Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Percentage analysis'

Phenology studies recurrent periodic phenomena of plants and their relationship to environmental conditions. Monitoring forest ecosystems using digital cameras allows the study of several phenological events, such as leaf expansion or leaf fall. Since phenological phenomena are cyclic, the comparative analysis of successive years is capable of identifying interesting variation on annual patterns. However, the number of images collected rapidly gets significant since the goal is to compare data from several years. Instead of performing the analysis over images, experts prefer to use derived statistics (such as average values). We propose PhenoVis, a visual analytics tool that provides insightful ways to analyze phenological data. The main idea behind PhenoVis is the Chronological Percentage Maps (CPMs), a visual mapping that offers a summary view of one year of phenological data. CPMs are highly customizable, encoding more information about the images using a pre-defined histogram, a mapping function that translates histogram values into colors, and a normalized stacked bar chart to display the results. PhenoVis supports different color encodings, visual pattern analysis over CPMs, and similarity searches that rank vegetation patterns found at various time periods. Results for datasets comprising data of up to nine consecutive years show that PhenoVis is capable of finding relevant phenological patterns along time. Fenologia estuda os fenômenos recorrentes e periódicos que ocorrem com as plantas. Estes podem vir a ser relacionados com as condições ambientais. O monitoramento de florestas, através de câmeras, permite o estudo de eventos fenológicos como o crescimento e queda de folhas. Uma vez que os fenômenos fenológicos são cíclicos, análises comparativas de anos sucessivos podem identificar variações interessantes no comportamento destes. No entanto, o número de imagens cresce rapidamente para que sejam comparadas lado a lado. PhenoVis é uma ferramenta para análise visual que apresenta formas para analisar dados fenológicos através de comparações estatísticas (preferência dos especialistas) derivadas dos valores dos pixels destas imagens. A principal ideia por trás de PhenoVis são os mapas percentuais cronológicos (CPMs), um mapeamento visual com uma visão resumida de um período de um ano de dados fenológicos. CPMs são personalizáveis e conseguem representar mais informações sobre as imagens do que um gráfico de linha comum. Isto é possível pois o processo envolve o uso de histogramas pré-definidos, um mapeamento que transforma valores em cores e um empilhamento dos mapas de percentagem que visa a criação da CPM. PhenoVis suporta diferentes codificações de cores e análises de padrão visual sobre as CPMs. Pesquisas de similaridade ranqueiam padrões parecidos encontrados nos diferentes anos. Dados de até nove anos consecutivos mostram que PhenoVis é capaz de encontrar padrões fenológicos relevantes ao longo do tempo.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico
No Nordeste semi-Ãrido, as maiores incidÃncias de Ãreas salinizadas sÃo observadas nas terras intensamente cultivadas com o uso da irrigaÃÃo nos PerÃmetros Irrigados, sobretudo aqueles com o mÃtodo por superfÃcie. O experimento foi realizado no NÃcleo D do PerÃmetro Irrigado Curu-Pentecoste - CE. A pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da subsolagem do solo associada com tratamentos quÃmicos e biolÃgicos, na melhoria das condiÃÃes de transmissÃo de Ãgua no perfil do solo, de atributos fÃsicos e quÃmicos do solo, na produtividade do feijÃo-de-corda [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cultivar Epace 11 alÃm dos indicadores de rentabilidade da recuperaÃÃo de um solo sÃdico irrigado por sulcos. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos inteiramente casualizados com cinco tratamentos e cinco repetiÃÃes. Os tratamentos foram T0: testemunha; T1: 40 t.ha-1 de matÃria orgÃnica; T2: 20 t.ha-1 de gesso; T3: 20 t.ha-1 (gesso) +40 t.ha-1 (M.O); T4: 10 t.ha-1 (gesso) + 20 t.ha-1 (M.O). Os resultados permitiram as seguintes conclusÃes: 1. A produtividade do feijoeiro com o uso de melhoradores quÃmicos foi superior em 120% à produtividade sem o uso destes melhoradores e inferior em 18% à produtividade da cultura em solos sem problemas de salinidade do PerÃmetro. 2. As maiores produtividades do feijoeiro estÃo associadas a maiores profundidades do lenÃol freÃtico. O incremento de produtividade do feijoeiro com a profundidade do lenÃol freÃtico ocorreu a uma taxa crescente. 3. A aplicaÃÃo de 20 t.ha-1 de gesso e 40 t.ha-1 de matÃria orgÃnica proporcionou jà no primeiro ano, a reduÃÃo da percentagem de sÃdio trocÃvel do solo, inicialmente de um valor mÃdio superior a 50% para um valor convergente de 2%. 4. LimitaÃÃo quanto à cota de saÃda dos drenos laterais orientam para a instalaÃÃo do sistema de drenagem subterrÃnea do tipo intercepÃÃo, embora os gradientes hidrÃulicos mÃdios do movimento de Ãgua subterrÃnea sejam bem inferiores a 1%. 5. A taxa relacionada entre o valor bruto da produÃÃo gerado exclusivamente pela cultura do feijoeiro e o custo da recuperaÃÃo do solo, demonstra que a renda gerada pela cultura contribui em 12% com o custo da recuperaÃÃo do solo sÃdico. 6. O processo de recuperaÃÃo demonstra uma boa viabilidade a uma taxa de 12% ao ano e alta viabilidade a uma taxa de juros de 6% ao ano, revelando que a essa taxa todo o investimento realizado serà recuperado e remunerada e ainda um lucro extra igual a R$ 5.328,85.
In the semi-arid part of Northeastern Brazil, the highest incidences of salinized areas are observed in land subjected to intense irrigated cultivation, in the âPerÃmetros Irrigadosâ (irrigated perimeters), particularly those where is used the surface method. The experiment was performed in the âNÃcleo Dâ (D Core) of the âPerÃmetro Irrigado Curu-Pentecoste - Ceâ. The research aimed at evaluating the effect of the subsoiling of the treated area combined with the application of chemical and biological treatments in the same area. Specifically, it aimed at evaluating the effect of the said combination (a) in the improvement of the hydraulic properties in the profile of the soil, (b) in the improvement of the productivity of the cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] of the Epace 11 cultivar and (c) in the indicators of profitability of the recovery of a sodic soil irrigated by furrows. We used a randomized complete block experimental design with five treatments and five replications. The treatments were T0: control, T1: 40 t ha-1 of organic matter, T2: 20 t ha-1 gypsum T3: 20 t ha-1 (gypsum) + 40 t ha-1 (MO) T4: 10 t ha-1 (gypsum) + 20 t ha-1 (MO). The results allowed the following conclusions: 1) The grain yield with the use of chemical enhancers was 120% higher than the productivity without those enhancers and 18% lower than the productivity (of the same cultivation) in soils without salinity problems. 2) The highest bean yields are associated with the largest values of water table depth, the increase in grain yield with the depth of the water table occurring at a rate increasing with the same depth. 3) The application of 20 t ha-1 gypsum and 40 t ha-1 Organic matter, no later than in the first year, reduced the percentage of exchangeable sodium in the soil, from an initial average above 50% to a convergent value of 2%. 4) The limitation on the elevation of the outflow of lateral drains indicate the necessity of the installation of an underground drainage system of the interception type, even if the average hydraulic gradient of the of groundwater flow is well below 1%. 5) The rate between the gross value of production generated by the cowpea crop and the cost of remediation of soil, shows that the the crop contributes with 12% of the cost of soil sodium remediation . 6) The recovery process shows a good feasibility at a rate of 12% per year and high viability at a rate of interest of 6% per year, revealing that at that rate all the investment will be recovered and paid, plus yelding an extra profit of R$ 5,328.85.

Mestrado em Gestão de Projetos
Em Earned Value Analysis, o Earned Value de uma atividade (ou conta de controlo) resulta do produto do Planned Value pelo Percent Complete. Assim, o erro associado ao valor do Earned Value pode resultar da incerteza de qualquer um daqueles valores. O presente estudo pretende avaliar o erro na determinação do Earned Value, e o seu impacto nas métricas de Earned Value Analysis, com uma análise ceteris paribus do Percent Complete.
In Earned Value Analysis, the Earned Value of an activity (or control account) results from the product of the Planned Value by the Percent Complete. Thus, the error associated with the Earned Value may result from the uncertainty in any of those values. The present study intends to evaluate the error in the Earned Value, and its impact on the Earned Value Analysis metrics, with a ceteris paribus analysis of the Percent Complete.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Purpose Our objectives were to 1) determine the difference in Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) incidence and survival between different race/ethnicity groups, and 2) evaluate the difference in survival of RMS between children and adults of these race/ethnicity groups, using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) database between 1973-2013. Patients and Methods We analyzed racial characteristic and incidence data from 4,280 patients diagnosed with RMS, between 1973-2013, that were reported to the SEER database. Survival and hazard analyses were conducted on 4,268 patients with known follow-up data, with end point being death from any cause. Results Over the 40-year study period overall RMS incidence rates have experienced a statistically significant decline (APC: -0.78, 95% CI: -1.28 – -0.28). Whites have experienced a significant decline in incidence rates (APC: -1.05, 95% CI: -1.60 – -0.50). Though not statistically significant, incidence rates in Blacks and Hispanics have trended upwards. While adjusted survival was not predicted by race, survival did significantly differ among racial/ethnic groups in children, with Hispanics and “Others” having the lowest 5- and 10-year survival rates (65% and 58% verses 58% and 56%, respectively). Black race/ethnicity was also shown to be a predictor for mortality for the time period 1990-2013. Conclusion Racial/ethnic minorities have worse RMS clinical presentation and incidence rates than Whites. While overall survival is not predicted by race, being an ethnic minority child diagnosed with RMS is predictive of survival. These disparities point towards a genetic component in RMS that has not yet been described.

The results of the multivariate analyses suggest that most of the variation in the composition of the samples was of an intra-sample nature, illustrating large scale patchiness in foraminiferal distribution. There were, however, definite differences between communities around Robben Island and in St Helena Bay, and least variation was found between the control and pipeline sites, and between the stations of each site. When the trace metal concentrations and the percentage nitrogen increased, the richness, diversity and abundance of foraminifera tended to decrease. Sediment grain size positively affected abundance but negatively affected diversity and richness. In both areas mean grain size did not, however, appear to play a very large role in influencing diversity. Cadmium, copper, chromium, the percentage nitrogen and the mean grain size were identified as the most important variables influencing the community structure by the BIOENV BEST routine in PRIMER. The trace metals and percentage nitrogen only had negative effects on the diversity and abundance as well as on the abundance of the dominant genera, whereas the mean grain size had variable effects.

Autism is a rapidly increasing global health concern. In the United States, many families and individuals with autism find it difficult to access treatment for this condition because it is commonly excluded from health insurance plans. Apprehension about passing autism health insurance legislation includes concerns regarding the impact on small businesses. Many businesses advocates and law makers have expressed concern that passing an autism health insurance mandate will cause small businesses to close or to stop offering health insurance plans to their employees. In an effort to substantiate these concerns, this study provides an analysis of publicly available data on small business closures and small business health insurance plans to determine if a relationship exists between passing an autism health insurance mandate and a change in the number of small business closures or the percentage of small businesses that offer health insurance plans to their employees.

The methodology for this study includes testing of Pearson’s r correlation models, semipartial correlation models and analysis of variance (ANOVA) models. Findings indicate there is insufficient evidence to conclude that a relationship exists between enacting an autism health insurance mandate and an increase in the number of small business closures. In addition, findings indicate there is insufficient evidence to conclude that a relationship exists between enacting an autism health insurance mandate and a decrease in the percentage of small businesses offering health insurance to their employees.

Objective. Determine the relationship between dietary quality and body weight/composition in college women. Specific emphasis was made regarding adherence to current MyPyramid guidelines, fruit, vegetable and junk food consumption. Design/Participants. The study used a cross-sectional design. One hundred and sixty three women were recruited to participate in the study. All participants were university students (20.4 ± 1.6 y). Diet intake was measured using the Dietary History Questionnaire (DHQ) and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) was calculated to assess diet quality. Body fat percentage was assessed using the Bod Pod and BMI was calculated using height and weight measurements. Physical activity was measured objectively using accelerometers over seven consecutive days. Results. There was no significant difference in BMI or body fat percentage across university year. There was no relationship between diet quality (as measured using the Healthy Eating Index) and percent body fat or BMI. The number of MyPyramid equivalents of fruit was negatively correlated to body fat percentage (r = -0.2, p ≤ 0,05) but not BMI (r = -0.093, p =0.26). The number of MyPyramid equivalents of dairy was also negatively related to both body fat percentage (r = -0.21, p ≤ 0.05) and BMI (r = -0.21, p ≤ 0.05). Percentage of calories from Non Nutrient Dense Foods (NNDF) was positively related to percent body fat ( r= 0.179, p = 0.029). For every 1-percentage increase in NNDF, there was a 0.12 percentage point increase in body fat. Conclusion. Increasing fruit, dairy, and vegetable intake, and reducing intake from Non Nutrient Dense Foods (NNDF) such as French fries, cookies, and candy, may have a beneficial influence on body composition in college women.

As population increases and urbanization occurs, watershed management will be critical in the protection of water resources in North Central Texas. By 2040, Denton County will nearly double its 2010 population. The Upper Hickory Creek Watershed lies west of Denton and empties into Lake Lewisville. Lake Lewisville provides drinking water for Denton, Dallas, and other neighboring cities. Mitigation of non-point source pollutants as a result of urban and agricultural practices is essential to protecting Lake Lewisville water resources. A common best management practice used to mitigate pollutants is the protection of riparian ecotones that occupy river corridors; however, recent agricultural and urban practices are diminishing these ecosystems and their services. In this paper, the riparian buffer delineation equation (RBDE) is used to assess the current state of Upper Hickory Creek Watershed to aid in the monitoring of the riparian buffers along stream corridors. While the RBDE was used as pre-assessment tool for the riparian buffer effectiveness in the watershed, a new form of the equation was used to evaluate riparian buffer improvement potential (BP) in conjunction with Denton County parcel data to provide insights into buffer effectiveness and identify areas for improvement on a landowner scale.

As population increases and urbanization occurs, watershed management will be critical in the protection of water resources in North Central Texas. By 2040, Denton County will nearly double its 2010 population. The Upper Hickory Creek Watershed lies west of Denton and empties into Lake Lewisville. Lake Lewisville provides drinking water for Denton, Dallas, and other neighboring cities. Mitigation of non-point source pollutants as a result of urban and agricultural practices is essential to protecting Lake Lewisville water resources. A common best management practice used to mitigate pollutants is the protection of riparian ecotones that occupy river corridors; however, recent agricultural and urban practices are diminishing these ecosystems and their services. In this paper, the riparian buffer delineation equation (RBDE) is used to assess the current state of Upper Hickory Creek Watershed to aid in the monitoring of the riparian buffers along stream corridors. While the RBDE was used as pre-assessment tool for the riparian buffer effectiveness in the watershed, a new form of the equation was used to evaluate riparian buffer improvement potential (BP) in conjunction with Denton County parcel data to provide insights into buffer effectiveness and identify areas for improvement on a landowner scale.

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the market potential of producer services in Jönköping County. In relation to the main purpose, the idea is to examine which factors that have a positive impact on the development of a long run qualitative producer service industry in the region.

The favourable location of Jönköping County is one of the main factors for why the county has one of the highest densities of manufacturing firms in Sweden. Moreover, the region has comparative advantages in several products, for an example; wood, rubber, machinery and electronically goods. Earlier research and comparisons with other international manufacturing clusters indicates that these areas tend to contain highly developed producer service industries. The thesis gives a case example of how the beneficial, mutual interaction between the manufacturing and producer service industries works in the car industry in Germany. However, to be able to establish a successful and close relationship between the above mentioned industries, the theoretical framework distinguishes several important factors; for instance, education and infrastructure are assumed to be the two most vital ingredienses. Nonetheless, also the firms’ production milieu and technology affects the successful development of a cluster district. Furthermore,when relating the theoretical assumptions to the descriptive statistics, with the intention to elucidate the industrial structure of Jönköping County, one can differentiate three major producer service sectors, namely; “Transport and mail”, “Consulting, marketing, law” and finally “Rentals of premises, labour and machinery”. Nevertheless, several alarming observations can be noticed concerning the wage level, education intensity, productivity and gross profit percentage within the county’s producer service industry; where all these features are below the domestic average. Nevertheless, the empirical analysis indicates that the region has a varying, but yet a positive market potential in the majority of the county’s municipalities. With correct priorities, Jönköping County has good future prospects to reach a high competitive position, but to accomplish this; the education intensity has to be improved.

Syftet med denna uppsats är att utreda om Jönköpings län besitter marknadspotential inom närindustriella tjänster. I relation till syftet är avsikten också att ta reda på vilka faktorer som kan underlätta utvecklingen av en långsiktig kvalitativ service industri i länet. Den fördelaktiga geografiska positionen är en av faktorerna till varför Jönköpings län har blivit ett av Sveriges industritätaste områden; där regionen har komparativa fördelar i trä, gummi, maskin och elektroniska produkter. Genom tidigare forskning och vid jämförelser med andra internationella tillverkningskluster hävdas det att det finns tydliga tecken på att dessa områden bör innerhålla starkt utvecklade centra för närindustriella tjänster. I uppsatsen nämns framförallt den tyska bilindustrin som ett exempel på hur nära samarbetet mellan tillverkning och service industrin kan bedrivas. För att kunna nå en nära samverkan mellan de nämnda industrierna så pekar teoridelen ut flera viktiga ståndpunkter, där bland annat utbildning och infrastruktur är av allra högsta vikt. Men även företagens produktionsmiljö och teknologi reflekterar hur ett framgångsrikt klusterområde utvecklas. När man därefter relaterar dessa utgångspunkter till den deskriptiva statistiken med syfte att klargöra Jönköpings läns industristruktur, kan man konstatera att den största industritjänsten utgörs av transport och logistik. Därefter följer marknadsföring,redovisning och juridisk rådgivning, medan den tredje och sista tjänsten är uthyrning av lokaler, maskiner och personal. Dock påträffas flera oroväckande iakttagelser gällande lönenivåer, utbildningsintensitet, produktivitet och bruttovinstandelar inom produktionstjänster i länet, då samtliga faktorer hamnar under riksgenomsnittet. Vidare indikerar de empiriska resultaten och analysen på att det finns en varierande men positiv marknadspotential i majoriteten av länets kommuner. Med rätta prioriteringar så finns det således goda framtidsutsikter för att regionen skall kunna skaffa sig en hög konkurrenskraft i framtiden. Men då krävs det framförallt en högre utbildningsgrad bland den arbetsföra befolkningen i länet.

PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO
CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO
Este trabalho apresenta uma abordagem inovadora para calcular autopares de operadores diferenciais (OD), utilizando programação genética (PG) e computação simbólica. Na literatura atual, o Método dos Elementos Finitos (MEF) e o Método das Diferenças Finitas (MDF) são os mais utilizados. Tais métodos usam discretização para converter o OD em uma matriz finita e, por isso, apresentam limitações como perda de acurácia e presença de soluções espúrias. Além disso, se o domínio do OD fosse alterado, os autopares precisariam ser calculados novamente, pois a representação matricial do operador depende dos parâmetros do problema. Nesse contexto, este trabalho propõe evoluir autofunções analiticamente usando PG, sem discretização do domínio. Com isso, é possível incorporar parâmetros, o que torna a solução obtida válida para uma classe de problemas. Este texto descreve o modelo para OD normais, aplicando conceitos de indivíduos multi-árvore e diferenciação simbólica. O modelo evolui auto-funções e, a partir delas, calcula os autovalores empregando a razão de Rayleigh. Experimentos baseados em aplicações da Física mostram que a técnica proposta é capaz de encontrar as autofunções analíticas com a acurácia igual ou melhor que as técnicas numéricas supracitadas. Finalmente, a técnica proposta é aplicada ao problema de propagação de ondas eletromagnéticas em poços de petróleo em ULF e UHF. As soluções analíticas são dadas em função do diâmetro e do percentual de incrustações no poço. Os resultados mostram que, para um conjunto suficientemente grande de valores distintos dos parâmetros, a técnica apresenta tempo de execução inferior às técnicas clássicas, mantendo a acurácia destas.
This work presents an innovative approach to calculate the eigenpairs of linear differential operators (LDO), employing genetic programming (GP) and symbolic computation. In the current literature, the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the Finite Difference Method (FDM) are more commonly used. Such methods use discretization to convert the LDO to a finite matrix, therefore causing loss of accuracy and presence of spurious solutions. Additionally, if the domain of the LDO was changed, the eigenpairs would need to be recalculated, since the matrix representation of the LDO depends on the parameters of the problem. In this context, this work proposes to evolve eigenfunctions analytically using GP, without domain discretization. Hence, it is possible to incorporate the parameter, which makes a obtained solution valid for a class of problems. This text describes the model for normal LDO, applying concepts of multi-tree individuals and symbolic differentiation. The presented model evolves eigenfunctions and, then, calculates the eigenvalues using the Rayleigh quotient. Experiments based on Physics problems show that the proposed technique is able to find the analytical eigenfunctions with the same accuracy of the numerical techniques mentioned above. Finally, the proposed technique is applied to the problem of propagation of electromagnetic waves in oil wells in ULF and UHF. The analytical solutions are given as a function of the diameter and percentage of CaCO in the well. The results show that, for a sufficiently large set of distinct values of the parameters, the technique presents execution time inferior to the FEM, while maintaining its accuracy.

The diploma thesis deals with evaluation of financial situation of the concerned subject. There are used the tools of analysis of internal and external environment of the company and financial analysis. To create financial analysis are used the two basic techniques, which are the ration analysis and percentage analysis. However, this two analysis are not able to cover the whole problem area, their results are supplemented by other indicators, which are Altman’s Z-score, Kralicek Quick Test and index IN.

The main aim of this Master's thesis is to set down individual factors which may affect corporate tax revenues in the Czech Republic. These criteria are selected based on the studies of the trends in the corporate tax revenues and then thoroughly analyzed. Furthermore, thesis consists of corporate tax revenue as a percentage of GDP comparison among chosen OECD countries with emphasis on the Czech Republic. Integral part of thesis is also formed by a regression analysis which examines the impact of the opted factors on corporate tax revenues.

This dissertation systematically classifies and shortly describes all available funds to get a flat in Czech Republic. The main subject is a cost analysis. There is not only cost analysis and evaluation of motgage and loan, but this work contains method, how to evaluate the aggregate combinations with assets, tax savings and government benefits. There are analysed 4 usual used methods for evaluation mortgages and loans and also 2 new innovative methods, that lost weaknesses and maintain strengths. The goal of the work is achieved by creating of the general method, that manages the aggregate solution, keeping the lowest available economic costs.

Abstract Early stage project estimates are a key component in business decision making, and generally form the basis of the project's ultimate funding. Their strategic importance has been long recognised, leading to increased research and development in cost modelling. For example, research initiated at The University of Manchester resulted in the production of ProCost - early stage cost estimating software, which has the ability to forecast the total cost of a proposed building in the form of a single figure output. This research project commenced with a nationwide questionnaire survey of current cost modelling and elemental cost estimating practice. One of its major findings was that quantity surveyors are not satisfied with single figure output cost models. Based on this, an investigation into the feasibility of generating an elemental breakdown of the ProCost output was initiated. An investigation into an appropriate elemental output format resulted in the adoption of 17 elements based on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Standard Form of Cost Analysis (SFCA). Models were created for each of these elements using both multiple linear regression and artificial neural network (ANNs) techniques. Initially, data from 120 office buildings were collected and modelled using multiple linear regression analysis. The accuracy of these models, as measured by the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), ranged from 9.2% to 319.6%. Recognising the deficiency of some of these models, the study proceeded by using ANNs as an alternative modelling method. Accepting the requirement of this method for increased data cases, a second data collection programme was initiated, extending the database to industrial and residential buildings and resulting in a total of 360 projects. ANN produced superior models for the majority of the elements, generating MAPEs from 9.7% to 43%. The final decision support tool presented is a hybrid of these two methods with 5 of the models based on multiple linear regression and 12 on ANN techniques. The mean MAPE of the 17 models is 22.1%. The model compares favourably against previous cost modelling attempts in terms of accuracy, generalisation, sample size, and application spectrum and flexibility. It is anticipated that its utilisation will improve current practice enabling quantity surveyors (cost estimators) to generate quick elemental estimates at an early design stage. Further its elemental character will introduce a crosschecking mechanism into the decision-making process, increasing user confidence in the model's application. 13

Whiplash injuries as a result of rear impact are among the most common injuries in traffic accidents. This is why whiplash injuries have reached a high priority in the research area. In this study, the effects of head restraint position and impact pulse to the whiplash injury have been analyzed by performing whiplash tests using the sled test facility of METU-BILTIR Center Vehicle Safety Unit. Although there are many whiplash test protocols, the test sample has been prepared according to the most recent one, Euro NCAP Whiplash Test Protocol. Three different head restraint positions and three different impact pulses with different severities, totally nine tests have been performed. The tests are performed with a three point generic seat belt and an instrumented Hybrid III 50th percentile male adult crash test dummy is used as the occupant in driver seat of a light commercial vehicle. High speed cameras, sensors on the crash test dummy and a data acquisition system are used to take the test data. This test data has been analyzed and presented according to the defined whiplash assessment criteria and the performance scores of the particular seat for each test have been determined using the whiplash assessment criteria values according to the Euro NCAP Test Protocols.

The purpose of this study was to determine if any relationship exists among the factors of:(1) strictness of a secondary school's attendance policy,(2) its attendance percentages, and(3) its withdrawal/expulsion/push out percentages with respect to the school's:(4) student enrollment totals of grades seven through twelve;(5) proximity to an urban or metropolitan area; and(6) socio-economic status of the students.This quantitative study involved four (4) independent variables [policy strictness, enrollment size, urban location, and SES] and two (2) dependent variables [attendance percentages and withdrawal percentages]. Six (6) null hypotheses were tested.A questionnaire was sent to the principal of each of the 668 secondary schools which housed any combination of grades 7 through 12. The primary focus of the survey instrument was to have the schools self-determine the strictness of their attendance policies which were in effect for the 1989-90 school year.The attendance, withdrawal, SES, urban type, and enrollment size data were obtained from the Indiana Department of Education office in Indianapolis. The 1989-90 school year data was used. Each school's DOE-AG (Attendance & Graduates) and DOE-WD (Withdrawal) statistics reported in June of 1990 was compared to the questionnaire answers.Three (3) two-way analysis of variance tests (ANOVA) and F-tests for mean differences were used in the treatment of the data. Post hoc tests using the LSD procedure were also used on all groups showing significant differences at the 0.05 level.Eight of the twelve F-tests showed significant differences at the .05 level and in fact were found to be below a .001 level of probability that the differences were by chance. Also, significant interaction was found between two of the groups (policy group and urban type) when compared to attendance percentage.The findings were:(1) Attendance was most influenced by school size and urban type location than the other factors of policy strictness or socio-economic status of the students. Attendance rates were the poorest in large schools and in schools located closer to urban areas.(2) Withdrawal rates were to be highest in large schools and in schools located in metropolitan areas.(3) Strictness of a school's attendance policy did not seem to have a predictable impact upon the attendance rates of the student body with respect to the school's size, urban location, or the socio-economic status of the students.
Department of Educational Leadership

A driving cycle is a velocity profile over time. Driving cycles can be used for environmental classification of cars and to evaluate vehicle performance. The benefit by using stochastic driving cycles instead of predefined driving cycles, i.e. the New European Driving Cycle, is for instance that the risk of cycle beating is reduced. Different methods to generate stochastic driving cycles based on real-world data have been used around the world, but the representativeness of the generated driving cycles has been difficult to ensure. The possibility to generate stochastic driving cycles that captures specific features from a set of real-world driving cycles is studied. Data from more than 500 real-world trips has been processed and categorized. The driving cycles are merged into several transition probability matrices (TPMs), where each element corresponds to a specific state defined by its velocity and acceleration. The TPMs are used with Markov chain theory to generate stochastic driving cycles. The driving cycles are validated using percentile limits on a set of characteristic variables, that are obtained from statistical analysis of real-world driving cycles. The distribution of the generated driving cycles is investigated and compared to real-world driving cycles distribution. The generated driving cycles proves to represent the original set of real-world driving cycles in terms of key variables determined through statistical analysis. Four different methods are used to determine which statistical variables that describes the features of the provided driving cycles. Two of the methods uses regression analysis. Hierarchical clustering of statistical variables is proposed as a third alternative, and the last method combines the cluster analysis with the regression analysis. The entire process is automated and a graphical user interface is developed in Matlab to facilitate the use of the software.
En körcykel är en beskriving av hur hastigheten för ett fordon ändras under en körning. Körcykler används bland annat till att miljöklassa bilar och för att utvärdera fordonsprestanda. Olika metoder för att generera stokastiska körcykler baserade på verklig data har använts runt om i världen, men det har varit svårt att efterlikna naturliga körcykler. Möjligheten att generera stokastiska körcykler som representerar en uppsättning naturliga körcykler studeras. Data från över 500 körcykler bearbetas och kategoriseras. Dessa används för att skapa överergångsmatriser där varje element motsvarar ett visst tillstånd, med hastighet och acceleration som tillståndsvariabler. Matrisen tillsammans med teorin om Markovkedjor används för att generera stokastiska körcykler. De genererade körcyklerna valideras med hjälp percentilgränser för ett antal karaktäristiska variabler som beräknats för de naturliga körcyklerna. Hastighets- och accelerationsfördelningen hos de genererade körcyklerna studeras och jämförs med de naturliga körcyklerna för att säkerställa att de är representativa. Statistiska egenskaper jämfördes och de genererade körcyklerna visade sig likna den ursprungliga uppsättningen körcykler. Fyra olika metoder används för att bestämma vilka statistiska variabler som beskriver de naturliga körcyklerna. Två av metoderna använder regressionsanalys. Hierarkisk klustring av statistiska variabler föreslås som ett tredje alternativ. Den sista metoden kombinerar klusteranalysen med regressionsanalysen. Hela processen är automatiserad och ett grafiskt användargränssnitt har utvecklats i Matlab för att underlätta användningen av programmet.

Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) - MSc (Biodiv & Cons Biol)
Fire as a form of disturbance is unique in the way it impacts upon the environment, acting like a herbivore with a ubiquitous appetite. Consuming both dead and living material, converting complex organic molecules into organic and mineral products, which return to the soil. The role of disturbance has long been considered a driver of diversity within Mediterranean type ecosystems. Recently the interest in soil microbes has been piqued, as the importance thereof has been emphasised, particularly their role in nutrient cycling and the chelation of essential plant nutrients. The occurrence of fire results in several environmental and ecological impacts on soil, as well as the dynamics of the microbial populations present. This study explores the impact of fire as a disturbance on the plant and bulk soil microbial communities of the Succulent Karoo. This was achieved through two sub-studies, in which three different states were studied: unburnt, 7-year and 2-year post-fire. Today microbial profiles are also used as indicators of disturbance, thus many techniques exploring microbial community composition are available.

Bibliography: leaves 113-119.
This research dissertation emerges as a component of a broader research study, which sought to determine the impact of a mathematics textbook, Maths for all (Mfa) on teaching and learning, in general, and on learners' performance, in particular. The impact evaluation study focused on Grade 7 learners, from a sample of formerly DET primary classrooms in townships near Cape Town. It focused particularly on the teaching of decimals, percentages and measurment which 14 teachers in these schools agreed to teach in the second term of 2000. The 538 learners, from 10 experimental classrooms (with access to Mfa) and 4 control classrooms (with no access to Mfa), were given a pre-test at the beginning of the second term, and the same test as a post-test towards the end of the same term of the year 2000. The present study aims to analyse possible patterns of error in learners' responses to the test and investigate whether these patterns suggest underlying misconceptions held by the learners on decimals, percentages and measurement. As a secondary aspect, the study also set out to evaluate the test instrument as a measure of achievement and of potential misconceptions.

There is an increase in the prevalence of obesity among people with schizophrenia thought to be due in part to the weight enhancing side-effects of medications commonly used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia. Despite the deleterious health effects associated with obesity and its impact on quality of life and medication compliance, little is known about body composition and energy expenditure in this clinical group. The primary purpose of this thesis was to enhance understanding of body composition and energy expenditure, particularly resting energy expenditure in men with schizophrenia who take atypical antipsychotic medications. Unique to this investigation is the evaluation of clinical tools used to predict body composition and energy expenditure against reference methodologies in men with schizophrenia. Further, given the known links between obesity and physical activity, an additional but less comprehensive component of the thesis was a consideration of total and activity energy expenditure in addition to the interaction between psychiatric symptoms, side-effects of antipsychotic medications and physical activity also occurred as part of this thesis. Collectively, the goals of this thesis were addressed through a series of studies – the first two studies were related to the measurement and characteristics of body composition in men with schizophrenia, while the third and fourth studies were related to the measurement and characteristics of resting energy expenditure in men with schizophrenia. The fifth and sixth studies the utilised doubly labelled water technique to quantify activity and total energy expenditure in a small group of men with schizophrenia and explored the use of accelerometry in this cohort. The final study briefly considered the impact of psychiatric symptoms and self-reported medication side-effects on objectively measured physical activity. In the first study, thirty-one male adults previously diagnosed with schizophrenia and sixteen healthy male controls were recruited. Estimates of body composition derived from an anthropometry-based equation and from bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) using deuterium dilution as the reference methodology to determine total body water were compared. The study also determined the validity of equations commonly used to predict body composition from BIA in the men with schizophrenia. A further aim was to determine the superiority of either BIA or body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of obesity in this cohort. The inclusion of the control group, closely matched for age, body size and body composition demonstrated that there was no difference in the ability of body composition prediction methods to distinguish between fat and fat-free mass (FFM) in controls and men with schizophrenia when both groups had similar body composition. However this study indicated that an anthropometry-based equation previously used in people with schizophrenia was a poor predictor of body composition in this cohort, as evidenced by wide limits of agreement (25%) and systematic variation of the bias. In comparison, the best predictor of percentage body fat (%BF) in this group was gained when impedance values were used to predict percentage body fat via the equation published by Lukaski et al (1986). Although percentage body fat was underpredicted using the Lukaski et al. (1986) equation, the mean magnitude was relatively small (1.3%), with the limits of agreement approximately 13%. Linear regression analysis revealed that %BF predicted using the Lukaski et al. (1986) equation explained 25% more of the variance in percentage body fat than BMI. Further, this study also indicated that BIA was more sensitive than BMI in distinguishing between overweight and obesity in this cohort of men with schizophrenia. Because of the almost exclusive use of BMI as an indicator of obesity in people with schizophrenia, the level of excess body fat may be in excess of that previously indicated. The second study extended the examination of body composition in men with schizophrenia. In this study, the thirty-one participants with schizophrenia (age, 34.2 ± 5.7 years; BMI, 30.2 ± 5.7 kg/m2) were individually matched with sedentary controls by age, weight and BMI. Deuterium dilution was used to distinguish between FFM and fat mass. The previous study had indicated that while BIA was a suitable group measure for obesity, on an individual level the technique lacked the precision required for investigating body composition in men with schizophrenia. Waist circumference was used as an indicator of body fat distribution. The findings of this study indicated that in comparison with healthy sedentary controls of similar body size and age, men with schizophrenia had higher levels of body fat which was more centrally distributed. Percentage body fat was on average 4% higher and waist circumference, on average 5 cm greater in men with schizophrenia than the sedentary controls of the same age and BMI. Further, this study indicates that the use of BMI to predict body fat in men with schizophrenia will result in greater bias than when it is used to predict body fat in other sedentary men. Commonly used regression equations to predict energy requirements at rest are based on the relationships between weight and resting energy expenditure (REE) and in such equations, weight acts as a surrogate measure of FFM. The objectives of study three were to measure REE in a small group of men with schizophrenia who were taking the antipsychotic medication clozapine and to determine whether REE can be predicted with sufficient accuracy to substitute for the measurement of REE in the clinical and/or research settings. Body composition was determined using deuterium dilution and REE was measured using a Deltatrac Metabolic Cart via a ventilated hood. The male participants, (aged 28.0 ± 6.7 yrs, BMI 29.8 ± 6.8 kg/m2) were weight stable at the time of the study and had been taking clozapine for 20.5 ± 12.8 months, with doses of 450 ± 140 mg/day. Of the six prediction equations evaluated, the equation of Mifflin et al. (1990) with no systematic bias, the lowest bias and the lowest limits of agreement proved to be the most suitable equation to predict REE in this cohort. The overestimation of REE can be corrected for by deducting 160 kcal/day from the predicted REE value when using the Mifflin et al. (1990) equations. However, the magnitude of the error associated with the prediction of REE for an individual is 370 kcal/day. The findings of this study indicate that REE cannot be predicted with sufficient individual accuracy in men with schizophrenia, therefore it was necessary to measure rather than predict REE in subsequent studies. In the fourth study, indirect calorimetry (Deltatrac Metabolic Cart via ventilated hood) and deuterium dilution were used to accurately determine REE, respiratory quotient (RQ) and FFM in 31 men with schizophrenia and healthy sedentary controls individually matched for age and BMI. Data from this study indicated that gross REE was lower in men with schizophrenia than in healthy sedentary controls of a similar age and body size. However, there was no difference between the groups in REE when REE was adjusted for FFM using the mathematically correct method (analysis of covariance with FFM as the covariate). There was however a statistically and clinically significant difference in resting, fasted RQ between men with schizophrenia and controls, suggesting that RQ rather than REE may be an important correlate worthy of further investigation in men with schizophrenia who take antipsychotic medications. Studies five and six involved the application of the doubly labelled water (DLW) technique to accurately determine total energy expenditure (TEE) and activity energy expenditure (AEE) in a small group of men with schizophrenia who had been taking the atypical antipsychotic medication clozapine. The participants were those who took part in study three. The purpose of these studies was to assess the validity of a commercially available tri-axial accelerometer (RT3) for predicting free-living AEE and to investigate TEE and AEE in men with schizophrenia. There was poor agreement between AEE measured using DLW and AEE predicted using the RT3. However, using the RT3 to measure inactivity explained over two-thirds of the variance in AEE. This study found that the relationship between current AEE per kilogram of body weight and change from baseline weight in men taking clozapine was strong although not significant. The sedentary nature of the group of participants in this study was reflected in physical activity levels, (PAL, 1.39 ± 0.27), AEE (435 ±352 kcal/day) and TEE (2511 ± 606 kcal/day) that fell well short of values recommended by WHO (2000) for optimal health and to prevent weight gain. Given the increasing recognition of the importance of sedentary behaviour to weight gain in the general community, further examination of the unique contributing factors such as medication side effects and symptoms of mental illness to activity levels in this clinical group is warranted. The final study used accelerometry (RT3) to objectively measure activity in a group of 31 men with schizophrenia who had been taking atypical antipsychotic medications for more than four months. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between psychiatric symptomatology, side-effects of medication and physical activity. Accelerometry output was analysed to provide a measure of inactivity and moderate intensity activity (MIA). The well-validated and reliable standardised clinical interview, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used as a measure of psychiatric symptoms. Perceived side-effects of medication were assessed using the Liverpool University Neuroleptic Rating Side-Effects Scale (LUNSER). Surprisingly, there was no relationship reported between any measures of negative symptoms and physical inactivity. However, self-reported measures of medication side-effects relating to fatigue, sleepiness during the day and extrapyramidal symptoms explained 40% of the variance in inactivity. This study found significant relationships between some negative symptoms and moderate intensity activity. Despite the expectation that as symptoms of mental illness reduce, inactivity may diminish and moderate intensity activity will increase, it may not be surprising that in practice this is an overly simplistic view. It may be that measures of social functioning and possibly therefore cognition may be better predictors of physical activity than psychiatric symptomatology per se.

碩士
國立臺北教育大學
體育學系碩士班
94
Abstract The purpose of this study was to investgate if different backpack load percentage (0%、10%、12.5%、15%) will influence primary school student’s gait. Eight participants were gathered from Affiliated Experimental Elementary School of National Taipei University of Education. (11.38±0.92 years old, 155.78±6.84 cm in height, 51.98±13.35 ㎏ in weight). A Mega high-speed camera (100Hz) synchronized with AMTI force plate(1000Hz) which were used to collect biomechanical data from subject’s carrying different backpack load percentage. A Mega high-speed camera were used to record the kinematics data. Two-dimensional coordinates were derived by a video analysis system (APAS motion analysis system) to gain human kinematics parameters. The force plate (AMTI) data were converted by DASY6.0 analysis system from volt to Newton and the reaction forces expressed in multiples of bodyweight (B.W.). The inverse dynamics approach was used to integrate the body segment parameter, kinetic and force plate data, and to solve the resultant lower joints forces and moments. Repeated measure t-test (P＜.05) method were utilized for statistical analyses. The findings were as followed: (1) When backpack load reached 15% B.W. both the single supporting time proportion (57±3.63% to 54±4.11%) and the double suporting time proportion (43±3.63 to 46±4.11%) change significantly. (2) The first peak mean value from vertical ground reaction force showed signigicant difference between different loads, and the values are all larger than normal gait (brake phase: 0%: 1.08±0.07; 10%: 1.19±0.09; 12.5%: 1.17±0.05; 15%: 1.23±0.12 B.W.). The second peak mean value increased signigicantly according to heavier loads (push phase: 0%: 1.13±0.07; 10%: 1.24±0.08; 12.5%: 1.25±0.09; 15%: 1.27±0.08 B.W.). The antero-posterio horizontal force of different backpack load percentage were similar and all results were changed from negative force to positive. (3) When backpack load reached 12.5% B.W., the shear force of ankle increased significantly during push phase (0%:0.13±0.10;12.5%:0.25±0.15;15%:0.28±0.15). The neutral axis stress in most of the lower limb joints showed significant increase during brake phase. However the ankle joint neutral axis stress also increased significantly during push phase. (4) When backpack load reached 10% B.W., the net ankle joint muscle moment was higher than the normal gait during brake phase ( 0%: 0.41±0.23; 10%: 1.03±0.68; 12.5%: 1.04±0.66; 15%: 1.24±0.70). About leg supporting time proportion, under different backpack load will cause single and double supporting time proportion to change. Overload is the main reason that causes support time proportion to change. When primary school student in backpack walk, in order to maintain the erect body posture, they could have torso curving posture for maintained the body the center of gravity. When backpack load increase, vertical ground reacting (force first peak value and second peak value) was also rise. When backpack load increase, only the knee joint necutral axis stress was changed small during brake phase. The net ankle joint muscle moment was increase. Although the kinematics parameter demonstrated that it could creat the bodily posture change when backpack load percentage achieves 15%, it could increase net ankle joint muscle moment when backpack load percentage achieves 10% in dynamics parameter part. This research suggestion primary school student backpack weight should reduce to 10% body weight below is appropriate. Key Words: gait, backpack loads percentage, inverse dynamics

碩士
國立中興大學
應用數學系所
105
During recent decades, the prevalence of obesity increased drastically, which has become one of the most significant health problems all over the world. The medical cost increases with Body Mass Index (BMI), leading to the burden of national economy. Monitoring body fat percentage has become an important issue. Methods for measuring body fat percentage include Body Mass Index (BMI), skinfold thickness, underwater weighing, bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Among these methods, BIA has the advantages of being non-invasive, easy to operate, repeatable and highly accurate. The BIA method entails injecting small electric currents of different frequencies into the human body. we can measure the resistance (R) of intracellular and extracellular fluids and the reactance (Xc) of cell membranes. Based on the sampling measurement data published by the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2000, this study used R language and statistical tools to conduct correlation coefficient analysis, linear regression analysis and statistical tests with regards to the relationships between the values of R , Xc, PhA, BF%. and BF% . BF% is the body fat percentage measured using DXA. After study and analysis, the following conclusions were reached: 1. As BMI increased, the means of R/H(Ω/m), Xc/H(Ω/m) and the vector length Z/H all decreased. PhA showed a significant positively correlation with BMI ((p<0.01).In relation to males, PhA rised first and then down. Phase angle showed the maximum when BMI was between 25 and 35.As for females, PhA gradually decreased when BMI increased. Phase angle showed the maximum when BMI was greater than or equal to 35. 2. As BF% increased, the means of R/H(Ω/m), Xc/H(Ω/m) and vector length Z/H all decreased. PhA showed a significant negative correlation with BF%((p<0.01). In relation to males, PhA rised first and then down . Phase angle showed the maximum when BF% was between 20 and 25%.As for females, PhA down first and then rised. Phase angle showed the maximum when BF% was less than or equal to 20%. 3. When it came to BMI, there was no distinction between males and females, but there was distinction in age. When it came to BF%, there was a distinction between males and females, but there was no distinction in ageA. 4. Multiple regression is adopted to analyze PhA and there are several variables, including age, gender, height, weight and BF%. The PhA is significant positively correlated with weight (p<0.01) and significant negatively correlated with age, gender, height and BF% (p<0.01). Among all, for age and gender it achieved the best variability explained of to PhA is equal to the that of height and gender to PhA.

