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This paper unpacks the complexities, ambiguities and paradoxes associated with the concepts of competition and collaboration, using the academic profession in the Nordic countries as an empirical case. We relied on paradox theory to reconceptualise the relationship between competition and cooperation. Our analysis focused on the ways in which university-based academics in the Nordic countries navigate the tensions and paradoxes associated with the interplay between competition and cooperation while shedding light on the nestedness among various levels of analysis. The findings not only show that the competition–cooperation interplay is strongly present throughout multiple contradictory tensions, but also that the tensions and paradoxes identified act as push factors in the further development of the academic profession and the HE systems in which these are embedded.

In this study, we used the institutional logics perspective to identify the logics underpinning the tenure track career system, how the logics manifest themselves in recruitment and performance management and how academic leaders and academics negotiate between the logics. The study contributes to research on governance dynamics in academia and to universities' organisational transformation in the context of strategic actorhood. The data comprised interviews with academic leaders (vice-rectors, deans, department heads) and academics in tenure track positions at two Finnish universities. Empirically, the study explores two key areas of human resource management: recruitment and performance management. The findings show that in the area of recruitment, the leaders at the highest hierarchical levels emphasised organisational visions and priorities. On the other hand, academic leaders constantly negotiated on the weight given to the managerial and the professional logics. The managerial logic also stands out in the area of performance management, but in daily life, it is mediated by the professional and the market logics. Theoretically, the findings underscore the complex interplay between different, yet coexisting institutional logics, as well as the agentic role of academic leaders and academics in addressing the tensions that unfold. ; Peer reviewed

The public sector in the Nordic countries has been subject to substantial reform in recent decades. The article explores the changing reform dynamic in Denmark and Norway, focusing on centralising and decentralising trends in two prominent sectors: higher education and health care. The main question is: How can the reform dynamics over the last decade explain changes surrounding decentralisation and/or re-centralisation? A new trend can be observed in both sectors, namely the rise of re-centralisation and the concomitant growth of state responsibility in matters pertaining to political and fiscal decision-making. Both hospitals and universities have been given increased (procedural) autonomy. At the same time there is stronger centralised planning and management of performance management, which means that (substantive) autonomy has been reduced.

This paper investigates the accountability mechanisms introduced in the universities in the Nordic countries by building on a typology of accountability types. By utilising survey data, it analyses how academics experience the changes in accountability mechanisms and how they perceive the impact of these changes on their performance. The analysis shows that especially political/bureaucratic and managerial accountability demands have been strengthened. This development has fostered debates on how to measure academic performance. Some academics, more in Denmark than in the other countries, have experienced the development as a sign of mistrust.

This paper investigates the accountability mechanisms introduced in the universities in the Nordic countries by building on a typology of accountability types. By utilising survey data, it analyses how academics experience the changes in accountability mechanisms and how they perceive the impact of these changes on their performance. The analysis shows that especially political/bureaucratic and managerial accountability demands have been strengthened. This development has fostered debates on how to measure academic performance. Some academics, more in Denmark than in the other countries, have experienced the development as a sign of mistrust.

Prochilodus brevis is a migratory fish, an important component of its river ecosystem and an appreciated animal in northeastern cuisine. However, human activities have threatened its survival. Thus, researchers have become interested in developing genetic material storage protocols, such as seminal cryopreservation. Therefore, determination of the appropriate freezing media and thawing rate is a fundamental step toward the use of this biotechnology in the production of common curimatã and for reducing risks to the species' survival. As such, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of different freezing media and thawing rates on the quality of cryopreserved semen from P. brevis. For this study, males received a single dose of pituitary extract of carp 18 hours before semen collection. The semen samples were diluted in 5% glucose + 10% methyl glycol (MG), 5% glucose + 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 0.9% NaCl + 10% methyl glycol, and 0.9% NaCl + 10% dimethyl sulfoxide, loaded into 0.25-mL straws and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor. The semen from each treatment was thawed at three different thawing rates: 25 °C for 30 sec, 30 °C for 16 sec and 40 °C for 12 sec. Motility, vitality and morphology analyses were performed by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The characteristics of the fresh sperm mostly resembled those found in the literature. For the parameters analyzed, fresh sperm presented higher sperm quality in comparison to all treatments with cryopreserved sperm (p < 0.05), except for the characteristic of normal morphology, for which the sperm cryopreserved in glucose and MG did not differ statistically from the fresh sperm. For the cryopreserved semen, the greatest results of total motility and curvilinear velocity (VCL) were obtained using glucose and DMSO, regardless of the thawing rate employed. For the straight-line velocity (VSL) and average path velocity (VAP), DMSO showed the best results, regardless of the diluent and thawing rate. With regard to vitality, the highest values were achieved when DMSO and thawing rates of 30 °C for 16 sec or 40 °C for 12 sec were used. In the morphological analysis, the greatest percentage of normal sperm cells was obtained using thawing rates of 25 °C for 30 sec and 40 °C for 12 sec, regardless of the freezing media. Sperm quality was found to suffer interference from the freezing media, as well as from interaction between its components (diluent and cryoprotectant) and the thawing rate used. Under the methodological conditions employed, the use of 5% glucose + 10% DMSO and a thawing rate of 30 °C for 16 seconds or 40 °C for 12 seconds is recommended for P. brevis semen cryopreservation.

