In this dissertation I examine the actions of learners while they navigate a new learning context to gain insight into how learning occurs during learning events. Building on Kolb's (2014) experiential learning model and incorporating research from cognitive psychology, I explore discrete patterns of learning activity and tactical emergence to gain insight into how learning evolves and outcomes are achieved. Kolb's conceptual work points to the complexity of most learning experiences. This dissertation offers a framework and language supporting a more detailed analysis of the cognitive processes and knowledge development which occur during learning events, a new perspective to help interpret the dynamics and complexities of in-situ learning. I adopt a refined view of learning which anticipates the interplay between discrete processes and knowledge elements. In the proposed conceptual model, process and content dynamics are managed by executive function through three specific mechanisms; dialectics, goal pursuit, and the scaffolding of knowledge. Using a new game environment developed for this research, I trace the actions of learners as they interact with a "new-to-them" task. In Study 1 (n=50), I examine the behavior of subjects as they progressively learn and adopt new tactics while playing the game and seek evidence of the three proposed mechanisms that guide decisions during learning, dialectics, goal pursuit, and scaffolding. Study 2 (n=194) builds upon the patterns of learned behavior observed in Study 1, and examines how breaks, or their absence, influence learning under enhanced cognitive load. In this study, I explore how incremental break time contributes to learning outcomes. Cognitive ability and incremental break time were hypothesized to interact; subjects with high cognitive ability were expected to find little benefit from break time, while those with lower ability were expected to positively benefit from time in breaks. Surprisingly, and in contrast to previous research, incremental break time was negatively related to learning and outcomes. No interaction between cognitive ability and break time was observed. I discuss the importance of this finding. This dissertation contributes to a refined understanding of learning process, knowledge content, and the dynamic nature of their interactions. Learners demonstrate idiosyncratic differences in how they interpret and respond to the environment. This includes how quickly and effectively they recognize problems or opportunities while learning, establish goals to guide their pursuit, and construct and leverage new knowledge to shape more effective behaviors. Contributions to learning theory, explored and developed here, may be transferable to individualized instruction environments, including new insights about the micro-dynamics of learning and knowledge states which are developed in this dissertation. / Ph. D. / In this dissertation I explore how individuals learn from experience by capturing the detailed actions of new learners as they face a new and unfamiliar task. Subjects faced a common, though unfamiliar, online game environment. While the context required demonstration of a common set of learned behaviors, prior empirical research suggests individual learners might exhibit unique patterns of behavior while learning. In a first study, a highly detailed record of individual behavior within game trials revealed highly idiosyncratic behavioral paths for individual learners while higher-level commonalities in techniques and tactics guiding game play and outcomes emerged. I examine factors that guide and help to explain patterns of learning behavior and their influence on learning outcomes. In a second study, I examine behavior in an online game environment modified to heighten cognitive load and explore the interaction of cognitive ability and the use of breaks in predicting learning outcomes. Individuals with higher cognitive ability generally achieve greater learning outcomes across a wide variety of tasks. Cognitive load speaks to the demands placed on limited cognitive resources during learning (James, 1976). Learner’s limited cognitive resources can be overwhelmed during learning by the data and cognitive processes they must attend to. I hypothesize a benefit to the use of short breaks by subjects with lower cognitive ability. In contrast to previous research, our findings indicate short incremental breaks do not improve learning.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The analysis of a break in production is usually performed by a government negotiator or cost analyst. The more effectively they are able to estimate the loss of learning due to breaks in production, the more likely that the final contract will be fair and reasonable. The research of this study focused on identifying the factors which contribute to a loss of learning due to a break in production and the methods which are available to quantify these factors. The four methods identified were the George Anderlohr, the DCAA, the Pinchon and Richardson, and the Cubic Curve. These methods were then analyzed using the data from two aircraft, the Grumman C-2A and the Bell Helicopter Textron AH-1W, both of which experienced breaks in production. This study concludes that the George Anderlohr approach is the most effective method to evaluate the loss of learning due to a break in production. / http://archive.org/details/measuringlosseso00ever / Captain, United States Marine Corps

Thesis advisor: Zhijie Xiao / This dissertation contains three chapters in theoretical Macroeconometrics and applied Macroeconometrics. This first chapter addresses the issues related to the estimation, testing and computation of ordered structural breaks in multivariate linear regressions. Unlike common breaks, ordered structural breaks are those breaks that are related across equations but not necessarily occurring at the same dates. A likelihood ratio test assuming normal errors is proposed in this chapter in order to detect the ordered structural breaks in multivariate linear regressions. The estimation of ordered structural breaks uses quasi-maximum likelihood and adopts the efficient algorithm of Bai and Perron (2003). I also provide results about the consistency and rate of convergence when searching for ordered structural breaks. Finally, these methods are applied to one empirical example: the mean growth rate of output in three European countries and United States. This second chapter focuses on the parameter stability of dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models. To this end, I solve and estimate a representative New Keynesian model using both linear and nonlinear methods. I first examine how nonlinearities affect the parameter stability of the New Keynesian model. The results show that parameter instabilities still exist even using nonlinear solutions, and also highlight differences between two nonlinear solution methods: perturbation method and projection method. In addition, I propose a sequential procedure for searching for multiple structural breaks in nonlinear models, and apply it to the New Keynesian model. Two common structural breaks among these estimated parameters are identified for all the five solutions considered in this chapter. One structural break is in the early 1970s, while another one locates around the middle 1990s. In the third chapter, we investigate changes in long run productivity growth in the United States. In particular, we approach productivity growth from a sectoral perspective, and decompose the whole economy into two broad sectors: investment goods-producing sector and consumption goods-producing sector. Although the evidence of changes in the aggregate productivity growth is far from obvious at conventional test size, we find evidence of structural breaks in the sectoral productivity growth using both growth accounting and DSGE model based measures. There are two structural breaks in investment goods-producing sector using growth accounting measures, which indicates that the era of investment and productivity boom in the middle 1990s may have ended before the Great Recession. In addition, our results show there is one structural break in consumption goods-producing sector around the 1970s and attribute the aggregate productivity slowdown at that time to consumption goods-producing sector. These results are broadly consistent with Ireland and Schuh (2008). Our results offer up with a modestly pessimistic outlook on future productivity growth and, therefore, potential output. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics.

This thesis consists of three essays in empirical finance and macroeconomics. The first essay proposes a new structural-break vector autoregressive model for predicting real output growth by the nominal yield curve. The model allows for the possibility of both in-sample and out-of-sample breaks in parameter values and uses information in historical regimes to make inference on out-of-sample breaks. A Bayesian estimation and forecasting procedure is developed which accounts for the uncertainty of both structural breaks and model parameters. I discuss dynamic consistency when forecasting recursively and provide a solution. Applied to monthly US data, I find strong evidence of breaks in the predictive relation between the yield curve and output growth. Incorporating the possibility of structural breaks improves out-of-sample forecasts of output growth. The second essay proposes a sequential Monte Carlo method for estimating GARCH models subject to an unknown number of structural breaks. We use particle filtering techniques that allow for fast and efficient updates of posterior quantities and forecasts in real-time. The method conveniently deals with the path dependence problem that arises in these type of models. The performance of the method is shown to work well using simulated data. Applied to daily NASDAQ returns, we find strong evidence of structural breaks in the long-run variance of returns. Models with flexible return distributions such as t-innovations or with jumps indicate fewer breaks than models with normal return innovations and are favored by the data. The third essay proposes a new tilt stochastic volatility model which extends the existing volatility models by modeling the asymmetric correlation between return and volatility innovations in a unified and flexible framework. The Efficient Importance Sampling (EIS) procedure is adapted to estimate the model. Simulation studies show that the Maximum Likelihood (ML)-EIS estimation of the model is accurate. The new model is applied to the CRSP daily returns. I find the extensions are significant and incorporating them improves the accuracy of volatility estimates.

This thesis consists of three essays in empirical finance and macroeconomics. The first essay proposes a new structural-break vector autoregressive model for predicting real output growth by the nominal yield curve. The model allows for the possibility of both in-sample and out-of-sample breaks in parameter values and uses information in historical regimes to make inference on out-of-sample breaks. A Bayesian estimation and forecasting procedure is developed which accounts for the uncertainty of both structural breaks and model parameters. I discuss dynamic consistency when forecasting recursively and provide a solution. Applied to monthly US data, I find strong evidence of breaks in the predictive relation between the yield curve and output growth. Incorporating the possibility of structural breaks improves out-of-sample forecasts of output growth. The second essay proposes a sequential Monte Carlo method for estimating GARCH models subject to an unknown number of structural breaks. We use particle filtering techniques that allow for fast and efficient updates of posterior quantities and forecasts in real-time. The method conveniently deals with the path dependence problem that arises in these type of models. The performance of the method is shown to work well using simulated data. Applied to daily NASDAQ returns, we find strong evidence of structural breaks in the long-run variance of returns. Models with flexible return distributions such as t-innovations or with jumps indicate fewer breaks than models with normal return innovations and are favored by the data. The third essay proposes a new tilt stochastic volatility model which extends the existing volatility models by modeling the asymmetric correlation between return and volatility innovations in a unified and flexible framework. The Efficient Importance Sampling (EIS) procedure is adapted to estimate the model. Simulation studies show that the Maximum Likelihood (ML)-EIS estimation of the model is accurate. The new model is applied to the CRSP daily returns. I find the extensions are significant and incorporating them improves the accuracy of volatility estimates.

Fibrous carcinogens, such as crocidolite asbestos, are known to catalyze many of the same reactions as iron, namely 0_2 consumption, generation of reduced oxygen species, and damage to DNA, such as strand breaks, and modifications of bases. Upon inhalation, fibers are also known to become coated with an iron-rich material. The mechanism by which this iron is bound to fibers in the lung is not known, and the effect of this additional iron on the reactivity of the fibers is also not well understood. The studies described here were undertaken to elucidate the abilities of crocidolite asbestos, in its native, soaked, and iron depleted forms, as well as three varieties of silicon carbide whiskers, to acquire reactive iron on their surfaces. The aim has been to quantitate the amount of iron that can bind in short periods of time, and to measure any changes in biochemical reactivity toward DNA following binding of iron. All forms of the naturally occurring mineral fiber crocidolite, and the man-made mineral fibers (silicon carbide whiskers), were capable of acquiring iron, to varying degrees. Native crocidolite was able to bind up to 57 nmol Fe+ 2/mg crocidolite in one hour, while the iron-depleted form was capable of binding only 5. 5 nmol Fe+ 2/mg crocidolite, and the three varieties of silicon carbide whiskers bound from 2.9 to 29.0 nmol Fe+ 2/mg in the same time period. Following iron binding, the fibers were more capable of forming DNA single-strand breaks. The increase in the ability of the fibers to cause DNA strand breaks was greatest with the silicon carbide whiskers, less with iron depleted crocidolite, and the least with native crocidolite, which is likely because of the inherently high iron content of native crocidolite. Other investigation attempted to determine whether iron could be bound from more complex, physiologically relevant iron-containing solutions where potential iron chelators are abundant. Iron appeared to be acquired even from such complex mixtures as tissue culture media. Following incubation in media, the fibers were more active in catalyzing the formation of DNA strand breaks. An interesting correlation was noted between the abilities of the fibers to cause DNA strand breaks after incubation in tissue culture media and the cytotoxicity of crocidolite to A549 cells grown in the same media.

In this paper, we use the Bai and Perron (1988, 2003) methodology to test for multiple structural breaks in the real exchange rate for 8 countries within Asia Pacific. We find extensive evidence of structural breaks in the real exchange rates. The Bai and Perron (1998, 2003) consider the estimation of multiple structural shifts in a linear model estimated by least-squares. They propose some tests for structural changes for the case with no trending regressors and a selection procedure based on a sequence of tests to estimate consistently the number of changes and break date. Also this paper apply Elliott and Müller (2003) method in order to test for stability of the estimated regression parameters with structural breaks. When comparing two test results, we find that the test conclusions is with little difference . Within those 8 countries including Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan , The processing result with Bai and Perron test with structural breaks, we find that real exchange rates of 4 countries have three structural breaks, 2 countries have two structural breaks, and other two countries has one structural break. Also we apply Elliott and Müller test , the result we got is that has a structural break of real exchange rate exist within 7 countries. Only one country has no structural break. According to the results which we applied those tests, There do exist some structural break under the impacts of some financial crisis and important events which , such as The Second Oil Chsis ( 1979), Plaza Accord (1985), Asia Financial Crisis (1997).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, May, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 162-177).

No description available.

Exercise is important to employees’ health and well-being. Exercise has been found to increase resources, foster resource replenishment, and increase happiness, which may make it effective in supporting employees against the harmful effects of depletion that arise from emotion regulation. Surface acting is a demanding behavior in which employees must fake their emotions to follow organizational display rules, but we know little about how exercise breaks can prevent harmful effects extending from this common job demand in some organizational settings (e.g., customer service). Fifty participants (N = 50) completed a surface acting task in which they listened to audio-recorded negative restaurant reviews and were instructed to respond to the reviews without conveying negative emotions across a 90-minute in-lab experimental session. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four break conditions (no break, a passive break, an exercise break, or a flaw essay break) which occurred halfway through the experimental session. Participants then completed the surface acting task again for 20 minutes. The surface acting task was effective in inducing emotion regulation. Participants who received a break experienced a decrease in depletion after the break, while participants who did not receive a break experienced an increase in depletion. However, no evidence was obtained to suggest that exercise breaks led to a reduction in depletion relative to other experimental conditions, nor a difference in mastery or positive affect. This thesis contributes to research on emotion regulation and exercise break by creating a new surface acting task that can easily be given in experiments. Also, this thesis suggests that organizations should ensure that employees are receiving breaks during worktime to guarantee employees maintain high productivity. / M.S. / Work is stressful as individuals may need to enhance, change, fake or suppress emotions through a process known as emotion regulation. One type of emotion regulation is surface acting in which individuals fake emotions to better align with organizational display rules. Surface acting has been found to contribute to emotional exhaustion, work-to-family conflict, feelings of inauthenticity and insomnia. Surface acting is common in customer jobs in which employees need to address customer concerns. Research has demonstrated that breaks can be used to help restore resources and reduce depletion. Specifically, exercise has been found to be beneficial in helping employees combat the harmful effects of emotion regulation and the depletion that comes with it. In this study, fifty participants completed a surface acting task in which they listened to audio-recorded negative restaurant reviews and were instructed to respond to the reviews without conveying negative emotions across a 90-minute in-lab experimental session. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four break conditions (no break, a passive break, an exercise break, or a flaw essay break) which occurred halfway through the experimental session. Participants then completed the surface acting task again for 20 minutes. The surface acting task was found to induce emotion regulation. Participants who received a break experienced a decrease in depletion after the break, while participants who did not receive a break experienced an increase in depletion. There was no evidence to suggest that exercise breaks were better at reducing depletion than the other conditions. This thesis suggests that organizations should ensure that employees are receiving breaks during worktime to guarantee employees maintain high productivity.