Confidence intervals and P-valves for meta analysis with publication bias

We study publication bias in meta analysis by supposing there is a population (y, σ) of studies which give treatment effect estimates y ~ N(θ, σ2). A selection function describes the probability that each study is selected for review. The overall estimate of θ depends on the studies selected, and hence on the (unknown) selection function. Our previous paper, Copas and Jackson (2004, A bound for publication bias based on the fraction of unpublished studies, Biometrics 60, 146-153), studied the maximum bias over all possible selection functions which satisfy the weak condition that large studies (small σ) are as likely, or more likely, to be selected than small studies (large σ). This led to a worstcase sensitivity analysis, controlling for the overall fraction of studies selected. However, no account was taken of the effect of selection on the uncertainty in estimation. This paper extends the previous work by finding corresponding confidence intervals and P-values, and hence a new sensitivity analysis for publication bias. Two examples are discussed

Chemical composition of clinopyroxenes associated with the gehlenite skarn from the Hirata outcrop, Kushiro, Tojo-Cho, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

The clinopyroxenes of the hybrid rocks from the Hirata outcrop, Kushiro, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan are grouped into(1)diopside, (2)aegirine, and (3)zoned pyroxene. The diopside occurs as isolated crystals enclosed in feldspars. The aegirine occurs along with late hydrous minerals in pore spaces. The zoned pyroxenes occur as discrete cryatals with wide rims growing interstitially between feldspar laths and show a continuous composition-al trend from diopside through hedenbergite and aegirine-augite to aegirine or titanian aegirine. The pyroxenes enclosed in feldspars and the cores of the zoned crystals have nearly same chemical composition. The late stage pyroxenes are characterized by extreme enrichment of sodium and sometimes titanium. The titanian aegirines studied hera are characterized by the predominance of the Na(Fe2+, Mg)0.5Ti0.5Si2O6 component over other Ti-bearing pyroxene components. The compositional trend of clinopyroxenes from the Hirata hybrid rocks follows a typical trend of peralkalne rocks. The peralkaline neture of the Hirata samples is a result of compositional change of magma accompanied by the metasomatic skarn formation

Divergence functions in Information Geometry

A recently introduced canonical divergence $\mathcal{D}$ for a dual structure $(\mathrm{g},\nabla,\nabla^*)$ is discussed in connection to other divergence functions. Finally, open problems concerning symmetry properties are outlined.Comment: 10 page

Steady Rotation of Micropolar Fluid Sphere in Concentric Spherical Container

AbstractThe problem of slow steady rotation of a micropolar fluid sphere in concentric spherical container filled with viscous fluid is studied. The appropriate boundary conditions are taken on the surface of the sphere. The hydrodynamic couple and wall correction factor exerted on the micropolar fluid sphere is obtained. The dependence of the wall correction factor on the micropolarity parameter and spin parameter is presented graphically and discussed. The hydrodynamic couple acting on a solid sphere in a cell model and on a solid sphere in an unbounded medium are obtained from the present analysis

Haptic guidance improves the visuo-manual tracking of trajectories

BACKGROUND: Learning to perform new movements is usually achieved by following visual demonstrations. Haptic guidance by a force feedback device is a recent and original technology which provides additional proprioceptive cues during visuo-motor learning tasks. The effects of two types of haptic guidances-control in position (HGP) or in force (HGF)-on visuo-manual tracking ("following") of trajectories are still under debate. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPALS FINDINGS: Three training techniques of haptic guidance (HGP, HGF or control condition, NHG, without haptic guidance) were evaluated in two experiments. Movements produced by adults were assessed in terms of shapes (dynamic time warping) and kinematics criteria (number of velocity peaks and mean velocity) before and after the training sessions. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These results show that the addition of haptic information, probably encoded in force coordinates, play a crucial role on the visuo-manual tracking of new trajectories

Rare books about Masuzawa Bunko Collection of CSAC

Last year, Center of Studies of Asian cultures (CSAC) created Masuzawa Bunko. Masuzawa Akiko that is sometime professor in Japan University and he presented his collection which comprises about 10,000 volumes for our Center. There are many rarely books about History of Education in Modern Chines. This time I would like to introduce some rarely books in Masuzawa Bunko, in addition to provide a research chance for our readers,東アジアの言語と表象文部科学省グローバルCOEプログラム 関西大学文化交渉学教育研究拠

Development of UPS-SMES as a protection from momentary voltage drop

We have been developing the UPS-SMES as a protection from momentary voltage drop and power failure. The superconducting system is suitable as electric power storage for large energy extraction in a short time. The most important feature of superconducting coil system for the UPS-SMES is easy handling and maintenance-free operation. We have selected low temperature superconducting (LTS) coils instead of high temperature superconducting (HTS) coils from the viewpoint of cost and performance. However, it is difficult for the conventional LTS coils to fulfill maintenance-free operation since the cooling methods are either pool boiling with liquid helium or forced flow of supercritical helium. Thus, a conduction cooled LTS pulse coil has been designed as a key component of the UPS-SMES. The development program of 1 MW, 1 sec UPS-SMES is explained

Accounting for heterogeneity in meta-analysis using a multiplicative model—an empirical study

In meta-analysis, the random-effects model is often used to account for heterogeneity. The model assumes that heterogeneity has an additive effect on the variance of effect sizes. An alternative model, which assumes multiplicative heterogeneity, has been little used in the medical statistics community, but is widely used by particle physicists. In this paper, we compare the two models using a random sample of 448 meta-analyses drawn from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. In general, differences in goodness of fit are modest. The multiplicative model tends to give results that are closer to the null, with a narrower confidence interval. Both approaches make different assumptions about the outcome of the meta-analysis. In our opinion, the selection of the more appropriate model will often be guided by whether the multiplicative model's assumption of a single effect size is plausible. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd