cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fault-tolerance in very large archival systems

An interesting prospective application for computer systems is really-long-term archival storage of information, as has been traditionally performed by libraries, using books and serials. As costs of large-scale storage devices fall, librarians periodically reevaluate the question of whether or not to commit to digital storage any of the materials in their care. In the past there have been several concerns, but it has not been necessary to think very hard about them because the dominating concern has been that the cost of storage made the idea unworkable.
Assuring the trustworthiness of the smarter electric grid

Summary form only given, as follows. The vision for a modernized "Smart Grid" involves the use of an advanced computing, communication and control cyber infrastructure for enhancing current grid operations by enabling timely interactions among a range of entities. The coupling between the power grid and its cyber infrastructure is inherent, and the extent to which the Smart Grid vision can be achieved depends upon the trustworthiness of its cyber infrastructure. This talk describes challenges in assuring the trustworthiness (performance, dependability, and security) of the emerging smart grid, using example of research underway at the DOEand HHS-funded Trustworthy Cyber Infrastructure for the Power Grid (TCIPG) Center. The goal of TCIPG is to provide trustworthiness in the nation's electric grid cyber infrastructure such that it continues to deliver electricity and maintain critical operations even in the presence of cyber attacks. Achieving this goal will involve the extension, integration, design, and development of IT technologies imbibed with key properties of realtime availability and security. This research area provides many opportunities for dependability analysts and engineers to apply and extend their work.
Alteration of the pattern of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism by propionate and butyrate.

Abstract Butyrate and propionate caused a reduction in C 14 O 2 and lipide-C 14 production from evenly labeled glucose, glucose-1-C 14 , glucose-6-C 14 , and lactate-2-C 14 . Unlike the action of these acids on acetate metabolism, the inhibition of lipogenesis from glucose and lactate was more severe than the reduction in oxidation of these compounds. These striking differences between the inhibitory actions of butyrate and propionate on hepatic acetate metabolism on the one hand and hepatic carbohydrate metabolism on the other seem to suggest that the metabolic path of the C-2 fragment derived from these two sources must differ.
Magnetic behavior of the cuprate superconductors

Abstract I review recent work on magnetic dynamics of the high temperature superconductors using a model that combines two weakly interacting species of low-energy excitations: the antiferromagnetic spin waves which carry spin-1 and no charge, and Fermi-liquid-like quasiparticles which carry spin - 1 2 and charge e . The model allows conversion of spin waves into electron-hole pairs; however, the low-energy spin waves are not collective modes of the quasiparticles near the Fermi surface, but rather are a separate branch of the low-energy spectrum. With certain experimentally justified assumptions, this theory is remarkably universal: the dependence on the detailed microscopic Hamiltonian and on doping can be absorbed into several experimentally measurable parameters. The z = 1 theory of the insulators and z = 2 theory of the overdoped materials, are both reproduced as limiting cases of the theory described here, which predicts that the underdoped materials remain in z = 1 universality class at sufficiently high temperature. This theory provides a framework for understanding both the experimental results and microscopic calculations, and in particular yields a possible explanation of the spin gap phenomenon. I also discuss some of the important unresolved issues.
Force fluctuations in granular media

Abstract The forces in packed granular materials are distributed very differently than those in “normal” solids. Forces much larger than the mean occur, but are exponentially rare. These force inhomogeneities can be understood using an exactly solvable statistical model, in which the fluctuations in the forces arise because of variations in the contact angles together with the constraints imposed by the force balance on each grain. The details of this work are published elsewhere, see Liu et al. (1995) and Coppersmith et al. (1996).
Effects of variation of the laser pulse width on the laser-induced photoelectrons

Abstract The effects of variation of the laser pulse length on the laser-induced photoelectrons from the BNL gun are presented, including variation of the beam emittance which is crucial to the operation of a free-electron laser (FEL). The radio-frequency (rf) electron gun with a photocathode on the end wall of an rf cavity is excited by a laser pulse that is synchronized witht the rf frequency and powered by a conventional type SLAC klystron. This gun is designed to produce a lowe emittance beam at 4.65 MeV at the gun exit with the field gradient of 100 MV/m on the cathode.
Biochemical applications of ultrathin films of enzymes, polyions and DNA.

This feature article summarizes recent applications of ultrathin films of enzymes and DNA assembled layer-by-layer (LbL). Using examples mainly from our own research, we focus on systems developed for biocatalysis and biosensors for toxicity screening. Enzyme–poly(L-lysine) (PLL) films, especially when stabilized by crosslinking, can be used for biocatalysis at unprecedented high temperatures or in acidic or basic solutions on electrodes or sub-micron sized beads. Such films have bright prospects for chiral synthesis and biofuel cells. Excellent bioactivity and retention of enzyme structure in these films facilitates their use in detailed kinetic studies. Biosensors and arrays employing DNA–enzyme films show great promise in predicting genotoxicity of new drug and chemical product candidates. These devices combine metabolic biocatalysis, reactive metabolite–DNA reactions, and DNA damage detection. Catalytic voltammetry or electrochemiluminescence (ECL) can be used for high throughput arrays utilizing multiple LbL “spots” of DNA, enzyme and metallopolymer. DNA–enzyme films can also be used to produce nucleobase adduct toxicity biomarkers for detection by LC-MS. These approaches provide valuable high throughput tools for drug and chemical product development and toxicity prediction.
Direct observation of the structure of nickel oxide electrochromic thin films by HRTEM

