Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research Design Meets Market Design: Using Centralized Assignment for Impact Evaluation

A growing number of school districts use centralized assignment mechanisms to allocate school seats in a manner that reflects student preferences and school priorities. Many of these assignment schemes use lotteries to ration seats when schools are oversubscribed. The resulting random assignment opens the door to credible quasi-experimental research designs for the evaluation of school effectiveness. Yet the question of how best to separate the lottery-generated variation integral to such designs from non-random preferences and priorities remains open. This paper develops easily-implemented empirical strategies that fully exploit the random assignment embedded in a wide class of mechanisms, while also revealing why seats are randomized at one school but not another. We use these methods to evaluate charter schools in Denver, one of a growing number of districts that combine charter and traditional public schools in a unified assignment system. The resulting estimates show large achievement gains from charter school attendance. Our approach generates efficiency gains over ad hoc methods, such as those that focus on schools ranked first, while also identifying a more representative average causal effect. We also show how to use centralized assignment mechanisms to identify causal effects in models with multiple school sectors.
Quality of life in idiopathic intracranial hypertension at diagnosis

Objective: The study purpose was to examine vision-specific and overall health-related quality of life (QOL) at baseline in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial patients who were newly diagnosed and had mild visual loss. We also sought to determine the associations between vision-specific QOL scores and visual symptoms, visual function, pain, headache-related disability, and obesity. Methods: We assessed QOL using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire–25 (NEI-VFQ-25), and 10-Item NEI-VFQ-25 Neuro-Ophthalmic Supplement. We compared these results with those of previously reported idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) QOL studies. We assessed relationships between QOL and other clinical characteristics. Results: Among 165 participants with IIH (161 women and 4 men with a mean age ± SD of 29.2 ± 7.5 years), vision-specific QOL scores were reduced compared with published values for disease-free controls. Scores of participants were comparable to published results for patients with multiple sclerosis and a history of optic neuritis. A multiple linear regression model for the NEI-VFQ-25 composite score found that perimetric mean deviation in the best eye, visual acuity in the worst eye, visual symptoms, and pain symptoms (headache, neck pain), but not obesity, were independently associated with QOL. Conclusions: IIH affects QOL at time of diagnosis even in patients with mild visual impairment. Vision-specific QOL in patients with newly diagnosed IIH may be as decreased as that for patients with other neuro-ophthalmic disorders. IIH treatment should target visual loss and other symptoms of increased intracranial pressure associated with reduced QOL. Reduced QOL does not simply reflect obesity, an underlying IIH risk factor.
The High Correlations of Prices and Interest Rates across Nations

We document that at business cycle frequency, nominal variables, such as aggregate price levels and nominal interest rates, are more correlated across countries than real output. Since national central banks control the domestic money supply and their objective has been to keep the nominal environment stable this might seem puzzling. We ask whether a simple, transparent standard international business cycle model can account for these nominal as well as the real aspects of international business cycles. It can. Due to spillovers of technology shocks across countries, responses of national central banks to fluctuations in domestic output and inflation generate responses of prices and interest rates that are synchronized across countries even when output is not. Even modest spillovers produce correlations like those in the data.
International Conference on Information Fusion ( FUSION ) Fusion of dynamic and static features for gait recogniition over time

Gait recognition aims to identify people at a distance by the way they walk. This paper deals with a problem of recognition by gait when time-dependent covariates are added. Properties of gait can be categorized as static and dynamic features which we derivedfrom sequences of images of walking subjects. We show that recognition rates fall significantly when gait data is captured over a lengthy time interval. A new fusion algorithm is suggested in the paper wherein the static and dynamic features are fused to obtain optimal performance. The new fusion algorithm divides decision situations into three categories. The first case is when more than two thirds of the classifiers agreed to assign identity to the same class. The second case is when the two different classes are selected by each half of classifiers. The rest falls into the third case. The suggestedfusion rule was compared with the most popularfusion rulesfor biometrics. It is shown that the newfusion rule over-performs the established techniques.
A further study of the dichotomization theory in detection of information.

The purpose of the present study is to test two predictions of the *'Dichotomization Theory" on the detection of information. This theory relates the differential autonomic responsivity in the detection of information task to basic psychophysiological phenomena—^the orienting response and its hahituation. The theory assumes that two independent habituation processes take place in the typical detection experiment: that of the relevant stimuli and that of the neutral stimuli, with a complete generalization of habituation within each stimulus category. It is suggested that this theory can explain results of past experiments unaccounted for by any of the other theoretical approaches in the area. Two predictions of the dichotomization theory were tested using the skin conductance response in a ''card test" type oS experiment. Two hundred subjects participated in the experiment and were randomly assigned to five equal-sized groups. The results tend to support the present theoretical approach. On the baas of the results of the present study and previous ones, it is suggested that a twofactor theory could be a sufficient explanation for the detection phenomenon. One factor relates to the role of habituation in the detection task which is described by the dichotomization theory, and the second factor relates to possible ''signal value" property of the relevant stimulus. DESCRIPTORS: Detection of information, Dichotomization theory. Orienting response, Habituation. The use of the polygraph as a tool for interrogation is a major application of psychophysiol ogy. Lykken (1974) has described the great discrepancy between the broad use of this tool in the field, with its important social consequences, and the lack of theoretical knowledge and understanding of the basic psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the detection phenomenon. The present study is an attempt to relate the diflFerential autonomic responsivity in the information detection situation to more basic psychophysiological processes such as the orienting response and its habituation. It is hoped that such an approach will contribute to a better understanding of the theoThis study is based on a Ph.D. thesis conducted under the supervision of Professor S. Kugelmass and Dr. I. Lieblich. The author is grateful to both of them for their helpful suggestions. I wish to thank Mr. J. Ishaki for expert assistance. The research reported in this paper has been sponsored by the
Taking a molecular motor for a spin: helicase mechanism studied by spin labeling and PELDOR

The complex molecular motions central to the functions of helicases have long attracted attention. Protein crystallography has provided transformative insights into these dynamic conformational changes, however important questions about the true nature of helicase configurations during the catalytic cycle remain. Using pulsed EPR (PELDOR or DEER) to measure interdomain distances in solution, we have examined two representative helicases: PcrA from superfamily 1 and XPD from superfamily 2. The data show that PcrA is a dynamic structure with domain movements that correlate with particular functional states, confirming and extending the information gleaned from crystal structures and other techniques. XPD in contrast is shown to be a rigid protein with almost no conformational changes resulting from nucleotide or DNA binding, which is well described by static crystal structures. Our results highlight the complimentary nature of PELDOR to crystallography and the power of its precision in understanding the conformational changes relevant to helicase function.
The diffeomorphism supergroup of a finite-dimensional supermanifold

Using the categorical description of supergeometry we give an explicit construction of the diffeomorphism supergroup of a compact finite-dimensional supermanifold. The construction provides the diffeomorphism supergroup with the structure of a Frechet supermanifold. In addition, we derive results about the structure of diffeomorphism supergroups.
Sweep Strategies for a Sensory-driven, Behavior-based Vacuum Cleaning Agent

In the Machine Intelligence Laboratory, University of Florida, we have built a small autonomous robot and programmed it to exhibit various reactive behaviors. The robot, named Gator, performs area coverage in an interior room by combining distinct behaviors. Gator has 26 sensors of which only 7 are used in the coverage algorithms examined here. Gator's behaviors allow it to avoid obstacles, follow walls, seek open areas and break out of confined areas. In the limited number of experiments performed here it appears that the best coverage algorithm among those tried consisted of a random walk with a probability of 0.05 for following a wall after each encounter with an obstacle. After 20 minutes about 80% of the floor space was covered with an efficiency close to 70%.
Throughput maximization for LTE uplink via resource allocation

In this paper, a novel resource allocation method is proposed for a multiuser MIMO SC-FDMA communication system. The proposed method, well-suited for the uplink scenario of the LTE Advanced standard, allocates the frequency spectrum among its users with the goal of maximizing the system's overall throughput. To achieve this goal, an analytical expression of the signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), at the output of the receiver's frequency domain equalizer, is first obtained for each user as a function of the channel and the allocated bandwidth. Following, a mapping between SINR ranges and channel quality indeces is used to determine the choice of modulation and code rate for each layer of each user. These two parameters, together with the number of allocated resource blocks per user, are used to determine the throughput of each user. The obtained throughputs are then used, together with a set of constraints on possible allocations, as an input for a set partitioning problem. It is shown, by means of simulations, that the proposed method results in significant gains in performance when compared to random or best-user resource allocation methods.
An Emerging Female Phenotype with Loss‐of‐Function Mutations in the Aristaless‐Related Homeodomain Transcription Factor ARX

The devastating clinical presentation of X‐linked lissencephaly with abnormal genitalia (XLAG) is invariably caused by loss‐of‐function mutations in the Aristaless‐related homeobox (ARX) gene. Mutations in this X‐chromosome gene contribute to intellectual disability (ID) with co‐morbidities including seizures and movement disorders such as dystonia in affected males. The detection of affected females with mutations in ARX is increasing. We present a family with multiple affected individuals, including two females. Two male siblings presenting with XLAG were deceased prior to full‐term gestation or within the first few weeks of life. Of the two female siblings, one presented with behavioral disturbances, mild ID, a seizure disorder, and complete agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC), similar to the mother's phenotype. A novel insertion mutation in Exon 2 of ARX was identified, c.982delCinsTTT predicted to cause a frameshift at p.(Q328Ffs*37). Our finding is consistent with loss‐of‐function mutations in ARX causing XLAG in hemizygous males and extends the findings of ID and seizures in heterozygous females. We review the reported phenotypes of females with mutations in ARX and highlight the importance of screening ARX in male and female patients with ID, seizures, and in particular with complete ACC.
The cell biology of Chikungunya virus infection

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection causes a disease which appears to affect multiple cell types and tissues. The acute phase is manifested by a non‐fatal febrile illness, polyarthralgia and maculopapular rashes in adults, but with recurrent arthralgia that may linger for months during convalescence. The issue of cellular and tissue tropism of CHIKV has elicited interest primarily because of this lingering incapacitating chronic joint pain, as well as clear encephalopathy in severe cases among neonates during the re‐emergence of the virus in recent epidemics. The principle cell types productively infected by CHIKV are skin fibroblasts, epithelial cells and lymphoid tissues. There is controversy as to whether CHIKV productively infects haematopoietic cells and neurones/glia. CHIKV infection triggers rapid and robust innate immune responses which quickly clears the acute phase infection. However, significant acute as well as chronic infection of less obvious cell types, such as monocytes, neurones/glia or even CNS neural progenitors may conceivably occur. There is therefore a need to ascertain the full range potential of CHIKV tropism, fully understand the cellular responses triggered during the acute the convalescent phases, and explore possible cell types that might be the source of chronic problems associated with CHIKV infection.
Bit by Bit: Using Design-Based Research to Improve the Health Literacy of Adolescents

Background Although a low health literacy level has been found to be among the most powerful predictors of poor health outcomes, there is very little research focused on assessing and improving the health literacy skills of adolescents, particularly those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. The vast majority of existing research focuses solely on reading comprehension, despite the fact that health literacy is actually a multifaceted concept, which entails many different types of skills. Objective The aim of this paper is to first mine existing literature to identify the many different skills that have been posited to constitute health literacy, and then, using this collection of skills as an overarching structure, to highlight the challenges that disadvantaged youth participating in our HackHealth after-school program encounter as they identify and articulate their health-related information needs, search for health-related information online, assess the relevance and credibility of this information, and manage and make use of it. Methods We utilized the design-based research method to design, implement, and revise our HackHealth program. To collect data regarding HackHealth participants’ health literacy skills and associated challenges, we used a variety of methods, including participant observation, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and logging of Web browser activities. We also collected data through specialized instructional activities and data collection forms that we developed for this purpose. Quantitative and qualitative techniques were used to analyze this data, as well as all of the artifacts that each student produced, including their final projects. Results We identified the various challenges that the 30 HackHealth participants faced in completing various health-related information activities during the course of the program. Based on these findings, we describe important implications for working with youth from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, how to assess and improve their health literacy skills, and offer specific recommendations for health literacy instruction aimed at this population. Conclusions With an increased societal focus on health and a shift from viewing patients as passive recipients of medical care to viewing them as active arbiters of their own health, today’s youth need to possess an array of health literacy skills to ensure that they can live long and healthy lives. Working with adolescents to help them develop and practice these skills will also help to break the cycle between poor health literacy and poor health outcomes, thereby reducing health disparities and improving the long-term outlook for the health of our nation.
Ultrastructural islet study of early fibrosis in the Ren2 rat model of hypertension. Emerging role of the islet pancreatic pericyte-stellate cell.

CONTEXT Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disease with polygenic and environmental stressors resulting in multiple metabolic toxicities and islet oxidative stress. We have integrated the role of the islet renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the pathogenesis of early islet fibrosis utilizing the transgenic (mRen2)27 rodent model of hypertension and tissue RAS overexpression. OBJECTIVE The Ren2 pancreatic islet tissue was evaluated with transmission electron microscopy to study both early cellular and extracellular matrix remodeling. ANIMALS Four 9- to 10-week-old male Ren2 untreated models and four Sprague Dawley sex and age matched controls were used. DESIGN Ultrastructural study to compare pancreatic islet tissue. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Only qualitative and observational transmission electron microscopy findings are reported. RESULTS Major remodeling differences in the Ren2 model were found to be located within the islet exocrine interface, including deposition of early fibrillar-banded collagen (fibrosis) and cellular remodeling of the pericyte suggesting proliferation, migration, hypertrophy and activation as compared to the Sprague Dawley controls. CONCLUSION This study points to the possibility of the pericyte cell being one of many contributors to the fibrogenic pool of cells important for peri-islet fibrosis as a result of excess angiotensin II at the local tissue level in the Ren2 model. These findings suggest that the pericyte may be capable of differentiating into the pancreatic stellate cell. This islet ultrastructure study supports the notion that pericyte cells could be the link between islet vascular oxidative stress and peri-islet fibrosis. Pericyte-endothelial-pancreatic stellate cell associations and morphology are discussed.
T2* relaxometry and volume predict semi‐quantitative histological scoring of an ACL bridge‐enhanced primary repair in a porcine model

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables, such as T2* and volume, can predict the healing ligament structural properties. How these MR variables relate to semi‐quantitative histology of the healing ACL is yet unknown. We hypothesized that T2* and volume would predict the histological scoring of a healing ACL. Yucatan minipigs underwent ACL transection and received bridge‐enhanced ACL repair or no treatment. The surgical legs were harvested after 52 weeks and imaged using a high resolution 2‐echo sequence. For each ligament, the volume and median T2* values were determined. The ACL specimens were then histologically analyzed using the advanced Ligament Maturity Index (LMI). The T2* of the healing ligaments significantly predicted the total LMI score as well as the cell, collagen and vessel sub‐scores; R2 = 0.78, 0.67, 0.65, and 0.60, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). The ligament volume also predicted the total LMI score, cell, and collagen sub‐scores; R2 = 0.39, 0.33, 0.37, and 0.60, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). A lower ligament T2* or a higher volume was associated with higher histological scores of the healing ligaments. This study provides a critical step in the development of a non‐invasive method to evaluate ligament healing on a microscopic scale. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:1180–1187, 2015.
Seasonality of ultrafine and sub-micron aerosols and the inferences on particle formation processes

The aim of this study is to investigate the seasonal variations in the physicochemical properties of atmospheric ultraﬁne particles (UFPs, d ≤ 100 nm) and submicron particles (PM 1 , d ≤ 1 µm) in an East-Asian urban area, which are hypothesized to be a ﬀ ected by the interchange of summer and winter monsoons. An observation exper- 5 iment was conducted at the TARO, an urban aerosol station in Taipei, Taiwan, from October 2012 to August 2013. The measurements included the mass concentration and chemical composition of UFPs and PM 1 , as well as the particle number concentration (PNC) and size distribution (PSD) with size range of 4–736 nm. The results indicate that the mass concentration of PM 1 was elevated during cold seasons with peak level 10 of 18.5 µgm − 3 in spring, whereas the highest UFPs concentration was measured in summertime with a seasonal mean of 1.62 µgm − 3 . Moreover, chemical analysis revealed that the UFPs and PM 1 were characterized by distinct composition; UFPs were composed mostly of organics, whereas ammonium and sulfate were the major constituents in PM 1 . The seasonal median of total PNCs ranged from 13.9 × 10 3 cm − 3 in 15 autumn to 19.4 × 10 3 cm − 3 in spring. The PSD information retrieved from the corresponding PNC measurements indicates
Defining the Role of Free Flaps for Transoral Robotic Surgery

Background Transoral surgical techniques for oropharyngeal tumors have been widely accepted, yet often results in a significant functional deficit. Current reports on the safety, feasibility, and swallowing performance after microvascular reconstruction are limited to small volume case series. Materials and Methods Retrospective review of 42 consecutive patients, between December 2013 and May 2016, who underwent transoral robotic surgery oropharyngectomy followed by microvascular reconstruction. Results Swallowing outcomes postoperatively resulted in 39 (93%) of patients tolerating oral intake postoperatively, with 13 (87%) of 15 patients at 1-year follow-up consuming an entirely oral diet. Thirty-eight (95%) of 40 patients who underwent a tracheostomy at the time of surgery were ultimately decannulated. No patients experienced complete flap failure in the current study. Conclusions Minimally invasive transoral surgical techniques have offered the opportunity to minimize surgical morbidity and potentially deintensify adjuvant therapies. Reconstructive options have evolved to match surgical advances seen with robotic surgeries of oropharyngeal cancers. Microvascular reconstruction has been indicated in select patients including those with extensive soft palate resection, primary tumor abutment of the medial pterygoid musculature, exposure of internal carotid artery vasculature, prior radiation therapy, or a significant defect of the oropharyngeal sphincter. Select patients, based on previously identified criteria, were preoperatively identified as suitable candidates for microvascular reconstruction of oropharyngeal defects. This study demonstrates that complex transoral robotic surgical defects are amenable to microvascular reconstructive in carefully selected patients.