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Outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism have increased during the last ten years. In addition, the interest towards national parks has grown, which can be seen also as an increasing trend in the development of the number of visits to national parks. The aim of this thesis is to explain the cross-sectional variation in the visitation data representing different parks and hiking areas. Another aim is to explore the question of why the visitation in national parks has increased in Finland. These questions are studied separately for the national parks and hiking areas, because the development of the number of visits in national parks and hiking areas has been different. In addition, the separation is made also between Southern Finland and Northern Finland due to for example the size differences and close link of the national parks in Northern Finland with the ski-resort centers. Explanatory factors are divided into supply side factors (services inside and outside the park) and demand side factors (economic and demographics factors). The data is a panel data, including all national parks and hiking areas in the time period 2000?2008. The one-way fixed effects model is used in the regression analysis. According to results the land area of the park, services inside the park and population size seemed to have positive effects on the number of visits. Income per capita had negative impact on the visits. In Southern Finland the size of the age-class 65?74 affected positively the number of visits, whereas the effect of gasoline price was negative. Used time period was short due to the lack of appropriate data. Thus, the results reflect more the cross-sectional variation between parks. Results can be used in the planning of the management of national parks and hiking areas.

Background Delayed graft function (DGF) after kidney transplantation is common and is associated with worse graft outcomes and a higher risk for acute rejection. However, little is known about factors affecting graft survival post-DGF. We studied the association of cold ischemia time (CIT) and Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) with the long-term outcomes of deceased brain-dead donor kidneys with and without DGF. Methods Consecutive brain-dead donor kidney transplantations performed in Finland between 5/2004-12/2019 were analyzed. Multivariable models were used to study the association of KDPI and CIT with the graft survival of kidneys with early graft function (EF) or DGF. To confirm the finding in a US cohort, data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) registry (n=79224) was used. Results A total of 2637 kidney transplantations from the Finnish cohort were included, of which 849 (32%) had DGF. DGF was an independent risk factor for graft loss in the multivariable model, HR 1.32 (95% CI 1.14-1.53), p < 0.001. CIT was not an independent risk factor for graft survival in the multivariable model HR 1.00 per CIT hour (95% CI 0.99-1.02), p= 0.84, and the association of DGF remained similar regardless of the CIT length. KDPI was an independent risk factor for graft survival in the multivariable model HR 1.01 (95% CI 1.01-1.01), p <0.001, but the association of DGF remained similar regardless of KDPI. In the US cohort, the results were similar, but the association of DGF with the risk of graft loss was stronger with higher KDPI. Conclusions DGF and KDPI, but not CIT, are independently associated with kidney graft survival. The magnitude of the association of DGF with worse kidney graft survival is similar with different CITs, but higher among high KDPI kidneys.

Direct investments are considered the main source of economic growth and are desirable for countries. Factors driving the geographical distribution of direct investments are unknown. Many forest investments are directed to plantations, which have expanded rapidly during the past two decades. The global forestry scheme is changing; until 1990, developed countries accounted for almost all investments. Since then, developing countries have started to employ them at an accelerating rate. The major changes in a world economy are likely to drive this trend in the future. To assess factors contributing to investment in forest plantation, we drew from methods used by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), which developed a forest attractiveness index (IAIF) to ?measure the business climate to sustainable forest business?. In this research, several multiple linear regression models were developed to examine the effects of different variables. As well, different macro-economic, institutional, and forest-sector factors were considered the main components that drive forest plantation development. Factors attracting direct investment in forest plantations are different on a global scale, in developed and developing countries. Therefore, some general trends can be identified: Macro-economic factors are important. Foreign direct investment inflows and area of planted forests are positively correlated, indicating that the investment behavior of forestry investors is not significantly different from other investors‘. Other significant factors are GDP and the exchange rate. GDP was positively correlated with the area of planted forests. Weak currency is desirable in OECD countries, and a strong currency is favorable for plantation investments in non-OECD countries. Institutional factors were not significant, which suggests investments occur despite the country challenges. The human development index was the most significant factor in this category. The human development index had a negative effect on the area of planted forests. The more developed a country, the fewer plantations. The forest-sector factors were the most important factors that determine plantation investment attractiveness. Production capacity and productivity were globally significant. Productivity was not significant in non-OECD countries, which may have equally beneficial circumstances for tree growth. Macro-economic factors are important especially in these countries. The results suggest macro-economic and forestry factors are key determinants of investment attractiveness in forestry. Macro-economic factors cannot be affected by investors. Forestry-factors can be affected by country level decision making. Investors can choose between countries, and sometimes affect these factors. These results may be useful to firms considering foreign direct investment and to policy makers in potential destination countries.

Within the last forty years, capital has increased its share of national income at the expense of labour across developed and developing economies, with few exceptions. The trajectory has been successfully linked to technological change, globalisation and the erosion of the bargaining power of employees in theoretical and empirical examinations. Due to short time series, it has remained unclear whether the increase in capital share is a consequence of modern trends, such as hyperglobalisation or the ICT-boom. Recognizing the mechanisms behind the increase is worthwhile from the social planner’s viewpoint, because of factor shares’ connection with personal income inequality and unemployment, both triggers of social unrest. This thesis examines the connection between labour income share and its potential determinants in Finnish industry, namely technological change, globalisation, union power, devaluations, capital mobility and public expenditure between 1907 and 2015. The main empirical strategy used was the fixed effects regression, where the first three aforementioned determinants were proxied with capital intensity, total factor productivity (TFP), import and export exposure, union density and the number of strike days per worker, while controlling for branch fixed effects, common national trends and branch-specific trends. The last three country-level determinants were studied using time series analysis. The primary data source was Bank of Finland’s Growth studies, which was complemented with the data in various volumes of the Official Statistics of Finland, in addition to selected separate publications. According to the results, technological change has a negative effect on labour share, while union power and import exposure have a positive impact. Periodizing, the increase in capital intensity can more than explain the decrease in labour share from 1907 to 1943. Between 1943 and 1991 the quadrupling of union density accounts around a third of the 28.2 percentage point increase in labour share. From 1991 to 2007, the acceleration of TFP growth rate can predict around 60% of the 23.7 percentage point decline in labour share. The findings suggest, that technology is the key driver of functional income distribution also in the long-term, which complements its importance in the recent increase in capital shares, covered in previous research. Moreover, in the early 20th century technology appears to have worked more as a substitute for labour, while after mid-century it has become rather complementary and efficiency-improving. In addition, the ICT era has brought along an increase in market concentration, implying that technology operates also potentially through rising economic rents. Union power had a non-trivial role in inflating labour share during the post-WWII decades. Finally, import exposure has increased labour share presumably by squeezing profits, but its significance is overshadowed by the other covariates.

White matter (WM) structural connectivity alterations have been linked to depression. This study aimed to identify structural connectivity metrics associated with Major depressive disorder (MDD) and predictive of different symptom phenotypes. The study sample included N=29 control and N=86 subjects with MDD who underwent a clinical interview, Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), and assessment of depression symptoms severity. Using a 3T MRI scanner, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was employed to capture WM connectivity markers at baseline. While no distinct differences between control and MDD groups were observed at the whole-brain network level, significant alterations were evident at the node level. Clinical group demonstrated enhanced connectivity, particularly in the DefaultB and LimbicB subsystems, as evidenced by measures such as eigenvector centrality. Furthermore, notable differences were observed in clustering coefficient and local efficiency, predominantly in DefaultB, LimbicB, and VisPeri networks, with MDD patients showing higher connectivity. Analysis of the association between WM structural connectivity measures, both global (e.g. global efficiency) and local (e.g. clustering coefficient) with MDD symptom scores and related symptoms, revealed no significant correlation at the whole-brain level, both at baseline and post-intervention. Distinct patterns were identified when evaluating node-level metrics averaged across networks, which together with group differences, point to MDD patients exhibiting characteristics consistent with regular networks. Hierarchical clustering based on standardized baseline DTI structural connectivity within the clinical cohort revealed three distinct clusters of MDD patients, with the first cluster exhibiting a higher WHO-5 score, indicating a potential association with better well-being. These findings provide insight into MDD-specific brain regions’ structural alterations and underscore the heterogeneity of depression symptom profiles. Further research is needed, including a higher sample size and control for confounding factors.

Mortality is one of the main criteria in the evaluation of burn centre effectiveness. Different scoring systems predict mortality, the main variables being age, TBSA and inhalation injury. This retrospective study was conducted on 170 consecutive patients treated in the Helsinki Burn Centre and individual factors affecting mortality were assessed. The applicability of the Baux and ABSI scales was also evaluated. The mortality rate of the 147 actively treated patients was 19.7%. 23 patients were directed into palliative care within 48 hours. The non-survivors had a significantly higher mean age, proportion of women, mean TBSA, prevalence of inhalation injury and Baux and ABSI values than the survivors. Age, gender and TBSA were significant predictive factors. The Baux and ABSI scoring systems were statistically significant and specific in the prediction of mortality. No patients with a Baux score > 112 or an ABSI score ≥ 12 survived.

Lukuharrastus tai lukemisesta kiinnostuminen on tärkeä ominaisuus yliopisto-opiskelijoilla. Tämän tutkielman tarkoitus on tutkia eri tekijöitä, jotka vaikuttavat englantia vieraana kielenä (EFL: English as a Foreign Language) opiskelevien yliopisto-opiskelijoiden kiinnostukseen lukemista kohtaan. Tutkimuksen kohteena ovat Kurdistanin alueellisen hallinnon yliopistoissa opiskelevat opiskelijat. Kurdistanin alueellinen hallinto tunnetaan myös nimellä “Irakin Kurdistan”, sillä se koostuu maantieteellisesti Irakin pohjoisosassa sijaitsevasta kurdien itsehallintoalueesta. Tutkielmassa kuvataan lukuisia eri tekijöitä, jotka voivat vaikuttaa opiskelijoiden lukuintoon. Näihin lukeutuvat esimerkiksi yliopiston kirjaston tarjonta ja asema sekä yliopiston luennoitsijoiden vastuu, jotka molemmat näyttävät aineiston valossa olevan tärkeitä tekijöitä lukuharrastuksen ylläpitämisessä ja kasvattamisessa. Tutkielman aiheen avaamiseksi tekstissä esitellään aiempia tutkimuksia liittyen lukemiseen, lukemisen kulttuuriin sekä kirjaston asemaan. Tutkielmassa käytetään sekä kvantitatiivisia että kvalitatiivisia menetelmiä aineiston analysoinnissa. Tutkielman aineisto koostuu online-kyselystä, johon vastasivat eri Kurdistanin yliopistoissa opiskelevat henkilöt. Kyselyssä on kolme eri osiota, joissa opiskelijat vastaavat kysymyksiin liittyen lukutottumuksiinsa sekä aineistojen saatavuuteen. Aineistona käytetään myös kolmea haastattelua, joissa haastateltavina oli yliopissa eri nimikkeillä työskenteleviä henkilöitä, mm. luennoitsija ja kirjastonhoitaja. Heidän osaltaan kysymyksissä keskitytään siihen, miksi opiskelijoiden lukuinto on alhainen. Tutkimustulokset tarjoavat luotettavan kuvauksen alueella vallitsevasta ongelmasta. Aineiston pohjalta huomataan, että opiskelijat ovat kiinnostuneita lukemisesta ja lukevat mielellään vapaa-ajallaan, mutta aineiston saannin vaikeus vaikuttaa kielteisesti opiskelijoiden motivaatioon. Vastaajien vastausten pohjalta on huomattavaa, että kirjastot eivät tarjoa tarpeeksi luettavaa eivätkä tarjoa myöskään tarpeeksi luotettavaa materiaalia akateemisesta näkökulmasta.

Tutkimus käsittelee Fagerön saarella Sipoon ulkosaaristossa sijainnutta tuulivoimalla toiminutta hienoteräistä sahaa. Saha oli suunnitellun 33 teollisuuslaitoksen kompleksin ainoa totetunut osa. Fagerön saha oli yksi nykyisen Suomen alueen ensimmäisistä hienoteräisistä sahoista ja tutkimuksen tavoitteena onkin selvittää, miten saha uudenlaisena teollisuuslaitoksena sopeutui lähiympäristöönsä ja miten sen naapurit suhtautuivat siihen. Saha perustettiin 1720-luvun lopulla ja se jatkoi toimintaansa vuoteen 1743, jolloin sodan aikana venäläiset tuhosivat sen. Lähteinä on käytetty sahan rakentajien Carl Fredrik ja Magnus Otto Nordenbergin kirjeenvaihtoa, Helsingin kaupungin maistraatin kirjeenvaihtoa ja kokousten pöytäkirjoja, Helsingin kaupungin valtiopäivävalituksia, Sipoon käräjien pöytäkirjoja sekä Uudenmaan lääninhallituksen kanslian sahoja ja myllyjä koskeneita asiakirjoja. Tutkimus on luonteeltaan taloushistoriallinen. Fagerön saha ajautui nopeasti perustamisensa jälkeen konfliktiin lähimmän tapulikaupunkinsa Helsingin kanssa. Aluksi konflikti koski puutavarakauppaa. Helsingissä harjoitettiin palkkikauppaa hollantilaisten kanssa, kyseessä oli puun myyminen raaka-aineeksi hollantilaisiin sahoihin. Vallassa olleen merkantilistisen näkemyksen mukaan raaka-aineiden vienti ei ollut suotavaa, vaan viennin tuli keskittyä jalostettuihin tuotteisiin. Sahat tarjosivat vientiin valmiiksi jalostetun tuotteen, joten merkantilistinen keskushallinto alkoi suosimaan sahoja palkkikaupan kustannuksella. Fagerön sahan omistajat kuuluivat tukholmalaiseen virkamieseliittiin, ja vähentääkseen kilpailua sahan lähialueen metsävaroista nämä pyrkivät vaikuttamaan keskushallintoon sahojen suosimiseksi palkkikaupan kustannuksella. Lopulta Helsingin palkkikauppa kiellettiinkin kokonaan. Helsingin kaupungin ja Fagerön sahan riidat eivät loppuneet palkkikaupan myötä. Fagerön sahan omistajat myivät ilman välikäsiä valmistamansa lankut suoraan ulkomaille, mikä oli kiellettyä, sillä vienti oli tapulikaupunkien porvariston yksinoikeus. Lisäksi Fageröllä maksettiin puuta sahalle toimittaville ja työtä tekeville talonpojille näiden tarvitsemalla tavaralla, mikä myös oli kiellettyä, tavarakauppa oli sekin porvariston yksinoikeus. Sahanomistajilla, jotka eivät kuuluneet porvaristoon, ei ollut oikeutta maksaa tavaralla talonpojille, vaan vain rahalla. Helsingin porvaristo valitti usein keskushallintoon sahan laittomasta toiminnasta ja vetosi valituksissaan porvariston ja kaupunkien oikeuksiin ja lainsäädäntöön. Fagerön omistajat taas pyrkivät saamaan sahalleen poikkeusoikeuden tai privilegion vientiin ja tavarakauppaan talonpoikaiston kanssa vedoten sahan hyödyllisyyteen metsävarojen hyödyntäjänä ja puun jalostajana. Tässä konfliktissä Helsingin kaupungin edut veivät voiton sahan eduista ja laiton tavarakauppa ja vienti kiellettiin, mikä vaikutti negatiivisesti sahan kannattavuuteen. Asia oli Helsingin kannalta hyvin tärkeä, sillä jos Fagerön sahalla olisi ollut oikeus normaalisti kiellettyyn kauppaan, olisi siitä tullut ennakkotapaus ja kaikki muut alueen sahat olisivat vaatineet samanlaisia oikeuksia. Tämä olisi ollut tuhoisaa kaupungin kannalta, sillä vaikka alueella oli runsaasti sahoja, eivät nämä olleet helsinkiläisten omistuksessa. Sen sijaan mitään suurempia riitoja Fageröllä ei ollut välittömien naapuriensa kanssa. Saha sijaitsi saarella, eikä siksi häirinnyt ketään. Mitään kilpailevia teollisuuslaitoksia ei alueella ollut. Ainoat valitukset tulivat siitä, että tukkien uitto sahalle vaurioitti rantatiluksia ja kalavesiä.

Pharmaceutical companies are required to comply with fair market guidelines and regulations. However, definition of fair market value (FMV) in clinical trial is not unambiguous. In literature are some suggestions how to determine the phenomenon of FMV in clinical trial. Understanding the FMV and how it should be applied into practice when conducting clinical research is challenging. This study provides more focused information on FMV in clinical trials and its determination. FMV should be determined for research-related activities in clinical drug research. FMV of research related activities can be consistent if similar sites are performing similarly conducted studies for similar sponsors. Therapeutic area and geographical location of the trial site can also influence for the FMV. This study was performed in co-operation with Roche. The aim of the study was create a consistent and transparent method to assist in the determination of FMV in medical drug research in relation to the payments paid by the sponsor to the sites. Clinical trial agreements (CTA) and associated agreements were analysed to investigate FMV of research-related activities by study site, study type, therapeutic area and geographical area. Average price and price range of each research-related activity from previous CTAs and associated agreements of Roche Finland was calculated. Based on available data from literature and study results research-related activities and factors affecting to the FMV of clinical trials were discussed to create comprehensive understanding of FMV in clinical drug research. Based on this study average price of the specific research-related activities can be different by therapy area, site, study type and geographical area. All these factors are relevant when assessing FMV of specific research-related activity. Studied therapy area and site seems to have the most important impact when evaluating FMV. For some research-related activities such as national coordinator investigator (NCI) fee price ranges could be very big whereas in other research-related activities such as pharmacy fees prices could be quite similar. Some research-related activities were very study specific which affected evaluation of those activities. CTAs and associated agreements are valid documents to gather information assessing FMV of research-related activities in medical drug research. Average price and price range of the research related activity can be used when assessing FMV in medical drug research. However, price of the specific research-related activity need to be evaluated considering the studied therapy area, site, study type and geographical area.

Commodity chain data transparency is a growing phenomenon in public discussion and in the private sector. It is an essential way for companies and certification schemes to express their sustainability efforts and values. However, commodity chain data can include questions of power and information asymmetry which can affect the commodity chain stakeholders, such as the producers and the consumers. The Fairtrade movement is known as the defender of the small-scale producers in the so-called Global South and which aims to reduce global poverty. This research focuses on the Fairtrade certified coffee commodity chain data and examines what kind of challenges and needs the commodity chain stakeholders have in terms of data transparency and what potential benefits they receive. The stakeholders include consumers, producers and coffee buying companies. This research relies on the Global Value Chain -framework and examines the commodity chain data in light of power asymmetries. The purpose is to provide a multifaceted review about the questions of commodity chain data and Fairtrade. This research uses qualitative, semi-structured interviews which were conducted with seven participants from different backgrounds, such as the private sector and organizations. Additionally, some complementary data was collected from Fairtrade International and FLOCERT’s websites. The data was analyzed through the lens of qualitative content analysis. The central findings are Fairtrade commodity chain data related challenges, such as confidentiality, information gaps and the different needs of the stakeholders. These somewhat conflicting needs make it difficult to set a level of transparency that would meet the needs of all the stakeholders which in turn provides limited benefits. Nevertheless, despite challenges, Fairtrade is seen as a valid partner, expressing a wider societal significance. When considering commodity chain data transparency, it is important to ask whose interests the data represent. The central conclusion is that the benefits of commodity chain data transparency depend on how well they meet the needs of the stakeholders.