Magnitude Estimation

the intensities or differences. In contrast, in comparative judgment procedures, including magnitude estimation, which are more typical and widely used in contemporary psychophysics, subjects are asked to compare the intensities (or other properties, e.g., pitch) of stimuli. Thus, they are asked to perform a kind of subjective measurement of physical stimuli or the sensations provoked by them . This difference motivates our interest in the informational characteristics of comparative judgments, since they need not be the same as, or even similar to, those of absolute judgments. Procedures for examining the informational properties of comparative judgments have been developed by and applied to judgments of visual area by A. Fulgosi, Lugomer, and Lj. Fulgosi (1980, 1986). When subjects judged visual areas with input information of 4 bits, transmitted information was 2.3 bits for ratio estimation, 2.9 bits for category judgment, and 2.9 bits for magnitude estimation. In one study (A. Fulgosi et al., 1980) it was found that the amount of transmitted information in different sensory systems was about 3 bits, considerably less than the input information, suggesting a restriction in the form of channel capacity. On the basis of the informational aspects of quantitative judgments, developed a new objective psychophysics in which sensory systems are characterized by their efficiency in extracting intensity information from physical processes. The basic measurement units in this psychophysics are objectively defmedintensity bits and a corresponding number of intensity Reprint requests should be directed to: Ante Fulgosi, Odsjek za psihologiju, Filozofski fakultet, 41000 Zagreb, Yugoslavia.

The objective of this study was to develop pitanga nectar formulations in which sucrose was replaced with different sweeteners. Consumer tests were conducted with 50 fruit juice consumers, and a just-about-right scale was used to determine the ideal pulp dilution and ideal sweetness with sucrose. Furthermore, the adequate concentrations of six sweeteners were determined to obtain the equivalent sweetness of sucrose using relative to these concentrations the magnitude estimation model with 19 selected assessors. The ideal dilution test resulted in 25% pulp, and the ideal sweetness test, 10% sucrose. Sweetener concentrations to replace sucrose were 0.0160%, 0.0541%, 0.1000%, 0.0999%, 0.0017%, and 0.0360%, respectively, for sucralose, aspartame, stevia 40% rebaudioside A, stevia 95% rebaudioside A, neotame, and a 2:1 cyclamate/saccharin blend. These results can be used to prepare pitanga nectar with different sweeteners and obtain the same sweetness intensity in less caloric products than that of nectar prepared with sucrose.

Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) is a theory that modifies Newton's force law to explain observations that most astronomers interpret as evidence for dark matter. Observations of 1E 0657-558, two colliding galaxy clusters known colloquially as the "Bullet Cluster," offer the best evidence against MOND and MOND-like theories and some of the best evidence for dark matter. We present herein an overview of the theory of MOND and its success at explaining certain observations as well as the Bullet Cluster and its case against MOND. Contents 1 Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) 3

The performance of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems degrades greatly when speech is corrupted by noise. Missing feature methods attempt to reduce this degradation by deleting components of a time-frequency representation of speech (such as a spectrogram) that exhibit low signal-to-noise ratio During the course of this thesis I have accumulated a great debt of gratitude to a great many people: My advisor, Richard Stern, who has been immensely supportive and has guided me through every problem I've encountered with patience, wisdom, and knowledge, and who has been the single greatest influence on this thesis, My friends Pedro and Evandro, who have been there for me at various times of doubt, both materially and in spirit, Rita, who I was forever turning to for her insights into my problem and for clarification of concepts, Uday and Vipul, whose company and ready wit lightened many a heavy hour at work, Ravi Mosur and Eric Thayer, formerly of the speech group in CMU, who developed the sphinx recognition system, and have always been forthcoming with their advice and help on matters related to the system, My friends from an earlier life -Krishnan, who taught me all I know about speech recognition, Chakra, who gave me my first lessons on professionalism, Alok, who taught me to question the most mundane of statements, and Saravanan, who taught me to appreciate the meaning of mathematical symbols, Mike, Carol, and Jon, who helped me greatly in arranging my defense, Dr. Jordan Cohen, Dr. John Hampshire, and Dr. Raj Reddy, for being kind enough to serve on my thesis committee, Many others who space, time, and memory will not permit me to list individually -To all these people I owe the body of this thesis. But my greatest debt of gratitude is to those pillars of my life, who have believed in me, supported me, encouraged me, and have been there for me at every bend of the road, every day of my life: my parents and my sister. To them I owe the soul of this thesis, and the soul of every other thesis that might have been had I chosen a different walk in life.

Electrocutaneous magnitude estimation functions were generated by stimuli ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 rnA and from 100 to 6,400 msec in duration. The results indicate that when these functions are fitted by a two-parameter power function (ME = alb), the values of the constant, a, and the exponent, b, are altered by increases in stimulus duration, with a increasing and b decreasing. The exponent decreases from around 1.4 to 0.93 as duratiog increases from 100 to 6,400l-lsec. Equal magnitude estimation contours drawn for estimates ranging from "2" to

Electrocutaneous magnitude estimation functions were generated by stimuli ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 rnA and from 100 to 6,400 msec in duration. The results indicate that when these functions are fitted by a two-parameter power function (ME = alb), the values of the constant, a, and the exponent, b, are altered by increases in stimulus duration, with a increasing and b decreasing. The exponent decreases from around 1.4 to 0.93 as duratiog increases from 100 to 6,400l-lsec. Equal magnitude estimation contours drawn for estimates ranging from "2" to

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Models for surface gravity wave propagation in the presence of currents often assume the current field to be quasi-stationary, which implies that the absolute wave frequency is time invariant. However, in the presence of unsteady currents or time-varying water depth, linear wave theory predicts a time variation of the absolute wave frequency (and wavenumber). Herein, observations of wave frequency modulations from a large-scale laboratory experiment are presented. In this case, the modulations are caused by both unsteady depths and unsteady currents due to the presence of low-frequency standing waves. These new observations allow a unique and detailed verification of the theoretical predictions regarding variations in the absolute wave frequency. In addition, analytic solutions for the variations in frequency and wave height induced by the unsteady medium are found through a perturbation analysis. These solutions clarify the dependency of the wave frequency/wave height modulations o...

A novel Functional Model Based Method for fault detection, localization, and magnitude estimation is introduced. The method is based upon a new class of stochas- tic functional models, which are capable of accurately representing the structure in a faulty state for its continuum of fault magnitudes, along with interval estimation and formal statistical hypothesis testing procedures. The method's effectiveness is

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In external possession constructions with a PP-embedded body part, the possessor can be dative or accusative-marked (e.g. ihm/ihn in die Nase beisen ‘bite him (DAT/ACC) in the nose’). Drawing on a preliminary corpus search and typological findings concerning general tendencies of encoding possessors (Lehmann et al. 2004), we explain this variation from both a semantic/ pragmatic/functional and a formal syntactic perspective. We also give an account of the internal (possessive pronoun) option (in seine Nase beisen ‘bite in his nose’) and the marginal but possible “doubly marked” possessor option (ihm/ihn in seine Nase beisen ‘bite him (DAT/ACC) in his nose’).

We elucidate and somewhat extend Bardeen's gauge-invariant formalism for calculating the growth of linear gravitational perturbations in a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmological background. We show that the formalism can be derived from the usual gravitational Lagrangian, by variation with respect to a restricted set of metric perturbation functions. This approach produces a natural decomposition of an arbitrary matter field (whose constitutive equations need not resemble the usual cosmological perfect fluid) into a spatially homogeneous piece, which couples to the background metric, plus a spatially inhomogeneous piece, which is not necessarily small and which is the source term in a second-order differential equation which evolves the gauge-invariant metric perturbation potential. We show how the complete perturbed metric can be reconstructed in arbitrary gauge from the single gauge-independent metric potential, so that the evolution of the matter fields can be concurrently calculated in the usual manner (i.e., in a perturbed coordinate frame). The approach of this paper is designed to be particularly suited to the study of fluctuations generated by classical scalar or gauge fields in "inflationary" cosmological models.

BeppoSAX observations of the nearby archetypical starburst galaxies NGC253 and M82 are presented. Spectral analysis shows that the 2-10 keV spectra of both galaxies, extracted from the central 4 regions, are best fitted by a thermal emission model with kT ∼ 6-9 keV and metal abundances ∼ 0.1-0.3 solar. The spatial analysis yields clear evidence that this emission is extended in NGC 253, and possibly also in M82. These results clearly rule out a LLAGN as the main origin of the X-ray emission in NGC 253. For M82, the presence of an Fe-K line at ∼ 6.7 keV, and the convex profile of its 2-10 keV continuum, indicate a significant thermal component. Contributions from point sources (e.g. X-ray binaries, supernova remnants, and/or a LLAGN) and Compton emission are also likely. Altogether, BeppoSAX results provide compelling evidence for the existence of a hot interstellar plasma in both galaxies, possibly in the form of superwind outflows from the disks of these galaxies. Order-of-magnitude estimates and some implications, such as the expelled mass and the energetics of the outflowing gas of this superwind scenario, are discussed. These new results also suggest some similarity between the X-ray emission from these galaxies and that from the Galactic Ridge.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) integratesand collects data for use in calibration of seismic detection, location, and identification. Calibration data is collected by 1) numerous seismic field efforts, many conducted under NNSA (ROA) and DTRA (PRDA) contracts, and 2) permanentseismic stationsthatare operated by national and internationalorganizations. Local-network operators and ihtemational organizations (e.g. InternationalSeismic Center) provide location and other source characterization(collectively referred to as source parameters)to LLNL, or LLNL determinesthese parametersfi-om raw data. For each seismic event, LLNL rigorously characterizesthe uncertaintyof source parameters. This validation process is used to identi~events whose source parametersare accurate enough for use in calibration.

This is a collaborative study involving three institutions to investigate the feasibility of employing regional codawave amplitude measurements in multiple narrow pass bands for the purpose of discriminating small, regionally recorded seismic events. The motivation comes from previous studies that have shown that regional, single-station coda-magnitude estimates are more stable and accurate than any direct phase measure to date (e.g., Mayeda et al., 2003a,b). Typically, the source amplitude estimates derived from the coda have inter-station variances on the order of 0.07 log amplitude units; hence the method is excellent for regions with sparse station coverage. The method has been tested over large geographic regions spanning both local and regional distances for the purpose of magnitude estimation (e.g.,

The Natural Resources Authority of Jordan (NRA), the USGS and LLNL have a collaborative project to improve the calibration of seismic propagation in Jordan and surrounding regions. This project serves common goals of CTBT calibration and earthquake hazard assessment in the region. These objectives include accurate location of local and regional earthquakes, calibration of magnitude scales, and the development of

Direct comparisons of sensory or hedonic perceived intensities across individuals are impossible since we cannot share experiences. However, experiences can be compared indirectly if we can identify a standard assumed to be equal, on average, to groups compared. Sensory standards (i.e., magnitude matching) have proved very useful. Intensity adjectives/adverbs have also been used as standards (e.g., This tastes very strong to me; is it very strong to you?). We argue these labels often refer to experiences of different absolute intensity to the groups of interest making the comparisons invalid. An early solution rested on the assumption that the maximum intensity perceivable was equal for all sensory domains and individuals. Comparisons were then possible because all judgments could be made on a zero to maximum scale. We present data showing this assumption is not true.

Aims. The nearby galaxy clusters Abell 496 and Abell 85 are studied in the very high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) band to investigate VHE cosmic rays (CRs) in this class of objects which are the largest gravitationally bound systems in the Universe. Methods. HESS, an array of four imaging atmospheric cherenkov telescopes (IACT), was used to observe the targets in the range of VHE gamma rays. Results. No significant gamma-ray signal is found at the respective position of the two clusters with several different source size assumptions for each target. In particular, emission regions corresponding to the high-density core, to the extension of the entire X-ray emission in these clusters, and to the very extended region where the accretion shock is expected are investigated. Upper limits are derived for the gamma-ray flux at energies E > 570 GeV for Abell 496 and E > 460 GeV for Abell 85. Conclusions. From the non-detection in VHE gamma rays, upper limits on the total energy of hadronic CRs in the clusters are calculated. If the cosmic-ray energy density follows the large-scale gas density profile, the limit on the fraction of energy in these non-thermal particles with respect to the total thermal energy of the intra-cluster medium (ICM) is 51% for Abell 496 and only 8% for Abell 85 due to its higher mass and higher gas density. These upper limits are compared with theoretical estimates. They predict about ∼10% of the thermal energy of the ICM in non-thermal particles. The observations presented here can constrain these predictions especially for the case of the Abell 85 cluster.

We demonstrate in terms of group velocities and surface amplitude displacements, that the vertical and longitudinal component of the Lg wave can be identified with higher Rayleigh modes for crustal sources. Low velocity layers in the crust are not required for the existence of Lg waves. Li could be used as a sufficient but not necessary discriminant for structures containing a low velocity channel in the upper mantle. Analogous group velocity and amplitude reasoning applies to Rg waves generated by crustal shocks; such waves are associated with the fundamental mode. Also, in this case, the existence of low velocity zones in the crust is not required. Lg, Rg propagate in structures with and without a low velocity channel in the upper mantle.

Predictive process monitoring is concerned with the analysis of events produced during the execution of a process in order to predict the future state of ongoing cases thereof. Existing techniques in this field are able to predict, at each step of a case, the likelihood that the case will end up in an undesired outcome. These techniques, however, do not take into account what process workers may do with the generated predictions in order to decrease the likelihood of undesired outcomes. This paper proposes a framework for prescriptive process monitoring, which extends predictive monitoring approaches with concepts of alarms, interventions, compensations, and mitigation effects. The framework incorporates a parameterized cost model to assess the cost-benefit tradeoffs of applying prescriptive process monitoring in a given setting. The paper also outlines an approach to optimize the generation of alarms given a dataset and a set of cost model parameters. The proposed approach is empirically evaluated using a range of real-life event logs.

Mean field dynamo theory deals with various mean quantities and does not directly throw any light on the question of existence of flux tubes. We can, however, draw important conclusions about flux tubes in the interior of the Sun by combining additional arguments with the insights gained from solar dynamo solutions. The polar magnetic field of the Sun is of order 10 G, whereas the toroidal magnetic field at the bottom of the convection zone has been estimated to be 100?000 G. Simple order-of-magnitude estimates show that the shear in the tachocline is not sufficient to stretch a 10 G mean radial field into a 100?000 G mean toroidal field. We argue that the polar field of the Sun must get concentrated into intermittent flux tubes before it is advected to the tachocline. We estimate the strengths and filling factors of these flux tubes. Stretching by shear in the tachocline is then expected to produce a highly intermittent magnetic configuration at the bottom of the convection zone. T...

The purpose of this study was (1) to determine the relationship between acoustic measures and auditory-perceptual dimensions of overall voice severity and pleasantness and (2) to evaluate the ability of acoustic and auditory-perceptual measures to discriminate normal from dysphonic voices. Thirty adult dysphonic speakers and six, age-matched normal control speakers were asked to provide oral reading samples of the Rainbow Passage. Acoustic analysis of the speech samples was used to identify abnormal phonatory events associated with dysphonia. The acoustic program calculated long-term average spectral measures, glottal noise measures, and those measures based on linear prediction (LP) modeling. Twelve adult listeners judged overall voice severity and pleasantness from the connected speech samples using direct magnitude estimation (DME) procedures. The acoustic measures accounted for 48% of overall voice severity and 40% of voice pleasantness for dysphonic speakers. The classification performance of the acoustic measures and auditory-perceptual measures was quantified using logistic regression analysis. When acoustic measures or auditory-perceptual measures were considered in isolation, classification was generally accurate and similar across measures. Classification accuracy improved to 100% when acoustic and auditory-perceptual measures were combined. These data provide further support for use of both auditory-perceptual evaluation and acoustic analyses for classifying and evaluating dysphonia.

The purpose of this study was (1) to determine the psychophysical character of auditory-perceptual ratings of voice pleasantness (VP) and voice acceptability (VA) for tracheoesophageal (TE) speakers using direct magnitude estimation (DME) and equal-appearing interval (EAI) scaling procedures and (2) to determine the relationship between listeners' ratings of VP and VA. Ten adult listeners judged overall VP and VA from connected speech samples produced by 20 adult male TE speakers. Although results yielded a prothetic continuum for VP and a metathetic continuum for VA, the amount of variance accounted for by a curvilinear model of VP was minimally more than that accounted for by a linear model. Results also revealed a significant relationship between VP and VA (r ϭ 0.939). Findings from this study do not suggest any greater validity associated with VP and VA ratings obtained by the DME than the EAI method. As a result of the significant relationship between these ratings and to the ease of applying EAI scales, it is recommended that VA be used as a current clinical outcome measure. These data illustrate the need to identify attributes that best describe TE speech that are measured appropriately and are clinically useful.

This project builds a unique historic database of regional distance nuclear explosion, earthquake, and mine-related digital broadband seismograms. The emphasis is on data from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)managed stations MNA, ELK, KNB and LAC that recorded many nuclear tests and nearby earthquakes in broadband digital form since 1980. We also include data from other open broadband stations in the western United States with long operating histories and/or ties to the International Monitoring System (IMS) (e.g. PFO, YKA, CMB, NEW, DUG, ANMO, TUC). These waveforms are associated with a reconciled catalog of events and station response information to facilitate analysis. The goal is to create a high-quality database that can be used in the future to analyze fundamental regional detection, location, magnitude, and discrimination issues.

This quarter involved considerable efforts in helping people run the so-called "Cut-And-Paste" code for determining local short events. We worked closely with our DOE partners, Arthur Rodgers at LLNL and Chandan Saikia at AFTAC. This code is now being used routinely. We also prepared a paper for the 29 th Monitoring Research Review, see abstract.

The statistical properties of seismicity are known to be affected by several factors such as the rheological parameters of rocks. We analysed the earthquake double-couple as a function of the faulting type. Here we show that it impacts the moment tensors of earthquakes: thrust-faulting events are characterized by higher double-couple components with respect to strike-slip- and normal-faulting earthquakes. Our results are coherent with the stress dependence of the scaling exponent of the Gutenberg-Richter law, which is anticorrelated to the double-couple. We suggest that the structural and tectonic control of seismicity may have its origin in the complexity of the seismogenic source marked by the width of the cataclastic damage zone and by the slip of different fault planes during the same seismic event; the sharper and concentrated the slip as along faults, the higher the double-couple. This phenomenon may introduce bias in magnitude estimation, with possible impact on seismic forec...

A pure nuclear-quadrupole-resonance study of the temperature dependence of the chlorine nuclear relaxation times in the concentrated paramagnet K2IrC16 is reported. It is shown that three different relaxation mechanisms contribute to the observed spin-lattice relaxation times. For temperatures less than 40 K, Tj is dominated by the hyper6ne interaction between the chlorine nuclear spins and the electron spins of the Ir4+ ions. At 4.2'K, the isotopic ratio of TI values is measured to be 1.47&0.03, in good agreement with the theoretical ratio 1.442 for a magnetic relaxation mechanism. For temperatures greater than 40 K, two quadrupole relaxation mechanisms which result from torsional oscillation and hindered rotational motions of the (IrClzj' complexes about their symmetry axes become important, the hindered-rotation mechanism dominating the relaxation at the highest temperatures studied. The echo amplitudes were observed to decay exponentially with time; they provided temperature-independent and rather short spin-spin relaxation times. The explanation is that the resonance line is substantially narrowed by the presence of the strong electron-exchange interaction and has a width determined by the hyper6ne interaction. It is shown that the low-temperature T& value depends only on the hyperfine parameter 8, whereas the T2 value depends only on hyperf inc parameter A, a behavior which results from the large asymmetry of the transferred hyper6ne interaction in PIrClef' ions. Using a value of the exchange parameter jt aken from EPR and magneticsusceptibility measurements, hyperf inc parameters A =1.62&&10 ' cm ' and 8 =3,86)&10 ' cm ' are deduced from the measured relaxation rates. These values are believed to provide better than order of magnitude estimates of the true hyperfine parameters.

There is a growing interest both in identifying the neural mechanisms of magnitude estimation and in identifying forms of bias that can explain aspects of behavioral syndromes like unilateral neglect. Magnitude estimation is associated with activation of temporo-parietal cortex in both cerebral hemispheres of normal subjects; however, it is unclear if and how left hemisphere lesions bias magnitude estimation because the infrequency of neglect and the presence of aphasia in these subjects confound examination. In contrast, we examined magnitude estimation using 12 different types of sensory stimuli that spanned five sensory domains in two patients with very different clinical presentations following unilateral left hemisphere stroke. One patient had neglect sub-acutely without aphasia. The other had aphasia chronically after a temporo-parietal lesion but not neglect. The neglect patient was reexamined 48 h after being treated with modafinil (Provigil) for decreased arousal. Both patients demonstrated bias in magnitude estimation relative to normal subjects (n = 83). Alertness improved in the neglect patient after taking modafinil. His neglect also resolved and his magnitude estimates more closely resembled those of normal subjects. This is the first evidence, to our knowledge, that left hemisphere injury can bias magnitude estimation in a manner similar but not identical to that associated with right hemisphere injury.

Crossover refers to a pattern of performance on the line bisection test in which short lines are bisected on the side opposite the true center of long lines. Although most patients with spatial neglect demonstrate crossover, contemporary theories of neglect cannot explain it. In contrast, we show that blending the psychophysical construct of magnitude estimation with neglect theory not only explains crossover, but also addresses a quantitative feature of neglect that is independent of spatial deficits. We report a prospective validation study of the orientation/estimation hypothesis of crossover. Forty subjects (17 patients with and without neglect following unilateral brain injury and 23 normal controls) completed four experiments that examined crossover using line bisection, line bisection with cueing, and reproducing line lengths from both memory and a standard. Replicating earlier findings, all except one subject group exhibited crossover on the standard line bisection test, all...

There are standardised methods of predicting the vibration discomfort of a seated person caused by translational and rotational vibration at the seat pan, the backrest, and the support for the feet. However, the predictions are based on various assumptions that have not been fully investigated. This study was designed to determine how the discomfort caused by pitch oscillation depends on seating conditions (with and without a backrest). For a rigid seat with and without a rigid flat backrest, 15 subjects judged the discomfort caused by pitch oscillation over the frequency range 0.5 to 5 Hz at magnitudes in the range 0.05 to 5.0 rad.s-2 r.m.s. The rate of growth of discomfort varied between frequencies and depended on whether the backrest was present, so the relative discomfort between frequencies and the effect of the backrest on discomfort depended on the magnitude of vibration. Although the appropriate frequency weighting depends on the magnitude of vibration, at frequencies less than about 1 Hz, the discomfort caused by pitch oscillation is similar with and without a backrest, whereas at frequencies greater than about 1 Hz a backrest will tend to increase the discomfort caused by pitch oscillation.

The present paper investigates the biases of estimates of change point and change magnitude after CUSUM test. By assuming that the change point is far from the beginning and the in-control average run length of samples is large, second order approximations for the biases of both estimates are obtained by conditioning on detection, and biases of both estimates are very significant. Simulation studies show the approximations to be quite accurate in the case of detecting an increase in mean or variance when sampling from a normal distribution. The results demonstrate the fundamental differences between fixed sample size test and sequential test.

Road signs are the elements of roads with a lot of influence in driver-s behavior. So that signals can fulfill its function, they must overcome visibility and durability requirements, particularly needed at night, when the coefficient of retroreflection becomes a decisive factor in ensuring road safety. Accepting that the visibility of the signage has implications for people-s safety, we understand the importance to fulfill its function: to foster the highest standards of service and safety in drivers. The usual conditions of perception of any sign are determined by: age of the driver, reflective material, luminosity, vehicle speed and emplacement. In this way, this paper evaluates the different signals to increase the safety road.

The statistical properties of seismicity are known to be affected by several factors such as the rheological parameters of rocks. We analysed the earthquake double-couple as a function of the faulting type. Here we show that it impacts the moment tensors of earthquakes: thrust-faulting events are characterized by higher double-couple components with respect to strike-slip- and normal-faulting earthquakes. Our results are coherent with the stress dependence of the scaling exponent of the Gutenberg-Richter law, which is anticorrelated to the double-couple. We suggest that the structural and tectonic control of seismicity may have its origin in the complexity of the seismogenic source marked by the width of the cataclastic damage zone and by the slip of different fault planes during the same seismic event; the sharper and concentrated the slip as along faults, the higher the double-couple. This phenomenon may introduce bias in magnitude estimation, with possible impact on seismic forec...

At present, the performance of sustainable technologies in buildings is generally not assessed holistically, but rather from a primarily single issue perspective, e.g., only financially or environmentally. Such an approach is limited in that it ignores the interaction of the technologies within the physical facility itself as expressed through life cycle costs, the impact on the surrounding environment, design objectives of the project and its stakeholders whose value systems may conflict. This work identifies the primary cause-and-effect relationships of selected sustainable building technologies and illustrates elements of a framework for the systematic assessment of their performance from an environmental, social, economic, and technical perspective. Rooftop garden technology is used to demonstrate application of the framework. The primary goal of this work is to improve the understanding and decision-making capabilities of the building industry and government when faced with decisions regarding investment and policy regarding sustainable building technologies. A secondary goal is to identify knowledge gaps in our understanding of sustainable technologies.

At present, the performance of sustainable technologies in buildings is generally not assessed holistically, but rather from a primarily single issue perspective, e.g., only financially or environmentally. Such an approach is limited in that it ignores the interaction of the technologies within the physical facility itself as expressed through life cycle costs, the impact on the surrounding environment, design objectives of the project and its stakeholders whose value systems may conflict. This work identifies the primary cause-and-effect relationships of selected sustainable building technologies and illustrates elements of a framework for the systematic assessment of their performance from an environmental, social, economic, and technical perspective. Rooftop garden technology is used to demonstrate application of the framework. The primary goal of this work is to improve the understanding and decision-making capabilities of the building industry and government when faced with decisions regarding investment and policy regarding sustainable building technologies. A secondary goal is to identify knowledge gaps in our understanding of sustainable technologies.

We propose the use of Amplitude-Modulation Frequency-Modulation (AM-FM) methods for tree growth analysis. Tree growth is modeled using phase modulation. For adapting AM-FM methods to different images, we introduce the use of fast filterbank filter coefficient computation based on piecewise linear polynomials and radial frequency magnitude estimation using integer-based Savitzky-Golay filters for derivative estimation. For a wide range of images, a simple filterbank design with only 4 channel filters is used. Filterbank specification is based on two different methods. For each input image, the FM image is estimated using dominant component analysis. A tree growth model is developed to characterize and depict quarterly and half-seasonal growth of trees using instantaneous phase. Qualitative evaluation of inter-and intraring reconstruction is performed on 20 aspen images and a mixture of 12 tree images of various types. Qualitative scores indicate that the results were mostly of good to excellent quality (4.4/5.0 and 4.0/5.0 for the two databases, resp.).

Subjects in two experiments immersed a hand and forearm in ice water (cold pressor test) for 60 sec and gave magnitude estimates of pain every 5 sec. Forty subjects immersed an arm for three trials in Experiment 1, and 60 subjects immersed an arm for two trials in Experiment 2. Linear, power, or additive constant functions fitted the data almost equally well. Exponents of the two-constant power function differed from those of the additive constant function. Individual differences in exponents were marked, but various psychological manipulations aimed at reducing pain failed to affect the exponents. The utility of power functions to describe cold pressor pain has yet to be determined.

In two experiments we examined the relation between hypnotic and placebo analgesia using ischemic pain. The first experiment examined an artifact in a previously used ischemic pain stimulus. Experiment 2 investigated the relation between hypnotic and placebo analgesia using a submaximum effort tourniquet technique to produce ischemic pain. High-and low-susceptible subjects received hypnotic and placebo analgesia in counterbalanced order. High-susceptible subjects who received placebo analgesia followed on a subsequent trial by hypnotic analgesia showed significant increases in tolerance from placebo to hypnotic analgesia. When presented in the reverse order, however, placebo analgesia and hypnotic analgesia led to equivalent levels of tolerance in both highand low-susceptible subjects. A similar pattern of findings emerged for subjects' magnitude estimates of pain, but it was not related to hypnotic susceptibility. These findings indicate that both hypnotic and placebo analgesia may be contextually dependent phenomena. One of the oldest and most consistently cited explanations for the placebo effect equates placebo analgesia with suggestibility

In two experiments we examined the relation between hypnotic and placebo analgesia using ischemic pain. The first experiment examined an artifact in a previously used ischemic pain stimulus. Experiment 2 investigated the relation between hypnotic and placebo analgesia using a submaximum effort tourniquet technique to produce ischemic pain. High-and low-susceptible subjects received hypnotic and placebo analgesia in counterbalanced order. High-susceptible subjects who received placebo analgesia followed on a subsequent trial by hypnotic analgesia showed significant increases in tolerance from placebo to hypnotic analgesia. When presented in the reverse order, however, placebo analgesia and hypnotic analgesia led to equivalent levels of tolerance in both highand low-susceptible subjects. A similar pattern of findings emerged for subjects' magnitude estimates of pain, but it was not related to hypnotic susceptibility. These findings indicate that both hypnotic and placebo analgesia may be contextually dependent phenomena. One of the oldest and most consistently cited explanations for the placebo effect equates placebo analgesia with suggestibility

Subjects in two experiments immersed a hand and forearm in ice water (cold pressor test) for 60 sec and gave magnitude estimates of pain every 5 sec. Forty subjects immersed an arm for three trials in Experiment 1, and 60 subjects immersed an arm for two trials in Experiment 2. Linear, power, or additive constant functions fitted the data almost equally well. Exponents of the two-constant power function differed from those of the additive constant function. Individual differences in exponents were marked, but various psychological manipulations aimed at reducing pain failed to affect the exponents. The utility of power functions to describe cold pressor pain has yet to be determined.

The application o f a system o f measurement itruciures fo r category-rating and magnitude scales is tested with regard to numerous sensory and social judgment scales. Results indicate that, on the average, category-rating scales yield interval scales and multimodality matching scales yield logarithmic interval scales. How ever, marked interindividual differences are detected, pointing to different capabil ities subjects have in coping with both methods. It Is asked, therefore, how suboptimal scale quality affects the results o f parameter estimation in structural equation models in which judgment scales serve as indicator variables. Based on a general psychophysical judgment model it is shown that the measurement theoreti cal properties o f magnitude scales o f individual respondents account for large proportions o f the variation o f estimated coefficients and o f goodness offit. For category-rating scales the effects scale properties have on parameter estimation cannot be determined because o f nonhomogeneous judgment functions.

With the implementation of a real‐time strong‐motion network by the Central Weather Bureau (CWB), an earthquake early warning (EEW) system has been developed in Taiwan. In order to shorten the earthquake response time, a virtual sub‐network method based on the regional early warning approach was utilized at first stage. Since 2001, this EEW system has responded to a total of 225 events with magnitude greater than 4.5 occurred inland or off the coast of Taiwan. The system is capable of issuing an earthquake report within 20 sec of its occurrence with good magnitude estimations for events up to magnitude 6.5. Currently, a P‐wave method is adopted by the CWB system. Base on the results from 596 M ≥ 4.0 earthquakes recorded by the real‐time strong‐motion network, we found that peak displacement amplitudes from initial P waves (Pd) can be used for the identification of M ≥ 6.0 events. Characteristic periods τc and τpmax of the initial P waves can be used for magnitude determination with ...

