cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
XML data mediation and collaboration: a proposed comprehensive architecture and query requirements for using XML to mediate heterogeneous data sources and targets

The paper discusses the potential of using XML technologies as mediators for accessing and processing structured, relational data and semi-structured data over the Internet. Because significant gaps exist in all the reviewed XML data mediation approaches, a more comprehensive framework is presented. Some of the potential benefits of this architecture include: provides a clean abstraction of heterogeneous data for end users, applications, and Internet applications; supports all major data formats; uses one standard query language for all XML data queries; thus, optimizing and simplifying query writing; can be implemented in phases; consistent query language regardless of data source; returns all data results in XML format; provides different views of data according to different application needs; improves Internet spidering; continues to support all necessary DBMS functions; provides a platform for future growth; and encourages coherent and comprehensive data management and data modeling with organizations.
Calculation of the relative metastabilities of proteins in subcellular compartments of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Protein subcellular localization and differences in oxidation state between subcellular compartments are two well-studied features of the the cellular organization of S. cerevisiae (yeast). Theories about the origin of subcellular organization are assisted by computational models that can integrate data from observations of compositional and chemical properties of the system. I adopt the hypothesis that the state of yeast subcellular organization is in a local energy minimum. This hypothesis implies that equilibrium thermodynamic models can yield predictions about the interdependence between populations of proteins and their subcellular chemical environments. Three types of tests are proposed. First, there should be correlations between modeled and observed oxidation states for different compartments. Second, there should be a correspondence between the energy requirements of protein formation and the order the appearance of organelles during cellular development. Third, there should be correlations between the predicted and observed relative abundances of interacting proteins within compartments. The relative metastability fields of subcellular homologs of glutaredoxin and thioredoxin indicate a trend from less to more oxidizing as mitochondrion – cytoplasm – nucleus. Representing the overall amino acid compositions of proteins in 23 different compartments each with a single reference model protein suggests that the formation reactions for proteins in the vacuole (in relatively oxidizing conditions), ER and early Golgi (in relatively reducing conditions) are relatively highly favored, while that for the microtubule is the most costly. The relative abundances of model proteins for each compartment inferred from experimental data were found in some cases to correlate with the predicted abundances, and both positive and negative correlations were found for some assemblages of proteins in known complexes. The results of these calculations and tests suggest that a tendency toward a metastable energy minimum could underlie some organizational links between the the chemical thermodynamic properties of proteins and subcellular chemical environments. Future models of this kind will benefit from consideration of additional thermodynamic variables together with more detailed subcellular observations.
Probing interaction-induced ferromagnetism in optical superlattices

We propose a method for controllable preparation and detection of interaction-induced ferromagnetism in ultracold fermionic atoms loaded in optical superlattices. First, we discuss how to probe and control Nagaoka ferromagnetism in an array of isolated plaquettes (four lattice sites arranged in a square). Then, we allow for weak interplaquette tunneling. Since ferromagnetism is unstable in the presence of weak interplaquette couplings, we propose to mediate long-range ferromagnetic correlations via double-exchange processes by exciting atoms to the first vibrational band. We calculate the phase diagram of the two-band plaquette array and discuss conditions for the stability and robustness of the ferromagnetic phases in this system. Experimental implementation of the proposed schemes is discussed.
Flexibility at the Core: What Determines Employment of Part-Time Faculty in Academia

In this study, we examine institutional predictors of part-time faculty employment in the higher education sector in the United States. We draw upon institutional and individual-level data to examine the variation in the intensity of part-time employment in faculty positions among a representative sample of higher education institutions. Institutional-level data are from Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and individual-level data are from National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF). These data allow us to examine the impact of both economic factors and social environment on employment practices of colleges and universities. This analysis adds to the emerging literature on non-standard work arrangements in core organizational functions. Our results suggest that the employment of part-time faculty is significantly associated with a set of organizational attributes and characteristics such as institutional type, sources of revenue, and part-time student enrolment. Private institutions, on average, have higher levels of part-time faculty than their public counterparts. The proportion of part-time students and the share of institutional revenues derived from tuition and fees are positively associated with part-time faculty employment. Faculty unions are positively related to the employment of part-time faculty. Finally, institutions that have limited resource slack and pay high salaries to their full-time faculty members tend to employ a high proportion of part-time faculty. These results support the arguments that higher educational institutions actively design and adopt contingent work arrangements to manage their resource dependence with constituencies and to reduce labour costs.
Low-density generator matrix codes for indoor and markov channels

We propose a modified algorithm for decoding of linear codes with low-density generator matrix (LDGM codes) over finite-state binary Markov channels. In order to avoid error floors, a serial concatenation of two LDGM codes is utilized. The hidden Markov model representing the channel is incorporated into the graph corresponding to the code, and the message passing algorithm is modified accordingly. The proposed scheme clearly outperforms systems in which the channel statistics are not exploited in the decoding process, allowing reliable communication at rates which are above the capacity of a memoryless channel with the same stationary bit error probability as the Markov channel. The proposed technique can be successfully applied for real wireless channels that can be modeled with hidden Markov models, such as indoor channels. In this case, the hidden Markov model representing the wireless channel can be estimated jointly with the decoding process
Relative Completions and the Cohomology of Linear Groups Over Local Rings

For a discrete group G there are two well known completions. The first is the Malcev (or unipotent) completion. This is a prounipotent group [Uscr ], defined over ℚ, together with a homomorphism ψ : G → [Uscr ] that is universal among maps from G into prounipotent ℚ-groups. To construct [Uscr ], it suffices for us to consider the case where G is nilpotent; the general case is handled by taking the inverse limit of the Malcev completions of the G /Γ r G , where Γ [bull ] G denotes the lower central series of G . If G is abelian, then [Uscr ] = G [otimes ] ℚ. We review this construction in Section 2.
Testing long-term earthquake forecasts: likelihood methods and error diagrams

SUMMARY We propose a new method to test the performance of a spatial point process forecast based on a log-likelihood score for predicted point density and the information gain for events that actually occurred in the test period. The method largely avoids simulation use and allows us to calculate the information score for each event or set of events as well as the standard error of each forecast. As the number of predicted events increases, the score distribution approaches the Gaussian law. The degree of its similarity to the Gaussian distribution can be measured by the computed coefficients of skewness and kurtosis. To display the forecasted point density and the point events, we use an event concentration diagram or a variant of the ‘Error Diagram’ (ED). We find forward relation between the error diagram curve and the information score as well as inverse relation for one simple model of point spatial fields. We again show that the error diagram is more informative than the likelihood ratio. We demonstrate the application of the method by using our long-term forecast of seismicity in two western Pacific regions. We compare the ED for these regions with simplified diagrams based on two-segment approximations. Since the earthquakes in these regions are concentrated in narrow subduction belts, using the forecast density as a template or baseline for the ED is a more convenient display technique. We also show, using simulated event occurrence, that some proposed criteria for measuring forecast effectiveness at EDs would be strongly biased for a small event number.
Nondeterministic Automatic Complexity of Overlap-Free and Almost Square-Free Words

Shallit and Wang studied deterministic automatic complexity of words. They showed that the automatic Hausdorff dimension $I(\mathbf t)$ of the infinite Thue word satisfies $1/3\le I(\mathbf t)\le 1/2$. We improve that result by showing that $I(\mathbf t)= 1/2$. We prove that the nondeterministic automatic complexity $A_N(x)$ of a word $x$ of length $n$ is bounded by $b(n):=\lfloor n/2\rfloor + 1$. This enables us to define the complexity deficiency $D(x)=b(n)-A_N(x)$. If $x$ is square-free then $D(x)=0$. If $x$ is almost square-free in the sense of Fraenkel and Simpson, or if $x$ is a overlap-free binary word such as the infinite Thue--Morse word, then $D(x)\le 1$. On the other hand, there is no constant upper bound on $D$ for overlap-free words over a ternary alphabet, nor for cube-free words over a binary alphabet. The decision problem whether $D(x)\ge d$ for given $x$, $d$ belongs to $\mathrm{NP}\cap \mathrm{E}$.
The Contrast of Magnetic Elements in Synthetic CH- and CN-Band Images of Solar Magnetoconvection

We present a comparative study of the intensity contrast in synthetic CH-band and violet CN-band filtergrams computed from a high-resolution simulation of solar magnetoconvection. The underlying simulation has an average vertical magnetic field of 250 G with kilogauss fields concentrated in its intergranular lanes and is representative of a plage region. To simulate filtergrams typically obtained in CH- and CN-band observations we computed spatially resolved spectra in both bands and integrated these spectra over 1 nm FWHM filter functions centered at 430.5 and 388.3 nm, respectively. We find that the average contrast of magnetic bright points in the simulated filtergrams is lower in the CN band by a factor of 0.96. In comparison, earlier semiempirical modeling and recent observations both estimated that the bright point contrast in the CN band is higher by a factor of 1.4. We argue that the near equality of the bright point contrast in the two bands in the present simulation is a natural consequence of the mechanism that causes magnetic flux elements to be particularly bright in the CN and CH filtergrams, namely, the partial evacuation of these elements and the concomitant weakening of molecular spectral lines in the filter passbands. We find that the rms intensity contrast in the whole field of view of the filtergrams is 20.5% in the G band and 22.0% in the CN band and conclude that this slight difference in contrast is caused by the shorter wavelength of the latter. Both the bright point and rms intensity contrast in the CN band are sensitive to the precise choice of the central wavelength of the filter.
Hang with your buddies to resist intersection attacks

