Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Quantitative research'
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Hoffman, Melissa. "Quantitative Proteomics to Support Translational Cancer Research." Scholar Commons, 2018. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/7303.
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Altered signaling pathways, which are mediated by post-translational modifications and changes in protein expression levels, are key regulators of cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic escape. Many aspects of cancer progression, including early carcinogenesis and immediate response to drug treatment, are beyond the scope of genetic profiling and non-invasive monitoring techniques. Global protein profiling of cancer cell line models, tumor tissues, and biofluids (e.g. serum or urine) using mass spectrometry-based proteomics produces novel biological insights, which support improved patient outcomes. Recent technological advances resulting in next-generation mass spectrometry instrumentation and improved bioinformatics workflows have led to unprecedented measurement reproducibility as well as increased depth and coverage of the human proteome. It is now possible to interrogate the cancer proteome with quantitative proteomics to identify prognostic cancer biomarkers, stratify patients for treatment, identify new therapeutic targets, and elucidate drug resistance mechanisms. There are, however, numerous challenges associated with protein measurements. Biological samples have a high level of complexity and wide dynamic range, which is even more pronounced in samples used for non-invasive disease monitoring, such as serum. Cancer biomarkers are generally found in low abundance compared to other serum proteins, particularly at early stages of disease where cancer detection would make the biggest impact on improving patient survival. Additionally, the large-scale datasets generally require bioinformatics expertise to produce useful biological insights. These difficulties converge to create obstacles for down-stream clinical translation. This dissertation research demonstrates how proteomics is applied to develop new resources and generate novel workflows to improve protein quantification in complex biosamples, which could improve translation of cancer research to benefit patient care. The studies described in this dissertation move from assessment of quantitative mass spectrometry platforms, to analytical assay development and validation, and ending with personalized biomarker development applied to patient samples.
As an example, four different quantitative mass spectrometry acquisition platforms are explored and comparisons of their ability to quantify low abundance peptides in a complex background are explored. Lung cancers frequently have aberrant signaling resulting in increased kinase activity and targetable signaling hubs; kinase inhibitors have been successfully developed and implemented clinically. Therefore, changes in amounts of kinase peptides in the complex background of peptides from all ATP-utilizing enzymes in a lung cancer cell line model after kinase inhibitor treatment was selected as a model system. Traditional mass spectrometry platforms, data dependent acquisition and multiple reaction monitoring, are compared to the two newer methods, data independent acquisition and parallel reaction monitoring. Relative quantification is performed across the four methods and analytical performance as well as downstream applications, including drug target identification and elucidation of signaling changes. Liquid chromatography – multiple reaction monitoring (LC-MRM) was selected for development of multiplexed quantitative assays based on superior sensitivity and fast analysis times, allowing for larger peptide panels. Method comparison results also provide guidelines for quantitative proteomics platform selection for translational cancer researchers.
Next, a multiplexed quantitative LC-MRM assay targeting a panel of 30 RAS signaling proteins was developed and described. Over 30% of all human cancers have a RAS mutation and these cancers are generally aggressive and limited treatment options, leading to poor patient prognosis. Many targeted inhibitors have successfully shut down RAS signaling, leading to tumor regression, however, acquired drug resistance is common. The multiplexed LC-MRM assays characterized and validated are a publically available resource for cancer researchers to interrogate the RAS signal transduction network. Feasibility has been demonstrated in cell line models in order to identify signaling changes that confer BRAF inhibitor resistance and biomarkers of sensitivity to treatment. This analytical LC-MRM panel could support meaningful development of new therapeutic options and identification of companion biomarkers, with the end goal of improving patient outcomes.
Multiplexed LC-MRM assays developed for personalized disease biomarkers using an integrated multi-omics approach are described for Multiple Myeloma, an incurable malignancy with poor patient outcomes. This disease is characterized by clonal expansion of the plasma cells in the bone marrow, which secrete a monoclonal immunoglobulin, or M-protein. Clinical treatment decisions are based on multiple semi-quantitative assays that require manual evaluation. In the clinic, minimal residual disease quantification methods, including multi-parameter flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, are applied to bone marrow aspirates, which is a highly invasive technique that does not provide a systemic evaluation of the disease. To address these issues, we hypothesized that unique variable region peptides could be identified and LC-MRM assays developed specific to each patient’s M-protein to improve specificity and sensitivity in non-invasive disease monitoring. A proteogenomics approach was used to design personalized assays for each patient to monitor their disease progression, which demonstrate improved specificity and up to a 500-fold increase in sensitivity compared to current clinical methods. Assays can be developed from marrow aspirates collected when the patient was at residual disease stage, which is useful if no sample with high disease burden is available. The patient-specific tests are also multiplexed with constant region peptide assays that monitor all immunoglobulin heavy and light chain classes, which could reduce analysis to a single test. In conclusion, highly sensitive patient-specific assays have been developed that could change the paradigm for patient evaluation and clinical decision-making, increasing the ability of clinicians to continue first line therapy in the hopes of achieving a cure, or to intervene at an earlier time point in disease recurrence. This study also provides a blueprint for future development of personalized diagnostics, which could be applied to biomarkers of other cancer types.
Overall, these studies demonstrate how quantitative proteomics can be used to support translational cancer research, from the impact of different mass spectrometry platforms on elucidating signaling changes and drug targets to the characterization of multiplexed LC-MRM assays applied to cell line models for translational research purposes and in patient serum samples optimized for clinical translation. We believe that mass spectrometry-based proteomics is poised to play a pivotal role in personalized diagnostics to support implementation of precision medicine, an effort that will improve the quality and efficiency of patient care.
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Marek, Greta I., P. Neal, A. Roache, and B. Crouch. "Panel participation on 2015 Quantitative and Qualitative Research." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2015. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/8405.
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Huang, Dashan. "Studies on quantitative finance via operations research methods." 京都大学 (Kyoto University), 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2433/135989.
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Wang, Jing. "Advanced Quantitative Measurement Methodology in Physics Education Research." The Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1249366709.
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Thunberg, Zelda. "Youth Democratic Disengagement in Tunisia : A quantitative research." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för statsvetenskap (ST), 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-100169.
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This study aims to investigate why young people in Tunisia participate less in formal and informal politics than older people. First, I compare the participatory pattern of young people in six forms of political participation (voting, party membership, organization membership, campaign activity, protesting and attending meetings/signing petitions) to older Tunisians, with merged data from the Arab Barometers five waves (2012-2019). The data shows that young people indeed participate less than the older. To find out why, I rely on socio-economic, political-psychological and socialization theories. I examine the research problem through a logistic regression model with data from the Arab Barometers fourth wave (2016-2017), which considers key explanatory variables from the socioeconomic, political-psychological and socialization theories. The results show that the biggest obstacle for young people to participate in politics is their lack of socioeconomic resources. Furthermore, access to information through education, political news and social media seem to be the most substantial variables to stimulate political participation among young people in Tunisia.
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Turri, Maria Grazia. "Mapping of behavioural quantitative trait loci." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2002. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:89823fa1-c1d3-49e3-acb9-46da18b12245.
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Anxiety is a common disorder which affects about 25% of the population and whose pathophysiology is still poorly understood. Animal models of disease have been widely used to investigate the molecular basis of human disorders, including psychiatric illnesses. This thesis is about the study of the genetic basis of a mouse model of anxiety. I have carried out a QTL mapping study of behavioural measures thought to model anxiety. I report results from 1,636 mice, assessed for a large number of phenotypes in five ethological tests. Mice belonged to two F2 intercrosses originated by four lines generated in a replicate selection experiment. By comparing mapping results between the two crosses, I have demonstrated that selection operated on the same relatively small number of loci in the four selected lines. Analysis of genetic effect of QTL across phenotypes has allowed me to identify loci with specific roles on different dimensions of anxious behaviour, therefore enhancing our understanding of the anxiety phenotype in mice. For some of these QTL I have also accomplished fine mapping experiments: a locus on chromosome 15 is now contained in an interval of only 3 centimorgans. This work is the basis for further molecular dissection of the genetic loci that underlie anxiety and provides a starting point for the discovery of genes involved in a common psychiatric condition.
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Wise, Ruth E. "Design Research and Research Design: Application of Quantitative Methodology to the Design Process." Cincinnati, Ohio : University of Cincinnati, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view.cgi?acc_num=ucin1219093105.
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Thesis (Master of Design)--University of Cincinnati, 2008.Advisor: Peter Embi MD (Committee Chair), Mike Zender MFA (Committee Member), Mark Eckman MD (Committee Member) Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed Jan. 17, 2009). Includes abstract. Keywords: design research; quantitative methodology; graphic design; visual communication; risk communication . Includes bibliographical references.
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González, Bellido Eduardo André. "Real-time quantitative sonoelastography in an ultrasound research system." Master's thesis, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, 2017. http://tesis.pucp.edu.pe/repositorio/handle/123456789/9511.
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Quantitative Sono-Elastographie ist eine neue Technologie für die Ultraschall Bildgebung,
die Radiologen maligne Tumoren ohne Risiko der strahlungsinduzierten Krebs
(d.h. Mammographie) zu erfassen können. Aufgrund gefunden Rechenkomplexität
in der aktuellen Algorithmen, Implementierung von Echtzeit-Anwendungen, die Prüfungsverfahren
profitieren wurde jedoch noch nicht berichtet. Zusätzlich, aktuelle
Schätzer für die Darstellung eine Elastizität Bilder vorhanden Artefakte der hohen
Schätzung Varianz, die die Techniker in die Gegenwart steifer Massen irreführen könnten
und zwar, falsch-positive Diagnose zu erzeugen.
In dieser Arbeit wird eine GPU-basierte Elastographie-System entwickelt und an
einem Forschungsultraschallgeräten implementiert. Quantitative Elastizität in Echtzeit
bei 2 FPS mit einer Verbesserung Rechenzeitfaktor aus 26 wird gezeigt. Validierung der
Systemgenauigkeit Anzeige wurde, auf Gelatinebasis Gewebe Phantome durchgeführt.,
waren niedrige Vorspannung der Elastizitätswerte berichtet wurde (4,7 %) bei geringe
Anregungsfrequenzen nachahmt. Ausserdem wird eine neue Elastizität Schätzer auf
quantitative Sono-Elastographie basiert eingeführt. Ein lineares Problem wurde entlang
der seitlichen Abmessung modelliert und eine Regularisierung Methode wurde
implementieren. Elastizität Bilder mit niedriger Vorspannung wurde darstellen (1,48
%) sowie seine Leistung in einer Brust kalibrierte Phantom mit verbesserter CNR (47,3
dB) im Vergleich mit anderen Schätzer ausgewertet sowie die Verringerung Seiten Artefakte
bereits erwähnt in der Literatur (PD: 22,7 dB, 1DH 28,7 dB) gefunden. Diese
zwei Beitrag profitieren, die Umsetzung und Entwicklung weiterer Elastographie Techniken,
die eine verbesserte Qualität der Elastizität Bilder liefern könnten und somit
eine verbesserte Genauigkeit der Diagnose.Quantitative sonoelastography is an alternative technology for ultrasound imaging that helps radiologist to diagnose malignant tumors with no risk of radiation-induced cancer (i.e. mammography). However, due to the high computational complexity found in the current algorithms, implementation of real-time systems that could benefit examination procedures has not been yet reported. Additionally, elasticity maps depicted from current estimators feature artifacts of high estimation variance that could mislead the technician into the presence of stiffer masses, generating false positive diagnosis. In this thesis, a GPU-based elastography system was designed and implemented on a research ultrasound equipment, displaying quantitative elasticity in real-time at 2 FPS with an improvement computational time factor of 26. Validation of the system accuracy was conducted on gelatin-based tissue mimicking phantoms, where low bias of elasticity values were reported (4.7%) at low excitation frequencies. Additionally, a new elasticity estimator based on quantitative sonoelastography was developed. A linear problem was modeled from the acquired sonolastography data along the lateral dimension and a regularization method was implemented. The resulting elasticity images presented low bias (1.48%), enhanced CNR and reduced lateral artifacts when evaluating the algorithm’s performance in a breast calibrated phantom and comparing it with other estimators found in the literature. These two contribution benefit the implementation and development of further elastography techniques that could provide enhanced quality of elasticity images and thus, improved accuracy of diagnosis.
Tesis
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Nordmark, Nicklas, and Henrik Gedda. "Do emotions matter? A quantitative research in Employer branding." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för marknadsföring (MF), 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-67380.
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Employer branding is a key concept when managing human resources. Such management distinguishes the possibility to increase attractiveness with the use of employer brand associations when being an employer of choice. Employer brand emotions have been displaced to have fundamental role in prediction of becoming an employer of choice, as positive emotions boost employer branding. Students are entering the business world and it is of importance to create an understanding of what variables students find as most attractive. By creating an understanding of the most essential variables in the right environment, organisations can differentiate and attract the most talented students. Hence, the purpose of this research is to describe the impact of employer brand emotions as a mediator between the relationship of employer brand associations and being an employer of choice, when investigating in a new context. Empirical data has been gathered among student on a university level in Sweden, studying economy courses, through the data collection method of a quantitative approach. Questionnaires were sent out and 133 respondents were used to create an understanding of the impact of emotions in regard to the relationship between employer brand associations and an employer of choice. The results indicate emotions to have a big influence on employer brand associations and moreover work content and social value to be the most fundamental employer brand associations in regard to emotions when investigating the perception of students. Therefor it is of great importance for management levels to understand the importance of the two variables when attracting Swedish students studying economy.
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Bain, Matthew D. "Supporting a Marine Corps Distributed Operations Platoon a quantitative analysis." Thesis, Monterey, Calif. : Springfield, Va. : Naval Postgraduate School ; Available from National Technical Information Service, 2005. http://library.nps.navy.mil/uhtbin/hyperion/05Sep%5FBain.pdf.
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Singh, Shantanu. "Quantitative Phenotyping in Tissue Microenvironments." The Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306940222.
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Smith, Kerry, and Ross Harvey. "Is there a role for professional associations in fostering research?" School of Communication & Information, Nanyang Technological University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/105862.
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Throughout the world professional associations in librarianship place considerable emphasis on the professional credentialing of their members. This normally means that educational and training courses of study offering a first professional qualification take up much of this activity. Since this first professional qualification does not normally require emphasis on the research process, but rather in obtaining the required skills and knowledge in order to practice librarianship, it is little wonder that the role of research in the pro-fession has not always been openly encouraged by its associations. Nevertheless, there is evidence that some associations are realizing that research and the research process needs to be better recognized, particularly as library professionals are increasingly undertaking higher level qualifications which include a research com-ponent. Yet if a research qualification is not always necessary for recognition as a professional librarian, the question needs to be asked: why should librarians bother to undertake the rigours of study to achieve it? The paper will discuss the importance or otherwise of research and its processes in the profession of librarianship and consider the role of the professional association in recognizing, enabling and promoting a research cul-ture amongst qualified professionals. The paper will particularly address the Australian context.
