Frequency converter protection against supply network phenomena

This master’s thesis is focused on power supply network disturbances and their effects on the frequency converter – one of the components of modern process crane electrical system. The most critical disturbance types, their causes and the effect they bring to crane electrical system was determined in this work. Variety of protective devices used for mitigation of disturbances is investigated. Device protection solutions for the frequency converter used in crane applications are presented. Analyses of the power supply requirements for frequency converter and various components of crane electrical system were carried out and as a result the crane power supply requirements list that guarantees normal crane operation was built. This list is to be included in crane projects for troubleshooting purposes in order to determine potentially dangerous network.

Formal and informal mechanisms for knowledge protection and sharing

The most important knowledge in firms is mostly tacit and embedded in individuals within the organization. This background knowledge that firms possess is used for creation of new knowledge and innovations. As firms today greatly concentrate on their core competencies, they need external knowledge from various collaboration partners. Thus, collaborative relationship governance, as well as control (use of appropriability mechanisms) over background (the input from each firm in innovative activities) and foreground knowledge (the output of collaboration activities) is needed in order to successfully create and capture value from innovative activities without losing core knowledge and competitiveness. Even though research has concentrated on knowledge protection and knowledge sharing, studies that combine both of these views and examine the effects of sharing and protection on value creation and capture have been rather limited. Studies have mainly focused on the protection of the output of innovation while forgetting the protection of the input of innovation. On the other hand, as the research concentrating on the output of innovation tends to favor formal mechanisms, informal mechanisms have remained more unknown to researchers as well as managers. This research aims to combine the perspectives of knowledge sharing and knowledge protection and their relationship with value creation and value capture. The sharing and protection are viewed from two points of view: the use of appropriability mechanisms, as well as governance of the collaborative relationship. The study consists of two parts. The first part introduces the research topic and discusses the overall results. The second part comprises six complementary research publications. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used in the study. In terms of results, the findings enhance understanding of the combined use of formal and informal mechanisms for knowledge protection and sharing. Informal mechanisms appear to be emphasized in the protection of background knowledge, and thus are prerequisites for innovation, whereas formal mechanisms are relied on more for protecting the results of innovative activities. However, the simultaneous use of the formal and informal mechanisms that are relevant to the particular industry and innovation context is recommendedthroughout the collaborative innovation process. Further, the study adds to the current knowledge on HRM as an appropriability mechanism: on the firm level its uses include assessing and hedging against employee-related risks such as knowledge leaking and knowledge leaving. A further contribution is to the research on HRM protection and its interrelations with other appropriability mechanisms, its constituents, and its potential use in the area of knowledge protection.

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.

Feasibility study of the available relay protection solutions for microgrids

Thesis talks about relay protection for microgrids. Microgrid operation sets more challenges than traditional utility grid protection because of lower fault current levels. Solutions for these challenges are discussed in this paper. Thesis also studies available relay protection solutions and figures out how they would fit for microgrid protection.

"Protection des animaux en Finlande"

14 x 23 cm

"Protection des animaux en Finlande"

14 x 22 cm

"Protection des animaux en Finlande"

14 x 22 cm

"Protection des animaux en Finlande"

14 x 22 cm

A Brazilian glycoprotein E-negative bovine herpesvirus type 1.2a (BHV-1.2a) mutant is attenuated for cattle and induces protection against wild-type virus challenge

The authors previously reported the construction of a glycoprotein E-deleted (gE-) mutant of bovine herpesvirus type 1.2a (BHV-1.2a). This mutant, 265gE-, was designed as a vaccinal strain for differential vaccines, allowing the distinction between vaccinated and naturally infected cattle. In order to determine the safety and efficacy of this candidate vaccine virus, a group of calves was inoculated with 265gE-. The virus was detected in secretions of inoculated calves to lower titres and for a shorter period than the parental virus inoculated in control calves. Twenty one days after inoculation, the calves were challenged with the wild type parental virus. Only mild signs of infection were detected on vaccinated calves, whereas non-vaccinated controls displayed intense rhinotracheitis and shed virus for longer and to higher titres than vaccinated calves. Six months after vaccination, both vaccinated and control groups were subjected to reactivation of potentially latent virus. The mutant 265gE- could not be reactivated from vaccinated calves. The clinical signs observed, following the reactivation of the parental virus, were again much milder on vaccinated than on non-vaccinated calves. Moreover, parental virus shedding was considerably reduced on vaccinated calves at reactivation. In view of its attenuation, immunogenicity and protective effect upon challenge and reactivation with a virulent BHV-1, the mutant 265gE- was shown to be suitable for use as a BHV-1 differential vaccine virus.

