Sensory Appeal and Routines Beat Health Messages and Visibility Enhancements: Mixed-Methods Analysis of a Choice-Architecture Intervention in a Workplace Cafeteria.

Easier recognition and enhanced visibility of healthy options supposedly increase healthy choices, but real-world evidence remains scarce. Addressing this knowledge gap, we promoted nutritionally favourable foods in a workplace cafeteria with three choice-architectural strategies-priming posters, point-of-choice nutrition labels, and improved product placement-and assessed their effects on visual attention, food choices, and food consumption. Additionally, we developed a method for analysing real-world eye-tracking data.

Population-Based Assessment of Contact Tracing Operations for Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Finland.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic overwhelmed local contact tracing (CT) efforts in many countries. In Finland, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 incidence and mortality were among the lowest in Europe during 2020-2021. We evaluated CT efficiency, effectiveness, and transmission settings.

Tracing local and regional clusters of carbapenemase-producing ST512 with whole genome sequencing, Finland, 2013 to 2018.

BackgroundTwo epidemiologically-unrelated clusters of carbapenemase (KPC)-producing were detected among several healthcare facilities (HCF) in Finland by routine surveillance using whole genome sequencing (WGS).AimThe objective was to investigate transmission chains to stop further spread of the responsible strain.MethodsIn this observational retrospective study, cases were defined as patients with KPC-3 sequence type (ST)512 strain detected in Finland from August 2013 to May 2018.

Electrical behaviour of native cellulose nanofibril/carbon nanotube hybrid aerogels under cyclic compression.

Hybrid aerogels consisting of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and modified few-walled carbon nanotubes (FWCNT) are investigated under cyclic mechanical compression to explore "electrical fatigue". For this purpose the FWCNTs were hydrophilized, thus promoting their aqueous dispersibility to allow FWCNT/CNF hybrid hydrogels, followed by freeze-drying to obtain hybrid aerogels. The optimized composition consisting of FWCNT/CNF 20/80 wt/wt showed conductivity of 10 S cm as promoted due to double percolation, and showed only small changes in electrical and mechanical behaviour upon cycling 100 times.

Comparison of outcome and clinical characteristics of bacteremia caused by methicillin-resistant, penicillin-resistant and penicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strains.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the association of methicillin resistance and penicillinase production with clinical characteristics and outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Methods: For 126 patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia, 378 age- and gender-matched controls with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia were selected. Of controls, 126 had bacteremia caused by penicillin-susceptible strains (PSSA) and 252 by penicillinase-producing strains (PRSA).

A controlled survey of less typical long-term consequences after an extensive waterborne epidemic.

Background: Extensive backflow of treated wastewater caused household water contamination in a Finnish town in 2007. The drinking water of 9 500 residents became heavily polluted with faecal microbes, resulting in a large gastroenteritis epidemic. Cases of reactive arthritis, milder joint symptoms and prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms were observed after the outbreak.

Degradation and Crystallization of Cellulose in Hydrogen Chloride Vapor for High-Yield Isolation of Cellulose Nanocrystals.

Despite the structural, load-bearing role of cellulose in the plant kingdom, countless efforts have been devoted to degrading this recalcitrant polysaccharide, particularly in the context of biofuels and renewable nanomaterials. Herein, we show how the exposure of plant-based fibers to HCl vapor results in rapid degradation with simultaneous crystallization. Because of the unchanged sample texture and the lack of mass transfer out of the substrate in the gas/solid system, the changes in the crystallinity could be reliably monitored.

Effect of Molecular Architecture of PDMAEMA-POEGMA Random and Block Copolymers on Their Adsorption on Regenerated and Anionic Nanocelluloses and Evidence of Interfacial Water Expulsion.

Block copolymers of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (POEGMA) with varying block sizes were synthesized by consecutive reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and then exposed to cellulose substrates with different anionic charge density. The extent and dynamics of quaternized PDMAEMA-b-POEGMA adsorption on regenerated cellulose, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), and (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNF) was determined by using electromechanical and optical techniques, namely, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), respectively. PDMAEMA-b-POEGMA equilibrium adsorption increased with the anionic charge of cellulose, an indication of electrostatic interactions.

Combined interventions are effective in MRSA control.

Background: A large healthcare-associated epidemic mainly caused by one methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain broke out in Pirkanmaa County, Finland, in 2001. This study describes the impact of infection control and screening practices on the epidemic.

Methods: The number of hospital-acquired (HA)-MRSA findings obtained from clinical and screening samples during the epidemic was calculated.

Hybrid Supramolecular and Colloidal Hydrogels that Bridge Multiple Length Scales.

Hybrid nanocomposites were constructed based on colloidal nanofibrillar hydrogels with interpenetrating supramolecular hydrogels, displaying enhanced rheological yield strain and a synergistic improvement in storage modulus. The supramolecular hydrogel consists of naphthyl-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose and a cationic polystyrene derivative decorated with methylviologen moieties, physically cross-linked with cucurbit[8]uril macrocyclic hosts. Fast exchange kinetics within the supramolecular system are enabled by reversible cross-linking through the binding of the naphthyl and viologen guests.

Hybrid supramolecular and colloidal hydrogels that bridge multiple length scales.

Hybrid nanocomposites were constructed based on colloidal nanofibrillar hydrogels with interpenetrating supramolecular hydrogels, displaying enhanced rheological yield strain and a synergistic improvement in storage modulus. The supramolecular hydrogel consists of naphthyl-functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose and a cationic polystyrene derivative decorated with methylviologen moieties, physically cross-linked with cucurbit[8]uril macrocyclic hosts. Fast exchange kinetics within the supramolecular system are enabled by reversible cross-linking through the binding of the naphthyl and viologen guests.

