1. INTRODUCTION. It has become a truism, at least among statisticians, that while statistics is a mathematical science, it is not a subfield of mathematics. We even have apho-risms to express some ways in which our science differs from mathematics. George Box: " All models are wrong, but some are useful. " George Cobb: " In mathematics, context obscures structure. In data analysis, context prov...

A popular approach to significance testing proposes to decide whether the given hypothesized statistical model is likely to be true (or false). Statistical decision theory provides a basis for this approach by requiring every significance test to make a decision about the truth of the hypothesis/model under consideration. Unfortunately, many interesting and useful models are obviously false (th...

account of the several works that came from Digby's pen and, if one might judge from his Private Memoirs, his over-active brain. But even in this involved field of authorship one fails to find a solution to the strange uncertainties and contradictions that made Digby, Digby. Even the "powder of sympathy" in all its implications affords no explanation. Nevertheless, Sir Kenelm could not well be ...

Wild life: The elusive fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox) is the top predator in the dry deciduous forests of Madagascar, but very little was known about its biology until the 1990s. The presence of volunteer groups studying its role in the forest’s ecology has also helped to protect its habitat. (Photo: Earthwatch/ Luke Dollar.) The world’s latest national park has just been created in the east of Russ...

Macroeconomic adjustment programs often emphasize the need to protect social spending from cuts, and to protect pro-poor spending in particular. But does this happen in practice during fiscal contractions? The paper presents evidence for Argentina. Using aggregate time series data the paper first finds that social spending was not protected historically, although more “pro-poor” social spending...

BACKGROUND Endothelial cells (ECs) embedded in 3D matrices [matrix-embedded endothelial cells (MEECs)] of denatured collagen implanted around vascular access anastomoses preserve luminal patency. MEEC implant efficacy depends on embedded EC health. As the uremic milieu inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of ECs, we examined whether uremia might impact MEECs. METHODS ECs grown on 2D g...

In this paper, I propose a life cycle model of painkiller consumption that combines the theory health deficit accumulation with addiction. Chronic pain is conceptualized as persistent negative shock to lifetime utility can be treated by relief medication. Individuals opioid relievers (OPR) develop addiction, which increases their demand for opioids and reduces welfare expectancy through side ef...

Reserves are often designed to protect rare habitats, or ‘‘typical’’ exemplars of ecoregions and geomorphic provinces. This approach focuses on current patterns of organismal and ecosystem-level biodiversity, but typically ignores the evolutionary processes that control the gain and loss of biodiversity at these and other levels (e.g., genetic, ecological). In order to include evolutionary proc...