Some anonymity schemes might in principle protect users from pervasive network surveillance--but only if all messages are independent and unlinkable. Users in practice often need pseudonymity--sending messages intentionally linkable to each other but not to the sender--but pseudonymity in dynamic networks exposes users to intersection attacks. We present Buddies, the first systematic design for intersection attack resistance in practical anonymity systems. Buddies groups users dynamically into buddy sets, controlling message transmission to make buddies within a set behaviorally indistinguishable under traffic analysis. To manage the inevitable tradeoffs between anonymity guarantees and communication responsiveness, Buddies enables users to select independent attack mitigation policies for each pseudonym. Using trace-based simulations and a working prototype, we find that Buddies can guarantee non-trivial anonymity set sizes in realistic chat/microblogging scenarios, for both short-lived and long-lived pseudonyms.
Catalytic Dynamic Kinetic Resolutions with N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes: Asymmetric Synthesis of Highly Substituted β‐Lactones

New DKR type: An N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution of racemic α-substituted β-keto esters has been developed. This method relies on the epimerization of an NHC-enol intermediate before subsequent aldol/acylation events. Highly substituted β-lactones are produced in good yield with good to excellent selectivities (see scheme).
Optimality of binning for distributed hypothesis testing

We study a distributed hypothesis testing problem in which data is compressed distributively and the detector seeks to decide between two possible distributions for the data. The aim is to characterize all achievable encoding rates and exponents of the type 2 error probability when the type 1 error probability is at most a fixed value. For related problems in distributed source coding, schemes based on random binning are useful and often optimal. For distributed hypothesis testing, however, the use of binning is hindered by the fact that the overall error probability may be dominated by errors in binning process. We show that despite this complication, binning is optimal for a class of problems in which the goal is to “test against conditional independence.” We also use this optimality result to give an outer bound for a more general class of instances of the problem.
One-pot enzymatic synthesis of merochlorin A and B.

The polycyclic merochlorin A and B are complex halogenated meroterpenoid natural products with significant antibacterial activities that are produced by the marine bacterium Streptomyces sp. strain CNH-189. Here we employ heterologously produced enzymes and chemical synthesis to fully reconstitute the merochlorin biosynthesis in vitro. The interplay of a dedicated type III polyketide synthase, a prenyl diphosphate synthase, and an aromatic prenyltransferase allow formation of a highly unusual aromatic polyketide-terpene hybrid intermediate that features an unprecedented branched sesquiterpene moiety. As supported by in vivo experiments, this precursor is furthermore chlorinated and cyclized to merochlorin A and isomeric merochlorin B by a single vanadium-dependent haloperoxidase, thus completing the remarkably efficient pathway.
Understanding Ionic Liquids through Atomistic and Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Understanding the physical properties of ionic liquids (ILs) via computer simulation is important for their potential technological applications. The goal of our IL research is to obtain a unified understanding of the properties of ILs with respect to their underlying molecular structure. From atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, the many-body electronic polarization effect was found to be important for modeling ILs, especially their dynamics. The multiscale coarse-graining methodology has also been employed to increase the simulation speed by a factor of 100 or more, thereby making it possible to study the mesoscopic behavior of ILs by computer simulations. With these simulation techniques, ILs with an amphiphilic cation were found to exhibit a spatial heterogeneity due to the aggregation of their nonpolar alkyl tails. This spatial heterogeneity is a key feature in interpreting many physical phenomena of ILs, such as their heterogeneous self-diffusion and surface layering, as well as their surfactant-like micelles formed in IL/water mixtures.
Titanium‐Mediated Amination of Grignard Reagents Using Primary and Secondary Amines

The synthesis of a broad spectrum of aniline derivatives including drug analogues provides a mild and convenient complementary method to SNAr reactions.
Doppler-induced dynamics of fields in fabry-perot cavities with suspended mirrors.

The Doppler effect in Fabry-Perot cavities with suspended mirrors is analyzed. The Doppler shift, which is intrinsically small, accumulates in the cavity and becomes comparable with or greater than the linewidth of the cavity if the cavity s finesse is high or its length is large. As a result, damped oscillations of the cavity field occur when one of the mirrors passes a resonance position. A formula for this transient is derived. It is shown that the frequency of the oscillations is equal to the accumulated Doppler shift and that the relaxation time of the oscillations is equal to the storage time of the cavity. Comparison of the predicted and the measured Doppler shifts is discussed, and application of the analytical solution for measurement of the mirror velocity is described.
Affinity Weighted Embedding

