Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Efficiency testing'

Efficiency as a term in software testing is, in the research community, a term that is not so well defined. In the industry, and specifically the test tool industry, it has become a sales pitch without meaning. GUI testing in its manual form is a time consuming task, which can be thought of as repetitive and tedious by testers. Using human testers to perform a task, where focus is hard to keep, often ends in defects going unnoticed. The purpose of this thesis is to collect knowledge on the area efficiency in software testing, but focusing more on efficiency in GUI testing in order to keep the scope focused. Part of the purpose is also to test the hypothesis that automated GUI testing is more efficient than traditional, manual GUI testing. In order to reach the purpose, the choice fell to use case study research as the main research method. Through the case study, a theoretical study was performed to gain knowledge on the subject. To gain data used for an analysis in the case study, the choice fell on using a semi-experimental research approach where one automated GUI testing technique called Capture & Replay was tested against a more traditional approach towards GUI testing. The results obtained throughout the case study gives a definition on efficiency in software testing, as well as three measurements on efficiency, those being defect detection, repeatability of test cases, and time spent with human interaction. The result also includes the findings from the semi-experimental research approach where the testing tools Squish, and TestComplete, where used beside a manual testing approach. The main conclusion deducted in this work is that an automated approach towards GUI testing can become more efficient than a manual approach, in the long run. This is when efficiency is determined on the points of defect detection, repeatability, and time.

This thesis tests the efficiency of the U.K. financial futures market, using data over the period from September 1982 to March 1985. In examining the efficiency of the U.K. financial futures market a number of significant contributions are made to the existing literature. First, efficiency is examined on a data set that has not been rigorously examined. Second, more comprehensive tests of efficiency are proposed within this thesis than are reported elsewhere in the literature. chapter one provides a summary and review of the issues examined in the thesis. A detailed explanation of what constitutes a financial futures contract is given in chapter two, which covers the operational and institutional aspects of financial futures markets. A comprehensive survey of the literature is presented in chapters three and four. Chapter three looks in detail at the early theory and discusses the theoretical issues that are relevant in terms of financial futures. Chapter four examines the empirical literature and issues involved in testing efficiency. Five hypotheses are proposed that a financial futures market should possess. These hypotheses are then used to test efficiency on the U.K. financial futures market in chapters five to eight. First, arbitrage opportunities should not exist between the futures market and the underlying cash or the corresponding forward market. Second, it should not be possible to develop profitable pricing rules on the basis of past prices. Third, assuming risk neutrality, futures rates should be unbiased predictions of the futures rate at the maturity day of the contract. Fourth, news effects should explain any forecast errors that arise. Fifth, futures rates should incorporate all relevant information and hence exhibit variance. The rigorous examination of these different hypotheses finds that the U.K. financial futures market is efficient

Given the increasing complexity of systems and the cost associated with test and evaluation of aerospace systems, more efficient methods are sought. Randomized test designs for aviation developmental test activities and other complex systems may not enable safe test conduct and may be prohibitively costly from a financial or time point of view. This research reviews Design of Experiments (DoE) test design approaches applicable to aerospace prototype test and evaluation activities. It proposes the use of Split Plot Optimal Designs to leverage advantages of DoE while satisfying requirements for limited randomization of the test runs. Through the use of case studies, the Split Plot Optimal Design approach is demonstrated to provide a 58% cost and schedule savings versus a One Factor At a Time approach, and 53% savings from the fully randomized Central Composite Design, while maintaining relevant statistical power. Through the use of Monte Carlo data simulation, the designs are evaluated for application to linear and quadratic models, with statistically significant results measured by Chi Squared and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests.

This paper examines the efficiency of pricing in the NFL point spread betting market, as hypothesized by the Efficient Market Hypothesis, through both statistical and economic tests. This market provides a simpler framework to test such economic hypotheses than conventional financial markets. Using a larger sample size than past literature, this paper finds that while the market is efficient in the aggregate sense, there are still some profit opportunities which imply pricing inefficiencies.

This dissertation explores the adaptive market hypothesis (AMH) first proposed by Lo (2004) which incorporates the efficient market hypothesis (EMH) of Malkiel and Fama (1970) and its behavioural exceptions. The AMH differs from the EMH, in that it assumes that the efficiency level of a market can fluctuate over time, whereas the EMH does not. The original test of evolving efficiency (TEE) was developed by Emerson et al. (1997) and Zalewska-Mitura and Hall (1999) and has an underlying GARCH-M model. Later, the generalised test of evolving efficiency (GTEE) was developed by Kulikova and Talyor (in progress), which has an underlying stochastic GARCH-M model proposed by Hall (1991). In this dissertation, the stochastic volatility test of evolving efficiency (SV-TEE) is developed using an underlying Stochastic Volatility-in-Mean (SVM) model introduced by Koopman and Uspensky (2002). The QMLE technique introduced by Harvey (1989) and the classical and Extended Kalman Filter techniques are described so that the TEE, the GTEE and the SV-TEE can be calibrated together with the hidden volatility process estimation. The empirical study tests the adaptive efficiency of four markets - two developed (London Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange), a mature developing (Johannesburg Stock Exchange) and an immature developing (Nairobi Stock Exchange). The best-performing tests were selected for each market and it was observed that there were constant and adaptive efficiencies in the developed and mature developing markets, and constant inefficiency in the immature developing market. The SV-TEE was not selected as the best-performing test for any of the markets - possibly because the time period considered for each market was too short.

Because of high fuel costs and rising concern over controlling motor vehicle emissions, there has been a surge in the number of hybrid passenger vehicles on roads in recent years. This transition has not yet been seen with agricultural vehicles. With this in mind, this study created a test scheme to characterize and replicate agricultural loads, and design of a hybrid drivetrain that is suitable for agricultural purposes. Torque and power data were recorded from the controller area network of a tractor performing a baling operation. The recorded data was characterized using statistical and time series analyses, and converted into a simplified torque profile that could be run on a common type of dynamometer. The prototype series hybrid drivetrain was subjected to the simplified profile developed, and drivetrain efficiency was compared to the efficiency under constant load. The effect of battery pack, and engine size was also tested. On average, the prototype developed was not more efficient than a similarly sized standard geared vehicle, but there is significant room for further optimization.

The research of software testing and the practices of software testing in the industry are separated by gaps in some areas. One such gap regards Exploratory Testing (ET). ET is probably the most widely used software testing approach in the industry, yet it is lacking research and many of the manuals of software engineering either ignore or look down on it. In addition, ET has the absence of widespread methodology and teaching. Rapid Software Testing (RST) is a complete testing methodology attempting to integrate exploratory testing into the whole spectrum of testing. It has a different basis for testing than the traditional way of testing, which dominates the textbooks and the certifications. International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) has created the most successful scheme for certifying testers, having issued more than 470,000 testing certifications worldwide. For this thesis, experiments were performed using RST as a basis. The results were documented as separate bugs and they were reconstructed into ISTQB test cases, which would be required to detect the discovered bugs. These reconstructed test cases were analysed for determining factors affecting test case documentation effectiveness on finding bugs or particular tests benefitting from testing automation. Additionally, comparison was made in terms of time spent between the actual test process (RST testing) and the reconstruction of the test cases (ISTQB test design) to give indication of the required amount of time for each method. The testing phase of the experiments took 5 hours, while the reconstruction of the test cases took 4.5 hours. 33 % of the reconstructed test cases were identified to benefit considerably from test automation. In addition, three types of factors were identified, which have the potential to increase the amount of required test case documentation exponentially; external factors: test speed; platform factors: built-in browser functions and precision factors: level of detail for test cases
Ohjelmistotestauksen tutkimuksen ja käytännön ohjelmistotestauksen välillä on aukkoja joillakin toiminnan osa-alueilla. Yksi tällainen aukko koskee tutkivaa testausta. Tutkiva testaus on yksi käytetyimmistä lähestymistavoista ohjelmistotestauksen toimialan parissa. Tästä huolimatta, tutkivasta testauksesta on hyvin vähän tutkimusta ja monet ohjelmistotestauksen käsikirjat joko välttävät aiheen tyystin tai vähättelevät sitä. Lisäksi, tutkivasta testauksesta puuttuu laajalle levinnyt metodologia sekä koulutus. Rapid Software Testing (RST) on testausmetodologia pyrkimyksenään integroida tutkiva testaus osaksi testauksen koko kirjoa. Sillä on erilaiset lähtökohdat testaukselle kuin perinteisellä testauksella, joka vallitsee kirjallisuutta sekä testauksen sertifikaatteja. International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) on luonut menestyksekkäimmän järjestelmän ohjelmistotestaajien sertifioinnille. Sertifikaatteja on myönnetty yli 470,000 kappaletta. Tämän työn empiirisinä kokeina suoritettiin ohjelmistotestausta käyttäen RST-metodologiaa lähtökohtana. Lopputulokset dokumentoitiin ohjelmistovirheinä, jotka sitten rekonstruoitiin riittäviksi testitapauksiksi löytämään kyseiset ohjelmistovirheet. Nämä rekonstruoidut testitapaukset analysoitiin niiden tekijöiden määrittämiseksi, jotka vaikuttaisivat testitapausten dokumentaation tehokkuuteen ohjelmistovirheiden löytämiseksi. Lisäksi, testausautomaatiosta selkeästi hyötyvät testitapaukset eriteltiin myös. Käytetty aika testaukseen ja rekonstruoimiseen kirjattiin vertailua varten. Kokeiden suoritus kesti kokonaisuudessaan 9,5 tuntia, josta 5 tuntia kului testaukseen ja loput 4,5 tuntia löydettyjen ohjelmistovirheiden rekonstruoimiseen ISTQB-testitapauksiksi. 33% rekonstruoiduista testitapauksista tunnistettiin hyötyvän huomattavasti testausautomaatiosta. Lisäksi tunnistettiin kolme erityyppistä tekijää, joilla on potentiaalia lisätä testausdokumentaation määrää eksponentiaalisesti; ulkoiset tekijät: nopeus; alustan tekijät: selaimen toiminnot sekä tarkkuuden tekijät: testitapausten yksityiskohtaisuus

One of the central debates in finance concerns the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH)—wherein markets are assumed to be efficient in the absolute sense. However, the possibility of time-varying weak-form market efficiency has received increasing attention in recent years. Under the Adaptive Market Hypothesis (AMH) it is postulated that market efficiency is dynamic, which advocates using models with non-constant coefficients. The concept of evolving efficiency has yielded a Test for Evolving Efficiency (TEE) and following that, a Generalised Test for Evolving Efficiency (GTEE) – both with an associated Kalman filtering (KF) technique. Unfortunately, these methods assume that the inherent stochastic processes are Gaussian despite widespread evidence that many real financial time series are nonGaussian. Unlike the classical KF, modern filters such as the maximum correntropy Kalman filters (MCC-KF) have been shown to be less sensitive to non-Gaussian uncertainties. These filters utilise a similarity measure known as correntropy– which incorporates higher order information than the mean square criterion that is utilised in the classical KF. As a result, they have been shown to improve filter robustness against outliers or impulsive noises. In this paper, the South African and American stock markets are tested for adaptive market efficiency using both the standard KF and the MCC-KF. A simulation study shows that the MCC-KF is a more robust estimator of adaptive efficiency but it less accurately estimates unknown system parameters. The South African stock market is found to be inefficient prior to August 2004 but achieves efficiency thereafter. Testing the S&P500 does not provide evidence of inefficiency in the American stock markets. The GTEE, implemented with the MCC-KF, is selected as the bestperforming test for the S&P500.

In this thesis the production and filtration performance of electrospun nylon-4,6 nanofiber mats was experimentally studied. The average fiber diameter of nylon-4,6 fibers is controlled by altering the polymer concentration in solution. Adding small amount of pyridine to the electrospinning solution controlled fiber beading and other defects. These fibers were then deposited onto a wide variety of conductive and dielectric substrate materials. A corona ion source was used to eliminate surface charging effects observed at the surface of all substrates. The resulting fiber mats, uniform in size and distribution as verified by SEM imaging, are tested for filtration efficiency and pressure drop. A Figure of Merit (FOM) is calculated for each filter produced and compared to high-grade commercial filters.

Stock forecasting is a problem that is important in finance because it aids investors in financial decision making. According to the efficient market hypothesis stock markets are efficient in such a way that it's impossible to gain excess returns over the market by making decisions based on current available information. This paper evaluates the usage of machine learning algorithms and historical trading data for stock price prediction combined with investment strategies in order to test the efficient market hypothesis. The results show that none of the tested machine learning algorithms managed to gain excess returns over the market which confirms the efficient market hypothesis.

Test efficiency measures the cost-effectiveness of a test organisation and it is measured by dividing the number of defects found in a test by the effort needed to perform the test. This thesis project investigated whether the Mobile Positioning Centre (MPC) site at Ericsson AB could improve their test efficiency or not. The purpose of the project was to identify areas that could increase the test efficiency by investigating state of the art literature and evaluating the test process at MPC. The evaluation identified unit testing and debugging as the areas at MPC where the test efficiency could be increased the most. The project work resulted in an implementation proposal containing a number of actions that would increase the test efficiency at MPC. Primarily, the actions comprised an improved test tool environment; both enhancements for the existing tools and design suggestions for new test tools. The implementation proposal also included suggestions for how to integrate the test tool improvements with the organisation and processes at MPC.
Uppsatsen utvärderar testprocessen på en Ericsson site (the Mobile Positioning Centre).

The evolution of a software system originates from its changes, whether it comes from changed user needs or adaption to its current environment. These changes are as encouraged as they are inevitable, although every change to a software system comes with a risk of introducing an error or a bug. This thesis aimed to investigate the possibilities of using the description of bug reports as a decision basis for detecting the provenance of a bug by using machine learning. K-means and agglomerative clustering have been applied to free text documents by using Natural Language Processing to initially divide the investigated software system into sub parts. Topic labelling is further on performed on the found clusters to find suitable names and get an overall understanding for the clusters.Finally, it was investigated if it was possible to find which cluster that were more likely to cause a bug from certain clusters and should be tested more thoroughly. By evaluating a subset of known causes, it was found that possible direct connections could be found in 50% of the cases, while this number increased to 58% if the cause were attached to clusters.

