The Global Positioning System (GPS) of navigation satellites was first developed for global navigation and position determination purposes. Signals from satellites are delayed by the Earths neutral atmosphere on propagating to ground-based receivers, termed the tropospheric delay. Although an unwanted term for precise positioning, the tropospheric delay may be converted to atmospheric water vapour, which is a vital parameter for weather forecasting.This research investigates the optimum GPS processing strategy to estimate atmospheric water vapour derived from ground-based GPS receivers particularly in the Australian region. For this purpose, GPS data observations from GPS permanent stations across Australia, mainly from the Australian Regional GPS Network, will be processed using scientific GPS software in post-processed mode and near real-time mode.This research shows that by applying high accuracy GPS data processing, the tropospheric delay could be estimated precisely. The quality of GPS data processing is indicated by the station coordinates repeatability since the coordinates can gauge at least a coarse assessment of the ability of the processing method to estimate the tropospheric delay.The precipitable water can be estimated from the wet component after separating the tropospheric delay into dry and wet components. High accuracy GPS data processing is dependent on the best choice of processing strategies, and the correct application of error-correction models and a priori constraints. This research finds that the GPS- PW estimation agrees with Radiosonde-PW estimation with an average of standard deviation at 2.5mm level for post-processed strategy and 2.8mm for near real-time strategy. The standard deviation of tropospheric parameter estimates is 1.1mm for post-processed strategy and 1.5mm for near real-time strategy.

L'échocardiographie est la modalité d'imagerie la plus utilisée pour évaluer la morphologie et la fonction cardiaque. Il s'agit d'un outil non invasif pour le diagnostic et l'évaluation des maladies cardiaques et il permet en outre de surveiller la réponse au traitement. Cependant, la quantification des événements cardiaques rapides demeure un défi avec la cadence d’imagerie actuellement réalisable, en particulier dans des applications telles que l'échocardiographie d'effort. De plus, cette limitation devient plus prononcée en imagerie 3D conventionnelle focalisée en raison du temps nécessaire pour insonifier et acquérir un volume complet. Le fait que l’on puisse actuellement atteindre au mieux ~20 volumes par seconde est l'une des raisons qui limitent son utilisation courante dans la pratique clinique. Des améliorations dans ce domaine permettraient d'exploiter l'important potentiel de l'imagerie 3D pour la quantification complète de la déformation cardiaque.Dans ce contexte, l'objectif de cette thèse était de développer des méthodes à haute cadence d'images et de tester leur performance dans des conditions réalistes visant la prise de décision pour une transition vers la pratique clinique. Pour atteindre cet objectif, des expériences in vitro et in vivo ont été menées en utilisant l'imagerie 2D et 3D. Notre première contribution a été une comparaison 2D entre deux modalités à haute cadence d'images en termes de qualité d'image et de performance d'estimation de mouvement. Motivés par nos résultats 2D mais surtout par le défi d'implémenter le MLT dans la pratique, nous avons étendu cette approche en 3D. Nous avons étudié la faisabilité de la MLT 3D dans des conditions statiques et dynamiques. Enfin, comme l’évaluation de nouvelles approches dans des conditions physiologiques de flux complexes constitue un pas en avant vers la transition clinique, notre troisième contribution a consisté à valider des modalités 2D et 3D à haut cadence d'images sur un fantôme du vortex / Echocardiography is the most widely used imaging modality for assessing cardiac morphology and function. It does provide a non-invasive tool in diagnosis and assessment of heart diseases and it allows, in addition, monitoring the response to the treatment. However, quantifying fast cardiac events remains a challenge when using the current achievable frame rate, especially in applications such as stress-echocardiography. Moreover, this limitation becomes more pronounced in 3D conventional focused imaging due to the time needed to insonify and acquire a full volume. The fact that only ~20 volumes per second can currently be achieved is one of the reasons restricting its common usage in clinical practice. Improvements in this field would allow exploiting the important potential of 3D imaging in providing a full quantification of cardiac deformation.In this context, the aim of this thesis was to develop high frame rate methods and to test their performance in realistic conditions aiming decision making towards clinical translation. To achieve this objective, both in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted using 2D and 3D imaging. Our first contribution was a 2D comparison between two high frame rate modalities in terms of image quality and motion estimation performance. Motivated by our 2D results but especially by the challenge of implementing MLT in practice, we extended this approach to 3D. We studied the feasibility of 3D MLT in both static and dynamic conditions. Finally, as testing novel approaches in physiological complex flows conditions is a step forward towards clinical translation, our third contribution was to validate 2D and 3D high frame rate modalities on a ring vortex phantom

Inquiry-based teaching and learning has been infused in practical work in science classrooms in schools internationally. However, confirmatory rather than inquirybased practical work is prevalent in many South African Physical Science classrooms, especially in resource-constrained schools. Against this background, this study addresses the scarcity in a professional development framework (PDF) to support these teachers. The PDF was developed using a research process based on the development studies approach in educational design research. The process involved three research cycles, including a systematic literature review from an international perspective (cycle one and two) and a multi-method, multi-case study in South African schools (cycle three). In each research cycle consisting of an analysis, design/develop prototype, and formative evaluation phase, design principles were generated or revised as a basis for developing the PDF. The case study included interviews, observation and document analysis in favour of a context and needs analysis. The formative evaluation methods consisted of screening and one-to-one evaluation, with the quality criteria evolving from relevance (content validity) to relevance and consistency (construct validity) and finally to expected practically and expected effectiveness. The primary outcomes included ten design principles and the associated context-specific version of the PDF. The PDF contained eight primary components: learning phases, learning theory, professional development strategy (lesson study), instructional functions (for example, reviewing learning periodically), teacher motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic), instructional design perspective, attending to contextual factors, and professional development goals. The first primary goal was to create an environment that better supports teacher learning and practice in the design and implementation of IBPW in South African Physical Science classrooms in resource-constrained schools. The second primary goal was to enhance the competences, professional identity and practice of teachers in the design and implementation of IBPW. The process involved in developing the PDF in addition to the PDF and the ten associated design principles could be considered by users in interventions towards enhancing the design and implementation of IBPW in the present and other contexts. The users include policy makers and professional development providers. Also, though the PDF is potentially effective and practical, researchers are encouraged to evaluate its actual effectiveness and practicality. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / PhD / Unrestricted