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Denenholz, Laura. "Qualitative and Quantitative Method Comparison in Animal-Assisted Therapy Research." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2011. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/232.
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While there have been many presentations and anecdotal evidence in support of AAT, quantitative empirically validated studies are very limited. Without quantitative empirical studies to support the effectiveness of AAT, it remains an unproven complement to traditional physical and psychotherapeutic practices (Kruger & Serpell,2010). The value and importance of non-empirical literature on AAT,including therapists’ observations, various author’s personal experiences, and unstructured interviews with patients, will be explored in the next section. Empirical literature on AAT, including scientific experiment and controlled research studies, will also be addressed. Finally, a conclusion providing ideas for future directions in research in this discipline will be presented.
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Gilmer, Dustin. "Factors that Influence Success in Research Funding a Quantitative Study." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2018. https://dc.etsu.edu/asrf/2018/schedule/41.
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Productivity and success in research is often difficult to quantify but is an important factor when determining future funding for the researcher. When trying to quantify factors attributed to productivity and success there are several data points that are produced such as the number of publications and success in future funding. It is important though to normalize these data points off previous funding, time spent doing research, and base pay of the researcher to insure accurate representation. Using this data, it is possible to find the productivity of the research correlated with the amount of research funding. This data obtained from the East Tennessee State University office of research and sponsored programs can be analyzed utilizing analytical software to find correlations within the data. This allowed us to determine if there is an inflection point at which productivity dips associated with research funding, as well as the productivity per research dollar for different disciplines. It is predicted that for many disciplines there will be an inflection point for which per research dollar the productivity will no longer increase. It is also predicted that for many hard sciences disciplines the productivity per research dollar will be less at the beginning, and then there will be a spike due to the greater startup cost associated with these disciplines. Inversely, it is predicted that in the softer sciences and humanities that productivity will be much greater per research dollar in the beginning and then tapper at the end.
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Hunt, Pamela M. "A Quantitative Approach to Studying Subculture." Kent State University / OhioLINK, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1213888416.
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Schulze, S., and G. Kamper. "The use of mixed methods as reflected in two eminent South African educational research journals." Journal for New Generation Sciences, Vol 10, Issue 1: Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/603.
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Published ArticleThe epistemological and ontological orientations relevant for this research are positivism, interpretivism and pragmatism. These paradigms of inquiry are associated with quantitatively oriented research traditions, qualitatively oriented research traditions and mixed methods research respectively. Researchers who use mixed methods build on the strengths of quantitative and qualitative methods and minimize their weaknesses. Since educational research is primarily evidence-based, the aim of the study was to explore the extent to which mixed methods research was reflected in two eminent South African educational research journals during the 11 year period, 2000 to 2010. To this end 1392 articles were analysed. Of the research articles published in the two journals, 17.8% and 15.1% respectively reported on the use of mixed methods. Quantitative methods dominated between 2000 and 2002, followed by a paradigm war in 2003 to 2007, and mainly qualitative methods from 2008 onwards. Mixed methods research was mostly used in the educational domains of didactics (inclusive of curriculum studies), management and social studies. The most dominant themes investigated in these fields were related to curricula and the NQF/OBE, transformation, staff diversity, e-learning and other teaching methods. The need to develop mixed methods research in all branches of social research in South Africa is indicated.
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Yee, Thomas William. "The Analysis of binary data in quantitative plant ecology." Thesis, University of Auckland, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/2292/1973.
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The analysis of presence/absence data of plant species by regression analysis is the subject of this thesis. A nonparametric approach is emphasized, and methods which take into account correlations between species are also considered. In particular, generalized additive models (GAMs) are used, and these are applied to species’ responses to greenhouse scenarios and to examine multispecies interactions. Parametric models are used to estimate optimal conditions for the presence of species and to test several niche theory hypotheses. An extension of GAMs called vector GAMs is proposed, and they provide a means for proposing nonparametric versions of the following models: multivariate regression, the proportional and nonproportional odds model, the multiple logistic regression model, and bivariate binary regression models such as bivariate probit model and the bivariate logistic model. Some theoretical properties of vector GAMs are deduced from those pertaining to ordinary GAMs, and its relationship with the generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach elucidated.Whole document restricted, but available by request, use the feedback form to request access.
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Heffner, Ned Thomas. "Development of a Robotic System for Quantitative Therapeutic Massage." The Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1276266128.
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Jones, Kyle Thomas. "Innovation Management and Crowdsourcing| A Quantitative Analysis of Sponsor and Crowd Assessments." Thesis, The George Washington University, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10686345.
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Crowdsourcing is an increasingly common method used for new product development in large engineering-focused companies. While effective at generating a large number of ideas, previous research has noted that there is not an efficient mechanism to sort ideas based on the sponsor's desired outcomes. Without such a mechanism, the sponsor is left to evaluate ideas individually in a labor-intensive effort. This paper evaluates the extent to which information revealed by the crowd during the course of a crowdsourcing event can be used to accurately predict sponsor selection of submitted ideas. The praxis reviews current literature relevant to new product development, innovation management, and crowdsourcing as well as methods for efficient sorting. Using a quantitatively-based methodology, the author develops and evaluates several predictive models using various attributes of the crowd reaction to crowdsourced ideas. Ultimately, the praxis proposes a model that can significantly reduce the burden of sorting through submissions and determining the submissions which merit further review.
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Lima, Julio L. "Power, trust, police unions, and police managers| A quantitative research study." Thesis, Capella University, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3732850.
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A Likert Scale Attitudinal Survey was distributed to sworn, non-supervisor, police officers at six police departments in the state of California in a department roll-call setting to measure the counterbalance of power, trust, and influence between police managers and police union leaders. The relationship between a police management and police union leadership is critical component in the internal dynamics of the police organization. The results from this study provide evidence that although on average rank and file police officers tend to trust and attribute more power within police organizations to police unions rather than to police managers, an analysis of the survey responses by inferential statistics showed that these differences were not statistically significant. Furthermore, an analysis of the survey results measuring the relationship between the specific leadership bases of power and trust revealed a statistically significant relationship between the perception of trust by rank and file officers and the use of specific bases of power by police managers and police union leaders. In conclusion, the implications for studies of leadership, power, and policing are discussed.
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BIANCO, ISABELLA. "Innovation as an Interactive Process: a Theoretical, Quantitative and Qualitative Research." Doctoral thesis, Università degli studi di Pavia, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11571/1215969.
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In economic literature, innovation has been traditionally considered as an exogenous force, resulting from scientific knowledge, which spills over the markets. Over the last decades, a more comprehensive understanding of the innovation as an interactive process has progressively emerged. In the new perspective, knowledge production, diffusion and transformation into innovation arise from a collective effort occurring within inter-organizational networks composed by heterogeneous actors connected each other in a systemic modality.
The present dissertation aims at exploring the nature of innovation as an interactive process. The overall goal is to verify the mechanisms regulating inter-organizational knowledge exchange within innovative networks. According to the complexity of the subject, a multiple approach is proposed for facing the study scope from different points of view. In the first place, the research addresses diverse forms of collective innovation in the context of R&D. Three main levels are tackled: policies for stimulating inter-organizational knowledge generation and exchange, firm-firm collaborations and industry-science relations. Secondly, three different analytical methodologies are applied for investigating innovation process inclusively with distinct tools and focus lens.
In the former paper, a theoretical and historical reconstruction is proposed to discover how the understanding of innovation as an interactive process has arisen within the economic studies. A theory-based research design in this case allows to illustrate the scientific evolution of the key concepts and models proposed for explaining the nature of knowledge and role of innovation and how they are in turn reflected in different policy rationales.
