cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of oral contraceptive and estrogen administration on plasma calcitonin in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Estrogen (E) therapy and administration of oral contraceptives (OCs) reportedly increase plasma calcitonin (CT) concentrations in women effects said to mediate in part the beneficial actions of E on the bone. To further examine this theory the authors tested the effects of 3 cycles of OC therapy in 12 young women comparing them with 10 healthy women before and after 3 normal menstrual cycles. They also determined the effects of 3 months of E therapy (ethinyl estradiol 20 mcg/day 25 of 30 days) in 14 healthy postmenopausal women using a crossover design (studied after 3 months with and 3 months without E). The authors determined CT by radioimmunoassay (antiserum G-1701) in whole plasma (iCT) and silica cartridge extracts of plasma (exCT) after overnight fasting after calcium (Ca) infusion (2 mg Ca/kg over 5 minutes) and during a normal day at 0800 1200 1700 and 2000 hours. In no control study was there a significant diurnal change in iCT or exCT and neither OCs nor E therapy altered this. Similarly OC administration did not affect basal CT levels or the normal iCT and exCT responses to Ca infusion. E therapy induced expected changes in serum Ca phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase and urinary Ca and cAMP excretion; basal and diurnal plasma exCT levels were decreased significantly consonant with the decrement in serum Ca. E did not alter normal iCT and exCT responses to Ca infusion. Thus administration of either OCs or E has no stimulatory effect on CT secretion which suggests that the beneficial actions of E on bone are not mediated through CT-induced inhibition of bone resorption. Interaction of E with CT action at the cellular level is not excluded by these findings but there are no data to support such a proposal. (authors)
4-Alkylpiperidines related to SR-48968: Potent antagonists of the neurokinin-2 (NK2) receptor

A series of 4-alkylpiperidine derivatives related to the potent neurokinin-2 (NK2) receptor antagonist SR-48968 (1) is described. Simple aliphatic derivatives were found to be poorly active, but appropriate placement of an alcohol functional group afforded compounds that were of similar activity to 1. Several representatives in this series, such as the 4-(1-hydroxy-1-ethylpropyl)piperidine (14), were found to exhibit oral activity in a model of labored abdominal breathing in guinea pigs. These results expand the latitude of substituents available in this region of this series of NK2 receptor antagonists.
Transfer of Polarized Radiation in Strongly Magnetized Plasmas and Thermal Emission from Magnetars: Effect of Vacuum Polarization

We present a theoretical study of radiative transfer in strongly magnetized electron-ion plasmas, focusing on the effect of vacuum polarization due to quantum electrodynamics. This study is directly relevant to thermal radiation from the surfaces of highly magnetized neutron stars, which have been detected in recent years. Strong-field vacuum polarization modifies the photon propagation modes in the plasma, and induces a “vacuum resonance” at which a polarized X-ray photon propagating outward in the neutron star atmosphere can convert from a low-opacity mode to a high-opacity mode and vice versa. The effectiveness of this mode conversion depends on the photon energy and the atmosphere density gradient. For a wide range of field strengths, 7 × 10 13 < B < a few × 10 16 G, the vacuum resonance lies between the photospheres of the two photon modes, and the emergent radiation spectrum from the neutron star is significantly modified by the vacuum resonance. (For lower field strengths, only the polarization spectrum is affected.) Under certain conditions, which depend on the field strength, photon energy and propagation direction, the vacuum resonance is accompanied by the phenomenon of mode collapse (at which the two photon modes become degenerate) and the breakdown of Faraday depolarization. Thus, the widely used description of radiative transfer based on photon modes is not adequate to treat the vacuum polarization effect rigorously. We study the evolution of polarized X-rays across the vacuum resonance and derive the transfer equation for the photon intensity matrix (Stokes parameters), taking into account the effect of birefringence of the plasma-vacuum medium, free-free absorption, and scatterings by electrons and ions. Subject headings: magnetic fields – radiative transfer – stars: neutron – stars: atmospheres – X-rays: stars
A number theoretic question arising in the geometry of plane curves and in billiard dynamics

We prove that if $\rho\neq1/2$ is a rational number between zero and one, then there is no integer $n>1$ such that $$ n\tan(\pi\rho)=\tan(n\pi\rho). $$ This has interpretations both in the theory of bicycle curves and that of mathematical billiards.
Beyond the phoneme: a juncture-accent model of spoken language

Phonemic models of spoken language are incapable of accommodating the patterns of pronunciation variation observed in spontaneous speech (as exemplified by a corpus of American English telephone dialogues, a.k.a. SWITCHBOARD). Variation in pronunciation with respect to segmental identity and duration can be accounted for in terms of a juncture-accent model, in which position of the segment within the syllable (i.e., onset, nucleus, coda), in tandem with knowledge of the associated stress-accent pattern, is used to interpret the inherently ambiguous phonetic information contained in the acoustic signal. Many properties of pronunciation variation can be accounted for in terms of such a model, including: (1) the prevalence of coda deletion, (2) the mutability of vocalic identity and (3) the relative stability of syllable onsets. The melding of phonetic and prosodic features within the syllable provides for efficient and reliable linguistic information coding.
Compounding/discounting in continuous time

Abstract This paper suggests that the current method for compounding and discounting in continuous time may be inaccurate and misleading. The extant continuous time model is based on an arithmetic average. Using the geometric mean, an alternative, simple, model is suggested. An example using simulated data indicates that the potential error is meaningful in terms of size and impact on statistical analyses.
Donors’ Mechanisms for Financing International and National Public Goods: Loans or Grants?

