This study explored the school climate of adult basic education centres by investigating the extent to which these education centres showed evidence of control, staff cohesiveness, physical resources, and safe and orderly environment. The study was inspired by a lack of school climate studies that focused on adult basic education centres as many school climate studies had concentrated on investigating the school climate of primary and secondary schools. The broad research question which was addressed in the research study was: ‘What is the nature of the school climate of adult basic education centres as perceived by educators?’ The participating educators were randomly selected and a survey – in the form of a questionnaire – was administered. The questionnaire comprised the four scales mentioned above. The items from the four scales were validated through the use of both face and content-related validity procedures. Face validity was ensured through pre-testing. Content validity was achieved through expert review of the items used. The extent to which these items could be included as part of a scale was further explored by means of reliability analysis whose acceptable coefficient alpha was benchmarked at 0.65 and above. Reliability was used to explore the reliability of the questionnaire. The aspect of reliability used for this purpose was analysis of internal consistency. The main purpose was to ascertain whether all the items used in the four scales collectively measured the construct school climate. For example, the reliability analysis for the variable control had 0.79 as its coefficient alpha whilst the reliability analysis for the variable staff cohesiveness, physical resources and safe and orderly environment had 0.76, 0.89, 0.84 as corresponding coefficient alpha respectively. This implied that most items within the four scales measured the construct control, staff cohesiveness, physical resources, safe and orderly environment as part of the construct school climate. Furthermore, the coefficient alphas of these four scales compared well with the overall coefficient alpha of 0.84 for this study, which further implied that each of the scales had an immense contribution in the measurement of the construct school climate. Based on the scale rubric designed for the variable control (high score 28-21: moderate score 20-14; low score 13-0), the results from the analysis indicated that the centres under review had a fair level of control mechanisms in place as in all these centres the mean score varied between 23 and 25. On the basis of the scale rubric devised for staff cohesiveness (high score 32-24; moderate score 23-16; low score 15-0), it was also revealed that the majority of the centres had evidence of staff cohesiveness, as no low score was recorded for in most cases the mean score revolved between 22 and 25. Although, the results further indicated that there was an average degree of physical resources in most centres, it also became clear that not all centres had the same level of physical resources at their disposal as the majority of the centres had a mean score that fluctuated between 18 and 33. The scale rubric for physical resources was: between 40-30 for high score; between 29-20 for moderate score and between 19-0 for low score. Finally, the mean score for the variable safe and orderly environment alternated between the minimum mean score of 17 and the maximum mean score of 21. Based on the latter mean scores, it became clear that the majority of the centres had a safe and orderly environment level that fell within the moderate score category (between 20-14) whilst the remaining two centres had a high score category (between 28-21) and no centre had a low score category (between 13-0). / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

Syfte: Att beskriva den organisationsförändring som fem röntgenkliniker i Sverige genomgick i samband med att radiologin digitaliserades. Frågeställningar: Hur förändrades antalet genomförda radiologiska undersökningar och undersökningstyper från tidpunkten två år före digitaliseringen till två, fyra och sex år efter digitaliseringen? Hur förändrades antalet arbetade timmar och fördelningen av arbetade timmar mellan de olika personalkategorierna från tidpunkten två år före digitaliseringen till två, fyra och sex år efter digitaliseringen? Hur förändrades arbetsuppgifterna inom och mellan de olika personalkategorierna på röntgenklinikerna efter digitaliseringen? Hur beskriver personal med en nyckelfunktion genomförandet av digitaliseringen och eventuell förändring av arbetet efter digitaliseringen? Metod: Kvantitativ och kvalitativ metod har använts och kombinerats för att besvara studiens frågeställningar. Fem svenska röntgenkliniker ingick i studien och material avseende produktionsutfall samlades in från respektive röntgenklinik. Totalt intervjuades 22 personer, med tre till sex intervjuer per röntgenklinik. Teoretiska ramverk: För att försöka förstå de positiva fynden, avseende utökade antalet undersökningar och minskning av arbetade timmar, efter digitaliseringen, genomfördes vid en av röntgenklinikerna en fallstudie med ytterligare två frågeställningar: Hur genomfördes digitaliseringen? Hur har uppföljningen vad avser arbetsflöden, genomförandet och förändringar i detalj genomförts efter digitaliseringen? Delar av Bramson m.fl. (2005) perspektiv och Kotter och Cohens (2002) framgångsfaktorer har applicerats vid analysen av det resultatet. Resultat: Samtliga röntgenkliniker uppvisade en liten ökning av antalet radiologiska undersökningar, medan datortomografi- och magnetkameraundersökningarna ökade markant under den studerade tiden. Efter digitaliseringen genomförs således fler komplicerade undersökningar, vilket anses ha medfört en kvalitativt bättre och säkrare diagnosticering. Övriga undersökningstyper uppvisar varierande resultat. Vid tre av röntgenklinikerna minskade den totala arbetade tiden, och vid två ökade den. Antalet arbetade timmar ökade för röntgenläkare och röntgensjuksköterskor, men minskade för sekreterare och undersköterskor under den studerade tiden. Generellt utför röntgenläkarna och röntgensjuksköterskorna fler arbetsuppgifter efter digitaliseringen, och många av de traditionella arbetsuppgifterna för sekreterare och undersköterskor har försvunnit eller tagits över av datorn. Bättre tillgänglighet, förhöjd kvalitet och utökad diagnostik, tydligare arbetslistor som styr arbetsflödet, förbättrad ergonomi och miljö samt samordning med andra har möjliggjorts efter digitaliseringen. Utifrån intervjuerna i fallstudien framkom teman som beskriver: information, superanvändare, utbildning, tydliga arbetsflöden och rutiner, personalbehov och motivation, liksom ett tydligt ledarskap som genomsyrat förändringsprocessen. Dessa teman är, enligt Bramson och Bramson (2005) och Kotter och Cohen (2002), viktiga att beakta för att lyckas med en förändring. Konklusion: Ingen av de intervjuade vill återgå till ett analogt arbetssätt. Digitaliseringen har inneburit att mycket förändrats för de berörda personalkategorierna, men fördelarna anses uppväga nackdelarna. För att lyckas med en förändring bör Bramsons perspektiv och Kotters framgångsfaktorer tas i beaktande. / Background: Since Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen’s discovery of X-rays in 1896, radiology has undergone great changes. In Sweden, the process of digitalisation radiology was initiated in the mid 1990s. Aim: To describe the organisational changes that took place in five radiol- ogy clinics in Sweden in connection with the digitalisation of radiology. Study questions: How did the number and type of radiological examinations change when comparing two years before with two, four and six years after digitalisation? How did the number and distribution of hours worked change among different staff categories when comparing two years before with two, four and six years after digitalisation? How did the duties change after digitalisation within and between different staff categories at the radiology clinics? How do staff members in key positions describe the implementa- tion of digitalisation and any changes in their professional prac- tice after digitalisation? Method: Quantitative and qualitative methods were combined in order to answer the study questions. Five Swedish radiology clinics took part in the study, and production outcome data were gathered from each clinic. A total of 22 individuals were interviewed, with three to six interviews per radiology clinic. In order to gain an understanding of the positive results at one of the radiology clinics in terms of the increased number of exami- nations and reduction in the number of hours worked after digitalization a case study was conducted at this clinic, in which two questions were posed: How was the digitalisation carried out? How were workflow, im- plementation and changes followed up in detail after digitalisation? Ele- ments of Bramson and Bramson ́s (2005) perspectives and Kotter and Cohen’s (2002) success factors were applied. Findings: All radiology clinics had a small increase in the number of radio- logical examinations, while computed tomography and magnetic reso- nance imaging examinations increased significantly during the period un- der investigation. Thus, more complex examinations were carried out post digitalisation, a fact considered to have led to qualitatively better and safer diagnoses. The total working time was reduced at three clinics, while two exhibited an increase. The total number of hours worked increased for radiologists and radiographers but decreased for secretaries and assistant nurses. In general, radiologists and radiographers performed more tasks post digitalisation, and many of the traditional duties of secretaries and assistant nurses were eliminated or taken over by the computer. Digitalisa- tion enabled greater access to radiological images and patient data in addi- tion to improved quality and diagnostics of the radiological examination. Digitalisation also allowed a better-controlled workflow, as well as im- proving ergonomics, the environment and the coordination with other clinics. The case study interviews revealed themes describing: information, super users, education, clear work flows and routines, staff needs and motiva- tion as well as clear leadership throughout the change process. According to Bramson and Kotter, these themes are important for successful change. Conclusion: None of the individuals interviewed wished to return to the analogue mode of working. The digitalisation led to great changes for the different staff categories, with the advantages outweighing the disad- vantages. To succeed with change, Bramson’s perspectives and Kotter’s success factors should be taken into consideration.

