cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
State-Space Modeling of the Relationship between Air Quality and Mortality

A portion of a population is assumed to be at risk, with the mortality hazard varying with atmospheric conditions including total suspended particulates (TSP). This at-risk population is not observed and the hazard function is unknown; we wish to estimate these from mortality count and atmospheric variables. Consideration of population dynamics leads to a state-space representation, allowing the Kalman Filter (KF) to be used for estimation. A harvesting effect is thus implied; high mortality is followed by lower mortality until the population is replenished by new arrivals. The model is applied to daily data for Philadelphia, PA, 1973-1990. The estimated hazard function rises with the level of TSP and at extremes of temperature and also reflects a positive interaction between TSP and temperature. The estimated at-risk population averages about 480 and varies seasonally. We find that lags of TSP are statistically significant, but the presence of negative coefficients suggests their role may be partially statistical rather than biological. In the population dynamics framework, the natural metric for health damage from air pollution is its impact on life expectancy. The range of hazard rates over the sample period is 0.07 to 0.085, corresponding to life expectancies of 14.3 and 11.8 days, respectively.
Increasing at an Increasing Rate: The Potential Convexity of Discrete-Choice Welfare Measures*

When environmental quality enters random utility models linearly, welfare measures are convex in quality. The convexity is partly due to site substitution, and it has implications for whether changes in quality should be concentrated or diffuse. The effects of functional form are illustrated in a model of Great Lakes fishing.
Economic growth in the Mid-Atlantic region: Conjectural estimates for 1720 to 1800

Abstract We construct decadal estimates of GDP per capita for the colonies and states of the Mid-Atlantic region between 1720 and 1800. They show that the region likely achieved modest improvements in per capita GDP over this period despite a number of demographic factors that tended to slow the pace of growth. Nonetheless the rate of growth we find is below that commonly assumed to have prevailed in eighteenth century North America and calls those estimates into question. The striking feature of the region's economy in the eighteenth century was not the rising living-standard, but its ability to achieve rapid extensive growth without a decline in living standards. To contemporaries this extensive growth and short-term volatility in incomes must have been much more visible than any trend improvement in overall well-being.
Web Thermo Tables – an On-Line Version of the TRC Thermodynamic Tables

It has long been understood that availability of thermophysical and thermochemical property data is vital to scientific research and industrial design. For over 65 years, the Thermodynamics Research Center (TRC) has been publishing tables of critically evaluated data covering physical and thermodynamic properties of pure compounds, TRC Tables-Hydrocarbons and TRC Tables-Non-Hydrocarbons. Over their long history, the TRC Tables have always been valued as a reputable source of evaluated thermophysical and thermodynamic data. To facilitate more flexible, convenient, and up-to-date access to the data, here, we present the release of the on-line version of the TRC tables, Web Thermo Tables (WTT). Presently, WTT contains data for 7838 compounds and over 950,000 evaluated data points. The tabulated information includes critical properties, vapor pressures and boiling temperatures, phase transition properties, volumetric properties, heat capacities and derived properties, transport properties, reaction state-change properties, as well as index of refraction, surface tension, and speed of sound. Various search options and data plotting capabilities are provided via the Web interface. WTT are distributed through the NIST Standard Reference Data Program [1].
Direct blind equalizers of multiple FIR channels: a deterministic approach

Blind equalization of single-input multi-output channels has practical value for inverse problems encountered in communications, sonar, and seismic data processing. Relying on diversity (sufficient number of multiple outputs), we bypass the channel estimation step and derive direct blind FIR equalizers of co-prime FIR channels. There are no constraints on the inaccessible input, apart from a minimum persistence of excitation condition; the input can be deterministic or random with unknown color or distribution. At moderate SNR (>20 dB), the resulting algorithms remain operational even with very short data records (<100 samples), which makes them valuable for equalization of rapidly fading multipath channels. Complexity, persistence of excitation order, and mean-square error performance tradeoffs are delineated for equalizers of single-shift (semi-blind), pair, or, multiple shifts estimated separately or simultaneously. Optimum and suboptimum combinations of the equalizers' outputs are also studied. Simulations illustrate the proposed algorithms and compare them with dual deterministic channel identification algorithms.
A coordinate-transformed Arnoldi algorithm for generating guaranteed stable reduced-order models of RLC circuits