Supervised linear embedding models like WSABIE (Weston et al., 2011) and supervised semantic indexing (Bai et al., 2010) have proven successful at ranking, recommendation and annotation tasks. However, despite being scalable to large datasets they do not take full advantage of the extra data due to their linear nature, and we believe they typically underfit. We propose a new class of models which aim to provide improved performance while retaining many of the benefits of the existing class of embedding models. Our approach works by reweighting each component of the embedding of features and labels with a potentially nonlinear affinity function. We describe several variants of the family, and show its usefulness on several datasets.
Least Squares Revisited: Scalable Approaches for Multi-class Prediction

This work provides simple algorithms for multiclass (and multi-label) prediction in settings where both the number of examples n and the data dimension d are relatively large. These robust and parameter free algorithms are essentially iterative least-squares updates and very versatile both in theory and in practice. On the theoretical front, we present several variants with convergence guarantees. Owing to their effective use of second-order structure, these algorithms are substantially better than first-order methods in many practical scenarios. On the empirical side, we show how to scale our approach to high dimensional datasets, achieving dramatic computational speedups over popular optimization packages such as Liblinear and Vowpal Wabbit on standard datasets (MNIST and CIFAR-10), while attaining state-of-the-art accuracies.
On a First-order Stochastic Differential Equation†

A first-order system with random parameters and random forcing is studied. The analysis is concentrated on the probability distributions. It is shown that considerable qualitative information can be obtained from Feller's classification of the singular points of the forward and backward Kolmogorov equations. It is found that there is a drastic difference between the cases of uncorrelated and strongly correlated disturbances. The existence of stationary distributions is shown and their structure is analysed; it is found that the steady-state distributions are of the Pearson type. Some examples exhibit in detail the differences between uncorrelated and strongly correlated disturbances, giving the rather surprising effect that by making the fluctuations of the parameters sufficiently large, the probability of finding the state of the system in tin interval around the origin can be made arbitrarily close to one ‘peaking’. The results of some numerical computations are presented. A case where the energy of the fluctuation in parameters is limited within a certain frequency band shows that this situation is different from the case of ‘ white noise ’. For example, ‘ peaking ’ of the distributions does not occur. It is found that, for the purpose of analysing probability distributions the system obtained can be approximated by a different system with white noise coefficients, These results are also illustrated by numerical computations. (Less)
Semiconductor Properties of Iron Oxide Electrodes

The semiconductor electrode properties of thermally grown iron oxide and anodic oxide films on iron are compared. The bandgaps are 2.1 and 1.9 eV, respectively. Donor densities and flatband potentials are reported. Measurement of the currents produced by chopped illumination has allowed evaluation of electrode parameters and determination of reaction pathways.
Cluster algebras and triangulated surfaces. Part I: Cluster complexes

We establish basic properties of cluster algebras associated with oriented bordered surfaces with marked points. In particular, we show that the underlying cluster complex of such a cluster algebra does not depend on the choice of coefficients, describe this complex explicitly in terms of "tagged triangulations" of the surface, and determine its homotopy type and its growth rate.
Information and Organization: A New Perspective on the Theory of the Firm

From the Publisher: This book offers a vision of the economy as a system of structured information flow. The structuring is effected by institutions, and in particular by firms, which specialize in processing the information needed to allocate resources properly. Firms are the institutional embodiment of the visions of individual entrepreneurs who believe that they have found a better way of allocating resources. This vision has evolved over the last fifteen years, during which the author has researched a variety of topics connected with the theory of the firm - entrepreneurship, business culture, multinational enterprise, joint ventures and the like. In each of these areas he has identified the ways in which the orthodox theory of the firm needs to be modified in order to make it work properly. This book represents a major intellectual synthesis of that work.
Structural Characterization of Non‐Oxide Chalcogenide Glasses using Solid State NMR

In spite of the long-standing importance of non-oxide chalcogenide glasses in infrared optics and semiconductor technology, concepts describing the structural principles governing glass formation in these systems are just emerging. Most recently, modern quantitative solid state NMR techniques have offered new unique insights into the structural organization of these systems. In this review, we discuss the basic principles of various experimental approaches and their application to boron-silicon, -and phosphorus chalcogenide glasses.
Long waves and short cycles in a model of endogenous financial fragility

This paper presents a stock-flow consistent macroeconomic model in which financial fragility in firm and household sectors evolves endogenously through the interaction between real and financial sectors. Changes in firms’ and households’ financial practices produce long waves. The Hopf bifurcation theorem is applied to clarify the conditions for the existence of limit cycles, and simulations illustrate stable limit cycles. The long waves are characterized by periodic economic crises following long expansions. Short cycles, generated by the interaction between effective demand and labor market dynamics, fluctuate around the long waves.
New organometallic reagents for olefin synthesis

The synthesis, structural characterization, and reactivity of zirconium metalloazines are presented. A mechanism for olefination of aldehydes or ketones by metalloazines is discussed based on a series of mechanistic studies concerning this reaction. Our first approach to the development of olefination reagents was based on observations originally made for the "Tebbe" reagent that low-valent titanium methylene complexes could methylenate a wide variety of organic carbonyls under mild conditions'. Several tantalum' and tungsten3 alkylidene analogs have also been prepared. are, however, without drawbacks. The Tebbe reagent is easy to make, but its chemistry is limited to methylene transfer. In the niobium and tungsten cases, the starting materials are not easily accessible to synthetically oriented organic chemists. In every case metallic by-products have not been shown to be recyclable, and control of E,Z stereochemistry has not yet been demonstrated. Our first efforts involved the synthesis of long alkyl chain anaologs of the Tebbe reagent: CpzZr-C(H)R. These compounds could be made from an acetylene via a tedious synthesis involving conversion of the acetylene to a metal alkenyl and thence to a heterobimetallic alkylidene-bridged complex4 which could be selectively cleaved to give the carbene complex5. We were able to demonstrate that these unsymmetrically substituted carbene complexes could react with imine or imidate derivatives of a carbonyl group containing material, and through variation in the size of the organic group on nitrogen, the E,Z stereochemistry of olefination could be affected6. However, the tedious synthesis of the zirconium carbene complexes precludes this approach as a viable method from the point of view of practical organic synthesis. None of these reagent systems
Chromatic acclimation and population dynamics of green sulfur bacteria grown with spectrally tailored light

Living organisms have to adjust to their surrounding in order to survive in stressful conditions. We study this mechanism in one of most primitive creatures – photosynthetic green sulfur bacteria. These bacteria absorb photons very efficiently using the chlorosome antenna complexes and perform photosynthesis in extreme low-light environments. How the chlorosomes in green sulfur bacteria are acclimated to the stressful light conditions, for instance, if the spectrum of light is not optimal for absorption, is unknown. Studying Chlorobaculum tepidum cultures with far-red to near-infrared light-emitting diodes, we found that these bacteria react to changes in energy flow by regulating the amount of light-absorbing pigments and the size of the chlorosomes. Surprisingly, our results indicate that the bacteria can survive in near-infrared lights capturing low-frequency photons by the intermediate units of the light-harvesting complex. The latter strategy may be used by the species recently found near hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean.
A BEHAVIORAL THEORY OF MULTI-LANE TRAFFIC FLOW. PART I: LONG HOMOGENEOUS FREEWAY SECTIONS

Abstract This paper proposes a macroscopic behavioral theory of traffic dynamics for homogeneous, multi-lane freeways. The theory makes predictions for separate groups of lanes while recognizing that the traffic stream is usually composed of aggressive and timid drivers. Its principles are so simple that non-scientist drivers can understand them. The simplest version of the theory, which is described in its full complexity without calculus, is shown to be qualitatively consistent with experimental observations, including the most puzzling. Its predictions agree with the following phenomena: (i) the ‘reversed lambda’ pattern frequently observed in scatter-plots of flow versus occupancy and the lane-specific evolution of the data points with time, including the ‘hysteresis’ phenomenon, (ii) the lane-specific patterns in the time series of speed (and flow) in both queued and unqueued traffic, and (iii) the peculiar ways in which disturbances of various types propagate across detector stations. The latter effects include the evolution of both, stoppages and transitions between the queued and unqueued traffic regimes. The simple model is specified by means of eight observable parameters. The paper gives a recipe for solving any well-posed problem with this model and does so in sufficient detail to allow the development of computer models. A few approaches and possible generalizations are suggested. Part II of this paper, devoted to freeway sections near on-ramps, will attempt to explain in more detail than previously attempted how queuing begins at merges.
Financial Frictions and the Persistence of History: A Quantitative Exploration

We quantitatively analyze the role of financial frictions and resource misallocation in explaining development dynamics. Our model economy with financial frictions converges to the new steady state slowly after a reform triggers efficient reallocation of resources; the transition speed is half that of the conventional neoclassical model. Furthermore, in the model economy, investment rates and total factor productivity are initially low and increase over time. We present data from the so-called miracle economies on the evolution of macro aggregates, factor reallocation, and establishment size distribution that support the aggregate and micro-level implications of our theory.
Optical Methods of Engineering Analysis

Introduction 1. Light and interference 2. Classical interferometry 3. Photoelasticity theory 4. Basic applied photoelasticity 5. Photoelasticity methods and applications 6. Geometrical moire theory 7. In-plane motion and strain measurement 8. Moire mapping of slope, contour and displacement 9. Diffraction and Fourier optics 10. Moire with diffraction and Fourier optical processing 11. Procedures of moire analysis with optical processing 12. Principles of moire interferometry 13. A moire interferometer 14. Experimental methods in moire interferometry 15. Holographic interferometry theory 16. Holographic interferometry methods 17. Laser speckle and combinations of speckle fields 18. Speckle photography 19. Speckle correlation interferometry 20. Electronic speckle pattern interferometry 21. Phase shifting to improve interferometry.
A review of geomagnetic cutoff rigidities for earth-orbiting spacecraft

