This thesis considers three complications that arise from applying reinforcement learning to a real-world application. In the process of using reinforcement learning to build an adaptive electronic market-maker, we find the sparsity of data, the partial observability of the domain, and the multiple objectives of the agent to cause serious problems for existing reinforcement learning algorithms. We employ importance sampling (likelihood ratios) to achieve good performance in partially observable Markov decision processes with few data. Our importance sampling estimator requires no knowledge about the environment and places few restrictions on the method of collecting data. It can be used efficiently with reactive controllers, finite-state controllers, or policies with function approximation. We present theoretical analyses of the estimator and incorporate it into a reinforcement learning algorithm. Additionally, this method provides a complete return surface which can be used to balance multiple objectives dynamically. We demonstrate the need for multiple goals in a variety of applications and natural solutions based on our sampling method. The thesis concludes with example results from employing our algorithm to the domain of automated electronic market-making.

Selection of steels for industrial purposes usually means choosing a type of steel to make a part or a product. The steel that is chosen must meet all the designer requirements. A quantitative selection procedure has been used to analyze the large amount of data involved in this selection process so that a complete and systematic evaluation can be made. The designer is responsible for the selection of steel, and this selection requires the designer to find data and information on the mechanical properties required, and also learns ways to improve these properties through different heat treatment processes. When a large number of steels and a large number of specified mechanical properties are being evaluated for selection, the weighed properties method can require a large number of tedious and time-consuming calculations. In such cases a computer program could greatly facilitate the selection process. This thesis reports the selection of steels for gears, shafts, fasteners and springs where the steps involved in the weighted properties method which is written in the form of a simple computer program to select steels from a data bank. This program also includes the digital logic method to help in determining weighing factors. The steels are ranked according to standard designation; BS, AISI, and DIN. It has been found that alloyed steels hardened and tempered at 2050C are most suitable for gears, shafts, fasteners, and springs when higher mechanical properties required, and carbon and low alloyed steels when cost is the main consideration.

To compute the expectation of a function with respect to a multivariate distribution naive Monte Carlo is often not feasible. In such cases importance sampling leads to better estimates than the rejection method. A new importance sampling distribution, the product of one-dimensional table mountain distributions with exponential tails, turns out to be flexible and useful for Bayesian integration problems. To obtain a heavy-tailed importance sampling distribution a new radius transform for the above distribution is suggested. Together with a linear transform the new importance sampling distributions lead to simple and fast integration algorithms with reliable error bounds. (author's abstract) / Series: Preprint Series / Department of Applied Statistics and Data Processing

In this study we explored some of the factors associated with biased processing of attitude-relevant information. We were particularly interested in the possibility that a self-affirmation, by reducing self-evaluative concerns, might increase participants' willingness to impartially evaluate information that conflicts with their current views. We examined students' reactions to arguments about increasing tuition as a function of four factors: attitude importance, argument strength, the congruence of arguments with existing attitudes, and our experimental manipulation of affirmation. We found that affirmation reduced biased evaluation only for participants who rated the issue as important. We also found that affirmation dramatically impacted the perception of argument strength. Stronger counterattitudinal arguments were rejected by non-affirmed participants, who did not distinguish them from weak arguments, presumably because of the esteem threat posed by a strong ideological challenge. Affirmed participants, though, evaluated strong counterattitudinal arguments more positively.

My aim with the experience-based essay is that I want to explore the implications of mathematics on children's development. I also want to examine my approach in relation to the various mathematical tasks. Why do we think that mathematics is important for pre-school children? What does the research say about how the teacher is thinking about mathematics? Can the teacher combine playing and learning and create meaningful moments and activities related to mathematics? I also want to explore our policies and the objectives that the teacher should relate to. What is required of me as a teacher in order to meet those goals? My essay is about mine and my boss’s view of the mathematical tasks that I usually perform in the preschool. She thinks that they might create a pressure on the children. My reflection on this will help me to understand my mathematical activities in a deeper way. During my research trip I will examine how the teacher can combine mathematics, playing and learning to form pleasurable moments of them. I want to show how the interaction and storytelling can create a link between the teacher and child. My role as an educator is an important part of children’s development, because it is me who opens or restricts the child's ability to grow and learn.

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The main source of the international hotel guests are mostly comprised of the travelers from foreign countries; and among those foreign travelers, the Japanese are always in the highest rank to Taiwan and become the most important market. On the other hand, since Mainland China has liberalized the Chinese for sightseeing abroad, the travel industry all over the world are widely opening their arms and try to absorb this big cake. Taiwanese tourism industry as well has been preparing and standing by the arrival of the Mainland Chinese for the recent years. This is the reason why the study will focus on these two major markets of traveler and take a close look to see that when selecting the international hotel in Kaohsiung, whether it will be affected by the different culture, traveling attitude, social or economic back-ground etc., so as to compare the importance of hotel facility and service quality in the perception of guest¡¦s recognition and satisfaction, a comparison of the difference. The IPA (Importance-Performance Analysis) along with SWOT analysis are applied to analyze the selecting factors of Mainland Chinese and Japanese travelers to six international hotels in Kaohsiung. Those factors are categorized into 6 groups : 1. service quality; 2. business facilities; 3. value; 4. room & front desk; 5. food & recreation; 6. security; A questionnaire is formed according to this format and 700 copies has been printed.This survey was conducted from 8th, Mar. to 8th, Apr. in 2006, and finally returned with 161 valid in Japanese and 116 valid in simplified Chinese, the rate of valid returned is 39.5%. The results of the analyses come out as follows: To both Mainland Chinese and Japanese travelers, Kaohsiung International Hotels remain few strengths, there are only two items of strength, i.e. IDD service is available. & Hotel provides comfortable ambience. Kaohsiung International Hotels should take serious considerations to enforce their strength in competition to improve higher occupation rate, i.e. for Mainland Chinese travelers, High quality in-room temperature control; for Japanese, High quality in-room temperature control. and Hotel F&B is value for money; those improvements will promote travelers¡¦ satisfaction.

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The goal of this study was to develop an instrument to assist public park and recreation agencies in successfully repositioning their offerings in order to garner increased allocations of tax dollars. To achieve this, an agency must be perceived as providing public benefits, those that accrue to all members of its constituency. The scale sought to identify the importance of various community issues and perceptions of the agency's performance in contributing to those issues. A valid and reliable 36-item instrument was developed that encompasses nine distinct dimensions: Preventing Youth Crime, Environmental Stewardship, Enhancing Real Estate Values, Attracting and Retaining Businesses, Attracting and Retaining Retirees, Improving Community Health, Stimulating Urban Rejuvenation, Attracting Tourists, and Addressing the Needs of People who are Underemployed. These dimensions represent community issues that a park and recreation agency can contribute towards, and can therefore use as a basis for its repositioning efforts. Using a screening process by expert judges, a pretest sample of undergraduate students, and a sample of municipal residents, each of the importance and performance dimensions in the scale was judged to possess content validity, internal consistency, construct validity, and split-half reliability. A shortened version of the instrument was also demonstrated to possess internal consistency and construct validity. In a practical application, the scale proved useful in identifying repositioning options for the park and recreation department, both in isolation and relative to a public agency'competitor'. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are offered.

Man is probably the only alive being on the Earth who has a lot of questions. Why was I born? Why will I die? What do I live for? Where did I come from? Who am I? Sooner or later each human being has to find his own way of life, make a decision and accept full responsibility for it. It’s not easy. However, there are many people who never think about the importance of their lives. Those people are just a small part of our society. We can be proud that our world is full of many intelligent, bright and wise people who care not only about themselves, but about their children, their future and other people around them. They are masters of their lives and destinies. Those people are spiritually strong and not afraid to make mistakes and admit them. They are strong personalities. This master thesis was prepared according to the empiric research made during 2004-2005 years. A survey of 300 adolescents from three different Shiauliai schools was carried out to find out what they think about the meaning of their lives and find out their opinion about values. The results of the research revealed that: • Instrumental values such as communication and self evaluation are the most important ones among the teenagers. Personal life values take the first place among terminal values. • The understanding about the life meaning among the pupils of senior forms is intermediate (71,33%). • The addition of the family does not influence the pupils... [to full text]