GENERALIZED LINEAR MIXED MODELS - AN OVERVIEW

Generalized linear models provide a methodology for doing regression and ANOV A-type analysis with data whose errors are not necessarily normally-distributed. Common applications in agriculture include categorical data, survival analysis, bioassay, etc. Most of the literature and most of the available computing software for generalized linear models applies to cases in which all model effects are fixed. However, many agricultural research applications lead to mixed or random effects models: split-plot experiments, animal- and plant-breeding studies, multi-location studies, etc. Recently, through a variety of efforts in a number of contexts, a general framework for generalized linear models with random effects, the generalized linear mixed model, has been developed . The purpose of this presentation is to present an overview of the methodology for generalized mixed linear models. Relevant background, estimating equations, and general approaches to interval estimation and hypothesis testing will be presented. Methods will be illustrated via a small data set involving binary data

Coal washing

The rapid growth of the coal washing industry in the United States during the past few years is characteristic of the general tendency toward more economical and efficient utilization of the natural resources, the washing of coal being a process of enrichment of one of the most necessary and widely used raw products. This industry is of great importance to the men engaged in mining of coal as well as to the community at large, and since it makes possible the use of originally poor coals, it conserves one of the natural resources absolutely essential for the progress of the human race --Historical, page 1

Smokeless tobacco - a substantial risk for oral potentially malignant disorders in South Asia

Data sources: Medline, the Science Citation Index (SCI) via Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Global Index Medicus, Google Scholar and SLT-related reports of the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Cancer Institute of the United States. Study selection: Observational studies on the use of SLT and the risk of developing OPMDs in South Asian Populations. Data extraction and synthesis: Duplicate selection of studies was undertaken with two reviewers undertaking data abstraction and quality assessment independently. Risk and odds ratios were extracted or calculated for studies where possible. Meta odds ratios (mOR) were calculated using a random effects analysis. Results: Fifteen papers reporting 18 studies were included. The majority (12) were from India. All the studies were case-control designs. MOR for any OPMD with the use of any SLT product was 15.5 (95% CI; 9.9–24.2). Risk was higher in women; mOR = 22.2 (95% CI, 9.1–54.1) than men; mOR = 8.7 (95% CI, 2.1–34.8). Betel quid with tobacco carried the highest risk for OPMD, mOR = 16.1 (95% CI, 7.8–33.5). Conclusions: The findings of our study point towards a strong association between some forms of OPMDs and SLT use in South Asia. The risk estimates are high, irrespective of controlling for confounders such as smoking and alcohol or stratification by sex, country or source of controls. There is also an exposure-response relationship between OPMDs and SLT use

Renovation of Seeded Warm-season Pastures with Atrazine

Numerous warm-season pastures have been established in the last 30 years in the central Great Plains. Some of these pastures are old enough to verify that they can be abused by overgrazing as easily as native tallgrass prairies. Overgrazed warm-season pastures are invaded and dominated by cool-season grasses such as smooth brome (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), which diminishes the pasture productivity during the hot summer months. Since established warm-season grasses have greater tolerance to the herbicide atrazine than cool-season grasses, the effectiveness of atrazine applications in renovating invaded warm-season pastures was evaluated. A single, early spring application of atrazine (3.3 kg/ha) killed or sufficiently suppressed the cool-season grasses so that surviving warm-season remnants were able to effectively re-establish the warm-season pasture in a single growing season without any loss in total pasture forage production. Lower rates of atrazine were not as effective, particularly if smooth brome was the primary cool-season grass. The single atrazine application cost was approximately 25% of the seed cost associated with more conventional renovation. Pastures should not be grazed the treatment year but can be hayed rt the end of the growing season. The success of the practice is dependent on the presence of warm-season grass remnants. Spraying test strips in small fenced areas would be advisable before treating entire pastures

Military spending and economic growth in China: a regime-switching analysis

This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.This article investigates the impact of military spending changes on economic growth in China over the period 1953 to 2010. Using two-state Markov-switching specifications, the results suggest that the relationship between military spending changes and economic growth is state dependent. Specifically, the results show that military spending changes affect the economic growth negatively during a slower growth-higher variance state, while positively within a faster growth-lower variance one. It is also demonstrated that military spending changes contain information about the growth transition probabilities. As a policy tool, the results indicate that increases in military spending can be detrimental to growth during slower growth-higher growth volatility periods. © 2014 © 2014 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis

The challenge of acute-stroke management: does telemedicine offer a solution?

<p><b>Background:</b> Several studies have described successful experiences with the use of telemedicine in acute stroke. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and treatment delivery reliability, of telemedicine systems for the clinical and radiological assessment, and management of acute-stroke patients.</p> <p><b>Summary of Review:</b> A systematic review of the literature was carried out. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: (1) study population included participants with a diagnosis of suspected acute stroke, (2) intervention included the use of telemedicine systems to aid assessment, diagnosis, or treatment in acute stroke, and (3) outcomes measured related to feasibility in clinical practice, acceptability to patients, carers, and staff, reliability of telemedicine systems, and effectiveness in delivering treatment, especially tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Overall, 17 relevant non-randomised studies reported that telemedicine systems were feasible and acceptable. Interrater reliability was excellent for global clinical assessments and decisions on radiological exclusion criteria although agreement for individual assessment items was more variable. Telemedicine systems were associated with increased use of tPA.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> Although there is limited reliable evidence, observational studies have indicated that telemedicine systems can be feasible, acceptable, and reliable in acute-stroke management. In addition, telemedicine consultations were associated with improved delivery of tPA.</p&gt

Establishment and Persistence of Yellow-Flowered Alfalfa No-Till Interseeded into Crested Wheatgrass Stands

Crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn., A. desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult., and related taxa] often exists in near monoculture stands in the northern Great Plains. Introducing locally adapted yellow-flowered alfalfa [Medicago sativa L. subsp. falcata (L.) Arcang.] would complement crested wheatgrass. Our objective was to evaluate effects of seeding date, clethodim {(E) -2-[1-[[(3-chloro-2-propenyl)oxy]imino] propyl]-5-[2-(ethylthio)propyl]-3-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one} sod suppression, and seeding rate on initial establishment and stand persistence of Falcata, a predominantly yellow-flowered alfalfa, no-till interseeded into crested wheatgrass. Research was initiated in August 2008 at Newcastle, WY; Hettinger, ND; Fruitdale, SD; and Buffalo, SD. Effects of treatment factors on plant frequency during initial establishment were influenced by site environments. Late summer and spring were suitable seeding dates. Clethodim sod suppression increased seedling frequency in most cases. Seedling frequency increased as seeding rate increased from 0.56 to 7.84 kg pure live seed (PLS) ha–1. Specific seeding dates, clethodim sod suppression, and high seeding rates did not greatly improve initial establishment when site environments were poor. Residual effects of seeding date and sod suppression post establishment were not significant at most locations, but seeding rate effects were evident. Initial establishment and persistence of Falcata alfalfa was successful at Newcastle, indicating that interseeding in late summer or spring using low seeding rates (≤3.36 kg PLS ha–1) without clethodim can be effective. Assessing grass canopy cover, soil texture, and management (e.g., haying) is necessary to determine the suitability of crested wheatgrass sites for interseeding