Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Stake evaluation model'

During the past decade, an increase in activity associated with the education of the gifted has been evident. This study provides a social and evaluative framework from which to view two organizational means of making educational provision for gifted students. In-class provision in one school is compared statistically and descriptively with a partial withdrawal system in another. The Stake evaluation model was used to provide a focus and classification system for the collection and processing of naturalistic data. Group tests of ability, attainment and attitudes were administered in order to obtain some more objective data. Evolutionary changes in the schools during the twelve month period make for difficulties in comparison; the reasons for the changes occuring highlight the difficulties which classroom teachers have in understanding and coming to grips with teaching gifted students. Any advantage in terms of student outcomes was weighted towards the school with in-class provision. The writer postulates that this was due to the collective responsibility, or ownership of the program, assumed by the teachers in this school, as opposed to the situation in the other school, where only one teacher, the withdrawal teacher, was prepared to assume this responsibility. This study will provide valuable insight for any professionals who wish to undertake similar programs.

Nonprofit organizations are pivotal actors in society, and their websites can play important roles in aiding organizations in their socially-beneficial missions by serving as a platform to present information, to interact with stakeholders and to perform online transactions. This dissertation analyzed nonprofit websites in the United States (U.S.) and in Thailand in a series of three articles. The first developed a website evaluative instrument, based on an e-commerce model, and applied it to nonprofit websites through a manual decoding process. That article's findings suggested that Thai websites are not considerably different than U.S. nonprofit websites, except more American websites offer online transactions. The second article analyzed two different types of nonprofits in Thailand using the same model to assess website development in an emerging market. That analysis suggested local Thai nonprofits' websites lagged significantly behind those of internationally connected nonprofit organizations in the country in the features they offered. The third article compared the adapted model employed in the second analysis, which used manual decoding for website examination, to a commercially available, automated evaluation service. That analysis highlighted the differences between the two assessment tools and found them to be complementary, but independently insufficient to ensure robust nonprofit website evaluation.
Ph. D.

With the increased availability of computers of various sizes, it is becoming more common to predict the responses of geotechnical structures using numerical analyses which incorporate more realistic models of soil behaviour. The main objective of this research is to develop and evaluate a series of unified critical state models. These models are then used to solve some typical boundary value problems in geotechnical engineering. The new models are based on a critical state model called CASM which was formulated based on both the state parameter concept and a non associated flow rule. The main feature of CASM is that a single set of yield and plastic potential functions is used to model the behaviour of clay and sand under both drained and undrained loading conditions. These models are developed by incorporating a new non-linear elasticity rule, the combined hardening concept and the bounding surface plasticity theory. A new non-linear elasticity rule for clay materials is introduced into CASM, this gives a better prediction on the behaviour of soil. The new combined volumetric-deviatoric hardening model is named CASM-d and provides a better prediction of the behaviour of lightly overconsolidated clays and loose sands. The new bounding surface model is named CASM-b and provides a more realistic prediction of soil behaviour inside the state boundary surface. The new cyclic bounding surface model is named CASM-c and provides a good prediction of soil behaviour under cyclic loading conditions. To evaluate their adequacy, CASM and its extensions are implemented into a finite element package called CRISP. This program was specifically developed to incorporate the critical state type of constitutive models. The analyses of a variety of typical geotechnical engineering problems are carried out to further check the validity of the new constitutive models. The models prove themselves to be very robust and useful tools for solving a wide range of practical geotechnical problems under different loading conditions.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2002.
Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xiv, 169 p.; also includes graphics. Includes abstract and vita. Advisor: Mary K. Marvel. Includes bibliographical references (p. 150-169).

Availability of precipitation data is very important in every aspect related to hydrology. Readings from the ground stations are reliable and are used in hydrological models to do various analysis. However, the predictions are always associated with uncertainties due to the limited number of ground stations, which requires interpolation of the data. Meanwhile, groundbreaking approach in capturing precipitation events from vantage point through satellites in space has created a platform to not only merge ground data with satellite estimates to produce more accurate result, but also to find the data where ground stations are not available or scarcely available. Nevertheless, the data obtained through these satellite missions needs to be verified on its temporal and spatial resolution as well as the uncertainties associated before we make any decisions on its basis. This study focuses on finding and evaluating data obtained from two multi-satellite precipitation measurements missions: i) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) ii) Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. GPM is the latest mission launched on Feb 28, 2014 after the successful completion of TRMM mission which collected valuable data for 17 years since its launch in November 1997. Both near real time and final version precipitation products for TMPA and GPM are considered for this study. Two study areas representing eastern and western parts of the United States of America (USA) are considered: i) Charlotte (CLT) in North Carolina ii) San Francisco (SF) in California. Evaluation is carried out for daily accumulated rainfall estimates and single rainfall events. Statistical analysis and error categorization of daily accumulated rainfall estimates were analyzed in two parts: i) Ten yeas data available for TMPA products were considered for historical analysis ii) Both TMPA and GPM data available for a ten-month common period was considered for GPM Era analysis. To study how well the satellite estimates with their finest temporal and spatial resolution capture single rainfall event and to explore their engineering application potential, an existing model of SF watershed prepared in Infoworks Integrated Catchment Model (ICM) was considered for hydrological simulation. Infoworks ICM is developed and maintained by Wallingford Software in the UK and SF watershed model is owned by San Francisco Public Works (SFPW). The historical analysis of TMPA products suggested overestimation of rainfall in CLT region while underestimation in SF region. This underestimation was largely associated with missed-rainfall events and negative hit events in SF. This inconsistency in estimation was evident in GPM products as well. However, in the study of single rainfall events with higher magnitude of rainfall depth in SF, the total rainfall volume and runoff volume generated in the watershed were over-estimated. Hence, satellite estimates in general tends to miss rainfall events of lower magnitude and over-estimate rainfall events of higher magnitude. From statistical analysis of GPM Era data, it was evident that GPM has been able to correct this inconsistency to some extent where it minimized overestimation in CLT region and minimized negative error due to underestimation in SF. GPM products fairly captured the hydrograph shape of outflow in SF watershed in comparison to TMPA. From this study, it can be concluded that even though GPM precipitation estimates could not quiet completely replace ground rain gage measurements as of now, with the perpetual updating of algorithms to correct its associated error, it holds realistic engineering application potential in the near future.

Ecological sites and state-transition models (STMs) have become the preferred means of summarizing plant community dynamics on distinctive types of rangeland. Ecological sites classify rangeland types based on soil-geomorphic and climatic conditions capable of producing a known plant community, while a STM depicts the vegetation dynamics of an ecological site. STMs are usually based on expert opinion rather than site-specific data; however, if they are to gain credibility, STMs must accurately describe the processes that drive plant community dynamics. This study examined three ways of developing process-based STMs using three levels of commonly collected field data. We began by taking field inventories of three ecological sites already mapped in northwestern Utah: Loamy Bottom, Mountain Gravelly Loam, and Upland Loam. The Loamy Bottom site was ideal for developing a data-rich, process-based STM because 1) the site concepts were well-defined, 2) the site was easy to recognize, 3) potential states and transitions had already been hypothesized, and 4) the site was easily accessible. The Loamy Bottom study was designed to link plant community structural indicators to measurable indicators of ecological process. Principal components analysis and cluster analysis were used to classify 14 study plots into four distinct states. Simple linear regression showed relationships between perennial grass cover, perennial canopy gaps, and soil organic carbon. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) linked four general vegetation classes to soil stability measurements. The resulting STM describes the structure and function of four alternative states. The other two STMs, developed for the Mountain Gravelly Loam and Upland Loam ecological sites, used less-intensive data collection methods. Rangeland health assessments, used for the Upland Loam STM, are useful for refining initial ecological site and STM concepts, documenting states, hypothesizing transitions, and locating study locations for future research. Quantitative production and cover estimates, used for the Mountain Gravelly Loam STM, are useful for describing the structure of states, but structural indicators must be coupled with process measurements, as with the Loamy Bottom STM to understand the drivers of state change. A coordinated data collection effort is needed to produce STMs that accurately depict the plant community dynamics of ecological sites.

This study was designed to identify faculty and participant perceptions regarding Ball State University's distance education model known as MBA/TV and report on its apparent effectiveness. A second purpose was to examine both motivations for and barriers to participation in this distance education model.Two surveys (faculty and student) were designed to collect data for this study. Responses from faculty included their perceptions of student performance, student inquiries and participation, administrative and logistical support services, technology (performance and limitations), and program strengths/limitations. Responses from students included their demographic profile, motivations for participation (logistical, personal, and career), perceptions of the program strengths/limitations, faculty, technology, and administrative support services. Responses to all questions were reported by number and percentage. Responses to open-end questions were separated into categories and reported by number.The major findings included: Males (67%) outnumbered females (32%) by more than two to one. More students were married (78.9%) than single (20.1%). Nearly all (96.1%) had experienced good TV reception at their site. Many rated issues such as receiving the program in their hometown(s) (71.1%) and offering it at convenient times (80.8%) as important. Other issues rated as important by participants included: the opportunity to earn an MBA (90.9%); the opportunity to upgrade work skills (75.1%); and the opportunity to learn more about business concepts (83.2%).Analysis of the faculty survey revealed the following: 75100 percent of the MBA/TV students demonstrated understanding and resourcefulness in completing class assignments (78.9%); less than fifty percent of the students contributed to the quality of class discussions (78.9%); and mail communication with students had either minor problems (solved) or had always gone smoothly (78.9%).Additional investigation was needed regarding educational resource and training needs of both students and faculty. Also, attitudes of faculty toward distance learners and administrative dictates requiring televised instruction should be further explored.3
Department of Educational Leadership

A Tropical Temperate Trough (TTT) is a type of weather system that links the tropics and the extra-tropics across southern Africa. TTT events have been studied statistically in detail, but very little research has been done to study this phenomenon dynamically and especially on a seasonal scale. This study therefore focuses on the predictability of the characteristics of TTTs across southern Africa on a seasonal scale, by using a state-of-the-art seasonal forecasting model, namely the GloSea5 developed by the UK Met Office. Gridded hindcast data for the months of November, December, January and February from 1996/1997 to 2009/2010 are compared to observed data. The different ensemble members of the GloSea5 model (with lead-times of 1 week up to 2 months) are first compared separately to the observed data, after which the model average, with a 0-month, a 1-month and a 2-month lead-time, is calculated and also compared to the observed dataset. TTT events have distinctive characteristics during the formation and the development phases. Most prominent of these characteristics are the cloud bands associated with these weather systems, which have a north-west to south-east orientation and move from west to east across southern Africa. To identify the TTTs, daily outgoing long-wave radiation values are processed by a Meteorological Robot (MetBot), with a strict criterion to identify the cloud bands that characterise these systems. The MetBot’s algorithm produces the information needed to further investigate the different characteristics of TTTs, such as the frequency, the location and the intensity of these systems. Analysis of the MetBot output includes calculating the Root Mean Square Error, the percentage error and in some cases the percentage deviation of the number of cloud bands, as well as the anchor point, the centroid position, the area, the tilt and the minimum and maximum OLR values of the cloud bands. This investigation revealed that the characteristics of TTT events can to some extent be predicted on a seasonal scale for the summer rainfall season of southern Africa. The model used in this study fared particularly well with a 1-month lead-time forecast (compared to a 0-month and a 2-month lead-time forecast). The intensity and the location of the cloud bands associated with TTT events are forecast with a smaller percentage error than the frequency of these systems, as the frequency of TTTs tend to be significantly under-predicted by the model. For some predicted quantities, such as the area of the cloud bands, a bias-adjustment is necessary which produces significantly better results with smaller percentage errors. In the conclusions, suggestions are made on possible future studies, and how to develop this study further to create seasonal forecasts with higher skill with special regards to TTT events.
Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2019.
Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology
MSc
Unrestricted

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Liquid-liquid extraction is a branch of solvent extraction that employs addition of an immiscible solvent, as a separating agent, to a liquid feed. Various types of equipment can be used, however if the process requires more than three stages, typically an extraction column, operated in a countercurrent manner would be employed. In order to scale-up and design a commercial extraction column, it is necessary to quantify the extraction system hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics. The principal objectives of countercurrently operated extraction columns concern the mass transfer rate and permissible throughput. The performance of a countercurrent extraction column can be adversely affected by axial mixing, which disturbs countercurrent plug flow. Various methods have been devised whereby it is possible to evaluate the performance of a column extraction and scale it up to ensure that the commercial operation achieves the same separation achieved on a pilot scale. Classical axial dispersion models allow quantification of axial mixing and mass transfer rates. Two Backflow models were derived to describe the performance of a Vibrating Plate Extraction (VPE) Column, one for steady state and one for unsteady state operation. The steady state model consisted of a series of simultaneous equations, which were solved using the Excel solver function. The unsteady state model consisted of 54 ordinary differential equations, which were solved stagewise using a fourth order Runge Kutta procedure. The steady state model was based on a dissociation extraction process, whereby meta-cresol (mcresol) was separated from para-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (PHB). The process used the differing de-protonation constants of the two components and the fact that the solubility of the ionic species of each was low in the organic solvent. The extraction system was quantified using a combination of acid-base and extraction theory. Experimentally determined concentration profiles, measured along the length of the column, were force fitted to the model, thereby allowing determination of the model parameters. The mass transfer coefficients ranged between 0.0098 and 0.189 Imin, and it was found that backmixing of the dispersed phase was negligible, while that of the continuous phase was low (varying between 0 and 0.3). The unsteady state model, used to describe the dynamic response of a VPE, was based on a system whereby tert-butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ) was recovered from a purge stream. Conductivity measurements of the raffinate were used to determine the residence time distribution in the column, and hence allowed determination of the extent of axial mixing. It was preferable that the column be operated with minimum settler volumes, otherwise buffering in the settlers occurred, thereby masking axial mixing effects. This method did not facilitate accurate determination of backmixing, at least two other conductivity measurements in the column needed to be measured.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vloeistof-vloeistofekstraksie is 'n vertakking van oplosmiddelekstraksie wat gebruik maak van die toevoeging van 'n onmengbare oplosmiddel as 'n skeidingagent tot die vloeistofvoer. Verskeie tipes apparaat kan gebruik word, maar as die proses meer as drie stadia vereis, sal 'n ekstraksiekolom, in teenstroom bedryf, tipies gebruik word. Om dit moontlik te maak om 'n kommersiele ekstraksiekolom te skalleer en te bedryf, moet die ekstraksiesisteem se hidrodinamika en massa-oordragkarakteristieke gekwantifiseer word. Die hoof doelwitte van ekstraksiekolomme wat teenstroom bedryf word, gaan om die massa-oordrag en toelaatbare deurset. Die skeidingsdoeltreffendheid van 'n teenstroom ekstraksiekolom kan nadelig beinvloed word deur aksiale vermenging, wat teenstroom propvloei versteur. Verskeie metodes is voorgestel wat dit moontlik maak om die doeltreffendheid van 'n ekstraksiekolom te evalueer en te verseker dat dieselfde skeiding verkry word vir 'n kornmersiele aanleg as vir 'n loodsaanleg. Klassieke aksiale dispersiemodelle laat kwantitatiewe berekening van aksiale vermenging en massa-oordragtempos toe. Twee terugvloeimodelle is afgelei om die werksverrigting van 'n Vibrerende Plaat Ekstraksiekolom (VPE) te beskryf. Die gestadidge toestand model bestaan uit 'n stelsel gelyktydige vergelykings wat opgelos is d.m.v. Excel. Die ongestadige toestand model bestaan uit 54 gewone differensiaalvergelykings, wat stapsgewys opgelos is d.m.v. die vierde orde Runge-Kutta metode. Die gestadigde teostand model is gebaseer op 'n dissosiasie ekstraksieproses, waardeur m-kresol geskei is van p-hidroksiebensaldehied (PHB). Die proses maak gebruik van die verskillende protoneringskonstantes van die twee verbindings en die feit dat die oplosbaarheid van beide die ioniese spesies laag is in die organiese oplosmiddel. Die ekstraksiestelsel is gekwantifiseer deur gebruik te maak van 'n kombinasie van suur-basis- en ekstraksieteorie. Die model is gepas op eksperimenteel bepaalde konsentrasieprofiele, gemeet langs die lengte van die kolom. Die massa-oordragkoeffisiente het waardes aangeneem tussen 0.0098 en 0.189 Imin en daar is gevind dat die terugvermenging van die verspreide fase weglaatbaar was, terwyl die van die kontinue fase laag was (tussen 0 en 0.3). Die ongestadige toestand model wat gebruik is om die dinamiese respons van die VPE te beskryf, is gebaseer op 'n stelsel waar tert-butielhidrokinoon (TBHQ) herwin is vanuit 'n bloeistroom. Geleidingsmetings van die raffinaat is gebruik om die residensietydverspreiding in die kolom te bepaaI en het derhalwe toegelaat dat die mate van aksiale vermenging bepaaI kon word. Die kolom moet by voorkeur met minimale skeiervolumes bedryf word, anders is daar 'n buffereffek in die skeiers, wat die aksiale vermenging verskuiI. Hierdie metode Iaat nie die akkurate bepaling van terugvermenging toe nie en minstens twee ander geleidingsmetings in die kolom was benodig.

Class of 2006 Abstract
Objectives: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) afflicts close to 20 million adults in the United States. Pharmacy schools should ensure that appropriate teaching measures are implemented to optimize students learning of managing GERD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the curriculum pertaining to GERD at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. Methods: We used a repeated measures design to longitudinally evaluate the curriculum on the subject of GERD. Sixty-six subjects from the class of 2007 were initially enrolled in the study, 31 completed the study. Students were tested using a case-based assessment. Descriptive statistics (mean + SD) were used for baseline demographics and a student’s t-test was used to analyze the results. Results: Student’s mean scores improved significantly over the course of the test administrations from 15.03 + 6.7 to 23.25 + 7.6 (p<0.0001). No significant difference was noted in either administration of the assessment between those who had experienced heartburn and those who had not. Mean scores significantly increased in patients who had work experience (p<0.05). Conclusions: Although student’s scores significantly improved during the study, no student achieved the minimally competent score of 70% and there was a high attrition rate, >50%. This high attrition rate possibly contributed to the poor results of the study. There may be a need for further evaluation and revision of the curriculum in this area at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Efficient process design commonly relies on equation-of-state (EOS) models to provide reliable estimates of thermodynamic properties. The accuracy of EOS models, in turn, depends on the extent to which they account for intermolecular forces. The aim of this project was to improve the simplified Perturbed Chain - Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (sPC-SAFT), enabling it to account more accurately for complex molecular interactions. The more simple SAFT-based Cubic-Plus-Association (CPA) model was evaluated along similar lines for comparative purposes. A literature review showed that both sPC-SAFT and CPA have been widely applied in phase equilibria problems, but not extensively for the prediction of other thermodynamic properties. Consequently, an initial evaluation was performed on the ability of sPC-SAFT and CPA to predict first- and second-order thermodynamic properties. The properties of non-polar, polar and hydrogen bonding fluids were considered, showing that: a) sPC-SAFT and CPA generally predict first-order properties with the same accuracy, but sPC-SAFT provides improved predictions of second-order properties. Significant errors are, however, still observed with sPC-SAFT. b) A parameter regression study with sPC-SAFT, using model parameters obtained by including second-order properties in the regression function, results in poor predictions of the saturated vapour pressure and liquid density. c) Treating strong polar and dispersive forces together as Van der Waals forces results in many properties being poorly predicted by both sPC-SAFT and CPA. d) The major limitation of the association term in both CPA and sPC-SAFT is its inability to account for the influence of bond co-operativity, especially in alcohol/water mixtures. Based on these findings, the following improvements could be made: a) The development of a new association scheme for 1-alcohols, denoted the 2C association scheme. b) The extension of sPC-SAFT with the polar theories of Jog & Chapman (JC) and Gross & Vrabec (GV) to obtain sPC-SAFT-JC and sPC-SAFT-GV. c) The extension of CPA with modified versions of the aforementioned polar theories to obtain CPA-JC and CPA-GV. d) The development of a new ‘universal’ cross-association approach. The new 2C association scheme consists of one bipolar association site and one negative electron donor site and is a combination of the 1A and 2B/3B association schemes. Modelling 1-alcohols with the 2C scheme in sPC-SAFT results in improved VLE predictions of alcohol/water and alcohol/alcohol mixtures, but alcohol/alkane VLE is predicted less accurately compared to the 2B and 3B association schemes. sPC-SAFT-JC and sPC-SAFT-GV provide improved VLE predictions of mixtures with non-associating polar components compared to sPC-SAFT. VLE of polar/alkane and polar/polar systems can be represented accurately with no or only very small binary interaction parameters (BIPs). CPA-JC and CPA-GV also enable improved VLE predictions of the polar/alkane and polar/polar mixtures compared to CPA. sPC-SAFT-GV and sPC-SAFT-JC were also applied to several mixtures of associating components including alcohol/alkane, alcohol/alcohol and alcohol/water systems. New alcohol model parameters for both sPC-SAFT-GV and sPC-SAFT-JC based on the 2C, 2B and 3B association schemes were determined. The predictions of both sPC-SAFT-GV and sPC-SAFT-JC, based on any of the three association schemes, provide similar alcohol/alkane and alcohol/alcohol VLE representations, but the best phase equilibria predictions of water/alcohol systems are obtained when alcohols are modelled with the newly proposed 2C association scheme. The usefulness of a new ‘universal’ cross-association approach was demonstrated with both sPC-SAFT-GV and sPC-SAFT-JC. The philosophy behind the new approach is to set the association volume value of the solvating component equal to the cross-associating volume value of the 1-alcohol of the same molecular size and to determine an association energy value from binary VLE data. This approach aims to characterize the solvating behaviour of the cross-associating component. Preliminary results are demonstrated with systems containing acetone, propyl formate and ethyl acetate. Other thermodynamic properties, such as excess enthalpy and excess volume can be described with the new polar sPC-SAFT and CPA models. In the majority of cases, improvements are observed compared to the normal sPC-SAFT and CPA models, but BIPs are still required to obtain accurate correlations. However, these BIPs cannot be used in phase equilibria calculations and are generally property-specific. To summarise: Through the development of the 2C scheme, and the incorporation of polar terms into the sPC-SAFT model structure, notable improvement in the VLE predictions of polar (nonhydrogen bonding)/alkane, alcohol/alkane, alcohol/water and polar/alcohol systems could be obtained if compared to the original sPC-SAFT EOS. As such, the research pesented in this thesis encapsulates some significant novel contributions, viz.: a) A systematic evaluation of sPC-SAFT and CPA, providing better insight into their ability to predict thermodynamic properties. b) The development of the new 2C association scheme for 1-alcohols, as published in Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2011, 50, 8711–8725. c) The extension of sPC-SAFT with the polar theories of JC and GV, with application to non-associating components, as published in Fluid Phase Equilib. 2011, 305, 174–184. d) The extension of CPA with the JC and GV polar theories, as published in Fluid Phase Equilib. 2011, 312, 66–78. e) The application of sPC-SAFT-GV and sPC-SAFT-JC to associating components, including results with the new 2C association scheme. f) The development of the new ‘universal’ cross-association approach.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Doeltreffende prosesontwerp steun grotendeels op toestandvergelykings (EOS) om goeie skattings van vloeistofeienskappe te voorspel. Die akkuraatheid van hierdie modelle word bepaal deur hoe goed hulle die invloed van molekulêre kragte kan naboots. Die doel van hierdie projek was dus om die ‘simplified Perturbed Chain-Statistical Associating Fluid Theory’ (sPC-SAFT) te verbeter, sodat dit komplekse molekulêre kragte beter kan beskryf. Die meer vereenvoudigte SAFT-gebaseerde ‘Cubic-Plus-Association’ (CPA) model was ook geëvalueer vir vergelykende doeleindes. 'n Literatuurstudie het getoon dat beide sPC-SAFT en CPA reeds wyd toegepas is in fase ewewig probleme, maar nie vir ander termodinamiese eienskappe nie. Gevolglik, is 'n aanvanklike ondersoek uitgevoer waarin die vermoë van sPC-SAFT en CPA om eerste- en tweede-orde termodinamiese eienskappe te voorspel, geëvalueer is. Die eienskappe van nie-polêre, polêre en waterstof-bindinde komponente is oorweeg en die hoof bevindinge uit hierdie ondersoek is: a) sPC-SAFT en CPA voorspel oor die algemeen eerste-orde eienskappe met dieselfde akkuraatheid, maar sPC-SAFT bied verbeterde voorspellings van tweede-orde eienskappe. Beduidende foute is egter steeds teenwoordig in die voorspellings van sPC-SAFT. b) 'n Model parameter regressie studie met sPC-SAFT het getoon dat deur tweede-orde eienskappe ook in die regressie-funksie in te sluit, swak skattings van die eienskappe wat nodig is vir 'n goeie fase-ewewig voorspellings, verkry word. c) Die gesamentlike behandeling van sterk polêre en dispersie kragte as Van der Waals kragte, lei tot swak voorspellings van baie eienskappe deur sPC-SAFT en CPA. d) Die hoof beperking van die assosiasie term wat gebruik word deur beide CPA en sPC-SAFT, is die term se onbekwaamheid om die invloed van verbinding-samewerkings te beskryf, veral in mengsels van alkohole met water. Hierdie bevindings het as basis gedien om die volgende verbeterings aan te bring: a) Die ontwikkeling van 'n nuwe assosiasie skema vir 1-alkohole: die 2C-assosiasie skema. b) Die uitbreiding van sPC-SAFT met die polêre teorieë van Jog & Chapman (JC) en Gross & Vrabec (GV) om sPC-SAFT-JC en sPC-SAFT-GV onderskeidelik te kry. c) Die uitbreiding van CPA met gewysigde weergawes van die polêre teorieë om CPA-JC en CPA-GV te kry. d) Die ontwikkeling van ʼn nuwe ‘universele’ kruis-assosiasie benadering. Die nuut-voorgestelde 2C assosiasie skema bestaan uit een bipolêre assosiasie sone en een negatiewe elektron skenker sone en is ʼn kombinasie van die 1A en 2B/3B assosiasie skemas. Die modellering van 1-alkohole met die 2C skema in sPC-SAFT lei tot 'n verbetering in damp-vloeistof ewewig (VLE) voorspellings van alkohol/water en alkohol/alkohol sisteme, maar vir alkohol/alkaan sisteme is minder akkurate voorspellings verkry in vergelyking met die 2B en 3B assosiasie skemas. sPC-SAFT-JC en sPC-SAFT-GV lewer beter VLE voorspellings van mengsels met nie-assosiërende polêre komponente in vergelyking met sPC-SAFT. Die VLE van polêre/alkaan en polêre/polêre stelsels kan akkuraat beskryf word deur beide modelle wanneer geen of baie klein binêre interaksie parameters (BIPs) gebruik word. CPA-JC en CPA-GV lewer ook verbeterde VLE voorspellings van polêre/alkaan en polêre/polêre mengsels in vergelyking met CPA. sPC-SAFT-GV en sPC-SAFT-JC is ook toegepas op verskeie assosiërende mengsels, insluitend: alkohol/alkaan, alkohol/alkohol en alkohol/water stelsels. Nuwe alkohol parameters is vir beide sPC-SAFT-GV en sPC-SAFT-JC bepaal gebaseer op die 2C, 2B en 3B assosiasie skemas. Die voorspellings van sPCSAFT- GV en sPC-SAFT-JC, gebaseer op enigeen van die drie assosiasie skemas, lewer soortgelyke alkohol/alkaan en alkohol/alkohol VLE voorspellings, maar die beste fase-ewewig voorspellings vir water/alkohol sisteme is verkry wanneer alkohole gemodelleer word met die 2C assosiasie skema. Die nuwe ‘universele’ kruis-assosiasie benadering is gedemonstreer met beide sPC-SAFT-GV en sPC-SAFT-JC. Die filosofie agter die nuwe benadering is om die assosiasie volume waarde van die solverende komponent gelyk te stel aan die kruis-assosiasie volume waarde van die 1-alkohol met dieselfde molekulêre massa. Die assosiasie energie waarde word dan bepaal vanaf binêre VLE data. Hierdie benadering poog om die solverende gedrag van die kruis-assosiërende komponent meer akkuraat te karakteriseer. Voorlopige resultate met mengsels van asetoon, propiel formaat en etiel asetaat dui aan dat merkwaardige verbeterings in VLE voorspellings gekry word. Ander termodinamiese eienskappe, soos oortollige entalpie en oortollige volume, is ook ondersoek met die nuwe polêre sPC-SAFT en CPA-modelle. In meeste gevalle word verbeterde resultate gekry in vergelyking met die oorspronklike sPC-SAFT en CPA modelle, maar groot BIPs word steeds benodig om aanvaarbare korrelasies te kry. Hierdie BIPs kan egter nie gebruik word vir fase-ewewig voorspellings nie en is eienskap-spesifiek. Om op te som: deur die ontwikkeling van die 2C skema, en insluiting van die polêre terme in die sPC-SAFT model struktuur, is merkwaardige verbeterings in die VLE voorspellings van polêre/alkaan, alkohol/alkaan, alkohol/water en polêre/alkohol sisteme gekry in vergelyking met die oorspronklike sPC-SAFT EOS. Die navorsing voorgelê in hierdie tesis het dus gelei tot die volgende nuwe bydraes: a) Die sistematiese evaluering van die vermoë van sPC-SAFT en CPA om termodinamiese eienskappe te voorspel. b) Die ontwikkeling van die nuwe 2C assosiasie skema vir 1-alkohole soos gepubliseer in Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2011, 50, 8711–8725. c) Die uitbreiding van sPC-SAFT met die polêre teorieë van JC en GV soos gepubliseer in Fluid Phase Equilib. 2011, 305, 174–184. d) Die uitbreiding van CPA met die polêre teorieë van JC en GV soos gepubliseer in Fluid Phase Equilib. 2011, 312, 66–78. e) Die toepassing van hierdie nuwe modelle op assosiërende komponente, insluitend resultate met die nuwe 2C skema. f) Die ontwikkeling van ʼn nuwe kruis-assosiasie benadering.

The purpose of this thesis is to compute and to evaluate the geoid model in the State of São Paulo from two methodologies (Stokes integral through the Fast Fourier Transform - FFT and Least Squares Collocation LSC). Another objective of this study is to verify the potentiality of GOCE-based. Therefore, a brief study about mathematical foundations and fundamentals of Physical Geodesy is carried out. Some features of the Global Geopotential Models (GGMs) are discussed, as well as an overview of the new gravimetric missions. A special attention is given to GOCE mission. The theory related to Stokes integral and Least Squares Collocation is also discussed in this work. The spectral decomposition was employed in the geoid models computation and the long wavelength component was represented by EGM2008 up to degree and order 150 and 360 and GOCE-based models up to 150. The models were compared in terms of geoid height residual and absolute and relative comparisons from GPS/leveling and the results show consistency between them. Also, a comparison in the mountain regions was carried out to verify the methodologies behavior in this area; the results showed that LSC is less consistent than FFT. Regarding GOCE-based models, 13 were tested, besides EGM2008. The evaluation was performed in terms of geoid height comparison obtained by GGMs over GPS/leveling and in terms of gravity disturbance. The evaluation shows that DIR _R3 and TIM_R3 presented more compatible results. The reason for the choice of São Paulo state is that there are a lot of geodetic activities and important engineering works that require the use of a height system. Furthermore, there are a lot of gravity and GPS/leveling data all around the state.
Esta tese tem como propósito o cálculo e a avaliação do modelo geoidal no Estado de São Paulo a partir da aplicação de duas metodologias (integral de Stokes por meio da Transformada Rápida de Fourier FFT e a colocação por mínimos quadrados Least Squares Collocation LSC). Outro objetivo deste trabalho é verificar a potencialidade dos mais recentes Modelos Globais do Geopotential (MGGs) baseados nos dados do satélite GOCE. Para tanto, um breve estudo é realizado sobre os fundamentos matemáticos e os da Geodésia Física. Algumas características dos MGGs são discutidas, bem como uma visão global das novas missões gravimétricas. Uma atenção especial é dada a missão do satélite GOCE. A teoria referente à integral de Stokes e a colocação por mínimos quadrados são outros temas discutidos no trabalho. A decomposição espectral foi empregada no cálculo dos modelos geoidais e a componente de longo comprimento de onda foi representada pelo modelo EGM2008 até grau e ordem 150 e 360 e aqueles baseados na missão GOCE até 150. Os modelos foram comparados entre si em termos do resíduo da altura geoidal e na forma absoluta e relativa por meio das estações GPS/RN. Os resultados apontaram consistência entre os modelos em termos de diferença média quadrática. Também foi realizado um estudo na região montanhosa a fim de verificar o comportamento das metodologias; os resultados mostraram que a LSC é menos consistente do que a FFT. No que diz respeito aos modelos baseados na missão GOCE, 13 foram testados, além do EGM2008. A avaliação foi realizada em termos da comparação da altura geoidal obtidas pelos MGGs com as estações GPS/nivelamento e em termos do distúrbio de gravidade. A avaliação mostra que os modelos DIR_R3 e TIM_R3 apresentaram os resultados mais compatíveis. A escolha do estado de São Paulo está relacionada à grande quantidade de trabalhos geodésicos e atividades na área da engenharia e que necessitam da utilização de um sistema altimétrico. Além disso, a grande quantidade de dados gravimétricos e de estações GPS/RN é mais uma justificativa para a realização do trabalho.

Prediction of corporate bankruptcy (or distress) is one of the major activities in auditing firms’ risks and uncertainties. The design of reliable models to predict distress is crucial for many decision-making processes. Although a variety of models have been designed to predict distress, the relative performance evaluation of competing prediction models remains an exercise that is unidimensional in nature. To be more specific, although some studies use several performance criteria and their measures to assess the relative performance of distress prediction models, the assessment exercise of competing prediction models is restricted to their ranking by a single measure of a single criterion at a time, which leads to reporting conflicting results. The first essay of this research overcomes this methodological issue by proposing an orientation-free super-efficiency Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model as a multi-criteria assessment framework. Furthermore, the study performs an exhaustive comparative analysis of the most popular bankruptcy modelling frameworks for UK data. Also, it addresses two important research questions; namely, do some modelling frameworks perform better than others by design? and to what extent the choice and/or the design of explanatory variables and their nature affect the performance of modelling frameworks? Further, using different static and dynamic statistical frameworks, this chapter proposes new Failure Prediction Models (FPMs). However, within a super-efficiency DEA framework, the reference benchmark changes from one prediction model evaluation to another one, which in some contexts might be viewed as “unfair” benchmarking. The second essay overcomes this issue by proposing a Slacks-Based Measure Context-Dependent DEA (SBM-CDEA) framework to evaluate the competing Distress Prediction Models (DPMs). Moreover, it performs an exhaustive comparative analysis of the most popular corporate distress prediction frameworks under both a single criterion and multiple criteria using data of UK firms listed on London Stock Exchange (LSE). Further, this chapter proposes new DPMs using different static and dynamic statistical frameworks. Another shortcoming of the existing studies on performance evaluation lies in the use of static frameworks to compare the performance of DPMs. The third essay overcomes this methodological issue by suggesting a dynamic multi-criteria performance assessment framework, namely, Malmquist SBM-DEA, which by design, can monitor the performance of competing prediction models over time. Further, this study proposes new static and dynamic distress prediction models. Also, the study addresses several research questions as follows; what is the effect of information on the performance of DPMs? How the out-of-sample performance of dynamic DPMs compares to the out-of-sample performance of static ones? What is the effect of the length of training sample on the performance of static and dynamic models? Which models perform better in forecasting distress during the years with Higher Distress Rate (HDR)? On feature selection, studies have used different types of information including accounting, market, macroeconomic variables and the management efficiency scores as predictors. The recently applied techniques to take into account the management efficiency of firms are two-stage models. The two-stage DPMs incorporate multiple inputs and outputs to estimate the efficiency measure of a corporation relative to the most efficient ones, in the first stage, and use the efficiency score as a predictor in the second stage. The survey of the literature reveals that most of the existing studies failed to have a comprehensive comparison between two-stage DPMs. Moreover, the choice of inputs and outputs for DEA models that estimate the efficiency measures of a company has been restricted to accounting variables and features of the company. The fourth essay adds to the current literature of two-stage DPMs in several respects. First, the study proposes to consider the decomposition of Slack-Based Measure (SBM) of efficiency into Pure Technical Efficiency (PTE), Scale Efficiency (SE), and Mix Efficiency (ME), to analyse how each of these measures individually contributes to developing distress prediction models. Second, in addition to the conventional approach of using accounting variables as inputs and outputs of DEA models to estimate the measure of management efficiency, this study uses market information variables to calculate the measure of the market efficiency of companies. Third, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of two-stage DPMs through applying different DEA models at the first stage – e.g., input-oriented vs. output oriented, radial vs. non-radial, static vs. dynamic, to compute the measures of management efficiency and market efficiency of companies; and also using dynamic and static classifier frameworks at the second stage to design new distress prediction models.

In 2011, Oregon was one of many states in the U.S. consolidating their education governance around an early learning, K-12, and postsecondary hub. This study uses legislator-voting data to investigate the relationship between this consolidated model and endogenous policy formulation processes. This study employs a separable temporal exponential random graph model (STERGM) to investigate how an education governance shift toward consolidated authority relates to bipartisan outcomes for education-related bills over time. Oregon legislator voting networks were analyzed for cohesion, centrality, and community detection measures, as well as by legislator attributes (e.g. gender, party, and title) to test the association they had on the likelihood of forming ties with other legislators. Finally, to study the relationship of bipartisanship with legislators’ likelihood to vote commonly, I added the legislators’ political party attributes within dyads to analyze the association that having different political parties had on legislators’ common votes. The results highlight evidence of legislator networks that were very dense at each time point included in the study, with a high likelihood of forming ties. However, when Oregon shifted to centralized education governance model their legislator networks became more distributed and cohesive when compared to other years included in the longitudinal study. It is possible that such a shift prompted collaboration among legislators resulting in mutuality that increased the likelihood for underrepresented groups of legislators (e.g. females and republicans) to vote commonly with their colleagues. Aligned with previous research, this study found that centralized governing bodies reinforced by political legislation provided collaborative initiatives for the legislative community. Attending to bipartisan voting patterns dynamically through a governance shift is a valuable investigation that will provide nuanced inferences about education governance and policymaking for states making similar consolidated governance shifts in the future.

Access Control (AC) is a major pillar in software security. In short, AC ensures that only intended users can access resources and only the required access to accomplish some task will be given. In this context, Role Based Access Control (RBAC) has been established as one of the most important paradigms of access control. In an organization, users receive responsibilities and privileges through roles and, in AC systems implementing RBAC, permissions are granted through roles assigned to users. Despite the apparent simplicity, mistakes can occur during the development of RBAC systems and lead to faults or either security breaches. Therefore, a careful verification and validation process becomes necessary. Access control testing aims at showing divergences between the actual and the intended behavior of access control mechanisms. Model Based Testing (MBT) is a variant of testing that relies on explicit models, such as Finite State Machines (FSM), for automatizing test generation. MBT has been successfully used for testing functional requirements; however, there is still lacking investigations on testing non-functional requirements, such as access control, specially in test criteria. In this Master Dissertation, two aspects of MBT of RBAC were investigated: FSM-based testing methods on RBAC; and Test prioritization in the domain of RBAC. At first, one recent (SPY) and two traditional (W and HSI) FSM-based testing methods were compared on RBAC policies specified as FSM models. The characteristics (number of resets, average test case length and test suite length) and the effectiveness of test suites generated from the W, HSI and SPY methods to five different RBAC policies were analyzed at an experiment. Later, three test prioritization methods were compared using the test suites generated in the previous investigation. A prioritization criteria based on RBAC similarity was introduced and compared to random prioritization and simple similarity. The obtained results pointed out that the SPY method outperformed W and HSI methods on RBAC domain. The RBAC similarity also achieved an Average Percentage Faults Detected (APFD) higher than the other approaches.
Controle de Acesso (CA) é um dos principais pilares da segurança da informação. Em resumo, CA permite assegurar que somente usuários habilitados terão acesso aos recursos de um sistema, e somente o acesso necessário para a realização de uma dada tarefa será disponibilizado. Neste contexto, o controle de acesso baseado em papel (do inglês, Role Based Access Control - RBAC) tem se estabelecido como um dos mais importante paradigmas de controle de acesso. Em uma organização, usuários recebem responsabilidades por meio de cargos e papéis que eles exercem e, em sistemas RBAC, permissões são distribuídas por meio de papéis atribuídos aos usuários. Apesar da aparente simplicidade, enganos podem ocorrer no desenvolvimento de sistemas RBAC e gerar falhas ou até mesmo brechas de segurança. Dessa forma, processos de verificação e validação tornam-se necessários. Teste de CA visa identificar divergências entre a especificação e o comportamento apresentado por um mecanismo de CA. Teste Baseado em Modelos (TBM) é uma variante de teste de software que se baseia em modelos explícitos de especificação para automatizar a geração de casos testes. TBM tem sido aplicado com sucesso no teste funcional, entretanto, ainda existem lacunas de pesquisa no TBM de requisitos não funcionais, tais como controle de acesso, especialmente de critérios de teste. Nesta dissertação de mestrado, dois aspectos do TBM de RBAC são investigados: métodos de geração de teste baseados em Máquinas de Estados Finitos (MEF) para RBAC; e priorização de testes para RBAC. Inicialmente, dois métodos tradicionais de geração de teste, W e HSI, foram comparados ao método de teste mais recente, SPY, em um experimento usando políticas RBAC especificadas como MEFs. As características (número de resets, comprimento médio dos casos de teste e comprimento do conjunto de teste) e a efetividade dos conjuntos de teste gerados por cada método para cinco políticas RBAC foram analisadas. Posteriormente, três métodos de priorização de testes foram comparados usando os conjuntos de teste gerados no experimento anterior. Neste caso, um critério baseado em similaridade RBAC foi proposto e comparado com a priorização aleatória e baseada em similaridade simples. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o método SPY conseguiu superar os métodos W e HSI no teste de sistemas RBAC. A similaridade RBAC também alcançou uma detecção de defeitos superior.

The correlation of cascade experimental data is one method for obtaining compressor stage characteristics. These correlations specify pressure loss and flow turning caused by the blades. Current open literature correlations used in streamline curvature codes are inadequate for general application to high-speed transonic axial-flow compressors. The objective of this research was to investigate and evaluate the available correlations and ultimately discover sets of correlations which best fit the empirical data to be used in streamline curvature codes. Correlations were evaluated against experimental data from NASA Rotor 1-B and NASA Stage 35. It was found that no universal set of correlations was valid for minimum-loss point predictions. The Bloch shock loss model showed promising results in the stall regime for supersonic relative inlet Mach numbers. The Hearsey and Creveling off-minimum-loss deviation angle prediction performed consistently better than all other correlations tested.
Master of Science

The purpose of this study was to compare 9th grade student achievement in Tennessee schools the year before and after the schools implemented a freshman academy, as well as compare such schools with traditional Tennessee high schools. The factors in this study that impact student achievement and serve as the dependent variables were attendance rates, number of credits earned, and suspensions for 9th graders. Data were obtained by various software programs used by the schools to enter, maintain, and retrieve student data. 2 x 2 ANOVAs were conducted to determine if there were differences in the mean attendance rates and mean number of credits earned among 9th graders based on the type of institution, the academic years prior to and following the implementation of the freshman academy approach, and the 2-way interaction between the type of institution and the academic year. Crosstabulated tables and chi-square tests were used to determine if there was a relationship between suspensions prior to the academic year the Freshman Academy was implemented and the academic year following its implementation. The 2 x 2 ANOVAs conducted using Freshman Academy A and Traditional High School C indicated there was a significant difference in mean attendance rates and mean number of credits earned. Mean attendance rates and mean number of credits earned were higher at Freshman Academy A once the academy approach was implemented. The 2 x 2 ANOVAs conducted using Freshman Academy B and Traditional High School D indicated there was no significant difference in mean attendance rates and mean number of credits earned once the academy approach was implemented. Two-by-two crosstabulated tables and chi-square tests were used to determine if there was a relationship between suspensions at the Freshman Academy high schools (A & B) for years prior to and following implementation of the academy approach. The analysis of the data indicated there was a significant difference in the number of students suspended following the implementation of the academy approach at Freshman Academy A but not at Freshman Academy B.

The current approach to assessing the educational quality applicable to assessing objects and processes formed and realized in producing spheres is widely spread. However, as education is a much more complicated anthropological, social and cultural object in comparison to that of production, the above mentioned approach is least effective. In education both \"strong\" and \"weak\" models are used. There do not exist measurement instruments for accurate assessing mild results. Self control, expert assessing method and portfolio are being put forward.

In this thesis, an approximation is proposed to evaluate the steady-state performance of kanban controlled assembly systems. The approximation is developed for the systems with two components making up an assembly. Then, it is extended to systems with more than two components. A continuous-time Markov model is aggregated keeping the model exact, and this aggregate model is approximated replacing some state-dependent transition rates with constant rates. Decomposition of the approximate aggregate model into submodels guarantees product-form steady-state distribution for each subsystem. Finally, submodels are combined in such a way that the size of the problem becomes independent of the number of kanbans. This brings about the computational advantage in solving the combined model using numerical matrix-geometric solution algorithms. Based on the numerical comparisons with simulation, the exact model, an approximate aggregate model and another approximation in a previous study in the literature, the approximation is observed to be good in terms of accuracy with respect to computational burden and has the potential to be a building block for the analysis of systems that are more complex but closer to real-life applications.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Civil engineering)) - Central University of Technology, free State, 2013
Hydrological models have become vital tools for understanding hydrologic processes at the catchment level. In order to use model outputs for tasks ranging from regulation to research, models should be scientifically sound, robust, and tenable. Model evaluation is therefore beneficial in the acceptance of models to support scientific research and to guide policy, regulatory, and management decision-making. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the SWAT model in simulating stream flow for the Modder River Basin. The study area is situated at -29° 11’ latitude and 26° 6’ longitude at an elevation of 1335 m and drains a land area of 949 km2. The land cover is mainly grassland (pasture) with other minor land use types. The climate of the area is semi-arid with Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP) of 563 mm. Two techniques that are widely used in evaluating models, namely quantitative statistics and graphical techniques, were applied to evaluate the performance of the SWAT model. Three quantitative statistics, namely Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), percent bias (PBIAS), and ratio of the mean square error to the standard deviation of measured data (RSR), in addition to the graphical techniques, were identified to be used in model evaluation. Results of calibration and validation of the model at a monthly time step gave NSE of 0.65, Pbias of 15 and RSR of 0.4, while NSE of 0.5, Pbias of 31 and RSR of 0.5 were recorded for validation. According to monthly model performance ratings, the model performed well during calibration and performed satisfactory during the validation stage.

Under det senaste decenniet har fraktcykeln genomgått något av en återupplivning. Historiskt setthar fraktcykeln använts flitigt för leveranser av post och varor för att eventuellt fasas ut av denmoderna bilen. Med tanke på de miljöproblem som då uppstått till följd av människans beroende avbilen har det uppstått en efterfrågan för utsläppsfria fordon. Företag, städer och kommuner harinsett potentialen som dagens fraktcykel besitter för att lösa dessa problem. I kombination meddagens teknik har den kommersiella fraktcykeln utrustats med elmotor vilket möjliggör många nyaanvändningsområden för fraktcykeln. I arbetet har ett koncept av en cykeltaximodul för företaget ifråga tagits fram genom systematisk produktutveckling. Konceptets material har bestämts med hjälpav programmet CES EduPack och dess miljöpåverkan i form av en livscykelanalys har studeratsgenom funktionen EcoAudit i CES EduPack. Konceptet förverkligas genom en 3D-modellering iritningsprogrammet SolidWorks.
During the last decade, the freight bicycle has experienced sort of a revival. Historically, the freightbicycle has been used extensively for deliveries of mail and goods only to become replaced by themodern car. Considering the environmental problems that have come about as a result ofhumanity’s dependence on modern four-wheeled vehicles, a demand for emission-free vehicles hasrisen. Companies, cities and municipalities have realized the potential of the modern freight cycle tosolve these problems. In line with modern technology, commercial freight bicycle has been equippedwith an electric motor, which enables many new areas of applications for the freight bicycle, manyof which the freight bicycle can replace the car as the primary mode of transportation. Some of thepossible uses are delivery of goods in urban environment and metropolitan areas, bicycle cab andmobility service. In this study, a concept of a module for a bicycle taxi has been developed through asystematic product development process. The material for the concept is selected using CES EduPackwhere its environmental impact is also studied by the way of a life cycle analysis using the functionEcoAudit within the same program. The concept is brought to life by a 3D-model using SolidWorks.

As a local education agency, school districts play an important role in providing instructional support for teachers and school leaders, making instructional goals, and allocating financial and human capital resources in a rational way to promote overall students’ learning outcomes. Studies on school districts that look to find reasons or characteristics related to school district success are known as district effectiveness research (DER). Previous quantitative research in DER using longitudinal dataset has assumed that all school district effectiveness (SDE) changes in a common pattern through a traditional ordinary linear regression or a hierarchal linear model while ignoring the probability that there might exist distinct subgroups of school district effectiveness trajectories. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine the existence of different SDE trajectories and how school district demographic variables and financial expenditures affect classification of SDE groups using a growth mixture model (GMM) with a national longitudinal dataset containing all public school districts in all 50 states and Washington D.C. from 2009 to 2015 (n = 11,185). The results indicated that (a) there are three different classes of school district effectiveness growth trajectories, which can be named as a constant SDE group (3.66%), a decreasing SDE group (34.16%), and an increasing SDE group (62.18%); (b) school district demographic characteristics such as a percentage of free lunch students and general administration expenditure per pupil are significantly associated with the probability of a school district being classified to a specific group; and (c) the longitudinal effects of school district demographic covariates and financial expenditures within each class such as school district locations (e.g., urban, suburban, etc.) are associated with the growth factors (intercept and slopes) in different ways.

The central problem of this study is to identify and develop a model for the administration of rehabilitation services to the handicapped which can be applied to identify needed services in any country, such as Kuwait. The method used in developing the model entailed obtaining basic information about how selected nations administer services for the handicapped through: (1) Published sources and reports; (2) Unpublished material; (3) Interviews of selected officials responsible for the handicapped. The review of literature consists of two parts. Part one reviews organizational strategies: (1) The engineering strategy; (2) The behavioral strategy; (3) The systems strategy. The second part focuses on rehabilitation services in the eight countries selected for this study. These are discussed in the order of their difference from the State of Kuwait: the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Japan, Yugoslavia, Thailand, Kenya, and finally Kuwait. Each is discussed in the following terms: (1) Overview; (2) History of Rehabilitation Services; (3) Structure of Service Delivery System; (4) Legislation of Rehabilitation Services. The study was preceded by an analysis of tasks organized within the framework of the International Classification Matrix Model with a view to establishing an approach to prospective evaluation. A matrix can be defined as a rectangular array of elements arranged in rows and columns; the matrix used in this study was formulated on the basis of information and data collected in the eight selected countries in terms of: (a) General Cultural/Social Orientation Pattern (i) "ascriptive/traditional," (ii) "mixed-attributes," and (iii) "achievement/innovative"); (b) Degree of Cultural Materialism; (c) Cultural Attitude Toward Handicapped; (d) Percent of Population Classified As "Handicapped"; (e) Per Capita Income; (f) General National Political Orientation; (g) General National Administrative Structure; (h) Degree of Bureaucratization; (i) Types of Delivery Service. This study classifies nations for the purposes of general evaluation of their approaches to national administration of services for the handicapped and application of these approaches to a specific country, Kuwait.

From a jurisprudential analysis of several judgments of the Constitutional Court, the author tries to show a new perspective based on a dynamic vision of a Social State and Constitutional Law, which ones require a fundamental presence of judges in the deliberation of court cases related to the prohibition on collective bargaining in the case of public employment, in order to show the scope of axiological protection that labor law should take in situations such as public employment and lack of funds in order to achieve equality between public and private employment , thus avoiding overt discrimination.
A partir de un análisis jurisprudencial de diversas sentencias del Tribunal Constitucional, el autor intenta presentar una perspectiva basada en el cambio de visión de un Estado Social y Constitucional de Derecho que exige una presencia fundamental de los jueces en la deliberación de los casos referentes a la prohibición de la negociación colectiva en el caso del empleo público, para con ello demostrar el ámbito de protección axiológica que debe asumir el derecho laboral frente a situaciones como el empleo público y la falta de presupuesto para lograr una igualdad entre los empleos públicos y privados, evitando así, una discriminación manifiesta.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio State University, 2005.
Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 129 p.; also includes graphics. Includes bibliographical references (p. 120-129). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Life Cycle Assessments on buildings and various environmental certificates are starting to become customary for newbuilding projects in Sweden. Building materials play a big part in a building’s environmental impact. Earlier research indicates that Life Cycle Assessments is not a routine in today’s construction process and it may depend on uncertainties in the methods of quantifying carbon dioxide emissions. This master thesis focuses on how equivalent carbon dioxides, a standard unit to quantify greenhouse gas emissions, of building materials can be integrated with Building Information Modelling. Through meetings with experts in the field, data has been collected. A 3D model of a house was built in order to evaluate both an integration with a cost calculation tool and directly with the 3D model. The results showed how the cost calculation tool works for calculations of equivalent carbon dioxides, early in the pre-construction phase. Difficulties in finding corresponding materials in their database were found and issues with summarizing carbon dioxide data. The integration directly into the 3D model, with visual programming, proved an insert for each materials’ carbon dioxide emissions worked. This allows further updates throughout the building process. It was also possible to import material information to a carbon dioxide calculation tool. This evaluation opened up a possibility to change and update carbon dioxide emissions at an early design stage of a building process with Building Information Modelling along with a need of organizational change due to today's traditional building processes.
Livscykelanalyser på byggnader och olika typer av miljöbyggnads-certifieringar blir allt vanligare för nya byggprojekt i Sverige. Materialet i en byggnad spelar en stor roll av hela byggnadens miljöpåverkan. Tidigare forskning indikerar att livscykelanalyser inte är en rutin i dagens byggprocesser vilket kan bero på att osäkerheter i de olika metoderna bakom koldioxidberäkningar. Den här artikeln fokuserar på hur koldioxidekvivalenter av byggnadsmaterial kan bli integrerade med Byggnadsinformationsmodellering. Genom möten med experter i området har datainsamling gjorts för det ändamålet. För att undersöka integreringen byggdes en 3D-modell upp och som senare användes för beräkningar av koldioxidutsläpp i ett kostnads-kalkyleringsverktyg samt undersöka hur en införing av koldioxidekvivalenter direkt i 3D-modellen kunde göras. Resultaten visade hur kostnads-beräkningsverktyget fungerar för beräkningar av koldioxidekvivalenter, tidigt i byggprocessen. Svårigheter i att hitta motsvarande material i kalkyleringsverktygets databas upptäcktes under utvärderingen samt en sammanfattande rapport för beräkningarna. Integrationen direkt i 3D-modellen med visuell programmering visade att en inmatning av koldioxidutsläpp för varje material fungerade vilket möjliggör uppdateringar under hela byggprocessen. Det var också möjligt att importera materialinformation till ett koldioxidberäkningsverktyg. Det öppnar upp möjligheter att ändra och uppdatera koldioxidutsläpp för material tidigt i byggprocessen med hjälp av Byggnadsinformationsmodellering och visar behov av organisationsförändringar på grund av dagens traditionella byggprocess.

Today, the main research field for the automotive industry is to find solutions for active safety. In order to perceive the surrounding environment, tracking nearby traffic objects plays an important role. Validation of the tracking performance is often done in staged traffic scenarios, where additional sensors, mounted on the vehicles, are used to obtain their true positions and velocities. The difficulty of evaluating the tracking performance complicates its development. An alternative approach studied in this thesis, is to record sequences and use non-causal algorithms, such as smoothing, instead of filtering to estimate the true target states. With this method, validation data for online, causal, target tracking algorithms can be obtained for all traffic scenarios without the need of extra sensors. We investigate how non-causal algorithms affects the target tracking performance using multiple sensors and dynamic models of different complexity. This is done to evaluate real-time methods against estimates obtained from non-causal filtering. Two different measurement units, a monocular camera and a LIDAR sensor, and two dynamic models are evaluated and compared using both causal and non-causal methods. The system is tested in two single object scenarios where ground truth is available and in three multi object scenarios without ground truth. Results from the two single object scenarios shows that tracking using only a monocular camera performs poorly since it is unable to measure the distance to objects. Here, a complementary LIDAR sensor improves the tracking performance significantly. The dynamic models are shown to have a small impact on the tracking performance, while the non-causal application gives a distinct improvement when tracking objects at large distances. Since the sequence can be reversed, the non-causal estimates are propagated from more certain states when the target is closer to the ego vehicle. For multiple object tracking, we find that correct associations between measurements and tracks are crucial for improving the tracking performance with non-causal algorithms.

