cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the collapsing thick-walled cylinder technique for shear-band spacing

The thick-walled cylinder (TWC) technique was successfully used to investigate the shear-band patterning in AISI 304 stainless steel. Several factors that may influence the shear-band distribution and spacing in the TWC configuration were examined. The role of machining, annealing, and shrink fitting, as well as the variation of the shear-band distribution along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical specimen were evaluated. Experimental results indicate that the machined surface at the internal boundary of the cylindrical specimen, where shear bands initiate, provides a strain-hardened layer that significantly changes the condition for their initiation. Specimens with such a layer have a higher density of bands with a smaller spacing, in comparison with those without a work-hardened layer. The nature of contact interface in the cylindrical specimen assembly, either causing a clearance that changes the initial loading conditions or introducing a pre-strained layer with shrink-fitting technique, does not influence the spacing of shear bands, but does affect the evolution and development of multiple shear bands at the initial stage. The distribution of shear bands along the cylinder has a constant spacing but the maximum lengths of bands are sensitive to the position. The collapse process of the cylindrical specimen was simulated by using the RAVEN hydrocode. The deformation, temperature, and velocity histories during the cylinder collapse were calculated. The calculated results are in good agreement with the previous experimental data.
Rewarding Reactivity to Evolve Robust Controllers without Multiple Trials or Noise

Behaviors evolved in simulation are often not robust to variations of their original training environment. Thus often researchers must train explicitly to encourage such robustness. Traditional methods of training for robustness typically apply multiple non-deterministic evaluations with carefully modeled noisy distributions for sensors and effectors. In practice, such training is often computationally expensive and requires crafting accurate models. Taking inspiration from nature, where animals react appropriately to encountered stimuli, this paper introduces a measure called reactivity, i.e. the tendency to seek and react to changes in environmental input, that is applicable in single deterministic trials and can encourage robustness without exposure to noise. The measure is tested in four different maze navigation tasks, where training with reactivity proves more robust than training without noise, and equally or more robust than training with noise when testing with moderate noise levels. In this way, the results demonstrate the counterintuitive fact that sometimes training with no exposure to noise at all can evolve individuals significantly more robust to noise than by explicitly training with noise. The conclusion is that training for reactivity may often be a computationally more efficient means to encouraging robustness in evolved behaviors.
A power filter for the detection of burst sources of gravitational radiation in interferometric detectors

We present a filter for detecting gravitational wave signals from burst sources. This filter requires only minimal advance knowledge of the expected signal: i.e. the signal's frequency band and time duration. It consists of a threshold on the total power in the data stream in the specified signal band during the specified time. This filter is optimal (in the Neyman–Pearson sense) for signal searches where only this minimal information is available.
"I'll have one of each": how separating rewards into (meaningless) categories increases motivation.

We propose that separating rewards into categories can increase motivation, even when those categories are meaningless. Across six experiments, people were more motivated to obtain one reward from one category and another reward from another category than they were to obtain two rewards from a pool that included all items from either reward category. As a result, they worked longer when potential rewards for their work were separated into meaningless categories. This categorization effect persisted regardless of whether the rewards were presented using a gain or loss frame. Using both moderation and mediation analyses, we found that categorizing rewards had these positive effects on motivation by increasing the degree to which people felt they would "miss out" if they did not obtain the second reward. We discuss implications for research on motivation and incentives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved)
Monte-Carlo Studies of Bosonic van der Waals Clusters

In a previous paper [1], we developed a form of variational trial wave function and applied it to van der Waals clusters: five or less atoms of Ar and Ne modeled by the Lennard-Jones potential. In addition, we tested the trial functions for a hypothetical, light atom resembling Ne but with only half its mass. We did not study atoms such as He 4 with larger de Boer parameters, i.e., systems in which the zero point energy plays a more important role relative to the potential energy. This is the main purpose of the present paper. In fact, we study clusters to the very limit where the zeropoint energy destroys the ground state as a bound state. A simple picture of this un-binding transition predicts the power law with which the energy vanishes as the de Boer parameter approaches its critical value and the power of the divergence of the the size of the clusters in this limit. Our numerical results are in agreement with these predictions.
Rapid Emergence of Co-colonization with Community-acquired and Hospital-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains in the Hospital Setting.

