cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The determinants of bank interest rate margins: an international study

Abstract This paper studies the determinants of bank net interest margins (NIMs) in six selected European countries and the US during the period 1988–1995 for a sample of 614 banks. We apply the Ho and Saunders model (Ho, T., Saunders, A., 1981. The determinants of bank interest margins: theory and empirical evidence. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analyses 16, 581–600) to a multicountry setting and decompose bank margins into a regulatory component, a market structure component and a risk premium component. The regulatory components in the form of interest-rate restrictions on deposits, reserve requirements and capital-to-asset ratios have a significant impact on banks NIMs. The empirical results suggest an important policy trade-off between assuring bank solvency—high capital-to-asset ratios—and lowering the cost of financial services to consumers—low NIMs. The more segmented or restricted the banking system—both geographically and by activity—the larger appears to be the monopoly power of existing banks, and the higher their spreads. Macro interest-rate volatility was found to have a significant impact on bank NIMs; this suggests that macro policies consistent with reduced interest-rate volatility could have a positive effect in reducing bank margins.
Modes of sediment transport in channelized water flows with ramifications to the erosion of the Martian outflow channels

The paper discusses application to Martian water flows of the criteria that determine which grain-size ranges are transported as bed load, suspension, and wash load. The results show nearly all sand-sized material and finer would have been transported as wash load and that basalt pebbles and even cobbles could have been transported at rapid rates of suspension. An analysis of the threshold of sediment motion on Mars further indicates that the flows would have been highly competent, the larger flows having been able to transport boulder-sized material. Comparisons with terrestrial rivers which transport hyperconcentration levels of sediments suggest that the Martian water flows could have achieved sediment concentrations up to 70% in weight. Although it is possible that flows could have picked up enough sediment to convert to pseudolaminar mud flows, they probably remained at hyperconcentration levels and fully turbulent in flow character.
In situ preactivation strategies for the expeditious synthesis of oligosaccharides: A review

Carbohydrates have gained increasing appreciation over the last few decades for their fundamental roles in all essential areas of life. As a result, there has been a surge of activity in synthetic glycosylation strategies to construct useful oligosaccharides. This review evaluates the advances in synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, specifically preactivation methodologies, stereoselective β-mannosylations, and an automated, electrochemical preactivation method. Also discussed is the use of preactivation as a tool to study reactive intermediates, and applications of preactivation protocols in the one pot-synthesis of a hyaluronic acid decasaccharide and one-pot synthesis of a tristearoyl lipomannan containing a pseudotrisaccharide.
Mass Deficits, Stalling Radii, and the Merger Histories of Elliptical Galaxies

A binary supermassive black hole leaves an imprint on a galactic nucleus in the form of a "mass deficit," a decrease in the mass of the nucleus due to ejection of stars by the binary. The magnitude of the mass deficit is in principle related to the galaxy's merger history, but the relation has never been quantified. Here high-accuracy N-body simulations are used to calibrate this relation. Mass deficits are shown to be Mdef ≈ 0.5M12, with M12 the total mass of the binary; the coefficient in this relation is found to depend only weakly on M2/M1 or on the galaxy's preexisting nuclear density profile. Hence, after mergers, Mdef ≈ 0.5M•, with M• the final (current) black hole mass. When compared with observed mass deficits, this result implies 1 3, in accord with hierarchical structure formation models. Implications for binary stalling radii, the origin of hypervelocity stars, and the distribution of dark matter at the centers of galaxies are discussed.
SALT LONG-SLIT SPECTROSCOPY OF LUMINOUS OBSCURED QUASARS: AN UPPER LIMIT ON THE SIZE OF THE NARROW-LINE REGION?

We present spatially resolved long-slit spectroscopy from the Southern African Large Telescope to examine the spatial extent of the narrow-line regions (NLRs) of a sample of eight luminous obscured quasars at 0.10 < z < 0.43. Our results are consistent with an observed shallow slope in the relationship between NLR size and L [O III], which has been interpreted to indicate that NLR size is limited by the density and ionization state of the NLR gas rather than the availability of ionizing photons. We also explore how the NLR size scales with a more direct measure of instantaneous active galactic nucleus power using mid-IR photometry from the Wide Field Infrared Explorer, which probes warm to hot dust near the central black hole and so, unlike [O III], does not depend on the properties of the NLR. Using our results as well as samples from the literature, we obtain a power-law relationship between NLR size and L 8 μm that is significantly steeper than that observed for NLR size and L [O III]. We find that the size of the NLR goes approximately as , as expected from the simple scenario of constant-density clouds illuminated by a central ionizing source. We further see tentative evidence for a flattening of the relationship between NLR size and L 8 μm at the high-luminosity end, and propose that we are seeing a limiting NLR size of 10-20 kpc, beyond which the availability of gas to ionize becomes too low. We find that , consistent with a picture in which the L [O III] is dependent on the volume of the NLR. These results indicate that high-luminosity quasars have a strong effect in ionizing the available gas in a galaxy.
A decision-based analysis of compressed air usage patterns in automotive manufacturing

This study is an evaluation of the use and supply of compressed air, which is one of the most expensive energy sources in manufacturing, at Ford Motor Company's Livonia (Mich.) Transmission Plant. The aim of the study is to make recommendations to improve environmental and economic efficiency in future facilities. This paper presents a quantitative analysis of three compressed air supply patterns—plant air, point of use (POU), and local generation—as alternatives for future compressed air usage. Environmental Value systems (EnVS) tools are employed to analyze the economic and environmental performance of the three alternative supply patterns by using cost of ownership and environmental impact matrices. The results favor local generation over the other two alternatives in terms of economic and environmental considerations.
Sovereign risk exposure with potential liquidation: the performance of alternative forms of external finance

Abstract This paper develops a model of international investment where direct foreign investors have the ability to escape discriminatory treatment from the host country government by liquidating to a domestic entrepreneur. A similar ‘liquidating option’ does not exist for holders of foreign debt obligations, however, because of equal seniority restrictions. We show that under weak parameter restrictions, the ability to liquidate implies that the share of FDI in the inward investment portfolio of a nation will be positively correlated with that nation's perceived sovereign risk. This prediction is supported in empirical tests using two indicators of sovereign risk for 52 developing countries. (JEL F21, F23).
Optimal scheduling in queueing network models of high-volume commercial web sites

The optimal control of performance measures in high-volume commercial web sites requires a fundamental understanding of the interactions between the diverse set of Internet services that support customer needs and the different importance levels of these services to both the customer and the e-commerce merchant. We present a study of the server control policy in a multiclass queueing network that maximizes a particular function of profit, or minimizes a particular function of cost, across the different classes of Internet services.
An Ab initio determination of the rate constant for H2 + CN → H + HCN

The reactants, products, and saddle point for the reaction H2 + CN H + HCN have been studied by ab initio calculations. The computed structures, frequencies, and energetics are compared directly to available measurements and, indirectly, to experimental rateconstants. The theoretical rate constants used in the comparison are calculated with conventional transition state theory. By reduction of the computed reaction barrier to 4.1 kcal mol,−1 good agreement with experimental rate constants is obtained over a 3250-K temperature range. This computed rate constant is well represented by the form 4.9 × 10−18 T2.45 e−1, 126/T over the temperature range of 250 K–3500 K. Substantial reaction rate curvature is found due to low-frequency bending modes at the saddle point. The results for this reaction are compared to other abstraction reactions involving H atom transfer to identify correlations between reaction exothermicity and both abstraction barriers and reaction rate curvature.
Searching for new physics in the three-body decays of the Higgs-like particle

We show that the three-body decays of the resonance recently discovered at the LHC are potentially sensitive to effects of new physics. Even if the fully integrated partial decay widths are consistent with the minimal Standard Model there is information that is lost upon integration, which can be uncovered in the differential decay widths. Concentrating on the decay h → Zl $ \overline{\ell} $ , we identify the regions in the three-body phase space in which these effects become especially pronounced and could be detected in future experiments.
THE SPARSEST CLUSTERS WITH O STARS

There is much debate on how high-mass star formation varies with environment, and whether the sparsest star-forming environments are capable of forming massive stars. To address this issue, we have observed eight apparently isolated OB stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) using Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys. Five of these objects appear as isolated stars, two of which are confirmed to be runaways. The remaining three objects are found to exist in sparse clusters, with 10 companion stars revealed, having masses of 1-4 M ☉. Stochastic effects dominate in these sparse clusters, so we perform Monte Carlo simulations to explore how our observations fit within the framework of empirical, galactic cluster properties. We generate clusters using a simplistic –2 power-law distribution for either the number of stars per cluster (N *) or cluster mass (M cl). These clusters are then populated with stars randomly chosen from a Kroupa initial mass function (IMF). We find that simulations with cluster lower-mass limits of M cl,lo ≥ 20 M ☉ and N *,lo ≥ 40 match best with observations of SMC and Galactic OB star populations. We examine the mass ratio of the second most massive and most massive stars m max,2/m max, finding that our observations all exist below the 20th percentile of our simulated clusters. However, all of our observed clusters lie within the parameter space spanned by the simulated clusters, although some are in the lowest 5th percentile frequency. These results suggest that clusters are built stochastically by randomly sampling stars from a universal IMF with a fixed stellar upper-mass limit. In particular, we see no evidence to suggest an m max-M cl relation. Our results may be more consistent with core accretion models of star formation than with competitive accretion models, and they are inconsistent with the proposed steepening of the integrated galactic stellar initial mass function (IGIMF).
Hydroxyl- versus amide-directed cyclopropanation from the allylic position in 1-hydroxy-4-N-acyl-cyclopentenes under modified Simmons-Smith conditions

Abstract In a functionalized cyclopentene having allylic OH and NH-acyl groups on opposite faces of the ring, the diastereoselective delivery of the incoming methylene group in the diethylzinc version of the Simmons-Smith reaction was completely directed by the NH group. The diastereoselectivity of the reaction can be reversed by complete protection of the amide.
A model with anomalous U(1) induced supersymmetry breaking

Abstract A model based on an anomalous Abelian symmetry U (1) 1 × U (1) 2 is presented. This symmetry is responsible for both supersymmetry breaking and fermion mass generation. Quark and squark mass matrices are aligned to prevent large flavor-changing neutral current and CP-violation.
Ritual economy and craft production in small-scale societies: Evidence from microwear analysis of Hopewell bladelets

Abstract Ritual economy provides a powerful framework for examining aspects of the organization of craft production, especially in the absence of a strong, centralized political economy. This paper outlines the basic tenants of ritual economy and describes how this framework can expand the understanding of the organization of production in small scale societies. I apply these concepts in a case study based largely on microwear analysis of Hopewell bladelets from the Fort Ancient earthworks in southwest Ohio. Microwear analysis from many different localities excavated within and near the earthworks demonstrates that craft production was an important activity conducted using bladelets. Each of the localities in which crafts were produced concentrated on media distinct from the others. These findings have important implications for our understanding of Hopewell economy and social structure as well as craft production in general.
Safe operating area for bipolar transistors

A mathematical model is utilized to predict the safe operating area (SOA) for proper circuit applications of bipolar transistors in the forward as well as reverse operating regions. Nonuniformity of the temperature within the transistor structure due to internal self-heating and the avalanche multiplication effect in the reverse operating region, which cause second breakdown failure, are taken into account. Steady-state electrical and time-dependent thermal problems are solved to establish stability of a specified operating condition. Safe operating area curves for three transistor designs of similar power handling capability are presented. Current density and temperature distributions within the transistor structure for various operating conditions in the stable as well as unstable regions are presented. Suitability of VBE to estimate peak temperature within the device is discussed.
Formation of the Outer Planets

Models of the origins of gas giant planets and ‘ice’ giant planets are discussed and related to formation theories of both smaller objects (terrestrial planets) and larger bodies (stars). The most detailed models of planetary formation are based upon observations of our own Solar System, of young stars and their environments, and of extrasolar planets. Stars form from the collapse, and sometimes fragmentation, of molecular cloud cores. Terrestrial planets are formed within disks around young stars via the accumulation of small dust grains into larger and larger bodies until the planetary orbits become well enough separated that the configuration is stable for the lifetime of the system. Uranus and Neptune almost certainly formed via a bottom-up (terrestrial planet-like) mechanism; such a mechanism is also the most likely origin scenario for Saturn and Jupiter.
Hydrogen-triggered Type I X-Ray Bursts in a Two-Zone Model

We use the two-zone model of Cooper & Narayan to study the onset and time evolution of hydrogen-triggered type I X-ray bursts on accreting neutron stars. At the lowest accretion rates, thermally unstable hydrogen burning ignites helium as well and produces a mixed hydrogen and helium burst. For somewhat higher accretion rates, thermally unstable hydrogen burning does not ignite helium and thus triggers only a weak hydrogen flash. For our choice of model parameters, these weak hydrogen flashes occur for 10-3 /Edd 3 × 10-3. The peak luminosities of weak hydrogen flashes are typically much lower than the accretion luminosity. These results are in accord with previous theoretical work. We find that a series of weak hydrogen flashes generates a massive layer of helium that eventually ignites in an energetic pure helium flash. Although previously conjectured, this is the first time such bursting behavior has been actually demonstrated in a theoretical model. For yet higher accretion rates, hydrogen burning is thermally stable and thus steadily generates a layer of helium that ultimately ignites in a pure helium flash. We find that, for a narrow range of accretion rates between the mixed hydrogen and helium burst and weak hydrogen flash regimes, unstable hydrogen burning ignites helium only after a short series of weak hydrogen flashes has generated a sufficiently deep layer of helium. These bursts have fluences that are intermediate between those of normal mixed hydrogen and helium bursts and energetic pure helium flashes.
Discussion of “The Economics of Setting Auditing Standards”

An earlier version of this discussion of "The economics of setting audit standards," by M. Ye and D. Simunic, was presented at the 2011 Contemporary Accounting Research Conference.
The Eddington limit and supercritical accretion. II - Time-dependent calculations

Spherically symmetric, time-dependent accretion of an ionized hydrogen plasma onto a neutron star is calculated for accretion rates in excess of the Eddington limit. The coupled hydrodynamic and frequency integrated radiative transfer equations are solved on an Eulerian grid for these supercritical accretion flows. Our results indicate that steady state flows are limited to rates at or below the critical rate, with emergent luminosities equal to or less than the Eddington luminosity. Initially supercritical accretion rates generate a large pulse of radiation which reduces the accretion rate to the critical value and produces an extended quasi-static envelope.
The Value of Pest Information in a Dynamic Setting: The Case of Weed Control

The value of weed scouting information for soil-applied and post-emergence weed management is estimated using a dynamic, whole-farm, stochastic simulation model. The model simulates outcomes of four expected utility functions from management strategies using three levels of weed information. Results from a representative Minnesota corn and soybean farm indicate high value of weed seedling counts (for post-emergence control) but relatively low value of weed seed counts (for soil-applied control). While herbicide use is often reduced under information based management, this is not always the case.
Probabilistic modeling of selective stimulation of the human sciatic nerve with a flat interface nerve electrode

Ankle control is critical to both standing balance and efficient walking. The hypothesis presented in this paper is that a Flat Interface Nerve Electrode (FINE) placed around the sciatic nerve with a fixed number of contacts at predetermined locations and without a priori knowledge of the nerve's underlying neuroanatomy can selectively control each ankle motion. Models of the human sciatic nerve surrounded by a FINE of varying size were created and used to calculate the probability of selective activation of axons within any arbitrarily designated, contiguous group of fascicles. Simulations support the hypothesis and suggest that currently available implantable technology cannot selectively recruit each target plantar flexor individually but can restore plantar flexion or dorsiflexion from a site on the sciatic nerve without spillover to antagonists. Successful activation of individual ankle muscles in 90% of the population can be achieved by utilizing bipolar stimulation and/or by using a cuff with at least 20 contacts.
Quantum-confined Stark effect in single CdSe nanocrystallite quantum dots

The quantum-confined Stark effect in single cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanocrystallite quantum dots was studied. The electric field dependence of the single-dot spectrum is characterized by a highly polarizable excited state (∼10 5 cubic angstroms, compared to typical molecular values of order 10 to 100 cubic angstroms), in the presence of randomly oriented local electric fields that change over time. These local fields result in spontaneous spectral diffusion and contribute to ensemble inhomogeneous broadening. Stark shifts of the lowest excited state more than two orders of magnitude larger than the linewidth were observed, suggesting the potential use of these dots in electro-optic modulation devices.
Cigarette demand and effectiveness of U.S. smoking control policies: state-level evidence for more than half a century

Using state-level U.S. data over 1956–2008 this paper examines the demand for cigarettes. The long data span enables us to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of various policies and to examine cigarette demand across individual states. Our results show cigarette demand to be price inelastic, smoking-habit effects to be strong, income effects to be small, and border price effects can be significant. These findings are quite robust across alternate model specifications. None of the three smoking control policies considered (Fairness Doctrine, Broadcast Ban, and Master Settlement Agreement) were shown to be effective in curbing overall smoking, although most were effective in a few states. Policy implications are discussed.
High Temperature Characterization of a Radial Magnetic Bearing for Turbomachinery

Open loop, experimental force and power measurements of a radial, redundant-axis, magnetic bearing at temperatures to 1000°F (538°C) and rotor speeds to 15,000 rpm along with theoretical temperature and force models are presented in this paper. The experimentally measured force produced by a single C-core circuit using 22A was 600 lb (2.67 kN) at room temperature and 380 lb (1.69 kN) at 538°C. These values were compared with force predictions based on a one-dimensional magnetic circuit analysis and a thermal analysis of gap growth as a function of temperature. The analysis showed that the reduction of force at high temperature is mostly due to an increase in radial gap due to test conditions, rather than to reduced core permeability. Tests under rotating conditions showed that rotor speed has a negligible effect on the bearing's static force capacity. One C-core required approximately 340 W of power to generate 190 lb (845 N) of magnetic force at 538°C, however the magnetic air gap was much larger than at room temperature. The data presented are after bearing operation for eleven total hours at 538°C and six thermal cycles.
DETECTION OF A HOT GASEOUS HALO AROUND THE GIANT SPIRAL GALAXY NGC 1961

Hot gaseous halos are predicted around all large galaxies and are critically important for our understanding of galaxy formation, but they have never been detected at distances beyond a few kpc around a spiral galaxy. We used the ACIS-I instrument on board Chandra to search for diffuse X-ray emission around an ideal candidate galaxy: the isolated giant spiral NGC 1961. We observed four quadrants around the galaxy for 30 ks each, carefully subtracting background and point-source emission, and found diffuse emission that appears to extend to 40–50 kpc. We fit β-models to the emission and estimate a hot halo mass within 50 kpc of 5 × 10 9 M� . When this profile is extrapolated to 500 kpc (the approximate virial radius), the implied hot halo mass is 1–3 × 10 11 M� . These mass estimates assume a gas metallicity of Z = 0.5 Z� . This galaxy’s hot halo is a large reservoir of gas, but falls significantly below observational upper limits set by pervious searches, and suggests that NGC 1961 is missing 75% of its baryons relative to the cosmic mean, which would tentatively place it below an extrapolation of the baryon
Frame dragging and bending of light in Kerr and Kerr?(anti) de Sitter spacetimes

The equations of general relativity in the form of timelike and null geodesics that describe motion of test particles and photons in Kerr spacetime are solved exactly including the contribution from the cosmological constant. We then perform a systematic application of the exact solutions obtained, to the following cases. The exact solutions derived for null, spherical, polar and non-polar orbits are applied for the calculation of frame dragging (Lense–Thirring effect) for the orbit of a photon around the galactic centre, assuming that the latter is a Kerr black hole for various values of the Kerr parameter including those supported by recent observations. Unbound null polar orbits are investigated, and an analytical expression for the deviation angle of a polar photon orbit from the gravitational Kerr field is derived. In addition, we present the exact solution for timelike and null equatorial orbits. In the former case, we derive an analytical expression for the precession of the point of closest approach (perihelion, periastron) for the orbit of a test particle around a rotating mass whose surrounding curved spacetime geometry is described by the Kerr field. In the latter case, we calculate an exact expression for the deflection angle for a light ray in the gravitational field of a rotating mass (the Kerr field). We apply this calculation for the bending of light from the gravitational field of the galactic centre, for various values of the Kerr parameter, and the impact factor.
Hard Scattering in the M-Theory Dual for the QCD String

Abstract Conventional superstring amplitudes in flat space exhibits exponential fall off at wide angle in contrast to the power law behavior found in QCD. It has recently been argued by Polchinski and Strassler [ hep-th/0109174 ] that this conflict can be resolved via String/Gauge duality. They carried out their analysis in terms of strings in a deformed AdS5 background. On the other hand, an equally valid approach to the String/Gauge duality for 4d QCD is based on M-theory in a specific black hole deformation of AdS7×S4. We show that a very natural extension to this phenomenologically interesting M-theory background also gives the correct hard scattering power laws. In the Regge limit we extend the analysis to show the co-existence of both the hard BFKL-like pomeron and the soft pomeron Regge pole.
Entropy and efficiency in laser cooling of solids

The thermodynamics of laser cooling of solids is analyzed. Using the general theory of radiation entropy, the important roles of the optical frequency and the photon distribution function in determining the radiation entropy are identified. The usefulness of a narrowband approximation is established for a wide range of radiant sources. This approximation is then applied to compare the entropies of different light sources, including blackbody radiation, lasers, fluorescence, and the emerging class of random lasers. Based on these results, the Carnot efficiency for laser cooling of solids is determined, for emission fields with various entropy characteristics. It is shown that fluorescent emission is the most efficient form of the radiated field for laser cooling of solids, and cooling schemes based on any stimulated emission process (including random laser action) are inherently less efficient. The influence of luminescence quantum yield on cooling is also considered.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Hadwiger’s Theorem for definable functions ☆

Abstract Hadwiger’s Theorem states that E n -invariant convex-continuous valuations of definable sets in R n are linear combinations of intrinsic volumes. We lift this result from sets to data distributions over sets, specifically, to definable R -valued functions on R n . This generalizes intrinsic volumes to (dual pairs of) non-linear valuations on functions and provides a dual pair of Hadwiger classification theorems.
A Heterogeneous Bayesian Regression Model for Cross-sectional Data Involving a Single Observation per Response Unit

Multiple regression is frequently used across the various social sciences to analyze cross-sectional data. However, it can often times be challenging to justify the assumption of common regression coefficients across all respondents. This manuscript presents a heterogeneous Bayesian regression model that enables the estimation of individual-level-regression coefficients in cross-sectional data involving a single observation per response unit. A Gibbs sampling algorithm is developed to implement the proposed Bayesian methodology. A Monte Carlo simulation study is constructed to assess the performance of the proposed methodology across a number of experimental factors. We then apply the proposed method to analyze data collected from a consumer psychology study that examines the differential importance of price and quality in determining perceived value evaluations.
Stock market boom and the productivity gains of the 1990s

Abstract Together with a sense of entering a New Economy, the U.S. experienced in the second half of the 1990s an economic expansion, a stock market boom, a financing boom for new firms and productivity gains. This article proposes an interpretation of these events within a general equilibrium model with financial frictions and decreasing returns to scale in production. We show that the mere prospect of high future productivity growth can generate sizable gains in current productivity, as well as the other above mentioned events.
Moving Beyond Soering: U.S. Prison Conditions as an Argument Against Extradition to the United States

Over the past two decades, the European Union, via the European Human Rights Commission, has prevented the extradition of certain individuals to the United States based on a limited number of exceptions. This article suggests that the time is ripe to use the argument that high levels of prison violence and poor medical care, violates Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (hereafter European Convention), and Article 4 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (hereafter FREU). Additionally, the passage of the Prison Litigation Reform Act violates Article 13 of the European Convention and Article 47 of the FREU, and thus signatories to this document are well within their rights to block extradition to the United States. This legal defense however, does not prevent EU members from prosecuting and incarcerating individuals wanted by the United States in their own country once extradition proceedings have concluded.
The influence of diazepam or lorazepam on the frequency of endotracheal intubation in childhood status epilepticus

Abstract Anticonvulsant management of status epilepticus (SE) may result in respiratory depression, often requiring endotracheal intubation (ETI). By examining rates of ETI in childhood SE after intravenous diazepam or lorazepam, when administered alone or in combination with phenytoin, the influence of anticonvulsants on the frequency of ETI during SE was determined. The medical records of 142 consecutive children younger than 16 years of age admitted from a university hospital ED with seizures during a 28-month period were retrospectively reviewed. SE was identified in 38 (2796) of cases. Records of children with SE were reviewed for demographic, seizure severity, and management variables. Twelve patients were excluded, ten of whom received concominant phenobarbital. Patients receiving lorazepam had ETI rate of 27% (415), compared to 73% (811) in the diazepam group ( P = 0.026, Fisher's exact). The groups were not significantly different in age, weight, sex, seizure type, seizure duration, and appropriate anticonvulsant dosage. A prospective, randomized trial comparing lorazepam and diazepam is warranted to confirm the apparent advantage of lorazepam in reducing respiratory depression.
Recognition and beautification of multi-stroke symbols in digital ink

Sketch-based user interfaces (UIs) provide a more direct and convenient way for interacting with computers, especially for performing graphical tasks. Most computer programs provide a mouse-and-palette-based UI for editing shapes, which can be cumbersome to use. In order to draw a shape, a user must first select the desired shape from a menu or from a hierarchy of menus, and then make a series of adjustments to the shape (i.e. rotation, scaling, horizontal/vertical flip, etc.). A more convenient approach to this task is to allow the user to sketch the desired shape directly and then replace it with a 'beautified' symbol with the correct transformation, all in one step. In this paper, we present a complete system for recognizing and beautifying sketched symbols. We have implemented this system as an interface to the Microsoft PowerPoint application to enable a user to sketch symbols directly onto a presentation slide.
An electron-ion collider at CEBAF

Abstract Electron-ion colliders with a center of mass energy between 15 and 100 GeV, a luminosity of at least 1033 cm−2S−1, and a polarization of both beams at or above 80% have been proposed for future studies of hadronic structure. The scheme proposed here would accelerate the electron beam using the CEBAF recirculating linac with energy recovery. If all accelerating structures presently installed in the CEBAF tunnel are replaced by ones with a ∼20 MV/m gradient, then a single recirculation results in an electron beam energy of about 5 GeV. After colliding with protons/light ions circulating in a figure-of-eight storage ring (for flexibility of spin manipulation) at an energy of up to 100 GeV, the electrons are re-injected into the CEBAF accelerator for deceleration and energy recovery. In this report several layout options and their respective feasibilities will be presented and discussed, together with parameters which would provide a luminosity of up to 1 · 1035 cm−2s−1. The feasibility of combining such a collider at a center-of-mass energy √s of up to 43 GeV with a fixed target facility at 25 GeV is also explored.
An electrochemical system for efficiently harvesting low-grade heat energy

Efficient and low-cost thermal energy-harvesting systems are needed to utilize the tremendous low-grade heat sources. Although thermoelectric devices are attractive, its efficiency is limited by the relatively low figure-of-merit and low-temperature differential. An alternative approach is to explore thermodynamic cycles. Thermogalvanic effect, the dependence of electrode potential on temperature, can construct such cycles. In one cycle, an electrochemical cell is charged at a temperature and then discharged at a different temperature with higher cell voltage, thereby converting heat to electricity. Here we report an electrochemical system using a copper hexacyanoferrate cathode and a Cu/Cu(2+) anode to convert heat into electricity. The electrode materials have low polarization, high charge capacity, moderate temperature coefficients and low specific heat. These features lead to a high heat-to-electricity energy conversion efficiency of 5.7% when cycled between 10 and 60 °C, opening a promising way to utilize low-grade heat.
Prediction of C60 solubilities from solvent molecular structures.

Models predicting fullerene solubility in 96 solvents at 298 K were developed using multiple linear regression and feed-forward computational neural networks (CNN). The data set consisted of a dive...
Detecting temperature fluctuations at equilibrium

The Gibbs and the Boltzmann definition of temperature agree only in the macroscopic limit. The ambiguity in identifying the equilibrium temperature of a finite-sized ‘small’ system exchanging energy with a bath is usually understood as a limitation of conventional statistical mechanics. We interpret this ambiguity as resulting from a stochastically fluctuating temperature coupled with the phase space variables giving rise to a broad temperature distribution. With this ansatz, we develop the equilibrium statistics and dynamics of small systems. Numerical evidence using an analytically tractable model shows that the effects of temperature fluctuations can be detected in the equilibrium and dynamical properties of the phase space of the small system. Our theory generalizes statistical mechanics to small systems relevant in biophysics and nanotechnology.
The impact of radio-tags on Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris)

ABSTRACT Radiotelemetry has advanced the field of wildlife biology, especially with the miniaturization of radio-tags. However, the major limitation when radio-tagging birds is the size of the animal to which a radio-tag can be attached. We tested how miniature radio-tags affected flight performance and behavior of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris), possibly the smallest bird species that has been fitted with radio-tags. Using eyelash adhesive, we fitted hatch-year individuals (n = 20 males, n = 15 females) with faux radio-tags of 3 sizes that varied in mass and antenna length (220 mg, 12.7 cm; 240 mg, 12.7 cm; and 220 mg, 6.35 cm), then filmed the birds in a field aviary to quantify activity budgets. We also estimated flight range using flight simulation models. When the 3 radio-tag packages were pooled for analysis, the presence of a radio-tag significantly decreased both flight time (∼8%) and modeled flight range (∼23%) in comparison to control birds. However, a multiple-comparison anal...
Model-independent Constraints on Dark Energy Density from Flux-averaging Analysis of Type Ia Supernova Data

We reconstruct the dark energy density X(z) as a free function from current Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) data, together with the cosmic microwave background (CMB) shift parameter from CMB data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), Cosmic Background Imager (CBI), and Arcminute Cosmology Bolometer Array Receiver (ACBAR), and the large-scale structure (LSS) growth factor from the Two-Degree Field (2dF) galaxy survey data. We parameterize X(z) as a continuous function, given by interpolating its amplitudes at equally spaced z-values in the redshift range covered by SN Ia data, and a constant at larger z [where X(z) is only weakly constrained by CMB data]. We assume a flat universe and use the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique in our analysis. We find that the dark energy density X(z) is constant for 0<~z<~0.5 and increases with redshift z for 0.5<~z<~1 at a 68.3% confidence level, but is consistent with a constant at a 95% confidence level. For comparison, we also give constraints on a constant equation of state for the dark energy. Flux averaging of SN Ia data is required to yield cosmological parameter constraints that are free of the bias induced by weak gravitational lensing. We set up a consistent framework for flux-averaging analysis of SN Ia data, based on the work of Wang. We find that flux averaging of SN Ia data leads to slightly lower m and smaller time variation in X(z). This suggests that a significant increase in the number of SNe Ia from deep SN surveys on a dedicated telescope is needed to place a robust constraint on the time dependence of the dark energy density.
The myth of permanent dentistry

Abstract The word permanent must be eliminated from the dental vocabulary. During initial appointments, the patient must be told that all dental restorations begin to wear from the moment of placement, that practically all of them will outlive their usefulness and require replacement, and that dentures need constant care, attention, modification, and periodic replacement because the tissues of the mouth are constantly changing.
Legacy of optical information processing

Optical information processing can perform a myriad of signal processing operations. It is primarily due to the complex amplitude processing capability. Optical information processors are capable of performing one- or two-dimensional operations using simple linear operators. However, it would not happen without the support of coherent property of illumination. We discuss the coherent optical complex transformation, by which information data processing can be exploited. A brief scan of Fourier and spatial domain processing, composite filtering, larger capacity photorefractive processing, optical neural computing, and others is shown.
Recovery of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Detection of p24 Antigen in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid from Adult Patients with AIDS

Published reports indicate that HIV is recovered from BAL fluid of patients with AIDS who have LIP but not with other AIDS-related pulmonary disease. Our experience has been different. Ten BAL specimens from nine patients with AIDS were cultured directly in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and all ten cultures were positive for HIV as indicated by examination of the culture supernatant by reverse transcriptase assay and enzyme immunoassay for HIV antigen. Five of the specimens were also positive for Pneumocystis carinii, and other pulmonary diagnoses included histoplasmosis, lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and aspiration pneumonia. Five additional BAL specimens were cultured after freezing at -70°C, but only two were culture-positive for HIV (p=0.022; FET). This study indicates that HIV can be recovered from the BAL fluid in most patients with AIDS, unrelated to the type of pulmonary disease. In contrast to cultures, HIV antigen was detected in the BAL fluid of only one patient, and that patient had LIP with noncaseating granulomas. Therefore, HIV culture is not useful in the diagnosis of LIP, but HIV antigen detection should be studied further. All BAL fluids should be considered potentially infectious. (Chest 1989; 96:64-67)
Cycloaddition reactions of ethyl (E)- and (Z)-3-fluoropropenoate

Abstract Ethyl ( Z )-3-fluoropropenoate ( Z-5 ) has been prepared in a pure state in 68% yield by a Wittig procedure developed by Burton. Ethyl ( E )-3-fluoropropenoate ( E-6 ) was prepared in 38% yield following the synthetic method of Purrington. The Z isomer gives cycloaddition with 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran and cyclopentadiene to give a product with completely endo configurations. The E isomer also gives cycloadducts with same dienes to give mixtures of endo and exo products.
Selective protodeboronation: synthesis of 4-methyl-2-thiopheneboronic anhydride and demonstration of its utility in Suzuki–Miyaura reactions

Abstract An efficient synthesis of 4-methyl-2-thiopheneboronic anhydride is reported. Regioselective lithiation of 3-methylthiophene followed by reaction with triisopropylborate and hydrolysis provides a 92:8 ratio of 4-methyl-2-thiopheneboronic acid (1) and regioisomeric 2-methyl-3-thiopheneboronic acid (3). The undesired regioisomer is selectively protodeboronated with concentrated acid to provide only the desired 4-methyl-2-thiopheneboronic acid (1). The title compound is isolated by dehydration/crystallization and employed in several Suzuki–Miyaura reactions.
Does background matter? The transmission of human capital from a planned to a market economy

The early U.S. economic achievement of former Soviet citizens entering the United States during the period 1979 through 1985 is analyzed. Using the Soviet Interview Project (SIP) data, components of human capital acquired in the former Soviet Union (FSU) are identified and related to labor force participation and income outcomes in the United States. FSU education, experience and industry variables have important, variable and differing impacts upon both participation and income, and such outcomes differ for males and females. FSU immigrants' income is below U.S. income. Differing rates of return to characteristics, not the endowments themselves, are responsible for observed differentials
Iridium(III)-bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl catalysts for enantioselective C–H functionalization

Recently, a small number of diverse iridium complexes have been shown to catalyze unusual atom transfer C–H functionalization reactions. To further our understanding and enhance the utility of iridium complexes for C–H functionalization, we report the design and synthesis of a family of iridium(III)-bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl complexes. The ability to tune the ligand environment around the metal in these systems is exploited to design complexes with the ability to catalyze the asymmetric insertion of donor/acceptor iridium carbenoids into activated C–H bonds. Low catalyst loadings (0.5 mol%) routinely lead to excellent reaction yields (51–99%) and enantioselectivities (83–99%). Density functional theory calculations provide compelling evidence that in these complexes the carbene binds to the iridium cis to the phenyl group of the bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl ligand. This finding is vital for understanding the observed stereochemical induction and is of particular significance in the field of enantioselective transition metal-catalysed atom transfer reactions utilizing oxazoline–X–oxazoline tridentate ligands, as previously employed stereochemical models for these ligand sets are based on the assumption that reactive ligands and Lewis bases bind trans to the central X ligand.
Mechanics: Non-classical, Non-quantum

A non-classical, non-quantum theory, or NCQ, is any fully consistent theory that differs fundamentally from both the corresponding classical and quantum theories, while exhibiting certain features common to both. Such theories are of interest for two primary reasons. Firstly, NCQs arise prominently in semi-classical approximation schemes. Their formal study may yield improved approximation techniques in the near-classical regime. More importantly for the purposes of this note, it may be possible for NCQs to reproduce quantum results over experimentally tested regimes while having a well defined classical limit, and hence are viable alternative theories. We illustrate an NCQ by considering an explicit class of NCQ mechanics. Here this class will be arrived at via a natural generalization of classical mechanics formulated in terms of a probability density functional.
Continuous local search

We introduce CLS, for continuous local search, a class of polynomial-time checkable total functions that lies at the intersection of PPAD and PLS, and captures a particularly benign kind of local optimization in which the domain is continuous, as opposed to combinatorial, and the functions involved are continuous. We show that this class contains several well known intriguing problems which were heretofore known to lie in the intersection of PLS and PPAD but were otherwise unclassifiable: Finding fixpoints of contraction maps, the linear complementarity problem for P matrices, finding a stationary point of a low-degree polynomial objective, the simple stochastic games of Shapley and Condon, and finding a mixed Nash equilibrium in congestion, implicit congestion, and network coordination games. The last four problems belong to CCLS, for convex CLS, another subclass of PPAD ∩ PLS seeking the componentwise local minimum of a componentwise convex function. It is open whether any or all of these problems are complete for the corresponding classes.
A stereoselective synthesis of (-)-tetrodotoxin.

An asymmetric synthesis of the fugu fish poison, (−)-tetrodotoxin, is described. The route to this extraordinary target employs a number of unique transformations, foremost of which are two stereospecific C−H bond functionalization reactions. Accordingly, Rh-catalyzed carbene and nitrene C−H insertions facilitate rapid entry to the cyclohexane core of the natural product and make possible the late-stage installation of the tetrasubstituted carbinolamine center.