Intellectual Property Protection in China in the Cases of Outsourcing and own Manufacturing

The intellectual property (IP) environment in China is still very immature. There are several problems in legal, political, economic, social-cultural, competitive and labor environment which have hindered IP legal enforcement. Under such circumstances, IP misappropriation is a major concern especially for foreign small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) doing business in China. These circumstances require foreign companies, no matter whether they are multinational corporations (MNCs) or SMEs and have own manufacturing in China or not, to take strong IP actions. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to discuss how IP can be protected in China in the case of outsourcing and in the case of own manufacturing. The comparison will consider the process of outsourcing and own manufacturing consisting two stages: preparation stage and operation stage. In order to clarify the conceptual arguments, two illustrative case studies were studied. The case data bases on two semi-structured interviews of the managing directors, field notes and archival data. The findings propose that attention in IP protection should be given to following issues: integrating IP strategy into the company’s business strategy, protecting the most critical knowledge, regarding IP steps as a whole in the protection mechanism and making IP strategy as proactive as possible. The major difference between outsourcing and own manufacturing in IP protection is in the operation stage. Besides, the findings also provide managerial advice on IP protection, e.g. foreign managers should be prepared for IP risks in China, they should establish an own IP protection mechanism which matches the company’s situation and they should consider IP protection as an on-going process.

Genital immunization of heifers with a glycoprotein Edeleted, recombinant bovine herpesvirus 1 strain confers protection upon challenge with a virulent isolate

Venereal infection of seronegative heifers and cows with bovine herpesvirus type 1.2 (BoHV-1.2) frequently results in vulvovaginitis and transient infertility. Parenteral immunization with inactivated or modified live BoHV-1 vaccines often fails in conferring protection upon genital challenge. We herein report an evaluation of the immune response and protection conferred by genital vaccination of heifers with a glycoprotein E-deleted recombinant virus (SV265gE-). A group of six seronegative heifers was vaccinated with SV265gE- (0,2mL containing 10(6.9)TCID50) in the vulva submucosa (group IV); four heifers were vaccinated intramuscularly (group IM, 1mL containing 10(7.6)TCID50) and four heifers remained as non-vaccinated controls. Heifers vaccinated IV developed mild, transient local edema and hyperemia and shed low amounts of virus for a few days after vaccination, yet a sentinel heifer maintained in close contact did not seroconvert. Attempts to reactivate the vaccine virus in two IV vaccinated heifers by intravenous administration of dexamethasone (0.5mg/kg) at day 70 pv failed since no virus shedding, recrudescence of genital signs or seroconversion were observed. At day 70 pv, all vaccinated and control heifers were challenged by genital inoculation of a highly virulent BoHV-1.2 isolate (SV56/90, 10(7.1)TCID50/animal). After challenge, virus shedding was detected in genital secretions of control animals for 8.2 days (8-9); in the IM group for 6.2 days (4-8 days) and during 5.2 days (5-6 days) in the IV group. Control non-vaccinated heifers developed moderate (2/4) or severe (2/4) vulvovaginitis lasting 9 to 13 days (x: 10.7 days). The disease was characterized by vulvar edema, vulvo-vestibular congestion, vesicles progressing to coalescence and erosions, fibrino-necrotic plaques and fibrinopurulent exudate. IM vaccinated heifers developed mild (1/3) or moderate (3/4) genital lesions, lasting 10 to 12 days (x: 10.7 days); and IV vaccinated heifers developed mild and transient vulvovaginitis (3/4) or mild to moderate genital lesions (1/4). In the IV group, the clinical signs lasted 4 to 8 days (x: 5.5 days). Clinical examination of the animals after challenge revealed that vaccination by both routes conferred some degree of protection, yet IV vaccination was clearly more effective in reducing the severity and duration of clinical disease. Furthermore, IV vaccination reduced the period of virus shedding in comparison with both groups. Taken together, these results demonstrate that SV265gE- is sufficiently attenuated upon IV vaccination in a low-titer dosis, is not readily reactivated after corticosteroid treatment and lastly, and more importantly, confers local protection upon challenge with a high titer of a virulent heterologous BoHV-1 isolate. Therefore, the use of this recombinant for genital immunization may be considered for prevention of BoHV-1-associated genital disease in the field.

