cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Political Control and the Power of the Agent

In the study of public bureaucracy, the relationship between political authorities and bureaucrats is commonly understood as one of principal and agent, and analysis centers on how the authorities can try to overcome the information asymmetry at the heart of this relationship—arising from the bureaucrats’ expertise and other private information—to exercise a measure of control over their subordinates. In this standard view, information is the source of bureaucratic power. There is a second basis of bureaucratic power, however, that the literature overlooks. Precisely because the authorities are elected, bureaucrats can take political action—especially if organized by public sector unions—to influence who gets elected and what choices they make in office. This gives bureaucrats a political capacity to control their own controllers, putting the usual principal-agent relationship in a very different light. The purpose of this paper, then, is to make a case for the political power of the agent, and to argue for a reorientation of the current theory. In the empirical analysis, the argument is applied to the electoral behavior and impact of public school teachers and their unions—showing that they are quite active and influential in choosing the key authorities that are supposed to be governing them.
Efficient markets, fair bets, and profitability in NBA totals 1995–96 to 2001–02

Abstract The market for NBA totals was examined from 1995–96 to 2001–02. For the sample as a whole, a fair bet could not be rejected, leading to the conclusion of an efficient market. For the highest of the totals, however, the null hypothesis of a fair bet is rejected in the same manner as professional football in that overs are over bet. Although, winning percentages on betting the under above certain totals were found to be above 52.4%, the percentage needed to overcome the vigorish of the sportsbook, statistically significant violations of the null hypothesis of no profitability were not found. In addition, tests of betting with or against streaks in the spirit of the “hot hand” were not found to be profitable. It appears that bettors prefer the over to the under, but informed bettors will bet the under to the point where it is profitable for them to do so, which is enough to allow for the null hypothesis of a fair bet to be rejected, but not enough for profitability to be found.
Development of a new Lewis acid-catalyzed [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement: the allenoate-Claisen rearrangement.

A new Lewis acid-catalyzed Claisen rearrangement has been developed that allows the stereoselective construction of β-amino-α,β,e,ζ-unsaturated-γ,δ-disubstituted esters from simple allylic amines and allenoate esters. This reaction, which is contingent upon the use of Lewis acid, can be conducted with a range of metal salts (Yb(OTf)3, AlCl3, Sn(OTf)2, Cu(OTf)2, MgBr2·Et2O, FeCl3, Zn(OTf)2) with catalyst loadings as low as 5 mol %. This catalytic process provides access to a diverse range of β-amino-α,β,e,ζ-unsaturated-γ,δ-disubstituted esters in high yield and with excellent levels of diastereoselectivity for a series of allyl pyrrolidines (R1 = H, Me, i-Pr, Ph, NR2 = pyrrolidine, piperidine, NMe2; ≥81% yield, ≥94:6 syn:anti) and allenoate esters (R2 = H, Me, i-Pr, Ph, allyl, NPht, Cl; ≥75% yield, ≥91:9 syn:anti). The capacity of this new Claisen rearrangement to provide catalytic access to elusive structural motifs has also been demonstrated in the stereospecific formation of quaternary carbon bearing fr...
The impacts of climate change on poverty in 2030 and the potential from rapid, inclusive, and climate-informed development

The impacts of climate change on poverty depend on the magnitude of climate change, but also on demographic and socioeconomic trends. An analysis of hundreds of baseline scenarios for future economic development in the absence of climate change in 92 countries shows that the drivers of poverty eradication differ across countries. Two representative scenarios are selected from these hundreds. One scenario is optimistic regarding poverty and is labeled “prosperity;” the other scenario is pessimistic and labeled “poverty.” Results from sector analyses of climate change impacts—in agriculture, health, and natural disasters—are introduced in the two scenarios. By 2030, climate change is found to have a significant impact on poverty, especially through higher food prices and reduction of agricultural production in Africa and South Asia, and through health in all regions. But the magnitude of these impacts depends on development choices. In the prosperity scenario with rapid, inclusive, and climate-informed development, climate change increases poverty by between 3 million and 16 million in 2030. The increase in poverty reaches between 35 million and 122 million if development is delayed and less inclusive (the poverty scenario).
Radio emission from the bow shock of G2

The radio flux from the synchrotron emission of electrons accelerated in the forward bow shock of G2 is expected to peak when the forward shock passes pericenter, possibly 7 to 9 months before the center of mass of G2 reaches pericenter ~3x10^15 cm from the Galactic Center (Narayan et al. 2012; Sadowski et al. 2013a,b). In this letter, we calculate the radio emission from the forward and reverse shock if G2 is a momentum-supported bow shock of a faint star with a high mass-loss rate as suggested by Scoville & Burkert (2013); Ballone et al. (2013). We show that the radio flux lies well below the quiescent radio flux of Sgr A* and will be difficult to detect. By contrast, in the cloud model of G2, the radio flux of the forward shock is predicted to be much larger than the quiescent radio flux and therefore should have already been detected (Narayan et al. 2012; Sadowski et al. 2013b). Therefore, radio measurements can reveal the nature of G2 well before G2 completes its periapsis passage.
Misplaced Confidences: Privacy and the Control Paradox

We test the hypothesis that increasing individuals’ perceived control over the release and access of private information—even information that allows them to be personally identified––will increase their willingness to disclose sensitive information. If their willingness to divulge increases sufficiently, such an increase in control can, paradoxically, end up leaving them more vulnerable. Our findings highlight how, if people respond in a sufficiently offsetting fashion, technologies designed to protect them can end up exacerbating the risks they face.
The design and preparation of transition metal triad systems for excited-state charge separation

Abstract A series of multimetal complexes have been prepared with the intent of mimicking the charge separation process that occurs in photosynthesis. The systems have three component parts: antenna or absorbing fragment, electron donor, and electron acceptor. Synthetic modification of these components and the spacers which covalently couple these components will be discussed in terms of the thermodynamics and kinetics leading to the formation and lifetime of the charge-separated state. Systems with polyazine ruthenium(II) antenna, cyanoferrate(II) electron donors and a viologen electron acceptors will be described which have a lifetime of 37–86 ns.
Diaryl sulfoxides from aryl benzyl sulfoxides: a single palladium-catalyzed triple relay process.

A novel approach to produce diaryl sulfoxides from aryl benzyl sulfoxides is reported. Optimization of the reaction conditions was performed using high-throughput experimentation techniques. The [Pd(dba)2]/NiXantPhos catalyst system successfully promotes a triple relay process involving sulfoxide α-arylation, CS bond cleavage, and CS bond formation. The byproduct benzophenone is formed by an additional palladium-catalyzed process. It is noteworthy that palladium-catalyzed benzylative CS bond cleavage of sulfoxides is unprecedented. A wide range of aryl benzyl sulfoxides, as well as alkyl benzyl sulfoxides with various (hetero)aryl bromides were employed in the triple relay process in good to excellent yields (85–99 %). Moreover, aryl methyl sulfoxides, dibenzyl sulfoxides, and dimethylsulfoxide could be utilized to generate diaryl sulfoxides involving multiple catalytic cycles by a single catalyst.
A New Algorithm for CAD-Directed CMM Dimensional Inspection

The recent developments in computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems have made the traditional dimensional inspections bottlenecks in the production line. To overcome these bottlenecks, computer integrated dimensional inspection was proposed with the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) being the key device. In this investigation, a framework for integrating the CMM into the computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) environment is developed to automate the process of design, manufacturing and inspection. An algorithm to generate an optimum collision-free CMM probe path is proposed. This algorithm uses the ray tracing technique to locate the collision of the possible paths with the workpiece to be inspected, between the initial probe point and the target point. If there is a collision, the algorithm walks through the topological structure of the part and selects the midpoint of the edge shared by the face with which the path collides and the adjacent face nearest to the target point, as the next probe point. This procedure is followed until the target point is reached. The first half of the proposed algorithm is implemented using Mechanical Desktop as the CAD system and AutoCAD Runtime Extension (ARX) as the application programming interface, running on a Windows NT 4.0 platform. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by the results of the implementation which demonstrate optimum collision-free dimensional inspection path generation for three prismatic parts.
TERMINAL NITRIDO AND IMIDO COMPLEXES OF THE LATE TRANSITION METALS

Compounds that contain a late transition metal-nitrogen multiple bond represent important reactive intermediate species in many useful organic and inorganic transformations. In order to understand the role that these intermediates play in reactions, it is important to have a full understanding of their electronic structure. This paper reviews the known structural motifs that occur in late transition metal nitrido and imido compounds, and provides a correlation between geometric structure and electronic structure. Also, intermediate species that have been postulated but not yet isolated are discussed, as these compounds represent exciting targets for further efforts in synthetic inorganic chemistry.
Microwave-assisted synthesis of unnatural amino acids

Microwave irradiation has been proven to be a useful tool in the rapid assembly of racemic unnatural amino acids in only two steps. Additional benefits of this methodology are the commercial availability of the inexpensive starting materials and the high yields and high purities of the final amino acid products.
Performance of peps in cellular wireless networks

In this paper we study the main performance problems experienced by Web applications in Cellular Wireless networks. To this extend we identify the particular problems at each protocol layer (transport, session and application layer). We present our practical experience results, and investigate how a Wireless Performance Enhancing Proxy can improve the performance over these networks.
Skill Acquisition, Incentive Contracts and Jobs: Labor Market Adjustment to Trade

This paper examines how global integration influences worker behavior regarding skill acquisition, as well as firm behavior regarding incentive contracts and occupational diversity. The approach integrates several key components of international trade and the wage distribution in developed countries: namely heterogeneous firms, trade in similar goods, and performance payments to workers that endogenously obtain different skill levels. Greater trading opportunities reduce aggregate prices, causing workers to experience a greater marginal utility derived from income, as well as the skills that aid them in fulfilling performance contracts. Firms respond to skill accumulation among the labor force by adjusting the provision of incentive contracts, and the types of jobs they offer. Labor market adjustment to trade liberalization is characterized by a more steep, but less extensive, provision of incentive contracts among the labor force; higher overall wage inequality exhibiting a U-shaped differential; and job polarization across skill-groups.
Capacity of the bosonic wiretap channel and the Entropy Photon-Number Inequality

Determining the ultimate classical information carrying capacity of electromagnetic waves requires quantum-mechanical analysis to properly account for the bosonic nature of these waves. Recent work has established capacity theorems for bosonic single-user and broadcast channels, under the presumption of two minimum output entropy conjectures. Despite considerable accumulated evidence that supports the validity of these conjectures, they have yet to be proven. In this paper, it is shown that the second conjecture suffices to prove the classical capacity of the bosonic wiretap channel, which in turn would also prove the quantum capacity of the lossy bosonic channel. The preceding minimum output entropy conjectures are then shown to be simple consequences of an entropy photon-number inequality (EPnl), which is a conjectured quantum-mechanical analog of the entropy power inequality (EPI) from classical information theory.
Networking remote instrumentation for the Advanced Light Source

The Advanced Light Source (ALS) control system instrumentation includes high-data-rate instruments such as digital oscilloscopes, sending 5000-10000 B/s, and low data rate instruments such as network analyzers, digital multimeters and frequency counters sending >
Analysis of Possible Quantum Metastable States in Ballistic Graphene-Based Josephson Junctions

Graphene is a relatively new material (2004) made of atomic layers of carbon arranged in a honeycomb lattice. Josephson junction devices are made from graphene by depositing two parallel superconducting leads on a graphene flake. These devices have hysteretic current-voltage characteristics with a supercurrent branch and Shapiro steps appear when irradiated with microwaves. These properties motivate us to investigate the presence of quantum metastable states similar to those found in conventional current-biased Josephson junctions. We present work investigating the nature of these metastable states for ballistic graphene Josephson junctions. We model the effective Washboard potential for these devices and estimate parameters, such as energy level spacing and critical currents, to deduce the design needed to observe metastable states. We propose devices consisting of a parallel on-chip capacitor and suspended graphene. The capacitor is needed to lower the energy level spacing down to the experimentally accessible range of 1-20 GHz. The suspended graphene helps reduce the noise that may otherwise come from two-level states in the insulating oxide layer. Moreover, back-gate voltage control of its critical current introduces another knob for quantum control. We will also report on current experimental progress in the area of fabrication of this proposed device.
Limits of achievable performance and controller design for the structural control benchmark problem

In this work we give a methodology for controller design and analysis which accounts for design criteria such as: (a) optimal system response to external disturbances, (b) robustness to modelling uncertainty, and (c) constraints on the controller order. The methodology is applied to a structural control benchmark problem sponsored by the ASCE Committee on Structural Control. The structural system considered consists of a scale model of a three-storey building employing an active mass driver to suppress ground motion disturbances. The methodology proved effective for obtaining a satisfactory low-order controller for this class of problems.
Using multi-agent systems to represent uncertainty

The author considers a logical framework for modeling uncertainty, based on the use of possible worlds, that incorporates knowledge, probability, and time. This turns out to be a powerful approach for modeling many problems of interest. He shows how it can be used to give insights into (among other things) several well-known puzzles.
Distributed control by Lagrangian steepest descent

Often adaptive, distributed control can be viewed as an iterated game between independent players. The coupling between the players' mixed strategies, arising as the system evolves, is determined by the system designer. Information theory tells us that the most likely joint strategy of the players, given a value of the expectation of the overall control objective function, is the minimizer of a Lagrangian function of the joint strategy. So the goal of the system designer is to speed evolution of the joint strategy to that Lagrangian minimizing point, lower the expected value of the control objective function, and repeat. Here, we discuss how to do this using local descent procedures, and thereby achieve efficient, adaptive, distributed control.
Palladium-Catalyzed, Copper(I)-Mediated Coupling of Boronic Acids and Benzylthiocyanate. A Cyanide-Free Cyanation of Boronic Acids

A new method for the synthesis of nitriles is described. As a complement to the classic cyanation of aryl halides using cyanide sources and a transition metal catalyst, the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of thiocyanates with boronic acids in the presence of copper(I) thiophene-2-carboxylate (CuTC) affords nitriles in good to excellent yields.
Growth With Endogenous Risk of Biological Invasion

Wemodelbiologicalinvasionsasanunintendedby-productofcapitalaccumulation.We distinguish three spillover effects: (1) a negative production externality, (2) anegative or positive consumption externality and (3) an increase in the risk of futurewelfare loss. We also consider the implications when households self-protect byallocating income to reduce the potential damages from a biological invasion. Anoptimal output tax for production externalities is straightforward and can beaugmented in the case of negative or positive spillover effects on consumer welfare.Policiestocorrecttheeffectofinvasionsonendogenousriskaremoredifficulttodesign.(JEL O13, O41, Q2)
Assembly and maintenance of full-scale NIF amplifiers in the Amplifier Module Prototype Laboratory (AMPLAB)

Mechanical assembly and maintenance of the prototype National Ignition Facility amplifiers in the Amplifier Module Prototype Laboratory (AMPLAB) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory requires specialized equipment designed to manipulate large and delicate amplifier components in a safe and clean manner. Observations made during the operation of this assembly and maintenance equipment in AMPLAB provide design guidance for similar tools being built for the National Ignition Facility. Fixtures used for amplifier frame installation, laser slab and flashlamp cassette assembly, transport, and installation, and in-situ blastshield exchange are presented. Examples include a vacuum slab gripper, slab handling clean crane, slab cassette assembly fixture, sealed transport vehicle for slab cassette movement between the cleanroom and amplifier, slab cassette transfer fixture between the cleanroom and transport vehicle, and equipment needed for frame assembly unit, blastshield, an d flashlamp cassette installation and removal. The use of these tools for amplifier assembly, system reconfiguration, reflector replacement, and recovery from an abnormal occurrence such as a flashlamp explosion is described. Observations are made on the design and operation of these tools and their contribution to the final design.
Chemomechanical Functionalization and Patterning of Silicon

The chemomechanical method has emerged as a straightforward and convenient tool for simultaneously functionalizing and patterning silicon. This technique simply consists of wetting (or exposing) a silicon surface to a reactive chemical and then scribing. Scribing activates the surface and leads to monolayer formation. The properties of the monolayers are dependent on the reactive chemicals used, and mixed monolayers and funtionalized monolayers are easily produced with mixed chemicals or α,ω-bifunctional compounds, respectively. Both micrometer and nanometer sized functionalized features have been created. It has been shown that this technique has potential in a variety of applications.
A 3D kinematic study of the northern ejecta ‘jet’ of the Crab nebula

We present [O III] 4959,5007 emission line spectra (FWHM = 40 km/s) of the Crab Nebula's northern ejecta `jet'. These data, along with a recent [O III] image of the Crab, are used to build 3-dimensional models of the jet and adjacent remnant nebulosity to better understand the jet's properties and possible formation. We find that the jet's radial velocities range from -190 to +480 km/s with transverse velocities from 1600 to 2650 km/s from base to tip. The jet appears virtually hollow in [O III] emission with the exception of some material at the jet's base where the it connects with the remnant. Our 3D reconstructions indicate that the jet is elliptical in shape and slightly funnel-like rather than a straight cylindrical tube as previously thought. At the base of the jet we find evidence for a significant opening or "channel" in the Crab's main nebula shell. Our analysis of the jet's expansion properties and location supports the theory that the jet may simply represent the highest velocity component of the Crab's N-S bipolar expansion.
Estimating Liquid Fluxes in Thermally Perturbed Fractured Rock Using Measured Temperature Profiles

A new temperature-profile method was recently developed for analyzing perturbed flow conditions in superheated porous media. The method uses high-resolution temperature data to estimate the magnitude of the heat-driven liquid and gas fluxes that form as a result of boiling, condensation, and recirculation of pore water. In this paper, we evaluate the applicability of this new method to the more complex flow behavior in fractured formations with porous rock matrix. In such formations, with their intrinsic heterogeneity, the porous but low-permeable matrix provides most of the mass and heat storage capacity, and dominates conductive heat transfer, Fractures, on the other hand, offer highly effective conduits for gas and liquid flow, thereby generating significant convective heat transfer. After establishing the accuracy of the temperature-profile method for fractured porous formations, we apply the method in analyzing the perturbed flow conditions in a large-scale underground heater test conducted in unsaturated fractured porous tuff. The flux estimates for this test indicate a significant reflux of water near the heat source, on the order of a few hundred millimeter per year-much larger than the ambient percolation flux of only a few millimeter per year.
Electroweak strings produce baryons.

One implication of the standard hot big bang cosmology is that from the relics of the early universe we should in principle expect the universe to contain the same abundance of baryons and antibaryons. However there exist compelling empirical evidence that the universe is made out of matter with relative few antimatter. From the present asymmetry we can extrapolate that at the energy scale of the electroweak phase transition there was one part in 108 more matter than antimatter in the universe. The goal of baryogenesis is to explain why there is this asymmetry between the amount of matter and antimatter i. e. there is a nonbanishing ratio between the net baryon number density and entropy density (n B/s) in the universe
Design Methods For A Holographic Head-Up Display Curved Combiner

The curved holographic combiner of an aircraft wide field of view head-up display is described. The complete design procedure is presented, from initial layout to the completed construction optics design. A description of the display optics in addition to the hologram construction optics is included.
Gravimetric Geodesy and Sea Surface Topography Studies by Means of Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking and Satellite Altimetry

A satellite-to-satellite tracking experiment is planned between ATS-F and GEOS-C with a range accuracy of 2-meters and a range rate accuracy of 0.035 centimeters per second for a 10-second integration time. This experiment is planned for 1974. It is anticipated that it will improve the spatial resolution of the satellite geoid by half an order of magnitude to about 6 degrees. Longer integration times should also permit a modest increase in the acceleration resolution. Satellite altimeter data will also be obtained by means of GEOS-C. An overall accuracy of 5-meters in altitude is the goal. The altimeter, per se, is expected to have an instrumental precision of about 2 meters, and an additional capability to observe with a precision of about 0.2 meters for limited periods.
Trade, Urban Systems, and Labor Markets

This paper investigates the impacts of free trade on the structure of urban systems, skill distribution, and income disparities. The paper proposes a model that integrates international trade theory and the theory of urban system. This is done in a two sector, spatial general equilibrium model of a North-South trade. Each country is populated with a continuum of unskilled workers with heterogeneous potential ability. Through differential training costs, workers with different potential ability can achieve the same productivity. Workers can acquire a skill by investing in training. Thus, skill distribution in both countries is determined endogenously in the model through self-selection. The economy produces a final good with the use of a high-tech intermediate input and unskilled workers. Horizontally differentiated skilled workers produce the high-tech intermediate input. Cities are formed in this model as a result of investment in setup cost, i.e., public infrastructures. I characterize two different types of spatial equilibria: a closed-economy equilibrium, in which each country consists of a system of cities without trade, and a free-trade equilibrium, in which we allow for trade between cities and countries.
A Finite Element Based Die Design Algorithm for Sheet-Metal Forming on Reconfigurable Tools

Tooling cost is a major contributor to the total cost of small-lot production of sheet metal components. Within the framework of an academic/industrial/government partnership devoted to the development of a reconfigurable tool for stretch forming, we have implemented a Finite Element-based procedure to determine optimal die shape. In the reconfigurable forming tool (Hardt, D. E. et al., 1993, A CAD Driven Flexible Forming System for Three-Dimensional Sheet Metal Parts, Sheet Metal and Stamping Symp., Int. Congress and Exp., Detroit, MI, SAE Technical Paper Series 930282, pp. 69-76.), the die surface is created by the ends of an array of square pins, which can be individually repositioned by computer driven servo-mechanisms. An interpolating polymer layer is interposed between the part and the die surface to attain a smooth pressure distribution. The objective of the die design algorithm is to determine optimal positions for the pin array, which will result in the desired part shape. The proposed spring-forward' method was originally developed for matched-die forming (Karafillis, A. P., and Boyce, M. C., 1992, Tooling Design in Sheet Metal Forming using Springback Calculations, Int. J. Mech. Sci., Vol. 34, pp. 113-131.; Karafillis, A. P., and Boyce, M. C., 1996, Tooling And Binder Design for Sheet Metal Forming Processes Compensating Springback Error, Int. J. Tools Manufac., Vol. 36, pp. 503-526.) and it is here extended and adapted to the reconfigurable tool geometry and stretch forming loading conditions. An essential prerequisite to the implementation of the die design procedure is the availability of an accurate FE model of the entire forming operation. The particular nature of the discrete die and issues related to the behavior of the interpolating layer introduce additional challenges. We have first simulated the process using a model that reproduces, as closely as possible, the actual geometry of the discrete tool. In order to optimize the delicate balance between model accuracy and computational requirements, we have then used the information gathered from the detailed analyses to develop an equivalent die model. An automated algorithm to construct the equivalent die model based on the discrete tool geometry (pin-positions) is integrated with the spring-forward method, to generate an iterative die design procedure that can be easily interfaced with the reconfiguring tool. The success of the proposed procedure in selecting an optimal die configuration is confirmed by comparison with experimental results.
A limitation on the start-up of compact free electron lasers

Abstract An FEL using a short-period undulator with small undulator parameter K can have a classical gain above threshold, but may not start. The fundamental limitation arises from quantum fluctuations and depends on the Compton wavelength.
The Lorentz force and superconductivity

To change the velocity of an electron requires that a Lorentz force acts on it, through an electric or a magnetic field. We point out that within the conventional understanding of superconductivity electrons appear to change their velocity in the absence of Lorentz forces. This indicates a fundamental problem with the conventional theory of superconductivity. A hypothesis is proposed to resolve this difficulty. This hypothesis is consistent with the theory of hole superconductivity.
The Perils of Taylor Rules

Abstract Since John Taylor's (1993, Carnegie–Rochester Conf. Ser. Publ Policy39, 195–214), seminal paper, a large literature has argued that active interest rate feedback rules, that is, rules that respond to increases in inflation with a more than one-for-one increase in the nominal interest rate, are stabilizing. In this paper, we argue that once the zero bound on nominal interest rates is taken into account, active interest rate feedback rules can easily lead to unexpected consequences. Specifically, we show that even if the steady state at which monetary policy is active is locally the unique equilibrium, typically there exist an infinite number of equilibrium trajectories originating arbitrarily close to that steady state that converge to a liquidity trap, that is, a steady state in which the nominal interest rate is near zero and inflation is possibly negative. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: E52, E31, E63.
Discrete Metal-Based Catalysts for the Copolymerization of CO2 and Epoxides: Discovery, Reactivity, Optimization, and Mechanism

Most synthetic polymers are made from petroleum feedstocks. Given the non-renewable nature of these materials, there is increasing interest in developing routes to polymeric materials from renewable resources. In addition, there is a growing demand for biodegradable polymeric materials. Polycarbonates made from CO(2) and epoxides have the potential to meet these goals. Since the discovery of catalysts for the copolymerization of CO(2) and epoxides in the late 1960's by Inoue, a significant amount of research has been directed toward the development of catalysts of improved activity and selectivity. Reviewed here are well-defined catalysts for epoxide-CO(2) copolymerization and related reactions.
Toward Full Mental Health Parity And Beyond

The 1996 Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA), which became effective in January 1998, is scheduled to expire in September 2001. This paper examines what the MHPA accomplished and steps toward more comprehensive parity. We explain the strategic and self-reinforcing link of parity with managed behavioral health care and conclude that the current path will be difficult to reverse. The paper ends with a discussion of what might be behind the claims that full parity in mental health benefits is insufficient to achieve true equity and whether additional steps beyond full parity appear realistic or even desirable.
Dynamic Blade Row Compression Component Model for Stability Studies

This paper describes a generalized dynamic model which has been developed for use in compression component aerodynamic stability studies. The model is a one-dimensional, pitch-line, blade row, lumped volume system. Arbitrary placement of blade free volumes upstream, within, and downstream of the compression component as well as the removal of bleed flow from the exit of any rotor or stator are model options. The model has been applied to a two-stage fan and an eight-stage compressor. The clean inlet pressure ratio/flow maps and the surge line have been reproduced, thereby validating the capability of the dynamic model to reproduce the steady-flow characteristics of the compression component. A method for determining the onset of an aerodynamic instability which is associated with surge is described. Sinusoidally time-varying inlet and exit boundary conditions have been applied to the eight stage compressor as examples of the manner in which this model may be used for stability studies.
Bosonization of dimerized Hubbard chains

The role of Klein factors is investigated for the bosonized Hamiltonian of the dimerized Hubbard model. Contrary to previous approaches we take into account their number changing property, i.e. we do not replace them by Majorana fermions. We show how to treat Klein factors in the framework of the self-consistent harmonic approximation, both for finite systems and in the thermodynamic limit.
Multi-subsystem protocol architectures: motivation and experience with an adapter-based approach

Protocol software is often difficult and expensive to implement and test in today's computing environments. Several things are done to reduce this difficulty: communications software is subdivided into layers and organized into a protocol graph; communications software is developed within a protocol or networking subsystem; and it is often ported rather than developed from scratch. Today, a multitude of subsystems offer different features, functionality, and drawbacks; the differences among them often reduce portability and efficiency of protocol code. We consider these differences in subsystems and their effect on the portability and performance of protocol implementations. We propose an approach for combining the better features of protocol subsystems by constructing protocol graphs composed of protocols residing in different subsystems. Our approach uses adapter modules spanning the inter-subsystem boundary. We relate our experiences designing, implementing, and measuring the performance of several such adapters using an AppleTalk protocol stack we have developed as a baseline.
Identification of illite polytype zoning in disseminated gold deposits using reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction-potential for mapping with imaging spectrometers

X-ray diffraction studies of clay minerals from disseminated gold deposits in Nevada demonstrate that illite polytypes are often laterally and vertically zoned around ore bodies. Polytypes act as geothermometers indicating temperatures of ore deposition and thus proximity to the hydrothermal fluids during deposition. Visible/infrared reflectance spectroscopy for field identification and mapping of the illite polytypes is evaluated. The results demonstrate that reflectance spectroscopy can be used to assist gold exploration efforts by providing detailed mineralogical information in real time at the field location. As the new generation of imaging spectrometers is developed, it is likely that subtle spectral differences such as those between the illite polytypes will become useful for remote exploration for gold deposits. >
Femtosecond spectroscopy with vacuum ultraviolet pulse pairs

We combine different wavelengths from an intense high-order harmonics source with variable delay at the focus of a split-mirror interferometer to conduct pump-probe experiments on gas-phase molecules. We report measurements of the time resolution (<44fs) and spatial profiles (4μm×12μm) at the focus of the apparatus. We demonstrate the utility of this two-color, high-order-harmonic technique by time resolving molecular hydrogen elimination from C2H4 excited into its absorption band at 161nm.
Fear of miscoordination and the robustness of cooperation in dynamic global games with exit

This paper develops a framework to assess how fear of miscoordination affects the sustainability of cooperation. Building on theoretical insights from Carlsson and van Damme (1993), it explores the effect of small amounts of private information on a class of dynamic cooperation games with exit. Lack of common knowledge leads players to second guess each other's behavior and makes coordination difficult. This restricts the range of equilibria and highlights the role of miscoordination payoffs in determining whether cooperation is sustainable or not. The paper characterizes the range of perfect Bayesian equilibria as the players' information becomes arbitrarily precise. Unlike in one-shot two-by-two games, the global games information structure does not yield equilibrium uniqueness.
Regioselective synthesis of unsymmetrical C-aryl glycosides using silicon tethers as disposable linkers.

Silicon tethers were employed to control the regiochemistry of Diels−Alder reactions between substituted benzynes and glycosyl furans as a key step in the syntheses of unsymmetrical representatives of three major groups of C-aryl glycosides. The cycloaddition precursors were readily prepared by O-alkylation of substituted phenols with various sugar-substituted furylsilane derivatives. Selective deprotonation on the benzene ring of these ethers led to a benzyne that underwent an intramolecular Diels−Alder reaction to give bridged cycloadducts. Fluoride-induced removal of the silicon tether and acid-catalyzed ring opening of the oxabicycloheptadiene subunit yielded the desired C-aryl glycosides as single isomers.
On minimizing maximum errors

It is shown how a previously published control problem by A.G. Parlos (1988) formulated using ellipsoidal set-theoretic control synthesis techniques can be formulated and solved using l/sup 1/ optimal control theory. A complete solution is furnished to the problem. It avoids the difficulties of parameter optimization. >
Microstructure control in high Ti NbTi alloys

The microstructures of five high-Ti NbTi alloys (Nb49-62-wt.%Ti) and a ternary Nb-54-wt.%Ti, 4-wt.%Zr alloy have been observed following heat treatments of 80 h at 420 degrees C at prestrains of between 8.3 and 12.6. It was found that increasing prestrain suppressed the formation of deleterious Widmanstatten alpha -Ti and omega phases and that the higher the Ti content, the higher the prestrain required for elimination of these forms of precipitation. The Zr addition increased the precipitation rate and reduced the precipitate size without promoting the formation of Widmanstatten alpha -Ti or omega . >
Dynamical Modeling of Galaxy Mergers using Identikit

We present dynamical models of four interacting systems: NGC 5257/8, The Mice, the Antennae, and NGC 2623. The parameter space of the encounters are constrained using the Identikit model-matching and visualization tool. Identikit utilizes hybrid N-body and test particle simulations to enable rapid exploration of the parameter space of galaxy mergers. The Identikit-derived matches of these systems are reproduced with self-consistent collisionless simulations which show very similar results. The models generally reproduce the observed morphology and H I kinematics of the tidal tails in these systems with reasonable properties inferred for the progenitor galaxies. The models presented here are the first to appear in the literature for NGC 5257/8 and NGC 2623, and The Mice and the Antennae are compared with previously published models. Based on the assumed mass model and our derived initial conditions, the models indicate that the four systems are currently being viewed 175-260 Myr after first passage and cover a wide range of merger stages. In some instances there are mismatches between the models and the data (e.g., in the length of a tail); these are likely due to our adoption of a single mass model for all galaxies. Despite the use of a single mass model, these results demonstrate the utility of Identikit in constraining the parameter space for galaxy mergers when applied to real data.
Social Support and Sense of Program Belonging Discriminate Between Youth-Staff Relationship Types in Juvenile Correction Settings

This study explored the association between personal and social characteristics of incarcerated juvenile offenders and youth-staff relationship types. Employing the three relationship categories identified in a typology by Marsh and Evans (2009), multinomial logistic regression indicated that youth reporting higher levels of social support and sense of program belonging were least likely to belong to the relationship category associated with expressed dissatisfaction about problem solving and more negative forecasts. Results highlight the importance of socio-environmental factors in developing and administering productive youth correction programs.
Design issues for high-performance active routers

Modern networks require the flexibility to support new protocols and network services without changes in the underlying hardware. Routers with general-purpose processors can perform data path packet processing using software that is dynamically distributed. However, custom processing of packets at link speeds requires immense computational power. This paper proposes a design of a scalable, high-performance active router. Multiple network processors with cache and memory on a single application specific integrated circuit are used to overcome the limitations of traditional single processor systems. The proposed design is used as a vehicle for studying the key issues that must be resolved to allow active networking to become a mainstream technology. Benchmark measurements are used to put the design in relation to actual application demands.
Sources of Changes in Design – Build Contracts for a Governmental Owner

In recent years, many U.S. federal, state, and local governments have been authorized to use the design–build method of project delivery instead of the traditional design–bid–build method. Recent studies have not been definitive on the cost advantage of design–build for governmental owners. There are fewer change orders in design–build due to design errors because the designer (architect/engineer) and contractor are one entity, but there are other causes of change orders. Some literature suggests that changes requested by the owner of the facility are greater with the design–build method. This research examines the causes for construction-phase changes in 14 design–build and 20 design–bid–build projects. Total changes, expressed as number per contract, cost per contract, or percentage of original contract, were significantly lower in design–build. Fewer design errors in design–build accounted for this advantage. The number of owner-requested changes was significantly greater in design–build. The cost of o...
Technology of Steel Pressure Vessels for Water-Cooled Nuclear Reactors

Abstract A synopsis of the report Technology of Steel Pressure Vessels for Water-Cooled Reactors, USAEC Report ORNL-NSIC-21, December 1967 is presented. Current practices employed in the United States for the design and fabrication of steel pressure vessels for commercial station light water cooled nuclear reactors are reviewed. The specified service and predicted environmental conditions are identified, along with an evaluation of the effects of these parameters on materials behavior. Materials properties of interest in pressure vessel fabrication are reviewed. The codes and standards applied in the technology are identified and the methods of inspection discussed. The methods of surveillance and potential techniques for post-operational and in-serve inspection are summarized.
Packing-limited growth of irregular objects

We study growth limited by packing for irregular objects in two dimensions. We generate packings by seeding objects randomly in time and space and allowing each object to grow until it collides with another object. The objects we consider allow us to investigate the separate effects of anisotropy and nonunit aspect ratio. By means of a connection to the decay of pore-space volume, we measure power law exponents for the object size distribution. We carry out a scaling analysis, showing that it provides an upper bound for the size distribution exponent. We find that while the details of the growth mechanism are irrelevant, the exponent is strongly shape dependent. Potential applications lie in ecological and biological environments where sessile organisms compete for limited space as they grow.
Algebraic criteria for absolute stability

Abstract Algebraic criteria for absolute stability of Lure systems, whose linear part has a diagonal system matrix, are derived. The conditions for absolute stability are expressed in the form of inequalities, which contain no variable other than system parameters, and therefore, can be checked readily.
On Building Parallel & Grid Applications: Component Technology and Distributed Services

Software Component Frameworks are well known in the commercial business application world and now this technology is being explored with great interest as a way to build large-scale scientific applications on parallel computers. In the case of Grid systems, the current architectural model is based on the emerging web services framework. In this paper we describe progress that has been made on the Common Component Architecture model (CCA) and discuss its success and limitations when applied to problems in Grid computing. Our primary conclusion is that a component model fits very well with a services-oriented Grid, but the model of composition must allow for a very dynamic (both in space and in time) control of composition. We note that this adds a new dimension to conventional service workflow and it extends the "Inversion of Control" aspects of most component systems.
Nonlinear Optical Phase Conjugation for Laser Systems

This paper deals with certain nonlinear effects that can directly generate a wavefront which is the phase conjugate of the incident field. These phenomena can be exploited in pulsed laser systems to remove aberrations in the optical train as well as ab-errations arising from turbulence in the atmosphere. We discuss our measurements of the effectiveness of this conjugation process using a ruby laser and stimulated Brillouin scattering in a CS2 waveguide device. Measurements are made of the divergence angle of the beam after correction. The application of conjugate processes realizable in SBS, SRS, parametric downconversion, and four-wave mixing is considered for typical CO2 laser systems. System gain, backscatter limitations and parasitic oscillation are discussed for typical pulsed amplifier systems. Amplified spontaneous emission and unwanted glint returns from optical defects appear to be the most serious limitations.
Universal Minimax Discrete Denoising Under Channel Uncertainty

The goal of a denoising algorithm is to recover a signal from its noise-corrupted observations. Perfect recovery is seldom possible and performance is measured under a given single-letter fidelity criterion. For discrete signals corrupted by a known discrete memoryless channel (DMC), the Discrete Universal DEnoiser (DUDE) was recently shown to perform this task asymptotically optimally, without knowledge of the statistical properties of the source. In the present work, we address the scenario where, in addition to the lack of knowledge of the source statistics, there is also uncertainty in the channel characteristics. We propose a family of discrete denoisers and establish their asymptotic optimality under a minimax performance criterion which we argue is appropriate for this setting. As we show elsewhere, the proposed schemes can also be implemented computationally efficiently
An improved synthesis of substituted benzo[b]thiophenes using microwave irradiation

An easy and high-yielding method for the synthesis of substituted benzo[b]thiophenes using microwave irradiation is described.