Estimating stellar oscillation-related parameters and their uncertainties with the moment method

The moment method is a well known mode identification technique in asteroseismology (where `mode' is to be understood in an astronomical rather than in a statistical sense), which uses a time series of the first 3 moments of a spectral line to estimate the discrete oscillation mode parameters l and m. The method, contrary to many other mode identification techniques, also provides estimates of other important continuous parameters such as the inclination angle alpha, and the rotational velocity v_e. We developed a statistical formalism for the moment method based on so-called generalized estimating equations (GEE). This formalism allows the estimation of the uncertainty of the continuous parameters taking into account that the different moments of a line profile are correlated and that the uncertainty of the observed moments also depends on the model parameters. Furthermore, we set up a procedure to take into account the mode uncertainty, i.e., the fact that often several modes (l,m) can adequately describe the data. We also introduce a new lack of fit function which works at least as well as a previous discriminant function, and which in addition allows us to identify the sign of the azimuthal order m. We applied our method to the star HD181558, using several numerical methods, from which we learned that numerically solving the estimating equations is an intensive task. We report on the numerical results, from which we gain insight in the statistical uncertainties of the physical parameters involved in the moment method.Comment: The electronic online version from the publisher can be found at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-9876.2005.00487.

Adaptive Covariance Estimation with model selection

We provide in this paper a fully adaptive penalized procedure to select a covariance among a collection of models observing i.i.d replications of the process at fixed observation points. For this we generalize previous results of Bigot and al. and propose to use a data driven penalty to obtain an oracle inequality for the estimator. We prove that this method is an extension to the matricial regression model of the work by Baraud

Geodynamic evolution of the lithosphere and upper mantle beneath the Alboran region of the western Mediterranean: Constraints from travel time tomography

An edited version of this paper was published by the American Geophysical Union. Copyright 2000, AGU. See also: http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2000/2000JB900024.shtml; http://atlas.geo.cornell.edu/morocco/publications/calvert2000.htmA number of different geodynamic models have been proposed to explain the extension that occurred during the Miocene in the Alboran Sea region of the western Mediterranean despite the continued convergence and shortening of northern Africa and southern Iberia. In an effort to provide additional geophysical constraints on these models, we performed a local, regional, and teleseismic tomographic travel time inversion for the lithospheric and upper mantle velocity structure and earthquake locations beneath the Alboran region in an area of 800 x 800 km^2. We picked P and S arrival times from digital and analog seismograms recorded by 96 seismic stations in Morocco and Spain between 1989 and 1996 and combined them with arrivals carefully selected from local and global catalogs (1964-1998) to generate a starting data set containing over 100,000 arrival times. Our results indicate that a N-S line of intermediate depth earthquakes extending from crustal depths significantly inland from the southern Iberian coat to depths of over 100 km beneath the center of the Alboran Sea coincided with a W to E transition from high to low velocities imaged in the uppermost mantle. A high-velocity body, striking approximately NE-SW, is imaged to dip southeastwards from lithospheric depths beneath the low-velocity region to depths of ~350 km. Between 350 and 500 km the imaged velocity anomalies become more diffuse. However, pronounced high-velocity anomalies are again imaged at 600 km near an isolated cluster of deep earthquakes. In addition to standard tomographic methods of error assessment, the effects of systematic and random errors were assessed using block shifting and bootstrap resampling techniques, respectively. We interpret the upper mantle high-velocity anomalies as regions of colder mantle that originate from lithospheric depths. These observations, when combined with results from other studies, suggest that delamination of a continental lithosphere played an important role in the Neogene and Quaternary evolution of the region

Propagation of regional seismic phases (Lg and Sn) and Pn velocity structure along the Africa-Iberia plate boundary zone

An edited version of this paper was published by Blackwell Publishing. Copyright 2000, Blackwell Publishing. See also: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1365-246x.2000.00160.x; http://atlas.geo.cornell.edu/morocco/publications/calvert2000GJI.htmWe used over 1000 regional waveforms recorded by 60 seismic stations located in northwest Africa and Iberia to map the efficiency of L g and Sn wave propagation beneath the Gulf of Cadiz, Alboran Sea and bounding Betic, Rif and Atlas mountain belts. Crustal attenuation is inferred from the tomographic inversion of L g/Pg amplitude ratios. Upper mantle attenuation is inferred from maps of Sn propagation efficiency derived by inversion of well-defined qualitative efficiency assignments based on waveform characteristics. Regions of L g attenuation correlate well with areas of thinned continental or oceanic crust, significant sedimentary basins, and lateral crustal variations. Comparison of the Sn efficiency results with velocities obtained from an anisotropic Pn traveltime inversion shows a fairly good correlation between regions of poor Sn efficiency and low Pn velocity. A low Pn velocity (7.6?7.8 km s-1) and significant Sn attenuation in the uppermost mantle is imaged beneath the Betics in southern Spain, in sharp contrast to the relatively normal Pn velocity (8.0?8.1 km s-1) and efficient Sn imaged beneath the Alboran Sea. Slow Pn velocity anomalies are also imaged beneath the Rif and Middle Atlas in Morocco. We do not identify any conclusive evidence of lithospheric-scale upper mantle attenuation beneath the Rif, although the crust in the Gibraltar region appears highly attenuating, making observations at stations in this region ambiguous. Paths crossing the Gulf of Cadiz, eastern Atlantic and the Moroccan and Iberian mesetas show very efficient Sn propagation and are imaged with high Pn velocities (8.1?8.2 km s-1). The spatial distribution of attenuation and velocity anomalies lead us to conclude that some recovery of the mantle lid beneath the Alboran Sea must have occurred since the early Miocene episode of extension and volcanism. We interpret the low velocity and attenuating regions beneath the Betics and possibly the Rif as indicating the presence of partial melt in the uppermost mantle which may be underlain by faster less attenuating mantle. In the light of observations from other geophysical and geological studies, the presence of melt at the base of the Betic crust may be an indication that delamination of continental lithosphere has played a role in the Neogene evolution of the Alboran Sea region

PENGARUH AKUNTABILITAS PUBLIK, KEJELASAN SASARAN ANGGARAN, DESENTRALISASI DAN PARTISIPASI PENYUSUNAN ANGGARAN TERHADAP KINERJA MANAJERIAL

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui Pengaruh Akuntabilitas Publik, Kejelasan Target Anggaran, Desentralisasi dan Partisipasi Penganggaran terhadap Kinerja Manajerial. Hasil survey menunjukan bahwa populasi Satuan Kerja (SKPD) di Kabupaten Halmahera Barat sebanyak 1053 dengan sampel sebanyak 211 responden. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan Purposive Sampling. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif dan teknik analisis data menggunakan Regresi Linier Berganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa Akuntabilitas Publik berpengaruh terhadap Kinerja Manajerial. Desentralisasi berpengaruh terhadap Kinerja Manajerial, sedangkan Partisipasi Penganggaran tidak berpengaruh terhadap Kinerja Manajerial

Robust high-dimensional precision matrix estimation

The dependency structure of multivariate data can be analyzed using the covariance matrix $\Sigma$. In many fields the precision matrix $\Sigma^{-1}$ is even more informative. As the sample covariance estimator is singular in high-dimensions, it cannot be used to obtain a precision matrix estimator. A popular high-dimensional estimator is the graphical lasso, but it lacks robustness. We consider the high-dimensional independent contamination model. Here, even a small percentage of contaminated cells in the data matrix may lead to a high percentage of contaminated rows. Downweighting entire observations, which is done by traditional robust procedures, would then results in a loss of information. In this paper, we formally prove that replacing the sample covariance matrix in the graphical lasso with an elementwise robust covariance matrix leads to an elementwise robust, sparse precision matrix estimator computable in high-dimensions. Examples of such elementwise robust covariance estimators are given. The final precision matrix estimator is positive definite, has a high breakdown point under elementwise contamination and can be computed fast

Indications for pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: consensus presented at the First Meeting on Brazilian Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Guidelines - Brazilian Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation, Rio de Janeiro, 2009

The Brazilian Bone Marrow Transplant Society (SBTMO) held its First Meeting on Bone Marrow Transplant Guidelines in 2009. A working group of hematologists and oncologists with experience in pediatrics was formed to review evidence-based indications for pediatric transplants. Scientific publications were carefully assessed and, for each disease, the evidence for recommendation (from A to C) and the quality of the evidence (from 1 to 3) were defined. The recommendations include malignant and non-malignant hematological diseases, solid tumors, immunodeficiency, and storage diseases treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplants: either autologous or allogeneic from matched sibling donors or unrelated donors (adults or umbilical cord blood). Guidelines for reduced-intensity transplants, manipulated grafts or partially compatible donors were not included as there are no uniformly accepted recommendations. All indications are based on the best current knowledge which may change over time. Thus, this review should not be directly applied to patient care without taking into account the disease, donor and patient characteristics. Additionally, this paper should not be used as a document to limit patient access to transplant if correctly indicated. In this review we also point out differences between transplantation in adults and children and make some specific recommendations for pediatric transplants.A Sociedade Brasileira de Transplante de Medula (SBTMO) promoveu o I Encontro de Diretrizes do Transplante de Medula Óssea em 2009. Para revisão das indicações de transplante em Pediatria baseadas em evidências foi constituído grupo de trabalho com oncologistas e hematologistas com experiência em pediatria. Os artigos científicos foram cuidadosamente avaliados e, para cada doença, foram definidas as evidências para recomendação dos transplantes (de A a C) e a qualidade destas evidências (de 1 a 3). As recomendações incluem doenças hematológicas malignas e não malignas, tumores sólidos, imunodeficiências e doenças de depósito tratadas com transplantes de células-tronco hematopoéticas, quer autólogos, alogênicos de irmão HLA compatível ou não aparentados (doadores adultos ou sangue de cordão umbilical). Como não existem recomendações uniformemente aceitas em pediatria, não foram incluídas recomendações para transplantes de intensidade reduzida, com manipulação do enxerto e nem parcialmente compatíveis. É importante ressaltar que todas as indicações são baseadas no conhecimento atual e podem modificar-se com o tempo. Assim, esta revisão não deve ser utilizada para aplicação direta no cuidado do paciente sem levar em conta características da doença, do doador e fatores de risco do próprio paciente. Este trabalho não deve ainda ser utilizado como documento que limite o acesso do paciente ao transplante adequadamente indicado. Ressaltamos ainda, nesta revisão, diferenças entre transplantes em crianças e em adultos, com algumas recomendações específicas para os transplantes em pediatria.UNIFESPUniversidade Federal do ParanáUFRGSHospital Amaral CarvalhoHospital de Clínicas de Porto AlegreUNIFESPSciEL

Long-Term PIT and T-Bar Anchor Tag Retention Rates in Adult Muskellunge

Mark-recapture studies require knowledge of tag retention rates specific to tag types, fish species and size, and study duration. We determined the probability of tag loss for passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags implanted into dorsal musculature, T-bar anchor tags attached to dorsal pterygiophores, and loss of both tags in relation to years post-tagging for double-marked adult muskellunge Esox masquinongy over a 10 year period. We also used PIT tags as a benchmark to assess the interactive effects of fish length at tagging, sex, and years post-tagging on T-bar anchor tag loss rates. Only five instances of PIT tag loss were identified; the calculated probability of a fish losing its PIT tag was consistently \u3c 1.0% for up to 10 years post-tagging. The probability of T-bar anchor tag loss by muskellunge was related to the number of years post-tagging and total length of fish at tagging. T-bar anchor tag loss rate one year after tagging was 6.5%. Individuals \u3c 750 mm total length at tagging had anchor tag loss rates \u3c 10% for up to 6 years after tagging. However, the proportion of fish losing T-bar anchor tags steadily increased with increasing years post-tagging (~30% after 6 years) for larger muskellunge. Fish gender did not influence probability of T-bar anchor tag loss. Our results indicate that T-bar anchor tags are best suited for short-term applications (≤ 1 year duration) involving adult muskellunge. We recommend use of PIT tags for longer-term tagging studies, particularly for muskellunge \u3e 750 mm total length