Combining ability and heterosis in common bean cultivars

The objective of this work was to determine the combining ability and heterosis, for productivity and yield components, in diallel hybrids derived from crossings between BRSMG-Talismã, IPR Uirapuru, FT Soberano, BRS Campeiro, IAC Tybatã, and IPR Juriti parent cultivars. Fifteen hybrids were generated from diallel crosses, excluding reciprocals. The general and specific combining abilities were significant for plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of seeds per pod, 50-seed weight, and grain yield, indicating the occurrence of both additive and nonadditive genetic effects. The best strategy to be adopted is the use of BRS Campeiro, FT Soberano and BRSMG-Talismã cultivars in common bean breeding programs involving selection. The most promising combinations were 'IPR Uirapuru' x 'IAC Tybatã', 'IPR Uirapuru' x 'FT Soberano', 'BRS Campeiro' x 'IPR Juriti', and 'BRS Campeiro' x 'IAC Tybatã'. The parents of these hybrids presented high estimates of specific combining abilities. Hybridization of cultivars belonging to distinguished commercial groups propitiates higher heterosis values in the segregant population.

Morphological, pedigree, and molecular distances and their association with hybrid wheat performance

The objectives of this work were to estimate the genetic distance among wheat genotypes using morphological, pedigree, molecular, and combined morphological and molecular measures, to determine the correlations between these measures, and to evaluate the combining ability of the genotypes. Three generations and two planting designs were studied. Six wheat genotypes were crossed using a diallel design. The F1, F2 and F3generations were evaluated in the field, in the crop seasons of 2003, 2004 and 2005, under spaced plant and full-row planting designs. The estimated general and specific combining abilities of tested hybrids were influenced both by the generation and the planting design. The correlation coefficients among the distance measures and between these measures and genotype performances of different generations for the two planting designs were low to moderate. In order to obtain a more precise estimate of the genetic distance among cultivars and its association with the hybrid performance, more than one generation, planting design, and genetic distance estimation technique should be employed.

Host genetics and HIV-1: the final phase?

This is a crucial transition time for human genetics in general, and for HIV host genetics in particular. After years of equivocal results from candidate gene analyses, several genome-wide association studies have been published that looked at plasma viral load or disease progression. Results from other studies that used various large-scale approaches (siRNA screens, transcriptome or proteome analysis, comparative genomics) have also shed new light on retroviral pathogenesis. However, most of the inter-individual variability in response to HIV-1 infection remains to be explained: genome resequencing and systems biology approaches are now required to progress toward a better understanding of the complex interactions between HIV-1 and its human host.

Mutations in B3GALT6, which encodes a glycosaminoglycan linker region enzyme, cause a spectrum of skeletal and connective tissue disorders.

Proteoglycans (PGs) are a major component of the extracellular matrix in many tissues and function as structural and regulatory molecules. PGs are composed of core proteins and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) side chains. The biosynthesis of GAGs starts with the linker region that consists of four sugar residues and is followed by repeating disaccharide units. By exome sequencing, we found that B3GALT6 encoding an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the GAG linker region is responsible for a severe skeletal dysplasia, spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia with joint laxity type 1 (SEMD-JL1). B3GALT6 loss-of-function mutations were found in individuals with SEMD-JL1 from seven families. In a subsequent candidate gene study based on the phenotypic similarity, we found that B3GALT6 is also responsible for a connective tissue disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (progeroid form). Recessive loss-of-function mutations in B3GALT6 result in a spectrum of disorders affecting a broad range of skeletal and connective tissues characterized by lax skin, muscle hypotonia, joint dislocation, and spinal deformity. The pleiotropic phenotypes of the disorders indicate that B3GALT6 plays a critical role in a wide range of biological processes in various tissues, including skin, bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligament.

