The method of magnetotellurics (MT) uses surface measurements of naturally-occurring electromagnetic fields to investigate the conductivity distribution within the Earth. In many interpretations it is adequate to represent the conductivity structure by a one-dimensional (1-D) model. Inferring information about this model from surface field measurements is a non-linear inverse problem. In this thesis, linearized construction and appraisal algorithms are developed for the 1-D MT inverse problem. To formulate a linearized approach, the forward operator is expanded in a generalized Taylor series and second-order terms are neglected. The resulting linear problem may be solved using techniques of linear inverse theory. Since higher-order terms are neglected, the linear problem is only approximate, and this process is repeated iteratively until an acceptable model is achieved. Linearized methods have the advantage that, with an appropriate transformation, a solution may be found which minimizes a particular functional of the model known as a model norm. By explicitly minimizing the model norm at each iteration, it is hypothesized that the final constructed model represents the global minimum of this functional; however, in practice, it is difficult to verify that a global (rather than local) minimum has been found. The linearization of the MT problem is considered in detail in this thesis by deriving complete expansions in terms of Fréchet differential series for several choices of response functional, and verifying that the responses are indeed Fréchet differentiable. The relative linearity of these responses is quantified by examining the ratio of non-linear to linear terms in order to determine the best choice for a linearized approach. In addition, the similitude equation for MT is considered as an alternative formulation to linearization and found to be inadequate in that it implicitly neglects first-order terms. Appropriate choices of the model norm allow linearized inversion algorithms to be formulated which minimize a measure of the model structure or of the deviation from a (known) base model. These inversions construct the minimum-structure and smallest-deviatoric model, respectively. In addition, minimizing I₂ model norms lead to smooth solutions which represent structure in terms of continuous gradients, whereas minimizing I₁ norms yield layered conductivity models with structural variations occurring discontinuously. These two formulations offer complementary representations of the Earth, and in practice, a complete interpretation should consider both. The algorithms developed here consider the model to be either conductivity or log conductivity, include an arbitrary weighting function in the model norm, and fit the data to a specified level of misfit: this provides considerable flexibility in constructing 1-D models from MT responses. Linearized inversions may also be formulated to construct extremal models which minimize or maximize localized conductivity averages of the model. These extremal models provide bounds for the average conductivity over the region of interest, and thus may be used to appraise model features. An efficient, robust appraisal algorithm has been developed using linear programming to extremize the conductivity averages. For optimal results, the extremal models must be geophysically reasonable, and bounding the total variation in order to limit unrealistic structure is an important constraint. Since the extremal models are constructed via linearized inversion, the possibility always exists that the computed bounds represent local rather than global extrema. In order to corroborate the results, extremal models are also computed using simulated annealing optimization. Simulated annealing makes no approximations and is well known for its inherent ability to avoid unfavourable local minima. Although the method is considerably slower than linearized analysis, it represents a general and interesting new appraisal technique. The construction and appraisal methods developed here are illustrated using synthetic test cases and MT field data collected as part of the LITHOPROBE project. In addition, the model construction techniques are used to analyze MT responses measured at a number of sites on Vancouver Island, Canada, to investigate the monitoring of local changes in conductivity as a precursor for earthquakes. MT responses measured at the same site over a period of four years are analyzed and indicate no significant changes in the conductivity (no earthquakes of magnitude greater than 3.0 occurred in this period). Conductivity profiles at a number of sites are also considered in an attempt to infer the regional structure. Finally, a method of correcting linearized inversions is developed. The corrections consist of successively approximating an analytic expression for the linearization error. The method would seem to represent a novel and practical approach that can significantly reduce the number of linearized iterations. In addition, a correspondence between the correction steps and iterations of the modified Newton's method for operators is established. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

The focus of this thesis is to examine the relationship between gambling and crime in the Czech environment, where gambling is broadly available. Data about the individual gambling machines and tables together with the data about offenses in particular police districts were used in order to estimate the effect of gambling on crime. The final dataset observes 388 geographical units over the life span between April 2013 and December 2015. The study employs three estimation techniques the OLS, Poisson regression and Negative binomial regression to estimate the effect of gambling on crime. The main variable representing the size of gambling is the number of slot machines as these are the most broadly available type of gambling. The final estimated relationship between crime and slot machines is that one additional slot machine is associated with an increase in crime by 0.3-0.5% depending on the method and frequency. On the contrary, the effect of casino games, electromechanical roulettes, and dice devices on crime was found to be statistically insignificant. In addition, the study also analyses particular types of crimes, finding that gambling has an impact particularly on crimes that involve material benefits as opposed to the violent crimes. Moreover, it also conducts a what-if analysis demonstrating the estimated impact of reduction of gambling on the substantial drop of the number of offenses over the observed period was rather limited and account for 937 offenses.

