Lähtö ja paluu : inkerinsuomalaisten oloista Inkerissä ja Suomessa 1900-luvulla

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Effects of Socioeconomic Status and Sociodemographic Features on Cardiovascular Disease. Mortality and Morbidity in Finland

Despite declining trends in morbidity and mortality, cardiovascular diseases have a considerable impact on Finnish public health. A goal in Finnish health policy is to reduce inequalities in health and mortality among population groups. The aim of this study was to assess inequalities in cardiovascular diseases according to socioeconomic status (SES), language groups and other sociodemographic characteristics. The main data source was generated from events in 35-99 year-old men and women registered in the population-based FINMONICA and FINAMI myocardial infarction registers during the years ranging from 1988-2002. Information on population group characteristics was obtained from Statistics Finland. Additional data were derived from the FINMONICA and FINSTROKE stroke registers and the FINRISK Study. SES, measured by income level, was a major determinant of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) mortality. Among middle-aged men, the 28-day mortality rate of the lowest group of six income groups was 5.2 times and incidence 2.7 times as high when compared to the highest income group. Among women, the differences were even larger. Among the unmarried, the incidence of ACS was approximately 1.6 times as high and their prognosis was significantly worse than among married persons - both in men and women and independent of age. Higher age-standardized attack rates of ACS and stroke were found among Finnish-speaking compared to Swedish-speaking men in Turku and these differences could not be completely explained by SES. In these language groups, modest differences were found in traditional risk factor levels possibly explaining part of the found morbidity and mortality inequality. In conclusion, there are considerable differences in the morbidity and mortality of ACS and stroke between socioeconomic and sociodemographic groups, in Finland. Focusing measures to reduce the excess morbidity and mortality, in groups at high risk, could decrease the economic burden of cardiovascular diseases and thus be an important public health goal in Finland.

Tehokalastuksen vaikutukset Lappajärvessä : Kalastus elinkeinoksi Lappajärvellä -hankkeen vuosien 2001-2006 seurannan loppuraportti

Lappajärven, Etelä-Pohjanmaan suurimman järven, ekologinen tila on heikentynyt ja se luokitellaan nykyisin tyydyttäväksi. Rehevöityminen, 1990-luvun muikkukato ja yhteiskunnan rakennemuutos ovat vähentäneet kalastajien ja kalansaaliin määrää. Ammattikalastuksen edellytysten parantamiseksi toteutettiin vuosina 2001–2004 ”Kalastus elinkeinoksi Lappajärvellä” – hanke. Hankkeen vaikutuksia kalastoon ja järven ekosysteemiin seurattiin vuosina 2001–2006. Kokonaissaalis vuosina 2001–2004 oli 1655 tonnia (n. 29 kg/ha/vuosi). Vaikka saalistavoitetta (2100 tn) ei täysin saavutettu, oli hankkeella runsaasti myönteisiä, joskin osin vähäisiä tai epävarmoja vaikutuksia järven tilaan ja kalastoon. Kalastajien yksikkösaaliit etenkin kuhan ja isokokoisen ahvenen osalta nousivat hankkeen alussa. Loppuvuosina yksikkösaaliiden kehitys oli osittain ristiriitaista. Ulapan taloudellisesti vähempiarvoinen kalasto, varsinkin kuorekanta harveni selvästi. Muikku puolestaan lisääntyi ja pysyi runsaana. Kuhan ja isokokoisen ahvenen lisääntymistä selittivät pääosin lämpimät kesät ja kuhan onnistuneet istutukset. Petokalat, etenkin kuha, voivat osaltaan säädellä Lappajärven ulapan planktonsyöjäkalojen kantoja ja toisaalta estää särjen siirtymistä ulapalle. Tehokalastuksen loputtua alkoi näkyä merkkejä kalakantojen palautumisesta takaisin kohti lähtötilannetta. Rantavyöhykkeellä hankkeen vaikutukset jäivät selvästi vähäisemmiksi kuin ulapalla. Eläinplankton lisääntyi hieman ylemmissä vesikerroksissa, mutta tilanne alkoi palautua ennalleen hankkeen jälkeen. Sinileväkukinnot vaikuttivat vähentyneen hankkeen aikana, tosin kukintojen voimakas vaihtelu vaikeutti arviointia. Tehokalastus ja vesiensuojelun tehostuminen vähensivät fosforipitoisuuksia, tosin myös vähäsateiset vuodet vaikuttivat vähenemiseen. Pitoisuuksien lasku jatkui hankkeen jälkeen. Hanketta edeltänyt klorofyllipitoisuuksien kasvusuuntaus pysähtyi ja pitoisuustaso vakiintui. Tehokalastus pienensi klorofylli/fosfori-suhdetta ja vähensi sisäistä kuormitusta, mutta vaikutus alkoi heiketä hankkeen loputtua. Typpipitoisuuksiin, veden väriin tai näkösyvyyteen kalastus ei vaikuttanut. Tehokalastuksella voidaan parantaa Lappajärven tilaa, mutta kalastuksen on oltava jatkuvaa. Saalistavoitteeksi voisi riittää n. 20-30 kg/ha vuodessa, mutta samalla on jatkettava ulkoisen kuormituksen vähentämistä. Kalastuksen tulisi kohdistua arvokalojen lisäksi myös vähempiarvoisiin kalalajeihin ja samalla on tuettava petokalakantojen vahvistumista.

ICT Disparities In Finland - Access and Implications

The Internet and other new information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become an integral part of most Western societies, from the perspective of both individuals and organizations. In this dissertation the evolving role of the Internet and other new ICTs in Finland over the past decade is studied from the perspective of disparity. The ICT disparities are seen to be constructed from two interconnecting elements, access and implications. The main goal of this dissertation is to examine how access, different user purposes, as well as implications, reflect disparities among different socio-demographic and socioeconomic population groups. For the purposes of this work, four research studies, each with its own, specific topic, were constructed. According to the results, age is clearly the most significant element associated with both access and implications for the new ICTs in Finland. Although other examined factors were also significant, they were often associated with individual research topics. In addition, the dissertation will also provide new research elements for future reference.

Feasibility of ASH DEC‐ process in treating sewage sludge and manure ash in Finland

In Finland the thermal treatment of sewage sludge has been moderate in 21th century. The reason has been the high moisture content of sludge. During 2005-2008, 97-99% of sewage sludge was utilized in landscaping and agriculture. However agricultural use has been during 2005-2007 less than 3 %. The aim of national waste management plan is that by 2016 100% of sludge is used either as soil amendment or energy. The most popular utilization method for manure is spreading it on arable land. The dry manures such as poultry manure and horse manure could also be used in incineration. The ashes could be used as fertilizers and while it is not suitable as a starter fertilizer, it is suitable in maintaining P levels in the soil. One of the main drivers for more efficient nutrient management is the eutrophication in lakes and the Baltic See. ASH DEC process can be used in concentrating phosphorus rich ashes while separating the heavy metals that could be included. ASH DEC process uses thermochemical treatment to produce renewable phosphate for fertilizer production. The process includes mixing of ashes and chlorine donors and subsequent treatment in rotary kiln for 20 min in temperature of 900 – 1 050 oC. The heavy metals evaporate and P-rich product is obtained. The toxic substances are retained in air pollution control system in form of mixed metal hydroxides. The aim of conducting this study is to estimate the potential of ASH DEC process in treating phosphorus rich ashes in Finland. The masses considered in are sewage sludge, dry manure from horses, and poultry and liquid pig manure. To date the usual treatment method for sewage sludge in Finland is composting or anaerobic digestion. Part of the amount of produced sewage sludge (800 kt/a fresh mass and 160 kt/a TS) could also be incinerated and the residual ashes used in ASH DEC process. Incinerating only manure can be economically difficult to manage because the incineration of manure is in Finland considered as waste incineration. Getting a permit for waste incineration is difficult and also small scale waste incineration is too expensive. The manure could act as an additional feedstock in counties with high density of animal husbandry where the land area might not be enough for spreading of manure. Now when the manure acts as a supplementary feedstock beside sludge, the ash can’t be used directly as fertilizer. Then it could be used in ASH DEC process. The perquisite is that the manure producers could pay for the incineration, which might prove problematic.

Professional sports and gambling regulation in Finland - Examining the institutional factors of gambling affecting professional sport clubs in Finland

This study examines how to institutional environment of gambling is currently in motion both in Europe and Finland. Furthermore, it examines the criticism by Finnish professional sport clubs directed towards the national gambling monopolies, especially Veikkaus Oy. This criticism addresses the acclaimed issue of low or non-existing sponsorship funds coming to the clubs despite the clubs’ duties to promote Veikkaus Oy in their stadiums etc. In essence the main research objective was to examine the interaction and institutional environments of both Finnish professional sport clubs and gambling regulation. This was done through three sub-objectives: 1) to analyze professional sport as business and its institutional environment 2) to analyze the institutions of gambling in their current state and their potential future 3) to evaluate the potential impact of an institutional change in gambling legislation to the professional sport clubs The findings from Finland were then compared to those of Denmark where an institutional change had occurred in gambling regulation. Empirical data was collected through multiple interviews. Interviewees represented sport clubs (7), sport association (1), sport league (1), Finnish monopoly representatives (2), commercial gambling providers (1), Danish monopoly system representatives (1), Danish sport club (1). In addition a vast amount of secondary data (e.g. Green and white books by EU, court decisions, a variety of studies etc.). Theoretically this study combines the aspects of institutional theory with the theory of professional sports as business. This proved to be a rather new approach and no published literature was found to have done specifically this. The findings of this study are twofold, on the European level it is clear that the momentum if towards a more liberated gambling market while Finland is at the moment trying to go the opposite direction and uphold its monopoly. From the sport club’s level the findings suggest that currently sport clubs do not directly benefit from the funds originated from Veikkaus Oy as these funds are more or less used on the association/league levels. However, the clubs themselves are also lacking in self-criticism as they are lacking in clear sponsorship packages/programs which Veikkaus Oy might be interested in participating. If liberation of the gambling market would occur it is highly possible that that the largest clubs in football and ice-hockey would be the main beneficiaries while smaller clubs and sports could possibly be worse off than currently. These interpretations were well supported by the findings from Denmark.

One process to rule them all? The role of a repository platform in the management of digitized cultural heritage at the National Library of Finland

Presentation at Open Repositories 2013, DSpace User Group, on 12.7.2013 in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada

”Svenska invandrare i Finland – etniska relationer i mötet mellan svenskt och finskt” (projekt vid SLS 2011-2012)

Slutrapport

Uudenkaupungin Vainionpää-Virtalan kedon hoitosuunnitelma

Perinnemaisemat ovat perinteisen karjatalouden myötä syntyneitä elinympäristöjä, kuten niittyjä, ketoja, metsälaitumia ja hakamaita. Näissä ainutlaatuisissa elinympäristöissä kasvi- ja hyönteislajisto on erityisen monipuolista. Maatalouden muutos 1960–70-luvuilla vähensi karjatilojen määrää, ja samalla alkoi myös nopea perinnemaisemien väheneminen. Nykyään vanhat laidunalueet ovat suurimmalta osin hävinneet, pirstoutuneet ja pinta-alat ovat pienentyneet huomattavasti. Elinympäristöjen katoaminen on vienyt monet kasvi- ja eläinlajit ahdinkoon, ja perinneympäristöissä sekä muissa ihmisten muuttamissa ympäristöissä elääkin huomattava osa kaikista maamme uhanalaisista lajeista. Varsinais-Suomen perinnebiotooppien hoito-ohjelmassa asetettiin tavoitteet perinnebiotooppien säilyttämiseksi ja hoidon järjestämiseksi, ja pyrittiin kohdentamaan hoito lajien suojelun kannalta arvokkaimmille kohteille. Uudenkaupungin Lokalahdella sijaitseva Vainionpää-Virtalan keto on arvioitu maakunnallisesti (M) arvokkaaksi perinnebiotoopiksi, jonka kasvilajisto on edustava, ja jossa kasvaa alueellisesti uhanalainen kasvilaji, pehmytkurjenpolvi (Geranium molle). Tämän hoitosuunnitelman tavoitteena on edistää alueen hoitoa, sekä toimia oppaana hoitoa suunnitellessa ja toteutettaessa. Alueella on erittäin uhanalaisia ja äärimmäisen uhanalaisia luontotyyppejä, kuten karuja kallioketoja, karuja pienruohoketoja sekä tuoretta heinäniittyä. Niittyalueet ovat kuitenkin umpeenkasvamassa ja rehevöityneet, joten hoidolla on kiire. Alueen hoidoksi suositellaan laidunnusta, tai niittoa heinä-elokuun vaihteessa sekä niittojätteen keruuta.