cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Excited state processes at sensitized nanocrystalline thin film semiconductor interfaces

Abstract The existing and potential technological importance of nanocrystalline semiconductor thin films sensitized to visible light by molecular chromophores have initiated considerable efforts toward understanding the detailed mechanisms of photoprocesses occurring at the interface. However, such studies are made difficult by the complex nature of kinetic processes observed following light excitation. In this paper, we review literature reports of excited-state processes in these materials and attempt to clarify the underlying mechanisms responsible for the complex kinetic behavior typically observed.
The relationship between advertising, price, and nursing home quality.

Background: Theoretically, nursing homes should engage in advertising for the following two reasons: (a) to improve awareness of the services offered in a particular market and (b) to signal high-quality services. In this study, we build upon results from prior studies of nursing home advertising activity, market competition, and quality. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between advertising expenses, price, and quality. We focused on answering the question: Do nursing homes use advertising and price to signal superior quality? Methodology: The Texas Nursing Facilities Medicaid Cost Report, the Texas Quality Reporting System, and the Area Resource File were merged for the year 2003. We used three alternative measures of quality to improve the robustness of this exploratory analysis. Quality measures were examined using Bonferroni correlation coefficient analysis. Associations between advertising expenses and quality were evaluated using three regression models predicting quality. We also examined the association of the price of a private bed per day with quality. Findings: Advertising expenses were not associated with better nursing home quality as measured by three quality scales. The average price customers pay for one private bed per day was associated with better quality only in one of the three quality regression models. The price of nursing home care might be a better indicator of quality and necessary to increase as quality of care is improved in the nursing homes sector. Because more advertising expenditures are not necessarily associated with better quality, consumers could be mislead by advertisements and choose poor quality nursing homes. Practice Implications: Nursing home administrators should focus on customer relationship management tools instead of expensive advertising. Relationship management tools are proven marketing techniques for the health services sector, usually less expensive than advertising, and help with staff retention and quality outcomes.
Curvature flow of complete hypersurfaces in hyperbolic space

In this paper we continue our study of finding the curvature flow of complete hypersurfaces in hyperbolic space with a prescribed asymptotic boundary at infinity. Our main results are proved by deriving a priori global gradient estimates and C 2 estimates.
Asymmetric synthesis of chiral β-iodo Baylis–Hillman esters using MgI2 as promoter via a one-pot three-component reaction

Abstract An asymmetric synthesis of β-iodo-α-(hydroxyalkyl)acrylates has been developed involving conjugate addition of I− to menthyl propiolates to give β-iodo allenolate intermediates which undergo 1,2-addition to form β-iodo Baylis–Hillman products. Modest diastereoselectivities (37–58% de) and excellent yields (80–87%) were obtained when (1R,2S,5R)-(−)-menthol was used as a chiral auxiliary. The two diastereoisomers of the product were separated by silica gel chromatography to give diastereomerically pure products.
Ceramic Powder Synthesis by Spray Pyrolysis

A variety of spray pyrolysis (SP) techniques have been developed to directly produce ceramic powders from solutions. This paper reviews the current status of these processes in terms of the process parameters that enable the formation of particles with controlled morphology and composition. A model incorporating solute diffusion in the droplet and solvent evaporation from the droplet surface is presented to establish the critical parameters leading to solid particle formation. The model illustrates that solid particles can be obtained if solutes with high solubility and a large difference between the critical supersaturation and equilibrium concentration are used and if the process is designed to avoid solvent boiling. It is demonstrated that mixed metal oxide, non-oxide, and composite particles that are solid, hollow, porous, or fibrous can be produced by modifying the precursor characteristics, solution properties, and process parameters. The physical and chemical flexibility of SP processes offers numerous opportunities for the controlled synthesis of advanced ceramic powders and films. However, production rates are limited by the need to produce <5-[mu]m-diameter droplets and to avoid subsequent droplet coagulation. Developments in process controls, atomization, and system design are required for wider commercialization of SP-type processes.
Impact origin for the Martian crustal dichotomy: Half emptied or half filled?

[1] One possible mechanism for Martian hemispherical dichotomy formation is excavation of the northern lowland basin in the existing crust by a single giant impact. Here we explore a related scenario in which the impact melt volume is sufficient to fill the excavated cavity, produce a thickened crust, and generate a topographic basin centered on the opposite side of the planet. We investigate this mechanism by formulating a model for viscous spreading of a partially molten layer over a spherical surface. We derive numerical solutions and calculate the final area of the spreading layer as a function of impactor size and shape of the layer boundary due to an initially asymmetric melt region. Results are compared with observations, including lowland basin size, shape of the dichotomy boundary, age difference between crustal provinces, and crustal thickness.
Mass-Radius Relationships for Solid Exoplanets

We use new interior models of cold planets to investigate the mass-radius relationships of solid exoplanets, considering planets made primarily of iron, silicates, water, and carbon compounds. We find that the mass-radius relationships for cold terrestrial mass planets of all compositions we considered follow a generic functional form that is not a simple power law: log10 Rs = k1 + log10(Ms) - k2M for up to Mp ≈ 20 M⊕, where Ms and Rs are scaled mass and radius values. This functional form arises because the common building blocks of solid planets all have equations of state that are well approximated by a modified polytrope of the form ρ = ρ0 + cPn. We find that highly detailed planet interior models, including temperature structure and phase changes, are not necessary to derive solid exoplanet bulk composition from mass and radius measurements. For solid exoplanets with no substantial atmosphere we have also found the following: with 5% fractional uncertainty in planet mass and radius it is possible to distinguish among planets composed predominantly of iron or silicates or water ice but not more detailed compositions; with ~5% uncertainty water ice planets with 25% water by mass may be identified; the minimum plausible planet size for a given mass is that of a pure iron planet; and carbon planet mass-radius relationships overlap with those of silicate and water planets due to similar zero-pressure densities and equations of state. We propose a definition of "super-Earths" based on the clear distinction in radii between planets with significant gas envelopes and those without.
A Test for Superior Predictive Ability

We propose a new test for superior predictive ability. The new test compares favorably to the reality check (RC) for data snooping, because it is more powerful and less sensitive to poor and irrelevant alternatives. The improvements are achieved by two modifications of the RC. We use a studentized test statistic that reduces the influence of erratic forecasts and invoke a sample-dependent null distribution. The advantages of the new test are confirmed by Monte Carlo experiments and an empirical exercise in which we compare a large number of regression-based forecasts of annual U.S. inflation to a simple random-walk forecast. The random-walk forecast is found to be inferior to regression-based forecasts and, interestingly, the best sample performance is achieved by models that have a Phillips curve structure.
Economic Evaluations of Smoking Cessation and Relapse Prevention Programs for Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review

Objective Smoking cessation and relapse prevention during and after pregnancy reduces the risk of adverse maternal and infant health outcomes, but the economic evaluations of such programs have not been systematically reviewed. This study aims to critically assess economic evaluations of smoking cessation and relapse prevention programs for pregnant women.
Longwave infrared (LWIR) coded aperture dispersive spectrometer

We describe a static aperture-coded, dispersive longwave infrared (LWIR) spectrometer that uses a microbolometer array at the detector plane. The two-dimensional aperture code is based on a row-doubled Hadamard mask with transmissive and opaque openings. The independent column code nature of the matrix makes for a mathematically well-defined pattern that spatially and spectrally maps the source information to the detector plane. Post-processing techniques on the data provide spectral estimates of the source. Comparative experimental results between a slit and coded aperture for emission spectroscopy from a CO2 laser are demonstrated.
An algebraic approach to certain cases of Thurston rigidity

In the moduli space of polynomials of degree 3 with marked critical points c_1 and c_2, let C_{1,n} be the locus of maps for which c_1 has period n and let C_{2,m} be the locus of maps for which c_2 has period m. A consequence of Thurston's rigidity theorem is that the curves C_{1,n} and C_{2,m} intersect transversally. We give a purely algebraic proof that the intersection points are 3-adically integral and use this to prove transversality. We also prove an analogous result when c_1 or c_2 or both are taken to be preperiodic with tail length exactly 1.
Corporate Governance and Investor Reactions to Seasoned Equity Offerings

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the role of corporate governance in abnormal returns around announcements of seasoned equity offerings (SEOs) by publicly traded US firms from 2001 to 2004.Design/methodology/approach – Cross‐sectional regression analysis was used to determine which variables are important to the market's reaction to the SEO, with a particular focus on corporate governance variables.Findings – It was found that investors react more positively for firms in which different people hold the CEO and board chairman positions. Limited evidence was found that investor reaction is more positive when the board has a greater representation of outside directors, the CEO has less ownership, and the board is not too large. These findings suggest that investors react more favorably to SEOs by firms with stronger corporate governance mechanisms that reduce adverse selection or agency problems.Practical implications – This paper's findings are evidence that stronger boards can reduce a firm'...
Distributed Media-Aware Rate Allocation for Wireless Video Streaming

When multiple video streams share a wireless network, careful rate allocation is needed to prevent congestion, as well as to balance the video qualities among the competing streams. In this paper, we present a distributed media-aware rate allocation protocol, and evaluate its performance for streaming of high-definition video over 802.11-based wireless home networks. Our optimization framework accommodates heterogeneity in wireless link speeds and video rate-distortion characteristics, as well as traffic contention among neighboring links. The goal of the protocol is to minimize the total video distortion of all participating streams while limiting network utilization. It relies on cross-layer information exchange between video rate controllers at the end hosts and link state monitors at the relaying wireless nodes. Results from various network simulations confirm that the media-aware allocation outperforms transmission control protocol-friendly rate control in terms of average video quality and fairness among the streams.
Molecular dynamics on distributed-memory MIMD computers with load balancing

Abstract We report two aspects of a computational molecular dynamics study of large-scale problems on a distributed-memory MIMD parallel computer: (1) efficiency and scalability results on Intel Paragon parallel computers with up to 1024 nodes for 400 million particles and (2) a new method for dynamic load balancing.
Patient attitudes toward granting consent to participate in perioperative randomized clinical trials.

