Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'The purpose of use'

The UK has an estimated 988,000 horses, many of which are stabled as a standard management practice. Stables are a building, buildings, or a portion of a building that are used for the housing and feeding horses, cattle and other domestic livestock. For the purpose of this thesis, cattle and other domestic livestock will be excluded. Today, horses in the UK are stabled in a variety of accommodation, including purpose built historic and modern stables, and stables integrated into buildings converted from an alternative use. This raises concerns considering the physical and psychological wellbeing of the horse, and associated management practices, resulting in the research question: Are stables fit for purpose for the modern Equidae? The research aimed to explore and investigate the concept of suitability - Fit for Purpose of stabling currently utilised within the UK in order to formulate a revised Fitness for Purpose framework which stabling can be assessed against. The research takes a pragmatism philosophy, with a combined deductive and inductive approach utilising cross sectional time horizon case studies with triangulated mixed methods research techniques. Multiple case study fieldwork sites were selected to demonstrate extreme, unique, typical and representative examples enabling conclusions to be holistic, representative across all stables and embedded, representative of the sub-units studied. Data was analysed against age, number of horses, type of horse, dimensions, floor area and wall length, Fitness for Purpose, construction attributes, and social interaction and free exercise The research revealed significant questions concerning stable size and also opportunities for Social Interaction and Free Exercise, thus overall Fitness for Purpose. A Fitness for Purpose framework for future use was developed, along recommended strategies that could improve stabling in current use. The contribution to knowledge concerned a number of areas: the holistic literature review; practical case study field work; case study data analysis (stable accommodation utilised by the modern Equidae, and the level to which this accommodation is Fit for Purpose for the Modern Equidae housed within it). The Revised Fitness for Purpose Framework is a vital contribution to knowledge aspect of this research.

Thesis (M.F.A.)--East Tennessee State University, 2004.
Title from electronic submission form. ETSU ETD database URN: etd-1112104-100842 Includes bibliographical references. Also available via Internet at the UMI web site.

A need for a new energy vector is highlighted, as carbon-based transport fuels are identified as producing sub-micron particulate causing both environmental and health issues. It is suggested that this energy vector should be hydrogen, however current commercial hydrogen production relies on the use of expensive hydrogen separation technologies such as amine separation and pressure swing adsorption. It is suggested in this work that a focus be put on the development of hydrogen separation membranes, and in particular a focus on metallic membranes due to their potential for delivering a large hydrogen flux at a high purity and low operating cost. The major barrier to utilisation is identified as cost and thus motivation is provided for the need to develop a new generation of membrane. The problem is identified as having two parts: identifying suitable surface catalysts and bulk membrane materials. Theoretical modelling was used to investigate the design of idealised membranes before tests were conducted. A number of membranes were tested in a bespoke enclosure under conditions designed to mimic real-life operation, with tests undertaken under non-dilute hydrogen conditions and with a mixed CO2/H2 feed. Tests on a non-palladium containing surface catalyst, oxidised silver, proved to show no positive results. Pd-Ag Coated V-Ni and V-Ni-Al membranes are shown to have a maximum apparent permeability of 3.3 x10-8 mol m-1 s-1 Pa-0.5 and 4.1 x10-8 mol m-1 s-1 Pa-0.5 when tested at 300 °C with a binary feed mixture of CO2 and H2. In both instances the purity of the permeate was found to be 99.9% hydrogen. The permeability of both membranes under these conditions warrants further study.

Social media have become a widely used tool to communicate with the orgnisations stakeholders. Institutions of higher learning are also venturing into this new way of marketing and communication. This study intended to determine how South African institutions of higher learning are using social media for marketing and communication purposes. Firstly, a literature study was conducted to gain an understanding on how social media are used. Further an empirical study was conducted, which consisted of two phases. The first phase was a case study on NMMU and Stellenbosch University. Structured-interviews, focus groups and observation were used to collect data from the cases. The collected data were then used to construct a questionnaire that was used for a survey. The survey was distributed to all 23 universities, 50 public FET colleges and the 200 private FET college. 92 institutions responded to the survey. The findings prove that there are various opportuntities and challenges in using social media although it should be stressed that the opportunities outweigh the threats. There is no visible difference between colleges social media implementation in relation to institutions of higher learning. Most institutions use more than one social media tool. Facebook is the most widely used social media followed by Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Flickr, MXit, Google+ and Blog are the least used social media. The observations of the NMMU and Stellenbosch University show that these two institutions are striving to engage with their target audiences. Although the institutions are using social media, some of the concerns are that institutions are not measuring their social media use. For those who are measuring, most depend on the free measurement tools which focus only on the quantitative measure. The governance of the social media use is none existent. Most respondents stated that they do not have a policy or guidelines informing social media management. Most of the respondents felt that they want to use more social media tools in future although some of the challenges alluded to were lack of capacity, human resources and budget.

The aim of this thesis is to identify factors that affect the university students&rsquo
acceptance of multi-purpose Smart Cards. The findings of this study will be beneficial to facilitate the use of Smart-Card enabled system both n universities and in other institutions which either have these systems in use or plan to invest on these systems in the future. The research methodology employed within this study is based on quantitative methods. A survey instrument comprising 51 5-point Likert-type questions has been developed and applied to 207 university Middle East Technical University students. The data collected has been analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis to categorize factors having items. According to analysis results, the data classified under 5 factors
Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Behavioral Intention, Anxiety, and Technological Complexity. Then, the relations between these 5 factors identified and a measurement model was created. For assessing the proposed model Discriminant and Convergent Validity scores were calculated by Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Then, Structural Equation Modeling was conducted with Partial Least Squares for validating the model&rsquo
s estimated influence. The study has shown that the main Technology Acceptance Model constructs fit for determining the university students&rsquo
intention of Smart Card usage except for Perceived Ease of Use over Behavioral Intention. Moreover, study showed that Anxiety and Technological Complexity were the external factors that have effect on willingness of using multi-purpose Smart Cards. If students have Anxiety, this affects their perception of easiness of the system and it has negative indirect effect on the perceived usefulness and direct effect on intention. Technological Complexity is another factor which has direct affect on the perception of easiness and usefulness and intention.

Thesis (M Med(Family Medicine)) -- University of Limpopo, 2010.
Objectives This study sought to detennine the knowledge, attitude and practices of Goma University students about condom use for the purpose of reducing HIV infection. Design A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study using a self-administered questionnaire. Setting Goma UniversitylNorth Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Subjects 138 students from Goma University selected randomly completed the self- administered questionnaires. Results Their ages varied between 18 and 33 years. Most of them were males 111 (80 %), (93 %) were single; Most participants were protestant and Roman Catholic. The most important results were the following, The majority (99 %) of participants knew about condoms,132 (96 %) knew that condoms are available and sold in Pharmacy,72 (52 %) knew that condom can prevent at the same time HIV, Pregnancy and ST!, 94 (68 %) said they know how to use a condom, 111 (80 %) stated that the price of condoms is not a barrier for condom use, 102 (74 %) suggested that the university should supply students with condoms, 91 (66 %) were engaging in sexually activity, 98 (71 %) of respondents reported that they had unprotected sex. Conclusions The main conciusions ofthis study can be summarized as follows: Condom awareness was high with varying sources of information, Condom use was generally accepted as a means of preventing HIV / AIDS, sexual transmitted diseases and pregnancy, and Condoms in DRC are cheap and affordable for university students. In some ethnic groups, religions and cultures were not in favour of condom use. Consistent use of the condom was low among Goma University students. The results of statistics test (Fisher test) have shown that there is no difference in condom knowledge, attitudes and practices among Goma University students depending on several socio- demographic factors (sex, marital status, field of studies, class of study, tribe, etc)

This thesis concentrates on problematic field of architectural education and practice related to window role. Phenomena of window loosing it’s primary functional purpose [inside-outside connection in terms of view and daylight] and becoming more decorative element of the facade. This paper content consists of analysis of case studies by evaluating window provided light and view qualities using qualitative and quantitative methods in chosen office buildings. Analysis and results are followed by the discussion of window role oppositions between architect’s and user’s perspective together with secondary topics coming out of it. As the result of analysis and discussion - guidelines for window design are suggested and conclusive experiment of their customization is demonstrated. This thesis  concentrates on awareness of window identity crisis as well as examine and provide simple manners, which can increase quality of daylight and view through the openings in architectural planning.

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2014.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 128-133).
Advanced modeling capabilities were developed for application to subcooled flow boiling through this work. The target was to introduce, and demonstrate, all necessary mechanisms required to accurately predict the temperature and heat flux for subcooled flow boiling in CFD simulations. The model was developed using an experimentally based mechanistic approach, where the goal was to accurately capture all physical phenomena that affect heat transfer and occur at the heated surface to correctly predict surface temperatures. The proposed model adopts a similar approach to the classical heat partitioning method, but captures additional boiling physical phenomena. It introduces a new evaporation term, to truly capture the evaporation occurring on the surface while also tracking the bubble crowding effect on the boiling surface. This includes evaporation from the initial bubble inception and evaporation through the bubble microlayer. The convection term is modified to account for increased surface roughness caused by the presence of the bubbles on the heated surface. The quenching term accounts for bringing the bubble dry spot back to the wall superheat prior to bubble inception. In addition to the changes to these three classic components, a sliding conduction term is added to capture the increased heat transfer due to bubble sliding on the heated surface prior to lift-off. The sliding conduction component includes all heat removal associated with transient conduction caused by disruption of the thermal boundary layer. The new method extends the generality and applicability of boiling models in CFD through a fully mechanistic representation. The new model also tracks the dry surface area during boiling for possible application in DNB predictions. A statistical tracking method for bubble location on the heated surface provides information on the bubble merging probability and prevents the active nucleation site density from reaching un-physical values. The model was implemented in the CFD software STAR-CCM+, and the wall temperature predictions were recorded and compared against the standard model's predictions and experimental data for a range of mass fluxes, heat fluxes, inlet subcoolings, and pressures. In general, the new model predicts wall temperatures closer to experimental data for both low and high pressures when compared against the standard model. The new model also converges at higher heat fluxes and greater subcoolings than the standard model.
by Lindsey Anne Gilman.
Ph. D.

Ethical, cheap, and scalable, purposeful games leverage player entertainment to incentivise contributors in language resourcing. However, discourse is scarce around the enjoyability of these games, whose playerbases are divided between a tiny minority of reliable contributors and a vast majority of inconsistent contributors. This study aims to deepen the discourse around design possibilities tailored to the unevenly contributing playerbases of such games by building on player-reported data to create three engaging personas and narrative scenarios. Using Pruitt and Grudin’s way of weighing feature suitability in persona-focused design, social incentives and majority voting are indicated as the most and least prominent features, respectively. Indeed, the weight of the primary persona, representing 3.5% of the playerbase, is 72%, more than double the combined weight, 56%, of the remaining 96.5% of the playerbase. Sticking to the original definition of purposeful games is essential for any gaming approach to crowdsourced data collection to remain ethical, cheap, and scalable.

As the amount of educational games on the market increases it becomes daunting task for pedagogues to find the most relevant and effective educational games for their teaching activities. In 2012 a metadata model was suggested to streamline descriptions of educational games for a database. This thesis identifies the need for an advanced search function which takes into consideration the notions of purpose and contextual circumstance of using educational games in order for such a database to be of greater usefulness for users. This thesis presents a design of such a search function, based on the theories of Purushotma (2005), Pannese and Carlesi (2007), Charsky (2010) and Reinders and Wattana (2011). Furthermore this thesis provides an updated metadata model to support such a search function. In the future the search function could be polished from a usability perspective and further developed to incorporate other types of serious games.

The prominence of ICT in English Secondary schools has increased enormously in the last fifteen years under the New Labour administration. As a background to this, schools have historically been justified either in terms of vocational or non-vocational objectives, captured in Oakeshott's contesting metaphors of schools as markets or as monasteries. ICT became a high profile and very expensive part of a general educational reform policy engaged with these contested objectives. The thesis surveys and critiques government ICT policy in English Secondary schools between 1995-2010, through situated case studies of policy processes, asking what ideas are driving the reforms and how these frame the purpose of schools. The central contribution of this thesis is to reveal how ICT educational policy in this sector has been constructed and positioned through the application of critical discourse analysis (CDA). An original feature of this CDA is the use of Daniel Bell's theory of tripartite Axial Realms to identify neglected discourses. The main findings are that there is a dominant techno-economic discourse and that axial principles from the cultural and political realms are largely invisible. This research places the construction of educational ICT policy reform discourse at the centre of important contemporary questions about the purpose of Secondary schools, in particular, debates about market and visions of schooling. I use Bell to reconceptualise the educational purpose of ICT, showing that it can be reconstructed in terms of Bell's three realms, the techno-economic, the political and the cultural, rather than assuming that only the techno-economic is needed to explain it. The implications of this are that vocational justifications alone need not and should not drive ICT educational reform, nor educational reform generally, and that reintroducing political and cultural principles alongside techno-economic ones would benefit ICT policy.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2001.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 115 p. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-95).

Bibliography: pages 117-[124].
This thesis investigates the use of the Black-Scholes option pricing model for long term options for the purposes of costing long term maturity guarantees. The maturity guarantees concerned are typically given on endowment policies issued by life offices. These endowment policies have terms usually in excess of five years. The thesis investigates whether the assumptions underlying the Black-Scholes model, which was developed for pricing short term traded options, are still acceptable when applied to long term options, and if not, what adjustments need to be made. The paper focuses on the pricing of European put options which are equivalent to the payoff of a maturity guarantee.

Recent growth in the commercial availability of consumer grade 3D user interface devices like the Microsoft Kinect and the Oculus Rift, coupled with the broad availability of high performance 3D graphics hardware, has put high quality 3D user interfaces firmly within the reach of consumer markets for the first time ever. However, these devices require custom integration with every application which wishes to use them, seriously limiting application support, and there is no established mechanism for multiple applications to use the same 3D interface hardware simultaneously. This thesis proposes that these problems can be solved in the same way that the same problems were solved for 2D interfaces: by abstracting the input hardware behind input primitives provided by the windowing system and compositing the output of applications within the windowing system before displaying it. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach this thesis also presents a novel Wayland compositor which allows clients to create 3D interface contexts within a 3D interface space in the same way that traditional windowing systems allow applications to create 2D interface contexts (windows) within a 2D interface space (the desktop), as well as allowing unmodified 2D Wayland clients to window into the same 3D interface space and receive standard 2D input events. This implementation demonstrates the ability of consumer 3D interface hardware to support a 3D windowing system, the ability of this 3D windowing system to support applications with compelling 3D interfaces, the ability of this style of windowing system to be built on top of existing hardware accelerated graphics and windowing infrastructure, and the ability of such a windowing system to support unmodified 2D interface applications windowing into the same 3D windowing space as the 3D interface applications. This means that application developers could create compelling 3D interfaces with no knowledge of the hardware that supports them, that new hardware could be introduced without needing to integrate it with individual applications, and that users could mix whatever 2D and 3D applications they wish in an immersive 3D interface space regardless of the details of the underlying hardware.

It is increasingly important to understand the factors associated with individuals struggling with addiction and their quality of life, especially with those struggling with co-occurring diagnoses (CODs). The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which meaning, and CODs of anxiety and depression predict an individual's attitudes and beliefs about addiction among persons receiving treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). The theoretical foundation used to guide this study was logotherapy, which emphasizes the importance of increasing meaning in life through choices, while also centering on being able to find meaning in all situations. A cross-sectional correlation design was employed, using a sample of patient admission records from a dual diagnosis treatment center in the western United States. The responses on 4 assessments related to meaning, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and attitudes about substances were analyzed using a multiple linear regression. There was no statistically significant relationship between an individual's attitudes and beliefs about addiction as predicted by that individual's meaning and CODs symptoms of anxiety and depression. A significant negative correlation existed between depression and meaning (p < .01), while a significant positive correlation existed between the depression and anxiety (p < .05) as well as the anxiety and attitudes about substances (p < .01). The findings from this study can assist counselor educators in understanding the correlation between SUD, increased depressive symptoms, and low personal meaning.

This systematic literature review synthesizes findings from empirical studies published between 1989 and 2016 to examine types, use, purpose and implementation of information and communication technology in public child welfare to determine if there are thematic reoccurrences in these arenas. Study results yielded information to the field of social work and public child welfare by determining themes in successful usage, purpose and implementation of information and communication technology in public child welfare to better serve those vulnerable populations. This systematic literature review contextualizes and identifies these themes across the literature. Studies included in this review were analyzed and categorized to determine reoccurring themes in information and communication technology use, purpose and implementation.

Thesis (M. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2006
A multi-threaded, multi-agent image recognition software application called RecMaster has been developed specifically for the purpose of quality control in a production environment. This entails using the system as a monitor to identify invalid objects moving on a conveyor belt and to pass on the relevant information to an attached device, such as a robotic arm, which will remove the invalid object. The main purpose of developing this system was to prove that a desktop computer could run an image recognition system efficiently, without the need for high-end, high-cost, specialised computer hardware. The programme operates by assigning each agent a task in the recognition process and then waiting for resources to become available. Tasks related to edge detection, colour inversion, image binarisation and perimeter determination were assigned to individual agents. Each agent is loaded onto its own processing thread, with some of the agents delegating their subtasks to other processing threads. This enables the application to utilise the available system resources more efficiently. The application is very limited in its scope, as it requires a uniform image background as well as little to no variance in camera zoom levels and object to lens distance. This study focused solely on the development of the application software, and not on the setting up of the actual imaging hardware. The imaging device, on which the system was tested, was a web cam capable of a 640 x 480 resolution. As such, all image capture and processing was done on images with a horizontal resolution of 640 pixels and a vertical resolution of 480 pixels, so as not to distort image quality. The application locates objects on an image feed - which can be in the format of a still image, a video file or a camera feed - and compares these objects to a model of the object that was created previously. The coordinates of the object are calculated and translated into coordinates on the conveyor system. These coordinates are then passed on to an external recipient, such as a robotic arm, via a serial link. The system has been applied to the model of a DVD, and tested against a variety of similar and dissimilar objects to determine its accuracy. The tests were run on both an AMD- and Intel-based desktop computer system, with the results indicating that both systems are capable of efficiently running the application. On average, the AMD-based system tended to be 81% faster at matching objects in still images, and 100% faster at matching objects in moving images. The system made matches within an average time frame of 250 ms, making the process fast enough to be used on an actual conveyor system. On still images, the results showed an 87% success rate for the AMD-based system, and 73% for Intel. For moving images, however, both systems showed a 100% success rate.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2001
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research is a study of the promise of land in the Old Testament. Special emphasis is given to what theological-ethical implications the nature, conditions, and purpose of the promise of land entail - what it meant to the Israelites and what it means to us today. The scope of this thesis is the Old Testament in its final form (here the 39 books of the Protestant Bible). However, the study is mainly based on the narratives and prophetic literature, as the promise of land is mostly found in these texts. A careful study of the natures of the four land covenant texts of Genesis 15 and 17 (Abrahamic covenant), Exodus 19-24 (Sinaitic covenant; cf. Dt 5:6-18; 12-16),2 Samuel 7:5-29 (Davidic covenant), and Jeremiah 31:31-34 (new covenant) will show that Yahweh's promise (gift) of land to Abraham and his descendants (the Israelites) in the Old Testament is conditional. Possession and continual possession of the promised land will depend on the Israelites' observance of the stipulations of the land covenants. In order to possess and continually possess the land, the Israelites must worship Yahweh exclusively, live a holy life, pursue righteous and justice, share the land equally among themselves, and care for the land according to the will of the giver. Failure to observe these stipulations will result in losing the land (exile). Israel failed and was exiled. But that was not the end. The promise of land is also the promise of restoration (to the land) if the Israelites return to the Lord. Return, they did, and were restored to the promised land. All these conditions apply (some of them analogously orland metaphorically) to us today as we live on this planet earth, God's creation-gift. The purpose of the promise of land is for blessing - both material blessing of wellbeing and spiritual blessing of knowing and worshipping Yahweh God. This blessing is for both the Israelites and the whole world. By promising a land to the Israelites, God wants to use the promised land and its people as a standard measure for other lands and nations. In this way, the promise of land is not so much a privilege as it is a responsibility. On the one hand, the promise of land gives the Israelites, for that matter, other peoples as well, a spatial-ethnical identity, which entails the need to respect every people's ethnic identity and their "God-given" land. On the other, the promised land is not exclusively for the Israelites, it is a place where other peoples (aliens) may also live (Eze 47:21- 23). This inevitably challenges us to strive towards a peaceful coexistence and sharing of resources including land regardless of color, creed, and language. The promised land, for that matter, the whole earth, is God's collective gift to the whole humanity. Therefore every human has a right to the land. The earth, God's creation-gift, if shared and managed according to the will of the giver, is enough to provide a home to everyone and meet his or her needs.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing bestudeer die landbelofte in die Ou Testament. Spesiale klem word gele op die teologies-etiese implikasies ten opsigte van die aard, voorwaardes en doel van die belofte - en die betekenenis daarvan vir die Israeliete en vir ons vandag. Die bestek van hierdie tesis is die finale vorm van die Ou Testament (hier die 39 boeke van die Protestantse Bybel), maar die fokus val op die verhalende en profetiese literatuur, waarin die landsbelofte meeste aangetref word. Noukeurige analise van die aard van die vier land-verbond tekste van Genesis 15 en 17 (Abraham-verbond), Eksodus 19-24 (Sinai-verbond; vgl. Deut 5:6-18; 12-16),2 Samuel 7:5-29 (Dawid-verbond), en Jeremia 31 :31-34 (nuwe verbond) toon dat Jahwe se belofte (gawe) van land aan Abraham en sy nakomelinge (die Israeliete) in die Ou Testament voorwaardelik is. Die huidige en toekomstige besit van die beloofde land vereis dat die Israeliete die voorskrifte van die landverbond nakom. Om die land te kan eien en die eienaarskap daarvan voort te sit, moet die Israeliete Jahwe uitsluitlik aanbid, 'n gewyde lewe voer, reg en geregtigheid nastreef, die land eweredig met mekaar dee! en omsien daama ooreenkomstig die wil van die gewer. Om te faal in die nakom van hierdie opdragte sal veroorsaak dat die land weerhou word (eksiel). Israel het misluk, en is in ballingskap gevoer. Dit was egter nie die finale woord nie. Die belofte van land impliseer ook die belofte van herstel (restorasie van die land) indien die Israeliete hulle tot die Here sou terugkeer. Dit het hulle gedoen, en die beloofde land is aan hulle terugbesorg. Hierdie voorskrifte geld ook vandag vir ons (sommige weI analogies en/of metafories) waar ons die planeet aarde, God se skeppingsgawe, bewoon. Die doel van die landsbelofte is seen, beide as materiele welvaart en geestelike seen in die ken en aanbied van Jahwe God. Hierdie seen geld vir die Israeliete soos ook vir die ganse wereld. Deur land te beloof aan die Israeliete, bepaal God dat dit gebruik moet kan word vir alle inwoners as 'n standaardmaatstaf ook vir ander lande en nasies. Op die manier is die beloofde land nie slegs 'n voorreg nie maar ook 'n verantwoordelikheid. Enersyds bied die beloofde land aan die Israeliete, soos ook vir ander mense, 'n ruimtelike etniese identiteit, wat meebring dat alle etniese identiteite en hulle "Godgegewe" grond respek verdien. Andersyds geld die landsbelofte nie uitsluitlik vir die Israeliete nie, dit is 'n ruimte waar ook ander mense (vreemdelinge) mag woon (Eze 47:21-23). Dit stel onvermydelik aan ons 'n uitdaging tot vreedsame naasbestaan en verdeling van hulpbronne insluitend grond, benewens verskille in kleur, godsdiens en taal. Die beloofde land, trouens die hele aarde, is God se kollektiewe gawe aan die hele mensdom. Daarom is elke persoon geregtig op land. Die aarde, God se skeppings gawe, is toereikend om vir elkeen 'n tuiste te verskaf en aan sy of haar behoeftes te voldoen, mits dit gedeel en bestuur word volgens die wil van die gewer.