To investigate the microstructure of nickel oxide electrochromic films, cross-sectional observation of sputtered nickel oxide film was performed using a high resolution electron microscope. Lattice and atomic image could be observed for an as-deposited sample and a bleached sample. These images showed that crystallized NiO exists in both samples. As- deposited film contained a small amount of Ni2O3. One of [111] axis shrank about 3% and the lattice was a little bit strained in the bleached state. The fact that no trace of Ni(OH)2 or other species was observed implies that the boundary and surface of NiO microcrystallites played an important role in the electrochromic reaction.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Statistics of microscopic yielding in sheared aqueous foams

We detail the statistical distribution of bubble rearrangements in a sheared two-dimensional foam. Such rearrangements, known as T1 events, are vital to mechanisms resulting in flow through microscopic mechanical yielding. We find that at a constant rate of shear, the rate of occurrence of T1 events shows only small fluctuations. In addition, we detail the spatial and orientational distribution of T1 events and relate them to the distribution of stresses in the bulk of the material. Some insights into the asymmetry of the dynamics of T1 events are also discussed.
Semisolid solidification of high temperature superconducting oxides

Experiments are reported on two techniques for melt‐texture processing Ba2YCu3O6.5 by directional solidification from a semisolid melt containing particles of BaY2CuO5 and a copper‐rich liquid. One of these employs an electric resistance furnace with ambient or oxygen enriched atmosphere; the other is a laser‐heated furnace operating at 1.3 atm oxygen. Solidification interface morphologies and other structural features were examined in quenched specimens. Depending on growth rate and temperature gradient, three different types of growth morphologies of the growing 123 phase were observed: ‘‘faceted plane front,’’ ‘‘cellular dendritic’’ or ‘‘equiaxed blocky.’’ The interface temperature decreased markedly with increasing growth rate for the faceted plane front specimens. In the remaining specimens, solidification took place over a range of temperatures. The temperature of the ‘‘root’’ of the solidification front dropped, but temperature of the solidification front ‘‘tip’’ did not. A solidification model is ...
Converting a layer perovskite into a non-defective higher-order homologue: Topochemical synthesis of Eu2CaTi2O7

Topochemical reduction of CaEu2Ti2O8, a new n=1 mixed Ruddlesden–Popper/Dion–Jacobson phase prepared by divalent ion-exchange of NaEuTiO4, yields the non-defective n=2 Ruddlesden–Popper phase Eu2CaTi2O7.
Manifestation of three-body forces in f7/2-shell nuclei

The traditional nuclear shell model approach is extended to include many-body forces. The empirical Hamiltonian with a three-body force is constructed for the identical nucleons on the 0f7/2 shell. Manifestations of the three-body force in spectra, binding energies, seniority mixing, particle-hole symmetry, electromagnetic and particle transition rates are investigated. It is shown that in addition to the usual expansion of the valence space within the tranditional two-body shell model, the three-body component in the Hamiltonian can be an important part improving the quality of the theoretical approach.
Ultraviolet photonic crystal laser

We fabricated two-dimensional photonic crystal structures in zinc oxide films with focused-ion-beam etching. Lasing is realized in the near-ultraviolet frequency at room temperature under optical pumping. From the measurement of lasing frequency and spatial profile of the lasing modes, as well as the photonic band structure calculation, we conclude that lasing occurs in the strongly localized defect modes near the edges of photonic band gap. These defect modes originate from the structure disorder unintentionally introduced during the fabrication process.
Nanoporous silica polyamine composites for metal ion capture from rice hull ash

Rice hull ash (RHA) was converted to amorphous silica gel using a modified version of published literature procedures. The gels were characterized by a comparison of their Cross Polarization Magic Angle Spinning 29Si NMR and scanning electron microscopy images with commercial silica gels. The resulting gels were silanized with a 7.5:1 mixture of methyltrichlorosilane and chloropropyltrichlorosilane and then reacted with poly(allylamine) (PAA) to produce the silica polyamine composite (SPC) BP-1. The BP-1 was then further modified with pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde to form the copper-selective SPC, CuSelect. This procedure follows that used to produce the commercialized version of these composite materials from commercially available amorphous silica gels. The composites were characterized by solid-state NMR techniques, elemental analysis, SEM, porosimetry and metal ion capacity and selectivity. The overall goal of the project was to determine the feasibility of using RHA to make SPC. The observed strengths and weaknesses of this approach are discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DISCOVERY OF MASSIVE EVOLVED GALAXIES AT z > 3 IN THE HUBBLE ULTRA DEEP FIELD

We have identified six early-type galaxies at z > 2.8 in the central 5.76 arcmin2 Hubble Ultra Deep Field NICMOS region based on a pronounced broadband discontinuity between the NICMOS F110W and F160W bandpasses. These galaxies have red observed optical and near-infrared colors (ABF775W - ABF160W ? 2) that cannot be explained entirely by dust reddening (indicating advanced age), and their luminosities at rest-frame optical wavelengths suggest a substantial stellar mass. One of the galaxies is detected in the X-ray and is likely to have an active nuclear region, while the rest are estimated to be at least 1 Gyr old at z ? 3 and contain a total stellar mass of (0.4-9.1) ? 1010 h-2 M?. We calculate a cumulative comoving stellar mass density of ?star = (0.7-1.2) ? 107 h M? Mpc-3 for massive evolved galaxies of M > 109 h-2 M? at z > 2.5. Comparison of the stellar mass density confined in galaxies of different types shows that massive evolved galaxies contribute ?16%-28% of total stellar mass density even at these early epochs. Finally, an analysis of their morphology observed in the ACS and NICMOS images shows that the active galaxy has compact structure, while the rest are less concentrated. The presence of massive evolved galaxies at z ~ 3, when the universe was only 2 Gyr old, suggests that early star formation may have been particularly efficient in massive halos.
Nuclear substructure reorganization during late-stage erythropoiesis is selective and does not involve caspase cleavage of major nuclear substructural proteins

Enucleation, a rare feature of mammalian differentiation, occurs in 3 cell types: erythroblasts, lens epithelium, and keratinocytes. Previous investigations suggest that caspase activation functions in lens epithelial and keratinocyte enucleation, as well as in early erythropoiesis encompassing erythroid burst-forming unit (BFU-E) differentiation to proerythroblast. To determine whether caspase activation contributes to later erythropoiesis and whether nuclear substructures other than chromatin reorganize, we analyzed distributions of nuclear subcompartment proteins and assayed for caspase-induced cleavage of subcompartmental target proteins in mouse erythroblasts. We found that patterns of lamin B in the filamentous network interacting with both the nuclear envelope and DNA, nuclear matrix protein NuMA (Nuclear mitotic apparatus), and splicing factors Sm and SC35 persisted during nuclear condensation, consistent with effective transcription of genes expressed late in differentiation. Thus, nuclear reorganization prior to enucleation is selective, allowing maintenance of critical transcriptional processes independent of extensive chromosomal reorganization. Consistent with these data, we found no evidence for caspase-induced cleavage of major nuclear subcompartment proteins during late erythropoiesis, in contrast to what has been observed in early erythropoiesis and in lens epithelial and keratinocyte differentiation. These findings imply that nuclear condensation and extrusion during terminal erythroid differentiation involve novel mechanisms that do not entail major activation of apoptotic machinery. (Blood. 2005;106:2200-2205)
Ethyl 2-diazomalonyl chloride. An efficient diazoacylating reagent

Abstract Ethyl 2-diazomalonyl chloride readily reacts with aromatic and aliphatic amines, alcohols, thiols, and amides to form a variety of α-diazo carbonyl species.
INTEGRATED POLARIZATION PROPERTIES OF 3C48, 3C138, 3C147, AND 3C286

We present the integrated polarization properties of the four compact radio sources 3C48, 3C138, 3C147, and 3C286, from 1 to 50 GHz, over a 30 yr time frame spanning 1982-2012. Using the polarized emission of Mars, we have determined that the position angle of the linearly polarized emission of 3C286 rises from 33 Degree-Sign at 8 GHz to 36 Degree-Sign at 45 GHz. There is no evidence for a change in the position angle over time. Using these values, the position angles of the integrated polarized emission from the other three sources are determined as a function of frequency and time. The fractional polarization of 3C286 is found to be slowly rising, at all frequencies, at a rate of {approx}0.015% yr{sup -1}. The fractional polarizations of 3C48, 3C138, and 3C147 are all slowly variable, with the variations correlated with changes in the total flux densities of these sources.
Decentralization of Intertemporal Economies With Discounted Maximin Criterion

The intertemporal decentralization literature scrutinizes the ability of markets to achieve dynamically optimal allocation of resources. Put differently, it examines the possibility of designing a mechanism enabling short-lived agents to make independent decisions compatible with long-run optimum. The Hurwicz and Weinberger impossibility result states that the mechanisms that are both privacy preserving and optimal fail to exist when an infinite-horizon optimum is defined by Ramsey-type criteria with discounting. However, for a special case where the economy cannot sustain growth and agents do not discount future utilities, it is known that a decentralized mechanism using rolling plans is in a certain sense asymptotically optimal. To address the problem of possibility of decentralization mechanisms in a sustainable growth economy with discounting, I consider a ‘discounted maximin’ optimality criterion. It selects the programs that sustain growth of welfare at a given rate. The article argues that this criterion is consistent with the principles of intergenerational justice, which can be defined in terms of intergenerational Nash equilibrium. Furthermore, the article demonstrates that a decentralized mechanism designed on the basis of rolling plans generates decisions that are asymptotically optimal in terms of the discounted maximin.
Privatization, financial development, property rights and growth.

Abstract This study analyzes how prevailing institutional arrangements i.e., property rights, contracting rights, political institutions, and corporate governance practices affect privatized firms’ performance, capital markets development, and economic growth. Most of the studies surveyed show that privatization enhances privatized firms performance, efficiency, and profitability, which percolates to economic growth. Privatized firms performed better in countries with better regulatory and legal frameworks. Partial privatization may be beneficial in countries with weak institutions, namely, the French civil law countries. The stronger the economic and the governing institutions, the easier it is for privatized firms to thrive and contribute to economic growth. Overall, privatization allows firms to achieve improved efficiency while driving the development of the financial sector.
Iron(III) nitrate complexes with linear pentacoordinate ligands and their base hydrolysis products

Abstract The complexes, Fe(saldpt)NO3, [Fe(salmedpt)]2(NO3)(OH), Fe(saldien)NO3, and Fe(salmedien)NO3·CH2Cl2, have been prepared. Solid state properties (IR spectra, Mossbauer spectra and magnetic moments) and solution properties (electronic spectra, PMR spectra, conductivities and cyclic voltammograms) have been measured. The saldpt and saldien compounds when reacted with aqueous KOH formed Fe(saldpt)sal and Fe(saldien)OC2H5·H2O. Single crystals of Fe(saldpt)sal were prepared and examined. Crystal data: Fe(saldpt)sal: monoclinic, space group P21/c(#14), a=12.486(5), b=18.502(8), c=10.870(5) A, β=104.23(3)°, V=2434(2) A3, Z=4, Dc=1.40 g cm−3, R=0.0473 (Rw=0.0681) for 317 parameters and 2107 data with Fo2 > 3σ(Fo2).
Unraveling the Mystery of ATP Hydrolysis in Actin Filaments

Actin performs its myriad cellular functions by the growth and disassembly of its filamentous form. The hydrolysis of ATP in the actin filament has been shown to modulate properties of the filament, thus making it a pivotal regulator of the actin life cycle. Actin has evolved to selectively hydrolyze ATP in the filamentous form, F-actin, with an experimentally observed rate increase over the monomeric form, G-actin, of 4.3 × 104. The cause of this dramatic increase in rate is investigated in this paper using extensive QM/MM simulations of both G- and F-actin. To compute the free energy of hydrolysis in both systems, metadynamics is employed along two collective variables chosen to describe the reaction coordinates of hydrolysis. F-actin is modeled as a monomer with restraints applied to coarse-grained variables enforced to keep it in a filament-like conformation. The simulations reveal a barrier height reduction for ATP hydrolysis in F-actin as compared to G-actin of 8 ± 1 kcal/mol, in good agreement with...
Competition-Driven Network Dynamics: Emergence of a Scale-Free Leadership Structure and Collective Efficiency

Using the minority game as a model for competition dynamics, we investigate the effects of interagent communications across a network on the global evolution of the game. Agent communication across this network leads to the formation of an influence network, which is dynamically coupled to the evolution of the game, and it is responsible for the information flow driving the agents' actions. We show that the influence network spontaneously develops hubs with a broad distribution of in-degrees, defining a scale-free robust leadership structure. Furthermore, in realistic parameter ranges, facilitated by information exchange on the network, agents can generate a high degree of cooperation making the collective almost maximally efficient.
An HIV Feedback Resistor: Auto-Regulatory Circuit Deactivator and Noise Buffer

Animal viruses (e.g., lentiviruses and herpesviruses) use transcriptional positive feedback (i.e., transactivation) to regulate their gene expression. But positive-feedback circuits are inherently unstable when turned off, which presents a particular dilemma for latent viruses that lack transcriptional repressor motifs. Here we show that a dissipative feedback resistor, composed of enzymatic interconversion of the transactivator, converts transactivation circuits into excitable systems that generate transient pulses of expression, which decay to zero. We use HIV-1 as a model system and analyze single-cell expression kinetics to explore whether the HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (Tat) uses a resistor to shut off transactivation. The Tat feedback circuit was found to lack bi-stability and Tat self-cooperativity but exhibited a pulse of activity upon transactivation, all in agreement with the feedback resistor model. Guided by a mathematical model, biochemical and genetic perturbation of the suspected Tat feedback resistor altered the circuit's stability and reduced susceptibility to molecular noise, in agreement with model predictions. We propose that the feedback resistor is a necessary, but possibly not sufficient, condition for turning off noisy transactivation circuits lacking a repressor motif (e.g., HIV-1 Tat). Feedback resistors may be a paradigm for examining other auto-regulatory circuits and may inform upon how viral latency is established, maintained, and broken.
Multidimensional solid state NMR of anisotropic interactions in peptides and proteins.