An outbreak of human metapneumovirus in a rehabilitation center for alcoholics in Tampere, Finland.

Reports of respiratory tract infections in a rehabilitation center for alcoholics triggered the epidemiological investigations in Tampere, Finland. Twenty-nine out of 40 residents (attack rate 73%) and four members of staff fulfilled the case criteria: cough; worsening of dyspnea; or rhinitis with or without fever. Ten cases were hospitalized, one needed treatment in the intensive care unit.

Effect of charge balance and dosage of polyelectrolyte complexes on the shear resistance of mineral floc strength and reversibility.

We evaluated the effect of polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) with varying balance of charges on the flocculation of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) particles. PECs composed of polyacrylamides carrying opposite charges (A-PAM and C-PAM) were investigated in terms of PCC floc shear resistance and re-flocculation effects. Light transmission was used in real time to monitor the dynamics of flocculation under shear fields.

Microemulsion systems for fiber deconstruction into cellulose nanofibrils.

A new method to produce cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) is proposed to reduce the energy demand during deconstruction of precursor fibers suspended in aqueous media. Microemulsions were formulated with aqueous solutions of urea or ethylenediamine and applied to disrupt interfibril hydrogen bonding. Compared to typical fibrillation of lignin-containing and lignin-free fibers, pretreatment with microemulsion systems allowed energy savings during microfluidization of 55 and 32%, respectively.

Effects of residual lignin and heteropolysaccharides on the bioconversion of softwood lignocellulose nanofibrils obtained by SO2-ethanol-water fractionation.

The amount of residual lignin and hemicelluloses in softwood fibers was systematically varied by SO2-ethanol-water fractionation for integrated biorefinery with nanomaterial and biofuel production. On the basis of their low energy demand in mechanical processing, the fibers were deconstructed to lignocellulose nanofibrils (LCNF) and used as substrate for bioconversion. The effect of LCNF composition on saccharification via multicomponent enzymes was investigated at different loadings.

Thermoresponsive Nanocellulose Hydrogels with Tunable Mechanical Properties.

Cellulose microfibrils physically bound together by soft hemicellulose chains form the scaffolding that makes plant cell walls strong. Inspired by this architecture, we designed biomimetic thermoreversible hydrogel networks based on reinforcing cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and thermoresponsive methylcellulose (MC). Upon dissolving MC powder in CNC aqueous dispersions, viscoelastic dispersions were formed at 20 °C, where the storage modulus (') is tunable from 1.

The duration of gastrointestinal and joint symptoms after a large waterborne outbreak of gastroenteritis in Finland in 2007--a questionnaire-based 15-month follow-up study.

An extensive drinking water-associated gastroenteritis outbreak took place in the town of Nokia in Southern Finland in 2007. 53% of the exposed came down with gastroenteritis and 7% had arthritis-like symptoms (joint swelling, redness, warmth or pain in movement) according to a population-based questionnaire study at 8 weeks after the incident. Campylobacter and norovirus were the main pathogens.

Modification of cellulose nanofibrils with luminescent carbon dots.

Films and hydrogels consisting of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) were modified by covalent EDC/NHS coupling of luminescent, water-dispersible carbon dots (CDs). Quartz crystal microgravimetry with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were used to investigate the attachment of CDs on carboxymethylated CNF (CM-CNF). As the first reported use of CD in nanocellulose products, we provide proof-of-concept for the synthesis of transparent and fluorescent nanopaper and for its tunable luminescence as confirmed by confocal microscopy imaging.

Cellulose nanocrystal-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles: role of sulfate groups in nucleation phenomena.

Developing sustainable chemical methods to synthesize silver nanoparticles has drawn significant research interest. Due to their unique and well-defined physical-chemical properties, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have become one of the most promising renewable nanomaterials. Here we use CNC to mediate silver nanoparticle synthesis and elucidate the effect of CNC surface chemistry (as defined by sulfate groups) in nanoparticle formation and nucleation in the presence of borohydride reduction.

A method for the heterogeneous modification of nanofibrillar cellulose in aqueous media.

Cellulosic substrates were modified by using sequential adsorption of functionalized carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and "click" chemistry in aqueous media. First, the effect of degree of substitution (DS), and level of functionalization as well as ionic strength of the medium were systematically investigated in situ by using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) in terms of the extent of adsorption of propargyl and azido functionalized CMC. It was found that the functionalization of CMC did not prevent its adsorption on cellulose.

Direct measurements of non-ionic attraction and nanoscaled lubrication in biomimetic composites from nanofibrillated cellulose and modified carboxymethylated cellulose.

There is a growing interest to design biomimetic self-assembled composite films from renewable resources aimed at a combination of high toughness, strength and stiffness. However, the relationship between interfacial interactions of the components and the mechanical performance of the composite is still poorly understood. In this work we present evidence of the link between mechanical performance of carbohydrate-based composites with nanolubrication and with direct surface forces between the hard and soft domain in the system.

Adsorption of hydrophobically end-capped poly(ethylene glycol) on cellulose.

Adsorption of poly(ethylene glycol), hydrophobically end-capped with octadecenylsuccinic anhydride (OSA-PEG-OSA), on an ultrathin film of cellulose has been studied by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Normally, PEG does not adsorb on cellulosic surfaces, but the use of the telechelic hydrophobic modification was found to promote adsorption. The influence of the conformation of the polymer in solution prior to adsorption and the subsequent properties of the adsorbed layer were investigated.

Cilia-mimetic hairy surfaces based on end-immobilized nanocellulose colloidal rods.

We show a simple method toward nanoscale cilia-like structures, i.e., functional hairy surfaces, upon topochemically functionalizing nanorods of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with thiol end groups (CNC-SHs), which leads to their immobilization onto a gold surface from one end, still allowing their orientational mobility.