The impact of cost saving on service quailty

The aim of all companies is continuously to improve their products and/or services. Managers need to understand what service quality entails and what measures to take to ensure that quality is upheld and employees are satisfied. Cost-saving initiatives often require certain changes to take place within the organisation. In the event of such changes, the psychological contract is often violated, which may have a positive or negative effect on the affected individuals. Management expects to get more work done with fewer employees, who in turn are expected to keep up the service quality. The current shortage of medical technologists in the country has made it impossible for them to cope with the heavy workload. As a result, many leave the profession and venture into something completely different. Those that are left become completely demotivated; they experience less job satisfaction and show less commitment to their work. However, some may even embrace the changes because to them it may mean bigger and better challenges. The aim of this study is to identify which approaches management took to ensure cost saving and how these approaches impacted on the behaviour of employees. A literature review was conducted to determine what the theory reveals about cost saving and its impact on employee behaviour. This was followed by an empirical survey conducted within the National Health Laboratory Services in the Ibhayi region. Finally, the practical findings and literary theory were compared to make recommendations to management on how to ensure positive employee behaviour and boost employee morale

Personalisation of social care and health: a co-operative solution

The research was undertaken by Manchester Metropolitan University as a placement with Co-operatives UK and Cobbetts, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council under a Business Engagement Opportunities project.The overall aim of the research was to explore and assess the opportunities for co-operatives and mutuals as service providers under personal budgets in social care and health. The research explored the experiences of co-operatives operating as social care providers and the implications for future policy and extension of the provider market within the context of personalisation. This research is based on in-depth interviews and field visits with two case studies, documentary research and a number of other relevant stakeholders. The interviews with Sunshine Care, Caring Support, and stakeholders took place between April and July 2010

CRISPR-Cas9 Causes Chromosomal Instability and Rearrangements in Cancer Cell Lines, Detectable by Cytogenetic Methods

CRISPR-Cas9 has quickly become the method of choice for genome editing, with multiple publications describing technical advances and novel applications. It has been widely adopted as a tool for basic research and has significant translational and clinical potential. However, its usage has outpaced the establishment of essential and rigorous controls for unwanted off-target effects, manifested as small mutations, large deletions of target loci, or large-scale chromosomal rearrangements. A common application of CRISPR-Cas9 is as a tool for creating isogenic cell-line models to study the effects of precise mutations, or variants, on disease traits. Here, we describe the effect of standard CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis protocols on well characterized cancer cell lines. We demonstrate that commonly used methods for detecting correctly mutated clones fail to uncover large-scale rearrangements. We show that simple cytogenetic methods can be used to identify clones carrying chromosomal abnormalities and large mutations at target loci. These methods are quick and cost-efficient, and we suggest that such controls should be performed prior to publication of studies based on novel CRISPR-Cas9 mutated cancer cell lines

Machine learning reveals singing rhythms of male Pacific field crickets are clock controlled

Circadian rhythms are ubiquitous in nature and endogenous circadian clocks drive the daily expression of many fitness-related behaviors. However, little is known about whether such traits are targets of selection imposed by natural enemies. In Hawaiian populations of the nocturnally active Pacific field cricket (Teleogryllus oceanicus), males sing to attract mates, yet sexually selected singing rhythms are also subject to natural selection from the acoustically orienting and deadly parasitoid fly, Ormia ochracea. Here, we use T. oceanicus to test whether singing rhythms are endogenous and scheduled by circadian clocks, making them possible targets of se lection imposed by flies. We also develop a novel audio-to-circadian analysis pipeline, capable of extracting useful parameters from which to train machine learning algorithms and process large quantities of audio data. Singing rhythms fulfilled all criteria for endogenous circadian clock control, including being driven by photoschedule, self-sustained periodicity of approximately 24 h, and being robust to variation in temperature. Furthermore, singing rhythms varied across individuals, which might suggest genetic variation on which natural and sexual selection pressures can act. Sexual signals and ornaments are well-known targets of selection by natural enemies, but our findings indicate that the circadian timing of those traits’ expression may also determine fitnes

Strengthening alignment between secondary and tertiary biology education and enhancing student transitions in the sciences

It would be unwise to think that implementation of the national secondary school biology curriculum will not affect what universities teach. Educators will face challenges but there is also a unique opportunity for a simultaneous curriculum reform at the tertiary level. Our primary aim is to align the biology curricula offered in the two sectors. This alignment has the potential to improve the opportunities for success in higher education among entry level students with diverse backgrounds when there is better integration between two sectors operating independently. Our goal is to foster a dialogue between these two sectors to develop a collaborative network that will inform curriculum development to address the immediate needs arising from the national curriculum. An interactive website that promotes constant dialogue and refinement, will in the long term help maintain consistency in educational standards

Scientific inquiry skills in first year biology: building on pre-tertiary skills or back to basics?

The introduction of the Australian secondary education curricula (ACARA, 2012) provided a unique opportunity to benchmark first year biology across the tertiary sector. Specifically we asked will first-year undergraduate subjects build on and offer further development of the skills and capacities that students will acquire once the Australian curriculum is implemented? The answer to this question has important implications for student transition to, and success at university. Overall first year biology subjects are well placed to build on the skills that pre-tertiary students bring with them when the national senior biology curriculum is fully implemented. However if secondary schools choose to focus on open inquiry methods, then given the status of current curricula, universities will not build on the skills developed at secondary level, and curriculum developers need to aware of this potential difference. Other notable differences and their implications for first year biology courses are highlighted

Scientific Inquiry Skills in First Year Biology: Building on Pre-Tertiary Skills or Back to Basics?

The introduction of the Australian secondary education curricula (ACARA, 2012) provided a unique opportunity to benchmark first year biology across the tertiary sector. Specifically we asked will first-year undergraduate subjects build on and offer further development of the skills and capacities that students will acquire once the Australian curriculum is implemented? The answer to this question has important implications for student transition to, and success at university. Overall first year biology subjects are well placed to build on the skills that pre-tertiary students bring with them when the national senior biology curriculum is fully implemented. However if secondary schools choose to focus on open inquiry methods, then given the status of current curricula, universities will not build on the skills developed at secondary level, and curriculum developers need to aware of this potential difference. Other notable differences and their implications for first year biology courses are highlighted

Staffing in postnatal units: is it adequate for the provision of quality care? Staff perspectives from a state-wide review of postnatal care in Victoria, Australia

BACKGROUND: State-wide surveys of recent mothers conducted over the past decade in Victoria, one state of Australia, have identified that women are consistently less satisfied with the care they received in hospital following birth compared with other aspects of maternity care. Little is known of caregivers' perspectives on the provision ofhospital postnatal care: how care is organised and provided in different hospitals; what constrains the provision of postnatal care (apart from funding) and what initiatives are being undertaken to improve service delivery. A state-widereview of organisational structures and processes in relation to the provision of hospital postnatal care in Victoria was undertaken. This paper focuses on the impact of staffing issues on the provision of quality postnatal care from the perspective of care providers. METHODS: A study of care providers from Victorian public hospitals that provide maternity services was undertaken. Datawere collected in two stages. Stage one: a structured questionnaire was sent to all public hospitals in Victoria that provided postnatal care (n = 73), exploring the structure and organisation of care (e.g. staffing, routine observations, policy framework and discharge planning). Stage two: 14 maternity units were selected and invited to participate in a more in-depth exploration of postnatal care. Thirty-eight key informant interviews were undertaken with midwives (including unit managers, associate unit managers and clinical midwives) and a medical practitioner from eachselected hospital. RESULTS: Staffing was highlighted as a major factor impacting on the provision of quality postnatal care. There were significant issues associated with inadequate staff/patient ratios; staffing mix; patient mix; prioritisation of birth suites over postnatal units; and the use of non-permanent staff. Forty-three percent of hospitals reported having only midwives (i.e. no non-midwives) providing postnatal care. Staffing issues impact on hospitals' ability to provide continuity of care. Recruitment and retention of midwives are significant issues, particularly in rural areas. CONCLUSION: Staffing in postnatal wards is a challenging issue, and varies with hospital locality and model of care. Staff/patient ratios and recruitment of midwives in rural areas are the two areas that appear to have the greatest negative impact on staffing adequacy and provision of quality care. Future research on postnatal care provision should include consideration of any impact on staff and staffing