The objective of the current study was to observe the performance kinetics (motilities and velocities) of the spermatozoa from Prochilodus brevis (curimatã), Colossoma macropomum (tambaqui) and Piaractus brachypomus (pirapitinga) species in different times post-activation. The sperm of P. brevis, C. macropomum and P. brachypomus species were collected after hormonal induction with carp pituitary extract. The samples with not contamination with water, urine or feces had motility subjective, morphology, osmolality and concentration analyzed. The samples selected were analyzed with Sperm Class Analyzer. Spermatozoa motility and velocities were captured at 10, 30, 60 and 120 s post-activation. No significant differences in total motility of P. brevis spermatozoa were observed between 10 s and 30 s post-activation. However, significant reduction was observed in 60 s. This reduction was more accentuated after 120 s. The same pattern of spermatozoa motility decline happened for C. macropomum and P. brachypomus. Velocities also followed the same pattern for the three species. There was significant reduction in velocities after 30 s; this reduction was more significant after 60 s. There was no significance difference between 60 s and 120 s post-activation. Sperm of C. macropomum and P. brachypomus show satisfactory sperm quality up to 60 s after activation. On the other hand, sperm of P. brevis up to 120 s after activation. These findings show that the rate of sperm motility in different times post activation is change for each species tested.

Seminal cryopreservation allows the long-term conservation of gametes of various species, including endangered species, such as Prochilodus brevis. However, the application of this biotechnology can cause damage to sperm cells, reducing seminal quality. Thus, we have sought substances that minimize the damage caused by this process, such as antioxidants. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the association between two cryoprotectants and two vitamins, in different concentrations, on the quality of cryopreserved semen of P. brevis. For cryopreservation, the experiment was performed in two stages. In the first stage, the semen of 10 animals was submitted to six different freezing means, coming from the combination of 5% glucose, two cryoprotectants (Dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO] or Methyl glycol) and two vitamins (C or E to 0.0001 mg) for cryopreservation. In the second stage, semen samples of eight animals were diluted in 5% glucose and the best cryoprotectant found in the first stage, associated with three different concentrations of vitamins C or E (0.01, 0.001, and 0.0001 mg). In both steps, the in natura and post-thawed samples were submitted to kinetic analysis, morphology, and sperm membrane integrity. The cryopreserved semen with DMSO presented significantly higher results (p < 0.05) than that frozen with Methyl glycol, regardless of the vitamin used. The morphologically normal spermatozoa rate was higher (p < 0.05) in the vitamin-containing samples, however, vitamin E reduced sperm motility rates, independent of the cryoprotectant used. As for vitamin concentrations, higher motility rates were obtained when cryopreserved semen with 0.01 and 0.0001 mg of any of the vitamins. However, the higher concentration had a deleterious effect on the spermatic morphology of P. brevis. Therefore, the glucose associated with DMSO and the lower concentration of vitamin C provides good quality for the post-thawed semen of P. brevis.

Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is a native freshwater fish that is of great importance for Brazilian aquaculture. Because of this importance, several techniques have been developed to improve the reproduction of this species in captivity. One of these techniques is the cryopreservation of sperm. In an effort to increase the efficiency of cryopreservation protocols, researchers have tried to determine suitable diluting solutions and freezing methods, which will provide a better post-thaw sperm quality. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different diluents and freezing methods for the cryopreservation of tambaqui (C. macropomum) sperm. Samples of fresh semen were diluted in different treatments (Glucose 5% + 10% Dimethyl sulfoxide – DMSO, Glucose 5% + 10% Methyl glycol – MG, BTS + 10% DMSO and BTS + 10% MG) at a 1:9 dilution rate and frozen in a programmed freezing machine and a dry shipper. The semen samples were thawed and evaluated for vitality, sperm morphology and kinetics. Cryopreserved semen with DMSO and using the programmed freezing machine provided a greater percentage of motile sperm (15.44 ± 1.04%) after thawing compared to the dry shipper (3.99 ± 0.55%), regardless of the diluent. Additionally, DMSO showed better sperm velocities than MG regardless of the freezing method and the extender employed. A higher percentage of living spermatozoa was observed when glucose (37.28 ± 1.32%) (regardless of the freezing method and cryoprotectant) and DMSO (37.98 ± 1.25%) was used in the programmed freezing machine. For morphology, a greater amount of normal spermatozoa (46.10 ± 1.82%) was observed when the semen was cryopreserved using a freezing machine programmed with DMSO as the cryoprotectant and Glucose or BTS (38.16 ± 1.9% and 39.26 ± 1.87%, respectively) as extenders. Therefore, we suggest the use of the DMSO (10%) cryoprotectant in association with the Glucose (5%) extended in the programmed freezing machine for cryopreservation of C. macropomum semen.