4,953 research outputs found
Robust regularized singular value decomposition with application to mortality data
We develop a robust regularized singular value decomposition (RobRSVD) method
for analyzing two-way functional data. The research is motivated by the
application of modeling human mortality as a smooth two-way function of age
group and year. The RobRSVD is formulated as a penalized loss minimization
problem where a robust loss function is used to measure the reconstruction
error of a low-rank matrix approximation of the data, and an appropriately
defined two-way roughness penalty function is used to ensure smoothness along
each of the two functional domains. By viewing the minimization problem as two
conditional regularized robust regressions, we develop a fast iterative
reweighted least squares algorithm to implement the method. Our implementation
naturally incorporates missing values. Furthermore, our formulation allows
rigorous derivation of leave-one-row/column-out cross-validation and
generalized cross-validation criteria, which enable computationally efficient
data-driven penalty parameter selection. The advantages of the new robust
method over nonrobust ones are shown via extensive simulation studies and the
mortality rate application.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/13-AOAS649 the Annals of
Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of
Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
How to Avoid Compensating CEO for Luck: The Case of Microeconomic Fluctuations
Incentive effects of performance-based compensation schemes for management may be weakened or biased by macroeconomic influences on remuneration. These influences can be seen as reflecting luck from the CEO’s perspective. In this chapter we present a model for how to avoid compensating CEO for luck by filtering out the macroeconomic influences. In the empirical section we analyze the impact of macroeconomic, industry and firm-specific factors on the compensations (salary, bonus, options, and pensions) of CEOs in 127 Swedish corporations during the period 2001-2007. We find macroeconomic influences on Swedish CEOs’ compensation to be substantial. Distinguishing between favorable and unfavorable macroeconomic developments, we find compensation to be more responsive to favorable than to unfavorable developments in macroeconomic variables.Executive compensation; Salary; Bonus; Option; Pension; Macroeconomic uncertainty; Macroeconomic factors; Performance; Luck
Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) in detection of _Bifidobacterium longum_ and _Clostridium novyi-NT_ labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticle
*Purpose:* To investigate the MR imaging of _Bifidobacterium longum_ and _Clostridium novyi-NT_ labeling with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles.

*Materials and methods:* Tubes containing _B. longum_-SPIO, Free-SPIO, _B. longum_ and PYG Medium were incubated under anaerobic condition in _in vitro_ experiment. Transmission electron microscope and Prussian blue staining were used to demonstrate intra-bacteria nanoparticles. R~2~^*^ mapping and R~2~ mapping were reconstructed after MR scanning. _B. longum_-SPIO and _C. novyi_-NT-SPIO were injected respectively _in vivo_ to show whether it might be traced by MR imaging.

*Results:* Magnetosomes in bacteria were observed by electron microscopic and stained by Prussian blue staining. At the same concentration of SPIOs, the R~2~^*^ value of _B. longum_-SPIO was significantly higher than that of Free-SPIO (P<0.001), however, the R~2~ value was lower comparing with Free-SPIO (P<0.001). After injection with _B. longum_-SPIO, they could present in tumor and shorten T~2~^*^.

*Conclusion:* _B. longum_ and _C. novyi_-NT could be labeled by SPIO and then traced by MRI
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