Secondly, two empirical works are conducted for exploring the actual modalities of interactive knowledge transfer occurring within concretely established interactions. The first paper is based on a quantitative methodology directed to analyze the inter-firms knowledge flows within cooperative networks created by R&D projects sustained by public subsidies. The main goal is to detect which are the most relevant factors which favor the acquisition of external knowledge on the basis of the individual firms’ characteristics affecting their absorptive capacity. The statistical analysis is conducted at regional level on a sample of data collected from the case of Piemonte’s innovation programs for the period 2007-2013.
The latter study proposes a qualitative investigation of industry-research relations. The inquiry is conducted on multiple cases of long term collaborations between the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and national firms. The study aims at enlightening the way through which the cooperation is set, developed over time and assessed by the involved organizations. The chosen analytical approach compares the combined perspectives of researchers and firms on the same experience and complements the various narratives for inductively identifying the most significant patterns across the single cases.In economic literature, innovation has been traditionally considered as an exogenous force, resulting from scientific knowledge, which spills over the markets. Over the last decades, a more comprehensive understanding of the innovation as an interactive process has progressively emerged. In the new perspective, knowledge production, diffusion and transformation into innovation arise from a collective effort occurring within inter-organizational networks composed by heterogeneous actors connected each other in a systemic modality. The present dissertation aims at exploring the nature of innovation as an interactive process. The overall goal is to verify the mechanisms regulating inter-organizational knowledge exchange within innovative networks. According to the complexity of the subject, a multiple approach is proposed for facing the study scope from different points of view. In the first place, the research addresses diverse forms of collective innovation in the context of R&D. Three main levels are tackled: policies for stimulating inter-organizational knowledge generation and exchange, firm-firm collaborations and industry-science relations. Secondly, three different analytical methodologies are applied for investigating innovation process inclusively with distinct tools and focus lens. In the former paper, a theoretical and historical reconstruction is proposed to discover how the understanding of innovation as an interactive process has arisen within the economic studies. A theory-based research design in this case allows to illustrate the scientific evolution of the key concepts and models proposed for explaining the nature of knowledge and role of innovation and how they are in turn reflected in different policy rationales. Secondly, two empirical works are conducted for exploring the actual modalities of interactive knowledge transfer occurring within concretely established interactions. The first paper is based on a quantitative methodology directed to analyze the inter-firms knowledge flows within cooperative networks created by R&D projects sustained by public subsidies. The main goal is to detect which are the most relevant factors which favor the acquisition of external knowledge on the basis of the individual firms’ characteristics affecting their absorptive capacity. The statistical analysis is conducted at regional level on a sample of data collected from the case of Piemonte’s innovation programs for the period 2007-2013. The latter study proposes a qualitative investigation of industry-research relations. The inquiry is conducted on multiple cases of long term collaborations between the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and national firms. The study aims at enlightening the way through which the cooperation is set, developed over time and assessed by the involved organizations. The chosen analytical approach compares the combined perspectives of researchers and firms on the same experience and complements the various narratives for inductively identifying the most significant patterns across the single cases.
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Hinkson, Daniel S. "Supporting Marine Corps Enhanced Company Operations a quantitative analysis /." Thesis, Monterey, California : Naval Postgraduate School, 2010. http://edocs.nps.edu/npspubs/scholarly/theses/2010/Jun/10Jun%5FHinkson.pdf.
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Thesis (M.S. in Operations Research)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2010.Thesis Advisor(s): Lucas, Thomas W. ; Second Reader: Evans, James A. "June 2010." Description based on title screen as viewed on July 14, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Enhanced Company Operations, ECO, Distributed Operations, DO, Enhanced MAGTF Operations, EMO, MANA, Seabasing, Marine, Logistics, Agent-Based Model, Data Farming, Simulation, Design of Experiments. Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-86). Also available in print.
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Conradie, Aletta. "Barriers to clinical research in Africa, a quantitative and qualitative survey of 27 African countries." Master's thesis, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31490.
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Background There is a need for high quality research to improve perioperative patient care in Africa. The aim of this study was to understand the particular barriers to clinical research in this environment. Methods Electronic survey of African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) investigators, including 29 quantitative Likert scale questions and eight qualitative questions with subsequent thematic analysis. Protocol compliant and non-compliant countries were compared according to the WHO statistics for research and development, health workforce data and world internet statistics. Results Responses were received from 134/418 invited researchers in 24/25 (96%) participating countries, and three non-participating countries. Barriers included the lack of a dedicated research team (47.7%), reliable internet access (32.6%), staff skilled in research (31.8%) and team commitment (23.8%). Protocol compliant countries had significantly more physicians per 1000 population (4 vs 0.9 p<0.01), internet penetration (38% vs 28% p=0.01) and published clinical trials (1461 vs 208 p<0.01) compared to non-compliant countries. Facilitators of research included establishing a research culture (86.9%), simple data collection tools (80%) and ASOS team interaction (77.9%). Most participants are interested in future research (93.8%). Qualitative data reiterated human resource, financial resource, and regulatory barriers. However, the desire to contribute to an African collaboration producing relevant data to improve patient outcomes, was expressed strongly by the ASOS investigators. Conclusions: Barriers to successful participation in ASOS related to resource limitations and not the motivation of clinician investigators. Practical solutions to individual barriers may increase the success of multi-centre perioperative research in Africa.
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Delgado, San Martin Juan A. "Mathematical models for preclinical heterogeneous cancers." Thesis, University of Aberdeen, 2016. http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=230139.
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Cancer is a deadly, complex disease with 14 million new cases diagnosed every year and the endeavour to develop a cure is a global multidisciplinary effort. The complexity of cancer and the resulting vast volume of data derived from its research necessitates a robust and cutting-edge system of mathematical and statistical modelling. This thesis proposes novel mathematical models of quantification and modelling applied to heterogeneous preclinical cancers, focusing on the translation of animal studies into patients with particular emphasis on tumour stroma. The first section of this thesis (quantification) will present different techniques of extracting and quantifying data from bioanalytical assays. The overall aim will be to present and discuss potential methods of obtaining data regarding tumour volume, stromal morphology, stromal heterogeneity, and oxygen distribution. Firstly, a 3D scanning technique will be discusses. This technique aims to assess tumour volume in mice more precisely than the current favoured method (callipers) and record any cutaneous symptoms as well, with the potential to revolutionise tumour growth analysis. Secondly, a series of image processing methods will be presented which, when applied to tumour histopathology, demonstrate that tumour stromal morphology and its microenvironment play a key role in tumour physiology. Lastly, it will be demonstrated through the integration of in-vitro data from various sources that oxygen and nutrient distribution in tumours is very irregular, creating metabolic niches with distinct physiologies within a single tumour. Tumour volume, oxygen, and stroma are the three aspects central to the successful modelling of tumour drug responses over time. The second section of this thesis (modelling) will feature a mathematical oxygen-driven model - utilising 38 cell lines and 5 patient-derived animal models - that aims to demonstrate the relationship between homogeneous oxygen distribution and preclinical tumour growth. Finally, all concepts discussed will be merged into a computational tumour-stroma model. This cellular automaton (stochastic) model will demonstrate that tumour stroma plays a key role in tumour growth and has both positive (at a molecular level) and negative (at both a molecular and tissue level) effects on cancers. This thesis contains a useful set of algorithms to help visualise, quantify, and understand tissue phenomena in cancer physiology, as well as providing a series of platforms to predict tumour outcome in the preclinical setting with clinical relevance.
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Wong, Kit Pui. "The implementation of ICT in primary schools in Hong Kong : perspectives from school heads and teachers." Thesis, University of Leicester, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/7672.
Full textAbstract:
In recent years, the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education has become a widely discussed issue. This paper starts with a brief examination of the relationship of political changes to the rapid educational reforms in recent years, including the school-level implementation of ICT. Specifically, the implementation of ICT in Hong Kong primary schools is investigated. Primary data are collected from school heads and teachers while secondary data are collected from the scholarly literature. In addition, supplementary data were collected for comparison from several areas in the UK. A number of research questions are proposed for the study, including the potential benefits and shortcomings of ICT in education, the difficulties of ICT implementation, and the relative cost effectiveness of ICT. Quantitative and qualitative methods emerged from the different research paradigms of positivism and interpretivism. Both are discussed in the research design chapter. A mixed-method approach was selected for the entire research project. Under this approach, quantitative data were collected through survey techniques and qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviewing. These two data collection processes were undertaken independently. The design and application of data collection for both categories of data are discussed at length. Eventually, 681 questionnaires and 17 interviews were analysed. The findings were consolidated and triangulated when possible, and are discussed in the concluding chapter. Throughout the study, responses to several important issues, including workload, time, professional development and school organisation, have been elicited from the participants. Finally, some recommendations are made that attempt to optimise the use of ICT in education. Further research areas are also proposed. In sum, the research suggests that ICT is a 2-sided tool. On one hand, ICT can provide numerous benefits to teaching and learning. On the other hand, stakeholders must be aware of its potential negative side effects. Moreover, ICT should be treated as only one of many instructional media, and it should be used carefully. Over-reliance on ICT should be avoided.
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Kight, William D. "An analysis of reasonableness models for research assessments." ScholarWorks, 2010. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/719.
Full textAbstract:
Individuals who screen research grant applications often select candidates on the basis of a few key parameters; success or failure can be reduced to a series of peer-reviewed Likert scores on as little as four criteria: risk, relevance, return, and reasonableness. Despite the vital impact these assessments have upon the sponsors, researchers, and society in general as a benefactor of the research, there is little empirical research into the peer-review process. The purpose of this study was to investigate how reviewers evaluate reasonableness and how the process can be modeled in a decision support system. The research questions both address the relationship between an individual's estimates of reasonableness and the indicators of scope, resources, cost, and schedule as well as evaluate the performance of several cognitive models as predictors of reasonableness. Building upon Brunswik's theory of probabilistic functionalism, a survey methodology was used to implement a policy-capturing exercise that yielded a quantitative baseline of reasonableness estimates. The subsequent data analysis addressed the predictive performance of six cognitive models as measured by the mean-square-deviation between the models and the data. A novel mapping approach developed by von Helversen and Rieskamp, a fuzzy logic model, and an exemplar model were found to outperform classic linear regression. A neural network model and the QuickEst heuristic model did not perform as well as linear regression. This information can be used in a decision support system to improve the reliability and validity of future research assessments. The positive social impact of this work would be more efficient allocation and prioritization of increasingly scarce research funds in areas of science such as social, psychological, medical, pharmaceutical, and engineering.
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Baranowska-Rataj, Anna, Anna Matysiak, and Monika Mynarska. "Does Lone Motherhood Decrease Women's Happiness? Evidence from Qualitative and Quantitative Research." Springer Nature, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9486-z.
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This paper contributes to the discussion on the effects of single motherhood on
happiness. We use a mixed-method approach. First, based on indepth interviews with
mothers who gave birth while single, we explore mechanisms through which children may
influence mothers' happiness. In a second step, we analyze panel survey data to quantify
this influence. Our results leave no doubt that, while raising a child outside of marriage
poses many challenges, parenthood has some positive influence on a lone mother's life.
Our qualitative evidence shows that children are a central point in an unmarried woman's
life, and that many life decisions are taken with consideration of the child's welfare,
including escaping from pathological relationships. Our quantitative evidence shows that,
although the general level of happiness among unmarried women is lower than among their
married counterparts, raising a child does not have a negative impact on their happiness.
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Sotack, Gregg S. "Quantitative analysis of rocket propellant by capillary gas chromatography." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 1988. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/45190.
Full textAbstract:
The analysis of nitrate-ester propellants and explosives has been performed extensively by gas chromatography for the past decade. As capillary GC technology has advanced, new opportunities for the improvement of existing methods have developed. This investigation probes several of these possibilities.
The effect on quantitation of: the solvent, the analysis time, and the use of splitless injection were investigated. Precision was shown to be improved by:
1. using a non-volatile solvent (toluene) rather than CH₂Cl₂,
2. using the most time-efficient method that will allow adequate resolution of the components,
3. using splitless injection (0.80 min. splitless time).
After these potential improvements of method were investigated, the mechanism employed in splitless injection was investigated. This mechanism is known as the SOLVENT EFFECT. The investigation showed that:
1. non-volatile components required less splitless time to achieve 100% sample transfer to the column;
2. using splitless injection improved precision over split injection;
3. injector liner design had no effect on precision;
4. column overload did not hurt precision, as long as all peaks remain baseline-resolved;
5. the initial column temperature must be below the boiling point of the solvent (how far below did not appear to be very significant);
6. quantitation is improved by using a solvent that is as non-volatile as possible;
7. varying the split ratio after the split vent has reopened (within the range of 20:1 to 500:1) has no effect on resolving peaks that occur extremely close to the solvent peak.Master of Science
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Menendez, Maria Isabel. "Multimodal Quantitative Imaging in a Canine Model of Osteoarthritis." The Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1449150355.
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Stecker, Ian. "Optimizing Quantitative Methods in Murine Pulmonary Imaging with UTE 1H MR." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1592135581719325.
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Barnett, Inka. "Physical activity and the transition to retirement : combining quantitative and qualitative research methods." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2013. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.648141.
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Minx, Jan Christoph. "Data frameworks in monetary, physical and time units for quantitative sustainable consumption research." Thesis, University of York, 2007. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/11063/.
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The overriding aim of this thesis is to establish how integrated input-output data frameworks in monetary, physical and time units can contribute to a better understanding of the environmental pressures generated by a given final demand including the underlying economic, social and demographic driving forces. The thesis mainly focuses on environmental input-output analysis and related methods and evaluates the opportunities provided by recent data developments at the Federal Statistical Office. In particular, physical input-output tables and social accounting extensions published as part of the 'socio-economic reporting system' are used for improving the specification and conceptualisation of production technology and lifestyles. The first part of the thesis contributes to the recent discussion on monetary and physical input-output analysis. In particular, it looks at how the representation of production technology can be improved through the availability of information from physical input-output tables (PIOT) to allow for a more robust allocation of environmental pressures to final consumption/demand. The conceptual discussion highlights a whole range of misperceptions in the debate associated with the construction of the German PIOT and highlights the shared conceptual basis between monetary input-output tables (MIOT) and PIOTs to the extent to which product flows are concerned. However, a detailed empirical comparison of production structures in monetary and physical units using the graph theoretical toolkit provided by qualitative input-output analysis highlights fundamental differences in their representation of technologies due to the particular scope of monetary and physical measurement: 45% of all intermediate product flows in MIOT and PIOT are fundamentally different in that they have a positive record in one table and a zero record in the other. As expected, most of these are 'weightless' immaterial service flows. However, the thesis highlights that such fundamental differences in the production structures associated with intermediate service flows are not only relevant in tertiary sectors, but are prominent throughout the economy: in fact, for some manufacturing sectors of capital goods with a high service component immaterial service flows can make up to 90% of all intermediate outputs, highlighting the importance of an endogenisation of capital investment for an adequate attribution of environmental pressures to final demands. Remaining differences are explained by unpriced, material flows in environmental service sectors (recycling, waste treatment), where PIOTs provide a more comprehensive coverage. The first part of this thesis concludes by highlighting that production technology in environmental input-output models will usually be most appropriately specified in hybrid units. An outline of some of the main avenues for future research is provided. The second part of the thesis uses detailed SAM-type extensions to better understand the environmental pressures associated with lifestyles in their socio-demographic context. Initially, an expenditure based lifestyle definition is deployed. to analyse the social and demographic driving forces behind changes in GHG emissions associated with consumption patterns of 45 lifestyle groups in Germany between 1990 and 2002. A structural decomposition analysis confirms previous studies in that most technologically induced reductions in GHG emissions have been 'eaten-up' by additional emissions from growth in final consumption. However, results highlight that important demographic trends are at work at the same time counteracting GHG emission savings. These pressures need to be considered in climate change policy formation, if climate change targets are to be delivered. Results from the environmental input-output model are further analysed using a panel regression approach in order to highlight the influence of individual social, economic and demographic determinants of GHG emissions. The time-specific effects capture the slowing progress in GHG emission reductions after the re-unification in Germany. Group specific effects highlight the dominance of household size and the belongingness to a particular social group for differences in GHG emissions from consumption patterns of different lifestyle groups. The analysis is concluded by highlighting the importance of adding social and demographic information into standard environmental input-output frameworks to better understand global environmental pressures generated by the consumption patterns of different lifestyle groups. However, the top-down classification of lifestyles as commonly applied in national accounting based on only a few socio-demographic descriptors such as income, occupancy and household size is seen to limit the analysis. Of at least equal importance with people's social and demographic characteristics are the local conditions within which they are acting: general neighbourhood characteristics, the accessibility of private and public services and building properties (size, type, age, insulation etc.). Geodemographic lifestyle classifications, as commonly applied by marketing practitioners, are proposed as a spatially-specific alternative raising hopes to overcome the 'one size fits all'-type policy recommendations which are commonly derived from environmental input-output models. Finally, the commonly applied expenditure based lifestyle definition is fundamentally challenged. It is argued that a lifestyle definition should be based on what people do rather than on what they spend. Following the economic household production function literature, this activity focus in the empirical description of lifestyles can be achieved through the introduction of time-use data. The usefulness of the approach is demonstrated in an empirical example using data from the input-output tables in time units provided by the Federal Statistical Office of Gennany. In the Appendix of this thesis, an initial analysis of the social and economic determinants of CO2 emissions based on geo-demographic lifestyle data is provided. Furthermore, different ways of dealing with environmental pressures from imported products based on single region and multi-regional input-output models are discussed and a methodology for estimating Ecological Footprints based on input-output analysis is proposed.
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Pershad, Priya, and Viktoriia Baibuz. "A quantitative research on the attitude of European students towards Chinese web shops." Thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Företagsekonomi, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-39645.
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A quantitative research in the attitude of European students towards Chinese web shops. The purpose of this research is to determine which factors influence the attitude of European students the most while purchasing from Chinese webshops. The research framework is inspired by the Theory of Planned behaviour. The responses from the questionair were analysed using SPSS and the findings indicated that perceived behaviour control influences the attitude of European students the most, closely followed by website factors and service quality. In contrast, the factors subjective norms, price as well as product variety shows relatively smaller influence. Nevertheless, these factors should not be neglected when targeting European students for online shopping.
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Wu, Hao. "Towards a new research field: tax analytics using Australian Taxation Office data." Thesis, University of Sydney, 2020. https://hdl.handle.net/2123/23530.
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Tax datasets are becoming increasingly available in Australia; however, discussions on how such information can be utilised to benefit the tax literature are scarce. This thesis aimed to develop a general approach to explore tax datasets and form expectations of data patterns based on understandings of tax. Three substantial and independent research projects were used to illustrate how this approach can lead to tangible research outputs that benefit the tax literature. The first project developed an income tax deduction monitoring system in Australia using a linear mixed model, due to the concern of potential changes in individual tax compliance behaviour This system tracked the changes in the average income deductions of many demographic groups. The model suggested that most groups exhibited gradual changes, except for the consultant group that showed erratic swings. The second project combined the philosophy underpinning robust statistics with the understanding in current individual tax compliance and applied the minimum covariant determination method to individual taxpayers who were most likely to be compliant with tax laws compared to those who were most likely to not be compliant. This method could complement the tax crime detection model used by tax administrators and assist in addressing the influence of outlier problems. The third project estimated the aggregate tax compliance costs in Australia using a bivariate state-space model. This was an extension of the method used in the study by Wu and Tran-Nam (2017) . This bivariate approach addressed and extended the applicability of this general approach to other tax jurisdictions. In addition, it provided an update on the aggregate tax compliance costs in Australia.
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Doyle, Rachel Gayle. "A Quantitative Analysis of an Eating Disorder Prevention Program." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2011. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2736.
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The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a preventative curriculum entitled Eating Disorders: Physical, Social, and Emotional Consequences, A High School Curriculum about Anorexia, Bulimia, and Compulsive Eating (EDPSEC), a preventative curriculum for eating disorders. Participants included an experimental group of 72 students enrolled in a ninth grade health class and a control group of 39 ninth grade students enrolled in a physical education class. The research examined the administration integrity of the curriculum and participating students' change in eating attitudes and behaviors according to group membership. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and the Eating Survey (ES) were utilized in a pre-post test design to determine the participants' change. There was a high correlation between the students' scores on the ES and the EAT-26 (r = .873). Results indicated low treatment integrity and no significant change on students' EAT-26 or ES scores according to group. However due to low treatment integrity this study was unable to determine the effectiveness of this EDPSEC curriculum. There was a high correlation between the students' scores on the ES and the EAT-26 (r = .873).
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Raska, Paola. "Co-morbidities as quantitative traits." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1275586082.
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Bayramyan, Anna. "Making success out of failures : A quantitative research in Failure culture and Quality improvement." Thesis, Mittuniversitetet, Institutionen för kvalitets- och maskinteknik, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-40261.
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Companies can draw valuable lessons from their failures, and use them for their improvementwork. A positive failure culture is however a necessary precondition. High reliabilityorganisations (HRO) are known for their effective way of tackling and using failures aspotential for improvements. The aims of the study were to evaluate failure culture in an ISO9001 certified company, after HRO standards and thereby withdraw improvementpossibilities. The study was conducted through a deductive quantitative method using asurvey for data gathering. With approximately 30 percent response rate, and using statisticaltests, the failure culture of the company was evaluated. The results showed that the companyis not currently reaching a failure culture within HRO standards, but nevertheless has positivetendencies rather than negative. Lastly, improvement possibilities were discussed andsuggestions for further research were given.2020-06-26
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Hobek, Amy. "Investigating Early Writing Through Two Frameworks: Quantitative Intervention Research and Qualitative Cultural-Historical Analysis." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1397233019.
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Fausti, Giovanni, Gustaf Sandelin, and Adam Bratt. "Stock Splits And The Impact On Abnormal Return : A Quantitative Research on Nasdaq Stockholm." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Företagsekonomiska institutionen, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-194741.
