Adapting global conservation strategies to climate change at the European scale: the otter as a flagship species

Climate change has created the need for new strategies in conservation planning that account for the dynamics of factors threatening endangered species. Here we assessed climate change threat to the European otter, a flagship species for freshwater ecosystems, considering how current conservation areas will perform in preserving the species in a climatically changed future. We used an ensemble forecasting approach considering six modelling techniques applied to eleven subsets of otter occurrences across Europe. We performed a pseudo-independent and an internal evaluation of predictions. Future projections of species distribution were made considering the A2 and B2 scenarios for 2080 across three climate models: CCCMA-CGCM2, CSIRO-MK2 and HCCPR HAD-CM3. The current and the predicted otter distributions were used to identify priority areas for the conservation of the species, and overlapped to existing network of protected areas. Our projections show that climate change may profoundly reshuffle the otter's potential distribution in Europe, with important differences between the two scenarios we considered. Overall, the priority areas for conservation of the otter in Europe appear to be unevenly covered by the existing network of protected areas, with the current conservation efforts being insufficient in most cases. For a better conservation, the existing protected areas should be integrated within a more general conservation and management strategy incorporating climate change projections. Due to the important role that the otter plays for freshwater habitats, our study further highlights the potential sensitivity of freshwater habitats in Europe to climate change.

Institutional regimes for sustainable collective housing stocks

The influence of public policy, property rights and contracts on the sustainability of residential buildings remains largely unknown. This research will use the analytical framework of the housing institutional regime to study the sustainability over time of the housing stock. We aim to produce an inventory of the housing institutional regime in Switzerland, a comparison with the German and Catalan regimes, and policy suggestions to achieve a better sustainability of the housing stock.

O balanced scorecard como instrumento de alinhamento estratégico nas organizações - Caso: Bento, S.A.

Diante da crescente competitividade, característica do mercado global, e da necessidade de melhorar a eficiência e a produtividade nas organizações, torne-se imperativo o aperfeiçoamento, incessante, na forma de actuação dos gestores. Consciente que, até então, as empresas suportam, essencialmente, no sistema contabilístico, este que, muitas vezes, fornece informações insuficientes e restringidos à tomada de decisões de curto prazo, mostra-se necessário investir em sistemas de medição, ligado à estratégia organizacional, que permitam melhor planeamento e controlo e, ainda, gerar e medir indicadores de longo prazo. No intuito de contribuir para a melhoria do paradigma da gestão, mais concretamente da gestão das empresas Cabo-Verdianas, e, em particular a da empresa em estudo, propomos, como objectivo desta dissertação, o estudo da utilização das ferramentas de gestão tradicional, face às novas ferramentas emergentes. Nisto, apresentamos, como estudo de caso, a avaliação do sistema de controlo de gestão da Empresa Bento - Comércio, Construtores, Imobiliária e Investimentos, Sociedade Anónima, (Bento S.A.), analisando, à luz da literatura consultada, o sistema de gestão estratégica, seguido pela empresa de modo a poder propor eventuais melhorias. Durante a revisão bibliográfica, foram estudadas várias ferramentas da gestão estratégica, das quais escolhemos o Balanced Scorecard (BSC) como um instrumento capaz de responder às lacunas detectadas na estratégia de gestão da Empresa, em que após uma breve descrição dos aspectos teóricos do conceito, suportado nos estudos empíricos publicados, apresentámos uma proposta para sua adopção, concepção e implementação. É de realçar que, durante o estudo constatou-se, por parte da administração da empresa, uma maior consciência da importância da comunicação e divulgação da sua estratégia entre os diferentes níveis hierárquicos, o que evidencia que ela está, mesmo, disposta a apostar na sua inovação estratégica. With the raising competitiveness, characteristic of the global market, and of the need of improving the efficiency and productivity in organizations, the constant improvement in the way of acting of managers it becomes peremptory. Aware that, so far, enterprises support, essentially, on the accounting system, which, many times, gives restrict and insufficient information for the taking of decisions in a short term, it is shown to be necessary to invest in measuring systems, connected to the organizational strategy, which contains signs that allow a better planning and control and, furthermore, give birth to and measure signs on a long term. With the aim of contributing for the improvement of the managing pattern, specifically, the management of Cape Verdean enterprises, and, in particular, the one of the enterprise in study, we propose, as an aim of this dissertation, the study of the use of the traditional managing tools, in view of the emerging new tools. Thus, we present, as study case, the evaluation of the system of management control of the Enterprise Bento - Comércio, Construtores, Imobiliária e Investimentos, Sociedade Anónima, (Bento, S.A.), analyzing the system of strategic management, used by the enterprise to be able to propose eventual improvements. During the bibliographic revision, we studied many strategic management tools, among which we chose the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) as an instrument capable to respond to the gaps detected in the management strategy of the enterprise, in which, after a brief description of the theoretical aspects of the concept, supported on the empiric studies published, we present a proposal for its adoption, conception and implementation. We would like to accentuate that, during the study we noticed that there exists, on the behalf of the management of the enterprise, a major awareness of the importance of communication and diffusion of its strategy among the different hierarchical levels, what makes clear that the enterprise is really open to bet on its strategic innovation.

