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Despite considerable advances in missing data imputation techniques over the last three decades, the problem of missing data remains largely unsolved. Many techniques have emerged in the literature as candidate solutions, including the Expectation Maximisation (EM), and the combination of autoassociative neural networks and genetic algorithms (NN-GA). The merits of both these techniques have been discussed at length in the literature, but have never been compared to each other. This thesis contributes to knowledge by firstly, conducting a comparative study of these two techniques.. The significance of the difference in performance of the methods is presented. Secondly, predictive analysis methods suitable for the missing data problem are presented. The predictive analysis in this problem is aimed at determining if data in question are predictable and hence, to help in choosing the estimation techniques accordingly. Thirdly, a novel treatment of missing data for online condition monitoring problems is presented. An ensemble of three autoencoders together with hybrid Genetic Algorithms (GA) and fast simulated annealing was used to approximate missing data. Several significant insights were deduced from the simulation results. It was deduced that for the problem of missing data using computational intelligence approaches, the choice of optimisation methods plays a significant role in prediction. Although, it was observed that hybrid GA and Fast Simulated Annealing (FSA) can converge to the same search space and to almost the same values they differ significantly in duration. This unique contribution has demonstrated that a particular interest has to be paid to the choice of optimisation techniques and their decision boundaries. iii Another unique contribution of this work was not only to demonstrate that a dynamic programming is applicable in the problem of missing data, but to also show that it is efficient in addressing the problem of missing data. An NN-GA model was built to impute missing data, using the principle of dynamic programing. This approach makes it possible to modularise the problem of missing data, for maximum efficiency. With the advancements in parallel computing, various modules of the problem could be solved by different processors, working together in parallel. Furthermore, a method for imputing missing data in non-stationary time series data that learns incrementally even when there is a concept drift is proposed. This method works by measuring the heteroskedasticity to detect concept drift and explores an online learning technique. New direction for research, where missing data can be estimated for nonstationary applications are opened by the introduction of this novel method. Thus, this thesis has uniquely opened the doors of research to this area. Many other methods need to be developed so that they can be compared to the unique existing approach proposed in this thesis. Another novel technique for dealing with missing data for on-line condition monitoring problem was also presented and studied. The problem of classifying in the presence of missing data was addressed, where no attempts are made to recover the missing values. The problem domain was then extended to regression. The proposed technique performs better than the NN-GA approach, both in accuracy and time efficiency during testing. The advantage of the proposed technique is that it eliminates the need for finding the best estimate of the data, and hence, saves time. Lastly, instead of using complicated techniques to estimate missing values, an imputation approach based on rough sets is explored. Empirical results obtained using both real and synthetic data are given and they provide a valuable and promising insight to the problem of missing data. The work, has significantly confirmed that rough sets can be reliable for missing data estimation in larger and real databases.

Une forte consommation d'énergie est un facteur clé impactant les performances des systèmes sur puce (SoC). Des modèles de puissance précis et efficaces doivent être introduits le plus tôt possible dans le flot de conception lorsque la majeure partie du potentiel d'optimisation est possible. Cependant, l'obtention d’une estimation précise ne peut être assurée en raison du manque de connaissance détaillées de la structure du circuit final. La conception actuelle de SoC repose sur la réutilisation de cœur IP (Intelectual Property) car des informations de bas niveau sur les composants du circuit ainsi que la structure sont disponibles. Ainsi, la précision de l'estimation au niveau du système peut être amélioré en utilisant ces informations et en élaborant une méthode d'estimation qui correspond aux besoins de modélisation de puissance des cœurs IP.La principale contribution de cette thèse est le développement d’une technique d'estimation hybride (HPET), dans laquelle les informations provenant de différents niveaux d'abstraction sont utilisées pour évaluer la consommation d'énergie de manière rapide et précise. HPET est basé sur une méthodologie efficace de caractérisation de la bibliothèque technologique et une approche hybride de modélisation de puissance. Les résultats des simulations obtenues avec HPET ont été validés sur différents circuits de référence synthétisés en utilisant la technologie 28nm "Fully Depleted Silicon On Insulator" (FDSOI). Les résultats expérimentaux montrent que nous pouvons atteindre en moyenne jusqu'à 70X d'amélioration en vitesse de calcul tout en ayant une précision au niveau transistor. Pour les deux types puissance analysés (instantanée et moyenne), les résultats de HPET sont bien corrélés par rapport à ceux calculés avec SPECTRE et Primetime-PX. Cela démontre que HPET est une technique efficace pour améliorer la création de macro-modèles de puissance à haut niveau d'abstraction. / High power consumption is a key factor hindering System-on-Chip (SoC) performance. Accurate and efficient power models have to be introduced early in the design flow when most of the optimization potential is possible. However, early accuracy cannot be ensured because of the lack of precise knowledge of the final circuit structure. Current SoC design paradigm relies on IP (Intellectual Property) core reuse since low-level information about circuit components and structure is available. Thus, power estimation accuracy at the system level can be improved by using this information and developing an estimation methodology that fits IP cores power modeling needs.The main contribution of this thesis is the development of a Hybrid Power Estimation Technique (HPET), in which, information coming from different abstraction levels is used to assess the power consumption in a fast and accurate manner. HPET is based on an effective characterization methodology of the technology library and an efficient hybrid power modeling approach. Experimental results, derived using HPET, have been validated on different benchmark circuits synthesized using the 28nm “Fully Depleted Silicon On Insulator” (FDSOI) technology. Experimental results show that in average we can achieve up to 70X speedup while having transistor-level accuracy. For both analyzed power types (instantaneous and average), HPET results are well correlated with respect to the ones computed in SPECTRE and Primetime-PX. This demonstrates that HPET is an effective technique to enhance power macro-modeling creation at high abstraction levels.

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Embora os cães sejam um dos animais de convívio mais estreito e harmonioso com o ser humano, quando esta referida população se encontra fora do controle, ela pode gerar agravos, tanto com relação à saúde humana e de outros animais quanto ao meio ambiente. Assim, estudos relacionados à estimativa de seu tamanho populacional e aos métodos de controle são importantes para o desenvolvimento de estratégias cada vez mais eficazes. Este estudo teve como objetivos principais avaliar a técnica de fotoidentificação para a espécie canina e apresentar uma proposta para aprimorar o método de captura-recaptura fotográfica. Para tanto, foram obtidas fotografias de cães a partir de duas fontes distintas, sendo uma a partir de cães internados no canil de adoção do Centro de Controle de Zoonoses (CCZ) grupo controle, padrão ouro e a outra de cães soltos nas ruas de Ibiúna/SP. Os cães do CCZ foram fotografados seguindo 4 tipos diferentes de protocolo, o que gerou 4 diferentes padrões de catálogos fotográficos. Esses 4 catálogos se diferenciaram entre si em termos de visualização do cão e de número de fotografias necessárias para apresentar cada animal (dependendo do catálogo, este poderia ser representado por uma a quatro fotografias). Em um segundo momento, foi realizado uma busca de cães livres nas ruas do bairro de Santa Lúcia (Ibiúna/SP) por três dias. Cada animal encontrado foi fotografado e estas foram classificadas conforme o padrão dos catálogos determinados para as fotografias dos cães do CCZ. Por fim, 103 voluntários observaram pares de conjunto de fotografias dos cães (tanto as do CCZ quanto as do bairro) por meio da Internet e apontaram quais deles correspondiam aos mesmos cães, na opinião deles. Além disso, seguindo o método clássico de captura-recaptura, foi estimado a população de cães nas ruas do bairro sob a ótica do pesquisador (isto é, de uma única pessoa). Entre os principais resultados, tomando as fotos obtidas do CCZ como padrão ouro, as probabilidades de se identificar e de se distinguir corretamente os cães por meio da fotografia (para o voluntário) foi de 95,0% e 99,8%, respectivamente, e o índice Kappa calculado para a concordância entre os resultados dos voluntários e do padrão ouro foi de 0,963. Com base no uso das probabilidades calculadas do padrão ouro, a estimativa da população canina livre passou por um ajuste e foi estimada em torno de 65 animais (I.C. 95% 64 a 67 animais). A estimativa das probabilidades de identificação foi interessante no sentido de ajustar o N calculado, tornando esta estimativa mais precisa / The dog is one of the most popular pet in the world. However, if this population is out of control, injuries against human beings, other animals and environment can occur. Therefore, studies related to dog population are important in order to optimize methods and strategies of control. The main objectives of this research are evaluating the photo-identification technique for dogs and presenting a suggestion to improve the photographic capturerecapture method. For this, pictures of dogs were acquired from two different sources. One of them was the Zoonosis Control Center (ZCC) gold standard and the other one were the free dogs from Ibiúna City streets. The dogs from ZCC were photographed following four protocols. Therefore, I obtained four photographic catalogs. The difference between these catalogs was the visualization of dog´s physical characterestics and the necessary number of pictures (one to four) to present each animal. Second, a survey of free dogs in the Ibiúna City had been carried out during three days. Each dog found in the streets was photographed and, after that, the pictures were classified according to the model of catalogs acquired from ZCC dogs pictures. Finally, 103 volunteers observed set of pairs of pictures (both ZCC and streets) by means of Internet and pointed which of them were from the same dogs. In addition, the dog population was estimated by following the classical capture-recapture method. Considering the results from the ZCC pictures observation, the correctly identifying and distinguishing dogs probabilities by means of pictures (for the volunteer) was 95,0% and 99,8%, respectively. In this case, the kappa value between these volunteers results and the gold standard was 0,963. Using the calculated probabilities from the gold standard, the estimated population (N) was adjusted to about 65 animals (C.I. 95% 64 to 67 animals). The estimation of the probabilities from the gold standard was interesting for adjusting the calculated (N) and improving the precision

Motor vehicle crashes have increasingly become a serious concern for highway safety engineers and transportation agencies over the past few decades. This serious concern has led to a great deal of research activities. One of these activities is to develop safety analysis tools, specifically crash prediction models, for the purpose of reducing crashes and enhancing highway safety.Crash prediction models based on statistical or econometric modeling techniques are used for a variety of purposes; most commonly to estimate the expected crash frequencies from various roadway entities (highways, intersections, interstates, etc.) and also to identify geometric, environmental, and operations factors that are associated with crashes. A comprehensive review of prior literature indicates that many researchers have mainly focused on the development of aggregate crash prediction models based on single equation estimation techniques to identify the influences of geometric, environmental, and traffic variables on a single counted outcome. In some cases, however, more than one dependent variable might be of interest and hence several equations are formulated at the same time. Such a multiple equation structure may require simultaneous (or joint) estimation techniques under some situations.This dissertation research develops simultaneous estimation approaches to account for contemporaneous correlation and endogeneity problems in crash data. Specifically, seemingly unrelated negative binomial models and simultaneous equation models are developed to account for contemporaneous correlation between the disturbance terms across crash type models and to control for the endogenous relationship between the presence of left-turn lanes and angle crashes.Modeling crash types may provide certain advantages to gain insights as to 1) identification of high-risk sites with respect to specific types of crashes, which is not revealed through crash totals, and 2) the differences between conditions that lead to various crash types, but the disturbance terms across crash types might be contemporaneously correlated due to the unobserved common characteristics. Therefore, individual and simultaneous crash type models were estimated and the results of both models were compared. The results showed that a simultaneous estimation approach provides more efficient estimators relative to a single equation estimation technique.The presence of left-turn lanes has been treated as exogenous in crash prediction models, but in fact they are affecting each other. The bi-directional relationship between left-turn lanes and crashes results in endogeneity. This research investigated the endogenous relationship between left-turn lanes and crashes and developed simultaneous equation models to control for the endogeneity. The findings indicated that the presence of left-turn lanes is endogenously associated with crashes and the real effect of left-turn lanes on crashes can be obtained by controlling for endogeneity.

Embora os cães sejam um dos animais de convívio mais estreito e harmonioso com o ser humano, quando esta referida população se encontra fora do controle, ela pode gerar agravos, tanto com relação à saúde humana e de outros animais quanto ao meio ambiente. Assim, estudos relacionados à estimativa de seu tamanho populacional e aos métodos de controle são importantes para o desenvolvimento de estratégias cada vez mais eficazes. Este estudo teve como objetivos principais avaliar a técnica de fotoidentificação para a espécie canina e apresentar uma proposta para aprimorar o método de captura-recaptura fotográfica. Para tanto, foram obtidas fotografias de cães a partir de duas fontes distintas, sendo uma a partir de cães internados no canil de adoção do Centro de Controle de Zoonoses (CCZ) grupo controle, padrão ouro e a outra de cães soltos nas ruas de Ibiúna/SP. Os cães do CCZ foram fotografados seguindo 4 tipos diferentes de protocolo, o que gerou 4 diferentes padrões de catálogos fotográficos. Esses 4 catálogos se diferenciaram entre si em termos de visualização do cão e de número de fotografias necessárias para apresentar cada animal (dependendo do catálogo, este poderia ser representado por uma a quatro fotografias). Em um segundo momento, foi realizado uma busca de cães livres nas ruas do bairro de Santa Lúcia (Ibiúna/SP) por três dias. Cada animal encontrado foi fotografado e estas foram classificadas conforme o padrão dos catálogos determinados para as fotografias dos cães do CCZ. Por fim, 103 voluntários observaram pares de conjunto de fotografias dos cães (tanto as do CCZ quanto as do bairro) por meio da Internet e apontaram quais deles correspondiam aos mesmos cães, na opinião deles. Além disso, seguindo o método clássico de captura-recaptura, foi estimado a população de cães nas ruas do bairro sob a ótica do pesquisador (isto é, de uma única pessoa). Entre os principais resultados, tomando as fotos obtidas do CCZ como padrão ouro, as probabilidades de se identificar e de se distinguir corretamente os cães por meio da fotografia (para o voluntário) foi de 95,0% e 99,8%, respectivamente, e o índice Kappa calculado para a concordância entre os resultados dos voluntários e do padrão ouro foi de 0,963. Com base no uso das probabilidades calculadas do padrão ouro, a estimativa da população canina livre passou por um ajuste e foi estimada em torno de 65 animais (I.C. 95% 64 a 67 animais). A estimativa das probabilidades de identificação foi interessante no sentido de ajustar o N calculado, tornando esta estimativa mais precisa / The dog is one of the most popular pet in the world. However, if this population is out of control, injuries against human beings, other animals and environment can occur. Therefore, studies related to dog population are important in order to optimize methods and strategies of control. The main objectives of this research are evaluating the photo-identification technique for dogs and presenting a suggestion to improve the photographic capturerecapture method. For this, pictures of dogs were acquired from two different sources. One of them was the Zoonosis Control Center (ZCC) gold standard and the other one were the free dogs from Ibiúna City streets. The dogs from ZCC were photographed following four protocols. Therefore, I obtained four photographic catalogs. The difference between these catalogs was the visualization of dog´s physical characterestics and the necessary number of pictures (one to four) to present each animal. Second, a survey of free dogs in the Ibiúna City had been carried out during three days. Each dog found in the streets was photographed and, after that, the pictures were classified according to the model of catalogs acquired from ZCC dogs pictures. Finally, 103 volunteers observed set of pairs of pictures (both ZCC and streets) by means of Internet and pointed which of them were from the same dogs. In addition, the dog population was estimated by following the classical capture-recapture method. Considering the results from the ZCC pictures observation, the correctly identifying and distinguishing dogs probabilities by means of pictures (for the volunteer) was 95,0% and 99,8%, respectively. In this case, the kappa value between these volunteers results and the gold standard was 0,963. Using the calculated probabilities from the gold standard, the estimated population (N) was adjusted to about 65 animals (C.I. 95% 64 to 67 animals). The estimation of the probabilities from the gold standard was interesting for adjusting the calculated (N) and improving the precision

Yes / This paper uses a new measure of international trade, i.e. the international trade potential index, to measure the welfare gains from trade across countries. The measure is based on the import shares of countries in their gross domestic products. It is observed that gains from international trade are low in prosperous economies, but they are larger in poorer economies. Then, the paper investigates the impact of the index of international trade potential on renewable energy consumption in the unbalanced panel dataset of 36 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries from 1966 to 2016. The novel evidence is that international trade potential is positively related to renewable energy consumption. It is also found that per capita income, per capita carbon dioxide emissions, and energy prices increase the demand for renewable energy. / The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Philosophy & Social Science Fund of Tianjin City, China (Award #: TJYJ20-012).

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering / Ronaldo G. Maghirang / Emission of particulate matter (PM) and various gases from open-lot beef cattle feedlots is becoming a concern because of the adverse effects on human health and the environment; however, scientific information on feedlot emissions is limited. This research was conducted to estimate emission rates of PM[subscript]10 from large cattle feedlots. Specific objectives were to: (1) determine feedlot PM[subscript]10 emission rates by reverse dispersion modeling using AERMOD; (2) compare AERMOD and WindTrax in terms of their predicted concentrations and back-calculated PM[subscript]10 emission rates; (3) examine the sensitivity of both AERMOD and WindTrax to changes in meteorological parameters, source location, and receptor location; (4) determine feedlot PM[subscript]10 emission rates using the flux-gradient technique; and (5) compare AERMOD and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in simulating particulate dispersion from an area source. PM[subscript]10 emission rates from two cattle feedlots in Kansas were determined by reverse dispersion modeling with AERMOD using PM[subscript]10 concentration and meteorological measurements over a 2-yr period. PM[subscript]10 emission rates for these feedlots varied seasonally, with overall medians of 1.60 and 1.10 g /m[superscript]2 -day. Warm and prolonged dry periods had significantly higher PM emissions compared to cold periods. Results also showed that the PM[subscript]10 emissions had a diurnal trend; highest PM[subscript]10 emission rates were observed during the afternoon and early evening periods. Using particulate concentration and meteorological measurements from a third cattle feedlot, PM[subscript]10 emission rates were back-calculated with AERMOD and WindTrax. Higher PM[subscript]10 emission rates were calculated by AERMOD, but their resulting PM[subscript]10 emission rates were highly linear (R[superscript]2 > 0.88). As such, development of conversion factors between these two models is feasible. AERMOD and WindTrax were also compared based on their sensitivity to changes in meteorological parameters and source locations. In general, AERMOD calculated lower concentrations than WindTrax; however, the two models responded similarly to changes in wind speed, surface roughness, atmospheric stability, and source and receptor locations. The flux-gradient technique also estimated PM[subscript]10 emission rates at the third cattle feedlot. Analyses of PM[subscript]10 emission rates and meteorological parameters indicated that PM[subscript]10 emissions at the feedlot were influenced by friction velocity, sensible heat flux, temperature, and surface roughness. Based on pen surface water content measurements, a water content of at least 20% (wet basis) significantly lowered PM[subscript]10 emissions at the feedlot. The dispersion of particulate from a simulated feedlot pen was predicted using CFD turbulence model ([kappa]-[epsilon] model) and AERMOD. Compared to CFD, AERMOD responded differently to wind speed setting, and was not able to provide detailed vertical concentration profiles such that the vertical concentration gradients at the first few meters from the ground were negligible. This demonstrates some limitations of AERMOD in simulating dispersion for area sources such as cattle feedlots and suggests the need to further evaluate its performance for area source modeling.

O crescimento da demanda por eletricidade tem promovido a diversificação da matriz energética em termos de fontes primárias, porte de geração e alocação dos geradores. Neste cenário, a inserção de geradores de pequeno porte nos sistemas de distribuição tem causado a descentralização da produção de energia elétrica e, no contexto nacional, o alto potencial para geração de eletricidade através de pequenas centrais hidrelétricas e usinas de cogeração tem dado destaque aos geradores síncronos distribuídos. Contudo, é necessário avaliar as implicações da presença dos geradores síncronos em sistemas de distribuição e avaliar se as metodologias já consagradas de análises, operação e normalização técnica estão adequadas. Dentre as principais peculiaridades dos sistemas de distribuição estão a proximidade dos geradores às cargas e a presença de eventos aleatórios de maior amplitude, tais como variações de carga que ocorrem natural e intermitentemente no sistema. Além disso, problemas relacionados a oscilações eletromecânica mal amortecidas podem agora ocorrer em níveis de distribuição e deve-se estabelecer um procedimento para identificação destes modos. Entretanto, o procedimento usual para o estudo de estabilidade a pequenas perturbações pode se tornar inviável, pois a construção do modelo completo é de extrema complexidade e os parâmetros dos elementos em níveis de distribuição são de difícil obtenção. Para reverter estes problemas citados, esta pesquisa oferece um procedimento alternativo para a obtenção dos modos de oscilação eletromecânica em sistemas de distribuição, sugerindo a estimação modal através de dados ambiente. / The electricity demand increase has promoted the energy matrix diversification in terms of primary sources, generation size and allocation of generators. In this scenario, the insertion of small sized generators in distribution systems has caused the power production decentralization and, in the national context, a high potential for generating electricity through small hydroelectric power plants and cogeneration plants has drawn attention to distributed synchronous generators. However, it is necessary to assess the implications of synchronous generators presence in distribution systems and evaluate if the current methodologies of analysis, operation and technical standards are appropriate to this context. Among the main distribution systems particularities, there are the proximity of generators to loads and more significant random perturbations conceptualized as load switching. In addition, problems related to lightly damped modes can occur in distribution and there is a need to establish a procedure for modal identification. However, the usual procedure for the small-signal stability analysis is not adequate to this problem, because the model construction is very complex and the parameters in distribution are very difficult to obtain. To face the challenges, this research provides an alternative procedure for obtaining electromechanical modes in distribution systems, suggesting modal estimation techniques that use measured ambient data.