The typical research of Alzheimer's disease includes a series of cognitive states. Multi-state models are often used to describe the history of disease evolvement. Competing risks models are a sub-category of multi-state models with one starting state and several absorbing states. Analyses for competing risks data in medical papers frequently assume independent risks and evaluate covariate effects on these events by modeling distinct proportional hazards regression models for each event. Jeong and Fine (2007) proposed a parametric proportional sub-distribution hazard (SH) model for cumulative incidence functions (CIF) without assumptions about the dependence among the risks. We modified their model to assure that the sum of the underlying CIFs never exceeds one, by assuming a proportional SH model for dementia only in the Nun study. To accommodate left censored data, we computed non-parametric MLE of CIF based on Expectation-Maximization algorithm. Our proposed parametric model was applied to the Nun Study to investigate the effect of genetics and education on the occurrence of dementia. After including left censored dementia subjects, the incidence rate of dementia becomes larger than that of death for age < 90, education becomes significant factor for incidence of dementia and standard errors for estimates are smaller. Multi-state Markov model is often used to analyze the evolution of cognitive states by assuming time independent transition intensities. We consider both constant and duration time dependent transition intensities in BRAiNS data, leading to a mixture of Markov and semi-Markov processes. The joint probability of observing a sequence of same state until transition in a semi-Markov process was expressed as a product of the overall transition probability and survival probability, which were simultaneously modeled. Such modeling leads to different interpretations in BRAiNS study, i.e., family history, APOE4, and sex by head injury interaction are significant factors for transition intensities in traditional Markov model. While in our semi-Markov model, these factors are significant in predicting the overall transition probabilities, but none of these factors are significant for duration time distribution.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to assess patients’ preferences between radiofrequency ablation (RFA) versus hepatic resection (HR) for the treatment of small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Methods: Decision analysis was performed by using probability trade-off (PTO) technique to elicit patients’ preferences and the strength of their decisions. Results: The vast majority of the study population preferred RFA over HR (70% vs. 30%, p=0.001). Their initial choice changed if 5-year survival benefit after surgery was at least 14% superior to RFA and if the 3-year disease-free survival advantage was at least 13% better than ablation. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that fully informed cirrhotic patients would prefer RFA if diagnosed with early stage HCC even if able to undergo surgery.

Because cloud computing adoption grows day-by-day, it is essential for theexecutives of a company to be able to rely on a risks management guidanceto fully grasp all the aspects concerning cloud computing security.The concerns of the industry, the security standards, the official guidelines,and the European laws about the security when using cloud serviceshave been analyzed. The risks, the measures, and the obligations have beengathered. This paper, with all these information collected, describes how torun a risk management for public SaaS security keeping a business-drivenmindset. While running the risk assessment, the management should look atthe impact a threat may have on company activities, image, and finances. Itwill decide on the measures that should be implemented by the administrationor the IT.Following this guidance should minimize the risk of using public SaaScloud computing and allowing a company to align its security goals with itsbusiness goals.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka vad kuratorer har för erfarenheter när det kommer till barn och ungdomars användande av sociala medier. Ser de några risker med att vara online? Studien baserades på en kvalitativ metod med individuella semistrukturerade intervjuer som har utförts med kuratorer inom grundskola, gymnasium och ungdomsmottagning. Den tillämpade teoretiska tolkningsramen är en teori av John Suler, som kan ge oss en förklaring till varför man på internet agerar mer hämningslöst. Studiens resultat visade att det finns risker med användandet av sociala medier inom flera aspekter. För att nämna några, finns risker som att bli utsatt för kränkningar, mobbning och sexuella trakasserier när man befinner sig online. Enligt vår mening kan studiens resultat bidra till en ökad kunskap kring detta fenomen samt ge oss fördjupade kunskaper ur ett nytt perspektiv, kuratorernas. / The study aimed to investigate what counselors have for experience when it comes to children and young people's use of social media. Do they see any risks of being online? The study is based on a qualitative approach with individual semi-structured interviews that were conducted with counselors in primary- and secondary schools and youth counseling. The applied theoretical interpretative framework is a theory of John Suler, which can give us an explanation of why they on the internet act more uninhibited. The study results show us that there are risks associated with the use of social media in several aspects. To name a few, there are risks of being exposed to abuse, bullying and sexual harassment when you are online. In our opinion, the study's findings contribute to an increased knowledge of this phenomenon and give us deeper knowledge from a new perspective, the counselor.

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The world is getting more and more globalized and more countries choose to make business abroad today compared to only ten years ago. To establish abroad involves a lot of risks for a company and one important risk a company need to pay attention to is thecurrency risk. A corporation can be exposed to different kinds of currency risks and there is a lot of derivates to use when hedging against those risks. Which strategy or method a company uses is regulated in its financial policy, which constitutes an important part in the work against currency exposure. The main purpose of this dissertation is to investigate which currency hedging methods and derivates Swedish export companies are using when trading on the international market. Another part of the purpose is to explore if there is a difference between large and small companies when it comes to currency hedging and if there is, why there is a difference. To get the answers of the purpose a qualitative study were used and three intervjues with three companies of different sizes in the energy industry were made. The study also included one interview with an expert in the area of currency hedging. Together with theory and earlier studies the dissertation came to a conclusion. The conclusion of this study was that companies are using different derivates to protect themselves against currency risks and there is a difference between small and large companies in the hedging, mainly in the number of different derivates. Another conclusion that can be drawn was that warrants and futures is the most common derivates among swedish export companies which also is supported by theory and earlier studies. / Världen blir allt mer globaliserad och fler och fler länder väljer att röra sig utanför de nationella gränserna och göra affärer internationellt. Att etablera sig utomlands innebär många risker för ett företag och en viktig risk ett företag måste beakta vid handel internationellt är valutarisken. Ett företag kan bli exponerade mot olika typer av valutarisker och det finns flera instrument att använda sig av för att skydda sig mot dessa. Vilken metod ett företag använder sig av finns reglerat i företagens finanspolicy, vilken utgör en viktig del i arbetet mot valutaexponering. Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka vilka valutasäkringsmetoder och instrument svenska exportföretag använder sig av vidinternationell handel för att säkra sig mot valutarisker, samt undersöka om det skiljer sig i hur företag av olika storlek hanterar dessa risker. För att besvara vår frågeställning genomfördes forskningen genom en kvalitativ studie där tre stycken energiföretaget av olika storlek intervjuades. I studien intervjuades även en expert inom området och genom en jämförelse av empirin samt tidigare forskning kunde det dras en slutsats. Undersökningens slutsats var att företagen använder sig av flera olika metoder och instrument vid hanteringen av valutarisker. Den typ avvalutarisk de främst är utsatta för är transaktionsexponeringar på samtliga företag. Studien visade också att det skiljde sig i hur företagen av olika storlek hanterar dessa risker, främst i form av antalet instrument företagen använde sig av. En annan slutsats som kunde göras med en jämförelse av tidigare teori är att swappar och terminer är vanliga instrument medan optioner är ett mindre använt instrument för företag vid valutasäkring.

Competing risks occur often in survival analysis. In present work, we study different ap- proaches to modeling competing risks data and use examples to illustrate the most impor- tant results. In the competing risks setting it is often of interest to calculate the cumulative incidence of a specific event. We first study non-parametric estimation and then present three approaches to regression modeling. We use simple numerical example to demonstrate the use of non-parametric methods and perform analysis of real data from Stanford Heart Transplant Program to illustrate and compare the chosen regression models.

