High quality nanophotonic structures fabricated on silicon nitride substrates and operating in the visible range of the spectrum are investigated. As most biological sensing applications, such as Raman and fluorescence sensing, require visible light pumping and analysis, extending the nanophotonics concepts to the visible range is essential. Traditionally, CMOS compatible processes are used to make compact silicon nanophotonics structures. While the high index contrast of silicon on insulator (SOI) wafers offer a high integration capability, the high absorption loss of silicon renders it unusable in the visible range. In this research high quality factor microdisk and photonic crystal resonators and high resolution arrayed waveguide grating and superprism spectrometers are fabricated and characterized in the visible range and integrated with fluidic structures and their application in biosensing and athermal operations is investigated.

Magistro darbe nagrinėjamos aukštos kvalifikacijos gyvulininkystės specialistų rengimo dinamika ir problemos. Gyvulininkystės specialistų poreikį lemia didėjantys kokybės reikalavimai gyvulininkystės produkcijai, būtinumas diegti naujas pažangias technologijas bei investicijų į gyvulininkystės plėtrą augimas. Lietuvos veterinarijos akademija, rengianti aukštos kvalifikacijos gyvulininkystės specialistus, sėkmingai komplektuoja studentų kontingentą. Mūsų atlikta LVA studentų statistinė analizė parodė, kad 2003-2007 metais priėmimas į Akademiją padidėjo 20,6%. Tačiau tyrimas atskleidė ir gyvulininkystės specialistų rengimo neigiamas tendencijas: santykinai didelis procentas studentų nutraukia studijas, pastaruoju metu sumažėjo skaičius jaunuolių norinčių studijuoti gyvulininkystės technologijos studijų programą. Studentų, nutraukusių studijas, apklausos rezultatai leidžia teigti, kad pagrindinėmis studijų nutraukimo priežastimis yra per menkos studentų asmeninės pastangos, sunki materialinė padėtis, sveikatos ir šeimyninės problemos. Studijų nutraukimą iš dalies sąlygoja nepakankama specialybės pasirinkimo motyvacija. / This study was conducted to analyze dynamics and problems of training high-qualified animal husbandry specialists. The demand of animal husbandry specialists determines increasing quality requirements of animal production, necessity to inculcate the new innovative technologies and growing investments in stock-breeding development as well. Lithuanian Veterinary Academy training the high-qualified animal husbandry specialists successfully complements contingent of the students. This study of statistical analysis of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy students showed that during the year started at 2003 until 2007 admission into Academy increased 20.6 %. Nevertheless, our investigation inducted the negative tendencies of training animal husbandry specialists as well: comparative high percent of the students discontinue the studies, recently the number of young people who choose Animal Husbandry Technology study programme decreased. Examination results of students who discontinued their studies allow maintaining, that the main reason of discontinuing the studies are insignificant personal endeavour, difficult circumstances, problems in family or personal health. Discontinuing of the studies partially determine insufficient motivation of specialty choice.

The central concern of the thesis is to problematise the complexity of the relationship between student learning and the teaching-learning environment in medicine as experienced by students. The thesis argues that learning material presented to students offers only potential for learning. What students make of that potential is influenced by a number of different variables and as such this needs to be investigated empirically. High-quality learning is an important goal for all higher education and previous research together with the empirical findings presented in this thesis convey the importance for students to seek a holistic approach to learning. Such a learning approach encompasses not only learning of facts and theories but also includes exercising an ability to reflect and reason, to organise facts and theories into wholes, and to explore how they relate to each other. Most importantly, it involves the ability to understand the grounds on which facts and theories are chosen for specific purposes depending on context. The thesis explores these issues by drawing on findings from three studies of medical students’ experiences of learning and understanding and how students’ personal understandings of subject content in medicine come to the fore in their work on learning tasks. By applying a context-oriented methodological perspective on learning, focusing on what students actually do in a learning situation, the thesis enables an in-depth investigation of relationships between aspects of content, context and the individual. The results show that the learning environment in the medical programme to a large extent does not make sufficient room for students to express understanding of this dynamic character. In the thesis it is argued that to facilitate such an understanding it is necessary for both students and teachers to increase awareness of the context-dependency of subject content, facts and theories, and the different meanings content takes depending on context of use.

I detta arbete används begreppet ”kvalitativt god matematikundervisning” i syfte att ringa in matematikundervisning som är framgångsrik och leder till meningsfullt lärande i matematik. Mot bakgrund av att svenska skolelevers resultatnedgång i matematik väcker frågor kring vad kvalitativt god matematikundervisning är, syftar denna studie till att: beskriva vad som kan anses utgöra kvalitativt god undervisning i matematik och försöka överföra beskrivningen till en för lärare användbar undervisningsmodell. För studiens genomförande har forskningsfrågorna varit: Vad kännetecknar kvalitativt god matematikundervisning? och vilka roller och ansvar innebär kvalitativt god matematikundervisning för läraren och eleverna? En metaanalytisk inspiration ligger till grund för en metodologi baserad på systematisk översyn av aktuell svensk matematikdidaktisk forskning. I urvalet ingår sju doktorsavhandlingar och en vetenskaplig rapport publicerade mellan åren 2006 och 2013. Granskningen utav de åtta forskningspublikationerna visar att kvalitativt god matematikundervisning kännetecknas utav en kommunikativt vital undervisningsmiljö där gemensamma och utforskande aktiviteter används för att etablera en konceptuell förståelse i matematik. I kvalitativt god matematikundervisning behandlas öppna och matematiskt rika problem som kräver tolkningsförmåga och tränar elever i att matematisera sitt språk och sitt tänkande. Läraren bör eftersträva insyn i hur elevernas uppfattningar och matematiska förståelser är beskaffade genom hela undervisningsförloppet för att bemöta dem med relevant återkoppling. Läraren arbetar som en ciceron och erbjuder elever möjligheter till lärande genom att bjuda in till möten med matematiska lärandeobjekt. Eleverna är aktiva och delaktiga i diskussioner och återkopplingar genom undervisningen och fungerar därmed både som sina egna, varandras och lärarens resurser. Matematikundervisningens olika kvalitetsaspekter sammanfattas i en modell med viss potential att fungera även som lektionsmall. Modellens och resultatens giltighet diskuteras mot tidigare forskning vilket åskådliggör likheter med faktorer för framgångsrik undervisning överlag, ej enbart i matematik.

South Africa is considered the primary producer and most reliable source of high quality clip mohair in the world. The application of molecular technologies to improve mohair quality is relatively new to this industry. The aim of the study was to use a molecular approach to genetically improve South African Angora goats, with emphasis on mohair production. A reference population of Angora goats was firstly established consisting of twelve sire families with half-sib offspring (1067 individuals in total). The genetic variation of this population was evaluated using microsatellite markers and the average gene diversity was found to be above 60%. Ninety four microsatellite markers were then genotyped on the reference population, spanning 23 chromosomes (total length 1352cM) with an average marker interval of 23.0cM. This information was used to improve previously published goat linkage maps. Unmapped microsatellite markers were incorporated and previously published inter-chromosomal rearrangements between the goat and sheep genetic maps were confirmed or rejected. Nine new markers were mapped to the goat genome, and six chromosomes showed rearrangement when compared to the previous goat map. Four previously reported intra-chromosomal rearrangements were shown to be either population specific or mapping errors. Variance components and genetic parameters of mohair traits (FW, FD, CVFD, SDFD, CF, SF and SDA) were estimated; including the fibre diameter profile measured using OFDA technology that has not yet been included in genetic evaluations. Heritability estimates ranged between 0.14 (SDA) and 0.63 (CF). OFDA-measured traits should be considered for inclusion into the national breeding strategy. The reference population was lastly analysed to identify QTL associated with fleece traits. Eighteen putative QTL were identified for seven mohair traits on 13 chromosomes. Three putative QTL were detected for FW on CHI 2, 5 and 24 corresponding with KRT and KAP gene locations. Two QTL associated with mohair FD (on CHI 4 and 24) were detected. QTL contributions to variance ranged between 7.44% (CF) and 19.69% (SDA). The results of this study should form part of an integrated approach where both quantitative and molecular tools are applied for genetic improvement of South African Angora goats. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / PhD / Unrestricted

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) manikins are an educational technology tool employed to train nurses to perform high-quality CPR during real-life cardiac arrest events. However, a gap exists between CPR skills learned in training and those used in real life. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how CPR feedback and anxiety in registered nurses affect CPR performance on a manikin. Distributed practice and attentional control theory served as the foundations for this study. The research questions addressed the influence of demographic factors, real-time CPR feedback, and simulated hospital noises on CPR performance using CPR manikins. The study included a randomized longitudinal experimental design. Data were collected from 120 nurses via a demographic questionnaire, the Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety Questionnaire, and CPR compression performance feedback via a Zoll R Series defibrillator. Data analysis involved a repeated measures ANOVA or a regression analysis. Findings indicated that participants’ age predicted CPR performance. Receiving real-time CPR feedback led to a statistically significant improvement in performance, and the introduction of hospital noises did not predict CPR performance. Findings may be used to enhance individual performance of CPR, which may benefit society through improved patient care during cardiac arrest.

Magister Commercii (Industrial Psychology) - MCom(IPS) / Organisations spend copious time and resources recruiting and selecting the best candidates to fill a vacancy. In the modern-day work environment, high-performing and engaged employees are the key drivers of organisational success. Organisations spend considerable time and resources to ensure that employees with the proper skills are selected into the organisation. More recently, companies shifted their focus from technical skills to competencies that advance teamwork and collaboration. Agile organisational structures dependent on a flexible and collaborative workforce to adapt to changing market conditions. This study focused on the role of emotional intelligence, mediated through emotional regulation on leader-member exchange (LMX).

No description available.

Införandet av New Public Management i den offentliga sektorn har för första linjens chefer,benämnda som enhetschefer i denna studie, inneburit en ökad byråkrati och minskad kunskap inom hantering av olika arbetsuppgifter. Detta bland annat inom arbetet kopplat till personalärenden. På så sätt ökar värdet av ett gott samarbete och en god relation med HR-avdelningen och dess HR-partners. Studiens syfte avser att skapa förståelse kring enhetschefers upplevelse av relationen till sin HR-partner och vilka faktorer som ligger till grund för en högkvalitativ arbetsrelation. Studien ämnar att ta reda på vilka kriterier enhetschefer anser bör finnas i en högkvalitativ arbetsrelation samt på vilket sätt relationen mellan enhetschefer och deras HR-partners kan definieras som en högkvalitativ arbetsrelation. Alternativt vad som behöver utvecklas för att relationen skall definieras som en högkvalitativ relation. Genom en kvalitativ metod intervjuades enhetschefer inom en offentlig verksamhet. Semi-struktureradeintervjuer användes för att undersöka deras upplevelser av relationen till deras HR-partners. Genom en tematisk analys kunde ett resultat presenteras. Resultat visade att relationen idag ärgod, men är inte av en högkvalitativ karaktär. Relationen innehåller ömsesidig respekt ochempati som ger psykologisk trygghet till medlemmarna i den men det finns hinder för utvecklingen av relationen. Det handlar om att fylla ett behov för ett individ- och verksamhetsanpassat arbete som i dag saknas i relationen. Då relationer är dynamiska och en uppfattning om vad god kvalité innebär är individuellt kan relationer lätt få fel förutsättningar för att fungera. Genom att arbeta mot en tydligare målbild för vad arbetet skall bidra till samt vad relationen betyder för de olika parterna kan en högkvalitativ relation lättare uppnås. / The introduction of New Public Management in the public sector has meant increased bureaucracy and reduced knowledge in handling various tasks for first-line managers referred to as unit managers in this study. This, among other things, in work linked to personnel matters. In this way, the value of good collaboration and a good relationship with the HR department and its HR partners increases. The purpose of the study is to create an understanding of unit managers' experience of the relationship with their HR partner and the factors that form the basis for a high-quality working relationship. The study aims to find out what criteria unit managers believe should exist in a high-quality working relationship and in what way the relationship between unit managers and their HR partners can be defined as a high-quality working relationship. Alternatively, what needs to be developed for the relationship to be defined as a high-quality relationship. Through a qualitative method, unit managers in thepublic sector were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were used to examine their experiences of the relationship with their HR partners. Through a thematic analysis, a result could be presented. Results showed that the relationship today is good, but is not of high-quality nature. The relationship contains mutual respect and empathy that gives psychological security to its member. There are obstacles to the development of the relationship that is about filling a need for individual and business-adapted work that is currently lacking in the relationship. As relationships are dynamic and perception of what good quality means is individual, relationships can easily have the wrong conditions to function. By working towards a clearer goal picture for what the work is to contribute to and what the relationship means for the various parties, a high-quality relationship can be more easily achieved.

The significance of professional development (PD) is acknowledged in research studies as essential to implementing rigorous state standards. Although the literature recognizes that PD is a crucial component in improving teachers' knowledge and skills, some teachers at a midsized urban public elementary school in the southern United States did not see the benefit of attending PD. The purpose of this study was to explore elementary special education teachers' perceptions of PD around assessment. Guided by a framework based on Chen and McCray's whole teacher approach to teacher PD, this basic qualitative study was designed to understand how these elementary special education teachers viewed the PD activities related to assessment at the local site. In-depth interviews were conducted with elementary special education teachers at LMP Elementary School who had attended PD about assessment. Interview data were analyzed using the content analysis method. Overall, findings revealed concerns regarding the quality of PD, lack of training, lack of evidence-based practice, teachers' intrinsic motivation and commitment, and teachers' autonomy. Findings were used to design a 3-day PD workshop that engaged learning techniques for special education teachers to assess and implement instructional methods to augment students with disabilities' academic achievement. Ultimately, this study has implications for creating positive social change by advocating and providing for special education teachers to be maximally engaged in PD aimed at enhancing outcomes for the students with disabilities they serve.