cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching Science and Ethics to Undergraduates: A Multidisciplinary Approach

The teaching of the ethical implications of scientific advances in science courses for undergraduates has significant advantages for both science and non-science majors. The article describes three courses taught by the author as examples of the concept, and examines the disadvantages as well as the advantages. A significant advantage of this approach is that many students take the courses primarily because of the ethical component who would not otherwise take science. A disadvantage is less time in the course for the science; arguably, this is outweighed by the greater retention of the science when it is put into context.
Adaptive Distributed Algorithms for Optimal Random Access Channels

We develop adaptive scheduling and power control algorithms for random access in a multiple access channel where terminals acquire instantaneous channel state information but do not know the probability distribution of the channel. In each time slot, terminals measure the channel to the common access point. Based on the observed channel value, they determine whether to transmit or not and, if they decide to do so, adjust their transmitted power. We remark that there is no coordination between terminals and that adaptation is to the local channel value only. It is shown that the proposed algorithm almost surely maximizes a proportional fair utility while adhering to instantaneous and average power constraints. Important properties of the algorithm are low computational complexity and the ability to handle non-convex rate functions. Numerical results on a randomly generated network with heterogeneous users corroborate theoretical results.
Measuring the biases in self-reported disability status: evidence from aggregate data

Self-reported health status measures are generally used to analyse Social Security Disability Insurance's (SSDI) application and award decisions as well as the relationship between its generosity and labour force participation. Due to endogeneity and measurement error, the use of self-reported health and disability indicators as explanatory variables in economic models is problematic. We employ county-level aggregate data, instrumental variables and spatial econometric techniques to analyse the determinants of variation in SSDI rates and explicitly account for the endogeneity and measurement error of the self-reported disability measure. Two surprising results are found. First, it is shown that measurement error is the dominating source of the bias and that the main source of measurement error is sampling error. Second, results suggest that there may be synergies for applying for SSDI when the disabled population is larger.
Cryptanalyzing the polynomial-reconstruction based public-key system under optimal parameter choice

In Eurocrypt 2004 Augot and Finiasz presented a coding theoretic public key cryptosystem that suggests a new approach for designing such systems based on the Polynomial Reconstruction Problem (PR). Their cryptosystem is an instantiation of this approach under a specific choice of parameters which, given the state of the art of coding theory, we show in this work to be sub-optimal. Coron showed how to attack the Augot and Finiasz cryptosystem. A question left open is whether the general approach suggested by the cryptosystem works or not. In this work, we show that the general approach (rather than only the instantiation) is broken as well.
Towards model-based generation of self-priming and self-checking conformance tests for interactive systems

Abstract This paper describes a model-based approach to generate conformance tests for interactive applications. Our method addresses generation of: (1) small yet effective set of test frames for testing individual operations, (2) a Set up sequence that brings the system under test in an appropriate state for a test frame ( self - priming ), (3) a Verification sequence for expected output and state changes ( self - checking ), and, (4) negative test cases in the presence of exceptions. Our method exploits a novel mutation scheme applied to operations modeled as relationships among parameters and state variables; a set of novel abstraction techniques which result in a compact finite state automaton; and search techniques to automatically generate the set up and verification sequences. We illustrate our method with a simple ATM application.
Colloidal Transition-Metal-Doped ZnO Quantum Dots

Methods for introducing new magnetic, optical, electronic, photophysical, or photochemical properties to semiconductor nanocrystals are attracting intense applications-oriented interest. In this communication, we report the preparation and electronic absorption spectroscopy of colloidal ZnO DMS-QDs. Our synthetic procedure involves modification of literature methods known to yield highly crystalline and relatively monodisperse nanocrystals of pure ZnO to allow introduction of transition-metal dopants. We use ligand-field electronic absorption spectroscopy as a dopant-specific optical probe to monitor dopant incorporation during nanocrystal growth and to verify internal substitutional doping in Co2+:ZnO and Ni2+:ZnO DMS-QDs. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first free-standing oxide DMS-QDs reported. The synthesis of colloidal oxide DMS-QDs introduces a new category of magnetic semiconductor materials available for detailed physical study and application in nanotechnology.
Do Heterogeneous Beliefs Matter for Asset Pricing

We study how heterogeneous beliefs affect returns and examine whether they are a priced factor in traditional asset pricing models. To accomplish this task, we suggest new empirical measures based on the disagreement among analysts about expected earnings (short-term and long-term) and show they are good proxies. We first establish that the heterogeneity of beliefs matters for asset pricing and then turn our attention to estimating a structural model in which we use the forecasts of financial analysts to proxy for agents' beliefs. Finally, we investigate whether the amount of heterogeneity in analysts' forecasts can help explain asset pricing puzzles. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.
Pubertal neurodevelopment and the emergence of psychotic symptoms