Interdisciplinary intervention for work-related musculoskeletal disorders

The proposed research aims to address the work-related MSD management issue through an interdisciplinary intervention involving clinical and occupational health competencies (rheumatology, occupational medicine, ergonomics). Workers enduring MSD (especially back-pain) and absent from work are selected from volunteering companies (construction, hospitals, public transport, delivery networks). The workers are randomly placed into two groups : the control group benefits from an usual MSD management strategy and the intervention group benefits from a case-management strategy including workhardening treatment (work oriented reeducation) and ergonomic intervention in the workplace. The comparison of health and work-related variables prior and after intervention in the two groups will be used to assess the intervention efficiency and its economic benefits. We expect to produce new strategies for the management of MSD and workplace rehabilitation as well as guidelines for both authorities and companies.

Primary meningioma of the middle ear: case report.

OBJECTIVE: To report a rare case of primary meningioma of the middle ear. METHOD: We describe the case of a 55-year-old woman who presented with decreased hearing and fullness in the left ear, with a middle-ear mass. We also review the world literature regarding primary extracranial meningioma of the middle ear and its management. RESULTS: Primary middle-ear meningioma, a rare clinical entity, was diagnosed in this patient based on an initial transmastoid biopsy. Magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium enhancement excluded the presence of an intracranial component. Complete excision of the tumour was achieved using a combined approach tympanoplasty. The patient had an uneventful post-operative course. CONCLUSION: Meningiomas, although rare in the middle ear, need to be included in the differential diagnosis of middle-ear lesions presenting to the otolaryngologist. This case emphasises the management strategy required when dealing with a middle-ear mass.

Vakuutusyhtiön myyntiorganisaation toimintaprosessien muutos ja muutoksen johtaminen

Yhtiössä on tehty vuoden 2005 aikana strategiaprosessi, jonka tuloksena on päätetty alueiden vähentämisestä seitsemästä neljään sekä konttoriverkoston supistamisesta. Osa yhteyspäälliköistä tulee siirtymään työpisteisiin tai kotikonttoreihin, jolloin esimiestyön haasteet kasvavat maantieteellisistä etäisyyksistä johtuen. Työn keskeisenä sisältönä ovat operatiivisen johdon toimintamallit muutosten toteuttamiseksi ja johtajiston ja esimiesten vastuunkanto yhteisistä päätöksistä. Pitkään jatkuneen stabiilin tilan jälkeen muutosten toteuttaminen on aiheuttanut paljon muutosvastarintaa, joten esimiesten toimintaa ja osaamista pyritään kehittämään muutosta tukevaksi. Työn keskeisenä tuloksena ovat muutoksen perusteet: selkeän vision, yrityskulttuurin ja asenteiden kääntäminen muutosta tukevaksi, viestinnän merkitys ja esimiesten yhteinen linja henkilöstöjohtamisessa. Aluejohdon ajankäytön muutos ja oman toiminnan muuttaminen ovat työn keskeisiä tuloksia, joilla uusia toimintamalleja voidaan viedä organisaatiossa eteenpäin.

