The main objective of our study is to employ copula methodology to develop Bayesian hierarchical models to study the dependencies exhibited by temporal, spatial and spatio-temporal processes. We develop hierarchical models for both discrete and continuous outcomes. In doing so we expect to address the dearth of copula based Bayesian hierarchical models to study hydro-meteorological events and other physical processes yielding discrete responses. First, we present Bayesian methods of analysis for longitudinal binary outcomes using Generalized Linear Mixed models (GLMM). We allow flexible marginal association among the repeated outcomes from different time-points. An unique property of this copula-based GLMM is that if the marginal link function is integrated over the distribution of the random effects, its form remains same as that of the conditional link function. This unique property enables us to retain the physical interpretation of the fixed effects under conditional and marginal model and yield proper posterior distribution. We illustrate the performance of the posited model using real life AIDS data and demonstrate its superiority over the traditional Gaussian random effects model. We develop a semiparametric extension of our GLMM and re-analyze the data from the AIDS study. Next, we propose a general class of models to handle non-Gaussian spatial data. The proposed model can deal with geostatistical data that can accommodate skewness, tail-heaviness, multimodality. We fix the distribution of the marginal processes and induce dependence via copulas. We illustrate the superior predictive performance of our approach in modeling precipitation data as compared to other kriging variants. Thereafter, we employ mixture kernels as the copula function to accommodate non-stationary data. We demonstrate the adequacy of this non-stationary model by analyzing permeability data. In both cases we perform extensive simulation studies to investigate the performances of the posited models under misspecification. Finally, we take up the important problem of modeling multivariate extreme values with copulas. We describe, in detail, how dependences can be induced in the block maxima approach and peak over threshold approach by an extreme value copula. We prove the ability of the posited model to handle both strong and weak extremal dependence and derive the conditions for posterior propriety. We analyze the extreme precipitation events in the continental United States for the past 98 years and come up with a suite of predictive maps.

The focus of this study was to design and build a guarded hot box to test the R-Value of building materials. The Riverside Energy Efficiency Laboratory is looking to expand their testing capabilities by including this service. Eventually, the laboratory will become energy star certified. A guarded hot box facility consists of two boxes maintained at specific temperatures and a guard box around each one that is maintained at the same temperature as the box it surrounds. The ASTM C1363 standard was used as guide for the construction and testing of sample specimen. This standard called for an air velocity profile uniform within 10 percent of the average. Velocity tests were performed with various different configurations to give a uniform velocity. Although the velocity did not meet standards, the configuration chosen included a piece of 1/4" pegboard placed 2" away from the top and the bottom of the inner box. By using the known overall heat added and removed from the system, as well as all the heat losses the heat transferred through the specimen and its R-Value can be calculated. The uncertainty of the R-Value and the accuracy of the testing facility gave conflicting results. Future experiments will use improved testing methods that include differential thermocouples to obtain better uncertainty for the R-Value calculations.

Recently, the new type department stores are increasing rapidly. The competition among department stores is getting intensified. In early days, department stores usually competed with others by giving customers some discount or sending them gifts. However, the result of price war is that businesses are hard to raise their profits. This study analyzes consumer behavior by investigating the relation between store image and customer value, researching the correlation between customer value and price sensitivity and understanding the interference effects of demographics and lift style to test whether department stores can boost customer value by improving the store image and then decrease price sensitivity. This study adopts structural questionnaire to survey, Pearson Correlation Analysis and Canonical Correlation Analysis to analyze the relation between store image and customer value and research the correlation between customer value and price sensitivity, and Multiple Regression to investigate the mediating effects of customer value. Besides, in order to analyze the interference effects of demographics and lift style, this study chooses the Multivariate Analysis of Variance as testing tools to test these two variables. To understand what is the most important way for improving store image which can raise more customer values and what customer value was rose can boost more price tolerance, this study chooses the same sample, the same demographics or the same life style, to rebuild regression formulas, and identify the influence by observing the forecast variables and their coefficients. This study finds that if we choose different samples, including different ages, educational levels and lift styles, to build regression formula, the forecast variables and their coefficients would change. That is to say, if we want to increase price tolerance by raising customer value, we have to adopt different ways to different groups. In the same way, if businesses would like to raise costumer value by improving store images, they have to adopt different ways to different groups. If businesses adopt right way, they can let customer feel having more customer values so that customers can endure higher price and then reach the goal decreasing price sensitivity.

In our research, we propose two improve methods for detection of dominant points for a digitized curve. Instead of setting a fixed length of support region, it will compute the suitable length of support region for each point to find the best approximated curvature. First, the symmetric region of support for each point on curve is determined using diagonal value. The points with local maximum averaging diagonal value can be located as the dominant points on the curve. Second, the improve method uses an optimal criterion for determining the asymmetric region of support of each boundary point, and a new mechanism for selecting the dominant points.

There are rare studies referred to how to set goal more effectively in systemic view. The purpose of this article will articulate how to set a goal in order to strive for the level of life. 2nd, it will show us what a healthy person is and how to be. 3rd, trying to use the method of systems thinking to improve the quality of goal setting and to make good decisions. The upper level of goal is mentioned about what we live for. In this article we will explore what dose life mean and the specific norms of value system from the perspective of philosophy, especially in the moral choices of self-actualized person and the tests of energy level by Kinesiology. Finally, there are three conclusions by using the systems archetypes as a carrier: 1.Hold on the life goal: always allocate a certain ratio of resources to life goal to avoid being eroded by other objectives. 2.Take value system into consideration: goal setting should be guided by value system, and also take other¡¦s goal into account. 3.Choose the fundamental solution: adopt transformational learning as the fundamental solution to assist in goal setting in order to strive for the level of life of human being.

Corporations are subject to agency problems resulting from the separation of ownership and control. When the managers and shareholders¡¦ interests are not consistent, managers will not care whether capital structure is stable, and furthermore will not mind if the project would improve firm value or not. The only thing managers concern about is to maximize their own benefit. Previous work only discusses the relation between firm value and capital structure, or the connection between agency problems and firm value. However, capital structure, agency problems and firm value are multi-connected. When managers adjust firm¡¦s capital structure, firm value changes and agency costs decreases. This research examines the relation among firm value, capital structure, and agency problems of Taiwan listed companies from 1991 to 2003, excluding banks, securities, and insurance company. We address the potentially endogenous relation among these variables by estimating a three-stage least squares regression model. The empirical results show that the higher the debt ratio, the lower the firm value, and the higher the agency costs, the lower the firm value. Nevertheless, raising debt can mitigate the effect of agency problems on firm value. The higher firm value implies the better asset utilization. However, after firms¡¦ gaining profit, managers might abuse discretionary expenses, such as luxurious office, cars, and upper salaries leading to serious agency costs. In the industry aspect, debt ratio of electronic industry hurts firm value. But in the non-electronic industry, debt can mitigate the effect of agency problems, especially for firms with low tangible asset ratio, because many companies in Taiwan are facing underinvestment. Raising debt will force firms to select the best portfolio and then increase the firm value.

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The industry environment is more and more sharp and uncertainty, business only insist to innovation can create the value and search the excellence , alignment the strategy on time, non-stop to change the organization, set-up the profitable business model and then could be elevate the business growth and survive competition. Since, the IT industry is in the stage of maturity, standard technology, the technology entrance of threshold is decrease, and into the micro-profitable era. The most important thing are to create a new generation industry or upgrade the industry and transform, such like The ACER is focus on brand, and Hon Hai non-stop to vertical integration and horizontal demarcation employ the EMS extend. So, in the change situation, how to using the thinking of innovation dynamic management, to deal with the problem is the aim of this thesis. The conclusion is ¡§competition is learning capability and execution¡¨. Leader how to make strategy alignment, manager how to make effective management, industry how to positive innovation and integrate resources and country how to breakthrough the limitation and hobble, how to brave to cross the hyper-competitive were the key points. This thesis is search the business how to using the innovation to create the value, and take two large group of ACER and Hon Hai in the IT industry for the discuss object; because, the former is for the international brand to develop, the latter is forward the international EMS and technology R&D, the result are acknowledged and afford to be the business paragon and bench-maker. These are the right focus for national IT industry of knowledge-based develop model of the two directions of how to from ¡§faster follower¡¨ transform to ¡§innovation break-through¡¨. That is to search the Taiwan business how to by ¡§efficiency driver¡¨ transform ¡§innovation driver¡¨ process, discuss business how to using innovation as strategy to create value and win profit. Finally, this research according to the relate bibliography discussion and case analyze, using the combination of Allan Afuah (1998)¡AAllan Afuah¡AChristopher L. Tucci (2000) study result of the integrate model of how to from innovation obtain profit and e-commerce business model, devise a concept model of business innovation system, it according to the innovation management as kernel, then discuss the function and essentiality of technology, main study the three key elements of strategy, value and profit for business to set-up competitive.

To consumers, price promotion delivers economic incentive. Lower price means lower cost which consumers need to pay for products and services. That explains the reason that price promotion becomes a common short-term sales strategy. In the other hand, price promotion could be one negative signal to the quality. As a result, positive benefits in sales volume brought about by economic incentive of price promotion could be canceled out by the negative signal to quality, so far as to cause the decrease of sales volume. However, the positive relationship between prices and qualities is not necessarily tenable. When some outside factors exist, the negative effects which price promotion causes to the quality will be reduced. This will make price promotion work more effectively. According to Transaction Utility Theory, consumers¡¦ purchase intention depends on perceived acquisition value and perceived transaction value. Perceived acquisition value decides the percentage between perceived benefit and perceived cost. And perceived transaction value determines the difference between the fair price which consumers consider and the real price which they pay. The higher perceived acquisition value and perceived transaction value, the greater consumers¡¦ purchase intention. This research takes outbound package travel as the observation target and applies 2*2*2 experimental design method to analyze. The variables include price promotion range (fewer discount, larger discount); brand awareness (lower brand awareness, higher brand awareness) and information supply (shorter supply, richer supply). After taking questionnaires analysis, this research concludes: 1. When price promotion gets fewer, brand awareness higher and information supply richer, consumers¡¦ perceived quality and internal reference price will be higher. 2. When consumers¡¦ perceived quality gets higher, perceived transaction value higher, and perceived cost lower, their perceived acquisition value will become higher and so as their purchase intention. Based on conclusions of this research, when brand awareness is higher, price promotion will produce more significant effect on raising consumers¡¦ purchase intention. Secondly, marketing sectors can stop price promotion from becoming the negative signal to the quality by providing consumers with more related information. Thirdly, since perceived quality is the most important factor which will influence consumers¡¦ purchase intention, enterprises should concentrate efforts on raising the quality for effectively stimulating consumers¡¦ purchase intention.

Research on holding bank¡¦s risk-taking behavior have focused on the effect on the performace. Using data in Taiwan, this paper investigates the relationship between managerial ownership, franchise value and domestic bank¡¦s risk-taking behavior. ¡@This paper includes independent variances of total return risk, systematic risk and idoiosyncratic risk derived from the capital market, and includes dependent variances of managerial ownership, franchise value, financial leveal, operating leveal and total assets. ¡@This research indicates that: ¡@1.manager ownership is negatively related to both total return risk, systematic risk and idoiosyncratic risk. ¡@2.franchise value is negatively related to both total return risk and idoiosyncratic risk, and unlated to systematic risk. ¡@3.financial leveal is unrelated to both total return risk ,systematic risk and idoiosyncratic risk. ¡@4.operating leveal is positively related to both total return risk and idoiosyncratic risk, and unlated to systematic risk. ¡@5.total assets is unrelated to both total return risk, systematic risk and idoiosyncratic risk.