Marketing in the pre-development process of agricultural machines: a reference model

The theme of the research is the development of the domain of marketing knowledge in the design of agricultural machinery. It is developed throughout the design of agricultural machinery in order to identify the corporate and customers needs and to develop strategies to satisfy these needs. The central problem of the research questions which marketing tools to apply on pre-development process of farm machinery, in order to increase the market value of the products and of the company and, consequently, generate competitive advantage to the manufacturers of agricultural machinery. As methodology, it was developed bibliographical research and multicase study of the development process of agricultural machinery developed by small, medium and large companies and the academy. As a result, a marketing reference model was elaborated for the pre-development stage of agricultural machinery, which outlines the activities, tasks, mechanisms and controls that can be used in strategic planning and in products planning of agricultural machinery manufacturers, contributing to explain the explicit knowledge in the marketing field.

Low cost driver device for microclimate maintenance in the pre-milking of dairy cattle

Due to the importance of the environment on animal production and thus environmental control, the study aims to build a system for monitoring and control the meteorological variables, temperature and relative humidity, low cost, which can be associated with an evaporative cooling system (ECS). The system development included all the stages of assembly, test and laboratory calibration, and later the validation of the equipment carried in the field. The validation step showed results which allowed concluding that the system can be safely used in the monitoring of these variables. The controller was efficient in management of the microclimate in the waiting corral and allowed the maintenance of the air temperature within the comfort range for dairy cattle in pre-milking with averaged 25.09 ºC during the afternoon. The equipment showed the lower cost (R$ 325.76) when compared to other middle market (R$ 450.00).

Integrated multivariate analysis to evaluate effects of pre-slaughter handling on pork quality

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of pre-slaughter handling on the occurrence of PSE (Pale, Soft, and Exudative) meat in swine slaughtered at a commercial slaughterhouse located in the metropolitan region of Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Based on the database (n=1,832 carcasses), it was possible to apply the integrated multivariate analysis for the purpose of identifying, among the selected variables, those of greatest relevance to this study. Results of the Principal Component Analysis showed that the first five components explained 89.28% of total variance. In the Factor Analysis, the first factor represented the thermal stress and fatiguing conditions for swine during pre-slaughter handling. In general, this study indicated the importance of the pre-slaughter handling stages, evidencing those of greatest stress and threat to animal welfare and pork quality, which are transport time, resting period, lairage time before unloading, unloading time, and ambience.

Solar energy use for water pre-heating in boilers of agro-industries

Energy consumption in the world has been growing every year. The industrial sector represents 27.32% of the world energy demand. Heating systems that use solar energy may contribute with a percentage of the total energy required by industries. This work aimed to study the use of vacuum solar collectors for water pre-heating in boilers. We used four collectors installed according to NBR 15,569; water flow through the tubes was 0.058 L/s, and temperature in the inlet and outlet pipes was measured. Results showed that instantaneous radiation, and inlet fluid and room temperatures are variables that influence the process, reaching water maximum temperature in the solar collector outlet of 97.9 °C, and efficiency of approximately 65% for most experiments. For the financial viability evaluation, the payback study was applied, which resulted in 4; 7 and 5 years, for the respective sources: firewood, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), and electricity. Regarding the calculation of the annual contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gases, it was, respectively, 2.162 and 356 kg of CO2 per m² of collector tubes, in comparison with firewood and LPG.

Financial losses in pork supply chain: a study of the pre-slaughter handling impacts

Brazil is amongst the world’s largest swine producers. However, its competitiveness has been vulnerable due to a lack of cooperation between the supply chain players. This condition makes the financial losses to be evaluated taking into account only an individual node, and most of the time, these damages are imputed by swine breeders. Living weight losses occur between the farm to slaughterhouses, and the main cause of these losses is the pre-slaughter handling, especially during animal transportation. In this research, we analyzed the pre-slaughter handling in a swine farm in Brasilândia, MS, Brazil. Analyzed data were provided by five slaughterhouses (farm clients) from the studied region, in which it was considered living weight losses, carcass bruising, animal injury, and death rate. The results indicated that total financial losses represent 160 thousand dollars per year, when taking into account the supply chain management.

Cognitive Development of Very Low Birth Weight Children from Infancy to Pre-school Age

The survival of preterm born infants has increased but the prevalence of long-term morbidities has still remained high. Preterm born children are at an increased risk for various developmental impairments including both severe neurological deficits as well as deficits in cognitive development. According to the literature the developmental outcome perspective differs between countries, centers, and eras. Definitions of preterm infant vary between studies, and the follow-up has been carried out with diverse methods making the comparison less reliable. It is essential to offer parents upto-date information about the outcome of preterm infants born in the same area. A centralized follow-up of children at risk makes it possible to monitor the consequences of changes in the treatment practices of hospitals on developmental outcome. This thesis is part of a larger regional, prospective multidisciplinary follow-up project entitled “Development and Functioning of Very Low Birth Weight Infants from Infancy to School Age” (PIeniPAinoisten RIskilasten käyttäytyminen ja toimintakyky imeväisiästä kouluikään, PIPARI). The thesis consists of four original studies that present data of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants born between 2001 and 2006, who are followed up from the neonatal period until the age of five years. The main outcome measure was cognitive development and secondary outcomes were significant neurological deficits (cerebral palsy, CP, deafness, and blindness). In Study I, the early crying and fussing behavior of preterm infants was studied using parental diaries, and the relation of crying behavior and cognitive and motor development at the age of two years was assessed. In Study II, the developmental outcome (cognitive, CP, deafness, and blindness) at the age of two years was studied in relation to demographic, antenatal, neonatal, and brain imaging data. Development was studied in relationship to a full-term born control group born in the same hospital. In Study III, the stability of cognitive development was studied in VLBW and full-term groups by comparing the outcomes at the ages of two and five years. Finally, in Study IV the precursors of reading skills (phonological processing, rapid automatized naming, and letter knowledge) were assessed for VLBW and full-term children at the age of five years. Pre-reading skills were studied in relation to demographic, antenatal, neonatal, and brain imaging data. The main findings of the thesis were that VLBW infants who fussed or cried more in the infancy were not at greater risk for problems in their cognitive development. However, crying was associated with poorer motor development. The developmental outcome of the present population was better that has been reported earlier and this improvement covered also cognitive development. However, the difference to fullterm born peers was still significant. Major brain pathology and intestinal perforation were independent significant risk factors for adverse outcome, also when several individual risk factors were controlled for. Cognitive development at the age of two years was strongly related with development at the age of five years, stressing the importance of the early assessment, and the possibility for early interventions. Finally, VLBW children had poorer pre-reading skills compared with their full-term born peers, but the IQ was an important mediator even when children with mental retardation were excluded from the analysis. The findings suggest that counseling parents about the developmental perspectives of their preterm infant should be based on data covering the same birth hospital. Neonatal brain imaging data and neonatal morbidity are important predictors for developmental outcome. The findings of the present study stress the importance of both short-term (two years) and long-term (five years) follow-ups for the individual, and for improving the quality of care.

Bone Health, Osteoporosis and Fracture Risk in Neurofibromatosis 1 - An Emphasis on Osteoclasts

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant hereditary syndrome, affecting skin, neural tissues and skeleton. Hallmarks of NF1 include benign cutaneous neurofibroma tumors, pigmentation lesions on the skin and in the iris, learning disabilities and predisposition to selected malignancies. Low bone mineral density (BMD) and osteopenia/osteoporosis are common in NF1. Osteoporosis is a systemic disorder characterized by low bone mineral density and increased fracture risk. Treatment of osteoporosis aims to prevent falls and decrease fracture risk. Osteoporosis is diagnosed in adults by measuring BMD and evaluating clinical risk factors of the patient. Bone turnover is a process of old bone resorbed by osteoclasts and new bone formed by osteoblasts. Multinuclear osteoclasts are derived from osteoclast progenitors, which can be isolated from peripheral blood. Osteoclast progenitors were isolated from 17 NF1 patients and healthy controls, and cultured in vitro to osteoclasts. NF1 osteoclasts are hyperactive, displaying increased differentiation and resorption capacity, abnormal morphology and tolerance to serum deprivation compared to control osteoclasts. These findings expanded the study to evaluate the effects of bisphosphonates, drugs designed to treat osteoporosis, in osteoclasts derived from blood samples of 20 NF1 and control persons. The number of control osteoclasts was expectedly reduced after bisphosphonate treatment. However, NF1 osteoclasts tolerated the apoptotic effect of alendronate, zoledronic acid and clodronate in vitro compared to controls. NF1-related osteoporosis was found in ~20 % of the patients, and selected laboratory parameters were measured. Patients with NF1 have increased levels of serum CTX and PINP, reflecting increased bone turnover in vivo. BMD decreases progressively in NF1 as evaluated in 19 NF1 patients 12 years after their initial BMD measurement. Patients with NF1-related osteopenia often progress to osteoporosis. This was found in patients aged 37-76.

