The present study aims to address the question of how vowel quality varies between rural and town-dwelling male speakers of Irish-English in South Roscommon, Ireland. Previous studies have identified four distinct varieties of Irish-English in Ireland: the Eastern, South &Western, Midland, and Northern varieties, loosely based on the political provinces of Munster, Connaught, Leinster, and Ulster. County Roscommon straddles the provinces of Connaught and Leinster, complicating the presence of phonological features associated with one of two different ‘accent regions’. The last phonological study carried out in Roscommon was by Patrick Leo Henry in 1957. While this was a promising start in assessing regional distinctions, rural ones in particular, the lack of recent studies leaves a sizeable gap that does not address modern changes in the linguistic landscape of Ireland, nor the availability of modern methods of acoustic analysis. In particular, the present study investigates the pre-nasal merging of front unrounded vowels /ɛ/ and /ɪ/, vowel centralization, and a lower /æ/, associated with the Western variety of Irish English. Factors such as supraregionalization lead to my hypothesis that rural speakers will demonstrate higher frequency of the vowel features associated with the Western variety. To assess the frequency of certain vowel sounds, twenty participants were recorded and formant data was extracted for F1 and F2 values of the tokens. It was found that the rural speakers in Roscommon demonstrated a more prominent merger between /ɛ/ and /ɪ/, a lower [æ], and the rural speakers demonstrated an overall trend toward centralization.

This study investigates sociophonetic stress variation in the Onondaga County area of Upstate New York. I argue that five variations of stress correlate to factors of age, education level, place of residence, frequency, and analogical change. Dinkin and Evanini (2010) have examined and discovered similar outcomes of stress variation in his work with dialectal features across the state of New York. Rather than analyze the state and its borders in their entirety, I focus on morpheme-specific analogical change of stress in specific social categories within the Syracuse, New York region. In terms of lexical items, I analyze stress placement within four-, five-, and six-syllable words containing the -mentary affix and explore how stress shifts in these words depending on those social and linguistic factors. Data were collected through formal and informal sociolinguistic interviews in which each instance of the target words were analyzed as belonging to one of five types of stress. Results indicate that Syracuse is one of the locations in the state that see all five stress patterns. To further investigate, I take the provided evidence of stress variation and filter for sociological relevance for factors of age, gender, and residence.

Promoting knowledge sharing has long been regarded as a very important aspect of the management of knowledge. However, knowledge sharing has its challenges due to the special nature of knowledge. Based on this, the researcher argues that it is knowledge seeking rather than knowledge sharing that plays a crucial role in knowledge management. However, there is no clear definition for knowledge seeking in existing literature. In the few studies of knowledge seeking research, knowledge has been viewed as a noun and as such knowledge seeking has been seen as no different to information seeking. The aim of this research has been to explore the knowledge seeking process in the workplace in order to conceptualise knowledge seeking by developing a theoretical model. A review of the literature concerning knowledge seeking has been conducted in order to clarify the concept of knowledge seeking. From the interpretivist’s perspective, a qualitative research approach has been taken, in which sense-making theory is employed as a methodological guide. Time-line interviews were carried out with construction engineers in China to collect primary data, and Template analysis was utilized. Based on the literature, this thesis defined knowledge seeking as a learning process, which consists of three major themes: experiential learning, information seeking and problem solving, based on which a preliminary framework was developed. Twenty six engineers were successfully interviewed. The findings from the data confirmed the links between the themes. Further codes were also identified to develop a final template, which evolved to a theoretical model illustrating the knowledge seeking process in the workplace. By promoting knowledge seeking rather than knowledge sharing, this research contributed innovatory insight into existing KM research. The new concept of knowledge seeking and the theoretical model developed thereafter contribute to knowledge by providing a theoretical framework for further research in this area. The specific combination of time-line interviews and template analysis has demonstrated good results in this research. Collecting primary data from China, this research applied Western theories onto engineers within a Chinese context, which has contributed to KM research in China. These contributions will result in many practical implications for KM practices.

Det är trendigt just nu att utifrån olika aspekter se över vad offentliga upphandlingar bidrar till och vilken roll de ska ha i framtiden. Vissa av dessa aspekter som tas upp i debatten, exempelvis miljökrav och sociala krav, har traditionellt sett inte har hört hemma inom inköp och offentlig upphandling. Men den här typen av krav är sannolikt här för att stanna och det krävs därför effektiva processer som omhändertar den här typen av krav som ställs i allt större utsträckning. Men bortsett från lagstiftning, politiska krav, måluppfyllnad etc. finns det ett egenvärde i att ha effektiva processer. Processperspektivet har fallit lite mellan stolarna nu när det är så mycket annat som är aktuellt och relevant inom upphandlingsvärlden. Syftet med studien är att utveckla kunskap kring styrkor och förbättringsområden i processen ”att ta fram upphandlingsunderlag” för att se hur processen kan utvecklas vidare. Detta sker med utgångspunkt i medarbetarnas egna erfarenheter av att arbeta fram detta underlag. För att besvara syftet, har data har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer och granskning av en logg. Studien är en fallstudie och den genomfördes som en kvalitativ studie för att få en djupare förståelse för situationen. Resultatet visar att styrkorna bl.a. är att det finns erfarenhet av upphandlingsprocessen och kunskap om vilka krav lagstiftningen ställer. De förbättringsområden som identifierades är att det i viss utsträckning är oklara förväntningar på vem som ska göra vad. Det finns också bristande förståelse för vilken tid och resurser som krävs för att ta fram ett upphandlingsunderlag. / It's trendy right now to see various aspects of what the public procurement contributes to and what role they will have in the future. Some of these aspects addressed in the debate, such as environmental and social requirements, have not traditionally have belonged in purchasing and public procurement. But this type of requirement is likely here to stay and it therefore requires effective processes that take care of these types of requirements increasingly. But apart from law, political demands, achievement of goals, etc., there is an intrinsic value in having efficient processes. Process perspective has fallen between the cracks a bit now that there is so much else that is current and relevant in the procurement world. The purpose of the study is to develop knowledge about the strengths and areas for improvement in the process "to prepare procurement documentation" to see how the process can be further developed. This is done based on the employees' own experiences of working up this material. To answer the purpose, the data were collected through semi-structured interviews and the examination of a log. The study is a case study and it was conducted as a qualitative study to gain a deeper understanding of the situation. The result shows that the strengths including is that there is experience in the procurement process and knowledge of the legal standard. The improvement areas identified is that there is to some extent unclear expectations of who should do what. There is also a lack of understanding of the time and resources required to develop a procurement documentation.

This thesis focuses on audit documentation in practice. The main aim of thesis is give the comprehensive requirements list on audit documentation. This include international standard on auditig, the Law on auditors and the Law on accounting. These requirements are describe on praktice example. There is include historici development in the Czech Reublic and in the word.

The main topic of the thesis is "The creating of a quality manual at Represent Ltd. company". The theoretical part describes the quality management system and documentation structure, especially the requirements according to ISO 9001:2008. The second part focuses on a specific analysis of the documentation structure at the manufacturing and trading company Represent Ltd. Consequently, the quality manual is developed and designed the new documentation system according to ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems - Requirements.

À un moment de développement technologique rapide et de réforme fréquente des programmes, l'abondance de ressources pédagogiques offre aux enseignants de nouvelles opportunités mais occasionne aussi une nouvelle complexité. Cette étude a pour objectif d’explorer l’expertise des enseignants en mathématiques nécessaire pour développer et interagir de manière collective avec des ressources. L'expertise étant contextualisée, cette recherche est conçue comme une étude de cas dans deux contextes contrastés (la Chine et la France). Basée sur l’approche documentaire du didactique et la théorie de l’activité culturelle et historique, l’étude propose un modèle pour l’expertise des enseignants de mathématiques interagissant avec des ressources, nommée expertise documentaire (ED). La démarche propose deux modèles successifs: le premier modèle de l’ED est basé sur une revue de la littérature et une étude pilote, le deuxième modèle repose sur une analyse de deux cas contrastés.Trois questions sont explorées: Comment définir l’ED ? Comment se développe l’ED dans le travail collectif ? Que peut-on apprendre du développement de l’ED à travers les deux cas? L'étude est basée sur la méthodologie d'investigation réflexive et adapte des outils d'entretiens, d'observation et d'analyse vidéo.Quelques résultats majeurs: (1) L’ED est définie par (i) une dimension statique à partir de la structure du système de ressources : l’ED se développe en maintenant vivant ce système, en reliant la conception des ressources à des considérations sur la didactique, le curriculum et les étudiants; (ii) une dimension dynamique à partir des schèmes de maintenance des systèmes de ressources et du travail documentaire : l’ED se développe en intégrant les ressources avec une perspective large en matière de recherche, une attitude critique lors de la sélection, une manière flexible d'adapter et une habitude à accumuler automatiquement. (2) Le travail collectif profite au développement de l’ED, en particulier au cours des phases collectives de conception des leçons, où les ressources et les schèmes d'utilisation sont questionnés pour des situations spécifiques. (3) Des conséquences sont tirées concernant la construction institutionnelle du travail collectif des enseignants (cas chinois) et des ressources en ligne de qualité (cas français). / In a time of fast technology development and frequent curriculum reform, the abundance of instructional resources brings teachers both chances and new complexity. This study aims at exploring mathematics teachers’ expertise required for, and developed in, interacting collectively with resources. Since expertise is contextualized, this research is designed as case study in two contrasting contexts (China and France). Based on Documentational Approach to Didactics and Cultural-historical Activity Theory, the study proposes a framework of mathematics teachers’ expertise interacting with resources, which is named as Documentation Expertise (DE). Efforts are made in two steps: a first DE framework based on literature review and pilot study, a refined framework after two contrasting cases analysis. Three questions are explored: How to define DE? How is DE developed through collective work? What can be learnt for developing DE through the two cases? The study is based on a methodology of reflective investigation, and adapts tools of interviews, observation and video analysis.It proposes some main results: (1) DE is evidenced from (i) a static dimension on resource system’s structure and components, DE develops in deliberately keeping the resource system lived by bridging resource design with considerations on didactics, curriculum and students; (ii) a dynamic dimension on schemes in resource system maintenance and documentation work, DE develops in integrating the resources with a broad view in searching, critical attitude in selecting, flexible way in adapting, and automatically habit in accumulating. (2) Collective work benefits DE development, especially collective lesson design, where resources and the schemes of usage are discussed concerning specific situations. (3) Implications are drawn concerning institutional construction of teacher collective work (Chinese case), and high-quality online-resources (French case). / 在科技迅速发展，课程改革频仍的时代，教学资源的极大丰富为教师的课程设计同时带来机遇和挑战。本研究围绕数学教师在文献纪录工作中的专长，旨在探索此种专长的成分构成及其集体工作环境下的发展路径。鉴于教师专长的情境性，本研究选择案例研究的方式对中法两组案例进行探索。基于教学的文献纪录法和文化历史活动两个理论框架，本研究提出了数学教师文献纪录专长的概念，意为数学教师在调用资源时所需要和发展而来的专长。研究工作分两步进行：通过文献梳理和预研究提出初步的文献纪录专长框架，再通过中法案例对初步框架进行修正补充，最终提出改进版的文献纪录专长框架。研究问题有三：何为文献纪录专长？文献纪录专长怎样在集体工作中得到发展？通过中法案例研究，在该专长的获得与发展方面可以为我们带来哪些启发？本研究采用反思性调查法，具体研究工具包括访谈法，自然观察法和视频分析法。研究结果如下：（1） 文献纪录专长可从静态和动态两个维度进行调查和表征：静态维度指资源系统的结构和成分，该专长主要体现在教师在教学资源的有意设计、组织、整理和积累中综合考量数学学科、教学法、课程和学生等要素；动态维度包括资源系统的管理维护，资源工作过程中对资源的开放式搜索、批判性选择、灵活修改与应用，以及自动化的资源归纳与积累习惯。（2） 集体工作有助于文献纪录专长的发展，尤其在集体备课活动中，针对具体情境下所需资源和应用图式的头脑风暴式讨论对参与教师获益均甚。（3） 中法案例对照下，也有一些针对制度环境的启发，例如中国案例中的教师集体工作制度系统，以及法国案例中的高质量网络资源建设。

Fingerprint impressions are frequently encountered during the investigation of crime scenes, and may establish a crucial linkage between the suspect and the crime scene. Plastic fingerprint impressions found at crime scenes are often transient and delicate, leaving photography the sole means of documentation. A traditional photography approach can be inadequate in documenting impressions that contain three-dimensional (3D) details due to the limitations of camera and lighting conditions on scene. In this study, 3D scanning was proposed as a novel method for the documentation of plastic fingerprints. Structured-light 3D scanning (SLS) captures the distortion of projected light patterns on the subject to obtain its 3D profile, which allows fast acquisition of the complete 3D geometric information of the surface. The contactless operation of SLS also eliminates the risk of destroying fragile evidence, making it a sound choice for forensic applications. In this study, the feasibility of 3D scanning of plastic fingerprint impressions was evaluated and compared with traditional photography regarding the quantity and quality of perceptible friction ridge features. Attempts were made to develop a procedure to extract curvature features from 3D scanned fingerprints and flatten the friction ridge features into two-dimensional (2D) images to allow direct comparison with the traditional photography method in the CSIpix® Matcher and NFIQ 2.0 software. One of the developed methods (3DR) utilizing a discrete geometry operator and convexity features outperformed traditional photography, both in minutiae count and match quality, while traditional photography could not always capture enough high-quality minutiae for comparisons, even after digital enhancement. The reproducibility of the 3D scanning process was evaluated using 3D point cloud statistics. The pair-wise mean distance and standard deviation were calculated for four levels of comparisons with theoretically increasing disparity, including pairs of scans of the same impressions. The results showed minimal shape deviation from scan to scan for the same impression, but high variations for different impressions.

