cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Keeping an Eye on the I.N.S.: A Case for Civilian Review of Uncivil Conduct

Use of deadly force by the U.S. Border Patrol (and other immigration officers) and other forms of violence against border-crossing migrants has captured the attention of the agency's leadership, although the response remains equivocal and erratic. In 1993, the then Acting Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) pledged to "aggressively pursue[ ]" claims of misconduct and "strictly adhere" to investigative and disciplinary procedures. However, the INS stopped short of endorsing changes in complaint review procedures, such as the call for civilian oversight. A decade has passed since the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights identified serious problems in the INS procedures and recommended changes in a report to the President and Congress. Problems include delays in investigation, lack of public awareness of the process, no acknowledgment of receipt of complaints, deficiencies in the selection of investigators and investigative procedures and an inadequate statistical record of complaints and disposition. The same problems plague the system today, and almost none of the recommendations have been implemented. In this article, the author first documents examples of misconduct by the Border Patrol and other immigration and customs agents and examines the current INS internal complaint system. Next, he sets out some of the necessary features of a civilian or external review process, many of which are embodied in legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, with an emphasis on those features unique to immigrants or immigration enforcement. (An Appendix contains proposed model regulations for an Immigration Law Enforcement Civilian Review Board).Finally, the author lays out some of the alternatives, or complements, to external review and how they are useful or limited in mitigating abusive behavior. Any system must be perceived as accessible, confidential, prompt, impartial and even-handed and policymakers will need to ask themselves how to measure the success of any review board. A review board alone cannot always deter misconduct or provide adequate remedies. Despite the obstacles, lawyers must persevere with civil suits for damages and criminal prosecutions. Nongovernmental organizations must petition human rights tribunals and continue to "mobilize shame" against 'the immigration authorities and the U.S. government in all available forums.
Percentage Leases and the Advantages of Regional Malls

The differences in the ownership structures of downtown retail districts and shopping centers may give rise to varying space allocations and rental contracts found in these markets. This article sp...
Centering in Linear Multilevel Models

This entry considers the effects of centering the predictors in a multilevel regression analysis. It is shown that grand mean centering of first-level predictors does not change the model or the fit, and merely leads to a different parametrization. Within-group centering of first-level predictors does lead to an essentially different model, and not to a simple reexpression of the same model. Keywords: multilevel model; random coefficient model; mixed linear model; centering
Early Entrance Coproduction Plant - the Pathway to the Commercial CTL (Coal-to-Liquids) Fuels Production

This chapter discusses that in coproduction mode, ultra clean coal-to-liquids (CTL) fuel is coproduced with electric power, chemicals, and steam by incorporating a Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) sub-system into an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) complex. The near-commercial readiness of the IGCC technology suggests this mode could offer the earliest opportunity for the commercial production of CTL fuels. One of the hurdles for the commercial CTL fuels production is technical risk, since the operation of advanced CTL technologies in integrated mode has not been commercially demonstrated. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiated a solicitation seeking proposals to evaluate the feasibility of early entrance coproduction plant (EECP) projects, which are aimed at demonstrating the advanced CTL technologies in integrated mode at precommercial or commercial scale units. The chapter reviews the highlights of the two EECP projects awarded by DOE. Successful implementations of EECP projects can reduce technical risks; these projects are considered essential for the undertaking of commercial projects based on advanced CTL technologies.
Computational Fluid Dynamics at NASA Ames Research Center

Fifteen years ago the discipline of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was in its infancy, and the foundation was being laid to establish it as an effective research, analysis, and design tool of the future. CFD has now moved into a phase in its life cycle where its potential is beginning to be realized. In the early stages the facets that encompass the discipline of CFD, such as algorithm development, grid generation, geometry definition, boundary and initial conditions, turbulence modeling, pre-and post-data processing, and computer technology were all ripe for technological advances. Progress in the discipline at its current stage is incremental but still happening. Because of the demonstrated potential of CFD, the understood limitations of experimental and flight testing, and the rapid advances in computer hardware, the discipline of CFD has developed at an explosive pace.
Hillclimbing on Hills with Many Minima

Three distinct types of hillclimbing methods are studied in this paper; variations on the conventional discrete search as proposed by Bocharov and Fel’dbaum(2), Kushner’s method(3), and the piecewise. cubic method(8), presented herein. The concept of testing various methods on a large number of randomly selected hills is proposed, and a class of such test hills is presented. This approach is then used to evaluate the performance of the three types of hillclimber with respect to five criteria.
Layered Wyner–Ziv Video Coding

Following recent theoretical works on successive Wyner-Ziv coding (WZC), we propose a practical layered Wyner-Ziv video coder using the DCT, nested scalar quantization, and irregular LDPC code based Slepian-Wolf coding (or lossless source coding with side information at the decoder). Our main novelty is to use the base layer of a standard scalable video coder (e.g., MPEG-4/H.26L FGS or H.263+) as the decoder side information and perform layered WZC for quality enhancement. Similar to FGS coding, there is no performance difference between layered and monolithic WZC when the enhancement bitstream is generated in our proposed coder. Using an H.26L coded version as the base layer, experiments indicate that WZC gives slightly worse performance than FGS coding when the channel (for both the base and enhancement layers) is noiseless. However, when the channel is noisy, extensive simulations of video transmission over wireless networks conforming to the CDMA2000 1X standard show that H.26L base layer coding plus Wyner-Ziv enhancement layer coding are more robust against channel errors than H.26L FGS coding. These results demonstrate that layered Wyner-Ziv video coding is a promising new technique for video streaming over wireless networks
Neurotrophic factors and their receptors.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on neurotrophic factors and their receptors. Two distinct classes of neurotrophic factors are now known to exist: one family is collectively known as the “neurotrophins,” and the other class is represented by “ciliary neurotrophic factor” (CNTF) that bears no homology with the neurotrophins. The receptor system utilized by CNTF and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) contrasts with the one used by the neurotrophins. While the receptor mechanisms are so distinct, there can be parallels drawn between the two systems. First, the receptor systems used by the neurotrophins and CNTF are actually not that different from those used by growth factors outside of the nervous system. In the case of the neurotrophins, they utilize Trk receptors similar to those used by fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor, while CNTF uses a receptor system that shares components with its distant relative cytokines. Second, for both receptor systems, the dimerization of β components initiates signaling inside the cell. In the case of the neurotrophins, it is the homo-dimerization of the Trk receptors that initiates signaling, whereas in the case of CNTF, it is the heterodimerization of the β components, LIF-binding protein and gp130, which allows for signaling. The relatively restricted distribution of the CNTFRα and Trk receptors to neuronal cells explains the distinctive actions of the neurotrophic factors on neurons.
An improved upper bound for SAT

We give a randomized algorithm for testing satisfiability of Boolean formulas in conjunctive normal form with no restriction on clause length. Its running time is at most 2n(1−1/α) up to a polynomial factor, where α = ln (m/n) + O(ln ln m) and n, m are respectively the number of variables and the number of clauses in the input formula. This bound is asymptotically better than the previously best known 2n(1−1/log(2m)) bound for SAT.
Future observations of planetary rings from groundbased observatories and earth-orbiting satellites

Three of the outer planets of our solar system are known to possess ring systems and, among the three known systems, all have one or more components that are detectable from the vicinity of the earth. Among the more promising methods for continuing study are direct imaging and occultations, obtainable both from the ground and from earth-orbiting facilities such as Space Telescope. Relevant future observations made from the vicinity of earth are expected to provide new knowledge of the dynamical and photometric properties of these outer solar system planetary rings.
Continuous dependence on the density for stratified steady water waves

There are two distinct regimes commonly used to model traveling waves in stratified water: continuous stratification, where the density is smooth throughout the fluid, and layer-wise continuous stratification, where the fluid consists of multiple immiscible strata. The former is the more physically accurate description, but the latter is frequently more amenable to analysis and computation. By the conservation of mass, the density is constant along the streamlines of the flow; the stratification can therefore be specified by prescribing the value of the density on each streamline. We call this the streamline density function.
Existence and Stability of Spinning Embedded Vortices

This work focuses on a new class of embedded vortices which are non-static but stationary and carry non-zero angular momentum. They may therefore be called spinning embedded vortices. It will be shown that these vortices have improved stability properties compared to their non-spinning counterparts (electroweak vortices with in a hypothetical model with Weinberg angle θω = π/2[1, 2, 3]) whose properties are discussed in the contributions of Klinkhamer and Vachaspati in this volume.
The angle detecting inclined sensors (ADIS) system: measuring particle angles of incidence without position sensing detectors

Abstract We report on a novel system, the Angle Detecting Inclined Sensors (ADIS), for determining the angle of incidence of energetic charged particles. This system is particularly suited to space-based and balloon-borne instruments to study Solar Energetic Particles, Galactic Cosmic Rays and Anomalous Cosmic Rays. Such instruments are frequently constrained by limited resources in terms of mass, power and telemetry. At the same time, large detector area and acceptance angle, together with good elemental and isotopic resolution, can be critical for the required measurements. High-resolution particle identification requires that the angles of incidence of ion events in an instrument be determined. Conventional Position Sensing Detectors (PSDs) used in hodoscopes add significant complexity and require additional electronics, thus increasing instrument mass and power usage. The ADIS system overcomes many of these problems by using detector geometry in place of PSDs.
The X-ray log N-log S relation

Results from various surveys are reviewed as regards X-ray source counts at high galactic latitudes and the luminosity functions determined for extragalactic sources. Constraints on the associated log N-log S relation provided by the extragalactic X-ray background are emphasized in terms of its spatial fluctuations and spectrum as well as absolute flux level. The large number of sources required for this background suggests that there is not a sharp boundary in the redshift distribution of visible matter.
A general theory of almost convex functions

Let Δ m = {(t 0 ,..., t m ) ∈ R m+1 : t i > 0,Σ m i=0 t i = 1} be the standard m-dimensional simplex and let ∅ ≠ S C ∪ ∞ m=1 Δ m . Then a function h: C → R with domain a convex set in a real vector space is S-almost convex iff for all (t 0 ,..., t m ) ∈ S and x 0 ,..., x m ∈ C the inequality h(t 0 x 0 + ··· + t m x m ) ≤ 1 + t 0 h(x 0 ) + ··· + t m h(x m ) holds. A detailed study of the properties of S-almost convex functions is made. If S contains at least one point that is not a vertex, then an extremal S-almost convex function Eg: Δ n → R is constructed with the properties that it vanishes on the vertices of An and if h: Δ n → R is any bounded S-almost convex function with h(e k ) ≤ 0 on the vertices of An, then h(x) ≤ E S (x) for all x ∈ An. In the special case S = {(1/(m+1),..., 1/(m+1))}, the barycenter of Δ m , very explicit formulas are given for Eg and κ S (n) = sup x∈Δn E S (x). These are of interest, as E S and κ S (n) are extremal in various geometric and analytic inequalities and theorems.
A queueing network approach to the analysis and control of mobility-on-demand systems

This paper presents a queueing network approach to the analysis and control of mobility-on-demand (MoD) systems for urban personal transportation. A MoD system consists of a fleet of vehicles providing one-way car sharing service and a team of drivers to rebalance such vehicles. The drivers then rebalance themselves by driving select customers similar to a taxi service. We model the MoD system as two coupled closed Jackson networks with passenger loss. We show that the system can be approximately balanced by solving two decoupled linear programs and exactly balanced through nonlinear optimization. The rebalancing techniques are applied to a system sizing example using taxi data in three neighborhoods of Manhattan, which suggests that the optimal vehicle-to-driver ratio in a MoD system is between 3 and 5. Lastly, we formulate a real-time closed-loop rebalancing policy for drivers and demonstrate its stability (in terms of customer wait times) for typical system loads.
Lead and Mortality

Abstract This paper examines the effect of waterborne lead exposure on infant mortality in American cities over the period 1900 to 1920. Variation across cities in water acidity and the types of service pipes, which together determined the extent of lead exposure, identifies the effects of lead on infant mortality. In 1900, a decline in exposure equivalent to an increase in pH from 6.675 (25th percentile) to 7.3 (50th percentile) in cities with lead-only pipes would have been associated with a decrease in infant mortality of 7% to 33%, or at least twelve fewer infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Distributional implications of climate change in India

Global warming is expected to heavily impact agriculture, the dominant source of livelihood for the world's poor. Yet, little is known about the distributional implications of climate change at the sub-national level. Using a simple comparative statics framework, this paper analyzes how changes in the prices of land, labor, and food induced by modest temperature increases over the next three decades will affect household-level welfare in India. The authors predict a substantial fall in agricultural productivity, even allowing for farmer adaptation. Yet, this decline will not translate into a sharp drop in consumption for the majority of rural households, who derive their income largely from wage employment. Overall, the welfare costs of climate change fall disproportionately on the poor. This is true in urban as well as in rural areas, but, in the latter sector only after accounting for the effects of rising world cereal prices. Adaptation appears to primarily benefit the non-poor, since they own the lion's share of agricultural land. The results suggest that poverty in India will be roughly 3-4 percentage points higher after thirty years of rising temperatures than it would have been had this warming not occurred.
Interferometric Measurement of Resonance Transition Wavelengths in C IV, Si IV, Al III, Al II, and Si II

We have made the first interferomeric measurements of the wavelengths of the important ultraviolet diagnostic lines in the spectra C IV near 155 nm and Si IV near 139 nm with a vacuum ultraviolet Fourier transform spectrometer and high-current discharge sources. The wavelength uncertainties were reduced by 1 order of magnitude for the C IV lines and by 2 orders of magnitude for the Si IV lines. Our measurements also provide accurate wavelengths for resonance transitions in Al III, Al II, and Si II.
A special Lagrangian type equation for holomorphic line bundles

Let L be a holomorphic line bundle over a compact Kahler manifold X. Motivated by mirror symmetry, we study the deformed Hermitian–Yang–Mills equation on L, which is the line bundle analogue of the special Lagrangian equation in the case that X is Calabi–Yau. We show that this equation is the Euler-Lagrange equation for a positive functional, and that solutions are unique global minimizers. We provide a necessary and sufficient criterion for existence in the case that X is a Kahler surface. For the higher dimensional cases, we introduce a line bundle version of the Lagrangian mean curvature flow, and prove convergence when L is ample and X has non-negative orthogonal bisectional curvature.
Decelerating cosmologies are de-scramblers

Stationary observers in static spacetimes see falling objects spread exponen-tially fast, or fast-scramble, near event horizons. We generalize this picture to arbitrary cosmological horizons. We give examples of exponential fast-scrambling and power-law scrambling and “de-scrambling” as charges propagate freely near a horizon. In particular we show that when the universe is decelerating, information hidden behind the apparent horizon is de-scrambled as it re-enters the view of the observer. In contrast to the de Sitter case, the power-law scaling suggests that the microscopic dynamics of the horizon are local.
Adaptive internal model control: h 2 optimization for stable plants

Abstract This paper considers the design and analysis of a pointwise optimal adaptive internal model control scheme. Using a series-parallel identification model, the “internal model” for an open loop stable plant is adapted on-line and the time-varying internal model control “parameter” is chosen in a certainty equivalence fashion to pointwise minimize an H 2 performance index. Stability of the resulting scheme and its robustness to plant modelling errors are established. The results here provide a suitable theoretical basis for analytically justifying some of the reported industrial successes of adaptive internal model control schemes.
Detecting causal relations in the presence of unmeasured variables

The presence of latent variables can greatly complicate inferences about causal relations between measured variables from statistical data. In many cases, the presence of latent variables makes it impossible to determine for two measured variables A and B, whether A causes B, B causes A, or there is some common cause. In this paper I present several theorems that state conditions under which it is possible to reliably infer the causal relation between two measured variables, regardless of whether latent variables are acting or not.
Climate Impacts of Large-Scale Wind Farms as Parameterized in a Global Climate Model

The local, regional, and global climate impacts of a large-scale global deployment of wind power in regionally high densities over land are investigated for a 60-yr period. Wind farms are represented as elevated momentum sinks as well as enhanced turbulence to represent turbine blade mixing in the Community Atmosphere Model, version 5 (CAM5), a global climate model. For a total installed capacity of 2.5TW, to provide 16% of the world’s projected electricity demand in 2050, minimal impacts are found both regionally and globally on temperature, sensible and latent heat fluxes, cloud, and precipitation. A mean near-surface warming of 0.12 6 0.07K is seen within the wind farms, with a global-mean temperature change of 20.013 6 0.015K.Impactsonwindspeedandturbulencearemorepronouncedbutlargelyconfinedwithinthewindfarm areas. Increasing the wind farm areas to provide an installed capacity of 10TW, or 65% of the 2050 electricity demand, causes further impacts; however, they remain slight overall. Maximum temperature changes are less than 0.5K in the wind farm areas. To provide 20TW of installed capacity, or 130% of the 2050 electricity demand, impacts both within thewind farms andbeyond becomemore pronounced,with a doubling in turbine density. However, maximum temperature changes remain less than 0.7K. Representing wind farms instead as an increase in surface roughness generally produces similar mean results; however, maximum changes increase, and influences on wind and turbulence are exaggerated. Overall, wind farm impacts are much weaker than those expected from greenhouse gas emissions, with very slight global-mean climate impacts.
Belief propagation by message passing in junction trees: computing each message faster using GPU parallelization

Compiling Bayesian networks (BNs) to junction trees and performing belief propagation over them is among the most prominent approaches to computing posteriors in BNs. However, belief propagation over junction tree is known to be computationally intensive in the general case. Its complexity may increase dramatically with the connectivity and state space cardinality of Bayesian network nodes. In this paper, we address this computational challenge using GPU parallelization. We develop data structures and algorithms that extend existing junction tree techniques, and specifically develop a novel approach to computing each belief propagation message in parallel. We implement our approach on an NVIDIA GPU and test it using BNs from several applications. Experimentally, we study how junction tree parameters affect parallelization opportunities and hence the performance of our algorithm. We achieve speedups ranging from 0.68 to 9.18 for the BNs studied.
Short-Run Pain, Long-Run Gain The Effects of Financial Liberalization

The authors examine the short- and long-run effects of financial liberalization on capital markets. To do so, they construct a new comprehensive chronology of financial liberalization in 28 developed and emerging economies since 1973. The authors also construct an algorithm to identify booms and busts in stock market prices. The results indicate that financial liberalization is followed by more pronounced boom-bust cycles in the short run. But financial liberalization leads to more stable markets in the long run. Finally, the authors analyze the sequencing of liberalization and institutional reforms to understand the contrasting short- and long-run effects of liberalization.
Nursing Home Staff Palliative Care Knowledge and Practices: Results of a Large Survey of Frontline Workers

