cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics.

Electronically nonadiabatic or non-Born−Oppenheimer (non-BO) chemical processes (photodissociation, charge-transfer, etc.) involve a nonradiative change in the electronic state of the system. Molecular dynamics simulations typically treat nuclei as moving classically on a single adiabatic potential energy surface, and these techniques are not immediately generalizable to non-BO systems due to the inherently quantum mechanical nature of electronic transitions. Here we generalize the concept of a single-surface molecular dynamics trajectory to that of a coupled-surface non-BO trajectory that evolves “semiclassically” under the influence of two or more electronic states and their couplings. Five non-BO trajectory methods are discussed. Next, we summarize the results of a series of systematic studies using a database of accurate quantum mechanical reaction probabilities and internal energy distributions for several six-dimensional model bimolecular scattering collisions. The test set includes three kinds of p...
Private Sector Risk and Financial Crises in Emerging Markets

Investment necessary for growth is risky and often requires external financing. We present a model in which capital market imperfections separate countries into a safe credit club of industrial countries, with low interest rates and steady credit access and a risky club of emerging markets, with high interest rates and volatile access. In an emerging market, a large negative productivity shock interacts with credit-market imperfections to trigger a severe contraction in external lending. Domestic agents react with widespread default. We calibrate to South Korean parameters and argue that the 1998 financial crisis could have been the downside of risky investment financed in imperfect capital markets.
Hard spectra and QCD matter: experimental review

The most significant experimental results on hadron spectra at large transverse momentum available at the time of the 'Quark Matter 2004' conference are reviewed. Emphasis is put on those measurements that provide insights into the properties of the QCD media, 'quark gluon plasma' and 'colour glass condensate', expected to be present in nucleus–nucleus collisions at collider energies.
Open charm production at STAR

We present the open charm spectra at mid-rapidity from direct reconstruction of D0, D* and D± in d+Au collisions at using the STAR detector at RHIC. The indirect electron/positron measurements via charm semileptonic decays in p+p and d+Au collisions are also reported. The total cross section per nucleon–nucleon collision is extracted from both direct and indirect measurements and are consistent with each other. By combining the D0 and semileptonic measurements together, the cross section of 1.4 ± 0.2 ± 0.4 mb is higher than expectations from PYTHIA and other pQCD calculations. The open charm pT distribution from direct measurements covers the pT range up to ~10 GeV/c and follows a power-law distribution.
The Effect of a Nonpartisan Get-Out-the-Vote Drive: An Experimental Study of Leafletting

A field experiment assessed the effects of a nonpartisan voter mobilization drive. On the weekend before the 1998 general election, voters in the treatment group received an 8'' x 11'' card on which was printed a nonpartisan encouragement to vote. This treatment had no effect on the turnout rates of registered Republicans and Democrats, but it increased the turnout of those voters unaffiliated with a major party by approximately 7%. We find that the treatment was particularly effective at increasing voting among those unaffiliated voters who voted in 1996.
Newton Polytopes and Witness Sets

We present two algorithms that compute the Newton polytope of a polynomial f defining a hypersurface $${\mathcal{H}}$$ in $${\mathbb{C}^n}$$ using numerical computation. The first algorithm assumes that we may only compute values of f—this may occur if f is given as a straight-line program, as a determinant, or as an oracle. The second algorithm assumes that $${\mathcal{H}}$$ is represented numerically via a witness set. That is, it computes the Newton polytope of $${\mathcal{H}}$$ using only the ability to compute numerical representatives of its intersections with lines. Such witness set representations are readily obtained when $${\mathcal{H}}$$ is the image of a map or is a discriminant. We use the second algorithm to compute a face of the Newton polytope of the Luroth invariant, as well as its restriction to that face.
Do Antibiotics Reduce Production Risk for U.S. Pork Producers

We combine econometric and financial analyses of the NAHMS 2000 Swine Survey data to examine whether evidence exists for reducing risk by using antibiotics for growth promotion (AGP) in the U.S. swine industry. A stochastic dominance analysis of alternative lengths of time (days) of AGP application reveals that AGP used in the range of 65–75 days is preferred by risk-averse producers. Risk is reduced and profits are increased from use of AGP. The combined impacts of increased average daily gain and decreased variability in pig live weight increase producer profits by $2.99 per pig marketed.
Cognitive principles in robust multimodal interpretation

Multimodal conversational interfaces provide a natural means for users to communicate with computer systems through multiple modalities such as speech and gesture. To build effective multimodal interfaces, automated interpretation of user multimodal inputs is important. Inspired by the previous investigation on cognitive status in multimodal human machine interaction, we have developed a greedy algorithm for interpreting user referring expressions (i.e., multimodal reference resolution). This algorithm incorporates the cognitive principles of Conversational Implicature and Givenness Hierarchy and applies constraints from various sources (e.g., temporal, semantic, and contextual) to resolve references. Our empirical results have shown the advantage of this algorithm in efficiently resolving a variety of user references. Because of its simplicity and generality, this approach has the potential to improve the robustness of multimodal input interpretation.
On the evolving relationship between corn and oil prices.

The authors identified three breaks in the relationship between corn and oil prices. The first break coincides with the second oil crisis. The second break marks the end of the agricultural export subsidy war between the European Union and the United States in the second half of 1980s; the third one occurred at the beginning of the ethanol boom at the very end of the 1990s. The relationship between corn and oil prices tends to be stronger when oil prices are highly volatile and when agricultural policies create less distortion. The ethanol boom strengthened the relation between corn and oil prices, which are cointegrated only in the fourth and last regime. Impulse response functions confirm that corn prices systematically respond to oil price shocks, but the converse is not observed.
HOLMES-I, a prolog-based reason maintenance system for collecting information from multiple experts

We have presented a method of collecting information from multiple experts and assembling it into a knowledge-base which has no known contradictions. We argued that this is one of the useful tools for building a large knowledge-based system. We described HOLMES-I, a Prolog-based system which has both forward and backward chaining, Reason Maintenance with Multiple Belief Spaces and Contradiction Resolution. Finally we described some of the limitations of the current version of HOLMES and indicated our goals for the next version.
Modification of post-PKS tailoring steps through combinatorial biosynthesis.

Covering: 1985–2002. This review covers the highlights of combinatorial biosynthesis applied on post-polyketide synthase modifying enzymes, such as oxygenases, ketoreductases, glycosyl- and methyltransferases, acyltransferases, halogenases, cyclases and aminotransferases. Since this is the first review on this topic, it covers literature from 1985 to 2002, and 248 references are given.
Symmetry Breaking Through Bell-Jackiw Anomalies

In models of fermions coupled to gauge fields certain current-conservation laws are violated by Bell-Jackiw anomalies. In perturbation theory the total charge corresponding to such currents seems to be still conserved, but here it is shown that nonperturbative effects can give rise to interactions that violate the charge conservation. One consequence is baryon and lepton number nonconservation in $V\ensuremath{-}A$ gauge theories with charm. Another is the nonvanishing mass squared of the $\ensuremath{\eta}$.
Uplink Capacity and Interference Avoidance for Two-Tier Cellular Networks

Two-tier femtocell networks-comprising a conventional macrocellular network plus embedded femtocell hotspots- offer an economically viable solution to achieving high cellular user capacity and improved coverage. This paper develops an uplink capacity analysis and interference avoidance strategy in such a two-tier CDMA network with universal frequency reuse. We evaluate a network-wide area spectral efficiency metric called the Operating Contour (OC) defined as the combinations of the average macrocell users and femtocell BS per cell-site that meet a target outage constraint. A contribution of this work is an accurate characterization of the uplink outage probability taking cross-tier power control, path-loss and shadowing into account. Considering worst case interference at a corner femtocell, results reveal that interference avoidance through a time-hopped CDMA physical layer and sectorized antennas allows about a 7x higher femtocell BS density, relative to a split spectrum network with omnidirectional femtocell antennas. These results provide guidelines for the design of robust shared spectrum two-tier networks.
A highly efficient method for the synthesis of guanidinium derivatives

Abstract A high yielding synthesis of guanidiniums with the use of the ethyl carbamate protecting group is presented. This strategy eliminates many steric hindrance and electronic problems. The deprotection of the products by Me 3 SiBr is also demonstrated.
Synthesis of α-GalNAc Thioconjugates from an α-GalNAc Mercaptan

A variety of functionalized thioglycosides and other derivatives (10−24) of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-thio-α-d-galactopyranose have been prepared in good yields and with high anomeric purities by S-substitution reactions of the sulfide anion or sulfur-centered radical from mercaptan 6. Given the importance in nature of the α-GalNAc 1-O-linkage, and the greater chemical and biological stability of the corresponding 1-S-linkage, these thioconjugates may find application in studies of synthetic vaccines, enzyme inhibitors, glycomimetic scaffolds, and other complex carbohydrate systems.
Fuzzy part coding for group technology

Abstract Contemporary Group Technology (GT) methods apply coding schemes as a popular method for capturing the design and manufacturing information pertinent to the parts to be grouped. Coding schemes are very popular and many different coding systems are commercially available. The main disadvantage of current coding systems, however, is their generality and lack of informative representation of the parts. This paper presents a new methodology for coding parts using fuzzy codes. The methodology is general and applies to attributes that have a crisp value (e.g., “length”, “ratio of length to diameter”), an interval value (e.g., “tolerance”, “surface roughness”) or a fuzzy value (e.g., “primary shape”). The methodology considers the range of attributes' values relevant for the grouping, and therefore, is tuned and adjusted to the specific collection of parts of interest. This method creates a more informative coding scheme which leads to improved variant process planning methods, scheduling and inventory control as well as other manufacturing functions that utilize GT.
Complexity of ten decision problems in continuous time dynamical systems

