Learning maps have been used to represent student knowledge for many years. These maps are usually hand made by experts in a given domain. However, these hand-made maps have not been found to be predictive of student performance. Several methods have been proposed to find bet-ter fitting learning maps. These methods include the Learning Factors Analysis (LFA) model and the Rule-space method. In this thesis we report on the application of one of the proposed operations in the LFA method to a small section of a skill graph and develop a greedy search algorithm for finding better fitting models for this graph. Additionally an investigation of the factors that influence the search for better data fitting models using the proposed algorithm is reported. We also present an empirical study in which PLACEments, an adaptive testing system that employs a skill graph, is modified to test the strength of prerequisite skill links in a given learning map and propose a method for refining learning maps based on those findings. It was found that the proposed greedy search algorithm performs as well as an original skill graph but with a smaller set of skills in the graph. Additionally it was found that, among other factors, the number of unnecessary skills, the number of items in the graph, and the guess and slip rates of the items tagged with skills in the graph have an impact on the search. Further, the size of the evaluation data set impacts the search. The more data there is for the search, the more predictive the learned skill graph. Additionally, PLACEments, an adaptive testing feature of ASSISTments, has been found to be useful for refining skill graphs by detecting the strengths of prerequisite links between skills in a graph.

This thesis deals with the meaning of agriculture in the country area and its effect on the development of the rural areas. My goal is to evaluate the actual realization of resources, which are spent on the support of farmers, who practice in areas with less favourable conditions. This is performed on a regional analysis of the number of handed and accepted requests and on the amount of the land usage in disadvantaged areas with the result that my thesis will concentrate on the evaluation of a regional differentiation. This diploma work will deal with the issue of what kind of the Czech agricultural disadvantaged areas happen to use the financial resources in terms of LFA, and what are the main factors of such differentiation in the relation with the aims of this support. The theoretical part of this thesis targets on the country development and the meaning of agriculture in the country area. It describes methods and approaches of determination of the rural area and less-favoured areas. It also characterizes the Rural Development policy in Czech Republic. The analytical part of this work contains a regional payment analysis (in the concept of the rural area) for a natural disadvantage provided in the mountain areas, and payments provided in other less-favoured areas (LFA) in the programming period 2007-2013 in the Czech Republic. For this regional analysis there are used data especially from the implementation organ SZIF, data from the Agricultural Accounting Data Network FADN, and finally data from the Annual Report of the Rural Development Program. Such data are interpreted on the basis of the method of cartographical projection. Farther, this thesis tries to find out if the aim of such action is realized. On account of the performed analysis, my thesis summarizes acquired findings and draws consecutive conclusions from the realization of support.

<p>The topic of this thesis is performance measurement in nonprofit organizations. The reason for choosing this topic is a common interest for the nonprofit sector as well as the increased attention in the media on nonprofits and what they accomplish. Scientifically our study is justified by the fact that there are very few studies made on performance measurement in Swedish nonprofits.</p><p>The problem definition was formulated as How, why and with what experiences do Swedish Civil Society Organizations measure performance? And the purpose with our study is to convey to an understanding of Swedish civil society organizations’experiences of performance measurement from the perspective of the management.</p><p>Considering the type of problem definition and purpose a qualitative research approach were chosen. Another reason for choosing a gualitative approach was the fact that we intended to find new information rather than to test existing theories. Semi-structured</p><p>telephone interviews were conducted with respondents from five framework organizations to Sida. The choice to only include framework organizations means that our results are limited in its application to other civil society organizations. Sida has a strong power to influence the evaluation and reporting in these organizations through the framework agreements.</p><p>In the theoretical background theories and earlier research in the area of performance measurement and nonprofits are included, for example research done on reasons for measuring performance both in for-profits and in nonprofits. A couple of performance measurement frameworks designed for nonprofits are presented.</p><p>Performance measurement is much discussed and under development among the studied organizations. However, the concept as such has not gained ground yet since it is quite a new phenomenon in the nonprofit sector in Sweden. The main reason for measuring performance is the pressure from stakeholders, foremost from Sida. The close relationship to Sida highly affects how performance is measured and the Logical Framework Approach is the foundation for their performance measurement. How widely it is used differ however and it is mainly used for reporting and evaluation purposes. Allrespondents have experienced difficulties when measuring performance and during the interviews we have identified a number of factors that complicate measurement; the results of a project are often shown much later from when the activities took place and the many stakeholders involved. Moreover the respondents express that there has to be a balance between how much time and resources that should be put on measuring activities and how much of their efforts that should be put directly into their projects, a balance that is experienced as difficult to achieve. All respondents believe that there are things to be gained from measuring performance and many of the organizations have started to cooperate with other organization in order to develop their performance measurement.</p>

The topic of this thesis is performance measurement in nonprofit organizations. The reason for choosing this topic is a common interest for the nonprofit sector as well as the increased attention in the media on nonprofits and what they accomplish. Scientifically our study is justified by the fact that there are very few studies made on performance measurement in Swedish nonprofits. The problem definition was formulated as How, why and with what experiences do Swedish Civil Society Organizations measure performance? And the purpose with our study is to convey to an understanding of Swedish civil society organizations’experiences of performance measurement from the perspective of the management. Considering the type of problem definition and purpose a qualitative research approach were chosen. Another reason for choosing a gualitative approach was the fact that we intended to find new information rather than to test existing theories. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with respondents from five framework organizations to Sida. The choice to only include framework organizations means that our results are limited in its application to other civil society organizations. Sida has a strong power to influence the evaluation and reporting in these organizations through the framework agreements. In the theoretical background theories and earlier research in the area of performance measurement and nonprofits are included, for example research done on reasons for measuring performance both in for-profits and in nonprofits. A couple of performance measurement frameworks designed for nonprofits are presented. Performance measurement is much discussed and under development among the studied organizations. However, the concept as such has not gained ground yet since it is quite a new phenomenon in the nonprofit sector in Sweden. The main reason for measuring performance is the pressure from stakeholders, foremost from Sida. The close relationship to Sida highly affects how performance is measured and the Logical Framework Approach is the foundation for their performance measurement. How widely it is used differ however and it is mainly used for reporting and evaluation purposes. Allrespondents have experienced difficulties when measuring performance and during the interviews we have identified a number of factors that complicate measurement; the results of a project are often shown much later from when the activities took place and the many stakeholders involved. Moreover the respondents express that there has to be a balance between how much time and resources that should be put on measuring activities and how much of their efforts that should be put directly into their projects, a balance that is experienced as difficult to achieve. All respondents believe that there are things to be gained from measuring performance and many of the organizations have started to cooperate with other organization in order to develop their performance measurement.

No description available.

No description available.

Uppsatsen undersöker om antropologiskt kunskap kan implementeras i Logical Framework Approach (LFA) –metoden för att förbättra den. LFA är en projektplaneringsmetod som bland annat används inom utvecklingsprojekt. Olika publiceringar om LFA har studerats för att få fram för- och motargument. Vidare har antropologiska publiceringar om hur antropologi kan användas inom utveckling- och biståndsprojekt legat till grund för att analysera LFA, och se om och isåfall var antropologisk kunskap kan användas för att förbättra den. Resultatet presenteras i form redovisning på var metoden får kritik samt hur antropologisk kunskap kan bidra till förbättring i det specifika området. / The thesis seeks to examine whether anthropological knowledge can improve the Logical Framework Approach (LFA). LFA is a widespread project planning method that is used in development projects. Various publications about LFA have been studied to identify arguments in favor of, and against the method. Furthermore, anthropological publications on how anthropology can be used in development and aid projects forms the foundations for analyzing the LFA. This is performed to see where anthropological knowledge can be applied to improve it. The result is presented by focusing on the criticism to discover how anthropology can contribute to improving the methods in the areas of concern.

The graduation thesis is described economical valuation of production hey. There is described methods and condition of measure consumption a fuel of energetic vehicle and working set and demand of time for provide sinlge technologic operation of harvest. The measure value was used for assesment a general straight cost on the produciton of hey. In the next point is described technologic procedure of pruduction hey and structure technologic line. The one part of graueted thesis is analysis of using areas of perennial grass stands and their characteristic.

LFA-1 (Lymphocyte Function Associated antigen-1) est une intégrine centrale dans la fonction cytotoxique des lymphocytes T CD8+ car elle permet la formation de la synapse immunologique avec les cellules cibles. La régulation de cette interaction cellulaire est contrôlée par la qualité de l'engagement de LFA-1 avec son ligand ICAM-1 (Intracellular Adhesion Molecule-1). Un support clef au contrôle spatio-temporel de l'activation de LFA-1 est le cytosquelette d'actine corticale dans lequel est ancré LFA-1 par son domaine intracellulaire. Comment LFA-1 est organisée à la synapse immunologique et comment la coordination entre LFA-1 et cytosquelette d'actine s'opère de manière précise au sein des lymphocytes T CD8+ cytotoxiques sont des questions non résolues. Le but de ce projet de thèse a été d'étudier l'organisation précise de la distribution de LFA-1 à la synapse immunologique en relation avec l'actine corticale sous-jacente au contact entre lymphocytes T cytotoxiques et les cellules présentatrices d'antigènes. Pour ce faire, des approches de microscopies de super-résolution SIM (Structured Illumination Microscopy), dSTORM (direct STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy) et TIRF (Total Internal Reflexion Fluorescence microscopy) ont été développées. Elles ont été appliquées à des lymphocytes T humains non transformés dérivés de contrôles sains et de patients atteints d'une immunodéficience congénitale, le Syndrome de Wiskott-Aldrich (WAS), caractérisé par un défaut de remodelage du cytosquelette d'actine à la synapse immunologique. L'emploi de l'approche de dSTORM en mode TIRF nous a permis de révéler que dans sa conformation activée, LFA-1 forme à la synapse une ceinture radiale composée de centaines de nano-clusters. L'intégrité du cytosquelette d'actine et notamment la protéine WASP s'avèrent importantes pour la formation de la ceinture de nano-clusters de LFA-1, comme le montre le défaut de formation de cette ceinture dans les lymphocytes de patients WAS. L'approche de SIM multi-couleur nous a permis de révéler le rôle de la ceinture de LFA-1 dans le confinement des granules lytiques. Par comparaison de marquages avec des anticorps spécifiques de différentes conformations de LFA-1, notre travail montre également que l'activation de LFA-1 s'opère de manière digitale, dans le sens où les nano-clusters fonctionnent comme des unités au sein desquelles l'activation de LFA-1 suit une loi du tout ou rien. En conclusion, ce travail de thèse démontre l'intérêt des approches de microscopie de super-résolution pour révéler des mécanismes clefs de l'activation des lymphocytes T et pour appréhender la nature des défauts à l'origine de dérèglements pathologiques de la fonction de ces cellules. / LFA-1 (Lymphocyte Function Associated antigen-1) is a central integrin in the function of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes since it allows the formation of the immunological synapse with target cells. The regulation of this cellular interaction is controlled by the quality of the engagement of LFA-1 with its ligand, ICAM-1 (Intracellular Adhesion Molecule- 1). A key support for the spatio-temporal control of LFA-1 activation is the cortical actin cytoskeleton in which LFA-1 is anchored by its intracellular domain. How LFA-1 is organized at the immunological synapse and how the coordination between LFA-1 and actin cytoskeleton operates accurately within cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes are unresolved issues. The aim of this thesis project was to study the precise organization of the LFA-1 distribution at the immunological synapse in relation to the cortical actin underlying the contact between cytotoxic T lymphocytes and target cells. For this purpose, super-resolution microscopy approaches, including SIM (Structured Illumination Microscopy), dSTORM (direct STochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy) and TIRF (Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence microscopy) were developed. They were applied to untransformed human T lymphocytes derived from healthy donors and patients with a congenital immunodeficiency, the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS), characterized by actin cytoskeleton remodeling defects at the synapse. The use of the dSTORM approach revealed that activated LFA-1 forms a radial belt composed of hundreds of nanoclusters. The assembly of this belt depends on the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton, as shown by the impairment of this structure in the T lymphocytes derived from the WAS patients. The multi-color SIM approach allowed us to investigate the role of the LFA-1 belt in the confinement of lytic granules. Furthermore, the combination of staining with antibodies specific of LFA-1 conformation states shows that LFA-1 activation is a digital process, whereby nanoclusters operate as units in which LFA-1 activation follows an on / off rule. In conclusion, this PhD work exemplifies the great asset of super-resolution microscopy approaches to reveal key activation mechanisms in T lymphocytes and explore the nature of the defects causing pathological dysregulation of the function of these cells.

Thèse (Ph. D.)--Université Laval, 2005. / Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 23 février 2006). Dans le titre et le dépouillement, le symbole + est suscrit. Bibliogr.