In some survival analysis of medical studies, there are often long term survivors who can be considered as permanently cured. The goals in these studies are to estimate the cure probability of the whole population and the hazard rate of the noncured subpopulation. The existing methods for cure rate models have been limited to parametric and semiparametric models. More specifically, the hazard function part is estimated by parametric or semiparametric model where the effect of covariate takes a parametric form. And the cure rate part is often estimated by a parametric logistic regression model. We introduce a non-parametric model employing smoothing splines. It provides non-parametric smooth estimates for both hazard function and cure rate. By introducing a latent cure status variable, we implement the method using a smooth EM algorithm. Louis' formula for covariance estimation in an EM algorithm is generalized to yield point-wise confidence intervals for both functions. A simple model selection procedure based on the Kullback-Leibler geometry is derived for the proposed cure rate model. Numerical studies demonstrate excellent performance of the proposed method in estimation, inference and model selection. The application of the method is illustrated by the analysis of a melanoma study. / Ph. D.

This paper compares two technologies, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Virtual Private Network (VPN). PKI and VPN are two approaches currently in use to resolve the problem of securing data in computer networks. Making this comparison difficult is the lack of available data. Additionally, an organization will make their decision based on circumstances unique to their information security needs. Therefore, this paper will illustrate a method using a utility function and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine which technology is better under a hypothetical set of circumstances. This paper will explain each technology, establish parameters for a hypothetical comparison, and discuss the capabilities and limitations of both technologies. / Master of Arts

Child maltreatment impacts approximately one in seven children in the United States, leading to many adverse outcomes throughout life. Adolescence is a time period that is critical for the development of self-regulation, as it is when the prefrontal cortex is actively developing. Existing research demonstrates the numerous adverse effects maltreatment may have on self-regulation, which encompasses executive function and emotion regulation abilities. However, there is little research examining how abuse and neglect may differently affect the developmental trajectories of executive function and emotion regulation throughout adolescence and into young adulthood. In the current study, 167 adolescents participated approximately annually at six time points, from ages 14 to 20. At each of the six time points, adolescents completed three executive function tasks as well as self-report questionnaires on their emotion regulation abilities and strategies. Information on maltreatment experienced from ages 1 to 13 was collected when the adolescents were approximately 18 to 20 years of age. Conditional growth curve models were utilized to test the differential effects of abuse and neglect on the growth trajectories of executive function abilities and emotion regulation difficulties and strategy use. The results revealed that neglect was associated with developmental changes in working memory abilities, such that greater amounts of neglect were associated with slower increases in working memory abilities across ages 14 to 20. Further, abuse was associated with developmental changes in difficulties in emotion regulation abilities, such that greater amounts of abuse were associated with larger increases in difficulties in emotion regulation abilities from ages 14 to 20. Finally, neglect was associated with the initial level (at age 14) of difficulties in emotion regulation abilities, such that greater levels of neglect were associated with higher initial levels of difficulties in emotion regulation abilities as compared to individuals with lesser amounts of experienced neglect. These findings suggest that working memory development during adolescence into young adulthood may be more vulnerable to childhood neglect and that both abuse and neglect in childhood may have adverse impacts on the development of emotion regulation abilities. / M.S. / Child maltreatment impacts approximately one in seven children in the United States, leading to many adverse outcomes throughout life. Adolescence is a time period that is critical for the development of self-regulation, which encompasses executive function and emotion regulation abilities. Existing research demonstrates the numerous adverse effects maltreatment may have on self-regulation. However, there is little research examining how abuse and neglect may differently affect the developmental trajectories of executive function and emotion regulation throughout adolescence and into young adulthood. In the current study, 167 adolescents participated approximately annually at six time points, from ages 14 to 20. At each of the six time points, adolescents completed three executive function tasks as well as self-report questionnaires on their emotion regulation abilities and strategies. Information on maltreatment experienced from ages 1 to 13 was collected when the adolescents were approximately 18 to 20 years of age. The results revealed that greater amounts of neglect were associated with slower increases in working memory abilities across ages 14 to 20. Further, greater amounts of abuse were associated with larger increases in difficulties in emotion regulation abilities from ages 14 to 20. Finally, neglect was associated with difficulties in emotion regulation abilities at age 14, such that greater levels of neglect were associated with higher levels of difficulties in emotion regulation abilities at age 14 compared to individuals with lesser amounts of experienced neglect. These findings suggest that working memory development during adolescence into young adulthood may be more vulnerable to childhood neglect and that both abuse and neglect in childhood may have adverse impacts on the development of emotion regulation abilities.

