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Valved Holding Chambers in Young Children With Acute Wheezing: A Randomized Clinical Trial
No full textAbstract
Importance:
Acute wheezing is a leading cause of pediatric emergency visits. Commercially available valved holding chambers (VHCs), used in inhalation therapy, differ in in vitro drug delivery, but the clinical relevance of these differences in young children is uncertain.
Objective:
To determine whether a higher-delivery VHC improves clinical outcomes of salbutamol treatment compared with a lower-delivery VHC in young children with acute wheezing.
Design, Setting, and Participants:
This randomized clinical trial took place at 4 pediatric emergency departments in Finland with enrollment April 17, 2019, through May 23, 2025 (recruitment pause March 2020 through July 2022), and used intention-to-treat analysis. Patients included children aged 6 to 48 months with moderate or severe wheezing respiratory distress (respiratory distress assessment instrument [RDAI] score of ≥6) who met prespecified inclusion/exclusion criteria. These data were analyzed from May 28, 2025, through September 8, 2025.
Interventions:
Salbutamol (dose 0.6 mg per treatment cycle, up to 3-4 cycles at 20-minute intervals) delivered via 1 of 2 commercially available VHCs: either VHC-1 (high in vitro drug delivery) or VHC-2 (low in vitro drug delivery), each used with its respective mask.
Main Outcomes and Measures:
Primary outcomes were posttreatment RDAI score and change from baseline. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization rate, the proportion of children requiring a fourth salbutamol dose, and change in respiratory rate and oxygen saturation.
Results:
A total of 80 children were randomized and analyzed (mean age, 23.1 months; 36% female and 64% male). Children treated with salbutamol had posttreatment mean (SD) RDAI scores significantly lower in the VHC-1 group (2.7 [2.1]) than in the VHC-2 group (6.8 [3.6]) with a mean difference of −4.1 (95% CI, −5.4 to −2.7; P < .001). The mean reduction in RDAI score was greater with VHC-1 than with VHC-2 (mean difference, −5.4; 95% CI, −6.9 to −3.9; P < .001). The proportion of children requiring hospitalization was lower in children treated with VHC-1 (20%) than with VHC-2 (50%) (difference, 30%; 95% CI, 9%-49% and number needed to treat, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.1-11; P = .005). Relative risk of requiring a fourth salbutamol dose was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.51-0.97; P = .03) for VHC-1 vs VHC-2. After treatment, respiratory rate was lower (42 vs 47 breaths per minute; mean difference, −5; 95% CI of the difference −9.8 to −0.7; P = .04) and oxygen saturation higher (97% vs 94%; mean difference, 3%; 95% CI of the difference, 1.4-3.7; P < .001) with VHC-1.
Conclusions and Relevance:
In this study, young children with acute wheezing experienced greater clinically significant improvement when salbutamol was administered through a VHC with high in vitro drug delivery compared with low in vitro drug delivery. This indicates that device choice matters and that guidelines should provide device-specific recommendations for pediatric inhalation therapy.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03900494Abstract
Importance:
Acute wheezing is a leading cause of pediatric emergency visits. Commercially available valved holding chambers (VHCs), used in inhalation therapy, differ in in vitro drug delivery, but the clinical relevance of these differences in young children is uncertain.
Objective:
To determine whether a higher-delivery VHC improves clinical outcomes of salbutamol treatment compared with a lower-delivery VHC in young children with acute wheezing.
Design, Setting, and Participants:
This randomized clinical trial took place at 4 pediatric emergency departments in Finland with enrollment April 17, 2019, through May 23, 2025 (recruitment pause March 2020 through July 2022), and used intention-to-treat analysis. Patients included children aged 6 to 48 months with moderate or severe wheezing respiratory distress (respiratory distress assessment instrument [RDAI] score of ≥6) who met prespecified inclusion/exclusion criteria. These data were analyzed from May 28, 2025, through September 8, 2025.
Interventions:
Salbutamol (dose 0.6 mg per treatment cycle, up to 3-4 cycles at 20-minute intervals) delivered via 1 of 2 commercially available VHCs: either VHC-1 (high in vitro drug delivery) or VHC-2 (low in vitro drug delivery), each used with its respective mask.
Main Outcomes and Measures:
Primary outcomes were posttreatment RDAI score and change from baseline. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization rate, the proportion of children requiring a fourth salbutamol dose, and change in respiratory rate and oxygen saturation.
Results:
A total of 80 children were randomized and analyzed (mean age, 23.1 months; 36% female and 64% male). Children treated with salbutamol had posttreatment mean (SD) RDAI scores significantly lower in the VHC-1 group (2.7 [2.1]) than in the VHC-2 group (6.8 [3.6]) with a mean difference of −4.1 (95% CI, −5.4 to −2.7; P < .001). The mean reduction in RDAI score was greater with VHC-1 than with VHC-2 (mean difference, −5.4; 95% CI, −6.9 to −3.9; P < .001). The proportion of children requiring hospitalization was lower in children treated with VHC-1 (20%) than with VHC-2 (50%) (difference, 30%; 95% CI, 9%-49% and number needed to treat, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.1-11; P = .005). Relative risk of requiring a fourth salbutamol dose was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.51-0.97; P = .03) for VHC-1 vs VHC-2. After treatment, respiratory rate was lower (42 vs 47 breaths per minute; mean difference, −5; 95% CI of the difference −9.8 to −0.7; P = .04) and oxygen saturation higher (97% vs 94%; mean difference, 3%; 95% CI of the difference, 1.4-3.7; P < .001) with VHC-1.
Conclusions and Relevance:
In this study, young children with acute wheezing experienced greater clinically significant improvement when salbutamol was administered through a VHC with high in vitro drug delivery compared with low in vitro drug delivery. This indicates that device choice matters and that guidelines should provide device-specific recommendations for pediatric inhalation therapy.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0390049
Arctic science and tourism in Svalbard - two sides of the same coin?
No full textAbstract
How independent is science from tourism? How come that they are often found alongside each other in many parts of the world, and what does this mean? We look at this in High Arctic Svalbard, a clear hotspot for science and tourism. We find that what drives both enterprises to the archipelago is the desire for exploration and experience. By presenting how science and tourism co-evolve throughout time, and how large-scale factors keep them together, we argue that science and tourism are deeply intertwined and can potentially be seen as two sides of the same coin. We therefore call for recognition of their interdependence when working towards sustainable Arctic futures.Abstract
How independent is science from tourism? How come that they are often found alongside each other in many parts of the world, and what does this mean? We look at this in High Arctic Svalbard, a clear hotspot for science and tourism. We find that what drives both enterprises to the archipelago is the desire for exploration and experience. By presenting how science and tourism co-evolve throughout time, and how large-scale factors keep them together, we argue that science and tourism are deeply intertwined and can potentially be seen as two sides of the same coin. We therefore call for recognition of their interdependence when working towards sustainable Arctic futures
Optimizing premium-segment distribution channels with a data-driven decision-making (DDDM) model : the case of log panels
No full textThird time's the charm: revisiting the customer in public service logic
No full textAbstract
Although public service logic (PSL) has emerged as a distinctive theoretical perspective in public service research, its theoretical foundations, drawing on both public administration and service research, have been subject to increasing conceptual scrutiny. Using a theory adaptation approach, this conceptual study extends and offers alternative perspectives on the analytical framing of public service logic. First, the paper examines the strengths and inconsistencies of applying preceding service marketing theories within public service contexts. Second, the viability of further customer-dominant frameworks adapted to public services is explored. Aligning with the recent theoretical developments in PSL, customer-dominant logic (CDL) is employed to acknowledge the holistic value formation that takes place outside co-creation in specific interaction between public service provider and customer. Furthermore, the adaptation of socially constructed customer value in capturing both service’s private and public value is highlighted, providing richer insight into the complexities of value creation in public service ecosystems.Abstract
Although public service logic (PSL) has emerged as a distinctive theoretical perspective in public service research, its theoretical foundations, drawing on both public administration and service research, have been subject to increasing conceptual scrutiny. Using a theory adaptation approach, this conceptual study extends and offers alternative perspectives on the analytical framing of public service logic. First, the paper examines the strengths and inconsistencies of applying preceding service marketing theories within public service contexts. Second, the viability of further customer-dominant frameworks adapted to public services is explored. Aligning with the recent theoretical developments in PSL, customer-dominant logic (CDL) is employed to acknowledge the holistic value formation that takes place outside co-creation in specific interaction between public service provider and customer. Furthermore, the adaptation of socially constructed customer value in capturing both service’s private and public value is highlighted, providing richer insight into the complexities of value creation in public service ecosystems
