In analysis of the contingency tables, the Fisher's exact test is a very important statistical significant test that is commonly used to test independence between the two variables. However, the Fisher' s exact test is based upon the assumption of the fixed margins. That is, the Fisher's exact test uses information beyond the table so that it is conservative. To solve this problem, we allow the margins to be random. This means that instead of fitting the count data to the hypergeometric distribution as in the Fisher's exact test, we model the margins and one cell using multinomial distribution, and then we use the likelihood ratio to test the hypothesis of independence. Furthermore, using Bayesian inference, we consider the Bayes factor as another test statistic. In order to judge the test performance, we compare the power of the likelihood ratio test, the Bayes factor test and the Fisher's exact test. In addition, we use our methodology to analyse data gathered from the Worcester Heart Attack Study to assess gender difference in the therapeutic management of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by selected demographic and clinical characteristics.

Fitness is important to achieve day to day tasks in our lives. It is significantly more important for the elderly as the functionality of the body declines. Fullerton Fitness Test (FFT) is a set of exercises to assess the fitness of the elderly. It was developed at Fullerton University by Dr. Roberta Rikli and Dr. Jessie Jones as a part of the LifeSpan Wellness Program. Under FFT, an individual is asked to go through a certain range of motions and based on these motions, a physician assigns a score to each exercise in FFT. The individual’s fitness is assessed based on these scores. At present, FFT is performed in the presence of a trained physician. The overall goal of the research presented in this thesis is to assess an individual’s fitness using a depth sensor mounted differential drive robot based on FFT without the help of a physician as a trained physician might not be always available and even if one is available, having one around every time is expensive. The robot autonomously navigates through the testing facility, tracks the user, assists the user performing FFT and saves the data in user file for further evaluation. The results received from the FFT is evaluated to measure the performance of the user. This data is also used for book keeping purposes and to track the progress of the user. This research is also concerned with integrating this setup with a smart home facility where all the data is stored in a central server.

Photocopy of typescript. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

The purpose of this investigation is to determine if the Polyfactor test can be used to predict the success or failure of marriage. The Polyfactor test is an indirect scale assessing the present marital adjustment of each spouse and the overall marital adjustment of the couple.

Under the Common Core State Standard (CCSS) initiative, states that voluntarily adopt the common core standards work together to develop a common assessment in order to supplement and replace existing state assessments. However, the common assessment may not cover all state standards, so states within the consortium can augment the assessment using locally developed items that align with state-specific standards to ensure that all necessary standards are measured. The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate the linking accuracy of the augmented tests using the common-item nonequivalent groups design. Pseudo-test analyses were conducted by splitting a large-scale math assessment in half, creating two parallel common assessments, and by augmenting two sets of state-specific items from a large-scale science assessment. Based upon some modifications of the pseudo-data, a simulated study was also conducted. For the pseudo-test analyses, three factors were investigated: (1) the difference in ability between the new and old test groups, (2) the differential effect size for the common assessment and state-specific item set, and (3) the number of common items. For the simulation analyses, the latent-trait correlations between the common assessment and state-specific item set as well as the differential latent-trait correlations between the common assessment and state-specific item set were used in addition to the three factors considered for the pseudo-test analyses. For each of the analyses, four equating methods were used: the frequency estimation, chained equipercentile, item response theory (IRT) true score, and IRT observed score methods. The main findings of this dissertation were as follows: (1) as the group ability difference increased, bias also increased; (2) when the effect sizes differed for the common assessment and state-specific item set, larger bias was observed; (3) increasing the number of common items resulted in less bias, especially for the frequency estimation method when the group ability differed; (4) the frequency estimation method was more sensitive to the group ability difference than the differential effect size, while the IRT equating methods were more sensitive to the differential effect size than the group ability difference; (5) higher latent-trait correlation between the common assessment and state-specific item set was associated with smaller bias, and if the latent-trait correlation exceeded 0.8, the four equating methods provided adequate linking unless the group ability difference was large; (6) differential latent-trait correlations for the old and new tests resulted in larger bias than the same latent-trait correlations for the old and new tests, and (7) when the old and new test groups were equivalent, the frequency estimation method provided the least bias, but IRT true score and observed score equating resulted in smaller bias than the frequency estimation and chained equipercentile methods when group ability differed.

Modification d'algorithmes classiques utilises dans le maintien de la cohérence de copies multiples en vue de prendre en compte une latence de détection de faute. Bref parallèle des algorithmes modifies de Kaneko et Herran et Verjus. Réalisation d'une nouvelle classification de pannes.

