Fishery of the Goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara (Teleostei: Epinephelidae) based on local ecological knowledge and fishery records in Yucatan, Mexico

The Goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara, a large-bodied (similar to 2.5 m TL, > 400 kg) and critically endangered fish (Epinephelidae), is highly Vulnerable to overfishing. Although protected from fishing in many countries, its exploitation in Mexico is unregulated; a situation that puts its populations at risk. Fishery records of E. itajara are scarce, which prevents determination of its fishery status. This work aimed to elucidate the E itajara fishery in the northern Yucatan Peninsula by 1) analyzing available catch records and 2) interviewing veteran fishermen (local ecological knowledge) from two traditional landing sites: Dzilam de Bravo and Puerto Progreso. Historic fishery records from two fishing cooperatives were analyzed in order to elucidate the current situation and offer viable alternatives for conservation and management. Catches have decreased severely. Local knowledge obtained from fishermen represented a very important source of information for reconstructing the fisheries history of this species. Conservation measures that incorporate regional and international regulations on critically endangered fish species are suggested

The Key Features of Knowledge and Knowledge Management in Product Development Process

Tutkimusongelmana oli kuinka tiedon johtamisella voidaan edesauttaa tuotekehitysprosessia. Mitkä ovat ne avaintekijät tietoympäristössä kuin myös itse tiedossa, joilla on merkitystä erityisesti tuotekehitysprosessin arvon muodostumiseen ja prosessien kehittämiseen? Tutkimus on laadullinen Case-tutkimus. Tutkimusongelmat on ensin selvitetty kirjallisuuden avulla, jonka jälkeen teoreettinen viitekehys on rakennettu tutkimaan rajattua ongelma-aluetta case-yrityksestä. Empiirisen tutkimuksen materiaali koostuu pääasiallisesti henkilökohtaisten teemahaastattelujen aineistosta. Tulokset merkittävimmistä tiedon hyväksikäytön haittatekijöistä, kuten myös parannusehdotukset on lajiteltu teoreettisessa viitekehyksessä esitettyjen oletustekijöiden mukaan. Haastatteluissa saadut vastaukset tukevat kirjallisuudesta ja alan ammattilaiselta saatua käsitystä tärkeimmistä vaikuttavista tekijöistä. Tärkeimmät toimenpiteet ja aloitteet joilla parannettaisiin tiedon muodostumista, koskivat ennnen kaikkea työnteon ulkoisia olosuhteita, eikä niinkään tiedon muodostumisen prosessia itseään. Merkittävimpiä haittatekijöitä olivat kultturiin, fyysiseen ja henkiseen tilaan ja henkilöstöresursseihin liittyvät ongelmat. Ratkaisuja ongelmiin odotettiin saatavan lähinnä tietotekniikan, henkilöstöresurssien ja itse tiedon muokkaamisen avulla. Tuotekehitysprosessin ydin tietovirtojen ja –pääomien luokittelu ja tulkitseminen tiedon muodostusta kuvaavan Learning Spiralin avulla antoi lähinnä teoreettisia viitteitä siitä millaisia keinoja on olemassa tiedon lisäämiseen ja jakamiseen eri tietotyypeittäin. Tulosten perusteella caseyrityksessä pitäisi kiinnittää erityistä huomiota tiedon dokumentointiin ja jakamiseen erityisesti sen tiedon osalta, joka on organisaatiossa vain harvalla ja/tai luonteeltaan hyvin tacitia.

Sickness certification in primary care: a survey on views and practices among Swiss physicians.

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY: Studies from several countries (Scandinavia, United Kingdom) report that general practitioners (GPs) experience problems in sickness certification. Our study explored views of Swiss GPs towards sickness certification, their practice and experience, professional skills and problematic interactions with patients. METHODS: We conducted an online survey among GPs throughout Switzerland, exploring behaviour of physicians, patients and employers with regard to sickness certification; GPs' views about sickness certification; required competences for certifying sickness absence, and approaches to advance their competence. We piloted the questionnaire and disseminated it through the networks of the five Swiss academic institutes for primary care. RESULTS: We received 507 valid responses (response rate 50%). Only 43/507 GPs experienced sickness certification as problematic per se, yet 155/507 experienced problems in sickness certification at least once a week. The 507 GPs identified estimating a long-term prognosis about work capacity (64%), handling conflicts with patients (54%), and determining the reduction of work capacity (42%) as problematic. Over 75% would welcome special training opportunities, e.g., on sickness certifications during residency (93%), in insurance medicine (81%), and conflict management (80%). CONCLUSION: Sickness certification as such does not present a major problem to Swiss GPs, which contrasts with the experience in Scandinavian countries and in the UK. Swiss GPs did identify specific tasks of sickness certification as problematic. Training opportunities on sick-leave certification and insurance medicine in general were welcomed.

English as a medium of instruction in teaching other languages: attitudes and practices

Internationalisation of HE and emergence of English as a global academic lingua franca used by people who share neither a common native tongue nor cultural and educational background have not only offered more opportunities but also raised challenges. According to recent European surveys, the percentage of pupils attaining the level of independent user in English varies from 14% to 82%, which evidences the potential and the complexity for English as a medium of instruction at tertiary level. This study aims to present the model of foreign language instruction at Vytautas Magnus University where one third of 30 languages are taught through English. It investigates the attitudes and practices of teachers in delivering their English-medium language courses by discussing the questions whether teaching other languages through English is psychologically, culturally and educationally preferable for teachers and students, whether it can limit the content taught and require a special methodology, how the teaching process changes with multiple languages used in the classroom and what level of English is necessary for teachers and students to ensure high quality of English-medium language teaching. The study is based on qualitative methodology with 12 language teachers participating as respondents. The results reveal areas in need of improvement.

Wikipedia in Higher Education: An Empirical Study on Faculty Perceptions and Practices

Peer-reviewed

Enhancing Customer Knowledge and Its Sharing At a Paper Production Line

This study has been made for specific paper production line at an international forest industry company in Finland. The main purpose for the study was a need to examine the current situation of the customer knowledge and its’ sharing at case production line, recognize the problems in it and finally, find out the improvement actions. The study is composed of theoretical and empirical parts. In theoretical part, knowledge management and information sharing in addition to customer knowledge management are presented. Empirical data from case production line was collected by using survey questionnaires. The results are analyzed in discussion and conclusions and finally, study ends with summary which includes recommendations. Based on the study, the amount and quality of customer knowledge and gaining and transferring the customer knowledge were found as the main challenges. The proposed solutions were discovered from moving towards more dynamic operating environment and in the area of customer knowledge management, especially from the communities of creation.

Solution marketing characteristics and practices

The first objective of this master's thesis is to find out how the concepts solution and solution marketing are defined in the literature. In order to do so, solution marketing literature is reviewed widely. Another target is to identify the characteristics of solution marketing and to explain how solution marketing can be carried out. The final objective is to determine how well the described solution marketing practices are executed in the target company, and this will be studied with a survey. A solution can be described as a co-created and customized combination of products and services. Solution marketing aims at developing and anticipating customer's business needs and it involves close collaboration between customer and supplier. Solution marketing communication is targeted to a specific audience. It entails deep customer intimacy and is focused on understanding customer's business problem. Solution marketing also requires close collaboration between sales and marketing as well as customer focused mindset. Solution marketing can be executed by promoting thought leadership, presenting solution offering, creating close customer relationships and treating customers as individuals. Solution provider's whole organization must engage customer focus.

Knowledge of common pediatric cancers among medical students in northeast Brazil

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, early diagnosis of childhood cancer has taken an important place on the international agenda. The authors of this study evaluated a group of medical students in Recife, Brazil, regarding knowledge and practices related to early diagnosis of common childhood cancers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with a sample of 82 medical students, from a total of 86 eligible subjects. Data were collected using self-completed questionnaires. Subgroups were defined according to knowledge of the theme and students' perceptions of their own skills and interest in learning. RESULTS: 74.4% of the sample demonstrated a minimum level of knowledge. The group without minimum knowledge or self-perceived competence to identify suspected cases (23.3%) was in the worst position to perform early diagnosis. All subjects expressed interest in learning more about this topic. CONCLUSIONS: Despite acceptable levels of knowledge among these medical students, the definition of central aspects of the teaching and learning processes would be useful for training physicians with the skills for diagnosing and treating pediatric cancers

A Case Study of Agile Software Engineering Methods and Practices in the MeeGo Harmattan Open Source and Product Context

The aim of this master’s thesis is to study how Agile method (Scrum) and open source software are utilized to produce software for a flagship product in a complex production environment. The empirical case and the used artefacts are taken from the Nokia MeeGo N9 product program, and from the related software program, called as the Harmattan. The single research case is analysed by using a qualitative method. The Grounded Theory principles are utilized, first, to find out all the related concepts from artefacts. Second, these concepts are analysed, and finally categorized to a core category and six supported categories. The result is formulated as the operation of software practices conceivable in circumstances, where the accountable software development teams and related context accepts a open source software nature as a part of business vision and the whole organization supports the Agile methods.

Long live! : South African HIV-activism, knowledge and power

Då aktivister i den sydafrikanska organisationen Treatment Action Campaign - TAC- demonstrerar för tillgång till bromsmediciner för den fattiga delen av världen, iklädda T-skjortor med texten "HIV-POSITIV", är de offer samtidigt som de är globala aktörer för en rättvisare värld. Denna typ av aktivism, och särskilt mobiliseringen av kvinnor som lever med hiv och kämpar för tillgång till bromsmediciner, utmanar aktuell, hälso- och hiv-forskning. Vidare kastar hiv-aktivismen ljus på globaliseringens effekter på sjukdom och hälsa. TAC är en hälsorörelse som fokuserar på hiv på såväl ett personligt, nationellt som globalt plan. Genom sitt breda perspektiv förskjuter TAC frågan om hiv från att handla om individuell sjukdom till att beröra ett brett spektrum av politiska frågor. Studien "Long Live! HIV-aktivism, knowledge and power", som grundar sig på ett rikt etnografisk material insamlat i Sydafrika under åren 200-2006, visar hur hiv-aktivisterna utmanar dikotomier mellan socialt och medicinskt, mellan behandling och prevention samt mellan aktör och offer. I TAC:s arbete dekonstrueras också de ofta skarpa konstrasterna mellan expert- och lekmannakunskap, eftersom organisationen belyser hur läkare, patienter och aktivister kan samarbeta för en fungerande hälsovård. Studien granskar hur TAC-aktivister, som lever med hiv, agerar som globala aktörer i sitt arbete för förändring. Studien visar vidare hur TAC-aktivister utmanar hur hiv-prevention och -behandling sätts i motsatsförhållande till varandra och hävdar att man inte kan ha det ena utan det andra. Man kan säga att aktivisternas kritik av hälsopolitik synliggör hur teorier om hälsa och sjukdom, måste ta i beaktande det komplexa förhållandet mellan kön, ras, klass och globala maktstrukturer.

Mapping the translation needs and practices in development co-operation projects of NGOs

Tämän pro gradu -tutkielman aiheena on kääntäminen ja viestintä vieraalla kielellä Suomen ulkoasiainministeriön rahoittamissa kansalaisjärjestöjen kehitysyhteistyöhankkeissa. Tutkielman on tarkoitus kartoittaa kyseisten kehitysyhteistyöhankkeiden kääntämiseen ja vieraskieliseen viestintään liittyviä tarpeita ja -käytäntöjä. Aihetta ei ole tutkittu laajasti muutoin, joten empiirinen osuus on erityisen merkittävässä roolissa. Tutkielman alussa esitellään ulkoasiainministeriön laatimia suomalaisten kansalaisjärjestöjen kehitysyhteistyöhankkeiden ehtoja ja ohjeita, jotka ovat kyseiselle tutkimukselle olennaisia. Tutkielman teoreettinen osuus koostuu lähinnä metodologisesta pohdinnasta, koska aiempaa tutkimustietoa on vähän. Tutkimusmetodien analysointia on painotettu myös siksi, että empiirisellä osuudella on niin suuri merkitys. Tutkielman empiirinen aineisto on yhtäältä peräisin tutkijan havainnoista, jotka saatiin omia varhaisempia hankehallinnointikokemuksia hyödyntäen sekä osallistuvan havainnoinnin menetelmää käyttäen kahden opiskelijajärjestön kehitysyhteistyöhankkeista vuosien 2009 ja 2012 välisenä aikana. Toisaalta aineisto on kerätty kyselytutkimuksen vastauksista. Kysely lähetettiin 35 suomalaiselle kansalaisjärjestölle, joiden kehitysyhteistyöhankkeita Suomen ulkoasiainministeriö rahoittaa. Järjestöt valittiin satunnaisotannalla. Empiirisen aineiston analyysistä ilmeni muun muassa, että tutkijan alkuperäinen hypoteesi kehitysyhteistyöhön liittyvien tekstien kääntämisen yleisyydestä pitää osittain paikkansa, vaikka tekstejä käännettiinkin kansalaisjärjestöissä vähemmän kuin tutkija odotti. Tutkimusaineisto ei ole kuitenkaan tarpeeksi laaja, jotta tuloksia voitaisiin yleistää, sillä kansalaisjärjestöt, niiden hankkeet, käännöstarpeet ja asiantuntemus osoittautuivat odotetusti hyvin erilaisiksi. Tulokset sisältävät asiaa myös esimerkiksi järjestöissä kääntävien ja vieraalla kielellä viestivien taustoista. Jatkotutkimukset ovat kuitenkin tarpeen, ja mahdollisia tutkimusaiheita on runsaasti.

Expectations, frames and practices of genetic counselling in different contexts of genetic testing

Genetic counselling is a process in which the counsellee receives information and support concerning a genetic disease. This study examines the genetic counselling attached to genetic testing. Since genetic information is increasing alongside new testing technologies and the situations faced at the genetic clinics will therefore be more diverse, it is essential to assess what the expectations directed at genetic counselling are. It is also important to compare how they face the current counselling practices. In this study, the expectations, frames and practices of genetic counselling in different contexts of genetic testing were examined from three different perspectives: First, international guidelines covering genetic counselling were analysed to summarise what is expected from genetic counselling and to study how genetic information is framed. Second, national experts in European countries were asked about the regulations and practices of genetic counselling in their country. Finally, ten counsellees who had visited a genetic clinic were interviewed to analyse their expectations and experiences. The counsellees’ perspective was also approached through the background review of the previous studies on counsellees’ experiences. On the basis of the study, there are basic elements that are expected to be covered in genetic counselling from all perspectives. However, the views concerning bioethics, genetic exceptionalism and psychosocial aspects vary depending on the perspective and on the individual situation. Since there are sometimes more differences than similarities between genetic tests, no universal recommendations for counselling can be applied. The practices of genetic counselling should be defined situationally, emphasising the individual needs over the genes.

Conditions and practices in the commercialisation of innovations in wood industry

The report 'Conditions and practices in the commercialisation of innovation in wood industry' has been written as a part of the Wood Academy project. The report analyses the commercialisation conditions and practices of wood industry by utilising product categorisation based on a conceptual schema which combines the aspects of the transfer of the procession of utility and the degree of form/service utility (or value-added) created or provided by the company. Open innovation approaches help to perceive the possible new product and service innovations as well as the new business models and earning logics in the industry. The report also contains brief company cases to demonstrate theory-to-practice and showcase company examples from successful Finnish companies.