cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Market Power In The England And Wales Wholesale Electricity Market 1995–2000*

This article shows that generators exercised considerable market power in the England and Wales wholesale electricity market in the late 1990s. This is surprising because static oligopoly models predict that falling market concentration should have reduced market power. The article tests the equilibrium assumption of these models that each generator's bids should maximise its short-run profits given the bids of other generators. It finds that the two largest generators could have profitably increased their output from the beginning of 1997. Their behaviour was consistent with tacit collusion. This article examines market power and generator behaviour in the England and Wales (E&W) wholesale electricity market, known as the Pool, in the second half of the 1990s. I show that generators exercised considerable market power in the late 1990s despite falling market concentration. This is surprising because static oligopoly models, which have been widely used to model wholesale electricity markets, predict that falling market concentration should reduce the incentives and ability of generators to raise prices above competitive levels. I further examine the applicability of these models by testing their Nash equilibrium assumption that each generator's bids should maximise its short-run profits given the bids of other generators. Consistent with the market power results, I find significant deviations from static profit-maximising behaviour for the two largest generators, National Power (NP) and PowerGen (PG), from the beginning of 1997 as they could have increased their short-run profits by submitting lower bids and increasing their output. Their behaviour was consistent with tacit collusion, but it could also be explained by an attempt to raise the prices they could negotiate in future hedging contracts by increasing current Pool prices. Figure 1 illustrates the motivation for the article by showing what happened to wholesale electricity prices, market concentration and the prices of two major fuels used in generation during the lifetime of the Pool. Concentration and fuel prices, which are the largest component of generators' marginal costs, fell significantly but average electricity prices changed relatively little. This article focuses on the second half of the 1990s when the fall in concentration and fuel prices was particularly dramatic. The article has two main parts. Section 2 measures the degree of market power being exercised in the Pool from 1995 to 2000 by comparing realised Pool prices with estimates of competitive benchmark prices. I find that, consistent with the suggestive pattern in Figure 1, generators exercised considerable market power from the beginning of 1997. The degree of market power which I find is comparable to that identified by Borenstein et al. (2002) at the height of California's electricity crisis and it is at least
Stability of eigenvalues of quantum graphs with respect to magnetic perturbation and the nodal count of the eigenfunctions

We prove an analogue of the magnetic nodal theorem on quantum graphs: the number of zeros ϕ of the nth eigenfunction of the Schrodinger operator on a quantum graph is related to the stability of the nth eigenvalue of the perturbation of the operator by magnetic potential. More precisely, we consider the nth eigenvalue as a function of the magnetic perturbation and show that its Morse index at zero magnetic field is equal to ϕ−(n−1).
Replica-space renormalization in random-field systems

Abstract The critical behavior of random-field systems is characterized by exponentially long relaxation times. They may differ by orders of magnitude and slow modes have to be considered quenched with respect to the faster ones. This requires a drastic modification of the renormalization process in which the degrees of freedom are integrated out. A new replica-space renormalization procedure, to carry out the coarse-graining of the time intervals, is presented. We relate by recursion-relations the effective reduced dimensions of consecutive time scales. Their stable fixed-points yield the apparent dimensionalities for the longest and shortest time scales, which are insentive to the exact behavior on intermediate scales. For Ising systems we find that d = 2 is the lower critical dimension in both regimes. The thermal exponents for d = 3, in the short-time observable regime, are related to those of the pure system in d = 2. This is consistent with the observations in field-cooled random antiferromagnets of the correlation length exponent v ≈ 1 (by neutron scattering) and of the symmetric logarithmic divergence in the specific-heat (by linear birefringence).
Besov Spaces and Frames on Compact Manifolds

We show that one can characterize the Besov spaces on a smooth compact oriented Riemannian manifold, for the full range of indices, through a knowledge of the size of frame coefficients, using the smooth, nearly tight frames we have constructed in [8].
Are the Magellanic Clouds on Their First Passage about the Milky Way

Recent proper-motion measurements of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC, respectively) by Kallivayalil and coworkers suggest that the 3D velocities of the Clouds are substantially higher (~100 km s-1) than previously estimated and now approach the escape velocity of the Milky Way (MW). Previous studies have also assumed that the Milky Way can be adequately modeled as an isothermal sphere to large distances. Here we reexamine the orbital history of the Clouds using the new velocities and a ΛCDM-motivated MW model with virial mass Mvir = 1012 M☉ (e.g., Klypin and coworkers). We conclude that the LMC and SMC are either currently on their first passage about the MW or, if the MW can be accurately modeled by an isothermal sphere to distances 200 kpc (i.e., Mvir > 2 × 1012 M☉), that their orbital period and apogalacticon distance must be a factor of 2 larger than previously estimated, increasing to 3 Gyr and 200 kpc, respectively. A first passage scenario is consistent with the fact that the LMC and SMC appear to be outliers when compared to other satellite galaxies of the MW: they are irregular in appearance and are moving faster. We discuss the implications of this orbital analysis for our understanding of the star formation history, the nature of the warp in the MW disk and the origin of the Magellanic Stream (MS), a band of H I gas trailing the LMC and SMC that extends ~100° across the sky. Specifically, as a consequence of the new orbital history of the Clouds, the origin of the MS may not be explainable by current tidal and ram pressure stripping models.
Dynamic Behavior of Spherical Friction Dampers and Its Implication to Damper Contact Stiffness

A model that predicts the quasi-static behavior of a friction damper that has spherical contacts was developed using Mindlin 's theory. The model was integrated into a dynamic analysis that predicts the vibratory response offrictionally damped blades. The analytical approach was corroborated through a set of benchmark experiments using a blades/ damper test fixture. There was good agreement between the theoretical predictions of amplitude and the values that were measured experimentally over a wide range of test conditions. It is concluded that it is possible to predict the vibratory response offrictionally damped vibrating systems using continuum mechanics, provided that the contact geometry is clearly defined and the local nonlinear contact is correctly taken into account.
Reactions of a New Type of Intermediate Formed by Triflate Rearrangement

Abstract Treatment of methyl 4-O-benzoyl-2, 6-dideoxy-β-D-arabino-hexopyranoside (6) with triflic anhydride in The presence of 2, 6-di-t-butyl-4-methylpyridine (7) produces methyl 4-O-benzoyl-2, 6-dideoxy-3-O-(tri-fluoromethylsulfonyl) -β-D-arabino-hexopyranoside (8), a compound which rearranges to a new and highly unstable triflate (10) upon standing at room temperature. Bromide ion reacts with 10 to give methyl 4-O-benzoyl-3-bromo-2,3,6-trideoxy-β-D-arabino-hexopyranoside (11), a product of displacement at C-3. A similar reaction takes place with nitrate ion to give methyl 4-O-benzoyl-2, 6-dideoxy-3-O-nitro-β-D)-arabino-hexopyranoside (15). Reaction of 10 with water and with tributyltin hydride results in capture of the cation 12, formed by ionization of 10, to give methyl 3-O-benzoyl-2,6-dideoxy-β-D-ribo-hexopyranoside (14) and methyl 3, 4-O-benzylidene-2, 6-dideoxy-β-D-ribo-hexopyranosi de (16), respectively. The cation 12 also reacts with methanol to afford the orthobenzoates 17 and 18.
The diamond-free process

Let K4- denote the diamond graph, formed by removing an edge from the complete graph K4. We consider the following random graph process: starting with n isolated vertices, add edges uniformly at random provided no such edge creates a copy of K4-. We show that, with probability tending to 1 as ni¾?∞, the final size of the graph produced is i¾?logi¾?ni¾?n3/2. Our analysis also suggests that the graph produced after i edges are added resembles the uniform random graph, with the additional condition that the edges which do not lie on triangles form a random-looking subgraph. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 45, 513-551, 2014
Conjugate addition reactions of N-carbamoyl-4-pyridones with organometallic reagents.

N-Carbamoyl-4-pyridones undergo conjugate addition reactions with organocuprates and organozincates to afford 2-substituted-2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones providing a direct synthetic approach to substituted piperidines and piperidones. Good to excellent yields of conjugate adducts are achieved with lithium dialkylcuprates, alkylcyanocuprates, RLi/CuCN (0.3 equiv), and trialkylzincates with copper catalysis. Copper catalysis in the conjugate addition of Grignard reagents affords modest yields of conjugate adducts. An enantioenriched phosphoramidite ligand promotes the copper catalyzed conjugate addition of Et2Zn to a N-carbamoyl-4-pyridone with an er of 91.5:8.5.
An efficient microwave assisted synthesis of novel class of Rhodanine derivatives as potential HIV-1 and JSP-1 inhibitors.

(Z)-5-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-2-oxoethylidene)-3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one (7a–q) derivatives have been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones (3a–h) with suitably substituted 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetaldehyde (6a–d) under microwave condition. The thioxothiazolidine-4-ones were prepared from the corresponding aromatic amines (1a–e) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The aldehydes (6a–h) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (5a–d) using HSnBu3.
An enhanced multiway sorting network based on n-sorters

Merging-based sorting networks are an important family of sorting networks. Most merge sorting networks are based on 2-way or multi-way merging algorithms using 2-sorters as basic building blocks. An alternative is to use n-sorters, instead of 2-sorters, as the basic building blocks so as to greatly reduce the number of gates as well as the latency. Based on a modified Leighton's columnsort algorithm, an n-way merging algorithm, referred to as SS-Mk, that uses n-sorters as basic building blocks was proposed. In this work, we first propose a new multiway merging algorithm with n-sorters as basic building blocks that merges n sorted lists of m values each in 1 + ⌈m/2∼⌉ stages (n ≤ m). Based on our merging algorithm, we also propose a multiway sorting algorithm. We also show an application of our sorting algorithm with sorters implemented in threshold logic. Though both our algorithm and the SS-Mk require the same asymptotic number of gates, 0(N log2 N), to sort N inputs, our algorithm requires fewer gates than the SS-Mk for wide ranges of N.
Whose "city of tomorrow" is it?: on urban computing, utopianism, and ethics

In this article I discuss some ethical and moral ramifications of the future envisioned by urban computing. In doing so, I make analogies to twentieth century utopian visions of the "city of tomorrow," so that we might see the historical context of a similar field with similar utopian instincts. I hope this context helps us better understand how our work might affect the lives of city dwellers in profound ways that we may never fully foresee. I discuss ethical questions related to using urban computing for policy making, for real-estate development, and for surveillance. I also define the concept of distributed sensing, and discuss some difficult regulatory questions that surround it. I hope this work inspires urban computing researchers to think critically in order to assess societal implications of the technologies they develop.
Searching for auxetics with DYNA3D and ParaDyn

We sought to simulate auxetic behavior by carrying out dynamic analyses of mesoscopic model structures. We began by generating nearly periodic cellular structures. Four-node 'Shell' elements and eight-node 'Brick' elements are the basic building blocks for each cell. The shells and bricks obey standard elastic-plastic continuum mechanics. The dynamical response of the structures was next determined for a three-stage loading process: (1) homogeneous compression; (2) viscous relaxation; (3) uniaxial compression. The simulations were carried out with both serial and parallel computer codes--DYNA3D and ParaDyn--which describe the deformation of the shells and bricks with a robust contact algorithm. We summarize the results found here.
On Projections of Semi-Algebraic Sets Defined by Few Quadratic Inequalities

Let S⊂ℝk+m be a compact semi-algebraic set defined by P1≥0,…,Pl≥0, where Pi∈ℝ[X1,…,Xk,Y1,…,Ym], and deg (Pi)≤2, 1≤i≤l. Let π denote the standard projection from ℝk+m onto ℝm. We prove that for any q>0, the sum of the first q Betti numbers of π(S) is bounded by (k+m)O(ql). We also present an algorithm for computing the first q Betti numbers of π(S), whose complexity is $(k+m)^{2^{O(q\ell)}}$. For fixed q and l, both the bounds are polynomial in k+m.
Three New Fiber-Optic Components

Three new fiber-optic components are described: an in-line filter, an optical switch, and an in-line attenuator. The in-line filter inserts an optical filter into any fiber line containing a connector while imposing very little cost in additional power loss. The optical switch allows a single output fiber to transmit input from one of two different fibers and permits switching back and forth between the input fibers as needed. The in-line attenuator attenuates signals in fiber lines over a large range of about -30 dB with infinite variability. All three components are rugged, reliable, accurate, and inexpensive. They were developed for the prompt diagnostics used on underground nuclear tests and have successfully performed in this harsh, demanding environment.
Preparation and Reactions of 1,1-Di(Phenylthio)Cyclobutane Derivatives from 1-(Phenylthio)-1-Cyclopropane Carbinols

Abstract 1-(Phenylthio)cyclopropylcarbinyl alcohols are converted to 2-alkyl-1, 1-di(phenylthio)cyclobutane derivatives upon treatment with 48% HBr and ZnBr2. Heating with copper triflate and Hunig's base gave 2-alkyl-1-(phenylthio)cyclobutenes which were pyrolyzed to 3-alkyl-2-di-(phenylthio)-1,3-butadienes in moderate to good yield.
THE EXEMPLAR T8 SUBDWARF COMPANION OF WOLF 1130

We have discovered a wide separation (188.''5) T8 subdwarf companion to the sdM1.5+WD binary Wolf 1130. Companionship of WISE J200520.38+542433.9 is verified through common proper motion over a ~3 yr baseline. Wolf 1130 is located 15.83 ± 0.96 pc from the Sun, placing the brown dwarf at a projected separation of ~3000 AU. Near-infrared colors and medium resolution (R ≈ 2000-4000) spectroscopy establish the uniqueness of this system as a high-gravity, low-metallicity benchmark. Although there are a number of low-metallicity T dwarfs in the literature, WISE J200520.38+542433.9 has the most extreme inferred metallicity to date with [Fe/H] = –0.64 ± 0.17 based on Wolf 1130. Model comparisons to this exemplar late-type subdwarf support it having an old age, a low metallicity, and a small radius. However, the spectroscopic peculiarities of WISE J200520.38+542433.9 underscore the importance of developing the low-metallicity parameter space of the most current atmospheric models.
A methyl glucuronate prodrug of phosphorodiamidic mustard

Abstract 4-[Methyl (β-D-glucopyranosyl)uronate]benzyl N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-chloroethyl) phosphorodiamidate, 3 , was synthesized as a neutral prodrug of N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-chloroethyl) phosphorodiamidate mustard, 2c . In the presence of carboxylate esterase and β-D-glucuronidase, 3 was converted to 2c and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 7 .
Practical Datatype Specializations with Phantom Types and Recursion Schemes

Datatype specialization is a form of subtyping that captures program invariants on data structures that are expressed using the convenient and intuitive datatype notation. Of particular interest are structural invariants such as well-formedness. We investigate the use of phantom types for describing datatype specializations. We show that it is possible to express statically-checked specializations within the type system of Standard ML. We also show that this can be done in a way that does not lose useful programming facilities such as pattern matching in case expressions.
Diffusive Shock Acceleration of High Energy Cosmic Rays

The process of diffusive acceleration of charged particles in shocked plasmas is widely invoked in astrophysics to account for the ubiquitous presence of signatures of non-thermal relativistic electrons and ions in the universe. A key characteristic of this statistical energization mechanism is the absence of a momentum scale; astrophysical systems generally only impose scales at the injection (low energy) and loss (high energy) ends of the particle spectrum. The existence of structure in the cosmic ray spectrum (the "knee") at around 3000 TeV has promoted contentions that there are at least two origins for cosmic rays, a galactic one supplying those up to the knee, and even beyond, and perhaps an extragalactic one that can explain even the ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) seen at 1-300 EeV. Accounting for the UHECRs with familiar astrophysical sites of acceleration has historically proven difficult due to the need to assume high magnetic fields in order to reduce the shortest diffusive acceleration timescale, the ion gyroperiod, to meaningful values. Yet active galaxies and gamma-ray bursts remain strong and interesting candidate sources for UHECRs, turning the theoretical focus to relativistic shocks. This review summarizes properties of diffusive shock acceleration that are salient to the issue of UHECR generation. These include spectral indices, acceleration efficencies and timescales, as functions of the shock speed and mean field orientation, and also the nature of the field turbulence. The interpretation of these characteristics in the context of gamma-ray burst models for the production of UHECRs is also examined.
Homotopy type and v1-periodic homotopy groups of p-compact groups

Abstract We determine the v 1 -periodic homotopy groups of all irreducible p-compact groups ( B X , X ) . In the most difficult, modular, cases, we follow a direct path from their associated invariant polynomials to these homotopy groups. We show that, if p is odd, every irreducible p-compact group has X of the homotopy type of a product of explicit spaces related to p-completed Lie groups.
Reactions of alkyl and hydride derivatives of permethylzirconocene and permethylhafnocene with carbon monoxide. Synthesis and reactivity studies of aldehyde complexes of zirconium and hafnium

The alkyl hydride derivatives Cp2*M(H)(CH2CHMe2) (Cp* = η5-C5Me5, M = Zr, Hf) react with carbon monoxide at low temperature to yield the η2-acyl hydride complexes CpM(H)(η2-COCH2CHMe2) (1a, b), which on warming to room temperature under CO afford the carbonyl/isovaleraldehyde adducts CpM(CO)(η2-OCHCH2CHMe2) (4a, b). The zirconium derivative 4a slowly loses its coordinated CO and rearranges to the enolate hydride CpZr(H)(OCHCHCHMe2) (3). By contrast CpHf-(CO)(η2-OCHCH2CHMe2) (4b) rearranges without loss of CO to the cyclic enediolate tautomer (5), most likely by a 1,2H shift from the cyclic acyl derivative . The coordinatively unsaturated η2-isovaleraldehyde adduct of permethylzirconocene [CpZr(η2-OCHCH2CHMe2)] is implicated in reactions of the acyl hydride CpZr(H)(η2-COCH2CHMe2) (1a) with the trapping substrates ethylene, 2-butyne, dihydrogen, and tert-butylacetylene to yield (12), (13), CpZr(H)(OCH2CH2CHMe2) (14), and Cp2*Zr(CCCMe3)(OCH2CH2CHMe2) (15). Carbonylations of the hafnacyclopentane (9) and the alkenyl hydride CpHf(H)(trans-CHCHCMe3) do not show direct evidence for η2-cyclopentanone or η2-aldehyde intermediates. The former does, however, proceed directly to the bicyclic enediolate complex 11 most likely by the subsequent carbonylation of the cyclopentanone adduct. The latter undergoes carbonylation first to the hafna-oxacyclopentene , which reacts further with CO to yield hafnadioxo-cycloheptadiene (19). Possible mechanisms for these processes are discussed. The general natures of this chemistry complement theoretical and experiment results from the Hofmann group presented in the preceding article17.
Thermally induced A'-A site exchange in novel layered perovskites Ag2[Ca1.5M3O10] (M = Nb, Ta).

We have synthesized and characterized new layered perovskites Ag2[A1.5M3O10] (A = Ca, M = Nb, Ta), from their lithium analogues, by soft-chemical ion exchange. These oxides show topotactic irreversible thermally induced A‘−A site exchange, resulting in Ag1.1Ca0.9[Ca0.6Ag0.9M3O10], conferred from our high-temperature X-ray and ionic conductivity studies. The latter phases are the first compounds where Ag+ ions reside in both A‘ and A sites in layered perovskites. The absence of similar phase transition for A = Sr suggests that these transitions strongly depend on the size, charge, and the coordination preference of A‘ and A cations. This result provides a new synthetic tool for modifying the occupation of the 12-coordinate A site of layered perovskites using soft chemical routes.
Kinematics in matrix gravity

We develop the kinematics in Matrix Gravity, which is a modified theory of gravity obtained by a non-commutative deformation of General Relativity. In this model the usual interpretation of gravity as Riemannian geometry is replaced by a new kind of geometry, which is equivalent to a collection of Finsler geometries with several Finsler metrics depending both on the position and on the velocity. As a result the Riemannian geodesic flow is replaced by a collection of Finsler flows. This naturally leads to a model in which a particle is described by several mass parameters. If these mass parameters are different then the equivalence principle is violated. In the non-relativistic limit this also leads to corrections to the Newton’s gravitational potential. We find the first and second order corrections to the usual Riemannian geodesic flow and evaluate the anomalous nongeodesic acceleration in a particular case of static spherically symmetric background.
Focusing polychromatic light through strongly scattering media

We demonstrate feedback-optimized focusing of spatially coherent polychromatic light after transmission through strongly scattering media, and describe the relationship between optimized focus intensity and initial far-field speckle contrast. Optimization is performed using a MEMS spatial light modulator with camera-based or spectrometer-based feedback. We observe that the spectral bandwidth of the optimized focus depends on characteristics of the feedback signal. We interpret this dependence as a modification in the number of independent frequency components, or spectral correlations, transmitted by the sample, and introduce a simple model for polychromatic focus enhancement that is corroborated by experiment with calibrated samples.
Splitting Water and Carbon Dioxide via the Heterogeneous Oxidation of Zinc Vapor: Thermodynamic Considerations

