Juvenile green turtle (Chelonia mydas) abundance differs among nearshore reefs, but why some sites are preferred over others is unknown. My study had two objectives: to quantify differences in abundance over time (one year) and to determine what ecological factors were correlated with those differences. I conducted quarterly surveys on reefs in Palm Beach and Broward Counties and compared reef sites with respect to (i) water depth, (ii) algal abundance and composition, and (iii) changes in reef area (caused by sand covering) through time (11 years). Turtles were most abundant on shallow reefs exposed to high light levels that remained stable (uncovered by sand) for long periods of time. These reefs had the highest diversity of algal species, in part because cropping by the turtles prevented any one species from becoming dominant. My results suggest that both physical and biological factors make some reefs more attractive to turtles than others / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013.

Classification algorithms represent a rich set of tools, which train a classification model from a given training and test set, to classify previously unseen test instances. Although existing methods have studied classification algorithm performance with respect to feature selection, noise condition, and sample distributions, our existing studies have not addressed an important issue on the classification algorithm performance relating to feature deletion and addition. In this thesis, we carry out sensitive study of classification algorithms by using feature deletion and addition. Three types of classifiers: (1) weak classifiers; (2) generic and strong classifiers; and (3) ensemble classifiers are validated on three types of data (1) feature dimension data, (2) gene expression data and (3) biomedical document data. In the experiments, we continuously add redundant features to the training and test set in order to observe the classification algorithm performance, and also continuously remove features to find the performance of the underlying classifiers. Our studies draw a number of important findings, which will help data mining and machine learning community under the genuine performance of common classification algorithms on real-world data. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The efforts addressed in this thesis refer to applying nonlinear risk predictive techniques based on logistic regression to medical diagnostic test data. This study is motivated and pursued to address the following: 1. To extend logistic regression model of biostatistics to medical informatics 2. Computational preemptive and predictive testing to determine the probability of occurrence (p) of an event by fitting a data set to a (logit function) logistic curve: Finding upper and lower bounds on p based on stochastical considerations 3. Using the model developed on available (clinical) data to illustrate the bounds-limited performance of the prediction. Relevant analytical methods, computational efforts and simulated results are presented. Using the results compiled, the risk evaluation in medical diagnostics is discussed with real-world examples. Conclusions are enumerated and inferences are made with directions for future studies. / by Alice Horn Dupont. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

The demand on transportation infrastructure is dramatically increasing due to population growth causing the transportation systems to be pushed to their limits. With the projected population growth, not only for the U.S. but especially for the higher education field, university campuses are of great importance for transportation engineers. Urban univeristy campuses are considered major trip generators and with the population forecast many challenges are bound to arise. The implementation of an improved transit system provides a lower-cost solution to the continuously increasing congestion problems in university campus road networks and surrounding areas. This paper presents a methodology focused on the development of a hybrid system concentrated in three main aspects of transit functionality : access to bus stop location, reasonable travel time and low cost. Two methods for bus stop locations assessment are presented for two levels of analysis : microscopic and mesoscopic. The resulting travel time from the improved bus stop locations is analyzed and compared to the initial conditions by using a microsimulation platform. The development of a mathematical model targets the overall system's cost minimization, including user and operator cost, while maximizing the service coverage. The results demonstrate the benefits of the bus stop assessment by the two applied methods, as well as, the benefits of the route and headway selection based on the mathematical model. Moreover, the results indicate that the generation of routes using travel time as the impedance factor generates the optimal possible routes to obtain the minimum system's overall cost. / by Alicia Benazir Portal Palomo. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Li Johnson Ching Hong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 40-42). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.2 / ABSTRACT --- p.3 / CHINESE ABSTRACT --- p.4 / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.5 / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.7 / Thorndike's Three Formulae to Correct Correlation for Range Restriction --- p.8 / Significance of Case 3 --- p.9 / Importance of Standard Error and Confidence Intervals --- p.10 / Research Gap in the Estimation of Standard Error of rc and the Construction of the Confidence Intervals for pxy --- p.10 / Objectives of the Present Study --- p.12 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- BOOTSTRAP METHOD --- p.13 / Different Confidence Intervals Constructed for the Present Study --- p.14 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- A PROPOSED PROCEDURE FOR THE ESTIMATION OF STANDAR ERROR OF rc AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF CONFIDENCE INTERVALS --- p.16 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- METHODS --- p.20 / Model Specifications --- p.20 / Procedure --- p.21 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- ASSESSMENT --- p.23 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- RESULTS --- p.25 / Accuracy of Average Correlation Corrected for IRR ( rc ) --- p.25 / Empirical Standard Deviation (SDE) of rc --- p.29 / Accuracy of Standard Error Estimate --- p.29 / Accuracy of Confidence Intervals --- p.33 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION --- p.36 / Chapter CHAPTER 8 --- LIMITATIONS AND FURTHER DIRECTIONS --- p.38 / REFERENCES --- p.40 / APPENDIX A --- p.43 / FIGURE CAPTION --- p.53 / LIST OF TABLES --- p.55

by Kwok-Fai Mo. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-79). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Statistical Modeling --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Poisson Regression --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- Overdispersion and Autorrelation --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Generalized Estimating Equation --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4 --- Zeger's Mehthod --- p.12 / Chapter 2.5 --- Multicollinearity --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- The Modified Generalized Estimating Equation --- p.18 / Chapter 2.6 --- Bootstrapping Method --- p.21 / Chapter 2.7 --- The Bootstrap Choice of Ridge Parameter --- p.23 / Chapter 3 --- The Robustness of Zeger's Approach to the Specification of ηt - Simulation Study --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2 --- Zeger's Algorithm with Varoious Time Series Data --- p.27 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Data without Multicollinearity --- p.27 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Data with Multicollinearity --- p.34 / Chapter 3.3 --- Modified Generalized Estimating Equation Approach --- p.40 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Choice of Ridge Paramter in Bootstrap --- p.42 / Chapter 4 --- Real Example --- p.46 / Chapter 4.1 --- Data Structure --- p.46 / Chapter 4.2 --- Model Building --- p.49 / Chapter 4.3 --- Single Pollutant Model --- p.57 / Chapter 4.4 --- Multiple Pollutant Model --- p.62 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion and Discussion --- p.64 / Appendix --- p.69 / References --- p.74

by Lo Ting Shek = 複雜適應系統中的個體為本模型 / 盧庭碩. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-107). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / by Lo Ting Shek = Fu za shi ying xi tong zhong de ge ti wei ben mo xing / Lu Tingshuo. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2 --- Minority game --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- The model --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Review on selected work on MG --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Market efficiency and Phase transition --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Crowd effect in MG --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Hamming distance between strategies --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Statistical mechanics of systems with heterogeneous agents --- p.21 / Chapter 3 --- Theory of the minority game --- p.23 / Chapter 3.1 --- Formalism --- p.23 / Chapter 3.2 --- Discussion --- p.31 / Chapter 4 --- Evolutionary Minority Game --- p.33 / Chapter 4.1 --- Model --- p.33 / Chapter 4.2 --- Results --- p.36 / Chapter 4.3 --- Discussion --- p.38 / Chapter 5 --- Theory of the Evolutionary Minority game --- p.43 / Chapter 5.1 --- The theory of D'hulst and Rodgers [1] --- p.44 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Discussion on the D'hulst and Rodgers's theory --- p.51 / Chapter 5.2 --- Theory of EMG [2] --- p.54 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Formalism --- p.55 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Results --- p.60 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Discussion --- p.66 / Chapter 6 --- Evolutionary Minority Game with arbitrary cutoffs --- p.68 / Chapter 6.1 --- Model --- p.68 / Chapter 6.2 --- Results --- p.69 / Chapter 6.3 --- Theory --- p.76 / Chapter 6.4 --- Discussion --- p.85 / Chapter 7 --- Evolutionary minority game with heterogeneous strategy distribution --- p.88 / Chapter 7.1 --- Model --- p.89 / Chapter 7.2 --- Results --- p.90 / Chapter 7.3 --- Discussion --- p.99 / Chapter 8 --- Conclusion --- p.103

No settlement remains at Early Dynastic Memphis, the first ‘capital’ of the newly emerging Egyptian state, have yet been located. This study draws together exclusive evidence from three well-known non-elite Memphite cemeteries Saqqara-Serapeum, Turah and the recently excavated site of Helwan (all dating from 3200 to 2700 BC) to explore the society of this early urban centre through its funerary remains. The study engages in statistical analyses of cemetery data comparing grave parameters such as volume, quantity of grave goods, their materials and pottery vessel types, but also architecture, body protection, skeletal sex and the age of the deceased across sites. The application of statistical hypothesis testing techniques forms a methodological cornerstone highlighting some pitfalls of mortuary analyses rooted in Processual theoretical frameworks. As a result, a nuanced funerary culture with a significant degree of mortuary variability was revealed at each of the sites investigated. Non-elite funerary provision at Memphis was influenced by a complex web of factors such as economic potential, relationships to local elites, communal and personal identities, choice, and practicality. While mortuary differentiation by sex could not be proven statistically, evidence emerged for significant age differentiation in the funerary provision. The four communities investigated are distinct and each represent a different population within the Memphite region ranging from a main necropolis (Helwan) to a cemetery of a secondary or tertiary local centre (Turah). The smallscale regionality observed at Memphis should serve as a springboard for future research on Early Dynastic Egypt. Finally, the study has highlighted the research potential of statistical analyses to extract vital information from old data, alongside the importance of hypothesis testing in the evaluation of such analyses.

Cheung, Yu Hin Ray. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-66). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.

中介效應和調節效應分析在心理學研究中廣泛存在。調節效應發生時，自變量和因變量的關係的強度或方向會因調節變量的水平而有所改變。另一方面，中介效應發生時，自變量會通過中介變量對因變量來產生影響(Baron& Kenny,1986) 。心理學家經常結合這兩種效應以處理更複雜的問題，例如:調節作用是如何發生或中介作用在什麼情況會有所改變。研究學者定義前者為有中介的調節作用，後者為有調節的中介作用。儘管在文獻中有許多關於中介的調節效應和有調節的中介效應的分析方法的討論，對於理解這兩種效應的混亂仍然存在。此外，結構方程模型分析方法雖然比傳統的迴歸分析方法更靈活和有效地處理這兩種效應的分析，但是文獻上卻甚少討論如何應用結構方程模型於有中介的調節作用和有調節的中介作用的分析上。本論文回應以上提出的問題，主要討論如何把結構方程模型的分析方法應用在有中介的調節效應和有調節的中介效應的分析上，論文的第一部份會透過闡明五種常見有關於有中介的調節效應和有調節的中介效應的概念模型以消除研究橕者對這兩種效應定義的誤解。在論文的第二部分將會提出一個用以轉換有中介的調節效應和有調節的中分效應的概念模型為能應用於結構方程模型分析法上的模型的統一方法，讓研究學者能統一方法中提出的規則簡易地把假設模型變成為可為結構方程模型作分析的模型。模擬實驗來比較迴歸方法和結構方程模型方法的實際效用。結果顯示，這兩種分析方法發現相近。論文最後的部份，引人用於潛變量調節作用分析上的unconstrained indicant product approach (Marsh et al., 2004) ，並結合本文提出的統一方法來分析有中介的調節作用和有調節的中介作用，模擬實驗結果顯示這種方法在大多數的模擬情況下表現令人滿意。然而，以評估模型擬合度的卡方檢定在模擬實驗的大多數情況中都並不準確，因此研究學者應謹慎處理卡方檢定。 / Moderation and mediation analyses are widespread in psychological research. Moderation occurs when the direction and/or strength of the relation between an independent variable and a dependent variable depends on the level of a moderating variable. Mediation, on the other hand, occurs when the effect of an independent variable on a dependent variable is transmitted through a mediating variable (Baron & Kenny, 1986). Psychologists often move beyond these two processes and ask more complex questions such as how a moderating effect takes place or when a mediating process varies in different contexts. The former question has been referred as mediated moderation while the latter one has been referred as moderated mediation. Despite the fact that there are many discussions about the analysis of mediated moderation and moderated mediation in the literature, the confusion over the interpretation of these two processes persists. In addition, the SEM method, which is known to be more flexible than traditional egression method for the analysis of mediated moderation and moderated mediation is rarely discussed in the literature. In response to these issues, the main objective of the present study was to examine the methods for the analysis of mediated moderation and moderated mediation in the SEM framework. The first part of this study resolved the confusion over the current interpretation of the mediated moderation and moderated mediation by demonstrating these two processes using five typical conceptual models of mediatedmoderation and moderated mediation. In the second part, a new unified method was proposed to provide some general rules for translating the conceptual models of mediated moderation and moderated mediation into the SEM working models. The empirical performance of SEM analysis against regression analysis was assessed by a simulation study. Results showed the two methods performed similarly across different model conditions. In the last part, the unconstrained indicant product approach (Marsh, et al., 2004) for latent moderation analysis was introduced and combined with the unified approach for the analysis of latent variable mediated moderation and moderated mediation models. Simulation findings suggested that this method performed satisfactorily for testing mediated moderating and moderated mediating effects in most simulation conditions. However, chi-square statistics for the evaluation of model fit should be used with cautious as simulation results indicated that they were not accurate in most cases. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Kwan, Lok Yin. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-114). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.iii / ABSTRACT --- p.v / CHINESE ABSTRACT --- p.vii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.ix / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Moderation --- p.2 / Mediation --- p.2 / Moving Beyond Moderation and Mediation --- p.4 / Objectives of This Study --- p.6 / Outline of the Following Chapters --- p.8 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- MEDIATED MODERATION AND MODERATED MEDIATION --- p.10 / Mediated Moderation --- p.11 / Moderated Mediation --- p.13 / Critical Issues Related to the Current Interpretations --- p.14 / Moderated Mediation within a Mediation Context --- p.19 / Mediated Moderation within a Moderation Context --- p.21 / Summary of This Chapter --- p.25 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- ANALYSIS OF MEDIATED MODERATION AND MODERATED MEDIATION --- p.27 / Models --- p.27 / Regression-based Methods --- p.33 / Structural Equation Modeling Approach --- p.39 / A Unified Approach for Model Specification in SEM --- p.42 / Regression-based Method Versus SEM Approach --- p.49 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- SIMULATION STUDY 1: REGRESSION-BASED VERSUS SEM-BASED METHODS --- p.51 / Design of the Simulation Study --- p.51 / Procedure --- p.54 / Results --- p.55 / Discussion and Conclusion --- p.63 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- LATENT VARIABLES MEDIATED MODERATION AND MODERATED MEDATION --- p.68 / Unconstrained Indicant Product Approach --- p.69 / Model Specifications of Latent meMO and moME Models --- p.76 / Simulation Study 2: Methods --- p.83 / Simulation Study 2: Results --- p..88 / Discussion and Conclusion --- p.94 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSION AND FUTURE DIRECTION --- p.97 / Practical Significance of This Study --- p.98 / Limitations and Future Direction --- p.99 / REFERENCES --- p.104 / ENDNOTES --- p.115 / LIST OF TABLES --- p.117 / TABLES --- p.119 / FIGURE CAPTION --- p.153 / FIGURES --- p.154