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Progressively global–local fusion with explicit guidance for accurate and robust 3d hand pose reconstruction
No full textAbstract
Parametric and non-parametric methods are two commonly used strategies in current 3D hand pose reconstruction. Parametric methods predict low-dimensional parameters to fit a predefined hand model to the input image. Benefiting from the prior knowledge of hand models, parametric methods guarantee plausible hand poses, whereas the pose estimation accuracy is limited due to nonlinear regression and spatial information loss. Differently, non-parametric methods directly estimate the coordinates of keypoints or mesh vertices from the input image. The reconstructed 3D hand poses show high precision but may be less robust. In this paper, we integrate the advantages of two methods for accurate and robust hand pose reconstruction. Specifically, we disentangle the hand pose reconstruction into global modeling and local refinement, which is performed in a coarse-to-fine manner. Firstly, we utilize global features from the encoder to generate the initial estimation by a parametric method, which aims to provide the prior knowledge of the human hand for subsequent processes. Then, we gradually fuse multi-scale contextual features for local refinement by explicitly integrating global prior information and local visual features. In particular, we introduce a consecutive pixel-aligned feature retrieval module to extract fine-grained information from visual features, thereby achieving pixel-level alignment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our method can be extended to weakly-supervised learning where only sparse pose annotations are needed, potentially alleviating the burden of meticulous mesh annotation. The effectiveness and robustness of our method are substantiated through both fully- and weakly-supervised experiments, demonstrating superior performance compared to state-of-the-art methods. We plan to release our code at https://github.com/Kun-Gao/P_GLFnet.Abstract
Parametric and non-parametric methods are two commonly used strategies in current 3D hand pose reconstruction. Parametric methods predict low-dimensional parameters to fit a predefined hand model to the input image. Benefiting from the prior knowledge of hand models, parametric methods guarantee plausible hand poses, whereas the pose estimation accuracy is limited due to nonlinear regression and spatial information loss. Differently, non-parametric methods directly estimate the coordinates of keypoints or mesh vertices from the input image. The reconstructed 3D hand poses show high precision but may be less robust. In this paper, we integrate the advantages of two methods for accurate and robust hand pose reconstruction. Specifically, we disentangle the hand pose reconstruction into global modeling and local refinement, which is performed in a coarse-to-fine manner. Firstly, we utilize global features from the encoder to generate the initial estimation by a parametric method, which aims to provide the prior knowledge of the human hand for subsequent processes. Then, we gradually fuse multi-scale contextual features for local refinement by explicitly integrating global prior information and local visual features. In particular, we introduce a consecutive pixel-aligned feature retrieval module to extract fine-grained information from visual features, thereby achieving pixel-level alignment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our method can be extended to weakly-supervised learning where only sparse pose annotations are needed, potentially alleviating the burden of meticulous mesh annotation. The effectiveness and robustness of our method are substantiated through both fully- and weakly-supervised experiments, demonstrating superior performance compared to state-of-the-art methods. We plan to release our code at https://github.com/Kun-Gao/P_GLFnet
Revisiting sustainable tourism research: bibliometric insights and future research agenda
No full textAbstract
This bibliometric review synthesizes sustainable tourism research over the past three decades, focusing on its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on 1,383 journal articles from the Web of Science database, the RStudio Bibliometrix package analysed bibliometric performance, thematic maps, and co-occurrence networks. The findings highlight the role of sustainable tourism in advancing different SDGs. Findings also indicate three broader thematic areas for future research, including regenerative tourism ecosystems, responsible tourism behaviours, and right-sizing tourism. Through this review, we propose future research directions to enhance knowledge on sustainable tourism and its contribution to the SDGs, providing a strategic roadmap for researchers and policymakers.Abstract
This bibliometric review synthesizes sustainable tourism research over the past three decades, focusing on its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Based on 1,383 journal articles from the Web of Science database, the RStudio Bibliometrix package analysed bibliometric performance, thematic maps, and co-occurrence networks. The findings highlight the role of sustainable tourism in advancing different SDGs. Findings also indicate three broader thematic areas for future research, including regenerative tourism ecosystems, responsible tourism behaviours, and right-sizing tourism. Through this review, we propose future research directions to enhance knowledge on sustainable tourism and its contribution to the SDGs, providing a strategic roadmap for researchers and policymakers
Tourism, Public Policy and Governance
No full textSummary
The purpose of this chapter is to provide a timely overview of the most recent advancements in the study of policies, politics and governance in tourism over the last decade. It does so by illustrating prominent works and themes on this valuable yet often taken for granted topic in tourism research. The chapter is structured as follows. The first section provides an overview of the current ‘state of the art’ in tourism, public policy, and governance literature with a selection of relevant themes and foci. The second section illustrates theoretical advancements that have occurred in this subfield over the last decade and critically discusses the hindrances and issues with conducting research public policy, governance, and tourism within a politicized context. The concluding section provides a summary of the key points of the chapter while also highlighting future directions for research. Additionally, a final remark is provided on the positionality of researchers in tourism, public policy and governance and the need to overcome policy-pleasing rhetoric and fully embrace political action.Summary
The purpose of this chapter is to provide a timely overview of the most recent advancements in the study of policies, politics and governance in tourism over the last decade. It does so by illustrating prominent works and themes on this valuable yet often taken for granted topic in tourism research. The chapter is structured as follows. The first section provides an overview of the current ‘state of the art’ in tourism, public policy, and governance literature with a selection of relevant themes and foci. The second section illustrates theoretical advancements that have occurred in this subfield over the last decade and critically discusses the hindrances and issues with conducting research public policy, governance, and tourism within a politicized context. The concluding section provides a summary of the key points of the chapter while also highlighting future directions for research. Additionally, a final remark is provided on the positionality of researchers in tourism, public policy and governance and the need to overcome policy-pleasing rhetoric and fully embrace political action.
The reproductive tract microbiome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and across different menstrual cycle phases
Full text linkAbstract
Study question:
Do polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menstrual cycle phases, and ovulatory status affect reproductive tract (RT) microbiome profiles?
Summary answer:
We identified microbial features associated with menstrual cycle phases in the upper and lower RT microbiome, but only two specific differences in the upper RT according to PCOS status.
What is known already:
The vaginal and uterine microbiome profiles vary throughout the menstrual cycle. Studies have reported alterations in the vaginal microbiome among women diagnosed with PCOS.
Study design, size, duration:
This prospective case-control study included a cohort of 37 healthy control women and 52 women diagnosed with PCOS. Microbiome samples were collected from the vagina as vaginal swabs (VS) and from the uterus as endometrial flushing (EF) aspirate samples, and compared according to PCOS diagnosis, the menstrual cycle phases, and ovulatory status, at Oulu University Hospital (Oulu, Finland) from January 2017 to March 2020.
Participants/materials, setting, methods:
A total of 83 VS samples and 80 EF samples were collected. Age and body mass index (BMI) were matched between women with and without PCOS. Clinical characteristics were assessed using blood samples collected between cycle days 2 and 8, and microbial DNA was sequenced on the Ion Torrent platform. Microbial alpha diversity (i.e. the observed number of unique genera and Shannon diversity index) was analysed across sample types, PCOS diagnosis and menstrual cycle phases. Linear mixed-effects models were utilised to identify microbial features in relation to PCOS and the menstrual cycle phases. Associations between the beta diversity of the RT microbiome and PCOS- and cycle-related clinical features were calculated using PERMANOVA.
Main results and the role of chance:
Microbial alpha diversity showed no difference with PCOS (VS: Pobserved feature = 0.836, Pshannon = 0.998; EF: Pobserved feature = 0.366, Pshannon = 0.185), but varied with menstrual cycle phases (VS: Pobserved feature = 0.001, Pshannon = 0.882; EF: Pobserved feature = 0.026, Pshannon = 0.048). No difference was observed in beta diversity based on either PCOS or the menstrual cycle phases (VS: PPCOS = 0.280, Pcycle = 0.115; EF: PPCOS = 0.234, Pcycle = 0.088). In the endometrial flushing samples, we identified two novel microbial features, characterised by the ratio of differential abundance of two genera, associated with PCOS (FDR ≤ 0.1) and 13 novel features associated with the menstrual cycle phases (FDR ≤ 0.1).
Limitations, reasons for caution:
Although this was the first study to simultaneously analyse, the lower and upper RT microbiome in women with and without PCOS, the limited sample size of anovulatory cases may hinder the detection of differences related to PCOS and ovulatory status.
Wider implications of the findings:
The main finding suggests that PCOS and the menstrual cycle phases are associated with specific microbial features in the upper RT, indicating that the analysis of the upper RT microbiome can potentially identify biomarkers for both PCOS and menstrual cycle phases.
Study funding/competing interest(s):
This research was funded by the Research Council of Finland (grants no. 315921, 321763, 336449), the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation (grant no. NNF21OC0070372), and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant (MATER, grant no. 813707). This research was also funded by the Estonian Research Council (grants no. PRG1076, PRG1414), the Horizon Europe grant (NESTOR, grant no. 101120075) of the European Commission, and EMBO Installation Grant (grant no. 3573). The funders did not participate in any processes of the study. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Trial registration number:
N/A.Abstract
Study question:
Do polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menstrual cycle phases, and ovulatory status affect reproductive tract (RT) microbiome profiles?
Summary answer:
We identified microbial features associated with menstrual cycle phases in the upper and lower RT microbiome, but only two specific differences in the upper RT according to PCOS status.
What is known already:
The vaginal and uterine microbiome profiles vary throughout the menstrual cycle. Studies have reported alterations in the vaginal microbiome among women diagnosed with PCOS.
Study design, size, duration:
This prospective case-control study included a cohort of 37 healthy control women and 52 women diagnosed with PCOS. Microbiome samples were collected from the vagina as vaginal swabs (VS) and from the uterus as endometrial flushing (EF) aspirate samples, and compared according to PCOS diagnosis, the menstrual cycle phases, and ovulatory status, at Oulu University Hospital (Oulu, Finland) from January 2017 to March 2020.
Participants/materials, setting, methods:
A total of 83 VS samples and 80 EF samples were collected. Age and body mass index (BMI) were matched between women with and without PCOS. Clinical characteristics were assessed using blood samples collected between cycle days 2 and 8, and microbial DNA was sequenced on the Ion Torrent platform. Microbial alpha diversity (i.e. the observed number of unique genera and Shannon diversity index) was analysed across sample types, PCOS diagnosis and menstrual cycle phases. Linear mixed-effects models were utilised to identify microbial features in relation to PCOS and the menstrual cycle phases. Associations between the beta diversity of the RT microbiome and PCOS- and cycle-related clinical features were calculated using PERMANOVA.
Main results and the role of chance:
Microbial alpha diversity showed no difference with PCOS (VS: Pobserved feature = 0.836, Pshannon = 0.998; EF: Pobserved feature = 0.366, Pshannon = 0.185), but varied with menstrual cycle phases (VS: Pobserved feature = 0.001, Pshannon = 0.882; EF: Pobserved feature = 0.026, Pshannon = 0.048). No difference was observed in beta diversity based on either PCOS or the menstrual cycle phases (VS: PPCOS = 0.280, Pcycle = 0.115; EF: PPCOS = 0.234, Pcycle = 0.088). In the endometrial flushing samples, we identified two novel microbial features, characterised by the ratio of differential abundance of two genera, associated with PCOS (FDR ≤ 0.1) and 13 novel features associated with the menstrual cycle phases (FDR ≤ 0.1).
Limitations, reasons for caution:
Although this was the first study to simultaneously analyse, the lower and upper RT microbiome in women with and without PCOS, the limited sample size of anovulatory cases may hinder the detection of differences related to PCOS and ovulatory status.
Wider implications of the findings:
The main finding suggests that PCOS and the menstrual cycle phases are associated with specific microbial features in the upper RT, indicating that the analysis of the upper RT microbiome can potentially identify biomarkers for both PCOS and menstrual cycle phases.
