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Evaluation of Sitra’s Sustainability Solutions theme – Part 2 Insights for possible future priorities
No full textThe Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra commissioned this forward-looking outcome evaluation of its Sustainability Solutions theme (2015-2022) in late 2022. During the evaluation period, the theme had a broad overall objective to ensure and accelerate adaptation to the earth’s carrying capacity through an ecological reconstruction of society and everyday life. Gaia, together with the Finland Futures Research Centre of the University of Turku, completed the evaluation in June 2023.The evaluation was implemented with an innovative mixed-method approach, integrating two adapted foresight methods: horizon scanning and a Delphi panel. While the primary objective of the evaluation was to evaluate the outcomes of the portfolio, the foresight phase aimed to identify and evaluate the most significant future phenomena around ecological sustainability, which could be used to validate the relevance and timeliness of Sitra’s strategic choices during the evaluated period and for strengthening Sitra’s future-oriented approach to the thematic work.The results and the process supported the evaluation well by producing insights around future phenomena that Sitra could work with and also by validating some of the strategic choices Sitra has already made. Two significant and systemic phenomena were identified. These were: 1) the intertwined health of humans and nature (planetary health); and 2) nature-positive and regenerative economic models. These findings echo with the choices made in Sitra’s latest projects. The Delphi panel participants considered Finland to have the potential to act as a global piloting platform for many solutions. And Sitra was regarded as being the right type of organisation to act as a global visionary and exporter of futures thinking.</p
Two distinct host-specialized fungal species cause white-nose disease in bats
No full textThe emergence of infectious diseases, particularly those caused by fungal pathogens, poses serious threats to public health, wildlife and ecosystem stability1. Host–fungus interactions and environmental factors have been extensively examined2,3,4. However, the role of genetic variability in pathogens is often less well-studied, even for diseases such as white-nose in bats, which has caused one of the highest disease-driven death tolls documented in nonhuman mammals5. Previous research on white-nose disease has primarily focused on variations in disease outcomes attributed to host traits or environmental conditions6,7,8, but has neglected pathogen variability. Here we leverage an extensive reference collection of 5,479 fungal isolates from 27 countries to reveal that the widespread causative agent is not a single species but two sympatric cryptic species, each exhibiting host specialization. Our findings provide evidence of recombination in each species, but significant genetic differentiation across their genomes, including differences in genome organization. Both species contain geographically differentiated populations, which enabled us to identify the species introduced to North America and trace its source population to a region in Ukraine. In light of our discovery of the existence of two cryptic species of the causative agent of white-nose disease, our research underscores the need to integrate the study of pathogen variability into comprehensive disease surveillance, management and prevention strategies. This holistic approach is crucial for enhancing our understanding of diseases and implementing effective measures to prevent their spread.</p
Erilaisia näkökulmia opiskelijoiden valmistumisen, asiantuntijaksi kasvamisen ja sitoutumisen tukemiseen pedagogisilla ratkaisuilla
No full textProtecting natural capital and biodiversity in the agri-food sector
No full textThis chapter aims to address the enhancement of and reporting on natural capital and biodiversity within the dairy industry as part of one company´s broader sustainable development strategy. Chapter focuses on the dairy industry, as it is heavily dependent on natural and animal resources and also uses them significantly. Milk is the central raw material for a wide variety of dairy products. A primary concern at the very beginning of the production chain is animal well-being (McLaren, and Appleyard, 2020). From farms to production facilities there is a delicate logistic chain. Finished products need to be delivered also with careful, sustainable distribution channels for wholesalers and retailers. Since milk and those products arising from milk can be typically spoiled easily there are special demands for the whole logistics and production chain and its safety.Based on the interviews and other public material about Valio I am convinced that well-functioning corporate governance (CG) has been a key element at Valio to successful sustainable development throughout the production chain (from field to table). All three interviewees highlighted the importance of good CG and clear responsibilities. At the same time, teamwork in matrix organization takes place. Expert work in teams is indispensable because sustainability issues in the dairy business are diverse and call typically scientific, specialized, solutions. According to their interviews and sustainability reports of Valio, it is quite evident that collaboration between Valio and Universities and other expert organizations is intense, fruitful, and productive. All this leads us to conclude that Finland offers a good platform and regime for the dairy industry to develop operations towards a higher level of sustainability. One supportive indication of that is Finland´s number one position in the international sustainable development comparison of the total 193 countries ranked (Sachs et al., 2021). The annual ranking is by the UN and the Bertelsmann Foundation. The ranking assesses countries’ progress in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs.Keywords: dairy industry, sustainability, natural capital, biodiversity, pollinators, SDG14, SDG15, corporate governance</p
Parents on the Sidelines : The Role of Parental Directing in Chinese Adolescents’ Friendship Dynamics Related to Academic Achievement, Aggression, and Prosocial Behavior
No full textAdolescents’ peer interactions strongly influence their school behavior, raising the question of whether parents can still direct adolescents’ friendship choices or whether they are mostly on the sidelines. Chinese cultural values emphasize the importance of having “good” friends, raising questions about adolescents’ adherence to parental direction of friendships. This study examined friendship dynamics among seventh and eighth graders in central China (n = 1,454, 46.7\% girls), focusing on achievement, aggression, and prosocial behavior. Social network analysis revealed that Chinese students tended to select friends who were more similar to them in achievement, aggression, and prosocial behavior. Interestingly, they avoided aggressive peers but were attracted to high-achieving and prosocial peers. Despite parental emphasis on friendship quality, the study found no parental direction in adolescent friendship selection. These findings underscore the central role of peer characteristics in friendship dynamics, while highlighting the limited impact of parental directing on Chinese adolescents’ friendship selection
SN 2023xwi: Forbidden line emission in the peak spectrum of a Ca-strong transient
No full textWe present an extensive optical photometric and spectroscopic investigation into the calcium-rich supernova (SN) - SN 2023xwi. Observations from a variety of ground-based telescopes follow the SN from 8 d pre-peak brightness to 87 d post-peak, covering both early-time (photospheric) and late-time (nebular) phases of the SN. Objects of this class are characterized by nebular spectra that are dominated by [Ca II] lambda lambda 7291, 7324 emission. SN 2023xwi displays a unique peculiarity in that its forbidden [Ca ii] feature is visible in its peak photospheric spectrum - far earlier than expected in current models. This is one of the strongest and earliest detections of this feature in Ca-rich SNe in photospheric-phase spectra. We investigate the velocity evolution of this spectral feature and show that it cannot be easily explained by conventional progenitor systems. From our observations, we propose an SN progenitor embedded in an environment polluted by a recurrent He-nova AM CVn system
Platelet-rich plasma does not influence magnetic resonance imaging findings of the gluteus muscles after total hip arthroplasty through the Hardinge approach
No full textObjectiveTotal hip arthroplasty through the Hardinge approach damages the hip abductor muscles. MRI can be used to assess adverse postoperative events. In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we evaluated MRI findings and whether platelet-rich plasma affected postoperative healing of the gluteal muscles (gluteus medius and minimus).Materials and methodsForty patients with hip osteoarthritis requiring treatment with total hip arthroplasty, aged between 60 and 76 years, were included. Patients were randomized into two groups: 19 patients in the platelet-rich plasma group and 21 in the placebo group. Platelet-rich plasma or placebo was injected into the gluteus medius tendon incision line during closure. Postoperative hip MRI and plain radiographs were taken 3 and 12 months after surgery.ResultsMRI showed fatty atrophy of the gluteal muscles in all 40 patients (100%), gluteal muscle tear in 11 patients (28%), and atrophy in 16 patients (40%) at both 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Fluid collections related to the operated hip joint were seen in 18 patients (45%) at 3 months and 13 patients (33%) at 12 months, heterotopic ossification formation in nine patients (23%) at 3 months, and 12 patients (31%) at 12 months. There were no significant differences in imaging findings between the two groups.ConclusionMRI can be a valuable tool for evaluating postoperative healing after total hip arthroplasty. Fatty atrophy of the gluteal muscles was a common finding. Platelet-rich plasma injection into the gluteus medius tendon did not improve healing detected by MRI.</p
In Defense of Causal Presentism
No full textIn this article, I defend causal presentism in the historiography of science. In causal presentism, the historiography of science studies events, processes, and practices that were causally relevant to the development of the present science. I argue that causal presentism has three main virtues. First, causal presentism avoids the conceptual problems that the historiography of science has recognized at its core. Second, causal presentism provides a clear account of what counts as historical explanatory understanding about science. Third, causal presentism enables novel ways to address several conceptual and methodological problems in the historiography of science. The conclusion is that causal presentism is a distinctively strong position with respect to the historiography of science
Identification and validation of a blood- based diagnostic lipidomic signature of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease
No full textImproved biomarkers are needed for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. Here we identify a diagnostic lipidomic signature for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease by analyzing blood samples from a discovery cohort of incident treatment-naïve pediatric patients and validating findings in an independent inception cohort. The lipidomic signature comprising of only lactosyl ceramide (d18:1/16:0) and phosphatidylcholine (18:0p/22:6) improves the diagnostic prediction compared with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Adding high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to the signature does not improve its performance. In patients providing a stool sample, the diagnostic performance of the lipidomic signature and fecal calprotectin, a marker of gastrointestinal inflammation, does not substantially differ. Upon investigation in a third pediatric cohort, the findings of increased lactosyl ceramide (d18:1/16:0) and decreased phosphatidylcholine (18:0p/22:6) absolute concentrations are confirmed. Translation of the lipidomic signature into a scalable diagnostic blood test for pediatric inflammatory bowel disease has the potential to support clinical decision making