The heterogeneous oxidation of zinc vapor is proposed as a promising reaction path for the exothermic step in the two-step Zn/ZnO solar thermochemical water and carbon dioxide splitting cycles. This approach circumvents mass transfer limitations encountered in the oxidation of solid or liquid zinc, promising rapid hydrogen and carbon monoxide production rates concurrent with a complete conversion of zinc to zinc oxide. In this paper, a parametric thermodynamic analysis is presented to quantify the benefit of achieving a rapid and complete conversion of zinc via the heterogeneous oxidation of zinc vapor. The conversion of zinc in polydisperse aerosol reactors has been limited to 20% for reaction times on the order of a minute, resulting in a cycle efficiency of ∼6%. The benefit of completely converting zinc via the heterogeneous oxidation of zinc vapor is an increase in efficiency to 27% and 31 % for water and carbon dioxide splitting, respectively. The cycle efficiency could be higher if heat recuperation is implemented.
Packet scheduling with joint design of MIMO and network coding

In this paper, we propose a joint design of MIMO technique and network coding (MIMO-NC) and apply it to improve the performance of wireless networks. We consider a system in which the packet exchange among multiple wireless users is forwarded by a relay node. In order to enjoy the benefit of MIMO-NC, all the nodes in the network are mounted with two antennas and the relay node possess the coding capability. For the cross traffic flows among any four users, the relay node not only can receive packets simultaneously from two compatible users in the uplink (users-to-relay node), but also can mix up distinct packets for four destined users into two coded packets and concurrently send them out in the same downlink (relay node-to-users), so that the information content is significantly increased in each transmission. We formalize the problem of finding a schedule to forward the buffered data of all the users in minimum number of transmissions in such a system as a problem of finding a maximum matching in a graph. We also provide an analytical model on maximum throughput and optimal energy efficiency, which explicitly measures the performance gain of the MIMO-NC enhancement. Our analytical and simulation results demonstrate that system performance can be greatly improved by the efficient utilization of MIMO and network coding opportunities.
Some remarks on time, uncertainty, and spin

Some observations are made about energy-time, uncertainty, and spin in the context of trajectories as in Faraggi-Matone or Floyd. PACS Nos. 03.65Bz and 04.20Fg
Approaches for Reducing the Insulator-Metal Transition Pressure in Hydrogen

Two possible techniques for reducing the external pressure required to induce the insulator-metal transition in solid hydrogen are described. One uses impurities to lower the energy of the metallic phase relative to that of the insulating phase. The other utilizes a negative pressure induced in the insulating phase by electron-hole pairs, created either with laser irradiation or pulsed synchrotron sources.
Application of boundary integral method to elastoplastic analysis of V-notched beams

The boundary integral equation method was applied in the solution of the plane elastoplastic problems. The use of this method was illustrated by obtaining stress and strain distributions for a number of specimens with a single edge notch and subjected to pure bending. The boundary integral equation method reduced the non-homogeneous biharmonic equation to two coupled Fredholm-type integral equations. These integral equations were replaced by a system of simultaneous algebraic equations and solved numerically in conjunction with the method of successive elastic solutions.
Co-learning analysis of two perceptual learning tasks with identical input stimuli supports the reweighting hypothesis.

Perceptual learning, even when it exhibits significant specificity to basic stimulus features such as retinal location or spatial frequency, may cause discrimination performance to improve either through enhancement of early sensory representations or through selective re-weighting of connections from the sensory representations to specific responses, or both. For most experiments in the literature, the two forms of plasticity make similar predictions (Dosher & Lu, 2009; Petrov, Dosher, & Lu, 2005). The strongest test of the two hypotheses must use training and transfer tasks that rely on the same sensory representation with different task-dependent decision structures. If training changes sensory representations, transfer (or interference) must occur since the (changed) sensory representations are common. If instead training re-weights a separate set of task connections to decision, then performance in the two tasks may still be independent. Here, we performed a co-learning analysis of two perceptual learning tasks based on identical input stimuli, following a very interesting study of Fahle and Morgan (1996) who used nearly identical input stimuli (a three dot pattern) in training bisection and vernier tasks. Two important modifications were made: (1) identical input stimuli were used in the two tasks, and (2) subjects practiced both tasks in multiple alternating blocks (800 trials/block). Two groups of subjects with counterbalanced order of training participated in the experiments. We found significant and independent learning of the two tasks. The pattern of results is consistent with the reweighting hypothesis of perceptual learning. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The Bulk RS KK-gluon at the LHC

We study the possibility of discovering and measuring the properties of the lightest Kaluza-Klein excitation of the gluon in a Randall-Sundrum scenario where the Standard Model matter and gauge fields propagate in the bulk. The KK-gluon decays primarily into top quarks. We discuss how to use the t final states to discover and probe the properties of the KK-gluon. Identification of highly energetic tops is crucial for this analysis. We show that conventional identification methods relying on well separated decay products will not work or heavy resonances but suggest alternative methods for top identification for energetic tops. We find, assuming good efficiency for this identification, that resonances with masses less than 5 TeV can be discovered if the algorithm to identify high pT tops can reject the QCD background by a factor of 10. We also find that for similar or lighter masses the spin can be determined and for lighter masses the chirality of the coupling to t can be measured. Since the energetic top pair final state is a generic signature for a large class of new physics as the top quark presumably couples most strongly to the electroweak symmetry breaking sector, the methods we have outlined to study the properties of the KK-gluon should also be important in other scenarios.
NEW N = 1 SUPERSYMMETRIC 3-DIMENSIONAL SUPERSTRING VACUA FROM U-MANIFOLDS

Abstract Making use of non-perturbative U-duality symmetries of type II strings we construct new `superstring' vacua in three dimensions with N =1 supersymmetry. This has an interpretation as compactifying formally from 13 dimensions (S-theory) on Calabi-Yau 5-folds possessing a T 3 × T 2 fibration. We describe some part of the massless multiplets, given by the Hodge spectrum, and point to a corresponding 5-brane configuration.
Vacancies and Insertions in the RE10Ni9+xIn20 Series (RE = Ho–Tm, Lu)

The intermetallic compounds RE10Ni9+xIn20 (RE = Ho–Tm, Lu) have been studied experimentally as well as theoretically. Lu10Ni9.8In19.2(1) crystallizes in the tetragonal Ho10Ni9In20-type structure [space group P4/nmm, a = 13.114(2) A and c = 8.993(2) A] with vacant 2b positions and mixed In/Ni occupancies at one indium site that creates the refined composition. Moreover, the atomic positions and the displacement parameters for the holmium, erbium, thulium, and lutetium phases, which are missing in previous studies, are now refined. TB-LMTO-ASA electronic calculations indicates that Lu10Ni9.8In19.2(1) prefers the centrosymmetric Ho10Ni9In20-type rather than a noncentrosymmetric defect-HfNiGa2-type structure (I4mm). According to our theoretical investigations, the HfNiGa2-type structure is preferred when the 2b position is fully occupied; however, the Ho10Ni9In20-type structure is preferred when vacancies are present on 2b position.
Characterization of descending modulation of nociception from the A5 cell group.

The present study examined the role of the A5 catecholamine-containing cell group in descending modulation of the nociceptive tail-flick (TF) reflex and regulation of blood pressure and heart rate in rats lightly anesthetized with petobarbital. Systematic mapping studies throughout the A5 cell group, rostral to caudal, showed that electrical stimulation in and near the A5 cell group at intensities as low as 25 μA was sufficient to inhibit the tail-flick (TF) reflex without producing a significant pressor response. Microinjections of glutamate into the same sites to selectively activate cell bodies also produced inhibition of the TF reflex and were accompanied by significant decreases in blood pressure(mean, −23 ± 4.7mmHg, n = 21) and non-significant decreases in heart rate(−7.6 ± 11bpm). Intrathecal administration of the receptor antagonists phentolamine, yohimbine, prazosin, methysergide, naloxone or atropine revealed that descending inhibition from the A5 cell group produced by electrical stimulation is mediated in part by spinal opioid and α-adrenoceptors. Increases in stimulation thresholds in the A5 cell group for inhibition of the TF reflex of 28.3 and 24.1% were produced by intrathecal pretreatment with phentolamine and naloxone, respectively. None of the other receptor antagonists produced significant increases in stimulation thresholds in the A5 cell group for inhibition of the TF reflex. Resting blood pressure and heart rate were not affected by the receptor antagonists.
Silylformylation catalyzed by Rh and Rh-Co mixed metal complexes and its application to the synthesis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Abstract Reactions of hydrosilanes with 1-hexyne catalyzed by Co 2 Rh 2 (CO) 12 , Rh 4 (CO) 12 , ( t BuNC) 4 RhCo(CO) 4 , and Rh(acac)(CO) 2 at 25°C and atmospheric pressure to 10 atm of carbon monoxide give (Z)-1-silyl-2-formyl-1-hexenes ( 1 ), which are the products of “silylformylation”, and/or ( E )-1-silyl-1-hexenes ( 2 ). The ratio of silylformylation vs. hydrosilylation products depends on the electronic nature of hydrosilane used, e.g., PhMe 2 SiH gives 1 almost exclusively whereas (MeO) 3 SiH favors the formation of 2 . When trialkylsilanes such as Et 3 SiH and EtMe 2 SiH are used, the reaction catalyzed by Co 2 Rh 2 (CO) 12 or ( t BuNC) 4 RhCo(CO) 4 gives 2,5-bis(n-butyl)-3-silylcyclopent-2-en-1-one ( 3 ) as a major product, which is a unique silylcarbocyclization product. Mechanism of the formation of 3 is discussed on the basis of deuterium-labeling experiments. Chemoselective silylformylations of alkenynes, a dialkyne, and an alkynyl nitrile proceed in high yields in which alkene and nitrile functionalities are inert for the reaction. Silylformylation is successfully applied to the syntheses of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, (±)-isoretronecanol and (±)-trachelanthamidine, from 5-ethynyl-2-pyrrolidinone ( 6 ) in combination with amidocarbonylation.
Weld pool dynamics and the formation of ripples in 3D gas metal arc welding

Abstract This article studies the transient weld pool dynamics under the periodical impingement of filler droplets that carry mass, momentum, thermal energy, and species in a moving 3D gas metal arc welding. The complicated transport phenomena in the weld pool are caused by the combined effect of droplet impingement, gravity, electromagnetic force, plasma arc force, and surface tension force (Marangoni effect). The weld pool shape and the distributions of temperature, velocity, and species in the weld pool are calculated as a function of time. The phenomena of “open and close-up” for a crater in the weld pool and the corresponding weld pool dynamics are analyzed. The commonly observed ripples at the surface of a solidified weld bead are, for the first time, predicted by the present model. Detailed mechanisms leading to the formation of ripples are discussed.
Service performance and procedural justice: the mediating roles of family life cycle and culture

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine how service performance and procedural justice are related and how this relationship is moderated by family life cycle (FLC) and culture. While it has long been assumed that customer perceptions of fair treatment by service providers are related to service quality perceptions, there has been little research that explicitly examines this relationship. Previous research has established that justice is an influential antecedent of behavior and attitudes in many different settings.Design/methodology/approach – Using a 42‐item survey instrument combining the SERVPERF scale, a procedural justice scale and several demographic measures, responses were obtained from 717 individuals from Central and Eastern Europe and the USA. A 2×2 factorial design was used to evaluate the relationship between service performance and justice perceptions, and the moderating impacts of FLC position and culture on these perceptions.Findings – Strong evidence was found to support the n...
Synthesis of (E)-1-Aryl-1-alkenes via a Novel BF3·OEt2-Catalyzed Aldol−Grob Reaction Sequence

The reactions of aromatic aldehydes with ketones in the presence of various acids were examined. The reactions generate (E)-1-aryl-1-alkenes in the presence of boron trifluoride diethyl etherate in nonnucleophilic solvents.
A Double Bounded Version of Schur's Partition Theorem

Schur's partition theorem states that the number of partitions of n into distinct parts (mod 3) equals the number of partitions of n into parts which differ by 3, where the inequality is strict if a part is a multiple of 3. We establish a double bounded refined version of this theorem by imposing one bound on the parts (mod 3) and another on the parts (mod 3), and by keeping track of the number of parts in each of the residue classes (mod 3). Despite the long history of Schur's theorem, our result is new, and extends earlier work of Andrews, Alladi-Gordon and Bressoud. We give combinatorial and q-theoretic proofs of our result. The special case L=M leads to a representation of the generating function of the underlying partitions in terms of the q-trinomial coefficients extending a similar previous representation of Andrews.
A Novel Anisotropic Conductive Adhesive for Lead-Free Surface Mount Electronics Packaging

The electronics industry, in recent years, has been focusing primarily on product miniaturization and lead-free assembly. The need for product miniaturization is due to the continuous demand for portable electronic products that are multifunctional, yet smaller, faster, cheaper, and lighter. This is forcing the industry to design and assemble products with miniature passive and active devices. These devices typically have fine pitch footprints that provide a very small surface area for attachment. The solder attach technique relies primarily on the formation of intermetallics between the mating metallic surfaces. With a reduction in the surface area of the pads, the ratio of intennetallic to solder is very high once the solder joint is formed. This could result in unreliable solder joints, due to the brittle nature of intermetallics. In addition, the need to eliminate lead-based materials as a means of interconnection has renewed the industry's interest in exploring other means of assembling surface mount devices reliably. The use of a novel anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA) as a means for assembling surface mount devices, the ACA's performance characteristics, and preliminary research findings are discussed in this paper. Typically, ACAs require the application of pressure during the curing process to establish the electrical connection. The novel ACA uses a magnetic field to align the particles in the Z-axis direction and eliminates the need for pressure during curing. The formation of conductive columns within the polymer matrix provides a very high insulation resistance between adjacent conductors. The novel ACA also enables mass curing of the adhesive, eliminating the need for sequential assembly. The novel ACA was found to be very effective in providing the interconnection for surface mount technology (SMT) passives and leaded, bumped, or bumpless integrated circuit packages. The requirement for precise stencil printing was eliminated, as the application of magnetic field aligned the conductive columns in the Z-axis direction eliminating any lateral conductivity. The ability to mass cure the adhesive while applying the magnetic field reduced the assembly time considerably. Placement accuracy was still found to be very critical. Shear testing of adhesive joints after thermal aging showed significance past 500 h and after temperature-humidity aging showed significance within the first 100 h. 1-V characteristics of the daisy chained ball grid array devices assembled with and without bumps revealed considerable difference in the breakdown current. The correlation between initial contact resistance of the daisy chain and the final breakdown current was also determined. Preliminary experiments and findings, discussed in this paper, show the viability of the ACA for mixed SMT assembly. Further experimentations will include in situ contact resistance measurements during thermal aging, temperature-humidity aging, drop testing and thermal shock.
The Rush to the Cities in Latin America: Government Policies have more Effect than we Recognize

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effect of government policies in Latin America that causes rush to the cities. In Latin America, as elsewhere, rapid migration to urban centers has not simply resulted from the decisions of independent citizens or the indifference of government policymakers. A principal cause remains the attractiveness of city life that is enhanced by a host of decisions and programs of national and municipal governments. A central problem is that, without tight governmental regulation of urbanization of the sort found in the Soviet Union or China, programs designed to improve the quality of life for urban residents also induce substantial migration from rural areas, thus exacerbating the crowded conditions in the cities that the original urban programs were designed to ameliorate. The growth in city size has been and will continue to be large indeed
Strictly Regiocontrolled α-Monosubstitution of Cyclic Carbonyl Compounds with Alkynyl and Alkyl Groups via Pd-Catalyzed Coupling of Cyclic α-Iodoenones with Organozincs.

