Učenje na delovnem mestu je učinkovit način uvajanja študentov terciarnih študijskih programov v delovno okolje, obenem pa preizkus uporabnosti teoretičnih znanj iz predavalnice. V članku se ...poglabljamo v učenje na delovnem mestu na primeru praktičnega usposabljanja študentov turizma v Sloveniji. V teoretičnem delu analiziramo strokovno terminologijo, definicije in različne opredelitve praktičnega usposabljanja ter opredelimo vlogo deležnikov v sistemu praktičnega usposabljanja. V empiričnem delu s primerjalnim presojanjem proučujemo značilnosti obstoječih sistemov praktičnega usposabljanja v kontekstu visokošolskih programov na področju turizma. Namen prispevka je razviti model praktičnega usposabljanja v turističnem sektorju z identifikacijo ključnih komponent v posameznih fazah izvajanja, formalnih podlag in izidov. V zaključku predlagamo izboljšave kakovosti sistemov praktičnega usposabljanja z bolj fokusiranimi pripravami deležnikov na prakso, izrabo raznolikih oblik izvajanja praktičnega usposabljanja, spremljanjem razvoja kompetenc študentov ter intenzivnejšo interakcijo med deležniki iz turističnega in izobraževalnega sektorja.
Učenje na delovnem mestu je učinkovit način uvajanja študentov terciarnih študijskih programov v delovno okolje, obenem pa preizkus uporabnosti teoretičnih znanj iz predavalnice. V članku se ...poglabljamo v učenje na delovnem mestu na primeru praktičnega usposabljanja študentov turizma v Sloveniji. V teoretičnem delu analiziramo strokovno terminologijo, definicije in različne opredelitve praktičnega usposabljanja ter opredelimo vlogo deležnikov v sistemu praktičnega usposabljanja. V empiričnem delu s primerjalnim presojanjem proučujemo značilnosti obstoječih sistemov praktičnega usposabljanja v kontekstu visokošolskih programov na področju turizma. Namen prispevka je razviti model praktičnega usposabljanja v turističnem sektorju z identifikacijo ključnih komponent v posameznih fazah izvajanja, formalnih podlag in izidov. V zaključku predlagamo izboljšave kakovosti sistemov praktičnega usposabljanja z bolj fokusiranimi pripravami deležnikov na prakso, izrabo raznolikih oblik izvajanja praktičnega usposabljanja, spremljanjem razvoja kompetenc študentov ter intenzivnejšo interakcijo med deležniki iz turističnega in izobraževalnega sektorja.
In modern societies stress has become a widespread phenomenon and therefore an issue of major concern to employees, organizations and the state. Organizations (i.e. management) that want to be ...competitive in the dynamic environment of today have to handle the problem of stress successfully. Higher education is not immune to this problem. The overall purpose of this analysis is to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon of stress among scholars in tertiary education. Teachers’ work has always been considered to be very stressful. The aim of this research has been to find out how they combat stress operatively and strategically in a tourism educational institution. The case study method was used and data was collected in semi-structured interviews. Content analysis of the interviews was used to determine stress perception, assessment, and management on an individual and institutional level. While employees show great awareness regarding the effects of stress on their lives and apply several coping techniques, the institution seems to be rather uninformed about stress and, what is more, seems to generate causes of stress. Based on these findings, strategies are proposed for stress management within institution. So far research on occupational stress among academics has been conducted mostly in Anglo- axon environments. This paper gives an in-depth insight into this issue in a context of a Slovenian tertiary education institution.
In modern societies stress has become a widespread phenomenon and therefore an issue of major concern to employees, organizations and the state. Organizations (i.e. management) that want to be ...competitive in the dynamic environment of today have to handle the problem of stress successfully. Higher education is not immune to this problem. The overall purpose of this analysis is to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon of stress among scholars in tertiary education. Teachers' work has always been considered to be very stressful. The aim of this research has been to find out how they combat stress operatively and strategically in a tourism educational institution. The case study method was used and data was collected in semi-structured interviews. Content analysis of the interviews was used to determine stress perception, assessment, and management on an individual and institutional level. While employees show great awareness regarding the effects of stress on their lives and apply several coping techniques, the institution seems to be rather uninformed about stress and, what is more, seems to generate causes of stress. Based on these findings, strategies are proposed for stress management within institution. So far research on occupational stress among academics has been conducted mostly in Anglo-Saxon environments. This paper gives an in-depth insight into this issue in a context of a Slovenian tertiary education institution. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to establish a new model of managing human resources in the service industry. The authors aim to raise awareness of the failing effects of human resource ...management (HRM) so far and indicate possible solutions to long-lasting labour issues.
Design/methodology/approach
– The authors aim to outgrow the current personnel management concepts by approaching the employment management problem requisitely holistically. By combining the concepts of systems thinking, requisite well-being and social responsibility, the authors aim to introduce a new model for managing human resources. An analysis of the relevant HRM models and a perusal of identified issues concerning labour enabled the development of the new HRM model.
Findings
– Under-investment in human capital in service industries has resulted in high staff turnover and negative attitudes towards service occupations. Recognition of the need for an improved approach to human resources management brings about substantial changes in the strategic management both on the industry- and the organizational levels.
Research limitations/implications
– Research is theoretical with indirect empirical impact. The proposed model will meet the requirements of systems thinking principles as well as socially responsible corporate behaviour.
Practical implications
– Improved understanding that human talent and their well-being should be in the centre of business strategies.
Originality/value
– The value of the paper is in the raised awareness of the need for more innovative and flexible labour market policies. The proposed model is in accordance with the formal corporate pledge to act socially responsible and can be applied in tourism and hospitality organizations.
Lantibiotics, bacteria-sourced antimicrobial peptides, are very good candidates for effective and safe food additives. Among them, nisin is already approved by the EU and FDA, and has been used in ...food preservation for the past 40 years. Now, there is a possibility and strong interest to extend its applicability to biomedicine for designing innovative alternatives to antibiotics. The main obstacle is, however, its naturally narrow spectrum of antimicrobial activity, focused on Gram positive bacteria. Here we demonstrate broadening nisin's spectrum to Gram negative bacteria using a nano-engineering approach. After binding nisin molecules to the surface of gold nano-features, uniformly deposited on spherical carbon templates, we created a nanocomposite with a high density of positively charged groups. Before assembly, none of the components of the nanocomposite showed any activity against bacterial growth, which was changed after assembly in the form of the nanocomposite. For the first time we showed that this type of structure enables interactions capable of disintegrating the wall of Gram negative bacteria. As confirmed by the nisin model, the developed approach opens up new horizons for the use of lantibiotics in designing post-antibiotic drugs.
Many relatively common chronic inflammatory skin diseases manifest on the face (seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, acne, perioral/periorificial dermatitis, periocular dermatitis, etc.), thereby ...significantly impairing patient appearance and quality of life. Given the yet unexplained pathogenesis and numerous factors involved, these diseases often present therapeutic challenges. The term “microbiome” comprises the totality of microorganisms (microbiota), their genomes, and environmental factors in a particular environment. Changes in human skin microbiota composition and/or functionality are believed to trigger immune dysregulation, and consequently an inflammatory response, thereby playing a potentially significant role in the clinical manifestations and treatment of these diseases. Although cultivation methods have traditionally been used in studies of bacterial microbiome species, a large number of bacterial strains cannot be grown in the laboratory. Since standard culture-dependent methods detect fewer than 1% of all bacterial species, a metagenomic approach could be used to detect bacteria that cannot be cultivated. The skin microbiome exhibits spatial distribution associated with the microenvironment (sebaceous, moist, and dry areas). However, although disturbance of the skin microbiome can lead to a number of pathological conditions and diseases, it is still not clear whether skin diseases result from change in the microbiome or cause such a change. Thus far, the skin microbiome has been studied in atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, and rosacea. Studies on the possible association between changes in the microbiome and their association with skin diseases have improved the understanding of disease development, diagnostics, and therapeutics. The identification of the bacterial markers associated with particular inflammatory skin diseases would significantly accelerate the diagnostics and reduce treatment costs. Microbiota research and determination could facilitate the identification of potential causes of skin diseases that cannot be detected by simpler methods, thereby contributing to the design and development of more effective therapies.
This study was carried out with the aim of establishing how the outcomes of polyelectrolyte multilayer formation can be predicted on the basis of the results of complexation studies in solution and
. ...For this purpose, the correlation between the processes of complex and multilayer formation involving three pairs of vinylic polyions in solutions of binary 1 : 1 sodium salts (NaX; X = F, Cl, Br, I, NO
, ClO
) was explored by means of dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, potentiometry, microcalorimetry, spectrophotometry and quartz crystal microbalance. The gradual reactant mixing in solution at lower salt concentrations resulted in a Fuoss-Sadek sequence of events (primary complexes → secondary complexes → 1 : 1 flocculate), whereby the obtained nano-complexes could be successively overcharged. At high salt concentration and with excess polycation present, metastable nano-complexes and precipitates containing surplus of positively charged monomers were formed. The amount of extrinsically compensated charge was in accord with the polycation affinities toward counteranions, established by monitoring the electrolyte-induced aggregation of positively charged nano-complexes. Perfect analogy with respect to counteranion influence on the amount of adsorbed polycation was noticed for corresponding multilayers. Aside from providing a deeper understanding of interpolyelectrolyte neutralization, the gained insights can also be used to steer the polyelectrolyte multilayer composition and properties.
Sewage sludge (SS) is rich in plant nutrients, including P, N, and organic C, but often contains toxic metals (TMs), which hinders its potential use in agriculture. The efficiency of removal of TMs ...by washing with ethylenediamine tetraacetate (EDTA), in combination with hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) and the usability of washed sewage sludge as fertilizer were investigated. The environmental risk was assessed. During 8 wash batches an average 35, 68, 47 and 45 % of Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu, respectively, as well as 22 and 5 % Mn and Fe were removed from the SS. The process solutions and EDTA were recycled at a pH gradient of 12.5–2, which was achieved by adding quicklime (CaO) and then acidification by H2SO4, so that no wastewater was produced, only solid waste (ReSoil® method). The quality of the recycled process solutions (they remained unsaturated with salts) and the efficiency of the washing process were maintained across all batches. On average, 46 % of the EDTA was lost during the process and was replenished. The initial leachability of EDTA-mobilized Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr and Fe remaining in the washed SS increased 6-, 17-, 3-, 11- and 11-fold, respectively, but not to hazardous levels except for Zn. After washing, P and K remained in the SS, plant-available P increased 3.3-fold, while total N and C were reduced by 20.28 and 2.44 %, respectively. Washed SS was used as fertilizer in the pot experiment. The yield of Brassica juncea did not improve, the uptake of TMs by the plants and the leaching of TMs from the soil were minimal. Our study highlighted the drawbacks and potential feasibility of the new SS washing method.
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•EDTA washing & hydraulic cavitation removed toxic metals from sewage sludge.•EDTA and process water were recycled in a closed process loop.•The nutrient pool of P, N and K was preserved in the washed sewage sludge.•Washed sewage sludge was tested as soil fertilizer.•The application of washed sludge to the soil posed no risk to the environment.
Abstract Introduction Poor adoption of electronic health records among healthcare workers can diminish their impact. Healthcare informatics solutions development should diligently acknowledge ...end-user needs. This study compares a user experience and perceived quality of the nursing process integration in two different applications for electronic documentation of the nursing care plan. Both applications were designed and tested in Slovenia. Methods In the first phase, final year undergraduate nursing students were recruited (n=73) and randomly assigned into two groups. Each group used one of the applications for a duration of five hours. A survey among students was conducted. In the second phase, additional students were recruited (n=40) and invited to participate in qualitative analysis of the unfavourably rated application. Results The modern, visually improved application was favourably rated by students in terms of all aspects of application usability. However, students reported a significant number of inadequacies regarding the nursing process methodology integration. On the contrary, the students using the poorly rated and visually outdated application reported no such concerns. Qualitative analysis of student reflections identified additional positive features of software design that were not detected in survey results analysis. Conclusion This study showed that a user-centred approach can be used to compare diverse electronic solutions. Detected discrepancies in findings using qualitative and quantitative analysis show the importance of integrating diverse research approaches for adequate evaluation of software solutions. Furthermore, this study design promotes empowerment of healthcare workers to participate in the development and critical evaluations of software solutions.
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