Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Creepers'

Thesis (B. Sc.)--University of Adelaide, Department of Zoology.
Cover title. "Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of science with Honors, Department of Zoology, University of Adelaide, May 1998" -- Cover. Bibliography: p. 46-53.

The architectural practice of Michael and Louis Beezer, identical twin brothers, lasted from 1892 until 1932. They practiced in Altoona, Pennsylvania, from 1892 until 1899; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1900 until 1906; and in Seattle, Washington, from 1907 until 1932. During their practice, they produced a wide variety of designs including homes, banks, churches, rectories, schools, and hospitals. Today, seventy-two confirmed designs still exist around the country in Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, and Alaska. This creative project documents the Beezer Brothers' surviving buildings through current and historic photographs and a short amount of text with information on the history, style, and features of each building. A history of the firm, supplemented with biographical information, is also included.
Department of Architecture

The White-browed Treecreeper Climacteris affinis is one of many woodland-dependent birds that are at risk from the encroachment of human-dominated land-uses into natural landscapes. The White-browed Treecreeper inhabits semi-arid woodlands in north-west Victoria, Australia, a vegetation community that has undergone extreme modification in the last century due to the expansion of agriculture in the region. Extant woodlands represent only 10% of the original woodland cover in the region, and are highly fragmented and disturbed in many districts. Thus, the survival of the White-browed Treecreeper may depend on active management. However, current knowledge of the ecology and biology of this species is virtually non-existent, and inadequate for informed and effective conservation actions. The aim of this thesis is to redress this situation and provide the ecological basis for sound conservation management of the species. The thesis consists of two parts: an investigation of habitat use at three spatial scales and a study of the social organization, nesting requirements, breeding behaviour and reproductive success of a population of White-browed Treecreepers. Fifty-six patches of remnant woodland in north-west Victoria were surveyed to determine the factors affecting the occurrence of the White-browed Treecreeper at the regional scale. It was detected in 16 patches, and was largely confined to two core districts - Yarrara and, Wyperfeld (Pine Plains). The floristic composition of the dominant tree species was an important determinant of patch occupancy, with the results providing quantitative support for the previously suspected affinity for Belah Casuarina pauper and Slender Cypress-pine Callitris gracilis — Buloke Allocasuarina luehmannii woodlands. However, the absence of the White-browed Treecreeper from several districts was due to factors other than a lack of appropriate habitat. Demographic isolation - the distance from the focal patch to the nearest population of the White-browed Treecreeper - was the most important variable in explaining variation in patch occupancy. Patches isolated from other treecreeper populations by more than 8.3 km in landscapes of non-preferred native vegetation, and 3 km in agricultural landscapes, were unlikely to support the White-browed Treecreeper. The impact of habitat loss and fragmentation on the capacity of individuals to move through the landscape (i.e. functional connectivity) is considered in relation to disruption to dispersal and migration, and the potential collapse of local metapopulations. Habitat use was then examined in a network of patches and linear strips of Belah woodland embedded in a predominantly cultivated landscape. A minimum area of 18.5 ha of Belah woodland was identified as the most important criterion for patch occupancy at the local scale. This landscape appeared to be permeable to movement by the White-browed Treecreeper, facilitated by the extensive network of linear habitat, and clusters of small to medium fragments. The third scale of habitat use investigated the frequency of use of 1-ha plots within tracts of occupied woodland. It is important to discriminate between habitat traits that operate at the population level, and those that act as proximate cues for habitat selection by individuals. Woodlands that have high tree density, extensive cover of low-stature shrubs, abundant lichen, a complex vertical structure, and relatively low cover of grass and herbs are likely to support larger populations of the White-browed Treecreeper. However, individuals appeared to be using tree dominance (positive) and tall shrub cover (negative) as proximate environmental stimuli for habitat selectivity. A relatively high cover of ground lichen, which probably reflects a ground layer with low disturbance and high structural complexity, was also a reliable indicator of habitat use. Predictive models were developed which could be used to plan vegetation management to enhance habitat for the White-browed Treecreeper. The results of the regional, landscape and patch-scale investigations emphasise that factors operating at multiple spatial scales influence the suitability of remnant vegetation as habitat for the White-browed Treecreeper. The White-browed Treecreeper is typical of many small Australian passerines in that it has high annual survival, small clutches, a long breeding season, multiple broods and relatively low reproductive rates. Reproductive effort is adjusted through the number of clutches laid rather than clutch size. They occupy relatively large, all-purpose territories throughout the year. However, unlike many group territorial birds, territory size was not related to the number of occupants. The White-browed Treecreeper nests in tree hollows. They select hollows with a southerly orientation where possible, and prefer hollows that were higher from the ground. At Yarrara, there was considerable spatial variation in hollow abundance that, in concert with territorial constraints, restricted the actual availability of hollows to less than the absolute abundance of hollows. Thus, the availability of suitable hollows may limit reproductive productivity in some territories, although the magnitude of this constraint on overall population growth is predicted to be small. However, lack of recruitment of hollow-bearing trees would increase the potential for hollow availability to limit population growth. This prospect is particularly relevant in grazed remnants and those outside the reserve system. Facultative cooperative breeding was confirmed, with groups formed through male philopatry. Consequently, natal dispersal is female-biased, although there was no skew in the sex ratio of the fledglings or the general adult population. Helpers were observed performing all activities associated with parenting except copulation and brooding. Cooperatively breeding groups enjoyed higher fledgling productivity than simple pairs, after statistically accounting for territory and parental quality. However, the difference reflected increased productivity in the 1999-breeding season only, when climatic conditions were more favourable than in 1998. Breeding commenced earlier in 1999, and all breeding units were more likely to attempt a second brood. However, only breeders with helpers were successful in fledging second brood young, and it was this difference that accounted for the overall discrepancy in productivity. The key mechanism for increased success in cooperative groups was a reduction hi the interval between first and second broods, facilitated by compensatory reductions in the level of care to the first brood. Thus, females with helpers probably achieved significant energetic savings during this period, which enabled them to re-lay sooner. Furthermore, they were able to recommence nesting when the fledglings from the first brood were younger because there were more adults to feed the dependent juveniles. The current utility, and possible evolutionary pathways, of cooperative breeding is examined from the perspective of both breeders and helpers. Breeders benefit through enhanced fledgling productivity in good breeding conditions and a reduction in the burden of parental care, which may impart significant energetic savings. Further, breeders may facilitate philopatry as a means for ensuring a minimum level of reproductive success. Helpers benefit through an increase in their inclusive fitness in the absence of opportunities for independent breeding (i.e. ecological constraints) and access to breeding vacancies in the natal or adjacent territories (i.e. benefits of philopatry). However, the majority of breeding unit-years comprised unassisted breeders, which suggests that pairs are selectively favoured under certain environmental or demographic conditions.

Anthropogenic habitat modification is a significant threat to the conservation or global biodiversity. The fragmentation and alteration of woodland habitat has resulted in the substantial decline of many woodland bird species in the agricultural regions of southern Australia. The Rufous Treecreeper Climacteris rufaa, a once common woodland resident, has declined in abundance in the wheatbelt of Western Australia and appears to be sensitive to habitat fragmentation. The reasons for this are unclear because our knowledge of the species and the threats posed by fragmentation arc limited. In this study, I compared the social organisation, habitat selection, reproductive success, dispersal and population dynamics of two Rufous Treecreeper populations living in the Western Australian wheatbelt. The first population occupied a large (8,500 ha), relatively undisturbed and unfragmented landscape. The second occurred in an equivalent sized area that had been substantially modified by agriculture. I hypothesised that habitat fragmentation and alteration would adversely affect the viability of the population living in the agricultural landscape. In the unfragmented landscape, treecreepers lived in cooperatively breeding, territorial groups. A group usually comprised a primary (assumed to be breeding) male and female, and philopatric offspring (helpers) from previous breeding seasons. Helpers assisted in the feeding and caring of nestlings and there was a positive relationship between group size and reproductive output. Breeding groups often fanned interactive neighbourhoods whereby resident individuals from one territory would feed nestlings in adjacent territories. A total of 77.7% of 148 nesting attempts produced at least one fledgling. Annual productivity per breeding group (n = 90 group years) was 2.1 ± 0.18 fledglings. Fledgling and juvenile survival rates (0.76 ± 0.04 and 0.46 ± 0.03 respectively) were comparatively high, as was the annual survival rate of primary males (0.77 ± 0.06) and females (0.75 ± 0.05). A multi-scaled analysis of habitat use in the unfragmented landscape identified preferential habitat selection by the species at three spatial scales. At the landscape scale, treecreepers used Wandoo Eucalyptus wandoo woodland at a significantly higher rate than predicted by the availability of this woodland type. Territory selection was positively correlated with the density of hollow bearing logs and nest sites, and tree age. These structural characteristics were also positively correlated with reproductive success und survival in treecreepers, indicating that habitat structure may be a useful measure of territory quality. Nest sites (hollows) were preferentially used if they had a spout angle of ≥ 50° and an entrance size or 5-10 cm, but nest-site selection was not related to nest success. The ecological traits of the treecreeper population living in the agricultural landscape differed from the population in the unfragmented area in a number of ways. Habitat fragmentation in the agricultural landscape disrupted territory contiguity with adverse consequences for social interaction. Nest success and annual productivity were significantly lower in the agricultural landscape, although they varied between different categories of habitat remnants. Reproductive success was lowest in grazed remnants supporting comparatively high population densities. Landscape differences in success did not appear to be a result of a disparity in nest predation levels, but may be related to variation in food availability and habitat quality. The spatial structure and dynamics of the subdivided population in the agricultural landscape were consistent with certain aspects of metapopulation theory. Treecreepers lived in spatially discrete local populations that were unlikely to persist without immigration owing to low reproductive and survival rates. However, movement between habitat remnants appeared to be sufficient to rescue these local populations from extinction. Although declining in numbers during the study, the subdivided population in the agricultural landscape appeared to be fluctuating around equilibrium owing to immigration from outside the study area. The consequences of habitat fragmentation for the Rufous Treecreeper are complex and interactive. A reduction in habitat area and an increase in remnant isolation disrupts the social organisation of the species and results in small localised populations that are susceptible to extinction. Modification of the remaining vegetation may reduce habitat quality leading to poor reproductive success. In addition to increasing habitat area and maintaining landscape connectivity, future management of fragmented landscapes must focus on improving the quality of remnant vegetation by removing degrading process and ensuring the recruitment of endemic plant species.

The breeding ecology, social organization and communicatory behaviour of the brown creeper (Finschia novaeseelandiae) were studied. Brown creepers lay large eggs, young develop slowly and incubation and nestling periods are long. Mortality in adults is low but high in juveniles. I suggest that the species' breeding strategy is an adaptation to the mild coastal climate of New Zealand. Members of breeding pairs remain together and defend territories throughout the winter. Juveniles form sibling flocks and this association of close relatives may help explain winter mobbing behaviour in the species. The communicatory repertoire consists of 19 vocal and seven visual displays each of which encode several messages. Graded vocal sequences are also used; conceivably because most interactions between conspecifics take place at close range. Three stages in song ontogeny are described. Young males learn song from neighbours they interact with, not fathers. Eight song dialects were studied. The historical model best explains the origin of brown creeper dialects, whereas Payne's (1981) social adaptation hypothesis accounts for the formation and adaptive significance of subdialects. When local and foreign dialects differed markedly, males responded more strongly to the local theme. Similar dialects received equal responses. The lower responses to a foreign dialect may be due to its dissimilarity to the local song. Responses were greater to the songs of strangers than to neighbours. Kowhai Bush males neighbouring a male transferred from Lake Rotorua reacted more strongly to song playback from the transferred bird than did non-neighbours. The results suggest associative learning is important in brown creeper neighbour/stranger discrimination. An unusual vocal display (unison singing) in which two interacting males temporally overlap their songs is described. A unison singing male changes his singing pattern to that of another; such adjustments appear to allow males to define territorial boundaries.

In 2011, a team of senior engineering students at Utah State University, in connection with the university’s Center for Persons with Disabilities, designed and prototyped an assistive technician creeper. Building on successful features and resolving issues discovered in design validation testing of the initial prototype, this thesis includes the refined development of a fully assistive technician creeper with emphasis on improvement of kinematic functionality, overall manufacturability, and integration of system safety features. The final design solution is a creeper that transforms a user bi-directionally between the seated position, and a maneuverable supine position, while requiring only simple manual actuation. New design requirements were established including specifications for user height, weight, and body mass distribution, driven by census and medical data suitable for 95% of individuals. Using 3D modeling software, an iterative design approach was used in conjunction with kinematic, and structural analyses, to generate an improved feature set that can be easily manufactured and assembled. Of particular interest is the modification to the kinematic system, which produces multiple single-degree-of-freedom kinematic motions from a single multi-degree-of-freedom kinematic mechanism. This promotes the use of a single motor to produce separate motions for adjusting upper body inclination, and raising the seat surface. The revised design adheres to principles of design for manufacturability and assembly, by using common economical manufacturing processes, minimizing part asymmetry and maximizing part reuse. Employment of engineering analyses, including kinematic, finite element, and failure modes and effects analyses quantified design validation and risk mitigation. Static force analysis and computations of fatigue and life expectancy of critical components supplement the analysis set. Analysis suggests all structural components were designed to meet a safety factor of 3.0 or better. This combined with the addition of safety features and system protection redundancies provide confidence in structural integrity and system reliability. This creeper will contribute to the world of assistive technologies by providing new mobility opportunities, improving the quality of life of individuals with certain physical disabilities. It is also well suited for users of all abilities and has potential to become a premium creeper for professionals.

This thesis examines anonymity online by analyzing the Japanese story “Densha Otoko” in the context of its locus of origin, the online forum 2channel. I argue that the collaborative value of the Densha Otoko narrative hinges on the technological infrastructure provided by its host forum. This infrastructure not only arises from specific technology developments, but also in turn emphasizes freedom of expression over identification. Focusing on the values linked to, and socialities engendered by anonymity in computer-mediated communication, I argue that: First, anonymity is popularly viewed as creating negative results for society at large, as expressed in public opinion of 2ch in general. However, anonymity can also be portrayed as having positive results for individuals, for example in the Densha Otoko narrative specifically. Secondly, anonymity on 2channel – in conjunction with other infrastructural aspects – facilitates ‘individual’ expression and creates a locus for freedom of speech via the elimination of personal identification. Finally, anonymity, in this case study, engenders sociality by drawing on notions of security and privacy.

This thesis reports on research that examines the early stage invasion process of Asparagus asparagoides (L.) W. Wight (bridal creeper), primarily a bird-dispersed weed, in a remnant vegetation patch. The study site is on Phillip Island, approximately 100 kilometres south east of Melbourne, Victoria. Asparagus asparagoides invasion of the remnant vegetation reserve is a relatively recent phenomenon. Landscape elements that affect bird dispersal and vegetation types that affect seedling establishment may be important factors that limit or enhance the spread of A. asparagoides. A systematic sampling strategy was adopted and data collected for a variety of landscape and vegetative variables including cover and abundance of A. asparagoides and the data were presented in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Preliminary results show that the distribution of A. asparagoides within a remnant vegetation patch is not random. It appears to have entered the reserve from two boundaries, spreading toward the centre, which to date remains sparsely colonised despite the capacity of this weed to spread rapidly over long distances by birds. A number of other outcomes are noted. Asparagus asparagoides establishment is prevented in pasture where sheep and cattle graze, and paddocks subjected to tillage practices. The exclusion of grazing in fenced off vegetation in pastures demonstrates rapid weed establishment and colonisation several hundred metres from main infestation. Field observation and visual inspection of temporal progress of invasion (using above ground weed density with tuber appearance to infer age) appear to suggest that invasion into remnant is associated with the track network. This age/density assumption is strengthened when spatial distribution is examined using a data set where low-density values for A. asparagoides are removed and compared with a data set using all A. asparagoides density values. The mapping of A. asparagoides in fenced off farm remnants suggests that velocity of spread at 191m/yr is a considerable underestimate. Subsequent analysis shows that the spatial distribution of A. asparagoides is not completely spatially random while intensity surface analysis highlights regions of low and high intensity located near track network. Mapping a density surface within GIS provided confirmatory evidence for the establishment of satellite clusters along the track network. The change in the intensity surface observed using the two data sets (lowdensity values and all density values) is also consistent with an expanding invasion occurring between two time periods. Spatial point pattern analysis using K-function statistics shows that xxii the clustering observed using GIS appears to be occurring at two scales or distances (130m- 160m and 195m-205m). The association between tracks and the invasion process observed in the initial stages of the study is examined. There is a change in density as a function of distance from a track where the density of A. asparagoides appears to reduce the further away from the track a site is and this relationship holds regardless of track width. The final stages of the study look at the development of a predictive model. Visual exploration of the data through mapping in a GIS and field observation made during data collection provide the starting point for the development of logistic models to estimate the probability of A. asparagoides presence. Finally the best overall logistic model is applied to a second independent site to determine the general applicability of the model. A number of variables that impact on the presence of A. asparagoides, particularly during the initial stages of the invasion process, are identified. While all the identified variables and the overall model are statistically significant, the model is found to correctly predict presence/absence in only 67% of cases overall. The model however could be expected to correctly predict the presence of A. asparagoides in 74% of cases and has a false positive rate of 40%. The model is applied at a second independent site and found to have an overall percent correct rate of 80% and correctly predicted A. asparagoides presence in 94% of cases. The variables identified as influential in the early stage of invasion are relatively easy to acquire by simple field survey that does not require specialist skills. When considering the model as a tool for the management of remnant vegetation communities, high false positive rates may lead to limited resources being spent on searching sites where there is no weed. However, a high false negative rate would have a larger impact on the management of the weed since the undetected infestations would form sources for new propagules. The model performs well from this point of view in that it provided low false negative rates at both sites. The value of the predictive model is its ability to provide managers with information regarding specific areas to target for weed eradication and management can use the model to assess the effectiveness of any control measures by going back to obtain new cover density data, then using the model to examine the changes over time. The model also provides a starting point for the development of a generic model of A. asparagoides invasion at sites outside of Phillip Island and could also provide the starting point for developing models that could be used for other bird-dispersed fleshy-fruited weed species.

The primary goal of the research project was to organize a community needs assessment, which culminated in a report attached in the appendix. Data from sixteen interviews with community leaders involved in mental health promotion throughout Dallas County, Texas was used as the foundation of the professional report. This data revealed several key barriers faced by those with mental illness in their ability to access mental health services in Dallas County. The information gathered prompted further exploration into the intersection between public transit and mental health. Transit became the focus of this work when it came up as simultaneously a barrier to care and mode of prevention in the majority of the interviews. Interestingly, Dallas County has public plans to address transit related disparities; however, their intervention pulls from strategies determined to be ineffectual among the poor and disenfranchised. In this work we explore community needs and the civic culture of Dallas with a specific focus on transportation.

This thesis is a comparative study of two distinct forms ('long pod' and 'short pod') of an invasive vine, cat’s claw creeper. The two forms have differing prevalence rates in Australia. The thesis examines important plant traits that could explain this variation in prevalence between the forms. The thesis covers seed biology, anatomical and growth traits, together with physiological traits in response to two levels of light, water and nutrients resources. In addition, the study assesses preferences of two bio-agents (insects) against the two forms of cat’s claw creeper to ascertain bio-control efficacy. This is because in Australia, the same insects are used to control both forms. The outcome of the study is a prospectus of traits that help explain why the short pod form is more widespread than the long pod form. Short pod possesses many of the traits that are associated with fast growing plants that easily colonize habitats. Generally, insects feed and lay eggs on both forms.

碩士
國立臺北藝術大學
美術學系碩士在職專班
104
Abstract “Creepers” found in nature serve as the main theme of my creative discourse. A creeper is typically seen as a very ordinary class of plants. But, for me, they can wake up deep childhood memories of natural scenery, drawing out a wealth of emotions. Along with family, friends, and love, they also serve as a source of creative inspiration. Creepers and people share in common a life that begins and ends. All things continuously undergo a state of development along the “flow of time.” People undergo the process of “birth, aging, sickness, and death,” while creepers experience a similar process of “growing, living, withering, and emptiness.” With the four phenomena of “birth, life, separation, and extinguishment,” I express this kind of constantly changing process. The perception of the living and diminishing creeper and my own emotions are united into one. Then, through the expression of concepts, thoughts, and ideas behind ink art, as well as its creative principles and techniques, a type of symbolic style for creepers is found in the process of creative research. The following is an overview of the chapters of this discourse: Chapter 1 - Introduction - Research motivation, scope, and method. Chapter 2 - Creative Principles - The flow of time and the changeability of creepers. The works of “Flow of time” and “Creepers”. Chapter 3 - Symbol Transformation. The symbols behind “creepers” and the transformation of “creepers” during the four seasons. Chapter 4 - Artwork Analysis and Expressive Techniques Chapter 5 - Conclusion - I have found a personal method of expression in my creations, and this artistic exploration led to more diversity in future creations.

碩士
佛光人文社會學院
資訊學研究所
90
Abstract National health insurance was initiated in 1995 to provide nation-wide health insurance coverage in Taiwan. “Case payment” is the scheme to administrate healthcare spending fairly by a way that payments for certain diseases are established based on predetermined amounts regardless how many services are provided. In the near future, the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan is planning to adopt Diagnostic Related Groups/Prospective Payment System (DRG/PPS), a more concrete payment system that is implemented in the United States currently, to gain control of inpatient healthcare expenditures in Taiwanese healthcare system at all levels of hospitals. However, according to several researches in the United States, it is found that the number of healthcare frauds from inappropriate ICD-9-CM coding has increased since Medicare had applied DRG/PPS in 1983. These healthcare frauds have not only impact on the fairness of healthcare services reimbursement, but also deeply cut down benefits of DRG/PPS in cost control. In this research, the idea of integrating soft computing technologies to build intelligent detecting systems for identifying healthcare fraud or DRG creeps automatically is implemented. Soft computing techniques for rule extraction such as artificial neural networks, fuzzy theory and genetic algorithm are adopted as intelligent mechanisms for automatically detect the abnormal relationships among service codes of the National Health Insurance, codes of ICD-9-CM, and their claimed fees. Two hybrid intelligent systems are proposed in this research, the first one is the Fuzzy-Genetic Neural Network Model (FGNM) and the second one is the Genetic-Fuzzy Expert System (GFES). The data we used is from the NHI Database, which is developed by the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI). We take Appendectomy case payment as the implementation example, and use those cases collected in the time period from 1998 to 2000. For the purpose of correctly classifying the DRG type of certain patients, the performance on the FGNM is 89.49% and the GFES is 83.6%. These results indicate that both of the proposed systems have improved performance than systems that purely based on artificial neural networks and on fuzzy expert systems.

碩士
佛光人文社會學院
資訊學研究所
91
Abstract In order to control the growing costs of healthcare spending, The Bureau of National Health Insurance is implements the Global Budget Payment system to be the standard of health insurance fees. “Global Budget Payment” is the system to administrate healthcare spending fairly. Payments for certain diseases will be established based on predetermined amounts regardless how many services are provided. It’s also called Diagnostic Related Groups/Prospective Payment System (DRG/PPS). We hope it could limit the healthcare institutions to create the healthcare service. However, according to the experiences of Case Payment that is the temporary payment of DRG and the several researches in the United States, it is found that the number of healthcare frauds from inappropriate ICD-9-CM coding has increased since Medicare had applied DRG/PPS. It has almost gained the higher healthcare payment. These healthcare frauds have not only impacted on the fairness of healthcare services reimbursement, but also deeply cut down benefits of DRG/PPS in cost control. In this research, the idea of integrating soft computing technologies to build an intelligent detecting system for identifying healthcare fraud or DRG creeps automatically is implemented. Two hybrid Soft computing Models are proposed in this research as follows: (1) Hierarchical-Optimized-RBFN Fuzzy Decision System (HORF): to use simulated annealing and find out the best reference of the best radial basis function network and to use interval threshold decision model instead of the traditional one-value decision model; (2) Integrated-Genetic-Neural Fuzzy Classification Model (IGNF): to integrate three main technologies of Soft Computing Technology to build an intelligent Fuzzy Expert System. The two models are applied in diabetes and breast cancer data sets of Diagnostic Standard. It proved that it is practical. These results indicated that the proposed systems have improved performance than systems that purely based on artificial neural networks and fuzzy expert systems. The data we used is from the NHI Database, which is developed by the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI). We take Appendectomy case payment as the implementation example, and use those cases collected in the time period from 1998 to 2000. For the purpose of correctly classifying the DRG type of certain patients, we use the collected and analyzed database and two Hybrid Soft Computing System models. When there is 16.40% ~ 18.52% data samples judged manually, the average accuracy on the HORF is 89.49% and on the IGNF is 91.34%. These results indicate that both of the standard databases of medical diagnostics have improved performance more than systems that are previously based on artificial neural networks and fuzzy expert systems.

碩士
國立中央大學
應用地質研究所
95
The Hungtsaiping Landslide triggered by Chi-Chi earthquake covers an area of hundreds of hectors. The rock mass is covered by a thick colluvial that is as deep as 82m. To explore the sliding mechanisms, GPS, inclinometer and fiber optic displacement and water pressure sensing systems were used to monitor the status of the landslide. Among them, three piezometers installed in the interface of colluvial and bed rock automatically recorded lots of valuable data during July of 2005 to the end of 2006. Based on records of the pore pressure varied with rainfall, normal and abnormal responses were identified and discussed. The seasonal variation of pore pressure was less than 30 kPa. During the period of heavy rainfall, the variation of pore pressure was less than 5 kPa. Besides the normal response of pore pressure increased quickly after rainfall, abnormal response was observed which the pore pressure decreased during the period of heavy rainfall. In the same period of the pore pressure dropped suddenly, the surface and subsurface displacement was also observed. Accordingly, the decreasing of pore pressure could original from the dilation in the sliding surface which induced a negative excess pore pressure. The process of “rainfall - infiltration - water level raising – sliding – negative excess pore pressure develop” can be used to account for the the creep mechanism of Hungtsaiping Landslide.