Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Visually Adaptive Bayesian Model In Wavelet Regression, Dongfeng Wu

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

The implementation of a Bayesian approach to wavelet regression that corresponds to the human visual system is examined. Most existing research in this area assumes non-informative priors, that is, a prior with mean zero. A new way is offered to implement prior information that mimics a visual inspection of noisy data, to obtain a first impression about the shape of the function that results in a prior with non-zero mean. This visually adaptive Bayesian (VAB) prior has a simple structure, intuitive interpretation, and is easy to implement. Skorohod topology is suggested as a more appropriate measure in signal recovering than …

Estimation Of Multiple Linear Functional Relationships, Amjad D. Al-Nasser

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

This article deals with multiple linear functional relationships models. Two robust estimations procedure are proposed to estimate the model, based on Generalized Maximum Entropy and Partial Least Square. They are distribution free and do not rely (so much) on classical assumptions. The experiments showed that the GME approach outperforms the PLS in terms of mean squares of errors (MSE). Empirical examples are studied.

Validation Studies: Matters Of Dimensionality, Accuracy, And Parsimony With Predictive Discriminant Analysis And Factor Analysis, David A. Walker

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Two studies were used as examples that examined issues of dimensionality, accuracy, and parsimony in educational research via the use of predictive discriminant analysis and factor analysis. Using a two-group problem, study 1 looked at how accurately group membership could be predicted from subjects’ test scores. Study 2 looked at the dimensionality structure of an instrument and if it developed constructs that would measure theorized domains.

A Test-Retest Transition Matrix: A Modification Of Mcnemar’S Test, J. Wanzer Drane, W. Gregory Thatcher

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

McNemar introduced what is known today as a test for symmetry in a two by two contingency tables. The logic of the test is based on a sample of matched pairs with a dichotomous response. In our example, the sample consists of the scores before and after an education program and the responses before and after the program. Each pair of scores is from only one person. The pretest divides the group of responders according to their answers to a dichotomous question. The posttest divides the two groups into two groups of like labels. The result is a two by …

Jmasm11: Comparing Two Small Binomial Proportions, James F. Reed Iii

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A large volume of research has focused on comparing the difference between two small binomial proportions. Statisticians recognize that Fisher’s Exact test and Yates chi-square test are excessively conservative. Likewise, many statisticians feel that Pearson’s Chi-square or the likelihood statistic may be inappropriate for small samples. Viable alternatives exist.

On The Reporting Of Reliability In Content Analysis, Patric R. Spence

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

This article explores one type of misreporting of reliability that has been seen in recent conference papers and articles using the method of content analysis. The reporting of reliability is central to the validity of claims made using this method. A brief overview of content analysis is offered, followed by the exploration of one type of misreporting of reliability. Suggestions are offered to address the problem.

Stratified Extreme Ranked Set Sample With Application To Ratio Estimators, Hani M. Samawai, Laith J. Saeid

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Stratified extreme ranked set sample (SERSS) is introduced. The performance of the combined and separate ratio estimates using SERSS is investigated. Theoretical and simulation study are presented. Results indicate that using SERSS for estimating the ratios is more efficient than using stratified simple random sample (SSRS) and simple random sample (SRS). In some cases it is more efficient than ranked set sample (RSS) and stratified ranked set sample (SRSS), when the underlying distribution is symmetric. An application to real data on the bilirubin level in jaundice babies is introduced to illustrate the method.

Jmasm10: A Fortran Routine For Sieve Bootstrap Prediction Intervals, Andrés M. Alonso

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A Fortran routine for constructing nonparametric prediction intervals for a general class of linear processes is described. The approach uses the sieve bootstrap procedure of Bühlmann (1997) based on residual resampling from an autoregressive approximation to the given process.

Inside Unlv, Gian Galassi, Andy Grossman, Donna Mcaleer, Jennifer Vaughan, Carol C. Harter, Ronald Yasbin

Inside UNLV

No abstract provided.

Depth Based Permutation Test For General Differences In Two Multivariate Populations, Yonghong Gao

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

For two p-dimensional data sets, interest exists in testing if they come from the common population distribution. Proposed is a practical, effective and easy to implement procedure for the testing problem. The proposed procedure is a permutation test based on the concept of the depth of one observation relative to some population distribution. The proposed test is demonstrated to be consistent. A small Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to evaluate the power of the proposed test. The proposed test is applied to some numerical examples.

A Power Comparison Of Robust Test Statistics Based On Adaptive Estimators, H. J. Keselman, Rand R. Wilcox, James Algina, Abdul R. Othman

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Seven test statistics known to be robust to the combined effects of nonnormality and variance heterogeneity were compared for their sensitivity to detect treatment effects in a one-way completely randomized design containing four groups. The six Welch-James-type heteroscedastic tests adopted either symmetric or asymmetric trimmed means, were transformed for skewness, and used a bootstrap method to assess statistical significance. The remaining test, due to Wilcox and Keselman (2003), used a modification of the well-known one-step M-estimator of central tendency rather than trimmed means. The Welch-James-type test is recommended because for nonnormal data likely to be encountered in applied research settings …

Teaching Random Assignment: Do You Believe It Works?, Shlomo S. Sawilowsky

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Textbook authors admonish students to check on the comparability of two randomly assigned groups by conducting statistical tests on pretest means to determine if randomization worked. A Monte Carlo study was conducted on a sample of n = 2 per group, where each participant’s personality profile was represented by 7,500 randomly selected and assigned scores. Independent samples t tests were conducted and the results demonstrated that random assignment was successful in equating the two groups on 7,467 variables. The students’ focus is redirected from the ability of random assignment to create comparable groups to the testing of the claims of …

Accurate Binary Decisions For Assessing Coronary Artery Disease, Mehmet Ali Cengiz

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Generalized linear models offer convenient and highly applicable tools for modeling and predicting the behavior of random variables in terms of observable factors and covariates. This paper investigates applications of a special case of generalized linear model to improve the accuracy of predictions and decisions adopting Bayesian methods, in the specific context of assessing coronary artery disease. The basic model is developed for this application using binary response. The results clearly demonstrate the potential advantages offered by this approach.

A Comparison Of Bayesian And Frequentist Statistics As Applied In A Simple Repeated Measures Example, Jan Perkins, Daniel Wang

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Clinicians see Bayesian and frequentist analysis in published research papers, and need a basic understanding of both. A repeated measures data set was analyzed using both approaches. Assumptions underlying each method and conclusions reached were contrasted. The Bayesian approach is a viable alternative to frequentist statistical analysis for many clinical projects.

Indexing Genomic Databases, Gina Cooper, Michael L. Raymer, Travis E. Doom, Dan E. Krane, Natsuhiko Futamura

Kno.e.sis Publications

Current biological sequence comparison tools utilize full database searches to find approximate matches between a database and a query. A new approach to sequence comparisons can be performed by indexing the database using a novel indexing scheme. An indexed scheme can immediately eliminate highly mismatched sequences thereby improving performance and accuracy. iBlast is proposed as an indexed version of BLAST. In its initial implementation, iBlast uses a sequence-based index to catalog genomic databases in an NCR Teradata RDBMS. Several types of indexes and querying methods are explored to determine the most efficient solution utilizing the parallel nature of the Teradata …

Sempl: A Semantic Portal, Matthew Perry, Eric Stiles

Kno.e.sis Publications

Semantic Web technology is intended for the retrieval, collection, and analysis of meaningful data with significant automation afforded by machine understandability of data [1]. As one illustration of semantic web technology in action, we present SEMPL, a semantic web portal for the Large Scale Distributed Information Systems lab (LSDIS) at the University of Georgia. SEMPL, which is powered by a state of the art commercial system, Semagix Freedom [7], uses an ontology-driven approach to provide semantic browsing, linking, and contextual querying of content within the portal. By using the ontology based information integration technique, SEMPL can specify the context of …

Meteor-S Web Service Annotation Framework, Abhijit A. Patil, Swapna A. Oundhakar, Amit P. Sheth, Kunal Verma

Kno.e.sis Publications

The World Wide Web is emerging not only as an infrastructure for data, but also for a broader variety of resources that are increasingly being made available as Web services. Relevant current standards like UDDI, WSDL, and SOAP are in their fledgling years and form the basis of making Web services a workable and broadly adopted technology. However, realizing the fuller scope of the promise of Web services and associated service oriented architecture will requite further technological advances in the areas of service interoperation, service discovery, service composition, and process orchestration. Semantics, especially as supported by the use of ontologies, …

Structuring A Wayfinder's Dynamic And Uncertain Environment, Michael D. Hendricks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wayfinders typically travel in dynamic environments where barriers and requirements change over time. In many cases, uncertainty exists about the future state of this changing environment. Current geographic information systems lack tools to assist wayfinders in understanding the travel possibilities and path selection options in these dynamic and uncertain settings. The goal of this research is a better understanding of the impact of dynamic and uncertain environments on wayfinding travel possibilities. An integrated spatio-temporal framework, populated with barriers and requirements, models wayfinding scenarios by generating four travel possibility partitions based on the wayfinder's maximum travel speed. Using these partitions, wayfinders …

2004 - The Ninth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Ninth Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 16, 2004. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

Draft Aquaculure Plan For Exmouth Gulf, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries management papers

The Plan’s objective is to provide a sound strategy for developing future aquaculture activities in Exmouth Gulf, while at the same time conserving the unique environment of Exmouth Gulf for present and future generations, and minimising conflict with existing and future users of Exmouth Gulf.

Santa Clara Magazine, Volume 45 Number 4, Spring 2004, Santa Clara University

Santa Clara Magazine

8 - TOP TEACHERS By Elizabeth Kelley Gillogly '93-Meet three SCU professors who received University awards for teaching excellence and curriculum innovations.

10 - BLAZING THE TRAIL By Victoria Hendel De La O. There are many unique challenges and rewards for the hundreds of first-generation college students at SCU.

14 - THE SCU DIFFERENCE By Margaret Avritt. The value of an SCU education goes beyond statistics and scores. Students at this university have experiences that engage and transform them.

