cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells: a review

The composition and microstructure of cathode materials has a large impact on the performance of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Rational design of materials composition through controlled oxygen nonstoichiometry and defect aspects can enhance the ionic and electronic conductivities as well as the catalytic properties for oxygen reduction in the cathode. Cell performance can be further improved through microstructure optimization to extend the triple-phase boundaries. A major degradation mechanism in SOFCs is poisoning of the cathode by chromium species when chromium-containing alloys are used as the interconnect material. This article reviews recent developments in SOFC cathodes with a principal emphasis on the choice of materials. In addition, the reaction mechanism of oxygen reduction is also addressed. The development of Cr-tolerant cathodes for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells, and a possible mechanism of Cr deposition at cathodes are briefly reviewed as well. Finally, this review will be concluded with some perspectives on the future of research directions in this area.
Bimetallic catalysts for upgrading of biomass to fuels and chemicals

Research interest in biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals has increased significantly in the last decade as the necessity for a renewable source of carbon has become more evident. Accordingly, many different reactions and processes to convert biomass into high-value products and fuels have been proposed in the literature. Special attention has been given to the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass, which does not compete with food sources and is widely available as a low cost feedstock. In this review, we start with a brief introduction on lignocellulose and the different chemical structures of its components: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. These three components allow for the production of different chemicals after fractionation. After a brief overview of the main reactions involved in biomass conversion, we focus on those where bimetallic catalysts are playing an important role. Although the reactions are similar for cellulose and hemicellulose, which contain C6 and C5 sugars, respectively, different products are obtained, and therefore, they have been reviewed separately. The third major fraction of lignocellulose that we address is lignin, which has significant challenges to overcome, as its structure makes catalytic processing more challenging. Bimetallic catalysts offer the possibility of enabling lignocellulosic processing to become a larger part of the biofuels and renewable chemical industry. This review summarizes recent results published in the literature for biomass upgrading reactions using bimetallic catalysts.
Expeditious Enyne Construction from Alkynes via Oxidative Pd(II) Catalyzed Heck-Type Coupling

The enyne, ubiquitous in natural products, can be a challenge to generate since these moieties require many synthetic transformations to assemble them. We developed a simpler protocol to construct enynes while we found that this oxidative reaction was tolerant in substrate scope. In addition, the utility of this reaction was demonstrated through the attempt in synthesizing antifungal agent Lamisil™.
Testing Linear-Invariant Non-Linear Properties

We c onsider the task of testing properties of Boolean functions that are invari- ant under linear transformations of the Boolean cube. Previous work in property testing, including the linearity test and the test for Reed-Muller codes, has mostly focused on such tasks for linear properties. The one exception is a test due to Green for "triangle freeness": A function f : F n ! F2 satisfies this property if f(x), f(y), f(x+ y) do not all equal 1, for any pair x, y 2 F n. Here we extend this test to a more systematic study of testing for linear-invariant non- linear properties. We consider properties that are described by a single forbidden pattern (and its linear transformations), i.e., a property is given by k points v1, . . . , vk 2 F k and f : F n ! F2 satisfies the property that if for all linear maps L : F k ! F n it is the case that f(L(v1)), . . . , f(L(vk)) do not all equal 1. We show that this property is testable if the underlying matroid specified by v1, . . . , vk is a graphic matroid. This extends Green's result to an infinite class of new properties. Our techniques extend those of Green and in particular we establish a link between the notion of "1-complexity linear systems" of Green and Tao, and graphic matroids, to derive the results.
The coefficient of recombination of the natural ions in air, and allied phenomena associated with weak atmospheric ionization☆

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. March 1922. Major: Physics. Advisor: Professor W. F. G. Swann. 1 computer file (PDF); 40 pages.
Dispersion of Observed Position Angles of Submillimeter Polarization in Molecular Clouds

One can estimate the characteristic magnetic field strength in Giant Molecular Clouds (GMCs) by comparing submillimeter polarimetric observations of these sources with simulated polarization maps developed using a range of different values for the assumed field strength. The point of comparison is the degree of order in the distribution of polarization position angles. In a recent paper by H. Li and collaborators, such a comparison was carried out using SPARO observations of two GMCs, and employing simulations by E. Ostriker and collaborators. Here, we re-examine this same question, using the same data set and the same simulations, but using an approach that differs in several respects. The most important difference is that we incorporate new, higher angular resolution observations for one of the clouds, obtained using the Hertz polarimeter. We conclude that the agreement between observations and simulations is best when the total magnetic energy (including both uniform and fluctuating field components) is at least as large as the turbulent kinetic energy.
Thermoviscoelastic Analysis of Composite Structures Using a Triangular Flat Shell Element

To accurately model the structural response of e ber-reinforced polymer-matrix composites, it is necessary to account for viscoelastic behavior of the polymer matrix. Therefore, the geometrically linear dynamic analysis capability of a recently developed triangular e at shell element for elastic composite structures is extended here to include thermoviscoelasticity. The e at shell element is the combination of the discrete Kirchhoff theory plate bending element and a membrane element similar to the Allman triangle, but derived by transforming the linear strain triangle element. Linear viscoelastic composite materials are modeled, resulting in the relaxation moduli being expressed as Prony series. Hygrothermorheologically simple materials are considered for which a change in the hygrothermal environment results in a horizontal shifting of the relaxation moduli curves on a log timescale, in addition to the usual hygrothermal loads. The resulting hereditary integral terms are evaluated using a recursion relationship requiring only the previous two solutions. The Newmark method is used to incorporate the inertia terms. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the present formulation when compared with correspondence principle solutions and results available in the literature.
Development of Phased Twin Flip-Flop Jets

The flip-flop nozzle is a device that can produce an oscillating jet flow without any moving parts. There is now a renewed interest in such nozzles due to their potential for use as excitation devices in practical applications. An experiment aimed at developing twin flip-flop jets that operate at prescribed frequencies and phase differences was performed. The phasing was achieved using two different nozzle interconnection schemes. In one configuration the two jets flapped in-phase and in another they flapped out-of-phase with respect to each other. In either configuration the frequencies of oscillation of both jets were equal. When one of the jets was run at a constant high velocity and the velocity of the second jet was increased gradually, the higher velocity jet determined the frequency of oscillation of both jets. The two flip-flop jet configurations described could be used to excite a primary jet flow in either an anti-symmetric (sinuous) or a symmetric (varicose) mode.
Measurement of positron showers with a digital hadron calorimeter

A small prototype of a finely granulated digital hadron calorimeter with Resistive Plate Chambers as active elements was exposed to positrons of 1?16 GeV energy from the Fermilab test beam. The response function, energy resolution, as well as measurements of the shape of electromagnetic showers are presented. The data are compared to a Monte Carlo simulation of the set-up.
Evaluating the double Poisson generalized linear model

The objectives of this study are to: (1) examine the applicability of the double Poisson (DP) generalized linear model (GLM) for analyzing motor vehicle crash data characterized by over- and under-dispersion and (2) compare the performance of the DP GLM with the Conway–Maxwell–Poisson (COM-Poisson) GLM in terms of goodness-of-fit and theoretical soundness. The DP distribution has seldom been investigated and applied since its first introduction two decades ago. The hurdle for applying the DP is related to its normalizing constant (or multiplicative constant) which is not available in closed form. This study proposed a new method to approximate the normalizing constant of the DP with high accuracy and reliability. The DP GLM and COM-Poisson GLM were developed using two observed over-dispersed datasets and one observed under-dispersed dataset. The modeling results indicate that the DP GLM with its normalizing constant approximated by the new method can handle crash data characterized by over- and under-dispersion. Its performance is comparable to the COM-Poisson GLM in terms of goodness-of-fit (GOF), although COM-Poisson GLM provides a slightly better fit. For the over-dispersed data, the DP GLM performs similar to the NB GLM. Considering the fact that the DP GLM can be easily estimated with inexpensive computation and that it is simpler to interpret coefficients, it offers a flexible and efficient alternative for researchers to model count data.
Degree bounds for syzygies of invariants

Abstract Suppose that G is a linearly reductive group. Good degree bounds for generators of invariant rings were given in (Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 129 (4) (2001) 955). Here we study minimal free resolutions of invariant rings. For finite linearly reductive groups G it was recently shown in (Adv. Math. 156 (1) (2000) 23, Electron Res. Announc. Amer. Math. Soc. 7 (2001) 5, Adv. Math. 172 (2002) 151) that rings of invariants are generated in degree at most the group order |G|. In characteristic 0 this degree bound is a classical result by Emmy Noether (see Math. Ann. 77 (1916) 89). Given an invariant ring of a finite linearly reductive group G, we prove that the ideal of relations of a minimal set of generators is generated in degree at most ⩽2|G|.
Location change method for imaging chemical reactivity and catalysis with single-molecule and -particle fluorescence microscopy

In the last eight years, it has become possible to image chemical reactivity at the single-molecule and -particle level with fluorescence microscopy. This Perspective describes one of the imaging techniques that enabled this state-of-the-art application: imaging by the location change of molecules and particles. In this method, the microscope and experiment are configured to produce a signal when an individual molecule or particle changes location or changes mobility concurrently with a chemical change. This imaging technique has enabled observation of single chemical reactions and unraveled mechanisms of complex chemical and physical processes in transition metal and polymerization systems. This Perspective has three major goals: (1) to unify studies of different chemical processes or of different chemical questions, which, in spite of these differences, employ a similar microscopy detection method, (2) to explain the technique to nonexperts and those who might be interested in joining this nascent field, and (3) to highlight unique information available through this cross-disciplinary technique and the value this information has for chemical reaction development generally and catalysis specifically. To this end, application of the location change method to the investigation of polymerization reactions with radical initiators and separately with metal catalysts, and to ligand exchange reactions at platinum complexes are described.
Energy-efficient data redistribution in sensor networks

We address the energy-efficient data redistribution problem in data-intensive sensor networks (DISNs). In a DISN, a large volume of data gets generated, which is first stored in the network and is later collected for further analysis when the next uploading opportunity arises. The key concern in DISNs is to be able to redistribute the data from data-generating nodes into the network under limited storage and energy constraints at the sensor nodes. We formulate the data redistribution problem where the objective is to minimize the total energy consumption during this process while guaranteeing full utilization of the distributed storage capacity in the DISNs. We show that the problem is APX-hard for arbitrary data sizes; therefore, a polynomial time approximation algorithm is unlikely. For unit data sizes, we show that the problem is equivalent to the minimum cost flow problem, which can be solved optimally. However, the optimal solution's centralized nature makes it unsuitable for large-scale distributed sensor networks. Thus, we design a distributed algorithm for the data redistribution problem which performs very close to the optimal, and compare its performance with various intuitive heuristics. The distributed algorithm relies on potential function-based computations, incurs limited message and computational overhead at both the sensor nodes and data generator nodes, and is easily implementable in a distributed manner. We analytically study the convergence and performance of the proposed algorithm and demonstrate its near-optimal performance and scalability under various network scenarios. In addition, we implement the distributed algorithm in TinyOS, evaluate it using TOSSIM simulator, and show that it outperforms EnviroStore, the only existing scheme for data redistribution in sensor networks, in both solution quality and message overhead. Finally, we extend the proposed algorithm to avoid disproportionate energy consumption at different sensor nodes without compromising the solution quality.
An Experimental Study of Complex-Offer Auctions from Wholesale Energy Markets

A Payment Cost Minimization auction has been proposed as an alternative to the Offer Cost Minimization auction for use in wholesale electric power markets with an intention to lower procurement cost of electricity. Efficiency concerns have been raised for this proposal while assuming that the true production costs would be revealed to the auctioneer in a competitive market. Using an experimental approach, the study compares the performance of these two complex-offer auctions, controlling for the level of unilateral market power. The analysis finds that neither auction results in allocations that correspond to the true cost revelation. Two auctions perform similarly in terms of procurement cost and efficiency. Surprisingly, consumer prices in a competitive environment approach the prices of an environment with market power. It appears that the expected institutional effects for procurement cost and efficiency are greatly dominated by the effects of anti-competitive behavior due to the offer complexity and a cyclical nature of market demand.
Stock return dynamics and the CAPM anomalies

In this study the chaotic properties of stocks were calculated at the firm level rather than focusing on the properties of indices. The dominant Lyapunov exponent and the Correlation Dimension were estimated for weekly returns to individual stocks, and the relationships between these and the firm characteristics size (market value) and book-to-market-equity (BME) ratio were examined. Size was found to have an effect on the dynamic characteristics of the stocks, but BME had no statistically significant impact.
T-folds, doubled geometry, and the SU(2) WZW model

The SU(2) WZW model at large level N can be interpreted semiclassically as string theory on S 3 with N units of Neveu-Schwarz H-flux. While globally geometric, the model nevertheless exhibits an interesting doubled geometry possessing features in common with nongeometric string theory compactifications, for example, nonzero Q-flux. Therefore, it can serve as a fertile testing ground through which to improve our understanding of more exotic compactifications, in a context in which we have a firm understanding of the background from standard techniques. Three frameworks have been used to systematize the study of nongeometric backgrounds: the T-fold construction, Hitchin’s generalized geometry, and fully doubled geometry. All of these double the standard description in some way, in order to geometrize the combined metric and Neveu Schwarz B-field data. We present the T-fold and fully doubled descriptions of WZW models, first for SU(2) and then for general group. Applying the formalism of Hull and Reid-Edwards, we indeed recover the physical metric and H-flux of the WZW model from the doubled description. As additional checks, we reproduce the abelian T-duality group and known semiclassical spectrum of D-branes.
Crime Control and Feminist Law Reform in Domestic Violence Law: A Critical Review

The controversy about nation-wide implementation of mandatory arrest policies reflects the ambivalence with which feminists regard the police. On one hand, battered women’s advocates want to hold the police accountable, as agents of the state, for carrying out the government’s mandate to protect citizens. On the other hand, feminists realize that police often exercise their power in ways that reinforce the disadvantages already experienced by women, and in ways that reinforce the disadvantages experienced by members of poor and minority communities as well.
Recent advances in bone cell biology: interactions of vitamin D with other local and systemic factors.

