Business Intelligence (BI) applications are consulted by their users on a daily basis. BI information obtained assist users to make business decisions and allow for a deeper understanding of the business and its driving forces. In a mining environment companies need to derive maximum benefit from BI applications, therefore these applications need to be used optimally. Optimal use depends on various factors including the usability of the product. The documented lack of usability evaluation guidelines provides the rationale for this study. The purpose is to investigate the usability evaluation of BI applications in the context of a coal mining organization. The research is guided by the question: What guidelines should be used to evaluate the usability of BI applications. The research design included the identification of BI usability issues based on the observation of BI users at the coal mining organization. The usability criteria extracted from the usability issues were compared and then merged with general usability criteria from literature to form an initial set of BI usability evaluation criteria. These criteria were used as the basis for a heuristic evaluation of the BI application used at the coal mining organization. The same application was also evaluated using the Software Usability Measurement Inventory (SUMI) standardised questionnaire. The results from the two evaluations were triangulated to provide a refined set of criteria. The main contribution of the study is the heuristic evaluation guidelines for BI applications (based on these criteria). These guidelines are grouped in the following functional areas: visibility, flexibility, cognition, application behaviour, error control and help, affect and BI elements. / Information Science / M.Sc. (Information Systems)

A administração intravenosa de solução salina hipertônica (HSS) induz alterações sistêmicas circulatórias como o aumento da pressão arterial e do volume circulante efetivo, além de ter efeitos locais sobre a microcirculação. No presente estudo foram analisados os efeitos produzidos pela administração de solução salina hipertônica 7,5% sobre a hemodinâmica do tumor através de estudos de imagem funcional e posteriormente, foi avaliado o seu potencial de otimizar a entrega de moléculas no tumor. A velocidade do sangue nos vasos tumorais estimada por Ultrassom Color Doppler foi aumentada após a injeção da HSS em comparação ao controle PBS em tumores de melanoma (B16F10 (p=0,019), SK-MEL-147 (p =0,028)) e de mama (4T1 (p=0,015)). Este mesmo efeito não foi observado nas artérias segmentarias do rim (p=0,476). Ultrassonografia com contraste por microbolhas (CEUS) foi realizada em xenoenxertos de tumor de melanoma (B16F10), carcinoma de cólon (HCT-116) e mama (MDA-MB-231), e como controle foi realizada imagem no rim e no músculo nos animais portadores destes tipos tumorais (n=3 por grupo). Após a injeção da HSS, o volume relativo de sangue foi aumentado nos tumores B16F10 (p=0,022) e HCT-116 (P = 0,039), mas o mesmo não foi observado com o tumor MDA-MB-231 (p=0,186). Além disso, não houve alterações nos tecidos normais (rim p = 0,957; músculo p = 0,104). Todos os testes estatísticos foram bicaudais. Quando a HSS foi utilizada como veículo para entrega de moléculas de baixo peso molecular como cisplatina e doxorrubicina no tratamento de tumores B16F10 e 4T1 respectivamente, não houve aumento da eficácia terapêutica, avaliada através do crescimento tumoral e peso dos tumores. O efeito da HSS sobre a retenção de macromoléculas nos tumores SK-Mel- 147 e 4T1, avaliado através de imagem por epifluorescência do contraste ótico IR-783, não foi suficientemente notório para rejeitar a hipótese nula. Assim, a HSS induz um aumento transitório na velocidade do sangue e do volume sanguíneo, de maneira relativamente seletiva para os tumores avaliados, com exceção do MDA-MB-231. Portanto, esta pode ser uma estratégia útil para aumentar a entrega de moléculas e otimizar tanto o efeito terapêutico, quanto o diagnóstico por imagem / Intravenous administration of Hypertonic saline solution (HSS) induces systemic circulatory changes including blood pressure rising, effective circulating volume increase as well as local effects on microvasculature. We analyzed the effects produced by Hypertonic Saline 7,5% administration on tumor hemodynamics through functional imaging studies as well as whether it enhances molecular delivery in tumor tissue when used as a vehicle. Blood velocity assessed by Color Doppler Ultrasound was increased after HSS injection compared to PBS in the following tumors: B16F10 (p=0,019), SKMEL- 147 (p=0,028) and 4T1 (p=0,015). No statistical difference was observed on the segmental kidney arteries (p=0,476). Dynamic Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was done in B16F10, HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 tumor xenografts, kidney and muscle tissues (n=3 per group). After HSS injection, relative blood volume was increased in B16F10 (p=0,022) and HCT-116 (p=0,039) but not on MDA-MB-231 (p=0,186). Changes on normal tissues were not statistically different (kidney p=0,957; muscle p=0,104). All statistical tests were two-sided. Administration of HSS as a vehicle for low molecular weight molecules cisplatin and doxorubicin in the treatment of B16F10 and 4T1 tumors respectively had no significant improvement of therapeutic efficacy, estimated by tumor growth and tumor weight measurements. Effect of HSS over retention of macromolecules in tumors SK-Mel-147 and 4T1, evaluated by epifluorescence imaging of the optical contrast IR- 783 was not large enough to reject the null hypothesis. HSS induces a transient increase in velocity of the blood as well as the blood volume that is relatively selective for the evaluated tumors with exception of MDA-MB-231. Data suggest that HSS administration might be a useful strategy to increase the delivery of molecules and optimize both therapy and diagnostic imaging

A formal framework is developed and implemented in this research for preliminary rotorcraft design using IPPD methodology. All the technical aspects of design are considered including the vehicle engineering, dynamic analysis, stability and control, aerodynamic performance, propulsion, transmission design, weight and balance, noise analysis and economic analysis. The design loop starts with a detailed analysis of requirements. A baseline is selected and upgrade targets are identified depending on the mission requirements. An Overall Evaluation Criterion (OEC) is developed that is used to measure the goodness of the design or to compare the design with competitors. The requirements analysis and baseline upgrade targets lead to the initial sizing and performance estimation of the new design. The digital information is then passed to disciplinary experts. This is where the detailed disciplinary analyses are performed. Information is transferred from one discipline to another as the design loop is iterated. To coordinate all the disciplines in the product development cycle, Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) techniques e.g. All At Once (AAO) and Collaborative Optimization (CO) are suggested. The methodology is implemented on a Light Turbine Training Helicopter (LTTH) design. Detailed disciplinary analyses are integrated through a common platform for efficient and centralized transfer of design information from one discipline to another in a collaborative manner. Several disciplinary and system level optimization problems are solved. After all the constraints of a multidisciplinary problem have been satisfied and an optimal design has been obtained, it is compared with the initial baseline, using the earlier developed OEC, to measure the level of improvement achieved. Finally a digital preliminary design is proposed. The proposed design methodology provides an automated design framework, facilitates parallel design by removing disciplinary interdependency, current and updated information is made available to all disciplines at all times of the design through a central collaborative repository, overall design time is reduced and an optimized design is achieved.

In the last half century, the aerospace industry has seen a dramatic paradigm shift from a focus on performance-at-any-cost to product economics and value. The steady increase in product requirements, complexity and global competition has driven aircraft manufacturers to seek broad portfolios of advanced technologies. The development costs and cycle times of these technologies vary widely, and the resulting design environment is one where decisions must be made under substantial uncertainty. Modeling and simulation have recently become the standard practice for addressing these issues; detailed simulations and explorations of candidate future states of these systems help reduce a complex design problem into a comprehensible, manageable form where decision factors are prioritized. While there are still fundamental criticisms about using modeling and simulation, the emerging challenge becomes ``How do you best configure uncertainty analyses and the information they produce to address real world problems?” One such analysis approach was developed in this thesis by structuring the input, models, and output to answer questions about the risk and economic impact of technology decisions in future aircraft programs. Unlike other methods, this method placed emphasis on the uncertainty in the cumulative cashflow space as the integrator of economic viability. From this perspective, it then focused on exploration of the design and technology space to tailor the business case and its associated risk in the cash flow dimension. The methodology is called CASSANDRA and is intended to be executed by a program manager of a manufacturer working of the development of future concepts. The program manager has the ability to control design elements as well as the new technology allocation on that aircraft. She is also responsible for the elicitation of the uncertainty in those dimensions within control as well as the external scenarios (that are out of program control). The methodology was applied on a future single-aisle 150 passenger aircraft design. The overall methodology is compared to existing approaches and is shown to identify more economically robust design decisions under a set of at-risk program scenarios. Additionally, a set of metrics in the uncertain cumulative cashflow space were developed to assist the methodology user in the identification, evaluation, and selection of design and technology. These metrics are compared to alternate approaches and are shown to better identify risk efficient design and technology selections. At the modeling level, an approach is given to estimate the production quantity based on an enhanced Overall Evaluation Criterion method that captures the competitive advantage of the aircraft design. This model was needed as the assumption of production quantity is highly influential to the business case risk. Finally, the research explored the capacity to generate risk mitigation strategies in to two analysis configurations: when available data and simulation capacity are abundant, and when they are sparse or incomplete. The first configuration leverages structured filtration of Monte Carlo simulation results. The allocation of design and technology risk is then identified on the Pareto Frontier. The second configuration identifies the direction of robust risk mitigation based on the available data and limited simulation ability. It leverages a linearized approximation of the cashflow metrics and identifies the direction of allocation using the Jacobian matrix and its inversion.

L'avaluació de la qualitat en interpretació al final del procés formatiu de postgrau hauria de coincidir, si més no majoritàriament, amb les expectatives de qualitat professionals respecte a un intèrpret novell. Partint d'aquesta hipòtesi, i inspirant-nos tan en estudis de satisfacció o expectatives de qualitat d'usuaris d'interpretació (perspectiva professional) com en els protocols d'avaluació aplicats a diverses universitats (perspectiva acadèmica), així com en els Models dels esforços de Daniel Gile, la nostra recerca empírica i observacional suposa una contribució a la identificació dels criteris de qualitat en interpretació. Es va enregistrar i transcriure un ampli corpus amb un total de 69 avaluacions de 18 estudiants davant d'un total de 7 examinadors en un postgrau d'interpretació de conferència mèdica. Després d'identificar els indicadors de qualitat (67) considerats pels avaluadors, es va dur a terme una anàlisi estadística, l'establiment de categories (6) i la identificació de trets distintius entre els avaluadors. La innovació rau en el fet d'haver desgranat els criteris de qualitat implícits a partir del corpus (avaluacions en un postgrau d'especialitat), en el mètode emprat per identificar les categories i en el seu processament. Els resultats mostren, entre altres qüestions, que la quantitat de comentaris positius o negatius fets pels avaluadors pràcticament no influeixen en la puntuació atorgada als estudiants. / La evaluación de la calidad en interpretación al final del proceso formativo de posgrado debería coincidir, al menos mayoritariamente, con las expectativas de calidad profesionales respecto a un intérprete novel. Partiendo de esta hipótesis, e inspirándonos tanto en estudios sobre satisfacción o expectativas de calidad de usuarios de interpretación (perspectiva profesional) como en los protocolos de evaluación aplicados en distintas universidades (perspectiva académica), así como en los Modelos de los esfuerzos de Daniel Gile, nuestra investigación empírica y observacional supone una contribución a la identificación de los criterios de calidad en interpretación. Se grabó y se transcribió un amplio corpus con un total de 69 evaluaciones de 18 estudiantes ante un total de 7 examinadores en un posgrado de interpretación de conferencia médica. Tras identificar los indicadores de calidad (67) considerados por los evaluadores, se procedió a un análisis estadístico, al establecimiento de categorías (6) y a la identificación de rasgos distintivos entre los evaluadores. La innovación radica en haber desgranado los criterios de calidad implícitos a partir del corpus (evaluaciones en un posgrado de especialidad), en el método utilizado para identificar las categorías y en su procesamiento. Los resultados muestran, entre otros extremos, que la cantidad de comentarios positivos o negativos realizados apenas influyen en la puntuación que otorgan a los estudiantes. / Assessing interpreting quality at the final stages of a student's training process at the postgraduate level should be, for the most part, in keeping with quality expectations for novel practitioners. On the basis of such hypothesis, and inspired by studies on quality satisfaction or users' expectations (professional approach), assessment protocols used in different training schools (academic approach), and Daniel Gile's Efforts Model, our research -empirical and observational- aims to contribute to identify quality-defining criteria in interpreting. A large corpus was recorded and transcribed, with a total of 69 post-exercise assessments of 18 interpreters taking a specialization course in medical interpreting by 7 instructors. The assessments were scrutinized for evaluative comments which were analyzed statistically. This involved also classifying them in categories (67) and later merging them into 6 category groups. The innovation lies in the very concept of working backwards from a corpus towards implicit quality criteria, in the work on this corpus type (assessments during a postgraduate training course), in the method used to identify categories and in the further processing of the categories. The findings give some solid indications and show that assessors are not too influenced by the number of positive or negative comments they make when deciding what mark they will grant to the students.

Dissertation / This dissertation proposes a generic methodology for evaluating intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs), and applies it to the evaluation of the SQL-Tutor, an ITS for the database language SQL. An examination of the historical development, theory and architecture of intelligent tutoring systems, as well as the theory, architecture and behaviour of the SQL-Tutor sets the context for this study. The characteristics and criteria for evaluating computer-aided instruction (CAl) systems are considered as a background to an in-depth investigation of the characteristics and criteria appropriate for evaluating ITSs. These criteria are categorised along internal and external dimensions with the internal dimension focusing on the intrinsic features and behavioural aspects of ITSs, and the external dimension focusing on its educational impact. Several issues surrounding the evaluation of ITSs namely, approaches, methods, techniques and principles are examined, and integrated within a framework for assessing the added value of ITS technology for instructional purposes. / Educational Studies / M. Sc. (Information Systems)

Text in Afrikaans / Ten einde 'n kurrikulum relevant en doeltreffend te kan hou, is di t noodsaaklik om die kurrikulum gereeld te evalueer en dienooreenkomstig die bevindinge aan te pas, indien nodig. Spesiale skole in Suid-Afrika beskik oor 'n eiesoortige kernkurrikulum wat hoofsaaklik ontwikkel is vir leerders wat primer verstandelik matig gestrem is. Om verskeie redes, waarvan die belangrikste is, dat die meerderheid leerders wat hulle tans in spesiale skole bevind nie verstandelik matig gestremd is nie, word die werklike doeltreffendheid en relevansie van hierdie kurrikulum bevraagteken. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was derhalwe om die doeltreffendheid en relevansie van die kernkurrikulum wat vir die meerderheid spesiale skole in Suid-Afrika van toepassing is, te bepaal. 'n Sekondere doel van die ondersoek was om 'n kurrikulumevalueringsmodel te ontwikkel aan die hand waarvan kurrikulumevalueerders 'n kurrikulum vanuit 'n literatuurperspektief sou kon evalueer. Ten einde die ondersoek teoreties te fundeer, is 'n li teratuurondersoek onderneem na die grondslae en komponente van 'n kurrikulum. Op grond van die navorsingsresultate is die kurrikulumevalueringsmodel ontwikkel. Twee van die kurrikulumgrondslae wat by wyse van die navorsing blootgele is, is die leerder en die gemeenskap. By wyse van 'n li teratuur- en dokumentasie-ondersoek is bepaal wat die eise is wat spesialeskoolleerders en die gemeenskap aan die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole stel. Aan die hand van hierdie bevindinge is kurrikulumevalueringskriteria ontwikkel waarmee die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole toe geevalueer is. By die toepassing van hierdie kriteria is gevind dat die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole in vele opsigte nie behoorlik aan die eise van die leerders en die gemeenskap voldoen nie. Die gevolgtrekking kon derhalwe gemaak word dat die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole oor die algemeen nie doel treffend en relevant genoeg is nie. Aanbevelings is gemaak oor hoe die kernkurrikulum moontlik meer doeltreffend en relevant gemaak kan word. / Sustaining curriculum relevance and effectiveness, necessitates regular curriculum evaluation and adjustment in concurrence with the evaluation results. Special schools in South Africa have at their disposal their own · peculiar curriculum which was developed mainly for learners who are primarily mildly mentally disabled. For various reasons, the most important of which is that the majority of learners currently in special schools are not mildly mentally disadvantaged, the relevancy and effectiveness of this curriculum are questioned. The primary aim of this research was therefore to determine if the core curriculum for special education, which is applicable to the majority of special schools in South Africa, is relevant and effective. A secondary aim of this investigation was to develop a model for curriculum evaluation by means of which curriculum evaluators would be able to evaluate a curriculum from a literature perspective. With a view to founding this research theoretically, literature research was conducted into the foundations and components of the curriculum. On the basis of the research findings, the model for curriculum evaluation was developed. Two of the curriculum foundations that were disclosed