Student and library services in cooperation

Abstract At Ångström Laboratory, one of the largest campuses at Uppsala University, the Library and the Student Services Office merged in November 2012. This merger is a pilot project to improve service for students and faculty. Ångström Laboratory has around 900 staff and almost 10,000 students, of whom most also spend time at other campuses. In this paper we describe the background and the implementation of the pilot project. One of the main reasons for moving together was the wish to gather together all kinds of student services, including the distribution of written examinations in one place. The central location and open environment of the Library made it a good choice. The heart of the Library and Student Services is an open office consisting of two service desks located in the library area. There are silent study areas; computers for searching and printing, an area for relaxing with newspapers and journals, meeting rooms and offices for the staff. The result is a lively place with a cosy atmosphere. As the Library and the Student Services still belong to different parts of the University we are now starting to find out how best to collaborate. To understand more we log all the questions we get and the services we deliver. We also have meetings together and use the same lunch room to get to know each other and our different functions. We will define which matters can be solved in common, and how we can back each other up when necessary.

Building a Learning Architecture : e-Learning and e-Services

With the rapid advancement of the webtechnology, more and more educationalresources, including software applications forteaching/learning methods, are available acrossthe web, which enables learners to access thelearning materials and use various ways oflearning at any time and any place. Moreover,various web-based teaching/learning approacheshave been developed during the last decade toenhance the capability of both educators andlearners. Particularly, researchers from bothcomputer science and education are workingtogether, collaboratively focusing ondevelopment of pedagogically enablingtechnologies which are believed to improve theinfrastructure of education systems andprocesses, including curriculum developmentmodels, teaching/learning methods, managementof educational resources, systematic organizationof communication and dissemination ofknowledge and skills required by and adapted tousers. Despite of its fast development, however,there are still great gaps between learningintentions, organization of supporting resources,management of educational structures,knowledge points to be learned and interknowledgepoint relationships such as prerequisites,assessment of learning outcomes, andtechnical and pedagogic approaches. Moreconcretely, the issues have been widelyaddressed in literature include a) availability andusefulness of resources, b) smooth integration ofvarious resources and their presentation, c)learners’ requirements and supposed learningoutcomes, d) automation of learning process interms of its schedule and interaction, and e)customization of the resources and agilemanagement of the learning services for deliveryas well as necessary human interferences.Considering these problems and bearing in mindthe advanced web technology of which weshould make full use, in this report we willaddress the following two aspects of systematicarchitecture of learning/teaching systems: 1)learning objects – a semantic description andorganization of learning resources using the webservice models and methods, and 2) learningservices discovery and learning goals match foreducational coordination and learning serviceplanning.

‘Moving on’ : Violence, wellbeing and questions about violence in antenatal care encounters. A qualitative study with Somali-born refugees in Sweden

Background Somali-born women constitute one of the largest groups of childbearing refugee women in Sweden after more than two decades of political violence in Somalia. In Sweden, these women encounter antenatal care that includes routine questions about violence being asked. The aim of the study was to explore how Somali-born women understand and relate to violence and wellbeing during their migration transition and their views on being approached with questions about violence in Swedish antenatal care. Method Qualitative interviews (22) with Somali-born women (17) living in Sweden were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings A balancing actbetween keeping private life private and the new welfare system was identified, where the midwife's questions about violence were met with hesitance. The midwife was, however, considered a resource for access to support services in the new society. A focus on pragmatic strategies to move on in life, rather than dwelling on potential experiences of violence and related traumas, was prominent. Social networks, spiritual faith and motherhood were crucial for regaining coherence in the aftermath of war. Dialogue and mutual adjustments were identified as strategies used to overcome power tensions in intimate relationships undergoing transition. Conclusions If confidentiality and links between violence and health are explained and clarified during the care encounter, screening for violence can be more beneficial in relation to Somali-born women. The focus on “moving on” and rationality indicates strength and access to alternative resources, but needs to be balanced against risks for hidden needs in care encounters. A care environment with continuity of care and trustful relationships enhances possibilities for the midwife to balance these dual perspectives and identify potential needs. Collaborations between Somali communities, maternity care and social service providers can contribute with support to families in transition and bridge gaps to formal social and care services.

Property rights as a public policy tool: an empirical analysis of the social and economic effects

Secure property rights are considered a key determinant of economic development. However, the evaluation of the causal effects of land titling is a difficult task. The Brazilian government through a program called "Papel Passado" has issued titles, since 2004, to over 85,000 families and has the goal to reach 750,000. Furthermore, another topic in Public Policy that is crucial to developing economies is income generation and child labor force participation. Particularly, in Brazil, about 5.4 million children and teenagers between 5 and 17 years old are still working. This thesis examines the direct impact of securing a property title on income and child labor force participation. In order to isolate the causal role of ownership security, this study uses a comparison between two close and very similar communities in the City of Osasco case (a town with 650,000 people in the São Paulo metropolitan area). One of them, Jardim Canaã, was fortunated to receive the titles in 2007, the other, Jardim DR, given fiscal constraints, only will be part of the program schedule in 2012, and for that reason became the control group. Also, this thesis also aims to test if there is any relationship between land title and happiness. The estimates suggest that titling results in a substantial decrease of child labor force participation, increase of income and happiness for the families that received the title compared to the others.

Social and entrepreneurial values profiles

O empreendedor tem intrigado acadêmicos há anos. Portanto, inúmeras abordagens têm sido aplicadas para entender quem é o empreendedor, sua personalidade e comportamentos. As principais escolas de estudo sobre o tema são a escola de traços psicológicos e a escola de processos ou comportamentos. No entanto, a academia ainda carece de uma definição concreta do indivíduo responsável pelo fenômeno do empreendedorismo. Em uma tentativa de esclarecer essa questão esta pesquisa sugere uma nova abordagem para a compreensão da pessoa do empreendedor com base nos valores pessoais de Schwartz. O objetivo da tese é compreender o perfil de valores de empreendedores sociais e comerciais a fim de determinar as semelhanças e diferenças nas suas preferências de valores que orientam o comportamento empreendedor de ambos e o enfoque social de um e privado do outro. Para este fim a versão mais curta do Questionário de Perfil Valores de Schwartz foi aplicada a uma amostra de 44 empreendedores sociais e 71 comerciais. A primeira proposição da tese era que os empreendedores sociais e comerciais possuiriam um perfil de valores. A segunda era que este perfil de valores seria determinado pelo princípio organizador da ansiedade com preferência pelos valores “livres de ansiedade” em decorrência das características empreendedoras que enfatizam busca pela auto-expansão, crescimento e promoção do alcance de metas. Dessa forma os valores mais importantes para ambos os tipos de empreendedores seriam auto-determinação, estimulação, hedonismo, universalismo e benevolência. A terceira proposição era que os empreendedores sociais e comerciais atribuiriam a mais alta importância ao valor auto-determinação. A quarta propunha que os empreendedores sociais dariam maior importância do que os comerciais para benevolência e universalismo visto que esses valores presumem apreciação pelos outros, preservação e valorização do bem-estar das pessoas mais próximas bem como de qualquer ser vivo em geral. Os resultados das análises descritivas e dos testes de hipóteses apontam para a validação de todas as proposições menos a última. No entanto, apesar da quarta proposição não haver sido estatisticamente comprovada, houve uma leve tendência dos empreendedores sociais darem maior importância do que os comerciais aos valores de auto-transcendência. Conseqüentemente, para maiores esclarecimentos sobre esse tópico, outros estudos com amostras maiores e randômicas devem ser realizadas.

Inequality of opportunity in daycare and preschool services in Brazil

In this paper we measure inequality of opportunity in daycare and preschool services in Brazil. For this purpose, we construct an opportunity index that modifies the human opportunity index proposed in the literature and used in Barros et al. (2009) to measure inequality in basic opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Specifically, we construct an opportunity measure that includes not only attendance but also parental choice not to enroll children in daycare or preschool, using data from a supplementary questionnaire included in the 2006 version of Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD). The results show that there are large differences between our opportunity index and the human opportunity index for children aged 0-3 years old and considerably smaller differences for children aged 4-6 years old, which suggests that preschool may be closer to a basic opportunity than daycare.

Alcoholic women and men: a comparative study of social and familial aspects and outcome

Objetivos: A proporção de ocorrência de alcoolismo em homens e mulheres tem uma variação de 14:1 até 2:1, mostrando a necessidade de estudos específicos para a população feminina. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o perfil e a evolução de alcoolistas, segundo gênero e gravidade da dependência. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo longitudinal retrospectivo de 114 homens e 57 mulheres alcoolistas (CID-10), inscritos no ambulatório da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, no período de 1990-1994 e avaliados até julho de 1997. Utilizou-se um questionário semi-estruturado, e, para avaliação da gravidade do alcoolismo, o Short Alcohol Dependence Data. Resultados/Conclusões: Os principais resultados mostraram que a estrutura familiar estava comprometida com: relacionamento difícil para 55,6% das mulheres e 65,7% dos homens; violência familiar em 74,1% das mulheres e 61,1% dos homens. As mulheres iniciaram a ingestão mais tarde que os homens (p=0,01), em geral com seus cônjuges (p=0,00). Não houve diferença de evolução no tratamento entre os gêneros. Os principais fatores associados à melhor resposta ao tratamento, independentemente do sexo, foram: nível de gravidade de dependência do álcool (dependentes leves e moderados apresentaram 5,59 vezes mais chances de melhorar do que os dependentes graves); ser praticante de alguma religião (2,3 vezes mais chances de melhora do que os pacientes que não eram praticantes); e tempo de seguimento no programa, negativamente correlacionado a chances de melhora (0,68 vezes menos chances de melhora que aqueles que permaneceram por tempo menor em tratamento).

Social and financial aspects of the artisanal fisheries of Middle Sao Francisco River, Minas Gerais, Brazil

The presence or absence of motorized boats, partnerships and multispecies catches characterize the fisheries of Sao Francisco River, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fishing activity based on 109 interviews, carried out in the wet (high water: February and March) and dry (low water: July and August) seasons, with professional fishermen are described. Aiming to identify the fishery income components, a covariance model was proposed, with the income as the response variable, related to the factors: fishing ground, use of motorized or paddle boat; seasonality; presence of fishing assistant, and the following covariates: capture in weight in the week Frier to the interview, fisherman experience in yrs; and distance (km) travelled for fishing. The results indicated that the main contributions to income were the absence of an engine (because of high price of the fuel), the absence of a partner (because of low capture) and the amount of fish caught by the fishermen.

Model for analysing the social and economic impact of child undernutrition in Latin America

Includes bibliography

Trade between Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Central American Common Market (CACM) countries: the role to play for ports and shipping services

Includes bibliography

Drinking water supply and sanitation services on the threshold of the XXI century

Includes bibliography

Sociodemographic vulnerability in the Caribbean: an examination of the social and demographic impediments to equitable development with participatory citizenship in the Caribbean at the dawn of the twenty-first century

Includes bibliography

Modernization and new services of the Brazilian active control network

The Brazilian Network for Continuous Monitoring of GNSS - RBMC is a national network of continuously operating reference GNSS stations. Since its establishment in December of 1996, it has been playing an essential role for the maintenance and user access of the fundamental geodetic frame in the country. In order to provide better services for RBMC, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics - IBGE and the National Institute of Colonization and Land Reform - INCRA are both partners involved in the National Geospatial Framework Project - PIGN. This paper provides an overview of the recent modernization phases the RBMC network has undergone highlighting its future steps. These steps involve the installation of new equipment, provide real time data from a group of core stations and compute real-time DGPS corrections, based on CDGPS (The real-time Canada-Wide DGPS Service) (The Real-Time Canada-Wide DGPS Service. http://www.cdgps.com/ 2009a). In addition to this, a post-mission Precise Point Positioning (PPP) service has been established based on the current Geodetic Survey Division of NRCan (CSRS-PPP) service. This service is operational since April 2009 and is in large use in the country. All activities mentioned before are based on a cooperation signed at the end of 2004 with the University of New Brunswick, supported by the Canadian International Development Agency and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency. The Geodetic Survey Division of NRCan is also participating in this modernization effort under the same project. This infrastructure of 66 GNSS stations, the real time, post processing services and the potentiality of providing Wide Area DGPS corrections in the future show that the RBMC system is comparable to those available in USA and Europe. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012.

Suministro de servicios de agua potable y saneamiento a la población rural de América Latina = Provision of drinking water and sanitation services to the rural population of Latin America

Incluye Bibliografía

Relationship between social and economic institutions: a theoretical model applicable to Latin America

Includes bibliography