An anguilliform swimming robot replicating an idealized motion is a complex marine vehicle necessitating both a theoretical and experimental analysis to completely understand its propulsion characteristics. The ideal anguilliform motion within is theorized to produce ``wakeless'' swimming (Vorus, 2011), a reactive swimming technique that produces thrust by accelerations of the added mass in the vicinity of the body. The net circulation for the unsteady motion is theorized to be eliminated. The robot was designed to replicate the desired, theoretical motion by applying control theory methods. Independent joint control was used due to hardware limitations. The fluid velocity vectors in the propulsive wake downstream of the tethered, swimming robot were measured using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Simultaneously, a load cell measured the thrust (or drag) forces of the robot via a hydrodynamic tether. The measured field velocities and thrust forces were compared to the theoretical predictions for each. The desired, ideal motion was not replicated consistently during PIV testing, producing off-design scenarios. The thrust-computing method for the ideal motion was applied to the actual, recorded motion and compared to the load cell results. The theoretical field velocities were computed differently by accounting for shed vortices due to a different shape than ideal. The theoretical thrust shows trends similar to the measured thrust over time. Similarly promising comparisons are found between the theoretical and measured flow-field velocities with respect to qualitative trends and velocity magnitudes. The initial thrust coefficient prediction was deemed insufficient, and a new one was determined from an iterative process. The off-design cases shed flow structures into the downstream wake of the robot. The first is a residual disturbance of the shed boundary layer, which is to be expected for the ideal case, and dissipates within one motion cycle. The second are larger-order vortices that are being shed at two distinct times during a half-cycle. These qualitative and quantitative comparisons were used to confirm the possibility of the original hypothesis of ``wakeless'' swimming. While the ideal motion could not be tested consistently, the results of the off-design cases agree significantly with the adjusted theoretical computations. This shows that the boundary conditions derived from slender-body constraints and the assumptions of ideal flow theory are sufficient enough to predict the propulsion characteristics of an anguilliform robot undergoing this specific motion.

Livestock guarding dogs (LSGDs) have been used for centuries to reduce depredation on livestock and more recently, to facilitate the conservation of threatened predator species. Conservation NGOs (non-government organisations) in southern Africa promote the use of Anatolian Shepherds as LSGDs. However, livestock farmers in Botswana have been using a variety of different breeds for this purpose, including the local mixed-breed “Tswana” dogs. Postal, telephonic and face-to-face interview questionnaires were administered to 108 livestock farmers in Botswana to gauge how their LSGDs were being used, in order to determine what factors contributed to the success and affordability of these dogs. Eighty-three percent of farmers had LSGDs which equaled or decreased livestock depredations on their farms, with an average reduction in livestock depredation of 75% per year. This equated to an average saving of US$2,017 annually per farm. The costs of purchasing (average US$27) and maintaining the 198 LSGDs in my study (average US$169/LSGD/year) were very low compared to other countries and helped contribute to the high profits obtained by farmers (average US$1,497/farm or US$789/LSGD). A unique investigation of different breeds was possible due to the diverse array of breeds in the sample (Anatolian Shepherds, Cross Breeds, Tswana dogs, Greyhounds and Pitbulls), with the crossbreed dogs (Crosses and Tswana LSGDs) performing the best. LSGDs that reduced depredation and had minimal behavioural problems were the most likely to incite positive changes in their owners in regards to attitudes towards predators. Sixtysix percent of farmers stated that they were more tolerant of predators since obtaining a LSGD, and 51% reported that they were less likely to kill predators since obtaining a LSGD. My results indicate that successful, well-behaved LSGDs are a cost-effective tool that has the ability to increase farm productivity and improve predator-farmer conflicts in Botswana. The methods recommended in my thesis, in particular the benefits of using local breeds of dog as LSGDs, can be implemented on farming practices the world over to assist farming productivity and to promote conservation efforts.

Context: The thesis is the analysis work of the replication of software experiment conducted by Natalia and Sira at Technical University of Madrid, SPAIN. The empirical study was conducted for the verification and validation of experimental data, and to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the testing techniques. The analysis blocks, considered for the analysis were observable fault, failure visibility and observed faults. The statistical data analysis involved the ANOVA and Classification package of SPSS. Objective: To evaluate and compare the result obtained from the statistical data analysis. To establish the verification and validation of effectiveness and efficiency of testing techniques by using ANOVA and Classification tree analysis for percentage subject, percentage defect-subject and values (Yes / No) for each of the blocks. RQ1: Empirical evaluation of effectiveness of fault detection testing technique, using data analysis (ANOVA and Classification tree package). For the blocks (observable fault, failure visibility and observed faults) using ANOVA and Classification tree. RQ2: Empirical evaluation of efficiency of fault detection technique, based on time and number of test cases using ANOVA. RQ3: Comparison and inference of the obtained results for both effectiveness and efficiency. Method:The research will be focused on the statistical data analysis to empirically evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the fault detection technique for the experimental data collected at UPM (Technical university of Madrid, SPAIN). Empirical Strategy Used: Software Experiment. Results: Based on the planned research work. The analysis result obtained for the observable fault types were standardized (Ch5). Within the observable fault block, both the techniques, functional and structural were equally effective. In the failure visibility block, the results were partially standardized. The program types nametbl and ntree were equally effective in fault detection than cmdline. The result for observed fault block was partially standardized and diverse. The list for significant factors in this blocks were program types, fault types and techniques. In the efficiency block, the subject took less time in isolating the fault in the program type cmdline. Also the efficiency in fault detection was seen in cmdline with the help of generated test cases. Conclusion:This research will help the practitioners in the industry and academic in understanding the factors influencing the effectiveness and efficiency of testing techniques.This work also presents a comprehensive analysis and comparison of results of the blocks observable fault, failure visibility and observed faults. We discuss the factors influencing the efficiency of the fault detection techniques.
shailendra.natraj@gmail.com +4917671952062

Binomial group testing has been long recognized as an efficient method of estimating proportion of subjects with a specific characteristic. The method is superior to the classic maximum likelihood estimator (MLE), particularly when the proportion is small. Under the group testing model, we assume the testing is conducted without error. In the present research, a new Bayes estimator will be proposed that utilizes an additional piece of information, the proportion to be estimated is small and within a given range. It is observed that with the appropriate choice of the hyper-parameter our new Bayes estimator has smaller mean squared error (MSE) than the classic MLE, Burrows estimator, and the existing Bayes estimator. Furthermore, on the basis of heavy Monte Carlo simulation we have determined the best hyper-parameters in the sense that the corresponding new Bayes estimator has the smallest MSE. A table of these best hyper-parameters is made for proportions within the considered range.

None of today’s large scale systems could function without the reliable availability of a varied range of network communications capabilities. Whilst software, hardware and communications technologies have been advancing throughout the past two decades, the methods commonly used by industry for testing large scale systems which incorporate critical communications interfaces have not kept pace. This thesis argues for the need for a specifically tailored framework to achieve effective testing of communications-critical large scale systems (CCLSS). The thesis initially discusses how generic test approaches are leading to inefficient and costly test activities in industry. The thesis then presents the form and features of an alternative CCLSS domain-specific test framework, develops its ideas further into a detailed and structured test approach for one of its layers, and then provides a detailed example of how this framework can be applied using a real-life case study. The thesis concludes with a qualitative as well a simulation-based evaluation of the framework’s benefits observed during the case study and an evaluation by expert external participants considering whether similar benefits can be realised if the framework is adopted for the testing of other comparable systems. Requirements data from a second CCLSS is included in the evaluation by external participants as a second smaller case study.

The aim of this PhD research was to develop a generic optimisation method for Pelton turbine runners and assess the key design parameters using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This optimisation was applied on a modern commercial Pelton turbine runner taken as a base design. The design together with the field knowledge and experience was provided by a turbine manufacturing company Gilbert Gilkes and Gordon Ltd. to establish the state of the art starting point. The work described in this thesis can be divided into three main parts: 1) developing of numerical modelling technique by combining current commercial CFD models with engineering assumptions to produce results of acceptable accuracy within reasonable timescales and verifying this technique, 2) optimising the Pelton runner provided by Gilkes to produce better efficiency and simplify its design, 3) manufacturing of original and optimised design model runners and experimentally testing them. The numerical techniques created during part 1) included many numerical and physical assumptions to simplify the problem. This was necessary because accurate modelling of impulse turbines (Pelton in this case) that include complex phenomena like free surface flow, multi fluid interaction, rotating frame of reference and unsteady time dependent flow is a challenge from a computational cost point of view. These simplifications included the usage of symmetry plane and modelling of only two consecutive buckets to reduce the size of the computational domain. Casing and any backsplash effects were not modelled at all expecting that a runner with higher hydraulic efficiency would reduce these effects since the remaining energy in the water that leaves the bucket would be reduced. For domain discretisation it was decided to use two types of mesh sizing. Fine mesh simulation was mesh independent but the required time to solve was still unfeasible for parametric optimisation. Therefore, this fine mesh sizing was used only at the key points to verify the design changes. Coarse mesh simulation was not mesh independent but reduced the timescale by the factor of 5; therefore, making it possible to acquire the results within a reasonable timescale. It was observed that the coarse meshes slightly underpredict the efficiency as compared to the fine mesh simulations. However, it was assumed that this underprediction is going to be constant when comparing small changes in geometry. Based on this assumption the coarse mesh simulations were chosen for design optimisation. In part 2) some of the design parameters were expected to be interrelated and therefore were grouped together and analysed using Design of Experiments technique, some of the parameters were assumed to have low relation to other parameters and were analysed individually. In the end, CFD was predicting a 2.5 % increase of the original efficiency. Moreover, a reduction in the amount of buckets to 15 (originally the runner contained 18 buckets) was investigated and provided some promising results. This reduction can be very beneficial from the manufacturing complexity and cost point of view. In part 3) which was the final stage, three model runners were manufactured and experimentally tested in the Laboratory of Hydraulic Turbomachines at the National Technical University of Athens. It was decided to manufacture the original runner, the runner that contains 18 optimised buckets and the runner that contains 15 optimised buckets. The experimental results confirmed the increase in the efficiency and proved this optimisation technique to be valid.

Product development requires that engineers have the ability to predict product performance. When product performance involves complex physics and natural phenomena, mathematical models are often insufficient to provide accurate predictions. Engineering companies compensate for this deficiency by testing prototypes to obtain empirical data that can be used in place of predictive models. The purpose of this work is to provide techniques and methods for efficient use of empirical methods in product development processes. Empirical methods involve the design and creation of prototype hardware and the testing of that hardware in controlled environments. Empirical methods represent a complete product development sub-cycle within the overall product development process. Empirical product development cycles can be expensive in both time and resources. Global economic pressures have caused companies to focus on improving the productivity of their product development cycles. A variety of techniques for improving the productivity of product development processes have been developed. These methods focus on structuring process steps and product artifacts for reuse and efficiency. However these methods have, to this point, largely ignored the product development sub-cycle of empirical design. The same techniques used on the overall product development processes can and should be applied to the empirical product development sub-cycle. This thesis focuses on applying methods of efficient and reusable product development processes on the empirical development sub-cycle. It also identifies how to efficiently link the empirical product development sub-cycle into the overall product development process. Specifically, empirical product development sub-cycles can be characterized by their purposes into three specific types: first, obtaining data for predictive model coefficients, boundary conditions and driving functions; second, validating an existing predictive model; and third, to provide the basis for predictions using interpolation and extrapolation of the empirical data when a predictive model does not exist. These three types of sub-cycles are structured as reusable processes in a standard form that can be used generally in product development. The roles of these three types of sub-cycles in the overall product development process are also established and the linkages defined. Finally, the techniques and methods provided for improving the efficiency of empirical methods in product development processes are demonstrated in a form that shows their benefits.

Mobile devices have evolved rapidly in recent years and increased usage and performance are pushing contemporary battery technology to its limits. The constrained battery resources mean that the importance of energy-efficient application design is growing and in this regard wireless network accesses are a major contributor to a mobile device's overall energy consumption. Additionally, the energy consumption characteristics of modern cellular technologies make small volumes of poorly scheduled traffic account for a substantial share of a device's total energy consumption. However, quantifying the communication energy footprint is cumbersome, making it difficult for developers to profile applications from an energy consumption perspective and optimize traffic patterns. This thesis examines the traffic patterns of the Android client of the popular multimedia streaming service Spotify with the intention to reduce its energy footprint, in terms of 3G energy consumption. The application's automated test environment is extended to capture network traffic, which is used to estimate energy consumption. Automated system tests are designed and executed on a physical Android device connected to a 3G network, shedding light on the traffic patterns of different application features. All traffic between the Spotify client application and the backend servers is encrypted. To extract information about the traffic, the application code is instrumented to output supplementary information to the Android system log. The system log is then used as a source of information to attribute data traffic to different application modules and specific lines of code. Two simple traffic shaping techniques, traffic aggregation and piggybacking, are implemented in the application to provide more energy-efficient traffic patterns. As a result, 3G energy consumption during normal music playback is reduced by 22-54%, and a more contrived scenario achieves a 60% reduction. The reductions are attained by rescheduling a small class of messages, most notably data tracking application usage. These messages were found to account for a small fraction of total traffic volume, but a large portion of the application's overall 3G energy consumption.

Speech-language pathologists are routinely called upon to make professional assessments concerning a speaker's level of intelligibility. The use of subjective judgement procedures for estimating a percentage of intelligibility is the general practice of many speech-language pathologists because they require minimal time. Although efficient, these methods lack any form of numerical support, and their validity and reliability is questionable. The standard within the field that provides data support is the orthographic transcription method, but it is considered to be too time-consuming for practical application (Samar & Metz, 1988). Researchers continue to seek a measure that is both valid and efficient to be used clinically. The purpose of this study was to establish validity of a check-slash transcription method used to provide objective numerical support for assigning percentage of intelligibility for individuals with moderate speech impairments. The study sought to answer the following questions: 1) Is the check-slash method of transcription a valid measure for quantifying percentage of intelligibility? 2) Is the check-slash method a more time-efficient procedure than the orthographic transcription method? The subjects for this study were 20 graduate students from Portland State University, that were randomly assigned to two transcription groups (check-slash or orthographic}. Each listener transcribed 12 samples taken from 2 girls and 10 boys between the ages of 4:1 and 5:6 with a moderate degree of phonological deficiency. The data were analyzed using individual Mann-Whitney U Tests for each of the 12 samples. Results indicated no significant difference between the check-slash and orthographic transcription methods when used to assign a percentage of intelligibility to individuals with a moderate speech deficit. Although no significant difference was found, interrater reliability for both methods was low. This study established efficiency for the check-slash transcription method when compared to the orthographic method. Increased efficiency for the check-slash method ranged from 38% to 54% over the orthographic method. Results may also indicate that listener perception may influence each clinician's ability to be accurate in their assessments.

