La Bicicleta de la Patria Cubana / Cuba Bicycle

Photo taken in Pinar del Rio, Cub

The role of employee value propositions and corporate brand preferences in talent attraction

The ever increasing competition to recruit talented and skilled employees has created the necessity to understand which factors influence an applicant's decision to pursue a job offer from an organisation. Recruitment efforts no longer focus solely on the unemployed job seekers market, but has in recent years extended more aggressively into recruiting students before graduation. Moreover, some authors suggest that 60 % of current employees are passively seeking other employment, which creates opportunities to entice talented employees from competitors. However, it has become exceedingly clear that undifferentiated retention strategies are no longer appropriate or effective. The aim of this study was to develop an understanding of the relative importance that new entry job seekers and passive job seekers, from different demographic groups or cohorts, place on Employee Value Propositions (EVPs) and an organisation's corporate brand when choosing to pursue different job opportunities. A secondary aim of the study was to identify the ideal combination and quantum of EVPs relative to the organisation's corporate brand that may entice potential candidates to pursue a career opportunity within an organisation. The current study adopted a descriptive research design, following a quantitative research approach. Primary data was collected from students, graduates and employed job seekers in their early career stage by means of two online questionnaires (n= 954). The questionnaires were compiled from the total rewards elements included in the World at Work Total Rewards model and were informed by a comprehensive literature review on Employee Value Propositions (EVPs) and Organisation Corporate Brand. Descriptive statistics, t-tests and ANOVAs were used to analyse data collected from Questionnaire 1 and to analyse the data collected with Questionnaire 2. Choice-based conjoint analyses were used to identify the ideal combination and quantum of EVPs relative to the organisation's corporate brand; as well as which of these variables (i.e. EVPs or corporate brand) are considered more important for potential employees. The results obtained from the choice-based conjoint analysis revealed that overall EVP's were considered (relatively) more important than Corporate Brand, while Affiliation (i.e.employee's association with the organisation, person-organisational fit) was considered more important overall than Corporate Brand

The Design of New Adjuvants for Mucosal Immunity to Neisseria meningitidis B in Nasally Primed Neonatal Mice for Adult Immune Response

The aim of this study was to determine the value of detoxified Shiga toxins Stx1 and Stx2 (toxoids of Escherichia coli) as mucosal adjuvants in neonatal mice for immunogenicity against the outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Neisseria meningitidis B. Mucosal immunization has been shown to be effective for the induction of antigen-specific immune responses in both the systemic and mucosal compartments. Systemic antibody levels (IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, IgM, and IgA) and mucosal IgM and IgA were measured by ELISA using an N. meningitidis as an antigen. In addition, IFN-γ and IL-6 production were measured after stimulated proliferation of immune cells. Intranasal administration elicited a higher anti-OMP IgA response in both saliva and vaginal fluids. Our results suggest that both Stx1 and Stx2 toxoids are effective mucosal adjuvants for the induction of Ag-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies. The toxoids significantly enhanced the IgG and IgM response against OMPs with a potency equivalent to CT, with the response being characterized by both IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes, and increased IFN-gamma production. Additionally, bactericidal activity was induced with IgG and IgM antibodies of high avidity. These results support the use of the new toxoids as potent inducing adjuvants that are particularly suitable for mucosal immunization

Doutores palhaços em ambiente hospitalar: O uso do riso como instrumento terapêutico

Trabalho apresentado no 31º SEURS - Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 04 a 07 de agosto de 2013 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.O Programa de Extensão Acadêmica “Palhaços-Doutores em Ambiente Hospitalar- O Uso do Riso como Instrumento Terapêutico” tem como objetivo manter um grupo de palhaços atuante dentro do ambiente hospitalar. O intuito é melhorar o bem estar do paciente internado e da comunidade em geral. Contribuir para a humanização das instituições parceiras, bem como dos acadêmicos envolvidos. Capacitar e desenvolver o indivíduo para o cumprimento do trabalho voluntário e enriquecer a comunidade acadêmica tanto pela melhoria da formação, quanto pela visão da sociedade frente à integração da universidade com um novo programa social. O público alvo são os pacientes e familiares atendidos por hospitais parceiros. A metodologia do programa consiste em visitas semanais aos pacientes por voluntários caracterizados de doutores-palhaços capacitados na arte do riso, levando atividades cômicas e lúdicas aos internados e ao público em geral, visando à melhoria da qualidade de vida durante a hospitalização. Espera-se melhorar o quadro clínico do paciente, permitir que sua permanência no hospital tenha um impacto menos negativo sobre esse e seus responsáveis. O programa encontra-se em fase de implementação, tendo realizado cinco meses de intervenção, atingindo cerca de 7840 pacientes. Os números estimados concretizam de maneira positiva o trabalho dos doutores palhaços na internação do paciente