Professional Perceptions of Six Sigma’s Value

At the 2008 American Society of Quality (ASQ) World Conference on Quality and Improvement in Houston, Texas, generational diversity and knowledge transfer were two areas of focus.  Quality methodology and tools have not changed much over the years. However, these practices and techniques have been repackaged and sold to upper management as the latest and greatest cure for what ails the company.  With each acceptance of a repackaged methodology aging professionals are replaced by advocates of the latest methods that promise greater productivity.  Lean Six Sigma and Six Sigma are the current corporate management approaches that have been marketed widely.  The selling point for such initiatives is the promise that a large return on investment (ROI) can be realized.  A survey was developed to compare the cost of implementing a program such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma for various size organizations. The survey, which was divided into an initial and a follow-on survey, was administered to professionals who are employed in some field where implementations have been perceived as successful to one extent or another.  The survey’s focus was to explore whether there are situations where the promise is not kept and/or where there are situations where the impact of the cultural change does not justify the effort. Based upon the occupations of the volunteer subjects, there is a very high possibility of a positive bias in the results.  While survey results were generally quiet supportive of the methodologies and would lead to a recommendation for the adoption of one of the programs, it is necessary for there to be further study

A Second-Site Noncomplementation Screen for Modifiers of Rho1 Signaling during Imaginal Disc Morphogenesis in Drosophila

Rho1 is a small GTPase of the Ras superfamily that serves as the central component in a highly conserved signaling pathway that regulates tissue morphogenesis during development in all animals. Since there is tremendous diversity in the upstream signals that can activate Rho1 as well as the effector molecules that carry out its functions, it is important to define relevant Rho1-interacting genes for each morphogenetic event regulated by this signaling pathway. Previous work from our lab and others has shown that Rho signaling is necessary for the morphogenesis of leg imaginal discs during metamorphosis in Drosophila, although a comprehensive identification of Rho1-interacting genes has not been attempted for this process.We characterized an amorphic allele of Rho1 that displays a poorly penetrant dominant malformed leg phenotype and is capable of being strongly enhanced by Rho1-interacting heterozygous mutations. We then used this allele in a second-site noncomplementation screen with the Exelixis collection of molecularly defined deficiencies to identify Rho1-interacting genes necessary for leg morphogenesis. In a primary screen of 461 deficiencies collectively uncovering approximately 50% of the Drosophila genome, we identified twelve intervals harboring Rho1-interacting genes. Through secondary screening we identified six Rho1-interacting genes including three that were previously identified (RhoGEF2, broad, and stubbloid), thereby validating the screen. In addition, we identified Cdc42, Rheb and Sc2 as novel Rho1-interacting genes involved in adult leg development.This screen identified well-known and novel Rho1-interacting genes necessary for leg morphogenesis, thereby increasing our knowledge of this important signaling pathway. We additionally found that Rheb may have a unique function in leg morphogenesis that is independent of its regulation of Tor

What America means to sixth grade children.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Impacts of Leisure Activity Noise Levels A Revised Case Study

An article originally published in the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics in 1991 discussed the effects of damaging noise levels exposed during the leisure time of industrial workers. With a noise level change preferences, this study was designed to work in collaboration with a 2013 study (Claire Drummond, 2013) which began the groundwork of measuring and examining the consistency of the data collected in 1990. Attributed to an increase in popularity of electronic music and improved digital sound equipment, indoor leisure environment sound levels have increased since the original study. The purpose of this study is to expand the collection of data on exposure levels in current leisure activities reported in the 2012 study to enhance the statistical significance that levels are indeed higher than the noise level preferences and tolerances specified by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and International Standards Organization (ISO) guidelines. With strenuous legal standards, industries have taken substantial steps to follow the OSHA and ISO recommended guidelines; however, places of leisure such as bars, movie theaters, churches, and sporting events are not required to adhere to the same standards. The noise data was collected using a Quest SPL (2800) calibrated dosimeter. This device is a great improvement from the GenRad Sound Level Meter originally used in the 1990 study for the fact that the Quest SPL (2800) gives a complete printout at the end of a data run that takes in account the duration and average dose of noise exposure run as well as average and peak noise levels. The GenRad device was limited to measuring low and high noise level readings. Average leisure noise levels by category were as follows: peak levels in a sample of thirty-nine leisure activities: churches and concerts (118.06 dB (σ = 2.62 dB)), bars (117.48 dB (σ = 9.32 dB)), and sporting events (122.99 dB (σ = 10.97 dB)). Following the OSHA and ISO standards, any exposure noise level over 115.00dB exceeds the recommended allowance. Adult industrial workers exposing themselves to these levels after an eight hour workday in an OSHA-controlled environment are exceeding the allowable exposure. Industrial business are spending large sums of money to make sure they are in compliance with OSHA standards yet their employees are potentially permanently damaging hearing due to their choice of leisure activity. These individuals are thus increasing their risk of a permanent threshold shift. As a side observation to the adult exposures, many parents had their children under the age of 4 in attendance at the high level peak level leisure activities. Hearing is fully developed at birth, but extended exposure times to high peak noise levels can cause an earlier permanent threshold shift in children or permanent hearing loss at a younger age

The genetic basis of variation in immune defense against Lysinibacillus fusiformis infection in Drosophila melanogaster.

The genetic causes of phenotypic variation often differ depending on the population examined, particularly if the populations were founded by relatively small numbers of genotypes. Similarly, the genetic causes of phenotypic variation among similar traits (resistance to different xenobiotic compounds or pathogens) may also be completely different or only partially overlapping. Differences in genetic causes for variation in the same trait among populations suggests context dependence for how selection acts on those traits. Similarities in the genetic causes of variation for different traits, on the other hand, suggests pleiotropy which would also influence how natural selection shapes variation in a trait. We characterized immune defense against a natural Drosophila pathogen, the Gram-positive bacterium Lysinibacillus fusiformis, in three different populations and found almost no overlap in the genetic architecture of variation in survival post infection. However, when comparing our results to a similar experiment with the fungal pathogen, B. bassiana, we found a convincing shared QTL peak for both pathogens. This peak contains the Bomanin cluster of Drosophila immune effectors. Loss of function mutants and RNAi knockdown experiments confirms a role of some of these genes in immune defense against both pathogens. This suggests that natural selection may act on the entire cluster of Bomanin genes (and the linked region under the QTL) or specific peptides for specific pathogens

Developing an intervention to facilitate family communication about inherited genetic conditions, and training genetic counsellors in its delivery.

Many families experience difficulty in talking about an inherited genetic condition that affects one or more of them. There have now been a number of studies identifying the issues in detail, however few have developed interventions to assist families. The SPRinG collaborative have used the UK Medical Research Council's guidance on Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions, to work with families and genetic counsellors (GCs) to co-design a psycho-educational intervention to facilitate family communication and promote better coping and adaptation to living with an inherited genetic condition for parents and their children (<18 years). The intervention is modelled on multi-family discussion groups (MFDGs) used in psychiatric settings. The MFDG was developed and tested over three phases. First focus groups with parents, young people, children and health professionals discussed whether MFDG was acceptable and proposed a suitable design. Using evidence and focus group data, the intervention and a training manual were developed and three GCs were trained in its delivery. Finally, a prototype MFDG was led by a family therapist and co-facilitated by the three GCs. Data analysis showed that families attending the focus groups and intervention thought MFDG highly beneficial, and the pilot sessions had a significant impact on their family' functioning. We also demonstrated that it is possible to train GCs to deliver the MFDG intervention. Further studies are now required to test the feasibility of undertaking a definitive randomised controlled trial to evaluate its effectiveness in improving family outcomes before implementing into genetic counselling practice.The National Institute of Health Research funded the study but any views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Authority. Funded by NIHR reference number: RP-DG-1211-10015

Return of individual research results from genomic research: A systematic review of stakeholder perspectives.

Funder: Franca FundFunder: Canada Research Chair in Law and MedicineFunder: Canada Institute of Health ResearchFunder: Genome QuebecFunder: Genome CanadaFunder: Can-SHARE ConnectFunder: CIHRDespite the plethora of empirical studies conducted to date, debate continues about whether and to what extent results should be returned to participants of genomic research. We aimed to systematically review the empirical literature exploring stakeholders' perspectives on return of individual research results (IRR) from genomic research. We examined preferences for receiving or willingness to return IRR, and experiences with either receiving or returning them. The systematic searches were conducted across five major databases in August 2018 and repeated in April 2020, and included studies reporting findings from primary research regardless of method (quantitative, qualitative, mixed). Articles that related to the clinical setting were excluded. Our search identified 221 articles that met our search criteria. This included 118 quantitative, 69 qualitative and 34 mixed methods studies. These articles included a total number of 118,874 stakeholders with research participants (85,270/72%) and members of the general public (40,967/35%) being the largest groups represented. The articles spanned at least 22 different countries with most (144/65%) being from the USA. Most (76%) discussed clinical research projects, rather than biobanks. More than half (58%) gauged views that were hypothetical. We found overwhelming evidence of high interest in return of IRR from potential and actual genomic research participants. There is also a general willingness to provide such results by researchers and health professionals, although they tend to adopt a more cautious stance. While all results are desired to some degree, those that have the potential to change clinical management are generally prioritized by all stakeholders. Professional stakeholders appear more willing to return results that are reliable and clinically relevant than those that are less reliable and lack clinical relevance. The lack of evidence for significant enduring psychological harm and the clear benefits to some research participants suggest that researchers should be returning actionable IRRs to participants

Intimate partner violence, interpersonal aggression, and life history strategy

We integrate life history (LH) theory with "hot/cool" systems theory of self-regulation to predict sexually and socially coercive behaviors, including intimate partner violence (IPV) and interpersonal aggression (IPA). LH theory predicts that a variety of traits form LH strategies: adaptively coordinated behavioral clusters arrayed on a continuum from slow to fast. We test structural models examining 2 propositions: (a) "hot" cognitive processes, promoted by faster LH strategies, increase the likelihood of sexually/socially coercive behaviors that make up IPV and IPA; (b) "cool" cognitive processes, promoted by slower LH strategies, buffer against the likelihood of sexually/socially coercive behaviors that make up IPV and IPA. We present single and multisample structural equations models (SEMs and MSEMs) testing hypothesized causal relations among these theoretically specified predictors with IPV and IPA. Study 1 develops a Structural Equation Model for IPV; Study 2 extends the model to IPA using MSEM and provides 5 cross-cultural constructive replications of the findings. Integrating LH theory and hot/cool systems analysis of cognitive processes is a promising and productive heuristic for future research on IPV and IPA perpetration and victimization. </p