Le bassin supérieur de l’oued Djemaa qui fait partie de la montagne du Djurdjura est affecté par une importante morphogenèse. Les mouvements de terrain présentent une grande variété dans le secteur d’étude et jouent un rôle prépondérant dans l’évolution des versants. L’étude géomophologique détaillée, une enquête auprès des populations locales, des analyses géotechniques et l’analyse sédimentologique des formations déplacées nous ont permis de faire une typologie des mouvements de terrain et de dégager les facteurs de leur développement et de leur localisation. Les fortes précipitations d’hiver et de printemps sont à l’origine de tous les mouvements de terrain et des ravinements, mais l’exposition et la lithologie permettent de comprendre les formes différentes rencontrées sur les adrets et sur les ubacs. Les activités humaines jouent un rôle croissant dans l’accélération de la morphogenèse. Dans cette étude, un système d’Information Géographique a été utilisé pour produire les cartes des risques de dégradation du milieu qui sont des outils pour la planification et la gestion de l’utilisation du sol dans le bassin supérieur de l’oued Djemaa. Il permet de croiser la vulnérabilité avec l’aléa. Le résultat de ces croisements que nous avons codifiés débouche sur une carte globale de niveaux de risque / The upper basin of the oued Djemaa which includes to the mountain of Djurdjura is affected by an important morphogenesis. The ground movements introduces a large variety in the study area and play a preponderant role in the evolution of mountainsides. The geomorphology detailed study an investigation into the local populations, geotechtonic and analyses it sedimentology of displaced trainings allows us to do ground typology movement and to chow theire development factors and their location. The big rainfalls of winter and sprinter are the origin of these ground movements and gully erosions, but exposition and lithology allow to understand different forms on northern and southern slope. Human activities play more and more an important role in morphogenesis acceleration. In this study, a geographical information system has been used to provide degradation maps of risks of which are tools for planning and management of soil using in the upper basin of the oued Djemaa. He allows to cross vulnerability witch vagary. The result of these crossroads which we codified results in a total map of risk levels

Since Sweden’s home market is relatively small, companies are forced to engage in international business. Researchers have stressed that companies with a small home market should find new markets to gain benefits which companies with large home markets possess. The Chinese market has great potential, which results in numerous Swedish companies entering and establish business operations in China. Swedish companies need to address the unique aspects of conducting business in China. One of the unique aspects which has been notably concerned is the phenomena of guanxi. Guanxi is well grounded in the Chinese business culture and can be perceived as relationship building. Previous research has shown upon limited research regarding B2B guanxi in the Chinese-Western business relationships. Hence, the purpose of this thesis, is to provide a deeper understanding of how Swedish companies build and manage B2B guanxi in China and explore its potential risks and benefits. To achieve the purpose of this thesis, three main concepts have been identified- building stages of guanxi, management strategies of guanxi and risks and benefits of guanxi. These create the theoretical approach of the study. By using a qualitative research method and a deductive approach, a deeper understanding regarding guanxi in relation to Swedish companies can be acquired. The data is collected from five companies in different industries, conducting business on the Chinse market. Practical and theoretical implications have arisen from this study, contributing to the theoretical synthesis of B2B guanxi and provided valuable insights on how Swedish companies can use B2B guanxi. Based on the analysis, the outcome of this study suggest guanxi is not a prerequisite for conducting business on the Chinese market. Although, it can be seen as a tool to ease relationship building and business operations. The empirical findings indicate the relevance of B2B guanxi and have identified new factors. The key findings imply Swedish companies use intermediaries to a larger extent in the building staged and as a management strategy. While gift-giving and favour exchange are less used management strategies. Smoother business operations are perceived as an additional benefit. Whereas relationships becoming too personal and a person taking the relationships with them when leaving the company are additional risks ought to be considered new findings. The study can be valuable for Swedish companies that wish to enter or have entered the Chinese market.

This thesis deals with the medialization of public health-threatening events associated with the methanol affair, which appeared in Czech republic in September 2012. The thesis examines the ways in which selected four national newspapers informed the public about that case. The theoretical part presents concepts through which it is possible to look at the functioning of the media - their role in society, patterns and routine ways of media production, their role in case of emergencies and crises. Analytical part first outlines the methodological basis and consequently represents the outputs of quantitative and qualitative research. The quantitative part mainly describes how much space was in the examined newspapers provided with the affair, what kind of sub-themes were most accented, how much importance was over time attributed to the affair, what the motives were displayed in the published photographs, to what extent was preserved news neutrality of published headlines. The qualitative part of the research focuses on the linguistic tools used in articles in term of neutrality, on non-verbal expression tools and in detail illustrates how the examined newspapers reported about specific events associated with the methanol affair.