3,573 research outputs found
Robust Inference for Univariate Proportional Hazards Frailty Regression Models
We consider a class of semiparametric regression models which are
one-parameter extensions of the Cox [J. Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. B 34 (1972)
187-220] model for right-censored univariate failure times. These models assume
that the hazard given the covariates and a random frailty unique to each
individual has the proportional hazards form multiplied by the frailty.
The frailty is assumed to have mean 1 within a known one-parameter family of
distributions. Inference is based on a nonparametric likelihood. The behavior
of the likelihood maximizer is studied under general conditions where the
fitted model may be misspecified. The joint estimator of the regression and
frailty parameters as well as the baseline hazard is shown to be uniformly
consistent for the pseudo-value maximizing the asymptotic limit of the
likelihood. Appropriately standardized, the estimator converges weakly to a
Gaussian process. When the model is correctly specified, the procedure is
semiparametric efficient, achieving the semiparametric information bound for
all parameter components. It is also proved that the bootstrap gives valid
inferences for all parameters, even under misspecification.
We demonstrate analytically the importance of the robust inference in several
examples. In a randomized clinical trial, a valid test of the treatment effect
is possible when other prognostic factors and the frailty distribution are both
misspecified. Under certain conditions on the covariates, the ratios of the
regression parameters are still identifiable. The practical utility of the
procedure is illustrated on a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma dataset.Comment: Published by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics
(http://www.imstat.org) in the Annals of Statistics
(http://www.imstat.org/aos/) at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/00905360400000053
Limits of flexural wave absorption by open lossy resonators: reflection and transmission problems
The limits of flexural wave absorption by open lossy resonators are
analytically and numerically reported in this work for both the reflection and
transmission problems. An experimental validation for the reflection problem is
presented. The reflection and transmission of flexural waves in 1D resonant
thin beams are analyzed by means of the transfer matrix method. The hypotheses,
on which the analytical model relies, are validated by experimental results.
The open lossy resonator, consisting of a finite length beam thinner than the
main beam, presents both energy leakage due to the aperture of the resonators
to the main beam and inherent losses due to the viscoelastic damping. Wave
absorption is found to be limited by the balance between the energy leakage and
the inherent losses of the open lossy resonator. The perfect compensation of
these two elements is known as the critical coupling condition and can be
easily tuned by the geometry of the resonator. On the one hand, the scattering
in the reflection problem is represented by the reflection coefficient. A
single symmetry of the resonance is used to obtain the critical coupling
condition. Therefore the perfect absorption can be obtained in this case. On
the other hand, the transmission problem is represented by two eigenvalues of
the scattering matrix, representing the symmetric and anti-symmetric parts of
the full scattering problem. In the geometry analyzed in this work, only one
kind of symmetry can be critically coupled, and therefore, the maximal
absorption in the transmission problem is limited to 0.5. The results shown in
this work pave the way to the design of resonators for efficient flexural wave
absorption
Elastic instability in stratified core annular flow
We study experimentally the interfacial instability between a layer of dilute
polymer solution and water flowing in a thin capillary. The use of microfluidic
devices allows us to observe and quantify in great detail the features of the
flow. At low velocities, the flow takes the form of a straight jet, while at
high velocities, steady or advected wavy jets are produced. We demonstrate that
the transition between these flow regimes is purely elastic -- it is caused by
viscoelasticity of the polymer solution only. The linear stability analysis of
the flow in the short-wave approximation captures quantitatively the flow
diagram. Surprisingly, unstable flows are observed for strong velocities,
whereas convected flows are observed for low velocities. We demonstrate that
this instability can be used to measure rheological properties of dilute
polymer solutions that are difficult to assess otherwise.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Age differences in the association between sleep and Alzheimer\u27s disease biomarkers in the EPAD cohort
INTRODUCTION: We aimed to determine the independent association between sleep quality and Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) biomarkers, and whether the associations differ with age.
METHODS: We included 1240 individuals aged ≥50, without dementia from the
RESULTS: For the youngest age tertile, shorter sleep duration and higher sleep efficiency were associated with greater p-tau/Aβ42 ratio. For the oldest tertile, longer sleep latency was associated with greater p-tau/Aβ42.
DISCUSSION: Differential relationships between sleep and AD pathology depend on age. Short sleep duration and sleep efficiency are relevant in middle age whereas time taken to fall asleep is more closely linked to AD biomarkers in later life.
HIGHLIGHTS: This study shows age differences in the link between sleep and AD biomarkers.Shorter sleep was associated with greater p-tau/Aβ42 ratio in middle age.The association was independent of genetic, vascular, and neuroimaging markers of AD
Bunge’s Mathematical Structuralism Is Not a Fiction
In this paper, I explore Bunge’s fictionism in philosophy of mathematics. After an overview of Bunge’s views, in particular his mathematical structuralism, I argue that the comparison between mathematical objects and fictions ultimately fails. I then sketch a different ontology for mathematics, based on Thomasson’s metaphysical work. I conclude that mathematics deserves its own ontology, and that, in the end, much work remains to be done to clarify the various forms of dependence that are involved in mathematical knowledge, in particular its dependence on mental/brain states and material objects
Equilibrium onions?
We demonstrate the possibility of a stable equilibrium multi-lamellar ("onion") phase in pure lamellar systems (no excess solvent) due to a sufficiently negative Gaussian curvature modulus. The onion phase is stabilized by non-linear elastic moduli coupled to a polydisperse size distribution (Apollonian packing) to allow space-filling without appreciable elastic distortion. This model is compared to experiments on copolymer-decorated lamellar surfactant systems, with reasonable qualitative agreement
Ancient great wall building materials reveal paleoenvironmental Changes in Northwestern China
Plant material used in the construction of segments and beacon towers of the ancient Great Wall in northwestern China contain untapped potential for revealing paleoenvironmental conditions. Here, we characterize the molecular preservation and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of common reeds (Phragmites) collected from Great Wall fascines dated to the Han Dynasty in today’s Gansu and Xinjiang provinces using a combination of chromatographic techniques and isotope analyses. Our data demonstrates that ancient reeds were harvested from local habitats that were more diverse than exist today. The isotope data also capture differential rates of environmental deterioration along the eastern margin of the Tarim Basin, leading to the intense evaporative stress on modern plants. This study demonstrates the wealth of environmental and climate information obtainable from site-specific organic building material of ancient walls, which have received considerably less attention than the iconic brick and stone masonry walls of the later Ming Dynasty.Introduction Results - Py-GC-MS Analysis - Lipid Concentration and Distribution - Bulk Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Analysis Discussion - Differential Rates of Environmental Deterioration - Temperature and the Diversity of Ancient Phragmites Populations - Archaeological Significance of the Great Wall in Northwestern China Conclusions Methods - Site Locations and Sampling - Plant Biomolecular Composition -- Molecular Composition -- Plant Wax Lipids - Bulk Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Analysis -- Carbon -- Nitroge
Phase discrimination and simultaneous frequency conversion of the orthogonal components of an optical signal by four-wave mixing in an SOA
Simultaneous conversion of the two orthogonal phase components of an optical input to different output frequencies has been demonstrated by simulation and experiment. A single stage of four-wave mixing between the input signal and four pumps derived from a frequency comb was employed. The nonlinear device was a semiconductor optical amplifier, which provided overall signal gain and sufficient contrast for phase sensitive signal processing. The decomposition of a quadrature phase-shift keyed signal into a pair of binary phase-shift keyed outputs at different frequencies was also demonstrated by simulation
Antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling across an amorphous metallic spacer layer
By means of magneto-optical Kerr effect we observe for the first time
antiferromagnetic coupling between ferromagnetic layers across an amorphous
metallic spacer layer. Biquadratic coupling occurs at the transition from a
ferromagnetically to an antiferromagnetically coupled region. Scanning
tunneling microscopy images of all involved layers are used to extract
thickness fluctuations and to verify the amorphous state of the spacer. The
observed antiferromagnetic coupling behavior is explained by RKKY interaction
taking into account the amorphous structure of the spacer material.Comment: Typset using RevTex, 4 pages with 4 figures (.eps
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