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Semi-Parametric Of Sample Selection Model Using Fuzzy Concepts, L. Muhamad Safiih, A. A. Kamil, M. T. Abu Osman

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

The sample selection model has been studied in the context of semi-parametric methods. With the deficiencies of the parametric model, such as inconsistent estimators, semi-parametric estimation methods provide better alternatives. This article focuses on the context of fuzzy concepts as a hybrid to the semiparametric sample selection model. The better approach when confronted with uncertainty and ambiguity is to use the tools provided by the theory of fuzzy sets, which are appropriate for modeling vague concepts. A fuzzy membership function for solving uncertainty data of a semi-parametric sample selection model is introduced as a solution to the problem.

Performance Ratings Of An Autocovariance Base Estimator (Abe) In The Estimation Of Garch Model Parameters When The Normality Assumption Is Invalid, Daniel Eni

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

The performance of an autocovariance base estimator (ABE) for GARCH models against that of the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) if a distribution assumption is wrongly specified as normal was studied. This was accomplished by simulating time series data that fits a GARCH model using the Log normal and t-distributions with degrees of freedom of 5, 10 and 15. The simulated time series was considered as the true probability distribution, but normality was assumed in the process of parameter estimations. To track consistency, sample sizes of 200, 500, 1,000 and 1,200 were employed. The two methods were then used to analyze …

A Linear B-Spline Threshold Dose-Response Model With Dose-Specific Response Variation Applied To Developmental Toxicity Studies, Chin-Shang Li, Daniel L. Hunt

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A linear B-spline function was modified to model dose-specific response variation in developmental toxicity studies. In this new model, response variation is assumed to differ across dose groups. The model was applied to a developmental toxicity study and proved to be significant over the previous model of singular response variation.

Jmasm28: Gibbs Sampling For 2pno Multi-Unidimensional Item Response Theory Models (Fortran), Yanyan Sheng, Todd C. Headrick

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

A Fortran 77 subroutine is provided for implementing the Gibbs sampling procedure to a multiunidimensional IRT model for binary item response data with the choice of uniform and normal prior distributions for item parameters. In addition to posterior estimates of the model parameters and their Monte Carlo standard errors, the algorithm also estimates the correlations between distinct latent traits. The subroutine requires the user to have access to the IMSL library. The source code is available at http://www.siuc.edu/~epse1/sheng/Fortran/MUIRT/GSMU2.FOR. An executable file is also provided for download at http://www.siuc.edu/~epse1/sheng/Fortran/MUIRT/EXAMPLE.zip to demonstrate the implementation of the algorithm on simulated data.

Markov Modeling Of Breast Cancer, Chunling Cong, Chris P. Tsokos

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Previous work with respect to the treatments and relapse time for breast cancer patients is extended by applying a Markov chain to model three different types of breast cancer patients: alive without ever having relapse, alive with relapse, and deceased. It is shown that combined treatment of tamoxifen and radiation is more effective than single treatment of tamoxifen in preventing the recurrence of breast cancer. However, if the patient has already relapsed from breast cancer, single treatment of tamoxifen would be more appropriate with respect to survival time after relapse. Transition probabilities between three stages during different time periods, 2-year, …

Modeling And Simulation Of Interactions Between Blast Waves And Structures For Blast Wave Mitigation, Wen Peng

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Explosions occur in military conflicts as well as in various industrial applications. Air blast waves generated by large explosions move outward with high velocity, pressure and temperature. The blast waves not only incapacitate military and civilian personnel, but also damages buildings, vehicles, and other properties. Hence, there has been extensive research on how to mitigate blast wave effects. Understanding the interactions between blast waves and structures is a very important step in the development of devices for blast wave mitigation. The objective of this dissertation is to explore the complicated physical problem of blast waves impacting structures. The structures comprise …

November 2009 Newsletter, Career Center, Illinois Wesleyan University

Career Connections Newsletter

Issue Highlights:

• Alumni Profile of Lisa Dieter, Class of 2002: Investment Manager
• Advice on a music career
• Advice on sports career
• What is the Career Insider?

Between A Rock And A Soft Place: Ecological And Feminist Economics In Policy Debates, Julie A. Nelson

Economics Faculty Publication Series

The field of ecological economics includes both economic analysis on the one hand, and discussions of normative values and visions for society, on the other. Using feminist insights into cultural beliefs about the relative “hardness” and “softness” of these two sides, this essay discusses how ecological economists can use this unique “between” space in order to better inform policy. The current crisis of global climate change, it is argued, requires that economists move beyond modeling and measurement, while ecological thinkers need to re-examine beliefs about markets and profit.

New Effect Size Rules Of Thumb, Shlomo S. Sawilowsky

Theoretical and Behavioral Foundations of Education Faculty Publications

Recommendations to expand Cohen’s (1988) rules of thumb for interpreting effect sizes are given to include very small, very large, and huge effect sizes. The reasons for the expansion, and implications for designing Monte Carlo studies, are discussed.

Impact Of Rank-Based Normalizing Transformations On The Accuracy Of Test Scores, Shira R. Solomon, Shlomo S. Sawilowsky

Theoretical and Behavioral Foundations of Education Faculty Publications

The purpose of this article is to provide an empirical comparison of rank-based normalization methods for standardized test scores. A series of Monte Carlo simulations were performed to compare the Blom, Tukey, Van der Waerden and Rankit approximations in terms of achieving the T score’s specified mean and standard deviation and unit normal skewness and kurtosis. All four normalization methods were accurate on the mean but were variably inaccurate on the standard deviation. Overall, deviation from the target moments was pronounced for the even moments but slight for the odd moments. Rankit emerged as the most accurate method among all …

Impact Of Rank-Based Normalizing Transformations On The Accuracy Of Test Scores, Shira R. Soloman, Shlomo S. Sawilowsky

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

The purpose of this article is to provide an empirical comparison of rank-based normalization methods for standardized test scores. A series of Monte Carlo simulations were performed to compare the Blom, Tukey, Van der Waerden and Rankit approximations in terms of achieving the T score’s specified mean and standard deviation and unit normal skewness and kurtosis. All four normalization methods were accurate on the mean but were variably inaccurate on the standard deviation. Overall, deviation from the target moments was pronounced for the even moments but slight for the odd moments. Rankit emerged as the most accurate method among all …

Bayesian Analysis Of Evidence From Studies Of Warfarin V Aspirin For Symptomatic Intracranial Stenosis, Vicki Hertzberg, Barney Stern, Karen Johnston

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Bayesian analyses of symptomatic intracranial stenosis studies were conducted to compare the benefits of long-term therapy with warfarin to aspirin. The synthesis of evidence of effect from previous nonrandomized studies in monitoring a randomized clinical trial was of particular interest. Sequential Bayesian learning analysis was conducted and Bayesian hierarchical random effects models were used to incorporate variability between studies. The posterior point estimates for the risk rate ratio (RRR) were similar between analyses, although the interval estimates resulting from the hierarchical analyses are larger than the corresponding Bayesian learning analyses. This demonstrated the difference between these methods in accounting for …

A Maximum Test For The Analysis Of Ordered Categorical Data, Markus Neuhäeuser

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Different scoring schemes are possible when performing exact tests using scores on ordered categorical data. The standard scheme is based on integer scores, but non-integer scores were proposed to increase power (Ivanova & Berger, 2001). However, different non-integer scores exist and the question arises as to which of the non-integer schemes should be chosen. To solve this problem, a maximum test is proposed. To be precise, the maximum of the competing statistics is used as the new test statistic, rather than arbitrarily choosing one single test statistic.

Intermediate R Values For Use In The Fleishman Power Method, Julie M. Smith

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

Several intermediate r values are calculated at three different correlations for use in the Fleishman Power Method for generating correlated data from normal and non-normal populations.

Vol. 8, No. 2 (Full Issue), Jmasm Editors

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

No abstract provided.

Social Science In A Water Observing System, John B. Braden, Daniel G. Brown, Jeff Dozier, Patricia Gober, Sara M. Hughes, David R. Maidment, Sandra L. Schneider, P. Wesley Schultz, James S. Shortle, Stephen K. Swallow, Carol M. Werner

Psychology Faculty Publications

We set forth an argument for the integration of social science research with natural science and engineering research in major research infrastructure investments addressing water science. A program of integrated observation of water resources offers great opportunities to address several environmental “grand challenges” identified by the National Research Council, including climate variability, institutions and resource use, and land use dynamics, and their importance for hydrologic forecasting. We argue that such a program has the potential to advance both water science and the contributing disciplines. However, to realize this potential, it is essential to recognize that social science requires critical infrastructure …

Correlated Two-Photon Emission By Transitions Of Dirac-Volkov States In Intense Laser Fields: Qed Predictions, Erik Lotstedt, Ulrich D. Jentschura

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

In an intense laser field, an electron may decay by emitting a pair of photons. The two photons emitted during the process, which can be interpreted as a laser-dressed double Compton scattering, remain entangled in a quantifiable way: namely, the so-called concurrence of the photon polarizations gives a gauge-invariant measure of the correlation of the hard gamma rays. We calculate the differential rate and concurrence for a backscattering setup of the electron and photon beam, employing Volkov states and propagators for the electron lines, thus accounting nonperturbatively for the electron-laser interaction. The nonperturbative results are shown to differ significantly compared …

Analysis Of Angular Dependence Of Strong-Field Tunneling Ionization For Co₂, Song-Feng Zhao, Cheng Jin, Anh-Thu Le, T. F. Jiang, C. D. Lin

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We analyzed the discrepancy of the angular dependence of strong-field ionization for CO₂ among the different theoretical calculations and experiments. Using a more accurate ground-state wave function of CO₂ in the asymptotic region, we showed that the accuracy in the earlier tunneling ionization theory of Tong et al. [Phys. Rev. A 66, 033402 (2002)] is much improved. We also concluded that the angular dependence deduced from the experiment of Pavicic [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 243001 (2007)] appears to be too narrowly distributed.

Search For Gravitational-Wave Bursts In The First Year Of The Fifth Ligo Science Run, Benjamin P. Abbott, Marco Cavaglia, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

We present the results obtained from an all-sky search for gravitational-wave (GW) bursts in the 64-2000 Hz frequency range in data collected by the LIGO detectors during the first year (November 2005-November 2006) of their fifth science run. The total analyzed live time was 268.6 days. Multiple hierarchical data analysis methods were invoked in this search. The overall sensitivity expressed in terms of the root-sum-square (rss) strain amplitude h_rss for gravitational-wave bursts with various morphologies was in the range of 6 x 10^-22 Hz ^-1/2 to a few x 10^-21Hz_-1/2. No GW signals were …

The Effects Of Intralayer Metal Composition Of Layered Double Hydroxides On Glass Transition, Dispersion, Thermal And Fire Properties Of Their Pmma Nanocomposites, Charles Manzi-Nshuti, Dan Chen, Shengpei Su, Charles A. Wilkie

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

A series of aluminum-containing layered double hydroxides (LDHs), containing Mg, Ca, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn as the divalent metals, have been prepared by the co-precipitation method and used to prepare nanocomposites of PMMA by in situ bulk polymerization. The additives were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis while the polymer composites were characterized by XRD, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and cone calorimetry. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of these undecenoate LDHs results in composites with enhanced thermal stability. The glass transition temperatures of the composites and the pristine …

Stability Of The Rotation Axis In High‐Resolution Mantle Circulation Models: Weak Polar Wander Despite Strong Core Heating, K. Schaber, H. -P. Bunge, B. S. A. Schuberth, Rocco Malservisi, A. Horbach

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Growing evidence points to a substantial heat flow across the core‐mantle boundary (CMB), but the rotational stability of strongly bottom heated mantle flow with prominent upwelling plumes is poorly known. Here we calculate polar motion for the past 100 Myr induced in a new class of isochemical high‐resolution mantle circulation models (MCMs) with Earth‐like convective vigor and up to 12 TW core heat flux. Our MCMs include internal heating and a simple three‐layer viscosity profile associated with the lithosphere (1023 Pa s) and the upper (1021 Pa s) and the lower mantle (1023 Pa s), separated at 100 and 650 …

Dusty Structure Around Type-I Active Galactic Nuclei: Clumpy Torus Narrow-Line Region And Near-Nucleus Hot Dust, Rivay Mor, Hagai Netzer, Moshe Elitzur

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We fitted Spitzer/IRS ~ 2-35 μm spectra of 26 luminous quasi-stellar objects in an attempt to define the main emission components. Our model has three major components: a clumpy torus, dusty narrow-line region (NLR) clouds, and a blackbody-like dust. The models utilize the clumpy torus of Nenkova et al. and are the first to allow its consistent check in type-I active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Single torus models and combined torus-NLR models fail to fit the spectra of most sources, but three-component models adequately fit the spectra of all sources. We present torus inclination, cloud distribution, covering factor, and …

Polymer Nanocomposites Using Zinc Aluminum And Magnesium Aluminum Oleate Layered Double Hydroxides: Effects Of The Polymeric Compatibilizer And Of Composition On The Thermal And Fire Properties Of Pp/Ldh Nanocomposites, Charles Manzi-Nshuti, Ponusa Songtipya, Evangelos Manias, Maria Del Mar Jimenez-Gasco, Jeanne Hossenlopp, Charles A. Wilkie

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

A series of five oleate-containing layered double hydroxides with varied ratios of zinc to magnesium, i.e., with the general formula Zn_2−yMg_yAl(OH)₆ [CH₃(CH₂)₇CHCH(CH₂)₇COO]·nH₂O, were synthesized and used to prepare nanocomposites of polypropylene (PP). The nanomaterials were characterized by elemental analysis, attenuated total reflection-infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), while the composites were characterized by XRD, TGA, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cone calorimetry. The zinc-containing LDH showed better dispersion in the polymer at the micrometer level …

Learning Effects Of Examples Applied To College Algebra Student Interests, Carrie A. Campbell

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This mixed-methods investigation studied the learning effects of example problems based on college algebra student interests. The study spanned two semesters and included three groups of students. The first group was presented with algebraic procedural examples and assessments without context. The second group was presented with algebraic class examples in contexts related to student majors and hobbies, but assessments without context. The third group was presented with class examples in contexts related to student majors and hobbies and also assessments with context.

Learning growth as measured by performance scores on examinations was analyzed quantitatively. Student comments regarding learning progress were …

Sequence Comparison And Stochastic Model Based On Multi-Order Markov Models, Xiang Fang

Department of Statistics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation presents two statistical methodologies developed on multi-order Markov models. First, we introduce an alignment-free sequence comparison method, which represents a sequence using a multi-order transition matrix (MTM). The MTM contains information of multi-order dependencies and provides a comprehensive representation of the heterogeneous composition within a sequence. Based on the MTM, a distance measure is developed for pair-wise comparison of sequences. The new method is compared with the traditional maximum likelihood (ML) method, the complete composition vector (CCV) method and the improved version of the complete composition vector (ICCV) method using simulated sequences. We further illustrate the application of …

Survey Of Alabama Death Row, 2009, Kathy Reed O'Gorman

Moratorium Advocacy

Survey of people on death row, completed on behalf of Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty. Questions include:

• Time on death row
• County of sentence
• Highest level of education
• Age first became bored with school
• Age of first use of alcohol or drugs
• Drugs and alcohol in home life
• Drugs and alcohol in home life compared with first use of alcohol and drugs
• Employment status before death row
• Income from employment before death row
• Knowledge of current affairs before incarceration
• "Did you discuss the death penalty with family or friends before coming to death row?"
• "Death penalty–is it a …

Contract Time Optimization Methodologies For Highway Construction Projects, Yi Jiang, Huaxin Chen

JTRP Technical Reports

This study was conducted to develop methodologies for appropriately determining the monetary values of I/D rates of highway construction projects in Indiana. In this study, a comprehensive literature review was performed to identify possible effective methodologies for work zone effects, construction impacts, and contract time optimization. The highway production rates were developed in a previous study. The production rates were validated and adjusted with the help from INDOT field engineers. The weighin- motion (WIM) collected traffic data were obtained, processed, and analyzed to provide input data for user cost calculations at highway work zones. Construction data were obtained and processed …

Synthesis And Evaluation Of Some Steroidal Oximes As Cytotoxic Agents: Structure/Activity Studies (Ii), Jianguo Cui, Lei Fan, Yanmin Huang, Yi Xin, Aimin Zhou

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Hydroximinosteroids isolated from marine sponges display a variety of biological functions including cytotoxicity and anti-virus. In this study, we synthesized a series of hydroximinosteroid derivatives with a different functional group on the ring A or B and various side chains at position 17, and analyzed the cytotoxicity of these compounds against sk-Hep-1, H-292, PC-3 and Hey-1B cancer cells. Our results revealed that although a cholesterol-type side chain at position 17 is required for the biological activity of the compounds as we previously confirmed, elimination of the 4,5-double bond augmented the cytotoxic activity for the steroidal oximes. In addition, the presence …

How Does The Relocation Of Internal Water Affect Resonance Raman Spectra Of Rhodopsin? An Insight From Casscf/Amber Calculations, Tadeusz Andruniow, Massimo Olivucci

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The effect of relocation of the W2 crystallographic water in bovine rhodopsin has been investigated by comparing and analyzing simulated resonance Raman spectra of I HZX-and 1U19-based quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (CASSCF/MM) models. The main target is to explore the sensitivity of the simulated resonance Raman spectra to protein cavity change. In particular, we focus on a quantitative investigation of the changes in the vibrational activity of rhodopsin induced by modifications in the protein cavity structure and in the water position. Comparison of the simulated FIR spectra of the Rh-1U19 and Rh-1HZX models with the measured spectrum of rhodopsin reveals that …

A Coherent Measurement Of Web-Search Relevance, William Mahoney, Peter Hospodka, William Sousan, Ryan Nickell, Qiuming Zhu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

We present a metric for quantitatively assessing the quality of Web searches. The relevance-of-searching-on-target index measures how relevant a search result is with respect to the searcher's interest and intention. The measurement is established on the basis of the cognitive characteristics of common user's online Web-browsing behavior and processes. We evaluated the accuracy of the index function with respect to a set of surveys conducted on several groups of our college students. While the index is primarily intended to be used to compare the Web-search results and tell which is more relevant, it can be extended to other applications. For …