碩士
國防管理學院
國防財務資源研究所
95
From this research, we are going to evaluate if the usage of national defense budget will affect the performance of military battle by DEA. Also, discussing the Optimal percentage of national defense budget in GDP by comparing with the minacity of military armed conflict. To analyze the changes of efficiency ratio for different countries in two directions -- the satisfaction of needs in national defense and the percentage of usage of national defense budget, we are actually above average. However, we must assert the control for both inland and shore area due to limited territory and the threaten from China. Nowadays, to have high-tech land and air force will be the most important thing in the war. Military equipments in Taiwan are still not enough comparing to others; which gives us a result of insufficient usage of national defense budget, for example: short of latest weapons, not be able to purchase according to our needs, or triphibian budges are not so equal. To analyze the Optimal Percentage of national defense budget in GDP and the efficiency ratio of usage, we could come out with the result of 2.8% to 4.2%. Moreover, the Optimal Percentage in Taiwan is actually lower than that.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
政治學研究所
101
Government Procurement Act came into force as of the date of its promulgation in 1988, and according to Article 98 of the act, the way of the motivation of hiring the disabled and the indigenous with obligation for a winning tenderer is a minimum of two percent of the total number of employees. After that, the Indigenous Peoples Employment Rights Protection Act was proclaimed in 2001, and the protection of indigenous percentage employment in government procurement system that the indigenous employees should comprise at least 1% of the total employees is prescribed by Article 12 of the indigenous people employment rights protect act. Since the implementation of Article 88 of the government procurement act in 1998 and Article 12 of the indigenous peoples employment rights protection act in 2001, it has encountered problems and issues of law and to deal with disagreement and resistance because there have been too many levels, units, and organizations involved in the process of the implementation. 　　The first purpose of this research focuses on the changes of the indigenous employment protection systems in Taiwan. Second, I probe into the contents, the process of implementation, and the consequences of the indigenous percentage employment in the two laws from 2001 to 2012 by the data I collected. Third, I analyze the issues and the precedents of administrative appeals and lawsuits of indigenous percentage employment in public and private sectors. Fourth, I gather information about the systems of indigenous protection employment from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Finally, I propose recommendations about law amending of the indigenous percentage employment in the two laws and the indigenous employment policies in the future. 　According to the analysis and results in my research, the concerns of the attributes of indigenous people, and the social changes nowadays, the research recommendations are as follows: 1.The government should amend laws in the direction of increasing the numbers of long-term and stable jobs for indigenous people. 2.The government should establish a comprehensive system of employment matching and human resources survey. 3.The government should devote itself to cultivating every aspect of talent in the labor market and encourage indigenous people to enroll and to engage in advanced studies. 4.To integrate tribes’ resources and to promote the employment status of indigenous peoples. 5. To shape the culture of entrepreneurship of indigenous youth.

碩士
國防大學管理學院
財務管理學系
98
National defense is the most important factor for the country in history. IMD and WEF attracted the attention of the world by evaluating the major countries’ competitiveness. So, national competitiveness become the important discussion and research issue. When understanding indicators found, all of them were emphasized economic growth rate in the national’s goal. The military dimension is not included in these indicators. However, the national defense competitiveness is related to economic development, national security and strategic goals in the country. The national competitiveness should have the strong national defense competitiveness. This is a cross country analysis during 2005 to 2008. Estimating the weight of affecting the national military ranking by using multiple regression model and factor analysis to obtain score in national defense competitiveness. Evaluated the model fit and validity by inside and outside samples. Finally, researched the correlation between the national defense competitiveness and the percentage of annual national defense budget in GDP in different scenarios. The study showed multiple regression model’s fit and validity are better than factor analysis. The estimated military rankings are highly positive correlation with GFP and Jane’s Defence Weekly. It is found that the percentage of national defense budget in GDP is negative with national defense competitiveness in different scenarios. Increasing the percentage of national defense budget in GDP, national defense competitiveness will rise.

碩士
國立中興大學
應用數學系所
106
The source of this research data is the analysis of sampling data published by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 1999-2000. It is a research plan to evaluate the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. At first, we conducted basic statistics: (1) There were indeed significant differences in the average t test of all variables between men and women. (2) Explore the performance of phase angles. There is a significant difference in racial differences. (3) The box-plot of BMI shows that BMI has gradually increased with age. Second, the multiple regression analysis and the neural network packpropagation analysis were discussed. The of this model is up to 0.84. If we select 30% (958 pens) of test body fat content and compare it with body fat rate measured by DEXA, the calculated RMSE = 3.61, the average is 29.58, the standard deviation is 8.36, and the variance is consistent. The t test results also show that the average number is the same. Next, we discuss the vector analysis of bioelectrical impedance. Finally, we compared the raw data multiple regression analysis, normalized data multiple regression analysis, and neural network backpropagetion with body fat rate measured by DEXA. The multiple regression analysis had RMSE=3.61 and neural network backpropagetion RMSE=2.93. Obviously, the RMSE of the neural network backpropagetion is much smaller than the multiple regression analysis. The reduction ratio reaches 18.84%. We can say that the estimation of the neural network backpropagetion is obviously much more accurate than the multiple regression analysis.

博士
國立成功大學
建築學系碩博士班
90
The urban environment nowadays is consisted of impermeable materials. This high percentage of impervious area (Imp) not only causes the phenomenon of urban runoff, but also brings about high temperature in urban and destroys the urban ecology. This research builds up an investigation method by sampling from different zonings of Taipei and Tainan and tries to use the Imp to evaluate the current Performance of Soil Water Retention. The results conducted by the investigation shows that the Imp of each zonings in are, 86%, 84% for residential area, 100% for commercial area, 92%, 90% for industrial area, 36%, 19% for park area, 68%, 60% for educational facilities area and 91%, 78% for government organization area. The values are much lower than the data listed in pervious documents in Taiwan and also lower than some parts in Japanese city that are equally developed as Taipei and Tainan. To realize the relation between the “index of soil water retention in building site”, “percentage of impervious area (Imp)” and runoff phenomena in urban area, we take Huweiliao, a part of Tainan city, for example to proceed the of urbane runoff experiment. During 9 rain events from the experiment, the coefficient of runoff is 0.405 after calculation. Dealing with the previous data experimented by Wen, the relation between Imp and coefficient of runoff is 0.87, and the relation between “index of soil water retention in building site” and coefficient of runoff is 0.88, higher than Imp (P<0.05). Further more, we apply the result in a developed residential area, we find that if the previously development higher than the standard of “index of soil water retention in building site”, runoff volume could reduce about 21.3%. So the government develop the assessment of soil water retention in building site to be one of the assessment of green building, using infiltration, storage, retention and landscape engineering to increase the capability of water storage of soil in building site. This research prove that the “index of soil water retention in building site” can help to reduce the runoff volume in urban area, and it could also provide the government to control the Imp in the city by law.

M.Tech. (Chiropractic)
Purpose: Low back pain affects the general population worldwide. Low back pain is a multi-factorial problem with debate as to the exact aetiology of low back pain. Thus, this study examines the relationship between lumbar spine lordosis, body fat percentage, physical activity level, lumbar spine range of motion and the incidence of low back pain. Method: There was a total of one hundred female participants between and including eighteen and thirty-five years of age. These females were symptomatic or asymptomatic of mechanical low back pain. Potential candidates were examined and accepted based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were evaluated once. No treatment was administered. Procedure: Subjective responses were acquired through the Visual Analog Scale, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and an Oswestry Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire. The objective evaluation included a physical examination and a lumbar spine regional examination. The participant’s height was measured using a stadiometer. The Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) measured the participant’s weight, water content, lean tissue mass and body fat percentage. BMI was calculated from the weight and height recordings. Range of motion of the lumbar spine was measured with a Digital Inclinometer. A flexi curve ruler molded the lumbar spine lordosis of each participant, which was then traced onto a piece of paper to measure the magnitude of lumbar spine lordosis. Results: A clinical relationship did not exist between a hyperlordotic lumbar spine posture, the incidence of low back pain, body fat percentage and lumbar spine range of motion. A clinical relationship was evident between a hyperlordotic lumbar spine posture and the level of physical activity. Conclusion: Given that a clinical relationship exists between a hyperlordotic lumbar spine posture and the level of physical activity, physical activity specifically exercise to strengthen the abdominal muscles should be included in a treatment protocol to reduce the degree of lumbar spine lordosis if the degree is excessive.

碩士
逢甲大學
土木及水利工程所
92
Abstract The sewerage system is one of the important public facilities for perfect metropolis development. Taiwan at present the government is constructing the sewerage system positively. For keep the sewerage system on normal operation, the huge operation and management fee will become the subject, which the government will soon face. The excessively high tariff can have the popular resentment and the excessively low tariff can aggravate the financial burden of the government. How to decide a balanced tariff without affecting operation condition will be the main subject of this research. This research takes Taichung City as a case study. First, the material for collect is sewerage planning data in Taichung, and calculates the operation and management cost of each year. Then makes the questionnaire to the Taichung resident, analyze the survey of public opinion; try to find the range of tariff that Taichung resident could accept. Finally, estimates for the population and the rate of connection to the sewer main, calculates estimative income of each year. Then compared with the cost and the income find the degree between the government and the user. The result showed that the cost of each ton sewage treatment tariff of Taichung City is approximately 7.59~10.46 NT dollars. The tariff that the Taichung City resident willing to bear is approximately 3.45 NT dollars/ton (levies along with tap water fee). By the results of research, the tariff decides to be 3.45 NT dollars/ton, and every five years enhance 20%, stop to enhance in 2026,then the degree of tariff between the user and the government will from 1:1 in 2006 reduces to 8:2 in 2032, but the subsidies of the government in every year will elevate from more than one hundred million NT dollars in 2006 to more than five hundred million NT dollars in 2021 reduces to more than two hundred million NT dollars in 2032 (depends on price index of 2004 April).

碩士
國立中興大學
農藝學系所
102
There are two characteristics in some of the current stability statistics for regional trials. First, either the arithmetic mean or the maximum in statistics is used as a reference point to measure variability of each genotype by considering the distance between each observation and the reference point. However, these are greatly influenced by outliers. If there are any outliers, they do not adequately reflect the expected yield in different environments. Second, when the variances in different environments are not homogeneous, there is a biased estimate of the stability of each genotype. Generally, an environment with larger variance will have more weight in the variance of each genotype. In order to solve the difficulty of the measure of variability which is greatly influenced by outliers and the problem of the biased estimate of the stability of each genotype in the heterogeneous of variance in different environments, the thesis develops robust stability statistics with the concept of box-plot and percentile for crop breeders to select high-yielding and stable cultivars in the regional trials.

Oriented Strand Board (OSB), an engineered wood product, has gained increased market acceptance as a construction material. Because of its growing market, the product’s manufacturing and performance have become the focus of much research. Internal Bond (IB) and Parallel and Perpendicular Elasticity Indices (EI), are important strength metrics of OSB and are analyzed in this thesis using statistical reliability methods.The data for this thesis consists of 529 destructive tests of OSB panels. They were tested from July 2005 to January 2006. These OSB panels came from a modern OSB manufacture in the Southeastern United States with the wood furnish being primarily Southern Pine (Pinus spp.). The 529 records are for 7/16” thickness OSB strength, which is rated for roof sheathing (i.e., 7/16” RS).Descriptive statistics of IB and EI are summarized including mean, median, standard deviation, Interquartile range, skewness etc. Visual tools such as histograms and box plots are utilized to identify outliers and improve the understanding of the data. Survival plots or Kaplan-Meier curves are important methods for conducting nonparametric analyses of life (or strength) reliability data and are used in this thesis to estimate the strength survival function of the IB and EI of OSB. Probability Plots and Information Criteria are used to determine the best underlying distribution or probability density function. The OSB data used in this thesis fit the lognormal distribution best for both IB and EI. One outlier is excluded for the IB data and six outliers are excluded for the EI data.Estimation of lower percentiles is very important for quality assurance. In many reliability studies, there is great interest in estimating the lower percentiles of life or strength. In OSB, the lower percentiles of strength may result in catastrophic failures during installation of OSB panels. Catastrophic failure of 7/16” RS OSB, which is used primarily for residential construction of roofs, may result in severe injury or death of construction workers. The liability and risk to OSB manufacturers from severe injury or death to construction workers from an OSB panel failure during construction can result in extreme loss of market share and significant financial losses.In reliability data, “multiple failure modes” is common. Simulated data of mixed distribution of the two two-parameter Weibull distribution is produced to mimic the multiple failure modes for the reliability data A forced median censored method is adopted to estimate lower percentiles of the simulated data. Results of the simulation indicate that the estimated lower percentiles median censored method is relatively close to the true parametric percentiles when compared to not using the median censored method. I conclude that the median censoring method is a useful tool for improving estimation of the lower percentiles for OSB panel failure.

In this thesis, ties and time-varying covariates in survival analysis are investigated. There are two types of ties: ties between event times (Type 1 ties) and ties between event times and the time that discrete time-varying covariates change or "jump"(Type 2 ties). The Cox proportional hazards model is one of the most important regression models for survival analysis. Methods for including Type 1 ties and time-varying covariates in the Cox proportional hazards model are well established in previous studies, but Type 2 ties have been ignored in the literature. This thesis discusses the effect of Type 2 ties on Cox's partial likelihood, the current default method to treat Type 2 ties in statistical packages SAS and R (called Fail before Jump in this thesis), and proposes alternative methods (Random and Equally Weighted) for Type 2 ties. A simulation study as well as an analysis of data sets from real research both suggest that both Random and Equally Weighted methods perform better than the other two methods. Also the effect of the percentages of Type 1 and Type 2 ties on these methods for handling both types of ties is discussed.
NSERC

Title: Analysis and prognosis of elite male and female triathletes performance at the ITU World Triathlon Championships in 1989-2016 in Olympic triathlon Objectives: To analyse male and female performance in individual parts of the triathlon (swim, bike, run) as well as the whole race performance during the years 1989 - 2016. To determine the performance prediction of racers using the time series analysis for Olympic triathlon in ITU World Triathlon Championship in 2028. Methods: For statistical data processing we will apply the time series analysis using SPSS Statistics 22 software. We will then add the historical content and the actual conditions of the race to the final graphs. On the basis of the processed data, we will create a performance prediction for 2028 using Excel program. Results: In swimming, women are approaching men's performance and they are now on 92.2%. In the future, women will not come closer to men's times. Performance will improve slightly. In cycling, the gap between men and women is 10%. We do not expect any major change in the future. According to the trend of development, we find deterioration in both categories, especially in men. At the moment, the performance of women in running is 88.3% of men. We do not expect any change in the future. However, male and female times...

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
Over the past two decades, northern parts of the United States have experienced extreme heat conditions. Some of the notable heat wave impacts have occurred in Chicago in 1995 with over 600 reported deaths and in Philadelphia in 1993 with over 180 reported deaths. The distribution of extreme heat events in Indianapolis has varied since the year 2000. The Urban Heat Island effect has caused the temperatures to rise unusually high during the summer months. Although the number of reported deaths in Indianapolis is smaller when compared to Chicago and Philadelphia, the heat wave in the year 2010 affected primarily the vulnerable population comprised of the elderly and the lower socio-economic groups. Studying the spatial distribution of high temperatures in the vulnerable areas helps determine not only the extent of the heat affected areas, but also to devise strategies and methods to plan, mitigate, and tackle extreme heat. In addition, examining spatial patterns of vulnerability can aid in development of a heat warning system to alert the populations at risk during extreme heat events. This study focuses on the qualitative and quantitative methods used to measure extreme heat events. Land surface temperatures obtained from the Landsat TM images provide useful means by which the spatial distribution of temperatures can be studied in relation to the temporal changes and socioeconomic vulnerability. The percentile method used, helps to determine the vulnerable areas and their extents. The maximum temperatures measured using LST conversion of the original digital number values of the Landsat TM images is reliable in terms of identifying the heat-affected regions.