The aim is to find out how teachers apply the knowledge they get from mathematics pilots in preschool and from mathematics developer in the municipality, as well as how they work further towards the children with mathematics. The study is based on qualitative interviews with two teachers, one mathematic pilot and one mathematic developer. I used the semi-structured interview questions. The results show that teachers believe that mathematics pilots will inspire the teachers in their work with mathematics in preschool. One of the teachers who were interviewed said: “Mathematics pilots should be those that have the strongest glasses and coming up with new ideas and they push the rest of the teachers in their work with mathematics in relation to children in preschool”. The teachers use the correct terms for mathematical concepts with the children. They also stressed how important it is to point out to the kids that it is mathematics that they are doing. The conclusion of the study is that the teachers agree that it is their approach towards the children that is important and how they can lead the children’s interest of mathematics forward. To get into the mathematics of everyday life is something that teachers feel is important. The teachers all agree that math is everywhere in daily life and does not always has to be a planned activity. / Syftet är att ta reda på hur pedagogerna omsätter kunskapen från matematikpiloterna i förskolan och från matematikutvecklaren i kommunen samt hur pedagogerna arbetar vidare gentemot barnen med matematik. Studien bygger på kvalitativa intervjuer med två pedagoger, en matematikpilot och en matematikutvecklare. Jag använde mig av halvstrukturerade intervjufrågor. Av resultaten framgår att pedagogerna anser att matematikpiloterna ska inspirera pedagogerna i deras arbete med matematik i förskolan. En av pedagogerna som intervjuades sa: ”Matematikpiloterna ska vara de som har de starkare glasögonen på sig och som kommer med nya idéer och pushar på de övriga pedagogerna i deras arbete med matematik gentemot barnen i förskolan”. Pedagogerna använder de rätta benämningarna för de matematiska begreppen till barnen. De betonar också hur viktigt det är att poängtera för barnen att det är matematik som de håller på med. Slutsatsen av studien är att pedagogerna är ense om att det är deras förhållningssätt till barnen som är viktig och hur de kan leda barnens intresse framåt för matematik. Att få in matematik i vardagen var något som pedagogerna ansåg viktigt. Att matematik finns överallt i vardagen och inte alltid behöver vara en planerad aktivitet, var pedagogerna överrens om.

Background The high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies among South African preschool children reinforces the need for an intensified micronutrient malnutrition control strategy targeting children at home or in school. The use of recently developed micronutrient powders also known as "in-home fortification" or "point-of-use fortification" can be an effective long-term, sustainable approach in improving early childhood nutrition and cognitive developmental potential. However, before embarking on large-scale, long-term, point-of-use fortification trials, it is imperative to conduct external pilot trials in which the feasibility of implementing full-scale studies can be effectively assessed. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of implementing a point-of-use micronutrient fortification trial among African preschool children, which would aid in pilot-testing the study design, logistics and implementation process as well as reveal limitations which can be addressed before the implementation of full-scale trials. Methods Preschool children (n = 151), aged 36 -79 months with haemoglobin concentration (Hb)<= 12.5 g/dL, from eight schools in a low socio-economic community were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 76) and a control (n = 75) groups, both receiving breakfast maize-meal porridge, either with added micronutrient or placebo powder for 52 school days. Several process evaluation indicators (fidelity, dose delivered, dose received, reach, recruitment and context) were used to assess trial feasibility. Selected indicators of early childhood development (Hb concentration, anthropometric indices and cognitive function) were used to evaluate the outcome of the intervention within the context of a pilot study. Results The process evaluation results indicate that the various implementation components were delivered with high fidelity. Capacity development and strengthening of the front-line staff cognitive assessors and study assistants) was executed as planned. The point-of-use fortificant was well accepted among the children and the mean percentage of days the point-of-use fortificant or placebo was consumed (~85%) did not differ between the groups. There were significant increases in Hb concentration (p < 0.05) from baseline to follow-up in both the intervention [mean change: 0.38 g/dL (95% CI: 0.14, 0.61 g/dL)] and control [mean change: 0.57 g/dL (95% CI: 0.35, 0.80 g/dL)] groups, however, mean change did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.250). The intervention did not improve any of the anthropometric indices measured in the intervention group compared to control. However, there was a medium likelihood for practical significance for the two global cognitive scores assessed, nonverbal index [intervention effects: 7.20 (95% C!: 2.60,11.81); P = 0.002, effect size: 0.55] and mental processing index [intervention effects: 2.73 (95% CI: 0.25,5.70); P = 0.072, effect size: 0.36] on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, second edition. Conclusion The feasibility of implementing a point-of-use micronutrient fortification trial was demonstrated among African preschool children with potential benefits of improving their cognitive function. The most important lessons learned from this trial that could help improve similar future large-scale trials included the recruitment and training of the most eligible front-line staff as well as identifying that the use of a simple field-friendly finger prick method to measure Hb concentration may not be sufficiently sensitive to show differences in iron status after the intervention. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Leadership is important to quality improvement initiatives in healthcare. However, few studies have evaluated leadership interventions to enhance nurses’ use of guideline recommendations in the field of knowledge translation. Purpose: To develop and evaluate an intervention designed to operationalize a leadership strategy composed of relations, change, and task-orientated leadership behaviours, and to examine its influence on nurses’ use of guideline recommendations in home-care nursing. Design: Sequential mixed methods pilot study with post-only cluster randomized controlled trial. Methods Phase I: Intervention Development 1. A participatory approach was used at a community healthcare organization with 23 units across the province of Ontario, Canada. The guideline selected was developed by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario for the assessment and management of foot ulcers for people with diabetes. 2. Integrative literature review, qualitative interviews, and baseline chart audits were conducted. 3. Four units were randomized to control or experimental groups. 4. Clinical and management leadership teams participated in a 12-week intervention consisting of printed materials, interactive workshop, and teleconferences. Participants received summarized chart audit data, identified priority indicators for change, and created a team leadership action plan to address barriers and influence guideline use. Phase II: Evaluation 5. Chart audits compared differences in nursing process and patient outcomes. Primary outcome: eight-item nursing assessment score. 6. Qualitative interviews evaluated the intervention and leadership behaviours. Results: No significant difference was found in the primary outcome. A significant difference was observed in nurses’ documentation of five priority indicators chosen by the experimental groups (p=.02). Gaps in care included: 53%, 76%, and 94% of patients not assessed for ulcer depth, foot circulation, or neuropathy (respectively); 75% and 93% did not receive wound debridement or hydrogel dressings. Receiving data to identify priority indicators for change and developing a leadership action plan were reported as useful to guideline implementation. The experimental group described using more relations-oriented leadership behaviours conducting audit and feedback, and sending reminders. Conclusion: Findings from this pilot study suggest that leadership is a team process involving relations, change, and task-oriented behaviours enacted by managers and clinical leaders. A leadership model is proposed as a beginning taxonomy to inform future leadership intervention studies.

Background The high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies among South African preschool children reinforces the need for an intensified micronutrient malnutrition control strategy targeting children at home or in school. The use of recently developed micronutrient powders also known as "in-home fortification" or "point-of-use fortification" can be an effective long-term, sustainable approach in improving early childhood nutrition and cognitive developmental potential. However, before embarking on large-scale, long-term, point-of-use fortification trials, it is imperative to conduct external pilot trials in which the feasibility of implementing full-scale studies can be effectively assessed. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of implementing a point-of-use micronutrient fortification trial among African preschool children, which would aid in pilot-testing the study design, logistics and implementation process as well as reveal limitations which can be addressed before the implementation of full-scale trials. Methods Preschool children (n = 151), aged 36 -79 months with haemoglobin concentration (Hb)<= 12.5 g/dL, from eight schools in a low socio-economic community were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 76) and a control (n = 75) groups, both receiving breakfast maize-meal porridge, either with added micronutrient or placebo powder for 52 school days. Several process evaluation indicators (fidelity, dose delivered, dose received, reach, recruitment and context) were used to assess trial feasibility. Selected indicators of early childhood development (Hb concentration, anthropometric indices and cognitive function) were used to evaluate the outcome of the intervention within the context of a pilot study. Results The process evaluation results indicate that the various implementation components were delivered with high fidelity. Capacity development and strengthening of the front-line staff cognitive assessors and study assistants) was executed as planned. The point-of-use fortificant was well accepted among the children and the mean percentage of days the point-of-use fortificant or placebo was consumed (~85%) did not differ between the groups. There were significant increases in Hb concentration (p < 0.05) from baseline to follow-up in both the intervention [mean change: 0.38 g/dL (95% CI: 0.14, 0.61 g/dL)] and control [mean change: 0.57 g/dL (95% CI: 0.35, 0.80 g/dL)] groups, however, mean change did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.250). The intervention did not improve any of the anthropometric indices measured in the intervention group compared to control. However, there was a medium likelihood for practical significance for the two global cognitive scores assessed, nonverbal index [intervention effects: 7.20 (95% C!: 2.60,11.81); P = 0.002, effect size: 0.55] and mental processing index [intervention effects: 2.73 (95% CI: 0.25,5.70); P = 0.072, effect size: 0.36] on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, second edition. Conclusion The feasibility of implementing a point-of-use micronutrient fortification trial was demonstrated among African preschool children with potential benefits of improving their cognitive function. The most important lessons learned from this trial that could help improve similar future large-scale trials included the recruitment and training of the most eligible front-line staff as well as identifying that the use of a simple field-friendly finger prick method to measure Hb concentration may not be sufficiently sensitive to show differences in iron status after the intervention. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

The development and application of environmental models to help understand natural systems, and support decision making, is commonplace. A difficulty encountered in the development of such models is determining which physical and chemical processes to simulate, and on what temporal and spatial scale(s). Modern computing capabilities enable the incorporation of more processes, at increasingly refined scales, than at any time previously. However, the simulation of a large number of fine scale processes has undesirable consequences: first, the execution time of many environmental models has not declined despite advances in processor speed and solution techniques; and second, such complex models incorporate a large number of parameters, for which values must be assigned. Compounding these problems is the recognition that since the inverse problem in groundwater modeling is non-unique the calibration of a single parameter set does not assure the reliability of model predictions. Practicing modelers are, then, faced with complex models that incorporate a large number of parameters whose values are uncertain, and that make predictions that are prone to an unspecified amount of error. In recognition of this, there has been considerable research into methods for evaluating the potential for error in model predictions arising from errors in the values assigned to model parameters. Unfortunately, some common methods employed in the estimation of model parameters, and the evaluation of the potential error associated with model parameters and predictions, suffer from limitations in their application that stem from an emphasis on obtaining an over-determined, parsimonious, inverse problem. That is, common methods of model analysis exhibit artifacts from the propagation of subjective a-priori parameter parsimony throughout the calibration and predictive error analyses. This thesis describes theoretical and practical developments that enable the estimation of a large number of parameters, and the evaluation of the potential for error in predictions made by highly parameterized models. Since the focus of this research is on the use of models in support of decision making, the new methods are demonstrated by application to synthetic applications, where the performance of the method can be evaluated under controlled conditions; and to real-world applications, where the performance of the method can be evaluated in terms of trade-offs in computational effort versus calibration results and the ability to rigorously yet expediently investigate predictive error. The applications suggest that the new techniques are applicable to a range of environmental modeling disciplines. Mathematical innovations described in this thesis focus on combining complementary regularized inversion (calibration) techniques with novel methods for analyzing model predictive error. Several of the innovations are founded on explicit recognition of the existence of the calibration solution and null spaces – that is, that with the available observations there are some (combinations of) parameters that can be estimated; and there are some (combinations of) parameters that cannot. The existence of a non-trivial calibration null space is at the heart of the non-uniqueness problem in model calibration: this research expands upon this concept by recognizing that there are combinations of parameters that lie within the calibration null space yet possess non-trivial projections onto the predictive solution space, and these combinations of parameters are at the heart of predictive error analysis. The most significant contribution of this research is the attempt to develop a framework for model analysis that promotes computational efficiency in both the calibration and the subsequent analysis of the potential for error in model predictions. Fundamental to this framework is the use of a large number of parameters, the use of Tikhonov regularization, and the use of subspace techniques. Use of a large number of parameters enables parameter detail to be represented in the model at a scale approaching true variability; the use of Tikhonov constraints enables the modeler to incorporate preferred conditions on parameter values and/or their variation throughout the calibration and the predictive analysis; and, the use of subspace techniques enables model calibration and predictive analysis to be undertaken expediently, even when undertaken using a large number of parameters. This research focuses on the inability of the calibration process to accurately identify parameter values: it is assumed that the models in question accurately represent the relevant processes at the relevant scales so that parameter and predictive error depend only on parameter detail not represented in the model and/or accurately inferred through the calibration process. Contributions to parameter and predictive error arising from incorrect model identification are outside the scope of this research.

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) is a very large organization compared to Thai standards. It generates huge incomes to a number of families, directly and indirectly. Like many airlines, the main concern with THAI and the regulatory authorities is safety because THAI is in a mass transportation business. THAI have had two accidents within a span of some six years, killing a total of 214 people. The accidents affected THAI in four key areas, namely political, economical, social and technological. This phenomenon prompted the study of aviation safety in THAI. The question that requires an answer is: “How should THAI build its protocols to enhance aviation safety?” This then became the research question. The objective of the study is to build a model suitable for THAI to enhance aviation safety, thus answering the question. Through a review of the literature within the parent disciplines, the product, process, and customers of flying activities were identified. The four processes, the MP, the HRD, the PM and the RS are recognized through rigorous search of the literature. The developments of the required seven elements of skills needed for pilot performance measurement were made.A review of study within the immediate discipline concerning Aviation Safety in THAI was carried out and the current status in THAI was defined. All of these led to the identification of research question, research objective, and research propositions. The research propositions were:• Research Proposition 1: that the management practice (MP) process receives inputs from the reporting system (RS) process. Outputs from the management practice (MP) process form inputs for the human resource development (HRD) process.• Research Proposition 2: that the human resource development (HRD) process receives inputs from the management practice (MP) process. Outputs from the human resource development (HRD) process form inputs for the performance measurement (PM) process.• Research Proposition 3: that the performance measurement (PM) process receives inputs from the human resource development (HRD) process. Outputs from the human resource development (HRD) process form inputs for the reporting system (RS) process.• Research Proposition 4: that the reporting system (RS) process receives inputs from the performance measurement (PM) process. Outputs from the reporting system (RS) process form inputs for the management practice (MP) process. • Research Proposition 5: that the individual process components identified in Research Propositions 1, 2, 3 and 4, can be consolidated into an overall, comprehensive Continual Improvement (CI) loop.Once the research propositions were established, the research design was conceived. Due to the fact that THAI is a unique airline influenced by its history of inception and by particular sets of cultures, an embedded, single case-study research method was used. Many techniques within the case-study method were employed starting from a secondary data search, direct observations, focus group interviews, elite interviews, pilot study, participant observations and in-depth interviews. Issues such as validity, reliability, sensitivity, generalizability and ethics were referred to. Issues on data processing, coding, editing, and interpreting were made and discussed.As a result of the various methods of study and the fieldwork previously mentioned, findings were derived. These were then edited, categorized, coded, tabulated and interpreted into meaningful information. Findings from the study and fieldwork supported all the propositions derived from secondary data search and literature review. Consequently the gap identified in the literature was now filled and the principal model was drawn. A slight modification was introduced in keeping with the interpretation of the findings. A recommendation was made that THAI implement policy measures and professional practices derived from the implication of the study to minimize risks in flight operations system and thus maximize safety.Based on the findings of this research, it is recommended that future studies be conducted employing a deductive, quantitative, statistical method to evaluate the model and test its theoretical implications.

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) is a very large organization compared to Thai standards. It generates huge incomes to a number of families, directly and indirectly. Like many airlines, the main concern with THAI and the regulatory authorities is safety because THAI is in a mass transportation business. THAI have had two accidents within a span of some six years, killing a total of 214 people. The accidents affected THAI in four key areas, namely political, economical, social and technological. This phenomenon prompted the study of aviation safety in THAI. The question that requires an answer is: “How should THAI build its protocols to enhance aviation safety?” This then became the research question. The objective of the study is to build a model suitable for THAI to enhance aviation safety, thus answering the question. Through a review of the literature within the parent disciplines, the product, process, and customers of flying activities were identified. The four processes, the MP, the HRD, the PM and the RS are recognized through rigorous search of the literature. The developments of the required seven elements of skills needed for pilot performance measurement were made.A review of study within the immediate discipline concerning Aviation Safety in THAI was carried out and the current status in THAI was defined. All of these led to the identification of research question, research objective, and research propositions. The research propositions were:• Research Proposition 1: that the management practice (MP) process receives inputs from the reporting system (RS) process. Outputs from the management practice (MP) process form inputs for the human resource development (HRD) process.• Research Proposition 2: that the human resource development (HRD) process receives inputs from the management practice (MP) process. Outputs from the human resource development (HRD) process form inputs for the performance measurement (PM) process.• Research Proposition 3: that the performance measurement (PM) process receives inputs from the human resource development (HRD) process. Outputs from the human resource development (HRD) process form inputs for the reporting system (RS) process.• Research Proposition 4: that the reporting system (RS) process receives inputs from the performance measurement (PM) process. Outputs from the reporting system (RS) process form inputs for the management practice (MP) process. • Research Proposition 5: that the individual process components identified in Research Propositions 1, 2, 3 and 4, can be consolidated into an overall, comprehensive Continual Improvement (CI) loop.Once the research propositions were established, the research design was conceived. Due to the fact that THAI is a unique airline influenced by its history of inception and by particular sets of cultures, an embedded, single case-study research method was used. Many techniques within the case-study method were employed starting from a secondary data search, direct observations, focus group interviews, elite interviews, pilot study, participant observations and in-depth interviews. Issues such as validity, reliability, sensitivity, generalizability and ethics were referred to. Issues on data processing, coding, editing, and interpreting were made and discussed.As a result of the various methods of study and the fieldwork previously mentioned, findings were derived. These were then edited, categorized, coded, tabulated and interpreted into meaningful information. Findings from the study and fieldwork supported all the propositions derived from secondary data search and literature review. Consequently the gap identified in the literature was now filled and the principal model was drawn. A slight modification was introduced in keeping with the interpretation of the findings. A recommendation was made that THAI implement policy measures and professional practices derived from the implication of the study to minimize risks in flight operations system and thus maximize safety.Based on the findings of this research, it is recommended that future studies be conducted employing a deductive, quantitative, statistical method to evaluate the model and test its theoretical implications.

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on June 11, 2009. "May 2009." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering." "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." Major professor: Daniel Biezad, Ph.D. Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-79). Also available on microfiche.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1980. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--Medical University of Ohio, 2006. / "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Occupational Health." Major advisor: Sheryl Milz. Includes abstract. Document formatted into pages: iv, 110 p. Title from title page of PDF document. Bibliography: pages 72-86.