Assessment of institutional contexts for collective action, and stakeholder receptiveness to integrated research-extension approaches on Lac Ntomba, Lac Maï-Ndombe and the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba watersheds

The WorldFish Center has been collaborating with its partners (AWF and WWF) in the Maringa-Lopori-Wamba (MLW) and the Lac Tele-Lac Ntomba (LTL) Landscapes to develop participatory monitoring systems for aquatic ecosystems. This requires rigorous data collection regarding fishing effort and catch, and the establishment of community partnerships; enabling WorldFish Center researchers to understand and counteract the institutional legacies of previous NGO interventions. In the MLW, fisherfolk livelihoods are severely limited due to their extreme isolation from markets and government services. However, fisherfolk have some experience dealing with natural resource conservation or extraction entities as well as humanitarian agencies. Their history has left them slightly skeptical but reasonably willing to collaborate with incoming NGOs. Around Lac Ntomba, fisherfolk have had more extensive interactions with conservation and humanitarian NGOs, but despite their proximity to the Congo River, they appear to have very limited access to distant markets. As past benefits from NGO activities have been captured by local village elites many fishers are highly skeptical and even antagonistic toward NGOs in general, and see little benefits from collaborating with each other or NGOs. Similarly to the MLW and Lac Ntomba, Lac Maï-Ndombe fisherfolk were disillusioned by past NGO activities. However, in this area levels of fish catch are greater than in the other watersheds, and many fishers make regular trips to major markets in Kinshasa, Kikwit and Tchikapa. Consequently, while there are significant divisions to be addressed in Lac Maï-Ndombe, fisherfolk in general are more interested in exploring options for improving livelihoods. In order to overcome these hurdles, the WorldFish Center has introduced an integrated research-extension approach in its interactions with these communities. The teams conducted demonstrations of technological innovations that could significantly improve on present post-harvest fish processing practices, in particular: a solar fish drying tent and a fish smoking barrel.

Influenza vaccine effectiveness in Portugal: season 2015/2016 report

This report was prepared as part of the Project “Monitoring Influenza vaccine effectiveness during influenza seasons and pandemics in the European Union” and describes the results obtained in Portugal under the Protocol Agreement celebrated between EpiConcept SARL, Paris and National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon. Data and activities related to the individuals 65 years and more were funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no 634446.

A Gestão da Carreira nos Quadros Permanentes de Sargentos da Força Aérea – Que Futuro?

A existência de assimetrias no desenvolvimento da carreira dos militares da categoria de Sargentos dos Quadros Permanentes da Força Aérea, originou o desenvolvimento de um estudo que propõe identificar linhas orientadoras que concorram para mitigar os efeitos dessas mesmas assimetrias bem como contribuam, no âmbito da criação de um novo sistema de gestão de carreiras de Sargentos, para potenciais alterações que permitam alinhar as necessidades organizacionais e individuais. Com base no mapa concetual construído, foi desenvolvido um estudo apoiado na análise de dados relativos à categoria de Sargentos bem como realizadas entrevistas a especialistas, com funções e experiência relevantes na área da gestão de carreiras militares, de forma a, recorrendo a um método hipotético-dedutivo, comprovar hipóteses e responder a perguntas derivadas e por conseguinte à pergunta de partida que norteou esta investigação. Com este estudo concluiu-se que existe a necessidade de a Força Aérea implementar um sistema integrado de gestão estratégica da carreira dos Sargentos, propondo-se o modelo de Edgar Schein de planeamento e desenvolvimento estratégico de Recursos Humanos como possível aproximação a um modelo a implementar na Força Aérea, bem como foi igualmente identificada a utilização menos eficiente de ferramentas essenciais como são a formação e o mérito militar. Abstract: The existence of asymmetries in the development of the military career in the category of Sergeants of the permanent boards of the Air Force, led to the development of a study intended to identify guidelines that contribute to mitigate the effects of those asymmetries and contribute, within the creation of a new Sergeants career management system, for potential amendments for aligning organizational and individual needs. Based on the constructed conceptual map, a study was developed supported in data analysis on the Sergeants category as well as interviews with experts, with relevant functions and experience in the management of military careers, so, using a hypothetical-deductive method, prove hypotheses and answer derived questions and therefore the starting question that guided this research. This study concluded that there is a need for the Air Force to implement an integrated strategic management career system for Sergeants, proposing the Edgar Schein model of strategic planning and development of human resources as a possible approach to a model to be implemented in the Air Force, and it was also identified a less efficient use of essential tools as are training and military merit.

Recompensas como Fator de Motivação no Contexto dos Trabalhadores Civis da Força Aérea

Estudos anteriores concluíram que as Recompensas Não Financeiras (RNF) têm impacto na Motivação, bem como no desempenho individual e organizacional. Este estudo procurou analisar a influência das RNF Intrínsecas e Extrínsecas na Motivação Intrínseca e Extrínseca, no contexto dos trabalhadores civis das Força Aérea, integrados nas carreiras gerais, bem como a identificação das RNF com impacto na Motivação. Para o efeito, foi distribuído um questionário individual a 767 trabalhadores civis, tendo sido recebidos 412 (53,7%) questionários válidos. Os resultados estatísticos demonstraram a existência de unidimensionalidade dos conceitos RNF e da Motivação e sugeriram que as RNF, como prática de gestão de recursos humanos, têm influência positiva e significativa na Motivação dos trabalhadores civis da Força Aérea, explicando 67,6% da variância da Motivação. Das RNF com impacto na Motivação, verificou-se que é a “satisfação no trabalho” a que mais se destaca, seguida da “possibilidade de equilíbrio entre vida pessoal e trabalho”, “possibilidade de exercer as suas competências”, “trabalho desafiador”, “bom espírito de equipa” e “existência de um plano de formação e desenvolvimento profissional”. Verificou-se ainda que as variáveis demográficas (género, idade, antiguidade e carreira) não moderam a relação entre as RNF e a Motivação. Abstract: Previous studies have concluded that Non Financial Rewards (NFR) have an impact in Motivation, and get reflected in the individual and organizational performance. This study has analyzed the influence of Intrinsic and Extrinsic NFR in the Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation, in the context of Air Force civilian employees, integrated in the general careers, as well as identifying the NFR with impact in Motivation. For this purpose, we have distributed an individual questionnaire to 767 civilian employees, having received 412 (53,7%) valid questionnaires. The statistic results have shown that the NFR and Motivation concepts are one dimensional and suggested that the NFR, as a practice of managing human resources, have positive influence in the Motivation of Air Force civilian workers, accounting for 67,6% of the variation in Motivation. From the NFR with impact in Motivation, we have verified that the “satisfaction with work” is the one that distinguishes itself the most, followed by “the possibility of balancing personnel life and work”, “possibility of exercising abilities”, “challenging work”, “good team spirit” and “the existence of a training and professional development plan”. We have further verified that the demographic variables (gender, age, seniority and career) do not moderate the relationship between the NFR and Motivation.

DETERMINANTS OF THE ADOPTION OF INTEGRATED SOIL FERTILITY MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES IN MBALE DIVISION, KENYA

The agro-climatic conditions in western Kenya present the region as a food surplus area yet people are still reliant on food imports, with the region registering high poverty levels. Depletion of soil fertility and the resulting decline in agricultural productivity in Mbale division has led to many attempts to develop and popularize Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies that could restore soil fertility. These technologies bridge the gap between high external inputs and extreme forms of traditional low external input agriculture. Some of the ISFM components used by farmers are organic and inorganic inputs and improved seeds. However, the adoption of these technologies is low. The study aimed to examine the factors that influence the adoption of ISFM technologies by smallholder farmers in Mbale division, Kenya. The study was conducted in 9 sub-locations in Mbale division. Purposive sampling was used in selecting the 80 farmers to get the data based on a farm-household survey. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on the determinants of the adoption of ISFM technologies from the sampled farmers in the study area. The study sought to answer the research question: What factors influence the uptake of ISFM technologies by farmers in Mbale division? The hypothesis tested was that the adoption of ISFM technologies is not influenced by age, education, extension services, labour, off-farm income and farm size. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Cross tabulation was used for examining the relationship between categorical (nominal or ordinal) variables, and the bivariate correlations procedure was used to compute the pair wise associations between scale or ordinal variables. Probit regression was used to predict the socio-economic factors influencing the adoption of ISFM technologies among smallholder farmers. Results of the study indicated that education of household head, membership in social groups, age of the household head, off-farm income and farm size were the variables that significantly influenced the adoption of ISFM technologies. The findings show that there is need for a more pro-poor focused approach to achieve sustainable soil fertility management among smallholder farmers. The findings will help farmers, extension officers, researchers and donors in identifying region-specific entry points that can help in developing innovative ISFM technologies.

