Manipulation-Robust Regression Discontinuity Designs

In regression discontinuity designs, manipulation threatens identification. A known channel of harmful manipulations is precise control over the observed assignment, but this channel is only an example. This study uncovers the only other channel: sample selection by deciding manipulation precisely based on the given assignment status. For example, in the assignment design of a qualification exam, self-selection by allowing test retakes precisely based on failing the exam is a precise decision. This precise decision harms identification without precisely controlling the final assignment. For instance, retaking the test never ensures passage, but it distorts the qualification assignment because some students that failed then pass. However, students that have already passed, never fail. This novel channel redefines the justification for identification. Furthermore, under a new auxiliary condition, McCrary (2008)'s test is able to confirm identification and the existing worst-case bounds are nested within our new bounds. In a replication study, another sample selection by analysts appears critical in the robustness of their original conclusion.Comment: This work has been circulated as "Harmless and Detectable Manipulations of the Running Variable in Regression Discontinuity Designs: Tests and Bounds.

A TVD Scheme using Roe's Flux and the Ambient Boundary Condition

Details of a second-order accurate TVD scheme using the Roe's Riemann solver is described for the three-dimensional Euler equation. The differential equations are discretized using a finite volume formulation. The ambient boundary condition proposed by us is also explained

Joint diagnostic test of regression discontinuity designs: multiple testing problem

Current diagnostic tests for regression discontinuity (RD) design face a multiple testing problem. We find a massive over-rejection of the identifying restriction among empirical RD studies published in top-five economics journals. Each test achieves a nominal size of 5%; however, the median number of tests per study is 12. Consequently, more than one-third of studies reject at least one of these tests and their diagnostic procedures are invalid for justifying the identifying assumption. We offer a joint testing procedure to resolve the multiple testing problem. Our procedure is based on a new joint asymptotic normality of local linear estimates and local polynomial density estimates. In simulation studies, our joint testing procedures outperform the Bonferroni correction

The Osher Upwind Scheme and its Application to Cosmic Gas Dynamics

Details of the second order Osher scheme for the multi-dimensional Euler equation are presented. The adopted method to attain the second order of accuracy differs from the existing second order formulation by Osher. The present method is easy to be implemented and can be applied to other first order upwind schemes. Two types of numerical integration forms are coded. One is written in the integral form (cell method), and the other is the usual finite-difference form. Both forms work well and can capture strong shocks without any auxiliary artificial damping. The integration form strictly satisfies the flux conservation even on geometrical singular coordinate lines, which inevitably appear in three dimensional calculations with bodies embedded. Hydrodynamic calculations of the interaction between a stellar wind and an accretion flow are performed to demonstrate the ability of the present method

Numerical and Experimental Studies on Choked Underexpanded Jets

Axisymmetric underexpanded supersonic jets are investigated numerically and experimentally. A time-dependent technique of solution is applied to solve the Euler equations for a compressible ideal gas. The characteristics of the Mach disk obtained by the numerical calculations are compared with the experiments, and a good agreement is obtained. It is shown that the numerical results are very sensitive to the choice of the boundary conditions imposed on the artificially introduced numerical boundaries. The boundary condition giving the best results is found to be the ambient gas condition. It is shown that the global jet structure with a nearly regular shock pattern, wich is stable and steady itself, is destabilized by the vortex rings (Kelvin-Helmholtz roll-up) on the jet boundary. These vortices produce shocks inside the jet, which are convected downstream with the eddies. This strongly suggests that a time-independent or a time-converged solution cannot be expected without making a suitable time-averaging of the time-dependent solutions

Numerical Simulations of Axisymmetric Flows in Astrophysics and their Visualization by a Video Movie

Numerical simulations of axisymmetric flow in four different astrophysical situations are performed, and their results are visualized by using a video movie. The situations considered are : 1) an accretion flow on to a gravitating compact object allowing maximum accrection ; 2) a jet formation in a flow past a gravitating rigid sphere ; 3) an interaction between a supersonic wind from a central object and a uniform supersonic incident flow ; 4) a wind bubble formed by spherical supersonic wind. The video tape of VHS/NTSC format is available from the author

Soluble Siglec-9 suppresses arthritis in a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model and inhibits M1 activation of RAW264.7 macrophages

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of soluble sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectin (sSiglec)-9 on joint inflammation and destruction in a murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model and in monolayer cultures of murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages) and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) derived from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: DBA/1J mice were immunized with type II collagen. Effects of sSiglec-9 were evaluated using a physiologic arthritis score, histological analysis, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentration, and the proportion of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)-positive regulatory T (Treg) cells. In vivo biofluorescence imaging was used to assess the distribution of sSiglec-9. Levels of M1 (TNF-α, interleukin [IL]-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase) and M2 (CD206, Arginase-1, and IL-10) macrophage markers and phosphorylation of intracellular signaling molecules were examined in macrophages, and levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 were examined in FLS. Results: sSiglec-9 significantly suppressed the clinical and histological incidence and severity of arthritis. The proportion of Foxp3-positive Treg cells significantly improved and serum TNF-α concentration decreased in vivo. Although sSiglec-9 reduced the expression of M1 markers in macrophages, it did not affect the expression of M2 markers and MMPs in FLS. Nuclear factor (NF)-kB p65 phosphorylation was attenuated by sSiglec-9, and chemical blockade of the NF-kB pathway reduced M1 marker expression in RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions: In this study, we have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of sSiglec-9 in a murine CIA model. The mechanism underlying these effects involves the suppression of M1 proinflammatory macrophages by inhibiting the NF-kB pathway. sSiglec-9 may provide a novel therapeutic option for patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to currently available drugs