Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Race and Gender Cues in Low-Information Elections

Previous research has demonstrated that in low-information elections voters compensate for a lack of information by taking informational short-cuts, based on candidate cues, to make voting decisions. To date, this research has focused on candidate party identification and incumbency cues. This article argues that candidate demographic cues, specifically race and gender, also play an influential role. Unlike past psychological research that focuses on potential voter bias against women or black candidates, this article examines the informational content of voters' stereotypes about women and black candidates, and how these stereotypes affect voting behavior. I use quasi-experimental data from the Los Angeles Times Poll to demonstrate that candidate gender and candidate race signal voters in two different ways. Voters stereotype candidates ideologically: women and black candidates are stereotyped as more liberal than the average white male. Voters also stereotype candidates on issues: black candidates are seen as more concerned with minority rights than whites; while women candidates are viewed as more dedicated to honest government. As a result, voters choose candidates for office based on how much they agree or disagree with the ideological and issue positions they attribute, through stereotyping, to candidates.
Soft error and energy consumption interactions: a data cache perspective

Energy-efficiency and reliability are two major design constraints influencing next generation system designs. In this work, we focus on the interaction between power consumption and reliability considering the on-chip data caches. First, we investigate the impact of two commonly used architectural-level leakage reduction approaches on the data reliability. Our results indicate that the leakage optimization techniques can have very different reliability behavior as compared to an original cache with no leakage optimizations. Next, we investigate on providing data reliability in an energy-efficient fashion in the presence of soft-errors. In contrast to current commercial caches that treat and protect all data using the same error detection/correction mechanism, we present an adaptive error coding scheme that treats dirty and clean data cache blocks differently. Furthermore, we present an early-write-back scheme that enhances the ability to use a less powerful error protection scheme for a longer time without sacrificing reliability. Experimental results show that proposed schemes, when used in conjunction, can reduce dynamic energy of error protection components in L1 data cache by 11% on average without impacting the performance or reliability.
Reduced current stress bridgeless Cuk PFC converter with new voltage multiplier circuit

In this paper, a bridgeless Cuk derived AC/DC converter is proposed. The present circuit topology separates the input PFC current and output voltage-regulation current, which reduces the switch current stresses and improves system thermal management compared to the conventional bridge and bridgeless Cuk topologies. In addition, the proposed bridgeless topology has semi-soft switching function of all active switches to reduce converter switching losses. Therefore, the switch conduction losses and switching power losses all can be decreased due to the reduced current stress and semi-soft switching function. To understand the proposed Cuk derived converter, the circuit operation is explained and the steady-state behavior is analyzed. Finally a prototype system with DSP TMS320F28335 controller is implemented. Some simulation and experimental results are offered to verify the validity of the proposed bridgeless Cuk derived PFC converter.
MESENCHYMAL STROMAL CELLS AND THEIR ORTHOPAEDIC APPLICATIONS.

Stem cells have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional surgical procedures for the regeneration and repair of skeletal tissues resulting from common and rare skeletal diseases and trauma. Skeletal tissues undergo continuous remodeling and regeneration during skeletal development and normal adult life, and in response to injury or disease. Therefore, in the field of orthopaedic regenerative medicine, which seeks to repair, replace, or regenerate tissues and organs damaged by injury or disease, many clues can be drawn from skeletal development. Similar to skeletal development, skeletal healing requires mesenchymal stromal (or stem) cells (MSCs). In this review, we aim to provide a glimpse of the recent progress made in this rapidly developing field and the great promise MSCs hold for future orthopaedic applications. We summarize the application of MSCs in regenerative medicine for the treatment of skeletal diseases, including osteogenesis imperfecta, fibrous dysplasia, osteoarthritis, and fracture healing. We also discuss the recent discovery of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and their potential orthopaedic applications as a renewable source of skeletal cells.
Dynamic Control of a Queue with Adjustable Service Rate

We consider a single-server queue with Poisson arrivals, where holding costs are continuously incurred as a nondecreasing function of the queue length. The queue length evolves as a birth-and-death process with constant arrival rate ? = 1 and with state-dependent service rates Âµ nthat can be chosen from a fixed subset A of [0, 8). Finally, there is a nondecreasing cost-of-effort functionc(Â·) on A, and service costs are incurred at ratec(Âµ n ) when the queue length isn. The objective is to minimize average cost per time unit over an infinite planning horizon. The standard optimality equation of average-cost dynamic programming allows one to write out the optimal service rates in terms of the minimum achievable average costz*. Here we present a method for computingz* that is so fast and so transparent it may be reasonably described as an explicit solution for the problem of service rate control. The optimal service rates are nondecreasing as a function of queue length and are bounded if the holding cost function is bounded. From a managerial standpoint it is natural to comparez*, the minimum average cost achievable with state-dependent service rates, against the minimum average cost achievable with a single fixed service rate. The difference between those two minima represents the economic value of a responsive service mechanism, and numerical examples are presented that show it can be substantial.
Does It Make a Difference? Evaluating Professional Development

Educators have long considered professional development to be their right— something they deserve as dedicated and hardworking individuals. But legislators and policymakers have recently begun to question that right. As education budgets grow tight, they look at what schools spend on professional development and want to know, Does the investment yield tangible payo s or could that money be spent in better ways? Such questions make e ective evaluation of professional development programs more important than ever.
Ingroup and outgroup support for upward mobility: Divergent responses to ingroup identification in low status groups

Members of groups with low societal status can pursue individual upward mobility to improve their status. We examine the conditions under which ingroup and outgroup members are most inclined to support such upward mobility attempts. Whereas both ingroup and outgroup supports are important, there may be tension: dissociation from the low status group may lower ingroup support, whereas association with the low status group may lower outgroup support. Ingroup association can be expressed by communicating one’s affective involvement or by behaving in line with typical ingroup practices. As predicted, studies 1 and 2 show that support from the low status ingroup depends more on affective involvement than on behavioral identity expression (BIE). In contrast, studies 3–5 show that support from the high status group is more driven by the upwardly mobile individual’ sB IE. Mediational analyses show that these opposite patterns are driven by differential processes, prompted by the group’s respective positions in the social hierarchy. The findings provide insight into how members of low status groups negotiate the competing demands of the high and low status groups as they pursue upward mobility. Moreover, they show how affective involvement and BIE differentially affect ingroup support and outgroup opposition. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Policy analysis from first principles

The argument of this paper is predicated on the view that social science should start with observation and the specification of a problem to be solved. On that basis, the appropriate properties and conditions of application of relevant tools of analysis should be defined. Evidence is adduced from data for sales volumes and values of a disparate range of goods to show that frequency distributions are commonly fat-tailed. This result implies that any stable population distribution will generally have infinite variance and perhaps undefined mean. Models with agents that reason about their behavior and are influenced by, but do not imitate, other agents known to them will typically generate fat-tailed time series data. A simulation model of intermediated exchange is reported that is populated by such agents and yields the same type of fat-tailed time series and cross-sectional data that is found in data for fast moving consumer goods and for retail outlets. This result supports the proposition that adaptive agent models of markets with agents that reason and are socially embedded have the same statistical signatures as real markets. Whereas this statistical signature precludes any conventional hypothesis testing or forecasting, these models do offer unique opportunities for validation on the basis of domain expertise and qualitative data. Perhaps the most striking conclusion is that neither current social theory nor any similar construct will ever support an effective policy analysis. However, adaptive agent modeling is an effective substitute when embedded in a wider policy analysis procedure.
Reconfigurable arrays for portable ultrasound

A collaborative effort is aimed at the development of reconfigurable array technology. The goal is to enable innovative medical ultrasound imagers ideally suited for portable ultrasound and applications such as remote emergency medicine and combat casualty care. Success depends on developing several technologies, the first of which is capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers (cMUTs). The monolithic nature of cMUTs facilitates close connection with microelectronics. Thus a second technology under development is a switch matrix application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that will enable the changing of interconnect between cMUT cells. The reconfigurable array concept arises from this ability to dynamically combine cMUT cells to form ideal apertures for a given imaging target (e.g. annular and phased apertures of various ring widths) and to move these apertures across the reconfigurable array plane [1-4]. Two central hypotheses are being tested: (1) the reconfigurable array can acquire acoustic pulse-echo data in a manner equivalent or superior to today’s 1D piezoceramic arrays (2) reconfigurable array technology will enable highly portable ultrasound platforms. Keywords-reconfigurable; annular; array; cMUT; ASIC; switch matrix; dynamic; phased; real-time
Elotuzumab in combination with thalidomide and low‐dose dexamethasone: a phase 2 single‐arm safety study in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma

Elotuzumab is an immunostimulatory, humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that selectively targets and kills signalling lymphocytic activation molecule family member 7–expressing myeloma cells. We evaluated the safety and tolerability of elotuzumab 10 mg/kg combined with thalidomide 50–200 mg and dexamethasone 40 mg (with/without cyclophosphamide 50 mg) in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). The primary endpoint was the proportion of grade ≥3 non‐haematological adverse events (AEs); other endpoints included the number of dose reductions/discontinuations and efficacy. Forty patients were treated, who had a median of three previous therapies, including bortezomib (98%) and lenalidomide (73%). Grade ≥3 non‐haematological AEs were reported in 63% of patients, most commonly asthenia (35%) and peripheral oedema (25%). Six (15%) patients had an infusion reaction. Twenty‐six (65%) patients had ≥1 dose reduction/discontinuation due to an AE, none related to elotuzumab. Overall response rate was 38%; median progression‐free survival was 3·9 months. Median overall survival was 16·3 months and the 1‐year survival rate was 63%. Minimal incremental toxicity was observed with addition of elotuzumab to thalidomide/dexamethasone with or without cyclophosphamide, and efficacy data suggest clinical benefit in a highly pre‐treated population. Elotuzumab combined with thalidomide may provide an additional treatment option for patients with RRMM.
Distributed consensus-based auctions for wireless virtual network embedding

Software-Defined Networks (SDNs) based approaches represent an opportunity for easing the deployment and the management of wide-area wireless network services. In this paper, we focus on a particular SDN management mechanism that wireless infrastructure providers need to adopt to support such services: the wireless virtual network (VN) embedding problem. We formulate the problem leveraging on optimization theory, analyzing its complexity, and proposing a general distributed auction mechanism. This mechanism leverages on the max-consensus literature to guarantee bounds on the embedding time and on the performance with respect to a Pareto optimal solution. Using extensive simulations, we confirm superior resource utilization when compared with existing distributed VN embedding solutions, proving to be an attractive and flexible resource allocation approach for wireless SDNs.
Coordinated Eigen Beamforming for Multi-Pair MIMO Two-Way Relay Network

We consider a multi-pair two-way relay (TWR) network where the multi-antenna users of each pair exchange information via a multi-antenna relay. The interesting challenge is how to deal with the inter- user interference and explore the potential of multiple antennas concurrently. Beamforming methods in previous works are based on the criteria of zero forcing (ZF) and minimum mean square error (MMSE) to mitigate the inter-user interference. However, since the user already knows its own information, it is unnecessary to mitigate the intra-pair interference at the relay. In this paper, we propose a coordinated eigen beamforming (CEB) scheme, which maximizes the effective channel gain of each user in the sub-space nulling the inter-pair interference. The CEB scheme is implemented with an iterative optimization algorithm with limited iterations. Additionally, the power loading scheme is adopted after convergence to guarantee fairness among users. Simulation results indicate our scheme achieves near full diversity order within the sub-space, outperforming pervious works.
Investigating Access to Educational Assessment for Students with Disabilities

Many countries have established systems for identifying, and providing for, the range of students with disabilities during their formal educational assessments. Most systems include the provision of variously termed ‘special access arrangements’ (SAAs), such as the provision of extra time or practical assistance with some aspect of an examination. There is, however, a paucity of outcome monitoring data relating to such systems, particularly that relating to the student and parent perspective. Using a combination of focus group, questionnaire and interview methods, the present study reports the views of 86 students with disabilities, their parents and teachers, upon the students’ educational assessment experiences. Findings indicate four specific areas for development of current practice: individualization of assessment of needs; utilization of student and parent voice; consideration of test anxiety factors; improved communication between schools, parents and students. From this, the researchers propose a revised system for needs identification and provision for students with disabilities during their formal educational assessments, highlighting a proactive role for school psychologists.
The global shadow of functionalism and Excellence Theory: An analysis of Australasian PR

There are increasing claims and, in some quarters, celebration of a ‘sociocultural turn’ in public relations that has allegedly shifted the locus of scholarship and practice from US-originating functionalist and organization-centric models to more socially and culturally orientated approaches. However, this article presents a critical analysis of PR education and scholarship in Australasia which shows that, despite a claimed ‘sociocultural turn’ and a number of emergent postmodern models identified by contemporary scholars around the world, Excellence Theory, including its various constituent theories, remains a dominant paradigm of PR in Australia and many South East Asian countries. The ontological and epistemological characteristics of PR in Australasia, and the influences that have created and sustained them, as well as the progress of alternative postmodern and critical conceptualizations, are explored in this article based on two stages of research. In the first, a broad exploratory study was undertaken using ethnography and elements of autoethnography to provide reflective insights into the nature of and influences on PR scholarship and practice in the region. In the second stage, the findings of this exploratory analysis were tested and further contextualized with empirical data from structured textual analysis of the PR texts and reference books most commonly used today.
Control of constrained mechanical systems with passive joints

This paper presents an approach for control of constrained multibody systems based on a projected inverse-dynamics control scheme. The main advantage of the controller is that it works for constrained systems, which have joints with no actuator (passive joints), e.g. parallel manipulators. Also the controller minimizes actuation force, while it does not require the constraint equations be linearly independent. Therefore, the controller can cope with redundant constraint or singular configuration. It follows with development of a complementary controller for control of constraint force.
Development of VSB demodulator LSI with high-performance waveform equalizer

We have newly developed a single chip VSB (vestigial side band) demodulator LSI for the US terrestrial digital TV system. In this LSI, we have improved the waveform equalization performance and reduced cost and power consumption by adopting an all-digital architecture and a waveform equalizer that uses a newly developed algorithm.
Efficacy Beliefs of Newly Hired Teachers in Urban Schools

This study explores the relationships between change in self-efficacy beliefs, teacher characteristics, and school practices for newly hired teachers in urban schools. Earlier research concluded that the self-efficacy beliefs of beginning teachers typically decline over the course of the first year. The findings of the current study suggest that the decline is not universal. Beliefs are mediated by the teacher’s age and prior experience and by school practices such as opportunities for new teachers to collaborate with colleagues, supervisor attention to instruction, and the level of resources available in the school. Implications of the effects of school practices and teacher characteristics on the induction year experience are discussed.
Citalopram‐lithium combination treatment of elderly depressed patients: A pilot study

Fourteen elderly depressive patients (age 67‐88 yr), phenotyped with dextromethorphan and mephenytoin before and during the trial, were treated for 4 weeks with citalopram (final dose 20‐30 mg/day, except one patient 60 mg/day). The clinical state of the patients was recorded weekly using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the CGI (psychopathology) scale, the VAS and the UKU scale for side‐effects. As assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, nine patients improved by more than 50% and continued with their citalopram treatment. The treatment of the five non‐responders was then continued for another 2 weeks by addition of lithium (target plasma levels 0.4‐0.8 mmol/l) to the ongoing citalopram medication. After 1 week, one patient had to be withdrawn for non‐response, three were responders, while the fifth patient was a responder only after 2 weeks of lithium addition. Due to side‐effects, the lithium dose had to be decreased in one patient who had responded to the combination therapy. Plasma levels of citalopram were within 145‐459 nmol/l after 4 weeks of citalopram treatment. All patients were extensive metabolizers of dextromethorphan, and all but possibly one also of mephenytoin. After 4 weeks of citalopram, there was a highly significant correlation between the ratios of S/R‐mephenytoin in urine and citalopram/desmethylcitalopram in plasma, which suggests a common mechanism in the metabolism of these drugs. The preliminary finding that a citalopram‐Li combination therapy may be useful in elderly depressive patients resistant to citalopram alone needs to be replicated by a controlled double‐blind study.
Inheritance of recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis in thoroughbreds.

OBJECTIVE To develop a diagnostic test for recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) in Thoroughbreds that relied on in vitro contracture of muscle biopsy specimens and determine whether the inheritance pattern of RER diagnosed on the basis of this contracture test was consistent with an autosomal dominant trait. DESIGN Clinical trial. ANIMALS 8 adult horses with RER and 16 control adult horses for development of the contracture test; 23 foals for inheritance of RER. PROCEDURE External intercostal muscle biopsy specimens from the 24 adult horses were tested for contracture in response to halothane and caffeine, and criteria for a positive test result were determined. These criteria were then applied to results for the 23 foals to determine whether they had RER. Simple segregation analysis was performed to determine whether results were consistent with a dominant pattern of inheritance. RESULTS Results of the contracture test were positive for 5 of the 12 colts and 4 of the 11 fillies. Results of segregation analysis were consistent with an auto-. somal dominant pattern of inheritance. Two sires with RER produced colts with RER, supporting the hypothesis that RER had an autosomal, rather than an X-linked, inheritance pattern. In addition, in 1 instance, an unaffected colt was produced by 2 affected parents, which was not consistent with a recessive mode of inheritance. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Although the expression of the RER trait is influenced by sex, temperament, and diet, among other factors, results from the in vitro muscle contracture test and this breeding trial suggest that RER in Thoroughbreds can be modeled as a genetic trait with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance.