The climate changes have arguably been one of the main concerns during the last centuries.The largest contribution of the climate change derives from humanly created greenhouse gases.One third of the greenhouse gas emissions in Sweden comes from domestic transportation.This has led the government to set a taxation on fuels to reduce the carbon dioxide emissionsfrom transportation. The Swedish government has set a target of reducing the CO2 fromdomestic transportation by 70% of 2010th level by 2030 as a part of the long run target of zeronet emissions by 2045.This thesis aims to develop the knowledge about the relation between fuel taxation and carbonemissions from domestic car traveling in Sweden. One previous study has been conductedcovering the same problem. The previous study analyzed older data which creates theopportunity for this thesis to give updated results about the issue. This analysis is based ontime-series data from Sweden between 1990-2019. Regression models will be estimated usingordinary least squares (OLS) estimates to find the coefficient values. The results indicate anegative relationship between fuel taxation and carbon emission from cars in Sweden with a99% confidence level. An increase by the fuel tax by 1 SEK/liter would save approximately600 kilotons CO2 from domestic car traveling on a year. The value of the CO2 saved by anincrease of fuel tax by 1 SEK would be approximately 4 178 062 000 SEK. However, the resultshould not be interpreted as a recommendation for a policy. A more comprehensive analysisabout the effects of fuel taxation is needed to make decisions about whether the policy shouldbe implemented. The extended analysis should account for more ecological effects but also,economic, cultural, and social effects of the fuel tax. / Klimatkrisen är onekligen ett av de oftast debatterade problemen i modern tid. Klimatetsförändringar hotar flera arters överlevnadsmöjligheter, inte minst människan. Utsläpp avväxthusgaser är i dagsläget den största orsaken till de pågående klimatförändringarna. AvSveriges växthusgasutsläpp kommer en tredjedel från inrikestransporter. För att reduceraväxthusgaserna från inrikestransporter skattesätter staten drivmedel. Staten har en målsättningom att CO2 utsläppen från inrikestransporter ska minska med 70% av 2010 års nivå till år 2030.Detta är ett etappmål för att nå det långsiktiga målet om obefintliga nettoutsläpp avväxthusgaser år 2045.Denna studie avser att undersöka sambandet mellan drivmedelsskatten och koldioxidutsläppfrån inrikes biltransporter i Sverige. Liknande studier har genomförts tidigare, men då dessastudier analyserat äldre data kan denna studie ge en mer uppdaterad bild av problemet.Analysen bygger på tidsseriedata från Sverige mellan 1990–2019. Regressionsmodellerkommer att skattas med minsta kvadratmetoden (OLS) för att finna drivmedelsskattenssamband med koldioxidutsläppen från inrikes biltransporter. Resultatet visar att det finns ensignifikant negativ relation mellan drivmedelsskatten och koldioxidutsläpp från bilar i Sverigepå 99% konfidensnivå. En ökning av drivmedelsskatten med 1 krona per liter leder till enminskning av CO2 utsläpp från bilar med cirka 600 kiloton under ett år. Denna minskningmotsvarar ett värde av cirka 4 178 062 000 SEK. Resultatet bör dock inte tolkas som enrekommendation angående drivmedelsskatt. Vid beslutsfattande kring drivmedelsskatten bören mer omfattande analys genomföras. Den mer omfattande analysen bör innehålla flerekologiska effekter, men även ekonomiska, kulturella och sociala effekter avdrivmedelsskatten.

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<p>In spite of numerous benefits that are suggested for consumers’ utilizing integrated personal health record (PHR) systems, research has shown that these systems are not yet popular or well known to consumers. Therefore, research is needed to understand what would rise adoption rates for these systems. Hence, the main objective of this dissertation is to develop and empirically validate a theoretical model for explaining consumers’ intention to use integrated PHR systems.</p> <p>In developing the theoretical model of this dissertation, theories of information systems adoption were integrated with Self-Determination Theory (SDT), which is a well established theory from the Psychology literature that explains the mechanism through which individuals become more self-determined, i.e., motivated to take more active (rather than passive) roles in undertaking different behaviours. Taking such an active role by consumers, in the context of personal health management, is suggested to be necessary for realizing the full benefits of integrated PHR systems.</p> <p>The proposed theoretical model was validated using the PLS approach to structural equation modeling, on data collected from a cross-sectional survey involving 159 participants with no prior experience in using PHR systems. A stratified random sampling was employed to draw a representative sample of the Canadian population. The results show that consumers with higher levels of self-determination in managing their health are more likely to adopt integrated PHR systems since they have more positive perceptions regarding the use of such systems. Further, such self-determination is fueled by autonomy support from consumers’ physicians as well as consumers’ personality trait of autonomy orientation.</p> <p>This study advances the theoretical understanding of integrated PHR system adoption, and it contributes to practice by providing insightful implications for designing, promotion, and facilitating the use of integrated PHR systems among consumers.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In this dissertation we introduce two variable selection procedures for multivariate responses. Our procedures are based on sufficient dimension reduction concepts and are model-free. In the first procedure we consider the dual marginal coordinate hypotheses, where the role of the predictor and the response is not important. Motivated by canonical correlation analysis (CCA), we propose a CCA-based test for the dual marginal coordinate hypotheses, and devise a joint backward selection algorithm for dual model-free variable selection. The second procedure is based on ordinary least squares (OLS). We derive and study the asymptotic properties of the OLS-based test under the normality assumption of the predictors as well as an asymmetry assumption. When these assumptions are violated, the asymptotic test with elliptical trimming and clustering is still valid with desirable numerical performances. A backward selection algorithm for the predictor is also provided for the OLS-based test. The performances of the proposed tests and the variable selection procedures are evaluated through synthetic examples and a real data analysis. / Statistics

Sustainability of the built environment is one of the most significant challenges facing the construction industry, and presents significant opportunities to affect change. The absence of quantifiable and holistic sustainability measures for the built environment has hindered their application. As a result, a sustainability performance metric (SPM) framework was conceptually formulated by employing sustainability objectives and function statements a-priori to identify the correlated sustainability indicators that need to be captured equally, with respect to the environment, the economy, and society. Projection to Latent Structures (PLS), a latent variable method, was adopted to mathematically formulate the metric. Detached single-family housing was used to demonstrate the application of SPM. Datasets were generated using Athena Impact Estimator, EnergyPlus, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Socioeconomic Input/Output models, among others. Results revealed that a holistic metric, such as the SPM is necessary to obtain a sustainable design, where qualitative or univariate considerations may result in the contrary. A building envelope coefficient of performance (BECOP) metric based on an idealized system was also developed to measure the energy efficiency of the building envelope. Results revealed the inefficiencies in the current building envelope construction technologies and the missed opportunities for saving energy. Furthermore, a decision-making tool, which was formulated using the PLS utilities, was shown to be effective and necessary for early stages of the design for energy efficiency. / Thesis / Doctor of Science (PhD) / Sustainability of the built environment is a significant challenge facing the industry, and presents opportunities to affect changes. The absence of holistic sustainability measures has hindered their application. As a result, a sustainability performance metric (SPM) framework was formulated by employing sustainability objectives and function statements a-priori to identify the indicators that need to be captured. Projection to Latent Structures was adopted to mathematically formulate the metric. A housing prototype was used to demonstrate the application of the SPM utilizing a bespoke dataset. Results revealed that holistic metric, such as the SPM is necessary for achieving sustainable designs. A building envelope coefficient of performance metric was also developed to measure the energy efficiency of the building envelope. Results revealed the inefficiencies in the current building envelope technologies and identified missed opportunities. Furthermore, a decision-making tool was formulated and shown to be effective and necessary for design for energy efficiency.

Lean Management and Lean Six Sigma (LM/LSS) are improvement methodologies that have been utilized to achieve better performance outcomes at organizational and operational levels. Although there has been evidence of breakthrough improvement across diverse organizational settings, LM/LSS remains an early-stage improvement methodology in public sector organizations, specifically within local government organizations (LGOs). Some LGOs have benefited from LM/LSS and reported significant improvements, such as reducing process time by up to 90% and increasing financial savings by up to 57%. While the success of LM/LSS can lead to satisfactory outcomes, the risk of failure can also result in a tremendous waste of financial and non-financial resources. Evidence from the literature indicates that the failure to achieve the expected outcomes is likely due to the lack of attention paid to critical success factors (CSFs) that are crucial for LM/LSS success. Furthermore, research in this research area regarding characterizing and statistically examining the CSFs associated with LM/LSS in such organizational settings has been limited. Hence, the aim of this research is to provide a comprehensive investigation of the success factors for LM/LSS in LGOs. The initial stage of this dissertation involved analyzing the scientific literature to identify and characterize the CSFs associated with LM/LSS in LGOs through a systematic literature review (SLR). This effort identified a total of 47 unique factors, which were grouped into 5 categories, including organization, process, workforce knowledge, communications, task design, and team design. The next stage of this investigation focused on identifying a more focused set of CSFs. This involved evaluating the strength of the effect (or importance) of the factors using two integrated approaches: meta-synthesis and expert assessment. This process concluded with a total of 29 factors being selected for the empirical field study. The final stage included designing and implementing an online survey questionnaire to solicit LGOs' experience on the presence of factors during the development and/or implementation of LM/LSS and their impact on social-technical system outcomes. Once the survey was concluded, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to identify the underlying latent variables, followed by using a partial least square-structural equation model (PLS-SEM) to determine the significance of the factors on outcomes. The EFA identified three endogenous and five exogenous latent variables. The results of the PLS-SEM model identified four significant positive relationships. Based on the results from the structural paths, the antecedent Improvement Readiness (IR) and Change Awareness (CA) were significant and had a positive influence on Transformation Success (TS). For the outcome Deployment Success (DS), Sustainable Improvement Infrastructure (SII) was the only significant exogenous variable and had the highest positive impact among all significant predictor constructs. Furthermore, Measurement-Based Improvement (MBI) was significant and positively influenced Improvement Project Success (IPS). Findings from this dissertation could serve as a foundation for researchers looking to further advance the maturity of this research area based on the evidence presented in this work. Additionally, this work could be used as guidelines for practitioners in developing implementation processes by considering the essential factors to maximize the success of LM/LSS implementation. Given the diversity of functional areas and processes within LGO contexts, it is also possible that other public sector organizations could benefit from these findings. / Doctor of Philosophy / Lean Management and Lean Six Sigma (LM/LSS) is an improvement methodology that is used by businesses and organizations to improve how they work and achieve better results. LM/LSS has been especially helpful in various organizations; however, the implementation of this improvement methodology has been limited by many challenges for public sector organizations, especially local government organizations (LGOs). The overall aim of this dissertation is to improve the success of LM/LSS implementation within the context of LGOs. More specifically, this dissertation systematically studied the critical success factors associated with LM/LSS success. Different research approaches, including research formulation, development, and testing techniques, were conducted to achieve the aim of this dissertation. Publications related to LM/LSS in LGOs have been rigorously analyzed to identify a comprehensive list of CSFs. To identify the most important factors, a meta-synthesis evaluation and expert survey assessment have been conducted. Following the refinement of the factors, a large-scale field study using a survey questionnaire has been designed and distributed to LGOs. Once the survey concluded, statistical methods that included Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) were conducted. The former was used to identify the underlying latent variables, while the latter was conducted to examine the influence of the factors on social and technical outcomes. This dissertation could be used as a reference guideline helping practitioners to increase the success of LM/LSS implementation in LGOs. This dissertation can also guide scholars to potential research avenues that could advance this research area.

Yes / Automatic facial age progression (AFAP) has been an active area of research in recent years. This is due to its numerous applications which include searching for missing. This study presents a new method of AFAP. Here, we use an Active Appearance Model (AAM) to extract facial features from available images. An ageing function is then modelled using Sparse Partial Least Squares Regression (sPLS). Thereafter, the ageing function is used to render new faces at different ages. To test the accuracy of our algorithm, extensive evaluation is conducted using a database of 500 face images with known ages. Furthermore, the algorithm is used to progress Ben Needham’s facial image that was taken when he was 21 months old to the ages of 6, 14 and 22 years. The algorithm presented in this paper could potentially be used to enhance the search for missing people worldwide.

The Almost-Exact Scheme (AES), as proposed by Oosterlee and Grzelak, has been applied to the Heston stochastic volatility model to show improved error convergence for small time-steps, as opposed to the classical Euler-Maruyama (EM) scheme, in European option pricing. This idea has been extended to the double Heston stochastic volatility model, to show similar improved results for Bermudan options. In this thesis, we extend this idea even further and develop an Almost-Exact Scheme to the Gatheral double mean reverting (DMR) model, to show improved error convergence for American put options. We illustrate that, because of the complexity of the dynamics of our model, a direct application of the AES is not possible, and therefore derive a diffusion trick, so we can instead use a partial implementation of the AES. Our partial implementation has two variants. In the first variant, we implement the AES on the long-run mean process combined with the Milstein scheme on the variance process. In the second variant, the Milstein scheme is replaced by a second order refinement. We name these two schemes AEMS and AEMS-SOR respectively. We conduct extensive simulation studies to evaluate the proposed schemes. The results indicate improved error convergence of the proposed scheme for small time-steps when time-to-maturity is equal to half a year, but does not seem to differ much from the EM scheme for a shorter time-to-maturity.

Traditionally, squaring the circle has been about bringing the incommensurable work of the gods within the realm of the commensurate by using infinite cosmic principles to regulate the finite world. The American architect Claude Bragdon (1866-1946) squared the circle using his Theosophic architectural theory that was based on a neo-Pythagorean emphasis on Number, which he believed to have contained the secret of the universe. America at the turn of the 20th century was interested in Eastern spirituality at the beginning of an age of scientific relativity when the world and universe were being questioned due to new scientific discoveries based on higher-dimensional mathematical speculations that challenged relationships between humankind and the cosmos. Paralleling this scientific search was the Western conquest of the world on earth, which brought back speculations about the Near and Far East, including translations of their ancient scriptures and encyclopedias of their architecture. The fourth dimension was an imaginary mathematical (re)creation of great interest to Bragdon and common to scientific relativity and Eastern spirituality; two cultural constructs that altered the perception of time and space to affect the American imagination and architectural production. Within this context, Squaring the Circle investigates the relationship of theory to practice by considering Bragdon's architecture as the material manifestation of his Theosophic architectural theory. / Ph. D.

Maintenance of medical equipment plays an important role in ensuring the healthcare quality so that the care can be conducted with minimal risk. Preventive maintenance is performed to maintain the equipment in satisfactory operating condition, while corrective maintenance is made when there is an unpredicted maintenance requirement. This study aims to determine what effect preventive maintenance has on corrective maintenance. A correlation analysis, regression analysis and survival analysis are performed on work-order data from 2000-2021. The results obtained indicate that increasing the number of preventive maintenances made to medical equipment will decrease the number of corrective maintenances required for the medical equipment.