Extremes of the standardized Gaussian noise

Let $\{\xi_n, n\in\Z^d\}$ be a $d$-dimensional array of i.i.d. Gaussian random variables and define \SSS(A)=\sum_{n\in A} \xi_n, where $A$ is a finite subset of $\Z^d$. We prove that the appropriately normalized maximum of \SSS(A)/\sqrt{|A|}, where $A$ ranges over all discrete cubes or rectangles contained in $\{1,\ldots,n\}^d$, converges in the weak sense to the Gumbel extreme-value distribution as $n\to\infty$. We also prove continuous-time counterparts of these results.Comment: 18 page

Standardized loads acting in knee implants

The loads acting in knee joints must be known for improving joint replacement, surgical procedures, physiotherapy, biomechanical computer simulations, and to advise patients with osteoarthritis or fractures about what activities to avoid. Such data would also allow verification of test standards for knee implants. This work analyzes data from 8 subjects with instrumented knee implants, which allowed measuring the contact forces and moments acting in the joint. The implants were powered inductively and the loads transmitted at radio frequency. The time courses of forces and moments during walking, stair climbing, and 6 more activities were averaged for subjects with I) average body weight and average load levels and II) high body weight and high load levels. During all investigated activities except jogging, the high force levels reached 3,372–4,218N. During slow jogging, they were up to 5,165N. The peak torque around the implant stem during walking was 10.5 Nm, which was higher than during all other activities including jogging. The transverse forces and the moments varied greatly between the subjects, especially during non-cyclic activities. The high load levels measured were mostly above those defined in the wear test ISO 14243. The loads defined in the ISO test standard should be adapted to the levels reported here. The new data will allow realistic investigations and improvements of joint replacement, surgical procedures for tendon repair, treatment of fractures, and others. Computer models of the load conditions in the lower extremities will become more realistic if the new data is used as a gold standard. However, due to the extreme individual variations of some load components, even the reported average load profiles can most likely not explain every failure of an implant or a surgical procedure

English Language Learners and Standardized Tests

A surge in limited English proficiency (LEP) enrollment became a nationwide phenomenon between 1995 and 2005, as virtually all regions of the country experienced a rapid growth in immigrant population. In Buffalo, the increase in ELL students stemmed largely from the active resettlement of refugees from around the world in Buffalo. In 2004-2005, Buffalo had 2,539 LEP students who collectively spoke 46 different languages. In 2009-2010, that enrollment number shot up to 3,481 students, who spoke 67 languages. In Buffalo, as in many locales, the rise in ELL learners has coincided with a dramatic increase in high stakes standardized testing; unfair testing policies being employed have often failed to reflect the realities of English language learning

Type II Supernovae as Standardized Candles

We present evidence for a correlation between expansion velocities of the ejecta of Type II plateau supernovae and their bolometric luminosities during the plateau phase. This correlation permits one to standardize the candles and decrease the scatter in the Hubble diagram from ~1 mag to a level of 0.4 and 0.3 mag in the V and I bands, respectively. When we restrict the sample to the eight objects which are well in the Hubble flow (cz > 3,000 km/s) the scatter drops even further to only 0.2 mag (or 9% in distance), which is comparable to the precision yielded by Type Ia supernovae and far better than the ``expanding photosphere method'' applied to Type II supernovae. Using SN 1987A to calibrate the Hubble diagrams we get Ho=55+/-12.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, accepted by ApJ

Non-standardized form of CAPM and stock returns

Emerging markets like Pakistan confront with the problem to validate the CAPM in its original form. Since standard form of this model has unrealistic assumptions, different non-standardized forms have been introduced by different researchers. This paper also introduces a non-standardized form of CAPM to validate whether it is applicable in Pakistan. The data of 20 companies of different sectors, covering the period of 2007 to 2008 were collected. One year KIBOR is taken in replacement of T-bill rates. Beta 3 is calculated using an equation to show the negative relationship between interest rate and market returns. The results of regression analysis reveal mixed results. For instance, mean return of companies in cement and chemical sector is linearly related to its beta risk while other sectors have volatile results

Patient Safety Initiative : Web based Education on the VCUHS Code Carts

We developed standardized web based learning modules on the VCUHS adult and pediatric code carts that enables health care providers in an organization to receive standardized training that is readily accessible to improve retention of the items and their location in the code carts

Standardized connectivity and communication for constrained devices

By 2020, an estimated 50 billion devices will be connected to the Internet. This revolution will transform the traditional human-centric internet to an “Internet of Things” (IoT), thereby enabling a whole new range of intelligent services in domains such as manufacturing, health, smart homes, logistics, etc. After introducing the Internet of Things, this talk will discuss the challenges in integrating embedded devices into the Internet, as many of the widely adopted Internet technologies had not been designed for such devices, i.e. devices that have constraints in memory, processing power and energy. We will highlight the latest evolutions in this domain, starting from communication and networking, all the way up to services and semantics. To conclude, we will give a number of examples on how these evolutions have inspired some of our past and ongoing research activities

Use of Standardized Assessments and Online Resources in Stroke Rehabilitation

Background: The extent to which movement-related standardized assessments and online resources are used in stroke rehabilitation is unclear in the United States. Method: The researchers used a cross-sectional descriptive survey that examined (a) therapists use of movement-related standardized assessments, (b) factors influencing learning of new assessments, and (c) use of frequency of online resources by occupational therapists and physical therapists in the United States. Results: Of 151 respondents (46.4% occupational therapists, 53.6% physical therapists), the most frequently used movement-related assessments by occupational and physical therapists were the Berg and Fugl-Meyer Assessment, respectively. More physical therapists use motor-related standardized assessments regularly than occupational therapists, and physical therapists showed more consensus among standardized assessments. Both professions cited quality of patient care for motivating them to integrate outcome measures into practice. Most therapists in stroke rehabilitation used online resources to access movement-related standardized assessment content at least 25% of the time. The Rehabilitation Measures Database was the most frequently used website. Conclusion: Both occupational and physical therapists use online resources for movement-related standardized assessments on a regular basis. However, occupational therapists do not use standardized assessments as frequently as physical therapists. A systematic study of factors that impact the integration of standardized assessments is needed to further identify barriers and inform clinical practice change