Arbitrary Range Research Articles

Impact of the Medicare Modernization Act on Dually Eligible Persons With Psychiatric Diagnoses: A New York State Case Study

The 2003 Medicare Modernization Act shifted medication coverage from Medicaid to Medicare for persons dually eligible for both programs. This study examined the extent to which access to psychiatric and concomitant medications was reduced for dually eligible individuals in New York State. It also examined the extent to which consumer copayments and state costs were changed when the act was implemented in 2006. Data were from psychiatric medication Medicaid claims in 2002 for the 36,842 dually eligible adults with severe mental illness and from the 2006 formulary data of New York State's 15 prescription drug plans available after the Medicare Modernization Act was implemented. The study simulated how dually eligible persons in New York State would fare under the plans' random and best-fit enrollment scenarios, taking into account the additional coverage provided by New York State's 2006 safety net policy. Implementation of the Medication Modernization Act reduced drug availability and increased usage restrictions. A study-defined generosity measure estimated a 51%+/-19% reduction in access. Dually eligible individuals with depression experienced the largest treatment gap. Cost changes to the state were essentially budget neutral, primarily because of the required claw-back payment. Consumer copayments increased percentage-wise, but actual dollar amounts remained small; increases were higher under best-fit enrollment compared with random enrollment. Without a generous safety net policy, dually eligible beneficiaries, especially those with depression, are likely to experience large gaps in their medication coverage and somewhat higher out-of-pocket costs. Treatment gaps were somewhat reduced by placement in best-fit plans, and such placement resulted in no added financial burden to the state. However, this resulted in higher consumer copayments--payments that are small in the actual dollar amount but that might have an impact on spending and on medication access for a largely poor consumer group.

A Rate of Zinc Potentiostatic Nucleation on a Pyrolytic Carbon Electrode from an Alkaline Solution

A method for calculation of an average local rate A¯ of potentiostatic nucleation in an arbitrary time range of an electrode process has been proposed. An example of analysis of Zn nucleation from a zincate electrolyte on a pyrolytic carbon electrode according to Scharifker and Mostany's kinetic model has been used as an illustration of the proposed method. A growth or decrease of A¯ during the nucleation period has been explained by activation of the electrode surface or depletion of more active center of the electrode, respectively.

A hybrid model of timbre perception.

Timbre is a fundamental attribute of sound. It is important in differentiating between musical sounds, speech utterances, and characterizing everyday sounds in our environment as well as novel synthetic sounds. A hybrid model of timbre perception, which integrates the concepts of color and texture of sound, is proposed. The color of sound is described in terms of an instantaneous (or ideally timeless) spectral envelope, while the texture of a sound describes the temporal structure of the sound, as the sequential changes of color with an arbitrary range of time‐scale. The computational implementation of this model represents a sound’s color as the spectral envelope of a specific window, and its texture as the granularity (or microtexture) of the corresponding window. The temporal structures across windows from both color and texture parts of the model serve as the texture of a sound in a larger time‐scale. In support of the proposed theory a series of psychoacoutic experiments was performed. The quantitative relationship between the spectral envelope and subjective perception of complex tones used Mel‐frequency cepstral coefficients as a representation. A perceptually tested quantitative representation of texture was established using normalized echo density.

Lessons From a Time Capsule: Evolution, Not Revolution, in Therapy for Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Lessons From a Time Capsule: Evolution, Not Revolution, in Therapy for Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Entanglement of finite cyclic chains at factorizing fields

We examine the entanglement of cyclic spin 1/2 chains with anisotropic XY Z Heisenberg couplings of arbitrary range at transverse factorizing magnetic fields. At these fields the system exhibits a degenerate symmetry-breaking separable ground state (GS). It is shown, however, that the side limits of the GS pairwise entanglement at these fields are actually non-zero in finite chains, corresponding such fields to a GS spin-parity transition. These limits exhibit universal properties like being independent of the pair separation and interaction range, and are directly related to the magnetization jump. Illustrative exact results are shown for chains with I) full range and II) nearest neighbor couplings. Global entanglement properties at such points are also discussed.

