation successfully reproduced the Rare Earth Element (REE) concentrations in cumulitic minerals. The calculated amounts of interstitial liquid L vary between 0 and 35% for degrees of differentiation F of 0 to 45%, relative to the least evolved facies of the intrusion. Furthermore, L values are well correlated with the modal proportions of interstitial amphibole and whole-rock incompatible trace-element concentrations (e.g. Zr, Nb) of the tested samples. The calculated parental melt of the Mont Collon cumulates is characterized by a relative enrichment in Light REE and Th, a depletion in Heavy REE, typical of a transitional affinity (T-MORB), and strong negative Nb-Ta anomaly. Cumulative rocks display Nd-Sr isotopic compositions close to the BSE (-0.6 < ��Ndi < +3.2, 0.7045 < 87Sr/86Sri < 0.7056). Initial Pb ratios point to an origin from the melting of an enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle source, previously contaminated at the source by oceanic sediments. The contrasted alkaline Fe-Ti melanocratic dikes are representative of liquids. They display enriched fractionated REE patterns, a positive Nb-Ta anomaly and ��Ndi of +7, 87Sr/86Sri of 0.703 and initial Pb ratios, all reminiscent of Ocean Island Basalt-type rocks, pointing to a moderately

Analysis of the voltage source inverter with small DC-link capacitor

IIn electric drives, frequency converters are used to generatefor the electric motor the AC voltage with variable frequency and amplitude. When considering the annual sale of drives in values of money and units sold, the use of low-performance drives appears to be in predominant. These drives have tobe very cost effective to manufacture and use, while they are also expected to fulfill the harmonic distortion standards. One of the objectives has also been to extend the lifetime of the frequency converter. In a traditional frequency converter, a relatively large electrolytic DC-link capacitor is used. Electrolytic capacitors are large, heavy and rather expensive components. In many cases, the lifetime of the electrolytic capacitor is the main factor limiting the lifetime of the frequency converter. To overcome the problem, the electrolytic capacitor is replaced with a metallized polypropylene film capacitor (MPPF). The MPPF has improved properties when compared to the electrolytic capacitor. By replacing the electrolytic capacitor with a film capacitor the energy storage of the DC-linkwill be decreased. Thus, the instantaneous power supplied to the motor correlates with the instantaneous power taken from the network. This yields a continuousDC-link current fed by the diode rectifier bridge. As a consequence, the line current harmonics clearly decrease. Because of the decreased energy storage, the DC-link voltage fluctuates. This sets additional conditions to the controllers of the frequency converter to compensate the fluctuation from the supplied motor phase voltages. In this work three-phase and single-phase frequency converters with small DC-link capacitor are analyzed. The evaluation is obtained with simulations and laboratory measurements.

Portable Application User Interface Development in Symbian OS

Symbian OS on k��ytt��j��rjestelm�� edistyneille matkapuhelimille. Symbiania k��ytt��vist�� laitteista on monia muunnoksia. Joitakin k��ytet����n n��pp��imist��n avulla ja toisia kyn��ll��. N��yt��n mittasuhteet ja muut ominaisuudet vaihtelevat huomattavasti ��lypuhelimista kommunikaattoreihin. T��m��n seurauksena Symbianin eri laiteperheiden viitemallien k��ytt��liittym��osat ovat sovelluskehitt��j��n kannalta melko erilaisia. Esimerkiksi kaikki k��ytt��liittym��komponentit eiv��t ole saatavilla kaikissa laiteperheiss��. Perinteisesti sovellusten k��ytt��liittym��t on kirjoitettu erikseen kullekin laiteperheelle, mik�� pident���� kehitysaikaa. T��m�� ty�� esittelee Symbianin k��ytt��liittym��arkkitehtuurin, siirrett��vyyden k��sitteen ja tekniikoita sovellusten suunnitteluun ja toteutukseen, joilla saavutetaan parempi siirrett��vyys Symbian-ymp��rist��ss��. Ty��ss�� suunnitellaan ja toteutetaan AppTest-nimisen testausty��kalun k��ytt��liittym�� siten, ett�� sovellus on helposti siirrett��viss�� eri laiteperheisiin.

