Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'MULTIFACET ANALYSIS'

Due to the endangerment of the June sucker (Chasmistes liorus), the lower two miles of Hobble Creek, Utah has been the focus of several restoration efforts. The portion of the creek between Interstate 15 and Utah Lake has been moved into a more "natural" channel and efforts are now being made to expand restoration to the east side of the freeway. This thesis reports on three different parts of a sedimentological analysis performed on Hobble Creek. The first part is a data set that contains information about the particle size distribution on the bed of Hobble Creek between 400 W and Interstate 15 in Springville, Utah. Particle size distributions were obtained for eleven sub-reaches within the study section. Particle size parameters such as D50 were observed to decrease from an average of 72 mm to 24 mm downstream from the 1650 W crossing and Packard Dam. Streambed armoring was observed along most of the reach. This data set can be used as input for PHABSIM software to determine the location and availability of existing spawning material for June sucker during a range of flows. The second part of this thesis compares predictions from four bed-load transport models to bed-load transport data measured on Hobble Creek. In general, the Meyer-Peter, Muller and Bathurst models overpredicted sediment transport by several orders of magnitude while the Rosgen and Wilcock methods (both calibrated models) were fairly accurate. Design channel dimensions resulting from the bed-load transport predictions diverged as a function of discharge. Once validated, the models developed in this section can be used by design engineers to better understand sediment transport on Hobble Creek. The models may also be applied to other Utah Lake tributaries. The third section of the thesis introduces a detailed survey data set that covers the Hobble Creek floodplain on the shifted section between Interstate 15 and Utah Lake with an approximate 10 foot resolution grid. Water surface elevations at two flows, along with invert, fence, saddles, and other points, are labeled in the survey. A comparison with a survey completed last year did not reveal any significant lateral changes caused by the 2010 spring runoff. Due to the potential importance of the side ponds to June sucker survival, this data set can be used to monitor sedimentation in the side ponds. It may also be used in a GSSHA model to determine the magnitude of flow that is required before each side pond will be connected to the main channel.

Nowadays, the pollution caused by the massive use of fossil fuel is a well-known critical issue makes the design of the electrical machines a crucial task because the vast majority of the industrial or household applications are integrated with this kind of technology; hence improving the efficiency of electric motors is expected to result in an extraordinary benefit in terms of energy saving. On the other side, the increasing use of renewable energies (like wind energy, hydropower, tidal energy), combined with the distributed generation concept, call for new electric machine technology and for modern design approaches. This doctoral thesis has been mainly focused on finding analytical procedures to model and analyze some types of electrical machines which are of interest for renewable and distributed generation. The use of analytical approaches is, in some cases, fundamental because numerical methods, mostly based on Finite Element Analysis (FEA), are very inefficient in terms of required time and computation resources. The types of electrical machines considered in this work are various. The attention is first placed on the slotless surface permanent magnet (SPM) topology (with different types of rotor magnetization). Wound-field synchronous generators with both three phase or multiphase stator are then considered. For the various kinds of the machines taken into account, some modeling, design and analysis studies have been conducted in the attempt to fill some gaps in the existing technical literature. In the first part of the thesis the purely analytical modeling of slotless SPM machines is addressed. In the work, it has been considered how the stator slotless design can be combined with different surface permanent magnet rotor topologies. The main efforts of the study have been addressed to the purpose of finding an explicit analytical expression to compute slotless machine torque and no-load back-EMF, covering all the SPM rotor topologies of interest. The subsequent part of the thesis, is about the analytical computation of end-coil leakage inductance in concentric windings. For a good dynamic modeling of machines equipping this kind of winding, it is useful that their mathematical model is implemented and that model parameters are identified with good accuracy. The proposed technique shows a very good accordance compared with a 3D FEA simulation and is also validated though tests conducted on a dedicated experimental set-up. Multiphase machines are attractive for many energy-saving fault-tolerant applications thanks to their higher efficiency and intrinsic resilience to faults. A challenging task in the modeling of multiphase machines for design and simulation is identifying the self and mutual inductances due to leakage fluxes. In this thesis is also presented a novel approach for the leakage inductance determination in multiphase machines based on routine tests combined with very simple 2D magnetostatic FEA simulations. The subsequent part of the thesis is about the design of wound-field synchronous generators specifically required to operate in a distributed generation system where significant fluctuations are known to frequently occur in both voltage and frequency. Design provisions are investigated to improve the generator resilience to these grid disturbances. In the last part of this thesis the attention is focused on multiphase alternators interfaced to DC distribution systems through multiple rectifiers. As a new finding presented as a part of this investigation, it is shown that a short circuit fault occurring on AC/DC rectifier terminals generates a strongly oscillatory behavior with much larger current peaks than could be predicted with conventional models regarding short circuit transients in DC networks.

Some early stage NSCLC patients have a better survival prospects than others. In any event, the long-term prognosis for NSCLC patients is poor. Various measures were investigated to gain a better understanding of those patient characteristics that confer better survival or predict disease recurrence. A dataset comprised of stage 1 NSCLC patients (n=162) that underwent resection was investigated. Clinical variables (CVs) and tissue microarray (TMA) images with DNA repair protein and standard H&E expressions were investigated. Patients were dichotomized into two groups by survival characteristics and logistic regression (LR) modeling was used to predict favorable survival outcome. Various patient strata were investigated with Cox regression and Kaplan Meier survival analysis (i.e. accepted survival analysis methods). A statistical learning (SL) method comprised of a kernel mapping and Differential Evolution optimization was developed to integrate SL techniques with LR and accepted survival analysis methods by first combining various patient measures to form a hybrid variable. Younger age, female gender, and adenocarcinoma subtype confer better survival prospects, whereas recurrence confers poor survivability. The SL hybrid modeling produced greater favorable outcome associations and survival hazard relationships than the accepted approaches. Automated texture measures from the HE stained TMA images were significantly related to survival, tumor-type, and tumor-grade. DNA repair measures in isolation or in combination with CVs were not related to survival, favorable outcome or recurrence, and none of the CVs were related to recurrence. A platform was established to incorporate automated TMA analysis and SL techniques into standard epidemiologic practice, and baseline predictive models were constructed. Future work will investigate novel biomarkers and larger datasets using this established framework to construct prognostic models for clinical applications for lung cancer patients in general and to better understand disease recurrence.

Fruit texture plays a major role in apple fruit quality, and it has been major driving factor in the selection process carried out by breeders. The economic importance of texture relies on the fact that some aspects of this multi-trait feature (crispness in particular) are the reason for not liking a particular fruit, and it represents also the principal features appreciated by consumers. Aware of the great importance and attention that the scientific community is giving to phenomics, the first purpose of this work was the improvement of the apple texture variability dissection. For this reason it was investigated whether a combined and simultaneous mechanical and acoustic evaluation of fruit texture could provide a valuable methodology for the description of all the sub-traits related to apple texture, providing also a valuable link with sensory attributes. Successively, this high resolution phenotyping strategy was adopted for a Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis which identified the genomic regions possibly involved in the determination of the traits defining apple texture. A candidate gene driven association mapping approach has been afterwards employed in order to define valuable new markers suitable to predict the dissected fruit texture subtraits in apple. Finally, we also presented a preliminary functional genomic investigation addressed to target novel putative candidate genes to further unravel the complex control of fruit texture in apple

Fruit texture plays a major role in apple fruit quality, and it has been major driving factor in the selection process carried out by breeders. The economic importance of texture relies on the fact that some aspects of this multi-trait feature (crispness in particular) are the reason for not liking a particular fruit, and it represents also the principal features appreciated by consumers. Aware of the great importance and attention that the scientific community is giving to phenomics, the first purpose of this work was the improvement of the apple texture variability dissection. For this reason it was investigated whether a combined and simultaneous mechanical and acoustic evaluation of fruit texture could provide a valuable methodology for the description of all the sub-traits related to apple texture, providing also a valuable link with sensory attributes. Successively, this high resolution phenotyping strategy was adopted for a Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis which identified the genomic regions possibly involved in the determination of the traits defining apple texture. A candidate gene driven association mapping approach has been afterwards employed in order to define valuable new markers suitable to predict the dissected fruit texture subtraits in apple. Finally, we also presented a preliminary functional genomic investigation addressed to target novel putative candidate genes to further unravel the complex control of fruit texture in apple.

Dissertation (Ph. D.)--University of Akron, Dept. of Urban Studies and Public Affairs, 2005.
"August, 2005." Title from electronic dissertation title page (viewed 01/14/2006) Advisor, Ashok K. Dutt; Committee members, Peter Leahy, Nancy Grant, Lathardus Goggins, Helen Liggett, Carolyn Behrman; Department Chair, Raymond Cox; Dean of the College, Charles B. Monroe; Dean of the Graduate School, George R. Newkome. Includes bibliographical references.

The concept of sustainability has emerged as a response to the most stringent problems of humanity. Initially defined in the Brundtland report published by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987 as the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (United Nations, 1987:43), sustainable development constituted the main topic of the Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The conference distinguished itself in the world of academia by establishing the principles of sustainable development and the indisputable relation between three fundamental pillars: environmental protection, social equity and economic development (Scrobota and Vosylius, 2013). This dissertation is composed of three essays. Essay 1, “Sustainability: The State of the Art and Emerging Perspectives”, analyzes the current academic literature on sustainability, first, with elaborative documentation and, second, using bibliometric analysis supported by the Science Mapping Analysis Software Tool (SciMat) open source software (Cobo, Lòpez-Herrera, Herrera and Herrera-Viedma, 2012b) to gain insight on this body of knowledge and to investigate which topics are associated with this subject and considered to be the most relevant. Essay 2, “What Happens to Well-Being and Happiness by Combining with Sustainability?”, originates from the results of Essay 1 and develops an analysis of the relationship between sustainability, well-being and happiness. Indeed, as outlined in Essay 1, a considerable amount of literature has focused on environmental and economic dimensions, but there is little systematic research on how sustainability can interact with these factors as new paradigms for individuals, communities, and organizations. Essay 2 contributes to extending the existing theories on the three pillars of sustainability and identifies well-being and happiness as new driving factors. Essay 3, “Sustainability as a Matrix of Experiential Marketing”, examines the current role of sustainability as a matrix of experiential marketing to understand how a memorable, emotional and responsible connection between consumers and sustainable brand can generate customer loyalty and affect the purchase decision through a case study (Yin, 1984; Eisenhardt and Graebner, 2007; Siggelkow, 2007; Yin, 2009) that analyzes an ecological campaign called “The Fun Theory”. This work contributes to strengthening this new theory, according to which “fun” is best for changing the bad habits of people in a responsible and sustainable manner. Collectively, the three essays provide a general picture for a more holistic understanding of sustainability that creates new possibilities for more focused and effective sustainable development policies. A broader perspective on sustainability can maintain or improve the well-being and happiness of human beings. Reaching this objective is possible if the restrictions of individual freedoms, resource use and the ability to undergo experiences are compensated by improvements in the other determinants of wellness, and such improvements can be an effective motivator for sustainable behavior.

Recent studies have shown that different free will beliefs affect moral behavior. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether different free will beliefs also influence moral judgment. College students (N = 56) were randomly assigned to one of three framing manipulations: free will, determinism, or neutral. They then read three morally questionable scenarios that differed by situational context. Following each scenario, participants completed a moral judgment questionnaire that measured four moral constructs: moral evaluation, moral responsibility, justification, and punishment. Finally, participants completed a Free Will & Determinism Questionnaire (FWD-Q) that measured their lay beliefs in free will and determinism. For analysis, we grouped participants according to their reported FWD-Q scores into one of three groups: free will, determinism, or compatibilism. We found that different free will beliefs influenced moral judgment to a small degree, but not in the ways that we predicted. Our results show that situational context affects moral judgment much more than lay philosophical beliefs regarding free will. Future studies should examine whether this still holds true for older adults with more developed worldviews.

The rapid growth in data centres has resulted in their consumption of up to 100 times more energy per square metre than office accommodation. IT equipment and systems, housed in data centres, consume a considerable amount of electricity. Energy consumption of data centres can be severely and unnecessarily high due to inadequate localised cooling and densely packed server rack layouts. To highlight the importance of cooling issues in data centres, operational data centres are studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Field measurements of temperature are performed. Numerical analysis of flow and temperature fields is conducted in order to evaluate the thermal behaviour of the data centre. A number of undesirable hotspots are identified. To rectify the problem, a few practical design and remedial solutions to improve the cooling effectiveness are proposed and examined to allow a reduced air-conditioning power requirement. Rack-level architecture and layouts have also been found to have a significant impact on the performance of server cooling systems. In this regard, semi-populated racks are modelled with various server arrangements and void positioning accommodated in a prototype data centre. In raised-floor data centres, the perforated tile flow rate distribution is fundamentally a fluid mechanics problem. The effects of position of the under-floor blockages and percentage opening of perforated tile are studied using CFD. Detailed thermodynamic analysis of air-cooled raised-floor data centres for exploring their optimised performance is performed in this thesis. Exergy based performance metric (EPM) is proposed to assess the irreversibilities in the data centre airspace. Detailed comparison is undertaken of the performance metrics based on the first and Second Laws of thermodynamics.

Large quantities of medical data are routinely generated each day in the form of text, images and time signals, making evident the need to develop new methodologies not only for the automatization of the processing and management of such data, but also for the deeper un- derstanding of the concepts hidden therein. The main problem that arises is that the acquired data cannot always be in an appropriate state or quality for quantitative analysis, and further processing is often necessary in order to enable automatic processing and manage- ment as well as to increase the accuracy of the results. Also, given the multimodal nature of medical data uniform approaches no longer apply and specific algorithm pipelines should be conceived and devel- oped for each case. In this dissertation we tackle some of the problems that occur in the medical domain regarding different data modalities and an attempt to understand the meaning of these data is made. These problems range from cortical brain signal acquisition and processing to X-Ray image analysis to text and genomics data-mining and subsequent knowledge discovery.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Spanish and Portuguese, 2008.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Jul 22, 2009). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-10, Section: A, page: 3929. Adviser: Kimberly L. Geeslin.

This study investigated multiple facets of Ecosystem Services (ES), utilising the New Forest National Park as the study site. The scope of the thesis begins with assessment of Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES), before exploring a range of ES in the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) in the National Park and finishing with an investigation into the implications of climate change on ES provision. CES are often highlighted as being important, though are often under-represented in ES assessments. The practical difficulties and varied methods available have been suggested to contribute to the lack of uptake of CES assessment. Stated methods of assessment (participatory GIS and stated surveys) and a behavioural method (GPS tracking) were used to ascertain differences in results. Stated response methodologies are suggested to be utilised for aesthetic assessment and behavioural monitoring methodologies for recreational assessment. Measured aesthetic and recreation values were utilised in a wider assessment of ES in the SSSI area within the National Park. Thus, the role of Protected Areas in conserving ES and biodiversity (which underpins many ES) were investigated. Multiple methods of mapping ecosystem services were adopted, including the use of the spatially explicit modelling tool InVEST, and GIS techniques. The SSSI was found to have a higher provisioning level of ES than the non-SSSI within the National Park. With this discovery for the National Park, a final analysis of the provisioning of ES with the impact of climate change was investigated within the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) within the National Park, to ascertain whether a decline could be seen. Low, medium and high climate change scenarios were used to model land change and by extension, ES provisioning change. A spatial multi-criteria analysis showed that the National Park will change extensively in species composition and thus show a decrease in ES provision in the future across all climate change scenarios investigated. Therefore, it is important that management strategies consider the uncertain impact of climate change in any decision making processes.

