Recent research surrounding educational leadership indicates that among school-related factors, leadership is second only to the classroom teacher as a variable associated with improving student achievement (Leithwood et al., 2004). Given the current climate of high stakes testing and accountability, the role that the principal plays in fostering continuous school improvement and ensuring academic success for all students has become increasingly important. To enhance school performance, the literature proposes that school leaders serve as instructional leaders and distribute their leadership responsibilities. One significant element of such leadership models is the ability of the school principal to support and promote inquiry by teachers and school administrators into student and school data. Wayman and Stringfield (2006) note that a campus culture that values and practices data-based decision making is marked by collaborative inquiry into student data. Advocates of data-driven decision making and data use suggest that inquiry into student data has been shown to be useful in improving overall school practice (Bernhardt, 2003; Wayman and Stringfield, 2006). Furthermore, using data to focus on specific goals will improve student learning (Schmoker, 1999). To explore how principals can foster the development of structures that allow for inquiry into student and school data, a case study of one purposely-selected high school was conducted. The four primary research questions this study addressed were: (1). What structures can high school principals develop and implement that promote inquiry by teachers and administrators into data? (2). What structures positively impact student academic achievement, as perceived by high school teachers and principals? (3). How are teachers using student achievement data in their instructional decision-making? (4). What are the qualitative data elements that school leaders might consider to inform the ongoing planning and decision-making process? Over the course of four months, data was gathered through individual interviews, observations, a survey, and analysis of pertinent documents. Several themes surrounding data analysis and leadership practices emerged. These included: the benefits of using structures to empower school staff to own data, the use of structures to allow for time for collaboration, using data to improve teaching practices, and the benefits of providing teachers greater access to pertinent data. / text

The study of outcrop modeling is located at the interface between two fields of expertise, Sedimentology and Computing Geoscience, which respectively investigates and simulates geological heterogeneity observed in the sedimentary record. During the last past years, modeling tools and techniques were constantly improved. In parallel, the study of Phanerozoic carbonate deposits emphasized the common occurrence of a random facies distribution along single depositional domain. Although both fields of expertise are intrinsically linked during outcrop simulation, their respective advances have not been combined in literature to enhance carbonate modeling studies. The present study re-examines the modeling strategy adapted to the simulation of shallow-water carbonate systems, based on a close relationship between field sedimentology and modeling capabilities. In the present study, the evaluation of three commonly used algorithms Truncated Gaussian Simulation (TGSim), Sequential Indicator Simulation (SISim), and Indicator Kriging (IK), were performed for the first time using visual and quantitative comparisons on an ideally suited carbonate outcrop. The results show that the heterogeneity of carbonate rocks cannot be fully simulated using one single algorithm. The operating mode of each algorithm involves capabilities as well as drawbacks that are not capable to match all field observations carried out across the modeling area. Two end members in the spectrum of carbonate depositional settings, a low-angle Jurassic ramp (High Atlas, Morocco) and a Triassic isolated platform (Dolomites, Italy), were investigated to obtain a complete overview of the geological heterogeneity in shallow-water carbonate systems. Field sedimentology and statistical analysis performed on the type, morphology, distribution, and association of carbonate bodies and combined with palaeodepositional reconstructions, emphasize similar results. At the basin scale (x 1 km), facies association, composed of facies recording similar depositional conditions, displays linear and ordered transitions between depositional domains. Contrarily, at the bedding scale (x 0.1 km), individual lithofacies type shows a mosaic-like distribution consisting of an arrangement of spatially independent lithofacies bodies along the depositional profile. The increase of spatial disorder from the basin to bedding scale results from the influence of autocyclic factors on the transport and deposition of carbonate sediments. Scale-dependent types of carbonate heterogeneity are linked with the evaluation of algorithms in order to establish a modeling strategy that considers both the sedimentary characteristics of the outcrop and the modeling capabilities. A surface-based modeling approach was used to model depositional sequences. Facies associations were populated using TGSim to preserve ordered trends between depositional domains. At the lithofacies scale, a fully stochastic approach with SISim was applied to simulate a mosaic-like lithofacies distribution. This new workflow is designed to improve the simulation of carbonate rocks, based on the modeling of each scale of heterogeneity individually. Contrarily to simulation methods applied in literature, the present study considers that the use of one single simulation technique is unlikely to correctly model the natural patterns and variability of carbonate rocks. The implementation of different techniques customized for each level of the stratigraphic hierarchy provides the essential computing flexibility to model carbonate systems. Closer feedback between advances carried out in the field of Sedimentology and Computing Geoscience should be promoted during future outcrop simulations for the enhancement of 3-D geological models. / Das Modellieren von geologischen Aufschlüssen liegt der Schnittstelle zwischen zwei geo-logischen Teildisziplinen, der Sedimentologie und der geologischen Modellierung. Hierbei werden geologische Heterogenitäten untersucht und simuliert, welche im Aufschluss beobachtet wurden. Während der letzten Jahre haben sich die Werkzeuge und die Technik der Modellierung stetig weiter-entwickelt. Parallel dazu hat die Untersuchung der phanerozoischen Karbonatablagerungen ihren Fokus auf gemeinsamen Vorkommen von zufälligen Faziesverteilungen in beiden Ablagerungs-gebieten. Obwohl beide Teildisziplinen durch die Aufschlussmodellierung eigentlich verbunden sind, wurden ihre jeweiligen Vorteile in der Literatur nicht miteinander verbunden, um so eine Verbesserung ähnlicher Studien zu erreichen. Die vorliegende Studie überprüft erneut die Modellierungsstrategie, angepasst an die Simulation von Flachwasser-Karbonat-Systemen und basierend auf einer engen Beziehung zwischen Sedimentologie und Modellierung. Die vorliegende Arbeit behandelt erstmals die Evaluierung der drei am häufigsten verwendeten Algorithmen „Truncated Gaussian Simulation (TGSim)“, „Sequential Indicator Simulation (SISim)“ und „Indicator Kriging (IK)“, um sie visuell und quantitativ mit dem entsprechenden Aufschluss zu vergleichen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Heterogenität von Karbonatgesteinen nicht komplett mit nur einem Algorithmus simuliert werden kann. Die Eigenschaften jedes einzelnen Algorithmus beinhalten Vor- und Nachteile, sodass kein Algorithmus alle Beobachtungen aus dem Aufschluss widerspiegelt. Die zwei Endglieder im Spektrum der Ablagerungsbedingungen von Karbonaten, eine flachwinklige, jurassische Karbonat-Rampe (Hoher Atlas, Marokko) und eine isolierte, triassische Plattform (Dolomiten, Italien), wurden untersucht, um einen kompletten Überblick über die verschiedenen Heterogenitäten in Flachwasser-Karbonat- Systemen zu erhalten. Sedimentologische und statistische Analysen wurden für die verschiedenen Typen, Morphologien, Verteilungen und Assoziationen von Karbonatablagerungen durchgeführt und mit paläogeografischen Rekonstruktionen kombiniert und zeigen ähnliche Ergebnisse. Im Beckenmaßstab zeigen die Faziesassoziationen, bestehend aus Fazieszonen mit ähnlichen Ablagerungsbedingungen, einen linearen und kontinuierlichen Übergang zwischen den einzelnen Ablagerungsbereichen. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigt für einzelne Lithofaziestypen im Maßstab einzelner Schichten eine mosaikartige Verteilung, bestehend aus einer Anordnung räumlich unabhängiger Lithofazieszonen entlang des Ablagerungsprofils. Das Ansteigen der räumlichen Unordnung von der beckenweiten Ablagerung zur Ablagerung einzelner Schichten resultiert aus dem Einfluss autozyklischer Faktoren bei der Ablagerung von Karbonaten. Die Skalenabhängigkeit von Karbonat-Heterogenität ist mit der Auswertung der Algorithmen verknüpft um eine Modellierungsstrategie zu etablieren, welche sowohl die sedimentären Charakteristiken des Aufschlusses als auch die Modellierfähigkeit berücksichtigt. Für die Modellierung der Ablagerungssequenzen wurde ein flächenbasierter Ansatz verwendet. Die Faziesassoziationen wurden durch die Benutzung des TGSim-Algorithmus simuliert, um die regulären Trends zwischen den einzelnen Ablagerungsgebieten zu erhalten. Im Bereich der verschiedenen Lithofazien wurde mit dem SISim-Algorithmus, ein voll stochastischer Ansatz angewendet, um die mosaikartige Verteilung der Lithofazies-Typen zu simulieren. Dieser neue Arbeitsablauf wurde konzipiert, um die Simulierung von Karbonaten auf Basis der einzelnen Heterogenitäten in verschiedenen Größenordnungen zu verbessern. Im Gegensatz zu den in der Literatur angewendeten Simulationsmethoden berücksichtigt diese Studie, dass eine einzelne Modellierungstechnik die natürlichen Ablagerungsmuster und Variabilität von Karbonaten wahrscheinlich nicht korrekt abbildet. Die Einführung verschiedener Techniken, angepasst auf die verschiedenen Ebenen der stratigrafischen Hierarchie, liefert die notwendige Flexibilität um Karbonatsysteme korrekt zu modellieren. Eine enge Verknüpfung zwischen den Fortschritten auf dem Gebieten der Sedimentologie und dem Gebiet der modellierenden Geowissenschaften sollte weiterhin bestehen, um auch zukünftig bei der Simulation von geologischen Gelände-Aufschlüssen eine Verbesserung der 3-D-Modellierung zu erreichen.

La classification d'images s'articule généralement autour des deux étapes que sont l'étape d'extraction de signatures suivie de l'étape d'analyse des données extraites, ces dernières étant généralement quantitatives. De nombreux modèles de classification ont été proposés dans la littérature, le choix du modèle le plus adapté est souvent guidé par les performances en classification ainsi que la lisibilité du modèle. L'arbre de classification et le treillis de Galois sont deux modèles symboliques connus pour leur lisibilité. Dans sa thèse [Guillas 2007], Guillas a utilisé efficacement les treillis de Galois pour la classification d'images, et des liens structurels forts avec les arbres de classification ont été mis en évidence. Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit font suite à ces résultats, et ont pour but de définir un modèle hybride entre ces deux modèles, qui réunissent leurs avantages (leur lisibilité respective, la robustesse du treillis et le faible espace mémoire de l'arbre). A ces fins, l'étude des liens existants entre les deux modèles a permis de mettre en avant leurs différences. Tout d'abord, le type de discrétisation, les arbres utilisent généralement une discrétisation locale tandis que les treillis, initialement définis pour des données binaires, utilisent une discrétisation globale. A partir d'une étude des propriétés des treillis dichotomiques (treillis définis après une discrétisation), nous proposons une discrétisation locale pour les treillis permettant d'améliorer ses performances en classification et de diminuer sa complexité structurelle. Puis, le processus de post-élagage mis en œuvre dans la plupart des arbres a pour objectif de diminuer la complexité de ces derniers, mais aussi d'augmenter leurs performances en généralisation. Les simplifications de la structure de treillis (exponentielle en la taille de données dans les pires cas), quant à elles, sont motivées uniquement par une diminution de la complexité structurelle. En combinant ces deux simplifications, nous proposons une simplification de la structure du treillis obtenue après notre discrétisation locale et aboutissant à un modèle de classification hybride qui profite de la lisibilité des deux modèles tout en étant moins complexe que le treillis mais aussi performant que celui-ci. / Image classification is generally based on two steps namely the extraction of the image signature, followed by the extracted data analysis. Image signature is generally numerical. Many classification models have been proposed in the literature, among which most suitable choice is often guided by the classification performance and the model readability. Decision trees and Galois lattices are two symbolic models known for their readability. In her thesis {Guillas 2007}, Guillas efficiently used Galois lattices for image classification. Strong structural links between decision trees and Galois lattices have been highlighted. Accordingly, we are interested in comparing models in order to design a hybrid model between those two. The hybrid model will combine the advantages (robustness of the lattice, low memory space of the tree and readability of both). For this purpose, we study the links between the two models to highlight their differences. Firstly, the discretization type where decision trees generally use a local discretization while Galois lattices, originally defined for binary data, use a global discretization. From the study of the properties of dichotomic lattice (specific lattice defined after discretization), we propose a local discretization for lattice that allows us to improve its classification performances and reduces its structural complexity. Then, the process of post-pruning implemented in most of the decision trees aims to reduce the complexity of the latter, but also to improve their classification performances. Lattice filtering is solely motivated by a decrease in the structural complexity of the structures (exponential in the size of data in the worst case). By combining these two processes, we propose a simplification of the lattice structure constructed after our local discretization. This simplification leads to a hybrid classification model that takes advantage of both decision trees and Galois lattice. It is as readable as the last two, while being less complex than the lattice but also efficient.

<p>Until 1976, women in Alabama could choose to make use of a midwife when they gave birth. In that year, the Alabama state legislature outlawed the practice. This dissertation explores the consequences of that decision as well as the efforts of contemporary non-nurse midwives, also known as Certified Professional Midwives (CPM’s), to re-establish the practice as an option available to birthing women in the state.</p><p> In order to address the consequences of outlawing non-nurse midwives in the state of Alabama a mixed methodology approach is applied. Two years of ethnographic data collection approached with a feminist and cultural anthropology lens, reveal that the lack of medical infrastructure within the state of Alabama prohibits the ability for CPM’s to practice safely. This is owed to historically grounded stigma in racism and classism. As a result, the current CPM community within the state of Alabama, along with their clientele, is predominantly white. This is reflected in the case studies within the dissertation as all the families and care providers, regardless of clinical expertise, are all white. An examination of cesarean rates via quantitative analysis supports the historical and ethnographic findings. Cesarean rates are highest within counties that have a low median household income, and a population that is predominately African American.</p><p> The dissertation features five case studies of women who gave birth attended by a CPM. By relating the experiences of the birthing mothers, a CPM, and certified medical professionals, the dissertation offers evidence of the kind of supplemental medical care and knowledge that can be offered by practitioners of midwifery. At the same time, while contemporary midwives such as the one featured here offer important medical service to their clients, they are not equipped to or knowledgeable about political work necessary to push for the re-legalization of midwifery. This dissertation thus sheds light on the challenges facing midwives who would prefer to work openly and legally in the state.</p><p> Ultimately what is revealed is the value of supplementary healthcare networks within the state. While care and birth services provided by CPM’s is not readily accessible to all, those giving birth in Alabama can find support within the current system through supplementary healthcare networks. These networks include doulas, lactation support groups, babywearing groups, etc. It is a piecemeal system to be sure, but it is a piecemeal system that is working diligently to unlearn biases, and support women and birthing families. However, it is important to understand that the supplemental networks cannot fully address the larger structural crisis that is a lack of infrastructure within the state’s medical system. Ideally, a system that utilizes Obstetricians, Nurse Midwives, and Non-nurse Midwives, all with mutual respect for their own expertise, would exist to provide quality care to women throughout the state.</p>

En France, le rapport aux moustiques et les politiques de démoustication présentent des histoires et des caractéristiques différenciées d’un territoire à l’autre. Si dans les DFA les moustiques n'ont jamais cessé d'être des facteurs épidémiques, sur le pourtour méditerranéen en revanche, ils ne constituaient plus de risques sanitaires depuis près d'un demi-siècle. Dans les DFA, les opérations de démoustication ont toujours principalement relevé de politiques sanitaires de Lutte Anti-Vectorielle, tandis qu'en métropole furent mises en place des démoustications de confort visant à réduire la nuisance. Mais, à partir de 2004, la situation évolue suite à l’installation durable du moustique vecteur Aedes albopictus sur le littoral méditerranéen et à l’élargissement progressif de son aire de répartition, exposant la métropole à des risques sanitaires jusqu'alors circonscrits