Bioactive Glass in Lumbar Spondylodesis. A Pre-Clinical and Clinical Study

Bioactive glasses (BGs) form a group of synthetic, surface-active, composition-dependent, silica-based biomaterials with osteoconductive, osteopromotive, and even angiogenic, as well as antibacterial, properties. A national interdisciplinary research group, within the Combio Technology Program (2003–2007), developed a porous load-bearing composite for surgical applications made of BG 1–98 and polymer fibers. The pre-clinical part of this thesis focused on the in vitro and in vivo testing of the composite materials in a rabbit femur and spinal posterolateral fusion model. The femur model failed to demonstrate the previously seen positive effect of BG 1–98 on osteogenesis, probably due to the changed resorption properties of BG in the form of fibers. The spine study was terminated early due to adverse events. In vitro cultures showed the growth inhibition of human mesenchymal stems next to BG 1–98 fibers and radical pH changes. A prospective, long-term, follow-up study was conducted on BG–S53P4 and autogenous bone used as bone graft substitutes for instrumented posterolateral spondylodesis in the treatment of degenerative spondylolisthesis (n=17) and unstable burst fractures (n=10) during 1996–1998. The operative outcome was evaluated from X-rays and CT scans, and a clinical examination was also performed. On the BG side, a solid fusion was observed in the CT scans of 12 patients, and a partial fusion was found in 5 patients, the result being a total fusion rate in all fusion sites (n=41) 88% for levels L4/5 and L5/S1 in the spondylolisthesis group. In the spine fracture group, solid fusion was observed in five patients, and partial fusion was found in five resulting in a total fusion rate of 71% of all fusion sites (n=21). The pre-clinical results suggest that under certain conditions the physical form of BG can be more critical than its chemical composition when a clinical application is designed. The first long-term clinical results concerning the use of BG S53P4 as bone graft material in instrumented posterolateral spondylodesis seems to be a safe procedure, associated with a very low complication rate. BG S53P4 used as a stand-alone bone substitute cannot be regarded as being as efficient as AB in promoting solid fusion.

Detection of the Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque. Pre-Clinical Evaluation of Novel PET Imaging Probes With Experimental Models

Atherosclerosis is a life-long vascular inflammatory disease and the leading cause of death in Finland and in other western societies. The development of atherosclerotic plaques is progressive and they form when lipids begin to accumulate in the vessel wall. This accumulation triggers the migration of inflammatory cells that is a hallmark of vascular inflammation. Often, this plaque will become unstable and form vulnerable plaque which may rupture causing thrombosis and in the worst case, causing myocardial infarction or stroke. Identification of these vulnerable plaques before they rupture could save lives. At present, in the clinic, there exists no appropriated, non-invasive method for their identification. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate novel positron emission tomography (PET) probes for the detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques and to characterize, two mouse models of atherosclerosis. These studies were performed by using ex vivo and in vivo imaging modalities. The vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques was evaluated as expression of active inflammatory cells, namely macrophages. Age and the duration of high-fat diet had a drastic impact on the development of atherosclerotic plaques in mice. In imaging of atherosclerosis, 6-month-old mice, kept on high-fat diet for 4 months, showed matured, metabolically active, atherosclerotic plaques. [18F]FDG and 68Ga were accumulated in the areas representative of vulnerable plaques. However, the slow clearance of 68Ga limits its use for the plaque imaging. The novel synthesized [68Ga]DOTA-RGD and [18F]EF5 tracers demonstrated efficient uptake in plaques as compared to the healthy vessel wall, but the pharmacokinetic properties of these tracers were not optimal in used models. In conclusion, these studies resulted in the identification of new strategies for the assessment of plaque stability and mouse models of atherosclerosis which could be used for plaque imaging. In the used probe panel, [18F]FDG was the best tracer for plaque imaging. However, further studies are warranted to clarify the applicability of [18F]EF5 and [68Ga]DOTA-RGD for imaging of atherosclerosis with other experimental models.