This project represents one of the foundation steps to a collaboration between the Department of Human Physiology, University of Pretoria and the Nuclear Medicine Department at Steve Biko Academic hospital. Following the initial discovery of the surprising effect zolpidem has on patients in persistent vegetative states in 1999 by Dr H.W. Nel - namely that zolpidem administration results in a significant qualitative increase in brain function, to the extent that patients were able to once again communicate and respond appropriately to their surroundings - much data has been collected by both Dr Nel as well as the Nuclear Medicine Department of Steve Biko Hospital. Over the course of twelve years SPECT scans have been carried out on patients of various pathologies both before and after a course of zolpidem. To this day, both assessment and follow up of these and new patients is still being done by the Nuclear Medicine Department and Dr Nel. As this vast collection of data grows it has become increasingly daunting for a single research team to consolidate all this information into a usable form and an outside team has been deemed necessary to facilitate this process. The primary goal of this study was to quantify the neurological perfusion changes following zolpidem administration within responder patients. This was achieved through reprocessing and semi-quantification of the existing SPECT scan records held by the Pretoria Academic Hospital. Within the group of responder patients (n = 29), 22 patients (~76%) presented a significant increase in perfusion within at least one lesion with a range of 4.5 - 46.1% (mean = 11.9%). In opposition to this finding non-responsive lesion perfusion decreased with a significant mean change of -14.5%. For both sets the p-value was determined to be <0.01. Of all lesions measured (n = 85) 32% displayed increased perfusion after zolpidem administration, whereas 30.6% presented with a perfusion decrease. It was determined that only one lesion is required to respond to zolpidem in a positive manner to facilitate positive functional improvements with a given patient. In a small minority of patients post-zolpidem functional improvements seems to be connected to wide-spread cortical changes as opposed to singular lesional improvements. This study provides further evidence of zolpidem’s paradoxical action in a subset of brain damaged individuals. Unique quantification of results allows for additional insight and provides further understanding the physiological changes associated with zolpidem administration.
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
tm2015
Physiology
MSc
Unrestricted

Una millor comprensió dels complexos fenòmens que regeixen la dinàmica del fluxos tri-fàsics així com un increment en la capacitat predictiva de la seva dinàmica, són crucials en el disseny i construcció de sistemes fluidics d'interès per a una àmplia gama d'indústries. Aquest treball de recerca presenta el disseny i muntatge de LESLIE, un circuit tancat de baixa pressió destinat a la recerca en la dinàmica de fluxos bifàsics i trifàsics a través de canonades i els seus accessoris. LESLIE està pensat per obtenir mesures de paràmetres clau i caracteritzar fluxos multifàsics amb fases gasoses, líquides i sòlides, tant en canonades horitzontals com verticals. Presentem aquí noves dades experimentals per a règims intermitents en fluxos bifàsics i trifàsics en configuració horitzontal amb aire, aigua i partícules de polipropilè amb mides d'entre 1 i 2 mil·límetres. Visualitzacions del flux, mesures de pressió i fracció de buit s'han obtingut per a diferents condicions d'operació. En aquest treball investiguem l'impacte de la presència de partícules sòlides sobre la caiguda de pressió, el règim de flux i la freqüència del "slug". A més, l'anàlisi del comportament de fluxos bifàsics anulars mitjançant tècniques de processat d'imatges ha permès obtenir resultats sobre la distribució de mida de gotes.
La dinámica de los flujos trifásicos se rige por fenómenos de alta complejidad, tanto conceptual como matemática. Una mejor comprensión así como un incremento en la capacidad de predicción de su dinámica, son cruciales para el diseño y construcción de instalaciones de interés para una amplia gama de industrias. Este trabajo de investigación presenta el diseño y montaje de LESLIE, un circuito cerrado de baja presión destinado a la investigación experimental de la dinámica de flujos bifásicos y trifásicos a través de tuberías y sus accesorios. LESLIE está pensado para obtener medidas de parámetros clave y caracterizar flujos multifásicos con fases gaseosas, líquidas y sólidas, tanto en tuberías horizontales como verticales.Presentamos aquí nuevos datos experimentales para regímenes intermitentes en flujos bifásicos y trifásicos en configuración horizontal usando aire, agua y partículas de polipropileno con tamaños de entre 1 y 2 milímetros. Visualizaciones del flujo, medidas de presión y fracción de vacío se han obtenido para diferentes condiciones de operación de flujos intermitentes. En este trabajo investigamos el impacto de la presencia de partículas sólidas sobre la caída de presión, el régimen de flujo y la frecuencia del "slug". Además, el análisis del comportamiento de flujos bifásicos anulares mediante técnicas de procesado de imágenes ha permitido obtener resultados sobre la distribución de tamaño de partícula, las cuales también se presentan en este trabajo.
The dynamics of three-phase flows involve phenomena of high complexity, whose understanding and an enhanced prediction capacity of fluid dynamics in multiphase flow systems is crucial for the design and construction of facilities meant for a wide range of industries. This research work presents the design and set up of LESLIE, a low pressure multiphase flow loop for the experimental analysis of two and three-phase flows through pipelines and their accessories. It is designed to measure key parameters, so as to characterise the behaviour of multiphase flows involving gas, liquid and solid phases both in horizontal and vertical pipelines. New experimental data is presented in this study for intermittent two and three-phase flows in horizontal pipelines involving air, water and polypropylene pellets of sizes ranging between 1 and 2 millimetres. Flow visualization, pressure and void fraction measurements were performed and are explored in this work for the case of intermittent flows for a variety of settings. The influence of solid particles over the frictional pressure drop, flow regime and slug frequency is reported in this work. Furthermore, the analysis of the dynamics of annular two-phase flows by means of image processing techniques has allowed obtaining droplet size distributions, which are also presented in this study.

