London : Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, 1884.

London (Poets Gallery Fleet Street) : Publish'd ... by Thos. Macklin, Novr. 30. 1799.

[Manchester] : [James Mudd], [between 1800 and 1899]

Si stampano in Roma (alla Pace ; all'insegna di Parigi) : per Giovan Jacomo Rossi, [1641?]

The search for Missouri's next top education official has begun nearly 10 months after the last one was fired. The state board of education began accepting applications last week.

Heat waves resulting from prolonged extreme temperatures pose a significant risk to human health globally. Given the limitations of observations of extreme temperature, climate models are often used to characterize extreme temperature globally, from which one can derive quantities like return values to summarize the magnitude of a low probability event for an arbitrary geographic location. However, while these derived quantities are useful on their own, it is also often important to apply a spatial statistical model to such data in order to, e.g., understand how the spatial dependence properties of the return values vary over space and emulate the climate model for generating additional spatial fields with corresponding statistical properties. For these objectives, when modeling global data it is critical to use a nonstationary covariance function. Furthermore, given that the output of modern global climate models can be on the order of $mathcal{O}(10^4)$, it is important to utilize approximate Gaussian process methods to enable inference. In this paper, we demonstrate the application of methodology introduced in Risser and Turek (2020) to conduct a nonstationary and fully Bayesian analysis of a large data set of 20-year return values derived from an ensemble of global climate model runs with over 50,000 spatial locations. This analysis uses the freely available BayesNSGP software package for R.

The last seminar in the 2017–18 History of Pre-Modern Medicine seminar series takes place on Tuesday 27 February. Speaker: Dr Dror Weil (Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin) Bodies translated: the circulation of Arabo-Persian physiological theories in late… Continue reading

Zhenguo Gao, Pang Du, Ran Jin, John L. Robertson.

Source: The Annals of Applied Statistics, Volume 14, Number 1, 143--159.

Abstract:
Liver procurement experiments with surface-temperature monitoring motivated Gao et al. ( J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 114 (2019) 773–781) to develop a variance change-point detection method under a smoothly-changing mean trend. However, the spotwise change points yielded from their method do not offer immediate information to surgeons since an organ is often transplanted as a whole or in part. We develop a new practical method that can analyze a defined portion of the organ surface at a time. It also provides a novel addition to the developing field of functional data monitoring. Furthermore, numerical challenge emerges for simultaneously modeling the variance functions of 2D locations and the mean function of location and time. The respective sample sizes in the scales of 10,000 and 1,000,000 for modeling these functions make standard spline estimation too costly to be useful. We introduce a multistage subsampling strategy with steps educated by quickly-computable preliminary statistical measures. Extensive simulations show that the new method can efficiently reduce the computational cost and provide reasonable parameter estimates. Application of the new method to our liver surface temperature monitoring data shows its effectiveness in providing accurate status change information for a selected portion of the organ in the experiment.

Matthew Moores, Geoff Nicholls, Anthony Pettitt, Kerrie Mengersen.

Source: Bayesian Analysis, Volume 15, Number 1, 1--27.

Abstract:
The inverse temperature parameter of the Potts model governs the strength of spatial cohesion and therefore has a major influence over the resulting model fit. A difficulty arises from the dependence of an intractable normalising constant on the value of this parameter and thus there is no closed-form solution for sampling from the posterior distribution directly. There is a variety of computational approaches for sampling from the posterior without evaluating the normalising constant, including the exchange algorithm and approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). A serious drawback of these algorithms is that they do not scale well for models with a large state space, such as images with a million or more pixels. We introduce a parametric surrogate model, which approximates the score function using an integral curve. Our surrogate model incorporates known properties of the likelihood, such as heteroskedasticity and critical temperature. We demonstrate this method using synthetic data as well as remotely-sensed imagery from the Landsat-8 satellite. We achieve up to a hundredfold improvement in the elapsed runtime, compared to the exchange algorithm or ABC. An open-source implementation of our algorithm is available in the R package bayesImageS .

Nicole Bohme Carnegie.

Source: Statistical Science, Volume 34, Number 1, 90--93.

Abstract:
With a thorough exposition of the methods and results of the 2016 Atlantic Causal Inference Competition, Dorie et al. have set a new standard for reproducibility and comparability of evaluations of causal inference methods. In particular, the open-source R package aciccomp2016, which permits reproduction of all datasets used in the competition, will be an invaluable resource for evaluation of future methodological developments. Building upon results from Dorie et al., we examine whether a set of potential modifications to Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART)—multiple chains in model fitting, using the propensity score as a covariate, targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE), and computing symmetric confidence intervals—have a stronger impact on bias, RMSE, and confidence interval coverage in combination than they do alone. We find that bias in the estimate of SATT is minimal, regardless of the BART formulation. For purposes of CI coverage, however, all proposed modifications are beneficial—alone and in combination—but use of TMLE is least beneficial for coverage and results in considerably wider confidence intervals.

Ehud Karavani, Tal El-Hay, Yishai Shimoni, Chen Yanover.

Source: Statistical Science, Volume 34, Number 1, 86--89.

Abstract:
Data competitions proved to be highly beneficial to the field of machine learning, and thus expected to provide similar advantages in the field of causal inference. As participants in the 2016 and 2017 Atlantic Causal Inference Conference (ACIC) data competitions and co-organizers of the 2018 competition, we discuss the strengths of simulation-based competitions and suggest potential extensions to address their limitations. These suggested augmentations aim at making the data generating processes more realistic and gradually increase in complexity, allowing thorough investigations of algorithms’ performance. We further outline a community-wide competition framework to evaluate an end-to-end causal inference pipeline, beginning with a causal question and a database, and ending with causal estimates.

Susan Gruber, Mark J. van der Laan.

Source: Statistical Science, Volume 34, Number 1, 82--85.

Abstract:
Dorie and co-authors (DHSSC) are to be congratulated for initiating the ACIC Data Challenge. Their project engaged the community and accelerated research by providing a level playing field for comparing the performance of a priori specified algorithms. DHSSC identified themes concerning characteristics of the DGP, properties of the estimators, and inference. We discuss these themes in the context of targeted learning.

Pompeii Archaeological Park Director Massimo Osanna narrates stunning drone footage of preserved daily life in the ancient city

Blending marshmallows with scientific rigor, the contest offers levity during a difficult time

The Archaeological Institute of America launched its Build Your Own Monument challenge early to inspire families quarantining at home

The city's residents sorted waste materials for reuse in future projects, according to new research

Many retailers are eager to hear more details from the province about when and how they should reopen after weeks of being closed to the public. The next phase of recovery is expected to start Friday.

In this protocol, DNA fragments are separated according to size by electrophoresis through low-melting-temperature agarose, and then recovered by melting the agarose and extracting with phenol:chloroform. The protocol works best for DNA fragments ranging in size from 0.5 to 5.0 kb. Yields of DNA fragments outside this range are usually lower, but often are sufficient for many purposes.

Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones are rendered electrocompetent and transformed with the recombinant shuttle vector, pLD53SCAB/AB-box. Cointegrates are selected by growth on chloramphenicol and ampicillin to ensure recombination of the shuttle vector into the BAC.

The chief of Millbrook First Nation says the Nova Scotia RCMP's competition for its new communication centre was "distorted and biased," arbitrarily inflating the price of his community's proposal to reach a "predetermined outcome."

Acclaimed jigger Ryan Richard, from Sandy Bay First Nation, is calling all dancers to showcase their skills in an online jigging competition.

If you think it's cold this morning, just wait — the forecast low for Friday night is –3 C.

According to OPP, a man allegedly pulled over a woman on April 23 driving on Naylor Side Road near the intersection of North Talbot Road, while "wearing clothing resembling the uniform of a police officer."

After several years of back-and-forth litigation, Apple has withdrawn what was likely its final appeal in a Wi-Fi hotspot patent infringement case due to a Supreme Court decision.

SO, is it a smoking gun after all? Or is it just a damp water pistol?

The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) at Penn State is looking for undergraduate entrepreneurs from any Penn State campus to compete in the 2020 Inc.U Competition. Six finalist teams will earn a spot on “The Investment,” a production of WPSU-TV, giving them a chance to pitch their company for a share of $30,000 in funding. The 2020 Inc.U Competition submission deadline is Feb. 7.

A three-judge panel from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against a proposed plan that would have paid certain student-athletes as much as $5,000 annually in deferred compensation.

The resignation is the latest change for the educational software giant, which is facing increasing competition in selling learning-management systems to schools and colleges.

The highly polarizing 2016 Presidential campaign blitzed the swing state of Virginia. And in the year that followed, a new study in the journal Educational Researcher suggests school bullying problems likewise split along political lines.

VE DAY in 1945 was obviously an occasion for major celebration in Britain and throughout Europe. But there is reasonable debate as to what we should make of it now.

The Herald, in proud partnership with Royal Bank of Scotland, is inviting the country's photographers to enter their most accomplished work in a new competition which celebrates the launch of a stunning new £20 banknote design.

I think any substantial push on competitive grants is a dead letter. And I think that's probably a good thing.

Penn State Schuylkill LionLaunch held its fourth annual Business Plan Competition on Thursday, April 16. The program awarded $6,000 in funding to three small businesses at the competition, totaling $69,000 awarded to 21 small businesses throughout Schuylkill County over the last four years.

Source: EFE Verde - La ex secretaria de cambio climático de la ONU que alcanzó el Acuerdo de París y actual directora del proyecto Misión 2020, Christiana Figueres, subraya que EE.UU. "se queda rezagado y pierde competitividad" abandonando el Acuerdo de París y cediendo a otros países el liderazgo de la economía baja en carbono.

Previous observational studies and randomized trials have reported an association between the use of epidural analgesia for pain relief in labor and intrapartum maternal fever. Studies have also reported an increase in adverse neonatal outcomes with intrapartum maternal fever.

Among low-risk women receiving epidural analgesia, intrapartum maternal temperature >99.5°F was associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, with the rate of adverse outcomes increasing directly with maximum maternal temperature. Without temperature elevation, epidural use was not associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. (Read the full article)

Children’s mastery of fundamental movement skills is correlated with a number of health benefits, including higher levels of physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, perceived scholastic and athletic competence, and lower levels of overweight.

This is the first study to examine the associations between low skill competence (a new and novel way to report motor skills) and a range of health-related and sociodemographic factors in a large representative sample of children and youth. (Read the full article)

Policies that govern nutrition standards of foods and beverages sold outside of federal meal programs ("competitive foods") have been associated with adolescent weight status in a small number of cross-sectional studies and pre-post analyses in individual states.

This longitudinal analysis of 6300 students in 40 states provides evidence that state competitive food laws are associated with lower within-student BMI change if laws contain strong language with specific standards and are consistent across grade levels. (Read the full article)

Although providing improved survival for infants with very severe cardiorespiratory problems, the use of neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation has high rates of disability in survivors. Mild hypothermia has been shown to limit brain injury in a range of patient groups, including newborns.

Infants who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and mild hypothermia did not show an improved neurodevelopmental outcome, and nonsignificant trends in the data suggested a small adverse effect. Use of hypothermia in other potential patient groups should be thoroughly tested. (Read the full article)

Pediatric residents may not be achieving competency in neonatal intubation. Opportunities for intubation during residency are decreasing. A precise definition of competency during training is lacking.

Bayesian statistics may be used to describe neonatal intubation competency in residents. At least 4 successful intubations are needed to achieve competency. The first 2 intubation opportunities appear to predict how many intubation opportunities are ultimately needed to achieve competency. (Read the full article)

Heart rate (HR) increases with increasing body temperature. Previous studies have characterized the relationship among HR, age, and temperature for patients in primary care and emergency department settings but not in hospitalized children.

Our data demonstrate an overall increase in HR by ~10 beats/minute for each 1°C increase in body temperature. Expected heart rates for hospitalized children differ from those for primary care and emergency department patients at the same age and temperature. (Read the full article)

Sleep disturbances in infants associate with individual differences in temperament. However, little is known about interindividual differences and potential moderating factors, such as genotype.

The results suggest that the cumulative effect of total sleep duration during the first 3 years of life on temperament is moderated by child 5-HTTLPR genotype following a differential susceptibility model. (Read the full article)

Saif Khalil, founder and CEO of Aevumed, won first place at the REV-UP Center for Entrepreneurship's Lion Cage pitch competition. Aevumed develops medical devices designed to help reduce rotator cuff re-tear rates.

Sixteen design projects created by graphic design students at Pennsylvania College of Technology have been honored in the national Flux Student Design Competition.

US President Donald trump has suggested that 'rogue killers' may be behind the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey.