cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Climate policy processes, local institutions, and adaptation actions: mechanisms of translation and influence

This paper focuses on the experience of the national level adaptation planning efforts and the lessons that can be derived for more effective adaptation from an examination of local governance of development and natural resources. After examining national level adaptation plans, particularly the National Adaptation Programs of Action (NAPAs), the paper analyzes the range of institutional instruments and relationships visible in contemporary decentralization reforms. The analysis derives four important lessons for adaptation planning, with special attention to the articulation between local and national level adaptation processes. The paper underlines: a) the diversity of local institutions; b) adaptation strategies, and identifies factors that promote; and c) greater accountability and d) greater equity in national/local relationships.
Torsion and Open Book Decompositions

We show that if (B, π) is an open book decomposition of a contact 3-manifold (Y, ξ), then the complement of the binding B has no Giroux torsion and no virtual Giroux torsion. We also prove that the sutured Heegaard-Floer c-bar invariant of the binding of an open book is nonzero.
ANGULAR QUANTIZATION AND THE DENSITY MATRIX RENORMALIZATION GROUP

Path integral techniques for the density matrix of a one-dimensional statistical system near a boundary previously employed in black-hole physics are applied to provide a new interpretation of the density matrix renormalization group: Its efficacy is due to the concentration of quantum states near the boundary.
An automated and power-aware framework for utilization of IP cores in hardware generated from C descriptions targeting FPGAs

Use of hand optimized Intellectual Property (IP) logic cores is prolific in hardware design. These IP cores range from rather complicated signal processing transforms and filters to arithmetic operators. While IP cores remain a standard way to utilize the improvement in FPGA technology and contend with time to market pressure through reuse, popularity of tools generating hardware descriptions from high-level languages is increasing in popularity. The PACT HDL behavioral synthesis tool attempts to combine these two methods within a power-aware framework. PACT HDL generates RTL HDL codes in VHDL and Verilog using a finite state machine (FSM) style. These codes use intrinsic operators to represent calculations such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication. The output HDL codes are passed to commercial RTL synthesis tools that generate the gate-level hardware descriptions. Each intrinsic operator is replaced with a hardware implementation of the calculation by the synthesis tool. Unfortunately, by leaving this decision to the synthesis tool, the gate-level instantiation may not be appropriate for the desired constraints, particularly those relating to power consumed. The synthesis tools tend to use combinational implementations that are area and power hungry. In some cases, the tool may not be able to instantiate the appropriate logic, such as the division operator, at all.
Synthesis, Crystal, and Electronic Structure of Ba3Sb2Q7 (Q = S, Se) †‡

Two new barium antimony chalcogenides, Ba3Sb2S7 and Ba3Sb2Se7, were synthesized from elements by high-temperature solid-state reactions. The crystal structures were determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both compounds are isostructural and crystallize in a new structure type in the monoclinic space group C2/c (No. = 15) with unit cell parameters of a = 18.305(2)/18.904(5) A, b = 12.202(1)/12.651(3) A, c = 13.117(1)/13.554(3) A, and β = 110.134(1)/109.839(4)° for Ba3Sb2S7/Ba3Sb2Se7, respectively. The crystal structures are comprised of Ba cations, trigonal-pyramidal [SbQ3]3–, and [SbQ4]3– units (Q = S, Se). In the SbQ4 unit, one vertex is a Q2 dumbbell instead of a single Q atom. Quantum-chemical calculations show that the sulfur-containing compound is an indirect semiconductor with a high density of states below the Fermi level. ELF analysis shows highly polarized Sb–S bonds and unusual torus-shaped ELF distributions around the terminal sulfur atom of the S2 dumbbell. According to UV/Vis measurements Ba3Sb2S7 is an indirect semiconductor with a bandgap of 2.1 eV.
An approach to three-dimensional object recognition using a hybrid Hopfield network

A hybrid Hopfield network previously used to solve two-dimensional occluded object recognition problems is adapted to the three-dimensional problem. It is assumed that feature extraction has yielded a set of vertices for the model and a set of vertices for the input object. From these vertices local and relational features are obtained for use in a hybrid Hopfield network graph-matching algorithm used to realize three-dimensional single-input object recognition.
In-flight fault detection and isolation in aircraft flight control systems

In this paper we consider the problem of test design for real-time fault detection and isolation (FDI) in the flight control system of fixed-wing aircraft. We focus on the faults that are manifested in the control surface elements (e.g., aileron, elevator, rudder and stabilizer) of an aircraft. For demonstration purposes, we restrict our focus on the faults belonging to nine basic fault classes. The diagnostic tests are performed on the features extracted from fifty monitored system parameters. The proposed tests are able to uniquely isolate each of the faults at almost all severity levels. A neural network-based flight control simulator, FLTZreg, is used for the simulation of various faults in fixed-wing aircraft flight control systems for the purpose of FDI
Generating Shorter Bases for Hard Random Lattices

We revisit the problem of generating a ‘hard’ random lattice together with a basis of relatively short vectors. This problem has gained in importance lately due to new cryptographic schemes that use such a procedure to generate public/secret key pairs. In these applications, a shorter basis corresponds to milder underlying complexity assumptions and smaller key sizes. The contributions of this work are twofold. First, we simplify and modularize an approach originally due to Ajtai (ICALP 1999). Second, we improve the construction and its analysis in several ways, most notably by making the output basis asymptotically as short as possible.
Caring for the uninsured with prostate cancer: a comparison of four policy alternatives in California.

The IMPACT Program seeks to improve access to prostate cancer care for low-income, uninsured men. The objective of the current study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of four policy alternatives in treating this population. We analyzed the cost-effectiveness of four policy alternatives for providing care to low-income, uninsured men with prostate cancer: (1) IMPACT as originally envisioned, (2) a version of IMPACT with reduced physician fees, (3) a hypothetical Medicaid prostate cancer treatment program, and (4) the existing county safety net. We calculated cost-effectiveness based on incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) with the formula ICER = (Costalternative strategy − Costbaseline strategy) / (QALYalternative strategy − QALYbaseline strategy). We measured outcomes as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). “Best-case” scenarios assumed timely access to care in 50% of cases in the county system and 70% of cases in any system that reimbursed providers at Medicaid fee-for-service rates. “Worst-case” scenarios assumed timely access in 35 and 50% of corresponding cases. In fiscal year 2004–2005, IMPACT allocated 11% of total expenditures to administrative functions and 23% to fixed clinical costs, with an overall budget of $5.9 million. The ICERs ($/QALY) assuming “best-case” scenarios for original IMPACT, modified IMPACT, and a hypothetical Medicaid program were $32,091; $64,663; and $10,376; respectively. ICERs assuming “worst-case” scenarios were $27,189; $84,236; and $10,714; respectively. County safety net was used as a baseline. In conclusion, IMPACT provides underserved Californians with prostate cancer care and value-added services with only 11% of funds allocated to administrative fixed costs. Both the original IMPACT program and the hypothetical Medicaid prostate cancer program were cost-effective compared to the county safety net, while the reduced-fees version of IMPACT was not.
A census of mammal populations in Punta Leona Private Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica.

Population sizes of six mammal species were estimated using the King method during the late dry season (March) of 1996 in the Punta Leona Private Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica. The white-faced monkey ( Cebus capucinus ), coati ( Nasua narica ) and nine-banded armadillo ( Dasypus novemcinctus ) with 148, 46, and 8 sighted individuals, respectively, demonstrated the largest populations in the refuge. The Central American spider monkey ( Ateles geoffroyi ), tamandua anteater ( Tamandua mexicana ), and variegated squirrel ( Sciurus var - iegatoides ) were also included in the census. Population densities are calculated, habitat types are described, and habitat use and activity periods are discussed.
A gate-quality dielectric system for SiGe metal-oxide-semiconductor devices

The authors present a high-quality dielectric system for use with Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ alloys. The system employs plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited (PECVD) SiO/sub 2/ on a thin (6-8-nm) layer of pure silicon grown epitaxially on the Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ layer. The buffer layer and the deposited oxide prevent the accumulation of Ge at the oxide-semiconductor interface and thus keep the interface state density within acceptable limits. The Si cap layer leads to a sequential turn-on of the Si/sub 1-x/Ge/sub x/ channel and the Si cap channel as is clearly observed in the low-temperature C-V curves. The authors show that this dual-channel structure can be designed to suppress the parasitic Si cap channel. The MOS capacitors are also used to extract valence-band offsets. >
Differential cytotoxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles

Concerns about the potential health hazards of nanomaterials are growing. To determine the potential toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles, human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma and H4 neuroglioma cells were exposed to Fe2O3, CuO and ZnO nanoparticles and their metal ion counterparts (Fe3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+) at a concentration range of 0.01–100 µM for 48 h, under the cell culture conditions: 95% O2, 5% CO2, 85% humidity, 37°C. Their ensemble cell viability was determined by MTS cell proliferation assay. A live/dead cell assay was also performed, and cellular images were acquired by a high-content fluorescence microscope and quantified by a novel computerised image analysis protocol. Our data indicated that exposure of these nanoparticles induced differential toxic effects in both SH-SY5Y and H4 cells, and the cells had dose-dependent toxic responses to the CuO nanoparticle insult. In conclusion, the toxic responses of the nanoparticles are complex, and they warrant further in vivo studies. However, it remains to be de...
Fe(III) and Co(III) centers with carboxamido nitrogen and modified sulfur coordination: lessons learned from nitrile hydratase.

Nitrile hydratase (NHase) is a non-heme Fe(III) or non-corrinoid Co(III) metalloenzyme with an unprecedented coordination sphere comprising deprotonated carboxamido nitrogens and modified Cys-S (−SO- and −SO2-) sulfurs. We have synthesized model complexes derived from designed ligands that contain these donor groups. The model complexes mimic almost all the intrinsic properties of the unique M(III) (M = Fe, Co) active site of NHase. Even a functional Co(III) model has been synthesized that hydrolyzes nitriles catalytically at pH close to the optimum pH of the enzyme. Our studies have provided insight into how the unusual donor atoms dictate the overall properties of the biological M(III) sites.
Swing States, the Winner-Take-all Electoral College, and Fiscal Federalism

The impact of the Electoral College on U.S. presidential elections is often criticized by academics and political commentators. One facet of its impact, the winner-take-all allocation of states’ Electoral College votes, serves in practice to overweight some votes in some states relative to other votes in other states. These disparities in the relative impact of votes in a presidential election can be large. Here, a metric is introduced to quantify the magnitude of these disparities in each presidential election. Using that metric, we show that states whose votes were overweighted in a presidential election subsequently received higher levels of federal grant spending under the newly-elected (re-elected) administration.
Piezoelectric Networks for Vibration Suppression of Mistuned Bladed Disks

Extensive investigations have been conducted to study the vibration localization phenomenon and the excessive forced response that can be caused by mistuning in bladed disks. Most previous researches have focused on analyzing/predicting localization or attacking the mistuning issue via mechanical tailoring. Few have focused on developing effective vibration control methods for such systems. This study extends the piezoelectric network concept, which has been utilized for mode delocalization in periodic structures, to the control of mistuned bladed disks under engine order excitation. A piezoelectric network is synthesized and optimized to effectively suppress vibration in bladed disks. One of the merits of such an approach is that the optimum design is independent of the number of spatial harmonics, or engine orders. Local circuits are first formulated by connecting inductors and resistors with piezoelectric patches on the individual blades. Although these local circuits can function as conventional damped absorber when properly tuned, they do not perform well for bladed disks under all engine order excitations. To address this issue, capacitors are introduced to couple the individual local circuitries. Through such networking, an absorber system that is independent of the engine order can be achieved. Monte Carlo simulation is performed to investigate the effectiveness of the network for a bladed disk with a range of mistuning level of its mechanical properties. The robustness issue of the network in terms of detuning of the electric circuit parameters is also studied. Finally, negative capacitance is introduced and its effect on the performance and robustness of the network is investigated.
MIMO Broadcast Channels with Block Diagonalization and Finite Rate Feedback

Block diagonalization is a linear precoding technique for the multiple antenna broadcast (downlink) channel that involves transmission of multiple data streams to each receiver such that no multi-user interference is experienced at any of the receivers. This low-complexity scheme operates only a few dB away from capacity but does require very accurate channel knowledge at the transmitter, which can be very difficult to obtain in fading scenarios. We consider a limited feedback system where each receiver knows its channel perfectly, but the transmitter is only provided with a finite number of channel feedback bits from each receiver. Using a random vector quantization argument, we quantify the throughput loss due to imperfect channel knowledge as a function of the feedback level. The quality of channel knowledge must improve proportional to the SNR in order to prevent interference-limitations, and we show that scaling the number of feedback bits linearly with the system SNR is sufficient to maintain a bounded rate loss. Finally, we investigate a simple scalar quantization scheme that is seen to achieve the same scaling behavior as vector quantization.
Comparison of IGBT Cycling Capabilities for Different AC/AC Topologies

This paper analyzes the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) power cycling capability for a dual-bridge matrix converter (DBMC) used as a motor drive and compares the result with the traditional dc/ac inverter and the conventional matrix converter (CMC). Two pulsewidth modulation (PWM) control methods for the DBMC are investigated. One is called zero-current PWM (ZCPWM), which allows zero current commutation of the rectifier side switches. The other is named zero-voltage PWM (ZVPWM), which generates zero-voltage switching in the inverter IGBT. It is found that the DBMC under the ZVPWM method shows much higher power cycling capabilities in the IGBT than that of the ZCPWM and the other two topologies. Moreover, by appropriately selecting the sequence of the ZVPWM and ZCPWM methods, the DBMC shows overall advantages on the sizing of the IGBT and the balancing of the thermal system. It is also shown that the IGBT applied in the DBMC inverter is easier to operate under higher switching frequency conditions.
Application of the Godunov method and its second-order extension to cascade flow modeling

The Godunov method and a new second-order accurate extension of the method are used for the solution of two-dimensional Euler equations. Both numerical schemes are described in detail. Their performances in the subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flow regimes are first tested on the problem of flow in a channel with a circular arc bump. The niethods are then applied to calculate the transonic flow through a supercritical com­ pressor cascade designed by J. Sanzo For this case, the solution with the second-order extension of the Godunov method gives verygood agreement with the design distribution of parameters given by Sanzo
WRITEACOURSE: an educational programming language

Computer applications in education are becoming more and more prevalent. Perhaps the most talked about use of computers in the schools is to control the educational material presented to students... the Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) application. CAI requires that two problems be solved. Someone has to decide what material should be sent to a student, and when, and someone has to arrange that the computer actually do what is desired. The first problem, what should be done, is a topic for educators and psychologists. Our concern is with the second. How can we make CAI a convenient tool for the educator?
Coherent optical spectroscopy of a strongly driven quantum dot

We report the demonstration of the Autler-Townes splitting and Mollow absorption spectrum by means of coherent optical spectroscopy of a strongly driven quantum dot.
Multiple ring enhancing lesions in a patient with unilateral limb jerking

Multiple ring enhancing lesions (MREL) in the brain can be caused by a variety of diseases including infections, inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. We present the case of a patient with new onset unilateral jerking movement of the arm who was found to have sixteen ring enhancing lesions (RELs) in the brain on MRI. Further workup revealed a primary small cell lung cancer. The differential diagnosis of multiple ring enhancing lesions is discussed. The astute clinician should be aware of this rare but important radiological finding.
Associated primes of local cohomology modules and of Frobenius powers

We construct normal hypersurfaces whose local cohomology modules have infinitely many associated primes. These include unique factorization domains of characteristic zero with rational singularities as well as F-regular unique factorization domains of positive characteristic. As a consequence, we answer a question on the associated primes of Frobenius powers of ideals, which arose from the localization problem in tight closure theory.
Complexity theoretic limitations on learning halfspaces

We study the problem of agnostically learning halfspaces which is defined by a fixed but unknown distribution D on Q^n X {-1,1}. We define Err_H(D) as the least error of a halfspace classifier for D. A learner who can access D has to return a hypothesis whose error is small compared to Err_H(D). Using the recently developed method of Daniely, Linial and Shalev-Shwartz we prove hardness of learning results assuming that random K-XOR formulas are hard to (strongly) refute. We show that no efficient learning algorithm has non-trivial worst-case performance even under the guarantees that Err_H(D) 0, and that D is supported in the Boolean cube. Namely, even under these favorable conditions, and for every c>0, it is hard to return a hypothesis with error 0. These results substantially improve on previously known results, that only show hardness of exact learning.
Semantics-based concurrency control: beyond commutativity

The concurrency of transactions executing on atomic data types can be enhanced through the use of semantic information about operations defined on these types. Hitherto, commutativity of operations has been exploited to provide enchanced concurrency while avoiding cascading aborts. We have identified a property known as recoverability which can be used to decrease the delay involved in processing noncommuting operations while still avoiding cascading aborts. When an invoked operation is recoverable with respect to an uncommitted operation, the invoked operation can be executed by forcing a commit dependency between the invoked operation and the uncommitted operation; the transaction invoking the operation will not have to wait for the uncommitted operation to abort or commit. Further, this commit dependency only affects the order in which the operations should commit, if both commit; if either operation aborts, the other can still commit thus avoiding cascading aborts. To ensure the serializability of transactions, we force the recoverability relationship between transactions to be acyclic. Simulation studies, based on the model presented by Agrawal et al. [1], indicate that using recoverability, the turnaround time of transactions can be reduced. Further, our studies show enchancement in concurrency even when resource constraints are taken into consideration. The magnitude of enchancement is dependent on the resource contention; the lower the resource contention, the higher the improvement.
Beam dynamics, performance, and tolerances for pulsed crab cavities at the Advanced Photon Source for short x-ray pulse generation

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) has decided to implement a system using pulsed crab cavities to produce short X-ray pulses using Zholents' scheme. This paper describes beam dynamics issues related to implementation of this scheme with one-sector separation between the cavities. Modeling of the cavity is used to demonstrate that the deflection will be independent of transverse position in the cavity but that there is a position offset for undeflected particles. Configuration and parameter choices to optimize performance are discussed. Finally, tolerances are discussed and determined based on tracking simulations.
The transatlantic slave trade and the evolution of political authority in West Africa

I trace the impact of the trans-Atlantic slave trade on the evolution of political authority in West Africa. I present econometric evidence showing that the trans-Atlantic slave trade increased absolutism in pre-colonial West Africa by approximately 17% to 35%, while reducing democracy and liberalism. I argue that this slavery-induced absolutism also influenced the structure of African political institutions in the colonial era and beyond. I present aggregate evidence showing that British colonies that exported more slaves in the era of the slave trade were ruled more-indirectly by colonial administrations. I argue that indirect colonial rule relied on sub-national absolutisms to control populations and extract surplus, and in the process transformed absolutist political customs into rule of law. The post-colonial federal authority, like the colonial authority before it, lacked the administrative apparatus and political clout to integrate these local authorities, even when they wanted to. From this perspective, state-failure in West Africa may be rooted in a political and economic history that is unique to Africa in many respects, a history that dates at least as far back as the era of the transatlantic slave trade.
The Predictability of Stock Returns: A Cross-Sectional Simulation

This paper investigates whether predictable patterns that previous empirical work in finance have isolated appear to be persistent and exploitable by portfolio managers. On a sample that is free from survivorship bias we construct a test wherein we simulate the purchases and sales an investor would undertake to exploit the predictable patterns, charging the appropriate transaction costs for buying and selling and using only publicly available information at the time of decision making. We restrict investment to large companies only to assure that the full cost of transactions is properly accounted for. We confirmed on our sample that contrarian strategies yield sizable excess returns after adjusting for risk, as measured by beta. Using analysts' estimates of long-term growth we construct a test of the Lakonishok, Shleifer, and Vishny (1994) hypothesis. We cannot reject the hypothesis that neither the low-expected-growth portfolio nor the high-expected-growth portfolio yielded any risk-adjusted excess retu...
A Measurement of the Angular Power Spectrum of the Microwave Background Made from the High Chilean Andes

We report on a measurement of the angular spectrum of the anisotropy of the microwave sky at 30 and 40 GHz between l = 50 and l = 200. The data, covering roughly 600 deg2, support a rise in the angular spectrum to a maximum with δTl ≈ 85 μK at l = 200. We also give a 2 σ upper limit of δTl < 122 μK at l = 432 at 144 GHz. These results come from the first campaign of the Mobile Anisotropy Telescope on Cerro Toco, Chile. To assist in assessing the site, we present plots of the fluctuations in atmospheric emission at 30 and 144 GHz.
Hepta‐ and Octacoordinate Boron in Molecular Wheels of Eight‐ and Nine‐Atom Boron Clusters: Observation and Confirmation

Clusters of atoms can adopt different atomic arrangements from bulk materials. They often exhibit novel structures and properties, which provide opportunities for a new types of chemical bonding and stoichiometry. Herein we report experimental and theoretical evidence that 8- and 9-atom boron clusters are perfectly planar molecular wheels, with a hepta- or octacoordinated central boron atom, respectively, despite the predominance of three-dimensional structures normally found in bulk boron and its compounds.
Organic Photoredox Catalysis as a General Strategy for Anti-Markovnikov Alkene Hydrofunctionalization.

The development of a general catalyst system for the ­direct anti-Markovnikov hydrofunctionalization of alkenes is pres­ented. A unique catalyst system comprised of an acridinium photooxidant and a hydrogen atom transfer reagent allows for a range of alkene anti-Markovnikov hydrofunctionalization reactions including hydroalkoxylation, hydroamination, and hydroacetoxylation.
Fingerprints in the Ether: Using the Physical Layer for Wireless Authentication

The wireless medium contains domain-specific information that can be used to complement and enhance traditional security mechanisms. In this paper we propose ways to exploit the fact that, in a typically rich scattering environment, the radio channel response decorrelates quite rapidly in space. Specifically, we describe a physical-layer algorithm that combines channel probing (M complex frequency response samples over a bandwidth W) with hypothesis testing to determine whether current and prior communication attempts are made by the same user (same channel response). In this way, legitimate users can be reliably authenticated and false users can be reliably detected. To evaluate the feasibility of our algorithm, we simulate spatially variable channel responses in real environments using the WiSE ray-tracing tool; and we analyze the ability of a receiver to discriminate between transmitters (users) based on their channel frequency responses in a given office environment. For several rooms in the extremities of the building we considered, we have confirmed the efficacy of our approach under static channel conditions. For example, measuring five frequency response samples over a bandwidth of 100 MHz and using a transmit power of 100 mW, valid users can be verified with 99% confidence while rejecting false users with greater than 95% confidence.
Estimating Commuters' "Value of Time" with Noisy Data: a Multiple Imputation Approach

Abstract We estimate how motorists value their time savings and characterize the degree of heterogeneity in these values by observable traits. We obtain these estimates by analyzing the choices that commuters make in a real market situation, where they are offered a free-flow alternative to congested travel. We do so, however, in an empirical setting where several key observations are missing. To overcome this, we apply Rubin’s multiple imputation method to generate consistent estimates and valid statistical inferences. We also compare these estimates to those produced in a “single imputation” scenario to illustrate the potential hazards of single imputation methods when multiple imputation methods are warranted. Our results show the importance of properly accounting for errors in the imputation process, and they also show that value of time savings varies greatly according to motorist characteristics.
Scalable Multi-Group Full-Spectrum Correlated-k Distributions for Radiative Transfer Calculations

A new full-spectrum k-distribution method has been developed, in which spectral locations are sorted into M spectral groups, according to their absorption coefficient dependence on (partial) pressure and temperature. Calculating correlated-k full-spectrum k-distributions for each of the M groups, LBL accuracy can be obtained with M≤32. Database values have been assembled for CO 2 mixtures at atmospheric pressure. The method is fully scalable, i.e., spectral groups from the database can be combined to obtain coarser group models (M=1,2,4,...) for greater numerical efficiency (accompanied by slight loss in accuracy)
Off-specular reflectivity study of sputter-deposition of platinum during growth

Abstract A series of off-specular diffuse scattering measurements were performed by scanning the detector parallel to the sample surface during growth of platinum films on polished silicon substrates. During early stage of island growth, we observe a halo of diffuse scattering around the specular reflection which is similar in origin to Henzler's ring (P. Hahn, J. Clabes and M. Henzler, J. Appl. Phys. 51 (1980) 2079). A model of random islands was developed to explain the halo of diffuse scattering. During late growth, the film surface was consistent with a partially self-affine surface.
The influence of trust in health care systems on postabortion contraceptive choice

Abstract Objectives This study investigates whether trust in the health care system or other patient-level characteristics are associated with interest in immediate initiation of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) after abortion. Study design A structured, self-administered survey was provided to English-speaking women 18years or older presenting to a reproductive health center in the Southeastern United States for first-trimester surgical abortion. The survey collected information about patient characteristics, choice of postabortion contraception, health literacy and trust in the health care system. Trust was measured using a 17-item, previously validated survey and was treated as the primary independent variable. Our primary outcome variable is interest in immediate LARC placement postabortion. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square tests, Student's t tests and logistic regression with SAS® 9.2. Results Of 162 respondents who completed the survey, 24% planned to use LARC postabortion, which increased to 37% if LARC placement was available on the day of their abortion. The mean trust score was 59±8 (possible score of 17–85) and did not differ significantly between women who indicated an interest in immediate LARC placement postabortion and those who did not (p=.9). Women with a history of a prior birth were 3.4 times more likely to indicate interest in immediate postabortion LARC than others (adjusted odds ratio 3.42, 95% confidence interval 1.63, 7.18). Conclusion Desire to accept LARC immediately postabortion is associated with history of a prior birth but not with trust in the health care system or other demographic variables. Participant interest in postabortion LARC varied based on immediate device availability. Implications This research underscores the importance of policies and clinical practices that promote access to LARC methods on the day of an abortion. Further research is needed to elucidate factors that correlate with choice of LARC postabortion.
Do Recommender Systems Manipulate Consumer Preferences? A Study of Anchoring Effects

Recommender systems are becoming a salient part of many e-commerce websites. Much research has focused on advancing recommendation technologies to improve accuracy of predictions, although behavioral aspects of using recommender systems are often overlooked. In our studies, we explore how consumer preferences at the time of consumption are impacted by predictions generated by recommender systems. We conducted three controlled laboratory experiments to explore the effects of system recommendations on preferences. Studies 1 and 2 investigated user preferences for television programs across a variety of conditions, which were surveyed immediately following program viewing. Study 3 investigated the granularity of the observed effects within individual participants. Results provide strong evidence that the rating presented by a recommender system serves as an anchor for the consumer's constructed preference. Viewers' preference ratings are malleable and can be significantly influenced by the recommendation received. The effect is sensitive to the perceived reliability of a recommender system and, thus, not a purely numerical or priming-based effect. Finally, the effect of anchoring is continuous and linear, operating over a range of perturbations of the system. These general findings have a number of important implications e.g., on recommender systems performance metrics and design, preference bias, potential strategic behavior, and trust, which are discussed.
Superconductivity in the actinides

Abstract The trends in the occurrence of superconductivity in actinide materials are discussed. Most of them seem to show simple transition metal behavior. However, the superconductivity of americium proves that the f electrons are localived in that element and that “actinides” is the correct name for this row of elements. Recently the superconductivity of UBe13 and UPt3 has been shown to be evtremely unusual, and these compounds fall in the new class of compounds now known as heavy fermion materials.
Modeling, identification, and feedback control of noise in an acoustic duct

Although active noise control has been a subject of interest for over 50 years, it has become feasible only with recent technological advances. This paper formulates the problem of noise control in a one-dimensional acoustic duct in a form that lends itself to the application of feedback control theory. In contrast to most of the literature on the subject which uses feedforward techniques, a feedback approach is used. Inconsistencies that appear in previous feedback control models are rectified, controllers are designed using precompensated linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) synthesis, and experimental verification of the control designs is presented. The experimental results show a reduction of about 5-12 dB over a frequency range from 150-350 Hz.
The Inefficiency of Decentralized Non-renewable Resource Extraction: The Case of Soviet Timber

Abstract This paper argues that the structure of the government in the former Soviet Union and the present Russia has led to inefficiency in harvesting non-renewable resources such as timber. It analyzes the dynamic optimization problems of the central and local authorities in choosing the path of harvesting and explains the sources and effects of inefficiency. The features of the model are compared with a hypothetical one in which the inefficiency has been removed. This hypothetical model is then applied to suggest some policies for reducing the existing inefficiency.
A quarter century of stimulated Raman scattering

To round out a quarter century of SRS the timing of this writing (1986) requires a look ahead of only one year into the future. The proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy present a picture of current activity. Further progress will be made in time-resolved spectroscopy with subpicosecond resolution, in the study of hyper-Raman and other higher order effects with CARS, in extension of resonant Raman excitation in the UV region of spectrum, and in the development of Raman laser sources. During past few years extensive theoretical investigations have been made for four-wave light mixing in the case of one or more very strong light beams. The perturbation approach for those fields ceases to be valid. If only one light field is strong, the usual approach is to make a transformation to a rotating coordinate system so that the strong Hamiltonian for this light field becomes time-independent. Very recently these techniques have been extended to the case of two or more strong fields. CARS-type experiments with strong beams are likely to receive more attention. Extrapolation of the current activities instills confidence in the vitality of stimulated Raman scattering for the foreseeable future.
Divergent Electronic Structures of Isoelectronic Metalloclusters: Tungsten(II) Halides and Rhenium(III) Chalcogenide Halides

Same but different: DFT calculations on hexanuclear tungsten(II) halide clusters [W6X8X′6]2− (X, X′=Cl, Br, I) indicate a breakdown in the isoelectronic analogy between themselves and the isostructural rhenium(III) chalcogenide clusters [Re6S8X6]4− (see figure). The hexanuclear tungsten(II) halide clusters and the sulfido-halide clusters of rhenium(III) are subsets of a broad system of 24-electron metal–metal bonded assemblies that share a common structure. Tungsten(II) halide clusters and rhenium(III) sulfide clusters luminesce from triplet excited states upon ultraviolet or visible excitation; emission from both cluster series has been extensively characterized elsewhere. Reported here are density-functional theory studies of the nine permutations of [W6X8X′6]2− (X, X′=Cl, Br, I). Ground-state properties including geometries, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and orbital energy-level diagrams, have been calculated. Comparison is made to the sulfide clusters of rhenium(III), of which [Re6S8Cl6]4− is representative. [W6X8X′6]2− and [Re6S8Cl6]4− possess disparate electronic structures owing to the greater covalency of the metal–sulfur bond and hence of the [Re6S8]2+ core. Low-lying virtual orbitals are raised in energy in [Re6S8Cl6]4− with the result that the LUMO+7 (or LUMO+8 in some cases) of tungsten(II) halide clusters is the LUMO of [Re6S8Cl6]4− species. An inversion of the HOMO and HOMO−1 between the two cluster series also occurs. Time-dependent density-functional calculations using asymptotically correct functionals do not recapture the experimentally observed periodic trend in [W6X14]2− luminescence (Eem increasing in the order [W6Cl14]2− < [W6Br14]2− < [W6I14]2−), predicting instead that emission energies decrease with incorporation of the heavier halides. This circumstance is either a gross failure of the time-dependent formalism of DFT or it indicates extensive multistate emission in [W6X8X′6]2− clusters. The inapplicability of isoelectronic analogies between clusters of Group 6 and Group 7 is emphasized.
Post‐Laspeyres: The Case for a New Formula for Compiling Consumer Price Indexes

Consumer price indexes (CPIs) are commonly compiled at the higher (weighted) level using Laspeyres-type arithmetic averages. This paper questions the suitability of such formulas and considers two counterpart alternatives that use geometric averaging, the Geometric Young and the (price-updated) Geometric Lowe. The paper provides a formal decomposition and understanding of the differences between the two. Empirical results are provided using United States CPI data. The findings lead to an advocacy of quite simple variants of a hybrid formula suggested by Lent and Dorfman that use the same data as Laspeyres-type indexes but substantially reduce their bias.
Interactive ray tracing for volume visualization

We present a brute-force ray tracing system for interactive volume visualization. The system runs on a conventional (distributed) shared-memory multiprocessor machine. For each pixel we trace a ray through a volume to compute the color for that pixel. Although this method has high intrinsic computational cost, its simplicity and scalability make it ideal for large datasets on current high-end parallel systems. To gain efficiency several optimizations are used including a volume bricking scheme and a shallow data hierarchy. These optimizations are used in three separate visualization algorithms: isosurfacing of rectilinear data, isosurfacing of unstructured data, and maximum-intensity projection on rectilinear data. The system runs interactively (i.e., several frames per second) on an SGI Reality Monster. The graphics capabilities of the Reality Monster are used only for display of the final color image.
Privileged structure based ligands for melanocortin receptors—4,4-Disubstituted piperidine derivatives

Homologation and cyclization back to the chiral methine of compound 3 yields achiral 4,4-disubstituted piperidine privileged structures (e.g., 8a) useful in the construction of melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) ligands. The piperidine nitrogen was replaced with carbon, oxygen, sulfur, and sulfone with minor erosion of binding. The methyl cyclohexane substituent was the most potent while significant affinity was still seen for smaller lipophilic groups such as ethyl.
Synthesis and catalytic antibody functionalization of dendrimers.

Antibody 38C2 catalyzed a retro-aldol process upon dendritic modified aliphatic polyesters. This catalytic system was studied in detail and displayed rate enhancements, kcat/kuncat, of greater than 106. These antibody-catalyzed reactions took place in a stepwise manner yielding partially modified aldol-dendrimers until a fully substituted aldehyde dendrimer was formed. The catalytic antibody 38C2 only reacted with surface-exposed aldol moieties and did not significantly interact with the core groups for dendrons 4 and 8. For a higher generation dendron 8 the rate of unmasking slightly decreased presumably due to steric crowding of the aldol functionalities. In addition, catalytic antibody 38C2 was able to selectively differentiate block-hybrid dendrons and was regiospecific in the retro-aldol reaction of dendron 21. This is an inaugural report of a catalytic antibody utilizing dendrimers as substrates and suggests that antibodies could be used as selective catalysts for the controlled release and activati...
Synthesis of 2-chloro-4,6-di(heteroaryl)pyrimidines

A practical method for the preparation of 2-chloro-4,6-di(heteroaryl)pyrimidines and their 5-methyl homologues from readily available 2-chloropyrimidine and 2-chloro-5-methylpyrimidine, respectively, is described. The method is based on the addition reactions of heteroaryllithium reagents with chloropyrimidines followed by dehydrogenation of the resultant substituted dihydropyrimidines. The use of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone as the dehydrogenation agent gives the best results. Side reactions in the addition step are discussed.
HIV/AIDS, reproductive and sexual health, and the law

The law is a frequently overlooked tool for addressing the complex practical and ethical issues that arise from the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The law intersects with reproductive and sexual health issues and HIV/AIDS in many ways. Well-written and rigorously applied laws could benefit persons living with (or at risk of contracting) HIV/AIDS, particularly concerning their reproductive and sexual health. Access to reproductive health services should be a legal right, and discrimination based on HIV status, which undermines access, should be prohibited. Laws against sexual violence and exploitation, which perpetuate the spread of HIV and its negative effects, should be enforced. Finally, a human rights framework should inform the drafting of laws to more effectively protect health.
Enantioselective (Formal) Aza-Diels−Alder Reactions with Non-Danishefsky-Type Dienes

Enantioselective (formal) aza-Diels−Alder reactions between acylhydrazones and non-Danishefsky-type dienes have been developed. The reactions are promoted by a simple and economical chiral silicon Lewis acid and are typically conducted at ambient temperature. Both glyoxylate- and aliphatic aldehyde-derived hydrazones may be employed, as may variously substituted dienes, leading to the synthesis of a diverse array of tetrahydropyridines with good to excellent levels of enantioselectivity.
Low regularity solutions to a gently stochastic nonlinear wave equation in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics

We consider a system of stochastic partial differential equations modeling heat conduction in a non-linear medium. We show global existence of solutions for the system in Sobolev spaces of low regularity, including spaces with norm beneath the energy norm. For the special case of thermal equilibrium, we also show the existence of an invariant measure (Gibbs state). r 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Does system membership enhance financial performance in hospitals

While hospitals continue to join multi-institutional systems, empirical data on the benefits of system membership are ambiguous. This study examines the same 166 Florida hospitals in 1986 and 1992. System membership, in general, did not enhance financial returns (measured by operating margin, total margin, and return on assets) for the pooled data or for either year. In fact, a significant negative relationship is noted in 1986. However, when only hospitals affiliated with national systems (in this study, American Medical International, Hospital Corporation of America, or Humana) are analyzed, a positive statistically significant association is found for two of the above three profitability indicators for both the pooled data and for 1986. However, there was no statistically significant impact noted for 1992. Reasons for the apparent discrepancy in the impact of national versus local/regional systems on hospital financial performance and the apparent declining ability of national systems to generate above...
Diastereoselective synthesis of quaternary substituted thioindolines from sulfur ylide intermediates

We have examined the coupling reactions of 2-thioindoles with vinyl diazoacetates in the presence of Rh(II) catalysts. While attempted enantio- and/or diastereoselective couplings using chiral catalysts and/or chiral auxiliaries on the vinyl diazoacetate have been largely unsuccessful, substrates having resident chirality on fused thiopyrans gave thioindolines with moderate to high diastereoselectivities.
Formation of Ganymede's grooved terrain by convection-driven resurfacing

The heat flux and strain rate inferred for grooved terrain formation on Ganymede can be produced in a convecting ice shell 10–100 km thick with weak near-surface ice. Smooth linear grooves may have formed by convection-driven lithospheric spreading and long-wavelength compressional folds may form atop convective downwellings, and would possibly be detectable with mapping from ESA’s upcoming Jupiter-Icy Moon Explorer Mission.