The before-after study is still the most popular method used by traffic engineers and transportation safety analysts for evaluating the effects of an intervention. However, this kind of study may be plagued by important methodological limitations, which could significantly alter the study outcome. They include the regression-to-the-mean (RTM) and site-selection effects. So far, most of the research on these biases has focused on the RTM. Hence, the primary objective of this study consists of presenting a method that can reduce the site-selection bias when an entry criterion is used in before-after studies for continuous (e.g. speed, reaction times, etc.) and count data (e.g. number of crashes, number of fatalities, etc.). The proposed method documented in this research provides a way to adjust the Naive estimator by using the sample data and without relying on the data collected from the control group, since finding enough appropriate sites for the control group is much harder in traffic-safety analyses. In this study, the proposed method, a.k.a. Adjusted method, was compared to commonly used methods in before-after studies. The study results showed that among all methods evaluated, the Naive is the most significantly affected by the selection bias. Using the CG, the ANCOVA, or the EB method based on a control group (EBCG) method can eliminate the site-selection bias, as long as the characteristics of the control group are exactly the same as those for the treatment group. However, control group data that have same characteristics based on a truncated distribution or sample may not be available in practice. Moreover, site-selection bias generated by using a dissimilar control group might be even higher than with using the Naive method. The Adjusted method can partially eliminate site-selection bias even when biased estimators of the mean, variance, and correlation coefficient of a truncated normal distribution are used or are not known with certainty. In addition, three actual datasets were used to evaluate the accuracy of the Adjusted method for estimating site-selection biases for various types of data that have different mean and sample-size values.

This thesis treats the information the insurance company is going to give the policyholders just before the insurance is to be concluded and soon thereafter. The purpose for the essay is to investigate whether the mentioned information can be considered to meet the purpose referred to its establishment. The investigation will also show if the penalty for not upholding this obligation is reasonable in relation to the aim the duty to inform the policyholders is meant to uphold. Information to be provided before the contract is concluded should facilitate the choice of insurance. The information to be given to the policyholders as soon as possible after the contract is concluded should be given as a form of confirmation and information on conditions that has not been stated before. The purposes that have been mentioned is for both the information to consumers and companies. The conclusion that can be made after the analysis is that the information is of great importance for the policyholder, both for consumers and companies. Some penalties can be regarded as a tad harsh against the insurance company, according to the author. If just policyholders have an interest to use the information their position would get better. The general purpose of the information has therefore been achieved. / Uppsatsen behandlar för- och efterköpsinformation som ska ges vid tecknande av konsument- och företagsförsäkring. Uppsatsens syfte har varit att utreda huruvida nämnda information kan anses uppfylla de ändamål som ställts vid dess tillkomst. Vidare utreds huruvida påföljderna vid försummelse av informationsplikten kan anses rimliga ställt mot de ändamål som informationen ska fylla. Förköpsinformationen ska lämnas innan försäkringen tecknas och på grundval av given information ska valet av försäkring underlättas för försäkringstagaren. Efterköpsinformationen är den information som snarast efter avtalsslut ska ges till försäkringstagaren som en form av bekräftelse. Efterköpsinformationen ska även innehålla upplysningar gällande vissa andra villkor om det inte tidigare har gjorts. Avseende konsumentförsäkring aktualiseras en civilrättslig påföljd om försäkringsbolaget underlåtit att ge efterköpsinformation, som innebär att försäkringsbolaget inte får åberopa avtalsvillkor som inte särskilt framhållits. Vid underlåtelse att ge förköpsinformation till konsument kan en marknadsrättslig påföljd bli aktuell, vilket innebär att försäkringsbolaget åläggs att utge information. Samma marknadsrättsliga påföljd aktualiseras för underlåtelse att ge både för- och efterköpsinformation avseende företagsförsäkring. Av den analys som gjorts är en slutsats att för- och efterköpsinformationen kan antas vara av stor betydelse för nämnda försäkringstagare. Avgörande för att syftena med informationen, både för och efterköpsinformation, ska uppfyllas är att ett intresse finns hos försäkringstagaren att ta del av dem, som bör motiveras av olika skäl. Författarens åsikt är att den civilrättsliga påföljden ger ett starkt skydd för konsumenten som inte kan anses rimligt mot informationens syfte. Dock kan anses den marknadsrättsliga påföljden utgöra ett för svagt skydd för försäkringstagarna.

Detection and tracking of signals used in sonar applications in noisy environment is the focus of this thesis. We have concentrated on the low Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) case where the conventional detection methods are not applicable. Furthermore, it is assumed that the duty cycle is relatively low. In the problem that is of concern the carrier frequency, pulse repetition interval (PRI) and the existence of the signal are not known. The unknown character of PRI makes the problem challenging since it means that the signal exists at some unknown intervals. A recursive, Bayesian track-before-detect (TBD) filter using particle filter based methods is proposed to solve the concerned problem. The data used by the particle filter is the magnitude of a complex spectrum in complex Gaussian noise. The existence variable is added in the design of the filter to determine the existence of the signal. The evolution of the signal state is modeled by a linear stochastic process. The filter estimates the signal state including the carrier frequency and PRI. Simulations are done under different scenarios where the carrier frequency, PRI and the existence of the signal varies. The results demonstrate that the algorithm presented in this thesis can detect signals which cannot be detected by conventional methods. Besides detection, the tracking performance of the filter is satisfying.

In this study Track Before Detect (TBD) approach will be analysed for tracking of dim moving targets. First, a radar setup is presented in order to introduce the radar range equation and signal models. Then, preliminary information is given about particle filters. As the main algorithm of this thesis, a multi-model particle filter method is developed in order to solve the non-linear non-Gaussian Bayesian estimation problem. Probability of target existence and RMS estimation accuracy are defined as the performance parameters of the algorithm for very low SNR targets. Simulation results are provided and performance analysis is presented as a conclusion.

No description available.

This thesis examines the tension between the evolving demand for the protection and promotion of human rights and the dissatisfaction with the legal institutions charged with these responsibilities. This problematique is examined and reconstructed with the objective of determining how Canadian legal institutions could be structured so as to more effectively contribute to the achievement of social justice. A critical theory approach is undertaken in this thesis. This method involves the development of a transformative ideal against which current practices are examined. This juxtaposition illuminates both the problems with, and the possibilities of, the courts and human rights commissions in interpreting and applying human rights norms. The transformative ideal comprises two elements. The first element postulates that the legal institutional role should be conceived as contributing to a broad and evolving discourse on human rights and responsibilities within the public sphere. The second element holds that this role should be enhanced through the development of transformative human rights practices and their integration into legal processes. The transformative ideal is constructed through a series of six discussions comprising: (1) the development of an analytical framework based on the concepts of social transformation, social justice, human rights and the right to equality; (2) an examination of the critique of the role and functions of courts and human rights commissions; (3) an elaboration of a normative account of the public sphere and discourse together with a discussion of the role of human rights norms therein; (4) a discussion of current mediation practices in the human rights context leading to the development of a normative model of transformative mediation; (5) an examination of the transformative ideal in human rights commission practices; and (6) an exploration of the transformative ideal in court practices. The thesis concludes that the transformative ideal and particularly the concept of transformative human rights practices, will assist in reform of Canadian legal institutions so as to enhance social justice.

This Dissertation includes a statistical analysis of traffic accidents followed by a test to know the effect of new pavement on traffic safety. The accident data is considered for the roads those are in Region South-East Sweden that got new pavement during the year 2001. In Sweden, this is the fourth study concerning the before and after effect of the new pavement. Johansson (1997) studied the change in the number of accidents between the before-years and after-years. Tholén (1999) and Velin et al (2002) have additionally compared the change with the change in the number of accidents in a reference road network (also called control sites) consisting of all public roads in Region West Sweden which were not resurfaced during the study period.

Bakalauro baigiamajame darbe nagrinėjami ekonominiai sprendimai Lietuvoje prieškriziniu ir kriziniu laikotarpiais. Pateikiama fundamentalių ekonominių sprendimų ir jų poveikio aspektų šalies ūkio cikliškumo kontekste teorinė traktuotė: pagrindiniai šalies ūkio situacijos ir jo raidos indikatoriai, ekonominių ciklų teorijos, ekonominės krizės samprata, priežastys ir padariniai, makroekonominiai sprendimai prieškriziniu ir kriziniu laikotarpiais: konceptualus požiūris. Darbe taip pat nustatomi ekonominiai sprendimai ir analizuojamas jų poveikis prieškriziniu (2004-2007 m.) ir kriziniu (2008-2009 m.) laikotarpiais Lietuvoje: pateikiami tyrimo organizavimo metodologiniai pagrindai, analizuojama Lietuvos ekonominė raida 2004-2009 m., rodikliai (BVP, infliacijos lygis, nedarbo lygis, vartojimo lygis, valstybės biudžeto deficitas, nekilnojamojo turto kainos, išduotos paskolos ir kt.), leidžiantys identifikuoti prieškrizinę situaciją ir ekonominės krizės požymius Lietuvoje, pagrindiniai ekonominiai sprendimai prieškriziniu ir kriziniu laikotarpiais Lietuvoje. Įvertinamos prieškriziniu ir kriziniu laikotarpiais priimtų ekonominių sprendimų Lietuvoje pasekmės. Pateikiama Lafero kreivė – PVM ir pelno mokesčio pajamų priklausomybė nuo mokesčio tarifo. / The thesis examines the economic decisions in Lithuania which were taken before and during the economic crisis. It presents the theoretical treatment of fundamental economic decisions and their impact on the economy of the country, i.e. the key indicators of the economic situation in Lithuania and their development, the concept of economic crisis, its causes and consequences, as well as and the macroeconomic decisions taken before and during the economic crisis from the conceptual point of view. The thesis also determines the economic decisions and analyzes their impact before the economic crisis (from 2004 to 2007) and during it (from 2008 to 2009) in Lithuania. It presents the methodological fundamentals of the research organization, the analysis of the development of economics in Lithuania from 2004 to 2009, fundamental economic decisions before crisis and during it in Lithuania, and the indicators (GDP, inflation, the level of unemployment and consumption, the state budget deficit, real estate prices, loans, etc..) which help to identify the economic situation before crisis and the characteristics of the economic crisis in Lithuania. Moreover, the consequences of the economic decisions of these periods are evaluated as well as the Laffer Curve explaining how the VAT and income tax revenue are dependent on the tax rate is presented.

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Interdisciplinary Studies. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-175). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1299814341&SrchMode=1&sid=16&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1195573096&clientId=5220

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 446-470). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.