In order to provide evidence demonstrating the efficacy of cochlear implantation in the children enrolled in the Pretoria Cochlear Implant Programme (PCIP), an in-depth analysis of the numerous variables involved in determining each individual child’s success with his/her cochlear implant needs to be undertaken. As the PCIP has been operating for over a decade, a standardised database that includes the variables identified by similar cochlear implant programmes world-wide as being related to outcomes of children with cochlear implants and their families, has to be assembled. As the PCIP functions partly as a paediatric cochlear implant programme, an Early Communication Intervention (ECI) approach with the emphasis on the family unit is of critical importance. To address this need, a comprehensive questionnaire was used in a cross sectional study combining qualitative, and predominantly quantitative methods. The aim was to determine the perceptions of parents/caregivers of children with cochlear implants in the PCIP of the children’s outcomes. The questionnaire was further used to gather relevant data pertaining to children and their families’ biographical, medical, environmental, audiological, linguistic and educational histories and current functioning. A total of 45 participants, all mothers of children with cochlear implants, returned questionnaires. Results indicated that several key factors played a role in determining a positive outcome in the children’s audiological, linguistic, social and educational functioning leading to placement in an inclusive educational setting. These included an early age at diagnosis and prompt fitting of hearing aids and subsequent cochlear implantation, the absence of prenatal and perinatal complications including feeding difficulties, a higher level of maternal education, achievement of developmental milestones within normal age norms, the use of an FM system in the primary school phase, access to ECI, the presence of an older sibling to act as a language model, the absence of birth trauma and congenital rubella syndrome as cause of hearing loss, and later (acquired) onset of hearing loss. Children whose cause of hearing loss was non-syndromic and hereditary or unknown, were more likely to have positive outcomes. The clinical implications for the PCIP were synthesised and presented as a developmental systems model, providing guidelines for the entire process from referral to the cochlear implant programme to exiting of the system. The urgency of the need for a universal newborn or infant hearing screening programme as well as reliable systems of early referral to cochlear implant programmes, emerged strongly in the recommendations of the study. / Dissertation (M (Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / Unrestricted

Distributed parameter systems (DPS) comprise an important class of engineering systems ranging from "traditional" such as tubular reactors, to cutting edge processes such as nano-scale coatings. DPS have been studied extensively and significant advances have been noted, enabling their accurate simulation. To this end a variety of tools have been developed. However, extending these advances for systems design is not a trivial task . Rigorous design and operation policies entail systematic procedures for optimisation and control. These tasks are "upper-level" and utilize existing models and simulators. The higher the accuracy of the underlying models, the more the design procedure benefits. However, employing such models in the context of conventional algorithms may lead to inefficient formulations. The optimisation and control of DPS is a challenging task. These systems are typically discretised over a computational mesh, leading to large-scale problems. Handling the resulting large-scale systems may prove to be an intimidating task and requires special methodologies. Furthermore, it is often the case that the underlying physical phenomena span various temporal and spatial scales, thus complicating the analysis. Stiffness may also potentially be exhibited in the (nonlinear) models of such phenomena. The objective of this work is to design reliable and practical procedures for the optimisation and control of DPS. It has been observed in many systems of engineering interest that although they are described by infinite-dimensional Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) resulting in large discretisation problems, their behaviour has a finite number of significant components , as a result of their dissipative nature. This property has been exploited in various systematic model reduction techniques. Of key importance in this work is the identification of a low-dimensional dominant subspace for the system. This subspace is heuristically found to correspond to part of the eigenspectrum of the system and can therefore be identified efficiently using iterative matrix-free techniques. In this light, only low-dimensional Jacobians and Hessian matrices are involved in the formulation of the proposed algorithms, which are projections of the original matrices onto appropriate low-dimensional subspaces, computed efficiently with directional perturbations.The optimisation algorithm presented employs a 2-step projection scheme, firstly onto the dominant subspace of the system (corresponding to the right-most eigenvalues of the linearised system) and secondly onto the subspace of decision variables. This algorithm is inspired by reduced Hessian Sequential Quadratic Programming methods and therefore locates a local optimum of the nonlinear programming problem given by solving a sequence of reduced quadratic programming (QP) subproblems . This optimisation algorithm is appropriate for systems with a relatively small number of decision variables. Inequality constraints can be accommodated following a penalty-based strategy which aggregates all constraints using an appropriate function , or by employing a partial reduction technique in which only equality constraints are considered for the reduction and the inequalities are linearised and passed on to the QP subproblem . The control algorithm presented is based on the online adaptive construction of low-order linear models used in the context of a linear Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithm , in which the discrete-time state-space model is recomputed at every sampling time in a receding horizon fashion. Successive linearisation around the current state on the closed-loop trajectory is combined with model reduction, resulting in an efficient procedure for the computation of reduced linearised models, projected onto the dominant subspace of the system. In this case, this subspace corresponds to the eigenvalues of largest magnitude of the discretised dynamical system. Control actions are computed from low-order QP problems solved efficiently online.The optimisation and control algorithms presented may employ input/output simulators (such as commercial packages) extending their use to upper-level tasks. They are also suitable for systems governed by microscopic rules, the equations of which do not exist in closed form. Illustrative case studies are presented, based on tubular reactor models, which exhibit rich parametric behaviour.

Für die elastische Mehrkörpersimulation bzw. die FEM-MKS-Kopplung sind reduzierte FE-Modelle von großer Bedeutung. Die Erstellung reduzierter Modelle mit hoher Abbildungsgüte im Rahmen einer Modellordnungsreduktion erfordert einerseits ein geeignetes Reduktions-verfahren und andererseits zuverlässige Korrelationsmethoden. Beides wird durch die Soft-ware MORPACK bereitgestellt. Die Korrelation reduzierter FE-Modelle basiert in MORPACK derzeit ausschließlich auf modalen Eigenschaften. Ausgehend von der Annahme, dass sich die Abbildungsgüte eines reduzierten FE-Modells erst im Rahmen einer Zeitbereichssimula-tion vollständig beurteilen lässt, ist eine dahingehende Erweiterung von MORPACK geplant. Für einfache Topologien muss die Möglichkeit bestehen, das dynamische Verhalten, redu-zierter Modelle, direkt in MORPACK zu simulieren. Mit Hilfe der resultierenden Zeitsignale werden die reduzierten Modelle bewertet. Für die Umsetzung dieser Idee muss in MORPACK zunächst ein eigenständiges EMKS-Programm implementiert werden. Die Implementierung des EMKS-Programms in MORPACK (bzw. MATLAB) stellt den Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit dar. Es werden zunächst die Anforderungen an das EMKS-Programm formuliert. Nach der Behandlung aller erforderlichen theoretischen Grundlagen werden die Systemgleichungen hergeleitet. Anschließend wird ein Formalismus bereitgestellt, der den Aufbau der Systemgleichungen, auf Basis der Nutzereingaben ermöglicht. Nach der Implementierung des Formalismus wird das EMKS-Programm verifiziert und erprobt.:1 Einleitung 1 1.1 Motivation 1 1.2 Zielsetzung 2 1.3 Lösungsweg 3 2 Verifikation und Optimierung durch Zeitbereichssimulationen 5 2.1 Erweiterung von MORPACK 5 2.2 Anforderungen an das EMKS-Programm 10 2.3 Korrelation von Zeitsignalen 12 3 Grundlagen der elastischen Mehrkörpersimulation 16 3.1 Berücksichtigung elastischer Deformationen in Mehrkörpersystemen 16 3.2 Kinematik freier Einzelkörper 19 3.2.1 Räumliche Drehungen von Bezugssystemen 19 3.2.2 Methode des bewegten Bezugssystems 23 3.2.3 Diskretisierung und Variablen für die Zustandsbeschreibung 25 3.2.4 Kinematik der Schnittstellenknoten 28 3.3 Kinetik freier Einzelkörper 31 3.4 Wahl des Körperbezugssystems 40 3.4.1 Kinematische Zwangsbedingungen 40 3.4.2 Kinetische Zwangsbedingungen 42 3.5 Gebundene Mehrkörpersysteme 44 3.6 Daten von elastischen Körpern 48 4 Bewegungsgleichungen und EMKS Formalismus für zwei beliebig gekoppelte Körper 52 4.1 Modellbildung 52 4.2 Bewegungsgleichungen in einem Satz natürlicher Koordinaten 54 4.3 Transformation auf Minimalkoordinaten 62 4.3.1 Formalismus 63 4.3.2 Herleitung der notwendigen Vektoren und Matrizen 65 5 Erweiterung des EMKS-Algorithmus für die festgelegte Topologie 76 6 Implementierung in MORPACK 84 6.1 Struktur der Eingabe- und Definitionsdaten 84 6.2 Grafische Benutzeroberfläche und Einbindung in MORPACK 90 6.3 Implementierung des EMKS-Formalismus 92 7 Verifikation und Erprobung 98 7.1 Verifikation mit SIMPACK 98 7.2 Erprobung der Prozesskette 101 7.2.1 Erprobungsmodell 101 7.2.2 Ergebnisse der Zeitbereichssimulation im Vergleich zu modalen Korrelationskriterien 103 7.2.3 Optimierung durch Zeitbereichssimulation 108 8 Zusammenfassung und Ausblick 112 / Reduced FE-Models are very important for elastic multibody simulation and FEM-MKS-coupling. The generation of reduced FE-models with high approximation quality in a model order reduction requires on the one hand a suitable reduction method and on the other hand reliable correlation methods. Both are provided by the MORPACK software. In MORPACK the correlation of reduced FE models based currently only on modal properties. An extension of the MORPACK software is planned on the assumption, that the approximation quality of a reduced FE-model can be completely assessed only in a time domain simulation. For simple topologies, it must be possible to simulate the dynamic behavior of reduced models directly into MORPACK. With the correlation of resulting time signals, the reduced models are as-sessed. To realize this idea, an independent EMKS program must be implemented in MORPACK. The implementation of the EMKS program in MORPACK (respectively MATLAB) represents the focus of this thesis. The first part is to formulate the necessary requirements for the EMKS program. After handling of all the necessary theoretical foundations, the system equa-tions are derived. Subsequently, formalism is provided that allows a construction of the sys-tem equations based on the user input. After the implementation of the formalism, the EMKS program will verify and tested.:1 Einleitung 1 1.1 Motivation 1 1.2 Zielsetzung 2 1.3 Lösungsweg 3 2 Verifikation und Optimierung durch Zeitbereichssimulationen 5 2.1 Erweiterung von MORPACK 5 2.2 Anforderungen an das EMKS-Programm 10 2.3 Korrelation von Zeitsignalen 12 3 Grundlagen der elastischen Mehrkörpersimulation 16 3.1 Berücksichtigung elastischer Deformationen in Mehrkörpersystemen 16 3.2 Kinematik freier Einzelkörper 19 3.2.1 Räumliche Drehungen von Bezugssystemen 19 3.2.2 Methode des bewegten Bezugssystems 23 3.2.3 Diskretisierung und Variablen für die Zustandsbeschreibung 25 3.2.4 Kinematik der Schnittstellenknoten 28 3.3 Kinetik freier Einzelkörper 31 3.4 Wahl des Körperbezugssystems 40 3.4.1 Kinematische Zwangsbedingungen 40 3.4.2 Kinetische Zwangsbedingungen 42 3.5 Gebundene Mehrkörpersysteme 44 3.6 Daten von elastischen Körpern 48 4 Bewegungsgleichungen und EMKS Formalismus für zwei beliebig gekoppelte Körper 52 4.1 Modellbildung 52 4.2 Bewegungsgleichungen in einem Satz natürlicher Koordinaten 54 4.3 Transformation auf Minimalkoordinaten 62 4.3.1 Formalismus 63 4.3.2 Herleitung der notwendigen Vektoren und Matrizen 65 5 Erweiterung des EMKS-Algorithmus für die festgelegte Topologie 76 6 Implementierung in MORPACK 84 6.1 Struktur der Eingabe- und Definitionsdaten 84 6.2 Grafische Benutzeroberfläche und Einbindung in MORPACK 90 6.3 Implementierung des EMKS-Formalismus 92 7 Verifikation und Erprobung 98 7.1 Verifikation mit SIMPACK 98 7.2 Erprobung der Prozesskette 101 7.2.1 Erprobungsmodell 101 7.2.2 Ergebnisse der Zeitbereichssimulation im Vergleich zu modalen Korrelationskriterien 103 7.2.3 Optimierung durch Zeitbereichssimulation 108 8 Zusammenfassung und Ausblick 112

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to make a contribution towards decision–making in complex environmental problems, especially where data is limited and associated with a high degree of uncertainty. As a young scientist, I understood the value of science as a measuring and quantification tool and used to intuitively believe that science was exact and could provide undisputable answers. It was in 1997, during the Safety Assessments done at the Vaalputs National Radioactive Waste Repository that my belief system was challenged. This occurred after there were numerous scientific studies done on the site that was started since the early 1980’s, yet with no conclusion as to how safe the site is in terms of radioactive waste disposal. The Safety Assessment process was developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to transform the scientific investigations and data into decision–making information for the purposes of radioactive waste management. It was also during the Vaalputs investigations when I learned the value of lateral thinking. There were numerous scientists with doctorate and master’s degrees that worked on the site of which I was one. One of the important requirements was to measure evaporation at the local weather station close to the repository. It was specifically important to measure evaporation as a controlling parameter in the unsaturated zone models. Evaporation was measured with an Apan that is filled with water so that the losses can be measured. Vaalputs is a very dry place and water is scarce. The local weather station site was fenced off, but there was a problem in that the aardvark dug below the fence and drank the water in the A–pan, so that no measurements were possible. The solution from the scientists was to put the fence deeper into the ground. The aardvark did not find it hard to dig even deeper. The next solution was to put a second fence around the weather station and again the aardvark dug below it to drink the water. It was then that Mr Robbie Schoeman, a technician became aware of the problem and put a drinking water container outside the weather station fence for the aardvark and – the problem was solved at a fraction of the cost of the previous complex solutions. I get in contact with the same thinking patterns that intuitively expect that the act of scientific investigations will provide decision–making information or even solve the problem. If the investigation provides more questions than answers, the quest is for more and more data on more detailed scales. There is a difference between problem characterization and solution viidentification. Problem characterization requires scientific and critical thinking, which is an important component but that has to be incorporated with the solution identification process of creative thinking towards decision–making. I am a scientist by heart, but it was necessary to realise that apart from research, practical science must feed into a higher process, such as decision–making to be able to make a practical difference. The process of compilation of this thesis meant a lot to me as I initially thought of doing a PhD and then it changed me, especially in the way I think. This was a life changing process, which is good. As Jesus said in Mathew 3:2 And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Geography and Environmental Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The purpose of this study was to make a contribution towards decision–making in complex environmental problems, especially where data is limited and associated with a high degree of uncertainty. As a young scientist, I understood the value of science as a measuring and quantification tool and used to intuitively believe that science was exact and could provide undisputable answers. It was in 1997, during the Safety Assessments done at the Vaalputs National Radioactive Waste Repository that my belief system was challenged. This occurred after there were numerous scientific studies done on the site that was started since the early 1980’s, yet with no conclusion as to how safe the site is in terms of radioactive waste disposal. The Safety Assessment process was developed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to transform the scientific investigations and data into decision–making information for the purposes of radioactive waste management. It was also during the Vaalputs investigations when I learned the value of lateral thinking. There were numerous scientists with doctorate and master’s degrees that worked on the site of which I was one. One of the important requirements was to measure evaporation at the local weather station close to the repository. It was specifically important to measure evaporation as a controlling parameter in the unsaturated zone models. Evaporation was measured with an Apan that is filled with water so that the losses can be measured. Vaalputs is a very dry place and water is scarce. The local weather station site was fenced off, but there was a problem in that the aardvark dug below the fence and drank the water in the A–pan, so that no measurements were possible. The solution from the scientists was to put the fence deeper into the ground. The aardvark did not find it hard to dig even deeper. The next solution was to put a second fence around the weather station and again the aardvark dug below it to drink the water. It was then that Mr Robbie Schoeman, a technician became aware of the problem and put a drinking water container outside the weather station fence for the aardvark and – the problem was solved at a fraction of the cost of the previous complex solutions. I get in contact with the same thinking patterns that intuitively expect that the act of scientific investigations will provide decision–making information or even solve the problem. If the investigation provides more questions than answers, the quest is for more and more data on more detailed scales. There is a difference between problem characterization and solution viidentification. Problem characterization requires scientific and critical thinking, which is an important component but that has to be incorporated with the solution identification process of creative thinking towards decision–making. I am a scientist by heart, but it was necessary to realise that apart from research, practical science must feed into a higher process, such as decision–making to be able to make a practical difference. The process of compilation of this thesis meant a lot to me as I initially thought of doing a PhD and then it changed me, especially in the way I think. This was a life changing process, which is good. As Jesus said in Mathew 3:2 And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Geography and Environmental Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Background: Accessibility to health care in rural areas is globally impeded by physical, material, human, financial and managerial resources and societal barriers in the health care system. The Systems Model formed the backbone to developing a strategic action plan to address the challenges experienced by all stakeholders involved. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe accessibility to health care in rural areas to develop a strategic action plan to enhance accessibility to health care in these areas of Zimbabwe. Methods: A multiple methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative components during 4 phases. Phase 1 collected quantitative data with questionnaires from professional nurses and health care users who were conveniently sampled. Phase 2 collected qualitative data with a nominal group from national health directors who were conveniently sampled. Phase 3 was based on the findings from Phases 1 and 2 with a literature control to develop a draft strategic action plan. During phase 4 the strategic plan was amended and validated with a validation tool by members of the parliamentary portfolio committee on health in Zimbabwe with all-inclusive sampling. Framework: The Systems Model Framework was adopted for this study as outcomes and impact on people’s health is determined by inputs, processes and outputs. This model was relevant and applicable to accessibility to health care. Research findings: Accessibility to health care in rural areas of Zimbabwe is affected by inadequate distribution of physical resources, shortage of material and human resources, and a lack of financial resources. The strategies identified contributed to the strategic action plan which was amended and validated. The strategic action plan includes improving the health infrastructure, providing appropriate medical drugs, training and retention of health workers, providing medical equipment at the rural health facilities, reviewing the health worker workload and addressing staff shortages, providing free health care services in rural areas, and improving the capacity of the health care system. Conclusion: The strategic action plan was developed based on the inputs of the relevant stakeholders and the System Model. The inclusion of the parliamentary portfolio committee on health (members of parliament of Zimbabwe) might enhance the possibility for implementation which can enhance the accessibility to health care in rural areas of Zimbabwe. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et. Phil. (Health Studies)

Model checking is a powerful technique for analyzing reach ability and temporal properties of finite state systems. Model-checking finite state systems has been well-studied and there are well known efficient algorithms for this problem. However these algorithms may not terminate when applied directly to in finite state systems. Counter systems are a class of in fininite state systems where the domain of counter values is possibly in finite. Many practical systems like cache coherence protocols, broadcast protocols etc, can naturally be modeled as counter systems. In this thesis we identify a class of counter systems, and propose a new technique to check whether a system from this class satires’ a given CTL formula. The key novelty of our approach is a way to use existing reach ability analysis techniques to answer both \until" and \global" properties; also our technique for \global" properties is different from previous techniques that work on other classes of counter systems, as well as other classes of in finite state systems. We also provide some results by applying our approach to several natural examples, which illustrates the scope of our approach.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka vilka faktorer och hänsynstaganden som legat till grund i en byggprocess när en ny konceptförskola planerats i relation till barns utveckling och lärande i den fysiska miljön. Genom en fallstudie har en specifik byggprocess undersökts genom semistrukturerade digitala intervjuer tillsammans med två förskolerektorer, en lokalplanerare, en tillgänglighetssakkunnig samt byggentreprenadens projektledare och två arkitekter som ses som byggprocessens nyckelpersoner. En av konceptförskolornas verksamma förskollärare är också delaktig i studien. Resultatet visar på att byggprocessen tog hänsyn till yttre faktorer som barnanpassad och flexibel interiör och glasdörrar för transparens, neutrala färgkombinationer och en tillgänglig utomhusmiljö för att skapa en fysiskt tillgänglig, trygg och inkluderande konceptförskola för alla barn oavsett ålder eller motoriska förmågor. Specifika platser i konceptförskolan har visat sig fungerar både bra och mindre bra. Resultatet har analyserats tillsammans med en relationell dynamisk systemteori och en ekologisk systemmodell som tillsammans belyser hur den fysiska miljön skapar eller hindrar meningserbjudanden och proximala processer, samt hur de beslut som tas i exosystemet påverkar barnets möjligheter till utveckling och lärande. Slutsatserna är att det är viktigt att i det tidiga förstadiet noga diskutera vem konceptförskolan byggs för, vilka kunskaper beslut grundas på och analysera hur detta kommer att påverka barnet. Att redan tidigt i byggprocessen inkludera konceptförskolans brukares perspektiv kan gynna slutprodukten för att undvika misstag som inte går att förändra i efterhand. Vidare är det viktigt att planlösningen fungerar för att skapa tillgängliga och trygga fysiska miljöer som främjar barns utveckling och lärande men också för att bidra till en bättre arbetsmiljö för pedagogerna. / The purpose of the study was to investigate the factors and considerations that formed the basis of a construction process when a new concept preschool was planned in relation to children's development and learning in the physical environment. Through a case study, a specific construction process has been investigated through semi-structured digital interviews together with two preschool principals, a local planner, an accessibility expert and the construction project manager and two architects who are seen as the construction process's key people. One of the concept preschools' active preschool teachers is also involved in the study. The results show that the construction process took into account external factors such as child-friendly and flexible interiors and glass doors for transparency, neutral color combinations and an accessible outdoor environment to create a physically accessible, safe and inclusive concept preschool for all children regardless of age or motor skills. Specific places in the concept preschool have been shown to work both well and less well. The results have been analyzed together with a relational dynamic systems theory and an ecological systems model that together shed light on how the physical environment creates or hinders meaning offers and proximal processes, and how the decisions made in the exosystem affect the child's opportunities for development and learning. The conclusions are that it is important in the early pre-school to carefully discuss who the concept preschool is built for, what knowledge decisions are based on and analyze how this will affect the child. Including the concept preschool users' perspectives early in the construction process can benefit the end product in order to avoid mistakes that cannot be changed afterwards. Furthermore, it is important that the floor plan works to create accessible and safe physical environments that promote children's development and learning, but also to contribute to a better working environment for educators.

This study was designed to understand the meaning of the lived experiences of incarcerated male juveniles who had committed drug-related crimes and to suggest guidelines for their rehabilitation with specific reference to their health care needs. In order to achieve these objectives, the researcher used Parse’s (1998) Theory of Human Becoming as a theoretical framework for the study and Parse’s (1998, 2005) phenomenological-hermeneutic research method. This study was restricted to three juvenile correctional centres in the Gauteng province, Republic of South Africa (RSA). A sample of 15 male juveniles (5 at each of the three juvenile correctional centres) was used for the purpose of individual dialogical engagements with the participants. Focus group interview sessions were held with two groups (5 members per group) at two identified juvenile correctional centres. A qualitative content analysis according to methods recommended by Graneheim and Lundman (2004) was performed on the data that was collected from the individual dialogical-engagements and the focus group interviews. The researcher attempted to elucidate the meanings that the participants attached to their experiences of incarceration as narrated by them and analysed the data according to Parse’s (1998; 2005) phenomenological-hermeneutic method comprising of extraction-synthesis and heuristic interpretation. The findings of this research confirm that problems of drug abuse and criminal activity represent a multifaceted, complex and often intractable phenomenon. The research also confirmed that the participants suffer from a variety of emotional and psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, fear, guilt, remorse, regret and a craving for the drugs that they had abused before their incarceration. It appears that the participants find it extremely difficult to deal effectively with these disorders on their own and that they are generally averse to asking for professional help and assistance. Interventions to alleviate these problems are crucial for the success of the current rehabilitation programmes being pursued in the correctional centres where the participants are accommodated. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)