Rieck & Nedelman (1991) propuseram um modelo de regressão log-linear tendo como base a distribuição Birnbaum-Saunders (Birnbaum & Saunders, 1969a). O modelo proposto pelos autores vem sendo bastante explorado e tem se mostrado uma ótima alternativa a outros modelos propostos na literatura, como por exemplo, os modelos de regressão Weibull, gama e lognormal. No entanto, até o presente momento, não existe nenhum estudo tratando de refinamentos para as estatísticas da razão de verossimilhanças e escore nesta classe de modelos de regressão. Assim, um dos objetivos desta tese é obter um fator de correção de Bartlett para a estatística da razão de verossimilhanças e um fator de correção tipo-Bartlett para a estatística escore nesse modelo. Estes ajustes melhoram a aproximação da distribuição nula destas estatísticas pela distribuição qui-quadrado de referência. Adicionalmente, objetiva-se obter ajustes para a estatística da razão de verossimilhanças sinalizada. Tais ajustes melhoram a aproximação desta estatística pela distribuição normal padrão. Recentemente, uma nova estatística de teste foi proposta por Terrell (2002), a qual o autor denomina estatística gradiente. Esta estatística foi derivada a partir da estatística escore e da estatística de Wald modificada (Hayakawa & Puri, 1985). A combinação daquelas duas estatísticas resulta em uma estatística muito simples de ser calculada, não envolvendo, por exemplo, nenhum cálculo matricial como produto e inversa de matrizes. Esta estatística foi recentemente citada por Rao (2005): \"The suggestion by Terrell is attractive as it is simple to compute. It would be of interest to investigate the performance of the [gradient] statistic.\" Caminhando na direção da sugestão de Rao, outro objetivo da tese é obter uma expansão assintótica para a distribuição da estatística gradiente sob uma sequência de alternativas de Pitman convergindo para a hipótese nula a uma taxa de convergência de n^{-1/2} utilizando a metodologia desenvolvida por Peers (1971) e Hayakawa (1975). Em particular, mostramos que, até ordem n^{-1/2}, a estatística gradiente segue distribuição qui-quadrado central sob a hipótese nula e distribuição qui-quadrado não central sob a hipótese alternativa. Também temos como objetivo comparar o poder local deste teste com o poder local dos testes da razão de verossimilhanças, de Wald e escore. Finalmente, aplicaremos a expansão assintótica derivada na tese em algumas classes particulares de modelos. / The Birnbaum-Saunders regression model is commonly used in reliability studies.We address the issue of performing inference in this class of models when the number of observations is small. Our simulation results suggest that the likelihood ratio and score tests tend to be liberal when the sample size is small. We derive Bartlett and Bartlett-type correction factors which reduce the size distortion of the tests. Additionally, we also consider modified signed log-likelihood ratio statistics in this class of models. Finally, the asymptotic expansion of the distribution of the gradient test statistic is derived for a composite hypothesis under a sequence of Pitman alternative hypotheses converging to the null hypothesis at rate n^{-1/2}, n being the sample size. Comparisons of the local powers of the gradient, likelihood ratio, Wald and score tests reveal no uniform superiority property.

This project was designed to develop a public relations plan to increase awareness in Southern California of the Tzu Chi Foundation, a non-profit organization that is based in Taiwan.

This investigation was a post-hoc, quantitative analysis of secondary academic performance and participation choices of Hispanic students. Three years of longitudinal student-level data was collected to examine the likelihood of college enrollment based on college and career readiness (CCR) factors. At the time of the study, CCR was defined as qualifying exam scores, credit for at least two advanced/dual enrollment courses, or enrollment in a career and technology education (CTE) coherent sequence of courses. Research participants (N = 803) consisted solely of Hispanic high school graduates from the 2014 cohort. Frequency statistics indicate 45.5% (n = 365) attended an institute of higher education (IHE) within 2 years of high school graduation. Findings reveal Hispanic females were more likely than Hispanic males to meet CCR indicators as well as postsecondary resiliency outcomes. Analysis of chi-square tests of independence suggests a moderately strong association exists between CCR indicators and postsecondary participation among high school graduates. Differences were found in terms of gender and postsecondary enrollment, x^2(6) = 24.538, p < .001. Differences were also found in terms of type of IHE and postsecondary resiliency, x^2(3) = 34.373, p < .001. More Hispanic CCR graduates enrolled at 2-year and 4-year IHE than expected by chance. While non-CCR graduates enrolled in IHE, they were less likely to meet postsecondary resiliency outcomes. CCR graduates who initially enrolled at 2-year IHE were also less likely to persist. Furthermore, the greatest contribution to differences in resiliency existed for Hispanic CCR graduates who enroll at 4-year IHE.

