cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Explaining the 25-year decline of serum cholesterol by dietary changes and use of lipid-lowering medication in Finland.

Objective: To assess to what extent the observed dietary changes and increased use of lipid-lowering medication can explain the almost 20 % decline in serum cholesterol (referring to serum total cholesterol) level observed from 1982 to 2007 in Finland. Design: Predicted changes of serum cholesterol were calculated by the Keys’ equation assuming the effect of trans fatty acids to be similar to SFA and using the dietary intake data of the national dietary surveys between 1982 and 2007. The effect of medication was estimated based on the information on use of lipid-lowering medication among survey participants. The predicted serum cholesterol levels were compared with observed changes in analysed serum cholesterol levels. Setting: Four cross-sectional population surveys, in 1982, 1992, 2002 and 2007, in the provinces of North Karelia, Northern Savo and Southwestern Finland. Subjects: A total of 2325 men and 2638 women aged 26–64 years selected randomly from the national population register for the four surveys. Results: Changes in dietary fat quality and cholesterol intake explain 0?70 mmol/l (65 %) of the decrease in men and 0?65 mmol/l (60 %) of the decrease in women in all subjects. Decline in dietary SFA intake is the main explanatory factor (47 % in men and 41 % in women) for the changes. The impact of lipid-lowering medication on observed cholesterol levels was found to be 16 % among men and 7 % among women. Conclusions: The decrease in serum cholesterol levels in Finland can be explained mainly by dietary changes, especially changes in fat quality. The effect of lipidlowering medication is less significant.
Properties of BaO–R2O3– Ga2O3–GeO2 (R = Y, Al, La, and Gd) Glasses

Barium gallogermanate glasses were prepared with substitutions of Al2O3, Y2O3, La2O3, and Gd2O3 for Ga2O3. The effects of these substitutions on the glass transformation temperature, viscosity, thermal expansion, and molar volume have been determined. The changes in properties associated with each substitutional ion are consistent with structural roles reported for these ions in other glasses. Aluminum acts as an intermediate with [AlO4–] tetrahedra substituting directly for [GaO4–] tetrahedra. Yttrium and gadolinium act as “atypical” modifier ions because of their large field strengths. Finally, the properties of the La2O3-substituted glasses indicate a possible dual structural role for La3+ ions in these glasses.
Pulmonary function changes after nebulised and intravenous frusemide in ventilated premature infants

AIMS—To compare the effects of a single dose of frusemide administered either intravenously or by nebulisation on pulmonary mechanics in premature infants with evolving chronic lung disease. METHODS—The effect of frusemide on pulmonary mechanics was studied at a median postnatal age of 23 (range 14-52) days in 19 premature infants at 24 to 30 weeks gestational age, who had been dependent on mechanical ventilation since birth. Frusemide (1 mg/kg/body weight) was administered, in random order, intravenously and by nebulisation, on two separate occasions 24 hours apart. Pulmonary function studies were performed before and at 30, 60, and 120 minutes after administration of frusemide. Urine was collected for six hours immediately before and for six hours after administration of frusemide. RESULTS—Nebulised frusemide increased the tidal volume 31(SE 11.5)% and compliance 34 (SE 12)% after two hours, whereas no change in either was noted for up to two hours after intravenous frusemide administration. Neither intravenous nor nebulised frusemide had any effect on airway resistance. Six hour urine output increased from a mean (SE) of 3.3 (0.4) ml/kg/hour to 5.9 (0.8) ml/kg/hour following intravenous frusemide administration while nebulised frusemide had no effect on urine output. Urinary sodium, potassium, and chloride losses were also significantly higher after intravenous frusemide, whereas nebulised frusemide did not increase urinary electrolyte losses. CONCLUSION—Single dose nebulised frusemide improves pulmonary function in premature infants with evolving chronic lung disease without adverse effects on fluid and electrolyte balance. Keywords: inhaled frusemide; pulmonary mechanics; chronic lung disease of prematurity
Optical hyperspace for plasmons: Dyakonov states in metamaterials

We show that the subwavelength imaging behaviour observed in the magnifying superlens experiment [Smolyaninov et.al., Science, 2006] is due to Dyakonov plasmons. This previously unobserved state gives rise to subdiffraction plasmon beams on resonance.
VizScript: visualizing complex interactions in multi-agent systems

We address the problem of users creating visualizations to debug and understand multi-agent systems. The key challenges are that (1) needs arise dynamically, i.e., it is difficult to know a priori what visualizations one wants, (2) extensive expertise on the system, the algorithms and visualization tools are often needed for implementation, and (3) agents can be running in a distributed environment. We have developed VizScript, a collection of tools to expedite the process of creating visualizations. VizScript combines a generic application instrumentation, a knowledge base, and simple scene definition primitives with a reasoning system, to produce an easy to use visualization system. Using VizScript we were able to recreate the visualizations for a complex multi-agent system with an order-of-magnitude less effort than was required in a Java implementation.
On families of subsets with a forbidden subposet

