Bayesian Design and Analysis of Small Multifactor Industrial Experiments

PhDUnreplicated two level fractional factorial designs are a common type of experimental design used in the early stages of industrial experimentation. They allow considerable information about the e ects of several factors on the response to be obtained with a relatively small number of runs. The aim of this thesis is to improve the guidance available to experimenters in choosing a good design and analysing data. This is particularly important when there is commercial pressure to minimise the size of the experiment. A design is usually chosen based on optimality, either in terms of a variance criterion or estimability criteria such as resolution. This is given the number of factors, number of levels of each factor and number of runs available. A decision theory approach is explored, which allows a more informed choice of design to be made. Prior distributions on the sizes of e ects are taken into consideration, and then a design chosen from a candidate set of designs using a utility function relevant to the objectives of the experiment. Comparisons of the decision theoretic methods with simple rules of thumb are made to determine when the more complex approach is necessary. Fully Bayesian methods are rarely used in multifactor experiments. However there is virtually always some prior knowledge about the sizes of e ects and so using this in a Bayesian data analysis seems natural. Vague and more informative priors are 6 explored. The analysis of this type of experiment can be impacted in a disastrous way in the presence of outliers. An analysis that is robust to outliers is sought by applying di erent model distributions of the data and prior assumptions on the parameters. Results obtained are compared with those from standard analyses to assess the bene ts of the Bayesian analysis

POTENTIALLY DEFERRABLE PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH SEIZURES TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IN LONDON, ONTARIO

Objective: To estimate the proportion of seizure presentations to London EDs that could be classified as “potentially deferrable” (PD), defined as cases that ωuld be more appropriately cared for in a non-ED setting. To compare non-deferrable patients with PD patients in terms of age, sex, seizure presentation characteristics, history of seizures and health care resource use. Methods: Chart review conducted of patients identified with a seizure that reported to any of the 3 ED sites in London in 2005. Criteria were developed a priori to classify visits as non-deferrable or PD. Epidemiological model building was used to determine explanatory factors for visit deferability. Results: 830 patients presented to an ED, with a total of 1200 visits, 37% were PD. Age, triage code, use of hospital resources, length of stay, witnessed seizures, history of seizures and seizure medications were significantly associated with deferability. Conclusion: One-third of visits were PD, presenting an opportunity for educational intervention

Odnos između integracije informacijskih sustava, inovacija i praksi utemeljenih na predanosti potrošača za dijeljenje znanja i stvaranja snažnih marki

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to focus on establishing a relationship between the level of consumer commitment through knowledge sharing and what sustains innovation in SMEs through the integration of information systems to build power brands. Design/Methodology/Approach – Several procedures were used to empirically determine the study: a) the Harman one-factor test; b) the common latent factor approach; c) the confirmatory factor-analytic approach to the Harman one-factor test. Findings and implications – The finding highlights the importance of a differentiated approach to developing and managing customer loyalty by appropriately managing and integrating information technology for knowledge sharing with consumers and employees, thus managing innovation for the purpose of power brand deployment and earning profits. Limitations – The review of the related literature is selective rather than comprehensive, and the selection of sample firms is judgmental, making the sample rather skewed demographically. The paper, due to the breadth and complexity of the subject, serves to highlight key issues and bring together ideas. Some topics deserve further explanation. However, this was beyond the scope of this paper. Originality – The main contribution of this paper is that it uniquely identifies an approach to understanding how consumer commitment is sustained through innovation and information system integration. Understanding this approach should lead to effective customer loyalty management and greater awareness of the managing of power brands and the manner in which to foster user loyalty using social media.Svrha – Svrha je rada usredotočiti se na uspostavljanje odnosa između razina potrošačeve predanosti u dijeljenju znanja i onoga što održava inovacije u srednjim i malim poduzećima kroz integraciju informacijskih sustava za izgradnju snažnih marki. Metodološki pristup – U empirijskom istraživanju korišteno je nekoliko postupaka, a to su: a) Harman’s single factor test, b) CLF - Common Latent Factor pristup, c) Konfirmatorna faktorska analiza prema testu Harman’s single factor. Rezultati i implikacije – Nalaz naglašava važnost diferenciranog pristupa u razvoju i upravljanju lojalnošću potrošača, kroz pravilno upravljanje i integriranje informacijske tehnologije za dijeljenje znanja s potrošačima i zaposlenicima, a na taj se način upravlja inovacijama za implementaciju snažne marke i stvaranje profita. Ograničenja – Pregled literature je selektivan, tj. ne obuhvaća sve, dok je odabrani uzorak poduzeća temeljen na procjeni koja je demografski iskrivljena. Zbog dubine i kompleksnosti teme, rad služi da bi istaknuo ključne probleme i približio ideje. Neke teme zaslužuju daljnja objašnjenja. Međutim, to je bilo izvan opsega ovog rada. Doprinos – Glavni je doprinos rada u jedinstvenom identificiranju pristupa za razumijevanje održive potrošačeve predanosti kroz inovacije i integraciju informacijskih sustava. Razumijevanje ovog pristupa trebalo bi voditi prema učinkovitom upravljanju potrošačevom lojalnošću i većoj svjesnosti u upravljanju snažnim markama te poticanju lojalnosti korisnika putem društvenih mreža

Enhanced One Dimensional Modeling for Predicting Concentration of BOD in rivers

To maintain the river water quality it is necessary to predict the concentration of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in rivers. Various one dimensional models that  are developed so far  are applicable only after complete mixing of the pollutant across the cross-section is over which may take longer time for rivers with large width. Such type of situations is not represented effectively by the existing one dimensional model. Moreover, many of these one dimensional models do not account for the settle able part of BOD that invariably takes place when partially treated/ untreated waste enters these water bodies. A model is developed that is not more complicated than a one dimensional model but rationally predict the transport of BOD causing pollutant in almost 80% of initial period. The presented model can be used in conditions when partially treated/untreated waste is discharged in rivers with large width. Keywords: Mathematical Model, BOD, Water Pollutio

Ruptured ovarian endometrioma with an extreme rise in serum CA 125 level — A case report Ovarian endometrioma with very high CA‐125 level

► CA 125 is the most useful tumor marker for epithelial ovarian carcinoma. ► Very high serum CA 125 level does not necessarily indicate ovarian malignancy. ► Rapidly rising and persistent levels of CA 125 may be consistent with benign disease

Ayurvedic Aristology: Dining Etiquette in Ayurveda

GUEST EDITORIA

Endogenous, very small embryonic-like stem cells: Critical review, therapeutic potential and a look ahead

© The Author 2016. BACKGROUND: Both pluripotent very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells were reported in 2006. In 2012, a Nobel Prize was awarded for iPS technology whereas even today the very existence of VSELs is not well accepted. The underlying reason is that VSELs exist in low numbers, remain dormant under homeostatic conditions, are very small in size and do not pellet down at 250-280g. The VSELs maintain life-long tissue homeostasis, serve as a backup pool for adult stem cells and are mobilized under stress conditions. An imbalance in VSELs function (uncontrolled proliferation) may result in cancer. SEARCH METHODS: The electronic database \u27Medline/Pubmed\u27 was systematically searched with the subject heading term \u27very small embryonic-like stem cells\u27. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: The most primitive stem cells that undergo asymmetric cell divisions to self-renew and give rise to progenitors still remain elusive in the hematopoietic system and testes, while the presence of stem cells in ovary is still being debated. We propose to review the available literature on VSELs, the methods of their isolation and characterization, their ontogeny, how they compare with embryonic stem (ES) cells, primordial germ cells (PGCs) and iPS cells, and their role in maintaining tissue homeostasis. The review includes a look ahead on how VSELs will result in paradigm shifts in basic reproductive biology. OUTCOMES: Adult tissue-specific stem cells including hematopoietic, spermatogonial, ovarian and mesenchymal stem cells have good proliferation potential and are indeed committed progenitors (with cytoplasmic OCT-4), which arise by asymmetric cell divisions of pluripotent VSELs (with nuclear OCT-4). VSELs are the most primitive stem cells and postulated to be an overlapping population with the PGCs. Rather than migrating only to the gonads, PGCs migrate and survive in various adult body organs throughout life as VSELs. VSELs express both pluripotent and PGC-specific markers and are epigenetically and developmentally more mature compared with ES cells obtained from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst-stage embryo. As a result, VSELs readily differentiate into three embryonic germ layers and spontaneously give rise to both sperm and oocytes in vitro. Like PGCs, VSELs do not divide readily in culture, nor produce teratoma or integrate in the developing embryo. But this property of being relatively quiescent allows endogenous VSELs to survive various kinds of toxic insults. VSELs that survive oncotherapy can be targeted to induce endogenous regeneration of non-functional gonads. Transplanting healthy niche (mesenchymal) cells have resulted in improved gonadal function and live births. WIDER IMPLICATIONS: Being quiescent, VSELs possibly do not accumulate genomic (nuclear or mitochondrial) mutations and thus may be ideal endogenous, pluripotent stem cell candidates for regenerative and reproductive medicine. The presence of VSELs in adult gonads and the fact that they survive oncotherapy may obviate the need to bank gonadal tissue for fertility preservation prior to oncotherapy. VSELs and their ability to undergo spermatogenesis/neo-oogenesis in the presence of a healthy niche will help identify newer strategies toward fertility restoration in cancer survivors, delaying menopause and also enabling aged mothers to have better quality eggs

Potentially Heterogeneous Cross-Sectional Associations of Seafood Consumption with Diabetes and Glycemia in Urban South Asia.

Aims: In this study, we aimed to estimate cross-sectional associations of fish or shellfish consumption with diabetes and glycemia in three South Asian mega-cities. Methods: We analyzed baseline data from 2010-2011 of a cohort (n = 16,287) representing the population ≥20 years old that was neither pregnant nor on bedrest from Karachi (unweighted n = 4017), Delhi (unweighted n = 5364), and Chennai (unweighted n = 6906). Diabetes was defined as self-reported physician-diagnosed diabetes, fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L), or glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol). We estimated adjusted and unadjusted odds ratios for diabetes using survey estimation logistic regression for each city, and differences in glucose and HbA1c using survey estimation linear regression for each city. Adjusted models controlled for age, gender, body mass index, waist-height ratio, sedentary lifestyle, educational attainment, tobacco use, an unhealthy diet index score, income, self-reported physician diagnosis of high blood pressure, and self-reported physician diagnosis of high cholesterol. Results: The prevalence of diabetes was 26.7% (95% confidence interval: 24.8, 28.6) in Chennai, 36.7% (32.9, 40.5) in Delhi, and 24.3% (22.0, 26.6) in Karachi. Fish and shellfish were consumed more frequently in Chennai than in the other two cities. In Chennai, the adjusted odds ratio for diabetes, comparing more than weekly vs. less than weekly fish consumption, was 0.81 (0.61, 1.08); in Delhi, it was 1.18 (0.87, 1.58), and, in Karachi, it was 1.30 (0.94, 1.80). In Chennai, the adjusted odds ratio of prevalent diabetes among persons consuming shellfish more than weekly versus less than weekly was 1.08 (95% CI: 0.90, 1.30); in Delhi, it was 1.35 (0.90, 2.01), and, in Karachi, it was 1.68 (0.98, 2.86). Conclusions: Both the direction and the magnitude of association between seafood consumption and glycemia may vary by city. Further investigation into specific locally consumed seafoods and their prospective associations with incident diabetes and related pathophysiology are warranted