Search results for " Normal"
showing 10 items of 336 documents
Weak versus strong dominance of shrinkage estimators
2021
We consider the estimation of the mean of a multivariate normal distribution with known variance. Most studies consider the risk of competing estimators, that is the trace of the mean squared error matrix. In contrast we consider the whole mean squared error matrix, in particular its eigenvalues. We prove that there are only two distinct eigenvalues and apply our findings to the James–Stein and the Thompson class of estimators. It turns out that the famous Stein paradox is no longer a paradox when we consider the whole mean squared error matrix rather than only its trace.
Estimating Engel curves under unit and item nonresponse
2010
SUMMARY This paper estimates food Engel curves using data from the first wave of the Survey on Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Our statistical model simultaneously takes into account selectivity due to unit and item nonresponse, endogeneity problems, and issues related to flexible specification of the relationship of interest. We estimate both parametric and semiparametric specifications of the model. The parametric specification assumes that the unobservables in the model follow a multivariate Gaussian distribution, while the semiparametric specification avoids distributional assumptions about the unobservables. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the world distribution of income
2015
In this paper we demonstrate that the size distribution of the world income may be reasonably approximated by a log-normal distribution rather then by a power law, as has previously been believed. This result has been shown to be quite persistent as we move from 1985 to 2011.
High order normal form construction near the elliptic orbit of the Sitnikov problem
2011
We consider the Sitnikov problem; from the equations of motion we derive the approximate Hamiltonian flow. Then, we introduce suitable action–angle variables in order to construct a high order normal form of the Hamiltonian. We introduce Birkhoff Cartesian coordinates near the elliptic orbit and we analyze the behavior of the remainder of the normal form. Finally, we derive a kind of local stability estimate in the vicinity of the periodic orbit for exponentially long times using the normal form up to 40th order in Cartesian coordinates.
Non-Gaussian Distribution for Var Calculation: an Assessment for the Italian Market
2001
Abstract In this paper we compare different approaches to computing VaR (Value-at-Risk) for heavy tailed return series. Using data from the Italian market, we show that almost all the return series present statistically significant skewness and kurtosis. We implement (i) the stable models proposed by Rachev et al . (2000), (ii) an alternative to the Gaussian distributions based on a Generalized Error Distribution and (iii) a non-parametric model proposed by Li (1999). All the models are then submitted to backtest on out-of-sample data in order to assess their forecasting power. We observe that when the percentiles are low, all the models tested produce results that are dominant compared to …
The distribution of Rare Earth Elements discriminates the growth substrate of Vitis vinifera L.
2021
Sustainable agricultural, food-related strategies and geographic traceability require understanding of the plant physiological response to stress potentially generated by contaminated soils. Here, we have investigated the effect of contaminated substrate on growth of Vitis vinifera L. plants analysing the distribution of full Rare Earth Elements (REE) spectra in different parts of the plant. Experiments were carried out using pristine plants growing in a handmade substrate (blank experiment) and in REE artificially-enriched soil (spiked experiment). Our results show that both plant mass and REE amount in leaves are not influenced by the substrate enrichment while roots are by one-order of m…
Axons take a dive
2014
In the walls of the lateral ventricles of the adult mammalian brain, neural stem cells (NSCs) and ependymal (E1) cells share the apical surface of the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ). In a recent article, we show that supraependymal serotonergic (5HT) axons originating from the raphe nuclei in mice form an extensive plexus on the walls of the lateral ventricles where they contact E1 cells and NSCs. Here we further characterize the contacts between 5HT supraependymal axons and E1 cells in mice, and show that suprependymal axons tightly associated to E1 cells are also present in the walls of the human lateral ventricles. These observations raise interesting questions about the functio…
Biciliated ependymal cell proliferation contributes to spinal cord growth
2012
Two neurogenic regions have been described in the adult brain, the lateral ventricle subventricular zone and the dentate gyrus subgranular zone. It has been suggested that neural stem cells also line the central canal of the adult spinal cord. Using transmission and scanning electron microscopy and immunostaining, we describe here the organization and cell types of the central canal epithelium in adult mice. The identity of dividing cells was determined by 3D ultrastructural reconstructions of [3H]thymidine-labeled cells and confocal analysis of bromodeoxyuridine labeling. The most common cell type lining the central canal had two long motile (9+2) cilia and was vimentin+, CD24+, FoxJ1+, So…
Placental DNA methylation signatures of maternal smoking during pregnancy and potential impacts on fetal growth.
2021
We would like to thank all the families that participated in these studies for their generous contribution. Detailed acknowledgements and funding can be found in Sup plementary Material.
Erosión y crisis de la vida universitaria. Palabras e imágenes de las y los estudiantes sobre su formación en el Grado de Maestro/a
2011
El texto describe parte del desarrollo de un proyecto de investigación que indaga en las imágenes y percepciones que las y los estudiantes de Grado de Maestro/a proyectan de la Universidad a partir de su experiencia formativa. Analiza la relación entre institución universitaria y vida universitaria atendiendo al modo en que las y los estudiantes hablan de cómo experimentan su relación con el saber, con el aprendizaje y de cómo viven y han vivido las relaciones humanas e institucionales.