cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Over-expression of XIST, the Master Gene for X Chromosome Inactivation, in Females With Major Affective Disorders

Abstract Background Psychiatric disorders are common mental disorders without a pathological biomarker. Classic genetic studies found that an extra X chromosome frequently causes psychiatric symptoms in patients with either Klinefelter syndrome (XXY) or Triple X syndrome (XXX). Over-dosage of some X-linked escapee genes was suggested to cause psychiatric disorders. However, relevance of these rare genetic diseases to the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders in the general population of psychiatric patients is unknown. Methods XIST and several X-linked genes were studied in 36 lymphoblastoid cell lines from healthy females and 60 lymphoblastoid cell lines from female patients with either bipolar disorder or recurrent major depression. XIST and KDM5C expression was also quantified in 48 RNA samples from postmortem human brains of healthy female controls and female psychiatric patients. Findings We found that the XIST gene, a master in control of X chromosome inactivation (XCI), is significantly over-expressed ( p =1×10 −7 , corrected after multiple comparisons) in the lymphoblastoid cells of female patients with either bipolar disorder or major depression. The X-linked escapee gene KDM5C also displays significant up-regulation ( p =5.3×10 −7 , corrected after multiple comparisons) in the patients' cells. Expression of XIST and KDM5C is highly correlated (Pearson's coefficient, r =0.78, p =1.3×10 −13 ). Studies on human postmortem brains supported over-expression of the XIST gene in female psychiatric patients. Interpretations We propose that over-expression of XIST may cause or result from subtle alteration of XCI, which up-regulates the expression of some X-linked escapee genes including KDM5C . Over-expression of X-linked genes could be a common mechanism for the development of psychiatric disorders between patients with those rare genetic diseases and the general population of female psychiatric patients with XIST over-expression. Our studies suggest that XIST and KDM5C expression could be used as a biological marker for diagnosis of psychiatric disorders in a significantly large subset of female patients. Research in context Due to lack of biological markers, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders are subjective. There is utmost urgency to identify biomarkers for clinics, research, and drug development. We found that XIST and KDM5C gene expression may be used as a biological marker for diagnosis of major affective disorders in a significantly large subset of female patients from the general population. Our studies show that over-expression of XIST and some X-linked escapee genes may be a common mechanism for development of psychiatric disorders between the patients with rare genetic diseases (XXY or XXX) and the general population of female psychiatric patients.
Women's Empowerment and Socio-Economic Outcomes: Impacts of the Andhra Pradesh Rural Poverty Reduction Program

The paper explores whether one of the largest programs in the world for women's empowerment and rural livelihoods, the Indira Kranti Patham in Andhra Pradesh, India, has had an impact on the economic and social wellbeing of households that participate in the program. The analysis usespanel data for 4,250 households from two rounds of a survey conducted in 2004 and 2008 in five districts. Propensity score matching was used to construct control groups and outcomes are compared with differences-in-differences. There are two major impacts. First, the Indira Kranti Patham program increased participants' access to loans, which allowed them to accumulate some assets (livestock and durables for the poorest and nonfarm assets for the poor), invest in education, and increase total expenditures (for the poorest and poor). Women who participated in the program had more freedom to go places and were less afraid to disagree with their husbands; the women participated more in village meetings and their children were slightly more likely to attend school. Consistent with the emphasis of the program on the poor, the impacts were stronger across the board for the poorest and poor participants and were more pronounced for long-term Scheduled Tribe participants. No significant differences are found between participants and nonparticipants in some maternal and child health indicators. Second, program participants were significantly more likely to benefit from various targeted government programs, most important the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, but also midday meals in schools, hostels, and housing programs. This was an important way in which the program contributed to the improved wellbeing of program participants. The effects captured by the analysis accrue to program participants over and above those that may accrue to all households in program villages.
Managing the Radio Spectrum : Framework for Reform in Developing Countries

Bringing management of the radio spectrum closer to markets is long overdue. The radio spectrum is a major component of the infrastructure that underpins the information society. Spectrum management, however, has not kept up with major changes in technology, business practice, and economic policy that have taken place worldwide during the last two decades. For many years traditional government administration of the spectrum worked reasonably well, but more recently it has led to growing technical and economic inefficiencies as well as obstacles to technological innovation. Two alternative approaches to spectrum management are being tried in several countries, one driven by the market (tradable spectrum rights) and another driven by technology innovation (spectrum commons). This paper discusses the basic features, advantages and limitations, scope of application, and requirements for implementation of these three approaches. The paper then discusses how these approaches can be made to work under conditions that typically prevail in developing countries, including weak rule of law, limited markets, and constrained fiscal space. Although spectrum reform strategies for individual countries must be developed case by case, several broadly applicable strategic options are outlined. The paper proposes a phased approach to addressing spectrum reform in a country. It ends by discussing aspects of institutional design, managing the transition, and addressing high-level changes such as the transition to digital television, the path to third-generation mobile services, launching of wireless fixed broadband services, and releasing military spectrum. The paper is extensively annotated and referenced.
Physics of neutron star kicks

It is no longer necessary to `sell' the idea of pulsar kicks, the notion that neutron stars receive a large velocity (a few hundred to a thousand km s$^{-1}$) at birth. However, the origin of the kicks remains mysterious. We review the physics of different kick mechanisms, including hydrodynamically driven, neutrino and magnetically driven kicks.
Barriers to Participation: Exploring Gender in Peru’s Participatory Budget Process

AbstractAs citizens increasingly work to improve transparency and governance, participatory budgeting (PB) has emerged in thousands of cities. Advocates argue that PB can serve to educate citizens, increase transparency, and even improve living standards in the cities and towns that implement this form of public finance. However, we still know very little about how inclusive these processes are. This article asks: first, are participatory budgeting processes engaging women and men equally? Second, if gender exclusion is taking place, why? Finally, what can the development community do to begin to eradicate exclusion? Through the case study of participatory budgeting in Peru, the article documents that participatory budgeting in this country is not inclusive. Economic barriers, combined with the fact that women are expected to take on most domestic duties, make it very hard for women to actually attend meetings, especially in rural areas where poverty and patriarchy are more pronounced. Additionally, the w...
Dynamical instabilities and transient short-range order in the fermionic Hubbard model

We study the dynamics of magnetic correlations in the half-filled fermionic Hubbard model following a fast ramp of the repulsive interaction. We use Schwinger-Keldysh self-consistent second-order perturbation theory to investigate the evolution of single-particle Green's functions and solve the nonequilibrium Bethe-Salpeter equation to study the dynamics of magnetic correlations. This approach gives us new insights into the interplay between single-particle relaxation dynamics and the growth of antiferromagnetic correlations. Depending on the ramping time and the final value of the interaction, we find different dynamical behavior which we illustrate using a dynamical phase diagram. Of particular interest is the emergence of a transient short-range ordered regime characterized by the strong initial growth of antiferromagnetic correlations followed by a decay of correlations upon thermalization. The discussed phenomena can be probed in experiments with ultracold atoms in optical lattices.
Transition from Initial Hypoactivity to Hyperactivity in Cortical Layer V Pyramidal Neurons after Traumatic Brain Injury In Vivo.

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often results in structural damage and a loss of neurons that is commonly accompanied by early changes in neuronal electrical activity. Loss of neuronal activity has been hypothesized to contribute to post-traumatic epileptogenesis through the regulation of homeostatic plasticity. The existence of activity loss in cortical neurons after TBI and its subsequent transition into hyperactivity over time is not well characterized, however, particularly in models of TBI in vivo. In the current study, changes in neuronal activity in the primary motor cortex after moderate controlled cortical impact (CCI) in mice were studied using a single-unit recording technique in vivo. Recordings were made at different time points after CCI from cortical layer V pyramidal neurons that were within 1–2 mm from the anterior edge of the injured foci. Within 1–4 h after CCI, the frequency of spontaneous single-unit activity depressed significantly, with the mean firing frequency decreasing fro...
Floor plan generation and room labeling of indoor environments from laser range data

Automatic generation of building floor plans is useful in many emerging applications, including indoor navigation, augmented and virtual reality, as well as building energy simulation software. These applications require watertight models with limited complexity. In this paper, we present an approach that produces 2.5D extruded watertight models of building interiors from either 2D particle filter grid maps or full 3D point-clouds captured by mobile mapping systems. Our approach is to triangulate a 2D sampling of wall positions and separate these triangles into interior and exterior sets. We partition the interior volume of the building model by rooms, then simplify the model to reduce noise. Such labels are useful for building energy simulations involving thermal models, as well as for ensuring geometric accuracy of the resulting 3D model. We experimentally verify the performance of our proposed approach on a wide variety of buildings. Our approach is efficient enough to be used in real-time in conjunction with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) applications.
Semantic part segmentation using compositional model combining shape and appearance

In this paper, we study the problem of semantic part segmentation for animals. This is more challenging than standard object detection, object segmentation and pose estimation tasks because semantic parts of animals often have similar appearance and highly varying shapes. To tackle these challenges, we build a mixture of compositional models to represent the object boundary and the boundaries of semantic parts. And we incorporate edge, appearance, and semantic part cues into the compositional model. Given part-level segmentation annotation, we develop a novel algorithm to learn a mixture of compositional models under various poses and viewpoints for certain animal classes. Furthermore, a linear complexity algorithm is offered for efficient inference of the compositional model using dynamic programming. We evaluate our method for horse and cow using a newly annotated dataset on Pascal VOC 2010 which has pixelwise part labels. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Product Standards, Harmonization, and Trade : Evidence from the Extensive Margin

The author uses a new database of EU product standards in the textiles, clothing, and footwear sectors to present the first empirical evidence that international standards harmonization is associated with increased partner country export variety. A 10 percentage point increase in the proportion of internationally harmonized standards is associated with a 0.2 percent increase in partner country export variety, whereas a 10 percent increase in the total number of standards is associated with a nearly 6 percent decrease in product variety. Although small, the harmonization elasticity is statistically significant, and proves highly robust to sample changes and instrumental variables estimation using instruments motivated by political economy considerations. Moreover, it is found to be around 50 percent higher for low income countries, which suggests that they may be particularly constrained in adapting products to meet multiple standards. Numerical simulations show that these findings are consistent with a heterogeneous firms model of trade in which harmonization is beneficial at the extensive margin provided that any increases in compliance costs are not too large.
Open Skies for Africa: Implementing the Yamoussoukro Decision

In Africa, domestic and international air transport is often viewed as being able to provide a greater economic growth and development potential than the inadequate roads, ports and railways common in most of Africa. Domestic air transport markets still lag behind their international, intercontinental transport connections. The Yamoussoukro Decision treaty attempted to address the need for regional, local and intracountry air transport services. This book examines how much progress has been made, discusses still pending steps toward greater air transport and addresses basic challenges of less than adequate aviation safety and security. Emphasizing the economic significance of air transport, future policy recommendations are presented.
Broadband filters for abatement of spontaneous emission in circuit quantum electrodynamics

The ability to perform fast, high-fidelity readout of quantum bits (qubits) is essential to the goal of building a quantum computer. However, coupling a fast measurement channel to a superconducting qubit typically also speeds up its relaxation via spontaneous emission. Here, we use impedance engineering to design a filter by which photons may easily leave the resonator at the cavity frequency but not at the qubit frequency. We implement this broadband filter in both an on-chip and off-chip configuration.
General Olefin Synthesis by the Palladium‐Catalyzed Heck Reaction of Amides: Sterically Controlled Chemoselective N ? C Activation

Metal-catalyzed reactions of amides proceeding via metal insertion into the N-CO bond are severely underdeveloped due to resonance stabilization of the amide bond. Herein we report the first Heck reaction of amides proceeding via highly chemoselective N-CO cleavage catalyzed by Pd(0) utilizing amide bond ground-state destabilization. Conceptually, this transformation provides access to a myriad of metal-catalyzed transformations of amides via metal insertion/decarbonylation.
Crisis Response in Latin America: Is the "Rainy Day" at Hand?

This paper examines the countercyclical policy options available to Latin American countries in the face of the current global economic crisis, concluding that most of the major countries in the region appear to possess the fiscal space (as measured by credible fiscal sustainability and debt headroom) to run prudent countercyclical fiscal deficits. Those countries should undertake a constrained fiscal expansion focused on productive public spending and financed by rainy day fundslarge stocks of foreign exchange reserves that they have accumulated during recent yearsrather than by market borrowing. The recent surge in multilateral financial activity to alleviate market illiquidity, whether intended for reserve or budget support, strengthens the case for this policy prescription: with multilateral support, the appropriate policy response is more expansionary, and its financing is less reliant on market borrowing.
Vendor performance with supply risk: A chance-constrained DEA approach

Abstract The strategic importance of vendor evaluation is well established in the purchasing literature. Several evaluation methodologies that consider multiple performance attributes have been proposed for vendor evaluation purposes. While these techniques range from scoring models that utilize prior articulation of weights to derive composite scores for vendors to advanced mathematical models, methods that incorporate the inherent variability in vendor's performance attributes have been limited. The primary reason for the lack of development of such models is due to the complexities associated with stochastic approaches. In order to more accurately evaluate the performance of vendors, it is critical to consider variability in vendor attributes. This paper is an attempt to fill this void in vendor evaluation models by presenting a chance-constrained data envelopment analysis (CCDEA) approach in the presence of multiple performance measures that are uncertain. Our paper effectively demonstrates the first application of CCDEA in the area of purchasing, in general, and vendor evaluation, in particular. The model is demonstrated by applying it to a previously reported dataset from a pharmaceutical company.
The structure of the oxygen-rich supernova remnant G292.0 + 1.8 from Chandra X-ray images: Shocked ejecta and circumstellar medium

We present results from the observation of the young Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) G292.0+1.8 with the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) on board the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. In the 0.3-8 keV band, the high-resolution ACIS images reveal a complex morphology consisting of knots and filaments as well as the blast wave around the periphery of the SNR. We present equivalent width (EW) maps for the elemental species O, Ne, Mg, and Si, which allow us to identify regions of enhanced metallicity in the SNR. G292.0+1.8 is bright in O, Ne, and Si and weaker in S and Ar, with little Fe. The EW and broadband images indicate that the metal-rich ejecta are distributed primarily around the periphery of the SNR. The central beltlike structure has a normal solar-type composition, strongly suggesting that it is primarily emission from a shocked circumstellar medium rather than metal-rich ejecta. We propose that the belt traces its origin to enhanced mass loss in the star's equatorial plane during the slow, red supergiant phase. We also identify thin filaments with normal composition, centered on and extending nearly continuously around the outer boundary of the SNR. These may originate in a shell caused by the stellar winds from the massive progenitor in the red/blue supergiant phases, overrun by the blast wave.
Large Deviations of Empirical Measures Under Symmetric Interaction

We prove the large deviation principle for the joint empirical measure of pairs of random variables which are coupled by a “totally symmetric” interaction. The rate function is given by an explicit bilinear expression, which is finite only on product measures and hence is non-convex.
Critical cluster size: Island morphology and size distribution in submonolayer epitaxial growth.

The dynamic scaling of the island-size distribution in submonolayer epitaxial growth and its dependence on the critical island size $i$ is studied using a realistic model of epitaxial growth for $i\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0,1,2$, and 3. An analytic expression for the scaled island-size distribution as a function of $i$ is also proposed. Our results agree well with experiments on Fe/Fe(100) deposition and on Fe/Cu(100) deposition. Crossover scaling forms for the variation of the island density and critical island size as a function of temperature and deposition rate are also presented.
On the Unilateral Shift as a Hilbert Module over the Disc Algebra

We study the unilateral shift (of arbitrary countable multiplicity) as a Hilbert module over the disc algebra and the associated extension groups. In relation with the problem of determining whether this module is projective, we consider a special class of extensions, which we call polynomial. We show that the subgroup of polynomial extensions of a contractive module by the adjoint of the unilateral shift is trivial. The main tool is a function theoretic decomposition of the Sz.-Nagy–Foias model space for completely non-unitary contractions.
Interference problems in a coherent aberration sensor

Fast IR wave-front aberration sensors are essential to the improved performance of HEL systems. However, one must not transfer sensor designs which function well (in principle and in practice) for the incoherent blackbody realm over into the coherent environment without first considering possible interference problems. A case history of one such sensor which failed this precept is considered.
X-band integrated circuit mixer with reactively terminated image

An X -band mixer using GaAS Schottky barrier diodes with a thin-film 500-MHz IF preamplifier was developed using hybrid microwave integrated circuit techniques. The balanced mixer had filters to provide a short circuit at the image frequency. The entire mixer preamplifier occupied an area of only 0.38 square inches and had a noise figure of 6.7 dB which corresponded quite closely to the theoretical noise figure considering all losses. The thin-film IF amplifier alone had a 2.2-dB noise figure and the mixer IF amplifier coupling network had a loss of 0.4 dB.
Yesquel: Scalable SQL storage for Web applications

Based on a brief history of the storage systems for Web applications, we motivate the need for a new storage system. We then describe the architecture of such a system, called Yesquel. Yesquel supports the sql query language and offers performance similar to nosql storage systems.
Recent advances in efficient and selective synthesis of di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted alkenes via Pd-catalyzed alkenylation-carbonyl olefination synergy.

Although generally considered competitive, the alkenylation and carbonyl olefination routes to alkenes are also complementary. In this Account, we focus on these approaches for the synthesis of regio- and stereodefined di- and trisubstituted alkenes and a few examples of tetrasubstituted alkenes. We also discuss the subset of regio- and stereodefined dienes and oligoenes that are conjugated. Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling using alkenyl metals containing Zn, Al, Zr, and B (Negishi coupling and Suzuki coupling) or alkenyl halides and related alkenyl electrophiles provides a method of alkenylation with the widest applicability and predictability, with high stereo- and regioselectivity. The requisite alkenyl metals or alkenyl electrophiles are most commonly prepared through highly selective alkyne addition reactions including (i) conventional polar additions, (ii) hydrometalation, (iii) carbometalation, (iv) halometalation, and (v) other heteroatom-metal additions. Although much more limited in applicability, th...
Comparison of helium two-step plasma emission with that predicted from measured cross sections

Plasma emission from the afterglow of a low-pressure, 100% modulated, radio frequency (rf) excited discharge can originate from collisions between metastable atoms and fast electrons. The fast electrons are generated by collisions between pairs of metastables (Penning ionization of one metastable by another) and collisions of metastables with slower electrons (superelastic collisions). Using time-resolved Langmuir probe data, measurements were made of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) containing these fast electrons in a helium afterglow. The EEDF data were used, along with measured optical cross sections out of the 2s3S and 2s1S metastable levels, to predict intensities of various He emission lines seen in the afterglow. A comparison between the measured and predicted emission is presented.
Selective manipulation of degenerate interferometer loops by an atom-optics kicked rotor

We experimentally demonstrate that an atom-optics kicked rotor can remove the interference signal due to chosen interferometer paths in a four-pulse de Broglie wave atom interferometer. The interferometer output is dominated by two degenerate spatial loops: the nonreciprocal “trapezoid” loop and the reciprocal “figure-8” loop. By applying the kicked rotor sequence at a particular time we suppressed the contribution of the “trapezoid” loop to the interferometer signal while preserving the contribution due to the “figure-8” loop. When the degeneracy is present, the interferometer is sensitive to both rotation and linear acceleration. When the degeneracy is lifted the interferometer is insensitive to linear acceleration, but still sensitive to rotation. The suppression of nonreciprocal loops in an atom interferometer is valuable for rotation sensing.
A randomized clinical trial of dermal anesthesia by iontophoresis for peripheral intravenous catheter placement in children.

Abstract Study objective: To assess the efficacy of dermal anesthesia by lidocaine iontophoresis in children undergoing peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter placement in the emergency department. Methods: A double-blind, randomized, clinical trial was conducted at a tertiary children's hospital ED. Alert children 7 years or older requiring nonemergency PIV were eligible. Patients in the lidocaine group received 1 mL of 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine over a potential PIV site by iontophoresis. The control group received 1 mL of .9% saline solution with 1:100,000 epinephrine. After PIV placement, patients ranked the procedural pain using a visual analog scale. Complications were noted by visual inspection or telephone follow-up. Results: During a 6-month period, 22 patients were assigned to the lidocaine group and 25 to the control group. There was no significant difference in age, sex, or ethnic background between the 2 study groups, and mean application time was 12.0 minutes. The median pain score was .5 in the lidocaine group compared with 4 in the control group ( P =.0002; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1 to 5). No significant immediate or delayed complications were observed. Conclusion: Lidocaine iontophoresis provides effective dermal anesthesia for children older than 7 years of undergoing nonemergency PIV placement in the ED.[Kim MK, Kini NM, Troshynski TJ, Hennes HM: A randomized clinical trial of dermal anesthesia by iontophoresis for peripheral intravenous catheter placement in children. Ann Emerg Med April 1999;33:395-399.]
Jupiter gravity-assisted trajectories.

Exploration capabilities provided by Jupiter gravity assisted trajectories compared to direct ballistic flight trajectories
The reaction of sulfur with dilithio compounds. The syntheses and structures of phenanthro [1, 10‐cd]‐1,2‐dithiole and phenanthro[4,5‐cde] [1,2]dithiin

The sequential reaction of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with butyllithium/TMEDA/hexane and sulfur allows preparation of ring-fused dithiins, dithioles, and thiophenes. In this manner, phenanthrene has been converted to phenanthro[4,5-cde][1,2]dithiin and phenanthro[1,10cd]-1,2-dithiole. Yellow crystals of the dithiin form in C2/c (#15) space group with Z = 4, a = 13.537(3) A, b = 8.933(2) A, c = 9.601(4) A, and β = 116.19 (2)°; while orange crystals of the dithiole form in P212121 (#19) space group with Z = 4, a = 4.1507(5) A, b = 14.436(3) A, and c = 16.972(3) A. Full structures have been determined for both compounds.
Learning from mistakes: What do inconsistent choices over risk tell us?

We implement a risk experiment that allows for judgment errors to investigate who makes mistakes and whether it matters. The experiments are conducted with a random sample of the adult population in Rwanda, and data on financial decisions are collected. We find a high proportion of inconsistent choices, with over 50% of the participants making at least one mistake. Importantly, errors are informative. While risk aversion alone does not explain financial decisions, risk aversion and inconsistent choices interact in significant and sensible ways. As we would expect, risk-averse individuals are more likely to belong to a savings group and less likely to take out an informal loan. For those more likely to make mistakes, however, as they become more risk averse, they are less likely to belong to a savings group and more likely to take up informal credit, suggesting that mistakes correlate with less than optimal behavior.
Fused pyrazolo heterocycles: intramolecular [3+2]-nitrile oxide cycloadditions applied to syntheses of pyrazolo [3,4-g] [2,1] dihydrobenzoisoxazol (in) es

Abstract A general method is described to prepare pyrazolo [3,4-g] - [2,1] dihydrobenzoisoxazol (in) es utilizing intramolecular nitrile oxide cycloaddition (INOC) as the key step.
Synthesis of montiporynes A and B

Abstract Montiporynes A and B, that were among the recently isolated diacetylenic ketones from the stony coral Montipora sp., and reported to possess in vitro cytotoxic activity against several human solid tumor cells, have been synthesized in three simple steps from readily available materials.
Anomalous wetting of helium on cesium.

We report studies of the anomalous wetting of a cesium substrate by a liquid-helium film by means of the technique of third sound. In an apparatus which incorporates both glass and cesium substrates, we observe third sound to propagate across cesium for helium films such that the film thickness on glass is {ital d}{sub {ital g}}{ge}11.5 layers. For {ital d}{sub {ital g}}{le}9 layers, third sound does not propagate across the cesium substrate. The transition region is hysteretic as a function of the amount of helium in the experimental cell.
Radical deoxygenation and dehalogenation of nucleoside derivatives with hypophosphorous acid and dialkyl phosphites

Abstract Hypophosphorous acid and dialkyl phosphites are effective radical reducing agents for O-thiocarbonyl groups or halides at the sugar part of nucleoside derivatives and give the corresponding hydrocarbons in high yield.
Federalism and Health Care Cost Containment in Comparative Perspective

Despite widespread agreement over the connection between federalism and social expenditures during times of welfare state expansion, disagreement exists concerning federalism's role in the retrenchment era. Existing approaches fail to recognize institutional variation among federal states. Analysis of Britain, Germany, and Canada suggests that federalism may promote or hinder health care retrenchment depending upon how it structures the relationship between regional and national governments. Power-sharing federalism hinders health care reform by increasing the institutional obstacles to unpopular cutbacks. Power-separating federalism facilitates reform by creating opportunities for blame avoidance without substantially increasing the number of veto players. These findings challenge traditional linear or dichotomous models of federalism, suggesting the need for an approach that captures how particular types of federalism affect retrenchment politics.
Coping with Plastic Scintillators in Nuclear Safeguards

Plastic scintillators offer several advantages for nuclear safeguards research and technology to those who design, assemble, encapsulate, and calibrate detectors from raw materials that are commercially available. These large, inexpensive detectors have good spatial uniformity and good high-energy gamma-ray response. Uniform light collection is obtained with a light pipe attached to a polished scintillator wrapped with aluminum foil. Best low-energy response is obtained by applying a variance analyzer to select the low-energy bias level.
Synthesis, characterization and electrochemical investigation of cobalt(III) complexes of 3,8-dimethyl-5,6-benzo-4,7-diazadeca-3,7-diene-2,9-dione dioxime with sulfur ligands in the axial sites

Abstract Cobalt(III) complexes of the tetraaza quadridentate chelate, 3,8-dimethyl-5,6-benzo-4,7-diazadeca- 3,7-diene-2.9-dione dioxime with a sulfur ligand such as 2-mercaptoethanol, ethanethiol, thiourea, thiocyanate and thiophenol in one of the axial coordination sites of cobalt have been synthesized to study the lability of the CoS bond and the reactivity of the lower valent cobalt ion. These complexes have been characterized by C, H, N, Co analysis, conductivity measurements, magnetic susceptibility and IR, UVVis and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. The thiocyanato and 2-mercaptoethanolato complexes exhibit pseudooctahedral geometry whereas the others undergo tetragonal distortion. All these complexes exhibit two polarographic one electron reduction waves corresponding to the reductions, Co(III) to Co(II) and Co(Il) to Co(I). The cyclic voltammograms on a GC disk electrode consist of two cathodic waves corresponding to the reductions, Co(III) to Co(II) and Co(Il) to Co(I) and two anodic waves corresponding to the oxidations, Co(I) to Co(II) and Co(II)to Co(III). Both Co(III)/Co(II) and Co(II)/Co(I) redox couples are irreversible as evidenced by the Δ E p and i pa / i pc values. The i pa / i pc ratio of the Co(II)/Co(I) couple is 0.5 indicating a 50% Co(I) yield. This suggests the involvement of a coupled chemical reaction such as an ECE mechanism. The polarographic and cyclic voltammetric E 1 2 values lie at less negative potentials when compared to that of the complexes of nitrogenous bases despite the fact that the field strength, Dq z , of the axial sulfur ligands are comparable to that of the nitrogenous bases. This indicates that the CoS bond is thermodynamically less stable than the CoN bond. Electrochemical evidence is sought for the π-back bonding tendency of sulfur ligands.
Wanting to travel, more or less: Exploring the determinants of the deficit and surfeit of personal travel

This study investigates the determinants of people’s desire to increase or decrease the amount of travel they do. We use data from 1,357 working commuters, residents of three different neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. The dependent variables are indicators of Relative Desired Mobility for ten categories of travel (short- and long-distance overall and by several mode- and purpose-specific categories). These variables are measured on a five-point ordinal scale ranging from “much less” to “much more”, through which the respondents indicated the amount of travel they want to do (in the category in question) compared to what they are doing now. Censored ordered probit models were developed for these variables, with explanatory variables including general travel attitudes, specific liking for travel in each of the same separate categories, objective and subjective measures of the amount currently traveled in each category, and personality, lifestyle, and socio-demographic characteristics. The results support the hypotheses that the liking for travel has a strong positive impact, and subjective qualitative assessments of mobility have a strong negative impact, on the desire to increase one’s travel. Finally, a number of general types of effects on Relative Desired Mobility were identified, among them complementarity and substitution effects. The results of this study can provide policy makers and researchers with new and valuable insight into key principles that affect individual travel demand.
Preference aggregation under uncertainty: Savage vs. Pareto

Following Mongin [J. Econ. Theory 66 (1995) 313; J. Math. Econ. 29 (1998) 331], we study social aggregation of subjective expected utility preferences in a Savage framework. We argue that each of Savage's P3 and P4 are incompatible with the strong Pareto property. A representation theorem for social preferences satisfying Pareto indifference and conforming to the state-dependent expected utility model is provided.
Nuclear Data Sheets for A = 201☆

Evaluated nuclear structure and decay data for all nuclei within the A = 201 mass chain are presented. This work supersedes the earlier full evaluation by M. Schmorak (1986Sc31) published in Nuclear Data Sheets 49, 733 (1986) and the update by S. Rab (1994Ra12), published in Nuclear Data Sheets 71, 421 (1994).
Compensation of loss in propagating surface plasmon polariton by gain in adjacent dielectric medium

We report the suppression of loss of surface plasmon polariton propagating at the interface between silver film and optically pumped polymer with dye. The large magnitude of the effect enables a variety of applications of ‘active’ nanoplasmonics. The experimental study is accompanied by the analytical description of the phenomenon. In particular, we resolve the controversy regarding the direction of the wavevector of a wave with a strong evanescent component in an active medium.
The influence of semi-volatile and reactive primary emissions on the abundance and properties of global organic aerosol

Abstract. Semi-volatile and reactive primary organic aerosols are modeled on a global scale using the GISS GCM II' "unified" climate model. We employ the volatility basis set framework to simulate emissions, chemical reactions and phase partitioning of primary and secondary organic aerosol (POA and SOA). The model also incorporates the emissions and reactions of intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) as a source of organic aerosol (OA), one that has been missing in most prior work. Model predictions are evaluated against a broad set of observational constraints including mass concentrations, degree of oxygenation, volatility and isotopic composition. A traditional model that treats POA as non-volatile and non-reactive is also compared to the same set of observations to highlight the progress made in this effort. The revised model predicts a global dominance of SOA and brings the POA/SOA split into better agreement with ambient measurements. This change is due to traditionally defined POA evaporating and the evaporated vapors oxidizing to form non-traditional SOA. IVOCs (traditionally not included in chemical transport models) oxidize to form condensable products that account for a third of total OA, suggesting that global models have been missing a large source of OA. Predictions of the revised model for the SOA fraction at 17 different locations compared much better to observations than predictions from the traditional model. Model-predicted volatility is compared with thermodenuder data collected at three different different field campaigns: FAME-2008, MILAGRO-2006 and SOAR-2005. The revised model predicts the OA volatility much more closely than the traditional model. When compared against monthly averaged OA mass concentrations measured by the IMPROVE network, predictions of the revised model lie within a factor of two in summer and mostly within a factor of five during winter. A sensitivity analysis indicates that the winter comparison can be improved either by increasing POA emissions or lowering the volatility of those emissions. Model predictions of the isotopic composition of OA are compared against those computed via a radiocarbon isotope analysis of field samples. The contemporary fraction, on average, is slightly under-predicted (20 %) during the summer months but is a factor of two lower during the winter months. We hypothesize that the large wintertime under-prediction of surface OA mass concentrations and the contemporary fraction is due to an under-representation of biofuel (particularly, residential wood burning) emissions in the emissions inventory. Overall, the model evaluation highlights the importance of treating POA as semi-volatile and reactive in order to predict accurately the sources, composition and properties of ambient OA.
Synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes via olefin cross-metathesis.

Trisubstituted alkenes have been prepared for the first time via intermolecular olefin cross-metathesis, using 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene ruthenium alkylidene complexes 3a,b in good yields with moderate E selectivity. In addition, protected alcohols near the geminal disubstituted olefin improve reactivity for cross-metathesis.
Perioperative indicators of stress response and postoperative inflammatory complications in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: a prospective observational study.

Background Little has been published regarding the association between perioperative stress response and clinical outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB). The role of perioperative stress response in postoperative inflammatory complications (PIC) in patients undergoing OPCAB was assessed. Methods and Results The study cohort consisted of 100 patients who underwent elective OPCAB over a 5-month period. Anesthetic management was standardized and blood samples were collected before surgery, immediately after surgery, and 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after surgery. Leukocyte, neutrophil, platelet, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, cortisol, D-dimer, and fibrin degradation product were measured at each time point, and the association of each parameter with PIC was assessed. PIC included postoperative pulmonary complications, atrial fibrillation, and wound infections. PIC occurred in 30 patients at the median third postoperative day. Multivariate analysis showed preoperative cortisol (p=0.024) and cortisol on the first postoperative day (p=0.001) were significantly associated with PIC. Intraoperative cortisol release was correlated with intraoperative hemodynamic changes, including pulmonary artery pressure, central venous pressure, and cardiac index. Conclusions Patients with PIC after OPCAB have significantly increased preoperative cortisol and cortisol on the first postoperative day. Intraoperative cortisol release was significantly correlated with hemodynamic changes. The neurohormonal environment and inflammatory response during and after beating-heart surgery should be further explored. (Circ J 2008; 72: 1966 - 1974)
Police Officers’ Theories of Crime

What factors do police officers point to in explaining offending and victimization? A limited amount of prior research has addressed this question, despite the possibility that such theories impact police practice. Moreover, the findings that do exist are based solely on municipal police; yet a different socio-environmental context could lead officers to adopt different explanations. In the present paper, we draw on qualitative data obtained in interviews with campus police officers to explore how they explain common crimes on campus. They theorized petty larceny, underage drinking, and drug possession to result from a variety of factors, including opportunity, social learning, supervision, culture, peer pressure, the psychopharmacological effect of alcohol on crime, and deterrence; as a collective, these ideas form officers’ rational choice theories. After presenting our findings, we suggest how officers’ explanations of crime may be shaped by working in particular contexts and also affect how they police; implications for future research and police practice are discussed.
Benzophenone-mediated conjugate additions of aromatic aldehydes to quinones

Abstract Benzophenone increases the efficiency of the photochemically mediated addition of aldehydes to quinones.
Menu Pricing and Learning

We analyze the design of dynamic menus to sell experience goods. The quality of the product is initially unknown, and the total quantity sold in each period determines the amount of information in the market. We characterize the optimum menu as a function of consumers' beliefs, and the dynamic adjustments resulting from the diffusion of information. The firm faces a dynamic trade-off between gains from trade, information production, and information rents. It initially charges lower prices, sacrificing short-term revenue to increase sales. As more information is revealed, prices increase, and low-valuation buyers are excluded, even when the product's quality is high. {JEL D42, D82, D83, L12) plays a crucial role in many markets and other strategic environments. In particular, in markets for new products and services, sellers face uncertainty over the product's fit to consumers' needs. Consider, for example, new software products and new online services, such as DVD rentals, data backup, Internet telephony, and Internet access itself. The quality of these products is only revealed to market participants through consumption, as buyers learn from their own experience and from that of others. In these markets, heterogeneity in consumers' willingness to pay for the product creates the opportunity for firms to profitably adopt price discrimination techniques, such as menu pricing. In addition, information about a product's performance is widely and publicly accessible through an increasing number of channels.1 The availability of such aggregate information in a dynamic environment enables firms to modify their menu prices on the basis of the opinion of their customers. This aspect is particularly relevant in markets for experience goods, because the diffusion of information is endogenous to the behavior of market participants: consumers' purchasing decisions and firms' pricing strategies determine the level of sales, and hence the amount of information conveyed to the market. In this scenario, a
Thermal and dynamic effects in Langevin simulation of hysteresis in nanoscale pillars

Dynamic quantities related to hysteresis have been measured in micromagnetic simulations of single-domain nanoscale magnets at nonzero temperature. The hysteresis-loop area and magnetization-field correlation display the characteristics of resonance, and the resonance frequency is found to be temperature dependent. The period-averaged magnetization displays symmetry breaking at high frequencies.
THE INFLUENCE OF HYDRODYNAMICAL WINDS ON HOT ACCRETION DISK SOLUTIONS

We study the effect of a possible hydrodynamical wind on the nature of hot accretion disk solutions. We find that the advection-dominated branch, in the presence of a wind, maintains the self-similar solution for the disk structure with the temperature, θ ∝ 1/r, optical depth, τ ∝ rP-1/2, and accretion rate, ∝ rP. Based on global solutions, cooling due to wind energy loss and advection are found to be equally important. For a wide range of viscosity and wind parameters, the temperature is about one-tenth of the virial value and P ≈ 0.9, independent of the mass accretion rate and radius. In the context of cooling by unsaturated Comptonization of soft photons, solutions also exist in which radiative cooling, advection, and wind cooling are important. In this case, wind-regulated solutions are possible. Here, the radial dependence of the critical mass accretion rate above which solutions do not exist is unchanged from those solutions without winds. The wind/advection-dominated solutions are locally unstable to a new type of instability called "wind-driven instability," in which the presence of a wind causes the disk to be unstable to long-wavelength perturbations of the surface density. The growth rate of this instability is inversely proportional to the ratio of the radiative cooling to the gravitational energy dissipation rates, and it can grow on a timescale much longer than the viscous timescale in the disk for sufficiently small radiative cooling efficiencies.