cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Impact of controlling the sum of error probability in the sequential probability ratio test
Creators: name: PRADHAN, BIJOY KUMARR; Department Of Statistics    Utkal University, Bhubaneswar
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: A generalized modified method is proposed to control the sum of error probabilities in sequential probability ratio test to minimize the weighted average of the two average sample numbers under a simple null hypothesis and a simple alternative hypothesis with the restriction that the sum of error probabilities is a pre-assigned constant to find the optimal sample size and finally a comparison is done with the optimal sample size found from fixed sample size procedure. The results are applied to the cases when the random variate follows a normal law as well as Bernoullian law.
description: Statistica; Vol 67, No 4 (2007); 351-366
Bernstein-type approximation using the beta-binomial distribution
Creators: name: PALLINI, ANDREA; Dipartimento Di Statistica E Matematica   Applicata All’Economia Università Di Pisa
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: The Bernstein-type approximation using the beta-binomial distribution is proposed and studied. Both univariate and multivariate Bernstein-type approximations are studied. The uniform convergence and the degree of approximation are studied. The Bernsteintype estimators of smooth functions of population means are also proposed and studied.
description: Statistica; Vol 67, No 4 (2007); 367-387
On bivariate geometric distribution
Creators: name: JAYAKUMAR, K.; Department Of Statistics-University Of Calicut, India
name: MUNDASSERY, DAVIS ANTONY; Department Of Statistics-University Of Calicut
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: Characterizations of bivariate geometric distribution using univariate and bivariate geometric compounding are obtained. Autoregressive models with marginals as bivariate geometric distribution are developed. Various bivariate geometric distributions analogous to important bivariate exponential distributions like, Marshall-Olkin’s bivariate exponential, Downton’s bivariate exponential and Hawkes’ bivariate exponential are presented.
description: Statistica; Vol 67, No 4 (2007); 389-404
On Generating the Irredundant Conjunctive And Disjunctive Normal Forms Of Monotone Boolean Functions
Creators: name: Gurvich, Vladimir
name: Khachiyan, Leonid
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 1995

description: Let f:{0,1}n→{0,1} be a monotone Boolean function whose value at any point x∈{0,1}n can be determined in time t. Denote by the irredundant CNF of f, where C is the set of the prime implicates of f. Similarly, let be the irredundant DNF of the same function, where D is the set of the prime implicants of f. We show that given subsets C′⊆C and D′⊆D such that (C′,D′)≠(C,D), a new term in (C⧹C′)∪(D⧹D′) can be found in time , where m=|C′|+|D′|. In particular, if f(x) can be evaluated for every x∈{0,1}n in polynomial time, then the forms c and d can be jointly generated in incremental quasi-polynomial time. On the other hand, even for the class of ∧,∨-formulae f of depth 2, i.e., for CNFs or DNFs, it is unlikely that uniform sampling from within the set of the prime implicates and implicants of f can be carried out in time bounded by a quasi-polynomial 2polylog(·) in the input size of f. We also show that for some classes of polynomial-time computable monotone Boolean functions it is NP-hard to test either of the conditions D′=D or C′=C. This provides evidence that for each of these classes neither conjunctive nor disjunctive irredundant normal forms can be generated in total (or incremental) quasi-polynomial time. Such classes of monotone Boolean functions naturally arise in game theory, networks and relay contact circuits, convex programming, and include a subset of ∧,∨-formulae of depth 3.
Vision loss, vision difficulty and psychological distress in South Africa: results from SANHANES-1
Creators: name: Akuffo, Kwadwo O
name: Sewpaul, Ronel
name: Darrah, Samson
name: Dukhi, Natisha
name: Kumah, David B
name: Agyei-Manu, Eldad
name: Addo, Emmanuel K
name: Asare, Akosua Kesewah
name: Duah Jr, Isaiah Osei
name: Reddy, Priscilla
Publisher: name: BioMed Central
Year: 2021

description: Background: Psychological distress in vision impairments and blindness is a complex issue and a major public health concern. Sudden adjustments in routine lifestyle and career aspirations in such persons culminate in and/or aggravate their level of stress. Yet, psychological distress in persons with visual difficulties and vision loss in South Africa is poorly understood. We investigated the association between psychological distress and self-reported vision difficulties as well as clinician-assessed vision loss using data from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1). Methods: Data was analysed on participants aged ≥ 15 years who participated in the SANHANES-1 clinical examinations and interviews. Data on demographic, socio-economic, and health status variables were gathered using a structured questionnaire. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10). Vision assessment was conducted by clinicians adhering to standard protocols as well as by participants’ subjective response to vision-related questions. Vision loss was defined as presenting visual acuity worse than Snellen 6/12 in the better eye. Bivariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to examine the association between vision parameters and psychological distress. Results: The analytic sample comprised 6859 participants with mean age of 38.4 years (60.8% females). The prevalence of psychological distress was 19.9%. After adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic, health risk and eye care variables, self-reported myopia (mild adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–2.7; moderate AOR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.6–3.7; severe AOR = 3.6, 95% CI 1.8–7.3) and self-reported hyperopia (mild AOR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.5; moderate AOR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.5–3.8; severe AOR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.8–6.8) were significantly associated with psychological distress. While psychological distress was higher in patients with clinician assessed vision loss than those with normal vision, the association was not statistically significant after adjusting for confounders (AOR: 1.0, 95% CI 0.7–1.4). Conclusions: Persons who self-reported vision difficulty experienced a higher prevalence of psychological distress. Therefore, comprehensive psychological care is needed for patients with eye disease or vision difficulties as part of a governmental strategy to provide mental health care for all South Africans.
Demographics of bulge types within 11 Mpc and implications for galaxy evolution
Creators: name: Fisher, Deanne
name: Drory, Niv
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: We present an inventory of galaxy bulge types (elliptical galaxy, classical bulge, pseudobulge, and bulgeless galaxy) in a volume-limited sample within the local 11Mpc sphere using Spitzer 3.6 μm and Hubble Space Telescope data. We find that whether counting by number, star formation rate, or stellar mass, the dominant galaxy type in the local universe has pure disk characteristics (either hosting a pseudobulge or being bulgeless). Galaxies that contain either a pseudobulge or no bulge combine to account for over 80% of the number of galaxies above a stellar mass of 109 M. Classical bulges and elliptical galaxies account for 1/4, and disks for 3/4 of the stellar mass in the local 11Mpc. About 2/3 of all star formation in the local volume takes place in galaxies with pseudobulges. Looking at the fraction of galaxies with different bulge types as a function of stellar mass, we find that the frequency of classical bulges strongly increases with stellar mass, and comes to dominate above 1010.5 M. Galaxies with pseudobulges dominate at 10 9.5-1010.5 M . Yet lower-mass galaxies are most likely to be bulgeless. If pseudobulges are not a product of mergers, then the frequency of pseudobulges in the local universe poses a challenge for galaxy evolution models.
Programming language data structures: a comparative study
Creators: name: Othmer, Bobbie Ann
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 1974

description: Recently, Scott and Strachey [7,8] developed a mathematical semantics for programming languages. In their theory a program is viewed as a function on the set of states of the computation. To identify the function associated with a program via the semantics, two additional functions are defined, the environment function and the store function. In order that these two functions are well-defined, one must specify their domains and ranges; Strachey [9] proposed that a study of these two functions and their domains and ranges would reveal the basic structure of a language and clarify underlying differences between languages. He carried out such a study for Algol 60 and PAL. In this report we follow Strachey's approach and specify the domain and range structure of the two functions for Algol 60, Fortran IV, and SNOBOL4. The following section contains the definitions of the basic functions, domains, and ranges from the general theory. In section 3 the domain and range structure is given for each of the three languages. In the last section we compare the domain and range structure of the three languages and close with a discussion of the utility of this approach to characterizing programming languages.
Lower And Upper Bounds For Incremental Algorithms
Creators: name: Berman, A. Michael
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 1992

description: An incremental algorithm (also called a dynamic update algorithm) updates the answer to some problem after an incremental change is made in the input. We examine methods for bounding the performance of such algorithms. First, quite general but relatively weak bounds are considered, along with a careful examination of the conditions under which they hold. Next, a more powerful proof method, the Incremental Relative Lower Bound is presented, along with its application to a number of important problems. We then examine an alternative approach, δ-analysis, which had been proposed previously, apply it to several new problems and show how it can be extended. For the specific problem of updating the transitive closure of an acyclic digraph, we present the first known incremental algorithm that is efficient in the δ-analysis sense. Finally, we critique the existing approaches to incremental lower bounds, examining their strengths and weaknesses in light of the general goal of lower bounding incremental algorithms, and considering under what conditions which method(s) of analysis are most appropriate and useful.
Recurrence of Basal Plate Myofibers with Further Consideration of Pathogenesis
Creators: name: Heller, Debra
name: Wyand, Rachel
name: Cramer, Stewart F.
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 2018
Subjects: Basal plate myofibers
Morbid adherence
Accreta
Placenta

description: Objectives: Basal plate myofibers (BPMF) may indicate morbid adherence. We assessed recurrence and clinical progression of BPMF. Methods: In 5 years, 135 BPMF placentas were reported. Controls were the first 50 placentas in 2009, none of which had reported BPMF. Results: 32% of BPMF patients had other placentas, with a recurrence rate of 100%. Actin stains were needed for diagnosis in 117/179 cases (65%). These cases had clinical features suggestive of morbid adherence in 69/117 (59%.) 23/47 (49%) of BPMF recurrences progressed in severity, 5 to hysterectomy (11%). Thinning of the basal plate, perforating vessels, gaps in the basal plate, and villi under the basal plate were observed in BPMF placentas. Conclusions: These findings appear to validate screening for BPMF. The 100% recurrence rate suggests evaluation for a heritable factor, i.e., protease inhibitor deficiency, which may explain pre-delivery basal plate damage.
A hierarchical spectral clustering and nonlinear dimensionality reduction scheme for detection of prostate cancer from magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)
Creators: name: Tiwari, Pallavi
name: Rosen, Mark
name: Madabhushi, Anant
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 2009
Subjects: magnetic resonance spectroscopy
computer-aided diagnosis
Diagnostic imaging
Prostate--Cancer
nonlinear dimensionality reduction
hierarchical clustering
unsupervised classification
Magnetic Resonance Imaging

description: In this article the authors present a novel CAD scheme that integrates nonlinear dimensionality reduction (NLDR) with an unsupervised hierarchical clustering algorithm to automatically identify suspicious regions on the prostate using MRS and hence avoids the need to explicitly identify metabolite peaks.
Cannabis use, sedentary behavior, and physical activity in a nationally representative sample of US adults
Creators: name: Ong, Lydia Q.
name: Bellettiere, John
name: Alvarado, Citlali
name: Chavez, Paul
name: Berardi, Vincent
Publisher: name: BioMed Central
Year: 2021

description: Background: Prior research examining the relationship between cannabis use, sedentary behavior, and physical activity has generated conflicting findings, potentially due to biases in the self-reported measures used to assess physical activity. This study aimed to more precisely explore the relationship between cannabis use and sedentary behavior/physical activity using objective measures. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 2,092 participants (ages 20–59; 48.8% female) had accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Participants were classified as light, moderate, frequent, or non-current cannabis users depending on how often they used cannabis in the previous 30 days. Multivariable linear regression estimated minutes in sedentary behavior/physical activity by cannabis use status. Logistic regression modeled self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in relation to current cannabis use. Results: Fully adjusted regression models indicated that current cannabis users’ accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior did not significantly differ from non-current users. Frequent cannabis users engaged in more physical activity than non-current users. Light cannabis users had greater odds of self-reporting physical activity compared to non-current users. Conclusions: This study is the first to evaluate the relationship between cannabis use and accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior and physical activity. Such objective measures should be used in other cohorts to replicate our findings that cannabis use is associated with greater physical activity and not associated with sedentary behavior in order to fully assess the potential public health impact of increases in cannabis use.
Human rights-based instruction in the library classroom
Creators: name: Gasparotto, Melissa
Publisher: name: Library Juice Press
Year: 2021
Subjects: Human Rights Education
Library Instruction
Area Studies (Arts or Humanities)
Latin American Studies

description: This paper suggests the simultaneous consideration of three documents, UNESCO’s R.O.A.M. Internet Universality Principles, the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy, as resulting in a fruitful conceptual roadmap for the development of a hu-man rights education practice in libraries. I discuss my experiences using these documents in one-shot bibliographic instruction sessions as well as semester-long courses, within the larger goal of facilitating thoughtful student engagement with global information ecologies. I propose ways that librarians can leverage human rights education practices to create opportunities for student self-reflection that have meaning beyond the space of the classroom, and help them develop awareness around the global impact of their participation in the local in-formation economy.
description: Additionally, these experiences suggest that the reflective practices involved in creating such classroom spaces for our students have the potential to impact the profession of area studies librarianship itself, reinforcing the value of connecting instructional activities to the everyday experiences of people around the world in an effort to promote respect for human rights. In centering the presence of those separated by borders, we create deeper consciousness of the global impact of our actions, and further align our work with the core professional values of librarianship.
Countering Enclosure: Reclaiming the Knowledge Commons
Creators: name: Kranich, Nancy
Publisher: name: MIT Press
Year: 2006
Subjects: Knowledge commons
Information commons
Enclosure

description: Numerous forces are enclosing the knowledge commons and threatening the sustainability of scholarly communication. This chapter describes strategies deployed to counter enclosure, many of which are undertaken through the collective action of librarians and scholars working together worldwide. It then considers alternative models for delivering research resources that expand access and participation, as well as the role of research libraries in these efforts. It also discusses the challenges to achieving these new operational modes. The author then proposes some designs for governance structures, financial models, and advocacy efforts that will help transform the academy into a 21st century institution that organizes, safeguards, preserves and promotes the knowledge assets of the scholarly community. Finally, the author suggests research that is needed to advance theory and practice related to the development of sustainable knowledge commons in the digital age.
Defining flow sensitivity in data flow problems
Creators: name: Burke, Michael G.
name: Marlowe, Thomas J.
name: Ryder, Barbara G.
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 1995

