Improving the learning experience and learning environment of adults in Higher Education ��� Project LIHE: the Portuguese case

Project LIHE: the Portuguese Case. ESREA Fourth Access Network Conference ��� ���Equity, Access and Participation: Research, Policy and Practice���. Edinburgh (Scotland), 11 ��� 13 December, 2003.

10 kVp rule ��� An anthropomorphic pelvis phantom imaging study using a CR system: impact on image quality and effective dose using AEC and manual mode

Background - Pelvis and hip radiography are consistently found to be amongst the highest contributors to the collective effective dose (E) in all ten DOSE DATAMED countries in Europe, representing 2.8 to 9.4% of total collective dose (S) in the TOP 20 exams list. The level of image quality should provide all the diagnostic information in order not to jeopardise the diagnosis, but being able to provide the needed clinical information with the minimum dose. A recent study suggests further research to determine whether the ���10 kVp rule��� would have value for a range of examinations using Computed Radiography (CR) systems. As a ���rule of thumb��� increasing the kVp by 10 whilst halving the mAs is suggested to give a similar perceptual image quality when compared to the original exposure factors. Aims - In light of the 10kVp rule, this study aims to investigate the influence of tube potential (kVp) variation in relation to perceptual image quality and E for pelvis imaging using automatic exposure control (AEC) and non-AEC in a Computed Radiography (CR) system. Research questions - Does the 10kVp rule works for the pelvis in relation to image quality in a CR system? Does the image quality differs when the AEC is used instead of manual mode using the 10kVp rule and how this impacts on E?

From the Lisbon strategy to EU2020: illusion or progress for european economies?

To be published at Krings, Bettina-J. ed. (2011), Brain Drain or Brain Gain? Changes of Work in Knowledge-based Societies, Berlin, Ed. Sigma. The author wants to thanks the comments and suggestions from Bettina Krings and Sylke Wintzer. They are not, however, responsible for the final result.

Investiga����o, desenvolvimento e inova����o nas empresas portuguesas: um estudo de caso

Disserta����o de Mestrado em Gest��o Integrada da Qualidade, Ambiente e Seguran��a

Developing and validating a measure of the strength of the HRM system: Operationalizing the construct and relationships among its dimensions

The four studies in this article introduce a questionnaire to measure Strength of the HRM System (HRMSQ), a multidimensional construct, theoretically developed by Bowen and Ostroff (2004). Strength of the HRM System is a set of process characteristics that lead to effectiveness in conveying signals to employees that allow them to create a shared meaning of desired and appropriate work behaviours. Nine characteristics are suggested, grouped in three features: Distinctiveness, Consistency and Consensus. Study 1 developed and tested a questionnaire in a sample of workers from five different sectors. Study 2 cross-validated the measure in a sample of civil servants in a municipality. These two studies used performance appraisal as the reference HRM practice and led to a short version of the HRMSQ. Study 3 and Study 4 extend the HRMSQ to several common HRM practices. The HRMSQ is tested in two samples, of call center and several private and public organizations��� workers (study 3). In study 4 the questionnaire is refined and tested with a sample from a hotel chain and finally cross-validated with two other samples, in the insurance and batteries sectors, leading to a longer version of the HRMSQ. Content analysis of several interviews with human resource managers and the Rasch model (1960, 1961, 1980), were used to define and select the indicators of the questionnaire. Convergent, discriminant and predictive validity of the measure are tested. The results of the four studies highlight the complexity of the relationships between the proposed characteristics and support the validity of a parsimonious measure of Strength of the HRM System.

Towards a knowledge society

Economies are moving towards competitive stadiums based on knowledge and innovation. The changing environment and the level of globalization demand important efforts in order to sustain competitive advantages. Portugal has experienced a remarkable evolution since its adhesion to the European Union in several fields: economic development, Research & Development (R&D) consolidation, health parameters and social cohesion. As other developed economies, Portugal started its journey towards a knowledge-based economy and has been consolidating an innovation system during the last 35 years. The following report aims to analyze the evolution of a system since its creation to its last transformation within a globalized context. Challenges such as the lack of maturity of the system, the economic crisis, the European paradox, and closing the gap with other European countries are addressed in the next chapters. Likewise, recommendations on these points are provided by the end of the report as potential solutions.

Innovation in ���low-tech��� industries: Portuguese footwear industry

ICEIM ��� International Conference in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Roma, 17-18 de setembro de 2015.

Putting children first: The role of health psychology in applied child/youth research

Overview Part One • Background/context ����– defining and thinking about health • The role of the health psychologist • Promoting the psychosocial well being of children and young people • Early intervention and prevention in Ireland • Intervening in the lives of children with emotional and behavioural difficulties ���� Part Two • Case-study ����– The Incredible Years Ireland Study: theory, practice and research ���� Part Three • Some key considerations in intervention science for research, policy and practice with children and young people ���� Sinead McGilloway: Putting children first. The role of health psychology

Ghrelin-induced orexigenic effect in rats depends on the metabolic status and is counteracted by peripheral CB1 receptor antagonism.

Ghrelin is an endogenous regulator of energy homeostasis synthesized by the stomach to stimulate appetite and positive energy balance. Similarly, the endocannabinoid system is part of our internal machinery controlling food intake and energy expenditure. Both peripheral and central mechanisms regulate CB1-mediated control of food intake and a functional relationship between hypothalamic ghrelin and cannabinoid CB1 receptor has been proposed. First of all, we investigated brain ghrelin actions on food intake in rats with different metabolic status (negative or equilibrate energy balance). Secondly, we tested a sub-anxiogenic ultra-low dose of the CB1 antagonist SR141716A (Rimonabant) and the peripheral-acting CB1 antagonist LH-21 on ghrelin orexigenic actions. We found that: 1) central administration of ghrelin promotes food intake in free feeding animals but not in 24 h food-deprived or chronically food-restricted animals; 2) an ultra-low dose of SR141716A (a subthreshold dose 75 folds lower than the EC50 for induction of anxiety) completely counteracts the orexigenic actions of central ghrelin in free feeding animals; 3) the peripheral-restricted CB1 antagonist LH-21 blocks ghrelin-induced hyperphagia in free feeding animals. Our study highlights the importance of the anima��s metabolic status for the effectiveness of ghrelin in promoting feeding, and suggests that the peripheral endocannabinoid system may interact with ghreli��s signal in the control of food intake under equilibrate energy balance conditions.

PhD Students��� Research Group Social Capital in Two Countries: A Clustering Approach with Duocentred Network Measures

The article examines the structure of the collaboration networks of research groups where Slovenian and Spanish PhD students are pursuing their doctorate. The units of analysis are student-supervisor dyads. We use duocentred networks, a novel network structure appropriate for networks which are centred around a dyad. A cluster analysis reveals three typical clusters of research groups. Those which are large and belong to several institutions are labelled under a bridging social capital label. Those which are small, centred in a single institution but have high cohesion are labelled as bonding social capital. Those which are small and with low cohesion are called weak social capital groups. Academic performance of both PhD students and supervisors are highest in bridging groups and lowest in weak groups. Other variables are also found to differ according to the type of research group. At the end, some recommendations regarding academic and research policy are drawn

Health care management autonomy: Evidence from the Catalonian hospital sector in a decentralised Spain

The organisation of inpatient care provision has undergone significant reform in many southern European countries. Overall across Europe, public management is moving towards the introduction of more flexibility and autonomy . In this setting, the promotion of the further decentralisation of health care provision stands out as a key salient policy option in all countries that have hitherto had a traditionally centralised structure. Yet, the success of the underlying incentives that decentralised structures create relies on the institutional design at the organisational level, especially in respect of achieving efficiency and promoting policy innovation without harming the essential principle of equal access for equal need that grounds National Health Systems (NHS). This paper explores some of the specific organisational developments of decentralisation structures drawing from the Spanish experience, and particularly those in the Catalonia. This experience provides some evidence of the extent to which organisation decentralisation structures that expand levels of autonomy and flexibility lead to organisational innovation while promoting activity and efficiency. In addition to this pure managerial decentralisation process, Spain is of particular interest as a result of the specific regional NHS decentralisation that started in the early 1980 s and was completed in 2002 when all seventeen autonomous communities that make up the country had responsibility for health care services.Already there is some evidence to suggest that this process of decentralisation has been accompanied by a degree of policy innovation and informal regional cooperation. Indeed, the Spanish experience is relevant because both institutional changes took place, namely managerial decentralisation leading to higher flexibility and autonomy- alongside an increasing political decentralisation at the regional level. The coincidence of both processes could potentially explain why some organisation and policy innovation resulting from policy experimentation at the regional level might be an additional featureto take into account when examining the benefits of decentralisation.

Doctoral education's reform in Switzerland and Norway : a public management analyis

This doctoral thesis examines a recent phenomenon in European higher education, namely the reform of doctoral education. On the basis of a number of case studies, consisting of Swiss and Norwegian doctoral schools, and their institutional, national and international context, it demonstrates to what extent changes appear in doctoral education and its governance. Findings indicate new practices regarding doctoral students' recruitment, curricular component, supervision, scientific exchange, follow-up and their career. Doctoral education's character is not anymore exclusively determined by individual supervisors, but increasingly by interdisciplinary and interinstitutional colleges of academics. Finally, general governance patterns are identified: according to the type of scientific discipline and higher education institution, the institution's size and national political system, the field of higher education is more or less dominated by New Public Management or Network Governance characteristics.

Ranking RegionalInnovation Policies: DEA-based Benchmarking in an European Setting

Seudullinen innovaatio on monimutkainen ilmi��, joka usein sijaitsee paikallisten toimijoiden keskin��isen vuorovaikutuksen kent��ss��. T��ten sit�� on perinteisesti pidetty vaikeasti mitattavana ilmi��n��. Ty��ss�� sovellettiin Data Envelopment Analysis menetelm����, joka on osoittautunut aiemmin menestyksekk����ksi tapauksissa, joissa mitattavien sy��tteiden ja tuotteiden v��liset suhteet eiv��t ole olleet ilmeisi��. Ty��ss�� luotiin konseptuaalinen malli seudullisen innovaation sy��tteist�� ja tuotteista, jonka perusteella valittiin 12 tilastollisen muuttujan mittaristo. K��ytt��en Eurostat:ia datal��hteen��, l��hdedata kahdeksaan muuttujsta saatiin seudullisella tasolla, sek�� mittaristoa t��ydennettiin yhdell�� kansallisella muuttujalla. Arviointi suoritettiin lopulta 45 eurooppalaiselle seudulle. Tutkimuksen painopiste oli arvioida DEA-menetelm��n soveltuvuutta innovaatio-j��rjestelm��n mittaamiseen, sill�� menetelm���� ei ole aiemmin sovellettu vastaavassa tapauksessa. Ensimm��iset tulokset osoittivat ylip����t����n liiallisen korkeita tehok-kuuslukuja. Korjaustoimenpiteit�� erottelutarkkuuden parantamiseksi esiteltiin ja sovellettiin, jonka j��lkeen saatiin realistisempia tuloksia ja ranking-lista arvioitavista seuduista. DEA-menetelm��n todettiin olevan tehokas ja kiinnostava ty��kalu arviointik��yt��nt��jen ja innovaatiopolitiikan kehitt��miseen, sik��li kun datan saatavuusongelmat saadaan ratkaistua sek�� itse mallia tarkennettua.

Tiet��mysperustainen aluen��kemys: Case Kanta-H��me

Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli arvioida alueellista kehityst�� tiet��mysperustaisesta aluen��kemyksest�� k��sin Kanta-H��meen maakunnassa. Tarkoituksena oli my��s selvitt���� millaisia resursseja alueella on tai tulisi olla tulevaisuuden kest��v���� kilpailukyky�� ajatellen. Tiet��mysperustaisen aluen��kemyksen mukaan kaikista alueella k��ytett��viss�� olevista resursseista alueen kest��v��n kilpailukyvyn l��hteen�� on tieto, erityisesti hiljainen tieto. Kirjallisuus korostaa my��s innovaatioiden merkityst�� kilpailukyvyn l��hteen��. Ty��ss�� k��ytetyst�� n��k��kulmasta katsoen innovaatiot ovat ep��lineaarisia ja vuorovaikutteisia oppimisprosesseja, joissa sosiaaliset tekij��t, kuten yhteisty�� ja oppiminen ovat t��rkeit��. Ty��n empiirinen osuus koostuu ryhm��haastatteluista ja yrityskyselyst��. Ryhm��haastatteluja k��ytettiin alueen nykyisen teknotaloudellisen tilanteen ymm��rt��miseksi. Ryhm�� koostui viidest��toista alueen kehitt��j��organisaatioihin kuuluneesta toimijasta. Ryhm��haastattelujen perusteella yhteisty��, vuorovaikutus ja sosiaalinen p����oma olivat niiden tekij��iden joukossa, jotka vaikuttavat alueen pitk��n aikav��lin kehitt��miseen. Ryhm��haastattelujen avulla oli my��s mahdollista muodostaa joitakin ehdotuksia alueen kilpailukyky�� koskevista kehitt��misen edellytyksist��. N��m�� ehdotukset t��ytyy testata tulevaisuudessa. Tarvitaan my��s tarkempaa tutkimusta esimerkiksi sen ymm��rt��miseksi, mitk�� tekij��t vaikuttavat sosiaalisen p����oman muotoutumiseen alueen eri toimijoiden v��lill��. Yrityskysely koostui 86 yrityksen tiedoista. Kysely toteutettiin kes��ll�� 2004. Tuote- ja palveluinnovaatioilla ja innovaatiotoimintaan tehdyill�� tutkimus- ja kehitt��mispanostuksilla mitaten alueen yrityksiss�� on innovaatiotoimintaa. Kyselyn perusteella oli my��s mahdollista saada selville joitain yritysten innovaatioymp��rist��n kannalta t��rkeit�� tekij��it��. Toisaalta er����t tulokset olivat osittain ristiriitaisia. T��m��n vuoksi esimerkiksi alueen yritysten innovaatiokyvykkyyteen on l��hitulevaisuudessa kiinnitett��v�� enemm��n huomiota.

Safety and sustainability research for university schools of fine arts

Designing new teaching programs for both undergraduate and graduate university studies involves integrating concepts and methodologies regarding quality, work safety and hazard prevention, and environmental protection. One of the challenges facing Spanish research within the realm of European Higher Education concerns health and safety issues in the Arts.In the case of Fine Arts, student exploration is one of the fundamental pillars of the study program; therefore it is imperative that art studios be optimized. This optimization affects both designated resources (infrastructures, materials, equipment, etc.) and organization of the teaching force.In this context, the aim of our research is to improve educational practices by designing quality measures that are both friendly to the environment and hazardous free. The aim here is to assure adequate art studio and laboratory management, and provide students with hazard free health and environmentally safe concepts that can be incorporated in their professional lives.The school of Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona is part of a pilot program, where our experience in educational innovation and research is serving as a reference for the implantation of OSHAS 18001 norms.