Title from PDF of title page.
Document formatted into pages; contains 165 pages.
Thesis (M.A.)--University of South Florida, 2002.
Includes bibliographical references.
Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format.
ABSTRACT: The doctrine of informed consent, defined as respect for autonomy, is the tool used to govern the relationship between physicians and patients. Its framework relies on rights and duties that mark these relationships. The main purpose of informed consent is to promote human rights and dignity. Some researchers claim that informed consent has successfully replaced patients&softsign; historical predispositions to accept physicians' advice without much explicit resistance.
Although the doctrine of informed consent promotes ideals worth pursuing, a successful implementation of these ideals in practice has yet to occur. What has happened in practice is that attorneys, physicians, and hospital administrators often use consent forms mainly to protect physicians and medical facilities from liability. Consequently, ethicists, legal theorists, and physicians need to do much more to explain how human rights and human dignity relate to the practice of medicine and how the professionals can promote them in practice.
This is especially important because patients' vulnerability has increased just as the complexity and power of medical science and technology have increased. Certain health care practices can shed light on the difficulties of implementing the doctrine of informed consent and explain why it is insufficient to protect patients' rights and dignity. Defining a normal biological event as a disease, and routinely prescribing hormone drug therapy to menopausal women for all health conditions related to menopause, does not meet the standards of free informed consent.
Clinicians provide insufficient disclosure about risks related to long-term use of hormone therapies and about the absence of solid evidence to support their bias toward hormone therapies as a treatment of choice for menopause related health conditions. The contributing problem is women's failure to act as autonomous agents because they either choose not to take an active part in their own therapy or because they fear to question physicians' medical authority. To insure that patients' autonomy and free choice are a part of every physician-patient interaction, physicians and patients need actively to promote them as values that are absolutely indispensable in physicians' offices, clinics, and hospitals.
System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Lietuvos istorijoje vyko daug žemės pertvarkymo procesų, kurie turėjo įtakos žemės naudojimui, naudmenų kitimui, kuriuos lėmė nuosavybės formų pokyčiai bei gamtinės sąlygos. Magistrantūros studijų baigiamajame darbe analizuojama žemės fondo kitimas ir pagrindinės tikslinės žemės naudojimo paskirties keitimas Kauno apskrityje 1998 – 2008 metais. Tyrimas atliktas išanalizavus literatūros šaltinius, norminius bei teritorijų planavimo dokumentus, surinktus statistinius duomenis. Kauno apskrityje didžiausią žemės fondo dalį užima žemės ūkio paskirties žemė – 61,54 %, kuri nuo 1998 – 2008 m. padidėjo 2 tūkst. ha. Mažiausiai yra konservacinės paskirties žemės – 0,18 % apskrities žemės fondo. Žemės savininkas ar kitas naudotojas privalo naudoti žemę pagal pagrindinę tikslinę naudojimo paskirtį. Tačiau žemės ūkio paskirties žemės, naudojamos ūkininkavimui, ir kitos paskirties žemės, naudojamos gyvenamųjų namų statybai, kaina labai stipriai skiriasi, todėl žmonės yra suinteresuoti keisti žemės naudojimo paskirtį. Per 2005 – 2008 metus įregistruotų žemės sklypų skaičius, kuriems buvo pakeista pagrindinė tikslinė žemės naudojimo paskirtis, visoje Lietuvoje išaugo 1,6 karto, Kauno apskrityje – 2,6 karto. Kauno apskrityje daugiausia rengiami detalieji planai žemės ūkio paskirties pakeitimui į kitos paskirties (mažaaukščių gyvenamųjų namų statybos ir komercinės paskirties objektų teritorijos/pramonės ir sandėliavimo objektų teritorijos).
A number of land reform processes took place in Lithuanian history, which influenced land use and landed property change, which were conditioned by changes of property’s forms and natural conditions. Change of land fund and main purpose change of purposive land use in Kaunas district in the period 1998 – 2008 are analysed in the final Master studies paper. Research has been carried out after analysing literature sources, regulative and territory planning documents, collected statistical data. Most part of land fund in Kaunas district is occupied by agricultural purpose land – 61,54 %, which from 1998 – 2008 enhanced by 2 thousand ha. There is least of conservation purpose land – 0,18 % of district land fund. Land owner or other user is obliged to use land in accordance with main targeted land use purpose. However, the price of agricultural purpose land used for farming and other purpose land, used for dwelling houses construction, differs a lot thus people are interested in changing the purpose of land use. During the period of 2005 – 2008 the number of recorded land sites, the purpose of which was changed, increased in Lithuania by 1,6 times, whereas in Kaunas district by 2,6 times. Detailed plans for changing land use purpose into other kind of land use (low floor dwelling house construction and commercial purpose objects territory and storage object territories) are mostly prepared in Kaunas district.

Since the late 1970s many empty buildings in Montreal have been adapted for residential purposes. The main focus of this thesis is to document and analyse the most representative examples of these projects in order to define the nature and results of the adaptive-use practice in Montreal.
Due to complexity of the field, the framework for analysis must be flexible enough to apply to different contexts and building types, yet firm enough to solve the perpetual dilemmas intrinsic to adaptive-use design. The attitude of this research is that the best way to do this is to learn from architectural, social, and political history---indeed how these types of histories interrelate to form a continuum of popular and professional opinion.
The study starts the examination of the main preservationist and adaptive-use methods with the discussion of preservationist terminology and origins of preservationist theories in Europe. It traces them as they come to North America, examines the roots of adaptive use for residential purposes in Manhattan, and follows the phenomenon as it has appeared in Montreal from the sixties to present. After tracking preservation theory and practice until this point, the parameters for determining what is a successful adaptive-use project become clearer. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

[ES] Esta tesis se centra en tres tecnologías móviles: podcasting, aplicaciones móviles y Twitter, y evalúa su potencial para el aprendizaje de idiomas basándose en una serie de estudios con distintos tipos de participantes, incluyendo estudiantes de enseñanza formal, de contextos informales de aprendizaje, y profesores. El objetivo general de los diferentes estudios de investigación es evaluar las tres tecnologías a través de procesos para a) identificar el potencial de esas tecnologías, b) investigar cómo las utilizan los aprendices y los profesores, y c) analizar si la forma de utilizarlas cumple con el potencial identificado y es propicio para el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras. La introducción presenta los antecedentes de la investigación realizada y seis conceptos que afectan nuestra comprensión del aprendizaje de idiomas a través de estas tecnologías: el concepto de enseñar a personas desconocidas, el desarrollo de capacidades digitales, la micro-credencialización, el aumento de la atención parcial continua, la ansiedad por el idioma extranjero y la normalización. El capítulo dos es un compendio de los nueve trabajos publicados y se divide en tres secciones. La primera sección trata sobre el uso de podcasting como herramienta de aprendizaje de idiomas. La primera publicación proporciona una taxonomía de recursos de podcasts, revisa los materiales de podcasting a la luz de las teorías de adquisición de segundas lenguas, aboga por un mejor diseño y sugiere direcciones para futuras investigaciones. Esta investigación se presenta en las publicaciones dos y tres. La sección dos del capítulo dos se enfoca en el uso de aplicaciones móviles para el aprendizaje y la enseñanza de idiomas. La publicación cuatro revisa la investigación actual sobre el potencial para el aprendizaje de idiomas de las aplicaciones y presenta una taxonomía de las aplicaciones disponibles y su uso para ello. El artículo también presenta un marco que consta de cuatro categorías para evaluar aplicaciones de aprendizaje de idiomas (tecnología, pedagogía, experiencia del usuario y aprendizaje de idiomas). La publicación concluye con una propuesta de áreas de investigación adicional, incluido el uso por parte del aprendiz en contextos formales e informales. Estas áreas de investigación se investigan en las publicaciones cinco y seis. La sección tres se centra en la tercera tecnología: Twitter como herramienta de enseñanza y aprendizaje de idiomas. La publicación siete destaca el potencial de Twitter como herramienta de aprendizaje de idiomas. La publicación ocho muestra cómo un grupo de profesores de idiomas utiliza Twitter como herramienta para el desarrollo profesional continuo y evalúa el impacto de su red de Twitter en sus prácticas docentes. Por último, la publicación nueve presenta un estudio a gran escala de aprendices autónomos de idiomas que utilizan Twitter. Los resultados de estos estudios se discuten en el capítulo tres. El capítulo cuatro vuelve a los principales temas y conceptos presentados en la introducción y proporciona algunas consideraciones basadas en los resultados de la investigación realizada. A continuación, propone que puede ser necesario reenfocar la agenda de investigación de MALL y sugiere posibles áreas de desarrollo. La investigación presentada en esta tesis contribuye a los campos de CALL y MALL de varias maneras. Primero, proporciona perfiles de usuario de los aprendices que utilizan estas tecnologías. En segundo lugar, proporciona evidencia de cómo esos usuarios utilizan las tecnologías y evalúan su experiencia de aprendizaje. En tercer lugar, presenta una nueva taxonomía de recursos MALL. En cuarto lugar, describe un proceso para evaluar el uso de tecnologías móviles para el aprendizaje de idiomas, con un nuevo marco teórico de evaluación basado en cinco criterios: tecnología, experiencia del usuario, aprendizaje de idiomas, interacción y pedago
[CA] Aquesta tesi se centra en tres tecnologies mòbils: podcasting, aplicacions mòbils i Twitter, i avalua el seu potencial per a l'aprenentatge d'idiomes basant-se en una sèrie d'estudis amb diferents tipus de participants, incloent estudiants d'ensenyament formal, de contextos informals d'aprenentatge, i professors. L'objectiu general dels diferents estudis d'investigació és avaluar les tres tecnologies a través de processos per a) identificar el potencial d'aqueixes tecnologies, b) investigar com les utilitzen els aprenents i els professors, i c) analitzar si la manera d'utilitzar-les compleix amb el potencial identificat i és propici per a l'aprenentatge de llengües estrangeres. La introducció presenta els antecedents de la investigació realitzada i sis conceptes que afecten la nostra comprensió de l'aprenentatge d'idiomes a través d'aquestes tecnologies: el concepte d'ensenyar a persones desconegudes, el desenvolupament de capacitats digitals, la micro-credencialització, l'augment de l'atenció parcial contínua, l'ansietat per l'idioma estranger i la normalització. El capítol dos és un compendi dels nou treballs publicats i es divideix en tres seccions. La primera secció tracta sobre l'ús de podcasting com a eina d'aprenentatge d'idiomes. La primera publicació proporciona una taxonomia de recursos de podcasts, revisa els materials de podcasting a la llum de les teories d'adquisició de segones llengües, advoca per un millor disseny i suggereix direccions per a futures investigacions. Aquesta investigació es presenta en les publicacions dues i tres. La secció dues del capítol dos s'enfoca cap a l'ús d'aplicacions mòbils per a l'aprenentatge i l'ensenyament d'idiomes. La publicació quatre revisa la investigació actual sobre el potencial per a l'aprenentatge d'idiomes de les aplicacions i presenta una taxonomia de les aplicacions disponibles i el seu ús per a això. L'article també presenta un marc que consta de quatre categories per a avaluar aplicacions d'aprenentatge d'idiomes (tecnologia, pedagogia, experiència de l'usuari i aprenentatge d'idiomes). La publicació conclou amb una proposta d'àrees d'investigació addicional, inclòs l'ús per part de l'aprenent en contextos formals i informals. Aquestes àrees d'investigació s'investiguen en les publicacions cinc i sis. La secció tres se centra en la tercera tecnologia: Twitter com a eina d'ensenyament i aprenentatge d'idiomes. La publicació huit mostra com un grup de professors d'idiomes utilitza Twitter com a eina per al desenvolupament professional continu i avalua l'impacte de la seua xarxa de Twitter en les seues pràctiques docents. Finalment, la publicació nou presenta un estudi a gran escala d'aprenents autònoms d'idiomes que utilitzen Twitter. Els resultats d'aquests estudis es discuteixen en el capítol tres. El capítol quatre torna als principals temes i conceptes presentats en la introducció i proporciona algunes consideracions basades en els resultats de la investigació realitzada. A continuació, proposa que pot ser necessari reenfocar l'agenda d'investigació de MALL i suggereix possibles àrees de desenvolupament. La investigació presentada en aquesta tesi contribueix als camps de CALL i MALL de diverses maneres. Primer, proporciona perfils d'usuari dels aprenents que utilitzen aquestes tecnologies. En segon lloc, proporciona evidència de com aqueixos usuaris utilitzen les tecnologies i avaluen la seua experiència d'aprenentatge. En tercer lloc, presenta una nova taxonomia de recursos MALL. En quart lloc, descriu un procés per a avaluar l'ús de tecnologies mòbils per a l'aprenentatge d'idiomes, amb un nou marc teòric d'avaluació basat en cinc criteris: tecnologia, experiència de l'usuari, aprenentatge d'idiomes, interacció i pedagogia.
[EN] This thesis focuses on three mobile technologies: podcasting, mobile apps, and Twitter, and evaluates their potential for language learning purposes based on a series of studies with a range of users including formal learners, informal learners, and teachers. The overarching aim of the different research studies is to evaluate the three technologies through a process of a) identifying the potential of those technologies, b) investigating how they are used by learners and (where applicable) teachers, and c) analysing whether the way they are used meets the identified potential and is conducive to language learning. The introduction presents the background to the research carried out. This is followed by the introduction of six concepts that shape our understanding of language learning through these technologies: the concept of teaching strangers, the development of digital capabilities, micro-credentialing, the rise in continuous partial attention, foreign language anxiety, and normalisation. Chapter two is a compendium of the nine published works that explore the potential of the three technologies and evaluate them. It is separated into three sections. Section one deals with the use of podcasting as a language learning tool. The first publication provides a taxonomy of podcast resources, reviews podcasting materials in the light of Second Language Acquisition theories, argues for better design, and outlines directions for future research. This research is presented in publications two and three. Section two of Chapter two concerns the use of mobile apps for language learning and teaching. Publication four reviews current research about the potential of apps for language learning and presents a taxonomy of available apps and their use for language learning. The paper also presents a framework consisting of four categories for evaluating language learning apps (technology, pedagogy, user experience, and language learning). The publication concludes with a proposal for areas for further research, including learner use in formal and informal contexts. These research areas are investigated in publications five and six. Section three focuses on the third technology: Twitter as a language learning and teaching tool. Publication seven highlights the identified potential of Twitter as a language learning tool. Publication eight shows how a group of language teachers use Twitter as a tool for continuous professional development through a hashtag and evaluates the impact of their Twitter network on their teaching practices. Finally, publication nine reports on a large-scale study of autonomous language learners who use Twitter. The results from these studies are discussed in chapter three, which also showcases the impact the research has had on the fields of CALL and MALL. Chapter four returns to the main topics and concepts presented in the introduction and provides some considerations based on the results of the research carried out. It then proposes that there may be a need to refocus the MALL research agenda and suggests directions that future developments may take. The research presented in this thesis contributes to the fields of CALL and MALL in a number of ways. First, it provides user profiles of the learners who use the three technologies. Second, it provides evidence of how those users utilise the technologies and evaluates their learning experience. Third, it presents a new taxonomy of MALL resources. Fourth, it outlines a process for evaluating the use of mobile technologies for language learning purposes, including a new evaluation framework with five criteria: technology, user experience, language learning, interaction and pedagogy.
Rosell Aguilar, F. (2021). Evaluating the use of mobile technologies for language learning purposes [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/163675
TESIS

Abstract: The teaching of highly specialized prose is often troublesome to a language teacher who is not trained in the subject-matter. To approach this pegagogical problem, it has been suggested that teachers should explore the feasibility of using a subject-matter specialist to assist them in reading this type of writing. Following that suggestion, the present study attempts to respond to a particular situation observed with the graduate students in the area of Soil Science at Universidade Federal do Parana. It examines four journal articles in the field of Soil Science in the light of (i) what the language teacher needs to know in order to understand the pieces, and (ii) what the subject-matter specialist brings to the successful reading of these materials. The results obtained reveal that relevant and valuable information can be gained and applied by the language teacher through this methodology. In addition to that, it stands as a useful means of providing the teacher with a certain confidence in the target subject-matter, a step which can result in more meaningful instruction.

The purpose of the current study was to confirm or dismiss Saudi students' behavioral intention with regard to using smartphone applications for learning purposes. A quantitative, non-experimental survey research design and descriptive research conducted on the determinants -performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence- that predict Saudi students' intention at University of North Texas to use smartphone applications for learning purposes, based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) as the framework. This study aims at filling gap found in understanding of students' intentions and their behaviors regarding the adoption and use of the Smartphone applications. Data was collected by means of an online questionnaire. The hypothesized model validated empirically using data collected from around 234 Saudi students who enrolled at University of North Texas. The model developed from UTAUT explained 50.1% of the variance of behavioral intention, and behavioral intentions explained 13.6% of the variance of usage behavior. The result of this study support that the determinants of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and facilitating conditions were the highest predictors of behavioral intentions in using smartphone applications for learning purposes. The results of this study could encourage students, educators, and the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Education to provide educational applications that meet students' needs for information and knowledge.

The overall aim of this study is to investigate how and why teachers in the subjects of English and Modern Languages use group work in their lessons. This has been done with the help of a survey and interviews. The results indicate that all teachers in the study use at least some group work. Group work is often used to help the students practise their verbal skills as well as in teaching them to work together. The study has also shown that teachers find some parts of using group work in their lessons problematic.

A Review of manuscripts written by European explorers and colonists affords the opportunity to develop a clearer understanding both of types of plants employed and their significance in religion and medicine during the 16th to 19th centuries. This paper is a distillation of accounts by thirteen European explorers, written between 1545 until 1861, about Laos and the Lao people in Siam. All of the references to plants and plant use have been extracted for an analysis of which plants European explorers viewed being used traditionally in Laos during this time period and information on how these plants were used and collected. Many of the plants described in the texts were medicinal in nature and some have been examined for modern pharmaceutical use. These pharmaceutical studies have substantiated the effectiveness of historical medicinal plant use. The texts also describe plants that were used in religious ceremonies and that continue to play an important role in Lao culture. Future comparative analysis of these early records with modern day observations of plant use should prove productive in formulating assessments of Traditional Environmental Knowledge loss and the impact of this loss on daily life. Understanding the plants that are important to native Lao in the past can lead to better methods of conservation in the future.

Social media has the potential to be a critical force in creating connected educators. The collaborative nature of social media encourages personal connection, professional enrichment, and learning through co-creation of meaning. Secondary teachers are in a place that would permit them to harness these affordances, not only in their personal and professional environments, but also in their classrooms. This qualitative phenomenographic study aimed to uncover how secondary teachers used social media for personal, professional, and instructional purposes. Further, this study sought to understand secondary teachers' attitudes and beliefs toward social media. Their current state of social media use was also of interest, as were the types of relations secondary teachers had with social media. To better understand the stories and experiences realized by these educators, ten secondary teachers were engaged using a semi-structured interview process. These teachers presented with varying backgrounds, education, and teaching focus. The interviews provided a textual representation of their social media stories. Interview transcripts were transposed into thick rich accounts describing their experiences, thoughts, ideas, and how they understood social media in their personal, professional, and instructional lives. It was found that the current state of social media use by secondary teachers was primarily limited to personal and professional purposes. Teachers used it to connect with family and friends. They used it to connect with like-minded educators and personal learning networks to locate teaching resources. Many expressed that they could see a benefit of students interacting and learning from others through social media. In the end, however, they did not use social media for instructional purposes. The majority voiced concerns about student privacy, a feeling of not being able to control what students were doing on social media, a lack of training for themselves and students, possible inappropriate behavior, and the inability to access social media through network firewalls. Further analysis and coding of the textual data produced four emerging themes of discussion. The themes were: (1) support and constraints, (2) time, (3) privacy, and (4) one-way and two-way communication. These themes contributed to interactions with social media, in turn influencing their attitudes, beliefs, and how they used social media in their personal, professional, and instructional environments.

The purpose of this study was to identify several key elements regarding the use of technology resources by a teacher education faculty within a College of Education located in the Southwest United States. This study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods to: (1) report the current frequency of use of technology resources by the professors sampled in the study, (2) describe the major purposes for their use of technology as communicated via the survey data or through interviews with selected study participants, or both, (3) describe the types of technologies that are currently being employed by the professors studied, (4) describe the degree to which these professors require the use of technology by their students, and (5) explain the purposes behind these requirements as revealed by the selected professors through interview responses. The results of the survey data revealed that faculty use of technology for instructional purposes was minimal, the major purposes for which faculty in education courses use technology was to assist them in streamlining instruction and assignments, and that a limited number of education faculty required the use of technology resources by their education students. An analysis of interviews of the nine most frequent users of technology indicated that the use of technology appears to be a result of early positive experiences with technology. The purpose for use of technology for instructional purposes by frequent users is variable--such as developing an awareness of technology in their students and for modeling technology behaviors and classroom integration of technology. Recommendations from this study include the following. All faculty should be in the possession of a computer equipped with telecommunications capabilities for electronic mail and access to the Internet. Faculty should also have access to an extensive selection of technologies for use in education. Additional recommendations are: release time should be given to faculty for the purpose of attending technology demonstrations and conferences, colleges should hire only those new faculty members who are already somewhat proficient in the use of technology, and proficiency in the use of technology should be one component in the promotion and tenure process.

Major limitations of the short tandem repeat (STR) loci that form the basis of criminal DNA databases are the 'partial' profiles that result from degradation of the longer repeat sequences. In contrast, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) can be encompassed in smaller amplicons increasing the chance of amplification in degraded and limited samples. To aid SNP analysis a range of studies were performed including creation of the ASGOTH (Automated SNP Genotype Handler) software for rapid and accurate sample genotyping on microarrays. A multiplex assay for simultaneous detection of 20 SNPs plus a sex-determining locus by single-tube PCR amplification and electrophoretic detection was also developed. All loci conformed to Hardy- Weinberg equilibrium and showed independent inheritance. Computer simulations characterised the effects of inbreeding and supported the use of current STR Fst correction factors. Both paternity testing and kinship analysis were compared to STR DNA profiling results. Interpretation criteria were formulated for correct genotyping of the 21-SNP multiplex to control for stochastic variation at low DNA inputs. Each locus was individually characterised for allele dropout, homozygous thresholds and heterozygous balance. The performance of the 21-SNP multiplex on degraded samples was compared with the AMPF/STR SGMplus (SGM+) STR method currently used for the UK National DNA Database and other DNA profiling techniques used across Europe. Applying the 21-SNP multiplex to casework samples previously profiled using low copy number (LCN) SGM+ amplification indicated that partial SNP profiles could be generated in samples that had given partial LCN SGM+ profiles, but samples failing to amplify using LCN PCR parameters would also fail with SNPs. This study demonstrated the use of SNPs for human forensic identification purposes as an adjunct to current STR methods and has formed the basis of further work on degraded DNA and the design of the next generation of DNA profiling systems.

Technology has changed the way we communicate, teach, and learn. Today’s generation of college students has never known what it is like to be without a cell phone or a computer. Social media is an integral part of their lives. As technology evolves, so do students’ expectations for a learning experience. This experience goes beyond the traditional classroom boundaries’ constrains. Understanding how to take advantage of the pedagogical potential of new technologies is therefore essential for language educators. Broadly speaking, there is much discussion about the integration of social media in language education. However, little is known about how these technologies may work in the language classroom. While many studies focus on the pedagogical benefits, few studies have explored the experiences of language educators who use social media to enhance and transform the traditional learning environment. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore language educators’ perspectives on their use of social media for pedagogical purposes. To gain a better understanding of language educators’ experiences in the use of social media, I interviewed a language educator at a large, public, research university, located in the Southeast of the United States. The primary data sources for this qualitative study consists of a semi-structured survey questionnaire, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews, and a researcher reflective journal. Throughout the study, I analyzed the data to build on the respondents’ comments. To ensure the trustworthiness of the study, I employed several techniques, including data triangulation, peer debriefing, member checking, reflexive journaling, and creating an audit trail. Study findings reveal that participants perceived social media as an instructional medium to blend informal learning into formal learning online, face-to-face, and blended environments, to facilitate a participatory culture, and to provide opportunities for students’ self-expression, self-reflection, and social interaction. Based on the findings, I offer recommendations for instructors, instructional designers, and policy developers. Finally, I address possible future research directions.

Title from PDF of title page.
Document formatted into pages; contains 117 pages.
Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--University of South Florida, 2003.
Includes bibliographical references.
Text (Electronic thesis) in PDF format.
ABSTRACT: The modern economy includes a variety of markets, and the Internet has opened opportunities for efficient on-line trading. Researchers have developed algorithms for various auctions, which have become a popular means for on-line sales. They have also designed algorithms for exchange-based markets, similar to the traditional stock exchange, which support fast-paced trading of rigidly standardized securities. In contrast, there has been little work on exchanges for complex nonstandard commodities, such as used cars or collectible stamps. We propose a formal model for trading of complex goods, and present an automated exchange for a limited version of this model. The exchange allows the traders to describe commodities by multiple attributes; for example, a car buyer may specify a model, options, color, and other desirable properties.
ABSTRACT: Furthermore, a trader may enter constraints on the acceptable items rather than a specific item; for example, a buyer may look for any car that satisfies certain constraints, rather than for one particular vehicle. We present an extensive empirical evaluation of the implemented exchange, using artificial data, and then give results for two real-world markets, used cars and commercial paper. The experiments show that the system supports markets with up to 260,000 orders, and generates one hundred to one thousand trades per second.
System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Reflection is yet to be fully understood as a concept, practice and experience in many English language teacher education programmes. The calls for data-led studies to prove its benefits and to make the concept less vague continue against a new argument that academic presentations of reflective inquiry may be flawed because teachers perceive reflection differently. Studies suggest that many trainees, teachers and teacher educators still do not understand reflection, and that rejections or fleeting tolerance of reflection by teachers or trainees may be connected to top-down approaches to teaching reflective practice. In a two year exploratory, interpretive research study of Nigerian English language teachers, the Nigerian ELT context is explored for evidence of reflective inquiry. The study integrates classroom explorations, teacher group meetings, focus group and individual interviews that aim to project the voices of participants. Reflection is identified in the context in teachers who used it intuitively and through those who have participated in a formal reflective international teacher development course. Findings show that reflection is multifaceted, distinctively construed and used for specific purposes. Four types of reflection are identified: learner-centred reflection; teacher-centred reflection; skill-centred reflection and knowledge-centred reflection. By comparing the two groups of participants’ perspectives of reflection and their use of reflection, the benefit and potential of reflection to bring change and development in the context is highlighted. The study shows that as participants progress through the spectrum of reflection-in-use that was identified in the study, they make sense of teaching and learning and of themselves as teachers; moving from intuitive encounters of reflection-in-use to the more explicit zones of systematic reflection. The study concludes that because reflection is multifaceted and used in specific ways, teacher educators will need to develop specific and relevant learning tools to teach it in more teacher-centred ways.

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is an alternative pedagogical model that differs considerably from the traditional chalk and talk didactic approach. However, to date there are still very few studies into its operation and effectiveness especially in the field of language learning. This study focuses on PBL in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course at a higher learning institution and thus extends our understanding of PBL in general and in the context of second language learning in particular. This ethnographic approach case study research investigated an ESP classroom over a semester in University Technology Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) to determine (i) students' and learners' perceptions and experiences of PBL, (ii) what students learn and how they learn; the learning process and (iii) the impact of PBL on the students' English language use and development. Data were collected through classroom observations, field notes, lecturer and student interviews, reflective journals and course documents. The data were transcribed using Transana, a qualitative video analysis software, then coded and analysed for emerging themes. The findings reveal that the PBL approach is well received by the ESP lecturers in the study context; it is seen to offer advantages in terms of student motivation, attitude, confidence, engagement; (MACE) and their independent self-directed learning and team-working (IT) skills; increased the English usage among the students under study which in turn have a positive impact on their language development. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the MACE-IT model conceptualises the potential of PBL as an educational initiative for change in the classroom culture which also assists language learning.