This paper investigates whether three classes of donors – multilateral organisations, regional institutions and bilateral donors – tailor their mix of grants and loans to reflect international benefit spillovers and recipient-specific benefits, derived from aid-funded activities in developing and transition countries. To account for recipient benefit shares, donors should use a greater share of grants when supported activities yield a larger portion of international public benefits. A greater reliance on loans is appropriate when a large portion of recipient-specific benefits are associated with the assistance. By reflecting recipient benefit shares in the grant-loan mix, donors’ assistance also promotes allocative efficiency. Using the Credit Reporting System (CRS) database from OECD for 1980–2000, our analysis establishes that various donor classes apply different grant-loan mixtures when supporting the environment, health, knowledge and governance sectors of recipient countries. We employ analysis of variance and other statistical comparisons of the means to investigate differences among donor classes. We demonstrate that bilateral donors do the best job in tailoring their grant-loan mix to accord with the extent of international public good benefits embodied in the aid-supported activity. Multilateral organisations’ grant-loan mix is intermediate of the three types of donors, with some evidence of them relying more on grants to finance activities that possess a larger share of international public good spillovers. Regional institutions, however, do not discriminate their grant-loan mix by either sectors or the associated public good spillovers. This finding suggests that regional development banks need to adjust their grant-loan mix to better account for international benefit spillovers if these institutions are to warrant the increased funds to underwrite regional public goods that they have been seeking. If, however, their mix is institutionally set, then the stakeholders must give these institutions greater flexibility to tailor their grants and loans to who benefits from the aid-supported public goods. This is the first paper to empirically ascertain whether the grant-loan mix is tied to the inherent publicness of the aid-funded activities.
Rh Isoimmunization Related to Amniocentesis

We report on the incidence of Rh isoimmunization after genetic amniocentesis at our institution. In 115 Rh negative women who underwent amniocentesis and subsequently delivered Rh positive infants, there were 4 (3.4%) sensitizations before birth. This was significantly greater than the 1.5% rate of gestational sensitization found in pooled populations of women who did not undergo amniocentesis. We also noted a significant increase in the number of sensitizations that occurred before 28 weeks. The results were consistent with those of previous studies of this issue, and are discussed in relation to current policies for managing Rh negative women who have second trimester amniocentesis.
Sources of TFP growth: occupational choice and financial deepening

This paper explains and measures the sources of total factor productivity (TFP) by developing a method of growth accounting based on an integrated use of transitional growth models and micro data. We decompose TFP growth into the occupational-shift effect, financial-deepening effect, capital-heterogeneity effect, and sectoral-Solow-residuals. Applying this method to Thailand, which experienced rapid growth with enormous structural changes between 1976 and 1996, we find that 73% of TFP growth is explained by occupational shifts and financial deepening, without presuming exogenous technical progress. Expansion of credit is a major part. We also show the role of endogenous interaction between factor price dynamics and the wealth distribution for TFP.
α-Diazo-β-ketonitriles: uniquely reactive substrates for arene and alkene cyclopropanation.

An investigation of the intramolecular cyclopropanation reactions of α-diazo-β-ketonitriles is reported. These studies reveal that α-diazo-β-ketonitriles exhibit unique reactivity in their ability to undergo arene cyclopropanation reactions; other similar acceptor–acceptor-substituted diazo substrates instead produce mixtures of C–H insertion and dimerization products. α-Diazo-β-ketonitriles also undergo highly efficient intramolecular cyclopropanation of tri- and tetrasubstituted alkenes. In addition, the α-cyano-α-ketocyclopropane products are demonstrated to serve as substrates for S_(N)2, S_(N)2′, and aldehyde cycloaddition reactions.
Hemoglobin A1c awareness among patients receiving eye care at a tertiary ophthalmic center.

Purpose To describe awareness of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among patients receiving eye care at a tertiary ophthalmic center for diabetic eye disease. Design Prospective, nonrandomized clinical case series. Methods One hundred-fifty adult patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) examined between July and October of 2003 for diabetic retinopathy (DR) were surveyed about HbA1c knowledge. Results Seventy-six (51%) understood HbA1c, 25 (17%) were not sure if they understood, and 49 (33%) did not understand. Patients who understood HbA1c based on duration of DM were as low as two (29%) of seven with DM 15 years. Seventy-six (51%) had proliferative DR, among whom 33 (43%) understood HbA1c, 69 (46%) had nonproliferative DR, among whom 39 (57%) understood HbA1c, and five (3%) had no DR, among whom four (80%) understood HbA1c. Conclusion Approximately half of diabetic patients surveyed understood HbA1c.
Generation of femtosecond optical vortices by molecular modulation in a Raman-active crystal

We have realized the coherent transfer of orbital angular momentum in PbWO 4 crystal by using two-color femtosecond laser pulses. Ultrashort optical vortices at various wavelengths can be generated.
Influence of composition on the morphology of polypropylene/polycarbonate blends

Abstract The size and size distribution of the minor phase in melt blended polypropylene/polycarbonate blends is studied as a function of composition. Composition has a marked effect on the dispersed phase size, particularly at intermediate concentrations where the region of dual-phase continuity was observed for these blends. The volume average diameter was found to increase more than four-fold on increasing the concentration of polycarbonate from 5 to 40 wt%. The particle size distribution of the minor phase demonstrates wide polydispersity, but narrows as dimensions decrease. Lowering the viscosity ratio of the blends from 7 to 2 has a significant impact on the phase size/composition relationship and the region of dual-phase continuity is found to shift to a higher composition. The position and shift of the region of dual phase continuity are not consistent with predictions based exclusively on composition and viscosity ratio.
The delocalized nature of holes in (Ga, N) cluster-doped ZnO

A spin-polarized density-functional theory study is presented here, revealing that a single hole state created by (Ga, N) cluster doping in ZnO contains the contributions from all of the N atoms in the cluster. This is in contrast to the situation where N atoms alone are doped into ZnO, and have a highly localized hole state centered around the dopant N atoms. Hence, this study shows that an enhanced delocalized hole state can be obtained if an appropriate electronic environment is provided.
Exact results for Wilson loops in superconformal Chern-Simons theories with matter

We use localization techniques to compute the expectation values of supersymmetric Wilson loops in Chern-Simons theories with matter. We find the path-integral reduces to a non-Gaussian matrix model. The Wilson loops we consider preserve a single complex supersymmetry, and exist in any N = 2 theory, though the localization requires superconformal symmetry. We present explicit results for the cases of pure Chern-Simons theory with gauge group U(N), showing agreement with the known results, and ABJM, showing agreement with perturbative calculations. Our method applies to other theories, such as Gaiotto-Witten theories, BLG, and their variants.
Trade, Law, and Product Complexity

Abstract How does the quality of national institutions that enforce the rule of law influence international trade? Anderson and Marcouiller argue that bad institutions located in the importer's country deter international trade because they enable economic predators to steal and extort rents at the importer's border. We complement this research and show how good institutions located in the exporter's country enhance international trade, in particular, trade in complex products whose characteristics are difficult to fully specify in a contract. We argue that both exporter and importer institutions affect international as well as domestic transaction costs in complex and simple product markets. International transaction costs are a part of the costs of trade. Domestic transaction costs affect complex and simple products differently, thereby changing a country's comparative advantage in producing such goods.We find ample empirical evidence for these predictions: countries that have good institutions tend to ...
Empirically distinguishing informative and prestige effects of advertising

This article introduces techniques to empirically distinguish different effects of brand advertising in nondurable, experience goods markets. I argue that advertisements that give consumers product information should primarily affect consumers who have never tried the brand, whereas advertisements that create prestige or image effects should affect both inexperienced and experienced users. I apply this empirical argument to consumer-level data on purchases of a newly introduced brand of yogurt. Empirical results indicate that the advertisements for this brand primarily affect inexperienced users of the brand. I conclude that the primary effect of these advertisements was that of informing consumers. Copyright 2001 by the RAND Corporation.
Solvothermal reduction of chemically exfoliated graphene sheets.

We have developed a solvothermal reduction method that affords more effective reduction of chemically derived graphene sheets and graphite oxide than low-temperature reduction methods. Solvothermal reduction removed oxygen and defects from graphene sheets, increased the size of sp2 domains, and produced materials that were as conducting as pristine graphene and exhibited clear intrinsic Dirac behavior.
A Ratchet Mechanism for Low-Frequency Hearing in Mammals

The sensitivity and frequency selectivity of hearing result from tuned amplification by an active process in the mechanoreceptive hair cells. The nature of the active process in the mammalian cochlea is intensely debated, for outer hair cells exhibit two forms of mechanical activity, active hair-bundle motility and membrane-based electromotility. Here we show theoretically that active hair-bundle motility and electromotility can together implement an efficient mechanism for amplification that functions like a ratchet: sound-evoked forces acting on the basilar membrane are transmitted to the hair bundles while electromotility decouples the active hair-bundle forces from the basilar membrane. Through a combination of analytical and computational techniques we demonstrate that the ratchet mechanism can naturally account for a variety of unexplained experimental observations from low-frequency hearing.
Asymmetric Mannich Reactions of β-Keto Esters with Acyl Imines Catalyzed by Cinchona Alkaloids

Cinchona alkaloids catalyze the enantioselective Mannich reaction of β-keto esters with acyl aryl imines. The reaction requires 10 mol % of cinchonine or cinchonidine. The reaction products are obtained in good yields (81−99%), high enantioselectivities (80−96% ee), and in diastereoselectivities that range from 1:1 to >95:5. The cinchonine-catalyzed reaction provides access to highly functionalized building blocks used in the asymmetric synthesis of a dihydropyrimidone and β-amino alcohol.
Scattering by non-Gaussian surfaces

A two-dimensional density is constructed from given marginals and a given correlation coefficient by using an expansion in orthogonal polynomials. The results are used to derive a general method of finding the field scattered by a rough surface by both physical and geometrical optics when the surface is generated by a stationary random process which is not necessarily normal. The example of an exponential surface is calculated in more detail, particularly for backscatter.
Running GCM physics and dynamics on different grids: algorithm and tests

An ‘alternate grid’ (GridAlt) technique is presented, which allows the different components of a general circulation model’s governing equations to be computed on distinct grids chosen for that component or process. In the implementation presented here, the tendencies of state variables from the physical parametrizations are computed on a vertical grid with very fine resolution near the surface, whereas the remaining terms in the equations of motion are computed using an Eta coordinate with coarser vertical resolution. Results from a suite of aquaplanet experiments show that much of the benefit of increased vertical resolution in the whole model can be realized by enhancing the vertical resolution of the ‘physics grid’ using GridAlt. The benefit is realized in the fields which are computed directly in the physical parametrizations, and in the vertical structure of the relative humidity and mass streamfunction. Results from a suite of realistically configured simulations demonstrated an impact of GridAlt that was similar to its impact in the simplified simulations, as well as an improved response to El Ni˜no Southern Oscillation forcing. It is concluded that the present implementation of GridAlt offers a practical way to allow GCMs to better capture the near-surface structure of the atmosphere.
Convergent Synthetic Routes to Orthogonally Fused Conjugated Oligomers Directed toward Molecular Scale Electronic Device Applications

This paper describes the synthetic organic phase of a project directed toward the construction of molecular scale electronic devices. Outlined is a convergent synthetic route to orthogonally fused conjugated organic oligomers. The final systems are to have a potentially conducting chain fused perpendicularly to a second potentially conducting chain via a σ bonded network. One of the core segments synthesized is based on a spirobithiophene moiety with a central silicon atom. It is formed by a zirconium-promoted bis(bicyclization) of a tetrapropargylsilane. The second core is a 9,9‘-spirobifluorene system. Terminal halide groups provide the linkage points for further extension of the chains via Pd-catalyzed or Pd/Cu-catalyzed cross coupling methods. All four branching arms are affixed to the core in a single operation, thus making the syntheses highly convergent. In the cases of the larger functionalized systems, alkyl substituents on the thiophenes afford soluble materials. In order to prepare the molecule...
Living with the trilemma constraint: Relative trilemma policy divergence, crises, and output losses for developing countries

Abstract This paper investigates the potential impacts of the degree of divergence in open macroeconomic policies in the context of the trilemma hypothesis. Using an index that measures the relative policy divergence among the three trilemma policy choices, namely monetary independence, exchange rate stability, and financial openness, we find that emerging market countries have adopted trilemma policy combinations with the least degree of relative policy divergence in the last 15 years. We find that a developing or emerging market country with a higher degree of relative policy divergence is more likely to experience a currency or debt crisis. However, a developing or emerging market country with a higher degree of relative policy divergence tends to experience smaller output losses when it experiences a currency or banking crisis. Latin American crisis countries tended to reduce their financial integration in the aftermath of a crisis, while this is not the case for the Asian crisis countries. The Asian crisis countries tended to reduce the degree of relative policy divergence in the aftermath of the crisis, probably aiming at macroeconomic policies that are less prone to crises. The degree of relative policy divergence is affected by past crisis experiences – countries that experienced currency crisis or a currency-banking twin crisis tend to adopt a policy combination with a smaller degree of policy divergence.
Mailnet: A convenient inter-campus electronic mail service☆

During the past year there has been rapid growth in the use of computer-based electronic mail systems. Electronic mail is used for communication among colleagues on a given campus and, more recently, among peers on different campuses. Campus-based electronic mail systems have proven convenient and effective for local users. Distant users find such systems useful but relatively expensive and inconvenient. The Mailnet service currently being developed by EDUNET and EDUCOM will provide a means for electronic mail communication with distant colleagues by linking numerous local systems together. Each user will have the convenience and low cost of a local system even when communicating with persons elsewhere in the world. Operators of local (e.g., campus) mail systems will be able to connect to Mailnet without having to acquire any new equipment or to modify existing equipment or operating systems.
Enantioselective synthesis of the K-region trans-9,10-dihydrodiol of benzo[g]chrysene

Abstract Efficient enantioselective syntheses of both enantiomers of the title compound are achieved (>99% ee) via asymmetric dihydroxylation of a stilbene-type precursor using Sharpless catalysts followed by intramolecular biaryl coupling with Pd(PPh3)2Cl2. This is the first example of direct enantioselective synthesis of a K-region dihydrodiol.
Interleukin-1β Induces Cyclooxygenase-2 in Cultured Human Decidual Cells

PROBLEM The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta)-elicited increases in decidual prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha (PGE2 and PGF2 alpha) biosynthesis are due to the de novo expression of the inducible isoform of cyclooxygenase (i.e., COX-2). METHOD Primary human decidual cell cultures were established from term placentas delivered by cesarean section. After 8 days in vitro, when the cultures secreted immunoreactive prolactin, the cells were incubated for 24 h in serum-free medium, and then challenged with IL-1 beta from 1 to 48 h. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha content in the media were measured by specific radioimmunoassays. RESULTS IL-1 beta stimulated a time-dependent enhancement in PGE2 and PGF2 alpha production, with PGF2 alpha synthesis predominating over PGE2. IL-1 beta also induced a dose-dependent increase in the output of both arachidonic acid metabolites. When Northern blots of IL-1 beta-treated and control cells were probed with cDNAs encoding either COX-1 or COX-2 isoforms or an oligonucleotide probe encoding a portion of the human beta-actin, we detected a time- and dose-dependent increase in the steady-state levels of COX-2, but not COX-1 or beta-actin mRNA transcripts. Moreover, the expression of COX-2 mRNA in IL-1 beta-stimulated cells was superinduced by preincubation with cycloheximide, but completely abolished by actinomycin D. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the data suggest that COX-2 mRNA expression is largely responsible for the robust increase in PG formation seen in IL-1 beta-treated decidual cells.
Why Do IPO Firms Conduct Primary Seasoned Equity Offerings

This study examines the reason behind the IPO firm's decision to conduct a primary seasoned equity offering (SEO). First, we develop a two–period model of blockholder incentives starting from the IPO stage. The model suggests that the blockholder has an incentive to conduct an SEO after the IPO when the firm is experiencing growth that was not anticipated at the IPO stage. Using a sample of IPO firms during 1992 to 1997, we find that IPO firms with higher unanticipated positive growth are more likely to conduct an SEO during the four years after their IPOs. We find that the firm's unanticipated shock and growth positively affect the relative size of the firm's seasoned equity offering. We also find that the firm's risk measure reduces the probability of conducting an SEO and reduces the relative size of an SEO.
Association of the California tobacco control program with declines in lung cancer incidence.

Objective: The California tobacco control program enacted in 1988 has been associated with declines in smoking and heart disease mortality. Since smoking also causes lung cancer, we investigated whether the program was associated with a decline in lung and other cancer incidence. Methods: Age-adjusted incidence rates of lung and bladder cancer (which are caused by smoking) and prostate and brain cancer (which are not) in the San Francisco-Oakland (SFO) Surveillance Epidemiology End Results (SEER) registry and other eight SEER registries from 1975 to 1999 were fitted in multiple regression analyses accounting for the time lag between program implementation and its effects on cancer incidence. Cigarette consumption over time was also analyzed and related to lung cancer incidence. Results: With a one year lag, the incidence of lung cancer in SFO, relative to eight other SEER registries, fell significantly below that predicted from the pre-1990 rates, by −0.981 (cases/100,000/year)/year (p= 0.001). With a three year lag, the incidence of bladder cancer fell by −0.234 (cases/100,000/year)/year (p= 0.066). No association of the program was observed on prostate or brain cancers in SFO. During the first decade, the Program was associated with about a 6% reduction in lung cancer incidence; state-wide that corresponds to about 11,000 cases avoided. Conclusion: A comprehensive tobacco control program is associated with a lower incidence of lung cancer.
Oxidation Resistance and Critical Sulfur Content of Single Crystal Superalloys

Single crystal superalloys had greatly improved cyclic oxidation resistance when their sulfur content was reduced from impurity levels, typically 5--10 ppmw in past years, down to 1 ppmw or below currently. Excellent alumina scale adhesion has been documented for PWA 1480, PWA 1484, Rene`N5, Rene`N6, and CMSX 4, all without reactive element (Y) additions. Hydrogen annealing was used for effective desulfurization to below 0.1 ppmw, as well as for achieving controlled intermediate levels. This paper summarizes the direct relationship between cyclic oxidation behavior and sulfur content. An adhesion criterion has been proposed based on the concentration of sulfur needed to initiate spallation due to a monolayer of interfacial segregation. This suggests that a level down to {approximately}0.2 ppmw would be needed to maximize adhesion for a 1 mm thick sample. It is in reasonable agreement with the experimental results.
China Looks to the Sea: A Historical Analysis of Geopolitical Strategy

China is rapidly developing into one of the most powerful states in the international system. To take its place as a regional hegemon, and a true international giant, one of the most important steps for China was to modernize and drastically expand its navy. Over the past three decades, it has done this. Since the opening up of the People’s Republic of China in the 1970s and Deng Xiaoping’s modernizations of the 1980s, China and the United States have been on a militaristic and economic collision course in East Asia. By looking at 19th century Chinese history, I elucidate the “century of humiliation” experienced by China and how strategic naval failures during this time period are still providing lessons to modern naval strategists. I also look for a comparative example to Imperial Germany, and examine the strategic failures of a similar search for world power. My strategic analysis of the expansion of Chinese naval power concludes by providing a basis by which to compare the United States and China in an impending clash between these two powerful nations.
Continuum approximation approach to bus network design under spatially heterogeneous demand

Abstract A methodological framework is formulated so that continuum approximation techniques can be used to design bus networks for cities where travel demand varies gradually over space. The bus-route configurations that result consist of (i) a main, possibly city-wide grid with relatively large physical spacings between its parallel routes and the stops along those routes; together with (ii) one or more local grids with more closely-spaced routes and stops that serve neighborhoods of higher demand densities. The so-called power-of-two concept is borrowed from the field of inventory control, and is enforced so that local grids can be inserted seamlessly within the main one. The resulting heterogeneous route configurations can reduce the costs to the bus users and the operating agency combined, as compared against the costs of homogeneous bus-route grids. Differences of as much as 8% are observed for numerical examples that cover wide-ranging patterns in spatially-varying demand. Much of the savings are due to the diminished access costs that users enjoy when high-demand neighborhoods are served by local grids with closely-spaced routes and stops.
Mapping the Asymmetric Thick Disk: The Hercules Thick-Disk Cloud

The stellar asymmetry of faint thick-disk/inner-halo stars in the first quadrant (l = 20°-45°) that was first reported by Larsen & Humphreys and investigated further by Parker et al. has recently been confirmed by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Their interpretation of the excess in the star counts as a ringlike structure, however, is not supported by critical complementary data in the fourth quadrant, which is not covered by the SDSS. We present stellar density maps from the Minnesota Automated Plate Scanner Catalog of the POSS I showing that the overdensity does not extend into the fourth quadrant. The overdensity is most probably not a ring. It could be due to interaction with the disk bar, or it could be evidence of a triaxial thick disk or a merger remnant/stream. We call this feature the Hercules Thick-Disk Cloud.
Preservation of interventricular septal function in patients having coronary artery bypass grafts without cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract Abnormal interventricular septal motion develops in the majority of patients after cardiac surgery and has been attributed to a variety of causes. This study assesses the role of cardiopulmonary (CP) bypass in the genesis of abnormal septal motion. Twenty-two patients having single coronary artery bypass grafts had septal motion and ejection fraction evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. The results for 11 patients who had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with CP were compared to those for 11 patients who had grafting without CP bypass. Postoperatively, all 11 patients having bypass grafting with CP bypass had diminution in septal function while 10 of 11 patients having bypass grafting performed without CP bypass had no change or improvement in septal motion (p
TAF: a steady state, frequency response, and time response simulation program

For over a decade, engineers have used the analog computer to simulate systems, models of which could be represented by groups of nonlinear simultaneous first-order differential equations. As the digital computer became more prominent, it was often used to cross check, to set up, and to solve problems run on the analog computer. Many digital codes were developed to complement, check out, and even replace the analog computer. Codes such as DAS, MIDAS, PARTNER, DYSAC, MIMIC, DSL/90, and others came into wide use, and some of the reasons for their development have been ably reviewed by Brennan and Linebarger and later by Clancy and Fineberg.
Engineering Design of Tough Ceramic Matrix Composites for Turbine Components

This paper provides a review of the material design concepts for the toughening of ceramic matrix composites by three-dimensional fiber architecture. To establish a communication link between the structural and the materials engineers, an integrated design methodology is presented with an example. Through a Fabric Geometry Model (FGM), the contribution of three-dimensional fiber architecture is translated into a stiffness matrix for finite element structural analysis. With the feedback from the structural analysis, this design methodology provides an effective means to screen reinforcement materials systems for three-dimensional fabric-reinforced composite components
Survival of patients with distal esophageal and gastric cardia tumors: a population-based analysis of gastroesophageal junction carcinomas.

Objective Distal esophageal tumors and gastric cardia tumors, although only physically separated by centimeters, have different staging systems and are usually treated differently. We hypothesized that gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas (eg, gastric cardia and distal esophageal tumors) were not distinct entities and had similar survival. Methods Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (1988–2005), we identified patients with adenocarcinomas of the distal esophagus (n = 1474) and gastric cardia (n = 192). We performed an unadjusted survival analysis using the Kaplan–Meier method, and we used a Cox proportional hazards regression model to adjust for potential confounding covariates. A 2-sided significance level was used for all statistical testing. Results Even after adjusting for potential confounding covariates (location, stage, race, cancer-directed surgery, and radiation therapy), we found no significant difference between distal esophageal and gastric cardia tumors with regard to overall (hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.99–1.41) and cancer-specific (hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.90–1.31) survival. Both cancer-directed surgery (hazard ratio, 0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.37–0.54) and radiation therapy (hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.55–0.71) had a beneficial influence on survival. Conclusion Through a large, population-based analysis of gastric cardia and distal esophageal adenocarcinomas, we found that patients with gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas have similar survival rates. Cancer-directed surgery was beneficial. Adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction are not distinct entities delineated by anatomic boundaries and as such should be managed by one skilled in both esophageal and gastric resections.
Purification and some properties of a brain diaphorase.

Abstract The 200 fold purification of a water extractable diaphorase from ox brain is described. The enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of reduced di- and triphosphopyridine nucleotide by menadione, vitamin K 1 , methylene blue, ferricyanide and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol. It did not react with cytochromes, coenzyme Q 10 or lipoic acid. The enzyme contains flavin adenine dinucleotide and is stimulated by this compound as well as by flavin mononucleotide. It is inhibited by low concentrations of dicumarol, 2,4-dinitrophenol, o -phenanthroline and amytal. Some preliminary kinetic data are presented.
Algebraic cycles and the classical groups II: Quaternionic cycles

In part I of this work we studied the spaces of real algebraic cycles on a complex projective space ℙ(V), where V carries a real structure, and completely determined their homotopy type. We also extended some functors in K–theory to algebraic cycles, establishing a direct relationship to characteristic classes for the classical groups, specially Stiefel–Whitney classes. In this sequel, we establish corresponding results in the case where V has a quaternionic structure. The determination of the homotopy type of quaternionic algebraic cycles is more involved than in the real case, but has a similarly simple description. The stabilized space of quaternionic algebraic cycles admits a nontrivial infinite loop space structure yielding, in particular, a delooping of the total Pontrjagin class map. This stabilized space is directly related to an extended notion of quaternionic spaces and bundles (KH–theory), in analogy with Atiyah’s real spaces and KR–theory, and the characteristic classes that we introduce for these objects are nontrivial. The paper ends with various examples and applications.
A Fundamental Plane Relation for the X-Ray Gas in Normal Elliptical Galaxies

We report on the discovery of a new correlation between global parameters of the hot interstellar gas in elliptical galaxies. We reanalyze archival Chandra data for 30 normal early-type systems, removing the contributions of resolved and unresolved point sources to reveal the X-ray morphology of the hot gas. We determine the half-light radius, RX, and the mean surface brightness, IX, from the gas surface brightness profiles. A spectral analysis determines the temperature, TX, of the gas within 3 optical effective radii. We find that the galaxies lie on an X-ray gas fundamental plane (XGFP) of the form TX ∝ RI. This is close to, but distinct from, a simple luminosity-temperature relation. The intrinsic width of the XGFP is only 0.07 dex, nearly identical to that of the stellar (optical) fundamental plane (SFP). This is surprising since X-ray gas masses are typically ~10-2 of the stellar masses. We show that the XGFP is not a simple consequence of the virial theorem or hydrostatic equilibrium and that it is essentially independent of the SFP. The XGFP thus represents a genuinely new constraint on the hydrodynamical evolution of elliptical galaxies.
Mirrors of 3d Sicilian theories

We consider the compactification of the 6d $$ \mathcal{N} = \left( {2,0} \right) $$ theories, or equivalently of M-theory 5-branes, on a punctured Riemann surface times a circle. This gives rise to what we call 3d $$ \mathcal{N} = 4 $$ Sicilian theories, and we find that their mirror theories are star-shaped quiver gauge theories. We also discuss an alternative construction of these 3d theories through 4d $$ \mathcal{N} = 4 $$ SYM on a graph, which allows us to obtain the 3d mirror via 4d S-duality.
COMIS—an international multizone air-flow and contaminant transport model

Abstract A number of interzonal models have been developed to calculate air flows and pollutant transport mechanisms in both single and multizone buildings. A recent development in multizone air-flow modeling, the COMIS model, has a number of capabilities that go beyond previous models, much as COMIS can be used as either a stand-alone air-flow model with input and output features or as an infiltration module for thermal building simulation programs. COMIS was designed during a 12 month workshop at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in 1988–1989. In 1990, the Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency's Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems program created a working group on multizone air-flow modeling, which continued work on COMIS. The group's objectives were to study physical phenomena causing air flow and pollutant (e.g., moisture) transport in multizone buildings, develop numerical modules to be integrated in the previously designed multizone air flow modeling system, and evaluate the computer code. The working group supported by nine nations, officially finished in late 1997 with the release of IISiBat/COMIS 3.0, which contains the documented simulation program COMIS, the user interface IISiBat, and reports describing the evaluation exercise. This paper serves as an introduction for the other publications included in this Special Issue.
Electricity: taxes on emission liabilities. An examination of the economic effectiveness of Polluter Pays Principles☆