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become resistant to antibiotics. The purpose of this quantitative, retrospective cohort study was to examine the relationship between length of hospitalization and invasive MRSA infection rates among different racial and ethnic groups in the 8 service planning areas (SPAs) of Los Angeles County. Cane, O'Connor, and Michie's theoretical domain framework was used. Secondary data from the Healthcare-Associated (HA) Infections Program of the California Department of Public Health were analyzed. For the first research question, a Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationships between length of hospitalization and invasive HA-MRSA infection rates and counts. Length of hospital stay was not correlatedwith HA-MRSA infection rates; however, it was strongly and positively correlated with HA-MRSA infection counts. For the second research question, a one-way ANOVA was conducted on the infection count rate data, with SPA as the between-subjects factor. The results were statistically significant, indicating that HA-MRSA infection counts varied among the 8 SPAs. The findings might help medical professionals better understand the risk factors associated with MRSA infections. In doing so, findings may relieve some of the burden on the U.S. health care system and improve the overall quality of life of the patients involved.

The aim of this thesis was to conduct a statistical survey and the measurement of statistical dependences of time development of the traffic accident rate at transportation of dangerous solid, liquid and gaseous substances, including their total number and also in case of leakage of these substances in a selected region "the Czech Republic". The purpose of the thesis was to verify statistical data, or more precisely, verification of two basic hypotheses H1 and H2, and five sub-hypotheses H11, H12, H13, H14, H15. For these verifications methods of descriptive and mathematical statistics were used, especially regression and correlation analysis in hypothesis H1. To verify hypothesis H2, nonparametric normality test as a technique of mathematical statistics was applied. Verification of hypotheses H1 and their sub-hypotheses H11, H12, H13, H14, H15 enabled to prove linear regression associated with negative correlation within the development of traffic accidents at transportation of dangerous substances in annual units of time (2002 to 2011). Verification of hypothesis H2 enabled to demonstrate normality in distribution of the number of accidents at transportation of dangerous substances within individual months of the monitored period from 2007 to 2011. As benefits of this thesis both the proposal of the sequence of statistical methods for examining the research topic and the application of the mentioned statistical methods to the number of traffic accidents at transportation of dangerous substances can be considered Based on the results of this study, possible follow-up research work may be suggested. A research is proposed which would survey the ways of prevention or other factors leading to negative correlation dependence. Another possibility of follow-up research work could be, for example, statistical surveys and the measurement of statistical dependences in regions of the CR or investigation of the theoretical distribution of the number of traffic accidents at transportation of dangerous substances within a different time unit.

The main practical output of this Thesis is a concrete specification of regression and correlation dependences for Liberec region and for the Czech Republic within one year and also within the ten year time period. The possibility of other researches was suggested in this Thesis. Finally there is a possibility to continue in other specialized work. There could be a prolongation of regression and correlation dependences in years 2010 and 2011. Thanks that the prognosis for the years 2012 and 2013 could be more specific. There could be also comparison of moment parameters of number of fires with a European and a world moment parameters. This verification of both theories and their partial theories also enables to suggest the way of how to enrich processing of statistical data within databases of Firefighters rescue in Liberec region as a base of a theoretical output of this Thesis.

[pt] A recente internacionalização da economia, o processo de integração dos mercados e a perspectiva de obtenção de condições competitivas via maior escala suscitaram a reestruturação produtiva e fomentaram a maior concentração econômica por meio de contínuas fusões e aquisições de empresas. Esta situação insere o estudo acerca das taxas de crescimento de indicadores contábeis das companhias entre os temas mais relevantes no âmbito das finanças corporativas. As variáveis contábeis utilizadas neste trabalho foram as taxas de crescimento anuais da receita bruta, do EBITDA e do lucro operacional de empresas listadas na Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo (BOVESPA) durante o período 1994-2002. A conclusão acerca da variabilidade e da não-persistência destas taxas de crescimento constitui-se obstáculo aos exercícios de previsão no mercado brasileiro. Simulações adicionais foram realizadas visando auferir o efeito do porte e dos múltiplos de transação das respectivas ações destas empresas sobre as taxas de crescimento. Visando maior detalhamento sobre a forte resistência à persistência de taxas anuais consecutivas superiores à mediana do mercado durante os oito anos de análise, foram aplicados testes econométricos essenciais ao modelo ARIMA (Box e Jenkins), constatando a não correlação e a não correlação parcial das taxas de crescimento anuais das empresas para todas as variáveis analisadas, caracterizando um processo clássico de white noise e fornecendo indícios para um comportamento típico de random walk ou random walk with drift. / [en] The recent economy internationalization, the market integration process and the perspective of obtaining differentiated conditions through scale led to production restructuring and fomented a higher economic concentration by means of continuous mergers and acquisitions of companies. This scenario inserts the study of the variability and persistence of growth rates of accounting indicators of companies among the most relevant subjects of corporate finance. The accounting variables selected in this work were the annual growth rates of the gross revenue, of the EBITDA and of the operating profit of companies listed at São Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA) during the period 1994-2002. The observed variability and the non persistence of the growth rates represents a relevant obstacle to forecasting exercises in the Brazilian market. Additional simulations were performed, in order to test the effect of the firms` size and of the transaction multiples of their respective stocks ont growth rates. Looking for a deeper understanding of the strong resistance to the persistence of consecutive annual rates above market median values along the eight years period of analysis, econometric tests essential to ARIMA model (Box and Jenkins) were applied, and the resuts portrayed the non correlation and non-partial correlation between the annual growth rates for all variables, characterizing a classical white noise process, signaling a typical random walk or a random walk with drift behavior.

The aim of my diploma thesis is to evaluate aspects of credit risk, particularly focused on the retail banking in Česká spořitelna a.s., where all the data come from. At first the thesis describes the background of Česká spořitelna a.s., bank products and credit process. Further there are explains the basic procedures for assessement of the state of company and portfolio monitoring. In the section devoted to banking risks there are specified bank risks and regulation of these risks from the perspective of the Basel Capital Accord. The remaining two theoretical parts describe methods that will be used to evaluate the risk of loans i.e. descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing. Introduction of empirical study describes the structure and over time of the loan portfolio evolution of retail banking. The remainder of the study is already focused on the analysis of credit risks from several points of view. In the first place there is examining the impact of legal form of organization and type of product on credit risk. Furthermore, evaluations of the riskiest sectors from subject come and ultimately verify the influence business plans of the branch network. My personal contribution is a notice on aspects which have proven negative effect on loan.

Organizations in the age of modern technology have a diverse workforce, who are spread around the globe, and the business leaders of the 21st century need to understand how best to manage, overcome new challenges, and know the various skills of team members to capitalize on their differences and unique skills. To allow those geographically dispersed workers to reach their full potential and facilitate team success. Global virtual teams (GVTs) operate in complex environments characterized by diverse cultural and organizational elements. The primary purpose of this correlational and nonexperimental quantitative research was to examine the impact of transformational leadership on GVTs, their productivity, and job satisfaction with leadership effectiveness. Using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), data analyzes were completed through SurveyMonkey.com and SPSS software. The study measured transformational leadership, the independent variable, by the leader's ability to motivate workers to be satisfied and productive, and by the leader's effectiveness in the organization. Data were assessed by frequency analysis, moderation analyzes, and multiple regression analysis on the dependent variables of job satisfaction, leadership effectiveness, and productivity. The findings from this study reinforced the positive relationships found between transformational leadership, employee productivity, and leadership effectiveness in GVTs. Results also showed that motivated employees increase productivity and help in the organization's growth. Implications for positive social change included improvements in GVT interactions to increase the exchange of diverse ideas that lead to increased productivity and job satisfaction.

[ES] Los aromas se encuentran en constante convivencia con las personas, por lo cual, sin que de forma consciente se reconozcan, existe una vinculación clara a experiencias vividas que se graban en la memoria y que evocan emociones complejas de explicar. Investigaciones posteriores explican que recordamos un 35% de lo que olemos, estudios que, propiciaron el desarrollo al mismo tiempo, de disciplinas como el marketing olfativo, permitiendo una ampliación de forma emotiva, los lazos con el consumidor de manera que se agrande su potencial comercial enfocado sobre la venta de productos o servicios. Sin embargo, fuera del ámbito de la perfumería, se cuenta con nulas herramientas que permitan el desarrollo de aromas. Por ello la hipótesis central de esta investigación, consiste en: Demostrar que mediante el uso de modelos sistémicos podemos determinar un odotipo característico de la ciudad de València. / [CA] Les aromes es troben en constant convivència amb les persones, per la qual cosa, sense que de forma conscient es reconeguin, hi ha una vinculació clara a experiències viscudes que es graven a la memòria i que evoquen emocions complexes d'explicar. Investigacions posteriors expliquen que recordem un 35% del que olorem, estudis que, van propiciar el desenvolupament alhora, de disciplines com el màrqueting olfactiu, permetent una ampliació de forma emotiva, els llaços amb el consumidor de manera que s'engrandi el seu potencial comercial enfocat sobre la venda de productes o serveis. Tot i això, fora de l'àmbit de la perfumeria, es compta amb nul·les eines que permetin el desenvolupament d'aromes. Per això la hipòtesi central d'aquesta investigació consisteix a: Demostrar que mitjançant l'ús de models sistèmics podem determinar un odotip característic de la ciutat de València. / [EN] Aromas are in constant coexistence with people, for which, without being consciously recognized, there is a clear link to lived experiences that are recorded in memory and that evoke emotions that are difficult to explain. Subsequent research explains that we remember 35% of what we smell, studies that, at the same time, led to the development of disciplines such as olfactory marketing, allowing an emotional expansion of ties with the consumer in such a way that its commercial potential is enlarged. focused on the sale of products or services. However, outside the field of perfumery, there are no tools that allow the development of aromas. For this reason, the central hypothesis of this research consists of: Demonstrating that through the use of systemic models we can determine a characteristic odotype of the city of Valencia. / Campos Serrulla, E. (2022). El aroma de València. Diseño del odotipo de la ciudad de València mediante modelos sistémicos [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/188938

This thesis aims to study if descriptive representation, i.e. the social likeness between representatives and population, is considered important and if it changes when a national parliament is prevented from convening in full-format during a crisis. A maintained descriptive representation is important as it reflects that representatives have equal opportunities to execute their representational duties during a crisis (fairness argument), and because the interests of underrepresented groups otherwise risk being represented to a lesser degree (interest argument). By adopting a mixed-methods approach, semi-structured interviews are used to study how representatives were selected to participate in the reduced voting procedures in the Swedish parliament during the COVID-19 pandemic, and if descriptive representation (gender, age, geographical) was considered in this process. Results show that while descriptive representation was considered by five out of eight party groups – most prominently gender representation motivated by the fairness argument – it was not as influential as other more practical factors in the selection process, such as proximity to parliament or the need of being present for other reasons. Furthermore, changes in the descriptive representation in the Swedish parliament are studied by voting data using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Results show that the share of women increased slightly during votes during the pandemic, contrary to developments in many other parliaments. Representatives over 65 years old decreased, as did representatives from constituencies far from parliament. Significant differences in average voting participation rate arose for the different age and geographical groups, indicating unequal opportunities to execute their representational duties during the crisis.