Multi-State Models for Panel Data: The msm Package for R

Panel data are observations of a continuous-time process at arbitrary times, for example, visits to a hospital to diagnose disease status. Multi-state models for such data are generally based on the Markov assumption. This article reviews the range of Markov models and their extensions which can be fitted to panel-observed data, and their implementation in the msm package for R. Transition intensities may vary between individuals, or with piecewise-constant time-dependent covariates, giving an inhomogeneous Markov model. Hidden Markov models can be used for multi-state processes which are misclassified or observed only through a noisy marker. The package is intended to be straightforward to use, flexible and comprehensively documented. Worked examples are given of the use of msm to model chronic disease progression and screening. Assessment of model fit, and potential future developments of the software, are also discussed.

Kickin\u27 Sand and Tellin\u27 Lies

This document is the script of the two-act play, Kickin’ Sand and Tellin’ Lies, by Jackson B. Miller and Christopher Forrer. The Linfield College Theatre Program presented the world premieres of the play in November 2012 in McMinnville, Oregon and in Pacific City, Oregon. The play was created as part of the Launching through the Surf: The Dory Fleet of Pacific City project, which focuses on the historical and contemporary role of dory fishers and dories in the life of the coastal village of Pacific City, Oregon. Inspired by stories from the project, Kickin’ Sand and Tellin’ Lies is a fictional work. Inquiries concerning the professional or amateur rights to produce Kickin’ Sand and Tellin’ Lies, or any part thereof, should be addressed to Jackson B. Miller ([email protected]) or the Department of Theatre and Communication Arts, Linfield College, 900 SE Baker St., McMinnville, OR 97128 (503-883-2802).https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/dory_kstl_play/1002/thumbnail.jp

Sparticles in Motion - getting to the line in compressed scenarios with the Recursive Jigsaw Reconstruction

The observation of light super-partners from a supersymmetric extension to the Standard Model is an intensely sought-after experimental outcome, providing an explanation for the stabilization of the electroweak scale and indicating the existence of new particles which could be consistent with dark matter phenomenology. For compressed scenarios, where sparticle spectra mass-splittings are small and decay products carry low momenta, dedicated techniques are required in all searches for supersymmetry. In this paper we suggest an approach for these analyses based on the concept of Recursive Jigsaw Reconstruction, decomposing each event into a basis of complementary observables, for cases where strong initial state radiation has sufficient transverse momentum to elicit the recoil of any final state sparticles. We introduce a collection of kinematic observables which can be used to probe compressed scenarios, in particular exploiting the correlation between missing momentum and that of radiative jets. As an example, we study squark and gluino production, focusing on mass-splittings between parent super-particles and their lightest decay products between 25 and 200 GeV, in hadronic final states where there is an ambiguity in the provenance of reconstructed jets

Diversity: Is it worth it?

This paper takes a dive into understanding if funding extra diversity initiatives at Claremont McKenna College currently spurred on by students are worth the cost to the institution. Resources like that of Claremont McKenna’s C.A.R.E. Center (Civility, Access, Resources, and Expression) and funding for representative student organizations place large pressures on the institution’s available budget and there is not much proof that they will pay off in the long-run. In this paper, financial costs for supporting diverse students on campus are aggregated and compared to the possible financial benefits that may come of their consequential use. Results show that there is a largely positive societal benefit to the use of these resources at a fraction of the cost to the institution. These findings derive from CMC cost data; however, results imply similar conclusions across secondary education institutions nationwide

Learning from the Mistakes of the Past: Disclosure of Financial Conflicts of Interest and Genetic Research

“Every human being of adult years and sound mind has a right to determine what shall be done with his own body . . . .” From Benjamin Cardozo’s early expression of the principle of patient autonomy emerged the doctrine of informed consent, defined by both contract and fiduciary laws and elaborated upon by courts, state and federal legislatures, and professional associations. Later, as the world sought to reassemble itself following the horrors of World War II, the promulgation of the Nuremberg Code established an international standard for the treatment of human research subjects. The experiences of the Nazi atrocities, together with America’s own unfortunate history in human experimentation, provided informal precedent for the courts in their interpretation of informed consent requirements