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Throughout history stock splits have only been seen as a cosmetic change on how a firm express its market value of equity. This study investigates if abnormal return occurs in connection with stock split announcements on Nasdaq Stockholm and how the variations may be explained by selected factors. An event study is performed on 83 stock splits during the time period 2010-2020 to establish if abnormal return is present. With a multivariate linear regression, split quota, firm size and trading volume are the selected factors which may explain the variations in abnormal return. The results from the event study establish abnormal return one day prior to the announcement and the event day itself. Further, the regression confirms at a statistically significant level the negative relationship between firm size and abnormal return. For trading volume, the regression finds no statistically significant result and thereby it does not explain the variations in abnormal return. As for split quota, no conclusion can be drawn whether it affects abnormal return or not. The study concludes the occurrence of abnormal return in connection with stock split announcements on Nasdaq Stockholm and firm size as one of the factors explaining the variations.
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Cookman, Craig Alan. "Attachment structures of older adults: Theory development using a mixed qualitative-quantitative research design." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/185906.
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This study used a mixed qualitative-quantitative design to describe attachment in a sample of one-hundred fifty-four healthy community-living older adults. Life-span development and attachment theory combined to define the philosophical and theoretical orientation that guided the investigation. The idea of an "attachment structure" was conceptualized by the investigator to frame attachment--an approach that allowed attachment to involve multiple attachment objects from any or all of six different attachment object types (things, ideas, people, groups of people, animals, or places). The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the attachment structure as it presented in, and developed in later life. In phase one of the study, 154 older adults were administered a questionnaire designed to elicit descriptive information about the newly conceptualized "attachment structure". This information was used to guide theoretical sampling in the qualitative, second phase. In phase two, a grounded theory methodology was used to explore the developmental changes that occurred in attachment structures in later life. Sixteen subjects from phase one were selected, based on their responses to the quantitative phase, as those subjects most likely to advance the theory developing focus of this study. Analysis supported the attachment structure as a meaningful representation of socio-emotional development in later life. The existence of multiple attachment objects of multiple object types was supported by both quantitative and qualitative data. Significantly, in addition to close family and friends, subjects reported attachments to ideas like independence and freedom. A grounded process called "reconfiguring" was identified from qualitative analysis that described how older people make changes in their attachment structures to maintain a sense of security in the face of diminishing contact with attachment objects. Two pathways, the structural stimulation pathway and the reconfiguring pathway, describe the dynamics of the attachment structure. The reconfiguring pathway was identified as a developmental resource of aging--a process available to older people to address developmental challenges in aging that affect one's quality and quantity of interaction with attachment objects.
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Lam, Alex C. "Design and analysis of genetical genomics studies and their potential applications in livestock research." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/3950.
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Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping has been widely used to identify genetic loci attributable to the variation observed in complex traits. In recent years, gene expression phenotypes have emerged as a new type of quantitative trait for which QTL can be mapped. Locating sequence variation that has an effect on gene expression (eQTL) is thought to be a promising way to elucidate the genetic architecture of quantitative traits. This thesis explores a number of methodological aspects of eQTL mapping (also known as “genetical genomics”) and considers some practical strategies for applying this approach to livestock populations. One of the exciting prospects of genetical genomics is that the combination of expression studies with fine mapping of functional trait loci can guide the reconstruction of gene networks. The thesis begins with an analysis in which correlations between gene expression and meat quality traits in pigs are investigated in relation to a pork meat quality QTL previously identified. The influence on power due to factors including sample size and records of matched subjects is discussed. An efficient experimental design for two-colour microarrays is then put forward, and it is shown to be an effective use of microarrays for mapping additive eQTL in outbred crosses under simulation. However, designs optimised for detecting both additive and dominance eQTL are found to be less effective. Data collected from livestock populations usually have a pedigreed structure. Many family-based association mapping methods are rather computationally intensive, hence are time-consuming when analysing very large numbers of traits. The application of a novel family-based association method is demonstrated; it is shown to be fast, accurate and flexible for genetical genomics. Furthermore, the results show that multiple testing correction alone is not sufficient to control type I errors in genetical genomics and that careful data filtering is essential. While it is important to limit false positives, it is desirable not to miss many true signals. A multi-trait analysis based on grouping of functionally related genes is devised to detect some of the signals overlooked by a univariate analysis. Using an inbred rat dataset, 13 loci are identified with significant linkage to gene sets of various functions defined by Gene Ontology. Applying this method to livestock species is possible, but the current level of annotations is a limiting factor. Finally, the thesis concludes with some current opinions on the development of genetical genomics and its impact on livestock genetics research.
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Govender, Indren. "The integration of technology in mathematics at secondary schools in the Western Cape to enhance learner performance: an evaluation of the Khanya Project." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2008. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_9131_1267666625.
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There is a dire need to transform Mathematics education in the schooling system in South Africa as this is evident by the poor learner performance in the Mathematics examination results. There is a high failure rate in Mathematics at schools and the number of learners taking Mathematics up to the grade twelve level is on the decline. This study investigates the integration of computer technology in Mathematics education to improve learner performance.
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Al-Rashidi, Hajed. "The role of internal stakeholders and influencing factors during the phases of e-government initiative implementation." Thesis, Brunel University, 2013. http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7265.
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Governments around the globe were actively implementing e-government initiatives in the past two decades. However, the majority of e-government initiatives fail in achieving their objectives before, during or after implementation. This study is addressing the problem, e-government initiatives are still more failure than success. Literature indicates differing models that analyse various stages, stakeholders and factors influencing e-government implementation in the public sector. Yet, these models do not explore in particular the important roles and responsibilities of internal stakeholders and influencing factors during different phases of the implementation cycle of the e-government initiative. There is a need for a framework that guides the e-government initiative implementation internally. To achieve the aim of this research, this study should empirically investigate "managing e-government initiative implementation." Consequently, this thesis results in research that contributes towards successful e-government initiative implementation based on empirical data derived from three case studies. The practical parts of the research are three case studies on e-government initiative implementation, which are analysed using an interpretive and qualitative research approach. Besides document analysis and observation, interview was the main method to collect empirical data for this study. For an accurate result, only managers and above level are selected and interviewed. The study examines the proposed framework in three government organizations in the State of Kuwait by using a qualitative, interpretive, multiple case study research strategy. As a result, this thesis is proposing a framework that can be used to enhance the implementation process of e-government initiative throughout the different phases of the implementation cycle, and contributes to the body of knowledge by extending the literature. The stakeholders, factors and implementation phases are mapped together to ease understanding the implementation process of e-government initiative implementation across the public organizations. The study concludes by identifying internal stakeholders, factors, and providing a holistic framework for e-government initiative implementation. The findings of this research are useful for internal stakeholders in the field, as it enables them to gain a better understanding of their own roles and responsibilities. Moreover, researchers in similar fields may find this work useful as a way to approach the study of e-government initiative implementation.
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Thompson, Bruce, Colleen Cook, and Martha Kyrillidou. "Stability of library service quality benchmarking norms across time and cohorts: A LibQUAL+TM study." School of Communication & Information, Nanyang Technological University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/106442.
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LibQUAL+TM is a web-administered library service quality assessment protocol that has been used around the world in hundreds of different types of libraries. Data have been collected from almost 500,000 library users. The protocol has been used in several language variations. The purpose of the present study is to characterize the stability of LibQUAL+TM score norms across both time and various user cohorts. Library staff may place more confidence in benchmarking conclusions if the stability of the score norms can be demonstrated.
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James, Elizabeth Ann. "A QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF REQUIRED INTERNSHIPS: THE STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE." UKnowledge, 2018. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/epe_etds/60.
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Internships are increasingly popular in higher education (Coco, 2000; Divine et al., 2007). One reason for the increase is the benefits, both perceived and documented, associated with them (Divine et al., 2007). In addition to offering internships as electives, some programs have even begun requiring them of all students (Klein & Weiss, 2011). The policy change from elective to required internships has been evaluated very little, if at all, even though mandatory internships result in a substantial increase in cost and commitment for the departments that implement them (Divine et al., 2007).
This study analyzed survey and interview data from students (past and present) who participated in a required internship through an Equine Science and Management degree program at a major land grant institution that adopted a mandatory internship requirement in 2007. The intent of the study was to deepen the understanding of the effects of a mandatory internship policy in higher education from the students’ perspective. Specifically of interest were the benefits students gain from participating in mandatory internships, their perception of the mandatory internship policy, and whether the primary reason students participated in an internship influenced the experience. A mixed-methods approach was used to identify statistically significant results and provide an in-depth understanding of the results.
This study revealed that the vast majority of students who participated in a mandatory internship recognized a variety of benefits from it, viewed the experience as beneficial, and supported the policy of requiring internships. It was demonstrated that mandatory internships can empower students and aid in their professionalization. Participants also credited their internship more than their overall undergraduate experience for better preparing them at several important career skills including problem solving, job interviewing, networking, resume writing, oral presentation, interpersonal communication, and written communication. Furthermore, this study identified several statistically significant relationships between the primary reason students participated in an internship and how beneficially they view it, how much they believe it contributed to their current job, and how well it prepared them at specific career skills. The results of this study provide insight into the benefits of a mandatory internship policy from the students’ perspective.
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Barapatre, Nirav. "Application of Ion Beam Methods in Biomedical Research." Doctoral thesis, Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig, 2013. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa-126262.
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The methods of analysis with a focused ion beam, commonly termed as nuclear microscopy, include quantitative physical processes like PIXE and RBS. The element concentrations in a sample can be quantitatively mapped with a sub-micron spatial resolution and a sub-ppm sensitivity. Its fully quantitative and non-destructive nature makes it particularly suitable for analysing biological samples. The applications in biomedical research are manifold.
The iron overload hypothesis in Parkinson\\\'s disease is investigated by a differential analysis of human substantia nigra. The trace element content is quantified in neuromelanin, in microglia cells, and in extraneuronal environment. A comparison of six Parkinsonian cases with six control cases revealed no significant elevation in iron level bound to neuromelanin. In fact, a decrease in the Fe/S ratio of Parkinsonian neuromelanin was measured, suggesting a modification in its iron binding properties.
Drosophila melanogaster, or the fruit fly, is a widely used model organism in neurobiological experiments. The electrolyte elements are quantified in various organs associated with the olfactory signalling, namely the brain, the antenna and its sensilla hairs, the mouth parts, and the compound eye. The determination of spatially resolved element concentrations is useful in preparing the organ specific Ringer\\\'s solution, an artificial lymph that is used in disruptive neurobiological experiments.
The role of trace elements in the progression of atherosclerosis is examined in a pilot study. A differential quantification of the element content in an induced murine atherosclerotic lesion reveals elevated S and Ca levels in the artery wall adjacent to the lesion and an increase in iron in the lesion. The 3D quantitative distribution of elements is reconstructed by means of stacking the 2D quantitative maps of consecutive sections of an artery.
The feasibility of generating a quantitative elemental rodent brain atlas by Large Area Mapping is investigated by measuring at high beam currents. A whole coronal section of the rat brain was measured in segments in 14 h. Individual quantitative maps of the segments are pieced together to reconstruct a high-definition element distribution map of the whole section with a subcellular spatial resolution. The use of immunohistochemical staining enhanced with single elements helps in determining the cell specific element content. Its concurrent use with Large Area Mapping can give cellular element distribution maps.
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Wülfing, Thomas. "Vertragsdesign in hierarchischen Projektbeziehungen quantitative Methoden zur Berücksichtigung von Risiko, Vagheit und Informationsasymmetrie." Berlin Logos-Verl, 2010. http://d-nb.info/1000753069/04.
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Smith, Michael Edward. "Math Teacher Perceptions of Professional Development and Student Mathematics Performance." ScholarWorks, 2015. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/301.
Full textAbstract:
Math Teacher Perceptions of Professional Development
and Student Mathematics Performance
by
Michael Edward Smith
EdS, Tennessee Technical University, 2007
MA, Tennessee Technical University, 2006
BS, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, 2003
Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Education
Walden University
February 2015
The standardized math test scores at a Tennessee high school have trended below the state and national averages. One strategy to improve math performance is a pedagogical structure that facilitates peer interaction and discovery learning. A program of professional development (PD) designed to foster such interactive learning was delivered to 9th grade math teachers, but no assessment had been undertaken to determine the program's effectiveness. Guided by Vygotsky's social development theory, which states that student learning is affected by the interactions and instructional activities within the classroom, this concurrent mixed method study investigated math teachers' perceptions of the PD and its effectiveness in raising student scores on the end-of-course exams (EOC). Qualitative data were gathered from 4 teachers in order to explore deeper understandings of the PD effectiveness. These data were open coded and thematically analyzed. Findings revealed teacher perceptions that the PD was not effective, along with many insights for improvement of PD. The quantitative research question determined if there was a statistically significant difference between test scores of non-PD and PD students. The analysis used the independent samples t test to compare student EOC scores before the PD (n = 112) with the scores that were earned after the PD took place (n = 187). There was no statistically significant difference between the test scores in the first and second year (p = .06). These findings informed the creation of an improved plan for Math PD, including components contributed by teachers. The implications for positive social change from this study include a better understanding of math PD and student achievement at the local site, along with stronger preparation for students and the school community to succeed on EOC testing.
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Joshi, Jimish Dilip. "Characterization and Improvement of a Cone-Beam CT Scanner for Quantitative Imaging." Wright State University / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wright1284997522.
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Westgren, Jakob, and Markus Sandsjö. "IPO Underpricing – Can it be predicted? : A quantitative research study of Swedish IPOs 1997-2011." Thesis, Internationella Handelshögskolan, Högskolan i Jönköping, IHH, Företagsekonomi, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-18327.
Full textAbstract:
When a company sells shares of their business to the public for the first time, it is called an Initial Public Offering, IPO. The IPO is usually conducted by the issuing firm to raise capital for their future growth. Before the IPO the information about the issuing company is often limited and the investment in an IPO is associated with risks. The investors who choose to invest in an IPO are therefore usually compensated with a discount on the shares and often experience a first day positive return. This first day positive return is the definition of underpricing. If the majority of the IPOs are underpriced it should be of interest for an investor to take part of this opportunity and use it as an investment strategy. This thesis investigates if there is a way to predict which IPOs that will generate a positive first day return based on the information in the IPO prospect.En IPO är det första erbjudandet av företagets aktier till den publika marknaden. En IPO genomförs ofta i samband med att företaget behöver ta in nytt kapital för framtida investeringar. Innan ett företag blir publikt är informationsinsynen begränsad vilket medför en risk för den som vill investera i det initiala erbjudandet. Investerarna som väljer att investera i erbjudandet är ofta kompenserade med en rabatt på aktierna och får då ofta en positiv avkastning på första handelsdagen. Denna initiala avkastning definieras som underprissättningen av erbjudandet. Om en majoritet av börsnoteringarna är underprissatta skulle det vara av stort intresse för investerare att upprepande investera i IPOs och ha detta som investeringsstrategi. Den här uppsatsen undersöker om det går att förutspå vilka IPOs som genererar en positiv avkastning första handelsdagen baserat på den informationen som finns att tillgå i IPO prospektet.
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