cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Market Power in Agricultural Contracts

I study the economic consequences of shifting bargaining power in relational contracts through interventions such as the formation of a Bargaining Group (BG) for the side of sellers in a market where buyers traditionally hold significant market power. Existing theories of relational contracts predict that such a power transfer will have no impact on market efficiency. In contexts where enforcement institutions are weak, a standard assumption from existing theories of relational contracts - the existence of an enforceable base payment - may not hold. In this case, I show that a transfer of bargaining power can erode market efficiency in a dynamic relational contracting environment, which contradicts findings from existing models of relational contracting. When buyers hold significant market power, they forgo short-term opportunistic behavior by honoring promised performance bonuses in order to keep sellers engaged in trade over time and to accumulate surplus over many periods. With market power eroded by interventions such as the BG, buyers’ long-run gains to trade shirk. When this is coupled with the absence of an enforceable base payment, short-term opportunistic behavior becomes more appealing and trade is more likely to break down. The results here provide policy-makers insight into the economic consequences of enacting policies attempting to balance market power within a framework of fully informal contract enforcement.
Moment Generating Function

Moment generating functions are used to derive moments of distributions, establish the distribution of sums and differences of independent random variables, and derive limiting distributions of sequences of random variables. It is an integral transform of the density function and the terms of its Taylor expansion about the origin give moments about zero. Central moments are easily obtained. Properties discussed briefly include the derivation of the MGF for a sum as the product of the separate MGFs, the multivariate case and the derivation of the factorial moment generating function. Keywords: characteristic function; central moments; sum; factorial
Making Polymers from Carbon Dioxide

Industrial processes that use carbon dioxide as a raw material sound attractive: COis abundant, cheap, and environmentally benign. Besides, nature uses it every day for making polymers. However, to date, polymerization schemes that use COhave suffered from catalysts that are not sufficiently efficient to be economical and products that cannot compete with existing ones on grounds of their properties. Although recent progress has led to higher catalyst activities, a commercially viable product is still missing. Clues may come from comparison with carbon monoxide, CO, which has been used as a monomer in commercially viable polymerization reactions. This and other considerations may lead to the development of commercially produced polymer products based on COchemistry in the foreseeable future.
Phase Separation in Models for Manganites: Theoretical Aspects and Comparison with Experiments

Summarizing, a comprehensive computational study of models for manganites have found that the expected double-exchange induced strong tendencies to ferromagnetic correlations at low temperatures are in competition with a regime of “phase separation”. This regime was identified in all dimensions of interest, using one and two orbitals (the latter with Jahn-Teller phonons), and both with classical and quantum localized t2g spins. It also appears in the presence of on-site Coulomb interactions. This robustness of our results suggests that phase separation may also be present in real manganites. In the previous section experimental literature that have reported some form of charge in-homogeneity in the context of the manganites has been briefly reviewed. It is concluded that theory and experiments seem to be in qualitative agreement and phase separation tendencies (which may correspond to the formation of magnetic droplets or even stripes once Coulomb interactions beyond the on-site term are included in the analysis) should be taken seriously. They may even be responsible for the phenomenon of Colossal Magnetoresistance that motivated the current enormous interest in the study of manganites in the first place!.
Extragalactic reference frames

The idea of using extragalactic objects to define the celestial reference frame is quite old, having been discussed by Herschel and Laplace some two hundred years ago, even before there was proof that such objects existed. Any object sufficiently distant would have no detectable proper motion, thus avoiding one of the chief complications of the stellar reference frame discussed in Chapter 1. The realization of such a reference frame, however, has been dependent on scientific discovery, technological advances, and commitment of resources to a now perceived need.
Unified power control, error correction coding and scheduling for a CDMA downlink system

Transmitting multimedia data over a CDMA channel presents a new set of challenges. Sometimes, data demands will exceed the system capacity, in which case the system must make the most efficient use of its limited resources. The resources we consider are: fixed bandwidth available for each user and the transmit power budget for each cell. In this paper, we present our approach for unifying power control, variable forward error correction (VFEC), and scheduling for a downlink system by allocating the system resources. Our objective is to maximize the overall system satisfaction, which we call “system utility”. This objective is achieved by applying a distributed algorithm which divides the overall optimization problem into a hierarchy of three levels (system, cell and user). At each level, the system performs independent and parallel optimizations; the critical information is then passed to the higher level for further optimization. Finally, an iterative and distributed algorithm is applied at the system level to achieve the overall system optimization.
Crystal structure, magnetic, and dielectric properties of Aurivillius-type Bi3Fe0.5Nb1.5O9

Abstract Bi3Fe0.5Nb1.5O9 was synthesized using conventional solid state techniques and its crystal structure was refined by the Rietveld method using neutron powder diffraction data. The oxide adopts an Aurivillius-type structure with non-centrosymmetric space group symmetry A21am (a=5.47016(9) A, b=5.43492(9) A, c=25.4232(4) A), analogous to other Aurivillius compounds that exhibit ferroelectricity. The Fe and Nb cations are disordered on the same crystallographic site. The [(Fe,Nb)O6] octahedra exhibit tilting and distortion to accommodate the bonding requirements of the Bi cations located in the perovskite double layers. Magnetic measurements indicate non-Curie–Weiss-type paramagnetic behavior from 300 to 6 K. Measurements of dielectric properties and electrical resistivity exhibited changes near 250–260 °C and are suggestive of a ferroelectric transition.
Diagrams of divide links

Recently N. A'campo suggested a construction of a link from a generic immersion of a curve into a 2-disk. It is tightly related to the singularity theory. In this paper, we give a simple procedure to draw a diagram of the link from a picture of the curve.
Modeling for Dynamic Ordinal Regression Relationships: An Application to Estimating Maturity of Rockfish in California

ABSTRACTWe develop a Bayesian nonparametric framework for modeling ordinal regression relationships, which evolve in discrete time. The motivating application involves a key problem in fisheries research on estimating dynamically evolving relationships between age, length, and maturity, the latter recorded on an ordinal scale. The methodology builds from nonparametric mixture modeling for the joint stochastic mechanism of covariates and latent continuous responses. This approach yields highly flexible inference for ordinal regression functions while at the same time avoiding the computational challenges of parametric models that arise from estimation of cut-off points relating the latent continuous and ordinal responses. A novel-dependent Dirichlet process prior for time-dependent mixing distributions extends the model to the dynamic setting. The methodology is used for a detailed study of relationships between maturity, age, and length for Chilipepper rockfish, using data collected over 15 years along th...
Gauging Dual Symmetry

For some symmetries the process of transforming from a global to a local symmetry can be achieved by introducing a scalar field rather than a vector field. The symmetry that we study is electric–magnetic dual symmetry which “rotates” electric and magnetic quantities into one another. Starting from an initial Lagrangian which contains vector fields and satisfies a global electric–magnetic duality, we show that it is possible to make the symmetry local by introducing a scalar field.
Do social explanations work?: studying and modeling the effects of social explanations in recommender systems

Recommender systems associated with social networks often use social explanations (e.g. "X, Y and 2 friends like this") to support the recommendations. We present a study of the effects of these social explanations in a music recommendation context. We start with an experiment with 237 users, in which we show explanations with varying levels of social information and analyze their effect on users' decisions. We distinguish between two key decisions: the likelihood of checking out the recommended artist, and the actual rating of the artist based on listening to several songs. We find that while the explanations do have some influence on the likelihood, there is little correlation between the likelihood and actual (listening) rating for the same artist. Based on these insights, we present a generative probabilistic model that explains the interplay between explanations and background information on music preferences, and how that leads to a final likelihood rating for an artist. Acknowledging the impact of explanations, we discuss a general recommendation framework that models external informational elements in the recommendation interface, in addition to inherent preferences of users.
The Event Study Methodology Since 1969

This paper discusses the event study methodology, beginning with FFJR (1969), including hypoth- esis testing, the use of different benchmarks for the normal rate of return, the power of the methodology in different applications and the modeling of abnormal returns as coefficients in a (multivariate) regression frame- work. It also focuses on frequently encountered statistical problems in event studies and their solutions.
Follow the Money: Remittance Responses to FDI Inflows

This paper explores the relationship between foreign direct investment and remittance flows. Using a panel of 79 countries, we estimate a random effects model and find a positive and significant relationship between the two capital flows. We account for the potential endogeneity of FDI to remittances by utilize a two-stage Instrumental Variables approach. These findings are indicative of a desire among the emigrant community to invest their income earned abroad in their home countries. We also explore regional characteristics to examine whether this relationship differs across regions. Consequently, we find this effect to be particularly important for Sub-Saharan African (SSA) and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.
Intensive Intervention in Mathematics

Students who demonstrate persistent mathematics difficulties and whose performance is severely below grade level require intensive intervention. Intensive intervention is an individualized approach to instruction that is more demanding and concentrated than Tier 2 intervention efforts. We present the elements of intensive intervention that teachers should consider when planning for, implementing, and monitoring intensive intervention in mathematics. Each of these elements is based on evidence from validated interventions. We also highlight strategies for intensifying instruction. We provide two examples of intensive intervention, one of which launches from a Tier 2 intervention platform and the other which is completely generated by a teacher. We conclude with considerations for intensive intervention in mathematics.
Human Genetics and Clinical Aspects of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

