Identification of Races of Selected Isolates of Uromyces appendiculatus from Minas Gerais (Brazil) Based on the new international classification system

Twelve single-pustule isolates of Uromyces appendiculatus, the etiological agent of common bean rust, were collected in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and classified according to the new international differential series and the binary nomenclature system proposed during the 3rd Bean Rust Workshop. These isolates have been used to select rust-resistant genotypes in a bean breeding program conducted by our group. The twelve isolates were classified into seven different physiological races: 21-3, 29-3, 53-3, 53-19, 61-3, 63-3 and 63-19. Races 61-3 and 63-3 were the most frequent in the area. They were represented by five and two isolates, respectively. The other races were represented by just one isolate. This is the first time the new international classification procedure has been used for U. appendiculatus physiological races in Brazil. The general adoption of this system will facilitate information exchange, allowing the cooperative use of the results obtained by different research groups throughout the world. The differential cultivars Mexico 309, Mexico 235 and PI 181996 showed resistance to all of the isolates that were characterized. It is suggested that these cultivars should be preferentially used as sources for resistance to rust in breeding programs targeting development lines adapted to the state of Minas Gerais.

A Survey and Classification of Software Testing Tools

Software testing is one of the essential parts in software engineering process. The objective of the study was to describe software testing tools and the corresponding use. The thesis contains examples of software testing tools usage. The study was conducted as a literature study, with focus on current software testing practices and quality assurance standards. In the paper a tool classifier was employed, and testing tools presented in study were classified according to it. We found that it is difficult to distinguish current available tools by certain testing activities as many of them contain functionality that exceeds scopes of a single testing type.

A model for specific interactions of manganese-phthalocyanine in protic media

Extinction coefficients (e) changes of manganese phthalocyanine (Mn-Pc) were studied in different organic solvents and related to solvent polarity scales; (Kosower's values (Z), Dimroth's values (E T), donor numbers (DN) and linear solvation energy relationships (LSER) or linear free energy relationships (LFER));, theoretical molecular orbital calculations and ligand/solvent coordination processes in order to predict molecular interaction with the medium and identification of predominant intermolecular forces.

Yhdessä ja liikkeellä. Mobiili sosiaalinen media

Sosiaalinen media viittaa verkkopalveluihin, joiden toiminta perustuu käyttäjien ja käyttäjäyhteisöjen aktiiviseen sosiaaliseen vuorovaikutukseen. Matkapuhelimien kautta sosiaalinen media on liikkeellä ja pitää käyttäjät yhdessä ajasta ja paikasta riippumatta. Sosiaalisen median vetovoima perustuu siihen, että ihmiset jakavat tietoja, kuvia, videota ja ääntä sekä kommentoivat ja jatkavat viestiketjuja. Yhdessä ja liikkeellä -kirja tarkastelee sosiaalisen median uusinta ilmiötä, videoiden jakamista kännykkäpalvelun kautta. Mobiilit videot voivat kertoa jaetuista elämyksistä, konserteista, benji-hypyistä tai jazz-festivaalin vessajonosta. Liikkuva kuva kertoo usein enemmän kuin useampi valokuva, ja monen käyttäjän videokuva samasta tapahtumasta voi jo kertoa monipolvisen tarinan. Yhdessä ja liikkeellä esittelee Mobile Social Media -tutkimushankkeen tuloksia. Tavoitteena on ollut tutkia, millaiset tekijät tukevat mobiilin sosiaalisen median käyttöä ja miten sosiaalista mediaa hyödynnetään matkapuhelimilla, miten sosiaalisen median yhteisö voi muodostaa kännykkävideoista yhteisen tarinan, millaisia teknologisia haasteita mobiilin sosiaalisen median käytölle on. Tutkimushanke on CAT - Culture Art and Technology -verkoston yhteistyötä. Verkostoon kuuluvat Aalto-yliopiston, Tampereen teknillisen yliopiston ja Turun yliopiston Porin yksiköt.

Utilizing social media in software documentation and knowledge management

This Master’s thesis studies the possibilities that social media tools can bring to help knowledge management in software development companies. It will introduce the most popular tools of social media and their usage possibilities in companies, not forgetting the possible downsides. One relevant aspect in this study is to investigate the possibilities of social media to help converting existing tacit knowledge into explicit. The purpose of the work is to create a proposal of social media utilization for a mid-sized software company, which has not utilized social media tools before. To be able to create the proposal, employees of the company are interviewed and a survey is executed to analyze the current situation. In addition a pilot project for trying out new social media tools is executed. The final result of this thesis introduces a tailored solution for the target company to start utilizing social media in its documentation and knowledge sharing processes. This new solution consists of multiple individual suggestions that are categorized and prioritized based on the significance and benefit that they bring to the company.

