cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression of Glutathione Peroxidases in the Adult Male Rat Reproductive Tract

Objective: To evaluate the messenger RNA CmRNA) expression of three glutathione peroxidase isoforms in the male reproductive tract and to further characterize testicular glutathione peroxidase expression. Design: Analysis of glutathione peroxidase levels in untreated animals. Intervention(s): 32P-labeled DNA probes were derived from known complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences for classic cellular glutathione peroxidase, phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, and secretory epididymal glutathione peroxidase, and used to evaluate mRNA levels in each tissue by Northern blot hybridization. Main Outcome Measure(s): Glutathione peroxidase mRNA concentrations. Result(s): A 0.8-kb transcript was identified in liver, testis, prostate, seminal vesicle, vas deferens, and epididymis using the cDNA probe for classic cellular glutathione peroxidase. Using the probe for phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, a 0.9-kb transcript was identified in the epididymis, vas deferens, prostate, seminal vesicle, and liver. In the testis, the phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase transcript was highly abundant and longer, measuring 1.1 kb. The phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase mRNA transcript was expressed in 40-, 60-, and 90-day-old rat testes, but was undetectable in testes of lo- and 20-day-old rats. Epididymal glutathione peroxidase was detected as a single 1.9-kb transcript in the caput epididymis only. Conclusion(s): Male rat reproductive tissues express at least three different isozymes of glutathione peroxidase. Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase and classic cellular glutathione peroxidase are primarily found in testis, whereas epididymal glutathione peroxidase is expressed in the epididymis. (Fertil Sterile 1997;68:689-95. 0 1997 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)
Mn(III)-based oxidative free radical cyclizations of unsaturated 2-cyclohexenones and aldehydes

Abstract Oxidative free-radical cyclizations of unsaturated 2-cyclohexenones 9a, 9b, 17 , and 24 with Mn(OAc) 3 afford unsaturated α′-keto radicals such as 10 that cyclize to afford bicyclic products. The major process with 2-cyclohexenone 27 is conjugate addition of acetate to form β-acetoxy α-keto radical 37 . Unsaturated aldehydes 45, 57a , and 57b are oxidized to radicals that cyclize to give cyclopentane- and cyclohexanecarboxaldehdyes.
Flow-induced crystallization of polypropylene in stretched ribbons

Ribbons of molten polypropylene have been extruded into a thermostatted chamber and subjected to elongations ranging as high as 4400-fold. Some of these ribbons have been shown to possess the unusual ability of recovering nearly all of the strain from large levels of stretch (≤100 percent). This property, as well as the magnitude of the tensile yield drop, has been found to be directly proportional to the uniaxial character of the flow present at the moment of crystallization. The structure in the final solid films has been characterized by wide angle X-ray diffraction and crystal orientation distribution. Both of these factors have been found to be proportional to the character of flow at the moment of crystallization. Finally, the temperature in the thermostatted chamber has been shown to affect the character of the flow.
The Use of Ultrasound and Computed Tomography Scanning in the Management of Gynecologic Cancer Patients

The contribution of abdominal-pelvic computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound scanning to the management of gynecologic malignancy patients was assessed retrospectively in 62 scans that were performed immediately preceding laparotomy. A total of 55.5% CT and 71.4% ultrasound scans were found to be helpful. Diagnostic problem areas included the detection of lymph node metastases, peritoneal implants, omental metastases, and parametrial extension. An additional 75 scans performed in patients not undergoing laparotomy were received to assess any alteration in management resulting from the scans. It is concluded that clinicians should be more discriminating in their requests for scanning procedures and that appropriate communication between the clinician and the radiologist may avoid unproductive scans.
Terrorism and the macroeconomy: Evidence from Pakistan

Pakistan with highest number of terrorism related deaths of any country over the past decade, the number exceeding the total terrorism related deaths for both the European and North American continents, provides an ideal laboratory to study impact of terrorism on the macroeconomy. Quasi-Structural VAR, Vector Error Correction Model, Impulse Response Functions and Granger-Causality tests on a sample that covers over 4500 terrorist incidents and consequent 10, 200 deaths [from 1973 to 2010] are employed to study the relationship between terrorism and the macroeconomy. One of the major advantages of the current methodology is that it not only enables one to circumvent the heterogeneity biases inherent in cross-country studies but it also allows distinguishing between short and long-run effects. It is documented that cumulatively terrorism has cost Pakistan around 33.02% of its real national income i.e. terrorism costs Pakistan around 1% of real GDP per capita growth every year.
Nonlinear optical magnetometry with accessible in situ optical squeezing

We demonstrate compact and accessible squeezed-light magnetometry using four-wave-mixing in a single hot rubidium vapor cell. This framework enables 4.7 dB of quantum-noise-reduction while simultaneously adding nonlinear-magneto-optical-rotation(NMOR) signals from the probe and conjugate fields.
Stability criterion for lateral inhibition and related networks that is robust in the presence of integrated circuit parasitics

In the analog VLSI implementation of neural systems, it is sometimes convenient to build lateral inhibition networks by using a locally connected on-chip resistive grid. A serious problem of unwanted spontaneous oscillation often arises with these circuits and renders them unusable in practice. A design approach is reported that guarantees such a system will be stable, even though the values of designed elements in the resistive grid may be imprecise and the location and values of parasitic elements may be unknown. The method is based on a mathematical analysis using Tellegen's theorem and the Popov criterion. The criteria are local in the sense that no overall analysis of the interconnected system is required for their use, empirical in the sense that they involve only measurable frequency response data on the individual cells, and robust in the sense that they are not affected by unmodeled parasitic resistances and capacitances in the interconnect network. >
A solvent-free approach to glycosyl amides: toward the synthesis of α-N-galactosyl ceramides

A new, simple, and efficient method for the synthesis of both α- and β-glycosyl amides using solvent-free conditions is described. This method involves the coupling of glycosyl amines with the p-nitrophenol esters of lipids as a key step.
Sustainable development: a holistic approach to natural resource management

The author examines sustainable development, which has become the quintessential paradigm for addressing the worldwide dilemma of advancing economic development while protecting environmental quality, from the broad perspectives of systems analysis. He attempts to determine whether sustainable development is a new philosophical paradigm that is more encompassing than currently available approaches to solving global and large-scale complex problems or a grass-roots manifestation of a holistic-systemic philosophy well supported by ample theory, methodology, and problem-solving algorithms. The prospects of success for sustainable development is also discussed. >
Likelihood ratios for signals in additive white noise

We present a formula for likelihood functionals for signals in which the corrupting noise is modelled as white noise rather than the usual Wiener process. The main difference is the appearance of an additional term corresponding to the conditional mean square error. By way of one application we consider the ‘order-disorder’ problem of Shiryayev.
Ammonolysis Products of the Dialkylamides of Titanium, Zirconium, and Niobium as Precursors to Metal Nitrides

The dialkylamides of titanium(IV), zirconium(IV), and niobium(V) react with liquid ammonia to produce solid products of high metal content. Infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis indicate that these ammonolysis products are nitridoor imido-bridged polymers. Based on metal content, pyrolysis at <800°C converts these materials quantitatively to the corresponding nitride or carbonitride. The only products trapped following vacuum pyrolysis are ammonia and dialkylamine. Temperature-programmed pyrolysis with analysis of the evolved gases by mass spectroscopy shows that the composition of the gaseous products depends on whether helium or hydrogen is used as the carrier gas. The presence of a hydrogen atmosphere compared to a helium environment or a dynamic vacuum results in a lower carbon content of the titanium and niobium products. A general reaction scheme for conversion of the precursor compounds to refractory materials is formulated from the results of the various pyrolytic experiments.
Transport-enhanced α-olefin readsorption pathways in Ru-catalyzed hydrocarbon synthesis

Residence time and. cofeed studies show that olefins and paraffins are primary products in Rucatalyzed hydrocarbon synthesis. Olefins readsorb and initiate surface chains that are indistinguishable from those formed directly from CO/H2 and that continue to grow and ultimately desorb as higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. Transport-enhanced α-olefin readsorption leads to an increase in chain growth probability (a) and in paraffin content with increasing pore and bed residence time. Deviations from conventional (Flory) polymerization kinetics and the increasing paraffinic content of higher hydrocarbons are quantitatively described by transport effects on the residence time of intermediate olefins, without requiring the presence of several types of chain growth sites. Our transport-reaction model combines a description of diffusive and convective transport with a mechanistic kinetic model of olefin readsorption and of CO hydrogenation and chain growth. It quantitatively describes carbon number, site density, pellet size, and space velocity effects on hydrocarbon synthesis rate and product distribution. The model is consistent with the experimentally observed maximum C5+ selectivities at intermediate values of site density and pellet size. These intermediate values permit extensive readsorption of α-olefins without significant CO arrival transport limitations.
Where it Hurts: Indian Material for an Ethics of Organ Transplantation

This article focuses on ethical issues surrounding the selling and buying of human organs. The author argues that most people who sell their organs (mainly kidneys) in India do so in order to pay already existing debts. The transaction is only temporarily an exchange of life for life, and most donors are back in debt soon after the operation. The author discusses the flexible ethics that reduce reality to dyadic transactions and the purgatorial ethics that collapse real and imaginary exploitation in the service of complex interests. He also offers a sophisticated discussion of the ethics of publicity and public ethics. He emphasizes the lack of factual information, intentional manipulation of information, and the dissemination of kidney panics and kidney scandals, especially by the new developing bioauthorities and bioethical brokers.
De Sitter holography and the cosmic microwave background

We interpret cosmological evolution holographically as a renormalisation group ∞ow in a dual euclidean fleld theory, as suggested by the conjectured dS/CFT correspon- dence. In∞ation is described by perturbing around the infra-red flxed point of the dual fleld theory. The spectrum of the cosmic microwave background radiation is determined in terms of scaling violations in the fleld theory. The dark energy allows similar, albeit less predictive, considerations. We discuss the cosmological flne-tuning problems from the holographic perspective.
Mutual Fund Incubation

Incubation is a strategy for initiating new funds, where multiple funds are started privately, and, at the end of an evaluation period, some are opened to the public. Consistent with incubation being used by fund families to increase performance and attract flows, funds in incubation outperform nonincubated funds by 3.5% risk-adjusted, and when they are opened to the public they attract higher flows. Postincubation, however, this outperformance disappears. This performance reversal imparts an upward bias to returns that is not removed by a fund size filter. Fund age and ticker creation date filters, however, eliminate the bias. The prevalence of the fund family structure in the asset management industry suggests that families play an important role in the economics of mutual fund investments. A number of papers have examined the strategic decisions of families. An important message of this research is that the fund family's strategy for maximizing firm value by maximizing assets under management has at least four dimensions: fee schedules, distribution channels, breadth of fund offerings, and performance. By setting a fund's fee schedules (i.e., management fee, 12b-l fee, etc.),1 choosing a particular distribution channel (brokered or direct),2 and deciding on the overall breadth of their fund offerings (e.g., starting
Stable distributions in stochastic fragmentation

We investigate a class of stochastic fragmentation processes involving stable and unstable fragments. We solve analytically for the fragment length density and find that a generic algebraic divergence characterizes its small-size tail. Furthermore, the entire range of acceptable values of decay exponent consistent with length conservation can be realized. We show that the stochastic fragmentation process is non-self-averaging as moments exhibit significant sample-to-sample fluctuations. Additionally, we find that the distributions of the moments and of extremal characteristics possess an infinite set of progressively weaker singularities.
Rescattering of vector meson daughters in high energy heavy ion collisions

We consider the role of hadronic rescattering of daughter kaons on the observed mass spectra from $\phi$ meson decays in ultra-relativistic heavy ion collisions. A hadronic cascade code (RQMD v2.4) shows that $\sim$ 26% of all $\phi$ 's decaying to $K^+K^-$ in central Pb+Pb collisions at SPS energies ( $E_{beam} = 158 AGeV$ ) have a rescattered or absorbed daughter. This significantly affects the reconstructed invariant mass of the pair and shifts $\phi$ mesons out of the mass peak. Kaon rescattering depletes the low velocity region, hardening and broadening the observed $\phi m_t$ and rapidity distributions respectively, relative to the dilepton channel. This effect produces an apparent change in the experimentally determined branching ratio not necessarily related to chiral symmetry restoration. Comparisons to recent experimental measures at CERN energies reveal a possible mechanism to account for the shape of the observed spectra, though not their absolute relative magnitude.
Hydrothermal synthesis and structures of the homoleptic iodate complexes [M(IO3)6]2− (M = Mo, Zr)

Abstract Rb2[Mo(IO3)6] (1), Rb2[Zr(IO3)6] (2), and Cs2[Zr(IO3)6] (3) have been prepared under hydrothermal conditions. These compounds are isostructural and consist of alkali metal cations and isolated [M(IO3)6]2− anions containing transition metals in +4 oxidation state. The [M(IO3)6]2− anions possess 3 ¯ symmetry with the transition metal centers residing on 3 ¯ sites. The iodate anions ligate the transition metals through a single oxygen atom. All of the iodate oxygen atoms form long interactions with the alkali metal cations. These interactions result in a contraction of the O M O bond angles along a single three-fold axis. Crystallographic data (193 K): 1, trigonal, space group R 3 ¯ , a = 11.4048(8) A, c = 11.4062(8) A, Z = 3, Mo Kα, λ = 0.71073, R(F) = 2.52% for 43 parameters with 711 reflections with I > 2σ(I); 2, trigonal, space group R 3 ¯ , a = 11.5575(9) A, c = 11.4987(9) A, Z = 3, Mo Kα, λ = 0.71073, R(F) = 2.16% for 43 parameters with 742 reflections with I > 2σ(I); 3, trigonal, space group R 3 ¯ , a = 11.768(1) A, c = 11.720(1) A, Z = 3, Mo Kα, λ = 0.71073, R(F) = 1.61% for 43 parameters with 781 reflections with I > 2σ(I).
Oxadiazoles with NF2-containing substituents

Abstract Oxalyl chloride was reacted with sodium-5-(difluoroamino)- difluoromethyltetrazolate or sodium-5-pentafluoroethyltetrazolate to form [R f CNNC(O) ] 2 [R f z NF 2 CF 2 ( 7 )], and with F 2 NCF 2 C(NH 2 )NOH to give [F 2 NCF 2 C(NH 2 )NOC(O)] 2 ( 5 ) which may be dehydrated to the 1,2,4-oxadiazole ( 6 ). Both sodium salts can be reacted with perfluoroacyl acid chlorides to form 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles, R f CNNC(R f ′)O where R f ′ = NF 2 CF 2 and R f = CF 3 ( 8 ), C 2 F 5 ( 9 ), or C 3 F 7 ( 10 ); R f ′ = C 2 F 5 and R f = CF 3 ( 11 ) or C 2 F 5 ( 12 ).
Commutative Quantum Operator Algebras

