cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting sentinel and residual lymph node basin disease after sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma.

BACKGROUND The selection of patients for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) and selective lymphadenectomy for histologically positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLND) are areas of debate. The authors of the current study attempted to identify predictors of metastases to the sentinel and residual nonsentinel lymph nodes in patients with melanoma. METHODS The Indiana University Interdisciplinary Melanoma Program computerized database was queried to identify all patients who underwent SNB for clinically localized cutaneous melanoma. Demographic, surgical, and histopathologic data were recorded. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associations with SNB and nonsentinel lymph node positivity. Classification tree and logistic procedures were performed to identify the ideal tumor thickness cutpoint at which to perform SNB. RESULTS Two hundred seventy-five SNB procedures were performed to stage 348 regional lymph node basins for occult metastases from melanoma. Of the 275 melanomas, 54 (19.6%) had a positive SNB, as did 58 of 348 basins (16.7%). Classification and logistic regression analysis identified a Breslow depth of 1.25 mm to be the most significant cutpoint for SNB positivity (odds ratio 8.8:1; P = 0.0001). By multivariate analyses, a Breslow thickness cutpoint ≥ 1.25 mm (P = 0.0002), ulceration (P = 0.005), and high mitotic index (> 5 mitoses/high-power field; P = 0.04) were significant predictors of SNB results. SLND was performed in 53 SNB positive patients, 15 of whom (28.3%) had at least 1 additional positive lymph node. SLND positivity was noted across a wide range of primary tumor characteristics and was associated significantly with multiple positive SN, but not with any other variable. SNB result correlated significantly with disease free and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Patients with a Breslow tumor thickness ≥ 1.25 mm, ulceration, and high mitotic index are most likely to have positive SNB results. SLND is recommended for all patients after positive SNB because it is difficult to identify patients with residual lymph node disease. Cancer 2000;89:453–62. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Grand unified inflation confronts WMAP

In a class of realistic four and five dimensional supersymmetric grand unified models, the scalar spectral index is found to be ns = 0.98(±0.01), in excellent agreement with the values determined by several previous experiments and most recently by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). The models predict dns/dlnk ~ 10−3 and a negligible tensor-to-scalar ratio r ~ 10−8. A new five dimensional supersymmetric SO(10) model along these is presented in which inflation is associated with the breaking of SO(10) to SU(5) at scale M, with δT/T∝(M/MPlanck)2, so that M 1016 GeV. The inflaton decay leads to the observed baryon asymmetry via leptogenesis. We also discuss how the monopole problem is solved without the use of non-renormalizable terms.
Founding Family Ownership and Earnings Quality

This study investigates the relation between founding family ownership and earnings quality using data from the Standard & Poor's 500 companies. Existing literature has documented that financial reporting is of higher quality when firms have stronger corporate governance mechanisms and when there is greater demand for quality financial reporting. I provide two competing theories of the effect of founding family ownership on the demand and supply of earnings quality: the entrenchment effect and the alignment effect. The empirical results show that, on average, founding family ownership is associated with higher earnings quality. In particular, I find consistent evidence that founding family ownership is associated with lower abnormal accruals, greater earnings informativeness, and less persistence of transitory loss components in earnings. In addition, the results suggest a nonlinear relation between family ownership and earnings quality.
Leafwise smoothing laminations

We show that every topological surface lamination of a 3-manifold M is isotopic to one with smoothly immersed leaves. This carries out a project proposed by Gabai in [Problems in foliations and laminations, AMS/IP Stud. Adv. Math. 2.2 1--33]. Consequently any such lamination admits the structure of a Riemann surface lamination, and therefore useful structure theorems of Candel [Uniformization of surface laminations, Ann. Sci. Ecole Norm. Sup. 26 (1993) 489--516] and Ghys [Dynamique et geometrie complexes, Panoramas et Syntheses 8 (1999)] apply.
From notes to chords in QCD

After a very brief overview recollecting the `classic' parts of QCD, that is its application to describe hard processes and static properties of hadrons, I survey recent work -- some very recent -- on QCD at non-zero temperature and density. At finite temperature and zero density there is a compelling theoretical framework allowing us to predict highly specific, non-trivial dependence of the phase structure on the number of flavors and colors. Several aspects have been rigorously, and successfully, tested against massive numerical realizations of the microscopic theory. The theoretical description of high density is nowhere near as mature, but some intriguing possibilities have been put forward. The color/flavor locked state recently proposed for three flavors has many remarkable features connected to its basic symmetry structure, notably including chiral symmetry re-breaking and the existence (unlike for two flavors) of a gauge invariant order parameter. I survey potential applications to heavy ion collisions, astrophysics, and cosmology. A noteworthy possibility is that stellar explosions are powered by release of QCD latent heat.
Mechanochemistry and sonochemistry: concluding remarks

This paper offers a perspective on mechanochemistry and offers summarizing commentary on the Faraday Discussion170, “Mechanochemistry: From Functional Solids to Single Molecules”. The connection between the mechanical and the chemical worlds dates back to our earliest written records and beyond, but its renaissance over the past decade or so has had an impact on a huge swathe of modern science and engineering: from metallurgists to polymer scientists to synthetic organic and inorganic chemists to cellular biologists. Connections among the different subfields of mechanochemistry (tribochemistry, trituration, macromolecular, and sonochemistry) are drawn out and the common themes and open questions are considered.
The pathologic findings in a case of facial paralysis.

