Modeling Site Specific Heterogeneity in an On-Site Stratified Random Sample of Recreational Demand

Using estimation of demand for the George Washington/Jefferson National Forest as a case study, it is shown that in a stratified/clustered on-site sample, latent heterogeneity needs to be accounted for twice: first to account for dispersion in the data caused by unobservability of the process that results in low and high frequency visitors in the population, and second to capture unobservable heterogeneity among individuals surveyed at different sites according to a stratified random sample (site specific effects). It is shown that both of the parameters capturing latent heterogeneity are statistically significant. It is therefore claimed in this paper, that the model accounting for site-specific effects is superior to the model without such effects. Goodness of fit statistics show that our empirical model is superior to models that do not account for latent heterogeneity for the second time. The price coefficient for the travel cost variable changes across model resulting in differences in consumer surplus measures. The expected mean also changes across different models. This information is of importance to the USDA Forest Service for the purpose of consumer surplus calculations and projections for budget allocation and resource utilization.Recreational Demand models, Clustering, Subject-specific effects, Truncated Stratified Negative Binomial Model, Overdispersion, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Modeling Demand for Outdoor Recreation Settings with Choice Based Data Accounting for Exogenous and Endogenous Stratification

Estimating regional demand models by pooling different samples without correcting for such differences causes model misspecification as each sample belongs to a different population. Weighted regression using Pseudolikelihood to account for differences in sample population with adjustment for heteroskedasticity improves efficiency but the estimates are biased. We estimate regional demand for National Forest settings types in the southeastern states of U.S using weighted and unweighted regression. Using estimation of demand for National Forests as a case study, we resolve problems relating to inference about the data generating process when different samples are pooled together. We show that though efficiency of weighted estimates improves after correcting for heteroskedasticity, they still remain biased as the weights interact with covariates to explain part of model misspecification. In this paper, we show that it is best to use unweighted regression including interactions with weights as covariates.exogenous stratification, endogenous stratification, choice based data, outdoor recreation, Environmental Economics and Policy, Q000, Q500,

Accounting for Geographic Heterogeneity in Recreation Demand Models

Spatial differences in site characteristics and user populations may result in heterogeneity of recreation preferences and values across geographic regions. Non-linear mixed effects models provide a potential means of accounting for this heterogeneity. This approach was tested by estimating a national-level recreation demand model with encouraging results.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Clinical study of IUGR cases and correlation of Doppler parameters with perinatal outcome

Background: Early detection and timely intervention in IUGR babies can significantly improve perinatal outcome. Bio physical profile and non stress test have been the common modalities used for foetal surveillance but neither of these is accurate in predicting poor perinatal outcome. With the advent of Doppler, it has become much easier to pick up IUGR cases early and with high reproducibility and efficacy for perinatal outcome. Objectives of this study were 1) to correlate clinical findings in IUGR with colour Doppler and perinatal outcome 2) to study prognostic efficacy of Doppler parameters in early detection of foetal compromise.Methods: Sixty singleton pregnancies diagnosed to have IUGR beyond 30 weeks gestation were included in the study and were examined and followed clinically as well as with Doppler findings till delivery. Prognostic efficacy (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values) of umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery waveforms were studied using percentage.Results: The sensitivity and specificity of MCA PI (78%, 93%) as an indicator for extent of foetal compromise in IUGR was highest, though ratios such as MCA PI/UA PI as well as UA SD (>3) were comparably specific predictors for poor perinatal outcome. Absent and reverse end diastolic flow in umbilical artery is associated with definite poor perinatal outcome in terms of mortality. Clinical examination as well as ultrasound biometry has limited accuracy in determining appropriate time of intervention in growth restricted foetuses. Non reactive non stress test was shown to have positive predictive value of only 24% with false positive rate of 75%.Conclusions: Colour Doppler study is a simple, quick, non invasive procedure and multiple vessel study has high accuracy among the other tests for ante partum foetal surveillance

