Kuuluvuspaigad: ajaloo taasloomine

Folklorists have long been aware that place names hold the memory of historically significant people and events. The landscape laden with inherited meanings is marked by names and objects and recreated constantly by narration functions as the map of historical memory in a detailed way for a culture extracting its livelihood from nature. Sacrificial places are not only remembered, but are - at least in Shuryshkar - in active use. They are the meeting points for the human and non-human world. The multiplicity of such mental maps reflects the many-sidedness of human experience. The social world does not only consist of human beings but also of the unseen sphere of the spirits. Udmurt villages retained their ethnic religion with rituals and cult grounds between two world religions Islam and Christianity until the 21st century. The Udmurt traditions and ways of life have been formed by various cultural influences throughout centuries. Despite all the pressures, the villages worshipping Inmar have preserved features of the ancient Finno-Ugric tradition. The so-called "nature religion" of the Udmurts is practised by kin-based cult groups and relies on oral tradition. During seasonal rituals god of the heavens, ancestors, and guardian spirits of fields, earth and forest are addressed in ritual places dedicated to each of these. Formerly, the holy groves of the Udmurts were hidden in forests, and often on a hill. In addition to their religious significance the sacred places, graveyards and holy groves are essential parts of village landscape and sign vehicles of its collective memory. The holy groves are known by all members of the community but are kept secret from outsiders if needed. They are part of the landscape and remain invisible for outsiders. Known only by the insiders, the groves create a border between those who move in the landscape, establish the divide between them and us, and are thus major markers of communal identity. At some places the holy groves are no longer in use; respect and fear of consequences, however, has prevented the places from being destroyed. Abandoned groves have overgrown and transformed into places of landscape occupied by extraordinary beings. Despite the overgrowth, the places still function as sign vehicles of collective memory. They represent the past of the group, tradition that in the present day does not necessarily have the same meaning as before, but nevertheless provides materials for experiencing the continuity of group culture. The importance of the sacred sites is based on their ability to connect a group not only to the supranormal world but also to a world gone by, to the world of ancestors and their life, thus opening up a view to collective past. Rituals not only unite social groups, but also recreate and establish them in practiced ceremonies. It is no wonder that the interest in the sacred sites and their reconstruction is an essential part of the ethnic revival in Russia and elsewhere. The sense of continuity and ethnic history motivates the maintenance and rebuilding of holy groves in several villages in southern Udmurtia. It is interesting to note that people with academic education who have already left the village and have thus distanced themselves from village life are actively involved in reconstructing the groves. The Udmurts have also revived and created new ritual forms that are better adapted to modern life-style

Persistent Candida albicans colonization and molecular mechanisms of azole resistance in autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) patients

Objectives Patients with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED, APS-I) suffer from chronic candidosis caused mainly by Candida albicans, and repeated courses of azole antifungals have led to the development of resistance in the APECED patient population in Finland. The aim of our study was to address whether the patients are persistently colonized with the same or genetically closely related strains, whether epidemic strains are present and which molecular mechanisms account for azole resistance. Methods Sets of C. albicans (n = 19) isolates from nine APECED patients reported with decreased susceptibility to fluconazole isolated up to 9years apart were included. The strains were typed by multilocus sequence typing. CDR1/2, MDR1 and ERG11 mRNA expression was analysed by northern blotting and Cdr1, Cdr2 and Mdr1 protein expression by western blotting, and TAC1 and ERG11 genes were sequenced. Results All seven patients with multiple C. albicans isolates analysed were persistently colonized with the same or a genetically closely related strain for a mean of 5 years. All patients were colonized with different strains and no epidemic strains were found. The major molecular mechanisms behind the azole resistance were mutations in TAC1 contributing to overexpression of CDR1 and CDR2. Six new TAC1 mutations were found, one of which (N740S) is likely to be a gain-of-function mutation. Most isolates were found to have gained multiple TAC1 and ERG11 point mutations. Conclusions Despite clinically successful treatment leading to relief of symptoms, colonization by C. albicans strains is persistent within APECED patients. Microevolution and point mutations occur within strains, leading to the development of azole-resistant isolate

On Hierarchy and Stratification in Polynesia

In this article I will discuss the shifting roles of traditional hierarchy and its relationship to modern state structure in Fiji, Western Samoa and the Kingdom of Tonga. The interesting interplay of different levels of social integration has unfolded in conflicting ways in actual social practice. The combination of individualistic ideologies and democracy with traditional chiefly authority in these Pacific societies illuminates the complex ways in which authority and hierarchy are structurally linked, ways which in turn provide insights into the modes whereby hierarchy operates in present day social and political contexts.   Keywords: chieftaincy, democracy, Fiji, hierarchy, politics, Tonga, Western Samoa &nbsp

