Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 vaniapiatto_dissert.pdf: 265912 bytes, checksum: d6bd354613ca0a9752b4acad6612d8cd (MD5) Previous issue date: 1998-12-18 / The aim of this study was to evaluate the hearing and the prevalence of hearing impairment among children, in the age groups of 3 to 6 years old, from Municipal Nursery and Pre-schools of São José do Rio Preto, S.P. At first stage, audiometries in a free field were performed for screening in 103 children, both sexes in 8 Nursery and 8 Pre-schools previously selected. At second stage, the ones who presented audiometric alterations were referred to the Phonoaudiological Service of FAMERP to perform conventional pure tone audiometer. The classification of hearing impairment in relation to grade was made according to W.H.O. approaches. A male child (0.97%) was found with light grade of conductive hearing impairment in the left ear ( LE=35 dB). There was no significant difference among the ratio of hearing impairment in both sexes (p=1.00). Nine children (8.73%) showed alterations in the hearing thresholds by air conduction in 4000, 6000 and/or 8000 Hz sharp frequencies. The ratio among alterations in these frequencies was not statistically significant in both sexes (p=1.00). There is need of further studies to evaluate the result found in children with alterations in those sharp frequencies. The found prevalence of hearing impairment in this studied population can chek the need of use of prevention programs and earlier diagnosis of hearing impairments. / Este estudo teve como objetivo realizar a avaliação da audição e o levantamento da prevalência de deficiência auditiva em amostra de crianças, na faixa etária de 3 a 6 anos, em creches e pré-escolas municipais de São José do Rio Preto, etapa, em 103 crianças de ambos os sexos, na referida faixa etária, em 8 creches e 8 pré-escolas previamente selecionadas. As crianças que apresentaram alterações audiométricas na triagem, foram encaminhadas ao ambulatório de fonoaudiologia da famerp para realização de audiometria tonal convencional, em uma segunda etapa. A classificação da deficiência auditiva, em relação ao grau, foi feita segundo os critérios da oms. Foi encontrado uma criança do sexo masculino (0,97%) com deficiência auditiva condutiva de grau leve na orelha esquerda (m oe=35 db). Não houve diferença significativa entre as proporções de deficiência auditiva em ambos os auditivas, por via aérea, nas freqüências agudas de 4000, 6000 e/ ou 8000 hz. Nota de Resumo Não foi estatisticamente significante a diferença entre as proporções de alterações nas freqüências acima descritas em ambos os sexos (p=1,00). Há necessidade de posteriores estudas para avaliação do resultado encontrado em relação ás crianças com alterações nas referidas freqüências agudas. A prevalênciaencontrada de deficiência auditiva na população do estudo, pode comprovar a necessidade da implantação de programas de prevenção e diagnóstico precoce da deficiência auditiva. Unitermos: surdez- métodos de avaliação, classificação; crianças- pré-escolares; audiometria-tonal, da fala.

Despite widespread use of web-based e-learning applications, insufficient attention is paid to their usability. There is a need to conduct evaluation using one or more of the various usability evaluation methods. Given that heuristic evaluation is known to be easy to use and cost effective, this study investigates the extent to which it can identify usability problems in a web-based e-learning application at a tertiary institution. In a comparative case study, heuristic evaluation by experts and survey evaluation among end users (learners) are conducted and the results of the two compared. Following literature studies in e-learning - particularly web-based learning - and usability, the researcher generates an extensive set of criteria/heuristics and uses it in the two evaluations. The object of evaluation is a website for a 3rd year Information Systems course. The findings indicate a high correspondence between the results of the two evaluations, demonstrating that heuristic evaluation is an appropriate, effective and sufficient usability evaluation method, as well as relatively easy to conduct. It identified a high percentage of usability problems. / Computing / M.Sc. (Information Systems)

