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Abstract: Addressing air leakage of dwellings is important to improving energy efficiency and thermal comfort. This paper reports on the air permeability test results of 287 post-2006 new-build dwellings in the UK. The paper explores the relationships between air-tightness and its influencing factors including build method, dwelling type, management context, design target, season, number of significant penetrations, and envelope and floor area. One-way ANOVA analysis was utilised to compare means of air permeability in relation to the individual factors, and two- and three-way ANOVA analyses were applied for examining the interactions between them. The air-tightness of the dwellings averaged 5.97m3/(hm2) at 50Pa, which has improved from UK historic data. Dwellings built using precast concrete panels were significantly air-tighter than those built using timber frame, whilst those masonry and reinforced concrete frame dwellings were most leaky. Greater extent of innovative practice and ‘self-build’ procurement led to achieving superior air-tightness. Interaction was observed between ‘build method’ and ‘dwelling type’ and between ‘dwelling type’ and ‘management context’. A modest positive correlation was noticed between air permeability and design target, which became weak in relation to the number of significant penetrations and envelope area. Applying the linear regression technique a predictive model is developed for estimating air permeability of dwellings. This model integrates the influencing factors and their significant interactions. The findings should contribute to future research in predicting impacts of controlling the influencing factors on achieving air-tightness of dwellings more consistently. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes an implementation evaluation of a Court Outreach Program that provides outreach and community-based treatment and support to people with mental illness in the legal system. The paper describes the Court Outreach Program and presents evaluation findings. Program strengths included competent and knowledgeable court outreach staff who contribute to the legal and mental health systems and provide access for clients to a range of community supports and treatments. Challenges included a limited program capacity to serve all potential clients and bottlenecks in the intake/assessment process. Recommendations are made to improve the implementation of the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent and past studies (King III report, 2009: 73-75; Stoney 2007; Committee of Sponsoring Organisation-COSO, 2004, Bartell, 2003; Liebenberg and Hoyt, 2003; Reason, 2000; Markowitz 1957) lament that although, the introduction of quantifying risk to enhance degree of objectivity in fi nance for instance was quite parallel to its development in the manufacturing industry, it is not the same in Higher Education Institution (HEI). In this regard, the objective of the paper was to demonstrate the methods and process of Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA) through likelihood of occurrence of risk (phase I). This paper serves as fi rst of a two-phased study, which sampled hundred (100) risk analysts in a University in the greater Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The analysis of likelihood of occurrence of risk by logistic regression and percentages were conducted to investigate whether there were a signifi - cant difference or not between groups (analyst) in respect of QRA. The Hosmer and Lemeshow test was non-signifi cant with a chi-square (X2 =8.181; p = 0.300), which indicated that there was a good model fi t, since the data did not signifi cantly deviate from the model. The study concluded that to derive an overall likelihood rating that indicated the probability that a potential risk may be exercised within the construct of an associated threat environment, the following governing factors must be considered: (1) threatsource motivation and capability (2) nature of the vulnerability (3) existence and effectiveness of current controls (methods and process). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of late, uniformity in cocoon size and shape has been realized to be an important requirement in silkworm hybrid evaluation. The amount of time and energy spent on this particular trait reflects the growing importance of this parameter. The present paper makes a critical revisit to the procedure followed and the formula used for determining the uniformity in cocoon size in a given sample. Two distinctly different samples of cocoons were taken for the purpose. One sample had apparently uniform cocoons, whereas the other had cocoons of uneven sizes. Adoption of the existing procedure indicated that the sample with cocoons of uneven sizes to be more uniform than the other. This proved that the existing procedure suffers from mathematical error as cocoons are conceived to be two dimensional regular shaped objects rather than three dimensional irregular shaped objects. Taking the third dimension of the cocoon into account, the paper proposes a new mathematical approach to calculate uniformity of cocoons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many applications, the underlying scientific question concerns whether the variances of k samples are equal. There are a substantial number of tests for this problem. Many of them rely on the assumption of normality and are not robust to its violation. In 1960 Professor Howard Levene proposed a new approach to this problem by applying the F-test to the absolute deviations of the observations from their group means. Levene's approach is powerful and robust to nonnormality and became a very popular tool for checking the homogeneity of variances. This paper reviews the original method proposed by Levene and subsequent robust modifications. A modification of Levene-type tests to increase their power to detect monotonic trends in variances is discussed. This procedure is useful when one is concerned with an alternative of increasing or decreasing variability, for example, increasing volatility of stocks prices or "open or closed gramophones" in regression residual analysis. A major section of the paper is devoted to discussion of various scientific problems where Levene-type tests have been used, for example, economic anthropology, accuracy of medical measurements, volatility of the price of oil, studies of the consistency of jury awards in legal cases and the effect of hurricanes on ecological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Cave Automated Virtual Environments (CAVEs) in design has been well documented over many years. CAVEs often involve expensive, state-of-the-art hardware and software precluding their widespread use. This paper presents the prototyping of a portable, easy-to-use, Non-expensive Automated Virtual Environment (NAVE) test bed that allows experiments to be conducted within Virtual Environments (VEs). Using commercially available authoring software, a testing prototype was created that allows users to dynamically change a number of factors. Hardware has been adapted that allows these factors to be tested, using a Wii controller, data projectors/monitors or head-mounted displays (HMDs), wireless headphones, buttons, and foot pads. A NAVE system has been created that can be rapidly