Finnish Transport Agency

Electromotive force measurements on galvanic cells involving solid electrolytes have been made in order to obtain the standard molar free energy of formation of , , , , , , and several phases of the system Ag‐Te at elevated temperatures.

The use of electromotive force measurements on galvanic cells for the determination of standard molar free energies of formation of halides, oxides, sulfides, and other compounds at elevated temperatures is surveyed. New potentialities and inherent limitations are shown. Formulas for the estimate of errors resulting from electronic conduction and from transference of the components of electrolytes between different activity levels are derived.

Words forming a continuous story were presented to 9 subjects at frequencies ranging from 5 to 30 Hz, determined individually to render comprehension easy, effortful, or practically impossible. We identified a left-hemisphere neural network sensitive to reading performance directly from the time courses of activation in the brain, derived from magnetoencephalography data. Regardless of the stimulus rate, communication within the long-range neural network occurred at a frequency of 8-13 Hz. Our coherence-based detection of interconnected nodes reproduced several brain regions that have been previously reported as active in reading tasks, based on traditional contrast estimates. Intriguingly, the face motor cortex and the cerebellum, typically associated with speech production, and the orbitofrontal cortex, linked to visual recognition and working memory, additionally emerged as densely connected components of the network. The left inferior occipitotemporal cortex, involved in early letter-string or word-specific processing, and the cerebellum turned out to be the main forward driving nodes of the network. Synchronization within a subset of nodes formed by the left occipitotemporal, the left superior temporal, and orbitofrontal cortex was increased with the subjects' effort to comprehend the text. Our results link long-range neural synchronization and directionality with cognitive performance.

We studied Epstein-Barr (EB) virus excretion and antibody in 41 renal transplant recipients enrolled in a placebo-controlled trial of human leukocyte interferon. Half the patients were also treated with antithymocyte globulin. Epstein-Barr virus excretion occurred more often in recipients of cadaver kidneys (P = 0.03) and those receiving antithymocyte globulin (P = 0.04) and less often in patients given interferon (P = 0.08). Antibody to viral capsid antigen increased fourfold or more in 12 of 22 patients treated with antithymocyte globulin and in none of the non-antithymocyte globulin-treated group (P = 0.0002). Antibody to the restricted component of early antigen rose fourfold or more in eight patients and appeared related to the occurrence of syndromes similar to those attributed to cytomegalovirus in transplant recipients. We conclude that increasing immunosuppression augments the rate of EB virus reactivation and that EB virus may be an important pathogen in heretofore ill-defined syndromes.

This study focused on eyeblink duration as a measure of sleepiness in on-road driving and on the driving performance of professional bus drivers with polysomnographically confirmed mild obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). Ten bus drivers with OSAS and their matched controls participated in the study. The Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) and a monotonous on-road driving task were completed. Eyeblink duration and frequency and speed control were measured while driving. Lane-keeping was evaluated by the supervisor in the car. Subsequent to these tasks, drivers with OSAS received continuous positive airway pressure treatment (nasal CPAP). After nine weeks of treatment, the tasks were repeated. Prior to treatment the average blink duration in the driving task was significantly longer and sleep latency in the MWT was significantly shorter for bus drivers with OSAS than for controls (mean blink duration 82.3 ms; 51.9 ms and mean sleep latency 23.2 min; 35.4 min), indicating increased daytime sleepiness. Subsequent to treatment both measures in drivers with OSAS decreased to the level of the controls. Treatment effects in MWT and blink duration in on-road driving also correlated significantly. No significant differences between the groups appeared in average blink frequency or driving performance in terms of maintenance of speed. No significant lane drifting appeared either. These results support earlier findings on blink duration as an indicator of increased sleepiness and have important implications for those involved in the transport technological industry. The findings also suggest that nasal CPAP treatment is effective in reducing excessive daytime sleepiness.