Pragmatic and language skills and their associations in typically developing 13–18-year-old adolescents
No full textVieno Koskenniemi's roles in the life of her husband, poet V. A. Koskenniemi
No full textKandidaatintutkielma erittelee ja esittelee Vieno Koskenniemen rooleja hänen miehensä, runoilija V. A. Koskenniemen elämässä. V. A. Koskenniemeä on tutkittu laajasti, mutta hänen vaimonsa rooli on jäänyt tutkimuksessa hyvin vähäiselle huomiolle. Tämä työ tuo esiin Vieno Koskenniemen moninaisia merkityksiä miehensä työtoverina, perhe-elämän mukauttajana, elämänkumppanina, auttajana ja muiston vaalijana. Samalla työ avaa uudenlaisen näkökulman tunnetun runoilijan elämään. Tutkimuksen lähteenä on käytetty erityisesti Vieno Koskenniemen haastatteluja, kirjeenvaihtoa ja aikakauden sanoma- ja aikakauslehtiartikkeleja
Dynamic mechanisms of traffic noise exposure and non-auditory health outcomes
No full textAbstract
Traffic noise is a major environmental problem with non-auditory health impacts, yet underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. This thesis utilized the Mendelian randomization (MR) method, high-throughput metabolomics, as well as data from registers and cohorts to evaluate the effects of residential traffic noise on cardiometabolic and mental health, and to clarify the role of hearing loss within these associations.
Study I employed two-sample MR from publicly available genome-wide association study summary statistics to evaluate causal relationships between hearing loss and adiposity-related traits. Study II utilized five studies from three European cohorts (UK Biobank, Rotterdam Study, and Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966; N = 272,229) to examine the associations between nighttime road traffic noise and 155 serum/plasma biomarkers quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) platform, using a discovery analysis, meta-analyses, and sensitivity analyses. Study III analyzed a register-based cohort of 120,975 children and young adults in Finland (follow-up: 2007-2016) to estimate the associations between time-varying façade-specific traffic noise and incident depression and anxiety using Cox models.
The MR analyses did not support evidence that hearing loss causally increases the risk of adiposity. The multi-cohort biomarker analyses revealed novel associations between road noise of ≥ 50 dB at night and multiple metabolic profiles, including lipoproteins, fatty acids and membrane lipids, potentially supporting stress-response metabolic pathways due to sleep disturbance at night. In the register study, road noise at the most exposed façades was associated with higher hazards of depression and anxiety; exposure-response functions were approximately linear. In addition, effect modification was observed by sex and parental mental health in relation to anxiety.
Altogether, these studies provide multi-level evidence that traffic noise is associated with adverse cardiometabolic health in adults and elevated hazards of depression and anxiety in young populations, whereas hearing loss does not appear to drive an increased risk of adiposity. The findings underscore the need for triangulation of methodological approaches and the value of exposome-informed epidemiology to infer mechanisms and support prevention through noise mitigation and healthy urban design. Original papers He, Y., Karhunen, V., Pulakka, A., Kantomaa, M., & Sebert, S. (2023). A bidirectional Mendelian randomisation study to evaluate the relationship between body constitution and hearing loss. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 18434. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44735-x https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44735-x Self-archived version He, Y., Ginos, B. N. R., Kerckhoffs, J., Voortman, T., Ghanbari, M., Nedelec, R., Cheng, S. L., Ronkainen, J., Kantomaa, M., Kavousi, M., Pulakka, A., Hoek, G., & Sebert, S. (2026). Metabolic profiles of nighttime road traffic noise exposure: A multi-cohort study in the European LongITools project. Environmental Research, 294, 123887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2026.123887 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2026.123887 Self-archived version He, Y., Lahti-Pulkkinen, M., Metsälä, J., Halonen, J. I., Miettunen, J., Kerckhoffs, J., Kantomaa, M., Kajantie, E., Sebert, S., & Pulakka, A. (2025). Residential exposure to traffic noise and incidence of depression and anxiety from childhood through adulthood: A Finnish register study. Environmental Research, 285, 122443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122443 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122443 Self-archived version Tiivistelmä
Liikennemelu on merkittävä ympäristöongelma, jolla on kuuloon liittymättömiä terveysvaikutuksia. Taustalla vaikuttavat mekanismit ovat kuitenkin yhä epäselviä. Tässä väitöskirjassa tutkittiin asuinympäristön liikennemelun vaikutuksia kardiometaboliseen terveyteen ja mielenterveyteen sekä kuulonaleneman roolia näissä yhteyksissä. Tutkimuksissa hyödynnettiin Mendelististä satunnaistamista (MR), metabolomiikkaa sekä kohortti- ja rekisteriaineistoja.