The aim of the PhD thesis is the development of two multiphase models from a common theoretical basis, applied to two very different research fields: i) the study of the behavior of concrete at early ages, essentially for the prevention of cracking and related issues; ii) the analysis of the physical, chemical and biological processes that govern the growth of cancer. The modeling of concrete at early ages is very important and useful for the design of durable and sustainable structures. The model developed during the PhD thesis has been implemented on the finite element code Cast3M and then validated via the simulation of experimental cases. Nowadays this model allows for several applications: study of stresses and cracking in young concrete, analysis of thermal and hygral gradients, predictions of autogenous and drying shrinkage, creep strain, stress redistribution, study of the inhibition of hydration caused by drying, study of repairs, etc.. In the fight against cancer, the advance of medical strategies based on numerical analysis has a crucial scientific interest and can have a great social impact. The equations which govern the thermo-hygro-chemo-mechanical behavior of concrete at early ages have many formal analogies with those typically used to model tumor growth. Hence, these equations have been readapted and a novel mathematical model for tumor growth has been developed. This model has been implemented in Cast3M and the first numerical results are encouraging since qualitatively close to the experimental data present in the scientific bibliography.
L’obiettivo del Dottorato è stato lo sviluppo di due modelli multifase basati su fondamenti teorici comuni ma applicati a due campi della ricerca scientifica molto diversi: i) lo studio del comportamento termo-igro-chemo-meccanico del calcestruzzo giovane; ii) l’analisi dei fenomeni fisici, chimici e biologici che regolano la crescita e lo sviluppo dei tumori. La modellazione numerica del comportamento del calcestruzzo giovane è di grande importanza per la progettazione di strutture sostenibili e durevoli. Il modello sviluppato durante il Dottorato è stato implementato nel codice agli elementi finiti Cast3M e in seguito validato con la simulazione di casi sperimentali. Il modello numerico consente un’ampia gamma di applicazioni: studio delle sollecitazioni e dei fenomeni di fessurazione nel calcestruzzo durante i primi giorni dopo la posa in opera, analisi dei gradienti termici e igrometrici, valutazione del ritiro autogeno e di essiccazione, studio dell’inibizione dell’idratazione causata dall’essiccazione, ridistribuzione delle tensioni dovuta al ritiro e alle deformazioni differite, modellazione delle riparazioni. Le equazioni che governano il comportamento termo-igro-chemo-meccanico del calcestruzzo hanno molte analogie formali con quelle che sono tipicamente alla base della modellazione della crescita dei tumori. L'allargamento dell'analisi numerica al campo medico è di grande interesse sociale oltre che scientifico, pertanto le equazioni utilizzate per il calcestruzzo sono state riadattate per la modellazione della crescita tumorale, e il modello matematico ottenuto è stato anch’esso introdotto in Cast3M. I primi risultati di questo modello sono stati soddisfacenti perché qualitativamente molto simili ai dati sperimentali della letteratura scientifica.

