Asymptotically minimax empirical Bayes estimation of a sparse normal mean vector

For the important classical problem of inference on a sparse high-dimensional normal mean vector, we propose a novel empirical Bayes model that admits a posterior distribution with desirable properties under mild conditions. In particular, our empirical Bayes posterior distribution concentrates on balls, centered at the true mean vector, with squared radius proportional to the minimax rate, and its posterior mean is an asymptotically minimax estimator. We also show that, asymptotically, the support of our empirical Bayes posterior has roughly the same effective dimension as the true sparse mean vector. Simulation from our empirical Bayes posterior is straightforward, and our numerical results demonstrate the quality of our method compared to others having similar large-sample properties.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, 3 table

Integer programming for minimal perturbation problems in university course timetabling

In this paper we present a general integer programming-based approach for the minimal perturbation problem in university course timetabling. This problem arises when an existing timetable contains hard constraint violations, or infeasibilities, which need to be resolved. The objective is to resolve these infeasibilities while minimising the disruption or perturbation to the remainder of the timetable. This situation commonly occurs in practical timetabling, for example when there are unexpected changes to course enrolments or available rooms. Our method attempts to resolve each infeasibility in the smallest neighbourhood possible, by utilising the exactness of integer programming. Operating within a neighbourhood of minimal size keeps the computations fast, and does not permit large movements of course events, which cause widespread disruption to timetable structure. We demonstrate the application of this method using examples based on real data from the University of Auckland

Hospitality shindig Kentucky derby fundraising event: Success and challenges

Special events such as fundraising activities are types of events that individuals typically attend to participate in the festivities and enjoy with friends, family and colleagues (Smith, Sargent, Causin & Olle, 2019; Causin & McCarthy, 2017; Causin et. al, 2010). According to Smith, et. al (2019), fundraising in higher education has been around for hundreds of years. In the early 1900’s, the driving motivator for fundraising was to provide funds for students specifically for scholarships, housing expenses, books and food. Fundraising is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies typically done by non-profit charitable organization

Village and household economics in India's semi-arid tropics

The book, based on unique source of information: household panel data from longitudinal village studies that had been carried out since 1975 in two villages in each of the selected three districts of India, is divided in to four parts. How the village studies were conducted and how they fit into social and agricultural research in India are discussed in chapter 2. Profiles of the study regions and villages are presented in chapter 3. Agricultural and economic development in these study villages since independence and particularly in the period 1975 to 1985 is treated in part 2. Part 3 makes more integrated microeconomic treatment of agricultural development in predominantly dryland production environments. The implications of these findings are drawn out in a concluding session of each subject matter chapter and. In a final synthesis chapter, the particular features of India''s SAT are reviewed and prospects for agricultural development assesse