Nucleophile-Catalyzed Additions to Activated Triple Bonds. Protection of Lactams, Imides, and Nucleosides with MocVinyl and Related Groups

Additions of lactams, imides, (S)-4-benzyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one, 2-pyridone, pyrimidine-2,4-diones (AZT derivatives), or inosines to the electron-deficient triple bonds of methyl propynoate, tert-butyl propynoate, 3-butyn-2-one, N-propynoylmorpholine, or N-methoxy-N-methylpropynamide in the presence of many potential catalysts were examined. DABCO and, second, DMAP appeared to be the best (highest reaction rates and E/Z ratios), while RuCl3, RuClCp*(PPh3)2, AuCl, AuCl(PPh3), CuI, and Cu2(OTf)2 were incapable of catalyzing such additions. The groups incorporated (for example, the 2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethenyl group that we name MocVinyl) serve as protecting groups for the above-mentioned heterocyclic CONH or CONHCO moieties. Deprotections were accomplished via exchange with good nucleophiles: the 1-dodecanethiolate anion turned out to be the most general and efficient reagent, but in some particular cases other nucleophiles also worked (e.g., MocVinyl-inosines can be cleaved with succinimide anion). Some structural and mechanistic details have been accounted for with the help of DFT and MP2 calculations.

0 AND 02 ADSORPTION ON Ag/Cu[100]

In this work the adsorption mechanisms of atomic and molecular oxygen on Cu(100) surface are studied using ab initio simulation methods. Through the atomistic scale under-standing of the elementary oxidation processes we can further understand the large-scale oxidation. Copper is a material widely used in industry which makes it an interesting subject, and also understanding the oxidation of copper helps us understand the oxidation mechanism of other metals. First we have a look on some theory on surface alloys in general and behaviour of Ag on Cu(100) surface. After that the physical background there is behind the methods of density functional calculations are discussed, and some methods, namely potential energy surfaces and molecular dynamics, are introduced. Then there is a brief look on the numerical details used in the calculations, and after that, the results of the simulations are exhibited.

Immunological mechanisms underlying infectious and chronic lung diseases

Le système respiratoire permet l'échange de gaz entre un organisme et son environnement. Pour fonctionner efficacement, il doit lutter contre les infections tout en maintenant une tolérance aux particules inoffensives. Les cytokines sont des petites protéines qui permettent la communication entre les différentes cellules et jouent un rôle important dans la régulation de l'homéostasie et de l'immunité des surfaces pulmonaires. Une production altérée des cytokines sous-tend beaucoup de maladies du système pulmonaire. Ainsi, la compréhension de la biologie fondamentale des cytokines pourrait contribuer à la mise au point de nouveaux traitements. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous avons étudié le rôle de deux cytokines, le TSLP (Thymic stromal lymphopoietin) et l'IL-17 (Interleukin 17) dans les réponses immunitaires bénéfiques et nuisibles en utilisant des modèles précliniques de souris des maladies pulmonaires. L'asthme est une maladie qui est caractérisée par la bronchoconstriction réversible, l'inflammation des voies respiratoires inférieures, l'hyperréactivité bronchique et le remodelage tissulaire. Le type d'inflammation affectant les voies respiratoires et la présence ou non d'allergie permettent d'établir les différents types d'asthme. La TSLP est une cytokine qui est principalement exprimée à des niveaux élevés dans les poumons de patients souffrant d'asthme allergique. En conséquence, la majeure partie de la recherche sur la TSLP a mis l'accent sur le rôle joué par celle- ci dans les réponses négatives conduisant au développement de l'asthme allergique. Dans cette thèse, nous montrons que la TSLP joue aussi un rôle bénéfique dans les réponses immunitaires pulmonaires. Nous avons découvert que la TSLP atténue la grippe en augmentant les réponses des lymphocytes T cytotoxiques contre le virus. Nous avons également étudié la fonction de la TSLP dans l'asthme non allergique. Contrairement à l'asthme allergique, nous avons constaté que la TSLP diminue les réponses inflammatoires dans l'asthme non allergique en réglant la production de l'IL-17, une cytokine qui favorise la maladie. Ainsi, nous démontrons les fonctions pleiotropes de la TSLP dans des contextes spécifiques de la maladie. Nos résultats ont des implications importantes pour le développement de thérapies ciblant la TSLP dans l'asthme. Dans la deuxième partie de la thèse, nous avons étudié les mécanismes pathogéniques qui sous-tendent le développement de la broncho-pneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO). La BPCO est une maladie chronique le plus largement associée aux fumeurs. Elle est caractérisée par une limitation progressive et irréversible du débit d'air et la destruction de la structure des poumons. L'augmentation globale de l'incidence de la maladie encourage grandement la compréhension des mécanismes pathogéniques et l'identification de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques. Nous avons découvert que les micro-organismes trouvés dans les voies respiratoires aggravent la maladie en augmentant la production de l'IL-17. L'IL-17 est une cytokine inflammatoire qui est impliquée dans plusieurs maladies pulmonaires chroniques, dont la BPCO. Dans notre modèle animal de la maladie, nous avons neutralisé 1ÌL-17A en utilisant un anticorps spécifique et observé une reprise de la fonction pulmonaire. Dans cette étude, nous avons identifié 2 axes potentiels pour l'intervention thérapeutique contre la BPCO. Cibler les bactéries dans les voies respiratoires soit par l'utilisation d'antibiotiques ou l'utilisation de thérapies à base immunitaire qui antagonisent l'activité spécifiques de l'IL-17. Dans l'avenir, notre laboratoire va collaborer avec des cliniciens pour acquérir des échantillons humains et tester la pertinence de nos résultats dans la maladie humaine. -- L'interaction avec l'environnement extérieur est vitale pour le fonctionnement du système respiratoire. Par conséquent, ce dernier a adopté une multitude de réseaux effecteurs et régulateurs qui permettent de distinguer les particules inhalées comme «dangereuses» ou «inoffensives» et de réagir en conséquence. L'équilibre entre ces réseaux est essentielle pour lutter contre le «danger» déclenché par une infection ou des dommages, et finalement pour le retour à l'homéostasie. Le milieu de cytokine local contribue de manière significative à la mise au point de ces réponses. Ainsi, la caractérisation du rôle des cytokines dans l'état d'équilibre et la maladie a des implications claires pour les interventions thérapeutiques dans les maladies respiratoires aiguës et chroniques. Cette thèse a porté sur le rôle des cytokines, la lymphopoïétine stromale thymique (TSLP) et TIL-17A dans l'élaboration de réponses immunitaires pulmonaires. La TSLP est principalement produite par les cellules épithéliales et peut cibler une myriade de cellules immunitaires. Bien qu'elle ait été montrée être un puissant inducteur des réponses de type Th2, son rôle dans d'autres contextes inflammatoires est relativement inexploré. Dans le premier projet de cette thèse, nous avons découvert une nouvelle fonction de la TSLP dans l'immunité antivirale contre la grippe, une infection virale. Nous avons constaté que la TSLP a réglementé la réponse neutrophile au début de l'infection, en amplifiant l'immunité adaptative spécifique du virus. Mécaniquement, la TSLP a augmenté l'expression de l'IL-15 et du CD70 sur les cellules dendritiques recrutées dans les poumons suite à l'infection et a renforcé leur capacité de stimuler localement les lymphocytes T CD8+ spécifiques du virus. En outre, nous avons étudié la TSLP dans le cadre de divers phénotypes de l'asthme et également démontré l'impact pléiotropique qu'elle a sur les réponses immunitaires pulmonaires. En accord avec les rapports précédents, nous avons constaté que la TSLP a exacerbé l'inflammation atopique médiée par le Th2. En revanche la TSLP a réduit les réponses de l'IL-17A et l'inflammation neutrophile subséquente dans le modèle non atopique, ainsi que l'exacerbation du modèle atopique provoqué par une infection virale. Nos résultats démontrent une dichotomie dans le rôle de la TSLP dans la pathogenèse de l'asthme et soulignent la nécessité d'envisager plusieurs phénotypes d'asthme pour une évaluation approfondie de son potentiel thérapeutique dans cette maladie. Dans la seconde partie de cette thèse, nous avons caractérisé les mécanismes pathogènes qui sous-tendent la broncho-pneumopathie chronique obstructive (BPCO). La BPCO est une maladie hétérogène définie par une diminution progressive de la fonction pulmonaire. Bien que des déclencheurs environnementaux puissent aggraver la maladie, chez les personnes sensibles une maladie établie peut progresser à travers un cercle inflammatoire auto-entretenu. Nous avons cherché à définir les mécanismes sous-jacents à l'aide d'un modèle murin d'inflammation chronique, qui reproduit les caractéristiques pathologiques de la maladie humaine. Puisqu'ont été associés à la BPCO sévère des changements dans le microbiome des voies respiratoires, nous avons supposé que les signaux dérivés de certains microbes pourraient favoriser des voies inflammatoires chroniques de progression de la maladie. Nous avons observé que, en l'absence d un microbiome, la maladie s'est améliorée tel que démontré par une réduction de l'inflammation des voies respiratoires et une amélioration de la fonction pulmonaire. Cela a été lié spécifiquement à une production réduite d'IL-17A, une cytokine qui a été impliquée dans la maladie humaine. De plus la cinétique de production de 1IL- 17A dépendant du microbiote est corrélé à la sévérité de la maladie. Sur la base de ces données, la neutralisation de l'IL-17A a également eu un effet bénéfique sur l'évolution de la maladie. Le rôle significatif de 1TL-17A dans l'aggravation de la maladie a été couplé à sa capacité à engager un dialogue entre les voies inflammatoires innées et adaptatives. Il a influencé le recrutement et le phénotype des neutrophiles et des macrophages, ce qui a eu un impact direct et indirect sur la formation et la fonction des tissus lymphoïdes tertiaires associée à des stades sévères de la maladie. -- The interaction with the external environment is vital for the functioning of the respiratory system. Consequently, it has adopted a multitude of effector and regulatory networks that enable it to distinguish inhaled particles as 'dangerous' or 'innocuous' and respond accordingly. The balance between these networks is crucial to counteract the 'danger' triggered by infection or damage, and ultimately return to homeostasis. The local cytokine milieu contributes significantly to the fine- tuning of these responses. Thus, characterizing the role of cytokines in steady state and disease has clear implications for therapeutic interventions in acute and chronic respiratory disorders. This thesis focused on the role of the cytokines, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and IL-17A in shaping pulmonary immune responses. TSLP is primarily produced by barrier epithelial cells and can target a myriad of immune cells. Although it has been shown to be potent inducer of Th2 type responses, its role in other inflammatory settings is relatively unexplored. In the first project of this thesis, we discovered a novel function of TSLP in antiviral immunity to Influenza A infection. We found that while TSLP regulated the early neutrophilic response to infection, it amplified virus specific adaptive immunity. Mechanistically, TSLP enhanced the expression of IL-15 and CD70 on the lung recruited inflammatory dendritic cells and strengthened their ability to stimulate virus specific CD8+ T cell responses locally. In addition we investigated TSLP in the context of diverse asthma phenotypes and further demonstrated the pleiotropic impact it has on pulmonary immune responses. In concurrence with previous reports we found that TSLP exacerbated Th2 mediated atopic inflammation. In contrast TSLP curtailed IL-17A responses and subsequent neutrophilic inflammation in the non-atopic model as well as virus induced exacerbation of the atopic model. Our findings demonstrate a dichotomy in the role of TSLP in asthma pathogenesis and emphasize the need to consider multiple asthma phenotypes for a thorough evaluation of its therapeutic potential in this disease. In the next part of this thesis we characterized the pathogenic mechanisms underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is a heterogeneous disease defined by a progressive decline in lung function. Although environmental triggers exacerbate the disease, in susceptible individuals the established disease can progress through a self-sustained inflammatory circle. We sought to delineate the underlying mechanisms by using a murine model of chronic inflammation, which reproduced key pathological features of the human disease. As changes in the airway microbiome have been linked to severe COPD, we speculated that microbial derived signals could facilitate the establishment of chronic inflammatory pathways that favour disease progression. We found that the absence of a microbiota ameliorated disease, exhibited by a reduction in airway inflammation and an improvement in lung function. This was linked specifically to an impaired production of IL-17A, a cytokine that has been implicated in human disease. Moreover the kinetics of microbiota-dependent IL-17A production correlated with the disease severity. Based on these data targeted neutralization of IL-17A also had a beneficiai effect on the disease outcome. The prominent role played by IL-I7A in driving the disease was coupled to its ability in engaging and mediating cross talk between pathogenic innate and adaptive immune pathways. It influenced the recruitment and phenotype of neutrophils and macrophages, as well as impacted upon the formation and function of tertiary lymphoid tissue associated with severe disease. Thus, temporal and spatial changes in cytokine production, their cellular targets and interaction with the local milieu determine the balance between immunity and pathology in the lung. Collectively our findings provide novel mechanistic insights in the complex role played by cytokines in orchestrating pulmonary immune responses and have clear implications for human disease.

Auditory-somatosensory multisensory interactions in humans: dissociating detection and spatial discrimination.

Simple reaction times (RTs) to auditory-somatosensory (AS) multisensory stimuli are facilitated over their unisensory counterparts both when stimuli are delivered to the same location and when separated. In two experiments we addressed the possibility that top-down and/or task-related influences can dynamically impact the spatial representations mediating these effects and the extent to which multisensory facilitation will be observed. Participants performed a simple detection task in response to auditory, somatosensory, or simultaneous AS stimuli that in turn were either spatially aligned or misaligned by lateralizing the stimuli. Additionally, we also informed the participants that they would be retrogradely queried (one-third of trials) regarding the side where a given stimulus in a given sensory modality was presented. In this way, we sought to have participants attending to all possible spatial locations and sensory modalities, while nonetheless having them perform a simple detection task. Experiment 1 provided no cues prior to stimulus delivery. Experiment 2 included spatially uninformative cues (50% of trials). In both experiments, multisensory conditions significantly facilitated detection RTs with no evidence for differences according to spatial alignment (though general benefits of cuing were observed in Experiment 2). Facilitated detection occurs even when attending to spatial information. Performance with probes, quantified using sensitivity (d'), was impaired following multisensory trials in general and significantly more so following misaligned multisensory trials. This indicates that spatial information is not available, despite being task-relevant. The collective results support a model wherein early AS interactions may result in a loss of spatial acuity for unisensory information.

Nucleophile-Catalyzed Additions to Activated Triple Bonds. Protection of Lactams, Imides, and Nucleosides with MocVinyl and Related Groups

Additions of lactams, imides, (S)-4-benzyl-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one, 2-pyridone, pyrimidine-2,4-diones (AZT derivatives), or inosines to the electron-deficient triple bonds of methyl propynoate, tert-butyl propynoate, 3-butyn-2-one, N-propynoylmorpholine, or N-methoxy-N-methylpropynamide in the presence of many potential catalysts were examined. DABCO and, second, DMAP appeared to be the best (highest reaction rates and E/Z ratios), while RuCl3, RuClCp*(PPh3)2, AuCl, AuCl(PPh3), CuI, and Cu2(OTf)2 were incapable of catalyzing such additions. The groups incorporated (for example, the 2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethenyl group that we name MocVinyl) serve as protecting groups for the above-mentioned heterocyclic CONH or CONHCO moieties. Deprotections were accomplished via exchange with good nucleophiles: the 1-dodecanethiolate anion turned out to be the most general and efficient reagent, but in some particular cases other nucleophiles also worked (e.g., MocVinyl-inosines can be cleaved with succinimide anion). Some structural and mechanistic details have been accounted for with the help of DFT and MP2 calculations.

Forensic intelligence framework-Part I: induction of a transversal model by comparing illicit drugs and false identity documents monitoring

Forensic intelligence is a distinct dimension of forensic science. Forensic intelligence processes have mostly been developed to address either a specific type of trace or a specific problem. Even though these empirical developments have led to successes, they are trace-specific in nature and contribute to the generation of silos which hamper the establishment of a more general and transversal model. Forensic intelligence has shown some important perspectives but more general developments are required to address persistent challenges. This will ensure the progress of the discipline as well as its widespread implementation in the future. This paper demonstrates that the description of forensic intelligence processes, their architectures, and the methods for building them can, at a certain level, be abstracted from the type of traces considered. A comparative analysis is made between two forensic intelligence approaches developed independently in Australia and in Europe regarding the monitoring of apparently very different kind of problems: illicit drugs and false identity documents. An inductive effort is pursued to identify similarities and to outline a general model. Besides breaking barriers between apparently separate fields of study in forensic science and intelligence, this transversal model would assist in defining forensic intelligence, its role and place in policing, and in identifying its contributions and limitations. The model will facilitate the paradigm shift from the current case-by-case reactive attitude towards a proactive approach by serving as a guideline for the use of forensic case data in an intelligence-led perspective. A follow-up article will specifically address issues related to comparison processes, decision points and organisational issues regarding forensic intelligence (part II).

Intercultural Competence of Masters of Science in Business Administration and in Technology

Tutkielman tavoitteena on selvittää minkälaista kulttuurienvälistä kompetenssia Lappeenrannan teknillisestä yliopistosta vastavalmistuneilla kauppatieteenmaistereilla sekä diplomi-insinööreillä tulisi olla työnantajien näkökulmasta. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on myös tarkastella, että voidaanko kaikkia Lappeenrannan teknillisestä yliopistosta valmistuvia kutsua Kansainvälisiksi Huippuosaajiksi sekä kuinka Lappeenrannan teknillinen yliopisto voisi parantaa vastavalmistuvien kulttuurienvälistä kompetenssia. Teoreettinen osa tarkastelee kulttuurienvälisen kommunikaation tärkeimpiä elementtejä, kulttuurienvälistä kompetenssia ja vastavalmistuneiden kauppatieteenmaistereiden sekä diplomi-insinöörien tarvitsemaa ammatillista osaamista. Empiria koostuu kymmenen työnantajien teemahaastattelun tuloksista. Lopuksi johtopäätöksissä empirian tuloksia verrataan teorian löydöksiin. Tulokset osoittavat että kulttuurienvälinen kompetenssi koostuu kolmesta dimensiosta: henkilökohtaisista ominaisuuksista, tiedosta ja kommunikointikyvystä. Henkilökohtaisiin ominaisuuksiin sisältyvät empaattisuus, epävarmuuden sietokyky sekä avoin ja utelias asenne. Tieto - ulottuvuus koostuu yleisestä ja erityisestä kulttuuritiedosta, kielitaidosta sekä ammatillisesta osaamisesta. Kommunikointikykyyn puolestaan sisältyvät hyvät vuorovaikutustaidot. Työnantajat olettavat nykyään vastavalmistuneilla olevan ammatillisen osaamisen ja kielitaidon lisäksi, kulttuuritietoutta sekä kansainvälistä kokemusta. Lappeenrannan teknillinen yliopisto voisi parantaa vastavalmistuneiden kulttuurienvälistä kompetenssia tarjoamalla kulttuurienvälisen kommunikaation opetusta.

Logistics Development in Finnish and Swedish Companies with Respect of Russia and Four Asian Countries: Traffic Flow and Warehousing Analysis from Current Situation and Likely Development Trends

On selvää, että tänä päivänä maailmankaupan painopiste on hiljalleen siirtymässä Aasiaan ja varsinkin Kiina on ollut huomion keskipisteessä. Erityisesti valmistavien yritysten perspektiivistä muutos on ollut merkittävä ja tämä tosiasia kasvattaa yrityksissä paineita luoda kustannustehokkaita toimitusketjuratkaisuja,joiden vasteaika on mahdollisimman lyhyt. Samaan aikaan kun tarkastellaan kuljetusvirtoja, huomattaan että maanosien välillä on suuri epätasapaino. Tämä on enimmäkseen seurausta suurten globaalisti toimivien yritysten toimitusketjustrategioista. Useimmat näistä toimijoista optimoivat verkostonsa turvautumalla 'paikalliseen hankintaan', jotta he voisivat paremmin hallita toimitusketjujaan ja saada näitä reagointiherkimmiksi. Valmistusyksiköillä onkin monesti Euroopassa pakko käyttää kalliita raaka-aineita ja puolivalmisteita. Kriittisiksi tekijöiksi osoittautuvat kuljetus- ja varastointikustannukset sekä näiden seurauksena hukka-aika, joka aiheutuu viivästyksistä. Voidakseen saavuttaa optimiratkaisun, on tehtävä päätös miten tuotteet varastoidaan: keskitetysti tai hajautetusti ja integroida tämä valinta sopivien kuljetusmuotojen kanssa. Aasiasta Pohjois-Eurooppaan on halpaa käyttää merikuljetusta, mutta operaatio kestää hyvin pitkään - joissain tapauksessa jopa kahdeksan viikkoa. Toisaalta lentokuljetus on sekä kallis että rajoittaa siirrettävien tuotteiden eräkokoa.On olemassa kolmaskin vaihtoehto, josta voisi olla ratkaisuksi: rautatiekuljetus on halvempi kuin lentokuljetus ja vasteajat ovat lyhyemmät kuin merikuljetuksissa. Tässä tutkimuksessa tilannetta selvitetään kyselyllä, joka suunnattiin Suomessa ja Ruotsissa toimiville yrityksille. Tuloksien perusteella teemme johtopäätökset siitä, mitkä kuljetusmuotojen markkinaosuudet tulevat olemaan tulevaisuudessa sekä luomme kuvan kuljetusvirroista Euroopan, Venäjän, Etelä-Korea, Intian, Kiinan ja Japanin välillä. Samalla on tarkoitus ennakoida sitä, miten tarkastelun kohteena olevat yritykset aikovat kehittää kuljetuksiaan ja varastointiaan tulevien vuosien aikana. Tulosten perusteella näyttää siltä, että seuraavan viiden vuoden kuluessa kuljetuskustannukset eivät merkittävissä määrin tule muuttuman ja meri- sekä kumipyöräkuljetukset pysyvät suosituimpina vaihtoehtoina.Kuitenkin lentokuljetusten osuus laskee hiukan, kun taas rautatiekuljetusten painotus kasvaa. Tulokset paljastavat, että Kiinassa ja Venäjällä kuljetettava konttimäärä kasvaa; Intiassa tulos on saman suuntainen, joskaan ei niin voimakas. Analyysimme mukaan kuljetusvirtoihin liittyvä epätasapaino säilyy Venäjän kuljetusten suhteen: yritykset jatkavat tulevaisuudessakin vientiperusteista strategiaansa. Varastoinnin puolella tunnistamme pienemmän muutoksen, jonka mukaan pienikokoisten varastojen määrät todennäköisesti vähenevät tulevaisuudessa ja kiinnostus isoja varastoja kohtaan lisääntyy. Tässä kohtaa on mainittava, että suomalaisilla yrityksillä on enemmän varastoja Keski- ja Itä-Euroopassa verrattuna ruotsalaisiin toimijoihin, jotka keskittyvät selkeämmin Länsi-Euroopan maihin. Varastoja yrityksillä on molemmissa tapaukissa paljolti kotimaassaan. Valitessaan varastojensa sijoituskohteita yritykset painottavat seuraavia kriteereitä: alhaiset jakelukustannukset, kokoamispaikan/valmistustehtaan läheisyys, saapuvan logistiikan integroitavuus ja saatavilla olevat logistiikkapalvelut. Tutkimuksemme lopussa päädymme siihen, että varastojen sijoituspaikat eivät muutu satamien rakenteen ja liikenneyhteyksien takia kovinkaan nopeasti.

Establishing intercompany relationships: Motives and methods for successful collaborative engagement

This study explores the early phases of intercompany relationship building, which is a very important topic for purchasing and business development practitioners as well as for companies' upper management. There is a lot ofevidence that a proper engagement with markets increases a company's potential for achieving business success. Taking full advantage of the market possibilities requires, however, a holistic view of managing related decision-making chain. Most literature as well as the business processes of companies are lacking this holism. Typically they observe the process from the perspective of individual stages and thus lead to discontinuity and sub-optimization. This study contains a comprehensive introduction to and evaluation of literature related to various steps of the decision-making process. It is studied from a holistic perspective ofdetermining a company's vertical integration position within its demand/ supplynetwork context; translating the vertical integration objectives to feasible strategies and objectives; and operationalizing the decisions made through engagement with collaborative intercompany relationships. The empirical part of the research has been conducted in two sections. First the phenomenon of intercompany engagement is studied using two complementary case studies. Secondly a survey hasbeen conducted among the purchasing and business development managers of several electronics manufacturing companies, to analyze the processes, decision-makingcriteria and success factors of engagement for collaboration. The aim has been to identify the reasons why companies and their management act the way they do. As a combination of theoretical and empirical research an analysis has been produced of what would be an ideal way of engaging with markets. Based on the respective findings the study concludes by proposing a holistic framework for successful engagement. The evidence presented throughout the study demonstrates clear gaps, discontinuities and limitations in both current research and in practical purchasing decision-making chains. The most significant discontinuity is the identified disconnection between the supplier selection process and related criteria and the relationship success factors.

In silico pathway reconstruction: Iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Background: Current advances in genomics, proteomics and other areas of molecular biology make the identification and reconstruction of novel pathways an emerging area of great interest. One such class of pathways is involved in the biogenesis of Iron-Sulfur Clusters (ISC). Results: Our goal is the development of a new approach based on the use and combination of mathematical, theoretical and computational methods to identify the topology of a target network. In this approach, mathematical models play a central role for the evaluation of the alternative network structures that arise from literature data-mining, phylogenetic profiling, structural methods, and human curation. As a test case, we reconstruct the topology of the reaction and regulatory network for the mitochondrial ISC biogenesis pathway in S. cerevisiae. Predictions regarding how proteins act in ISC biogenesis are validated by comparison with published experimental results. For example, the predicted role of Arh1 and Yah1 and some of the interactions we predict for Grx5 both matches experimental evidence. A putative role for frataxin in directly regulating mitochondrial iron import is discarded from our analysis, which agrees with also published experimental results. Additionally, we propose a number of experiments for testing other predictions and further improve the identification of the network structure. Conclusion: We propose and apply an iterative in silico procedure for predictive reconstruction of the network topology of metabolic pathways. The procedure combines structural bioinformatics tools and mathematical modeling techniques that allow the reconstruction of biochemical networks. Using the Iron Sulfur cluster biogenesis in S. cerevisiae as a test case we indicate how this procedure can be used to analyze and validate the network model against experimental results. Critical evaluation of the obtained results through this procedure allows devising new wet lab experiments to confirm its predictions or provide alternative explanations for further improving the models.

Acting, predicting and intervening in a socio-hydrological world

This paper asks a simple question: if humans and their actions co-evolve with hydrological systems (Sivapalan et al., 2012), what is the role of hydrological scientists, who are also humans, within this system? To put it more directly, as traditionally there is a supposed separation of scientists and society, can we maintain this separation as socio-hydrologists studying a socio-hydrological world? This paper argues that we cannot, using four linked sections. The first section draws directly upon the concern of science-technology studies to make a case to the (socio-hydrological) community that we need to be sensitive to constructivist accounts of science in general and socio-hydrology in particular. I review three positions taken by such accounts and apply them to hydrological science, supported with specific examples: (a) the ways in which scientific activities frame socio-hydrological research, such that at least some of the knowledge that we obtain is constructed by precisely what we do; (b) the need to attend to how socio-hydrological knowledge is used in decision-making, as evidence suggests that hydrological knowledge does not flow simply from science into policy; and (c) the observation that those who do not normally label themselves as socio-hydrologists may actually have a profound knowledge of socio-hydrology. The second section provides an empirical basis for considering these three issues by detailing the history of the practice of roughness parameterisation, using parameters like Manning's n, in hydrological and hydraulic models for flood inundation mapping. This history sustains the third section that is a more general consideration of one type of socio-hydrological practice: predictive modelling. I show that as part of a socio-hydrological analysis, hydrological prediction needs to be thought through much more carefully: not only because hydrological prediction exists to help inform decisions that are made about water management; but also because those predictions contain assumptions, the predictions are only correct in so far as those assumptions hold, and for those assumptions to hold, the socio-hydrological system (i.e. the world) has to be shaped so as to include them. Here, I add to the ``normal'' view that ideally our models should represent the world around us, to argue that for our models (and hence our predictions) to be valid, we have to make the world look like our models. Decisions over how the world is modelled may transform the world as much as they represent the world. Thus, socio-hydrological modelling has to become a socially accountable process such that the world is transformed, through the implications of modelling, in a fair and just manner. This leads into the final section of the paper where I consider how socio-hydrological research may be made more socially accountable, in a way that is both sensitive to the constructivist critique (Sect. 1), but which retains the contribution that hydrologists might make to socio-hydrological studies. This includes (1) working with conflict and controversy in hydrological science, rather than trying to eliminate them; (2) using hydrological events to avoid becoming locked into our own frames of explanation and prediction; (3) being empirical and experimental but in a socio-hydrological sense; and (4) co-producing socio-hydrological predictions. I will show how this might be done through a project that specifically developed predictive models for making interventions in river catchments to increase high river flow attenuation. Therein, I found myself becoming detached from my normal disciplinary networks and attached to the co-production of a predictive hydrological model with communities normally excluded from the practice of hydrological science.