The United States engagement in Vietnam began during the Second World War. With military bases established in China, the U.S. took part in fighting the Japanese troops in the Pacific theatre. When France surrendered to Nazi Germany in 1940, Japan would take over the French Indochina and the war would spread to Vietnam as well. In order to collect intelligence on Japanese targets, the Americans needed to operate secret services on the ground. After the Japanese coup de main in 1945, they would eventually partner with Ho Chi Minh and his organization Viet Minh. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the wartime predecessor of the CIA, provided intelligence training and equipment, while the Viet Minh would assist with valuable information on Japanese troops. To some extent, the OSS helped Ho Chi Minh and Viet Minh accede to power in Vietnam after the war.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Background: Online courses in healthcare programs like Dietetics have increased in availability and popularity. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the connections between online learning environments and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) dimensions among Nutrition Professionals. This research will add to the knowledge base of educators responsible for the design and development of online nutrition courses and will enhance Nutrition Professionals’ academic and professional outcomes. Design: Semi-experimental study design. Subjects/Setting: Thirty-one Nutrition Professionals with mean age of 29 years old. All elements of the study were done online. Statistical Analysis: MBTI dimension summaries were done for descriptive statistics. Fisher’s Exact Test was used to compare frequency of MBTI dimensions in the learning modules (LM) and to analyze learning modality preference based on MBTI dimensions. Two-Sample T-Tests compared test scores for LM groups and test scores for extraverts and introverts. Paired T-Test assessed improvement in test scores related to LM preference. Chi-Square Test compared preferences for the second learning module for both LM groups. Results: The majority of participants’ MBTIs were ESFJ at 35% or ISFJ at 19%. There were more extraverts (71%) compared to introverts (29%). Both LM groups had similar MBTI dimensions. Extraverts and introverts had similar improvements in scores and LM preferences. LM groups performed similarly and in general participants preferred the second learning module they were assigned. Preference for the second LM could be because participants enjoyed the first LM and wanted to learn more information. Both LM groups significantly improved their scores (P=<.0001) in their first and second learning modules regardless of learning module design. Participants were highly motivated to learn as evidenced by their enrollment in this study and completion of 10 hours of learning modules. Motivation to learn may have been the strongest reason performance significantly improved. Conclusion: LM groups significantly improved their LM scores and learned similar amounts. MBTI dimensions extravert and introvert and preferred learning modality had limited impact on performance for this sample of Nutrition Professionals. These results indicate that motivation may be the key to increasing performance in online nutrition courses.

No description available.

The implementation of the IFRS framework in 2005 had a significant impact on the listed companies, as they became obligated to adhere to the new standard in preparing their consolidated financial statements. The new framework replaced annual amortization with regular impairment tests for goodwill. This shift provided management with the opportunity to influence the reporting to their advantage. The aim of this study is to examine the underlying factors that influence companies' decisions regarding goodwill impairments. Among the various factors that can affect goodwill impairments, four specific factors have been chosen for closer investigation in this study: CEO turnover, economic conditions, company size, and low profitability. In the present study, a quantitative method has been used to examine and analyze the research questions. Additionally, a deductive approach has been applied in the study. The data collected is based on annual reports from publicly traded companies listed on the OMX 30, OMXC25, OMXH25, and OSEBX 25 Oslo indexes between the years 2020-2022. The results of the study indicated that factors such as CEO turnover, economic downturn, or low profits did not have a significant impact on firms' decisions to write down goodwill. However, the results were more varied when it came to the factor of firm size. Two out of three statistical tests showed no significant relationship between firm size and goodwill impairments. However, the regression analysis suggested a possible significant relationship between the variables. / Införande av IFRS regelverk år 2005 hade en betydande påverkan på de börsnoterade företagen eftersom från denna tidpunkt blev de skyldiga att följa den nya standarden vid upprättandet av sin koncernredovisning. Det nya regelverket ersatte årliga avskrivningar med regelbundna tester för nedskrivning av goodwill. Detta innebar att företagsledningen fick möjlighet att påverka rapporteringen för sin egen fördel. Syfte med denna studie är att undersöka de bakomliggande faktorerna som påverkar företagens val av goodwillnedskrivningar. Av de olika faktorer som kan påverka goodwillnedskrivningar har fyra faktorer valts för att undersökas närmare i detta arbete. De faktorerna som ska undersökas är: VD-byte, konjunkturläge, företagets storlek samt lågt resultat.  I föreliggande studie har en kvantitativ metod använts för att undersöka och analysera forskningsfrågorna. Dessutom har en deduktiv ansats tillämpats i studien. Data som har samlats in baseras på årsredovisningar från börsnoterade företag på listor OMX 30, OMXC25, OMXH25 samt OSEBX 25 Oslo mellan åren 2020–2022. Resultaten från studier indikerade att faktorer som VD-byte, lågkonjunktur eller lågaresultat inte hade någon signifikant påverkan på förtegens beslut att skriva ned goodwill. Däremot var resultaten mer varierade när det gällde faktorn företagets storlek. Två av tre statistiska tester visat inget signifikant samband mellan företagens storlek och goodwillnedskrivningar. Dock visade regressionsanalysen på ett möjligt signifikant samband mellan variablerna

The focus of this research was to compare the student membership population proportions, by race and gender, of Brevard County Public School students with the actual participation in select choice programs offered to Brevard County public high school students. This study was based on an analysis of the scores of 1,152 eighth-grade students who received a score of 4 or 5 on the 2008 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) mathematics and a score of 4 or 5 on the 2008 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) reading and their participation in high school advanced academic courses. The advanced academic choice programs selected for this study consisted of the four Florida articulated accelerated college credit seeking programs: Advanced Placement (AP), Dual-Enrollment (DE), International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, and the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE). The proportion comparison consisted of student membership data and eighth-grade FCAT scores from 2007-2008 and the student membership data and high school course load data from the 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012 academic school years. Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests were run to analyze the proportions by race and gender of the sample groups and student membership populations. For each respective year involved in this study, there was a statistically significant difference in the race and gender proportions of the samples and the student membership populations.

No description available.

Cure rate models, introduced by Boag (1949), are very commonly used while modelling lifetime data involving long time survivors. Applications of cure rate models can be seen in biomedical science, industrial reliability, finance, manufacturing, demography and criminology. In this thesis, cure rate models are discussed under a competing cause scenario, with the assumption of proportional odds (PO) lifetime distributions for the susceptibles, and statistical inferential methods are then developed based on right-censored data. In Chapter 2, a flexible cure rate model is discussed by assuming the number of competing causes for the event of interest following the Conway-Maxwell (COM) Poisson distribution, and their corresponding lifetimes of non-cured or susceptible individuals can be described by PO model. This provides a natural extension of the work of Gu et al. (2011) who had considered a geometric number of competing causes. Under right censoring, maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) are obtained by the use of expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm. An extensive Monte Carlo simulation study is carried out for various scenarios, and model discrimination between some well-known cure models like geometric, Poisson and Bernoulli is also examined. The goodness-of-fit and model diagnostics of the model are also discussed. A cutaneous melanoma dataset example is used to illustrate the models as well as the inferential methods. Next, in Chapter 3, the destructive cure rate models, introduced by Rodrigues et al. (2011), are discussed under the PO assumption. Here, the initial number of competing causes is modelled by a weighted Poisson distribution with special focus on exponentially weighted Poisson, length-biased Poisson and negative binomial distributions. Then, a damage distribution is introduced for the number of initial causes which do not get destroyed. An EM-type algorithm for computing the MLEs is developed. An extensive simulation study is carried out for various scenarios, and model discrimination between the three weighted Poisson distributions is also examined. All the models and methods of estimation are evaluated through a simulation study. A cutaneous melanoma dataset example is used to illustrate the models as well as the inferential methods. In Chapter 4, frailty cure rate models are discussed under a gamma frailty wherein the initial number of competing causes is described by a Conway-Maxwell (COM) Poisson distribution in which the lifetimes of non-cured individuals can be described by PO model. The detailed steps of the EM algorithm are then developed for this model and an extensive simulation study is carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed model and the estimation method. A cutaneous melanoma dataset as well as a simulated data are used for illustrative purposes. Finally, Chapter 5 outlines the work carried out in the thesis and also suggests some problems of further research interest. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)