The role of performance assessment in the management of facilities and support services in the public sector

Since the 1980s, successive governments have imposed a range of performance assessment regimes for incorporation within the service management processes of public bodies with the intention of emulating the success achieved from their use in delivering ‘effectiveness, efficiency and legitimacy’ within the private sector (De Bruijn 2007). Concurrently, increasingly knowledgeable and resourceful stakeholders have sought confirmation that as well as meeting its statutory obligations their local authority is consistently delivering its local community with a range of high quality, flexible services by working, where appropriate, in partnership with other public or private sector organisations. Given the above, soft facilities management (FM) services (ie those that provide support to the front line services, such as cleaning, reception, mail room), provide a significant overhead to the local authority, the research sets out to determine the role of facilities management within the local authority context and FMs’ awareness and use of performance assessment within this context, as part of the soft FM management process. Following a review of the literature, a theoretical model was proposed that outlined the factors affecting the effective use of performance assessment within the management of soft FM services within a local authority context. The factors were determined to be the organisational and wider environment, use of knowledge/information and education and awareness of performance assessment within the FMs. The research methodology comprised a questionnaire, a set of semi-structured interviews and case studies. Accordingly, the research evaluated - if there was a generic profile for soft FM services within the local authority context - the factors that affect the effective use (or result in non-use) of seven performance assessment techniques (operational and strategic) within the management of fourteen soft FM services, and - their value, if any, in assisting the FM to ensure the provision of accountable, value for money services that satisfy the customers/stakeholders they serve. 4 In order to ensure a consistent approach for assessing soft FM services within this context, the research proposed a four-step methodology for defining and assessing FM services and their performance. Despite the requirement for local authorities to evidence accountability, provide ‘value for money’ and customer responsive services, the research established an unexpectedly low level of knowledge of any performance assessment technique other than benchmarking and a corresponding low use of the evaluated techniques. This was despite recognition by FMs within a local authority context of the perceived value of performance assessment as part of the service management process. There also appeared to be limited endorsement from Senior Management and Council Members for its use within the management of soft FM services. Furthermore, a knowledge base or soft FM related information on the use of performance assessment both in a wider context, and more specifically within the local authority context proved limited, as did training of FMs in the selection and use of an appropriate performance assessment technique as part of the soft FM service management process. Benchmarking forms the basis of a range of mandatory performance assessment regimes within the public sector. Therefore, in case studies undertaken with local authority FMs, FMs higher and further education and within the National Health Service an assessment was made of its use within the performance assessment of soft FM services within these sectors, and including an evaluation of whether benefits may be gained, or ‘value added’ from cross sector comparisons. Again, the findings were that use within and across sectors proved disappointingly low. The research concluded that current use of performance assessment of soft FM services within this context is limited and ineffective. Improvements to this situation require the adoption of a generic soft FM service remit within local authorities, which would better support meaningful service comparisons, appropriate training for FMS in the use of performance assessment as part of the soft FM management process, a sound knowledge base from which soft FMs can draw best practice, and increased management support. If these cannot be achieved any requirement for its continued use must be questioned

Impact of hypoglycemia on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their quality of life, work productivity, and medication adherence.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that correlate with greater risk of hypoglycemia and determine the impact of hypoglycemia on health-related quality of life, work productivity, and medication adherence from a patient perspective.MethodsData from a large web-based survey were retrospectively analyzed. Adults with a diagnosis of T2DM taking antihyperglycemic agents were included in the analysis. Participants with knowledge of their hypoglycemic history were divided into three groups: those experiencing recent hypoglycemia (previous 3 months), those experiencing nonrecent hypoglycemia, and those never experiencing hypoglycemia.ResultsOf the participants with T2DM taking antihyperglycemic agents who were knowledgeable of their hypoglycemia history, 55.7% had ever experienced hypoglycemia. Of those, 52.7% had recent hypoglycemia. Compared with those who never experienced hypoglycemia, those who experienced hypoglycemia tended to: be younger; be more aware of their glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels; have higher HbA1c levels; have a higher body mass index; have higher Charlson Comorbidity Index scores; be on insulin, sulfonylureas, and/or glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists; and be less adherent to their antihyperglycemic agents. Hypoglycemia interfered with social activities, caused more missed work (absenteeism), more impairment while at work (presenteeism), and decreased overall work productivity compared with patients who had never experienced hypoglycemia. Overall health-related quality of life, as determined by the Short Form-36 health questionnaire, was negatively impacted by hypoglycemia. Both Physical and Mental Summary scores were significantly lower for the recent hypoglycemia and nonrecent hypoglycemia groups compared with the never hypoglycemia group.ConclusionHypoglycemia can negatively impact many aspects of life. Greater awareness of those who are at risk for developing hypoglycemia can lead to the development of measures (eg, patient and physician education) to prevent future hypoglycemia episodes

Differing Perspectives on Biofuels: Analysis of National, Regional, and State Newspaper Coverage

We examined national, regional, and Alabama newspaper coverage of biofuels development to observe variation in coverage and to understand the role of media on controversial issues of national importance. The years covered, 2007-2009, coincided with peak media interest in biofuels. Our focus on Alabama and the South is justified by the potential for biofuels development present in that state and region. We hypothesized that sources quoted would vary by topics, that article tone would vary depending on biofuel type and associated feedstock, and that tone would vary depending on whether the focus was on local economic impacts or broader issues related to biofuels. All three hypotheses were supported. We conclude that newspapers in this study have served as conduits for the views of local growth machine coalitions, but that when the focus extended to issues beyond the local realm, newspapers have played a different role, actively contributing to public discussion and policy debate

Ownership Characteristics of Heir Property in a Black Belt County: A Quantitative Approach

The existing literature identifies heir property, land held communally by heirs of someone who has died without a will, as a primary cause of land loss among African Americans and a major factor contributing to persistent poverty in the South’s demographically-defined Black Belt. Despite the importance of this form of property, little systematic research has been done to quantify the extent of heir property or the potential wealth tied up in clouded titles. This study documents the presence of more than 1,500 heir property parcels in one Alabama Black Belt county (Macon) and describes the methodological challenges involved in such research. Our analysis identified distinctive characteristics of and significant relationships between a set of key ownership variables (taxpayer location, size and value of land, structural improvements, and municipal incorporation). We argue the need to document the extent and consequences of heir property to spur action by legislators, Extension Systems across the region, and pro-bono attorneys, among others, to address the personal and economic costs associated with this form of insecure ownership

Active Engagement: Development of Cooking Skills for Young Adults with Autism

Autism is a broadly defined disorder of communication and social development of neurobiological origin. While adults with autism are generally invisible in the national public health surveys, increased rates of overweight and obesity among this population are apparent and few nutrition programs have been developed for this at-risk population. The objective of the research was to test the feasibility of a community-based nutritional intervention for young adults (18- 25 years of age) with autism founded on the premise of teaching introductory cooking skills. This nutrition intervention program was guided by Hodge et al.'s conceptual framework for developing life skills and is focused on four motivational climates that contribute to autonomy, self-efficacy, social-relatedness, and preference. Active Engagement was found to be a feasible program for involving young adults with autism in their food preparation process, contributing to an improvement in their variety of diet, and promotion of fruit and vegetable consumption

Human Facial Recognition by Northern Mockingbirds

A number of studies have examined the ability of various animal species to recognize individual humans, but only a few have focused on native, non-captive birds. Previous research demonstrated that American Crows learn to recognize individual human faces. Other research indicated that Northern Mockingbirds learn to discriminate among individual humans, but did not examine the factors involved in the discrimination. Here we report on a study of Northern Mockingbirds on the University of North Georgia campus in Dahlonega, GA, to test the hypothesis that Northern Mockingbirds learn to distinguish among individual humans based on facial recognition. Our field tests involved approaching and touching mockingbird nests on successive days and recording the responses of parent birds. We used masks of human faces which we interchanged among researchers to determine if birds key on faces as a discriminating factor. The mockingbirds we tested indicated an ability to distinguish among humans based on facial recognition. Our research has received funding from the UNG Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities and from the UNG Department of Biology

Scanning Tunneling Optical Resonance Microscopy

Scanning tunneling optical resonance microscopy (STORM) is a method, now undergoing development, for measuring optoelectronic properties of materials and devices on the nanoscale by means of a combination of (1) traditional scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) with (2) tunable laser spectroscopy. In STORM, an STM tip probing a semiconductor is illuminated with modulated light at a wavelength in the visible-to-near-infrared range and the resulting photoenhancement of the tunneling current is measured as a function of the illuminating wavelength. The photoenhancement of tunneling current occurs when the laser photon energy is sufficient to excite charge carriers into the conduction band of the semiconductor. Figure 1 schematically depicts a proposed STORM apparatus. The light for illuminating the semiconductor specimen at the STM would be generated by a ring laser that would be tunable across the wavelength range of interest. The laser beam would be chopped by an achromatic liquid-crystal modulator. A polarization-maintaining optical fiber would couple the light to the tip/sample junction of a commercial STM. An STM can be operated in one of two modes: constant height or constant current. A STORM apparatus would be operated in the constant-current mode, in which the height of the tip relative to the specimen would be varied in order to keep the tunneling current constant. In this mode, a feedback control circuit adjusts the voltage applied to a piezoelectric actuator in the STM that adjusts the height of the STM tip to keep the tunneling current constant. The exponential relationship between the tunneling current and tip-to-sample distance makes it relatively easy to implement this mode of operation. The choice of method by which the photoenhanced portion of the tunneling current would be measured depends on choice of the frequency at which the input illumination would be modulated (chopped). If the frequency of modulation were low enough (typically < 10 Hz) that the feedback circuit could respond, then the voltage applied to the piezoelectric tip-height actuator could be measured by use of a lock-in amplifier locked to the modulation (chopping) signal. However, at a high modulation frequency (typically in the kilohertz range or higher), the feedback circuit would be unable to respond. In this case, the photoenhanced portion of the tunneling current could be measured directly. For this purpose, the tunneling current would be passed through a precise resistor and the voltage drop would be measured by use of the lock-in amplifier

Report on Archaeological Investigations Conducted at the St. Mary's Site (18AP45), 107 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, Maryland, 1987-1990

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Archaeology in Annapolis was invited to excavate the Carroll House and garden on 107 Duke of Gloucester Street in Annapolis, Maryland. The site, named the St. Mary's Site (18AP45) for the Catholic church on the property, is currently owned by the Redemptorists, a Roman Catholic congregation of priests and brothers who have occupied the site since 1852. Prior to the Redemptorists' tenure, the site was owned by the Carroll family from 1701-1852 and is perhaps best known as the home of Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832), signer of the Declaration of Independence. Excavations at the site were conducted during four consecutive summer seasons from 1987-1990. The investigation focused on three research questions. The first line of inquiry were questions surrounding the dating, architectural configuration, and artifact deposits of the "frame house," a structure adjoining the west wall of the brick Carroll House via a "passage" and later a three story addition. The frame house was partially demolished in the mid-nineteenth century but the construction was thought to pre-date the brick portion of the house. The second research question was spurred by documentary research which indicated that the property might have been the location of Proctor's Tavern, a late 17th-century tavern which served as the meeting place of the Maryland Provincial Assembly. Archaeological testing hoped to determine its location and, if found, investigate Annapolis' early Euro-American occupation. The third research question focused on the landscape of the site as it was shaped by its occupants over the past three hundred years. The research questions included investigating the stratigraphy, geometry, and architectural and planting features of Charles Carroll of Carrollton's terraced garden built during the 1770s, and investigating the changes to the landscape made by the Redemptorists in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. While no structural evidence associated with Proctor’s Tavern was uncovered during limited excavations along Spa Creek, the historic shore of Spa Creek was identified, buried beneath deep fill deposits laid down during construction of the Carroll Garden. Features and deposits associated with this period likely remain intact in a waterlogged environment along the southeastern sea wall at the St. Mary’s Site. Evidence of extensive earth moving by Carroll is present in the garden and was identified during excavation and coring. This strongly suggests that the garden landscape visible at the St. Mary’s Site is the intact Carroll Garden, which survives beneath contemporary and late nineteenth century strata. The extant surviving garden should be considered highly sensitive to ground-disturbing activities, and is also highly significant considering demonstrable associations with the Carroll family. Other garden-related features were also discovered, including planting holes, and a brick pavilion or parapet located along Spa Creek to the south of the site. The Duke of Gloucester Street wall was shown to be associated with the Carroll occupation of the site. Finally, intensive archaeological research was directed at the vicinity of a frame house constructed and occupied by the Carrolls to the east of the existing brick house, which was replaced by the Redemptorists in the nineteenth century with a greenhouse. These superimposed buildings were documented in detail and remain highly significant features at the St. Mary’s Site

A Novel ENU-Induced

The fission and fusion of mitochondria are important processes for maintaining mitochondrial health. One of the proteins responsible for mediating mitochondrial fusion, mitofusin 2 (MFN2), has over 100 known mutations that cause Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease type 2A (CMT2A). This disease causes the nerves that control your muscles to degenerate, leading to muscle atrophy and weakness, problems walking, and other related symptoms. In this paper, we describe a mouse line with a recessive mutation in the Mfn2 gene (Leu643Pro) that causes a similar set of symptoms, including abnormal gait, weight loss, and decreased muscular endurance. However, further analysis of these mice revealed signs of skeletal muscle dysfunction (including smaller mitochondria) and bone abnormalities, with little evidence of axon degeneration typical of CMT2A. While this makes these mice a poor model for CMT2A, they are the first reported mouse line with a mutation in the transmembrane domain, a region critical for MFN2′s role in mitochondrial fusion. For this reason, we believe these mice will be a valuable tool for scientists interested in studying the biological functions of MFN2

Exercise-Based Stroke Rehabilitation: Clinical Considerations Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic attributable to the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2) has had a significant and continuing impact across all areas of healthcare including stroke. Individuals post-stroke are at high risk for infection, disease severity, and mortality after COVID-19 infection. Exercise stroke rehabilitation programs remain critical for individuals recovering from stroke to mitigate risk factors and morbidity associated with the potential long-term consequences of COVID-19. There is currently no exercise rehabilitation guidance for people post-stroke with a history of COVID-19 infection. Purpose. To (1) review the multi-system pathophysiology of COVID-19 related to stroke and exercise; (2) discuss the multi-system benefits of exercise for individuals post-stroke with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection; and (3) provide clinical considerations related to COVID-19 for exercise during stroke rehabilitation. This article is intended for healthcare professionals involved in the implementation of exercise rehabilitation for individuals post-stroke who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection and non-infected individuals who want to receive safe exercise rehabilitation. Results. Our clinical considerations integrate pre-COVID-19 stroke (n = 2) and COVID-19 exercise guidelines for non-stroke populations (athletic [n = 6], pulmonary [n = 1], cardiac [n = 2]), COVID-19 pathophysiology literature, considerations of stroke rehabilitation practices, and exercise physiology principles. A clinical decision-making tool for COVID-19 screening and eligibility for stroke exercise rehabilitation is provided, along with key subjective and physiological measures to guide exercise prescription. Conclusion. We propose that this framework promotes safe exercise programming within stroke rehabilitation for COVID-19 and future infectious disease outbreaks