The application of environmental performance indicators (EPIs) has received increasing attention by both governments and international organisations as a tool for assessing complex environmental scenarios in national and local decision making processes. However, at the regional scale there is a gap in the application of EPIs, as this has not been well understood and defined due to a limited theoretical foundation and often insufficient data from all participant countries. The regional scale is important because it can incorporate natural ecosystems which often transcend national boundaries. A case study is developed for the Lower Mekong Subregion (LMS), where four riparian Southeast Asian countries (Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia, and Viet Nam) share the Lower Mekong River. The research proposes a conceptual framework to identify approaches for developing criteria for acceptable and appropriate EPIs which can be used to support and implement decision making processes by relevant organisations at the regional level. This research evaluates the application of environmental performance indicators using methodologies that assess cross-national quantitative and qualitative data and existing decision support systems. In addition, global and national indicators are examined for application and relation to the regional context. The research finds that the application of EPIs varies according to spatial scale, and is diverse among the four countries. Data availability is also identified as a major problem encountered during the development and selection of EPIs. The study finds that the governance of the existing regional body is ineffective due to differing agendas pursued by each participating country. This is because the current regional body is structured only to facilitate information exchange and cooperation in a limited manner, focusing so far only on water management issues. LMS regional goals need to be set in order to guide the stakeholders in identifying an appropriate set of EPIs. Most importantly, the research is intended to be a catalyst for encouraging the participants to integrate methods and other species of EPIs proposed in this research in their environmental assessment policies.

No
Abstract: In periodic manner the analysts teams are in the process of designing, updating and verifying the situational awareness SWA system. Initially, at the designing stage the risk assessment model has little information about the dynamic environment. Hence, any missing information can directly impact the situational assessment capabilities. With this in mind, researchers relied on various performance metrics in order to verify how well they were doing in assessing different situations. In fact, before measuring the ranking capabilities of the SWA system, the underlying performance metrics should be examined against its intended purpose. In this paper, we have conducted quality based evaluations for the performance metrics, namely "The Ranking Capability Score". The results obtained showed that the proposed performance metrics have scaled well over a number of scenarios. Indeed, from the data fusion perspectives the underlying metrics have adequately satisfied different SWA system needs and configurations.

This paper presents an optimal method and a heuristic approach which aims at maximizing the profit when responding to a set of customer enquiries under limited capacity. The model takes into consideration the quantity of available-to-promise (ATP) which measures the capability to fill customer orders, along with enquiry quantity and product price. The optimal method and the heuristic approach are tested using ATP, product price and enquiry quantity each at their different levels. From the example conducted, it is found that (1) the optimal model can help to make appropriate decision for selecting a subset of enquiries, and (2) the heuristic approach can produce a result within 5% from the optimum achieved by optimal method for most parameter settings.
Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

碩士
東吳大學
經濟學系
107
This paper divides 88 commercial banks in China from 2015 to 2017 into state-owned commercial banks, joint-stock commercial banks, city commercial banks, rural commercial banks and foreign banks. The dynamic two-stage SBM model is used to explore the operational and profit efficiency of the above five types of commercial banks. Then we use Boston matrix to analyze the efficiency value of commercial banks that mainly to explore the difference in performance between different 5 types of banks in operation and profit efficiency. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of dynamic setting and weight setting are performed by kendall's coefficient of rank correlation and Wilcoxon test. In the first stage of operation, commercial banks, joint-stock commercial banks and foreign banks’ scores are higher than average annual efficiency values. The performance of foreign banks at this stage is good and have better management capabilities, due to their past experience. In the second stage of profit, state-owned commercial banks, joint-stock commercial banks and foreign banks’ scores are higher than annual average efficiency value. Foreign banks have the smallest scale, but the profitability is higher than that of city and rural commercial banks. The reason is low non-performing loan ratio. According to the Boston Matrix, state-owned commercial banks have high operations and high profitability. Joint-stock commercial banks are comparable to state-owned commercial banks but must be aware of operations. Nearly 50% of city commercial banks have high operations and high profitability, but more than 50% require special attention in operations and profitability. More than 50% of rural commercial banks have performed poorly in both operation and profitability. More than 50% of foreign banks have excellent performance in operations and profits, and a few banks need to pay attention to their operational performance. For sensitivity analysis, according to the Wilcoxon test and the dynamic two-stage model Carry-over setting, rural commercial banks operating non-performing loans, total loans and securities investment have a significant influence in 2016. For two-stage weight setting, with the setting of “0.2 and 0.8” and “0.8 and 0.2” in rural commercial banks in 2016, and “0.8 and 0.2” in rural commercial banks in 2017, there is a significant difference. The rest is not significantly different from the model in this paper.

碩士
稻江科技暨管理學院
境外EMBA企業管理碩士在職專班
103
With the rise of Taiwan, mainland China Paper Industry, small paper-making enterprises was accelerated out of the market. Large Enterprise Merger & Reorganization has become an important measure the optimization and upgrading of industry. With the increasing cost pressures, how to effectively assess and improve their business performance paper industry, it has become a topic the general public and government agencies and investors are concerned. This study aims to examine the developing and implementing a performance evaluation model of paper industry in Taiwan for markets at varying stages of development. Because, the paper industry in the recent years of the formation a vicious competition of the industry. Therefore, the performance measurement of paper industry is necessary. This study explores the changes in performance of Taiwan’s paper industry after the financial tsunami. The study conducts analysis of efficiency of domestic Paper Industry operating in Taiwan over the period of 2010-2014 by using two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The paper industry of based business processes to two-stage DEA input-output analysis into a composite indicator to measure in the overall business performance and regional paper industry for detailed analysis, and hoping to provide more Information for public reference.

碩士
稻江科技暨管理學院
境外EMBA企業管理碩士在職專班
103
In the era of globalization, countries signed a free trade agreement has become a trend. Japan and South Korea are the main competitors in China's steel industry. In the TPP and RCEP negotiations, their progress is far more than our country. Taiwan is in such adverse competitive situation and slowing demand in China, the impact of domestic iron ore production carve out, but also to highlight the importance of its business performance management. The study conducts analysis of efficiency of steel industry operating in Taiwan over the period of 2011-2013 by using two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The steel industry of based business processes to two-stage DEA input-output analysis into a composite indicator to measure in the overall business performance and regional steel industry for detailed analysis, and hoping to provide more Information for public reference.

碩士
東吳大學
經濟學系
103
This study aims to evaluation the efficiency of Chinese commercial banks in near term. We used the panel data of 68 Chinese commercial banks in 2011~2013. Except assessing the overall efficiency, but still uses a two-stage DEA method for joint estimation of banks operating efficiency and profitability efficiency; compare the efficiency of different types of banks efficiency. The results show: state-owned commercial bank and joint venture commercial bank are higher than other banks in profitability efficiency, but state-owned commercial bank and joint venture commercial bank are lower than foreign-owned banks and city commercial bank in operating efficiency.

碩士
國立虎尾科技大學
電機工程系碩士班
104
Lead-acid battery can be used for the energy storage systems of solar power, UPS of the power system and the battery of hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles…etc. Therefore, the measurement of the lead-acid battery internal resistance has a high place in the application of battery. It is proposed a kind of the technology to measure the lead-acid battery internal resistance in this paper. The circuit architecture in this paper is not complicated, so the cost is cheaper than the normal measurement of DC internal resistance. It is convenient and not loss the accuracy. And it can help the people to know the battery status to prevent low power battery. The measurement of DC internal resistance in this paper is based on the Electrochemistry Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to establish the First-order battery model. With the First-order battery model, it can get the Ohmic resistance(R_ohm), Polarization resistance(R_ct) and Electric double layer capacitor(C_dl) in this measurement of Direct-Current Resistance(DCR) to establish the First-order dy battery models. After the establishment of the first-order dynamical battery models, it can calculate the State Of Charge (SOC) and State Of Health (SOH).