A geologically-based approach to map arsenic risk in crystalline aquifers:Analysis of the Tampere region, Finland

The study illustrates the critical role of accurate geological structural mapping to delineate crystalline aquifer zones more prone to high health risk due to elevated dissolved As in drinking wells.The analysis revisits the results from more than 1200 groundwater samples collected over ten years from domestic wells across the Tampere region (Finland).It is demonstrated that the highest dissolved As concentrations in the region (up to 2230 mg/L) are exclusively found near major faults and deformation zones (FDZs) detected via geophysical and geological surveys,and that a clear correlation exists between dissolved concentrations and the distance from the FDZs (r).Almost all values exceeding the drinking water limit (10 mg/L) occur at r < 8 km,while concentrations above 100 mg/L occur at r < 4 km.Solidphase As concentrations in bedrock show less dependency on FDZ than aqueous concentrations.This behavior is explained considering different mechanisms,which include enhanced sulfide oxidation and fracture connectivity,promoting preferential transport of dissolved As to FDZs and mixing of waters from different redox zones,mobilizing preferentially As(III) or As(V).Fe hydro-oxides may also precipitate/ dissolve preferentially because of FDZs,while residence time may influence the contact time between water and As-bearing minerals.It is concluded that the accurate mapping of FDZs,and in general of structural geology,provides an important preliminary information to identify where localized,sitespecific characterization of hydrogeology and geochemistry is more urgent to reduce As-related health risk from groundwater intake.

Mineralogical and Petrographic Characteristics of Indium and REE-Bearing Accessory Phases in the Kymi Granite Stock, Southern Finland

The Wiborg rapakivi batholith (1.64 Ga) in southeastern Finland with documented occurrences of REE, indium and Zn-Cu-Pb sulphide mineralization was studied. Hydrothermal greisen and quartz vein type Fe-Sn and Zn-Cu-Pb are found in the Kymi granite stock as intrusions. They are enriched with indium and rare earth elements, with roquesite (CuInS2) being a major indium- carrier, whereas monazite (Ce), allanite (Ce), bastn&#228;esite (Ce), xenotime-(Y) and thorite are the main REE carriers. Combination of optical and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) were used to study the indium and REE-bearing mineral assemblages. EPMA of roquesite found in galena had a composition of 26.16% S, 0.02% Fe, 25.06% Cu, 0.03% Zn, 1.06% As, 0.31% Sb and 47.14% In. Substitution reaction Pb2+S2-Cu+In3+S2- is the cause of the incorporation of indium in the galena structure. The majority of the LREE are carried by monazite, bastn&#228;esite and allanite, and the HREE by xenotime and zircon. There is a partial solid solution between monazite and xenotime with minor or trace amounts of LREE in xenotime grains (6.0 wt%). LREE (>95 mol% LREE) and less than 5 mol% HREE + Y reflects the enrichment of chondrite-normalized REE of the monazite grains of the Kymi granite stock. The xenotime grains (small and irregular) main composition contains 71 - 76 mol% YPO4, 16 - 27 mol% HREE, and 6 - 8 mol% LREE. It is believed that indium and REE-mineralization presence is due to the combination of magmatic and postmagmatic processes, particularly at later stages by fluid fractionation.

International Comparison of Intercity Differences in Premature Deaths: Pyll-Rates in Canada, Finland and Russia 2010

