published_or_final_version / Psychology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Random number generators (RNGs) are widely used in conducting Monte Carlo simulation studies, which are important in the field of statistics for comparing power, mean differences, or distribution shapes between statistical approaches. Statistical results, however, may differ when different random number generators are used. Often older methods have been blindly used with no understanding of their limitations. Many random functions supplied with computers today have been found to be comparatively unsatisfactory. In this study, five multiplicative linear congruential generators (MLCGs) were chosen which are provided in the following statistical packages: RANDU (IBM), RNUN (IMSL), RANUNI (SAS), UNIFORM(SPSS), and RANDOM (BMDP). Using a personal computer (PC), an empirical investigation was performed using five criteria: period length before repeating random numbers, distribution shape, correlation between adjacent numbers, density of distributions and normal approach of random number generator (RNG) in a normal function. All RNG FORTRAN programs were rewritten into Pascal which is more efficient language for the PC. Sets of random numbers were generated using different starting values. A good RNG should have the following properties: a long enough period; a well-structured pattern in distribution; independence between random number sequences; random and uniform distribution; and a good normal approach in the normal distribution. Findings in this study suggested that the above five criteria need to be examined when conducting a simulation study with large enough sample sizes and various starting values because the RNG selected can affect the statistical results. Furthermore, a study for purposes of indicating reproducibility and validity should indicate the source of the RNG, the type of RNG used, evaluation results of the RNG, and any pertinent information related to the computer used in the study. Recommendations for future research are suggested in the area of other RNGs and methods not used in this study, such as additive, combined, mixed and shifted RNGs.

Chan, Tak Shing = 粗糙表面的熱湍流對流的Nusselt數和雷諾數的測量 / 陳德城. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-67). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chan, Tak Shing = Cu cao biao mian de re tuan liu dui liu de Nusselt shu he Leinuo shu de ce liang / Chen Decheng. / Table of Contents --- p.v / List of Figures --- p.xi / List of Tables --- p.xii / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- What is turbulence ? --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Rayleigh Benard convection system --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Oberbeck-Boussinesq approximation and equations of Rayleigh- Benard system --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Some coherent structures of Rayleigh-Benard convection system --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Motivation --- p.8 / Chapter 2 --- Experimental methods and setups --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1 --- Convection cell --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2 --- Temperature measurement --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3 --- Experimental techniques --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Heat leakage prevention --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Water absorption of Dipropylene Glycol --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Particle Image Velocimetry --- p.22 / Chapter 3 --- Heat flux measurement --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1 --- Water Results --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Experimental procedures --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Heat leakage/ heat absorption estimation --- p.27 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Results and discussions --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2 --- Dipropylene Glycol Results --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Experimental procedures --- p.32 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Heat leakage/ heat absorption estimation --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Result and discussions --- p.34 / Chapter 3.3 --- More discussion --- p.41 / Chapter 4 --- Large scale circulation and Reynolds number measurement --- p.44 / Chapter 4.1 --- Flow pattern of turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection over rough plates --- p.46 / Chapter 4.2 --- Reynolds number measurement --- p.48 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Reynolds number determined from oscillation of temper- ature signals --- p.48 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Reynolds number determined from velocity measurement near sidewall --- p.55 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion --- p.61 / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusion --- p.61 / Bibliography --- p.63

This paper is based on Landau's book "Foundations of Analysis" which constitutes a development of the number system founded on the Peano axioms for natural numbers. In order to show mastery of the subject matter this paper gives a somewhat different organization of material and modified or more detailed proofs of theorems. In situations where proofs become rather routine re pet it ions of previously noted techniques the proofs are omitted. The following symbols and notation are used. Natural numbers are denoted by lower case letters such as a,b,c, ... x,y,z. Sets are denoted by upper case letters such as M, N, ... X, Y, Z. If a is an element of M, this will be written atM, The denial of this is written at M. The symbol 3 /x is read "There exists an unique x". If x and y are names for the same number we write x=y. It is assumed that the relation= is an equivalence relation; i.e., (1) x=x, (2) if x=y, then y=x, (3) u x=y and y=z, then x=z. Throughout this paper there will be no special attempt to distinguish between the name of a number and the number itself. For example, the phrase" if xis a number" will be used in place of "if x is the name of a number."