Abstract Study objective To determine the factors that affect patients' decisions to provide informed consent to participate in perioperative clinical trials. Design Survey instrument (questionnaire). Setting Urban, tertiary-care, university-affiliated hospital. Measurements and main results Of 52 patients who had been asked to participate in a randomized control trial (RCT), 43 agreed to be participate in our survey. Almost all consenters (97%), but only 62% of nonconsenters agreed to answer the survey questions ( p = 0.002). No significant difference in gender, ethnic background, marital status, or education level was found between groups who were or were not willing to participate. Univariate correlates of agreement to participate in RCTs included older age (>60 yrs; p = 0.02), a reassuring attitude conveyed by study personnel ( p = 0.02), and trust in study personnel ( p = 0.02). Those who declined participation in clinical trials more frequently indicated that the study made them feel like a "guinea pig" ( p = 0.02). Conclusion Patient age and personal attitudes predict the likelihood of participation in perioperative clinical trials. Neither gender nor race affected willingness to participate. Further work in larger groups is needed to identify predictors of consent and techniques to increase willing participation.
A Reanalysis of the Carbon Abundance in the Translucent Cloud toward HD 24534

We have reanalyzed the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph data set presented by Snow et al., which contains the interstellar intersystem C II] λ2325 line through the translucent cloud toward HD 24534 (X Persei). In contrast to the results of Snow et al., we clearly detect the C II] feature at the 3 σ confidence level and measure a C+ column density of 2.7±0.8×1017 cm-2. Accounting for the C I column density along the line of sight, we find 106 C/H=106±38 in the interstellar gas toward this star. This gas-phase carbon-to-hydrogen ratio suggests that slightly more carbon depletion may be occurring in translucent as compared to diffuse clouds. The average diffuse-cloud C/H, however, is within the 1 σ uncertainty of the measurement toward HD 24534. We therefore cannot rule out the possibility that the two cloud types have comparable gas-phase C/H and therefore comparable depletions of carbon.
Three Alkali-Metal–Gold–Gallium Systems. Ternary Tunnel Structures and Some Problems with Poorly Ordered Cations

Six new intermetallic compounds have been characterized in the alkali metal (A = Na, Rb, Cs)-gold-gallium systems. Three isostructural compounds with the general composition A(0.55)Au(2)Ga(2), two others of AAu(3)Ga(2) (A = Rb, Cs), and the related Na(13)Au(41.2)Ga(30.3) were synthesized via typical high-temperature reactions and their crystal structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis: Na(0.56(9))Au(2)Ga(2) (I, I4/mcm, a = 8.718(1) A, c = 4.857(1) A, Z = 4), Rb(0.56(1))Au(2)Ga(2) (II, I4/mcm, a = 8.950(1) A, c = 4.829(1) A, Z = 4), Cs(0.54(2))Au(2)Ga(2) (III, I4/mcm, a = 9.077(1) A, c = 4.815(1) A, Z = 4), RbAu(3)Ga(2) (IV, Pnma, a = 13.384(3) A, b = 5.577(1) A, c = 7.017(1) A, Z = 4), CsAu(3)Ga(2) (V, Pnma, a = 13.511(3) A, b = 5.614(2) A, c = 7.146(1) A, Z = 4), Na(13)Au(41.2(1))Ga(30.3(1)) (VI, P6 mmm, a = 19.550(3) A, c = 8.990(2) A, Z = 2). The first three compounds (I-III) are isostructural with tetragonal K(0.55)Au(2)Ga(2) and likewise contain planar eight-member Au/Ga rings that stack along c to generate tunnels and that contain varying degrees of disordered Na-Cs cations. The cation dispositions are much more clearly and reasonably defined by electron density mapping than through least-squares refinements with conventional anisotropic ellipsoids. Orthorhombic AAu(3)Ga(2) (IV, V) are ordered ternary Rb and Cs derivatives of the SrZn(5) type structure, demonstrating structural variability within the AAu(3)Ga(2) family. All attempts to prepare an isotypic "NaAu(3)Ga(2)" were not successful, but yielded only a similar composition Na(13)Au(41.2)Ga(30.3) (NaAu(3.17)Ga(2.33)) (VI) in a very different structure with two types of cation sites. Crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) analysis obtained from tight-binding electronic structure calculations for idealized I-IV via linear muffin-tin-orbital (LMTO) methods emphasized the major contributions of heteroatomic Au-Ga bonding to the structural stability of these compounds. The relative minima (pseudogaps) in the DOS curves for IV correspond well with the valence electron counts of known representatives of this structure type and, thereby, reveal some magic numbers to guide the search for new isotypic compounds. Theoretical calculation of total energies vs volumes obtained by VASP (Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package) calculations for KAu(3)Ga(2) and RbAu(3)Ga(2) suggest a possible transformation from SrZn(5)- to BaZn(5)-types at high pressure.
Regio- and stereoselective epoxidation of chiral 1,4-cyclohexadienes