This review will summarize the effects of vitamine D on skeleton and relate these effects particularly to parathyroid hormone, PGE 2 and interleukine-1
Superconductivity in the cuprates as a consequence of antiferromagnetism and a large hole density of states

We briefly review a theory for the cuprates that has been recently proposed based on the movement and interaction of holes in antiferromagnetic (AF) backgrounds. A robust peak in the hole density of states (DOS) is crucial to produce a large critical temperature once a source of hole attraction is identified. The predictions of this scenario are compared with experiments. The stability of the calculations after modifying some of the original assumptions is addressed. We find that if the dispersion is changed from an antiferromagnetic band at half-filling to a tight-binding coskx+cosky narrow band at 〈n〉=0.87, the main conclusions of the approach remain basically the same i.e., superconductivity appears in the\(d_{x^2 - y^2 } \)-channel andTc is enhanced by a large DOS. The main features distinguishing these ideas from more standard theories based on antiferromagnetic correlations are here discussed.
Models of Planets and Brown Dwarfs in Mira Winds

We present numerical hydrodynamical models of the effects of planets or brown dwarfs orbiting within the extended atmosphere and wind formation zone of Mira variables. We find time-dependent wake dynamics and episodic accretion phenomena that may give rise to observable optical events and affect SiO maser emission.
A 3-D vision system model for automatic object surface sensing

The development of a noncontact “light striping” (structured light) based three-dimensional, six-degrees-of-freedom vision system for automatic object surface sensing is reported. The system modeling and world-point reconstruction methodology involve homogeneous-coordinate system transformations applied in two independent stages: the video imaging stage using three-dimensional perspective transformations and the mechanical scanning stage using three-dimensional affine transformations. Concatenation of the two independent matrix models leads to a robust four-by-four, six-degrees-of-freedom system model. The reconstructed sectional contours are registered automatically in real time with respect to a common world-coordinate system as a control net for Non-Uniform Rational B-spline (NURBS) surface approximation. The reconstruction process is demonstrated by measuring the surface of a 19.5×2 ft rowing shell. A detailed statistical accuracy and precision analysis shows an average error of 0.2% (0.002) of the camera's field-of-view. System sensitivity analysis reveals a nonlinear increase of sensitivity for angles higher than 45° between the normals of the image and laser planes.
Pollutant formation and control in spark ignition engines

The fundamental aspects of pollutant formation and control in spark-ignition engines are reviewed. The pollutants examined are oxides of nitrogen, unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. The engine concepts discussed are conventional carbureted spark-ignition engines, the Wankel, and different types of stratified charge engines. The basic pollutant formation mechanisms are related to the characteristics of the combustion processes which occur, in these different engines.
CR manifolds with noncompact connected automorphism groups

The main result of this paper is that the identity component of the automorphism group of a compact, connected, strictly pseudoconvex CR manifold is compact unless the manifold is CR equivalent to the standard sphere. In dimensions greater than 3, it has been pointed out by D. Burns that this result follows from known results on biholomorphism groups of complex manifolds with boundary and the fact that any such CR manifoldM can be realized as the boundary of an analytic variety. WhenM is 3-dimensional, Burns’s proof breaks down because abstract CR 3-manifolds are generically not realizable as boundaries. This paper provides an intrinsic proof of compactness that works in any dimension.
WOLF--RAYET STARS IN M33.

Twenty-five objects in M33 have been identified as Wolf-Rayet stars on the basis of narrow-band interference-filter photography. Spectra of two of the objects obtained by Lynds have been interpreted as WC5 or 6 +OB. Apparent blue continuum magnitudes range from +17.6 to the plate limit at +19.8 yielding absolute magnitudes in reasonable agreement with the magnitudes of Wolf-Rayet stars in the Magellanic Clouds.
Spitzer Space Telescope Observations of Kepler's Supernova Remnant: A Detailed Look at the Circumstellar Dust Component

We present 3.6-160 ?m infrared images of Kepler's supernova remnant (SN 1604) obtained with the IRAC and MIPS instruments on the Spitzer Space Telescope. We also present MIPS SED low-resolution spectra in the 55-95 ?m region. The observed emission in the MIPS 24 ?m band shows the entire shell. Emission in the MIPS 70 ?m and IRAC 8 ?m bands is seen only from the brightest regions of 24 ?m emission, which also correspond to the regions seen in optical H? images. Shorter wavelength IRAC images are increasingly dominated by stars, although faint filaments are discernible. The SED spectrum of shows a faint continuum dropping off to longer wavelengths and confirms that strong line emission does not dominate the mid-IR spectral region. The emission we see is due primarily to warm dust emission from dust heated by the primary blast wave; no excess infrared emission is observed in regions where supernova ejecta are seen in X-rays. We use models of the dust to interpret the observed 70/24 ?m ratio and constrain the allowed range of temperatures and densities. We estimate the current mass of dust in the warm dust component to be 5.4 ? 10-4 M?, and infer an original mass of about 3 ? 10-3 M? before grain sputtering. The MIPS 160 ?m band shows no emission belonging to the remnant. We place a conservative but temperature-dependent upper limit on any cold dust component roughly a factor of 10 below the cold dust mass inferred from SCUBA observations. Finally, we comment on issues relevant to the possible precursor star and the supernova type.
A system for interactive graphical programming

A system is described in this paper for developing graphical problem-oriented languages. This topic is of great importance in computer-aided design, but has hitherto received only sketchy documentation, with few attempts at a comparative study. Meanwhile displays are beginning to be used for design, and the results of such a study are badly needed. What has held back experimentation with computer graphics has been the difficulty of specifying new graphic techniques using the available programming languages; the method described in this paper appears to avoid this difficulty.
Reaction of coadsorbed nitric oxide and nitrogen atoms on Rh(111)

Abstract We have studied the reaction of nitrogen atoms (N) with nitric oxide molecules (NO) coadsorbed on a Rh(lll) catalyst in order to isolate the reaction of these two species as an elementary step (e.g., in the NO + CO reaction mechanism) and determine the products of that reaction. Electron beam dissociation of adsorbed NO was used to cleanly prepare N atom coverages between 0.05 and 0.5 monolayers. By using isotopically labeled NO and N reactants, we determined that NO and N react, under our conditions, to form only N 2 O. In contrast to previous reports, we see no evidence that suggests that NO and N can react to form N 2 as a product. In complementary experiments, we have completed computer modeling of an NO temperature-programmed desorption experiment. These simulations show that NO dissociation rates in the high NO coverage limit are as much as 500 times slower than previously reported dissociation in the low coverage limit.
Applied nutritional geography: Priorities and praxis

Abstract In the course of several years of nutritional research in East Java specific vitamin and mineral deficiencies were found to be more widespread than undernutrition. Appropriate nutritional technologies were sought to cure xeropthalmia and goitre and it was found that the villagers could cure themselves by eating a mixture of papaya and cassava leaves and rubbing their necks with tincture of iodine respectively. These treatments were field tested and an audio-visual nutritional education programme was devised to disseminate information on self-treatment. Some of the practical difficulties encountered in setting up these and one other programme which failed are discussed.
Free space microwave focusing by a negative-index gradient lens

Metamaterial structures designed to have simultaneously negative permittivity and permeability are known as left-handed materials. Their complexity and our understanding of their properties have advanced rapidly to the point where direct applications are now viable. We present a radial gradient-index (GRIN) lens with an index-of-refraction ranging from -2.67(edge) to -0.97(center). Experimentally, we find the lens can produce field intensities at the focus that are greater than that of the incident plane wave. These results are obtained at 10.45 GHz and in excellent agreement with full-wave simulations. This lens is a demonstrate an newly pioneered advanced fabrication technique using conventional printed circuit board (PCB) technology which offers significant design, mechanical, and cost advantages over other microwave lens constructions.
Probabilistic reasoning for intelligent wind shear avoidance

A computerized intelligent cockpit aid can increase flight-crew awareness of wind shear, improving avoidance decisions. The FAA Windshear Training Aid (WTA) provides guidelines for assessing the risk of wind shear encounter from meteorological evidence. Use of these guidelines in the cockpit is complicated by uncertainty surrounding meteorological knowledge of wind shear. Bayesian network representation is discussed as a means of modeling this uncertain knowledge in a computer. A probabilistic model of the WTA guidelines using Bayesian network representation is presented. This model combines evidence from sources of varying reliability and incorporates results from meteorological studies of wind shear. The probabilistic model can provide flight crews with meaningful estimates of risk to aid their decisions, using evidence from a variety of sources and a base of meteorological knowledge.
Diastereofacial selectivity in the Diels-Alder reaction of 2,3-dialkoxy-1,3-butadienes

Abstract Facial selectivity in the Diels-Alder reaction of 2,3-dialkoxy dienes with an allylic alcohol stereocenter was studied using three dienophiles: N-phenylmaleimide (NPM), benzoquinone and 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD).
Target dark matter detection rates in models with a well-tempered neutralino

In the post-LEP2 era, and in light of recent measurements of the cosmic abundance of cold dark matter (CDM) in the universe from WMAP, many supersymmetric models tend to predict (i) an overabundance of CDM and (ii) pessimistically low rates for direct detection of neutralino dark matter. However, in models with a 'well-tempered neutralino', where the neutralino composition is adjusted to give the measured abundance of CDM, the neutralino is typically of the mixed bino–wino or mixed bino–higgsino state. Along with the necessary enhancement to neutralino annihilation rates, these models tend to give elevated direct detection scattering rates compared to predictions from SUSY models with universal soft breaking terms. We present neutralino direct detection cross sections from a variety of models containing a well-tempered neutralino, and find cross section asymptotes with detectable scattering rates. These asymptotic rates provide targets that various direct CDM detection experiments should aim for. In contrast, in models where the neutralino mass rather than its composition is varied to give the WMAP relic density via either resonance annihilation or co-annihilation, the neutralino remains essentially bino-like, and direct detection rates may be below the projected reaches of all proposed experiments.
Channelized Coplanar Waveguide Pin-Diode Switches

Three different types of p-i-n diode, reflective CPW switches are presented. The first two switches are the series and the shunt mounted diode switches. Each has achieved greater than 15 dB of isolation over a broad bandwidth. The third switch is a narrow band, high isolation switched filter which has achieved 19 dB of isolation. Equivalent circuits and measured performance for each switch is presented.
High-speed nanoscale metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors with terahertz bandwidth

A model for the maximum bandwidth achievable in metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors is developed and simulated to determine the dimensions required for terahertz bandwidth. The bandwidth is found to exceed 1 THz for devices with line pitch less than 200 nm.
Picosecond Ultrasonic measurements using an optical cavity

We have implemented a new means of measuring very high frequency ultrasound in nanostructured materials (known as Picosecond Ultrasonics) by using a high-Q optical resonator that enables significant enhancement and detailed characterization of ultrasound signals.
Spirosuccinimides as Potential Anticonvulsants

A series of spirosuccinimides was synthesized and evaluated for anticonvulsant activity. The study was designed to apply the Topliss approach to structure–activity correlations in this novel series of 2-substituted-2-azaspiro[4.4]nonane-1,3-diones and 2,4-disubstituted-2-azaspiro[4.4]nonane-1,3-diones. While no correlation was noted with the 2-substituted derivatives, a good correlation was obtained in the 2,4-disubstituted series, indicating that anticonvulsant activity was related to increasing π values. The results of these anticonvulsant tests are presented and a rational approach to the structure–activity relationships of spirosuccinimides is provided.
Effects of Viewing Conditions and Rotation Methods in a Collaborative Tabletop AR Environment

We investigate the effects of viewing conditions and rotation methods on different types of collaborative tasks in a two-user colocated tabletop augmented reality (AR) environment. The viewing condition means how the manipulation of a tabletop world by one user is shown in the other users' views and the rotation method means what type of input devices is used to rotate the tabletop world for alternative orientations. Our experiment considered two viewing conditions (consistent view and inconsistent view), two rotation methods (direct turn and indirect turn), and two task types (synchronous and referring-strong type, and asynchronous and orientation-strong type). A 3D display environment called "Stereoscopic Collaboration in Augmented and Projective Environments (SCAPE)” was utilized as a test environment. According to the results, the viewing conditions had significant effects on several objective and subjective measurements. On task completion time, their effect for the synchronous and referring-strong type of task was opposite to that for the asynchronous and orientation-strong type of task. On the other hand, the rotation methods had significant effects only on the accumulated turn angle (for both task types) and the number of negotiation phrases (only in the inconsistent viewing condition for the asynchronous and orientation-strong type of task).
The Effects of Internet Use on Political Participation: Evidence From an Agency Online Discussion Forum

We seek to clarify the relationship between Internet use and political participation. Although early theorists touted the potential mobilizing effects of the Internet, existing empirical studies have failed to find support for such a relationship. We challenge these findings through the analysis of an experimental use of an online discussion forum in anagency strategic planning exercise. The Web-based discussion run in parallel to the traditional docket attracted new individuals to participate in the decision-making process and influenced the range of topics discussed. These results suggest that extending opportunities for participation can attract new voices, thereby changing decision makers’information environment.
Chemical conversion pathways for carbohydrates

Biomass has emerged as a potential alternative feedstock to dwindling fossil fuel reserves. Starting in the 1990s, extensive research has been directed towards the synthesis of useful platform chemicals from cellulosic biomass. Chemical conversion processes of biomass have evolved as a parallel approach to thermochemical and enzymatic synthetic routes. In this review, we summarize the recent developments in liquid phase chemical conversions of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. The reaction processes explored are hydrolysis, oxidation, reduction, hydrogenation, hydrogenolysis, esterification, etherification, glycosylation, dehydration, as well as the functionalization of the polysaccharide backbone. Our review follows a “process-driven” approach where the existing carbohydrate conversion pathways are classified according to the types of chemical processes involved.
Structural causes of the global financial crisis: a critical assessment of the ‘new financial architecture’

We are in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. This crisis is the latest phase of the evolution of financial markets under the radical financial deregulation process that began in the late 1970s. This evolution has taken the form of cycles in which deregulation accompanied by rapid financial innovation stimulates powerful financial booms that end in crises. Governments respond to crises with bailouts that allow new expansions to begin. As a result, financial markets have become ever larger and financial crises have become more threatening to society, which forces governments to enact ever larger bailouts. This process culminated in the current global financial crisis, which is so deeply rooted that even unprecedented interventions by affected governments have, thus far, failed to contain it. In this paper we analyse the structural flaws in the financial system that helped bring on the current crisis and discuss prospects for financial reform.
Multinational enterprises, technology diffusion, and host country productivity growth