We show that for continuous time dynamical systems described by polynomial differential equations of modest degree (typically equal to three), the following decision problems which arise in numerous areas of systems and control theory cannot have a polynomial time (or even pseudo-polynomial time) algorithm unless P=NP: local attractivity of an equilibrium point, stability of an equilibrium point in the sense of Lyapunov, boundedness of trajectories, convergence of all trajectories in a ball to a given equilibrium point, existence of a quadratic Lyapunov function, invariance of a ball, invariance of a quartic semialgebraic set under linear dynamics, local collision avoidance, and existence of a stabilizing control law. We also extend our earlier NP-hardness proof of testing local asymptotic stability for polynomial vector fields to the case of trigonometric differential equations of degree four.
Statistical control of VLSI fabrication processes

The authors present a formal approach to statistical process control of VLSIC fabrication processes. The system, developed at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), aims at integrating the design (process and layout), wafer processing, testing, diagnosis, and control into a set of strongly interacting procedures that will aim at maximizing the profit from the fabrication line. The authors describe an implementation of this approach within the CMU computer-aided-manufacturing (CAM) framework. The key feature of this methodology is the exploration of the multivariate distribution of parameters measured in the fabrication process. This allows for more accurate decision-making compared to the traditional statistical quality control (SQC) chart-based approaches. The statistical control system presented, while relying on more sophisticated algorithms, looks quite similar to the standard systems from the user standpoint. The system uses the in-process measurements available during manufacturing. The authors focus on the statistical quality control subsystem of the CAM framework. >
Feeling the Florida Heat? How Low-Performing Schools Respond to Voucher and Accountability Pressure

While numerous recent authors have studied the effects of school accountability systems on student test performance and school ?gaming? of accountability incentives, there has been little attention paid to substantive changes in instructional policies and practices resulting from school accountability. The lack of research is primarily due to the unavailability of appropriate data to carry out such an analysis. This paper brings to bear new evidence from a remarkable five-year survey conducted of a census of public schools in Florida, coupled with detailed administrative data on student performance. We show that schools facing accountability pressure changed their instructional practices in meaningful ways. In addition, we present medium-run evidence of the effects of school accountability on student test scores, and find that a significant portion of these test score gains can likely be attributed to the changes in school policies and practices that we uncover in our surveys.
Skew quadrupole effects in the IBM compact synchrotron

The normal operating condition for the IBM X-ray source is to have a skew quadrupole magnet energized to a focal length of 20 m. This paper details the effects seen by synchrotron light monitors as a consequence of varying the strength of this magnet. In particular, the cross section of the electron beam appears vertically expanded and tilted. Furthermore, these effects are slightly different in the two dipole magnets. These effects can be understood by deriving the normal modes for the linearly coupled betatron motions for the case of operation far from a coupling resonance line. >
On combustion generated noise

Upon review of past experimental results and theoretical efforts it is apparent that the mechanism by which combustion noise is generated is not well understood. A theory of combustion noise is developed in this paper which follows rigorously from the principles of fluid mechanics. Lighthill's approach, used in his studies of aerodynamic noise, is closely followed in the present work. The sound radiated from open, turbulent flames is found to depend strongly upon the structure of such flames; at present their structure is not well known. However, meaningful bounds and scaling rules for the sound power output and spectral content are derived based upon the present limited knowledge. A framework is developed which explains past experimental work and the origin of combustion noise.
Asymmetric 1,4-Hydrosilylations of α,β-Unsaturated Esters

Complexing catalytic amounts of CuH with a nonracemic JOSIPHOS or SEGPHOS ligand, together with stoichiometric PMHS, leads to exceedingly efficient and highly enantioselective 1,4-reductions of β,β-disubstituted enoates and lactones. An unprecedented substrate-to-ligand ratio of 7700:1 for this type of reaction is documented.
Disks Irradiated by Beamed Radiation from Compact Objects

We examine the reprocessing of X-radiation from compact objects by accretion disks when the X-ray emission from the star is highly beamed. The reprocessed flux for various degrees of beaming and inclinations of the beam axis with respect to the disk is determined. We find that, in the case where the beam is produced by a nonrelativistic object, the intensity of the emitted spectrum is highly suppressed if the beam is pointing away from the disk. However, for beams produced by compact objects, general relativistic effects cause only a small reduction in the reradiated flux even for very narrow beams oriented perpendicularly to the disk. This is especially relevant in constraining models for anomalous X-ray pulsars, whose X-ray emission is highly beamed. We further discuss other factors that can influence the emission from disks around neutron stars.
Genetic Interactions with Prenatal Social Environment Effects on Academic and Behavioral Outcomes

Numerous studies report gene-environment interactions, suggesting that specific alleles have different effects on social outcomes depending on environment. In all these studies, however, environmental conditions are potentially endogenous to unmeasured genetic characteristics. That is, it could be that the observed interaction effects actually reflect underlying genetic tendencies that lead individuals into certain environments. What is critical to move this literature forward is random environmental variation that we know is not correlated with innate characteristics of subjects. We exploit a natural experiment that randomizes a particular stressor—birth weight discordance within twin pairs—to address this challenge and ask: Do random differences in early environment (prenatal nutrition) moderate genetic effects on depression, delinquency, or Grade Point Average (GPA)? Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, the only consistently significant allele–birth weight interaction we reveal works in the opposite direction of Caspi et al.’s classic finding regarding the interaction of maltreatment with genetic variation in the serotonin transporter promoter. Less robust interactions found for DRD2 and MAOA are consistent with this pattern that reverses prior findings. These results do not necessarily overturn existing research but support our methodological point that gene-environment research must address endogeneity.
STAR : An Efficient Coding Scheme for Correcting Triple Storage Node Failures

Proper data placement schemes based on erasure correcting codes are one of the most important components for a highly available data storage system. For such schemes, low decoding complexity for correcting (or recovering) storage node failures is essential for practical systems. In this paper, we describe a new coding scheme, which we call the STAR code, for correcting triple storage node failures (erasures). The STAR code is an extension of the double-erasure-correcting EVENODD code and a modification of the generalized triple-erasure-correcting EVENODD code. The STAR code is an Maximum Distance Separable (MDS) code and thus is optimal in terms of node failure recovery capability for a given data redundancy. We provide detailed STAR code decoding algorithms for correcting various triple node failures. We show that the decoding complexity of the STAR code is much lower than those of existing comparable codes; thus, the STAR code is practically very meaningful for storage systems that need higher reliability.
Geometric realization of Whittaker functions and the Langlands conjecture

We prove the equivalence of two conjectural constructions of unramified cuspidal automorphic functions on the adelic group GL_n(A) associated to an irreducible l-adic local system of rank n on an algebraic curve X over a finite field. The existence of such a function is predicted by the Langlands conjecture. The first construction, which was proposed by Shalika and Piatetski-Shapiro following Weil and Jacquet-Langlands (n=2), is based on considering the Whittaker function. The second construction, which was proposed recently by Laumon following Drinfeld (n=2) and Deligne (n=1), is geometric: the automorphic function is obtained via Grothendieck's ``faisceaux-fonctions'' correspondence from a complex of sheaves on an algebraic stack. Our proof of their equivalence is based on a local result about the spherical Hecke algebra, which we prove for an arbitrary reductive group. We also discuss a geometric interpretation of this result.
Allylic functionalization of unactivated olefins with grignard reagents

New advances in the functionalization of unactivated olefins with carbon nucleophiles have provided more efficient and practical approaches to convert inexpensive starting materials into valuable products. Recent examples have been reported with stabilized carbon nucleophiles, tethered carbon nucleophiles, diazoesters, and trifluoromethane donors. A general method for functionalizing olefins with aromatic, aliphatic, and vinyl Grignard reagents was developed. In a one-pot process, olefins are oxidized by a commercially available reagent to allylic electrophiles, which undergo selective copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation with Grignard reagents. Products are formed in high yield and with high regioselectivity. This was utilized to synthesize a series of skipped dienes, a class of compounds that are prevalent in natural products and are difficult to synthesize by known allylic alkylation methods.
Is Cash Flow King in Valuations

Contrary to the common perception that operating cash flows are better than accounting earnings at explaining equity valuations, recent studies suggest that valuations derived from industry multiples based on reported earnings are closer to traded prices than those based on reported operating cash flows. The question addressed in the article is whether the balance tilts in favor of cash flows when the following are considered: (1) forecasts rather than reported numbers, (2) dividends rather than operating cash flows, (3) individual industries rather than all industries combined, and (4) companies in non-U.S. markets. In all cases studied, earnings dominated operating cash flows and dividends. ndustry multiples are used often in practice, both to provide stand-alone “quick and dirty” valuations and to anchor more-complex discounted cash flow valuations. To obtain a company valuation, one simply multiplies a value driver (such as earnings) for the company by the corresponding multiple, which is based on the ratio of stock price to that value driver for a group of comparable companies. Choices for value drivers include various measures of cash flow, book value, earnings, and revenues, but earnings and cash flows are by far the most commonly used. In the study reported here, we compared the valuation performance of earnings multiples with the performance of multiples based on two measures of cash flow— operating cash flow and dividends—for a large sample of companies drawn from 10 national markets. “Valuation performance” in our study does not refer to picking mispriced stocks. 1 We focused
RANDOM WALK TESTS FOR LATIN AMERICAN EQUITY INDEXES AND INDIVIDUAL FIRMS

In this study we re-examine the presence of random walk in stock prices in Brazil and Mexico. We employ variance ratio tests on weekly stock returns for indexes as well as individual firms. The results reveal mean aversion in Mexico at both the index level and the firm level. In contrast, the Brazil indexes show a greater tendency toward random walk; however, the results for the individual firms suggest mean reversion. The results cannot be attributed to a firm size effect. Evidence is presented in favor of a greater degree of nonsynchronous trading for Brazilian securities than for Mexican securities.
Signal processing for precise ocean mapping

In this work a bottom return signal model and accompanying signal processor are described for a wide swath bottom mapping system. An incoherent scattering model is employed under the assumptions that the bottom is a random rough surface composed of a large number of independent scatters with spatial correlation distance negligible relative to the ensonified area. The envelope of the signal received from the various spatial directions is modeled as a smooth, nearly Gaussian-shaped function representing the effects of the twoway spatial beam pattern, angle of incidence, and depth corrupted by multiplicative and additive noise stochastic processes. A signal processor is derived which makes use of the a priori information vested in this smooth function to provide a matched filter for the received signal envelope for each spatial direction. Computer simulation results are presented and the performance of the signal processor examined in a qualitative fashion.
Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of cyclic ethers containing an α-tetrasubstituted stereocenter.

An exo-selective cyclization of enantioenriched trisubstituted allenes is developed in the presence of combined Au/Ag catalyst which allows the asymmetric preparation of cyclic ethers containing a tetrasubstituted stereocenter.
Perfect-Substitutes, Best-Shot, and Weakest-Link Contests between Groups

This experiment investigates contests between groups. Each group has one strong player, with a higher valuation for the prize, and two weak players, with lower valuations. In contests where individual efforts are perfect substitutes, all players expend significantly higher efforts than predicted by theory. In best-shot contests, where group performance depends on the best performer, most of the effort is expended by strong players while weak players free-ride. In weakest-link contests, where group performance depends on the worst performer, there is almost no free-riding and all players expend similar positive efforts conforming to the group Pareto dominant equilibrium.
Global axisymmetric Magnetorotational Instability with density gradients

We examine global incompressible axisymmetric perturbations of a differentially rotating MHD plasma with radial density gradients. It is shown that the standard magnetorotational instability (MRI) criterion drawn from the local dispersion relation is often misleading. If the equilibrium magnetic field is either purely axial or purely toroidal, the problem reduces to finding the global radial eigenvalues of an effective potential. The standard Keplerian profile including the origin is mathematically ill-posed, and thus any solution will depend strongly on the inner boundary. We find a class of unstable modes localized by the form of the rotation and density profiles, with reduced dependence on boundary conditions.
Deforestation and Cattle Ranching in the Brazilian Amazon: External Capital and Household Processes

Summary. — This paper decomposes recent deforestation in four study areas in the Brazilian Amazon into components associated with large ranches and small producers. It then assesses in an inferential framework small producer deforestation with respect to the proximate causes of their farming systems, and the household drivers of their farming system choices. It is shown that, for areas with substantial in-migration of small producers, forest clearance at the household level is mainly attributable to the availability of hired labor, and not to household labor force or the physical capital at their disposal. The paper conducts the inferential analysis of small producer deforestation using measures of forest clearance taken from satellite image classification and directly from field surveys. A substantial discrepancy in the measures is identified, which has implications for household level research on land cover change. ” 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Excursion Probabilities of Isotropic and Locally Isotropic Gaussian Random Fields on Manifolds

Let X = {X(p), p ∈ M} be a centered Gaussian random field, where M is a smooth Riemannian manifold. For a suitable compact subset \(D\subset M\), we obtain approximations to the excursion probabilities \(\mathbb {P}\{\sup _{p\in D} X(p) \ge u \}\), as \(u\to \infty \), for two cases: (i) X is smooth and isotropic; (ii) X is non-smooth and locally isotropic. For case (i), the expected Euler characteristic approximation is formulated explicitly; while for case (ii), it is shown that the asymptotics is similar to Pickands’ approximation on Euclidean space which involves Pickands’ constant and the volume of D. These extend the results in Cheng and Xiao (Bernoulli 22, 1113–1130 2016) from spheres to general Riemannian manifolds.
Economic development as opportunity equalization

Economic development should be conceived of as the degree to which an economy has implemented an efficient and just distribution of economic resources. The ubiquitous measure of GDP per capita reflects a utilitarian conception of justice, where individual utility is defined as personal income, and social welfare is the average of utilities in a population. A more attractive conception of justice is opportunity-equalization. Here, a two-dimensional measure of economic development is proposed, based upon viewing individuals incomes as a consequence of circumstances, effort, and policy. The first dimension is the average income level of those in the society with the most disadvantaged circumstances, and the second dimension is the degree to which total income inequality is due to differential effort, as opposed to differential circumstances. This pair of numbers is computed for a set of 22 European countries. No country dominates all others on both dimensions. The two-dimensional measure induces a partial ordering of countries with respect to development.
Electroluminescence from single nanowires by tunnel injection: an experimental study

We present a hybrid light-emitting diode structure composed of an n-type gallium nitride nanowire on a p-type silicon substrate in which current is injected along the length of the nanowire. The device emits ultraviolet light under both bias polarities. Tunnel injection of holes from the p-type substrate (under forward bias) and from the metal (under reverse bias) through thin native oxide barriers consistently explains the observed electroluminescence behaviour. This work shows that the standard p–n junction model is generally not applicable to this kind of device structure.
Second-order networks, gambling, and corruption on Indian mobile phone networks

This article explores unintended effects of recent growth in India’s mobile phone network. Using a case study of the Indian Premier League (IPL) – a popular cricket league that has encouraged mobil...
Designing intelligent muscle into industrial motion control

Following a brief discussion of the underlying PIC (power integrated circuit) semiconductor technology, a tutorial review of PIC applications in a broad spectrum of stepper, DC, brushless DC, and AC motor drive configurations is presented. PIC designs used in motor drives covering a range of power ratings from 10 kW are surveyed. Strengths and limitations of present PIC technology are discussed, revealing likely directions for future PIC developments and their potential impact on tomorrow's motion control systems. >
B-type natriuretic peptide is not a volume marker among patients on hemodialysis

Background Although the cardiac biomarker B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is strongly related to mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD), whether it is a predictor of weight change or blood pressure (BP) response upon probing dry weight among hypertensive hemodialysis patients remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine among people with hypertension on hemodialysis whether BNP is a biomarker of excess volume. Methods Hypertensive hemodialysis patients (n = 150) were randomized to a control group (n = 50) or an ultrafiltration group (n = 100) and followed up for 30 dialysis treatments. After a baseline run-in of six treatments, those assigned to the ultrafiltration group had dry weight probed over 8 weeks. Forty-four-hour interdialytic ambulatory BP and predialysis BNP were measured at the end of run-in period, at 4 weeks and at 8 weeks. Results The median BNP concentration was 93 pg/mL (interquartile range 31-257 pg/mL). The magnitude of decline in the BNP depended on the baseline concentration of BNP, but did not require probing dry weight or weight loss. No relationship existed between decline in postdialysis weight upon probing dry weight and baseline BNP. Furthermore, reduction in the BNP was not required for decline in postdialysis weight. Predialysis log BNP modestly predicted ambulatory systolic and pulse pressure independently of other risk factors. No relationship was found between decline in BP upon probing dry weight and baseline BNP. Upon probing dry weight, reduction in BNP was not required for decline in systolic ambulatory BP. Conclusion Taken together, these data suggest that among hypertensive patients on hemodialysis BNP is not a volume marker.
POSITIVE DEFINITE MAPS, REPRESENTATIONS AND FRAMES

We present a unitary approach to the construction of representations and intertwining operators. We apply it to the C*-algebras, groups, Gabor-type unitary systems and wavelets. We give an application of our method to the theory of frames, and we prove a general dilation theorem which is in turn applied to specific cases, and we obtain in this way a dilation theorem for wavelets.
The Relationship Between Social Support and Depression in Recovering Chemically Dependent Nurses

The incidence of chemical dependence within nursing challenges the profession to explore the phenomenon of chemical dependence and its recovery. Nurses (N = 58) who were peer assistance participants were studied to examine relationships between social support and depression. Social support was found to be significantly related to depression in this sample (r = −0.642, p < 0.001). Over half of the sample initiated chemical use prior to completing nursing education. The findings of this study imply the need for researchers to target both practicing nurses and student nurses in future research intended to further explore chemical dependency in nursing.
Epoxy Resin for Structural Repair of Concrete Pavement

Results of tests performed in Laboratory of Corps of Engineers in formulating epoxy resins which will satisfactorily repair surface defects in portland cement concrete pavements, will bond hardened surfaces of concrete together, and will bond new concrete to existing concrete; field applications.
SYNTHESIS AND REACTIVITY OF WELL-CHARACTERIZED LOW-VALENT TITANIUM SPECIES

This account mainly describes results from studies in our laboratory of the reactivity of well-characterized titanium(II) species, supported by chelating bis(aryloxide) ligation, with unsaturated organic compounds, including alkynes, aldehydes, and ketones. Taken together with reported chemistry of related low-valent titanium complexes, our results serve to advance current understanding of the nature of the active species and mechanism(s) of alkyne cyclotrimerization, pinacol coupling, and McMurry reactions.
Conflict and Confluence: The Multidimensionality of Opportunism in Principal–Agent Relationships