Background: Potential years of life lost (PYLL) rate describes the number of years lost due to pre-ventable premature death in a population. This is equal to the loss of human capital. Cause-specific PYLL-rates provide information for public health policy. Methods: PYLL-rate is calculated as an absolute difference between the age at death and the assumed length of life. Causes of preventable deaths are defined and classified according to International Classification of Diseases version 10 (ICD-10) as determined by World Health Organization. PYLL rate is age-standardized and expressed per 100,000 persons. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) standard of 70 years was applied as the expected length of life in Saint Petersburg (Russia), Edmonton (Canada), and Helsinki (Finland). Results: There were very big differences in PYLL rates of all causes of death between the countries compared. Total PYLL-rates were the lowest in Helsinki, slightly higher in Edmonton, and the highest in Saint Petersburg. The intercity differences in the total of PYLL-rates were considerably smaller among women than men. In each city, the three most prevalent causes of premature death were injuries, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Magnitudes of these causes varied between the three cities. Conclusions: PYLL rate provides comparable and sensitive information about the health related well-being of a population concerning all preventable causes of death as well as cause-specific premature deaths. The study demonstrates that the reduction of cause-specific PYLL-rates is possible. It provides supplementary information for planning of health policies and evaluation of effectiveness of past interventions. Results demonstrate that these actions need to differ between countries and localities.

Wind Power Revenue Potential: Simulation for Finland

Potential revenue from wind power generation is an important factor to be considered when planning a wind power investment.In the future,that may become even more important because it is known that wind power generation tends to push electricity wholesale prices lower.Consequently,it is possible that if a region has plenty of installed wind power capacity,revenue per generated unit of electricity is lower there than could be assumed by looking at the mean electricity wholesale price.In this paper,we compare 17 different locations in Finland in terms of revenue from wind power generation.That is done by simulating hourly generation with three different turbine types at two different hub heights and multiplying that by the hourly electricity spot price for years 2018 and 2019.Estimated revenues differ greatly between locations and turbine types,major factor being technical potential i.e.,the amount of electricity generated.Differences between revenues per generated MWh seem to be small,however,the smallest figures being on the western coast where installed capacities are also the largest in Finland.

Mesoproterozoic Nuna Supercontinent and the Geomagnetic Field in Light of Recent Paleomagnetic Data from Diabase Dykes of Finland

The number of good quality paleomagnetic data of the Mesoproterozoic supercontinent Nuna(e.g.Columbia,Hudsonland)has increased in recent years enabling more reliable global continental reconstructions(e.g Hoffman

Risk factors for major gastrointestinal bleeding in the general population in Finland

BACKGROUND Data on non-drug related risk-factors for gastrointestinal bleeding(GIB)in the general population are limited,especially for life-style factors,clinical measurements and laboratory parameters.AIM To identify and investigate non-drug risk factors for major GIB in the general population of Finland.METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from the FINRISK health examination surveys,which have been conducted every 5 years across Finland from 1987 to 2007.Participants were adults aged 25 years to 74 years,excluding those with a previous hospitalization for GIB.Follow-up from enrollment was performed through linkage to national electronic health registers and ended at an event of GIB that led to hospitalization/death,death due to any other cause,or after 10 years.Covariates included demographics,socioeconomic and lifestyle factors,clinical measurements,laboratory parameters and comorbidities.Variable selection was undertaken using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator(LASSO)and factors associated with GIB were identified using Cox regression.RESULTS Among 33,508 participants,403(1.2%)experienced GIB[256 men(63.5%);mean age,56.0 years(standard deviation(SD)±12.1)]and 33105 who did not experience GIB[15768 men(47.6%);mean age,46.8(SD±13)years],within 10 years of follow-up.Factors associated with a significantly increased risk of GIB were baseline age[per 10-year increase;hazard ratio(HR)1.62,95%confidence interval(CI):1.42-1.86],unemployment(HR:1.70,95%CI:1.11-2.59),body mass index(BMI)(HR:1.15,95%CI:1.01-1.32),gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT)(HR:1.05,95%CI:1.02-1.09),precursors of GIB(HR:1.90,95%CI:1.37-2.63),cancer(HR:1.47,95%CI:1.10-1.97),psychiatric disorders(HR:1.32,95%CI:1.01-1.71),heart failure(HR:1.46,95%CI:1.04-2.05),and liver disorders(HR:3.20,95%CI:2.06-4.97).Factors associated with a significantly decreased risk of GIB were systolic blood pressure(SBP)(HR:0.78,95%CI:0.64-0.96),6-10 cups of coffee a day(HR:0.67,95%CI:0.46-0.99),or>10 cups(HR:0.43,95%CI:0.23-0.81).CONCLUSION Our study confirms established risk-factors for GIB and identifies potential risk-factors not previously reported such as unemployment,BMI,GGT,SBP and coffee consumption.

Crystal Chemistry and Geochronology of Thorium-Rich Monazite from Kovela Granitic Complex,Southern Finland

Abundant porphyritic granites, including Grt-bearing and Bt-bearing porphyritic granites, and porphyritic potash-feldspar granite (trondhjemite-granitic composition) are widely distributed within the Kovela granitic complex Southern Finland, which associated with monazite-bearing dikes (strong trondhjemite composition). The investigated monazite-bearing dikes are dominated by a quartz + K-feldspar + plagioclase + biotite + garnet + monazite assemblage. The monazite forms complexly zoned subhedral to euhedral crystals variable in size (100 - 1500 μm in diameter) characterized by high Th content. The chemical zoning characterised as: 1) concentric, 2) patchy, and 3) intergrowth-like. Textural evidence suggests that these accessory minerals crystallized at an early magmatic stage, as they are commonly associated with clusters of the observed variations in their chemical composition are largely explained by the huttonite exchange , and subordinately by the cheralite exchange with proportions of huttonite (ThSiO4) and cheralite [CaTh(PO4)2] up to 20.4% and 9.8%, respectively. Textural evidence suggests that these monazites and associated Th-rich minerals (huttonite/thorite) crystallized at an early magmatic stage, rather than metamorphic origin. The total lanthanide and actinide contents in monazite and host dikes are strongly correlated. Mineral compositions applied to calculate P-T crystallization conditions using different approaches reveal a temperature range of 700°C - 820°C and pressure 3 - 6 kbars for the garnet-biotite geothermometry. P-T pseudo-section analyses calculated using THERMOCALC software for the bulk compositions of suitable rock types, constrain the PT conditions of garnet growth equilibration within the range of 5 - 6 kbars and 760°C - 770°C respectively. Empirical calculations and pseudo-section approaches indicate a clockwise P-T path for the rocks of the studied area. 207Pb/206Pb dating of monazite by LA-MC-ICPMS revealed a recrystallization period at around 1860 - 1840 Ma. These ages are related to the tectonic-thermal event associated with the intense crustal melting and intra-orogenic intrusions, constraining the youngest time limit for metamorphic processes in the Kovela granitic complex.

Applications of,and Experiences with,the Norwegian Model in Finland

The purpose of this article is to describe the development, components and properties of a publication indicator that the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland uses for allocating direct core funding annually to universities. Since 2013, 13% of the core funding has been allocated on basis of publication indicator that, like the Norwegian model, is based on comprehensive national level publication data that is currently provided by the VIRTA publication information service. In 2015, the publication indicator was complemented with other components of the Norwegian model, namely, quality-weighted publication counts based on national Publication Forum authority list of the publication channels with ratings established by experts in the field. The funding model allocates around 1.6 billion euros annually to universities with the publication indicator annually distributing over 200 million euros. Besides the funding model, the indicator provides comparable data for monitoring the research performance of Finnish universities, fields and subunits. The indicator may also be used in the universities' local funding models and research management systems, sometimes even at individual level evaluation. Positive and negative effects of the indicator have been extensively discussed and speculated. Since 2011, the Finnish universities' productivity appears to have increased in terms of both quantity and quality of publications.

The rise of sea ice research collaboration between China and Finland

Collaboration between China and Finland in marine sciences was commenced in winter 1988.The main topic was then short-term sea ice forecasting in the seasonal sea ice zone(SSIZ),particularly in the Bohai Sea in China and the Baltic Sea in Finland.The sea ice in SSIZ is thin and highly dynamic so that ice conditions may change rapidly.While the length scales of the Baltic Sea and the Bohai Sea are similar,the main difference between them is that the former is brackish and non-tidal while the latter is oceanic for the salinity and possesses a large tidal amplitude.The Bohai Sea is located at latitudes 37°N-41°N,and the Baltic Sea is located at latitudes 55°N-66°N.However,the same sea ice model is applicable for both.The main application field of sea ice forecasting was winter shipping in Finland and oil drilling in China.The collaboration was successful and in late 1990s the research was expanded to polar seas,lakes,and to climate change applications.

The Variation of Microbial Communities in a Depth Profile of an Acidic,Nutrient-Poor Boreal Bog in Southwestern Finland

Natural bacterial communities impact the motility of isotopes, such as radionuclides, in the environment. As a result of post glacial crustal rebound radionuclides may escape the deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel on Olkiluoto Island, Finland, and reach surface environments. Lastensuo Bog, a 5300-year-old raised bog in southwestern Finland, functions as analogue ecotope for bogs formed in Olkiluoto due to the crustal rebound. A core comprising the depth profile (0 - 7 m depth) of the bog including surface Sphagnum moss, peat and bottom clay was obtained using a stainless steel corer. High throughput sequencing was used to characterize the bacterial communities throughout the bog’s depth profile. A total of 12,680 bacterial Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) (97% sequence similarity) were detected comprising altogether 40 different bacterial phyla. Of these, 13 phyla were present at all depths, accounting for 97% - 99% of the whole bacterial community. The bacterial communities differed notably through the bog’s depth profile, dividing it into five distinct strata: 1) the Sphagnum moss layer;2) 0.5 - 3.7 m;3) 3.7 - 4.0 m;4) 5.5 - 6.0 m deep peat;5) the former seabed clay at 6.5 - 7.0 m depth. Acidobacteria, α- and γ-Proteobacteria dominated the surface community, but in the peat Acidobacteria contributed with up to 85% of the bacterial community. The estimated bacterial population density ranged between 2 × 109 and 5 × 1010 16S rRNA gene copies g-1 dry-weight peat. This study revealed that Lastensuo Bog had a highly diverse bacterial community. Most of the taxonomic groups belonged to thus far poorly characterized and uncultured bacteria with unknown physiological role. However, new insights into the distribution of bacterial taxa and their putative roles in organic carbon break down within the bog ecosystem have been obtained and an important baseline for further studies has been established.

Impact of Alternative Raw Materials on the Profitability of a Large-Scale Bio-Coal Pellet Plant in Finland

The aim of this paper was to compare the annual economic impact of a large-scale bio-coal pellet plant by raw material specifically for the Finnish Lakeland region. In this study, the total production volume of the theoretical plant was 200,000 tons per year and the raw wood materials used were birch pulpwood, spruce pulpwood, pine pulpwood, and energy wood. These wood materials were young delimbed wood from early thinnings. The main goal of the paper was to illustrate that the energy content differences of raw wood materials affect the economic profitability of a bio-coal pellet plant at regional level. In this case, wood type also has a regional economic impact, which the pellet plant can influence through its raw wood material choices. The raw material comparison was based on measured data and not computational or literary data alone. The study found that lower solid wood energy densities caused higher relative costs for the total supply chain. A parallel phenomenon occurred with the required gross margin of the pellets, where lower energy content caused higher required gross margin for pellet sales. The gross margin was also sensitivity analyzed at different discount rates from 5% to 20%. At each required discount rate, the highest annual economic impact on the region was found for birch pellets, with values of 36.95 - 42.66 million €. Spruce pellets had the smallest annual economic impact, although it had the highest final pellet price in the same cases. The different economic effects were caused by the energy volumes sold.