This thesis engages in discribing Czech gambling law and it's recent development in preparing a very new gambling act. The goal of this diploma thesis is to point out at the biggest problems of so far existing gambling act and at what way they should be dealt in the new one. I use two main economic theories to explain reasons of issuing new act. The first one is The Theory of Interest Groups and the other one is Theory of Public Interest which are applied at the case of Czech Republic. Next goal of this thesis is an analysis of popularity of all gambles according to sum of money gambled and money paid back. I also describe a historic development of gambles and it's regulation and show that the ability to innovate new ways to evade the law had very often no limits and the regularors have never been able to make up a clear set of rules that would be unavoidable.

The Weibull distribution is a popular and widely used distribution in reliability and in lifetime data analysis. Since 1958, the Weibull distribution has been modified by many researchers to allow for non-monotonic hazard functions. Many modifications of the Weibull distribution have achieved the above purpose. On the other hand, the number of parameters has increased, the forms of the survival and hazard functions have become more complicated and the estimation problems have risen. This thesis provides an extensive review of some discrete and continuous versions of the modifications of the Weibull distribution, which could serve as an important reference and encourage further modifications of the Weibull distribution. Four different modifications of the Weibull distribution are proposed to address some of the above problems using different techniques. First model, with five parameters, is constructed by considering a two-component serial system with one component following a Weibull distribution and another following a modified Weibull distribution. A new method has been proposed to reduce the number of parameters of the new modified Weibull distribution from five to three parameters to simplify the distribution and address the estimation problems. The reduced version has the same desirable properties of the original distribution in spite of having two less parameters. It can be an alternative distribution for all modifications of the Weibull distribution with bathtub shaped hazard rate functions. To deal with unimodal shaped hazard rates, the third model with four parameters, named as the exponentiated reduced modified Weibull distribution is introduced. This model is flexible, has a nice physical interpretation and has the ability to capture monotonically increasing, unimodal and bathtub shaped hazard rates. It is a generalization of the reduced modified Weibull distribution. The proposed distribution gives the best fit comparing to other modifications of the Weibull distribution including those having similar properties. A three-parameter discrete distribution is introduced based on the reduced distribution. It is one of only three discrete distributions allowing for bathtub shaped hazard rate functions. Four real data sets have applied to this distribution. The new distribution is shown to outperform at least three other models including the ones allowing for bathtub shaped hazard rate functions. The new models show flexibility and can be used to model different kinds of real data sets better than other modified versions of Weibull distribution including those having the same number of parameters. The mathematical properties and statistical inferences of the new models are studied. Based on a simulation study the performances of the MLEs of each model are assessed with respect to sample size n. We find no evidence that the generalized modified Weibull distribution can provide a better fit than the exponentiated Weibull distributionfor data sets exhibiting the modified unimodal hazard function.

Gambling and mankind are linked together for thousands of years. Despite its negative influence, gambling games take an essential part in life of every generation. The main aim of this thesis is to analyse environment for casino start-up in six selected countries from central Europe and recommend the country with the most suitable conditions. The casino parameters will be defined in the particular chapter of the thesis. Countries, that will be compared, are Slovak republic, Czech republic, Hungary, Austria, Poland and Ukraine. The comparison will respect law systems of every country, which regulate the casino business. Information, we get from conducting the research, will be taken in mind in decision making process. To make the choice of the appropriate country (variant), two methods for comparing variants are used, in order to achieve objective result. In the end of the thesis, there will be a recommendation based on the results of the comparison. It should be noted that the recommendation will be based also on subjective evaluation.