Study funding/competing interest(s):
This research was funded by the Research Council of Finland (grants no. 315921, 321763, 336449), the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation (grant no. NNF21OC0070372), and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant (MATER, grant no. 813707). This research was also funded by the Estonian Research Council (grants no. PRG1076, PRG1414), the Horizon Europe grant (NESTOR, grant no. 101120075) of the European Commission, and EMBO Installation Grant (grant no. 3573). The funders did not participate in any processes of the study. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Trial registration number:
N/A
Capabilities for Organisational and Supply Chain Resilience in Industrial Customer-Supplier Partnerships
No full textAbstract
Nowadays, industrial companies face different unexpected global crises that require capabilities in supply chain resilience (SCRes) and organisational resilience (ORes) management. The aim of this study was to identify the capabilities needed to strengthen SCRes and ORes in industrial customer and supplier companies. Research data were collected from 13 semi-structured interviews and a workshop with participants from customer and supplier companies. As a result, five essential capability themes are highlighted for SCRes and ORes: leadership in the organisation and SC, sustainable and collaborative customer-supplier partnerships, intra- and inter-organisational communication and information sharing, proactive business continuity management, and anticipation of future events. This study introduces a SCRes and ORes development path, highlighting the abilities to lead individuals within the organisation and SC and to foster sustainable and collaborative relationships for enhancing SCRes and ORes capabilities. Our findings benefit industrial companies by providing concrete suggestions for developing capabilities to advance SCRes and ORes.Abstract
Nowadays, industrial companies face different unexpected global crises that require capabilities in supply chain resilience (SCRes) and organisational resilience (ORes) management. The aim of this study was to identify the capabilities needed to strengthen SCRes and ORes in industrial customer and supplier companies. Research data were collected from 13 semi-structured interviews and a workshop with participants from customer and supplier companies. As a result, five essential capability themes are highlighted for SCRes and ORes: leadership in the organisation and SC, sustainable and collaborative customer-supplier partnerships, intra- and inter-organisational communication and information sharing, proactive business continuity management, and anticipation of future events. This study introduces a SCRes and ORes development path, highlighting the abilities to lead individuals within the organisation and SC and to foster sustainable and collaborative relationships for enhancing SCRes and ORes capabilities. Our findings benefit industrial companies by providing concrete suggestions for developing capabilities to advance SCRes and ORes
High-efficient degradation of sulfadiazine by a novel boron-induced Fe/CaO2 system
No full textAbstract
Adding cocatalyst is a common strategy to increase the rate and degree of Fenton reaction. Inorganic cocatalyst has the ability to provide electrons, reduce the risk of secondary pollution, and effectively improve the utilization efficiency of ROS. However, how inorganic cocatalyst boron improves the utilization efficiency of ROS needs to be further explored. This study investigated the enhancement of sulfadiazine (SDZ) degradation in a Fe(II)/CaO2 system by incorporating boron as inorganic cocatalyst. The results demonstrated that the Boron/Fe(II)/CaO2system achieved 96.1 % SDZ removal efficiency within 10 min, compared to only 69.2 % for the Fe(II)/CaO2 system. Boron accelerated the Fe(II) to Fe(III) cycle, maintaining a roughly 1:1 ratio, and increased the concentration of reactive oxygen species (·OH, 1O2, and ·O2–, FeⅣ=O) in the system. Active sites of SDZ vulnerable to free radical attack have been analyzed using frontier orbital density function, and the degradation paths of SDZ produced by Boron/Fe(II)/CaO2 system has been verified. The incorporation of boron notably enhanced the degradation capacity of the Fe(II)/CaO2 system for SDZ and other organics. This enhancement was particularly pronounced in real river water, which is rich in natural organic matter, with the degradation rate constant being increased by a factor of 6.5.Abstract
Adding cocatalyst is a common strategy to increase the rate and degree of Fenton reaction. Inorganic cocatalyst has the ability to provide electrons, reduce the risk of secondary pollution, and effectively improve the utilization efficiency of ROS. However, how inorganic cocatalyst boron improves the utilization efficiency of ROS needs to be further explored. This study investigated the enhancement of sulfadiazine (SDZ) degradation in a Fe(II)/CaO2 system by incorporating boron as inorganic cocatalyst. The results demonstrated that the Boron/Fe(II)/CaO2system achieved 96.1 % SDZ removal efficiency within 10 min, compared to only 69.2 % for the Fe(II)/CaO2 system. Boron accelerated the Fe(II) to Fe(III) cycle, maintaining a roughly 1:1 ratio, and increased the concentration of reactive oxygen species (·OH, 1O2, and ·O2–, FeⅣ=O) in the system. Active sites of SDZ vulnerable to free radical attack have been analyzed using frontier orbital density function, and the degradation paths of SDZ produced by Boron/Fe(II)/CaO2 system has been verified. The incorporation of boron notably enhanced the degradation capacity of the Fe(II)/CaO2 system for SDZ and other organics. This enhancement was particularly pronounced in real river water, which is rich in natural organic matter, with the degradation rate constant being increased by a factor of 6.5
Adsorption and degradation of residual pharmaceuticals in water
Full text linkAbstract
The presence of pharmaceutical compounds in water effluents has become a significant environmental concern due to their widespread consumption. Pharmaceutical contaminants, especially antibiotics, are classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Since conventional wastewater treatment methods are not fully effective in removing these contaminants from effluents, developing efficient and cost-effective remediation technologies is crucial to eliminate pharmaceutical residues from treated wastewater effluents.
