Propensity score models are better when post-calibrated

Theoretical guarantees for causal inference using propensity scores are partly based on the scores behaving like conditional probabilities. However, scores between zero and one, especially when outputted by flexible statistical estimators, do not necessarily behave like probabilities. We perform a simulation study to assess the error in estimating the average treatment effect before and after applying a simple and well-established post-processing method to calibrate the propensity scores. We find that post-calibration reduces the error in effect estimation for expressive uncalibrated statistical estimators, and that this improvement is not mediated by better balancing. The larger the initial lack of calibration, the larger the improvement in effect estimation, with the effect on already-calibrated estimators being very small. Given the improvement in effect estimation and that post-calibration is computationally cheap, we recommend it will be adopted when modelling propensity scores with expressive models.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

PyDTS: A Python Package for Discrete-Time Survival (Regularized) Regression with Competing Risks

Time-to-event analysis (survival analysis) is used when the outcome or the response of interest is the time until a pre-specified event occurs. Time-to-event data are sometimes discrete either because time itself is discrete or due to grouping of failure times into intervals or rounding off measurements. In addition, the failure of an individual could be one of several distinct failure types; known as competing risks (events). This work focuses on discrete-time regression with competing events. We emphasize the main difference between the continuous and discrete settings with competing events, develop a faster estimation algorithm, and present PyDTS, an open source Python package which implements our procedure and other tools for discrete-time-survival analysis with competing risks

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

A study of one-dimensional transport of Bose-Einstein condensates using exterior complex scaling

We numerically investigate the one-dimensional transport of Bose-Einstein condensates in the context of guided atom lasers using a mean-field description of the condensate in terms of a spatially discretized Gross-Pitaevskii equation. We specifically consider a waveguide configuration in which spatial inhomogeneities and nonvanishing atom-atom interactions are restricted to a spatially localized scattering region of finite extent. We show how the method of smooth exterior complex scaling can be implemented for this particular onfiguration in order to efficiently absorb the outgoing flux within the waveguide. A numerical comparison with the introduction of a complex absorbing potential as well as with the analytically exact elimination of the dynamics of the free non-interacting motion outside the scattering region, giving rise to transparent boundary conditions, clearly confirms the accuracy and efficiency of the smooth exterior complex scaling method

Making the most of information technology & systems usage: A literature review, framework and future research agenda

This detailed literature review has considered a relatively large quantity (152 total) of scholarly empirical publications, conference proceedings, books and popular market reports published over the last 15 years, i.e., from January 2000 to December 2014, in the field of human continuous usage behavior and in the context of information technology/systems. Based on the search results, the literature was synthesized, segregated into four major domains according to the purpose, nature and usage of the information technology/systems. The authors believe that this segregation within the information technology & systems continuous usage literature provides greater scalability, flexibility and space for future research. Moreover, this proposed segregation allows for future research to include more ‘systems’ in each category depending on the usage, relevance and nature of the ‘systems’ that will evolve over the period of time. Scalability will provide more insights and ideas that will help future research investigate and propose domain-specific conceptual or business models that will help facilitate an understanding of information technology/systems continuous usage according to the nature of the ‘system.’ Conclusions and recommendations are drawn and priorities are proposed for continuing research.peerReviewe