Let ⊂ 2[n] be a family of subsets of {1, 2,. . ., n}. For any poset H, we say is H-free if does not contain any subposet isomorphic to H. Katona and others have investigated the behaviour of La(n, H), which denotes the maximum size of H-free families ⊂ 2[n]. Here we use a new approach, which is to apply methods from extremal graph theory and probability theory to identify new classes of posets H, for which La(n, H) can be determined asymptotically as n → ∞ for various posets H, including two-end-forks, up-down trees, and cycles C4k on two levels.
Detailed balance and intermediate statistics

We present a theory of particles, obeying intermediate statistics ('anyons'), interpolating between bosons and fermions, based on the principle of detailed balance. It is demonstrated that the scattering probabilities of identical particles can be expressed in terms of the basic numbers, which arise naturally and logically in this theory. A transcendental equation determining the distribution function of anyons is obtained in terms of the statistics parameter, whose limiting values 0 and 1 correspond to bosons and fermions respectively. The distribution function is determined as a power series involving the Boltzmann factor and the statistics parameter and we also express the distribution function as an infinite continued fraction. The last form enables one to develop approximate forms for the distribution function, with the first approximant agreeing with our earlier investigation.
Diastereoselective synthesis of syn-β-methyl homoallyl alcohols with crotylmolybdenum complexes

Abstract Air stable (cyclopentadienyl)Mo(NO)(halide)[η 3 -( Z )-crotyl] complexes add to aldehydes with high diastereoselectivity to yield syn -β-methyl homoallyl alcohols in up to 98% de. New routes to these reactive metal-( Z )-crotyl reagents utilize 2-butyne and s-cis -butadiene organomolybdenum intermediates instead of ( Z )-crotylpotassium.
Rapid calculation of terrain parameters for radiation modeling from digital elevation data

Digital elevation models are widely used to calculate terrain parameters to determine incoming solar and longwave radiation for use in surface climate models, interpretation of remote-sensing data, and parameters in hydrologic models. Because of the large number of points in an elevation grid, fast algorithms are useful to save computation time. A description is given of rapid methods for calculating slope and azimuth, solar illumination angle, horizons, and view factors for radiation from sky and terrain. Calculation time is reduced by fast algorithms and lookup tables. >
Measuring the Cost of a College Degree: A Case Study of a SUNY Community College

Inspired by a white paper produced by the Delta Project on Postsecondary Education Costs, Productivity, and Accountability, this study uses different measures of calculating the cost of a college d...
A modular approach to the synthesis of 2,3,4-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans

A highly diastereoselective Lewis acid-mediated [1,3] rearrangement of 1,3-dioxepins is the key step along a modular route to 2,3,4-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans.
An Assessment of Worker Reaction to their Union and Employer Post-Strike : A Canadian Experience

Union members (n = 187) completed surveys assessing five affective measures (organizational commitment, job satisfaction, work climate satisfaction, management satisfaction, and union commitment) following a five-month long strike. Paired t-tests (using retrospective questions where participants assessed pre and post-strike affect on a single survey) found that the strike had a negative impact on worker reactions to both their management group and their union across all five measures. The significance of this study is that the negative effects of strikes can, and do, carry over into the workplace in terms of worker affect towards their union and employer. From a theoretical perspective, these findings are consistent with the IR systems’ concept of a feedback loop and suggest that future strike research and theories should be expanded to examine issues related to worker reaction.
Stability Analysis of an Inflatable Vacuum Chamber

A light-weight "inflatable" tensioned-membrane-structure vacuum container is proposed and its stability is analyzed. The proposed structure consists of a pressurized lobed cylindrical "wall" surrounding a central evacuated space. Stability is analyzed by discretizing the system and diagonalizing the second derivative of the potential energy. The structure is found to be stable when the pressure in the wall is greater than a critical pressure. When membranes are non15 elastic, the critical pressure is found to be greater than the pressure required for equilibrium by a factor of 4/3. When membranes have only finite stiffness, a first order correction to the critical pressure is found. Preliminary experimental data shows that a stable structure can be made in this way, and that the observed critical pressure is consistent with theory. It is also found that such structures can be designed to have net positive buoyancy in air. 20
Transfer Learning for Auto-gating of Flow Cytometry Data

Flow cytometry is a technique for rapidly quantifying physical and chemical properties of large numbers of cells. In clinical applications, flow cytometry data must be manually "gated" to identify cell populations of interest. While several researchers have investigated statistical methods for automating this process, most of them falls under the framework of unsupervised learning and mixture model fitting. We view the problem as one of transfer learning, which can leverage existing datasets previously gated by experts to automatically gate a new flow cytometry dataset while accounting for biological variation. We illustrate our proposed method by automatically gating lymphocytes from peripheral blood samples.
Photoionization of ground and excited states of Ti I