Abstract In spite of the resolutions of Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP7), policy practitioners in many countries are currently obligated to react to perceived domestic environmental damages. Like few other sectors, utilities, especially, coal-based electricity generation is often identified as a major source of emission. Since the generating companies and end-users have joint interests in profit maximization but may dichotomize in their activities, the policy practitioners are struggling in designing a unique domestic emission policy. Both law and economic theory suggest that companies should be made to pay the costs of the pollution through assignment and enforcement of full liability—Polluter Pays Principles—and then pass these incurred costs on to end-users by charging higher rates per kWh of electricity usage. Questioning this full liability in designing emission policy with implicit weighting of welfare gains and losses to society as a whole, a three-group (consumers, producers and victims of the emission) supply–demand model is developed, and the net welfare effects are analyzed. With plausible parameter values, our analysis shows that the intermediate liabilities over a full or zero liability are preferable on both economic efficiency and equity grounds. However, the model is quite sensitive to the parameter values.
Catalytic generation of vinylthionium ions. (4 + 3)-Cycloadditions and Friedel-Crafts alkylations.

A 3-phenylsulfanyl-substituted allylic alcohol and an ester thereof were treated with Bronsted acids or a gold catalyst, respectively, to generate vinylthionium ions. These species react with dienes, primarily substituted furans, to give products of either (4 + 3)-cycloaddition or Friedel–Crafts alkylation. The results are rationalized on the basis of a stepwise mechanism in which the relative rates of ring closure versus proton loss in the intermediate σ-complex determine the course of the reaction.
Numerical analysis for a vapor feed miniature direct methanol fuel cell system

A two-dimensional, multiphase model is presented and analyzed for a vapor feed DMFC system. The DMFC model is based on the multiphase mixture formulation and encompasses all components in the porous regions of a vapor feed DMFC using a single computation domain. The evaporation/condensation phenomenon in the anode flow channel is modeled in a separated way. An iterative numerical scheme is used to solve the governing equations in a coupled manner. Numerical simulations are carried out to explore the transient and polarization characteristics of the DMFC, including methanol crossover through the membrane, temperature evolution, anodic and cathodic overpotentials. The results indicate the anode flow channel for the feeding methanol solution is the key parameter for the DMFC performance. The numerical results are also compared with the experimental data with good agreement.
Integrated Resource Planning

This article presents the essential features of an integrated resource planning (IRP) process designed to provide energy for societal and industrial needs at least cost. Use of renewable energy sources and energy conservation measures, as well as consideration of social costs, are described. Available data of social costs, are described. Available data of social costs and estimates for energy cost of conservation measures and renewable energy systems are included.
Perception of transparency in man and machine

The different tactics employed by human and machine vision systems in judging transparency are compared. Instead of luminance or reflectance (relative luminance), the human visual system uses lightness, a nonlinear function of reflectance, to estimate transparency. The representation of intensity information in terms of lightness restricts the operations that can be applied, and does not permit solving the equations describing the occurrence of transparency. Instead, the human visual system uses algorithms based on simple order and magnitude relations. One consequence of the human visual system not using a mathematically correct procedure is the occurrence of nonveridical perceptions of transparency. A second consequence is that the human visual system is not able to make accurate judgments of the degree of transparency. Figural cues are also important in the human perception of transparency. The tendency for the human visual system to see a simple organization leads to the perception of transparency even when the intensity pattern indicates transparency to be physically impossible. In contrast, given the luminances or reflectances, a machine vision system can apply the relevant equations for additive and subtractive color mixture to give veridical and quantitatively correct judgments of transparency.
A strictly improved achievable region for multiple descriptions using combinatorial message sharing

We recently proposed a new coding scheme for the L-channel multiple descriptions (MD) problem for general sources and distortion measures involving ‘Combinatorial Message Sharing’ (CMS) [7] leading to a new achievable rate-distortion region. Our objective in this paper is to establish that this coding scheme strictly subsumes the most popular region for this problem due to Venkataramani, Kramer and Goyal (VKG) [3]. In particular, we show that for a binary symmetric source under Hamming distortion measure, the CMS scheme provides a strictly larger region for all L> 2. The principle of the CMS coding scheme is to include a common message in every subset of the descriptions, unlike the VKG scheme which sends a single common message in all the descriptions. In essence, we show that allowing for a common codeword in every subset of descriptions provides better freedom in coordinating the messages which can be exploited constructively to achieve points outside the VKG region.
APPLICATION OF ENE-LIKE REACTIONS OF ALDEHYDES WITH VINYL ETHERS: FACILE ASSEMBLY OF BENZAZOCENONE INTERMEDIATES FOR MITOMYCINOIDS

Abstract Benzazocenone intermediates for mitomycinoids are now available in only six steps. Key phases of this sequence include the ene-like reaction of 2-methoxypropene with a 2-azidophenyacetaldehyde and a novel heterocyclic ring formation/expansion reaction.