cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generalized Solutions to Semilinear Elliptic PDE with Applications to the Lichnerowicz Equation

In this article we investigate the existence of a solution to a semi-linear, elliptic, partial differential equation with distributional coefficients and data. The problem we consider is a generalization of the Lichnerowicz equation that one encounters in studying the constraint equations in general relativity. Our method for solving this problem consists of solving a net of regularized, semi-linear problems with data obtained by smoothing the original, distributional coefficients. In order to solve these regularized problems, we develop a priori L ?-bounds and sub- and super-solutions to apply a fixed point argument. We then show that the net of solutions obtained through this process satisfies certain decay estimates by determining estimates for the sub- and super-solutions and utilizing classical, a priori elliptic estimates. The estimates for this net of solutions allow us to regard this collection of functions as a solution in a Colombeau-type algebra. We motivate this Colombeau algebra framework by first solving an ill-posed critical exponent problem. To solve this ill-posed problem, we use a collection of smooth, "approximating" problems and then use the resulting sequence of solutions and a compactness argument to obtain a solution to the original problem. This approach is modeled after the more general Colombeau framework that we develop, and it conveys the potential that solutions in these abstract spaces have for obtaining classical solutions to ill-posed non-linear problems with irregular data.
Growth and Materials Characterization of Native Germanium Oxynitride Thin Films on Germanium

The objective of this study was an investigation of physical and electronic properties of native germanium oxynitrides on germanium with the goal of developing a technique for fabricating insulating films on germanium having sufficient interfacial quality for MOS and junction passivation applications. The thermal reaction process developed for this study, atmospheric pressure oxidation followed by atmospheric pressure nitridation yields smooth, uniform, native germanium oxynitride films which have high interfacial quality and which are MOSFET process compatible. Physical characterization using infrared transmission spectroscopy, ESCA, and Auger electron spectroscopy indicates that the thermal oxidation of germanium at 600°C results in a vitreous film of essentially stoichiometric , which is converted to a network of germanium, oxygen, and nitrogen by exposure to anhydrous ammonia at 600°C. Long nitridation times at 600°C result in the formation of a stable stoichiometric oxynitride, (rather than causing complete conversion to , which occurs only at higher temperatures). An infrared absorbance peak at 800 cm−1 has been identified and attributed to a vibrational mode of the stoichiometric oxynitride structure. Electrical characterization by capacitance‐voltage measurements and channel mobility measurements in MOSFET's indicates that appropriate nitridation conditions result in an interface state density of ~1011/cm2‐eV and a channel mobility of 1200 cm2/V‐s.
Adjuvant recombinant human growth hormone does not augment endogenous glucose production in total parenteral nutrition—fed multiple trauma patients

Abstract Hyperglycemia and insulin resistance are well-known, consistent responses to severe injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism for the further exaggerated hyperglycemia due to adjuvant recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment in multiple trauma patients. We have measured in 20 adult severely injured, highly catabolic, hypermetabolic, multiple trauma patients, the glucose kinetics (appearance, clearance, oxidation, and recycling) once in the basal state (study I), 48 to 60 hours after injury but before starting nutritional therapy, and again (study II) after 7 days of intravenous nutrition (1.1 times resting energy expenditure, 250 mg nitrogen [N]/kg/d) with or without adjuvant rhGH. Group H (n = 10) randomly received daily (8 am ) rhGH (0.15 mg/kg/d) and group C (n = 10) received the vehicle of infusion. Adjuvant rhGH treatment in intravenously fed trauma patients (1) increases plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin concentrations, (2) improves N balance, and (3) exaggerates the hyperglycemic response without affecting endogenous glucose output, glucose oxidation, or recycling. The mechanism for the hyperglycemic hyperinsulinemia in trauma may be due to a defective nonoxidative glucose disposal, as well as inhibition of glucose transport activity into tissue cells.
Nonasymptotic noisy lossy source coding

This paper shows new general nonasymptotic achievability and converse bounds and performs their dispersion analysis for the lossy compression problem in which the compressor observes the source through a noisy channel. While this problem is asymptotically equivalent to a noiseless lossy source coding problem with a modified distortion function, nonasymptotically there is a difference in how fast their minimum achievable coding rates approach the rate-distortion function, providing yet another example where at finite blocklengths one must put aside traditional asymptotic thinking.
Lagrangian methods for the tensor-diffusivity subgrid model

Abstract A subgrid-scale model based on a truncated exact series expansion for Gaussian filtered products is considered for the incompressible scalar advection–diffusion equation. This model can be interpreted as a tensor diffusivity term proportional to the rate-of-strain tensor of the large-scale filtered velocity field. To control negative diffusion in the stretching directions, a Lagrangian method is used. The scalar field is represented in terms of a collection of anisotropic or axisymmetric Gaussian particles. An expansion in Hermite polynomials leads to equations of motion for particle velocity and shape based on a weighted average. A new accurate remeshing method, taking advantage of the properties of the subgrid model, is proposed and tested. A stagnation flow is used to demonstrate several theoretical and numerical aspects of the model. Better agreement with filtered DNS data is obtained than with the Smagorinsky subgrid model for a 2D time-dependent sinusoidal flow, which yields chaotic advection. The use of anisotropic particles leads to slightly more accurate results than the use of axisymmetric particles. Computational efficiency, however, makes the latter therefore the preferred choice.
An in situ time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction study of the humidity-induced phase transition in sodium monothiophosphate

Anhydrous {beta}-Na{sub 3}PO{sub 3}S, obtained by rapid cooling, has been observed to convert to the more thermodynamically stable, anhydrous {alpha}-Na{sub 3}PO{sub 3}S upon exposure to a humid atmosphere. Though water plays a critical role in this polymorphic transformation, it is absent in both the initial and final materials. In situ time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction was used to track the progress of this transition as a function of time. Diffraction data were acquired using the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) at Argonne National Laboratory. An empirical whole pattern fitting method was used to determine the polymorphic phase composition over time. The resulting data were evaluated using several solid-state kinetic models. The kinetics of this transition has been determined to be best described by either one- or two-dimensional diffusion. The significance of these models with respect to the physical phenomenon is discussed. - Graphical abstract: Anhydrous {beta}-Na{sub 3}PO{sub 3}S has been observed to convert to anhydrous {alpha}-Na{sub 3}PO{sub 3}S upon exposure to a humid atmosphere. In situ neutron powder diffraction was used to monitor the transition. A whole pattern fitting method was used to determine the phase composition, as a function of time. The data were evaluated using several solid-state kinetic models.
A refinement and extension of the no-envy concept

Abstract We propose a new criterion of equity in the spirit of Foley's (1967) no-envy concept. We prove the existence of efficient allocations satisfying this criterion for a class of economies containing many for which envy-free and efficient allocations do not exist; when a large set of the latter exists, our criterion selects a small subset of it.
On residually S_2 ideals and projective dimension one modules

We prove that certain modules are faithful. This enables us to draw consequences about the reduction number and the integral closure of some classes of ideals.
Characterizing performance in socio-technical systems: A modeling framework in the domain of nuclear power ☆

In modeling complex socio-technical systems, the critical nature of many interactions between human and automation are often unrecognized until the system experiences catastrophic consequences. One reason for this is that the systems are generally very robust and serious problems are rare. Another reason is the difficulty in modeling the variety of interactions in a manner compatible with analytical and/or computational models of the technological components of the system. Organizational issues and extraneous influences add to these modeling difficulties. We have developed a modeling framework that integrates certain ideas from social networks, graph theory, and simulation, all tied together using heuristics that reflect deep domain knowledge. This framework forms the basis for a computational implementation, portions of which have been implemented. Details of the model and the rationale for the model structure are described in this paper.
A kinetic separation method for the stereoselective preparation of 1-fluorovinylphosphonates from E/Z mixtures of 1-bromo-1-fluoroolefins

Abstract Reaction of E / Z mixtures of 1-bromo-1-fluoroolefins with diethylphosphite and catalytic Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 in triethylamine at 30–40°C gave predominately the ( E )-isomer of the 1-fluorovinylphosphonate ( E / Z ≥95:5) in good yields. Pure ( E )-1-fluorovinylphosphonate could be readily obtained by chromatographic separation of the 95:5 E / Z mixture. Pure ( Z )-1-bromo-1-fluoroolefin could be recovered and phosphorylated at 70°C to give pure ( Z )-1-fluorovinylphosphonate in 51–60% yield. Thus, E / Z mixtures of 1-bromo-1-fluoroolefins could be kinetically separated into pure ( E )- and ( Z )-1-fluorovinylphosphonates. This methodology provides an unequivocal route to the isomerically pure ( E )- and ( Z )-1-fluorovinylphosphonates from the readily available 1-bromo-1-fluoroolefins.
Didemnolines A-D, new N9-substituted β-carbolines from the marine ascidian Didemnum sp.

Abstract Four new β-carboline-based metabolites, didemnolines A-D (1–4), were isolated along with eudistomin O (5), β-carboline (6), and 2-(2′,4′-dibromophenoxy)-3,5-dibromophenol (7) from an ascidian of the genus Didemnum, collected near the island of Rota, Northern Mariana Islands. These new β-carboline-based metabolites differ from most previously isolated compounds in that they are substituted at the N9 position of the β-carboline ring, rather than the C1 position.
Evaluating ontology mapping techniques: An experiment in public safety information sharing

The public safety community in the United States consists of thousands of local, state, and federal agencies, each with its own information system. In the past few years, there has been a thrust on the seamless interoperability of systems in these agencies. Ontology-based interoperability approaches in the public safety domain need to rely on mapping between ontologies as each agency has its own representation of information. However, there has been little study of ontology mapping techniques in this domain. We evaluate current mapping techniques with real-world data representations from law-enforcement and public safety data sources. In addition, we implement an information theory based tool called MIMapper that uses WordNet and mutual information between data instances to map ontologies. We find that three tools: PROMPT, Chimaera, and LOM, have average F-measures of 0.46, 0.49, and 0.68 when matching pairs of ontologies with the number of classes ranging from 13-73. MIMapper performs better with an average F-measure of 0.84 in performing the same task. We conclude that the tools that use secondary sources (like WordNet) and data instances to establish mappings between ontologies are likely to perform better in this application domain.
Improved tracking of maneuvering targets: The use of turn-rate distributions for acceleration modeling

Tactically maneuvering targets are difficult to track since acceleration cannot be observed directly and the accelerations are induced by human control or an autonomous guidance system therefore they are not subject to deterministic models. A common tracking system is the two-state Kalman filter with a Singer maneuver model where the second-order statistics of acceleration is the same as a first-order Markov process. The Singer model assumes a uniform probability distribution on the targets acceleration which is independent of the x and y direction. In practice, it is expected that targets have constant forward speed and an acceleration vector normal to the velocity vector, a condition not present in the Singer model. The work of Singer is extended by presenting a maneuver model which assumes constant forward speed and a probability distribution on the targets turn-rate. Details of the model are presented along with sample simulation results.
Influences of surfactant and nanoparticle assembly on effective interfacial tensions

We have studied assembly at air–water and liquid–liquid interfaces with an emphasis on systems containing both surfactants and nanoparticles. Anionic surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and non-ionic surfactants, Triton X-100 and tetraethylene glycol alkyl ethers (C8E4, C12E4 and C14E4), effectively decrease the surface tension of air–water interfaces. The inclusion of negatively charged hydrophilic silica nanoparticles (diameters of approximately 13 nm) increases the efficiency of the SDS molecules but does not alter the performance of the non-ionic surfactants. The former is likely due to the repulsive Coulomb interactions between the SDS molecules and nanoparticles which promote the surfactant adsorption at air–water interfaces. For systems involving trichloroethylene (TCE)–water interfaces, the SDS and Triton X-100 surfactants effectively decrease the interfacial tensions and the nanoparticle effects are similar compared to those involving air–water interfaces. Interestingly, the C12E4 and C14E4 molecules, with or without the presence of nanoparticles, fail to decrease the TCE–water interfacial tensions. Our molecular dynamics simulations have suggested that the tetraethylene glycol alkyl ether molecules tend to disperse in the TCE phase rather than adsorb at the TCE–water interfaces.
Does Deposit Insurance Improve Financial Intermediation? Evidence from the Russian Experiment

This study examines how the introduction of deposit insurance affects depositors and banks, using the deposit-insurance scheme introduced into the Russian banking system as a natural experiment. The fundamental research question is whether the introduction of deposit insurance leads to a more effective banking system as evidenced by increased deposit-taking and decreased reliance upon State-owned banks as custodians of retail deposits. We find that banks entering the new deposit-insurance system increase both their level of retail deposits and their ratios of retail deposits to total assets relative to banks that do not enter the new deposit insurance system. These results hold up in a multivariate panel-data analysis that controls for bank- and time- random effects. The longer a bank has been entered into the deposit insurance system, the greater is its level of deposits and its ratio of deposits to assets. Moreover, this effect is stronger for regional banks and for smaller banks. We also find that implementation of the new deposit-insurance system has the effect of ―leveling the playing field‖ between State-owned banks and privately owned banks. Finally, we find strong evidence of moral hazard following implementation of deposit insurance in the form of increased bank risk-taking. Financial risk and, to a lesser degree, operating risk increase following implementation.
Protein Loop Closure Using Orientational Restraints from NMR Data

Protein loops often play important roles in biological functions. Modeling loops accurately is crucial to determining the functional specificity of a protein. Despite the recent progress in loop prediction approaches, which led to a number of algorithms over the past decade, few rigorous algorithmic approaches exist to model protein loops using global orientational restraints, such as those obtained from residual dipolar coupling (RDC) data in solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In this article, we present a novel, sparse data, RDC-based algorithm, which exploits the mathematical interplay between RDC-derived sphero-conics and protein kinematics, and formulates the loop structure determination problem as a system of low-degree polynomial equations that can be solved exactly, in closed-form. The polynomial roots, which encode the candidate conformations, are searched systematically, using provable pruning strategies that triage the vast majority of conformations, to enumerate or prune all possible loop conformations consistent with the data; therefore, completeness is ensured. Results on experimental RDC datasets for four proteins, including human ubiquitin, FF2, DinI, and GB3, demonstrate that our algorithm can compute loops with higher accuracy, a three- to six-fold improvement in backbone RMSD, versus those obtained by traditional structure determination protocols on the same data. Excellent results were also obtained on synthetic RDC datasets for protein loops of length 4, 8, and 12 used in previous studies. These results suggest that our algorithm can be successfully applied to determine protein loop conformations, and hence, will be useful in high-resolution protein backbone structure determination, including loops, from sparse NMR data. Proteins 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chiral synthesis of DuP 721, a new antibacterial agent

Abstract A chiral synthesis of DuP 721 [(S)-N-[3-(4-acetylphenyl)-2-oxo-5-oxazolidinylmethyl]acetamide] from 4-acetylphenyl isocyanate ( 1 ) and (R)-glyddyl butyrate ( 2 ) is described.
Lower bounds and the hardness of counting properties

Rice's Theorem states that all nontrivial language properties of recursively enumerable sets are undecidable. Borchert and Stephan (Math. Logic Quart. 46 (4) (2000) 489-504) started the search for complexity-theoretic analogs of Rice's Theorem, and proved that every nontrivial counting property of boolean circuits is UP-hard. Hemaspaandra and Rothe (Theoret. Comput. Sci. 244 (1-2) (2000) 205-217) improved the UP-hardness lower bound to UPO(1)-hardness. The present paper raises the lower bound for nontrivial counting properties from UPO(1)-hardness to FewP-hardness, i.e., from constant-ambiguity nondeterminism to polynomial-ambiguity nondeterminism. Furthermore, we prove that no relativizable technique can raise this lower bound to FewP-≤1-ttp -hardness. We also prove a Rice-style theorem for NP, namely that every nontrivial language property of NP sets is NP-hard, and for a broad class of leaf-language classes we prove a sufficient condition for the natural analog of Rice's Theorem to hold.
Premixed Turbulent Flame/Flow Interaction: Simultaneous Measurements of Velocity and Flamelet Position

An experimental technique for obtaining simultaneous measurements of fluid velocity and flamelet position in premixed flames is described and applied in a turbulent V-flame. The flamelet position information is used to calculate conditional velocity statistics, conditional on both zone (reactants or products) and distance from the flamelet. The conditional zone statistics demonstrate that increases (or decreases) in turbulence across the flame are dependent on axial position and location within the flame brush. The product-zone conditional covariance, coupled with the measured conditional mean velocity profiles, indicate that turbulence generation by shear may be a significant contribution to product zone turbulence levels. Velocity statistics conditional on distance from the flamelet demonstrate a considerable interaction between the flamelet and velocity field. Mean and rms velocities vary significantly with proximity to the flamelet, such that differences in the conditional zone velocity statistics are not always representative of the differences in velocities that occur just across the flamelet surface. The change in rms velocities just across the flamelet is found to be anisotropic, with the largest increase (smallest decrease) occurring in the axial velocity component. Trends in the rms velocities conditional on flamelet position further support the hypothesis that increased product gas velocity fluctuations may have a significant component associated with turbulence generation by mean shear.
Synthesis of N-t-Boc-4-S-t-Butyl-L-thiophenylalanine via Palladium Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reaction of N-t-Boc-4-Iodo-L-phenylalanine with t-Butylthiol or Sodium t-Butylthiolate

Abstract Cross-coupling reaction of N-t-Boc-4-iodo-L-phenylalanine with t-BuSH proceeded efficiently in the presence of Pd2dba3.CHCl3/DPPF as the catalyst system. However, Pd2dba3.CHCl3/DPPB was found to be more effective for coupling with t-BuSNa.
Spanning with American options

In this paper, we investigate the existence of multiperiod American options generating dynamically complete markets. We show that if a primitive security separates states at the terminal date, then generically there exist multiperiod American options on that security generating dynamically complete markets. We also provide an example of an economy in which multiperiod American options on a primitive security generate dynamically complete markets, while multiperiod European options do not. r 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
A new approach to the stereoselective total synthesis of isotopically labeled d-ribo-phytosphingosine

Abstract We describe a novel stereoselective total synthesis of d -ribo-[1,1-2H-1,2-13C]phytosphingosine (12). Chirality at the incipient C-4 position was derived from asymmetric dihydroxylation of 1-hexadecene. The remaining chiral centers were formed by Sharpless epoxidation of an allylic alcohol, followed by benzoylcarbamate cyclization to furnish a 2-amino-1,3,4-triol derivative with the desired stereochemistry. The 2H and 13C labels were introduced by Horner–Emmons condensation of 13C-labeled triethyl phosphonoacetate, followed by reduction of the resulting carboxylic ester with AlCl3/LiAlD4. Mass spectral results indicated the suitability of 12 as an internal standard for analyses by the isotope dilution method.
Tuning acid–base cooperativity to create next generation silica-supported organocatalysts

Abstract Catalysts incorporating acid and base cooperative interactions can more efficiently catalyze the aldol and nitroaldol reactions than single component catalysts since cooperative interactions enable activation of both reaction partners. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis studies demonstrate that limiting acid–base interactions is important and can be achieved by using weak acids (including surface silanols of heterogeneous catalysts) or using a rigid backbone between the acid and base. For heterogeneous catalysts, cooperativity between amines and silanols can be tuned by controlling the alkyl linker length of the aminosilane and controlling the silica support pore size. The nitroaldol condensation is more sensitive to these parameters than the aldol condensation, resulting in an order of magnitude difference in reaction rates when varying these two parameters. While knowledge of the amine–silanol cooperativity is still limited, these findings demonstrate useful structure–property trends that can be used to design more efficient bio-inspired catalysts.
Chromosomal Proteins From the Embryoid body/teratocarcinoma System

Abstract Chromosomal proteins were isolated from simple embryoid bodies and teratocarcinomas, derivatives of the transplantable mouse testicular teratocarcinoma OTT-6050 of 129 mouse origin. The chromosomal proteins soluble in 5 M urea and low salt and the histones were extracted from embryoid body and teratocarcinoma chromatin. The use of long Laemmli (28-cm) gels enables a detailed comparison of the developmental changes in the 5 M urea-soluble chromosomal proteins which accumulate in the embryoid body and teratocarcinoma chromatin. The accumulated 5 M urea-soluble proteins above 30,000 daltons from embryoid body chromatin resolve into 69 stained bands and the corresponding group of proteins from teratocarcinomas resolves into 70 distinct bands. Both quantitative and qualitative differences at a minimum of 14 positions are detectable by visual inspection of the gels. Patterns of synthesis in the same group of proteins as assessed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis show marked changes during the developmental transition from an embryoid body to a teratocarcinoma. Twenty-eight major differences in the proteins synthesized during a 4-hr labeling period are detectable, with numerous minor differences evident on detailed inspection. Electrophoretic patterns of histones from the three stages of development indicate that histone 4 (H4) from teratomas is modified (acetylated) twice as much as H4 from embryoid bodies. The remaining histones do not show any detectable differences during the differentiation of embryoid bodies to teratocarcinomas. Thus, the differentiation process from embryoid bodies containing only endoderm and embryocarcinoma cells to teratocarcinomas containing a predominance of neuroepithelial cells appears to involve a large variation in synthesis of 5 M urea-soluble chromosomal proteins.
Weighted Likelihood for Semiparametric Models and Two-phase Stratified Samples, with Application to Cox Regression.

Abstract. We consider semiparametric models for which solution of Horvitz–Thompson or inverse probability weighted (IPW) likelihood equations with two-phase stratified samples leads to consistent and asymptotically Gaussian estimators of both Euclidean and non-parametric parameters. For Bernoulli (independent and identically distributed) sampling, standard theory shows that the Euclidean parameter estimator is asymptotically linear in the IPW influence function. By proving weak convergence of the IPW empirical process, and borrowing results on weighted bootstrap empirical processes, we derive a parallel asymptotic expansion for finite population stratified sampling. Several of our key results have been derived already for Cox regression with stratified case–cohort and more general survey designs. This paper is intended to help interpret this previous work and to pave the way towards a general Horvitz–Thompson approach to semiparametric inference with data from complex probability samples.
Minor Galaxy Interactions: Star Formation Rates and Galaxy Properties

We study star formation in a sample of 1204 galaxies in minor ( ≥ 2) pair and compact groups, drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 5. We analyze an analogous sample of 2409 galaxies in major ( < 2) pair and compact groups to ensure that our selection reproduces previous results, and we use a field sample of 65,570 galaxies for comparison. Our major and minor pair samples include only galaxies in spectroscopically confirmed pair, where the recessional velocity separation ΔV < 500 km s-1 and the projected spatial separation ΔD < 50 kpc h-1. The relative magnitude (a proxy for the mass ratio) of the pair is an important parameter in the effectiveness of the tidally triggered star formation in minor interactions. As expected, the secondary galaxies in minor pair show evidence for tidally triggered star formation, whereas the primary galaxies in the minor pair do not. The galaxy color is also an important parameter in the effectiveness of triggered star formation in the major galaxy pair. In the major pair sample, there is a correlation between the specific Hα star formation rate (SSFR) and ΔD in the blue primary and blue secondary galaxies; for the red primary and red secondary galaxies, there is none. Galaxies in pair have a higher mean SSFR at every absolute magnitude compared to matched sets of field galaxies, and the relative increase in mean SSFR becomes larger with decreasing intrinsic luminosity. We also detect a significantly increased AGN fraction in the pair galaxies compared to matched sets of field galaxies.
Improved algorithms for hypergraph bipartitioning

Multilevel Fiduccia-Mattheyses (MLFM) hypergraph partitioning is a fundamental optimization in VLSI CAD physical design. The leading implementation, hMetis, has since 1997 proved itself substantially superior in both runtime and solution quality to even very recent work. In this work, we present two sets of results: (i) new techniques for flat FM-based hypergraph partitioning (which is the core of multilevel implementations), and (ii) a new multilevel implementation that offers leading-edge performance. Our new techniques for flat partitioning confirm the conjecture that specialized partitioning heuristics may be able to actively exploit fixed nodes in partitioning instances arising in the driving top-down placement context. Our FM variant is competitive with traditional FM on instances without terminals and considerably superior on instances with fixed nodes (i.e., arising during top-down placement). Our multilevel FM variant avoids several complex heuristics and non-trivial tunings that often lead to complex implementations; it achieves trade-offs between solution quality and run time that are comparable or better than those achieved by hMetis-1.5.3. We attempt to provide algorithm descriptions that are as detailed and unambiguous as possible, to allow replicability and speed improvements in future research.
Critical Role of the mTOR Pathway in Development and Function of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in lal−/− Mice

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) is essential for the hydrolysis of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides to generate cholesterol and free fatty acids in cellular lysosomes. Ablation of the lal gene (lal−/−) systemically increased expansion of cluster of differentiation molecule 11b (CD11b), lymphocyte antigen 6G (Ly6G) myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that caused myeloproliferative neoplasms in mice. Study of lal−/− bone marrow Ly6G+ MDSCs via transcriptional profiling showed increases in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway transcripts. Injection of mTOR pharmacologic inhibitors into lal−/− mice significantly reduced bone marrow myelopoiesis and systemic CD11b+Ly6G+ cell expansion. Rapamycin treatment of lal−/− mice stimulated a shift from immature CD11b+Ly6G+ cells to CD11b+ single-positive cells in marrow and tissues and partially reversed the increased cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis, increased ATP synthesis, and increased cell cycling of bone marrow CD11b+Ly6G+ cells obtained from lal−/− mice. Pharmacologic and siRNA suppression of mTOR, regulatory-associated protein of mTOR, rapamycin-insensitive companion of mTOR, and Akt1 function corrected CD11b+Ly6G+ cell in lal−/− mice development from Lin− progenitor cells and reversed the immune suppression on T-cell proliferation and function in association with decreased reactive oxygen species production, and recovery from impairment of mitochondrial membrane potential compared with control mutant cells. These results indicate a crucial role of LAL-regulated mTOR signaling in the production and function of CD11b+Ly6G+ cells. The mTOR pathway may serve as a novel target to modulate the emergence of MDSCs in those pathophysiologic states in which these cells play an immunosuppressive role.
Real Estate and Economies of Scale: The Case of REITs

Building on past research in the economies-of-scale debate, we test for scale economies in real estate investment trusts (REITs) by examining growth prospects, revenue and expense measures, profitability ratios, systematic risk and capital costs. Overall, we find that large REITs are increasing growth prospects while succeeding at lowering costs, leading to a direct relationship between firm profitability and firm size. Additionally, we find an inverse relationship between equity betas and firm size, and for all cost of capital measures we find significant scale economies. Further evidence from the stochastic frontier analysis suggests efficiency opportunities appear possible through continued growth and consolidation in REITs.
Nuclear Astrophysics in Rare Isotope Facilities

I discuss a few of the recent developments in nuclear reactions at very low energies with emphasis on the role of radioactive beam facilities.
Reducing Customer Dissatisfaction: How Important is Learning to Reduce Service Failure?

As service failures are inevitable, firms must be prepared to recover and learn from service failures. Yet, the majority of customers are still dissatisfied with the way firms resolve their complaints. Can learning to reduce service failures reduce customer dissatisfaction, and to what extent are such reductions sustainable? Previous research showed that organizational learning curves for customer dissatisfaction (i) follow a U-shaped function of operating experience and (ii) are heterogeneous across firms. In this paper, I tease out where the U-shaped learning-curve effect and learning-curve heterogeneity originate: service failure or customers' propensity to complain with a third party given the occurrence of a service failure. Using quarterly data for nine major US airlines over 11 years, I find that the U-shaped learning-curve effect and the learning-curve heterogeneity originate in the propensity to complain. In the long term, reductions in service failure did not translate in sustainable reductions in customer dissatisfaction. Customers' propensity to complain eventually went up. Managing the propensity to complain provides more opportunity for a firm to distinguish itself from competitors.
The simultaneous powder X-ray and neutron diffraction refinement of two η-carbide type nitrides, Fe3Mo3N and Co3Mo3N, prepared by ammonolysis and by plasma nitridation of oxide precursors

Abstract The intermetallic nitrides Fe3Mo3N and Co3Mo3N were synthesized by the ammonolysis of the ternary oxide precursors FeMoO4 and CoMoO4 as well as by plasma nitridation of the oxide precursors. The structures of Fe3Mo3N and Co3Mo3N were determined from the simultaneous Rietveld refinements of powder X-ray and neutron diffraction data. Both compounds were found to be isostructural with η-Fe3W3C which crystallizes with cubic symmetry in the space group Fd 3 m with Z=16. The lattice parameters were found to be a=11.0859(3) A and a=11.0270(6) A for Fe3Mo3N and Co3Mo3N, respectively. The general atomic positions that gave the best refinement for the intermetallic nitrides M3Mo3N are Mo on 48f, M on 32e and 16d and N on 16c. The structure consists of corner shared NMo6 octahedra with the metal atoms occupying the sites between the octahedra. Magnetic susceptibility data for Co3Mo3N was found not to follow the Curie law.
Autoregressive Modeling of Nonstationary Multibeam Sonar Reverberation

This work describes a technique for simulating nonstationary multibeam Gaussian sonar reverberation sequences. The primary objective is to simulate quadrature-demodulated complex digital vector sequences that have a prescribed time-variant covariance function. We use a first-order integral scattering model to relate geometrical, environmental, and sonar parameters to the assumed locally stationary multivariate reverberation power spectrum for each of a set of ranges spanning the total observation range of interest. At each range we compute the multivariate autoregressive (AR) canonical factorization of the power spectrum. The resultant autoregressive models are used to generate multivariate correlated stationary overlapping realizations for each range. Next we combine stationary realizations adjacent in range with an overlapped windowing scheme. This scheme allows the spectral characteristics of the reverberation to change smoothly with time. Finally, a time-dependent gain is applied to the entire realization to adjust the average intensity.
New Infrared Emission Features and Spectral Variations in NGC 7023

We observed the reflection nebula NGC 7023, with the Short-High module and the long-slit Short-Low and Long-Low modules of the Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope. We also present Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) and Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) images of NGC 7023 at 3.6, 4.5, 8.0, and 24 m. We observe the aromatic emission features (AEFs) at 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.3, and 12.7 m, plus a wealth of weaker features. We find new unidentified interstellar emission features at 6.7, 10.1, 15.8, 17.4, and 19.0 m. Possible identifications include aromatic hydrocarbons or nanoparticles of unknown mineralogy. We see variations in relative feature strengths, central wavelengths, and feature widths, in the AEFs and weaker emission features, depending on both distance from the star and nebular position (southeast vs. northwest).
Abrupt changes in the rate of Andean Plateau uplift from reversible jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo inversion of river profiles

Abstract Knowledge of the rate of surface uplift of the central Andean Plateau provides important boundary conditions for regional geodynamic models and paleoclimate reconstructions. Here we present a fully nonlinear inverse method to extract the rock uplift history of the central Andean Plateau from the Cotahuasi River and its tributaries. Our approach is based on an analytical solution to the stream power model that relates elevation to rock uplift history under the assumptions of constant climatic conditions in space and time and spatially invariant rock uplift. We use a Bayesian framework that allows us to quantify the full state of knowledge of model parameters (i.e., uncertainties, trade-offs). The erosional efficiency defines the landscape response time, and this must be determined using independent data. Therefore, using thermochronometric data from the Cotahuasi–Ocona Canyon, which record rapid fluvial incision at ~ 13–10 Ma, we calibrate our results to infer a rock uplift history for the north-central Andean Plateau. We infer a pulse of rock uplift between 25 and 10 Ma at rates as high as 0.25 km/My. However, the rock uplift rate inferred during this pulse is not as high as is predicted if the central Andean Plateau grew as a result of loss of unstable lithospheric mantle. Therefore, our results are more consistent with models requiring gradual uplift of the central Andean Plateau.
Fluidic interconnects for modular assembly of chemical microsystems

Abstract A new assembly technology is presented which enables the modular interconnection, assembly and packaging of individual microfabricated components and/or modules (e.g., pumps, valves, reaction chambers, control circuitry, etc.). This technology can be used to make compression seal fittings utilizing self-aligning, interlocking, mechanical bonding structures and photo-patternable silicone O-ring seals. Two distinct types of fluidic interconnects for microfluidic system assembly are demonstrated using this technology. The first type demonstrates a means of interconnecting multiple, vertically stacked layers of micromachined channels. The second type demonstrates a means of connecting micromachined channels to tubing or other micromachined channels within the same plane. An important feature of these interconnects are that they are reversible, i.e., interconnections can be repeatedly made with the same structures allowing flexible system assembly.
Three-Dimensional Radionuclide Tomography With Circular Ring Positron Camera

Transverse axial positron annihilation coincidence detection tomography with circular ring transaxial positron camera (CRTAPC) will be described. Some of the merits and charac-teristics of the circular ring geometry in comparison to others will be discussed, and performances of the CRTAPC will be presented.
The limits of quantum computers.

This article reports on the development of quantum computers and the understanding that they would likely face many of the same limitations and problems of common computers. The article discusses misconceptions pertaining to quantum computers, what they would hypothetically be capable of, and continuing efforts to build a prototype. Information is also provided as to quantum theories and how a quantum computer's components differ from those of a simple computer. INSETS: Quantum Computing 101;Where Quantum Computers Fit In;Uber-Computers from Exotic Physics?;A New Physical Principle?
A History of Erotic Philosophy

This essay historically explores philosophical views about the nature and significance of human sexuality, starting with the Ancient Greeks and ending with late 20th-century Western philosophy. Imp...
ALPHA ELEMENT ABUNDANCES IN A LARGE SAMPLE OF GALACTIC PLANETARY NEBULAE

In this paper, we present emission line strengths, abundances, and element ratios (X/O for Ne, S, Cl, and Ar) for a sample of 38 Galactic disk planetary nebulae (PNe) consisting primarily of Peimbert classification Type I. Spectrophotometry for these PNe incorporates an extended optical/near-IR range of λλ3600-9600 A including the [S III] lines at 9069 A and 9532 A, setting this relatively large sample apart from typical spectral coverage. We have utilized Emission Line Spectrum Analyzer, a five-level atom abundance routine, to determine Te , Ne , ionization correction factors, and total element abundances, thereby continuing our work toward a uniformly processed set of data. With a compilation of data from >120 Milky Way PNe, we present results from our most recent analysis of abundance patterns in Galactic disk PNe. With a wide range of metallicities, galactocentric distances, and both Type I and non-Type I objects, we have examined the alpha elements against H II regions and blue compact galaxies (H2BCGs) to discern signatures of depletion or enhancement in PNe progenitor stars, particularly the destruction or production of O and Ne. We present evidence that many PNe have higher Ne/O and lower Ar/Ne ratios compared to H2BCGs within the range of 8.5-9.0 for 12 + log(O/H). This suggests that Ne is being synthesized in the low- and intermediate-mass progenitors. Sulfur abundances in PNe continue to show great scatter and are systematically lower than those found in H2BCG at a given metallicity. Although we find that PNe do show some distinction in alpha elements when compared to H2BCG, within the Peimbert classification types studied, PNe do not show significant differences in alpha elements amongst themselves, at least to an extent that would distinguish in situ nucleosynthesis from the observed dispersion in abundance ratios.
Narrative approach to corporate strategy: empirical foundations

Purpose – This paper aims to present theoretical and empirical foundations for the use of a particular type of narrative skillfully deployed by senior leaders in an organization as an effective tool for creating, disseminating and executing corporate strategy.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents original research on the effectiveness of the use of a “springboard story” as a leadership tool.Findings – Data are presented to substantiate that a “springboard story” presentation of corporate strategy and competitive advantage is more effective at producing a consistent and confident choice of competitive advantage among an audience than a presentation of corporate strategy using a PowerPoint style, bulleted list approach. Theoretical implications for leaders leading change, especially change in corporate strategy, are suggested.Originality/value – The paper explores the implications for the practical use of this type of narrative in strategy implementation and execution by leaders.
The canonical formulation of supergravity

Abstract The Hamiltonian for the theory of supergravity is computed with the freedom of arbitrary Lorentz rotations maintained throughout. The reason for the particular coupling used in the theory and the connection between supersymmetry and derivative coupling are made particularly clear in the calculation.
Vibrational spectrum and conformation of 2-methyl-2-nitropropane

Abstract The infrared spectra of gaseous and solid 2-methyl-2-nitropropane, (CH 3 ) 3 CNO 3 , have been recorded from 25 to 3500 cm −1 and 80 to 3500 cm −1 , respectively. The Raman spectra of gaseous, liquid and solid 2-methyl-2-nitropropane have been recorded from 20 to 3500 cm −1 and depolarization values have been obtained for the liquid. A complete vibrational assignment for all of the normal modes based on band contours, depolarization values, and group frequencies has been made except for the NO 2 torsion. The vibrational data are consistent with the molecule either being in the bisected conformation or having essentially free internal rotation of the NO 2 group in the fluid phases. Taking into consideration all the available data from the vibrational and rotational spectra, it is probable that the nearly free internal rotation ( V 6 = 71 cm −1 ) can best explain the observed depolarization values, the diffuse infrared band contour for the NO 2 wag, and the far infrared spectrum of the gas. However, from a CNDO/2 calculation, the bisected conformation was found to be more stable than the eclipsed form by 176 cal mol −1 , which is consistent with the Raman depolarization data. From the frequencies for the methyl torsional modes which have been observed in the spectra of the solid phase, a barrier to internal rotation of the methyl groups of 3.93 kcal mol −1 has been calculated. The spectra of the solid are consistent with two molecules per primitive cell. These results are compared to the corresponding quantities for some similar molecules.
New Stereospecific Synthetic Routes to the Bicyclo[3.2.1]octane Subunit of the Kaurenoids and Gibberellins

Abstract Three new sequences are described for the synthesis of the bicyclo[3.2.1]octane core of diterpenoids such as the kaurenes ( Schemes 1–3 ) . © 1997 Elsevie Science Ltd.
Information asymmetry, speculation and foreign trading activity: Emerging market evidence

Abstract This paper provides evidence on the relation between private-information-based trading and foreign trading activity on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE). We use a recently developed model that utilizes information in volume–return dynamics of individual stocks and show that variables such as size and Tobin's Q explain the extent of speculative activity across firms traded on the ISE. We present evidence supporting the notion that foreign trading activity is associated with informed trading on the ISE. Implications of our findings for emerging markets research are also discussed.