cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein design by binary patterning of polar and nonpolar amino acids

A general strategy is described for the de novo design of proteins. In this strategy the sequence locations of hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues were specified explicitly, but the precise identities of the side chains were not constrained and varied extensively. This strategy was tested by constructing a large collection of synthetic genes whose protein products were designed to fold into four-helix bundle proteins. Each gene encoded a different amino acid sequence, but all sequences shared the same pattern of polar and nonpolar residues. Characterization of the expressed proteins indicated that most of the designed sequences folded into compact alpha-helical structures. Thus, a simple binary code of polar and nonpolar residues arranged in the appropriate order can drive polypeptide chains to collapse into globular alpha-helical folds.
Nuclear flow in consistent Boltzmann algorithm models

We investigate the stochastic Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method (DSMC) for numerically solving the collision-term in heavy-ion transport theories of the Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck (BUU) type. The first major modification we consider is changes in the collision rates due to excluded volume and shadowing/screening effects (Enskog theory). The second effect studied by us is the inclusion of an additional advection term. These modifications ensure a non-vanishing second virial and change the equation of state for the scattering process from that of an ideal gas to that of a hard-sphere gas. We analyse the effect of these modifications on the calculated value of directed nuclear collective flow in heavy ion collisions, and find that the flow slightly increases.
Properties of a variable-delay polarization modulator

We investigate the polarization modulation properties of a variable-delay polarization modulator (VPM). The VPM modulates polarization via a variable separation between a polarizing grid and a parallel mirror. We find that in the limit where the wavelength is much larger than the diameter of the metal wires that comprise the grid, the phase delay derived from the geometric separation between the mirror and the grid is sufficient to characterize the device. However, outside of this range, additional parameters describing the polarizing grid geometry must be included to fully characterize the modulator response. In this paper, we report test results of a VPM at wavelengths of 350 μm and 3 mm. Electromagnetic simulations of wire grid polarizers were performed and are summarized using a simple circuit model that incorporates the loss and polarization properties of the device.
Playing the Edge: Motivation and Risk Taking in a High-Altitude Wilderness Like Environment

Activities in a natural environment that involve risk and danger to the participant have become more popular over the last decade. This article describes a study on the motivations for high-altitude mountaineering at Mount McKinley in Denali National Park, Alaska. Using a principal components factor analysis, five factors emerged, accounting for 92% of the explained variance. Overall, scale items such as exhilaration, excitement, and accomplishment appeared as important motivating variables. Risk taking as a motivating variable did not generate a high level of motivational importance. Based on experience levels in mountaineering, a number of differences were observed in the patterns of motivational importance. The findings suggest that participants in risk recreation report different patterns of motivations that are contingent on their levels of experience.
Exponential decay of wavelength in a dissipative system

Abstract Applying a technique developed in a recent work [L.H. Yu and C.P. Sun, Phys. Rev. A 49 (1994) 592] to calculate wavefunction evolution in a dissipative system with Ohmic friction, we show that the wavelength of the wavefunction decays exponentially, while the Brownian motion width gradually increases. In an interference experiment, when these two parameters become equal, the Brownian motion erases the fringes and the system thus approaches the classical limit. We show that the wavelength decay is an observable phenomenon.
Quantifying Orbital Migration from Exoplanet Statistics and Host Metallicities

We investigate how the statistical distribution of extrasolar planets may be combined with knowledge of the host stars' metallicity to yield constraints on the migration histories of gas giant planets. At any radius, planets that barely manage to form around the lowest metallicity stars accrete their envelopes just as the gas disk is being dissipated, so the lower envelope of planets in a plot of metallicity versus semimajor axis defines a sample of nonmigratory planets that will have suffered less than average migration subsequent to gap opening. Under the assumption that metallicity largely controls the initial surface density of planetesimals, we use simplified core accretion models to calculate how the minimum metallicity needed for planet formation varies as a function of semimajor axis. Models that do not include core migration prior to gap opening (type I migration) predict that the critical metallicity is largely flat between the snow line and a ≈ 6 AU, with a weak dependence on the initial surface density profile of planetesimals. When slow type I migration is included, the critical metallicity is found to increase steadily from 1 to 10 AU. Large planet samples that include planets at modestly greater orbital radii than present surveys therefore have the potential to quantify the extent of migration in both type I and type II regimes.
Jovian Orbit Capture and Eccentricity Reduction Using Electrodynamic Tether Propulsion

The use of electrodynamic tethers for propulsion and power generation is attractive for missions to the outer planets, which are traditionally handicapped by large propellant requirements, large times of flight, and a scarcity of power available. In this work, the orbital dynamics of a spacecraft using electrodynamic tether propulsion during the mission phases of capture, apojove pump down and perijove pump up, in the Jovian system are investigated. The main result is the mapped design space involving mission duration, tether length, and minimum perijove radius. Phase-free flyby sequences are also included, which provide performance upper bounds for a given mission architecture. It is found to be advantageous to use inbound-only flybys of the Galilean moons during capture. Flybys during the apojove pump down phase are only useful in conjunction with a perijove-raising mechanism at apoapse such as solar perturbations or a small propulsive maneuver. The electrodynamic tether system is also shown to be capab...
Does Earnings Management Affect Firms’ Investment Decisions?

ABSTRACT: This paper examines whether firms manipulating their reported financial results make suboptimal investment decisions. We examine fixed asset investments for a large sample of public companies during the 1978–2002 period and document that firms that manipulate their earnings—firms investigated by the SEC for accounting irregularities, firms sued by their shareholders for improper accounting, and firms that restated financial statements—over-invest substantially during the misreporting period. Furthermore, following the misreporting period, these firms no longer over-invest, consistent with corrected information leading to more efficient investment levels. We find similar patterns for firms with high discretionary revenues or accruals. Our findings suggest that earnings management, which is largely viewed as targeting parties external to the firm, can also influence internal decisions.
Sterically crowded aryloxide compounds of silicon

Abstract The interaction of one equivalent of NaBHT (BHT-H = butylated hydroxytoluene) with Me 3 SiCl, Me 2 SiCl 2 and SiCl 4 gives Me 3 Si(BHT) ( 1 ), Me 2 SiCl(BHT) ( 2 ) and Cl 3 Si(BHT) ( 3 ), respectively, which have been characterized by 1 H NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 , space group P 2 1 a , a 9.129(1), b 15.290(7), c 13.196(8) A, β 95.15(6)°, Z = 4. Compound 2 , space group P 2 1 a , a 9.069(3), b 15.189(4), c 13.117(8) A, β 94.86(4)°, Z = 4. The presence of π-interaction between the oxygen lone pair and the aryl ring is proposed to account for the large SiOC angles observed; 1 139.4(3)°, 2 140.0(2)°.
Quantum mechanics of the dynamic Kingdon trap

Classical mechanics is not sufficient to describe ion confinement in the dynamic Kingdon trap. We compute quantum corrections to the classical pseudopotential and supplement classical stability criteria with quantum stability criteria. Considering a realistic experimental scenario we show that it is possible to operate the dynamic Kingdon trap in the quantum regime.
Practical aspects of the chemistry of metaphosphates and other transient dioxophosphoranes

Abstract Practical laboratory procedures now exist for the generation of organic derivatives of metaphosphoric acid (HOPO 2 ), as well as for dioxophosphoranes (RPO 2 ). These methods are evaluated in this review. Although these substances are highly reactive and have but a fleeting existence, they can nevertheless be employed as reactants in synthetic phosphorus chemistry. The various applications that have been demonstrated in the literature are also discussed in this review.
Shifted Yangians and finite W-algebras

We give a presentation for the finite W-algebra associated to a nilpotent matrix in the general linear Lie algebra over C. In the special case that the nilpotent matrix consists of n Jordan blocks each of the same size l, the presentation is that of the Yangian of level l associated to gln, as was first observed by Ragoucy and Sorba. In the general case, we are lead to introduce some generalizations of the Yangian which we call the shifted Yangians.
A nonintrusive laser interferometer method for measurement of skin friction

A method is described for monitoring the changing thickness of a thin oil film subject to an aerodynamic shear stress using two focused laser beams. The measurement is then simply analyzed in terms of the surface skin friction of the flow. The analysis includes the effects of arbitrarily large pressure and skinfriction gradients, gravity, and time-varying oil temperature. It may also be applied to three-dimensional flows with unknown direction. Applications are presented for a variety of flows including two-dimensional flows, three-dimensional swirling flows, separated flows, supersonic high-Reynolds-number flows, and delta-wing vortical flows.
Transmission Engineering as a Route to Subthermal Switching

The physics of low subthreshold devices is interpreted in terms of a gate-dependent change in their mode-averaged transmission function, in addition to a capacitive shift in their overall mode spectrum. Accordingly, we explore a variety of subthermal switches that alter the bandwidth, bandgap or amplitude of the transmission, and combinations thereof. The Landauer theory for current flow provides a convenient way to derive the subthreshold swing in each case analytically and suggests ways to beat the Boltzmann limit.
Modeling parallel and distributed systems with finite workloads

In studying or designing parallel and distributed systems one should have available a robust analytical model that includes the major parameters that determine the system performance. Jackson networks have been very successful in modeling computer systems. However, the ability of Jackson networks to predict performance with system changes remains an open question, since they do not apply to systems where there are population size constraints. Also, the product-form solution of Jackson networks assumes steady-state and exponential service centers or certain specialized queueing discipline. In this paper, we present a transient model for Jackson networks that is applicable to any population size and any finite workload (no new arrivals). Using several non-exponential distributions we show to what extent the exponential distribution can be used to approximate other distributions and transient systems with finite workloads. When the number of tasks to be executed is large enough, the model approaches the product-form solution (steady-state solution). We also, study the case where the non-exponential servers have queueing (Jackson networks cannot be applied). Finally, we show how to use the model to analyze the performance of parallel and distributed systems.
Epicyclic Motions and Standing Shocks in Numerically Simulated Tilted Black Hole Accretion Disks

This work presents a detailed analysis of the overall flow structure and unique features of the inner region of the tilted-disk simulations described recently by Fragile et al. The primary new feature identified in the main disk body is a latitude-dependent radial epicyclic motion driven by pressure gradients attributable to the gravitomagnetic warping of the disk. The induced motion of the gas is coherent over the scale of the entire disk and is fast enough that it could be observable in features such as relativistic iron lines. The eccentricity of the associated fluid-element trajectories increases with decreasing radius, leading to a crowding of orbit trajectories near their apocenters. This results in a local density enhancement akin to a compression. These compressions are sufficiently strong to produce a pair of weak shocks in the vicinity of the black hole. These shocks are roughly aligned with the line of nodes between the black hole symmetry plane and disk midplane, with one shock above the line of nodes on one side of the black hole and the other below on the opposite side. These shocks enhance angular momentum transport and energy dissipation near the hole, forcing some material to plunge toward the black hole from well outside the innermost stable circular orbit. A new, extended simulation, which was evolved for more than a full disk precession period, allows us to confirm that these shocks and the previously identified "plunging streams" precess with the disk in such a way as to remain aligned relative to the line of nodes, as expected based on our physical understanding of these phenomena. Such a precessing structure would likely present a strong quasi-periodic signal.
Materiality and Contingent Tax Liability Reporting

We investigate factors that explain firms' decisions to disclose and record contingent tax liabilities. Our findings are based on confidential Internal Revenue Service audit data and financial statement footnotes for 100 large industrial firms from 1987 to 1995. Descriptive statistics indicate that these firms often fail to disclose IRS claims for tax deficiencies that exceed a 5‐percent‐of‐income rule of thumb. We find that the probability of disclosure increases in the relative amount of the claim or the expected loss, although the largest claims drive this result. Our evidence is consistent with firms using a stable measure of size, such as assets or normal income, to gauge materiality, rather than relying only on current period reported income. We also find that the amount accrued for the contingent liability increases in the amount of the expected loss. However, our inferences may not generalize beyond a population of large, frequently audited firms.
An index theorem for anti-self-dual orbifold-cone metrics

Abstract Recently, Atiyah and LeBrun proved versions of the Gauss–Bonnet and Hirzebruch signature theorems for metrics with edge-cone singularities in dimension four, which they applied to obtain an inequality of Hitchin–Thorpe type for Einstein edge-cone metrics. Interestingly, many natural examples of edge-cone metrics in dimension four are anti-self-dual (or self-dual depending upon choice of orientation). On such a space there is an important elliptic complex called the anti-self-dual deformation complex, whose index gives crucial information about the local structure of the moduli space of anti-self-dual metrics. In this paper, we compute the index of this complex in the orbifold case, and give several applications.
Gamma Large Area Silicon Telescope (GLAST): Applying silicon strip detector technology to the detection of gamma rays in space

The recent discoveries and excitement generated by space satellite experiment EGRET (presently operating on Compton Gamma Ray Observatory -- CGRO) have prompted an investigation into modern detector technologies for the next generation space based gamma ray telescopes. The GLAST proposal is based on silicon strip detectors as the {open_quotes}technology of choice{close_quotes} for space application: no consumables, no gas volume, robust (versus fragile), long lived, and self triggerable. The GLAST detector basically has two components: a tracking module preceding a calorimeter. The tracking module has planes of crossed strip (x,y) 300 {mu}m pitch silicon detectors coupled to a thin radiator to measure the coordinates of converted electron-positron pairs. The gap between the layers ({approximately}5 cm) provides a lever arm for track fitting resulting in an angular resolution of <0.1{degree} at high energy. The status of this R & D effort is discussed including details on triggering the instrument, the organization of the detector electronics and readout, and work on computer simulations to model this instrument.
The Impact of Tort Reform on Private Health Insurance Coverage, February 2010

This study evaluates tort reform’s impact on private health insurance coverage. Tort reform may reduce costly damage awards and defensive medicine. On the other hand, tort reform may increase health care costs by reducing doctors’ caretaking or increasing questionable treatments. Reducing health care costs should increase health insurance coverage rates, while cost increases should decrease coverage rates. We find that between 1981 and 2007 damage caps, collateral source reform, and joint-and-several liability reform increased health insurance coverage among price-sensitive groups between one-half and one percentage points each. We conclude that tort reform reduces health care costs, at least for price-sensitive groups.
Export promotion activities in developing countries: What kind of trade do they promote?

Information problems involved in trading differentiated goods are a priori acuter than those associated with trading more homogeneous products. The impact of export promotion activities intending to address these problems can therefore be expected to differ across goods with different degree of differentiation. Empirical evidence on this respect is virtually inexistent. This article aims at filling this gap in the literature by providing estimates of the effect of these activities over firms trading different goods using highly disaggregated export data for the whole population of Costa Rican exporters over the period 2001–2006. We find that trade promotion actions favor an increase of exports along the extensive margin, in particular, in terms of destination countries, in the case of firms that are already selling differentiated goods. However, these actions do not seem to encourage exporter to start exporting these goods. Further, no significant impacts are observed for firms exporting reference-priced ...
The effect of fluorine on the diastereoselectivity of the addition of α-oxyradicals to 3-fluoro-2,3-dihydro-1H-λ6-thiophene-1,1-dione

Abstract α-Oxyradicals generated from alcohols and ethers underwent addition to the vinyl sulfone 3-fluoro-2,3-dihydro-1H-λ6-thiophene-1,1-dione (1) giving a new family of fluorinated compounds. The stereochemistry of the addition products 3–8 was confirmed by using both 19 F NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. In all cases, trans-isomers were preferentially formed. The π-facial stereoselection fails to follow the hyperconjugative theory of Cieplak, instead other possible explanations have been proposed underlying the importance of electronic contributions to the observed diastereoselectivity. An additional vinyl sulfone 2-bromo-4-fluoro-4,5-dihydro-1H-λ6-thiophene-1,1-dione (10) was prepared via the successive bromination and dehydobromination of 1; its addition reaction with 2-propanol was also studied.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Stator Exit Flow Field of an Automotive Torque Converter

The objective of this investigation is to understand the nature of the complex flow field inside each element of the torque converter through a systematic experimental and numerical investigation of the flow field. A miniature five-hole probe was used to acquire the data at the exit of the stator at several operating conditions. The flow field is found to be highly three dimensional with substantial flow deviations, and secondary flow at the exit of the stator. The secondary flow structure, caused by the upstream radial variation of the through flow, induces flow overturning near the core. Flow separation near the shell causes flow underturning in this region. The rate of decay of stator wake is found to be slower than that observed in the wakes of axial flow turbine nozzles. The flow predictions by a Navier-Stokes code are in good agreement with the pressure and the flow field measured at the exit of the stator at the design and the off-design conditions.
Catalytic enone cycloallylation via concomitant activation of latent nucleophilic and electrophilic partners: merging organic and transition metal catalysis.

Upon exposure of mono-enone mono-allylic carbonates to tributylphosphine and 1 mol % Pd(Ph3P)4, efficient conversion to the corresponding cycloallylated products is achieved. This transformation combines the nucleophilic features of the Morita−Baylis−Hillman reaction with the electrophilic features of the Trost−Tsuji reaction.
Spatial autoregressive models with unknown heteroskedasticity: A comparison of Bayesian and robust GMM approach

Abstract Most of the estimators suggested for the estimation of spatial autoregressive models are generally inconsistent in the presence of an unknown form of heteroskedasticity in the disturbance term. The estimators formulated from the generalized method of moments (GMM) and the Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) frameworks can be robust to unknown forms of heteroskedasticity. In this study, the finite sample properties of the robust GMM estimator are compared with the estimators based on the Bayesian MCMC approach for the spatial autoregressive models with heteroskedasticity of an unknown form. A Monte Carlo simulation study provides evaluation of the performance of the heteroskedasticity robust estimators. Our results indicate that the MLE and the Bayesian estimators impose relatively greater bias on the spatial autoregressive parameter when there is negative spatial dependence in the model. In terms of finite sample efficiency, the Bayesian estimators perform better than the robust GMM estimator. In addition, two empirical applications are provided to evaluate relative performance of heteroskedasticity robust estimators.
Self-Organized Porphyrinic Materials

The self-assembly and self-organization of porphyrins and related macrocycles enables the bottom-up fabrication of photonic materials for fundamental studies of the photophysics of these materials and for diverse applications. This rapidly developing field encompasses a broad range of disciplines including molecular design and synthesis, materials formation and characterization, and the design and evaluation of devices. Since the self-assembly of porphyrins by electrostatic interactions in the late 1980s to the present, there has been an ever increasing degree of sophistication in the design of porphyrins that self-assemble into discrete arrays or self-organize into polymeric systems. These strategies exploit ionic interactions, hydrogen bonding, coordination chemistry, and dispersion forces to form supramolecular systems with varying degrees of hierarchical order. This review concentrates on the methods to form supramolecular porphyrinic systems by intermolecular interactions other than coordination chemistry, the characterization and properties of these photonic materials, and the prospects for using these in devices. The review is heuristically organized by the predominant intermolecular interactions used and emphasizes how the organization affects properties and potential performance in devices.
Linearized analysis of the Dvali–Gabadadze–Porrati brane model

