Finite Population Variance Estimation in Presence of Measurement Errors

In this article, we propose a class of estimators for the population variance of a quantity of interest. The estimators in the class use auxiliary information to improve efficiency, and we suppose that measurement errors are present both in the study and auxiliary variate. We take into account such problem using a regression approach. We show that the class proposed is quite flexible and general, allowing to consider many kinds of information as auxiliary one. Comparisons within estimators in the class are studied theoretically and through simulations.     

Strategies for Implementing a Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

Abstract

This report examines the rationale for creating a tobacco-free campus to utilize in passing antitobacco policies, and recommendations for overcoming barriers. As with any type of advocacy effort, a variety of impediments exist, including lack of administrative and staff support, absence of student involvement, and sparse resources. A variety of potential remedies and advocacy opportunities are explored and delineated.     

A fast exact algorithm for the problem of optimum cooperation and the structure of its solutions

Given a graph G=(V,E) with edge weights w _e ∈ℝ, the optimum cooperation problem consists in determining a partition of the graph that maximizes the sum of weights of the edges with nodes in the same class plus the number of the classes of the partition. The problem is also known in the literature as the optimum attack problem in networks. Furthermore, a relevant physics application exists.     

Use of tail areas for testing goodness-of-fit

Characterizing a set of data as a random sample from a specified distribution is often a precursor to statistical inference or hypothesis testing involving the extremes of the distribution -precisely the regions of greatest uncertainty. It seems reasonable then to exploit as best we can our limited knowledge of this region. Toward this end we investigate here the areas in the tails of the distribution as determined by the extreme order statistics as a criterion for testing goodness-of-fit.     

Sibling Facilitation Mediates the Association Between Older and Younger Sibling Alcohol Use in Late Adolescence

Previous research has shown adolescent siblings are similar in their alcohol use and that this similarity is largely due to their shared environment. Using a genetically informed sibling sample (196 full‐biological pairs, 384 genetically unrelated pairs), we confirmed that the extent to which older siblings facilitate younger siblings' alcohol use (i.e., help them get alcohol) was one factor contributing to this shared environmental association. All analyses controlled for parent and peer influences. Findings were not moderated by sibling differences in genetic relatedness, gender, or ethnicity. Proximity in sibling age strengthened these associations, somewhat. Results were especially strong for sibling pairs where the older sibling was of legal drinking age. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.