在這篇論文裡，我們研究Baker-Norine的搬硬幣遊戲，並且把這個遊戲應用在離散型的熱帶因子上。特別地，我們去探討這個遊戲與等價熱帶因子之間的關係。最後我們證明了下面的定理:若$D, E$為熱帶曲線$\Gamma$上的離散型熱帶因子, 而$\overline{D}$, $\overline{E}$分別代表因子$D,E$在搬硬幣遊戲時的狀態，因子$D$與$E$等價,若且為若 $\overline{D}$可經搬硬幣遊戲變成$\overline{E}$。 / In this thesis, we study Baker-Norine's chip-firing game, and apply it to discrete tropical divisors. In particularly, we discuss the relationship between this game and the equivalence of divisors. Finally, we give a proof of the theorem: Let $D$ and $E$ be discrete tropical divisors of tropical curve $\Gamma$, and let $\overline{D}$ and $\overline{E}$ be corresponding configurations of the chip-firing game. The divisors $D$ and $E$ are equivalent if and only if $\overline{D}$ can be transformed into $\overline{E}$.

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The Eagle Ford play in south Texas is currently one of the hottest plays in the United States. In 2012, the average Eagle Ford rig count (269 rigs) was 15% of the total US rig count. Assessment of the oil and gas resources and their associated uncertainties in the early stages is critical for optimal development. The objectives of my research were to develop a probabilistic methodology that can reliably quantify the reserves and resources uncertainties in unconventional oil and gas plays, and to assess Eagle Ford shale oil and gas reserves, contingent resources, and prospective resources. I first developed a Bayesian methodology to generate probabilistic decline curves using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) that can quantify the reserves and resources uncertainties in unconventional oil and gas plays. I then divided the Eagle Ford play from the Sligo Shelf Margin to the San Macros Arch into 8 different production regions based on fluid type, performance and geology. I used a combination of the Duong model switching to the Arps model with b = 0.3 at the minimum decline rate to model the linear flow to boundary-dominated flow behavior often observed in shale plays. Cumulative production after 20 years predicted from Monte Carlo simulation combined with reservoir simulation was used as prior information in the Bayesian decline-curve methodology. Probabilistic type decline curves for oil and gas were then generated for all production regions. The wells were aggregated probabilistically within each production region and arithmetically between production regions. The total oil reserves and resources range from a P_(90) of 5.3 to P_(10) of 28.7 billion barrels of oil (BBO), with a P_(50) of 11.7 BBO; the total gas reserves and resources range from a P_(90) of 53.4 to P_(10) of 313.5 trillion cubic feet (TCF), with a P_(50) of 121.7 TCF. These reserves and resources estimates are much higher than the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s 2011 recoverable resource estimates of 3.35 BBO and 21 TCF. The results of this study provide a critical update on the reserves and resources estimates and their associated uncertainties for the Eagle Ford shale formation of South Texas.

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This research thesis presents the development of a novel Lean Knowledge Life Cycle (LeanKLC) framework to support the transformation into a Lean Product Development (LeanPD) knowledge environment. The LeanKLC framework introduces a baseline model to understand the three dimensions of knowledge management in product development as well as its contextualisation with acclaimed LeanPD process models. The LeanKLC framework comprises 23 tasks, each accomplished in one of the seven key stages, these being: knowledge identification, previous knowledge capture, knowledge representation, knowledge sharing, knowledge integration, knowledge use and provision and dynamic knowledge capture. The rigorous research methodology employed to develop the LeanKLC framework entailed extensive data collection starting with a literature review to highlight the gap in the current body of knowledge. Additionally, industrial field research provides empirical evidence on the current industrial perspectives and challenges in managing product development knowledge. This research was part of a European FP7 project entitled Lean Product and Process Development (LeanPPD), which provided the opportunity to involve industrial collaborators in action research to support practical aspects during the LeanKLC framework development. The synthesis with the current LeanPD paradigm is accomplished by demonstrating the LeanKLC stages in two distinct streams related to the development of A3 thinking for problem solving and the development of trade-off curves to facilitate set based design at the conceptual stage. The novel LeanKLC is validated in two case studies providing the industry with detailed insights on real product development applications. In particular this research highlights that the LeanPD knowledge environment is a wide subject area that has not yet been thoroughly understood and that industry engagement in empirical research is vital in order to realise any form of LeanPD transformation.

Sleep is essential for mammals and possibly for all animals. Advancing our knowledge of sleep regulation is crucial for the development of interventions in sleep-related health and social problems. With this aim, this study utilizes laboratory mice to explore sleep regulatory mechanisms at behavioral, molecular, and genetic levels. Sleep is regulated by the interaction of circadian and homeostatic processes. The circadian clock facilitates sleep to occur at a favorable time of the day. Normal mice, such as the C57BL/6J (B6) strain, sleep mostly during the day and initiate activities at dark onset. Here, I show mice of the CAST/EiJ (CAST) strain initiate activity unusually early (hours before dark). The circadian gating of photic phase-shifting responses was phase-lagged in the CAST mice relative to their activity rhythms, implying an altered coupling between the clock and its output. Light failed to suppress activity in the CAST mice, allowing full expression of the early activity. A previously identified quantitative trait locus that contributes to the advanced circadian phase was also confirmed and refined to a smaller genomic region. The circadian oscillation and light-induction of clock-genes Per1 and Per2 expression was not different between B6 and CAST mice in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the brain, where the mammalian master circadian clock is located. However, in the cerebral cortex and paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus of CAST mice, Per mRNA oscillations were phase-advanced coordinately with their advanced behavioral rhythms. These data thus provide direct evidence that the cause of the early runner phenotype is located downstream of the master circadian clock. The rhythms of cortical Per expression may not be a result of direct SCN effector mechanisms, but rather driven by activity-rest and sleep-wake. I further show that prolonged waking induces cortical Per expression, and this induction persisted in SCN-lesioned animals. SCN Per expression in intact animals was not affected. Thus, a homeostatic drive, independent of the SCN clock, regulates cortical Per expression, although a possible circadian influence in the intact animals was also suggested by detailed analyses. These data may suggest a molecular mechanism bridging the circadian and homeostatic processes for sleep regulation and functions.

One of the significant weaknesses of the design speed concept is that it uses the design speed of the most restrictive geometric element as the design speed of the entire road. This leads to potential inconsistencies among successive sections of a road. Previous studies documented that a uniform design speed does not guarantee consistency on rural two-lane facilities. It is therefore reasonable to assume that similar inconsistencies could be found on rural four-lane non-freeway highways. The operating speed-based method is popularly used in other countries for examining design consistency. Numerous studies have been completed on rural two-lane highways for predicting operating speeds. However, little is known for rural four-lane non-freeway highways. This study aims to develop operating speed prediction models for horizontal curves on rural four-lane non-freeway highways using 74 horizontal curves. The data analysis showed that the operating speeds in each direction of travel had no statistical differences. However, the operating speeds on inside and outside lanes were significantly different. On each of the two lanes, the operating speeds at the beginning, middle, and ending points of the curve were statistically the same. The relationships between operating speed and design speed for inside and outside lanes were different. For the inside lane, the operating speed was statistically equal to the design speed. By contrary, for the outside lane, the operating speed was significantly lower than the design speed. However, the relationships between operating speed and posted speed limit for both inside and outside lanes were similar. It was found that the operating speed was higher than the posted speed limit. Two models were developed for predicting operating speed, since the operating speeds on inside and outside lanes were different. For the inside lane, the significant factors are: shoulder type, median type, pavement type, approaching section grade, and curve length. For the outside lane, the factors included shoulder type, median type, approaching section grade, curve length, curve radius and presence of approaching curve. These factors indicate that the curve itself does mainly influence the drivers speed choice.

Recent researchers have suggested that the combination of horizontal curves or “bendiness” of a length of road contributes to traffic crash occurrence. A previous study of New Zealand fatal crashes using an aggregated approach found no significant correlation between crash occurrence and road bendiness for rural roads but a minor correlation for urban roads. This thesis further explores the effect of road bendiness on traffic crash occurrence in New Zealand by developing a method more suited to traffic engineering. The method involves Geographical Information Systems (GIS) firstly to process data and secondly to calculate bendiness values. The following bendiness measures: bend density, detour ratio, cumulative angle, mean angle and standard deviation of angles; are applied to “influence areas” surrounding crash and comparison sites. The method then dictates that some form of statistical analysis should be performed to distinguish between the bendiness of crash and comparison sites, while accounting for other influencing factors. Binary logistic regression is recommended. The method was applied in a case study of New Zealand fatal crashes, with two main analysis techniques employed. Firstly, binary logistic regression models were developed. It was found that, for rural roads, sections with consistent and frequent curves were safer than completely straight sections or those with isolated curves. The urban model was less conclusive, which suggests that the method was not appropriate in the urban situation. The second analysis method involved comparing bendiness values of a site’s “immediate area” with those of its influence area. It was found that, although the spreads of the comparison sites’ distributions were smaller than those of the crash sites, the mean values were generally very similar and no appropriate bendiness ratios could be specified to reduce crash risk. Overall it appears that, if design consistency is maintained, bendiness is a protective quality for rural roads.

We will present the approaches used to investigating the power loss for the stranded core transformers. One advantage of using stranded core is to reduce power loss or enhance transformer efficiency. One difficulty in the modeling of this type of transformer is that the core is not solid (there are small gaps between core wires due to circular cross section). A two dimensional finite element method with nodal basis function for magnetostatic field was developed to study the effects of the small gaps between core wires. The magnetic flux densities are compared for the uniform (solid) cores and the stranded cores for various permeability values. The effects of different air gap dimensions in stranded core to the magnitude of magnetic flux density were also discussed. The results of the two dimensional study were applied to modify the B-H curves in a 3D simulation with an equivalent simplified uniformed core transformer model via Ansoft Maxwell 3D. This is achieved by output the magnitude of magnetic flux density at fixed points of mesh center. The total core loss of a transformer was predicted by integration of the losses of all elements.