Investing in commodities may have important benefits for investors but only in the last few decades have they started to think more about this possibility. Furthermore, large investors are more inclined to change their own personal view. Therefore, understanding the benefits that commodities could give to an investment portfolio might alleviate investors’ concerns. Several previous studies, as Belousova and Dorfleitner (2012) suggest, that the commodities with higher benefits are precious metals and gold, in particular. The purpose of our work is to understand which possible benefits are for equity investors and if they are common for certain commodities with different physical characteristics. The first part of our empirical work focuses on the main descriptive statistics of the return distribution (mean, variance, volatility, skewness, kurtosis and correlation) for 8 stock indices and 7 commodity futures. The main goal of this is to understand the differences among the commodities and between the commodities and the stock indices. In the second part of the empirical work, we test the safe-haven and the hedge properties of these commodities on a weekly basis for all of them with stock indices, and we do the same on a daily and monthly basis for only commodities which are negatively correlated on average with the stock indices. In the last part of our work, we combine these 7 commodities, following the principles of Bloomberg Commodity Index (BCOM), in order to create a well-balanced and well-diversified commodity index. Additionally, we create some mixed portfolios using this index and a different stock index every time. After that we look at the volatilities and the returns of these mixed portfolios with different weight combinations. Our main goals in this section are to understand the characteristics of the commodity index in comparison with stock indices and then, finding which weight combinations give the mixed portfolios the optimal risk-return trade off. Understanding which are efficient weights, can lead to conclusions about the weight that commodities should have in a portfolio according to the risk tolerance of the investors.  The research is done considering three time frequencies: daily, weekly and monthly; in line with the ones used by Baur and McDermott (2010). The sample size differs among these three different time basis. In fact, daily data started in January 2007 and the other two time frequencies data began with January 1997. All the time samples ended in March 2016. The results of the first part show that gold is the only commodity with a volatility similar to the stock indices (it also has a higher average return) and that on the daily, weekly and monthly basis. Whereas, the other commodities are much riskier than stock indices since they have higher volatility for all the three time-frequencies analyzed.  The results of the second part suggest that only gold is both a safe-haven and hedging commodity in line with the methodology used by Baur and McDermott (2010), but only for DAX 30 on a weekly basis. Furthermore, our results also show that natural gas is strong hedge in some cases such as natural gas for STI (Singapore) on a monthly basis or gold for Nikkei 225 on daily, weekly and monthly basis. Other commodities are neither safe-haven nor hedge in any case, except for silver which is a safe-haven commodity for DAX 30 and Sensex which at its worst, 1% and 5%, declines in the market respectively. The results of the last part of our work show that all the minimum variance mixed portfolios (the ones with the weights give the lowest risk) - made on a weekly basis - reduce the portfolio volatility and make the portfolio returns higher than the stock indices returns in 5 cases out of 8. Additionally, the results show how investors, who add a well-balanced and well-diversified commodity index to their portfolios, are able to observe several weight combinations and choose the one which suits their risk tolerance. Moreover, our results show that the optimal-weight combinations for commodity weights are lower than 0,5 only for FTSE 100 and S&P 500 (both values are 0,49) and higher than 0,62 but lower than 0,7 for DAX 30, Nikkei 225, Hang Seng, Sensex, SSEC. Furthermore, the optimal weight for STI is 0,54.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering / Naiqian Zhang / An optical sensor for determining water velocity in natural open channels like creeks and rivers has been designed and tested. The sensor consists of a plastic body which is shaped so that water flows through a U-shaped channel into which are mounted LEDs and matching phototransistors at various angles. A small amount of dye is injected into the water just upstream of two sets of LEDs and phototransistors which are spaced 4 cm apart. The time delay between the dye’s effects on these signals depends on water velocity and is determined using a biased cross correlation calculation. In addition to providing velocity, the LEDs and phototransistors can also be used to estimate soil sediment concentration. A previous version of the sensor was tested in enclosed flow to confirm that the general design of the sensor, including LEDs, phototransistors, dye and electronics, would indeed work to detect the velocity of water flowing through the sensor. Although the conditions for the test were unlike those experienced in natural open channels, the ability to catch all the fluid flowing through the sensor provided a simple confirmation of the velocity estimate that was not available in field settings. Further testing in the field then confirmed that the sensor worked in the field but also identified several areas needing improvement. Computational fluid dynamics was used to improve the sensor body. The electronics and program running the sensor were also redesigned. After making these improvements, a new version of the sensor was produced. The testing of the new version of the sensor confirmed its ability to accurately detect velocity in natural open channels. The velocity measurements from this sensor were compared to the commercially available Flowtracker velocity sensor. A regression analysis on the measurements from the two sensors found that the velocity measurements from each sensor were nearly identical across a range of velocities. Other tests established that the electronics and programming running the sensor performed as designed. The development and testing of this sensor has resulted in a system which works in natural open channels like creeks and rivers.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Curriculum and Instruction / Michael F. Perl / This exploratory correlational study seeks to answer the question of whether a relationship exists between student average test score gains on state exams and teachers’ rating of values on the Schwartz Values Survey. Eighty-seven randomly selected Kansas teachers of math and/or reading, grades four through eight, participated. Student test score gains were paired with teachers and averaged. The results of these backward stepwise entries of multiple regressions using SPSS software are reported. Significant relationships with large effect sizes are reported for teacher values and student test score gains in reading and math. Models of teacher values are found that account for thirty-two percent of the average student test score gains in reading and for forty-three percent of the average student test score gains in mathematics. The significant model of values with the greatest adjusted relationship with reading test score gains is described as the Relational Teacher Value Type. The valuing of True Friendship (close supportive friends) and the valuing of Sense of Belonging (feeling that others care about me) proved to be the most powerful indicators of student reading score gains within this type. The significant model of values with the greatest adjusted relationship with mathematics test score gains is described as the Well-Being Teacher Value Type. The valuing of Healthy (not being sick physically or mentally), the valuing of Reciprocation of Favors (avoidance of indebtedness), and Self Respect (belief in one’s own worth) proved to be the most powerful indicators of student mathematics test score gains within this type. The significant value items within each of the above types’ models are discussed regarding possible reasons for their relationships to student test score gains. A value that is found significant for both reading and mathematics teachers in accounting for student test score gains is Moderate (avoiding extremes of feeling and action). Of the teachers in the study that taught mathematics and reading, their students’ mathematics score gains did not correlate in a statistically significant way with their students’ reading score gains, suggesting that a teacher’s ability to teach math has little to do with a teacher’s ability to teach reading.

Master of Science / Department of Chemical Engineering / J.R. Schlup / The curing reaction for the amine epoxy resin system of phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE) with metaphenylene diamine (mPDA) was investigated using two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy in the near-infared region (2DNIR). Synchronous and asynchronous correlation maps were generated using 2Dshige© software. The characteristic NIR band assignments were made, including the identification of new peaks for the O-H combination band in the 4825-4750 cm[superscript]-1 region and the CH stretching vibration overtone at 6018 cm[superscript]-1. Finally, the data suggests the reaction proceeds as follows: the appearance of the OH groups and C-H backbone vibrations occurs before the primary amine reactions and epoxide rings disappear.

In digital forensics, source camera identification of digital images has drawn attention in recent years. An image does contain information of its camera and/or editing software somewhere in it. But the interest of this research is to find manufacturers (henceforth will be called make and model) of a camera using only the header information, such as quantization table and huffman table, of the JPEG encoding. Having done research on around 110, 000 images, we reached to state that "For all practical purposes, using quantization and huffman tables alone to predict a camera make and model isn't a viable approach". We found no correlation between quantization and huffman tables of images and makes of camera. Rather, quantization or huffman table is determined by the quality factors like resolution, RGB values, intensity etc.of an image and standard settings of the camera.