Does speed matter? : the impact of the EU membership incentive on rule adoption in minority language rights protection

Denna avhandling tar sin utgångspunkt i ett ifrågasättande av effektiviteten i EU:s konditionalitetspolitik avseende minoritetsrättigheter. Baserat på den rationalistiska teoretiska modellen, External Incentives Model of Governance, syftar denna hypotesprövande avhandling till att förklara om tidsavståndet på det potentiella EU medlemskapet påverkar lagstiftningsnivån avseende minoritetsspråksrättigheter. Mätningen av nivån på lagstiftningen avseende minoritetsspråksrättigheter begränsas till att omfatta icke-diskriminering, användning av minoritetsspråk i officiella sammanhang samt minoriteters språkliga rättigheter i utbildningen. Metodologiskt används ett jämförande angreppssätt både avseende tidsramen för studien, som sträcker sig mellan 2003 och 2010, men även avseende urvalet av stater. På basis av det \"mest lika systemet\" kategoriseras staterna i tre grupper efter deras olika tidsavstånd från det potentiella EU medlemskapet. Hypotesen som prövas är följande: ju kortare tidsavstånd till det potentiella EU medlemskapet desto större sannolikhet att staternas lagstiftningsnivå inom de tre områden som studeras har utvecklats till en hög nivå. Studien visar att hypotesen endast bekräftas delvis. Resultaten avseende icke-diskriminering visar att sambandet mellan tidsavståndet och nivån på lagstiftningen har ökat markant under den undersökta tidsperioden. Detta samband har endast stärkts mellan kategorin av stater som ligger tidsmässigt längst bort ett potentiellt EU medlemskap och de två kategorier som ligger närmare respektive närmast ett potentiellt EU medlemskap. Resultaten avseende användning av minoritetsspråk i officiella sammanhang och minoriteters språkliga rättigheter i utbildningen visar inget respektive nästan inget samband mellan tidsavståndet och utvecklingen på lagstiftningen mellan 2003 och 2010.

Same- and Other-Sex Victimization : Risk Factors, Consequences, and Protection by Peers

Bullying can be viewed as goal-oriented behavior in the strive for dominance and prestige in the peer group (Salmivalli, 2010). To ensure the effectiveness of their power demonstrations, bullies often choose targets from among their vulnerable peers (Salmivalli, 2010; Veenstra et al., 2007). A large number of studies have also shown that victimization has severe consequences for the victims’ psychosocial adjustment (Reijntjes, Kamphuis, Prinzie, & Telch, 2010; Ttofi, Farrington, Lösel, & Loeber, 2011). In this thesis I investigate – based on three empirical studies – whether similar dynamics on the risk factors and consequences apply to same- and other-sex victimization. In the empirical studies, we used the data from the randomized control trial of the KiVa antibullying program for the elementary school grades 4–6 (2007–2008), and for the middle school grades 7–9 (2008–2009). We measured same- and other-sex victimization, and victims’ defending relationships by dyadic questions: “By which classmates are you victimized?” and “By which classmates are you supported, comforted, or defended?” In addition, we used self-reports and peer reports to measure adjustment and social status. The findings imply that other-sex victimization may be challenging for antibullying work. First, although targets of bullying seemed to be selected from among vulnerable peers for the most part, perceived popularity increased the risks of other-sex victimization. Popularity of these victims may falsely lead to an impression that the victims are doing well. Second, the consequences considering victims’ later psychosocial adjustment were alarming concerning girls bullied by boys. Thus, despite the fact that the targets may be perceived as popular, other-sex victimization can have even more severe consequences than same-sex victimization. Third, we found that defending relationships were mostly same-sex relationships, and consequently, we may ask whether defending is effective against other-sex bullies. Finally, the KiVa antibullying program was less effective against other-sex victimization in the adolescent sample. The findings altogether emphasize the importance of taking into account the sex composition of the bully-victim dyad, both considering future research on bullying and in the antibullying work with children and adolescents.