Software Development Process Modeling. Developers Perspective to Contemporary Modeling Techniques

Formal software development processes and well-defined development methodologies are nowadays seen as the definite way to produce high-quality software within time-limits and budgets. The variety of such high-level methodologies is huge ranging from rigorous process frameworks like CMMI and RUP to more lightweight agile methodologies. The need for managing this variety and the fact that practically every software development organization has its own unique set of development processes and methods have created a profession of software process engineers. Different kinds of informal and formal software process modeling languages are essential tools for process engineers. These are used to define processes in a way which allows easy management of processes, for example process dissemination, process tailoring and process enactment. The process modeling languages are usually used as a tool for process engineering where the main focus is on the processes themselves. This dissertation has a different emphasis. The dissertation analyses modern software development process modeling from the software developers’ point of view. The goal of the dissertation is to investigate whether the software process modeling and the software process models aid software developers in their day-to-day work and what are the main mechanisms for this. The focus of the work is on the Software Process Engineering Metamodel (SPEM) framework which is currently one of the most influential process modeling notations in software engineering. The research theme is elaborated through six scientific articles which represent the dissertation research done with process modeling during an approximately five year period. The research follows the classical engineering research discipline where the current situation is analyzed, a potentially better solution is developed and finally its implications are analyzed. The research applies a variety of different research techniques ranging from literature surveys to qualitative studies done amongst software practitioners. The key finding of the dissertation is that software process modeling notations and techniques are usually developed in process engineering terms. As a consequence the connection between the process models and actual development work is loose. In addition, the modeling standards like SPEM are partially incomplete when it comes to pragmatic process modeling needs, like light-weight modeling and combining pre-defined process components. This leads to a situation, where the full potential of process modeling techniques for aiding the daily development activities can not be achieved. Despite these difficulties the dissertation shows that it is possible to use modeling standards like SPEM to aid software developers in their work. The dissertation presents a light-weight modeling technique, which software development teams can use to quickly analyze their work practices in a more objective manner. The dissertation also shows how process modeling can be used to more easily compare different software development situations and to analyze their differences in a systematic way. Models also help to share this knowledge with others. A qualitative study done amongst Finnish software practitioners verifies the conclusions of other studies in the dissertation. Although processes and development methodologies are seen as an essential part of software development, the process modeling techniques are rarely used during the daily development work. However, the potential of these techniques intrigues the practitioners. As a conclusion the dissertation shows that process modeling techniques, most commonly used as tools for process engineers, can also be used as tools for organizing the daily software development work. This work presents theoretical solutions for bringing the process modeling closer to the ground-level software development activities. These theories are proven feasible by presenting several case studies where the modeling techniques are used e.g. to find differences in the work methods of the members of a software team and to share the process knowledge to a wider audience.

Osaamisen johtaminen pk-yrityksen kansainvälisen kasvun elinkaarella

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli osaamisen johtamisen holistinen tarkastelu pk-yrityksen kansainvälisen kasvun elinkaarella. Osaamisen johtamisen malli sisältää osaamisen, tiedon, eriasteiset ja hierarkisesti eritasoiset liittoumat ja verkostot sekä internetin tarjonnan organisaation oppimisen ohella. Pk-yrityksen syntyminen, kasvu kotimarkkinoilla ja kansainvälinen kasvu voivat perustua kansainvälisyyteen. Holistinen kansainvälistyminen voi alkaa mistä funktiosta tai prosessista tahansa ja ulottua eriasteisena muihin funktioihin ja/tai prosesseihin. Kansainvälistyminen ja kansainvälinen toiminta voi katketa kokonaan tai funktioitain ja alkaa uudelleen. Tutkimuksen holistisella mallilla analysoitiin tapausyritykset hyödyntämällä osa-aluekronologiaa. Tuloksilla tarkennettiin mallia. Tarkennettu malli korostaa kasvu ja/tai kansainvälistymisärsykkeen/impulssin syntyvän sekä kotiettä ulkomaisilta kysyntä- ja/tai tarjontamarkkinoilta sekä yrityksen sisä- että ulkopuolelta tai olevan piilevänä omistajayrittäjässä. Holistisuus korostaa mallin kaikissa osissa ennen alkua (pre-start) vaiheen asemaa, päättymätöntä uudistumisprosessia. Osaamisen johtamisessa korostuu proaktiivisuus. Jokainen uudistamisprosessi edellyttää olevan osaamisen vahvistamista, ja organisaation ulkopuolisen osaamis- ja tietopääoman hyödyntämistä. Osaamisen johtaminen sisältää varsinaisen ja laajennetun organisaation yksilöiden, ryhmien ja yksiköiden visio- ja strategiaperusteisen johtamisen. Tämä edellyttää sitouttamista, motivointia ja omaehtoisuuden sekä organisaation sisäisen ja ulkoisen kulttuurietäisyyden hyödyntämistä. Yksilön fokus osaamisen johtamisen näkökulmasta on tehtävään sitoutuminen ja itsensä toteuttaminen. Fokukset ovat proaktiiviisia vaihdellen funktioiden ja prosessien elinkaarilla dynaamisesti. Tutkimus myötävaikuttaa omistajayrittäjän roolin korostamiseen, kasvu- ja kansainvälistymisimpulssin ja ennen alkua (pre start) vaiheen holistisuuden ymmärtämiseen laaja-alaisesti. Kasvu- ja kansainvälistymisimpulsseja/ärsykkeitä ja niistä seuraavia pre start vaiheita/osa-alueita on pk-yrityksen elinkaarella (1+n) kappaletta; (n: 0- oo). Malli myötävaikuttaa ymmärtämään aineettomia osaamis- ja tieto-optioita sekä korostaa transnationalpiirteitä kansainvälistä kasvua vahvistavina.

Pre-and post-puberty physiological plasma oxytocin concentrations in male domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus)

The hormone oxytocin is released by the neuropituitary gland through stimulation of the neurons of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. In order to determine the physiological concentrations of this hormone in domestic cats, blood samples were collected from 15 male animals (Felis silvestris catus) during the pre- and post-puberty periods (at four and eight months of age, respectively). Oxytocin determination was accomplished by radioimmunoassay. The average oxytocin concentrations measured in the pre- and post-puberty periods were 2.54±0.24 (μg/dL) and 2.53±0.28 (μg/dL), respectively, and there were no statistical differences between these measurements. Because there are few literature on the analysis of this hormone, especially in the case of male Felis silvestris catus, more studies on the influence of oxytocin on the physiology and reproduction of this species should be conducted under maintenance and situations of stress (such as transportation), and other routine events.

Innovation in a Non-Formal Adult Education Organisation – Multi-Case Study in Four Adult Education Centres

More than ever, education organisations are experiencing the need to develop new services and processes to satisfy expanding and changing customer needs and to adapt to the environmental changes and continually tightening economic situation. Innovation has been found in many studies to have a crucial role in the success of an organisation, both in the private and public sectors, in formal education and in manufacturing and services alike. However, studies concerning innovation in non-formal adult education organisations, such as adult education centres (AECs) in Finland, are still lacking. This study investigates innovation in the non-formal adult education organisation context from the perspective of organisational culture types and social networks. The objective is to determine the significant characteristics of an innovative non-formal adult education organisation. The analysis is based on data from interviews with the principals and fulltime staff of four case AECs. Before the case study, a pre-study phase is accomplished in order to obtain a preliminary understanding of innovation at AECs. The research found strong support for the need of innovation in AECs. Innovation is basically needed to accomplish the AEC system’s primary mission mentioned in the ACT on Liberal Adult Education. In addition, innovation is regarded vital to institutes and may prevent their decline. It helps the institutes to be more attractive, to enter new market, to increase customer satisfaction and to be on the cutting edge. Innovation is also seen as a solution to the shortage of resources. Innovative AECs search actively for additional resources for development work through project funding and subsidies, cooperation networks and creating a conversational and joyful atmosphere in the institute. The findings also suggest that the culture type that supports innovation at AECs is multidimensional, with an emphasis on the clan and adhocratic culture types and such values as: dynamism, future orientation, acquiring new resources, mistake tolerance, openness, flexibility, customer orientation, a risk-taking attitude, and community spirit. Active and creative internal and external cooperation also promote innovation at AECs. This study also suggests that the behaviour of a principal is crucial. The way he or she shows appreciation the staff, encouragement and support to the staff and his or her approachability and concrete participation in innovation activities have a strong effect on innovation attitudes and activities in AECs.