Embolic Strokes of Undetermined Source in the Athens Stroke Registry: an Outcome Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Information about outcomes in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (ESUS) patients is unavailable. This study provides a detailed analysis of outcomes of a large ESUS population. METHODS: Data set was derived from the Athens Stroke Registry. ESUS was defined according to the Cryptogenic Stroke/ESUS International Working Group criteria. End points were mortality, stroke recurrence, functional outcome, and a composite cardiovascular end point comprising recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm rupture, systemic embolism, or sudden cardiac death. We performed Kaplan-Meier analyses to estimate cumulative probabilities of outcomes by stroke type and Cox-regression to investigate whether stroke type was outcome predictor. RESULTS: 2731 patients were followed-up for a mean of 30.5��24.1months. There were 73 (26.5%) deaths, 60 (21.8%) recurrences, and 78 (28.4%) composite cardiovascular end points in the 275 ESUS patients. The cumulative probability of survival in ESUS was 65.6% (95% confidence intervals [CI], 58.9%-72.2%), significantly higher compared with cardioembolic stroke (38.8%, 95% CI, 34.9%-42.7%). The cumulative probability of stroke recurrence in ESUS was 29.0% (95% CI, 22.3%-35.7%), similar to cardioembolic strokes (26.8%, 95% CI, 22.1%-31.5%), but significantly higher compared with all types of noncardioembolic stroke. One hundred seventy-two (62.5%) ESUS patients had favorable functional outcome compared with 280 (32.2%) in cardioembolic and 303 (60.9%) in large-artery atherosclerotic. ESUS patients had similar risk of composite cardiovascular end point as all other stroke types, with the exception of lacunar strokes, which had significantly lower risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.52-0.94]). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term mortality risk in ESUS is lower compared with cardioembolic strokes, despite similar rates of recurrence and composite cardiovascular end point. Recurrent stroke risk is higher in ESUS than in noncardioembolic strokes.

IEA Bioenergy Task 40 ���Sustainable International Bioenergy Trade: Securing supply and demand��� Country report of Finland 2008

This study considered the current situation of biofuels markets in Finland. The fact that industry consumes more than half of the total primary energy, widely applied combined heat and power production and a high share of solid biomass fuels in the total energy consumption are specific to the Finnish energy system. Wood is the most important source of bioenergy in Finland, representing 21% of the total energy consumption in 2006. Almost 80% of the wood-based energy is recovered from industrial by-products and residues. Finland has commitment itself to maintaining its greenhouse gas emissions at the 1990 level, at the highest, during the period 2008���2012. The energy and climate policy carried out in recent years has been based on the National Energy and Climate introduced in 2005. The Finnish energy policy aims to achieve the target, and a variety of measures are taken to promote the use of renewable energy sources and especially wood fuels. In 2007, the government started to prepare a new long-term (up to the year 2050) climate and energy strategy that will meet EU���s new targets for the reduction of green house gas emissions and the promotion of renewable energy sources. The new strategy will be introduced during 2008. The international biofuels trade has a substantial importance for the utilisation of bioenergy in Finland. In 2006, the total international trading of solid and liquid biofuels was approximately 64 PJ of which import was 61 PJ. Most of the import is indirect and takes place within the forest industry���s raw wood imports. In 2006, as much as 24% of wood energy was based on foreignorigin wood. Wood pellets and tall oil form the majority of export streams of biofuels. The indirect import of wood fuels increased almost 10% in 2004���2006, while the direct trade of solid and liquid biofuels has been almost constant.

Utiliza����o de uma interface do tipo "particle beam" para a obten����o de espectros de massas de compostos pouco vol��teis em solu����o

Due to source contamination and wearing of instrument components problems caused by the direct insertion probe technique, a new way of introduction of low volatile compounds into mass spectrometer was tested. This new scheme comprises the introduction of the low volatile compounds solutions via a six port valve connected to a particle beam interface. Solutions of isatin were injected into this system and the best results were obtained with CH2Cl2, CH3OH and CH3CN. The solution inlet system has shown to be advantageous over the conventional way of direct insertion probe introduction.

