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Experimenting with financial professionals
No full textAs key players in financial markets and the broader industry, financial professionals are increasingly used as experimental research participants. We review over 50 studies comparing financial professionals to laypeople and conduct meta-analyses of 22 eligible studies spanning from 1986 to 2023. Our findings reveal persistent and robust support for financial professionals being more risk-loving, but little evidence of superior forecasting accuracy. Further analyses indicate that larger monetary payments result in greater behavioral differences between financial professionals and laypeople, suggesting an increased susceptibility to incentives among professionals. This systematic review not only synthesizes experimental results, contributing to recent discussions about external validity and generalizability, but also highlights critical methodological considerations when experimenting with financial professionals.Peer reviewe
Yksittäisten ionien aktiivisuus
No full textTämä kandidaatintutkielma käsittelee yksittäisten ionien aktiivisuutta. Yksittäisten ionien aktiivisuus on tärkeä suure elektrolyyttiliuosten mallintamisessa. Tästä huolimatta yksittäisen ionin aktiivisuudelle ei ole yleistä termodynaamista määritelmää. Tämä tutkielma on kirjallisuuskatsaus, jossa tarkastellaan, mitä tarkoitetaan yksittäisten ionien aktiivisuudella ja minkälaista keskustelua sen luonteeseen liittyy. Lisäksi tarkastellaan, miten yksittäisten ionien aktiivisuutta on tutkittu vuodesta 2000 eteenpäin. Lähestymistapa rajattiin vahvoihin elektrolyytteihin vesiliuoksissa.
Yksittäisen ionien aktiivisuuden määritelmästä ionin ominaisuutena kiistellään edelleen. Tiedeyhteisössä on vallinnut yleinen käsitys siitä, että yksittäisten ionien aktiivisuutta ei voida mitata, joten se on puhtaasti konventionaalinen. Tämä käsitys on kyseenalaistettu, mutta lopullista vastausta kysymykseen siitä, onko yksittäisen ionin aktiivisuus konventionaalinen vai fysikaalinen ominaisuus, ei ole.
Yksittäisten ionien aktiivisuuden tutkimus on keskittynyt semiempiirisiin elektrolyytti¬malleihin ja sama trendi jatkuu myös 2000-luvulta eteenpäin. Semiempiiriset elektrolyyttimallit perustuvat kokeellisiin tuloksiin. Malleja voi vain käyttää tietyissä sovelluksissa, eivätkä ne vielä tarjoa yhtenäistä määritelmää yksittäisen ionin aktiivisuudelle. Lisäksi yksittäisten ionien aktiivisuuden mittaus-tapoja on kehitetty. Mittaustavoista on vaihtelevia tuloksia.This bachelor's thesis discusses the activity of individual ions. Individual ion activity is an important quantity used in the modeling of electrolyte solutions. Despite this, there is no general thermodynamic definition for the activity of an individual ion. This thesis is a literature review that examines what individual ion activity is and the discussion surrounding its nature. It also examines how individual ion activity has been studied since the year 2000. The approach was limited to strong electrolytes in aqueous solutions.
The definition of the individual ion activity as a property of a single ion is still debated. The general understanding in the scientific community has been that the activity of ions cannot be measured, so it is purely conventional. This understanding has been questioned, but there is no definitive answer as to whether individual ion activity is a conventional or a physical property.
Research on the activity of individual ions has focused on semi-empirical electrolyte models and the same trend has continued since the 2000s. Semi-empirical electrolyte models are based on experimental results. The models can only be used in specific applications. The models do not yet provide a consistent definition for individual ion activity. In addition, methods for measuring the activity of ions have been developed. The results of the methods vary
Compartmentalized 3D bioprinting of the limbal niche with distinct hPSC-LSC subpopulations for corneal disease modeling
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2025Limbal epithelial stem cells (LSCs) are essential for corneal epithelium regeneration and visual acuity. The limbal niche's physicochemical properties regulate LSC function, but their role is not fully understood. Developing in vitro models that mimic the native niche can enhance our understanding of niche functions, despite the challenges of niche complexity. In this study, we created a 3D bioprinted limbal niche model using a hybrid approach that combines two human pluripotent stem cell-derived LSC (hPSC-LSC) subpopulations (p63+ and ABCG2+ cells) within hyaluronic acid (HA)-based bioinks and a stiff polyacrylamide (PA) gel scaffold produced by conventional gel casting. We analyzed the mechanical properties of the bioinks and assessed cell viability, morphology, and protein expression after one week of culture. Finally, we conducted a proof-of-concept wound healing assay using an alkali burn injury model to assess the functionality of the model for research purposes. The results show that this 3D model effectively replicated the mechanical environment of native tissue, maintains stability for one-week post-printing, and supports LSC viability and normal in vitro phenotype. In addition, the wound healing assay showed a cellular response, indicated by non-simultaneous caspase-3 activation of hPSC-LSC subpopulations for 48 hours post-wounding. This model provides a valuable platform for investigating the limbal niche and advancing cellular therapies applicable to other tissue niches throughout the body. Statement of Significance: The corneal limbal niche is crucial for corneal regeneration, creating a high demand for in vitro models. However, current models are not sufficiently replicating the complexity of native tissue and importantly, lack the element of recently demostrated limbal stem cell (LSC) heterogeneity. In this study, we combine three key features of the limbus, including stiffness, architecture and compartmentalization, to create limbal niche-mimicking structures using 3D bioprinting with two human pluripotent stem cell derived LSC (hPSC-LSC) subpopulations. We demonstrate structural stability, native tissue-like mechanical properties, sustained cellular viability, stable hPSC-LSC phenotype post-printing, and a tissue-mimicking response to wounding. This approach offers an innovative strategy to model complex niches and advance the understanding of limbal niche functions.Peer reviewe
Ideal Online Discussant and Audience : Understanding Political Social Media through Roles and Rules
No full textMany researchers work to design pro-democratic systems and interventions, but they rarely engage with users’ ideals for political discussions. We examine these ideals through a purposive sample of Finnish students. We identify rules that people linked to the roles bound up with these ideals ‘should’ follow and the sorts of qualities aligned with them. Our qualitative analysis pinpointed four qualities of the ideal discussant: being committed, competent, sincere, and accountable. Also, three traits of the audience envisioned for them proved prominent – members of this ideal audience seek out political discussions that feature those fitting the ideal-discussant role, strive to avoid merely strengthening their pre-existing views, and attempt to reward or punish those meshing with or contradicting the ideal, respectively. The discussion concludes with a reflection on conditions in which these qualities may conflict with broader ideals for discussion or with each other and how design could account for such conflicts.Peer reviewe
‘Who is the ideal woman?’ : The subjectification of impoverished Javanese working mothers
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors. Gender, Work & Organization published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.This study examines the subjectification of working mothers through the lens of intersectionality by listening to the under-represented voices of those whose lives are shaped at the intersections of gender, poverty, Islam, and Javanese ethnicity. Drawing on poststructuralist feminist discourse analysis, the subtle subjectification process is observed through conversational interactions in which working mothers construct the ‘ideal woman’. The findings challenge the predominant postfeminist framing in the extant literature by illustrating how here working mothers draw on a specifically local discourse (i.e., moderate-Islam and Javanese cultural discourses) to construct the ideal woman as embodying the dual wife-mother identities. Based on these locally dependent discourses, working mothers accentuate their identity as wives while subduing identities as mothers and workers. The emphasis on the underexplored wife identity imbues work with a distinct significance for mothers within this context.Peer reviewe
Exploring AI-Enhanced Creativity: Case Studies in Electronic Dance Music Production
No full textThis master’s thesis explores the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the production of electronic dance music (EDM) to enhance creative outcomes. Focusing on the platform Suno and the Tech House sub-genre, the study examines how AI can function as a creative tool and collaborator in artistic practice. It aims to understand how generative AI is currently integrated into EDM workflows and how it influences the creative process. The research employs a practice-based methodology, combining a literature review, qualitative interviews, and artistic case studies. Three original tracks— “Music For Your Mind,” “Like That,” and “Big Bass”—were composed through collaboration with Suno and the stem separation tool Lalal.ai as a part of the artistic component. Findings suggest that generative AI offers significant creative potential, especially in extending arrangements, producing cover versions, sampling and inspiring new ideas through unexpected outputs or “happy accidents.” AI was found to be most effective as a reactive tool, responding to human input within a collaborative workflow. This dynamic reshapes the artist's role, focusing on the curation, evaluation, and refinement of AI-generated material. Despite its promise, generative AI presents limitations, including sonic artifacts, difficulties in genre-specific accuracy, limited musical coherence over time, and insufficient integration with Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). Ethical and legal concerns—such as copyright issues and the use of training data for AI models—are acknowledged as significant, but are not explored in depth, as the thesis primarily focuses on the creative aspects of the work. The study concludes that generative AI can expand artistic possibilities and foster sonic experimentation, provided artists engage critically and adaptively with the technology.Tämä opinnäytetyö tarkastelee generatiivisen tekoälyn (AI) käyttöä elektronisen tanssimusiikin (EDM) tuotannossa luovan työskentelyn tukena. Tutkimus keskittyy erityisesti Suno-nimiseen tekoälyalustaan ja Tech House -alagenreen, sekä selvittää miten tekoäly voi toimia luovana työkaluna ja yhteistyökumppanina taiteellisessa prosessissa. Tavoitteena on ymmärtää miten generatiivista tekoälyä hyödynnetään EDM-tuotannossa ja miten se vaikuttaa luovaan työskentelyyn. Tutkimus noudattaa käytäntölähtöistä metodologiaa yhdistäen kirjallisuuskatsauksen, kvalitatiiviset haastattelut ja taiteelliset tapaustutkimukset. Taiteellisena osuutena syntyi kolme alkuperäiskappaletta: “Music For Your Mind”, “Like That” ja “Big Bass”, jotka tuotettiin yhteistyössä Sunon ja stem-erottelutyökalu Lalal.ai:n kanssa. Tulokset osoittavat, että generatiivinen tekoäly tarjoaa merkittävää luovaa potentiaalia, erityisesti sovitusten laajentamisessa, cover-versioiden tuottamisessa, samplauksessa, sekä uusien ideoiden inspiroimisessa yllättävien lopputulosten kautta (ns. ”happy accidents”). Tekoäly osoittautui tehokkaaksi reaktiiviseksi työkaluksi ja yhteistyökumppaniksi taiteellisessa työskentelyssä täydentäen ihmisen osaamista. Tällöin artistin rooli keskittyy tekoälymateriaalin kuratointiin, arviointiin ja viimeistelyyn. Vaikka generatiivisella tekoälyllä on huomattava potentiaali, siihen liittyy myös rajoituksia: ääniartefaktit, haasteet genretarkkuudessa, musiikillinen epäyhtenäisyys ja puutteellinen yhteensopivuus digitaalisissa äänityöasemissa (DAW). Eettiset ja juridiset kysymykset, kuten tekijänoikeudet ja AI-mallien koulutusdatan käyttö, mainitaan työssä lyhyesti, mutta niitä ei käsitellä syvemmin, sillä työn keskiössä on luovan prosessin tarkastelu. Tutkimus osoittaa, että generatiivinen tekoäly voi laajentaa taiteellista ilmaisua ja edistää äänen luovaa tutkimista, mikäli taiteilija suhtautuu teknologiaan kriittisesti ja sopeutuu uusiin menetelmiin.Denna magisteruppsats utforskar hur generativ artificiell intelligens (AI) kan främja kreativt arbete inom produktionen av elektronisk dansmusik (EDM). Med fokus på plattformen Suno och subgenren Tech House undersöks hur AI kan fungera som ett kreativt verktyg och en samarbetspartner i konstnärlig praxis. Syftet är att få insyn i hur generativ AI integreras i arbetsflöden för EDM och påverkar den kreativa processen. Studien tillämpar en praktikbaserad metodologi som kombinerar litteraturöversikt, kvalitativa intervjuer samt konstnärliga fallstudier. Tre originallåtar—“Music For Your Mind”, “Like That” och “Big Bass”—skapades i samarbete med Suno och stem-separationstjänsten Lalal.ai som en del av det konstnärliga arbetet. Resultaten visar att generativ AI rymmer stor kreativ potential, särskilt i att utveckla arrangemang, skapa coverversioner, arbeta med sampling samt inspirera till nya idéer genom oförutsedda upptäckter (sk. ”happy accidents”). Detta har gett upphov till nya arbetssätt där fokus ligger på att utvärdera och integrera AI-genererat material i kompositionsprocessen. AI visade sig vara mest effektiv som ett reaktivt verktyg och samarbetspartner i musikskapandet. Trots dessa möjligheter finns också begränsningar: oönskade ljudartefakter, svårigheter att återskapa specifika genrer, bristande musikalisk sammanhållning samt begränsad integration med digitala ljudarbetsstationer (DAW). Arbetet lyfter kort fram etiska och juridiska frågeställningar, såsom upphovsrätt och användningen av träningsdata för AI-modeller, men fördjupar sig inte i dessa eftersom fokus ligger på de kreativa aspekterna. Studien tyder på att generativ AI kan berika det konstnärliga uttrycket och främja musikaliskt utforskande, förutsatt att konstnärer förhåller sig kritiskt och reflekterande till teknologin.Attachment notes