Abstract A key notion bridging the gap between quantum operator algebras [26] and vertex operator algebras [4, 9] is the definition of the commutativity of a pair of quantum operators (see Section 2). This is not commutativity in any ordinary sense, but it is clearly the correct generalization to the quantum context. In [26] we give a definition of a commutative quantum operator algebra . We show in [26] that a vertex operator algebra gives rise to a special case of a CQOA. The main purpose of the current paper is to further develop the foundations for a complete mathematical theory of CQOAs. We give proofs of most of the relevant results announced in [26], and we carry out some calculations with sufficient detail to enable the interested reader to become proficient with the algebra of commuting quantum operators.
Comparison of Warpage Measurement Capabilities and Results Obtained by Using Laser and Digital Fringe Projection Methods

Electronic packaged devices are becoming increasingly smaller in size and higher in density while requiring higher performance and superior reliability. Warpage is one of the crucial factors for the thermomechanical reliability of electronic packages and warpage control becomes a more crucial process during the printed wiring board (PWB) fabrication and package assembly processes. This requirement necessitates more accurate methods of measuring warpage. The fringe projection methods are recent trends for measuring the warpage of chip packages, PWBs, and PWB assemblies (PWBAs) because of their noncontact, full-field, and high-resolution measurement capabilities. This paper presents a comparison of two fringe projection methods: laser fringe projection (LFP) (projection moire) and digital fringe projection (DFP). Experimental results show that digital fringe projection has higher practical resolution, and better accuracy and precision than laser fringe projection.
Comparing the Value Relevance, Predictive Value, and Persistence of Other Comprehensive Income and Special Items

ABSTRACT: Gains and losses reported as other comprehensive income (OCI) and as special items (SI) are often viewed as similar in nature: transitory items with little ability to predict future cash flows and minimal implications for company value. However, current accounting standards require SI gains and losses to be recognized in net income, while OCI gains and losses are deferred until realized. This study empirically compares OCI and SI gains and losses using a model that jointly estimates value relevance, predictive value, and persistence. Results show that both SI and OCI gains and losses are value-relevant, but SI gains and losses exhibit zero persistence (i.e., are transitory), while OCI gains and losses exhibit negative persistence (i.e., partially reverse over time). Further, we find that SI gains and losses have strong predictive value for forecasting both future net income and future cash flows, while OCI gains and losses have weaker predictive value. Data Availability: All data are publicly av...
Multipixel characterization of imaging CZT detectors for hard x-ray imaging and spectroscopy

We report our in-depth study of Cd-Zn-Te (CZT) crystals to determine an optimum pixel and guard band configuration for Hard X-ray imaging and spectroscopy. We tested 20x20x5mm crystals with 8x8 pixels on a 2.46mm pitch. We have studied different types of cathode / anode contacts and different pixel pad sizes. We present the measurements of leakage current as well as spectral response for each pixel. Our I-V measurement setup is custom designed to allow automated measurements of the I-V curves sequentially for all 64 pixels, whereas the radiation properties measurement setup allows for interchangeable crystals with the same XAIM3.2 ASIC readout from IDEAS. We have tested multiple crystals of each type, and each crystal in different positions to measure the variation between individual crystals and variation among the ASIC channels. We also compare the same crystals with and without a grounded guard band deposited on the crystal side walls vs. a floating guard band and compare results to simulations. This study was carried out to find the optimum CZT crystal configuration for prototype detectors for the proposed Black-Hole Finder mission, EXIST.
Generation of traveling atmospheric disturbances during pulsating geomagnetic storms

[1] Traveling atmospheric disturbances (TADs) are effective in transporting momentum and energy deposited at high latitudes to the midlatitude and low-latitude regions of the thermosphere. They also act to transport momentum and energy from the lower thermosphere into the upper thermosphere. Previously, model studies have been conducted to determine the characteristics of isolated, single-pulse TADs, but the generation of multiple TADs excited during pulsating storms have not been considered before. Here a high-resolution global thermosphere-ionosphere model was used to study the basic characteristics of multiple TADs excited during pulsating storms, including idealized weak and strong pulsating storms, and an approximation of the 4 May 1998 pulsating storm. For all three pulsating storm simulations, multiple TADs that propagated away from the auroral oval toward both the poles and the equator at all longitudes, with the maximum amplitudes between midnight and dawn, were excited. The TAD amplitudes were at maximum near the poles and diminished toward the equator and were larger on the nightside than on the dayside. The TADs propagated at a slightly upward angle to the horizontal, with the result that the lower boundary of the TADs increased with decreasing latitude. The TADs crossed the equator and propagated to midlatitudes in the opposite hemisphere, where wave interference occurred for the strong pulsating storm cases. The TAD wavelengths vary from 2500 to 3000 km and the phase speeds vary from 800 to 1000 m/s. The maximum TAD perturbations are 20% for the mass density, 14% for the neutral temperature, and 100 m/s for the winds.
Ultrafast Gated Intensifier Design for Laser Fusion X-Ray Framing Applications

The transmission line imager described above is now in fabrication and some of the important characteristics of its components have been tested. The design of the device addresses all of the stringent requirements for ICF framing applications and proposes solutions to many of the problems limiting the performance of other designs in use and described in the literature. The two most important features of this device are its very short gating time and its high image quality. The high speed results from the integral photoconductive-switch pulse generator, matched vacuum transmission line geometry, and small high-conductivity photocathode. The small photocathode is made possible because of the high resolution of the proximity focused imager and the special high contrast phosphor screen. The phosphor screen incorporates the unique feature of an electron collimator which serves both to: 1) increase the shutter ratio by attenuating x-rays which reach the screen, and 2) prevent Rutherford scattered electrons from re-impacting the screen in another location, impairing the image contrast ratio and edge response. The resolution and edge response of the screen is also enhanced by the narrow transverse electron energy distribution of the photocathode and the isolation between the islands of phosphor at the end of each fiber of the screen. If this design is successful in all respects it will make possible short frame time quantiative images of ICF phenomenon of unprecedented quality.
Transverse Dynamics and Regions of Stability for Nonlinear Hybrid Limit Cycles

Abstract This paper presents an algorithm for computing inner estimates of the regions of attraction of limit cycles of a nonlinear hybrid system. The basic procedure is: (1) compute the dynamics of the system transverse to the limit cycle; (2) from the linearization of the transverse dynamics construct a quadratic candidate Lyapunov function; (3) search for a new Lyapunov function verifying maximal regions of orbital stability via iterated of sum-of-squares programs. The construction of the transverse dynamics is novel, and valid for a broad class of nonlinear hybrid systems.
Charged rotating black holes in six-dimensional gauged supergravity

We obtain non-extremal charged rotating black holes in six-dimensional SU(2) gauged supergravity with two independent angular momenta and one U(1) charge. These include supersymmetric black holes without naked closed timelike curves.
Imaging extrasolar planets by stellar halo suppression in separately corrected color bands

Extrasolar planets have not been imaged directly with existing ground or space telescopes because they are too faint to be seen against the halo of the nearby bright star. Most techniques being explored to suppress the halo are achromatic, with separate correction of diffraction and wave-front errors. Residual speckle structure may be subtracted by differencing images taken through narrowband filters, but photon noise remains and ultimately limits sensitivity. Here we describe two ways to take advantage of narrow bands to reduce speckle photon flux and to obtain better control of systematic errors. Multiple images are formed in separate color bands of 5%-10% bandwidth and recorded by coronagraphic interferometers equipped with active control of wave-front phase and/or amplitude. In one method, a single deformable pupil mirror is used to actively correct both diffraction and wave-front components of the halo. This yields good diffraction suppression for complex pupil obscuration, with high throughput over half the focal plane. In a second method, the coronagraphic interferometer is used as a second stage after conventional apodization. The halo from uncontrollable residual errors in the pupil mask or wave front is removed by destructive interference made directly at the detector focal plane with an "antihalo," synthesized by spatial light modulators in the reference arm of the interferometer. In this way very deep suppression may be achieved by control elements with greatly relaxed, and thus achievable, tolerances. In both examples, systematic errors are minimized because the planet imaging cameras themselves also provide the error-sensing data.
A cluster-based cylindrical algebraic decomposition algorithm

Let A @? Z [x"1,000, x"r be a finite set. An A-invariant cylindrical algebraic decomposition (cad) is a certain partitlon of r-dlmensional euclidean space E^r into semi-algebralc cells such that the value of each A"i @? A has constant sign (positive, negative, or zero) throug|umt each cell. Two cells are adjacent if their union is connected. Recently a number of mathoda have been given for augmenting Colllns' cad construction algorithm (1975), so that in addition to specifying the cell~ that comprise a cad, it identifies the pairs of adjacent cells. Assuming the availability of such an adjacency algorithm, in this paper we give a modified cad construction algorithm based on the utillzatloa of clusters of cells in a cad (a cluster is a collection of cells whose union is connected). Preliminary observations indicate that the 11ew algorithm can be significantly more efficient in some cases than the original, although in other examples it is somewhat less efficient.
Test Planning and Test Resource Optimization for Droplet-Based Microfluidic Systems

Recent years have seen the emergence of droplet-based microfluidic systems for safety-critical biomedical applications. In order to ensure reliability, microsystems incorporating microfluidic components must be tested adequately. In this paper, we investigate test planning and test resource optimization for droplet-based microfluidic arrays. We first formulate the test planning problem and prove that it is NP-hard. We then describe an optimization method based on integer linear programming (ILP) that yields optimal solutions. Due to the NP-hard nature of the problem, we develop heuristic approaches for optimization. Experimental results indicate that for large array sizes, the heuristic methods yield solutions that are close to provable lower bounds. These heuristics ensure scalability and low computation cost.
Numerical investigation of the entropy crisis in model glass formers

We investigate numerically the low-temperature equilibration of glassy systems via nonlocal Monte Carlo methods. We reexamine several systems that have been studied previously and investigate new systems to test the performance of such methods near the putative Kauzmann temperature, TK, where the configurational entropy is presumed to vanish. Our results suggest that previous numerical claims in favor of and against a thermodynamic transition at a finite TK must be reevaluated. Our work provides some guidelines and suggestions for future numerical investigations of disordered systems at high densities and low temperatures.
Factors associated with mortality after breast cancer metastasis

It is generally accepted that patients with breast cancer metastases have very poor survival. Metastatic breast cancer patients can be considered a heterogeneous population with a varied clinical course, which underscores the need for accurate prediction of survival based on prognostic factors. The purpose of the present study was to identify factors related to survival in breast cancer patients after diagnosis with metastatic disease. A total of 557 patients with breast cancer metastasis diagnosis seen at one large urban practice have been followed up between 1 January, 1999 and 30 June, 2010. Demographic, tumor characteristics, clinical factors as predictors of survival were analyzed using log-rank test and Cox regression model. The median survival length was 39 months (range 1–138 months) with 154 (27.7%) alive and 403 (72.3%) dead at the end of follow-up period. This study demonstrated that a history of hypertension, ER/PR status, HER2 status, metastasis-free interval, metastatic location (including brain, bone and liver), and BMI at diagnosis with metastatic breast cancer were the most relevant prognostic factors for survival after metastatic disease diagnosis. Findings of this study may form a foundation for the growing corpus of knowledge explaining the outcome differences in treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer, potentially helping to create tailored counseling and personalized treatment approaches for this vulnerable group.
Glycosyl thioimidates as versatile building blocks for organic synthesis

This review discusses the synthesis and application of glycosyl thioimidates in chemical glycosylation and oligosaccharide assembly. Although glycosyl thioimidates include a broad range of compounds, the discussion herein centers on S-benzothiazolyl (SBaz), S-benzoxazolyl (SBox), S-thiazolinyl (STaz), and S-benzimidazolyl (SBiz) glycosides. These heterocyclic moieties have recently emerged as excellent anomeric leaving groups that express unique characteristics for highly diastereoselective glycosylation and help to provide a streamlined access to oligosaccharides.
ROSAT X-Ray Observations of the Spiral Galaxy M81

We present results from the analysis of deep ROSAT HRI and PSPC observations of the spiral galaxy M81. The inferred total (0.5-2 keV band) luminosity of M81 is ~3 × 1040 ergs s-1, excluding the contribution from identified interlopers found within the D25 ellipse. The nucleus of the galaxy alone accounts for about 65% of this luminosity. The rest is due to 26 other X-ray sources (contributing ~10%) and to apparently diffuse emission, which is seen across much of the galactic disk and is particularly bright in the bulge region around the nucleus. Spectral analysis further gives evidence for a soft component, which can be characterized by a two-temperature optically thin plasma with temperature at ~0.15 and 0.60 keV and an absorption of the galactic foreground only. These components, accounting for ~13% of the X-ray emission from the region, apparently arise in a combination of hot gas and faint discrete sources. We find interesting spatial coincidences of luminous (1037-1040 ergs s-1) and variable X-ray sources with shock-heated optical nebulae. Three of them are previously classified as supernova remnant candidates. The other one is far off the main body of M81 but is apparently associated with a dense H I concentration produced most likely by the tidal interactions of the galaxy with its companions. These associations suggest that such optical nebulae may be powered by outflows from luminous X-ray binaries, which are comparable to, or more luminous than, Galactic "microquasars."
Comparison of resource platform selection approaches for scientific workflows

Cloud computing is increasingly considered as an additional computational resource platform for scientific workflows. The cloud offers opportunity to scale-out applications from desktops and local cluster resources. Each platform has different properties (e.g., queue wait times in high performance systems, virtual machine startup overhead in clouds) and characteristics (e.g., custom environments in cloud) that makes choosing from these diverse resource platforms for a workflow execution a challenge for scientists. Scientists are often faced with deciding resource platform selection trade-offs with limited information on the actual workflows. While many workflow planning methods have explored resource selection or task scheduling, these methods often require fine-scale characterization of the workflow that is onerous for a scientist. In this paper, we describe our early exploratory work in using blackbox characteristics for a cost-benefit analysis of using different resource platforms. In our blackbox method, we use only limited high-level information on the workflow length, width, and data sizes. The length and width are indicative of the workflow duration and parallelism. We compare the effectiveness of this approach to other resource selection models using two exemplar scientific workflows on desktop, local cluster, HPC center, and cloud platforms. Early results suggest that the blackbox model often makes the same resource selections as a more fine-grained whitebox model. We believe the simplicity of the blackbox model can help inform a scientist on the applicability of a new resource platform, such as cloud resources, even before porting an existing workflow.
Cross-Coupling Reactions of Aromatic and Heteroaromatic Silanolates with Aromatic and Heteroaromatic Halides

The alkali-metal salts (potassium and sodium) of a large number of aryl- and heteroarylsilanols undergo efficient cross-coupling with a wide range of aromatic bromides and chlorides under mild conditions to form polysubstituted biaryls. The critical feature for the success of these coupling reactions and their considerable scope is the use of bis(tri-tert-butylphosphine)palladium. Under the optimized conditions, electron-rich, electron-poor, and sterically hindered arylsilanolates afford cross-coupling products in good yields. Many functional groups are compatible with the coupling conditions such as esters, ketones, acetals, ethers, silyl ethers, and dimethylamino groups. Two particularly challenging substrates, (2-benzofuranyl)dimethylsilanolate and (2,6-dichlorophenyl)dimethylsilanolate prepared as their sodium salts showed excellent activity in the coupling reactions, in the former case also with aromatic chlorides. General methods for the efficient synthesis of a wide range of aromatic silanols are a...
Transformerless DC-to-DC converters with large conversion ratios

A novel switching DC-to-DC converter is introduced in which large voltage step-down ratios can be achieved without a very small duty ratio and without a transformer. The circuit is an extension of the Cuk converter to incorporate a multistage capacitor divider. A particularly suitable application would be a 50 V to 5 V converter in which DC isolation is not required. The absence of a transformer and a larger duty ratio permits operation at a high switching frequency and makes the circuit amenable to partial integration and hybrid construction techniques. An experimental 50 W three-stage voltage divider Cuk converter converts 50 V to 5 V at 500 kHz, with an efficiency higher than that for a basic Cuk converter operated at the same conditions. A corresponding voltage-multiplier Cuk converter is described, as well as dual buck-boost-derived step-down and step-up converters. >
COMPETITION POLICY IN THE UNITED STATES: AN OVERVIEW

This paper provides a summary of the basic policies in the United States that affect the state of competition in U.S. markets. Much of the paper focuses on antitrust policy, but a substantial fraction of the paper is devoted to regulatory policies. for both types of policies, the paper explains the basic structures of the policies and also provides discussions of recent developments. Copyright 1993 by Oxford University Press.
The impact of the dividend tax cut and managerial stock holdings on corporate dividend policy

Abstract We examine the impact of the May 2003 dividend tax cut and managerial stock holdings on corporate dividend initiation. We find that executives who hold sizable stakes in their companies become more likely to initiate dividends following this tax cut. The firms that initiate dividends after the tax cut are more profitable than firms that initiate dividends before the tax cut. The market appears to recognize the managers’ incentive change after the tax law change. Firms with higher managerial stock holdings receive lower abnormal returns from announcing dividend initiation.
Vacuum Stability and Higgs Diphoton Decays in the MSSM

Current Higgs data at the Large Hadron Collider is compatible with a SM signal at the 2σ level, but the central value of the signal strength in the diphoton channel is enhanced with respect to the SM expectation. If the enhancement resides in the diphoton partial decay width, the data could be accommodated in the Minimally Super-symmetric Standard Model (MSSM) with highly mixed light staus. We revisit the issue of vacuum instability induced by large mixing in the stau sector, including effects of a radiatively-corrected tau Yukawa coupling. Further, we emphasize the importance of taking into account the tan β dependence in the stability bound. While the metastability of the Universe constrains the possible enhancement in the Higgs to diphoton decay width in the light stau scenario, an increase of the order of 50% can be achieved in the region of large tan β. Larger enhancements may be obtained, but would require values of tan β associated with non-perturbative values of the tau Yukawa coupling at scales below the GUT scale, thereby implying the presence of new physics beyond the MSSM.
Polo-like Kinase 1 Licenses CENP-A Deposition at Centromeres

To ensure the stable transmission of the genome during vertebrate cell division, the mitotic spindle must attach to a single locus on each chromosome, termed the centromere. The fundamental requirement for faithful centromere inheritance is the controlled deposition of the centromere-specifying histone, CENP-A. However, the regulatory mechanisms that ensure the precise control of CENP-A deposition have proven elusive. Here, we identify polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) as a centromere-localized regulator required to initiate CENP-A deposition in human cells. We demonstrate that faithful CENP-A deposition requires integrated signals from Plk1 and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK), with Plk1 promoting the localization of the key CENP-A deposition factor, the Mis18 complex, and CDK inhibiting Mis18 complex assembly. By bypassing these regulated steps, we uncoupled CENP-A deposition from cell-cycle progression, resulting in mitotic defects. Thus, CENP-A deposition is controlled by a two-step regulatory paradigm comprised of Plk1 and CDK that is crucial for genomic integrity.
The Welfare Effects of Medical Malpractice Liability.

Abstract We use variation in the generosity of local juries to identify the causal impact of medical malpractice liability on social welfare. Growth in malpractice payments contributed at most 5% points to the 33% total real growth in medical expenditures from 1990 to 2003. On the other hand, malpractice leads to modest mortality reductions; the value of these more than likely exceeds the costs of malpractice liability. Therefore, reducing malpractice liability is unlikely to have a major impact on health care spending, and unlikely to be cost-effective over conventionally accepted values of a statistical life.
Stochastic Acceleration by Turbulence

The subject of this paper is stochastic acceleration by plasma turbulence, a process akin to the original model proposed by Fermi. We review the relative merits of different acceleration models, in particular the so called first order Fermi acceleration by shocks and second order Fermi by stochastic processes, and point out that plasma waves or turbulence play an important role in all mechanisms of acceleration. Thus, stochastic acceleration by turbulence is active in most situations. We also show that it is the most efficient mechanism of acceleration of relatively cool non relativistic thermal background magnetized plasma particles. In addition, it can preferentially accelerate electrons relative to protons as is needed in many astrophysical radiating sources, where usually there are no indications of presence of shocks. We also point out that a hybrid acceleration mechanism consisting of initial acceleration by turbulence of background particles followed by a second stage acceleration by a shock has many attractive features. It is demonstrated that the above scenarios can account for many signatures of the accelerated electrons, protons and other ions, in particular 3He and 4He, seen directly as Solar Energetic Particles and through the radiation they produce in solar flares.
Chiral ionic liquids: synthesis, properties, and enantiomeric recognition.

We have synthesized a series of structurally novel chiral ionic liquids which have a either chiral cation, chiral anion, or both. Cations are an imidazolium group, while anions are based on a borate ion with spiral structure and chiral substituents. Both (or all) stereoisomeric forms of each compound in the series can be readily synthesized in optically pure form by a simple one-step process from commercially available reagents. In addition to the ease of preparation, most of the chiral ILs in this series are liquid at room temperature with a solid to liquid transformation temperature as low as −70 °C and have relatively high thermal stability (up to at least 300 °C). Circular dichroism and X-ray crystallographic results confirm that the reaction to form the chiral spiral borate anion is stereospecific, namely, only one of two possible spiral stereoisomers was formed. Results of NMR studies including 1H{15N} heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) show that these chiral ILs exhibit intramolecular as...
A U-type solar radio burst originating in the outer corona

The observation of a U-type solar radio burst with a reversing frequency of approximately 0.7 MHz suggests the presence of a magnetic bottle extending out to about 35 R ⊙. A possible model of this loop structure is developed from the data. The occurrence of low-frequency U-bursts seems to be extremely rare although magnetic bottles may develop frequently during solar maximum.
Quark states near a threshold and the unstable H-dibaryon

Abstract We consider the interplay of a quark state and a hadronic threshold in the framework of the P -matrix formalism, which is reviewed and extended for use together with conventional methods of computing quark-gluon dynamics. We provide a quantitative dynamical interpretation of the reduced R or K matrices and their poles that suggests a natural classification of threshold phenomena. At a threshold with a quark state close to it up to three S -matrix poles can be found. The scattering amplitudes for the corresponding cases are discussed. Our analysis is applied to make an outlook for experimental observation of the doubly strange H -dibaryon if it is not stable to strong decays.
Structure and synthesis of 2-aminoimidazole alkaloids from Leucetta and Clathrina sponges

Marine sponges belonging to the Calcarea family have been studied for some time and have yielded a wide variety of structurally unique secondary metabolites. In particular, these sponges have produced a large number of bioactive alkaloids containing an imidazole heterocycle, typically substituted with two benzylic fragments at various locations around the azole nucleus and at various oxidation states. This review will describe the isolation, structural determination and synthetic studies towards this growing class of natural products.
Novel Anthelmintic Metabolites from an Aspergillus Species; the Aspergillimides

Two members of a novel class of anthelmintics, the aspergillimides, have been isolated from the Aspergillus strain IMI 337664. This novel fungus also produced two known and one structurally novel paraherquamide. This paper describes the fermentation, isolation, structure elucidation and anthelmintic activity of aspergillimide (VM55598, 1), 16-keto aspergillimide (SB202327, 2), and the paraherquamides VM54159 (3), SB203105 (4) and SB200437 (5). The aspergillimides are equivalent to paraherquamides which have lost both the dioxygenated 7-membered ring and the phenyl ring to which this is fused; gaining in their place a C8-keto group. SB203105 is the first example of a 4-substituted paraherquamide.
Detailed Models of Piezoceramic Actuation of Beams

In this paper, techniques for modeling induced strain actuation of beam-like components of intelligent structures are developed. Two analytical models and one numer ical model describing the detailed mechanics of induced strain actuators bonded to and embedded in one-dimensional structures are presented. The models illustrate the exten sion, bending, and localized shearing deformations induced. The range of parameters for which the simpler analytic models are valid is also established. The specific characteris tics of one type of induced strain actuator, piezoceramic materials, are discussed, and im plications for practical use of piezoceramic actuators are outlined. Experimental results are used to validate the beam actuation models presented.
The energy of graphs and matrices

Abstract Given a complex m × n matrix A , we index its singular values as σ 1 ( A ) ⩾ σ 2 ( A ) ⩾ ⋯ and call the value E ( A ) = σ 1 ( A ) + σ 2 ( A ) + ⋯ the energy of A , thereby extending the concept of graph energy, introduced by Gutman. Let 2 ⩽ m ⩽ n , A be an m × n nonnegative matrix with maximum entry α , and ‖ A ‖ 1 ⩾ n α . Extending previous results of Koolen and Moulton for graphs, we prove that E ( A ) ⩽ ‖ A ‖ 1 m n + ( m − 1 ) ( ‖ A ‖ 2 2 − ‖ A ‖ 1 2 m n ) ⩽ α n ( m + m ) 2 . Furthermore, if A is any nonconstant matrix, then E ( A ) ⩾ σ 1 ( A ) + ‖ A ‖ 2 2 − σ 1 2 ( A ) σ 2 ( A ) . Finally, we note that Wigner's semicircle law implies that E ( G ) = ( 4 3 π + o ( 1 ) ) n 3 / 2 for almost all graphs G .