190942 research outputs found
Sort by
Heat equation in a periodic domain with special initial data
No full textWe consider the initial-boundary value problem with the Neumann boundary condition for the classical linear heat equation in unbounded domains ohm & subne; Rd which are periodic in all directions of the Cartesian coordinate system. Generalizing the results of a previous paper by the authors, we apply Floquet transform methods to obtain results on the large time decay rates of the solution in the sup-norm. We observe that for a general, integrable initial data, the solution decays at the same rate t-d/2 as in the case of the Cauchy problem in the entire Euclidean space. We also consider special initial data with vanishing x-integral and obtain a faster decay rate. In the main results of the paper we pose for the initial data certain more detailed conditions, which are related to the lowest eigenvalue and eigenfunction of the model problem coming from the Floquet transform. Faster decay rates are obtained for such initial data. (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe
Corticosteroids, rifampicin and LMWH impact plasma aMMP-8 and TIMP-1 and aMMP-8/TIMP-1 molar ratio in methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia
No full textObjectives Matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) predict outcomes in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). However, the impact of medications on MMPs and their prognostic capability in SAB lacks evaluation. Methods Prospective study with aMMP-8, TIMP-1, and aMMP-8/TIMP-1 determined in methicillin-sensitive SAB (MS-SAB). We evaluated the effect of the medications on MMPs. Results Overall, 395 patients with MS-SAB received 21 different medications. Most medications did not affect MMPs. Prehospital corticosteroids elevated day 3 aMMP-8 and aMMP-8/TIMP-1 ( P <0.01). In-hospital corticosteroids is associated with higher day 3 and 28 ( P <0.01) aMMP-8 levels and higher day 3, 5, and 28 ( P <0.01) aMMP-8/TIMP-1. Rifampicin elevated day 3, 5, and 28 aMMP-8 ( P <0.01) and aMMP-8/TIMP-1 ( P <0.05). Low-weight molecular heparin (LMWH) elevated day 3, 5, and 28 aMMP-8 and TIMP-1 ( P <0.01) and day 5 and 28 aMMP-8/TIMP-1 ( P < 0.05). A prognostic survival value of aMMP-8/TIMP-1 in Cox Regression was observed for patients treated with corticosteroids, rifampicin, or LMWH. Conclusions Corticosteroids, rifampicin, and LMWH may elevate aMMP-8 and aMMP-8/TIMP-1 levels in MS-SAB; however, the prognostic value of aMMP-8/TIMP-1 is not disrupted. Clinicians should consider the presence of corticosteroids, rifampicin, and LMWH when applying MMPs as biomarkers for risk stratification in patients with MS-SAB.Peer reviewe
Oncological Results After Accidental Tumor Incision During Partial Nephrectomy
No full textBackground and objective: Incising or breaking a tumor during surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is considered an adverse event. The aim of our study was to examine oncological outcomes for patients with accidental tumor incision (ATI) during partial nephrectomy (PN) for cT1 RCC. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-center study of patients who underwent open, laparoscopic, or robot-assisted PN for cT1a–b RCC. The cohort was divided into groups with and without ATI during PN. The Kaplan-Meier method and a log-rank test were used to estimate and compare recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) for the two groups. Key findings and limitations: Among 813 patients, ATI was recorded for 103 cases (13%). Disease recurrence during follow-up occurred in 15 patients in the ATI group and 15 in the group without ATI. RFS differed significantly between the groups according to Kaplan-Meier analysis (p < 0.001) during median follow-up of 52 mo. ATI was associated with larger tumor diameter and higher RENAL score. The difference in CSS between the groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.8). Limitations of the study include the possibility of ATI cases being missed if not reported by the surgeon. Conclusions and clinical implications: Our results demonstrate that ATI during PN is associated with greater risk of disease recurrence in T1 RCC, even though there was no significant difference in CSS over intermediate follow-up. Clinicians should take intraoperative precautions to minimize ATI and consider extended surveillance for patients in whom ATI occurs. Further research is warranted to explore preventative strategies and the long-term impact of ATI on survival. Patient summary: We looked at cancer control outcomes after accidental incision into a tumor (ATI for short) during partial kidney removal for kidney cancer. The rate of cancer recurrence was higher in the group with ATI than in the group without ATI.Peer reviewe
“Monkey influencers” : conservation culturomics of human-macaque (Macaca fascicularis) interactions
No full textConservation culturomics can offer insights into the online presence of threatened primate species, such as the long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis). The long-tailed macaque is the most commercially traded primate and increasingly exploited in the digital realm. By filtering content accessed via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), we identified and analyzed 1366 posts and links involving long-tailed macaques across three major platforms: YouTube (611 posts; 44.73 %), Flickr (201 posts; 14.71 %), and Google (554 links; 40.56 %). More than two thirds (66.62 %) of the content was categorized as ‘wildlife trade’, of which 51 % pertained to “Pet Trade", 20 % to “Medical Trade", 9 % to "Entertainment Trade", and 21 % to “Other” content. The majority of the content analysed originated from Southeast Asian range countries, such as Indonesia and Thailand, where long-tailed macaques were frequently featured as part of unethical or exploitative content. Based on IP-addresses, most content originated from Indonesia, while the USA accounted for most viewers. In light of our findings, we emphasize the need to promote responsible online engagement to prevent negative consequences such as the normalization of some human–macaque interactions (e.g., in the pet trade) that may affect long-tailed macaque conservation and welfare. By leveraging digital methodologies, this paper contributes to the broader field of primate conservation, offering insights into future conservation measures employing machine learning.Peer reviewe
Counting Mothers, Monsters, and Whores : An Ethnography of the Women, Peace and Security Indicators
No full textOver the past two decades, neoliberal governance tools, such as indicators, have rapidly expanded into new terrains, even reaching the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) architecture. Initially, a feminist liberation struggle to enhance women's participation in peace and security became institutionalized over two decades ago through the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, leading to a state-centric implementation modality in which operationalization of this global framework is fostered through National Action Plans (NAPs). Despite efforts, progress has been slow and at times, it even stagnated. Monitoring frameworks have been proclaimed as the solution to drive the implementation forward. However, at the same time, the use of indicators has been criticized for hindering the transformative nature of this agenda.
My aim with this thesis is to explain and problematize the surge of indicators in WPS NAPs and reveal its implications for the so-called ‘feminist peace and security governance’. Through indicator ethnography, I traced the origins, global diffusion, and production of WPS NAP indicators, including the intended and actual meaning-making by indicator architects and users, and revealed some of the effects this indicator industry has had on the policy field. Previous research on NAPs tended to concentrate on their adoption and implementation (or the lack thereof), whereas in this research, I reveal what happens during the indicator production stage and behind the scenes.
The data compiled for this study was the first to include all 8012 WPS indicators across 162 NAPs adopted between 2000 and 2020. This extensive collection allows for cross-regional and temporal analysis, revealing a steady increase in WPS NAP indicators. In addition, the data includes over 70 interviews with stakeholders involved in the creation and use of these indicators, shedding light on the processes, challenges, and considerations that shaped their development. Together, this forms a multi-sited indicator ethnography, intertwining the global, regional, national, local, and personal sites. I employed mixed methods such as summative content analysis of the global dataset, comparative ethnography between Finland and Nigeria, traditional ethnographic field research in Nigeria, and I extended the study through an autoethnographic exploration of indicator creation in Finland to the ‘self’’.
Theoretically, this research intertwines two rarely connected fields, sociological institutionalism, particularly the world society theory (WST) and Scandinavian institutionalism, with feminist international relations (IR) and feminist peace research (FPR) traditions. Together, they are well fitted for studying questions on diffusion, rationalization, and localization.
Despite the extensive diffusion of indicators, my findings provide new evidence to neo-institutional theorists' discussions on means-ends decoupling, as I observed remarkably similar patterns of nonreporting against the indicators adopted in contextually diverse locations, Finland and Nigeria, and this pattern appears to be global. Drawing from the analysis, I suggest that organizational myths surrounding rationalization contribute to means-ends decoupling, particularly when there is ambiguity about the desired ends.
By concentrating on ontological and epistemological questions, I could demonstrate some of the governance and knowledge production effects of indicators, illustrating that far from being mundane, indicators possess manufacturing powers. I identified categories of the most wanted women, illustrating how indicators govern, constitute, and promote certain idealized types of women while marginalizing others. The findings reveal how WPS NAPs tend to favor securitized representations because these are more readily quantifiable and categorizable within the prevailing logics of quantification.
Furthermore, I introduced five distinct measurement regimes and demonstrated how WPS NAP indicators predominantly contribute to and reinforce the regime of quantification. At the same time, I could challenge the conventional understanding of indicators generating only statistical knowledge. Instead, I revealed how feminist advocates are using indicators as a counter-hegemonic tool to promote alternative knowledges, in this case, referring to women’s intimate and everyday stories, the ‘views from below’. While doing so, they made these knowledge practices part of the global discourse of evidence and data, thus establishing them as being more valid and legitimate. When reflecting on this phenomenon through sociological institutionalism, it can be explained as a bottom-up process of glocalization, through which the global model of science becomes infused with local knowledges.
Throughout this research process, I used FPR as a holistic and reflexive approach, encouraging me to ask critical questions and direct my attention to marginalized and unaccounted practices, but also prompting me to engage in policy work as a form of activism and to transition some of my findings from academia to practice. In particular, the autoethnographic study serves as my attempt to position myself in a place of power while critically examining the power I hold.
To conclude, I provided a new piece to the big puzzle by answering the question about why the so-called ‘feminist peace and security governance’ continues to promote neoliberal governance tools, even if these tools are criticized for hindering the transformative potential of the WPS agenda. I have drawn attention to indicator making as a collective imaginary process and propose to see indicators through a visionary gaze.Kuluneiden kahden vuosikymmenen aikana uusliberalististen hallinnan työkalujen, kuten indikaattoreiden, käyttö on yleistynyt ympäri maailmaa. Indikaattorit ovat saavuttaneet myös Yhdistyneiden kansakuntien Naiset, rauha ja turvallisuus -agendan, joka pyrkii vahvistamaan naisten toimijuutta rauhan ja turvallisuuden kysymyksissä. Agendan konkreettista toimeenpanoa on kuitenkin kritisoitu hitaaksi. Tulosohjauskulttuurin mukaisesti indikaattoreista on tullut keskeinen väline agendan edistymisen seurannassa.
Tässä väitöskirjassa tutkin sitä, miten indikaattorit ovat levinneet kansallisiin Naiset, rauha ja turvallisuus -toimintaohjelmiin ja mitä seurauksia niillä on niin sanotulle feministiselle rauhan ja turvallisuuden hallinnolle. Indikaattorietnografian avulla analysoin kvalitatiivisia ja kvantitatiivisia menetelmiä hyödyntäen laajaa aineistoa, joka koostuu yli 8000 indikaattorista, jotka ovat peräisin 162 kansallisesta toimintaohjelmasta vuosilta 2000–2020 sekä yli 70 sidosryhmähaastattelusta. Selvitän indikaattoreiden alkuperiä, leviämistä, tuotantoprosesseja ja konkreettista käyttöä niin globaalilla, alueellisella, kansallisella kuin lokaalilla tasolla. Erityisen lisäarvon tuo indikaattoriarkkitehtuuria Suomessa käsittelevä autoetnografinen tutkimus, jossa tarkastelen kriittisesti hallussani olevaa asiantuntijavalta. Tutkimus tuo yhteen harvoin toisiinsa kytkettyjä tutkimuskenttiä: sosiologisen institutionalismin sekä feministisen kansainvälisen politiikan ja feministisen rauhantutkimuksen.
Indikaattoreilla on havaittavissa merkittäviä tiedontuotannon ja hallinnan vaikutuksia. Naiset, rauha ja turvallisuus -indikaattorit tuottavat esimerkiksi ideaalikuvia naistoimijoista suosien turvallistettuja ja kvantifioitavia representaatioita naisista. Haastan perinteisen käsityksen indikaattoreista vain tilastollisen tiedon tuottajina osoittamalla, miten feministiset toimijat ovat käyttäneet indikaattoreita vastahegemoniana vallalla olevaa tilastollista tiedontuotantoa kohtaan pyrkiessään rationalisoimaan yksilöistä kumpuavia arkipäiväisiä tarinoita osaksi globaalin datan diskurssia. Sosiologisen institutionalismin kautta selitettynä ilmiössä on kyse glokalisaation alhaalta ylöspäin suuntautuvasta prosessista, jossa tieteen globaaliin malliin sekoittuu paikallisen tiedon muotoja.
Tämä tutkimus tarjoaa myös uusia todisteita symbolisesta toimeenpanosta, jossa toimijoilla on pitkälle kehitetyt formaatit indikaattoreiden seurantaa varten, vaikka tosiasiassa niiden käyttö on ollut vähäistä. Organisatoriset myytit ja agendan epäselvät tavoitteet ovat vahvistaneet tätä käytäntöjen irtaantumista. Pyrin selittämään, miksi toimijat tästä huolimatta jatkavat indikaattorien käyttöä. Ehdotan myös, että indikaattorien tuotantoprosessissa tulisi lisätä kollektiivisia, visionäärisiä aivoriihiä, joissa indikaattoreiden muutosvoimaa ja valtaa voitaisiin kyseenalaistaa, mutta myös hyödyntää paremmin
Genetic Correction of the Most Common Mutation Causing Primary Hyperoxaluria Restores Enzyme Localization and Oxalate Metabolism
No full textOur research aimed to model primary hyperoxaluria type 1 in vitro using a stem cell model and assess the potential of adenine base editors in correcting the most common pathogenic AGXT genetic variant, c.508G>A (Gly170Arg), which leads to oxalate accumulation due to alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase mislocalization. Patient-derived fibroblasts were induced to pluripotent stem cells, genetically corrected with adenine base editing, and subsequently differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells in parallel with their non-corrected isogenic counterparts. Enzyme localization was assessed through immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. The key metabolites associated with the disease were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to evaluate the metabolic phenotype. Finally, lipid nanoparticle formulations were designed and tested as an in vivo-applicable delivery method for base editors. All induced pluripotent stem cell lines successfully differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells and expressed essential hepatocyte markers, including ALB, HNF1A, and AGXT. Adenine base editor-mediated genetic correction of the pathogenic AGXT mutation restored enzyme localization into peroxisomes and diminished oxalate accumulation without significant off-target effects. Base editor mRNA and AGXT variant targeting single guide RNA encapsulated within lipid nanoparticles mediated gene correction in the hepatocyte-like cell model. Using an in vitro model of primary hyperoxaluria type 1, we showed that base editor-mediated genetic correction of the most common hyperoxaluria-causing variant corrects enzyme mislocalization from mitochondria to peroxisomes and improves metabolic function. These results propose gene correction as a potential therapeutic approach to hyperoxaluria.Peer reviewe
Assortative mating across the full spectrum of mental disorders: a nationwide Finnish register study
No full textBACKGROUND: Previous research has shown assortative mating across various psychiatric disorders; however, their definitions of partnership have often been limited, and the timing of relationship formation has been imprecise. In this study, we aimed to comprehensively examine assortative mating across the full spectrum of mental disorders using population-wide register data from Finland that include information on the formation of both marriages and cohabiting unions. METHODS: We used nationwide data on all cohabitations and marriages between 2000 and 2020 from the Finnish Population Register (n = 1,271,242 partnerships). Broad and specific categories of mental disorder diagnoses were retrieved from both primary and secondary health care registers in Finland. We calculated tetrachoric correlations between partners' mental disorder diagnoses, considering only diagnoses received before the start of cohabitation or marriage. RESULTS: Assortative mating was observed across the full spectrum of mental disorders, with the strongest within-disorder correlations for schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, organic mental disorders, and intellectual disabilities (r > 0.50). Moderate correlations were found for mood and anxiety disorders. Adjusting for birth decade and excluding comorbidities slightly attenuated the associations but did not change the overall patterns. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that assortative mating is prevalent in mental disorders. Assortative mating may contribute to the transmission and clustering of mental disorders within families, highlighting the importance of considering partner selection in mental health research and policy making.Peer reviewe
Nuorten kannabiksen käytön motiivit ja siihen liittyvät tekijät Euroopassa: kartoittava kirjallisuuskatsaus
No full textIt has been documented that the use of cannabis in Europe has increased in the last few decades, especially among young people. It is also evident that the consequences of cannabis use are especially harmful when commenced at a younger age. To prevent and reduce cannabis use, it would be important to establish factors that influence the decision to use cannabis.
The primary objective of this research is to investigate the motives that young people identify with their cannabis use. The secondary objective is to investigate other factors associated with cannabis use. The population of interest is adolescents aged 10 to 25 who have used cannabis without a prescription, i.e. for non-medical or recreational purposes. The scope of this research is geographical Europe.
A systematic literature search from the databases Web of Science, Scopus and PsycINFO identified a total of 22 articles that fit the eligibility criteria. The screening and selection of articles was performed via Covidence by two independent researchers in accordance with pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The majority of the studies (7) were performed in France. A total of 17 of the studies were cross-sectional, 3 were cohort studies, and 2 were longitudinal by design. The most common motives for cannabis use according to these articles were coping, enhancement, expansion, social, health and relaxation motives, with also smaller contributions of conformity and sexual motives. Especially, coping motives were associated with greater frequency of use and more dependence problems. The factors associated with cannabis use that were identified can be divided into lifestyle factors, personality or psychological traits, sociodemographic factors and other drug use. Especially the use of alcohol and tobacco correlated with cannabis use, the latter both predictively and concurrently. Another significant factor correlated with cannabis use was borderline personality disorder symptomatology.
It can be concluded that the motives for cannabis use among young Europeans are diverse and individual. However, certain factors, such as borderline personality symptoms and tobacco or alcohol use, can help in identifying the subgroups that are more susceptible to cannabis use. This information could be valuable for designing effective intervention or prevention strategies.Kannabiksen käytön tiedetään olevan lisääntynyt Euroopassa viime vuosikymmeninä etenkin nuorten keskuudessa. Kannabiksen käytön seurausten tiedetään myös olevan erityisen haitallisia nuorena aloittaneille. Käytön ehkäisemiseksi ja vähentämiseksi olisi edullista tietää, millaiset tekijät vaikuttavat nuorten kannabiksen käyttöön.
Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena on tutkia 10-25–vuotiaiden nuorten motiiveja kannabiksen ei-lääkkeelliseen käyttöön Euroopassa. Lisäksi tavoitteena on tutkia muita kannabiksen käyttöön yhteydessä olevia tekijöitä. Tutkimuksen kohderyhmä on 10-25-vuotiaat nuoret, jotka ovat käyttäneet kannabista ilman lääkemääräystä eli ei-lääkkeellisiin tai viihteellisiin tarkoituksiin.
Systemaattinen kirjallisuushaku kolmesta tietokannasta (Web of Science, Scopus ja PsycINFO) tuotti 22 valintakriteerit täyttävää artikkelia. Valinta tehtiin Covidence-työkalulla kahden itsenäisen arvioijan toimesta ennalta sovittujen sisäänotto- ja poissulkukriteerien perusteella.
Valituista artikkeleista suurin osa (7) oli Ranskasta. 17 artikkelia oli poikittais-, kolme kohortti- ja kaksi pitkittäistutkimuksia. Suurimmat motiivit näiden artikkelien näytön perusteella kannabiksen käyttöön olivat pärjääminen esimerkiksi ahdistuksen kanssa (coping), päihtyminen tai hauskanpito (enhancement), tajunnan laajentaminen (expansion), sosiaalisuus, terveydelliset syyt sekä rentoutuminen. Myös joukkoon sopeutuminen (conformity) sekä seksuaaliset motiivit olivat relevantteja. Etenkin pärjäämisen motiivi oli yhteydessä korkeampaan käyttötiheyteen sekä riippuvuusongelmiin. Kannabiksen käyttöön liittyviä tekijöitä olivat elämäntapa, psykologia, sosiodemografia sekä muu päihteiden käyttö. Etenkin alkoholin ja tupakan käyttö korreloivat kannabiksen käytön kanssa, jälkimmäinen sekä ennustaen käyttöä että samanaikaisesti sen kanssa. Myös epävakaan persoonallisuushäiriön oireilu korreloi kannabiksen käytön kanssa.
Tämän tutkimuksen perusteella voidaan todeta, että kannabiksen käytön taustalla olevat syyt eurooppalaisilla nuorilla ovat moninaisia. On kuitenkin tiettyjä tekijöitä, kuten epävakaa persoonallisuus ja tupakan tai alkoholin käyttö, joiden avulla voidaan tunnistaa kannabiksen käytölle erityisen alttiita ihmisryhmiä. Tämä tieto voisi olla hyödyksi kannabiksen käytön interventio- ja preventiostrategioiden suunnittelussa