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\textbf{\large Acknowledgement}
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There are many people whose help has been invaluable to finishing this dissertation.

First and foremost, I want to thank my advisor and committee chair, Professor DuBois Bowman, the best advisor I could have imagined to have. Professor Bowman has guided me throughout my graduate study, since my first year in the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics at Emory. During these years, I have learned so much from him and am deeply indebted to him for many hours of insightful discussions, constant encouragement, and for his endless patience. The breath and depth of his scientific knowledge, and his ideas, enthusiasm, and support made my Ph.D. experience productive and stimulating. It has been an honor to be Professor Bowman's student.

My special thanks go to the members of my dissertation committee, Professor Ying Guo, Professor Amita Manatunga, and our department chair, Professor Lance Waller, for their guidance and helpful discussions. Their door has always been open for me when I needed advice or guidance, while their comments and suggestions have greatly improved the presentation of my dissertation. 

I am extremely grateful to Professor Clint Kilts from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory, to whom I owe most of my knowledge about brain functioning and brain disorders. Professor Kilts has been a great advisor and collaborator - his help and guidance throughout my research in the area of neuroimaging has been invaluable. He is extremely knowledgeable, a well-known expert in his area, and I have been very fortunate to have had an opportunity to work with him and his research team. Professor Kilts is now a director of the Brain Imaging Research Center at the University of Arkansas.

I am also extremely grateful and fortunate to have had the opportunity to be enrolled in, and supported by, the neuroimaging track of the Biostatistics in Genetics, Immunology, and Neuroimaging (BGIN) training program at Emory.  The program has given me a great opportunity to pursue my true interests during my dissertation research.  It has also been a great experience (which I hope will continue) to be a member of the Center for Biomedical Imaging statistics (CBIS) at Emory. Our weekly meetings have been very constructive, inspirational and fun.

Many thanks to my colleagues and friends, and the department faculty and staff, for making my time at Emory University memorable.

Most importantly, none of this would have been possible without the love and patience of my family. My special gratitude is due to my parents Ana and Juraj and to my brother Ivan for their loving support throughout my education and my life. Last but not least, my most heartfelt gratitude goes to my husband Josip and my wonderful children Luka and Tony. Without their love, encouragement, patience, and belief in me it would have been impossible for me to complete this work.