This dissertation investigates the distribution of Iron Range English (IRE) reflexives, using judgments collected in a Magnitude Estimation task (Bard et al 1996), and presents a phase-based analysis for their distribution. IRE reflexives (e.g., himself) can corefer with nominal expressions outside their minimal clause in subject or object position. Coreference with an expression outside the minimal clause is not acceptable in two environments: (i) if there is an intervening subject that does not match the reflexive for person (c.f., Blocking Effects in Mandarin) or (ii) if the reflexive is in an island. The distribution of IRE reflexives is unexpected because generally only monomorphemic reflexives behave this way (Pica 1987). Complex reflexives that behave this way, such as Malay diri-nya 'himself/herself' (Cole & Hermon 2003) and Turkish kendi-sin 'himself/herself' (Kornfilt 2001), are shown to have pronominal qualities. IRE reflexives do not have pronominal qualities since they exhibit Blocking Effects and island effects. Therefore, they are true long-distance reflexives. Blocking and island effects provide evidence that the reflexive undergoes raising to [Spec, CP], as is suggested for long-distance reflexives in other languages (e.g., Katada 1991). From the [Spec, CP] position, the reflexive is able to corefer with a nominal expression in a higher clause, in accordance with the Phase Impenetrability Condition (Chomsky 2001). Two processes are needed to account for the distribution of IRE longdistance reflexives (c.f., Cole & Wang 1996) since the set of expressions that are potential antecedents and the set of expressions that trigger Blocking Effects are not the same: a reflexive can corefer with a subject or an object, but only subjects trigger Blocking Effects. I posit that reflexives have a [VAR] feature that must be valued by a ccommanding nominal expression within the same phase via Agree, extending Hicks' (2009) analysis of English anaphors. Agree accounts for coreference and offers an inherent c-command relationship between the antecedent and reflexive. I account for Blocking Effects by considerably modifying Hasegawa's (2005) analysis for English anaphors. I suggest that a [+multi] feature on T licenses the reflexive and requires that the reflexive and the subject Agree for person. v Table of Contents List of Tables.

A psychophysical experiment was conducted to evaluate the interior design alternatives of a highspeed train. Preference of each design alternative was quantitatively measured by using the magnitude estimation technique. Subsequent analyses showed that (1) passenger seats should be able to be arranged in the moving direction of a train, (2) a variety of interior convenience facilities, especially, an audio facility, should be provided to enhance passenger comfort and (3) the design requirements suggested by young passengers could improve the overall preference level. In addition, guidelines for collecting, standardizing, and analyzing the data are suggested when the magnitude estimation technique is used. The use of psychophysical data is expected to be very useful when it is necessary to make engineering decisions based on quantitative preference data.

A new mechanism of thermalization involving a direct energy cascade is obtained in the truncated Gross-Pitaevskii dynamics. A long transient with partial thermalization at small-scales is observed before the system reaches equilibrium. Vortices are found to disappear as a prelude to final thermalization. A bottleneck that produces spontaneous effective self-truncation and delays thermalization is characterized when large dispersive effects are present at the truncation wavenumber. Order of magnitude estimates indicate that self-truncation takes place in turbulent Bose-Einstein condensates. This effect should also be present in classical hydrodynamics and models of turbulence.

We undertake a systematic, direct numerical simulation (DNS) of the two-dimensional, Fourier-truncated, Gross-Pitaevskii equation to study the turbulent evolutions of its solutions for a variety of initial conditions and a wide range of parameters. We find that the time evolution of this system can be classified into four regimes with qualitatively different statistical properties. First, there are transients that depend on the initial conditions. In the second regime, power-law scaling regions, in the energy and the occupation-number spectra, appear and start to develop; the exponents of these power-laws and the extents of the scaling regions change with time and depended on the initial condition. In the third regime, the spectra drop rapidly for modes with wave numbers k > k c and partial thermalization takes place for modes with k < k c ; the self-truncation wave-number k c (t) depends on the initial conditions and it grows either as a power of t or as log t. Finally, in the fourth regime, complete-thermalization is achieved and, if we account for finite-size effects carefully, correlation functions and spectra are consistent with their nontrivial Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless forms.