Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
More isn't always better: cost-effectiveness analysis and the case for using a split-night protocol.

As sleep physicians, we should be concerned about not only the improvement of our patients’ health but also whether we are unnecessarily burdening our patients or society with treatments that do not provide good value for money. This is particularly important in the case of the diagnosis of and initiation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnea because the high prevalence of undiagnosed disease, as well as the high costs of the standard approach (2 nights of polysomnography), impose a significant economic burden on society. A number of alternative strategies for the diagnosis and treatment initiation are available. The debate about which approach is the best is a contentious one and may be obscured by issues that include physicians’ familiarity with strategies or personal financial incentives.
PAI-1 Exacerbates White Adipose Tissue Dysfunction and Metabolic Dysregulation in High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity

Background: Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 levels and activity are known to increase during metabolic syndrome and obesity. In addition, previous studies have implicated PAI-1 in adipose tissue (AT) expansion while also contributing to insulin resistance. As inflammation is also known to occur in AT during obesity, we hypothesized that in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model PAI-1 contributes to macrophage-mediated inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. Methods: Four- to five-weeks-old male C57B6/6J mice were fed a HFD (45%) for 14 weeks, while age-matched control mice were fed a standard laboratory chow diet (10% fat). Additional studies were performed in PAI-1 knockout mice and wild type mice treated with an inhibitor (PAI-039) of PAI-1. Macrophage polarization were measured by real time PCR. Results: HFD mice showed increased expression of PAI-1 in visceral white AT (WAT) that also displayed increased macrophage numbers. PAI-1 deficient mice exhibited increased numbers of anti-inflammatory macrophages in WAT and were resistant to HFD-induced obesity. Similarly, pharmacological inhibition of PAI-1 using PAI-039 significantly decreased macrophage infiltration in WAT and improved metabolic status in HFD-induced wild-type mice. Importantly, the numbers of M1 macrophages appeared to be increased by the HFD and decreased by either genetic PAI-1 depletion or PAI-039 treatment. Conclusions: Collectively, our findings provide support for PAI-1 contributing to the development of inflammation in adipose tissue and explain the mechanism of inflammation modulated by PAI-1 in the disordered metabolism in HFD-induced obesity.
Is There an Optimal Industry Capital Structure ?

We examine the effect of industry on a firm’s financial structure testing the simultaneous relationships between financial leverage, technology, and risk. We document considerable intra-industry variation in financial leverage within 44 competitively-structured U.S. manufacturing industries between 1977 and 1990. Simple analysis of variance results show that industry fixed effects are less important than firm fixed effects in understanding the variation in firm financial structure. Despite this result that most financial structure variation is firm specific, a large number of firms remain in the same financial leverage industry-quintile over time. Our regression analysis shows that firms do take into account other firms’ financial leverage within their industry. In addition, capital structure is significantly related to the extent a firm departs from the industry median technology choice. Changes in financial leverage are positively associated with changes in profitability within an industry. Our results provide support for industry equilibrium models of capital structure in which capital structure, risk and technology are simultaneous, endogenous decisions. Comments Welcome First Draft: February 15, 2001 Current Version: May 14, 2001 * MacKay is from the Edwin L. Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University and Phillips is from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. We thank Mike Long, Nagpurnanand Prabhala, Alexander Reisz and seminar participants at the Atlanta Finance Consortium, Rutgers conference on capital structure, Southern Methodist University and the University of Kentucky for helpful comments. MacKay can be reached by email at pmackay@mail.cox. smu.edu, homepage: http://faculty.cox. smu.edu/pmackay.html. Phillips can be reached by email at GPhillips@rhsmith.umd.edu, homepage: www.rhsmith.umd.edu/Finance/gphillips/. The research was conducted at the Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce. The authors alone are responsible for the work and any errors or omissions.
Leveraging the Lottery for Financial Inclusion: Lotto-Linked Savings Accounts in Haiti

Many poor Haitians are more familiar with lottery wagers than any other financial transaction and lack access to savings products. Using a lab-in-field experiment in Haiti, we test a prototype lotto-linked savings (LLS) product that returns lotto credit in lieu of interest. We find that LLS increased total savings by 22%, nearly twice the savings increase induced by raising the interest rate from 5% to 20%. The presence, rather than the extent, of the lotto component seems to drive this savings response most. The LLS-induced increase in savings was financed by reductions in lotto spending and traditional savings and smaller reductions in consumption. These reallocations increased subjects’ overall expected returns in the experiment. Those who allocated more to the lottery before LLS and who overweight small probabilities increased savings most in response to LLS.
Multifunctional fl uorescent “ Off-On-Off ” nanosensor for Au 3 þ and S 2 employing N-S co-doped carbon e dots

Out of the plethora of sensors being developed using carbon dots, the use of green alternatives with the potential of multi-functionality is still in its infancy. In view of this, the present work shows the use of Rosa indica derived heteroatom i.e. nitrogen and sulfur co-doped rose carbon dot (N-S@RCD) for dual fluorescence based sensing of multi-analytes. The N-S@RCD shows interesting fluorescence turn “off-onoff” response towards S2 and Au3þ with limit of detection (LOD) 92.4 nM and 63.1 nM, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is first report on direct “Turn-on” of c-dots with S2 ions without any intermediate c-dotequencher complex. Further, the bioimaging and flow cytometry studies revealed the potential of live cell imaging, intracellular sensing and cytocompatibility of N-S@RCD. The hemocompatibility of N-S@RCD was also investigated for potential in vivo applications. Moreover, the “off-onoff” fluorescence behaviour was used to construct molecular logic gates which simulate single input logic “YES” and multi-input “INHIBIT” logic system. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
On the fragmentation of production in the us

What is the average number of production stages for the US? Is production more fragmented now than decades ago? To answer these questions, I develop two simple measures of vertical fragmentation of production chains across plants using input-output tables. Against common belief, I find that production has become less vertically fragmented over the past 50 years, whether I include services or focus on tradable goods. At least half of this decrease corresponds to a shift of value-added towards industries that are closer to final demand, while early stages contribute less to the value of final goods. Also, the production of more complex goods appears to be relatively less vertically fragmented. I show that international trade has provided new opportunities to fragment production and dampened the overall decline in vertical fragmentation. Finally, I provide an alternative application of this index to the study of comparative advantage along production chains: I show that goods involving fewer production stages and closer to final demand are more likely to be imported to the US from rich countries.
The increment of mean platelet volume in early stages of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective: Mean platelet volume (MPV) level is known to increase in diabetes mellitus (DM), and prediabetes. In this study the first aim was to compare MPV levels of individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and individuals with prediabetes or DM. The second aim was to identify whether the initial lower limit value of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) being 100 mg/dl or 110 mg/dl had any impact on MPV values. Methods: Five hundred and six individuals included in the study were divided into 7 groups according to oral glucose tolerance test results and their MPV values were examined. Group 1 was the NGT group. The IFG group was divided into two groups with one group having fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 100-109 mg/dl and the other a FPG of 110-125 mg/dl. Group 4 was the impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) group. The IFG and IGT combination group was divided into two with a FPG of 100-109 mg/dl and a FPG of 110-125 mg/dl. Finally, group seven was the DM group. Results: MPV values of the NGT group were significantly lower compared to all other groups (p 0.05). In IGT group a positive correlation existed between MPV and 2 h-PG (p<0.05, r=309) and between MPV and hemoglobinA1c (p<0.05, r=463). Conclusion: Both the DM and prediabetes group had higher MPV values compared to the NGT group. Individuals with FPG values between 100-109 mg/dl have higher MPV values than NGT. If a high MPV level is detected in individuals with a FPG of lower than 110 mg/dl, OGTT should be planned in terms of the development of DM.
Accounting for Social Security Claiming Behavior

Why do most individuals claim Social Security benefits before the full retirement age? Claiming benefits early results in a substantial reduction in pension income, yet many people claim as early as possible (age 62) or soon thereafter. We argue that by answering this question, we can make two additional contributions to the literature. First, early claiming is equivalent to low demand for Social Security annuity, thus it offers a unique context for studying the well-known annuity puzzle. Since participation in Social Security is nearly universal, the low demand for this annuity cannot be explained away by market failures. Second, we show that claiming decisions are closely linked to the subjective rate of time preferences and thus can provide a new angle for the identification of this parameter. We provide a quantitative analysis of claiming decisions using a rich structural life-cycle model that matches many important features of the data. We find that the claiming puzzle can be attributed to a combination of three factors: (i) the discrepancy between individuals' subjective valuation of Social Security annuity and its implicit price, (ii) strong bequest motives, (iii) pre-annuitized wealth. We show that if individuals were rewarded for delaying claiming not with additional annuity income but with equivalent (in present value terms) lump-sum payments, the fraction of early claimers would be significantly reduced.
Review of Deep Learning Methods in Robotic Grasp Detection

For robots to attain more general-purpose utility, grasping is a necessary skill to master. Such general-purpose robots may use their perception abilities to visually identify grasps for a given object. A grasp describes how a robotic end-effector can be arranged to securely grab an object and successfully lift it without slippage. Traditionally, grasp detection requires expert human knowledge to analytically form the task-specific algorithm, but this is an arduous and time-consuming approach. During the last five years, deep learning methods have enabled significant advancements in robotic vision, natural language processing, and automated driving applications. The successful results of these methods have driven robotics researchers to explore the use of deep learning methods in task-generalised robotic applications. This paper reviews the current state-of-the-art in regards to the application of deep learning methods to generalised robotic grasping and discusses how each element of the deep learning approach has improved the overall performance of robotic grasp detection. Several of the most promising approaches are evaluated and the most suitable for real-time grasp detection is identified as the one-shot detection method. The availability of suitable volumes of appropriate training data is identified as a major obstacle for effective utilisation of the deep learning approaches, and the use of transfer learning techniques is proposed as a potential mechanism to address this. Finally, current trends in the field and future potential research directions are discussed.
3D Tangibles Facilitate Joint Visual Attention in Dyads

We report results from a dual eye-tracking study around a Tangible User Interface (TUI). Participants (N=54) worked in groups of two and solved optimization problems on the TinkerTable, a TUI designed for students in logistics. The TinkerTable features tangible shelves that students can manipulate to build and optimize the layout of a warehouse while the system provides feedback with a projector above the table. Using mobile eye-trackers, we examined participants’ visual coordination when solving those problems. We describe two contributions to the CSCL community: first, we propose a methodology for synchronizing two eye-tracking goggles and computing measures of joint visual attention (JVA) in a co-located setting. Second, we report preliminary findings suggesting that participants were more likely to have moments of joint attention when looking at 3D, realistic objects compared to 2D, abstract ones. JVA was also found to be a significant predictor of students’ learning gains and performance during the optimization tasks. We discuss implications of these findings for supporting interactions around a TUI.
IDENTIFICATION OF AEDES AEGYPTI (L) AND AEDES ALBOPICTUS (SKUSE) BREEDING HABITATS IN DENGUE ENDEMIC SITES IN KUALA LUMPUR FEDERAL TERRITORY AND SELANGOR STATE, MALAYSIA

In 2015, fifteen surveillances for larvae of dengue vectors, Aedes aegypti (L.) and Ae. albopictus (Skuse), were conducted in localities, which had dengue outbreaks in 2014 and 2015. The surveillances covered both indoor and outdoor of premises and the surroundings of the locality. All artificial and natural containers holding stagnant water were inspected for the presence of immature larvae. House index (HI) in all 4 localities exceeded the threshold value to implementation of dengue vector control. Taman Sungai Jelok (TSJ), Selangor, had the highest HI, container index and the highest larval density per surveillance and per hectare. The larval productivity was higher in outdoor containers, irrespective of outdoor of premises or in the general surrounding of the localities. Ae. aegypti was found equally breeding in indoor and outdoor artificial containers. However, Ae. albopictus was the dominant breeder in the outdoor artificial containers, 2.34-fold higher than Ae. aegypti. There is an insignificant Ae. albopictus population in the indoors. Plastic containers, flower pots, vases and tires were key receptacles. A very significant finding was that both vectors were found in a concrete drain holding stagnated clear water in TSJ. As for natural containers, yam, bromeliad plants and a Terminalia catappa tree hole (containing both vectors) were key receptacles. These findings will be useful in promoting awareness in the Malaysian Ministry of Health vector control personnel and residents on dengue vectors breeding habitats and the need for their eradication.
Are the O stars in WR+O binaries exceptionally rapid rotators?

We examine claims of strong gravity-darkening effects in the O-star components of WR+O binaries. We generate synthetic spectra for a wide range of parameters, and show that the line-width results are consistent with extensive measurements of O stars that are either single or are members of `normal' binaries. By contrast, the WR+O results are at the extremes of, or outside, the distributions of both models and other observations. Remeasurement of the WR+O spectra shows that they can be reconciled with other results by judicious choice of pseudo-continuum normalization. With this interpretation, the supersynchronous rotation previously noted for the O-star components in the WR+O binaries with the longest orbital periods appears to be unexceptional. Our investigation is therefore consistent with the aphorism that if the title of a paper ends with a question mark, the answer is probably `no'.
Data Oblivious ISA Extensions for Side Channel-Resistant and High Performance Computing

Blocking microarchitectural (digital) side channels is one of the most pressing challenges in hardware security today. Recently, there has been a surge of effort that attempts to block these leakages by writing programs data obliviously. In this model, programs are written to avoid placing sensitive data-dependent pressure on shared resources. Despite recent efforts, however, running data oblivious programs on modern machines today is insecure and low performance. First, writing programs obliviously assumes certain instructions in today’s ISAs will not leak privacy, whereas today’s ISAs and hardware provide no such guarantees. Second, writing programs to avoid data-dependent behavior is inherently high performance overhead. This paper tackles both the security and performance aspects of this problem by proposing a Data Oblivious ISA extension (OISA). On the security side, we present ISA design principles to block microarchitectural side channels, and embody these ideas in a concrete ISA capable of safely executing existing data oblivious programs. On the performance side, we design the OISA with support for efficient memory oblivious computation, and with safety features that allow modern hardware optimizations, e.g., out-of-order speculative execution, to remain enabled in the common case. We provide a complete hardware prototype of our ideas, built on top of the RISC-V out-of-order, speculative BOOM processor, and prove that the OISA can provide the advertised security through a formal analysis of an abstract BOOM-style machine. We evaluate area overhead of hardware mechanisms needed to support our prototype, and provide performance experiments showing how the OISA speeds up a variety of existing data oblivious codes (including “constant time” cryptography and memory oblivious data structures), in addition to improving their security and portability.
Using the OMI aerosol index and absorption aerosol optical depth to evaluate the NASA MERRA Aerosol Reanalysis

Abstract. A radiative transfer interface has been developed to simulate the UV aerosol index (AI) from the NASA Goddard Earth Observing System version 5 (GEOS-5) aerosol assimilated fields. The purpose of this work is to use the AI and aerosol absorption optical depth (AAOD) derived from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) measurements as independent validation for the Modern Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications Aerosol Reanalysis (MERRAero). MERRAero is based on a version of the GEOS-5 model that is radiatively coupled to the Goddard Chemistry, Aerosol, Radiation, and Transport (GOCART) aerosol module and includes assimilation of aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor. Since AI is dependent on aerosol concentration, optical properties and altitude of the aerosol layer, we make use of complementary observations to fully diagnose the model, including AOD from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), aerosol retrievals from the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) and attenuated backscatter coefficients from the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) mission to ascertain potential misplacement of plume height by the model. By sampling dust, biomass burning and pollution events in 2007 we have compared model-produced AI and AAOD with the corresponding OMI products, identifying regions where the model representation of absorbing aerosols was deficient. As a result of this study over the Saharan dust region, we have obtained a new set of dust aerosol optical properties that retains consistency with the MODIS AOD data that were assimilated, while resulting in better agreement with aerosol absorption measurements from OMI. The analysis conducted over the southern African and South American biomass burning regions indicates that revising the spectrally dependent aerosol absorption properties in the near-UV region improves the modeled-observed AI comparisons. Finally, during a period where the Asian region was mainly dominated by anthropogenic aerosols, we have performed a qualitative analysis in which the specification of anthropogenic emissions in GEOS-5 is adjusted to provide insight into discrepancies observed in AI comparisons.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF WORLD INPUT–OUTPUT TABLES IN THE WIOD PROJECT

This article describes the construction of the World Input–Output Tables (WIOTs) that constitute the core of the World Input–Output Database. WIOTs are available for the period 1995–2009 and give the values of transactions among 35 industries in 40 countries plus the ‘Rest of the World’ and from these industries to households, governments and users of capital goods in the same set of countries. The article describes how information from the National Accounts, Supply and Use Tables and International Trade Statistics have been harmonized, reconciled and used for estimation procedures to arrive at a consistent time series of WIOTs.
Startup Search Costs

Workhorse economic models used for studying the market impacts of search frictions assume constant search costs: individuals pay the same cost to obtain price information each time they search. This paper provides evidence on a new form of search costs: startup costs. Exploiting a natural experiment in retail gasoline, we document how a temporary, large exogenous shock to consumers' search incentives leads to a substantial, permanent increase in price search. A standard search model fails to explain such history-dependence in search, while it follows directly from a model with a one-time up-front cost to start searching.
Circuit Quantum Simulation of a Tomonaga-Luttinger Liquid with an Impurity

The Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid (TLL) concept is believed to generically describe the strongly-correlated physics of one-dimensional systems at low temperatures. A hallmark signature in 1D conductors is the quantum phase transition between metallic and insulating states induced by a single impurity. However, this transition impedes experimental explorations of real-world TLLs. Furthermore, its theoretical treatment, explaining the universal energy rescaling of the conductance at low temperatures, has so far been achieved exactly only for specific interaction strengths. Quantum simulation can provide a powerful workaround. Here, a hybrid metal-semiconductor dissipative quantum circuit is shown to implement the analogue of a TLL of adjustable electronic interactions comprising a single, fully tunable scattering impurity. Measurements reveal the renormalization group `beta-function' for the conductance that completely determines the TLL universal crossover to an insulating state upon cooling. Moreover, the characteristic scaling energy locating at a given temperature the position within this conductance renormalization flow is established over nine decades versus circuit parameters, and the out-of-equilibrium regime is explored. With the quantum simulator quality demonstrated from the precise parameter-free validation of existing and novel TLL predictions, quantum simulation is achieved in a strong sense, by elucidating interaction regimes which resist theoretical solutions.