Data from rating scale assessments have rank-invariant properties only, which means that the data represent an ordering, but lack of standardized magnitude, inter-categorical distances, and linearity. Even though the judgments often are coded by natural numbers they are not really metric. The aim of this thesis is to further develop the nonparametric rank-based Svensson methods for paired ordinal data that are based on the rank-invariant properties only. The thesis consists of five papers. In Paper I the asymptotic properties of the measure of systematic disagreement in paired ordinal data, the Relative Position (RP), and the difference in RP between groups were studied. Based on the findings of asymptotic normality, two tests for analyses of change within group and between groups were proposed. In Paper II the asymptotic properties of rank-based measures, e.g. the Svensson’s measures of systematic disagreement and of additional individual variability were discussed, and a numerical method for approximation was suggested. In Paper III the asymptotic properties of the measures for paired ordinal data, discussed in Paper II, were verified by simulations. Furthermore, the Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient (rs) and the Svensson’s augmented rank-order agreement coefficient (ra) were compared. By demonstrating how they differ and why they differ, it is emphasized that they measure different things. In Paper IV the proposed test in Paper I for comparing two groups of systematic changes in paired ordinal data was compared with other nonparametric tests for group changes, both regarding different approaches of categorising changes. The simulation reveals that the proposed test works better for small and unbalanced samples. Paper V demonstrates that rank invariant approaches can also be used in analysis of ordinal data from multi-item scales, which is an appealing and appropriate alternative to calculating sum scores.

The thesis focuses on inter-ethnic relations in Latvia and Estonia. The aim of this paper is to analyze the position of members of Russian speaking minorities in social and political landscapes of the two Baltic countries. First chapter is devoted to the settlement evolution of Russian speaking population in Latvia and Estonia. Second part of the thesis provides a comparison of current Latvian and Estonian legal regulations related to citizenship, state language and protection of the rights of members of ethnic minorities. Last chapter analyzes the conditions of origin and spread of nationalism in Latvia and Estonia and the activity of nationalist subjects in the Latvian and Estonian political systems.

The assignment is focused on financial analysis of the Opavia. It is divided into two parts - theoretical and practical. The theoretical part deals with characteristic and description of the purpose, methods and basic spheres of financial analysis. The second part consists of a particular financial analysis based on essential financial statements of the Opavia in time 2004 -- 2010 and the methods of financial analysis are applied to a selected group of competitors for the purpose of inter-company comparison. The conclusion summarizes the financial analysis and also suggests useful solution for successful improvement of the contemporary financial situation of the company.

This diploma thesis contains an economic analysis of the PIVOVAR SVIJANY, a.s. The aim is to perform a scoped analysis of its financial health. The diploma thesis is divided into two main parts. The first is the methodological part, where all of the applied models and processes are mentioned and explained. The second part contains applications of these models on the chosen company. The second part is mostly based on accounting statements. This part also contains an analysis of both absolute and relative indicators. Among the applied models belongs the Du Pont analysis, the cost and inventory analysis, the analysis of the Economic Value Added (EVA), creditworthy and bankruptcy models and an inter industry comparative analysis. The conclusion summarizes and evaluates all the results and presents appropriate recommendation.

Inter-ocular suppression occurs when very different images are presented to each eye. Diplopia ensues if different images are superimposed and perceived. The brain removes this unfavourable viewing experience by suppressing one eye’s input to enable clear single vision. Inter-ocular suppression during visual development occurs in response to sufficiently disparate images caused by strabismus (misalignment of the visual axis) or anisometropia (uncorrected difference in refractive error), and if persistent may result in amblyopia. This is reduced visual sensitivity, usually in one eye, to a range of visual functions that cannot be corrected by refraction. Furthermore, binocular vision is reduced or absent. Depth and extent of suppression is measured across the central visual field in healthy participants with monocularly blurred vision, healthy participants with monocularly reduced luminance using neutral density (ND) filters, and participants with naturally disrupted binocular vision and/or amblyopia. Suppression of spatial stimuli defined by luminance (L) and luminancemodulated noise (LM) was compared to that measured for stimuli defined by contrast-modulated noise (CM), for which there is no change in mean luminance. For all stimuli suppression depth increased with increased imbalance of binocular input. Suppression was of a similar depth across the visual field with imposed blur and localised central suppression was found with ND filters. Microstrabismics showed central suppression, while strabismic amblyopes showed central in addition to hemifield suppression. Suppression for all participants was measured to be deeper for CM spatial stimuli than for LM spatial stimuli. This is suggested to be a result of CM stimuli engaging more binocular mechanisms of processing, than LM stimuli, thereby becoming more sensitive to disruptions of binocularity such as those produced in the participants in the present study. CM stimuli are therefore more sensitive to detecting suppression, which is associated with amblyopia.