A review of the pathology and theories for the causalgia of idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's Palsy). The few facial nerve specimens which have been obtained at autopsy will be discussed and the temporal bones of a new case, who died of rupture of the aorta after the onset of facial paralysis, will be reported. The patient showed engorgement of the microcirculation in the Fallopian canal and a fresh hemorrhage deep to the geniculate ganglion. The significance of these findings in regard to the pathogenesis of Bell's Palsy will be discussed.
Spectral properties and desmotropy of the Schiff base of diethylaminomalonate and pyridoxal hydrochloride

Abstract Evidence is presented indicating that in aqueous solution, the product formed between diethyl aminomalonate and pyridoxal (vitamin B 6 )is the Schiff base, and not the 1,4-dihydropyridine tautomer which exists in the solid state. The structure of the Schiff base is established unequivocally by its 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra. Reflectance spectroscopy shows that the solid dihydropyridine tautomer absorbs at 560 nm.
Identification of Absorption Features in an Extrasolar Planet Atmosphere

Water absorption is identified in the atmosphere of HD 209458b by comparing models for the planet's transmitted spectrum to recent, multiwavelength, eclipse-depth measurements (from 0.3 to 1 μm) published by Knutson et al. A cloud-free model that includes solar abundances, rainout of condensates, and photoionization of sodium and potassium is in good agreement with the entire set of eclipse-depth measurements from the ultraviolet to near-infrared. Constraints are placed on condensate removal by gravitational settling, the bulk metallicity, and the redistribution of absorbed stellar flux. Comparisons are also made to the Charbonneau et al. sodium measurements.
Nonlinear Stress-Strain Behavior of Graphite/Epoxy Laminates

The nonlinear stress-strain behavior of graphite/epox y was investigated. One hundred and eighty-one coupon specimens of the [ ±0] s family, with 0 equal to 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, 35°, 40°, 45°, 50°, 55°, 60°, 75°, and 90°, were tested in uniaxial tension. All specimens were unnotched. Three types of tests were conducted: monotonic-to-failure; load, unload, reload-to-failure; and 100 load-unload cycles followed by a load-to-failure. In the latter two cases, the load cycle entered the nonlinear stress-strain region of the specimen. Two basic loadings were found to cause nonlinear stress-strain behavior in a unidirectional ply: longitudinal tension, which causes "stiffening," and shear, which causes "softening." These effects combined to cause overall stiffening in the [ ±8] s laminates for 0 less than 20°, and softening for 6 greater than 20°. The load, unload, reload tests showed three important results. First, there was a "permanent strain" left at zero load for those laminates that softened. Second, the reload path has the same modulus as the original load path and rejoins the basic stressstrain curve at the point to which the laminate was previously loaded. Third, the laminates show no memory of one previous loading after being reloaded to the original load point as further loading produces a stress-strain curve unaltered by one load, unload, reload cycle including no change in fracture stress. Implications for general laminates are discussed.
Spin waves in micro-structured yttrium iron garnet nanometer-thick films

We investigated the spin-wave propagation in a micro-structured yttrium iron garnet waveguide of 40 nm thickness. Utilizing spatially-resolved Brillouin light scattering microscopy, an exponential decay of the spin-wave amplitude of (10.06 ± 0.83) μm was observed. This leads to an estimated Gilbert damping constant of α=(8.79±0.73)×10−4, which is larger than damping values obtained through ferromagnetic resonance measurements in unstructured films. The theoretically calculated spatial interference of waveguide modes was compared to the spin-wave pattern observed experimentally by means of Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy.
Gust front detection in weather radar images by entropy matched functional template

We describe a new gust front detection method using functional template correction (FTC) and entropy. The new method provides better boundaries than does a previously developed method by our group (V. DeBrunner and E. Matusiak, 2003). Our proposed method described in this paper requires only one template for detection, thereby reducing the computational complexity and so yielding an algorithm that is more suitable for real time detection than that previously developed one.
Spatial evolution of nonlinear acoustic mode instabilities on hypersonic boundary layers

The effects are considered of strong critical layer nonlinearity on the spatial evolution of an initially linear acoustic mode instability wave on a hypersonic flat plate boundary layer. The analysis shows that nonlinearity, which is initially confined to a thin critical layer, first becomes important when the amplitude of the pressure fluctuations become 0(1/M exp 4 In M exp 2), where M is the free stream Mach number. The flow outside the critical layer is still determined by linear dynamics and therefore takes the form of a linear instability wave, but with its amplitude completely determined by the flow within the critical layer. The latter flow is determined by a coupled set of nonlinear equations, which were solved numerically.
Reconstruction through accountability

In post-conflict situations the question regularly comes up as to whether the call for criminal prosecution may be compromised in the interest of reconstruction. Justice and reconciliation are often considered as competing concepts. The author argues that there is not necessarily such a dichotomy. Whether there is, in fact, a duty to prosecute should be answered on the basis of international human rights law. The question ultimately depends on how human rights can be effectively guaranteed in the long run. A survey of contemporary jurisprudence and international practice shows that prosecution is increasingly viewed as an indispensable measure of human rights protection. But criminal justice is not to be achieved at all costs. Mixed forms of accountability are a potential model for the future including that of Iraq.
1,1,1-Trimethylhydrazinium Iodide: A Novel, Highly Reactive Reagent for Aromatic Amination via Vicarious Nucleophilic Substitution of Hydrogen.

1,1,1-Trimethylhydrazinium iodide, TMHI, has been shown to be a novel vicarious nucleophilic substitution aminating reagent. It can be used to obtain isomers not produced by reaction with other nucleophilic aminating reagents. It is easily prepared from 1,1-dimethylhydrazine, or directly from hydrazine. Further studies on the use of TMHI and related quaternary hydrazines as nucleophlic aminating reagents are in progress. 1 tab.
pp-wave limits and orientifolds

Abstract We study the pp-wave limits of various elliptic models with orientifold planes and D7-branes, as well as the pp-wave limit of an orientifold of AdS5×T11. Many of the limits contain both open and closed strings. We also present pp-wave limits of theories which give rise to a compact null direction and contain open strings. Maps between the string theory states and gauge theory operators are proposed.
Breast cancer survival, work, and earnings

Relying on data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) linked to longitudinal social security earnings data, we examine differences between breast cancer survivors and a non-cancer control group in employment, hours worked, wages, and earnings. Overall, breast cancer has a negative impact on employment. However, among survivors who work, hours of work, wages, and earnings are higher compared to women in the control group. We explore possible biases underlying these estimates, focusing on selection, but cannot rule out a causal interpretation. Our research points to heterogeneous labor market responses to breast cancer, and shows that breast cancer does not appear to be debilitating for women who remain in the work force.
Finite precision error analysis of a QR-decomposition-based lattice predictor

We analyze the finite precision properties ofa QR-decomposition-based adaptive lattice filter used as a linear one-step predictor implemented using fixed-point arithmetic. We present equations for the steadystate mean-squared values of the accumulated numerical errors in the computations of the algorithm. Our analysis indicates that the numerical inaccuracy associated with some of the variables in the algorithm increases with increasing values of the exponential weighting factor employed by the adaptive filter. However, there are some other variables whose numerical accuracy increases with increasing values of the exponential weighting factor, indicating that different variables in the algorithm may need to be implemented with different precisions to obtain the desired numerical accuracy. The analysis also shows that the numerical errors, in general, increase from stage to stage. The errors tend to be larger for highly correlated signals than for signals with less correlation between neighboring samples. We also present experimental verification of the analytical results. The predicted and experimental results show close agreement for practical values of the weighting factor and precision used in the implementation of the adaptive filter.
Variability of the solar soft X-ray irradiance (0.6–2.5 nm) with solar activity

Abstract The solar soft X-ray spectral irradiance between 0.6 and 2.5 nm varies by orders of magnitude between the “quiet Sun” and X-class solar flares, with the spectral distribution of emission changing markedly with increasing level of activity. Full-disk spectra recorded in this wavelength range with high spectral resolution (0.02 nm) and over a wide range of activity by scanning crystal spectrometers on early orbiting spacecrafts and sounding rockets provide detailed information on these changing spectral distributions. Photometric calibrations of available observations made on OSO3 and OSO5 have been updated using broad band soft X-ray ionization chamber measurements made concurrently with the spectrometer observations. In this paper, we present algorithms for both the integrated 0.8–2.0 nm flux and for specific spectral bands recorded by the scanning spectrometers in the 0.6–2.5 nm range. These results apply only to the Sun under non-flaring conditions. Results for flares will be presented in a subsequent paper.
Regiodivergent Metal-Catalyzed Rearrangement of 3-Iminocyclopropenes into N-Fused Heterocycles

A highly efficient regiodivergent method for the synthesis of N-fused heterocycles via transition-metal-catalyzed rearrangement of 3-iminocyclopropenes has been developed.
Smart Lighting – Illumination Systems that Think

Lighting systems with sensors and digital control are often called “Smart Lighting” systems. Emerging trends in illumination and controls will create future lighting systems that “think”, offering illumination systems with radically new features and capabilities.
End-to-end latency of a fault-tolerant CORBA infrastructure

This paper presents an evaluation of the end-to-end latency of a fault-tolerant CORBA infrastructure that we have implemented. The fault-tolerant infrastructure replicates the server applications using active, passive and semi-active replication, and maintains strong replica consistency of the server replicas. By analyses and by measurements of the running fault-tolerant infrastructure, we characterize the end-to-end latency under fault-free conditions. The main determining factor of the run-time performance of the fault-tolerant infrastructure is the Totem group communication protocol, which contributes to the end-to-end latency primarily in two ways: the delay in sending messages and the processing cost of the rotating token.To reduce the delay in sending messages for passive and semi-active replication, the position of the primary server replica on the Totem ring, the token rotation time, the processing time at the client, and the processing time at the server must be considered. For active replication, the presence of duplicate messages adversely affects the performance. However, if an effective sending-side duplicate suppression mechanism is implemented, active replication is more advantageous than both passive and semi-active replication because of the automatic selection of the most favorable position of the server replica that sends the first non-duplicate reply.
Mathematics of thermoacoustic tomography

The paper presents a survey of mathematical problems, techniques, and challenges arising in the Thermoacoustic (also called Photoacoustic or Optoacoustic) Tomography.
Patient-Specific Vascular NURBS Modeling for Isogeometric Analysis of Blood Flow

We describe an approach to construct hexahedral solid NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines) meshes for patient-specific vascular geometric models from imaging data for use in isogeometric analysis. First, image processing techniques, such as contrast enhancement, filtering, classification, and segmentation, are used to improve the quality of the input imaging data. Then, lumenal surfaces are extracted by isocontouring the preprocessed data, followed by the extraction of vascular skeleton via Voronoi and Delaunay diagrams. Next, the skeleton-based sweeping method is used to construct hexahedral control meshes. Templates are designed for various branching configurations to decompose the geometry into mapped meshable patches. Each patch is then meshed using one-to-one sweeping techniques, and boundary vertices are projected to the lumenal surface. Finally, hexahedral solid NURBS are constructed and used in isogeometric analysis of blood flow. Piecewise linear hexahedral meshes can also be obtained using this approach. Examples of patient-specific arterial models are presented.
Anonymous oocyte donation: a follow-up analysis of donors' experiences

Background: this study was conducted to assess oocyte donors' satisfaction after the procedure and to obtain information on base rates of various experiences associated with oocyte donation. Methods: volunteer anonymous oocyte donors seen at a university-based IVF programs were identified (N = 54). The follow-up questionnaire asked donors to rate aspects of clinic interactions, medical procedures and experiences during and after the process, as well as expectations and level of fulfillment. Results: ten individuals were lost to follow-up and 20 donors did not respond. The typical oocyte donor respondent (N = 24) was 26.5 years old, Caucasian, single with no children and had experienced some college education. Mean follow-up time was 21 months. Overall, 79% were satisfied or extremely satisfied with their experience, 42% would be an oocyte donor again and 50% would recommend that a friend consider being an oocyte donor. Donors tolerated procedures well, but most did experience cramping and injection site p...
Elastic Routing Table with Provable Performance for Congestion Control in DHT Networks

Consistent hashing-based DHT networks have an inherent load balancing problem. The problem becomes more severe in heterogeneous networks with nonuniform and time-varying popular files. Existing DHT load balancing algorithms are mainly focused on the issues caused by node heterogeneity. To deal with skewed lookups, this paper presents an elastic routing table (ERT) mechanism for query load balancing, based on the observation that high-degree nodes tend to receive more traffic load. The mechanism allows each node to have a routing table of variable size corresponding to node capacities. The indegree and outdegree of the routing table can also be adjusted dynamically in response to the change of file popularity and network churn. Theoretical analysis proves that the routing table degree is bounded. The ERT mechanism facilitates locality-aware randomized query forwarding to further improve lookup efficiency. By relating query forwarding to a supermarket customer service model, we prove that a two-way randomized query forwarding policy should lead to an exponential improvement in query processing time over random walking. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the ERT mechanism and its related query forwarding policy for congestion and query load balancing. In comparison with existing "virtual-server?-based load balancing algorithms and other routing table control approaches, the ERT-based congestion control protocol yields significant improvement in query lookup efficiency.
Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Occult Open-Globe Injuries

Purpose To determine the radiographic signs present on computed tomography (CT) most suggestive of occult open-globe injury. Design Retrospective chart review. Participants Forty-eight eyes (of 46 patients), 34 of which were found to have an occult open-globe injury on surgical exploration. Methods A retrospective chart review of all eyes of patients 18 years or older undergoing surgical exploration to rule out occult open-globe injury after CT examination at Parkland Memorial Hospital between October, 1998, and September, 2003, was conducted. Patients with obvious corneal or corneoscleral lacerations or with uveal prolapse were excluded. The CT films were obtained and independently reviewed by 3 masked observers (2 neuroradiologists and 1 ophthalmologist). Main Outcome Measures Presence of occult open-globe injury with respect to radiographic globe and orbital findings. Results The sensitivity of CT for determining occult open-globe injury varied from 56% to 68% between the observers, specificity ranged from 79% to 100%, positive predictive value ranged from 86% to 100%, and negative predictive value ranged from 42% to 50%. Open-globe injuries averaged more CT findings per patient compared with intact globes ( P = 0.047). Statistically significant CT findings for occult open-globe injury included any change in globe contour ( P = 0.001), obvious volume loss ( P = 0.003), an absent or dislocated lens ( P = 0.048), vitreous hemorrhage ( P = 0.003), and retinal detachment ( P = 0.044). Additionally, moderate to severe change in globe contour, obvious volume loss, total vitreous hemorrhage, and absence of lens were seen only in eyes with occult rupture. Conclusions Although CT scanning may provide valuable information in patients in whom an occult open-globe injury is suspected, its sensitivity and specificity are inadequate to be relied on fully, and such patients generally should be taken to the operating room for formal surgical evaluation. Significant changes in globe contour or obvious volume loss are strong predictors of globe rupture, and any vitreous hemorrhage should be a concern for occult injury.
Decentralized Computation Offloading Game for Mobile Cloud Computing

Mobile cloud computing is envisioned as a promising approach to augment computation capabilities of mobile devices for emerging resource-hungry mobile applications. In this paper, we propose a game theoretic approach for achieving efficient computation offloading for mobile cloud computing. We formulate the decentralized computation offloading decision making problem among mobile device users as a decentralized computation offloading game. We analyze the structural property of the game and show that the game always admits a Nash equilibrium. We then design a decentralized computation offloading mechanism that can achieve a Nash equilibrium of the game and quantify its efficiency ratio over the centralized optimal solution. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed mechanism can achieve efficient computation offloading performance and scale well as the system size increases.
Uniformity of stably integral points on elliptic curves

A common practice in arithmetic geometry is that of generalizing rational points on projective varieties to integral points on quasi-projective varieties. Following this practice, we demonstrate an analogue of a result of L. Caporaso, J. Harris and B. Mazur, showing that the Lang - Vojta conjecture implies a uniform bound on the number of stably integral points on an elliptic curve over a number field, as well as the uniform boundedness conjecture (Merel's theorem).
M DWARFS IN SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY STRIPE 82: PHOTOMETRIC LIGHT CURVES AND FLARE RATE ANALYSIS ∗

We present a flare rate analysis of 50,130 M dwarf light curves in Sloan Digital Sky Survey Stripe 82. We identified 271 flares using a customized variability index to search ~2.5 million photometric observations for flux increases in the u and g bands. Every image of a flaring observation was examined by eye and with a point-spread function-matching and image subtraction tool to guard against false positives. Flaring is found to be strongly correlated with the appearance of H? in emission in the quiet spectrum. Of the 99 flare stars that have spectra, we classify eight as relatively inactive. The flaring fraction is found to increase strongly in stars with redder colors during quiescence, which can be attributed to the increasing flare visibility and increasing active fraction for redder stars. The flaring fraction is strongly correlated with |Z| distance such that most stars that flare are within 300 pc of the Galactic plane. We derive flare u-band luminosities and find that the most luminous flares occur on the earlier-type m dwarfs. Our best estimate of the lower limit on the flaring rate (averaged over Stripe 82) for flares with ?u ? 0.7 mag on stars with u < 22 is 1.3 flares hr?1 deg?2 but can vary significantly with the line of sight.
Modeling of energy buildup for a flare-productive region

A self-consistent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of shearing magnetic loops is used to investigate magnetic energy buildup in active region AR 2372 (Boulder number), in the period of 5–7 April, 1980. The magnetic field and sunspot motions in this region, derived using observational data obtained by the Marshall Space Flight Center Solar Observatory, suggest the initial boundary conditions for the model. It is found that the plasma parameters (i.e., density, temperature, and plasma flow velocity) do not change appreciable during the process of energy buildup as the magnetic loops are sheared. Thus, almost all of the added energy is stored in the magnetic field. Furthermore, it is shown that dynamical processes are not important during a slow buildup (i.e., for a shearing velocity less than 1 km s-1). Finally, we conclude that the amount of magnetic energy stored and the location of this stored magnetic energy depend on the initial magnetic field (whether potential of sheared) and the magnitude of the shearing motion.
Top quark production at the Tevatron

Preliminary results on the $t\bar{t}$ production cross section measurement at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV carried out by the CDF and DO collaborations are presented. The data samples used for the analyses are collected in the current Tevatron run. PACS: 14.65.Ha Top quarks – 13.85.Qk Hadron-induced inclusive production with identified leptons, photons, or other nonhadronic particles (energy > 10 GeV) – 13.85.Lg Hadron-induced total cross sections (energy > 10 GeV)
CMS Pixel Data Quality Monitoring

Abstract We present the CMS Pixel Data Quality Monitoring (DQM) system. The concept and architecture are discussed. The monitored quantities are introduced, and the methods on how to ensure that the detector takes high-quality data with large efficiency are explained. Finally we describe the automated data certification scheme, which is used to certify and classify the data from the Pixel detector for physics analyses.
Thermal property measurement of thin aluminum oxide layers for giant magnetoresistive (GMR) head applications

Abstract In recent years, the magnetic recording storage industry has developed a growing interest in increasing recording density of the magnetic disks. Since dimensions of the recording head read transducer have been scaled down to increase areal density, all other parameters being equal, the energy required to cause damage by an ElectroStatic Discharge (ESD) event is reduced substantially. The present work characterizes the thermal transport properties of Al2O3 gap layer, which are essential to address the ESD failure. This study provides data for out-of-plane thermal conductivity of thin Al2O3 layers, which are obtained using steady-state Joule heating and electrical-resistance thermometry technique.
Sketchpad III a Computer Program for Drawing in Three Dimensions

An important area of investigation for the M.I.T. Computer-Aided Design Project is the development of a facility for three-dimensional shape description. The heavy dependence of mechanical design upon three-dimensional objects makes such a facility an indispensable part of the full system which is envisioned. This paper describes the unique features required for three-dimensional graphics. Although the Sketchpad III System described here shares many features and routines with the Sketchpad System described in the preceding paper by Sutherland, the extension of graphical techniques from two to three dimensions introduces many added requirements.
Studies on tetanus toxin

In a series ofin vivo andin vitro experiments employing crude and purified tetanus toxin labelled with fluorescent dyes, the following observations were made: The significance of toxin binding by tissue sections and isolated mitochondria relative to the mode of action of tetanus toxin is discussed.
A 2MASS L Dwarf Companion to the Nearby K Dwarf GJ 1048

We report the discovery of a probable L1 companion to the nearby K2 dwarf GJ 1048 using the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS).
Fredholm realizations of elliptic symbols on manifolds with boundary

We show that the existence of a Fredholm element of the zero calculus of pseudodifferential operators on a compact manifold with boundary with a given elliptic symbol is determined, up to stability, by the vanishing of the Atiyah-Bott obstruction. It follows that, up to small deformations and stability, the same symbols have Fredholm realizations in the zero calculus, in the scattering calculus and in the transmission calculus of Boutet de Monvel.
Visualizing pair formation on the atomic scale and the search for the mechanism of superconductivity in high-Tc cuprates

We have developed several new experimental techniques, based on the scanning tunneling microscope, to visualize the process of pair formation on the atomic scale and to probe with high precision what controls the strength of pairing in high-Tc cuprate superconductor compounds. These new experiments provide evidence that pairing in these exotic superconductors occurs above the bulk transition temperature and in nanoscale regions with sizes of 1?3?nm. The high temperature nucleation and proliferation of these nanoscale puddles have a strong connection to the temperature?doping phase diagram of these superconductors. On average we have found that the pairing gap ? and the temperature at which they first nucleate Tp follow the simple relation: 2?/kBTp~8. Moreover, the variations of the pairing strength on the nanoscale can be examined to find microscopic clues to the mechanism of pairing. Specifically, we have found evidence that suggests that strong electronic correlation, as opposed to coupling of electrons to bosons, is responsible for the pairing mechanism in the cuprates. Surprisingly, we have found that nanoscale measurements of electronic correlations in the normal state (at temperatures as high as twice Tc) can be used to predict the strength of the local pairing interaction at low temperatures.
1-bromo-1-lithioethene: a practical reagent for the efficient preparation of 2-bromo-1-alken-3-ols.

A reliable preparative-scale synthesis of 1-bromo-1-lithioethene is reported. This reagent undergoes clean 1,2-addition with a range of aldehydes and ketones at −105 °C to afford the corresponding 2-bromo-1-alken-3-ols in moderate to excellent yield. Efficient diastereoselective addition to α-siloxy and α-methylcyclohexanones, as well as protected 3-keto furanose sugars, is achieved in the presence of 10 mol % CeBr3. The resulting bromoallylic alcohol adducts have considerable potential as synthetic building blocks.
Fixed charge and interface traps at heterovalent interfaces between Si(100) and non-crystalline Al2O3–Ta2O5 alloys

Abstract Characterization by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirms (Ta2O5)x(Al2O3)1−x alloys are homogeneous pseudo-binary alloys with increased thermal stability with respect to end member oxides, Ta2O5 and Al2O3. Capacitance–voltage (C–V) and current density–voltage (J–V) data as a function of temperate show that the Ta d-states of the alloys act as localized electron traps, and are at an energy approximately equal to the conduction band offset of Ta2O5 with respect to Si.
On asynchronous capacity and dispersion

Recently Tchamkerten et al. proposed a mathematical formulation of the problem of joint synchronization and error-correction in noisy channels. A variation of their formulation in this paper considers a strengthened requirement that the decoder estimate both the message and the location of the codeword exactly. It is shown that the capacity region remains unchanged and that the strong converse holds. The finite blocklength regime is investigated and it is demonstrated that even for moderate blocklengths, it is possible to construct capacity-achieving codes that tolerate exponential level of asynchronism and experience only a rather small loss in rate compared to the perfectly synchronized setting; in particular, the channel dispersion does not suffer any degradation due to asynchronism.
The Pattern Method for incorporating tidal uncertainty into probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment (PTHA)

In this paper, we describe a general framework for incorporating tidal uncertainty into probabilistic tsunami hazard assessment and propose the Pattern Method and a simpler special case called the \(\Delta t\) Method as effective approaches. The general framework also covers the method developed by Mofjeld et al. (J Atmos Ocean Technol 24(1):117–123, 2007) that was used for the 2009 Seaside, Oregon probabilistic study by Gonzalez et al. (J Geophys Res 114(C11):023, 2009). We show that the Pattern Method is superior to past approaches because it takes advantage of our ability to run the tsunami simulation at multiple tide stages and uses the time history of flow depth at strategic gauge locations to infer the temporal pattern of waves that is unique to each tsunami source. Combining these patterns with knowledge of the tide cycle at a particular location improves the ability to estimate the probability that a wave will arrive at a time when the tidal stage is sufficiently large that a quantity of interest such as the maximum flow depth exceeds a specified level. Python scripts to accompany this paper are available at DOI 10.5281/zenodo.12406.
A characterization of Leonard pairs using the notion of a tail

Abstract Let V denote a vector space with finite positive dimension. We consider an ordered pair of linear transformations A : V → V and A ∗ : V → V that satisfy (i) and (ii) below: (i) There exists a basis for V with respect to which the matrix representing A is irreducible tridiagonal and the matrix representing A ∗ is diagonal. (ii) There exists a basis for V with respect to which the matrix representing A ∗ is irreducible tridiagonal and the matrix representing A is diagonal. We call such a pair a Leonard pair on V. In this paper, we characterize the Leonard pairs using the notion of a tail. This notion is borrowed from algebraic graph theory.
A self-consistent inclusion of magnetic screening for the quark-gluon plasma

We discuss how magnetic screening can be systematically included in a self-consistent way for Chromodynamics at high temperatures. The resulting gap equation, which gives the summation of self-energy insertions, is calculated to one-loop order and leads to a nonzero value for the magnetic mass.
Rationality around the clock: Sleep and time-of-day effects on guessing game responses

We administer an online Guessing Game collecting responses across all 24 h of the day. While time-of-day itself does not affect guesses, when including trait-level sleepiness and previous night sleep, adverse sleep states lead to responses significantly farther from equilibrium.
Collaborative forecasting, inventory hedging and contract coordination in dynamic supply risk management

Abstract We examine the intertemporal and decentralization effects on managing disruption risks in a supply chain with lost sales and fixed transportation cost. The disruption risk is continuously monitored via collaborative forecasting based on advance supply signals —such as financial health and operational viability. We first develop a Markov model to capture the nonstationary, volatile, and dynamic nature of the forecast evolution. We then integrate the forecast into a dynamic programming for inventory hedging under three hierarchies. We derive an easy-to-implement coordination contract and a simple policy structure that facilitates ex ante strategic planning and ex post dynamic execution. The optimal strategy is driven by properly balanced adaptiveness, resilience and intertemporal imperatives. It outperforms the conventional inventory hedging and lean management by reducing premature inventory holding in good times, and timely ramping up safety stock ahead of looming disruptions. The proposed subsidy contract can effectively address double marginalization and information concealment problems via risk sharing, power preserving, and Pareto improving. We show that dynamic forecast is valuable for high margin products, moderate fixed cost, and low demand volatility. Without coordination, mandating supply information sharing can exacerbate supply disruptions. The three instruments are strategic complements and most effective when deployed jointly. This research highlights the importance of integrating forecast, inventory, and contract instruments in managing supply risk dynamically. It also explains two rationales—the resilience and information imperatives—behind recent trends of onshoring and vertical integration.
COSMOLOGY OF "VISIBLE" STERILE NEUTRINOS

We point out that in scenarios with a low reheating temperature TR << 100 MeV at the end of (the last episode of) inflation or entropy production, the abundance of sterile neutrinos becomes largely independent of their coupling to active neutrinos. Thus, cosmological bounds become less stringent than usually assumed, allowing sterile neutrinos to be "visible" in future experiments. For example, the sterile neutrino required by the LSND result does not have any cosmological problem within these scenarios.
Upper limits on the isotropic gravitational radiation background from pulsar timing analysis

A pulsar and the earth may be thought of as end masses of a free-mass gravitational wave antenna in which the relative motion of the masses is monitored by observing the Doppler shift of the pulse arrival times. Using timing residuals from PSR 1133 + 16, 1237 + 25, 1604-00, and 2045-16, an upper limit to the spectrum of the isotropic gravitational radiation background has been derived in the frequency band 4 x 10 to the -9th to 10 to the -7th Hz. This limit is found to be S(E) = 10 to the 21st f-cubed ergs/cu cm Hz, where S(E) is the energy density spectrum and f is the frequency in Hz. This would limit the energy density at frequencies below 10 to the -8th Hz to be 0.00014 times the critical density.
Propagation of singularities in many-body scattering

Abstract In this paper we describe the propagation of singularities of tempered distributional solutions u∈ S ′ of (H−λ)u=0, λ>0, where H is a many-body Hamiltonian H=Δ+V, Δ⩾0, V=∑aVa, under the assumption that no subsystem has a bound state and that the two-body interactions Va are real-valued polyhomogeneous symbols of order −1 (e.g. Coulomb-type with the singularity at the origin removed). Here the term ‘singularity’ provides a microlocal description of the lack of decay at infinity. We use this result to prove that the wave front relation of the free-to-free S-matrix (which, under our assumptions, is all of the S-matrix) is given by the broken geodesic flow, broken at the ‘singular directions’, on S n−1 at time π. We also present a natural geometric generalization to asymptotically Euclidean spaces.
Hosts of type II quasars: An HST study

Abstract Type II quasars are luminous Active Galactic Nuclei whose centers are obscured by large amounts of gas and dust. In this contribution we present 3-band HST images of nine type II quasars with redshifts 0.25 z M B > −26, but optical obscuration implies that host galaxies can be studied unencumbered by bright nuclei. Each object has been imaged in three filters (‘red’, ‘green’ and ‘blue’) placed between the strong emission lines. The spectacular, high quality images reveal a wealth of details about the structure of the host galaxies and their environments. Most galaxies in the sample are ellipticals, but strong deviations from de Vaucouleurs profiles are found, especially in the blue band. We argue that most of these deviations are due to the light from the nucleus scattered off interstellar material in the host galaxy. This scattered component can make a significant contribution to the broad-band flux and complicates the analysis of the colors of the stellar populations in the host galaxy. This extended component can be difficult to notice in unobscured luminous quasars and may bias the results of host galaxy studies.
OH Zeeman Magnetic Field Detections toward Five Supernova Remnants Using the VLA

We have observed the OH (1720 MHz) line in five galactic SNRs with the VLA to measure their magnetic field strengths using the Zeeman effect. We detected all 12 of the bright (Sν > 200 mJy) OH (1720 MHz) masers previously detected by Frail et al. and Green et al. and measured significant magnetic fields (i.e., >3 σ) in 10 of them. Assuming that the thermal Zeeman equation can be used to estimate for OH masers, our estimated fields range from 0.2 to 2 mG. These magnetic field strengths are consistent with the hypothesis that ambient molecular cloud magnetic fields are compressed via the SNR shock to the observed values. Magnetic fields of this magnitude exert a considerable influence on the properties of the cloud with the magnetic pressures (10-7-10-9 ergs cm-3) exceeding the pressure in the ISM or even the thermal pressure of the hot gas interior to the remnant. This study brings the number of galactic SNRs with OH (1720 MHz) Zeeman detections to 10.
Formation of topological defects.

We consider the formation of point and line topological defects (monopoles and strings) from a general point of view by allowing the probability of formation of a defect to vary. To investigate the statistical properties of the defects at formation we give qualitative arguments that are independent of any particular model in which such defects occur. These arguments are substantiated by numerical results in the case of strings and for monopoles in two dimensions. We find that the network of strings at formation undergoes a transition at a certain critical density below which there are no infinite strings and the closed-string (loop) distribution is exponentially suppressed at large lengths. The results are contrasted with the results of statistical arguments applied to a box of strings in dynamical equilibrium. We argue that if point defects were to form with smaller probability, the distance between monopoles and antimonopoles would decrease while the monopole-to-monopole distance would increase. We find that monopoles are always paired with antimonopoles but the pairing becomes clean only when the number density of defects is small. A similar reasoning would also apply to other defects.
Current and forthcoming issues in the South African electricity sector

One of the contentious issues in electricity reform is whether there are significant gains from restructuring systems that are moderately well run. South Africa's electricity system is a case in point. The sector's state-owned utility, Eskom, has been generating some of the lowest-priced electricity in the world, has largely achieved revenue adequacy, and has financed the bulk of the government's ambitious electrification program. Moreover, the key technical performance indicators of Eskom's generation plants have reached world-class levels. Yet the sector is confronted today with serious challenges. South Africa's electricity system is currently facing a tight demand/supply balance, and the distribution segment of the industry is in serious financial trouble. This paper provides a careful diagnostic assessment of the industry and identifies a range of policy and restructuring options to improve its performance. It suggests removing distribution from municipal control and privatizing it, calls for vertical and horizontal unbundling, and argues that the cost-benefit analysis of different structural options should focus on investment incentives and not just current operating efficiency.
Making neutrinos massive with an axion in supersymmetry

Abstract The minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) of particle interactions is extended to include three singlet (right-handed) neutrino superfields together with three other singlet superfields. The resulting theory is assumed to be invariant under an anomalous global U (1) (Peccei–Quinn) symmetry with one fundamental mass m 2 . The soft breaking of supersymmetry at the TeV scale is shown to generate an axion scale f a of order m 2 . Neutrino masses are generated by f a according to the usual seesaw mechanism.