cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving the Milk Supply Chain in Developing Countries: Analysis, Insights, and Recommendations

Quality issues in milk—arising primarily from deliberate adulteration by producers—have been reported in several developing countries. In the milk supply chain, a station buys raw milk from a number of producers, mixes the milk and sells it to a firm (that then sells the processed milk to end consumers). We study a non-cooperative game between a station and a population of producers. Apart from penalties on proven low-quality producers, two types of incentives are analyzed: confessor rewards for low-quality producers who confess and quality rewards for producers of high-quality milk. Contrary to our expectations, whereas (small) confessor rewards can help increase both the quality of milk and the station's profit, quality rewards can be detrimental. We examine two structures based on the ordering of individual and mixed testing of milk: pre-mixed individual testing (first test a fraction of producers individually and then [possibly] perform a mixed test on the remaining producers) and post-mixed individual testing (first test the mixed milk from all producers and then test a fraction of producers individually). Whereas pre-mixed individual testing can be socially harmful, a combination of post-mixed individual testing and other incentives achieves a desirable outcome: all producers supply high-quality milk with only one mixed test and no further testing by the station.
SURFACTANT PILLARED CLAYS IN PHASE TRANSFER CATALYSIS : A NEW ROUTE TO ALKYL AZIDES FROM ALKYL BROMIDES AND SODIUM AZIDE

Abstract A high yield synthesis of alkyl azides is described from readily accessible alkyl bromides and sodium azide using an inexpensive phase transfer catalyst, surfactant pillared clay.
RoxyBot-06: stochastic prediction and optimization in TAC travel

In this paper, we describe our autonomous bidding agent, RoxyBot, who emerged victorious in the travel division of the 2006 Trading Agent Competition in a photo finish. At a high level, the design of many successful trading agents can be summarized as follows: (i) price prediction: build a model of market prices; and (ii) optimization: solve for an approximately optimal set of bids, given this model. To predict, RoxyBot builds a stochastic model of market prices by simulating simultaneous ascending auctions. To optimize, RoxyBot relies on the sample average approximation method, a stochastic optimization technique.
What does integrability of finite-gap or soliton potentials mean?

In the example of the Schrodinger/KdV equation, we treat the theory as equivalence of two concepts of Liouvillian integrability: quadrature integrability of linear differential equations with a parameter (spectral problem) and Liouville's integrability of finite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems (stationary KdV equations). Three key objects in this field-new explicit Psi-function, trace formula and the Jacobi problem-provide a complete solution. The Theta-function language is derivable from these objects and used for ultimate representation of a solution to the inversion problem. Relations with non-integrable equations are also discussed.
Component-Based Technology Transfer in the Presence of Potential Imitators

Technology transfer to low-cost locations offers global firms an opportunity to reduce their variable costs involved in serving emerging markets. However, such moves may also make imitation by local competitors easier. As a consequence, technology transfer may create competition in the local market. We introduce component-based technology transfer for the global firm as a means to deter or accommodate the imitators' entry, recognizing that components may differ in technological complexity. By choosing a subset of components to transfer, the global firm's decision has an impact not only on the imitators' fixed entry costs, but also on postentry competition based on variable costs. Our research identifies two different types of deterrence strategies---the barrier-erecting strategy and the market-grabbing strategy. In the former deterrence strategy, the global firm retains enough component technology in the home country to make the potential imitator's fixed entry costs so high that it is not worthwhile entering. In the latter deterrence strategy, the global firm transfers enough component technology to the emerging market, reducing the global firm's variable cost to make the potential imitator's revenues so low that it is not worthwhile entering. Which deterrence strategy the global firm should employ depends on the degree to which geographical proximity reduces imitation costs and the degree of differentiation between the local firm's and the global firm's products. Some other interesting and counterintuitive results arise. For example, it may benefit a global firm to transfer less technology for products with a higher emerging market potential.
Twisting commutative algebraic groups

Abstract If V is a commutative algebraic group over a field k, O is a commutative ring that acts on V, and I is a finitely generated free O -module with a right action of the absolute Galois group of k, then there is a commutative algebraic group I ⊗ O V over k, which is a twist of a power of V. These group varieties have applications to cryptography (in the cases of abelian varieties and algebraic tori over finite fields) and to the arithmetic of abelian varieties over number fields. For purposes of such applications we devote this article to making explicit this tensor product construction and its basic properties.
Modified Shephard’s problem on projections of convex bodies

We disprove a conjecture of A. Koldobsky asking whether it is enough to compare (n − 2)-derivatives of the projection functions of two symmetric convex bodies in the Shephard problem in order to get a positive answer in all dimensions.
Greatwall-phosphorylated Endosulfine is both an inhibitor and a substrate of PP2A-B55 heterotrimers