Accurate determinations of chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) tensors are valuable for NMR of biological systems. In this review we describe recent developments in CSA measurement techniques and applications, particularly in the context of peptides and proteins. These techniques include goniometeric measurements of single crystals, slow magic-angle spinning studies of powder samples, and CSA recoupling under moderate to fast MAS. Experimental CSA data can be analyzed by comparison with ab initio calculations for structure determination and refinement. This approach has particularly high potential for aliphatic C13 analysis, especially Cα tensors which are directly related to structure. Carbonyl and N15 CSA tensors demonstrate a more complex dependence upon hydrogen bonding and electrostatics, in addition to conformational dependence. The improved understanding of these tensors and the ability to measure them quantitatively provide additional opportunities for structure determination, as well as insights into...
Mach cones in quark gluon plasma

The experimental azimuthal dihadron distributions at RHIC show a double peak structure in the away side (? = ? ? 1.2 rad) for intermediate pt particles. A variety of models have appeared trying to describe this modification. We will review most of them, with special emphasis on the conical flow scenario in which the observed shape is a consequence of the emission of sound by a supersonic high momentum particle propagating in the quark gluon plasma.
The Role of Big 6 Auditors in the Credible Reporting of Accruals

This study investigates if the use of a Big 6 auditor is increasing in the firm's endogenous propensity to generate accruals. High‐accrual firms have greater scope for aggressive and/or opportunist...
A new catalyst for reductive cleavage of methylated glycans.

Several per-O-methylated D-glucans and D-fructans were used as models in an attempt to identify new catalysts for carrying out reductive cleavage. Included in these model studies were several D-glucans that contained 4-linked D-glucopyranosyl residues as well as one having a 4-linked D-glucitol residue, as both types of residue had previously been found to give rise to substantial proportions of artifactual products. These studies led to the development of a new catalyst for carrying out reductive cleavage, namely, a mixture of 5 equivalents of trimethylsilyl methanesulfonate (Me3SiOSO2Me) and 1 equivalent of boron trifluoride etherate (BF3 . Et2O) per equivalent of acetal. This new catalyst was found to accomplish the reductive cleavage of per-O-methylated, 4-linked D-glucopyranosyl residues and 4-linked D-glucitol residues, to give only the expected derivatives of 1,5-anhydro-D-glucitol and D-glucitol, respectively. The mixture of Me3SiOSO2Me and BF3 . Et2O also catalyzed reductive cleavage of the D-fructofuranosyl residues of per-O-methylated sucrose and inulin, to give only the expected derivatives of 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol and 2,5-anhydro-D-glucitol. Indeed, when used alone, Me3SiOSO2Me also rapidly catalyzed the reductive cleavage of D-fructofuranosyl residues, but, under the same conditions, D-glucopyranosyl residues were unaffected. The results of these and other model studies demonstrated that catalysis of reductive cleavage by the mixture of Me3SiOSO2Me and BF3 . Et2O occurs in a synergistic manner. Examination of the mixture of Me3SiOSO2Me and BF3 . Et2O by 1H-n.m.r. spectroscopy demonstrated that a reaction occurs to generate trimethylsily fluoride and species of the type F2BOSO2Me, FB(OSO2Me)2, or B(OSO2Me)3 via ligand exchange.
Optimal Compensation for Regulatory Takings

One argument for forcing governments to pay compensation for regulatory takings is that they will tend to over regulate if compensation is not paid. In this paper, a model is developed in which there are two groups in society, one of which bears all of the costs of regulation. Regulation provides (potentially unequal) benefits to both groups. In the absence of compensation, a biased government will not choose the efficient level of regulation. If taxes are non-distorting, a compensation rule can be designed to achieve the first best outcome. The optimal rule always involves a positive degree of compensation regardless of the direction of the government bias. If the government is biased in favor of the regulated group, then compensation will increase the level of the regulation. When taxes are distortionary, the first best outcome cannot be achieved, and the optimal level of compensation may be 0.
Extracting information on pneumonia in infants using natural language processing of radiology reports

Natural language processing (NLP) is critical for improvement of the healthcare process because it can encode clinical data in patient documents. Many clinical applications such as decision support require coded data to function appropriately. However, in order to be applicable for healthcare, performance must be adequate. A valuable automated application is the detection of infectious diseases, such as surveillance of pneumonia in newborns (e.g., neonates) because the disease produces significant rates of morbidity and mortality, and manual surveillance is challenging. Studies have demonstrated that automated surveillance using NLP is a useful adjunct to manual surveillance and an effective tool for infection control practitioners. This paper presents a study evaluating the feasibility of an NLP-based monitoring system to screen for healthcare-associated pneumonia in neonates. We estimated sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value by comparing results with clinicians' judgments. Sensitivity was 71% and specificity was 99%. Our results demonstrated that the automated method was feasible.
Out-of-pocket spending in the last five years of life.

