A conceptual framework for job change

Change related to the job is identified as an exigent issue in the field of career development. This paper presents an effort to conceptualize a job change framework. The intent is increase awareness, generate discussion, and stimulate empirical research in this area.The conceptual framework for job change has been predicated on client concerns. The framework involves the unique relationship of several life factors which influence individual job change, and provides a means for systematic personal decision-making. A schematic diagram is also included as a tool that can be used for counseling and research applications.     

Choosing to learn

European Journal of Psychology of Education -     

Polynesian Folklore: An Alternative to Plastic Toys

Because folklore has the capability to teach and to preserve the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of a people, suggestions are offered for using folklore to deepen children's understanding of Polynesian culture. Maori nature fables, along with error/punishment stories involving the woman or man on the moon, represent the instructive function. Tales and legends preserving cultural history are represented by a folk story reflecting values and customs of everyday life, accounts of legendary monsters reflecting cultural hopes and fears, and heroic tales of the popular demigod Maui. Specific stories are reviewed, juvenile collections are referenced, and classroom activities are offered.     

Enumeration of lymphocyte subsets using flow cytometry: Effect of storage before and after staining in a developing country setting

Lymphocyte subset estimations by flow cytometry in population-based studies require transportation of samples from the field site to the laboratory. As samples arrive late in the day they have to wait overnight before being processed. The effect of two possible approaches, sample storage for 24 h before staining and immediate staining with analysis after 24 h and 48 h were evaluated. Two sets of experiments were performed with EDTA (ethylenediamine tetra-acetate) anticoagulated peripheral blood. In the first experiment, after collection, each sample was divided into two portions. One portion was stained at the time of blood collection and the other 24 h later after keeping it at room temperature (38–45°C). In the second experiment, blood samples were stained within 1–2 h. Each sample was analyzed immediately upon completion of staining process and subsequently after 24 h and 48 h of storage at 4°C. Results suggest that blood collected in EDTA can be processed using whole blood lysis method, after storage at room temperature (38–45°C) for 24 h with some but not significant alteration in T-cell subsets. Storage at 4°C after staining for 24 h results in a lesser and insignificant loss of cells or alteration of T-cell subsets and may be the method of choice.     

Modifications in flow cytometric estimation of t cell subsets and b cells in peripheral blood to reduce the cost of investigation

The development of monoclonal antibodies combined with flow cytometry has revolutionized the analysis of lymphocyte subsets. These newer methods using the Q-prep leucocyte preparation system require only 1–2 ml of blood as compared to 10 ml required traditionally. One of the main impediments in the use of this superior technology in Indian laboratories has been the high cost of reagents. This study evaluated methods to reduce the cost of assays. In the first experiment from 26 healthy subjects, 2ml venous blood samples in EDTA (ethylenediamine tetra-acetate) were obtained. Each sample was divided into two equal portions, one portion was stained using diluted monoclonal antibody, whereas the other portion was stained using standard concentrations of antibodies. In the second experiment, blood samples from 12 subjects were again divided into 2 portions; one portion of each pair was processed using commercial Q-prep reagents while the other portion was processed using our own reagents. In the first experiment, which evaluated use of a diluted antibody against the standard recommended concentrations, a 5-tube panel that estimated CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20 was used. In the second experiment CD3, CD4 and CD8 were estimated. The total cost per sample for a 5-panel estimation was however reduced from $39.11 to $1.10. Given the proven advantages of using a whole blood stain-lyse method for T cell subset estimations, its use should be encouraged in developing country settings. With the suggested methods the whole blood Q-prep could be performed at appreciably reduced costs, without loss in precision.     

The small size of the small scale market: The early-stage labor market for highly skilled nanotechnology workers

We examine the labor market for the highly trained in nanotechnology and the response of universities toward providing training. We draw comparisons with the labor market and university response in bioinformatics. The demand analysis is based on position announcements in Science in 2002 compared to 2005. We also analyze online position announcements in late 2005 and early 2006. Our analysis leads us to conclude that at the present time the market is small and growing for positions in academe and at FFRDCs, small and stable for positions at firms. Our analysis of training leads to the conclusion that the pipeline is being filled primarily through a principal investigator approach, where a student is attached to one faculty member's lab, rather than to a formal program. The fundamental difference between nanotechnology and bioinformatics in this respect may be due to differences in the opportunities available to universities and faculty.     

Why are fewer women than men from top UK universities still not securing Graduate Level Jobs?

Research shows that a lower proportion of women than men are in graduate level jobs, six months after leaving seven top UK universities. This paper presents new empirical evidence from a unique dataset on the significantly different attitudes and behaviours between Oxford men and women undergraduates that might explain why women are less likely to have secured a graduate level job than men. Lower self-assurance, firmer beliefs in gender stereotypes, strong prestige and gender-characterisation of occupations, and favouring sectors with informal and low-status entry, all contribute to a lower proportion of women securing graduate level jobs. Despite many advances in recent years narrowing the gap between men and women, there remain policy implications for curriculum delivery and co-curricular courses to increase women’s self-assurance and assertiveness, and thereby enable them to aspire to and then secure a wider range of higher prestige occupations.     

An investigation into the Sawtooth Effect in secondary school assessments in England

The ‘Sawtooth Effect’ is where cohort performance on high-stakes assessments drops after assessment reform, and then improves over time as test familiarity increases. Despite its importance, limited research has been conducted to date. In this study, we took a novel approach of using changes in grade boundaries (cut scores) over time as a proxy measure for performance change across a large number of secondary school assessments. Findings were generally consistent with the Sawtooth Effect, suggesting that it took students/teachers around 3 years on average to become familiar with the new tests. Estimates of the magnitude of these changes were also produced. Findings support the need for caution when interpreting changes in performance for new assessments, as any gains that occur may be due to test familiarity, rather than meaningful gains to subject mastery.

Abbreviation: GCSE: General Certificate of Secondary Education; GCE A level: General Certificate of Education Advanced Level     

The Use of Internet,Quasi-multimedial and Multimedial Educational Systems at the Technical University KoŠice

Electronic mail entered the Technical University Ko?ice in 1990. Now, instead of the few tens of users at the beginning, the system hosts thousands of them. Interactive teaching programmes as well as teaching programmes that are supported by audio and visual channels have also been used since 1990. The paper presents a short account of past development, the present situation and perspectives within the area of Internet use and of tuition that employs multimedia related means of teaching.