description: Since Banning first introduced flow sensitivity in 1978, the term has been used to indicate hard or complex data flow problems, but there is no consensus as to its precise meaning. We look at Banning's original uses of the term and some interpretations they have generated. Then we consider the multiplicity of meanings in more recent interprocedural analyses, categorizing a number of data flow problems. We also classify several recent interprocedural approximation techniques with respect to properties related to sensitivity and discuss additional data flow problem properties. Finally, we propose a definition for flow sensitivity that appears to capture much of the original intent and current use.
A modified Bessel distribution of the second kind
Creators: name: NADARAJAH, SARALEES; School Of Mathematics-University Of Manchester
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: Motivated by a Bayesian inference problem, a modification of the Bessel function distribution is introduced. Various particular cases, expressions for its moments and estimation procedures are derived. An application is illustrated to failure data.
description: Statistica; Vol 67, No 4 (2007); 405-413
The representation of fuzzy knowledge
Creators: name: LeFaivre, Rick
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 1974

description: A new AI programming language (called FUZZY) is introduced which provides a number of facilities for efficiently representing and manipulating fuzzy knowledge. A fuzzy associative net is maintained by the system, and procedures with associated "procedure demons" may be defined for the control of fuzzy processes. Such standard AI language features as a pattern-directed data access and procedure invocation mechanism and a backtrack control structure are also available. This paper examines some general techniques for representing fuzzy knowledge in FUZZY, including the use of the associative net for the explicit representation of fuzzy sets and fuzzy relations, and the use of "deduce procedures" to implicitly define fuzzy sets, logical combinations of fuzzy sets, linguistic hedges, and fuzzy algorithms. The role of inference in a fuzzy environment is also discussed, and a technique for computing fuzzy inferences in FUZZY is examined. The programming language FUZZY is implemented in LISP, and is currently running on a UNIVAC 1110 computer.
A combinatorial procedure for constructing D-optimal exact designs
Creators: name: ONUKOGU, IKE BASIL; Department Of Statistics-University Of Nigeria, Nsukka Enugu State
name: IWUNDU, MARY PASCAL; Department Of Mathematics/Statistics- University Of Port-Harcourt Rivers State
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: The basic problem considered in this paper may be stated as follows: find an N-point exact design measure which maximizes the determinant of the information matrix of a given response function. The combinatorial algorithm introduced in the paper reaches the global D-optimal design quite rapidly and a comparison against the variance exchange algorithm is indicated.
description: Statistica; Vol 67, No 4 (2007); 415-523
Capillary Drop Penetration Method to Characterize the Liquid Wetting of Powders
Creators: name: Callegari, Gerardo
name: Liu, Zhanjie
name: Wang, Yifan
name: Muzzio, Fernando J.
name: Drazer, German
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 2017

description: We present a method to characterize the wettability of powders, based on the penetration dynamics of a sessile drop deposited on a slightly compressed powder bed. First, we show that a direct comparison of the wetting properties of different liquids is possible without having to solve the three-dimensional liquid penetration problem, by considering the appropriate dimensionless variables. We show that the contact area between the sessile drop and the powder bed remains constant during the penetration process and demonstrate that, as a result, the evolution of the dimensionless penetration volume is given by a universal function of the dimensionless time, with no dimensionless parameters. Then, using a reference liquid that completely wets the powder it is possible to obtain an effective contact angle for a test liquid of interest, independent of other properties of the powder bed, such as permeability and characteristic pore size. We apply the proposed method to estimate the contact angle of water with different powder blends, by using silicone oil as the reference liquid. Finally, to highlight the potential of the proposed method to characterize pharmaceutical powders we consider a blend of Lactose, Acetaminophen and a small amount of lubricant (Magnesium Stearate). The proposed method adequately captures a large increase in hydrophobicity that results from exposing the blend to excessive mixing, a well known effect in pharmaceutical industry.
Predicting the severity of symptoms of the COVID stress syndrome from personality traits : A prospective network analysis
Creators: name: Taylor, Steven
name: Fong, Allan
name: Asmundson, Gordon J. G.
Publisher: name: Frontiers
Year: 2021

description: Psychological stress reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic are complex and multifaceted. Research provides evidence of a COVID Stress Syndrome (CSS), consisting of (1) worry about the dangerousness of getting infected with SARSCoV2 and coming into contact with infected surfaces, (2) worry concerning the personal socioeconomic consequences of COVID-19, (3) xenophobic fears that SARSCOV2 is being spread by foreigners, (4) COVID-19-related traumatic stress symptoms (e.g., nightmares), and (5) compulsive checking and reassurance-seeking about COVID-19. Little is known about how these symptoms are related to vulnerability and protective personality factors. Based on data from 1,976 US and Canadian adults, we conducted a prospective network analysis in which personality factors were initially assessed at Time 1 and then symptoms of the CSS were assessed at Time 2, 2.5 months later. Results indicated that trait optimism and trait resilience were negatively associated with negative emotionality, suggesting a modulatory (inhibitory) influence. Negative emotionality was positively linked to the narrower traits of intolerance of uncertainty and health anxiety proneness. These narrower traits, in turn, were prospectively linked to symptoms of the CSS. Results suggest that the effects of broad personality traits (e.g., negative emotionality, trait resilience) on symptoms of the CSS were mediated by narrower traits such as the intolerance of uncertainty. Treatment implications are discussed.
A Ten Year Analysis of Dissertation Bibliographies from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Rutgers University
Creators: name: Gasparotto, Melissa
Publisher: name: Emerald
Year: 2014
Subjects: Citation analysis
Bibliographic analysis
Doctoral dissertations
Dissertations, Academic
Spanish linguistics
Spanish literature
Rutgers University

description: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze the bibliography citations from dissertations submitted to the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Rutgers University from the ten-year period of 2003-2012. The objective of the analysis is to aid in collection development decisions,facilitate outreach to graduate students in the department and to understand possible changes in disciplinary methodologies and research needs in the field over the last decade. Design/methodology/approach – Descriptive research design was used for the study. Bibliography citation data were extracted from all dissertations submitted to the Department of Spanish and Portuguese from the period 2003-2012. Statistical analysis was performed on the collected citation data, and conclusions were drawn from the results. Findings – The study demonstrates that, despite the oft-mentioned “decline of the monograph”, the monograph remains very heavily used by PhD students in Spanish and Portuguese at Rutgers University, and that monographs continue to be cited at significantly higher rates and for longer periods than journal articles. This holds true for the humanities dissertations in Spanish literature as well as social science dissertations in Spanish linguistics. The study further finds that open access journals in Spanish literature are cited more frequently than closed access journals. Practical implications – The findings suggest that it is more user-responsive to allocate retrospective collections funds for filling in monographic gaps than journal coverage gaps, as journal articles are cited less frequently and for shorter periods, while monographs are cited more frequently and for slightly longer periods after they are published. The findings also suggest that current monographic expenditures be maintained or augmented to continue serving current and future graduate student research needs in Spanish and Portuguese. Further, the large number of monograph chapters cited suggests that book chapter document delivery services could be an important addition to a library’s suite of services if it is not already provided. Originality/value – This paper is the first analysis of Spanish and Portuguese dissertations conducted at Rutgers University and provides important contextual information for meeting the research needs of graduate students in the department through collection development and related services.Other research has documented that dissertation citation patterns are at least partially predictive of faculty citation patterns, making the findings of this study applicable to serving faculty research and collections needs in the department, as well. The findings are relevant to collection development, access services and librarian-department liaison relationships.
Perpetual asphalt pavements - design enhancement
Creators: name: Yousefdoost, Saeed
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: This research explores a new asphalt mix design methodology to facilitate implementation of the perpetual asphalt pavement design concept in Australia. By achieving perpetual status, pavements will only require periodic resurfacing without experiencing any major structural deterioration. This translates to significant cost savings in construction and rehabilitation of flexible pavements by providing a longer service life for the road assets and minimising user delays.
A multivariate framework to explore firms’ internationalization patterns: the role of individual heterogeneity
Creators: name: CALIA, PINUCCIA; Department Of Statistics-University Of Bologna
name: FERRANTE, MARIA ROSARIA; Department Of Statistics-University Of Bologna
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: In this paper, we explore the internationalization pattern of firms and its relationship with firms’ heterogeneity. Besides the more traditional exports and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), we consider various forms of non-equity internationalization. The use of a Multivariate Probit Model allows us to assess the associations among the choices driving the firms’ internationalization strategy as a whole and, at the same time, to avoid a priori assumptions on the internationalization patterns. From the empirical evidence, two main results emerge. At first, we observe that Italian firms jointly adopt various internalization forms, others than exports and FDI, conditionally to characteristics of the firms. The hypothesis reported in literature of a complementary or subsidiary relationship between exports and FDI is then confirmed also for non-equity internationalization forms. Secondly, we find that the heterogeneity of firms, measured by a large range of variables, has an important role in defining the choice of firms on the patterns of internalization. Thus in this context, we endorse the emerging opinion asserting that various dimensions other than productivity are relevant
description: Statistica; Vol 68, No 1 (2008); 31-55
One-sided and two-sided nonparametric tests for heterogeneity comparisons
Creators: name: ARBORETTI GIANCRISTOFARO, ROSA; Dipartimento Di Matematica-Università Di Ferrara
name: BONNINI, STEFANO; Dipartimento Di Scienze Statistiche- Università Di Padova
name: PESARIN, FORTUNATO; Dipartimento Di Scienze Statistiche- Università Di Padova
name: SALMASO, LUIGI; Dipartimento Di Tecnica E Gestione Dei Sistemi Industriali-Università Di Padova
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: This work consists of an inferential procedure that allows for a solution to the problem of hypothesis testing, in which the objective is that of comparing the heterogeneity of two populations on the basis of sampling data, i.e. to test the hypothesis that the heterogeneity of one population is greater or not equal than that of another. The simulation study ighlights the good behaviour of the tests, i.e. the proposed tests are well approximated and powerful.
description: Statistica; Vol 68, No 1 (2008); 57-69
Autonomous Replication for High Availability in Unstructured P2P Systems
Creators: name: Matias Cuenca-Acuna, Francisco
name: Martin, Richard P.
name: Nguyen, Thu
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 2003

description: We consider the problem of increasing the availability of shared data in peer-to-peer (P2P) systems so that users can access any content, regardless of the current subset of online peers. In particular, we seek to conservatively estimate the amount of excess storage required to achieve a practical availability of 99.9% by studying a decentralized algorithm that only depends on a modest amount of loosely synchronized global state. Our algorithm uses randomized decisions extensively together with a novel application of the Reed Solomon erasure codes to tolerate autonomous member actions as well as staleness in the loosely synchronized global state. We study the behavior of this algorithm under three distinct environments, modeled using data published from earlier studies of a corporate environment, the Napster and Gnutella file sharing communities, and a file sharing community local to students of our University. We show that while peers act autonomously, the community as a whole will reach a relatively stable configuration. We also show that space is used fairly and efficiently, delivering three nines availability at a cost of six times the storage footprint of the data collection when the average peer availability is only 24%.
Some dynamic generalized information measures in the context of weighted models
Creators: name: MAYA, S. S.; Department Of Statistics-Cochin University Of Science And Technology
name: SUNOJ, S. M.; Department Of Statistics-Cochin University Of Science And Technology
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: In this paper, we study some dynamic generalized information measures between a true distribution and an observed (weighted) distribution, useful in life length studies. Further, some bounds and inequalities related to these measures are also studied.
description: Statistica; Vol 68, No 1 (2008); 71-84
Class analysis for testing of polymorphism in Java software
Creators: name: Rountev, Atanas
name: Milanova, Ana
name: Ryder, Barbara G.
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 2001

description: Several coverage criteria have been proposed for testing of polymorphic interactions in object-oriented software. We have built a prototype tool that supports these criteria. This paper describes the overall tool design, and shows how class analysis is used by the tool to compute the coverage requirements. We discuss the importance of analysis precision and the ability to analyze subsets of partial programs. We also show how to modify Rapid Type Analysis [2] to compute the coverage requirements, and present initial empirical evaluation of analysis precision.
Reducing revisions in short-term business surveys
Creators: name: GISMONDI, ROBERTO; ISTAT, Italian National Statistical Institute
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: Timeliness is a driving feature of national economic statistics, especially in a short-term frame. In a survey sampling context, the current practice normally consists in a data release process based on a first preliminary estimate available for users within a short-time, followed by a final estimate, available when the data capturing process is considered completed. The number of preliminary estimates can be higher than one: for each of them the magnitude of revisions can be evaluated, on the basis of the difference respect to the final estimate. In this context, according to a model based approach, we propose and compare some preliminary estimation techniques aimed at reducing the average revision. After the definition of the optimal preliminary estimation strategy when the potential non-response bias is ignored, the case when potential differences between preliminary and late respondents can not be neglected is considered as well, with the proposal of a particular poststratification procedure. Further, an empirical comparison among various provisional estimation strategies has been carried out on the basis of the quarterly wholesale trade survey carried out by ISTAT (Italian National Statistical Institute) for the period 2003-2006, aimed at estimating quarterly changes of the average turnover. Results show that a proper model specification leads to preliminary estimation techniques characterised by an average revision lower than that got using the actual respondents’ sample mean.
description: Statistica; Vol 68, No 1 (2008); 85-116
The Joint Calibration Model in probabilistic weather forecasting: some preliminary issues
Creators: name: AGATI, PATRIZIA; Dipartimento Di Scienze Statistiche “P. Fortunati”-Università Di Bologna
name: CALÒ, DANIELA GIOVANNA; Dipartimento Di Scienze Statistiche “P. Fortunati”-Università Di Bologna
name: STRACQUALURSI, LUISA; Dipartimento Di Scienze Statistiche “P. Fortunati”-Università Di Bologna
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: Ensemble Prediction Systems play today a fundamental role in weather forecasting. They can represent and measure uncertainty, thereby allowing distributional forecasting as well as deterministic-style forecasts. In this context, we show how the Joint Calibration Model (Agati et al., 2007) – based on a modelization of the Probability Integral Transform distribution – can provide a solution to the problem of information combining in probabilistic forecasting of continuous variables. A case study is presented, where the potentialities of the method are explored and the accuracy of deterministic-style forecasts from JCM is compared with that from Bayesian Model Averaging (Raftery et al., 2005).
description: Statistica; Vol 68, No 1 (2008); 117-127
Large-scale simultaneous inference with applications to the detection of differential expression with. (with discussion)
Creators: name: MCLACHLAN, GEOFFREY J.; Department Of Mathematics-University Of Queensland And ARC Centre Of Excellence In Bioinformatics, Institute For Molecular Bioscience-University Of Queensland
name: WANG, KENT; Department Of Mathematics-University Of Queensland
name: NG, SHU-KAY; Department Of Mathematics-University Of Queensland
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: An important problem in microarray experiments is the detection of genes that are differentially expressed in agiven mumber of classes. We consider a straightforward and easily implemented method for estimating the posterior probability that an individual gene is null. The problem can be expressed in a two-component mixture framework, using an empirical Bayes approach. Current methods of implementing this approach either have some limitations due to the minimal assumptions made or with more specific assumptions are computationally intensive. By converting to a z-score the value of the test statistic used to test the significance of each gene, we can use a simple two-component normal mixture to model adequately the distribution of this score. In the context of the application of this approach to a well known breast cancer data set, we consider some of the issues associated with the problem of the detection of differential expression, including the case where there is need for the use of an empirical null distribution in place of the standard normal (the theoretical null) and the case where none of the genes might be differentially expressed. We also describe briefly some initial results on a cluster analysis approach to this problem, which attempts to model the joint distribution of the individual gene expressions. This latter approach thus has to make distributional assumptions which are note necessary with the former approach based on the z-scores. However, in the case where the distributional assumptions are valid, it has the potential to provide a more powerful analysis.
description: Statistica; Vol 68, No 1 (2008); 3-30
Political belonging through elder care: Temporalities, representations and mutuality
Creators: name: Thelen, Tatjana
name: Coe, Cati
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 2017
Subjects: Elder care
State
Care
Europe
Ghana

description: In this article, we examine the ways elder care generates political belonging. Our approach builds on studies which argue that nurture and care create kinship, but takes that argument further by suggesting that care generates membership in numerous social formations, across scales. We suggest that elder care helps illuminate key aspects of political belonging, particularly the temporality of political membership, because elder care entails mutuality and reciprocity over a long period of time. In addition, elder care is an interactive process in which older persons, their caregivers, the state, and other actors negotiate modes of political belonging that entail affect as well as rights. Furthermore, elder care has been used to construct representations of ‘modern’ and ‘traditional’ families which are ideologically connected to particular political formations. These representations generate difference and ‘Othering’ of internal and external populations. Ultimately, we argue that a focus on elder care collapses domains usually kept artificially separated, like kinship and the state, and private and public, in ways that are productive for social analysis as a whole.
Coherence analysis of compressive sensing based magnetic resonance imaging reconstruction
Creators: name: Zhu, Kai
Publisher: name: Swinburne
Year: 2024

description: This thesis focuses on the coherence analysis of compressive sensing-based magnetic resonance imaging reconstruction. One major problem of magnetic resonance imaging is its relatively long data acquisition time. To reduce data acquisition time, a approach is to acquire a portion of raw data. Besides, new encoding methods, such as noiselet encoding, were applied to replace the original Fourier encoding. The original contribution of this thesis is the first coherence analysis of the difference between Fourier encoding and noiselet encoding. The results provide guidance on design for 3-dimensional volume imaging using novel encoding techniques in magnetic resonance imaging.
On some counter-counter-examples about classical inference
Creators: name: FROSINI, BENITO VITTORIO; Dipartimento Di Scienze Statistiche-Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore Di Milano
Publisher: name: Dep. of Statistical Sciences "Paolo Fortunati", Università di Bologna
Year: 2013

description: This paper deals with theoretical concepts and practical examples, aimed at showing that non-Bayesian inference is liable to result in mistakes or unacceptable conclusions, and proves that they are not justified. Section 2 comments on examples when an objective prior distribution exists, and shows how widely one can be mistaken in using a prior quite distant from the real one. Section 3 comments on two results by Godambe, stressing that – in sampling from finite populations – no flat likelihood exists, while an unbiased linear “estimator” with zero variance does not exist, unless we reach a complete knowledge of the population. Section 4 stresses the fundamental difference between a “probability interval” for a parameter, and a “confidence interval” aimed at making inference on the parameter, thus summarizing all certain facts and constraints able to shrink such an inferential interval. Section 5 explains why we are justified in attaching an inductive meaning to a realized confidence interval. Finally, Section 6 counters some well known counter-examples spread in the Bayesian literature, showing that they are unacceptable from a sound inductive basis.
description: Statistica; Vol 68, No 2 (2008); 135-152
Plastid Genotyping Reveals the Uniformity of Cytoplasmic Male Sterile-T Maize Cytoplasms
Creators: name: Bosacchi, Massimo
name: Gurdon, Csanad
name: Maliga, Pal
Publisher: name: Rutgers University
Year: 2015
Subjects: Maize
Corn
Cytoplasm
Plastid genotyping

description: Cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) lines in maize (Zea mays) have been classified by their response to specific restorer genes into three categories: cms-C, cms-S, and cms-T. A mitochondrial genome representing each of the CMS cytotypes has been sequenced, and male sterility in the cms-S and cms-T cytotypes is linked to chimeric mitochondrial genes. To identify markers for plastid genotyping, we sequenced the plastid genomes of three fertile maize lines (B37, B73, and A188) and the B37 cms-C, cms-S, and cms-T cytoplasmic substitution lines. We found that the plastid genomes of B37 and B73 lines are identical. Furthermore, the fertile and CMS plastid genomes are conserved, differing only by zero to three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in coding regions and by eight to 22 SNPs and 10 to 21 short insertions/deletions in noncoding regions. To gain insight into the origin and transmission of the cms-T trait, we identified three SNPs unique to the cms-T plastids and tested the three diagnostic SNPs in 27 cms-T lines, representing the HA, I, Q, RS, and T male-sterile cytoplasms. We report that each of the tested 27 cms-T group accessions have the same three diagnostic plastid SNPs, indicating a single origin and maternal cotransmission of the cms-T mitochondria and plastids to the seed progeny. Our data exclude exceptional pollen transmission of organelles or multiple horizontal gene transfer events as the source of the mitochondrial urf13-T (unidentified reading frame encoding 13-kD cms-T protein) gene in the cms-T cytoplasms. Plastid genotyping enables a reassessment of the evolutionary relationships of cytoplasms in cultivated maize.
title: Trockenschmierung von Wälzkontakten durch atmosphärisch plasmagespritzte selbstregenerative Molybdänoxidschichtsysteme
Creators: name: Dukat, M.
name: Nicolaus, M.
name: Möhwald, K.
name: Maier, H.
name: Konopka, D.
name: Pape, F.
name: Poll, G.
Publisher: name: TU Clausthal
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: 620

description: In der Konzeption und nachhaltigen Realisierung von Maschinenelementen sind Reibschluss und Energieverluste entscheidende Faktoren. Denn Reibung und Verschleiß verursachen jährlich hohe Kosten. In Industrieländern liegt der Verlust durch Reibung und Verschleiß nach aktuellen Schätzungen bei bis zu 7 % des Bruttosozialprodukts. In Anwendungsbereichen in denen Fluide nicht wirken oder nur bedingt eingesetzt werden können bieten die molybdänbasierten Beschichtungen eine Alternative und Unterstützung des Systems. Eine zusätzliche molybdänbasierte Beschichtung sichert die Notlaufeigenschaften bei Ausfall der Ölversorgung und schützt das Maschinenelement weitestgehend. In diesem Vorhaben wurden zunächst molybdänbasierte Beschichtungen auf gehärteten 100Cr6 Flachstahl mittels Atmosphärischen Plasmaspritzens aufgebracht. Anschließend wurden die Schichten hinsichtlich ihrer Morphologie und chemischer Zusammensetzung analysiert. In weiteren Untersuchungen wurden diese Schichtsysteme auf ihre tribologische Beständigkeit hin untersucht. Die gewonnen Kenntnisse sollen dann auf Axialzylinderrollenlager und Großwälzlager transferiert werden.
description: Tagungsband 6. Symposium Materialtechnik: 20. bis 21. Februar 2025
title: Unpacking the Debate on Social Protection Floors
Creators: name: Engström, Viljam
Publisher: name: Institut für Völker- und Europarecht, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Year: 2019

description: Social protection policies have been adopted by numerous international actors and are embedded in a wide array of policy and legislative instruments. Conceptually, social protection is ambiguous. This is also true of its different embodiments, such as the concept of vulnerability, and the idea of protection floors. This article looks at social protection floors as manifested in a human rights-based approach and in the context of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The article situates protection floors in the protection of socio-economic rights, and uses that regime as a reference point for examining the materialization of protection floors in IMF policy-making. Against this background, this article revisits two ongoing debates around social protection: the dichotomy between universalism and targeting, and the capacity to induce change. The article calls for a more nuanced debate on protection floors.
description: Goettingen Journal of International Law ; Vol. 9, no. 3, page 570-599
TMB (Tour du Mont-Blanc)
Creators: name: Lu, Frank
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: TMB

description: The Tour du Mont Blanc or TMB is one of the most popular long-distance walks in Europe. It circles the Mont Blanc massif, covering a distance of roughly 170 kilometres (110 mi) with 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of ascent/descent and passes through parts of Switzerland, Italy and France. It is considered one of the classic long-distance hiking trails. The circular route is normally walked in a counter-clockwise direction in 11 days. It is also the route of an annual mountain marathon in which the men's winner normally covers the entire distance in less than 22 hours (typically less than 26 for female competitors).