Background The European level of alcohol consumption, and the subsequent burden of disease, is high compared to the rest of the world. While screening and brief interventions in primary healthcare are cost-effective, in most countries they have hardly been implemented in routine primary healthcare. In this study, we aim to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of three implementation interventions that have been chosen to address key barriers for improvement: training and support to address lack of knowledge and motivation in healthcare providers; financial reimbursement to compensate the time investment; and internet-based counselling to reduce workload for primary care providers. Methods/design In a cluster randomized factorial trial, data from Catalan, English, Netherlands, Polish, and Swedish primary healthcare units will be collected on screening and brief advice rates for hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption. The three implementation strategies will be provided separately and in combination in a total of seven intervention groups and compared with a treatment as usual control group. Screening and brief intervention activities will be measured at baseline, during 12 weeks and after six months. Process measures include health professionals’ role security and therapeutic commitment of the participating providers (SAAPPQ questionnaire). A total of 120 primary healthcare units will be included, equally distributed over the five countries. Both intention to treat and per protocol analyses are planned to determine intervention effectiveness, using random coefficient regression modelling. Discussion Effective interventions to implement screening and brief interventions for hazardous alcohol use are urgently required. This international multi-centre trial will provide evidence to guide decision makers. / <p>Funding Agencies|European Communitys Seventh Framework Program|259268|The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW)|200310017|FP7 EC Grant||</p>

Alcohol measurement in health care settings is an effective intervention for reducing alcohol-related harm. However, in many countries, costs related to alcohol measurement have not yet been transparently assessed, which may hinder its adoption and implementation. Costs of an alcohol measurement programme in three upper-middle-income Latin American countries were assessed via questionnaires and compared, as part of the quasi-experimental SCALA study. Additional to the intervention costs, the costs of three implementation strategies: standard training and clinical package, intensive training and clinical package, and community support, were assessed and subsequently translated into costs per additional alcohol measurement session. Results demonstrated that costs for one alcohol measurement session ranged between Int$ 0.67 and Int$ 1.23 in Colombia, Int$ 1.19 and Int$ 2.57 in Mexico, and Int$ 1.11 and Int$ 2.14 in Peru. Costs were mainly driven by the salaries of the health professionals. Implementation strategies costs per additional alcohol measurement session ranged between Int$ 1.24 and Int$ 6.17. In all three countries, standard training and a clinical package may be a promising implementation strategy with a relatively low cost per additional alcohol measurement session.

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of teacher trainers and trainees about a web-support system and its components developed and implemented as an integral part of the in-service teacher training program entitled &ldquo / Certificate for Teaching English&rdquo / (CTE) program for the newly hired teachers in the two departments of the School of Foreign Languages at Middle East Technical University (METU). The overall design of this study was a case study which was conducted as action research within the qualitative research paradigm. Some participants&rsquo / perceived the file system as usable, reachable, and beneficial because the file types used in the web-support were in congruence with the CTE program. Some participants had difficulty finding files that they were looking for. The participants were not able to use the forum frequently enough because they did not have enough time and they were always in contact with each other during their work hours. However, they suggested the usage of compulsory activities that are separated to be used within the forum. The participants perceived the online tasks as beneficial in terms of retention and revision of sessions and showing examples of how to use video in class. The participants thought that the presence of the curriculum information on the web was essential as information. The participants perceived that the integration of web support and sessions was partial and they wanted to do some sessions online in the future. The participants perceived news section as beneficial in directing them but they thought it should be updated more often.

