In many applications, it is common to have multiple diagnostic tests on each subject. When there are multiple tests available, combining tests to incorporate information from various aspects in subjects may be necessary in order to obtain a better diagnostic. For continuous tests, in the presence of a gold standard, we could combine the tests linearly (Su and Liu, 1993) or sequentially (Thompson, 2003), or using the risk score as studied by McIntosh and Pepe (2002). The gold standard, however, is not always available in practice. This dissertation concentrates on deriving classification methods based on multiple tests in the absence of a gold standard. Motivated by a lab data set consisting of two tests testing for an antibody in 100 blood samples, we first develop a mixture model of four bivariate normal distributions with the mixture probabilities depending on a two-stage latent structure. The proposed two-stage latent structure is based on the biological mechanism of the tests. A Bayesian classification method incorporating the available prior information is derived utilizing Bayesian decision theory. The proposed method is illustrated by the motivating example, and the properties of the estimation and the classification are described via simulation studies. Sensitivity to the choice of the prior distribution is also studied. We also investigate a general problem of combining multiple continuous tests without any gold standard or a reference test. We thoroughly study the existing methods for combining multiple tests and develop optimal classification rules corresponding to the methods accommodating the situation without a gold standard. We justify the proposed methods both theoretically and numerically through exten- sive simulation studies and illustrate the methods with the motivating example. In the end, we conclude the thesis with remarks and some interesting open questions extended from the dissertation.

The research presented in this thesis investigates the effect the data collection process has on the results of the economic analysis in pavement management systems. The incorporation of pavement management systems into software packages has enabled local governments to easily implement and maintain an asset management plan. However a general standard has yet to be set, enabling local governments to select from several methods of data collection. In this research, two pavement management system software packages with different data collection methods are analyzed on the common estimated recommended M&R cost provided by their respective economic analysis. The Transportation Asset Management Software (TAMS) software package developed by the Utah LTAP Center at Utah State University consists of a data collection process composed of nine asphalt pavement distress observations. The Micro PAVERTM software package developed by the Army Corps of Engineers consists of a data collection process composed of 20 asphalt pavement distress observations. A Latin-hypercube sample set was input into each software package, as well as actual local government pavement condition data for the City of Smithfield, Utah and the City of Tremonton, Utah. This resulted in six total data sets for analysis, three entered and analyzed in TAMS and three entered and analyzed in Micro PAVERTM. These sample sets were then statistically modeled to determine the effect each distress variable had on the response produced by the economic analysis of estimated recommended M&R costs. Due to the different methodologies of pavement condition data collection, two different statistical approaches were utilized during the sensitivity analysis. The TAMS data sets consisted of a general linear regression model, while the Micro PAVERTM data sets consisted of an analysis of covariance model. It was determined that each data set had varying results in terms of sensitive pavement distresses; however the common sensitive distress in all of the data sets was that of alligator cracking/fatigue. This research also investigates the possibility of utilizing statistically produced models as a direct cost estimator given pavement condition data.

L’objectif de cette thèse était de proposer, valider et comparer des méthodes de fusion d’images provenant d’un capteur héliosynchrone multispectral et d’un capteur géostationnaire multispectral, pour produire des cartes de composition de l’eau détaillées spatialement et les mieux rafraîchies possibles. Notre méthodologie a été appliquée au capteur héliosynchrone OLCI sur Sentinel-3 et au capteur géostationnaire FCI sur Météosat Troisième Génération. Dans un premier temps, la sensibilité des deux capteurs à la couleur de l’eau a été analysée. Les images des capteurs OLCI et FCI n’étant pas encore disponibles, ont donc été simulées sur le Golfe du Lion, grâce à des cartes d’hydrosols (chlorophylle, matières en suspension et matières organiques dissoutes) et à des modèles de transfert radiatifs (Hydrolight et Modtran). Deux méthodes de fusion ont ensuite été adaptées puis testées à partir des images simulées : la méthode SSTF (Spatial, Spectral, Temporal Fusion) inspirée de la fusion de (Vanhellemont et al., 2014) et la méthode STARFM (Spatial Temporal Adaptative Reflectance Fusion Model) de (Gao et al., 2006). Les résultats de fusion ont alors été validés avec des images de référence simulées et les cartes d’hydrosols estimées à partir de ces images ont été comparées aux cartes utilisées en entrée des simulations. Pour améliorer le SNR des images FCI, un filtrage temporel a été proposé. Enfin, comme le but est d’obtenir des indicateurs de qualité de l’eau, nous avons testé les méthodes de fusion sur les cartes d’hydrosols estimées à partir des images FCI et OLCI simulées. / The objective of this thesis was to propose, validate and compare fusion methods of images provided by a Low Earth Orbit multispectral sensor and a geostationary multispectral sensor in order to obtain water composition maps with spatial details and high temporal resolution. Our methodology was applied to OLCI Low Earth Orbit sensor on Sentinel-3 and FCI Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) sensor on Meteosat Third Generation. Firstly, the sensor sensivity, regarding the water color, was analyzed. As the images from both sensors were not available, they were simulated on the Golf of Lion, thanks to hydrosol maps (chl, SPM and CDOM) and radiative transfer models (Hydrolight and Modtran). Two fusion methods were then adapted and tested with the simulated images: the SSTF (Spatial, Spectral, Temporal Fusion) method inspired from the method developed by (Vanhellemont et al., 2014)) and the STARFM (Spatial Temporal Adaptative Reflectance Fusion Model) method from (Gao et al., 2006)). The fusion results were then validated with the simulated reference images and by estimating the hydrosol maps from the fusion images and comparing them with the input maps of the simulation process. To improve FCI SNR, a temporal filtering was proposed. Finally, as the aim is to obtain a water quality indicator, the fusion methods were adapted and tested on the hydrosol maps estimated with the FCI and OLCI simulated images.

Abstract Through a two-phase process an instrument was created to measure the cognitive domain as proposed by King and Baxter Magolda in their Developmental Model of Intercultural Maturity (2005). The first phase involved expert panels who identified the competencies which exist in the cognitive domain, identified situations which might exist between individuals from different cultures, validated scenarios created from the identified situations, and created responses which corresponded to the three developmental levels (Initial, Intermediate, and Mature) defined in the Developmental Theory of Intercultural Maturity. Within the second phase, the created instrument was administered to 371 individuals representing eight geocultural world divisions (Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Middle East, North America, South/Latin America, South Pacific/Polynesia, and Sub-Saharan Africa). The initial instrument contained 8-12 interactive demographic questions and 20 scenario-based questions which were created to measure the four identified competencies (Ability to Shift Cognitive Perspectives, Flexibility in Thinking, Willingness to Seek Knowledge about Other Cultures, and Willingness to Consider Others' Viewpoints as Valid). Through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the instrument was analyzed and a final 12-item instrument was identified which corresponded to three competencies: Ambiguity, Acclimation, and Acceptance. Overall, the final instrument functioned with minimal gender bias. Some differences in world regions were noted. The Caribbean was the only region who had consistently different scores from the other regions. While some significant differences were noted in scores of those who had lived abroad and those who had not, time spent outside one's home region was not correlated to scores on the instrument. Low reliability scores, factor pattern coefficients, and communality estimates indicated that opportunities to improve the instrument exist. Additional opportunities for further research include the creation of additional instruments to measure all three domains (Cognitive, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal) and thus measure Intercultural Maturity in full. Recommended uses for the instrument are in the creation of intercultural curriculum to prompt discussion or to create metacognitive opportunities within intercultural training and classrooms.

The purpose of this study was to prepare concentrated and stable gold colloids for the enhancement of the signal response of the SPR technique for detecting small molecules such as progesterone. The gold colloids developed in this study were prepared by hydrazine hydrate, sodium borohydride, and tri-potassium citrate reduction routes. The study revealed that the sodium borohydride reduced gold colloids were extremely stable and it was able to be utilised in the progesterone immunoassay developed previously by Mitchell et al. The experiment was carried out on BIAcore 3000 using two different sensor surfaces (CM5 and SAM). The results showed that the enhancement species prepared from the borohydride-reduced gold colloids were able to improve the SPR signal response by 13 times higher than SPR signal produced without the enhancement species on the CM5 surface. The signal enhancement on the SAM surface using the same enhancement species was even greater at 29 times higher. The sensitivity of the assay was, however, unable to be determined due to time constraint. The limit of detection (LOD) of the progesterone assay using the CM5 chip was estimated to be ca. 5-20 pg/mL. Whilst for the SAM chip, the LOD of the progesterone assay was estimated to be ca. 5-20 fg/mL. Further work is required to confirm these estimated LOD values.

Because of coeliac disease, some individuals cannot tolerate the protein gliadin present in the gluten fraction of wheat flour. From a commercial perspective, there is a need for the development of gluten-free bread with texture and flavour properties similar to the conventional wheat flour loaf. In the context of bread, the gluten component of wheat has a crucial role in stabilising the gas-cell structure and maintaining the rheological properties of the bread. The absence of gluten results in liquid batter rather than pre-baking dough, yielding baked bread with a crumbling texture, poor colour and other post-baking quality defects. The liquid batter cannot be processed on the existing production line of baking industry. The aim is to develop a gluten-free white loaf with similar quality characteristics to that of standard white bread on the existing processing lines at Quality Bakers New Zealand. Within this constraint, dough has to be produced with handling and moulding properties similar to those of conventional wheat flour loaves. This research focused on finding and implementing the gluten substitutes for the development of gluten-free high quality commercial bread. In this research, the independent variables were conventional wheat flour (the most basic control), other gluten-free flours from a variety of sources, starches, supplementary proteins, hydrocolloids such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), hydrophilic psyllium husk, and enzymes such as microbial transglutaminase, glucose oxidase, lipase and fungal α-amylase. These ingredients were trialled in different combination and composition to produce a dough having ability to trap the carbon dioxide gas during proofing and baking to get high specific volume bread suitable for the Quality Bakers’ product range. After an essentially ‘shotgun’ approach to formulations, the research narrowed to a systematic and progressive variation of ingredients and their composition to develop workable commercial models. Ingredients and their compositions were manipulated according to the outcomes of the trials and their contribution in the formulations. The dependent variables included standard bakery rheological properties based on dough stickiness, dough extensibility, oven spring, bread specific volume, bread slice ability, and bread staling. A gelation system of the lower-temperature-stable hydrocolloid psyllium husk, the heat-stable hydrocolloid hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, maize starch, and potato starch was created to form industrial process able dough having ability to entrap carbon dioxide gas produced during proofing and initial phase of baking. Microbial transglutaminase was used to increase the cross linking of protein present in flours and supplemented for enhancing the dough-like structure and its gas entrapping abilities. A formulation has been discovered by this research for the development of high quality gluten-free commercial bread. The formulated bread has similar quality characteristics to that of standard white bread and can be produced on existing processing lines at Quality Bakers. Industrial process able gluten-free bread with similar quality characteristics to that of standard white bread can be formulated by using a specific combination of soy flour, maize starch, potato starch, yoghurt powder, milk protein, HPMC (K4M), psyllium husk, microbial transglutaminase, lipase, and fungal α-amylase. The significance of this research is mainly commercial and the insights gained may extend to other bakery items that could be used by coeliacs.

This study considers the determination of the ex ante pay-performance relationship. A single-period partial equilibrium model is used to show that the executive income can be expressed as a function of the firm's return expressed in dollar terms. The executive income is jointly determined by the opening firm size and current return, which function as a managerial talent proxy and self-selection mechanism respectively. Comparing to Jensen and Murphy (1990) wealth-based Pay-Performance Sensitivity (PPS), this research presents an income-based PPS. The alternative PPS not only overcomes a misleading misspecification in Jensen and Murphy (1990), but also corrects Rosen's (1992) argument for only including return in the pay performance relationship. This research finds empirically that both the opening firm size and stock return play a significant role in determining executive income. This study provides supplementary evidence to Murphy's (1986) Learning Model. However, shareholder income may not be an ideal performance measure in capturing the multi-period pay-performance relationship.

