cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Saints and Markets: Activists and the Supply of Credence Goods

This paper contains a theoretical exploration of the potential effects of an information-supplying activist on a market for credence goods. Using a non-cooperative game-theoretic model with incomplete information, we find that such an activist can alter the decisions of firms and consumers and enhance the social welfare of market exchange. We also find that an activist can support equilibria in which firms differentiate their products on some credence characteristic even though this characteristic remains unknown to the consumer both prior and subsequent to consumption. In general, our analysis has several implications for the study of private collective action in markets.
Chandra Observations of the Gravitational Lenses B1600+434 and B1608+656

We observed B1600+434 and B1608+656 with Chandra ACIS, detecting both quasar images in B1600+434 and three of four images in B1608+656. We did not detect significant X-ray emission from nearby galaxy groups or clusters associated with each lens galaxy. The upper limits on the X-ray luminosity of any cluster within 4' of each lens and at each lens redshift are ~2 × 1042 and ~6 × 1042 ergs s-1 for B1600+434 and B1608+656, respectively. The radio-loud source quasars have power-law photon indices of Γ = 1.9 ± 0.2 and Γ = 1.4 ± 0.3 and X-ray luminosities of 1.4 × 1045 and 2.9 × 1044 ergs s-1 for B1600+434 and B1608+656, respectively, before correcting for the magnification. We detected a differential absorption column density of ΔNH ~ 3 × 1021 cm-2 between the two images of B1600+434, roughly consistent with expectations from differential extinction estimates of ΔE(B - V) = 0.1 mag and a standard dust-to-gas ratio. The differential absorption observed in gravitational lenses may serve as an important probe to study the gas content in high-redshift galaxies, since it can separate the absorbing column originating from the lens galaxy and those intrinsic to quasars. We also detected 157 serendipitous X-ray sources in the two Chandra fields and identified the brighter optical counterparts using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and Palomar Digital Sky Survey.
Graph-Optimization Techniques for IC Layout and Compaction

This paper describes a new approach for IC layout and compaction. The compaction problem is translated into a mixed integer-linear programming problem of a very special form. A graph-based optimization algorithm is used to solve the resulting problem. An experimental program that uses the above techniques is described. The program could be used either as an aid to hand layout or as the bottom part of an automatic layout generation program.
Jacobi-Bernoulli cohomology and deformations of schemes and maps

We introduce a notion of Jacobi-Bernoulli cohomology associated to a semi-simplicial Lie algebra (SELA). For an algebraic scheme X over ℂ, we construct a tangent SELA J X and show that the Jacobi-Bernoulli cohomology of J X is related to infinitesimal deformations of X.
Systematically Bridging the Gap between Novae and Supernovae

The venerable study of cosmic explosions is over a century old. However, until recently, there has existed a glaring six-magnitude luminosity gap between the brightest novae and faintest supernovae. Serendipitous discoveries, archival searches and ongoing systematic surveys are yielding optical transients that are fainter, faster and rarer than supernovae. Theorists predict a variety of mechanisms to produce transients in the gap and observers have the best chance of finding them in the local Universe. Here I review the discoveries and the unique physics of cosmic explosions that bridge this gap between novae and supernovae.
Solid-state actinide acid phosphites from phosphorous acid melts

Abstract The reaction of UO3 and H3PO3 at 100 °C and subsequent reaction with dimethylformamide (DMF) produces crystals of the compound (NH2(CH3)2)[UO2(HPO2OH)(HPO3)]. This compound crystallizes in space group P21/n and consists of layers of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids that share equatorial vertices with phosphite units, separated by dimethylammonium. In contrast, the reaction of phosphorous acid and actinide oxides at 210 °C produces a viscous syrup. Subsequent dilution in solvents and use of standard solution-state methods results in the crystallization of two polymorphs of the actinide acid phosphites An(HPO2OH)4 (An=U, Th) and of the mixed acid phosphite–phosphite U(HPO3)(HPO2OH)2(H2O)·2(H2O). α- and β-An(HPO2OH)4 crystallize in space groups C2/c and P21/n, respectively, and comprise a three-dimensional network of An4+ cations in square antiprismatic coordination corner-sharing with protonated phosphite units, whereas U(HPO3)(HPO2OH)2(H2O)2·(H2O) crystallizes in a layered structure in space group Pbca that is composed of An4+ cations in square antiprismatic coordination corner-sharing with protonated phosphites and water ligands. We discuss our findings in using solid inorganic reagents to produce a solution-workable precursor from which solid-state compounds can be crystallized.
Rational blow-down along Wahl type plumbing trees of spheres

In this article, we construct smooth 4–manifolds homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to ℂℙ2#kℂℙ¯2, for k∈{6,7,8,9}, using the technique of rational blow-down along Wahl type plumbing trees of spheres (see J Wahl, Smoothings of normal surface singularities, Topology 20 (1981) 219–246).
TomoPy: a framework for the analysis of synchrotron tomographic data

Analysis of tomographic datasets at synchrotron light sources (including X-ray transmission tomography, X-ray fluorescence microscopy and X-ray diffraction tomography) is becoming progressively more challenging due to the increasing data acquisition rates that new technologies in X-ray sources and detectors enable. The next generation of synchrotron facilities that are currently under design or construction throughout the world will provide diffraction-limited X-ray sources and are expected to boost the current data rates by several orders of magnitude, stressing the need for the development and integration of efficient analysis tools. Here an attempt to provide a collaborative framework for the analysis of synchrotron tomographic data that has the potential to unify the effort of different facilities and beamlines performing similar tasks is described in detail. The proposed Python-based framework is open-source, platform- and data-format-independent, has multiprocessing capability and supports procedural programming that many researchers prefer. This collaborative platform could affect all major synchrotron facilities where new effort is now dedicated to developing new tools that can be deployed at the facility for real-time processing, as well as distributed to users for off-site data processing.
Remarks on the exotic central extension of the planar Galilei group

Some issues in relating the central extensions of the planar Galilei group to parameters in the corresponding relativistic theory are discussed. Some issues in relating the central extensions of the planar Galilei group to parameters in the corresponding relativistic theory are discussed.
High-speed boundary-layer transition induced by a discrete roughness element

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) is used to study laminar to turbulent transition induced by a discrete hemispherical roughness element in a high-speed laminar boundary layer. The simulations are performed under conditions matching the experiments of Danehy et al. (AIAA Paper 2009–394, 2009) for free-stream Mach numbers of 3.37, 5.26 and 8.23. It is observed that the Mach 8.23 flow remains laminar downstream of the roughness, while the lower Mach numbers undergo transition. The Mach 3.37 flow undergoes transition closer to the bump when compared with Mach 5.26, in agreement with experimental observations. Transition is accompanied by an increase in and (Stanton number). Even for the case that did not undergo transition (Mach 8.23), streamwise vortices induced by the roughness cause a significant rise in until 20 downstream. The mean van Driest transformed velocity and Reynolds stress for Mach 3.37 and 5.26 show good agreement with available data. Temporal spectra of pressure for Mach 3.37 show that frequencies in the range of 10–1000 kHz are dominant. The transition process involves the following key elements: upon interaction with the roughness element, the boundary layer separates to form a series of spanwise vortices upstream of the roughness and a separation shear layer. The system of spanwise vortices wrap around the roughness element in the form of horseshoe/necklace vortices to yield a system of counter-rotating streamwise vortices downstream of the element. These vortices are located beneath the separation shear layer and perturb it, which results in the formation of trains of hairpin-shaped vortices further downstream of the roughness for the cases that undergo transition. These hairpins spread in the span with increasing downstream distance and the flow increasingly resembles a fully developed turbulent boundary layer. A local Reynolds number based on the wall properties is seen to correlate with the onset of transition for the cases considered.
The effects of 8 weeks of heavy resistance training and branched-chain amino acid supplementation on body composition and muscle performance

Purpose: This study determined the effects of 8 weeks of heavy resistance training combined with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation on body composition and muscle performance. Methods: Resistance training was performed by 19 non-resistance-trained males (three sets of 8–10 repetitions) four times/week, for 8 weeks, while also ingesting 9 g/day of BCAA or 9 g/day of placebo (PLAC) on the exercise days only (one-half of total dose 30 min before and after exercise). Data were analyzed with separate 2 × 2 analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p < 0.05). Results: For total body mass, neither group significantly increased with training (p = 0.593) and also, there were no significant changes in total body water (p = 0.517). In addition, no training- or supplement-induced (p = 0.783) changes occurred with fat mass or fat-free mass (p = 0.907). Upper-body (p = 0.047) and lower-body strength (p = 0.044) and upper- (p = 0.001) and lower-body muscle endurance (p = 0.013) increased with training; however, these ...
Understanding Tunneling Magnetoresistance During Thermal Annealing in MgO-based Junctions with CoFeB Electrodes

The competition between the interface crystallization and diffusion processes, their influence on the onset of symmetry-filtering coherent tunneling of ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{1}$ band electrons in the MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions is investigated. Systematic study of the transport and magnetoresistance during thermal annealing of these junctions shows a unique behavior of the tunneling conductance in the parallel state. The optimal annealing time for achieving giant tunneling magnetoresistance at different temperatures is determined. The evolution of magnetoresistance consists of three distinct regions, responsible by different contributions from CoFeB electrodes and the MgO barrier. The whole phenomenon can be understood through an empirical model based on the Landauer tunneling picture.
SP-TAG: a routing algorithm in non-stationary transportation networks

In a transportation network, the network topology and parameters can change with time, resulting in non-stationarity and time-dependent route preferences. Finding shortest routes is one of the most common queries on these time dependent networks. Developing efficient algorithms for computing shortest paths in a time varying spatial network is challenging because these journeys do not always display a greedy property or optimal substructure, making techniques like dynamic programming inapplicable. Time expanded graphs, which have been used to model dynamic networks employ, replication of the network across time instants, resulting in high storage overhead and algorithms that are computationally expensive. In contrast, we propose an algorithm based on a model called a time aggregated graph, which allows the properties of edges and nodes to be modeled as a time series, thus avoiding replication. The proposed algorithm uses an A* search framework and is based on an admissible and monotone heuristic. We present the analytical cost model for the algorithm and provide an experimental comparison with existing algorithms.
Electromagnetic pion form factor and neutral pion decay width

Abstract The electromagnetic pion form factor, F π ( q 2 ), is calculated for spacelike q 2 in impulse approximation using a confining quark propagator, S , and a dressed quark-photon vertex, Γ μ , obtained from realistic, non-perturbative Dyson-Schwinger equation studies. Good agreement with the available data is obtained for F π ( q 2 ) and other pion observables, including the decay π 0 → γγ . This calculation suggests that soft, non-perturbative contributions dominate F π ( q 2 ) at presently accessible q 2 .
Period-index and u -invariant questions for function fields over complete discretely valued fields

Let K be a complete discretely valued field with residue field κ and F the function field of a curve over K. Let p be the characteristic of κ and l a prime not equal to p. If the Brauer l-dimensions of all finite extensions of κ are bounded by d and the Brauer l-dimensions of all extensions of κ of transcendence degree at most 1 are bounded by d+1, then it is known that the Brauer l-dimension of F is at most d+2 (Lieblich in J. Reine Angew. Math. 659:1–41, 2011; Saltman in J. Ramanujan Math. Soc. 12:25–47, 1997; Harbater et al. in Invent. Math. 178:231–263, 2009). In this paper we give a bound for the Brauer p-dimension of F in terms of the p-rank of κ. As an application, we show that if κ is a perfect field of characteristic 2, then any quadratic form over F in at least 9 variables is isotropic. This leads to the fact that every element in $H^{3}(F,\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z})$ is a symbol. If κ is a finite field of characteristic 2, u(F)=8 is a result of Heath-Brown/Leep (Heath-Brown in Compos. Math. 146:271–287, 2010; Leep in J. Reine Angew. Math., 2013, to appear).
Aromatic Amination/Imination Approach to Chiral Benzimidazoles

The powerful Buchwald-Hartwig amination was utilized for the construction of the benzimidazole nucleus with the substituted nitrogen atom bearing a chiral substituent. A successive amination/imination was followed by an acid-catalyzed ring closure step to give the benzimidazole ring. The products were deprotonated and acylated at the C2 position and could be alkylated on nitrogen to give chiral benzimidazolium salts.
Highly Active Palladium Catalysts for Suzuki Coupling Reactions

Mixtures of palladium acetate and o-(di-tert-butylphosphino)biphenyl (4) catalyze the room-temperature Suzuki coupling of aryl bromides and aryl chlorides with 0.5−1.0 mol % Pd. Use of o-(dicyclohexylphosphino)biphenyl (2) allows Suzuki couplings to be carried out at low catalyst loadings (0.000001−0.02 mol % Pd). The process tolerates a broad range of functional groups and substrate combinations including the use of sterically hindered substrates. This is the most active catalyst system in terms of reaction temperature, turnover number, and steric tolerance which has been reported to date.
CHAOTIC DIFFUSION OF RESONANT KUIPER BELT OBJECTS

We carried out extensive numerical orbit integrations to probe the long-term chaotic dynamics of the two strongest mean-motion resonances of Neptune in the Kuiper Belt, the 3:2 (Plutinos) and 2:1 (Twotinos). Our primary results include a computation of the relative volumes of phase space characterized by large- and small-resonance libration amplitudes, and maps of resonance stability measured by mean chaotic diffusion rate. We find that Neptune's 2:1 resonance has weaker overall long-term stability than the 3:2—only ~15% of Twotinos are projected to survive for 4 Gyr, compared to ~27% of Plutinos, based on an extrapolation from our 1-Gyr integrations. We find that Pluto has only a modest effect, causing a ~4% decrease in the Plutino population that survives to 4 Gyr. Given current observational estimates, and assuming an initial distribution of particles proportional to the local phase-space volume in the resonance, we conclude that the primordial populations of Plutinos and Twotinos formerly made up more than half the population of the classical and resonant Kuiper Belt. We also conclude that Twotinos were originally nearly as numerous as Plutinos; this is consistent with predictions from early models of smooth giant planet migration and resonance sweeping of the Kuiper Belt and provides a useful constraint for more detailed models.
QUANTUM INTERFERENCE TO MEASURE SPACETIME CURVATURE: A PROPOSED EXPERIMENT AT THE INTERSECTION OF QUANTUM MECHANICS AND GENERAL RELATIVITY

An experiment in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is proposed to measure components of the Riemann curvature tensor using atom interferometry. We show that the difference in the quantum phase Δϕ of an atom that can travel along two intersecting geodesics is given by mR0i0j/ℏ times the spacetime volume contained within the geodesics. Our expression for Δϕ also holds for gravitational waves in the long wavelength limit.
A fast least-square deconvolution algorithm for vocal tract cross section estimation

An efficient computation algorithm, based on unitary Jacobi-type rotations, is developed for fast least-square deconvolution. Specifically, this algorithm is able to solve a positive definite covariance matrix with a special Toeplitz structure in O(N/sup 2/) operations instead of O(N/sup 3/) operations. This algorithm, which takes advantage of the inherent structure of the underlying deconvolution problem, is guaranteed to be numerically stable since only unitary transformation is used. It is implemented on an experimental system for the estimation of human vocal tract cross-section. A significant gain in processing is observed. >
Clustering for faster network simplex pivots

We show how to use a combination of tree-clustering techniques and computational geometry to improve the time bounds for optimal pivot selection in the primal network simplex algorithm for minimum-cost flow and related problems and for pivot execution in the dual network simplex algorithm, from O(m) to O(√m) per pivot. Our techniques can also speed up network simplex algorithms for generalized flow, shortest paths with negative edges, maximum flow, the assignment problem, and the transshipment problem.
Origin and radiative forcing of black carbon transported to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau

Abstract. The remote and high elevation regions of central Asia are influenced by black carbon (BC) emissions from a variety of locations. BC deposition contributes to melting of glaciers and questions exist, of both scientific and policy interest, as to the origin of the BC reaching the glaciers. We use the adjoint of the GEOS-Chem model to identify the location from which BC arriving at a variety of locations in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau originates. We then calculate its direct and snow-albedo radiative forcing. We analyze the seasonal variation in the origin of BC using an adjoint sensitivity analysis, which provides a detailed map of the location of emissions that directly contribute to black carbon concentrations at receptor locations. We find that emissions from northern India and central China contribute the majority of BC to the Himalayas, although the precise location varies with season. The Tibetan Plateau receives most BC from western and central China, as well as from India, Nepal, the Middle East, Pakistan and other countries. The magnitude of contribution from each region varies with season and receptor location. We find that sources as varied as African biomass burning and Middle Eastern fossil fuel combustion can significantly contribute to the BC reaching the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. We compute radiative forcing in the snow-covered regions and find the forcing due to the BC induced snow-albedo effect to vary from 5–15 W m−2 within the region, an order of magnitude larger than radiative forcing due to the direct effect, and with significant seasonal variation in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Radiative forcing from reduced snow albedo likely accelerates glacier melting. Our analysis may help inform mitigation efforts to slow the rate of glacial melt by identifying regions that make the largest contributions to BC deposition in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau.
The social Higgs

Using published Higgs search data we investigate whether any evidence supports the possibility that the Higgs may be mixed with other neutral scalars. We combine the positive evidence for the Higgs at 125.5 GeV with search constraints at other masses to explore the viability of two simple models. The first Higgs ‘friend’ model is simply a neutral scalar mixed with the Higgs. In the second Higgs ‘accomplice’ model the new scalar has an enhanced coupling to photons due to couplings to additional charged fields. We find that the latter scenario allows improvement in fitting the data by accommodating enhanced h → γγ rates and suppression in other channels for a Higgs mass of 125.5 GeV. Small excesses at other masses allow the additional scalar to further improve the fit to the data, particularly if it has mass in the vicinity of 210 GeV. Due to observed event rates at 125.5 GeV and strong limits in high mass Higgs searches, mixing angles θ ≿ π/4 are typically disfavored at the 95% confidence level, depending on the mass of the scalar.
4,4′‐Coupled bis(isoquinolines)

Reaction of the eneamine 1 formed in situ from isoquinoline and sodium triethylborohydride with aromatic dialdehydes 3 produces 4,4′-coupled bis(isoquinolines) 4 in good yields. These compounds are readily oxidized with manganese dioxide to the corresponding diketones 5.
Optimal Frames and Newton's Method

Given a parametrized family of finite frames, we consider the optimization problem of finding the member of this family whose coefficient space most closely contains a given data vector. This nonlinear least squares problem arises naturally in the context of a certain type of radar system. We derive analytic expressions for the first and second partial derivatives of the objective function in question, permitting this optimization problem to be efficiently solved using Newton's method. We also consider how sensitive the location of this minimizer is to noise in the data vector. We further provide conditions under which one should expect the minimizer of this objective function to be unique. We conclude by discussing a related variational-calculus-based approach for solving this frame optimization problem over an interval of time.
SEPARATING TRUE V0'S FROM COMBINATORIC BACKGROUND WITH A NEURAL NETWORK

Abstract A feedforward multilayered neural network has been trained to “recognize” true V0's in the presence of a large combinatoric background using simulated data for 2 GeV/nucleon Ni + Cu interactions. The resulting neural network filter has been applied to actual data from the EOS TPC experiment. An enhancement of signal to background over more traditional selection mechanisms has been observed.
Causes of bank suspensions in the panic of 1893

Abstract There are several competing theories explaining bank panics. Some argue that panics are driven by real shocks, asymmetric information, and concerns about insolvency. Others argue that bank runs are self-fulfilling, driven by illiquidity and the beliefs of depositors. This paper tests predictions of different theories using information uniquely available for the Panic of 1893. The results suggest that real economic shocks were important determinants of the nationwide scope of panic, however at the local level, liquidity concerns are found to be a more important trigger of bank panics.
Retention of ion-implanted-xenon in olivine: Dependence on implantation dose

The diffusion of Xe in olivine, a major mineral in both meteorites and lunar samples, was studied. Xe ions were implanted at 200 keV into single-crystal synthetic-forsterite targets and the depth profiles were measured by alpha particle backscattering before and after annealing for 1 hour at temperatures up to 1500 C. The fraction of implanted Xe retained following annealing was strongly dependent on the implantation dose. Maximum retention of 100% occurred for an implantion dose of 3 x 10 to the 15th power Xe ions/sq cm. Retention was less at lower doses, with (approximately more than or = 50% loss at one hundred trillion Xe ions/sq cm. Taking the diffusion coefficient at this dose as a lower limit, the minimum activation energy necessary for Xe retention in a 10 micrometer layer for ten million years was calculated as a function of metamorphic temperature.
Prediction of separated asymmetric trailing-edge flows at transonic Mach numbers

Numerical simulations of the time-dependent, Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes equations, employing various eddy viscosity turbulence models are presented and compared with measurements from an investigation of a transonic trailing-edge flow at a high Reynolds number. Comparisons are made for mean surface quantities as well as mean and fluctuating flowfield quantities. Solutions employing two-equation turbulence models correctly predict all the major features of the flowfield. Viscous/in viscid interaction effects were found to be extremely important for predicting this flowfield and equally important to the turbulence modeling employed.
Method for Evaluating Wind Turbine Wake Effects on Wind Farm Performance

A method of testing the performance of a cluster of wind turbine units an data analysis equations are presented which together form a simple and direct procedure for determining the reduction in energy output caused by the wake of an upwind turbine. This method appears to solve the problems presented by data scatter and wind variability. Test data from the three-unit Mod-2 wind turbine cluster at Goldendale, Washington, are analyzed to illustrate the application of the proposed method. In this sample case the reduction in energy was found to be about 10 percent when the Mod-2 units were separated a distance equal to seven diameters and winds were below rated.
ENERGY-MOMENTUM TENSOR IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO DIMENSIONS

We discuss some aspects of the two-dimensional scalar field, considering particularly the action for the conformal anomaly as an “improved” gravitational coupling, and the possibility of introducing a dual coupling, which provides a “chiral” energy-momentum tensor improvement.
Three-Dimensional Surface Characterization by Two-Dimensional Autoregressive Models

An attempt is made to characterize and synthesize engineered surfaces. The proposed method, based on two-dimensional difference equations and two-dimensional linear autoregressive models, is not only an analytical tool to characterize but also to generate/synthesize three-dimensional surfaces with desired properties. The developed method expresses important three-dimensional surface characteristics such as the autocorrelation or power spectrum density functions in terms of the two-dimensional autoregressive coefficients
Mixing with microwaves: solvent-free and catalyst-free synthesis of pyrazoles and diazepines

Abstract A simple and facile condensation of hydrazines/hydrazides and diamines with 1,3-diketones/β-ketoester leads to the preparation of pyrazoles and diazepines in high yields. This eco-friendly protocol is accelerated by microwave heating and efficiently carried out without any reaction solvent or catalyst in as little as 5 min.
A Self-Reconfigurable Platform for Scalable DCT Computation Using Compressed Partial Bitstreams and BlockRAM Prefetching

In this paper, we propose a self-reconfigurable platform which can reconfigure the architecture of discrete cosine transform (DCT) computations during run-time using dynamic partial reconfiguration. The scalable architecture of DCT computations can compute different numbers of DCT coefficients in a zig-zag scan order to adapt to different requirements, such as power consumption, hardware resources, and performance. We propose a configuration manager, which is implemented in the embedded processor in order to adaptively control the reconfiguration of scalable DCT architecture during run-time. In addition, we use the Lempel-Ziv-Storer-Szymanski algorithm for compression of the partial bitstreams and on-chip BlockRAM as a cache to reduce latency overhead for loading the partial bitstreams from the off-chip memory for run-time reconfiguration. A hardware module is designed for parallel reconfiguration of the partial bitstreams. The experimental results show that our approach can reduce the external memory accesses by 69% and can achieve a 400 MB/s reconfiguration rate. Detailed trade-offs of power, throughput, and quality are investigated, and used as a criterion for self-reconfiguration.
A model for variation- and fault-tolerant digital logic using self-assembled nanowire architectures

Reconfiguration has been used for both defect- and fault-tolerant nanoscale architectures with regular structure. Recent advances in self-assembled nanowires have opened doors to a new class of electronic devices with irregular structure. For such devices, reservoir computing has been shown to be a viable approach to implement computation. This approach exploits the dynamical properties of a system rather than specifics of its structure. Here, we extend a model of reservoir computing, called the echo state network, to reflect more realistic aspects of self-assembled nanowire networks. As a proof of concept, we use echo state networks to implement basic building blocks of digital computing: AND, OR, and XOR gates, and 2-bit adder and multiplier circuits. We show that the system can operate perfectly in the presence of variations five orders of magnitude higher than ITRS's 2005 target, 6%, and achieves success rates 6 times higher than related approaches at half the cost. We also describe an adaptive algorithm that can detect faults in the system and reconfigure it to resume perfect operational condition.
Equality and Love at the End of The Marriage of Figaro: Forging Democratic Emotions

I have no idea what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don’t want to know. Some things are better left unsaid. I’d like to think they were singing about something so beautiful...
Cooling systems for satellite remote sensing instrumentation

The characteristics of a cryogenic cooling system for the Pollution Monitoring Satellite (PMS) are discussed. Studies were conducted to make the following determinations: (1) the characteristics and use of proven and state-of-the-art cryogenic cooling systems for six specified ranges of performance, (2) the system most applicable for each of the six cooling categories, and (3) conceptual designs for candidate system for each of the six representative cooling categories. The six cooling categories of electrical loads are defined. The desired mission life for the cooling system is two years with both continuous and intermittent operating conditions.
The reaction of pentasubstituted 3-hydroxy-1,2-dioxolanes (hemiperketals) with trivalent phosphorus compounds: Synthesis of β-hydroxy ketones

The reaction of a series of 4,4-dimethyl-3,5,5-(R3, R2, R1)-3-hydroxy-1,2-dioxolanes 1a–d [1a (R1 = R2 = R3 = Me); 1b (R1 = R2 = Me, R3 = Ph); 1c (R1 = Ph, R2 = R3 = Me); 1d (R1 = R3 = Ph, R2 = Me)] with trimethyl phosphite or triphenylphosphine produced the β-hydroxy ketones, 2a–d [(R1R2C(OH)CMe2-COR3)], and the corresponding phosphoryl compounds in high yield. The reactions were slow (∼24 hours), requiring excess of the trivalent phosphorus compounds for optimum results. The reaction was found to be of the second order overall, first order in peroxide and in phosphorus reagent. Triphenylphosphine was found to be more reactive than trimethyl phosphite. Formal substitution of a phenyl group for a methyl group on the hemiperketals yielded a reduction of reactivity of ∼2.4-fold at the 3-position but an increase in reactivity (∼1.5-fold) at the 5-position. The rate constants for tautomerization of 1c in benzene were determined. The activitation parameters for reaction of 1c with triphenylphosphine in benzened6 were determined [ΔH‡ = 15.0 ± 1.5 kcal/mol; ΔS‡ = −21.7 eu; ΔG‡ = 21.7 kcal/mol; k34° = 2.4 × 10−3 M−1 s−1]. The data are consistent with direct insertion of the phosphorus compounds into the peroxide bond to yield phosphorane intermediates. Rapid intramolecular hydrolysis of the intermediates would produce the β-hydroxy ketones and phosphoryl compounds.
The ideology of tribal economy and society: politics in the Jharkhand, 1950-1980

In this paper I want to explore the implications of the rise and fall of Jharkhandi ethnoregionalism from the point of view of tribal policy and tribal politics in Independent India. More especially I want to examine an ideology of tribal economy and society which informs most existing accounts of Jharkhandi politics and which makes the case for a specifically ‘tribal’ policy. The main propositions of this ideology are recounted in Section One of this paper. They are (1) that the concept of a tribe is given and uproblematical; (2) that the tribals of South Bihar are the original inhaitants of the Jharkhand, where they still predominate (see Figure I); and (3) that tribal politics and tribal policies are effective because individual tribes are themselves undifferentiated, united and geographically concentrated. (A corollary of this third proposition is that any decline in Jharkhandi ethnoregionalism since the mid-1960s must be due to factional disputes within the tribal leadership and/or to inter-tribal clashes, perhaps along denominational lines). These three propositions are examined in Sections Two, Three and Four of the paper, where they are measured against the recent historical experience of India's Jharkhand. The implications of any shortcomings in the ideology of tribal economy and society are taken up in the concluding section of the paper where comments are offered, too, on an alternative ‘model’ of tribal policy and politics in the Jharkhand.
Processing of inverted files in magnetic bubble memories

Abstract In this work the applicability of magnetic bubble memories for the processing of inverted files has been discussed. Four novel models of magnetic bubble memories are presented to demonstrate the storage structures and the data processing. The first model employs an organization of major-minor loops. On the basis of such organization a uniform ladder is formed so that the data can be rearranged by using four operations (global shift, detached shift, exchange and delta exchange). The second model makes use of the on-chip decoder (also known as self-contained magnetic bubble-domain memory chip). For this model a hashing scheme is relied upon to perform the required data operations. The third and fourth models are different combinations of the first two models. The latter two models may provide a relatively high-speed performance as well as a reasonable system complexity. For each model the algorithms of data retrieval, sorting, deletion, insertion and updating are given. Also, a comparison of the four models has been carried out in order to determine the most convenient magnetic bubble memory structure for the processing of inverted files.
Prototype performance studies of a full mesh ATCA-based general purpose data processing board

High luminosity conditions at the LHC pose many unique challenges for potential silicon based track trigger systems. One of the major challenges is data formatting, where hits from thousands of silicon modules must first be shared and organized into overlapping eta-phi trigger towers. Communication between nodes requires high bandwidth, low latency, and flexible real time data sharing, for which a full mesh backplane is a natural solution. A custom Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture data processing board is designed with the goal of creating a scalable architecture abundant in flexible, non-blocking, high bandwidth board to board communication channels while keeping the design as simple as possible. We have performed the first prototype board testing and our first attempt at designing the prototype system has proven to be successful. Leveraging the experience we gained through designing, building and testing the prototype board system we are in the final stages of laying out the next generation board, which will be used in the ATLAS Level-2 Fast TracKer as Data Formatter, as well as in the CMS Level-1 tracking trigger R&D for early technical demonstrations.
A globally convergent incremental Newton method

Motivated by machine learning problems over large data sets and distributed optimization over networks, we develop and analyze a new method called incremental Newton method for minimizing the sum of a large number of strongly convex functions. We show that our method is globally convergent for a variable stepsize rule. We further show that under a gradient growth condition, convergence rate is linear for both variable and constant stepsize rules. By means of an example, we show that without the gradient growth condition, incremental Newton method cannot achieve linear convergence. Our analysis can be extended to study other incremental methods: in particular, we obtain a linear convergence rate result for the incremental Gauss---Newton algorithm under a variable stepsize rule.
A modified kinetic theory for frictional granular flows in dense and dilute regimes

Continuum modeling of granular and gas-solid flows generally involves the use of a kinetic-theory (KT) model for the particulate phase, and the most widely used KT models have been derived for dilute flows of smooth, frictionless spheres. In reality, however, granular particles are frictional and can achieve dense packing, and these features must be taken into account to improve rheological predictions in these flow scenarios. Existing approaches in the literature for producing closed-form KT-based models employ empirical modifications to adapt the original models for use in dense and frictional systems. In this article, we investigate the capacity for such modifications to improve the rheological predictions of the Garzo–Dufty (GD) KT model [V. Garzo and J. W. Dufty, “Dense fluid transport for inelastic hard spheres,” Phys. Rev. E 59, 5895–5911 (1999)]10.1103/PhysRevE.59.5895. On the basis of molecular dynamics simulations of homogeneous, simple shear flows of soft, frictional spheres, we propose a new expression for the radial distribution function at contact as well as modifications to the GD expressions for shear stress and energy dissipation rate. These changes account for dense-regime scalings observed in inertial-number models as well as the effects of interparticle friction while preserving the dynamic nature of the KT model.
Self-assembled helices from 2,2'-biimidazoles.

2,2'-Biimidazoles were synthesized by palladium(0)-catalyzed coupling of 2-iodoimidazoles bearing an alkyl and an ester group at the 4- and 5-positions, respectively. The products were found to be fluorescent and moderately soluble in organic solvents. Three biimidazoles were subjected to single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In all three instances, adjacent molecules were found to be bound together in the solid state by pairs of N-H...N hydrogen bonds, forming twisted ribbon-like columns which resemble double helices. The amount of helical twist observed between neighboring biimidazole subunits in these helices varies with the identity of the alkyl and ester groups; in two cases it is approximately 60 degrees, whereas in the third it is about 90 degrees. Mass spectra of six different biimidazoles display ions with masses corresponding to dimers; this indicates that these compounds retain some affinity for each other in the gas phase. The three most soluble biimidazoles also show mass spectrometric peaks ascribable to trimers and tetramers. The solution-phase aggregation tendencies of these latter three compounds were studied by vapor pressure osmometry. In each case, the apparent molecular weight in 1,2-dichloroethane solution is higher than would be expected for free monomers.
Improved error estimate for the valence approximation

Abstract We construct a systematic mean-field-improved coupling constant and quark loop expansion for corrections to the valence (quenched) approximation to vacuum expectation values in the lattice formulation of QCD. Terms in the expansion are evaluated by a combination of weak coupling perturbation theory and a Monte Carlo algorithm.
Rhodium-catalyzed coupling of α-lactams with indole derivatives

Abstract We report herein a method that allows for the formation of a C–N bond between the C –3 carbon of α-lactams and the nitrogen atom of indoles. A general procedure for the coupling of indoles and α-lactams in only 25 min with high yield is reported. The scope of the reaction was extended by the development of a method for the in situ generation of less stable phenyl-substituted α-lactams. The developed method provides an atom-economical method for the formation of substituted α-amino amides that are found in a variety of biologically-active compounds.
Pregnancy outcomes after first trimester exposure to phentermine/fenfluramine.

Background Fenfluramine was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 1997 because of its association with cardiac-valve abnormalities in adults. The combination of fenfluramine and phentermine had been widely used to promote weight loss, and many women were inadvertently exposed during the first trimester of pregnancy. The possible effect on the developing fetus has not been studied. Methods Controlled prospective cohort study comparing 98 women who had taken phentermine/fenfluramine to 233 women who had not, all of whom contacted the California Teratogen Information Service during pregnancy. Results The proportion of liveborn infants with major structural anomalies was similar in the two groups (3.6% vs. 1.0%, relative risk (RR) 3.59; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61, 21.10), as was the proportion of infants with ≥3 minor anomalies (11.7% vs. 7.6%, RR 1.53; 95% CI 0.61, 3.82). Furthermore, no pattern of malformation was identified. There were no significant differences between the groups in spontaneous pregnancy loss (6.1% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.65) or premature delivery (8.6% vs. 7.7%, P = 0.95). Birth weight and head circumference were significantly increased in the exposed group; however, these differences were not associated with anorexiant use itself. The rate of gestational diabetes was significantly increased in pregnant women who took phentermine/fenfluramine during the first trimester of pregnancy. Conclusions Although it is not possible from this study to rule out weak to moderate associations, the lack of an increased risk of spontaneous pregnancy loss, and major or minor anomalies in the offspring of women who took phentermine/fenfluramine at the recommended daily dose during the first trimester of pregnancy is reassuring. Teratology 65:125–130, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
ChIP-on-chip significance analysis reveals large-scale binding and regulation by human transcription factor oncogenes

ChIP-on-chip has emerged as a powerful tool to dissect the complex network of regulatory interactions between transcription factors and their targets. However, most ChIP-on-chip analysis methods use conservative approaches aimed at minimizing false-positive transcription factor targets. We present a model with improved sensitivity in detecting binding events from ChIP-on-chip data. Its application to human T cells, followed by extensive biochemical validation, reveals that 3 oncogenic transcription factors, NOTCH1, MYC, and HES1, bind to several thousand target gene promoters, up to an order of magnitude increase over conventional analysis methods. Gene expression profiling upon NOTCH1 inhibition shows broad-scale functional regulation across the entire range of predicted target genes, establishing a closer link between occupancy and regulation. Finally, the increased sensitivity reveals a combinatorial regulatory program in which MYC cobinds to virtually all NOTCH1-bound promoters. Overall, these results suggest an unappreciated complexity of transcriptional regulatory networks and highlight the fundamental importance of genome-scale analysis to represent transcriptional programs.
Wide band data transmission system using optical fibers

An ultrahigh-speed data transmission system using optical fibers and gallium arsenide digital integrated circuits has been investigated. The system is designed to meet the increased data rate requirements of modern information processing systems as well as those of future imaging devices and high-spatial-resolution detectors. A description of the system, which uses available components made for the transmission and reception of data at 780-Mb/s rates, is given. Methods for digitizing, multiplexing, demultiplexing, error checking, etc. are also described, and the reliability of components is discussed. >
Virtual intersections on the Quot scheme and Vafa-Intriligator formulas

We construct a virtual fundamental class on the Quot scheme parametrizing quotients of a trivial bundle on a smooth projective curve. We use the virtual localization formula to calculate virtual intersection numbers on Quot. As a consequence, we re-prove the Vafa-Intriligator formula; our answer is valid even when the Quot scheme is badly behaved. More intersections of Vafa-Intriligator type are computed by the same method. Finally, we present an application to the nonvanishing of the Pontryagin ring of the moduli space of bundles
Big Men on Campus: Estimating the Economic Impact of College Sports on Local Economies

Baade R. A., Baumann R. W. and Matheson V. A. Big men on campus: estimating the economic impact of college sports on local economies, Regional Studies. College American football and men's basketball are the largest revenue generators in college athletics, and boosters tout the economic benefits of athletic programmes as an incentive for cities to construct new sports facilities at considerable public expense. An analysis of the economic impact of home football and men's basketball games on Tallahassee (home of Florida State University) and Gainesville (home of the University of Florida) between 1980 and 2007 fails to support these claims. Men's basketball games at these universities have no statistically significant impact on taxable sales, while football yields a modest gain of about US$2 million per home game. Baade R. A., Baumann R. W. et Matheson V. A. Des geants sur le campus: evaluer l'impact economique du sport de college sur les economies locales, Regional Studies. Aux E-U, le football americain e...
Formation of Medium-Sized Nitrogen Heterocycles from γ-Silyloxy-γ-Lactams

Nitrogen heterocycles can be prepared by performing ring-expansion reactions of γ-silyloxy-γ-lactams, which are available by the annulation reactions of allylic silanes. Nucleophilic substitution of the annulation products and subsequent translactamization of nitrogen-tethered γ-lactams provide six-, seven-, and eight-membered ring lactams. An enantiomerically enriched δ-lactam formed from this method was elaborated to form the hydroxypiperidine core structure of the pseudodistomin alkaloids.
Temperature Induced in a Medium Due to a Suddenly Applied Pressure Inside a Spherical Cavity

Temperature induced in medium due to suddenly applied pressure inside spherical cavity investigated, using iteration method
Remote Plasma Cleaning and Ion-Induced Hydrogen Desorption from the Silicon (100) Surface and Its Applications to Si Epitaxy

We have studied the conditions for effective removal of H from the silicon (100) surface by Ar and He plasma bombardment as a function of pressure, plasma power and time. At a given pressure, a range of rf plasma powers exists for effective H-desorption. For example, at 250°C and for 100 mTorr of He, H is desorbed only between 12 and 50W of plasma power. The range of effective powers was found to become narrower with increasing pressure. We have also found the efficacy of the H-plasma clean to be reduced by addition of He and Ar. Substrate damage results from Ar addition and from increased plasma power for pure H. The results are discussed along with Langmuir probe analysis of the various plasma conditions.