A empregabilidade dos diplomados pela Universidade de Aveiro: resultados do estudo sobre o triénio 2008/09 a 2010/11

A questão da empregabilidade dos graduados converteu-se nos tempos mais recentes numa das preocupações centrais das Instituições de Ensino Superior. O acompanhamento do percurso socioprofissional dos diplomados é hoje, não só uma forma de aferir o sucesso do ensino, mas também uma necessidade de ajustar as estratégias das instituições em resposta às necessidades desse mesmo mercado. Tal acompanhamento constitui uma ferramenta particularmente importante para a definição de políticas de melhoria da qualidade da formação ministrada nos diversos ciclos de estudos. A própria Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior (A3ES) releva para fins de avaliação e acreditação de cursos um conjunto de informação sobre a empregabilidade dos diplomados. A recolha desta informação está atualmente a ser objeto de tentativas de sistematização de procedimentos entre várias universidades, nomeadamente por ação quer da própria A3ES, quer do Conselho de Reitores das Universidades Portuguesas (CRUP). Foi neste contexto que a Reitoria da Universidade de Aveiro (UA) criou o Observatório do Percurso Socioprofissional dos Diplomados da Universidade de Aveiro. Este relatório faz a apresentação pública dos principais resultados obtidos no âmbito do Estudo sobre a Empregabilidade e Situação perante o Emprego dos Diplomados da UA no Triénio de 2008/09 a 2010/11. Os resultados são assim apresentados por tipo de ensino – universitário e politécnico; ciclo de estudos – 1º ciclo, 2º ciclo, 3º ciclo e mestrado integrado; e por área CNAEF – Educação, Humanidades, Ciências Sociais, Ciências Exatas, Engenharias, Saúde e Serviços. O inquérito incidiu sobre um universo de 7195 diplomados dos cursos de todos os ciclos de estudos ministrados na UA no triénio de 2008/09 a 2010/11, tendo sido inquiridos um total de 2693 diplomados (correspondendo a uma taxa de sondagem efetiva de 37,4%). O inquérito foi realizado através de entrevistas telefónicas efetuadas entre março e setembro de 2012 tendo sido obtida uma taxa de resposta de 76,8%. Os resultados apresentados neste documento permitem concluir que, de uma forma global, o panorama da UA ao nível da empregabilidade dos seus diplomados no triénio em análise é bastante positivo, face à atual crise económica que o país enfrentava no período de recolha dos dados. As taxas de emprego dos diplomados da UA, considerando os diferentes tipos de ensino, ciclos de estudo e áreas de formação dos mesmos, rondam em média os 80%, situando-se entre os 75% para os cursos da área dos Serviços, e os 88% para os cursos da área da Educação. Por outro lado, é maior a taxa de empregabilidade entre os detentores de um 2º ou 3º ciclo, face aos detentores de um 1º ciclo. Ao nível do 1º ciclo a maior parte dos diplomados (60%) prosseguem os seus estudos imediatamente após a conclusão da licenciatura (nomeadamente nas áreas das Ciências Exatas e Engenharias). Relativamente ao desemprego, e sobretudo se tivermos em conta o elevado nível de desemprego jovem em Portugal, mesmo que qualificados, pode afirmar-se que a formação da UA dá efetivamente uma proteção relativamente a esse risco. A este nível são de destacar as baixas taxas de desemprego ao nível das formações em Engenharias e Educação e dos Mestrados Integrados. Por seu lado, as melhores perspetivas de integração dos alunos das áreas de Engenharias e Educação, tais como as dos alunos de segundo ciclo, são também visíveis se analisarmos o número médio de meses de transição para o primeiro emprego (que ronda os quatro meses). Finalmente, é de referir que os dados apurados são globalmente positivos, tanto mais que os dados do desemprego de diplomados, disponibilizados pelo IEFP (baseados na taxa de desempregados inscritos nos centros de emprego) mostram, para o período em análise, uma percentagem de desemprego dos diplomados da UA de 9,6% (contra 11,2% para a média nacional) para todos os diplomados do ensino superior. Em termos de condição face ao emprego, a grande maioria dos diplomados da UA encontra-se numa situação de emprego por conta de outrem, sendo que os vínculos estabelecidos com a entidade empregadora correspondem na maioria dos casos a um contrato de trabalho sem termo (efetivo) ou a um contrato de trabalho a termo certo. A esmagadora maioria dos diplomados aufere salários médios mensais líquidos que se situam entre os 500 e os 1500 euros, sendo que, a este respeito, os diplomados de cursos universitários de um 2º ciclo ou mestrado integrado e das áreas da Educação e Engenharias são aqueles para quem se registam maiores salários. Relativamente ao emprego encontrado pelos diplomados, é de salientar a significativa percentagem daqueles que se encontram empregados na área de formação dos seus cursos (globalmente cerca de 80% dos diplomados). Mais uma vez, esse facto é sobretudo relevante no caso dos alunos que completam o segundo ciclo e no caso dos diplomados das áreas de Educação, Engenharias e Saúde. Igualmente significativo é o facto de cerca de 85% dos diplomados considerarem que as competências exigidas no curso em que se diplomaram são compatíveis com as exigidas no atual emprego. Finalmente, outro resultado importante tem a ver com o facto dos diplomados, na sua grande maioria, voltarem não só a escolher a Universidade de Aveiro (mais de 90%), mas também o curso em que se diplomaram (cerca de 80%)

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data

Delayed colorectal cancer care during covid-19 pandemic (decor-19). Global perspective from an international survey

Background The widespread nature of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been unprecedented. We sought to analyze its global impact with a survey on colorectal cancer (CRC) care during the pandemic. Methods The impact of COVID-19 on preoperative assessment, elective surgery, and postoperative management of CRC patients was explored by a 35-item survey, which was distributed worldwide to members of surgical societies with an interest in CRC care. Respondents were divided into two comparator groups: 1) ‘delay’ group: CRC care affected by the pandemic; 2) ‘no delay’ group: unaltered CRC practice. Results A total of 1,051 respondents from 84 countries completed the survey. No substantial differences in demographics were found between the ‘delay’ (745, 70.9%) and ‘no delay’ (306, 29.1%) groups. Suspension of multidisciplinary team meetings, staff members quarantined or relocated to COVID-19 units, units fully dedicated to COVID-19 care, personal protective equipment not readily available were factors significantly associated to delays in endoscopy, radiology, surgery, histopathology and prolonged chemoradiation therapy-to-surgery intervals. In the ‘delay’ group, 48.9% of respondents reported a change in the initial surgical plan and 26.3% reported a shift from elective to urgent operations. Recovery of CRC care was associated with the status of the outbreak. Practicing in COVID-free units, no change in operative slots and staff members not relocated to COVID-19 units were statistically associated with unaltered CRC care in the ‘no delay’ group, while the geographical distribution was not. Conclusions Global changes in diagnostic and therapeutic CRC practices were evident. Changes were associated with differences in health-care delivery systems, hospital’s preparedness, resources availability, and local COVID-19 prevalence rather than geographical factors. Strategic planning is required to optimize CRC care

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods: A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p<0·0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63·0% vs 82·7%; OR 0·35 [0·23–0·53]; p<0·0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer. Interpretation: Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit