The Hubble parameter H(z) is a measure of the expansion rate of the universe at redshift z. One method to determine it relies on inferring the slope of the redshift with respect to cosmic time, where galaxy ages can be used as a proxy for the latter. This method is used by Simon et al. in [1], where they present 8 determinations of the Hubble parameter. The results are surprisingly precise given the precision of their data set. Therefore, we reanalyze their data using three methods: chi-square minimization, Monte Carlo sampling, and Gaussian processes. The first two methods show that obtaining 8 independent values of the Hubble parameter yields significantly larger uncertainties than those presented by Simon et al. The last method yields a continuous inference of H(z) with lower uncertainties. However, this is obtained at the cost of having strong correlations, meaning that inferences at a wide range of redshifts provide essentially the same information. Furthermore, we demonstrate that obtaining 8 independent values for the Hubble parameter with the same precision as in [1] requires either significantly increasing the size of the data set, or significantly decreasing the uncertainty in the data. We conclude that their resulting Hubble parameter values can not be derived from the employed data. [1] J. Simon, L. Verde and R. Jimenez, Constraints on the redshift dependence of the dark energy potential, Physical Review D 71, 123001 (2005). / Hubbleparametern H(z) är ett mått på universums expansionshastighet vid rödskift z. En metod som bestämmer parametern bygger på att hitta lutningen av sambandet mellan rödskift och kosmisk tid, där det sistnämnda går att ersätta med galaxåldrar. Denna metod används av Simon et al. i [1], där de presenterar 8 värden av Hubbleparametern. Resultaten är förvånansvärt precisa, med tanke på precisionen i deras data. Vi omanalyserar därför deras data med tre metoder: chi-2-miniminering, Monte Carlo-sampling och Gaussiska processer. De två första metoderna visar att när 8 oberoende värden av Hubbleparametern bestäms fås mycket större osäkerheter än de som presenteras av Simon et al. Den sistnämnda metoden ger en kontinuerlig funktion H(z) med lägre osäkerheter. Priset för detta är dock starka korrelationer, det vill säga att resultat vid många olika rödskift innehåller i princip samma information. Utöver detta visar vi att det krävs antingen en mycket större mängd data eller mycket mindre osäkerheter i datan för att kunna bestämma 8 oberoende värden av Hubbleparametern med samma precision som i [1]. Vi drar slutsatsen att deras värden av Hubbleparametern inte kan fås med den data som använts. [1] J. Simon, L. Verde and R. Jimenez, Constraints on the redshift dependence of the dark energy potential, Physical Review D 71, 123001 (2005).

