This thesis investigated professional agency for student teachers in their final practicum of the Auckland College of Education Bachelor of Education (Teaching) early childhood pathway. Professional agency is an element in the matrix representation of the philosophy of the degree programme. Relevant to this study a working definition of professional agency with regard to the practicum was articulated through a consultative process with early childhood colleagues and final year student teachers who were not involved in this investigation. Six student teachers volunteered to engage in this research. Their respective associate teachers and visiting lecturers also agreed to contribute to the investigation. All participants were interviewed by means of semistructured interviews before and after the final practicum. This process provided a total of thirty- six interviews, which were transcribed and analysed. The research was based in a constructivist-interpretive research paradigm with a view to understanding social reality as perceived by the research participants. The methodology encompassed a qualitative case study approach framed within Giddens' (1984) theory of structuration. Congruent with Giddens' theory the practicum was constructed as a social system and the relevant actors were identified. Subsequently, data analysis revealed the student teachers as actors who operated with agency. However, when the concept of professional agency was investigated only three of the six student teachers were deemed to have achieved all of the elements of the working definition. Pertinent to Giddens' theory the intersections of practice between the student teachers and their associate teachers and visiting lecturers were examined. This scrutiny illuminated factors that were perceived to have contributed to or detracted from professional agency. / A further mode of analysis advocated by Giddens revealed that practices actioned in the social system or context of the tertiary institution were not necessarily effectively carried out in the practicum environment. Therefore, due to lack of appropriate links between social and system integration, provision for professional agency was impeded. Findings from the research prompted the argument that opportunity for student teachers to achieve professional agency in their final practicum was contingent upon system integration in the practicum. Arising from that conclusion a theoretical model to promote system integration in the practicum was proposed. The model was supported by recommendations for improved practicum preparation for the early childhood student teachers, and on-going professional development in supervisory practice for the visiting lecturers and the associate teachers. Principles to underpin the supervision of adults in the practicum were identified, and a reconstructed working definition of professional agency was articulated. A significant outcome of this research was the introduction of the notion of student teacher professional agency to the research literature on the practicum. Another important feature was the utilisation of Giddens' (1984) theory of structuration to analyse the practicum. In viewing the practicum as a social system, and applying the three modes of analyses recommended by Giddens, new insights into the professional practices of the relevant social actors were gained.

Os genes de Prolina racemase (PRACs) são enzimas intracelulares ou secretadas de T. cruzi (TcPRAC); essas enzimas estão envolvidas no metabolismo, diferenciação e virulência. Os genes PRAC foram identificados e caracterizados molecularmente em isolados representantes de toda a diversidade interespecífica de T. cruzi, T. cruzi marinkellei, T. dionisii, T. erneyi, T. rangeli, T. conorhini e T. lewisi. Além dessas espécies de tripanossomas restritas a mamíferos; homólogos de PRAC foram encontrados em tripanossomas de cobra (T. serpentis), crocodilo (T. grayi) e anuro (T. sp. 339). Análises filogenéticas e de sintenia entre homólogos de PRAC suportaram uma historia evolutiva totalmente congruente com as relações evolutivas previamente descritas dentro do gênero Trypanosoma. / Proline racemaces (PRACs) are intracellular or secreted enzymes of Trypanosoma cruzi (TcPRAC), implicated in metabolism, differentiation, virulence and the induction of nonspecific polyclonal B-lymphocyte in the host. We identified and molecularly characterized PRAC genes from isolates representing all intra-specific diversity (TcI-TcVI and Tcbat), T. cruzi marinkellei, T. dionisii, T. erneyi, T. rangeli (isolates of lineages A-E), T. conorhini, and T. lewisi. In addition to these trypanosome species restricted to mammals, PRAC homologs were found in trypanosomes from snake (T. serpentis), crocodile (T. grayi) and anuran (T. sp 339). Phylogenetic and synteny analysis of PRAC homologs supported an evolutionary history totally congruent with the evolutionary relationships within the genus Trypanosoma.