This chapter traverses contemporary understandings of the genetic architecture of human disease, and explores the clinical implications of the current state of knowledge. Many different classes of genetic mutations have been implicated as being involved in predisposition to certain diseases, and researchers are continually uncovering other means by which genetics plays an important role in human disease, such as with somatic genetic mosaicism. Putative “de novo” mutations can represent cases of parental mosaicism (including in the germline), which could be revealed by careful genotyping of parental tissues other than peripheral blood lymphocytes. There is an increasingly rich literature regarding rare mutations with seemingly large phenotypic effects. Privacy concerns have added to the difficulties of implementing genomics-guided medicine. With the advent of exome and whole genome sequencing (WGS), one needs to focus again on families over several generations, so as to attempt to minimize genetic differences, locus heterogeneity and environmental influences.
The Nonprime Mortgage Crisis and Positive Feedback Lending

The great recession of 2007â2009 was sparked by a bubble in U.S. housing prices, driven in turn by a bubble in nonprime mortgage lending. We collect evidence that the risk of a nonprime housing bubble (not the certainty, but a meaningful risk) should have been obvious to the main participants in the markets for nonprime lending and related mortgage-backed securities (nonprime MBS), including originators, securitizers, rating agencies, money managers, and institutional investors. Those who did not see the risk were, in many cases, willfully blind. We also discuss the strong positive feedback nature of typical nonprime mortgages. This positive feedback made it highly likely that, if nonprime housing prices flattened, let alone fell, they would soon crash and take many nonprime MBS with them. We discuss regulatory responses that might limit positive feedback lending, cause the next bubble to be smaller and less likely, and make the post-bubble aftermath less painful.
Sonoluminescence and the Heimlich Effect

The phenomenon of sonoluminescence (SL), originally observed some sixty years ago,1 has recently become the focus of renewed interest,2–9 particularly with the discovery that one can trap a single bubble and induce it to exhibit SL stably over a large number of acoustical cycles.2
Unfair trade? Empirical evidence in world commodity markets over te past 25 years

Since the 1970s, commodity prices have fallen in international markets at the same time that consumer pries have risen. The price of coffee declined 18 percent on world markets between 1975 and 1993, for example, but the consumer price for it increased 240 percent in the United States. Explanations for such diverging patterns remain largely unexplored in current economic literature. The author examines the spreads between international and domestic commodity prices, explains why they have increased, and analyzes their implications for commodity-exporting countries. He finds that the spreads have increased dramatically because of the asymmetric response of domestic consumer prices to movements in world prices. In all major consumer markets, decreases in world commodity prices have systematically been transmitted to domestic consumer prices much less than have increases. This may have cost commodity-exporting countries more than $100 billion a year because it has limited the expansion of demand for commodities in these markets. The asymmetric response, which has been attributed to trade restrictions and rising processing costs, appears to be caused largely by the behavior of international trading companies. Many of these companies are large enough to dominate most commodity markets. Surprisingly, although mainstream economists have suggested imperfect competition in international trade at both the producer and the consumer levels, they have not yet pointed it out at the intermediary level. Free trade requires that all players sing the same tune : competition. The author recommends a special effort to understand the determinants of consumer prices and the role of intermediaries at both wholesale and retail levels -starting with the collection of information about the activities of international trading companies. This effort would require the involvement of the World Bank and the World Trade Organization, because they have the resources to undertake such an operation worldwide. Only a better understanding of how these companies operate will remove the suspicion of unfair trade in international commodity markets.
Reexamining Health Messages in the Digital Age: A Fresh Look at Source Credibility Effects

This article investigates the influence of perceived source credibility on the effectiveness of health-related public service announcements (PSAs) and electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) communications. Findings indicate that online commenters who are perceived to be credible are instrumental in influencing consumers’ responses to pro- versus antivaccination online PSAs. Results further suggest it is not the advertising message (i.e., the PSA-advocated position) alone that influences consumers’ responses (even when consumers perceive the PSA sponsor to be highly credible) but rather the commenters’ reactions to the claims presented in the PSA that also independently contribute to consumers’ vaccination attitudes and behavioral intentions. Finally, results also show that when the relevant expertise of online commenters is identified, the effectiveness of the PSA's advertising message is moderated by the interactive effect of the online comments and their associated perceived credibility.
Actinides and Transactinides

The actinide elements are a group of chemically similar elements with atomic numbers 89 through 103, and include actinium, thorium, protactinium, uranium, neptunium, plutonium, americium, curium, berkelium, californium, einsteinium, fermium, mendelevium, nobelium, and lawrencium. Each of the elements has a number of isotopes, all radioactive. Thorium, uranium, and plutonium are well known for their role as the basic fuels (or sources of fuel) for the release of nuclear energy. The importance of the remainder of the actinide group lies at present in research. The actinides present a storage-life problem in nuclear waste disposal. Only the members of the actinide group through Pu have been found to occur in nature. Thorium and uranium occur widely in the earth's crust in combination with other elements, and, in the case of uranium, in significant concentrations in the oceans. With these exceptions, the actinide elements are synthetic in origin for practical purposes, ie, they are products of nuclear reactions. All the actinide elements are radioactive, and, except for thorium and uranium, special equipment and shielded facilities are usually necessary for their manipulation. Special techniques for experimentation with the actinide elements other than Th and U have been devised because of the potential health hazard to the experimenter and the small amounts available. The actinide elements exhibit uniformity in ionic types. Corresponding ionic types are similar in chemical behavior, although the relative stabilities differ from element to element. Of the actinide ions, the small, highly charged ions exhibit the greatest degree of hydrolysis and complex ion formation. The actinide metals, like the lanthanide metals, are highly electropositive. They can be prepared by the electrolysis of molten salts or by the reduction of a halide with an electropositive metal, such as calcium or barium. Thousands of compounds of the actinide elements have been prepared. The elements beyond the actinides in the periodic table can be termed the transactinides. These begin with the element having atomic number 104 and extend, in principle, indefinitely. Nine such elements, numbers 104–1112, are now known, and evidence for the observation of elements 114, 116, and 118 was published in 1999. These reports now await confirmation. Thse elements are synthesized by the bombardment of heavy nuclides with heavy ions. Modern high-speed computers have made possible the calculation of the electronic structure of the atoms, which gives some general guidance about chemical properties. Recently, the even more difficult theoretical problem of predicting the behavior of molecular species under actual experimental conditions has been addressed using relativistic quantum-chemical calculations combined with fundamental physicochemical considerations. Keywords: Actinides; Transactinides; Productions; Nuclear; Chemical Properties
Energies for cyclic and acyclic aggregations of adamantane and diamantane units sharing vertices, edges, or six‐membered rings

Diamondoids are hydrocarbons having a carbon scaffold comprised from polymer-like composites of adamantane cages. This article describes computed total energies and “SWB-tension” energies (often referred to as “strain” energies) for species having n adamantane or diamantane units sharing pairwise: one carbon atom (spiro-[n]adamantane or spiro-[n]diamantane); one CC bond (one-bond-sharing-[n]adamantane or one-bond-sharing-[n]diamantane); or one chair-shaped hexagon of carbon atoms (1234-helical-cata-[n]diamantanes). Each of the five investigated polymer-like types is considered either as an acyclic or a cyclic chain of adamantane- or diamantane-unit cages. With increasing n values, SWB-tension energies for acyclic aggregates are found to increase linearly, while the net SWB-tension energies of cyclic aggregates often go thru a minimum at a suitable value of . In all five cases, a limiting common energy per unit ( ) is found to be approached by both cyclic and acyclic chains as , as revealed from plots of versus 1/n for acyclic chains and of versus 1/n2 for cyclic chains. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The call-by-need lambda calculus, revisited

The existing call-by-need λ describe lazy evaluation via equational logics. A programmer can use these logics to safely ascertain whether one term is behaviorally equivalent to another or to determine the value of a lazy program. However, neither of the existing calculi models evaluation in a way that matches lazy implementations. Both calculi suffer from the same two problems. First, the calculi never discard function calls, even after they are completely resolved. Second, the calculi include re-association axioms even though these axioms are merely administrative steps with no counterpart in any implementation. In this paper, we present an alternative axiomatization of lazy evaluation using a single axiom. It eliminates both the function call retention problem and the extraneous re-association axioms. Our axiom uses a grammar of contexts to describe the exact notion of a needed computation. Like its predecessors, our new calculus satisfies consistency and standardization properties and is thus suitable for reasoning about behavioral equivalence. In addition, we establish a correspondence between our semantics and Launchbury's natural semantics.
Apparent Mineral Retention Is Similar in Control and Hyperinsulinemic Men after Consumption of High Amylose Cornstarch

The effects on apparent mineral retention after long-term consumption of a high amylose diet containing 30 g resistant starch (RS) were investigated in 10 control and 14 hyperinsulinemic men. Subjects consumed products (bread, muffins, cookies, corn flakes and cheese puffs) made with standard (70% amylopectin, 30% amylose; AP) or high amylose (70% amylose, 30% amylopectin; AM) cornstarch for two 14-wk periods in a crossover pattern. Starch products replaced usual starches in the habitual diet for 10 wk followed by 4 wk of consuming the controlled diets. During wk 12, all urine, feces and duplicate foods were collected for 7 d. Urinary chromium losses after a glucose tolerance test or 24-h collections of the hyperinsulinemic and control subjects did not differ and were not altered by diet. Except for zinc, the two subject types did not differ significantly in apparent mineral balance. Apparent retentions of calcium and magnesium were not significantly affected by diet (AM vs. AP) or type-by-diet interaction. Apparent iron retention tended to be greater after AM than AP consumption (P < 0.09). Apparent copper retention was greater after consuming AP than after AM (P < 0.02), whereas apparent zinc retention was greater after consuming AM than after AP (P < 0.018). Zinc also showed a significant type-by-diet interaction (P < 0.034) with control subjects retaining less zinc after consuming AP than after AM. In summary, a high amylose cornstarch diet containing 30 g RS could be consumed long term without markedly affecting, and possibly enhancing, retention of some minerals.
Robust Combination of Local Controllers

Finding solutions to high dimensional Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) is a difficult problem, especially in the presence of uncertainty or if the actions and time measurements are continuous. Frequently this difficulty can be alleviated by the availability of problem-specific knowledge. For example, it may be relatively easy to design controllers that are good locally, though having no global guarantees. We propose a nonparametric method to combine these local controllers to obtain globally good solutions. We apply this formulation to two types of problems: motion planning (stochastic shortest path problems) and discounted-cost MDPs. For motion planning, we argue that only considering the expected cost of a path may be overly simplistic in the presence of uncertainty. We propose an alternative: finding the minimum cost path, subject to the constraint that the robot must reach the goal with high probability. For this problem, we prove that a polynomial number of samples is sufficient to obtain a high probability path. For discounted MDPs, we consider various problem formulations that explicitly deal with model uncertainty. We provide empirical evidence of the usefulness of these approaches using the control of a robot arm.
Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS Imaging of the Core of M87

We present broadband 1.1, 1.6, and 2.2 μm images and a 2.37 μm narrowband image of the inner 19'' of the nearby radio galaxy M87, obtained with the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The isophotes of the broadband images are almost perfectly circular to within approximately 05 (~50 pc) of the active nucleus, and an r1/4 law provides a good fit to the galaxy brightness profile at these wavelengths to within the same distance. This result agrees with predictions that the nuclear supermassive black hole will produce a nearly spherical distribution of the surrounding stars within a galaxy crossing time. A difference image formed from the 1.6 μm image and a V-band image obtained with the HST Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 does not show any clear evidence of a physically thick dusty torus around the nucleus, consistent with its lack of strong thermal mid-infrared emission. If such a torus is present, our data indicate its outer radius to be less than 50 pc. The infrared broadband colors and 2.37 μm image (which is sensitive to the strength of the stellar CO absorption) show no gradients to a distance of approximately 5'' (~400 pc) from the nucleus and are consistent with a population dominated by late M giants, with no evidence of recent star formation. However, the globular clusters in this region are confirmed to consist of stars bluer than the underlying galaxy, indicating a different formation history. The images and associated colors also confirm that the regions beyond the nucleus do not contain strongly concentrated dust, in contrast to many other radio galaxies. In combination with other recent observations, these results indicate that M87 represents the dynamically evolved product of past galaxy mergers and suggest that its nucleus is in the final stages of activity.
P-wave meson properties with Wilson quarks

We describe two calculations involving P-wave mesons made of Wilson quarks: the strong coupling constant α s in the presence of two flavors of light dynamical fermions and the mass and decay constant of the a 1 meson.
Hierarchical stereo correspondence using features of gray connected components

In this paper, a new feature-based method for the correspondence problem is proposed. The used feature is the boundary of a parameter-dependent connected component of an image which is introduced in. In general, there is no one- to-one relationship between the points of a pair stereo images. We prove that under certain conditions, there is such a relationship between the sets of the boundary points of the connected components of the stereo images. This correspondence may be identified through the epipolar geometry. Furthermore, since such connected components may represent some meaningful objects in images, we may obtain the corresponding objects directly, instead of only the corresponding points or lines as in some other methods which need the process of feature grouping to conduct further analysis. Also, a hierarchy of the connected components provides us a coarse-to-fine matching method to recover the surface corresponding to a connected component.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Optimization of discrete control systems through linear programming

Abstract The state-vector approach is employed to describe discrete control systems with linear plants. A novel formulation is proposed to obtain “minimum-time” solution through the application of linear programming. For a given initial state, the systematic iterative process employed yields the minimum control time required and its corresponding controlling sequence to bring the system to its equilibrium state. The control input is magnitude-limited. This iterative process also reveals whether or not the controlling sequence is unique. When the controlling sequence of the minimum-time solution is not unique, two objective functions are suggested to continue the process, so that a choice can be made to satisfy the minimum fuel criterion. This iterative process is not restricted by the order of the plant. It can be easily executed on a digital computer. An illustrative example is worked out in detail in the paper.
One-pot synthesis of 2-substituted indoles from 2-aminobenzyl phosphonium salts. A formal total synthesis of arcyriacyanin A.

The reaction of (2-aminobenzyl) triphenylphosphonium bromide with aromatic aldehydes or α,β-unsaturated aldehydes under microwave-assisted conditions constitutes a new synthesis of 2-substituted indoles in high yields (81−97%) in a one-pot reaction. The adduct from indole-4-carboxaldehyde was an advanced intermediate in the synthesis of arcyriacyanin A.
AN IMPROVED SYNTHESIS OF 3-SUBSTITUTED FURANS FROM SUBSTITUTED BUTENE-1,4-DIOLS

Abstract A two-phase mixture of water and hexanes improves the yields of furans produced by the oxidation of butene-1,4-diols.
PRODUCTIVE GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE IN A STOCHASTICALLY GROWING ECONOMY

This paper analyzes productive government expenditure in a stochastic AK growth model. First, a centrally planned economy is characterized, emphasizing the trade-off between the effects of both deterministic and stochastic government expenditures on the equilibrium growth rate and its variance. Both the growth-maximizing and the welfare-maximizing shares of government expenditure are derived and shown to depend (differentially) upon the degree of risk in the economy. Whereas production risk reduces the welfare-maximizing share of government expenditure, it may either increase or decrease the growth-maximizing share, depending upon the degree of risk aversion. Next, the stochastic equilibrium in a decentralized economy is derived. The first-best optimal tax structure is characterized and its dependence on risk is determined. The formal analysis is supplemented by some numerical simulations to assess the quantitative significance of risk and the divergence that this generates between the welfare-maximizing and growth-maximizing size of government.
Final focus system for a muon collider: A test model

The present scenario for a high luminosity 4 TeV on center of mass muon collider required a beta function {beta}* {approx} 3mm at the interaction point. We discuss a test model of a basic layout which satisfies the requirements although it is not fully realistic.
Bioengineered Fascicle-Like Skeletal Muscle Tissue Constructs

Tissue engineered skeletal muscle constructs have and will continue to be valuable in treating, and testing various muscle injuries and diseases. However a significant drawback to numerous methods of producing 3D skeletal muscle constructs grown in vitro is that muscle cell density as a fraction of total volume or mass, is often significantly lower than muscle found in vivo. Therefore a method to increase muscle cell density within a construct is needed.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Small Deviations from Maximizing Behavior in a Simple Dynamic Model

The motivating intuition is that the presence of nonmaximizing agents induces maximizing agents to take advantage of them, and that this might magnify the effect of small deviations from maximizing behavior. This intuition is explored using a simple dynamic model. With an inflexible entry process, small deviations from maximizing behavior may have a substantial impact on the allocation of gains from trade. With a flexible entry process, the effect is dampened by adjustments in entry. Yet these deviations result in a first-order efficiency loss, in contrast to the second-order loss that one would expect from looking at standard static models.
On the design of optimal mechanisms for the Arrow-Hahn-McKenzie economy

This essay presents necessary and sufficient first-order conditions for the general design of allocation mechanisms that decentralize Pareto optimal decisions in Arrow-Hahn-McKenzie (AHM) economies. An AHM economy is distinguished from the usual Arrow-Debreu private ownership economy since the consumption or production of any commodity may induce externalities, including initially endowed commodities. Because competitive markets will not generally internalize all externalities efficiently, the mechanism design must be generalized to include a rule that computes prices for commodities appearing as initial endowments so as to define consumers' individual budget sets. A natural design criterion for the generalized allocation mechanism is to have agents communicate both price and allocation messages to the center, enlarging the message space relative to that necessary for implementing mechanisms in Arrow-Debreu economies. The larger message spaces give agents increased flexibility, which has two significant consequences: (1) the dominant-strategy property of the Demand-Revealing Mechanism in economies with only public goods, a single pure private good, and quasilinear preferences, is lost unless the center adopts an enforcement structure that suitably restricts the allocation messages that agents may transmit; (2) if an endowed commodity is not a pure private good, then the Demand-Revealing Mechanism loses the dominant-strategy property, regardless of the enforcement structure adopted or of the nature of consumers' preferences, so that the problem is exacerbated in general AHM economies.
A reactivity control substituent in the Pd catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1,7-enynes

Abstract A free carboxylic acid substituent facilitates the Pd catalysed cycloisomerization of enynes.
One-Pot Sequential Organocatalysis: Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Trisubstituted Cyclohexanols

A highly diastereoselective (d.r. >99:1) and enantioselective (ee value up to 96 %) synthesis of trisubstituted cyclohexanols was achieved by using a one-pot sequential organocatalysis that involved a quinidine thiourea-catalyzed tandem Henry–Michael reaction between nitromethane and 7-oxo-hept-5-en-1-als followed by a tetramethyl guanidine (TMG)-catalyzed tandem retro-Henry–Henry reaction on the reaction products of the tandem Henry–Michael reaction. Through a mechanistic study, it has also been demonstrated that similar results may also be achieved with this one-pot sequential organocatalysis by using the racemic Henry product as the substrate.
Phases of economic development and the transitional dynamics of an innovation–education growth model

Abstract This paper extends earlier analysis of the transitional dynamics of a growth model in which both human capital and innovation drive income expansion. Funke and Strulik [2000. On endogenous growth with physical capital, human capital and product variety. European Economic Review 44, 491–515] suggest that the typical advanced economy follows three development phases, characterized in a temporal order by physical capital accumulation, human capital formation, and innovation, and that the transitional dynamics of the model reproduce such a sequencing. I argue that other sequences of the phases of development are possible and show that the model can generate a trajectory in which innovation precedes human capital formation. This trajectory accords with the observation that the rise in formal education followed with a considerable lag the process of industrialization. U.S. income and educational time series data are used to corroborate the innovation–education trajectory.
Norm preserving extensions of holomorphic functions from subvarieties of the bidisk

A basic result in the theory of holomorphic functions of several complex variables is the following special case of the work of H. Cartan on the sheaf cohomology on Stein domains ([10], or see [14] or [16] for more modern treatments).
Primary intratesticular sarcoma. Immunohistochemical ultrastructural and DNA flow cytometric study of three cases with a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND Fourteen cases of testicular sarcoma have been reported in the contemporary era. These included 7 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma, 2 spindle cell sarcoma, 2 osteosarcoma, 1 leiomyosarcoma, 1 fibrosarcoma, and 1 chondrosarcoma. METHODS In this report, immunohistochemical stains, electron microscopy, and DNA flow cytometric analysis were performed on primary testicular sarcomas from three patients. RESULTS The patients were age 47, 40, and 33 years. Each presented initially with a testicular mass. The tumors measured 4.8, 4.0, and 4.0 cm in greatest dimension. There were no associated germ cell elements nor elevated alpha-fetoprotein or beta-human chorionic gonadotropin. Case 1 was positive for actin, vimentin, and alpha-1-chymotrypsin. Case 2 was positive for vimentin but not desmin. Case 3 was positive for desmin and S-100. Smooth muscle differentiation was identified by electron microscopy. Flow cytometric analysis revealed DNA aneuploidy in all cases: 1.27, 1.29, and 1.71. The 3 patients were alive and well without recurrent disease at 7, 6, and 4 years after diagnosis. Inguinal orchiectomy was the initial treatment in all 17 patients, there was 1 death from metastatic disease and 2 patients with distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS Primary testicular sarcoma is a rare indolent tumor with potential for distant metastases. Two cases of primary testicular leiomyosarcoma and one of unclassified sarcoma of the testis are reported. Cancer 1996; 77:1524-8.
The "aqueous" Prins reaction.

In this communication we demonstrate that Prins cyclization reactions occur under very mild conditions when cyclic α,β-unsaturated acetals are employed as oxocarbenium ion progenitors and allylsilanes are used as nucleophiles. Cyclizations proceed efficiently inside Lewis acidic micelles in water, demonstrating that colloidal suspensions can protect highly electrophilic intermediates from hydrolysis. Reactions are experimentally facile and useful in the preparation of a variety of vinyl- and aryl-substituted tetrahydropyrans with excellent stereocontrol.
ACCELERATED RACEMIZATION OF ASPARTIC ACID AND ASPARAGINE RESIDUES VIA SUCCINIMIDE INTERMEDIATES : AN AB INITIO THEORETICAL EXPLORATION OF MECHANISM

Aspartic acid and asparagine residues racemize rapidly relative to other amino acid residues in proteins and peptides. This has been attributed to the increased acidity of the α-carbons of succinimide residues derived from the spontaneous cyclizations of these residues. To understand the basis of this effect, the acidities of model compounds were calculated using ab initio quantum mechanics (RHF/6-31+G*). The results were also checked with DFT (Becke3LYP/6-31+G*) and solvent cavity models (IPCM and SCIPCM). The geometries of succinimide, 2-pyrrolidinone, and the derived enolate anions were optimized, and the gas phase deprotonation energies were calculated. The imide is more acidic than the amide by 18 kcal/mol in the gas phase. Since there is a qualitative correlation between gas phase and aqueous acidities, this result provides an explanation for the experimental observations that the rate of peptidyl succinimide racemization can be ∼105 times greater than that of unmodified aspartic acid residues. To q...
On the synergistic effects of laser/phonon-stimulated processes: A master equation approach

Abstract The synergistic effects of an adspecies/surface system influenced by a coherent laser field and an incoherent thermal phonon field are theoretically investigated. A generalized master equation is derived in the Schrodinger-Markoff picture and the total stimulated transition rates are decomposed into three parts: thermal phonon, laser and the interference terms. The energy transfer dynamics is pictured via the evolution equation of the average excitation of the active mode. A random phase of the off-diagonal matrix elements induced by the laser-stimulated surface processes is introduced. Finally, possible applications of the laser/phonon-stimulated master equation are discussed.
Effects of Hydrophobic Surface Patterning on Boiling Heat Transfer and Critical Heat Flux of Water at Atmospheric Pressure

The effects of hydrophilic/hydrophobic surface patterning on critical heat flux (CHF) and heat transfer coefficient (HTC) were studied using custom-engineered testing surfaces. Patterning was created over a sapphire substrate and tested in a pool boiling facility in MITs Reactor Hydraulics Laboratory. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic matrices were created using layer by layer deposition of 50 nm thick SiO2 nanoparticles and monolayer thickness fluorosilane, respectively. Ultraviolet ozone patterning was then used with chrome-printed masks to create the desired geometric features. Hexagon, ring, star, and mixed patterns were tested to determine their abilities to affect CHF and HTC through prevention of bubble pinning at high heat fluxes. During testing, an infrared camera was used to measure the surface temperature distribution as well as locate nucleation sites for data analysis. It was found that CHF values were enhanced over the bare sapphire values by approximately 90% for hexagons, 60% for stars, 65% for rings, and 50% for mixed patterns. Contrary to expectations, patterning did not seem to affect the HTC values significantly. Although patterning did improve CHF performance over bare heaters, both CHF and HTC were found to be statistically similar to those for unpatterned, uniformly hydrophilic surfaces.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Dissection of genomewide-scan data in extended families reveals a major locus and oligogenic susceptibility for age-related macular degeneration.

To examine the genetic basis of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), a degenerative disease of the retinal pigment epithelium and neurosensory retina, we conducted a genomewide scan in 34 extended families (297 individuals, 349 sib pairs) ascertained through index cases with neovascular disease or geographic atrophy. Family and medical history was obtained from index cases and family members. Fundus photographs were taken of all participating family members, and these were graded for severity by use of a quantitative scale. Model-free linkage analysis was performed, and tests of heterogeneity and epistasis were conducted. We have evidence of a major locus on chromosome 15q (GATA50C03 multipoint P =1.98×10 −7 ; empirical P ≤1.0×10 −5 ; single-point P =3.6×10 −7 ). This locus was present as a weak linkage signal in our previous genome scan for ARMD, in the Beaver Dam Eye Study sample (D15S659, multipoint P =.047), but is otherwise novel. In this genome scan, we observed a total of 13 regions on 11 chromosomes (1q31, 2p21, 4p16, 5q34, 9p24, 9q31, 10q26, 12q13, 12q23, 15q21, 16p12, 18p11, and 20q13), with a nominal multipoint significance level of P ≤.01 or LOD ⩾1.18. Family-by-family analysis of the data, performed using model-free linkage methods, suggests that there is evidence of heterogeneity in these families. For example, a single family (family 460) individually shows linkage evidence at 8 loci, at the level of P
Camera distortion self-calibration using the plumb-line constraint and minimal Hough entropy

In this paper, we present a simple and robust method for self-correction of camera distortion using single images of scenes which contain straight lines. Since the most common distortion can be modelled as radial distortion, we illustrate the method using the Harris radial distortion model, but the method is applicable to any distortion model. The method is based on transforming the edgels of the distorted image to a 1-D angular Hough space, and optimizing the distortion correction parameters which minimize the entropy of the corresponding normalized histogram. Properly corrected imagery will have fewer curved lines, and therefore less spread in Hough space. Since the method does not rely on any image structure beyond the existence of edgels sharing some common orientations and does not use edge fitting, it is applicable to a wide variety of image types. For instance, it can be applied equally well to images of texture with weak but dominant orientations, or images with strong vanishing points. Finally, the method is performed on both synthetic and real data revealing that it is particularly robust to noise.
A decade's story of childhood malnutrition inequality in China: Where you live does matter

Abstract A concentration index methodology to analyze the inequality in childhood malnutrition in China is outlined. Height-for-age z-score is used as a measure of childhood malnutrition. Using household survey data from nine Chinese provinces, we found that per capita household income, household head's education, urban residence and access to a bus stop are associated with lower malnutrition. Child's age has a nonlinear relationship with the malnutrition status. Income growth and access to public transportation are associated with less severe inequality, while rural–urban gap, provincial differentials, and unequal distribution of household head's education are associated with higher levels of inequality in childhood malnutrition. Gender is not relevant for either malnutrition status or inequality. Investments in infrastructure and welfare programs are recommended to ameliorate the inequality in childhood malnutrition.