In this study a safety propaganda programme was designed, introduced, monitored, and analysed in the context of ongoing industrial activity. Pre-experimental investigations revealed areas of unsafe activity which were then subjected to the experimental safety propaganda material. Results showed that in a number of workshops studied the propaganda had a positive effect in terms of a reduction in the number of unsafe incidents. Ancillary findings showed wide differences in the formal and informal attitudes expressed by both managerial and supervisory grades towards simple safety situations. It is suggested that such inconsistency is unlikely to be conducive to a stable behavioural commitment to safety procedures.
P2X receptors are ATP-gated nonselective cation channels with important physiological roles. However, their structures are poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the architecture of P2X receptors using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy and direct structure determination using electron microscopy. FRET efficiency measurements indicated that the distance between the C-terminal tails of P2X(4) receptors was 5.6 nm. Single particle analysis of purified P2X(4) receptors was used to determine the three-dimensional structure at a resolution of 21A; the orientation of the particle with respect to the membrane was assigned by labeling the intracellular C termini with 1.8-nm gold particles and the carbohydrate-rich ectodomain with lectin. We found that human P2X(4) is a globular torpedo-like molecule with an approximate volume of 270 nm(3) and a compact propeller-shaped ectodomain. In this structure, the distance between the centers of the gold particles was 6.1 nm, which closely matches FRET data. Thus, our data provide the first views of the architecture, shape, and size of single P2X receptors, furthering our understanding of this important family of ligand-gated ion channels.
The focus of this case study is a random sample of call centre agents drawn from the population of agents in a corporate call centre of a major telecommunications organisation in South Africa. As is typical in South Africa, work for these call centre agents is organised on the mass service model consisting of highly paced interactions with clients, often underpinned by access to computer based data systems to assist in solving problems or guiding interactions. In this work design call centre operators commonly encounter a combination of constrained work postures, highly repetitive short cycle span interactions, restricted co-worker communication, and continuous electronic performance monitoring. These working conditions are always likely to result in physical and mental strain on the agent. This case study describes the relationship between the organisational climate developed under these working conditions and concomitant factors of job satisfaction and job-related tension. The case study then takes, as its target for analysis, the score profiles of call centre agents' experiences of work as captured on these key variables and reports on the main features that contribute to the positive and negative experiences of work. Findings indicate that more insight is gained about the work experiences of these call centre agents from the piecemeal analysis of these profiles than is gained solely through an inspection of summary statistics, such as means, standard deviations and correlation coefficients. Findings are discussed in the context of alternative work design and management of call centre enterprises.
'%3e%3cpath fill='%23001489' d='M0 0v6h9V0z'/%3e%3cpath fill='%23e03c31' d='M0 0v3h9V0z'/%3e%3cg stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='2'%3e%3cpath id='d' d='m0 0 4.5 3L0 6m4.5-3H9'/%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23b' stroke='%23ffb81c' clip-path='url(%23c)'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cuse xlink:href='%23d' fill='none' stroke='%23007749' stroke-width='1.2'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
'%3e%3cpath fill='%23012169' d='M0 0v30h60V0z'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='6' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='4' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30' clip-path='url(%23b)'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='10' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='6' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
