cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diversity Backpressure Scheduling and Routing With Mutual Information Accumulation in Wireless Ad-Hoc Networks

We suggest and analyze algorithms for routing in multi-hop wireless ad-hoc networks that exploit mutual information accumulation as the physical layer transmission scheme, and are capable of routing multiple packet streams (commodities) when only the average channel state information is present, and that only locally. The proposed algorithms are the modifications of the diversity backpressure (DIVBAR) algorithm, under which the packet whose commodity has the largest “backpressure metric” is chosen to be transmitted and is forwarded through the link with the largest differential backlog (queue length). In contrast to traditional DIVBAR, each receiving node stores and accumulates the partially received packet in a separate “partial packet queue”, thus increasing the probability of successful reception during a later possible retransmission. We present two variants of the algorithm: DIVBAR-renewal mutual information accumulation (RMIA), under which all the receiving nodes clear the received partial information of a packet once one or more receiving nodes firstly decode the packet; and DIVBAR-full mutual information accumulation (FMIA), under which all the receiving nodes retain the partial information of a packet until the packet has reached its destination. We characterize the network capacity region with the RMIA transmission scheme and prove that (under certain mild conditions) it is strictly larger than the network capacity region with the repetition (REP) transmission scheme that is used by the traditional DIVBAR. We also prove that DIVBAR-RMIA is throughput-optimal among the policies with RMIA, i.e., it achieves the network capacity region with RMIA, which in turn demonstrates that DIVBAR-RMIA outperforms traditional DIVBAR with respect to the achievable throughput. Moreover, we prove that DIVBAR-FMIA performs at least as well as DIVBAR-RMIA with respect to throughput. Simulations also confirm these results.
Basic Needs and the North/South Debate.

This article re-examines the relationship between economic growth of the North and that of the South. It considers the implications of this relationship for two major issues within the current North-South debate: basic needs and exhaustible resources. The connections between international trade and national policies are explored on the basis of the theoretical research and empirical results of a United Nations Project on Technology, Distribution and North-South relations.
Privacy-preserving access of outsourced data via oblivious RAM simulation

We describe schemes for the oblivious RAM simulation problem with a small logarithmic or polylogarithmic amortized increase in access times, with a very high probability of success, while keeping the external storage to be of size O(n).
Counting Using Hall Algebras II. Extensions from Quivers

We count the 𝔽q-rational points of GIT quotients of quiver representations with relations. We focus on two types of algebras – one is one-point extended from a quiver Q, and the other is the Dynkin A2 tensored with Q. For both, we obtain explicit formulas. We study when they are polynomial-count. We follow the similar line as in the first paper but algebraic manipulations in Ringel-Hall algebra will be replaced by corresponding geometric constructions.
Deriving a Natural Set of Semantic Primitives from Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

This paper discusses the derivation of a natural set of semantic primitives from a machine readable dictionary, especially the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (henceforth LDOCE). It is part of a on-going project under way at the Computing Research Laboratory (Wilks, et al. 1988). The project is currently funded by the National Science Foundation.
Population subdivision with migration can facilitate evolution on rugged fitness landscapes

We show that subdivision of an asexual population into demes connected by migration significantly accelerates the crossing of fitness valleys and plateaus over a wide parameter range, both with respect to the non-subdivided population and with respect to a single deme. We predict the existence of a parameter range where valley or plateau crossing by the metapopulation is as fast as that of the fastest deme, and we verify this prediction using stochastic simulations. Our results hold not only for deleterious and neutral intermediates, but also for weakly beneficial ones. Finally, we extend our work to the case of a large population connected by migration to one or several smaller islands.
Bayesian Model-averaged Regularization for Gaussian Graphical Models

ABSTRACTThe graphical lasso has now become a useful tool to estimate high-dimensional Gaussian graphical models, but its practical applications suffer from the problem of choosing regularization parameters in a data-dependent way. In this article, we propose a model-averaged method for estimating sparse inverse covariance matrices for Gaussian graphical models. We consider the graphical lasso regularization path as the model space for Bayesian model averaging and use Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques for the regularization path point selection. Numerical performance of our method is investigated using both simulated and real datasets, in comparison with some state-of-art model selection procedures.
Bayesian marked point process modeling for generating fully synthetic public use data with point-referenced geography

Abstract Many data stewards collect confidential data that include fine geography. When sharing these data with others, data stewards strive to disseminate data that are informative for a wide range of spatial and non-spatial analyses while simultaneously protecting the confidentiality of data subjects’ identities and attributes. Typically, data stewards meet this challenge by coarsening the resolution of the released geography and, as needed, perturbing the confidential attributes. When done with high intensity, these redaction strategies can result in released data with poor analytic quality. We propose an alternative dissemination approach based on fully synthetic data. We generate data using marked point process models that can maintain both the statistical properties and the spatial dependence structure of the confidential data. We illustrate the approach using data consisting of mortality records from Durham, North Carolina.
A diphenyl ether derived bidentate secondary phosphine oxide as a preligand for nickel-catalyzed C–S cross-coupling reactions

A new bidentate secondary phosphine oxide (SPO) was synthesized from diphenyl ether via ortho-lithiation, phosphorylation with PhP(Cl)NEt2, and hydrolysis in an acidic medium. Nickel(0) species ligated with this new SPO was established as a more effective catalyst than Ni(0)-Ph2P(O)H for the cross-coupling of aryl iodides with aryl thiols.
Planning to Minimize the Risks and Maximize the Rewards of the Estate Portability Election

ABSTRACT: Estate tax planning has been changed substantially with the enactment of the carryover of unused estate tax exclusion amounts from the first spouse to die to the estate of the second spouse. Termed portability, the availability of the deceased spouse's unused exclusion amount (DSUEA) largely eliminates the need for most taxpayers to conduct a series of lifetime asset transfers to balance estates and maximize the use of the exclusions. It also opens an opportunity for a double basis increase adjustment, one when the first spouse dies and a second when the surviving spouse dies. Where the DSUEA is sufficient to offset the additional inclusion from estate taxation in whole or in part, there may be an advantage to using the marital deduction to avoid inclusion in the tax base until the second demise. We explore the combination of estate asset values, appreciation expectations, and appropriate properties within the context of planning with the portability election, as well as the risk variables assoc...
Integer Factorization of a Positive-Definite Matrix

This paper establishes that every positive-definite matrix can be written as a positive linear combination of outer products of integer-valued vectors whose entries are bounded by the geometric mean of the condition number and the dimension of the matrix.
Pragmatic Randomized Trials Without Standard Informed Consent?: A National Survey

Background Significant debate surrounds the issue of whether written consent is necessary for pragmatic randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) with low risk. Objective To assess the U.S. public's views on alternatives to written consent for low-risk pragmatic RCTs. Design National experimental survey (2 × 2 factorial design) examining support for written consent versus general notification or verbal consent in 2 research scenarios. Setting Web-based survey conducted in December 2014. Participants 2130 U.S. adults sampled from a nationally representative, probability-based online panel (response rate, 64.0%). Measurements Respondent's recommendation to an ethics review board and personal preference as a potential participant on how to obtain consent or notification in the 2 research scenarios. Results Most respondents in each of the 4 groups (range, 60.3% to 71.5%) recommended written informed consent, and personal preferences were generally in accord with that advice. Most (78.9%) believed that the pragmatic RCTs did not pose additional risks, but 62.5% of these respondents would still recommend written consent. In contrast, a substantial minority in all groups (28.5% to 39.7%) recommended the alternative option (general notification or verbal consent) over written consent. Limitation Framing effects could have affected respondents' attitudes, and nonrespondents may have differed in levels of trust toward research or health care institutions. Conclusion Most of the public favored written informed consent over the most widely advocated alternatives for low-risk pragmatic RCTs; however, a substantial minority favored general notification or verbal consent. Primary funding source Time-sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences and Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.
Mechanical Mathematical Methods for Microprocessor Verification

The functional verification of microprocessor designs continues to represent one of the difficult challenges confronting the design of commercial microprocessors. In addition, test logic, transient errors, and power considerations complicate the problems by creating additional complexity and constraints on design solutions. Rigorious mechanized mathematics, often called formal methods, are being used to assist with functional verification and its use has spread to ensuring that test coverage and power limitations are met. While the successes have been notable, the wide-spread use of mathematical methods is still limited. Here we give a brief introduction to formal microprocessor verification, and then we present some scientific and engineering issues that need addressing to bring formal methods into the mainstream.
Distributed parallel inference on large factor graphs

As computer clusters become more common and the size of the problems encountered in the field of AI grows, there is an increasing demand for efficient parallel inference algorithms. We consider the problem of parallel inference on large factor graphs in the distributed memory setting of computer clusters. We develop a new efficient parallel inference algorithm, DBRSplash, which incorporates over-segmented graph partitioning, belief residual scheduling, and uniform work Splash operations. We empirically evaluate the DBRSplash algorithm on a 120 processor cluster and demonstrate linear to super-linear performance gains on large factor graph models.
Gasdynamics and Starbursts in Interacting Galaxies

The onset of gaseous inflows and central activity in interacting galaxies is driven largely by induced bars in the host galaxies. The stability of galaxies against growing bar modes is a direct function of their structural properties — galaxies with central bulges or low disk surface densities are more stable against central starbursts than are bulgeless or disk-dominated systems. Low surface brightness galaxies prove less prone to bar formation and central starbursts than do normal high surface brightness galaxies. This stability of LSB disks also resolves many of the dynamical pitfalls encountered when attempting to link poststarburst “E+A” galaxies to interactions involving normal high surface brightness galaxy progenitors.
On the Study of Hyperbolic Triangles and Circles by Hyperbolic Barycentric Coordinates in Relativistic Hyperbolic Geometry

Barycentric coordinates are commonly used in Euclidean geometry. Following the adaptation of barycentric coordinates for use in hyperbolic geometry in recently published books on analytic hyperbolic geometry, known and novel results concerning triangles and circles in the hyperbolic geometry of Lobachevsky and Bolyai are discovered. Among the novel results are the hyperbolic counterparts of important theorems in Euclidean geometry. These are: (i) the Inscribed Gyroangle Theorem, (ii) the Gyrotangent–Gyrosecant Theorem, (iii) the Intersecting Gyrosecants Theorem, and (iv) the Intersecting Gyrochord Theorem. Here in gyrolanguage, the language of analytic hyperbolic geometry, we prefix a gyro to any term that describes a concept in Euclidean geometry and in associative algebra to mean the analogous concept in hyperbolic geometry and nonassociative algebra. Outstanding examples are gyrogroups and gyrovector spaces, and Einstein addition being both gyrocommutative and gyroassociative. The prefix “gyro” stems from “gyration,” which is the mathematical abstraction of the special relativistic effect known as “Thomas precession.”
An SST satellite match-up system

Satellite Sea Surface Temperature (SST) retrieval has been available for nearly three decades and is important in many scientific applications. A rigorous and routine validation process is essential in assuring that the resulting SST products are useful. An automated SST-buoy match-up database system is one component of the validation process. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed an automated match-up system which has been operational for a number of years. This match-up system currently utilizes Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data and is expected to be updated to include the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) SST data as well as be adapted to future satellite systems. This paper describes how the NOAA/NESDIS automated match-up system may be used to test and analyze AVHRR data as a proxy for future satellite systems.
The Protein Sequence Design Problem in Canonical Model on 2D and 3D Lattices

In this paper we investigate the protein sequence design (PSD) problem (also known as the inverse protein folding problem) under the Canonical modelon 2D and 3D lattices [12,25]. The Canonical model is specified by (i) a geometric representation of a target protein structure with amino acid residues via its contact graph, (ii) a binary folding code in which the amino acids are classified as hydrophobic (H) or polar (P), (iii) an energy functionΦ defined in terms of the target structure that should favor sequences with a dense hydrophobic core and penalize those with many solvent-exposed hydrophobic residues (in the Canonical model, the energy function Φ gives an H-H residue contact in the contact graph a value of –1 and all other contacts a value of 0), and (iv) to prevent the solution from being a biologically meaningless all H sequence, the number of H residues in the sequence S is limited by fixing an upper bound λ on the ratio between H and P amino acids. The sequence S is designed by specifying which residues are H and which ones are P in a way that realizes the global minima of the energy function Φ. In this paper, we prove the following results:
Defeating Cross-Site Request Forgery Attacks with Browser-Enforced Authenticity Protection

A cross site request forgery (CSRF) attack occurs when a user's web browser is instructed by a malicious webpage to send a request to a vulnerable web site, resulting in the vulnerable web site performing actions not intended by the user. CSRF vulnerabilities are very common, and consequences of such attacks are most serious with financial websites. We recognize that CSRF attacks are an example of the confused deputy problem, in which the browser is viewed by websites as the deputy of the user, but may be tricked into sending requests that violate the user's intention. We propose Browser-Enforced Authenticity Protection (BEAP), a browser-based mechanism to defend against CSRF attacks. BEAP infers whether a request reflects the user's intention and whether an authentication token is sensitive, and strips sensitive authentication tokens from any request that may not reflect the user's intention. The inference is based on the information about the request (e.g., how the request is triggered and crafted) and heuristics derived from analyzing real-world web applications. We have implemented BEAP as a Firefox browser extension, and show that BEAP can effectively defend against the CSRF attacks and does not break the existing web applications.
Tapering talk: The impact of expectations of reduced Federal Reserve security purchases on emerging markets

In May 2013, Federal Reserve officials first began to talk of the possibility of tapering their security purchases. This tapering talk had a sharp negative impact on emerging markets. Different countries, however, were affected very differently. This paper uses data on exchange rates, foreign reserves and equity prices between April and August 2013 to analyze who was hit and why. It finds that emerging markets that allowed the real exchange rate to appreciate and the current account deficit to widen during the prior period of quantitative easing saw the sharpest impact. Better fundamentals (the budget deficit, the public debt, the level of reserves, or the rate of economic growth) did not provide insulation. A more important determinant of the differential impact was the size of the country's financial market: countries with larger markets experienced more pressure on the exchange rate, foreign reserves, and equity prices. This is interpreted as showing that investors are better able to rebalance their portfolios when the target country has a relatively large and liquid financial market.
Umpolung Pd-Catalyzed α-Arylation Reactions in Natural Product Synthesis: Syntheses of (+)-Xestodecalactone A, (–)-Curvularin, (+)-12-Oxocurvularin and (–)-Citreofuran

The syntheses (total and formal) of four phenylacetic acid lactone (PAL) natural products have been accomplished by utilizing a unified strategy of an umpolung Pd-catalyzed α-arylation of complex α-bromo esters and boronic acids under mild reaction conditions. As part of the synthetic approaches to these natural products, it was observed that the mild coupling reaction conditions readily tolerated terminal alkenes, other labile ester functionalities, an α,β-unsaturated ester moiety, and a protected allylic alcohol, while chemoselectively engaging the α-bromo ester. The completion of (+)-xestodecalactone A and (–)-curvularin coupled with the formal syntheses of (+)-12-oxocurvularin and (–)-citreofuran highlight the umpolung Pd-catalyzed α-arylation strategy as a key convergent tactic in complex natural product synthesis.
Uncovered Interest Parity: Cross-sectional Evidence

This paper proposes a different empirical approach to estimate the UIP by analyzing a large number of cross-country bilateral exchange rates using cross-section analysis. Different from conventional time-series UIP, cross-sectional UIP is examined with single equation estimation and panel regression model estimation. The exchange rates analyzed here include a broad spectrum of countries: developed, developing, low inflation and high inflation countries. Based on the empirical evidence, there does not appear to be a well-publicized UIP puzzle for cross-sectional UIP, and the slope estimates remain largely between zero and one throughout the sample periods, with a few exceptions. Evidence of UIP is more clear for low inflation countries than for high inflation countries. As interest rate maturity becomes longer, UIP relationship becomes weaker.
The patterns and determinants of household welfare growth in Jordan : 2002-2010

Jordan's economic growth in the past decade has translated into a significant rise in household consumption and a decline in poverty and inequality indicators. Yet, the sentiment of the overall population seems to point to worsening disparities. Using official household expenditure surveys for 2002, 2008, and 2010, this paper analyzes the patterns and determinants of household welfare growth and examines the extent to which economic growth has been inclusive of the more vulnerable groups. Using counterfactual decompositions, the paper dwells first on the dynamics observed behind the drop in poverty and inequality. It then carries out regression analysis using re-centered influence functions to examine the economic determinants of household welfare growth throughout the decade. The paper finds that welfare growth as opposed to welfare distribution was the main driver behind poverty reduction, and that the drop in inequality was primarily driven by a regional catching-up effect. In addition, the analysis identifies rent, access to human capital services, and more importantly employment in the services sector and the public sector as the major determinants of welfare growth in Jordan. Public hiring in particular was used extensively as a tool for poverty alleviation, especially for residents outside the capital.
Mantle dynamics beneath the Pacific Northwest and the generation of voluminous back-arc volcanism

[1] The Pacific Northwest (PNW) has a complex tectonic history and over the past ∼17 Ma has played host to several major episodes of intraplate volcanism. These events include the Steens/Columbia River flood basalts (CRB) and the striking spatiotemporal trends of the Yellowstone/Snake River Plain (Y/SRP) and High Lava Plains (HLP) regions. Several different models have been proposed to explain these features, which variously invoke the putative Yellowstone plume, rollback and steepening of the Cascadia slab, extensional processes in the lithosphere, or a combination of these. Here we integrate seismologic, geodynamic, geochemical, and petrologic results from the multidisciplinary HLP project and associated analyses of EarthScope USArray seismic data to propose a conceptual model for post-20 Ma mantle dynamics beneath the PNW and the relationships between mantle flow and surface tectonomagmatic activity. This model invokes rollback subduction as the main driver for mantle flow beneath the PNW beginning at ∼20 Ma. A major pulse of upwelling due to slab rollback and upper plate extension and consequent melting produced the Steens/CRB volcanism, and continuing trench migration enabled mantle upwelling and hot, shallow melting beneath the HLP. An additional buoyant mantle upwelling is required to explain the Y/SRP volcanism, but subduction-related processes may well have played a primary role in controlling its timing and location, and this upwelling likely continues today in some form. This conceptual model makes predictions that are broadly consistent with seismic observations, geodynamic modeling experiments, and petrologic and geochemical constraints.
Shipping the Good Apples Out: Alchian-Allen Theorem of Various Qualities

This paper explores conditions for which Alchian-Allen theorem–the finer quality product is relatively more purchased than the lower one in regions where additional costs are imposed–holds in models of various but finite qualities. In this paper, “finer qualities raise ratios to lower ones in response to transportation costs” defines the various qualities version of Alchian-Allen theorem. Then we find Alchian-Allen theorem holds if and only if consumptions of neighbor qualities are not so different and weighted averages of compensated elasticities by inverse of prices are decreasing in qualities. In order to provide plausible intuitions, some sufficiency conditions are also suggested.
Discovery of a Metal-Line Absorber Associated with a Local Dwarf Starburst Galaxy

We present optical and near-infrared images, H I 21 cm emission maps, optical spectroscopy, and Hubble Space Telescope Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph ultraviolet spectroscopy of the QSO/galaxy pair SBS 1122+594/IC 691. The QSO sight line lies at a position angle of 27° from the minor axis of the nearby dwarf starburst galaxy IC 691 (czgal = 1204 ± 3 km s-1, LB ~ 0.09L*, current star formation rate = 0.08-0.24 h M⊙ yr-1) and 33 h kpc (66) from its nucleus. We find that IC 691 has an H I mass of M = (3.6 ± 0.1) × 108 M⊙ and a dynamical mass of Mdyn = (3.1 ± 0.5) × 1010 h M⊙. The UV spectrum of SBS 1122+594 shows a metal-line (Lyα+C IV) absorber near the redshift of IC 691 at czabs = 1110 ± 30 km s-1. Since IC 691 is a dwarf starburst and the SBS 1122+594 sight line lies in the expected location for an outflowing wind, we propose that the best model for producing this metal-line absorber is a starburst wind from IC 691. We place consistent metallicity limits on IC 691 ([Z/Z⊙] ~ -0.7) and the metal-line absorber ([Z/Z⊙] < -0.3). We also find that the galaxy's escape velocity at the absorber location is vesc = 80 ± 10 km s-1 and derive a wind velocity of vw = 160 ± 50 km s-1. Thus, the evidence suggests that IC 691 produces an unbound starburst wind that escapes from its gravitational potential to transport metals and energy to the surrounding intergalactic medium.
Characterizing Cross-Country Consumption Correlations

General equilibrium models of international fluctuations that assume complete asset markets predict that consumption will be highly correlated across countries, while the data display correlations that are rather low. It has become common to characterize this empirical regularity by noting that cross-country consumption correlations tend to be lower than corresponding output correlations. This note reconsiders that charac-terization and demonstrates that it is not particularly robust. It also documents a related regularity that is more pervasive: Consumption fluctuations are more highly correlated with domestic production than with world output. This provides an alternative standard for evaluating models of international fluctuations.
Regioselective one-pot C–N coupling of substituted naphthoquinones: selective intramolecular ring fusion of sulfonamides

Abstract The first one-pot copper-catalyzed highly regioselective C–N bond formation between aryl/alkyl amines and sulfonamide-substituted naphthoquinones was accomplished. Facile chemoselective routes obtained diverse ring-opening 6-amino/anilino-naphthalen-dione-1-sulfonamides and ring-fused 6-amino/aniline-5 H -naphth[1,8- cd ]isothiazol-5-one,1,1-dioxides with great functional group tolerance. Regiochemistry was confirmed by 1D- and 2D-NMRs.
Secrecy is cheap if the adversary must reconstruct

A secret key can be used to conceal information from an eavesdropper during communication, as in Shannon's cipher system. Most theoretical guarantees of secrecy require the secret key space to grow exponentially with the length of communication. Here we show that when an eavesdropper attempts to reconstruct an information sequence, as posed in the literature by Yamamoto, very little secret key is required to effect unconditionally maximal distortion; specifically, we only need the secret key space to increase unboundedly, growing arbitrarily slowly with the blocklength. As a corollary, even with a secret key of constant size we can still cause the adversary arbitrarily close to maximal distortion, regardless of the length of the information sequence.
The clean plate club: about 92% of self-served food is eaten

Many eating studies in psychology, consumer behavior and marketing journals are dismissed, because they focus on how much one serves and not how much is eaten. We develop a means of estimating the percentage of self-served food that is consumed under various conditions. An aggregate analysis was conducted of studies where participants served themselves food and where actual intake was measured. Analyses explored what percentage of food was consumed depending on population, food and situational cues and generally showed that adults consistently consume the vast majority (91.7%) of what they serve themselves. This was higher for meals (92.8%) than for snacks (76.1%) and higher when a person was not distracted (97.1%) than when he or she was distracted (88.8%). The percentage eaten did not vary between lab (90.7%) and field settings (91.9%). Because many eating behavior studies outside of nutrition measure food selection, but not intake, the aggregate estimates presented in this research can enable obesity, nutrition and public health researchers to extrapolate how much may have been eaten in such studies. Doing so will extend their relevance to better understanding eating behavior and better developing solutions to overeating.
"Bound in a nutshell": thoughts on complexity, reductionism, and "infinite space".

Pluralism is the hallmark of 21st century psychoanalytic discourse. Nevertheless, an unpleasant byproduct of pluralism is a tendency in some quarters to retreat into orthodoxy, stemming from a perc...
A time series analysis of disaggregate U.S. unemployment

This paper addresses an issue that has been neglected in the vast array of literature focusing on the determination of and differences in regional unemployment rates. The issue of whether causal relationships exist between disaggregated unemployment rates is considered. A multivariate vector autoregression model is estimated separately for unemployment rates of ten states and nine regions. The resulting impulse response functions indicate that significant causal relationships exist between unemployment rates of the states and regions analyzed. The results suggest that a mechanism allowing for causal relationships between disaggregate unemployment rates should be incorporated into future analyses.
Subjective Perceptions in Wartime Negotiation

The prevalence of negotiation in social interaction has motivated researchers to develop virtual agents that can understand, facilitate, teach and even carry out negotiations. While much of this research has analyzed how to maximize the objective outcome, there is a growing body of work demonstrating that subjective perceptions of the outcome also play a critical role in human negotiation behavior. People derive subjective value from not only the outcome, but also from the process by which they achieve that outcome, from their relationship with their negotiation partner, etc. The affective responses evoked by these subjective valuations can be very different from what would be evoked by the objective outcome alone. We investigate such subjective valuations within human-agent negotiation in four variations of a wartime negotiation scenario taken from the political science literature. We observe that the objective outcomes of these negotiations are not strongly related to the human negotiators’ subjective perceptions, as measured by the Subjective Value Index . We examine the game dynamics and agent behaviors to identify features that induce different subjective values in the participants, even when separated from the effect of the objective outcomes. We thus are able to identify characteristics of the interaction between negotiation and battlefield processes that most impact people’s subjective valuations.
Filipin III: Configuration Assignment and Confirmation by Synthetic Correlation.

The stereochemical configuration of filipin III (1) was determined using the 13C acetonide analysis. The relative configurations for the nine stereogenic centers in the top half of filipin were initially identified using just three acetonide derivatives (2, 3, and 4) arising from a two-step protection sequence. The structure was confirmed by synthesis and direct correlation of degradation products 8 (C26−C28) and 10 (C1−C16). Filipin tetraacetonide 2 and triacetonide 4 each contain an anti acetonide in a highly unusual chair conformation. Molecular modeling successfully reproduced the preference for a chair conformation over the normally more stable twist-boat conformation.
Network Characteristics and Patenting in Biotechnology, 1990-2006

In this study, the authors focus on specifically which types of networks and what types of relationships matter most for the focal firm’s innovative performance in biotechnology patenting. They suggest that certain network characteristics, such as quality and the source of knowledge, and the quality of relationships among actors may have a profound effect on the knowledge exchange and hence the number of patents granted to the firm. The authors focus on the research coauthorship networks of 381 firms in the U.S. biotechnology industry over a span of 17 years, from 1990 to 2006. In the biotechnology industry, firms depend heavily on the social network of academic scientists for the exchange and production of knowledge, with firm-level patenting closely linked to it. Their findings largely support the hypotheses, suggesting the necessity to consider the characteristics of the actors and the qualitative nature of the relationships in the network while assessing the role of the firm’s networks on its patenting.
Comments on CKM elements

Abstract The sensitivity of determination of elements of the Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa (CKM) matrix to experimental inputs (particularly | V cb |) is discussed and caution in assigning probable errors is urged.
Modeling adsorption on fcc(nnm) surfaces

In general, fcc(nnm) surfaces consist of very long armchair (111) terraces separated by steps. The number M of atomic sites in the width of the terraces depends on the Miller indices (nnm). The model presented here considers values of M ≤ 6, with adsorbate-substrate interaction energy on step-sites different from those on bulk sites, takes into account first- and second-neighbor adsorbate-adsorbate interactions, and specializes to the case of attractive first-neighbors. We obtain the complete low temperature, 3-dimensional, energy phase diagrams. The occupational configurations of the phases exhibit features similar to those of the phases obtained in the infinite-width limit case, or flat fcc(111) surfaces. This yields a classification of the phases into types, and, within each type, the phases are grouped into families. This suggests a number of generalizations for any value of M beyond 6, leading to a better understanding of the competing interaction energies and of the evolution of the phase diagrams with increasing width of the terraces. The relevance of these results to experiments is discussed within the context of preferential adsorption on step sites and applied to the water adsoption on Pt(335).
The total synthesis of (+/-)-merrilactone A.

The total synthesis of the title compound has been accomplished in 20 steps. The key step is a free radical cyclization of vinyl bromide 29 to afford 30. The synthesis also features an efficient Diels−Alder reaction of 2,3-dimethylmaleic anhydride with 1-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)-butadiene. The oxetane moiety of merrilactone A is fashioned via a Payne-like rearrangement of a hydroxyepoxide (see 2 → 1).
Inspiration From Role Models and Advice for Moving Forward

This Behavior Therapy series on overcoming the glass ceiling followed from a highly attended panel at ABCT on the same topic. The current paper summarizes the common themes across the various papers in this series with respect to obstacles prominent women have faced, and how we can learn from their stories to help inform the future. These themes include the importance of role models, messages from a supportive environment, difficulties balancing careers with children, coordinating careers with family, importance of taking charge of one's career, moving forward despite negative internal and external messages, and questions about whether things have changed substantially. In addition, this paper contains a summary of the helpful advice from accomplished women in academia for navigating the academic waters. It is our aspiration that going forward this series will stimulate other conversations as well as increase thought, behavior, solidarity, and awareness about this topic so that we can continue to work toward a future when things will continue to improve for women.
Removal of epoxy-attached thin sections from glass slides by plasma etching

Thin-sectioned samples mounted on glass slides with common petrographic epoxies cannot be easily removed (for subsequent ion-milling) by standard methods such as heating or dissolution in solvents. A method for the removal of such samples using a radio frequency (RF) generated oxygen plasma has been investigated for a number of typical petrographic and ceramic thin sections. Sample integrity and thickness were critical factors that determined the etching rate of adhesive and the survivability of the sample. Several tests were performed on a variety of materials in order to estimate possible heating or oxidation damage from the plasma. Temperatures in the plasma chamber remained below 138°C and weight changes in mineral powders etched for 76 hr were less than ±4%. A crystal of optical grade calcite showed no apparent surface damage after 48 hr of etching. Any damage from the oxygen plasma is apparently confined to the surface of the sample, and is removed during the ion-milling stage of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) sample preparation.
Sexually transmitted diseases in adolescents

Abstract STDs are a major health concern for sexually active adolescents. The ED is at the front lines in diagnosing and treating acute symptoms of STDs, as well as their complications. Prompt recognition and treatment of these infections can prevent significant mobidity. National data has shown that aggressive screening and treatment can significantly reduce the incidence of STDs. Although the ED is traditionally focused on acute complaints, a recent study has shown that the ED may be an ideal location for detecting and treating asymptomatic STDs. 25 The ability to use nucleic acid amplification techniques on urine samples has provided non-invasive alternatives for screening. The ED serves many high-risk patients who do not have other identified health care resources and may be a key clinical site for STD reduction interventions.
The effect of substructure on mass estimates of galaxies

Large galaxies are thought to form hierarchically, from the accretion and disruption of many smaller galaxies. Such a scenario should naturally lead to galactic phase-space distributions containing some degree of substructure. We examine the errors in mass estimates of galaxies and their dark halos made using the projected phase-space distribution of a tracer population (such as a globular cluster system or planetary nebulae) due to falsely assuming that the tracers are distributed randomly. The level of this uncertainty is assessed by applying a standard mass estimator to samples drawn from 11 random realizations of galaxy halos containing levels of substructure consistent with current models of structure formation. We find that substructure will distort our mass estimates by up to ~20%—a negligible error compared to statistical and measurement errors in current derivations of masses for our own and other galaxies. However, this represents a fundamental limit to the accuracy of any future mass estimates made under the assumption that the tracer population is distributed randomly, regardless of the size of the sample or the accuracy of the measurements.
Entropy count for extremal three-dimensional black strings

Abstract We compute the entropy of extremal black strings in three dimensions, using Strominger's approach to relate the Anti-de-Sitter near-horizon geometry and the conformal field theory at the asymptotic infinity of this geometry. The result is identical to the geometric Bekenstein–Hawking entropy. We further discuss an embedding of three-dimensional black strings in N =1 D =10 supergravity and demonstrate that the extremal strings preserve 1/4 of supersymmetries.
Robustness of solutions to a benchmark control problem

The robustness of 10 solutions to a benchmark control design problem presented at the 1990 American Control Conference has been evaluated. The 10 controllers have second-to-eighth-order transfer functions and have been designed using several different methods, including H-infinity optimization, loop-transfer recovery, imaginary-axis shifting, constrained optimization, structured covariance, game theory, and the internal model principle. Stochastic robustness analysis quantifies the controllers' stability and performance robustness with structured uncertainties in up to six system parameters. The analysis provides insights into system response that are not readily derived from other robustness criteria and provides a common ground for judging controllers produced by alternative methods. One important conclusion is that gain and phase margins are not reliable indicators of the probability of instability. Furthermore, parameter variations actually may improve the likelihood of achieving selected performance metrics, as demonstrated by results for the probability of settling-time exceedance.
The effects of family stressors on substance use initiation in adolescence

Smoking and drinking are critical problems in adolescence that have long-term adverse impacts on health and socio-economic factors. We examine the extent to which family stresses influence the timing of initiation of smoking and drinking. Using national panel data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS) we capitalize on the survey design and use school-level fixed effects that control for the local environments, including prices of cigarettes and alcohol. In addition, we narrow our control group to classmates who will experience a similar stressor in the future. We find that a composite measure of family stressors when young increases the likelihood of initiating tobacco and alcohol use, with much of the impact attributable to parental divorce. In our baseline estimates, the composite stress measure is associated with a 30% increase in the likelihood of smoking and a 20% increase in drinking. When we control for multiple sources of confounding, the impact shrinks and remains significant for smoking but not for drinking. We conclude that studies which do not control for confounding are likely to significantly overestimate the impact of family stress on substance use. Our approach helps to move the literature forward by separating causal results from spurious associations.
The reversed-field-pinch (RFP) fusion neutron source: A conceptual design

The conceptual design of an ohmically heated, reversed-field pinch (RFP) operating at ∼5-MW/m2 steady-state DT fusion neutron wall loading and ∼124-MW total fusion power is presented. These results are useful in projecting the development of a cost effective, low-input-power (∼206 MW) source of DT neutrons for large-volume (∼10 m3), high-fluence (3.4 MW yr/m2) fusion nuclear materials and technology testing.
Catadioptric optics for laser Doppler velocimeter applications

This paper examines the adaptation of low-cost Schmidt-Cassegrain astronomical telescopes to perform the laser-beam-focusing and scattered-light collection tasks associated with dual-beam laser Doppler velocimetry. A generic telescope design is analyzed using ray-tracing methods and Gaussian beam-propagation theory. A straightforward modification procedure to convert from infinite to near unity conjugate-ratio operation with very low residual aberration is identified and tested with a 200-mm-aperture telescope modified for f/10 operation. Performance data for this modified telescope configuration are near the diffraction limit and agree well with predictions.
Diffraction in the semiclassical approximation to Feynman's path integral representation of the Green function

Abstract We derive the semiclassical approximation to Feynman's path integral representation of the energy Green function of a massless particle in the shadow region of an ideal obstacle in a medium. The wavelength of the particle is assumed to be comparable to or smaller than any relevant length of the problem. Classical paths with extremal length partially creep along the obstacle and their fluctuations are subject to non-holonomic constraints. If the medium is a vacuum, the asymptotic contribution from a single classical path of overall length L to the energy Green function at energy E is that of a non-relativistic particle of mass E/c2 moving in the two-dimensional space orthogonal to the classical path for a time τ=L/c. Dirichlet boundary conditions at the surface of the obstacle constrain the motion of the particle to the exterior half-space and result in an effective time-dependent but spatially constant force that is inversely proportional to the radius of curvature of the classical path. We relate the diffractive, classically forbidden motion in the “creeping” case to the classically allowed motion in the “whispering gallery” case by analytic continuation in the curvature of the classical path. The non-holonomic constraint implies that the surface of the obstacle becomes a zero-dimensional caustic of the particle's motion. We solve this problem for extremal rays with piecewise constant curvature and provide uniform asymptotic expressions that are approximately valid in the penumbra as well as in the deep shadow of a sphere.
Quantitative morphology of galaxies in the hubble deep field

We measure quantitative structural parameters of galaxies in the Hubble deep field (HDF) on the drizzled F814W images. Our structural parameters are based on a two-component surface brightness made up of a Sersic profile and an exponential profile. We compare our results to the visual classification of van den Bergh et al. and the C-A classification of Abraham et al. Our morphological analysis of the galaxies in the HDF indicates that the spheroidal galaxies, defined here as galaxies with a dominant bulge profile, make up for only a small fraction, namely, 8%, of the galaxy population down to mF814W(AB) = 26.0. We show that the larger fraction of early-type systems in the van den Bergh sample is primarily due to the difference in classification of 40% of small round galaxies with half-light radii less than 031. Although these objects are visually classified as elliptical galaxies, we find that they are disk dominated with bulge fractions less than 0.5. Given the existing large data set of HDF galaxies with measured spectroscopic redshifts, we are able to determine that the majority of distant galaxies (z > 2) from this sample are disk dominated. Our analysis reveals a subset of HDF galaxies that have profiles flatter than a pure exponential profile.
The Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility

The Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) will be a long-lived observatory intended to carry out X-ray studies from space. Much of the design for AXAF has been predicated on the highly successful HEAO-2/ Einstein X-ray observatory that NASA operated from 1978 until 1981. AXAF has been under study for several years under the direction of Marshall Space Flight Center assisted by our group at Smithsonian Astro-physical Observatory. AXAF has recently completed the preliminary design/definition stage, Phase B. Two teams of industrial contractors have studied the overall observatory to understand the requirements, to develop design concepts, and to formulate an overall technical basis for building AXAF. Moreover, four focal plane scientific instruments and two sets of gratings have been selected and studied for nearly three years. AXAF is a prime candidate for a formal new start to begin construction in FY89, with a planned launch date in 1995.