Long chain cellulose esters (LCCE) are bio-based materials, which are biodegradable, can be prepared from renewable materials, and have relatively good mechanical and barrier properties. In this study, we tested the feasibility of various LCCEs as a coating material for paperboard. Cellulose hexanoates (C6) and cellulose palmitates (C12) of various degrees of substitution were synthesized and tested as barriers. Coating of paperboard was performed by dissolving the LCCE to chloroform or acetone, and levelling the coating with wire bar coater to the surface of the paperboard. The coating gave hydrophobic surface to the paperboard, and significantly improved the water vapour barrier properties. Cellulose palmitate coatings were better water vapour barriers than cellulose hexanoate. However, polyethylene-coated paperboard had markedly lower water vapour transmission rate than LCCEs used in this study. The LCCE coatings slightly improved the tensile strength of the paperboard. In order to find out the suitability of LCCEs for extrusion coating, the thermal behaviour of LCCEs were also assessed. The cellulose hexanoate starts to degrade thermally at 280°C and cellulose palmitate at temperature 320°C. These materials do not have a clear melting point, but they behave as amorphous materials, and turn gradually to viscous form as temperature increases from 170°C to 200°C. This indicates possibilities to use them in extrusion coating, at least if the viscosity is improved with suitable additives.

Background: To avoid aggressive treatments at the end-of-life and to provide palliative care (PC), physicians need to terminate futile anti-cancer treatments and define the palliative goal of the treatment in time. This single center study assesses the practices used to make the decision that leads to treatment with a palliative goal, i.e., the PC decision and its effect on anti-cancer treatments at the end of life. Material and methods: Patients with a cancer diagnosis treated in tertiary hospital during 1st January 2013-31st December 2014 and deceased by the end of 2014 were identified in the hospital database (N ¼ 2737). Of these patients, 992 were randomly selected for this study. The PC decision was screened from patient records, i.e., termination of cancer-specific treatments and a focus on symptom-centered PC. Results: The PC decision was defined in 82% of the patients during the last year of life (49% >30 days and 33% 30 days before death, 18% with no decision). The median time from the decision to death was 46 days. Systemic cancer therapy was given during the last month of life in 1%, 36% and 38% (p < .001) and radiotherapy 22%, 40% and 31% (p ¼ .03) cases, respectively; referral to a PC unit was made in 62%, 22% and 11%, respectively (p < .001). In logistic regression analyses younger age, shorter duration of the disease trajectory and type of cancer (e.g., breast cancer) were associated with a lack or late timing of the PC decision. Conclusion: The decision to initiate a palliative goal for the treatment was frequently made for cancer patients but occurred late for every third patient. Younger age and certain cancer types were associated with late PC decisions, thus leading to anti-cancer treatments continuing until close to the death with low access to a PC unit.

The aim of this study was to explore how particular economic and demographic factors contribute to the level of the child maintenance payment (CMP) paid by the non‐resident parent. For this study, we used 5‐year longitudinal panel data from years 2009 to 2013 consisting of over 80,000 non‐resident parents from the Finnish Tax Administration and The Finnish Population Register Centre. Results from regression models indicate that the single biggest factor affecting the size of CMPs is the number of dependent children. We found that the non‐resident parent's higher income is associated with higher CMPs and that non‐resident fathers pay on average larger CMPs than non‐resident mothers, even after accounting for differences in income. Unexpectedly, we found that the age of the dependent child did not predict changes in CMPs. This suggests that once formal CMP‐contracts are determined between the parents, they are seldom changed. Our results suggest that some degree of mandatory periodic review for maintenance contracts is worth considering.

Komagataeibacter spp. have been used for the bioconversion of industrial wastes and lignocellulosic hydrolysates to bacterial cellulose (BC). Recently studies have demonstrated the capacity of Komagataeibacter spp. in the biotransformation of inhibitors found in lignocellulosic hydrolysates, aromatic lignin-derived monomers (LDMs) and acetate. In general, detoxification and BC synthesis from lignocellulosic inhibitors requires a carbon flow from acetyl-coA towards tricarboxylic acid and gluconeogenesis, respectively. However, the related molecular aspects have not yet been identified in Komagataeibacter spp. In this study, we isolated a cellulose producing bacteria capable of synthesizing BC in a minimal medium containing crude glycerol, a by-product from biodiesel production process. The isolate, affiliated to Komagataeibacter genus, synthesized cellulose in minimal medium containing glucose (3.3&plusmn;0.3 g/L), pure glycerol (2.2&plusmn;0.1 g/L) and crude glycerol (2.1&plusmn;0.1 g/L). Genome assembly and annotation identified four copies of bacterial cellulose synthase operon and genes for redirecting the carbon from central metabolic pathway to gluconeogenesis. According to the genome annotations, a BC production route from acetyl-CoA, a central metabolic intermediate, was hypothesized and was validated using acetate. We identified that when K. rhaeticus ENS9b was grown in minimal medium supplemented with acetate, BC production was not observed. However, in presence of readily utilizable substrate, such as spent yeast hydrolysate, acetate supplementation improved BC synthesis.

Abstract-According to the Bologna declaration, the Finnish National Defence University (NDU) provides undergraduateand graduate-level courses in academic and military disciplines. Military technology is one of the major learning aims at the NDU. Learning aims in master level technology courses are on scientific knowledge, understanding how technology is related to science, and life-long learning in technology-based working environments. Sensor technology is one of the key elements for surveillance and target acquisition principles. This study presents one development concept in assessment research and how it has been applied to learning sensors. Obligatory lectures and exercises are specific to NDU's teaching environment. As such, they are effective methods for co-operative learning and teacher resource utilization. On the other hand, distance education features have been actively added to NDU's curriculum structures. Exams can estimate students' learning outcome and act as tools to diversify teaching processes. When aiming for better student motivation and learning results, enough space must be given for students' contributions in examination protocols.