Abstract Since the first papers on asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE), Pade-based reduced order models have become standard for improving coupled circuit-interconnect simulation efficiency. Such models can be accurately computed using bi-orthogonalization algorithms like Pade via Lanczos (PVL), but the resulting Pade approximates can still be unstable even when generated from stable RLC circuits. For certain classes of RC circuits it has been shown that congruence transforms, like the Arnoldi algorithm, can generate guaranteed stable and passive reduced-order models. In this paper we present a computationally efficient model-order reduction technique, the coordinate-transformed Arnoldi algorithm, and show that this method generates arbitrarily accurate and guaranteed stable reduced-order models for RLC circuits. Examples are presented which demonstrates the enhanced stability and efficiency of the new method.
A MULTI-RELATIONAL NETWORK TO SUPPORT THE SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION PROCESS

The general purpose of the scholarly communication process is to support the creation and dissemination of ideas within the scientific community. At a finer granularity, there exists multiple stage ...
Ethics of Collecting and Using Consumer Internet Data

Abstract Internet access continues to expand worldwide, with current estimates ranging from 259.3 million to 407.1 million Internet users. There are an estimated 106.7 million users in the United States alone. The explosive growth in the use of the Internet for information access, file transfer, e-mail, collaborative work, banking, shopping, and performing countless other functions makes electronic commerce (E-commerce) increasingly attractive. According to some industry experts, threats to consumer privacy have tempered the growth of retail E-commerce. Indeed, 61 percent of Internet users in the United States reported that they do not purchase online because of privacy concerns. An estimated $15 billion in E-commerce revenues for 2001 were unrealized because of consumers' concerns about their privacy, according to a report by Forrester Research.
Voting May Be Habit-Forming: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment

Habit is a frequently mentioned but understudied cause of political action. This article provides the first direct test of the hypothesis that casting a ballot in one election increases one’s propensity to go to the polls in the future. A field experiment involving 25,200 registered voters was conducted prior to the November general election of 1998. Subjects were randomly assigned to treatment conditions in which they were urged to vote through direct mail or face-to-face canvassing. Compared to a control group that received no contact, the treatment groups were significantly more likely to vote in 1998. The treatment groups were also significantly more likely to vote in local elections held in November of 1999. After deriving a statistical estimator to isolate the effect of habit, we find that, ceteris paribus, voting in one election substantially increases the likelihood of voting in the future. Indeed, the influence of past voting exceeds the effects of age and education reported in previous studies.
Color image coding using morphological pyramid decomposition

Presents a new algorithm that utilizes mathematical morphology for pyramidal coding of color images. The authors obtain lossy color image compression by using block truncation coding at the pyramid levels to attain reduced data rates. The pyramid approach is attractive due to low computational complexity, simple parallel implementation, and the ability to produce acceptable color images at moderate data rates. In many applications, the progressive transmission capability of the algorithm is very useful. The authors show experimental results for color images at data rates of 1.89 bits/pixel. >
On signatures of knowledge

In a traditional signature scheme, a signature σ on a message m is issued under a public key PK, and can be interpreted as follows: “The owner of the public key PK and its corresponding secret key has signed message m.” In this paper we consider schemes that allow one to issue signatures on behalf of any NP statement, that can be interpreted as follows: “A person in possession of a witness w to the statement that x ∈L has signed message m.” We refer to such schemes as signatures of knowledge. We formally define the notion of a signature of knowledge. We begin by extending the traditional definition of digital signature schemes, captured by Canetti's ideal signing functionality, to the case of signatures of knowledge. We then give an alternative definition in terms of games that also seems to capture the necessary properties one may expect from a signature of knowledge. We then gain additional confidence in our two definitions by proving them equivalent. We construct signatures of knowledge under standard complexity assumptions in the common-random-string model. We then extend our definition to allow signatures of knowledge to be nested i.e., a signature of knowledge (or another accepting input to a UC-realizable ideal functionality) can itself serve as a witness for another signature of knowledge. Thus, as a corollary, we obtain the first delegatable anonymous credential system, i.e., a system in which one can use one's anonymous credentials as a secret key for issuing anonymous credentials to others.
Testing autonomous systems for deep space exploration

NASA is moving into an era of Increasing spacecraft autonomy. However, before autonomy can be routinely utilized, we must develop techniques for providing assurance that the system will perform correctly in flight. We describe why autonomous systems require advanced verification techniques, and offer some management and technical techniques for addressing the differences. Autonomous goal-driven spacecraft require advances in verification techniques because optimization (e.g., planning and scheduling) algorithms are at the core of much of autonomy. It Is the nature of such algorithms that over much of the input space an intuitively "small" change in the input results in a correspondingly "small" change in the output: This type of response typically leads one to conclude, quite reasonably, that if the two responses are correct, those responses "between" them will probably also be correct. However, there are certain regions in the input space where a "small" change in the input will result in a radically different output: One is not so inclined to conclude that all responses in these transition zones are likely to be correct. We believe, for two reasons, that these transition zones are one place where autonomous systems are likely to fail. First, boundary conditions, often a rich source of faults, are highly exercised in the transition zones, and so increase the likelihood of faults. Second, within the transition zone the algorithm outputs are likely to appear unusual, and, since the outputs of the algorithm become inputs to the remainder of the system, the whole system is probably pushed outside of its nominal usage profile: historically shown to be another good source of faults. We close with a discussion of risk management. Autonomous systems have many well-known management risk factors. Risk management and quality concerns must be pervasive, throughout all team members and the whole life-cycle of the project.
Cryptanalysis of Stream Ciphers with Linear Masking

We describe a cryptanalytical technique for distinguishing some stream ciphers from a truly random process. Roughly, the ciphers to which this method applies consist of a "non-linear process" (say, akin to a round function in block ciphers), and a "linear process" such as an LFSR (or even fixed tables). The output of the cipher can be the linear sum of both processes. To attack such ciphers, we look for any property of the "non-linear process" that can be distinguished from random. In addition, we look for a linear combination of the linear process that vanishes. We then consider the same linear combination applied to the cipher's output, and try to find traces of the distinguishing property.In this report we analyze two specific "distinguishing properties". One is a linear approximation of the non-linear process, which we demonstrate on the stream cipher SNOW. This attack needs roughly 295 words of output, with work-load of about 2100. The other is a "low-diffusion" attack, that we apply to the cipher Scream-0. The latter attack needs only about 243 bytes of output, using roughly 250 space and 280 time.
Human Capital and Industrialization: Evidence from the Age of Enlightenment

While human capital is a strong predictor of economic development today, its importance for the Industrial Revolution is typically assessed as minor. To resolve this puzzling contrast, we differentiate average human capital (worker skills) from upper tail knowledge both theoretically and empirically. We build a simple two-sector model, where worker skills raise the productivity in both agriculture and manufacturing, and scientific knowledge affects the entrepreneurial ability to keep up with a rapidly advancing technological frontier. The model predicts that the local presence of knowledge elites is unimportant in the pre-industrial era, but drives growth thereafter; worker skills, in contrast, are not crucial for growth. To measure the historical presence of knowledge elites, we use city-level subscriptions to the famous Encyclopedie in mid-18th century France. We show that subscriber density is a strong predictor of city growth after 1750, but not before the onset of French industrialization. Alternative measures of development confirm this pattern: soldier height and industrial activity are strongly associated with subscriber density after, but not before, 1750. Literacy, on the other hand, does not predict growth. Finally, by joining data on British patents with a large French firm survey from 1837, we provide evidence for the mechanism: upper tail knowledge raised the productivity in innovative industrial technology.
The efficacy of mupirocin ointment and chlorhexidine body scrubs in the eradication of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis

Background: Patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis have a high prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage, which may lead to serious infections. Mupirocin ointment has been used intranasally to eradicate S. aureus carriage in health human volunteers and health care workers. Chlorhexidine, an antiseptic with excellent antistaphylococcal activity, is widely used for handwashing and skin cleansing. Methods: Anterior nares cultures were obtained from patients older than 18 years who were undergoing long-term hemodialysis. Patients with S. aureus nasal carriage were enrolled in the study. Axillae and groins were cultured. Patients were given mupirocin ointment intranasally twice per day for 7 days and chlorhexidine body scrubs daily for the first 3 days. Follow-up cultures were obtained from anterior nares, axillae, and groins at 1 day, and 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment. Results: One day after completion of treatment nasal carriage was eradicated in 83% of patients (15/18). After 12 weeks, 69% of patients (11/16) were free of nasal carriage. Conclusions: Success rates of eradication were excellent compared with those in other published reports. This simple and effective regimen had no major side effects.
A Comparison of Evolutionary and Coevolutionary Search

Previous work on coevolutionary search has demonstrated both successful and unsuccessful applications. As a step in explaining what factors lead to success or failure, we present a comparative study of an evolutionary and a coevolutionary search model. In the latter model, strategies for solving a problem coevolve with training cases. We find that the coevolutionary model has a relatively large efficacy: 86 out of 100 (86%) of the simulations produce high quality strategies. In contrast, the evolutionary model has a very low efficacy: a high quality strategy is found in only two out of 100 runs (2%). We show that the increased efficacy in the coevolutionary model results from the direct exploitation of low quality strategies by the population of training cases. We also present evidence that the generality of the high-quality strategies can suffer as a result of this same exploitation.
Assessing the impact of public spending on growth - an empirical analysis for seven fast growing countries

The goal of this paper is to understand better, at the empirical level, how public spending contributes to growth by focusing on both the level and composition of public spending, in connection to the dynamics of GDP per capita growth. It attempts to answer two specific questions: (a) What are the policy conditions under which public spending contributes positively to growth? and (b) What are the public spending components that have a stronger and longer-lasting impact on growth? The analysis is applied to a sample of seven fast-growing developing countries: Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Botswana, and Mauritius, which have been among the top performers in the world in terms of GDP per capita growth during the period (1960-2006). The rationale for this country sample selection is twofold. The first hypothesis is that, given their positive growth achievements over a relatively long time period, perhaps it is more straightforward to establish a link to public spending in those countries. Second, it is expected that the findings of the analysis will provide lessons regarding the level and composition of public spending that can be useful for other countries where growth has been less rapid. Assessing what role public spending has played in a dynamic growth context may indeed be enlightening for other cases as well. The paper is structured as follows. The first section is an introduction that provides relevant facts and information about the seven countries during the period of analysis, based on seven individual country case studies. Section II presents the theoretical background behind the empirical analysis. Section III focuses on the empirical methodology, function specification, and variables selected. Section IV is dedicated to the results obtained with the cross-country analysis and some specific country results, as well as some comparisons with previous findings by other authors. Finally, Section V draws policy implications and concludes.
Increased Failure Rate of Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation After Previous Treatment With Marrow Stimulation Techniques

BackgroundMarrow stimulation techniques such as drilling or microfracture are first-line treatment options for symptomatic cartilage defects. Common knowledge holds that these treatments do not compromise subsequent cartilage repair procedures with autologous chondrocyte implantation.HypothesisCartilage defects pretreated with marrow stimulation techniques will have an increased failure rate.Study DesignCohort study; Level of evidence, 2.MethodsThe first 321 consecutive patients treated at one institution with autologous chondrocyte implantation for full-thickness cartilage defects that reached more than 2 years of follow-up were evaluated by prospectively collected data. Patients were grouped based on whether they had undergone prior treatment with a marrow stimulation technique. Outcomes were classified as complete failure if more than 25% of a grafted defect area had to be removed in later procedures because of persistent symptoms.ResultsThere were 522 defects in 321 patients (325 joints) treated with ...
The gender gap in employment hours: do work-hour regulations matter?

In all developed countries, women, especially mothers, work fewer paid hours than their spouses. However, the magnitude of the gender gap varies significantly by country, ranging from 2 to 20 hours per week in this study. Using data from the 2002 International Social Survey Programme, this article investigates whether work-hour regulations have a significant effect on household allocation of paid labour and gender work-hour inequality. Two main types of work-hour regulations are examined: standard weekly work hours and the maximum allowable weekly work hours. Results show that households in countries with shorter maximum weekly work hours had less work-hour inequality between spouses, as each additional allowable overtime hour over the standard working week increased the work-hour gap between couples by 20 minutes. These results indicate that couples’ inequality in work hours and gender inequality in labour supply are associated with country-level work-hour regulations.
Learning Minimum Volume Sets

Given a probability measure P and a reference measure μ, one is often interested in the minimum μ-measure set with P-measure at least α. Minimum volume sets of this type summarize the regions of greatest probability mass of P, and are useful for detecting anomalies and constructing confidence regions. This paper addresses the problem of estimating minimum volume sets based on independent samples distributed according to P. Other than these samples, no other information is available regarding P, but the reference measure μ is assumed to be known. We introduce rules for estimating minimum volume sets that parallel the empirical risk minimization and structural risk minimization principles in classification. As in classification, we show that the performances of our estimators are controlled by the rate of uniform convergence of empirical to true probabilities over the class from which the estimator is drawn. Thus we obtain finite sample size performance bounds in terms of VC dimension and related quantities. We also demonstrate strong universal consistency, an oracle inequality, and rates of convergence. The proposed estimators are illustrated with histogram and decision tree set estimation rules.
Analysis of Unsolicited Credit Ratings in Japan: New Evidence from Moody's

Previous studies show that the unsolicited ratings of S&P and Fitch are lower than the solicited ratings assigned by these two agencies. The unsolicited ratings of S&P and Fitch are based on publicly available information for a firm. However, no previous study has examined the unsolicited ratings of Moody's because Moody's does not disclose whether its ratings are solicited or unsolicited. Using Moody's solicited and unsolicited ratings collected from a survey of Japanese firms, we find that unsolicited credit ratings are still lower than solicited ratings even though firms with unsolicited ratings provide Moody's with some degree of inside information. We also compare the unsolicited ratings of S&P with those of Moody's and find that Moody's ratings are no different than those assigned by S&P although S&P's unsolicited ratings are based on public information. Therefore, we conclude that, regardless of the rating agency, unsolicited ratings are lower than solicited ratings because firms with unsolicited ratings provide incomplete private information to rating agencies.
LINAC Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy Treatment of Acoustic Neuromas

This article provides an introduction to radiation therapy as it applies to intracranial tumors. It also provides a review of the natural growth progression of acoustic neuromas and accuracy of tumor size determination. Literature on the use of linear accelerator stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated radiotherapy in acoustic neuroma management is reviewed and summarized. Specifically, the rates of reported tumor control, hearing preservation, facial and trigeminal nerve complications, and hydrocephalus are analyzed. Although the complication rates associated with linear accelerator therapy are relatively low, hearing preservation is poor and acoustic neuroma control is variable.
NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF LOW-MASS X-RAY BINARIES: ACCRETION DISK CONTAMINATION AND COMPACT OBJECT MASS DETERMINATION IN V404 Cyg AND Cen X-4

We present near-infrared (NIR) broadband (0.80–2.42 µm) spectroscopy of two low mass X-ray binaries: V404 Cyg and Cen X-4. One important parameter required in the determination of the mass of the compact objects in these systems is the binary inclination. We can determine the inclination by modeling the ellipsoidal modulations of the Roche-lobe filling donor star, but the contamination of the donor star light from other components of the binary, particularly the accretion disk, must be taken into account. To this end, we determined the donor star contribution to the infrared flux by comparing the spectra of V404 Cyg and Cen X-4 to those of various field K-stars of known spectral type. For V404 Cyg, we determined that the donor star has a spectral type of K3 III. We determined the fractional donor contribution to the NIR flux in the H- and K-bands as 0.98 ± .05 and 0.97 ± .09, respectively. We remodeled the H-band light curve from Sanwal et al. (1996) after correcting for the donor star contribution to obtain a new value for the binary inclination. From this, we determined the mass of
An Assessment of Numerical Solutions of the Compressible Navier-Stokes Equations

Nomenclature e = internal energy e = e{ + ¥211-u e^ = specific internal energy / =force F, G, H = vector fluxes J = Jacobian of coordinate transformation k = molecular heat conductivity n — outward normal P = pressure Pr = Prandtl number Prt = turbulent Prandtl number q =heat exchange Q = heat release t = time T = temperature u, v, w = velocity components in Cartesian frame x, y, z = Cartesian coordinates 7 = ratio of specific heats e = eddy viscosity coefficient X = bulk viscosity coefficient fji = molecular viscosity coefficient £, 17, f = transformed coordinates p = density T = stress tensor
Hedging policies for failure-prone manufacturing systems: optimality of JIT and bounds on buffer levels

The authors consider multiple part-type single-machine manufacturing systems subject to failures. They provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the optimality of just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing, and further show that the necessary and sufficient conditions coincide when the backlog costs for all the parts are equal. In general, finding optimal hedging policies for multiple part-type problems is extremely difficult. They provide bounds on the optimal hedging points and also prove that, under an optimal hedging policy, the buffer levels will be upper bounded.
Detection of glucose and related analytes by biosensors: a fractal analysis

A fractal analysis is used to model the binding and dissociation kinetics of connective tissue interstitial glucose, adipose tissue interstitial glucose, insulin, and other related analytes on biosensor surfaces. The analysis provides insights into diffusion-limited analyte-receptor reactions occurring on heterogeneous biosensor surfaces. Numerical values obtained for the binding and the dissociation rate coefficients are linked to the degree of heterogeneity or roughness [fractal dimension (D(f))] present on the biosensor chip surface. The binding and dissociation rate coefficients are sensitive to the degree of heterogeneity on the surface. For example, for the binding of plasma insulin, as the fractal dimension value increases by a factor of 2.47 from D(f1)=0.6827 to D(f2)=1.6852, the binding rate coefficient increases by a factor of 4.92 from k(1)=1.0232 to k(2)=5.0388. An increase in the degree of heterogeneity on the probe surface leads to an increase in the binding rate coefficient. A dual-fractal analysis is required to fit the binding kinetics in most of the cases presented. A single fractal analysis is adequate to describe the dissociation kinetics. Affinity (ratio of the binding to the dissociation rate coefficient) values are also presented. Interferents for glucose, such as uric acid and ascorbic acid, were also detected by using glucose biosensors based on carbon nanotube (CNT) nanoelectrode ensembles (NEEs) (Lin Y, Lu F, Tu Y, Ren Z).
Highly enantioselective [2+2]-cycloaddition reactions catalyzed by a chiral aluminum bromide complex.

Enantioselective [2+2]-cycloaddition pathways to chiral cyclobutanes are rare and not generally utilized for synthesis. A new cycloaddition reaction of vinyl ethers with trifluoroethyl acrylate in the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral oxazaborolidine−AlBr3 complex is described which affords [2+2]-adducts with excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Applications of these adducts to the synthesis of synthetically valuable intermediates are also presented.
Predictive Analytical Fill Model of Interconnect Metallization Providing Optimal Additives Concentrations

Bottom-up fill of interconnect features requires the proper concentrations of critical plating additives, specifically, a suppressor and a plating accelerator. The electroplating process for interconnect metallization has been developed primarily empirically, and although it has been more recently modeled, existing models are only capable of simulating the process and lack predictive capability. For a defect-free fill, it is essential not only to select additives with the appropriate physical and chemical properties, but also to have them present at the correct concentrations, which, in turn, depend also on the via geometry and the process conditions. In practice, the concentration of additives required for filling a given feature is determined by a combination of experience and experimental testing. Since this procedure is costly and time consuming, a predictive model that indicates the required additives composition to achieve bottom-up fill in a given feature, taking into account the additives properties and the process conditions, would be very useful.
A Probabilistic Model of Melody Perception

This study presents a probabilisticmodel of melody perception, which infers thekey of amelody and also judges the probability of the melody itself. The model uses Bayesian reasoning: For any “surface” pattern and underlying “structure,” we can infer the structure maximizingP(structure|surface) based on knowledge ofP(surface, structure). The probability of the surface can then be calculated as ! P(surface, structure), summed over all structures. In this case, the surface is a pattern of notes; the structure is a key. A generative model is proposed, based on three principles: (a) melodies tend to remain within a narrow pitch range; (b) note-to-note intervals within a melody tend to be small; and (c) notes tend to conform to a distribution (or key profile) that depends on the key. The model is tested in three ways. First, it is tested on its ability to identify the keys of a set of folksong melodies. Second, it is tested on a melodic expectation task in which it must judge the probability of different notes occurring given a prior context; these judgments are compared with perception data from a melodic expectation experiment. Finally, the model is tested on its ability to detect incorrect notes in melodies by assigning them lower probabilities than the original versions.
Adaptive finite-element modeling using unstructured grids: The 2D magnetotelluric example

Existing numerical modeling techniques commonly used for electromagnetic EM exploration are bound by the limitations of approximating complex structures using a rectangular grid.A more flexible tool is the adaptive finite-element FE method using unstructured grids. Composed of irregular triangles, an unstructured grid can readily conform to complicated structural boundaries. To ensure numerical accuracy, adaptive refinement usinganaposteriorierrorestimatorisperformediterativelytorefinethegridwheresolutionaccuracyisinsufficient.Tworecently developed asymptotically exact a posteriori error estimators are based on a superconvergent gradient recovery operator.The first reliessolelyonthenormeddifferencebetweentherecoveredgradients and the piecewise constant FE gradients and is effective for lowering the global error in the FE solution. For many problems, an accurate solution is required only in a few discrete regionsandamoreefficienterrorestimatorispossiblebyconsidering the local influence of errors from coarse elements elsewhere in the grid. The second error estimator accomplishes this by using weights determined from the solution to an appropriate dual problem to modify the first error estimator. Application of thesemethodsfor2DmagnetotelluricMTmodelingreveals,as expected, that the dual weighted error estimator is far more efficientinachievingaccurateMTresponses.Refiningabout15%of elements per iteration gives the fastest convergence rate. For a given refined grid, the solution error at higher frequencies varies in proportion to the skin depth, requiring refinement about every
A cabling conjecture for knots in lens spaces

Closed $$3$$ -string braids admit many bandings to two-bridge links. By way of the Montesinos Trick, this allows us to construct infinite families of knots in the connected sum of lens spaces $$L(r,1) \# L(s,1)$$ that admit a surgery to a lens space for all pairs of integers $$(r,s)$$ except $$(0,0)$$ . These knots are typically hyperbolic. We also demonstrate that the previously known two families of examples of hyperbolic knots in non-prime manifolds with lens space surgeries of Eudave-Munoz–Wu and Kang all fit this construction. As such, we propose a generalization of the cabling conjecture of Gonzalez-Acuna–Short for knots in lens spaces.
Restructuring Fortran programs for Cedar

This paper reports on the status of the Fortran translator for the Cedar computer at the end of March, 1991. A brief description of the Cedar Fortran language is followed by a discussion of the fortran77 to Cedar Fortran parallelizer that describes the techniques currently being implemented. A collection of experiments illustrate the e ectiveness of the current implementation, and point toward new approaches to be incorporated into the system in the near future.
Decomposition by Causal Forces: A Procedure for Forecasting Complex Time Series

Abstract Causal forces are a way of summarizing forecasters' expectations about what will happen to a time series in the future. Contrary to the common assumption for extrapolation, time series are not always subject to consistent forces that point in the same direction. Some are affected by conflicting causal forces; we refer to these as complex time series. It would seem that forecasting these time series would be easier if one could decompose the series to eliminate the effects of the conflicts. We hypothesized that a time series could be effectively decomposed when (1) uncertainty is high, (2) forecasters can use domain knowledge to decompose the problem such that different forces can be identified for two or more component series, (3) the causal forces imply trends that differ in direction, and (4) it is possible to obtain forecasts for each component that are more accurate than the forecast for the global series. Forecast accuracy for the components can be assessed by testing how well they can be forecast on early hold-out data. When such data are not available, historical variability may be an adequate substitute. We tested decomposition by causal forces on 12 complex annual time series for automobile accidents, airline accidents, personal computer sales, airline revenues, and cigarette production. The length of these series ranged from 16 years for airline revenues to 56 years for highway safety data. We made forecasts for one to ten horizons, obtaining 800 forecasts through successive updating. For nine series in which the conditions were completely or partially met, the forecast error (median absolute percentage error, MdAPE) was reduced by more than half. For three series in which the conditions were not met, decomposition by causal forces had little effect on accuracy.
Canonical symplectic representations for prime order conjugacy classes of the mapping-class group

In this paper we find a unique normal form for the symplectic matrix representation of the conjugacy class of a prime order element of the mapping-class group. We find a set of generators for the fundamental group of a surface with a conformal automorphism of prime order which reflects the action the automorphism in an optimal way. This is called an adapted homotopy basis and there is a corresponding adapted presentation. We also give a necessary and sufficient condition for a prime order symplectic matrix to be the image of a prime order element in the mapping-class group. © 2007 Published by Elsevier Inc.
URINARY HORMONE STUDIES IN UNTREATED CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY

A 22-year-old patient is described with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and spontaneous menstrual cycles who became pregnant prior to the institution of steroid therapy. During the latter part of gestation there was a progressive decrease in the daily urinary excretion of neutral 17-ketosteroids, pregnanediol and pregnanetriol. Excretion of the latter two compounds remained low until the sixteenth week, when spontaneous abortion occurred. Chromatographic separation of the urinary neutral 17-ketosteroids revealed a predominance of androsterone. Following the administration of corticotropin during pregnancy there was a pronounced increase in the urinary output of androsterone, a decrease in the output of etioeholanolone, and a rise in the ratio of androsterone to ctiocholanolone from 1.3 to 5.8. These changes took place at a time when there was no significant urinary excretion of pregnanediol and pregnanetriol. The data indicate an alteration in either the production or metabolism of progesterone and 17α-hyd...
All Loop Topological String Amplitudes from Chern-Simons Theory

We demonstrate the equivalence of all loop closed topological string amplitudes on toric local Calabi-Yau threefolds with computations of certain knot invariants for Chern-Simons theory. We use this equivalence to compute the topological string amplitudes in certain cases to very high degree and to all genera. In particular we explicitly compute the topological string amplitudes for Open image in new window2 up to degree 12 and Open image in new window1× Open image in new window1 up to total degree 10 to all genera. This also leads to certain novel large N dualities in the context of ordinary superstrings, involving duals of type II superstrings on local Calabi-Yau three-folds without any fluxes.
Cortázar como Antropólogo Literato. Lecturas de Cortázar, una antropología poética

Resumen es: En este articulo se realiza una lectura del libro Cortazar, una Antropologia Poetica del argentino Nestor Garcia Canclini, ello con el fin de identificar...
Decoupled Moderators—Do We Always Need Them? or: A New Approach for Pulse Shaping

At a spallation neutron source, the wavelength of a neutron is generally determined by its time-of-flight (TOF) from the source to the detector. The achievable precision is ultimately limited by the non-zero emission time-width of the source/moderator system. Particularly, coupled moderators that are used to produce high-intensity cold neutron beams show long “tails” in the intensity/time distribution for all wavelengths. For this reason, much less intense decoupled moderators are often used for instruments that require high resolution. We present here a novel technique for dynamic energy filtering of thermal and cold polarized neutron beams. The device consists of a polarizer/analyzer system and an energy-selective spin-resonance flipper. By drifting its resonance condition in synchronization with the TOF, the filter controls the energy resolution of a broad bandwidth TOF neutron pulse. Calculations show that substantial resolution gains are obtainable by applying this technique to a TOF neutron reflecto...
Rising food prices and coping strategies : household-level evidence from Afghanistan

This paper investigates the impact of rising wheat prices on household food security in Afghanistan. Exploiting a unique nationally-representative household survey, the authors find evidence of large declines in the real value of per capita food consumption. Smaller price elasticities with respect to calories than with respect to food consumption suggest that households trade off quality for quantity as they move away from nutrient-rich foods such as meat and vegetables toward staple foods. The authors work improves upon country-level simulation studies by providing estimates of actual household food security during a price shock in one of the world's poorest, most food-insecure countries.
Regulatory Reform and the Chevron Doctrine: Can Congress Force Better Decisionmaking by Courts and Agencies

This piece examines the 1995 legislative proposals for reform of the Chevron doctrine in federal administrative law and suggests an alternative solution that sets more definite boundaries delineating the roles of courts, agencies, and the public in questions of statutory interpretation, ultimately combining elements of certain specific proposals in an attempt to improve on the existing Chevron doctrine by setting up a new framework for when a high level of deference to agency statutory interpretations is appropriate. The proposed system contains the following elements: (1) a specific part of the agency rulemaking record devoted to the explanation of its chosen statutory interpretation, (2) a limitation of judicial review of permissible interpretations to those contained in the record, (3) placement of the burden for presenting alternative interpretations on outside commenters to a proposed rule, (4) broad deference to agency statutory interpretations that satisfy the new procedural requirements, and (5) only prospective application of the new requirements. If removed from the overly strict cost-benefit analysis requirements elsewhere in the 1995 legislation, a new system for reviewing agency statutory interpretations could address public concerns about government agencies' power and discretion, yet prevent destabilization of the post-Great Society regulatory state. The next time regulatory reform resurfaces in Congress is an opportunity to improve upon the decision-making processes of both agencies and their reviewing courts.
Sociology of Debt: States, Credit Markets, and Indebted Citizens

Within the context of the recent financial crisis, the causes and implications of mounting levels of household indebtedness have begun to be examined from a variety of angles: Why have nations differed so drastically, historically speaking, in terms of the level of debt that their citizens carry? Why have patterns converged over the past few decades, with levels of indebtedness increasing across the board? This paper considers these questions from a sociological perspective. I first consider the role of political, institutional, economic, and cultural factors, as well as individual characteristics, in shaping the demand for and supply of credit and the degree and nature of household indebtedness in and across nations. I then attempt to explain the cross-national convergence towards rising indebtedness over the past few decades by situating the transformation of these various demand and supply side factors under the neoliberal regime.
Design of reliable control systems

A methodology for the design of reliable centralized and decentralized control systems is developed. The resulting control systems are reliable in that they provide guaranteed stability and H/sub infinity / performance not only when all control components are operational, but also for sensor or actuator outages in the centralized case, or for control-channel outages in the decentralized case. Reliability is guaranteed provided these outages occur only within a prespecified subset of control components. Strongly stabilizing designs are also developed, for both centralized and decentralized systems. >
Adaptive Learning in Bayesian Networks for Incident Duration Prediction

The development of a practical model for incident management is investigated through Bayesian networks (BNs) in this study. BNs are capable of accurately predicting incident durations and can easily be incorporated into incident management activities of traffic management centers to improve the real-time decision-making process. Three structure learning algorithms were used to construct BN structures. They were estimated by using 2005 New Jersey incident data; the best-performing one was chosen for the incident duration prediction with the use of the 10-fold cross-validation method and the Bayesian information criterion statistic. To demonstrate the performance of Bayesian learning, the chosen model was fed by 2011 New Jersey incident data on a monthly and quarterly basis. Comparing the prediction results for 2011 data with and without adaptive learning showed that the developed BN had the capability to automatically adapt itself to future conditions by learning the patterns of new incidents and their res...
Effective viscosity of a periodic suspension

Abstract : The effective viscosity of a suspension is defined to be the four-tensor which relates the average deviatoric stress to the average rate of strain. The effective viscosity of an array of spheres centered on the points of a periodic lattice in an incompressible Newtonian fluid is determined. The formulation involves the traction exerted on a single sphere by the fluid, and an integral equation for the traction is derived. For lattices with cubic symmetry the effective viscosity tensor involves just two parameters. These are computed numerically for simple, body-centered and face-centered cubic lattices of spheres with solute concentrations up to 90% of the close-packing concentration. Asymptotic results for high concentrations are obtained for arbitrary lattice geometries, and found to be in good agreement with the numerical results for cubic lattices. The low concentration asymptotic expansions of Zuzovsky also agree well with the numerical results. (Author)