The main purpose of this research is to establish whether ICT models as implemented in distance education do help to render desirable results (increment in throughput, meeting clientele expectations, and reduction in learner drop-outs). If it is not the case, what could be done to overcome the established hindrance? The researcher employed programme evaluation (PE) which integrates both the positivistic and phenomenological aspects of research. The samples were drawn from the population group through probability and non-probability techniques. Different research strategies within PE such as discovery, inspection and auditing were at first employed to gauge the physical presence of what is being achieved by Unisa through use of myUnisa & DVC; followed by the use of the surveys (personal interviews, administered questionnaires, focus group interviews). The ultimate outcomes of the said research activities are audiovisual recordings, statistically analysed transcripts and questionnaire data. The researcher employed the following key questions in grappling with issues in this area; their findings are also given: i. Does the application of ICTs facilitate and enhance flexible learning at Unisa? With reference to flexible delivery as it relates to aspect of teaching and learning in Engineering, it has been established that minimal use is made of ICTs. Are the technologies correctly applied for teaching and learning? Based on the evidence of research findings it has been established that technology application is mainly used for administrative support rather than for teaching and learning. iii. Do the instructional design and technological applications meet the needs of their users? As matters stand, the study suggests that users' expectations through rating their perceptions and attitudes (academics, tutors, instructional designers, multimedia developers and learners), are far from being met (as all the critical parts of the models are not yet in place regarding the Engineering and other departments). According to the main finding, while there is some evidence of efforts aimed at proper implementation, underutilisation of the ICTs appears to be the main problem, as established at Unisa and elsewhere. The research is concluded through a number of recommendations based on the established findings. / Educational Studies / (D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies))

The aim of diploma thesis is to evaluate selected company as a whole for its inner purpose. This purpose allocate category value, respectively determination of venture?s market value, which is most often defined as estimated amount for shift assets to the date of evaluation among optional and independent partners. Theoretical part of thesis qualify theoretical problem frame of company valuation. In this part of thesis essential key words, factors and value categories are defined. Part of the problem is also strategic and financial analysis and projection of future reports or financial plan. Last part deals with methods of valuation itself ? methods based on revenue analysis, market and assets. For evaluation purpose has been chosen company BRÁZDA-AUDIT, a. s., which deals with experts activities in field of economics.

The students mostly use web based services for achieving their goals in education. They need these services for different purposes. The usability aspect is a need to design these services to be more interactive in order to support the students at their work. Google Docs is the link to the concept Software as a service i.e. a type of cloud computing. A web based application that provides online resource to the users for creating, editing and storing their documents online. The author particularly discusses it from the Student’s perspective. Usability evaluation of the Google Docs is to find the students needs and requirements and also to investigate the usability issues in Google Docs. In this thesis the author is trying to uncover the usability and privacy related problems faced by the students. This is helpful in analyzing the Google Docs (Software as a service) and its importance, by considering the students perspective. Different usability methods and techniques are available for usability evaluation. The author adopted Think Aloud (TA), questionnaires and interview to evaluate the usability of Google Docs.

Air traffic controllers (ATCos) monitor flight operations and resolve predicted aircraft conflicts to ensure safe flights, making them one of the essential human operators in air traffic control systems. Researchers have been studying ATCos with human subjective approaches to understand their tasks and air traffic managing processes. As a result, models were developed to predict ATCo actions. However, there is a gap between our knowledge and the real-world. The developed models have never been validated against the real-world, which creates uncertainties in our understanding of how ATCos detect and resolve predicted aircraft conflicts. Moreover, we do not know how information from air traffic control systems affects their actions. This Ph.D. dissertation work introduces methods to evaluate existing ATCo action prediction models. It develops a prediction model based on flight contextual information (information describing flight operations) to explain the relationship between ATCo actions and information. Unlike conventional approaches, this work takes data-driven approaches that collect large-scale flight tracking data. From the collected real-world data, ATCo actions and corresponding predicted aircraft conflicts were identified by developed algorithms. Comparison methods were developed to measure both qualitative and quantitative differences between solutions from the existing prediction models and ATCo actions on the same aircraft conflicts. The collected data is further utilized to develop an ATCo action prediction model. A hierarchical structure found from analyzing the collected ATCo actions was applied to build a structure for the model. The flight contextual information generated from the collected data was used to predict the actions. Results from this work found that the collected ATCo actions do not show any preferences on the methods to resolve aircraft conflicts. Results found that the evaluated existing prediction model does not reflect the real-world. Also, a large portion of the real conflicts was to be solved by the model both physically and operationally. Lastly, the developed prediction model showed a clear relationship between ATCo actions and applied flight contextual information. These results suggest the following takeaways. First, human actions can be identified from closed-loop data. It could be an alternative approach to collect human subjective data. Second, the importance of evaluating models before implications. Third, potentials to utilize the flight contextual information to conduct high-end prediction models.

The use of interactive e-learning tutorials is an effective form of teaching and learning. It is therefore important that attention is paid to their usability. This research relates to the evaluation of a CD-based e-learning tutorial for learning Business English, with the aims of investigating its usability and identifying problems. Particular attention is paid to aspects that hinder the learner from achieving the learning objectives. The study uses two usability evaluation methods (UEMs), namely controlled usability testing in an HCI laboratory and a user questionnaire survey. The main aim of the study is to compare the findings and determine the impact of using two methods in combination. The first outcome of the research was a synthesized framework of evaluation criteria that was applied in the two UEMs. Secondly, findings of the evaluations indicated that two UEMs identified similar problems, thus confirming their reliability in usability evaluation. Another finding was instances where one method produced results not obtained by the other, which shows the complementary value of two different UEMs. A third benefit of the study was that it identified usability problems in the target system. / Information Systems / MA (Information Systems)

This diploma thesis deals with the evaluation of the financial situation of the internationally operating company HST Hydrosystémy s.r.o. regarding and its investment decisions making. The thesis is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the definition of theoretical background, which will be used in other parts of this thesis. The second part describes the strategic position of the company in the market of technological units for water management. Furthermore, the financial situation in the period 2015–2019 is evaluated. The last part of the diploma thesis deals with the investment plan for the construction of an administrative building.

This thesis focuses on the issues related to the requirements of the contracting authority contained in the tender documents of public works contracts. In the first part, the basic concepts of public procurement are explained, where most attention is devoted to particular tender documents. The second part deals with the situation of public procurement in the Czech Republic, during the years following the opinion of the newly released energy efficient buildings. A case study is used to determine whether the use of economic net present value (NPV), as the evaluation criteria for the selected public order.

The underwater mining has increased in the recent years and the growing awareness of the potential impacts on the environment, as results of increasing the encroachment on the marine environment. Therefore, the debate has increased about how to protect this environment by using the scientific research that\'s relevant to the various environmental effects and developing the equipment used in dredging. There is a wide diversity of underwater mining equipments, such as continuous and non-continuous dredging which used for production of sand, gravel, alluvial deposits and raw material. There are a relation between increasingly dredging activities in the recent years and their impacts on the aquatic environment. These impacts are causes by changes in the topography of the sea floor such as turbidity, noise and other environmental impacts. Today, there is an international framework of legislation which has been developed for dredging projects. This contains rules and regulations which must be followed by mining companies and have to implemented by national authorities. The European countries also develop their legislation to control on the dredged material which deposit on land and sea. This legislation is constantly changing related to scientific knowledge and increasing the implementation frameworks. Also, the people become more sensitive to emissions that have a negative attitude towards dredging in the neighborhood. In addition, dredging techniques give rise to objections, which eventually led to think in more environmentally-friendly production methods. After that, the use of dredger is the only alternative in some project. The question is what are the true benefits of these techniques and what is the relation between possible improvements and technological potential as well as the costs. Therefore, it is intended to assess mining techniques in the context of their environmental impact and the costs. There are many systematic approaches which have been used for evaluation and determination of the environmental performances of different dredging equipment, techniques and procedures. Moreover, the new future developments and latest proposals in the dredging industry have been presented. Also, the new proposal to reduce the turbidity and suspended material effect which is the most important environmental impacts during dredging operations has presented. This research work gives a description of underwater mining techniques and different way of evaluating the dredging equipment’s in term of environmental, economic and social aspects. Also, this work presents two different methods of evaluation. The first approach is the statistical analyses method by using the modern Fuzzy evaluation concept. The second slant is a mathematical accounting method by using the information from the Egyptian case study, in order to reach the most environmental-friendly dredging techniques by taking into account the economic and social point of views. The final evaluation showed that the suction and bucket ladder dredger are the best choices. The assessment was made after comparing many parameters such as performance, characteristics, working depth, soil types and project area. Also, this work presents two different new practices for extraction of the underwater placer deposits which occur on the Egyptian Mediterranean coast. The first technique uses floating processing unit in the in situ area, which gets the extracted material and treated it to reduce the transportation costs. The second technique has divided the working area to many stages which make the suction dredger used also for transporting the material into the beach. The pipeline will be the best method of transportation by using the power of suction, which reduce also the transportation costs and also avoid the environmental effects.