Some applications of generalised linear models

This thesis is concerned with some extensions to and applications of generalised linear models and their implementation in a statistical package. The principal extension considered is the inclusion of extra parameters in the link function of the model in order to create a family of parametric link functions. This technique is applied to standard link functions as well as to the family of composite link functions. The applications of such models are illustrated by reference to several examples. The techniques presented enable complicated models to be fitted in a unified and consistent manner, without the need for specialist software or algorithms. A two-stage algorithm for fitting parametric link functions is presented and a diagnostic procedure applied to this class of extended models. The applications of such models include the analysis of grouped and multivariate data. It is shown that grouped data arising from a truncated or mixture distribution can be represented as a parametric composite link function and the technique applied to extend the analysis of some previously published data sets. Following a transformation, it is shown that certain time series models may modelled using parametric composite link functions. An algorithm is presented for the fitting of such models in which the variance function of the observations may be a quite general function of the mean. A generalisation of the multivariate logistic distribution is introduced with application to the analysis of repeated measurements data. Finally, the results of an investigation into the possible development of a statistical programming language, with particular reference to the fitting of generalised linear models, are considered. An implementation of such a language is reported and some features of the language illustrated

Injury in Ireland

Injury mortality is the fourth commonest cause of death in Ireland. The treatment of injuries has a major impact on our hospitals and on our budget for health. Long term disability following accidents is a serious problem. The aim of this report is to examine the impact of accidents and injuries on the Irish population by analysing routine mortality and morbidity data, and to identify in turn those areas where preventive measures could have an impact. In Section One the literature review details the advantages and disadvantages of each type of routine data source used in this report. The interpretation of data should take account of the constraints of the available data collected. The usefulness of routine data collection is highlighted, while identifying areas for improvement. In Section Two the methodology employed in the study is detailed. In Section Three data on hospital admissions over a five-year period 1993-1997 are presented. An overview of injury admissions is presented, followed by further analysis of injury data by both cause and by age group. In Section Four data on all accident-related deaths over a 17-year period, 1980-1996, are presented, with overall mortality data and mortality data by age group and by major causes of injury death detailed. In Section Five comparisons are made between the eight health board regions for rates of admissions and deaths due to injury. In presenting the data we use a matrix format devised and recommended by the International Collaborative Effort on Injury Statistics to display injury simultaneously by cause and intent. The use of a common format will also facilitate regional and international comparisons. In Section Six the priority recommendations for injury prevention are outlined. The key findings are then discussed and further recommendations are presented with the aim of injury prevention, reduction of disability and improvement in injury surveillance

Cross-Burning Is Not a Threat: Constitutional Protection for Hate Speech - R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul

Note

The incidental learning of spelling through reading

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University, 1947. This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

The Effect of Pulping Upon the Dimensions of Wood Tracheids

The dimensions of the fibres in oven-dry blocks of wood from three species (white spruce, Douglas-fir, and larch) were deduced from measurements of bulk density and the number of fibres per unit cross-sectional area. The blocks were then cooked by the soda process to various yields, and the fibre dimensions were redetermined after the blocks had been washed and oven-dried.The weight of the fibres per unit length decreased almost in proportion to the yield loss, being reduced at 40% yield to 42% of its value in wood. This finding indicates that the fibres were shortened to only a small extent by pulping (ca. 4% at 40% yield) and that the major changes were in the transverse dimensions of the fibres. At 40% yield, cell-wall thickness and fibre width were respectively reduced to 52.5% and 84% of their original values. The results were independent of wood species.The changes in the dimensions of the fibres are in keeping with current concepts of the structure of the cell wall

Hobbes' corporeal God

This thesis focuses on Thomas Hobbes’ conception of a corporeal God and its role within his overall philosophical system. I show that Hobbes’ corporeal God was not a late development within his system but was something which was present from his early works. To this end, my aim is twofold. First, I offer a mainly literal and sincere interpretation of both Hobbes’ ontology and his corporeal God. I establish that Hobbes’ reliance upon God as motion – to account for all aspects of the natural world – is consistent with his explicit position that certain knowledge of the operations of the natural world is impossible. The central claim I make is that Hobbes sought to do more than merely find a way of preserving an abstract conception of God and, instead, wanted God to be an integral part of the universe. I argue that Hobbes achieved this by equating his corporeal God with motion: the constant effect of Hobbes’ corporeal God-as-motion on extension is responsible for the manifestation of the natural world. Secondly, I situate Hobbes’ corporeal God within its contemporaneous context. I argue that while Hobbes’ characterization of his ontological system is certainly unusual, its purpose was not. Hobbes was seeking to account for the activity of the natural world alongside a passive understanding of bodies. I illustrate the strong parallels as well as the important differences between Hobbes’ system and that of Henry More, Ralph Cudworth and Margaret Cavendish. To this end, I argue that Hobbes’ system can be understood as a form of partially extended substance-dualism. I argue that if we must classify Hobbes’ position with a philosophical label then we should understand his ontological theory as a modified form of Stoicism