Talousveden tuotannon ja jakelun tietohuollon kehittäminen julkisomisteisessa vesilaitoksessa

Vesilaitokset kuluttavat merkittäviä määriä energiaa, johon on alettu kiinnittää huomiota viime vuosina. Energiatehokkuuden edistämisen hidasteeksi on noussut puutteellinen tietohuolto sekä vesilaitosten yhteisten tunnuslukujen ja kriteerien puuttuminen. Diplomityön tavoitteena on selvittää tietohuollon ongelmia Tampereen Vedellä. Työn tavoitteena on myös tutkia veden tuotannon ja jakelun energiatehokkaiden ohjaustapojen löytämistä tietohuollon ja tunnuslukujen avulla. Työssä käytetyt metodologiat ovat Tampereen Veden työntekijöiden haastattelut, prototyypin analysointi sekä vedenottamoiden ominaisenergiaan liittyvien mittauspisteiden läpikäynti. Diplomityön tuloksena saatiin laaja kuva Tampereen Veden tietohuoltoon liittyvistä ongelmista. Merkittävimmät tietohuollon haasteet liittyvät työntekijöihin, järjestelmiin sekä mittauspisteiden puuttumiseen. Mittauspisteet ja niiden tallentuminen ovat edellytys tunnuslukujen luomiselle. Tunnuslukuja voidaan hyödyntää energiatehokkaiden ohjaustapojen löytämiseksi, mutta vesilaitosten yhteiset kriteerit tunnusluvuille puuttuvat. Energiatehokkuustunnuslukuja on tarve tutkia lisää ja kehittää yhteistyötä vesilaitosten välillä tunnuslukujen luomiseksi sekä vertailutietojen saamiseksi.

Key factors in transforming university internationalization into commercial activity in Finland. Case of University of Turku

Globalization, developments in ICT, emergence of knowledge society and other changes have reformed the environment for international higher education during the past few decades. Consequently, higher education sector has moved towards more marketing-oriented system, and universities have started to undertake commercial activities as part of their internationalization. This development has emerged to Finland as well, which forms the basis for this study. The purpose is to examine commercialization in Finnish university landscape and to investigate the ways Finnish university could capitalize its international activities and educational knowledge for export. The research question of the study is: What are the key factors in transforming university internationalization into commercial activity in the Finnish university landscape? The main problem is further divided into three sub-questions: 1) How can a university internationalize; 2) what are the motivational factors behind university internationalization and commercialization; and 3) how can higher education be developed into export services and products? The research was conducted as a qualitative case study of University of Turku. Methods used for gathering and examining data were interviewing and document analysis. Primary data was collected through four individual semi-structured interviews, which were conducted face-to-face. Secondary data that included reports, articles and electronic materials such as university web pages, was used to complement the primary data. The results were analyzed by theming the data into three broader categories of internationalization activities; drivers and motivations and; education export activities. After the data was organized in themes, analysis continued by comparing different parts of data and finding patterns that would explain the phenomenon in Finnish universities. According to the empirical data, University of Turku is currently on the growth state of internationalization with strategies such as internationalization of curriculum, establishment of international research groups, mobility of students and academics, international networking and support services. Commercialization phenomenon is still rather new to the case university, but it has already developed educational products and services for export. The study concludes that university internationalization cannot be directly transformed into commercial activities in the Finnish context, but the universities need to be active in actually creating educational products. The key factors found in this study include: 1) the Finnish government policies behind the current hype of export education; 2) the potential and knowledge capacity of universities for exports; 3) need for additional profits; 4) further internationalization through commercial activities; 5) recognizing and exploiting the specific areas of strength and 6) establishing of cooperative partnerships for better products.

Mythology as a key to historical ways of thinking

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Interoperability specifications and an automatic validation tool as a key factor for the support of a repository ecosystem

Presentation at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014

Alpha- and gamma-melanocyte stimulating hormones in obesity. A study of the key central areas of metabolic regulation

The melanocortin system is an important regulator of feeding, energy metabolism,and cardiovascular function and it consists of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) derived melanocyte stimulating hormones (α-, β- and γ-MSH) and their endogenous melanocortin receptors, MC1R to MC5R. In the hypothalamus, α-MSH reduces food intake, and increases energy expenditure and sympathetic tone by binding to MC4R. Mutations affecting the MC4R gene lead to obesity in mammals. On the other hand, the metabolic effects of MC3R stimulation using agonists such as the endogenously expressed γ-MSH have been less extensively explored. The main objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of increased melanocortin tone in key areas of metabolic regulation in the central nervous system (CNS) in order to investigate the sitespecific roles of both α-MSH and γ-MSH. The aim was to stereotaxically induce local overexpression of single melanocortin peptides using lentiviral vectors expressing α-MSH (LVi-α-MSH-EGFP) and γ-MSH (LVi-γ-MSH-EGFP). The lentiviral vectors were shown to produce a long-term overexpression and biologically active peptides in cell-based assays. The LVi-α-MSHEGFP was targeted to the arcuate nucleus in the hypothalamus of diet induced obese mice where it reduced weight gain and adiposity independently of food intake. When the nucleus tractus solitarus in the brainstem was targeted, the LVi-α-MSH-EGFP treatment was shown to cause a small decrease in adiposity, which did not impact weight development. However, the α-MSH treatment increased heart rate, which was attenuated by adrenergic receptor blockade indicative of increased sympathetic activity. The LVi-γ-MSH-EGFP was targeted to the hypothalamus where it decreased fat mass in mice eating the standard diet, but the effect was abated if animals consumed a high-fat Western type diet. When the diet induced obese mice were subjected again to the standard diet, the LVi-γ-MSH-EGFP treated animals displayed increased weight loss and reduced adiposity. These results indicate that the long-term central anti-obesity effects of α-MSH are independent of food intake. In addition, overexpression of α-MSH in the brain stem efficiently blocked the development of adiposity, but increased sympathetic tone. The evidence presented in this thesis also indicates that selective MC3R agonists such as γ-MSH could be potential therapeutics in combination with low fat diets.

Control of the phosphorylation of the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the immature rat hippocampus by glutamate and calcium ions: possible key factor in astrocytic plasticity

The present review describes recent research on the regulation by glutamate and Ca2+ of the phosphorylation state of the intermediate filament protein of the astrocytic cytoskeleton, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), in immature hippocampal slices. The results of this research are discussed against a background of modern knowledge of the functional importance of astrocytes in the brain and of the structure and dynamic properties of intermediate filament proteins. Astrocytes are now recognized as partners with neurons in many aspects of brain function with important roles in neural plasticity. Site-specific phosphorylation of intermediate filament proteins, including GFAP, has been shown to regulate the dynamic equilibrium between the polymerized and depolymerized state of the filaments and to play a fundamental role in mitosis. Glutamate was found to increase the phosphorylation state of GFAP in hippocampal slices from rats in the post-natal age range of 12-16 days in a reaction that was dependent on external Ca2+. The lack of external Ca2+ in the absence of glutamate also increased GFAP phosphorylation to the same extent. These effects of glutamate and Ca2+ were absent in adult hippocampal slices, where the phosphorylation of GFAP was completely Ca2+-dependent. Studies using specific agonists of glutamate receptors showed that the glutamate response was mediated by a G protein-linked group II metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR). Since group II mGluRs do not act by liberating Ca2+ from internal stores, it is proposed that activation of the receptor by glutamate inhibits Ca2+ entry into the astrocytes and consequently down-regulates a Ca2+-dependent dephosphorylation cascade regulating the phosphorylation state of GFAP. The functional significance of these results may be related to the narrow developmental window when the glutamate response is present. In the rat brain this window corresponds to the period of massive synaptogenesis during which astrocytes are known to proliferate. Possibly, glutamate liberated from developing synapses during this period may signal an increase in the phosphorylation

Correlation of discocyte frequency and ATP concentration in preserved blood: A morphological indicator of red blood cell viability

Red blood cells (RBC) are viable if kept in an adequate preservative solution, although gradual changes in morphology and metabolism may occur. There is a gradual decrease in adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) concentration, pH, glucose consumption, and enzyme activity during preservation. The normal discocyte shapes are initially replaced by echinocytes and stomatocytes and, at final stages, by spherocytes, the last step before splenic sequestration. Post-transfusional survival has been correlated with the ATP concentration. RBC preserved in ADSOL, a solution containing adenine, dextrose, sodium chloride, and mannitol, are viable for transfusion for up to 6 weeks. Erythrocytes from 10 blood units taken from healthy adult donors were preserved for 12 weeks in ADSOL at 4oC. We now report a significant correlation (r2 = 0.98) between the percentage of discocytes (89 to 7%) and ATP (100 to 10%) concentration in ADSOL-preserved RBC. The results suggest that the percent of discocyte shapes used as an indicator of ATP concentration may be a useful indicator for quality control of RBC viability in centers which have limited assay facilities.

Interferon gamma is a key cytokine in lung phase immunity to schistosomes but what is its precise role?

Vaccination of mice with radiation-attenuated cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni induces a high level of protection against challenge with normal larvae. The immune effector mechanism, which operates in the lungs, is a cell-mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity response and involves the formation of a tight focus of mononuclear cells around embolised larvae. CD4+ T cells with Th1 characteristics are a major component of the infiltrate. They secrete abundant interferon gamma (IFNg) upon antigen stimulation in vitro, whilst in vivo neutralisation of the cytokine results in 90% abrogation of immunity. IFNg can induce a large number of genes and an attempt has been made to identify the ones which are essential components of the effector mechanism. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is such a candidate and nitric oxide (NO) is produced by cultures of airway leucocytes from the lungs of vaccinated mice post-challenge. However, the continued resistance of mice with a disrupted iNOS gene indicates that NO has only a minor role in the protective response. Mice with a disrupted IFNg receptor gene have been used to dissect the role of the cytokine. After vaccination and challenge, CD4+ T cells from the pulmonary interstitium have reduced levels of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 expression, compared to wild-type animals, which coincides with a reduced cohesiveness of foci. However, immunity is not significantly impaired in mice with a disrupted ICAM-1 gene, and focus formation is normal. Similarly, a role has not been found for CD2/CD48 interactions in cell aggregation. Possible IFNg-inducible molecules yet to be fully investigated include other ligand-receptor pairs, chemokines, and tumour necrosis factor a.

Galectins: a key intersection between glycobiology and immunology

Galectins are a family of evolutionarily conserved animal lectins, widely distributed from lower invertebrates to mammals. They share sequence and structure similarities in the carbohydrate recognition domain and specificity for polylactosamine-enriched glycoconjugates. In the last few years significant experimental data have been accumulated concerning their participation in different biological processes requiring carbohydrate recognition such as cell adhesion, cell growth regulation, inflammation, immunomodulation, apoptosis and metastasis. In the present review we will discuss some exciting questions and advances in galectin research, highlighting the significance of these proteins in immunological processes and their implications in biomedical research, disease diagnosis and clinical intervention. Designing novel therapeutic strategies based on carbohydrate recognition will provide answers for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory processes, allergic reactions and tumor spreading.

Rapid detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) system

The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has increased the need for rapid drug susceptibility tests, which are needed for adequate patient treatment. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) system to detect multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. The MGIT system was compared with two standard methods (proportion and resistance ratio methods). One hundred clinical M. tuberculosis isolates [25 susceptible to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF), 20 resistant to INH, 30 resistant to INH-RIF, and 25 resistant to INH-RIF and other drugs] obtained in the State of São Paulo were tested for INH and RIF susceptibility. Full agreement among the tests was found for all sensitive and all INH-resistant strains. For RIF-resistant strains results among the tests agreed for 53 (96.4%) of 55 isolates. Results were obtained within 6 days (range, 5 to 8 days), 28 days and 12 days when using MGIT, the proportion method and the resistance ratio methods, respectively. The MGIT system presented an overall agreement of 96% when compared with two standard methods. These data show that the MGIT system is rapid, sensitive and efficient for the early detection of multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis.

Suorituskykymittariston suunnittelu suuren teknologiateollisuuden organisaation asiantuntijatiimissä

Suorituskyvyn mittaamisella voidaan tehokkaasti vaikuttaa yrityksen tavoitteiden saavuttamiseen. Suorituskykyä kuvaavat mittarit ohjaavat yritystä strategian toteuttamisessa ja toiminnan kehittämisessä visiossa määriteltyyn suuntaan. Yrityksen suorituskykyä mitataan hyvin usein yksistään yritystasolla, mutta suorituskyvyn mittaaminen voidaan viedä myös tiimitasolle asti. Tämän työn tavoitteena oli identifioida ominaispiirteitä suuren organisaation asiantuntijatiimin suorituskykymittaristolle jo sen suunnitteluvaiheessa. Tutkimuskysymyksiin pyrittiin löytämään vastauksia yhtäältä kohdeyritykselle implementoidun suunnitteluprosessin avulla ja toisaalta myös suorituskyvyn mittaamista käsittelevän kirjallisuuden kautta. Huomattavin erityispiirre suorituskykymittaristoa suunnitellessa oli suuren organisaation asiantuntijatyön huomioiminen, sillä tietointensiivisen asiantuntijatiimin työn mittaaminen on vaativaa. Suorituskyvyn mittaaminen virtaviivaistaa sekä yrityksen tavoitteiden viestintää henkilöstölle että sen päätöksentekoa. Toimiva suorituskykymittaristo voidaan luoda suunnitteluprosessin avulla, joista kirjallisuudessa on useita malleja. Tehokkaan suunnitteluprosessin taustalla on johdon ja henkilöstön sitoutuminen suunnitteluun, jotta mittaristosta tulisi mahdollisimman onnistunut. Suorituskykymittariston suunnitteluprosessissa yrityksen visiosta ja strategiasta johdetaan mittausalueet ja menestystekijät, joiden avulla strategia pyritään toteuttamaan ja visio saavuttamaan. Asiantuntijatiimin suorituskyvyn mittauksessa on tärkeätä spesifioida relevantit mittarit, jotta asetetut tavoitteet saavutetaan ja haasteellista tietointensiivistä asiantuntijatyötä voidaan tehokkaasti mitata. Suunnitteluvaiheessa oleellinen osa suunnittelutyötä on mittausjärjestelmän riittävä ja huolellinen dokumentaatio, jotta mahdolliset muutokset implementointivaiheessa voitaisiin toteuttaa systemaattisesti ja tehokkaasti.

Melatonin and N-acetyl-serotonin cross the red blood cell membrane and evoke calcium mobilization in malarial parasites

The duration of the intraerythrocytic cycle of Plasmodium is a key factor in the pathogenicity of this parasite. The simultaneous attack of the host red blood cells by the parasites depends on the synchronicity of their development. Unraveling the signals at the basis of this synchronicity represents a challenging biological question and may be very important to develop alternative strategies for therapeutic approaches. Recently, we reported that the synchrony of Plasmodium is modulated by melatonin, a host hormone that is synthesized only during the dark phases. Here we report that N-acetyl-serotonin, a melatonin precursor, also releases Ca2+ from isolated P. chabaudi parasites at micro- and nanomolar concentrations and that the release is blocked by 250 mM luzindole, an antagonist of melatonin receptors, and 20 mM U73122, a phospholipase C inhibitor. On the basis of confocal microscopy, we also report the ability of 0.1 µM melatonin and 0.1 µM N-acetyl-serotonin to cross the red blood cell membrane and to mobilize intracellular calcium in parasites previously loaded with the fluorescent calcium indicator Fluo-3 AM. The present data represent a step forward into the understanding of the signal transduction process in the host-parasite relationship by supporting the idea that the host hormone melatonin and N-acetyl-serotonin generate IP3 and therefore mobilize intracellular Ca2+ in Plasmodium inside red blood cells.

Eye color as an indicator of social rank in the fish Nile tilapia

We investigated the association of eye color with the dominant-subordinate relationship in the fish Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Eye color pattern was also examined in relation to the intensity of attacks. We paired 20 size-matched fish (intruder: 73.69 ± 11.49 g; resident: 75.42 ± 8.83 g) and evaluated eye color and fights. These fish were isolated in individual aquaria for 10 days and then their eye color was measured 5 min before pairing (basal values). Twenty minutes after pairing, eye color and fights were quantified for 10 min. Clear establishment of social hierarchy was observed in 7 of 10 pairs of fish. Number of attacks ranged from 1 to 168 among pairs. The quartile was calculated for these data and the pairs were then divided into two classes: low-attack (1 to 111 attacks - 2 lower quartiles) or high-attack (112 to 168 attacks - 2 higher quartiles). Dominance decreased the eye-darkening patterns of the fish after pairing, while subordinance increased darkening compared to dominance. Subordinate fish in low-attack confrontations presented a darker eye compared to dominant fish and to the basal condition. We also observed a paler eye pattern in dominants that shared low-attack interactions after pairing compared to the subordinates and within the group. However, we found no differences in the darkening pattern between dominants and subordinates from the high-attack groups. We conclude that eye color is associated with social rank in this species. Moreover, the association between eye color and social rank in the low-attack pairs may function to reduce aggression.