Esta tese tem como objetivo a análise de fontes escritas nos contextos das missões jesuítas estabelecidas na corte mogol e no Tibete. Abordamos também a presença da Ordem em Bengala, tecendo relações entre esse espaço e as missões supracitadas. Nosso recorte cronológico cobre o período de 1570 até 1721, isto é, iniciamos nossas investigações na década que antecede o estabelecimento dos religiosos na corte de Akbar, e encerramos nossas análises no ano em que Ippolito Desideri deixa Lhasa. Concentramo-nos principalmente na questão da necessária relação entre as estratégias de conversão adotadas nessas missões e a (re) elaboração de categorias que indicassem e respaldassem o diálogo, a persuasão e o convencimento como os mais prudentes métodos catequéticos / In this thesis, we aim to analyze written sources produced by jesuits stablished at the Mughal court and in Tibet. We shall also approach the presence of the Order in Bengal, weaving relations between this space and the aforementioned missions. Our chronological limits concerns the period from 1570 to 1721, i.e., we began our investigations in the decade preceding the establishment of the jesuits in Akbars court, and resume our survey in Ippolito Desideris last year in Lhasa. We focus mainly on the necessary relationship between the conversion strategies adopted in these missions and the (re) elaboration of categories that indicate dialogue and persuasion as the most prudent catechetical method

As discussões sobre a formação profissional em Educação Física foram assíduas em dois momentos, a saber: a década de 80 e após o ano 2000, com a consolidação do Conselho de Educação Física e ampliação de oferta de cursos de graduação e pós-graduação na área, além de significativo aumento na produção do conhecimento. Dentre os tópicos questionados, a atuação do docente universitário passou a ser questionada, especialmente no fato do ensino transmissivo pairar sobre o trabalho daquele no ensino superior. Neste cenário, críticas e apontamentos passaram a ser apresentados no intuito de melhor balizar a atuação do docente universitário em prol de uma formação mais abrangente e contextualizada às necessidades da sociedade. Apoiados na base epistemológica da Teoria da Complexidade, na inter e na transdisciplinaridade como fundamentais para balizar a operacionalização de modalidades didáticas (estratégias metodológicas, avaliação, processo ensino-aprendizagem, dentre outros) do docente do ensino superior, o presente estudo investigou no discurso de 14 docentes que ministram disciplinas de ginástica em cursos de licenciatura em Educação Física do estado de São Paulo, se aqueles princípios estavam presentes e, caso positivo, como se apresentavam na prática educativa. Os dados revelaram indícios da preocupação dos docentes com a formação de seus alunos, entretanto, a atuação ainda está enraizada em modelos tradicionalistas, com interesse na apresentação de dados e de conceitos e, não necessariamente, na reflexão e apreensão dos conhecimentos da área. A estratégia que melhor se enquadrou aos princípios educativos da base epistêmica por nós defendida referiu-se aos seminários (sem clara alusão à discussão durante o mesmo) e as apresentações, em formatos de festivais e de coreografias, pautadas nos preceitos da ginástica geral. Observamos também superficialidade nas discussões da atuação sobre a perspectiva da inter e da transdisciplinaridade, importantes para diminuir a verticalidade e fragmentação do conhecimento, que dificulta o entendimento do fenômeno que se estuda, no caso, da ginástica. Afinal, acreditamos que as aulas de ginástica nas Universidades devem permear a valorização da iniciativa e da autonomia, da imaginação e da invenção, a ação em relação ao discurso e a apropriação do saber em relação à sua transmissão / Discussions on training in physical education were assiduous in two stages, namely: the 80\'s and after 2000 with the consolidation of the Council of Physical Education and extension of offer undergraduate and postgraduate area as well as significant increase in knowledge production. Among the topics questioned the performance of the professor at the university had to be questioned, especially focusing in the transmissive teaching over that work in higher education. In this scenario, critical notes began to be presented in order to better delimit in favor of a more comprehensive training and contextualized to the needs of society. Backed by Complexity Theory, inter and transdisciplinarity as fundamental to mark the operationalization of teaching methods (methodological strategies, assessment, teaching-learning process, and others) in higher education, this study investigated the discourse of 14 professor who teach disciplines of gymnastics in undergraduate courses in Physical Education of São Paulo state, if those principles were present and, if so, how it presented in their practice. The results revealed evidence of concern of them with the education of students, however, the performance is still rooted in traditionalist models, with interest in the presentation of concepts and not necessarily reflect the knowledge and understanding of the area. The strategy that best fit the educational principles of epistemic ideas defended by us referred to the seminars (without clear reference to the discussion during the same) and the presentations in formats of festivals and performances, rooted in the precepts of general gymnastics. We also observed superficial discussions about the prospect of action of inter and transdisciplinarity, important to reduce the verticality and fragmentation of knowledge, which complicates the understanding of the phenomenon being studied, in the case of gymnastics. After all, we believe that gymnastics classes in universities should permeate the valuation of autonomy and initiative, imagination and invention, the action with discouse and the appropriation of knowledge in relation to its transmission