Abstract Detailed photoionization of ground and many excited states with autoionizing resonances of neutral Ti are presented. Ti I with 22 electrons forms a large number of bound states, the present work finds a total of 908 bound states with n ⩽ 10 and l ⩽ 8 . Photoionization cross sections ( σ PI ) for all these bound states have been obtained. Calculations were carried out in the close-coupling R-matrix method using a wave function expansion that included 36 states of core ion Ti II. It is found that the resonances enhance the low energy region of photoionization of the ground and low lying excited states. The resonant features will increase the opacity, as expected of astrophysical observation, and hence play important role in determination of abundances in the elements in the astronomical objects. The excited states also show prominent structures of Seaton or photo-excitation-of-core resonances.
Impacts of international migration and remittances on child outcomes and labor supply in Indonesia : how does gender matter ?

This paper aims to investigate empirically how international migration and remittances in Indonesia, particularly female migration, affect child outcomes and labor supply behavior in sending households. The authors analyze the Indonesia Family Life Survey data set and apply an instrumental variable estimation method, using historical migration networks as instruments for migration and remittance receipts. The study finds that, in Indonesia, the impacts of international migration on sending households are likely to vary depending on the gender of the migrants. On average, migration reduces the working hours of remaining household members, but this effect is not observed in households with female migrants. At the same time, female migration and their remittances tend to reduce child labor. The estimated impacts of migration and remittances on school enrollment are not statistically significant, but this result is interesting in that the directions of the effects can be opposite when the migrant is male or female
Ex Ante and Ex Post Discretion over Arm's Length Transfer Prices

Treasury Regulations typically require a firm to use its manufacturing cost as one input in calculating the transfer price to be used for tax purposes. Because the characteristics of the firm's capital assets determine the realized manufacturing cost, the firm has an incentive to distort its investment choices in order to receive a more favorable tax transfer price. This represents an ex ante form of shifting income across divisions. Practical difficulties in enforcing the regulations provide the firm with another way to shift income. In particular, regulators often can identify only a range of acceptable transfer prices. As a result, the firm will not use the true “arm's length” transfer price, but will instead choose a transfer price that is more favorable for tax purposes. I find that the opportunity to shift income ex post in this manner may reduce the value of investment‐based ex ante income shifting. That is, if the firm has more discretion over the ex post transfer price, then it may invest more ef...
Study of coupled-bunch collective effects in the PEP-II B-factory

We present an overview of the calculated longitudinal and transverse coupled-bunch (CB) growth rates using the measured RF cavity higher order mode impedance and estimated resistive wall (RW) impedance for the proposed PEP-II B-Factory, a dual-ring electron-positron collider. We also describe a visual method of representing the effective beam impedance and corresponding growth rates which is especially useful for understanding the dependence of of growth rate on higher order mode frequency and Q, the spread of HOM frequencies between cells, and for determining the requirements of the CB feedback systems. >
Product Yield Prediction System and Critical Area Database

Pre-silicon yield estimators for ASIC products have the potential for improved accuracy based on retrospective critical area and yield analysis of completed designs. A prototype closed-loop system, in which a database of observed yield and computed critical areas is continuously compiled and updated, is described in this paper. The database allows a yield model based on circuit content, which is available at the time of quote, but before the physical layout, to be optimized to more accurately reflect a technology's random defect sensitivities. Confining one's observations to the mature 130-nm technology minimizes the inclusion of systematic defects in the observed yield and allows for a more complete view of the random defect component of yield loss.
Multiple Bad Data Detectability and Identifiability: A Geometric Approach

A method for detecting and identifying multiple bad data in electric power networks is developed by providing a geometric interpretation of the familiar normalized residuals test for single bad data. This generalized multiple bad data test amounts to determining whether the residual vector lies in a subspace determined by the suspect measurements and whether any portions of that subspace are orthogonal to the residual vector. These tests can be performed efficiently using appropriate projection matrices. Thne notion of critical measurement (removal renders the network unobservable) is extended to critical k-tuples of measurements to determine which bad data hypotheses are actually testable. For example, gross errors in critical measurements are not detectable, and gross errors in a critical pair of measurements are detectable but not identifiable. More generally, k-2 gross errors in a critical k-tuple of measurements are identifiable while k or k-l gross errors are detectable but not identifiable. In essence, the set of testable hypotheses is determined by the geometry of the space spanned by all possible residual vectors. A procedure for selecting and pruning a suspect set of measurements is described. Examples for the IEEE 14 bus network are provided.
A Growth and Fixed Mindset Exposition of the Value of Conceptual Clarity

Comments on an article by D. Scott DeRue et al. (see record 2012-21053-002). In reading their constructive review of the learning agility literature (DeRue et al.), the methodical deconstruction and reconstruction of the definition of learning agility struck me as a valuable process. In essence, learning agility is not defined as the motivation to learn or by performance success. Rather, learning agility is about how one learns from experience within the conceptual parameters of speed and flexibility. This conceptual clarity then provides a strong foundation to propose six cognitive and behavioral processes that underlie how one learns from experience. Despite my concerns about the proposed antecedents of learning agility, these concerns only reinforce my belief in the potential contributions of the authors’ article as it illustrates why conceptual clarity is so important. Specifically, the authors’ conceptual clarity and specification of the underlying cognitive and behavioral processes provide a strong platform for the purpose of this commentary: a proposal that Dweck’s (1999) implicit theory concept is a promising predictor of learning agility and engagement in the processes underlying learning agility. In summary, the focal article provides an excellent example of the vital, nitty-gritty research required to understand the essence of a construct, which is, in turn, a critical step for developing valid measures of the construct. This commentary sought to illustrate yet another powerful benefit of such research—that we also need conceptual clarity to effectively develop and test theoretical models of the substantive relationships of a construct such as learning agility.
A guide to telescopic functors

In the mid 1980s, Pete Bousfield and I constructed certain p‐local ‘telescopic’ functors 'n from spaces to spectra, for each prime p, and each n > 1. They are constructed using the full strength of the Nilpotence and Periodicity Theorems of Devanitz‐Hopkins‐Smith, and have some striking properties that relate the chromatic approach to homotopy theory to infinite loopspace theory. Recently there have been a variety of new uses of these functors, suggesting that they have a central role to play in calculations of periodic phenomena. Here I oer a guide to their construction, characterization, application, and computation.
Analogy perception applied to seven tests of word comprehension

It has been argued that analogy is the core of cognition. In AI research, algorithms for analogy are often limited by the need for hand-coded high-level representations as input. An alternative approach is to use high-level perception, in which high-level representations are automatically generated from raw data. Analogy perception is the process of recognising analogies using high-level perception. We present PairClass, an algorithm for analogy perception that recognises lexical proportional analogies using representations that are automatically generated from a large corpus of raw textual data. A proportional analogy is an analogy of the form A : B :: C : D, meaning 'A is to B as C is to D'. A lexical proportional analogy is a proportional analogy with words, such as carpenter : wood :: mason : stone. PairClass represents the semantic relations between two words using a high-dimensional feature vector, in which the elements are based on frequencies of patterns in the corpus. PairClass recognises analogies by applying standard supervised machine-learning techniques to the feature vectors. We show how seven different tests of word comprehension can be framed as problems of analogy perception and then apply PairClass to the seven resulting sets of analogy perception problems. We achieve competitive results on all seven tests. This is the first time a uniform approach has handled such a range of tests of word comprehension.
The Epigenome of Evolving Drosophila Neo-Sex Chromosomes: Dosage Compensation and Heterochromatin Formation

Sex chromosomes originated from autosomes but have evolved a highly specialized chromatin structure. Drosophila Y chromosomes are composed entirely of silent heterochromatin, while male X chromosomes have highly accessible chromatin and are hypertranscribed as a result of dosage compensation. Here, we dissect the molecular mechanisms and functional pressures driving heterochromatin formation and dosage compensation of the recently formed neo-sex chromosomes of Drosophila miranda. We show that the onset of heterochromatin formation on the neo-Y is triggered by an accumulation of repetitive DNA. The neo-X has evolved partial dosage compensation and we find that diverse mutational paths have been utilized to establish several dozen novel binding consensus motifs for the dosage compensation complex on the neo-X, including simple point mutations at pre-binding sites, insertion and deletion mutations, microsatellite expansions, or tandem amplification of weak binding sites. Spreading of these silencing or activating chromatin modifications to adjacent regions results in massive mis-expression of neo-sex linked genes, and little correspondence between functionality of genes and their silencing on the neo-Y or dosage compensation on the neo-X. Intriguingly, the genomic regions being targeted by the dosage compensation complex on the neo-X and those becoming heterochromatic on the neo-Y show little overlap, possibly reflecting different propensities along the ancestral chromosome that formed the sex chromosome to adopt active or repressive chromatin configurations. Our findings have broad implications for current models of sex chromosome evolution, and demonstrate how mechanistic constraints can limit evolutionary adaptations. Our study also highlights how evolution can follow predictable genetic trajectories, by repeatedly acquiring the same 21-bp consensus motif for recruitment of the dosage compensation complex, yet utilizing a diverse array of random mutational changes to attain the same phenotypic outcome.
Interaction of Silicon Nitride and Metal Surfaces

An Mn-Fe-rich slag forms near the tips of Si3N4-based indexible cutting tools during the machining of cast iron. Manganese and iron were found to react chemically with Si3N4 to form a liquid phase in the presence of air, but not in the absence of air, at temperatures comparable to those reached during machining operations. Thus, chemical reactions between Fe, Mn, Si3N4, and O2 may be a factor in the wear of Si3N4 tools against cast iron.
Recent developments in transition metal carbides and nitrides as hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts

The production of hydrogen by the electrolysis of water, a sustainable and greenhouse-gas-free source, requires an efficient and abundant electrocatalyst that minimizes energy consumption. Interest in transition metal carbides and nitrides has been aroused by their promising properties that make them potential substitutes for Pt-group metals as catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. In this review, we discuss systematically the recent progress in the development of group IV–VI metal carbides and nitrides toward the hydrogen evolution reaction. Some strategies for designing such catalysts and improving their efficiency and reliability, including nanostructuring, optimizing hydrogen binding energy, interaction with the supporting material, and exploiting hybrid structures, are highlighted. We conclude with an outlook on the challenges in designing future HER electrocatalysts.
Optical microscopy studies of dynamics within individual polymer-dispersed liquid crystal droplets.

Optical devices based on polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) thin films derive their functional properties from the electric-field-induced reorientation of (sub)micrometer-sized polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (LC) droplets. In these materials, the LC reorientation dynamics are strongly dependent on droplet size and shape, as well as polymer/LC interfacial interactions. The dynamics also vary spatially within individual droplets. This Account describes studies of individual PDLC droplets and their field-induced dynamics by high-resolution near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) and multiphoton-excited fluorescence microscopy (MPEFM). Included are studies of native (“pure”) PDLCs and those doped with ionic compounds and dyes; the latter are used in sophisticated photorefractive materials.
Surface mass density of the Einasto family of dark matter haloes: are they Sersic-like?

Recent advances in N-body simulations of dark matter haloes have shown that three-parameter models, in particular the Einasto profile characterized by dlnρ(r)/dlnr / rwith a shape parameter α . 0.3, are able to produce better fits to the 3D spatial density profi les than two-parameter models like the Navarro, Frenk and White (NFW), and Moore et al. profiles. In this paper, we present for the first time an analytically mo tivated form for the 2D surface mass density of the Einasto family of dark matter haloes, in terms of the 3D spatial density parameters for a wide range of the shape parameter 0.1 6 α 6 1. Our model describes a projected (2D) Einasto profile remarkably well between 0 and (3 5) r200, with errors less than0.3 per cent for α6 0.3 and less than2 per cent for α as large as 1. This model (in 2D) can thus be used to fit strong and weak lensing observations of gal axies and clusters whose total spatial(3D) density distributions are believed to be Einas to-like. Further, given the dependence of our model on the 3D parameters, one can reliably estimate structural parameters of the spatial (3D) density from 2D observations. We also consider a Sersic-like parametrization for the above family of projected Einasto profiles and observe that fits with a Sersic profile are sensiti ve to whether one fits the pro- jected density in linear scale or logarithmic scale and yiel d widely varying results. Structural parameters of Einasto-like systems, inferred from fits with a Sersic profile, should be used with caution.
A sagbi basis for the quantum Grassmannian

Abstract The maximal minors of a p ×( m + p )-matrix of univariate polynomials of degree n with indeterminate coefficients are themselves polynomials of degree np . The sub-algebra generated by their coefficients is the coordinate ring of the quantum Grassmannian, a singular compactification of the space of rational curves of degree np in the Grassmannian of p -planes in ( m + p )-space. These subalgebra generators are shown to form a sagbi basis. The resulting flat deformation from the quantum Grassmannian to a toric variety gives a new “Grobner basis style” proof of the Ravi–Rosenthal–Wang formulas in quantum Schubert calculus. The coordinate ring of the quantum Grassmannian is an algebra with straightening law, which is normal, Cohen–Macaulay, and Koszul, and the ideal of quantum Plucker relations has a quadratic Grobner basis. This holds more generally for skew quantum Schubert varieties. These results are well-known for the classical Schubert varieties ( n =0). We also show that the row-consecutive ( p × p )-minors of a generic matrix form a sagbi basis and we give a quadratic Grobner basis for their algebraic relations.
The Videofluorographic Swallowing Study

This article describes the evidence for the physiologic foundation and interpretation of the videofluorographic swallowing study (VFSS). The purpose and clinical efficacy of VFSS are explained. Standardization of the VFSS procedure, protocol, interpretation, and reporting is highlighted as a critical step in future clinical practice and research. Individualized evidenced-based rehabilitation strategies are presented as key components that are systematically applied during the VFSS procedure and integrated into the swallowing management plan. A new tool that has been developed and tested for the quantification of swallowing impairment is introduced.
Aggregate Dividend Behavior and Permanent Earnings Hypothesis

The study examines the aggregate dividend behavior of U.S. corporations based on the permanent earnings hypothesis. Using annual data of aggregate earnings and dividends from 1871–1993, I find that although managers change dividends proportional to permanent earnings changes, they make revisions with a larger percentage change in dividends than in permanent earnings. The results from the post-war data show that firms follow a partial adjustment policy with a long-term dividend payout target in mind and make revisions with a delay. The quarterly data analysis yields results similar to those of the post-war annual data.
Conditional Time-Varying Interest Rate Risk Premium: Evidence from the Treasury Bill Futures Market

Existing studies of the term structure of interest rates often use spot Treasury rates to represent default-free interest rates. However, part of the premium in Treasury rates is compensation for the risk that short-sellers may default. Since Treasury bill futures are default-free, they provide cleaner data to estimate the interest rate risk premium. The mean excess return in defaultfree Treasury bill futures is zero. This suggests that the interest rate risk premium could be economically negligible. We find that although the mean unconditional premium is zero, futures returns contain economically and statistically significant time-varying conditional interest rate risk premiums. The conditional premium depends significantly positively on its own conditional variance and its conditional covariance with the equity premium. The conditional premium is large in the volatile 1979–82 period, but small afterwards.
A Long-Run Risks Explanation of Predictability Puzzles in Bond and Currency Markets

We show that bond risk premia rise with uncertainty about expected inflation and fall with uncertainty about expected growth; the magnitude of return predictability using these uncertainty measures is similar to that by multiple yields. Motivated by this evidence, we develop and estimate a long-run risks model with timevarying volatilities of expected growth and inflation. The model simultaneously accounts for bond return predictability and violations of uncovered interest parity in currency markets. We find that preference for early resolution of uncertainty, time-varying volatilities, and non-neutral effects of inflation on growth are important to account for these aspects of asset markets. The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com., Oxford University Press.
Novel thermally reworkable underfill encapsulants for flip-chip applications

The flip-chip technique of integrated circuit (IC) chip interconnection is the emerging technology for high performance, high input/output (I/O) IC devices. Due to the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the silicon IC (CTE=2.5 ppm//spl deg/C) and the low cost organic substrate such as FR-4 printed wiring board (CTE=18-22 ppm//spl deg/C), the flip-chip solder joints experience high shear stresses during temperature cycling. Underfill encapsulant is used to couple the bilayer structure and is critical to the reliability of the flip-chip solder interconnects. Current underfill encapsulants are filled epoxy-based materials that are normally not reworkable after curing. This forms an obstacle to flip-chip on board (FCOB) technology development, where unknown bad dies (UBD) are still a concern. Approaches have been taken to develop the thermally reworkable underfill materials in order to address the nonreworkability problem of the commercial underfill encapsulants. These approaches include introduction of thermally cleavable blocks into epoxides and addition of additives to the epoxies. In the first approach, five diepoxides containing thermally cleavable blocks were synthesized and characterized. These diepoxides were mixed with hardener and catalyst. Then the mixture properties of Tg, onset decomposition temperature, storage modulus, CTE, and viscosity were studied and compared with those of the standard formulation based on the commercial epoxy resin ERL-4221E. These mixtures all decomposed at lower temperature than the standard formulation. Moreover, one mixture, Epoxy5, showed acceptable Tg, low viscosity, and fairly good adhesion. In the second approach, two additives were discovered that provide die removal capability to the epoxy formulation without interfering with the epoxy cure or properties of the cured epoxy system. Furthermore, the combination of the two approaches showed positive results.
Dual formulations of mixed finite element methods with applications

Mixed finite element methods solve a PDE using two or more variables. The theory of Discrete Exterior Calculus explains why the degrees of freedom associated to the different variables should be stored on both primal and dual domain meshes with a discrete Hodge star used to transfer information between the meshes. We show through analysis and examples that the choice of discrete Hodge star is essential to the numerical stability of the method. Additionally, we define interpolation functions and discrete Hodge stars on dual meshes which can be used to create previously unconsidered mixed methods. Examples from magnetostatics and Darcy flow are examined in detail.
INTEGRATING MICROARRAY DATA BY CONSENSUS CLUSTERING

With the exploding volume of microarray experiments comes increasing interest in mining repositories of such data. Meaningfully combining results from varied experiments on an equal basis is a challenging task. Here we propose a general method for integrating heterogeneous data sets based on the consensus clustering formalism. Our method analyzes source-specific clusterings and identifies a consensus set-partition which is as close as possible to all of them. We develop a general criterion to assess the potential benefit of integrating multiple heterogeneous data sets, i.e. whether the integrated data is more informative than the individual data sets. We apply our methods on two popular sets of microarray data yielding gene classifications of potentially greater interest than could be derived from the analysis of each individual data set.
SPUTTERING BY ION BOMBARDMENT

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses various methods for measuring sputtering by ion bombardment such as the glow discharge, low pressure glow discharge with magnetic field, low pressure supported plasmas, and ion beam methods. Information about sputtering depends on a reliable measurement of the yield S (number of released atoms per impinging ion) as a function of the parameters involved. Basic parameters required are the ion energy, material to be sputtered, its surface condition and temperature, the nature of the bombarding ions, the angle of incidence of the bombarding ions and the orientation of the exposed crystal face are of importance. A correct measurement of the bombarding ion current necessary for absolute yield data requires that allowance be made for the contribution of secondary electrons released by ion bombardment. The chapter also presents the results of various sputtering measurements. To obtain the results one has to distinguish between two totally different processes: physical and chemical sputtering. The latter is confined to certain materials bombarded by hydrogen or other non noble gas ions and is only of secondary interest here. The parameters which influence yield and threshold belong either to the gas-discharge or to the solid-state part of the problem.
ORGANIZATIONAL ARCHITECTURE AND CORPORATE FINANCE

Author's Note This article is based on remarks I gave at the 2000 meeting of the Southern Finance Association (SFA). I was extraordinarily flattered to be named Distinguished Scholar for 2000 by the SFA; I would like to thank the members and officers of the association for this award. As an SFA board member, I participated in establishing the Distinguished Scholar program. The original idea was to broaden participation in SFA by more of the profession's senior researchers. Last year I believe we chose the ideal person for the inaugural award, Professor Richard Roll of UCLA. But I must admit that I felt somewhat awkward in accepting the award this year. Although I certainly appreciate having my work recognized, I have attended SFA meetings regularly over the last quarter century. They afford a wonderful opportunity to renew valued friendships (some going back to graduate school) and revisit my southern roots. So this award is quite special for me, even if I do not consider myself its ideal recipient.
Photon confinement in multi-slot waveguides

We present a multi-layer waveguide that can confine light in low refractive index layers. M-line measurement verified our simulation results. This structure can be used for silicon light emission device because free-carrier losses are avoided.
On error correction in the exponent

Given a corrupted word w=(w1,...wn) from a Reed-Solomon code of distance d, there are many ways to efficiently find and correct its errors. But what if we are instead given $(g^{w_1},...g^{w_n})$ where g generates some large cyclic group — can the errors still be corrected efficiently? This problem is called error correction in the exponent, and though it arises naturally in many areas of cryptography, it has received little attention. We first show that unique decoding and list decoding in the exponent are no harder than the computational Diffie-Hellman (CDH) problem in the same group. The remainder of our results are negative: – Under mild assumptions on the parameters, we show that bounded-distance decoding in the exponent, under e = d - k1−e errors for any e > 0, is as hard as the discrete logarithm problem in the same group. – For generic algorithms (as defined by Shoup, Eurocrypt 1997) that treat the group as a “black-box,” we show lower bounds for decoding that exactly match known algorithms. Our generic lower bounds also extend to decisional variants of the decoding problem, and to groups in which the decisional Diffie-Hellman (DDH) problem is easy. This suggests that hardness of decoding in the exponent is a qualitatively new assumption that lies “between” the DDH and CDH assumptions.
The Contractionary Short‐Run Effects of Nominal Devaluation in Developing Countries: Some Neglected Nuances

This paper extends the model developed by Krugman and Taylor (1978) to take into account interesting features of the evolving structure of global trade. The growing presence of transnational production chains and differential pricing behaviour of exports destined for industrial and developing countries are accommodated. Individual country and panel data pass-through estimates derived from several econometric approaches are provided to justify the latter extension. The likelihood of contractionary short-run effects of devaluations is shown to be positively related to: (1) the proportion of a country's exports destined for other developing countries, and (2) the presence of TNCs in either the export or home goods-producing sector. Unlike the Krugman-Taylor case, devaluation will generally have a contractionary impact even if: (1) trade is initially balanced, (2) consumption behaviour does not differ between wage and profit earners, and (3) the government sector has a high marginal propensity to consume in the shortrun. The resulting policy implications underline the need to take into account these increasingly important nuances of international trade while designing exchange rate policies for developing countries.
Total syntheses of (±)-crinine and (±)-buphanisine

Abstract The concise total syntheses of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (±)-crinine ( 1 ) and (±)-buphanisine ( 2 ) have been completed by a strategy that features the application of a general procedure for the elaboration of a quaternary carbon at a carbonyl center for construction of the key intermediate 4,4-disubstituted cyclohexenone 7.
The Tarasoff rule: the implications of interstate variation and gaps in professional training

Recent events have revived questions about the circumstances that ought to trigger therapists' duty to warn or protect. There is extensive interstate variation in duty to warn or protect statutes enacted and rulings made in the wake of the California Tarasoff ruling. These duties may be codified in legislative statutes, established in common law through court rulings, or remain unspecified. Furthermore, the duty to warn or protect is not only variable between states but also has been dynamic across time. In this article, we review the implications of this variability and dynamism, focusing on three sets of questions: first, what legal and ethics-related challenges do therapists in each of the three broad categories of states (states that mandate therapists to warn or protect, states that permit therapists to breach confidentiality for warnings but have no mandate, and states that give no guidance) face in handling threats of violence? Second, what training do therapists and other professionals involved in handling violent threats receive, and is this training adequate for the task that these professionals are charged with? Third, how have recent court cases changed the scope of the duty? We conclude by pointing to gaps in the empirical and conceptual scholarship surrounding the duty to warn or protect.
Incentives, information, and winner's curse in construction industry bidding

This paper investigates the relationship between incentives, information and winner's curse in the bidding for construction industry contracts. The approach uses both simple Monte Carlo simulations and bidding experiments to show the effects of changing levels of information (in terms of variance) and incentive (in terms of risk share) on the winner's curse.
Shear calibration biases in weak-lensing surveys

We investigate biases induced by the conversion between the observed image shape and shear distortion in current weak-lensing analysis methods. Such overall calibration biases cannot be detected by the standard tests such as E/B decomposition or calibration with stars. We find that the non-Gaussianity of the point spread function has a significant effect and can lead to an error of up to 15 per cent on the linear amplitude of fluctuations σ 8 , depending on the method of analysis. This could explain some of the discrepancies seen in recent amplitude determinations from weak lensing. Using an elliptical Laguerre expansion method we develop a re-Gaussianization method that reduces the error to a calibration error of the order of 1 per cent, even for poorly resolved galaxies. We also discuss a new type of shear selection bias, which results in up to roughly an 8 per cent underestimation of the signal. It is expected to scale with redshift, inducing errors in the growth factor extraction if not properly corrected for. Understanding and correcting fear such effects is crucial if weak lensing is to become a high-precision probe of cosmology.
Expectation Shocks and Learning as Drivers of the Business Cycle

Psychological factors, market sentiments, and less-than-fully-rational shifts in beliefs are widely believed to play a role in the economy. Yet, they are rarely considered in macroeconomic models. This paper evaluates the empirical role of expectational shocks on business cycle fluctuations. The paper relaxes the rational expectations assumption to exploit survey data on expectations in the estimation of a New Keynesian model, which allows for learning by economic agents. Expectation shocks affect the formation of expectations and capture waves of optimism and pessimism that lead agents to form forecasts that deviate from those implied by their learning model. The empirical results uncover a crucial role for these novel expectations shocks as a major driving force of the U.S. business cycle. Expectation shocks regarding future real activity are the main source of economic fluctuations, accounting for roughly half of business cycle fluctuations.
The Politics of Bureaucracy and the failure of post-war reconstruction

Gordon Tullock’s The Politics of Bureaucracy must be considered one of the most important works on bureaucracy ever written. In this paper, I argue that Tullock’s analysis of bureaucracy is as relevant as ever. To support this claim, I focus on U.S.-led reconstruction efforts which attempt to export liberal democracy via military occupation. Bureaucratic organizations play a key role in these reconstruction efforts and as such, Tullock’s analysis is directly relevant. It is argued that Tullock’s study clarifies not just the limits of bureaucratic activity, but also the importance of spontaneous orders for coordinating activities outside those limits and generating the very institutional context in which liberal democracy can evolve and sustain. The main conclusion is that the nature of public bureaucracy constrains the ability of the United States to exogenously impose liberal democratic institutions in foreign countries for the very reasons Tullock emphasized long ago.
Creolization and Its Discontents

AbstractIn the past two decades, analogies drawn from supposedly Caribbean processes of creolization have begun to command increasing interest in anthropology. Examining historical as well as contemporary social uses of this terminology in its region of origin, as well as linguistic, sociocultural, and archaeological extrapolations from such usages, this review argues that although, as an analytical metaphor, “creolization” may appear to remedy certain deficits in long-standing anthropological agendas, the current unreflexive use of it is neither defensible on empirical grounds nor theoretically well advised. Yet while this review argues against further uncritical extensions of such metaphorics, it analyzes their current proliferation as a social phenomenon worthy of anthropological analysis in its own right.
Theoretical construction of stable traversable wormholes

It is shown in this paper that it is possible, at least in principle, to construct a traversable wormhole that is stable to linearized radial perturbations by specifying relatively simple conditions on the shape and redshift functions.
Nonequilibrium dynamics of interfaces and lines

Abstract The lectures examine several problems related to non-equilibrium fluctuations of interfaces and flux lines. We start by introducing the phenomenology of depinning, with particular emphasis on interfaces and contact lines. The role of the anisotropy of the medium in producing different universality classes is elucidated. We then focus on the dynamics of lines, where transverse fluctuations are also important. We shall demonstrate how various non-linearities appear in the dynamics of driven flux lines. The universality classes of depinning, and also dynamic roughening, are illustrated in the contexts of moving flux lines, advancing crack fronts, and drifting polymers.