cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are wages and productivity in Zimbabwe affected by human capital investment and international trade

To analyze what determines wages and productivity in Zimbabwe, the author analyzes an employer/employee data-set from Zimbabwe's manufacturing sector. The author finds that: * Formal education, training, and experience positively affect wages and productivity positively. * Women are paid roughly 37 percent less than men although they are not measurably less productive. * There is no strong indication of ethnic discrimination among employees, but Europeans are being paid more in larger firms, although they are marginally less productive than workers of African origin. * The wage premium for workers who completed secondary school does not necessarily reflect greater productivity but may indicate a shortage of educated workers. * Workers trained in-house earn more although in-house training does not instantly affect productivity. Training by outside trainers does improve productivity but is not rewarded with higher wages. * Apprentices are paid more than non-apprentices. Perhaps an apprentice diploma serves as a screening device, when hiring. * Temporary workers are more productive than permanent workers, perhaps hoping to get a permanent contract. * Union members earn less than non-union members despite being more productive. Perhaps union members fight more to have skills upgraded than for wage increases. * Larger exporting firms are marginally less productive and pay marginally less than the average firm, but ar more productive than smaller firms (and their wages match productivity). Workers in larger woods and metals are paid less than workers in smaller firms, although they are not less productive. * Exporting firms benefit more than employees do from trade openness and greater productivity. * Foreign-owned firms are more productive than other firms (perhaps because of new technology). * Firms that employ more expatriates tend to pay more. The more expatriates there are in metals firms, the more productive the employees are, perhaps because the expatriates bring knowledge about new technology to the enterprise. * Employees in the metal and textile sectors are paid more than those in the food sector, but employees in metals are less productive than employees from other sectors.
Improved synthesis and characterization of the copper Lyonsite-type compound Cu4−xMo3O12

A novel method involving a molten Ga flux for the synthesis of diffraction quality crystals of the compound Cu{sub 3.82(1)}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12}, a copper molybdate in the Lyonsite (α-Cu{sub 3}Fe{sub 4}(VO{sub 4}){sub 6}) family, has been developed. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data have been collected. Cu{sub 3.82(1)}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} crystallizes in the space group P2{sub 1}2{sub 1}2{sub 1} with cell dimensions of a=4.9972(1) A, b=11.0259(3) A, and c=17.4912(5) A. Refinement of the resulting structure has enabled modeling of disorder in the channels of the structure and has indicated the localization of copper vacancies to these channel positions. Thermopower measurements indicate that Cu{sub 3.82(1)}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} is a rare and interesting example of a cation-deficient n-type material. - Graphical abstract: The unit cell of Cu{sub 3.82(1)}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3} with displacement ellipsoids drawn at the 75% probability level. Cu is green, Mo is blue, O is red. Highlights: ► A repeatable method for the synthesis Cu{sub 3.82(1)}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} has been developed. ► Single crystals were formed from a polycrystalline sample through the use of a gallium flux. ► Thermopower measurements of Cu{sub 3.82(1)}Mo{sub 3}O{sub 12} show n-type behavior.
Energy efficient multi-hop communication using partial network coding with cooperation

In this paper we present a decentralized, energy efficient strategy called partial network coding with cooperation (PNC-COOP) for multi-hop wireless communication. It is a cross-layer design that combines opportunistic network coding and decode-and-forward cooperative diversity. By applying the proposed technique to the nodes in the network based on the opportunity provided, the saving of transmitted energy, especially at intermediate nodes, can be considerable. In particular, this approach can be proven to be very useful in networks whose nodes are energy-limited.
Delayed-choice quantum cryptography

Delayed-choice quantum cryptography is a novel protocol, incorporating an optical storage system, which achieves substantially higher effective data rates for quantum key distribution.
An efficient asymmetric synthesis of L-α,ω-diaminoalkanoic acids

Abstract Efficient asymmetric syntheses of L -2,7-diaminoheptanoic acid and L -2,8-diaminooctanoic acid are described.
Scale-Free Overlay Topologies with Hard Cutoffs for Unstructured Peer-to-Peer Networks

In unstructured peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, the overlay topology (or connectivity graph) among peers is a crucial component in addition to the peer/data organization and search. Topological characteristics have profound impact on the efficiency of search on such unstructured P2P networks as well as other networks. A key limitation of scale- free (power-law) topologies is the high load (i.e. high degree) on very few number of hub nodes. In a typical unstructured P2P network, peers are not willing to maintain high degrees/loads as they may not want to store large number of entries for construction of the overlay topology. So, to achieve fairness and practicality among all peers, hard cutoffs on the number of entries are imposed by the individual peers, which limits scale-freeness of the overall topology. Thus, it is expected that efficiency of the flooding search reduces as the size of the hard cutoff does. We investigate construction of scale-free topologies with hard cutoffs and effect of these hard cutoffs on the search efficiency.
Cache placement in sensor networks under update cost constraint

In this paper, we address an optimization problem that arises in context of cache placement in sensor networks. In particular, we consider the cache placement problem where the goal is to determine a set of nodes in the network to cache/store the given data item, such that the overall communication cost incurred in accessing the item is minimized, under the constraint that the total communication cost in updating the selected caches is less than a given constant. In our network model, there is a single server (containing the original copy of the data item) and multiple client nodes (that wish to access the data item). For various settings of the problem, we design optimal, near-optimal, heuristic-based, and distributed algorithms, and evaluate their performance through simulations on randomly generated sensor networks.
A maskless flip-chip solder bumping technique

Conventional flip-chip solder bumping, utilizing masks, evaporation, and plating equipment, is ideally suited for the mass production of components. Large batches of wafers can be deposited with multilayer solder at a single time. However, this process can be excessively costly, time consuming, and unnecessary for small, specialized applications. A process has been developed to solder bump individual pads, one at a time, without the need for expensive masks, evaporation chambers, or die layout information. This information, critical for solder bump placement, is typically not available to sources outside the design house. Using a standard ball wirebonder and specialized bonding wire, solder bumps can be formed on both Al and Au bond pads of integrated circuits (IC) using thermosonic bonding in a forming gas (hydrogen-argon) atmosphere. The bonding effectively wets the solder bump to the pad without the use of special intermetallic adhesion layers. This process can cut prototyping time and cost by eliminating the need for elaborate equipment and complex solder compositions without sacrificing electrical or thermal performance. >
Temperature dependence of charge transfer inefficiency in Chandra x-ray CCDs

Soon after launch, the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS), one of the focal plane instruments on the Chandra X-ray Observatory, suffered radiation damage from exposure to soft protons during passages through the Earth's radiation belts. The primary effect of the damage was to increase the charge transfer inefficiency (CTI) of the eight front illuminated CCDs by more than two orders of magnitude. The ACIS instrument team is continuing to study the properties of the damage with an emphasis on developing techniques to mitigate CTI and spectral resolution degradation. We present the initial temperature dependence of ACIS CTI from -120 to -60 degrees Celsius and the current temperature dependence after more than six years of continuing slow radiation damage. We use the change of shape of the temperature dependence to speculate on the nature of the damaging particles.
The Gaussian Multiple Access Wire-Tap Channel with Collective Secrecy Constraints

We consider the Gaussian multiple access wire-tap channel (GMAC-WT). In this scenario, multiple users communicate with an intended receiver in the presence of an intelligent and informed wire-tapper who receives a degraded version of the signal at the receiver. We define a suitable security measure for this multi-access environment. We derive an outer bound for the rate region such that secrecy to some pre-determined degree can be maintained. We also find, using Gaussian codebooks, an achievable such secrecy region. Gaussian codewords are shown to achieve the sum capacity outer bound, and the achievable region coincides with the outer bound for Gaussian codewords, giving the capacity region when inputs are constrained to be Gaussian. We present numerical results showing the new rate region and compare it with that of the Gaussian multiple-access channel (GMAC) with no secrecy constraints
A Sapphire Resonator for Microwave Characterization of Superconducting Thin Films

A simple technique has been developed for the high frequency characterization of superconducting thin films. A microwave resonator is formed by sandwiching a high purity sapphire rod between a pair of superconducting thin films. A number of different sapphire resonators in the C-band and Ka-band have been designed, fabricated and tested. These resonators can be used to measure the surface resistance of a pair of thin films as a function of temperature, RF current density and RF magnetic field. This technique is especially useful since it has: no sample preparation; no calibration; great sensitivity; great accuracy; great repeatability; broad dynamic range; high internal power levels with only moderate input power levels; and broad temperature coverage (2 to over 150 K). For the TE011 resonant mode, a theoretical analysis of the EM field solutions allows for the surface resistance, the RF current density and the RF magnetic field to be calculated from the measured resonant frequency, Q-value and dissipated power. Only the physical dimensions of the sapphire rod are needed for this calculation and hence no calibration is required. In a Ka-band resonator, a round robin experiment using four HTS thin films was performed to deconvolute the films' surface resistance and also to provide a statistical analysis of the method's reproducibility. The standard error for a single surface resistance measurement was better than 2%. In addition, the surface resistance of a Nb thin film was measured as a verification of the technique.
Synthesis of Marine Polycyclic Polyethers via Endo-Selective Epoxide-Opening Cascades