A key objective of the Medicare program is to reduce risk of financial catastrophe due to out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures. Yet little is known about cumulative financial risks arising from out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures faced by older adults, particularly near the end of life. Using the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS) cohort, we conducted retrospective analyses of Medicare beneficiaries’ total out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures over the last 5 years of life. We identified HRS decedents between 2002 and 2008; defined a 5 year study period using each subject’s date of death; and excluded those without Medicare coverage at the beginning of this period (n = 3,209). We examined total out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures in the last 5 years of life and expenditures as a percentage of baseline household assets. We then stratified results by marital status and cause of death. All measurements were adjusted for inflation to 2008 US dollars. Average out-of-pocket expenditures in the 5 years prior to death were $38,688 (95 % Confidence Interval $36,868, $40,508) for individuals, and $51,030 (95 % CI $47,649, $54,412) for couples in which one spouse dies. Spending was highly skewed, with the median and 90th percentile equal to $22,885 and $89,106, respectively, for individuals, and $39,759 and $94,823, respectively, for couples. Overall, 25 % of subjects’ expenditures exceeded baseline total household assets, and 43 % of subjects’ spending surpassed their non-housing assets. Among those survived by a spouse, 10 % exceeded total baseline assets and 24 % exceeded non-housing assets. By cause of death, average spending ranged from $31,069 for gastrointestinal disease to $66,155 for Alzheimer’s disease. Despite Medicare coverage, elderly households face considerable financial risk from out-of-pocket healthcare expenses at the end of life. Disease-related differences in this risk complicate efforts to anticipate or plan for health-related expenditures in the last 5 years of life.
Same Sex Marriage and the Perceived Assault on Opposite Sex Marriage

Background Marriage benefits both individuals and societies, and is a fundamental determinant of health. Until recently same sex couples have been excluded from legally recognized marriage in the United States. Recent debate around legalization of same sex marriage has highlighted for anti-same sex marriage advocates and policy makers a concern that allowing same sex couples to marry will lead to a decrease in opposite sex marriages. Our objective is to model state trends in opposite sex marriage rates by implementation of same sex marriages and other same sex unions. Methods and Findings Marriage data were obtained for all fifty states plus the District of Columbia from 1989 through 2009. As these marriage rates are non-stationary, a generalized error correction model was used to estimate long run and short run effects of same sex marriages and strong and weak same sex unions on rates of opposite sex marriage. We found that there were no significant long-run or short run effects of same sex marriages or of strong or weak same sex unions on rates of opposite sex marriage. Conclusion A deleterious effect on rates of opposite sex marriage has been argued to be a motivating factor for both the withholding and the elimination of existing rights of same sex couples to marry by policy makers–including presiding justices of current litigation over the rights of same sex couples to legally marry. Such claims do not appear credible in the face of the existing evidence, and we conclude that rates of opposite sex marriages are not affected by legalization of same sex civil unions or same sex marriages.
The structural characteristics of radiation damage produced by high energy (2.7 MeV) ion implantation in GaAs

The radiation damage induced by the implantation of 2.7 MeV P+ and N+ ions with a dose of 6.4 × 1016 ions cm−3 into GaAs at room temperature has been studied by transmission electron microscopy. The as-implanted material was found to consist of a buried amorphous layer which was sandwiched between a heavily damaged but crystalline cover layer exhibiting a high density of black dot defects, microtwins and dislocation loops and a less damaged substrate region. Post-implantation annealing of the specimens at 250° C for 6 h resulted in the recrystallization of the amorphous and cover layers by random nucleation of grains producing a polycrystalline region on the single crystal substrate. However, a second stage annealing of these samples at 400° C for 2 h caused an epitaxial regrowth of the implanted layer on the undamaged substrate producing single crystal regions which were heavily twinned on all {111} planes. The results of the present microstructural analyses have been compared with the previous infra-red reflectivity studies on identically implanted GaAs samples to determine the effects of structural changes on the dielectric properties. The two studies are found to be in reasonable agreement. The present results are also compared with those from previous lower energy-lower dose implantations.
Future high energy physics experiments using RICH detectors: the next generation

Abstract The physics goals and detector designs of high energy physics experiments now under construction that use RICH technology for particle identification are reviewed.
QWIP technology: advances and prospects

Quantum well infrared technology has been progressing rapidly in the last several years. There are a number of focal plane array development projects conducted in earnest around the world. Different applications areas are also being explored. In this article, I will give a brief overview of the current technology, and discuss some of our recent progresses. They include the more accurate prediction on the material optical properties, the better understanding of the light coupling mechanisms and the demonstration of the corrugated-QWIP FPAs. Despite the current achievements, there are still problems in QWIPs in reaching out to both low and high temperature operation. I will discuss the prospects of using quantum dots and quantum grids in improving this technology.
The spacecraft radiation experiments

The radiation experiments on the Telstar spacecraft were designed to measure the electron and proton particle distributions in the region of space explored by the satellite orbit and to give information on the integral semiconductor radiation damage produced by these particles. A solar aspect experiment is included with the radiation experiments because of its direct importance to solar cell damage results. The design and the hardware for these experiments are described in the present paper. Results of the experiments are included in a companion paper in this issue.
Do Charitable Subsidies Crowd Out Political Giving? The Missing Link between Charitable and Political Contributions

In the United States, charitable contributions can be deducted from taxable income making the price of giving inversely related to the marginal tax rate. However, several other types of contributions such as donations to political organizations are not tax deductible. This paper investigates the spillover effects of charitable subsidieson political giving usingfive independent surveys of charitable and political giving in the United States conducted from 1990 to 2001. The results show that charitable and political giving are complements. Compared with non-donors, charitable donors are more likely to donate and give more to political organizations. Increasing the price of charitable giving decreases not only charitable giving but also the probability of giving and the amount of donations to political organizations. The implied elasticity of the amount of political contributions with respect to the tax price of charitable giving is as much as -0.88. This effect is robust under different specifications and with different sets of instrumental variables. These results highlight the positive externalities created by charitable subsidies and have important implications for economic models of political and charitable giving.
Predictors of postextubation stridor in pediatric trauma patients.

OBJECTIVE To determine which factors are the best predictors of postextubation stridor in pediatric trauma patients. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING The Burn and Trauma ICUs at Harborview Medical Center from March to September 1989. PATIENTS Children were eligible for the study if they were less than 15 yr old, were intubated for greater than 12 hr, and did not have underlying cardiopulmonary disease. The study included 25 patients with 30 extubations. RISK FACTORS ASSESSED: Age, type of injury (burn vs. trauma), location of intubation ("field" vs. hospital), endotracheal tube size, length of intubation, and presence of an airleak around the tube at the time of extubation at 30 cm H2O pressure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Moderate to severe postextubation stridor requiring treatment with racemic epinephrine, helium-oxygen, reintubation, or tracheostomy. RESULTS Treatment for postextubation stridor was required after 11 (37%) of 30 extubations, with five reintubations and one tracheostomy. The best predictor of postextubation stridor was absence of an airleak at the time of extubation (sensitivity 100%, positive predictive value 79%, p less than .001), followed by type of injury (facial burn vs. all others; sensitivity 64%, positive predictive value 88%, p less than .001). After controlling for these two factors, no other factor studied was a significant predictor of postextubation stridor. CONCLUSION In pediatric trauma patients, mechanism of injury (facial burn vs. other) and absence of an airleak at the time of extubation are the strongest factors predicting postextubation stridor. Patients with one or both risk factors require special attention to airway management.
Synthesis and Electronic Transport of Single Crystal K3C60

Sizable single crystals of C6O have been synthesized and doped with potassium. Above the superconducting transition temperature Tc, the electrical resistivity p(T) displays a classic metal-like temperature dependence. The transition to the superconducting state at Tc = 19.8 K is extremely sharp, with a transition width ΔT
Institutional ownership composition and accounting conservatism

This study empirically investigates the association between institutional ownership composition and accounting conservatism. Transient (dedicated) institutional investors, holding diversified (concentrated) portfolios with high (low) portfolio turnover, focus on portfolio firms’ short-term (long-term) perspectives and trade heavily (generally do not trade) on current earnings news. Thus, I predict that as transient (dedicated) institutional ownership increases, firms will exhibit a lower (higher) degree of accounting conservatism. Consistent with my predictions, in the context of asymmetric timeliness of earnings, I document that as the level of transient (dedicated) institutional ownership increases, earnings become less (more) asymmetrically timely in recognizing bad news.
1-Vinyl-4-methyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octanes: Unsaturated homoenolate anion equivalents

Abstract The metalation of (E)-1-(2-chlorovinyl)- or (E)-1-(2-bromovinyl)-4-methyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane with tert-butyllithium produced an unsaturated homoenolate anion equivalent which intercepted alkyl halides, aldehydes, ketones, and lactones to afford β-alkylated or β-acylated orthoesters, which, in turn, furnished β-substituted acrylate esters.
The Trial of the Marquise of O …: A Case for Enlightened Jurisprudence?

Heinrich von Kleist was intimately familiar with Prussia's controversial new legal code, the Allgemeines Landrecht fur die Preusischen Staaten (ALR), and the debates it engendered. By reading Die Marquise von O… in light of the contemporary juridical discourse, this article offers new insight into the text and attempts to explain several textual oddities that have evaded a satisfying hermeneutic reading, including the parents’ opposing and often bewildering interactions with their daughter. By demonstrating the parents’ alignment with competing legal norms, this article reveals an overlooked contest in the text. Through this opposition, Kleist interrogates the ostensible superiority of the ALR and contemporary medico-legal notions about pregnancy and witnessing. This article further uncovers a surprising inversion: here, the mother judges her daughter according to the most up-to-date version of the law. This correspondence has critical implications for the role of women, the nature of the law, and how we ...
Determining the Effect of Personality Types on Human-Agent Interactions

Because of the large number of agents and robots beginning to affect everyday life of humans, it is important to understand how humans would treat agents in a mixed human-agent society. In this paper, we are trying to find answers to two questions: whether humans possess different attitudes towards other humans and agents, and whether the personality type of a human influences his/her decisions and how. To investigate these problems, first we use the Keirsey Temperament Sorter-II (KTS-II) to discover the personality types of our human participants. Then each participant plays the "Who Gets More Cake?" game three times, with a simulated human and an agent as opponents. The experimental results are shown in two aspects: the tendency aspect and the consistency aspect. It is shown that humans treat other humans and agents differently and humans with different KTS-II temperaments behave differently on the above two aspects. It is very possible that the Thinking--Feeling dichotomy of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the tendency results are not independent. Also, there is a correlation between the Extraversion--Introversion dichotomy and the consistency results.
The galactic center region gamma ray excess from a supersymmetric leptophilic Higgs model

In a recent paper by Hooper and Goodenough, data from the Fermi Gamma Ray Telescope was analyzed and an excess of gamma rays was claimed to be found in the emission spectrum from the Galactic Center Region. Hooper and Goodenough suggest that the claimed excess can be well explained by 7-10 GeV annihilating dark matter with a power law density profile if the dark matter annihilates predominantly to tau pairs. In this paper we present such a dark matter model by extending the MSSM to include four Higgs doublets and one scalar singlet. A $ {\mathbb{Z}_2} $ symmetry is imposed that enforces a Yukawa structure so that the up quarks, down quarks, and leptons each receive mass from a distinct doublet. This leads to an enhanced coupling of scalars to leptons and allows the model to naturally achieve the required phenomenology in order to explain the gamma ray excess. Our model yields the correct dark matter thermal relic density and avoids collider bounds from measurements of the Z width as well as direct production at LEP.
Fluid/Rock Interactions Between Xanthan/Chromium(III) Gel Systems and Dolomite Core Material

Gelation of chromium(III)-xanthan systems in dolomite core material was investigated. Compositional changes in the gelant caused by interactions with the dolomite core material resulted in low permeability reductions for gelants prepared with chromium chloride, chromium acetate and a chromium diamine salt. The primary cause of incomplete gelation in the dolomite material was the increase in gelant pH that resulted in precipitation of chromium.
Symbol and Bit Mapping Optimization for Physical-Layer Network Coding with Pulse Amplitude Modulation

In this paper, we consider a two-way relay network in which two users exchange messages through a single relay using a physical-layer network coding (PNC) based protocol. The protocol comprises two phases of communication. In the multiple access (MA) phase, two users transmit their modulated signals concurrently to the relay, and in the broadcast (BC) phase, the relay broadcasts a network-coded (denoised) signal to both users. Nonbinary and binary network codes are considered for uniform and nonuniform pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) adopted in the MA phase, respectively. We examine the effect of different choices of symbol mapping (i.e., mapping from the denoised signal to the modulation symbols at the relay) and bit mapping (i.e., mapping from the modulation symbols to the source bits at the user) on the system error-rate performance. A general optimization framework is proposed to determine the optimal symbol/bit mappings with joint consideration of noisy transmissions in both communication phases. Complexity-reduction techniques are developed for solving the optimization problems. It is shown that the optimal symbol/bit mappings depend on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the channel and the modulation scheme. A general strategy for choosing good symbol/bit mappings is also presented based on a high-SNR analysis, which suggests using a symbol mapping that aligns the error patterns in both communication phases and Gray and binary bit mappings for uniform and nonuniform PAM, respectively.
Wage Differentials by Race and Sex: The Roles of Taste Discrimination and Labor Market Information

Using a unique dataset, this article first documents that gaps in starting wages by race and sex persist after accounting for performance on the job. Evidence suggests that simple statistical discrimination, and not just taste discrimination, is partly responsible for race differences in starting wages. But because women's average performance in the sample is higher than men's, simple statistical discrimination cannot explain the sex gap. In more complex models of statistical discrimination, worse information about a group can lower its average wage. Estimates of the quality of labor market information indicate that this may explain women's lower starting wages.
The Microwave Torsional-Rotational Spectra of CH2DSH and CHD2SH, Revisited

Abstract The microwave spectroscopy of CH 2 DSH and CHD 2 SH has been revisited with the intent of identifying and assigning transitions in the excited torsional states. This effort has been successful, but in the course of the investigation it has been necessary to assign additional ground state lines. A preliminary analysis shows that V 3 is much closer to the −CH 3 value of 444 cm −1 for both partially deuterated species than our study of many years ago indicated. Further, the preliminary analysis indicates that the sign of V 1 has changed for CHD 2 SH and is now consistent with that for CHD 2 OH. A large V 2 term of opposite sign keeps the trans level below the gauche levels. The determination of a good, full set of potential energy coefficients will have to await a more rigorous analysis.
The pricing of supershares

Abstract The new ‘supershare’ securities proposed by Hakansson (1977, 1976) are subject to the same sort of rickless-hedge combinations as are other forms of secondary securities such as stock options. In consequence, the prices of supershares must, even in the absence of distributional assumptions, obey certain pricing relationships with each other and with the underlying primary security. When the primary security is assumed in addition to follow a geometric Brownian motion process, exact supershare valuation formulae of the Black-Scholes (1973) type are obtained. The ‘hedge portfolio algebra’ of Garman (1976) is employed to make the analysis concise.