cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
3-(Alkylthio)-N-hydroxysuccinimide derivatives: potent inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase

Abstract A series of 3-( alkylthio )-N- hydroxysuccinimide derivatives was synthesized and their inhibitory activity towards human leukocyte elastase (HLE) was investigated. The interaction of the compounds having a 3-alkylthioether side chain (compounds 1 and 2) with HLE was found to involve rapid acylation of the enzyme, followed by total regain of enzymatic activity within 3 h. Interestingly, compounds 3–8, having an oxidized thioether side chain, were found to be highly effective, time-dependent, irreversible inhibitors of the enzyme. The k obs /I values for compounds 3–8 ranged between 890 and 24 000 M−1 s−1. These findings demonstrate that, unlike the physiological inhibitor of HLE (alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor), which is inactivated upon oxidation, low-molecular-weight compounds retain and/or show enhanced inhibitory activity towards HLE upon oxidation of the thioether side chain and lay the groundwork for the development of compounds that embody proteinase inhibitory and antioxidant activity.
Coinductive logic programming

We extend logic programming’s semantics with the semantic dual of traditional Herbrand semantics by using greatest fixed-points in place of least fixed-points. Executing a logic program then involves using coinduction to check inclusion in the greatest fixed-point. The resulting coinductive logic programming language is syntactically identical to, yet semantically subsumes logic programming with rational terms and lazy evaluation. We present a novel formal operational semantics that is based on synthesizing a coinductive hypothesis for this coinductive logic programming language. We prove that this new operational semantics is equivalent to the declarative semantics. Our operational semantics lends itself to an elegant and efficient goal directed proof search in the presence of rational terms and proofs. We describe a prototype implementation of this operational semantics along with applications of coinductive logic programming.
Small covers of the dodecahedron and the 120-cell

Let P be the right-angled hyperbolic dodecahedron or 120-cell, and let W be the group generated by reflections across codimension-one faces of P. We prove that if r C W is a torsion free subgroup of minimal index, then the corresponding hyperbolic manifold H n /Γ is determined up to homeomorphism by Γ modulo symmetries of P.
Bias Toward the Null

Bias toward the null usually refers to an effect of nondifferential errors in exposure measurements that reduces the apparent effect of the exposure on the dependent variable, which might be a health outcome. Keywords: bias; bias in observational studies; misclassification error; attenuation
Inhibition of the cardiovascular effects of acupuncture (moxibustion) by propranolol in dogs during halothane anaesthesia

Acupuncture by electrocautery, moxibustion, at Jen Chung (Go-26) acupoint produces a sympathomimetic effect on the cardiovascular system of dogs under halothane anaesthesia ( MAC I ). This effect is manifest by significant increase in cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure while total peripheral resistance is significantly decreased during a two-hour period of observation. Pretreatment with the beta blocker, propranolol, caused a significant decrease in cardiac output, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure while total peripheral resistance is significantly increased. Similar responses were observed when propranolol was administered without moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26).
The Integrated Spectra of Metal-Rich Galactic Globular Clusters: A Two-Parameter Family

Integrated photographic image-tube spectra have been obtained for the central regions of a number of metal-rich Galactic globular clusters with a wavelength resolution of 2.5 A over the wavelength region λλ3400–4500 A. The spectra have been analyzed using a variety of quantitative spectral indices that compare the strengths of neighboring absorption features. Our main result is that two parameters are needed to describe the integrated spectra of metal-rich globular clusters. The second parameter is manifested in two ways: (1) In a diagnostic diagram sensitive to surface-gravity the metal-rich clusters do not form a well-defined linear sequence. Instead, we find large differences from one cluster to another in the mean surface gravity of the stars contributing to the integrated light at 4000 A. It appears that the relative amounts of light contributed by dwarfs and giants varies considerably from one cluster to another. (2) In a diagram that discriminates CN strength we find large differences from one cluster to another in the mean CN strengths of clusters having similar “spectral type”. It is inferred that the mean CN anomaly varies from one cluster to another and that the anomalous CN strengths are present in main sequence stars as well as in giants.
Reproduction and Castes in Social Halictine Bees

Parasocial and primitively eusocial bees are found in various families of the Apoidea, but the majority of such forms are in the Halictinae (Family Halictidae, the sweat bees). The Halictinae are an enormous and abundant group, worldwide in distribution, arctic to tropical, and every continent has forms whose social biologies remain unknown. Although a few species nest in rotting wood, most make burrows in the soil. New and interesting types of social organization probably remain to be discovered in this subfamily, for only a tiny fraction of the species have been studied behaviorally.
Diffusion of a Janus nanoparticle in an explicit solvent: A molecular dynamics simulation study

Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to study the translational and rotational diffusion of a single Janus particle immersed in a dense Lennard-Jones fluid. We consider a spherical particle with two hemispheres of different wettabilities. The analysis of the particle dynamics is based on the time-dependent orientation tensor, particle displacement, as well as the translational and angular velocity autocorrelation functions. It was found that both translational and rotational diffusion coefficients increase with decreasing surface energy at the nonwetting hemisphere, provided that the wettability of the other hemisphere remains unchanged. We also observed that in contrast to homogeneous particles, the nonwetting hemisphere of the Janus particle tends to rotate in the direction of the displacement vector during the rotational relaxation time.
Self-Similar Decay in the Kraichnan Model of a Passive Scalar

We study the two-point correlation function of a freely decaying scalar in Kraichnan's model of advection by a Gaussian random velocity field that is stationary and white noise in time, but fractional Brownian in space with roughness exponent 0<ζ<2, appropriate to the inertial-convective range of the scalar. We find all self-similar solutions by transforming the scaling equation to Kummer's equation. It is shown that only those scaling solutions with scalar energy decay exponent a≤(d/γ)+1 are statistically realizable, where d is space dimension and γ=2−ζ. An infinite sequence of invariants Jp, p=0, 1, 2,..., is pointed out, where J0 is Corrsin's integral invariant but the higher invariants appear to be new. We show that at least one of the invariants J0 or J1 must be nonzero (possibly infinite) for realizable initial data. Initial datum with a finite, nonzero invariant—the first being Jp—converges at long times to a scaling solution Φp with a=(d/γ)+p, p=0, 1. The latter belongs to an exceptional series of self-similar solutions with stretched-exponential decay in space. However, the domain of attraction includes many initial data with power-law decay. When the initial datum has all invariants zero or infinite and also it exhibits power-law decay, then the solution converges at long times to a nonexceptional scaling solution with the same power-law decay. These results support a picture of a “two-scale” decay with breakdown of self-similarity for a range of exponents (d+γ)/γ<a<(d+2)/γ, analogous to what has recently been found in the decay of Burgers turbulence.
Pursuing a Remedy in Microsoft: The Declining Need for Centralized Coordination in a Networked World

In the pre-networked world, Windows played the central role in coordinating the sharing of software. The rise of the network changes how software should be distributed and changes the role of Windows in software coordination. There is less of a need for mandatory incorporation of software into Windows, as decentralized distribution and coordination is now possible. In impermissibly maintaining its monopoly, Microsoft distorted the channels for software distribution and added software to Windows for the purpose of raising the cost of distribution of rival software. A proportionate Microsoft remedy should address that distributional distortion and seek to prevent future distortions. The article suggests such a remedy. (JEL: K 21, L 4)
A stochastic analysis of transient two-phase flow in heterogeneous porous media

[1] The Karhunen-Loeve moment equation (KLME) approach is implemented to model stochastic transient water-NAPL two-phase flow in heterogeneous subsurface media with random soil properties. To describe the constitutive relationships between water saturation, capillary pressure, and phase relative permeability, the widely used van Genuchten model and Parker and Lenhard models are adopted. The log-transformed intrinsic permeability, soil pore size distribution, and van Genuchten fitting parameter n are treated as normally distributed stochastic variables with a separable exponential covariance model. The perturbation part of these three log-transformed variables is decomposed via Karhunen-Loeve expansion. The dependent variables (phase pressure, phase mobility, and capillary pressure) are expanded by polynomial expansions and the perturbation method. Incorporating these expansions of random soil properties variables and dependent variables into the governing equations yields a series of differential equations in different orders. We construct the moments of the dependent variables from the solutions of these differential equations. We demonstrate the stochastic model with two-dimensional examples of transient two-phase flow. We also conduct Monte Carlo simulations using the finite element heat and mass (FEHM) transfer code, whose results are considered “true” solutions. The match between the results from FEHM and KLME indicates the validity of the proposed KLME application in transient two-phase flow. The computational efficiency of the KLME approach over Monte Carlo methods is at least an order of magnitude for transient two-phase flow problems.
Small and Medium Enterprises in Korea: Achievements, Constraints and Policy Issues

This paper provides an overview of the evolution of the small and medium enterprise sector in Korea during the past quarter century. It shows how the industrial structure of Korea has changed dramatically over this period reflecting much greater shares in employment and value added by SMEs. It reviews the evidence on SME dynamism showing that SMEs have contributed to the enormous transformations that have taken place in the Korean economy since 1975, especially with regard to exports, foreign investment and productivity performance. It discusses the role of subcontracting as well as that of government and non-governmental institutions in supporting SME development. Finally, it examines the link between variations in the economic importance of SMEs, as measured by their shares in employment, and aspects of growth and inequality to assess whether SMEs function as business cycle shock absorbers and inequality-reducing mechanisms.
A domain-independent algorithm for plan adaptation

The paradigms of transformational planning, case-based planning, and plan debugging all involve a process known as plan adaptation -- modifying or repairing an old plan so it solves a new problem. In this paper we provide a domain-independent algorithm for plan adaptation, demonstrate that it is sound, complete, and systematic, and compare it to other adaptation algorithms in the literature. Our approach is based on a view of planning as searching a graph of partial plans. Generative planning starts at the graph's root and moves from node to node using plan-refinement operators. In planning by adaptation, a library plan--an arbitrary node in the plan graph--is the starting point for the search, and the plan-adaptation algorithm can apply both the same refinement operators available to a generative planner and can also retract constraints and steps from the plan. Our algorithm's completeness ensures that the adaptation algorithm will eventually search the entire graph and its systematicity ensures that it will do so without redundantly searching any parts of the graph.
Bayesian nonparametric covariance regression

Capturing predictor-dependent correlations amongst the elements of a multivariate response vector is fundamental to numerous applied domains, including neuroscience, epidemiology, and finance. Although there is a rich literature on methods for allowing the variance in a univariate regression model to vary with predictors, relatively little has been done in the multivariate case. As a motivating example, we consider the Google Flu Trends data set, which provides indirect measurements of influenza incidence at a large set of locations over time (our predictor). To accurately characterize temporally evolving influenza incidence across regions, it is important to develop statistical methods for a time-varying covariance matrix. Importantly, the locations provide a redundant set of measurements and do not yield a sparse nor static spatial dependence structure. We propose to reduce dimensionality and induce a flexible Bayesian nonparametric covariance regression model by relating these location-specific trajectories to a lower-dimensional subspace through a latent factor model with predictor-dependent factor loadings. These loadings are in terms of a collection of basis functions that vary nonparametrically over the predictor space. Such low-rank approximations are in contrast to sparse precision assumptions, and are appropriate in a wide range of applications. Our formulation aims to address three challenges: scaling to large p domains, coping with missing values, and allowing an irregular grid of observations. The model is shown to be highly exible, while leading to a computationally feasible implementation via Gibbs sampling. The ability to scale to large p domains and cope with missing values is fundamental in analyzing the Google Flu Trends data.
Perspectives on internet-based frameworks/infrastructures for virtual manufacturing enterprises: a literature review

Virtual manufacturing enterprises (VMEs) are a current, viable, and strategic form of organization for business and other organizations. The perspectives described in this literature review are based upon a basic cluster analysis that identified and classified papers into homogenous subgroups with meaningful themes, or categories. These general themes are related to strategies for business organization and advanced information technologies, virtual industrial/manufacturing organizations/enterprises, frameworks supporting virtual manufacturing enterprises (VMEs), and information technology infrastructures for VMEs.
Impacts of trade liberalization in rice: assessing alternative proposals

Arkansas Global Rice Model (AGRM) a partial equilibrium econometric model is used to assess the impact various proposal on trade liberalization in rice. The analysis is carried over a period of eight years using 2006 baseline. The results are summarized by comparing the impact of various proposals over period of time.
A cross-sectional examination of non-Big 4 firms’ reliability

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of service-related independence impairments on perceptions of local and regional non-Big 4 Firms’ financial reporting reliability. This study is motivated by recent public policy, which proposes that service-related independence impairments may improve financial reporting reliability. Design/methodology/approach – Commercial lending officers respond to a within-subjects experiment. The variables of interest are client importance, expertise and their related interaction. These variables are regressed on the perceived reporting reliability of local and regional firms. Findings – Client importance is positively and significantly associated with the lenders’ selection of non-Big 4 firms, which supports Taylor et al.’s (2003) assertions that service-related independence violations improve financial reporting reliability. However, client importance is negatively associated with regional firms. Practical implications – Client importance is significantl...
An Alternative Model for Analyzing the Physician-Hospital Relationship in Rural Areas

We introduce a modeling framework called Transaction Cost Economics to help decision makers in rural health care markets choose among alternative organizational relationships in order to more cost-effectively deliver healthcare services. In particular, the hospital-physician relationship is analyzed and the transactional attributes, institutional environment, and market characteristics are identified as key variables influencing the organizational relationship between hospital and physician. As asset specfic investments are made by either the hospital or physician, vertically integrated relationships are more likely to occur. The degree of remoteness of rural areas is also considered to affect the impact of these asset-specific investments.
Rice prices and poverty in Liberia

When assessing the impact of changes in food prices on poverty, it is important to consider food producers (who may benefit from an increase in prices) as well as consumers (who loose out when the price increases), with a focus on poor consumers and producers. In the case of rice in Liberia however, the impact of a change in price is not ambiguous because a large share of the rice consumed is imported, while the rice locally produced is used mostly for auto-consumption. An increase in the price of rice will result in higher poverty in the country as a whole (even if some local producers will gain from this increase), while a reduction in price will reduce poverty. Furthermore, because rice represents a large share of food consumption, any change in its price is likely to have a large impact on poverty. Using data from the 2007 CWIQ survey, the paper finds that an increase or decrease of 20 percent in the price of rice could lead to an increase or decrease of three to four percentage points in the share of the population in poverty.
SAT-based model checking without unrolling

A new form of SAT-based symbolic model checking is described. Instead of unrolling the transition relation, it incrementally generates clauses that are inductive relative to (and augment) stepwise approximate reachability information. In this way, the algorithm gradually refines the property, eventually producing either an inductive strengthening of the property or a counterexample trace. Our experimental studies show that induction is a powerful tool for generalizing the unreachability of given error states: it can refine away many states at once, and it is effective at focusing the proof search on aspects of the transition system relevant to the property. Furthermore, the incremental structure of the algorithm lends itself to a parallel implementation.
Turning Cluster Management into Data Management: A System Overview

This paper introduces the CondorJ2 cluster management system. Traditionally, cluster management systems such as Condor employ a process-oriented approach with little or no use of modern database system technology. In contrast, CondorJ2 employs a data-centric, 3-tier web-application architecture for all system functions (e.g., job submission, monitoring and scheduling; node configuration, monitoring and management, etc.) except for job execution. Employing a data-oriented approach allows the core challenge (i.e., managing and coordinating a large set of distributed computing resources) to be transformed from a relatively low-level systems problem into a more abstract, higher-level data management problem. Preliminary results suggest that CondorJ2’s use of standard 3-tier software represents a significant step forward to the design and implementation of large clusters (1,000 to 10,000 nodes).
Passive immunization against cachectin/tumor necrosis factor protects mice from lethal effect of endotoxin

A highly specific polyclonal rabbit antiserum directed against murine cachectin/tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was prepared. When BALBIc mice were passively immunized with the antiserum or with purified immune globulin, they were protected against the lethal effect of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide produced by Escherichia coli. The prophylactic effect was dose-dependent and was most effective when the antiserum was administered prior to the injection of the endotoxin. Antiserum to cachectinlTNF did not mitigate the febrile response of endotoxin-treated animals, and very high doses of endotoxin could overcome the protective effect. The median lethal dose of endotoxin in mice pretreated with 50 microliters of the specific antiserum was approximately 2.5 times greater the median lethal dose for controls given nonimmune serum. The data suggest that cachectinlTNF is one of the principal mediators of the lethal effect of endotoxin.
Mobbing behavior and deceit and its role in bio-inspired autonomous robotic agents

Arabian babblers are highly preyed upon avians living in the Israeli desert. The survival of this species is contingent upon successful predator deterrence known as mobbing. Their ability to successfully defend against larger predators is the inspiration for this research with the goal of employing new models of robotic deception. Using Grafen's Dishonesty Model [8], simulation results are presented, which portend the value of this behavior in military situations.
A spatial network approach to urban configurations

We propose a spatial network approach to studying urban configurations by modelling explicitly knowledge transmission, aggregation and spillovers via links formed, as well as by allowing the population and the locality role (‘core’ versus ‘periphery’) in each location to be endogenously determined in equilibrium. We establish conditions for the commonly assumed monocentric configuration to arise as the unique and efficient equilibrium outcome. We also illustrate under what circumstances a spatial equilibrium may feature multicentric, urban-rural, or multiple (disconnected) urban areas and under what conditions each configuration is socially efficient. We further characterize the spatial equilibrium by performing various comparative statics. On propose une approche en termes de reseaux spatiaux pour etudier les configurations urbaines en modelisant explicitement la transmission, l’agregation et les debordements de l’information via les liens formes, et en permettant aux roles de la population et de la localite (cœur versus peripherie) dans chaque localisation d’etre determines de facon endogene en equilibre. On etablit les conditions d’emergence de la configuration monocentrique communement assumee en tant que resultat d’equilibre unique et efficient. On montre aussi dans quelles circonstances un equilibre spatial peut etre multicentrique, urbain-rural, ou compose d’aires urbaines multiples deconnectees, et dans quelles conditions chaque configuration est socialement efficiente. On aide a preciser les caracteristiques de l’equilibre spatial en faisant certains exercices de statique comparative.
Managing Global Risks and Creating Prosperity : the Role of the IMF and Regional Financial Architectures

In this paper,following an evolutionary theory of international financial institutions-- called "the extended panda's thumb" approach-- the role of IMF under the present globalization moves is analyzed. It is shown that IMF must change in a direction which allows for greater national policy autonomy. It is also shown that the IMF needs complementary regional institutions of cooperation in order to create a stabilizing financial architecture. Thus regional financial architectures will need to be integral parts of any new global financial architecture(GFA).The tentative steps taken towards regional cooperation in Asia after the financial crisis are discussed to illustrate the opportunities and challenges posed by the need to evolve towards a hybrid GFA.
Complexity results in graph reconstruction

We investigate the relative complexity of the graph isomorphism problem (GI) and problems related to the reconstruction of a graph from its vertex-deleted or edge-deleted subgraphs (in particular, deck checking (DC) and legitimate deck (LD) problems). We show that these problems are closely related for all amounts c>=1 of deletion:(1)GI="i"s"o^lVDC"c, GI="i"s"o^lEDC"c, GI= =2, GI="i"s"o^pk-VDC"c and GI="i"s"o^pk-EDC"c. (3)For all k>=2, GI= =2, GI="i"s"o^pk-LED"c. For many of these results, even the c=1 case was not previously known. Similar to the definition of reconstruction numbers vrn"@?(G) [F. Harary, M. Plantholt, The graph reconstruction number, J. Graph Theory 9 (1985) 451-454] and ern"@?(G) (see [J. Lauri, R. Scapellato Topics in Graph Automorphism and Reconstruction, London Mathematical Society, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2003, p. 120]), we introduce two new graph parameters, vrn"@?(G) and ern"@?(G), and give an example of a family {G"n}"n">="4 of graphs on n vertices for which vrn"@?(G"n)=2 and n>=1, we show that there exists a collection of k graphs on (2^k^-^1+1)n+k vertices with 2^n 1-vertex-preimages, i.e., one has families of graph collections whose number of 1-vertex-preimages is huge relative to the size of the graphs involved.
Lessons from RHIC for the LHC and vice versa

For the past decade, measurements of semi-inclusive single identified particle spectra and twoparticle correlations in p-p and A+A collisions at RHIC have produced a treasure trove of results which indicate a suppression of hard-scattered partons in the medium produced in A+A collisions. A suppression RAA ≈ 0.2 has been measured in the range 5 ≤ pT ≤ 20 GeV/c in central Au+Au collisions at √ sNN = 200 GeV for π0 [1] and surprisingly for single-electrons from the decay of heavy quarks [2]. Both these results have been confirmed at the LHC in central Pb+Pb collisions at √ sNN = 2.76 TeV [3, 4]. Interestingly, in the pT range from 5–20 GeV/c the LHC results nearly overlap the RHIC results for π0 [5]. Thus, due to the flatter pT spectrum, the energy loss in the medium at LHC must be larger than at RHIC in this pT range. Another issue is whether the (mini) jets from hard-scattering influence the charged particle multiplicity dNch/dη in A+A collisions. This author has long maintained that this is not possible [6], which is nicely shown by new data from RHIC at √ sNN = 7 GeV and from LHC [7] at 2.76 TeV. Also, new at the LHC are the beautiful measurements of the fractional transverse momentum imbalance AJ of di-jets [8, 9] at √ sNN = 2.76 TeV. When corrected [10] for the large fractional imbalance in p-p collisions with the same cuts required to obtain a clean jet sample in Pb+Pb, the relative fractional jet imbalance in Pb+Pb/p-p for ∼ 200 GeV jets becomes ≈ 15%, as confirmed by a new CMS measurement [11]. This imbalance is compared to the same quantity derived at RHIC at √ sNN = 200 GeV from two-particle correlations of fragments from di-jets, using a trigger π0 with pT ≈ 10 GeV/c. The deduced [10] di-jet fractional imbalance in this lower pT range and c.m. energy is much larger, ≈ 45%. Among other lessons learned from RHIC is the need for p-p and p-A (or d-A) comparison data at the same √ sNN in the same detector; and how the heavy-ion results may influence the search for the Higgs particle in p-p collisions at the LHC.
From Law to Content in the New Media Marketplace

For most of our history, instrumental legal materials - from criminal complaints, to briefs, to judicial opinions - were largely hidden from public view. In recent years, these materials have become far more widely available. While the first moves towards accessibility started with Westlaw and Lexis, the development of new media technology accelerated this trend. In this new media marketplace, legal materials - typically obtained free, unencumbered by copyright - provide saleable content. Thus, millions of people bought, and freely downloaded, Kenneth Starr's "indictment" of the President. News sites routinely provide links to judicial opinions and high profile indictments. Networks are dedicated to extended coverage of trials and legislative debates. And sites like The Smoking Gun offer web surfers the chance to view quirky court documents culled from courthouses across the nation. In her book, The Starr Report Disrobed, Fedwa Malti Douglas conducts a textual analysis of the Starr Report. This essay reviews Douglas' book and argues that her project, the deconstruction of a legal text as if it were literature, is entirely natural in this new legal environment. First, authors (such as judges) now take advantage of their more visible pulpit to produce opinions designed to entertain. Second, even when authors deny that they intend to produce entertainment, readers may question authors' true instrumental purposes. For example, many wondered whether the vast amount of sex in the Starr Report was designed to build a strong case or to titillate and excite a large audience. Finally, this essay suggests that as the line between law and entertainment blurs, the ability of lawyers and legal institutions to effect change (or maintain order) may be compromised.
Patient perspectives on the efficacy and ergonomics of rechargeable spinal cord stimulators.

Objectives: Rechargeable spinal cord stimulation (RSCS) systems have been advocated as a way to reduce replacement surgeries, overall costs, and the morbidity of therapy. However, little data exist as to patients' experiences with these devices, which require more care and maintenance than prior primary cell systems. We analyzed patient experiences with RSCS. Methods: Thirty-five patients with implanted RSCS systems completed a survey regarding their use of the system, their experiences with recharging, and their perspectives on the device. Results: Patients reported recharging an average of 5.2 times per month for 2.3 hours each time. Overall, 23.3% of recharging attempts were problematic. There was great variability in the length, frequency, and ease of recharging RSCS systems. These factors determined the patients' level of satisfaction. Conclusions: RSCS systems benefit most patients. However, in some patients, the lifestyle costs of recharging may not make RSCS an appropriate means of pain management. Several areas of improvement exist for the design of future devices.
Identifying class size effects in developing countries : evidence from rural schools in Bolivia

Although class size has attracted great interest as a policy instrument, inferences on its effects are controversial. Recent work highlights a particular way to consider the endogeneity issues that affect this variable: class size is often correlated with enrollment, which may in turn be related to socioeconomic status. In Bolivia, the author shows, these correlations are significant. Building from institutional arrangements that determine pupil-teacher ratios in rural areas, the author implements two research designs to deal with this issue. The first uses a teacher allocation pattern as an instrumental variable; the second relies on variation from remote schools with a single class per grade. Both suggest that class size has a negative effect on test scores.
Prenatal Screening for Neural Tube Defects

Despite improvements in management,1 open spina bifida (OSB) remains severely handicapping, associated in almost all patients with paraplegia, impaired bladder, and bowel control, and, in 25%, with IQs of less than 80 (calculated from McLone et al2). Social isolation and diminished self-esteem are observed more frequently in adolescents with OSB than in healthy control subjects.3 The divorce rate among parents of affected children can be high.4 On the order of $70,000 is spent in the lifetime care of a person with OSB, and another $12,000 is lost through diminished productivity.5 With an incidence of approximately one in 2,000 live births in the United States in 1980,6 OSB is one of the most common of all serious congenital malformations.
It Pays to Be Green: A Hedonic Stock Price Model for Environmentally Friendly Large U.S. Firms

This study attempts to estimate the non-market value of the environmental performance of a firm using a stock price model derived from Rosen’s hedonic price theory. Two different stock market models are developed to estimate the model, a basic firm’s stock market model and a modified Capital Assets Pricing Model (CAPM). The explanatory variables include risk factors, non risk stock characteristics, and corporate environmental policy, conduct and performance. This study uses Newsweek’s 2009 Green Ranking scores. The results show that risk factors, non-risk stock characteristics, and environmental scores variables are statistically significant in affecting stock price and equity return. The willingness to pay (WTP) are 3¢, 5¢, and 18¢, respectively for the green policy and performance score (GPPS), the reputation survey score (RSS), and the green score (GS). The four scores increase return on equity as much as 0.06%, 0.38%, 0.40%, and 2.06% respectively. A one point improvement in the three environmental scores is associated with an increase in an average firm’s value (market capitalization) of $17,840,820, $29,043,195, and $99,576,670 respectively.
Jointly hyponormal pairs of commuting subnormal operators need not be jointly subnormal

We construct three different families of commuting pairs of subnormal operators, jointly hyponormal but not admitting commuting normal extensions. Each such family can be used to answer in the negative a 1988 conjecture of R. Curto, P. Muhly and J. Xia. We also obtain a sufficient condition under which joint hyponormality does imply joint subnormality.
On non-uniqueness in rational expectations models: An attempt at perspective

Abstract Many macroeconomic models involving rational expectations give rise to an infinity of solution paths, even when the models are linear in all variables. Some writers have suggested that this non-uniqueness constitutes a serious weakness for the rational expectations hypothesis. One purpose of the present paper is to argue that the non-uniqueness in question is not properly attributable to the rationality hypothesis but, instead, is a general feature of dynamic models involving expectations. It is also argued that there typically exists in a very wide class of linear rational expectations models, a single solution that excludes ‘bubble’ or ‘bootstrap’ effects — one that occur only because they are arbitrarily expected to occur. A systematic procedure for obtaining solutions free from such effects is introduced and discussed. In addition, this procedure is used to interpret and reconsider several prominent examples with solution multiplicities, including ones developed by Fischer Black and John B. Taylor.
Growth spillover effects and regional development patterns : the case of Chinese provinces

This paper discusses regional development patterns in China, and examines effective ways of using development aid to attain regional balanced growth through optimizing growth spillover effects. Based on provincial panel data from 1978 to 99, the paper constructs an indicator “neighbor performance” to measure the geographic spillover effects of aggregate growth from and to different provinces according to their relative richness and geographic position. Analysis of a Solow-type growth model suggests that positive spillover effects dominate negative shadow effects at the national level as well as the regional level; and some coastal provinces provide growth pull and growth push forces for their neighbors and serve as locomotives. The results show that the rapid take-off of the coastal provinces has the largest spillover effects on the entire Chinese economy, but at the expense of a widening regional gap. A policy of encouraging the growth of the non-coastal regional hubs would have strong forward and backward linkages with the inland/western regions and thus reduce the regional development gap without sacrificing much aggregate growth. The paper offers support for the policy of developing inland hubs, and argues that directing development aid to Hubei and Sichuan would optimize the growth spillover impacts on inland regions.
Resettable public-key encryption: how to encrypt on a virtual machine

Typical security models used for proving security of deployed cryptographic primitives do not allow adversaries to rewind or reset honest parties to an earlier state. Thus, it is common to see cryptographic protocols rely on the assumption that fresh random numbers can be continually generated. In this paper, we argue that because of the growing popularity of virtual machines and, specifically, their state snapshot and revert features, the security of cryptographic protocols proven under these assumptions is called into question. We focus on public-key encryption security in a setting where resetting is possible and random numbers might be reused. We show that existing schemes and security models are insufficient in this setting. We then provide new formal security models and show that making a simple and efficient modification to any existing PKE scheme gives us security under our new models.
A high precision reflectometer for the study of optical properties of materials in the submillimeter

A high precision reflectometer has been developed to measure the reflectivity (R) of various metals in the submillimeter frequency regime of the spectrum from 20 cm-1 - 85 cm-1. A high-purity (p ?.. 40K Ohm-cm) single crystal silicon etalon was designed and used as the reflection standard. Optical properties of the silicon were characterized using a submillimeter ellipsometer specifically designed for materials characterization at these frequencies. This enabled the reflectivity of the silicon to be calculated to a relatively high degree and thus achieve a final measurement precision for R of - 0.1%.
The Synergy of Gamma-Ray Burst Detectors In The Glast Era

Simultaneous observations by the large number of gamma‐ray burst detectors operating in the GLAST era will provide the spectra, lightcurves and locations necessary for studying burst physics and testing the putative relations between intrinsic burst properties. The detectors' energy bands and the accumulation timescale of their trigger system affect their sensitivity to hard vs. soft and long vs. short bursts. Coordination of the Swift and GLAST observing plans consistent with Swift's other science objectives could increase the detection rate of GLAST bursts with redshifts.
Fast Phylogeny Reconstruction Through Learning of Ancestral Sequences

Given natural limitations on the length DNA sequences, designing phylogenetic reconstruction methods which are reliable under limited information is a crucial endeavor. There have been two approaches to this problem: reconstructing partial but reliable information about the tree (Mossel in IEEE Comput. Biol. Bioinform. 4:108–116, 2007; Daskalakis et al. in SIAM J. Discrete Math. 25:872–893, 2011; Daskalakis et al. in Proc. of RECOMB 2006, pp. 281–295, 2006; Gronau et al. in Proc. of the 19th Annual SODA 2008, pp. 379–388, 2008), and reaching “deeper” in the tree through reconstruction of ancestral sequences. In the latter category, Daskalakis et al. (Proc. of the 38th Annual STOC, pp. 159–168, 2006) settled an important conjecture of M. Steel (My favourite conjecture. Preprint, 2001), showing that, under the CFN model of evolution, all trees on n leaves with edge lengths bounded by the Ising model phase transition can be recovered with high probability from genomes of length O(logn) with a polynomial time algorithm. Their methods had a running time of O(n 10). Here we enhance our methods from Daskalakis et al. (Proc. of RECOMB 2006, pp. 281–295, 2006) with the learning of ancestral sequences and provide an algorithm for reconstructing a sub-forest of the tree which is reliable given available data, without requiring a-priori known bounds on the edge lengths of the tree. Our methods are based on an intuitive minimum spanning tree approach and run in O(n 3) time. For the case of full reconstruction of trees with edges under the phase transition, we maintain the same asymptotic sequence length requirements as in Daskalakis et al. (Proc. of the 38th Annual STOC, pp. 159–168, 2006), despite the considerably faster running time.
Wheelchair Analysis — A CAD/CAM Application

Abstract Computers have not been effectively utilized in rehabilitation engineering for the design of artificial limbs, wheelchairs or other supporting devices. Advances in computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology offer the opportunity for significant improvements in health care delivery. Three software programs are evaluated for health care applications. These programs are part of the software released under a NASA sponsored joint industry/government effort denoted Integrated Programs for Aerospace-Vehicle Design (IPAD) Project for the advancement of CAD/CAM technology. included are: three dimensional graphics, structural analysis and data base management and manipulation. This paper describes a spin off application in rehabilitation engineering.
Dense coulomb plasmas: Quantum statistics and ordering

The low temperature equilibrium and transport properties of dense liquid metallic phases of hydrogen and deuterium are examined. Both systems can be regarded as dense Coulomb plasmas, but are considered in temperature ranges where the statistical differences are strikingly evident.
Clockwise rotation and implications for northward drift of the western Transverse Ranges from paleomagnetism of the Piuma Member, Sespe Formation, near Malibu, California

[1] New paleomagnetic results from mid-Tertiary sedimentary beds in the Santa Monica Mountains reinforce the evidence for large-scale rotation of the western Transverse Ranges, and anisotropy measurements indicate that compaction-induced inclination flattening may resolve a long-standing controversy regarding the original paleolatitude of the rotated block. Previously published paleomagnetic data indicate that post-Oligocene rotation amounts to 70°–110° clockwise, affecting the Channel Islands, Santa Monica Mountains, and Santa Ynez Mountains. The Sespe Formation near Malibu consists of a lower member dominated by nonmarine sandstone and conglomerate and an upper section, the Piuma Member, which consists of gray-red sandstone and mudstone interbedded with minor tuff and limestone beds. The Piuma Member has a paleomagnetic pole at 36.6°N, 326.7°E (A95min = 5.0°, A95max = 9.6°), obtained by thermal demagnetization of 34 oriented cores from Oligocene and early Miocene beds. After correcting for plunge of the geologic structure, the data are consistent with significant clockwise rotation (77° ± 7°) of the region relative to stable North America. Rotation of the western Transverse Ranges is generally viewed as a consequence of Pacific–North American plate interactions after 28 Ma, when east–west subduction gave way to northwest transform motion in southern California. Inclinations from the Piuma study indicate a paleolatitude anomaly of 11° ± 7° and are consistent with a mean northward drift that exceeds generally accepted San Andreas fault displacement by a factor of 3. However, sedimentary inclination error may accentuate the anomaly. Anisotropy of isothermal remanent magnetization indicates inclination flattening of approximately 8°, and correction for the effect reduces the paleolatitude anomaly to 5.3° ± 5.8°. Compaction may explain the inclination flattening in these sedimentary rocks, but the process does not adequately explain lower-than-expected inclinations found in previous studies of Miocene volcanic rocks of the western Transverse Ranges.
On the Cohen-Macaulay property of multiplicative invariants

We investigate the Cohen-Macaulay property for rings of invariants under multiplicative actions of a finite group g. By definition, these are g-actions on Laurent polynomial algebras k[x ±1 1 ,...,x ±1 n ] that stabilize the multiplicative group consisting of all monomials in the variables x i . For the most part, we concentrate on the case where the base ring k is Z. Our main result states that if g acts non-trivially and the invariant ring Z[x ±1 1 ,..., x ±1 n ] g is Cohen-Macaulay, then the abelianized isotropy groups g ab m of all monomials m are generated by the bireflections in p m and at least one g ab m is non-trivial. As an application, we prove the multiplicative version of Kemper's 3-copies conjecture.
Electromagnetic radiation and in-medium effects

The theory of thermal photon and dilepton emission from a hot and dense hadronic gas, as well as from the Quark-Gluon Plasma, is reviewed in the context of extracting in-medium properties of the matter constituents. In phenomenological applications to ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions we focus on recent photon and dilepton spectra as measured by WA98 and CERES/NA45, respectively, at CERN-SPS energies.
Citizen-centric Governance Indicators : Measuring and Monitoring Governance by Listening to the People and Not the Interest Groups

Governance indicators are now widely used as tools for conducting development dialogue, allocating external assistance, and influencing foreign direct investment. This paper argues that available governance indicators are not suitable for these purposes as they do not conceptualize governance and fail to capture how citizens perceive the governance environment and outcomes in their countries. The paper attempts to fill this void by conceptualizing governance and implementing a uniform and consistent framework for measuring governance quality across countries and over time based on citizens' evaluations. Using data from the World Values Survey (and other sources) we implement this framework into practice and build citizen-centric governance indicators for 120 countries over the period 1994 to 2005.
Cognitive testing in older primary care patients: A cluster-randomized trial

Introduction This study investigated whether neuropsychological testing in primary care (PC) offices altered physician-initiated interventions related to cognitive impairment (CI) or slowed the rate of CI progression.
DReSDeN: Towards a trainable tutorial dialogue manager to support negotiation dialogues for learning and reflection

This paper introduces the DReSDeN tutorial dialogue manager, which adopts a similar Issues Under Negotiation approach to that presented in Larsson [20]. Thus, the information state that is maintained in DReSDeN represents the items that are currently being discussed as well as their inter-relationships. This representation provides a structure for organizing the representation for the interwoven conversational threads [26] out of which the negotiation dialogue is composed. We are developing DReSDeN in the context of the CycleTalk tutorial dialogue system that supports the development of critical thinking and argumentation skills by engaging students in negotiation dialogues. We describe the role of DReSDeN in the CycleTalk tutorial dialogue system, currently under development. We then give a detailed description of DReSDeN’s underlying algorithms and data structures, illustrated with a working example. We conclude with some early work in using machine learning techniques to adapt DReSDeN’s behavior.