Computer Aided Design Algorithmic Technique for Very Large Scale Integrated Circuit Design and Smart Home Embedded System Design

To tackle the challenges at circuit level and system level VLSI and embedded system design, this dissertation proposes various novel algorithms to explore the efficient solutions. At the circuit level, a new reliability-driven minimum cost Steiner routing and layer assignment scheme is proposed, and the first transceiver insertion algorithmic framework for the optical interconnect is proposed. At the system level, a reliability-driven task scheduling scheme for multiprocessor real-time embedded systems, which optimizes system energy consumption under stochastic fault occurrences, is proposed. The embedded system design is also widely used in the smart home area for improving health, wellbeing and quality of life. The proposed scheduling scheme for multiprocessor embedded systems is hence extended to handle the energy consumption scheduling issues for smart homes. The extended scheme can arrange the household appliances for operation to minimize monetary expense of a customer based on the time-varying pricing model.

Evidence of Leishmania infantum infection in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a natural area in Madrid, Spain

Leishmaniasis is one of most important neglected zoonosis and remains endemic in at least 88 developing countries in the world. In addition, anthropogenic environmental changes in urban areas are leading to its emergency world-wide. Zoonotic leishmaniasis control might only be achieved by an integrated approach targeting both the human host and the animal reservoirs, which in certain sylvatic cycles are yet to be identified. Recently, hares have been pointed out as competent reservoirs of Leishmania infantum in Spain, but the role of other lagomorphs has not been clarified. Here, 69 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from a natural area in Madrid in which a high density was present were analyzed using indirect (immunofluorescence antibody test, IFAT) and direct (PCR, culture) techniques. Fifty-seven (82.6%) of the animals were positive to at least one technique, with IFAT yielding the highest proportion of positive samples. L. infantum was isolated in 13% animals demonstrating the occurrence of infection in this setting. Our results suggest that rabbits could play a role of competent reservoir of L. infantum and demonstrate that the prevalence of infection is high in the analyzed area.

A utilização das aplicações digitais «Peak & Neuronation» no envelhecimento ativo : um estudo de caso na USALBI

Trabalho de Projeto apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Gerontologia Social.

Scaling up strategies of the chronic respiratory disease programme of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (Action Plan B3: Area 5)

Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) focuses on the integrated care of chronic diseases. Area 5 (Care Pathways) was initiated using chronic respiratory diseases as a model. The chronic respiratory disease action plan includes (1) AIRWAYS integrated care pathways (ICPs), (2) the joint initiative between the Reference site MACVIA-LR (Contre les MAladies Chroniques pour un VIeillissement Actif) and ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma), (3) Commitments for Action to the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and the AIRWAYS ICPs network. It is deployed in collaboration with the World Health Organization Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD). The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing has proposed a 5-step framework for developing an individual scaling up strategy: (1) what to scale up: (1-a) databases of good practices, (1-b) assessment of viability of the scaling up of good practices, (1-c) classification of good practices for local replication and (2) how to scale up: (2-a) facilitating partnerships for scaling up, (2-b) implementation of key success factors and lessons learnt, including emerging technologies for individualised and predictive medicine. This strategy has already been applied to the chronic respiratory disease action plan of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing.