cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information-directed routing in ad hoc sensor networks

In a sensor network, data routing is tightly coupled to the needs of a sensing task, and hence the application semantics. This paper introduces the novel idea of information-directed routing, in which routing is formulated as a joint optimization of data transport and information aggregation. The routing objective is to minimize communication cost, while maximizing information gain, differing from routing considerations for more general ad hoc networks. The paper uses the concrete problem of locating and tracking possibly moving signal sources as an example of information generation process, and considers two common information extraction patterns in a sensor network: routing a user query from an arbitrary entry node to the vicinity of signal sources and back, or to a prespecified exit node, maximizing information accumulated along the path. We derive information constraints from realistic signal models, and present several routing algorithms that find near-optimal solutions for the joint optimization problem. Simulation results have demonstrated that information-directed routing is a significant improvement over a previously reported greedy algorithm, as measured by sensing quality such as localization and tracking accuracy and communication quality such as success rate in routing around sensor holes.
Macropinocytosis of protein is an amino acid supply route in Ras-transformed cells

Macropinocytosis is a highly conserved endocytic process by which extracellular fluid and its contents are internalized into cells through large, heterogeneous vesicles known as macropinosomes. Oncogenic Ras proteins have been shown to stimulate macropinocytosis but the functional contribution of this uptake mechanism to the transformed phenotype remains unknown. Here we show that Ras-transformed cells use macropinocytosis to transport extracellular protein into the cell. The internalized protein undergoes proteolytic degradation, yielding amino acids including glutamine that can enter central carbon metabolism. Accordingly, the dependence of Ras-transformed cells on free extracellular glutamine for growth can be suppressed by the macropinocytic uptake of protein. Consistent with macropinocytosis representing an important route of nutrient uptake in tumours, its pharmacological inhibition compromises the growth of Ras-transformed pancreatic tumour xenografts. These results identify macropinocytosis as a mechanism by which cancer cells support their unique metabolic needs and point to the possible exploitation of this process in the design of anticancer therapies.
Analytical Ion Thruster Discharge Performance Model

*† ‡ A particle and energy balance model of the plasma discharge in magnetic ring-cusp ion thrusters has been developed. The model follows the original work of Brophy in the development of global 0-D discharge models that utilize conservation of particles into and out of the thruster and conservation of energy into the discharge and out of the plasma in the form of charged particles to the walls and beam and plasma radiation. The present model is significantly expanded over Brophy’s original work by closing the set of equations with selfconsistently calculations of the internal neutral pressure, electron temperature, primary electron density, electrostatic ion confinement (due to the ring-cusp fields), plasma potential, discharge stability, and time dependent behavior during recycling. The model only requires information on the thruster geometry, ion optics performance and electrical inputs such as discharge voltage and currents, etc. to produce accurate performance curves of discharge loss versus mass utilization efficiency. The model has been benchmarked against NSTAR and NEXIS thrusters, and successfully predicts the thruster discharge loss as a function of mass utilization efficiency for a variety of thrusters. The discharge performance model will be described and results showing ion thruster performance and stability presented.
On the Difficulty of Nearest Neighbor Search

Fast approximate nearest neighbor(NN) search in large databases is becoming popular. Several powerful learning-based formulations have been proposed recently. However, not much attention has been paid to a more fundamental question: how difficult is (approximate) nearest neighbor search in a given data set? And which data properties affect the difficulty of nearest neighbor search and how? This paper introduces the first concrete measure called Relative Contrast that can be used to evaluate the influence of several crucial data characteristics such as dimensionality, sparsity, and database size simultaneously in arbitrary normed metric spaces. Moreover, we present a theoretical analysis to prove how the difficulty measure (relative contrast) determines/affects the complexity of Local Sensitive Hashing, a popular approximate NN search method. Relative contrast also provides an explanation for a family of heuristic hashing algorithms with good practical performance based on PCA. Finally, we show that most of the previous works in measuring NN search meaningfulness/difficulty can be derived as special asymptotic cases for dense vectors of the proposed measure.
Robust production of a peptide library using methodological synchronization

Peptide libraries have proven to be useful in applications such as substrate profiling, drug candidate screening and identifying protein-protein interaction partners. However, issues of fidelity, peptide length and purity have been encountered when peptide libraries are chemically synthesized. Biochemically engineered libraries, on the other hand, circumvent many of these issues due to the fidelity of the protein synthesis machinery. Using thioredoxin as an expression partner, a stably folded peptide scaffold (avian pancreatic polypeptide) and a compatible cleavage site for human rhinovirus 3C protease, we report a method that allows robust expression of a genetically encoded peptide library, which yields peptides of high purity. In addition, we report the use of methodological synchronization, an experimental design created for the production of a library, from initial cloning to peptide characterization, within a five-week period of time.
Separate Families of Hypotheses

