The primary purpose of this study was to investigate agreement among five equations by which clinicians estimate water requirements (EWR) and to determine how well these equations predict total water intake (TWI). The Institute of Medicine has used TWI as a measure of water requirements. A secondary goal of this study was to develop practical equations to predict TWI. These equations could then be considered accurate predictors of an individual’s water requirement. Regressions were performed to determine agreement between the five equations and between the five equations and TWI using NHANES 1999-2004. The criteria for agreement was 1) strong correlation coefficients between all comparisons and 2) regression line that was not significantly different when compared to the line of equality (x=y) i.e., the 95% CI of the slope and intercept must include one and zero, respectively. Correlations were performed to determine association between fat-free mass (FFM) and TWI. Clinically significant variables were selected to build equations for predicting TWI. All analyses were performed with SAS software and were weighted to account for the complex survey design and for oversampling. Results showed that the five EWR equations were strongly correlated but did not agree with each other. Further, the EWR equations were all weakly associated to TWI and lacked agreement with TWI. The strongest agreement between the NRC equation and TWI explained only 8.1% of the variability of TWI. Fat-free mass was positively correlated to TWI. Two models were created to predict TWI. Both models included the variables, race/ethnicity, kcals, age, and height, but one model also included FFM and gender. The other model included BMI and osmolality. Neither model accounted for more than 28% of the variability of TWI. These results provide evidence that estimates of water requirements would vary depending upon which EWR equation was selected by the clinician. None of the existing EWR equations predicted TWI, nor could a prediction equation be created which explained a satisfactory amount of variance in TWI. A good estimate of water requirements may not be predicted by TWI. Future research should focus on using more valid measures to predict water requirements.

The trace form gives a connection between the representation ring and the space of invariant bilinear forms of a Lie algebra $L$. This thesis reviews the definition of the trace of an endomorphism of a finitely generated projective module over a commutative ring $R$. We then use this to look at the trace form of a finitely generated projective representation of a Lie algebra $L$ over $R$ and its representation ring. While doing so, we prove a few trace formulas which are useful in the theory of the Dynkin index, an invariant introduced by Dynkin in 1952 to study homomorphisms between simple Lie algebras.

This master thesis focuses on design of steering wheel and clutch controller module for Formula Student car, The first part of this thesis is focused on communication protocol CAN and continues with explanation of reasons for development of this solution. Requirements for individual components of system are introduced in next part. At the end of the thesis the final electrical and hardware design is introduced as well as software design. The last part of this thesis is focused on simulation of system in race condition and evaluation of results.

Labeling of malt beverages is impacted by multiple entities, both regulatory and industry. The entity with the most overt impact is the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which defines and regulates the following items: 1) required label components for beverages that meet the TTB’s institutional definition of “malt beverage”, and 2) the formula approval process for malt beverages required to undergo the pre-Certificate of Labeling Approval (COLA) evaluation. In order for producers of malt beverages to sell their products in interstate commerce, they must first satisfactorily complete the Certificate of Labeling Approval (COLA) process. For products that are created using “nontraditional” processes or ingredients, producers must also complete a formula submission prior to completing the COLA process. The substantial growth of the craft brewing industry has resulted in a corresponding increase in the submission volume of COLAs and formula approvals. The increased workload of TTB officials responsible for processing approvals, coupled with intense industry focus on innovation, has resulted in a complicated interchange between industry and government. Using three studies, this research evaluates the craft brewer experience with the TTB’s COLA and formula approval processes.The first study was a qualitative research study conducted to explore craft brewers’ perceptions of regulations related to the COLA and formula approval processes. Using convenience sampling, 13 interviews were conducted with craft brewers from August 2018 to December 2018. All interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide and analyzed using a thematic approach. The findings indicate that formula and labeling approval presents unique challenges to craft brewers. Participants associated with small and large craft breweries identified opportunities for improved communication between the craft brewing industry and the TTB. The data collected also indicate that that there exist opportunities to improve existing resources for brewers as they pertain to labeling and formula approval.The second study evaluated the role of brewery characteristics in brewer preparation of COLA and formula submissions. Using survey data, the relationship between brewery characteristics and regulatory submission outcomes was evaluated. The brewery characteristics of interest were number of full-time personnel, permit age, production volume, and COLA and formula submission volume. The submission outcomes evaluated were information burden, expense burden, and resubmission frequency of COLA and formula approvals. The results indicated that production volume significantly predicts one measure of information burden (regulatory navigation) related to COLA preparation: the data suggests that as production volume increases, information burden decreases. In addition, submission volume of formulas was significantly related to one measure of information burden (regulatory navigation), with decreased information burden occurring alongside increased submission volume. Expense burden and resubmission frequency were not significantly predicted using any of the studied brewery characteristics.The third study examined the role of resource utilization in regulatory submission outcomes (expense burden, information burden, resubmission frequency). Using survey data, the relationship between the volume and type(s) of resources used during submission preparation and submission outcomes was evaluated. The resources of interest were: the TTB website, the Brewers Association website, advice from a fellow brewer, advice from a coworker or boss, correspondence with TTB officials, and (in formula submissions) the TTB Exemption List (Attachment 1 of TTB Ruling 2015-1) .The results indicate that advice from a boss or coworker reduced expense burden of COLA submissions, while advice from a fellow brewer was associated with decreased expense burden of formula submissions. In addition, advice from a fellow brewer, correspondence with TTB officials, and use of the Brewers Association website were all associated with decreased information burden of COLA submissions. Information burden associated with formula submissions was significantly predicted using advice from a fellow brewer and advice from a boss and/or coworker. Resubmission frequency of formula submissions was significantly predicted using correspondence TTB officials.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Breastfeeding plays a pivotal role in the baby's growth and development. Following the benefits of breastfeeding to both the mother and the child, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives before introduction to other foods. Despite this recommendation and the government’s effort to promote breastfeeding, South Africa remains one of the countries characterized by low (exclusive) breastfeeding levels worldwide. Low levels of breastfeeding are most evident in urban areas than in rural areas. This thesis examined the factors underpinning why there are variations in breastfeeding rates between rural and urban areas in South Africa.

No description available.

<p> Bayes' formula may be written as follows: </p> <p> P(yᵢ|X) = P(X|yᵢ)・P(yᵢ)/j=K Σ j=1 P(X|yⱼ)・P(yⱼ) where (1) </p> <p> Y = {y₁, y₂,..., y_K} </p> <P> X = {x₁, x₂,..., xₖ} </p> <p> Assuming independence of attributes x₁, x₂,..., xₖ, Bayes' formula may be rewritten as follows: </p> <p> P(yᵢ|X) = P(x₁|yᵢ)・P(x₂|yᵢ)・...・P(xₖ|yᵢ)・P(yᵢ)/j=K Σ j=1 P(x₁|yⱼ)・P(x₂|yⱼ)・...・P(xₖ|yⱼ)・P(yⱼ) (2) </p> <p> In medical diagnosis the y's denote disease states and the x's denote the presence or absence of symptoms. Bayesian inference is applied to medical diagnosis as follows: for an individual with data set X, the predicted diagnosis is the disease yⱼ such that P(yⱼ|X) = max_i P(yᵢ|X), i=1,2,...,K (3) </p> <p> as calculated from (2). </p> <p> Inferences based on (2) and (3) correctly allocate a high proportion of patients (>70%) in studies to date, despite violations of the independence assumption. The aim of this thesis is modest, (i) to demonstrate the applicability of Bayesian inference to the problem of medical diagnosis (ii) to review pertinent literature (iii) to present a Monte Carlo method which simulates the application of Bayes' formula to distinguish among diseases (iv) to present and discuss the results of Monte Carlo experiments which allow statistical statements to be made concerning the accuracy of Bayesian inference when the assumption of independence is violated. </p> <p> The Monte Carlo study considers paired dependence among attributes when Bayes' formula is used to predict diagnoses from among 6 disease categories. A parameter which measured deviations from attribute independence is defined by DH=(j=6 Σ j=1|P(x_B|x_A,yⱼ)-P(x_B|yⱼ)|)/6, where x_A and x_B denote a dependent attribute pair. It was found that the correct number of Bayesian predictions, M, decreases markedly as attributes increasing diverge from independence, ie, as DH increases. However, a simple first order linear model of the form M = B₀+B₁・DH does not consistently explain the variation in M. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Ewens sampling formula is the sampling distribution for a population assumed to follow a one parameter Poisson-Dirichlet distribution, where the parameter is fixed. In this project this assumption will be loosened and we will look at the parameter as a function of the sample size. This will result in sampling from a family of Poisson-Dirichlet distributions. Estimators for this new construction will be tested using two different simulation methods. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

The formula method of allocation was used in the Commonwealth of Virginia to fund institutions of higher education from 1968 until the recession of 1990. Prior to the early 1990s recession, operational funding for institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth was derived from a framework for staffing guidelines, faculty peer-group benchmarks, and a student tuition policy. Revenue shortfalls caused by the recession were insufficient to fund the resources demanded by the guidelines or funding formulas. This led to the discontinuance of the funding formulas that had guided Virginia's higher education funding for more than two decades (Report of the Joint Subcommittee on Higher Education Funding Policies, 1999). The purpose of the study was to find out how and why the decision was made to discontinue formula funding of institutions of higher education. The decision-making process at the state level is often complex, uncertain, and difficult. The emphasis of the study was to examine the rationale for discontinuing formula funding for resource allocation to institutions of higher education.The study explored why the Commonwealth of Virginia made this important decision. The subjects of the study are the state-level decision-makers responsible for funding institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Information on how and why the Commonwealth of Virginia reached the decision to discontinue formula funding could only be obtained by in-depth interviewing of the participants in the decision-making process. Data were analyzed using the four streams of Cohen and March's decision making model. Triangulation of the data served as a means of data validation. Conclusions and recommendations for future study and practice are included. The major findings were that were many complaints regarding the former formula funding model. The model was a demand driven, rigid input based model that was not linked directly to state revenues. The model was not mandated by the Code of Virginia as was K-12 formula. As required with time-sensitive matters, decisions have to be made to address the issues at hand. The funding formulas were simply discontinued in the face of adversity. Consensus was basically that the demand driven formulas were the wrong methodology given the recession and demands for attention in other areas. / Ph. D.