Abstract This paper investigates US multinational enterprises (MNEs) as a channel of international technology diffusion in 40 countries from 1966 to 1994. We use data on technology transfer to distinguish between the technology diffusion effect and other productivity-enhancing effects of MNEs. We find that the technology transfer provided by US MNEs contributes to the productivity growth in DCs but not in LDCs. We show that a country needs to reach a minimum human capital threshold level in order to benefit from the technology transfer of US MNEs; however, most LDCs do not meet this threshold requirement.
A new species of anole lizard, genus Norops (Squamata: Polychrotidae), from the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica

Se describe una especie nueva de lagartija del grupo de Norops fuscoauratus de Talamanca, Costa Rica. Difiere de las especies emparentadas de Costa Rica (Norops attae) y Panama ( Norops exsul , N. fortunensis y N. kemptoni ) basicamente porque una estructura masculina ("dewlap") se extiende hasta el nivel de la axila y por ser rosado con un margen exterior anaranjado. Tambien tiene patas mas largas que N. fortunensis y N. kemptoni ; difiere de este ultimo y de N. attae y N. exsut en que tiene 2-4 filas ligeramente agrandadas de escamas medio-dorsales La especie nueva solo se conoce de Cerro Pando (frontera entre Costa Rica y Panama).
A reduced-area scheme for carry-select adders

The carry-select or conditional-sum adders require carry-chain evaluations for each block for both the values of block-carry-in, 0 and 1. The author introduces a scheme to generate carry bits with block-carry-in 1 from the carries of a block with block-carry-in 0. This scheme is then applied to carry-select and parallel-prefix adders to derive a more area-efficient implementation for both the cases. The proposed carry-select scheme is assessed relative to carry-ripple, classical carry-select, and carry-skip adders. The analytic evaluation is done with respect to the gate-count model for area and gate-delay units for time. >
Reaction of Certain Plant Growth Regulators With Ion Exchangers.

Several investigators have reported that 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and certain other plant growthregulators are readily leached from soils (2, 3, 7). NUTMAN et al. (7) found that leaching equivalent to I.4 inches of water resulted in a loss of 2,4-D from the soil but that far greater volumes of water did not completely remove it. This would indicate that some 2,4-D may be adsorbed by the soil. HANKS (3) studied rates of leaching of 2,4-D and its calcium salt from six types of soil and found that the two compounds were leached from any one soil at about equal rates, as shown by comparative toxicities of the leachatesn but were differentially leached from the various soits. It was recently shown by LUCAS and HAMNER (5) that 2,4-D is inactivated by adsorption on charcoal. Bean plants sprayed with a o. ISo solution of sodium 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate, which had been mixed and shaken with I%o activated charcoal? showed little injury. The degree of adsotption of several growth-regulators by certain ion-exchange materials and also the readiness with which the compounds are eluted after having been adsorbed are reported here. Growth of plants in exchanger materials containing an adsorbed growthregulator was also obserrred. Such studies may help to explain why herbicidal growth-regulators vary in toxicity in different soils and why the rates of leaching of the compounds from different soils may vary. A spectrophotometric method developed by BANDURSKI (I) for determining growth-regulators in solution made possible quantitative studies of adsorption and leaching of such compounds which could heretofore be done only with difficulty when using bioassays (6, 8).
An aperture-matched horn design

A novel horn design is presented which provides significantly better performance in terms of the pattern, impedance, and frequency characteristics than normally obtainable. The modification necessary to accomplish these improvements is achieved with a moderate increase in the size and weight; yet, the overall cost of design and construction need not significantly increase. The basic concept utilizes an ordinary horn except that curved surface sections are attached to the outside of the aperture edges. Although all of the original studies associated with this new antenna were made using elliptic cylinder sections, they can be arbitrary smooth convex shapes which are attached to the horn such that the junction forms a smooth surface to the touch.
Reducing orbital eccentricity in binary black hole simulations

Binary black hole simulations starting from quasi-circular (i.e., zero radial velocity) initial data have orbits with small but nonzero orbital eccentricities. In this paper, the quasi-equilibrium initial-data method is extended to allow nonzero radial velocities to be specified in binary black hole initial data. New low-eccentricity initial data are obtained by adjusting the orbital frequency and radial velocities to minimize the orbital eccentricity, and the resulting (~5 orbit) evolutions are compared with those of quasi-circular initial data. Evolutions of the quasi-circular data clearly show eccentric orbits, with eccentricity that decays over time. The precise decay rate depends on the definition of eccentricity; if defined in terms of variations in the orbital frequency, the decay rate agrees well with the prediction of Peters (1964 Phys. Rev. 136 1224–32). The gravitational waveforms, which contain ~8 cycles in the dominant l = m = 2 mode, are largely unaffected by the eccentricity of the quasi-circular initial data. The overlap between the dominant mode in the quasi-circular evolution and the same mode in the low-eccentricity evolution is about 0.99.
Synthesis of vinylic and cyclic sulfones via a radical addition-elimination sequence

Radical attack on the double bond of 2,3-bis(phenylsulfonyl)-1-propene leads to an intermediate sulfonyl stabilized radical. This species readily fragments to produce a new vinyl sulfone which can undergo further radical cyclization to give a six ring sulfone.
Analysis of the Sound Field Emitted by a Doubly Salient Switched Reluctance Motor Using Acoustic Intensity Measurement

we propose in this article to apply the technique of acoustic intensity measurement for the analysis of the sound field emitted by the doubly salient switched reluctance motor (DSSRM). The measurements got here try to make profitable the power of this technique by using a Matlab code in order to obtain a visualization of the sound images for given frequencies, of the principal sources of vibrations present in this motor. This technique allowed calculating the sound power of the acoustic noise radiated by each face of the motor, which is calculated by using the discrete points method. It can be an original and a complementary experimental method to traditional used up to now for this kind of motor.
An Investigation into the Feasibility of Detecting Microscopic Disease Using Machine Learning

The prognosis for many cancers could be improved dramatically if they could be detected while still at the microscopic disease stage. We are investigating the possibility of detecting microscopic disease using machine learning approaches based on features derived from gene expression levels and metabolic profiles. We use immunochemistry and QRT-PCR to measure the gene expression profiles from a number of antigens such as cyclin E, P27KIP1, FHIT, Ki-67, PCNA, Bax, Bcl-2, P53, Fas, FasL and hTERT in several particular types of neuroendocrine tumors such as pheochromocytomas, paragangliomas; and the adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC), adenomas (ACA), and hyperplasia (ACH) in Cushing's syndrome. We provide statistical evidence that, higher expression levels of hTERT, PCNA and Ki-67 etc. are associated with a higher risk that the tumors are malignant or borderline, as opposed to benign. We also investigated whether higher expression levels of the P27KIP and FHIT etc. are associated with a decreased risk of adrenomedullary tumors. While no significant difference was found between cell-arrest antigens such as P27KIP1 for malignant, borderline, and benign tumors, there was a significant difference between expression levels of such antigens in normal adrenal medulla samples and in adrenomedullary tumors.
Stabilization and Growth in Transition Economies: The Early Experience

This paper analyzes the growth and stabilization experience in 26 transition economies in eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Mongolia for the period 1989-1994. Inflation rates have declined significantly in most countries following an inflation stabilization program. Growth resumes after stabilization occurs, typically with a lag of about two years. Reducing inflation thus appears to be a precondition for growth. An econometric analysis of the short-run determinants of inflation and growth illustrates the key roles of fixed exchange rates, improved fiscal balances, and structural reforms in spurring growth and lowering inflation, and confirms that inflation stabilization programs have been beneficial for growth even after controlling for structural reforms.
Three body annihilation of neutralinos below two-body thresholds

We calculate the cross section for s-wave neutralino annihilation to three-body final states below the W+W- and tbar t thresholds. Such three-body channels may dominate the annihilation cross section if the neutralino mass is not too much less than mt and mW respectively. Furthermore, because neutrinos produced in these channels are much more energetic than those from the bbar b or τ+τ- channels, they can dominate the energetic-neutrino fluxes from neutralino annihilation in the Sun or Earth far below these thresholds and significantly enhance the neutrino signal in certain regions of the supersymmetric parameter space.
Does increase in women's income relative to men's income increase food calorie intake in poor households? Evidence from Nigeria

This article addresses the important but not widely investigated question of how calorie consumption in African low-income households would respond to intrahousehold redistribution of income from men to women. Specifically, I use survey data on a sample of 480 households from semirural areas of south-western Nigeria to analyze the response of per capita calorie intake to changes in women's share of household income, after controlling for per capita income and demographic characteristics at individual, household, and community levels. I also examine the effect of marginal increases in household income on per capita calorie intake conditional on the income distribution factor: women's share of income. My results suggest that redistributing household income from men to women would neither raise per capita food energy intake nor increase the quality of food calorie source of households in rural south-western Nigeria. I also find that while the income elasticity of quantity of calorie intake is close to zero, income elasticity for quality of calorie intake is substantially positive. I conclude that neither gender-neutral household income increases nor redistribution of household income in favor of women would substantially motivate increased amounts of food energy intake within households in the population under study. However, gender neutral increase in household income is likely to substantially increase the household demand for high-quality food calorie sources.