Market of biomass fuels in Finland : IEA Bioenergy Task 40 and EUBIONET III - Country report of Finland 2009

This study considered the current situation of solid and liquid biomass fuels in Finland. The fact that industry consumes more than half of the total primary energy, widely applied combined heat and power production and a high share of solid biomass fuels in the total energy consumption are specific to the Finnish energy system. Wood is the most important source of bioenergy in Finland, representing 20% of the total energy consumption in 2007. Almost 80% of the woodbased energy is recovered from industrial by-products and residues. As a member of the European Union, Finland has committed itself to the Union���s climate and energy targets, such as reducing its overall emissions of green house gases to at least 20% below 1990 levels by 2020, and increasing the share of renewable energy in the gross final consumption. The renewable energy target approved for Finland is 38%. The present National Climate and Energy Strategy was introduced in November 2008. The strategy covers climate and energy policy measures up to 2020, and in brief thereafter, up to 2050. In recent years, the actual emissions have exceeded the Kyoto commitment and the trend of emissions is on the increase. In 2007, the share of renewable energy in the gross final energy consumption was approximately 25% (360 PJ). Without new energy policy measures, the final consumption of renewable energy would increase to 380 PJ, which would be approximately only 31% of the final energy consumption. In addition, green house gas emissions would exceed the 1990 levels by 20%. Meeting the targets will need the adoption of more active energy policy measures in coming years. The international trade of biomass fuels has a substantial importance for the utilisation of bioenergy in Finland. In 2007, the total international trading of solid and liquid biomass fuels was approximately 77 PJ, of which import was 62 PJ. Most of the import is indirect and takes place within the forest industry���s raw wood imports. In 2007, as much as 21% of wood energy was based on foreign-origin wood. Wood pellets and tall oil form the majority of export streams of biomass fuels. The indirect import of wood fuels peaked in 2006 to 61 PJ. The foreseeable decline in raw wood import to Finland will decrease the indirect import of wood fuels. In 2004��� 2007, the direct trade of solid and liquid biomass fuels has been on a moderate growth path. In 2007, the import of palm oil and export of bio-diesel emerged, as a large, 170 000 t/yr biodiesel plant came into operation in Porvoo.

Gens,humans i rock

El rock'n'roll, un dels estils musicals m��s influents del segle XX, es va gestar als EUA durant la d��cada de 1940 a partir del blues, el rhythm'n'blues i el country. Joel vaig descobrir de forma conscient el 1979, quan tenia 14 anys. I el seu ritme em va captivar tant les neurones que continua sent el meu estil musical predilecte, amb el qual identifico bona part de les meves emocions.

Conversioni al cattolicesimo a Roma tra Sei e Settecento. La presenza degli scandinavi nell���Ospizio dei Convertendi.

