Impact of extracardiac findings during cardiac MR on patient management and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is increasingly used to assess heart diseases. Relevant non-cardiac diseases may also be incidentally found on CMR images. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and nature of incidental extra-cardiac findings (IEF) and their clinical impact in non-selected patients referred for CMR. MATERIAL/METHODS: MR images of 762 consecutive patients (515 men, age: 56±18 years) referred for CMR were prospectively interpreted by 2 radiologists blinded for any previous imaging study. IEFs were classified as major when requiring treatment, follow-up, or further investigation. Clinical follow-up was performed by checking hospital information records and by calling referring physicians. The 2 endpoints were: 1) non-cardiac death and new treatment related to major IEFs, and 2) hospitalization related to major IEFs during follow-up. RESULTS: Major IEFs were proven in 129 patients (18.6% of the study population), 14% of those being unknown before CMR. During 15±6 month follow-up, treatment of confirmed major IEFs was initiated in 1.4%, and no non-cardiac deaths occurred. Hospitalization occurred in 8 patients (1.0% of the study population) with confirmed major IEFs and none occurred in the remaining 110 patients with unconfirmed/unexplored major IEFs (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Screening for major IEFs in a population referred for routine CMR changed management in 1.4% of patients. Major IEFs unknown before CMR but without further exploration, however, carried a favorable prognosis over a follow-up period of 15 months.

Du retraité méritant au senior actif : genèse et transformations de la figure sociale de la vieillesse en Suisse

«Crise de l'assurance-vieillesse », «déséquilibre démographique», «vieillissement de la population », « faillite des systèmes de retraite », voilà des expressions qui occupent une place prépondérante dans tes discours portant sur l'avenir de la sécurité sociale aujourd'hui. Les autorités politiques suisses comme européennes font part de leur inquiétude face à la situation d'urgence que présenteraient les « sociétés vieillissantes ». En effet, alors que F assurance-vieillesse s'adressait initialement à une catégorie résiduelle de personnes qui parvenait à vivre plusieurs années au-delà de 65 ans, elle couvre maintenant près d'un cinquième de la population globale. Partant, les autorités fédérales appellent à une restriction des conditions d'accès à la rente de vieillesse. À première vue, les débats qui portent sur cette question dans l'arène politique relèvent de considérations essentiellement techniques liées aux conditions économiques de perpétuation de l'assurances-vieillesse. Il s'agit de modifier les règles d'accès à l'assurance ainsi que le montant des prestations afin d'assainir les caisses tout en faisant face à l'augmentation du nombre de retraités. Ce travail de thèse aborde cette question par une autre approche. Nous partons du postulat que les débats portant sur l'avenir de la politique de la vieillesse sont révélateurs d'une lutte entre acteurs du champ de régulation sociale qui participent d'un travail d'élaboration d'une pensée d'Etat, au sens de P Bourdieu. Cette lutte a pour objet l'imposition de catégories de pensées, soit la définition de ce qu'est un âgé aujourd'hui et de ce qu'il est moralement acceptable d'attendre de lui Nous montrons que cette question peut être comprise à l'aune de l'histoire du traitement social de la vieillesse dont nous relatons ici la genèse et les transformations. Nous soulignons également combien cette pensée d'Etat marque la manière dont les retraités aujourd'hui cherchent à se valoriser face à la déstabilisation de leur statut social. Summary "Crisis of social insurance for older people", "demographic imbalance", "aging of the population", "bankruptcy of pensions systems" ; these are some of the many expressions that today play a importance part in discussion about the future of social security. The Swiss and European political authorities show they are concerned about the crisis that "aging societies" are said to be facing. Indeed, while social insurance for old age used to concern a residual category of people who managet! to live to more than 65 years old, it now covers about a fifth of the global population. Hence, the Federal authorities are calling for a tightening of the conditions for access to retirement benefits. At first glance, the debates in the political arena »elated to (his question mainly deal with technical considerations linked to the economic conditions for the perpetuation of the insurance for old age. Ease of access and the level of the benefits have to be reduced in order to balance the funds, in the face of the rise of the number beneficiaries. This thesis study addresses this question through a different approach. We start from the proposition that debates concerning the future of social policy for old age reveal a struggle between those involved in (he field of social regulation ; this struggle is part of the development of the thought of the State as conceived by P. Bourdieu. The aim of this fight is to impose normative categories of thought, that is to say in relation to our subject, the definition of what an older person is today and what is morally acceptable to expect of him or her. We show that this question can be understood in the light of the the history of the social treatment of old age that we report here. Moreover, we show that this thought of the State explains the way retired people seek to value themselves and confront the destabilisation of their social status.

Alkuaineanalysaattorin keskusyksikön suunnittelu ja toteutus

Tässä diplomityössä esitellään jatkuvatoimisen alkuaineanalysaattorin kehitykseen liittyvän projektin alkuosa. Tässä osuudessa on tarkoituksena löytää analysaattorin vanhalle keskusyksikölle uusi korvaava kaupallinen prosessorikortti sekä suunnitella ja toteuttaa uudelle keskusyksikölle analysaattorin toiminnan vaatima ohjelma. Hihna-analysaattori on sulautettu reaaliaikajärjestelmä. Työssä esitellään sulautetun järjestelmän suunnittelun ja toteutuksen yleisiä toimintatapoja ja ratkaisuja. Erilaisista toteutusvaihtoehdoista esitellään niiden etuja ja haittoja. Työn toteutuksessa käytetään PC/104-standardin mukaisia valmiita kaupallisia yksiköitä. Tämä ISA-standardin laajennus soveltuu hyvin käytettäväksi sulautetussa järjestelmissä. Uudella keskusyksiköllä on mahdollista liittyä analysaattorin jäljelle jääviin yksiköihin erillisen sovitinkortin välityksellä. Työn lopputuloksena valittu toteutusratkaisu mahdollistaa analysaattorijärjestelmän vapaan jatkokehityksen, mikä ei ollut mahdollista vanhalla toteutuksella. Analysaattoriin on nyt mahdollista kehittää uusia ominaisuuksia, ja lisäksi sen nykyinen toiminta on hallitaan paremmin.

Plantes de la Vall de Cardos

Dins el programa d'activitats practiques del Departament de Botànica.(Facultat de Biología de la Universität de Barcelona) eis estius deis anys 1982 i 1983 férem breus estades a la Valí de Cardos. Les nostres exploracions s'estengueren per la valí principal fins a la capçalera de Broate, i també vers als estanys de Romedo i I'estany de Naorte, i per la vall lateral d'Esterri de Cardos. Junt amb diversos professors del Departament (J. Carreras, E. Carrillo, A. Fàrràs, R. M. Masalles i J . M. Ninot) i de nombrosos alumnes, estudiàrem en una primera visió general la flora i la vegetació d'aquesta contrada pirinenca tan poc visitada pels botànics catalans. Aixô ens permetéd'aplègar una série de dades inédites, de les quais extreiem ara algunes de les citacions floristiques que ens semblen mes notables.

Muovituotteen markkinakartoitus ja markkinoinninsuunnittelu

Oy Finnpak Ab haluaa parantaa valumuovituoteryhmänsä markkina-tuntemusta ja kartoittaa potentiaaliset asiakkaansa Suomen ja Ruotsin markkinoilla. Diplomityön tavoitteena on selvittää edellä olevat asiat, sekä tarkastella yrityksen nykytilaa ja miettiä, mitä kehittämistä yrityksen nykyisessä markkinoinnissa on. Saatujen tietojen perusteella muodos-tetaan toimintorunko, markkinointisuunnitelma, jota käytetään hyväksi lähivuosien liiketoimintastrategioiden suunnittelussa.Potentiaalisista asiakkaista saadut tiedot perustuvat kyselytutkimukseen. Tutkimus suoritettiin soittamalla ensin valitun teollisuussektorin yrityksiin ja kohdeyrityksille lähetettiin tutkimuslomake.Työssä saatujen tulosten mukaan sekä sisäisessä että ulkoisessa markkinoinnissa on huomattavasti parantamisen varaa. Tärkein työssä esiin tullut uudistus valumuovipuolella oli tuotekehityksen maksullistaminen. Ylivoimaisesti suurin työssä esiin tullut projekti on kuitenkin yritysnimen yhtäläistäminen nykyisen tuotenimen kanssa. Yrityksen nimi on tarkoitus uudistaa vuoteen 2003 mennessä, joka on yrityksen neljäskymmenes toimintavuosi.

Inhibitory Receptors Beyond T Cell Exhaustion.