deployed, and allows users to either fly, walk-in-place or walk around a limited area, with varying levels of immersion. Based on the system, this paper also investigates a user's ability to perceive audio sources in a 3D environment with varying Fields-of-View (FOV). The experimental design of the study and the results are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a very generally accepted view that financial support received from the European Union generates a large growth surplus. The potential effects of the structural funds calculated in model simulations carried out by the European Commission support these positive expectations. However empirical studies of the real effects of the funds are few and far between measuring the growth surpluses attributed to the process of catching up with richer EU economies. The aim of the present paper is to remedy this contradiction, on the following logical basis. First of all the paper examines the processes and types of evaluation that have developed in the EU; it then examines some of the lessons to be drawn concerning the methods of analysis through a closer look of case studies, model simulations and econometric analyses employed. We can state that examinations based on computable general equilibrium models and input-output analyses predict greater growth effects than studies using regression analysis. This is primarily due to the fact that while the results of the model simulations estimate an upper limit for the expected effects -- the result that is to be expected if the funds are used appropriately and efficiently --, the results of the econometric analyses reflect the imperfections of real events. The estimates from the first type of study are expected to be higher than the estimates of the second. The differences are not necessarily inconsistent. Rather, the various results are complementary: the potential impact can be set against the actual impact. To bridge the gap is of course the challenge of future reforms of cohesion policy. The conclusion that emerges is that the regional policy intentions are only partly realised, for various reasons, including the crowding out effect of the financial aid, rentseeking behaviour and the moral hazard of the governments involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the interrelationship between learners' listening strategy use across listening ability, and learning style. A sample of 101 Taiwanese university EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students was surveyed with two structured penciland-paper questionnaires of listening strategy use (O'Malley et al. 1985; Vandergrift 1997) and learning style (Willing 1988; Nunan 1996). First, with the one-way between groups analysis of variance (ANOVA), the results suggested that there was a statistically significant difference between the strategy use and the attainment levels at the p< .05 level. Second, the findings also suggested that listening strategy use was significantly associated with learning styles (Sig. p< .05). Finally, the aim of this article was to throw some light on a little-investigated area, namely, listening comprehension strategies and learning style in L2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes process and control interaction in multivariable two-input two-output processes. It is well known that the off-diagonal terms in the matrix transfer functions introduce interaction effects that are to be taken into account at the controller design stage. When decentralized control is to be used, it is of primary importance to have knowledge of the constraints imposed by local designs into the behavior of the overall system. Special attention has to be paid to the potential instability caused by interaction effects generated by the control action on the other loop. This paper provides an analysis by means of an interaction measure defined in terms of the joint effect of process and control interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism is the property of Termedia Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There are three strategies by which the accuracy of classification can be improved after the imagery that will be used for the classification has been chosen. These are to improve the definition of the class decision surfaces, to maximize the between class distances, and to reduce the within class variances. This paper reports on work done to investigate the relationship between classification accuracy and within class variances, where generally accepted measures of accuracy derived from the Confusion Matrix are used as the indicators of classification accuracy. This paper shows that the within class variances are a function of image resolution, and it provides a mechanism based on the Average Local Variance (ALV) function to find the resolution that will yield the highest relative within field classification accuracy by minimizing the within class variances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to determine comparability of an online version to the original paper-pencil version of Defining Issues Test 2 (DIT2). This study employed methods from both Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Item Response Theory (IRT). Findings from CTT analyses supported the reliability and discriminant validity of both versions. Findings from IRT analyses confirmed that both versions had comparable power of test-of-fit to the Rasch model. However, IRT analyses found that there were some variations in item difficulties and the patterns of item functions between the two versions. The study also examined students' satisfaction of DIT2-taking experience in the two survey response modes. The ANOVA results indicated that the online version of DIT2 was comparable to the paper-pencil version in terms of ease of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is the final in the series on unidimensional unfolding. The investigations of Kyngdon (2006b) and Michell (1994) were extended to include direct probabilistic tests of the quantitative and ordinal components of unfolding theory with the multinomial Dirichlet model (Karabatsos 2005); and tests of the higher order axiomatic conjoint measurement (ACM, Krantz, Luce, Suppes and Tversky (KLST) 1971) condition of triple cancellation. Strong Dirichlet model support for both the ordinal and quantitative components of unfolding was only found in datasets that satisfied at least double cancellation. In contrast, the Item Response Theory (IRT) simple hyperbolic cosine model for pairwise preferences (SHCMpp, Andrich 1995) fitted all datasets. The paper concluded the SHCMpp is suited to the instrumental rather than scientific task (Michell 2000) of psychological measurement; with the caveat of the problematic chi square fit statistic. The paper also presents original work by the second author on coherent tests of triple cancellation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mathématiques & Sciences Humaines is the property of Editions du CNRS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper a novel feature extraction scheme has been suggested for offline signature verification. The proposed method used geometric center for feature extraction. Euclidean distance model was used for classification. This classifier is well suitable for features extracted and fast in computation. Method proposed in this paper leads to better results than existing offline signature verification methods. Threshold selection is based on statistical parameters like average and standard deviation (σ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to determine if vocational rehabilitation counselors who completed two graduate courses in psychiatric rehabilitation could improve their knowledge and skills related to psychiatric vocational rehabilitation, and to determine if the Psychiatric Vocational Rehabilitation Knowledge and Skills Inventory was a reliable instrument. Based on an analysis of variance with repeated measures, it was determined that there were changes in the understanding of the impact of psychiatric disabilities on the rehabilitation process, career development skills, partnership skills with consumers and teams and employment services over time. The paper also provides a description of the course curricula, instructional methods, student assignments used and the implications of the project results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper seeks to analyze and reduce productivity losses due to change orders. It consists of two parts. For the first section, literature on quantification of productivity losses was scanned and several hypotheses regarding the sources of productivity losses due to changes were developed. These hypotheses were then tested with the collected data using appropriate techniques. For the second section, the current database was divided into three parts, which are small-, medium- and large-sized projects. These projects were also classified as impacted and unimpacted quantitatively. The questions in survey forms were then modeled as independent variables in the database. The analyses of variance (ANOVA) was run separately for each variable to check if there is any statistical difference between impacted and unimpacted projects. Interpretations on significant variables are also provided. The paper defines the most important variables that bring higher disruptions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In mixed tolerant hardwood—white pine stands of Southwestern Quebec, the effects of group selection cutting on eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.), red oak (Quercus rubra L.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) regeneration are compared to the currently used single-tree selection cutting. The experimental design, initiated in 1998, comprised three cover reduction treatments (circular gap (45 m, 1590 m²)), 25% and 35% single-tree selection cutting), two scarification treatments (scarified and non-scarified) and two seeding treatments for white pine (seeded and non-seeded). The effect of white pine seed predation was studied in the gaps and the adjacent understory, with exclosures for small mammals. After three years, scarification had a positive effect on white pine, yellow birch and paper birch regeneration but also on aspen (Populus spp.) and pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica L.f.) in the three cover reduction treatments. Red oak regeneration was negatively affected by scarification. Shade-tolerant species (sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.)) tended to be less present in the regeneration gaps than in the single-tree selection cutting. Considering that white pine seed predation can be critical in mixed tolerant hardwood—white pine stands, a greater rate of seeding is recommended for direct seeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on learning which emphasizes experience among discovery learning schemes. Knowledge gained by experience is clearly stable compared with learning acquired by simple symbol manipulations. Thus, realizing a learning environment supporting discovery learning using virtual reality (VR) technology is attempted. The VR technology has many characteristic functions and can provide an interactive learning environment with a high degree of freedom which is required in supporting discovery learning which relies on experience. In this paper, considering applications to curriculum education, in which discovery learning is performed frequently, a framework of a virtual learning environment (VLE), which is a learning environment, integrating the functions of a VR environment and an ITS environment is proposed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 33(7): 61–72, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.1142 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egocentered networks are common in social science research. Here, the unit of analysis is a respondent (ego) together with his/her personal network (alters). Usually, several variables are used to describe the relationship between egos and alters.In this paper, the aim is to estimate the reliability and validity of the averages of these measures by the multitrait–multimethod (MTMM) approach. This approach usually requires at least three repeated measurements (methods) of the same variable (trait) for model identification. This places a considerable burden on the respondent and increases the cost of data collection.In this paper, we use a split ballot MTMM experimental design, proposed by Saris (1999), in which separate groups of respondents get different combinations of just two methods. The design can also be regarded as having a planned missing data structure. The maximum likelihood estimation is used in the manner suggested by of a confirmatory factor analysis model for MTMM-designs specified in . This procedure is applied to social support data collected in the city of Ljubljana (Slovenia) in the year 2000. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study evaluated the effects of cutting dentin with different types of burs on tensile bond strength using three self-etching primer bonding systems (Clearfil Liner Bond 2 [LB2], Clearfil Liner Bond 2V [2V] and Clearfil SE BOND [SE], Kuraray, Co, Ltd, Osaka, Japan). Thirty-six intact extracted human third molars were ground fiat to expose occlusal dentin, followed by polishing the dentin surfaces with #600 SiC paper. The teeth were divided into four groups according to bur type and grit: fine cut fissure steel bur (SB600), cross cut fissure steel bur (SB703), regular grit diamond bur (DB). Controls were abraded with #600 grit SiC paper (AP#600). The dentin surfaces of the SB600, SB703 and DB groups were cut under copious air-water spray with the respective burs mounted in a dental handpiece. The teeth were treated with one of three adhesive systems, then composite buildups were created with Clearfil AP-X (Kuraray Co, Ltd, Osaka, Japan). After soaking in water at 37°C for 24 hours, serial vertical sections (0.7 mm thick, 7-8 slices per one tooth) were made, trimmed to form an hour-glass shape with a 1.0 mm² cross-section and tensile bond strengths were determined at a cross-head speed of 1 mm/min. Statistical analysis was made using one and two-way ANOVA and Fisher's PLSD test (p<0.05). Eight additional molars were prepared. Burs or abrasive paper were used for SEM observations of the dentin surfaces of each group before and after treatment with the self-etching primers. All adhesive systems yielded the same ranking of bond strengths to the surfaces prepared with different abrasives: from highest to lowest, AP#600 > SB600 > SB703 > DB. This ranking reached statistical significance using Clearfil Liner Bond 2V (p<0.05). Therefore, when cutting dentin, selecting the adequate bur type is important for improved bonding of adhesive systems using self-etching primer to dentin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to define a simple model and discuss the main effects of the use of the sensors with imperfect mounting in experimental measurements. This paper presents a theoretical and experimental investigation into the effects of different mounting methods of accelerometers on signal transmissibility in modal testing. In the theoretical part, a 2-Degree-Of Freedom (2-DOF) model is used, where the first DOF accounts for the accelerometer seismic mass and Piezo-crystal and the second DOF represents the mounting interface dynamics. An experimental modal analysis is conducted on a simple steel free-free beam using impact hammer excitation. The time domain signals and Frequency Response Functions (FRFs) are measured in the cases of magnet, wax, and stud mounting. It is found that the method of mounting has a significant effect on damping rates of measured responses. Although natural frequencies undergo no important changes, the quality of measured FRFs is degraded considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response styles can influence item responses in addition to a respondent's latent trait level. A common concern is that comparisons between individuals based on sum scores may be rendered invalid by response style effects. This paper investigates a multidimensional approach to modeling traits and response styles simultaneously. Models incorporating different response styles as well as personality traits (Big Five facets) were compared regarding model fit. Relationships between traits and response styles were investigated and different approaches to modeling extreme response style (ERS) were compared regarding their effects on trait estimates. All multidimensional models showed a better fit than the unidimensional models, indicating that response styles influenced item responses with ERS showing the largest incremental variance explanation. ERS and midpoint response style were mainly trait-independent whereas acquiescence and disacquiescence were strongly related to several personality traits. Expected a posteriori estimates of participant's trait levels did not differ substantially between two-dimensional and unidimensional models when a set of heterogeneous items was used to model ERS. A minor adjustment of trait estimates occurred when the same items were used to model ERS and the trait, though the ERS dimension in this approach only reflected scale-specific ERS, rather than a general ERS tendency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the simplest variant of analysis of variance is under consideration. Three examples from textbooks by Lakin (1990) and Rokitsky (1973) were re-considered. It was obtained that traditional one-way ANOVA and Kruskal - Wallis criterion can lead to unreal results about factor's influence on value of characteristics. Alternative way to solution of the same problem is under consideration too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low levels of civic engagement and social trust in post-communist countries constitute an important limitation to national economic growth and the well-being of inhabitants. In the current paper we propose that discovering local history should result in greater place attachment which constitutes a viable strategy for stimulating indicators of social capital. Specifically, we tested the influence of teaching local history on the development of interest in history, place attachment, and civic engagement. Two intervention studies ( N 1 = 486; N 2 = 1098) confirmed that young people who learned about local history displayed increased interest in that history, greater place attachment, civic engagement intentions, and generalized social trust. We also demonstrate the relevance of place attachment as a link between greater interest in local history and increased civic engagement. The importance of stimulating youth civic engagement and generalized social trust are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourists' photographs can serve as a rich database for researchers wishing to study tourists' perceptions and attitudes towards destinations. Such data can also be useful in examining how tourists behave, where, when, with whom and why. Many researchers favour the qualitative analysis of such data, which requires the use either of relatively small numbers of photographs or a considerable expense of researcher time and effort to undertake. Much of this process is speculative, in that it involves working with variables which may or may not prove to be significant in addressing the hypotheses chosen for the research. This paper recommends the use of a preliminary phase of research in which a quantitative approach is used to reduce the number of variables needing to be coded. Canonical variate analysis is suggested as an appropriate tool for achieving this. Case study results are presented to demonstrate the utility of this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A long positioning range and a high first natural frequency are the two most important quality responses of a compliant focus positioning platform (CFPP). This paper aims to develop a hybrid Taguchi-cuckoo search (HTCS) algorithm to optimize overall the quality responses, simultaneously. The CFPP is designed via using flexure hinges. The length, width, and thickness of flexure hinges are considered as design variables. The Taguchi’s L 16 orthogonal array is used to establish the experimental layout and the S/N ratios of each response are computed. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) is computed to investigate the effect of design parameters on the quality responses. Results of ANOVA are then utilized to limit the search space of design parameters that serves as initial population for the cuckoo search meta-heurist algorithm. The results showed that the HTCS algorithm is more effective than DE, GA, PSO, AEDE, and PSOGSA. The CFPP enables a long positioning range of 188.36 μm and a high frequency response of 284.06 Hz. The proposed HTCS approach can effectively optimize the multiple objectives for the CFPP and would be useful technique for related optimization problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with studying and modeling static friction coefficient (SFC) and dynamic friction coefficient (DFC) of wheat grain as affected by several treatments. Significance of single effect (SE) and dual interaction effect (DIE) of treatments (moisture content and contact surface) on SFC and, SE, DIE, and triple interaction effect (TIE) of treatments (moisture content, contact surface and sliding velocity) on DFC were determined using statistical analysis methods. Multiple linear regression (MLR) modeling was employed to predict SFC and DFC on different contact surfaces. Predictive ability of developed MLR models was evaluated using some statistical parameters (coefficient of determination ( R 2 ), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean relative deviation modulus (MRDM)). Results indicated that significant increasing DIE of treatments on SFC was 3.2 and 3 times greater than significant increasing SE of moisture content and contact surface, respectively. In case of DFC, the significant increasing TIE of treatments was 8.8, 3.7, and 8.9 times greater than SE of moisture content, contact surface, and sliding velocity, respectively. It was also found that the SE of contact surface on SFC was 1.1 times greater than that of moisture content and the SE of contact surface on DFC was 2.4 times greater than that of moisture content or sliding velocity. According to the reasonable average of statistical parameters ( R 2 = 0.955, RMSE = 0.01788 and MRDM = 3.152%), the SFC and DFC could be successfully predicted by suggested MLR models. Practically, it is recommended to apply the models for direct prediction of SFC and DFC, respective to each contact surface, based on moisture content and sliding velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the current technological explosion, the arrival of Web 2.0 and the growth of ICTs, designers’ tools can be understood and used by novice users. With this statement in mind, and considering previous works that claim that team-working enhances creativity, the present paper reports on an experiment conducted to test whether a large group of creative people organised in a Virtual Learning Community are able to produce a Graphic Design with a satisfactory level of creativity starting from an almost complete lack of knowledge on the discipline, where a “satisfactory level of creativity” is understood as being that level which can be achieved by an individual with specific knowledge in the subject working in isolation. The results were assessed by means of an adapted questionnaire based on the CPSS taxonomy, and statistically analysed using ANOVA. The conclusions appear to reinforce the idea that virtual team-working enhances creativity, but the lack of specific competence training can be discerned by an expert eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand a theme park's tourism carrying capacity (TCC), this paper proposes a conceptual framework that classifies the determinants of theme park TCC across three levels: fundamental determinants, mediating determinants, and direct determinants. The authors empirically tested a portion of the framework from the demand side by surveying 1356 visitors at a theme park in China. PLS path modeling, one-way ANOVA, linear regression, and multi-group moderation tests were used to analyze the impacts of attendance from a visitor perspective, day perspective, and visitor perspective at different attendance levels. Results indicate that theme park attendance either directly and/or indirectly affects visitors' experience, satisfaction, and behavioral intention. Theme park attendance also moderates the effects of visitors' experience on visitor satisfaction and behavioral intention, all of which determine a theme park's TCC. Corresponding management practices are recommended based on these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we first review some important aspects of asset allocation for some typical large Social Security Reserve Funds (SSRFs) in the world. Then we present the mean-variance model with CVaR constraints as asset allocation methodology. Concerning the real circumstance in China, we apply the model to pension fund asset allocation. The empirical results show that to maintain purchase power of pension fund, certain proportion should be invested in stocks as well as direct equity investments. We also find that time horizon significantly influence asset allocation of pension fund. If time horizon is longer, more allocations to stocks and equity investments help the pension fund to achieve better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The study investigated library and information science students' motivations for and experiences with electronic database searching. Method. Data were gathered through a self-administered print survey in May 2014 among undergraduate and graduate library and information science students at three Croatia's state universities. Analysis. Quantitative analysis was conducted on 209 correctly completed questionnaires using the SPSS statistical package. Besides descriptive statistics, Chi-Square tests, T-tests, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney Test and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to test possible differences between the groups in the sample. Statistical difference was tested at the level of 95%. Results. Almost all respondents indicated that they obtained electronic database training at university, but only slightly more than a half think that they are good or very good at searching this source of information. Although the majority of respondents indicated that they are intrinsically motivated to use electronic databases, they reported a more frequent use of Google than electronic databases when writing academic papers. Among the main barriers related to electronic database use respondents reported limited access to databases from home, the habit of using Google when searching for information either for private or academic purposes and difficulties with understanding the language (English) of publications available in databases. Conclusion. The results of the study could be used by university teachers and librarians when organizing their electronic resources, promoting their use and preparing information literacy classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. This research in progress paper explores the organisational information sharing practices of the millennial generation. Although information sharing practices by these digital natives within large organizations are important and will only become more so, there is still a distinct lack of theoretical and empirical research to explain how exactly they share information and the congruence of their practice with organisational systems Method. A social constructivist and qualitative perspective is taken and the methodological and analytical framework for the study will use activity theory taking information sharing practices as the activity system(s) within the large multinational organization setting. Techniques and methods including semi-structured interviews, observations, think-aloud and document analysis will be used to investigate the case setting. Analysis. Data analysis will be conducted within Nvivo using techniques drawn from grounded theory to help to build understanding. Results. It is expected that there will be areas where the information sharing practices of the Millennials will differ from those of older generations. This mismatch is likely to mean that systems designed for and by older workers will cause tensions and contradictions in the information sharing practice of the Millennials. Conclusions. The research aims to identify areas where the information sharing practices of large multinational organizations may need to be adapted (or may have been adapted informally) to meet the information behaviours of the millennial generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Managing information sharing in organizations requires an understanding of information behaviour at several levels. The aim of this short paper is to add the generational approach to the understanding of workplace information sharing. Method. A survey was conducted in a multinational organization (n=237) to explore different factors affecting workplace information sharing and learning. Analysis. An ANOVA F test was carried out to analyse possible generational differences in workplace information sharing activities and attitudes. Results. The findings show that generational factors are not a straightforward predictor of differences in information sharing practices in the workplace. Some differences were found concerning information consciousness and information sending activities. Conclusion. The preliminary results indicate some generational differences in information sharing practices and attitudes. Further studies need to be done using a mixed-methods approach to get a more nuanced picture of inter-and intragenerational differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative of fuzzy-based sliding mode control is reported in this paper so as to reduce chattering for a two degrees-of-freedom (2-DOF) platform driven by electro-pneumatic actuators. According to surface function values, a Mamdani fuzzy inference system is introduced to change the control action over the actuators and the slope of sliding surface to minimize chattering. In addition, although pneumatic actuators present high nonlinearities, experimental results are reported with attenuation of chattering and convergence toward the reference, in spite of the existence trade off between accuracy and system behavior for sliding mode controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve broadband energy harvesting, this paper proposes a two-degree-of-freedom piezoelectric energy harvesting system with stoppers. The synergy of the multi-modal technique and the nonlinearity feature benefits the wideband energy harvesting. First, the mechanism of the proposed system is described and the electromechanical model is developed. Subsequently, investigations of the effect of the presence of stoppers on the energy harvesting performance are carried out and compared to a linear 2-DOF counterpart. The impact-induced nonlinear dynamics is characterized by two parameters: the stopper distance and the stopper stiffness. A parametric study is performed to investigate the influence of these two parameters on the voltage output in terms of bandwidth and magnitude. Finally, to reconcile the demands of both operating bandwidth and the amplitude of output voltage, optimized stopper distance and stiffness have been recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper to fill a gap in the literature on "leadership" in Arab schools, which are part of a patriarchal society, specifically on the issues of principal gender and acceptance of his or her authority. Previous studies have argued that attitudes toward the school principal's role are related to culture and social structure. However, those studies did not take into account the effects of employee gender on acceptance of a male or female principal's authority. Teachers (N = 240) from 10 Arab elementary schools in northern Israel participated in this study. The Analysis of Variance -ANOVA revealed differences between teachers' genders in the acceptance of their principals' authority. Men and women teachers' perceptions concerning acceptance of a man principal's authority were more positive than those of men teachers accepting authority from a women principal. When the principal was a man, men and women tended to accept his authority to a similar degree; when the principal was a woman, women tended to accept her authority more than men. We further improved and validated a specific measure of authority acceptance, by exploratory factor analysis-EFA and Confirmatory factor analysis-CFA. Implications and considerations related to gender differences are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representatives from the nuclear safeguards evaluator and analytical communities are engaged in discussions on approaches to uncertainty quantification (UQ) concerning measurements taken for safeguards purposes. Their objective is to bring together an understanding of the approaches applied in each domain and to clarify the intended purpose of each. UQ in nuclear safeguards evaluation is primarily concerned with monitoring uncertainty of measurement systems at facilities under comprehensive safeguards agreements so that a material balance evaluation (MBE) can be conducted and the material unaccounted for (MUF) can be assessed for significance against that quantified uncertainty. A second objective of nuclear safeguards evaluators is the decennial publishing of the International Target Values (ITVs). To accomplish each of these, in many cases (and in the case we consider), analysis of variance (ANOVA) methods are applied to paired operator-inspector verification measurements in order to estimate variance components, assuming the simplest defensible measurement error model. The analytical chemistry community, which includes members of the network of analytical laboratories (who provide sample analysis results to safeguards evaluators for verification and MBE purposes) as well as producers of reference materials, is also concerned with UQ as it pertains to an analytical method. Following modern best practices, they typically appeal to the GUM (bottom-up) principles and/or reproducibility studies (top-down) to estimate the error variances of an analytical method. Guidance on top-down and bottom-up approaches to UQ of analytical methods is provided in multiple international standards, which include, but are not limited to: JCGM 100, JCGM 200, ISO 5725, and ISO 21748. In support of this current effort to reconcile UQ paradigms, this paper discusses the statistical underpinnings of each approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates timetabling visualizations – timetables, transport timetables, multi-project schedules. These visualizations present an allocation of system resources. The visualization of high-school timetable demonstrates a timetable of student groups. The visualization of transport timetable shows arrivals/departs across stations and lines. The visualization of multi-project schedule includes Gantt chart and an allocation of system resources. These visualizations are provoked a new approach to timetable optimization. The timetabling problems can be solved efficiently by two-stage algorithm developed in database system. The first, a set of demands must be developed as initial timetable. A set of local and global resources are available for carrying out the activities of the systems. The solutions obtained by the first stage algorithm with the best resource allocation rule are used as a baseline to compare those obtained by the latter. The second, the initial timetable must be optimized. The basic criterion for optimization operations is demanded as criterion of resource equability. The latter is equal a root-mean-square deviation from a middle value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual impact assessment (VIA) concerns the identification and evaluation of the potential impacts that a proposed activity might have on the visual quality of a landscape and makes an important contribution to decision making in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) context. Visibility analysis is often used to assist in determining these impacts through a variety of approaches employing different techniques and data inputs. This paper identifies the visibility analysis approaches often used in VIA practice by reviewing a sample of VIA reports representing eleven (11) countries. The identified approaches were then evaluated for accuracy across differing landscapes through a total of 72 simulations. Analysis of variance was used to determine the sensitivity of the identified approaches to different variables within different landscape contexts. The type of digital elevation model (DEM) used was found to be the most significant variable affecting accuracy across all landscapes, while the technique used had some significance and resolution little significance. • Type of DEM used has a significant impact on the accuracy of visibility analysis results across all landscapes. • DEM choice has a significant effect on accuracy with DSM resulting in the most accurate results across all landscapes. • The technique used showed some significance while resolution had no significant impact on accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated cost overruns and delays in Qatari public construction projects. An extensive review of regional and international publications was conducted to get a better understanding of the problem and the various methodologies that were used to analyze it. The data that was collected from Qatar public work authority ASHGHAL included 122 public road, building, and drainage projects. ANOVA method was used for data analysis and inference. A regression analysis was also conducted to establish the relationships between project contract prices and cost overruns and to develop prediction models for estimating cost overruns. Two linear regression models were developed for predicting cost overruns for building and drainage public projects, respectively. Cost overruns for building projects increased with contract prices. On the other hand, cost overruns for drainage projects decreased with increasing contract prices. A significant effort was spent in collecting data on cost overruns and delays in public construction projects. However, data confidentiality did allow the collection of enough data to ensure the robustness of the developed regression prediction models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this quantitative enquiry was to evaluate the performance of children with deafness in class one who had attended an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program for two years in Government Special Education Schools for Hearing Impaired Children (GSESHIC) in Punjab. The third phase of Robert Stake's Countenance Model was taken for the evaluation purpose. The province of the Punjab was divided into four zones. A sample of 37 (50%) children with deafness (Zone I= 12 children; Zone II= 12 children; Zone III=7 children; Zone IV=6children) who had been promoted to class one were randomly selected. Achievement tests on reading (Urdu & English), writing (Urdu & English), mathematics, speech and speech reading (Urdu & English) were prepared on the basis of syllabus of K.G.II, and following the pattern of sample question papers of four schools for hearing impaired children (one school from each zone). The tests were validated by a panel of five experts in the deaf field. The tests were administered in schools after seeking prior consent of the school heads. The test results were analyzed using ANOVA and post hoc test of multiple comparisons. A significant difference was found in the mean scores of reading recognition test (Urdu & English), speech reading test (Urdu & English), and speech test in the GDDHS in Zone IV from those in Zone I, Zone II, and Zone III. Similarly, the results of ANOVA and post hoc comparisons showed a significant difference in the mean scores of writing test (Urdu), writing test (English), and Mathematics test in the GSESHIC in Zone IV from those in the other three zones. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations to Punjab Special Education Department were made for the improvement of (ECSE) program for young children with deafness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing impact of human activities, water conservation has become a primary aim of environmental management policies. In this context, fish biodiversity represents a good measure of water quality because changes in ecological factors involve qualitative modifications in species composition. For this reason, the analysis of the interaction between biodiversity and environmental characteristics becomes crucial. This paper aims to analyse the effects of habitat and seasonality on fish biodiversity in freshwater environments. In particular, we applied functional data analysis to the beta diversity profile. The proposed approach allows us to overcome the limitations of the classical biodiversity indices, highlighting its multidimensional aspect. More in detail, our research focuses on the functional data analysis of variance in order to quantify the effects exerted on a functional observation by some factors. This model is applied to a real data set concerning ichthyic biodiversity of 104 streams in the province of Arezzo (Central Italy). We consider first the fish zonation and then the seasonality as factors; the results show that species diversity fluctuates seasonally whereas the zonation has no significant effect in influencing the biodiversity. Our proposal is a powerful tool for the analysis of the relationship between qualitative variables and a functional response. Since the diversity profile is a function of the relative abundance vector in a fixed domain, this method is particularly suited to the beta profile and it could be very helpful to monitor or to identify areas of high environmental risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to explain the variance of housing prices as a function of macroeconomic fundamentals. The analysis is based on data from six advanced countries. The sample range is from 2001-2012. A panel regression procedure is applied to the data set. The findings suggest that house prices can be interpreted as a function of macroeconomic variables. These macroeconomic variables include percentage real GDP growth, the current account and first differences in the current account as a percent of GDP, first differences in the imbalance between investment and savings, and the public debt as a percent of GDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a memory-based version of gravitational search algorithm (MBGSA) to improve the beamforming performance by preventing loss of optimal trajectory. The conventional gravitational search algorithm (GSA) is a memory-less heuristic optimization algorithm based on Newton’s laws of gravitation. Therefore, the positions of agents only depend on the optimal solutions of previous iteration. In GSA, there is always a chance to lose optimal trajectory because of not utilizing the best solution from previous iterations of the optimization process. This drawback reduces the performance of GSA when dealing with complicated optimization problems. However, the MBGSA uses the overall best solution of the agents from previous iterations in the calculation of agents’ positions. Consequently, the agents try to improve their positions by always searching around overall best solutions. The performance of the MBGSA is evaluated by solving fourteen standard benchmark optimization problems and the results are compared with GSA and modified GSA (MGSA). It is also applied to adaptive beamforming problems to improve the weight vectors computed by Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (MVDR) algorithm as a real world optimization problem. The proposed algorithm demonstrates high performance of convergence compared to GSA and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There is a relationship between the Logistics Performance Index and the selected factors in the Global Competitiveness Index. • LPI - an interactive comparative analysis tool has been used. • A linear regression model that measured some GCI components' influence has been used. • The ANOVA method was used to conduct the study for Africa, Asia, and the EU. • The paper finds the three clusters are related to higher efficiency and are essential for improving the logistics performance index. • The extensive range of factors might affect logistics sector performance in both geography and stage of development. This paper analyses the impact of strategic sub-components of the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) on the Logistics Performance Index (LPI). As a hypothesis, it is assumed that there is a relationship between the LPI and selected factors in GCI, which were grouped into three clusters: infrastructure, human factor, and institutions. The purpose is to investigate which of those groups has the most significant impact on the LPI - an interactive comparative analysis tool created by the World Bank that addresses logistics issues in a broad context against world regions' development or countries' economies. For this purpose, the LPI was used as the dependent variable, while a linear regression model measured some GCI components' influence. The study was conducted for Africa, Asia, and the EU, employing the ANOVA method. The paper finds the three clusters are related to higher efficiency. While the new method shows these clusters are essential for improving the logistics performance index, an extensive range of factors might affect logistics sector performance in both geography and stage of development. In Europe, human factor is far more critical for progressively improving the LPI, while necessary infrastructure remains crucial in Asia. All three factors are central to Africa's logistics development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques exist for the analysis of social networks, but to date the inferential methods have been limited to the comparison of one network to its hypothesized population parameters (analogous to a one-sample t-test), or the comparison of multiple relational structures measured on the same group of actors (analogous to a correlation coefficient). In this paper, we explore techniques for comparing network structures when each network comprised an entirely different set of actors (analogous to a two-sample t-test or a between-subjects analysis of variance). Such methods for between-group comparisons are critical in theory testing, where a researcher varies an experimental factor for the purposes of studying its impact on some dependent variable (e.g. the resulting network structure). This ability to test the significance of manipulated factors (like ANOVA) would provide another important means by which social network analyses would be an aid to researchers. We propose several such statistical methods for comparing network interactions. There are many areas of substantive research in which groups are examined under different operating conditions, and it seems reasonable to study these inter-related actors as players in a network, and test the significance of the factors that had been experimentally manipulated, thereby capitalizing on the strengths of both network analyses and the logic of analysis of variance and experimental design. In this paper, we illustrate our proposed methods on data representing coalitions formed under different experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores two methods for analyzing sociometric data measured on several relations observed at several points in time. The multirelational, sequential data nay be represented in a four-dimensional actors × partners × relations × time points super-sociomatrix. One current means of analyzing such data would be the multivariate, sequential model extensions of log-linear models for relational data. These methods are briefly reviewed in this paper. Because super-sociomatrices can be quite large, these methods are not always practical. In this paper, we seek alternative methods for analyzing such complicated data sets that may be more feasible. In particular, we explore two methods. The first method proposed as an alternative to analyzing such super-sociomatrices is an application of a four-mode eigenvector model. The second proposed alternative method is an analysis of variance applied to parameter estimates from simple log-linear network models. These methods are described in detail and then applied to two real data sets: the relations in a monastery (Sampson 1968), and the friendship ties among a set of college students (Newcomb 1963). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we propose a method to generalize a one-dimensional edge feature extractor to two dimensions and clarify its properties for edges close to each other (i.e., multiple edges). Previously we stated the necessity of a measure that can discriminate a clear edge with small edge height from a noisy edge with large edge height. Then we proposed that the edge features be viewed as a composition of edge height and edge reliability, based on the analysis of variances within a window around the edge. From this analysis, we constructed an edge feature extractor in 1D. In this paper we generalize our 1D edge feature extractor to a 2D vectorized edge extractor and prove that it can calculate an edge orientation and edge height accurately and also can reduce computation time. Experiments demonstrate this clearly. The same vectorization technique is also applicable to the Canny operator. In multiple edges cases, we derive the conditions for calculating accurate edge locations. Since most edge detection methods use local maxima of the edge height function to detect edge points, we find the conditions by differentiating the edge height function. © 1998 Scripta Technica, Syst Comp Jpn, 28(10): 20–29, 1997 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method of constructing a multilayered neural network, using the multiple logistic model (MLM). The model is a nonlinear multivariate analysis considering the output logistic function of each unit, which is used in the back- propagation method (BP). The idea can be applied directly to the determination of the multilayered neural network structure. The model can also be utilized as a systematic method to introduce such information as pattern distribution into the neural network structure. Considering the speaker-independent vowel recognition as the problem, this paper compares the results by the proposed method (MLM), the construction by the linear multiple regression analysis (MRA), the learning by BP with the weight being defined at random as the initial value, and the learning by BP with the initial weight determined by MLM or MRA. It is seen as a result that the recognition rate is the best when BP is applied after introducing the speaker distribution information by the proposed method. It is seen also that the computation time is reduced compared with the BP, with the initial weight being defined at random. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]