6,499 research outputs found
The modeling of medical expenditure data from a longitudinal survey using the generalized method of moments (GMM) approach
Medical expenditure data analysis has recently become an important problem in biostatistics. These data typically have a number of features making their analysis rather difficult. Commonly, they are heavily right-skewed, contain a large percentage of zeros, and often exhibit large numbers of missing observations because of death and/or the lack of follow-up. They are also commonly obtained from records that are linked to large longitudinal data surveys. In this manuscript, we suggest a novel approach to modeling these data through the use of generalized method of moments estimation procedure combined with appropriate weights that account for both dropout due to death and the probability of being sampled from among the National Long Term Care Survey (NLTCS) subjects. This approach seems particularly appropriate because of the large number of subjects relative to the length of observation period (in months). We also use a simulation study to compare our proposed approach with and without the use of weights. The proposed model is applied to medical expenditure data obtained from the 2004-2005 NLTCS-linked Medicare database. The results suggest that the amount of medical expenditures incurred is strongly associated with higher number of activities of daily living (ADL) disabilities and self-reports of unmet need for help with ADL disabilities
Density-Polarization Functional Theory of the response of a periodic insulating solid to an electric field.
The response of an infinite, periodic, insulating, solid to an
infinitesimally small electric field is investigated in the framework of
Density Functional Theory. We find that the applied perturbing potential is not
a unique functional of the periodic density change~: it depends also on the
change in the macroscopic {\em polarization}. Moreover, the dependence of the
exchange-correlation energy on polarization induces an exchange-correlation
electric field. These effects are exhibited for a model semiconductor. We also
show that the scissor-operator technique is an approximate way of bypassing
this polarization dependence.Comment: 11 pages, 1 Fig
Zero-range process with open boundaries
We calculate the exact stationary distribution of the one-dimensional
zero-range process with open boundaries for arbitrary bulk and boundary hopping
rates. When such a distribution exists, the steady state has no correlations
between sites and is uniquely characterized by a space-dependent fugacity which
is a function of the boundary rates and the hopping asymmetry. For strong
boundary drive the system has no stationary distribution. In systems which on a
ring geometry allow for a condensation transition, a condensate develops at one
or both boundary sites. On all other sites the particle distribution approaches
a product measure with the finite critical density \rho_c. In systems which do
not support condensation on a ring, strong boundary drive leads to a condensate
at the boundary. However, in this case the local particle density in the
interior exhibits a complex algebraic growth in time. We calculate the bulk and
boundary growth exponents as a function of the system parameters
The TWA 3 Young Triple System: Orbits, Disks, Evolution
We have characterized the spectroscopic orbit of the TWA 3A binary and
provide preliminary families of probable solutions for the TWA 3A visual orbit
as well as for the wide TWA 3A--B orbit. TWA 3 is a hierarchical triple located
at 34 pc in the 10 Myr old TW Hya association. The wide component
separation is 1."55; the close pair was first identified as a possible binary
almost 20 years ago. We initially identified the 35-day period orbital solution
using high-resolution infrared spectroscopy which angularly resolved the A and
B components. We then refined the preliminary orbit by combining the infrared
data with a re-analysis of our high-resolution optical spectroscopy. The
orbital period from the combined spectroscopic solution is 35 days, the
eccentricity is 0.63, and the mass ratio is 0.84; although this
high mass ratio would suggest that optical spectroscopy alone should be
sufficient to identify the orbital solution, the presence of the tertiary B
component likely introduced confusion in the blended optical spectra. Using
millimeter imaging from the literature, we also estimate the inclinations of
the stellar orbital planes with respect to the TWA 3A circumbinary disk
inclination and find that all three planes are likely misaligned by at least
30 degrees. The TWA 3A spectroscopic binary components have spectral
types of M4.0 and M4.5; TWA 3B is an M3. We speculate that the system formed as
a triple, is bound, and that its properties were shaped by dynamical
interactions between the inclined orbits and disk.Comment: Accepted to Ap
Exact Kohn-Sham exchange kernel for insulators and its long-wavelength behavior
We present an exact expression for the frequency-dependent Kohn-Sham
exact-exchange (EXX) kernel for periodic insulators, which can be employed for
the calculation of electronic response properties within time-dependent (TD)
density-functional theory. It is shown that the EXX kernel has a
long-wavelength divergence behavior of the exact full exchange-correlation
kernel and thus rectifies one serious shortcoming of the adiabatic
local-density approximation and generalized-gradient approximations kernels. A
comparison between the TDEXX and the GW-approximation-Bethe-Salpeter-equation
approach is also made.Comment: two column format 6 pages + 1 figure, to be publisehd in Physical
Review
Born Effective Charges and Infrared Response of LiBC
Calculations of the zone center optical mode frequencies (including LO-TO
splitting), Born effective charges Z for each atom,
dielectric constants and , and the dielectric
response in the infrared, using density functional linear response theory, are
reported. Calculated Raman modes are in excellent agreement with experimental
values (170 cm and 1170 cm), while it will require better
experimental data to clarify the infrared active mode frequencies. The Born
effective charges Z (i) have surprisingly different values
for B and C, and (ii) show considerable anisotropy. Relationships between the
effective charges and LO-TO splitting are discussed, and the predicted
reflectivity in the range 0 -- 1400 cm is presented. These results hold
possible implications for Li removal in LiBC, and C substition for B in
MgB.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Reflection Symmetry and Quantized Hall Resistivity near Quantum Hall Transition
We present a direct numerical evidence for reflection symmetry of
longitudinal resistivity and quantized Hall resistivity
near the transition between quantum Hall state and insulator, in accord
with the recent experiments. Our results show that a universal scaling behavior
of conductances, and , in the transition regime
decide the reflection symmetry of and quantization of ,
independent of particle-hole symmetry. We also find that in insulating phase
away from the transition region deviates from the quantization and
diverges with .Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures; figure 4 is replace
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