One of the chief epidemiological hallmarks of schizophrenia is its modal age at onset in early adulthood. Clinical onset is preceded by an adolescent period that is usually characterized by increasing adjustment problems. Recent theorizing about the etiology of schizophrenia has focused on postpubertal brain changes that may be involved in triggering the expression of vulnerability for schizophrenia. In this paper, we further examine the normal neurodevelopmental processes that occur in adolescence and the underlying role of hormonal factors in controlling the expression of genes that govern brain maturation. We then consider how postpubertal hormone changes might serve to trigger the expression of vulnerability genes that code for abnormal brain development.
MgI2-accelerated enantioselective Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions of cyclopentenone utilizing a chiral DMAP catalyst

Fu's planar chiral DMAP catalyst efficiently promotes the asymmetric Morita–Baylis–Hillman reactions of cyclopentenone with a variety of aldehydes in the presence of MgI2 as a cocatalyst.
A Global Physical Model for Cepheids

We perform a global fit to ~5000 radial velocity and ~177, 000?magnitude measurements in 29 photometric bands covering 0.3 ?m to 8.0 ?m distributed among 287 Galactic, Large Magellanic Cloud, and Small Magellanic Cloud Cepheids with P > 10?days. We assume that the Cepheid light curves and radial velocities are fully characterized by distance, reddening, and time-dependent radius and temperature variations. We construct phase curves of radius and temperature for periods between 10 and 100?days, which yield light-curve templates for all our photometric bands and can be easily generalized to any additional band. With only four to six parameters per Cepheid, depending on the existence of velocity data and the amount of freedom in the distance, the models have typical rms light and velocity curve residuals of 0.05?mag and 3.5?km?s?1. The model derives the mean Cepheid spectral energy distribution and its derivative with respect to temperature, which deviate from a blackbody in agreement with metal-line and molecular opacity effects. We determine a mean reddening law toward the Cepheids in our sample, which is not consistent with standard assumptions in either the optical or near-IR. Based on stellar atmosphere models, we predict the biases in distance, reddening, and temperature determinations due to the metallicity and quantify the metallicity signature expected for our fit residuals. The observed residuals as a function of wavelength show clear differences between the individual galaxies, which are compatible with these predictions. In particular, we find that metal-poor Cepheids appear hotter. Finally, we provide a framework for optimally selecting filters that yield the smallest overall errors in Cepheid parameter determination or filter combinations for suppressing or enhancing the metallicity effects on distance determinations. We make our templates publicly available.
Repeated Elections with Asymmetric Information

An infinite sequence of elections with no term limits is modelled. In each period a challenger with privately known preferences is randomly drawn from the electorate to run against the incumbent, and the winner chooses a policy outcome in a one-dimensional issue space. One theorem is that there exists an equilibrium in which the median voter is decisive: an incumbent wins re-election if and only if his most recent policy choice gives the median voter a payoff at least as high as he would expect from a challenger. The equilibrium is symmetric, stationary, and the behavior of voters is consistent with both retrospective and prospective voting. A second theorem is that, in fact, it is the only equilibrium possessing the latter four conditions — decisiveness of the median voter is implied by them.
Down to Earth: Race and Substance in the Andes

Abstract The racial identities of Indians and mestizos in a highland Peruvian region are closely associated with their relative positions to the earth. The agricultural Indians are closer to the earth and the town-dwelling mestizos are further from it. This distinction is maintained and reinforced through the use of material objects in everyday life, especially earthen objects (adobe bricks, clay pots, dirt roads) and to earth-touching objects (shoes, floors). This distinction accords with the relativity and fluidity of racial identities of individuals. The origins of this notion are traced to political and religious ideology in colonial and postcolonial Peru.
Connecting Polygonizations via Stretches and Twangs

We show that the space of polygonizations of a fixed planar point set S of n points is connected by O(n 2) “moves” between simple polygons. Each move is composed of a sequence of atomic moves called “stretches” and “twangs,” which walk between weakly simple “polygonal wraps” of S. These moves show promise to serve as a basis for generating random polygons.
Preparation of pyrrolin-2-ones and 4,5-dihydrodipyrrin-1-ones by oxidation of α-formylpyrroles and α-formyldipyrromethanes with hydrogen peroxide

Abstract Various substituted α-formylpyrroles and -dipyrromethanes have been oxidized by hydrogen peroxide under mild conditions to give pyrrolin-2-ones ( 2 ) and 4,5-dihydrodipyrrin-1-ones ( 4 ) with concomitant loss of the formyl substituent, thus extending the scope of this oxidation to dipyrromethanes. This makes the reaction especially useful for the preparation of bile pigments, for which the pyrrolinones and 4,5-dihydrodipyrrinones constitute important synthons.
A randomized trial of walking versus physical methods for chronic pain management

We conducted a pilot study to evaluate a practical exercise program for elderly people with chronic musculo-skeletal pain. Thirty-three subjects (mean age, 73 years; 69% back pain; 24% knee pain; 9% hip pain) were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Group 1 received a 6-week supervised program of walking. Group 2 received a pain education program that included instruction and demonstration of use of heat, cold, massage, relaxation and distraction. Group 3 received usual care. Outcomes including pain, self-reported health and functional status, and performance-based measures of functional status were evaluated at baseline, at two weeks and at eight weeks (end of study). Attendance was 100% for the education sessions and 93% for walking sessions. No injuries were sustained. Both intervention groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain (p<0.05) and performance-based measures of functional status (p<0.05), while the control group had no changes. These data suggest that patient education and fitness walking can improve overall pain management and related functional limitations among elderly people with chronic musculo-skeletal pain.
An Eccentric Hot Jupiter Orbiting the Subgiant HD 185269

We report the detection of a Jupiter-mass planet in a 6.838 day orbit around the 1.28 M_☉ subgiant HD 185269. The eccentricity of HD 185269b (e = 0.30) is unusually large compared to other planets within 0.1 AU of their stars. Photometric observations demonstrate that the star is constant to ±0.0001 mag on the radial velocity period, strengthening our interpretation of a planetary companion. This planet was detected as part of our radial velocity survey of evolved stars located on the subgiant branch of the H-R diagram—also known as the Hertzsprung gap. These stars, which have masses between 1.2 and 2.5 M_☉, play an important role in the investigation of the frequency of extrasolar planets as a function of stellar mass.
Multi-touch points detection for capacitive touch panel

We consider the detection of multiple touch points for capacitive touch panel systems under Gaussian noise. We propose an algorithm that reduces the noise-induced detection error and improves the detection accuracy with partial touch signal information. The proposed algorithm is based on the likelihood ratio test, and utilizes the touch signal features, such as the local maximum, the range of touch magnitude, and the consecutive occurrence of touch locations, to first detect touch points and then calculates the real touch coordinates based on the weighting average technique. Simulation demonstrates the improved performance of the proposed algorithm.
In Support of a Broad Model of Public Health: Disparities, Social Epidemiology and Public Health Causation

This article defends a broad model of public health, one that specifically addresses the social epidemiologic research suggesting that social conditions are primary determinants of health. The article proceeds by critiquing one of the strongest arguments in favor of a narrow model, advanced by Mark Rothstein. The critique sets up the argument that a model of public health that does not address what actually causes health and disease is unlikely to improve public health. Assessing the substantial evidence regarding the social determinants of health, the article engages the policy paradox that precludes utopian prescriptions but demands more than mere expedience.
Alkyne hydrosilylation catalyzed by nickel complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes

Abstract The addition of triethylsilane, triphenylsilane, and triethoxysilane to a variety of alkynes is catalyzed by complexes derived from Ni(COD) 2 and N -heterocyclic carbenes. A description of the reaction scope and potential mechanistic implications in nickel-catalyzed additions of aldehydes, alkynes, and silanes is provided.
Highly Loaded Axial Flow Compressors: History and Current Developments

This paper discusses approaches taken over many years to achieve very high loading levels in axial-flow compressors. These efforts have been associated predominantly with aircraft turbine engines. The objective has been to reduce the size and weight of the powerplant, to increase its simplicity and ruggedness, and, whenever possible, to reduce cost. In the introduction, some fundamentals are reviewed that indicate that increased work per stage can only be obtained at a cost of increased Mach number, increased diffusion, or both. The earliest examples cited are some ambitious development programs of the 1950s and 1960s. Some innovative schemes to increase diffusion limits are described that took place in the 1960s and 1970s. Major advancements in dealing with higher Mach number were made in the 1980s. Finally, a few thoughts directed toward potential future developments are presented.
Role of fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling in kidney development.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (Fgfrs) consist of four signaling family members and one nonsignaling “decoy” receptor, Fgfr-like 1 (Fgfrl1), all of which are expressed in the developing kidney....
Application of advanced electrical waveform monitoring and analytics for reduction of wildfire risk

Modern power distribution systems enjoy excellent reliability, but lines and apparatus do fail, sometimes catastrophically. Failing apparatus often create arcing and/or heating capable of igniting proximate combustible material.
Stereoselective syntheses and evaluation of compounds in the 8-desmethylepothilone a series: Some surprising observations regarding their chemical and biological properties

Abstract The title compounds have been synthesized in a convergent way by recourse to a Weiler type dianion construction.
Discretely Exact Derivatives for Hyperbolic PDE-Constrained Optimization Problems Discretized by the Discontinuous Galerkin Method

This paper discusses the computation of derivatives for optimization problems governed by linear hyperbolic systems of partial differential equations (PDEs) that are discretized by the discontinuous Galerkin (dG) method. An efficient and accurate computation of these derivatives is important, for instance, in inverse problems and optimal control problems. This computation is usually based on an adjoint PDE system, and the question addressed in this paper is how the discretization of this adjoint system should relate to the dG discretization of the hyperbolic state equation. Adjoint-based derivatives can either be computed before or after discretization; these two options are often referred to as the optimize-then-discretize and discretize-then-optimize approaches. We discuss the relation between these two options for dG discretizations in space and Runge---Kutta time integration. The influence of different dG formulations and of numerical quadrature is discussed. Discretely exact discretizations for several hyperbolic optimization problems are derived, including the advection equation, Maxwell's equations and the coupled elastic-acoustic wave equation. We find that the discrete adjoint equation inherits a natural dG discretization from the discretization of the state equation and that the expressions for the discretely exact gradient often have to take into account contributions from element faces. For the coupled elastic-acoustic wave equation, the correctness and accuracy of our derivative expressions are illustrated by comparisons with finite difference gradients. The results show that a straightforward discretization of the continuous gradient differs from the discretely exact gradient, and thus is not consistent with the discretized objective. This inconsistency may cause difficulties in the convergence of gradient based algorithms for solving optimization problems.
Use of Thallium(I) Ethoxide in Suzuki Cross Coupling Reactions

Thallium(I) ethoxide promotes Suzuki cross couplings for a range of vinyl- and arylboronic acids with vinyl and aryl halide partners in good to excellent yields. This reagent offers distinct advantages over thallium(I) hydroxide in terms of commercial availability, stability, and ease of use.
A Statistical Characterization of Regular Simplices

The positive interpoint distances of n=p+1>1 points in dimension p are equal if and only if their sample covariance matrix is a scalar multiple of the identity.
Avoiding market dominance: product compatibility in markets with network effects

As is well recognized, market dominance is a typical outcome in markets with network effects. A firm with a larger installed base offers a more attractive product which induces more consumers to buy its product which produces a yet bigger installed base advantage. Such a setting is investigated here but with the main difference that firms have the option of making their products compatible. When firms have similar installed bases, they make their products compatible in order to expand the market. Nevertheless, random forces could result in one firm having a bigger installed base, in which case the larger firm may make its product incompatible. We find that strategic pricing tends to prevent the installed base differential from expanding to the point that incompatibility occurs. This pricing dynamic is able to neutralize increasing returns and avoid the emergence of market dominance.
Transforming spatial point processes into Poisson processes

Abstract In 1986, Merzbach and Nualart demonstrated a method of transforming a two-parameter point process into a planar Poisson process of unit rate, using random stopping sets. Merzbach and Nualart's theorem applies only to a special class of point processes, since it requires two restrictive conditions: (F4) condition of conditional independence and the convexity of the 1-compensator. (F4) condition was removed in 1990 by Nair, but the convexity condition remained. Here both (F4) condition and the convexity condition are removed by making use of predictable sets rather than stopping sets. As with Nair's theorem, the result extends to point processes in higher dimensions.
Gravitational radiation and the small-scale structure of cosmic strings

Abstract We calculate the gravitational radiation emitted by an infinite cosmic string with two oppositely moving wave-trains, in the small amplitude approximation. After comparing our result to the previously studied cases we extend the results to a new regime where the wavelengths of the opposing wave-trains are very different. We show that in this case the amount of power radiated vanishes exponentially. This means that small excitations moving in only one direction may be very long lived, and so the size of the smallest scales in a string network might be much smaller than what one would expect from gravitational back reaction. This result allows for a potential host of interesting cosmological possibilities involving ultra-high energy cosmic rays, gamma ray bursts and gravitational wave bursts.
Test data as an aid in proving program correctness

Proofs of program correctness tend to be long and tedious, whereas testing, though useful in detecting errors, usually does not guarantee correctness. This paper introduces a technique whereby test data can be used in proving program correctness. In addition to simplifying the process of providing correctness, this method simplifies the process of providing accurate specification for a program. The applicability of this technique to procedures and recursive programs is demonstrated.
Dry Holes in Economic Research: Comment

In their analysis of the productivity of economic research David Laband and Robert Tollison (2003) concluded that the increased investment made in economic research since the mid-1970s has gone to reward rent-seeking and was therefore wasted. This hypothesis may – or may not – be correct, but the evidence they cite fails to support it. This evidence is that despite the much greater resources flowing into economic research the proportion of ‘dry holes’, that is papers that were not cited even once in the five years following their publication, was virtually the same in 1996 as in 1974. There are three problems with their evidence, one theoretical and the other two related to the measure they use. The former is that a constant proportion of dry holes is, as discussed below, consistent with a positive productivity of investment in economic research. The latter two are that the five-year horizon that Laband and Tollison use is too short, and that the link between a paper being cited and it being productive is not all that strong.
Proceedings of the 7th ACM international workshop on Data warehousing and OLAP

The ACM International Workshop on Data Warehousing and Online Analytical Processing (DOLAP) is an annual event that provides an international forum where both researchers and practitioners can share their findings in theoretical foundations, current methodologies, practical experiences, and new research directions in the areas of data warehousing and online analytical processing. The main theme of seventh DOLAP workshop is the methods, technologies, and tools that enable the Business Intelligence lifecycle from data modeling and acquisition to knowledge extraction to delivery of results across a wide variety of organizations including corporate, scientific, government, and healthcare domains. These proceedings contain the papers selected for presentation at the workshop. We received 29 submissions from 13 different countries. After careful review, the program committee selected 14 papers for presentation at the workshop. The accepted papers were presented in 4 sessions: Physical Design, OLAP, Business Intelligence, and Query/View Processing. A keynote address was given by Kareem M. Saad of IBM Healthcare and Life Sciences on clinical/genomics data warehousing to support information-based medicine. We hope that these proceedings will serve as a valuable reference for data warehousing and OLAP researchers and practitioners.
Development of a Formal [4 + 1] Cycloaddition : Pd(OAc)2-Catalyzed Intramolecular Cyclopropanation of 1,3-Dienyl β-Keto Esters and MgI2-Promoted Vinylcyclopropane-Cyclopentene Rearrangement

A formal [4 + 1] cycloaddition of 1,3-dienyl β-keto esters has been developed. This two step process involves Pd(II)-catalyzed intramolecular cyclopropanation to produce vinylcyclopropanes and a subsequent mild vinylcyclopropane−cyclopentene rearrangement promoted by MgI2. The cyclopropanation method notably requires the use of Mg(ClO4)2, presumably to facilitate keto−enol tautomerization, and is greatly improved by the use of copper(II) isobutyrate as co-oxidant. A range of substrates with various substitution patterns is demonstrated.
Behavioral experiments on handmarkings

Handmarkings or handwritten editing marks can be used as direct editing commands to an interactive computer system. Five exploratory experiments studied the potential value of handmarkings for editing text and pictures, as well as for some specific results. Circles are the most frequently used scoping mark, and arrows are the most frequently used operator and target indicators. Experimental comparisons showed that handmarkings have the potential to be faster than keyboards and mice for editing tasks. Their ultimate value will, however, depend on the style and details of their user-interface implementation.
Formal total synthesis of (±)-aflatoxin B2 utilizing the rhodium carbenoid dipolar cycloaddition

A formal total synthesis of (±)-aflatoxin B2 has been completed using as the key step the rhodium-mediated dipolar cycloaddition of a cyclic rhodium carbenoid to dihydrofuran.
Temperature Variability over Africa

AbstractThe variation of near-surface air temperature anomalies in Africa between 1979 and 2010 is investigated primarily using Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) total lower-tropospheric temperature data from the Remote Sensing Systems (RSS) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) datasets. Significant increasing temperature trends were found in each of the following regions examined: all of Africa, Northern Hemisphere Africa, Southern Hemisphere Africa, tropical Africa, and subtropical Africa. Considering the months June–August, regions in both North and South Africa saw significantly warmer temperatures in the most recent period 1995–2010 than in the period 1979–94. However, for the months December–February, the significant warming was concentrated in the north of Africa. When the two most recent decades are compared with the period 1979–90, warming is observed over these same regions and is concentrated in the most recent decade, from 2001 to 2010. The results presented here indicate that the cli...
Quality ratings by experts, and relation with descriptive analysis ratings: a case study with beer.

Abstract The sensory properties (up to 36 attributes) and quality of 71 commercial beers in six categories (domestic/ice, imported, light, near beers, specialty lagers and specialty ales) were evaluated in quintuplicate by a panel of 17 brewing experts over 4 months, using a descriptive analysis method and quality ratings on a 0–15 category scale. A high-quality beer was defined jointly by the panel and the experimenters as free of defects, true to type and well balanced, with some degree of complexity. A highly-significant judge by beer interaction was found in the ANOVAs of the quality ratings for the six beer categories, indicative of differences among experts in the interpretation of the concept of quality. Interestingly, attributes indicative of defects (e.g. dimethyl sulfide, sulfury, skunky/lightstruck, oxidized/cardboard) were better (negative) predictors of quality than desirable beer attributes (e.g. fruity, boiled hop aroma, malty, bitterness). This suggests lack of defects is the most important component of beer sensory quality (for experts).
Solitons and helices: the search for a math-physics bridge

We present evidence for an undiscovered link between N=2 super-symmetric quantum field theories and the mathematical theory of helices of coherent sheaves. We give a thorough review for nonspecialists of both the mathematics and physics involved, and invite the reader to take up the search for this elusive connection.
Coil−Stretch Transition of DNA Molecules in Slitlike Confinement

We experimentally investigate the influence of slitlike confinement on the coil−stretch transition of single DNA molecules in a homogeneous planar elongational electric field. We observe a more gradual coil−stretch transition characterized by two distinct critical strain rates for DNA in confinement, different from the unconfined case where a single critical strain rate exists. We postulate that the change in the coil−stretch transition is due to a modified spring law in confinement. We develop a dumbbell model to extract an effective spring law by following the relaxation of an initially stretched DNA. We then use this spring law and kinetic theory modeling to predict the extension and fluctuations of DNA in planar elongational fields. The model predicts that a two-stage coil−stretch transition emerges in confinement, in accord with experimental observations.
Framework for formulation and analysis of parallel computation structures

Abstract This paper gives a systematic methodology for the formulation of parallel computation structures and algorithms. The fundamental definition of a computation structure is a graph where each node is the binding of an action to a data object and the arcs are the dependency relationships between the unit computations executed at the nodes. The structure of the graph is determined by the selection of elements for the model of computation in which the graph is expressed. An abstract machine is created by defining the resources including for example instruction sets for the processors, which realize the conceptual elements of the model of parallel computations. An algorithm is a mapping of the computation graph to the abstract machine and a program which traverses the mapped graph to execute the computation. The methodology proceeds by describing parallel computations on successively more fully specified abstract machines. A model of parallel computation is selected and an abstract machine implementing the model of computation is defined. Specification of increasingly resolved abstract machines is structured by both increasing the span of elements from the model of computation represented in the machine and be increasing the level of detail resolved for each element.
COMBINING LOADS FROM RANDOM AND HARMONIC EXCITATION USING THE MONTE CARLO TECHNIQUE

Structures in many environments experience both random and harmonic excitation. A new method that generates a consistent design value for the combination of the loads resulting from these simultaneous excitations using the Monte Carlo technique is presented in this paper. The standard method, which adds the amplitude of the sine load to 3 times the root mean square (RMS) of the random load using simple hand calculations, yields unnecessarily overconservative values because it assumes the sine peak value always occurs simultaneously with the peak random value, which is unrealistic. The value obtained with the new method removes this extra conservatism, which can be critical for lightweight aerospace components. It also quantifies the load value obtained with a consistent reliability value, unlike the traditional technique. Because of the flatness of the cumulative distribution function (CDF) at high reliability levels, the design value is extremely sensitive to the reliability level chosen, so the choice of aconsistent value is very important. Finally, because of the tremendous advances in computing power in recent years, the calculation of the combined load using this Monte Carlo technique is as fast as the older method.
Quaternionic Geometry of Matroids

Building on a recent paper [8], here we argue that the combinatorics of matroids are intimately related to the geometry and topology of toric hyperkahler varieties. We show that just like toric varieties occupy a central role in Stanley’s proof for the necessity of McMullen’s conjecture (or g-inequalities) about the classification of face vectors of simplicial polytopes, the topology of toric hyperkahler varieties leads to new restrictions on face vectors of matroid complexes. Namely in this paper we will give two proofs that the injectivity part of the Hard Lefschetz theorem survives for toric hyperkahler varieties. We explain how this implies the g-inequalities for rationally representable matroids. We show how the geometrical intuition in the first proof, coupled with results of Chari [3], leads to a proof of the g-inequalities for general matroid complexes, which is a recent result of Swartz [20]. The geometrical idea in the second proof will show that a pure O-sequence should satisfy the g-inequalities, thus showing that our result is in fact a consequence of a long-standing conjecture of Stanley.
Airframe/propulsion integration at transonic speeds

A significant level of research is ongoing at NASA's Langley Research center on integrating the propulsion system with the aircraft. This program has included nacelle/pylon/wing integration for turbofan transports, propeller/nacelle/wing integration for turboprop transports, and nozzle/afterbody/empennage integration for high-performance aircraft. The studies included in this paper focus more specifically on pylon shaping and nacelle bypass ratio studies for turbofan transports, nacelle and wing contouring, and propeller location effects for turboprop transports, empennage effects, and thrust vectoring for high-performance aircraft. The studies were primarily conducted in NASA Langley's 16-Foot Transonic Tunnel at Mach numbers up to 1.20.
Formal reduction potential of 3,5-difluorotyrosine in a structured protein: insight into multistep radical transfer.

The reversible Y–O•/Y–OH redox properties of the α3Y model protein allow access to the electrochemical and thermodynamic properties of 3,5-difluorotyrosine. The unnatural amino acid has been incorp...
Did the EPA's voluntary industrial toxics program reduce emissions? A GIS analysis of distributional impacts and by-media analysis of substitution

Abstract Voluntary programs in which manufacturing plants pledge to reduce their emissions beyond the legal requirement have been promoted as a low-cost way to achieve health and environmental protection. The EPA's Industrial Toxics program is evaluated using an author-assembled GIS-database of manufacturing plants in the 48 contiguous states, controlling for mandated reductions in ozone depleting chemicals and changes in reporting of emissions. I find that, controlling for participants’ self-selection into the program, relative to non-participants, participants do not reduce their health-indexed emissions of target chemicals in several key industries. Where reductions are detected in selected industries, participants’ increased off-site transfers to recyclers give reasons to question whether this program truly reduced emissions. Moreover, the program did not reduce emissions in less politically active communities.
Do Health Plans Risk-Select? An Audit Study on Germany’s Social Health Insurance

Abstract This paper evaluates whether health plans in Germany's Social Health Insurance select on an easily observable predictor of risk: geography. To identify plan behavior separately from concurrent demand-side adverse selection, I implement a double-blind audit study in which plans are contacted by fictitious applicants from different locations. I find that plans are less likely to respond and follow-up with applicants from higher-cost regions, such as West Germany. The results suggest that supply-side selection may emerge even in heavily regulated insurance markets. The prospect of risk selection by firms has implications for studies of demand-side selection and regulatory policy in these settings.
Strategies for high throughput, templated zeolite synthesis

The design and redesign of high throughput experiments for zeolite synthesis are addressed. A model that relates materials function to the chemical composition of the zeolite and the structure directing agent is introduced. Using this model, several Monte Carlo-like design protocols are evaluated. Multi-round protocols are bound to be effective, and strategies that use a priori information about the structure-directing libraries are found to be the best.
Polyfluoro N-aryloxaziridines. Synthesis and thermal rearrangement

Abstract Previously unknown perfluoroaryl imines of polyfluoroketones were prepared in 60%–70% yield by reaction of the imines of hexafluoroacetone, chloropentafluoroacetone and 1,3-dichlorotetrafluoroacetone with pentafluoropyridine or perfluotoluene. Oxidation of these N -perfluoroaryl imines by m -chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA) in sulfolane leads to the formation of the corresponding oxaziridines in 60%–90% yield. At elevated temperature the N -aryloxaziridines readily rearrange into the respective N -arylamides of chlorodifluoro- and trifluoro-acetic acid.
U.S. floods and their management

My earliest knowledge about floods was gained as a ‘tad’ in Sunday school. There I learned that a flood some 4500 years ago covered all the earth. Recently, I realized that Noah must have been the world's best floodplain manager of all time. He had warning enough to build an ark. Soon after that lesson in Sunday school, probably in grammar school, I learned that floods were good. Their springtime overflow brought necessary fertility on floodplains to grow needed summer crops for food. I heard this same theory advanced just last year in a. sound motion picture, ‘Planning for Floods,’ produced by the Environmental Defense Fund, Incorporated. Counter theory argues that floodplain overflow merely moves fertility from upstream to downstream and lavishes abundant weed seeds upon the floodplains at both locations.
Molecular playdough: conformationally programmable molecular receptors based on restricted rotation

A new method for rapidly tailoring molecular properties is presented in which the three-dimensional shape of a malleable framework is controlled by heating with a template molecule.
Generalized character sums associated to regular prehomogeneous vector spaces

In this paper we consider the analogue of the Sato's functional equation for the prehomogeneous vector spaces over finite fields. The corresponding character sums depend on a relative invariant on such a space and an irreducible representation of the group of components of the stabilizer of a generic point. The proof is based on the Picard-Lefschetz formula in $l$-adique cohomology.
Self-Assembling Organic Nanotubes

Hollow tubular structures of molecular dimensions perform diverse biological functions in nature. Examples include scaffolding and packaging roles played by cytoskeletal microtubules and viral coat proteins, respectively, as well as the chemical transport and screening activities of membrane channels. In the preparation of such tubular assemblies, biological systems make extensive use of self-assembling and self-organizing strategies. Owing to numerous potential applications in areas such as chemistry, biology, and materials science considerable effort has recently been devoted to preparation of artificial nanotubular structures. This article reviews design principles and the preparation of synthetic organic nanotubes, with special emphasis on noncovalent processes such as self-assembly and self-organization.
Shocking Clouds in the Cygnus Loop

With Hubble Space Telescope Wide-Field Planetary Camera 2 observations of the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant, we examine the interaction of an interstellar cloud with the blast wave on physical scales of 1015 cm. The shock front is distorted, revealing both edge-on and face-on views of filaments and diffuse emission, similar to those observed on larger scales at lower resolution. We identify individual shocks in the cloud of density n ≈ 15 cm-3 having velocity vs ≈ 170 km s-1. We also find the morphologically unusual diffuse Balmer-dominated emission of faster shocks in a lower density region. The obstacle diffracts these shocks, so they propagate at oblique angles with respect to the primary blast wave. The intricate network of diffuse and filamentary Hα emission arises during the early stage of interaction between the cloud and blast wave, demonstrating that complex shock propagation and emission morphology occur before the onset of instabilities that destroy clouds completely.
Transitional Justice and Peace Building: Diagnosing and Addressing the Socioeconomic Roots of Violence through a Human Rights Framework

1 Increasing numbers of violent street protests and riots caused by socioeconomic grievances often occur in countries whose truth commissions have studied similar past episodes of violence and repression. These new cycles of violence push us to ask what more transitional justice can do to promote the aims of reconciliation and sustainable peace. The author proposes that truth commissions expand their mandates to include a legal framework that examines the socioeconomic root causes of violence in terms of violations of economic, social and cultural rights. This approach would help increase the compulsion felt by states to redress these conditions, and at the same time would provide local actors with a legitimate platform to lobby for solutions to their grievances. She argues that if the underlying socioeconomic structures that lead to violence are not addressed, sustainable peace will remain beyond our reach. In this way, the proposal supports the development- security nexus paradigm adopted in the last decade in UN peace-building operations. To complement this work, truth commissions could contribute to postconflict recovery first by diagnosing the socioeconomic causes of conflict and then by issuing recommendations that would orient national political agendas toward addressing poverty and structural inequalities, namely through the promotion of sustainable development.
A Bargaining Model of Collective Choice

We present a general model of legislative bargaining in which the status quo is an arbitrary point in a multidimensional policy space. In contrast to other bargaining models, the status quo is not assumed to be "bad," and delay may be Pareto efficient. We prove existence of stationary equilibria. The possibility of equilibrium delay depends on four factors: risk aversion of the legislators , the dimensionality of the policy space, the voting rule, and the possibility of transfers across districts. If legislators are risk averse, if there is more than one policy dimension, and if voting is by majority rule, for example, then delay will almost never occur. In one dimension, delay is possible if and only if the status quo lies in the core of the voting rule, and then it is the only possible outcome. This "core selection" result yields a game-theoretic foundation for the well-known median voter theorem. Our comparative statics analysis yield two noteworthy insights: (i) if the status quo is close to the core, t hen equilibrium policy outcomes will also be close to the core (a moderate status quo produces moderate policy outcomes), and (ii) if legislators are patient, then equilibrium proposals will be close to the core (legislative patience leads to policy moderation).
The density of prime divisors in the arithmetic dynamics of quadratic polynomials

Let f [x], and consider the recurrence given by an = f(an � 1), with a0 . Denote by P(f, a0) the set of prime divisors of this recurrence, that is, the set of primes dividing at least one non-zero term, and denote the natural density of this set by D(P(f, a0)). The problem of determining D(P(f, a0)) when f is linear has attracted significant study, although it remains unresolved in full generality. In this paper, we consider the case of f quadratic, where previously D(P(f, a0)) was known only in a few cases. We show that D(P(f, a0)) = 0 regardless of a0 for four infinite families of f, including f = x2 + k, k \{�1}. The proof relies on tools from group theory and probability theory to formulate a sufficient condition for D(P(f, a0)) = 0 in terms of arithmetic properties of the forward orbit of the critical point of f. This provides an analogy to results in real and complex dynamics, where analytic properties of the forward orbit of the critical point have been shown to determine many global dynamical properties of a quadratic polynomial. The article also includes apparently new work on the irreducibility of iterates of quadratic polynomials
Detection in Analog Sensor Networks with a Large Scale Antenna Fusion Center

We consider the distributed detection of a zero-mean Gaussian signal in an analog wireless sensor network with a fusion center (FC) configured with a large number of antennas. The transmission gains of the sensor nodes are optimized by minimizing the ratio of the log probability of detection (PD) and log probability of false alarm (PFA). We show that the problem is convex with respect to the squared norm of the transmission gains, and that a closed-form solution can be found using the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker conditions. Our results indicate that a constant PD can be maintained with decreasing sensor transmit gain provided that the number of antennas increases at the same rate. This is contrasted with the case of a singleantenna FC, where PD is monotonically decreasing with transmit gain. On the other hand, we show that when the transmit power is high, the single- and multi-antenna FC both asymptotically achieve the same PD upper bound.
A Route to Vicinal Diamines from the Samarium(II) Iodide-Mediated Coupling of Aldimines

Abstract A new method to construct vicinal diamines from aldimines mediated by the one electron reductant, samarium diiodide is described. The reaction probably involves a ketyl-like radical coupling mechanism.
New instanton effects in supersymmetric QCD

In supersymmetric QCD with SU(Nc) gauge group and Nf flavors, it is known that instantons generate a superpotential if Nf = Nc−1 and deform the moduli space of vacua if Nf = Nc. But the role of instantons has been unclear for Nf>Nc. In this paper, we demonstrate that for Nf>Nc, on the moduli space of vacua, instantons generate a more subtle chiral operator containing (for example) non-derivative interactions of 2(Nf−Nc)+4 fermions. Upon giving masses to some flavors, one can integrate out some fermions and recover the standard results for Nf = Nc and Nf = Nc−1. For Nf = Nc, our analysis gives, in a sense, a more systematic way to demonstrate that instantons deform the complex structure of the moduli space of vacua.