The conditions for the Pd-catalyzed cross coupling of cyclic α-iodoenones, such as 2-iodo-2-cyclohexenone, with alkynylzincs have been optimized. The use of tris(o-furyl)phosphine (TFP) as a ligand and DMF as a solvent has led to the formation of α-alkynylenones in excellent yields. This optimized procedure has been applied to the synthesis of (±)-harveynone and (±)-tricholomenyn A in high yields. Investigation of related α-alkylation reactions using alkylzincs has revealed the following. Methylzinc and primary alkylzinc derivatives readily undergo Pd-catalyzed cross coupling with α-iodoenones. Although (s-Bu)2Zn also undergoes Pd-catalyzed cross coupling, only the n-Bu-substituted products were obtained. α-Benzylation and α-homobenzylation can proceed satisfactorily, whereas allylzinc and propargylzinc derivatives undergo only addition to the carbonyl group. Although some promising results have been obtained in α-homoallylation and α-homopropargylation, these reactions need to be further improved.
Single‐Limb Irradiation Induces Local and Systemic Bone Loss in a Murine Model

Increased fracture risk is commonly reported in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, particularly at sites within the field of treatment. The direct and systemic effects of ionizing radiation on bone at a therapeutic dose are not well-characterized in clinically relevant animal models. Using 20-week-old male C57Bl/6 mice, effects of irradiation (right hindlimb; 2 Gy) on bone volume and microarchitecture were evaluated prospectively by microcomputed tomography and histomorphometry and compared to contralateral-shielded bone (left hindlimb) and non-irradiated control bone. One week postirradiation, trabecular bone volume declined in irradiated tibias (–22%; p < 0.0001) and femurs (–14%; p = 0.0586) and microarchitectural parameters were compromised. Trabecular bone volume declined in contralateral tibias (–17%; p = 0.003), and no loss was detected at the femur. Osteoclast number, apoptotic osteocyte number, and marrow adiposity were increased in irradiated bone relative to contralateral and non-irradiated bone, whereas osteoblast number was unchanged. Despite no change in osteoblast number 1 week postirradiation, dynamic bone formation indices revealed a reduction in mineralized bone surface and a concomitant increase in unmineralized osteoid surface area in irradiated bone relative to contralateral and non-irradiated control bone. Further, dose-dependent and time-dependent calvarial culture and in vitro assays confirmed that calvarial osteoblasts and osteoblast-like MC3T3 cells were relatively radioresistant, whereas calvarial osteocyte and osteocyte-like MLO-Y4 cell apoptosis was induced as early as 48 hours postirradiation (4 Gy). In osteoclastogenesis assays, radiation exposure (8 Gy) stimulated murine macrophage RAW264.7 cell differentiation, and coculture of irradiated RAW264.7 cells with MLO-Y4 or murine bone marrow cells enhanced this effect. These studies highlight the multifaceted nature of radiation-induced bone loss by demonstrating direct and systemic effects on bone and its many cell types using clinically relevant doses; they have important implications for bone health in patients treated with radiation therapy. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
On the nature of cosmic rays above the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min cut off

Abstract A re-examination of the atmospheric cascade profile of the highest energy cosmic ray is presented. The study includes air-shower simulations considering different cross sections, particle multiplicity and variation of the hadronic-event-generator to model interactions above 200 GeV. The analysis provides evidence that a medium mass nucleus primary reproduces the shower profile quite well. This result does not support the idea, increasingly popular at present, that the highest energy particles are protons, derived from the decay of supermassive relic particles. On the other hand, we show that debris of relativistic super-heavy nuclei, which can survive a 100 Mpc journey through the primeval radiation are likely to generate such a kind of cascade.
A complex pyrrolo-oxazinone and its iodo derivative isolated from a tunicate

Two cytotoxic triphenylpyrrolo-oxazinones were isolated from a tunicate and their structures elucidated by spectral methods. Lukianol A ( = 3,7,8-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]oxazin-1 (1H)-one; 1) had MIC of 1 μg/ml in KB cytotoxicity tests; MIC value for 2 was 100 μg/ml.
Data analysis software tools for enhanced collaboration at the DIII–D National Fusion Facility

Abstract Data analysis at the DIII–D National Fusion Facility is simplified by the use of two software packages in analysis codes. The first is ‘GAPlotObj’, an IDL-based object-oriented library used in visualization tools for dynamic plotting. GAPlotObj gives users the ability to manipulate graphs directly through mouse and keyboard-driven commands. The second software package is ‘MDSplus’, which is used at DIII–D as a central repository for analyzed data. GAPlotObj and MDSplus reduce the effort required for a collaborator to become familiar with the DIII–D analysis environment by providing uniform interfaces for data display and retrieval. Two visualization tools at DIII–D that benefit from them are ‘ReviewPlus’ and ‘EFITviewer’. ReviewPlus is capable of displaying interactive 2D and 3D graphs of raw, analyzed, and simulation code data. EFITviewer is used to display results from the EFIT analysis code together with kinetic profiles and machine geometry. Both bring new possibilities for data exploration to the user, and are able to plot data from any fusion research site with an MDSplus data server.