Three empirical studies are conducted examining the efficiency of S&P 500 futures prices and the pricing of these futures contracts. In the first study, the ability of futures prices to predict the realized spot S&P 500 index prices on the expiration date is examined for near term contracts. The futures prices are found to be unbiased predictors of the realized spot index prices for the nineteen quarterly contracts from 1982 to 1986. Previous studies report significant deviations in S&P SOO futures prices from theoretically determined Cost of Carry Model (CCM) prices. In the second study, it is found that the CCM using the federal funds rate, a proxy for the overnight repurchase rate, provides relatively better estimates of the S&P S(x) futures prices over the 1984-1986 period. The futures mispricing also reflects the weekend effect anomaly: futures prices are "over-priced" relative to CCM prices on Mondays, whereas the opposite occurs on Fridays. The futures over-pricing (under-pricing) is characterized by "bull" ("bear") financial markets and the extent of price changes are relatively greater in the futures market. The futures under-pricing is supported by strong future market volume and open-interest positions. The basis and changes in it over the futures contract period are measures of how well integrated the futures market and the underlying spot market are. In the third study, based on daily closing prices for the S&P 500 index and index futures for the 1984-1986 period, it is found that the basis decreases over the contract period but the rate of decrease is independent of the time to expiration. The change in basis on Mondays is generally positive which also reflects the weekend effect anomaly. The daily basis is negative on 107 days, which generally occurs during strong futures market trading volume and open interest positions. It is doubtful whether the negative basis can be attributed to a negative net financing cost, where the dividend yield 0.1 the spot index exceeds the cost of financing the spot index forward.

Magister Commercii - MCom
This research attempts to discover whether the Adaptive Market Hypothesis theory is applicable in the South African financial market and explores the innovation and cyclical profitability implications of the Adaptive Market Hypothesis theory. This is achieved in two parts: first by determining if returns follow a random walk or not and second by analysing the consistency of technical and fundamental factors to explain the cross-section of equity returns between 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2017. The tests of stock return dependency include a total of five tests on the average monthly returns for each stock in the ALSI covering normality and random walk theory for the duration of the two sub-periods and entire examination period.

Biomass cookstoves are a significant source of various pollutants, such as CO2, CO, and particulate matter (PM). To mitigate the issues surrounding cookstoves, significant research has been undertaken on improved cookstoves (ICS). This research can be performed in a laboratory setting, in the field, or a combination of both. This work concentrates on the purely laboratory testing. Laboratory testing has both advantages and disadvantages when compared to field testing (e.g. decreased cost and increased consistency). However, field applications are variable, environments can be significantly different (for example wind and ambient temperature can be very different in the field vs. a controlled lab environment) and the personal preferences of the users of the cookstove can also be difficult to predict when only using laboratory testing. It is typically preferable to narrow down the possible cookstove choices by using laboratory results before heading to the field. This work concentrated on assessing the limitations of laboratory testing of cookstoves as presently constituted, as well as finding new ways to improve and expand upon the testing methodologies. Sources of error during testing was considered, leading to recommendations on how to adjust testing to decrease that error. Of note, it was found that higher thermal efficiencies led to increased propagated errors, which complicates the comparison of this efficiency among cookstoves. Additionally, a method for estimating the transient thermal efficiency was developed. Further, the effects of changing some of the key testing parameters were explored and the results showed that the overall thermal efficiency was minimally affected by parameter variations within the WBT or ISO 19867-1 guidelines. Finally, two methods were explored and compared for finding kinetic parameters associated with transforming food from the uncooked state to the cooked state. It was found that physical testing was more effective for samples that started in a harder physical state, whereas DSC testing was more effective with samples that had lower water content. This analysis was done with the intention of using transformation kinetics in future applications of cookstove models so that researchers could gain additional insights into which stoves may be best for their target market.

Context: Software testing is an integral part of software development life cycle. To improve the quality of software there are different testing approaches practiced over the years. Traditionally software testing is carried out by following approach focusing on prior test design. While exploratory testing is an approach to test software where the tester does not require to follow a specific test design. But rather, exploratory testing should facilitate the tester in testing the complete system comprehensively. Exploratory testing is seen by some, as a way to conduct simultaneous learning, test design and execution of tests simultaneously. While others point to exploratory testing enabling constant evolution of tests in an easy manner. Objectives: In this study we have investigated the field of exploratory testing in literature and industry to understand its perception and application. Further among the stated claims by practitioners, we selected defect detection efficiency and effectiveness claim for empirical validation through an experiment and survey. Methods: In this study, a systematic literature review, interview, experiment and survey are conducted. In the systematic review a number of article sources are used, including IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, Engineering village, Springer Link, Google Scholar and Books database. The systematic review also includes the gray literature published by the practitioners. The selection of studies was done using two-phase and tollgate approach. A total of 47 references were selected as primary studies. Eight semi-structures interviews were conducted with industry practitioners. Experiment had total 4 iterations and 70 subjects. The subjects were selected from industry and academia. The experimental design used was one factor with two interventions and one response variable. Results: Based on our findings from literature review and interviews, the understanding of exploratory testing has improved over the period but still lacks empirical investigation. The results drawn from experimental and survey data shows that exploratory testing proved effective and efficient in finding more critical bugs in limited time. Conclusions: We conclude that exploratory testing has a lot of potential and much more to offer to testing industry. But more empirical investigation and true facts and figures are required to motivate the testing industry to adapt it. We have reported a number of advantages, disadvantages, challenges and factors in this study. We further investigated the claims stated by the ET practitioners through an experiment and survey. The statistical tests were conducted on the collected data to draw meaningful results. We found statistical significance difference in number of true defects found. Using exploratory testing approach testers found far more defects than test case based testing. Although, there was no statistical significance difference between the two approaches for false defects.
Slutsatser: Vi anser att det experimentella tester har stor potential och mycket mer att erbjuda testning industrin. Men mer empirisk undersökning och sann fakta och siffror är skyldiga att motivera testning industrin att anpassa den. Vi har rapporterat en rad fördelar, nackdelar, utmaningar och faktorer i denna studie. Vi undersökte vidare fordringar anges av ET utövare genom ett experiment och undersökning. De statistiska test genomfördes på insamlade data för att dra meningsfulla resultat. Vi fann statistisk signifikans skillnaden i antalet sann fel som upptäcks. Använda utforskande testning strategi testare fann långt fler fel än testfall baserat testning. Även om det inte fanns någon statistisk signifikans skillnad mellan de två synsätten för falska defekter.
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The main purpose of this research project was to do a comparative study, by identifying a testing methodology for transient conditions, through which to allow the expression of the relative thermal performance of two DSWH collectors in comparison. The study started off by considering literature about Solar Domestic Water Heaters and National Standards-based test methods, most of which were for Steady State testing conditions. Thereafter establishing a testing methodology and setup, identifying factors to be considered. The results were analyzed and conclusions drawn. The hypothesis was to allow the reduction in the complexity of testing equipment and methods, and by doing transient condition testing and still utilizing the Hottel-Whillier-Bliss relationship as a way of expressing efficiency, the hypothesis was proven.

The need for performance testing is growing, and many companies are moving toward automated performance testing. Telia uses HP Performance Center for performance testing and wants to explore the market for new performance testing tools. The study compares two performance testing tools: HP Performance Center and BlazeMeter.The study is based on several criteria, which are cost, usability, functionality, efficiency and agile performance testing. The report contains information about the literature review that led to the creation of the framework and interview questions. The purpose of the report is to inform the reader about which tool has better usability, functionality, efficiency and costs and which tool can be used in agile performance testing.
Behovet för prestandatestning växer och många företag går också mot automatiserad prestandatestning. Telia använder i dagsläge Performance Center för prestandatestning, de vill utforska marknaden för nya prestanda testverktyg. Studien går ut från att utvärdera två perstanda testverktyg som är BlazeMeter och HP Performance Center. Studien mellan BlazeMeter och Performance Center byggs på flera kriterier som är kostnad, användbarhet, funktionalitet, effektivitet och agil prestanda testning. Rapporten innehåller information om litteraturstudien, hur ramverket skapas och intervju frågorna som baseras på ramverket. Syftet med rapporten är att ge läsaren information om vilket verktyg som har bättre användbarhet, funktionalitet, effektivitet och verktyget som kan användas i agil prestanda testning.

