Diagnostic testing is essential to distinguish non-diseased individuals from diseased individuals. More accurate tests lead to improved treatment and thus reduce medical mistakes. The sensitivity and specificity are two important measurements for the diagnostic accuracy of a diagnostic test. When the test results are continuous, it is of interest to construct a confidence interval for the sensitivity at a fixed level of specificity for the test. In this thesis, we propose three empirical likelihood intervals for the sensitivity. Simulation studies are conducted to compare the empirical likelihood based confidence intervals with the existing normal approximation based confidence interval. Our studies show that the new intervals had better coverage probability than the normal approximation based interval in most simulation settings.

Probabilistic reasoning in databases has been an active area of research during the last twodecades. However, the previously proposed database approaches, including the probabilistic relationalapproach and the probabilistic object approach, are not good fits for storing and managingdiverse probability distributions along with their auxiliary information.The work in this dissertation extends significantly the initial semistructured probabilistic databaseframework proposed by Dekhtyar, Goldsmith and Hawkes in [20]. We extend the formal SemistructuredProbabilistic Object (SPO) data model of [20]. Accordingly, we also extend the SemistructuredProbabilistic Algebra (SP-algebra), the query algebra proposed for the SPO model.Based on the extended framework, we have designed and implemented a Semistructured ProbabilisticDatabase Management System (SPDBMS) on top of a relational DBMS. The SPDBMS isflexible enough to meet the need of storing and manipulating diverse probability distributions alongwith their associated information. Its query language supports standard database queries as wellas queries specific to probabilities, such as conditionalization and marginalization. Currently theSPDBMS serves as a storage backbone for the project Decision Making and Planning under Uncertaintywith Constraints 1‡ , that involves managing large quantities of probabilistic information. Wealso report our experimental results evaluating the performance of the SPDBMS.We describe an extension of the SPO model for handling interval probability distributions. TheExtended Semistructured Probabilistic Object (ESPO) framework improves the flexibility of theoriginal semistructured data model in two important features: (i) support for interval probabilitiesand (ii) association of context and conditionals with individual random variables. An extended SPO1 This project is partially supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ITR-0325063.(ESPO) data model has been developed, and an extended query algebra for ESPO has also beenintroduced to manipulate probability distributions for probability intervals.The Bayesian Network Development Suite (BaNDeS), a system which builds Bayesian networkswith full data management support of the SPDBMS, has been described. It allows expertswith particular expertise to work only on specific subsystems during the Bayesian network constructionprocess independently and asynchronously while updating the model in real-time.There are three major foci of our ongoing and future work: (1) implementation of a queryoptimizer and performance evaluation of query optimization, (2) extension of the SPDBMS to handleinterval probability distributions, and (3) incorporation of machine learning techniques into theBaNDeS.

This paper expands on the work of David Lewin, whose seminal work Generalized Musical Intervals and Transformations proposes, among other functions, the interval function or IFUNC. The interval function catalogs the type and number of directed pitchclass intervals between two different pitch-class sets. This paper proposes the concept of the IFUNC array, an ordered sequence of twelve digits representing the IFUNC values for an interval i = 0–11, reading either left to right or clockwise around a circle. It explores features of the interval function, including symmetry in the IFUNC array, and includes analysis of several excerpts from Anton Webern’s early atonal works. The paper addresses axes of symmetry, both in pitch-class sets and in interval functions. / School of Music

国立情報学研究所で電子化したコンテンツを使用している。

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of intra-set rest intervals (ALT) and traditional resistance (STD) training in hypertrophic resistance training. 22 males (25 +/- 5yrs, 179.71 +/- 5.0cm, 82.1 +/- 10.6kg, 13.6 +/- 4.3% fat, 6.5 +/- 4.5yrs training) were matched according to baseline characteristics and randomly assigned to a STD or ALT 12 week hypertrophic training protocol. Body composition, strength (1RM bench and squat); power (60% 1RM bench and squat); and vertical jump were assessed at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Muscle biopsy for myosin heavy chain (MHC) was performed pre and post training. A 2 x 4 (Group x Time) ANOVA was used to assess changes in body composition. A 2 x 4 (Group x Time) ANCOVA covaried by baseline performance measures was used to assess differences in strength and power characteristics. A 2 x 2 (Group x Time) ANCOVA covaried for baseline percentage MHC was used to determine differences pre and post training. Both groups experienced increases in FFM with no differences between groups (62.6 +/- 7.9, 63.4 +/- 7.6, 64.2 +/- 7.4, 64.2 +/- 7.5kg; p>0.05). No time effects were noted in percent fat (13.6 +/- 4.3, 14.1 +/- 4.7, 14.0 +/- 4.6, 14.3 +/- 4.6%fat; p>0.05). Increase in FFM was associated with a decrease in MHCIIX, (ALT, -37.9 +/- 24.1%; STD, -23.4 +/- 23.8%; p = 0.001) and an increase in MHCIIA (ALT, 32.0 +/- 28.8%; STD, 25.4 +/- 29.1%; p = 0.001) with no difference between groups. A significant interaction was observed with the ALT group experiencing greater gains in both 1RM bench (STD 104.1 +/- 27.6, 102.7 +/- 29.0, 107.0 +/- 25.3, 113.2 +/- 27.3; ALT 110.9 +/- 20.1, 117.5 +/- 23.7, 120.8 +/- 22.6, 126 +/- 22.8; p<0.05) and 1RM squat (STD 123.3 +/- 39.3, 139.6 +/- 38.8, 160.2 +/- 36.1, 171.8 +/- 34.5; ALT 130.1 +/- 25.1, 152.6 +/- 24.8, 179.8 +/- 24.5, 193.9 +/- 24.2kg; p<0.05). The ALT group experienced greater gains in power in both the bench (STD 560 +/- 122, 541 +/- 105, 572 +/- 122, 593 +/- 135W; ALT 575 +/- 102, 586 +/- 123, 646 +/- 103, 658 +/- 113W; p<0.05) and vertical jump (STD 1378 +/- 237, 1418 +/- 214, 1452 +/- 210, 1470 +/- 215W; ALT 1389 +/- 179, 1434 +/- 152, 1470 +/- 149, 1537 +/- 150W;p<0.05), with gains in squat power approaching significance (STD 625 +/- 245, 704 +/- 233, 723 +/- 227, 830 +/- 232W; ALT 632 +/- 171, 734 +/- 179, 783 +/- 188, 914 +/- 207W; p<0.10). The use of intra-set rest intervals in programs designed to elicit hypertrophy results in greater gains in strength and power with no significant difference in lean mass or MHC composition after a 12 week resistance training program designed to elicit hypertrophy.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Feb. 7, 2008). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.M.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on April 4, 2008) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 250-253). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [122]-125).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Rhode Island, 2003. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-158).