Background: Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA- MRSA), a novel strain of MRSA, has recently emerged and rapidly spread in the community. Invasion into the hospital setting with replacement of the hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) has also been documented. Co-colonization with both CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA would have important clinical implications given differences in antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and the potential for exchange of genetic information. Methods: A deterministic mathematical model was developed to characterize the transmission dynamics of HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA in the hospital setting and to quantify the emergence of co-colonization with both strains Results: The model analysis shows that the state of co-colonization becomes endemic over time and that typically there is no competitive exclusion of either strain. Increasing the length of stay or rate of hospital entry among patients colonized with CA-MRSA leads to a rapid increase in the co-colonized state. Compared to MRSA decolonization strategy, improving hand hygiene com- pliance has the greatest impact on decreasing the prevalence of HA-MRSA, CA-MRSA and the co-colonized state. Conclusions: The model predicts that with the expanding community reservoir of CA-MRSA, the majority of hospitalized patients will become colonized with both CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA.
The enantioselective halo aldol reaction utilizing cyclopropyl ketone-derived enolates

A new enantioselective halo aldol reaction is reported using a chiral borane catalyst. The absolute stereochemistry of the product was unambiguously determined by chemical transformations and a preliminary mechanistic study is reported.
Database architectures for new hardware

Few years ago, DBMS stored data on disks and cached recently used data in main memory buffer pools, while designers worried about improving I/O performance and maximizing main memory utilization. Today, however, databases live in multi-level memory hierarchies that include disks, main memories, and several levels of processor caches. Recent research shows that all levels of the underlying computer hardware and devices directly influence database performance. This paper aims at (a) explaining why database performance depends on modern processor and memory microarchitectures, (b) surveying and contrasting research on the topic over the past decade, and (c) discussing future research challenges.
Cooperation in the commons

This paper delineates circumstances in which a first-best cooperative solution can be supported as a subgame perfect equilibrium in a dynamic common property renewable resource game. In a game with nonlinear resource stock effects on cost, we characterize a worst perfect equilibrium that supports cooperation for the widest range of parameter values for the discount rate, resource growth rate, harvest price, and the number of resource exploiters. The strategy profile that we propose is consistent with human behavior observed in experiments and common property resource case studies.
Toward the ideal synthesis. New transition metal- catalyzed reactions inspired by novel medicinal leads*

Studies in our laboratory are directed at the advancement of synthesis, biology, and medicine. This lecture will focus on new transition metal-catalyzed reactions that have been inspired by biologically potent targets such as phorbol and Taxol ® and by the more general interest in producing syntheses that are concise, efficient, cost- and resource-effective, envi- ronmentally benign, quick, and simple to conduct—in essence, ideal. A special emphasis in our program is placed on new transition metal-catalyzed reactions that, in the absence of cat- alyst, would be forbidden or difficult to achieve. We have thus far reported the first examples of intramolecular metal-catalyzed (4+2), (5+2), and (4+4) cycloadditions, reactions that pro- duce 6-, 7-, and 8-membered rings, respectively. Recent advances in our (5+2) cycloaddition studies will be presented, including new catalysts for relative and absolute stereochemical control. We will also describe recyclable catalysts that can be used in water, thereby mini- mizing cost and environmental concerns about solvent waste streams. New multicomponent reactions will also be presented. Finally, we will report a new (6+2) cycloaddition that pro- duces an 8-membered ring.
Do Community Characteristics Influence Environmental Outcomes? Evidence from the Toxics Release Inventory

This research uses neighborhood characteristics (at the zipcode level) in 1990 to explain toxic releases in 1993. It combines the Toxics Release Inventory data with demographic data from the 1990 U...
Uniform approach for solving some classical problems on a linear array

It is shown that a number of classical problems from linear algebra and graph theory, including instances of the algebraic path problem, matrix multiplication, matrix triangularization, and matrix transpose, can be solved using the same basic recurrence. A simple mapping of the recurrence onto a unidirectional linear array is discussed. Qualitative advantages to programming linear arrays using this approach include uniformity of design, simplicity of programming, and scalability to larger problems. The major disadvantage is that the resulting algorithms are not necessarily optimal. >
Adiabatic theory of Wannier threshold laws and ionization cross sections.

Adiabatic energy eigenvalues of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{+}$ are computed for complex values of the internuclear distance R. The infinite number of bound-state eigenenergies are represented by a function \ensuremath{\epsilon}(R) that is single valued on a multisheeted Riemann surface. A region is found where \ensuremath{\epsilon}(R) and the corresponding eigenfunctions exhibit harmonic-oscillator structure characteristic of electron motion on a potential saddle. The Schr\"odinger equation is solved in the adiabatic approximation along a path in the complex R plane to compute ionization cross sections. The cross section thus obtained joins the Wannier threshold region with the keV energy region, but the exponent near the ionization threshold disagrees with well-accepted values. Accepted values are obtained when a lowest-order diabatic correction is employed, indicating that adiabatic approximations do not give the correct zero velocity limit for ionization cross sections. Semiclassical eigenvalues for general top-of-barrier motion are given and the theory is applied to the ionization of atomic hydrogen by electron impact. The theory with a first diabatic correction gives the Wannier threshold law even for this case.
Diagnostic Evaluation of Detrimental Phenomena in High-Power Lithium-Ion Batteries

A pouch-type lithium-ion cell, with graphite anode and LiNi{sub 0.8}Co{sub 0.15}Al{sub 0.05}O{sub 2} cathode, was cycled at C/2 over 100% depth of discharge (DOD) at ambient temperature. The LiNi{sub 0.8}Co{sub 0.15}Al{sub 0.05}O{sub 2} composite cathode was primarily responsible for the significant impedance rise and capacity fade observed in that cell. The processes that led to this impedance rise were assessed by investigating the cathode surface electronic conductance, surface structure, composition, and state of charge at the microscopic level with the use of local probe techniques. Raman microscopy mapping of the cathode surface provided evidence that the state of charge of individual LiNi{sub 0.8}Co{sub 0.15}Al{sub 0.05}O{sub 2} particles was non-uniform despite the deep discharge at the end of cell testing. Current-sensing atomic force microscopy imaging revealed that the cathode surface electronic conductance diminished significantly in the tested cells. Loss of contact of active material particles with the carbon matrix and thin film formation via electrolyte decomposition not only led to LiNi{sub 0.8}Co{sub 0.15}Al{sub 0.05}O{sub 2} particle isolation and contributed to cathode interfacial charge-transfer impedance but also accounted for the observed cell power and capacity loss.
Symptom correlates of global measures of severity in schizophrenia

There is an increasing need for practical instruments that can rapidly and accurately assess the effectiveness of treatments for mental illness in clinical settings. Symptom rating scales used in clinical research are too complex and time-consuming to be useful in these settings. In contrast, single-item global measures of severity such as the Clinical Global Impression-severity scale (CGI) and the Global Assessment of Function scale (GAF) are brief and easy to complete, but little is known about their relationship with the specific symptoms of severe mental illnesses. In this study, we examine the extent to which CGI and GAF scores reflect the severity and the change in severity of positive, negative, depressive, and agitation symptoms in a sample of 102 schizophrenia inpatients at the University of Michigan Medical Center. At admission, positive symptoms were the strongest correlates of both CGI and GAF scores, followed by negative symptoms, and agitation. Depressive symptoms did not correlate significantly with either global measure. The three symptom scores together explained 58% of the variation in CGI and 39% of the variation in GAF. A similar pattern of association was found for the scores measured at discharge and for the relationships between the change in global measures and change in specific symptom clusters. Thus, by demonstrating that single-item global measures, particularly the CGI, can be reasonably good indicators of psychopathology, this study suggests that these measures may be practical tools for routine monitoring of the effectiveness of treatments for severe mental illness in community settings.
Assessing the prevalence of mycoplasma contamination in cell culture via a survey of NCBI's RNA-seq archive

Mycoplasmas are notorious contaminants of cell culture and can have profound effects on host cell biology by depriving cells of nutrients and inducing global changes in gene expression. Over the last two decades, sentinel testing has revealed wide-ranging contamination rates in mammalian culture. To obtain an unbiased assessment from hundreds of labs, we analyzed sequence data from 9395 rodent and primate samples from 884 series in the NCBI Sequence Read Archive. We found 11% of these series were contaminated (defined as ≥100 reads/million mapping to mycoplasma in one or more samples). Ninety percent of mycoplasma-mapped reads aligned to ribosomal RNA. This was unexpected given 37% of contaminated series used poly(A)-selection for mRNA enrichment. Lastly, we examined the relationship between mycoplasma contamination and host gene expression in a single cell RNA-seq dataset and found 61 host genes (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with mycoplasma-mapped read counts. In all, this study suggests mycoplasma contamination is still prevalent today and poses substantial risk to research quality.
Parallel Direction Method of Multipliers

We consider the problem of minimizing block-separable (non-smooth) convex functions subject to linear constraints. While the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) for two-block linear constraints has been intensively studied both theoretically and empirically, in spite of some preliminary work, effective generalizations of ADMM to multiple blocks is still unclear. In this paper, we propose a parallel randomized block coordinate method named Parallel Direction Method of Multipliers (PDMM) to solve optimization problems with multi-block linear constraints. At each iteration, PDMM randomly updates some blocks in parallel, behaving like parallel randomized block coordinate descent. We establish the global convergence and the iteration complexity for PDMM with constant step size. We also show that PDMM can do randomized block coordinate descent on overlapping blocks. Experimental results show that PDMM performs better than state-of-the-arts methods in two applications, robust principal component analysis and overlapping group lasso.
The evolution of digital electronics towards VLSI