Ensimmäisessä osatutkimuksessa käytettiin julkisesti saatavilla olevia genominlaajuisten assosiaatiotutkimusten tuloksia ja analysoitiin niitä kahden otoksen MR-menetelmällä. Osatutkimuksessa selvitettiin mahdollisia kuulonaleneman ja lihavuuden välisiä kausaalisia yhteyksiä. Toisessa osatutkimuksessa käytettiin viittä tutkimusaineistoa, jotka tulivat kolmesta eurooppalaisesta kohortista (UK Biobank, Rotterdam Study ja Pohjois-Suomen syntymäkohortti 1966, N = 272 229). Tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin yöaikaisen tieliikennemelun yhteyttä 155 biomarkkeriin. Biomarkkerit oli mitattu seerumi- ja plasmanäytteistä ydinmagneettisen resonanssispektroskopian (NMR) avulla. Tutkimusasetelma sisälsi löytö- ja replikointivaiheen, meta-analyysin sekä herkkyysanalyysejä. Kolmannessa osatutkimuksessa analysoitiin 120 975 suomalaisen lapsen ja nuoren aikuisen rekisteriaineistoa vuosina 2007–2016. Tavoitteena oli selvittää, onko pitkittäisesti mallinnetulla julkisivukohtaisella liikennemelulla yhteyttä masennusuksen- ja ahdistuneisuuden ilmaantumiseen. Analyyseissä käytettiin Coxin mallia, rajoitettuja kuutiosplinejä ja interaktioanalyysejä.
MR-analyysit eivät antaneet näyttöä siitä, että kuulonalenema lisäisi kausaalisesti lihavuuden riskiä. Useassa kohortissa tehdyt biomarkkerianalyysit paljastivat uusia yhteyksiä yöaikaisen tieliikennemelun (≥ 50 dB) ja useiden metaboliaprofiilien, kuten lipoproteiinien, rasvahappojen ja kalvolipidien välillä. Nämä yhteydet voivat liittyä stressivasteen aineenvaihduntareitteihin, jotka puolestaan voivat vaikuttaa yöaikaisten unihäiriöiden kautta. Pitkittäisessä rekisteritutkimuksessa tieliikennemelu meluisamman julkisivun puolella oli yhteydessä kohonneeseen masennuksen ja ahdistuneisuuden riskiin, ja yhteydet olivat lähes lineaarisia. Lisäksi sukupuoli ja vanhempien mielenterveystausta muokkasivat melun vaikutuksia ahdistuneisuuteen.