Increasing environmental concerns regarding the actions and policies of the EU have meant that green aspects have become an important factor in public procurement. Although green purchasing criteria are fostered by many EU level and national action plans, and thus are more often included in calls for tenders, it is not necessarily the case that they are integrated into the final contract clauses. Opportunities for incorporating environmental aspects into contract clauses are important in order to ensure that the environmental criteria of the tender documents are fulfilled by the purchased products and services during the contract period. In this article we examine and analyse environmental criteria in public procurement contracts and calls for tenders, and focus on the relevance of environmental contractual terms, i.e. the existence and applicability of environmental criteria in the procurement contracts. We also discuss the comprehensiveness and enforceability of the drafted terms and conditions in the procurement contracts, highlighting the contract practices that we see as the most functional and practical from the procuring authorities' point of view.

Abstract In response to the EFSA call New approaches in identifying and characterizing microbial and chemical hazards, the project INNUENDO (https://sites.google.com/site/theinnuendoproject/) aimed to design an analytical platform and standard procedures for the use of whole-genome sequencing in surveillance and outbreak investigation of food-borne pathogens. The project firstly attempted to identify existing flaws and needs, and then to provide applicable cross-sectorial solutions. The project focused in developing a platform for small countries with limited economical and personnel resources. To achieve these goals, we applied a user-centered design strategy involving the end-users, such as microbiologists in public health and veterinary authorities, in every step of the design, development and implementation phases. As a result, we delivered the INNUENDO Platform V1.0 (https://innuendo.readthedocs.io/en/latest/), a stand-alone, portable, open-source, end-to-end system for the management, analysis, and sharing of bacterial genomic data. The platform uses Nextflow workflow manager to assemble analytical software modules in species-specific protocols that can be run using a user-friendly interface. The reproducibility of the process is ensured by using Docker containers and throught the annotation of the whole process using an ontology. Several modules, available at https://github.com/TheInnuendoProject, have been developed including: genome assembly and species confirmation; fast genome clustering; in silico typing; standardized species-specific phylogenetic frameworks for Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica, Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli based on an innovative gene-by-gene methodology; quality control measures from raw reads to allele calling; reporting system; a built-in communication protocols and a strain classification system enabling smooth communication during outbreak investigation. As proof-of-concepts, the proposed solutions have been thoroughly tested in simulated outbreak conditions by several public health and veterinary agencies across Europe. The results have been widely disseminated through several channels (web-sites, scientific publications, organization of workshops). The INNUENDO Platform V1.0 is effectively one of the models for the usage of open-source software in genomic epidemiology.

Summary Multilocus sequence analysis of 417 strains of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis revealed that it is a complex of four populations, three of which have been previously assigned species status [ Y. pseudotuberculosis sensu stricto (s.s.), Yersinia pestis and Yersinia similis ] and a fourth population, which we refer to as the Korean group, which may be in the process of speciation. We detected clear signs of recombination within Y. pseudotuberculosis s.s. as well as imports from Y. similis and the Korean group. The sources of genetic diversification within Y. pseudotuberculosis s.s. were approximately equally divided between recombination and mutation, whereas recombination has not yet been demonstrated in Y. pestis , which is also much more genetically monomorphic than is Y. pseudotuberculosis s.s. Most Y. pseudotuberculosis s.s. belong to a diffuse group of sequence types lacking clear population structure, although this species contains a melibiose‐negative clade that is present globally in domesticated animals. Yersinia similis corresponds to the previously identified Y. pseudotuberculosis genetic type G4, which is probably not pathogenic because it lacks the virulence factors that are typical for Y. pseudotuberculosis s.s. In contrast, Y. pseudotuberculosis s.s., the Korean group and Y. pestis can all cause disease in humans.

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">When switching from regular diesel fuel (sulfur free) to paraffinic hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), the changes in fuel chemistry and physical properties will affect emission characteristics in a very positive way. The effects also depend on the technology, after-treatment and sophistication of the engine. To determine the real effects in the case of city buses, 17 typical buses, representing emission classes from Euro II to EEV, were measured with HVO, regular diesel and several blended fuels. The average reduction was 10% for nitrogen oxides (NO<sub>x</sub>) and 30% for particulate matter (PM). Also some engine tests were performed to demonstrate the potential for additional performance benefits when fuel injection timing was optimized for HVO.</div></div>

Abstract Understanding how hydrodynamic behaviour emerges from the unitary evolution of the many-particle Schrödinger equation is a central goal of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics. In this work we implement a digital simulation of the discrete time quantum dynamics of a spin- $$\frac{1}{2}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mfrac> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>1</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:mfrac> </mml:math> XXZ spin chain on a noisy near-term quantum device, and we extract the high temperature transport exponent at the isotropic point. We simulate the temporal decay of the relevant spin correlation function at high temperature using a pseudo-random state generated by a random circuit that is specifically tailored to the ibmq-montreal 27 qubit device. The resulting output is a spin excitation on a homogeneous background on a 21 qubit chain on the device. From the subsequent discrete time dynamics on the device we are able to extract an anomalous super-diffusive exponent consistent with the conjectured Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) scaling at the isotropic point. Furthermore we simulate the restoration of spin diffusion with the application of an integrability breaking potential.

BACKGROUND: Public health policies aim to improve and maintain the health of citizens. Relevant data and indicators are needed for a health policy that is based on factual information. After 14 years of work (1998-2012), the multi-phase action on European Community Health Indicators (ECHI) has created a health monitoring and reporting system. It has generated EU added value by defining the ECHI shortlist with 88 common and comparable key health indicators for Europe. METHODS: In the 2009-2012 Joint Action for ECHIM project the ECHI shortlist was updated through consultation with Member State representatives. Guidelines for implementation of the ECHI Indicators at national level were developed and a pilot data collection was carried out. RESULTS: 67 of the ECHI Indicators are already part of regular international data collections and thus available for a majority of Member States, 14 are close to ready and 13 still need development work. By mid-2012 half of the countries have incorporated ECHI indicators in their national health information systems and the process is ongoing in the majority of the countries. Twenty-five countries were able to provide data in a Pilot Data Collection for 20 ECHI Indicators that were not yet (fully) available in the international databases. CONCLUSIONS: The EU needs a permanent health monitoring and reporting system. The Joint Action for ECHIM has set an example for the implementation of a system that can develop and maintain the ECHI indicators,, and promote and encourage the use of ECHI in health reporting and health policy making. The aim for sustainable public health monitoring is also supported by a Eurostat regulation on public health statistics requiring that health statistics shall be provided according to the ECHI methodology. Further efforts at DG SANCO and Eurostat are needed towards a permanent health monitoring system.

Autonomous solutions for transportation are emerging worldwide, and one of the sectors that will benefit the most from these solutions is the public transport by shifting toward the new paradigm of Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Densely populated areas cannot afford an increase in individual transportation due to space limitation, congestion, and pollution. Working towards more effective and inclusive mobility in public areas, this paper compares user experiences of autonomous public transport across Baltic countries, with the final goal of gaining an increased insight into public needs. User experience was evaluated through questionnaires gathered along pilot projects implementing a public transportation line, using an automated electric minibus between 2018 and 2019. To have sufficient diversity in the data, the pilot projects were implemented in several cities in the Baltic Sea Area. The data analysed in this paper specifically refer to the cities of Helsinki (Finland), Tallinn (Estonia), Kongsberg (Norway), and Gdańsk (Poland). Across all cities, passengers provided remarkably positive feedback regarding personal security and safety onboard. The overall feedback, which was very positive in general, showed statistically significant differences across the groups of cities (Kongsberg, Helsinki, Tallinn and Gdansk), partially explicable by the differences in the route design. In addition, across all cities and feedback topics, males gave a lower score compared to females. The overall rating suggests that there is a demand for future last-mile automated services that could be integrated with the MaaS concept, although demand changes according to socio-economic and location-based conditions across different countries. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12544-021-00477-3.

OBJECTIVES: To determine effects of finely ground diet and food deprivation on pH and bile acid concentration in the proximal portion of the porcine stomach and effects of bile acids and pH on the pars esophageal mucosa in vitro. ANIMALS: Sixteen 15- to 30-kg pigs. PROCEDURES: Gastric content samples obtained from pigs fed a finely ground pelleted or coarsely ground meal diet were assayed for gastric pH and bile acids. Stratified squamous epithelium was studied in an Ussing chamber, and histologically. Electrical conductance and transmucosal mannitol fluxes (as indices of tissue permeability) were determined at pH 4.0, 2.0, and 1.5 and in response to treatment with 0, 1, 2, or 3 mM taurodeoxycholate or glycocholate. RESULTS: Pigs fed the finely ground feed had significantly (P = 0.01) lower proximal stomach pH than did pigs fed the coarse meal. Proximal stomach bile acids concentration was significantly (P = 0.04) higher in pigs fed the finely ground diet. The H+ and bile acids concentration increased with time after feeding. In vitro exposure of the stratified mucosa to high H+ (pH < 4.0) and bile salt concentration (> or = 1.0 mM) resulted in significant (P < 0.05) dose-dependent increase in tissue conductance and mannitol fluxes, whereas low pH or bile acids alone had little effect. CONCLUSIONS: High H+ and bile acids concentration in the stomach of pigs fed finely ground diets or subjected to feed deprivation may contribute to ulceration of the pars esophageal tissue. Bile acids act synergistically and in dose-dependent manner, with low pH causing damage to the stratified squamous epithelium in vitro.

Abstract A deformation criterion is proposed for the fatigue failure of concrete in tension. According to the criterion, a fatigue failure is imminent when the total deformation approaches the deformation at maximum stress in a corresponding static test. This criterion was originally proposed for bond slip by Balázs in 1991. It is tested on two series of new and old concrete cylinders loaded in cyclic tension. How the criterion may be used to predict the number of load cycles to failure for existing structures under cyclic tensile loading is also shown.

The maintenance of heavy haul railway lines causes considerable cost and in many cases difficulties to rail traffic. Railway infrastructure management in Finland is important because in many locations the same railway lines are used by both freight and passenger trains. Along with the mixed traffic, the cold climate presents challenges in keeping the track in good condition. There is a great demand for economical and non-destructive methods that provide continuous condition information of track structure. In recent years, the ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology for structure inspection has improved to faster systems and better data quality. This article presents the main results from a research programme that was aimed to identify different GPR-based railway ballast degradation classes and to develop a preventative maintenance planning system. An extensive reference sampling and laboratory analysis has been performed to aid in developing the GPR-based classification method for qualifying the ballast fouling. Classification is made by a fouling index, which is calculated from the frequency contents of the GPR signal. This quality classification can be utilized in the planning of undercutting programmes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We present our experience with surgical treatment of unresolved, painful, late Osgood-Schlatter disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 70 operations performed in 67 patients (in three bilaterally) an ossicle under the distal patellar tendon was removed in 62 cases. In eight cases, excision of the prominent tibial tubercle and/or drilling of the epiphysis was performed. Additional procedures, such as rasping of the uneven anterior tibial surface, excision of inflammed bursa or the devitalized portion of the tendon, were done 21 times. Most patients were athletes or physically active young people. The mean age was 19.6 years. 54 operations were done on males and 16 on females. They had been followed preoperatively for 18 months and after surgery 2.2 years. RESULTS: The final results were excellent or good in 56, moderate in 9, poor in 3 and unknown in 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Osgood-Schlatter's disease may leave an ossicle under the distal patellar tendon, a prominent tibial tubercle or an uneven surface of anterior superior tibia. These may lead to pain and disability due to recurrent injuries or athletic exercises. Surgical treatment gives good results in chronic unresolved cases.

Human ancient DNA studies have revealed high mobility in Europe's past, and have helped to decode the human history on the Eurasian continent. Northeastern Europe, especially north of the Baltic Sea, however, remains less well understood largely due to the lack of preserved human remains. Finland, with a divergent population history from most of Europe, offers a unique perspective to hunter-gatherer way of life, but thus far genetic information on prehistoric human groups in Finland is nearly absent. Here we report 103 complete ancient mitochondrial genomes from human remains dated to AD 300-1800, and explore mtDNA diversity associated with hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers. The results indicate largely unadmixed mtDNA pools of differing ancestries from Iron-Age on, suggesting a rather late genetic shift from hunter-gatherers towards farmers in North-East Europe. Furthermore, the data suggest eastern introduction of farmer-related haplogroups into Finland, contradicting contemporary genetic patterns in Finns.

BACKGROUND: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are common multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in dogs. In 2012-2013 three dogs of the Guide Dog School of the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired were found to be MRSP positive. Guide dogs have regular contact with each other during their first year of life and prolonged contact when in training. Since dogs are placed in different parts of Finland after training, there is a risk for national spread of MDR bacteria. In this study the prevalence of MRSP and MRSA, as well as the risk factors for MRSP were determined in the Finnish guide dog population. MRSP isolates were investigated using molecular methods and compared to the earlier isolates. RESULTS: Out of 132 tested dogs 4 were MRSP positive thus giving the prevalence estimate of 3% (95% CI: 1-8%) for MRSP in the target population. MRSA was not detected (prevalence estimate 0%, 95% CI: 0-3%). Risk factors associated with MRSP were being a breeding bitch (OR = 8.4; 95% CI: 1.1-64.1, P = 0.012), the number of veterinary visits (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.0-1.5, P = 0.025) and number of antimicrobial courses (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.0-2.55; P = 0.035). Identified MRSP isolates belonged to five different sequence types (ST45, 71, 402, 403 and 404). All ST71 isolates carried SCCmec II-III, while the SCCmec type of the ST45 and ST402 (a single locus variant of ST45) isolates were non-typeable with the method used. CONCLUSIONS: MRSP and MRSA had low prevalence in the studied dog population despite the close contact between dogs, and the MRSP population was heterogenic. Antimicrobial therapy and veterinary visits are risk factors for MRSP even among a small case group.

Purpose Sustainable food practices have been recognised as a key issue in efforts to improve and report sustainable tourism practices, given the importance of the social, environmental and economic impacts of the food industry throughout its entire chain of production – from farm to fork. From this standpoint, the aim of the present paper is to propose a comprehensive framework for reporting or making decisions concerning sustainable food management in hotels, taking into account the various facets of the food supply chain. Design/methodology/approach Several dimensions are proposed for dealing with sustainable food management, involving all aspects of food supply chains that may be relevant for hotel decision-making. Furthermore, some key criteria for creating and using indicators of different types (qualitative and quantitative) to address these various dimensions of sustainable food management are suggested. Subsequently, the proposed framework is validated with the sustainability criteria and indicators provided by the top eight hotel groups, according to the 2019 SAM Annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Findings Hotels neglect a number of aspects of sustainable food management identified in the framework. The quality and the quantity of the information provided by hotels are limited. Practical implications There is a need to improve sustainability in food management in the hotels under analysis in several areas. A comprehensive framework such as that proposed in this paper may be of great value in seeking to remedy this situation. It may also assist users of hotel services and communities in making more informed decisions. Originality/value The proposed framework may be beneficial in advancing academic debate towards a more embracing and relevant understanding of sustainable food management in hotels and on the indicators required in this regard.

Recently, drive-by-bridge inspection methods have attracted substantial scholarly interest; however, their practical implementation has encountered significant challenges. In engineering practice, even simply extracting bridge frequencies from ordinary or commercial vehicles appears to be difficult; components related to factors such as road roughness often dominate vehicle vibration responses. This study proposes a novel coherence-PPI (Prominent Peak Identification) algorithm based on the Bayesian framework and applies it to city bus bridge monitoring to extract bridge frequencies. The fundamental idea is to recognize the bridge frequency as a common vibration component across various vehicle runs. The algorithm comprises the following three steps: First, coherences were computed for all vehicle runs to interpret the signal relationships. Second, a Bayesian framework was established to statistically determine the threshold that can maximize the occurrence of bridge frequency. Third, the prominent peaks (PPs) were selected based on the threshold, and their distribution was counted to identify the fundamental frequency of the bridge. In contrast to the previous studies that focused on avoiding differences (e.g., by trying to reduce variation, driving in the same lane, and using the same speed), this methodology encourages the introduction of variability in drive-by measurements to filter bridge frequencies, rendering it particularly compelling for practical engineering applications. The proposed methodology was validated through numerical studies, including the Monte Carlo method, and field tests using city buses. The results demonstrated that the method can effectively eliminate the effects of road roughness, environmental noise, and vehicle parameter variations and accurately identify the bridge frequency.