Inaccurate Assumptions Research Articles

Rethinking Terrorist Financing; Where Does All this Lead?

The approach taken by international laws and standards to impede terrorism treats terrorist financing as another form (predicate crime) of money laundering. This approach justifies the integration of terrorist financing into money laundering counter-measures with an exaggerated focus on two inaccurate assumptions: terrorists’ involvement in criminal activities (especially organized crime), and utilising money laundering tools by terrorists to move their funds. Regarding the nature and characteristics of terrorist financing, this paper aims to examine whether from a factual standpoint, it is sufficiently reasonable to address the suppression of terrorist financing by analogy with money laundering.

An innovative service quality evaluation and improvement model

ABSTRACTImportance-performance analysis (IPA) is a popular approach used by firms to focus resources on crucial attributes, reduce expenditure on non-critical ones and develop improvement and innovation strategies accordingly. However, IPA develops quality improvement plans based on inaccurate assumptions about the independence between importance and performance and lacks clear measurement standards, which may lead to inappropriate recommendations. IPA also does not account for desired versus adequate service. Therefore, this study proposes an innovative framework that integrates the advantages of IPA, the zone of tolerance concept, and Kano’s model. A case study conducted in a wealth management department in the banking industry demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. The results indicate that the proposed approach recommends optimal service strategies to managers and outperforms traditional IPA.

Understanding the context of novel interventions for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: A reply to Nielsen et al.

In this response to the commentary by Nielsen, Kirtley, & Townsend (in press), the authors note several points of agreement related to further testing of therapeutic evaluative conditioning (TEC) for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs), navigating logistical and ethical issues surrounding mobile interventions, and integrating such interventions into traditional practice. They also note a common mission held by Nielsen et al., themselves, and the SITB research community more broadly: the large-scale reduction of SITBs. Given that national rates of SITBs have never declined appreciably and have been on the rise in recent decades, there is an urgent need for progress toward this goal. However, they also highlight several unsupported or inaccurate assumptions and specific points made by Nielsen et al. that are important to correct for the sake of accuracy and progress in the prediction and prevention of SITBs. These include an overly narrow conceptualization of what constitutes an intervention; an unsupported model of the causes of SITBs and how to best prevent them; an erroneous belief about the iatrogenic effects of SITB stimulus exposure; and inaccuracies in their description of the development, testing, and release of TEC. The authors hope that this brief discussion of the evidence will facilitate progress toward the mission of large-scale reductions in SITBs. (PsycINFO Database Record

Constrained Inversion and Spectral Unmixing in Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography.

Accurate extraction of physical and biochemical parameters from optoacoustic images is often impeded due to the use of unrigorous inversion schemes, incomplete tomographic detection coverage, or other experimental factors that cannot be readily accounted for during the image acquisition and reconstruction process. For instance, inaccurate assumptions in the physical forward model may lead to negative optical absorption values in the reconstructed images. Any artifacts present in the single wavelength optoacoustic images can be significantly aggravated when performing a two-step reconstruction consisting in acoustic inversion and spectral unmixing aimed at rendering the distributions of spectrally distinct absorbers. We investigate a number of algorithmic strategies with non-negativity constraints imposed at the different phases of the reconstruction process. Performance is evaluated in cross-sectional multispectral optoacoustic tomography recordings from tissue-mimicking phantoms and in vivo mice embedded with varying concentrations of contrast agents. Additional in vivo validation is subsequently performed with molecular imaging data involving subcutaneous tumors labeled with genetically expressed iRFP proteins and organ perfusion by optical contrast agents. It is shown that constrained reconstruction is essential for reducing the critical image artifacts associated with inaccurate modeling assumptions. Furthermore, imposing the non-negativity constraint directly on the unmixed distribution of the probe of interest was found to maintain the most robust and accurate reconstruction performance in all experiments.