In my PhD dissertation, I have examined a group of people of Scandinavian origin received by Ospizio dei Convertendi. This group has been hitherto largely unknown to historical research. The Ospizio was an institute founded by the Oratorian Congregation in Rome in 1673 to provide religious instruction and material aid to both recent and aspirant converts to Roman Catholicism. My research traces the profile of converts and a typology of motives, examining different factors which influenced the conversion process. I show that the key factors were often of a social rather than a religious nature. Moreover, I have analyzed the hospice in the context of Counter-Reformation charity as well. In terms of numbers, the Scandinavians formed a somewhat marginal yet not insignificant group within the Roman hospice. Out of a total of 2203 guests received between 1673 and 1706, 4.6 % were Scandinavians: 74 Swedes (including Finland and Livonia) and 27 Danes (including Norway). They came from a rigorously Protestant region which reacted to Catholicism with severe legislative measures. Converts to Catholicism risked confiscation of their goods, expulsion or even capital punishment. Since both Sweden and Denmark were practically impenetrable to Catholicism at the time and clandestine missionary attempts often failed before they had even properly started, the Roman Catholic Church shifted its interest towards Northerners arriving in Rome, a preferred destination for young noblemen, artists and migrant craftsmen. The material related to Ospizio dei Convertendi, conserved in the Vatican archives, is a scarcely known yet unusually rich source, not only for the religious history of our continent, but also for social history and the study of migration in early modern Europe. It contains a wealth of information about members of the subordinate classes, of their travels and lives in Europe. The profile delineated in these documents is of individuals who had a wide range of different professions and different aspirations. These documents encompass a vast social spectrum that was highly mobile on a continent which by that time had become pluriconfessional. Therefore, these migrants faced the complex religious reality in their everyday life. The principal corpus of my research consists of two types of manuscript sources created for administrative and in a way also for apologetic purposes of the Roman Catholic Church. My starting point is the <i>Primo registro generale</i> of Ospizio dei Convertendi. This is a volume in which the following information about each guest was registered: name, nationality, city of origin, age, sex, profession, confession professed before converting, date of arrival, departure, abjuration and baptism. Typically, the convert was male, originating from Stockholm or Copenhagen, from 21 to 30 years of age. The biggest occupational groups in descending order were soldiers, noblemen, craftsmen and sailors. Thus the data reflects a multiform reality of interurban and long distance migration, ideals regarding the education of young noblemen and gentry as well as the need of European armies to hire foreign mercenaries in their various campaigns. Against this background the almost total absence of women is hardly surprising: there is only one woman in the material I have studied. The second main source, <i>Nota degl���ospiti ricevuti e spese fatte per essi, </i> sheds more light on the choices of the converts, their motivations and their lives outside Scandinavia before reaching Rome. This narrative material permits an analysis which completes but also goes far beyond the columns of the Institute���s general register. This material consists of reports written by Catholic priests based on an interview conducted upon each guest���s arrival. The material frequently includes information on what the converts would do following their departure from the Institute as well. These sources have a specific narrative form and contain short biographies, list reasons for converting and information about the journey from the North to the Mediterranean - a journey which in many cases took several years. Moreover, they show that certain unorthodox practices such as calling on the saints and pleading for help from them were not uncommon in the Protestant popular religion. The recording of information on conversions from Protestantism to Catholicism reflects both religious and social interest on the part of the receiving institute. The information obtained was used for the purposes of religious teaching, for finding adequate ways of inserting the convert into Italian society so that he could earn a living, and to find effective methods to convert others with a similar cultural and geographical background. The stories recorded were based on interviews with the newly-arrived, information obtained from a travel companion or fellow countrymen, or from written documents the aspirant converts carried with them. These sources illustrate, although sometimes in rather simplified ways, the circumstances and motivations which were relevant to the choice of changing one���s confession. In addition, I have examined petitions addressed to the hospice and other Roman authorities in order to get financial aid. These petitions were written by Italian <i>scrittori,</i> and they contain certain conventions and <i>topoi</i> of presenting the conversion with the purpose of improving the chances of obtaining financial aid. It is through these filters, which may seem initially almost invisible, that the remote voice of the converts reaches us. The results of the analysis are particularly interesting because they disagree with some of the principal conclusions of previous work on the subject. First, earlier research has focused almost exclusively on the conversions of noblemen, and has argued, second, that the Queen Christina of Sweden was the driving force behind their change of confession. The sources examined for this dissertation present a profile of long-distance migrants, many of them members of the subordinate classes, who were looking for ways to make their living in Europe. These people had in many cases left their country of origin several years earlier and not for religious reasons, so, crucially, we are not dealing with confessional migration in these cases. Rather, conversion was a complex process, intricately tied up with strategies of survival, integration and upward social mobility. At the same time, while these components are significant on their own right, they do not necessarily point to the absence of motivations of a more clearly religious nature.

Design and Implementation of MUPE Server Context Tool for Eclipse IDE

The development of software tools begun as the first computers were built. The current generation of development environments offers a common interface to access multiple software tools and often also provide a possibility to build custom tools as extensions to the existing development environment. Eclipse is an open source development environment that offers good starting point for developing custom extensions. This thesis presents a software tool to aid the development of context-aware applications on Multi-User Publishing Environment (MUPE) platform. The tool is implemented as an Eclipse plug-in. The tool allows developer to include external server side contexts to their MUPE applications. The tool allows additional context sources to be added through the Eclipse's extension point mechanism. The thesis describes how the tool was designed and implemented. The implementation consists of tool core component part and an additional context source extension part. Tool core component is responsible for the actual context addition and also provides the needed user interface elements to the Eclipse workbench. Context source component provides the needed context source related information to the core component. As part of the work an update site feature was also implemented for distributing the tool through Eclipse update mechanism.

E-portfolioj��rjestelmien vertailu rajapintojen n��k��kulmasta

Ty��ss�� tutustutaan erilaisiin e-portfolioj��rjestelmiin, niiden ominaisuuksiin ja toiminnallisuuksiin sek�� vertaillaan valittuja e-portfolioj��rjestelmi�� kesken����n yhteensopivuuden ja -toimivuuden n��k��kulmasta yliopistomaailmassa. Tavoitteena on valita e-portfolioj��rjestelmist�� monipuolisin ja opiskelijayst��v��llisin j��rjestelm��. J��rjestelm��n tulee tukea opiskelijan elinik��ist�� oppimista. E-portfolio on s��hk��isess�� muodossa oleva omien t��iden kokoelma ja sit�� hallitaan e-portfolioj��rjestelm��ll��. E-portfolioj��rjestelmiss�� t��rke��ss�� roolissa ovat portfoliospesifikaatiot, jotka mahdollistavat e-portfolion siirt��misen sellaisenaan toiseen j��rjestelm����n rajapintojen kautta. Ty��ss�� ei keskityt�� henkil��kohtaiseen oppimisymp��rist����n, joka on k��sitteen�� laajempi kuin e-portfolio. Ty��ss�� vertailtiin avoimeen l��hdekoodiin perustuvia, web-pohjaisia e-portfolioj��rjestelmi�� ja tutkittiin niiden tarjoamaa mahdollisuutta portfolioiden siirtoon ja tuomiseen. Lis��ksi tarkasteltiin j��rjestelmien integroituvuutta muihin j��rjestelmiin, kuten virtuaalisiin oppimisymp��rist��ihin. Vertailun tuloksena monipuolisin ja opiskelijayst��v��llisin e-portfolioj��rjestelm�� on Mahara ja yleisin portfoliospesifikaatio Leap2A.

