Regional clustering of human capital: school grades and migration of university graduates

The spatial distribution of human capital plays a fundamental role for regional differences in economic growth and welfare. This paper examines how individual ability indicated by the grade point average (GPA) from comprehensive school affects the probability of migration among young university graduates in Sweden. Using detailed microdata available from the Swedish population register, the study examines two cohorts of individuals who enrol in tertiary education. The results indicate that individual abilities reflected by the GPA are strongly influential when it comes to completing a university degree and for the migration decision after graduation. Moreover, there is a positive relationship between the GPA and the choice of migrating from regions with a relatively low tax base and a relatively small share of highly educated people in the population, while individuals with higher GPA tend to stay at a higher rate in more flourishing regions.     

Frames of Public Reactions in Crisis

The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the ways in which images and reactions of the public are described and framed in media articles and reports. Reporting from six major events affecting the Swedish public was studied using a thematic method of analysis. The results show three dynamic interrelated processes at work simultaneously in framing the public: identification, characterization and evaluation. A significant contribution of this study is the emphasis on how this often subtle and implicit framing influences the portrayal of human reactions, thus possibly influencing the expectations and evaluations of both the public in general and crisis managers in particular.     

Meat handlers training in Portugal: A survey on knowledge and practice

Professional training for meat handlers is an European Community food law requirement in order to apply HACCP principles and achieve food safety goals. A self-administered questionnaire designed to assess “Knowledge” and “Practice” of public hygiene measures was completed by meat handlers (MH) (n = 159) in slaughterhouses in Portugal. A significant proportion of the group (72.7%) has had professional training in two different areas: Good Practice in Food Industry (12.03%) and Work Safety and Hygiene (22.8%); 37.9% of the respondents have had training in both areas. However 24.5% of the subjects have never had training. Meat handlers with professional training in Good Practice in Food Industry (GPFI) and in both areas (BT) have had the highest proportions of correct answers in Knowledge (66.92 ± 16.36 and 67.26 ± 21.05, respectively) and Practice questions (70.53 ± 17.47 and 68.67 ± 22.58, respectively).The results of this study point to the need to improve training, particularly in Good Practice in Food Industry, thus enabling meat handlers to achieve more correct answers in Knowledge and Practice. The development of evaluation criteria for the effectiveness of professional training is crucial to protect Public Health.     

A decision support approach to automatic timetabling in higher education institutions

At a time when the need to reduce costs has become part of the day-to-day reality of all educational institutions, it is unthinkable to continue to manually perform those tasks (i.e., the creation of timetables) that can be automated and optimized. The automatic creation of timetables for educational institutions is one of the most studied problems by the scientific community. However, almost all studies have been based on very simplified models of reality that have no practical application. A realistic model of the problem, robust algorithms that are able to find valid solutions in highly restricted environments, and optimization methods that are able to quickly provide quality results are key factors to consider when attempting to solve this (real) problem faced by educational institutions. This paper presents a summary of the work performed by Bullet Solutions over the last few years, from the first stage of understanding and modelling the problem to the final analysis of the results obtained using the developed software under real conditions.     

A conceptualization of knowledge governance in project-based organizations

This paper conceptualizes and defines knowledge governance (KG) in project-based organizations (PBOs). Two key contributions towards a multi-faceted view of KG and an understanding of KG in PBOs are advanced, as distinguished from knowledge management and organizational learning concepts. The conceptual framework addresses macro- and micro-level elements of KG and their interaction. Our definition of KG in PBOs highlights the contingent nature of KG processes in relation to their organizational context. These contributions provide a novel platform for understanding KG in PBOs.     

Copaifera langsdorffii Bark as a Source of Chemicals: Structural and Chemical Characterization

The chemical composition and the anatomy of Copaifera langsdorffii bark are reported here for the first time by studying trees grown in a native forest area in the Amazon region, Brazil. The bark is thin, dark reddish brown, and exfoliates in irregular flakes. It is very dense, showing highly lignified cells and abundant sclereids, and cellular fillings of phenolic nature. It includes a poorly developed rhytidome and a periderm with thin- and thick-walled phellem cells. The mean chemical composition was: ash 3.7%, total extractives 21.3%, mainly corresponding to polar compounds soluble in ethanol and water, suberin 0.8%, and lignin 36.6%. The polysaccharides showed a predominance of glucose and xylose (66.4% and 23.5% of total monosaccharides, respectively). The ethanol-water bark extract had a high content in phenolics: total phenolics 589.2 mg gallic acid/g extract, flavonoids 441.9 mg catechin/g extract, and tannins 54.8 mg catechin/g extract. The antioxidant activity was high, comparable to known antioxidant reference compounds: 720.3 mg Trolox per g of extract or 92.1 mg Trolox per g of bark. After bark grinding, the finest fraction was enriched in polar extractives (40.6%). C. langsdorffii bark is a potential source of functional extractives, therefore representing a valorization of the residual bark obtained during the industrial tree processing for timber.     

Microfluidic Platforms for the Investigation of Intercellular Signalling Mechanisms

Intercellular signalling has been identified as a highly complex process, responsible for orchestrating many physiological functions. While conventional methods of investigation have been useful, their limitations are impeding further development. Microfluidics offers an opportunity to overcome some of these limitations. Most notably, microfluidic systems can emulate the in‐vivo environments. Further, they enable exceptionally precise control of the microenvironment, allowing complex mechanisms to be selectively isolated and studied in detail. There has thus been a growing adoption of microfluidic platforms for investigation of cell signalling mechanisms. This review provides an overview of the different signalling mechanisms and discusses the methods used to study them, with a focus on the microfluidic devices developed for this purpose.     

Antagonistic Action of Fe and Mn in Mediterranean-Type Plants Irrigated with Wastewater Effluents Following Biological Treatment

The present study examined the ability of certain Mediterranean plants to absorb Mn ++ when irrigated with wastewater effluents following treatment, the relative absorption of Fe ++ and Mn ++ , as well as the endurance of such plants to high Mn ++ concentrations in the water used for their irrigation. The experimental plants used in the study were Olea europaea , Nerium oleander and Geranium sp . These plants were irrigated with secondary treatment wastewater effluents, with water commonly used for irrigation in the area, and with water enriched with high concentrations of Mn ++ . The results showed that irrigation of the plants with wastewater treatment effluents resulted in slightly elevated concentrations of Mn ++ and Fe ++ in the leaves, the roots, and in the soil. On the contrary, irrigation with water enriched with high concentrations of Mn ++ (as high as 1000 mg/L) resulted in correspondingly high Mn ++ concentrations in the plants under study. The accumulation of Mn ++ was much higher in the roots than in the leaves of these plants. In the case of Mn ++ enriched water irrigation, the corresponding concentrations of Fe ++ in the roots, in the leaves, and in the soil indicated the existence of strong antagonism between these two elements. All plants exhibited tolerance to high concentrations of Mn ++ .