Theory of Ground State Factorization in Quantum Cooperative Systems

We introduce a general analytic approach to the study of factorization points and factorized ground states in quantum cooperative systems. The method allows us to determine rigorously the existence, location, and exact form of separable ground states in a large variety of, generally nonexactly solvable, spin models belonging to different universality classes. The theory applies to translationally invariant systems, irrespective of spatial dimensionality, and for spin-spin interactions of arbitrary range.

Materialized Sample Views for Database Approximation

We consider the problem of creating a view of a database table. A view is an indexed materialized view that permits efficient sampling from an arbitrary range query over the view. Such sample views are very useful in applications that require random samples from a database: approximate query processing, online aggregation, data mining, and randomized algorithms are a few examples. Our core technical contribution is a new file organization called the appendability, combinability, and exponentiality (ACE) tree that is suitable for organizing and indexing a view. One of the most important aspects of the ACE tree is that it supports online random sampling from the view. That is, at all times, the set of records returned by the ACE tree constitutes a statistically random of the database records satisfying the relational selection predicate over the view. Our paper presents experimental results that demonstrate the utility of the ACE tree.

Remote temperature sensor composed of an amorphous magnetic ribbon and a low Curie temperature ferrite tube

AbstractThis paper describes the application of remote temperature sensors made of an amorphous magnetic ribbon and a low Curie temperature ferrite tube to the measurement of temperature in an arbitrary range. By combining an amorphous magnetic ribbon and a ferrite tube with a Curie temperature of 40 °C, a resonant frequency change rate of 6.3%/°C was realized in the 35 to 40 °C temperature range. Similarly, by combining an amorphous magnetic ribbon and a ferrite tube with a Curie temperature of 47 °C, a resonant frequency change rate of 4.9%/°C was achieved in the 41 to 47 °C temperature range. These values are ∼100 times larger than that of the previously reported remote temperature sensor made only of an amorphous ribbon. Therefore, this confirms that a highly sensitive remote temperature sensor can be realized in an arbitrary temperature range. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Weighting Function Alternatives for a Subpixel Allocation Model

This study investigates the “pixel-swapping” optimization algorithm proposed by Atkinson for predicting subpixel landcover distribution. Two limitations of this method are assessed: the arbitrary spatial range value and the arbitrary exponential model for characterizing spatial autocorrelation. Various alternative weighting functions are evaluated. For this assessment, two different simulation models are employed to develop spatially autocorrelated binary class raster maps. These rasters are then resampled to generate sets of representative medium-resolution class maps. Prior to conducting the subpixel allocation, the relationship between cell resolution and spatial autocorrelation, as measured by Moran’s I, is evaluated. It is discovered that the form of this relationship depends upon the simulation model. For all tested weighting functions (Nearest Neighbor, Gaussian, Exponential, and IDW), the pixel swapping method increased classification accuracy compared with the initial random allocation of subpixels. Nearest Neighbor allocation performs as well as the more complex models of spatial structure.

Range queries on structured overlay networks

The efficient handling of range queries in peer-to-peer systems is still an open issue. Several approaches exist, but their lookup schemes are either too expensive (space-filling curves) or their queries lack expressiveness (topology-driven data distribution). We present two structured overlay networks that support arbitrary range queries. The first one, named Chord #, has been derived from Chord by substituting Chord’s hashing function by a key-order preserving function. It has a logarithmic routing performance and it supports range queries, which is not possible with Chord. Its O(1) pointer update algorithm can be applied to any peer-to-peer routing protocol with exponentially increasing pointers. We present a formal proof of the logarithmic routing performance and show empirical results that demonstrate the superiority of Chord # over Chord in systems with high churn rates. We then extend our routing scheme to multiple dimensions, resulting in SONAR, a Structured Overlay Network with Arbitrary Range queries. SONAR covers multi-dimensional data spaces and, in contrast to other approaches, SONAR’s range queries are not restricted to rectangular shapes but may have arbitrary shapes. Empirical results with a data set of two million objects show the logarithmic routing performance in a geospatial domain.

Probingn-spin correlations in optical lattices

We propose a technique to measure multispin correlation functions of arbitrary range as determined by the ground states of spinful cold atoms in optical lattices. We show that an observation of the atomic version of the Stokes parameters, using focused lasers and microwave pulsing, can be related to $n$-spin correlators. We discuss the possibility of detecting not only ground state static spin correlations, but also time-dependent spin-wave dynamics as a demonstrative example using our proposed technique.

