Design of an electronic performance support system for food chemistry laboratory classes

The design oriented research described in this thesis aims at designing an realizing an electronic performance support system for food chemistry laboratory classes (labEPSS). Four design goals related to food chemistry laboratory classes were identified. Firstly, labEPSS should avoid extraneous cognitive load caused by the instructional format of the laboratory classes. Secondly, labEPSS should let students prepare for their laboratory experiments. Thirdly, labEPSS should support the communication in the laboratory class between students and between students and supervisors. Fourthly, labEPSS should give students the freedom to plan their experiments, without supervisors losing control and without risking overbooking of equipment. To address these goals, a couple of tools were designed, realized and subsequently used and evaluated in two model food chemistry laboratory classes: A web-based laboratory manual, aiming to provide students with just-in-time procedural information (e.g. how an apparatus looks like, where chemicals can be found). A web-based experiment design tool, aiming to let students design their research strategy as a workflow beforehand and support students while carrying out this strategy in the laboratory. A ‘web-app’ for students’ smartphones providing the same functionalities as the digital laboratory manual. A web-based equipment booking system, which is part of the web-based experiment design tool. Based on the evaluations it can be concluded that students and supervisors appreciated the tools and that these tools are capable of reaching the design goals. Finally, an overall design of labEPSS is proposed, in which the tools offer an integrated experience. Because labEPSS is highly configurable, it can be used in many different laboratory classes throughout curricula.</p

Do different uses of performance measurement systems in hospitals yield different outcomes?

Background Inspired by the new public management movement, many public sector organizations have implemented business-like performance measurement systems (PMSs) in an effort to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness. However, a large stream of the accounting literature has remained critical of the use of performance measures in the public sector because of the inherent difficulty in measuring output and the potential adverse effects of performance measurement. Although we acknowledge that PMSs may indeed sometimes yield adverse effects, we highlight in this study that the effects of PMSs depend on the way in which they are used. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate various uses of PMSs among hospital managers and their effects on hospital outcomes, including process quality, degree of patient-oriented care, operational performance, and work culture. Methodology We use a survey sent to 432 Dutch hospital managers (19.2% response rate, 83 usable responses). For our main variables, we rely on previously validated constructs where possible, and we conduct ordinary least squares regressions to explore the relation between PMS use and hospital outcomes. Results We find that the way in which PMSs are used is associated with hospital outcomes. An exploratory use of PMS has a positive association with patient-oriented care and collective work culture. Furthermore, the operational use of PMSs is positively related to operational performance but negatively related to patient-oriented care. There is no single best PMS use that positively affects all performance dimensions. Practice Implications The way in which managers use PMSs is related to hospital outcomes. Therefore, hospital managers should critically reflect on how they use PMSs and whether their type of use is in line with the desired hospital outcomes. </p

Technisch rapport WO-Monitor 1998

In 1998 is onder auspiciën van de VSNU de WO-Monitor van start gegaan. Aanleiding hiervoor was de behoefte om over landelijke gegevens te beschikken met betrekking tot de arbeidsmarktintrede van afgestudeerden. Weliswaar werd op diverse plaatsen reeds onderzoek verricht naar de overgang van het WO naar de arbeidsmarkt, maar door de uiteenlopende designs en vraagstellingen leverde dit geen onderling vergelijkbare gegevens op. Het Algemeen Bestuur van de VSNU heeft daarom besloten tot invoering van een landelijke WO-Monitor, waarin alle universiteiten participeren.labour market entry and occupational careers;

The Impact of Management Control on Employee Motivation and Performance in the Public Sector

This study examines the relations among various types of management control, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and performance in the public sector. We draw on motivation crowding theory and self-determination theory to argue that four different types of management control (i.e. personnel, cultural, action, and results control) are likely to have an influence on intrinsic motivation and/or extrinsic motivation. We test a structural equation model using survey data from 105 similar departments in the public sector. Our findings indicate that the use of personnel and cultural controls is positively associated with employees’ intrinsic motivation, and that the use of results controls is positively associated with employees’ extrinsic motivation. Moreover, both intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation are positively associated with performance. Taken together, these findings support the idea advocated by New Public Management proponents that results control can enhance employee motivation and performance in the public sector. However, the findings also highlight an essential nuance; in addition to results control, personnel and cultural controls are also important, as they enhance intrinsic motivation and performance. This implies that a sole focus on results control is too narrow and can lead to suboptimal levels of employee motivation and performance in the public sector

The hidden cost of disturbance: Eurasian Oystercatchers (Haematopus ostralegus) avoid a disturbed roost site during the tourist season

Disturbance may impact individual birds and ultimately bird populations. If animals avoid disturbed sites this may prevent them from being disturbed directly but may also negatively impact their movement patterns and energy budgets. Avoidance is, however, challenging to study, because it requires following individuals over large spatial scales in order to compare their movement rates between sites in relation to spatiotemporal variation in disturbance intensity. We studied how 48 GPS-tracked non-breeding Eurasian Oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus used two neighbouring roost sites in the Wadden Sea. One roost site is highly influenced by seasonal recreational disturbance whereas the other is an undisturbed sandbar. We analysed roost choice and the probability of moving away from the disturbed roost site with regard to a seasonal recreation activity index, weekends and night-time. Oystercatchers often chose to roost on the undisturbed site, even if they were foraging closer to the disturbed roost. The probability that Oystercatchers chose to roost on the disturbed site was negatively correlated with the recreation activity index and was lowest in the tourist season (summer and early autumn), indicating that birds used the site less often when recreation levels were high. Furthermore, the probability that birds moved away from the disturbed site during high tide was positively correlated with the recreation activity index. The choice to roost on the undisturbed site implies that birds must fly an additional 8 km during one high-tide period, which equates to 3.4% of daily energy expenditure of an average Oystercatcher. Our study tentatively suggests that the costs of avoidance may outweigh the energetic cost of direct flight responses and hence that avoidance of disturbed sites requires more attention in future disturbance impact studies. Nature managers should evaluate whether high-quality undisturbed roosting sites are available near foraging sites, and in our case closing of a section of the disturbed site during high tides in the tourist season may mitigate much disturbance impact

Засади та історія становлення соціального вчення Українського католицизму

In equine medicine the use of Botox® is experimental. Dosages are determined from human treatment-protocols and limited numbers of equine studies. Determination of target-muscle volume can be helpful to extrapolate human dosages. The aim of the study was to calculate a formula enabling the estimation of the deep digital flexor muscle (DDFM) volume based on distances between anatomical landmarks. Nineteen cadaveric limbs were collected and distance A (top of olecranon to Os carpi accessorium) and B (circumference of limb) were measured. Converting mathematical formulas, C was calculated: π × (((0.5B)/π)(2)) × A. DDFM volume was determined by water displacement. Linear Regression Analysis was used to analyse data. The line best fitting the observed points was: Ln(volume[ml]) = -1.89 + 0.98 × Ln(value C[cm(3)]). Correlation was highest when natural logarithm was applied to both variables and was 0.97. The calculated formula enables estimating DDFM volume of a living horse. This estimated volume can be useful to apply human Botox® treatment-protocols

Социально-экономическое развитие Кировского района

В статье раскрывается социально-экономическое развитие Кировского района, сравниваются показатели района с показателями по Автономной Республике Крым в целом. Раскрывается туристско-ресурсный потенциал города Старый Крым и делается предположение, как эффективно использовать имеющийся потенциал для развития Кировского района в целом.В статті розкривається соціально-економічний розвиток Кіровського району, порівнюються показники району з показниками по Автономній Республіці Крим в цілому. Розкривається туристсько-ресурсний потенціал міста Старий Крим і робиться припущення, як ефективно використовувати наявний потенціал для розвитку Кіровського району в цілому.In the article is described the social and the economic development of the Kirovsk district of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and are compared the parameters of the district with the parametrs in Autonomous Republic of Crimea in the whole. In this article are shown tourist's and spa resorts of the town Stary Krym and is made the proposal how to use the potential of the town for the development of the Kirovsk district in the whole

Options for closing the phosphorus cycle in agriculture : assessment of options for Northwest Europe and the Netherlands

This study assessed which options are available for closing the feed-manure phosphorus cycle in agriculture and their contribution to the reduction of the P surplus and P use efficiency. This was assessed at a national scale for the Netherlands as well as a regional scale for Northwest Europe. No export of animal products, with as a consequence the reduction in livestock numbers, is most effective in reducing external P inputs. An effective option that is easier to implement is the reduction in P excretion through changes in the feed intake. For Nortwest Europe the combination of all five options can lead to a reduction of external P inputs of about 50%. For the Netherlands the combination of the options result in a reduction in external P inputs of 35% and a reduction of the manure export of 26%. The effectiveness of large scale manure treatment in the Netherlands is limite