abstract: During the initial stages of experimentation, there are usually a large number of factors to be investigated. Fractional factorial (2^(k-p)) designs are particularly useful during this initial phase of experimental work. These experiments often referred to as screening experiments help reduce the large number of factors to a smaller set. The 16 run regular fractional factorial designs for six, seven and eight factors are in common usage. These designs allow clear estimation of all main effects when the three-factor and higher order interactions are negligible, but all two-factor interactions are aliased with each other making estimation of these effects problematic without additional runs. Alternatively, certain nonregular designs called no-confounding (NC) designs by Jones and Montgomery (Jones & Montgomery, Alternatives to resolution IV screening designs in 16 runs, 2010) partially confound the main effects with the two-factor interactions but do not completely confound any two-factor interactions with each other. The NC designs are useful for independently estimating main effects and two-factor interactions without additional runs. While several methods have been suggested for the analysis of data from nonregular designs, stepwise regression is familiar to practitioners, available in commercial software, and is widely used in practice. Given that an NC design has been run, the performance of stepwise regression for model selection is unknown. In this dissertation I present a comprehensive simulation study evaluating stepwise regression for analyzing both regular fractional factorial and NC designs. Next, the projection properties of the six, seven and eight factor NC designs are studied. Studying the projection properties of these designs allows the development of analysis methods to analyze these designs. Lastly the designs and projection properties of 9 to 14 factor NC designs onto three and four factors are presented. Certain recommendations are made on analysis methods for these designs as well. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Industrial Engineering 2012

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In studies where the response variable is measured on a ratio scale, a ratio of means or medians provides a standardized measure of effect size that is an alternative to the popular standardized mean difference. Confidence intervals for ratios of population means and medians in independent-samples designs and paired-samples designs are proposed as supplements to the independent-samples t test and paired-samples t test. The performance of the proposed confidence intervals are evaluated in a simulation study. The proposed confidence interval methods are extended to the case of a 2 × m factorial design that includes propensity score stratification and meta-analysis as special cases. R functions that implement the recommended confidence intervals are provided in the Supplemental Material file, available in the online version of this article, and are illustrated with several examples.

When approaching a new research problem, we often use screening designs to determine which factors are worth exploring in more detail. Before exploring a problem, we don't know which factors are important. When examining a large number of factors, it is likely that only a handful are significant and that even fewer two-factor interactions will be significant. If there are important interactions, it is likely that they are connected with the handful of significant main effects. Since we don't know beforehand which factors are significant, we want to choose a design that gives us the highest probability a priori of being able to estimate all significant main effects with their associated two-factor interactions. This project examines the methodology of finding designs that do not rely on an assumed model. We propose a method of modifying the D-Optimality criteria that averages over models with a common set of main effects and varying subsets of two-factor interations. We also calculate the proportion of the subsets that produce estimable designs. We use these results to find the best models for given run size and number of main effects.

In response surface methodology, the central composite design is the most popular choice for fitting a second order model. The choice of the distance for the axial runs, alpha, in a central composite design is very crucial to the performance of the design. In the literature, there are plenty of discussions and recommendations for the choice of alpha, among which a rotatable alpha and an orthogonal blocking alpha receive the greatest attention. Box and Hunter (1957) discuss and calculate the values for alpha that achieve rotatability, which is a way to stabilize prediction variance of the design. They also give the values for alpha that make the design orthogonally blocked, where the estimates of the model coefficients remain the same even when the block effects are added to the model. In the last ten years, people have begun to realize the importance of a split-plot structure in industrial experiments. Constructing response surface designs with a split-plot structure is a hot research area now. In this dissertation, Box and Hunters' choice of alpha for rotatablity and orthogonal blocking is extended to central composite designs with a split-plot structure. By assigning different values to the axial run distances of the whole plot factors and the subplot factors, we propose two-strata rotatable splitplot central composite designs and orthogonally blocked split-plot central composite designs. Since the construction of the two-strata rotatable split-plot central composite design involves an unknown variance components ratio d, we further study the robustness of the two-strata rotatability on d through simulation. Our goal is to provide practical recommendations for the value of the design parameter alpha based on the philosophy of traditional response surface methodology. / Ph. D.

"Between the Ocean and the Bay" is about a design process enabling the designer to see and know through three different graphic methods. The thesis concentrates both on the design of a specific structure, and on the ability to develop a design through two and three dimensional graphic manipulations. The three design methods are sketching, three-dimensional modeling, and computer drawing. All three have their unique qualities and all are effective. The Sketching method evolved through observing, seeing and drawing architecture in western Europe. The intimate visual process formulated a greater sense and comprehension of architecture. The on site drawing experience initiated this particular design expression. Furthermore the fragments of architecture recorded in these visual sketches became a vocabulary for all future designs. There are two kinds of three dimensional models. The first is for displaying a building or a project as an object in three dimensions. The second is a sketch, which is a fragment of a whole building or an idea. Fragmentary modeling provides a simple method of combining three dimensional elements enabling one to scrutinize them as they become part of a whole composition. This method of modeling allows the observer to see the spatial relationships between each element and the form as a whole. Modeling is a tactile experience. This physical involvement brings to the design a tangible relationship that develops scale and proportion. Fragment modeling was used in the development of the house between the ocean and the bay. Computer drawing produces two dimensional drafted plans or wire frame models that are viewed from infinite angles and then reproduced. Computer drafting lacks immediate tactile involvement of the other two methods of design discussed here. The results can appear to be flat and not dynamic. However, the computer provides discipline; by forcing one to make decisions on a design, it organizes abstract visual thoughts. There was a point in the designing of the house when turning to the computer to explore order was essential. The house between the ocean and the bay developed by employing the three different yet complementary design tools. Sketching was the strongest tool to explore a design problem through quick immediate production. Modeling forced the realization in space of the strengths and weaknesses of a design. The computer drawings in this project helped control the final shape of the house simply by forcing decisions and creating order. Each of these methods is productive by itself and together as they meld and feed on each other to create the product. / Master of Architecture

This thesis is a study of the development of a linear urban environment formed through the arrangement of a repetitive structure. My aim is to propose a prototypical model in which the dwelling, workplace and related amenities can function satisfactorily together within the same structure. / Master of Architecture

This thesis focuses on the design, statistical operating characteristics and interpretation of early phase oncology clinical trials. Anti-cancer drugs are generally highly toxic and it is imperative to deliver a dose to the patient that is low enough to be safe but high enough to produce a clinically meaningful response. Thus, a study of dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) and a determination of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of a drug that can be used in later phase trials is the focus of most Phase I oncology trials. We first comprehensively compare the statistical operating characteristics of various early phase oncology designs, finding that all the designs examined select the MTD more accurately when there is a clear separation between the true DLT rate at the MTD and the rates at the dose levels immediately above and below. Among the rule-based designs studied, we found that the 3+3 design under-doses a large percentage of patients and is not accurate in selecting the MTD for all the cases considered. The 5+5 a design picks the MTD as accurately as the model based designs for the true DLT rates generated using the chosen log-logistic and linear dose-toxicity curves, but requires enrolling a larger number of patients. The model based designs examined, mTPI, TEQR, BOIN, CRM and EWOC designs, perform well on the whole, assign the maximum percentage of patients to the MTD, and pick the MTD fairly accurately. However, the limited sample size of these Phase I oncology trials makes it difficult to accurately predict the MTD. Hence, we next study the effect of sample size and cohort size on the accuracy of dose selection in early phase oncology designs, finding that an adequate sample size is crucial. We then propose some integrated Phase 1/2 oncology designs, namely the 20+20 accelerated titration design and extensions of the mTPI and TEQR designs, that consider both toxicity and efficacy in dose selection, utilizing a larger sample size. We demonstrate that these designs provide an improvement over the existing early phase designs. / 2019-12-01T00:00:00Z

Leung Chi Keung Pal. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 1996-97, design report." / Includes bibliographical references. / Acknowlegements / Chapter 1. --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Client & Needs --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Design Objectives --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Planning (statutory) Constraints --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4 --- Site Selection --- p.2 / Chapter 1.5 --- Site Context --- p.3 / Chapter 1.6 --- Programme --- p.4 / Chapter 2. --- Planning Strategy --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Phasing of Development --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- Design Philosophy --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Design Development --- p.8 / Chapter 2.4 --- Zoning --- p.9 / Chapter 2.5 --- Site Planning --- p.10 / Chapter 2.6 --- Functional Relations --- p.13 / Chapter 3. --- Environmental Issue --- p.16 / Chapter 3.1 --- Climatic Control --- p.16 / Chapter 3.2 --- Lighting Strategy --- p.21 / Chapter 3.3 --- Acoustics --- p.25 / Chapter 3.4 --- Plumbing & Drainage --- p.25 / Chapter 3.5 --- Power --- p.25 / Chapter 4. --- Life safety --- p.27 / Chapter 4.1 --- Compartmentation --- p.27 / Chapter 4.2 --- Fire Engineering --- p.27 / Chapter 4.3 --- Means of Escape --- p.29 / Chapter 5. --- Structure & Construction --- p.30 / Chapter 5.1 --- Structural Strategy --- p.30 / Chapter 5.2 --- Construction & Maintenance --- p.34 / Appendix --- p.35 / Presentation Drawings / Programming Report

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture