Series Estimation of Semilinear Models

AbstractThis paper discusses estimation of the semilinear model E[y | x, z] = x′β + g(z) using series approximations to the unknown function g(z) under much weaker conditions than heretofore given in the literature. In particular, we allow for z being multidimensional and to have a discrete distribution, features often present in applications. In addition, the smoothness conditions are quite weak: it will suffice for √n consistency of β̂ that the modulus of continuity of g(z) and E[x | z] be higher than one-fourth the dimension of z and that the number of terms be chosen appropriately

Primary accumulation in the Soviet transition

The Soviet background to the idea of primary socialist accumulation is presented. The mobilisation of labour power and of products into public sector investment from outside are shown to have been the two original forms of the concept. In Soviet primary accumulation the mobilisation of labour power was apparently more decisive than the mobilisation of products. The primary accumulation process had both intended and unintended results. Intended results included bringing most of the economy into the public sector, and industrialisation of the economy as a whole. Unintended results included substantial economic losses, and the proliferation of coercive institutions damaging to attainment of the ultimate goal - the building of a communist society

Ralph: A Visible/Infrared Imager for the New Horizons Pluto/Kuiper Belt Mission

The New Horizons instrument named Ralph is a visible/near infrared multi-spectral imager and a short wavelength infrared spectral imager. It is one of the core instruments on New Horizons, NASA's first mission to the Pluto/Charon system and the Kuiper Belt. Ralph combines panchromatic and color imaging capabilities with IR imaging spectroscopy. Its primary purpose is to map the surface geology and composition of these objects, but it will also be used for atmospheric studies and to map the surface temperature. It is a compact, low-mass (10.5 kg), power efficient (7.1 W peak), and robust instrument with good sensitivity and excellent imaging characteristics. Other than a door opened once in flight, it has no moving parts. These characteristics and its high degree of redundancy make Ralph ideally suited to this long-duration flyby reconnaissance mission.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, 4 tables; To appear in a special volume of Space Science Reviews on the New Horizons missio

Inequality of opportunity in the land of opportunities : 1968-2001

We measure inequality of opportunity for earnings acquisition in the U.S. between 1968 and 2001. Following recent theories of social justice, earnings determinants are divided into two parts: Circumstances, which are characteristics outside individual control and effort representing factors impacting earnings but under individuals’ responsibility. Equality of opportunity requires that inequality of circumstances must be corrected while differences of effort must remain unaltered. Circumstances are represented by parental education and occupation, ethnic origin, place of birth and age. Effort is modeled with schooling choices and labour supply decisions. Using the PSID from 1968 to 2001, we provide two alternative assessments of inequality of opportunity using counterfactual distributions. The statistical framework is semi-parametric and builds on duration models. Finally, we conclude that inequality of opportunity represents between 20 and 43% of earnings inequality, but decreases all over the period reaching around 18% in 2001

Age at first birth in women is genetically associated with increased risk of schizophrenia

Prof. Paunio on PGC:n jäsenPrevious studies have shown an increased risk for mental health problems in children born to both younger and older parents compared to children of average-aged parents. We previously used a novel design to reveal a latent mechanism of genetic association between schizophrenia and age at first birth in women (AFB). Here, we use independent data from the UK Biobank (N = 38,892) to replicate the finding of an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women, and to estimate the genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in women stratified into younger and older groups. We find evidence for an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women (P-value = 1.12E-05), and we show genetic heterogeneity between younger and older AFB groups (P-value = 3.45E-03). The genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in the younger AFB group is -0.16 (SE = 0.04) while that between schizophrenia and AFB in the older AFB group is 0.14 (SE = 0.08). Our results suggest that early, and perhaps also late, age at first birth in women is associated with increased genetic risk for schizophrenia in the UK Biobank sample. These findings contribute new insights into factors contributing to the complex bio-social risk architecture underpinning the association between parental age and offspring mental health.Peer reviewe

Three regionalised analyses of a time-series of annual pasture production for southwest Western Australia

A thirteen year time-series (1994 to 2006) of gross annual pasture production (GAPP; representing both pasture and crop) was created for the Mediterranean-climate area in the southwest of Western Australia (SWWA) using a light-use efficiency model, incorporating NOAA-AVHRR and NASA- MODIS images in combination with climate data. Trends across the GAPP time-series were quantified by aggregating pixels to spatial regions (called a partition, unit, or spatial support) so that the effects of local spatial noise were minimized. We compared the GAPP analysis using the three spatial partitioning schemes (precipitation zones, Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) eco-regions, and Statistical Local Areas), and showed that the aggregation unit's size & shape impacted on the analysis. Our results demonstrate trends in GAPP that may be indicative of broader trends in climate change for the SWWA

A conceptual design program for educational purposes

AIAA Aircraft Design, Systems and Technology Meeting, October 17-19, 1983 / Fort Worth, TexasA description is given of a helicopter conceptual design course. The design is primarily concerned with the performance of the helicopter, and does not consider stability effects. The design process is enhanced through the extensive use of computer programs

Analysis of a time series of annual pasture production in south-west Western Australia

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