Goodness-of-fit tests for a heavy tailed distribution

For testing whether a distribution function is heavy tailed, we study theKolmogorov test, Berk-Jones test, score test and their integratedversions. A comparison is conducted via Bahadur efficiency and simulations.The score test and the integrated score test show the best performance.Although the Berk-Jones test is more powerful than the Kolmogorov-Smirnovtest, this does not hold true for their integrated versions; this differsfrom results in \\citet{EinmahlMckeague2003}, which shows the difference ofBerk-Jones test in testing distributions and tails.Bahadur efficiency;heavy tail;tail index

Goodness-of-fit tests for a heavy tailed distribution

For testing whether a distribution function is heavy tailed, we study the Kolmogorov test, Berk-Jones test, score test and their integrated versions. A comparison is conducted via Bahadur efficiency and simulations. The score test and the integrated score test show the best performance. Although the Berk-Jones test is more powerful than the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, this does not hold true for their integrated versions; this differs from results in \\citet{EinmahlMckeague2003}, which shows the difference of Berk-Jones test in testing distributions and tails

A systematic review and critical appraisal of quality indicators to assess optimal palliative care for older people with dementia

© The Author(s) 2019Background: A challenge for commissioners and providers of end-of-life care in dementia is to translate recommendations for good or effective care into quality indicators that inform service development and evaluation. Aim: To identify and critically evaluate quality indicators for end-of-life care in dementia. Results: We found 8657 references, after de-duplication. In all, 19 publications describing 10 new and 3 updated sets of indicators were included in this review. Ultimately, 246 individual indicators were identified as being relevant to dementia end-of-life care and mapped against EAPC guidelines. Conclusions: We systematically derived and assessed a set of quality indicators using a robust framework that provides clear definitions of aspects of palliative care, which are dementia specific, and strengthens the theoretical underpinning of new complex interventions in end-of-life care in dementia.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Polyimide

The invention relates to a polyimide substantially built up from monomeric units of 3,3',4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride and monomeric units of a primary aliphatic diamine. The polyimide according to the invention is characterized in that the primary aliphatic diamine is substantially 1,4-diaminobutane. The thermal stability of the polyimide according to the invention has surprisingly been found to be very good. Owing to this very good thermal stability, the polyimides according to the invention can very well be processed at - relatively - high processing temperatures without any appreciable thermal degradation of the polyimide. As a result, the polyimides processing potential has increased considerably. Also, articles made of the polyimides according to the invention can be used at significantly higher temperatures. Said articles have very good mechanical properties. Articles containing a polyimide are suited for being used in the most diverse applications. Application within a large number of industries may be thought of, such as the electrical, electronic and automotive industries. In space travel, too, the interest in such polyimides is great

Creative Movement Dance Class for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Objective: The objective of this phenomenological study was to identify how an occupational therapy developed Creative Movement Dance Class (CMDC) addresses social interaction skills in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Method: Interviews were conducted with a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA), Occupational Therapist (OT), ballet instructor, student intern, teacher, and an aide that were directly involved with the CMDC. Results: Three themes were identified. The first theme, structure of the class, consisted of eight sub-themes including opportunity to practice, fulfilling sensory needs, the Just Right Challenge, classroom support, classroom expectations, interprofessional collaboration, themes, and format of the class. The second theme, engagement techniques, consisted of five sub-themes including peer modeling, turn taking, use of props, making choices, and coping skills. The third theme, teaching techniques, consisted of four sub-themes including instructors body positioning, verbal/physical/visual cues, instructor modeling, and communication (sentence strips, Personal Exchange Communication System [PECS], and core vocabulary). Conclusion: An occupational therapy developed CMDC addresses social interaction skills through the structure of the class, engagement techniques, and teaching techniques. Many of the techniques identified are supported in the literature for ASD and creative movement. Several novel techniques were found that may prove to be effective in addressing social interaction skills for adolescents with ASD through a CMDC

Evaluation of SCION for User-driven Path Control:a Usability Study

The UPIN (User-driven Path verification and control in Inter-domain Networks) project aims to implement a way for users of a network to control how their data is traversing it. In this paper we investigate the possibilities and limitations of SCION for user-driven path control. Exploring several aspects of the performance of a SCION network allows us to define the most efficient path to assign to a user, following specific requests. We extensively analyze multiple paths, specifically focusing on latency, bandwidth and data loss, in SCIONLab, an experimental testbed and implementation of a SCION network. We gather data on these paths and store it in a database, that we then query to select the best path to give to a user to reach a destination, following their request on performance or devices to exclude for geographical or sovereignty reasons. Results indicate our software is a viable option to offer users many paths to choose from, following a series of requests, and therefore perform user-driven path control in a SCION network.</p

Pyrimidine biosynthesis is not an essential function for trypanosoma brucei bloodstream forms

&lt;p&gt;Background: African trypanosomes are capable of both pyrimidine biosynthesis and salvage of preformed pyrimidines from the host, but it is unknown whether either process is essential to the parasite.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Methodology/Principal Findings: Pyrimidine requirements for growth were investigated using strictly pyrimidine-free media, with or without single added pyrimidine sources. Growth rates of wild-type bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei brucei were unchanged in pyrimidine-free medium. The essentiality of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway was studied by knocking out the PYR6-5 locus that produces a fusion product of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) and Orotidine Monophosphate Decarboxylase (OMPDCase). The pyrimidine auxotroph was dependent on a suitable extracellular pyrimidine source. Pyrimidine starvation was rapidly lethal and non-reversible, causing incomplete DNA content in new cells. The phenotype could be rescued by addition of uracil; supplementation with uridine, 2′deoxyuridine, and cytidine allowed a diminished growth rate and density. PYR6-5−/− trypanosomes were more sensitive to pyrimidine antimetabolites and displayed increased uracil transport rates and uridine phosphorylase activity. Pyrimidine auxotrophs were able to infect mice although the infection developed much more slowly than infection with the parental, prototrophic trypanosome line.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusions/Significance: Pyrimidine salvage was not an essential function for bloodstream T. b. brucei. However, trypanosomes lacking de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis are completely dependent on an extracellular pyrimidine source, strongly preferring uracil, and display reduced infectivity. As T. brucei are able to salvage sufficient pyrimidines from the host environment, the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway is not a viable drug target, although any interruption of pyrimidine supply was lethal.&lt;/p&gt