The first part of this dissertation examines the presence of the financial contagion across European stock markets with respect to the Greece sovereign debt crisis by estimating the time-varying conditional correlations of stock returns between Greece and other European countries over 2001 to 2012. We find that the correlations vary over time and reach the peaks in the late 2008 during theU.S.subprime crisis, and in the beginning of 2010 of the height of European debt crisis. Further, the correlations between stock index returns of Greece and Spain, France, Ireland, Netherlands are significantly increased by Greek sovereign credit rating downgrade announcements. The second part of this dissertation examines the correlations of gold, dollar and U.S. stock returns over 2001 to 2012 using ADCC-GARCH model. The conditional correlations of gold-dollar returns are negative during all sub-sample periods and significantly increase in magnitude during both subprime crisis and sovereign debt crisis. The conditional correlations of gold-stock returns are positive on average over time. However, gold-stock correlation falls below zero during subprime crisis and sovereign debt crisis. Gold-stock correlation is significantly negatively affected by positive CPI announcements. And gold-dollar correlation is significantly negatively affected by negative GDP announcements and positive unemployment announcements. The effects of macroeconomic announcements are stronger during economic recessions.

We have implemented a TDOA multilateration of transmitters on an unmodified rtl-sdr receiver using transmitters with known location as a timing reference. We present a brief theoretical background and describe the measurement process which includes several approaches that correct the timing and frequency errors between the receivers. Additionally, we have implemented an angle of arrival direction finder using coherent rtl-sdr.

Orientador: Aparecido Augusto de Carvalho / Resumo: O desenvolvimento de sistemas capazes de monitorar e controlar informações estão sendo cada vez mais utilizados, permitindo maior refinamento e confiança nos resultados. Na área instrumental de laboratório, existem situações que exigem maior controle sobre o ensaio. Com o atual avanço na área de microprocessadores, microcontroladores, sensores inteligentes, entre outros, têm impulsionado a utilização dos mesmos na melhoria e confiabilidade de processos mecânicos, químicos, físicos, biológicos, de inteligência artificial, de melhoria de qualidade de vida de pessoas com deficiência. Os processos podem ser melhorados utilizando equipamentos que possuem sistemas embarcados capazes de processar informações e fazer o controle a partir de sistemas operacionais que antes só eram possíveis nos computadores. Na área das grandes estruturas de concreto não é diferente, deve-se monitorar algumas variáveis que resultam em uma manifestação patológica conhecida como reação álcali-agregado, que é um fenômeno de expansão que afeta a durabilidade e a resistência mecânica do concreto, este fenômeno está ligado à algumas variáveis, a umidade relativa interna é umas delas. Existem várias pesquisas no sentido de inibir as reações álcali-agregados, e é sabido que um importante passo antes do acontecimento da reação álcali-agregado em obras hidráulicas, como as usinas hidroelétricas é o monitoramento da umidade e da temperatura no interior do concreto e, acompanhamento das fissuras inerentes do proce... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The development of systems able to monitor and control information is increasingly being used, allowing greater refinement and confidence in results. In the instrumental area of the laboratory, there are situations that require greater control over the test. With the current progress in the area of microprocessors, microcontrollers, intelligent sensors, among others, have encouraged the use of these in the improvement and reliability of mechanical, chemical, physical, biological, artificial intelligence, improving the quality of life of people with deficiency. Processes can be improved by using equipment that has embedded systems that can process information and control from operating systems that were previously only possible on computers. In the area of large concrete structures is not different, it is necessary to monitor some variables that result in a pathological manifestation known as alkali-aggregate reaction, which is an expansion phenomenon that affects the durability and the mechanical resistance of the concrete, this phenomenon is connected to some variables, the relative humidity is one of them. There are several researches to inhibit alkali-aggregate reactions and is known that an important step before the occurrence of the alkali-aggregate reaction in hydraulic works such as hydroelectric plants is the monitoring of humidity and temperature inside the concrete and, the inherent fissures of the expansion process. The present work implemented a low cost, temperat... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Memoria para optar al título de Ingeniero Civil Mecánico / Capturar las vibraciones de un objeto usando cámaras estereoscópicas de alta velocidad posibilita la determinación en campo completo de su geometría y desplazamiento en tres dimensiones, ya que permiten medir un elevado número de grados de libertad simultáneamente. Disponer de datos de medición de campo completo de una estructura es de interés para la aplicación de metodologías de identificación de daño centradas en la respuesta vibracional. El objetivo de este trabajo de título es desarrollar e implementar indicadores de daño basados en la deformación, curvatura y en derivadas de orden superior de los modos de vibración, que sean capaces de identificar daño por delaminación en un panel compuesto tipo panal de abeja usando un sistema de correlación de imágenes digital de alta velocidad (DIC). Las muestras consistieron en paneles de geometría plana tipo sándwich con núcleos del tipo panal de abeja, y se diferenciaron según su composición y según distintos escenarios de daño por delaminación. Las muestras fueron excitadas a rangos cercanos de sus respectivas frecuencias naturales, esta vibración se captó por el sistema DIC y se identificaron un determinado número de modos de vibración para cada muestra. Se procesó la información recabada por las cámaras, se les aplicó un algoritmo de suavizado y se construyeron indicadores de daño basados en la deformación, curvatura, y en la tercera y cuarta derivada parcial del desplazamiento normal a la superficie modal. Finalmente, a los indicadores resultantes se les aplicó un tratamiento estadístico de selección de datos (asociados a daño) y se les comparó mediante un algoritmo evaluador de predicción. Se utilizaron dos técnicas distintas para la estimación de los parámetros vibracionales de deformación, curvatura y derivadas de orden superior: diferencias finitas y point least-squares (PLS). Luego, en conjunto con la metodología \textit{Gapped Smoothing} (GSM) se construyeron los indicadores de daño. Se concluyó que aquellos indicadores basados en parámetros estimados mediante diferencias finitas presentaron ser sensibles al ruido experimental y por tanto poco confiables. En cambio, los indicadores basados en parámetros estimados mediante point least-squares presentaron ser sensibles al daño y robustos ante la presencia de ruido experimental. En particular, los indicadores de daño basados en la deformación, curvatura y tercera derivada del desplazamiento normal a la superficie de los modos estimadas mediante point least-squares presentan las mejores predicciones de detección según el algoritmo evaluador. Además, la detección de delaminaciones pequeñas fue realizada de mejor manera por el indicador basado en la curvatura estimada mediante point least-squares. / FONDECYT

The aim of this research is to assess the material properties of concrete like modulus of elasticity, compressive strength, and Poisson’s ratio using various nondestructive Testing (NDT) methods like Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) and Rebound Hammer (RH). Assessment of material properties of concrete is very important as they are used for structural design process. Various NDT methods are applied to ensure the quality of concrete specimens but they can also be used to find material properties. UPV is a NDT method which is used to test the internal condition of the concrete specimen. RH is a surface hardness testing method and can be used to test the homogeneity of the specimen. For this study, several batches of concrete samples with three different design strengths of 6000 psi, 8000 psi, and 12000 psi were casted. Modulus of elasticity and Poisson’s ratio were calculated from UPV P-wave and S-wave velocities. A Nomogram was developed by combining the longitudinal ultrasonic pulse velocities, rebound numbers, and compressive strengths measured from UPV, RH, and compressive strength tests respectively. This combined NDT correlation curve (Nomogram) can be used to estimate compressive strength of concrete if UPV and rebound values are known. The accuracy of these NDT methods were determined by comparing estimated strength to the actual strength. Furthermore, the effect of moisture content on UPV and rebound values was reviewed and also studied dynamic modulus of elasticity and its relation with static modulus of elasticity of the concrete was investigated for better understanding.