A-Z of Seismic Failures

Abstract The earthquake research becomes increasingly complex and consequently the building codes too, first of all, because we want to express everything in formulas even where nature does not imagine and regardless of whether investigations are based on inaccurate assumptions. Many doubt if this is the way because this forest of intricacies sometimes make us lose the way and the common sense. The result of this situation, of this confusion, is that, every time, the failures due to earthquakes are multiplied, expressing the increasing distance between the complex investigation and the constructive practice of the day- to- day. This paper shows the many types of failures that can occur in buildings during an earthquake, in this case, the Popayan Earthquake occurred in Colombia in year 1983 (MB =5,5, approximately depth 9 km, duration 16 s, location of hypocenter of Popayan 5km). The photos were taken a day after the quake.

Just Not Like Us: The Interactive Impact of Dimensions of Identity and Race in Attitudes towards Immigration

Since 2009, more Mexicans have been leaving rather than coming to the USA; likewise, illegal immigration from Mexico has declined. Yet, immigration remains a hotly contested issue in the 2016 presidential election, with a seemingly marked increase in anti-immigrant policy and rhetoric, much of which is directed at immigrants from Mexico. In this paper, we seek to explain how individual ethnocultural and civic-based conceptions of what it means to be an American influence attitudes towards immigration. Past theoretical research on national identity has framed the effects of these dimensions as interactive but past empirical work has yet to demonstrate an important interaction between race and ethnocultural identity. Failure to account for these interaction effects has led to inaccurate assumptions about the levels of hostility towards immigrants and how widespread anti-immigrant sentiment really is. We demonstrate a clear interactive effect between identification as white and ethnocultural dimensions of identity and show that this effect has masked the root of the most ardent anti-immigrant sentiment. We also show that while there is a sizeable minority of the population that identifies as both white and have high levels of ethnocultural identity, a majority of Americans prefer to keep immigration levels at the status quo and have an identity that is balanced between ethnoculturalism and civic-based conceptions of identity.

The effect of blood pressure on non-invasive fractional flow reserve derived from coronary computed tomography angiography.

The aim of this study is to assess the effect of blood pressure (BP) on coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) derived computational fractional flow reserve (CTA-FFR). Twenty-one patients who underwent coronary CTA and invasive FFR were retrospectively identified. Ischemia was defined as invasive FFR ≤0.80. Using a work-in-progress computational fluid dynamics algorithm, CTA-FFR was computed with BP measured before CTA, and simulated BPs of 60/50, 90/60, 110/70, 130/80, 150/90, and 180/100mmHg respectively. Correlation between CTA-FFR and invasive FFR was assessed using Pearson test. The repeated measuring test was used for multiple comparisons of CTA-FFR values by simulated BP inputs. Twenty-nine vessels (14 with invasive FFR ≤0.80) were assessed. The average CTA-FFR for measured BP (134 ± 20/73 ± 12mmHg) was 0.77 ± 0.12. Correlation between CTA-FFR by measured BP and invasive FFR was good (r = 0.735, P < 0.001). For simulated BPs of 60/50, 90/60, 110/70, 130/80, 150/90, and 180/100mmHg, the CTA-FFR increased: 0.69 ± 0.13, 0.73 ± 0.12, 0.75 ± 0.12, 0.77 ± 0.11, 0.79 ± 0.11, and 0.81 ± 0.10 respectively (P < 0.05). Measurement of the BP just before CTA is preferred for accurate CTA-FFR simulation. BP variations in the common range slightly affect CTA-FFR. However, inaccurate BP assumptions differing from the patient-specific BP could cause misinterpretation of borderline significant lesions. • The blood pressure (BP) affects the CTA-FFR computation. • Measured BP before CT examination is preferable for accurate CTA-FFR simulation. • Inaccurate BP assumptions can cause misinterpretation of borderline significant lesions.

A Hybrid Pad-Line-Finger De-Embedding Technique for Broadband Modeling of CMOS Transistor

A hybrid cascade series-parallel based de-embedding technique is presented in this letter for accurate broadband modeling of CMOS transistor. Specifically, it relies on a unique set of PAD-LINE test structures to extract line and pad parasitics without any inaccurate lumped assumptions. Additional FINGER OPEN-SHORT structures are used for further removal of interdigital finger parasitics. As compared to others, it is capable of accounting for metal finger parasitics and distributed effects of metal interconnections plus pad simultaneously. The proposed de-embedding technique has been validated on RF parameters of NMOS device for up to 100 GHz. It has been demonstrated to be more physical than conventional de-embedding approaches and previous work in removal of fixture parasitics for up to metal fingers.

Clustering Data Streams Based on Shared Density between Micro-Clusters

As more and more applications produce streaming data, clustering data streams has become an important technique for data and knowledge engineering. A typical approach is to summarize the data stream in real-time with an online process into a large number of so called micro-clusters. Micro-clusters represent local density estimates by aggregating the information of many data points in a defined area. On demand, a (modified) conventional clustering algorithm is used in a second offline step to recluster the micro-clusters into larger final clusters. For reclustering, the centers of the micro-clusters are used as pseudo points with the density estimates used as their weights. However, information about density in the area between micro-clusters is not preserved in the online process and reclustering is based on possibly inaccurate assumptions about the distribution of data within and between micro-clusters (e.g., uniform or Gaussian). This paper describes DBSTREAM, the first micro-cluster-based online clustering component that explicitly captures the density between micro-clusters via a shared density graph. The density information in this graph is then exploited for reclustering based on actual density between adjacent micro-clusters. We discuss the space and time complexity of maintaining the shared density graph. Experiments on a wide range of synthetic and real data sets highlight that using shared density improves clustering quality over other popular data stream clustering methods which require the creation of a larger number of smaller micro-clusters to achieve comparable results.

Assessing the use of an infrared spectrum hyperpixel array imager to measure temperature during additive and subtractive manufacturing.

Accurate non-contact temperature measurement is important to optimize manufacturing processes. This applies to both additive (3D printing) and subtractive (material removal by machining) manufacturing. Performing accurate single wavelength thermography suffers numerous challenges. A potential alternative is hyperpixel array hyperspectral imaging. Focusing on metals, this paper discusses issues involved such as unknown or changing emissivity, inaccurate greybody assumptions, motion blur, and size of source effects. The algorithm which converts measured thermal spectra to emissivity and temperature uses a customized multistep non-linear equation solver to determine the best-fit emission curve. Emissivity dependence on wavelength may be assumed uniform or have a relationship typical for metals. The custom software displays residuals for intensity, temperature, and emissivity to gauge the correctness of the greybody assumption. Initial results are shown from a laser powder-bed fusion additive process, as well as a machining process. In addition, the effects of motion blur are analyzed, which occurs in both additive and subtractive manufacturing processes. In a laser powder-bed fusion additive process, the scanning laser causes the melt pool to move rapidly, causing a motion blur-like effect. In machining, measuring temperature of the rapidly moving chip is a desirable goal to develop and validate simulations of the cutting process. A moving slit target is imaged to characterize how the measured temperature values are affected by motion of a measured target.

Statistical framework for estimating GNSS bias

Abstract. We present a statistical framework for estimating global navigation satellite system (GNSS) non-ionospheric differential time delay bias. The biases are estimated by examining differences of measured line-integrated electron densities (total electron content: TEC) that are scaled to equivalent vertical integrated densities. The spatiotemporal variability, instrumentation-dependent errors, and errors due to inaccurate ionospheric altitude profile assumptions are modeled as structure functions. These structure functions determine how the TEC differences are weighted in the linear least-squares minimization procedure, which is used to produce the bias estimates. A method for automatic detection and removal of outlier measurements that do not fit into a model of receiver bias is also described. The same statistical framework can be used for a single receiver station, but it also scales to a large global network of receivers. In addition to the Global Positioning System (GPS), the method is also applicable to other dual-frequency GNSS systems, such as GLONASS (Globalnaya Navigazionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema). The use of the framework is demonstrated in practice through several examples. A specific implementation of the methods presented here is used to compute GPS receiver biases for measurements in the MIT Haystack Madrigal distributed database system. Results of the new algorithm are compared with the current MIT Haystack Observatory MAPGPS (MIT Automated Processing of GPS) bias determination algorithm. The new method is found to produce estimates of receiver bias that have reduced day-to-day variability and more consistent coincident vertical TEC values.

Determining synaptic parameters using high-frequency activation

BackgroundThe specific properties of a synapse determine how neuronal activity evokes neurotransmitter release. Evaluating changes in synaptic properties during sustained activity is essential to understanding how genetic manipulations and neuromodulators regulate neurotransmitter release. Analyses of postsynaptic responses to high-frequency stimulation have provided estimates of the size of the readily-releasable pool (RRP) of vesicles (N0) and the probability of vesicular release (p) at multiple synapses. New methodHere, we introduce a model-based approach at the calyx of Held synapse in which depletion and the rate of replenishment (R) determine the number of available vesicles, and facilitation leads to a use-dependent increase in p when initial p is low. ResultsWhen p is high and R is low, we find excellent agreement between estimates based on all three methods and the model. However, when p is low or when significant replenishment occurs between stimuli, estimates of different methods diverge, and model estimates are between the extreme estimates provided by the other approaches. Comparison with other methodsWe compare our model-based approach to three other approaches that rely on different simplifying assumptions. Our findings suggest that our model provides a better estimate of N0 and p than previously-established methods, likely due to inaccurate assumptions about replenishment. More generally, our findings suggest that approaches commonly used to estimate N0 and p at other synapses are often applied under experimental conditions that yield inaccurate estimates. ConclusionsCareful application of appropriate methods can greatly improve estimates of synaptic parameters.

Education Research and the Shifting Landscape of the American School District, 1816 to 2016

Despite decades of critiques and scores of innovations designed to abolish or weaken it, the school district remains a central institution of the American educational system. Yet, although the district remains the primary agent of local democratic control and serves as the main unit for educational decisions, relatively little attention has been given to the historical evolution of the school district as an institutional form. Reformers and researchers alike often hold misperceptions and inaccurate assumptions about the nature of the school district’s development, precisely because the district has been understudied. The authors of this chapter offer a first step toward correcting that oversight by broadening our attention span, providing a solid historical overview of how the district has developed over the past two centuries, and exploring how scholars have analyzed districts at different points in our past. They focus on how the definition of what constitutes a school district has changed over time and on how perceptions of what it has meant to be a good or effective district has shifted throughout our history. They argue that the district has never been a static institution, that its changing forms and functions deserve greater recognition, and that conflicts regarding school districts often reflect deep and enduring frictions that are endemic to American social structures.

Implementation, Scheduling, and Adaptation of Partial Expansion Graphs on Multicore Platforms

The dynamic nature of state-of-the-art multicore signal processing systems limits the ability of designers to derive accurate models for the targeted applications. Inaccurate assumptions in the model can lead to inefficient implementations and restrict the runtime re-configuration of these systems. On the other hand, dataflow models have provided powerful techniques to analyze and explore the design space for many classes of signal processing systems. In this context, we develop the Partial Expansion Graph (PEG) as an implementation model where existing dataflow graph analysis is augmented with dynamic adaptation, efficient parallelism utilization, and online reconfiguration based on the measured performance of the targeted applications. In this paper, we develop new methods for scheduling and mapping DSP systems using PEGs. Collectively, these methods tune the amount of data parallelism in the application graph and distribute data- and task-parallel instances over different cores while balancing the load across the available processing units. We enable online adaptation for PEG systems using low-overhead customizable solutions. We demonstrate the utility of our PEG-based scheduling and mapping algorithms through experiments on real application models and various synthetic graphs.

Shallow ice approximation, second order shallow ice approximation, and full Stokes models: A discussion of their roles in palaeo-ice sheet modelling and development

Full Stokes ice sheet models provide the most accurate description of ice sheet flow, and can therefore be used to reduce existing uncertainties in predicting the contribution of ice sheets to future sea level rise on centennial time-scales. The level of accuracy at which millennial time-scale palaeo-ice sheet simulations resolve ice sheet flow lags the standards set by Full Stokes models, especially, when Shallow Ice Approximation (SIA) models are used. Most models used in paleo-ice sheet modeling were developed at a time when computer power was very limited, and rely on several assumptions. At the time there was no means of verifying the assumptions by other than mathematical arguments. However, with the computer power and refined Full Stokes models available today, it is possible to test these assumptions numerically. In this paper, we review (Ahlkrona et al., 2013a) where such tests were performed and inaccuracies in commonly used arguments were found. We also summarize (Ahlkrona et al., 2013b) where the implications of the inaccurate assumptions are analyzed for two paleo-models – the SIA and the SOSIA. We review these works without resorting to mathematical detail, in order to make them accessible to a wider audience with a general interest in palaeo-ice sheet modelling. Specifically, we discuss two implications of relevance for palaeo-ice sheet modelling. First, classical SIA models are less accurate than assumed in their original derivation. Secondly, and contrary to previous recommendations, the SOSIA model is ruled out as a practicable tool for palaeo-ice sheet simulations. We conclude with an outlook concerning the new Ice Sheet Coupled Approximation Level (ISCAL) method presented in Ahlkrona et al. (2016), that has the potential to match the accuracy standards of full Stokes model on palaeo-timescales of tens of thousands of years, and to become an alternative to hybrid models currently used in palaeo-ice sheet modelling. The method is applied to an ice sheet covering Svalbard.