Titrimetric assay of lisinopril in aqueous and non-aqueous media

Four simple titrimetric procedures are described for the determination of lisinopril (LNP) in bulk and in pharmaceuticals based on the neutralization of basic-amino and acidic carboxylic acid groups present in LNP. Method A is based on the neutralization of basic amino groups using perchloric acid as titrant in anhydrous acetic acid medium. Method B, method C and method D are based on neutralization of carboxylic acid group using NaOH, sodium methoxide and methanolic KOH, as titrants, respectively. Method A is applicable over 2.0-20.0 mg range and the calculations are based in the molar ratio of 1:2 (LNP:HClO4). Method B, method C and method D are applicable over 2.0-20.0 mg, 1.0-10.0 mg and 5.0-15.0 mg range, respectively, and their respective molar ratios are 1:1 (LNP:NaOH), 1:2 (LNP:CH3ONa) and 1:1 (LNP:KOH). Intraday and inter day accuracy and precision of the methods were evaluated and the results showed intra- and inter-day precision less than 2.7% (RSD), and accuracy of < 2.5 % (RE). The developed methods were applied to determine LNP in tablets and the results were validated statistically by comparing the results with those of the reference method by applying the Student's t-test and F-test. The accuracy was further ascertained by recovery studies via standard addition technique. No interferences from common tablet exipients was observed.

Financier’s credit risk: A Performance-Based Classification Model

The purpose of this study is to view credit risk from the financier’s point of view in a theoretical framework. Results and aspects of the previous studies regarding measuring credit risk with accounting based scoring models are also examined. The theoretical framework and previous studies are then used to support the empirical analysis which aims to develop a credit risk measure for a bank’s internal use or a risk management tool for a company to indicate its credit risk to the financier. The study covers a sample of Finnish companies from 12 different industries and four different company categories and employs their accounting information from 2004 to 2008. The empirical analysis consists of six stage methodology process which uses measures of profitability, liquidity, capital structure and cash flow to determine financier’s credit risk, define five significant risk classes and produce risk classification model. The study is confidential until 15.10.2012.

Classification, comorbidity, heredity, and risk factors of female sexual dysfunctions

Female sexual dysfunctions, including desire, arousal, orgasm and pain problems, have been shown to be highly prevalent among women around the world. The etiology of these dysfunctions is unclear but associations with health, age, psychological problems, and relationship factors have been identified. Genetic effects explain individual variation in orgasm function to some extent but until now quantitative behavior genetic analyses have not been applied to other sexual functions. In addition, behavior genetics can be applied to exploring the cause of any observed comorbidity between the dysfunctions. Discovering more about the etiology of the dysfunctions may further improve the classification systems which are currently under intense debate. The aims of the present thesis were to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Finnish-language version of a commonly used questionnaire for measuring female sexual function, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), in order to investigate prevalence, comorbidity, and classification, and to explore the balance of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology as well as the associations of a number of biopsychosocial factors with female sexual functions. Female sexual functions were studied through survey methods in a population based sample of Finnish twins and their female siblings. There were two waves of data collection. The first data collection targeted 5,000 female twins aged 33–43 years and the second 7,680 female twins aged 18–33 and their over 18–year-old female siblings (n = 3,983). There was no overlap between the data collections. The combined overall response rate for both data collections was 53% (n = 8,868), with a better response rate in the second (57%) compared to the first (45%). In order to measure female sexual function, the FSFI was used. It includes 19 items which measure female sexual function during the previous four weeks in six subdomains; desire, subjective arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and pain. In line with earlier research in clinical populations, a six factor solution of the Finnish-language version of the FSFI received supported. The internal consistencies of the scales were good to excellent. Some questions about how to avoid overestimating the prevalence of extreme dysfunctions due to women being allocated the score of zero if they had had no sexual activity during the preceding four weeks were raised. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions per se ranged from 11% for lubrication dysfunction to 55% for desire dysfunction. The prevalence rates for sexual dysfunction with concomitant sexual distress, in other words, sexual disorders were notably lower ranging from 7% for lubrication disorder to 23% for desire disorder. The comorbidity between the dysfunctions was substantial most notably between arousal and lubrication dysfunction even if these two dysfunctions showed distinct patterns of associations with the other dysfunctions. Genetic influences on individual variation in the six subdomains of FSFI were modest but significant ranging from 3–11% for additive genetic effects and 5–18% for nonadditive genetic effects. The rest of the variation in sexual functions was explained by nonshared environmental influences. A correlated factor model, including additive and nonadditive genetic effects and nonshared environmental effects had the best fit. All in all, every correlation between the genetic factors was significant except between lubrication and pain. All correlations between the nonshared environment factors were significant showing that there is a substantial overlap in genetic and nonshared environmental influences between the dysfunctions. In general, psychological problems, poor satisfaction with the relationship, sexual distress, and poor partner compatibility were associated with more sexual dysfunctions. Age was confounded with relationship length but had over and above relationship length a negative effect on desire and sexual satisfaction and a positive effect on orgasm and pain functions. Alcohol consumption in general was associated with better desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm function. Women pregnant with their first child had fewer pain problems than nulliparous nonpregnant women. Multiparous pregnant women had more orgasm problems compared to multiparous nonpregnant women. Having children was associated with less orgasm and pain problems. The conclusions were that desire, subjective arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and pain are separate entities that have distinct associations with a number of different biopsychosocial factors. However, there is also considerable comorbidity between the dysfunctions which are explained by overlap in additive genetic, nonadditive genetic and nonshared environmental influences. Sexual dysfunctions are highly prevalent and are not always associated with sexual distress and this relationship might be moderated by a good relationship and compatibility with partner. Regarding classification, the results supports separate diagnoses for subjective arousal and genital arousal as well as the inclusion of pain under sexual dysfunctions.

Seriedebatt i 1950-talets Finland : en studie i barndom, media och reglering

I avhandlingen granskas den debatt som fördes om seriemediet och serieläsandet i Finland från början av 1950-talet till början av 1960-talet. Serietidningen var då ett nytt medium och föranledde en oro beträffande barns läsvanor. ”Seriefrågan” diskuterades i pressen och problematiken engagerade barnskyddsorganisationer och forskare, behandlades i riksdagen och undersöktes av en statlig kommitté. De olika debattuttrycken analyseras i studien. Avhandlingens teoretiska perspektiv är styrningsanalytiskt och bygger på diskussionen om regementalitet (governmentality). I studien granskas hur seriemediet, barndom och regleringen av dessa kom att definieras i behandlingen av det s.k. serieproblemet. Serierna definierades som ett problematiskt medium på ett flertal sätt. De huvudsakliga argumenten mot serierna var dels att de förstörde barns läsförmåga, dels att de budskap som serierna förmedlade till barnen var av fel slag. Enligt kritiken var serierna språkligt fattiga och innehållsmässigt alltför våldsamma. Följaktligen utgjorde serierna ett hot mot barnen. Barnen kom ur detta perspektiv att definieras som inkompetenta medieanvändare och i behov av skydd. I debatten upplyftes olika sätt att lösa och reglera problemet. Man undersökte problematiken och upplyste allmänheten om den, man försökte påverka serieutgivarna och man påkallade censur. Seriedebatten och den verksamhet som debattörerna ägnade sig åt ledde dock inte till synbara resultat, t.ex. ny lagstiftning eller förändringar i seriemarknaden. Ändå dog debatten i början av 1960-talet. Problemet med de serieläsande barnen hanterades m.a.o. genom själva debatten. Samtidigt uteblev mera drastiska former av reglering. Ett övergripande syfte för analysen av den kunskap som skapades i debatten – dess varierande förståelse av seriemedium, barndom och reglering – är att erbjuda infallsvinklar till aktuella diskussioner om och farhågor angående barns mediebruk. Med fokus på bredden hos debattens uttryck och de diskursiva ramarna för problematiseringen av barns serieläsande ger avhandlingen perspektiv på den med jämna mellanrum uppdykande frågeställningen om barns mediebruk.

Customer reference marketing and utilization of social media as an integral part of customer references

The objective of this Bachelor's Thesis is to find out the role of social media in the B-to-B marketing environment of the information technology industry and to discover how IT-firms utilize social media as a part of their customer reference marketing. To reach the objectives the concepts of customer reference marketing and social media are determined. Customer reference marketing can be characterized as one of the most practically relevant but academically relatively overlooked ways in which a company can leverage its customers and delivered solutions and use them as references in its marketing activities. We will cover which external and internal functions customer references have, that contribute to the growth and performance of B-to-B firms. We also address the three mechanisms of customer reference marketing which are 'status transfer', 'validation through testimonials' and 'demonstration of experience and prior performance'. The concept of social media stands for social interaction and creation of user-based content which exclusively occurs through Internet. The social media are excellent tools for networking because of the fast and easy access, easy interaction and vast amount of multimedia attributes. The allocation of social media is determined. The case company helps clarify the specific characteristics of social media usage as part of customer-reference-marketing activities. For IT-firms the best channels to utilize social media in their customer reference marketing activities are publishing and distribution services of content and networking services.