aux régions tropicales. Mobilisant les cadres théoriques des sociologies de l’environnement, des risques et de la santé, et s'appuyant sur un corpus réunissant données qualitatives (311 entretiens et observation participante) et quantitatives (1415 questionnaires), cette thèse analyse la recomposition du rapport entre enjeux environnementaux et sanitaires face à la prolifération de moustiques vecteurs. L'analyse porte tout d'abord sur la place et le statut de l’insecte au sein des différentes populations. Puis, l’attention est portée aux caractéristiques socioéconomiques influençant la vulnérabilité individuelle. Ensuite, les attentes et demandes de la population relatives à la démoustication sont questionnées. Enfin, la dernière partie développe une analyse diachronique dans les Alpes-Maritimes. / In France,the human-mosquito relationship and the mosquito control policies show differentiated stories and features from one territory to another.Thus,if in FDA mosquitoes never ceased being epidemic factors,however,on the Mediterranean coast until recently they no longer represented a Health risk.Indeed,in the FDA,since their implementation,mosquito control campaigns have always been conducted for a sanitary purpose through vector control campaigns.Meanwhile,in metropolitan France,aiming to reduce the nuisance,these policies were initially implemented to ensure the inhabitants comfort.But,starting from 2004,following the durable installation of the Asian tiger mosquito on the French Mediterranean coastline and the progressive widening of its distribution area,the context evolves and,from now on,the metropolitan France is potentially exposed to health risks hitherto circumscribed to tropical areas.Mobilising the theoretical frameworks of environmental,health and risks sociologies,and based on a corpus gathering qualitative (311 interviews and direct observations) and quantitative data (1415 questionnaires),this PhD analyses the recombining of the relationship between environmental and health challenges in light of the vector mosquitoes proliferation.It initially focuses on the place and status of the insect within the different populations.Then, the socio-economic factors influencing the individual vulnerability of exposure to the insect are studied.The third part is devoted to the expectations and requests of the inhabitants regarding the public management of the mosquitoes’ proliferation.Finally, a diachronic analysis centered on the Alps-Maritimes region is developed.

The impact of international mobility and globalization on universities has led to a greater need for students. Thus, throughout students stay in their destinatio ncountry, prospective students access a variety of sources of information and make simultaneous decisions about where to travel; decision making is required at everystage of the travel process (pre-travel, during travel, and post travel). Previous to the advent of social media dominate traditional sources of information, such as print media, educational fairs and university websites. The social media websites such as social networking (Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn,), microblogging (Twitter,Tumblr), photo sharing (Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest), Video sharing (YouTube,Facebook Live, Periscope, Vimeo) become an alternative source of university information as many young people and students engage, work and participate in this online community. The purpose of this thesis is to research the influence of social media on the decision-making process of Ethiopian educational tourists in Poland, as well as how other factors (such as others’ comments, replies, and tour reviews) influence the process of their travel decision making. The data collection tool was a survey that included demographic questions, closed ended questions, multiple choice questions, a rating scale (Likert 5 scale model), and a few open-ended questions. The survey questionnaire was completed by 137 international students. The study's findings indicate that social media has a sizable influence and role as a source of information for Ethiopian educational tourists in Poland at every stage of their travel decisionmaking process, and that other factors (such as others' comments, replies, and tourreviews) influenced their decision-making process as well. Overall, this study helps to gather insights into Ethiopian educational tourists' decision-making behavior in Poland. Due to the fact that the research will contribute cross-national knowledge about educational tourists' behavior during the travel decision-making process in a destination, it will have a significant impact on promoting domestic travel and tourism in Poland.