The aim of the study was to investigate classroom discourse among high school natural science students in Swaziland. The research problem was: Can student interactions tell us something about the negotiation of understanding during natural science teaching? A qualitative approach was used, specifically, the observational case study style. The population comprised three Form 4 students and their natural science teacher, purposely selected. Data was collected using the non-participant observation and the standardised open-ended interview methods. The collected data was analysed using the discourse analysis approach. The analysed data indicated that prevailing discourse patterns were teacher and student talk, as well as written work. A conclusion was that student classroom discourse in the natural sciences should be encouraged among all students for improved understanding and meaning making. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

The aim of the study was to investigate classroom discourse among high school natural science students in Swaziland. The research problem was: Can student interactions tell us something about the negotiation of understanding during natural science teaching? A qualitative approach was used, specifically, the observational case study style. The population comprised three Form 4 students and their natural science teacher, purposely selected. Data was collected using the non-participant observation and the standardised open-ended interview methods. The collected data was analysed using the discourse analysis approach. The analysed data indicated that prevailing discourse patterns were teacher and student talk, as well as written work. A conclusion was that student classroom discourse in the natural sciences should be encouraged among all students for improved understanding and meaning making. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

This project aims to support pharmacovigilance, the science and activities relating to drug-safety and prevention of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). We focus on a specific ADR called QT prolongation, a serious reaction affecting the heartbeat. Our main goal is to group medicinal ingredients that might cause QT prolongation. This grouping can be used in safety analysis and for exclusion lists in clinical studies. It should preferably be ranked according to level of suspected correlation. We wished to create an automated and standardised process. Drug safety-related reports describing patients' experienced ADRs and what medicinal products they have taken are collected in a database called VigiBase, that we have used as source for ingredient extraction. The ADRs are described in free-texts and coded using an international standardised terminology. This helps us to process the data and filter ingredients included in a report that describes QT prolongation. To broaden our project scope to include uncoded data, we extended the process to use free-text verbatims describing the ADR as input. By processing and filtering the free-text data and training a classification model for natural language processing released by Google on VigiBase data, we were able to predict if a free-text verbatim is describing QT prolongation. The classification resulted in an F1-score of 98%. For the ingredients extracted from VigiBase, we wanted to validate if there is a known connection to QT prolongation. The VigiBase occurrences is a parameter to consider, but it might be misleading since a report can include several drugs, and a drug can include several ingredients, making it hard to validate the cause. For validation, we used product labels connected to each ingredient of interest. We used a tool to download, scan and code product labels in order to see which ones mention QT prolongation. To rank our final list of ingredients according to level of suspected QT prolongation correlation, we used a multinomial logistic regression model. As training data, we used a data subset manually labeled by pharmacists. Used on unlabeled validation data, the model accuracy was 68%. Analyzing the training data showed that it was not easily separated linearly explaining the limited classification performance. The final ranked list of ingredients suspected to cause QT prolongation consists of 1086 ingredients.

Detta examensarbete genomfördes hos ett tillverkande företag utanför Stockholm. Företagets produktion består delvis av egenbyggda maskiner. Lämpliga instruktioner för underhåll, riggning samt felsökning fanns inte tillgängliga för dessa maskiner. En av de mest kritiska avdelningarna hos företaget kallas för klipp- och rullavdelningen. För tillfället finns endast en operatör i avdelningen som känner till samtliga maskiners funktioner. Denna operatör innehar så kallad tyst kunskap. Målet med detta examensarbete har varit att dokumentera tyst kunskap genom digitalisering av instruktioner. Efter att mål, problemdefinition och tillvägagångssätt fastställts gjordes en faktainsamling som bestod av primär- och sekundärdata. Diskussioner med företagets VD och de operatörer som arbetar i den aktuella avdelningen genomfördes. Detta bidrog till en djupare förståelse av problemet som i sin tur skapade en grund för hur digitaliseringen skulle ske. Arbetet bestod även av en teoretisk referensram vars syfte var att bidra till förståelse av vetenskaplig karaktär. I den teoretiska referensramen studerades även det nya konceptet för digitalisering inom industrin och dess påverkan på små och medelstora företag (SMF). Digitaliseringen karaktäriseras av smart teknologi. I dagsläget anses inte vissa smarta teknologier, så som virtual reality (virtuell verklighet) och augmented reality (förstärkt verklighet) tillämpbara hos företaget. Augmented reality (AR) kan dock komma att underlätta reparation och liknande arbetsuppgifter i framtiden. Den metod som valdes för att ta fram instruktioner var videoinspelning. Tillämpning av detta ansågs vara ett adekvat val då projektet utfördes. För att kunna spela in, redigera och använda videoinstruktioner krävs dock kompatibel hård- och mjukvara. De rekommendationer som gavs till företaget var att lagra filerna på ett intranät eller någon molntjänst som skapar lättillgänglighet. Förutom videoinstruktioner rekommenderas även praktisk handledning av en erfaren operatör. Detta skapar en kombination av praktisk och teoretisk inlärning. Instruktioner för hur företaget ska redigera och lagra videoinspelningarna togs fram för att skapa ett standardiserat arbete. / This project was conducted at a manufacturing company outside of Stockholm. Production is partially operated by machines that are manufactured by the company; however, appropriate maintenance instructions, machine settings and error search are currently unavailable for these machines. The most critical department within the workshop is called “cut and roll”, the department only has one operator who has full knowledge of the machines and their functions. This type of knowledge possessed by the operator is called tacit knowledge. The aim of this project is to document and transfer the tacit knowledge through digitalisation of instructions. After defining the problem, methods and aims of the project, primary and secondary data was collected. Furthermore, discussions were held with the chief executive of the company and the operators working in the cut and roll department. This led to a deeper understanding of the main problem and created a foundation for the methods used to digitalise instructions. The project also contains a literature review to conduce the scientific aspects of the problem. Moreover, the upcoming concept regarding digitalisation within manufacturing companies and its effect on small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) was also taken into consideration. The concept is characterised by smart technology. These types of technologies, e.g. virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), are not adequate to implement in the company today. Even so, AR could be a complementary tool regarding maintenance and similar tasks in the future. The method used to digitalise instructions was video recording, serving as the most adequate digital tool whilst executing the project. However, compatible hardware and software is necessary to create video instructions. Recommendations proposed to the company are that instructions should be stored in an intranet or cloud; and, in addition to video instructions, practical supervision given by an experienced operator is recommended. Thereby giving a combination of both practical and theoretical learning. Instructions on how to edit and store the videos was created to maintain standardized working methods.

Bakgrund Socialtjänsten saknar register för uppföljning av kvalitet. Utan kunskap om vilka insatser som socialtjänsten ger   riskerar personer att blir utan effektiva insatser eller utsätts för insatser som kan vara till mer skada än nytta. Syfte Förbättrad livssituation för individer i socialtjänstens missbruks- och beroendevård genom  systematisk uppföljning. Öka användningen av Addiction Severity Index- (ASI) för att följa och utveckla socialtjänstens insatser. Identifiera faktorer som bidrar till eller försvåra användandet av ASI. Metod Programteorin innehållande fem förbättringsområden togs fram. Förbättringsarbetet följdes upp genom genomförda ASI-intervjuer. Förbättringsarbetet studerades med mixad metod. Kvantitativ data med tidsserieanalys och kvalitativ data  med tematisk analys. Resultaten har analyserats genom Modell för implementering i olika kontexter. Resultat Användning av ASI-intervjuer ökade men nådde ej målen. Studien av förbättringsarbetet ger få svar på vad som påverkar användningen av ASI. Starkare koppling av faktorer med negativ inverkan på ASI-användningen än positiva inverkan. Slutsatser Förbättringsarbete  på flera områden gav ökad ASI-användning. Förbättringsarbete kan bedrivas samtidigt i ett läns kommuner. Det finns intresse för förenklade ASI-intervjuer men försöket gav ej underlag att dra slutsatser. Studien visar  faktorer som påverkar användningen av ASI men att det krävs fördjupningar för att generaliserbara slutsatser. / BackgroundSocial services do not have registers for monitoring quality. Without knowledge of what interventions the social services provide already exposed groups risk missing follow-up and improvement of care and support. Purpose Improved life situation for individuals in social services addiction care through systematic follow-up. Increase the use of Addiction Severity Index (ASI) to monitor and improve social services. Identify factors that contribute to or hamper the use of ASI. Method A program theory was developed. The improvement work was studied with a mixed method. Quantitative data with time series analysis and qualitative data with thematic analysis. Results was analysed through Model for implementation in different contexts. Results The use of ASI interviews increased but did not reach the targets. The study of the improvement gives few answers to what affects the use of ASI. Stronger coupling of factors with a negative impact on ASI usage than positive impact. Conclusion Improvement in multiple areas increased use of ASI. Improvement can be carried out simultaneously in 13 municipalities in a county. There is interest in simplified ASI interviews, but the trial did not provide evidence to draw conclusions. The study shows factors that affect the use of ASI, but that there is a need for more studies to generalize conclusions.

The company Butong is based on a patented process of casting concrete between two layers of bubble wrap, resulting in panels of translucent concrete. This material is mainly applied as panels in vertical gardens and light installations. Today, the business is based on projects that require custom made designs. Alongside these projects, products with a standardised manufacturing process are desired to extend the company towards the consumer market and fill the workflow gaps existing in their current production. Through strategic branding, this project aimed to create a new business segment of standardised design products and the framework needed for Butong to enter the consumer market. From analysing the company and its values, understanding the possibilities and limitations of the material and from investigating the opportunities on the market, the brand position for the segment was determined. A strategy to establish the business on the targeted market was developed, including a brand identity and design guidelines for the new segment. To exemplify the usage of the guidelines, several concepts were produced, of which one was further developed to be the flagship product of the segment. The segment was directed to target both Butong’s current market and the consumer market in order to facilitate its establishment and to reach a larger public. It is developed to consist of products that clearly display the properties of the material and are aligned to the identity of the brand. Following the set guidelines, the developed concepts confirm its value and potential by communicating coherency and the expressions desired. With a standardised manufacturing process, the production can be engaged at any time to make use of the existing workflow gaps and complement Butong’s existing business without obstructing it. / Företaget Butong bygger sin verksamhet på sin patenterade tillverkningsmetod av att gjuta betong mellan två lager av bubbelplast, vilken resulterar i paneler av translucent betong. Detta material används framförallt till att skapa vertikala trädgårdar och effektfulla ljusinstallationer. Idag är verksamheten projektbaserad vilket kräver skräddarsydda lösningar. Ett sortiment bestående av produkter med en standardiserad tillverkningsprocess skulle kunna komplettera den befintliga produktionen genom att fylla de luckor som uppstår i det projektbaserade arbetet. Ett sådant sortiment ses även som en möjlighet för att utöka den nuvarande verksamheten mot en konsumentmarknad. Genom strategiskt varumärkesbyggande var målet med detta projekt att skapa ett nytt affärssegment bestående av standardiserade produkter och det strategiska ramverk som krävs för att kunna etablera Butong på konsumentmarknaden. Av att analysera företaget och dess värderingar, förstå materialets möjligheter och begränsningar samt undersöka marknaden, kunde positioneringen av segmentet bestämmas. En strategi skapades för att etablera segmentet på den tänkta marknaden tillsammans med en varumärkesidentitet och riktlinjer för produktutvecklingen inom segmentet. För att exemplifiera användandet av dessa riktlinjer skapades flera koncept, varav ett vidareutvecklades som en första produkt att representera varumärket med. För att underlätta etableringen av segmentet och utöka verksamheten, valdes både Butongs nuvarande marknad och konsumentmarknaden som målgrupp. Produkterna inom segmentet har ett formspråk som både demonstrerar materialets egenskaper och följer företagets nuvarande identitet. Värdet och potentialen i de framtagna riktlinjerna bekräftas av de uttryck och det genomgående formspråk som de skapade koncepten kommunicerar. Med en standardiserad produktion, kan tillverkningen av produkterna tas vid när som helst och ta till vara på luckorna i arbetsflödet och på så sätt komplettera Butongs nuvarande verksamhet utan att påverka den.

This study investigated the development and implementation of methods and procedures as generic administrative function, with specific reference to issuing drivers licences in the Driving Licence Testing Centre of the Madibeng Municipality. The contribution of the study to the discipline, Public Administration, is found in the basic framework for the development of standard operating procedures. Furthermore, a set of standard operating procedures to issue drivers licences was developed. In essence, the systems theory inspired the design of the basic framework for the development of standard operating procedures, while the phases of the ADDIE instructional design model simplified the drafting of the standardised procedures to issue drivers licences. Although the empirical data collection commenced with a quantitative research methodology, a qualitative dimension was required to fully understand the problem why the Driving Licence Testing Centre at the Madibeng Municipality lacks contemporary and relevant standard operating procedures to issue drivers licences. A mixed methods research design was eventually adopted to explore the phenomenon because a second research method was needed to strengthen the primary research method. Data was initially collected through a questionnaire, and follow-up personal interviews were conducted to clarify issues that were not responded to or unclear from the self-administered questionnaires. This conforms to pragmatism - the research philosophy adopted for this study because predetermined research questions dictated the path towards realising the research objectives. Since this study utilised a mixture of qualitative and quantitative research designs, the research methodology was shaped by various strategies, techniques and data collection instruments, such as literature reviews, document analyses to draft the standardised procedures, case study (Driving Licence Testing Centre of the Madibeng Municipality), a structured questionnaire and semi-structured personal interviews. In this study, the administrative generic function of determining and revision of methods and procedures was referred to as ‘methods and procedures’. Within the context of Public Administration, the study revealed that methods and procedures specify the sequence, processes and techniques necessary to execute certain actions and operations during service delivery. Moreover, it states how tasks must be exercised within the public sector, as well as indicate who must take action. Consequently, methods and procedures are built into all public service activities, regardless whether these are administrative, functional or auxiliary activities. It was concluded that methods and procedures form an indispensable part of any public institution’s activities. However, the study focused on methods and procedures to issue drivers licences at the Driving Licence Testing Centre of the Madibeng Municipality. The study realised its overall aim when recommendations were made to the Driving Licence Testing Centre of the Madibeng Municipality of how to develop and implement standard operating procedures to issue drivers licences. In essence, it was recommended that the basic framework for the development of standard operating procedures be applied when updating and/or developing methods and procedures. Moreover, it was recommended that the set of newly developed standard operating procedures be adopted and implemented. It was also suggested, amongst other proposals, that the management and the staff at the Centre engage from the initial stages in the procedure development process, that clear steps and instructions of how to reach organisational short-term objectives, be specified, and caution be taken by the Madibeng Municipality against the implementation of an overly multifaceted internal control system at its Driving Licence Testing Centre. / Department of Public Administration and Management / D.Admin. (Public Administration)

This study delves into the intricacies of the language used in wine reviews, focusing on the adoption of standardised wine vocabularies, specifically the original Wine Aroma Wheel (Noble A. C. et al., 1984) and the Wine Lexicon of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET Level 4 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®, 2023). It investigates the extent to which professional wine reviewers adhere to these standard lexicons or opt for individualistic expression. An essential component of the research identifies and analyses emerging terms in wine reviews, shedding light on the evolving nature of wine discourse. The study's findings indicate that while standardised vocabularies are influential and foundational, there remains room for individualised expression in conveying the nuanced sensory experience of wine tasting. Additionally, the research highlights the importance of these emergent terms and their potential to enrich existing wine vocabularies. Given the global nature of the wine industry, the study underscores the need for a more inclusive and adaptive linguistic approach. To this end, the research suggests the potential benefits of a controlled vocabulary system tailored for the wine sector. Despite its inherent challenges, such a system could streamline wine descriptions, promoting a more consistent understanding across diverse audiences along with better communication among professionals. / Questo studio approfondisce la complessità del linguaggio utilizzato nelle recensioni di vino, focalizzando sull'adozione di linguaggi standardizzati e in particolare su "The Wine Aroma Wheel" (Noble A. C. et al., 1984) e su "The Wine Lexicon of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust" (WSET Level 4 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®, 2023). La ricerca intende concentrarsi nella misura in cui i recensori professionisti di vino aderiscono a questi linguaggi controllati, o preferiscono optare per un'espressione individuale. Una parte sostanziale della ricerca che identifica ed analizza i termini emergenti nelle recensioni di vino, rivela l'evoluzione del discorso sul vino. I risultati dello studio indicano che, sebbene i linguaggi standardizzati siano influenti e fondamentali, lasciano ancora spazio all'espressione personale a descrivere l'esperienza sensoriale della degustazione del vino. Inoltre, i risultati sottolineano l'importanza dei termini emergenti e la loro potenzialità di arricchire i linguaggi inerenti al discorso di vino. Considerando la visione olistica dell'industria vinicola, questo studio mette in rilievo la necessità di un approccio linguistico più inclusivo e flessibile. In tal senso, si propongono i benefici impliciti di un sistema di linguaggio controllato su misura per il settore vinicolo. Nonostante le complessità che possano insorgere, un sistema di questo tipo potrebbe semplificare la descrizione del vino, promuovendo sia l'intesa reciproca tra gruppi di persone diversi, che una migliore comunicazione tra i professionisti nel mondo del vino.

No description available.

Increasing time trends in the recorded incidence of childhood cancer have been reported in many different settings. The extent to which these trends reflect real changes in incidence, rather than improvements in methods for diagnosis and registration, is controversial. Using data from the National Registry of Childhood Tumours (NRCT), this thesis investigates time trends in cancer diagnosed under age 15 in residents of Britain during 1966-2005 (54650 cases), and considers potential sources of artefact in detail. Several different methods are used to estimate completeness of NRCT registration. The history of methods for diagnosis and registration of childhood cancers in Britain is described, and predictions are made for effects on recorded incidence. For each of the 12 main diagnostic groups, Poisson regression is used to fit continuous time trends and ‘step’ models to the annual age-sex-standardised rates by year of birth and year of diagnosis. Age-specific rates by period, and quinquennial standardised rates for diagnostic subgroups, are shown graphically. For three broad groups (leukaemia, CNS tumours and other cancer), geographical variation is compared by period of diagnosis. The results of these analyses are discussed in relation to the predicted artefacts. The evidence for a positive association between affluence and recorded incidence of childhood leukaemia is briefly reviewed. A special form of diagnostic artefact, the ‘fatal infection’ hypothesis, is proposed as an explanation of both this association and the leukaemia time trend. This hypothesis is examined in a novel test based on clinical data. The recorded incidence of childhood cancer in Britain increased in each of 12 diagnostic groups during 1966-2005 (from 0.5% per year for bone cancer to 2.5% for hepatic cancer, with 0.7% for leukaemia). Evidence presented here suggests that these increases are probably artefacts of diagnosis and registration. The potential implications for epidemiological studies of childhood cancer should be considered.