Abstract Geomagnetic cutoff rigidities are a quantitative measure of the shielding provided by the earth’s magnetic field. More precisely, geomagnetic cutoff rigidities predict the energetic charged particle transmission through the magnetosphere to a specific location as a function of direction. The generally accepted manner for determining cutoff rigidities is by the method of tracing particle trajectories in model magnetospheres. However, the trajectory-tracing process is so computer intensive that in the interest of economy, many approximations are still utilized. The use of modifications of the Stormer equation (with an appropriate magnetic coordinate system) is sufficient for many applications. However, for precise experimental measurements, cutoff rigidities determined by the trajectory-tracing method must be utilized.
TRANSPORTATION POLICY IN THE EIGHTIES

Urban transportation policy during the nineteen seventies has been characterized by attempts to deal with four major problems: 1) the minimization of environmental impacts of transport investments, 2) the alleviation of inequities in mobility, and financial burdens imposed upon some groups by earlier investments in capital intensive highway networks, 3) the accommodation of demands for public participation in transport decision-making, and 4) the precipitous rise of public transit operating costs. In this paper examples are given of policies which have been pursued in attempting to solve each of these problems. It is shown that policies designed to solve one of them have often intensified others. Thus, current policy is characterized by reliance upon very small-scale and timid plans and proposals. The eighties may see a return to large-scale and comprehensive transport plans, but these will not be exclusively physical or system plans. Rather, transportation plans in the eighties will include a balance among physical facilities, institutional arrangements, financial plans, and user incentives and disincentives. Several examples of such comprehensive policies are given in this paper.
Properties of Sm2O3-Al2O3-SiO2 glasses for in vivo applications

The compositional range for glass formation below 1600°C in the Sm2O3─Al2O3─SiO2 system is (9–25)Sm2O3─(10–35)Al2O3─(40–75)SiO2 (mol%). Selected properties of the Sm2O3─Al2O3─SiO2 (SmAS) glasses were evaluated as a function of composition. The density, refractive index, microhardness, and thermal expansion coefficient increased as the Sm2O3 content increased from 9 to 25 mol%, the values exceeding those for fused silica. The dissolution rate in 1N HCl and in deionized water increased with increasing Sm2O3 content and with increasing temperature to 70°C. The transformation temperature (Tg) and dilatometric softening temperature (Td) of the SmAS glasses exceeded 800° and 850°C, respectively.
Learning about meetings

Most people participate in meetings almost every day, multiple times a day. The study of meetings is important, but also challenging, as it requires an understanding of social signals and complex interpersonal dynamics. Our aim in this work is to use a data-driven approach to the science of meetings. We provide tentative evidence that: (i) it is possible to automatically detect when during the meeting a key decision is taking place, from analyzing only the local dialogue acts, (ii) there are common patterns in the way social dialogue acts are interspersed throughout a meeting, (iii) at the time key decisions are made, the amount of time left in the meeting can be predicted from the amount of time that has passed, (iv) it is often possible to predict whether a proposal during a meeting will be accepted or rejected based entirely on the language (the set of persuasive words) used by the speaker.
Narrow line-width, high-energy, 2-micron laser for coherent wind lidar

Summary form only given. 2 mum solid-state lasers are the primary choice for coherent Doppler wind detection. As wind lidars, they are used for wake vortex and clear air turbulence detection providing air transport safety. In addition, 2 mum lasers are one of the candidates for CO2 detection lidars. The rich CO2 absorption line around 2 m, combined with the long upper state lifetime, has made Ho based 2 mum lasers a viable candidate for CO2 sensing DIAL instrument. As a transmitter for a coherent wind lidar, this laser has stringent spectral line width and beam quality requirements. The laser architecture is composed of a seed laser, a ring oscillator, and a double pass amplifier. The seed laser is a single longitudinal mode with a line width of 13 KHz. The 100 mJ class oscillator is stretched to 3 meters to accommodate the line-width requirement without compromising the range resolution of the instrument. The amplifier is double passed to produce greater than 300 mJ energy. This system is hardened for ground as well as airborne applications.
Abyssal hill deflections at Pacific-Antarctic ridge-transform intersections

Nearly complete coverage of shipboard multibeam bathymetry data at the right-stepping Menard and Pitman Fracture Zones allowed us to map abyssal hill deviations along their traces. In this study we distinguish between (1) J-shaped curvatures at their origin, where modeling is addressing primary volcanism and faulting following a curved zone, and (2) straight abyssal hills getting bent in anti-J-shaped curvatures, in response to increased coupling across the transform fault, after they were formed. We compared the mapped abyssal hill deflections to a detailed plate motion model for the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge to test how abyssal hill curvature correlates to changes in plate motion direction, which lead to periods of transtension or transpression. This test was based on the number and size of the abyssal hill deflections. The observations show a high abundance of J-shaped abyssal hills during periods of significant clockwise change in plate motion direction, which leads to transtension. The tip of the ridge axis can deflect up to 60° into the transform fault in response to changes in the stress field at ridge-transform intersections. This is observed, in particular, at the Pitman Fracture Zone, where there has been a ∼15° clockwise rotation of the spreading direction azimuth during the last 9 Myr. In addition, we observed anti-J-shaped curvatures at Menard, Pitman, and Heirtzler Fracture Zones during periods of transpression when increased coupling across an oceanic transform fault is partially accommodated by distributed strike-slip deformation rather than solely by discontinuous displacement at the transform fault. Anti-J-shaped deflections typically develop in seafloor less than 2 Myr old when the oceanic lithosphere is thin.
VLBA Imaging Polarimetry of Active Galactic Nuclei - An Automated Approach

We present full polarization Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) observations at 5 and 15 GHz of 24 compact active galactic nuclei (AGNs). These sources were observed as part of a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of conducting a large VLBI survey to further our understanding of the physical properties and temporal evolution of AGN jets. The sample is drawn from the Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey (CLASS) where it overlaps with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey at declinations north of 15°. There are 2100 CLASS sources brighter than 50 mJy at 8.4 GHz, of which we have chosen 24 for this pilot study. All 24 sources were detected and imaged at 5 GHz with a typical dynamic range of 500 : 1, and 21 of 24 sources were detected and imaged at 15 GHz. Linear polarization was detected in eight sources at both 5 and 15 GHz, allowing for the creation of Faraday rotation measure (RM) images. The core RMs for the sample were found to have an average absolute value of 390 ± 100 rad m^(-2). We also present the discovery of a new compact symmetric object, J08553+5751. All data were processed automatically using pipelines created or adapted for the survey.
Free-space heterochronous imaging reception of multiple optical signals

We consider free-space optical communication between a distributed collection of nodes (e.g., a distributed network of sensor nodes) and a central base station with an imaging receiver. This paper studies both synchronous and asynchronous reception of the optical signals from the nodes at the imaging receiver. Synchronous reception is done using a symbol-by-symbol maximal-ratio combining technique. We describe a low-complexity asynchronous reception scheme for the uplink that allows the nodes to transmit at a bit rate slightly lower than the frame rate. Since the two rates are nominally different, the scheme is said to be heterochronous. Our heterochronous detection algorithm uses joint maximum-likelihood sequence detection of multiple trellises, which can be implemented using the Viterbi algorithm, as well as the per-survivor processing technique. We develop an approximate upper bound for the average bit-error probability and compare it to Monte Carlo simulation results.
On the accuracy of RFID-based localization in a mobile wireless network testbed

The extensive recent research in protocols development for wireless networks must be complemented with simple yet efficient prototyping and evaluation mechanism. MiNT-2 is a miniaturized multi-hop wireless network testbed that addresses this challenge by combining the benefits of existing protocol evaluations strategies: simulations and custom built large scale wireless network testbeds. A key component of MiNT-2 is the ability of testbed nodes to move around in the testbed space, whether to reconfigure the network topology or to emulate node mobility patterns. Consequently, we need to devise accurate mechanisms for node localization - the ability of a node to be aware of its exact location in the testbed space. This paper presents the details of the current RFID-based node localization mechanism in MiNT-2. We describe the sources of inaccuracy encountered when using RFID tags due to the error margin associated with the reading range of tags. We then present the implementation and evaluation of two approaches which can be combined to improve the overall accuracy of the RFID-based localization system. Through our experimental evaluation, we show that the proposed approaches improve the accuracy of RFID-based localization mechanisms by up to 58.22% for dense deployment of RFID tags. Though described in the context of the MiNT-2 testbed, our localization techniques are also applicable in more general settings where accurate and inexpensive positioning of mobile nodes is important.
Contextual Activity Visualization from Long-Term Video Observations

The Contextual Activity Notification Visualization Analysis System (Canvas) provides a user interaction interface for instantaneous feedback of contextual processing units that enable high-level semantic extraction and understanding.
A Status report on the observability of cosmic bubble collisions

In the picture of eternal inflation as driven by a scalar potential with multiple minima, our observable universe resides inside one of many bubbles formed from transitions out of a false vacuum. These bubbles necessarily collide, upsetting the homogeneity and isotropy of our bubble interior, and possibly leading to detectable signatures in the observable portion of our bubble, potentially in the cosmic microwave background or other precision cosmological probes. This constitutes a direct experimental test of eternal inflation and the landscape of string theory vacua. Assessing this possibility roughly splits into answering three questions: What happens in a generic bubble collision? What observational effects might be expected? How likely are we to observe a collision? In this review we report the current progress on each of these questions, improve upon a few of the existing results and attempt to lay out directions for future work.
A model-fitting approach to cluster validation with application to stochastic model-based image segmentation