SU‐FF‐T‐433: Universal Survival Curve and SBRT Hypofractionation

Purpose. Available clinical outcomes show that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is very efficacious and well tolerated. At the same time, these outcomes show that standard linear quadratic (LQ) models do not provide adequate rationalization for the SBRT hypofractionation. The aim of this analysis is to show that multitarget model can be adapted to provide the proper framework for explaining the radiobiological rationale of the hypofractionated SBRT. Method. Multitarget model leads to a formula defining a curve on the plane characterized by three free parameters with the following geometric interpretation: the initial slope (1/D1), the final slope (1/D0), and quasi‐threshold dose (Dq), which is the D‐intercept of the line defined by the terminal portion of the curve (D denotes the dose). In the range of ablative dose values characteristic for SBRT (8 – 30 Gy) only the final slope (1/D0), and quasi‐threshold dose (Dq) are of clinical relevance. Assuming that the LQ model gives a good description of the survival curve for conventionally fractionated radiation therapy (CFRT), and insisting on the linear, multitarget model type behavior of the survival curve for the high dose per fraction, we construct a universal, survival curve for the arbitrary range of dose per fraction. The additional constraints require the smooth, consistent transition for the universal curve in the dose range separating CFRT and SBRT and demand quantitative consistency with existing data. Results. From universal surviving curve, we derive, for both CFRT and SBRT, two equivalence functions, biologically effective dose (BED) and single fraction equivalent dose (SFED). We find that SFED is the critical parameter for comparison of SBRT regimens as well as for comparison of CFRT and SBRT regimens. Conclusion. The unifying survival curve provides empirically and clinically well justified rationale for the hypofractionation regime of the SBRT treatment modalities.

Unconventional pairing in bipolaronic theories

Various mechanisms have been put forward for cuprate superconductivity, which fit largely into two camps: spin-fluctuation and electron–phonon (el–ph) mechanisms. However, in spite of a large effort, electron–phonon interactions are not fully understood away from clearly defined limits. To this end, we use a numerically exact algorithm to simulate the binding of bipolarons. We present the results of a continuous-time quantum Monte-Carlo (CTQMC) algorithm on a tight-binding lattice, for bipolarons with arbitrary interaction range in the presence of strong coulomb repulsion. The algorithm is sufficiently efficient that we can discuss properties of bipolarons with various pairing symmetries. We investigate the effective mass and binding energies of singlet and triplet real-space bipolarons for the first time, and discuss the extensions necessary to investigate d-symmetric pairs.

Visual spatio-temporal function-based querying

Visual interfaces are very important for human interactions in cyberworlds. Visual spatio-temporal querying should be one of the basic tools for data mining and retrieval in cyberworlds. In this paper, we propose a novel function-based query model for arbitrary shape spatio-temporal querying. The queries are defined as geometric shapes changing over time. In our model, data are interpreted geometrically as multidimensional points with time dimension or as moving points. The queries are formulated with geometric objects and operations over them to form the query solid changing over time. The proposed query model allows us to pose arbitrary shape spatio-temporal range queries. With the uniform geometric model we integrate visual mining and querying of time-dependent data employing 3D visualization tools. It allows for creating an intuitive visual interface using 2D projections of 3D query shapes. Our approach combines visualization of spatio-temporal data with visualization of the range query formulation employing very compact function-based query model. The implemented visual query system and its visual interface are proposed and described. An example of application of the system in analysis of simulation results in molecular dynamics is considered.

Authors' Reply

For original paper, see N. L. Prajapathy et al., ibid, vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 682-683, (2007). Reply to the comments on model reduction technique for discrete linear time invariant systems are presented. The proposed technique is based on a conceptual view point of the controllability and observability Grammians balancing of a system in an arbitrary frequency range. It can be considered as the generalization of the Moore's (1981) balance structure approach in a specific frequency range of operation. Two modified Lyapunov equations are derived for the proposed frequency domain balancing. The transfer function of the sixth-order Cheby-shev type 1 filter is considered. The Nyquist plots for the original filter as well as the reduced-order filters based on the Moore's balanced technique and the proposed method.

Surface remeshing in arbitrary codimensions

We present a method for remeshing surfaces that is both general and efficient. Existing efficient methods are restrictive in the type of remeshings they produce, while methods that are able to produce general types of remeshings are generally based on iteration, which prevents them from producing remeshes at interactive rates. In our method, the input surface is directly mapped to an arbitrary (possibly high-dimensional) range space, and uniformly remeshed in this space. Because the mesh is uniform in the range space, all the quantities encoded in the mapping are bounded, resulting in a mesh that is simultaneously adapted to all criteria encoded in the map, and thus we can obtain remeshings of arbitrary characteristics. Because the core operation is a uniform remeshing of a surface embedded in range space, and this operation is direct and local, this remeshing is efficient and can run at interactive rates.

Reentrant synchronization and pattern formation in pacemaker-entrained Kuramoto oscillators

We study phase entrainment of Kuramoto oscillators under different conditions on the interaction range and the natural frequencies. In the first part the oscillators are entrained by a pacemaker acting like an impurity or a defect. We analytically derive the entrainment frequency for arbitrary interaction range and the entrainment threshold for all-to-all couplings. For intermediate couplings our numerical results show a reentrance of the synchronization transition as a function of the coupling range. The origin of this reentrance can be traced back to the normalization of the coupling strength. In the second part we consider a system of oscillators with an initial gradient in their natural frequencies, extended over a one-dimensional chain or a two-dimensional lattice. Here it is the oscillator with the highest natural frequency that becomes the pacemaker of the ensemble, sending out circular waves in oscillator-phase space. No asymmetric coupling between the oscillators is needed for this dynamical induction of the pacemaker property nor need it be distinguished by a gap in the natural frequency.

Polaron action for multimode dispersive phonon systems

Path-integral approach to the tight-binding polaron is extended to multiple optical phonon modes of arbitrary dispersion and polarization. The non-linear lattice effects are neglected. Only one electron band is considered. The electron-phonon interaction is of the density-displacement type, but can be of arbitrary spatial range and shape. Feynman's analytical integration of ion trajectories is performed by transforming the electron-ion forces to the basis in which the phonon dynamical matrix is diagonal. The resulting polaron action is derived for the periodic and shifted boundary conditions in imaginary time. The former can be used for calculating polaron thermodynamics while the latter for the polaron mass and spectrum. The developed formalism is the analytical basis for numerical analysis of such models by path-integral Monte Carlo methods.

Rate control in atrial fibrillation: looking beyond the average heart rate

The aim of this article is to provide a perspective on rate control in atrial fibrillation which emphasizes patient wellbeing (exercise tolerance, symptoms, quality of life) over attempts to reduce resting or exercise heart rate to an arbitrary range. Recent trials of rhythm versus rate control strategies of treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation suggest that rate control is a viable first line strategy in many patients. The adverse consequences of atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response are partly due to factors other than rate itself, such as irregularity of ventricular response, and variable changes in autonomic nervous system output. Digoxin, calcium channel blockers, and beta-blockers cause a similar reduction in resting heart rate. Beta blockers are the most potent at reducing exercise heart rate, followed by calcium channel blockers and digoxin. Exercise tolerance is occasionally improved by digoxin, sometimes improved by calcium channel blockers and not improved by (and sometimes decreased by) beta-blockers. Information about quality of life with different rate control regimens is sparse. Rate control in atrial fibrillation provides important benefits to patients in terms of symptoms, quality of life and prevention of late consequences of uncontrolled rate (such as tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy). Restricting treatment objectives to achievement of a specific heart rate range on resting or exercise electrocardiogram may result in lack of patient benefit or worsened symptoms. Understanding the nuances of rate control when treating individual patients and interpreting existing evidence allows patients to experience the most benefit from this treatment strategy.

An extended Minimum Description Length (MDL) penalty function for binomial proportions

This article extends the Minimum Description Length (MDL) penalty function B 2 ( n ) suggested by P.G. Bryant and O.I. Cordero-Braña [Model selection using the minimum description length principle, The American Statistician 54 (2000) 257–268] to cover an arbitrary range of possible parameter values, and provides approximations for large sample sizes. The results are illustrated using data from a recent clinical trial (The Women’s Health Initiative).