Abstract The diastereoselectivities of epoxidations of diene amides 1b, 7 , and 9 appear to depend on steric approach control with the involvement of amide conformers analogous to that observed by X-ray diffraction studies of epoxide 8 (Figure 1). This mechanistic framework should be useful for predicting the reactivity of diene amides related to 7 with other electrophilic reagents.
Inability to detect fetal metaphases in flow-sorted lymphocyte cultures based on maternal-fetal HLA differences

Separation of fetal cells from maternal blood could provide a means for prenatal diagnosis that would not endanger the fetus. In this pursuit, we attempted cytogenetic analysis of candidate fetal cells flow sorted on the basis of parental HLA disparity. Metaphases showing 46, XY or aneuploidy and concordant with prenatal diagnostic studies (i.e., amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling) would presumably be fetal in origin. Blood samples were obtained from 78 pregnant women and their partners. Among 18 HLA informative cases in which metaphases were recovered, 15 involved fetuses that were 46, XY or aneuploid. From these 15 cases, 2,483 metaphases were analyzed. All metaphases were 46, XX. Cytogenetic analysis of flow-sorted fetal cells thus probably will need to emphasize not metaphase analysis but in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific probes.
Completion time in broadcast channel and interference channel

In a multi-user channel, completion time refers to the number of channel uses required for users, each with some given fixed bit pool, to complete the transmission of all their data bits. This paper extends the information theoretic formulation of multi-access completion time to broadcast channel and interference channel, enabling us to obtain the so-called completion time region (CTR), which, analogous to capacity region, characterizes all possible trade-offs between users' completion times. Specifically, for Gaussian broadcast channel (GBC) and Gaussian interference channel (GIC) in the strong/very strong regime, the exact CTR is obtained. For GIC in the weak/mixed regime, an achievable CTR based on the Etkin-Tse-Wang scheme and an outer-bound are obtained.
Under-specified Models and Detection of Discrimination: A Case Study of Mortgage Lending

This study examines how omitted variables affect underwriting models the OCC estimates during fair lending examinations. The purpose is to assess the effects of omitted variable bias common to most studies of discrimination in mortgage lending. The results show omitted variables have an important impact on both the estimate of the effect of race and on the identification of outliers for review. Further, there appears to be no consistent patterns to the direction of these impacts. This suggests that it is inappropriate to make generalizations concerning the direction of bias based on assumptions about correlations between omitted variables and race.
Organized Oscillations of Initially-Turbulent Flow Past a Cavity

Flow past an open cavity is known to give rise to self-sustained oscillations in a wide variety of configurations, including slotted-wall, wind and water tunnels, slotted flumes, bellows-type pipe geometries, high-head gates and gate slots, aircraft components and internal piping systems. These cavity-type oscillations are the origin of coherent and broadband sources of noise and, if the structure is sufficiently flexible, flow-induced vibration as well. Moreover, depending upon the state of the cavity oscillation, substantial alterations of the mean drag may be induced. In the following, the state of knowledge of flow past cavities, based primarily on laminar inflow conditions, is described within a framework based on the flow physics. Then, the major unresolved issues for this class of flows will be delineated. Self-excited cavity oscillations have generic features, which are assessed in detail in the reviews of Rockwell and Naudascher, Rockwell, Howe and Rockwell. These features, which are illustrated in the schematic of Figure 1, are: (i) interaction of a vorticity concentration(s) with the downstream corner, (ii) upstream influence from this corner interaction to the sensitive region of the shear layer formed from the upstream corner of the cavity; (iii) conversion of the upstream influence arriving at this locationmore » to a fluctuation in the separating shear layer; and (iv) amplification of this fluctuation in the shear layer as it develops in the streamwise direction. In view of the fact that inflow shear-layer in the present investigation is fully turbulent, item (iv) is of particular interest. It is generally recognized, at least for laminar conditions at separation from the leading-corner of the cavity, that the disturbance growth in the shear layer can be described using concepts of linearized, inviscid stability theory, as shown by Rockwell, Sarohia, and Knisely and Rockwell. As demonstrated by Knisely and Rockwell, on the basis of experiments interpreted with the aid of linearized theory, not only the fundamental component of the shear layer instability may be present, but a number of additional, primarily lower frequency components can exist as well. In fact, the magnitude of these components can be of the same order as the fundamental component. These issues have not been addressed for the case of a fully-turbulent in-flow and its separation from the leading corner of the cavity.« less
Surface interpolation networks

Orthogonal wavelets can be used as models for receptive fields in the human visual system. They may also be used to solve spatial interpolation problems formulated either as regularization or 2-D Kalman filtering. The solutions take the form of simple feedback networks, and only a few iterations are required for convergence.
Loop corrections to the universal hypermultiplet

Abstract The universal hypermultiplet arises as a subsector of every Calabi–Yau compactification of M -theory of type II string theory. Classically its moduli space is the quaternionic space SU (2,1)/ U (2) . we show that this moduli space receives a one-loop correction proportional to the Euler character of the Calabi–Yau, which can locally be absorbed by a certain constant shift of the fields. The correction vanishes in the limit that the Planck mass is taken to infinity, and hence is essentially gravitational in nature.
Endpoints of stellar evolution : X-ray surveys of the Local Group.

