Goodness-of-fit problem for errors in nonparametric regression: Distribution free approach

This paper discusses asymptotically distribution free tests for the classical goodness-of-fit hypothesis of an error distribution in nonparametric regression models. These tests are based on the same martingale transform of the residual empirical process as used in the one sample location model. This transformation eliminates extra randomization due to covariates but not due the errors, which is intrinsically present in the estimators of the regression function. Thus, tests based on the transformed process have, generally, better power. The results of this paper are applicable as soon as asymptotic uniform linearity of nonparametric residual empirical process is available. In particular they are applicable under the conditions stipulated in recent papers of Akritas and Van Keilegom and M\"uller, Schick and Wefelmeyer.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/08-AOS680 the Annals of Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Effect of religious belief on informal reasoning about biotechnology issues

The advances of modern biotechnology provide teachers with a number of opportunities to explore socioscientific issues, and in doing so to enhance students' reasoning skills. Although some attempt has been made to understand cultural differences in students' informal reasoning across international and regional boundaries, there is limited research about the differences that exist between students who identify with a Christian worldview and those students who do not. To investigate the role that students' religious beliefs played in their informal reasoning about biotechnology issues regarding genetically modified food, genetic screening, therapeutic cloning and reproductive cloning, the written responses of 101 students identified as accepting a Christian worldview was compared with 21 students who did not identify with a Christian worldview. Using a qualitative approach, the students' responses to these issues were analysed to identify the modes of informal reasoning incorporated in the justification of their views about the technology. It was shown that students with a higher degree of religious belief demonstrated less use of rational reasoning and a greater reliance on intuitive reasoning in their responses to socioscientific issues when compared with their less-religious peers. The findings highlight the need for initiatives that will develop students' rational and emotive reasoning and encourage them to acknowledge the presuppositions of their belief system and how these influence their attitudes towards controversial issues in science

Search for TeV γ\gamma -rays from H1426+428 during 2004-07 with the TACTIC telescope

The BL Lac object H1426+428 ($z\equiv 0.129$) is an established source of TeV $\gamma$-rays and detections of these photons from this object also have important implications for estimating the Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) in addition to the understanding of the particle acceleration and $\gamma$-ray production mechanisms in the AGN jets. We have observed this source for about 244h in 2004, 2006 and 2007 with the TACTIC $\gamma$-ray telescope located at Mt. Abu, India. Detailed analysis of these data do not indicate the presence of any statistically significant TeV $\gamma$-ray signal from the source direction. Accordingly, we have placed an upper limit of $\leq1.18\times10^{-12}$ $photons$ $cm^{-2}$ $s^{-1}$ on the integrated $\gamma$-ray flux at 3$\sigma$ significance level.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures accepted for publication in Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physic

Therapeutic Potential of Suvorexant on Intergenerational Maternal Oxycodone Exposure

Background: Maternal opioid misuse is a rising public health concern. Our lab previously published findings that in-utero oxycodone exposure (IUO) has detrimental impacts that persist to the F2 generation, including abnormal genetic expression, increased anxiety, and a difference in phenotypic measurements. The estimated cost of hospital admissions for infants suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome was $316 million in 2012 and is still rising. This figure does not take into account long-term costs, nor does it consider lasting effects on the F2 generation. Thus, it is critical to find a way to mitigate the negative impacts of IUO. Suvorexant (suvo) is a dual hypocretin receptor antagonist that is FDA-approved for the treatment of insomnia. The hypocretin system is involved in the regulation of the sleep/wake cycle, feeding behavior, and notably, addiction. Our previous findings showed that Hcrtr1 is upregulated in both F1 and F2 IUO offspring. This project will test the therapeutic potential of suvorexant to attenuate the impacts of IUO. Hypothesis: The administration of suvorexant on F1 animals that have been subjected to IUO will result in the alleviation of developmental impairments in the F2 generation. Methods: Female Sprague Dawley rats in the F0 generation were orally gavaged with 15mg/kg oxycodone or equal volumes of saline. Dosing was maintained from mating until weaning at post-natal day 21 (P21). F1 animals were given ascending doses of suvorexant (3mg/kg P3-P6, 10mg/kg P7-P10, 30mg/kg P11-P21) or an equal volume of DMSO through subcutaneous injection. At P60, 2 females from each condition were mated with naïve breeders. Phenotypic measurements of the F2 generation including weight, head size circumference, and body length were taken at P3 and P14. At P21, 6-8 animals were sacrificed, and organs were collected. Social preference/novelty tests were conducted at P28 and P45. The next phase of this study will consist of molecular assays, imaging, and further behavior testing including an oxycodone self-administration study. Results: Our preliminary results showed that F2 IUO-Suvo animals exhibited significant differences in body weight, body length, and head size circumference at P7 and P14 compared to the control. Furthermore, in the social preference test, the IUO-Suvo animals had significantly more entries into both the toy and naïve chambers at P45, as well as significantly more contacts with both the toy and naïve animal at P28. Conclusions: Administering suvorexant in the F1 generation may mitigate physical and behavioral deficits in the F2 generation caused by intergenerational IUO.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/chri_forum/1066/thumbnail.jp

Changes in aneurysm morphology and stent-graft configuration after endovascular repair of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta

AbstractObjective: We sought to study changes in morphology and stent-graft configuration of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms after endovascular repair. Methods: Twenty-three patients treated with custom-made stent-grafts were studied. The stent-graft consisted of continuous, stainless-steel Z stents mounted within a polyester graft. In the last 11 cases the stents were interconnected with 3 longitudinal wires. Contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography was performed preoperatively and at 1, 3, and every 6 months postoperatively. Angiography was used preoperatively and at 1-year follow-up. Proximal and distal necks were assessed for diameter and length. Aneurysm diameter, endoleaks, stent-graft migration, and changes in stent-graft configuration were evaluated. Results: During follow-up (median, 18 months; range, 1-48 months), excluded aneurysms decreased in diameter by 4 mm (0.5-10 mm, P =.0018). Endoleaks prevented size decrease. Five patients displayed neck dilatation, 4 at both the proximal and distal fixation sites and 1 only distally. In 7 (30%) patients there was proximal migration of the distal end of the stent-graft. Three (13%) patients displayed both distal migration of the proximal end of the stent-graft and proximal migration of the distal end of the stent-graft. There was a significant correlation between stent-graft kinking and appearance of proximal or distal stent-graft migration (P =.05 and P =.0007, respectively). In no case did the migration lead to appearance of an endoleak before intervention was performed. Conclusion: Excluded descending thoracic aortic aneurysms decrease in size on midterm follow-up. A subgroup of patients prone to neck dilatation might exist. A combination of neck dilatation and vector forces acting on stent-grafts in the tortuous thoracic aorta might lead to stent-graft migration.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;122:47-5

Role of ocean initial conditions to diminish dry bias in the seasonal prediction of Indian summer monsoon rainfall: A case study using climate forecast system

Coupled models tend to underestimate Indian summer monsoon (ISM) rainfall over most of the Indian subcontinent. Present study demonstrates that a part of dry bias is arising from the discrepancies in Oceanic Initial Conditions (OICs). Two hindcast experiments are carried out using Climate Forecast System (CFSv2) for summer monsoons of 2012-2014 in which two different OICs are utilized. With respect to first experiment (CTRL), second experiment (AcSAL) differs by two aspects: usage of high-resolution atmospheric forcing and assimilation of only ARGO observed temperature and salinity profiles for OICs. Assessment of OICs indicates that the quality of OICs is enhanced due to assimilation of actual salinity profiles. Analysis reveals that AcSAL experiment showed 10 reduction in the dry bias over the Indian land region during the ISM compared to CTRL. This improvement is consistently apparent in each month and is highest for June. The better representation of upper ocean thermal structure of tropical oceans at initial stage supports realistic upper ocean stability and mixing. Which in fact reduced the dominant cold bias over the ocean, feedback to air-sea interactions and land sea thermal contrast resulting better representation of monsoon circulation and moisture transport. This reduced bias of tropospheric moisture and temperature over the Indian land mass and also produced better tropospheric temperature gradient over land as well as ocean. These feedback processes reduced the dry bias in the ISM rainfall. Study concludes that initializing the coupled models with realistic OICs can reduce the underestimation of ISM rainfall prediction. © 2018. The Authors

Development of a Nomogram to Evaluate the Usefulness of Sonographic Measurement of Placental Thickness for the Estimation of Fetal Gestational Age

Background: An accurate assessment of gestational age (GA) and evaluation of fetal growth is fundamental to prenatal care. Aim: To evaluate placental thickness (PT) as an indicator of GA. Subjects and Methods: A prospective study was carried out on 300 antenatal patients with known last menstrual period (LMP), 100 each in first, second, and third trimester, respectively, with GA more than 10 weeks till term in a study period of one year. Patients with GA more than 20 weeks detected with pregnancy‑induced hypertension (PIH) and/or diabetes mellitus (DM) and/or intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and/or hydrops fetalis and/or congenital malformation were excluded from the study. Twin pregnancy of any gestation was excluded from the study. The PT was measured at the level of insertion of the cord and the values thus measured in millimeters was correlated with GA as ascertained vis a vis the LMP. GA and PT were represented as mean and standard deviation. Correlation between them was evaluated using Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient. Results: The study showed a positive correlation between GA and PT. PT in millimeter accurately matched the GA in weeks from 14 to 21 weeks of gestation after which it was seen to be lesser than GA by 1-4 mm. Conclusions: PT promises to be an accurate parameter for estimating fetal GA in singleton pregnancies.Keywords: Fetal Gestational age, nomogram, placental thicknes