Conventional agency theory typically focuses on a unidirectional problem, in which an agent behaves opportunistically against the interests of a principal. Yet, this conceptualization is too limited to fully describe all aspects of principal–agent relationships. This article presents a more comprehensive framework explaining a potential three-directional problem—that is, (i) agents behave opportunistically against the interests of principals, (ii) principals behave opportunistically against the interests of agents, and (iii) relationships between agents and principals representing confluence of interests affect the interests of third-party stakeholders. The article provides evidence of these problems, describes their unique characteristics, and outlines implications for society. It concludes with a discussion focusing on the implications of the proposed framework for purported governance solutions, the ongoing debate between shareholder and stakeholder views of the firm, and business practices.
An Empirical Investigation Of The Minority Interest And Marketability Discounts In Valuation Of Closely Held Stock For Estate And Gift Tax Purposes

The discounts for lack of marketability and minority interest are crucial in reducing the value of transferred interests of closely held companies for estate and gift tax purposes. Because the current highest marginal estate and gift tax rate is 49%, there is a strong inducement for CPAs, Attorneys, Investment Bankers, Financial Planners, and others who value these transfers to accurately gauge the judicially allowed discounts for lack of marketability and minority interests in the valuation of closely held stock. This study examines the relationship between Tax Court determined values for lack of marketability and minority discounts to closely held stock from the compromise percentages. Compromise percentage is defined as the mean of the percentage presented by the adversarial parties, the taxpayer, and the IRS, in a judicial action. Additionally, this relationship is examined across industry classifications. The period investigated covers January 1, 1973 through December 31, 2002. Both regular and memorandum decisions by the Tax Court are analyzed over this thirty-year span. Chi-square analysis is used to determine that the Tax Court determined values are not significantly different than the compromise percentages. Furthermore, this finding does not vary across industries. Regression and chi-squared results are augmented with descriptive statistics.
Introduction: new directions in the treatment of atypical depression.

From the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center School of Medicine, and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, Pa. This article is derived from the planning roundtable “Atypical Depression: Management Challenges and New Treatment Advances,” which was held July 22, 2006, in Philadelphia, Pa., and supported by an educational grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Corresponding author and reprints: Michael E. Thase, M.D., Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O’Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (e-mail: thaseme@upmc.edu). n this supplement, each article focuses on a different aspect of atypical depression. First, Jonathan R. T. I Davidson, M.D., examines the evolution of the concept of atypical depression; second, Gordon B. Parker, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., discusses the validity of the current concept and suggests a new model for viewing atypical depression from a personality spectrum perspective; third, Jonathan W. Stewart, M.D., presents a review of the treatment literature, focusing on established therapies and ending with the work on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); and finally, Mark H. Rapaport, M.D., considers newer perspectives on treatment of atypical depression and evaluates recent therapy developments. This brief overview touches on the topics that each author addresses.
Pt(IV) Prodrugs Designed to Bind Non-Covalently to Human Serum Albumin for Drug Delivery

Albumin is the most abundant protein in human serum and drugs that are administered intravenously inevitably interact with it. We present here a series of platinum(IV) prodrugs designed specifically to enhance interaction with human serum albumin (HSA) for drug delivery. This goal is achieved by asymmetrically functionalizing the axial ligands of the prodrug so as to mimic the overall features of a fatty acid. Systematic variation of the length of the aliphatic tail tunes the cellular uptake and, consequently, the cytotoxicity of cis,cis,trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2(O2CCH2CH2COOH)(OCONHR)], 4, where R is a linear alkyl group. Investigation of an analogue bearing a fluorophore conjugated to the succinate ligand confirmed that these compounds are reduced by biological reductants with loss of the axial ligands. Intracellular release of cisplatin from 4 was further confirmed by observing the characteristic effects of cisplatin on the cell cycle and morphology following treatment with the prodrug. The most potent member of series 4, for which R is a hexadecyl chain, interacts with HSA in a 1:1 stoichiometry to form the platinum-protein complex 7. The interaction is non-covalent and extraction with octanol completely removes the prodrug from an aqueous solution of HSA. Construct 7 is robust and can be isolated following fast protein liquid chromatography. The nature of the tight interaction was investigated computationally, and these studies suggest that the prodrug is buried below the surface of the protein. Consequently, complexation to HSA is able to reduce the rate of reduction of the prodrug by ascorbate. The lead compound from series 4 also exhibited significant stability in whole human blood, attributed to its interaction with HSA. This favorable redox profile, in conjunction with the established nonimmunogenicity, biocompatibility, and enhanced tumor accumulation of HSA, produces a system that holds significant therapeutic potential.
Crop Insurance Subsidies: How Important are They?

In 1994, some 56 years after initial authorization, the Federal crop insurance program remained characterized by low enrollment levels. In 1994 and 2000, Congress introduced major pieces of legislation that expanded the program and increased premium subsidies. Enrollment jumped, transforming the Federal crop insurance program from a minor program into one of the major pillars of support for US crop farmers, covering over 200 million acres by 1995. The quantity of crop insurance demanded has often been tied to premium subsidy levels. How important are the subsidies? This study shows that between 2007 and 2012, a period that bookends a change in policy that increased premium subsidies to growers, the subsidies appeared to induce farmers to enroll more land, but that the effect on coverage levels appears more pronounced. At the national level, it appears likely that changes in the price of crop insurance altered the demand for insurance and that the effect was more pronounced for corn and soybean producers than for wheat growers. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. eodonoghue@ers.usda.gov The views expressed are those of the author and should not be attributed to the Economic Research Service or USDA.
Spatial Patterns in Household Demand for Ethanol

The recent rise in public environmental awareness, concerns of national energy security, and high transportation fuel prices have all served to heighten the interest in alternative fuels. One fundamental issue influencing the economic viability of the ethanol industry is consumers’ demand-responsiveness to both gasoline and ethanol price changes. In this paper we present an alternative approach to this problem by estimating the geographic variation of price-elasticity of demand for ethanol across the study area, a departure from previous studies of ethanol demand, in which the price-elasticity of demand is identical across the space. Considering the spatial heterogeneity in household composition and demand preferences, using global estimates to explain the price-demand relationships over a large geographic area may lead to biased results. We demonstrate that the spatially weighted regression technique provides superior estimates over a global regression model. Resulting price-elasticities of demand for ethanol reveal significant geographic variation, suggesting that the use of spatially disaggregated data provides more detailed empirical results and a more thorough understanding for policy determination related to the ethanol industry. In a subsequent paper, these results will be used to simulate the effects of state-level alternative fuel policies on reducing the environmental emissions.
Preconditioned Stochastic Gradient Langevin Dynamics for deep neural networks

Effective training of deep neural networks suffers from two main issues. The first is that the parameter spaces of these models exhibit pathological curvature. Recent methods address this problem by using adaptive preconditioning for Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD). These methods improve convergence by adapting to the local geometry of parameter space. A second issue is overfitting, which is typically addressed by early stopping. However, recent work has demonstrated that Bayesian model averaging mitigates this problem. The posterior can be sampled by using Stochastic Gradient Langevin Dynamics (SGLD). However, the rapidly changing curvature renders default SGLD methods inefficient. Here, we propose combining adaptive preconditioners with SGLD. In support of this idea, we give theoretical properties on asymptotic convergence and predictive risk. We also provide empirical results for Logistic Regression, Feedforward Neural Nets, and Convolutional Neural Nets, demonstrating that our preconditioned SGLD method gives state-of-the-art performance on these models.
Duality and stability regions of multi-rate broadcast and multiple access networks

We study stability regions of multi-rate Gaussian multiple access (MAC) and broadcast (BC) networks with centralized scheduling algorithms. Techniques are presented to characterize stability regions of BC and MAC networks with peak power constraints and average power constraints. The duality property that relates the MAC and BC information theoretic capacity regions is found to extend to their stability regions as well, in the average power constraint case.
Competitive Targeted Advertising Over Networks

Recent advances in information technology have allowed firms to gather vast amounts of data regarding consumers’ preferences and the structure and intensity of their social interactions. This paper examines a game-theoretic model of competition between firms that can target their marketing budgets to individuals embedded in a social network. We provide a sharp characterization of the optimal targeted advertising strategies and highlight their dependence on the underlying social network structure. Furthermore, we provide conditions under which it is optimal for the firms to asymmetrically target a subset of the individuals and establish a lower bound on the ratio of their payoffs in these asymmetric equilibria. Finally, we find that at equilibrium firms invest inefficiently high in targeted advertising and the extent of the inefficiency is increasing in the centralities of the agents they target. Taken together, these findings shed light on the effect of the network structure on the outcome of marketing co...
On the singularity of adjacency matrices for random regular digraphs

We prove that the (non-symmetric) adjacency matrix of a uniform random d-regular directed graph on n vertices is asymptotically almost surely invertible, assuming $$\min (d,n-d)\ge C\log ^2n$$ for a sufficiently large constant $$C>0$$ . The proof makes use of a coupling of random regular digraphs formed by “shuffling” the neighborhood of a pair of vertices, as well as concentration results for the distribution of edges, proved in Cook (Random Struct Algorithms. arXiv:1410.5595 , 2014). We also apply our general approach to prove asymptotically almost surely invertibility of Hadamard products $$\varSigma {{\mathrm{\circ }}}\varXi $$ , where $$\varXi $$ is a matrix of iid uniform $$\pm 1$$ signs, and $$\varSigma $$ is a 0/1 matrix whose associated digraph satisfies certain “expansion” properties.