cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Onlap, Offlap, and the Origin of Unconformity-Bounded Depositional Sequences

Christie-Blick, N., 1991. Onlap, ofttap, and the origin of unconformity-bounded depositional sequences. Mar. Geol., 97: 35-56. Unconformity-bounded depositional sequences represent the fundamental building blocks of sedimentary successions. They are typically characterized by onlap at the base and by offlap at the top, and they tend to be markedly asymmetrical, with onlap accounting for a larger part of any cycle of sedimentation than offlap. Offlap cannot be attributed solely to erosional truncation, but instead implies that sequence boundaries develop over a finite interval of time. Depositional sequences are commonly associated with a cyclic arrangement of facies, but transgressive-regressive cycles are out of phase with respect to sequence boundaries, which in down-dip locations are both overlain and underlain by progradational deposits, and hence form during times of regression of the shoreline. These observations are used to develop some ideas about the origin of unconformity-bounded sequences, with reference to the inter-related roles of changes in depositional base level and sediment supply. In particular, it is shown than onlap and offlap are due to lateral migration of a "line of critical bypassing", defined so as to incorporate the effects of sediment loading and compaction as well as the rate of change of elevation with respect to sea level. Downward shifts in onlap may be achieved by either an increase in the rate of eustatic fall or a decrease in the rate of tectonic subsidence, and it is premature to assume that eustatic and tectonic controls on sea level may be distinguished solely on the basis of the frequency of depositional cyclicity. Small shifts in the position of onlap can also be produced by changes in sediment supply, and more attention needs to be paid to the influence of sediment supply in the development of minor boundaries. Unconformities related to eustatic fluctuations are thought to correspond approximately to times of relatively rapid sea-level fall (inflection points), but questions remain about the existence of possible leads and lags of up to ~ cycle, and hence about the degree to which sequence boundaries of eustatic origin may vary in age both within a given basin and from one basin to another.
Magnetic Anisotropy and de Haas–van Alphen Oscillations in a Bi Microwire Array Studied via Cantilever Magnetometry at Low Temperatures

We report measurements of the low temperature (T=0.5 K) oscillatory magnetization in a high-density array of 50μm diameter wires of polycrystalline Bi utilizing a high sensitivity silicon cantilever magnetometer. We find that the magnetic response is strongly anisotropic, being much larger for magnetic field perpendicular than for fields parallel to the wire-axis. We argue that this is a geometric effect caused by the large aspect ratio of the individual microwires in the array. The magnetic response of the microwires is dominated by the light electrons due to the larger cyclotron orbits in comparison with the heavier holes. We find that de Haas–van Alphen oscillations are easily resolved, and discuss the application of this technique to the study of Bi nanowire arrays.
Modeling a circuit switched multiprocessor interconnect

Abstract : This study began as an attempt to understand discrepancies between Patel's classic model of a circuit-switched interconnection network and simulations as part of the MIT ALEWIFE Multiprocessor project. After a careful analysis of Patel's model, we developed a model with fewer approximations that produced results generally closer to detailed simulation. The major source of inaccuracy in patel's model is the unit-request approximation, which treats a t- cycle request as t l-cycle requests producing significant inaccuracies for networks with many switching levels and for small packet sizes. Our model followed the behavior of the network more closely, explicitly modeling the effects of switch size, network depth, packet size and memory latency, thereby alleviating some inaccuracies in Patel's model. However, despite the slightly lower accuracy of Patel's model, we believe that its simplicity makes it the practical choice for most applications. Thus, our main contribution was to understand the causes of inaccuracies in both models, allowing us to predict the quality of the estimations they yielded. Another research result is validating a complicated simulator using relatively simple models, not a common use for a model. We found that some of the original discrepancies between patel's model and the simulator were due to hidden inconsistancies between parameters used by the model and those used by the simulator, and that others were duet to bugs in the simulator code.
Conservative surgical management of interstitial pregnancy

Conservative management of ampullary and isthmic tubal pregnancies has been increasingly advocated to preserve the affected tubes and results in excellent outcome. A similar approach to interstitial pregnancies is more difficult because of the vascularity of the cornual area. We report here a novel surgical approach to this problem in two patients. Both patients had an unremarkable postoperative course. Hysterosalpingograms performed 5 and 6 months postoperatively demonstrated bilateral tubal patency. It is suggested that conservative surgical management may replace either cornual resection or hysterectomy in selected patients with unruptured interstitial pregnancies.
Randomized Protocols for Duplicate Elimination in Peer-to-Peer Storage Systems