Effects of Country of Origin on Consumer Product Evaluations: Finnish clothing products in the minds of Russian tourists

Companies operating in today���s highly internationalized markets consider product differentiation the key priority in pursue to attain a constant competitive advantage in challenging global environment (Baker and Ballington 2002, 158). The main driver affecting companies��� differentiation actions was described as early as 1912 by one of the marketing pioneers A. W. Shaw (1912, 710) as meeting human wants more accurate than the competition, and thus increasing customers��� perceived value and satisfaction. Dickson and Ginter (1987, 2) point out in their study based on earlier research by Chamberlin (1965) and Porter (1976) that differentiation can be based on either tangible characteristics of a product such as design or intangible characteristics such as a brand name and country of origin (hereafter referred to as COO). The concept of COO and its impact on consumers��� evaluation of a product as an extrinsic product cue has been one of the most noteworthy topics in international marketing, having been voluminously examined by over 780 authors in more than 750 academic publications in the past 40 years (Papadopoulos and Heslop 2002, 294). Many of these studies accentuate the significant effect the COO has on consumers��� product attribute evaluations. People routinely associate country images with products and services in order to judge and categorize them based on perceived quality and risk levels; thereby COO can influence the likelihood of a purchase (Peterson and Jolibert 1995, 883-884; Verlegh and Steenkamp 1999, 523). Based on the vast research related to COO in the field of international business, it is widely recognized that the country associated with a product can act in a similar way as the name of a brand and even become a part of product���s total image. Thereby depending on customer���s values and perceptions, the product-country image can either increase or decrease perceived value.

The National Digital Library of Finland ��� Public Interface FINNA

Aki Lassilan esitys IFLA-konferenssissa Helsingiss�� 14.8.2012.

Finnish buyers��� perceptions of Indian textile and clothing suppliers: Country of origin in focus

Choosing the right supplier is crucial for long-term business prospects and profitability. Thus organizational buyers are naturally very interested in how they can select the right supplier for their needs. Likewise, suppliers are interested in knowing how their customers make purchasing decisions in order to effectively sell and market to them. From the point of view of the textile and clothing (T&C) industry, regulatory changes and increasing low-cost and globalization pressures have led to the rise of low-cost production locations India and China as the world���s largest T&C producers. This thesis will examine T&C trade between Finland and India specifically in the context of non-industrial T&C products. Its main research problem asks: what perceptions do Finnish T&C industry buyers hold of India and Indian suppliers? B2B buyers use various supplier selection models and criteria in making their purchase decisions. A significant amount of research has been done into supplier selection practices, and in the context of international trade, country of origin (COO) perceptions specifically have garnered much attention. This thesis uses a mixed methods approach (online questionnaire and in-depth interviews) to evaluate Finnish T&C buyers��� supplier selection criteria, COO perceptions of India and experiences of Indian suppliers. It was found that the most important supplier selection criteria used by Finnish T&C buyers are quality, reliability and cost. COO perceptions were not found to be influential in purchasing process. Indian T&C suppliers��� strengths were found to be low cost, flexibility and a history of traditional T&C expertise. Their weaknesses include product quality and unreliable delivery times. Overall, the main challenges that need to be overcome by Indian T&C companies are logistical difficulties and the cost vs. quality trade-off. Despite positive perceptions of India for cost, the overall value offered by Indian T&C products was perceived to be low due to poor quality. Unreliable delivery time experiences also affected buyer���s reliability perceptions of Indian suppliers. The main limiting factors of this thesis relate to the small sample size used in the research. This limits the generalizability of results and the ability to evaluate the reliability and validity of some of the research instruments.