cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving reinforcement learning function approximators via neuroevolution

Reinforcement learning problems are commonly tackled with temporal difference methods, which estimate the long-term value of taking each action in each state. In most problems of real-world interest, learning this value function requires a function approximator. However, the feasibility of using function approximators depends on the ability of the human designer to select an appropriate representation for the value function. My thesis presents a new approach to function approximation that automates some of these difficult design choices by coupling temporal difference methods with policy search methods such as evolutionary computation. It also presents a particular implementation which combines NEAT, a neuroevolutionary policy search method, and Q-learning, a popular temporal difference method, to yield a new method called NEAT+Q that automatically learns effective representations for neural network function approximators. Empirical results in a server job scheduling task demonstrate that NEAT+Q can outperform both NEAT and Q-learning with manually designed neural networks.
Optimal reverse carpooling over wireless networks - a distributed optimization approach

We focus on a particular form of network coding, reverse carpooling, in a wireless network where the potentially coded transmitted messages are to be decoded immediately upon reception. The network is fixed and known, and the system performance is measured in terms of the number of wireless broadcasts required to meet multiple unicast demands. Motivated by the structure of the coding scheme, we formulate the problem as a linear program by introducing a flow variable for each triple of connected nodes. This allows us to have a formulation polynomial in the number of nodes. Using dual decomposition and projected subgradient method, we present a decentralized algorithm to obtain optimal routing schemes in presence of coding opportunities. We show that the primal sub-problem can be expressed as a shortest path problem on an edge-graph, and the proposed algorithm requires each node to exchange information only with its neighbors.
A chiral N-phosphinyl phosphoramide: another offspring for the sage phosphoric acid progenitor.

In this issue, List and co–workers report the enantioselective intramolecular cyclization of hydroxy-acylimines leading to bicyclic N-acyl-N,O-acetals.1 A new tool was developed to accomplish this – a novel chiral nonracemic N-phosphinyl phosphoramide (3) that (presumably) accelerates the overall reaction and differentially accelerates formation of one enantiomeric form of the product. This report extends the utility of chiral phosphoric acid catalysis2 in oxygen additions to azomethines, an area pioneered by Antilla.3,4 At stake here is the efficiency with which biologically active small molecules known as 1,3-benzoxazinones, bearing a chiral N,O-acetal, can be prepared. Indeed, an enantioselective preparation of the analgesic chlorothenoxazine is accomplished in a single step using catalyst 3a.
Quasi-confocal fluorescence sectioning with dynamic speckle illumination

We present a new fluorescence microscopy technique that provides depth discrimination in thick tissue. The technique relies on a simple modification to a conventional wide-field microscope, and consists in illuminating the sample with a sequence of speckle patterns and displaying the RMS or the variance of the resultant sequence of fluorescent images. We demonstrate quasi-confocal optical sectioning with an axial resolution of 5 microns FWHM. The lateral resolution is identical to the widefield microscope, namely 0.6 micron FWHM. Images of a mouse brain are compared with standard wide-field images, demonstrating an efficient quasi-sectioning capacity in thick tissue throughout approximatively 100 microns depth. This is achieved because of the high contrast maintained by speckle in a scattering media.
Accelerated gradient methods for nonconvex nonlinear and stochastic programming

In this paper, we generalize the well-known Nesterov's accelerated gradient (AG) method, originally designed for convex smooth optimization, to solve nonconvex and possibly stochastic optimization problems. We demonstrate that by properly specifying the stepsize policy, the AG method exhibits the best known rate of convergence for solving general nonconvex smooth optimization problems by using first-order information, similarly to the gradient descent method. We then consider an important class of composite optimization problems and show that the AG method can solve them uniformly, i.e., by using the same aggressive stepsize policy as in the convex case, even if the problem turns out to be nonconvex. We demonstrate that the AG method exhibits an optimal rate of convergence if the composite problem is convex, and improves the best known rate of convergence if the problem is nonconvex. Based on the AG method, we also present new nonconvex stochastic approximation methods and show that they can improve a few existing rates of convergence for nonconvex stochastic optimization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the convergence of the AG method has been established for solving nonconvex nonlinear programming in the literature.
The Impact of Education on Health Knowledge.

Abstract The theory on the demand for health suggests that schooling causes health because schooling increases the efficiency of health production. Alternatively, the allocative efficiency hypothesis argues that schooling alters the input mix chosen to produce health. This suggests that the more educated have more knowledge about the health production function and they have more health knowledge. This paper uses data from the 1997 and 2002 waves of the NLSY97 to conduct an investigation of the allocative efficiency hypothesis by analyzing whether education improves health knowledge. The survey design allows us to observe the increase in health knowledge of young adults after their level of schooling is increased by differential and plausibly exogenous amounts. Using nine different questions measuring health knowledge, we find weak evidence that an increase in education generates an improvement in health knowledge for those who ultimately attend college. For those with high school as the terminal degree, no relationship is found between education and health knowledge. These results imply that the allocative efficiency hypothesis may not be the primary reason for why schooling impacts health outcomes.
A new synthesis of 1-aryl-5-cyano-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid, ethyl esters

A novel conversion of 5-amino-1-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid, ethyl esters to the corresponding 5-cyano esters is described. The process involves nonaqueous diazotization of the amine to form the methyl thioether, which is oxidized to the methyl sulfone, which, in turn, is displaced by cyanide ion. The cyano esters are precursors to chemical hybridizing agents in wheat and barley.
Generating image filters for target recognition by Hebbian neural network learning

range of supersonic Mach numbers. EMTAC captured the basic shape and overall levels of the surface pressure distribution over the range of supersonic Mach numbers. The good agreement between EMTAC and experiment of the force and surface pressure distribution provides a high level of confidence in the application of EMTAC for preliminary analysis of sharp-edge planforms representative of advanced military aircraft configurations. Qualitative assessment of the computed flowfield properties and the upper-surface flow classification studies shows that EMTAC captured the flowfield characteristics associated with sharp-edged planforms. This assessment provides additional confidence for applying EMTAC in the preliminary design phase of advanced aircraft configurations. Overall, the study shows that EMTAC can be successfully applied in the preliminary analysis and design of sharp-edged advanced military aircraft.
Propagation and stability of intense laser pulses in partially stripped plasmas

The propagation and stability of intense laser pulses in a partially stripped plasma, i.e., in the presence of free and bound electrons, is analyzed. The presence of bound electrons is shown to significantly alter the propagation and stability of intense laser pulses. The bound electrons are represented by a linear and nonlinear susceptibility, while the free electrons, which can support plasma waves, are treated nonlinearly. In the presence of both free and bound electrons, an atomic modulation instability develops that can have a growth rate substantially higher than either the conventional relativistic modulational instability or the forward Raman instability. Bound electrons can also greatly enhance the filamentation instability. The backward Raman instability, however, is unaffected by bound electrons. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Fluctuations of martingales and winning probabilities of game contestants

Within a contest there is some probability M_i(t) that contestant i will be the winner, given information available at time t, and M_i(t) must be a martingale in t. Assume continuous paths, to capture the idea that relevant information is acquired slowly. Provided each contestant's initial winning probability is at most b, one can easily calculate, without needing further model specification, the expectations of the random variables N_b = number of contestants whose winning probability ever exceeds b, and D_{ab} = total number of downcrossings of the martingales over an interval [a,b]. The distributions of N_b and D_{ab} do depend on further model details, and we study how concentrated or spread out the distributions can be. The extremal models for N_b correspond to two contrasting intuitively natural methods for determining a winner: progressively shorten a list of remaining candidates, or sequentially examine candidates to be declared winner or eliminated. We give less precise bounds on the variability of D_{ab}. We formalize the setting of infinitely many contestants each with infinitesimally small chance of winning, in which the explicit results are more elegant. A canonical process in this setting is the Wright-Fisher diffusion associated with an infinite population of initially distinct alleles; we show how this process fits our setting and raise the problem of finding the distributions of N_b and D_{ab} for this process.
Can a Massive Graviton be a Stable Particle

This document is based on a question asked in the Dark Side of the Universe 2010 conference in Leon, Mexico, when a researcher from India asked the author about how to obtain a stability analysis of massive gravitons. The answer to this question involves an extension of the usual Pauli_Fiertz Langrangian as written by Ortin, with non- zero graviton mass contributing to a relationship between the trace of a revised GR stress-energy tensor (assuming non- zero graviton mass), and the trace of a revised symmetric tensor times a tiny mass for a 4 dimensional graviton. The resulting analysis makes use of Visser’s treatment of a stress en-ergy tensor, with experimental applications discussed in the resulting analysis. If the square of frequency of a massive graviton is real valued and greater than zero, stability can be possibly confirmed experimentally.
One-loop shift in noncommutative Chern–Simons coupling

Abstract In this paper we study the one-loop shift in the coupling constant in a noncommutative pure U(N) Chern–Simons gauge theory in three dimensions. The one-loop shift is shown to be a constant proportional to N , independent of noncommutativity parameters, and non-vanishing for U(1) theory. Possible physical and mathematical implications of this result are discussed.
Matching study designs to disability-related comparative effectiveness research questions.

Comparative effectiveness research can help patients with disabilities; their caregivers and providers determine which healthcare choices are beneficial and will most reduce limitations and barriers, and improve quality of life. Well-designed comparative effectiveness research will be critical as the number of working-age adults affected by disability grows in the future, along with disability-related health expenditures. To better address the need for high-quality and informative research on the effectiveness of interventions for people with disabilities, the authors conducted a comprehensive review of existing standards for assessing evidence quality, collecting input from a wide range of experts and policy makers to determine the type of evidence needed for informing disability-related decision-making and the applicability of existing standards to disability research. This review article presents methodological and design issues for researchers to consider when addressing disability-related comparative...
An overview of the CUJET model: Jet Flavor Tomography applied at RHIC and LHC

Abstract Jet Flavor Tomography is a powerful tool used to probe the properties of Quark Gluon Plasma formed in heavy ion collisions at RHIC and LHC. A new Monte Carlo model of jet quenching developed at Columbia University, CUJET, was applied to predict the jet flavor and centrality dependence of the nuclear modification factor R A A . The predictions for fragments f = π , D , B , e , derived from quenched jet flavors a = g , u , c , b in central and peripheral collisions at RHIC and LHC, exhibit novel features such as a level crossing pattern in R A A → a → f over a broad transverse momentum range which can test jet-medium dynamics in quark gluon plasmas and help discriminate between current energy loss models. Furthermore, the inclusion of running coupling effects seems to change the jet energy dependence of the jet energy loss to a non trivial constant behavior, with a visible impact on the predictions for R A A .
Quantal density functional theory of the hydrogen molecule.

In this paper we perform a quantal density functional theory (Q-DFT) study of the hydrogen molecule in its ground state. In common with traditional Kohn–Sham density functional theory, Q-DFT transforms the interacting system as described by Schrodinger theory, to one of noninteracting fermions—the S system—such that the equivalent density, total energy, and ionization potential are obtained. The Q-DFT description of the S system is in terms of “classical” fields and their quantal sources that are quantum-mechanical expectations of Hermitian operators taken with respect to the interacting and S system wave functions. The sources, and hence the fields, are separately representative of all the many-body effects the S system must account for, viz. electron correlations due to the Pauli exclusion principle, Coulomb repulsion, and correlation-kinetic effects. The local electron-interaction potential energy of each model fermion is the work done to move it in the force of a conservative effective field that is t...
Optical properties of solid particle receiver materials: I. Angular scattering and extinction characteristics of Norton Masterbeads®

Abstract As part of the Solar Thermal Technology Program, the direct absorption of sunlight by free-falling particles inside a cavity receiver is being evaluated. The objective of the on-going optical properties measurement program is to obtain information to be used as input to radiation transfer models for prediction of receiver performance. Instrumentation and data analysis techniques have been developed to determine both the angular scattering properties and the scattering and absorption components of the extinction coefficient of candidate materials. This report summarizes the measurement procedures and presents data for an iron-doped alumina spheroid, Masterbeads ® , manufactured by Norton Chemical Company. This material exhibits good optical absorption properties over the solar insolation spectrum and favorable thermal and mechanical properties for temperatures up to 1000°C. The optical scattering and extinction properties are spectral; measurements were performed at 632.8 nm for convenience. The measurements were also simplified by arranging the spheriods in a falling curtain geometry of one particle nominal thickness. Data were obtained over a range of mass flow rates and particle areal densities. Photographic documentation of curtain particle density enabled calculation of mean particle scattering and absorption loss components in the absence of multiple-particle optical interactions. Prediction of optical extinction properties at other wavelengths is anticipated to be straightforward using spectral hemispherical reflectance measurements on bulk samples. Additional scattering and extinction data were obtained on transparent glass microspheres for comparison and as a verification of the measurement apparatus and procedures.
Exact Connections between Current Fluctuations and the Second Class Particle in a Class of Deposition Models

We consider a large class of nearest neighbor attractive stochastic interacting systems that includes the asymmetric simple exclusion, zero range, bricklayers’ and the symmetric K-exclusion processes. We provide exact formulas that connect particle flux (or surface growth) fluctuations to the two-point function of the process and to the motion of the second class particle. Such connections have only been available for simple exclusion where they were of great use in particle current fluctuation investigations.
Highly anisotropic and robust excitons in monolayer black phosphorus.

Polarization-resolved photoluminescence measurements reveal the anisotropic character of excitons in monolayer black phosphorus, which are found to have a large binding energy.
Acoustic propagation considerations for underwater acoustic communications network development

The underwater environment is widely regarded as one of the most difficult communication channels. Underwater acoustic communications systems are challenged by the characteristics of acoustic propagation through the underwater environment. There are a wide range of physical processes that impact underwater acoustic communications and the relative importance of these processes are different in different environments. In this paper some relevant propagation phenomena are described in the context of how they impact the development and/or performance of underwater acoustic communications networks. The speed of sound and channel latency, absorption and spreading losses, waveguide effects and multipath, surface scattering, bubbles, and ambient noise are all briefly discussed.
Structure of the oxalate ion

Abstract While the oxalate ion is planar in some crystalline oxalates, it is twisted in others, with variable twist angles between the carboxylate groups. Calculations by AM1 and ab initio procedures have now shown free oxalate ion to have an orthogonal D2h structure. Introduction of disembodied charges (“sparkles”) as models of metal cations reduces the twist angle and zinc oxalate is calculated to be planar, like oxalic acid. The hydrogen oxalate anion exists in two isomeric forms with similar energies, a planar form with cis hydroxyl and an orthogonal form with trans hydroxyl.
Modeling crystal shapes of organic materials grown from solution

The shape of a crystalline organic solid has a major impact on its downstream processing and on its end-product quality, issues that are becoming increasingly important in the specialty and fine chemical, as well as the pharmaceutical and life science, industries. Though it is widely known that improved crystal shapes can be achieved by varying the conditions of crystallization (such as solvent type and impurity levels), there is far less understanding of how to effect such a change. Until recently, most methods for predicting crystal shapes were based exclusively on the internal crystal structure, and hence could not account for solvent or impurity effects. New approaches, however, offer the possibility of accurately predicting the effects of solvents. Models for predicting crystal shape are reviewed, as well as their utility for process and product design.
Every homotopy theory of simplicial algebras admits a proper model

Abstract We show that any closed model category of simplicial algebras over an algebraic theory is Quillen equivalent to a proper closed model category. By “simplicial algebra” we mean any category of algebras over a simplicial algebraic theory, which is allowed to be multi-sorted. The results have applications to the construction of localization model category structures.
Writing Center Tutors Have the Luxury to Focus on Individual Student Care Giving as Opposed to Formal Classroom Settings That Are Less Care Centered

Undergraduate and graduate students come to the writing center for consultations with peer tutors in order to improve their communication skills. During thirteen peer tutoring sessions (over the course of one semester) it became clear that these students were meeting with the tutors, that I supervised, for more than just help with their writing. I observed six male and seven female students that needed help. There were five international students and they were considered ESL-English as a Second Language students. Interestingly, all the students indicated a high level of frustration (by a perceived lack of caring on the part of their Professors) who made comments on their assignments. They came to the Center, hurt and confused, and in need of some deciphering about just what their Professors wanted from them. The students were uncomfortable with approaching their Professors to discuss the papers. The Professors, were truly overwhelmed with department and research obligations making it hard to meet with students repeatedly. It became clear that the writing center tutor needed to fill this role by employing a more caring tutoring approach.
Stereospecific Cross-Coupling of α-(Thiocarbamoyl)organostannanes with Alkenyl, Aryl, and Heteroaryl Iodides

Racemic and scalemic PTC-protected α-hydroxystannanes cross-couple with alkenyl/aryl/heteroaryl iodides in moderate to good yields using copper(I) thiophene-2-carboxylate (CuTC) in THF at or below room temperature. Simple aryl iodides and 1-iodocyclohexene, two classes of electrophiles that typically react sluggishly, are also good substrates. Cross-couplings proceed with retention of configuration at the alkenyl and stannyl-substituted stereocenters.
Dopant profiles in heavily doped ZnO

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is used to compare the composition as a function of depth of as-grown ZnO films heavily doped with Ga and similar samples annealed in air for 10 min. at 600 °C, with particular attention given to the near-surface region. These films were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) using a ZnO target containing 3 wt% Ga 2 O 3 . The electrical properties of these samples were determined from temperature-dependent Hall-effect measurements. The as-grown film has the following characteristics: i) a ~1:1 Zn:O ratio with a Ga concentration of ~ 3.3 atomic percent; ii) no excess Ga in the near-surface region; and iii) excellent electrical characteristics: ρ=2.42×10 -4 Ω-cm, n=8.05×10 20 cm -3 , and μ=32.1 cm 2 /V-s at 300 K. For the annealed sample: i) the Zn:O ratio remains ~ 1:1, but the Ga concentration is ~ 3 atomic percent which is ~10% lower than in the as-grown film; ii) ~7 at% Ga is measured in the near-surface region; and iii) a significant increase in resistivity to ρ = 0.99 Ω-cm, n = 1.97×10 18 cm -3 , and μ=3.2 cm 2 /V-s at 300 K. Analysis of the O chemical shift suggests formation of a mixed ZnO/Ga 2 O 3 surface layer ≤ 5 nm thick accounts for the observed changes in the Ga profile after annealing.
Electrophilic α-oxygenation reaction of β-ketoesters using N-hydroxycarbamates: Control of the ambident reactivity of nitrosoformate intermediates

A copper-catalyzed aminooxylation of β-ketoesters using transient nitrosoformate intermediates is reported. The transformation is highly practical, efficient and highlights the ambident reactivity of nitrosocarbonyl compounds through a rare example of a nitrosocarbonyl aldol reaction. Along with a broad substrate scope, the reaction conditions that help control the regiochemistry are explored and the use of N-carbamate protected hydroxylamine is showcased by subsequent one-pot annulation reactions.
Economic Consequences of Alternative Adoption Rules for New Accounting Standards

We. develop a theoretical framework that explains firms' reactions to new accounting standards, especially, those released by the FASB under its extended adoption policy. Our theory highlights the differences between recognized and disclosed accounting information, and provides a link between firms' adoption strategy and stock price behavior around the adoption announcemnt. We also consider the relation between delaying information release and renegotiating related contracts. Finally, we analyze the impact of alternative adoption policies allowed by a regulator. We argue that managers utilize the extended adoption period and strategically choose adoption timing and reporting method to convey to the market their private iEfoirmation about the new standard's financial impact. Our model predicts that firms with "favoiable" information recognize the impact of the new standard earlier than the mandatory adoption date, firms with "neutral" information disclose the impact in the footnotes to the financial statements, and firms with "unfavorable" information delay reporting until the mandatory adoption date and renegotiate the underlying contract. As a result, a positive market reaction to an early-adoption (recognition) decision is anticipated. In our companion study. Amir and Ziv (1997), we obtain results that are consistent with these predictions, using data on SFAS 106 adoption.
Anomaly equations and intersection theory

Six-dimensional supergravity theories with $ \mathcal{N} $ = (1, 0) supersymmetry must satisfy anomaly equations. These equations come from demanding the cancellation of gravitational, gauge and mixed anomalies. The anomaly equations have implications for the geometrical data of Calabi-Yau threefolds, since F-theory compactified on an elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau threefold with a section generates a consistent six-dimensional $ \mathcal{N} $ = (1, 0) supergravity theory. In this paper, we show that the anomaly equations can be summarized by three intersection theory identities. In the process we also identify the geometric counterpart of the anomaly coefficients — in particular, those of the abelian gauge groups — that govern the low-energy dynamics of the theory. We discuss the results in the context of investigating string universality in six dimensions.
An improved method for the synthesis of anhydroalditols

Abstract An improved synthesis of anhydroalditols through reductive cleavage of acetylated carbohydrates is reported. The procedure appears to have generality. Ring rearrangements, which complicate some other reported procedures for the preparation of anhydroalditols, were not observed. The acetate protecting groups used were stable under the reaction conditions employed.
Photolysis of 4-substituted-4-hydroxy-3-cyclobuten-1-ones: a new route to butenolides from 4-hydroxycyclobutenones

Abstract Photolysis of 4-substituted-4-hydroxy-3-cyclobuten-1-ones undergo electrocyclic ring opening followed by ring closure to provide butenolide products. This transformation is envisaged to involve a stereoselective disrotatory electrocyclic ring opening to the corresponding conjugated ketene in which the C 4 hydroxyl group rotates inward towards the ketene moiety. Intramolecular trapping of the ketene moiety with the proximal hydroxyl group results in the corresponding butenolide products.
Asymmetric synthesis of tertiary alcohols from α-halo boronic esters

Reaction of pinanediol boronates with (1,1-dichloroethyl)lithium generated in situ at −78°C followed by rearrangement of the resulting borate complex 2S in the presence of zinc chloride at 25°C has resulted in chirally biased insertion of the 1-chloroethyl group into the carbon–boron bond. (s)-Pinanediol phenylboronate (7) produced (s)-pinanediol (1S)-(1-chloro-1-phenylethyl)boronate (8S) in 92% DE. Nonstererospecific reaction with ethylmagnesium bromide to form (s)-pinanediol (1S)-(1-phenyl-1-methylpropyl)boronate (5S) reduced the DE to 88%. Peroxidic deboronation yielded (R)-(+)-2-phenyl-2-butanol (6R) (84% EE). (s)-Pinanediol ethylboronate (4) with (1,1-dichloroethyl)lithium showed the opposite chiral preference, yielding (s)-pinanediol (1R)-(1-chloro-1-methylpropyl)boronate (3R) (89% DE), which was converted by phenylmagnesium bromide followed by hydrogen peroxide to 6R (76% EE). Diastereoselections were small in reactions of (1,1-dichloroethyl)-lithium with n-alkylboronates 9a and 13 and with cyclohexylboronate 9c. The 13 was converted to the enantiomer of the insect pheromone frontalin (17) (21% EE). Good diastereoselections were found with α-substituted alkylboronates 9b and 18, but the configurations of the products could not be determined. (s)-Pinanediol (1,1-dichloroethyl)boronate (1) reacts with Grignard reagents via an intermediate borate 2R with negligible diastereoselection.
Emergence of order in visual system development