För att uppnå ett hållbart samhälle krävs en omställning av transportsystemet. Region Stockholmsmålsättning är att andelen cykelresor ska mer än dubbleras till år 2030 och stå för 20% av alla resor ilänet. Bristande underhåll och dålig utformning på cykelbanor står för ca 60% av allvarligasingelolyckor på cykel. Denna ökning av cykelresor ställer därmed höga krav på utformning ochunderhåll av cykelinfrastrukturen. För att cykelbanans komfort ska vara god, krävs det attcykelbanan är jämn, vilket kan komma i konflikt med brunnslock, då det ofta uppstår sättningar ibeläggningen omkring brunnarna. Brunnslocken kan upplevas som obehagliga att cykla över och haräven lägre friktion än omkringliggande yta. Detta kan resultera i halka vilket särskilt är påtagligt närvägbanan är fuktig. Brunnslock är vanligt förekommande på cykelbanor, i denna studie inventeradesde centrala delarna av elva regionala cykelstråk och där förekom ca 1200 brunnslock. Dessa var avvarierande storlek, position i cykelbanan och höjdläge jämfört med den omkringliggandebeläggningen. Brunnslock kan vara ett potentiellt hinder på cykelbanor, vilket minskar cykelbananstillgängliga bredd. Cykelbanans tillgängliga bredd är den yta som är funktionellt möjlig att cykla på.Konstruerad bredd är däremot den bredd cykelbanan byggdes med utan hänsyn till eventuellahinder.Syftet med studien är att undersöka ifall brunnslock, specifikt manhålsbrunnar och kabelbrunnar,anses vara ett hinder för cyklister på cykelbanor och hur brunnslocken påverkar den tillgängligabredden på de fyra studieplatserna. Den tillgängliga bredden på studieplatserna jämförs medrekommenderade cykelbanebredder i handböcker. Studien avgränsades för att eftersträvastudieplatsernas likvärdighet och att enbart brunnslockens egenskaper skilde studieplatserna åt. Destuderade brunnslocken var: manhålsbrunn med och utan kant samt kabelbrunn med och utan kant.Studiens resultat visar det finns en skillnad mellan situationer med och utan mötande cyklist.Majoriteten av cyklisterna håller sig till höger om brunnslocken oberoende av möte eller ej möte,vilket kan bero på deras naturliga sidledsposition. När det inte är möte väljer många att cykla tillvänster om brunnslocken. Däremot, i situationer med möte väljer nästan ingen att cykla till vänsterom brunnslocken. Minskningen i antal som cyklar vänster om brunnslocken vid möte motsvararungefär ökningen i antal som cyklar höger om brunnslocken i samma situation. Antalet som cyklaröver brunnslock skiljer sig marginellt mellan situationer med och utan möte. Detta kan tolkas somatt cyklister byter sida om brunnslocken och undviker att cykla över dem. Vid de fyra studieplatsernaär det få som cyklar över brunnslocken vilket gör att dessa brunnslock troligen bör ses som etthinder som minskar den tillgängliga bredden.Det kan konstateras att de undersökta kabelbrunnarna är ett större hinder för cyklister änmanhålsbrunnarna. Brunnslock med kant är ett större hinder än brunnslock utan kant. Fler brunnarbehöver studeras innan det går att dra mer generella slutsatser om brunnslock på cykelbanor. Dettagäller både de undersökta brunnarna och andra sorters brunnar.Den tillgängliga bredden på studieplatserna jämfördes med rekommenderade cykelbanebredder idessa handböcker: VGU, GCM-handboken, Stockholms läns regionala cykelplan, Stockholmscykelplan, Cykeln i staden och Solnas cykelplan. Bredderna som rekommenderas i handböckernauppfylls inte sett till den tillgängliga bredden på studieplatserna. / The transport system must transform to achieve a sustainable society. Region Stockholm's goal is forthe proportion of bicycle trips to more than double by 2030 and account for 20% of all trips in thecounty. Lack of maintenance and poor cycle paths account for about 60% of serious single accidentson bicycles. This increase consequently places high demands on the design and maintenance of thebicycle infrastructure. For the cycle path's comfort to be good, it is required that the cycle pathremains even, which can come into conflict with manhole covers, as subsidence often occur at andaround the manholes. The manhole covers can be experienced as unpleasant to cycle over and havelower friction than the surrounding surface. This can cause skidding, especially if the road surface iswet. Manhole covers are common on cycle paths, in this study 1 200 manhole covers were found onthe central parts of eleven regional cycle paths. These were of varying size, position in the cycle pathand height compared to the surrounding pavement. Manhole covers can be a potential obstacle oncycle paths, which reduces the available width of the cycle path. The available width of the cyclepath is the surface that is functionally possible to cycle on. Constructed width, on the other hand, isthe width the cycle path was built with without regard to any obstacles.The purpose of the study is to investigate whether manhole covers are considered an obstacle forcyclists on cycle paths and how the manhole covers affect the available width of the four study sites.The available width of the study sites is compared with recommended cycle path widths inguidelines. The study was delimited to strive for the equivalence of the study sites and that only theproperties of the manhole covers separated the study sites. Two types of manhole covers werestudied and these two types were also studied with and without edges.The results of the study show that there is a difference between situations with and without anoncoming cyclist. A majority of cyclists stay to the right of the manhole covers regardless ofoncoming cyclist or not, which may be due to their natural lateral position. When there is nooncoming cyclist, many choose to cycle to the left of the manhole covers. However, in situations ofencounter, almost no one chooses to cycle to the left of the manhole covers. The decrease in thenumber of cyclists to the left of the manhole covers at an encounter roughly corresponds to theincrease in the number of cyclists to the right of the manhole covers in the same situation. Thenumber who cycle over manhole covers differs marginally between situations with and withoutoncoming cyclists. This can be interpreted as cyclists changing sides of the manhole covers andavoiding cycling over them. At the four study sites, few people cycle over the manhole covers, whichmeans that these manhole covers should probably be seen as an obstacle that reduces the availablewidth.It can be stated that the manhole covers with edges are a greater obstacle than manhole coverswithout edges. More manholes need to be studied before it is possible to draw more generalconclusions about manhole covers on cycle paths. This applies to both the investigated manholesand other types of manholes.The available width of the study places was compared with the recommended cycle path widths inthese guidelines: “VGU”, “GCM-handboken”, “Stockholm County's regional cycle plan”, “Stockholm'scycle plan”, “Cykeln i staden” and “Solna's cycle plan”. The widths recommended in the guidelinesare not met in terms of the available width of the study places.

This study investigates the association between traditional and alternative working capital measures and the returns of industrial firms listed on the Johannesburg Stock E"change. Twenty five variables for all industrial firms listed for the most recent 10 years were derived from standardised annual balance sheet data of the University of Pretoria's Bureau of Financial Analysis. Traditional liquidity ratios measuring working capital position, activity and leverage, and alternative liquidity measures, were calculated for each of the 135 participating firms for the 1 0 years. These working capital measures were tested for association with five return measures for every firm over the same period. This was done by means of a chi-square test for association, followed by stepwise multiple regression undertaken to quantify the underlying structural relationships between the return measures and the working capital measures. The results of the tests indicated that the traditional working capital leverage measures, in particular, total current liabilities divided by funds flow, and to a lesser e"tent, long-term loan capital divided by net working capital, displayed the greatest associations, and e"plained the majority of the variance in the return measures. At-test, undertaken to analyse the size effect on the working capital measures employed by the participating firms, compared firms according to total assets. The results revealed significant differences between the means of the top quartile of firms and the bottom quartile, for eight of the 13 working capital measures included in the study. A nonparametric test was applied to evaluate the sector effect on the working capital measures employed by the participating firms. The rank scores indicated significant differences in the means across the sectors for si" of the 13 working capital measures. A decrease in the working capital leverage measures of current liabilities divided by funds flow, and long-term loan capital divided by net working capital, should signal an increase in returns, and vice versa. It is recommended that financial managers consider these findings when forecasting firm returns. / Business Management / D. Com. (Business Management)

abstract / toc / Chinese / Master / Master of Philosophy

University of Macau / Faculty of Arts and Humanities. / Department of Chinese

University of Macau / Faculty of Arts and Humanities. / Department of Chinese

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:56:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Natalia de Mesquita Matheus.pdf: 3517136 bytes, checksum: 5518b3ee2f114334fb6f19567338c20c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present study aimed at evaluating the functionality of CHAID to analyze educational data by demonstrating Ideb s sensitivity to different aspects of educational system. The dependent variables were Ideb 2011 from initial and final series of the elementary years; the independent variables were considered separately in a multilevel analysis. At the first level, considered independent variable were the cities former performance measured by the Ideb at 2005, 2007 and 2009; at the second level, the cities budget with education, such as student cost and the percentage of investments at basic education, and others came into focus; and, at the third level, the independent variables considered were demographic data such as region, State, index of human development and influence region. The results shown at the first level indicate a direct relationship between higher scores at the dependent variable and at former performance. Most of the cities with higher scores in 2009 showed higher scores at the Ideb in 2011 and those cities with lower scores in former performances (in 2009, 2007 and, some cases even in 2005) showed lower scores in 2011. At the second level, the results indicate that the effects produced by most recent expenditure (from 2011) are less relevant than those expended earlier (in 2009). Those data suggest that the effects from financial investments in education are / will probably be seen at medium or long term. At the third level, the State was a more significant variable than region and the other tested variables. Statistical algorithms CHAID and exhaustive-CHAID showed to be effective to identify significant variables related to academic performance measured by Ideb, with the production of comprehensive information without losing the specifies of each reality. However, exhaustive-CHAID, turned out to be a more rigorous than CHAID in the selection of variables. It was demonstrated that the multilevel analysis produced different results whern compared with the comprehensive analysis. It suggests an important effects from the interaction among all tested variables. The availability of educational data for identification and analysis of relationships between political actions and its educational outcomes is discussed. Finally,, the contributions of behavior analysis to the interpretation and analysis of people involved at educational policy behavior are considered / O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a funcionalidade do modelo CHAID para a análise de dados educacionais por meio da demonstração da sensibilidade do Ideb a diferentes aspectos do sistema educacional. As variáveis dependentes do presente estudo foram o Ideb 2011 municipal dos anos iniciais e finais do ensino fundamental e as variáveis independentes foram consideradas separadamente em uma análise multinível. No primeiro nível, considerou-se o desempenho anterior do município no Ideb em 2005, 2007 e 2009; no segundo nível, a execução orçamentária do município, tais como gasto-aluno e porcentagem de investimentos na educação básica, dentre outros; e, no terceiro nível, dados demográficos, como região do país, UF, índice de desenvolvimento humano do município e região de influência. Os resultados no primeiro nível apontam uma relação direta entre índices elevados na VD e em desempenhos anteriores: a maior parte dos municípios com desempenho superior em 2009 apresentaram índices elevados no Ideb em 2011 e aqueles com desempenho inferior em avaliações anteriores (em 2009, 2007 e, em alguns casos, em 2005) apresentaram índices baixos em 2011. No segundo nível, os resultados indicaram que os efeitos gerados por gastos mais recentes (de 2011) são menos relevantes do que aqueles realizados anteriormente (em 2009). Esses dados sugerem que o efeito de investimentos financeiros na educação é/será mais provavelmente observado a médio ou longo prazo. No terceiro nível, a Unidade da Federação se mostrou mais relevante do que a região do país e as demais variáveis testadas. O modelo CHAID, nas duas formas testadas (CHAID e exhaustive-CHAID), se mostrou efetivo para a identificação das variáveis significativamente relacionadas ao desempenho acadêmico, aferido pelo Ideb, produzindo informações abrangentes, mas sem que se percam as especificidades de cada realidade, tendo sido o modelo exhaustive-CHAID mais rigoroso na seleção de variáveis. Demonstrou-se que a análise multinível produz resultados diferentes da análise geral das variáveis, sugerindo importantes efeitos da interação entre elas. Discute-se a disponibilidade de dados educacionais para a identificação e análise de relações entre ações políticas e seus efeitos educacionais. Por fim, nas considerações finais, apresentam-se algumas das contribuições da Análise do Comportamento à análise e interpretação dos comportamentos das pessoas envolvidas na Política Educacional

工業的發達與否代表一個國家國力的強弱，故欲使我國達已開發國家之林，提昇整個工業或產業的升級，已經是刻不容緩的事。近年來，政府致力於發展新的高科技產業，同時，對於傳統工業也以獎勵或鼓勵技術升級的方式，以提昇整體產業競爭力。其中包含了所謂"傳統工業技術升級計畫"。 　　所以，本文欲藉助對數線型模式，針對"傳統工業技術升級計畫"，來建構及解釋一些模式，並提出建議，以期傳統工業升級計畫，能更符合每個產業的要求。 / Modernization of Industry represents the powerfulness of a country. It'surgent to upgrade the inndustry, so that our country become a developed country.The government has been making every effort on new hi-tech industries lately, at the same time, the government also provide different incentives to upgradethe tradional industries. This way would increase the competitiveness of ourone of the incentives is that the government provided the so called "Conventionalindustries upgrading program" 　　In this paper, we use loglinear models to analyze the data given by those companies that participated "Conventional industries upgrading program". Based on the models, we shall make some suggestions and conclusions.

製程能力指標（process capability index）常被用來評量製程能力的高低。它結合規格及製程變異於一指標，便利使用者易於了解指標的意義。 若吾人主張一製程能力大於某一定值，當同時控制型I及型II過誤，這時，臨界值（critical value）及樣本大小n即可決定。若同時存在有數個大於某一定值的製造過程，吾人欲挑選具有最大製程能力的製程，這時，我們提出一個客觀的準則來加以選擇。 本篇論文的特色是以解析法來決定臨界值及樣本大小n，並於挑選最大的製程能力時能提出一個客觀的挑選準則。 研究中發現：雖然逼近常用的統計上查表值時有些誤差，但誤差不大。故本文討論的過程中所用的方法及結論，適用於線上作業。

企業為了不斷成長並追求永續經營，並因應快速變化的外在環境與日趨激烈的國際競爭，需不斷地加強或擴增員工的知識、技術及能力，因而建立短期與長期性的人才培育之訓練有其重要性。 國際級工程案競爭越形激烈，尤其有韓國工程公司競爭性策略搶標及大陸崛起積極跨入國際市場之隱憂，加上客戶在維持高品質及持續壓縮工期之需求，個案公司(簡稱以下A公司)成長及獲利空間均受到嚴苛的挑戰。為提昇在國際上競爭力，A公司設計部必須面對培植具豐富工程經驗及國際級之設計人才問題。而目前面臨5年以下經驗工程師達人數比例佔42%以上(即年輕工程師比例偏高) ，7~15年經驗工程師人數佔10%相對偏低之M型人力結構及未來幾年面臨退休潮，如何加速培育年輕工程師須具備世界級的專業技術及落實資深工程師經驗傳承，達成各職級人力結構合理化，提升設計品質，為A公司當務之急。 為能瞭解A公司現行各項教育訓練之效益，揭示員工對A公司教育訓練方式的意見或需求，本研究採用問卷調查並分為五大類，第一，專業技術訓練的同意度與重要度；第二，經驗傳承的同意度與重要度；第三，跨部門訓練的同意度；第四，管理訓練的同意度；第五，英文能力方面的同意度。以上各問項再與人口統計變數做交叉分析，尋求出目前教育訓練之成效如何及提出改善建議。 其中專業技術訓練與經驗傳承再將每個同意度和重要性的問項平均後做出二維分布圖(IPA分析圖)，利用同意度和重要性整體的平均切割分成四個區域，即優越區、過剩區、優先改進區及建議改進區，尤其問項落在優先改進區、建議改進區及過剩區時，則進一步進行原因分析及提出改善建議。 對跨部門訓練、管理課程與英文能力等問項，則以同意度與人口統計交叉分析結果，根據其滿意度程度及卡方檢定(Chi-Square Test)結果有統計上顯著差異關係之受訪者基本資料提出改善建議。 / Enterprises need to continuously enhance knowledge, skills, and abilities of their employees for sustainable business development and adapting to rapid changing environment as well as fierce international competition. The importance of developing short-term and long-term talent training programs is thus recognized. Under some unfavorable conditions, which include keen competition in global EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) industry, Korean engineering companies’ strategic bidding, mainland China contending in international markets, clients’ request for quality and compressed work schedule at the same time, etc…, the case company (designated as company A) is facing severe challenges in achieving profitable growth. The company A must cope with the problem of cultivating world-class and experienced talent to promote its competitiveness in international markets. It’s the company A’s top priority to tackle the engineering talent gap at the range of seniority between 7 to 15 years (10%) whereas the young engineers with less than 5 years of experience account for more than 42% of its talent pool and engineers will retire that are increased in near future year. It’s important for the company A to professionalize young engineers, facilitate knowledge transferring, and optimize its staffing structure. A questionnaire survey research was undertaken to understand the effectiveness of the training programs and reveal the employees’ opinion or request on the training activities of the company A. The questionnaire variables were classified into five categories: 1. degree of agreement and importance of professional skills training; 2. degree of agreement and importance of intergenerational transfer of experience; 3. degree of agreement on cross-disciplinary training; 4. degree of agreement on management training; 5. degree of agreement on English competency requirements. Demographic variables were used to cross analyze the survey result. The analysis was also used to find the causes of training deficiency and to explore improvement ideas. The survey results of questionnaire variables in the first two categories, degree of agreement and importance of professional skills training and intergenerational transfer of experiencewere, were used to develop two-dimensional scatter diagrams (IPA matrices). The mean ratings of degree of agreement and importance were plotted in a two-dimensional grid to produce a four-quadrant matrix that identifies areas of Keep Up the Good Work, Possible Overkill, Concentrate Here, and Low Priority. Causes and improvement plans were further investigated for variables situate in the quadrant Concentrate Here, Low Priority, and Possible Overkill. For the survey results of questionnaire variables in the other three categories, degree of agreement on cross-disciplinary training, management training and English competency requirements, cross tabulation analyses using demographic variables were performed. According improvement plans were proposed for the respondent demographics when statistically significant differences between the degree of satisfaction and chi-square test result were observed.