This thesis developed adsorption and degradation processes using biosorbents and bionanocomposites for pharmaceutical removal. Iron-modified peat (FeP) and magnetite-pine bark (MPB) were utilised as effective biosorbents for the batch adsorption of levofloxacin and trimethoprim from synthetic solutions as well as a variety of pharmaceuticals from real municipal wastewater effluent. The maximum adsorption capacity of FeP was approximately 200 mg/g for both antibiotics, while for MPB, it was 153.0 mg/g for levofloxacin and 184.1 mg/g for trimethoprim. The efficiency of MPB and activated carbon (AC) was compared in a small-scale column adsorption test. The results revealed that MPB can serve as a cost-effective and efficient alternative to AC. A four-month pilot-scale column adsorption test was performed using a large 21 L column filled with biochar (BC) and MPB, after which many compounds (e.g. trimethoprim) were below the detection limit. The effect of bacteria on the performance of MPB was studied by exposing MPB to pure culture bacteria or hospital wastewater effluent. The results showed variation in ciprofloxacin adsorption efficiency depending on the exposure time.
For degradation of antibiotics, cobalt-magnetite pine bark (Co-MPB) bionanocomposites were developed by modifying MPB with cobalt through different synthesis procedures and with different Co:Fe molar ratios. Bionanocomposites were used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for degradation of levofloxacin. Simultaneous or sequential addition of reagents, along with reduced cobalt addition, resulted in lower cobalt leaching. Hydroxyl radicals played a key role in the degradation of levofloxacin. The study offers efficient and sustainable bio-based adsorbents and catalysts for remediation of pharmaceutical contaminants. Original papers Mohammadzadeh, M., & Leiviskä, T. (2023). Iron-modified peat and magnetite-pine bark biosorbents for levofloxacin and trimethoprim removal from synthetic water and various pharmaceuticals from real wastewater. Industrial Crops and Products, 195, 116491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.116491 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.116491 Self-archived version Mohammadzadeh, M., Bello, A., Lassen, S. B., Brandt, K. K., Risteelä, S., & Leiviskä, T. (2025). Pilot-scale adsorption of pharmaceuticals from municipal wastewater effluent using low-cost magnetite-pine bark: Regeneration/enumeration of viable bacteria with a study on their biotoxicity. Environmental Research, 268, 120774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.120774 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.120774 Self-archived version Mohammadzadeh, M., Matusik, J., Ren, Z., Jacukowicz-Sobala, I., Lewińska, A., Bergmann, U., Kumar, P., & Leiviskä, T. (2025). Machine learning-guided development of cobalt–magnetite pine bark bionanocomposites for antibiotic-contaminated water remediation. Manuscript in preparation. Mohammadzadeh, M., Lassen, S. B., Jensen, M. S. J., Strobel, B. W., Brandt, K. K., & Leiviskä, T. (2025). Ciprofloxacin adsorption to magnetite-pine bark biosorbents as affected by preconditioning with distinct microbiomes. Manuscript in preparation. Tiivistelmä
Lääkejäämien esiintyminen jätevesissä on muodostunut merkittäväksi ympäristöhuolenaiheeksi lääkkeiden runsaan kulutuksen vuoksi. Lääkejäämät, erityisesti antibiootit, luokitellaan uusiksi huolta aiheuttaviksi yhdisteiksi (CECs). Perinteiset jätevedenkäsittelymenetelmät eivät poista näitä yhdisteitä tehokkaasti, minkä vuoksi on tärkeää kehittää toimivia ja kustannustehokkaita menetelmiä lääkeaineiden poistamiseksi käsitellyistä jätevesistä.
Tässä väitöstyössä kehitettiin adsorptio- ja hajotusprosesseja lääkkeiden poistamiseen biosorbenttien ja bionanokomposiittien avulla. Raudalla modifioitu turve (FeP) ja magnetiittia sisältävä männynkuori (MPB) osoittautuivat tehokkaiksi biosorbenteiksi levofloksasiinin ja trimetopriimin adsorptiossa synteettisistä liuoksista sekä useiden lääkkeiden poistossa todellisesta kunnallisesta jätevedestä. FeP:n suurin adsorptiokapasiteetti oli noin 200 mg/g kummallekin tutkitulle antibiootille, kun taas MPB:llä saavutettiin adsorptioksi 153,0 mg/g levofloksasiinille ja 184,1 mg/g trimetopriimille. Pienimittakaavainen kolonniadsorptiokoe vertasi MPB:n ja aktiivihiilen (AC) tehokkuutta, ja tulokset osoittivat MPB:n olevan taloudellinen ja tehokas vaihtoehto aktiivihiilelle. Neljän kuukauden pituinen pilot-mittakaavan kolonniadsorptiokoe suoritettiin 21 litran kolonnissa, joka oli pakattu biohiilellä (BC) ja MPB:llä. Kokeen jälkeen useiden yhdisteiden (esim. trimetopriimi) pitoisuudet olivat alle havaitsemisrajan. MPB:n toimivuutta bakteerien läsnä ollessa tutkittiin altistamalla sitä puhdasviljellyille bakteereille tai sairaalajätevedelle. Tulokset osoittivat, että siprofloksasiinin adsorptiotehokkuus vaihteli altistusajan mukaan.
Antibioottien hajottamiseksi kehitettiin bionanokomposiitteja (Co-MPB) muokkaamalla MPB:tä koboltilla eri synteesimenetelmillä ja Co:Fe-molaarisuhteilla. Valmistettuja komposiitteja käytettiin peroksimonosulfaatin (PMS) aktivointiin levofloksasiinin hajottamiseksi. Reagenssien samanaikainen tai peräkkäinen lisäys sekä pienempi koboltin määrä vähensivät koboltin liukenemista komposiitista. Hydroksyyliradikaaleilla todettiin olevan keskeinen rooli levofloksasiinin hajotuksessa. Tutkimus tarjoaa tehokkaita ja kestäviä biopohjaisia adsorbentteja ja komposiittikatalyyttejä lääkejäämien poistamiseen. Osajulkaisut Mohammadzadeh, M., & Leiviskä, T. (2023). Iron-modified peat and magnetite-pine bark biosorbents for levofloxacin and trimethoprim removal from synthetic water and various pharmaceuticals from real wastewater. Industrial Crops and Products, 195, 116491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.116491 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.116491 Rinnakkaistallennettu versio Mohammadzadeh, M., Bello, A., Lassen, S. B., Brandt, K. K., Risteelä, S., & Leiviskä, T. (2025). Pilot-scale adsorption of pharmaceuticals from municipal wastewater effluent using low-cost magnetite-pine bark: Regeneration/enumeration of viable bacteria with a study on their biotoxicity. Environmental Research, 268, 120774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.120774 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.120774 Rinnakkaistallennettu versio Mohammadzadeh, M., Matusik, J., Ren, Z., Jacukowicz-Sobala, I., Lewińska, A., Bergmann, U., Kumar, P., & Leiviskä, T. (2025). Machine learning-guided development of cobalt–magnetite pine bark bionanocomposites for antibiotic-contaminated water remediation. Manuscript in preparation. Mohammadzadeh, M., Lassen, S. B., Jensen, M. S. J., Strobel, B. W., Brandt, K. K., & Leiviskä, T. (2025). Ciprofloxacin adsorption to magnetite-pine bark biosorbents as affected by preconditioning with distinct microbiomes. Manuscript in preparation. Academic dissertation to be presented with the assent of the Doctoral Programme Committee of Technology and Natural Sciences of the University of Oulu for public defence in the Arina auditorium (TA105), Linnanmaa, on 23 January 2026, at 12 noonAbstract
The presence of pharmaceutical compounds in water effluents has become a significant environmental concern due to their widespread consumption. Pharmaceutical contaminants, especially antibiotics, are classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Since conventional wastewater treatment methods are not fully effective in removing these contaminants from effluents, developing efficient and cost-effective remediation technologies is crucial to eliminate pharmaceutical residues from treated wastewater effluents.
This thesis developed adsorption and degradation processes using biosorbents and bionanocomposites for pharmaceutical removal. Iron-modified peat (FeP) and magnetite-pine bark (MPB) were utilised as effective biosorbents for the batch adsorption of levofloxacin and trimethoprim from synthetic solutions as well as a variety of pharmaceuticals from real municipal wastewater effluent. The maximum adsorption capacity of FeP was approximately 200 mg/g for both antibiotics, while for MPB, it was 153.0 mg/g for levofloxacin and 184.1 mg/g for trimethoprim. The efficiency of MPB and activated carbon (AC) was compared in a small-scale column adsorption test. The results revealed that MPB can serve as a cost-effective and efficient alternative to AC. A four-month pilot-scale column adsorption test was performed using a large 21 L column filled with biochar (BC) and MPB, after which many compounds (e.g. trimethoprim) were below the detection limit. The effect of bacteria on the performance of MPB was studied by exposing MPB to pure culture bacteria or hospital wastewater effluent. The results showed variation in ciprofloxacin adsorption efficiency depending on the exposure time.
For degradation of antibiotics, cobalt-magnetite pine bark (Co-MPB) bionanocomposites were developed by modifying MPB with cobalt through different synthesis procedures and with different Co:Fe molar ratios. Bionanocomposites were used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for degradation of levofloxacin. Simultaneous or sequential addition of reagents, along with reduced cobalt addition, resulted in lower cobalt leaching. Hydroxyl radicals played a key role in the degradation of levofloxacin. The study offers efficient and sustainable bio-based adsorbents and catalysts for remediation of pharmaceutical contaminants.Tiivistelmä
Lääkejäämien esiintyminen jätevesissä on muodostunut merkittäväksi ympäristöhuolenaiheeksi lääkkeiden runsaan kulutuksen vuoksi. Lääkejäämät, erityisesti antibiootit, luokitellaan uusiksi huolta aiheuttaviksi yhdisteiksi (CECs). Perinteiset jätevedenkäsittelymenetelmät eivät poista näitä yhdisteitä tehokkaasti, minkä vuoksi on tärkeää kehittää toimivia ja kustannustehokkaita menetelmiä lääkeaineiden poistamiseksi käsitellyistä jätevesistä.
Tässä väitöstyössä kehitettiin adsorptio- ja hajotusprosesseja lääkkeiden poistamiseen biosorbenttien ja bionanokomposiittien avulla. Raudalla modifioitu turve (FeP) ja magnetiittia sisältävä männynkuori (MPB) osoittautuivat tehokkaiksi biosorbenteiksi levofloksasiinin ja trimetopriimin adsorptiossa synteettisistä liuoksista sekä useiden lääkkeiden poistossa todellisesta kunnallisesta jätevedestä. FeP:n suurin adsorptiokapasiteetti oli noin 200 mg/g kummallekin tutkitulle antibiootille, kun taas MPB:llä saavutettiin adsorptioksi 153,0 mg/g levofloksasiinille ja 184,1 mg/g trimetopriimille. Pienimittakaavainen kolonniadsorptiokoe vertasi MPB:n ja aktiivihiilen (AC) tehokkuutta, ja tulokset osoittivat MPB:n olevan taloudellinen ja tehokas vaihtoehto aktiivihiilelle. Neljän kuukauden pituinen pilot-mittakaavan kolonniadsorptiokoe suoritettiin 21 litran kolonnissa, joka oli pakattu biohiilellä (BC) ja MPB:llä. Kokeen jälkeen useiden yhdisteiden (esim. trimetopriimi) pitoisuudet olivat alle havaitsemisrajan. MPB:n toimivuutta bakteerien läsnä ollessa tutkittiin altistamalla sitä puhdasviljellyille bakteereille tai sairaalajätevedelle. Tulokset osoittivat, että siprofloksasiinin adsorptiotehokkuus vaihteli altistusajan mukaan.
Antibioottien hajottamiseksi kehitettiin bionanokomposiitteja (Co-MPB) muokkaamalla MPB:tä koboltilla eri synteesimenetelmillä ja Co:Fe-molaarisuhteilla. Valmistettuja komposiitteja käytettiin peroksimonosulfaatin (PMS) aktivointiin levofloksasiinin hajottamiseksi. Reagenssien samanaikainen tai peräkkäinen lisäys sekä pienempi koboltin määrä vähensivät koboltin liukenemista komposiitista. Hydroksyyliradikaaleilla todettiin olevan keskeinen rooli levofloksasiinin hajotuksessa. Tutkimus tarjoaa tehokkaita ja kestäviä biopohjaisia adsorbentteja ja komposiittikatalyyttejä lääkejäämien poistamiseen
Sairaanhoitajien ja lähihoitajien kliinisen hoitotyön osaaminen ikääntyneiden palveluissa - kuvaileva poikkileikkaustutkimus
No full textTiivistelmä
Tutkimuksen tarkoitus:
Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli kuvailla sairaanhoitajien ja lähihoitajien itsearvioitua kliinistä hoitotyön osaamista ikääntyneiden palveluissa ja osaamiseen yhteydessä olevia taustatekijöitä.
Aineisto ja menetelmät:
Poikkileikkaustutkimuksen aineisto kerättiin eräällä hyvinvointialueella työskenteleviltä sairaanhoitajilta ja lähihoitajilta (n=502) itsearviointimittarilla (40 väittämää) ja analysoitiin kuvailevin tilastollisin menetelmin.
Tulokset:
Kliinisen hoitotyön osaaminen arvioitiin keskimäärin hyväksi. Osaaminen oli vahvinta toimintakykyä tukevien apuvälineiden käytön osaamisalueella ja heikointa postoperatiivisen haavanhoidon osaamisalueella. Ikä, ammattinimike, työyksikkö, työkokemus ikääntyneiden palveluissa ja täydennyskoulutuksen suorittaminen vaikuttivat osaamiseen myönteisesti.
Päätelmät:
Vaikka osaaminen arvioitiin keskimäärin hyväksi, huomiota tulee kiinnittää etenkin vanhempiin hoitotyöntekijöihin, lähihoitajien osaamiseen ja ikääntyneiden palveluiden kehittämiseen eri työyksiköissä. Tutkimuksen tuloksia voidaan hyödyntää hoitotyöntekijöiden kliinisen hoitotyön osaamisen innovatiivisessa kehittämisessä, perehdyttämisessä sekä osaamisperusteisessa työvuorosuunnittelussa. Tulokset tukevat osaamisen johtamista sekä tiedolla johtamista.Tiivistelmä
Tutkimuksen tarkoitus:
Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli kuvailla sairaanhoitajien ja lähihoitajien itsearvioitua kliinistä hoitotyön osaamista ikääntyneiden palveluissa ja osaamiseen yhteydessä olevia taustatekijöitä.
Aineisto ja menetelmät:
Poikkileikkaustutkimuksen aineisto kerättiin eräällä hyvinvointialueella työskenteleviltä sairaanhoitajilta ja lähihoitajilta (n=502) itsearviointimittarilla (40 väittämää) ja analysoitiin kuvailevin tilastollisin menetelmin.
Tulokset:
Kliinisen hoitotyön osaaminen arvioitiin keskimäärin hyväksi. Osaaminen oli vahvinta toimintakykyä tukevien apuvälineiden käytön osaamisalueella ja heikointa postoperatiivisen haavanhoidon osaamisalueella. Ikä, ammattinimike, työyksikkö, työkokemus ikääntyneiden palveluissa ja täydennyskoulutuksen suorittaminen vaikuttivat osaamiseen myönteisesti.
Päätelmät:
Vaikka osaaminen arvioitiin keskimäärin hyväksi, huomiota tulee kiinnittää etenkin vanhempiin hoitotyöntekijöihin, lähihoitajien osaamiseen ja ikääntyneiden palveluiden kehittämiseen eri työyksiköissä. Tutkimuksen tuloksia voidaan hyödyntää hoitotyöntekijöiden kliinisen hoitotyön osaamisen innovatiivisessa kehittämisessä, perehdyttämisessä sekä osaamisperusteisessa työvuorosuunnittelussa. Tulokset tukevat osaamisen johtamista sekä tiedolla johtamista