On the Use of Minimum Penalties in Statistical Learning.

Modern multivariate machine learning and statistical methodologies estimate parameters of interest while leveraging prior knowledge of the association between outcome variables. The methods that do allow for estimation of relationships do so typically through an error covariance matrix in multivariate regression which does not generalize to other types of models. In this article we proposed the MinPen framework to simultaneously estimate regression coefficients associated with the multivariate regression model and the relationships between outcome variables using common assumptions.

Does Antimicrobial Prophylaxis in Patients with Specific Comorbidities Reduce the Risk of Infection after Simple Cystourethroscopy?

Introduction: We evaluated whether antimicrobial prophylaxis decreases rates of post-procedural infection (urinary tract infection or sepsis) after simple cystourethroscopy for patients with specific comorbidities.

Methods: We utilized Epic® reporting software to conduct a retrospective review of all simple cystourethroscopy procedures performed by providers in our urology department from August 4, 2014 to December 31, 2019. Data collected included patient comorbidities, antimicrobial prophylaxis administration and incidence of post-procedural infection.

Quantile partially linear additive model for data with dropouts and an application to modeling cognitive decline.

The National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set includes test results from a battery of cognitive exams. Motivated by the need to model the cognitive ability of low-performing patients we create a composite score from ten tests and propose to model this score using a partially linear quantile regression model for longitudinal studies with non-ignorable dropouts. Quantile regression allows for modeling non-central tendencies.

Enhanced Oxide Ion Conductivity by Ta Doping of BaNbTaMoO.

Significant oxide ion conductivity has previously been reported for the BaM'M″O family (M' = Nb, V; M″ = Mo, W) of cation-deficient hexagonal perovskite derivatives. These systems exhibit considerable structural disorder and competitive occupation of two distinct oxygen positions (O3 site and O2 site), enabling two-dimensional (2D) ionic conductivity within the plane of the structure; higher occupation of the tetrahedral O3 site vs the octahedral O2 site is known to be a major factor that promotes oxide ion conductivity. Previous chemical doping studies have shown that substitution of small amounts of the M' or M″ ions can result in significant changes to both the structure and ionic conductivity.