Some facts behind graduate’s entrepreneurship in Europe

Educational, motivational and economic features are analyzed in a sampleof young European graduates to identify the differential elements of entrepreneurship.The results suggest, fi rst, that gender and country of origin are relevant to the decision of becoming an entrepreneur; second, that future entrepreneurs anticipatethe higher demands of competence they will face and behave consistently duringtheir studies; and, third, that through entrepreneurship graduates achieve higherearnings and more satisfactory work situations than through the other forms oflabor participation.As carcterísticas educacionais, motivacionais e econômicas são analizadasnuma amostra de jovens pós-graduados europeus para identifi car os elementos diferenciais do espírito empresarial. Os resultados sugerem, em primeiro lugar, queo gênero e o país de origem são relevantes para a decisão de se tornar um empresário;segundo, que os futuros empresários antcipam as demandas mais elevadasde competência que eles enfrentarão e se comportam consistentemente duranteos seus estudos; e, terceiro, que através do espírito empresarial os pós-graduadosconseguem rendas mais elevadas e situações de trabalho mais satisfatórias do quepor meio de outras formas de participação laboral

Introduction of organic solvent solutions into inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry using a microwave assisted sample introduction system

A microwave assisted sample introduction system based on the use of a TM010 cavity (MWDS2) has been employed for the introduction of 10% w/w organic solvent solutions in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Ethanol, propan-2-ol, formic and acetic acids have been used. Firstly, the effect of the incident microwave power and the sample uptake rate on the emission signal was evaluated. For all matrices tested, the higher emission signals were obtained when operating at the highest microwave power (i.e., 290 W) and sample uptake rate (400 mL/min). Results with the MWDS2 were compared with those afforded by a desolvation system based on the use of a domestic microwave oven (MWDS) and by a conventional sample introduction system (CS). The MWDS2 provides the highest emission signals (up to 7 and 17 times higher than those with the MWDS and the CS, respectively). As regards the matrix effects originated by the organic solutions, results demonstrate that the use of a microwave-based sample introduction system, mainly the MWDS2, affords a noticeable reduction in the matrix effects originated by the use of organic solvent solutions in ICP-AES with a conventional sample introduction system. This behaviour can be explained by taking into account the solution transport rates afforded by the different sample introduction systems. For all the analytical lines and matrices tested and operating at 400 mL/min, the MWDS2 gives rise to signal values that are, on average, 1.2 times the signal obtained with water. For the MWDS and the CS, this factor takes values of 1.6 and 2.0, respectively. Transient matrix effects have been observed operating with the MWDS2 when switching between water and an organic matrix solution. These transient effects result in a drift time about 4.5 times higher than those with a CS

The Use of Hyphenated Spectrometric Techniques for the Environmental Forensic Assessment of Non-Traditional Pollutants and Degradates in the Greater Florida Everglades

A comprehensive investigation of sensitive ecosystems in South Florida with the main goal of determining the identity, spatial distribution, and sources of both organic biocides and trace elements in different environmental compartments is reported. This study presents the development and validation of a fractionation and isolation method of twelve polar acidic herbicides commonly applied in the vicinity of the study areas, including e.g. 2,4-D, MCPA, dichlorprop, mecroprop, picloram in surface water. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used to isolate the analytes from abiotic matrices containing large amounts of dissolved organic material. Atmospheric-pressure ionization (API) with electrospray ionization in negative mode (ESP-) in a Quadrupole Ion Trap mass spectrometer was used to perform the characterization of the herbicides of interest. The application of Laser Ablation-ICP-MS methodology in the analysis of soils and sediments is reported in this study. The analytical performance of the method was evaluated on certified standards and real soil and sediment samples. Residential soils were analyzed to evaluate feasibility of using the powerful technique as a routine and rapid method to monitor potential contaminated sites. Forty eight sediments were also collected from semi pristine areas in South Florida to conduct screening of baseline levels of bioavailable elements in support of risk evaluation. The LA-ICP-MS data were used to perform a statistical evaluation of the elemental composition as a tool for environmental forensics. A LA-ICP-MS protocol was also developed and optimized for the elemental analysis of a wide range of elements in polymeric filters containing atmospheric dust. A quantitative strategy based on internal and external standards allowed for a rapid determination of airborne trace elements in filters containing both contemporary African dust and local dust emissions. These distributions were used to qualitative and quantitative assess differences of composition and to establish provenance and fluxes to protected regional ecosystems such as coral reefs and national parks

Monetary rewards and competences of young european graduates

15 pages, 5 figuresPeer reviewe

The Opinion of European Graduates About the University Five Years After Completing Their Education

En el contexto actual, en el que la sociedad del conocimiento reclama nuevas capacidades de los graduados universitarios para adaptarse a las demandas del mercado laboral, ha surgido la figura del «profesional flexible». Las universidades no son ajenas a los cambios que, en este sentido, se están produciendo, y se están planteando modificaciones y rediseños de los planes de estudio. En este trabajo, se pretende describir la visión que los graduados universitarios tienen de la universidad transcurridos cinco años desde que finalizaron sus estudios. La información que, desde su experiencia educativa, tienen los titulados es fundamental para los gestores educativos en la tarea de diseño de planes de estudio o políticas educativas. Los datos utilizados proceden de la encuesta REFLEX.In today’s knowledge society, in which university graduates are required to obtain new abilities to adjust to the demands of the labour market, the figure of the “flexible professional” has emerged. Universities are not immune to these changes and are proposing modifications to the curricula. In this paper, we attempt to depict the views of university graduates regarding their university five years after completing their studies. Information about graduates’ educational experience is crucial to educational managers in charge of designing curricula and educational policies. The data used in this paper are obtained from the REFLEX Survey

La opinión de los graduados europeos sobre la universidad cinco años después de haber finalizado sus estudios

En el contexto actual, en el que la sociedad del conocimiento reclama nuevas capacidades de los graduados universitarios para adaptarse a las demandas del mercado laboral, ha surgido la figura del «profesional flexible». Las universidades no son ajenas a los cambios que, en este sentido, se están produciendo, y se están planteando modificaciones y rediseños de los planes de estudio. En este trabajo, se pretende describir la visión que los graduados universitarios tienen de la universidad transcurridos cinco años desde que finalizaron sus estudios. La información que, desde su experiencia educativa, tienen los titulados es fundamental para los gestores educativos en la tarea de diseño de planes de estudio o políticas educativas. Los datos utilizados proceden de la encuesta REFLEX.In today's knowledge society, in which university graduates are required to obtain new abilities to adjust to the demands of the labour market, the figure of the "flexible professional" has emerged. Universities are not immune to these changes and are proposing modifications to the curricula. In this paper, we attempt to depict the views of university graduates regarding their university five years after completing their studies. Information about graduates' educational experience is crucial to educational managers in charge of designing curricula and educational policies. The data used in this paper are obtained from the REFLEX Survey

Liquid-sample introduction in plasma spectrometry

Plasma-spectrometry techniques, namely inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and plasma-based mass spectrometry (MS), are the most commonly used in analytical laboratories for elemental analysis in a wide variety of samples. In these techniques, the quality of the analysis strongly depends on appropriate selection of the sample-introduction system. For liquid samples, it basically comprises a nebulizer, which transforms the bulk solution into an aerosol, and a spray chamber, which modifies the characteristics of this aerosol and transports it to the plasma base through an injector tube. Sometimes, a desolvation system is incorporated to reduce the solvent load into the plasma. This article describes the different components of the sample-introduction system, emphasizing their main advantages and drawbacks. A review of the processes that affect the aerosol between generation and reaching the plasma is also included

Extraction, Chemical Composition And Antimicrobial Activity Of The Essential Oils Of Pipilongo ( Piper Tuberculatum) Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide.

Essential oils from pipilongo seeds (Piper tuberculatum) was extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide. The extraction was performed as a function of particle size of the grinded seeds. The highest yield (2,812%) was obtained with the smallest particle size. The chemical composition analysis of the oil by GC-MS led to identify 15 compounds, some of which are β-elemene, caryophyllene, β-farnesene, neophytadiene and piperine among others. The microbicide activity of the essential oil was determined by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) assays, showing that the growth of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis was inhibited, and hence with a possible microbicidal effect, whereas for pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium showed no effect on their growth