Showing papers by "Academy of Finland published in 2007"

Type 2 diabetes prevention in the real world: three-year results of the GOAL lifestyle implementation trial

Abstract: OBJECTIVE We study the effectiveness of the GOAL Lifestyle Implementation Trial at the 36-month follow-up. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants (n = 352, type 2 diabetes risk score FINDRISC = 16.2 +/- 3.3, BMI 32.6 +/- 5.0 kg/m(2)) received six lifestyle counseling sessions over 8 months. Measurements were at baseline, 12 months (88.6%), and 36 months (77.0%). RESULTS Statistically significant risk reduction at 12 months was maintained at 36 months in weight (-1.0 +/- 5.6 kg), BMI (-0.5 +/- 2.1 kg/m(2)), and serum total cholesterol (-0.4 +/- 1.1 mmol/l). CONCLUSIONS Maintenance of risk reduction in this "real world" trial proves the intervention's potential for significant public health impact.

Friction and wear of coated surfaces — scales, modelling and simulation of tribomechanisms

Abstract: Coating a surface with a thin layer changes the surface material properties and is an important tool for controlling friction and wear. The tribological mechanisms, scale effects and parameters influencing the friction and wear of coated surfaces are discussed. The basic friction and wear mechanisms can be reduced to: friction by adhesion, ploughing and hysteresis and wear by adhesion, abrasion and fatigue combined with material fracture. The tribochemical and surface physical effects and surface fatigue taking place before material fracture are treated here as pure surface material modification mechanisms. Scale effects in a tribological contact are illustrated by explaining typical surface roughness related tribological mechanisms for diamond and DLC coated surfaces. For diamond coatings asperity interlocking effects are important for rough surfaces, graphitisation is a dominating mechanism for smooth engineering surfaces and hydrogenising of dangling bonds may be crucial for physically smooth surfaces. For DLC coated surfaces, surface graphitisation is important with rougher surfaces; building up transfer layers and graphitisation is crucial for smooth engineering surfaces and hydrogenising of dangling bonds can explain superlubricity for physically smooth surfaces. An analysis of dominating surface parameters such as elastic, plastic and fracture behaviour of the top surface, the coating, the coating/substrate interface and the substrate in addition to the coating thickness forms the basis for surface modelling. A stress intensity factor analysis of crack growth shows the importance of considering both modes I, II and III loading, crack spacing and location of crack, while crack orientation, location in crack field as well as load biaxiality have minor influences. It is shown how surface 3D FEM modelling generates stress and strain values at the nano level, within bond layers at coating/substrate interfaces and around cracks and forms the basis for better understanding the origin of wear.

Non-participation may bias the results of a psychiatric survey: an analysis from the survey including magnetic resonance imaging within the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort.

Abstract: A major reason for limited validity of research is non-participation. Subjects with severe mental illness tend to cumulate in the group of non-participants, causing selection bias. We tested the hypothesis that severe psychosis is linked to non-participation in a field survey including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, psychiatric interviews and cognitive testing among subjects with psychosis. Furthermore, we wanted to explore other associative factors expected to affect non-participation. Members of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort with a lifetime diagnosis of psychosis (N = 145) were invited to participate in the survey conducted in 1999–2001. Non-participation was determined by refusal or loss of contact. Data were gathered in earlier phases of the follow-up study or using register data. Ninety-one (63%) subjects attended the study. Compared to participants, non-participants were more often patients with schizophrenia and had more psychiatric hospitalisations, they had more positive psychosis symptoms during their illness course and they were more often on disability pension. Married subjects participated more often than those who were not married. This study suggests that among subjects with psychosis, particularly those subjects who have the most severe course of illness are less willing to participate. This may lead to biased estimates when studying subjects with severe mental disorders.

Sea-ice algae in Arctic pack ice during late winter

Abstract: Pack ice around Svalbard was sampled during the expedition ARK XIX/1 of RV “Polarstern” (March–April 2003) in order to determine environmental conditions, species composition and abundances of sea-ice algae and heterotrophic protists during late winter. As compared to other seasons, species diversity of algae (total 40 taxa) was not low, but abundances (5,000–448,000 cells l−1) were lower by one to two orders of magnitude. Layers of high algal abundances were observed both at the bottom and in the ice interior. Inorganic nutrient concentrations (NO2, NO3, PO4, Si(OH)4) within the ice were mostly higher than during other seasons, and enriched compared to seawater by enrichment indices of 1.6–24.6 (corrected for losses through the desalination process). Thus, the survival of algae in Arctic pack ice was not limited by nutrients at the beginning of the productive season. Based on less-detailed physical data, light was considered as the most probable factor controlling the onset of the spring ice-algal bloom in the lower part of the ice, while low temperatures and salinities inhibit algal growth in the upper part of the ice at the end of the winter. Incorporation of ice algae probably took place during the entire freezing period. Possible overwintering strategies during the dark period, such as facultative heterotrophy, energy reserves, and resting spores are discussed.

The effect of co-morbidities on health-related quality of life in patients placed on the waiting list for total joint replacement.

Abstract: Background Co-morbidity is a powerful predictor of health care outcomes and costs, as well as an important cofounder in epidemiologic studies. The effect of co-morbidities is generally related to mortality or complications. This study evaluated the association between co-morbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients awaiting total joint replacement.

Who Helps the Degraded Housewife

Abstract: This article analyses the new demographic programme that was announced by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, in 2006. The main goal of this programme is to encourage fertility, especially the b...

Thermodynamics of large AdS black holes

Abstract: We consider leading order quantum corrections to the geometry of large AdS black holes in a spherical reduction of four-dimensional Einstein gravity with negative cosmological constant. The Hawking temperature grows without bound with increasing black hole mass, yet the semiclassical back-reaction on the geometry is relatively mild, indicating that observers in free fall outside a large AdS black hole never see thermal radiation at the Hawking temperature. The positive specific heat of large AdS black holes is a statement about the dual gauge theory rather than an observable property on the gravity side. Implications for string thermodynamics with an AdS infrared regulator are briefly discussed.

Thermodynamics of Large AdS Black Holes

Abstract: We consider leading order quantum corrections to the geometry of large AdS black holes in a spherical reduction of four-dimensional Einstein gravity with negative cosmological constant. The Hawking temperature grows without bound with increasing black hole mass, yet the semiclassical back-reaction on the geometry is relatively mild, indicating that observers in free fall outside a large AdS black hole never see thermal radiation at the Hawking temperature. The positive specific heat of large AdS black holes is a statement about the dual gauge theory rather than an observable property on the gravity side. Implications for string thermodynamics with an AdS infrared regulator are briefly discussed.

Evaluating waiting time effect on health outcomes at admission: a prospective randomized study on patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joint.

Abstract: Aims To evaluate the effect of waiting on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pain and physical function in patients awaiting primary total knee replacement (TKR) due to osteoarthritis. Methods Some 438 patients awaiting TKR were randomized to a short waiting time (WT) group (≤3 months) or a non-fixed WT group. In the final assessment, 310 patients (213 women) with a mean age of 68 years were included. HRQoL was measured on being placed on the waiting list and again at hospital admission using the generic 15D. Patients’ self-report pain and physical function were evaluated using a scale modified from the Knee Society Clinical Rating System. Results The median WTs for patients with short and non-fixed WT were 73 days (range 8–600 days) and 266 days (range 28–818 days), respectively. At admission, as assessed by the intention-to-treat analysis, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the 15D total score and disease-specific pain and function. Conclusions Our study showed that longer WT did not result in worse pre-operative HRQoL.

Socio-demographic and clinical predictors of occupational status in schizophrenic psychoses--follow-up within the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort.

Abstract: We studied occupational status of persons with schizophrenic psychoses by age 34 in a longitudinal population-based cohort and predicted which demographic and illness-related factors could support the patients to maintain their occupational capacity. Subjects of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort with the diagnosis of DSM-III-R schizophrenic psychoses (n=113) by the year 1997 were followed until the end of year 2000. Various illness and socio-demographic factors at the time of onset of illness were used as predictors. At the end of the follow-up time 50 (44%) of patients were not pensioned and 22 (20%) were also working at least half of the time during year 2000. After adjusting for gender, being unemployed at onset, educational level and proportion of time spent in psychiatric hospitals, those who were married or cohabiting at the time of onset of illness were less often on pension than those who were single (OR 6.51; 95% CI 1.83-23.12). Thus, nearly half of the patients with schizophrenic psychoses were not pensioned after an average 10 years follow-up. Based on our findings, those who were single at time of their onset of illness probably need most support to retain their contacts to work life.

Utilization of routinely collected administrative data in monitoring the incidence of aging dependent hip fracture

Abstract: Societies are facing challenges as the public health burden increases in tandem with population aging. Local information systems are needed that would allow a continuous monitoring of the incidence and effectiveness of treatments. This study investigates the possibilities of routinely collected administrative data as a data source for hip fracture incidence monitoring in Finland.

Resource allocation of in vitro fertilization: a nationwide register-based cohort study

Abstract: Infertility is common and in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a widely used treatment. In IVF the need increases and the effectiveness and appropriateness decrease by age. The purpose of this study was to describe allocation of resources for IVF by women's age, socioeconomic position, area of residence and treatment sector (public vs. private) and to discuss how fairly the IVF resources are allocated in Finland. Women who received IVF between 1996 and 1998 (N = 9175) were identified from the reimbursement records of the Social Insurance Institution (SII). Information on IVF women's background characteristics came from the Central Population Register and the SII, on treatment costs from IVF clinics and the SII, and on births from the Medical Birth Register. The main outcome measures were success of IVF by number of cycles and treated women, expenditures per IVF cycles, per women, per live-birth, and per treatment sector, and private and public expenditures. Expenditures were estimated from health care visits and costs. During a mean period of 1.5 years, older women (women aged 40 or older) received 1.4 times more IVF treatment cycles than younger women (women aged below 30). The success rate decreased by age: from 22 live births per 100 cycles among younger women to 6 per 100 among older women. The mean cost of a live birth increased by age: compared to younger women, costs per born live birth of older women were 3-fold. Calculated by population, public expenditure was allocated most to young women and women from the highest socioeconomic position. Regional differences were not remarkable. Children of older infertile women involve more expense due to the lower success rates of IVF. Socioeconomic differences suggest unfair resource allocation in Finland.

Specimen Size Limitations in J-R Curve Testing—Standards versus Reality

Abstract: Testing standards contain limitations on allowable J and crack growth, related to specimen size. In the case of unirradiated pressure vessel steel, it is usually possible to extract specimens of sufficient size to allow a standard determination of the J-R curve. However, in the case of irradiated materials, especially irradiated internals, it is normally not possible to use specimens that would provide valid results according to the standard requirement. This raises the question as to the relevance of the standard requirements. The size requirements stem from the dawn of elastic-plastic fracture mechanics. They have remained practically unchanged ever since, even though the understanding of elastic-plastic fracture mechanics and ductile fracture has evolved considerably. In this paper, the state-of-art understanding of the ductile fracture process, and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics is combined with experimental test results to derive new more realistic size requirements for J-R curve testing. It is shown that a considerable relaxation of the standard requirements is possible without affecting the reliability of the test result. This enables an effective and reliable testing of irradiated materials and structures whose dimensions inhibit the extraction of large specimens.

Application of the Master Curve Approach for Abnormal Material Conditions

Abstract: The range of applicability of Master Curve testing Standard ASTM E 1921 is limited to macroscopically homogeneous steels with “uniform tensile and toughness properties”. A majority of structural steels appear to satisfy this requirement by exhibiting fracture toughness data which comply with the assumed KJc vs. temperature dependence and scatter within the specified validity area. As indicated in ASTM E 1921 a criterion for material macroscopic inhomogeneity is often applied using the 2% lower bound (possibly also the 98% upper bound). Data falling below this 2% lower-limit curve may be an indication of material inhomogeneity or susceptibility to grain boundary fracture. When this situation occurs, it is recommended to analyze the material with the so-called SINTAP procedure, which is intended for randomly inhomogeneous materials to assure a conservative lower-bound estimate. When a data set distinctly consists of two or more different data populations instead of one (due to variation of irradiation dose or specimen extraction depth, for instance) adoption of a bimodal (or a multimodal) Master Curve model is generally appropriate. These modal models provide information if the deviation of distributions is statistically significant or if different distributions truly exist for values of reference transition temperature, T0 , characteristic of separate data populations. In the case of data sets representing thick-walled structures (i.e., reactor pressure vessels), indications of abnormal fracture toughness data can be encountered such that material inhomogeneity or fracture modes other than pure cleavage should be suspected. A state-of-the-art review for extended, non-standard Master Curve data and techniques highlights limits of applicability in situations where the basic ASTM E 1921 procedure is not appropriate for material homogeneity or different fracture modes.© 2007 ASME

Temperament profiles in women with somatization disorder.

Abstract: Hakala et al. reported in the Journal that 10 women suffering from somatization disorder (SD) had low novelty-seeking (NS) and high harm-avoidance (HA) as assessed on the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). We consider it important to complement these results with some parallel findings. We identified nine female subjects suffering from SD in our population-based sample of 1598 subjects aged in their 30s. We reanalyzed their TCI scores and found that mean NS was 19.6 4.8 and mean HA was 14.3 9.7. The NS score and HA score determined in our study were found to be between those of subjects suffering SD and healthy controls in the Hakala et al. study: NS 17.6 3.0 versus 22.3 4.7 and HA 18.5 5.4 versus 11.8 7.1, respectively. Subjects in the Hakala et al. study were diagnosed on DSM-IV criteria, they were older, and they had no comorbid psychiatric disorders. They originated from South-west Finland. They were identified in psychiatric treatment units. We used DSM-III-R criteria in a sample of younger subjects originating from northern Finland, and our subjects had significant comorbidity for psychiatric disorders. There are few studies assessing temperament and somatization. Differences in diagnostic criteria, age of subjects and comorbidities might explain the discrepancy between results. We studied a population-based cohort of SD subjects and Hakala et al. studied a patient sample. There might also be subgroups among SD patients, which need different approach to be recognized and treated.

Solutions to computational problems through gene assembly

Abstract: Gene assembly in ciliates is an impressive computational process. Ciliates have a unique way of storing their genetic information in two fundamentally different forms within their two types of nuclei. Micronuclear genes are broken into blocks (called MDSs), with MDSs shuffled and separated by non-coding material; some of the MDSs may even be inverted. During gene assembly, all MDSs are sorted in the correct order to yield the transcription-able macronuclear gene. Based on the intramolecular model for gene assembly, we prove in this paper that gene assembly may be used in principle to solve computational problems. We prove that any given instance of the hamiltonian path problem may be encoded in a suitable way in the form of an 'artificial' gene so that gene assembly is successful on that gene-like pattern if and only if the given problem has an affirmative answer.