cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protective mechanisms and acclimation to solar ultraviolet‐B radiation in Oenothera stricta

Abstract Mechanisms of plant protection and acclimation to potentially damaging solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B, 280–320 nm) radiation incident on the Earth's surface were examined in Oenothera stricta. Attenuation of this radiation in the upper leaf epidermis reduces the penetration of UV-B radiation to the mesophyll where damage to physiologically sensitive targets can occur. The epidermis is a highly selective radiation filter that can attenuate up to 95% of the incident UV-B radiation and yet transmit between 70% and 80% of the visible radiation. Exposure to UV-B radiation significantly reduced the degree of epidermal UV-B transmittance by as much as 33%. No significant reduction in epidermal transmittance of visible radiation was observed as a result of UV-B exposure. The plasticity in epidermal UV-B transmittance results from production of flavonoid and related phenolic compounds in the tissue. Absorbance of UV-B radiation in llavonoid extract solutions from epidermal and mesophyll tissues significantly increased by as much as 100% and 35%, respectively, after exposure to UV-B radiation. Photosynthetic rates of leaves exposed to UV-B radiation were not significantly reduced at dose rates representative of the radiation flux found in the habitat of this species, but significant photosynthetic depression was observed at dose rates that exceed the field UV-B flux. The phenotypic plasticity in epidermal UV-B transmittance resulting in decreased penetration of damaging UV-B radiation to the mesophyll may reduce the rate of damage to a level where repair mechanisms can keep pace with reduced injury.
A Study of the Heating of Plaque During an Intravascular Procedure

In invasive techniques such as laser angioplasty and intravascular ultrasonography, there is a source of heat inside the vascular system that is being released/dissipated by the inserted device. The transfer of heat from this source to the plaque deposited on the walls of the artery has been studied numerically. The model considers the transient conduction and the absorption of heat through the plaque. The variation of thermophysical properties is also included in the analysis. It was found that the temperature distribution depends significantly on the type of plaque and the power level. The maximum temperatures at power levels of 0.4, 2,4 and 10 W in calcified plaque were 56.2, 130.8, 223.6 and 502 degrees C respectively. >
Absence of the Thorpe-Ingold Effect by gem-Diphenyl Groups in Ring-Closing Enyne Metathesis.

Abstract In tandem ring-closing metathesis of alkynyl silaketals containing two different tethered olefins, the gem -dimethyl group showed the expected Thorpe–Ingold effect, thereby giving good level of group selectivity. Unexpectedly, however, the corresponding gem -diphenyl group did not show any Thorpe–Ingold effect for the ring-closure reaction.
Catalytic Enantioselective Additions of Indoles to Nitroalkenes

A new design principle that provides access to more active thiourea catalysts is described. Highly enantioselective additions of indoles to nitroalkenes are reported using a new quinolinium thioamide catalyst.
Virtual utility and the core for games with incomplete information

Abstract The core is extended to games with incomplete information. The feasible set is characterized by incentive-compatible mechanisms. Blocking is organized at the interim stage by an incentive-compatible mediation plan. Membership of the blocking coalition itself may be determined randomly by the blocking mediator. Nonemptiness of an interim fine core is proven for games with a balanced structure, independent types, and sidepayments. An offer of severance payments may be needed to inhibit blocking. Core allocations are characterized in terms of virtual-utility scales that generalize the weighted-utility scales of the inner core. Mechanisms that achieve core allocations are coalitionally durable.
Anisotropic metal nanoparticles: Synthesis, assembly, and optical applications

This feature article highlights work from the authors' laboratories on the synthesis, assembly, reactivity, and optical applications of metallic nanoparticles of nonspherical shape, especially nanorods. The synthesis is a seed-mediated growth procedure, in which metal salts are reduced initially with a strong reducing agent, in water, to produce ∼4 nm seed particles. Subsequent reduction of more metal salt with a weak reducing agent, in the presence of structure-directing additives, leads to the controlled formation of nanorods of specified aspect ratio and can also yield other shapes of nanoparticles (stars, tetrapods, blocks, cubes, etc.). Variations in reaction conditions and crystallographic analysis of gold nanorods have led to insight into the growth mechanism of these materials. Assembly of nanorods can be driven by simple evaporation from solution or by rational design with molecular-scale connectors. Short nanorods appear to be more chemically reactive than long nanorods. Finally, optical applica...
Probabilistic analysis of onion routing in a black-box model

We perform a probabilistic analysis of onion routing. The analysis is presented in a black-box model of anonymous communication in the Universally Composable (UC) framework that abstracts the essential properties of onion routing in the presence of an active adversary who controls a portion of the network and knows all a priori distributions on user choices of destination. Our results quantify how much the adversary can gain in identifying users by exploiting knowledge of their probabilistic behavior. In particular, we show that, in the limit as the network gets large, a user u's anonymity is worst either when the other users always choose the destination u is least likely to visit or when the other users always choose the destination u chooses. This worst-case anonymity with an adversary that controls a fraction b of the routers is shown to be comparable to the best-case anonymity against an adversary that controls a fraction √b.
Containment control for a social network with state-dependent connectivity

Social interactions influence our thoughts, opinions and actions. In this paper, social interactions are studied within a group of individuals composed of influential social leaders and followers. Each person is assumed to maintain a social state, which can be an emotional state or an opinion. Followers update their social states based on the states of local neighbors, while social leaders maintain a constant desired state. Social interactions are modeled as a general directed graph where each directed edge represents an influence from one person to another. Motivated by the non-local property of fractional-order systems, the social response of individuals in the network are modeled by fractional-order dynamics whose states depend on influences from local neighbors and past experiences. A decentralized influence method is then developed to maintain existing social influence between individuals (i.e., without isolating peers in the group) and to influence the social group to a common desired state (i.e., within a convex hull spanned by social leaders). Mittag-Leffler stability methods are used to prove the asymptotic convergence of the networked fractional-order system.
Rayleigh-Bénard convection in elliptic and stadium-shaped containers

We report on defect formation in convection patterns of stadium-shaped and elliptical horizontal layers of fluid heated from below (Rayleigh-Benard convection). The fluid was ethanol with a Prandtl number sigma=14.2. The outermost convection roll was forced to be parallel to the sidewall by a supplementary wall heater. The major- and minor-axis aspect ratios Gamma(i)=D(i)/2d, i=1, 2 (D(i) are the major and minor diameter and d the thickness) were 19.4 and 13.0, respectively. For the stadium shape, we found a stable pattern that was reflection-symmetric about the major diameter and had a downflow roll of length L(s) along a large part of this diameter. This roll terminated in two convex disclinations, as expected from theory. No other patterns with the outermost roll parallel to the sidewall were found. The wave numbers of the rolls in the curved sections and L(s) decreased with increasing epsilon identical with DeltaT/DeltaT(c)-1, consistent with a prediction for wave-number selection by curved rolls in an infinite system. At large epsilon, the roll adjacent to the sidewall became unstable due to the cross-roll instability. For the elliptical shape, wave-director frustration yielded a new defect structure predicted by Ercolani et al. Depending on the sample history, three different patterns with the outermost roll parallel to the wall were found. For one, the central downflow roll seen in the stadium was shortened to the point where it resembled a single convection cell. Along much of the major diameter there existed an upflow roll. The new defect structure occurred where the two downflow rolls surrounding the central upflow roll joined. This joint, instead of being smooth as in the stadium case, was angular and created a protuberance pointing outward along the major diameter. We also found a pattern with an upflow roll along the major diameter without the central downflow cell. A third pattern contained a downflow cell, but this cell was displaced by a roll width from the center along a minor diameter. As epsilon increased, the length L(e) between the two protuberances and the wave numbers along the outer parts of the major diameter decreased for all three patterns, analogous to what was found for the stadium. The upper stability limit of these patterns was also set by the cross-roll instability.
Automatic storage and retrieval system control

The Materials Distribution Center (MDC) at IBM Endicott, New York, is a new automated warehousing facility (Figure 1). In addition to the conventional facilities, the warehouse contains an Automatic Storage and Retrieval System (Stacker Cranes), a network of pallet conveyors, and an IBM 1800 Data Acquisition and Control System to control the Automatic Storage and Retrieval System and portions of the conveyors. The warehouse, adjacent to the main manufacturing buildings, is for storage of raw materials, parts, and assemblies.
Pareto and Piketty: The Macroeconomics of Top Income and Wealth Inequality

Abstract Since the early 2000s, research by Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez, and their coauthors has revolutionized our understanding of income and wealth inequality. In this paper, I highlight some of the key empirical facts from this research and comment on how they relate to macroeconomics and to economic theory more generally. One of the key links between data and theory is the Pareto distribution. The paper describes simple mechanisms that give rise to Pareto distributions for income and wealth and considers the economic forces that influence top inequality over time and across countries. For example, it is in this context that the role of the famous r – g expression is best understood.
Optimal advertising and pricing for a three-stage time lagged monopolistic diffusion model incorporating income

A three-stage time-lagged diffusion model that incorporates consumers' income, advertising and price effects is proposed. The derivation of the model synthesizes and relies upon a number of important arguments made in the diffusion and economic literature. Optimal control theory is used to derive normative advertising and pricing strategic implications for a monopolist introducing a new durable product.
Alzheimer's disease: advances in basic research and therapies.

Abstract The fourth meeting of the International Study Group (ISG) on the Pharmacology of Memory Disorders Associated with Aging was held in January 1987, in Zurich, Zwitzerland. The 121 participants of the ISG presented 79 reports over the course of the 2 day conference; these reports represented much of the current state of scientific knowledge in regard to Alzheimer's disease (AD). The presentations were organized as four main topics: (I) Clinical Advances in AD; Chair: Suzanne Corkin (Cambridge, MA), (II) Neurobiology of AD; Chair: John H. Growdon (Boston), (III) Phospholipid Membranes; Chair: Richard J. Wurtman (Cambridge, MA), and (IV) Prospects for Treatment of AD; Chair: David M. Bowen (London). Most of the paper and poster presentations concerned Topics I, II and IV, and reflected an intense research effort using the approaches of genetics, neuroimaging, neuropsychology, anatomy and physiology, neurochemistry, neuropathology and experimental animal research. Topic III appeared on the ISG meeting agenda for the first time and introduced to the conference community some recent findings from basic reserch on phospholipid membranes, emphasizing their potential relevance to the pathogenesis of AD. An overview of the reports presented in each topic follows; poster presentations are designated by a “P” after the authors' names.
The Cancer Diaspora: Metastasis beyond the Seed and Soil Hypothesis

Do cancer cells escape the confinement of their original habitat in the primary tumor or are they forced out by ecologic changes in their home niche? Describing metastasis in terms of a simple one-way migration of cells from the primary to the target organs is an insufficient concept to cover the nuances of cancer spread. A diaspora is the scattering of people away from an established homeland. To date, "diaspora" has been a uniquely human term used by social scientists; however, the application of the diaspora concept to metastasis may yield new biologic insights as well as therapeutic paradigms. The diaspora paradigm takes into account, and models, several variables including: the quality of the primary tumor microenvironment, the fitness of individual cancer cell migrants as well as migrant populations, the rate of bidirectional migration of cancer and host cells between cancer sites, and the quality of the target microenvironments to establish metastatic sites. Ecologic scientific principles can be applied to the cancer diaspora to develop new therapeutic strategies. For example, ecologic traps - habitats that lead to the extinction of a species - can be developed to attract cancer cells to a place where they can be better exposed to treatments or to cells of the immune system for improved antigen presentation. Merging the social science concept of diaspora with ecologic and population sciences concepts can inform the cancer field to understand the biology of tumorigenesis and metastasis and inspire new ideas for therapy.
Fermi Acceleration in a Periodically Driven FERMI-ULAM Model

The dynamics of a particle bouncing between two harmonically vibrating walls is analyzed in the context of the static wall approximation. Fermi acceleration is observed for a wide range of the ratio between the frequencies of the oscillating walls and their relative phases. However, no acceleration is observed if the frequency ratio is an integer. In the phase versus frequency-ratio diagram, the region in which Fermi acceleration is observed is separated by an upper and lower boundary. At the lower boundary, after a large number of collisions, the particle average velocity increases with the square-root of the number of collisions (n) with the walls. Between the lower and upper boundaries, the particle average velocity behaves as V(n) ~ nβ, with β in the interval [0.5, 1.0]. Below and near the lower boundary, the average particle velocity initially grows with the number of collisions until it eventually reaches a plateau. In this region, for a fixed frequency ratio, the velocity of the particle exhibits s...
Rhodium-catalyzed benzylic fluorination of trichloroacetimidates

Abstract Benzylic fluorides were synthesized via rhodium-catalyzed nucleophilic fluorination of benzylic trichloroacetimidates. A variety of naphthyl, phenyl, and pyridinyl trichloroacetimidates were fluorinated with Et 3 N·3HF reagent to provide fluorine-containing compounds in moderate to high yields under mild and operationally simple conditions. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that benzylic fluorination of trichloroacetimidate substrates are more likely to proceed through a discrete benzylic cation, generated by rhodium catalyst.
A mad crowd: Skinhead youth and the rise of nationalism in post-communist Russia

Abstract This paper deals with the emergence of skinhead groups in Russia and the extent to which this subculture has influenced and been influenced by political developments in the country. The research builds on a wide variety of sources in order to explain the complex processes at work that have led to this social phenomenon. I intend to show that these groups signify a fundamental trend in Russian political culture rather than operating on the margins of it, and that they are the result of political reformations in the country and the spread of global capitalism.
Wind Tunnel Pressure Probes: New Calibrations for New Geometries and Flow Environments

Theme K R many years, pitot probes, cone-static probes, and atic probes have been successfully applied to supersonic flows at moderate pressures and temperatures, using wellknown laws of inviscid continuum fluid mechanics to interpret the measurements. However, modern research and development programs in hypersonic flows require that these probes be exposed to test environments containing flow phenomena which are not taken into account by the inviscid continuum equations. To measure the difference between the actual probe response (subscript m) and the "ideal" predictions of the simplified governing equations (subscript /), calibrations must be made over the full range of flow conditions that will be encountered by the probes during subsequent usage. The purpose of this investigation is to present calibrations of various pitot probe geometries for viscous and rarefaction effects and calibrations of static and cone-static probes for viscous interaction effects so that these probes may be used accurately and confidently in high-speed, low-density flows.
SYNTHESIS OF AN N-PORT MATCHING NETWORK

Abstract The paper presents a decomposition technique that synthesizes a multiplexer by realizing individual 2-port equalizers. Using a relationship between a special factorization of the even part of an individual channel input impedance and the desired reflection coefficient, the z-parameters of its augmented 2-port network can be found. Necessary and sufficient conditions for extracting the load impedances from its augmented 2-port network and general design procedures for a multiplexer are given.
Noncommutative algebras associated to complexes and graphs

A new class of noncommutative algebras associated to complexes and graphs is introduced. Algebras associated to one-dimensional complexes are studied.
An embedded energy monitoring circuit for a 128kbit SRAM with body-biased sense-amplifiers

Embedded energy monitoring of critical system components can be used to enable better power management by capturing run time system conditions such as temperature and application load. In this work, an energy sensing circuit that provides digitally represented absolute energy per operation of a 128kbit SRAM is presented. Designed in a 65nm low-power CMOS process, SRAMs can operate down to 370 mV. Energy sensing circuit consumes 16.7μW during sensing at 1.2V (only 0.28% of SRAM active power at the same voltage). For improved performance, SRAMs utilize body-biased PMOS input strong-arm type sense amplifiers that can achieve 45% tighter input offset distribution for only ~3.5% of total SRAM area overhead.
Resonance Lifetimes from Complex Densities

The ab initio calculation of resonance lifetimes of metastable anions challenges modern quantum chemical methods. The exact lifetime of the lowest-energy resonance is encoded into a complex “density” that can be obtained via complex-coordinate scaling. We illustrate this with one-electron examples and show how the lifetime can be extracted from the complex density in much the same way as the ground-state energy of bound systems is extracted from its ground-state density.
A non-alkoxide sol-gel method for the preparation of homogeneous nanocrystalline powders of La0.85Sr0.15MnO3

Homogeneous, nanocrystalline La1-xSrxMnO3 (LSM) powders, with x ∼ 0.15, were synthesized with the epoxide addition sol−gel method. Through this simple technique, sol−gel materials were prepared from methanolic solutions of metal chlorides without the need for alkoxides, polymeric gel agents, or elaborate reaction schemes. The gels were dried in ambient conditions, resulting in mesoporous xerogels with networked nanostructures interconnecting particulate regions. Calcination of the dried gels resulted in the crystallization of single-phase LSM by 700 °C, after decomposition of intermediate hydroxide, chloride, and oxychloride compounds. SEM analysis indicated that the calcined powders were nanocrystalline and consisted of discrete particles, free of hard agglomeration. The average crystallite size and equivalent spherical diameter determined from XRD line broadening and BET analysis, respectively, were in good agreement with the SEM results (∼100 nm). The activation energies for the electronic conductivity...
Suboptimality of the Karhunen-Loeve transform for transform coding

We examine the performance of the Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT) for transform coding applications. The KLT has long been viewed as the best available block transform for a system that orthogonally transforms a vector source, scalar quantizes the components of the transformed vector using optimal bit allocation, and then inverse transforms the vector. This paper treats fixed-rate and variable-rate transform codes of non-Gaussian sources. The fixed-rate approach uses an optimal fixed-rate scalar quantizer to describe the transform coefficients; the variable-rate approach uses a uniform scalar quantizer followed by an optimal entropy code, and each quantized component is encoded separately. Earlier work shows that for the variable-rate case there exist sources on which the KLT is not unique and the optimal quantization and coding stage matched to a "worst" KLT yields performance as much as 1.5 dB worse than the optimal quantization and coding stage matched to a "best" KLT. In this paper, we strengthen that result to show that in both the fixed-rate and the variable-rate coding frameworks there exist sources for which the performance penalty for using a "worst" KLT can be made arbitrarily large. Further, we demonstrate in both frameworks that there exist sources for which even a best KLT gives suboptimal performance. Finally, we show that even for vector sources where the KLT yields independent coefficients, the KLT can be suboptimal for fixed-rate coding.
Enumeration formulas for generalized q-Euler numbers

We find an enumeration formula for a (t,q)-Euler number which is a generalization of the q-Euler number introduced by Han, Randrianarivony, and Zeng. We also give a combinatorial expression for the (t,q)-Euler number and find another formula when t=?qr for any integer r. Special cases of our latter formula include the formula of the q-Euler number recently found by Josuat-Verges and Touchard-Riordan?s formula.
The Influence of Rotation in Radiation-driven Wind from Hot Stars: New Solutions and Disk Formation in Be Stars

The theory of radiation-driven wind including stellar rotation is reexamined. After a suitable change of variables, a new equation for the mass-loss rate is derived analytically. The solution of this equation remains within 1% confidence when compared with numerical solutions. In addition, a nonlinear equation for the position of the critical (singular) point is obtained. This equation shows the existence of an additional critical point besides the standard m-CAK critical point. For a stellar rotation velocity larger than ~0.7-0.8Vbkup, there exists only one critical point, located away from the star's surface. Numerical solutions crossing through this new critical point are attained. In these cases, the wind has a very low terminal velocity and therefore a higher density. Disk formation in Be stars is discussed in the framework of this new line-driven stellar wind solution.
Bridge load and resistance models

The development of rational codes for the design of bridges and evaluation of existing structures requires a knowledge of load and resistance models. This paper deals with the major parameters involved in the design and evaluation. The presented models are based on the available statistical data, material tests, load surveys, lab tests, field tests and simulations. The considered load components include dead load, live load and dynamic load. Resistance models are presented for steel girders (composite and non-composite), reinforced concrete T-beams and prestressed concrete AASHTO type girders.
Gramians, generalized inverses, and the least-squares approximation of optical flow

Abstract This paper deals with the recovery of optical flow, that is to say, with the identification of a vector field, defined on some subset of the image plane, which accounts for the infinitesimal time evolution of the image of a particular object. Our formulation is general in that it allows for the vector field to be expressed as a linear combination of a fixed set of vector fields and it allows the measurements to include (a) the velocity of feature points, (b) the velocity normal to an evolving contour, and/or (c) the velocity tangent to an intensity gradient. The method is based on least squares and an explicit formula for the generalized inverse of a class of integral operators. It involves a gramian whose invertibility is necessary and sufficient for the identification of a unique best-fitting vector field. Various important subcases have been studied earlier and reported in the computer vision literature; the emphasis here is on the systematic development of a general tool.
Virtual retractions, conjugacy separability and omnipotence

We use wreath products to provide criteria for a group to be conjugacy separable or omnipotent. These criteria are in terms of virtual retractions onto cyclic subgroups. We give two applications: a straightforward topological proof of the theorem of Stebe that infinite-order elements of Fuchsian groups (of the first type) are conjugacy distinguished, and a proof that surface groups are omnipotent.
Sarbanes-Oxley 404 material weaknesses and discretionary accruals

Abstract This study investigates whether having a Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 [SOX 404] material weakness allows managers of these companies to manipulate earnings to a greater extent using discretionary accruals than managers of companies with no SOX 404 material weaknesses. The study focuses on a sample of 218 companies that disclosed at least one material weakness in internal control in their 2004 SEC filings. The discretionary accruals of companies with material weaknesses are paired with companies with no material weaknesses reported in their 10K filings during the same time period. We examine the relationship of reported SOX 404 weaknesses with the behavior of discretionary accruals for the overall sample of companies and for discretionary accruals partitioned according to the greatest magnitudes, both positive and negative. The accruals are categorized into three groups: (1) high negative discretionary accruals, (2) high positive discretionary accruals and (3) low discretionary accruals. Our finding for the entire sample of 436 companies indicates that the presence of SOX 404 material weaknesses has a moderate significant negative effect (income-decreasing) on discretionary accruals. However, when the accruals are stratified into high positive, negative and low accruals, the overall findings of the research indicate that the existence of material weaknesses allows for greater manipulation of earnings using discretionary accruals regardless of the direction – income-increasing or income-decreasing.
THE BURNSIDE RING-VALUED MORSE FORMULA FOR VECTOR FIELDS ON MANIFOLDS WITH BOUNDARY

Let G be a compact Lie group and A(G) its Burnside Ring. For a compact smooth n-dimensional G-manifold X equipped with a generic G-invariant vector field v, we prove an equivariant analog of the Morse formula $$ {\rm Ind}^G(v) = \sum_{k = 0}^{n} (-1)^k \chi^G(\partial_{k}^{+}X) $$ which takes its values in A(G). Here IndG(v) denotes the equivariant index of the field v, $\{\partial_{k}^{+}X\}$ the v-induced Morse stratification (see [10]) of the boundary ∂X, and $\chi^G(\partial_{k}^{+}X)$ the class of the (n - k)-manifold $\partial_{k}^{+}X$ in A(G). We examine some applications of this formula to the equivariant real algebraic fields v in compact domains X ⊂ ℝn defined via a generic polynomial inequality. Next, we link the above formula with the equivariant degrees of certain Gauss maps. This link is an equivariant generalization of Gottlieb's formulas ([3, 4]).
Space–Time Block Codes With Symbol-by-Symbol Maximum-Likelihood Detections

This paper presents a new set of quasi-orthogonal space-time block codes (QOSTBCs) with symbol-by-symbol maximum-likelihood (ML) detections for four Tx antennas over quasi-static Rayleigh fading channels. Each of the codes is analytically proved to achieve full transmit diversity and the same coding gains as the rate-1 coordinate-interleaved orthogonal design by individually using their optimal constellation rotations over arbitrary quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) or 4M -phase-shift keying (PSK) constellations. Previous designs are included in the systematic formulation as well. Combining with simulation, the coding loss paying for simplifying the optimal decoders from complex-symbol-pairwise to symbol-by-symbol ML detections is found asymptotically equal to 0.21 dB, for the QOSTBCs achieving full transmit diversity and the optimal coding gains over general QAM constellations.
FINITE INDEX SUBGROUPS OF FULLY RESIDUALLY FREE GROUPS

Using graph-theoretic techniques for f.g. subgroups of Fℤ[t] we provide a criterion for a f.g. subgroup of a f.g. fully residually free group to be of finite index. Moreover, we show that this criterion can be checked effectively. As an application we obtain an analogue of Greenberg–Stallings Theorem for f.g. fully residually free groups, and prove that a f.g. nonabelian subgroup of a f.g. fully residually free group is of finite index in its normalizer and commensurator.
Effects of cold boundary layers on spectroscopic temperature measurements in combustion gas flows

Abstract A study of the effect of cold-wall boundary layers on spectroscopic temperature measurements in combustion gas flows is presented. Numerical calculations are made for the monochromatic and integrated-line reversal and relative intensity methods. For the monochromatic-line reversal method, we have shown that there exists an optimum optical depth for making the measurements, and for which the method gives significantly better results than the integrated-line reversal method. In the case of the relative intensity method, we have shown that there is little advantage in using the specific intensity over the integrated intensity. Several simple expressions for use with the relative intensity method are compared with the numerical calculations.
Novel iterative equalization based on energy-spreading transform

In this paper, novel iterative equalization for intersymbol interference (ISI) channels is proposed. Different from the existing turbo equalization, the proposed one is based on energy-spreading transform (EST), which separates equalization and coding, and therefore works for uncoded systems. The complexity of the proposed scheme is comparable to that of decision-feedback equalization (DFE). However, analytical and simulation results demonstrate that its performance is very close to the matched-filter bound (MFB) when the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is above a threshold.
Future solar neutrino projects

Abstract In the program to determine the intrinsic properties of the neutrinos and their role in physics and astrophysics, solar neutrino experiments are playing a fundamental part. The “first” and “second” generation detectors in the field have been enormously successful and promise to provide still greater contributions. The challenge to create a “third generation” of solar neutrino detectors arises principally from interest in making detailed investigations of the portion of the neutrino spectrum from a few keV to 1.5 MeV. That portion contains fluxes from the p-p and CNO continuum as well as the 7 Be and p-e-p lines. The need to overcome the experimental difficulties presented by working at these low energies have given rise to new ideas for detector technologies. The range of technologies is impressive in its variety and reflects choices of emphasis using real-time and radiochemical methods. In this paper, I present a review of the status of several R & D efforts known to me which are making progress toward providing detectors suitable to meet the various challenges of this low energy region.
The use of the charactron with ERA 1103

The Charactron tube was invented by Joseph T. McNaney and developed by Convair since 1950. The main purpose for installing a Charactron on Convair's ERA 1103 computer was for real time simulation. However, other valuable uses for the Charactron on the 1103 have been found.
Binding energies of excitons in ionic quantum well structures

We have calculated the binding energies of excitons in quantum well structures based on ionic semiconductors by including the electron - hole interactions with the longitudinal optical phonon field. We have taken into account these interactions by using different effective interaction potentials between the electron and the hole as derived by Haken, by Aldrich and Bajaj, and by Pollman and Buttner. We have calculated the binding energies of excitons in several ionic quantum well structures as functions of well width using these effective potentials by following a variational approach. We find that the values of the exciton binding energies calculated using these potentials are always larger than those obtained using a Coulomb potential screened by a static dielectric constant. We compare our results with those of some recent calculations.
Flame wrinkle destruction processes in harmonically forced, laminar premixed flames

Abstract This paper describes numerical and theoretical analyses of the nonlinear dynamics of harmonically forced, stretch-sensitive premixed flames. A key objective of this work is to analyze the relative contributions of kinematic restoration and flame stretch upon the rate at which flame wrinkles, excited by harmonic forcing, are smoothed out. Kinematic restoration is an intrinsically nonlinear process with a two spatial-zone structure, whose amplitude dependence is fundamentally different near and far from the wrinkle excitation source. Flame stretch processes appear even in the small perturbation limit, and smooth out flame wrinkles in thermodiffusively stable mixtures. Which process dominates is a function of the perturbation amplitude, frequency, stretch sensitivity of the mixture, and spatial location. This paper presents computed results illustrating the solution characteristics, as well as key dimensionless parameters controlling the solution based upon a third order perturbation analysis.
Iodide dealkylation of benzyl, PMB, PNB, and t-butyl N-acyl amino acid esters via lithium ion coordination

Abstract Lithium iodide promotes ester dealkylation in compounds containing an amide carbonyl in the γ-position to the ester carbonyl, as is found in N-acyl amino acid esters. Activation of the ester carbonyl via lithium ion coordination is facilitated by aprotic non-polar solvents such as THF and EtOAc. This process is not limited to methyl esters but readily dealkylates benzyl, PMB, PNB, and t-butyl esters and is especially suitable for use with β-lactam esters because of the mild conditions.
Scattering of single spikes

We apply the dressing method to a string solution given by a static string wrapped around the equator of a three-sphere and find that the result is the single spike solution recently discussed in the literature. Further application of the method allows the construction of solutions with multiple spikes. In particular we construct the solution describing the scattering of two single spikes and compute the scattering phase shift. As a function of the dressing parameters, the result is exactly the same as the one for the giant magnon, up to non-logarithmic terms. This suggests that the single spikes should be described by an integrable spin chain closely related to the one associated to the giant magnons. The field theory interpretation of such spin chain however is still unclear.
Cardiovascular simulation study of infants with transposition of the great arteries after surgical correction

Abstract After the Mustard operation in infants for transposition of the great arteries (TGA), unusually contoured pressure waveforms are observed. We studied this phenomenon by devising a pressure-flow model of the infant circulation into which was incorporated a model of the Mustard operation. This latter model dealt in particular with pressure coupling across the initially flexible baffle material used to repartition the atria and also with the changes in coupling which occur as the baffle material stiffens. The models were implemented on a hybrid computer system. A reasonable approximation to the unusual waveforms observed clinically was found during simulation experiments. The model has given us new insight into the physiological consequences of the Mustard operation and has yielded a reasonable hypothesis for explaining the clinical observations.
Cohomological approach to asymptotic dimension

We introduce the notion of asymptotic cohomology based on the bounded cohomology and define cohomological asymptotic dimension asdim Z X of metric spaces. We show that it agrees with the asymptotic dimension asdim X when the later is finite. Then we use this fact to construct an example of a metric space X of bounded geometry with finite asymptotic dimension for which asdim(X × R) = asdim X. In particular, it follows for this example that the coarse asymptotic dimension defined by means of Roe’s coarse cohomology is strictly less than its asymptotic dimension.
The Protein C Pathway

The protein C anticoagulant pathway serves as a major system for controlling thrombosis, limiting inflammatory responses, and potentially decreasing endothelial cell apoptosis in response to inflammatory cytokines and ischemia. The essential components of the pathway involve thrombin, thrombomodulin, the endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR), protein C, and protein S. Thrombomodulin binds thrombin, directly inhibiting its clotting and cell activation potential while at the same time augmenting protein C (and thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor [TAFI]) activation. Furthermore, thrombin bound to thrombomodulin is inactivated by plasma protease inhibitors > 20 times faster than free thrombin, resulting in increased clearance of thrombin from the circulation. The inhibited thrombin rapidly dissociates from thrombomodulin, regenerating the anticoagulant surface. Thrombomodulin also has direct anti-inflammatory activity, minimizing cytokine formation in the endothelium and decreasing leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion. EPCR augments protein C activation approximately 20-fold in vivo by binding protein C and presenting it to the thrombin-thrombomodulin activation complex. Activated protein C (APC) retains its ability to bind EPCR, and this complex appears to be involved in some of the cellular signaling mechanisms that down-regulate inflammatory cytokine formation (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6). Once APC dissociates from EPCR, it binds to protein S on appropriate cell surfaces where it inactivates factors Va and VIIIa, thereby inhibiting further thrombin generation. Clinical studies reveal that deficiencies of protein C lead to microvascular thrombosis (purpura fulminans). During severe sepsis, a combination of protein C consumption, protein S inactivation, and reduction in activity of the activation complex by oxidation, cytokine-mediated down-regulation, and proteolytic release of the activation components sets in motion conditions that would favor an acquired defect in the protein C pathway, which in turn favors microvascular thrombosis, increased leukocyte adhesion, and increased cytokine formation. APC has been shown clinically to protect patients with severe sepsis. Protein C and thrombomodulin are in early stage clinical trials for this disease, and each has distinct potential advantages and disadvantages relative to APC.
Asymmetric information and the electoral momentum of public opinion polls

This paper demonstrates that the existence of public opinion polls amplifies the effects of shifts in the distribution of the public's preferences over the issue space on the election's results. Voters evaluate candidates by their positions on the issue space and by a valence or general ability dimension. Some individual's (the informed) have more precise information about the relative abilities of candidates than others (the uninformed). Since public opinion polls reflect the information of the informed, high approval for a candidate at the polls signals to the uninformed that he is more likely to be abler. However, high approval may also reflect changes in the distribution of the public on the issue space. As a result the uninformed partly confuse the two effects and public opinion polls tend to reinforce the effects of shifts in the public's ideological preferences on election results. A shift to the right that shows up as more support for the right-wing candidate at the polls is partly interpreted as a higher efficiency of this candidate. As a result he wins with a higher margin than the margin he would have won with in the absence of polls or under perfect information.
Fractional Statistics and the Quantum Hall Effect

The statistics of quasiparticles entering the quantum Hall effect are deduced from the adiabatic theorem. These excitations are found to obey fractional statistics, a result closely related to their fractional charge.
Maximal multilinear operators

We establish multilinear L P bounds for a class of maximal multilinear averages of functions of one variable, reproving and generalizing the bilinear maximal function bounds of Lacey (2000). As an application we obtain almost everywhere convergence results for these averages, and in some cases we also obtain almost everywhere convergence for their ergodic counterparts on a dynamical system.
Tricyclic cyanoguanidines: synthesis, site of action and insecticidal activity of a novel class of reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Abstract Bridged-tricyclic cyanoguanidines 1 were found to be active as insecticides. The preparation and structure–activity relationships of oxacyclic (X=O) and carbocyclic (X=CH2) analogues of 1 is described. Compounds 1 were found to inhibit acetylcholinesterase with IC50 values comparable to the organophosphate Paraoxon. Unlike organophosphates, cyanoguanidines 1 were shown to reversibly bind acetylcholinesterase. This mode of action is shared by the structurally-related natural product Huperzine A.
Quasitransitive social preference: why some very large coalitions have very little power

If only the strict part of social preference is required to be transitive then Independence of Irrelevant Alternatives implies that there is a coalition containing all but one individual that cannot force x to be socially ranked above y for at least half of the pairs of alternatives (x,y).
Recent developments in synthetic approaches to transition metal phosphide nanoparticles for magnetic and catalytic applications

Recent advances in synthetic methods have led to the preparation of a wide array of transition metal phosphide nanoparticles, and characterization of these materials has provided insight into nanoscale magnetic and catalytic properties. This review highlights advances in the field that have been made since the time of the last review [S.L. Brock, S.C. Perera, K.L. Stamm, Chem. Eur. J. 10(2004)3364–3371]. Synthetic methods include solvothermal, solution-phase arrested precipitation, metal nanoparticle conversion, and phosphate reduction. Magnetic properties of FeP, Fe2P and MnP nanoparticles and nanorods (among others), and recent data on thiophene hydrodesulfurization catalyzed by discrete, unsupported Ni2P particles, is presented. Finally, the future prospects for the field are discussed.
Synthesis from component libraries

Synthesis is the automated construction of a system from its specification. In the classical temporal synthesis algorithms, it is always assumed the system is “constructed from scratch” rather than “composed” from reusable components. This, of course, rarely happens in real life. In real life, almost every non-trivial commercial system, either in hardware or in software system, relies heavily on using libraries of reusable components. Furthermore, other contexts, such as web-service orchestration, can be modeled as synthesis of a system from a library of components. In this work, we define and study the problem of LTL synthesis from libraries of reusable components. We define two notions of composition: data-flow composition, for which we prove the problem is undecidable, and control-flow composition, for which we prove the problem is 2EXPTIME-complete. As a side benefit, we derive an explicit characterization of the information needed by the synthesizer on the underlying components. This characterization can be used as a specification formalism between component providers and integrators.
Facsimile image coding

Facsimile image coding has recently received a lot of attention because of the standardization work being done in this area by the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT). In November, 1977, CCITT Study Group XIV standardized a one-dimensional data compression scheme for facsimile images. Two years later this standard was incorporated in a recommended two-dimensional coding scheme.
Computational geometry column 45

The algorithm of Edelsbrunner for surface reconstruction by "wrapping" a set of points in ℝ3 is described.
The challenge to patent law of pure chemical protein synthesis.

The emergence of pure chemical protein synthesis as a commercially viable method of drug design and production will create serious problems in the patent system.
Planet-Disk Symbiosis

Planets form in disks around young stars. Interactions with these disks cause them to migrate and thus affect their final orbital periods. We suggest that the connection between planets and disks may be deeper and involve a symbiotic evolution. By contributing to the outward transport of angular momentum, planets promote disk accretion. Here we demonstrate that planets sufficiently massive to open gaps could be the primary agents driving disk accretion. Those having masses below the gap opening threshold drift inward more rapidly than the disk material and can only play a minor role in its accretion. An even more intimate symbiosis involving gap opening planets may result if they acquire most of their mass prior to gap formation. Given a small initial eccentricity, just a fraction of a percent, the orbital eccentricity of a massive planet may grow rapidly once a mass in excess of the planet's mass has been repelled to form a gap around the planet's orbit. Then, as the planet's radial excursions approach the gap's width, subsequent eccentricity growth slows so that the planet's orbit continues to be confined within the gap.