by means of the research, were the learner and the community. By means of an investigation of literature and other relevant documentation, the demands made on the curriculum by the learner and the community, were determined. On the basis of these findings, criteria were developed by means of which the core curriculum for special schools was then assessed. When the above criteria were applied, it was found that in many respects the core curriculum for special schools did not completely comply with the demands of the learners and the community. The conclusion could therefore be drawn that the core curriculum for special schools are in general not effective and relevant enough. Proposals were made on how the core curriculum could possibly be made more effective and relevant. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didaktiek)

A administração intravenosa de solução salina hipertônica (HSS) induz alterações sistêmicas circulatórias como o aumento da pressão arterial e do volume circulante efetivo, além de ter efeitos locais sobre a microcirculação. No presente estudo foram analisados os efeitos produzidos pela administração de solução salina hipertônica 7,5% sobre a hemodinâmica do tumor através de estudos de imagem funcional e posteriormente, foi avaliado o seu potencial de otimizar a entrega de moléculas no tumor. A velocidade do sangue nos vasos tumorais estimada por Ultrassom Color Doppler foi aumentada após a injeção da HSS em comparação ao controle PBS em tumores de melanoma (B16F10 (p=0,019), SK-MEL-147 (p =0,028)) e de mama (4T1 (p=0,015)). Este mesmo efeito não foi observado nas artérias segmentarias do rim (p=0,476). Ultrassonografia com contraste por microbolhas (CEUS) foi realizada em xenoenxertos de tumor de melanoma (B16F10), carcinoma de cólon (HCT-116) e mama (MDA-MB-231), e como controle foi realizada imagem no rim e no músculo nos animais portadores destes tipos tumorais (n=3 por grupo). Após a injeção da HSS, o volume relativo de sangue foi aumentado nos tumores B16F10 (p=0,022) e HCT-116 (P = 0,039), mas o mesmo não foi observado com o tumor MDA-MB-231 (p=0,186). Além disso, não houve alterações nos tecidos normais (rim p = 0,957; músculo p = 0,104). Todos os testes estatísticos foram bicaudais. Quando a HSS foi utilizada como veículo para entrega de moléculas de baixo peso molecular como cisplatina e doxorrubicina no tratamento de tumores B16F10 e 4T1 respectivamente, não houve aumento da eficácia terapêutica, avaliada através do crescimento tumoral e peso dos tumores. O efeito da HSS sobre a retenção de macromoléculas nos tumores SK-Mel- 147 e 4T1, avaliado através de imagem por epifluorescência do contraste ótico IR-783, não foi suficientemente notório para rejeitar a hipótese nula. Assim, a HSS induz um aumento transitório na velocidade do sangue e do volume sanguíneo, de maneira relativamente seletiva para os tumores avaliados, com exceção do MDA-MB-231. Portanto, esta pode ser uma estratégia útil para aumentar a entrega de moléculas e otimizar tanto o efeito terapêutico, quanto o diagnóstico por imagem / Intravenous administration of Hypertonic saline solution (HSS) induces systemic circulatory changes including blood pressure rising, effective circulating volume increase as well as local effects on microvasculature. We analyzed the effects produced by Hypertonic Saline 7,5% administration on tumor hemodynamics through functional imaging studies as well as whether it enhances molecular delivery in tumor tissue when used as a vehicle. Blood velocity assessed by Color Doppler Ultrasound was increased after HSS injection compared to PBS in the following tumors: B16F10 (p=0,019), SKMEL- 147 (p=0,028) and 4T1 (p=0,015). No statistical difference was observed on the segmental kidney arteries (p=0,476). Dynamic Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was done in B16F10, HCT-116 and MDA-MB-231 tumor xenografts, kidney and muscle tissues (n=3 per group). After HSS injection, relative blood volume was increased in B16F10 (p=0,022) and HCT-116 (p=0,039) but not on MDA-MB-231 (p=0,186). Changes on normal tissues were not statistically different (kidney p=0,957; muscle p=0,104). All statistical tests were two-sided. Administration of HSS as a vehicle for low molecular weight molecules cisplatin and doxorubicin in the treatment of B16F10 and 4T1 tumors respectively had no significant improvement of therapeutic efficacy, estimated by tumor growth and tumor weight measurements. Effect of HSS over retention of macromolecules in tumors SK-Mel-147 and 4T1, evaluated by epifluorescence imaging of the optical contrast IR- 783 was not large enough to reject the null hypothesis. HSS induces a transient increase in velocity of the blood as well as the blood volume that is relatively selective for the evaluated tumors with exception of MDA-MB-231. Data suggest that HSS administration might be a useful strategy to increase the delivery of molecules and optimize both therapy and diagnostic imaging

This research investigates progress in the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) into curriculum-based teaching and learning in the Lesotho secondary and high school science classroom, with the aim of establishing how effective e-learning and integration of ICT can be supported. E-learning was perceived by education stakeholders in Lesotho as an effective way to enhance teaching and learning. To this end, Lesotho embarked on three partnership projects, namely SchoolNet, Microsoft STIC and NEPAD e-School Projects. There is a volume of research, international and regional, on e-learning and ICT integration, mainly conducted by European and American researchers. This study by an African author, therefore, fills a gap. Using a variant of action research, the author undertook six studies over four years, investigating the extent of computing infrastructure in schools and ways in which e-learning was implemented in subject-based teaching. In particular, he studied barriers to ICT implementation in Lesotho; advantages and disadvantages of combining e-learning with classroom practice; the perceptions, aptitude and skills of Lesotho science teachers and students; professional development programmes; and preparations for introducing e-learning, including infrastructural issues. Literature studies were conducted, following which pertinent concepts from the literature were used to generate a framework of evaluation categories and criteria for addressing the research questions of this study. The criteria were translated into questions and evaluation statements for data collection instruments for the empirical studies. Triangulation in data collection and analysis was provided by applying multiple and mixed data collection methods: questionnaires, interviews, observations and case studies, to gather data from principals, teachers and students in selected schools across the three projects and in varying regions of Lesotho. The study identified notable progress, but determines that more remains to be done, on an ongoing basis, to support secondary and high schools in Lesotho with implementation plans and strategies. The study concludes with guideline and recommendations for educators. / Computing / D. Phil. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

Business Intelligence (BI) applications are consulted by their users on a daily basis. BI information obtained assist users to make business decisions and allow for a deeper understanding of the business and its driving forces. In a mining environment companies need to derive maximum benefit from BI applications, therefore these applications need to be used optimally. Optimal use depends on various factors including the usability of the product. The documented lack of usability evaluation guidelines provides the rationale for this study. The purpose is to investigate the usability evaluation of BI applications in the context of a coal mining organization. The research is guided by the question: What guidelines should be used to evaluate the usability of BI applications. The research design included the identification of BI usability issues based on the observation of BI users at the coal mining organization. The usability criteria extracted from the usability issues were compared and then merged with general usability criteria from literature to form an initial set of BI usability evaluation criteria. These criteria were used as the basis for a heuristic evaluation of the BI application used at the coal mining organization. The same application was also evaluated using the Software Usability Measurement Inventory (SUMI) standardised questionnaire. The results from the two evaluations were triangulated to provide a refined set of criteria. The main contribution of the study is the heuristic evaluation guidelines for BI applications (based on these criteria). These guidelines are grouped in the following functional areas: visibility, flexibility, cognition, application behaviour, error control and help, affect and BI elements. / Information Science / M.Sc. (Information Systems)