Recommandations suisses pour la prise en charge des cancers cutanés chez les patients transplantés d'organe [Swiss clinical practice guidelines for skin cancer in organ transplant recipients]

Swiss clinical practice guidelines for skin cancer in organ transplant recipients Transplant patients have increased over the last decades. As a consequence of long-term immunosuppression, skin cancer, in particular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), has become an important problem. Screening and education of potential organ transplant recipients (OTRs) regarding prevention of sun damage and early recognition of skin cancer are important before transplantation. Once transplanted, OTRs should be seen yearly by a dermatologist to ensure compliance with sun avoidance as well as for treatment of precancerosis and SCC. Early removal is the best treatment for SCC. Reduction of immunosuppression, switch to mTOR inhibitors and chemoprevention with acitretin may reduce the incidence of SCC. The dermatological follow-up of OTRs should be integrated into a comprehensive post-transplant management strategy.

Organisaation tiedonhallinta - Kodifiointi ja henkilöltä henkilölle -strategia

Työssä tarkastellaan kahta vaihtoehtoista tiedonhallinta-strategiaa; kodifiointia ja henkilöltä henkilölle -strategiaa. Molempia strategioita analysoidaan, ja pohditaan organisaation päätöksentekoperusteita strategian valinnalle. Kodifiointi-strategiaa tutkitaan henkilöltä henkilölle -strategiaa perusteellisemmin. Strategioita tutkitaan muun muassa SWOT -analyysin avulla, sekä organisaation että käsiteltävän tiedon erityispiirteitä silmällä pitäen. Työssä tutustutaan myös tiedonhallinta-strategian suunnitteluun ja toteutukseen, sekä hahmotellaan tiedonhallinta-strategian evoluutiota. Myös tietoa ja sen luonnetta tarkastellaan yhtenä organisaation tärkeimmistä resursseista.

Observations on Software Testing Practice

This thesis investigates factors that affect software testing practice. The thesis consists of empirical studies, in which the affecting factors were analyzed and interpreted using quantitative and qualitative methods. First, the Delphi method was used to specify the scope of the thesis. Secondly, for the quantitative analysis 40industry experts from 30 organizational units (OUs) were interviewed. The survey method was used to explore factors that affect software testing practice. Conclusions were derived using correlation and regression analysis. Thirdly, from these 30 OUs, five were further selected for an in-depth case study. The data was collected through 41 semi-structured interviews. The affecting factors and their relationships were interpreted with qualitative analysis using grounded theory as the research method. The practice of software testing was analyzed from the process improvement and knowledge management viewpoints. The qualitative and quantitativeresults were triangulated to increase the validity of the thesis. Results suggested that testing ought to be adjusted according to the business orientation of the OU; the business orientation affects the testing organization and knowledge management strategy, and the business orientation andthe knowledge management strategy affect outsourcing. As a special case, the complex relationship between testing schedules and knowledge transfer is discussed. The results of this thesis can be used in improvingtesting processes and knowledge management in software testing.

A germination study of herbicide-resistant field poppies in Spain

Field poppy, Papaver rhoeas L., is a very common weed in winter cereals in North-Eastern Spain. Its control is becoming difficult due to expanding herbicide resistance. To control field poppies there are alternative strategies such as non-chemical control that take into account the weed emergence period. However, there is a lack of knowledge of P. rhoeas emergence patterns in semi-arid conditions. Thus, here we conducted pot experiments on the emergence of P. rhoeas. We aimed to describe the emergence period and to quantify the emergence of a susceptible and of a herbicide-resistant P. rhoeas population at two locations in Catalonia, Spain, from 1998 to 2001 and until 2004 at one of them. Therefore, pots containing seeds of both populations were established at the two locations and emergence was recorded monthly. We studied the origin of the population, the sowing location, the effect of cultivation and the sowing year. First, we found that the main emergence peaks in our experiments occurred in autumn, accounting for between 65.7 and 98.5% of the annual emergence from October to December, and only little emergence was recorded in spring. This emergence pattern is different from those found in the literature corresponding to Northern European countries, where in some cases main flushes occur only in autumn, in spring and winter or only in spring. The emergence was mainly affected by cultivation, but the effect of light stimulus was observed several months later. As a consequence, cultivation should be done in early autumn, promoting emergence during the whole autumn and winter so that emerged seedlings can be controlled before sowing a spring crop. Second, most experiments showed that the emergence was significantly higher in the first autumn than in the following seasons, e.g. 4.1% emergence in the first year and only 2.1, 2.3, 0.5 and 0.6% new emergence at one of the locations for the second, third, fourth and fifth years. Thus, after having a severe P. rhoeas infestation causing a big seed rain, emergence should be stimulated by autumn cultivation in the following season and seedlings controlled by trying to deplete the soil seed bank as much as possible. Despite the fact that emergence will be staggered throughout several years and that there was a significant relationship between rainfall and emergence, so that dry years will cause a smaller emergence rate of the weed, these findings define a cultural management strategy to reduce P. rhoeas infestations and to contribute to integrated weed management strategies combining it with other tools.

Tiedon strateginen johtaminen viranomaisessa. Case: Rahoitustarkastu

Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää tiedon strategista johtamista Rahoitustarkastuksessa. Tavoitteena oli muodostaa käsitys siitä, mitkä ovat ne kriittiset tekijät ja näkökohdat, jotka ovat hyvän tietojohtamisen edellytyksiä. Tutkimus toteutettiin kvalitatiivisena tapaustutkimuksena, ja siinä perehdyttiin mm. Rahoitustarkastuksen johdon dokumentoituihin tietojohtamisen linjauksiin. Tutkimus osoitti, että tiedon strategisessa johtamisessa on tärkeää, että tietostrategia on kytketty tiiviisti toimintastrategiaan. Lisäksi organisaation tulisi määritellä tietojohtamisen prosessinsa ja tukea näitä mm. tarjoamalla oikeat olosuhteet, resurssit ja tekniikat ja infrastruktuuri. Kumppanuuksien ja verkostojen hallitsemiseksi tulisi olla selkeät periaatteet. Tutkimuksen tuloksena kehitettiin Rahoitustarkastukselle ennakoivan tietojohtamisen malli. Tutkimustuloksista tehtiin myös se johtopäätös, että tietostrategian voisi koostaa eräänlaiseksi kokoomastrategiaksi tai sateenvarjoksi organisaation johtamiskäytännöille. Kokoomastrategia kytkisi nykyisin irrallaan olevat tietojohtamiseenkin vaikuttavat alastrategiat yhdeksi kokonaisuudeksi ja pakottaisi tarkastelemaan näitä alastrategioita myös tietojohtamisen näkökulmasta.

Henkilöstöhallinnosta strategiseen henkilöstövoimavarojen johtamiseen - HRM 2000-luvulla

Tässä tutkielmassa on tarkastelu henkilöstöhallinnon kehittymistä strategiseksi henkilöstövoimavarojen johtamiseksi. Tutkielmassa on tarkasteltu tuota kehitysprosessia kronologisesti edeten, tarkastellen henkilöstöasioiden hoitamisen eri kehitysvaiheita sekä kehittymiseen vaikuttaneita tekijöitä. Tutkielmassa on myös pyritty hahmottelemaan henkilöstöfunktion tulevaisuuden näkymiä. Tutkielman aiheeseen on perehdytty käyttäen apuna aiheesta aiemmin kirjoitettua kirjallisuutta sekä tarkastelemalla siitä tehtyjä tutkimuksia. Tämän prosessin avulla tutkimuksessa on pyritty luomaan käsitys siitä, mitä henkilöstöasioiden hoitamiseen sisältyy ja miten se on kehittynyt. Tutkimuksen ollessa kirjallisuuteen perustuva teoreettinen tarkastelu on aiheen lähestyminen ollut mahdollista vain suhteellisen pinnallisesti. Tällainen teoreettinen tarkastelu antaa kuitenkin hyvän perustan aiheesta kiinnostuneella sekä mahdollisuuden esimerkiksi aiheesta tehtävälle jatkotutkimukselle.

Osuuspankkiryhmän OP 100 Plus –ryhmästrategian vaikuttavuus jäsenosuuspankkien menestykseen

Pro gradun tavoitteena on selvittää Osuuspankkiryhmän OP 100 Plus –ryhmästrategian vaikuttavuus jäsenosuuspankkien menestykseen. Tutkielma perustuu kvantitatiivisten analyysimenetelmien käyttöön. Aineistona on 66:n jäsenpankin kvantitatiiviset tiedot niiden taloudesta ja kvalitatiivinen luokiteltu tieto näiden pankkien ryhmästrategian implementoinnista. Käytännössä regression avulla voidaan löytää matemaattinen malli, joka soveltuu likimääräisesti kuvaamaan edellä mainittujen tekijöiden välistä riippuvuutta. Jotta regressiota on voitu käyttää, sekä pankin menestykselle että strategian implementoitumiselle on määritelty määrää kuvaavat mittarit. Molemmat mittarit ovat suhteellisia ja ne mahdollistavat vain 66:n tutkitun pankin keskinäisen vertailun.

