Comment: Demystifying Double Robustness: A Comparison of Alternative Strategies for Estimating a Population Mean from Incomplete Data

Comment on ``Demystifying Double Robustness: A Comparison of Alternative Strategies for Estimating a Population Mean from Incomplete Data'' [arXiv:0804.2958]Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/07-STS227B the Statistical Science (http://www.imstat.org/sts/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Polybutadiene Cross-Linked With Various Diols – Effect On Thermal Stability

The relationship between cross-linking and thermal stability as related to polybutadiene is the focus of current research. Cross-linked polybutadienes have been prepared using various diols as the cross-linking agent. Cross-linked polymers have been characterized by gel content, swelling ratios, infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. These polymers are not highly cross-linked, as seen by gel content and swelling ratios, and cross-linking does not have a large effect on the onset temperature of the degradation. Nonetheless, extensive formation of a non-volatile residue occurs

On a price formation free boundary model by Lasry & Lions: The Neumann problem

We discuss local and global existence and uniqueness for the price formation free boundary model with homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions introduced by Lasry & Lions in 2007. The results are based on a transformation of the problem to the heat equation with nonstandard boundary conditions. The free boundary becomes the zero level set of the solution of the heat equation. The transformation allows us to construct an explicit solution and discuss the behavior of the free boundary. Global existence can be verified under certain conditions on the free boundary and examples of non-existence are given

Science, governance, and public participation: An analysis of decision making on genetic modification in Aotearoa/New Zealand

The acceptance of public participation in science and technology governance in liberal democratic contexts is evident in the institutionalization of a variety of mechanisms for participation in recent decades. Yet questions remain about the extent to which institutions have actually transformed their policy practice to embrace democratic governance of techno-scientific decision making. A critical discourse analysis of the response to public participation by the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA), the key decision-making body on genetic modification in Aotearoa/New Zealand, in a specific case demonstrates that ERMA systematically marginalized concerns raised by the public about risk management, ethics, and ecological, economic, and cultural issues in order to give primacy to a positivist, technological worldview. Such delegitimization of public perspectives pre-empts the possibility of the democratic governance of science