This thesis is concerned with lifecycle data support for the design of large made to order products. These products have so many complex functions to perforrn that no one designer will have all of the relevant skills such as in structural design Z): or electrical engineering to produce a comprehensive design. This therefore leads to the utilisation of a team of designers who will not only fulfil logically different design roles but often work at different physical locations. In such a design environment there may be several local models, represented in local Z-- databasesT. hese databases may or may not support versioning either of the data or of the schema which evolves as the product design grows. The interfaces to these databases ID will be varied as they are intended to suit the local needs of the design aIgDe nt. This thesis proposes a model for version control in a desig4nn environment which does not alter the designers existing view. Cý tý A system of distributed co-operatinZg:, aZgD ents is presented whose goal is to manatDg e change and orgCaIDni se version sets in an enrgDin eering environment. The agents are designed for full lifecycle support and inter-operation across heterogeneous networks. The agent communication is based on CORBA but an extra messaging layer is developed which utilises a language built in VDM-SL (Vienna Development Method - Specification Language). A version model is presented in two ways informally based on the assumptions on a general design process and formally in VDM-SL. ZP tP In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the version model, two industrial case studies are presented. The first of these is a study of offshore process engineering. The second is a study of conceptual ship design.

Notre approche, dans le cadre du test de conformité, se base sur le fait qu'il existe différents niveaux d'abstraction pour définir des tests : les tests exécutables pour une cible technologique et les tests abstraits qui sont indépendants de la technologie. Nos travaux portent sur deux points. <br />Le premier point vise à réduire l'effort alloué à la conception des tests. Pour cela nous définissons un nouveau niveau d'abstraction : les schémas de test qui offrent une abstraction supplémentaire sur les instances et valeurs manipulées. L'outil Tobias a été développé au cours de la thèse pour aider à la conception des schémas de test, les déplier en cas de test abstraits, puis concrétiser ces cas de test. <br />Malheureusement, les principes du langage de schéma de tests entraînent un problème d'explosion combinatoire du nombre de tests. Nous proposons donc diverses approches pour, d'une part, mieux contrôler le nombre de tests produits et, d'autre part, optimiser le temps d'exécution des tests. <br />Ces diverses techniques ont pu être intégrées à l'outil Tobias, nous permettant de réaliser deux études de cas afin de valider notre approche.

A definição de requisitos tem sido reconhecida como uma das mais críticas e difíceis tarefas em engenharia de software. A necessidade de ferramentas de suporte é essencial. Nos dias de hoje, entre os vários métodos existentes para apoiar a fase de requisitos, destaca-se o SADT (Structured Analysis and Design Techniques) devido a sua capacidade de representar modelos. Este trabalho estabelece semântica para o método SADT, baseando-se na inter-relação do método aos sistemas de fluxo de dados (redes, grafos e máquinas de fluxo). Faz-se, inicialmente, uma abordagem operacional para a semântica de seus construtos básicos e, posteriormente discute-se a possibilidade de executar especificações através de simulação. Uma ferramenta para suportar o método SADT foi projetada e construída e é apresentada. Ela foi definida a partir de um modelo, denotado por uma classe, através de uma sintaxe abstrata. Essa ferramenta foi implementada no ambiente PROSOFT, fornecendo para o usuário mais de quarenta operações de apoio a construção/manipulação de diagramas. O trabalho também apresenta a especificação formal em VDM - Vienna Development Method, da semântica dos principais construtos do método SADT, bem como uma proposição de execução de especificações através de simulação são ainda indicadas direções nas quais o trabalho pode ser estendido. / The definition of systems requirements has been known as one of the most critical and dificult tasks as far as the software engineering is concerned. The need support is essential. Nowadays, among the various methods devised to support the phase of requirements, a special emphasis is given to the SADT method (Structured Analysis and Design Techniques), due to its capability of representing models. This work set semantic for the SADT method, based primarily upon the interrelation of the method to the systems of dataflow (nets, graphs and dataflow machines). It deals with an approach of operational semantics to its basic constructs, and it will, afterwards, discuss the possibility of carry out specifications by simulation. A tool was built to support the SADT method, and it was defined by a model denoted by a class, through an abstract syntax. This tool was implemented in the PROSOFT environment, providing for the user, more than forty support operations for the construction /manipulation of diagrams. This work also presents the formal specification of the semantics of the main constructs of the SADT method in VDM - Vienna Development Method; as well as an execution proposal of specifications through simulation. Directions have been indicated concerning the extension of the research.

A definição de requisitos tem sido reconhecida como uma das mais críticas e difíceis tarefas em engenharia de software. A necessidade de ferramentas de suporte é essencial. Nos dias de hoje, entre os vários métodos existentes para apoiar a fase de requisitos, destaca-se o SADT (Structured Analysis and Design Techniques) devido a sua capacidade de representar modelos. Este trabalho estabelece semântica para o método SADT, baseando-se na inter-relação do método aos sistemas de fluxo de dados (redes, grafos e máquinas de fluxo). Faz-se, inicialmente, uma abordagem operacional para a semântica de seus construtos básicos e, posteriormente discute-se a possibilidade de executar especificações através de simulação. Uma ferramenta para suportar o método SADT foi projetada e construída e é apresentada. Ela foi definida a partir de um modelo, denotado por uma classe, através de uma sintaxe abstrata. Essa ferramenta foi implementada no ambiente PROSOFT, fornecendo para o usuário mais de quarenta operações de apoio a construção/manipulação de diagramas. O trabalho também apresenta a especificação formal em VDM - Vienna Development Method, da semântica dos principais construtos do método SADT, bem como uma proposição de execução de especificações através de simulação são ainda indicadas direções nas quais o trabalho pode ser estendido. / The definition of systems requirements has been known as one of the most critical and dificult tasks as far as the software engineering is concerned. The need support is essential. Nowadays, among the various methods devised to support the phase of requirements, a special emphasis is given to the SADT method (Structured Analysis and Design Techniques), due to its capability of representing models. This work set semantic for the SADT method, based primarily upon the interrelation of the method to the systems of dataflow (nets, graphs and dataflow machines). It deals with an approach of operational semantics to its basic constructs, and it will, afterwards, discuss the possibility of carry out specifications by simulation. A tool was built to support the SADT method, and it was defined by a model denoted by a class, through an abstract syntax. This tool was implemented in the PROSOFT environment, providing for the user, more than forty support operations for the construction /manipulation of diagrams. This work also presents the formal specification of the semantics of the main constructs of the SADT method in VDM - Vienna Development Method; as well as an execution proposal of specifications through simulation. Directions have been indicated concerning the extension of the research.

A definição de requisitos tem sido reconhecida como uma das mais críticas e difíceis tarefas em engenharia de software. A necessidade de ferramentas de suporte é essencial. Nos dias de hoje, entre os vários métodos existentes para apoiar a fase de requisitos, destaca-se o SADT (Structured Analysis and Design Techniques) devido a sua capacidade de representar modelos. Este trabalho estabelece semântica para o método SADT, baseando-se na inter-relação do método aos sistemas de fluxo de dados (redes, grafos e máquinas de fluxo). Faz-se, inicialmente, uma abordagem operacional para a semântica de seus construtos básicos e, posteriormente discute-se a possibilidade de executar especificações através de simulação. Uma ferramenta para suportar o método SADT foi projetada e construída e é apresentada. Ela foi definida a partir de um modelo, denotado por uma classe, através de uma sintaxe abstrata. Essa ferramenta foi implementada no ambiente PROSOFT, fornecendo para o usuário mais de quarenta operações de apoio a construção/manipulação de diagramas. O trabalho também apresenta a especificação formal em VDM - Vienna Development Method, da semântica dos principais construtos do método SADT, bem como uma proposição de execução de especificações através de simulação são ainda indicadas direções nas quais o trabalho pode ser estendido. / The definition of systems requirements has been known as one of the most critical and dificult tasks as far as the software engineering is concerned. The need support is essential. Nowadays, among the various methods devised to support the phase of requirements, a special emphasis is given to the SADT method (Structured Analysis and Design Techniques), due to its capability of representing models. This work set semantic for the SADT method, based primarily upon the interrelation of the method to the systems of dataflow (nets, graphs and dataflow machines). It deals with an approach of operational semantics to its basic constructs, and it will, afterwards, discuss the possibility of carry out specifications by simulation. A tool was built to support the SADT method, and it was defined by a model denoted by a class, through an abstract syntax. This tool was implemented in the PROSOFT environment, providing for the user, more than forty support operations for the construction /manipulation of diagrams. This work also presents the formal specification of the semantics of the main constructs of the SADT method in VDM - Vienna Development Method; as well as an execution proposal of specifications through simulation. Directions have been indicated concerning the extension of the research.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Subsistence farmers may contribute significantly to food production, food security, and employment in South Africa. However poor storage practices and contamination with mycotoxins, particularly fumonisins and aflatoxins impacts adversely on production, food safety and food security. Mycotoxins are toxic natural food-borne compounds which frequently contaminate agricultural produce worldwide. They are hazardous to humans and animals and result in significant production losses for farmers. This study focused on former Bantustans in Northern South Africa, namely Vhembe District Municipality (Limpopo) and Gert Sibande District Municipality (Mpumalanga). The aim was to assess mycological and mycotoxin contamination of crops grown by subsistence farmers. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to randomly thirty-nine households. Data on demographics, storage practices and production during period of 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons were collected. One hundred and fifteen (115) crop samples (maize, beans and peanuts) were collected for analysis. Standard mycological methods and validated mycotoxin analysis methods (HPLC and LC- MS/MS) were used. It was found that maize was the staple food in both provinces, with a significant difference (p = 0.0184) in its production between the two districts; Vhembe produced 0.6 tonnes compared to 2.4 tonnes in Gert Sibande. The majority of the farmers for storage used traditional open wooden cribs (15/20) and steel tanks (5/20) while VDM farmers used sealed store houses 5/19 and 15/19 used polystyrene sacks. Aflatoxin occurrence was low with <1% of GSDM samples contaminated compared to 11% of VDM samples. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the aflatoxin contamination in VDM samples between the year 2011 and 2012. Samples from VDM households had higher Aspergillus fungal infection (maximum incidence 69%) compared to GSDM (27%) over both seasons. The most frequently isolated Fusarium species in VDM samples was F. verticillioides (92%; 93%), and F. subglutinans (97%; 80%) in GSDM samples over seasons 2011 and 2012, respectively. Highest levels of fumonisins (FB1+ FB2) ranged between 1010 μg/kg and 12168 μg/kg with less than 30% extremely contaminated above the regulated limit in 91% of samples from Limpopo over both seasons (2011 and 2012). Fumonisin levels between the two seasons in VDM showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Only three (less than 5%) from 68% GSDM contaminated maize samples were above the FB1 and FB2 limit. In 2011, there were two highly contaminated maize samples (1762 μg/kg and 4598 μg/kg) with the other samples less than 600 μg/kg, whereas in season two (2012) all samples were below 200 μg/kg, except one highly contaminated sample (26115 μg/kg). None of the beans and peanuts from Mpumalanga was contaminated with mycotoxins above the recommended limit, but from Limpopo 1/5 peanuts was found contaminated with aflatoxin G1 (41 μg/kg). Natural occurrence and contamination of both fumonisin and aflatoxin in stored home-grown maize from VDM was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher than GSDM over both seasons. In general, Limpopo farmers’ experience lower harvests and greater mycotoxin contamination of agricultural produce. This may be attributed in part to poor storage practices and environmental and climatic conditions in that agro-ecological zone.

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