Doctor Of Philosophy / Department of Curriculum and Instruction / Rosemary Talab / The purpose of this study was to learn the perceived training needs of the support staff in the six Kansas Board of Regents’ (KBOR) university libraries. Based on data from field and pilot studies and advice from an expert panel, a survey instrument was designed to assess library support staff’s perceptions of their train needs on computer skills, interpersonal skills, supervision/management skills, important library/organizational support, helpful training delivery methods, and training sources. The survey instrument was administered to the entire 167 support staff in the six KBOR university libraries, with a return rate of 83 percent achieved through two mailings and two postcard reminders. Quantitative data from the responses to closed-ended questions were analyzed through descriptive measures and one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Qualitative approaches to code answers from open-ended questions were utilized in order to allow stakeholder themes to emerge. Quantitative analyses indicated that the respondents viewed the most important training topics for each area of the study to be: database searching and MS Office suites for computer skills; working with difficult people and managing priorities for interpersonal skills; training new employees and supervising student employees for supervision/management skills; being supplied with appropriate software, release time, and technical support were viewed as the most important library support that would help their training. The respondents perceived classroom instruction with a teacher and interactive classroom discussions as being the most helpful delivery methods. The respondents considered in-house trainers, supervisors, and co-workers as being the most helpful training sources. A series of MANOVA tests were conducted on the six areas of the study. At the alpha = .05 level, statistically significant differences were found in the respondents’ perceptions of training needs on computer skills measured by their work units, supervision/management skills measured by their work units and level of job responsibilities, the respondents’ perceptions of important library/organizational support measured by their total years in the library filed and age range, and the respondents’ perceptions of helpful training sources measured by their total years at current positions. Qualitative analyses provided 314 units of information on 32 themes on additional training topics, library/organizational support, delivery methods, and training sources. The top 10 themes were related to “Software programs,” “Windows operating systems,” “Release time,” “Supervisor/management support,” “Relevance/applicable training,” “Promotion/opportunities,” “Training for motivation,” “Classroom with feedback,” “Training materials,” and “One-on-one and in-house training.” Based on the findings, summaries, and conclusions of this study, the researcher made recommendations for further study that focuses on job training needs of support staff at university libraries, including a broader scope of training topics, motivating factors, the perceptions of library administrators on the support staff’s training needs, training needs on supervision/management for non-supervision support staff, differing views on library/organizational support, different training delivery methods, etc.

The purpose of this case study was to establish the influence of the Internet on the use of computers by teachers at a primary school in a lower socio-economic community in South Africa. The study investigates to what extent the use of the Internet as a source of information and communication motivated teachers to apply the computer for other purposes. A project was implemented to find answers to the main question: “What influence did the Internet have on the integration of computers at a primary school in a lower socio-economic community in South Africa?” During this project teachers were introduced to the Internet, and attended a five months’ course in computer training, offered once a week, for one hour after school. Special attention was paid to factors that influenced the use of the Internet and the computer. The main focus was on factors such as motivation, training, support, time, the attitude of teachers and their access to computers. Answers to how the Internet contributed to the use of the computer for educational purposes were also noted. In this study the training and support offered to teachers played a major role in their use of the Internet and the computer. Teachers wanted training on aspects that would be useful and relevant to them. They mostly needed support with the technical aspects of the computer and the software. Prior to the project the teachers’ computer skills were limited. By the end of the project their skills had improved, as there was a 42% growth in communication through e-mail, a 67% growth in searching for information on the Internet, a 50% growth in the use of the computer for school administration and a 83% growth in the use of word processing. Other factors that also played a major role in the successful use of the Internet and the computer were the policies of the school’s management team, specifically those policies that made access to computer technology possible. The study recommended that policies on the use of the Internet and the computer (acceptable use policy) should be in place. The study concluded that Internet skills had a definite influence on teachers’ use of the computer. / Dissertation (MEd (Computer-Integrated Education))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

This thesis projct examines the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Project Management, focusing on its impact on the working personnel. AI has the potential to improve management processes, increase efficiency, and enhance decision-making. This thesis aims to explore the implementation of AI in project management with a focus on the impact on working personnel. The study analyzes the benefits and challanges of AI implementation, the impact on the role of project managers and team members, and the ethical considerations of using AI in project management. The research incorporates a literature review and semi-structured interviews conducted with project managers from Greece and Sweden to gather comprehensive insights. The findings suggest that the integration of AI in project management can significantly benefit working personnel by reducing workload, increasing accuracy, and providing better insights. However, the implementation of AI requires careful consideration of ethical issues and proper training of personnel. / Detta examensarbete undersöker implementeringen av artificiell intelligens (AI) i projektledning, med fokus på dess inverkan på arbetsgivare. Studien innehåller en literaturgenomgång och semistrukturerade intervjuer med projektledare från Grekland och Sverige för att smala in omfattande insikter. AI har potential att förbättra projektledningsprocesser, öka effektiviteten och förbättra beslutsfattandet. Studien analyserar fördelarna och utmaningarna med AI-implementering, inverkan på rollen för projektledare och teammedlemmar, och de etiska övervägandena av att använda AI i projektledning. Resultatet tyder på att integrationen av AI i projektledning avsevärt kan gynna arbetande personal genom att minska arbetsbelastningen, öka noggrannheten och ge bättre insikter. Men implementeringen av AI kräver noggrant övervägande av etiska frågor och korrekt utbildning av personal.

Socialinių paslaugų sistema Lietuvoje dar tik formuojasi, todėl nėra aiškios įstaigų veiklos galimybės. Vykstant ekonominiams ir socialiniams pokyčiams, socialinės paslaugos įgyja vis didesnę svarbą šalies gyvenime. Socialinių paslaugų tinklas labai įvairus , tačiau senstant visuomenei vis didesnę reikšmę įgyja nauja socialinė paslauga – Dienos centrai pagyvenusiems žmonėms. Visuomenėje daugėja žmonių, kurie nagali savimi pasirūpinti, jų nesavarankiškumas priverčia šeimos narius palikti darbo vietą ir užsiimti priežiūra. Todėl socialinių paslaugų plėtojimas labai svarbus, atsižvelgiant į žmonių poreikius. Šio magistrinio darbo tikslas – išsiaiškinti globėjų, socialinių darbuotojų ir savivaldybės darbuotojų nuostatas dėl dienos centro teikiamų paslaugų aktualumo, prieinamumo ir reikalingumo. Tyrimo objektas – socialinių paslaugų teikimas Dienos centre. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Pateikti socialinių paslaugų sampratą. 2. Pateikti socialinių paslaugų klasifikavimą, jų organizavimą ir teisinės bazės reglamentavimą Lietuvos Respublikoje ir Europos Sąjungos šalyse. 3. Aptarti socialinių paslaugų sistemą Lietuvoje. 4. Pateikti socialinių paslaugų standartų taikymo praktiką. 5. Aptarti Dienos centų, pagyvenusiems ir neįgaliems žmonėms, funkcionavimo ypatumus. 6. Remiantis atliktu tyrimu, išsiaiškinti globėjų, darbuotojų nuostatas dėl Dienos centre teikiamų paslaugų aktualumo ir prieinamumo. Kokybiniam tyrimui atlikti buvo naudotas ekspertų vertinimo metodas, kurio metu buvo apklausti 9... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Social services system in Lithuania is still developing, so there is not a clear possibility of institutions. Ongoing economic and social change, social services are gaining importance in life of the country. Social services network is very wide, but because of society aging one of the social services gaining importance, this is- Day care center for elderly people. More and more people who can not take care of themselves, their lack of autonomy causes family members to leave workplaces and to engage in survillance. Therefore, social services development is very important according to people‘s needs. The aim of this master work is to find foster parents, social and municipal workers opinion about Day care center service relevance, availability and necessity. The object of research - social services provision in day center. Objectives: 1st. Provide the concept of social services. 2nd. Provide social services classification, its organization and the legal base for the regulation of the Republic of Lithuania and the European Union. 3rd. Discuss the social services system in Lithuania. 4th. Provide social services standards for practice. 5th. Discuss Day care centre, for the elderly and people with disabilities, functional features. 6th Based on research identify foster parents, social and municipal workers opinion about Day care center provision services relevance and necessity. For qualitative research was used the expert evaluation method, during research the nine respondents... [to full text]