Inhibitory receptors (iRs) are frequently associated with "T cell exhaustion". However, the expression of iRs is also dependent on T cell differentiation and activation. Therapeutic blockade of various iRs, also referred to as "checkpoint blockade", is showing -unprecedented results in the treatment of cancer patients. Consequently, the clinical potential in this field is broad, calling for increased research efforts and rapid refinements in the understanding of iR function. In this review, we provide an overview on the significance of iR expression for the interpretation of T cell functionality. We summarize how iRs have been strongly associated with "T cell exhaustion" and illustrate the parallel evidence on the importance of T cell differentiation and activation for the expression of iRs. The differentiation subsets of CD8 T cells (naïve, effector, and memory cells) show broad and inherent differences in iR expression, while activation leads to strong upregulation of iRs. Therefore, changes in iR expression during an immune response are often concomitant with T cell differentiation and activation. Sustained expression of iRs in chronic infection and in the tumor microenvironment likely reflects a specialized T cell differentiation. In these situations of prolonged antigen exposure and chronic inflammation, T cells are "downtuned" in order to limit tissue damage. Furthermore, we review the novel "checkpoint blockade" treatments and the potential of iRs as biomarkers. Finally, we provide recommendations for the immune monitoring of patients to interpret iR expression data combined with parameters of activation and differentiation of T cells.

Russian mobile telecommunications market: players and trends

Objective of this work was to clarify the competitive situation of Russian mobile telecommunications market: who are the main players, are there many regional operators, what is the possibility of new entrants and how intensive is the competition. In the beginning the history of Russian mobile telecommunications sector is described. In the next chapter environmental factors of the market are examined with the help of PESTEL analysis. After that, players of the market are introduced to ease the following of next chapters. The main theory for this work was industry analysis of five competitive forces by Michael Porter, which is presented before the theory related industry analysis of Russian mobile telecommunications industry. Research for the industry analysis is mainly based on up-to-date articles describing Russian market. As a result of the industry analysis, competitive situation of Russian mobile telecommunications industry and the future prospects are described with the help of factors coming from the PESTEL-analysis. Finally development and future prospects for Russian 3G are reported. As a result of this work, it can be said that Russian mobile telecommunications market is not likely to maintain the growth of previous years, because the market is near saturation. According to passive SIM-cards it has already received saturated. The saturation will also make the market share game between operators more volatile. The market is dominated by three national operators that covered 88% of the income in the first half of 2007. In addition to these three, there are also several regional operators. Structure of the market is likely to consolidate.

Moths behaving like butterflies. Evolutionary loss of long range attractant pheromones in Castniid Moths: A Paysandisia archon model

Background: In the course of evolution butterflies and moths developed two different reproductive behaviors. Whereas butterflies rely on visual stimuli for mate location, moths use the"female calling plus male seduction" system, in which females release long-range sex pheromones to attract conspecific males. There are few exceptions from this pattern but in all cases known female moths possess sex pheromone glands which apparently have been lost in female butterflies. In the day-flying moth family Castniidae ("butterfly-moths"), which includes some important crop pests, no pheromones have been found so far. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using a multidisciplinary approach we described the steps involved in the courtship of P. archon, showing that visual cues are the only ones used for mate location; showed that the morphology and fine structure of the antennae of this moth are strikingly similar to those of butterflies, with male sensilla apparently not suited to detect female-released long range pheromones; showed that its females lack pheromone-producing glands, and identified three compounds as putative male sex pheromone (MSP) components of P. archon, released from the proximal halves of male forewings and hindwings. Conclusions/Significance: This study provides evidence for the first time in Lepidoptera that females of a moth do not produce any pheromone to attract males, and that mate location is achieved only visually by patrolling males, which may release a pheromone at short distance, putatively a mixture of Z,E-farnesal, E,E-farnesal, and (E,Z)-2,13-octadecadienol. The outlined behavior, long thought to be unique to butterflies, is likely to be widespread in Castniidae implying a novel, unparalleled butterfly-like reproductive behavior in moths. This will also have practical implications in applied entomology since it signifies that the monitoring/control of castniid pests should not be based on the use of female-produced pheromones, as it is usually done in many moths.

Judicialisation and Direct Democracy. Switzerland's Ban on Minaret Construction

Launched by representatives from the Union démocratique du centre (UDC) with the aim of circumventing political and judicial decisions made at both local and national levels, the 2009 federal popular initiative calling for a ban on the construction of minarets rekindled the stigmatisation of Muslims living in Switzerland. Within the prevalent institutional configuration it moreover revived controversies surrounding issues such as direct democracy versus fundamental rights, or "the will of the people" versus "the power of the judges", whether national or international. "Judicialisation" is a polysemous concept. It is not understood here as the transfer to the courts of matters of political significance - in this instance the public regulation of religion - but as a process of juridification (or juridicalisation) in which court rulings were constantly anticipated in the political debate provoked by the popular initiative.

PCI DSS -standardi ja sen vaatimukset kortinhaltijoiden tietojen suojaamiselle

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) on korttiyhtiöiden kehittämä kansainvälinen tietoturvastandardi, jonka tarkoituksena on parantaa kortinhaltijoiden tietoja käsittelevien järjestelmien tietoturvaa. Standardissa määritellään vaatimukset tietojen turvalliselle tallennukselle ja käsittelylle, testaus- ja tarkastusmenetelmät sekä tarkastusvaatimukset ja tarkastuksia suorittavien tahojen sertifiointi. Standardi koskee kaikkia standardin hyväksyneiden maksukorttiyhtiöiden korttitietoja käsitteleviä tahoja. Standardin ylläpitämisestä ja kehittämisestä vastaa maksukorttiyhtiöiden perustama PCI Security Standards Council -toimielin. Syyskuussa 2006 toimielin julkaisi standardista version 1.1, joka on edelleen viimeisin versio. Tässä diplomityössä selvitettiin PCI DSS -standardin asettamat vaatimukset kortinhaltijoiden tietoja käsitteleville tahoille. Lisäksi tutkittiin mahdollisuuksia toteuttaa yksi standardin vaatimuksista, kortinhaltijoiden tietojen suojaaminen, esimerkkijärjestelmässä. Kyseinen järjestelmä on kehitetty IBM System i -palvelinympäristöön käyttäen RPG-ohjelmointikieltä.

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the hip: a complication of arthroplasty to be recognized by the radiologist

AbstractSoft tissue complications following hip arthroplasty may occur either in cases of total hip arthroplasty or in hip resurfacing, a technique that has become popular in cases involving young patients. Both orthopedic and radiological literatures are now calling attention to these symptomatic periprosthetic soft tissue masses called inflammatory pseudotumors or aseptic lymphocytic vasculites-associated lesions. Pseudotumors are associated with pain, instability, neuropathy, and premature loosening of prosthetic components, frequently requiring early and difficult reoperation. Magnetic resonance imaging plays a relevant role in the evaluation of soft tissue changes in the painful hip after arthroplasty, ranging from early periprosthetic fluid collections to necrosis and more extensive tissue damage.

A topical microemulsion for the prevention of allergic rhinitis symptoms: results of a randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel group, multicentre, multinational clinical trial (Nares study)

Background: Since barrier protection measures to avoid contact with allergens are being increasingly developed, we assessed the clinical efficacy and tolerability of a topical nasal microemulsion made of glycerol esters in patients with allergic rhinitis. Methods: Randomized, controlled, double-blind, parallel group, multicentre, multinational clinical trial in which adult patients with allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis due to sensitization to birch, grass or olive tree pollens received treatment with topical microemulsion or placebo during the pollen seasons. Efficacy variables included scores in the mini-RQLQ questionnaire, number and severity of nasal, ocular and lung signs and symptoms, need for symptomatic medications and patients" satisfaction with treatment. Adverse events were also recorded. Results: Demographic characteristics were homogeneous between groups and mini-RQLQ scores did not differ significantly at baseline (visit 1). From symptoms recorded in the diary cards, the ME group showed statistically significant better scores for nasal congestion (0.72 vs. 1.01; p = 0.017) and mean total nasal symptoms (0.7 vs. 0.9; p = 0.045). At visit 2 (pollen season), lower values were observed in the mini-RQLQ in the ME group, although there were no statistically significant differences between groups in both full analysis set (FAS) and patients completing treatment (PPS) populations. The results obtained in the nasal symptoms domain of the mini-RQLQ at visit 2 showed the highest difference (−0.43; 95% CI: -0.88 to 0.02) for the ME group in the FAS population. The topical microemulsion was safe and well tolerated and no major discomforts were observed. Satisfaction rating with the treatment was similar between the groups. Conclusions: The topical application of the microemulsion is a feasible and safe therapy in the prevention of allergic symptoms, particularly nasal congestion.

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.

Bifosfonatos (BFs) como transportadores osteotrópicos no planejamento de fármacos dirigidos

Drug therapy involving bone tissue diseases is difficult, calling for the design of specific drugs. The present paper is a brief review of a new site-directed system termed ODDS (osteotropic drug delivery system), based on a latenciation process, using bisphosphonates as bone carriers. This is an important tool for the rational prodrug design for obtaining selective drugs.

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 Primo registro generale 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, Nota degl’ospiti ricevuti e spese fatte per essi, 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 scrittori, and they contain certain conventions and topoi 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.