cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transhumanism, Metaphysics, and the Posthuman God

After describing Heidegger's critique of metaphysics as ontotheology, I unpack the metaphysical assumptions of several transhumanist philosophers. I claim that they deploy an ontology of power and that they also deploy a kind of theology, as Heidegger meant it. I also describe the way in which this metaphysics begets its own politics and ethics. In order to transcend the human condition, they must transgress the human.
Development of 3-in-one high-temperature superconducting cable

A three-in-one HTS cable has been developed. Its cable core is composed of a conductor and a shield wound with BSCCO and electrical insulation of the PPLP. The three cable cores are covered in thermal insulated stainless corrugated pipes. The BSCCO wires represent a dramatic innovation by virtue of a newly developed process named Controlled Over-Pressure (CT-OP). As a new cable technology, a 350-m thermal insulation pipe was tested for 7 months to find that the life of the vacuum intensity is more than 10 years. The HTS cable with tension members was designed for installation into an underground duct. In addition, a fault current of 23 kA, 0.63 s, was applied to a sample cable with no damage to the BSCCO wires or the cable insulation. These technologies will be applied to the Albany project in the USA. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 162(1): 15–24, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20577
ECG segmentation in a body sensor network using Hidden Markov Models

A novel approach for segmenting ECG signal in a body sensor network employing hidden Markov modeling (HMM) technique is presented. The parameter adaptation in traditional HMM methods is conservative and slow to respond to these beat interval changes. Inadequate and slow parameter adaptation is largely responsible for the low positive predictivity rate. To solve the problem, we introduce an active HMM parameter adaptation and ECG segmentation algorithm. Body sensor networks are used to pre-segment the raw ECG data by performing QRS detection. Instead of one single generic HMM, multiple individualized HMMs are used. Each HMM is only responsible for extracting the characteristic waveforms of the ECG signals with similar temporal features from the same group, so that the temporal parameter adaptation can be naturally achieved.
Orbifold quantum Riemann–Roch, Lefschetz and Serre

Given a vector bundle F on a smooth Deligne–Mumford stack X and an invertible multiplicative characteristic class c, we define orbifold Gromov–Witten invariants of X twisted by F and c. We prove a “quantum Riemann–Roch theorem” which expresses the generating function of the twisted invariants in terms of the generating function of the untwisted invariants. A quantum Lefschetz hyperplane theorem is derived from this by specializing to genus zero. As an application, we determine the relationship between genus–0 orbifold Gromov–Witten invariants of X and that of a complete intersection, under additional assumptions. This provides a way to verify mirror symmetry predictions for some complete intersection orbifolds.
Patent Pools and Cross-Licensing in the Shadow of Patent Litigation*

This paper develops a framework to analyze the incentives to form a patent pool or engage in cross-licensing arrangements in the presence of uncertainty about the validity and coverage of patents that makes disputes inevitable. It analyzes the private incentives to litigate and compares them with the social incentives. It shows that pooling arrangements can have the effect of sheltering invalid patents from challenges. This result has an antitrust implication that patent pools should not be permitted until after patentees have challenged the validity of each other’s patents if litigation costs are not too large.
Psychopharmacological Therapy of Deviant Sexual Behavior

Psychopharmacological approaches to controlling male deviant sexual behavior, especially sexual recidivism and sexual deviants on probation, have been reported in psychiatric literature. In Europe, the drug cyproterone acetate, and in the United States, medroxyprogesterone acetate, Provera, and in the long-acting form, Depo-Provera, have all benefitted exhibitionists and pedophiliacs, and reduced sex drive in sexual deviants. The combination of pharmacotherapy and either psychotherapy or behavioral therapy has been the most effective approach to reducing the sex drive of sexual deviants.
Transient response of repetitive control systems

Upper bounds on transient response magnitudes for a SISO continuous-time repetitive control system are derived. Limiting the size of these transients is shown to be related to limiting the ∞-norm of a transfer function product of filters used in the repetitive controller. The decay rate of the transients is related to the peak of a function of frequency called the regeneration spectrum, which has previously been shown in the literature to be a measure of the relative stability of the system. Bounds derived here, although conservative, can be useful in the design of the repetitive controller, as illustrated by means of an example.
Algorithmic rationality: Game theory with costly computation

Abstract We develop a general game-theoretic framework for reasoning about strategic agents performing possibly costly computation. In this framework, many traditional game-theoretic results (such as the existence of a Nash equilibrium) no longer hold. Nevertheless, we can use the framework to provide psychologically appealing explanations of observed behavior in well-studied games (such as finitely repeated prisoner's dilemma and rock–paper–scissors). Furthermore, we provide natural conditions on games sufficient to guarantee that equilibria exist.
Stochastic flights of propellers

Kilometre-sized moonlets in Saturn’s A ring create S-shaped wakes called ‘propellers’ in surrounding material. The Cassini spacecraft has tracked the motions of propellers for several years and finds that they deviate from Keplerian orbits with constant semimajor axes. The inferred orbital migration is known to switch sign. We show using a statistical test that the time series of orbital longitudes of the propeller Bl´ eriot is consistent with that of a time-integrated
COMPUTING CLOSEST POINTS FOR SEGMENTS

We consider the proximity problem of computing for each of n line segments the closest point from a given set of n points in the plane. It generalizes Hopcroft's problem11 and the nearest foreign neighbors problem.15 We show that it can be solved in O(n4/32O(log* n)) time. For the case of disjoint segments we reduce the problem to two dynamic problems for maintenance of points with segment queries. We present two different algorithms with O(log2 n) query and (amortized) update time. With this we solve the problem of computing the closest point to each of n disjoint line segments in O(n log2 n) time improving the best previously known result4 by a factor of log n. We show that the nearest foreign neighbors and the Hausdorff distance for disjoint, colored segments can be computed in the same time.
Knowledgeable Bankers? The Demand for Research in World Bank Operations

Development impact calls for knowledgeable development practitioners. How then do the operational staff of the largest development agency value and use its research? Is there an incentive to learn and does it translate into useful knowledge? A new survey reveals that the bulk of the World Bank's senior staff value the Bank's research for their work, and most come to know it well, although a sizable minority have difficulty accessing research to serve their needs. Another group sees little value to research for their work and does not bother to find out about it. Higher perceived value is reflected in greater knowledge about research, though there are frictions in this process. Staff working on poverty, human development and economic policy tend to value and use research more than staff in the more traditional sectors of Bank lending -- agriculture and rural development, energy and mining, transport and urban development; the latter sectors account for 45 percent of lending but only 15 percent of staff highly familiar with Bank research. Without stronger incentives for learning and more relevant and accessible research products, it appears likely that this lag in demand for research by the traditional sectors will persist.
Asymmetric halo CMOSFET to reduce static power dissipation with improved performance

In this paper, we show the benefits of using asymmetric halo (AH, different source, and drainside halo doping concentrations) MOSFETs over conventional symmetric halo (SH) MOSFETs to reduce static leakage in sub-50-nm CMOS circuits. Device doping profiles have been optimized to achieve minimum leakage at iso on-current. Results show a 61% reduction in static leakage in AH nMOS transistor and a 90% reduction in static leakage in AH pMOS transistor because of reduced band-to-band tunneling current in the reverse biased drain-substrate junctions. In an AH CMOS inverter, static power dissipation is 19% less than in an SH CMOS inverter. Propagation delay in a three-stage ring oscillator reduces by 11% because of reduced drainside halo doping and hence reduced drain junction capacitance. Further comparisons have been made on two-input NAND and NOR CMOS logic gates.
An exercise in proving parallel programs correct

A parallel program, Dijkstra's on-the-fly garbage collector, is proved correct using a proof method developed by Owicki. The fine degree of interleaving in this program makes it especially difficult to understand, and complicates the proof greatly. Difficulties with proving such parallel programs correct are discussed.
Optimal generic advertising in an imperfectly competitive food industry with variable proportions

Abstract This paper determines the impact of food industry market power on farmers’ incentives to promote in a situation where funds for promotion are raised through a per-unit assessment on farm output and food industry technology is characterized by variable proportions. Specifically, building on earlier studies by Azzam [Am. J. Agric. Econ. 80 (1998) 76] and Holloway [Am. J. Agric. Econ. 73 (1991) 979], Muth’s [Oxford Econ. Papers 16 (1965) 221] model is extended to consider the farm-level impacts of generic advertising when downstream firms possess oligopoly and/or oligopsony power and advertising expenditure is endogenous at the market level. Applying the model to the US beef industry, we find that for plausible parameter values market power reduces farmers’ incentives to promote. However, the disincentive is moderated by factor substitution, and effectively vanishes as the factor substitution elasticity approaches the retail demand elasticity. This suggests that the Dorfman–Steiner theorem, suitably modified to account for factor substitution, suffices to indicate optimal advertising intensity in the US beef sector.
Strong decays of excited heavy mesons in chiral perturbation theory

Abstract We construct an effective lagrangian describing the interaction of soft pions and kaons with mesons containing a heavy quark and light degrees of freedom in an orbital p wave. The formalism is easily extended to heavy mesons and baryons in arbitrary excited states. We calculate the leading contributions to the strong decays D 2 ∗ →Dπ, D 2 ∗ →D ∗ π and D 1 →D ∗ π . We confirm the relations between the rates previously obtained by Isgur and Wise using heavy quark symmetry, and find that the absolute widths are consistent with naive power counting. We also estimate the branching ratios for the two pion decays D 2 ∗ →D ∗ ππ, D 1 →D ∗ ππ and D 1 →Dππ , which are dominated by pole graphs. Our predictions depend on the masses and widths of the as yet unseen scalarpseudovector p-wave doublet. Heavy quark spin symmetry predicts Γ(D 2 ∗ →D ∗ ππ):Γ(D 1 →D ∗ ππ):Γ(D 1 →Dππ)=3:1:2 , but this relation is badly violated in practice because 1/M effects arising purely from kinematics are large.
Choice proliferation, simplicity seeking, and asset allocation ☆

Abstract In settings such as investing for retirement or choosing a drug plan, individuals typically face a large number of options. In this paper, we analyze how the size of the choice set influences which alternative is selected. We present both laboratory experiments and field data that suggest larger choice sets induce a stronger preference for simple, easy-to-understand options. The first experiment demonstrates that, in seeming violation of the weak axiom of revealed preference, subjects are more likely to select a given sure bet over non-degenerate gambles when choosing from a set of 11 options than when choosing from a subset of 3. The second experiment clarifies that large choice sets induce a preference for simpler, rather than less risky, options. Lastly, using records of more than 500,000 employees from 638 institutions, we demonstrate that the presence of more funds in an individual's 401(k) plan is associated with a greater allocation to money market and bond funds at the expense of equity funds.
Ultrasound-guided HIFU neurolysis of peripheral nerves to treat spasticity and pain

Spasticity, a major complication of disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) signified by uncontrollable muscle contractions, is difficult to treat effectively. We report on the use of ultrasound image-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to target and suppress the function of the sciatic nerve of rabbits in vivo as a possible treatment of spasticity and pain. The image-guided HIFU device included a 3.2 MHz spherically curved transducer (focal dimensions of 5.1 mm/spl times/0.76 mm) integrated with an intraoperative imaging probe (CL10-5, Philips HDI-1000), such that the HIFU focus was within the image plane. The sciatic nerve was imaged in cross-section and identified between two muscle planes, and the HIFU treatment was directed to the nerve and monitored in real time. In situ focal acoustic intensity of 1480-1850 W/cm/sup 2/ was applied using a scanning method (scan rate of 0.5-0.6 mm/s). The force response of the plantarflexion muscles in the rabbit foot to electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve was measured both before and after HIFU treatment using a force gauge perpendicularly coupled to the metatarsal joint of the rabbit foot. The force response was approximately 0.55 N before HIFU treatment, and complete suppression of this force was achieved after HIFU treatment, indicating complete conduction block. HIFU treatment time of 36/spl plusmn/14 s (mean /spl plusmn/ standard deviation) was effective in achieving complete conduction block in 100% of the 22 nerves treated (11 rabbits). Gross examination showed blanching of the nerves at the HIFU treatment site and lesion volumes of 2.8/spl plusmn/1.4 cm/sup 2/ encompassing the nerves. Histologic results indicated axonal demyelination and necrosis of Schwann cells as probable mechanisms of nerve block. With accurate localization and targeting of peripheral nerves using ultrasound imaging, HIFU could become a promising tool for the suppression of spasticity and pain.
Simulating the production of free defects in irradiated metals

Abstract Under cascade-producing irradiation by high energy neutrons or charged particles, only a small fraction of the initially displaced atoms contribute to the population of free defects that are available to migrate throughout the metal and cause microstructural changes. Although, in principle, computer simulations of free defect production could best be done using molecular dynamics, in practice, the wide ranges of time and distance scales involved can be done only by a combination of atomistic models that employ various levels of approximation. An atomic-scale, multi-model approach has been developed that combines molecular dynamics, binary collision models and stochastic annealing simulation. The annealing simulation is utilized in calibrating binary collision simulations to the results of molecular dynamics calculations, as well as to model the subsequent migration of the defects on more macroscopic time and size scales. The annealing simulation and the method of calibrating the multi-model approach are discussed, and the results of simulations of cascades in copper are presented. The temperature dependence of free defect production following simulated annealing of isolated cascades in copper shows a differential in the fractions of free vacancies and interstitial defects escaping from the cascade above stage V. This differential, a consequence of the direct formation of interstitial clusters in cascades and the relative thermal stability of vacancy and interstitial clusters during subsequent annealing, is the basis for the production bias mechanism of void swelling.
Partial coherence theory of multilayer thin-film optical properties

Based on the theory of partially coherent light, an analytical scheme is established to determine the radiative properties of multilayer thin films. Accurate knowledge of the magnitude of interference effects is absolutely indispensable when measurements of the spectral transmissivity and reflectivity of thin films are used to derive optical constants of the film material. As illustrated by experiments, in many cases of practical interest neither a geometrical nor a wave-optics model gives satisfactory results. A general formulation is introduced that covers this intermediate partially coherent regime as well as the limiting cases of geometrical and wave optics. The complex degree of coherence provides a direct measure of the varying influence of interference effects on spectral measurements. An analytical approximation of the numerical approach is developed that gives a good physical understanding of the occurring phenomena. Experiments on the transmissivity of a one-layer glass film using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer in the medium infrared range (λ = 2 to 20 μm) confirm the theoretical approach and the relevance of the addressed issue.
The Risk Profile Problem for Stock Portfolio Optimization