The most dramatic stage of the cell division cycle is M phase, when the cell splits into two genetically identical daughter cells. If this process goes wrong, the cell might die, so cells employ a complicated regulatory process to ensure that M phase begins and ends at the right time. As with many biological processes, regulation of the cell cycle depends on the activation and inhibition of a range of enzymes. Enzymes act as biological catalysts, binding target molecules (substrates) to active sites so that chemical reactions can take place. However, the activity of the enzyme can be shut down if a different type of molecule, called a competitive inhibitor, binds to the active site. For M phase to proceed, an enzyme called M phase promoting factor adds phosphate groups to hundreds of target proteins. At the end of M phase, a different enzyme, called PP2A-B55, removes these phosphate groups. Cells can enter M phase because an inhibitor called Endosulfine blocks the active site of the PP2A-B55 enzyme. However, the cells need to unblock the PP2A-B55 enzyme at the end of M phase. Williams et al. have now established the mechanism behind this unblocking of the PP2A-B55 enzyme. One basis for this mechanism is that Endosulfine works as an inhibitor only when it is phosphorylated (contains a phosphate group). Throughout M phase, a plentiful supply of newly phosphorylated Endosulfine inhibitor molecules binds very tightly to the active sites of the PP2A-B55 enzyme molecules, blocking the enzyme’s more loosely binding substrates from accessing the active sites. The second basis for this mechanism is that PP2A-B55 can also slowly remove the phosphate groups from Endosulfine molecules bound at the active site. In other words, phosphorylated Endosulfine works as an inhibitor only because it is really a substrate with special properties. It binds very tightly to the active site, where it is destroyed very slowly. For this reason, Williams et al. have named the process inhibition by unfair competition. In the final stages of M phase, the cell cannot produce any more phosphorylated Endosulfine molecules, and the PP2A-B55 enzyme can then destroy all the existing inhibitors. Even though this reaction is relatively slow, it is still achieved within a couple of minutes. After its active site is no longer blocked, the PP2A-B55 enzyme is then free to remove the phosphate groups from the target proteins, and M phase can come to an end.
Impact evaluation helps deliver development projects

Does research add value to aid? Specifically, does impact evaluation research help or hinder the delivery of development projects? This paper analyzes the question by constructing a new data set of 100 impact evaluations and 1,135 projects approved by the World Bank between 2005 and 2011. The analysis finds that the delivery of projects with impact evaluation is significantly timelier: common delays are avoided and the gap between planned and actual disbursements is reduced by half. Evidence-based mid-course corrections, a clearer implementation road map, strengthened capacity on the ground, and observer effects are possible channels to explain the results. Hopefully, this analysis will stimulate discussion over the optimal balance between project financing and the impact evaluation research needed to deliver development outcomes.
Preparation of proximal β-hydroxy silyl enol ethers from α,β-epoxyketones using silyllithium reagents

A new method for the stereoselective preparation of proximal β-hydroxy silyl enol ethers from α,β-epoxyketones using silyllithium reagents has been developed. The reaction is believed to proceed via Brook rearrangement assisted by opening of the adjacent epoxide. A number of α,β-epoxyketones were reacted with methyldiphenylsilyllithium to form the corresponding proximal β-hydroxy silyl enol ethers in good to excellent yield and excellent stereoselectivity.
Quantum-sized gold nanoclusters: bridging the gap between organometallics and nanocrystals.

This Concept article provides an elementary discussion of a special class of large-sized gold compounds, so-called Au nanoclusters, which lies in between traditional organogold compounds (e.g., few-atom complexes, 2 nm). The discussion is focused on the relationship between them, including the evolution from the Au⋅⋅⋅Au aurophilic interaction in Au(I) complexes to the direct Au-Au bond in clusters, and the structural transformation from the fcc structure in nanocrystals to non-fcc structures in nanoclusters. Thiolate-protected Au(n)(SR)(m) nanoclusters are used as a paradigm system. Research on such nanoclusters has achieved considerable advances in recent years and is expected to flourish in the near future, which will bring about exciting progress in both fundamental scientific research and technological applications of nanoclusters of gold and other metals.
Are Technology-Intensive Industries More Dynamically Competitive? No and Yes

A substantial body of research in management and related public policy fields concludes that recent decades saw greater dynamic competition throughout technology-intensive (TI) industries, with widespread steady increase in TI industry and business performance instability as key implications. We set this conclusion within a broader framework of purportedly increasing dynamic competition among TI industry businesses, and then test for evidence of its performance implications in a large sample of U.S. businesses operating from 1978 to 1997 in 31 industries, with high average research and development expenditure-to-sales ratios. In the full sample, we find no evidence of sustained increase in TI industry and business performance instability, nor any evidence of significant cross-sectional differences in performance instability between TI and non-TI industry businesses over these 20 years. For a small segment of very high-performing businesses from TI industries, however, we do uncover evidence of declining performance stability and cross-sectional differences in performance stability. We conclude that assumptions of widespread long-term increase in dynamic competition lack robust evidentiary support. It is premature to embrace and apply broadly new theoretical perspectives, management practices, and public policies to TI industry competitive dynamics that may be slightly changed since the late 1970s. Yet, there may be increasing dynamic competition among very high-performing TI industry businesses. In that small realm, careful application of new perspectives, practices, and policies may lead to deeper insight on business behavior and performance in TI industries.
Total Synthesis of Gambierol: Subunit Coupling and Completion

The preceding manuscript detailed our synthesis of the gambierol A-C and F-H ring precursors. Reported herein is a description of the coupling of the two precursors and the conversion of the coupled material into gambierol. Coupling of the subunits involved ester formation, enol ether RCM, and mixed thioketal formation and reduction. By employing this strategy we were able to bring highly advanced subunits into the coupling and, as a result, we were able to minimize the number of post-coupling transformations required to complete gambierol. At the completion of the synthesis, we generated 7.5 mg (1.5 % overall yield) of (-)-gambierol in 44 steps (longest linear sequence).
Investigation of the photooxidation of [60]fullerene for the presence of the [5,6]-open oxidoannulene C60O isomer

Abstract The study of [60]fullerene oxidation reactions has played a major role in fullerene science. The parent fullerene epoxide ( 1 ) has been the subject of extensive experimental and theoretical study. A recent report described the discovery of a new monooxide isomer, [5,6]-open oxidoannulene ( 2 ). We have reinvestigated the photooxygenation of [60]fullerene to determine whether 2 forms in addition to epoxide 1 . Isomer 2 is not detected via 13C NMR and HPLC analysis in the singlet oxygen sensitized [60]fullerene photolysis reaction.
Carbon‐Carbon Bond Formation via Palladium‐Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Aryl Halides in Air and Water

Palladium-catalyzed reactions in general are carried out under an inert atmosphere because the palladium intermediates involved in the catalytic cycles are often known to be sensitive to oxygen. In this paper, we report that various palladium-catalyzed reductive couplings proceed smoothly under an air atmosphere and in aqueous medium. Under the air atmosphere reaction conditions, palladium-triphenylphosphine complex was found to be inactive. By using zinc as the reducing reagent, aryl halides were homo-coupled to give symmetrical biaryls either in aqueous acetone or in water in the presence of a catalytic amount of 18-crown-6 at room temperature. Both aryl iodides and aryl bromides reacted efficiently under the current reaction conditions. The reaction of arylhalosilanes with aryl halides under refluxing conditions in air and water catalyzed by palladium generated unsymmetrical biaryls efficiently in the presence of either KOH or NaF. Such air-stable couplings are also suitable for a Suzuki-type coupling and a Stille-type coupling.
When Do Relational Resources Matter? Leveraging Portfolio Technological Resources for Breakthrough Innovation

We examine the paradox of capabilities: although portfolio resources contribute to innovation success, and technologically capable firms have the ability to gain more such resources, firms' “compet...
Chaotification as a Means of Broadband Energy Harvesting With Piezoelectric Materials

Component miniaturization and reduced power requirements in sensors have enabled growth in the field of low power ambient vibration energy harvesting. This work aims to increase bandwidth and power output beyond current techniques by inducing chaotic nonlinear phenomena and applying a low-power OGY controller to stabilize a chosen periodic orbit. Previously, researchers used a nonlinear piezomagnetoelastic beam in search of a large amplitude broadband voltage response, but chaos was strictly avoided. Including chaos as a desirable property allows small perturbations to alter the behavior of a system dramatically. The nonlinear piezomagnetoeleastic beam element described by a Duffing oscillator is extended to embrace chaotic motion more actively. By driving motion along a chaotic attractor, even a single excitation frequency results in a theoretically infinite number of unstable periodic orbits that can be stabilized through control. The chosen orbit will be accessible from a large range of input excitation frequencies, potentially expanding the bandwidth of operation.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Conjugate points in length spaces

In this paper we extend the concept of a conjugate point in a Riemannian manifold to geodesic spaces. In particular, we introduce symmetric conjugate points and ultimate conjugate points and relate these notions to prior notions developed for more restricted classes of spaces. We generalize the long homotopy lemma of Klingenberg to this setting as well as the injectivity radius estimate also due to Klingenberg which was used to produce closed geodesics or conjugate points on Riemannian manifolds. We close with applications of these new kinds of conjugate points to CBA(?) spaces: proving both known and new theorems. In particular we prove a Rauch comparison theorem, a Relative Rauch Comparison Theorem, the fact that there are no ultimate conjugate points less than p apart in a CBA(1) space and a few facts concerning closed geodesics. This paper is written to be accessible to students and includes open problems.
Slow mixing of Glauber dynamics for the hard-core model on regular bipartite graphs

Let ∑ = (V,E) be a finite, d-regular bipartite graph. For any λ > 0 let πλ be the probability measure on the independent sets of ∑ in which the set I is chosen with probability proportional to λ|I| (πλ is the hard-core measure with activity λ on ∑). We study the Glauber dynamics, or single-site update Markov chain, whose stationary distribution is πλ. We show that when λ is large enough (as a function of d and the expansion of subsets of single-parity of V) then the convergence to stationarity is exponentially slow in |V(∑)|. In particular, if ∑ is the d-dimensional hypercube l0,1rd we show that for values of λ tending to 0 as d grows, the convergence to stationarity is exponentially slow in the volume of the cube. The proof combines a conductance argument with combinatorial enumeration methods. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2006
The C-Alkylation of Ascorbic Acid

Abstract The alkylation of potassium ascorbate with allylic and propargylic halides is described. Conversion of the sidechains into methyl ketones is also reported.
Differences of Opinion and the Cross Section of Stock Returns

We provide evidence that stocks with higher dispersion in analysts’ earnings forecasts earn lower future returns than otherwise similar stocks. This effect is most pronounced in small stocks and stocks that have performed poorly over the past year. Interpreting dispersion in analysts’ forecasts as a proxy for differences in opinion about a stock, we show that this evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that prices will ref lect the optimistic view whenever investors with the lowest valuations do not trade. By contrast, our evidence is inconsistent with a view that dispersion in analysts’ forecasts proxies for risk. IN THIS PAPER WE ANALYZE THE ROLE of dispersion in analysts’ earnings forecasts in predicting the cross section of future stock returns. We find that stocks with higher dispersion in analysts’ earnings forecasts earn significantly lower future returns than otherwise similar stocks. In particular, a portfolio of stocks in the highest quintile of dispersion underperforms a portfolio of stocks in the lowest quintile of dispersion by 9.48 percent per year. This effect is strongest in small stocks, and stocks that have performed poorly over the past year. Our results are robust to various risk-adjustment techniques, and are inconsistent with an interpretation of dispersion in analysts’ forecasts as a proxy for risk. We postulate that dispersion in analysts’ earnings forecasts can be viewed as a proxy for differences of opinion among investors. Differences of opinion are typically modeled via dogmatic beliefs or asymmetric information sets, and have been included in numerous models that relax the standard
Pollution control innovations and the Clean Air Act of 1990

One advantage often cited for market-based environmental policies is that they are more likely to promote technological innovation than are command and control regulations. This paper uses patent data to study innovation in flue gas desulfurization units (“scrubbers”) across these policy regimes. Plant level data indicate that the effect of these patents on pollution control changed after passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act, which instituted a market for sulfur dioxide (SO2) permits. Previous regulations requiring plants constructed before 1990 to install scrubbers created incentives for innovation that lowered the costs of operating scrubbers, but did little to improve the environmental effectiveness of the technology. In comparison, innovations occurring since 1990 do serve to improve the removal efficiency of scrubbers. © 2003 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
The Psychophysiology of Real-Time Financial Risk Processing

A longstanding controversy in economics and finance is whether financial markets are governed by rational forces or by emotional responses. We study the importance of emotion in the decision-making process of professional securities traders by measuring their physiological characteristics (e.g., skin conductance, blood volume pulse, etc.) during live trading sessions while simultaneously capturing real-time prices from which market events can be detected. In a sample of 10 traders, we find statistically significant differences in mean electrodermal responses during transient market events relative to no-event control periods, and statistically significant mean changes in cardiovascular variables during periods of heightened market volatility relative to normal-volatility control periods. We also observe significant differences in these physiological responses across the 10 traders that may be systematically related to the traders' levels of experience.
Lyapunov exponents and phase diagrams reveal multi‐factorial control over TRAIL‐induced apoptosis

Receptor-mediated apoptosis proceeds via two pathways: one requiring only a cascade of initiator and effector caspases (type I behavior) and the second requiring an initiator–effector caspase cascade and mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (type II behavior). Here, we investigate factors controlling type I versus II phenotypes by performing Lyapunov exponent analysis of an ODE-based model of cell death. The resulting phase diagrams predict that the ratio of XIAP to pro-caspase-3 concentrations plays a key regulatory role: type I behavior predominates when the ratio is low and type II behavior when the ratio is high. Cell-to-cell variability in phenotype is observed when the ratio is close to the type I versus II boundary. By positioning multiple tumor cell lines on the phase diagram we confirm these predictions. We also extend phase space analysis to mutations affecting the rate of caspase-3 ubiquitylation by XIAP, predicting and showing that such mutations abolish all-or-none control over activation of effector caspases. Thus, phase diagrams derived from Lyapunov exponent analysis represent a means to study multi-factorial control over a complex biochemical pathway.
Fan Noise Reduction: An Overview

Fan noise reduction technologies developed as part of the Advanced Subsonic Technology Program are reviewed. Developments in low-noise fan stage design, swept and leaned outlet guide vanes, active noise control, fan wake management, and scarf inlets are discussed. In each case, a description of the technology is presented and, where available, representative results and general conclusions are discussed. The review concludes with a summary of the accomplishments of the AST-sponsored fan noise reduction research and a few thoughts on future work.
Kalman filtering with intermittent observations

Motivated by navigation and tracking applications within sensor networks, we consider the problem of performing Kalman filtering with intermittent observations. When data travel along unreliable communication channels in a large, wireless, multihop sensor network, the effect of communication delays and loss of information in the control loop cannot be neglected. We address this problem starting from the discrete Kalman filtering formulation, and modeling the arrival of the observation as a random process. We study the statistical convergence properties of the estimation error covariance, showing the existence of a critical value for the arrival rate of the observations, beyond which a transition to an unbounded state error covariance occurs. We also give upper and lower bounds on this expected state error covariance.
THE CRYSTAL CHEMISTRY OF THE ZIPPEITE GROUP

Single crystals of eight zippeite-group compounds have obtained using mild hydrothermal synthesis techniques. The structure of each has been determined with single-crystal diffraction data collected using Mo K α X-radiation and an APEX CCD-based detector, and refined on the basis of F 2 for all unique data. The structure of zippeite, K 3 (H 2 O) 3 [(UO 2 ) 4 (SO 4 ) 2 O 3 (OH)], is mono-clinic, C 2, a 8.7524(4), b 13.9197(7), c 17.6972(8) A, β104.178(1)°, V 2090.39(17) A 3 , R 1 3.30%, D c 4.794 g/cm 3 . The structure of sodium-zippeite, Na 5 (H 2 O) 12 [(UO 2 ) 8 (SO 4 ) 4 O 5 (OH) 3 ], is monoclinic, P 2 1 / n , a 17.6425(11), b 14.6272(9), c 17.6922(11) A, β104.461(1)°, V 4421.0(5) A 3 , R 1 6.88%, D c 4.517 g/cm 3 . The structure of magnesium-zippeite, Mg(H 2 O) 3.5 [(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 )O 2 ], is monoclinic, C 2/ m , a 8.6514(4), b 14.1938(7), c 17.7211(9) A, β 104.131(1)°, V 2110.24(18) A 3 , R 1 2.39%, D c 4.756 g/cm 3 . The structure of zinc-zippeite, Zn(H 2 O) 3.5 [(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 )O 2 ], is monoclinic, C 2/ m , a 8.6437(10), b 14.1664(17), c 17.701(2) A, β 104.041(3)°, V 2102.7(4) A 3 , R 1 4.57%, D c 5.032 g/cm 3 . The structure of cobalt-zippeite, Co(H 2 O) 3.5 [(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 )O 2 ], is mono-clinic, C 2/ m , a 8.650(4), b 14.252(9), c 17.742(10) A, β 104.092(19)°, V 2122(2) A 3 , R 1 5.55%, D c 4.948 g/cm 3 . The structure of (NH 4 ) 4 (H 2 O)[(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 )O 2 ] 2 is monoclinic, C 2/ m , a 8.6987(15), b 14.166(2), c 17.847(3) A, β 104.117(4)°, V 2132.9(3) A 3 , R 1 4.31%, D c 4.442 g/cm 3 . The structure of (NH 4 ) 2 [(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 )O 2 ] is orthorhombic, Cmca , a 14.2520(9), b 8.7748(5), c 17.1863(10) A, V 2149.3(2) A 3 , R 1 5.11%, D c 4.353 g/cm 3 . The structure of Mg 2 (H 2 O) 11 [(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 )O 2 ] 2 is monoclinic, P 2 1 / c , a 8.6457(4), b 17.2004(8), c 18.4642(9) A, β 102.119(1)°, V 2684.6(2) A 3 , R 1 4.73%, D c 3.917 g/cm 3 . Each structure contains the zippeite-type sheet consisting of chains of edge-sharing uranyl pentagonal bipyramids that are cross-linked by vertex sharing with sulfate tetrahedra, although the compositional details of the sheet are varied. The interlayer configurations are diverse, and are related to the bonding requirements of the sheets.
Angular momentum loss and stellar spin-down in magnetic massive stars

We examine the angular momentum loss and associated rotational spin-down for magnetic hot stars with a line-driven stellar wind and a rotation-aligned dipole magnetic field. Our analysis here is based on our previous 2-D numerical MHD simulation study that examines the interplay among wind, field, and rotation as a function of two dimensionless parameters, W(=Vrot/Vorb) and ‘wind magnetic confinement’, η∗ defined below. We compare and contrast the 2-D, time variable angular momentum loss of this dipole model of a hot-star wind with the classical 1-D steady-state analysis by Weber and Davis (WD), who used an idealized monopole field to model the angular momentum loss in the solar wind. Despite the differences, we find that the total angular momentum loss averaged over both solid angle and time follows closely the general WD scaling ~ Ṁ Ω R 2 A . The key distinction is that for a dipole field Alfven radius R A is significantly smaller than for the monopole field WD used in their analyses. This leads to a slower stellar spin-down for the dipole field with typical spin-down times of order 1 Myr for several known magnetic massive stars.
IUCF Cooler ring status 1989

The IUCF (Indiana University Cyclotron Facility) Cooler is a synchrotron-storage ring with electron cooling. The construction was funded in 1983, with beam tests beginning in 1987. After a year to commissioning, the ring is beginning to provide beams for research users. The author reviews some of the recent accomplishments and summarizes some of the operating characteristics as presently understood. The IUCF Cooler is in transition to operational status with first experiments underway and an appreciable fraction of its large parameter space explored. There have been signs of good resolution, small emittance, good reproducibility, and easy energy variability. >
High-SNR Analysis of Outage-Limited Communications With Bursty and Delay-Limited Information

This work analyzes the high-SNR asymptotic error performance of outage-limited communications with fading, where the number of bits that arrive at the transmitter during any timeslot is random but the delivery of bits at the receiver must adhere to a strict delay limitation. Specifically, bit errors are caused by erroneous decoding at the receiver or violation of the strict delay constraint. Under certain scaling of the statistics of the bit-arrival process with SNR, this paper shows that the optimal decay behavior of the asymptotic total probability of bit error depends on how fast the burstiness of the source scales down with SNR. If the source burstiness scales down too slowly, the total probability of error is asymptotically dominated by delay-violation events. On the other hand, if the source burstiness scales down too quickly, the total probability of error is asymptotically dominated by channel-error events. However, at the proper scaling, where the burstiness scales linearly with 1/ radic(log SNR) and at the optimal coding duration and transmission rate, the occurrences of channel errors and delay-violation errors are asymptotically balanced. In this latter case, the optimal exponent of the total probability of error reveals a tradeoff that addresses the question of how much of the allowable time and rate should be used for gaining reliability over the channel and how much for accommodating the burstiness with delay constraints.
A Human Rights Law of Internal Armed Conflict: The European Court of Human Rights in Chechnya

The cases on Chechnya recently decided by the European Court of Human Rights force us to re-evaluate the relationship between human rights law and humanitarian law. Since the International Court of Justice held that humanitarian law is lex specialis to human rights law in 1996 - if not since the Tehran Conference of 1968 - it has been widely accepted that 'human rights in armed conflict' refers to humanitarian law. The ECtHR has directly applied human rights law to the conduct of hostilities in internal armed conflicts. The rules it has applied may prove controversial, but humanitarian law's limited substantive scope and poor record of achieving compliance in internal armed conflicts suggest the importance of this new approach.
Local Financial Development and Growth

Using a unique sample of net domestic product data for districts in India, I investigate the connection between banking sector development, human capital, and economic growth at the sub-national level. Using disaggregate data avoids many of the omitted variable problems that plague cross-country studies of the finance-growth connection and facilitates an instrumentation strategy. The findings show that the growth of many districts in India is financially constrained due to lack of banking sector development, and that the relationship between finance and growth may be non-linear. For the districts in the sample, moving from the 75th percentile of credit/net domestic product to the 25th percentile implies an average loss of 4 percent in growth over the 1990s. This indicates that the gains from increased banking sector outreach may be large. The analysis shows that human capital deepening can reduce the effect of the financial constraint and help decouple growth from financial development. In a district at the 25th literacy percentile, the implied growth loss due to a constrained banking sector is twice as large as in a district at the 75th literacy percentile. Thus, higher levels of human capital may activate alternative growth and production channels that are less finance intensive.
Repetition in reduced decompositions

Given a permutation w, we show that the number of repeated letters in a reduced decomposition of w is always less than or equal to the number of 321- and 3412-patterns appearing in w. Moreover, we prove bijectively that the two quantities are equal if and only if w avoids the ten patterns 4321, 34@?512, 45@?123, 35@?412, 43@?512, 45@?132, 45@?213, 53@?412, 45@?312, and 45@?231.
Derivation of multi-dimensional ellipsoidal convex model for experimental data

This paper deals with determination of the best ellipsoidal model fitting the available limited experimental data. The problem is defined as that of finding the minimum volume ellipsoid containing all experimental data. A general transformation matrix for the rotation of N-dimensional coordinate system is first obtained by the Gramm-Schmidt orthogonalization procedure. The use of this matrix makes it possible to search in all possible directions to find an ellipsoid with a minimum volume. The general procedure is illustrated by examples in which the real data is utilized. An invariance property of the response with uncertain parameters of different physical nature is also discussed.
Physics of Fusion Fuel Cycles

The evaluation of nuclear fusion fuels for a magnetic fusion economy must take into account the various technological impacts of the various fusion fuel cycles as well as the relative reactivity an...
Coarse differentiation of quasi-isometries I: Spaces not quasi-isometric to Cayley graphs

In this paper, we prove that certain spaces are not quasi-isometric to Cayley graphs of nitely generated groups. In particular, we answer a question of Woess and prove a conjecture of Diestel and Leader by showing that certain homogeneous graphs are not quasi-isometric to a Cayley graph of a nitely generated group. This paper is the rst in a sequence of papers proving results announced in our 2007 article \Quasi-isometries and rigidity of solvable groups." In particular, this paper contains many steps in the proofs of quasi-isometric rigidity of lattices in Sol and of the quasi-isometry classication of lamplighter groups. The proofs of those results are completed in \Coarse dierentiation of quasi-isometries II; Rigidity for lattices in Sol and Lamplighter groups." The method used here is based on the idea of coarse dierentiation introduced in our 2007 article.
Pricing-to-Market: Price Discrimination or Product Differentiation?

We employ a vertical differentiation model to examine the potential bias in pricing-to-market results when using export unit values aggregating differentiated products. Our results show that: (i) false evidence of pricing-to-market is always found when using unit values, whether the law of one price holds or not; and (ii) the size of the bias increases with the level of product differentiation. Our simulation results support those conceptual findings. Thus, some of the positive pricing-to-market results in the literature could be an artifact of the product heterogeneity embodied in unit values rather than evidence of imperfect competition.
1000 Years of climate change

The magnitude of solar forcing varies with the amount of solar activity. In addition to the 10–12 year variations, solar activity varies over centennial and millenial periods. During the past 1000 years, of particular interest were the Medieval Warming Period (high solar activity), the Maunder Minimum, (minimal solar activity) and the sharp multi-decadal increase in solar maxima during the first half of the 20th Century. Satellite observations of solar irradiance for the past two decades have allowed calibration of variations in solar activity proxies. A number of attempts at reconstructing past climate variations via these proxies has shown that direct (irradiance) solar forcing can explain observed northern hemisphere temperatures from 1000 to 1900, but fails to account for most of the observed warming in the past 100 years, especially after 1975. Because solar direct forcing is able to account for climate changes prior to 1900, indirect solar forcing effects seem to be small, but merit continued study especially until both paleo-temperatures and magnitude of forcings are known more precisely. 2004 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A new family of unitary space-time codes with a fast parallel sphere decoder algorithm

In this paper, we propose a new design criterion and a new class of unitary signal constellations for differential space-time modulation for multiple-antenna systems over Rayleigh flat-fading channels with unknown fading coefficients. Extensive simulations show that the new codes have significantly better performance than existing codes. We have compared the performance of our codes with differential detection schemes using orthogonal design, Cayley differential codes, fixed-point-free group codes, and product of groups and for the same bit-error rate, our codes allow smaller signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by as much as 10 dB. The design of the new codes is accomplished in a systematic way through the optimization of a performance index that closely describes the bit-error rate as a function of the SNR. The new performance index is computationally simple and we have derived analytical expressions for its gradient with respect to constellation parameters. Decoding of the proposed constellations is reduced to a set of one-dimensional closest point problems that we solve using parallel sphere decoder algorithms. This decoding strategy can also improve efficiency of existing codes.
Studies toward the total synthesis of pluraflavin A.

A synthetic strategy towards the potent cytostatic agent pluraflavin A has been developed. Formation of the enantioenriched anthrapyran core bearing a halogen atom enabled the introduction of the α C-aryl glycoside by Stille cross-coupling and subsequent hydrogenation of the aryl glycal. Chemo- and stereoselective O-glycosylations of α oliose and β 3-epi vancosamine residues afforded a fully glycosylated aromatic core. Attempts to install the dimethylamino group of the C-disaccharide suggest that introduction of an azide group by displacement and subsequent reduction may pave the way to the total synthesis of pluraflavin A.
Realistic protein-protein association rates from a simple diffusional model neglecting long-range interactions, free energy barriers, and landscape ruggedness.

We develop a simple but rigorous model of protein–protein association kinetics based on diffusional association on free energy landscapes obtained by sampling configurations within and surrounding the native complex binding funnels. Guided by results obtained on exactly solvable model problems, we transform the problem of diffusion in a potential into free diffusion in the presence of an absorbing zone spanning the entrance to the binding funnel. The free diffusion problem is solved using a recently derived analytic expression for the rate of association of asymmetrically oriented molecules. Despite the required high steric specificity and the absence of long-range attractive interactions, the computed rates are typically on the order of 104–106 M−1 sec−1, several orders of magnitude higher than rates obtained using a purely probabilistic model in which the association rate for free diffusion of uniformly reactive molecules is multiplied by the probability of a correct alignment of the two partners in a random collision. As the association rates of many protein–protein complexes are also in the 105–106 M−1 sec−1 range, our results suggest that free energy barriers arising from desolvation and/or side-chain freezing during complex formation or increased ruggedness within the binding funnel, which are completely neglected in our simple diffusional model, do not contribute significantly to the dynamics of protein–protein association. The transparent physical interpretation of our approach that computes association rates directly from the size and geometry of protein–protein binding funnels makes it a useful complement to Brownian dynamics simulations.
Sequential Product Innovation, Competition and Patent Policy

This paper examines the role of patent policy in a spatial model of sequential innovation. Initial entrepreneurs develop a new product market and anticipate that subsequent innovation may lead to a product line that consumers value more highly. The likelihood of sequential innovation increases with the number of initial early entrants in the market. Patent protection that encourages early entry can therefore raise the probability of both initial and subsequent innovation. We determine the optimal patent breadth as a function of key industry characteristics of both consumer taste and the new technology.
Applicability of the Multiple-Event Stacking Technique for Shear-Wave Splitting Analysis

Abstract For several decades, shear-wave splitting (SWS) parameters (fast polarization orientations and splitting times) have been widely measured to reveal the orientation and strength of mantle anisotropy. One of the most popularly used techniques for obtaining station-averaged SWS parameters is the multiple-event stacking technique (MES). Results from previous studies suggest the splitting times obtained using MES are frequently smaller than those derived from simple averaging of splitting times obtained using the event-specific technique of Silver and Chan (1991). To confirm such apparent discrepancies between the two popularly used methods and to explore the causes, we conduct numerical experiments using both synthetic and observed data. The results show that when the anisotropic structure can be represented by a horizontal single layer of anisotropy with constant or spatially varying splitting times, MES can accurately retrieve the splitting parameters. However, when the fast orientations or both splitting parameters vary azimuthally due to lateral heterogeneities or double-layer anisotropy, the station-averaged fast orientations from MES and Silver and Chan (1991) are mostly comparable, but the splitting times obtained using MES are underestimated. For laterally varying fast orientations in the vicinity of a station, the magnitude of the underestimation is dependent on the arriving azimuth of the events participated in the stacking; for two-layer models of anisotropy, the resulting splitting parameters using MES are biased toward those of the top layer, due to the dominance of events with a back azimuth parallel or orthogonal to the fast orientation of the lower layer.
State observability in recurrent neural networks

Abstract We obtain a characterization of observability for a class of nonlinear systems which appear in neural networks research.
Synthesis of oxazolyl-substituted morpholinium salts

Morpholinium salts coupled to oxazolyl moieties have been synthesized via nucleophilic substitution of a series of oxazolyl chlorides with morpholine. The oxazole moieties were first synthesized and then coupled with morpholine. The corresponding hydrochloride and methyl iodide salts were obtained, purified, characterized and then tested for muscarinic receptor binding affinity. Biological test results from MDS Pharma Services revealed no significant muscarinic receptor affinity.
Diabetes Mellitus in Patients Presenting with Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction: Delaying Surgical Intervention Results in Worse Outcomes

The impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on outcomes in patients undergoing emergency laparotomy for adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO) remains unknown. Low-risk (ASA class of I and II) patients requiring emergency operation for ASBO were identified using the ACS NSQIP database. Propensity score matching was used to match patients with DM to those without DM in a ratio of 1:3. Mortality, infectious complications, acute renal failure (ARF), and myocardial infarction (MI) were compared between the two groups. The impact of delaying OR ≥24 h was also analyzed in the two groups. A total of 1,608 patients were matched, 402 with DM and 1,204 without DM. Overall, patients with DM were significantly more likely to develop infections, ARF and MI. Diabetes had no negative impact on outcomes if the operation was performed within 24 h of admission. However, delaying surgery >24, significantly increased infections, ARF and MI. DM in low-risk patients has no negative impact on outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for ASBO within 24 h. However, delaying surgery >24 h resulted in worse outcomes.
Total synthesis of coleophomone D

A concise total synthesis of coleophomone D that exists as a dynamic mixture of four isomeric compounds, using a strategy based on a benzoyl cyanide coupling reaction to assemble the key tricarbonyl motif, is reported.
Best possible approximation algorithm for MAX SAT with cardinality constraint

We consider the MAX SAT problem with the additional constraint that at most P variables have a true value. We obtain a (1-e -1 ) -approximation algorithm for this problem. Feige [6] has proved that for MAX SAT with cardinality constraint with clauses without negations this is the best possible performance guarantee unless P=\NP .
Equity Security Investments: Evidence on Tax‐Induced Dividend Clienteles

This study examines the formation of tax‐induced dividend clienteles in equity security holdings by life insurance companies (LICs). Generally, corporations are allowed a 70 percent deduction against dividends received from portfolio stocks. In contrast, LICs are only allowed a “prorated” dividends‐received deduction (DRD) that ranges between 0 percent and 70 percent. So, even with similar levels of profitability, the marginal tax rate on dividend income effectively varies across LICs. This setting provides a unique opportunity to isolate and examine the effect of taxes on dividend clientele formation. Cross‐sectional regression is used to analyze the relation between the prorated DRDs and the average dividend yield on equity holdings. Controls are added for other determinants of equity investment behavior. The results show that LICs' prorated DRDs significantly influence their average dividend yield on equity investments, providing direct evidence that investment behavior is consistent with tax‐induced d...