Uma das principais dificuldades encontradas pelos pesquisadores na utilização da Estatística Experimental Não-Paramétrica é a obtenção de resultados confiáveis. Os testes mais utilizados para os delineamentos com um fator de classificação simples inteiramente casualizados e blocos casualizados são o de Kruskal-Wallis e o de Friedman, respectivamente. As tabelas disponíveis para estes testes são pouco abrangentes, fazendo com que o pesquisador seja obrigado a recorrer a aproximações. Estas aproximações diferem dependendo do autor a ser consultado, podendo levar a resultados contraditórios. Além disso, tais tabelas não consideram empates, mesmo no caso de pequenas amostras. No caso de comparações múltiplas isto é mais evidente ainda, em especial quando ocorrem empates ou ainda, nos delineamentos inteiramente casualizados onde se tem número diferente de repetições entre tratamentos. Nota-se ainda que os softwares mais utilizados em geral recorrem a aproximações para fornecer os níveis de significância, além de não apresentarem resultados para as comparações múltiplas. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar um programa, em linguagem C, que realiza os testes de Kruskal-Wallis, de Friedman e de comparações múltiplas entre todos os tratamentos (bilateral) e entre os tratamentos e o controle (uni e bilateral) considerando todas as configurações sistemáticas de postos ou com 1.000.000 de configurações aleatórias, dependendo do número total de permutações possíveis. Dois níveis de significância são apresentados: o DW ou MaxDif , baseado na comparação com a diferença máxima dentro de cada configuração e o Geral, baseado na comparação com todas as diferenças em cada configuração. Os valores do nível de significância Geral assemelham-se aos fornecidos pela aproximação normal. Os resultados obtidos através da utilização do programa mostram, ainda, que os testes utilizando as permutações aleatórias podem ser bons substitutos nos casos em que o número de permutações sistemáticas é muito grande, já que os níveis de probabilidade são bastante próximos. / One of the most difficulties for the researchers in using Nonparametric Methods is to obtain reliable results. Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests are the most used for one-way layout and for randomized blocks, respectively. Tables available for these tests are not too wild, so the research must use approximate values. These approximations are different, depending on the author and the results can be not similar. Furthermore, these tables do not taking account tied observations, even in the case of small sample. For multiple comparisons, this is more evident, specially when tied observations occur or the number of replications is different. Many softwares like SAS, STATISTICA, S-Plus, MINITAB, etc., use approximation in order to get the significance levels and they do not present results for multiple comparisons. Thus, the aim of this work is to present a routine in C language that runs Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman and multiple comparisons among all treatments (bi-tailed) and between treatment and control (uni and bi-tailed), considering all the systematic configurations of the ranks or with more than 1,000,000 random ones, depending on the total of possible permutations. Two levels of significance are presented: DW or MaxDif, based on the comparison of the maximum difference within each configuration and the Geral, based on the comparison of all differences for each configuration. The Geral values of the significance level are very similar for the normal approximation. The obtaining results through this routine show that, the tests using random permutations can be nice substitutes for the case of the number of systematic permutations is too large, once the levels of probability are very near.

Effective construction management involves real-time decisions regarding the progress of specific activities, the location of materials and equipment, and the construction site safety. The decision making process can be improved using real-time positioning technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) systems, Global Positioning System (GPS), and Ultra Wide Band (UWB) sensors. While the GPS is not applicable to indoor positioning and RFID tags cannot provide a fully automated system for position location, the characteristics of UWB systems make this technology a strong candidate for a fully automated positioning system in an indoor construction environment. This thesis presents a comprehensive study of the performance of UWB systems in a controlled laboratory environment and in an institutional construction site in Waterloo, Canada as well as for a particular safety application. A primary objective of the research was to establish the accuracy of real-time position location under various conditions, including the effect of different construction materials (e.g., wood and metal), and to analyze changes in the accuracy of position location as construction progresses and the indoor environment physically evolves. Different challenges faced in implementing such a system in an active construction environment are addressed. Based on a statistical analysis of laboratory data, and considering the construction site experience, the reliability of the UWB positioning system for the aforementioned environments is discussed. Furthermore, an automated safety system is proposed using the real-time UWB positioning technology. Based on the error modeling of the UWB position location, an optimum alarming algorithm is designed for the proposed safety system and the reliability of such system is evaluated through a statistical analysis.

