O presente trabalho apresenta metodologias utilizando a p-benzoquinona (PBQ) para a determinação de proteínas totais em diversas matrizes. As metodologias propostas foram comparadas com os métodos recomendados ou os mais utilizados, conforme o caso. O método aqui proposto, para determinação de proteínas totais em plasma sangüíneo, foi comparado com o método de biureto, mostrando-se adequado e com sensibilidade dez vezes maior que a do biureto. Para a determinação de proteínas totais em diversos tecidos de rato, o método proposto foi comparado com os métodos de Hartree e FFDW, e apresentou resultados mais próximos do FFDW do que o método de Hartree e, também, mostrou ser mais rápido, barato e de fácil realização. O método desenvolvido para determinação de proteínas totais em leite em pó desnatado foi comparado com os métodos de Kjeldahl e Lowry e cols., sendo mais simples e rápido que as metodologias de Lowry e Kjeldahl. Para determinação de amino grupos livres em síntese de peptídeos em fase sólida, a metodologia proposta foi comparada com o método de Kaiser e cols. O método proposto apresentou diversas vantagens sobre o método de Kaiser, sendo estas: o método é sensível a prolina, não precisa preparar nenhuma solução, não apresenta falso positivo para histidina e é rápido. / The present thesis describes the utilization of p-benzoquinone (PBQ) for assay of total protein in several samples. The methods presented here were compared with those mostly used or recommended depending on the case. For determination of total proteins in the blood plasma, the proposed method was compared with biuret method, and it was 10 times more sensitive than biuret method and convenient method for determination of total proteins in plasma. The assay of total proteins in several rat tissues with the proposed method, was compared with Hartree and FFDW methods, and it shows closer proteins content to FFDW method than Hartree method, besides it was faster, less expensive and easier to be used than Hartree method. The method developed for determination of total proteins in skin milk powder, was compared with Kjeldahl and Lowry methods and showed to be more simple and faster than these methods. For determination of free amino groups in solid phase peptide synthesis, the proposed method was compared with Kaiser method. The proposed method showed several advantages than Kaiser method, such as: it is sensitive for proline, it is not necessary to prepare any solution and it does not show a false positive test for histidine.

O presente trabalho apresenta metodologias utilizando a p-benzoquinona (PBQ) para a determinação de proteínas totais em diversas matrizes. As metodologias propostas foram comparadas com os métodos recomendados ou os mais utilizados, conforme o caso. O método aqui proposto, para determinação de proteínas totais em plasma sangüíneo, foi comparado com o método de biureto, mostrando-se adequado e com sensibilidade dez vezes maior que a do biureto. Para a determinação de proteínas totais em diversos tecidos de rato, o método proposto foi comparado com os métodos de Hartree e FFDW, e apresentou resultados mais próximos do FFDW do que o método de Hartree e, também, mostrou ser mais rápido, barato e de fácil realização. O método desenvolvido para determinação de proteínas totais em leite em pó desnatado foi comparado com os métodos de Kjeldahl e Lowry e cols., sendo mais simples e rápido que as metodologias de Lowry e Kjeldahl. Para determinação de amino grupos livres em síntese de peptídeos em fase sólida, a metodologia proposta foi comparada com o método de Kaiser e cols. O método proposto apresentou diversas vantagens sobre o método de Kaiser, sendo estas: o método é sensível a prolina, não precisa preparar nenhuma solução, não apresenta falso positivo para histidina e é rápido. / The present thesis describes the utilization of p-benzoquinone (PBQ) for assay of total protein in several samples. The methods presented here were compared with those mostly used or recommended depending on the case. For determination of total proteins in the blood plasma, the proposed method was compared with biuret method, and it was 10 times more sensitive than biuret method and convenient method for determination of total proteins in plasma. The assay of total proteins in several rat tissues with the proposed method, was compared with Hartree and FFDW methods, and it shows closer proteins content to FFDW method than Hartree method, besides it was faster, less expensive and easier to be used than Hartree method. The method developed for determination of total proteins in skin milk powder, was compared with Kjeldahl and Lowry methods and showed to be more simple and faster than these methods. For determination of free amino groups in solid phase peptide synthesis, the proposed method was compared with Kaiser method. The proposed method showed several advantages than Kaiser method, such as: it is sensitive for proline, it is not necessary to prepare any solution and it does not show a false positive test for histidine.

Traditional crash frequency prediction models cannot capture the temporal effects of traffic characteristics due to the high level of data aggregation. Also, this approach is less suitable to address the crash risk for active traffic management strategies that typically operate for short-time intervals. Hence, this research proposes short-term crash prediction models for traffic management strategies such as Variable Speed Limit (VSL)/Variable Advisory Speed (VAS), and Part-time Shoulder Use (PTSU). By using high-resolution traffic detectors and VSL/VAS operational data, short-term Safety Performance Functions (SPFs) are estimated at weekday hourly and peak period aggregation levels. The results indicate that the short-term SPFs could capture various crash contributing factors and safety aspects of VSL/VAS more effectively than the traditional highly aggregated Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT)-based approach. The study also investigates the safety effectiveness of VSL/VAS for different types and severity levels of traffic crashes. The results specify that the VSL/VAS system is effective in reducing rear-end crashes in the Multivariate Poisson Lognormal (MVPLN) crash type model as well as Property Damage Only (PDO) and C (non-incapacitating) crashes in the MVPLN crash severity model. Recommendations include deploying the VSL/VAS system combined with other traffic management strategies, strong enforcement policies, and drivers' compliance to increase the effectiveness of this strategy. Further, this research estimates the Random Parameters Negative Binomial-Lindley (RPNB-L) model for PTSU sections and provides valuable insights on potential crash contributing factors related to PTSU operation, design elements, and high-risk areas. Last, the study proposes a novel integrated crash prediction approach for freeway sections with combined traffic management strategies. By incorporating historical safety conditions from SPFs, real-time crash prediction performance could be improved as a part of proactive traffic management systems. The findings could assist transportation agencies, policymakers, and practitioners in taking appropriate countermeasures for preventing and reducing crash occurrence by incorporating safety aspects while implementing traffic management strategies on freeways.

Globally, a wealth of educational data has been collected on learner performance in a bid to improve and monitor the quality of education. Unfortunately, the data seem to have had only limited influence on learning and teaching in classrooms. This thesis aimed to bridge this gap between the availability of learner performance data and their use in informing planning and action in schools. A design research approach was used to optimise the feedback system for the South African Monitoring system for Primary schools (SAMP). Design research aims to produce both an intervention to address a complex real-world challenge and to develop design guidelines to support other designers faced with similar challenges in their own context. In this research, the process of developing and improving the feedback system was also used to examine ways of facilitating the use of the feedback. Multiple cycles of design, implementation and evaluation of four different prototypes of the feedback system were conducted, employing evaluations from both experts (e.g. Dutch and South African academics, research and educational psychologists, instrument designers and teacher trainers) as well as school users (teachers, principals and HoDs). Mixed methods were employed throughout the study, with different sub-samples of school users sampled from the population of 22 schools (English, Afrikaans and Sepedi) in the Tshwane region participating in SAMP. The various research cycles incorporated interviews, observations, journals, questionnaires, the Delphi technique and expert evaluations to examine not only data-use, but also aspects such as problem-solving, planning, data-literacy and attitudes towards evidence-based practice in the schools. Data was analysed using Rasch Modelling, descriptive statistics and computer-aided qualitative data analysis. The study showed that an effective feedback system facilitates appropriate use through a gradual process of enlightenment, is flexible and responsive to user inputs, values collaboration and includes instrument, reporting and support components in its design. An optimum feedback system also positively influences school feedback and monitoring culture by providing opportunities for positive experiences with feedback and increasing data-literacy. This improves the chances of feedback being used for planning, decision-making and action in the schools. An effective feedback system must also offer a comprehensive package to accommodate different users, with various levels of data sophistication, functioning in diverse contexts. The research also showed that an effective feedback system mediates thinking about educational instruction and curriculum and can therefore be a potent change agent. Use of clear, simple, intuitive data presentation in the feedback system allows for experiential learning to increase user data-literacy. The design research approach employed in this study offers an appropriate and powerful approach to adapting, developing and optimising a feedback system. User involvement in design research ensures greater contextualisation and familiarity with the system, while engendering trust and a greater sense of ownership, all of which increase the receptiveness and responsiveness of users to feedback. Finally, the research also contributed design guidelines for other developers of feedback systems, an integrated conceptual framework for use of monitoring feedback and a functioning feedback system employed by 22 schools in the Tshwane region. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted