Communication-Efficient Distributed Estimation and Inference for Cox's Model

Motivated by multi-center biomedical studies that cannot share individual data due to privacy and ownership concerns, we develop communication-efficient iterative distributed algorithms for estimation and inference in the high-dimensional sparse Cox proportional hazards model. We demonstrate that our estimator, even with a relatively small number of iterations, achieves the same convergence rate as the ideal full-sample estimator under very mild conditions. To construct confidence intervals for linear combinations of high-dimensional hazard regression coefficients, we introduce a novel debiased method, establish central limit theorems, and provide consistent variance estimators that yield asymptotically valid distributed confidence intervals. In addition, we provide valid and powerful distributed hypothesis tests for any coordinate element based on a decorrelated score test. We allow time-dependent covariates as well as censored survival times. Extensive numerical experiments on both simulated and real data lend further support to our theory and demonstrate that our communication-efficient distributed estimators, confidence intervals, and hypothesis tests improve upon alternative methods

Spinoza ve Ethica Üzerine

Pierre Bayle’ın Tarihsel ve Eleştirel Sözlük adlı eserindeki “Spinoza” maddesi, Spinoza felsefesinin temel meselelerine dair genel bir bakış sunar. Söz konusu maddenin burada çevirisi sunduğumuz “N Çıkması”nda ise Bayle, özellikle Spinoza’nın Ethica adlı eserine odaklanarak kip, değişiklik, töz ve Tanrı gibi Spinoza metafiziğinin temel kavramlarına yönelik eleştiriler getirir

Pierre Bayle: Dialogues of Maximus and Themistius

An English translation of Pierre Bayle's posthumous last book, Entretiens de Maxime et de Themiste (1707), in which Bayle defends his skeptical position on the problem of the evil. This book is often cited and attacked by G.W. Leibniz in his Theodicy (1710). Over one hundred pages of original philosophical and historical material introduce the translation, providing it with context and establishing the work's importance

Postoperative pain after arthroscopic versus open rotator cuff repair. A prospective study

Introduction: Although the arthroscopic technique is becoming the gold standard for rotator cuff tendon repair, there is no proof that this technique results in less postoperative pain compared to open repair. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the postoperative pain level after arthroscopic or open rotator cuff repair and to define factors that could influence its course. Materials and methods: Between January 2012 and January 2013, 95 patients were operated for a rotator cuff tear: 45 using an arthroscopic technique and 50 an open technique. Daily analgesic use and self-evaluation of pain level using a visual analogic scale were recorded preoperatively and twice a day postoperatively during the first 6 weeks. These data were compared between the two groups and analyzed according to patients’ demographic data and preoperative evaluation of the tear. Results: The preoperative pain level was equivalent in the two groups (P = 0.22). Postoperatively, level-2 analgesic medication use was greater in the arthroscopic group after the 4th week (P = 0.01). A painfree shoulder was obtained before the 6th week in 75% and 66% of the patients after arthroscopic or open repair, respectively (P = 0.34). There was a positive correlation between the preoperative and postoperative pain level (r = 0.25; P = 0.02). Work compensation patients experienced more pain postoperatively (P = 0.08). Level-III analgesic medication use was greater for patients with massive rotator cuff tear (P = 0.001). Conclusion: No evidence was found on the superiority of arthroscopy versus open repair of rotator cuff tear concerning the postoperative pain level. The choice of the surgical technique should not be based on this argument

Continuação dos pensamentos sobre o cometa

Tradução de Marcelo de Sant'Anna Alves Primo, Doutorando em Filosofia UFBA/CAPES-PDSE. O título da obra é Continuation des Pensées diverses à un Docteur de Sorbonne, à l'occasion de la Comète qui parut au mois de Décembre 1680. Ou Reponse à plusieurs difficultez que Monsieur*** a proposées à l'auteur, publicada em Roterdam, 1704, 2 vol. Na Continuation, Bayle retoma e vai mais a fundo nas teses propostas em seus Pensées diverses sur la comète, particularmente a de que ateísmo e moral são perfeitamente compatíveis