APPLICATION OF RECURSIVE PARTITIONING TO AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SCORING

Recursive Partitioning Algorithm (RPA) is introduced as a technique for credit scoring analysis, which allows direct incorporation of misclassification costs. This study corroborates nonagricultural credit studies, which indicate that RPA outperforms logistic regression based on within-sample observations. However, validation based on more appropriate out-of-sample observations indicates that logistic regression is superior under some conditions. Incorporation of misclassification costs can influence the creditworthiness decision.finance, credit scoring, misclassification, recursive partitioning algorithm, Agricultural Finance,

Problems with developmental stability in two rodent species from Chornobyl

Changes in developmental patterns are some of the most important effects that may be observed at radioactively contaminated sites like those at Chornobyl. Developmental instability may arise from the interactions between an organism\u27s genotype and its environment and be manifested as deviant morphology. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is a measure of deviations from the expected bilateral symmetry of the body. Our objective was to test for differences in FA in two rodent species (Apodemus flavicollis and Clethrionomys glareolus) that live in habitats suirounding the failed Chornobyl reactor. Rodents were collected from four different locations (two contaminated and two reference sites), and a series of adult skulls were photographed and 24 landmarks on each skull were located on digital images from photographed skulls. FA was calculated from the differences in these landmarks on the right and left side of the skull. Significantly more asymmetry (~2X) was observed in mice and voles living around Chornobyl compared to those living at the uncontaminated reference sites. These are relatively large effects in comparison to those previously found for plants and swallows. FA can be a cheap, easily determined and sensitive indicator of radiation-induced stress in small mammals. FA can be used to prioritize environments for remediation efforts and to efficiently evaluate the effectiveness of the remediation efforts

High levels of fluctuating asymmetry in populations of Apodemus flavicollis from the most contaminated areas in Chornobyl

Random deviations from the perfect symmetry of normally bilaterally symmetrical characters for an individual with a given genotype occur during individual development due to the influence of multiple environmental factors. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is often used as a measure of developmental instability, and can be estimated as the variance of the distribution of differences between the left and right sides. We addressed the question of whether levels of FA were elevated in radioactively contaminated populations living around Chornobyl compared to those in reference populations of the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). In addition, we studied amounts of directional asymmetry (DA) when one side is larger than the other on average. There was a significant difference among populations, including reference populations, in the amount of both FA and DA. A higher level of FA was documented for the contaminated populations in close proximity to the failed Chornobyl reactor for both the asymmetry of size and shape. The FAs of size and shape were highest in populations from the most contaminated locations in the Chornobyl exclusion zone. Although the directional asymmetry of shape was also highest in the contaminated populations, it was not significantly different from those in most of the reference populations. Populations from less contaminated areas inside the Chornobyl exclusion zone did not express FA values different from those of the reference populations outside the affected area

Problems with developmental stability in two rodent species from Chornobyl

Changes in developmental patterns are some of the most important effects that may be observed at radioactively contaminated sites like those at Chornobyl. Developmental instability may arise from the interactions between an organism\u27s genotype and its environment and be manifested as deviant morphology. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) is a measure of deviations from the expected bilateral symmetry of the body. Our objective was to test for differences in FA in two rodent species (Apodemus flavicollis and Clethrionomys glareolus) that live in habitats suirounding the failed Chornobyl reactor. Rodents were collected from four different locations (two contaminated and two reference sites), and a series of adult skulls were photographed and 24 landmarks on each skull were located on digital images from photographed skulls. FA was calculated from the differences in these landmarks on the right and left side of the skull. Significantly more asymmetry (~2X) was observed in mice and voles living around Chornobyl compared to those living at the uncontaminated reference sites. These are relatively large effects in comparison to those previously found for plants and swallows. FA can be a cheap, easily determined and sensitive indicator of radiation-induced stress in small mammals. FA can be used to prioritize environments for remediation efforts and to efficiently evaluate the effectiveness of the remediation efforts

ALMA and HST Kiloparsec-scale Imaging of a Quasar-galaxy Merger at Z ≈ 6.2

We present kiloparsec-scale Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the quasar PJ308–21 at z = 6.2342, tracing dust, gas (via the [C II] 158 μm line), and young stars. At a resolution of ~0.”3 (≈1.7 kpc), the system is resolved over >4'' (>20 kpc). In particular, it features a main component, identified to be the quasar host galaxy, centered on the accreting supermassive black hole; and two other extended components are on the west and east side: one redshifted and the other blueshifted relative to the quasar. The [C II] emission of the entire system stretches over >1500 km s^(−1) along the line of sight. All the components of the system are observed in dust, [C II], and rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) emission. The inferred [C II] luminosities [(0.9–4.6)×10^9 L⊙]; dust luminosities [(0.15–2.6)×10^(12) L⊙]; rest-frame UV luminosities [(6.6–15)×10^(10) L⊙], their ratios, and the implied gas/dust masses; and star formation rates [11–290 M⊙ yr^(−1)] are typical of high-redshift star-forming galaxies. A toy model of a single satellite galaxy that is tidally stripped by the interaction with the quasar host galaxy can account for the observed velocity and spatial extent of the two extended components. An outflow interpretation of the unique features in PJ308–21 is not supported by the data. PJ308–21 is thus one of the earliest galaxy mergers imaged at cosmic dawn

Glycemia and the Quality of Well-Being in Patients with Diabetes

Objectives : To investigate the cross-sectional relationships among self-reported frequencies of symptomatic hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, HbA1c, and symptoms in the Quality of Well-Being Self-Administered (QWB-SA), and to examine the associations among these measures of glycemia and health utility scores. Research design and methods : The study group included 1522 patients with diabetes who attended University of Michigan Health System clinics. Published studies were reviewed to identify symptoms in the QWB-SA that might be associated with measures of glycemia. Linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the strength of the associations among the frequency of self-reported measures of glycemia, QWB-SA symptoms, and QWB-SA-derived health utility scores. Results : Frequency of hyperglycemic symptoms was associated with 3% of the variance in the QWB-SA-derived health utility score in type 1 diabetes and with 5% of the variance in type 2 diabetes. Frequency of hypoglycemic symptoms was not associated with the QWB-SA-derived health utility score in type 1 diabetes but was associated with 1% of the variance in type 2 diabetes. HbA1c levels were not significantly associated with QWB-SA-derived health utility scores. After controlling for age, gender, and complications, frequency of hyperglycemic symptoms was significantly associated with QWB-SA-derived health utility scores in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Conclusions : Reported frequency of hyperglycemic symptoms is associated with symptoms included in the QWB-SA and with QWB-SA-derived health utility scores. The QWB-SA may be an appropriate measure to assess the health burden of hyperglycemia.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43567/1/11136_2004_Article_5147235.pd

Sensory Electrical Stimulation Improves Foot Placement during Targeted Stepping Post-Stroke

Proper foot placement is vital for maintaining balance during walking, requiring the integration of multiple sensory signals with motor commands. Disruption of brain structures post-stroke likely alters the processing of sensory information by motor centers, interfering with precision control of foot placement and walking function for stroke survivors. In this study, we examined whether somatosensory stimulation, which improves functional movements of the paretic hand, could be used to improve foot placement of the paretic limb. Foot placement was evaluated before, during, and after application of somatosensory electrical stimulation to the paretic foot during a targeted stepping task. Starting from standing, twelve chronic stroke participants initiated movement with the non-paretic limb and stepped to one of five target locations projected onto the floor with distances normalized to the paretic stride length. Targeting error and lower extremity kinematics were used to assess changes in foot placement and limb control due to somatosensory stimulation. Significant reductions in placement error in the medial–lateral direction (p = 0.008) were observed during the stimulation and post-stimulation blocks. Seven participants, presenting with a hip circumduction walking pattern, had reductions (p = 0.008) in the magnitude and duration of hip abduction during swing with somatosensory stimulation. Reductions in circumduction correlated with both functional and clinical measures, with larger improvements observed in participants with greater impairment. The results of this study suggest that somatosensory stimulation of the paretic foot applied during movement can improve the precision control of foot placement