A research in how sound-delay needs to be compensated as an orchestral percussionist. Sound delay occurs when sound needs to travel from one location to another. The ionger the distance, the longer it takes for sound to arrive. Sound delay can occur when percussionists play from their position on a concert stage. Their position is usually furthest back on the stage, the backrow of the orchestra ensemble. This means that percussionists usually has the largest distance from the audience, in most settings. Observing and recording my own performance practises, reading existing written works and interviewing experienced percussionists has been the foundation for this research. By playing on multiple stations consisting of different percussion instruments in varying distances from a fellow musician in a performance practice, I could systematically observe how bodily movement changed between the varying distances in order to be on time with the colleague. The results of this research shows the complexity of sound delay compensation, and has shown that the topic includes more factors than expected. The sounding nature of the percussion instruments has, in this research, been observed to play a big part in the compensation of sound delay. / <p>Program:</p><p>"Prim" - Áskell Másson </p><p>"Shin-Kansen" - Bruno Hartl</p><p>"She who sleeps with a small blanket" - Kevin Volans</p><p>"Meditations a deux" - Ida Fahl</p><p>"Mistral" - Daniel Berg</p><p>"Cruisin`through fire" - Jackson Riffle</p><p></p><p>Colleagues:</p><p>Johannes Carlsson, percussion</p><p>Alexandru Munteanu, percussion</p><p>Tiago Rocha, percussion</p><p></p><p>Text-file no. 1: Thesis</p><p>Audio-file no. 1: Interview with Joakim Anterot</p><p>Audio-file no. 2: Interview with Mikael Nilsson</p><p>Audio-file no. 3: Interview with Roger Carlsson</p><p>Audio-file no. 4: Even Hembre`s Master-exam concert at KMH, 28th of May 2024</p><p>Video-file no. 1: Part 1 of Arne Björk`s "Symfonisk Duett" first performance</p><p>Video-file no. 2: Part 2 of Arne Björk`s "Symfonisk Duett first performance</p><p>Video-file no. 3: Part 3 of Arne Björk`s "Symfonisk Duett" first performance</p><p></p>

In this thesis, the impact of conservation banking on biodiversity is assessed by examining the bird species richness in U.S. counties that have implemented the policy. Conservation banking is a market-based instrument designed for developers who need to comply with the Endangered Species Act for the negative environmental impacts that their projects have made. Conservation banking aims to “protect and recover imperilled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend” (USFWS 2013, p. 1). In this thesis, a staggered difference-in-difference with differential timing by Goodman-Bacon (2018) and further developed by Callaway and Sant’Anna (2021) is used to estimate the effect of conservation banks on biodiversity. Data for biodiversity, bird species richness are collected from U.S. Geological Survey's data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Information on conservation banks is gathered from the Regulatory In-lieu fee and Bank Information Tracking System (RIBITS). This thesis focuses on 107 conservation banks in 53 counties in the U.S. established between 2005 and 2016. The main results from this study indicate a positive impact of the introduction of conservation banks, with an increase in biodiversity of 4,1%. Consequently, this confirms the positive effect of the policy intervention. Despite these results, it is vital to consider caution regarding this market-based instrument. Market-based instruments that commodify elements of nature into the market are a new frontier in capitalist expansion. This approach may exclude areas from the natural evolutionary selection process, leading to potential long-term ecological imbalances. Current payment structures in conservation banking can lead to misallocation of taxpayers’ money at the same time as biodiversity outcomes are not optimized. Therefore, the most fundamental recommendation for this policy is to change to outcome-based payments.

Enabling vehicles to preempt the normal operation of traffic signals has the potential to improve the safety and efficiency of both the requesting vehicle and all of the other vehicles. Little is known about which strategy is the most effective to exit from preemption control and transition back to the traffic signals normal timing plan. Common among these traffic signal transition strategies is the method of either increasing or decreasing the cycle length of the signal timing plan, as the process followed to return to the coordination point of the effected signal timing plan, to coordinate its operation with adjacent traffic signals. This research evaluates commonly available transition strategies: best way, long, short, and hold strategies. The major contribution of this research is enhancing the methodology to evaluate the impacts of using these alternative transition strategies. Part of this methodology consists of the "software-in-the-loop" simulation tool which replicates the stochastic characteristics of traffic flow under different traffic volume levels. This tool combines the software from a traffic signal controller (Gardner NextPhase Suitcase Tester, version 1.4B) with a microscopic traffic simulation model (CORSIM, TSIS 5.2 beta version). The research concludes that a statistically significant interaction exists between traffic volume levels and traffic signal transition strategies. This interaction eliminates the ability to determine the isolated effects of either the transition strategies on average travel delay and average travel time, or the effects of changes in traffic volume levels on average travel delay and average travel time. Conclusions, however, could be drawn on the performance of different transition strategies for specific traffic volume levels. As a result, selecting the most effective transition strategy needs to be based on the traffic volume levels and conditions specific to each traffic signal or series of coordinated traffic signals. The research also concludes that for the base traffic volume and a 40% increase in traffic volume, the most effective transition strategies are the best way, long or hold alternatives. The best way was the most effective transition strategy for a 20% increase in traffic volume. The least effective strategy is the short transition strategy for both the base and 40% increase in traffic volume, and the long and short for a 20% increase in traffic volume. Further research needs to be conducted to assess the performance of different transition strategies in returning to coordinated operation under higher levels of traffic volume (e.g., approaching or exceeding congested flow regime), with varying cycle lengths, with different signal timing plans, and when different roadway geometric configurations (e.g., turn lanes, length of turn lanes, number of lanes, spacing between intersections) are present. / Ph. D.

Traffic signals are used at intersections to manage the flow of vehicles by allocating right-of-way in a timely manner for different users of the intersection. Traffic signals are therefore installed at an intersection to improve overall safety and to decrease vehicular average delay. However, the variation of driving speed in response to these signals causes an increase in fuel consumption and air emission levels. One solution to this problem is Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (Eco-CACC), which attempts to reduce vehicle fuel consumption and emission levels by optimizing driver behavior in the vicinity of a signalized intersection. Various Eco-CACC algorithms have been proposed by researchers to address this issue. With the help of vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, algorithms are being developed that utilize signal phasing and timing (SPaT) data together with queue information to optimize vehicle trajectories in the vicinity of signalized intersections. The research presented in this thesis constitutes the third phase of a project that entailed developing and evaluating an Eco-CACC system. Its main objective is to evaluate the benefits of the newly developed Eco-CACC algorithm that was proposed by the Center for Sustainable Mobility at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. This algorithm uses advanced signal information (SPaT) to compute the fuel-optimal trajectory of vehicles, and, then, send recommended speeds to drivers as an audio message or implement them directly into the subject vehicle. The objective of this study is to quantitatively quantify the fuel-efficiency of the Eco-CACC system in a real field environment. In addition, another goal of this study is to address the implementation issues and challenges with the field application of the Eco-CACC system. A dataset of 2112 trips were collected as part of this research effort using a 2014 Cadillac SRX equipped with a vehicle onboard unit for (V2V) and (V2I) communication. A total of 32 participants between the ages of 18 and 30 were randomly selected from one age group (18-30) with an equal number of males and females. The controlled experiment was conducted on the Virginia Smart Road facility during daylight hours for dry pavement conditions. The controlled field experiment included four different scenarios: normal driving, driving with red indication countdown information provided to drivers, driving with recommended speed information computed by the Eco-CACC system and delivered to drivers, and finally automated driving (automated Eco-CACC system). The controlled field experiment was conducted for four values of red indication offsets along an uphill and downhill approach. The collected data were compared with regard to fuel economy and travel time over a fixed distance upstream and downstream of the intersection (820 ft (250 m) upstream of the intersection to 590 ft (180 m) downstream for a total length of 1410 ft (430 m)). The results demonstrate that the Eco-CACC system is very efficient in reducing fuel consumption levels especially when driving downhill. The field data indicates that the automated scenario could produce fuel and travel time savings of 31% and 9% on average, respectively. In addition, the study demonstrates that driving with a red indication countdown and recommended speed information can produce fuel savings ranging from 4 to 21 percent with decreases in travel times ranging between 1 and 10 percent depending on the value of red indication offset and the direction. Split-split-plot design was used to analyze the data and test significant differences between the four scenarios with regards to fuel consumption and travel time. The analysis shows that the differences between normal driving and driving with either the manual or automated Eco-CACC systems are statistically significant for all the red indication offset values. / Master of Science

For diesel engines, valve timing is important and is related to power efficiency and exhaust gas after-treatment. During operation, the temperature of engine components can change and thus influencing the actual valve timing. With collected data from a Scania experimental engine, a method for valve closing time detection based on knock sensors is proposed in this project using a signal processing method. For algorithm design and result evaluation purposes, two references are used in this project. One is nominal valve timing, and the other is a valve timing reference based on rocker arm force signals. The developed method is tested through 4 evaluations: (1) 30% engine load with different engine speeds (600 to 2000rpm), (2) 1200rpm engine speed with different engine loads (0 to 100%), (3) 40% load 1200rpm at different oil temperature (around 50 to 80°C), and (4) 40% load dropped to motored condition. By comparing evaluation results and previously reported data, the following conclusions can be drawn: (a) The developed method has the ability to catch the changing of valve closing time in most test cases; (b) The developed method has a maximum combined error (between detected valve closing and rocker arm unloaded time) of - 4.7CAD on the intake side and -12.6CAD on the exhaust side among all cylinders; (c) Due to interference from vibration caused by valve events of other cylinders, the developed method has worse accuracy with larger than 50% load. Further work can focus on the detection of valve opening time and the improvement of accuracy by finding better sensor positions. / För dieselmotorer är ventiltidpunkten viktig och relaterad till energieffektivitet och avgasefterbehandling. Under drift kan temperaturen på motorkomponenterna förändras och därmed påverka ventilernas faktiska timing. Med insamlade data från en Scania experimentell motor föreslås i detta projekt en metod för detektering av ventilstängningstid baserad på knackgivare med hjälp av en signalbehandlingsmetod. För algoritmdesign och resultatutvärdering används två referenser i detta projekt. Den ena är nominell ventiltidpunkt och den andra är en ventiltidsreferens baserad på vipparmskraftssignaler. Den utvecklade metoden testas genom 4 utvärderingar: (1) 30% motorbelastning med olika motorvarvtal (600 till 2000r/min), (2) 1200r/min motorvarvtal vid olika motorbelastningar (0 till 100%), (3) 40% belastning 1200r/min vid olika oljetemperatur (runt 50 till 80 °C), och (4) 40% belastning till motordrivet tillstånd. Genom att jämföra utvärderingsresultat och tidigare rapporterade data kan följande slutsatser dras: (a) Den utvecklade metoden har förmågan att fånga ändring av ventilstängningstiden i de flesta testfall; (b) Den utvecklade metoden har ett maximalt kombinerat fel (mellan detekterad ventilstängning och vipparmslasttid) på -4,7CAD på inloppssidan och -12,6CAD på avgassidan bland alla cylindrar. (c) På grund av vibrationsstörningar orsakade av ventilhändelser hos andra cylindrar har den utvecklade metoden sämre noggrannhet med större än 50% last. Det fortsatta arbetet kan fokusera på detektering av ventilernas öppningstid, förbättring av noggrannheten genom att hitta bättre givarpositioner.

Thesis (M Sport Sc (Sport Science)-- University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a perceptual-motor training programme on the coincident anticipation timing and batting performance of university club cricket players. The intervention programme focused on developing players‟ visual attention and concentration. Vickers‟ (2007) Three-Step Decision Training Model was used to structure the training sessions. The study followed a repeated measures experimental design with three groups (experimental, placebo, and control) formed by volunteers from a university club cricket team. The independent variable was a four-week training programme. The dependent variables were coincident anticipation timing and performance on a cricket batting test. Subjects were pre- and post-tested with retention tests occurring after a set period of “no training” following the post-tests. Differences between groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA by Ranks Tests. Differences within each group were compared using multiple Mann-Whitney U-Tests. No significant improvements were observed in the experimental group‟s coincident anticipation timing and batting performance. Although neither coincident anticipation timing nor batting performance significantly improved, further research into the use of Vickers‟ (2007) Model to enhance sport performance is recommended. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die uitwerking van ʼn perseptueel-motoriese opleidingsprogram op die samevallende vooruittydsberekening (“coincident anticipation timing”) en kolfprestasie van universiteitsklubkrieketspelers te bepaal. Die klem van die intervensieprogram het op die ontwikkeling van spelers se visuele aandag en konsentrasie geval. Die opleidingsessies is volgens Vickers (2007) se drieledige model vir besluitnemingsopleiding saamgestel. Die studie het ʼn eksperimentele ontwerp van herhaalde metings op drie groepe (eksperimenteel, plasebo en kontrole) van ʼn universiteitsklubkrieketspan toegepas. Die onafhanklike veranderlike was ʼn vier weke lange opleidingsprogram. Die afhanklike veranderlikes was samevallende vooruittydsberekening, en prestasie in ʼn krieketkolftoets. Proefpersone het voor en net ná die opleiding toetse ondergaan, sowel as behoudtoetse drie weke ná die na-opleidingstoetse. Verskille tussen groepe is met behulp van rangtoetse uit Kruskal-Wallis se variansie-analisemodel (ANOVA) bepaal, terwyl verskille binne groepe met veelvuldige Mann-Whitney-U-toetse vergelyk is. Geen beduidende verbetering is in die eksperimentele groep se samevallende vooruittydsberekening of kolfprestasie waargeneem nie. Hoewel nóg samevallende vooruittydsberekening nóg kolfprestasie aansienlik verbeter het, word verdere navorsing oor die gebruik van Vickers (2007) se model vir die verbetering van sportprestasie aanbeveel.

我國股票市場，向以規模太小（截至７７年四月底上市公司僅１４０餘家）而為人詬 病，如：太容易經由大戶的抄作，使散戶套牢而遭受損失，故擴大股票市場規模及增 加機構投資者比重，向為政府努力的目標。 ７２年財政部證卷管理委員會先後制定發佈了「證卷投資信託事業管理規則」及「證 卷投資信託基金管理辦法」期能以增加機構投資方式，避免股市過於投機，又使社會 游資有良孚出路，至７６年底國內共有四家證卷投資信託公司：國際、光華、建弘及 中華。每家公司分別掌管了兩個基金（國內及國外各一）。 本論文以此八個基金為研究對象，研究期間從７２．１０．２９∼７６．１２．２９ ．，以各基金與市場股票指數的週報酬率為比較基礎，先計算各基金的sharpe（１９ ６６），Treynor （１９６５），Jensen（１９６８）的指數，以排名先後，再以 Henriksson（１９８４）及Moses （１９８７）的迴歸模式來探討各基金的擇時效果 （selection and Timing）。 擇時效果乃Fama（１９７２）提出，利用資本市場線（ＳＭＬ）模式來惟算，簡而言 之，選擇效果乃評估基金選股的優勢，而時間效果則衡量基金報酬是否優於市場報酬 。 研究結果sharpe，Treynor 及Jensen指數，各國基金互有優劣，但以光華國外基金略 佳，至於選擇效果各基金皆無明顯表現，而時間效果則僅有光華國外基金略佳，其餘 基金時間效果皆低於市場報酬。 本研究因受限於各基金成立時間不一，且在研究期間並不長久下，所得出的績效排名 ，難免有失偏頗。唯提出基金績效的評估模式，以給欲購買「受益憑證」的投資大眾 ，有個參考！

由於過去數年間金融業者對於授信品質控管的鬆散，產生國內數量及金額龐大的不良債權，資產管理公司也在此時先後成立，不良資產市場亦因而逐漸熱絡，在整體不動產市場占有一席之地。 從過去文獻可得知影響不動產價格之因素數量眾多，但過去較重視實質屬性對於不動產價格之影響，而較忽略非實質因素對於處分價格的影響，其中有關討論時間因素之研究更為稀少；然而由於不良資產同時包含了一般不動產的特徵屬性（如土地、建物面積及區位）與不良資產專有的特徵屬性（如債務人屬性、處分時間），因此進一步研究影響不良資產處分價格之因素便相對重要。 本研究目的主要在於探討影響不良資產處分時間因素對於不良資產處分價格之影響，以供投資人或公司更重視時間因素對於處分不良資產所產生的成本與效益，作為相關單位評估與處分價格之參考。 因此，本文首先探討影響不良資產處分價格之因素種類，並透過特徵價格法建置不良資產特徵價格模型，並進行實證分析，分析探討時間以及相關因素對於不良資產價格的影響關係與程度。 實證結果顯示處分時間、區位、土地面積、建物面積、利率與債務人屬性對於不良資產處分價格有正向的影響力，唯利率因素雖顯著但與假設不符，本研究認為與投資人之行為與心態有關，或因買方之資金成本隨利率提高而增加。 另特別就處分時間因素而言，實證結果顯示當不良資產處分時間越長，價格越高，因此，應合理延長標的物之市場曝光期，以提高資產的處分價格。雖然延長處分時間，相對機會成本亦增加，但投資人或金融機構應在法務流程上更有彈性，以利不良資產的回收。因此藉由本文之研究成果，希冀提供金融機構或資產管理公司處分不良資產時，應謹慎考量處分時間與處分價格間的得失權宜，擬定最適處分策略。 / Due to the loosening credit in the past few years, Taiwan’s non-performing loans, both in terms of volume and amount, burgeoned, resulting in rapid growth of establishments of asset management companies. NPLs consequently became one asset class that was highly sought after in the overall real estate market in Taiwan. From past literatures we understand that there are various factors affecting real estate prices. However, most studies focused on the physical attributes of the underlying real estate, rather than non-physical attributes’ effect on real estate prices. Even more rare are studies that focus on the impact of time. Since non-performing loans encompass both performing real estates’ attributes (land and building area, and location) and non-performing real estates’ attributes (characteristics of debtors and days on market), further study on such factors that affect the real estate prices should be warranted. This paper is to probe the effects of days on market on non-performing loans’ prices. This paper should help investors (including asset management companies) understand the importance of time in regards to its effect on the cost and benefits when disposing NPLs. Therefore, this paper first explores the different factors that affect the prices of NPLs by using Hedonic price method to build models to determine the prices, and then uses real examples to analyze the relationship and magnitude of time and other factors’ impact on NPLs’ prices. Empirical data suggests that days on market, location, land area, building area, interest rate, and borrower types all have positive impact on the prices of NPLs. Interest rate, although showed positive relationship, did not fit the hypothesis, which is probably due to investors’ behavior or mindset or increase in cost of funding as interest rate rises. Specifically for days on market, empirical results manifest that the longer the time on market, the higher the resolution price is. Therefore, it is recommended to reasonably lengthen the days on market to achieve higher resolution price. Although the increase in days on market will increase the opportunity cost, investors and financial institutions should be able to enjoy more flexibility in the legal process, thereby resulting in better recovery. Finally, through the research of this paper, financial institutions and AMCs should carefully consider the cost/benefit between time on market and resolution prices to achieve optimal resolution strategy.

Le délai optimal entre une lésion médullaire traumatique (LMT) et la chirurgie demeure indéterminé. Cependant, la relation entre la prévention de complications et le délai chirurgical n’a jamais été spécifiquement étudiée. L’objectif principal de ce travail était de détecter si les taux de complications chez des LMT étaient associés avec le délai chirurgical. L’objectif secondaire était d’identifier si le délai chirurgical est un prédicteur indépendant de la survenue de complications. Un premier article présente l’analyse d’une cohorte rétrospective de 431 LMTs. Une chirurgie réalisée dans un délai inférieur à 24h (ou inférieur à 72h si un délai de 24h ne peut être respecté) prédisait une diminution du taux de l’ensemble des complications, du taux de pneumonies et du taux de plaies de pression. Les autres facteurs prédictifs de complications identifiés étaient : l’âge, la sévérité de l’atteinte neurologique de la lésion selon l’échelle ASIA, un traumatisme cervical plutôt que thoracique, la présence de comorbidités, la sévérité du traumatisme selon l’échelle ISS et la complexité de la chirurgie. Les connaissances actuelles suggèrent qu’une opération chirurgicale rapide n’a que peu d’effet sur la récupération neurologique chez les LMTs complètes (interruption complète des fonctions sensorimotrices). Pour cette raison, notre second article analyse l’impact du délai chirurgical sur la survenue des complications à partir d’une sous-population de 197 LMTs complètes de notre cohorte. Un délai chirurgical supérieur à 24h prédisait une augmentation des complications, notamment les pneumonies et les infections urinaires. Bien que des études prospectives randomisées sont nécessaires pour confirmer nos conclusions, nos études supportent un délai chirurgical rapide afin de diminuer le taux de complications non neurologiques chez les LMTs. / Optimal timing of surgery after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most controversial subjects in spine surgery. However, the relationship between prevention of peri-operative complications and timing of surgical decompression was never specifically studied. The primary goal of our study was to evaluate if the peri-operative complication rate was associated with surgical timing. The secondary goal of our study was to identify if surgical timing is an independent predictor of complications. A first publication presents the analysis of a retrospective cohort of 431 cases of traumatic SCI. A reduction in the global rate of complications as well as the incidence of pneumonia and pressure ulcer were predicted by surgery performed earlier than 24 hours (or earlier than 72 hours if the surgery could not be performed within 24 hours following the SCI). Other predictors where statistically related to the occurrence of complications: increasing age, severity of neurological injury, a cervical rather than a thoracic lesion, medical comorbidities, the severity of trauma, and the complexity of surgery. Previous studies suggest that early surgery is of little benefit for neurological recovery in complete traumatic SCI (with complete interruption of sensorimotor function). Therefore our second publication analyzed the impact of early surgical intervention in the sub-population of 197 complete SCI. Surgical timing later than 24 h was a predictor of complications, specifically pneumonia and UTI. Although a randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm our findings, our studies support that early surgical timing after traumatic SCI (typically within 24 hours) could decrease the rate of non neurological complications.

Paleoclimatic archives, such as lake sediments, extend our understanding of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem dynamics in relation to climate variability beyond the period covered by instrumental data. In this context, annually laminated (i.e. varved) lake sediments are particularly valuable, as they offer high temporal resolution and undisturbed sediment. However, in order to extract reliable climate information from lake sediments, a careful calibration with the processes controlling the sediment formation is essential. This thesis combines limnological and paleolimnological data from a varved, boreal lake in northern Sweden (Nylandssjön, Nordingrå) collected over different time scales. The main aim of the thesis is to gain a more refined insight into which processes are reflected in the sedimentary diatom assemblage. More specifically, sequential sediment trap records were coupled with physical, chemical and biological lake monitoring and environmental data for comparison and validation with the varved sediment record. The main result of the thesis is that timing, succession and inter-annual variability of key limnological and environmental processes (e.g. ice-cover duration, lake over-turn or catchment run-off) are of major importance for the sedimentary diatom assemblage formation. Continuous monitoring of physico-chemical parameters over three consecutive years identified varying winter air temperature as a major factor influencing in-lake processes and hence the diatom record. Timing of lake over-turn and catchment run-off seemed to be the driver for monospecific diatom blooms, which are reflected in the annual sediment signal. The integrated annual diatom signal in the sediment was dominated by spring or autumn blooms, resulting either from a Cyclotella glomerata dominated spring bloom after relatively warm winter conditions, or a Asterionella formosa dominated autumn bloom after relatively cold winter conditions. The analysis of the diatom stratigraphy in the varved sediment over several decades corroborated the importance of climatic variables (late winter air temperature and NAO), even though the variables with the most predictive power for variance in the diatom data were associated with sediment composition (C, N and sedimentation rate) and pollution (Pb and Cu). Overall, the analysis of the drivers of inter-annual and decadal diatom assemblage fluctuations emphasizes the importance of winter air temperature, indicating that weather extremes may be disproportionately represented in annual sediment records in contrast to nutrient concentrations or sedimentation rate.