Abstract We solve the Einstein equations in the Dvali–Gabadadze–Porrati model with a static, spherically symmetric matter distribution on the physical brane and obtain an exact expression for the gravitational field outside the source to the first order in the gravitational coupling. Although, this expression when confined on the physical brane reproduces the correct 4− D Newtonian potential for distances r s ⪡ r ⪡ λ , where λ is a characteristic length scale of the model, it does not coincide with the standard linearized form of the 4− D Schwarzschild metric. The solution reproduces the 5− D Schwarzschild metric in the linearized approximation for r ⪢ λ .
Rapid Enhancement of Sheared Evershed Flow Along the Neutral Line Associated with an X6.5 Flare Observed by Hinode

We present G-band and Ca II H observations of NOAA AR 10930 obtained by Hinode/SOT on 2006 December 6 covering an X6.5 flare. The Local Correlation Tracking technique was applied to the foreshortening-corrected G-band image series to acquire horizontal proper motions in this complex βγδ active region. With the continuous high-quality, spatial and temporal resolution G-band data, we not only confirm the rapid decay of outer penumbrae and darkening of the central structure near the flaring neutral line, but also unambiguously detect for the first time the enhancement of the sheared Evershed flow (average horizontal flow speed increased from 330 ± 3.1 to 403 ± 4.6 m s–1) along the neutral line right after the eruptive white-light flare. Post-flare Ca II H images indicate that the originally fanning out field lines at the two sides of the neutral line get connected. Since penumbral structure and Evershed flow are closely related to photospheric magnetic inclination or horizontal field strength, we interpret the rapid changes of sunspot structure and surface flow as the result of flare-induced magnetic restructuring down to the photosphere. The magnetic fields turn from fanning out to inward connection causing outer penumbrae decay, meanwhile those near the flaring neutral line become more horizontal leading to stronger Evershed flow there. The inferred enhancement of horizontal magnetic field near the neutral line is consistent with recent magnetic observations and theoretical predictions of flare-invoked photospheric magnetic field change.
Disk temperature variations and effects on the snow line in the presence of small protoplanets

We revisit the computation of a snow line in a passive protoplanetary disk during the stage of planetesimal formation. We examine how shadowing and illumination in the vicinity of a planet affects where in the disk ice can form, making use of our method for calculating radiative transfer on disk perturbations with some improvements on the model. We adopt a model for the unperturbed disk structure that is more consistent with observations and use opacities for reprocessed dust instead of interstellar medium dust. We use the improved disk model to calculate the temperature variation for a range of planet masses and distances and find that planets at the gap-opening threshold can induce temperature variations of up to ±30%. Temperature variations this significant may have ramifications for planetary accretion rates and migration rates. We discuss in particular the effect of temperature variations near the sublimation point of water, since the formation of ice can enhance the accretion rate of disk material onto a planet. Shadowing effects can cool the disk enough that ice will form closer to the star than previously expected, effectively moving the snow line inward.
A comparison of Dadda and Wallace multiplier delays

The two well-known fast multipliers are those presented by Wallace and Dadda. Both consist of three stages. In the first stage, the partial product matrix is formed. In the second stage, this partial product matrix is reduced to a height of two. In the final stage, these two rows are combined using a carry propagating adder. In the Wallace method, the partial products are reduced as soon as possible. In contrast, Dadda's method does the minimum reduction necessary at each level to perform the reduction in the same number of levels as required by a Wallace multiplier. It is generally assumed that, for a given size, the Wallace multiplier and the Dadda multiplier exhibit similar delay. This is because each uses the same number of pseudo adder levels to perform the partial product reduction. Although the Wallace multiplier uses a slightly smaller carry propagating adder, usually this provides no significant speed advantage. A closer examination of the delays within these two multipliers reveals this assumption to be incorrect. This paper presents a detailed analysis for several sizes of Wallace and Dadda multipliers. These results indicate that despite the presence of the larger carry propagating adder, Dadda's design yields a slightly faster multiplier.
Radion induced baryogenesis

Recent work in two brane Randall-Sundrum models has shown that the radion can drive parametric amplification of particles on the TeV brane leading to a stage of cosmology similar to preheating. We consider radion induced preheating as a mechanism for electroweak scale baryogenesis and estimate the baryon to entropy ratio for some regions of parameter space. We also predict an upper bound for the radion mass which makes this baryogenesis mechanism testable. Finally, we verify some assumptions with numerical calculations of the 1+1 dimensional Abelian Higgs model.
The Inefficiency of Contractually-Based Liability with Rational Consumers

The prevailing view in the law and economics literature is that preventing firms and consumers from contracting out of mandatory liability rules is optimal only if consumers are irrational or misperceive the risks of the products they buy. In this paper, I show that even if consumers do correctly judge a product's risk, if they cannot directly observe the safety characteristics of that product, then allowing firms and consumers to choose their own liability rules cannot lead firms to make efficient investments in product safety (unless the efficient level of investment is zero). Because the legal system is costly, consumers always have an incentive to waive liability in exchange for a lower price after safety investments are sunk. If they do so, however, firms will anticipate this, thereby undermining there incentive to invest in safety. Mandatory product liability provides a mechanism for consumers and firms to commit not waive liability. Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.
Exhaled breath condensate purines correlate with lung function in infants and preschoolers.

Rationale Although airway inflammation begins early in life in children with chronic respiratory diseases, current methods to assess this inflammation are invasive and entail significant risk. Measurement of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) purines and other biomarkers offers a less invasive method to assess airway inflammation; however, the feasibility and utility of EBC biomarkers in young children has not been established. Methods EBC was collected from children <3 years old with cystic fibrosis or other lung diseases during clinically indicated infant pulmonary function tests (iPFTs). EBC concentrations of the purine biomarkers adenosine (Ado), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), and the dilution marker urea were measured using mass spectrometry. Results EBC was successfully collected (average volume 330 ± 170 µl) from preschool children (age 2.3 ± 0.8 years) in 15 of 17 iPFTs. No significant changes in oxygen saturation (96.9 ± 1.6 start, 96.8 ± 1.7 end, P = 0.389) or respiratory rate (35.2 ± 7.5 start, 34.6 ± 7.9 end, P = 0.443) were observed during collection. Ado and AMP were successfully measured in 13/15 samples [8 cystic fibrosis (CF)]. EBC AMP to Ado ratio (AMP/Ado) negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume at 0.5 sec (FEV0.5, r = −0.71, P < 0.01) and positively with the ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity (RV/TLC, r = 0.66, P = 0.015). These correlations remained statistically significant in the subset with CF. Conclusions EBC can be safely collected and analyzed in preschool children using commercially available equipment. The EBC AMP/Ado ratio correlates with measures of infant lung function and may be a less invasive means of monitoring airway inflammation in this population. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:182–187. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Heat Kernel Approach in Quantum Field Theory

Abstract We give a short overview of the effective action approach in quantum field theory and quantum gravity and describe various methods for calculation of the asymptotic expansion of the heat kernel for second-order elliptic partial differential operators acting on sections of vector bundles over a compact Riemannian manifold. We consider both Laplace type operators and non-Laplace type operators on manifolds without boundary as well as Laplace type operators on manifolds with boundary with oblique and non-smooth boundary conditions.
Molecular Encapsulation of Gases

The principles and techniques of molecular encapsulation, as applied to environmentally, biologically, and commercially important gases, are reviewed. The gases may be trapped within natural (clathrates, cyclodextrins) or synthetic (cryptophanes, carcerands, calixarenes) cavities. The physical and chemical features of the cavities are key to understanding which gases may be trapped and to what extent. These trapping materials possess a host of applications, from gas sensing and separation to acting as storage devices and microreaction vessels.
A coherent scheme to support location-independent references in internetwork environment

We describe in this paper a coherent scheme to support location-independent references of remote entities in an internetwork environment where entities may dynamically connect to computer systems in different networks. More specifically, we propose that name servers be provided within networks and in hosts to support user creation and use of symbolic internetwork names of entities. Message-forwarding mechanisms to support communication between entities that may migrate from network to network are designed.
Hypertension after successful renal transplantation

Thirty-three renal allograft recipients who had high blood pressure (mean arterial pressure more than 105 mm Hg) at least one year after their successful transplant operation were compared with 23 normotensive kidney transplant recipients (mean arterial pressure less than 105 mm Hg) at the General Clinical Research Center. The patients with higher blood pressure had markedly and significantly higher (96 percent) renal vascular resistance and significantly lower (41 percent) renal plasma flow. Responses to salt loading and restriction were suggestive of marked activity of the renin-angiotensin system as were plasma renin activity measurements. Subsequent follow-up has revealed chronic rejection or renal artery stenosis as a probable cause of hypertension for 11 of the 33 patients. The remaining 22 patients had increased renal vascular resistance and decreased renal plasma flow indistinguishable from that in the 11 patients in whom follow-up revealed a cause for their persistent hypertension; however, 21 of these 22 patients have their native kidneys in place.
Equilibrium with incomplete markets without ordered preferences

Abstract In this note we prove the existence of Radner equilibrium of plans, prices, and price expectations in an exchange economy with incomplete financial markets without monotonic or ordered preferences.
Real-Time Video Compression Algorithm for Hadamard Transform Processing

A real-time digital video processor using Hadamard transform techniques to reduce video bandwidth is described. The processor can be programmed with different parameters to investigate various algorithms for bandwidth compression. The processor is also adaptive in that it can select different parameter sets to trade-off spatial resolution for temporal resolution in the regions of the picture that are moving. Algorithms used in programming the system are described along with results achieved at various levels of compression. The algorithms relate to spatial compression, temporal compression, and the adaptive selection of parameter sets.
New methods for the synthesis of perfluorooxaziridines. Preparation of cis-perfluoro-2,3-dialkyloxaziridines