Summaries in German and English / Die Zielgruppe der jungen Erwachsenen erhalt in evangelischen Kirchengemeinden und Jugendverbanden wenig Aufmerksamkeit. Zudem liegt kaum wissenschaftliche oder gemeindliche Literatur vor - noch weniger im direktem Bezug auf Mitarbeiterforderung der Altersgruppe 18- bis 22-Jahriger. Folglich hat die vorliegende Arbeit sich der Aufgabe gewidmet, eine Theorie der Mitarbeiterforderung zu entwickeln. Sie wird in Form von Prinzipien abgebildet, die eigens auf die Bedurfnisse von Nachwuchsmitarbeitern innerhalb der Teenagerarbeit eingehen. Die zu entwickelnden Leitlinien bilden sich zunachst aus zwei Quellen. Sie ergeben sich zum einen aus dem neutestamentlichen Befund zu 2Tim 2,2, zum anderen aus der Untersuchung von Literatur aus Gemeindepadagogik, CVJM und evangelischer Landeskirche sowie der Personalfuhrungslehre. Die durch Synopse gebildeten Prinzipien werden an der Empirie gepruft und erganzt. Das geschieht durch eine qualitative Vergleichsstudie innerhalb eines CVJM Ortsvereins in Baden. Auf der Basis der erarbeiteten Prinzipien der Mitarbeiterforderung entwickelt die Miterarbeit Anstosse fur die Praxis. / The target group of young adults (18-22 years) receives little attention in protestant churches and youth associations. Hardly any literature at all is available, even less on the training and support of voluntary leaders. Therefore, this dissertation attempts to develop a theory for training and supporting voluntary workers, portrayed in the form of principles aiming at the needs of upcoming junior leaders in teenage work. The developed guidelines originate from two sources, namely the New Testament findings around 2Tim 2,2 and the research literature in the areas of theory and methodology of Christian education, YMCA work, state church publications and personnel management and leadership. These principles, worked out through a textual comparison, are verified and complemented by empirical knowledge gathered from a qualitative study within a local YMCA group in Baden. Based on the theoretical findings, this dissertation offers practical help for the training and support of voluntary workers. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

Summaries in German and English / Die Zielgruppe der jungen Erwachsenen erhalt in evangelischen Kirchengemeinden und Jugendverbanden wenig Aufmerksamkeit. Zudem liegt kaum wissenschaftliche oder gemeindliche Literatur vor - noch weniger im direktem Bezug auf Mitarbeiterforderung der Altersgruppe 18- bis 22-Jahriger. Folglich hat die vorliegende Arbeit sich der Aufgabe gewidmet, eine Theorie der Mitarbeiterforderung zu entwickeln. Sie wird in Form von Prinzipien abgebildet, die eigens auf die Bedurfnisse von Nachwuchsmitarbeitern innerhalb der Teenagerarbeit eingehen. Die zu entwickelnden Leitlinien bilden sich zunachst aus zwei Quellen. Sie ergeben sich zum einen aus dem neutestamentlichen Befund zu 2Tim 2,2, zum anderen aus der Untersuchung von Literatur aus Gemeindepadagogik, CVJM und evangelischer Landeskirche sowie der Personalfuhrungslehre. Die durch Synopse gebildeten Prinzipien werden an der Empirie gepruft und erganzt. Das geschieht durch eine qualitative Vergleichsstudie innerhalb eines CVJM Ortsvereins in Baden. Auf der Basis der erarbeiteten Prinzipien der Mitarbeiterforderung entwickelt die Miterarbeit Anstosse fur die Praxis. / The target group of young adults (18-22 years) receives little attention in protestant churches and youth associations. Hardly any literature at all is available, even less on the training and support of voluntary leaders. Therefore, this dissertation attempts to develop a theory for training and supporting voluntary workers, portrayed in the form of principles aiming at the needs of upcoming junior leaders in teenage work. The developed guidelines originate from two sources, namely the New Testament findings around 2Tim 2,2 and the research literature in the areas of theory and methodology of Christian education, YMCA work, state church publications and personnel management and leadership. These principles, worked out through a textual comparison, are verified and complemented by empirical knowledge gathered from a qualitative study within a local YMCA group in Baden. Based on the theoretical findings, this dissertation offers practical help for the training and support of voluntary workers. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

Training a Support Vector Machine (SVM) requires the solution of a very large quadratic programming (QP) optimization problem. Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO) is a decomposition-based algorithm which breaks this large QP problem into a series of smallest possible QP problems. However, it still costs O(n2) computation time. In our SVM implementation, we can do training with huge data sets in a distributed manner (by breaking the dataset into chunks, then using Message Passing Interface (MPI) to distribute each chunk to a different machine and processing SVM training within each chunk). In addition, we moved the kernel calculation part in SVM classification to a graphics processing unit (GPU) which has zero scheduling overhead to create concurrent threads. In this thesis, we will take advantage of this GPU architecture to improve the classification performance of SVM.