Climate patterns over the past century served to amplify the frequency and intensity of environmental hazards, including flooding, wind and heat. While indicators like SoVi and BRIC begin to characterize how people and places fair against hazards, they can be limited in scope. Through the administration of household surveys, I investigate the usefulness of such indicators by examining the roles communication, infrastructure, institutional efforts, financial independence, knowledge, mobility and social capital play in producing resilience within the Estates of Fort Lauderdale Community in Dania Beach, FL. While results confirm BRIC’s Medium-High Resilience community classification, they push beyond Census data to pinpoint underlying resilience processes. Responses indicate community classification, they push beyond Census data to pinpoint underlying resilience processes. Responses indicate that place attachment and community connectedness encourage weather-related information sharing, limited experiences and skills impede weather preparedness and response actions, and weather preparedness and response experiences are associated with less evacuation than expected. Findings prove to be richer and more policy and program actionable. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2020. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Flash flooding, as a result of excessive rainfall in a short period, is considered as one of the worst environmental hazards in arid regions. Areas located in the western provinces of Saudi Arabia have experienced catastrophic floods. Geomorphologic evaluation of hydrographic basins provides necessary information to define basins with flood hazard potential in arid regions, especially where long-term field observations are scarce and limited. Six large basins (from North to South: Yanbu, Rabigh, Khulais, El-Qunfza, Baish and Jizan) were selected for this study because they have large surface areas and they encompass high capacity dams at their downstream areas. Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing techniques were applied to conduct detailed morphometric analysis of these basins. The six basins were further divided into 203 sub-basins based on their drainage density. The morphometric parameters of the six basins and their associated 203 sub-basins were calculated to estimate the degree of flood hazard by combining normalized values of these parameters. Thus, potential flood hazard maps were produced from the estimated hazard degree. Furthermore, peak runoff discharge of the six basins and sub-basins were estimated using the Snyder Unit Hydrograph and three empirical models (Nouh’s model, Farquharson’s model and Al-Subai’s model) developed for Saudi Arabia. Additionally, recommendations for flood mitigation plans and water management schemes along these basins were further discussed.

This diploma work describes the no-fault insurance project for specific entrepreneurial subject. The work includes the characteristics of selected company, hazard analysis, the selection of the most suitable insurance company and the optimal no-fault insurance plan that would minimize the most severe hazards of the company.

The most commonly used exposure assessment for heat stress is based on Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), and the limits are based on empirical relationships that demonstrate a sustainable exposure. The ISO 7933 (2017) describes Predicted Heat Strain (PHS), which is a rational model for heat stress assessment that is used to assess time-limited exposures. Investigators have examined PHS validity under a variety of time-limited conditions. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate if PHS can predict sustainable exposures. The data used for this study were from two previous heat stress studies using a progressive heat stress protocol. The studies included 29 participants wearing four different ensembles (woven clothing, particle barrier, water barrier, and vapor barrier coveralls) at three levels of metabolic rate and relative humidity. Each trial provided data for a fully compensable (sustainable) exposure and an uncompensable (time-limited) exposure. The heat stress data from each condition were used to see if PHS demonstrated a steady-state response indicating a sustainable exposure. From the analysis, the sensitivity and specificity respectively for the ensemble types were: 1.00 and 0.18 for woven clothing, 0.95 and 0.60 for particle barrier, 0.91 and 0.83 for water barrier, 0.91 and 0.80 for vapor barrier, and 0.94 and 0.65 for all ensembles. The data show that while the sensitivity of PHS (correctly identifying unsustainable conditions) is good for the different ensembles, PHS specificity (correctly identifying sustainable exposures) was weak. From an occupational health and safety perspective, using PHS to identify sustainable exposures leads to protective decisions.

The aim of my thesis is to map factors that help gamblers to overcome their addiction. The theoretical part deals with the issue of gambling, its origin, a theory of addiction, types of medical care and last but not least, factors that are the most important during treatment. In the empirical part results of a qualitative survey conducted by interview and the SOGS questionnaire are presented. The research aims to gain insight into treatment without a professional intervention. Moreover, besides examining the treatment factors, the thesis focuses on the emergence and course of addiction, awareness of the problem or future prognosis of former players. KEYWORDS Factor, pathological gamling, hazard, intervetion, relap