The proposed biosynthetic pathways to ladder polyethers of polyketide origin and oxasqualenoids of terpenoid origin share a dramatic epoxide-opening cascade as a key step. Polycyclic structures generated in these biosynthetic pathways display biological effects ranging from potentially therapeutic properties to extreme lethality. Much of the structural complexity of ladder polyether and oxasqualenoid natural products can be traced to these hypothesized cascades. In this review we summarize how such epoxide-opening cascade reactions have been used in the synthesis of ladder polyethers and oxasqualenoid natural products.
Natural convection in enclosures

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the complex nature of the natural convection phenomena in enclosures. It discusses the two basic configurations of natural convection— that is, a rectangular cavity and a horizontal circular cylinder. In rectangular cavities, consideration is given to the two-dimensional convective motion generated by the buoyancy force on the fluid in a rectangle and to the associated heat transfer. The two long sides are vertical boundaries held at different temperatures and the short sides can either be heat conducting or insulated. Particular attention is given to the different flow regimes that can occur and the heat transfer across the fluid space between the two plane parallel vertical boundaries. Although heat transfer by radiation may not be negligible it is independent of the other types of heat transfer and can be fairly accurately calculated separately. To formulate the boundary value problem that describes this phenomena it is assumed that: (a) the motion is two-dimensional and steady, (b) the fluid is incompressible and frictional heating is negligible, and (c) the difference between the hot wall and cold wall temperatures is small relative to the absolute temperatures of the cold wall. In horizontal circular cylinder, consideration is given to the large Rayleigh number flow with the Prandtl number large and the Grashof number of unit order of the magnitude.
FKBP51 reciprocally regulates GRα and PPARγ activation via the Akt-P38 pathway

FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51) is a negative regulator of glucocorticoid receptor-α (GRα), although the mechanism is unknown. We show here that FKBP51 is also a chaperone to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), which is essential for activity, and uncover the mechanism underlying this differential regulation. In COS-7 cells, FKBP51 overexpression reduced GRα activity at a glucocorticoid response element-luciferase reporter, while increasing PPARγ activity at a peroxisome proliferator response element reporter. Conversely, FKBP51-deficient (knockout) (51KO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) showed elevated GRα but reduced PPARγ activities compared with those in wild-type MEFs. Phosphorylation is known to exert a similar pattern of reciprocal modulation of GRα and PPARγ. Knockdown of FKBP51 in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes increased phosphorylation of PPARγ at serine 112, a phospho-residue that inhibits activity. In 51KO cells, elevated phosphorylation of GRα at serines 220 and 234, phospho-residues that promote activity, was observed. Because FKBP51 is an essential chaperone to the Akt-specific phosphatase PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase, Akt signaling was investigated. Elevated Akt activation and increased activation of p38 kinase, a downstream target of Akt that phosphorylates GRα and PPARγ, were seen in 51KO MEFs, causing activation and inhibition, respectively. Inactivation of p38 with PD169316 reversed the effects of FKBP51 deficiency on GRα and PPARγ activities and reduced PPARγ phosphorylation. Last, loss of FKBP51 caused a shift of PPARγ from cytoplasm to nucleus, as previously shown for GRα. A model is proposed in which FKBP51 loss reciprocally regulates GRα and PPARγ via 2 complementary mechanisms: activation of Akt-p38-mediated phosphorylation and redistribution of the receptors to the nucleus for direct targeting by p38.
Ignition Dynamics of a Laminar Diffusion Flame in the Field of a Vortex Embedded in a Shear Flow

The role of streamwise-spanwise vorticity interactions that occur in turbulent shear flows on flame/vortex interactions is examined by means of asymptotic analysis and numerical simulation in the limit of small Mach number. An idealized model is employed to describe the interaction process. The model consists of a one-step, irreversible Arrhenius reaction between initially unmixed species occupying adjacent half-planes which are then allowed to mix and react in the presence of a streamwise vortex embedded in a shear flow. It is found that the interaction of the streamwise vortex with shear gives rise to small-scale velocity oscillations which increase in magnitude with shear strength. These oscillations give rise to regions of strong temperature gradients via viscous heating, which can lead to multiple ignition points and substantially decrease ignition times. The evolution in time of the temperature and mass-fraction fields is followed, and emphasis is placed on the ignition time and structure as a function of vortex and shear strength.
HIV/AIDS, conflict and security in Africa: rethinking relationships

The effect of conflict on HIV transmission and regional and global security has been the subject of much recent discussion and debate. Many long held assumptions regarding these relationships are being reconsidered. Conflict has long been assumed to contribute significantly to the spread of HIV infection. However, new research is casting doubt on this assumption. Studies from Africa suggest that conflict does not necessarily predispose to HIV transmission and indeed, there is evidence to suggest that recovery in the "post-conflict" state is potentially dangerous from the standpoint of HIV transmission. As well, refugee populations have been previously considered as highly infected vectors of HIV transmission. But in light of new investigation this belief is also being reconsidered. There has additionally been concern that high rates of HIV infection among many of the militaries of sub-Saharan Africa poses a threat to regional security. However, data is lacking on both dramatically elevated prevalence amongst soldiers and a possible negative effect on regional security. Nevertheless, HIV/AIDS remain a serious threat to population health and economic well being in this region. These issues are of vital importance for HIV programming and health sector development in conflict and "post-conflict" societies and will constitute formidable challenges to the international community. Further research is required to better inform the discussion of HIV, conflict, and security in sub-Saharan Africa.
Effects of Unconventional Monetary Policy on Financial Institutions

Monetary policy affects the real economy in part through its effects on financial institutions. High-frequency event studies show that the introduction of unconventional monetary policy in the winter of 2008–09 had a strong, beneficial impact on banks and, especially, on life insurance companies. I interpret the positive effects on life insurers as evidence that expansionary policy helped to recapitalize the sector by raising the value of legacy assets. Expansionary policy had small positive or neutral effects on banks and life insurers during the period 2010–13. The interaction of low nominal interest rates and administrative costs forced money market funds to waive fees, producing a possible incentive to reach for yield to reduce waivers. I show that money market funds with higher costs did reach for higher returns in 2009–11, but not thereafter. Some private defined-benefit pension funds increased their risk taking beginning in 2009, but again such behavior largely dissipated by 2012. In sum, unconventional monetary policy helped to stabilize some sectors and provoked modest additional risk taking in others. I do not find evidence that riskiness of the financial institutions studied fomented a trade-off between expansionary policy and financial stability at the end of 2013.
On supercomputing with systolic/wavefront array processors

In many scientific and signal processing applications, there are increasing demands for large-volume and/or high-speed computations which call for not only high-speed computing hardware, but also for novel approaches in computer architecture and software techniques in future supercomputers. Tremendous progress has been made on several promising parallel architectures for scientific computations, including a variety of digital filters, fast Fourier transform (FFT) processors, data-flow processors, systolic arrays, and wavefront arrays. This paper describes these computing networks in terms of signal-flow graphs (SFG) or data-flow graphs (DFG), and proposes a methodology of converting SFG computing networks into synchronous systolic arrays or data-driven wavefront arrays. Both one- and two-dimensional arrays are discussed theoretically, as well as with illustrative examples. A wavefront-oriented programming language, which describes the (parallel) data flow in systolic/wavefront-type arrays, is presented. The structural property of parallel recursive algorithms points to the feasibility of a Hierarchical Iterative Flow-Graph Design (HIFD) of VLSI Array Processors. The proposed array processor architectures, we believe, will have significant impact on the development of future supercomputers.
How to Refute a Random CSP

Let P be a k-ary predicate over a finite alphabet. Consider a random CSP(P) instance I over n variables with m constraints. When m >> n the instance will be unsatisfiable with high probability and we want to find a certificate of unsatisfiability. When P is the 3-ary OR predicate, this is the well-studied problem of refuting random 3-SAT formulas and an efficient algorithm is known only when m >> n3/2. Understanding the density required for refutation of other predicates is important in cryptography, proof complexity, and learning theory. Previously, it was known that for a k-ary predicate, having m >> n[k/2] constraints suffices for refutation. We give a criterion for predicates that often yields efficient refutation algorithms at much lower densities. Specifically, if P fails to support a t-wise uniform distribution, then there is an efficient algorithm that refutes random CSP(P) instances whp when m >> nt/2. Indeed, our algorithm will "somewhat strongly" refute the instance I, certifying Opt(I) a#x2264; 1 -- a#x03A9;k(1). If t = k then we get the strongest possible refutation, certifying Opt(I) a#x2264; E[P] + o(1). This last result is new even for random k-SAT. Prior work on SDP hierarchies has given some evidence that efficient refutation of random CSP(P) may be impossible when m << nt=2, thus there is an indication that our algorithm's dependence on m is optimal for every P, at least in the context of SDP hierarchies. As an application of our result, we falsify assumptions used to show Hardness-of-learning in recent work of Daniely, Linial, and Shalev-Shwartz.
XMM-Newton discovery of transient X-ray pulsar in NGC 1313

We report on the discovery and analysis of the transient X-ray pulsar XMMU J031747.5−663010 detected in the 2004 November 23 XMM‐Newton observation of the spiral galaxy NGC 1313. The X-ray source exhibits pulsations with a period P ∼ 765.6 s and a nearly sinusoidal pulse shape and pulsed fraction ∼38 per cent in the 0.3‐7 keV energy range. The X-ray spectrum of XMMU J031747.5−663010 is hard and well fitted with an absorbed simple power law of photon index � ∼ 1.5 in the 0.3‐7 keV energy band. The X-ray properties of the source and the absence of an optical/ultraviolet counterpart brighter than 20 mag allow us to identify XMMU J031747.5−663010 as an accreting X-ray pulsar located in NGC 1313. The estimated absorbed 0.3‐7 keV luminosity of the source LX ∼ 1.6 × 10 39 erg s −1 , makes it one of the brightest X-ray pulsars known. Based on the relatively long pulse period and transient behaviour of the source, we classify it as a Be binary X-ray pulsar candidate. XMMU J031747.5−663010 is the second X-ray pulsar detected outside the local group, after transient 18 s pulsating source CXOU J073709.1+653544 discovered in the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 2403.
Blast Phenomena from a Nuclear Burst

Discussion of air blast and ground shock free field phenomena associated with nuclear burst, in order to aid engineers in design of blast resistant structures; calculation of surface burst pressure, transient pressure, ambient atmospheric pressure, and dynamic pressure; distance of peak pressure is proportional to cube root of weapon yield; air blast phenomena can be observed to accuracy of plus or minus 25%.
Oxybutynin in the Treatment of Early Detrusor Instability After Transurethral Resection of the Prostate

Objective To evaluate the symptomatic and urodynamic effects of oxybutynin in the control of irritative micturitional symptoms during the first week after transurethral resection of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Patients and methods Fifty-three patients (median age 67 years, interquartile range 62–72) were included prospectively in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Pre-operatively, uroflowmetry and cystometrography (CMG) were performed, and the post-void residual volume (PVR) measured; symptoms were rated according to the Boyarski score. CMG was repeated on the first post-operative day and medication was started on the third day. Before withdrawing the catheter on the fifth day, CMG was repeated. Three days later, symptoms were evaluated according to the Boyarski score and uroflowmetry and the estimate of PVR reassessed. Results In comparison with placebo, oxybutynin significantly decreased frequency, urgency and detrusor pressure at first sensation of filling. However, oxybutynin did not lower the rate of pre-operative detrusor instability and exerted no effect on the maximal capacity of the bladder and corresponding detrusor pressure. Dryness of mouth was reported in 13% and 65% of patients receiving placebo and oxybutynin, respectively. Conclusion Oxybutynin alleviates early irritative symptoms after transurethral resection of BPH, without consistently modifying bladder urodynamics.
Image-based modeling of objects and human faces

ABSTRACT In this paper, I will provide an overview of our project on 3D object and face modeling from images taken by a free-movingcamera. We strive to advance the state of the art in 3D computer vision, and develop sexible and robust techniques for ordinaryuserstogain3Dexperiencefromasetofcasuallycollected2Dimages. ApplicationsincludeproductadvertisementontheWeb,virtual conference, and interactive games. We briesy cover the following topics:Camera calibration: determineacameraOsinternalparametersbyjustobservingaplanarpatternunderunknownorientations.Stereo rectiÞcation: transform a pair of stereo images based on a geometric meaningful criterion such that the epipolar linesof the rectiÞed images are aligned. This will considerably simplify the stereo matching process.Image matching: match points and curves across images within a probabilistic relaxation framework. We can obtain a muchricher description of a scene using both points and curves.3D photo editing: Virtual or real objects can be inserted in the real images, while preserving the correct 3D information of thescene structure.Object modeling: A complete 3D model of an object is built by taking a number of snapshots around the object.Face modeling: WithÞvemouseclicks,a3Dfacemodelisbuiltinafewminutes,andthemodelcanbeanimatedimmediately.We have successfully built 3D face models for about one hundred people.Demos on the last three topics will be shown during the conference. Most of the above-described topics are joint work withZicheng Liu, Charles Loop, andYing Shan among other colleagues.Keywords: Image-based modeling, image-based rendering, computer vision, 3D vision, face modeling, face animation.
A New Constitutive Model for Several Metals Under Arbitrary Temperature and Loading Conditions

A new theory of viscoplasticity is described that models yielding as a random phenomenon. A circle on the deviatoric stress plane represents the intensity of yielding with the radius equal to the random yielding intensity is quantified by expected values defined in the utilize a yield surface; yielding intensity is quantified by expected values defined in the deviatoric stress plane. The circle in the deviatoric stress plane with a random radius is deviatoric stress plane. The circle in the deviatoric stress plane with a random radius is a simple way to model multi-axial loading. Approximations for stress, strain energy density, and plastic strain energy density are used to improve the computational efficiency of parameter selection and to quantify the flow criterion. The exact state equations are derived, which can be manipulated to describe a wide variety of loading conditions for a broad temperature range. Reversed loading, stress relaxation, creep, and nonproportional loading are all natural properties of the model, which require little additional elaboration. Material properties were specified for five metals, three at room temperature and two over a wide temperature range.
Phase diagrams of systems with two coupled order parameters

Within the framework of an exactly solvable model, which takes into account only the interaction of fluctuating modes with equal and opposite momenta, we study phase diagrams in systems with coupled scalar order parameters. We show that, in agreement with renormalization group theory, the fluctuation interaction can split the continuous order–disorder transition locus into two phase transitions of first order, replacing a bicritical point by a triple point and two tricritical points. The effect disappears when the fluctuation interaction is reduced.
Supersymmetry breaking and the cosmological constant

I review three attempts to explain the small value of the cosmological constant, and their connection to supersymmetry breaking. They are The String Landscape, Supersymmetric Large Extra Dimensions (SLED), and the Holographic Space–time Formalism invented by Fischler and myself.
The CLEM Model: Path Analysis of the Mediating Effects of Attitudes and Motivational Beliefs on the Relationship Between Perceived Learning Environment and Course Performance in an Undergraduate Nonmajor Biology Course

In this study, the following questions were addressed in an undergraduate non-major biology course using a large lecture format: Is there a relationship between students’ perceptions of their learning environment and course performance, and what roles do motivation and attitudes play in mediating that relationship? The purpose of this study was to test a path model describing the mediating effects of motivation and attitudes on learning environments and course performance. The study considered contemporary understanding of teaching and learning, as well as motivation and attitudes, in suggesting a direction for future reform efforts and to guide post-secondary science education instructors and leaders in the design of learning environments for undergraduate non-major biology courses. Among the classroom learning environment variables assessed in this study, personal relevance was the major contributor to predicting attitudes, motivation and course performance. Although the classroom learning environment had a very weak direct effect on course performance, there was a moderate total effect on self-efficacy and intrinsic goal orientation. The classroom learning environment also had a moderate total effect on attitudes toward biology. Attitudes toward biology had a moderate direct effect on self-efficacy. While attitudes toward biology was significantly correlated with course performance, the direct effect was extremely weak and was dropped from the model. However, attitudes toward biology had a moderate indirect effect on course performance due to the mediating effects of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy had a strong direct effect on course performance and therefore seemed to be particularly important. The model tested in this study explained 33 % of the variance in course performance, 56 % of the variance in self-efficacy, 24 % of the variance in attitudes toward biology, and 18 % of the variance in intrinsic goal orientation. To improve course performance, instructors should focus on building self-efficacy among their students and ensure that students find the course personally relevant.
Reconstructing RSA Private Keys from Random Key Bits

We show that an RSA private key with small public exponent can be efficiently recovered given a 0.27 fraction of its bits at random. An important application of this work is to the "cold boot" attacks of Halderman et al. We make new observations about the structure of RSA keys that allow our algorithm to make use of the redundant information in the typical storage format of an RSA private key. Our algorithm itself is elementary and does not make use of the lattice techniques used in other RSA key reconstruction problems. We give an analysis of the running time behavior of our algorithm that matches the threshold phenomenon observed in our experiments.
Epigenetic regulation of high glucose-induced proinflammatory cytokine production in monocytes by curcumin.

Diabetes is a proinflammatory state. We have previously shown increased monocyte proinflammatory cytokines in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. High glucose induces proinflammatory cytokines via epigenetic changes. Curcumin, a polyphenol responsible for the yellow color of the spice turmeric, is known to exert potent anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. Recent studies indicate that it may regulate chromatin remodeling by inhibiting histone acetylation. In this study, we aimed to test the effect of curcumin on histone acetylation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion under high-glucose conditions in human monocytes. Human monocytic (THP-1) cells were cultured in presence of mannitol (osmolar control, mannitol) or normoglycemic (NG, 5.5 mmol/L glucose) or hyperglycemic (HG, 25 mmol/L glucose) conditions in absence or presence of curcumin (1.5–12.5 μM) for 72 h. Cytokine level, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transactivation, histone deacetylases (HDACs) activity, histone acetylases (HATs) activity were measured by western blots, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence staining. HG significantly induced histone acetylation, NF-κB activity and proinflammatory cytokine (interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor α and MCP-1) release from THP-1 cells. Curcumin suppressed NF-κB binding and cytokine release in THP-1 cells. Also, since p300 histone acetyltransferase is a coactivator of NF-κB, we examined its acetylation. Curcumin treatment also significantly reduced HAT activity, level of p300 and acetylated CBP/p300 gene expression, and induced HDAC2 expression by curcumin. These results indicate that curcumin decreases HG-induced cytokine production in monocytes via epigenetic changes involving NF-κB. In conclusion, curcumin supplementation by reducing vascular inflammation may prevent diabetic complications.
The Governance of Migration Policy

Abstract In this paper, I examine high‐income country motives for restricting immigration. Abundant evidence suggests that allowing labor to move from low‐income to high‐income countries would yield substantial gains in global income. Yet, most high‐income countries impose strict limits on labor inflows and set their admission policies unilaterally. Making immigration more attractive would require creating mechanisms that limit the negative impacts of labor inflows on natives. Fiscal distortions create an incentive for receiving countries to screen immigrants according to their perceived economic impact. For high‐skilled immigrants, screening can be based on educational degrees and professional credentials, which are relatively easy to observe. For low‐skilled immigrants, illegal immigration represents an imperfect but increasingly common screening device. For policy‐makers in labor‐importing nations, the modest benefits freer immigration brings may simply not be worth the political hassle. To induce high...
Exact solution of the Landau fixed point via bosonization.

We study, via bosonization, the Landau fixed point for the problem of interacting spinless fermions near the Fermi surface in dimensions higher than one. We rederive the bosonic representation of the Fermi operator and use it to find the general form of the fermion propagator for the Landau fixed point. Using a generalized Bogoliubov transformation we diagonalize exactly the bosonized Hamiltonian for the fixed point and calculate the fermion propagator (and the quasiparticle residue) for isotropic interactions (independently of their strength). We reexamine two well-known problems in this context: the screening of long-range potentials and the Landau damping of gauge fields. We also discuss the origin of the Luttinger fixed point in one dimension in contrast with the Landau fixed point in higher dimensions.
Rotational augmentation of horizontal axis wind turbine blade aerodynamic response

Surface pressure data were acquired using the NREL Unsteady Aerodynamics Experiment, a full-scale horizontal axis wind turbine, which was erected in the NASA Ames 80 ft × 120 ft wind tunnel. Data were collected first for a stationary blade, and then for a rotating blade with the turbine disk at zero yaw. Analyses compared aerodynamic forces and surface pressure distributions under rotating conditions against analogous baseline data acquired from the stationary blade. This comparison allowed rotational modifications to blade aerodynamics to be characterized in detail. Rotating conditions were seen to dramatically amplify aerodynamic forces, and radically alter surface pressure distributions. These and subsequent findings will more fully reveal the structures and interactions responsible for these flow field enhancements, and help establish the basis for formalizing comprehension in physics based models.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
A synthetic approach to nomofungin/communesin B.

A highly stereoselective intramolecular cycloaddition of an indole tethered to an aza-ortho-xylylene intermediate effects the rapid construction of a substantial portion of the ring system of the cytotoxic natural product communesin B. An analogous cycloaddition involving an ortho-quinone methide intermediate provides an adduct that clearly revealed that the structural assignment for nomofungin was in error.
Quantum Memory Hierarchies: Efficient Designs to Match Available Parallelism in Quantum Computing

The assumption of maximum parallelism support for the successful realization of scalable quantum computers has led to homogeneous, "sea-of-qubits" architectures. The resulting architectures overcome the primary challenges of reliability and scalability at the cost of physically unacceptable system area. We find that by exploiting the natural serialization at both the application and the physical microarchitecture level of a quantum computer, we can reduce the area requirement while improving performance. In particular we present a scalable quantum architecture design that employs specialization of the system into memory and computational regions, each individually optimized to match hardware support to the available parallelism. Through careful application and system analysis, we find that our new architecture can yield up to a factor of thirteen savings in area due to specialization. In addition, by providing a memory hierarchy design for quantum computers, we can increase time performance by a factor of eight. This result brings us closer to the realization of a quantum processor that can solve meaningful problems.
Secondary Collisions Revisited: Real-World Crash Data and Relationship to Crash Test Criteria

Objectives: Previous research conducted in the late 1980s suggested that vehicle impacts following an initial barrier collision increase severe occupant injury risk. Now over 25 years old, the data are no longer representative of the currently installed barriers or the present US vehicle fleet. The purpose of this study is to provide a present-day assessment of secondary collisions and to determine if current full-scale barrier crash testing criteria provide an indication of secondary collision risk for real-world barrier crashes. Methods: To characterize secondary collisions, 1,363 (596,331 weighted) real-world barrier midsection impacts selected from 13 years (1997–2009) of in-depth crash data available through the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) / Crashworthiness Data System (CDS) were analyzed. Scene diagram and available scene photographs were used to determine roadside and barrier specific variables unavailable in NASS/CDS. Binary logistic regression models were developed for second event...
On the regulation of geoengineering

New evidence that the climate system may be especially sensitive to the build-up of greenhouse gases and that humans are doing a poor job of controlling their effluent has animated discussions around the possibility of offsetting the human impact on climate through 'geoengineering'. Nearly all assessments of geoengineering have concluded that the option, while ridden with flaws and unknown side effects, is intriguing because of its low cost and the ability for one or a few nations to geoengineer the planet without cooperation from others. I argue that norms to govern deployment of geoengineering systems will be needed soon. The standard instruments for establishing such norms, such as treaties, are unlikely to be effective in constraining geoengineers because the interests of key players diverge and it is relatively easy for countries to avoid incon- venient international commitments and act unilaterally. Instead, efforts to craft new norms 'bottom up' will be more effective. Such an approach, which would change the underlying interests of key countries and thus make them more willing to adopt binding norms in the future, will require active, open research programmes and assessments of geoengineering. Meaningful research may also require actual trial deployment of geo- engineering systems so that norms are informed by relevant experience and command respect through use. Standard methods for international assessment organized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are unlikely to yield useful evaluations of geoengineering options because the most important areas for assessment lie in the improbable, harmful, and unexpected side effects of geoengineering, not the 'consensus science' that IPCC does well. I also suggest that real-world geoengineering will be a lot more complex and expensive than currently thought because simple interventions—such as putting reflective particles in the stratosphere—will be combined with many other costlier interventions to offset nasty side effects.
Predicting technical communication in product development organizations

This work explores prediction of technical communication patterns within product development organizations. Our methodology involves first predicting the patterns of communication and then measuring the actual communications to see if the anticipated linkages are realized. We applied this methodology to a commercial product development project in the electronics industry. In this case study we found that: 81% of all coordination type communication linkages were predicted in advance; occurrences of frequent communications were more accurately predicted than infrequent communications; and two-way communication exchange was most often observed, even where oneway information transfer was predicted. For the management of product development projects, these results imply that certain aspects of organizational design can be planned by anticipating the technical communication linkages required for project execution. Finally, a critical analysis of our methodology suggests improvements for future work. >
Fixed-Effect Estimation of Highly Mobile Production Technologies

We consider fixed-effect estimation of a production function where inputs and outputs vary over time, space, and cross-sectional unit. We exploit variability in the spatial dimension to identify time-varying individual effects, without parametric assumptions on the effects. While estimation is unbiased, asymptotics along the spatial dimension allow estimation of robust standard errors and asymptotic normality of the marginal products. Also, if inference on the estimates of the individual effects is warranted, then spatial asymptotics provide asymptotic normality, while precluding an incidental parameters problem caused by asymptotics along the time or crosssectional dimensions. We apply our results to a production function of bottom-trawler fishing vessels in the flatfish fisheries of the Bering Sea. We find significant spatial variability of output (catch) which we exploit in estimation of a harvesting function. We conclude that vessel individual effects did not change across the period 2002 to 2004. We apply the theory of ranking and selection to determine that individual effects are not statistically significant across vessels.
Performance of photocathode RF gun electron accelerators

In Photo-Injectors (PI) electron guns, electrons are emitted from a photocathode by a short laser pulse and then accelerated by intense RF fields in a resonant cavity. The best known advantage of this technique is the high peak current with a good emittance (high brightness). This is important for short wavelength Free-Electron Lasers and linear colliders. PIs are in operation in many electron accelerator facilities and a large number of new guns are under construction. Some specialized applications have emerged, providing, for example, very high pulse charges. PI have been operated over a wide range of frequencies, from 144 to 3000 MHz (a 17 GHz gun is being developed). An exciting new possibility is the development of superconducting PIs. A significant body of experimental and theoretical work exists by now, indicating the criticality of the accelerator elements that follow the gun for the preservation of the PI's performance as well as possible avenues of improvements in brightness. Considerable research is being done on the laser and photocathode material of the PI, and improvement is expected in this area. >
Learning Gaussian networks

We describe scoring metrics for learning Bayesian networks from a combination of user knowledge and statistical data. Previous work has concentrated on metrics for domains containing only discrete variables, under the assumption that data represents a multinomial sample. In this paper, we extend this work, developing scoring metrics for domains containing only continuous variables under the assumption that continuous data is sampled from a multivariate normal distribution. Our work extends traditional statistical approaches for identifying vanishing regression coefficients in that we identify two important assumptions, called event equivalence and parameter modularity, that when combined allow the construction of prior distributions for multivariate normal parameters from a single prior Bayesian network specified by a user.
Protection against link errors and failures using network coding in overlay networks

We propose a network-coding based scheme to protect multiple bidirectional unicast connections against adversarial errors and failures in a network. The end nodes of the bidirectional connections are connected by a set of shared protection paths that provide the redundancy required for protection. Suppose that ne paths are corrupted by an omniscient, computationally unbounded adversary. Under our proposed protocol, the errors can be corrected at all the end nodes with 4n e protection paths. More generally, if there are n e adversarial errors and n ƒ failures, 4n e + 2n ƒ protection paths are sufficient. The number of protection paths only depends on the number of errors and failures being protected against and is independent of the number of unicast connections.