In the last forty years since statistical procedures were first developed to test separate (nonnested) families of hypotheses, a huge amount of literature has developed for testing a null model against one or more separate alternatives. In the first two decades, mainly statisticians were interested in this problem. During the eighties the econometricians took a great interest and in the nineties, Bayesian statisticians developed some new results on the subject. The purpose of this paper is to given an introductory overview of the subject and an updated bibliography. Keywords: Bayes factors: fractional; intrinsic; partial and posterior; hypothesis test; likelihood; model discrimination; nonnested models; separate families
The Supramolecular Association of Polyelectrolytes to Complementary Charged Surfactants and Protein Assemblies

Cohesion matters! The correlation between the conformational rigidity of the polyelectrolyte and the size and stability of the globular assembly is discussed in this review article. Some examples of models for the association of polyelectrolytes to globular assemblies are shown here. Supramolecular complexes of strong polyelectrolytes and oppositely charged ionic micelles or protein assemblies derive their main stabilization from electrostatic interactions that include the counterion condensation/release mechanism and from hydrophobic interactions distributed along apolar sections of the components. The predicted and the experimental behavior of selected complexes differing in the flexibility of the polyelectrolyte and in the cohesion of the complementary assembly is reviewed and analyzed. Depending upon the rigidity of the polyelectrolyte, globular surfactant clusters persist in the final structure or are transformed into elongated assemblies. On the other hand, even the rather rigid DNA molecule is forced to bend by strongly associated cationic protein complexes such as the histone octamers. A general framework should allow the prediction of these structures in terms of the interplay between the persistence length of the polyelectrolyte and the association constant of the protein or the surfactant assembly.
An NMR study of mobility in a crystalline side-chain comblike polymer

Carbon-13 spin-lattice relaxation times are measured for poly(octadecyl acrylate) above and below the melting point of the crystalline side chains. The chain backbone has long spin-lattice relaxation times below the melting point that shorten by more than an order of magnitude as the melting point range is traversed. Below the melting point, the backbone is nearly immobilized with spin-lattice relaxation changing very slowly with temperature. Above the melting point, the shorter spin-lattice relaxation times are typical of a rubber above the glass transition and decrease with increasing temperature. The methylene groups in the side chain are quite mobile well below the melting point, indicating fairly rapid anisotropic motion within the crystal. The methyl group at the end of the chain and the adjacent methylene group have longer spin-lattice relaxation times, indicating the greatest side-chain mobility at the end, which is in the middle of the crystal structure. The side-chain carbon adjacent to the carbonyl group is as mobile as the majority of the side-chain carbon, indicating side-chain mobility extends to all of the side-chain CH 2 groups. The abrupt transition in the mobility of the backbone is not typical of the amorphous phase in a semicrystalline polymer where the backbone units can crystallize. The close proximity of every backbone segment to the crystalline domain locks backbone segmental motion below the melting point. Melting and crystallization of the side chains switch segmental motion of the backbone on and off.
Co-Occurring Mental and Substance Use Disorders: The Neurobiological Effects of Chronic Stress

The high rate of co-occurrence of substance use disorders and other psychiatric disorders is well established. The population of people with co-occurring disorders is heterogeneous, and the prevalence of comorbidity differs by diagnostic group. One of the overarching issues in the area of comorbidity is the nature of the connection between psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders. The rapid development of technical advances in the neurosciences has led to a better understanding of the molecular biology, neurotransmitter systems, and neural circuitry involved in mental illness and substance use disorders. The authors discuss the neurobiological interface between substance use disorders and other psychiatric disorders with an emphasis on emerging data concerning four psychiatric disorders that commonly co-occur with substance use disorders: depression/mood disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Better understanding of the connection between substance use disorders and psychiatric disorders could have a profound effect on prevention and treatment.
THE SPECTRUM OF RANDOM INNER-PRODUCT KERNEL MATRICES

We consider n-by-n matrices whose (i,j)-th entry is f(X T i Xj), where X1,...,Xn are i.i.d. standard Gaussian random vectors in Rp, and f is a real-valued function. The eigenvalue distribution of these random kernel matrices is studied at the "large p, large n" regime. It is shown that, when p,n ! 1 and p/n = which is a constant, and f is properly scaled so that V ar(f(XT i Xj)) is O(p 1), the spectral density converges weakly to a limiting density on R. The limiting density is dictated by a cubic equation involving its Stieltjes transform. While for smooth kernel functions the limiting spectral density has been previously shown to be the Marcenko-Pastur distribution, our analysis is applicable to non-smooth kernel functions, resulting in a new family of limiting densities.
The Problem of HIPPARCOS Distances to Open Clusters. II. Constraints from Nearby Field Stars

This paper examines the discrepancy between distances to nearby open clusters as determined by parallaxes from Hipparcos compared to traditional main-sequence fitting. The biggest difference is seen for the Pleiades, and our hypothesis is that if the Hipparcos distance to the Pleiades is correct, then similar subluminous zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) stars should exist elsewhere, including in the immediate solar neighborhood. We examine a color-magnitude diagram of very young and nearby solar-type stars and show that none of them lie below the traditional ZAMS, despite the fact that the Hipparcos Pleiades parallax would place its members 0.3 mag below that ZAMS. We also present analyses and observations of solar-type stars that do lie below the ZAMS, and we show that they are subluminous because of low metallicity and that they have the kinematics of old stars.
A generalized sector-bound approach to feedback stabilization of nonlinear control systems

SUMMARY This paper proposes and develops a generalized sector-bound approach to feedback stabilization of nonlinear control systems described by state–space models. This approach is inherited from the methodology of the sector-bounded or passive nonlinearities and influenced by the concept of absolute and quadratic stability. It aims not only to regionally stabilize the nonlinear dynamics asymptotically but also to maximize the estimated region of quadratic attraction and to ensure nominal performance at each equilibrium. More importantly, it has a close connection to gain scheduling and switching control. A path of equilibria is programmed on the basis of the assumption of centered- e-cover, which leads to a sequence of linear controllers that regionally stabilize the desired equilibrium asymptotically. Simulation results are worked out to illustrate our proposed design method. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Autonomy and Explanation of Mystical Perception

William Alston has articulated a powerful defence of the claim that mystical perception generates prima facie justified beliefs about God. At the heart of his defence is the claim that mystical perception is ‘innocent until proven guilty’; that is, Alston claims that the practice of forming beliefs on the basis of putative perceptions of God should be accorded the same presumptive innocence we accord to other standard ways of forming beliefs like sense perception, memory and introspection. But Alston employs a strategy for defending mystical perception that seems to obviate the possibility of criticizing mystical perception and thus that renders otiose Alston's claim that that practice is innocent only until proven guilty. I argue that this appearance is deceptive; Alston's strategy does not render effective criticism of mystical perception unreasonably difficult. I further argue that granting the legitimacy of Alston's strategy is essential to a fair, measured criticism of mystical perception.
Asymptotics and Non-Asymptotics for Universal Fixed-to-Variable Source Coding

Universal fixed-to-variable lossless source coding for memoryless sources is studied in the finite blocklength and higher order asymptotic regimes. Optimal three-term fixed-error asymptotic expressions are derived for general fixed-to-variable codes and for prefix codes. It is shown that the non-prefix Type Size code , in which codeword lengths are chosen in ascending order of type class size, achieves the optimal third-order term, and outperforms classical two-stage codes. Converse results are proved making use of a result on the distribution of the empirical entropy and Laplace’s approximation. Finally, the fixed-to-variable coding problem without a prefix constraint is shown to be essentially the same as the universal guessing problem.
Computer applications at the frontiers of biomedical research

It would appear that the rapid growth of computing facilities in major life science institutions in this country has brought with it an obligation on those enjoying the privilege of these aids to experimental design and data analysis to view critically the utilization of these methods, as they may determine broad research philosophies in particular problem areas, and thus also, both the conduct and probable outcome of such research.
Fast algorithms for matrix multiplication using pseudo-number-theoretic transforms

We provide a novel approach to the design of fast algorithms for matrix multiplication. The operation of matrix multiplication is reformulated as a convolution, which is implemented using pseudo-number-theoretic transforms. Writing the convolution as multiplication of polynomials evaluated off the unit circle reduces the number of multiplications without producing any error, since the (integer) elements of the product matrix are known to be bounded. The new algorithms are somewhat analogous to the arbitrary precision approximation (APA) algorithms, but have the following advantages: (i) a simple design procedure is specified for them; (ii) they do not suffer from round-off error; and (iii) the reasons for their existence is clear. The new algorithms are also noncommutative; therefore, they may be applied recursively to block matrix multiplication. This work establishes a link between matrix multiplication and fast convolution algorithms and so opens another line of inquiry for the fast matrix multiplication problem. Some numerical examples illustrate the operation of the new proposed algorithms. >
Cationic-Oxazaborolidine-Catalyzed Enantioselective Diels–Alder Reaction of α,β-Unsaturated Acetylenic Ketones†

Cationic oxazaborolidine 1 affords Diels-Alder adducts of α,β-unsaturated acteylenic ketones with cyclic and acyclic dienes in excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Importantly, dienophiles lacking the typical hydrogen bonding motif as required for other oxazaborolidinium mediated reactions also provide uniformly high levels of asymmetric induction. Subsequently, mechanistic studies of this reaction were undertaken through X-ray crystallographic and computational studies of BF3-acetylene complexes which both indicate a strong preference for syn-coordination geometry of the Lewis acid relative to the alkyne. Thus, we postulate syn-coordination of the acetylene by 1 is operative, which precludes the necessity for hydrogen bonding and maintains close proximity of the reactive sp carbon centers to the chiral environment of the catalyst, ensuring high enantioselectivities.
Discharge Timeliness for Mother Baby Couplets: A Six Sigma Project to Improve Throughput

Professional Issues Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program The purpose of the project was to improve the throughput and discharge timeliness of mother–baby couplets. The capacity on the mother–baby unit delayed care of the patients admitted to the labor and delivery unit for treatment and delivery. Six Sigma methodology application was enlisted to improve the care at discharge and provide a seamless discharge transition. Baseline measurements revealed that only 30% of mother–baby couplets was discharged by noon. Proposed Change The maternity throughput goals were to improve the rate of patients discharged by 12 p.m. from 31.5% to 50%, to have 75% of mother–baby couplets depart from the unit within 90 minutes of the last discharge, and to improve the skill level of the charge nurse to manage throughput. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation An interdisciplinary team addressed processes. The methodology of Lean Six Sigma was applied. An improvement of 1.5% (30.5%) was noted. Areas that were stabilized through collaboration of the team were the services provided the day before discharge. Baseline data concluded that 69.1% of discharged patients left after 12 p.m., 55% of the deliveries occurred during the scheduled time frame, and low throughput. Lack of capacity to accommodate patients during periods of the day was identified. Stabilization of services before the day of discharge did not significantly improve throughput. The following processes on the day of discharge were not addressed: charge nurse ability, staff nurse ability, patient readiness for discharge, infant care, and physician discharge timeliness. The strategy for improvement included prepared designated charge nurses, a maternity discharge workflow indicator, and rapid cycle testing. The charge nurse ability was improved. The electronic discharge alert for mother and for infant was created. The maternity expected discharge list was completed each evening. Lactation consultation and documentation was developed within the electronic medical record. Phototherapy equipment consignment eliminated the wait for delivery and decreased readmissions for hyperbilirubinemia. The use of teletracking and transport aide expedited patients leaving the unit and maternity staff remained to care for other patients. Rapid cycle outcomes indicated that 47% of mother–baby couplets left the unit within rapid cycle three. The number of departures from the unit that took place within 90 minutes of the last discharge declined. Individual services and personal choice affected the data for couplet discharges. Average discharge time by 12 p.m. improved to 83%. A 12 p.m. discharge time has been normalized with correlation of consistency of application of processes. Implications for Nursing Practice Improved staffing ratios enhanced the ability to promote discharge timeliness. Patient perception improved and documentation for lactation services improved quality of care. Newborn readmissions declined by 75%.
Experiments with Gravity-Assisted Heat Pipes with and without Circumferential Grooves

The results of a series of experiments on the performance of gravity-assis ted heat pipes with and without circumferential grooves are reported. Heat-transfer rates and temperature gradients were measured, so that heat pipe conductance and evaporator and condenser heat-transfer coefficients were determined. Such actual performance data is useful to determine the improved performance of grooved heat pipes compared to wickless heat pipes or thermosyphons. Such performance data is important since the added cost of manufacturing the grooves is a significant part of the cost of the heat pipe, especially for long pipes. For a 91.4 cm long by 1.27 cm o.d. heat pfpe with 40 grooves per cm, the maximum thermal conductance measured was 22.7 W/°C, and the heat transfer coefficients in the evaporator and condenser were 4700 and 11,992 W/m2°C. The same size and type of heat pipe without grooves had a thermal conductance of 4.2 W/°C and evaporator and condenser heat-transfer coefficients of 1000 and 1500 W/m2 °C. Experiments were also conducted on a 6.4 m long by 3.18 cm o.d. ironwater heat pipe without grooves and on a U-shaped copper water heat pipe with grooves. H Nomenclature = evaporator heat-transfer coefficient, W/m2°C = condenser heat-transfer coefficient, W/m2°C = height of condenser elevation above evaporator, cm K=Q/AT ^thermal conductance, W/°C Q = heat-transfer rate, W R = AT/Q = thermal resistance, °C/W T = temperature, °C AT = temperature difference, °C x — length, cm a = angle of incline from horizontal, deg
Verifiable Elections That Scale for Free

In order to guarantee a fair and transparent voting process, electronic voting schemes must be verifiable. Most of the time, however, it is important that elections also be anonymous. The notion of a verifiable shuffle describes how to satisfy both properties at the same time: ballots are submitted to a public bulletin board in encrypted form, verifiably shuffled by several mix servers (thus guaranteeing anonymity), and then verifiably decrypted by an appropriate threshold decryption mechanism. To guarantee transparency, the intermediate shuffles and decryption results, together with proofs of their correctness, are posted on the bulletin board throughout this process.
Visualizing production planning data

Visualization of production planning data for decision making in manufacturing is nearly nonexistent. The planning problems at the Electronic Card Assembly and Test plant (ECAT) at IBM Austin, Texas, prompted the research project reported in this article. The project studied the characteristics of this type of managerial data, then developed special visualization techniques for constructing visual representations to support planners in developing superior production plans. A visualization prototype called VIZ planner was designed, implemented and empirically evaluated in a laboratory setting. Using this tool, hundreds of products, thousands of components, and many other factors can be visualized to provide planners with production planning insight.
Trade liberalization, market discipline and productivity growth: new evidence from India

Abstract This paper investigates the effects on competition and productivity of the dramatic 1991 trade liberalization in India. Using firm-level data from a variety of industries, we find strong evidence of an increase in competition (as reflected in the reductions in price-marginal cost markups) and some evidence of an increase in the growth rate of productivity. The methodological framework differs from earlier studies in that we `allow' for returns to scale to change after the liberalization, a relaxation of estimation restrictions that improves our estimates allowing more accurate (partial equilibrium) computation of welfare changes. Welfare analysis using the estimated parameters mostly suggests an increase in welfare, albeit quite small, in the sectors analyzed.
The creation of the rule of law and the legitimacy of property rights : the political and economic consequences of a corrupt privatization

How does the lack of legitimacy of property rights affect the dynamics of the creation of the rule of law? The authors investigate the demand for the rule of law in post-communist economies after privatization under the assumption that theft is possible, that those who have stolen assets cannot be fully protected under a change in the legal regime toward rule of law, and that the number of agents with control rights over assets is large. They show that a demand for broadly beneficial legal reform may not emerge because the expectation of weak legal institutions increases the expected relative return to stripping assets, and strippers may gain from a weak and corrupt state. The outcome can be inefficient even from the narrow perspective of the asset-strippers.
Learning Invariant Representations with Local Transformations

Learning invariant representations is an important problem in machine learning and pattern recognition. In this paper, we present a novel framework of transformation-invariant feature learning by incorporating linear transformations into the feature learning algorithms. For example, we present the transformation-invariant restricted Boltzmann machine that compactly represents data by its weights and their transformations, which achieves invariance of the feature representation via probabilistic max pooling. In addition, we show that our transformation-invariant feature learning framework can also be extended to other unsupervised learning methods, such as autoencoders or sparse coding. We evaluate our method on several image classification benchmark datasets, such as MNIST variations, CIFAR-10, and STL-10, and show competitive or superior classification performance when compared to the state-of-the-art. Furthermore, our method achieves state-of-the-art performance on phone classification tasks with the TIMIT dataset, which demonstrates wide applicability of our proposed algorithms to other domains.
Human-powered sorts and joins

Crowdsourcing markets like Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk) make it possible to task people with small jobs, such as labeling images or looking up phone numbers, via a programmatic interface. MTurk tasks for processing datasets with humans are currently designed with significant reimplementation of common workflows and ad-hoc selection of parameters such as price to pay per task. We describe how we have integrated crowds into a declarative workflow engine called Qurk to reduce the burden on workflow designers. In this paper, we focus on how to use humans to compare items for sorting and joining data, two of the most common operations in DBMSs. We describe our basic query interface and the user interface of the tasks we post to MTurk. We also propose a number of optimizations, including task batching, replacing pairwise comparisons with numerical ratings, and pre-filtering tables before joining them, which dramatically reduce the overall cost of running sorts and joins on the crowd. In an experiment joining two sets of images, we reduce the overall cost from $67 in a naive implementation to about $3, without substantially affecting accuracy or latency. In an end-to-end experiment, we reduced cost by a factor of 14.5.
Does Medicare Save Lives

Health insurance characteristics shift at age 65 as most people become eligible for Medicare. We measure the impacts of these changes on patients who are admitted to hospitals through emergency departments for conditions with similar admission rates on weekdays and weekends. The age profiles of admissions and comorbidities for these patients are smooth at age 65, suggesting that the severity of illness is similar on either side of the Medicare threshold. In contrast, the number of procedures performed in hospitals and total list charges exhibit small but statistically significant discontinuities, implying that patients over 65 receive more services. We estimate a nearly 1-percentage-point drop in 7-day mortality for patients at age 65, equivalent to a 20% reduction in deaths for this severely ill patient group. The mortality gap persists for at least 9 months after admission.
Empirical Evidence on Occupation and Industry Specific Human Capital

This paper presents instrumental variables estimates of the effects of firm tenure, occupation specific work experience, industry specific work experience, and general work experience on wages using data from the 1979 Cohort of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. The estimates indicate that both occupation and industry specific human capital are key determinants of wages, and the importance of various types of human capital varies widely across one-digit occupations. Human capital is primarily occupation specific in occupations such as craftsmen, where workers realize a 14% increase in wages after five years of occupation specific experience but do not realize wage gains from industry specific experience. In contrast, human capital is primarily industry specific in other occupations such as managerial employment where workers realize a 23% wage increase after five years of industry specific work experience. In other occupations, such as professional employment, both occupation and industry specific human capital are key determinants of wages.
A decision feedback decorrelator for a dual rate synchronous DS/CDMA system

A dual rate synchronous DS/CDMA system provides service to low bit rate and high bit rate users. In a fixed duration interval, a low rate user transmits one bit while a high rate user transmits M bits. The differences in the bit transmission rates result in different processing gains for each class of user. In this paper, we propose a decision feedback decorrelator for the dual rate synchronous DS/CDMA system which uses modified correlators and initiates the bit decision process at the end of the high rate bit interval. Each step of the decision process is executed by utilizing the decisions of all previously decoded users. This dual rate decision feedback receiver (evaluated by simulation) is found to outperform two types of decorrelators for dual rate CDMA systems. It is also observed that as the interferers grow stronger relative to the desired user, the performance of the decision feedback receiver for decoding the desired user approaches the single user bound.
Immigration and Production Technology

Research on the labor market impact of immigration typically relies on a single-good model of production with separable capital. This article discusses theory and evidence that suggest that this standard model is too simple to capture the long-run labor market impact of immigration. A level of capital-skill complementarity supported in studies both involving and not involving immigration alone reduces the relative wage impact of immigration by 40% compared to simulations with separable capital. Other models in which the production structure responds to skill-mix changes, including models with endogenous choice of technique, directed technical change, or human capital spillovers, also imply that the long-run impact of immigration on wages is smaller than predicted by the standard model. This article discusses new research that tries to credibly evaluate such models using immigration-induced variation in the skill mix, an approach with further potential, and evidence that immigration impacts innovation and ...
China's employment challenges and strategies after the WTO accession

Although China has made impressive progress in economic development and improving social well-being, it is facing many daunting challenges while transforming toward a knowledge and service-based economy and further opening up to international competition after its WTO accession in the context of knowledge revolution. One of the biggest challenges is how to create 100-300 million new jobs in the coming decade to absorb the millions of laid-offs, rural emigrants and newly added labor force. China has been successful in building high-tech parks and ICT industries, but they are limited in terms of employment generation, while most of the traditional labor-intensive industries are losing competitiveness due to low productivity. In order to combat the unprecedented employment challenge, China must implement a systemic and sustained strategy, which may consist of the following policy thrusts: encouraging the private sector; promoting small and medium enterprises; expanding the service sector; reforming the state-owned enterprises; strengthening the social security system; improving labor market flexibility; and establishing mass retraining programs.
A message-passing approach for joint channel estimation, interference mitigation, and decoding

Channel uncertainty and co-channel interference are two major challenges in the design of wireless systems such as future generation cellular networks. This paper studies receiver design for a wireless channel model with both time-varying Rayleigh fading and strong co-channel interference of similar form as the desired signal. It is assumed that the channel coefficients of the desired signal can be estimated through the use of pilots, whereas no pilot for the interference signal is available, as is the case in many practical wireless systems. Because the interference process is non-Gaussian, treating it as Gaussian noise generally often leads to unacceptable performance. In order to exploit the statistics of the interference and correlated fading in time, an iterative message-passing architecture is proposed for joint channel estimation, interference mitigation and decoding. Each message takes the form of a mixture of Gaussian densities where the number of components is limited so that the overall complexity of the receiver is constant per symbol regardless of the frame and code lengths. Simulation of both coded and uncoded systems shows that the receiver performs significantly better than conventional receivers with linear channel estimation, and is robust with respect to mismatch in the assumed fading model.
Gauss–Bonnet–Chern theorem on moduli space

In this paper, we prove a Gauss–Bonnet–Chern type theorem in full generality for the Chern–Weil forms of Hodge bundles. That is, the Chern–Weil forms compute the corresponding Chern classes. This settles a long standing problem. Second, we apply the result to Calabi–Yau moduli, and proved the corresponding Gauss–Bonnet–Chern type theorem in the setting of Weil–Petersson geometry. As an application of our results in string theory, we prove that the number of flux vacua of type II string compactified on a Calabi–Yau manifold is finite, and their number is bounded by an intrinsic geometric quantity.
Previous weight loss experiences of bariatric surgery candidates: how much have patients dieted prior to surgery?

Abstract Objective To describe the dieting histories of bariatric surgery candidates. Research methods and procedures One hundred seventy-seven individuals with extreme obesity who sought bariatric surgery completed the Weight and Lifestyle Inventory, a self-report instrument that assesses several variables, including weight and dieting history. Patients' dieting histories were further explored with an aided recall during a preoperative behavioral/psychological evaluation performed by a mental health professional. Results Participants who completed the Weight and Lifestyle Inventory reported an average of 4.7 ± 2.9 successful dieting attempts, defined as those that resulted in a loss of 10 lbs (4.5 kg) or more. These individuals reported a mean total lifetime weight loss of 61.1 ± 41.3 kg. Despite these efforts, their weight increased from 89.4 ± 27.4 kg at the time of their first diet (age 21.2 ± 10.1 years) to 144.5 ± 30.8 kg at the time they underwent their behavioral/psychological evaluation (age 43.0 ± 11.0 years). Results of the aided recall revealed that participants had made numerous other efforts to lose weight that were unsuccessful. Self-directed diets and commercial programs were used more frequently. Discussion Individuals who sought bariatric surgery reported an extensive history of dieting, beginning in adolescence, that was not successful in halting progressive weight gain. Thus, the recommendation often made by insurance companies that patients delay surgery to attempt more conservative treatment options may be unwarranted, particularly in the presence of significant obesity-related comorbidities. Weight loss histories should be routinely examined during a behavioral evaluation to determine whether additional attempts at non-surgical weight loss are advisable. Future studies also are needed to explore the potential relationship between dieting history and postoperative outcome.
Experimental Study of Flow Patterns, Pressure Drop, and Flow Instabilities in Parallel Rectangular Minichannels

Abstract Flow boiling heat transfer in parallel minichannels and microchannels is one of the solutions proposed for cooling high heat flux systems. The associated increase in the pressure drop poses a problem that needs to be studied in detail before the small diameter channels can be implemented in practical systems. The pressure drop fluctuations and the flow instability in a network of parallel channels connected by a common header also need to be addressed for the stable operation of flow boiling systems. The current work focuses on studying the flow patterns, pressure drop fluctuations, and flow instabilities in a set of six parallel rectangular minichannels, each with 333μm in hydraulic diameter. Deionized and degassed water was used for all the experiments. The pressure fluctuations are recorded and signal analysis is performed to find the dominant frequencies and their amplitudes. These pressure fluctuations are then mapped to their corresponding flow patterns observed using a high speed camera. T...
PdII‐Catalyzed Spiroketalization of Ketoallylic Diols

A high-yielding stereoselective method for forming spiroketals from simple ketoallylic diols is reported. Employing catalytic [PdCl2(MeCN)2] in THF at 0 °C, these dehydrative cyclization reactions require only mild conditions to produce vinyl-substituted spiroketals in high yields after brief reaction times with water as the only byproduct. Using this method, the stereochemical information embedded at the nucleophile is transmitted "down-the-chain" and efficiently sets the stereochemistry at both the anomeric carbon atom and the newly formed allylic stereocenter.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA: INTERREGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGIONAL COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE

Significant economic disparities among China's Eastern, Central, and Western regions pose unequivocal challenges to social equality and political stability in the country. A major impediment to economic development, especially in the poor, remote Western region, is the shortage of a transportation infrastructure. The Chinese government has committed to substantial investment for improving the accessibility of this vast, land-locked region as a mechanism for promoting its development. The paper examines the impacts of the intended transportation infrastructure build-up on the Western region's comparative advantage and its interregional trade. The World Trade Model is extended to represent this investment and applied to determine interregional trade in China based on region-specific technologies, factor endowments and prices, and consumption patterns as well as the capacities and costs of carrying goods among regions using the interregional transportation infrastructure in place in the base year of 1997 and...
Efficacy of C–N Coupling Reactions with a New Multinuclear Copper Complex Catalyst and Its Dissociation into Mononuclear Species

A new tetranuclear copper(I)–pyridazine (pda)/rhenate hybrid has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The activity of this catalyst, as well as its dissociation into mononuclear species, was investigated in homogeneous C–N arylation reactions. A variety of N-arylamides and -azoles were synthesized in good to excellent yields, revealing the effect of polynuclear versus mononuclear Cu complexation in this type of coupling reaction.
Associative Obligation and Law's Authority

Abstract. Most attempts to explicate the authority of law dismiss the possible analogy of such authority with the less pretentious authority of parents, professional bodies, academic faculties, and other similar groups. This article explores that analogy, drawing on discussions of related themes by Ronald Dworkin and others. If agents are sometimes bound without their consent by such limited authority, the authority of law, though broader, may have similar features. Law's claim to peremptory obedience would fail, but the more modest account could still satisfy some long recognized desiderata.
The role of field coupling in nano-scale cellular nonlinear networks.

We review some of our previous work on field-coupling in nano-scale cellular arrays. Electronic devices based on metallic and magnetic nanoscale dots and molecular structures have been suggested, however, no technologically viable architecture for nanoelectronic circuit integration has emerged so far. A natural architecture on the nanoscale appears to be near-neighbor cellular networking, and we explore promising alternative ways of integrating nanodevices by direct physical field coupling, i.e. either by Coulomb or by magnetic interactions. We review new architectures for such field-coupled nanocircuits.
Recipes for cookies: how institutions shape communication technologies

The ability of communication technologies to favor certain societal concerns, such as privacy, is widely recognized. This article argues that an institutional analysis is central to understanding how a technology affects a societal concern. This is demonstrated with a case study of cookie technology, which has been shaped in differing ways by universities, firms and consortia. A comparative institutional analysis finds that each of these institutions act according to their own norms and processes in influencing the recipe for cookies. It is these institutional tendencies that shape cookie technology. By understanding these tendencies, policymakers can better assess, predict and proactively influence the development of communication technologies to improve societal welfare.
Energetic Constraints on the Position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) can shift meridionally on seasonal and longer time scales. Previous studies have shown that the latitude of the ITCZ is negatively correlated with cross-equatorial atmospheric energy transport. For example, the ITCZ shifts southward as the Northern Hemisphere cools and the northward cross-equatorial energy transport strengthens in response. It has remained unclear what controls the sensitivity of the ITCZ position to cross-equatorial energy transport and what other factors may lead to shifts of the ITCZ position. Here it is shown that the sensitivity of the ITCZ position to cross-equatorial energy transport depends on the net energy input to the equatorial atmosphere: the net radiative energy input minus any energy uptake by the oceans. Changes in this energy input can also lead to ITCZ shifts. The cross-equatorial energy transport is related through a series of approximations to interhemispheric asymmetries in the near-surface temperature distribution. The resulting theory of the ITCZ position is tested in idealized general circulation model simulations with a slab ocean as lower boundary condition. In the simulations, cross-equatorial energy transport increases under global warming (primarily because extratropical latent energy fluxes strengthen), and this shifts the ITCZ poleward. The ITCZ shifts equatorward if primarily the tropics warm in response to an increased net energy input to the equatorial atmosphere. The results have implications for explaining the varied response of the ITCZ to global or primarily tropical changes in the atmospheric energy balance, such as those that occur under global warming or El Nino.
TABSOL: a fundamental concept for systems-oriented languages

Lack of efficient methods for thinking -through and recording the logic of complex information systems has been a major obstacle to the effective use of computers in manufacturing businesses. To supply this need, this paper introduces and describes "decision structure tables," the essential element in TABSOL, a tabular systems-oriented language developed in the General Electric Company. Decision structure tables can be used to describe complicated, multi-variable, multi-result decision systems. Various approaches to the automatic computer solution of structure tables are presented. Some benefits which have been observed in applying this language concept are also discussed. Decision structure tables appear broadly applicable in information systems design.In addition, they are of interest because they revise many earlier notions on problem formulation and systems analysis technique. Decision structure tables will be an available feature in GECOM, General Electric's new General Compiler, which will be first implemented on the GE 225.
Risk of Prostate Cancer-Specific Mortality Following Biochemical Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy

Due to the exquisite sensitivity of PSAtodetectdiseaserecurrenceearly,manypatients have a long interval betweenbiochemicalrecurrenceandthedevel-opment of local recurrence or distantmetastasis. To help counsel these pa-tients and their physicians, we previ-ouslyanalyzedacohortof304menwhohad undergone radical prostatectomyand had a subsequent biochemical re-currence, of whom 131 had PSA dou-bling time (PSADT) data available.
Surprisal analysis of rotational—translational energy transfer: Non-linear versus linear rotors☆

Surprisal versus energy gap analyses of state-to-state cross sections are presented for a number of linear rigid rotors excited by collisions with atoms for H2-H, H2-He, HCl-He, HCl-Ar, CO-He, CS-H2 (j=0) OCS-H2 (j=0) and HN2(+)-He, where (j=0) indicates that the hydrogen molecule was constrained to remain in its lowest level. Different systems exhibit wide variations in the slope of the surprisal plot and in certain cases, enough to indicate that the energy gap may not be the static dynamical constraint. Similar analyses are presented for nonlinear rotors excited by atoms for H2CO-He and H2O-He. For these, the data show a great deal of scatter, indicating that the reduced energy gap is probably not the appropriate independent variable.