Evolutionary dynamics on strongly correlated fitness landscapes

We study the evolutionary dynamics of a maladapted population of self-replicating sequences on strongly correlated fitness landscapes. Each sequence is assumed to be composed of blocks of equal length and its fitness is given by a linear combination of four independent block fitnesses. A mutation affects the fitness contribution of a single block leaving the other blocks unchanged and hence inducing correlations between the parent and mutant fitness. On such strongly correlated fitness landscapes, we calculate the dynamical properties like the number of jumps in the most populated sequence and the temporal distribution of the last jump which is shown to exhibit a inverse square dependence as in evolution on uncorrelated fitness landscapes. We also obtain exact results for the distribution of records and extremes for correlated random variables

Sexually transmitted diseases in laboring women: trend over a decade

Background: Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends routine screening in all pregnant women at first visit for syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B infection as they have high vertical transmission rate. Syphilis is brought to control by screening and early treatment with penicillin, whereas HIV and Hepatitis B are incurable viral infections till date. Hence prevention is the only way to control the disease in the population. The purpose of the study is to know the burden of sexually transmitted diseases, so that prevention programme is better planned.Methods: This is a retrospective analytical study conducted from January 2005 to December 2014, in Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka. All the patients who delivered in septic ward, who were more than 28 weeks of gestation and who were HIV, HBsAg or VDRL positive were included in the study.Results: Among the total of 79,472 deliveries, the prevalence of HIV, HBsAg and VDRL were 0.90, 1.06 and 0.31 respectively. There were 4 cases of co-infection. The prevalence of HIV was 0.79 in 2005 and reached its peak of 1.33 in 2008 and then showed a steady decrease, reaching a lowest of 0.52 in 2014. The prevalence of HBsAg was 0.70 in 2005 and reached a peak of 1.57 in 2014. The prevalence of VDRL was highest of 0.08 in 2005 and lowest of 0.02 in 2014. Highest operative deliveries were seen in HBsAg positive women. Stillbirths were maximum in VDRL positive women and least in HBsAg positive women. There were 9 maternal deaths in HIV positive women and 3 maternal deaths in HBsAg positive women.Conclusions: In our study HIV prevalence is showing a down trend and syphilis is at the verge of elimination as seen globally. However prevalence of Hepatitis B has shown a rising trend over a decade in our institute, unlike a down trend seen globally. Intensifying the screening of Hepatitis B in pregnancy and Immunisation programme of neonates, reducing overcrowding and providing better living conditions, improving hygiene and health education should be done in order to reduce the prevalence of Hepatitis B infection

An unusual case of uterine leiomyoma vs. hemangiopericytoma: diagnostic dilemma solved by immunohistochemistry

Case report of a 45 year, multiparous, widow lady, who underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for uterine mass of 20 weeks. Microscopic examination revealed a hemangiopericytoma (HPC) of uterus, finally confirmed as uterine leiomyoma with cystic degeneration and HPC-like focal areas without atypia on immunohistochemical staining

Face Recognition in the Scrambled Domain Using MK-RDA

Facial look identity is a vital mission by means of human-interacting structures that goal to be aware of versions within the human’s emotional state. the principle challenge or the crucial part in surveillance society is the privacy-shielding era. because the rapid improvement in the internet international it turns into very essential to scramble the pics in the video or files for the duration of transmission. in this the biometric identity of photographs or faces from scrambled pictures plays a completely tough mission. Numbers of various technology are carried out to provide privateness for the duration of surveillance or during transmission of video however they're lack of essential traits, like reversibility or visible fine maintenance. in lots of scrambling methods the faces are covered by a few animation which may additionally or may not cover all faces or it receives hard to recover pics from this technique. Many guide method also are us used by which we will unscramble an photo but they are no longer powerful that a good deal. to overcome all this matters we proposed a novel approach- Many-Kernel Random Discriminate analysis (MK-RDA) to find out discriminative patterns from chaotic indicators. structures get better accuracy bring about best photos. To PIE and ORL datasets has getting above ninety% accuracy