Description:
Supplementary Audio Clips
Attachments:
Big_Bass_–_Excerpt.wav
Big_Bass_–_Drum_and_Bass_Arrangement.mp3
Music_For_Your_Mind_–_Initial_Drum_and_Bass_Concept_and_Final_Iteration_with_Suno.mp3
Like_That_–_Discarded_Suno_Drum_Tracks.mp3
Big_Bass_–_Pad_and_Pluck_Arrangement.mp3
Like_That_–_Excerpt.wav
Like_That_–_Uploaded_Audio_vs._Suno_s_Generation.mp3
Like_That_–_Suno-Generated_Motif.mp3
Music_For_Your_Mind_–_Excerpt.wav
Like_That_–_Drum_and_Bass_Arrangement.mp
Comprehensive Reliability Review and Assessment of Switched-Capacitor Step-Up DC–DC Converters
No full textPublisher Copyright: © 1963-2012 IEEE.Due to the deficiencies of the traditional pulsewidth modulation dc–dc boost converter to achieve high voltage gain values, many capacitive and magnetic approaches have been suggested. As a promising solution, the switched-capacitor (SC) cells are employed to increase the voltage boosting capability, even at low/medium duty cycles, which accordingly removes the concerns originated from components' parasitic elements. In the literature, comprehensive investigations have been performed on the traditional SC boost converters from different viewpoints of step-up capability, efficiency, number of components, design considerations, and cost. Meanwhile, several papers investigate the reliability of boost converters only at a fixed operating point, but the extensive reliability analysis of these converters is still missed. This article provides comprehensive investigations on the effects of different operational or design parameters, such as input voltage, duty cycle, gain, switching frequency, output power, load resistance, and lifetime on the reliability of the traditional SC boost converters as well as their failure rate sensitivity. Based on the provided results, the maximum reliability can be accomplished by choosing optimal values for the converters' operational or design parameters. The provided theoretical analysis has been confirmed by the simulation and experimental results.Peer reviewe
Simulaatiorevoluutio vertikaalisissa sulautumisissa - Vertikaalisten sulautumissimulaatiomallien arviointi seulontatyökaluna
No full textThis thesis explores the potential role of vertical merger simulations as quantitative tools for merger regulation, focusing on the model developed by Sheu and Taragin (2021). While conventional tools like Vertical Arithmetic and vGUPPI offer partial equilibrium forecasts, simulation models seek to compute full post-merger equilibria, incorporating both upstream and downstream dynamics. The thesis critically examines the structure, assumptions, and applicability of the model by Sheu and Taragin (2021). Through analytical and comparative assessments, the thesis highlights the model’s strengths in capturing complex incentives and interactions between various efficiencies and harms arising from vertical mergers. However, it also identifies limitations of vertical merger simulation methods, particularly stemming from restrictive structural assumptions and simplified bargaining dynamics, as well as a limited scope. The findings suggest that while vertical merger simulations are a promising advancement over current screening methods, they should be used alongside other credible evidence and be tailored to specific market contexts to avoid misleading consumer welfare predictions
Hiilidioksidin reaktiot emäksisessä ympäristössä – Ligniinin erotus mustalipeästä
No full textThis thesis investigates the use of carbon dioxide (CO₂) as an acidification agent to precipitate lignin from black liquor, a highly alkaline byproduct of the kraft pulping process. The study aims to understand the behaviour of CO₂ in alkaline envi-ronments and improve the efficiency and control of lignin recovery by adjusting the process parameters. Particular focus is on the relationship between operational parameters and lowering the pH, which is critical for initiating lignin precipitation.
A series of experiments were conducted to examine how process variables such as CO₂ flow, black liquor feed rate, reactor pressure, and feed temperature affect the pH lowering rate, CO₂ consumption and chemical composition of the product. The results demonstrated that all of these parameters influence the precipitation process, but CO₂ flow rate and black liquor feed rate had major impact on pH. Increased pressure and temperature generally accelerated the pH decrease. However, medium pressure had the overall best results. Notably, the reactions in black liquor differed from those in pure NaOH systems likely due to the presence of organic matter and other ionic species, which can affect both solubility and reaction pathways. Thus, research using black liquor is essential.
