Use of indicators as tools of decision-making

There appears to be several ways to use the indicators. In a complex policy context such as natural resource management indicators are foremost communicative tools for demonstrating issues that are already known ones. Successfully used, indicators may be tools for crystallizing the key of information flows. Contrary to technical use of indicators the circumstances of information utilization need to be emphasized in a complex policy context. Critical point of indicator's approach lies also in making of the interpretations. Finally, there are also power aspects, which should be noted for

Outdoor education - elämäntaitoja oppimaan

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Implementation of Sensor RFID: Carrying Sensor Information in the Modulation Frequency

An approach that can be used for exploiting the sensing capabilities of radio-frequency identification (RFID) is presented and formulated. In this approach, sensor information is carried through the modulation frequency of RFID . The aim of this work is to investigate the sensor concept and to characterize the sensor performance both theoretically and experimentally. Furthermore, the operation of the sensor radio-frequency (RF) parts and oscillator are described analytically, and the equationsare verified by simulations and measurements. The concept is experimentally demonstrated at a single carrier frequency to test its suitability for ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID applications, and shown to be feasible for implementing sensors that can be read across distances up to 14 meters.Peer reviewe

Uncertainty analysis of intermodulation-based antenna measurements

Intermodulation measurement principle has been proposed for characterizing transponder antennas. Although the method seems to offer certain advantages compared to traditional antenna characterization methods, the measurement uncertainty has not yet been well characterized. We aim at identifying the main sources of measurement uncertainty and estimating the achievable accuracy in a certain case at 1 GHz.Peer reviewe

Characterization of Transponder Antennas Using Intermodulation Response

The intermodulation measurement technique enables measuring transponder antennas without any cable connections. This contactless technique exploits the inherent nonlinearity of the transponder to generate intermodulation products that can be measured. In this paper, we relate the transponder antenna properties to the intermodulation response, and use this relation to calculate the gain andimpedance matching of the transponder antenna. Additionally, we consider the limitations of the measurement method and present three different measurement geometries for measuring the radiation pattern. The presented equations and methods are experimentally verified by measuring an example harmonic transponder.Peer reviewe

Change in body mass index during transition to statutory retirement : an occupational cohort study

Background: Retirement is a major life transition affecting health behaviors. The aim of this study was to examine within-individual changes in body mass index (BMI) during transition from full-time work to statutory retirement by sex and physical work characteristics. Methods: A multiwave cohort study repeated every 4 years and data linkage to records from retirement registers. Participants were 5426 Finnish public-sector employees who retired on a statutory basis in 2000-2011 and who reported their body weight one to three times prior to (w(-3), w(-2), w(-1)), and one to three times after (w(+1), w(+2), w(+3)) retirement. Results: During the 4-year retirement transition (w(+1), vs. w(-1)) men showed decline in BMI, which was most marked among men with sedentary work (-0.18 kg/m(2), 95% CI -.30 to -0.05). In contrast, BMI increased during retirement transition in women and was most marked among women with diverse (0.14 kg/m(2), 95% CI 0.08 to 0.20) or physically heavy work (0.31 kg/m(2), 95% CI 0.16 to 0.45). Physical activity during leisure time or commuting to work, alcohol consumption or smoking did not explain the observed changes during retirement transition. Conclusions: In this study statutory retirement was associated with small changes in BMI. Weight loss was most visible in men retiring from sedentary jobs and weight gain in women retiring from diverse and physically heavy jobs.Peer reviewe

Synthesis on bioeconomy monitoring systems in the EU Member States - indicators for monitoring the progress of bioeconomy

The urgent need to shift our economy towards a more sustainable, resource-efficient economy based on renewable resources that either makes less use of fossil resources or dispenses with them entirely, the so called bioeconomy, has been recognized all over Europe. As a result, many EU Member States (EU MS) have formulated national and regional bioeconomy strategies, related policies or initiatives. An important tool for the successful implementation of a strategy is the monitoring and evaluation of the success of the measures undertaken to reach the strategy´s goals. The EC review report of the EU Bioeconomy strategy concluded the need for better monitoring and assessment frameworks, “new actions are needed to develop relevant indicators and scientific evidence for policy making, and to implement a more holistic monitoring and assessment framework” (EC 2017). However, up to now, there is no commonly agreed set of indicators to measure the bioeconomy at EU level. Because the main drivers for the transition towards a bioeconomy often strongly vary between EU MS on the country-specific economic and ecological settings, legal framework, and social demands, also the national or regional bioeconomy strategies vary in their goals and measures. Consequently, proxies and indicators used to measure the development of a national bioeconomy or the success of a bioeconomy strategy depend on the national goals, and are therefore often not applicable in any other country. Nevertheless, synchronizing the national bioeconomy monitoring-activities is necessary to ensure comparability of the results of the national monitoring systems. As a first step towards a common European bioeconomy monitoring-activity, it is crucial to get an overview over the numerous scattered ongoing monitoring activities at EU MS level. Therefore, there is the need for an overview study presenting information on existing approaches of monitoring bioeconomy strategies in the EU MS. This report presents an overview of existing bioeconomy strategies, policies or related initiatives and indicators to monitor and assess these at EU MS level, and the importance of existing bioeconomy sectors at national level. Furthermore, it presents the existing or needed most suitable bioeconomy key indicators and related indicators, and their respective data availability, for assessing and monitoring the progress of a bioeconomy at national level. The identified most suitable bioeconomy indicators important and feasible at the national context, can contribute to the further discussions when setting the frame for the development of a common EU bioeconomy monitoring system.201

Different berries and berry fractions have various but slightly positive effects on the associated variables of metabolic diseases on overweight and obese women

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Farms cooperating in the Loimijoki project. Environmental management on farms: an R&D project

Maatilayhteistyö toteutettiin Loimijoki-projektin yhtenä osahankkeena vuosina 1993-1996. Loimijoki-projektin tavoitteena on ollut hajakuormituksen vähentäminen, paikallisen jokivesistön tilan parantaminen sekä maaseutuympäristöön liittyvän tutkimuksen monitieteinen kehittäminen. Tilayhteistyöhankkeen kautta haluttiin päästä mahdollisimman konkreettisella tavalla kehittämään maatilojen ympäristönhoitoa sekä tehostaa ajankohtaisen ympäristötiedon siirtoa tutkimuksesta käytäntöön. Hankkeen tuli osoittaa, miten tavanomainen maatila voi toimia yrityksenä taloudellisesti ja tehokkaasti sekä samalla hoitaa myös velvoitteensa ympäristönhoidossa. Hankkeen teoreettisen viitekehyksen muodostaa osallistuvan tutkimuksen ja tilatutkimuksen teoriatausta. Siirtyminen koekentiltä käytännön tilanteisiin ja kiinteän vuorovaikutuksen rakentaminen tutkimuksen, neuvonnan ja maatilojen välille on osoittautunut tarpeelliseksi, koska ympäristönhoidon ongelmissa biologisen ja tuotantoteknisen osaamisen lisäksi tarvitaan myös sosioekonomisten tekijöiden ymmärtämistä. Tilatutkimuksessa ulkopuolinen ammattiauttaja (tutkija, neuvoja) pääsee parhaiten sisälle kokonaisuuteen, jossa maatila toimii ja tekee päätöksensä. Viljelijän mukanaolo ja omakohtainen sitoutuminen ympäristönhoidon kehittämiseen on puolestaan erittäin tärkeää, koska viime kädessä juuri viljelijä päättää tieteen tuottamien tulosten käyttöönotosta ja ympäristön tilan kehittymisestä pitkällä tähtäimellä. Loimijoki-projektin nelivuotisessa tilayhteistyöhankkeessa perehdyttiin yhdeksällä lounaishämäläisellä maatilalla mm. maanrakenteen hoitoon, lannoitukseen, kasvinsuojeluun, uusien viljelykasvien käyttöön ja vesiensuojelutoimenpiteisiin. Viljelytoimenpiteiden kehittämisen ohella tuotettiin tietoa yksittäisen maatilan ympäristövaikutuksista. Tarkennetun ympäristötiedon tuottamiseen käytettiin mm. vesianalyysejä, pellon pinta- ja pohjamaan viljavuusanalyysiä, mineraalitypen mittausta, lanta-analyysiä sekä ravinnetaseita ja GIS-järjestelmän (Geographical Information System) tuomia uusia mahdollisuuksia. Käytännön toteutuksesta huolehtivat Maatalouden tutkimuskeskus ja Hämeen maaseutukeskus. Kokeilu- ja kehittämisluonteinen hanke oli ennen kaikkea oppimisprosessi mukana olleille tutkijoille, neuvojille, virkamiehille ja maatilayrittäjille. Neuvontajärjestö koki positiivisena mahdollisuudet tiedon nopeaan välittämiseen ja käytäntöön soveltamiseen. Ympäristönhoidon kehittäminen maatilayrittäjien kanssa, jotka itse olivat hankkeessa aktiivisesti mukana, oli molemminpuolisesti palkitseva kokemus. Myös maatilayrittäjät kokivat tämäntyyppisen yhteistyön neuvonnan ja tutkimuksen kanssa erittäin tarpeelliseksi ja toivoivat enemmän tällaisia hankkeita.Model farm research and development (R&D farms) were a subproject of the multidisciplinary Loimijoki project in 1993-1996. The main aims of this project are to find ways of reducing the dispersed load in rural areas and improving the state of the local river, the Loimijoki. The purpose of the R&D farms was to develop environmental management on the farms in a cost-effective and ecologically sustainable manner and also to find new ways of putting scientific knowledge to practical use. The theoretical background of the project lies in participatory research and in the methods of farm research. The transfer from research plots to real situations and close cooperation between researchers, advisory boards and farmers are needed because biological and technical knowledge is as important in environmental problems as is understanding of socio-economic facts. In farm research the professionals (researchers, advisers, officials) are able to work with the real situation in which the farmer acts and makes decisions. Participation of farmers is needed because tangible changes in the rural environment are up to them and their concern for their own environment. Nine R&D farms near the Agricultural Research Centre were asked to join the Loimijoki project. On these farms much attention was paid to best management practices such as fertilization, soil management, plant protection and the making of buffer strips and sedimentation ponds. Interest also focused on measuring the environmental impacts of single farms. This information was collected by water sampling, testing the nutrients in soil and manure, calculating nutrient balances and exploiting the potential of the GIS (Geographical Information System). Since this was a pilot project, learning new working methods and ways of cooperation were probably the most important results. The advisory board found the project an effective and meaningful way to apply new scientific knowledge of environmental management. The farmers hoped for further similar cooperation with research and advisory boards at a practical level.vokMyynti MTT:n kirjast