cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nickel-Catalyzed Activation of Acyl C-O Bonds of Methyl Esters.

We report the first catalytic method for activating the acyl C-O bonds of methyl esters through an oxidative-addition process. The oxidative-addition adducts, formed using nickel catalysis, undergo in situ trapping to provide anilide products. DFT calculations are used to support the proposed reaction mechanism, to understand why decarbonylation does not occur competitively, and to elucidate the beneficial role of the substrate structure and the Al(OtBu)3 additive on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the reaction.
Learning binary features online from motion dynamics for incremental loop-closure detection and place recognition

This paper proposes a simple yet effective approach to learn visual features online for improving loop-closure detection and place recognition, based on bag-of-words frameworks. The approach learns a codeword in the bag-of-words model from a pair of matched features from two consecutive frames, such that the codeword has temporally-derived perspective invariance to camera motion. The learning algorithm is efficient: the binary descriptor is generated from the mean image patch, and the mask is learned based on discriminative projection by minimizing the intra-class distances among the learned feature and the two original features. A codeword is generated by packaging the learned descriptor and mask, with a masked Hamming distance defined to measure the distance between two codewords. The geometric properties of the learned codewords are then mathematically justified. In addition, hypothesis constraints are imposed through temporal consistency in matched codewords, which improves precision. The approach, integrated in an incremental bag-of-words system, is validated on multiple benchmark data sets and compared to state-of-the-art methods. Experiments demonstrate improved precision/recall outperforming state of the art with little loss in runtime.
Expression of transcription regulating genes in human preimplantation embryos

Utilizing a sensitive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay system, the time course of mRNA expression of two transcription regulators, OCT4 and OCT6, was assessed in individual preimplantation human embryos. Examination of ova with three pronuclei and 1-cell through blastocyst stage embryos revealed that OCT4 mRNA was continuously expressed between the time of fertilization and 10+ cell stages, whereas OCT6 mRNA expression was not observed until the 10+ cell stage. The difference in the time of expression of OCT4 mRNA and OCT6 mRNA indicates that the two genes play differential roles in human embryogenesis. Nucleotide sequence homology for OCT4 and OCT6 among mammalian organisms supports the concept that genetic elements determining developmental events during embryogenesis are conserved in evolution.
Retraction Note: Decompressive craniectomy without durotomy for traumatic coma and uncontrollable intracranial hypertension

The Publisher has retracted this article [1] because it appears that the authors did not obtain the necessary consent to publish their case details from the patients described. The article is no longer available online in order to protect the patients’ privacy. Darlene Lobel has agreed to retraction, Daniel Miller could not be reached by the journal for comment on the retraction.
Identification and Monitoring of Turbo Rotors in Active Magnetic Bearings

In turbomachinery application Active Magnetic Bearings (AMB) have become an interesting alternative to conventional bearings. They not only offer an excellent solution to suspend the rotor, but also allow for sophisticated real-time data acquisition and monitoring with no additional hardware within the machine.The present paper describes a digital controller environment for active magnetic bearing systems. The controller computer consists of a digital signal processor board with a fast parallel link to a PC. Special software has been developed to directly interfaces the control program to the software package MATLAB1 which is used on the host computer for data processing, identification and controller layout. These facilities are used to achieve time and frequency domain measurements for fast on-site tuning and data monitoring. Different examples are presented to demonstrate these powerful tools. Possible procedure for future system identification are discussed.© 1994 ASME
Mechanism design via optimal transport

Optimal mechanisms have been provided in quite general multi-item settings [Cai et al. 2012b, as long as each bidder's type distribution is given explicitly by listing every type in the support along with its associated probability. In the implicit setting, e.g. when the bidders have additive valuations with independent and/or continuous values for the items, these results do not apply, and it was recently shown that exact revenue optimization is intractable, even when there is only one bidder [Daskalakis et al. 2013]. Even for item distributions with special structure, optimal mechanisms have been surprisingly rare [Manelli and Vincent 2006] and the problem is challenging even in the two-item case [Hart and Nisan 2012]. In this paper, we provide a framework for designing optimal mechanisms using optimal transport theory and duality theory. We instantiate our framework to obtain conditions under which only pricing the grand bundle is optimal in multi-item settings (complementing the work of [Manelli and Vincent 2006]), as well as to characterize optimal two-item mechanisms. We use our results to derive closed-form descriptions of the optimal mechanism in several two-item settings, exhibiting also a setting where a continuum of lotteries is necessary for revenue optimization but a closed-form representation of the mechanism can still be found efficiently using our framework.
Embedding Formulations and Complexity for Unions of Polyhedra

It is well known that selecting a good mixed-integer programming (MIP) formulation is crucial for effectively obtaining a solution with state-of-the art solvers. Although best practices and guidelines for constructing good formulations abound, there is rarely a single systematic construction approach that leads to the best possible formulation. Here, we introduce embedding formulations and complexity as a new MIP formulation paradigm for systematically constructing formulations for disjunctive constraints that are optimal with respect to size. More specifically, they yield the smallest possible ideal formulation (i.e., one whose LP relaxation has integral extreme points) among all formulations that only use 0-1 auxiliary variables. We use the paradigm to characterize optimal formulations for special ordered sets of type 2 and certain piecewise linear functions of two variables. We also show that the resultant formulations can provide a significant computational advantage over all known formulations for pi...
Path Finding in Stochastic Time Varying Networks with Spatial and Temporal Correlations for Heterogeneous Travelers

This paper studies the path finding problem in stochastic networks with known travel time distributions on each link of the network, in the presence of spatial and temporal travel time correlations. As a result of traffic dynamics and the decisions of network users, distributions with different characteristics can be observed for the link travel time at different time intervals. Considering correlations in a dynamic stochastic network and applying simulation-based realistic travel time distributions and correlations in the path finding problem in stochastic networks are the main contributions of this study. Two reliability-based optimal path finding problems were considered: the shortest path problem with on-time arrival probability and the minimum travel time budget path problem. For each problem, user heterogeneity can be considered in the developed approach, as users are allowed to have different preferences for travel time reliability. Solution algorithms for both problems were implemented and tested ...
Comparison of Supervised Classification Techniques for Vision-Based Pavement Crack Detection

In this study, the application of four classification techniques for computer vision–based pavement crack detection systems was investigated. The classification methods—artificial neural network (ANN), decision tree, k–nearest neighbor, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS)—were selected on the basis of the complexity and clarity of their procedures. These methods were evaluated for (a) prediction performance, (b) computation time, (c) stability of results for highly imbalanced data sets, (d) stability of the classifiers’ performance for pavements in different deterioration stages, and (e) interpretability of results and clarity of the procedure. According to the results, the ANN and ANFIS methods not only provide superior performance but also are more flexible and compatible for the crack detection application. The ANFIS method is called a “white-box classifier,” and the inferred knowledge from its membership functions can be used to characterize the imagery properties of detected image compo...
Biphasic alterations in coronary smooth muscle Ca2+ regulation in a repeat cross-sectional study of coronary artery disease severity in metabolic syndrome

Abstract Background and aims Coronary artery disease (CAD) is progressive, classified by stages of severity. Alterations in Ca 2+ regulation within coronary smooth muscle (CSM) cells in metabolic syndrome (MetS) have been observed, but there is a lack of data in relatively early (mild) and late (severe) stages of CAD. The current study examined alterations in CSM Ca 2+ regulation at several time points during CAD progression. Methods MetS was induced by feeding an excess calorie atherogenic diet for 6, 9, or 12 months and compared to age-matched lean controls. CAD was measured with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Intracellular Ca 2+ was assessed with fura-2. Results IVUS revealed that the extent of atherosclerotic CAD correlated with the duration on atherogenic diet. Fura-2 imaging of intracellular Ca 2+ in CSM cells revealed heightened Ca 2+ signaling at 9 months on diet, compared to 6 and 12 months, and to age-matched lean controls. Isolated coronary artery rings from swine fed for 9 months followed the same pattern, developing greater tension to depolarization, compared to 6 and 12 months (6 months = 1.8 ± 0.6 g, 9 months = 5.0 ± 1.0 g, 12 months = 0.7 ± 0.1 g). CSM in severe atherosclerotic plaques showed dampened Ca 2+ regulation and decreased proliferation compared to CSM from the wall. Conclusions These CSM Ca 2+ regulation data from several time points in CAD progression and severity help to resolve the controversy regarding up- vs . down-regulation of CSM Ca 2+ regulation in previous reports. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that alterations in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ contribute to progression of atherosclerotic CAD in MetS.
Role of Sterically Demanding Chiral Dirhodium Catalysts in Site-Selective C–H Functionalization of Activated Primary C–H Bonds

The influence of sterically demanding dirhodium tetracarboxylate catalysts on the site selectivity of C–H functionalization by means of rhodium carbene-induced C–H insertion is described. The established dirhodium tetraprolinate-catalyzed reactions of aryldiazoacetates cause preferential C–H functionalization of secondary C–H bonds as a result of competing steric and electronic effects. The sterically more demanding dirhodium tetrakis(triarylcyclopropanecarboxylate) catalysts, exemplified by dirhodium tetrakis[(R)-(1-(biphenyl)-2,2-diphenylcyclopropanecarboxylate)] [Rh2(R-BPCP)4], favor C–H functionalization of activated primary C–H bonds. Highly site-selective and enantioselective C–H functionalization of a variety of simple substrates containing primary benzylic, allylic, and methoxy C–H bonds was achieved with this catalyst. The utility of this approach has been demonstrated by the late-stage primary C–H functionalization of (−)-α-cedrene and a steroid.
Numerical Investigations on Quasi Steady-State Model for Voltage Stability: Limitations and Nonlinear Analysis ✩

In this paper, several numerical examples to illustrate limitations of Quasi Steady-State (QSS) model in long-term voltage stability analysis are presented. In those cases, the QSS model provided incorrect stability assessment. Causes of failure of the QSS model are explained and analyzed in nonlinear system framework. Sufficient conditions of the QSS model for correct approximation are suggested.
Fluorescence-based fibre optic arrays: a universal platform for sensing.

Optical fibres provide a universal sensing platform as they are easily integrated with a multitude of different sensing schemes. Such schemes enable the preparation of a multitude of sensors from relatively straightforward pH sensors, to more complex ones, including artificial olfaction sensors, high-density oligonucleotide arrays, and high-throughput cell-based arrays. Imaging fibre bundles comprised of thousands of fused optical fibres are the basis for an optically connected, individually addressable parallel sensing platform. Fibre optic imaging bundles possess miniature feature sizes (3–10 micron diameter fibres), allowing high-density sensor packing (∼2 × 107 sensors per cm2). Imaging fibre bundles transmit coherent images enabling combined imaging and sensing, relating the responses monitored by the sensor to observable physical changes. The individual fibre cores can also be selectively etched to form a high-density microwell array capable of housing complementary sized microsensors. The miniature feature sizes facilitate a faster response and more sensitive measurement capabilities. The platform is extremely versatile in its sensing design, allowing the sensing scheme to be tailored to fit the experimental design, whether for monitoring single analytes or more complex multiplexed assays. A number of sensing schemes and applications are described in this review.
A product study of the gas-phase reaction of methacrolein with the OH radical in the presence of NOx

The gas-phase reaction of methacrolein with the OH radical, in the presence of NOx, was investigated at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air. Hydroxyacetone, methylglyoxal, a peroxyacyl nitrate identified as CH2 C(CH3)C(O)OONO2 (peroxymethacryloyl nitrate), formaldehyde, CO, and CO2 were observed to be the major products. The product yield data for these compounds show that OH radical addition to the >C C< bond accounts for ca. 50% of the overall reaction, with the remaining ca. 50% proceeding via H—atom abstraction from the CHO group. The data suggest that the alkoxy radical formed following the addition of OH to the terminal carbon atom, decomposes primarily to give the formyl radical plus hydroxyacetone. A lower limit ratio of 5: 1 has been estimated for OH radical addition to the terminal carbon atom of the double bond relative to addition on the inner carbon atom.
On the Decadal Trend of Global Mean Sea Level and Its Implication on Ocean Heat Content Change

The variability of the trend of the global mean sea level (GMSL) on decadal scales is of great importance to understand the long-term evolution of the GMSL. Trend determination is affected by the temporally correlated processes in the record, which have often not been properly accounted for in previous studies. The problem is treated here as one of optimal estimation weighted by the auto-covariance of the time series, which takes into account the various underlying time scales affecting trend estimation. On decadal scales, the estimated standard error of the trend determined from the GMSL record from radar altimetry is about 0.3 mm/yr, which is comparable to the widely quoted 0.4 mm/yr systematic error and cannot be neglected in the error budget. The time scale of the systematic errors is assumed to be much longer than decadal scale, over which the formal error of the trend estimate becomes dominant. The approach is also applied to determining steric sea level from altimeter-measured sea level and ocean mass estimated from the GRACE observations. The estimated trend error of steric sea level, 0.12 mm/yr, suggests that the change of the global ocean heat content over decadal scales can be estimated from space observations to an accuracy on the order of 0.1 W/m2. The difference between the steric sea level, estimated from Argo plus the estimated contribution from the deep ocean, and that from altimeter and GRACE, 0.18 +/- 0.25 mm/yr, provides an estimate of the combined systematic errors of altimetry minus GRACE observations over the 10 year time span of overlapping Argo and GRACE data.
The Precipitin Reaction of Fibrinogen

Comparatively little attention has been paid to fibrinogen in immunologic work. On account of its antibodies and being itself antigenic, the immunologist has interested himself especially in the serum and its proteins. Our ideas about antigenic animal specificness have developed mainly on the basis of the species limitations of the immune reactions of serum and its constituents. The question whether fibrinogen follows the same rule as other blood proteins has not been raised until recently. Nolf 1 observed that the serum of rabbits injected with chicken plasma caused instant precipitation when mixed with chicken serum. To study fibrinolysis, Camus2 injected rabbits with powdered dog fibrin. The serum of the rabbits did not dissolve fibrin, but caused precipitation in the fibrin suspension, in dog serum, and in solution of dog fibrin ferment. And the serum of rabbits injected with dog serum precipitated dog serum and fibrin suspension. Bordet and Gengou,3 in their study of anticoagulant serums, found that the serum of guineapigs immunized with rabbit plasma not only neutralized fibrin ferment in rabbit serum, but also caused flocculation without coagulation in rabbit plasma. This antiserum had a certain effect on fibrinogen, but like the antifibrinogen serum of Camus, it was not fibrinolytic. As the antiserum neutralized the fibrin ferment in other serums than rabbit, it was suggested that fibrin ferment is not species-specific. Gengou 4 next showed that, in rabbits, horse fibrinogen prepared by Hammarsten's method changed the serum so that it produced an immediate and copious precipitate in the fibrinogen solution. Interest in the antigenic properties of fibrinogen now became latent. In 1912 Bauer and Engel5 report that beef and swine fibrinogens, prepared by Heubener's modification of Hammarsten's method, by comple-
3‐D depth migration via mcClellan transformations

Three‐dimensional seismic wavefields may be extrapolated in depth, one frequency at a time, by two‐dimensional convolution with a circularly symmetric, frequency‐ and velocity‐dependent filter. This depth extrapolation, performed for each frequency independently, lies at the heart of 3-D finite‐difference depth migration. The computational efficiency of 3-D depth migration depends directly on the efficiency of this depth extrapolation. McClellan transformations provide an efficient method for both designing and implementing two‐dimensional digital filters that have a particular form of symmetry, such as the circularly symmetric depth extrapolation filters used in 3-D depth migration. Given the coefficients of one‐dimensional, frequency‐ and velocity‐dependent filters used to accomplish 2-D depth migration, McClellan transformations lead to a simple and efficient algorithm for 3-D depth migration. 3-D depth migration via McClellan transformations is simple because the coefficients of two‐dimensional depth ...
Late-Stage Functionalization of 1,2-Dihydro-1,2-azaborines via Regioselective Iridium-Catalyzed C-H Borylation: The Development of a New N,N-Bidentate Ligand Scaffold.

The first general late-stage functionalization of monocyclic 1,2-azaborines at the C(6) position is described. Ir-catalyzed C–H borylation occurs regioselectively at the C(6) position of B-substituted 1,2-azaborines and is compatible with a range of substitution patterns at boron (e.g., hydride, alkoxide, alkyl, and aryl substituents). Subsequent Suzuki cross coupling with aryl- and heteroaryl bromides furnishes 1,2-azaborine-based biaryl compounds including 6-[pyrid-2-yl]-1,2-azaborines that represent novel κ2-N,N-bidentate ligands. The 6-[pyrid-2-yl]-B-Me-1,2-azaborine ligand has been demonstrated to form an emissive coordination complex with dimesitylboron that exhibits bathochromically shifted absorption and emission maxima and a higher photoluminescence quantum yield compared to its carbonaceous analogue.
Exploratory Analysis of a Smartphone-Based Travel Survey in Singapore

Future Mobility Sensing (FMS) is an innovative smartphone-based travel survey that was field-tested in 2012 and 2013, together with the Household Interview Travel Survey (HITS), in Singapore. This paper presents the findings of an exploratory analysis of the data collected in this test. The clustering of the day patterns from the FMS data revealed a large day-to-day variability of user behavior that could not be captured by a snapshot with a 1-day survey. Even the high cross-sectional variability from the larger sample size of a traditional survey would not have achieved the comprehensive set of heterogeneous patterns provided by FMS. Some common problems in traditional surveys—such as the underreporting of trips, the overestimation of travel times, and the inaccuracy of locations and times—can apparently be reduced by FMS. The FMS data have higher resolution and better accuracy compared with the HITS data. In addition, FMS is well suited to the collection of multiday data because additional costs are mar...
Micropatterned supported membranes as tools for quantitative studies of the immunological synapse.

In living cells, membrane receptors transduce ligand binding into signals that initiate proliferation, specialization, and secretion of signaling molecules. Spatial organization of such receptors regulates signaling in several key immune cell interactions. In the most extensively studied of these, a T cell recognizes membrane-bound antigen presented by another cell, and forms a complex junction called the “immunological synapse” (IS). The importance of spatial organization at the IS and the quantification of its effect on signaling remain controversial topics. Researchers have successfully investigated the IS using lipid bilayers supported on solid substrates as model antigen-presenting membranes. Recent technical developments have enabled micron- and nanometre-scale patterning of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) and their application to immune cell studies with provocative results, including spatial mutation of the IS. In this tutorial review, we introduce the IS; discuss SLB techniques, including micropatterning; and discuss various methods used to perturb and quantify the IS.
Managing Student Behavior in an Elementary School Music Classroom: A Study of Class-Wide Function-Related Intervention Teams:

Classroom management is a common concern for teachers. Music teachers in particular experience unique behavior challenges because of large class sizes, uncommon pacing requirements, and performance...
The Effect of Single-Sex Education on Academic Outcomes and Crime: Fresh Evidence from Low-Performing Schools in Trinidad and Tobago

In 2010, the Ministry of Education in Trinidad and Tobago converted 20 low-performing pilot secondary schools from coed to single-sex. I exploit these conversions to identify the causal effect of single-sex schooling holding other school inputs (such as teacher quality and leadership quality) constant. After also accounting for student selection, both boys and girls in single-sex cohorts at pilot schools score 0.14σ higher in the academic subjects on national exams. There is no robust effect on non-academic subjects. Additionally, treated students are more likely to earn the secondary-school leaving credential, and the all-boys cohorts have fewer arrests. Survey evidence reveals that these single-sex effects reflect both direct gender peer effects due to interactions between classmates, and also indirect effects generated through changes in teacher behavior. Importantly, these benefits are achieved at zero financial cost.
Smart Reply: Automated Response Suggestion for Email

In this paper we propose and investigate a novel end-to-end method for automatically generating short email responses, called Smart Reply. It generates semantically diverse suggestions that can be used as complete email responses with just one tap on mobile. The system is currently used in Inbox by Gmail and is responsible for assisting with 10% of all mobile responses. It is designed to work at very high throughput and process hundreds of millions of messages daily. The system exploits state-of-the-art, large-scale deep learning. We describe the architecture of the system as well as the challenges that we faced while building it, like response diversity and scalability. We also introduce a new method for semantic clustering of user-generated content that requires only a modest amount of explicitly labeled data.
Dissolved black carbon in Antarctic lakes: Chemical signatures of past and present sources

The perennially ice-covered, closed-basin lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, serve as sentinels for understanding the fate of dissolved black carbon from glacial sources in aquatic ecosystems. Here we show that dissolved black carbon can persist in freshwater and saline surface waters for thousands of years, while preserving the chemical signature of the original source materials. The ancient brines of the lake bottom waters have retained dissolved black carbon with a woody chemical signature, representing long-range transport of black carbon from wildfires. In contrast, the surface waters are enriched in contemporary black carbon from fossil fuel combustion. Comparison of samples collected 25 years apart from the same lake suggests that the enrichment in anthropogenic black carbon is recent. Differences in the chemical composition of dissolved black carbon among the lakes are likely due to biogeochemical processing such as photochemical degradation and sorption on metal oxides.
Flow cytometric analysis of double-stranded RNA content distributions.

Publisher Summary This chapter develops a simple, reproducible, and specific procedure for the staining of cellular RNA. The method is based on the well-known property of propidium iodide (PI) to form highly fluorescent intercalation complexes with double-stranded nucleic acids but not with other polyanions. This property is widely used for the flow cytometric (FCM) analysis of DNA after RNA elimination. It suggests the use of PI for RNA staining following DNA digestion with DNase. The highly specific character of PI binding to nucleic acids in different cell types is the basis for its wide application to DNA analysis. It also provides a basis for quantitating double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in DNase-treated cell populations. The chapter discusses the relationship between dsRNA content and cell proliferation for different cell types. The fluorescence intensity of cells treated with both RNase and DNase was very low, indicating that the fluorescence of DNase-treated cells shows the relative content of dsRNA. Comparison of the fluorescence intensity between DNase-treated and DNase plus RNase-treated cells showed that 93% of the fluorescence in DNase-treated cells was eliminated with RNase.
Assessing Impact of Epistemic and Technological Uncertainty on Aircraft Subsystem Architectures

The progressive transition from conventional to More Electric aircraft subsystem architectures occurring in the aerospace industry necessitates earlier consideration of subsystem impacts in the des...
Cost-utility analysis of contaminated appendectomy wounds.

Background The influence of patient preference and treatment costs has not been considered in previous analyses of wound management decisions for contaminated right lower quadrant incisions. Study design We performed a decision and cost-utility analysis, conducting a MEDLINE search of the postappendectomy wound infection literature to establish assumptions and assign baseline probability estimates. Institution-specific cost data were obtained, and utility assignments were made by the authors. Studies used to assign baseline probabilities fulfilled the following criteria: perforated appendix or gangrenous appendicitis, use of perioperative antibiotics active against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, and data stratified by wound management, operative findings, and infection rate. Results We constructed a decision tree comparing three methods of wound management for contaminated right lower quadrant incisions: primary closure, delayed primary closure, and secondary closure. Utility (a quality of life measure) was assigned to ultimate health states to incorporate patient preference. We calculated the cost-utility for each method of wound management and found that primary closure was of optimum cost-utility compared with delayed primary closure and secondary closure. To gain one quality-adjusted life year treating a population of patients with contaminated incisions, primary closure saves $22,635 over delayed primary closure and another $22,340 over secondary closure. This decision, tested by two-way sensitivity analyses, was sensitive only to high primary closure infection rates. Conclusions Challenging traditional surgical dogma, cost-utility analysis shows that primary closure is the favored method of management for contaminated right lower quadrant incisions. This analysis is specific to right lower quadrant incisions and the conclusion is valid for all estimated primary infection rates less than 0.27.
Time-Resolved X-ray Scattering and Raman Spectroscopic Studies of Formation of a Uranium-Vanadium-Phosphorus-Peroxide Cage Cluster

Combining reactants in water under ambient conditions results in the assembly and crystallization of 2.6 nm diameter cage clusters designated U48V6P48 within 3 weeks. These consist of 24 uranyl hexagonal bipyramids, 24 uranyl pentagonal bipyramids, six vanadyl square pyramids, and 48 phosphate tetrahedra. Peroxide-bridged dimers of uranyl hexagonal bipyramids are linked directly to vanadyl-stabilized tetramers of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids to form the cage, with phosphate tetrahedra providing additional linkages between these two units. Time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering and Raman spectroscopy indicate that the combination of the reactants initially resulted in simultaneous formation of smaller uranyl peroxide cages and vanadyl peroxide complexes. The disappearance of the smaller uranyl peroxide cages from solution coincides with the diminution of uncoordinated peroxide, both of which occurred before the assembly of the relatively peroxide-poor U48V6P48, which clearly occurred in solution prior to its crystallization.
Comparison of Fuel Consumption of Descent Trajectories Under Arrival Metering

This paper compares fuel consumption of descent trajectories from cruise altitude to meter fix when the required time of arrival is later than the nominal time of arrival at the meter fix. The required delay, which is the difference between the nominal and the required times of arrival, is achieved by either slowing down the aircraft in the cruise and descent phases or flying a longer route at a constant altitude. Performance models of 10 different Boeing and Airbus aircraft, obtained from the Base of Aircraft Data, are employed for generating the results. It is demonstrated that the most fuel-efficient speed-control strategy for absorbing delay is first reducing descent speed as much as possible and then reducing cruise speed. This is a common finding for all 10 aircraft considered. For some aircraft, flying at a fixed flight-path angle and constant Mach number/calibrated airspeed results in lower fuel consumption compared to standard descent at idle thrust and constant Mach number/calibrated airspeed. F...
Determinants of Weanling Thoroughbred Auction Prices

Determinants of prices of 1,302 weanling Thoroughbreds sold at the 2010 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale are investigated. A hedonic pricing model is adopted to identify price determinants, and the corresponding marginal values of those determinants are estimated. Prices were responsive to pedigree quality variables, including the sire's stud fee, the stage of the sire's breeding career, and whether the dam or the dam's progeny had earned “black type.” In addition, individual weanling characteristics such as gender, age, state of birth, and sale placement influenced price. Results can be used as a decision tool by both buyers and sellers.
Transition probabilities for degenerate diffusions arising in population genetics

We provide a detailed description of the structure of the transition probabilities and of the hitting distributions on boundary components of a manifold with corners for a degenerate strong Markov process arising in population genetics. The Markov processes that we study are a generalization of the classical Wright–Fisher process. The main ingredients in our proofs are based on the analysis of the regularity properties of solutions to a forward Kolmogorov equation defined on a compact manifold with corners, which is degenerate in the sense that it is not strictly elliptic and the coefficients of the first order drift term have mild logarithmic singularities.
Multiphase voltage-mode hysteretic controlled VRM with DSP control and novel current sharing

Applying the voltage-mode hysteretic control to multiphase voltage regulator modules (VRMs) can satisfy many of the new and future generation of microprocessors and IC powering requirements. This is because of the numerous advantages that can be obtained when both techniques are used. However, several challenges arise that include current sharing, multiphase control signals distribution, high-speed comparators noise sensitivity, hysteretic band accuracy and stability, VRM operation startup, and the stability of the controller operation at large load transients. Addressing these challenges cannot be easily achieved using analog and discrete components but rather DSP can be used to solve these problems. In this paper, multiphase voltage-mode hysteretic controlled VRM with DSP control and novel current sharing is proposed.
Three-loop vacuum integrals with arbitrary masses

Three-loop vacuum integrals are an important building block for the calculation of a wide range of three-loop corrections. Until now, analytical results for integrals with only one and two independent mass scales are known, but in the electroweak Standard Model and many extensions thereof, one often encounters more mass scales of comparable magnitude. For this reason, a numerical approach for the evaluation of three-loop vacuum integrals with arbitrary mass pattern is proposed here. Concretely, one can identify a basic set of three master integral topologies. With the help of dispersion relations, each of these can be transformed into one-dimensional or, for the most complicated case, two-dimensional integrals in terms of elementary functions, which are suitable for efficient numerical integration.
Structure and Magnetic Behavior of Layered Honeycomb Tellurates, BiM(III)TeO6 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe).

New layered honeycomb tellurates, BiM(III)TeO6 (M = Cr, Mn, Fe) were synthesized and characterized. BiM(III)TeO6 (M = Cr, Fe) species crystallize in a trigonal space group, P31c (No. 163), of edge-sharing M3+/Te6+O6 octahedra, which form honeycomb-like double layers in the ab plane with Bi3+ cations located between the layers. Interestingly, the structure of BiMnTeO6 is similar to those of the Cr/Fe analogues, but with monoclinic space group, P21/c (No. 14), attributed to the strong Jahn–Teller distortion of Mn3+ cations. The crystal structure of BiM(III)TeO6 is a superstructure of PbSb2O6-related materials (ABB′O6). The Cr3+ and Fe3+ cations are ordered 80% and 90%, respectively, while the Mn3+ ions are completely ordered on the B-site of the ABB′O6 structure. BiCrTeO6 shows a broad antiferromagnetic transition (AFM) at ∼17 K with a Weiss temperature (θ) of −59.85 K, while BiFeTeO6 and BiMnTeO6 show sharp AFM transitions at ∼11 K with θ of −27.56 K and at ∼9.5 K with θ of −17.57 K, respectively. These d...
Metabolic Radiolabeling of Animal Cell Glycoconjugates

This unit describes metabolic labeling techniques that provide specific information about the structure, sequence, and distribution of the sugar chains of glycoconjugates. Although these techniques provide less information than complete sequencing of the sugar chains, the partial structural information derived is sufficient for many purposes. In the basic procedure presented in this unit, actively growing cell cultures are grown through several population doublings in complete medium supplemented with radiolabeled glycoconjugate precursors to reach a steady-state level of incorporation. In alternate protocols, cells are cultured for a short period of time in a deficient medium that contains a high concentration of radiolabeled precursor. A pulse or pulse-chase labeling procedure can be used to analyze precursor-product relationships. With sequential pulse-labeling, it is possible to obtain quantities of labeled glycoconjugates with the use of a minimal amount of labeled precursor by using the same medium to pulse-label a series of cultures. A support protocol describes the preparation of multiply deficient medium (MDM) for use in making appropriate deficient media.
Bayesian reconstruction of gravitational wave bursts using chirplets

The LIGO-Virgo Collaboration uses a variety of techniques to detect and characterize gravitational waves. One approach is to use templates---models for the signals derived from Einstein's equations. Another approach is to extract the signals directly from the coherent response of the detectors in the LIGO-Virgo network. Both approaches played an important role in the first gravitational wave detections. Here we extend the BayesWave analysis algorithm, which reconstructs gravitational wave signals using a collection of continuous wavelets, to use a generalized wavelet family, known as chirplets, that have time-evolving frequency content. Since generic gravitational wave signals have frequency content that evolves in time, a collection of chirplets provides a more compact representation of the signal, resulting in more accurate waveform reconstructions, especially for low signal-to-noise events, and events that occupy a large time-frequency volume.
Learning recurrent representations for hierarchical behavior modeling

We propose a framework for detecting action patterns from motion sequences and modeling the sensory-motor relationship of animals, using a generative recurrent neural network. The network has a discriminative part (classifying actions) and a generative part (predicting motion), whose recurrent cells are laterally connected, allowing higher levels of the network to represent high level behavioral phenomena. We test our framework on two types of data, fruit fly behavior and online handwriting. Our results show that 1) taking advantage of unlabeled sequences, by predicting future motion, significantly improves action detection performance when training labels are scarce, 2) the network learns to represent high level phenomena such as writer identity and fly gender, without supervision, and 3) simulated motion trajectories, generated by treating motion prediction as input to the network, look realistic and may be used to qualitatively evaluate whether the model has learnt generative control rules.
High-efficiency, 154 W CW, diode-pumped Raman fiber laser with brightness enhancement

We demonstrate a high-power, high-efficiency Raman fiber laser pumped directly by laser diode modules at 978 nm. 154 W of CW power were obtained at a wavelength of 1023 nm with an optical to optical efficiency of 65%. A commercial graded-index (GRIN) core fiber acts as the Raman fiber in a power oscillator configuration, which includes spectral selection to prevent generation of the second Stokes. In addition, brightness enhancement of the pump beam by a factor of 8.4 is attained due to the Raman gain distribution profile in the GRIN fiber. To the best of our knowledge this is the highest power and highest efficiency Raman fiber laser demonstrated in any configuration allowing brightness enhancement (i.e., in either cladding-pumped configuration or with GRIN fibers, excluding step-index core pumped), regardless of pumping scheme (i.e., either diode pumped or fiber laser pumped).
Sensorless speed control of synchronous motors: Analysis and mitigation of stator resistance error

Direct torque control-based sensorless speed control (DTC-SSC) of a synchronous motor is a high performance and reliable approach for control of speed and stator flux modulus. This paper proposes 1) ananalytical method to study the effect of error in estimation of stator resistance on the stability of a synchronous motor controlled via DTC-SSCapproach; 2) a reliable resistance estimator based on the angle between the stator flux and current vectors with no need to solve nonlinear equations; and 3)a modified structure for sensorless speed control of synchronous motors based on this estimator. Simulation and experimental case studies validate the proposed stability analysis and the resistance estimator.
AUTOMATING COMPLIANCE FOR CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES

We present an integrated approach for automating service providers’ compliance with data protection laws and regulations, business and technical requirements in cloud computing. The techniques we propose in particular include: natural-language analysis (of legislative and regulatory texts, and corporate security rulebooks) and extraction of enforceable rules, use of sticky policies, automated policy enforcement and active monitoring of data, particularly in cloud environments. We discuss ongoing work on developing a software tool for natural-language processing of cloud terms of service and other related policy texts. We also identify opportunities for future software development in the area of cloud computing compliance.
How will induced seismicity in Oklahoma respond to decreased saltwater injection rates

In response to the marked number of injection-induced earthquakes in north-central Oklahoma, regulators recently called for a 40% reduction in the volume of saltwater being injected in the seismically active areas. We present a calibrated statistical model that predicts that widely felt M ≥ 3 earthquakes in the affected areas, as well as the probability of potentially damaging larger events, should significantly decrease by the end of 2016 and approach historic levels within a few years. Aftershock sequences associated with relatively large magnitude earthquakes that occurred in the Fairview, Cherokee, and Pawnee areas in north-central Oklahoma in late 2015 and 2016 will delay the rate of seismicity decrease in those areas.
Heterogeneous treatment effects in the low track: Revisiting the Kenyan primary school experiment

I present results from a partial re-analysis of the Kenyan school tracking experiment first described in Duflo et. al (2011). My results suggest that, in a developing country school system with state-employed teachers, tracking can reduce short-run test scores of initially low-ability students with high learning potential. The highest scoring students subjected only to the tracking intervention scored well below comparable students in untracked classrooms at the end of the intervention. In contrast, students assigned to tracking under the experimental alternative teacher intervention experienced gains from tracking that increased across the outcome distribution. These alternative teachers were drawn from local areas, exhibited significantly higher effort levels and faced different incentives to produce learning. I conclude that although Pareto-improvements in test scores from tracking are possible, they are not guaranteed.
Reliably Learning the ReLU in Polynomial Time

We give the first dimension-efficient algorithms for learning Rectified Linear Units (ReLUs), which are functions of the form $\mathbf{x} \mapsto \max(0, \mathbf{w} \cdot \mathbf{x})$ with $\mathbf{w} \in \mathbb{S}^{n-1}$. Our algorithm works in the challenging Reliable Agnostic learning model of Kalai, Kanade, and Mansour (2009) where the learner is given access to a distribution $\cal{D}$ on labeled examples but the labeling may be arbitrary. We construct a hypothesis that simultaneously minimizes the false-positive rate and the loss on inputs given positive labels by $\cal{D}$, for any convex, bounded, and Lipschitz loss function. The algorithm runs in polynomial-time (in $n$) with respect to any distribution on $\mathbb{S}^{n-1}$ (the unit sphere in $n$ dimensions) and for any error parameter $\epsilon = \Omega(1/\log n)$ (this yields a PTAS for a question raised by F. Bach on the complexity of maximizing ReLUs). These results are in contrast to known efficient algorithms for reliably learning linear threshold functions, where $\epsilon$ must be $\Omega(1)$ and strong assumptions are required on the marginal distribution. We can compose our results to obtain the first set of efficient algorithms for learning constant-depth networks of ReLUs. Our techniques combine kernel methods and polynomial approximations with a "dual-loss" approach to convex programming. As a byproduct we obtain a number of applications including the first set of efficient algorithms for "convex piecewise-linear fitting" and the first efficient algorithms for noisy polynomial reconstruction of low-weight polynomials on the unit sphere.
Dyck paths and positroids from unit interval orders

Abstract It is well known that the number of non-isomorphic unit interval orders on [ n ] equals the n-th Catalan number. Using work of Skandera and Reed and work of Postnikov, we show that each unit interval order on [ n ] naturally induces a rank n positroid on [ 2 n ] . We call the positroids produced in this fashion unit interval positroids. We characterize the unit interval positroids by describing their associated decorated permutations, showing that each one must be a 2n-cycle encoding a Dyck path of length 2n. We also provide recipes to read the decorated permutation of a unit interval positroid P from both the antiadjacency matrix and the interval representation of the unit interval order inducing P. Using our characterization of the decorated permutation, we describe the Le-diagrams corresponding to unit interval positroids. In addition, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for two Grassmann cells parameterized by unit interval positroids to be adjacent inside the Grassmann cell complex. Finally, we propose a potential approach to find the f-vector of a unit interval order.
Adaptive stochastic approximation by the simultaneous perturbation method

Stochastic approximation (SA) has long been applied for problems of minimizing loss functions or root finding with noisy input information. As with all stochastic search algorithms, there are adjustable algorithm coefficients that must be specified, and that can have a profound effect on algorithm performance. It is known that choosing these coefficients according to an SA analog of the deterministic Newton-Raphson algorithm provides an optimal or near-optimal form of the algorithm. However, directly determining the required Hessian matrix (or Jacobian matrix for root finding) to achieve this algorithm form has often been difficult or impossible in practice. The paper presents a general adaptive SA algorithm that is based on a simple method for estimating the Hessian matrix, while concurrently estimating the primary parameters of interest. The approach applies in both the gradient-free optimization (Kiefer-Wolfowitz) and root-finding/stochastic gradient-based (Robbins-Monro) settings, and is based on the "simultaneous perturbation (SP)" idea introduced previously. The algorithm requires only a small number of loss function or gradient measurements per iteration-independent of the problem dimension-to adaptively estimate the Hessian and parameters of primary interest. Aside from introducing the adaptive SP approach, the paper presents practical implementation guidance, asymptotic theory, and a nontrivial numerical evaluation. Also included is a discussion and numerical analysis comparing the adaptive SP approach with the iterate-averaging approach to accelerated SA.