Objectives: Dysregulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has frequently been reported in multiple sclerosis (MS). So far, HPA axis function in MS has predominantly been studied under pharmacological stimulation which is associated with a series of methodological caveats. Knowledge of circadian cortisol patterns and cortisol awakening response (CAR) is still limited. Methods: A total of 77 MS patients (55 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)/22 secondary-progressive MS (SPMS)) as well as 34 healthy control (HC) subjects were enrolled. Diurnal cortisol release was assessed by repeated salivary cortisol sampling. Neurological disability was rated by the Kurtzke’s Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Depressive symptoms and perceived stress were assessed by self-report measures. Results: RRMS but not SPMS patients differed in circadian cortisol release from HC subjects. Differences in cortisol release were restricted to CAR. Treated and treatment naïve RRMS patients did not differ in CAR. In a RRMS follow-up cohort (nine months follow-up), RRMS patients with EDSS progression (≥0.5) expressed a significantly greater CAR compared to HC subjects. RRMS patients with a stable EDSS did not differ from HC subjects. Neither depressive symptoms nor perceived stress ratings were associated with CAR in RRMS patients. In a step-wise regression analysis, EDSS at baseline and CAR were predictive of EDSS at follow-up (R2 = 67%) for RRMS patients. Conclusions: Circadian cortisol release, in particular CAR, shows a course specific pattern with most pronounced release in RRMS. There is also some evidence for greater CAR in RRMS patients with EDSS progression. As a consequence, CAR might be of predictive value in terms of neurological disability in RRMS patients. The possible role of neuroendocrine-immune interactions in MS pathogenesis is further discussed.

為了因應全球暖化，鼓勵再生能源發展，先進國家逐步推動「綠色電價」。由於再生能源發電成本較一般傳統電力成本來得高，故再生能源電能之價格也會高於傳統電能之價格。對於高成本高售價之再生能源電能，多數國家在市場上透過用電戶自願認購方式進行銷售，並收取所謂的綠色電價，以作為綠色電力基金之來源，或作為未來發展再生能源之資金來源。透過這樣的制度，可以讓整體社會共同參與環境保護的工作，也可提高人民的環保意識和各界環境責任感，也可籌措再生能源發展所需的資金。 本研究透過問卷調查法，以網路問卷－Google Form發放，觀察並探討民眾對於綠色電價政策之購買意願，以及民眾對於當前政策之考量，透過ANOVA檢定，分析民眾填答問卷之結果，了解民眾本身對於環保問題的認知與意識，及民眾對於綠色電價政策之考量因素主要為何。根據問卷分析與檢定結果發現：多數民眾對於綠色電價的概念仍然相當模糊，但是大多會選擇購買綠色電價。 其次是對於本文所歸納的五個政策因素考量存有疑慮－政府政策宣導、綠色電價的制度設計、相關法規制定、執行單位之效能，以及支付額外的綠色電價對國人經濟上的負擔。五項當中，又以執行單位可能效能不佳之疑慮評分為最高。 本研究另外發現，民眾對於綠色電價的願付價格，接受度最高的是綠色電價比一般電價貴10%以下，意即在回收的221份問卷中，當綠電價格每度低於3.18元，一般民眾有五成以上會選購，與目前綠電價格設定3.96元存有落差。據此，在綠色電價政策推行上，和實際民眾購買意願之間，應該如何制訂一個合理的綠色電價，是需要仰賴國內產、官、學各界充分討論，以及民眾意見妥善表達，在國家與社會民眾間，取得一個平衡點，並且參考各先進國家發展自願性綠色電價之經驗。如此，方能在國家發展經濟的同時，又能兼顧環境保護和節能減碳，達到國家永續發展之政策目標。 / In response to global warming, the development of renewable energy is encouraged. Advanced countries are gradually promoting “green power pricing programs”. Due to the higher generating costs of renewable energy’s electricity than conventional one, therefore renewable energy electricity prices will be definitely higher than traditional electric energy prices. The high cost of renewable energy’s electricity pushes most countries in the market to sell this type of electricity to consumers through a voluntary subscription mode and charge a so-called green power pricing. Using green power as a source of funds or as the future development of renewable energy funding sources and with such a system, you can make the whole society participate in environmental protection work. People from all walks of life will have their environmental awareness and responsibility adequately improved. This study uses an online questionnaire－Google Form to survey, observe and explore the public’s reaction towards green power pricing policy, its willingness to purchase and its considerations for the current policies. Through the ANOVA test and the analysis of the results of the survey to understand the public’s cognition and awareness of environmental issues and the public’s main considerations towards the green power pricing policy, for most people such concept is still quite vague but anyhow they will choose to buy green. Secondly, this article summarizes five policy factors for consideration –doubts about government policy and advocacy, the designing of the green power pricing system, the related laws and regulations, the performance of the executive units and the payment of the green power pricing adding to the economic burden of the people. In the above five points, the poor performance of the units will, undoubtedly, carry the highest score. This study also found that the public is willing to pay for green power pricing and there is even a higher acceptance if the price would not exceed more than 10% of conventional electricity price. In other words, according to the response of 221 questionnaires, if the green power price lower than NT$3.18 /kWh, there will be half of people to purchase it. This study conducted a gap analysis between the current green power price－NT$3.96 /kWh and the price people accepted generally. Accordingly, the implementation of a policy on green electricity and the real willingness of the people to purchase such electricity depend on how reasonable the green tariff is. The industry, the government , the academia should all express their opinions. The state and the society must seek and strike a balance while referring to the development of green energy voluntary subscription tariffs in advanced countries. In this way, while simultaneously developing the economy of the country and taking into account the environment protection, energy saving and carbon reduction, we can reach our national goals of achieving a sustainable development.

Effective construction management involves real-time decisions regarding the progress of specific activities, the location of materials and equipment, and the construction site safety. The decision making process can be improved using real-time positioning technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) systems, Global Positioning System (GPS), and Ultra Wide Band (UWB) sensors. While the GPS is not applicable to indoor positioning and RFID tags cannot provide a fully automated system for position location, the characteristics of UWB systems make this technology a strong candidate for a fully automated positioning system in an indoor construction environment. This thesis presents a comprehensive study of the performance of UWB systems in a controlled laboratory environment and in an institutional construction site in Waterloo, Canada as well as for a particular safety application. A primary objective of the research was to establish the accuracy of real-time position location under various conditions, including the effect of different construction materials (e.g., wood and metal), and to analyze changes in the accuracy of position location as construction progresses and the indoor environment physically evolves. Different challenges faced in implementing such a system in an active construction environment are addressed. Based on a statistical analysis of laboratory data, and considering the construction site experience, the reliability of the UWB positioning system for the aforementioned environments is discussed. Furthermore, an automated safety system is proposed using the real-time UWB positioning technology. Based on the error modeling of the UWB position location, an optimum alarming algorithm is designed for the proposed safety system and the reliability of such system is evaluated through a statistical analysis.

This dissertation studies three classes of estimators for the asymptotic variance parameter of a stationary stochastic process. All estimators are based on the concept of data "re-use" and all transform the output process into functions of an approximate Brownian motion process. The first class of estimators consists folded standardized time series area and Cramér-von Mises (CvM) estimators. Detailed expressions are obtained for their expectation at folding levels 0 and 1; those expressions explain the puzzling increase in small-sample bias as the folding level increases. In addition, we use batching and linear combinations of estimators from different levels to produce estimators with significantly smaller variance. Finally, we obtain very accurate approximations of the limiting distributions of batched folded estimators. These approximations are used to compute confidence intervals for the mean and variance parameter of the underlying stochastic process. The second class --- folded overlapping area estimators --- are computed by averaging folded versions of the standardized time series corresponding to overlapping batches. We establish the limiting distributions of the proposed estimators as the sample size tends to infinity. We obtain statistical properties of these estimators such as bias and variance. Further, we find approximate confidence intervals for the mean and variance parameter of the process by approximating the theoretical distributions of the proposed estimators. In addition, we develop algorithms to compute these estimators with only order-of-sample-size work. The third class --- reflected area and CvM estimators --- are computed from reflections of the original sample path. We obtain the expected values and variance of individual estimators. We show that it is possible to obtain linear combinations of reflected estimators with smaller variance than the variance of each constituent estimator, often at no cost in bias. A quadratic optimization problem is solved to find an optimal linear combination of estimators that minimizes the variance of the linearly combined estimator. For all classes of estimators, we provide Monte Carlo examples to show that the estimators perform as well in practice as advertised by the theory.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2008. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 106, 1 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-87). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Esta dissertação propõe um método de análise dos eventos de aceleração dos motores e dissipação de energia através do uso dos freios aerodinâmicos na fase de descida das aeronaves Boeing 737 NG da VRG Linhas Aéreas, baseando-se nos conceitos de energia, de aproximações em descidas contínuas e desenho dos procedimentos de chegadas, revisando as bases das práticas de conservação de combustível e dos sistemas de garantia da qualidade das operações de vôo. Foram analisadas mais de 130.000 descidas em um período de nove meses, durante a operação normal da empresa, através de leitura de dados dos gravadores de vôo que resultaram, após aplicação de algoritmos matemáticos simples e filtros, em mais de 314.000 eventos isolados. Estes eventos foram tratados com uma visão estatística, permitindo a quantificação financeira dos eventos através da proporcionalidade da variação de combustível consumido e energia agregada ou dissipada da aeronave. Os resultados obtidos através do método apresentado permitiram apontar as famílias, séries e prefixos de aeronaves com diferentes desempenhos nas descidas, as cidades de destino e rotas com desempenho baixo quanto a conservação de combustível e energia, assim apontando os possíveis caminhos para a empresa focar esforços na redução do custo de combustível. / This paper proposes a method of analysis of fuel consumption and energy dissipation events, as a consequence of engines acceleration and the use of speed brakes during the Boeing 737 NG descent segment of VRG Linhas Aéreas, based on the concepts of energy, continuous descent approaches and design of arrivals procedures, reviewing the basics of fuel conservation practices and flight operations quality assurance systems.There were analyzed more than 130,000 descents in a period of nine months, during the company normal operation, by reading data from flight recorders that resulted in, after the application of simple mathematical algorithms and filters, more than 314,000 individual events. These events were treated with a statistical view, to quantify the financial impact of this events through the proportionality of the variation in fuel consumption and energy added or dissipated by the aircraft.The results obtained using this method allowed to understand families, series and tail numbers of aircrafts with different performances on the descent phase, the destination cities and routes with poor performance in energy and fuel conservation, thus indicating a possible focus to enhance efforts to reduce total fuel costs.