A tournament graph G is a vertex set V of size n, together with a directed edge set E ⊂ V × V such that (i, j) ∈ E if and only if (j, i) ∉ E for all distinct i, j ∈ V and (i, i) ∉ E for all i ∈ V. We explore the following generalization: For a fixed k we orient every k-subset of V by assigning it an orientation. That is, every facet of the (k − 1)-skeleton of the (n − 1)-dimensional simplex on V is given an orientation. In this dissertation we bound the number of compatible k-simplices, that is we bound the number of k-simplices such that its (k − 1)-faces with the already-specified orientation form an oriented boundary. We prove lower and upper bounds for all k ≥ 3. For k = 3 these bounds agree when the number of vertices n is q or q + 1 where q is a prime power congruent to 3 modulo 4. We also prove some lower bounds for values k > 3 and analyze the asymptotic behavior.

Bibliography: leaves 90-93.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 81-85). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1982. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

<p>Given a positive integer k, Conrey, Farmer, Keating, Rubinstein and Snaith conjectured a formula for the asymptotics of the k-th moments of the central values of quadratic Dirichlet L-functions. The conjectured formula for the moments is expressed as sum of a k(k+1)/2 degree polynomial in log |d|. In the sum, d varies over the set of fundamental discriminants. This polynomial, called the moment polynomial, is given as a k-fold residue. In Part I of this thesis, we derive explicit formulae for first k lower order terms of the moment polynomial.</p> <p> In Part II, we present a formula bounding the average of S(t,f), the remainder term in the formula for the number of zeros of an L-function, L(s,f), where f is a newform of weight k and level N. This is Turing's method applied to cuspforms. We carry out the improvements to Turing's original method including using techniques of Booker and Trudgian. These improvements have application to the numerical verification of the Riemann Hypothesis.</p>

A study of the pressure drop characteristics of the flow of highly viscous fluids through small diameter orifices was conducted to obtain a better understanding of hydraulic fluid flow loops in vehicles. Pressure drops were measured for each of nine orifices, including orifices of nominal diameter 0.5, 1 and 3 mm, and three thicknesses (nominally 1, 2 and 3 mm), and over a wide range of flow rates (2.86x10sup-7/sup Q 3.33x10sup-4/sup msup3/sup/s). The fluid under consideration exhibits steep dependence of the properties (changes of several orders of magnitude) as a function of temperature and pressure, and is also non-Newtonian at the lower temperatures. The data were non-dimensionalized to obtain Euler numbers and Reynolds numbers using non-Newtonian treatment. It was found that at small values of Reynolds numbers, an increase in aspect ratio (length/diameter ratio of the orifice) causes an increase in Euler number. It was also found that at extremely low Reynolds numbers, the Euler number was very strongly influenced by the Reynolds number, while the dependence becomes weaker as the Reynolds number increases toward the turbulent regime, and the Euler number tends to assume a constant value determined by the aspect ratio and the diameter ratio. A two-region (based on Reynolds number) model was developed to predict Euler number as a function of diameter ratio, aspect ratio, viscosity ratio and generalized Reynolds number. This model also includes data at higher temperatures (20 and le; T and le; 50supo/supC) obtained by Mincks (2002). It was shown that for such highly viscous fluids with non-Newtonian behavior at some conditions, accounting for the shear rate through the generalized Reynolds number resulted in a considerable improvement in the predictive capabilities of the model. Over the laminar, transition and turbulent regions, the model predicts 86% of the data within and plusmn25% for 0.32 l/d (orifice thickness/diameter ratio) 5.72, 0.023 and beta; (orifice/pipe diameter ratio) 0.137, 0.09 Resubge/sub 9677, and 0.0194 and mu;subge/sub 9.589 (kg/m-s)