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The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of virtual peer-to-peer (P2P) workgroups as a platform for long-term collaboration in healthcare. Virtual peer-to-peer workgroups were developed and piloted by the Michigan Value Collaborative to increase knowledge and collaboration between providers across Michigan. The workgroups were designed to address barriers to change and long-term collaboration by allowing participants to share their improvement journey and provide feedback and ideas for improvement in a highly accessible platform. The pilot workgroups focused on heart failure readmission reduction initiatives as it is a much scrutinized metric and is penalized by public and private payers. Data on the workgroups were collected using pre and post-workgroup surveys filled out by participants. The results reveal that virtual peer-to- peer workgroups are effective in increasing knowledge and collaboration in the short term, but more study is required to judge their long term effectiveness in improving care at participating providers. Virtual peer-to-peer workgroups can serve as a foundation for increasing regional collaboration in healthcare as it is a very simple platform that does not require major financial or resource commitments.

Este trabalho avalia o estado e a contribuição das cooperações universidade-empresa e inter-empresas para a competitividade de empresas industriais do polo tecnológico de São Carlos, sob a ótica do empreendedor. A contextualização teórica é feita através da revisão bibliográfica dos temas referentes a pequenas empresas, pólos tecnológicos, tecnologia, inovação, competitividade e cooperação universidade-empresa e inter-empresas. Para a avaliação da contribuição das cooperações foram utilizadas as dimensões de competitividade da manufatura mais aceitas na literatura. Foi utilizado o método de estudo de caso, com uma amostra de onze empresas do Polo Tecnológico de São Carlos, composta de dez empresas de pequeno porte e uma de médio porte. Foi aplicado um questionário com o objetivo de obter a percepção dos empreendedores acerca da competitividade de suas empresas, a avaliação que fazem das cooperações universidade-empresa e inter-empresas e também a avaliação dos empreendedores sobre a importância do pólo tecnológico de São Carlos na sustentação e incremento da competitividade de suas empresas. O resultado da pesquisa mostrou que os empreendedores têm dificuldades de entendimento sobre o conceito de competitividade e das dimensões que sustentam a competitividade da manufatura. Mostrou também quais são as dimensões da competitividade mais impactadas pelas cooperações e, que na ótica dos empreendedores, existem diversas barreiras dificultando os processos de cooperações universidade-empresa e inter-empresas. Finaliza propondo algumas ações para minimizar essas barreiras e criar um ambiente mais propício para o incremento da competitividade das empresas. / This work makes an assesment of the contribuition of the university-enterprise cooperation to the competitiveness of industrial enterprises of the technopolis of São Carlos under the standpoint of the entrepreneurs. It was made a review of the concepts of small business, technopolis, technology, innovation, competitiveness and university-enterprise and interfirm cooperation. To estimate the contribuition of the cooperation, it were used the dimensions of the competitiveness of manufacture more accepted in the literature. Through an interview it was applied a questionnaire in order to obtain the assesment of the entrepreneurs make about the competitiveness of their enterprises. In addition it was obtaneid their estimation about the importance of the cooperation process and also their assesment about the importance of the Technopolis of São Carlos to sustain and/or increase the competitiveness of their enterprises. The results showed that the entrepreneurs have difficulties to undestand the concept of competitiveness and the dimensions that support the competitiveness of manufacture. In addition the results showed which are the competitiveness dimensions which receive more impact of the cooperation process and that, from the entrepreneurs'standpoint, there are many barriers to the cooperation process. Finaly it was proposed some actions to minimize these barriers and to create an environment more friendly to the promotion of the cooperation process.