Technology . . . . . . . . . .in . . . . . education . . . . . (Ed . . . . .Tech) . . . . . . . . . .is . . . . . changing . . . . . . . . . .rapidly. . . . . .But . . . . .many . . . . .sectors . . . . .of1the . . . . .economy . . . . .have . . . . .become . . . . .more . . . . .digital . . . . .without . . . . .significant . . . . .restructuring . . . . .in . . . . .how . . . . .the . . . . . . . . . .market . . . . . . . . . .is . . . . . . . . . .organized . . . . . . . . . .or . . . . . . . . . .what . . . . . . . . . .outcomes . . . . . . . . . .the . . . . .sector . . . . . achieves. . . . . .Separating . . . . .hype . . . . .from . . . . .substance . . . . .is . . . . .critical . . . . .some . . . . .basic . . . . .economic . . . . .principles . . . . .help . . . . . . . . . .us . . . . . . . . . .do . . . . . . . . . .that. . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .key . . . . . . . . . .idea . . . . . . . . . .of1this . . . . . . . . . .article . . . . . . . . . .is . . . . . . . . . .that . . . . .in . . . . .education, . . . . .technology . . . . .changes . . . . .like . . . . .digitization . . . . .are . . . . .likely . . . . . . . . . .to . . . . . . . . . .be . . . . .disruptive . . . . .when . . . . .they . . . . .change . . . . .the . . . . .SSSS“product” . . . . .and . . . . .are . . . . .unlikely . . . . .to . . . . . . . . . .be . . . . . . . . . .if . . . . .they . . . . .don’t. . . . . .By . . . . .changing . . . . .the . . . . .product, . . . . .I . . . . .mean . . . . .change . . . . .in . . . . .how. . . . .education . . . . .itself1is . . . . . structured. . . . . .Digitization . . . . .without . . . . .product . . . . .change . . . . .is . . . . .often . . . . .more . . . . .about . . . . .distribution . . . . .through . . . . .a . . . . .new . . . . . channel. My . . . . .focus . . . . . . . . . .is . . . . . . . . . .on . . . . . . . . . .the . . . . . higher . . . . . end, currently . . . . .rather . . . . .expensive-to develop . . . . .areas . . . . . . . . . .of . . . . . Ed . . . . . Tech. . . . . .Perhaps . . . . .the . . . . .simplest . . . . .example . . . . .is . . . . .synchronous . . . . .delivery . . . . .of . . . . .five . . . . .content . . . . .with . . . . .two-way . . . . .interactivity . . . . .(e.g., . . . . .an . . . . .online . . . . .case . . . . .discussion . . . . .in . . . . .a . . . . .business . . . . .school). . . . .Many . . . . .of1these . . . . . . . . . .developments . . . . . . . . . .are . . . . . . . . . .helping . . . . . . . . . .us . . . . . . . . . .rethink . . . . . . . . . .how . . . . . . . . . .best . . . . . . . . . .to . . . . .support . . . . . . . . . .how . . . . . students . . . . . . . . . .learn. . . . . .In . . . . .contrast, . . . . .this . . . . .article . . . . .is . . . . .not . . . . .principally . . . . .concerned . . . . . . . . . .with . . . . . . . . . .Massive . . . . . . . . . .Open . . . . . . . . . .Online . . . . . Courses . . . . . . . . . .(MOOCs). . . . . .MOOCs . . . . .are.important . . . . .for . . . . .democratizing . . . . .certain . . . . .elements . . . . .of1education—that . . . . .is, . . . . .they . . . . .currently . . . . .represent . . . . .a . . . . .different . . . . .distribution . . . . .channel—and . . . . .for . . . . .sorting . . . . .individuals . . . . .into . . . . .different . . . . .educational . . . . .pathways—for . . . . .example, . . . . .by . . . . .identifying . . . . . talent. But . . . . .they . . . . .are . . . . .not . . . . .in . . . . .themselves . . . . .significant . . . . .changes . . . . .in . . . . .the . . . . .education . . . . .product. . . . . .This . . . . .helps . . . . . . . . . .explain . . . . . . . . . .the . . . . . . . . . .market’s . . . . . . . . . .transition . . . . . . . . . .from . . . . . . . . . .infatuation . . . . . . . . . .with . . . . .MOOCs . . . . .just . . . . .a . . . . .few . . . . .years . . . . .ago . . . . .to . . . . .the . . . . .more . . . . .realistic . . . . . . . . . .expectations . . . . . . . . . .of . . . . .them . . . . . currently. . . . . .Ed . . . . .Tech . . . . .is . . . . .already . . . . .changing . . . . .the . . . . .education . . . . .product. . . . . .Therein . . . . .lies . . . . .its . . . . .dis- . . . . .ruptive . . . . . . . . . .potential. . . . . .The . . . . .eight . . . . . . . . . .product change . . . . . . . . . .examples . . . . . . . . . .outlined . . . . . . . . . .above . . . . .are . . . . .all . . . . .at . . . . .varying . . . . .degrees . . . . .of1execution,and . . . . .all . . . . .have . . . . .plenty . . . . .of1room . . . .for . . . . .further . . . . . development. . . . . .Together, . . . . .they . . . . .point . . . . .to . . . . .a . . . . .dynamic . . . . .that . . . . .is.unmistakably . . . . .different . . . . .than . . . . .any . . . . .in . . . . .education . . . . .during . . . . .our . . . . .lifetimes. . . . . .For . . . . .example, . . . . .when . . . . .learning . . . . . . . . . .engines . . . . . . . . . .allow . . . . . . . . . .a . . . . . . . . . .tenth . . . . . . . . . .grader . . . . . . . . . .to . . . . . . . . . .feed . . . . . . . . . .in . . . . . . . . . .an . . . . .essay . . . . . . . . . .draft . . . . . . . . . .and . . . . . get . . . . . instant, . . . . .substantive . . . . .feedback . . . . .on . . . . .the . . . . .depth . . . . .of1the . . . . .thesis . . . . . statement, . . . . .the . . . . .intellectual . . . . .coherence . . . . .of1paragraphs, . . . . .and . . . . .the . . . . .degree . . . . .to . . . . . . . . . .which . . . . . . . . . .the essay . . . . . . . . . .is . . . . . . . . . .compelling, . . . . . . . . . .we . . . . . . . . . .will . . . . . . . . . .all . . . . . . . . . .be . . . . . . . . . .learning . . . . .ng . . . . . . . . . .to . . . . . . . . . .write . . . . . . . . . .in . . . . . a . . . . . radically . . . . .different . . . . . way. . . . . .We . . . . . . . . . .are . . . . . not . . . . . there . . . . .yet.. . . .But . . . . .in . . . . .ten . . . . .years? The . . . . .learning . . . . .networks . . . . .that . . . . .will . . . . .result . . . . . . . . . .from . . . . . . . . . .this . . . . . . . . . .trans . . . . .ition . . . . .to . . . . .a . . . . .more . . . . .durable . . . . .form . . . . .of . . . . .information . . . . .good . . . . .will . . . . .shape . . . . .education’s . . . . .future, . . . . . . . . . .including . . . . . . . . . .putting . . . . .economic . . . . .pressure . . . . .on . . . . .institutions . . . . . . . . . .that . . . . . . . . . .are . . . . . . . . . .dependent . . . . . . . . . .on . . . . . . . . . .local . . . . . . . . . .geography. . . . . .Technology . . . . .plays . . . . .a . . . . .very . . . . .important . . . . .role . . . . .in . . . . .the . . . . .ed . . . . .tech . . . . .sector. . . . . .The . . . . .ed . . . . .tech . . . . .sector . . . . .has . . . . .evolved . . . . .from . . . . .the . . . . .basics . . . . .to . . . . .augmentation . . . . .of . . . . .reality. . . . . .This . . . . .research . . . . .paper . . . . .gives . . . . .emphasis . . . . .on . . . . .the . . . . .multi-facet . . . . .analysis . . . . .of . . . . .the . . . . .ed . . . . .tech . . . . .sector . . . . .including . . . . .the . . . . .Product . . . . .analysis . . . . .and . . . . .Comparative . . . . .research, . . . . .Customer . . . . .need . . . . .analysis . . . . .as . . . . .well . . . . .as . . . . .the . . . . .perception . . . . .analysis. . . . . .The . . . . .paper . . . . .also . . . . .makes . . . . .use . . . . .of . . . . .ANOVA . . . . .and . . . . .Regression . . . . .Model . . . . .to . . . . .study . . . . .the . . . . .inter-relatedness . . . . .of . . . . .factors . . . . .that . . . . .govern . . . . .the . . . . .ed . . . . .tech . . . . .sector. . . . . .The . . . . .important . . . . .conclusions . . . . .drawn . . . . .in . . . . .the . . . . .research . . . . .include . . . . .the . . . . .need . . . . .of . . . . .a . . . . .learning . . . . .app . . . . .for . . . . .teachers . . . . .in . . . . .order . . . . .to . . . . .ease . . . . .the . . . . .workload . . . . .as . . . . .well . . . . .as . . . . .to . . . . .set . . . . .up . . . . .the . . . . .price, . . . . .content . . . . .of . . . . .curriculum . . . . .and . . . . .teaching . . . . .methodology . . . . .in . . . . .life . . . . .with . . . . .customer . . . . .expectations . . . . .as . . . . .expressed . . . . .in . . . . .their . . . . .responses . . . . .to . . . . .increase . . . . .profitability

碩士
國立陽明大學
生醫光電研究所
107
Background Computational Analysis of MRI has been developed for a long time. With the purpose of automation, rapidity, precision and low inter-subject variability, it offers feature quantification for scientific research, and clinically assists to diagnosis and medical treatment. The algorithms also include machine learning (ML) and deep learning, and they can apply on image segmentation and classification. Migraine is a primary headache that the etiology is still unclear, and its pathology is diverse also complex. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to analyze clinical migraine data, using different algorithms to make an integrated investigation to complete three missions: 1. Applying computational analysis to T1W image and rsfMRI, and compare binary sub-groups in four groups: migraine without depression (MwoD) versus with depression (MwD), migraine without aura (MwoA) versus with aura (MwA), control versus migraine with severe headache above 5 days per month, and control versus migraine occurred over 10 years 2. To perform ML and deep learning binary classification by using structural and functional features and the knowledge based on previous studies. Materials and methods In this study, we collected 46 normal control MRI and 251 migraine MRI with clinical data, and MRI sequences contain structural T1W image and rsfMRI. T1W analysis were using both VBM and SBM method. VBM calculates the spatial standardized GM distribution, and SBM calculates the numeric features including volume, thickness and surface area in each GM parcellation, and volume of WM and ventricles. In rsfMRI, we calculated fALFF map, ReHo map and functional connectivity in each subject. We use permutation test for functional connectivity statistics (correlation coefficient and dynamic variance), and two sample T-test for others. Finally, we apply ML by using numeric or volumetric feature to perform binary classification between two sub-groups. Results We found from structural MRI that migraine occurring above 5 years would decrease GM volume in right parietal and frontal lobe, and migraine with headache above 10 days per month would have similar pattern in frontal and temporal lobe. Aura would not affect GM volume, while depression would decrease GM volume in several regions. In fALFF and ReHo results, headache, aura and depression had distinct activation and deactivation regions. In the group of control versus migraine occurring above 5 years, and control versus migraine with headache above 10 days per month, the differences appeared in many places and both had similar patterns in occipital lobe. Among these 4 groups, the group MwoA versus MwA was found with the strongest and highest amount of difference in functional connectivity correlation coefficient and variance. In depression group, the differences were mainly in bilateral temporal lobe, and in two headache groups, the differences were more fragmentary. Performances for classifying migraine and migraine subgroup were not ideal. The best result was classifying aura in migraine using ML and functional connectivity features, and the testing accuracy is 73.3%. Conclusion The depression, aura and headache symptoms would affect in brain microstructure and functions respectively. Therefore, the structural and functional MRI may find various individual differences, and the individual differences affects directly the ML performance.

abstract: Statistical mediation analysis allows researchers to identify the most important the mediating constructs in the causal process studied. Information about the mediating processes can be used to make interventions more powerful by enhancing successful program components and by not implementing components that did not significantly change the outcome. Identifying mediators is especially relevant when the hypothesized mediating construct consists of multiple related facets. The general definition of the construct and its facets might relate differently to external criteria. However, current methods do not allow researchers to study the relationships between general and specific aspects of a construct to an external criterion simultaneously. This study proposes a bifactor measurement model for the mediating construct as a way to represent the general aspect and specific facets of a construct simultaneously. Monte Carlo simulation results are presented to help to determine under what conditions researchers can detect the mediated effect when one of the facets of the mediating construct is the true mediator, but the mediator is treated as unidimensional. Results indicate that parameter bias and detection of the mediated effect depends on the facet variance represented in the mediation model. This study contributes to the largely unexplored area of measurement issues in statistical mediation analysis.
Dissertation/Thesis
Masters Thesis Psychology 2016

The treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (SABSI) remains a major challenge. With an emphasis on complicated methicillin–sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), a comprehensive analysis of initial antibiotic treatment was conducted. The influence of treatment gaps on clinical outcomes were examined. Strategies were developed to improve the use of available antibiotics. Patient- and infection-related variables predictive for end-of-treatment failure included higher Charlson Comorbidity Index and healthcare-associated infection. Treatment variables of shorter duration of optimal targeted, shorter duration of optimal or adequate and lower TSE score were also predictive for end-of-treatment failure when tested separately in their own models. Strategies to optimize the treatment of complicated MSSA BSI at minimum should include: 1) Initiating at least an adequate therapy within 24 hours following the index blood culture draw and 2) Maintaining uninterrupted treatment, especially during the initial 7 days including at least 4 days of cloxacillin or cefazolin.

Radio broadcasting is usually classified as either a public broadcasting service or as being commercially driven. In the South African context, the concept of community radio has further complicated the definition of a public broadcasting service. While profit motivation and niche marketing characterize a radio driven by commercial means, community radio is predominantly non-profit oriented, directed towards a particular community. A public broadcasting service is, amongst other elements, typified as being geographically accessible to all and of paying particular attention to minority groups. Lotus FM, a radio station that came into existence on 16 January 1983, for the South African Indian community, describes itself as a "national public service-cum-commercial broadcaster with community responsibility". The South African Indian community, a minority group within the broader South African population, comprises of five language groups (Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Tamil and Telegu) and three religious groupings (Hinduism, Islam and Christianity). This research aims to explore the feasibility with which Lotus FM is accommodating the conflicting interests of being a melange of all three forms of broadcasting and reflecting it via its programmes.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

碩士
國立陽明大學
物理治療暨輔助科技學系
99
Background: Falls are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among people aged 65 years and older, resulting in marked costs and social burden. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a multifaceted fall prevention program on the incidence of falls and physical function in community-dwelling elderly, and particularly perform subgroup analyses for different fall risks. Methods: Community-dwelling elderly aged 65 and older who met our fall screening criteria were recruited to participate in a stratified randomized controlled fall-prevention trial. Multifaceted intervention group (IG) received exercise program, fall prevention education courses, recommendations for home hazards modifications, as well as referrals for medication or vision check-up. The control group (CG) received recommendation and referrals without direct exercise intervention. The primary outcome was incidence of falls in 12 months including number of falls and fallers. Secondary outcomes were Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) battery (including vision, muscular strength, reaction time, balance and proprioception), timed up-and-go (TUG), Taiwanese- International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and Fall Efficacy Scale (FES). Independent t-test and paired t-test were used to examine the number of falls within 1 year before-and-after the intervention between IG and CG, while McNemar and Chi-square tests were performed to compare the number of fallers before-and-after the intervention between two groups. Number of falls during the follow-up period was analyzed using negative binomial regression analysis, while time-dependent fall incidence was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Change in physical functioning before-and-after the intervention was analyzed using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Subgroup analyses for different PPA fall risks were performed in each statistical analysis. All analyses were based on intention-to-treat approach. Results: This study recruited 411 older participants with mean age of 77±7 years from hospital outpatient clinics or communities. The fall incidence within 1-year for IG (29%) and CG (29%) showed no significant difference; incidence rate ratio (IRR) for IG vs CG was 1.00 (95% CI= 0.72-1.39) as shown by the negative binomial regression analysis. Subgroup analyses stratified by PPA risk found that there was no significant difference in fall incidences in both groups for any fall-risk stratum: low risk (IG: CG=19%: 27%, p=.358), moderate risk (IG: CG=40%: 24%, p=.078), and marked risk (IG: CG=28%: 35%, p=.327). The fall incidence during the 1-yr follow-up period significantly decreased from 48.1% to 28.6% (P&lt;.001) in IG, while no significant decrease in CG (36.3%→28.9%, P=.101). “Subjects recruiting from the hospital outpatient/emergency department” and “history of previous fall” were significant predictors for number of falls or fallers during the follow-up period. Both IG and CG improved significantly in most secondary outcomes after intervention, especially for those with moderate or marked fall risk; however, it revealed no significant within-group difference. Conclusion: The findings of 29% fall incidence in both groups during the 1-yr follow-up period along with the significant decrease of fall incidence from 48.1% to 28.6% in IG might suggest the potentially role of the multi- faceted fall-prevention program. Interventions including recommendation and referrals seemed to take some effects on improving physical functions of the elderly, especially to the moderate or marked risk group. Whether higher-intensity of longer duration exercise program is required to significantly decrease the fall incidence warrants further study.

The core self-evaluations personality construct (CSE) has been defined as a meta-trait comprising the subdomains of self-esteem (SE), generalised self-efficacy (GSE), neuroticism (N), and internal locus of control (LOC). The conceptualisation and operationalisation of CSE as a unitary construct has been criticised in its failure to account for the distinctiveness of the subdomains. To address this concern, our study tested a bifactor model, enabling the specific factors (SE, GSE, N, and LOC) to be empirically represented, independently of the general factor (CSE). Adult participants (N = 331; 65% community members, 35% undergraduate students) completed an online survey with established Likert scales of the relevant constructs. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the bifactor model provided the best fit for the data, compared to traditional representations of CSE as a single-factor or higher-order model. Each specific factor explained significant variance beyond its expression in the general factor. Structural equation modelling showed that the bifactor model was also superior to the higher-order model in predicting life satisfaction, a known correlate of CSE. The specific factors SE and LOC (but not GSE or N) contributed additional predictive utility beyond the general factor. Results of this study provide support for the distinctiveness and discriminant validity of the CSE subdomains.