Distributed peer-to-peer systems rely on voluntary participation of peers to effectively manage a storage pool. In such systems, data is generally replicated for performance and availability. If the storage associated with replication is not monitored and provisioned, the underlying benefits may not be realized. Resource constraints, performance scalability, and availability present diverse considerations. Availability and performance scalability, in terms of response time, are improved by aggressive replication, whereas resource constraints limit total storage in the network. Identification and elimination of redundant data pose fundamental problems for such systems. In this paper, we present a novel and efficient solution that addresses availability and scalability with respect to management of redundant data. Specifically, we address the problem of duplicate elimination in the context of systems connected over an unstructured peer-to-peer network in which there is no a priori binding between an object and its location. We propose two randomized protocols to solve this problem in a scalable and decentralized fashion that does not compromise the availability requirements of the application. Performance results using both large-scale simulations and a prototype built on PlanetLab demonstrate that our protocols provide high probabilistic guarantees while incurring minimal administrative overheads.
Maverick dark matter at colliders

Assuming that dark matter is a weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) species X produced in the early Universe as a cold thermal relic, we study the collider signal of pp or $ p\bar{p} \rightarrow \bar{X}X $ + jets and its distinguishability from standard-model background processes associated with jets and missing energy. We assume that the WIMP is the sole particle related to dark matter within reach of the LHC — a “maverick” particle — and that it couples to quarks through a higher dimensional contact interaction. We simulate the WIMP final-state signal $ X\bar{X} $ + jets and dominant standard-model (SM) background processes and find that the dark-matter production process results in higher energies for the colored final state partons than do the standard-model background processes. As a consequence, the detectable signature of maverick dark matter is an excess over standard-model expectations of events consisting of large missing transverse energy, together with large leading jet transverse momentum and scalar sum of the transverse momenta of the jets. Existing Tevatron data and forthcoming LHC data can constrain (or discover!) maverick dark matter.
Hydrogel microparticles from lithographic processes: Novel materials for fundamental and applied colloid science

Abstract In recent years, there has been a surge in methods to synthesize geometrically and chemically complex microparticles. Analogous to atoms, the concept of a “periodic table” of particles has emerged and continues to be expanded upon. Complementing the natural intellectual curiosity that drives the creation of increasingly intricate particles is the pull from applications that take advantage of such high-value materials. Complex particles are now being used in fields ranging from diagnostics and catalysis, to self-assembly and rheology, where material composition and microstructure are closely linked with particle function. This is especially true of polymer hydrogels, which offer an attractive and broad class of base materials for synthesis. Lithography affords the ability to engineer particle properties a priori and leads to the production of homogenous ensembles of particles. This review summarizes recent advances in synthesizing hydrogel microparticles using lithographic processes and highlights a number of emerging applications. We discuss advantages and limitations of current strategies, and conclude with an outlook on future trends in the field.
Vanadium-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of homoallylic alcohols

New chiral bishydroxamic acids were synthesized and tested as chiral ligands in the vanadium-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of homoallylic alcohols to provide good yields and high enantioselectivities.
A toolkit of the stop search via the chargino decay

The top squark (stop) may dominantly decay to a bottom quark and a chargino if the mass difference between the stop and the lightest neutralino is comparable or less than the top quark mass. Such a moderately compressed spectrum is a challenging scenario for the stop search at the Large Hadron Collider, because it is difficult to separate the signals from the top and anti-top background. In this paper we focus on the di-leptonic decay channel, and consider many kinematic variables as possible discriminators. These include several M T2 variables and new “compatible-masses” variables which fully utilize all kinematic information of the background. We use several sample spectra with different characteristics to study the efficiencies of these variables in distinguishing the signal from the background. The finding is that different combinations of variables or strategies should be used for different spectra to maximally enhance the signal significance and expand the reach of the stop search in this scenario. The new variables that we proposed in this paper are also useful for other new physics searches with di-leptonic top and anti-top events as the dominant background.
Monte Carlo computation of the effective potential for the three-dimensional Ising system

Abstract Using a novel finite size scaling Monte Carlo technique, we calculate the four, six and eight point renormalized coupling constants defined at zero momentum for the three dimensional Ising system. Our values of the six and eight point coupling constants are significantly different from those obtained from other methods.
A convenient synthesis of fluoroalkyl ketones and sulfones from perfluoroisopropyl iodide

Abstract In the presence of hexaethylphosphorus triamide (HEPT), perfluoroisopropyl iodide is reacted directly with perfluoroalkyl acid halides, trifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride, and methanesulfonyl chloride in benzonitrile to give the corresponding fluorinated ketones and sulfones. Diglyme is the solvent of choice for the reaction of pentafluorobenzoyl chloride with perfluoroisopropyl iodide in the presence of HEPT.
Velocity‐density systematics: Derivation from Debye theory and the effect of ionic size

Simple approximations for the lattice vibrational spectrum allow the regularities of velocity-density plots with structure and composition to be semiquantitatively explained from a simple and unified point of view. It is possible to explicitly separate paths of constant mean atomic weight A where velocities change because of compression or phase changes from paths of constant crystallographic structure where the mean atomic weight is changed. One can approximate the hydrodynamic velocity υϕ along the path of constant crystallographic structure by the formula ∂ ln υϕ/∂ ln ρ = − ½[1−(∂ ln VM/∂ ln A)]−1, where ρ is the density and VM is the molar volume.
An Approximation Algorithm for a Large-Scale Facility Location Problem

We developed a new practical optimization method that gives approximate solutions for large-scale real instances of the Uncapacitated Facility Location Problem. The optimization consists of two steps: application of the Greedy—Interchange heuristic using a small subset of warehouse candidates, and application of the newly developed heuristic named Balloon Search that takes account of all warehouse candidates, and runs in ( O (3n + 2n log n ) ) expected time (n is the number of nodes of the underlying graph). Our experiments on the spare parts logistics of a Japanese manufacturing company with 6000 customers and 380,000 warehouse candidates led us to conclude that the Greedy heuristic improved the total cost by 9%-11%, that the Interchange heuristic improved the total cost by an additional 0.5%—1.5%, and that Balloon Search improved it by a further 0.5%—1.5%.
Consequences of Axillary Ultrasound in Patients with T2 or Greater Invasive Breast Cancers.

Background. Axillary ultrasound (AUS) with needle biopsy is used to detect metastasis in patients with invasive breast cancers. Our hypothesis is that preoperative AUS significantly reduces sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) use in patients with invasive breast tumors >2 cm upon clinical examination. Methods. A single-institution database of patients with breast cancer and AUS was reviewed. Patients with incomplete records, clinical tumor <2 cm, or postoperative AUS were excluded. A control cohort of non-AUS patients with clinical T2 (cT2) or greater disease was identified. Clinicopathologic data were collected. Simple Kappa coefficient and chi-square statistical analyses were performed. Results. AUS was performed in 153 patients vs. 370 controls. Of AUS patients, 112 (73.2%) had cT2 disease vs. 272 (73.5%) controls. Median AUS patient age was 53.7 (range, 22.8–85.8) years vs. 53.8 (range, 26.7–91.6) years; median pathologic tumor was 3.8 (range, 1.0–20.0) cm in AUS patients vs. 2.5 (range, 0.1–11.0) cm. Among AUS patients, 78% had needle biopsy; 85 of 120 (70.8%) were positive. Sixty-eight patients had SLNB: 33 after negative AUS and 35 after negative needle biopsy. Twenty-three SLNB (37.3%) were positive; 15 of 33 after negative AUS and 8 of 35 after a negative needle biopsy. Axillary dissection was performed in 102 of 153 vs. 225 of 370 controls. Sensitivity and specificity of AUS was 86.2% and 40.5%. Sensitivity of AUS plus needle biopsy was 89.3% with 100% specificity. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given to 49.7% of AUS patients. AUS reduced costs by more than $4,000 per patient. Conclusions. AUS reduces SLNB use and affects treatment in patients with cT2 or greater breast cancer. Routine AUS should be considered in this population.
Copy-number-variation and copy-number-alteration region detection by cumulative plots

Regions with copy number variations (in germline cells) or copy number alteration (in somatic cells) are of great interest for human disease gene mapping and cancer studies. They represent a new type of mutation and are larger-scaled than the single nucleotide polymorphisms. Using genotyping microarray for copy number variation detection has become standard, and there is a need for improving analysis methods. We apply the cumulative plot to the detection of regions with copy number variation/alteration, on samples taken from a chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient. Two sets of whole-genome genotyping of 317 k single nucleotide polymorphisms, one from the normal cell and another from the cancer cell, are analyzed. We demonstrate the utility of cumulative plot in detecting a 9 Mb (9 ×106 bases) hemizygous deletion and 1 Mb homozygous deletion on chromosome 13. We also show the possibility to detect smaller copy number variation/alteration regions below the 100 kb range. As a graphic tool, the cumulative plot is an intuitive and a scale-free (window-less) way for detecting copy number variation/alteration regions, especially when such regions are small.
Additive Manufacturing of Glass

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a technique for the additive manufacturing (AM) of metals, plastics, and even ceramics. This paper explores using SLM for depositing glass structures. A CO2 laser is used to locally melt portions of a powder bed to study the effects of process parameters on stationary particle formation as well as continuous line quality. Numerical modeling is also applied to gain insight into the physical process. The experimental and numerical results indicate that the absorptivity of the glass powder is nearly constant with respect to the processing parameters. These results are used to deposit layered single-track wide walls to demonstrate the potential of using the SLM process for building transparent parts. Finally, the powder bed process is compared to a wire-fed approach. AM of glass is relevant for gradient index optics, systems with embedded optics, and the formation of hermetic seals.
Magnetically Induced Circular Polarization of Emission: Application to Inorganic Complexes

A sensitive spectrometer for the measurement of circular polarization of emission, utilizing a photoelastic modulator, is presented. This spectrometer, when augmented by a superconducting magnet and dewar assembly, provides an excellent system for studying magnetically induced circular polarization of emission (MICE). In order to exemplify both the system and the usefulness of MICE, a partial analysis of the MICE observed from Ru-(4,7-dipheny1-1,10-phenanthroline)3C12 dispersed in a polymethylmethacrylate (PMM) matrix in the 2 to 100 K temperature range is reported. Also presented is a discussion of the effects of photoselection on the observed MICE for these D3 symmetry complexes. It is found that MICE is more sensitive to the detailed nature of the levels involved in emission than a combination of zero field techniques. MICE should prove to be an exceptionally useful tool for probing excited states of inorganic complexes.
Non-perturbative couplings and color superconductivity

Abstract Quark matter at sufficiently high density exhibits color superconductivity, due to attractive gluonic interactions. At lower densities of order Λ QCD 3 , it has been proposed that instanton generated vertices may play an important role in the Cooper pair formation. We study the renormalization group flow to the Fermi surface of the full set of couplings generated by gluonic and instanton interactions. In earlier work we showed that if the gluonic interactions dominate at the matching scale, their running determines the scale of the Cooper pair formation Δ . Here we consider all possibilities, including the one in which the instanton interactions dominate all others at the matching scale. In the latter case we find that a number of additional induced couplings (including the gluonic ones) reach their Landau poles almost simultaneously with the instanton vertex. Presumably all contribute to the Cooper pair formation. The most important consequence of including all the couplings is a large increase in the gap size Δ .
Development of a New Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Claisen Rearrangement

Department of Chemistry, UniVersity of California, Berkeley, California 94720 ReceiVed June 14, 1999 Since its discovery in 1912,1 the Claisen rearrangement has become one of the most powerful tools for carbon-carbon bond formation in chemical synthesis.2 This [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, which involves the conversion of an allyl vinyl ether to an R,â-disubstituted γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyl, generally proceeds with high levels of stereocontrol, securing its widespread use in natural product and medicinal agent synthesis.2 Activation of this rearrangement has traditionally been accomplished under thermal control; however, significant rate acceleration can be achieved through the incorporation of cationic3 or anionic4 charge in the bond reorganization event. Despite its prolific use in chemical synthesis and disposition toward charge acceleration, only two examples of catalytic Claisen variants have been reported.5 In this paper we describe a broadly useful Lewis acidcatalyzed [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement that we expect will provide a new avenue for the development of an enantioselective catalytic Claisen process.6 In 1978, Bellus and Malherbe reported the conceptually novel ketene-Claisen reaction.7 In an attempt to perform a [2 + 2] cycloaddition, the authors discovered that treatment of an allyl ether with dichloroketene resulted instead in the formation of a 1,3-dipolar allyl vinyl ether, which subsequently underwent [3,3]bond reorganization (eq 1). Although the scope of this reaction
Searches for cosmic-string gravitational-wave bursts in Mock LISA Data

A network of observable, macroscopic cosmic (super-)strings may well have formed in the early Universe. If so, the cusps that generically develop on cosmic-string loops emit bursts of gravitational radiation that could be detectable by gravitational-wave interferometers, such as the ground-based LIGO/Virgo detectors and the planned, space-based LISA detector. Here we report on two versions of a LISA-oriented string-burst search pipeline that we have developed and tested within the context of the Mock LISA Data Challenges. The two versions rely on the publicly available MultiNest and PyMC software packages, respectively. To reduce the effective dimensionality of the search space, our implementations use the F-statistic to analytically maximize over the signal’s amplitude and polarization, A and ψ, and use the FFT to search quickly over burst arrival times t_C. The standard F-statistic is essentially a frequentist statistic that maximizes the likelihood; we also demonstrate an approximate, Bayesian version of the F-statistic that incorporates realistic priors on A and ψ. We calculate how accurately LISA can expect to measure the physical parameters of string-burst sources, and compare to results based on the Fisher-matrix approximation. To understand LISA’s angular resolution for string-burst sources, we draw maps of the waveform fitting factor (maximized over (A, ψ, t_C)) as a function of the sky position; these maps dramatically illustrate why (for LISA) inferring the correct sky location of the emitting string loop will often be practically impossible. In addition, we identify and elucidate several symmetries that are imbedded in this search problem, and we derive the distribution of cut-off frequencies f_(max) for observable bursts.
A minimum principle/queueing theory approach to routing in message-switched networks

Preliminary results for minimum message-delay routing in message-switched, store-and-forward, data-communication networks are presented using a minimum principle/queueing theory approach. The routing algorithm is a decentralized one which requires only local information. The results are illustrated via a special case, and extensions and problems for future research are discussed.
Increasing the Retained Dose by Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation and Deposition

The retained dose of ions can be increased by Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation and Deposition (PIIID). A substrate is immersed in a metal or carbon plasma and a negative repetitively pulsed bias voltage is applied. During the pulses, an electric sheath is formed around the substrate and ions are accelerated through the sheath and implanted into the substrate. Direct and recoil ion implantation and sputtering take place during the pulses whereas low-energy deposition occurs between the pulses. The condensable plasma can be produced using a cathodic arc plasma source combined with a magnetic macroparticle filter. PIIID can be applied to perform fast high-dose implantations or to deposit thin films with broad intermixing at the film-substrate interface. The bias voltage duty cycle can be tuned to sputter away the film deposited during pulse off-time (similar to the method of sacrificial layer). We have simulated the PIIID process using the Monte Carlo code T-DYN 4.0. This code allows a calculation of the dose-dependent depth profile for a process with deposition and implantation phases, taking sputtering into account. Predicted retained doses and experimentally obtained retained doses measured by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry are compared.
The construction of double-ended classical trajectories

Abstract Relaxation methods for constructing double-ended classical trajectories are described. We illustrate our approach with an application to a model anharmonic system, the Henon-Heiles problem. Trajectories for this model exhibit a number of interesting energy-time relationships that appear to be of general use in characterizing the dynamics.
A Search for Photometric Rotation Periods in Low-Mass Stars and Brown Dwarfs in the Pleiades

We have photometrically monitored (Cousins IC) eight low-mass stars and brown dwarfs that are probable members of the Pleiades. We derived rotation periods for two of the stars—HHJ 409 and CFHT-PL 8—to be 0.258 and 0.401 days, respectively. The masses of these stars are near 0.4 and 0.08 M⊙, respectively; the latter is the second such object near the hydrogen-burning boundary for which a rotation period has been measured. We also observed HHJ 409 in V. The relative amplitude in the two bands shows that the spots in that star are about 200 K cooler than the stellar effective temperature of 3560 K and have a filling factor on the order of 13%. With one possible exception, the remaining stars in the sample do not show photometric variations larger than the mean error of measurement. We also examined the M9.5 V disk star 2MASS J0149090+295613, which had previously exhibited a strong flare event, but we did not detect any photometric variation.
Asymmetric Suzuki Cross-Couplings of Activated Secondary Alkyl Electrophiles: Arylations of Racemic α-Chloroamides

A nickel-catalyzed stereoconvergent method for the enantioselective Suzuki arylation of racemic α-chloroamides has been developed. This process provides a unique example of an asymmetric arylation of an α-haloamide, an enantioselective arylation of an α-chlorocarbonyl compound, and an asymmetric Suzuki reaction with an activated alkyl electrophile or an arylboron reagent. The method is also applicable to the corresponding enantioselective cross-coupling of α-bromoamides. The coupling products can be transformed without racemization into enantioenriched α-arylcarboxylic acids and primary alcohols. A modest kinetic resolution of the α-chloroamide was observed; a mechanistic study indicated that the selectivity may reflect discrimination by the chiral catalyst of the two enantiomeric α-chloroamides in an irreversible oxidative-addition process.
Prenatal Diagnosis of Neural Tube Defects

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the commonest major congenital malformations in the north and west of the United Kingdom, involving particularly Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The estimated incidence in these areas varies from 6 to 8 per 1000 births (Elwood, 1970; Carter et al., 1968; Fedrick, 1976). Similar areas with a high incidence include the Punjab in India and Alexandria in Egypt (Verma, 1978; Stevenson et al., 1966). In the United States and Europe, NTDs are also among the most common major congenital anomalies. In the United States published estimates of the approximate incidence rates for NTDs vary between 1.4 and 3.1 per 1000 (Nakano, 1973). Approximately 6000 infants with NTDs are born each year in the United States.
Economic and Financial Sustainability of Private Agricultural Extension in El Salvador

ABSTRACT Since the beginning of the 1980s, El Salvador has shown a dramatic decline in the public funding for agricultural extension. This process follows a worldwide tendency to reduce the public sector involvement in agriculture. To respond to the reduction in public expenditure in extension programs, a privatization process has been proposed as a feasible alternative for agricultural development. The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the sustainability of the Farm Management Center (FMC) model as a specific private agricultural extension option in El Salvador. To pursue this objective, an ex ante economic and financial cost-benefit analysis based on a multiperiod linear programming model is performed. The general results of this study suggest that a combination of better farm prices (paid and received), reallocation of resources, and crop diversification, which would be promoted by an FMC, can lead to an increase in farm level profits that is sufficient to cover the operation of a private farm ...
Non-perturbative renormalization of the lattice heavy quark classical velocity

Abstract We discuss the renormalization of the lattice formulation of the Heavy Quark Effective Theory (LHQET). In addition to wave function and composite operator renormalizations, on the lattice the classical velocity is also renormalized. The origin of this renormalization is the reduction of Lorentz (or O(4)) invariance to (hyper)cubic invariance. We present results of a new, direct lattice simulation of this finite renormalization, and compare the results to the perturbative (one loop) result. The simulation results are obtained with the use of a variationally optimized heavy-light meson operator, using an ensemble of lattices provided by the Fermilab ACP-MAPS collaboration.
An empirical study of the economics of pretrial discovery

Abstract The paper investigates the pretrial discovery process empirically. Using data from an interview survey of both attorneys in 369 federal civil cases, and by employing a simultaneous-equations tobit econometric model, I identify factors that determine the plaintiff’s and defendant’s discovery levels. The four main results show that the discovery behaviors of plaintiffs and defendants are different, but interdependent. First, the plaintiff chooses an amount of discovery by examining a case’s underlying fundamentals, such as the amount at stake. The plaintiff does not increase her discovery in response to increased discovery by the defendant. Second, the defendant does not rely on fundamentals. Instead, the defendant chooses a discovery amount that mirrors the plaintiff’s amount. Third, the plaintiff and defendant respond to their adversary’s apparent discovery aggression differently. The defendant responds by conducting more discovery than she otherwise would have, almost exactly tit-for-tat. In contrast, the plaintiff conducts less discovery than otherwise. Fourth, the nature of an attorney’s fee arrangement influences the attorney’s discovery behavior substantially.
SU (2) lattice gauge theory with logarithmic action: scaling and universality

Abstract We investigate a version of SU(2) lattice gauge theory with a logarithmic action. The model is found to exhibit confinement, contrary to previous claims in the literature. Comparing ratios of physical quantities, like √σ T c , we find that the model belongs to the same universality class as the standard SU(2) lattice gauge theory with Wilson action. Like the positive plaquette model, the model with logarithmic action has a monotonic β-function, without the famous dip exhibited by the Wilson action. Short distance dislocations affecting the definition of topology are slightly more suppressed than for the positive plaquette model.
Higher Education Reform in Romania.

This paper reviews the crisis in Romanian universities since the country's political transition in 1989, and describes the government's strategy for revitalizing the higher education system. Attention is drawn to the expansion of access to higher education, the dramatic increase of enrollments in social science fields, the spontaneous establishment of private higher education institutions, and to the many difficulties institutions are experiencing in coping with these changes especially because of resource constraints. Comprehensive reform of the role of the state in the financing and governance of higher education are proposed. The government's reform strategy involves accreditation of public and private institutions, establishment of open transparent mechanisms for allocating institutional and research funding, as well as changes in the structure of academic employment. Successful implementation will require strengthening the fragile management capacity of the Ministry of Education and the higher education institutions.
Numerical study of a mixed Ising ferrimagnetic system

We present a study of a classical ferrimagnetic model on a square lattice in which the two interpenetrating square sublattices have spins one-half and one. This model is relevant for understanding bimetallic molecular ferrimagnets that are currently being synthesized by several experimental groups. We perform exact ground-state calculations for the model, and employ Monte Carlo and numerical transfer-matrix techniques to obtain the finite-temperature phase diagram for both the transition and compensation temperatures. When only nearest-neighbour interactions are included, our non-perturbative results indicate no compensation point or tricritical point at finite temperature, which contradicts earlier results obtained with mean-field analysis.
BRAHMS Results in the Context of Saturation and Quantum Evolution

We report BRAHMS results from RHIC d+Au and p+p collisions at √{sNN} = 200 GeV. A remarkable change in the nuclear modification factor RdAu is seen as the pseudorapidity of the detected charged hadrons changes from zero at mid-rapidity to 3.2 at the most forward angle studied during the 2003 run. For pseudorapidity η > 1 the suppression of the Rcp factor is more pronounced in the sample of central events in contrast to the behavior at mid-rapidity where the central events show higher enhancement compared to a semi-central sample. These results are consistent with a saturated Au wave function strongly affected by quantum evolution at higher values of rapidity.
REIT Stock Splits and Liquidity Changes

This study examines the motive of stock splits made by REITs. We find that REIT liquidity increases after the split announcement. However, the increase in liquidity is limited to days around the split announcement. After the ex-date, the liquidity tends to revert back to the pre-split level. We find that the positive market reaction around the announcement date is positively related to the change in short-term liquidity but not to the change in long-term liquidity. The announcement effect is also not correlated with future changes in operating performance. Overall, our results suggest that REITs split their share to attract investors’ attention rather than to signal or to improve trading liquidity in the long run.
On the characteristic map of finite unitary groups

Abstract In his classic book on symmetric functions, Macdonald describes a remarkable result by Green relating the character theory of the finite general linear group to transition matrices between bases of symmetric functions. This connection allows one to analyze the character theory of the general linear group via symmetric group combinatorics. Using works of Ennola, Kawanaka, Lusztig and Srinivasan, this paper describes the analogous setting for the finite unitary group. In particular, we explain the connection between Deligne–Lusztig theory and Ennola's efforts to generalize Green's work, and from this we deduce various character theoretic results. Applications include calculating certain sums of character degrees, and giving a model of Deligne–Lusztig type for the finite unitary group, which parallels results of Klyachko and Inglis and Saxl for the finite general linear group.
Journal Club: surveillance neuroimaging and neurologic examinations affect care for intracerebral hemorrhage.

The article “Surveillance neuroimaging and neurologic examinations affect care for intracerebral hemorrhage”1 is reviewed. This review focuses on the methods, results, limitations, and merits of the original article.
One-pot synthesis of (Z)-β-sulfonyl enoates from ethyl propiolate

Abstract β-Sulfonyl enoates may be synthesized through a one-pot two-step sequence from ethyl propiolate with good to excellent selectivity for the Z isomer. Trialkylamines catalyze thioconjugate additions of aryl thiols, and alkoxides catalyze the addition of aliphatic thiols. Addition of meta-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) and LiClO4 to the reaction mixture provides rapid access to the sulfonyl enoates. Yields of the pure Z isomer range from 51–90%.
Measuring opacity of shock generated argon plasmas

Abstract Plasmas are generated by passage of a strong planar shock wave through gas. Initial experiments in argon have produced plasmas with 2eV temperature, 0.004–0.04 g/cm 3 density, and coupling parameter Γ ∼ 0.3–0.7. Plasmas having Γ > 1 are attainable with greater initial gas pressure. The opacity of the plasma is measured versus wavelength by recording the risetime of emitted light. Initial measurements are in visible light. Preliminary results are compared with calculations using the HOPE code.
Monte Carlo and mean-field calculations of the magnetocaloric effect of ferromagnetically interacting clusters

Abstract The magnetic entropy change of a ferromagnet induced by an application of a magnetic field is greatest in the temperature region near the Curie point, and the magnitude of the effect is expected to rise monotonically with the size of the individual moments which make up the material. We explore the case of nanocomposite materials with ferromagnetically interacting clusters having large cluster magnetic moments as a function of cluster size. As cluster size increases, both Monte Carlo and mean-field calculations show a decrease in the entropy change at Tc for a given applied field and constant total magnetic moment, and an increase in the entropy change well above Tc. In addition, for the first time, we present a comparison of the results of mean-field and Monte Carlo calculations of the magnetocaloric effect in classical Heisenberg ferromagnets. Previous calculations of the magnetocaloric effect have taken the mean-field approach, which is known to underestimate the spontaneous magnetization below Tc. These issues are relevant to devices employing magnetic refrigeration.
Grain-boundary dissociation by the emission of stacking faults

A range of $〈110〉$ symmetric tilt grain boundaries (GB's) are investigated in several fcc metals with simulations and high-resolution electron microscopy. Boundaries with tilt angles between 50.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 109.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} dissociate into two boundaries 0.6 to 1.1 nm apart. The dissociation takes place by the emission of stacking faults from one boundary that are terminated by Shockley partials at a second boundary. This is a general mode of GB relaxation for low stacking fault energy metals. The reasons for the occurrence of this relaxation mode are discussed using the theory of GB dislocations.
Incorporating Quadratic Scale Curves in Inverse Demand Systems

In this paper we introduce inverse demand systems that include quadratic scale terms. These systems are similar to regular quadratic demand systems introduced by Howe, Pollak, and Wales. A unique feature of these specifications is that they maintain linear scale curves as a special case. For illustrative purposes we estimate the Normalized Quadratic Inverse Demand-Quadratic Scale System using monthly South Atlantic fish landings and valuation data, 1980-1996. In estimation concavity is maintained locally, and the rank reduction procedures advocated by Diewert and Wales (1988a) are employed. The estimated model is then used to obtain welfare estimates associated with catch restrictions. Copyright 2001, Oxford University Press.
Accounting for Air Pollution Emissions in Measures of State Manufacturing Productivity Growth

A Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index is employed to account for both marketed output and the output of pollution abatement activities of U.S. state manufacturing sectors for –1986. The index allows us to decompose the change in productivity into measures of change in efficiency and technical change. By accounting for the change in emissions, average annual productivity growth is 3.6 percent, whereas it is 1.7 percent when emissions are ignored. We also find adjusted productivity growth improved after 1977, and “Frost Belt” states with rapidly growing manufacturing sectors have significantly higher rates of productivity growth than “Sun Belt” states with slow growing manufacturing sectors.
Experiments in mixed-integer linear programming using pseudo-costs

This paper discusses heuristic "branch and bound" methods for solving mixed integer linear programming problems. The research presented on here is the follow on to that recorded in [3]. After a resume of the concept of pseudo-costs and estimations, new heuristic rules for generating a tree which make use of pseudo-costs and estimations are presented. Experiments have shown that models having a low percentage of integer variables behave in a radically different way from models with a high percentage of integer variables. The new heuristic rules seem to apply generally to the first type of model. Later, other heuristic rules are presented that are used with models having a high percentage of integer variables and with models having a special structure (models including special ordered sets.) The rules introduced here have been implemented in the IBM Mathematical Programming System Extended/370. They are used to solve large mixed integer linear programming models. Numerical results that permit comparisons to be made among the different rules are provided and discussed.
Millisecond chemical reactions and reactors

Short contact time chemical reactors have many features which are very different from conventional packed bed reactors in that temperatures are determined by inlet parameters only, performance is nearly unchanged over wide variations in flow rate, and highly nonequilibrium products can be obtained at high conversions. Chemical reactions occur in regions of large gradients in composition and temperature, so the kinetics of the processes cannot be simply extracted from experiments. We illustrate these systems with recent examples of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane at 85% ethylene selectivity and cyclohexane partial oxidation to oxygenates and olefins at 80% selectivity. A major feature of both reaction systems is the probable existence of two zones in the monolith where oxidation reactions occur close to the entrance and successive reactions such as homogeneous pyrolysis occur after all O2 is consumed and the surface is passivated with carbon. For the single gauze reactor only homogeneous oxidation occurs after the gauze where the temperature decreases strongly and quenches further decomposition of olefins and oxygenates. Considerations of scaleup of these reactors for large-scale chemicals production are discussed.
Increased Glomerular and Tubular Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-β1, Its Type II Receptor, and Activation of the Smad Signaling Pathway in the db/db Mouse

Activation of the renal transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) system likely mediates the excess production of extracellular matrix in the diabetic kidney. To establish the role of the TGF-β system in type 2 diabetic nephropathy, we examined the intrarenal localization and expression of the TGF-β1 isoform, the TGF-β type II receptor, and the Smad signaling pathway in the 16-week-old db/db mouse, a genetic model of type 2 diabetes that exhibits mesangial matrix expansion, glomerular basement membrane thickening, and renal insufficiency that closely resemble the human disease. Compared with its nondiabetic db/m littermate, the db/db mouse showed significantly increased TGF-β1 mRNA expression by in situ hybridization in both glomerular and tubular compartments. Likewise, TGF-β1 protein, by immunohistochemical staining, was increased in both renal compartments, but the fractional expression of TGF-β1 protein was less than that of the mRNA in the glomerulus. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining for the TGF-β type II receptor revealed concordant and significant increases of both mRNA and protein in the glomerular and tubular compartments of diabetic animals. Finally, immunohistochemistry showed preferential accumulation of Smad3 in the nuclei of glomerular and tubular cells in diabetes. The complementary technique of Southwestern histochemistry using a labeled Smad-binding element demonstrated increased binding of nuclear proteins to Smad-binding element, indicating active signaling downstream of the TGF-β stimulus. We therefore propose that the TGF-β system is up-regulated at the ligand, receptor, and signaling levels throughout the renal cortex in this animal model of type 2 diabetes. Our findings suggest that the profibrotic effects of TGF-β may underlie the progression to glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis that characterize diabetic nephropathy.
Probing strongly interacting atomic gases with energetic atoms

We investigate properties of an energetic atom propagating through strongly interacting atomic gases. The operator product expansion is used to systematically compute a quasiparticle energy and its scattering rate both in a spin-1/2 Fermi gas and in a spinless Bose gas. Reasonable agreement with recent quantum Monte Carlo simulations even at a relatively small momentum $k/{k}_{\mathrm{F}}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}1.5$ indicates that our large-momentum expansions are valid in a wide range of momentum. We also study a differential scattering rate when a probe atom is shot into atomic gases. Because the number density and current density of the target atomic gas contribute to the forward scattering only, its contact density (measure of short-range pair correlation) gives the leading contribution to the backward scattering. Therefore, such an experiment can be used to measure the contact density and thus provides a new local probe of strongly interacting atomic gases.
A History of Bone Marrow Transplantation

The last 40 years has seen the emergence of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as a therapeutic modality for fatal diseases and as a curative option for individuals born with inherited disorders that carry limited life expectancy and poor quality of life. Despite the rarity of many primary immunodeficiency diseases, these disorders have led the way toward innovative therapies and further provide insights into mechanisms of im- munologic reconstitution applicable to all hematopoietic stem cell transplants. This article represents a historical perspective of the early investigators and their contributions. It also reviews the parallel work that oncologists and immunologists have undertaken to treat both primary immunodeficiencies and hematologic malignancies.