18 - MIND OVER MONEY By Hersh Shefrin and Meir Statman. Two SCU professors of finance explore how psychology can help …

The Planet, 2004, Spring, Jessi Leorch, Huxley College Of The Environment, Western Washington University

The Planet

No abstract provided.

On Leverage In A Stochastic Volatility Model, Jun Yu

Research Collection School Of Economics

This paper is concerned with specification for modelling financial leverage effect in the context of stochastic volatility (SV) models. Two alternative specifications co-exist in the literature. One is the Euler approximation to the well known continuous time SV model with leverage effect and the other is the discrete time SV model of Jacquier, Polson and Rossi (2004, Journal of Econometrics, forthcoming). Using a Gaussian nonlinear state space form with uncorrelated measurement and transition errors, I show that it is easy to interpret the leverage effect in the conventional model whereas it is not clear how to obtain the leverage effect …

Liberal Arts - Spring 2004, University Of Mississippi. College Of Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts Newsletters

Transformations creating new homes for visual, performing arts departments

Quality Of Service For Workflows And Web Service Processes, Jorge Cardoso, Amit P. Sheth, John A. Miller, Jonathan Arnold, Krzysztof J. Kochut

Kno.e.sis Publications

Workflow management systems (WfMSs) have been used to support various types of business processes for more than a decade now. In workflows or Web processes for e-commerce and Web service applications, suppliers and customers define a binding agreement or contract between the two parties, specifying quality of service (QoS) items such as products or services to be delivered, deadlines, quality of products, and cost of services. The management of QoS metrics directly impacts the success of organizations participating in e-commerce. Therefore, when services or products are created or managed using workflows or Web processes, the underlying workflow engine must accept …

Comparison Of Solvent Regimes For The Extraction Of Photosynthetic Pigments From Leaves Of Higher Plants, J. L. Dunn, J. D. Turnbull, Sharon A. Robinson

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The relative efficiency of methanol- and acetone-based solvents for the extraction of pigments from photosynthetic tissues of plant was compared, together with the advantages of multiple versus single extractions. The two commonly employed triple acetone extractions (100:80:80% and 85:100:100%) performed comparably for most pigments and for all plant species tested. Single extractions with either 96% methanol or 85% acetone failed to extract the more hydrophobic pigments, especially ?-carotene. We conclude that multiple extractions that combine pure and aqueous (80–85%) acetone are preferable for extraction of the full range of pigments. These results suggest that previous studies that have utilised aqueous …

Nativeness, Invasiveness And Nation In Australian Plants, Lesley M. Head, Pat Muir

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The conceptualization of alien invasive species conflates two axes of variability that have become unhelpfully blurred. The nativeness/alienness axis refers to the presumed belonging of a species in ecological or social space. Invasiveness refers to the behavior of the species in question, particularly in relation to other species. The overlay of nation introduces further variability. Teasing these axes apart is important for more effective environmental management. We examine these concepts using two influential forms of ecological knowledge: the biogeographical and ecological literature and the vernacular experiences of suburban backyarders. Three case studes, the invasive native Pittosporum undulatum and two invasive …

A Spatial Analysis Of The Impact Of Development On Wetland Habitat In Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Jenna Medlin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In response to growing concerns over wetland habitat loss and the associated impact on water resources, federal and state legislation has been enacted to protect vulnerable wetland habitats from the impacts of humans. In order to examine the efficacy of current coastal resource policy and its implementation, a study was conducted in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, a coastal city of the Atlantic, focusing on the quantification of wetland habitat change over time within a specific area of interest. The study incorporated an assessment of the effects of escalating population pressures and subsequent urban development on local wetland habitats due to …

Shifting Sands: The Limits Of Science In Setting Risk Standards, Cary Coglianese, Gary E. Marchant

All Faculty Scholarship

Regulators need to rely on science to understand problems and predict the consequences of regulatory actions, but over reliance on science can actually contribute to, or at least deflect attention from, incoherent policymaking. In this article, we explore the problems with using science to justify policy decisions by analyzing the Environmental Protection Agency's recently revised air quality standards for ground-level ozone and particulate matter, some of the most significant regulations ever issued. In revising these standards, EPA mistakenly invoked science as the exclusive basis for its decisions and deflected attention from a remarkable series of inconsistencies. For example, even though …

Bio-Optical Properties Of The Arctic Waters: Empirical And Theoretical Observations, Jian Wang

OES Theses and Dissertations

Bio-optical observations were made during August 2000 in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. Chlorophyll a concentration (Chl) ranged from 0.068 to 18.51 mg chl m⁻³. Both total particulate and phytoplankton absorption at 443 nm were closely correlated with chlorophyll concentration. There is no strong correlation between chlorophyll concentration and absorption by soluble materials or nonpigmented particulates. Absorption, scattering, and attenuation all show strong first-order spectral relationships. Two semianalytical remote sensing reflectance models were evaluated and validated using bio-optical data collected in this region. Both models were proficient at retrieving chlorophyll concentration, phytoplankton absorption coefficients, and particulate backscattering coefficients. …