The Siberian Shaman’s technique of ecstasy

Changes in the field of observation and body image, attenuated grasp of reality and self-control, which may lead to identification with authority in the case of the shaman with supranormal powers, are all identifying features of shamanic ecstasy. It also appears that some of the basic elements of the shamanic tradition can be explained on the basis of typical marks of identification of altered states of consciousness. A sense of depersonalization and transcendence may in itself act as an impetus to cosmic journey fantasies. Without doubt, such feelings are at the very heart of the tradition containing the schism between mind and body. Thus, by placing the shamanic technique of ecstasy beside parallel modes of behaviour, possibly of different cultural background, we discover the guide lines for analysing its basic psychophysical properties. When studying a phenomenon such as shamanism, where the method of inducing trance is marked by the occurrence of certain common features and whose culturally-bound meaning and social function are, broadly speaking, uniform, we may assume that despite individual variation the basic mechanism of the technique of ecstasy may be delineated. What, then, is the ideal process of the shamanic trance technique? What factors exert particular pressure on the behaviour of the shaman? Shamanic practice differ from other means of attaining ecstasy with its emphasis on the ritual role-taking technique aimed at the supranormal counter-roles, the "spirit-helpers". The shaman's generalized reality orientation is cut off by means of suitable ritual requisites, the extinguishing of the lights and the noise of intensified drumming. Its place is taken by special orientation, a world created by the shamanic tradition, fantasies of supranormal beings and their dwelling places. The shaman actualises one spirit role after another according to a set pattern

Body, performance, and agency in Kalevala rune-singing

This article deals with the differences in the habitus of rune-singers from the point of view of performance. The performance strategies of rune-singing are examined by paying attention to its bodily expressions and the way in which such movements relate to the performers' aims for self-expression and social recognition.Not

Singing of incantations in Nordic tradition

Spoken recitation became established as the mode of delivering the Finnish incantation. The ordinary incantations connected with everyday life in agrarian society were recited with little ceremony, in a mumble, a whisper. Finnish researchers of folk belief have described the incantation as a genre characterised by spoken delivery and a verbatim adherence to a traditional scheme. The European incantations noted down in the past few centuries are indeed formulae with a seemingly mechanical effect. The performer aims not at personal contact with the other world or an opponent, but believes rather that he will achieve his goal through his command of secret knowledge and magic techniques. Anyone is capable of reciting an incantation, and the mode of delivery is of no vital significance. This description, however, only partially corresponds to the essence of the Finnish incantation tradition. The incantations of Eastern Finland differ from those of the western tradition in their breadth and wordiness. They have also been characterised by a wealth of variation. These characteristics are reinforced by the tietäjä institution which persisted late in the area. From what we know of the tietäjä's behaviour, the incantation uttered in a normal speaking voice is a late phenomenon. It also appears that the Eastern Finnish and Karelian tietäjä institution in particular retained elements of the pre-Christian, Scandinavian belief tradition longer than any other

Value and benefits of technical documentation services : an analysis of corporate websites

Tässä pro gradu -tutkielmassa tarkastellaan teknistä viestintää yritysten verkkosivujen avulla. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on selvittää, miten teknisen viestinnän alalla toimivat palveluyritykset tuovat verkkosivuillaan esille teknisen dokumentoinnin arvoa ja hyötyjä. Lisäksi tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan, miten näkyvästi palveluyritykset tuovat esille teknisen dokumentoinnin palveluitaan. Tutkimuksen teoreettinen viitekehys koostuu kahdesta eri osasta. Ensimmäisessä osassa käsitellään teknisen viestinnän statusta sekä maailmanlaajuisesti että Suomen näkökulmasta. Teknisen viestinnän ala on edelleen Suomessa suhteellisen tuntematon, mikä saattaa tuoda haasteita alalla toimivien yritysten markkinointiin. Toisessa osassa puolestaan pohditaan teknisen viestinnän arvoa, hyötyä ja sitä, millaista on laadukas tekninen dokumentointi. Vaikka yleinen käsitys on, että tekninen dokumentointi on yritykselle vain menoerä, voidaan sen todeta tuovan rahallista säästöä ja jopa tuottoa yritykselle. Rahallisen ja muun hyödyn avaintekijänä on laadukkaan sisällön tuottaminen, ja teknisellä viestinnällä onkin useita laadullisia ulottuvuuksia. Tutkimuksen aineistona käytetään viiden Suomessa toimivan teknisen viestinnän alan yrityksen englanninkielisiä verkkosivuja. Tutkimukseen valitut yritykset ovat alan merkittävimpiä toimijoita Suomessa. Mukaan otettiin ne verkkosivujen osiot, jotka käsittelevät teknistä dokumentointia. Tutkimusmetodina käytetään laadullista sisällönanalyysia, ja tarkempi lähestymistapa on teoriaohjaava analyysi. Analyysissa tarkastellaan ensin dokumentointipalveluiden asemaa yritysten verkkosivuilla ja sen jälkeen verkkosivujen sisältöä. Tutkimus osoittaa, että yritykset tuovat esille hyvin samantyyppisiä sisältöjä. Sen sijaan teknisen dokumentoinnin palveluista kertovan sisällön määrässä on suuresti vaihtelua. Lisäksi yritykset käyttävät vaihtelevia termejä viitatessaan teknisen dokumentoinnin palveluihinsa. Analyysin perusteella yritykset perustelevat dokumentoinnin hyötyjä kustannussäästöillä, turvallisuudella, palvelujen laadukkuudella, ammattimaisuudella ja asiakastyytyväisyydellä

Hidden rituals and public performances: Traditions and belonging among the post-Soviet Khanty, Komi and Udmurts

Why are Khanty shamans still active? What are the folklore collectives of Komi? Why are the rituals of Udmurts performed at cultural festivals? In their insightful ethnographic study Anna-Leena Siikala and Oleg Ulyashev attempt to answer such questions by analysing the recreation of religious traditions, myths, and songs in public and private performances. Their work is based on long term fieldwork undertaken during the 1990s and 2000s in three different places, the Northern Ob region in North West Siberia and in the Komi and Udmurt Republics. It sheds light on how different traditions are favoured and transformed in multicultural Russia today. Siikala and Ulyashev examine rituals, songs, and festivals that emphasize specificity and create feelings of belonging between members of families, kin groups, villages, ethnic groups, and nations, and interpret them from a perspective of area, state, and cultural policies. A closer look at post-Soviet Khanty, Komi and Udmurts shows that opportunities to perform ethnic culture vary significantly among Russian minorities with different histories and administrative organisation. Within this variation the dialogue between local and administrative needs is decisive

Mechanisms of azole resistance and carcinogenic acetaldehyde production in chronic mucosal candidosis

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED, APS1) is an autoimmune disease caused by a loss-of function mutation in the autoregulator gene (AIRE). Patients with APECED suffer from chronic mucocutaneous candidosis (CMC) of the oral cavity and oesophagus often since early childhood. The patients are mainly colonized with Candida albicans and decades of exposure to antifungal agents have lead to the development of clinical and microbiological resistance in the treatment of CMC in the APECED patient population in Finland. A high incidence of oral squamous cell carcinoma is associated with oral CMC lesions in the APECED patients over the age of 25. The overall aim of this study was firstly, to investigate the effect of long-term azole exposure on the metabolism of oral C. albicans isolates from APECED patients with CMC and secondly, to analyse the specific molecular mechanisms that are responsible for these changes. The aim of the first study was to examine C. albicans strains from APECED patients and the level of cross-resistance to miconazole, the recommended topical compound for the treatment of oral candidosis. A total of 16% of the strains had decreased susceptibility to miconazole and all of these isolates had decreased susceptibility to fluconazole. Miconazole MICs also correlated with MICs to voriconazole and posaconazole. A significant positive correlation between the years of miconazole exposure and the MICs to azole antifungal agents was also found. These included azoles the patients had not been exposed to. The aim of our second study was to determine if the APECED patients are continuously colonized with the same C. albicans strains despite extensive antifungal treatment and to gain a deeper insight into the genetic changes leading to azole resistance. The strains were typed using MLST and our results confirmed that all patients were persistently colonized with the same or a genetically related strain despite antifungal treatment between isolations. No epidemic strains were found. mRNA expression was analysed by Northern blotting, protein level by western blotting, and TAC1 and ERG11 genes were sequenced. The main molecular mechanisms resulting in azole resistance were gain-of-function mutations in TAC1 leading to over expression of CDR1 and CDR2, genes linked to azole resistance. Several strains had also developed point mutations in ERG11, another gene linked to azole resistance. In the third study we used gas chromatography to test whether the level of carcinogenic acetaldehyde produced by C. albicans strains isolated from APECED patients were different from the levels produced by strains isolated from healthy controls and oral carcinoma patients. Acetaldehyde is a carcinogenic product of alcohol fermentation and metabolism in microbes associated with cancers of the upper digestive tract. In yeast, acetaldehyde is a by-product of the pyruvate bypass that converts pyruvate into acetyl-CoA during fermentation. Our results showed that strains isolated from APECED patients produced mutagenic levels of acetaldehyde in the presence of glucose (100mM, 18g/l) and the levels produced were significantly higher than those from strains isolated from controls and oral carcinoma patients. All strains in the study, however, were found to produce mutagenic levels of acetaldehyde in the presence of ethanol (11mM). The glucose and ethanol levels used in this study are equivalent to those found in food and beverages and our results highlight the role of dietary sugars and ethanol on carcinogenesis. The aims of our fourth study were to research the effect of growth conditions in the levels of acetaldehyde produced by C. albicans and to gain deeper insight into the role of different genes in the pyruvate-bypass in the production of high acetaldehyde levels. Acetaldehyde production in the presence of glucose increased by 17-fold under moderately hypoxic conditions compared to the levels produced under normoxic conditions. Under moderately hypoxic conditions acetaldehyde levels did not correlate with the expression of ADH1 and ADH2, genes catalyzing the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde, or PDC11, the gene catalyzing the oxidation of pyruvate to acetaldehyde but correlated with the expression of down-stream genes ALD6 and ACS1. Our results highlight a problem where indiscriminate use of azoles may influence azole susceptibility and lead to the development of cross-resistance. Despite clinically successful treatment leading to relief of symptoms, colonization by C. albicans strains is persistent within APECED patients. Microevolution and point mutations that occur in strains may lead to the development of azole-resistant isolates and metabolic changes leading to increased production of carcinogenic acetaldehyde.Autoimmuunipolyendokrinopatia-kandidiaasi-ektodermidystrofia (APECED, APS I) on autoimmuunitauti, joka johtuu autoimmune regulator (AIRE)-geenin mutaatiosta. Valtaosa APECED-potilaista kärsii suun ja ruokatorven kroonisesta kandidoosista varhaisesta lapsuusiästä saakka. Infektion aiheuttaa yleensä Candida albicans ja monella potilaalla vuosikymmenien altistus hiivalääkkeille on johtanut kliinisen ja mikrobiologisen resistenssin kehittymiseen. APECED-potilaiden suun krooniseen kandidoosiin liittyy lisäksi lisääntynyt suusyöpäinsidenssi. Tämän tutkimuksen ensisijainen tarkoitus oli tutkia pitkäaikaisen atsoli-sienilääkkeiden käytön vaikutusta suun kroonista kandidoosia sairastavien APECED-potilaiden C. albicans-kantojen atsoliresistenssimekanismeihin, ja sokerimetaboliaan sekä tutkia niitä sääteleviä molekyylitason mekanismeja, Ensimmäisessä osatyössä selvitimme flukonatsoli-mikonatsoli ristiresistenssin esiintymistä APECED-potilailta eristetyillä C. albicans-kannoilla. Flukonatsoli on yleisesti käytössä oleva systeeminen hiivainfektiolääke ja mikonatsoli on suun kandidoosin hoitoon tarkoitettu paikallishoitolääke. Kaikista niistä kannoista, joiden herkkyys flukonatsolille oli vähentynyt, 16%:lla oli herkkyys vähentynyt myös mikonatsolille. Matalimmat kantojen kasvua estävät mikonatsoli-pitoisuudet (MIC-arvot) korreloivat paitsi flukonatsolin, myös laajakirjoisempien ja uudempien vorikonatsolin ja posakonatsolin MIC-arvojen kanssa. Havaitsimme myös merkittävän positiivisen korrelaation mikonatsolin käyttövuosien sekä kaikkien atsolien MIC-arvojen välillä mukaan lukien sellaiset, joille potilaat eivät olleet altistuneet. Toisen osatyön tarkoituksena oli määrittää ovatko APECED-potilaat jatkuvasti kolonisoituneet samoilla C. albicans-kannoilla tehokkaasta hiivalääkityksestä huolimatta vai infektoituvatko he aina uudestaan uusilla kannoilla. Lisäksi halusimme selvittää atsoliresistenssiin johtaneita genomitason muutoksia. Kannat tyypitettiin käyttäen MLST-menetelmää ja tulostemme mukaan kliinisesti tehokkaasta hoidosta huolimatta potilaita kolonisoivat samat tai geneettisesti läheiset kannat vuodesta toiseen. Toisaalta kukin potilas oli kolonisoitunut omalla yksilöllisellä kannallaan. Analysoimme kantojen CDR1 ja CDR2 -resistenssigeenien lähetti-RNA-ekspression Northern blotting-menetelmällä, vastaavien proteiinien tuotannon western blotting-menetelmällä ja sekvensoimme atsoli-resistenssille keskeiset TAC1- sekä ERG11-geenit. Pääasiallinen molekyylitason resistenssiin johtava mekanismi aineistossamme oli ns. TAC1-geenin gain-of-function-mutaatiot, jotka aiheuttivat resistenssiin vahvasti liitettyjen CDR1 ja CDR2-geenien yliekspressoitumisen. Useilla kannoilla havaittiin myös pistemutaatioita resistenssiin liitetyssä ERG11-geenissä. Kolmannessa osatyössä analysoimme APECED-potilailta eristettyjen C. albicans-kantojen kykyä tuottaa karsinogeenista asetaldehydiä ja vertasimme tuloksia suusyöpä- sekä kontrollipotilailta eristettyjen kantojen asetaldehydi-tuotantoon. Asetaldehydi on karsinogeeninen mikrobien alkoholifermentaation ja -metabolian tuote, joka on yhdistetty yläruoansulatuskanavien syöpiin. Hiivoilla asetaldehydi on pyruvaattia asetyylikoentsyymi-A:ksi katalysoivan pyruvaatti bypass-reitin sivutuote. Tulostemme mukaan APECED-potilailta eristetyt kannat tuottavat mutageenisiä pitoisuuksia asetaldehydiä glukoosin (100mM, 18g/l) läsnä ollessa. Kyseiset pitoisuudet olivat merkittävästi suurempia kuin kontrolli- ja suusyöpäpotilailta eristettyjen kantojen tuottamat pitoisuudet. Kaikki tutkimuksen kannat tuottivat mutageenisiä pitoisuuksia asetaldehydiä alkoholi-inkubaatiossa (11mM). Tutkimuksessa käytettyjä glukoosipitoisuuksia tavataan tavanomaisissa elintarvikkeissa ja käytetyt etanolipitoisuudet vastaavat syljen etanolimäärää kohtuullisen alkoholin nauttimisen jälkeen. Tuloksemme osaltaan selittävät ruokavalion sokereiden ja alkoholinkäytön merkitystä karsinogeneesissä. Neljännen osatyön tarkoitus oli tutkia kasvuolosuhteiden merkitystä C. albicans-kantojen asetaldehydituotantoon. Tarkoituksena oli myös selvittää eri pyruvaatti-bypass-reitin säätelyyn osallistuvien geenien osuutta tässä. Asetaldehydiä muodostui glukoosin läsnä ollessa vähähappisissa olosuhteissa yli 17-kertaisesti verrattuna aikaisempiin huoneilmassa mitattuihin arvoihin. Vähähappisissa olosuhteissa asetaldehydipitoisuudet eivät korreloineet etanolin hapettumista asetaldehydiksi katalysoivien ADH1- ja ADH2-geenien tai pyruvaatin hapettumista asetaldehydiksi katalysoivan PDC11-geenin ekspression kanssa, mutta korreloivat asetaldehydin jälleenmetaboloitumista säätelevien ALD6 ja ACS1-geenien kanssa. Tuloksemme osoittavat, että myös paikallisesti annosteltavien atsolisienilääkkeiden runsas käyttö voi johtaa C. albicans-kantojen atsoliherkkyyden vähenemiseen sekä ristiresistenssin kehittymiseen. Kliinisesti tehokkaasta lääkehoidosta huolimatta C. albicans-kantojen kolonisaatio näyttäisi APECED-potilailla olevan pysyvää. Mikroevoluutio sekä pistemutaatiot johtavat atsoli-resistenttien kantojen kehittymiseen ja sekä sellaisiin muutoksiin hiivojen metaboliassa, jotka saattavat johtaa lisääntyneeseen karsinogeenisen asetaldehydin muodostumiseen