It is of interest that researchers study competing risks in which subjects may fail from any one of K causes. Comparing any two competing risks with covariate effects is very important in medical studies. This thesis develops omnibus tests for comparing cause-specific hazard rates and cumulative incidence functions at specified covariate levels. In the thesis, the omnibus tests are derived under the additive risk model, that is an alternative to the proportional hazard model, with by a weighted difference of estimates of cumulative cause-specific hazard rates. Simultaneous confidence bands for the difference of two conditional cumulative incidence functions are also constructed. A simulation procedure is used to sample from the null distribution of the test process in which the graphical and numerical techniques are used to detect the significant difference in the risks. A melanoma data set is used for the purpose of illustration.

We review several nonparametric regression techniques and discuss their various strengths and weaknesses with an emphasis on derivative estimation and confidence band creation. We develop a generalized C(p) criterion for tuning parameter selection when interest lies in estimating one or more derivatives and the estimator is both linear in the observed responses and self-consistent. We propose a method for constructing simultaneous confidence bands for the mean response and one or more derivatives, where simultaneous now refers both to values of the covariate and to all derivatives under consideration. In addition we generalize the simultaneous confidence bands to account for heteroscedastic noise. Finally, we consider the characterization of nanoparticles and propose a method for identifying a proper subset of the covariate space that is most useful for characterization purposes.

Syftet med denna studie har varit att besvara frågan hur ett medarbetarsamtal upplevs av den anställde. Att ställa frågan ”är det värt det” innebär att se om den anställde upplever att medarbetarsamtalet är en givande kommunikationsform eller om den anställde känner det som ett otillfredsställande samtal. Uppgifterna och svaren är inhämtade genom individuella intervjuer genomförda med deltagare i ett arbetslag inom den privata vårdsektorn. Studien har en kvalitativ ansats och baseras på semistrukturerade intervjuer. Studien har visat att medarbetarsamtalet inte upplevs som tillfredställande när det gäller kommunikationen med och till överordnad. Det har framkommit att anställda föredrar kommunikation inom hela arbetsgruppen via öppnare samtal mellan samtliga anställda. Vad studien också visar är att de anställda upplever sin chef och kontakten med chefen på olika sätt beroende på situation och kontext. Vi har utgått ifrån teorier kring institutionaliserade samtal, emotionellt arbete och tvång samt sociala band för att behandla och analysera informanternas upplevelse av medarbetarsamtalet. Den anställdes emotionella arbete påverkas av rollen den anställda upplever som passande för yrket samt att relationen till chefen påverkas av status och ställning. / The purpose of the studie is to examine how a performance review is perceived by the employee. By asking the question”is it worth it” the study aims to see however the employees perceive the performance review as a fruitful tool of communication. The empirical data is collected by interviewing a business unit within the private healthcare sector. The study has a qualitative approach and semi structured interviews are used. The study has shown that a performance review is not perceived as satisfying regarding the communication between the subordinate and the superior. The communication should rather be an open one between all the employees and the superiors. It has also been shown that the employees perceive the communication to their superiors differently depending on the situation and context. The employee's emotional work is influenced by the role of the employees perceive as appropriate for the occupation, and the relationship to the superior is affected by the status and position.

The noise coming from wind power development can be an environmental impact forthe surrounding communities. It is well known that the main wind turbine noise iscaused by the movement of the turbine wings through the air. However, there areuncertainties about the importance of machinery sounds and possible variations amongwind turbines. A high resolution acquisition system was used to perform a fieldexperiment comparison of the noise spectra from some wind turbines at Laholm(Sweden). The results have shown different band spectra peaks associated to machinerysounds among wind turbines from the same model and also from those of differentmanufactures. Maintenance conditions of these wind turbines could explain thedifferences in intensity and frequency locations of the band spectra peaks found. Inorder to know the importance for human audition of these peaks, listening test or doseresponsestudies would be needed to provide relevant information in this regard. Themethodology developed in this study is suggested to be useful for identifying certainmachinery failures which could corrupt the noise sounds emitted at certain wind turbinelocations.

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of band programs in the public secondary schools of New Jersey. Answers were sought to the following questions: (1) what was the background of directors; (2) how were the programs organized; (3) what were the nature and extent of performance and rehearsal practices; (4) what type of facilities, budgets, and equipment were available; (5) what did directors believe to be the strengths and weaknesses of band programs; and (6) what were the perceptions of selected superintendents concerning band programs? Information was obtained from band directors through a questionnaire which was sent to every public high school in New Jersey. Another questionnaire was sent to a random selection of superintendents. Data, as received from 60.2 percent of the directors and 72 percent of the superintendents were tabulated, categories were formulated, and tables were prepared to present the data in terms of numbers and/or percentages. 1. Generally, the band directors of New Jersey high schools are experienced and dedicated professionals who seek to improve their teaching skills and philosophies. 2. Students have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of ensemble offerings. 3. Most ensembles have adequate rehearsal time, although some marching bands seemingly utilize excessive amounts of the student's time for rehearsal and performance. 4. Instrumental lessons are available in 83.9 percent of the schools. 5. Band programs in the high schools possess some of the basic organizational aspects that are believed to be necessary for musical learning to occur. 6. Most band organizations seemingly do not over-perform. 7. Directors and superintendents believe that the emphasis being placed on performance skill, aesthetic/ artistic understanding, and social/personal development is proper. 8. Band directors and superintendents believe there is a need to re-evaluate the functions of band performance for the future. 9. Facilities, equipment, and supplies are seemingly adequate in most schools. 10. Dedication of directors and variety of programs are strengths of New Jersey's band programs. 11. The weaknesses of New Jersey high school band programs appear to be an increased emphasis placed on marching band, competition, and exploitation of band organizations by internal and external forces. This limits musical understanding.

The purpose of this study was to determine the self-reported level of integration of instructional tasks related to the creating and responding standards in the wind band curriculum and factors negatively or positively related to their integration. The researcher collected data via an online questionnaire pertaining to the integration of Standards and possible correlated factors suggested by the relevant literature. The factors examined in this study included personal demographics, school demographics, state attributes, valuing, competing populations, and three channels of influence (curriculum, teacher development, and assessment and accountability) suggested by the National Research Council in their publication Investigating the Influence of Standards (2002).Results indicated that Standards 6 and 7 are integrated at the highest level and Standards 3 and 4 at the lowest level while Standards 8 and 9 occupy a middle tier. The researcher utilized a phi co relational test for all factors in association to high and low integration of each of the six Standards under review. Chapter 4 reported 138 significant relationships from the following categories of responses.Personal Demographics 1School Demographics7Valuing31Competing Populations16Framework (83 18CurriculumTeacher Development25Assessment/Accountability40Total: 138 / School of Music

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2007. / Title from 1st page of PDF file (viewed Mar. 5, 2008). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references: P. 164-176.

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2003. / Printout. Vita. Includes analysis of the cornet as a solo instrument in selected works from the James Benefield collection that reflect a variety of musical styles. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-65).