In the presence of metal fluorides CF 3 OOC(O)F oxidizes internal perfluoroazaalkenes forming the coresponding oxaziridines in high yields. Reaction of azaalkenes with CF 2 (OF) 2 in the presence of CsF also gives the oxaziridines in modest yields. Evidence is presented for the intermediacy of the peroxyanion CF 3 OO – in these reactions, and the synthesis and characterization of the new oxaziridines (R f , R f N CFR’ f , C2F5 4; n C 4 F 9 , n C 3 F 7 5; i C 3 F 7 , CF 3 6) are described.
The power of backtracking and the confinement of length

We show that there is a point on a computable arc that does not belong to any computable rectifiable curve. We also show that there is a point on a computable rectifiable curve with computable length that does not belong to any computable arc.
Laser-Driven Pyrolysis: Synthesis of TiO2 from Titanium Isopropoxide

Laser-driven pyrolysis of the titanium alkoxide Ti(OCHMe2)4 yields TiO2 powder. The pyrolysis can be conducted using the pure alkoxide vapor or by using argon, ethylene, or ethylene| oxygen carrier gases. The powder is principally anatase, but contains some rutile when the pyrolysis is conducted at very high temperatures.
Manipulation of free carbohydrates via stannylene acetals. Preparation of β-per-O-acyl derivatives of d-mannose, l-rhamnose, 6-O-trityl-d-talose, and d-lyxose

Abstract A simple and high-yielding method for the preparation of 1- O - β -acyl derivatives of carbohydrates with an axial OH group at C-2 is described. It utilizes the property of unprotected carbohydrates to preferentially form 1,2- O - cis stannylene acetals, when treated with dibutyltin oxide. These acetals can be acylated with retention of configuration at the anomeric position.
A remarkable room temperature preparation of the trifluorovinylzinc reagent from HFC-134a. A cost-effective, high yield synthesis of α,β,β-trifluorostyrenes

Abstract The reaction of LDA (2.0 equiv.) with a THF solution of ZnCl 2 (1.0 equiv.) and CF 3 CFH 2 (HFC-134a) (1.2 equiv.) at 15–20°C gives a 73% yield of [F 2 CCFZnCl]. Addition of R-C 6 H 4 I and Pd(PPh 3 ) 4 at rt to 65°C gives 61–86% yield of R-C 6 H 4 CFCF 2 .
Measurement of AlxGa1‐xN Refractive Indices

Dispersion of the ordinary and extraordinary indices of refraction have been measured systematically for wurtzitic Al x Ga 1-x N epitaxial layers with 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0 throughout the visible wavelength region 457 nm < λ < 800 nm. The dispersion, measured by a prism coupling waveguide technique is found to be well described by a first-order Sellmeier dispersion formula parameterized as functions of x and λ.
Integration of Emerging Learning Technologies in Secondary Schools: A Burkina Faso Case Study

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. January 2017. Major: Education, Curriculum and Instruction. Advisors: Aaron Doering, Bhaskar Upadhyay. 1 computer file (PDF); ix, 165 pages.
Discovery of Young Stellar Objects at the Edge of the Optical Disk of Our Galaxy

We report a discovery of young stellar objects associated with a molecular cloud at the edge of the optical disk of our Galaxy. This cloud is denoted as Cloud 2 in the list by Digel et al., and it is one of the most distant molecular clouds from the Galactic center known to date, with a probable distance of 15-19 kpc. We found seven red near-infrared (NIR) sources associated with this cloud. Based on our NIR observations and the far-infrared/radio data in the literature, we conclude that most sources are likely to be members of Cloud 2. The geometry of ionized gas, IRAS sources, NIR sources, and molecular cloud suggests that MR 1, an isolated early B-type star near Cloud 2, has triggered the star formation activity in Cloud 2. Our results show that ongoing star formation is present in Cloud 2 and that active star formation can occur in the farthest regions of the Galaxy, where the molecular gas density is extremely low, perturbation from the spiral arms is very small, and the metallicity is similar to that for irregular dwarf galaxies. Cloud 2 is an excellent laboratory in which to study the details of the star formation process in an environment that is similar to that in the early stage of the formation of the Galactic disk.
Synthetic studies towards the total synthesis of olivin: Synthesis of a fully functionalized alkyne appropriate for the benzannulation reaction

Abstract A synthetic strategy for the synthesis of olivin has been developed which features a benzannulation reaction of a Fischer carbene complex in the assembly of the tricyclic core of the molecule containing the acyclic carbohydrate side chain and the phenol functions differentiated. In this work, a synthesis of a key alkyne is developed to be used in a benzannulation reaction that constructs the B-ring of olivin. This alkyne incorporates four of the five asymmetric centers in the aglycone of olivin. The synthesis of this alkyne begins with the exclusively syn selective Mukaiyama aldol reaction of 2-trimethylsiloxyfuran with the 2S,3R-dihydroxybutanal protected as its acetonide. Conjugate addition of a vinyl cuprate to the butenolide obtained from this reaction gives a single stereoisomer of an intermediate that has all of the chiral centers of the acyclic carbohydrate side chain. The final carbon in the alkyne is introduced by a Corey-Fuchs reaction which is used to install the alkyne function. The synthesis of the alkyne is accomplished in 15 steps (6 % overall yield) and can provide gram quantities of material. Initial evaluation of the key benzannulation step was performed with alkyne 45 and carbene complex 44 which demonstrates the viability of a synthetic strategy that employs the reaction of an aryl Fischer carbene complex with a complex alkyne containing the functionality needed for the synthesis of olivin.
Super-Compressible Foamlike Carbon Nanotube Films