The importance of preschool quality in Sweden is a subject of concern for preschool workers, researchers, parents and other stakeholders internationally. After the revision of the national preschool curriculum in 2010, the examination of the role of heads in outlining and maintaining quality has become a topic of concern, in particular regarding systematic quality work and the responsibilities of the heads in relation to this work. The purpose of this literature review is therefore to examine the extant research on how preschool heads in Sweden understand and work with the issue of quality in Early Childhood Education and Care. The research questions are: What is preschool quality, and how can it be assessed in the eyes of the head preschool teachers in Sweden? And, how do the heads fulfil their responsibilities inrelation to quality work in preschool? Four studies were reviewed and analyzed based on three criteria of measuring quality: structural,result,and processual. The results showed that the preschool heads had broad areas of measuring quality work, covering all three areas of quality. However, their practical quality work only covered some of these areas. Collaboration with staff, parents and other preschools wasmost commonly mentioned by the heads, as they are also problematised on their daily tasks in practice. Generally, there was an emphasis on structural quality more than processual and result quality matters. The findings and implications are discussed also in terms of the three areas of measuring quality: structural,result,and processual. Overall, heads might need more support and guidance from experts in order to achieve quality work in relation to processual areas of quality matters in preschool. Future research ought to examine quality of care in preschool (rather than quality of education) from the perspective of preschool heads.

The name of this essay is “’Just’ go play – A scientific essay of children’s free play in nature”. Its purpose is to investigate what happens to us educators, and what we can see in children’s free play in nature, when we adopt a more observing and inquiring attitude and when the children steer their own play. The background to my interest in this is that I have been reflecting over the fact that my team organizes many activities, organized by us educators, and that I have a feeling that I am missing something in the children’s play and learning. My starting point consists of three essays, where I first depict two activities, organized by educators, and after that a situation where I follow and participate in the children’s play on their terms. Based on this I ask the following questions: Which learning and what experiences can we observe in the children’s free play in nature, by interpreting their actions, when us educators take a more flexible approach? What practical knowledge does an educator, who encourages free play, need? What abilities need to be strengthened, unlike an educator who is focused on the measurable, or what can be shown outwardly to others? Except reflecting over my experiences I have used participant observation of the child group. I was was filming the child group while playing, and taking notes on conversations between us educators. During the process, I decided to also let my colleagues film. My theoretical approaches are the theory of practical knowledge and theory of play, and my study has the form of an essay. I reached the conclusion, that we discovered new things in the children’s play; that the play went more harmonically, when we didn’t take the lead, and that us educators got calmer and more concentrated. The practical knowledge which us educators need is a responsive attitude towards children’s play, and a gaze which not only sees what’s apparent, but also perceives that which is not immediately obvious. / Denna uppsats heter ”Att ’bara’ få leka – En vetenskaplig essä om barns fria lek i naturen”. Syftet med den är att undersöka vad som händer med oss pedagoger, och vad vi får syn på i barnens fria lek i naturen, när vi intar ett mer observerande och medforskande förhållningssätt och då barnen styr leken. Intresset har väckts i och med att jag reflekterat över att mitt arbetslag har många pedagoginitierade lekar i naturen och i känslan av att jag missar något i barnens lek och lärande. Min utgångspunkt är tre gestaltningar, där jag först skildrar två pedagoginitierade aktiviteter i naturen, och därefter en situation då jag följer med i barnens lek på deras villkor. Med utgångspunkt i detta har jag följande frågeställningar: Vilket lärande och vilka upplevelser kan jag och vi se hos barnen i deras fria lek i naturen genom att tolka deras handlande, då vi pedagoger intar ett följsammare förhållningssätt? Vad är det för praktisk kunskap som en pedagog, som ska uppmuntra den fria leken, behöver? Vad är det för förmågor som behöver stärkas, till skillnad från en pedagog som är fokuserad på det, mätbara eller det som går att visa upp utåt mot andra? Förutom att reflektera över mina erfarenheter har jag använt mig av deltagande observation av barngruppen; jag har filmat barnen i deras lek, och dessutom gjort anteckningar av samtal oss pedagoger emellan. Under processen bestämde jag mig för att även mina kollegor skulle få filma. Mina teoretiska ansatser är den praktiska kunskapens teori samt lekteori, och uppsatsen är skriven i essäform. Vad jag kom fram till var att vi upptäckte nya saker i barnens lek, att leken blev mer harmonisk då vi inte styrde den, samt att vi som pedagoger blev lugnare och mer koncentrerade. Den praktiska kunskap som vi pedagoger behöver är en mer lyhörd hållning gentemot barnens lek och en blick som uppfattar det diffusa och inte endast det uppenbara.