A clustering scheme is used for model parameter estimation. Most of the existing clustering procedures require prior knowledge of the number of classes, which is often, as in unsupervised image segmentation, unavailable and must be estimated. This problem is known as the cluster validation problem. For unsupervised image segmentation the solution of this problem directly affects the quality of the segmentation. A model-fitting approach to the cluster validation problem based on Akaike's information criterion is proposed, and its efficacy and robustness are demonstrated through experimental results for synthetic mixture data and image data. >
A comprehensive three-dimensional model of the cochlea

The human cochlea is a remarkable device, able to discern extremely small amplitude sound pressure waves, and discriminate between very close frequencies. Simulation of the cochlea is computationally challenging due to its complex geometry, intricate construction and small physical size. We have developed, and are continuing to refine, a detailed three-dimensional computational model based on an accurate cochlear geometry obtained from physical measurements. In the model, the immersed boundary method is used to calculate the fluid-structure interactions produced in response to incoming sound waves. The model includes a detailed and realistic description of the various elastic structures present. In this paper, we describe the computational model and its performance on the latest generation of shared memory servers from Hewlett Packard. Using compiler generated threads and OpenMP directives, we have achieved a high degree of parallelism in the executable, which has made possible several large scale numerical simulation experiments that study the interesting features of the cochlear system. We show several results from these simulations, reproducing some of the basic known characteristics of cochlear mechanics.
A formal synthesis of (+)-lactacystin

A synthetic route to the neurotrophic agent (+)-lactacystin has been developed utilizing a base-promoted intramolecular alkylidenecarbene C–H insertion as the key transformation.
A Technique to Achieve Uniform Stress Distribution in Compressive Creep Testing of Advanced Ceramics at High Temperatures

A technique to achieve stable and uniform uniaxial compression is offered for creep testing of advanced ceramic materials at elevated temperatures, using an innovative self-aligning load-train assembly. Excellent load-train alignment is attributed to the inherent ability of a unique hydraulic universal coupler to maintain self-aligning. Details of key elements, design concept, and principles of operation of the self-aligning coupler are described. A method of alignment verification using a strain-gaged specimen is then discussed. Results of verification tests indicate that bending below 1.5 percent is routinely achievable with the use of the load-train system. A successful compression creep test is demonstrated using a dumb-bell-shaped silicon nitride specimen tested at 1300°C for a period in excess of 4000 h.
Inflight Performance of Cassini Reaction Wheel Bearing Drag in 1997-2013

As the first spacecraft to achieve orbit at Saturn in 2004, Cassini has collected science data throughout its four year prime mission (2004–2008) and has since been approved for a first and second extended mission through September 2017. Cassini uses reaction wheels to achieve the spacecraft pointing stability that is needed during imaging operations of several science instruments. The Cassini flight software makes in-flight estimates of reaction wheel bearing drag torque and made them available to the mission operations team. In trending these telemetry data (for the purpose of monitoring the long-term health of the reaction wheel bearings), anomalous drag torque signatures have been observed over the past 15 years. One of these anomalous drag conditions is bearing cage instability that appeared (and disappeared) spontaneously and unpredictably. Cage instability is an uncontrolled vibratory motion of the bearing cage that can produce high-impact forces internal to the bearing, which will cause intermitte...
OPENING THE BLACK BOX OF TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION: THE MOTIVE-TECHNOLOGY-BELIEF FRAMEWORK

A qualitative empirical study explores the psychological process by which transportation consumers adopt alternatives to single occupancy vehicles. The study's findings give rise to the Motive-Technology-Belief (MTB) framework, a theory that conceives of technology adoption in terms of three mental structures: motives are inner mental reasons; technologies are tools that pertain to motives; and beliefs are associations between motives and/or technologies. Their behavioral interactions are governed by three conscious processes: selecting is the process of choosing a tool in response to an immediate need; evaluating is the process of forming beliefs about tools; and maintaining is the process of determining the functional status of tools. They are augmented by five unconscious auxiliary processes: perceiving, focusing, framing, consolidating, and acting. The primary contribution of this paper is the first coherent theory that explains some of the inner mental processes pertaining to technology adoption. However, the study described in this paper also combines existing theory with original field research to lay the foundation for a more comprehensive causal theory of the adoption process that will provide a step-by-step explanation of how events or life experiences cause a consumer's beliefs about a technology to change over time. Finally, the study identifies evaluating, selecting, maintaining, and the auxiliary processes that govern motivation as fundamental "microlaws" of innovation i.e. regular rules describing the generating processes of emergent innovations.