We report that freestanding films of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes exhibit super-compressible foamlike behavior. Under compression, the nanotubes collectively form zigzag buckles that can fully unfold to their original length upon load release. Compared with conventional low-density flexible foams, the nanotube films show much higher compressive strength, recovery rate, and sag factor, and the open-cell nature of the nanotube arrays gives excellent breathability. The nanotube films present a class of open-cell foam structures, consisting of well-arranged one-dimensional units (nanotube struts). The lightweight, highly resilient nanotube films may be useful as compliant and energy-absorbing coatings.
Hydrodynamic Prediction of Peak Pool-boiling Heat Fluxes from Finite Bodies

Previous theoretical models are considered, giving attention to the original formulation proposed by Zuber (1959), an infinite horizontal flat plate, a horizontal cylinder, and a sphere. Some general features of any hydrodynamic prediction are inferred by examining the characteristics of the models. It is found possible to eliminate the need for observed values of the vapor-blanket thickness. The concepts obtained are utilized in the derivation of expressions for the prediction of the peak pool-boiling heat flux in the case of some new configurations.
Color halftone descreening based on color sigma filters

Most commercially printed images are halftoned using a screening process. IN order to reproduce printed documents containing images, one usually performs descreening or inverse half toning to avoid possible moire patterns. There exists a variety of gray scale halftone descreening techniques in the literature. However, color halftone descreening is still an ongoing research topic. In this paper, we present two descreening approaches: suboptimal FIR filter and a two-stage color sigma filter. The suboptimal FIR descreening filter offers an efficient descreening approach for gray scale halftoned images. In the mean time, a color halftone descreening technique based on the color sigma filter does not assume any a priori knowledge about the half toning process, making it applicable to any color halftone image. Similar to the anisotropic diffusion algorithm and total variation minimization techniques designed for gray scale images, the color sigma filter is an O(N) algorithm which can smooth out variation within each region and preserve edge information in the RGB color space. When combined with halftone segmentation techniques, a complete document processing algorithm for gray-scale and color documents can be created.
Hydrogen adsorption on Ru(001) studied by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

The adsorption of hydrogen on Ru(001) was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy at temperatures around 50 K. Hydrogen was found to adsorb dissociatively forming different ordered structures as a function of coverage. In order of increasing coverage {theta} in monolayers (ML) these were ({radical}3 x {radical}3)r30{sup o} at {theta} = 0.3 ML; (2 x 1) at {theta} = 0.50 ML, (2 x 2)-3H at {theta} = 0.75, and (1 x 1) at {theta} = 1.00. Some of these structures were observed to coexist at intermediate coverage values. Close to saturation of 1 ML, H-vacancies (unoccupied three fold fcc hollow Ru sites) were observed either as single entities or forming transient aggregations. These vacancies diffuse and aggregate to form active sites for the dissociative adsorption of hydrogen.
Lens or Prism? Patent Citations as a Measure of Knowledge Flows from Public Research

This paper assesses the validity and accuracy of firms' backward patent citations as a measure of knowledge flows from public research by employing a newly constructed data set that matches patents to survey data at the level of the research and development lab. Using survey-based measures of the dimensions of knowledge flows, we identify sources of systematic measurement error associated with backward citations to both patent and nonpatent references. We find that patent citations reflect the codified knowledge flows from public research, but they appear to miss knowledge flows that are more private and contract based in nature, as well as those used in firm basic research. We also find that firms' patenting and citing strategies affect patent citations, making citations less indicative of knowledge flows. In addition, an illustrative analysis examining the magnitude and direction of measurement error bias suggests that measuring knowledge flows with patent citations can lead to substantial underestimation of the effect of public research on firms' innovative performance. Throughout our analyses we find that nonpatent references e.g., journals, conferences, etc., not the more commonly used patent references, are a better measure of knowledge originating from public research. This paper was accepted by Lee Fleming, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Topological-Like Features in Diagrammatical Quantum Circuits

In this paper, we revisit topological-like features in the extended Temperley---Lieb diagrammatical representation for quantum circuits including the teleportation, dense coding and entanglement swapping. We describe these quantum circuits and derive characteristic equations for them with the help of topological-like operations. Furthermore, we comment on known diagrammatical approaches to quantum information phenomena from the perspectives of both tensor categories and topological quantum field theories. Moreover, we remark on the proposal for categorical quantum physics and information as described by dagger ribbon categories.