Os genes de Prolina racemase (PRACs) são enzimas intracelulares ou secretadas de T. cruzi (TcPRAC); essas enzimas estão envolvidas no metabolismo, diferenciação e virulência. Os genes PRAC foram identificados e caracterizados molecularmente em isolados representantes de toda a diversidade interespecífica de T. cruzi, T. cruzi marinkellei, T. dionisii, T. erneyi, T. rangeli, T. conorhini e T. lewisi. Além dessas espécies de tripanossomas restritas a mamíferos; homólogos de PRAC foram encontrados em tripanossomas de cobra (T. serpentis), crocodilo (T. grayi) e anuro (T. sp. 339). Análises filogenéticas e de sintenia entre homólogos de PRAC suportaram uma historia evolutiva totalmente congruente com as relações evolutivas previamente descritas dentro do gênero Trypanosoma. / Proline racemaces (PRACs) are intracellular or secreted enzymes of Trypanosoma cruzi (TcPRAC), implicated in metabolism, differentiation, virulence and the induction of nonspecific polyclonal B-lymphocyte in the host. We identified and molecularly characterized PRAC genes from isolates representing all intra-specific diversity (TcI-TcVI and Tcbat), T. cruzi marinkellei, T. dionisii, T. erneyi, T. rangeli (isolates of lineages A-E), T. conorhini, and T. lewisi. In addition to these trypanosome species restricted to mammals, PRAC homologs were found in trypanosomes from snake (T. serpentis), crocodile (T. grayi) and anuran (T. sp 339). Phylogenetic and synteny analysis of PRAC homologs supported an evolutionary history totally congruent with the evolutionary relationships within the genus Trypanosoma.

Culturally appropriate conceptual models for practice are of major interest to occupational therapists, an emerging health profession in Thailand. Currently in Thailand, occupational therapy education and practice derives its conceptual models from Western models. How these models are translated into practice in Thailand is unclear, as there are currently no research studies relating to the cultural and clinical practice demands of Thai occupational therapists and of service delivery in Thailand. In addition, how occupational therapists in Australia apply conceptual models in practice has also been given limited attention in the research literature. A comparison is made between Thai and Western Australian occupational therapists to examine the use of theoretical models in the Western cultural context and to investigate the influences of cultural differences on occupational therapy practice. The purpose of this study is to identify the conceptual models most frequently used by occupational therapists in Thailand and in Australia, to describe the application of these models to practice, and to explore the cultural influences impacting on the application to practice. The need for a derived but more culturally specific conceptual model for occupational therapy practice in Thailand was also investigated. Focus group interviews were conducted as the initial stage of the study, to obtain in-depth background information about occupational therapy practice. Content analysis using transcript-based analysis and systematic coding was used to analyse the focus group data. The results demonstrated three main conceptual approaches: among both Westem Australian and Thai occupational therapists. These three models were described as the Performance Model, the Whole Person Model, and the Medical Model. / The findings from focus group interviews and related literature were used to develop a questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed as a self-report measure, using a 4 point scale ranging from ‘strongly agree’ to ‘strongly disagree’. It was arranged in 4 parts: Part A-Background Information, Part B- Models of Occupational Therapy Practice, Part C-Occupational Therapy Practice, and Part D-Practice Comment. Parts A, B and C consisted of closed-ended questions, whereas Part D was constructed to elicit open-ended questions. The survey data was collected from 138 Thai occupational therapists (ThaiOTs) and 155 Western Australian occupational therapists (WAOTs). A Chi-square test result demonstrated that ThaiOTs favoured the Medical Model for practice whilst WAOTs used the Performance Model and the Whole Person Model (p < 0.05). Principal component factor analysis was used to identify significant factors differentiating the practice of WA and Thai occupational therapists and to guide the development of the model of practice for ThaiOTs. The Mann-Whitney U Test results showed clear differences of therapist practice between Australia and Thailand in relation to their views about Clients, Professional Perspective (Therapists), Intervention, Cultural Implications, and Health Care Systems due to the influence of the culture and socio-cultural environment (p < 0.05). The outcomes from all stages in the study were used to develop a model of practice for Thai occupational therapists. This model named the ‘Samphan’ Framework of Practice focuses on the client and family as an inseparable unit, which differs from an individual, or client focus central to most Western models.

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to extract and provide practical knowledge and examples from both theory and practice in order to clarify some practices that can be used in the implementation of open innovation. It can be of interest for whomever willing to gain an insight into the practical features of open innovation and for companies considering, or struggling with the implementation of open innovation.</p><p>The study was approached with a qualitative and interpretive method. Secondary sources were used exclusively to review the practical aspects of open innovation in theory and practice. Open innovation practice at Nokia Corp. and the Procter & Gamble Company were researched and reported using studies of other authors as well as the companies’ own publications.</p><p>The classification of open innovation practices in contemporary literature is not sufficient to provide an understanding for the various types of open innovation practices that can be applied and used in practice. A classification based on types of activities is presented by the authors, and practical suggestions regarding design and implementation concludes the thesis.</p>

The purpose of this thesis is to extract and provide practical knowledge and examples from both theory and practice in order to clarify some practices that can be used in the implementation of open innovation. It can be of interest for whomever willing to gain an insight into the practical features of open innovation and for companies considering, or struggling with the implementation of open innovation. The study was approached with a qualitative and interpretive method. Secondary sources were used exclusively to review the practical aspects of open innovation in theory and practice. Open innovation practice at Nokia Corp. and the Procter &amp; Gamble Company were researched and reported using studies of other authors as well as the companies’ own publications. The classification of open innovation practices in contemporary literature is not sufficient to provide an understanding for the various types of open innovation practices that can be applied and used in practice. A classification based on types of activities is presented by the authors, and practical suggestions regarding design and implementation concludes the thesis.

The purpose of this study is to investigate preschool staff’s perceptions of early literacy in preschool and their practical work to promote children's literacy development. The theoretical framework for this study is the socio-cultural perspective and the four resources model of literacy. Data was collected through a semi-structured web survey sent to preschool staff in a medium-sized municipality in central Sweden. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics method. The results show a tension between emergent literacy and reading readiness perspectives among the staff. All the four resources, namely code breaking, text participation, text use and text analysis, are understood as moderately important by the preschool staff. However, there is more emphasis on decoding abilities, in particular phonological awareness. In the practical work, activities that can support children in their role as critical analyst are the least common. Reading aloud, songs, rhymes and language games are the most common literacy activities in preschool. The study shows the need to put these common literacy events in a larger social and learning context to promote a comprehensive literacy development in children. / Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka förskolepedagogers uppfattningar om tidig litteracitet i förskolan samt deras praktiska arbete för att främja barns lit-teracitetsutveckling. Den teoretiska ståndpunkten för denna undersökning är det sociokulturella perspektivet samt repertoarmodellen (the four resources model). Empirin genererades genom semistrukturerad webbenkät som skicka-des ut till förskolepersonal i en medelstor kommun i Mellansverige. Data ana-lyserades med hjälp av deskriptiv statistik metod. Resultatet visar en spänning mellan det emergent- och läsfärdighetsperspektivet bland personalen. Alla re-pertoarer av förmågor, således kodknäckande, textdeltagande, textbruk och textanalys, förstås som relativt viktiga av förskolepersonalen men det framträ-der mer betoning på avkodningsförmågor, i synnerhet fonologisk medvetenhet. I det praktiska arbetet är praktiker som stödjer barn i sin roll som kritisk ana-lytiker minst förekommande. Högläsning, sånger, rim och ramsor och språk-lekar är de mest förekommande litteracitetsaktiviteterna i förskolan. Studien visar behovet av att ställa dessa vanligt förekommande litteracitetshändelser i ett större socialt sammanhang för att främja en allsidig litteracitetsutveckling hos barnen.Nyckelord:

<p>This thesis is a contribution to the scholarly debate on how African Independent Churches (AICs) relate to outside partners. It is a case study from the perspective of the periphery of Ethiopia, which explains the origins of the Mekane Yesus Church in Kambata Hadiya</p><p>The diachronic structure of the study with a focus from 1944 to 1975 highlights how a group of Christians reacted to cultural pressure and formed a local independent church, the Kambata Evangelical Church 2 (KEC-2). The KEC-2 established relations with external partners, like a neighbouring mainstream conference of churches, a neighbouring mainstream church, an international organisation, and a mainstream overseas church and its mission. These relations influenced the KEC-2 to develop into a synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). The diachronic approach is augmented by synchronic structural analyses, illustrating how aspects in the independent KEC-2, like polity, worship, doctrine and ethos were changing.</p><p>The study contends that "Ethiopian Evangelical Solidarity" was a crucial factor in the development of the independent KEC-2 into a synod of the EECMY. As this factor helped the Ethiopians to transcend barriers of ethnicity, social status and denominationalism, it is not unreasonable to assume that the study has relevance for a wider African context.</p><p>This thesis builds on material taken mainly from unpublished printed sources in various languages from archives in Ethiopia, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA. These are supplemented by interviews made by the author.</p>

This thesis is a contribution to the scholarly debate on how African Independent Churches (AICs) relate to outside partners. It is a case study from the perspective of the periphery of Ethiopia, which explains the origins of the Mekane Yesus Church in Kambata Hadiya The diachronic structure of the study with a focus from 1944 to 1975 highlights how a group of Christians reacted to cultural pressure and formed a local independent church, the Kambata Evangelical Church 2 (KEC-2). The KEC-2 established relations with external partners, like a neighbouring mainstream conference of churches, a neighbouring mainstream church, an international organisation, and a mainstream overseas church and its mission. These relations influenced the KEC-2 to develop into a synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). The diachronic approach is augmented by synchronic structural analyses, illustrating how aspects in the independent KEC-2, like polity, worship, doctrine and ethos were changing. The study contends that "Ethiopian Evangelical Solidarity" was a crucial factor in the development of the independent KEC-2 into a synod of the EECMY. As this factor helped the Ethiopians to transcend barriers of ethnicity, social status and denominationalism, it is not unreasonable to assume that the study has relevance for a wider African context. This thesis builds on material taken mainly from unpublished printed sources in various languages from archives in Ethiopia, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA. These are supplemented by interviews made by the author.

A comercialização de produtos florestais não madeireiros (PFNMs) popularizou-se como atividade promotora do desenvolvimento socioeconômico de comunidades florestais com baixo impacto ambiental. Há evidências, contudo, de que a exploração possa produzir efeitos ecológicos e socioeconômicos negativos, sugerindo que é necessário monitorar tais iniciativas. A comercialização frequentemente ocorre em áreas remotas e em contextos de pobreza, como é o caso de muitas daquelas da Amazônia brasileira. Desta forma, é necessário que o monitoramento restrinja-se a avaliar os efeitos evidenciados como mais comuns em estudos anteriores. Este estudo revisa e sintetiza as evidências científicas dos efeitos da exploração de PFNMs sobre parâmetros ecológicos e socioeconômicos e, a partir daí, indica aqueles mais relevantes ao monitoramento. O estudo também levanta até que ponto o monitoramento é implementado no contexto da Amazônia brasileira e avalia quais os parâmetros importantes e viáveis de monitoramento neste caso específico. Para isso, foram realizadas revisões sistemáticas da literatura e a consulta a profissionais da área através do método Delphi. Os resultados indicam que efeitos ecológicos negativos são frequentes, principalmente quando se coletam folhas ou cascas. Alterações em órgãos ou processos fisiológicos e a taxa de sobrevivência dos espécimes explorados são parâmetros que devem ser monitorados, em particular quando se coletam frutos e partes vegetativas. Para todos os tipos de PFNMs, o tamanho e a estrutura populacional são parâmetros prioritários ao monitoramento. A riqueza de espécies da comunidade explorada merece atenção, principalmente quando se coletam frutos. Para os aspectos socioeconômicos, efeitos positivos foram mais frequentes que negativos. A contribuição da renda monetária obtida com o comércio na renda total, a regularidade de ingresso desta renda e o papel dos PFNMs como recursos de salvaguarda são parâmetros do capital financeiro prioritários ao monitoramento. Para o capital social, o empoderamento feminino, a coesão de grupo e o acesso aos benefícios gerados pela comercialização devem ser monitorados. Na Amazônia brasileira são poucas as iniciativas de implementação do monitoramento da comercialização de PFNMs. Embora este seja considerado importante, existem dificuldades que derivam principalmente da falta de apoio institucional, políticas de incentivo e de recursos financeiros. Os profissionais participantes do Delphi consideram que os parâmetros ecológicos mais importantes a monitorar neste contexto são o tamanho e a estrutura populacional do recurso explorado, o aumento da taxa de mortalidade, a quantidade total de recurso extraída e a técnica de coleta utilizada. Para os parâmetros econômicos, aspectos do mercado, como o preço pago ao coletor, a demanda e a qualidade do produto, bem como a renda monetária obtida pelos indivíduos são os parâmetros considerados mais importantes. Por fim, para os aspectos sociais, os efeitos na cultura, na qualidade de vida e na organização interna da comunidade foram priorizados. Os profissionais indicam que é viável estabelecer o monitoramento dos parâmetros levantados. / Amazon, non-timber forest products, ecological effects, socioeconomic effects, monitoring.