This study details the construction and performance testing of a mixed mode solar dryer using a combination of direct and indirect solar energy to dry food. One major benefit of this dryer design is its construction. It was simple to construct and was made with low cost materials, to make it feasible for use in developing countries. Previous research has identified several design factors that affect performance and efficiency: product loading density, number of trays, position of the absorber, and chimney type. Performance testing showed that chimney air speeds were not affected greatly by modifying the design aspects of the dryer, with only a small increase occurring when using a box-type chimney. Overall the temperatures were mostly dependent on irradiance, but using a collector-type chimney generally resulted in higher temperatures throughout the dryer. The RH change across the dehydrator was most affected by the number of trays, but the chimney type did have an effect on the RH right at the chimney exit. Efficiency testing showed that product loading density on the trays was tested at 40% and 60% capacity; there was no statistical difference observed for efficiency between the two levels. Our results show that the dryer was more efficient when using the maximum number of trays. The lowest position of the absorber (5 cm from the ground) was found to be most efficient. A box-type chimney was significantly more efficient than the collector-type chimney in this full factorial study.

Road fatalities related to marijuana intoxication have steadily increased over the last 10 years (Drummer, 1994; Drummer, 1998; Drummer & Gerostamoulos, 1999). This has led to the introduction of sobriety testing in Victoria, Australia to test for driving impairment caused by marijuana and other psychotropic drugs. Surveys have reported an increase in community concern in Australia over the use of marijuana and an increase in the prevalence and use of marijuana (National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Survey; 1985, 1988, 1991, 1993; National Drug Household Survey; 1995, 1998). Commensurate with the increase in the use of marijuana in society, road statistics indicated that the number of road accidents and deaths involving the presence of THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) in driver specimens has also increased (Drummer & Gerostamoulos, 1999). Consistent with these mortality statistics, past research examining the effects of THC on driving ability indicate that THC impairs both car control (Moskowitz, 1985), and the maintenance of the lateral position of a vehicle (Ramaekers et al., 2000). Intoxication by THC is more likely to result in the crashing into obstacles on a driving course than when not intoxicated (Hansteen et al., 1976). These findings indicate that marijuana impairs driving ability and since the prevalence of marijuana use is increasing this poses a significant risk on our roads. It is essential therefore, that a tool that detects levels of THC in drivers, similar to breath analysis instruments used for the detection of alcohol in drivers, is introduced. To date, there is no such reliable instrument, that could be used on the roadside, and that accurately measures the level of THC in humans. For this reason, some government departments have considered the use of sobriety tests to detect impaired driving. In particular, the Standardised Field Sobriety test (SFSTs) that comprises the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test (HGN), Walk and Turn test (WAT) and the One Leg Stand test (OLS) were implemented in Victoria, Australia from December 1st 2000. The validity of these tests have been previously examined by other researchers and their conclusions suggest that sobriety tests have a varied accuracy in detecting impairment caused by drugs, ranging from 44% to 94% (Heishman et al., 1996; Compton, 1986). The present study examines the efficiency of sobriety tests to detect impairment in driving caused by marijuana. The SFSTs were examined, as well as the Romberg Balance test (RB) and the Finger to Nose test (FTN) taken from the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program (DECP) (Los Angeles Police Department, USA). The present study was conducted by Swinburne University, Victoria, Australia. The National Institute on Drug Abuse in the USA (NIDA) provided the marijuana cigarettes. The major objectives of the study were to examine the influence of cannabis on driving performance and on performance on the sobriety tests. The relationship between simulated driving performance and sobriety test performance was then examined to establish the accuracy of sobriety tests to predict driving ability. The present study also examined whether any differences in performance either on the driving tests or on the sobriety tests exist between regular cannabis users and non-regular cannabis users. Driving stress was an additional variable assessed to establish whether individuals with low, normal or high driver stress perform differently on the driving task after the consumption of a low and high dose of cannabis. We tested 40 participants comprising 14 females and 26 males. All participants completed a medical examination questionnaire, demographics questionnaire, Frequency of Cannabis Use Questionnaire and Intoxication Rating Questionnaire. All participants completed 3 marijuana sessions involving the administration of a placebo cigarette (0% THC, weight 702mg, .000gm ∆-9-THC; 0.0mg/kg THC), the administration of a low THC cigarette (1.74% THC, weight 779mg, .813gm ∆-9-THC; 0.2mg/kg THC) and the administration of a high THC marijuana cigarette (2.93% THC, weight 790mg, 1.776gm ∆-9-THC; 0.73mg/kg THC). All sessions were randomised (using Latin-square design), counter-balanced and double-blind. In each session, participants completed 3 sobriety tests and 2 driving simulator tests. Sobriety tests were scored by allocating a score of 1 for each sign (error, e.g., hopping during test performance to maintain balance) observed by the administrator. Generally, a score of 2 or more constituted impairment to a degree equivalent to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above 0.10%. The driving simulator test comprised 36 variables. Each time the participant performed an error, a loading factor was added to the corresponding variable (e.g., collision (variable) loading factor is 10, if a collision occurred twice a score of 20 was allocated to this variable). The sum of all 36 variables constituted the level of overall driving impairment. Blood samples were taken throughout each session approximately 20 minutes apart. Intoxication Rating Questionnaires revealed that participants reported that the subjective effect of placebo cigarettes was much weaker than the cigarettes that they usually smoke and that no psychological (such as time distortion) and physiological (such as increased heart rate) changes were experienced. For the low THC cigarettes most participants described the strength, and the effects, as similar to cannabis that they usually smoke. The high THC cigarette was described by most participants as being much stronger, and having some different symptoms, when compared to cannabis that they usually smoked. There were however, some differences in the description of the low THC and the high THC cannabis cigarettes between regular and non-regular cannabis users. Regular users reported that the high THC cigarette was more similar to the cannabis that they usually smoke, whereas non-regular users stated that this was more likely to be the case for the low THC cigarette. Results from the driving simulator task revealed that THC impaired the driving variables: �straddling the solid line� and �straddling the barrier line�. The results indicated that increasing levels of THC increasingly impaired the ability to maintain the steady position of a vehicle within the correct traffic lane. The consumption of low and high doses of THC resulted in two or more wheels of the vehicle moving over a solid line marked out for traffic moving in the opposite direction. Low and high doses of THC also resulted in two or more wheels of the vehicle moving over a broken/barrier line marked out for traffic moving in the same direction. Increasing levels of THC appear to impair both balance and attention required to control the position of a vehicle in traffic. These results are consistent with past research that indicates that THC impairs car control (Moskowitz, 1985) and increases the standard deviation of the lateral position of a vehicle (Smiley et al., 1981; Ramaekers et al., 2000). Research into the effects of THC on brain cannabinoid receptors indicate that THC interferes with normal functioning of the cerebellum, the brain region responsible for balance, posture, and the coordination of movement (Childers & Breivogel, 1998). When driving ability was impaired the level of THC in the blood was between 3 and 5 ng/ml. These findings are consistent with previous research that has reported that driving is maximally impaired by THC plasma levels of 13 ng/ml (approximately 8ng/ml in blood, using a multiplication factor of 1.6 (Giroud, et al., 2001) (Berghaus et al., 1995). The results of the present study also indicated that THC impairs performance on sobriety tests with more individuals impaired with increasing levels of THC (e.g., at Time 1; placebo: 2.5%, low THC: 23.1%, and high THC: 46.2%). Performances on the sobriety tests RB and FTN were unrelated to the level of THC. The test most related to the level of THC was the OLS test, where almost all signs of this test were observed, after the consumption of both low and high THC cigarettes. The accuracy of a �new� sign in the scoring procedure of the HGN test: head moves/jerks (HMJ) was also identified. Including HMJ increased the percentage of individuals scored as impaired after the consumption of low and high THC cigarettes (e.g., at Time 1; placebo: 2.5%, low THC: 38.5% and high THC: 56.4%). Including HMJ as a sign significantly improved the accuracy of the SFSTs to detect impairment associated with the level of THC. The mean level of THC in the blood, when the highest number of participants were classified as impaired, was 70 ng/ml. Differences in performance were observed between regular cannabis users and nonregular cannabis users. Non-regular cannabis users were more impaired on the driving simulator task after the consumption of low and high levels of THC when compared to regular users. Non-regular users recorded significantly longer RTs to emergency situations, more collisions, and shorter distances between the vehicle and an object (after an emergency stop) when compared to regular cannabis users. Signs exhibited during sobriety test performance were related to the level of THC more often for nonregular users compared to regular users. The level of THC in the blood was higher in regular users, compared to non-regular users, at all times in both THC conditions. When driving ability was impaired and significantly related to the level of THC, the SFSTs were also related to level of THC. Sobriety test performance was related to driving impairment, because, as driving impairment increased with the level of THC, so did the number of signs present during the performance of the sobriety tests. Since nonregular users performed more poorly on the driving task compared to regular users, it is no surprise that they exhibited a larger number of signs during the sobriety testing. Although there was a positive linear relationship between driving ability and sobriety tests, such as the relationship between straddling barrier lines and the OLS test, the validity of sobriety tests to predict driving impairment in part depends upon the size of this relationship. Using performance on the SFSTs to assess �impairment�, 46.7% of individuals in the high THC condition were impaired. A discriminant analysis was performed to determine whether the remaining 53.3% of participants were also impaired but not classified as impaired, or whether the SFSTs correctly classified them as not impaired. The results indicated that the sobriety tests (SFSTs; HGN, WAT and OLS) correctly assessed 76.3% of participants in the high THC condition as either impaired on driving or not impaired on driving. Specifically, this percentage included the correct identification of 84% of impaired drivers as impaired, but only 61.5% of unimpaired drivers as unimpaired. The best predictor of driving impairment was the OLS test. In the low THC condition the sobriety tests correctly classified 100% of impaired drivers as impaired, but this occurred at the expense of falsely classifying most unimpaired drivers as also impaired. This finding suggests that sobriety tests detect the presence of THC even when driving is not impaired. Examining the utility of including the �new� sign HMJ in the SFSTs indicated that when identifying impairment on the driving task performed at Time 2, in both the low and high THC condition, the SFSTs were a better predictor of driving impairment when HMJ was included than when the sign was not included. This finding suggests that the inclusion of HMJ in SFSTs scoring procedure increases the likelihood of detecting drivers who are impaired by THC. In conclusion, the results suggest that THC impairs driving ability by reducing one�s ability to maintain a safe position in traffic. At this time THC blood levels are between 3 and 5 ng/ml. THC also impairs driving ability differently for non-regular and regular users of cannabis, where non-regular users are more impaired by THC than regular users. When this occurs, THC blood levels in non-regular users are between 2 and 12 ng/ml, and in regular users between 5 and 16 ng/ml. Performance on the sobriety tests is also impaired by increasing levels of THC. The OLS test is the most sensitive test in detecting the presence of THC. In the present study the SFST battery and each individual test that it comprises are moderate predictors of driving impairment but do misclassify 16% of impaired individuals and 38.5% of not impaired individuals. In addition, the results suggest that sobriety tests are more sensitive to the presence of THC than actual driving impairment. This was revealed by the large number of individuals judged as impaired on driving in the low and high THC conditions even when driving was unaffected. It is important to note that when this occurred, the sobriety tests were accurate in detecting 100% of impaired individuals. Finally, the introduction of the �new� sign HMJ is likely to increase the accuracy of the SFSTs to detect individuals impaired by THC and this sign should be considered for inclusion by policing agencies.

Heart disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States with coronary artery disease (CAD) representing more than half of all cardiovascular events. Stable patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of CAD are likely to undergo either an exercise ECG and/or imaging study as a first line diagnostic assessment. A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) is an ECG stress test plus ventilatory gas analysis. Recently CPX has been used to detect exercise-induced myocardial ischemia suggestive of underlying CAD. Currently there are a number of diagnostic tests available for the identification of CAD with the most widely used being exercise ECG, myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and cardiac catheterization. Exercise ECG, although inexpensive, has a number of well-recognized limitations, including low sensitivity resulting in false positive results. MPI and catheterization are more accurate but also more invasive and expensive. It appears that CPX may improve the diagnostic accuracy of exercise ECG in a cost effective manner.

Traffic congestion negatively affects traveler mobility and air quality. Stop and go vehicular movements associated with traffic jams typically result in higher fuel consumption levels compared to cruising at a constant speed. The first objective in the dissertation is to investigate the spatial relationship between air quality and traffic flow patterns. We developed and applied a recursive Bayesian estimation algorithm to estimate the source location (associated with traffic jam) of an airborne contaminant (aerosol) in a simulation environment. This algorithm was compared to the gradient descent algorithm and an extended Kalman filter algorithm. Results suggest that Bayesian estimation is less sensitive to the choice of the initial state and to the plume dispersion model. Consequently, Bayesian estimation was implemented to identify the location (correlated with traffic flows) of the aerosol (soot) that can be attributed to traffic in the vicinity of the Old Dominion University campus, using data collected from a remote sensing system. Results show that the source location of soot pollution is located at congested intersections, which demonstrate that air quality is correlated with traffic flows and congestion caused by signalized intersections. Sustainable mobility can help reduce traffic congestion and vehicle emissions, and thus, optimizing the performance of available infrastructure via advanced traffic signal controllers has become increasingly appealing. The second objective in the dissertation is to develop a novel de-centralized traffic signal controller, achieved using a Nash bargaining game-theoretic framework, that operates a flexible phasing sequence and free cycle length to adapt to dynamic changes in traffic demand levels. The developed controller was implemented and tested in the INTEGRATION microscopic traffic assignment and simulation software. The proposed controller was compared to the operation of an optimum fixed-time coordinated plan, an actuated controller, a centralized adaptive phase split controller, a decentralized phase split and cycle length controller, and a fully coordinated adaptive phase split, cycle length, and offset optimization controller to evaluate its performance. Testing was initially conducted on an isolated intersection, showing a 77% reduction in queue length, a 17% reduction in vehicle emission levels, and a 64% reduction in total delay. In addition, the developed controller was tested on an arterial network producing statistically significant reductions in total delay ranging between 36% and 67% and vehicle emissions reductions ranging between 6% and 13%. Analysis of variance, Tukey, and pairwise comparison tests were conducted to establish the significance of the proposed controller. Moreover, the controller was tested on a network of 38 intersections producing significant reduction in the travel time by 23.6%, a reduction in the queue length by 37.6%, and a reduction in CO2 emissions by 10.4%. Finally, the controller was tested on the Los Angeles downtown network composed of 457 signalized intersections, producing a 35% reduction in travel time, a 54.7% reduction in queue length, and a 10% reduction in the CO2 emissions. The results demonstrate that the proposed decentralized controller produces major improvements over other state-of-the-art centralized and de-centralized controllers. The proposed controller is capable of alleviating congestion as well as reducing emissions and enhancing air quality.
PHD

Mestrado em Finanças
Neste trabalho são testadas as hipóteses de passeio aleatório ao mercado acionista português, examinando as dezoito ações e o índice PSI-20. Considerando cotações diárias e mensais durante o período de 1999-2015. Foram utilizados os testes Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF), os testes de rácio de variância automático assim como os rácios de variâncias individuais e múltiplos propostos por Lo e Mackinlay, e Chow e Denning, respetivamente. Os vários testes utilizados para confirmar a hipótese de passeio aleatório das dezoito ações assim como do índice PSI-20, obtiveram resultados mistos contra a hipótese testada. Enquanto o teste Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) rejeitou a hipótese de raiz unitária para todas as ações e também para o índice PSI-20 confirmando assim um passeio aleatório. Por outro lado, os testes de rácios de variâncias, rejeitam a hipótese testada para algumas das ações consideradas assim como para o índice PSI-20, contudo tende esse número de ações tende a diminuir quando se utiliza as cotações mensais.
This paper investigates the efficiency of the eighteen stocks that constitute the main Portuguese stock index, the PSI-20 of the Lisbon Stock Exchange. Tools used for the investigation were daily and monthly data from January 1999 to May of 2015, using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test, the automatic variance ratio by Choi and the individual and multiple variance ratios, by Lo and Mackinlay, and, Chow and Denning, which test the efficiency of the eighteen stocks and PSI-20 index. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) tests the null hypothesis that the series has a unit root, while the variance ratio tests the random walk hypothesis. Based on these tests, the results provide mixed evidence against the random walk hypothesis. The results for the unit root tests do not reject the efficient market hypothesis for the entire sample, while the results from the variance ratio tests do, but tend to decrease in monthly data.

碩士
逢甲大學
金融碩士在職專班
104
This study analyzes the efficiency market hypothesis for the art market. We use quarterly data from 1998:1 to 2015:1. Our analysis is based on 15 art price indices: Global index (USD), Global index (EUR), Paintings, Prints, Sculptures, Photographies, Drawings, Old Masters, Nineteenth Century, Modern Art, Post-war, Contemporary, USA (in USD), UK(in GBP) and France (in EUR). We cannot reject the null of unit root, and we conclude that the art series is nonstationary based on the conventional unit root test. However, when we use the Quantile unit root test, we are able to reject the unit root null for the 9 of 15 art indices. These nine series are Global index (EUR), Paintings, Prints, Sculptures, Drawings, Post-war, USA (in USD), UK (in GBP) and France (in EUR). Overall, our result suggests that the art market is inefficient, and these 9 art indices face different shocks is a temporary effect, thus there are arbitrage chances.

碩士
逢甲大學
金融碩士在職專班
104
Abstract In this study, we apply quantile unit root test to test the weak-form efficient market hypothesis for China, using stock price index data from December 21, 1990 to April 10, 2015 for both the Shanghai and the Shenzhen. Our empirical results demonstrate that Shenzhen stock market is more efficient than that of Shanghai stock market. Inspection of the Chinese market efficiency, this means that a more active policy to open the capital market in China for interantional investor should be adopeted.

A test setup was designed and built to test energy recovery ventilator membranes. The purpose of this test setup was to measure the heat transfer and water vapor transfer rates through energy recover ventilator membranes and find their effectiveness, with air conditions that resemble residential use. Two test chambers were constructed with different channel heights above the membrane; one was 1mm and the other 2mm. The 2mm setup gave measureable results, but small air leaks in the system of 7.0% and 6.2% left room for error. The 1mm setup also had air leaks but they were smaller than the 2mm setup, with leak rates of 1.0% and 5.1%. The permeance of the membrane was found to be 2.58x10^-5 g/(m2*s*Pa) for the 2mm test chamber and 9.90x10^-54 g/(m2*s*Pa) for the 1mm test chamber.

碩士
國立交通大學
資訊工程研究所
82
About forty percent of total cost in the software development life cycle is spent on the testing phase. How to improve the efficiency of software testing is an important issue of software cost reduction. However, few researches on testing efficiency were discussed. In this paper, the following two techniques to improve the testing efficiency of the structural testing are proposed: (1) Incremental optimum path set selection method: This method uses the previously selected path set(s) to reduce the computation time needed to find a path set for a stronger adequacy criterion. The number of new paths found by this method will be less than or equal to that found by existing methods, however, the computation time is greatly reduced. (2) Test order arrangement method: The debugging of a program is a challenging and time-consuming task because the debugger confronts little information about the source of errors. This method uses the minimum number of untested statements criterion to decide the order of test cases of the program under test. Since the number of untested statements is minimum, debugging the program will be easier.

博士
國立中正大學
心理學系研究所
107
The goal of classification testing is to classify subjects into different categories according to their abilities or latent traits. By implementing appropriate item selection algorithm and termination criterion, computerized classification testing (CCT) can select items with highest information for each examinee based on his/her responses to previous items and terminate the test with shorter test length. However, a two-dimensional CCT was not found to perform better than its unidimensional counterpart with respect to the efficiency (Seitz & Frey, 2013). The purpose of this study is to improve the efficiency of multidimensional computerized classification testing (MCCT) by incorporating correlations between dimensions and conditional distribution of ability into the termination criterion. It is expected that the efficiency of the proposed MCCT will be higher than its unidimensional counterpart when dimensions are correlated. In the proposed method, when the cut point of one dimension is specified, the termination criterion estimates the cut point of the other dimension through ability conditional distribution. This new cut point would be more precise in describing the correlation between dimensions, and each item selected can provide classified information for classification on all dimensions which in turn improves the efficiency of MCCT. Two simulation studies were conducted for between-item and within-item MCCT, respectively. Six independent variables were manipulated, including the degree of correlation between dimensions, location of cut point, item selection algorithm, termination criterion, the way of choosing representative ability from normal distribution, and item exposure control. The results showed that the termination criterion proposed in this study could improve the efficiency of MCCT when dimensions were correlated. The higher the correlation, the more the efficiency can be improved. In addition, the distance between the cut point and the mean ability of examinees affects the test length of MCCT. For different purposes of classification test, different combinations of item selection algorithm and termination criterion would be suitable for different cut points. When the item exposure control procedure was applied to the MCCT, the test length generally increased. In sum, the MCCT that employed the proposed termination criterion showed higher efficiency than its unidimensional counterpart.

碩士
義守大學
電子工程學系碩士班
98
This paper presents how to utilize software to improve the order of movements for hardware of the tester and reach the best efficiency. The proposed method is verified by using the real sample IC and the tester with the test programs. The testing programs are regarded as the factor of improving. The experiments are designed to find out the most efficient way to write in the program. The shorter time for test procedure the better the test efficiency.