Sanitary quality of edible bivalve mollusks in Southeastern Brazil using an UV based depuration system

The increase in seafood production, especially in mariculture worldwide, has brought out the need of continued monitoring of shellfish production areas in order to ensure safety to human consumption. The purpose of this research was to evaluate pathogenic protozoa, viruses and bacteria contamination in oysters before and after UV depuration procedure, in brackish waters at all stages of cultivation and treatment steps and to enumerate microbiological indicators of fecal contamination from production site up to depuration site in an oyster cooperative located at the Southeastern estuarine area of Brazil. Oysters and brackish water were collected monthly from September 2009 to November 2010. Four sampling sites were selected for enteropathogens analysis: site 1- oyster growth, site 2- catchment water (before UV depuration procedure), site 3 - filtration stage of water treatment (only for protozoa analysis) and site 4- oyster's depuration tank. Three microbiological indicators ! were examined at sites 1, 2 and 4. The following pathogenic microorganisms were searched: Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts, Human Adenovirus (HAdV), Hepatitis A virus (HAV), Human Norovirus (HnoV) (genogroups I and II), JC strain Polyomavirus (JCPyV) and Salmonella sp. Analysis consisted of molecular detection (qPCR) for viruses (oysters and water samples); immunomagnetic separation followed by direct immunofluorescence assay for Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts and also molecular detection (PCR) for the latter (oysters and water samples); commercial kit (Reveal-Neogee (R)) for Salmonella analysis (oysters). Giardia was the most prevalent pathogen in all sites where it was detected: 36.3%, 18.1%, 36.3% and 27.2% of water from sites 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively; 36.3% of oysters from site 1 and 54.5% of depurated oysters were harboring Giardia cysts. The huge majority of contaminated samples were classified as Giardia duodenalis. HAdv was detected in water and o! ysters from growth site and HnoV GI in two batches of oysters ! (site 1) in huge concentrations (2.11 x 10(13), 3.10 x 10(12) gc/g). In depuration tank site, Salmonella sp., HAV (4.84 x 10(3)) and HnoV GII (7.97 x 10(14)) were detected once in different batches of oysters. Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were present in 9.0% of water samples from site four. These results reflect the contamination of oysters even when UV depuration procedures are employed in this shellfish treatment plant. Moreover, the molecular comprehension of the sources of contamination is necessary to develop an efficient management strategy allied to shellfish treatment improvement to prevent foodborne illnesses. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

UNIDROIT-periaatteiden hardship sopimusriskien hallinnan välineenä

Tutkielman tarkoituksena on tutkia, miten hardship-ehdon käyttö ennakoivan sopimussuunnittelun välineenä kansainvälisiä kauppasopimuksia solmittaessa parantaa sopimuksellista riskienhallintaa. Tähän sisältyy myös ehdot sopimuksen uudelleenneuvottelusta, joihin sopimusosapuolten tulee ryhtyä, jos hardshipin osoittama taloudellinen liikavaikeus on todella sopimuksessa tapahtuneen muutoksen syynä. Lisäksi tarkoituksena on selvittää, miten sopimuskäsityksen muutos ennakoivaan suuntaan on luonut sopimusosapuolille mahdollisuuksia suunnitella sopimuksiaan paremmin. Tutkimuksessa käytetään lainopillista lähestymistapaa. Tarkoituksena on löytää vastaus käsillä olevaan kysymykseen voimassa olevan lainsäädännön avulla sekä saatavilla olevaan kirjallisuuteen perehtyen. Hardship-ehdon voidaan nähdä parantavan sopimuksellista riskienhallintaa tehokkaasti. Ehto on toimiva varsinkin liike-elämän pitkäkestoisissa sopimuksissa, joissa sopimuksen sitovuus on korostuneessa asemassa. Hardship-ehto dynaamisena välineenä takaa sopimuksen sitovuuden tarjoamalla muuttuneiden olosuhteiden korjaamiseen uudelleenneuvotteluja ja näin ollen mahdollisuuden tasapainottaa sopimuksessa vallitseva epätasapaino.