This work initiates research into the problem of determining an optimal investment strategy for investors with different attitudes towards the trade-offs of risk and profit. The probability distribution of the return values of the stocks that are considered by the investor are assumed to be known, while the joint distribution is unknown. The problem is to find the best investment strategy in order to minimize the probability of losing a certain percentage of the invested capital based on different attitudes of the investors towards future outcomes of the stock market.
The effect of convolving families of L-functions on the underlying group symmetries

Let {FN} and {GM} be families of primitive automorphic L-functions for GLn(AQ) and GLm(AQ), respectively, such that, as N,M → ∞, the statistical behavior (1-level density) of the low-lying zeros of L-functions in FN (resp., GM ) agrees with that of the eigenvalues near 1 of matrices in G1 (resp., G2) as the size of the matrices tend to infinity, where each Gi is one of the classical compact groups (unitary U, symplectic Sp, or orthogonal O, SO(even), SO(odd)). Assuming that the convolved families of L-functions FN × GM are automorphic, we study their 1-level density. (We also study convolved families of the form f ×GM for a fixed f .) Under natural assumptions on the families (which hold in many cases) we can associate to each family L of L-functions a symmetry constant cL equal to 0 (resp., 1 or −1) if the corresponding low-lying zero statistics agree with those of the unitary (resp., symplectic or orthogonal) group. Our main result is that cF×G = cF · cG : the symmetry type of the convolved family is the product of the symmetry types of the two families. A similar statement holds for the convolved families f × GM . We provide examples built from Dirichlet L-functions and holomorphic modular forms and their symmetric powers. An interesting special case is to convolve two families of elliptic curves with positive rank. In this case the symmetry group of the convolution is independent of the ranks, in accordance with the general principle of multiplicativity of the symmetry constants (but the ranks persist, before taking the limit N, M →∞, as lower-order terms).
Transfer of Metacognitive Skills and Hint Seeking in Monkeys

Metacognition is knowledge that can be expressed as confidence judgments about what one knows (monitoring) and by strategies for learning what one does not know (control). Although there is a substantial literature on cognitive processes in animals, little is known about their metacognitive abilities. Here we show that rhesus macaques, trained previously to make retrospective confidence judgments about their performance on perceptual tasks, transferred that ability immediately to a new perceptual task and to a working memory task. We also show that monkeys can learn to request “hints” when they are given problems that they would otherwise have to solve by trial and error. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that nonhuman primates share with humans the ability to monitor and transfer their metacognitive ability both within and between different cognitive tasks, and to seek new knowledge on a need-to-know basis.
AN OPTIMAL ALGORITHM FOR THE TWO-GUARD PROBLEM

In this paper we give optimal solutions for several versions of the two-guard problem. Given a simple polygon P with vertices s and t, the straight walk problem asks whether we can move two points monotonically on P from s to t, one clockwise and one counter-clockwise, such that the points are always co-visible. In the counter walk problem, both points move clockwise, one from s to t and the other from t to s. We provide Θ(n)-time constructive algorithms for both problems. We also give a Θ(n)-time decision algorithm for a version called the general walk problem. We obtain our results by examining the structure of the restrictions placed on the motion of the two points, and by employing properties of shortest paths and shortest path trees.
“Alumina” Surface Modification of Silicon Nitride for Colloidal Processing

Two different methods are used to coat silicon nitride particles with an alumina precursor to make Si3N4 behave like Al2O3 in aqueous slurries. The first method involves the precipitation of an aluminum hydroxycarbonate from dissolved Al(NO3)3 during the decomposition of urea. In the second method, dry silicon nitride powder is reacted with aluminum tri-sec-butoxide in hexane at room temperature. Both methods produce a coated powder in which the electrophoretic and rheological properties of aqueous slurries mimic those of alumina. When salt is added to slurries consisting of coated Si3N4 powder, all rheological evidence suggests the presence of a short-range repulsive potential that produces a weakly attractive particle network similar to that previously reported for Al2O3 powder. Although electrophoretic and rheological data showed that the coated powder behaved like Al2O3, consolidation data indicated that slurries of coated powder with added salt did not pack to high density. In addition, these bodies were not plastic as found for bodies consolidated from dispersed and salt-added Al2O3 slurries.
The Birth Environment of the Solar System

This review examines our current understanding of the possible birth environments of our Solar System. Because most stars form within groups and clusters, the question becomes one of determining the nature of the birth aggregate of the Sun. This discussion starts by reviewing Solar System properties that provide constraints on our environmental history. We then outline the range of star-forming environments that are available in the Galaxy and discuss how they affect star and planet formation. The nature of the solar birth cluster is constrained by many physical considerations, including radiation fields provided by the background environment, dynamical scattering interactions, and by the necessity of producing the short-lived radioactive nuclear species inferred from meteoritic measurements. Working scenarios for the solar birth aggregate can be constructed, as discussed herein, although significant uncertainties remain.
Electric Time in Quantum Cosmology

Effective quantum cosmology is formulated with a realistic global internal time given by the electric vector potential. New possibilities for the quantum behavior of space-time are found using a Wheeler–DeWitt setting, and the high-density regime is shown to be very sensitive to the specific form of state realized. Communicated by P R L V Moniz
Preparation of 1‐Alkoxy‐1,3‐cyclohexadienes via Iron Complexation/Decomplexation

Abstract A synthetic method for the preparation of 1‐alkoxy‐1,3‐cyclohexadienes is presented. Iron complexation/decomplexation is used to produce and purify the desired compound without contamination of isomeric byproducts.
Prediction of Vortex Flow Characteristics of Wings at Subsonic and Supersonic Speeds

The leading-edge suction analogy of Polhamus, which has been successful in the prediction of vortex lift characteristics on wings with pointed tips at subsonic and supersonic speeds, has recently been extended to account for the vortex flow characteristics for wings with side edges. Comparisons of experimental data and other currently used methods with the extended method are made for wings having side edges at subsonic and supersonic speeds. Recent data obtained for a low-aspect-rat io cropped-delta wing with various amounts of asymmetrical tip rake, simulating a roll control device, are also presented.
Imaging brain electrical activity using a 3D realistically shaped inhomogeneous head model

The authors have developed a new method to image brain electrical activity over the cortical surface from scalp-recorded EEGs. A boundary element model of the scalp, the skull, and the brain was used. The method links the cortical potential field to the scalp potential field in an inhomogeneous volume conductor head model by linear algebra. The authors have conducted computer simulation studies to test the feasibility of the developed method and validated its applicability to imaging cortical activity using flash stimulated VEPs in a human subject.
Good Reasons Sell: Reason-Based Choice Among Group and Individual Investors in the Stock Market

In this paper, we compare the investment decisions of groups (stock clubs) and individuals. Both individuals and clubs are more likely to purchase stocks that are associated with good reasons (e.g., a company that is featured on a list of most-admired companies). However, stock clubs favor such stocks more than individuals, despite the fact that such reasons do not improve performance. We describe why social dynamics may make good reasons more important for groups than individuals.
Parallel simulated annealing using speculative computation

A parallel simulated annealing algorithm that is problem-independent, maintains the serial decision sequence, and obtains speedup which can exceed log/sub 2/P on P processors is discussed. The algorithm achieves parallelism by using the concurrency technique of speculative computation. Implementation of the parallel algorithm on a hypercube multiprocessor and application to a task assignment problem are described. The simulated annealing solutions are shown to be, on average, 28% better than the solutions produced by a random task assignment algorithm and 2% better than the solutions produced by a heuristic. >
Witchcraft, Weather and Economic Growth in Renaissance Europe

Between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries, as many as one million individuals in Europe were executed for the crime of witchcraft. The majority of the trials and executions took place during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During this period, the speed and volume of executions were astonishing: in one German town, as many as 400 people were killed in a single day (Midelfort, 1972). The trials were ubiquitous: conducted by both ecclesiastical and secular courts; by both Catholics and Protestants. The victims were primarily women, primarily poor and disproportionately widows. The persecutions took place throughout Europe, starting and ending earlier in southwest Europe than in the northern and eastern areas, and spread even across the Atlantic Ocean to Salem, Massachusetts. Although witchcraft trials in Europe and America largely ended by the late eighteenth century, witchcraft accusations and killings still take place in many countries today, particularly in the developing world. For example, witchcraft is often blamed for AIDS deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (Ashforth, 2001), and Miguel (2003) shows that negative economic shocks are associated with increases in witch killing in modern Tanzania. Belief in the witch, and fear of her, is enduring. While much work has been done on the motivations behind the European trials, the large-scale causes remain unknown. The existing work has primarily been concerned with the factors that played into trials on a small scale—why a certain individual was targeted or why a certain type of individual was targeted in a given area. This work has indicated that there was a diverse set of issues that played into trials on an individual level. More broadly, however, there are few causal explanations for why witchcraft trials happened at all and on such a large scale in so many
Crack Tip Fields in Functionally Graded Materials with Temperature-Dependent Properties

The crack tip stress field and its dominance for thermoelastic FGMs with temperature depend ent properties are examined . It is shown that the square root singularity in the classical fracture m echanics still prevails in the crack tip region in thermoelastic FGMs with temperature -dependent properties. The size of the region in which the stress intensity factors dominate, however, will be influenced by material nonhomogeneities and the temperature dependence of material properties. An approximate theoretical estimate of the effect is given in the present work. The K-dominance zone will become smaller for FGMs with steeper gradients of properties in the crack tip region and stronger heat flux intens ities. The latter effect results from the temperature -dependence of material properties and the singularity of heat flux field at the crack tip .
In Situ Ductile Toughening of Nb2Al by Combustion Synthesis

Ductile toughening of niobium aluminide (Nb2Al) has been accomplished in situ while combustion synthesizing the compound from a mixture of Nb, Al, and 3 wt% B powders. An enhancement of the fracture toughness of the resulting Nb2Al has been shown to be primarily caused by the interaction of propagating cracks and cores of ductile Nb phases inside the partly combusted Nb powders.
Total syntheses of (+/-)-anchinopeptolide D and (+/-)-cycloanchinopeptolide D.

The first synthesis of (±)-anchinopeptolide D (4) has been accomplished in seven steps in 10% overall yield from octopamine hydrochloride (17), N-(Boc)glycine (16), and 5-amino-2-hydroxypentanoic acid (22). The key step is the aldol dimerization and hemiaminal formation of α-keto amide 26, which gives primarily protected anchinopeptolide D 27 under kinetically controlled conditions. Cycloanchinopeptolide D (31) has been prepared by the unprecedented head-to-head photodimerization of the two hydroxystyrylamides of 4 using the hydrophobic effect in water to force the two side chains into close proximity so that [2 + 2] cycloaddition is faster than trans to cis double bond isomerization. Coupling of amine 21 with pyroglutamic acid affords the naturally occurring tripeptide 35, which had been assigned glutamic acid structure 34.
Serendipitous Kepler observations of a background dwarf nova of SU UMa type

We have discovered a dwarf nova (DN) of type SU UMa in Kepler data which is 7.0 arcsec from the G-type exoplanet survey target KIC 4378554. The DN appears as a background source in the pixel aperture of the foreground G star. We extracted only the pixels where the DN is present and observed the source to undergo five outbursts – one a superoutburst – over a time span of 22 months. The superoutburst was triggered by a normal outburst, a feature that has been seen in all DNe superoutbursts observed by Kepler. Superhumps during the superoutburst had a period of 1.842 ± 0.004 h, and we see a transition from disc-dominated superhump signal to a mix of disc and accretion stream impact. Predictions of the number of DNe present in Kepler data based on previously published space densities vary from 0.3 to 258. An investigation of the background pixel targets would lead to firmer constraints on the space density of DNe.
Small molecule oxidation products trigger disease-associated protein misfolding.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are risk factors for both the development of α-synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, and Alzheimer's disease, the two most common neurodegenerative disorders. These diseases are associated with the neurotoxic deposition of misassembled α-synuclein and amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, respectively. Both occur sporadically, that is, without detectable disease-related mutations, in the vast majority of cases. Small molecule oxidation products, especially secosterols derived from cholesterol and 4-hydroxynonenal derived from lipid peroxidation, found in afflicted brains, accelerate the misassembly of both Aβ and α-synuclein. This Account explores the mechanism of small molecule oxidation product-mediated protein misassembly and possible intervention strategies.
Functional generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity

Heteroskedasticity is a common feature of financial time series and is commonly addressed in the model building process through the use of ARCH and GARCH processes. More recently multivariate variants of these processes have been in the focus of research with attention given to methods seeking an efficient and economic estimation of a large number of model parameters. Due to the need for estimation of many parameters, however, these models may not be suitable for modeling now prevalent high-frequency volatility data. One potentially useful way to bypass these issues is to take a functional approach. In this paper, theory is developed for a new functional version of the generalized autoregressive conditionally heteroskedastic process, termed fGARCH. The main results are concerned with the structure of the fGARCH(1,1) process, providing criteria for the existence of a strictly stationary solutions both in the space of square-integrable and continuous functions. An estimation procedure is introduced and its consistency verified. A small empirical study highlights potential applications to intraday volatility estimation.
Managing markets for toxic assets

Abstract A model in which banks trade toxic assets to raise funds for investment is analyzed. Toxic assets generate an adverse selection problem and, consequently, the interbank asset market provides insufficient liquidity. Investment is inefficiently low because acquiring funding requires banks to sell high-quality assets for less than their “fair” value. Equity injections reduce liquidity and may be counterproductive as a policy for increasing investment. Paradoxically, if it is directed to firms with the greatest liquidity needs, an equity injection will reduce investment further. Asset purchase programs, like the Public–Private Investment Program, often have favorable impacts on liquidity, investment and welfare.
A Step in the Wrong Direction: An Appraisal of the Zero-Intelligence Model of Government Formation

In a recent article in the Journal of Politics, Golder, Golder, and Siegel (2012) argue that models of government formation should be rebuilt “from the ground up.” They propose to do so with a “zero-intelligence” model of government formation. They claim that this model makes no theoretical assumptions beyond the requirement that a potential government, to be chosen, must be preferred by all its members and a legislative majority to the incumbent administration. They also claim that, empirically, their model does significantly better than existing models in predicting formation outcomes. We disagree with both claims. Theoretically, their model is unrestrictive in terms of its institutional assumptions, but it imposes a highly implausible behavioral assumption that drives the key results. Empirically, their assessment of the performance of the zero-intelligence model turns on data that are of limited relevance in testing coalition theories. We demonstrate that the predictions of the zero-intelligence model...
THE EFFECT OF HYDROXYUREA ON THE PHOSPHORYLATION OF ZIDOVUDINE AND LAMIVUDINE IN HUMAN UMBILICAL VEIN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

The purpose of this study was to characterize the activation of zidovudine (ZDV) and lamivudine (3TC) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with and without hydroxyurea (HU) pretreatment. HUVEC were pretreated with HU or control media for 24 h and then incubated for an additional 3 h with ZDV or 3TC. Intracellular concentrations of parent drugs and the phosphorylated forms were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Pretreatment with HU resulted in more than a threefold increase in intracellular concentrations of total ZDV, with the major intracellular form being the monophosphate (>80%). The relative percentage of each ZDV form was similar between control and HU-treated cells. On the other hand, intracellular concentrations of total 3TC increased only slightly (14%) with HU pretreatment. Although the parent drug remained the major intracellular form of 3TC, there was nearly a 400% increase in the 3TC triphosphate after HU pretreatment. These data demonstrate that HU causes a large increase in the intracellular accumulation of total ZDV, whereas it increases total 3TC only slightly but improves its triphosphorylation. Given the increase in intracellular concentrations of ZDV monophosphate after HU pretreatment and that the monophosphate has no antiviral activity but is associated with toxicity, the use of HU is not a good strategy to improve ZDV activation in human endothelium. There is improved production of the active antiviral 3TC triphosphate with HU pretreatment. The combination may be beneficial in treating potential sanctuary sites such as endothelium.
Influence spread in large-scale social networks --- a belief propagation approach

Influence maximization is the problem of finding a small set of seed nodes in a social network that maximizes the spread of influence under a certain diffusion model. The Greedy algorithm for influence maximization first proposed by Kempe, later improved by Leskovec suffers from two sources of computational deficiency: 1) the need to evaluate many candidate nodes before selecting a new seed in each round, and 2) the calculation of the influence spread of any seed set relies on Monte-Carlo simulations. In this work, we tackle both problems by devising efficient algorithms to compute influence spread and determine the best candidate for seed selection. The fundamental insight behind the proposed algorithms is the linkage between influence spread determination and belief propagation on a directed acyclic graph (DAG). Experiments using real-world social network graphs with scales ranging from thousands to millions of edges demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithms with moderate computation costs.
The Causal Effects of Cultural Relevance: Evidence From an Ethnic Studies Curriculum

An extensive theoretical and qualitative literature stresses the promise of instructional practices and content aligned with minority students’ experiences. Ethnic studies courses provide an example of such “culturally relevant pedagogy” (CRP). Despite theoretical support, quantitative evidence on the effectiveness of these courses is limited. We estimate the causal effects of an ethnic studies curriculum, using a “fuzzy” regression discontinuity design based on the fact that several schools assigned students with eighth-grade GPAs below a threshold to take the course. Assignment to this course increased ninth-grade attendance by 21 percentage points, GPA by 1.4 grade points, and credits earned by 23. These surprisingly large effects suggest that CRP, when implemented in a high-fidelity context, can provide effective support to at-risk students.
Traffic Behavior and Freeway Ramp Design

Highway designers must become more concerned with the relationship of design and traffic behavior in order to obtain maximum operational efficiency on freeway facilities. This paper points out the ...
Topological Control on Silicates Dissolution Kinetics

Like many others, silicate solids dissolve when placed in contact with water. In a given aqueous environment, the dissolution rate depends on the composition and the structure of the solid and can span several orders of magnitude. Although the kinetics of dissolution depends on the complexities of both the dissolving solid and the solvent, a clear understanding of which structural descriptors of the solid control its dissolution rate is lacking. By pioneering dissolution experiments and atomistic simulations, we correlate the dissolution rates-ranging over 4 orders of magnitude-of a selection of silicate glasses and crystals to the number of chemical topological constraints acting between the atoms of the dissolving solid. The number of such constraints serves as an indicator of the effective activation energy, which arises from steric effects, and prevents the network from reorganizing locally to accommodate intermediate units forming over the course of the dissolution.
How the Politics of Recognition Enabled India’s Democratic Exceptionalism

This article explores a significant puzzle: the persistence of modern representative democracy in post-independent India. It demonstrates how a politics of recognition, based on identities of caste, language, and religion, is crucial for understanding the origins, character, and trajectory of modern Indian democracy. These politics suffer various infirmities. Yet liberal, Marxist, and republican critiques of the politics of recognition in India, while offering valid theoretical alternatives and powerful moral visions, also suffer their own limitations. Perhaps more importantly, they evade questions of historical possibility, political efficacy, and practical reason that confront every political theory. The relative historical predominance of the politics of recognition in post-independent India, in contrast, reflects its capacity to engage powerful social imaginaries that enabled the realization of democratic norms, institutions, and practices. The general argument put forward develops several key themes that distinguish Charles Taylor’s philosophical vision of alternative modernities—the power of social imaginaries, nature of explanation in the human sciences, and vicissitudes of culture, politics, and history—to explain the trajectory of modern Indian democracy.
Applying Sustainable Land Use Development Studies to Sustainable Agriculture: Are the Conditions Ripe for a Successful Movement Toward Sustainable Agriculture?

Recognizing the detrimental consequences of industrial agriculture, a growing number of farmers, environmentalists, and agricultural researchers have begun to explore better farming methods. Sustainable agriculture, which seeks to achieve the often conflicting goals of environmental protection and farmers’ economic profitability, has the potential to transform modern agriculture. However, little federal or state legislation has been passed to specifically direct sustainable agricultural practices. Instead, legislation has mostly emphasized the need for research and “the exchange of scientific and practical information on sustainable agriculture.” Sustainable agriculture will not replace conventional practices based on research alone. Therefore, governments must implement regulations and creatively strategize how to move agriculture toward a sustainable system. While increased interest in sustainability and the farming industry may serve as a catalyst for change in the industry’s environmentally detrimental practices, the movement must not lose sight of the potential of law and policy to promote sustainable agriculture and reinforce the importance of a sustainable plan. This note will argue that a new agricultural approach mandating specific sustainable techniques is necessary to ensure the future availability of farming land and resources. A land use planning process that is attentive to the needs of both the environment and the economic well-being of the agricultural community can be of tremendous value to the success of implementing a sustainable agricultural system.
Abortion Costs, Separation, and Non-marital Childbearing

How do abortion costs affect non-marital childbearing? While greater access to abortion has the first-order effect of reducing childbearing among pregnant women, it could nonetheless lead to unintended consequences through effects on marriage market norms. Single motherhood could rise if low-cost abortion makes it easier for men to avoid marriage. This study estimated the effect of abortion costs on separation, cohabitation and marriage following a birth by exploiting miscarriage and changes in state abortion laws. There is evidence that norms responded to abortion laws as women who gave birth under abortion restrictions experienced sizable decreases in single motherhood and increased cohabitation rates. The results underscore the importance of norms regulating relationship dynamics in explaining high levels of non-marital childbearing and single motherhood.
Island length distribution in genome sequencing

We consider the general problem of constructing a physical map of a genome by welding islands of overlapping clones. Both distribution of clone length and non-uniform probability of overlap detection are taken into account, the latter restricted to the Markov case in which only the location of the end of the developing island is required. Exact results for the distribution of island length are obtained in the special cases of fixed clone length or rigid overlap criterion, and mean and variance for the general situation. Determination of ocean length distribution permits island number and contig number distributions to be found as well.
CAPRI: efficient inference of cancer progression models from cross-sectional data

UNLABELLED We devise a novel inference algorithm to effectively solve the cancer progression model reconstruction problem. Our empirical analysis of the accuracy and convergence rate of our algorithm, CAncer PRogression Inference (CAPRI), shows that it outperforms the state-of-the-art algorithms addressing similar problems. MOTIVATION Several cancer-related genomic data have become available (e.g. The Cancer Genome Atlas, TCGA) typically involving hundreds of patients. At present, most of these data are aggregated in a cross-sectional fashion providing all measurements at the time of diagnosis. Our goal is to infer cancer 'progression' models from such data. These models are represented as directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) of collections of 'selectivity' relations, where a mutation in a gene A 'selects' for a later mutation in a gene B. Gaining insight into the structure of such progressions has the potential to improve both the stratification of patients and personalized therapy choices. RESULTS The CAPRI algorithm relies on a scoring method based on a probabilistic theory developed by Suppes, coupled with bootstrap and maximum likelihood inference. The resulting algorithm is efficient, achieves high accuracy and has good complexity, also, in terms of convergence properties. CAPRI performs especially well in the presence of noise in the data, and with limited sample sizes. Moreover CAPRI, in contrast to other approaches, robustly reconstructs different types of confluent trajectories despite irregularities in the data. We also report on an ongoing investigation using CAPRI to study atypical Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, in which we uncovered non trivial selectivity relations and exclusivity patterns among key genomic events. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION CAPRI is part of the TRanslational ONCOlogy R package and is freely available on the web at: http://bimib.disco.unimib.it/index.php/Tronco CONTACT daniele.ramazzotti@disco.unimib.it SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.