The galaxies of the Local Group offer a variety of settings in which to study galactic source populations unhampered by local interstellar-absorption and distance ambiguities. A review of the subject of Local Group X-ray astronomy from the first discovery of a source in the Large Magellanic Cloud 15 years ago to the most recent analysis of the Einstein Observatory data (in which over 200 X-ray sources were detected in Local Group members) is presented. Following a detailed presentation of the latest results, two examples of the constraints these data impose on stellar and galactic evolution are discussed: study of the distribution of properties for the 30 detected supernova remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud, and a comparison of the populations of classical X-ray binaries in M31, M33, the Magellanic Clouds, and the Galaxy. A prospectus for future research, including a discussion of the contributions which could be made by the next generation of X-ray observatories, is provided.
Diet Choice and the Role of Time Preference

Economic theory related to time preference and health may be useful as a means of understanding the predictors of diet choice. The willingness to subvert present for future utility is hypothesized to influence the process of sacrificing time, flavor, convenience, and price in order to choose a healthful diet. Empirical results confirm the unique importance of variables related to rate of future discounting versus variables associated with market or cultural factors.
Roughness receptivity in swept-wing boundary layers – experiments

The receptivity of boundary layer stability to micron-sized, spanwise-periodic discrete roughness elements (DREs) was studied. The DREs were applied to the leading edge of a 30-degree swept-wing. The test article was attached vertically to the port wing of a Cessna O-2A aircraft and operated at a chord Reynolds number of 6.5 to 7.5 million. Critically spaced DREs were applied at the leading edge to excite the crossflow instability and move transition forward. In this case, calibrated, multi-element hotfilm sensors were used to measure disturbance wall shear stress. The roughness height was varied from 0 to 50 microns both in the positive (bumps) and negative (dimples) sense. Thus, the disturbance amplitude variations were determined as a function of modulated DRE heights.
Hydropedology: Bridging Disciplines, Scales, and Data

There is a growing recognition that synergy could be generated by bridging traditional pedology with soil physics and hydrology to enhance integrated studies of soil–water relationships across spatial and temporal scales. Hydropedology is suggested as such a bridge to address: (i) knowledge gaps between pedology, soil physics, and hydrology; (ii) multiscale bridging from microscopic to mesoscopic and macroscopic levels; and (iii) data translations from soil survey databases into soil hydraulic information. Knowledge gaps include flow and transport in the structured unsaturated zone, soil structure quantification, preferential flow modeling, landscape hydrology, soil spatial and temporal variability, quantitative use of field soil morphology for inferring soil hydrology, mechanisms controlling individual and interactive soil–water processes at multiple scales, pedotransfer functions (PTFs), and others. Hydropedology integrates the pedon and landscape paradigms to link phenomena occurring at microscopic (e.g., pores and aggregates), mesoscopic (e.g., pedons and catenas), and macroscopic (e.g., watersheds, regional, and global) scales. Through approaches such as PTFs, hydropedology also facilitates the bridging of data between soil survey databases and soil hydraulic information needed in simulation models. The bridging of disciplines, scales, and data represents potentially unique contributions of hydropedology to integrated soil and water sciences. It is hoped that hydropedology would contribute to our enhanced understanding of a variety of environmental, ecological, agricultural, and natural resource issues of societal importance. These include water quality, soil quality, landscape processes, watershed management, nutrient cycling, contaminant fate, waste disposal, precision agriculture, climate change, and ecosystem functions.
Market fragmentation of securities market: traditional exchanges versus alternate trading venues

Market fragmentation is one of the policy issues which is being continuously discussed among the regulators in the securities market arena in the United States, Canada and Europe. This paper is an extant literature review paper and endeavours to explain the different forms of alternate trading systems which have caused the securities market to fragment. This paper discusses the rationale behind market fragmentation and facilitators for this kind of change in the securities market microstructure. Through the literature review on the subject, this paper aims at unveiling how some significant aspects related to securities market microstructure such as market quality, liquidity, price discovery, execution costs, fairness and investor confidence are impacted through market fragmentation. The paper further discusses how the exchanges and the regulators have responded to the challenges emerging from market fragmentation.
Delaminated Fe2O3-Pillared Clay: Its Preparation, Characterization, and Activities for Selective Catalytic Reduction of No by NH3

A delaminated Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}-pillared clay catalyst was prepared for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by NH{sub 3} at above 300{degrees}C. The delaminated pillared clay was characterized by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction structure and line broadening analyses, micropore size probing, and Moessbauer analysis. These analyses showed that the catalyst contained fragmented Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}-pillared clay forming {open_quotes}house-of-cards{close_quotes} structure with dispersed Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles approximately 170 {angstrom} in size. The SCR activity of the delaminated pillared clay was higher than the commercial-type V{sub 2}O{sub 5} + WO{sub 3}/TiO{sub 2} catalyst, and also higher than the undelaminated pillared clay and supported Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalysts, under conditions without SO{sub 2}. Infrared measurements of adsorbed NH{sub 3} showed strong Bronsted acidity which was caused possibly by interactions between Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3} and clay. 75 refs., 12 figs., 5 tabs.
Thermodynamics of hydrogen in iron

In a recent report on the thermodynamic behavior of hydrogen in nickel, it was found that anomalous behavior observed in the temperature variation of solubility was not due to the anharmonic nature of the H-matrix potention of dissolved H-atoms. Rather, the temperature variation of the chemical potential of dissolved H-acting as simple bound oscillators was the cause.
Global Magnetometer-Based Spacecraft Attitude and Rate Estimation

A globally self-initializing attitude determination filter has been developed to estimate three-axis attitude and attitude rate from magnetometer data only. This filter can serve as the main attitude determination system for a low-weight, low-budget, low-accuracy mission or as a backup system for other missions. The filter uses a new attitude representation that is based on the minimum quaternion to align the body-axis and reference magnetic field vectors. It uses implicit quaternion dynamics and implicit Euler dynamics to propagate its attitude and attitude-rate estimates. It is based on a generalization of the iterated extended Kalman-filter concept. Its global initialization strategy employs a number of filters that cover a two-dimensional box in which the principal initial condition uncertainties lie. Hypothesis testing is used to eliminate all but one of the filters after the best one has reached steady state. Flight data from two missions have been used to test the new system. Convergence without the need for initial attitude or rate knowledge has been demonstrated in all cases, and per-axis 3-σ accuracies on the order 5 deg in attitude and 0.03 deg/s in rate have been achieved.
Historical analysis of U.S. electricity markets: Reassessing carbon lock-in

Abstract This paper evaluates whether the U.S. electricity sector is directed away from carbon-intensive technological lock-in, and which factors are contributing, or have potential to contribute, to a possible reorientation of the industry. With the application of a historical analysis of the electricity sector from the late nineteenth century through current day, this analysis finds that, although the industry still relies primarily on carbon-intensive fossil fuel operations, several recent trends indicate that the industry is becoming less carbon intensive, smaller in generation system scale, and more sustainable in operations. Crucial drivers—firm level interactions with technological change, industry leadership and market structure, government intervention and policy momentum, and citizen involvement and behavior patterns—that have traditionally shaped the structure, scale, and environmental footprint of the industry, have also played a prominent role in recent transformations. These results indicate that triggering or extraordinary events may not be necessary to initiate an escape from carbon lock-in in the electricity sector. Complete escape is not yet definitive, however, and it remains to be seen whether the industry is able to transform entirely before any significant climate change disturbances occur.
Highly Enantioselective, Intermolecular Hydroamination of Allenyl Esters Catalyzed by Bifunctional Phosphinothioureas

Bifunctional phosphinothiourea catalysts have been developed successfully for the highly regio- and enantioselective γ-hydroamination of allenyl and propargyl esters with N-methoxy carbamate nucleophiles to yield α,β-unsaturated γ-amino acid ester products. In the case of propargyl ester substrates, the reaction proceeds through reversible phosphinothiourea-catalyzed isomerization to the corresponding allenyl ester. The high enantioselectivity of the process is attributed to a cooperative conjugate addition of a thiourea-bound carbamate anion to a vinyl phosphonium ion resulting from covalent activation of the allenyl ester substrate.
Synthesis of Potassium Niobate from Metal Alkoxides

Preparation of potassium niobate from metal alkoxides was investigated. Potassium-niobium ethoxide, KNb(OC2H5)6, and potassium-niobium propoxide, KNb(OC3H7)6, were synthesized and subsequently hydrolyzed using several water concentrations (0.75 to 6.0 mol of water/(mol of alkoxide)). Rapid precipitation of potassium-deficient particles occurred when higher concentrations of water were used. This resulted in the formation of a multiphase material after calcination, as X-ray diffraction showed the presence of both KNbO3 and potassium-deficient oxide phases(s). Single-phase KNbO3 could be prepared by two methods: (1) hydrolysis of KNb(OC3H7)6/propanol solutions using 1 mol of water (per mole of propoxide) added as a water/propanol solution and (2) hydrolysis of KNb(OC2H5)6/ethanol solutions using 1 mol of water (per mole of ethoxide) added as a water/methanol solution. The latter method provided advantages of low calcination temperature for the formation of single-phase KNbO3 and low weight loss after calcination.
DOSE RATE FROM HIGH-ENERGY ELECTRONS AND PHOTONS.

Abstract Electron-photon cascade calculations have been carried out, and energy deposition as a function of depth has been obtained for monoenergetic electrons (0.1 to 20 GeV) and photons (0.01 to 20 GeV) normally incident on a semi-infinite slab of water 30-cm thick. The calculated results are in approximate agreement with experimental data for the case of 5.2-GeV incident electrons.
Emporiophobia (Fear of Markets): Cooperation or Competition?

There is widespread emporiophobia (fear of markets) and this has important policy implications as it leads voters to demand anti-market policies. There are many reasons for this anti-market attitude. However, economists could reduce emporiophobia if we stressed cooperation rather than competition in our writings and policy discussions. In a sample of introductory textbooks, competition is mentioned on average 8 times as often as cooperation. The fundamental economic unit is the transaction and transactions are cooperative. The benefit of a market economy, increased consumer surplus, comes from cooperation through transactions, not from competition. Competition in a market economy is competition for the right to cooperate. Competition is important because it guarantees that the best cooperators will win and because it establishes the efficient terms for cooperation, but cooperation is fundamental. For most people, competition has negative connotations as it focuses on losers, while cooperation implies a winwin situation. As an example, if we say “Wal-Mart outcompeted its rivals” we think of losing firms being bankrupted. If we say “Wal-Mart did a better job of cooperating with its customers” we think of the benefits created by Wal-Mart. Economists in our policy and textbook writing should strive to use the second sort of locution, not the first. Other implications involve the morality of the market, “giving back,” and characteristics of market failures.
Insurance Rate Changing: A Fuzzy Logic Approach

This article describes how fuzzy logic can be used to make insurance pricing decisions that consistently consider supplementary data, including vague or linguistic objectives of the insurer. The theory of fuzzy logic was developed in the 1970s to improve the accuracy and efficiency of expert systems, and through it, one can account for vague notions whose boundaries are not clearly defined. Using group health insurance data from an insurance company, I show how to build and finetune fuzzy logic models for changing rates to reflect supplementary data.
Comparing the Incomparable: An Essay on the Importance of Big Assumptions and Scant Evidence

What are we doing when we make a comparison between two groups of people“ How is this comparison complicated when the two groups do not take identical sets of items“ What can be said about the groups if they take no items in common?
Optical nonlinearity in coupled exciton-phonon systems near metal surfaces

Abstract Surface effects on the optical bistability and pump-probe process for coupled exciton-phonon systems are studied theoretically. When a laser beam is directed on an exciton-phonon coupling system inside an optical cavity, the cavity field intensity is investigated as a function of the driving field intensity for various distances between the sample and a metallic surface representing one of the mirrors of the cavity. It is found that the direction of switch of the optical bistability can be controlled by adjusting the distance from the surface. For a strong laser pump field and a weak probe field directed to this system located near a metal surface, the pump field-induced absorption spectrum is investigated for different distances between this sample and the metal surface. It is found that the position and the lineshape of the spectrum are remarkably changed due to the presence of the surface.
Analytical Methods of Electrode Design for a Relativistic Electron Gun

The standard paraxial ray equation method [1] for the design of electrodes for an electrostatically focused gun is extended to include relativistic effects and the effects of the beam's azimuthal megnetic field. Solutions for parallel and converging beams are obtained and the predicted currents are compared against those measured on the High Brightness Test Stand [2].
DIRECT WAVELET EXPANSION OF THE PRIMORDIAL POWER SPECTRUM

In order to constrain and possibly detect unusual physics during inflation, we allow the power spectrum of primordial matter density fluctuations, Pin(k), to be an arbitrary function in the estimation of cosmological parameters from data. The multiresolution and good localization properties of orthogonal wavelets make them suitable for detecting features in Pin(k). We expand Pin(k) directly in wavelet basis functions. The likelihood of the data is thus a function of the wavelet coefficients of Pin(k), as well as the Hubble constant H0, baryon density Ωb h2, cold dark matter density Ωc h2, and the reionization optical depth τri in a flat ΛCDM cosmology. We derive constraints on these parameters from cosmic microwave background anisotropy data (WMAP, CBI, and ACBAR) and large-scale structure data (2dFGRS and PSCZ) using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique. The direct wavelet expansion method is different from and complementary to the wavelet band power method of Mukherjee & Wang, and results from the two methods are consistent. In addition, as we demonstrate, the direct wavelet expansion method has the advantage that once the wavelet coefficients have been constrained, the reconstruction of Pin(k) can be effectively denoised, i.e., Pin(k) can be reconstructed using only the coefficients that, say, deviate from zero at greater than 1 σ. In doing so, we retain the essential properties of Pin(k). The reconstruction also suffers much less from the correlated errors of binning methods. The shape of the primordial power spectrum, as reconstructed in detail here, reveals an interesting new feature at 0.001 k/Mpc-1 0.005. It will be interesting to see whether this feature is confirmed by future data. The reconstructed and denoised Pin(k) is favored over the scale-invariant and power-law forms at 1 σ.
On Lieb's Conjecture for the Wehrl Entropy¶of Bloch Coherent States

Lieb@s conjecture for the Wehrl entropy of Bloch coherent states is proved for spin 1 and spin 3/2. Using a geometric representation we solve the entropy integrals for states of arbitrary spin and evaluate them explicitly in the cases of spin 1, 3/2, and 2. We also give a group theoretic proof for all spin of a related inequality.
On the equational complexity of RRA

We prove that the equational complexity function for the variety of representable relation algebras is bounded below by a log-log function.
Cooperative magnetism in metallic jellium and in the insulating Wigner electron crystal

Abstract Total energies for the paramagnetic (P) and ferromagnetic (F) metallic phases of jellium are calculated using interpolation formulae adjusted to the results of computer simulation studies. For the Wigner insulator (W), the total energy given by an early theoretical model is found to agree closely with recent computer simulation results. Using these total energies, the phase transitions from P to F and from F to W are estimated to take place at r s = 79 ± and 84 ± 4, respectively, in units of the Bohr radius. Although consistent with earlier estimates based directly on the computer simulations at a limited number of r s values, the present estimates are more precise. Since the P to F and F to W transitions come so close together on an r s scale, the F phase may just barely emerge as the lowest energy phase or may not so emerge at all. Using the virial theorem, kinetic energy curves are constructed and kinetic energy discontinuities at the first-order phase transitions are thereby estimated. The momentum distributions for various phases of jellium are also discussed in terms of simple models. Finally, the phase boundary between antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic states of the Wigner crystal for T ≠ 0 is briefly considered. It is shown that one is dealing with antiferromagnetism in the millidegree Kelvin range.
Ten Billion Years of Galaxy Evolution

Observations in the Hubble Deep Fields have been used to study the evolution of galaxy morphology over time. The majority of galaxies with z 2 appear to be either chaotic or centrally concentrated "blobs." Such blobs might be the ancestral objects of ellipticals or of galaxy bulges. About of objects with z > 2 appear to be in the process of merging. The region with 1 2 to one at z 2 to disk-dominated star formation at z 0.5, barred spirals become increasingly rare. Possibly very young disks are still too hot (chaotic) to become unstable in global barlike modes. Furthermore, it becomes increasingly difficult to shoehorn galaxies at z ≥ 0.5 into the Hubble classification sequence E-Sa-Sb-Sc. The fraction of "peculiar" spirals, i.e., those that do not fit naturally into the Hubble tuning-fork diagram, increases from 12% at z ~ 0.0 to 46% at 0.6 2.
Lidar observations of the density and behavior of the Labadie Power Plant plume

Abstract As part of the Project MISTT (Midwest Interstate Sulfur Transformation and Transport), the SRI mobile Mark IX lidar system was used to derive information on the paniculate density distribution and behavior of the Labadie Power Plant plume, near St. Louis, MO., at distances up to 130 km downwind from the plant site. Digital data recording, processing, and TV-type display techniques were used to provide realtime information on the location and structure of the paniculate plume. Subsequent digital analyses have provided estimates of plume density, distributions, and other important plume parameters. Data examples illustrate the unique capability of a mobile lidar system for: Tracking plumes to long downwind distances during stable nighttime conditions. Observing plume cross-sectional structure by scanning in elevation with a stationary lidar. Observing changes in plume characteristics during the transition from stable nighttime conditions to unstable daytime conditions by operating a vertically pointing lidar along a cross-plume mobile route. Deriving cross-plume mass concentrations by using available information on particle size distribution and background aerosol mass concentration.
FATEEV-ZAMOLODCHIKOV SPIN CHAIN: EXCITATION SPECTRUM, COMPLETENESS AND THERMODYNAMICS

The sector of zero ZN charge is studied for the ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) version of the (ZN×Z2)-invariant Fateev-Zamolodchikov quantum spin chain. We conjecture that the relevant Bethe ansatz equations should admit, besides the usual stringlike solutions, exceptional multiplets, and a number of nonphysical solutions. Once the physical ones are identified, we show how completeness and the gapless excitation spectrum can be obtained. The central charge is computed from the specific heat and found to be $c = 2\frac{{N - 1}}{{N + 2}}$ (FM) and c=1 (AFM).
Metric structures and probabilistic computation

Continuous first-order logic is used to apply model-theoretic analysis to analytic structures (e.g. Hilbert spaces, Banach spaces, probability spaces, etc.). Classical computable model theory is used to examine the algorithmic structure of mathematical objects that can be described in classical first-order logic. The present paper shows that probabilistic computation (sometimes called randomized computation) and continuous logic stand in a similar close relationship. The main result of this paper is an effective completeness theorem, showing that every decidable continuous first-order theory has a probabilistically decidable model. We also show that probabilistically computable structures give rise to a model of ACA"0in a natural way, and describe a connection with complexity theory.