The purpose of this study was (a) to determine the effect of a four-step learner readiness profile: positive, active, clear, and energetic (PACE) on self-reported anxiety in first year nursing students before skill performance tests, and (b) to determine the effect of PACE on the performance of first year nursing students on skill tests. The subjects consisted of 27 first year nursing students enrolled at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon. Two multiple baseline designs across subjects were employed. Volunteers were randomly divided into three subject groups. Baseline data were collected on 5 skill tests for Group 1, 8 skill tests for Group 2, and 11 skill tests for Group 3. The treatment variable, PACE, was implemented once the baseline was established for self-reported anxiety and performance. Findings indicated that PACE was an effective treatment for reducing self-reported anxiety by first year nursing students before skill performance on tests. The students also demonstrated an increased percentage of successful skill performance tests after completion of PACE. It was concluded that PACE was an efficient and effective method for reducing self-reported anxiety and for increasing skill performance test success in first year nursing students enrolled at Chemeketa Community College, Salem, Oregon. It was recommended that PACE be implemented in the first year of the nursing program. / Graduation date: 1996

Many search problems are commonly solved with combinatoric algorithms that unnecessarily duplicate and serialize work at considerable computational expense. There are techniques available that can eliminate redundant computations and perform remaining operations concurrently, effectively reducing the branching factors of these algorithms. This thesis applies these techniques to the problem of parsing natural language. The result is an efficient programming language that can reduce some of the expense associated with principle-based parsing and other search problems. The language is used to implement various natural language parsers, and the improvements are compared to those that result from implementing more deterministic theories of language processing.

Computer technology has made rapid advances over the past several years. New developments in hardware have included the use of disks, cassette tape storage, and computer graphics. Hardware designed for specific uses has rapidly become a major component of the computer graphics technology. Many new programs have advanced the field of computer graphics and have facilitated the development of a new process termed digitizing.The present study used an Intergraph Computer System to digitize Bender Gestalt Test (BGT) protocols. This digitizing approach, although performed by the computer, can be likened to (a) taking a grid at 1/100th inch resolution, (b) placing the grid over the drawn designs, (c) reporting the X,Y coordinates which intersect the lines of the BGT drawing, (d) interpreting those X,Y coordinates statistically, and (e) developing norms for various aspects of subject drawings.A comparison was made between the computer digitizing method and the traditional method of scoring BGT protocols. The comparison was based on six indices selected from the 1977 Hutt Adience-Abience Scale. Data were collected from 60 children diagnosed as severely emotionally handicapped (SEH) and 60 children diagnosed as "normal."Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability as well as criterion-related and concurrent validity were analyzed. Reliability results favored the computer approach, while criterion-related validity was essentially the same for both computer and traditional scoring methods. Criterion validity for the traditional technique was slightly, but not significantly, higher. Concurrent validity results indicated a limited degree of similarity between the two methods; however, the discriminant properties of both methods differed. With two exceptions, all discriminant indices for both scoring methods were not significant. Drawing placement and rotation were statistically significant under the traditional method of assessment; however, neither the computer nor the traditional scoring method clearly discriminated SEH from normal children. With BGT assessment based on only six indices, lack of successful discrimination was not surprising. Previous studies recommended that the BGT be used only in a test battery when assessing emotional handicaps. The current study supported those recommendations and suggested that computer scoring can be more reliable and equally as valid as the traditional scoring method for assessing emotional factors on the BGT protocol.

Bicycle dynamics and behaviors have been vastly studied through modeling and simulation. Due to the complexity, software models are often assumed subjecting to di erent nonholonomic constraints in order to simplify the models and control algorithms. A real life autonomous bicycle faces perturbances from the road, wind, tire deformation, slipping among other external forces. Limitations of simulations will not always allow these to apply. All these issues make the autonomous bicycle research very challenging. To study the bicycle control problems a few research results from the literature are reviewed. A nonlinear bicycle model was used to conduct control simulations. Model based nonlinear controllers were applied to simulate the balance and path tracking control. A PID controller is more practical to replace the non-linear controller for the balance control. Simulation results of the di erent controllers are compared in order to decide the proper control strategies on the hardware platform. The controller design of the platform complies with practicality based on the hardware con guration. Two control schemes are implemented on the test platform; both are developed with PID algorithms. The rst scheme is a single PID control loop in which the controller takes the roll angle feedback and balances the running platform by means of steering. If the desired roll angle is zero the controller will try to hold the platform at the upright position. If the desired roll angle is non-zero the platform will be balanced at an equilibrium roll angle. A xed roll angle will lead to a xed steering angle as the result of balance control. The second scheme is directional control with balance consisting of two cascaded PID loops. Steering is the only means to control balance and direction. To do so the desired roll angle must be controlled to achieve the desired steering angle. The platform tilts to the desired side and steering follows to the same side of the tilt; the platform can then be lifted up by the centrifugal force and eventually balanced at an equilibrium roll angle. The direction can be controlled using a controlled roll angle. Many implementation issues have to be dealt with in order for the control algorithm to be functional. Dynamic roll angle measurement is implemented with complementary internal sensors (accelerometer and gyroscope). Directional information is obtained through a yaw rate gyroscope which operates on the principle of resonance. To monitor the speed of the platform, a rotational sensor was formed by using a hard drive stepper motor attached to the axis of the vehicle's driving motor. The optoelectronic circuit plays the vital role to ensure the system functionality by isolating the electromagnetic noise from the motors. Finally, in order to collect runtime data, the wireless communication is implemented through Bluetooth/RS232 serial interface. The data is then plotted and analyzed with Matlab. Controller gains are tuned through numerous road tests. Field test results show that the research has successfully achieved the goal of testing the low level control of autonomous bicycle. The developed algorithms are able to balance the platform on semi-smooth surfaces. / UOIT