There are no large-scale outcome studies of music therapy in secure hospital settings for people who have committed serious offences. These patients have a right to expect evidence-based multi-disciplinary treatment (Duggan et al. 2006); NICE (2010). Music therapy therefore should take a form which can be integrated into the treatment pathway. A single site implementation of a mixed-methods patient preference randomised controlled trial investigated the clinical effectiveness of a manualised music therapy model called Group Cognitive Analytic Music Therapy (G-CAMT). This context-specific, time limited intervention incorporates theories from Group Analysis (Foulkes 1964) and Cognitive Analytic Therapy (Ryle and Kerr 2003). The central research question was ‘Is G-CAMT feasible and effective for offenders in a secure multi-disciplinary treatment setting?’ The research process followed the Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions (Campbell et al. 2000, 2007). Twenty patients were recruited; those expressing no preference were randomised to treatment or control arms. The two music therapists and the principal investigator were masked to their allocation status. Those in the treatment arm were allocated to one of two treatment groups of five, each run individually by one of the music therapists. Each group had sixteen ninety minute weekly sessions with followup at eight weeks. Treatment and control groups received standard care. The primary measure was the Person’s Relating to Others Questionnaire (Birtchnell and Evans 2004) Secondary measures were the Basic Empathy Scale (Jolliffe and Farrington 2006a), The Multi-Scale Dissociation Inventory (Briere, 2002) and an observational measure, the Chart of Interpersonal Reactions in Closed Living Environments (Blackburn and Glasgow, 1993). Quantitative data from these measures were examined for associations with qualitative data from semi-structured interviews administered to the music therapists and analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith et.al. 2009) Findings from the results of the primary measure demonstrated statistically significant (Mann Whitney U: p<.05) reductions in favour of the treatment group compared to the control, in intrusive, restrictive and possessive behaviors and helpless or self-denigrating behaviours. There were improvements over time within the treatment group in the domains of sociability and hostility (Friedman Test :p<.04). The use of a manual was shown to help the music therapists manage the risk of violence without constraining their creativity. Two years after the end of the treatment 78% of treatment participants had moved to conditions of lower security over a mean period of 19 months compared with 66% of control subjects over a mean period of 25.5 months. The thesis concludes by situating G-CAMT amongst contemporary music therapy models.

A avaliação acadêmica (de docentes, departamentos, programas de pós-graduação ou instituições) é uma atividade rotineira e utilizada para, por exemplo, a concessão de recursos para um projeto, definição da verba que será liberada a um dado programa de pós-graduação ou mesmo para a autorização do oferecimento de um curso de doutorado para um programa de pós-graduação. Contudo, determinar a qualidade do ensino não é uma tarefa trivial, com metodologias comparativas ainda em estudo. Dois destes critérios são informações bibliométricas e análise das redes de coautorias dos programas. Assim, o desenvolvimento de métodos e ferramentas para automatizar parte da avaliação ou mesmo para identificar a importância de diferentes métricas podem tanto auxiliar no processo de avaliação como servir para auxiliar as pessoas ou os grupos que serão avaliados. Neste trabalho foram desenvolvidas ferramentas para a realização automática de análise bibliométrica e de redes sociais para a caracterização e ranqueamento de grupos acadêmicos, bem como investigar a relação entre diferentes medidas e alguns ranqueamentos acadêmicos existentes. As ferramentas foram avaliadas considerando departamentos internacionais e programas de pós-graduação da área de Ciência da Computação. Os resultados de nosso estudo indicaram quais métricas contribuíram positivamente e negativamente para a posição dos ranqueamentos dos programas / The academic evaluation (of researchers, departments, graduate programs or institutions) is a routine activity and used for the granting of resources for a project, definition of the funds that will be released to a given graduate program or even for the authorization of the offering of a doctorate course. However, this activity is complex with comparative methodologies still in evaluation. Two criteria used are bibliometrics information and scientific social network analysis. Thus, the development of methods and tools to automate part of the evaluation or even to identify the importance of different metrics for the evaluation can both aid the evaluation process and serve as a guide for the researchers or groups that will be evaluated. In this work, tools were developed for performing automatically bibliometric and social networks analysis for the characterization and ranking of academic groups, as well as to investigate the relationship between different measures and some existing academic rankings. The tools were evaluated considering international departments and graduate programs in the Computer Science area. Our results showed which metrics contributed positively and negatively in the rank positioning of the programs

A avaliação acadêmica (de docentes, departamentos, programas de pós-graduação ou instituições) é uma atividade rotineira e utilizada para, por exemplo, a concessão de recursos para um projeto, definição da verba que será liberada a um dado programa de pós-graduação ou mesmo para a autorização do oferecimento de um curso de doutorado para um programa de pós-graduação. Contudo, determinar a qualidade do ensino não é uma tarefa trivial, com metodologias comparativas ainda em estudo. Dois destes critérios são informações bibliométricas e análise das redes de coautorias dos programas. Assim, o desenvolvimento de métodos e ferramentas para automatizar parte da avaliação ou mesmo para identificar a importância de diferentes métricas podem tanto auxiliar no processo de avaliação como servir para auxiliar as pessoas ou os grupos que serão avaliados. Neste trabalho foram desenvolvidas ferramentas para a realização automática de análise bibliométrica e de redes sociais para a caracterização e ranqueamento de grupos acadêmicos, bem como investigar a relação entre diferentes medidas e alguns ranqueamentos acadêmicos existentes. As ferramentas foram avaliadas considerando departamentos internacionais e programas de pós-graduação da área de Ciência da Computação. Os resultados de nosso estudo indicaram quais métricas contribuíram positivamente e negativamente para a posição dos ranqueamentos dos programas / The academic evaluation (of researchers, departments, graduate programs or institutions) is a routine activity and used for the granting of resources for a project, definition of the funds that will be released to a given graduate program or even for the authorization of the offering of a doctorate course. However, this activity is complex with comparative methodologies still in evaluation. Two criteria used are bibliometrics information and scientific social network analysis. Thus, the development of methods and tools to automate part of the evaluation or even to identify the importance of different metrics for the evaluation can both aid the evaluation process and serve as a guide for the researchers or groups that will be evaluated. In this work, tools were developed for performing automatically bibliometric and social networks analysis for the characterization and ranking of academic groups, as well as to investigate the relationship between different measures and some existing academic rankings. The tools were evaluated considering international departments and graduate programs in the Computer Science area. Our results showed which metrics contributed positively and negatively in the rank positioning of the programs

This study uses focus groups and a questionnaire to examine the information-seeking behaviours of Swedish upper secondary school students. Focus group interviews were conducted among students aged 17-20 at four Swedish upper secondary schools in two different cities. The interviews focused on how the informants themselves experienced their information seeking. In addition, a survey focused on the opinions of upper secondary school teachers regarding the source use of their students. The research questions considered were: What kind of information-seeking behaviour characterizes Swedish upper secondary school students? What kind of information do Swedish upper secondary school students seek when it comes to issues where corporations can be of assistance? How do Swedish upper secondary school students prefer to have information presented? The results of the study provided some valuable insights concerning these questions. The students turned out to use the Internet, and most often Google, in much of their information seeking. However, human contact in the form of face-to-face conversations or presentations was also considered highly important. Furthermore, the information-seeking skills, or information literacy, of secondary school students are not emphasized in their education. The study was performed in cooperation with AstraZeneca in the hope of the results providing the company with valuable information regarding one of their intended target groups.

This thesis provides an analytical and two numerical methods for solving a parabolic equation of two-dimensional mean curvature flow with some applications. In analytical method, this equation is solved by Lie group analysis method, and in numerical method, two algorithms are implemented in MATLAB for solving this equation. A geometric algorithm and a step-wise algorithm; both are based on a deterministic game theoretic representation for parabolic partial differential equations, originally proposed in the genial work of Kohn-Serfaty [1]. / +46-767165881

This thesis which consists of four papers is concerned with estimation methods in factor analysis and structural equation models. New estimation methods are proposed and investigated. In paper I an approximation of the penalized maximum likelihood (ML) is introduced to fit an exploratory factor analysis model. Approximated penalized ML continuously and efficiently shrinks the factor loadings towards zero. It naturally factorizes a covariance matrix or a correlation matrix. It is also applicable to an orthogonal or an oblique structure. Paper II, a simulation study, investigates the properties of approximated penalized ML with an orthogonal factor model. Different combinations of penalty terms and tuning parameter selection methods are examined. Differences in factorizing a covariance matrix and factorizing a correlation matrix are also explored. It is shown that the approximated penalized ML frequently improves the traditional estimation-rotation procedure. In Paper III we focus on pseudo ML for multi-group data. Data from different groups are pooled and normal theory is used to fit the model. It is shown that pseudo ML produces consistent estimators of factor loadings and that it is numerically easier than multi-group ML. In addition, normal theory is not applicable to estimate standard errors. A sandwich-type estimator of standard errors is derived. Paper IV examines properties of the recently proposed polychoric instrumental variable (PIV) estimators for ordinal data through a simulation study. PIV is compared with conventional estimation methods (unweighted least squares and diagonally weighted least squares). PIV produces accurate estimates of factor loadings and factor covariances in the correctly specified confirmatory factor analysis model and accurate estimates of loadings and coefficient matrices in the correctly specified structure equation model. If the model is misspecified, robustness of PIV depends on model complexity, underlying distribution, and instrumental variables.

Competitive Shooting as a sport is becoming famous these days and analysis of shooting group or bullet group which is a process of analysis location of bullet holes in one shooting session and stands as a metric for Precision of the weapon, Shooter's Accuracy, his Consistency and helps in finding Accurate load for the Cartridge. Knowledge of these factors can help in improving one's shooting and fine-tuning skills as a Shooter. Bullet group is alsoinuenced by the Accuracy of Rie, Optimal hand load, free run distance, environmental conditions like humidity, temperature, ambient light, windspeed, Shooter's position. Analyzing the Bullet group can be done in various ways, one way of doing it is by taking a Digital Image and analyzing the Image and detecting positions of bullet holes and Calculating metrics from this Metrics like Geometry of bullet group, largest distance between two bullets, compactness of the bullet group on target. In this work, detection of bullet holes is done by using these techniques: Template matching, Histogram equalization, White Balancing, Median andGaussian altering and Peak detection algorithms. After obtaining positions of the bullet holes in the Image. Complete Automation can be done by using the training the Algorithm with a Machine learning framework with the help of Articial neural networks. The existing bullet group analysis software require the bullet group shot on a specifc target, which limits the shooters to shoot on a target of shooter's choice every time and, those targets are not universal and vary from place to place. This algorithm aims to work on various types of target, and taking a step towards making a more generalized and more versatile algorithm.

This thesis is focused on The World Bank, it's beginning, organisation and analysis of critique. This thesis begins with reasons for foundation, historical aspects and problems. This involved the world stage before Second World War and the beginning of the IBRD. The thesis continues with a frame look at the organization, projects, finance and the World Bank position. The study shows the righteousnees of critique, analyse it and interpret it. The remainder of the thesis is concerned about the decision power in the bank and it's consequences.

This Master’s thesis deals with the issue of customer satisfaction in a retail store. Theoretical part summarizes a literature review needed for practical application which includes an analysis of internal and external environment, followed by own questionnaire survey of customer satisfaction. Last part contains an analysis of survey results and formulation of proposals improving the customer satisfaction including a calculation of financial, time and human resources and risk analysis.

Introduction and background: Family-centred care in the intensive care unit has increased steadily over the past three decades, based on the premise that the illness and health of an individual family member affects the whole family unit. Although widely researched there are still inconsistencies in implementing family-centred care, which influences the ability to transfer research findings into practice. Research has shown that recognising the role of family members in the critical care environment should be considered an essential component to caring for the critically ill patient. Although recommendations have been made for the implementation of familycentred care, it is not feasible for all recommendations to be adopted by nurses and healthcare professionals in a single ICU. Nurses and healthcare professionals need to customise strategies to an individual intensive care unit to improve family-centred care. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore and describe nurses, healthcare professionals and family members’ perceptions of family-centred care in the intensive care unit. Research design and methods: A quali-quanti research design was used. Participants included nurses, healthcare professionals and family members in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Gauteng, South Africa. There were a total of sixty (60) participants who took part in the study. Nurses were selected using stratified random sampling, healthcare professionals were selected using total population sampling and family members were selected using purposive, maximum variation and convenience sampling. Data was collected over a period of one month by means of structured interviews using an associative group analysis technique. Participants were asked to write down free word associations in relation to the stimulus word “family-centred care” in order to explore and describe their perceptions of family-centred care in the intensive care unit as it is currently, as it could be in the “ideal world” and any gaps that exist around these perceptions. Results: Five themes were derived from the data: communication, environment, continuum of feelings, reflections and spiritual care. Conclusion: The implementation of family-centred care should involve all stakeholders in the intensive care unit in order to address inconsistencies in perceptions around family-centred care. Keywords: Associative group analysis, intensive care unit, family-centred care, healthcare professionals, nurses, perceptions, stakeholders / Dissertation (MNur)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Nursing Science / MNur (Clinical) / Unrestricted