The U.S. Army¡¯s Chemical Demilitarization are designed to store, treat and destroy the nation¡¯s aging chemical weapons. It operates Near-Real-Time Monitors and Deport Area Monitoring Systems to detect chemical agent at concentrations before they become dangerous to workers, public health and the environment. CDC recommends that the sampling and analytical methods measure within 25% of the true concentration 95% of the time, and if this criterion is not met the alarm set point or reportable level should be adjusted. Two methods were provided by Army¡¯s Programmatic Laboratory and Monitoring Quality Assurance Plan to evaluate the monitoring systems based on CDC recommendations. This thesis addresses the potential problems associated with these two methods and proposes the Bayesian method in an effort to improve the assessment. Comparison of simulation results indicates that Bayesian method produces a relatively better estimate for verifying monitoring system performance as long as the prior given is correct.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The study explores the completion rates (the number of years a student takes to complete a degree) of graduates at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa. The graduates in the study all did at least one semester of statistics in their final year of study. The students' completion will be described with respect to school results and socio-demographics. Differences between students who finished their studies in the prescribed time of three years and those who took longer than the prescribed time will be highlighted. Factors that aid or hinder students from successfully completing their studies in the prescribed time will be analyzed. An entry selection model will be developed to screen the students. This will assist with an enrolment strategy. The most significant result found was that the political environment played the most significant role in throughput. The next significant result from the study showed that the grade 12 aggregate played a significant role in throughput. It is suggested that UWC be proactive in developing alternative methods of selecting students, since the new Further Education Training (FET) school system, which will be implemented in 2006, will omit the grade 12 aggregate.

Yes / Fault tolerance is the ability of a system to respond swiftly to an unexpected failure. Failures in a cloud computing environment are normal rather than exceptional, but fault detection and system recovery in a real time cloud system is a crucial issue. To deal with this problem and to minimize the risk of failure, an optimal fault tolerance mechanism was introduced where fault tolerance was achieved using the combination of the Cloud Master, Compute nodes, Cloud load balancer, Selection mechanism and Cloud Fault handler. In this paper, we proposed an optimized fault tolerance approach where a model is designed to tolerate faults based on the reliability of each compute node (virtual machine) and can be replaced if the performance is not optimal. Preliminary test of our algorithm indicates that the rate of increase in pass rate exceeds the decrease in failure rate and it also considers forward and backward recovery using diverse software tools. Our results obtained are demonstrated through experimental validation thereby laying a foundation for a fully fault tolerant IaaS Cloud environment, which suggests a good performance of our model compared to current existing approaches. / Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF)

The decisions and actions of management in organisations have an increasing impact on individuals, other organisations and the community. The importance of the exercise of corporate social responsibility can no longer be based on the assumption that the self–interest of the owner of the property will lead to the public good, or that self–interest and public good can be kept apart and have nothing to do with each other. On the contrary, it requires of managers that they assume responsibility for the public good, that they subordinate their actions to an ethical code of conduct, that they restrain their authority wherever their exercise would infringe upon the common will and upon the freedom of the individual. South Africa is one of the countries with the highest illiteracy rate in the world. There are more children dropping out of school in South Africa than any other country in the world. The social and economic impact of the lack of education is difficult to comprehend. Lack of education affects company productivity and competitiveness adversely. A lack of education increases the training costs of organisations immensely. Hence, companies cannot sit on the sideline, but should rather be involved in education through corporate social responsibility programs. The primary objective of the study is to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility spending by companies, especially on education, and improvement in standards of education, thereby increasing the overall annual Grade 12 pass rate. In order to address the primary objectives of the study, the following secondary objectives were formulated: * To understand and obtain insight into the dynamics of social responsibility programs of companies that are involved in education; * To analyse and identify the main reason for companies to be involved in education; * To analyse and assess corporate and school partnerships in and around the designated area; * To measure output for different township high schools by using the grade 12 pass rate as a measuring tool; * To establish the level of satisfaction within companies that have embarked on corporate social responsibility programs; and * To establish the importance of mathematics and science as part of the school education. The most important conclusions that could be drawn from the study are: * Companies had endorsed corporate social responsibility as part of their strategy; * It had been extremely difficult to obtain information about companies' corporate social responsibility programs due to information being classified as confidential by companies. This could be a serious impediment for advancement of literature and research in the country; and * Companies had contributed massive resources to the advancement of education through their educational programs, but this had not yielded the consistently desired results through improvement of the Grade 12 pass rate. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The decisions and actions of management in organisations have an increasing impact on individuals, other organisations and the community. The importance of the exercise of corporate social responsibility can no longer be based on the assumption that the self–interest of the owner of the property will lead to the public good, or that self–interest and public good can be kept apart and have nothing to do with each other. On the contrary, it requires of managers that they assume responsibility for the public good, that they subordinate their actions to an ethical code of conduct, that they restrain their authority wherever their exercise would infringe upon the common will and upon the freedom of the individual. South Africa is one of the countries with the highest illiteracy rate in the world. There are more children dropping out of school in South Africa than any other country in the world. The social and economic impact of the lack of education is difficult to comprehend. Lack of education affects company productivity and competitiveness adversely. A lack of education increases the training costs of organisations immensely. Hence, companies cannot sit on the sideline, but should rather be involved in education through corporate social responsibility programs. The primary objective of the study is to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility spending by companies, especially on education, and improvement in standards of education, thereby increasing the overall annual Grade 12 pass rate. In order to address the primary objectives of the study, the following secondary objectives were formulated: * To understand and obtain insight into the dynamics of social responsibility programs of companies that are involved in education; * To analyse and identify the main reason for companies to be involved in education; * To analyse and assess corporate and school partnerships in and around the designated area; * To measure output for different township high schools by using the grade 12 pass rate as a measuring tool; * To establish the level of satisfaction within companies that have embarked on corporate social responsibility programs; and * To establish the importance of mathematics and science as part of the school education. The most important conclusions that could be drawn from the study are: * Companies had endorsed corporate social responsibility as part of their strategy; * It had been extremely difficult to obtain information about companies' corporate social responsibility programs due to information being classified as confidential by companies. This could be a serious impediment for advancement of literature and research in the country; and * Companies had contributed massive resources to the advancement of education through their educational programs, but this had not yielded the consistently desired results through improvement of the Grade 12 pass rate. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

In den Grundlagenfächern der Ingenieurwissenschaften sind immer noch recht hohe Abbruchquoten zu beobachten, die oft mit Überforderung und mangelnder Motivation der Studierenden im Übergang zwischen schulischem und hochschulischem Lernen zu erklären sind. Um den Lernenden einen eher eigenverantwortlichen und damit intrinsisch motivierenderen Ansatz zu bieten, werden in der Hochschuldidaktik aktivierende Methoden verwendet. Im Falle großer Gruppen bieten sich hier insbesondere gamifizierende Elemente an, die ohne größere Umbrüche in der Konzeption von Veranstaltungen eingesetzt werden können und spielerische Herausforderungen in den Lernansatz einführen. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurden strukturell gamifizierende Interventionen in ein Informatikmodul eingeführt und nach Durchführung der Veranstaltungen die Bestehensquoten und studentischen Evaluationen hinsichtlich des Kompetenzerwerbs der Studierenden miteinander verglichen. Erste Ergebnisse der noch laufenden Untersuchung weisen darauf hin, dass die eingesetzten Elemente die Quoten und Evaluationen positiv beeinflussen. Lassen sich die Ergebnisse auch über weitere Vergleichsgruppen bestätigen, sollten die Treiber dieser Veränderungen genau untersucht werden, damit die Anwendung dieser Methoden auch für den Einsatz in anderen Grundlagenfächern oder Hochschulen generalisiert empfohlen werden kann - um damit letztlich zu verminderten Abbruchquoten in den Ingenieurwissenschaften beizutragen.

This research study deals mainly with the influence of the medium of instruction on throughput at the Vaal University of Technology. The underlying hypothesis driving this research, is that learners at the Vaal University of Technology will tend to underachieve during their period of study, largely because the medium of instruction and assessment is not their first language, but a second or even a third language. The assertion is that learners on tertiary level can only perform academically well if they have gained a certain level of competency in their mother tongue, to ease the difficult process of acquiring the second language English, which is the main medium of instruction at the VUT. For most human beings language is the medium through which knowledge is transferred or negotiated. The success of this interaction is determined by the effectiveness of communication. Thus it would be fair to say, that if the means of communication is inappropriate, there will be little or no language transfer. Further, it seems logical that before any other considerations are made with regard to teaching and learning, the instrument which enables this interaction should first be in place. The research aims are: to determine the influence of a second language as medium of instruction on academic performance, to establish the nature of the support system which might facilitate the advancement of learners not prepared for the academic demands of university, to determine what can be done to address the problem and provide possible recommendations for improved academic performance. In order to attain the abovementioned research aims, a literature review and an empirical investigation were undertaken. The literature study discussed the role which the medium of instruction has played in the history of South African Education. The South African Language Policy, before and after 1994, was then reviewed. Parent and learner choice in respect of the choice of medium of instruction was then considered. The findings of the empirical study have shown that the medium of instruction has a remarkable influence on learners' proficiency and eventual performance in their content subjects. The empirical research was conducted by using a questionnaire in order to obtain data on relevant variables as indicated by the literature study, as well as identify barriers perceived by students that hamper their academic progress. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, were used to summarize the data. Marks from the compulsory language test at the institution were also taken into account in order to establish learners' English language proficiency. This data, together with students' marks, were interpreted in the empirical analysis. The target population for this study consisted of L1 and L2 students who registered in 2004 and will have completed their studies in 2006, as well as students having completed in 2007. The population consisted of both female and male students from the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design. In the last chapter, Chapter 6, conclusions from the literature review and empirical investigation were drawn. Recommendations for further research were provided which stressed the need for developing an appropriate training course for L2MI (Second Language Medium of Instruction) content subject teachers. Effective training in L2MI is one of the most important factors in improving the level of academic literacy in South African learners. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

This research study deals mainly with the influence of the medium of instruction on throughput at the Vaal University of Technology. The underlying hypothesis driving this research, is that learners at the Vaal University of Technology will tend to underachieve during their period of study, largely because the medium of instruction and assessment is not their first language, but a second or even a third language. The assertion is that learners on tertiary level can only perform academically well if they have gained a certain level of competency in their mother tongue, to ease the difficult process of acquiring the second language English, which is the main medium of instruction at the VUT. For most human beings language is the medium through which knowledge is transferred or negotiated. The success of this interaction is determined by the effectiveness of communication. Thus it would be fair to say, that if the means of communication is inappropriate, there will be little or no language transfer. Further, it seems logical that before any other considerations are made with regard to teaching and learning, the instrument which enables this interaction should first be in place. The research aims are: to determine the influence of a second language as medium of instruction on academic performance, to establish the nature of the support system which might facilitate the advancement of learners not prepared for the academic demands of university, to determine what can be done to address the problem and provide possible recommendations for improved academic performance. In order to attain the abovementioned research aims, a literature review and an empirical investigation were undertaken. The literature study discussed the role which the medium of instruction has played in the history of South African Education. The South African Language Policy, before and after 1994, was then reviewed. Parent and learner choice in respect of the choice of medium of instruction was then considered. The findings of the empirical study have shown that the medium of instruction has a remarkable influence on learners' proficiency and eventual performance in their content subjects. The empirical research was conducted by using a questionnaire in order to obtain data on relevant variables as indicated by the literature study, as well as identify barriers perceived by students that hamper their academic progress. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, were used to summarize the data. Marks from the compulsory language test at the institution were also taken into account in order to establish learners' English language proficiency. This data, together with students' marks, were interpreted in the empirical analysis. The target population for this study consisted of L1 and L2 students who registered in 2004 and will have completed their studies in 2006, as well as students having completed in 2007. The population consisted of both female and male students from the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design. In the last chapter, Chapter 6, conclusions from the literature review and empirical investigation were drawn. Recommendations for further research were provided which stressed the need for developing an appropriate training course for L2MI (Second Language Medium of Instruction) content subject teachers. Effective training in L2MI is one of the most important factors in improving the level of academic literacy in South African learners. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

This research study deals mainly with the influence of the medium of instruction on throughput at the Vaal University of Technology. The underlying hypothesis driving this research, is that learners at the Vaal University of Technology will tend to underachieve during their period of study, largely because the medium of instruction and assessment is not their first language, but a second or even a third language. The assertion is that learners on tertiary level can only perform academically well if they have gained a certain level of competency in their mother tongue, to ease the difficult process of acquiring the second language English, which is the main medium of instruction at the VUT. For most human beings language is the medium through which knowledge is transferred or negotiated. The success of this interaction is determined by the effectiveness of communication. Thus it would be fair to say, that if the means of communication is inappropriate, there will be little or no language transfer. Further, it seems logical that before any other considerations are made with regard to teaching and learning, the instrument which enables this interaction should first be in place. The research aims are: to determine the influence of a second language as medium of instruction on academic performance, to establish the nature of the support system which might facilitate the advancement of learners not prepared for the academic demands of university, to determine what can be done to address the problem and provide possible recommendations for improved academic performance. In order to attain the abovementioned research aims, a literature review and an empirical investigation were undertaken. The literature study discussed the role which the medium of instruction has played in the history of South African Education. The South African Language Policy, before and after 1994, was then reviewed. Parent and learner choice in respect of the choice of medium of instruction was then considered. The findings of the empirical study have shown that the medium of instruction has a remarkable influence on learners' proficiency and eventual performance in their content subjects. The empirical research was conducted by using a questionnaire in order to obtain data on relevant variables as indicated by the literature study, as well as identify barriers perceived by students that hamper their academic progress. Descriptive statistics, such as frequencies, were used to summarize the data. Marks from the compulsory language test at the institution were also taken into account in order to establish learners' English language proficiency. This data, together with students' marks, were interpreted in the empirical analysis. The target population for this study consisted of L1 and L2 students who registered in 2004 and will have completed their studies in 2006, as well as students having completed in 2007. The population consisted of both female and male students from the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design. In the last chapter, Chapter 6, conclusions from the literature review and empirical investigation were drawn. Recommendations for further research were provided which stressed the need for developing an appropriate training course for L2MI (Second Language Medium of Instruction) content subject teachers. Effective training in L2MI is one of the most important factors in improving the level of academic literacy in South African learners. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Thesis (M. Ed.) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The comparatively high failure rate in South African rural and township secondary schools is a matter of great concern. This study set out to establish what factors are contributing to the low matric pass rate in our secondary schools, in order to identify possible solutions. The study provides an overview, informed by a review of local and international research literature, of the educational and social factors that hinder school performance. The two secondary schools in Motupa Circuit selected for this study had underperformed for the previous five years, below the benchmark of a sixty percent pass rate. The study population consisted of school management teams, teachers, school governing bodies and grade 12 repeating learners. The study followed a qualitative approach, with a case study research design in which the inquiry process was based on interviews and observation. The theory of educational productivity was used to discuss the social and emotional influences of classroom management, parental support, and interaction between teachers and learners. Analysis of the data collected led to findings that served as the basis for the recommendation that all stakeholders, from departmental officials downwards to communities and parents, join hands and work together to address and correct all the ills. The findings revealed minimal support from departmental officials and school management teams. Poor management and instructional leadership are seen as some of the ills that affect academic results. The lack of involvement of parents in supporting the schools serves to demotivate teachers in their daily work. The study also revealed that non-completion of the syllabus and the poor monitoring of written work were a bane to our rural schools. Lastly, social life outside the classrooms contributed to derailing our learners? progress. The study recommends that the DBE develop and support SMT?s by enhancing their skills of management and leadership, so as to empower teachers at all levels. Career guidance in grade 9 was a necessary step towards guiding learners on their choice of subjects.