It is concluded that CO₂ is a viable and efficient reagent for lignin precipitation, but continuing the optimization offers further benefits. The findings contribute to a bet-ter understanding of CO₂ reactions in complex alkaline media and provide data for improving the lignin recovery processes in industrial applications. Recommenda-tions for future work include filterability, improved gas-liquid dispersion methods and comparative studies using simplified alkaline systems to isolate key reaction mechanisms.Tässä diplomityössä tutkitaan hiilidioksidin (CO₂) käyttöä ligniinin saostamiseen mustalipeästä, sellun valmistuksen emäksisestä sivutuotteesta. Työn tavoitteena on ymmärtää CO₂:n käyttäytymistä emäksisessä ympäristössä ja parantaa ligniinin talteenoton tehokkuutta ja hallittavuutta prosessiparametrien säädön avulla. Erityistä huomiota kiinnitetään prosessiparametrien ja pH:n laskun väliseen suhteeseen, sillä pH:n alenema on kriittinen vaihe ligniinin saostumisessa.
Tutkimuksessa suoritettiin kokeita, joissa tarkasteltiin keskeisten prosessimuuttujien vaikutusta pH: laskuun, CO₂:n kulutukseen sekä lopputuotteen kemialliseen koostumukseen. Tarkasteltavat muuttujat olivat CO₂-virtaus, mustalipeän syöttönopeus, reaktorin paine ja syöttölämpötila. Tulokset osoittivat, että kaikki tarkastellut parametrit vaikuttavat saostusprosessiin, mutta erityisesti CO₂-virtaus ja mustalipeän syöttönopeus osoittautuivat merkittäviksi tekijöiksi. Paineen ja lämpötilan nostaminen tehosti pH:n laskua yleisellä tasolla. Keskitason paine johti kuitenkin kokonaisuutena parempiin tuloksiin. Mustalipeässä tapahtuvat reaktiot eroavat selvästi kirjallisuudessa usein käsiteltävän puhtaan NaOH-liuoksen reaktioista orgaanisen aineksen ja muiden ionisten yhdisteiden läsnäolon vuoksi, joten tutkimukset mustalipeällä ovat tärkeitä.
Tutkimus osoittaa, että CO₂ on käyttökelpoinen ja tehokas reagenssi ligniinin saos-tamiseen. Tulokset lisäävät ymmärrystä CO₂:n reaktioista monimutkaisessa emäksisessä ympäristössä ja tarjoavat lisätietoa ligniinin talteenottoprosessien ke-hitysmahdollisuuksista teollisessa mittakaavassa. Tulevaisuudessa voidaan tutkia muun muassa suodattuvuutta, kehittää kaasun ja nesteen sekoittamismenetelmiä, sekä suorittaa vertailututkimuksia yksinkertaistetussa emäksisessä ympäristössä keskeisten reaktiomekanismien erottamiseksi
Exploring the effect of the startup ecosystem in developing design maturity in startups
No full textThe field of business has woken up to design’s potential as a strategic tool to develop business performance, such as improving customer satisfaction, in-creasing revenue, and enhancing innovation. Design maturity, which refers to the quality and consistency of an organisation’s design processes, reflects how deeply design is embedded in a company’s strategy and culture. Companies which want to better understand the degree of design incorporated into their opera-tions, often adopt design maturity models which help organisations assess and improve their design integration. At the forefront of innovative business are startups, showing greater potential for high levels of design maturity compared to larger enterprises. These rapidly growing and often risky companies operate within startup ecosystems comprising academic, governmental, and business stakeholders, which influence their access to resources. Despite the proven business value of design, there is a lack of research exploring its role in startups or how ecosystem stakeholders foster design maturity.
This thesis aims to uncover the effect of startup ecosystem stakeholders on startups design capabilities. The research focuses on the startup ecosystem in Espoo, Finland. The research approach is qualitative and a total of 8 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 4 startup founders and 4 ecosystem stakeholders, all from the Espoo startup ecosystem.
The findings of the research reveal that overall, the Espoo startup ecosystem is rich in tools, events, and educational opportunities that support design learning. However, the development of design maturity is hindered by isolated design-related resources and a limited presence of designers. The research identified central stakeholders which improved design capabilities of founders and calls for further integration of designers into the ecosystem, along with adopting a unified approach to develop startups’ design capabilities