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Now showing items 2521-2540 of 30344
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(2022)Lucia Berlin (1936–2004) oli yhdysvaltalainen kirjailija, joka on saanut laajempaa tunnustusta vasta kuolemansa jälkeen, kun hänen valikoiduista novelleistansa toimitettiin uusi kokoelma, A Manual for Cleaning Women (2015). Maisterintutkielmassani tutkimuskysymykseni on, miten ja millä perustein Lucia Berlinin novellikokoelmaa voidaan lukea osana omaelämäkerrallisen kirjallisuuden tradition jatkumoa. Omaelämäkerrallisesta kirjallisuudesta tyypillisiä esimerkkejä ovat omaelämäkerta ja autofiktio. Tutkijat ovat osoittaneet, että naiskirjailijoilla ei ole yhtä vahvaa perinnettä omaelämäkerrassa tai sen sisarlajeissa. Päivi Kososen mukaan tyylipuhtaan omaelämäkerran sijaan naiskirjailijoilla on ollut tapana turvautua fiktioon, kun he ovat kirjallisuuden avulla kertoneet omista elämistänsä. Sen lisäksi, että naiskirjailijoiden omaelämäkerrallinen kirjallisuus on historiallisesti marginalisoitu lajikaanonin ulkopuolelle, myös tutkimus on jättänyt huomiotta teokset, jotka poikkeavat omaelämäkerrallisen kirjallisuuden ihanteista ja normeista. Sen lisäksi, että naiskirjailijoiden omaelämäkerrallinen kirjallisuus on historiallisesti marginalisoitu lajin kaanonin ulkopuolelle, väitän, että omaelämäkerrallisen kirjallisuuden tutkimus on vastaavasti ja kategorisesti marginalisoinut ”näennäisesti” fiktiiviset teokset. Tutkielmani lähtökohta on, että Berlinin novellit muodostavat omaelämäkerrallisen kokonaisuuden, jota voi lukea niin omaelämäkertana kuin autofiktiona. Omaelämäkerta ja autofiktio muodostavat tutkielmani teoreettisen lähtökohdan. Omaelämäkerran näkökulmasta merkittävää on, millainen omaelämäkertasopimus teoksessa on, ja miten tekijän, kertojan ja henkilöhahmon jaettu identiteetti ilmenee siinä. Hyödynnän myös Päivi Kososen feminististä omaelämäkertakritiikkiä sekä hänen käsitettänsä epäjatkuvista omaelämäkerroista. Lisäksi erittelen, mitä Berlin itse ajatteli totuudesta ja vilpittömyydestä oman kirjoittamisensa kontekstissa ja tarkastelen sitä, miten totuudellisuutta ja sepitteellisyyttä kuljetetaan rinnakkain novelleissa. Analysoin novelleja fiktion valossa ja tutkin sitä, miten kaunokirjalliset keinot (kuten kerronta, metafiktio, paralleelit ja fragmentaarisuus) tukevat ja rakentavat Berlinin novelleiden omaelämäkerrallisuutta. Lopuksi osoitan, miten novellikokoelmasta on erotettavissa kokonainen elämänkaari. Osoitan tutkielmassani, että novellikokoelmaa voi lukea niin omaelämäkertana kuin autofiktiona, ja että Berlinillä on kiistatta paikkansa osana omaelämäkerrallisen kirjallisuuden traditiota.
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(2023)This thesis examines the current situation of highly educated Chinese people moving to the UK between 2019 and 2023 and analyses the motivations and factors that influence their migration. Using qualitative research methods, the study examines the motivations of Chinese highly educated individuals with a propensity to migrate through interviews. Through the interviews, the paper analyses several factors that influence migration, including migrants' perceptions of themselves, the Chinese social climate, the traditional Chinese family climate, the influence of Covid and factors such as visas and racial discrimination, to obtain their own perceptions of migration. By answering these questions relevant to their settlement, overseas studies and social integration, this thesis will provide a better understanding of some of the key trends in the current immigration flows, especially the growing trend of highly educated Chinese immigrants to the UK.
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(2021)This thesis examines the politics of language and d/Disability enacted by the participants in Kivimedia, a media workshop where d/Disabled persons are aided by media professionals in producing media content. Through an ethnographic analysis of Kivimedia radio broadcasts, the thesis develops a theoretical framework that weaves together linguistic anthropology with critical disability studies. My aim is to understand how ableist ideologies are both reproduced and challenged through linguistic practice. The thesis thus explores Kivimedia as a linguistic and discursive space where d/Disabled and a/Able-bodied interlocutors cooperate, interact and frame one another’s speech, thereby indexing the broader discursive field of d/Disability politics. Ultimately, the thesis contends that Kivimedia participants produce a d/Disability counterpublic through their radio broadcasting, that functions against the backdrop of an ableist public sphere. By establishing a public platform premised on the validity and value of d/Disabled experiences, Kivimedia allows d/Disabled speakers to “Crip” culture, that is, make evident, and possibly transform, the material positionalities of d/Disabled identities within an ableist structure and to interrogate their d/Disabled experiences outside ableist regimentation. In doing so, d/Disability becomes reconfigured as a valued, agentive interactional positionality, manifested relationally and dialogically with a/Able-bodied allies. Through this analysis, the thesis theorizes the interconnection between d/Disability and ableism as something emergent both in and across interaction, as both relational and dialogical. When perceived as interactional achievement, one can understand and scrutinize the dialectical relationship between the abstract institutions that perpetuate ableism and discourses on d/Disability and the interactional practices that comprise everyday life. Within such an interactional understanding, we can analyze and critique ableism and its everyday violence and recognize how both individuals and groups work to expose, challenge and transform ableist structures.
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(2011)Tässä tutkielmassa kuvataan tekijöitä, jotka haittaavat naisten toimintaa kunnanvaltuutettuina tehokkaalla tai naisten itsensä haluamalla tavalla sekä vaikuttavat heidän mahdollisuuksiinsa vaikuttaa päätöksentekoon Ghanan paikallishallinnossa. Tutkimuksessa analysoidaan sekä paikallishallintoon nimitettyjen että vaaleilla valittujen naisten asemaa valtuutettuina, mitä aiemmissa tutkimuksissa Ghanan paikallishallinnosta ei ole tehty. Ghanassa nimittäin 30 prosenttia kunnanvaltuutetuista nimitetään tehtäväänsä. Lopulta tutkimuksessa analysoidaan nimitettyjen ja vaaleilla valittujen naisvaltuutettujen mahdollisuuksia edustaa halutessaan naisten intressejä. Hon kunnanvaltuuston tapaus oli erittäin kiinnostava, sillä vuonna 2006 naisten osuus kunnanvaltuutetuista nousi 35,7 prosenttiin. Aiemmin naisia oli ollut valtuustossa huomattavasti vähemmän. Tutkimusta varten tehtiin kenttätyötä Ghanassa. Tutkimus perustuu 16 Hon kunnanvaltuutetun haastatteluun ja kunnan pormestarin kanssa käytyyn keskusteluun. Kartoitan Hon kunnanvaltuuston naisvaltuutettujen toimintaan vaikuttavia tekijöitä ja naisedustajien työssä kohtaamia esteitä sekä naisvaltuutettujen omien kokemusten että miespuolisten kunnanvaltuutettujen näkemysten kautta. Tutkimustulokset osoittivat, että naisvaltuutetut kohtasivat työssään monia haasteita. Moni esteistä oli yhdistettävissä toimimattomiin rakenteisiin, miehisiin normeihin ja käytäntöihin sekä toisaalta naisten miehiä huonompaan sosiaaliseen asemaan. Esimerkiksi liikkuminen vaalialueella ja jopa kokouksiin saapuminen oli joillekin naisille suuri haaste. Myös paikallisten ihmisten vaatimukset saada henkilökohtaista rahallista hyötyä valtuutetuilta nousivat esiin naisten esteenä. Toisaalta näkemysten esittäminen kokouksissa vaikutti naisille ongelmalliselta eli huomio kiinnittyi naisten poliittiseen kokemattomuuteen sekä valtuuston institutionaaliseen kulttuuriin. Nimitettyjen naisten asema kunnanvaltuustossa paljastui erilaiseksi kuin vaaleilla valittujen naisedustajien. Nimitettyjen edustajien järjestelmä, jota on perusteltu mahdollisuutena lisätä naisten intressien edustusta paikallishallinnossa, näyttäytyi tutkimusten tulosten perusteella kyseenalaisena keinona lisätä naisten edustusta paikallishallinnossa. Nimitettyjä valtuutettuja ei esimerkiksi nähty legitiimeinä ihmisten edustajina paikallishallinnossa vaan heidän katsottiin edistävän puolueensa intressejä, ei paikallisten ihmisten. Nimitettyjen edustajien järjestelmä myös paljastui paikalliselle poliittiselle eliitille suosiolliseksi järjestelmäksi valita kiintiön kautta edustajiksi itselleen, ei paikallisille ihmisille tai paikallisille naisille, sopivia edustajia.
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(2021)This thesis does study buyer-supplier dyads in the context of corporate responsibility for sustainability. Companies have recognized the need to act on sustainability when expectations on corporate responsibility increases. The pressure to act more responsibly comes from various stakeholders, however this research focuses on buyers’ expectations on suppliers. The aim of the study is to identify (a) the expectations buyers (B2B customers) have on the focal company (supplier) in terms of the responsibility of its supply and (b) analysing how the focal firms should communicatively respond to these expectations. The thesis was completed using a qualitative research method by executing a semi-structured thematic interview style. Interviews were done to find out, what corporate responsibility expectations buyers really have on their supply and how suppliers should respond to them. Eight thematic interviews with B2B customers were conducted. The theoretical framework of this research is based on previous research concerning the research theme. The study results were analysed through thematic analysis. The theoretical framework got formed based on Carroll’s (1979) pyramid of CSR: economic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibility, and philanthropic responsibility. Another framework of five CR categories: the defensive, compliance, managerial and risk tackling, opportunity and strategy, and transformative CR category was also formed and used. The theory was used to identify and categorize buyers’ CR expectations. The study results indicated buyers’ expectations on corporate responsibility for sustainability to be mostly related to environmental and social corporate responsibility. Domesticity (Finnish origin)/background of products and processes, quality (long life cycle) and reduced CO2-emissions are specific CR themes that B2B customers have most expectations on in their procurement. Other expectations are product responsibility, responsible procurement, longevity, environmental-labels, environmentally friendly packaging, recyclability, and safety in production/service. The buyers’ expectations are mostly categorized in the economic and legal responsibility as well as the compliance category of CR. The CR expectations are however very little prioritized in procurement of buyers, which challenges the idea of a big and increasing CR pressure on suppliers. The content of suppliers CR reporting and communication should involve the themes that customers raise expectations on. The importance of CR and sustainability reports got challenged due to buyers highlighting a demand for other communication sources. Salespersons and websites are more requested sources to receive suppliers CR information from than specific CR reports. The most important factors of CR communication and reporting for buyers is easy access and uncomplicated comprehension. The CR expectations do also indicate a movement towards CR reporting in shared databases. The B2B customers varying CR expectations should all be acknowledged while suppliers are developing their CR for sustainability as well as the reporting/communication. The identification and categorization of buyers CR expectations is important for suppliers to understand the phenomena profoundly. A consistent result that this study indicates is a prominent need for increased CR related dialogues in buyer-supplier dyads. A better understanding of buyers CR expectations help suppliers respond to their expectations and communicate them according to the demand.
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(2018)Osakeyhtiön toiminnan tarkoituksenmukainen järjestäminen edellyttää yhtiön johdon ja omistuksen eriytymistä. Osakkeenomistajien ja johdon välisen luottamussuhteen toimivuuden ja siitä aiheutuvien kustannusten kohtuullisuuden takaamisen edellytyksenä on sääntely, joka asettaa vähimmäisraamit johdolle sen päättäessä osakkeenomistajien varallisuuden käytöstä. Luottamussuhteen toteutumiseksi agentin edellytetään asettavan päämiehensä edun ensisijaiseksi suhteessa omaan etuunsa, mikäli kummankin toimijan edut eivät ole yhtäaikaisesti toteutettavissa. OYL:n 1:8 §:n sanamuodon katsotaan vakiintuneesti sisältävän johdolle asetetun huolellisuus- ja lojaliteettivelvollisuuden, joka kohdistuu ensisijassa yhtiöön ja toissijaisesti yhtiön osakkeenomistajiin. Buyout-kaupassa yhtiön toimiva johto ostaa yksin tai yhdessä pääomasijoitusyhtiön kanssa johdon työllistävän yhtiön. Tutkielmassa tarkastellaan ensinnäkin lojaliteettivelvollisuutta koskevan sääntelyn soveltuvuutta buyout-kauppoihin. Tarkastelun perusteella todetaan, että kaupan kohteella on merkitystä sääntelyn soveltuvuuden kannalta, sillä voimassa oleva sääntely suhtautuu erilailla liiketoimintakauppaan ja osakekauppaan, joissa kummassakin ostavana tahona on kohdeyhtiön toimiva johto. Sääntely kieltää kategorisesti kohdeyhtiön johtoa tekemästä päätöksiä yhtiön puolesta liiketoimintakaupassa kohdeyhtiön ja sen toimivan johdon tai toimivaan johtoon samaistettavan tahon välillä, mutta jättää osakekauppojen osalta liikkumavaraa. Lisäksi tutkimuksen perusteella hahmottuu ero listatun osakeyhtiön osakkeiden ja listaamattoman yhtiön osakkeiden kaupan välillä, sillä ensin mainittuun soveltuva itsesääntely asettaa yhtiöt epäsymmetriseen asemaan. Osakkeenomistajien ja buyout-kauppaan mahdollisesti liittyvien velkojien erilaisen aseman vuoksi tutkielmassa käsitellään myös sopimusoikeudellista lojaliteettivelvollisuutta ja pureudutaan yhtiöoikeudellisen lojaliteettivelvollisuuden ja sopimusoikeudellisen lojaliteettivelvollisuuden eroihin. Havaitaan, että velvoitteet ovat sisällöiltään erilaiset, minkä lisäksi muiden tahojen kuin osakkeenomistajien oikeussuojakeinot poikkeavat osakkeenomistajien käytössä olevista oikeussuojakeinoista. Yrityskaupan strukturoinnin käsite pitää sisällään ne toimet, joiden avulla kaupan kohde järjestellään liiketoiminnallisesti, verotuksellisesti ja lainsäädännöllisesti parhaalla mahdollisella tavalla osaksi ostajan liiketoimintaa. Lojaliteettivelvollisuuden sisällön ja laajuuden sekä sääntelyn soveltuvuuden selvittämisen lisäksi tutkielmassa tarkastellaan yhtiön johdon käytössä olevia keinoja, joiden avulla toimiva johto voi hankkia kohdeyhtiön omistuksen itselleen jännitteisesti suhteessa lojaliteettivelvollisuuteen tai sen tarkoitukseen. Strukturoinnin käsitteleminen osana tematiikkaa edellyttää erilaisten sopimusten jatkuvuuteen sekä verotukseen liittyvien seikkojen huomioimisen tutkielmassa. Suurelta osin vero-oikeudellisista syistä tutkielma rajoittuu suomalaisiin listaamattomiin ja listattuihin osakeyhtiöihin, jotka eivät ole erityislainsäädännön piirissä.
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(2018)In recent years, European societies have been affected by processes of increased diversity and migration. This master’s thesis explores the involvement in the local civil society of migrants. It takes place within the context of organisations of multiethnic composition working for migrants’ conditions and/or rights in the capital cities of Helsinki in Finland and Athens in Greece, two European metropolitan areas with stark differences in their migration, integration, and civil society panorama. The main aim of the study is to investigate how individuals of migrant origin construct and present themselves as agents for civil society organisations. The theoretical framework for the research is informed by previous studies on social movements and the civil society, in particular the social psychological model by Klandermans and the corpus of research stemming from Goffman’s framing theory. Another central theoretical reference is Goffman’s impression management theory, not previously applied to this research area. Adopting a micro-social constructionist perspective, the theoretical concepts listed above are operationalized with the tools offered critical discursive psychology and positioning theory. The data consists of transcripts of semi-structured interviews with five participants in each city, active in different organisations and from different countries of origins. The analysis led to the individuation of three main self-presentation styles across the participants, varying on different dimensions including the fit between them and the organisation, their position towards the organisation’s team and towards its target – migrant communities. The three styles are: Team Player, Enterprising Leader, and Expert Critic. In light of the results, it can be argued that the participants all attempted to present themselves in a positive light as agents for the organisations. Plus, participants’ self-presentations were impacted on one side from their origin and the stereotypes attached to it, on the other from the dominant migration regime and its consequences for migrants and their integration at the local level. Over all, the analysis yields interesting insights on how societal, organisational, and personal characteristics impact the participation and position in the civil society for migrant actors.
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(2018)Tutkielmassa tarkastellaan sitä millä tavoin, ja miksi, bysanttilaista arkkitehtuuria kuvaillaan sekä tulkitaan 1700- luvulta 1900-luvun alkuun taidehistorian narratiiveissa. Tavoitteena on selvittää kuinka tulkinnat ja ymmärrys bysanttilaisesta arkkitehtuurista rakentuvat ja muuttuvat kyseisenä ajanjaksona. Tutkimusaineistona käytän eurooppalaisia 1700-1900 -lukujen matkakertomuksia, joita on 12 henkilöltä, sekä Bysanttia koskevaa nykytutkimuksen kirjallisuutta. Matkakertomuksista voi erottaa kuusi suomalaista ja ruotsalaista tekstiä, joiden merkitys korostuu pohjoismaisesta näkökulmasta kirjoitettuna. Käytän lisäksi aineistoja, jotka The Grand Tour merkittävänä matkailumuotona tuottaa 1600-1800 -luvuilla, sillä se osaltaan vaikuttaa ihmisten tapaan valita kohteita ja kokea niitä. Hyödynnän hermeneuttisen kehän prosessia käyttäen vertailevaa metodia, jonka tarkoituksena on saada eri tyyppiset tutkimusaineistot keskustelemaan keskenään, ja siten tuomaan ilmi eri aikakausien vaikutukset bysanttilaisen arkkitehtuurin tulkinnoissa. Tutkimus osoittaa, että 1700-luvun uusklassimi ja 1800-luvun romantiikka, sekä siitä vaikutteita ottava Arts & Crafts -liike, vaikuttavat suuresti aikalaisten tulkintaan arkkitehtuurista. Historiallisista rakennuksista joko etsitään klassisen arkkitehtuurin piirteitä tai niistä tehdään meditoinnin kohteita, eikä siksi synny minkäänlaista historiallista tai arkeologista kiinnostusta: tunteellis-esteettinen kokemus on riittävä. Vasta 1800- ja 1900-lukujen vaihteessa ilmenevät valmiudet analysoida bysanttilaista arkkitehtuuria omana itsenäisenä tyylinään, jonka seurauksena bysanttilainen arkkitehtuuri saa oman tunnustetun arvon. Matkakertomusten analysointi suhteessa nykytutkimukseen osoittaa, että Bysantin vahva kulttuurinen vaikutus Eurooppaan tunnetaan yleisesti jo 1700-luvulla. Sen sijaan bysanttilaisen arkkitehtuurin omaleimaisuutta ja itsenäisyyttä ei nähdä saati ymmärretä. 1800-luvun kiinnostus liittyy enemmänkin kulttuurisen yhteyden löytämiseen kuin ymmärtämiseen, jonka seurauksena bysanttilaisen arkkitehtuurin alle nimetään rakennuksia, joilla ei ole mitään tekemistä sen kanssa. Bysanttilaisen arkkitehtuurin tulkinta näyttää siten olevan tiiviisti sidoksissa vallitseviin ajatussuuntiin, tiedon määrään ja hegemonioihin läpi 1700- ja 1800-lukujen.
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(2007)In my master thesis I analyse Byzantine warfare in the late period of the empire. I use military operations between Byzantines and crusader Principality of Achaia (1259–83) as a case study. Byzantine strategy was based (in “oriental manner”) on using ambushes, diplomacy, surprise attacks, deception etc. Open field battles that were risky in comparison with their benefits were usually avoided, but the Byzantines were sometimes forced to seek open encounter because their limited ability to keep strong armies in field for long periods of time. Foreign mercenaries had important place in Byzantine armies and they could simply change sides if their paymasters ran out of resources. The use of mercenaries with short contracts made it possible that the composition of an army was flexible but on the other hand heterogeneous – in result Byzantine armies were sometimes ineffective and prone to confusion. In open field battles Byzantines used formation that was made out from several lines placed one after another. This formation was especially suitable for cavalry battles. Byzantines might have also used other kinds of formations. The Byzantines were not considered equal to Latins in close combat. West-Europeans saw mainly horse archers and Latin mercenaries on Byzantine service as threats to themselves in battle. The legitimacy of rulers surrounding the Aegean sea was weak and in many cases political intrigues and personal relationships can have resolved the battles. Especially in sieges the loyalty of population was decisive. In sieges the Byzantines used plenty of siege machines and archers. This made fast conquests possible, but it was expensive. The Byzantines protected their frontiers by building castles. Military operations against the Principality of Achaia were mostly small scale raids following an intensive beginning. Byzantine raids were mostly made by privateers and mountaineers. This does not fit to the traditional picture that warfare belonged to the imperial professional army. It’s unlikely that military operations in war against the Principality of Achaia caused great demographic or economic catastrophe and some regions in the warzone might even have flourished. On the other hand people started to concentrate into villages which (with growing risks for trade) probably caused disturbance in economic development and in result birth rates might have decreased. Both sides of war sought to exchange their prisoners of war. These were treated according to conventional manners that were accepted by both sides. It was possible to sell prisoners, especially women and children, to slavery, but the scale of this trade does not seem to be great in military operations treated in this theses.
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(2017)The purpose of this thesis is to compare the characters of David and Judith and particularly the notions of the ideal masculinities. The purpose is also to ask if the findings also reflect the general understanding of the Old Testament masculinities. The primary sources are the book of Judith, in particular the chapters 8-16 where Judith herself is acting and the 1. Samuel 16-18 where David is introduced for the first time. The main research questions are:1) What kind of similarities and differences can be found from these texts how they present gender and a relation to the ideal masculinities? 2) More importantly, how do these characters have been chosen to the role of hero(ine) when they do not resonate primarily with the ideal masculinity? The main reason why these two characters are chosen is their similar narrative elements and more importantly, the both characters represent the subordinate masculinities. The characters have to find alternative strategies in order to act unconventionally and to challenge the hegemonic power. Focusing on masculine and feminine qualities of the chosen characters, the presumption is that the construction of gender is embedded in the symbolical level of different cultures and can be analysed. The focus is on both female and male character, in particularly characters that do not fulfil the ideal hegemonic characteristics. The assumption is that this starting point will give a different view than if the focus was only on female characters or solely male characters. The main masculine ideals that are brought out from the source texts are beauty, persuasiveness and wisdom, prowess and courage in the battlefield and the divine masculinity. The conclusion shows that masculinity in the Old Testament is more complex than the masculinity theory normally suggests. The distinction between the hegemony and the subordinate masculinities varies a lot and the representatives in lower positions find their way to act against the unconventional roles. It is possible because the ultimate power is the divine power. God is unchanging representation of the hegemony who has power over human beings.
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(2016)The aim of this Master's thesis is to assess how the first criterion of the notion of State aid laid down in Article 107(1) TFEU, that of aid having been granted by the Member State or through State resources, is interpreted. The purpose is to assess what the basic rules governing the interpretation and application of the criterion are, how the criterion has been interpreted and applied in practice, and what problematic aspects and challenges the application of the criterion has brought about. Instead of attempting to identify an exhaustive list of aid schemes in which the assessment of the criterion has been relevant, the focus of this thesis is on its interpretation through a series of interesting categories of aid schemes and recent examples of cases. The analysis of the research question relies primarily on the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The main rule guiding the interpretation of the criterion is simple: it consists of two cumulative subconditions. In order to fulfil the public origin criterion, a measure must be imputable to the State and granted through State resources. The concept of State is interpreted broadly. Nevertheless, case law shows that the application of this test in practice is not necessarily as clear as it may seem. Although the Court of Justice of the European Union has rendered a number of significant judgments on the matter in recent years, what the first criterion of Article 107(1) TFEU actually means remains unclear. Aid schemes can be very complex in one way or another. For example, they might involve intermediary bodies or areas previously uncontested from the point of view of State intervention in terms of State aid control. Sometimes it can prove challenging to apply principles already laid down in case law to other schemes in a consistent manner. The difficulty of assessing public undertakings' actions in terms of the fulfilment of the criterion lies in the necessity of case-by-case assessments of whether the State has influenced an undertakings' actions. Applying the indicators for imputability in a clear, consistent and detailed way may prove challenging. It is evident that the issue of forgone revenue can be relevant in more creative schemes than one would think. The issue of private bodies and private resources involved in aid schemes is particularly problematic due to the fluctuating results it has led to and the seemingly illogical outcomes of cases with very similar circumstances and effects. One of the challenges regarding the interpretation of the criterion is finding a balance between the influence of the organisational model chosen by the State for the execution of an aid scheme and the influence of the effects of the measure on its categorisation as State aid. Another important issue surrounding the interpretation of the criterion is whether its second leg, the requirement of the use of State resources, should be abandoned. Nevertheless, no clear signs of a permanent shift towards this approach have been witnessed. For the moment, the general principles surrounding the interpretation of the criterion are not so clear as to remove the need for a detailed case-by-case analysis of whether measures fulfil the criterion or eliminate the risk of surprising results for stakeholders and Member States. Clearer guidance on the interpretation of the criterion would be more than welcome in order to improve legal certainty.
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(2016)Mitochondrion is an essential organelle capable to produce high amounts of energy from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). The organelle counts on its own set of mitoribosomes and quality control (QC) factors to efficiently translate the OXPHOS components encoded by the mitochondrial DNA. Organelle dysfunction leads to development of mitochondrial diseases, which show a wide variety of symptoms and poor prognosis. ybeY is a highly conserved gene amongst prokaryotes that acts as factor for maturation and QC of bacterial ribosome. The ybeY-homolog C21orf57 is found remarkably conserved in eukaryotes, but its role in mammalian cells is completely unknown. In this study we characterised the mouse gene C21orf57 (mYBEY) in mammalian cells. mYBEY is transcribed at low levels in mouse tissues, where nervous tissue, skeletal and cardiac muscle show relatively higher amounts of mYBEY transcript. Endogenous mYbey protein could not be detected immunoblot due to its low expression level and/or rapid protein turnover. In parallel, mYBEY was cloned and successfully expressed in mammalian cells using transient and stable expression methodologies. We discovered that mYbey is imported into mitochondria and not covalently associated with mitoribosomes. Interestingly, protein translation stress and mitoribosome decay promoted by actinonin treatment is accompanied by a decrease in mYbey protein. In addition, depletion of mYbey using iRNA promotes the accumulation of mitoribosome proteins. We hypothesise a model in which mYbey is part of a QC mechanism for mitoribosome, and possibly involved with mitoribosome turnover. Although we successfully deleted mYBEY gene in mouse embryonic fibroblasts using the CRISPR/Cas9 approach, the isolation of viable mYBEY knock-out cells was not possible due to the possible deleterious and/or suppressive effects. In conclusion, we verified for the first time that mYbey is located within mammalian mitochondria and may be involved in a possible QC mechanism as a factor recruited for mitoribosome turnover. Further studies are necessary to fully elucidate the role of mYbey in the mitochondrial context.
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(2021)Kirjallisuuskatsauksessa käydään läpi erilaisia menetelmiä C3-substituoitujen indolien synteeseihin 2-alkenyylianiliinityyppisistä lähtöaineista, joiden bentsyylinen asema oli substituoitu. Erityistä huomiota kiinnitetään menetelmiin, joiden reaktiomekanismeiksi ehdotettiin radikaalimekanismeja. Myös näitä ehdotettuja radikaalimekanismeja esitellään tutkielmassa. Kokeellisessa työssä tutkittiin C3-subsituoitujen indolien hapettavaa synteesiä hiilikatalyytin avulla. Lähtöaineina käytettiin bentsyylisesti aryylisubstituoituja 2-alkenyylianiliinijohdannaisia. Joidenkin lähtöaineiden typpeen oli kiinnitetty metoksipyridiini, jonka kiinnitystä varten kehitettiin Buchwald-katalyysi. Hiilikatalyysit tuottivat hyviä saantoja. Korkea elektronitiheys, etenkin aniliinin bentseenirenkaan ja/tai typen aromaattisen substituentin korkea elektronitiheys, oli eduksi. Reaktion mekanismin ehdotetaan alkavan hapettumisella radikaalikationiksi, ja näitä hapetuspotentiaaleja laskettiin aiemmin raportoidun menetelmän mukaisesti. Mikäli indolin 5-renkaan substituutiot (N1, C2, C3) olivat tarpeeksi samankaltaisia, korkea elektronitiheys, matala hapetuspotentiaali ja hyvä saanto korreloivat. Indolin 5-renkaan substituutio on kuitenkin merkittävämpi tekijä kuin hapetuspotentiaali ja/tai korkea elektronitiheys. Pyridiini typen suojaryhmänä toimi katalyysissä ja se onnistuttiin poistamaan helposti. Metoksipyridiini toimi katalyysissä hyvin, mutta sen kvantitatiivinen poistaminen ei onnistunut.
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(2013)Tutkielma on rakenteeltaan kaksiosainen. Kirjallisuustutkimus on tehty Helsingin yliopistossa ja kokeellinen tutkimus Espanjassa (Universidad Complutense de Madrid). Tästä johtuen ensimmäinen osa on kirjoitettu suomeksi ja toinen osa englanniksi. Kirjallisuuskatsauksessa perehdytään C6-substituoitujen pyrimidiininukleosidien valmistukseen. C6-substituoiduilla pyrimidiininukleosideilla on havaittu olevan monia erilaisia biologisia vaikutuksia. C6-substituoiduista pyrmidiininukleosideista ei ole kovin paljon julkaisuja johtuen synteettisten keinojen vähäisyydestä. C6-substituoituja pyrimidiininukleosideja voidaan valmistaa joko yhdistämällä C6-substituoitu silyloitu emäs ja suojattu sokeri tai muokkaamalla suoraan valmiin nukleosidin C6-asemaa. Happamissa olosuhteissa glykosylaatioreaktiolla valmistettujen C6-substituoitujen pyrimidiininukleosidien saantoa voidaan parantaa käyttämällä Friedel-Crafts-katalyyttejä ja suojaamalla emäksen N3-asema. Glykosylaatioreaktiolla valmistettujen pyrimidiininukleosidien C6-asemassa olevat substituentit ovat yleensä pieniä ryhmiä. Valmiin pyrimidiininukleosidin C6-aseman muokkaukseen on useita keinoja, joista palladiumkatalyytit tarjoavat yhden tehokkaimmista keinoista liittää esimerkiksi aryyliryhmiä C6-asemaan. Muokkaamalla valmista nukleosidia vältetään myös glykosylaatioreaktiossa syntyvien N3-isomeerien muodostuminen. Joidenkin substituenttien kohdalla havaittiin N-glykosidisidoksen hajoamista. Kokeellisen tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli valmistaa uusia asymmetrisessä katalyysissä käytettäviä kiraalisia kamferijohdannaisia ligandeja. Kahden kamferijohdannaisen ligandin valmistuksessa saatiin valmistettua lupaavia välituotteita. Kolme polyhydroksyloitunutta norbornaani- johdannaista eivät toimineet kiraalisina ligandeina vaan tuottivat raseemisen seoksen.
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(2023)Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are derived from adult differentiated somatic cells and reprogrammed to an embryonic-like state. Pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into almost any somatic cell type by using directed differentiation methods, but the differentiation efficiency often varies depending on the cell type. hiPSCs and cells differentiated from them can be used as a disease model carrying the patient’s phenotype and genotype. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor neuron disease where both upper and lower motor neurons degenerate, leading to paralysis. There is no curative treatment for ALS, and it leads to the death of the patient in 3 to 5 years on average from the first symptoms. The most common genetic cause of familial ALS is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9orf72-gene. ALS pathology is strongly linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which affects cell homeostasis and proteostasis, and leads to apoptosis when prolonged. The primary aim of this research is to characterize the differentiation of four hiPSCs lines towards lower motor neurons and to study the neuroprotective effects of cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) and CDNF-derived peptide on ER stress and cell viability. This experiment used two control cell lines from two healthy donors and two patient cell lines from two different ALS patients carrying the C9orf72-mutation. To evaluate the efficiency of the differentiation towards motor neurons, molecular markers for pluripotent and neural progenitor cells as well as for maturated motor neurons were analyzed. Relative gene expression levels were measured from weekly time points with qPCR. Immunocytochemical (ICC) antibody staining was performed during differentiation. Endogenic CDNF levels were analyzed from differentiating cells at weekly time points and the effect of CDNF on Thapsigargin (TG) -induced ER stress in motor neurons was analyzed. In addition, cell viability was analyzed in TG-CDNF treatment. All pluripotent and progenitor markers were downregulated in differentiated cells, and the expression of the mature motor neuron markers was upregulated. Mature motor neuron markers were also expressed at the protein level. The endogenous CDNF levels were highest at the progenitor cell stage. The ER stress response was upregulated in TG-treated cells, and there were no differences between treatments against ER stress. Furthermore, TG and growth factor treatments differentially affected the viability of the control and patient cell lines. Treatment decreased viability in control cell lines and increased viability in patient cell lines. Pluripotent stem cells were successfully differentiated toward motor neurons. The differentiation was performed twice, and the results were similar on both individual biological repeats. Analysis of endogenous CDNF expression levels was performed for the first time on hiPSCs lines. In this study, CDNF or its derivate didn’t reduce ER stress but it influenced cell viability, especially in patient cell lines with growth factor treatment. In the future, TG-treatment could be optimized regarding timing and growth factor treatment, or the toxin could be changed to another ER-stress inducing toxin. In addition, the C9orf72 pathology should be identified in order to use differentiated motor neurons as a pre-clinical disease model.
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(2020)Wines are treated to ensure their quality and preservation in the winemaking process. Treatments also have their drawbacks. Premium winemakers have often avoided filtration because it is supposed to cause a loss of taste. Sulfurization of wine is important, for example, for microbiological quality, but it is assumed to reduce the fruity aroma of wines. The purpose of the literature section was to investigate in general the effects of the wine-making process on the volatile compounds of wines. The interest was to find out what happens in winemaking and what compounds are formed at different stages of the process. The literature section also looked at volatile compounds, their analytics and SPME technology. The aim of the experimental part of the work was to develop a research method using headspace-solidphasemicroextraction-gaschromatography-massspectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) technology and to find out the aroma composition and possible differences of the receiving sample and the bag-in box (BIB) -packaged wine. Indicator compounds for volatile compounds were determined from Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines using the HS-SPME-GC-MS method developed for the study of Cabernet Sauvignon wine. In the optimization of the method, the functionality of SPME fibers, the GC temperature program and the sample preparation were studied. Receipt, tank, and BIB packaging samples were collected for examination of the wines. The samples were analyzed by HS-SPME-GC-MS and the results were processed by principal component analysis (PCA) as well as other statistical methods. Receipt and BIB packaging samples from Cabernet Sauvignon wine were not divided into clear groups based on PCA. The model best describing the changes in the compounds was achieved with the profile of volatile compounds: ethyl acetate, 1-propanol, isoamyl alcohol, 2-methylbutanol, butanoic acid ethyl ester, isoamyl acetate, hexanol, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid ethyl ester and octanoic acid. In Cabernet Sauvignon wine, almost all the amounts of volatile compounds remained fairly constant as the process progressed. In 1-propanol, ethyl ester of butanoic acid and ethyl ester of octanoic acid, a decrease in the amount was observed between the receipt sample and the BIB packaging sample. In contrast, the amount of 2-methylbutanol and octanoic acid increased when receiving and BIB packaging samples were compared. Receipt and BIB packaging samples of Chardonnay wine were distinguished by PCA. The model best describing the changes in the compounds was achieved with the profile of volatile compounds: ethyl acetate, isoamyl alcohol, 3-methylbutanol, 2-methylbutanol, butanoic acid ethyl ester, isoamyl acetate, hexanol, hexanoic acid, benzene alcohol, octanoic acid ethyl ester, octanoic acid ethyl ester, octanoic acid ethyl ester. The amounts of volatile compounds studied in Chardonnay wine remained fairly constant. Octanoic acid ethyl ester, benzyl alcohol and decanoic acid decreased as the process. The results of the study show that the wine processing process affects the flavorings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wine. The HS-SPME-GC-MS method showed a reduction in several compounds, but previous studies have shown that this change has not been detected by sensory evaluation.
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(Helsingin yliopistoUniversity of HelsinkiHelsingfors universitet, 2004)
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(2023)Ce mémoire de master étudie deux phénomènes de contact de langues, les emprunts linguistiques et l’alternance codique, dans les vidéos YouTube. L’objectif de cette étude est d’identifier les occurrences d’anglais dans le corpus, de les classifier et de les analyser. Nous examinons quelles sont les différences d’emprunts et d’alternance codique du point de vue quantitatif, quels types d’emprunts et d’alternance codique se trouvent dans le corpus étudié et comment la présence de l’anglais de manifeste dans les vidéos YouTube françaises et québécoises. Le corpus est constitué de vidéos YouTube de type vlog. Comme l’objectif de cette étude est de comparer l’utilisation de l’anglais dans les vidéos québécoises et françaises, des vidéos issues de ces deux pays ont été choisies. Le corpus inclut six créatrices de contenu, trois au Québec et trois en France. Par youtubeuse, nous avons sélectionné entre 34 et 48 minutes de vidéos, soit au total 4 heures, 9 minutes et 22 secondes de vidéo. L’étude combine l’analyse quantitative et l’analyse qualitative. Les emprunts sont rangés soit dans la catégorie d’emprunts établis, soit dans celle d’emprunts spontanés. Les alternances codiques sont classes en alternances extra-phrastiques, interphrastiques et intraphrastiques. L’étude se situe dans les domaines d’étude de la sociolinguistique et de la lexicologie. L’étude démontre qu’il y a plus d’énoncés en anglais dans les vidéos québécoises que dans les vidéos françaises. C’est le cas pour les emprunts et les alternances codiques. Sur un total de 1840 mots prononcés en anglais, 94,2 %, ou 1734 mots, viennent des vidéos québécoises. 5,8 %, ou 106 des mots prononcés en anglais, viennent des vidéos françaises. Nous avons trouvé 173 occurrences d’emprunts au total dans les vidéos québécoises, et 70 occurrences d’emprunts dans les vidéos françaises. L’analyse des alternances codiques montre qu’il y a plus d’alternance codique dans les vidéos québécoises du corpus étudié, comparé aux vidéos françaises. Nous avons pu identifier 1561 mots prononcés en alternance codique dans les vidéos québécoises, contre seulement 36 mots dans les vidéos françaises. L’étude montre que le contact de langues ne peut pas être évité. En examinant les vidéos issues de deux pays francophones, nous pouvons voir que les marques transcodiques sont observés dans le langage quotidien des youtubeuses québécoises et françaises, et que l’emprunt linguistique et l’alternance codique sont trouvés en abondance dans le corpus étudié. En tenant compte des dimensions sociolinguistiques du corpus examiné, l’étude montre que l’utilisation de l’anglais fonctionne comme une construction d’identité de youtubeur.euses et un signe d’appartenance au groupe social des jeunes.
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(2012)In analysis of structural information for transmembrane (TM) proteins it is ideal to work with a three-dimensional (3D) structure. This is not always possible as determining an accurate 3D structure can be challenging and expensive as pursuing one can take large amounts of time. Sequence analysis is often used as a surrogate to determine a subset of information regarding secondary and tertiary protein structure given the primary structure (an amino acid sequence). Using Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter member 1 (ENT1) as a model, the objective of predicting secondary and tertiary structure given primary structure is attempted through computational (in silico) methods. The in silico methods include the use of a pipeline of programs spanning both custom made and ready built software. A set of 2034 homologous protein sequences are first obtained from the initial human ENT1 (hENT1) sequence through a BLASTp. This sequence information is then processed to acquire information on variation, conservation, and hydrophobicity through topology prediction, hydropathic moment plots and variation moment plots. Comparing these results with data acquired from Glycerol-3-Phosphate Transporter (GlpT), a protein with a known 3D structure of 3.3 Angstrom resolution is done to assess evidence of evolutionary origin. This in turn allows estimation on the reliability of predictions to be made on aspects of the secondary and tertiary structure for hENT1. The results show that within predicted TM alpha helical regions that there is some level of correlation between the variation of the amino acids within the alpha helical TM region and its orientation towards the membrane. This can be further refined by gathering statistics on other known proteins with a 3D structure for their relationships in TM regions to hydrophobicity and variability. This will aid in secondary and tertiary structure predictions of other TM proteins given further refinement and additional data. In addition, the sequence conservation information obtained should prove to be robust and allow for a large number of sequences to be analyzed to determine conservation of amino acids given a reference protein. Ideally this information will provide aid in determining interesting amino acids for experiments to be done on hENT1.
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(2023)Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) estimate the genetic risk of an individual for a certain polygenic disease trait by summing up the effects of multiple variants across the genome affecting the disease risk. Currently, polygenic risk scores (PRSs) are calculated from imputed array genotyping data which is inexpensive to produce use and has standard procedures and pipelines available. However, genotyping arrays are prone to ascertainment bias, which can also lead to biased PRS results in some populations. If PRSs are utilized in healthcare for screening rare diseases, usage of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) instead of array genotyping is desirable, because also individual samples can be analyzed easily. While high-coverage WGS is still significantly more expensive than array genotyping, low-coverage whole genome sequencing (lcWGS) with imputation has been proposed as an alternative for genotyping arrays. In this project, the utility of imputed low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (lcWGS) data in PRS estimation compared to genotyping array data and the impact of the choice of imputation tool for lcWGS data was studied. Down-sampled WGS data with six different low coverages (0.1x-2x) was used to represent lcWGS data. Two different pipelines were used in genotype imputation and haplotype phasing: in the first one, pre-phasing and imputation were performed directly for the genotype likelihoods (GLs) calculated from the down-sampled data, whereas in the second one, the GLs were converted to genotype calls before imputation and phasing. In both pipelines, PRS for 27 disease phenotypes were calculated from the imputed and phased lcWGS data. Imputation and PRS calculation accuracy of the two pipelines were calculated in relation to both genotyping array and high-coverage whole-genome sequencing (hcWGS) data. In both pipelines, imputation and PRS calculation accuracy increased when the down-sampled coverage increased. The second imputation and phasing pipeline lead to better results in both imputation and PRS calculation accuracy. Some differences in PRS accuracy between different phenotypes were also detected. The results show similar patterns to what is seen in other similar publications. However, not quite as high imputation and PRS accuracy as seen in earlier studies could be attained, but possible limitations leading to lower accuracy could be identified. The results also emphasize the importance of choosing suitable imputation and phasing methods for lcWGS data and suggest that methods and pipelines designed particularly for lcWGS should be developed and published.
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