Nämä tutkimukset tarjoavat monitasoista näyttöä siitä, että liikennemelu liittyy epäedulliseen kardiometaboliseen terveyteen aikuisilla sekä kohonneeseen masennus- ja ahdistuneisuusriskiin nuorilla, kun taas kuulonalenema ei näytä selittävän lisääntynyttä lihavuuden riskiä. Tulokset korostavat monimenetelmällisen lähestymistavan merkitystä sekä eksposomiin eli elämän aikana koettuihin ympäristöaltistuksiin perustuvan epidemiologian arvoa. Nämä voivat auttaa mekanismien ymmärtämisessä ja tukea ehkäiseviä toimia, kuten melun vähentäminen ja terveen kaupunkiympäristön suunnittelu. Osajulkaisut He, Y., Karhunen, V., Pulakka, A., Kantomaa, M., & Sebert, S. (2023). A bidirectional Mendelian randomisation study to evaluate the relationship between body constitution and hearing loss. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 18434. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44735-x https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44735-x Rinnakkaistallennettu versio He, Y., Ginos, B. N. R., Kerckhoffs, J., Voortman, T., Ghanbari, M., Nedelec, R., Cheng, S. L., Ronkainen, J., Kantomaa, M., Kavousi, M., Pulakka, A., Hoek, G., & Sebert, S. (2026). Metabolic profiles of nighttime road traffic noise exposure: A multi-cohort study in the European LongITools project. Environmental Research, 294, 123887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2026.123887 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2026.123887 Rinnakkaistallennettu versio He, Y., Lahti-Pulkkinen, M., Metsälä, J., Halonen, J. I., Miettunen, J., Kerckhoffs, J., Kantomaa, M., Kajantie, E., Sebert, S., & Pulakka, A. (2025). Residential exposure to traffic noise and incidence of depression and anxiety from childhood through adulthood: A Finnish register study. Environmental Research, 285, 122443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122443 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122443 Rinnakkaistallennettu versio Academic dissertation to be presented with the assent of the Doctoral Programme Committee of Health and Biosciences of the University of Oulu for public defence in Auditorium F202 of the Faculty of Medicine (Aapistie 5 B), on 27 March 2026, at 12 noonAbstract
Traffic noise is a major environmental problem with non-auditory health impacts, yet underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. This thesis utilized the Mendelian randomization (MR) method, high-throughput metabolomics, as well as data from registers and cohorts to evaluate the effects of residential traffic noise on cardiometabolic and mental health, and to clarify the role of hearing loss within these associations.
Study I employed two-sample MR from publicly available genome-wide association study summary statistics to evaluate causal relationships between hearing loss and adiposity-related traits. Study II utilized five studies from three European cohorts (UK Biobank, Rotterdam Study, and Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966; N = 272,229) to examine the associations between nighttime road traffic noise and 155 serum/plasma biomarkers quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) platform, using a discovery analysis, meta-analyses, and sensitivity analyses. Study III analyzed a register-based cohort of 120,975 children and young adults in Finland (follow-up: 2007-2016) to estimate the associations between time-varying façade-specific traffic noise and incident depression and anxiety using Cox models.
The MR analyses did not support evidence that hearing loss causally increases the risk of adiposity. The multi-cohort biomarker analyses revealed novel associations between road noise of ≥ 50 dB at night and multiple metabolic profiles, including lipoproteins, fatty acids and membrane lipids, potentially supporting stress-response metabolic pathways due to sleep disturbance at night. In the register study, road noise at the most exposed façades was associated with higher hazards of depression and anxiety; exposure-response functions were approximately linear. In addition, effect modification was observed by sex and parental mental health in relation to anxiety.
Altogether, these studies provide multi-level evidence that traffic noise is associated with adverse cardiometabolic health in adults and elevated hazards of depression and anxiety in young populations, whereas hearing loss does not appear to drive an increased risk of adiposity. The findings underscore the need for triangulation of methodological approaches and the value of exposome-informed epidemiology to infer mechanisms and support prevention through noise mitigation and healthy urban design.Tiivistelmä
Liikennemelu on merkittävä ympäristöongelma, jolla on kuuloon liittymättömiä terveysvaikutuksia. Taustalla vaikuttavat mekanismit ovat kuitenkin yhä epäselviä. Tässä väitöskirjassa tutkittiin asuinympäristön liikennemelun vaikutuksia kardiometaboliseen terveyteen ja mielenterveyteen sekä kuulonaleneman roolia näissä yhteyksissä. Tutkimuksissa hyödynnettiin Mendelististä satunnaistamista (MR), metabolomiikkaa sekä kohortti- ja rekisteriaineistoja.