Technological trends are extrapolated to the end of this century. Problems of utilizing high levels of integration are noted, and the capabilities of technology are viewed in the perspective of the problems to provide a forecast of the levels of integration that will be found in large computing systems. A physical model and some more speculative system assumptions are used to estimate the performance of the systems. The physical characteristics forecast for the system are summarized.
The theory of hybrid automata

We summarize several recent results about hybrid automata. Our goal is to demonstrate that concepts from the theory of discrete concurrent systems can give insights into partly continuous systems, and that methods for the verification of finite-state systems can be used to analyze certain systems with uncountable state spaces.
Acoustic Interferometry and the Calibration Integral Equation Method for Inverse Heat Conduction

Abstract: This paper expands the recently proposed Calibration Integral Equation Method (CIEM) for resolving inverse heat conduction problems to include an alternative instrumentation scheme based on ultrasonic interferometry. Conventional approaches to inverse heat conduction problems use local temperature data obtained from in-depth thermocouples. In contrast, the mathematical framework developed in this paper is based on an pulse-echo transducer arrangement for estimating the active-side surface heat flux and temperature. The resulting formulation leads to a first kind Volterra integral equation involving only calibration data and the unknown surface condition (either net surface heat flux or temperature). This approach eliminates the need to specify any thermophysical properties associated with the sample and hence reduces systematic errors. The linearized formulation can make use of the identical computational procedures as previously developed in the context of in-depth thermocouples.
Recent advances in dynamic covalent chemistry

Dynamic covalent chemistry (DCvC) has been strongly integrated into diverse research fields, and has enabled easy access to a variety of combinatorial libraries, 2-D macrocycles, and 3-D molecular cages that target many important applications, such as drug discovery, biotechnology, molecular separation, light harvesting, etc. DCvC relies on the reversible formation and breaking of rather strong covalent bonding within molecules. Therefore it combines the error-correction capability of supramolecular chemistry and the robustness of covalent bonding. Compared to those supramolecular interactions, dynamic covalent reactions usually have slower kinetics and require the assistance of catalysts to achieve rapid equilibrium. Although the scope of dynamic covalent reactions is rapidly expanding, the reversible reactions suitable for DCvC are still very limited. The identification and development of new dynamic reactions and catalysts would be critical for the further advancement of DCvC. This review covers the recent development of dynamic covalent reactions as well as their applications.
Performance Differentials Between Diversifying Entrants and Entrepreneurial start-ups: A Complexity Approach

We investigate the relationship between firms’entry characteristics and their subsequent performance as contingent on environmental turbulence and stage of industry life cycle by simulating industry as an NKC landscape. Diversifying entrants differ from entrepreneurial start-ups in terms of the complexity of their routines. We posit that diversifying entrants outperform entrepreneurial start-ups when turbulence is high. Further, learning—possible in later industry stages—disproportionately favors entrepreneurial start-ups.
An efficient local approach to convexity testing of piecewise-linear hypersurfaces

We prove the following criterion: a compact connected piecewise-linear hypersurface (without boundary) in R^n (n>=3) is the boundary of a convex body if and only if every point in the relative interior of each (n-3)-face has a neighborhood that lies on the boundary of some convex body. This criterion is derived from our theorem that any connected complete locally convex hypersurface in S^n (n>=3) is the boundary of a convex body in S^n. We give an easy-to-implement convexity testing algorithm based on our criterion. This algorithm does not require any assumptions about the global topology of the input hypersurface. For R^3 the number of arithmetic operations used by our algorithm is at most linear in the number of vertices, while in general it is at most linear in the number of incidences between (n-2)-faces and (n-3)-faces. The algorithm still remains polynomial even when the dimension n is a variable and the bit complexity model for (exact) arithmetic operations is used. The suggested method works in more general situations than the convexity verification algorithms developed by [K. Mehlhorn, S. Naher, M. Seel, R. Seidel, T. Schilz, S. Schirra, U. Stefan, C. Uhrig, Checking geometric properties or verification of geometric structures, in: Proc. of 12th Annual ACM Sympos. Comput. Geom., Computational Geom., 1996, pp. 159-165] and [O. Devillers, G. Liotta, F. Preparata, R. Tamassia, Checking the convexity of polytopes and the planarity of subdivisions, Comput. Geom. 11 (1998) 187-208]-for example, our method does not require the input surface to be homeomorphic to the sphere, nor does it require the input data to include normal vectors to the facets that are oriented ''in a coherent way''. For R^3 the complexity of our algorithm is the same as that of previously known algorithms; for higher dimensions there seems to be no clear winner, but our approach is the only one that easily treats surfaces of arbitrary topology without a preliminary topological computation aimed at verifying that the input is a topological sphere. Furthermore, our method can be easily extended to piecewise-polynomial surfaces of degree 2 and 3.
What does the international currency system really look like

There has been a lot of debate lately about the shape of the international currency system. Increasingly, we are told, the world is moving toward a multicurrency system with several poles, implying that the system is becoming more competitive. Polarity, however, is a notoriously crude measure of the level of competition in any kind of system, economic or political. If analysis is to be at all accurate, it should take into account not only the number of poles in a system but also the inequalities among them –an alternative approach encompassed by the concept of concentration. In this paper we make use of the concept of concentration to provide a more accurate picture of the competitive structure of the currency system today. When taking account of concentration as well as polarity, our results suggest that the competitive structure of the system is little changed over a period stretching back more than two decades.
A Robust Neighborhood Truncation Approach to Estimation of Integrated Quarticity

We provide a first in-depth look at robust estimation of integrated quarticity (IQ) based on high-frequency data. IQ is the key ingredient enabling inference about volatility and the presence of jumps in financial time series and is thus of considerable interest in applications. We document the significant empirical challenges for IQ estimation posed by commonly encountered data imperfections and set forth three complementary approaches for improving IQ-based inference. First, we show that many common deviations from the jump-diffusive null can be dealt with by a novel filtering scheme that generalizes truncation of individual returns to truncation of arbitrary functionals on return blocks. Second, we propose a new family of efficient robust neighborhood truncation (RNT) estimators for integrated power variation based on order statistics of a set of unbiased local power variation estimators on a block of returns. Third, we find that ratio-based inference, originally proposed in this context by Barndorff-Nielsen and Shephard (2002, Journal of Applied Econometrics 17, 457–477), has desirable robustness properties in the face of regularly occurring data imperfections and thus is well suited for empirical applications. We confirm that the proposed filtering scheme and the RNT estimators perform well in our extensive simulation designs and in an application to the individual Dow Jones 30 stocks.
Always Good Turing: asymptotically optimal probability estimation

While deciphering the German Enigma code during World War II, I.J. Good and A.M. Turing considered the problem of estimating a probability distribution from a sample of data. They derived a surprising and unintuitive formula that has since been used in a variety of applications and studied by a number of researchers. Borrowing an information-theoretic and machine-learning framework, we define the attenuation of a probability estimator as the largest possible ratio between the per-symbol probability assigned to an arbitrarily-long sequence by any distribution, and the corresponding probability assigned by the estimator. We show that some common estimators have infinite attenuation and that the attenuation of the Good-Turing estimator is low, yet larger than one. We then derive an estimator whose attenuation is one, namely, as the length of any sequence increases, the per-symbol probability assigned by the estimator is at least the highest possible. Interestingly, some of the proofs use celebrated results by Hardy and Ramanujan on the number of partitions of an integer. To better understand the behavior of the estimator, we study the probability it assigns to several simple sequences. We show that some sequences this probability agrees with our intuition, while for others it is rather unexpected.
Oxidatively robust monophenolate-copper(II) complexes as potential models of galactose oxidase

Cupric complexes of a novel phenanthroline-phenolate ligand have strongly distorted coordination geometries and electrochemical properties conducive to modeling the spectroscopy and reactivity of the enzyme galactose oxidase.
Disaster Hardening for Software Systems

Summary form only given. We can treat the software system development as a 'disaster-prone' system. We consider a crash as an example of a disaster. We consider the minimum infrastructural requirements based on the application, and the operational and user environments. We review the strategies of disaster awareness, anticipation, proactive pre-emption, and precaution to prevent and/or mitigate the effects of the major or minor catastrophes. We survey methods used in software quality improvements and show their applicability to activities in disaster mitigation and control. We illustrate these with examples using the CMM, sigma six and Taguchi-based ideas which show that mutual exchange of concepts enrich the important fields of software development and disaster control and mitigation. We conclude by identifying the important overlap between the two areas of software development and disaster mitigation. The software change management and maintenance methods can greatly benefit by ideas from disaster technology. The software developed under damage and disaster control techniques can be robust, resilient and long lasting
Institutionalization of intellectual property rights in China

Institutional field Summary Following the 1978 political and economic reforms, China has undergone a sig-nificant transformation on the intellectual property rights (IPR) front. In this paper, we use neo-institutional theory to examine the institutionalization of IPR in China. Specifically, we examine the perceptions of national elites and the public regarding IPR as well as IPR related pressures facing these actors, their negotiation with other actors and their responses. Regulative, normative and cognitive institutions formed around the IPR field in China are analyzed.
A review of satellite time transfer technology: Accomplishments and future applications

A brief review of the research accomplishments by NASA in meeting the needs of the space program for precise time in satellite tracking is presented. As a major user of precise time signals for clock synchronization of NASA's worldwide satellite tracking networks, the agency provided much of the necessary impetus for the development of stable frequency sources and time synchronization technology. The precision in time required for both satellite tracking and space science experiments has increased at a rate of about 1 order of magnitude per decade from 1 ms in the 1950's to 100 microsec during the Apollo era in the 1960's to 10 microsec in the 1970's. In the 1980's, when the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) comes into operation, satellite timing requirements will be extended to 1 microsec and below. These requirements are needed for spacecraft autonomy and data packeting which are now in active planning stages.
Interspecies Management and Land Use Strategies to Protect Endangered Species

We consider an ecosystem management problem where managers can use habitat creation and predator removal to conserve an endangered species. Predator removal may become particularly important in the face of habitat loss, and ecosystem management strategies that ignore the influence of habitat are likely to be inefficient. Using a bioeconomic model, we show that the marginal impact of prey habitat on predators is a key factor in determining the substitutability or complementarity of habitat and removal controls. Applying the model to the case of the endangered Atlantic-Gaspesie Woodland Caribou (rangifer tarandus caribou), we find that the first-best strategy involves extensive caribou habitat protection and a large predator cull initially, and then substituting habitat investments for predator removal as both populations begin to recover, suggesting that habitat protection and predator removal are effectively substitute controls.
Demultiplexing Considerations for Statistical Multiplexors

Demultiplexing serves as an important function for statistical multiplexors. Its purpose is to reassemble the received message and distribute it to the appropriate destination. An important cost consideration for this function is the size of the buffer necessary to meet a specified overflow service requirement. The demultiplexing buffer can be modeled as a finite waiting room queueing model with batch Poisson arrivals and multiple distinct constant servers. Stimulation is used to study buffer behavior for traffic arriving at the buffer according to the uniform, linear, step, and geometric destination functions. The relationships among buffer overflow probability, buffer size, traffic intensity, average message length, and message destination are presented in graphs to provide a guide in the design of demultiplexing buffers. Simulation results reveal that buffer input messages that have short average message lengths and uniform traffic destinations yield the best buffer behavior. Thus, in planning the CPU scheduling algorithm and in selecting the demultiplexing output rates, the designing of a computer communications system that uses the statistical multiplexing technique should also consider the output statistics needed to achieve optimal demultiplexing performance.
LASSO-Patternsearch algorithm with application to ophthalmology and genomic data

The LASSO-Patternsearch algorithm is proposed to efficiently identify patterns of multiple dichotomous risk factors for outcomes of interest in demographic and genomic studies. The patterns considered are those that arise naturally from the log linear expansion of the multivariate Bernoulli density. The method is designed for the case where there is a possibly very large number of candidate patterns but it is believed that only a relatively small number are important. A LASSO is used to greatly reduce the number of candidate patterns, using a novel computational algorithm that can handle an extremely large number of unknowns simultaneously. The patterns surviving the LASSO are further pruned in the framework of (parametric) generalized linear models. A novel tuning procedure based on the GACV for Bernoulli outcomes, modified to act as a model selector, is used at both steps. We applied the method to myopia data from the population-based Beaver Dam Eye Study, exposing physiologically interesting interacting risk factors. We then applied the the method to data from a generative model of Rheumatoid Arthritis based on Problem 3 from the Genetic Analysis Workshop 15, successfully demonstrating its potential to efficiently recover higher order patterns from attribute vectors of length typical of genomic studies.
Asymptotic estimates and borel resummation for a doubly anharmonic oscillator

The large-order behavior of perturbation theory for an oscillator with both quartic and sextic anharmonicity is examined. Two approaches are considered: an explicit double expansion in the two coupling constants and a single expansion in the number of loops. A two-variable extension of the Borel resummation technique is developed and applied to the double series, and the standard one-variable resummation technique is applied to the loop expansion. Numerical values for the ground-state energy are calculated in each case and the two procedures are compared.
The problem of governance of U.S. ocean resources and the new exclusive economic zone

Abstract This paper discusses major problems existing in the current Ocean Governance regime of the United States, many of which are rooted in the regime's single‐purpose and fragmented nature. In the concept of the new 200‐mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), proclaimed in March 1983 by President Reagan, with its notion of sovereign rights over essentially all resources within a common zone, may lie the seeds of a more effective, second‐generation approach to Ocean Governance—one better suited to the increased ocean exploitation likely to occur in the coming decades.
Space Charge Limited Transport and Bunching of Non K-V Beams

Abstract : Particle simulations are used to examine the behavior of an intense beam propagating down an alternate gradient focusing channel. In order to examine the dependence of emittance growth on the particle distribution function, an initially low current, non K-V, matched distribution is established. The current is then slowly increased as the beam propagates down the channel. Differences are observed in both the current at which emittance growth begins, and the rate at which the emittance grows, when the form of the initial distribution is changed. But this emittance growth still limits the intensity of the beam being transported. (Author)
Evaluation of Fast Fracture Strength of Ceramic Components Under Multiaxial Stress States

Several fracture criteria were studied under multiaxial stress states by Matsuo’s multiaxial fracture probability distribution function including effects of both volume and surface cracks. Tested material was a pressureless-sintered silicon nitride. Tensile (compressive)-torsional tests revealed that experimental data were satisfactorily described by Shitty’s empirical criterion for C=1.46. Good agreements for a spin and a thermal shock tests were obtained applying the Weibull parameters and the Shetty’s parameter.Copyright © 1992 by ASME
Alternative Kinship, Marriage, and Reproduction

This review examines the implications of new kinship practices for anthropological theory, with a special focus on recent research in gay and lesbian kinship and assisted reproduction. The article begins with an account of the theoretical contexts in which kinship studies have been conducted and a brief survey of some of the older literature on alternative systems of marriage and family formation in preindustrial and modern societies. The emphasis then turns to current discussions of how gay men and lesbian women are creating meaningful networks of kin and families and the ways in which these practices both follow and challenge traditional expectations for family life. The final section surveys the ways in which the new reproductive technologies have been utilized in Euro-American societies and how cultural ideas and values concerning kin relationships have shaped the transfer of these technologies to and their utilization in other societies.
Wilbur Leatherberry: Our Center of Gravity

Some lead with words; some with actions. Some lead with anger; some with authority. Some lead with attitude. Those who lead with attitude are precious few, made more precious because they are so few. Bill Leatherberry leads with attitude. He projects a quiet and reasoned confidence. He is unflappable and imperturbable. He projects calm and control, evidence of a sure faith that things will work out.
Regulating globally, implementing locally: The financial codes and standards effort

This article explores the effort, during the last decade, to develop a set of global standards and codes to govern international capital markets. I posit that, despite global capital market pressures, this effort should have limited success in low and middle-income countries. Drawing upon a historical institutionalist framework, I suggest that domestic political institutions, as well as interests, often will lead to the failure of governments to implement global codes and standards. After describing briefly the motivations for and substance of the standards and code project, I summarize trends in the national implementation of such standards. I then point to several instances of policy feedback, in which the existing domestic regulatory institutions in middle-income countries rendered the adoption of new international rules difficult, technically as well as politically.
From F = ma to flying squirrels: Curricular change in an introductory physics course

We present outcomes from curricular changes made to an introductory calculus-based physics course whose audience is primarily life sciences majors, the majority of whom plan to pursue postbaccalaureate studies in medical and scientific fields. During the 2011-2012 academic year, we implemented a Physics of the Life Sciences curriculum centered on a draft textbook that takes a novel approach to teaching physics to life sciences majors. In addition, substantial revisions were made to the homework and hands-on components of the course to emphasize the relationship between physics and the life sciences and to help the students learn to apply physical intuition to life sciences-oriented problems. Student learning and attitudinal outcomes were assessed both quantitatively, using standard physics education research instruments, and qualitatively, using student surveys and a series of postsemester interviews. Students experienced high conceptual learning gains, comparable to other active learning-based physics courses. Qualitatively, a substantial fraction of interviewed students reported an increased interest in physics relative to the beginning of the semester. Furthermore, more than half of students self-reported that they could now relate physics topics to their majors and future careers, with interviewed subjects demonstrating a high level of ability to come up with examples of how physics affects living organisms and how it helped them to better understand content presented in courses in their major.
Correlation Statistics for cDNA Microarray Image Analysis

In this paper, correlation of the pixels comprising a microarray spot is investigated. Subsequently, correlation statistics, namely, Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation, are used to segment the foreground and background intensity of microarray spots. The performance of correlation-based segmentation is compared to clustering-based (PAM, k-means) and seeded-region growing techniques (SPOT). It is shown that correlation-based segmentation is useful in flagging poorly hybridized spots, thus minimizing false-positives. The present study also raises the intriguing question of whether a change in correlation can be an indicator of differential gene expression.
Search for neutrino oscillations at the Palo Verde nuclear reactors

We report on the initial results from a measurement of the antineutrino flux and spectrum at a distance of about 800 m from the three reactors of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station using a segmented gadolinium-loaded scintillation detector. We find that the antineutrino flux agrees with that predicted in the absence of oscillations excluding at 90% C.L. ¯ ne -¯ nx oscillations with Dm 2 . 1.12 3 10 23 eV 2 for maximal mixing and sin 2 2 u. 0.21 for large Dm 2 . Our results support the conclusion that the
Methods for building sense inventories of abbreviations in clinical notes.

Abstract Objective To develop methods for building corpus-specific sense inventories of abbreviations occurring in clinical documents. Design A corpus of internal medicine admission notes was collected and instances of each clinical abbreviation in the corpus were clustered to different sense clusters. One instance from each cluster was manually annotated to generate a final list of senses. Two clustering-based methods (Expectation Maximization—EM and Farthest First—FF) and one random sampling method for sense detection were evaluated using a set of 12 clinical abbreviations. Measurements The clustering-based sense detection methods were evaluated using a set of clinical abbreviations that were manually sense annotated. “Sense Completeness” and “Annotation Cost” were used to measure the performance of different methods. Clustering error rates were also reported for different clustering algorithms. Results A clustering-based semi-automated method was developed to build corpus-specific sense inventories for abbreviations in hospital admission notes. Evaluation demonstrated that this method could largely reduce manual annotation cost and increase the completeness of sense inventories when compared with a manual annotation method using random samples. Conclusion The authors developed an effective clustering-based method for building corpus-specific sense inventories for abbreviations in a clinical corpus. To the best of the authors knowledge, this is the first time clustering technologies have been used to help building sense inventories of abbreviations in clinical text. The results demonstrated that the clustering-based method performed better than the manual annotation method using random samples for the task of building sense inventories of clinical abbreviations.
Efficient Non-parametric Estimation of Multiple Embeddings per Word in Vector Space

There is rising interest in vector-space word embeddings and their use in NLP, especially given recent methods for their fast estimation at very large scale. Nearly all this work, however, assumes a single vector per word type—ignoring polysemy and thus jeopardizing their usefulness for downstream tasks. We present an extension to the Skip-gram model that efficiently learns multiple embeddings per word type. It differs from recent related work by jointly performing word sense discrimination and embedding learning, by non-parametrically estimating the number of senses per word type, and by its efficiency and scalability. We present new state-of-the-art results in the word similarity in context task and demonstrate its scalability by training with one machine on a corpus of nearly 1 billion tokens in less than 6 hours.
Identifiability in Blind Deconvolution With Subspace or Sparsity Constraints

Blind deconvolution (BD), the resolution of a signal and a filter given their convolution, arises in many applications. Without further constraints, BD is ill-posed. In practice, subspace or sparsity constraints have been imposed to reduce the search space, and have shown some empirical success. However, the existing theoretical analysis on uniqueness in BD is rather limited. In an effort to address the still open question, we derive sufficient conditions under which two vectors can be uniquely identified from their circular convolution, subject to subspace or sparsity constraints. These sufficient conditions provide the first algebraic sample complexities for BD. We first derive a sufficient condition that applies to almost all bases or frames. For BD of vectors in $ \mathbb {C}^{n}$ , with two subspace constraints of dimensions $m_{1}$ and $m_{2}$ , the required sample complexity is $n\geq m_{1}m_{2}$ . Then, we impose a sub-band structure on one basis, and derive a sufficient condition that involves a relaxed sample complexity $n\geq m_{1}+m_{2}-1$ , which we show to be optimal. We present the extensions of these results to BD with sparsity constraints or mixed constraints, with the sparsity level replacing the subspace dimension. The cost for the unknown support in this case is an extra factor of 2 in the sample complexity.
HOW WELL ARE SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS PROTECTED FROM INFLATION

Social Security is widely believed to protect its recipients from infl ation because benefi ts are indexed to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). However, the CPI-W may not accurately refl ect the experience of retirees for two reasons. First, retirees generally have higher medical expenses than workers, and medical costs, in recent years, have tended to rise faster than the prices of other goods. Second, even if medical costs did not rise faster than the prices of other goods, as retirees aged, their medical spending would still tend to increase as a share of income; that is, each cohort of retirees would still see a decline in the real income available for non-medical spending. We show that, for in the 1918 birth cohort, Social Security benefi ts net of average out-of-pocket medical expenses have declined relative to a price index for non-medical goods by around 20 percent for men, and by around 27 percent for women. We explore alternative options for indexing Social Security benefi ts and discuss the impact of these alternatives on Social Security’s long-term fi nances.
Vibrational control of a class of nonlinear systems by nonlinear multiplicative vibrations

Vibrational control is a nonclassical control principle which proposes a utilization of zero mean parametric excitation of a dynamical system for control purposes. This paper extends nonlinear vibrational control theory developed in [8], [9] to systems controlled by nonlinear multiplicative vibrations. Condition for partial vibrational stabilization with respect to a component of a steady-state vector, the choice of stabilizing vibrations, and the transient motions are discussed for a certain practically important class of nonlinear vibrationally controlled systems. The application of the results is demonstrated on the example of a catalytic reactor, using a combination of numerical and analytical techniques.