cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regiospecific oxidation of polycyclic aromatic phenols to quinones by hypervalent iodine reagents

The hypervalent iodine reagents o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) and bis(trifluoro-acetoxy)iodobenzene (BTI) are shown to be general reagents for regio-controlled oxidation of polycyclic aromatic phenols (PAPs) to specific isomers (ortho, para, or remote) of polycyclic aromatic quinones (PAQs). The oxidations of a series of PAPs with IBX take place under mild conditions to furnish the corresponding ortho-PAQs. In contrast, oxidations of the same series of PAPs with BTI exhibit variable regiospecificity, affording para-PAQs where structurally feasible and ortho-PAQs or remote PAQ isomers in other cases. The structures of the specific PAQ isomers formed are predictable on the basis of the inherent regioselectivities of the hypervalent iodine reagents in combination with the structural requirements of the phenol precursors. IBX and BTI are recommended as the preferred reagents for regio-controlled oxidation of PAPs to PAQs.
Asset Management and Affiliated Analysts' Forecasts

The interaction between the various departments of a full-service brokerage firm can have positive effects. An asset management department operates the firm's mutual funds and has a need for high-quality information. Thus, the firm's sell-side analysts in the research department are motivated to gather information about particular securities and to use the asset management department as an additional information source. The outcome can be to raise the quality of sell-side analysts' earnings forecasts. In the study reported here, affiliated analysts' earnings forecasts for a security became significantly more accurate as the fund family's percentage ownership of that security increased. Also, the study found a significant positive relationship between the accuracy of an affiliated analyst before the new investment and the percentage of the company's shares acquired by that fund family. The implication is that fund families make the largest purchases of stocks for which their affiliated analysts provided th...
Prime graphs and exponential composition of species

In this paper, we enumerate prime graphs with respect to the Cartesian multiplication of graphs. We use the unique factorization of a connected graph into the product of prime graphs given by Sabidussi to find explicit formulas for labeled and unlabeled prime graphs. In the case of species, we construct the exponential composition of species based on the arithmetic product of species of Maia and Mendez, and express the species of connected graphs as the exponential composition of the species of prime graphs.
Empirical Evidence on the Impact of Book-Tax Differences on Divergence of Opinion among Investors

ABSTRACT: It is well known that the objectives of financial accounting and tax accounting sometimes conflict, resulting in book-tax differences (BTDs). In this study we test for associations between measures of BTDs and measures of market participants’ uncertainty regarding the information conveyed in financial reports. The measures of market participant uncertainty are: (1) share turnover, (2) analyst forecast dispersion, and (3) stock return variance. We find positive associations between levels and variability of total BTDs and the three measures. After disaggregating BTDs into their permanent and temporary components, we find that both are positively associated with market uncertainty, although the permanent component of BTDs is generally more strongly and consistently associated with measures of uncertainty than is the temporary component. We interpret these results, in part, as indicative of the possible effect of uncertainty contained in BTDs, especially permanent BTDs, on the precision of the info...
National survey of ovarian carcinoma IV: Patterns of care and related survival for older patients

Background. An analysis was conducted by the American College of Surgeons Cancer Commission evaluating the patterns of care of ovarian cancer patients diagnosed in 1983 and 1988. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there was a difference in the care patterns of elderly ovarian cancer patients and its impact on survival. Methods. Data were collected from 25 consecutive patients whose disease was diagnosed initially at 904 participating hospitals with cancer programs in 1983 and 1988. The survival and care of patients greater than or equal to 80 years of age were compared to those less than 80 years of age. Results. Of the 12,316 patients evaluated, 1,115 were 80 years or older. A significant reduction in survival was noted among patients 80 years and older as compared to their younger counterparts (P = 0.03–0.00001). The 5-year survivals were: stage I, 89% versus 79%; stage II, 58% versus 40%; stage III, 25% versus 11%; and stage IV, 13% versus 3%, respectively, for those less than 80 years old as compared to those greater than or equal to 80 years old. Most elderly ovarian cancer patients were cared for by nononcologists such as general surgeons (31%) and obstetricians/gynecologists (29%). As a group, older patients had fewer total abdominal hysterectomies, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomies, and omentectomies than their younger counterpart (P < 0.00001). As further evidence for a less aggressive surgical approach, the optimal tumor debulking rates of women greater than or equal to 80 years were significantly less than those of younger patients (P < 0.001). There was no significant increase in anesthesia complications between age groups. Generally, older patients are less likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy than younger patients (42% versus 69%, P < 0.0001). Conclusion. It appears that conservative treatments contributed to the decreased survival of older ovarian cancer patients.
Reactively evaporated films of copper molybdenum sulfide

Films of superconducting Chevrel-phase copper molybdenum sulfide CuxMo6S8 were deposited on sapphire substrates by reactive evaporation using H2S as the reacting gas. Two superconducting temperatures (10.0 K and 5.0 K) of the films were found, corresponding to two different phases with different copper concentrations. All films were superconducting above 4.2 K and contained Chevrel-phase compound as well as free molybdenum. The critical current was measured as a function of applied field. One sample was found to deviate from the scaling law found for co-evaporated or sputtered samples, which possibly indicates a different pinning mechanism or inhomogeneity of the sample.
GaN photocathodes for UV detection and imaging

The nitride-III semiconductors, in particular GaN (band gap energy 3.5 eV), AlN (band gap 6.2 eV) and their alloys AlxGa1-xN are attractive as UV photo-convertors with applications as photocathodes for position sensitive detector systems. These can “fill the gap” in the 150-400nm wavelength regime between alkali halide photocathodes ( 4000A, mutlialkali & GaAs). Currently CsTe photocathodes have fairly low efficiency (Fig. 1) in the 100nm to 300nm regime are sensitive to contamination and have no tolerance to gas exposure. We have prepared and measured a number of GaN photocathodes in opaque and semitransparent modes, achieving >50% quantum efficiency in opaque mode and ~35% in semitransparent mode (Fig. 2). The GaN photocathodes are stable over periods of >1 year and are robust enough to be re-activated many times. The cutoff wavelength is sharp, with a rapid decline in quantum efficiency at ~380-400nm. Application of GaN photocathodes in imaging devices should be feasible in the near future. Further performance improvements are also expected as GaN fabrication and processing techniques are refined.
Intramolecular [1 + 4 + 1] Cycloaddition: Establishment of the Method

Structurally complex and physiologically active natural products often include bicyclic and polycyclic ring systems having defined relative and absolute configuration. Approaches that allow the con...
High-Frequency and Very-high-Frequency (HF & VHF) above-ground electromagnetic impedance measurements

We have field-tested an apparatus for measuring the electromagnetic impedance above the ground at several frequencies in the 0.3–30MHz range. This window in the frequency spectrum, which lies between frequencies used for GPR and those used for conventional loop-loop EM soundings, has not been used because of difficulties in fielding equipment for making absolute and accurate measurements. Model and physical parameter studies however confirm that data in this frequency band can be used to construct high-resolution maps of electrical conductivity and permittivity of near-surface material. Our equipment was assembled using commercial electric and magnetic antennas. The magnetic loop source is excited by a conventional signal generator—power amplifier assembly. Signal detection is accomplished using RF lock-in amplifiers. All system elements are appropriately isolated by optical fiber links. We estimate a measurement accuracy of about ±10% for an 8‐m separation between source and detector. Field tests were do...
Real-Time Query Scheduling for Wireless Sensor Networks

Recent years have seen the emergence of wireless cyber-physical systems that must support real-time queries of physical environments through wireless sensor networks. This paper proposes Real-Time Query Scheduling (RTQS), a novel approach to conflict-free transmission scheduling for real-time queries in wireless sensor networks. First, we show that there is an inherent tradeoff between latency and real-time capacity in query scheduling. We then present three new real-time schedulers. The nonpreemptive query scheduler supports high real-time capacity but cannot provide low response times to high-priority queries due to priority inversions. The preemptive query scheduler eliminates priority inversions at the cost of reduced capacity. The slack stealing query scheduler combines the benefits of the preemptive and nonpreemptive schedulers to improve the capacity while meeting the end-to-end deadlines of queries. We provide schedulability analysis for each scheduler. The analysis and advantages of our approach are validated through NS2 simulations.
N-Allylation of amines with allyl acetates using chitosan-immobilized palladium

A simple procedure for N-allylation of amines with allyl acetates has been developed using a biodegradable and easily recyclable heterogeneous chitosan-supported palladium catalyst. The general methodology, applicable to a wide range of substrates, has sustainable features that include a ligand-free reaction with simple workup, recycling and reusability of the catalyst.
Joined-Wing Sensor-Craft Configuration Design

An optimized configuration design using both structural and aerodynamic analyses of a joined-wing configuration is presented here. The joined-wing aircraft concept fulfills a proposed long-endurance surveillance mission and incorporates a load-bearing antenna structure embedded in the wing skin. A range of joined-wing configurations were trimmed for critical flight conditions and then structurally optimized for trimmed flight and gust loads to achieve a minimum weight for each single configuration. A response surface statistical analysis was then applied to determine optimized joined-wing aircraft configurations. The optimal configurations were then reanalyzed and verified by examining nonlinear structural deflection characteristics and analyzing material and aerodynamic distributions.
Synthesis of α-substituted α,β-unsaturated acylsilanes

Abstract α-Deprotonation of tert -butyldimethylsilyloxy allene is followed by silyl migration from oxygen to carbon. The resulting C-nucleophile adds to aldehydes to generate α,β-unsaturated acylsilanes.
A dynamic approach to PES pricing and finance for interlinked ecosystem services: Watershed conservation and groundwater management

A theory of payment for ecosystem services (PES) pricing consistent with dynamic efficiency and sustainable income requires optimized shadow prices. Since ecosystem services are generally interdependent, this requires joint optimization across multiple resource stocks. We develop such a theory in the context of watershed conservation and groundwater extraction. The optimal program can be implemented with a decentralized system of ecosystem payments to private watershed landowners, financed by efficiency prices of groundwater set by a public utility. The theory is extended to cases where land is publicly owned, conservation instruments exhibit non-convexities on private land, or the size of a conservation project is exogenous. In these cases, conservation investment can be financed from benefit taxation of groundwater consumers. While volumetric conservation surcharges induce inefficient water use, a dynamic lump-sum tax finances investment without distorting incentives. Since the optimal level of conservation is generated as long as payments are correct at the margin, any surplus can be returned to consumers through appropriate block pricing. The present value gain in consumer surplus generated by the conservation-induced reduction in groundwater scarcity serves as a lower bound to the benefits of conservation without explicit measurement of other benefits such as recreation, biodiversity, and cultural values.
Tailoring Magnetic Microspheres with Controlled Porosity

The synthesis of organic and inorganic nano- and microspheres has attracted much interest for a variety of applications ranging from drug delivery to chemical storage and catalysis. We recently demonstrated the assembly of magnetic nanoparticles and polycations into hybrid microspheres in a single-step synthesis via complex coacervation. These microspheres showed viability for bio-applications as indicated by toxicity tests, and are therefore potential targeted drug delivery devices, as they can be directed magnetically. This work reports the recent progress on the potential use of these assemblies in drug release by controlling their porosity. Fluorescein tagged dextran molecules with different MW have been infiltrated into these entities to determine critical pore size by confocal fluorescence microscopy. Different physicochemical characterization results are also presented.
Using technology to support investigations in the electronic age: tracking hackers to large scale international computer fraud

With the increase in business automation and the widespread availability and low cost of computer systems, law enforcement agencies have seen a corresponding increase in criminal acts involving computers. The examination of computer evidence is a new field of forensic science with numerous opportunities for research and development. Research is needed to develop new software utilities to examine computer storage media, expert systems capable of finding criminal activity in large amounts of data, and to find methods of recovering data from chemically and physically damaged computer storage media. In addition, defeating encryption and password protection of computer files is also a topic requiring more research and development.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Theory of Electron Transport in Small Semiconductor Devices Using the Pauli Master Equation

It is argued that the Pauli master equation can be used to simulate electron transport in very small electronic devices under steady-state conditions. Written in a basis of suitable wavefunctions and with the appropriate open boundary conditions, this equation removes some of the approximations which render the Boltzmann equation unsatisfactory at small length-scales. The main problems consist in describing the interaction of the system with the reservoirs and in assessing the range of validity of the equation: Only devices smaller than the size of the electron wavepackets injected from the contacts can be handled. Two one-dimensional examples solved by a simple Monte Carlo technique are presented.
Single-nanoparticle catalysis at single-turnover resolution

Understanding the catalytic properties of nanoparticles is fundamentally important, but hampered by the intrinsic heterogeneity following from their structural dispersions and dynamics. This obstacle can be overcome if one can follow the catalysis of individual nanoparticles in real time. This article summarizes recent developments in using single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to study single nanoparticle catalysis. These studies reveal and quantify heterogeneous and dynamic behavior of individual nanoparticles that highlight the intricate interplay between catalysis, heterogeneous reactivity, variable surface sites, and surface restructuring dynamics in nanocatalysis. Challenges and future directions in single-nanoparticle catalysis research are also discussed.
Internationalization, Strategic Behavior, and the Small Firm: A Comparative Investigation

Previous research on the internationalization of the small firm explored the relationship between the adoption of a global orientation and strategic thinking. However, there was difference in opinion between those arguing that there is a positive relationship between the two variables and others who contended that small firms may internationalize by adopting a passive or reactive approach to the external environment. Within this context, this study sets out to further the discussion by comparing the experience of small enterprises with their medium and large-scale counterparts. In doing so, it draws upon the findings of survey of 1,000 internationalized enterprises located in the main urban conurbations of England. The results suggest that overall there is little disparity in strategy development among internationalized enterprises of different sizes. However, whereas the incidence of strategic behavior among medium and large businesses increases with the complexity of international operations, this is not the case for small firms.
CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATIONS: THE NEED FOR SYSTEMS‐LEVEL OUTCOME ASSESSMENTS*

Child custody evaluations need to be studied systemically as a human service system. There is little research on the history, caseload dynamics, economics, delivery systems, or impact of custody evaluations. This article identifies five systems-level questions about custody evaluations and examines one, outcomes assessment, in detail by developing seven outcome hypotheses. The article concludes that such research could improve the practice and use of child custody evaluations.
Computation of kinetic isotope effects for enzymatic reactions

We describe a computational approach, incorporating quantum mechanics into enzyme kinetics modeling with a special emphasis on computation of kinetic isotope effects. Two aspects are highlighted: (1) the potential energy surface is represented by a combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) potential in which the bond forming and breaking processes are modeled by electronic structure theory, and (2) a free energy perturbation method in path integral simulation is used to determine both kinetic isotope effects (KIEs). In this approach, which is called the PI-FEP/UM method, a light (heavy) isotope is mutated into a heavy (light) counterpart in centroid path integral simulations. The method is illustrated in the study of primary and secondary KIEs in two enzyme systems. In the case of nitroalkane oxidase, the enzymatic reaction exhibits enhanced quantum tunneling over that of the uncatalyzed process in water. In the dopa delarboxylase reaction, there appears to be distinguishable primary carbon-13 and secondary deuterium KIEs when the internal proton tautomerism is in the N-protonated or in the O-protonated positions. These examples show that the incorporation of quantum mechanical effects in enzyme kinetics modeling offers an opportunity to accurately and reliably model the mechanisms and free energies of enzymatic reactions.
Exploring the performance benefits of end-to-end path switching

This paper explores the feasibility of improving the performance of end-to-end data transfers between different sites through path switching. Our study is focused on both the logic that controls path switching decisions and the configurations required to achieve sufficient path diversity. Specifically, we investigate two common approaches offering path diversity - multi-homing and overlay networks - and investigate their characteristics in the context of a representative wide-area testbed. We explore the end-to-end delay and loss characteristics of different paths and find that substantial improvements can potentially be achived by path switching, especially in lowering end-to-end losses. Based on this assessment, we develop a simple path-switching mechanism capable of realizing those performance improvements. Our experimental study demonstrates that substantial performance improvements are indeed achievable using this approach.
Recurrent X-ray outbursts from Aquila X-1

Aquila X-1 observations by the All Sky Monitor on Ariel 5 are presented. Data is compared with that obtained by rocket survey, and by the Uhuru, OSO 7, and OAO 3 satellites. The variability of brightness is discussed as a connection between dwarf novae and long term transient X ray sources.
Simulation of EOR processes in stochastically generated permeable media

This paper deals with the simulation of the competition between effects during miscible displacements through heterogeneous permeability media. Displacements with an even front are dispersive, others are a type of bypassing: fingering, caused by an adverse mobility ratio, or channeling, caused by heterogeneity and autocorrelation. Under most flow circumstances, channeling is the predominant type.
Correction to Gerber and Green (2000), Replication of Disputed Findings, and Reply to Imai (2005)

This essay corrects the results reported in Gerber and Green 2000 and replies to Imai (2005). When data-processing errors are repaired, the original substantive findings from the New Haven experiment remain unchanged. As previously reported, brief phone calls do not increase voter turnout. The “correction” that Imai (2005) offers, which purports to show that these phone calls produce large, significant, and robust increases in voter turnout, is shown to contain statistical, computational, and reporting errors that invalidate its conclusions about the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of phone calls and mail. A replication of the New Haven experiment reproduces both the findings reported in Gerber and Green 2000 and the biases of Imai's statistical analysis.
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised IQ Equivalents of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised Scores for Adults

It was argued that the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) is an inadequate instrument for the clinical assessment of adults low in intellectual ability and that the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC—R) is a more appropriate scale. Because the WAIS—R and WISC—R IQs are equivalent at age 16, a brief procedure was outlined for determining WAIS—R IQ equivalents of WISC—R performance.
A supersymmetric higgs sector with chiral D-terms

Although supersymmetry remains the best candidate for solving the electroweak hierarchy problem, a supersymmetric Higgs boson near 125 GeV requires heavy scalars, highly-mixed stops, or non-minimal contributions to the Higgs potential. Extensions of the Standard Model (SM) gauge group provide an attractive means of raising the Higgs mass through non-decoupling D-term contributions to the Higgs quartic, but in most cases this correction is correlated with an enhanced coupling to bottom quarks and tau leptons that is disfavored by current fits to LHC Higgs data. In this work we demonstrate that the Higgs mass may be raised by non-decoupling D-terms without such enhanced couplings if the two supersymmetric Higgs doublets are “chiral”, i.e., charged under different gauge groups at high energies. In this case there is no direct correlation between the correction to the Higgs mass and its couplings to SM states, and in general the chiral correction to the Higgs potential undoes the MSSM preference for enhanced bottom couplings. This raises the prospects for discovering additional supersymmetric Higgs bosons consistent with the measured mass and couplings of the observed Higgs.
Revisiting Optimal Call Policy for Convertibles

When a company calls its convertible bonds, it typically must give the bondholders a notice period of approximately 30 days to decide whether to convert the bonds. This important institutional detail substantially affects the optimal call policy for convertible bonds. When the company calls the bonds, it fixes the price at which bondholders can redeem them, effectively giving bondholders a 30-day put option. The optimal time to call the convertibles minimizes the value of the conversion option net of the put option. This optimization problem is solved here, and a simple decision rule for the company results. This solution contains those of previous researchers as a special case.
Control of Diastereoselectivity for Iridium-catalyzed Allylation of a Prochiral Nucleophile with a Phosphate Counterion

We report a highly diastereo- and enantioselective allylation of azlactones catalyzed by the combination of a metallacyclic iridium complex and an optically inactive phosphate anion. The process demonstrates an approach for conducting diastereoselective reactions with prochiral nucleophiles in the presence of metallacyclic allyliridium complexes. The reaction provides access to an array of enantioenriched allylated azlactones containing adjacent tertiary and quaternary carbon centers. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that the phosphate and methyl carbonate anions together induce the unusually high diastereoselectivity.
Thread-scalable evaluation of multi-jet observables

We have implemented the leading-color n-gluon amplitudes using the Berends–Giele recursion relations on a multi-threaded GPU. Speed-up factors between 150 and 300 are obtained compared to the CPU-based implementation of the same event generator. In this first paper, we study the feasibility of a GPU-based event generator with an emphasis on the constraints imposed by the hardware. Some studies of Monte Carlo convergence and accuracy are presented for PP→2,…,10 jet observables using of the order of 1011 events.
FUNDAMENTAL THEOREMS OF AVERAGING FOR FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Abstract In this paper, we improve on classical averaging theorems for functional differential equations by proposing new averaged models. Specifically, we present averaged models which retain functional dependence on state variables (delays) and additional parametric dependence. As shown in three examples, the new models often yield improvements in approximation accuracy.
Simple strategies for large zero-sum games with applications to complexity theory

Von Neumann’s Min-Max Theorem guarantees that each player of a zero-sum matrix game has an optimal mixed strategy. We show that each player has a near-optimal mixed strategy that chooses uniformly from a multiset of pure strategies of size logarithmic in the number of pure strategies available to the opponent. Thus, for exponentially large games, for which even representing an optimal mixed strategy can require exponential space, there are nearoptimal, linear-size strategies. These strategies are easy to play and serve as small witnesses to the approximate value of the game. Because of the fundamental role of games, we expect this theorem to have many applications in complexity theory and cryptography. We use it to strengthen the connection established by Yao between randomized and distributional complexity and to obtain the following results: (1) Every language has anti-checkers — small hard multisets of inputs certifying that small circuits can’t decide the language. (2) Circuits of a given size can generate random instances that are hard for all circuits of linearly smaller size. (3) Given an oracle M for any exponentially large game, the approximate value of the game and near-optimal strategies for it can be computed in Σ P (M) 2 . (4) For any NP-complete language L, the problems of (a) computing a hard distribution of instances of L and (b) estimating the circuit complexity of L are both in ΣP2 . Computer Science Dept, Princeton Univ., Princeton, NJ 08544. Supported in part by NSF grant CCR-9304718. Email: rjl@cs.princeton.edu Dept. of Operations Research and Ind. Eng., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. This work was partly supported by NSF grants CCR-8906949 and CCR-9111348 and Eva Tardos’ PYI grant, and partly done at UMIACS, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742. Email: ney@orie.cornell.edu.
Polyvalent Oligonucleotide Gold Nanoparticle Conjugates as Delivery Vehicles for Platinum(IV) Warheads

Amine-functionalized polyvalent oligonucleotide gold nanoparticles (DNA-Au NPs) were derivatized with a cisplatin prodrug, and the resulting DNA-Au NP conjugates were used to internalize multiple platinum centers. A platinum(IV) complex, c,c,t-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2(OH)(O2CCH2CH2CO2H)], was tethered to the surface of DNA-Au NPs through amide linkages. The platinum-tethered gold nanoparticles were taken into several cancer cells. The drop in intracellular pH facilitated reductive release of cisplatin from the prodrug, which then formed 1,2-d(GpG) intrastrand cross-links in the cell nuclei, as confirmed by an antibody specific for this adduct. The cytotoxicity of the platinum(IV) complex increases significantly in several cancer cell lines when the complex is attached to the surface of the DNA-Au NPs and in some instances exceeds that of cisplatin.
Shadow enhancers enable Hunchback bifunctionality in the Drosophila embryo

Hunchback (Hb) is a bifunctional transcription factor that activates and represses distinct enhancers. Here, we investigate the hypothesis that Hb can activate and repress the same enhancer. Computational models predicted that Hb bifunctionally regulates the even-skipped (eve) stripe 3+7 enhancer (eve3+7) in Drosophila blastoderm embryos. We measured and modeled eve expression at cellular resolution under multiple genetic perturbations and found that the eve3+7 enhancer could not explain endogenous eve stripe 7 behavior. Instead, we found that eve stripe 7 is controlled by two enhancers: the canonical eve3+7 and a sequence encompassing the minimal eve stripe 2 enhancer (eve2+7). Hb bifunctionally regulates eve stripe 7, but it executes these two activities on different pieces of regulatory DNA--it activates the eve2+7 enhancer and represses the eve3+7 enhancer. These two "shadow enhancers" use different regulatory logic to create the same pattern.
Pricing To Signal Product Line Quality

This paper offers a general characterization of the optimal product line prices for a monopolist whose quality of products is initially unknown to consumers. In the focal equilibrium, a monopolist signals a high-quality product line by pricing as if quality were known to be high, but costs of production were higher than they truly are. In a rich set of environments, this characterization implies that the prices of all products are initially distorted upward, with the price distortion being largest for products with the most inelastic demands and/or quality-sensitive production costs. These implications yield predictions for the time path of prices flint are broadly consistent with evidence from the marketing literature. The multidimensional signaling problem is made tractable by the satisfaction of a very simple and powerful single crossing property.
Dynamics in near-potential games

Abstract We consider discrete-time learning dynamics in finite strategic form games, and show that games that are close to a potential game inherit many of the dynamical properties of potential games. We first study the evolution of the sequence of pure strategy profiles under better/best response dynamics. We show that this sequence converges to a (pure) approximate equilibrium set whose size is a function of the “distance” to a given nearby potential game. We then focus on logit response dynamics, and provide a characterization of the limiting outcome in terms of the distance of the game to a given potential game and the corresponding potential function. Finally, we turn attention to fictitious play, and establish that in near-potential games the sequence of empirical frequencies of player actions converges to a neighborhood of (mixed) equilibria, where the size of the neighborhood increases according to the distance to the set of potential games.
Enhancing the stability of porous catalysts with supercritical reaction media

Abstract Adsorption/desorption and pore-transport are key parameters influencing the activity and product selectivity in porous catalysts. With conventional reaction media (gas or liquid phase), one of these parameters is generally favorable while the other is not. For instance, while desorption of heavy hydrocarbons from the catalyst is usually the rate-limiting step in gas-phase reactions, transport of the reactants/products is the limiting step in liquid-phase reaction media. With conventional media, it is difficult to achieve the desired combination of fluid properties for optimum system performance. In contrast, density and transport properties can be continuously pressure-tuned in the near-critical region to obtain unique fluid properties (e.g. gas-like transport properties, liquid-like solvent power and heat capacities), that have been exploited in several ways such as (a) the in situ extraction of heavy hydrocarbons (i.e. coke precursors) from the catalyst surface and their transport out of the pores before they are transformed to consolidated coke; (b) complete miscibility of reactants such as hydrogen in the reaction mixture and enhanced pore-transport of these reactants to the catalyst surface, thereby promoting desired reaction pathways; and (c) control of temperature rise in exothermic reactions. Experimental and theoretical investigations are presented to demonstrate beneficial pressure-tuning effects on catalyst activity and product selectivity during continuous processing of a variety of reactions such as these: geometric isomerization and alkylation on solid acid catalysts; Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis on supported Fe catalysts; and fixed-bed hydrogenation on supported catalysts. The possibility to perform solid acid catalysis with extended activity (an environmentally safer alternative to liquid acid processes) and fixed-bed hydrogenations with tunable selectivity and controlled temperature rise (preferred over slurry phase operation) makes supercritical reaction media particularly appealing alternatives to conventional reactor operation.
Onset of rotating disturbance in linear Hall- current accelerator

Near cathode magnetic field effect on instability in linear Hall current accelerators, using geometry of field extending from anode to cathode region
Contracting-in management to strengthen publicly financed primary health services—The experience of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract Objectives In response to low utilization of primary health services in rural areas, the Government of Punjab contracted with a local non-governmental organization (NGO) to manage the basic health units in one district. Methods To evaluate the performance of the contractor, health facility surveys, household surveys, and routinely collected information were used to compare the experimental district (Rahim Yar Khan, RYK) with a contiguous and equally poor district (Bahawalpur, BWP). Results The evaluation found that contracting led to more than a 50% increase in out-patient visits in RYK compared to BWP. There was also increased satisfaction of the community with health services. Technical quality of care was equally poor in both districts and contracting also had little effect on the coverage of preventive services. The latter was likely the result of the NGO not being given managerial responsibility over vaccinators and other community health workers. Conclusions Despite methodological limitations, this study found that contracting in management achieved important goals at the same cost to the Government, implying a large increase in efficiency. Contracting in management worked reasonably well in this context and has now been significantly expanded. The approach provides a plausible means for large-scale improvements of poorly performing primary health care systems.
ON THE WARD IDENTITIES AT FINITE TEMPERATURE

We show in both 1+1 and 3+1 dimensions that, contrary to the recent suggestions, the contribution of the fermion loop to the polarization tensor is manifestly transverse at finite temperature. Some subtleties associated with the Ward identities at finite temperature are also pointed out.
Forced convection in a square cavity with inlet and outlet ports

Abstract A finite-volume-based computational study of steady laminar forced convection inside a square cavity with inlet and outlet ports is presented. Given a fixed position of the inlet port, the location of the outlet port is varied along the four walls of the cavity. The widths of the ports are equal to 5%, 15% and 25% of the side. By positioning the outlet ports at nine locations on the walls for Re = 10, 40, 100 and 500 and Pr = 5, a total of 108 cases were studied. For the shortest distance between the inlet and outlet ports along the top wall, a primary clockwise (CW) rotating vortex that covers about 75–88% of the cavity is observed. As the outlet port is lowered along the right wall, the CW primary vortex diminishes in strength, however a counter-clockwise (CCW) vortex that is present next to the top right corner grows in size. With the outlet port moving left along the bottom wall, the CW primary vortex is weakened further and the CCW vortex occupies nearly the right half of the cavity. The pressure drop varies drastically depending on Re and the position of the outlet port. If the outlet port is on the opposite or the same wall as the inlet, the pressure drop is smaller in comparison to a case where it is located on the adjacent walls. The maximum pressure drop occurs when the outlet port is on the left side of the bottom wall and the minimum is achieved where the outlet is on the middle of the right wall. Regions of high temperature gradient are consistently observed at the interface of the throughflow and next to the solid walls on both sides of the outlet port. Local Nusselt numbers are low at three corners when no outlet port is present in their vicinity, whereas intense heat transfer rate is observed on the two sides of the outlet port. Between these minima and maxima, the local Nusselt number can vary drastically depending on the flow and temperature fields. By placing the outlet port with one end at three corners, maximum overall Nusselt number of the cavity can be achieved. Minimum overall heat transfer of the cavity is achieved with the outlet port located at the middle of the walls. The case exhibiting maximum heat transfer and minimum pressure drop is observed when the outlet port is located at dimensionless wall coordinate (2 + 0.5W).
Roving bugnet: Distributed surveillance threat and mitigation

Advanced mobile devices such as laptops and smartphones make convenient hiding places for surveillance spyware. They commonly have a microphone and camera built-in, are increasingly network accessible, frequently within close proximity of their users, and almost always lack mechanisms designed to prevent unauthorized microphone or camera access. In order to explore surveillance intrusion and detection methods, we present a modernized version of a microphone hijacker for Windows and Mac OS X. The Windows attack can be executed as soon as the target connects to the Internet from anywhere in the world without requiring interaction from victimized users and the Mac OS X attack involves a trojaned installation routine. As the attacker compromises additional machines they are organized into a botnet so the attacker can maintain stealthy control of the systems and launch later surveillance attacks. We then use the attack to show how common elements of microphone hijacker programs can be used against them. From there we present a mechanism to detect the threat on Windows, as well as a novel method to deceive an attacker in order to permit traceback. As a result of the detection mechanism we address a missing segment of resource control, decreasing the complexity of privacy concerns as exploitable devices become more pervasive.
Temperature and Density Measurements in a Quiet Coronal Streamer

Many previous studies have used emission line or broadband filter ratios to infer the presence of temperature gradients in the quiet solar corona. Recently it has been suggested that these temperature gradients are not real, but result from the superposition of isothermal loops with different temperatures and density scale heights along the line of sight. A model describing this hydrostatic weighting bias has been developed by Aschwanden & Acton. In this paper we present the application of the Aschwanden & Acton differential emission measure model to Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Solar Ultraviolet Measurement of Emitted Radiation (SUMER) observations of a quiet coronal streamer. Simultaneous Yohkoh soft X-ray telescope (SXT) observations show increases in the filter ratios with height above the limb, indicating an increase in temperature. The application of the Aschwanden & Acton model to these SUMER data, however, show that the temperature is constant with height and that the distribution of temperatures in the corona is much too narrow for the hydrostatic weighting bias to have any effect on the SXT filter ratios. We consider the possibility that there is a tenuous hot component (~3 MK) that accounts for the SXT observations. We find that a hot plasma with an emission measure sufficient to reproduce the observed SXT fluxes would also produce significant count rates in the high-temperature emission lines in the SUMER wavelength range. These lines are not observed, and we conclude that the SUMER spectra are not consistent with the SXT filter ratio temperatures. Calculations from a hydrodynamic loop model suggest that nonuniform footpoint heating may be consistent with the temperatures and densities observed at most heights, consistent with the recent analysis of relatively cool (~1 MK) active region loops. We also find, however, that at the lowest heights the observed densities are smaller than those predicted by uniform or footpoint heating.
Inertial Effects in Nonequilibrium Work Fluctuations by a Path Integral Approach

Inertial effects in fluctuations of the work to sustain a system in a nonequilibrium steady state are discussed for a dragged massive Brownian particle model using a path integral approach. We calculate the work distribution function in the laboratory and comoving frames and prove the asymptotic fluctuation theorem for these works for any initial condition. Important and observable differences between the work fluctuations in the two frames appear for finite times and are discussed concretely for a nonequilibrium steady state initial condition. We also show that for finite times a time oscillatory behavior appears in the work distribution function for masses larger than a nonzero critical value.
Modeling the effect of deep impurity ionization on GaAs photoconductive switches

The ionization coefficient of deep traps in GaAs is determined from a gas breakdown model together with the recent experimental data obtained at LLNL (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) and Boeing. Using this coefficient in our nonlinear device transport code, we have investigated theoretically the nonlinear switching phenomena in GaAs devices. The results obtained from our investigations show that if we take into consideration the effect of the field ionization of the deep traps, we can show how the "Lock-On" phenomena could occur in the device.
Radio Source Counts from the Ohio Survey

The Ohio survey shows a decrease in the number of faint sources relative to the number which would be expected for a uniform, Euclidean universe. This confirms the results of the Cambridge 5C2 survey at 408 MHz, but the decrease is sharper for the Ohio counts at 1415 MHz.
Design Verification System for Large-Scale LSI Designs

This paper describes the changing environment of large-scale computer designs as they are influenced by the advance of technology. This changing environment makes it necessary for design verification to be part of the basic design cycle. The design verification methodology presented in this paper represents a minimum scheduled savings of 75% for an LSI machine as compared to any conventional type of design system. It allows the computer industry to design timely systems in the range of one-million circuits and to design them with a cost-effective design system. In addition to savings in schedule, the system described guarantees a high quality design with minimum impact on customer satisfaction because of design errors. The range of effectiveness that can be obtained on a product using this methodology is from 85-95% effective.
N-vinyl and N-unsubstituted β-lactams from 1-substituted 2-aza-1, 3-butadienes

Abstract The reaction of acid chlorides and N -vinyl imines results in the stereoselective formation of cis N -vinyl β-lactams. The N -vinyl protecting group can be removed either oxidatively or hydrolytically to yield N -unsubstituted β-lactams.
Analyzing variable-rate flow in volumetric oil reservoirs

Abstract Estimating average-reservoir pressure ( p av ) and its evolution with time is critical to analyzing and optimizing reservoir performance. Normally, selected wells are shut in periodically for buildup tests to determine p av over time. Unfortunately, shutting-in wells leads to loss of production. Today, however, real-time surveillance—the continuous measurement of flowing pressures and rate data from the oil and gas wells—offers an attractive alternative technique to obtain average-reservoir pressure while avoiding loss of revenue. A direct method for estimating p av from flowing pressures and rate data is available. However, the method is for an idealized case that assumes constant production rate during pseudosteady-state (PSS) flow, which is generally untrue for real wells. This paper extends that approach so that it can be used to analyze field data with variable rates/variable pressures during boundary-dominated flow (BDF). This approach is based on a combination of rate-normalized pressure and superposition-time function. The mathematical basis is presented in support of this approach, and the method is validated with synthetic examples and verified with field data. This modified approach is used to estimate average-reservoir pressure that uses flowing pressures and production rates during BDF, allowing the classical material balance calculations to be performed. These calculations, in turn help determine the reserves, recovery factor, and reservoir drive mechanisms, allowing the reservoir performance and management to be properly evaluated. Furthermore, this method can be used to calculate both connected oil volume and reservoir drainage area as a function of time. Finally, this approach provides a reasonable estimation of the reservoir's shape factor.
Naïve noncommutative blowups at zero-dimensional schemes

Abstract In an earlier paper [D.S. Keeler, D. Rogalski, J.T. Stafford, Naive noncommutative blowing up, Duke Math. J. 126 (2005) 491–546, MR 2120116], we defined and investigated the properties of the naive blowup of an integral projective scheme X at a single closed point. In this paper we extend those results to the case when one naively blows up X at any suitably generic zero-dimensional subscheme Z. The resulting algebra A has a number of curious properties; for example it is noetherian but never strongly noetherian and the point modules are never parametrized by a projective scheme. This is despite the fact that the category of torsion modules in qgr - A is equivalent to the category of torsion coherent sheaves over X. These results are used in the companion paper [D. Rogalski, J.T. Stafford, A class of noncommutative projective surfaces, in press] to prove that a large class of noncommutative surfaces can be written as naive blowups.