Sample Size Calculation: Inaccurate A Priori Assumptions for Nuisance Parameters Can Greatly Affect the Power of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

We aimed to examine the extent to which inaccurate assumptions for nuisance parameters used to calculate sample size can affect the power of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). In a simulation study, we separately considered an RCT with continuous, dichotomous or time-to-event outcomes, with associated nuisance parameters of standard deviation, success rate in the control group and survival rate in the control group at some time point, respectively. For each type of outcome, we calculated a required sample size N for a hypothesized treatment effect, an assumed nuisance parameter and a nominal power of 80%. We then assumed a nuisance parameter associated with a relative error at the design stage. For each type of outcome, we randomly drew 10,000 relative errors of the associated nuisance parameter (from empirical distributions derived from a previously published review). Then, retro-fitting the sample size formula, we derived, for the pre-calculated sample size N, the real power of the RCT, taking into account the relative error for the nuisance parameter. In total, 23%, 0% and 18% of RCTs with continuous, binary and time-to-event outcomes, respectively, were underpowered (i.e., the real power was < 60%, as compared with the 80% nominal power); 41%, 16% and 6%, respectively, were overpowered (i.e., with real power > 90%). Even with proper calculation of sample size, a substantial number of trials are underpowered or overpowered because of imprecise knowledge of nuisance parameters. Such findings raise questions about how sample size for RCTs should be determined.

Rapid screening of plating additives for bottom-up metallization of nano-scale features

An improved test for rapid determination of the efficacy of additives systems for use in bottom-up copper metallization of micro- and nano-scale features is introduced as a replacement for the classical injection technique. The conventional injection test is based on measuring the polarization response to the injection of an additive into a solution in which a rotating disk electrode is plated at a moderate constant current density of about 10 mA cm−2. The inaccurate assumptions underlying this test and its limitations are discussed. The modified screening technique introduced here is based on the recognition that bottom-up metallization of micro- and nano-scale features is carried out at a constant overpotential where the current density at the inhibited regions of the feature is significantly lower, on the order of 1 mA cm−2. A single polarization measurement at this low current density in an electrolyte containing the tested suppressors is suggested. The suppressors exhibiting the largest overpotentials are considered promising and should be selected for further characterization.

Studying the YMC population of M83: how long clusters remain embedded, their interaction with the ISM and implications for GC formation theories

The study of young massive clusters can provide key information for the formation of globular clusters, as they are often considered analogues. A currently unanswered question in this field is how long these massive clusters remain embedded in their natal gas, with important implications for the formation of multiple populations that have been used to explain phenomena observed in globular clusters. We present an analysis of ages and masses of the young massive cluster population of M83. Through visual inspection of the clusters, and comparison of their SEDs and position in colour-colour space, the clusters are all exposed (no longer embedded) by < 4 Myr, most likely less, indicating that current proposed age spreads within older clusters are unlikely. We also present several methods of constraining the ages of very young massive clusters. This can often be difficult using SED fitting due to a lack of information to disentangle age-extinction degeneracies and possible inaccurate assumptions in the models used for the fitting. The individual morphology of the Halpha around each cluster has a significant effect on the measured fluxes, which contributes to inaccuracies in the age estimates for clusters younger than 10 Myr using SED fitting. This is due to model uncertainties and aperture effects. Our methods to help constrain ages of young clusters include using the near-infrared and spectral features, such as Wolf-Rayet stars.

Microaggressions, Multiculturalism, and Gifted Individuals Who Are Black, Hispanic, or Low Income

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC; 2014) defined gifted individuals as those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains. Domains include any structured area of activity with its own symbol system (e.g., mathematics, music, language) and/or set of sensorimotor skills (e.g., painting, dance, sports), (para. 5) Recognizing gifted students in their area of aptitude, whether academic or sensorimotor, is important for their ongoing talent development and success (Gagne, 2004). However, the success of gifted students in schools does not hinge solely on academics. Gifted students' success is less optimal when their economic, cultural, socioemotional, affective, and developmental needs are ignored, trivialized, or poorly addressed. Therefore, teachers and counselors must understand the unique characteristics of gifted individuals and collaborate to optimize student learning and school success. This collaboration is essential for all gifted learners and is especially vital for gifted students from low-income backgrounds and for gifted students who are culturally different (Ford, 2010). The AC A Code of Ethics (American Counseling Association [ACA]; 2014) outlines the need for cultural competence of counselors, including their awareness of personal biases and their client's cultural worldview. Although cultural competence is typically associated with race or ethnicity, giftedness can also be included as a subculture. Levy and Plucker (2003) argued that gifted students deviate from the majority population and identified parallels between Sue's (2010) Multicultural Competencies Model and gifted students. Furthermore, in the field of gifted education, gifted students differ from their same-age peers in a variety of ways. For example, they have unique characteristics and learning preferences that distinguish them from other learners of their given age (Rogers, 2007). They also differ socially (Peterson, 2009), and this difference increases the higher the student's intelligence and achievement (Gross, 2004). When any individual differs significantly from the general population, whether in beliefs, ability, cultural differences, race/ethnicity, or social status, they may be more susceptible to misunderstanding, a lack of fit, and even microaggressions (Robinson, Zigler, & Gallagher, 2000). Microaggressions as a Framework for Working With Gifted Students A microaggression is any comment, attitude, action, or gesture individuals experience as inappropriate or hurtful based on their personal history and characteristics (Franklin, 1999; Sue, 2010). These microaggressions are brief and commonplace verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial/ethnic slights and insults toward others--most often Blacks, Hispanics, and women. Microaggressions can be intentional or unintentional, can be subtle or overt, and are frequently based on assumptions about race/ethnicity, gender, or income (Valencia, 2010). In recent years, researchers expanded the definition of micro-aggressions to include women (Owen, Tao, & Rodolfa, 2010) and individuals with disabilities (Sue, 2010). Until now, gifted individuals were not included, even though they may feel isolated from their peer groups (Gross, 2004), may be teased for their intelligence and achievement (Ford, 2010), or may feel out of sync with those around them (Robinson et al., 2000). Consequently, their same-age peers may categorize them as different. Comments such as Wow, you are really articulate, You are in the gifted program? or If you are so gifted, then why don't you have straight A's? although intended as harmless, can be viewed as degrading and illustrate inaccurate assumptions about race/ethnicity, cultural differences, and giftedness. …

Interaction between the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Orleans Levee Board preceding the drainage canal wall failures and catastrophic flooding of New Orleans in 2005

The authors hope to correct any premature conclusions about the role of the pre-Katrina Orleans Levee Board (OLB) in the failure of the outfall drainage canals in New Orleans during the 2005 hurricane – conclusions that appear to have been based on inaccurate information and/or assumptions. With regard to the 17th Street and London Avenue Canals, the authors have not uncovered any information that would suggest that the OLB behaved irresponsibly in its duties. What is evident from the project record is that the Army Corps of Engineers recommended raising the canal floodwalls for the 17th Street Canal, but recommended gated structures at the mouths of the Orleans and London Avenue Canals because the latter plan was less expensive. The OLB convinced Congress to pass legislation that required the Corps to raise the floodwalls for all three canals. Furthermore, the Corps, in a separate attempt to limit project costs, initiated a sheet pile load test (E-99 Study), but misinterpreted the results and wrongly concluded that sheet piles needed to be driven to depths of only 17 feet (1 foot = 0.3048 meters) instead of between 31 and 46 feet. That decision saved approximately US$100 million, but significantly reduced overall engineering reliability.