It has long been held that luminance acts as a cue for depth perception. But varying the luminance of a stimulus inevitably alters its contrast with its background. Recent research shows that contrast is a depth cue. I have distinguished two kinds of contrast, external contrast, the contrast of a stimulus with its background, and internal contrast, the contrast within the stimulus. I compared the relative apparent depth of two stimuli (both directly and indirectly; stimuli were either sine-wave filled hemifields, sine-wave filled squares, or plain squares), as their luminances and internal contrasts were varied along with the luminance of their background. I found internal and external contrast to be additive effects, whereby the stimulus with either a higher internal or external contrast appeared nearer. When the internal and external contrasts of the stimuli were equated, luminance acted as an ambiguous cue, with the lighter square appearing nearer for the majority of observers, and farther for a minority. Luminance may act as a depth cues from our experience with artificial lighting (artificial light varies ambiguously with depth). Contrast may act as a depth cue from its usual association with the reduction of contrast of objects with distance through the atmosphere. I conclude that luminance and contrast are independent depth-cues that are caused by two different mechanisms.

The application of the linear prediction Model for speech waveform analysis to context-independent automatic speaker recognition is explored, primarily in terns of the parametric sensitivity of the model. Feature vectors to characterize speakers are formed from linear prediction speech parameters computed as inverse filter coefficients, reflection coefficients or cepstral coefficients, and also power spectrum parameters via Fast Fourier Transform coefficients. The comparative performance of these parameters is investigated in speaker recognition experiments. The stability of the linear prediction parameters is tested over a range of model order from p=6 to p=30. Two independent speech databases are used to substantiate the experimental results. The quality of the automatic recognition technique is assessed in a novel experiment based on a direct performance comparison with the human skill of aural recognition. Correlation is sought between the performance of the aural and automatic recognition methods, for each of the four parameter sets. Although the recognition accuracy of the automatic system is superior to that of the direct aural technique, the error distributions are highly variable. The performance of the automatic system is shown to be empirically based and unlike the intuitive human process. An extended preamble to the description of the experiments reviews the current art of automatic speaker recognition, with a critical consideration of the performance of linear prediction techniques. As supported by our experimental results, it is concluded that success in the laboratory rests upon a rather fragile foundation. Application to problems beyond the controlled laboratory environment is seen, therefore, to be still more precarious.

Abstract The past few decades has seen increasing agreement identifying approach and avoidance systems as central concepts in the understanding of human behaviour and personality (Carver, 2005; Carver & Scheier, 2000; Elliot, 1999, 2005). The central focus of this thesis lies in exploring the approach system. The approach system focuses on managing appetitive behaviour and represents a general sensitivity to rewarding stimuli. This system is thought to be accompanied by behavioural tendencies towards such rewarding stimuli and consequently, positive outcomes (e.g., Gable, Reis, & Elliot, 2003). This thesis will examine the approach system as portrayed firstly via the Behavioural Approach System (BAS) as part of one of the most recent and influential personality theories; Gray’s Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST; Gray, 1982; Gray & Mc Naughton, 1996; Pickering & Gray, 1999) and secondly, by means of the social cognitive model of goal orientation (Diefendorff & Mehta, 2007; Dweck, 1996; Elliot & Church, 1997). The two constructs of approach goal orientations which will be chiefly discussed in this thesis are mastery approach orientation and performance approach orientation. The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate these three approach constructs in interaction with situational cues and in the prediction of everyday life outcomes. Work context is an important example of everyday life situation; therefore, this thesis aims to investigate the interaction between the three approach constructs and rewarding climates (situational cues) in the prediction of work outcomes. This thesis therefore contains two parts; the first part will investigate the Behavioural Approach System (BAS) and the second part will investigate performance approach and mastery approach orientations. The first part contains two chapters -two self contained papers- and the second part contains three chapters -three self contained papersix Each paper form it’s own individual chapter. In each chapter, the controversies and ambiguities in theoretical and practical implications involved in the construct will be discussed. In addition, major findings as well as limitations and practical implications will be discussed at the end of each chapter. Following as introduction is a brief review of each chapter.