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This dissertation consists of two chapters. The first chapter shows that the measurement errors in betas for stocks induce corresponding measurement errors in alphas and a spurious negative covariance between the estimated betas and alphas across stocks. This negative covariance between the estimated betas and alphas results in a violation of the independence assumption between the independent variable (betas) and error terms in the Fama-MacBeth regressions of tests of the CAPM, thereby creating a downward bias in the estimated market risk premiums. The procedure of using portfolio returns and betas does not necessarily eliminate this bias. Depending upon the grouping variable used to form portfolios, the negative covariance between estimated betas and alphas can be increased, decreased, and can even be made positive. This paper proposes two methods for correcting the downward bias in the estimated market risk premium. The estimated market risk premiums are consistent with the CAPM after the proposed corrections. The second chapter provides evidence that when the ex-post market risk premium is positive (up markets), the relation between returns and betas is positive, significant, and consistent with the CAPM. However, when the ex-post market risk premium is negative (down markets), the negative relation between betas and returns is significant, but stronger than what is implied by the CAPM. This strong negative relation offsets the positive relation, resulting in an insignificant relation between returns and betas for the overall period. The negative relation between size and returns, after controlling for beta differences, is present only when the ex-post market risk premium is negative, and is responsible for the negative relation for the overall period. This paper decomposes the negative relation between size and returns after controlling for beta differences into the intercept size effect (relation between alphas of stocks and their size) and the residual size effect (relation between residuals of stocks and their size). The asymmetrical size effect between up and down market is being driven by the residual size effect. Long term mean reversion in returns explains, in part, the negative relation between size and returns during down markets. / Ph. D.

Pulmonary hypertension is becoming a recognized complication of the hereditary and acquired haemolytic anaemias, associated with a poor prognosis. Recently we reported that patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) have high levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a biomarker associated with both right and left ventricular dysfunction and cardiac dysfunction. In the current study we evaluated a cohort of patients (N = 29) with haemolytic PNH for elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure and cardiac function by Doppler-echocardiography. Of the 29 patients, eight were further studied using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as two additional patients (number of patients studied using cardiac MRI = 10). Plasma from the first cohort (N = 29) demonstrated intravascular haemolysis associated with a 12-fold increase in median nitric oxide (NO) consumption when compared with healthy volunteers (P < 0·001). Doppler echocardiography demonstrated normal left ventricular function and elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure in 41% of patients. Cardiac MRI from the second cohort (N = 10) demonstrated depressed right ventricular function in 80% of PNH patients tested, and 60% had findings suggestive of subclinical small pulmonary emboli. Together, these data suggest a high prevalence of haemolysis-associated NO scavenging, Doppler-estimated systolic pulmonary hypertension, and depressed right ventricular function in patients with PNH.

Bakgrund: Inom intensivvård är Lungprotektiv Ventilatorbehandling (LPV) en viktig behandlingsmetod för att undvika uppkomst av allvarliga lungkomplikationer. LPV kräver att intensivvårdssjuksköterskor aktivt deltar i vården, vilket förutsätter att kunskap och förståelse kring behandlingen finns. Syfte: Var att undersöka hur intensivvårdssjuksköterskor, på en intensivvårdsavdelning, bedömer sin kunskap och förståelse kring LPV för att kunna delta i ventilatorbehandlingen. Metod: Kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie i form av en enkätundersökning. Resultat: Det föreligger ej något signifikant samband mellan antal års erfarenhet av intensivvård och intensivvårdsjuksköterskors uppskattade kunskap och förståelse kring LPV. Respondenterna uppskattar sin kunskap och förståelse kring LPV som hög, 68 % anser att verksamhetens utbildning varit bra eller mycket bra, 90 % anser att vidare behov av utbildning finns. Diskussion: Trots bra utbildning kring LPV och hög uppskattad kunskap finns vidare behov av utbildning, vilket talar för en personal som är medvetna om LPV:s syfte och att ständig fortbildning krävs. Då det inte föreligger något statistiskt samband, överrensstämmer resultatet från analysen inte helt med Benner’s teori om hur sjuksköterskors kunskap utvecklas. Konklusion: Intensivvårdssjuksköterskor på en intensivvårdsavdelning i södra Sverige anser att de har tillräcklig kunskap och förståelse kring LPV för att delta i ventilatorbehandlingen. Ett samband mellan antal års erfarenhet av intensivvård och uppskattad kunskap och förståelse kring LPV kunde inte påvisas i studien. / Bakground: To avoid lungcomplications, the Lungprotective Ventilationtreatment(LPV) is of great importance in the intensive care unit. LPV requires participation of theICU nurses, which in turn requires knowledge and understanding of the treatment. Aim:The aim of this study was to identify how ICU nurses, on ICU, assesses theirknowledge and understanding of LPV to participate in the treatment. Method: Aquantitative cross-sectional study in the form of a questionnare. Results: There is nosignificant correlation between years of experience in intensive care and selfestimatedknowledge and understanding of LPV. The respondents estimated their knowledge andunderstanding of LPV as high, 68 % consider previously given education about LPV asgood or very good, and 90 % consider additional internal education are necessary.Discussion: Despite good education about LPV and high estimated knowledge andunderstanding of LPV there remains a need for additional education. This demonstratethat ICU nurses are aware of LPV and it’s purpose, and that continuous education aboutLPV is necessary. The non existing correlation between years of experience in intensivecare and estimated knowledge and understanding of LPV can not fully be applied onBenner’s theory about how nurses knowledge develop. Conclusion: Nurses in a ICU insouthern Sweden consider themselves to have sufficient knowledge and understandingof LPV to participate in the treatment. A correlation between years of experience inintensive care and estimated knowledge and understanding of LPV could not beestablished in this study.

The main purpose of this research was to evaluate use of Last Observation Carried Forward (LOCF) as an imputation method when persistent binary outcomes are missing in a Randomized Controlled Trial. A simulation study was performed to see the effect of dropout rate and type of dropout (random or associated with treatment arm) on Type I error and power. Properties of estimated event rates, treatment effect, and bias were also assessed. LOCF was also compared to two versions of complete case analysis - Complete1 (excluding all observations with missing data), and Complete2 (only carrying forward observations if the event is observed to occur). LOCF was not recommended because of the bias. Type I error was increased, and power was decreased. The other two analyses also had poor properties. LOCF analysis was applied to a mammogram dataset, with results similar to the simulation study.

Orientador: Antonio Carlos de Laurentiz / Resumo: Dois experimentos foram conduzidos no Setor de Avicultura da Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (Unesp), Faculdade de Engenharia do Campus de Ilha Solteira, sendo um de desempenho zootécnico na fase de na fase inicial (1 a 14 dias de idade) e um de digestibilidade na fase de 15 a 21 dias. Os experimentos foram conduzidos com o objetivo de avaliar o uso de fontes proteicas nas rações para frangos de corte na fase inicial, avaliando características de desempenho e de digestibilidade das fontes proteicas. No experimento I 390 pintos de corte machos, com um dia de idade da linhagem Cobb® ,foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial (3x2), com seis tratamentos e cinco repetições de 13 aves por parcela experimental. No experimento I avaliou-se a inclusão de três fontes proteicas (farelo de soja e duas farinhas de carnes e ossos bovina – FCOB - de diferentes fornecedores) em dietas com e sem inclusão de enzima protease. Para o experimento de digestibilidade, ensaio II, foi utilizado o mesmo delineamento do experimento de desempenho, alterando somente a inclusão de mais um tratamento, dieta referência, para determinar a digestibilidade dos alimentos testes (3x2)+1, totalizando sete tratamentos e quatro repetições de 5 aves cada, totalizando 140 aves. Para os parâmetros de desempenho foram observadas diferença significativa (p<0,05), onde a FCOB-2 proporcionou queda no ganho de peso e consequentemente piorou a conversão alim... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Two experiments were carried out in the poultry sector at the “Universidade Estadual Paulista de Ilha Solteira”, being the zootechnical development in the initial fase(from 01 to 14 days of birth) and digestibility in the phase of 15 to 21 days at the phase with the purpose to evaluate the use of protein sources at the feed of poultry, broilers at the begining, to evaluate aspect of performance and digestibility from protein sources. At the experimente of 1390 male chicks, into a day born from Cobb lineage, were distributed in na entirely designeranized (2 x3), six treatments and 5 repetitions to 13 chicks per experimental plat. At the experimente it was evaluated the inclusion of three proteic (source of soybean meal and two kinds of meal: meat and bovine bone – FCOB – from different providers), on diet and six inclusion of protease enzyme. At the digestibility, essay II, it was used the same lineage from the experiment of performance replacing only the inclusion from more than one treatment, diet driven, to determine the feed digestibility (2x3) +1, add up to seven treatments and four repettion to 5 chicks each, total of 140 chicks. For the performance parameter it was noticed significant diferences (p>0,05), which the FCOB – 2 provided weight loss and then got worse food conversion, to the treatments with and without protease enzyme, there weren’t any significant diferences. In the protein sources digestibility essay, the FCOB – 2 provided reduction of digiestibility coffi... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Submitted by Lara Oliveira (lara@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-09-06T23:25:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 GilvanNAPJ_DISSERT.pdf: 2808075 bytes, checksum: 04bf7863c5eb3df554c6dc434f701492 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-09-11T16:28:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 GilvanNAPJ_DISSERT.pdf: 2808075 bytes, checksum: 04bf7863c5eb3df554c6dc434f701492 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-09-11T16:30:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 GilvanNAPJ_DISSERT.pdf: 2808075 bytes, checksum: 04bf7863c5eb3df554c6dc434f701492 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-11T16:30:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GilvanNAPJ_DISSERT.pdf: 2808075 bytes, checksum: 04bf7863c5eb3df554c6dc434f701492 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-28 / Reestruturação e Expansão das Universidades Federais / The objective of this study was to determine chemical composition, dry matter production of Tanzania grass pasture (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania) in different periods of the year and estimate the consumption of crossbred goats using LIPE® as a marker under agroecological management. The experiment was conducted in Upanema-RN. The collection period was from May to November 2013. We used fifteen (15) adult goats permanently kept in the pasture. The grazing method used was fixed capacity and were evaluated 4 grazing periods. The animals in the paddock grazing period was two days, and the rest 30 days. The stocking rate was 2.44 AU per hectare. To determine the consumption were used eight (8) goats. The chemical composition of assessed pasture averaged: 19.1 to 22.4% for MS, 7.9 to 8.3 for PB, 64.2 to 65.8% for NDF and 38.5 to 40, 7% ADF. The forage accumulation varied from 2661.5 to 3548.6 kg DM / ha. The dry matter intake kg / day and% average live weight were 1.83 kg DM / day and 4.89% PV. The grass in Tanzania agroecologic irrigated, may be indicated for a dairy goat production systems, as presented DM yields and voluntary intake sufficient to meet the maintenance requirements of the animals. Despite the protein balance and energy have been a small negative supplementation would be enough for positive nutrient balance of animal production / O Objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar composição química, a produção de matéria seca da pastagem de capim Tanzânia (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia) em diferentes períodos do ano e estimar o consumo de cabras mestiças utilizando o LIPE® como marcador sob manejo agroecológico. O experimento foi conduzido em Upanema-RN. O período de coletas foi de maio a novembro de 2013. Foram utilizadas 15 (quinze) cabras adultas mantidas permanentemente na pastagem. O método de pastejo utilizado foi de lotação fixa e foram avaliados 4 períodos de pastejo. O período de ocupação dos animais no piquete foi de dois dias e o de descanso 30 dias. A taxa de lotação foi de 2,4 UA por hectare. Para a determinação do consumo foram utilizadas 8 (oito) cabras. A composição química da pastagem avaliada foi em média de: 19,1 a 22,4%, para MS, 7,9 a 8,3 para PB, 64,2 a 65,8% para FDN e 38,5 a 40,7% para FDA. O acúmulo de forragem apresentou valores entre 2661,5 a 3548,6 kg de MS/ha. O consumo de MS kg/dia e %PV médios foram 1,83kg de MS/dia e 4,89%PV. O capim Tanzânia em sistema agroecológico, irrigado, pode ser indicado para sistemas de produção de caprinos leiteiros, uma vez que apresentou produções de MS e consumo voluntário suficientes para suprir as exigências de mantença dos animais. Apesar do balanço protéico e energético ter sido negativo uma pequena suplementação seria suficiente para o balanço nutricional positivo dos animais em produção / 2017-09-06

Orientador: Marcio Luiz de Souza-Santos / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T12:44:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oliveira_AlexandrePereirade_D.pdf: 5076022 bytes, checksum: 0be1cd3a8682d6b21786e0251b3086f7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Este trabalho tem por objetivo a estimativa simultânea dos parâmetros hidráulicos e de transporte relacionados ao material existente em uma das pilhas de estéreis de mineração de urânio (Pilha de Estéreis 4) da Unidade Caldas das Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil (INB Caldas). Antes de realizar as estimativas, foi necessário conhecer as espécies químicas que são solubilizadas desse material pela ação das intempéries climáticas, sabendo-se que este material é rico em pirita (sulfeto de ferro, FeS2). Para isso foi montado um aparato experimental chamado de Experimento de Drenagem Ácida, no qual o processo de oxidação da pirita foi acompanhado em ambiente controlado. Foram feitas as determinações das concentrações de diversos elementos químicos estáveis e radioativos tanto no líquido ao longo dos testes, quanto no material sólido antes e depois dos testes. Foram calculadas a massa (ou atividade) total solubilizada, a taxa de solubilização e o percentual de solubilização. Os resultados mostraram quais espécies são mais facilmente solubilizadas e quais devem ser acompanhadas nos estudos de contaminação. As estimativas dos parâmetros hidráulicos e de transporte foram obtidas através da associação de um Experimento de Transporte de Solutos ao código computacional Hydrus-1D. Além da solução numérica do modelo adequado ao experimento, este código possui implementada a Técnica de Levenberg-Marquardt para estimativa de parâmetros. Foram estimados o conteúdo de água de saturação qs, a condutividade hidráulica de saturação Ks e o coeficiente de dispersão D. Os resultados mostraram que o parâmetro D é mais bem estimado, seguido por qs e Ks / Abstract: The present work aims to simultaneously estimate the hydraulic and transport parameters related to the material of one of the waste rock piles (Waste Rock Pile 4) from the Poços de Caldas uranium mining and milling facility. Before performing the estimation, it was necessary to study the chemical species that are dissolved from this material by the climate action, knowing a priori that the material is rich in pyrite (iron sulfide, FeS2). In order to follow the pyrite oxidation process within a controlled environment, an experimental apparatus called Acid Drainage Experiment was assembled. During tests, concentrations of various stable and radioactive chemical elements were determined in the liquid as well in the solid material before and after the tests. In addition, the total mass (or activity) dissolved, the rate of dissolution and the percentage of dissolution were calculated. Results showed which species are more easily dissolved and those that should be followed in contamination studies. The simultaneous estimation of the hydraulic and transport parameters was accomplished through the so called Solute Transport Experiment combined with the software Hydrus-1D. This software provides the numerical solution of an adequate model, using the Levenberg-Marquardt Technique for parameter estimation. The saturation water content qs, the saturation hydraulic conductivity Ks and the dispersion coefficient D were estimated. Results showed that the parameter D was well estimated, followed by qs and Ks / Doutorado / Termica e Fluidos / Doutor em Engenharia Mecânica

75 ABSTRACT The goal of my diploma thesis is to complexly analyze the institute of estimated value of a public procurement and issues related to it, while reflecting relevant decisions of the authorities competent to reviewing a public procurement, that is the Court of Justice of the European Union (the European Court of Justice), the Supreme Administrative Court, the Regional Court in Brno and the Office for the Protection of Competition. The relevant case-law is mentioned in the whole text in accordance with scheme of thesis as it is described below. Doctrinal interpretations are also taken into account. Among the most common mistakes made by contracting authorities, who are required to act in accordance with Act no. 137/2006 Coll., is wrongly determined estimated value of a public procurement. In this context it is necessary to point out that the determination is very important especially for the right categorization of contracts according to their values, which affects how strict conditions would apply for the specific contract. The work is conceived as a summary of the decision-making practice. This kind of conception was chosen primarily because of the fact that the Czech Republic (and other obliged countries) are required to implement the new procurement directives of the European Union (until April...

Without a valid assessment of accuracy there is a risk of data users coming to incorrect conclusions or making bad decision based on inaccurate data. This dissertation proposes a theoretical method for developing data-accuracy metrics specific for any given person-centric integrated system and how a data analyst can use these metrics to estimate the overall accuracy of person-centric data. Estimating the accuracy of Personal Identifiable Information (PII) creates a corresponding need to model and formalize PII for both the real-world and electronic data, in a way that supports rigorous reasoning relative to real-world facts, expert opinions, and aggregate knowledge. This research provides such a foundation by introducing a temporal first-order logic language (FOL), called Person Data First-order Logic (PDFOL). With its syntax and semantics formalized, PDFOL provides a mechanism for expressing data- accuracy metrics, computing measurements using these metrics on person-centric databases, and comparing those measurements with expected values from real-world populations. Specifically, it enables data analysts to model person attributes and inter-person relations from real-world population or database representations of such, as well as real-world facts, expert opinions, and aggregate knowledge. PDFOL builds on existing first-order logics with the addition of temporal predicated based on time intervals, aggregate functions, and tuple-set comparison operators. It adapts and extends the traditional aggregate functions in three ways: a) allowing any arbitrary number free variables in function statement, b) adding groupings, and c) defining new aggregate function. These features allow PDFOL to model person-centric databases, enabling formal and efficient reason about their accuracy. This dissertation also explains how data analysts can use PDFOL statements to formalize and develop formal accuracy metrics specific to a person-centric database, especially if it is an integrated person- centric database, which in turn can then be used to assess the accuracy of a database. Data analysts apply these metrics to person-centric data to compute the quality-assessment measurements, YD. After that, they use statistical methods to compare these measurements with the real-world measurements, YR. Compare YD and YR with the hypothesis that they should be very similar, if the person-centric data is an accurate and complete representations of the real-world population. Finally, I show that estimated accuracy using metrics based on PDFOL can be good predictors of database accuracy. Specifically, I evaluated the performance of selected accuracy metrics by applying them to a person-centric database, mutating the database in various ways to degrade its accuracy, and the re-apply the metrics to see if they reflect the expected degradation. This research will help data analyst to develop an accuracy metrics specific to their person-centric data. In addition, PDFOL can provide a foundation for future methods for reasoning about other quality dimensions of PII.