cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DSA: decentralized double stochastic averaging gradient algorithm

This paper considers optimization problems where nodes of a network have access to summands of a global objective. Each of these local objectives is further assumed to be an average of a finite set of functions. The motivation for this setup is to solve large scale machine learning problems where elements of the training set are distributed to multiple computational elements. The decentralized double stochastic averaging gradient (DSA) algorithm is proposed as a solution alternative that relies on: (i) The use of local stochastic averaging gradients. (ii) Determination of descent steps as differences of consecutive stochastic averaging gradients. Strong convexity of local functions and Lipschitz continuity of local gradients is shown to guarantee linear convergence of the sequence generated by DSA in expectation. Local iterates are further shown to approach the optimal argument for almost all realizations. The expected linear convergence of DSA is in contrast to the sublinear rate characteristic of existing methods for decentralized stochastic optimization. Numerical experiments on a logistic regression problem illustrate reductions in convergence time and number of feature vectors processed until convergence relative to these other alternatives.
Protecting Obfuscation against Algebraic Attacks

Recently, Garg, Gentry, Halevi, Raykova, Sahai, and Waters (FOCS 2013) constructed a general-purpose obfuscating compiler for NC1 circuits. We describe a simplified variant of this compiler, and prove that it is a virtual black box obfuscator in a generic multilinear map model. This improves on Brakerski and Rothblum (eprint 2013) who gave such a result under a strengthening of the Exponential Time Hypothesis. We remove this assumption, and thus resolve an open question of Garg et al. As shown by Garg et al., a compiler for NC1 circuits can be bootstrapped to a compiler for all polynomial-sized circuits under the learning with errors (LWE) hardness assumption.
Renewables and Storage in Distribution Systems: Centralized vs. Decentralized Integration

The problem of integrating renewables and storage into a distribution network is considered under two integration models: 1) a centralized model involving a retail utility that owns the integration as part of its portfolio of energy resources, and 2) a decentralized model in which each consumer individually owns and operates the integration and is capable of selling surplus electricity back to the retailer in a net-metering setting. The two integration models are analyzed using a Stackelberg game in which the utility is the leader in setting the retail price of electricity, and each consumer schedules its demand by maximizing individual consumer surplus. The solution of the Stackelberg game defines the Pareto front that characterizes fundamental tradeoffs between retail profit of the utility and consumer surplus. It is shown that, for both integration models, the centralized integration uniformly improves retail profit. As the level of integration increases, the proportion of benefits goes to the consumers increases. In contrast, the consumer-based decentralized integration improves consumer surplus at the expense of retail profit of the utility. For a profit regulated utility, the consumer-based integration may lead to smaller consumer surplus than that when no renewable or storage is integrated at either the consumer or the retailer end.
Risk, Farm Ownership, and International Productivity Differences

Agricultural labor productivity differences between the richest and poorest 10% of countries are approximately twice as large as aggregate productivity differences. I propose a theory in which the under-utilization of intermediate inputs amplifies sector neutral productivity (TFP) differences in the agricultural sector of low-income countries. The key assumption is that farm input decisions cannot be considered separately from the farmer's consumption decisions. In the face of incomplete markets and idiosyncratic productivity shocks, risk averse farmers choose inputs to maximize expected utility instead of expected profits, causing poor farmers to put greater weight on bad potential outcomes when choosing inputs. In the calibrated model, a factor of 4 difference in sector neutral TFP generates a factor of 16 difference in agricultural output per worker.
Is more mobility good?: Firm mobility and the low wage–low productivity trap

Abstract This paper explores the possibility that unregulated FDI flows are causally implicated in the decline in labor productivity growth in semi-industrialized economies. These effects are hypothesized to operate through the negative impact of firm mobility on worker bargaining power and thus wages. Downward pressure on wages can reduce the pressure on firms to raise productivity in defense of profits, contributing to a low wage-low productivity trap. This paper presents empirical evidence, based on panel data fixed effects and GMM estimation for 37 semi-industrialized economies that supports the causal link between increased firm mobility and lower wages, as well as slower productivity growth over the period 1970–2000.
Do employers in Myanmar prefer workers who accumulated skills in more advanced countries? Evidence from a field experiment

I conducted an audit study in Yangon, Myanmar, to examine the effects of foreign labor market experience on employment outcomes in the Myanmar labor market focusing on three skilled occupation groups—software developer, accountant, and engineer—which combined account for more than 80% of all professional and technical job openings. I find heterogeneous effects by employer type (local, foreigner), occupation (software developer, accountant, engineer), and foreign country where such experience was accumulated (Singapore, Malaysia). In particular, I find a large and significant effect for software developers who accumulated experience in Singapore and no significant effect for the same experience accumulated in Malaysia; the Singapore effect is mainly due to foreign employers operating in Myanmar. In contrast, I find no significant effects of foreign experience for accountants and engineers. This is true for both the Singapore and Malaysia experiences, as well as for local and foreign employers. JEL Classification: O15, J01, F22
Clocking in multi-GHz environment

An overview of clocking and design of clocked storage elements is presented. Systematic design of ip-op is explained as well as "time borrowing" and absorption of clock uncertainties. We show how should different clocked storage elements be compared against each other. The issues related to power consumption and low-power design are presented.
Incentives for Innovation: Bankruptcy, Corporate Governance, and Compensation Systems

A central goal of any economy is to achieve rapid and sustained growth. This cannot happen without continued innovation. This landmark Handbook brings together many of the world’s legal scholars to examine features of the legal infrastructure that affect both innovation and growth. Individual chapters explore different legal subject areas, in most cases offering recommendations for rule changes that could accelerate growth, primarily in the context of the US economy. The introductory chapter provides a framework for these discussions and explains why it is time for legal scholarship and research to move in that direction.
A Resident Perspective on Adding Value as Radiologists

During the annual 46th annual American Alliance of Academic Chief Residents in Radiology (A(3)CR(2)) meeting in New Orleans, chief residents discussed the role of residents within American College of Radiology 3.0 campaign. Our discussion was directed toward the evolving role of fourth-year radiology residents and how we might improve their training to better prepare them to add value as both leaders and radiologists. The ideas resulting from our Problem Solving session were divided into three categories: clinical presence in the wards and subspecialty clinics; visibility to clinicians and patients; and the education of medical students, residents, and advanced practice clinicians to aid in realizing the long-term goals of Imaging 3.0.
Leaner Lifted-Flame Combustion Enabled by the Use of an Oxygenated Fuel in an Optical CI Engine

Leaner lifted-flame combustion (LLFC) is a mixing-controlled combustion strategy for compression-ignition engines that does not produce soot because the equivalence ratio at the lift-off length, Φ(H), is less than or equal to approximately two. In addition to preventing soot formation, LLFC can simultaneously control emissions of nitrogen oxides because it is tolerant to the use of exhaust-gas recirculation for lowering in-cylinder temperatures. LLFC can be achieved through the use of oxygenated fuels and enhanced fuel/charge-gas mixing upstream of the lift-off length. Enhanced mixing can be obtained via higher injection pressures, smaller injector orifice diameters, lower intake-manifold and coolant temperatures, and/or more retarded injection timings. This study focuses on the effects of an oxygenated fuel blend (T50) made up of 50% by volume tri-propylene glycol mono-methyl ether with a #2 ULSD emissions-certification fuel (CFA), compared against baseline testing of the CFA fuel without the oxygenate. Experimental measurements include crank-angle resolved natural luminosity (NL) and chemiluminescence (CL) imaging diagnostics. EGR is simulated by adding nitrogen and carbon dioxide to the intake charge to produce a 16% intake-oxygen mole fraction (XO2), and results are compared against cases with no charge dilution (i.e., 21% XO2). Initial experiments with a two-hole tip achieved soot-free LLFCmore » at low loads with the T50 fuel, 240 MPa injection pressure, 50 °C intake-manifold temperature (IMT), 95 °C coolant temperature, and -5 crank-angle degree (CAD) after top-dead-center (ATDC) start of combustion (SOC) timing. The strategy was extended to more moderate loads by employing a 6-hole injector tip, where lowering the IMT to 30 °C, reducing the coolant temperature to 85 °C, and retarding the SOC timing to +5 CAD ATDC resulted in sustained LLFC at both 21% and 16% XO2 at up to 6.2 bar gross indicated mean effective pressure (gIMEP) with T50. The achievement of LLFC was confirmed by independent soot measurements using a smoke meter, spatially integrated natural luminosity from the NL diagnostics, and laser-induced incandescence for measuring soot volume fraction in the exhaust stream. In contrast to the results with T50, LLFC was not achieved under any of the test conditions with CFA. Combustion was stable under LLFC conditions, with a coefficient of variation of gIMEP less than 1.5%. Nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon emissions were also lowered by up to 25% each for LLFC with T50 relative to using the same operating conditions with CFA. Combustion noise was similarly reduced by 4-6 dBA, and ringing intensity by 60-80%, for LLFC with T50.« less
Superadiabatic Radiant Porous Burner With Preheater and Radiation Corridors

The thermal efficiency of radiant porous burners is less than 25% because most of the combustion heat is lost by flue gas. Here, we present a new radiant burner design to recuperate the heat of the exit flue gas using a preheater to increase the inlet air temperature and raise the flame temperature locally above adiabatic temperature (superadiabatic) at fuel-lean conditions. The superadiabatic heat is then conducted through embedded radiation corridors and is radiated, at a higher temperature than the flue gas, to target. This paper presents the results of the superadiabatic radiant porous burner from a numerical analysis using a zero-order combustion reaction model for methane/air mixture and non-thermal equilibrium formulation. The thermal efficiency over 40% is predicted.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A bi-level language for software process modeling

The authors present a multi-user implementation of a bi-level process modeling language (PML). Most process modeling formalisms are well-suited to one of two levels of specification, but not both. Some concentrate on global control flow and synchronization. These languages make it easy to define the broad outline of a process, but harder to refine the process by expressing constraints and policies on individual tools and data. Other process formalisms are inherently local. It is easy to define constraints, but far from straightforward to express control flow. Combining global and local formalisms is proposed to produce bi-level formalisms suitable for expressing the enacting large scale processes. The new PML is called the activity structures language. The activity structures language integrates global constrained expressions with local rules. Its implementation on top of the Marvel rule-based environment is described. >
Financial services strategies in the Euro-zone

Abstract Launching of the euro at the beginning of 1999 will accelerate reconfiguration of the financial intermediation process in Europe — a process that is already well underway — with dramatic consequences for commercial banking, investment banking, insurance and asset management functions. Banks, insurance companies and other financial intermediaries face strategic choices, to be weighed with great care. This paper begins with a series of suppositions — essentially maximum-likelihood state-variables relating to financial system conditions in the euro-zone, assuming a five-year time horizon. These suppositions set the framework for a discussion of strategic positioning and implementation on the part of financial services firms expecting to compete successfully in the euro-zone. The author focuses on the institutional microstructure of the financial intermediation process and the determinants of competitive performance. This is followed by an assessment of strategic options facing financial firms in the euro-zone, and alternative institutional outcomes from the perspective of efficiency and stability of the euro-zone financial system. Where appropriate, comparisons are drawn with the US financial system, which has operated under a single currency since 1865. The final section of the paper provides some strategy and policy indications for the future.
Inferring Models of Bacterial Dynamics toward Point Sources

Experiments have shown that bacteria can be sensitive to small variations in chemoattractant (CA) concentrations. Motivated by these findings, our focus here is on a regime rarely studied in experiments: bacteria tracking point CA sources (such as food patches or even prey). In tracking point sources, the CA detected by bacteria may show very large spatiotemporal fluctuations which vary with distance from the source. We present a general statistical model to describe how bacteria locate point sources of food on the basis of stochastic event detection, rather than CA gradient information. We show how all model parameters can be directly inferred from single cell tracking data even in the limit of high detection noise. Once parameterized, our model recapitulates bacterial behavior around point sources such as the “volcano effect”. In addition, while the search by bacteria for point sources such as prey may appear random, our model identifies key statistical signatures of a targeted search for a point source given any arbitrary source configuration.
Conditional screening for ultra-high dimensional covariates with survival outcomes

Identifying important biomarkers that are predictive for cancer patients’ prognosis is key in gaining better insights into the biological influences on the disease and has become a critical component of precision medicine. The emergence of large-scale biomedical survival studies, which typically involve excessive number of biomarkers, has brought high demand in designing efficient screening tools for selecting predictive biomarkers. The vast amount of biomarkers defies any existing variable selection methods via regularization. The recently developed variable screening methods, though powerful in many practical setting, fail to incorporate prior information on the importance of each biomarker and are less powerful in detecting marginally weak while jointly important signals. We propose a new conditional screening method for survival outcome data by computing the marginal contribution of each biomarker given priorily known biological information. This is based on the premise that some biomarkers are known to be associated with disease outcomes a priori. Our method possesses sure screening properties and a vanishing false selection rate. The utility of the proposal is further confirmed with extensive simulation studies and analysis of a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma dataset. We are pleased to dedicate this work to Jack Kalbfleisch, who has made instrumental contributions to the development of modern methods of analyzing survival data.
Strategies for employing surface plasmons in near-field optical readout systems

We study strategies for employing surface plasmons in a near-field optical readout system using an exact Green’s tensor formulation. Several viable strategies were found, each with its merits and limitations.
Reactivity of Vinyl Phosphonate Containing Diazoesters: Formation, Reactivity, and Utility

Treatment of diazo vinyl phosphonate with alcohols, amines, and thiols in the presence of Rh(II) results in the chemo- and stereoselective generation of enol ethers, enamines and vinyl sulfides via an X–H insertion process. The utility of the products from these reactions was demonstrated through their conversion into quaternary substituted heterocycles including furans and oxetanes as highlighted by the generation of a bicyclic phosphonate analogue of neodysiherbaine.
The World Food Crisis

Abstract With 2,400 million people on the wrong side of the ‘hunger gap’, of which at least 1,000 million suffer from overt hunger, public education is required into the nature of the world's food crisis. It is insufficient to grow more food in general; it has to be the right kind to satisfy nutritional needs. While animal protein consumption per capita in the satisfied world has increased from 36 to 44 grams per day, that in the developing world has declined from 11 to 8. This is partly because the 450 million people that comprise the well-fed world have to a large extent become parasitic on the hungry world.
N-Methylimidazole Promotes the Reaction of Homophthalic Anhydride with Imines.

The addition of N-methylimidazole (NMI) to the reaction of homophthalic anhydride with imines such as pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde-N-trifluoroethylimine (9) reduces the amount of elimination byproduct and improves the yield of the formal cycloadduct, tetrahydroisoquinolonic carboxylate 10. Carboxanilides of such compounds are of interest as potential antimalarial agents. A mechanism that rationalizes the role of NMI is proposed, and a gram-scale procedure for the synthesis and resolution of 10 is also described.
Utilization Patterns And Patient Outcomes Associated With Use Of Rescue Therapies In Acute Lung Injury

Objectives: To investigate the practice patterns and clinical outcomes associated with use of rescue therapies in patients with acute lung injury. Design: Secondary analysis of multicentered, randomized, controlled trial data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Clinical Trials Network. Setting: Intensive care units of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Clinical Trials Network centers across the United States. Patients: Subjects enrolled in six Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Clinical Trials Network trials occurring between 1996 and 2005. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: One hundred sixty-six of 2632 (6.3%) subjects received rescue therapy, defined as prone positioning (97 of 166 [58%]), inhaled vasodilators (47 of 166 [28%]), high-frequency ventilation (12 of 166 [7%]), or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (10 of 166 [6%]). Use of inhaled vasodilators increased whereas use of prone position decreased over time (p for trend = 0.04 and 0.0013, respectively). Multivariate predictors for use of rescue therapy included age (odds ratio per 10 yrs and 95% confidence interval: 0.88; 0.78-0.99; p = .049), positive end-expiratory pressure (odds ratio per 5-cm H 2 0 increase: 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-1.69; p = .019), Pao 2 /F 102 ; odds ratio per 5-cm H 2 0 increase: 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-0.99; p = .017), peak airway pressure (odds ratio per 5-cm H 2 O increase: 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.001-1.237 ; p = .047), and study order (odds ratio per subsequent Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Clinical Trials Network study: 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.41; p = .02). Cox proportional hazards analysis of propensity score-matched subjects showed no difference in survival for those who received rescue therapy vs. those who did not (hazard ratio for death after rescue therapy or index date, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.67-1.78; p = .72). No differences in survival were found between those who received prone positioning vs. inhaled vasodilators (propensity score-adjusted hazard ratio for prone 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-2.10; p = .76). Conclusions: Rescue therapies are utilized in younger patients with more severe oxygenation deficits. Patterns of rescue therapy utilization appear to be changing over time. Within the limits of an observational study design, we did not find evidence of a survival benefit with use of rescue therapies in acute lung injury.
Molecular Basis for The Mullins Effect

A molecular theory for the softening of filled rubbers which is caused by prestressing is presented. It is based upon the assumption that the centers of the filler particles are displaced in an affine manner during deformation of the rubber. Those network chains which are fastened at both ends to filler particles will break when the filler particles have separated enough to stretch the chains to near full elongation. The loss of these chains causes a prestressed rubber to exhibit a much lower modulus than did the original rubber. Equations are derived to describe this phenomena and are tested by comparing with data for black filled synthetic rubber. Good agreement is found if the filler surface area per chain attachment is taken as 44 A.2 and if the strength of the chain is 2 × 10−4 dynes. It is shown that the chains break loose from the filler particle rather than breaking at C C bonds along the chain. The theory appears to offer a convenient tool for systematic studies of rubber–filler interactions.
Palladium-Catalyzed Amination of Unprotected Five-Membered Heterocyclic Bromides

An efficient method for the palladium-catalyzed amination of unprotected bromoimidazoles and bromopyrazoles is presented. The transformation is facilitated by the use of our newly developed Pd precatalyst based on the bulky biarylphosphine ligand tBuBrettPhos (L4). The mild reaction conditions employed allow for the preparation of a broad scope of aminoimidazoles and aminopyrazoles in moderate to excellent yields.
Clusters in intense x-ray pulses

Intense femtosecond x-ray pulses from free-electron lasers are used to gain unprecedented insight into the structural and transient electronic properties of nanoscale samples.
Surface Friction and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Polymers

Abstract Results are presented of experiments on the lubricated sliding of metals on polymers over a range of speeds and temperatures. These results indicate a correlation between the frictional behavior of materials and their bulk mechanical properties. Support for the experimental correlations is presented in the form of a theory relating the coefficient of rolling friction to bulk mechanical properties. The general conclusions may be expected to hold for metals as well as other materials. The theory may also be expected to apply to well lubricated sliding where shearing forces have been minimized. Under the conditions of lubrication most commonly encountered, the sliding friction is expected to be much more complicated; both the shear properties of the boundary layer and the hysteresis characteristics will be important.
Metallic plasmonic nano-antenna for wireless optical communication in intra-body nanonetworks

Nanonetworks consist of nano-sized communicating devices which are able to perform simple tasks at the nanoscale. Nanonetworks are the enabling technology for unique applications, including intra-body health-monitoring and drug delivery systems. In this paper, metallic plasmonic nanoantennas for wireless optical communication in intra-body nanonetworks are modeled and analyzed. More specifically, a unified mathematical framework is developed to investigate the performance in reception of gold-based nano-dipole antennas. This framework takes into account the metal properties, i.e., its dynamic complex conductivity and permittivity; the propagation properties of Surface Plasmon Polariton waves on the nano-antenna, i.e., their confinement factor and propagation length; the antenna geometry, i.e., length and radius, and the antenna fundamental resonance frequency, and it can be utilized to obtain the plasmonic currents on the nano-antenna generated by an incident EM filed. In addition to numerical results, the analytical models are validated by means of simulations with COMSOL Multi-physics. The developed framework will guide the design and development of novel nano-antennas suited for wireless optical communication in intra-body nanonetworks.
The Ethics, Limits, and Potential Harm of Naming Names

A NICU team is taking care of a 34 week old male admitted with hypoxia and hypothermia, complications of prematurity. On day of life 2, however, the mother and father decide to name their child “Krystal Meth,” because that was what they “were high on” when the child was conceived. Consultation with social work does not convince the family to change their minds, and the team is reluctant to consult the ethics committee. The naming of children has been an ethically neutral one, a process …
Organizational values in the provision of access to care for the uninsured.

ABSTRACTBackground: For the last 20 years, health provider organizations have made efforts to align mission, values, and everyday practices to ensure high-quality, high-value, and ethical care. However, little attention has been paid to the organizational values and practices of community-based programs that organize and facilitate access to care for uninsured populations. This study aimed to identify and describe organizational values relevant to resource allocation and policy decisions that affect the services offered to members, using the case of community access programs: county-based programs that provide access to care for the uninsured working poor. Methods: Comparative and qualitative case study methodology was used, including document review, observations, and key informant interviews, at two geographically diverse programs. Results: Nine values were identified as relevant to decision making: stewardship, quality care, access to care, service to others, community well-being, member independence, ...
Mechanical Properties of Natural and Synthetic Rubbers

The tensile creep behavior of natural rubber, high and low temperature GRS, polybutadiene, and a synthetic cis-polyisoprene have been investigated. By combining measurements over the temperature range −70 to +60°C., it has been possible to obtain a composite creep curve covering over 15 decades of time for each of these materials. In addition, similar curves have been obtained for most of these materials at several degrees of cure and containing various amounts of carbon black. All measurements were confined to elongations below about 5%. One can conclude from these data that the synthetic rubbers, except for the cis-polyisoprene, do not vulcanize to give a mechanically stable network. That is to say, these materials never reach equilibrium elongation under an applied load. It is concluded that the number-average molecular weights of GRS is so low that excessive degrees of crosslinking are needed in order to form a stable network. Natural rubber and certain synthetic cis-polyisoprene, do not suffer from this defect. The excessive heat generation found in GRS upon flexure is attributed to the fact that an equilibrium extension is never achieved in these materials. A theoretical relation for the heat production in flexed rubbers is given. It is showed that the theory predicts the relative behavior of the various rubbers in respect to heat generation under flexure.
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE: ASSET CHARACTERISTICS OR MANAGERIAL PREFERENCES

We examine leverage changes around mergers by similar-size firms. If asset characteristics drive leverage, both acquirer and target premerger leverage should predict long-term postmerger leverage. We find that only acquirer premerger leverage has a long-term effect. The effect of target premerger leverage, while highly significant right after the merger, disappears after two years. These findings cannot be explained by suboptimal premerger leverage of targets, sales of target assets, or corporate governance characteristics. As acquirer managers usually manage the merged firm, our findings support the hypothesis that managerial preferences have a strong effect on firm leverage.
Relaxation of Disulfide and Tetrasulfide Polymers

Abstract The chemorheology of crosslinked polyethylene disulfide, polyethylene tetrasulfide, and mixtures of these polymers with elemental sulfur is investigated. It is shown that stress decay in the disulfide polymer occurs by scission of the small quantities of higher polysulfide linkages present in the network. It is also shown that elemental sulfur decreases the chemical relaxation time in crosslinked polyethylene disulfide in a predictable manner.
On the Identification of SM and Alamouti Coded SC-FDMA Signals: A Statistical-Based Approach

Signal identification represents the task of a receiver to identify the signal type and its parameters, with applications to both military and commercial communications. In this paper, we investigate the identification of spatial multiplexing and Alamouti space-time block codes with single-carrier frequency-division multiple-access signals, when the receiver is equipped with a single antenna. We develop a discriminating feature based on a fourth-order statistic of the received signal as well as a constant false-alarm rate decision criterion that relies on the statistical properties of the feature estimate. Furthermore, we present the theoretical performance analysis of the proposed identification algorithm. The algorithm does not require channel or noise power estimation, modulation classification, and block synchronization. Simulation results show the validity of the proposed algorithm as well as a very good agreement with the theoretical analysis.
Semi-Markov Modeling-Clustering of Human Sleep with Efficient Initialization and Stopping

Collective Dynamical Modeling-Clustering (CDMC) is an algorithmic framework for time series dynamical modeling and clustering using probabilistic state-transition models. In this paper, an efficient initialization technique based on Itakura slope-constrained Dynamic Time Warping is applied to CDMC. Semi-Markov chains are used as the dynamical models. Experimental evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach in providing more realistic dynamical modeling of sleep stage dynamics than Markov models, with improved clustering quality and convergence speed as compared with pseudorandom initialization.
Formal Verification of Multi-Paxos for Distributed Consensus

This paper describes formal specification and verification of Lamport’s Multi-Paxos algorithm for distributed consensus. The specification is written in TLA+, Lamport’s Temporal Logic of Actions. The proof is written and checked using TLAPS, a proof system for TLA+. Building on Lamport, Merz, and Doligez’s specification and proof for Basic Paxos, we aim to facilitate the understanding of Multi-Paxos and its proof by minimizing the difference from those for Basic Paxos, and to demonstrate a general way of proving other variants of Paxos and other sophisticated distributed algorithms. We also discuss our general strategies for proving properties about sets and tuples that helped the proof check succeed in significantly reduced time.
Multiples: Signal or noise?

ABSTRACTMigration and migration inversion are the seismic processing methods for structural determination and subsequent amplitude analysis, respectively. To date, the most well-founded and physically interpretable migration method is based on predicting a coincident source and receiver experiment at depth at time equals zero. We have extended that migration method for heterogeneous media and to accommodate two-way propagation in a local sense at every point from the source to the target reflector and back from the reflector to the receiver and in a global sense, separately for each of the two legs from the source to the reflector and from the reflector to the receiver. That provides the first migration method that avoids high-frequency assumptions in the imaging principle and how it is implemented, and hence, it is equally effective at all frequencies at the target or reservoir. This advance for two-way wave propagation migration then provides a tool to quantitatively, unambiguously, and definitively def...
Th3[Th6(OH)4O4(H2O)6](SO4)12(H2O)13: A Self-Assembled Microporous Open-Framework Thorium Sulfate

A neutral-framework thorium oxohydroxosulfate hydrate has been isolated from aqueous solution. This microporous structure, which self-assembles without a templating agent, is built from [Th6(OH)4O4(H2O)6]12+ hexamers and thorium(IV) monomers linked through bridging sulfates. Solution conditions were chosen to enable an active competition between sulfate and hydroxide for thorium coordination. Synthetic requirements are discussed for this rare example of a thorium(IV) polynuclear complex containing mixed oxo-, hydroxo-, and sulfato-bridging moieties.
Nanomechanics of organic-rich shales: the role of thermal maturity and organic matter content on texture

Despite the importance of organic-rich shales, microstructural characterization and theoretical modeling of these rocks are limited due to their highly heterogeneous microstructure, complex chemistry, and multiscale mechanical properties. One of the sources of complexity in organic-rich shales is the intricate interplay between microtextural evolution and kerogen maturity. In this study, a suite of experimental and theoretical microporomechanics methods are developed to associate the mechanical properties of organic-rich shales both to their maturity level and to the organic content at micrometer and sub-micrometer length scales. Recent results from chemomechanical characterization experiments involving grid nanoindentation and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) are used in new micromechanical models to isolate the effects of maturity levels and organic content from the inorganic solids. These models enable attribution of the role of organic maturity to the texture of the indented material, with immature systems exhibiting a matrix-inclusion morphology, while mature systems exhibit a polycrystal morphology. Application of these models to the interpretation of nanoindentation results on organic-rich shales allows us to identify unique clay mechanical properties that are consistent with molecular simulation results for illite and independent of the maturity of shale formation and total organic content. The results of this investigation contribute to the design of a multiscale model of the fundamental building blocks of organic-rich shales, which can be used for the design and validation of multiscale predictive poromechanics models.
The modified Fontan operation for asplenia and polysplenia syndromes

From 1975 through 1986, 49 patients with asplenia (23 patients) or polysplenia (26 patients) syndromes underwent a modified Fontan operation. All patients had anomalous systemic venous return, and 43 (88%) had anomalous pulmonary venous return. The atrioventricular valve anatomy varied: 36 patients had a common atrial chamber and common atrioventricular valve, eight had mitral valve atresia, and five had severe mitral valve hypoplasia. Redirection of systemic venous return was accomplished by (1) atrial baffle (29 patients), (2) intraatrial conduit (19 patients), and (3) extraatrial conduit (one patient). There were 21 (43%) hospital deaths overall. However, since 1985, six of 22 patients (27%) have died. Increased mortality was seen in patients requiring atrioventricular valve repair or replacement (8/11, 73%) and in patients with asplenia (65%). Lower mortality was seen in patients with polysplenia (24%) and those receiving an intraatrial conduit (26%), although this decrease also represents the more recent experience. We conclude: (1) The Fontan operation for patients with asplenia or polysplenia syndromes has resulted in a significant (although recently declining) mortality; (2) mortality is higher in patients with asplenia; (3) patients with atrioventricular valve insufficiency requiring repair or replacement are at higher risk; and (4) intraatrial conduits seem to offer promise for successfully accomplishing this repair.
Smooth scaling ahead: Progressive MAS simulation from single PCs to grids

The emerging Computational Grid infrastructure poses many new opportunities for the developing science of large scale multi-agent simulation. The ability to migrate agent experiments seamlessly from simple, local single-processor development tools to large-scale distributed simulation environments provides valuable new models for experimentation and software engineering: first develop local, flexible prototypes, then as they become more stable progressively deploy and experiment with them at larger scales. Currently this kind of progressive scalability is hard for both practical and theoretical reasons: Practically, most agent platforms are designed for just one environment of operation. Smooth scalability is more than a matter of increasing agent numbers. Smooth scaling requires clear integration and consistent alignment between a variety of MAS system and simulation architectures and differing underlying infrastructures. This paper reports on recent progress with our experimental platform MACE3J, which now simulates MAS models seamlessly across a variety of scales and architecture types, from single PCs, to Single System Image (SSI) multicomputers, to heterogeneous distributed Grid environments.
THE “SEVEN QUESTIONS”: A NOVEL SURGICAL PLANNING STRATEGY BASED ON MILITARY DOCTRINE

Surgical planning is the first step in operative fracture management. Complex situations are often faced which pose difficulties on both technical and logistic fronts. Surgical planning is the first step in operative fracture management. The degree of planning that is required is therefore determined by a number of factors including: the nature of the injury mechanism and its concomitant physiological insult, complexity of the fracture and region, expertise of the surgical team and equipment limitations. This paper explores a novel planning process in orthopaedic trauma surgery based upon British Military Doctrine. The seven questions of surgical planning represent a novel method that draws inspiration from the combat estimate process. It benefits from a global approach that encompasses logistic as well as surgical constraints. This, in turn, allows the surgical team to form an understanding of the nature of the fracture in order to develop, document and deliver a surgical plan. This has benefits for the operating surgeon, operating room practitioners and trainees alike and ultimately can result in improved patient care.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma: recognition and treatment

Although they are common, careful attention is necessary to detect basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas early on. Suggestions for easier detection, as well as proper selection of therapy, are discussed.
Operation of Nist Josephson Array Voltage Standards

This paper begins with a brief discussion of the physical principles and history of Josephson effect voltage standards. The main body of the paper deals with the practical details of the array design, cryoprobe construction, bias source requirements, adjustment of the system for optimum performance, calibration algorithms, and an assessment of error sources for the NIST-developed Josephson array standard.
Experimental Evaluations of the Strength of Silicon Die by 3-Point-Bend Versus Ball-on-Ring Tests

Silicon wafers and dies are made of single crystalline material in semiconductor applications which must withstand high stresses within electronic packages. The apparent mechanical strength of single-crystalline Si depends on process induced defects. Mechanical bending tests are the simplest way to obtain the strength of Si dies and wafers and have been used for many years throughout the industry. Some of the bending tests, such as the 3-point-bend (3PB) test, provide a convoluted contribution from both the defects on die surface (caused by backgrinding and mishandling) and defects on die edges (caused by sawing or dicing). However, the ball-on-ring (BOR) test provides a way to single out the contribution of backside grinding defects to the die strength. This paper compares the results of both 3PB and BOR tests on a number of backgrinding and dicing processes. The die strength of the 3PB test is consistently less than that of the BOR test due to the fact that the edge defects are under tension for 3PB tests but not for BOR. It is demonstrated that the BOR test is a good method for backgrinding process optimization. Due to the intrinsic scattering nature of the strength data, a Weibull-based probabilistic mechanics approach is the method of choice to present the data.
Unrelated Donor Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation with and without Total Body Irradiation: A Single-Center Experience

e18001 Background: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is rich in hematopoietic stem cells. Because of its loose HLA-matching requirement and abundant resource available, UCB transplantation (UCBT) is emerg...
Nanosatellite optical downlink experiment: design, simulation, and prototyping

The nanosatellite optical downlink experiment (NODE) implements a free-space optical communications (lasercom) capability on a CubeSat platform that can support low earth orbit (LEO) to ground downlink rates>10 Mbps. A primary goal of NODE is to leverage commercially available technologies to provide a scalable and cost-effective alternative to radio-frequency-based communications. The NODE transmitter uses a 200-mW 1550-nm master-oscillator power-amplifier design using power-efficient M-ary pulse position modulation. To facilitate pointing the 0.12-deg downlink beam, NODE augments spacecraft body pointing with a microelectromechanical fast steering mirror (FSM) and uses an 850-nm uplink beacon to an onboard CCD camera. The 30-cm aperture ground telescope uses an infrared camera and FSM for tracking to an avalanche photodiode detector-based receiver. Here, we describe our approach to transition prototype transmitter and receiver designs to a full end-to-end CubeSat-scale system. This includes link budget refinement, drive electronics miniaturization, packaging reduction, improvements to pointing and attitude estimation, implementation of modulation, coding, and interleaving, and ground station receiver design. We capture trades and technology development needs and outline plans for integrated system ground testing.
Commodity Prices and Growth

In this article, we propose an endogenous growth model of commodity‐rich economies in which: (i) long‐run (steady‐state) growth is endogenous and yet independent of commodity prices; (ii) commodity prices affect short‐run growth through transitional dynamics; and (iii) the status of net commodity importer/exporter is endogenous. We argue that these predictions are consistent with historical evidence from the 19th to the 21st century.
Minimax Optimality of Shiryaev-Roberts Procedure for Quickest Drift Change Detection of a Brownian motion

ABSTRACTThe problem of detecting a change in the drift of a Brownian motion is considered. The change point is assumed to have a modified exponential prior distribution with unknown parameters. A worst-case analysis with respect to these parameters is adopted leading to a min–max problem formulation. Analytical and numerical justifications are provided toward establishing that the Shiryaev-Roberts procedure with a specially designed starting point is exactly optimal for the proposed mathematical setup.
A blind adaptive DS-CDMA receiver over Rayleigh fading channel

In this paper, we analyze the performance of a blind adaptive DS-CDMA receiver by using antenna array. This receiver structure is different from conventional receiver in the sense that it uses both time and spatial techniques combining with adaptive filtering to effectively suppress multiple access interference (MAI). The performance of this receiver is evaluated over Rayleigh fading channel in a one-cell network. We also compare the result with that of conventional correlation receiver to justify the performance gain.
Abstract knowledge versus direct experience in processing of binomial expressions

We ask whether word order preferences for binomial expressions of the form A and B (e.g. bread and butter) are driven by abstract linguistic knowledge of ordering constraints referencing the semantic, phonological, and lexical properties of the constituent words, or by prior direct experience with the specific items in questions. Using forced-choice and self-paced reading tasks, we demonstrate that online processing of never-before-seen binomials is influenced by abstract knowledge of ordering constraints, which we estimate with a probabilistic model. In contrast, online processing of highly frequent binomials is primarily driven by direct experience, which we estimate from corpus frequency counts. We propose a trade-off wherein processing of novel expressions relies upon abstract knowledge, while reliance upon direct experience increases with increased exposure to an expression. Our findings support theories of language processing in which both compositional generation and direct, holistic reuse of multi-word expressions play crucial roles.
Willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis among Black and White men who have sex with men in Atlanta, Georgia

PrEP willingness may be different among black and white men who have sex with men (MSM) given known disparities in HIV incidence, sociodemographic factors, and healthcare access between these groups. We surveyed 482 black and white HIV-negative MSM in Atlanta, GA about their willingness to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and facilitators and barriers to PrEP willingness. Overall, 45% (215/482) of men indicated interest in using PrEP. Engaging in recent unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) was the only factor significantly associated with PrEP willingness in multivariate analyses (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.13, 2.65). Willing men identified “extra protection” against HIV as the most common reason for interest in using PrEP, whereas unwilling men most commonly cited not wanting to take medication daily, and this reason was more common among white MSM (42.3% of white MSM vs. 28.9% of black MSM, p = 0.04). Most men indicated willingness to use PrEP if cost was <50 dollars/month; however, more black MSM indicated wil...
A class of profinite Hopf-Galois extensions over Q

ABSTRACTFor p>2 prime and a a rational which is not a pn-th power for any n, the extension ℚ(wn)∕ℚ where wn=apn is separable but non-normal. The Hopf-Galois theory for such extensions was determined by Greither and Pareigis, and for radical extensions such as these by the author. In this work, we extend this theory to a class of profinite extensions formed from the union of these finite radical extensions. We construct a “profinite” Hopf algebra which acts satisfying a generalization of a result due to Haggenmuller and Pareigis on Hopf algebra forms of group algebras.