Wang Mei. / "July 2002." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 208-233). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

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Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-12-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:50:17Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 nacbar_dr_me_bauru.pdf: 1169690 bytes, checksum: c7a661675601c87b8e63ac301a1c144c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / São calculadas e analisadas as funções de Wannier de localização máxima para elétrons em cristais unidimensionais. Essas funções formam uma base apropriada para descrever estados eletrônicos em materiais sólidos. Para cristais com simetria de inversão é utilizado o método desenvolvido por Bruno-Alfonso e Hai [J. Phys: Condensed Matter 15, 6701 (2003)]. Cada banda de energia é classificada segundo a simetria das funções de Bloch nos pontos 'gama' e 'qui' da zona de Brillouin. Para cada classe de banda a fase das funções de Bloch é escolhida para que as funções de Wannier tenham localização máxima. A simetria da últimas é determinda pelo tipo de banda. São apresentados resultados analíticos e numéricos para o modelo de Kronig-Penney obtidos através da técnica da matriz de transferência e do método tight binding. Posteriormente, apresenta-se um novo procedimento para calcular funções de Wannier de localização máxima em cristais sem simetria de inversão. Para isso são utilizadas técnicas do Cálculo Variacional. A teoria é aplicada para obter e analisar funções de Wannier de elétrons de condução em duas superredes de materiais semicondutores. Uma dessas estruturas tem simetria de inversão e a outra, não. O comportamento assintótico das funções de Wannier é predito analiticamente e verificado através dos cálculos numéricos. As funções de Wannier de localização máxima mostram um decaimento exponencial multiplicado por um decaimento em lei de potência, ambos isotrópicos. O mesmo acontece com parte das funções que não tem localização máxima. Porém, há outras que que apresentam decaimento exponecial reduzido e anisotropia em seu decaimento em lei de potência. Esses resultados novos são explicados levando em conta pontos de ramificação da continuação analítica das funções de Bloch sobre o plano de vetor de onda complexo. / The maximally localized Wannier functions of electrons in one-dimensional crystals are calculated and analyzed. Those functions form a suitable basis to describe localized states in solid materials. For crystals with inversion symmetry we use the procedure of Bruno-Alfonso and Hai [J. Phys: Condensed Matter 15, 6701 (2003)]. Each energy band is classified according to the symmetry of the Bloch functions at the points 'gama' e 'qui' of the Brillouin zone. For each band class, the phase of the Bloch functions in chosen to give the maximally localized Wannier functions. The symmmetry of those functions depends on the band class. Analytical and numerical results are presented for the Kronig-Penney model. Those result are obtained through the tight-binding method or a transfer-matrix technique. A new procedure to calculate the maximally localized Wannier functions in crystals without inversion symmetry is established. This involves techniques of the Variational Calculus. The theory is applied to obtain the Wannier functions of conduction electrons in superlattices of semiconductor materials. One of the superlattices presents inversion symmetry, but the other does not. The asymptotic behavior of the Wannier functions is predicted analytically and verified through numerical calculations. The maximally localized Wannier functions display an isotropic exponetial decal times an isotropic power-law decay. The same applies to a class of non-optimal Wannier functions. However, there is another class of non-optimal Wannier functions with reduced exponential decay and anisotropic power-law decay. Such new results are explained by taking into account branch points in the analytical continuation of the Bloch functions into the plane of complex wave vector.

Orientador: Alexys Bruno Alfonso / Banca: Guo-Qiang Hai / Banca: Aguinaldo Robinson de Souza / O Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais, PosMat, tem caráter institucional e integra as atividades de pesquisa em materiais de diversos campi da Unesp / Resumo: São calculadas e analisadas as funções de Wannier de localização máxima para elétrons em cristais unidimensionais. Essas funções formam uma base apropriada para descrever estados eletrônicos em materiais sólidos. Para cristais com simetria de inversão é utilizado o método desenvolvido por Bruno-Alfonso e Hai [J. Phys: Condensed Matter 15, 6701 (2003)]. Cada banda de energia é classificada segundo a simetria das funções de Bloch nos pontos 'gama' e 'qui' da zona de Brillouin. Para cada classe de banda a fase das funções de Bloch é escolhida para que as funções de Wannier tenham localização máxima. A simetria da últimas é determinda pelo tipo de banda. São apresentados resultados analíticos e numéricos para o modelo de Kronig-Penney obtidos através da técnica da matriz de transferência e do método tight binding. Posteriormente, apresenta-se um novo procedimento para calcular funções de Wannier de localização máxima em cristais sem simetria de inversão. Para isso são utilizadas técnicas do Cálculo Variacional. A teoria é aplicada para obter e analisar funções de Wannier de elétrons de condução em duas superredes de materiais semicondutores. Uma dessas estruturas tem simetria de inversão e a outra, não. O comportamento assintótico das funções de Wannier é predito analiticamente e verificado através dos cálculos numéricos. As funções de Wannier de localização máxima mostram um decaimento exponencial multiplicado por um decaimento em lei de potência, ambos isotrópicos. O mesmo acontece com parte das funções que não tem localização máxima. Porém, há outras que que apresentam decaimento exponecial reduzido e anisotropia em seu decaimento em lei de potência. Esses resultados novos são explicados levando em conta pontos de ramificação da continuação analítica das funções de Bloch sobre o plano de vetor de onda complexo. / Abstract: The maximally localized Wannier functions of electrons in one-dimensional crystals are calculated and analyzed. Those functions form a suitable basis to describe localized states in solid materials. For crystals with inversion symmetry we use the procedure of Bruno-Alfonso and Hai [J. Phys: Condensed Matter 15, 6701 (2003)]. Each energy band is classified according to the symmetry of the Bloch functions at the points 'gama' e 'qui' of the Brillouin zone. For each band class, the phase of the Bloch functions in chosen to give the maximally localized Wannier functions. The symmmetry of those functions depends on the band class. Analytical and numerical results are presented for the Kronig-Penney model. Those result are obtained through the tight-binding method or a transfer-matrix technique. A new procedure to calculate the maximally localized Wannier functions in crystals without inversion symmetry is established. This involves techniques of the Variational Calculus. The theory is applied to obtain the Wannier functions of conduction electrons in superlattices of semiconductor materials. One of the superlattices presents inversion symmetry, but the other does not. The asymptotic behavior of the Wannier functions is predicted analytically and verified through numerical calculations. The maximally localized Wannier functions display an isotropic exponetial decal times an isotropic power-law decay. The same applies to a class of non-optimal Wannier functions. However, there is another class of non-optimal Wannier functions with reduced exponential decay and anisotropic power-law decay. Such new results are explained by taking into account branch points in the analytical continuation of the Bloch functions into the plane of complex wave vector. / Mestre

Let D be a smoothly bounded domain in Cn , n> 1. For each point p _ D, we have the Green function G(z, p) associated to the standard sum-of-squares Laplacian Δ with pole at p and the Robin constant __ Λ(p) = lim G(z, p) −|z − p−2n+2 z→p | at p. The function p _→ Λ(p) is called the Robin function for D. Levenberg and Yamaguchi had proved that if D is a C∞-smoothly bounded pseudoconvex domain, then the function log(−Λ) is a real analytic, strictly plurisubharmonic exhaustion function for D and thus induces a metric ds2 = n∂2 log(−Λ)(z) dzα ⊗ dzβ z ∂zα∂zβ α,β=1 on D, called the Λ-metric. For an arbitrary C∞-smoothly bounded domain, they computed the boundary asymptotics of Λ and its derivatives up to order 3, in terms of a defining function for the domain. As a consequence it was shown that the Λ-metric is complete on a C∞-smoothly bounded strongly pseudoconvex domain or a C∞-smoothly bounded convex domain. In this thesis, we study the boundary behaviour of the function Λ and its derivatives of all orders near a C2-smooth boundary point of an arbitrary domain. We compute the boundary asymptotics of the Λ-metric on a C∞-smoothly bounded pseudoconvex domain and as a consequence obtain that on a C∞-smoothly bounded strongly pseudoconvex domain, the Λ-metric is comparable to the Kobayashi metric (and hence to the Carath´eodory and the Bergman metrics). Using the boundary asymptotics of Λ and its derivatives, we calculate the holomorphic sectional curvature of the Λ-metric on a C∞-smoothly bounded strongly pseudoconvex domain at points on the inner normals and along the normal directions. The unit ball in Cn is also characterised among all C∞-smoothly bounded strongly convex domains on which the Λ-metric has constant negative holomorphic sectional curvature. Finally we study the stability of the Λ-metric under a C2 perturbation of a C∞-smoothly bounded pseudoconvex domain. (For equation pl refer the abstract pdf file)

In this report we will plunge down in the fascinating world of the generating functions. Generating functions showcase the "power of power series", giving more depth to the word "power" in power series. We start off small to get a good understanding of the generating function and what it does. Also, off course, explaining why it works and why we can do some of the things we do with them. We will see alot of examples throughout the text that helps the reader to grasp the mathematical object that is the generating function. We will look at several kinds of generating functions, the main focus when we establish our understanding of these will be the "ordinary power series" generating function ("ops") that we discuss before moving on to the "exponential generating function" ("egf"). During our discussion on ops we will see a "first time in literature" derivation of the generating function for a recurrence relation regarding "branched coverings". After finishing the discussion regarding egf we move on the Hermite polynomials and show how we derive their generating function. Which is a generating function that generates functions. Lastly we will have a quick look at the "moment generating function".

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