A comparison of perinatal and infant mortality rates in British Columbia and Finland:Similarities and differences

Introduction: Despite similarities, perinatal and infant mortality rates between British Columbia, (BC) Canada and Finland differ. Key variables that may influence stillbirth, early neonatal, perinatal and infant mortality rates in BC and Finland were studied. Methods: After standardizing definitions, data for all births between 2001 and 2009 from provincial and national registries were used to compare perinatal outcomes between BC and Finland. Annual change was evaluated with regression analyses. Results: Births before 22 weeks gestation were excluded. All mortality rates per 1000 were lower in Finland vs BC (perinatal: 5.1 vs 6.2, stillbirth: 3.4 vs 3.9, early neonatal 1.7 vs 2.4, infant 2.9 vs 4.0;all p Higher multiple birth and preterm birth rates in BC are affecting mortality rates. Finland’s policy of single embryo transfer is a potential explanation. It is possible to have good perinatal outcomes and low caesarean section rates. Conclusions: The Finnish health care system may suggest possible solutions for improved perinatal outcomes. Lower per capita health care expenditures in Finland do not appear to have adversely affected perinatal outcomes.

Surgery for chronic pancreatitis in Finland is rare but seems to produce good long-term results

BACKGROUND Abdominal pain in chronic pancreatitis(CP)may require invasive interventions.Surgical procedures are rare,and little is known about the long-term results.AIM To study the nationwide frequency of pancreatic surgery for CP in Finland,and postoperative symptoms and quality of life(QoL).METHODS All patients in Finland with a diagnosis of CP who had undergone pancreatic surgery during 2000-2008 were selected from a national register.Only patients with CP as an indication for pancreatic surgery were included.Medical records were studied and questionnaires QLQ-C30,PAN26 and AUDIT,and symptom questionnaires were sent out.RESULTS During the 9-year period,pancreatic surgery for CP was performed on 30 patients[77%men,median age 45(21-62)years].Eighty-three percent underwent endoscopic procedures before surgery.Surgery was performed a median 2(0-10)years after the original CP diagnosis,and 17%developed postoperative complications.Primary pain relief after surgery was reported in 70%of cases.Need for strong pain medication was lower after surgery.Eight of 21(38%)returned the questionnaires and 88%reported that surgery had reduced their pain and 63%were almost or entirely pain-free at a median 14(10-18)years after surgery.QoL results did not differ from those in our control Finnish CP group.CONCLUSION Surgery for CP is rare in Finland and most patients had prior endoscopic procedures.Patients who returned the questionnaires reported less pain and good QoL during the 14-year follow-up.

Investigation of <i>Yersinia enterocolitica</i>Bioserotype 4/O:3 Clusters in Finland, 2017-2018

In December 2017, two suspected outbreaks of Yersinia enterocolitica 4/O:3 were notified in Finland. We analyzed the surveillance and outbreak investigation data and genotyped Y. enterocolitica strains in order to understand Y. enterocolitica epidemiology in Finland and to find out whether the notified outbreaks were related. A total of 13,344 Y. enterocolitica cases were reported in 1995-2018 to the National Infectious Diseases Register. The mean annual incidence ranged from 7.9 to 15.9/100,000 inhabitants. The highest incidence was observed in young adults (14/100,000). Incidence varied geographically. The incidence was higher in spring compared to other seasons. The most common pathogenic bioserotype was 4/O:3 but the information on bio/serotype was missing in 64% of the surveillance cases. For most of the cases, 87%, no travel history was reported. In the YE 4/O:3 outbreak investigation, whole genome sequencing was performed for isolates from 29/69 (42%) of the outbreak cases. The sequencing results showed that cases consisted of six independent clusters with 2 - 6 isolates in each cluster, and 5 sporadic isolates. No food item was found to be common to all of the clusters. In order to improve monitoring and facilitate the detection and investigation of Y. enterocolitica outbreaks, more comprehensive information on bio/serotype and on travel history is required in the surveillance.

Misperceptions of peer gambling norms among adolescents: Analysis of a national sample in Finland

Introduction: Misperceptions of peer drinking norms are widely documented in the US student populations and are associated with increased personal consumption. Few studies have examined misperceptions of peer gambling, and none of these have been conducted among adolescents in the European context. In a national sample, we examined misperceptions of peer gambling in Finland. Tenets of the social norms approach form a framework for discussion of the findings. Methods: Participants were 4526 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years who completed the nationwide Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey in 2011. Main measures were gambling behavior and the perception of same age-sex peers’ gambling. Misperception was an overestimation of the frequency of gambling by others compared to the actual frequency of gambling. Results: Adolescents held substantial misperceptions of peer gambling, imagining they gambled much more than they actually did. Age, sex, and gambling behavior were correlated with the perceptions. The extent of misperception was greatest among monthly gamblers, whereas non-gamblers and daily gamblers were more accurate in their perceptions. Estimations of peers’ gambling frequency were more accurate in boys than in girls and among those aged 12 years than among older adolescents. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that adolescent gambling prevention efforts could benefit from adopting a social norms approach;that is, correcting gambling-related misperceptions might discourage gambling and protect adolescents from adopting more severe gambling patterns.

The healthcare environment—The importance of aesthetic surroundings: Health professionals’ experiences from a surgical ward in Finland

There is a growing acceptance of the vital role patient centered design plays in shaping the environment. Art can be of use in every area of health care. It is within the power of each person to share and interpret experience by means of the arts, by viewing the work of others, and by using feelings and imagination. Health professionals [n = 24 of a total of n = 35], answered the Wheel Questionnaire test instrument. It measures structure, motivation/engagement, and degree of emotional investment in a situation. Participants were requested to describe, in their own words, their perception of the enrichment of the ward interiordesign and the double-sided photos with a short poetic text, and the photo-book placed at each patient room. The results demonstrate that participants are motivated, structured and emotionally engaged when describing the new enrichment. The domains and themes are: Social interaction domain;rising thoughts and conversations. Comfort domain;atmosphere. Aesthetic do main;enrichment of the working environment. It could be concluded that the surgical ward environmental enrichment stimulated conversations between health professionals and between health professionals and patients and should be regarded as an important aspect in hospital planning.

Paired Border Towns or TwinCities from Finland and China

This paper discusses cross-border cooperation at the level of urban socio-economic systems. Worldwide, cross-border urban cooperation has in several cases produced socio-economic and political coherence supported by various joint programs and efforts. However, the degree of coherence varies and seldom cre-ates socio-economically and politically tightly integrated "Twin-Cities" where the state border becomes highly transparent or ob-scure. Focusing on Finlan d and China, our aim is to identify whether the selected border towns represent coherent TwinCities or a more loose type of "paired border towns". The study uses an empirical examination of three Finnish towns (Helsinki, Tornio, Imatra) and their neighboring towns in Estonia, Sweden, and Rus-sia as a benchmark. Then, a comparative study is made regarding three Chinese cross-border cities facing Russia, Vietnam and Ka-zakhstan. We highlight the differences in cross-border integration from the viewpoint of shared public sector programs, cross-border enterprise relocation and networking, and integrated social sector in terms of labor market, education and shopping area.

Schedule for Reducing the Use of Peat and the Possibilities of Replacing It with Forest Chips in Energy Production in Finland

Between 2018 and 2020, an average of 15 TWh of energy peat was consumed in Finland. Energy peat is used in 260 boilers in Finland, which produce district heat and heat and steam for industry, as well as electricity as cogeneration (CHP) in connection with district heating and industrial heat production. Peat accounts for 3% - 5% of the energy sources used in Finland, but its importance has been greater in terms of security of supply. With current use in accordance with the 2018-2020 average, the emissions from peat are almost 6 Mt CO2 per year in Finland, which is 15% of emissions from the energy sector. In this study, the technical limitations related to peat burning, economic limitations related to the availability of biomass, and socio-economic limitations related to the regional economy are reviewed. By 2040, the technical minimum use of peat will fall to 2 TWh. The techno-economical potential may be even lower, but due to socio-economic objectives, peat production will not be completely ceased. The reduction in the minimum share assumes that old peat boilers are replaced with new biomass boilers or are alternatively replaced by other forms of heat production. Based on the biomass reserves, the current use of peat can be completely replaced by forest chips, but regional challenges may occur along the coast and in southern Finland. It is unlikely that the current demand for all peat will be fully replaced by biomass when part of CHP production is replaced by heat production alone and combustion with waste heat sources.