Abstract Context Deficits in quality end-of-life care for nursing home (NH) residents are well known. Palliative care is promoted as an approach to improve quality. The Palliative Care Survey (PCS) is designed to measure NH staff palliative care knowledge and practice. Objectives To comparing palliative care knowledge and practices across NH staff roles using the PCS, and to examine relationships between facility characteristics and PCS scores. Methods The PCS was administered to frontline NH staff—certified nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), and social workers (SWs)—in 51 facilities in 2012. Descriptive statistics were calculated by job role. Linear mixed effects models were used to identify facility and individual factors associated with palliative care practice and knowledge. Results The analytic sample included 1200 surveys. CNAs had significantly lower practice and knowledge scores compared to LPNs, RNs, and SWs (P Conclusion Given observed differences in palliative care practice and knowledge scores by staff training, it appears the PCS is a useful tool to assess NH staff. Low end-of-life knowledge scores represent an important target for quality improvement.
SIX CONJECTURES WHICH GENERALIZE OR ARE RELATED TO ANDRICA’S CONJECTURE

Six conjectures on pairs of consecutive primes are listed below together with bexamples in each case.
Elementary Proofs of Identities for Schur Functions and Plane Partitions

We use elementary methods to prove formulas that represent sums of restricted classes of Schur functions as ratios of determinants. This includes recent formulas for sums over bounded partitions with even parts and sums over bounded partitions whose conjugates have only even parts. All of these formulas imply plane partition generating functions.
Lp solutions of backward stochastic differential equations with jumps

Abstract Given p ∈ ( 1 , 2 ) , we study L p solutions of a multi-dimensional backward stochastic differential equation with jumps (BSDEJ) whose generator may not be Lipschitz continuous in ( y , z ) -variables. We show that such a BSDEJ with p -integrable terminal data admits a unique L p solution by approximating the monotonic generator by a sequence of Lipschitz generators via convolution with mollifiers and using a stability result.
Can Malaysia escape the middle-income Trap ? a strategy for Penang

How can Penang upgrade and diversify its economy? This paper addresses this question using a number of methodologies that have been developed for assessing competitiveness and identifying the direction of future industrial evolution. The results show that although Penang was successful in attracting foreign direct investment to the electronics industry, this has not translated into a deepening of industrial capabilities or the nurturing of innovation capacity in Penang. No large Malaysian firms in Penang have taken the lead in innovation and there is little new entry by local firms, despite incentives provided by local and national governments are generous. Universiti Sains Malaysia, the principal university in Penang, is contributing through provision of skills, and it is beginning to multiply university industry linkages. However, the universitys research activities are too limited and too diffuse to significantly initiate innovation by local industry. Under the current circumstances, and given its relatively small size, Penang will have to try much harder to strengthen its competitive advantage in its most important industry -electronics- through actions that build research capital. It will also have to increase its efforts to develop the potential of other value-adding activities, such as medical services and tourism. A strategy focused on localization economies is likely to be the most feasible option.
Are Food Subsidies Making Our Kids Fat? Tensions Between the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and the Farm Bill

Table of ContentsI. Introduction 1701II. Longstanding Statutes with Longstanding Issues 1703A. The National School Lunch Program Act 1703B. Child Nutrition Act of 1966 1707C. National Soft Drink Association v. Block. Non-Regulation of Competitive Foods 1708D. The Farm Bill 1711III. The Newest Iteration: The HHFKA 1713A. Increased Funding 1713B. Positive Change in the Area of Competitive Foods 1715C. New Guidance for USDA Nutritional Regulations 1716D. Regulations as Proposed 1717E. Basis of the Proposed Standards 17171. Unclear Treatment of Competitive Foods 17182. Food Standards for School Meals 17183. Calorie Reform 17194. Improved Produce Targets and Guidelines 17205. Whole Foods, Whole Fruit 17216. Diversifying Vegetable Offerings 17217. Phasing Out Refined Grains 17238. Sodium and Providing Meat/Meat Alternatives 1 724F. Preemption of Local Regulations 1724IV. What Congress Should Do to Effectively ReformNutrition in Schools 1728A. Reallocate Food Subsidies Through Farm Bill Reform ...... 1728B. Monitor the USDA's Use of Discretion and Make Sure It Is Child Focused 1730C. Limit or Close the Loophole for Competitive Foods 1730D. Strengthen Compliance and Enforcement 1732E. Monitor Potential Preemption Suits 1733F. Reallocate Designation of Dietary Guidelines 1733G. Allocate More Money 1733V. Conclusion 1735I. IntroductionFood in America is inherently a legal matter. It is the meeting point of a broad set of laws and regulations: those surrounding food pricing, transportation and processing, environmental pollution, water rights, employment, and real and intellectual property rights. Together, these laws in large part predetermine what choices Americans have at the dinner table or grocery store. The choices Americans make there translate into widespread health trends, specifically the growing problem of obesity in the United States. Economically, the cost of obesity is staggering - an estimated $150 billion is spent annually on obesity related expenses.4 Only through engaging with broad cross-statutory reform will the American diet and American health effectively change.Increasingly, evidence is accumulating that the United States' system of regulating food is fundamentally flawed. Our country is suffering from an obesity epidemic, with youth obesity skyrocketing at alarming rates.5 Currently, the federal government estimates that one out of three children is overweight or obese.6 These children are at risk for health problems - such as cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes - as youths and as adults. …
Analytic extensions of algebraic isomorphisms

Let $\Psi : X_1 \to X_2$ be an isomorphism of closed affine algebraic subvarities of $\C^n$ such that $n > \max (2\dim X_1, \dim TX_1)$. We prove that $\Psi$ can be extended to a holomorphic automorphism of $\C^n$. Furthermore, when $\Psi$ is an isomorphism of curves such an extension exists for every $n\geq 3$ even when $\dim TX_1=n$.
Chandra Observations of Unresolved X-Ray Sources around Two Clusters of Galaxies

We have searched for unresolved X-ray sources in the vicinity of two rich clusters of galaxies: Abell 1995 (A1995) and MS 0451.6-0305 (MS0451), using the Chandra X-ray observatory. We detected significantly more unresolved sources around A1995 than expected based on the number of X-ray sources to the same flux limit detected in deep Chandra observations of blank fields. Previous studies have also found excess X-ray sources in the vicinity of several nearby clusters of galaxies using ROSAT (Roentgen Satellite), and recently in more distant (z is approximately 0.5) clusters (RXJ0030 and 3C295) using Chandra. In contrast, we detect only 14 unresolved X-ray sources near MS0451, which is consistent with the number expected from a cluster-free background. We determine the luminosity functions of the extra sources under the assumption that they are at the distance of their respective clusters. The characteristic luminosity of the extra sources around A1995 must be an order of magnitude fainter than that of the extra sources around RXJ0030 and 3C295. The apparent lack of extra sources around MS0451 is consistent with its greater distance and the same characteristic luminosity as the A1995 sources. Hardness ratios suggest that, on average, the extra sources in A1995 may have harder spectra than those of RXJ0030 and 3C295. These results indicate that different classes of objects may dominate in different clusters, perhaps depending on the formation history and/or dynamical state of the accompanying cluster.
Cyclostationary processes on shape spaces for gait-based recognition

We present a novel approach to gait recognition that considers gait sequences as cyclostationary processes on a shape space of simple closed curves. Consequently, gait analysis reduces to quantifying differences between statistics underlying these stochastic processes. The main steps in the proposed approach are: (i) off-line extraction of human silhouettes from IR video data, (ii) use of piecewise-geodesic paths, connecting the observed shapes, to smoothly interpolate between them, (iii) computation of an average gait cycle within class (i.e. associated with a person) using average shapes, (iv) registration of average cycles using linear and nonlinear time scaling, (iv) comparisons of average cycles using geodesic lengths between the corresponding registered shapes. We illustrate this approach on infrared video clips involving 26 subjects.
Growth of relatively hyperbolic groups

We show that a finitely generated group that is hyperbolic relative to a collection of proper subgroups either is virtually cyclic or has uniform exponential growth.
Local shrinkage rules, Lévy processes and regularized regression

We use L´ evy processes to generate joint prior distributions, and therefore penalty functions, for a location parameter b = (b1;:::;bp) as p grows large. This generalizes the class of local-global shrinkage rules based on scale mixtures of normals, illuminates new connections among disparate methods, and leads to new results for computing posterior means and modes under a wide class of priors. We extend this framework to large-scale regularized regression problems where p > n, and provide comparisons with other methodologies.
An Exploratory Survey of Potential Community Transportation Providers and Users

This report describes a large survey that was administered with the objective of better understanding specialized transportation resources and how they are being used. The survey had two key characteristics. The first was to question both organizations that provide transportation, and those that do not provide it but are actively involved in purchasing or arranging it on behalf of their clients. The second was to be comprehensive; that is, to survey any organization that might be involved either in providing or arranging transportation. The most significant finding is that about 45% of the diverse organizations that were surveyed provide transportation in some form, and another 20% actively arrange transportation for their clients. This implies that there are more than 3,000 specialized transportation providers in Minnesota. The vast majority of these are social service agencies and housing providers. This confirms the common belief that the true size of the specialized transportation "system" is far larger than the formal network that is known to transportation funders and regulators. The report also contains numerous recommendations regarding how the findings of this survey can be used to develop more focused and definitive surveys of this type in the future.
Effects of crustal field rotation on the solar wind plasma interaction with Mars

The crustal remnant field on Mars rotates with the planet at a period of 24 h 37 min, constantly varying the magnetic field configuration interacting with the solar wind. Until now, there has been no self-consistent modeling investigation on how this varying magnetic field affects the solar wind plasma interaction. Here we include the rotation of this localized crustal field in a multispecies single-fluid MHD model of Mars and simulate an entire day of solar wind interaction under normal solar wind conditions. The MHD model results are compared with Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) magnetic field observations and show very close agreement, especially for the field strength along almost all of the 12 orbits on the day simulated. Model results also show that the ion escape rates slowly vary with rotation, generally anticorrelating with the strength of subsolar magnetic crustal sources, with some time delay. In addition, it is found that in the intense crustal field regions, the densities of heavy ion components enhance significantly along the MGS orbit, implying strong influence of the crustal field on the ionospheric structures.
Extending the capabilities of RMM: Russian dolls and hypertext

Hypermedia design is usually ad hoc. Whereas the original Relationship Management Methodology (RMM) provides a structured approach to design and implementation of hypermedia applications, it has limitations that constrain the usability of the kinds of applications it can construct. This paper provides extensions to RMM that enable it to model a much richer class of applications, thereby making the methodology more attractive for software developers to use. The paper also presents a graphical and programming language notation for RMM's new m-slice construct, which is at the core of the extensions presented.
Parameter estimation by implicit sampling

Author(s): Morzfeld, M; Tu, X; Wilkening, J; Chorin, AJ | Abstract: Implicit sampling is a weighted sampling method that is used in data assimilation to sequentially update state estimates of a stochastic model based on noisy and incomplete data. Here we apply implicit sampling to sample the posterior probability density of parameter estimation problems. The posterior probability combines prior information about the parameter with information from a numerical model, e.g., a partial differential equation (PDE), and noisy data. The result of our computations are parameters that lead to simulations that are compatible with the data. We demonstrate the usefulness of our implicit sampling algorithm with an example from subsurface flow. For an efficient implementation, we make use of multiple grids, BFGS optimization coupled to adjoint equations, and Karhunen-Loeve expansions for dimensional reduction. Several difficulties of Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, e.g., estimation of burn-in times or correlations among the samples, are avoided because the implicit samples are independent.
A framework for evaluating alternate institutional arrangements for fiscal equalization transfers

Fiscal equalization programs are fairly common features of intergovernmental fiscal relations in industrial countries. Some developing countries have also recently introduced these programs and still others are contemplating such programs. Institutional arrangements for fiscal equalization vary across countries with wide variations in the form and membership of the relevant decisionmaking bodies. This paper provides a simple neo-institutional economics framework for assessing alternative institutional arrangements for their impacts on simplicity, transparency, and objectivity of the equalization program, as well as transaction costs for various parties involved. Comparing institutional arrangements across different countries is a daunting task. The success of these arrangements depends on a multitude of factors. The success of governance structures for fiscal matters may depend not only on the incentives regime associated with their inner structures but also their interactions with other formal and informal institutions in the country. This paper presents a simple framework to understand these incentives and interactions and draw implications for their impacts on transactions costs for the society as a whole and achievement of societal objectives. An application of these concepts to the specific case of institutional arrangements for fiscal equalization transfers are carried out and the predictions based on the theory are compared with observed experiences in major federal countries. The paper demonstrates that the simple new institutional framework presented here has a significant power for predicting potential impacts. The paper concludes, both in theory and practice, that the case for independent grants commission to enhance the transparency, equity, and accountability of the intergovernmental finance system is vastly exaggerated.
Almost global existence for quasilinear wave equations in three space dimensions

This article studies almost global existence for solutions of quadratically quasi linear systems of wave equations in three space dimensions. The approach here uses only the classical invariance of the wave operator under translations, spatial rotations, and scaling. Using these techniques we can handle wave equations in Minkowski space or Dirichlet-wave equations in the exterior of a smooth, star shaped obstacle. We can also apply our methods to systems of quasilinear wave equations having different wave speeds. This extends our work [11] for the semilinear case. Previous almost global ex istence theorems for quasilinear equations in three space dimensions were for the non-obstacle case. In [9], John and Klainerman proved almost global existence on Minkowski space for quadratic, quasilinear equations using the Lorentz invariance of the wave operator in addition to the symmetries listed above. Subsequently, in [14], Klainerman and Sideris obtained the same result for a class of quadratic, divergence-form nonlinearities without relying on Lorentz invariance. This line of thought was refined and applied to prove global-in-time results for null-form equa tions related to the theory of elasticity in Sideris [22], [23], and for multiple-speed systems of null-form quasilinear equations in Sideris and Tu [24], and Yokoyama [29]. The main difference between our approach and the earlier ones is that we ex ploit the 0(|x|-1) decay of solutions of wave equations with sufficiently decaying initial data as much as we involve the stronger 0(t~l) decay. Here, of course, x = (x\,X2,x$) is the spatial component, and t the time component, of a space time vector (t, x) G M+ x E3. Establishing 0(|x|_1) decay is considerably easier and can be achieved using only the invariance with respect to translations and spatial rotation. A weighted L2 space-time estimate for inhomogeneous wave equations (Proposition 3.1 below, from [11]) is important in making the spatial decay useful for the long-time existence argument. For semilinear systems, one can show almost global existence from small data using only this spatial decay [11]. For quasilinear systems, however, we also have to show that both first and second derivatives of u decay like 1/t. Fortunately, we can do this using a variant of some L1 ?> L?? estimates of John, H?rmander,
Arithmetic intersection theory on flag varieties

Let F be the complete flag variety over Spec(Z) with the tautological filtration 0 \subset E_1 \subset E_2 \subset ... \subset E_n=E of the trivial bundle E over F. The trivial hermitian metric on E(\C) induces metrics on the quotient line bundles L_i(\C). Let \hat{c}_1(L_i) be the first Chern class of L_i in the arithmetic Chow ring \hat{CH}(F) and x_i = -\hat{c}_1(L_i). Let h(X_1,...,X_n) be a polynomial with integral coefficients in the ideal generated by the elementary symmetric polynomials e_i. We give an effective algorithm for computing the arithmetic intersection h(x_1,...,x_n) in \hat{CH}(F), as the class of a SU(n)-invariant differential form on F(\C). In particular we show that all the arithmetic Chern numbers one obtains are rational numbers. The results are true for partial flag varieties and generalize those of Maillot for grassmannians. An `arithmetic Schubert calculus' is established for an `invariant arithmetic Chow ring' which specializes to the Arakelov Chow ring in the grassmannian case.
Realistic medium-averaging in radiative energy loss

Abstract We present results from a jet energy loss calculation using the Gyulassy-Levai-Vitev (GLV) formalism and bulk medium evolution from the covariant transport MPC. At both RHIC and LHC energies we find that realistic transverse expansion strongly reduces elliptic flow at high p T compared to calculations with transversely “frozen” profiles. We argue that this is a generic feature of GLV energy loss. Transverse expansion also leads to stronger high- p T suppression, while fluctuations in energy loss with the location of scattering centers weaken the suppression. But, unlike the reduction of v 2 , these effects nearly disappear once α s is adjusted to reproduce R A A in central collisions.
Selling favors in the lab: experiments on campaign finance reform

Campaign advertising can provide benefits to constituencies when used to fund the distribution of useful information, but voters can be harmed if candidates finance such advertising by trading policy favors to special interests in exchange for contributions. We report data from novel laboratory campaign finance experiments that shed light on this tradeoff, and that provide rigorous empirical evidence on formal campaign finance theory. Our key finding is that voters respond to advertising differently between special interest and publicly-financed campaigns, and that the nature of this difference is qualitatively consistent with formal models’ predictions.
Single-cell photonic nanocavity probes

We demonstrate for the first time high Q photonic nanocavities operating inside single biological cells. We show in vitro protein detection with our tool as a route towards real-time label-free sensing in an intracellular environment.
ON UNIQUENESS AND DIFFERENTIABILITY IN THE SPACE OF YAMABE METRICS

It is shown that there is a unique Yamabe representative for a generic set of conformal classes in the space of metrics on any manifold. At such classes, the scalar curvature functional is shown to be differentiable on the space of Yamabe metrics. In addition, some sufficient conditions are given which imply that a Yamabe metric of locally maximal scalar curvature is necessarily Einstein.
Parabolic tapers for overmoded waveguides

Waveguide tapers in which axial position is proportional to the tapered dimension squared can be synthesized from virtually exact solutions of the coupled mode equations. Such tapers have much less mode conversion over narrow bands than equal length linear tapers. The minimum length required to produce a null in the mode conversion is also shorter than that for other nonlinear tapers.
Microstructural effects of chemical island templating in patterned matrix-pillar oxide nanocomposites

The ability to pattern the location of pillars in epitaxial matrix-pillar nanocomposites is a key challenge to develop future technologies using these intriguing materials. One such model system employs a ferrimagnetic CoFe2O4 (CFO) pillar embedded in a ferroelectric BiFeO3 (BFO) matrix, which has been proposed as a possible memory or logic system. These composites self-assemble spontaneously with pillars forming through nucleation at a random location when grown via physical vapor deposition. Recent results have shown that if an island of the pillar material is pre-patterned on the substrate, it is possible to control the nucleation process and determine the locations where pillars form. In this work, we employ electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction to examine the chemical composition and microstructure of patterned CFO–BFO nanocomposites. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy is used to examine the nucleation effects at the interface between the template island and resulting pillar. Evidence of grain boundaries and lattice tilting in the templated pillars is also presented and attributed to the microstructure of the seed island.
Game Forms for Nash Implementation of General Social Choice Correspondences

Several game forms are given for Nash implementing general social choice correspondences (SCC's) which satisfy Maskin's conditions of monotonicity and No Veto Power. The game forms have smaller strategy spaces than those used in previously studied mechanisms: the strategy for an individual consists of an alternative, two subsets (of alternatives), and a player number. For certain types of economic and political SCC's, including α-majority rule, the Walrasian, and Lindahl correspondence, the strategy space reduces to an alternative and a vector, where the number of components of the vector is at most twice the dimension of the alternative space.