Neural connections in the adult central nervous system are highly precise. In the visual system, retinal ganglion cells send their axons to target neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in such a way that axons originating from the two eyes terminate in adjacent but non-overlapping eye-specific layers. During development, however, inputs from the two eyes are intermixed, and the adult pattern emerges gradually as axons from the two eyes sort out to form the layers. Experiments indicate that the sorting out process, even though it occurs in utero in higher mammals and always before vision, requires retinal ganglion cell signaling: blocking retinal ganglion cell action potentials with tetrodotoxin prevents the formation of the layers. These action potentials are endogenously generated by the ganglion cells, which fire spontaneously and synchronously with each other, generating 'waves' of activity that travel across the retina. Calcium imaging of the retina shows that the ganglion cells undergo correlated calcium bursting to generate the waves, and that amacrine cells also participate in the correlated activity patterns. Physiological recordings from LGN neurons in vitro indicate that the quasi-periodic activity generated by the retinal ganglion cells is transmitted across the synapse between ganglion cells to drive target LGN neurons. These observations suggest that: 1) a neural circuit within the immature retina is responsible for generating specific spatiotemporal patterns of neural activity: 2) spontaneous activity generated in the retina is propagated across central synapses; and 3) even before the photoreceptors are present, nerve cell function is essential for correct wiring of the visual system during early development. Since spontaneously generated activity is known to be present elsewhere in the developing central nervous system (CNS), this process of activity-dependent wiring could be used throughout the nervous system to help refine early sets of neural connections into their highly precise adult patterns.
The Team Keck Treasury Redshift Survey of the GOODS-North Field

We report the results of an extensive imaging and spectroscopic survey in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS)-North field completed using DEIMOS on the Keck II telescope. Observations of 2018 targets in a magnitude-limited sample of 2911 objects to RAB = 24.4 yield secure redshifts for a sample of 1440 galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) plus 96 stars. In addition to redshifts and associated quality assessments, our catalog also includes photometric and astrometric measurements for all targets detected in our R-band imaging survey of the GOODS-North region. We investigate various sources of incompleteness and find the redshift catalog to be 53% complete at its limiting magnitude. The median redshift of z = 0.65 is lower than in similar deep surveys because we did not select against low-redshift targets. Comparison with other redshift surveys in the same field, including a complementary Hawaii-led DEIMOS survey, establishes that our velocity uncertainties are as low as σ ≈ 40 km s-1 for red galaxies and that our redshift confidence assessments are accurate. The distributions of rest-frame magnitudes and colors among the sample agree well with model predictions out to and beyond z = 1. We will release all survey data, including extracted one-dimensional and sky-subtracted two-dimensional spectra, thus providing a sizable and homogeneous database for the GOODS-North field, which will enable studies of large-scale structure, spectral indices, internal galaxy kinematics, and the predictive capabilities of photometric redshifts.
Effects of anaerobic incubation on the desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from contaminated soils

Incubation of field-contaminated soil under anaerobic conditions can lead to increased mobilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into water. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of anaerobic incubation on the rate and extent of desorption of PAH from two field-contaminated soil samples. One was a highly contaminated soil from a former wood-preserving site that had not been subject to previous treatment; the other was a soil from a former manufactured-gas plant site that had been treated in an aerobic bioreactor. A two-site desorption model was applied to quantify the fast and slowly desorbing fractions of each PAH and the corresponding first-order rate constants for each fraction. For most of the PAHs, the total amount desorbed after 18 d from anaerobically incubated samples was significantly greater than that from their counterparts not subjected to anaerobic incubation, but the overall effect was modest. The rate constant corresponding to the slowly desorbing fraction (k2) was much higher for the samples incubated under active anaerobic conditions than that for the controls, implying anaerobic incubation had the greatest influence on the soil compartments controlling the slow release of PAHs. Anaerobic incubation had little to no effect on the rapidly desorbing fraction.
Acute Bronchopulmonary Suppuration: Therapy with Endoscopic Application of Oleaginous Penicillin*

For purpose of discussion the entity of bronchopulmonary suppuration must be better defined anatomically. With the advent of improved knowledge and standardization of the bronchopulmonary segments1 we may assume that the segment be considered the pathological unit of suppurative disease in the lung. Larger areas of pathology are made up of two or more segments up to the lobar aggregate of the component segments. The peculiar anatomical localization of bronchopulmonary suppuration, since it starts with blockage of a segmental bronchus and involves a definite segment of the lobe, makes this concept fairly acceptable and practical. The radiographic as well as the bronchoscopic manifestations of this entity both permit the possibility of using the segment as the pathological unit of suppurative disease of the lung. Again, for purpose of better definition and in consonance with the expressions in the literature,2-7 the various disease states which have been rather loosely described as “unresolved pneumonia,” “middle lobe syndrome,” “drowned lung,” “residual interstitial pneumonia,” “partial atelectasis,” “obstructive pneumonitis,” “fibrous pneumonia,” “parenchymal fibrosis,” “focal parenchymal fibrosis,” “chronic suppurative pneumonitis,” etc., may all be fitted into the segmental pattern. These are, in all probabilities, originally due to disturbances of the normal function of the segments secondary to Intrinsic or extrinsic bronchial block; and therefore different pathological manifestations of bronchial block. The pathological changes following bronchial obstruction have been fairly well studied both clinically and pathologically2.4’#{176} and the following sequellae of such block well accepted in the literature: 1) Blockage occurs from retained exudates, transudates, or aspirates (liquids or solids). Rapid absorption of the air distal to the block occurs with creation of a vacuum which retains the viscous mass. The absence of the normal air cushion distal to the block impedes the normal expulsive efforts of the lung to free the plug. Retention of the mass In time dulls the receptors which initiate the cough reflex, The cilia in turn become powerless since the mass may be too tenacious for their efforts at removal; and the spiral musculature which molds and pushes the mass cephalad Spresented before the Second International Congress on Diseases of the Chest,
Map: medial axis based geometric routing in sensor networks

One of the challenging tasks in the deployment of dense wireless networks (like sensor networks) is in devising a routing scheme for node to node communication. Important consideration includes scalability, routing complexity, quality of communication paths and the load sharing of the routes. In this paper, we show that a compact and expressive abstraction of network connectivity by the medial axis enables efficient and localized routing. We propose MAP, a Medial Axis based naming and routing Protocol that does not require geographical locations, makes routing decisions locally, and achieves good load balancing. In its preprocessing phase, MAP constructs the medial axis of the sensor field, defined as the set of nodes with at least two closest boundary nodes. The medial axis of the network captures both the complex geometry and non-trivial topology of the sensor field. It can be represented succinctly by a graph whose size is in the order of the complexity of the geometric features (e.g., the number of holes). Each node is then given a name related to its position with respect to the medial axis. The routing scheme is derived through local decisions based on the names of the source and destination nodes and guarantees delivery with reasonable and natural routes. We show by both theoretical analysis and simulations that our medial axis based geometric routing scheme is scalable, produces short routes, achieves excellent load balancing, and is very robust to variations in the network model.
Observational signatures of the magnetic connection between a black hole and a disk

We use a simple model to demonstrate the observational signatures of the magnetic connection between a black hole and a disk: (1) with the existence of the magnetic connection, more energy is dissipated in and radiated away from regions close to the center of the disk; (2) the magnetic connection can produce a very steep emissivity compared to the standard disk accretion; (3) the observational spectral signature of the magnetic connection can be robust. These signatures can be identified by the observations of Chandra and XMM-Newton . In fact, the steep emissivity index for the Seyfert 1 galaxies MCG–6-30-15 and Mrk-766 inferred from the recent XMM-Newton observations is very difficult to be explained with a standard accretion disk but can be easily explained with the magnetic connection between a black hole and a disk.
Chlorination of Natural and Synthetic Polyisoprenes

Abstract The extent of additive and substitutive chlorination was determined for emulsion polyisoprene, Hevea and gutta-percha chlorinated to different chlorine contents in darkness and in a nitrogen atmosphere. The maximum amount of additive chlorine that can be introduced into the polymer is 1.21 atoms of chlorine per isoprene unit for synthetic emulsion polyisoprene, 1.14 for Hevea. The chlorination involves a cyclization reaction by pairs, leading to isolation of reactive units. The loss in unsaturation due to cyclization has been calculated statistically by the method of Flory and Wall, and has been shown to be consistent with the total amount of additive chlorine in the fully chlorinated product. Cyclization takes place in the early stages of the chlorination simultaneously with the initial substitution. The theoretical limit of cyclization calculated statistically is 86.5 per cent of all isoprene units cyclized for natural rubber and 72 per cent for polyisoprene containing 10 per cent vinyl side ch...
A methodology for hardware verification based on logic simulation

A logic simulator can prove the correctness of a digital circuit if it can be shown that only circuits fulfilling the system specification will produce a particular response to a sequence of simulation commands.This style of verification has advantages over the other proof methods in being readily automated and requiring less attention on the part of the user to the low-level details of the design. It has advantages over other approaches to simulation in providing more reliable results, often at a comparable cost.This paper presents the theoretical foundations of several related approaches to circuit verification based on logic simulation. These approaches exploit the three-valued modeling capability found in most logic simulators, where the third-value X indicates a signal with unknown digital value. Although the circuit verification problem is NP-hard as measured in the size of the circuit description, several techniques can reduce the simulation complexity to a manageable level for many practical circuits.
The analysis of mixtures : Application of principal component analysis to XAS spectra

Many samples which are subjected to XAS analysis contain the element of interest in more than one chemical form. The interpretation of the spectra from such samples is often not straightforward, particularly if appropriate model systems are not available. We have applied principal component analysis (PCA) to real and simulated systems which contain mixtures of several species for a given element PCA has been extensively used for the analysis of other types of spectra, including MS, IR, and UV-VIS. The application of PCA to XAS is illustrated by examining the speciation of iron within coals. PCA can determine how many different species that contain a particular element are present in a series of spectra. In tandem with model compounds, principal component analysis can suggest which of the models may contribute to the observed XAS spectra.
The 3.5-micron polarization of Mercury

Abstract The polarization of the thermal radiation emitted by Mercury at 3.5 microns was measured through a 4 arc sec aperture on three dates representing two different combinations of phase angle and heliocentric longitude. When fit by a thermal model of the subsurface which takes surface roughness into account, the large measured polarization requires a value of the dielectric constant larger than 2.7 at 3.5 microns with best values around 4.0. These data, together with the smaller values of the dielectric constant derived at longer wavelengths, suggest a surface material, like sand, scree, or talus, which is loosely packed on a scale of centimeters or meters, but compact on a scale of microns.
The cause for the north–south orientation of the crustal dichotomy and the equatorial location of Tharsis on Mars

The crustal dichotomy and the Tharsis rise are the most prominent topographic features on Mars. The dichotomy is largely an expression of different crustal thicknesses in the northern and southern hemispheres, while Tharsis is centered near the equator at the dichotomy boundary. However, the cause for the orientation of the dichotomy and the equatorial location of Tharsis remains poorly understood. Here we show that the crustal thickness variations associated with the dichotomy may have driven true polar wander, establishing the north–south orientation of the dichotomy very early in martian history. Such a reorientation that placed the dichotomy boundary near the equator would also have constrained the Tharsis region on the dichotomy boundary to have originated near the equator. We present a scenario for the early generation and subsequent reorientation of the hemispheric dichotomy, although the reorientation is independent of the formation mechanism. Our results also have implications for the sharply different remanent magnetizations between the two hemispheres.
Dust grain orbital behavior around Neptune

Abstract The rings of Neptune present an interesting conundrum to current theories of planetary ring stability. It has been assumed in the past that Neptune's rings are composed of clumps of dust, which exhibit quasi-stable orbital parameters due to resonances with Neptune's satellites. The time-scales for the lifetimes of the rings are on the order of millions of years. One question remaining is how the dust acquired their present orbital parameters. Dust, upon escape from one of the Neptunian moons, is affected by a variety of forces including Neptune's gravitational force, the solar radiation pressure force, the solar gravitational force and the gravitational fields produced by Neptune's moons. The dust will also feel the effects of the magnetic field around Neptune after it has acquired a charge. A magnetic field model developed from Voyager spacecraft data is used to determine the magnetic field around Neptune which the dust travels through. The plasma environment around Neptune (which controls charging of the dust) was also examined by the Voyager spacecraft and is used to determine the charge on individual dust particles. This paper investigates the orbital behavior of these dust grains around Neptune after being ejected from one of the inner three moons.
Asset Price Inflation and Monetary Policy

It is crucial that central banks and regulatory authorities be aware of effects of asset price inflation on the stability of the financial system. Lending activity based on asset collateral during the boom is hazardous to the health of lenders when the boom collapses. One way that authorities can curb the distortion of lenders' portfolios during asset price booms is to have in place capital requirements that increase with the growth of credit extensions collateralized by assets whose prices have escalated. If financial institutions avoid this pitfall, their soundness will not be impaired when assets backing loans fall in value. Rather than trying to gauge the effects of asset prices on core inflation, central banks may be better advised to be alert to the weakening of financial balance sheets in the aftermath of a fall in value of asset collateral backing loans.
Can MACHOs probe the shape of the galaxy halo

Microlensing searches in our galaxy have recently discovered several candidates in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We study the prospects for such searches to yield useful information about the flattening of the Galaxy dark matter halo, using a self-consistent oblate halo model and allowing for the possibility of misalignment between the disk and halo symmetry axes. The microlensing optical depth for the LMC, tau(LMC), depends sensitively on the disk-halo tilt angle in the Milky Way, as does the ratio tau(SMC)/tau(LMC). If the tilt angle is as large as 30 deg, a much larger spread in values for tau(LMC) is consistent with rotation curve constraints than previously thought. Disk-halo tilt and halo flattening do not significantly affect the massive compact halo object (MACHO) masses inferred from event durations.