Direction-Projection-Permutation for High Dimensional Hypothesis Tests

Motivated by the prevalence of high dimensional low sample size datasets in modern statistical applications, we propose a general nonparametric framework, Direction-Projection-Permutation (DiProPerm), for testing high dimensional hypotheses. The method is aimed at rigorous testing of whether lower dimensional visual differences are statistically significant. Theoretical analysis under the non-classical asymptotic regime of dimension going to infinity for fixed sample size reveals that certain natural variations of DiProPerm can have very different behaviors. An empirical power study both confirms the theoretical results and suggests DiProPerm is a powerful test in many settings. Finally DiProPerm is applied to a high dimensional gene expression dataset

Best Practices And Exemplary Applications Of Technology In Higher Education

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) located in the College of Education at Delta State was envisioned in the 1999-2000 school year as a catalyst for systemic change across the college and region as related to technology and its place in the education of the P-12 community. The Center’s goals include: 1) implementing appropriate standards for technology and high quality educator preparation programs across the graduate and undergraduate curricula, 2) providing access to technology for students and faculty in a variety of settings within the college, 3) providing access to state-of-the-art, technologically resource-rich environments for PK-12 partner schools and the greater community, 4) supporting web-based teaching and learning components, and 5) expanding e-learning capabilities to meet regional needs. The staff of the CTL provides on-going, on-site training and technical support for the greater DSU community. The Technology Coordinator for the College, the CTL Director and a Technical Specialist provide a full range of services for all CTL users. Student staff members in the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) have been a vital and valuable component of the Center’s success. The student staff members provide individual and small group training and support for a wide range of technological applications including Web CT and the full complement of Microsoft Office programs

Trauma histories among justice-involved youth: findings from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

BackgroundUp to 90% of justice-involved youth report exposure to some type of traumatic event. On average, 70% of youth meet criteria for a mental health disorder with approximately 30% of youth meeting criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Justice-involved youth are also at risk for substance use and academic problems, and child welfare involvement. Yet, less is known about the details of their trauma histories, and associations among trauma details, mental health problems, and associated risk factors.ObjectiveThis study describes detailed trauma histories, mental health problems, and associated risk factors (i.e., academic problems, substance/alcohol use, and concurrent child welfare involvement) among adolescents with recent involvement in the juvenile justice system.MethodThe National Child Traumatic Stress Network Core Data Set (NCTSN-CDS) is used to address these aims, among which 658 adolescents report recent involvement in the juvenile justice system as indexed by being detained or under community supervision by the juvenile court.ResultsAge of onset of trauma exposure was within the first 5 years of life for 62% of youth and approximately one-third of youth report exposure to multiple or co-occurring trauma types each year into adolescence. Mental health problems are prevalent with 23.6% of youth meeting criteria for PTSD, 66.1% in the clinical range for externalizing problems, and 45.5% in the clinical range for internalizing problems. Early age of onset of trauma exposure was differentially associated with mental health problems and related risk factors among males and females.ConclusionsThe results indicate that justice-involved youth report high rates of trauma exposure and that this trauma typically begins early in life, is often in multiple contexts, and persists over time. Findings provide support for establishing trauma-informed juvenile justice systems that can respond to the needs of traumatized youth

ABDOMINAL AND LOW BACK MUSCLE INVOLVEMENT DURING EIGHT SIT-UP VARIATIONS

Sit-up exercises are often recommended by health and fitness experts and by members of the medical community as both a prophylactic and a treatment for low back pain. The general rationale for such prescriptions is that an increase in the resting tension levels of the abdominal muscles may help prevent or reduce excessive anteriortilt ofthe pelvis and lumbar lordosis. Although a variety of sit-up styles or variations are currently practiced, it is well-documented that at least some variations of the sit-up also exercise the hip-flexor muscles. Among the hip-flexors is the iliopsoas complex, which tends to increase lumbar lordosis when it is over-developed. Since this is undesirable in that excessive lumbar lordosis may actually contribute to the development oflow back pain, the optimal sit-up exercise is clearly one which maximizes abdominal muscle involvement while minimizing the participation of the hip flexors. For these reasons, the hook-lying sit-up, (performed with the knees in flexion), has been recommended (Williams, 1974)

Does titration of mitomycin C as an adjunct to trabeculectomy significantly influence the intraocular pressure outcome?

Susan J Lee1, Augusto Paranhos2, M Bruce Shields11Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; 2Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilPurpose: To evaluate the benefit of titrating the concentration and exposure time of mitomycin C (MMC) as an adjunct to trabeculectomy.Methods: This report consists of a retrospective study and a review of the literature. In the study, consecutive glaucoma patients were evaluated who underwent trabeculectomy with adjunctive MMC that was titrated for concentration and exposure time, based on patient’s risk factors for surgical failure. After minimum follow-up of 6 months, patients were divided into success (intraocular pressure 7–17 mmHg), hypertension (>17 mmHg) and hypotony (<7 mmHg) groups, which were compared with regard to MMC protocol and patient variables. The literature review included reports of trabeculectomy and adjunctive MMC with and without titration.Results: One hundred and fifty-five eyes of 155 patients were studied. There were no significant differences between the three outcome groups and MMC protocol (p > 0.05). The only significant patient variable was older age in the hypotony group (p = 0.009). The literature is conflicting regarding the value of titrating MMC as an adjunct in trabeculectomy.Conclusion: The outcome of trabeculectomy with adjunctive MMC appears to represent a complex interaction of patient and surgical variables. While there is some support for a benefit of titrating MMC according to individual patient variables, there is inadequate evidence at the present time to claim superiority for any MMC protocol, with or without titration.Keywords: glaucoma surgery, trabeculectomy, mitomycin C, intraocular pressur

Lunar lander conceptual design

A conceptual design is presented of a Lunar Lander, which can be the primary vehicle to transport the equipment necessary to establish a surface lunar base, the crew that will man the base, and the raw materials which the Lunar Station will process. A Lunar Lander will be needed to operate in the regime between the lunar surface and low lunar orbit (LLO), up to 200 km. This lander is intended for the establishment and operation of a manned surface base on the moon and for the support of the Lunar Space Station. The lander will be able to fulfill the requirements of 3 basic missions: A mission dedicated to delivering maximum payload for setting up the initial lunar base; Multiple missions between LLO and lunar surface dedicated to crew rotation; and Multiple missions dedicated to cargo shipments within the regime of lunar surface and LLO. A complete set of structural specifications is given