Ensimmäisessä osatutkimuksessa käytettiin julkisesti saatavilla olevia genominlaajuisten assosiaatiotutkimusten tuloksia ja analysoitiin niitä kahden otoksen MR-menetelmällä. Osatutkimuksessa selvitettiin mahdollisia kuulonaleneman ja lihavuuden välisiä kausaalisia yhteyksiä. Toisessa osatutkimuksessa käytettiin viittä tutkimusaineistoa, jotka tulivat kolmesta eurooppalaisesta kohortista (UK Biobank, Rotterdam Study ja Pohjois-Suomen syntymäkohortti 1966, N = 272 229). Tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin yöaikaisen tieliikennemelun yhteyttä 155 biomarkkeriin. Biomarkkerit oli mitattu seerumi- ja plasmanäytteistä ydinmagneettisen resonanssispektroskopian (NMR) avulla. Tutkimusasetelma sisälsi löytö- ja replikointivaiheen, meta-analyysin sekä herkkyysanalyysejä. Kolmannessa osatutkimuksessa analysoitiin 120 975 suomalaisen lapsen ja nuoren aikuisen rekisteriaineistoa vuosina 2007–2016. Tavoitteena oli selvittää, onko pitkittäisesti mallinnetulla julkisivukohtaisella liikennemelulla yhteyttä masennusuksen- ja ahdistuneisuuden ilmaantumiseen. Analyyseissä käytettiin Coxin mallia, rajoitettuja kuutiosplinejä ja interaktioanalyysejä.
MR-analyysit eivät antaneet näyttöä siitä, että kuulonalenema lisäisi kausaalisesti lihavuuden riskiä. Useassa kohortissa tehdyt biomarkkerianalyysit paljastivat uusia yhteyksiä yöaikaisen tieliikennemelun (≥ 50 dB) ja useiden metaboliaprofiilien, kuten lipoproteiinien, rasvahappojen ja kalvolipidien välillä. Nämä yhteydet voivat liittyä stressivasteen aineenvaihduntareitteihin, jotka puolestaan voivat vaikuttaa yöaikaisten unihäiriöiden kautta. Pitkittäisessä rekisteritutkimuksessa tieliikennemelu meluisamman julkisivun puolella oli yhteydessä kohonneeseen masennuksen ja ahdistuneisuuden riskiin, ja yhteydet olivat lähes lineaarisia. Lisäksi sukupuoli ja vanhempien mielenterveystausta muokkasivat melun vaikutuksia ahdistuneisuuteen.
Nämä tutkimukset tarjoavat monitasoista näyttöä siitä, että liikennemelu liittyy epäedulliseen kardiometaboliseen terveyteen aikuisilla sekä kohonneeseen masennus- ja ahdistuneisuusriskiin nuorilla, kun taas kuulonalenema ei näytä selittävän lisääntynyttä lihavuuden riskiä. Tulokset korostavat monimenetelmällisen lähestymistavan merkitystä sekä eksposomiin eli elämän aikana koettuihin ympäristöaltistuksiin perustuvan epidemiologian arvoa. Nämä voivat auttaa mekanismien ymmärtämisessä ja tukea ehkäiseviä toimia, kuten melun vähentäminen ja terveen kaupunkiympäristön suunnittelu
Spectrum Access Options for Local 6G Networks
No full textSummary
This chapter identifies spectrum access options to establish local 6G networks. To efficiently realize a large number of local 6G networks to pursue new business opportunities by a variety of stakeholders beyond traditional mobile network operators, it is important to gain an understanding of the spectrum access options and resulting interference scenarios. This chapter introduces the key concepts relevant to gaining access to the radio spectrum for local 6G mobile communication networks including spectrum management approaches, spectrum sharing models, and spectrum valuation and pricing mechanisms. The aim of this chapter is to structure the complex topic of spectrum management for local mobile communication networks by (i) identifying different spectrum access options to establish local 6G networks and (ii) analyzing the identified options with respect to the elements of spectrum management, sharing, and valuation and pricing.Summary
This chapter identifies spectrum access options to establish local 6G networks. To efficiently realize a large number of local 6G networks to pursue new business opportunities by a variety of stakeholders beyond traditional mobile network operators, it is important to gain an understanding of the spectrum access options and resulting interference scenarios. This chapter introduces the key concepts relevant to gaining access to the radio spectrum for local 6G mobile communication networks including spectrum management approaches, spectrum sharing models, and spectrum valuation and pricing mechanisms. The aim of this chapter is to structure the complex topic of spectrum management for local mobile communication networks by (i) identifying different spectrum access options to establish local 6G networks and (ii) analyzing the identified options with respect to the elements of spectrum management, sharing, and valuation and pricing
Ukrainian in Finland
No full textAbstract
This chapter investigates language use and language attitudes of Ukrainians in Finland in the year 2022. The data come from a survey including 1,615 responses. All of the respondents are first-generation Ukrainians in Finland. The data show that while the respondents are eager to maintain and use Ukrainian in Finland, many encounter obstacles such as the lack of Ukrainian-language classes or teachers in schools, the lack of Ukrainian knowledge among Finns, and the lack of Ukrainian-language interpreters. However, digital communication provides Ukrainian migrants new possibilities to identify with their country of origin and maintain language by distance learning in Ukrainian schools and through contacts with the Ukrainian community, access to the media, and the use of language technology such as online translation services. Ukrainian language is associated with positive evaluations regardless of whether the respondent's mother tongue was Ukrainian, Russian, or both.Abstract
This chapter investigates language use and language attitudes of Ukrainians in Finland in the year 2022. The data come from a survey including 1,615 responses. All of the respondents are first-generation Ukrainians in Finland. The data show that while the respondents are eager to maintain and use Ukrainian in Finland, many encounter obstacles such as the lack of Ukrainian-language classes or teachers in schools, the lack of Ukrainian knowledge among Finns, and the lack of Ukrainian-language interpreters. However, digital communication provides Ukrainian migrants new possibilities to identify with their country of origin and maintain language by distance learning in Ukrainian schools and through contacts with the Ukrainian community, access to the media, and the use of language technology such as online translation services. Ukrainian language is associated with positive evaluations regardless of whether the respondent's mother tongue was Ukrainian, Russian, or both
Infused Suppression of Magnification Artefacts For Micro-AU Detection
No full textAbstract
Facial micro-expressions are spontaneous, brief and subtle facial motions that unveil the underlying, suppressed emotions. Detecting Action Units (AUs) in micro-expressions is crucial because it yields a finer representation of facial motions than categorical emotions, effectively resolving the ambiguity among different expressions. One of the difficulties in micro-expression analysis is that facial motions are subtle and brief, thereby increasing the difficulty in correlating facial motion features to AU occurrence. To bridge the subtlety issue, flow-related features and motion magnification are a few common approaches as they can yield descriptive motion changes and increased motion amplitude respectively. While motion magnification can amplify the motion changes, it also accounts for illumination changes and projection errors during the amplification process, thereby creating motion artefacts that confuse the model to learn inauthentic magnified motion features. The problem is further aggravated in the context of a more complicated task where more AU classes are analyzed in cross-database settings.
To address this issue, we propose InfuseNet, a layer-wise unitary feature infusion framework that leverages motion context to constrain the Action Unit (AU) learning within an informative facial movement region, thereby alleviating the influence of magnification artefacts. On top of that, we propose leveraging magnified latent features instead of reconstructing magnified samples to limit the distortion and artefacts caused by the projection inaccuracy in the motion reconstruction process. Via alleviating the magnification artefacts, InfuseNet has surpassed the state-of-the-art results in the CD6ME protocol. Further quantitative studies have also demonstrated the efficacy of motion artefacts alleviation.Abstract
Facial micro-expressions are spontaneous, brief and subtle facial motions that unveil the underlying, suppressed emotions. Detecting Action Units (AUs) in micro-expressions is crucial because it yields a finer representation of facial motions than categorical emotions, effectively resolving the ambiguity among different expressions. One of the difficulties in micro-expression analysis is that facial motions are subtle and brief, thereby increasing the difficulty in correlating facial motion features to AU occurrence. To bridge the subtlety issue, flow-related features and motion magnification are a few common approaches as they can yield descriptive motion changes and increased motion amplitude respectively. While motion magnification can amplify the motion changes, it also accounts for illumination changes and projection errors during the amplification process, thereby creating motion artefacts that confuse the model to learn inauthentic magnified motion features. The problem is further aggravated in the context of a more complicated task where more AU classes are analyzed in cross-database settings.
To address this issue, we propose InfuseNet, a layer-wise unitary feature infusion framework that leverages motion context to constrain the Action Unit (AU) learning within an informative facial movement region, thereby alleviating the influence of magnification artefacts. On top of that, we propose leveraging magnified latent features instead of reconstructing magnified samples to limit the distortion and artefacts caused by the projection inaccuracy in the motion reconstruction process. Via alleviating the magnification artefacts, InfuseNet has surpassed the state-of-the-art results in the CD6ME protocol. Further quantitative studies have also demonstrated the efficacy of motion artefacts alleviation