cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving governance and fighting corruption in the Baltic and CIS countries : the role of the IMF

This paper examines the indirect role the International Monetary Fund (IMF) plays in combating corruption in the Baltic and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries by promoting structural reforms that help improve economic governance and thus reduce opportunities for rent-seeking behavior. The analysis draws on examples of actual experience with corruption and outlines some of the structural measures under IMF-supported arrangements, which, if successfully implemented, can be expected to help gradually alleviate corruption. It also summarizes IMF-wide initiatives under way to strengthen public sector transparency and accountability, and highlights the key structural areas likely to receive emphasis in the IMF's future policy advice to countries in the region.
Multicast tree construction in bus-based networks

Because of the multiple-access property of the media, the problem of constructing multicast trees in bus-based networks differs fundamentally from that in point-to-point networks. This article investigates the multicast tree construction for both general and specific network topologies.
Dynamical Borel-Cantelli lemmas for gibbs measures

LetT: X→X be a deterministic dynamical system preserving a probability measure μ. A dynamical Borel-Cantelli lemma asserts that for certain sequences of subsetsA n ⊃ X and μ-almost every pointx∈X the inclusionT n x∈A n holds for infinitely manyn. We discuss here systems which are either symbolic (topological) Markov chain or Anosov diffeomorphisms preserving Gibbs measures. We find sufficient conditions on sequences of cylinders and rectangles, respectively, that ensure the dynamical Borel-Cantelli lemma.
Supermassive Stars in Quasar Disks

We propose that supermassive stars may form in quasar accretion disks, and we discuss possible observational consequences. The structure and stability of very massive stars are reviewed. Because of high accretion rates, quasar disks are massive, and the fringes of their optically luminous parts are prone to fragmentation. Starting from a few hundred solar masses, a dominant fragment will grow to the isolation mass, which is a significant fraction of the disk mass, more quickly than the fragment contracts onto the stellar main sequence. A gap will form in the disk, and the star will migrate inward on the accretion timescale, which is comparable to the star's main-sequence lifetime. By interrupting the gas supply to the inner disk, the gap may temporarily dim and redden the quasar. The final stages of stellar migration will be a strong source of low-frequency gravitational waves.
Finite time blow up for critical wave equations in high dimensions

We prove that solutions to the critical wave equation (1.1) with dimension n⩾4 can not be global if the initial values are positive somewhere and nonnegative. This completes the solution to the famous Strauss conjecture about semilinear wave equations of the form Δu-∂t2u+|u|p=0. The rest of the cases, the lower-dimensional case n⩽3, and the sub or super critical cases were settled many years earlier by the work of several authors.
Existential Theory and Our Search for Spirituality

Throughout the course of Western history, science, religion, philosophy, psychology, and counseling have struggled to find common ground and opportunities for integration. Existential theory may begin to bridge humanity's search for spirituality and psychological wellbeing. Due to it's foundation in philosophy and the search for meaning, existentialism is uniquely suited to this task. It is our search for meaning, truth, and the I-thou experience that facilitates movement from the cognitive realm to the spiritual, transcending traditional psychotherapeutic rhetoric through a greater awareness of universal truths (Tomer, Eliason, & Wong, 2008; Eliason, Hanley, & Leventis, 2007; 2001, Eliason, 2000).
Modeling of phase change material peak load shifting

This paper addresses potential peak air conditioning load shifting strategies using encapsulated phase change materials. The materials being considered here are designed to be installed within the ceiling or wall insulation to assist in delaying the peak air conditioning demand times until later in the evening. To assist in understanding the behavior of this material, an idealized model has been developed which uses the one-dimensional diffusion equation driven by time varying temperature functions imposed at the boundaries. In developing the model, the phase change temperature is a critical parameter, as is the latent heat of melting. These variables are treated parametrically. Other variables such as the characteristic ambient temperature variations and the thermostat set point are varied relative to the phase change temperature. Comparisons are made to the temporal variations of the heat flows without the application of the phase change material to those with the phase change material.
A thermo-mechanically-coupled theory accounting for hydrogen diffusion and large elastic–viscoplastic deformations of metals

Abstract In this paper we develop a thermodynamically-consistent coupled-theory which accounts for diffusion of hydrogen, diffusion of heat, and large elastic–viscoplastic deformations of metals. The theory should be of utility in the analysis of hydrogen diffusion in elastic–plastically-deforming solids, an analysis which is an essential prerequisite for theoretical and numerical efforts aimed at modeling the integrity of structural components used for hydrogen gas storage and distribution.
Spatial lock-in: Do falling house prices constrain residential mobility?

Abstract Falling house prices have caused numerous homeowners to suffer capital losses. Those with little home equity may be prevented from moving because of imperfections in housing finance markets: the proceeds from the sale of their home may be insufficient to repay their mortgage and provide a down payment on a new home. A data set of mortgages is used to examine the magnitude of these constraints. Estimates show that average mobility would have been 24% higher after 3 years had house prices not declined, and after 4 years, it would have been 33% higher. Among those with high initial loan-to-value ratios, the differences are even greater.
Deflected Jets or Hot Spots? Conical Correlations of Hard Trigger Particles

The double-peak structure observed in soft-hard dihadron correlations was recently studied intensively in order to learn more about the jet-induced medium excitation in ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. Experimental data shows that the double-peak structure obtained for soft trigger particles coalesces into one peak for harder trigger particles. We demonstrate that this effect occurs when averaging over many jet events in a transversally expanding background, while a hot spot scenario always leads to two distinct peaks. This suggests to study soft-hard correlations induced by heavy-flavor jets with those generated by light-flavor jets at RHIC and LHC in order to really disentangle medium effects from jets.
Influence of Hardware Design on the Flow Field Structures and the Patterns of Droplet Dispersion: Part I—Mean Quantities

In a gas turbine engine combustor, performance is likely tied to the spatial distribution of the fuel injected into the dome. The GE/SNECMA CFM56 combustor swirl cup is one example of a design established to provide a uniform presentation of droplets to the dome. The present study is part of a series to detail the dispersion of droplets in practical hardware, and to assess the effect of isolated parameters on the continuous and dispersed-phase distributions. In this study, the influence of the swirling sir outlet geometry is evaluated relative to the effect on the flow field structures and the patterns of droplet dispersion. This is accomplished by comparing the continuous-phase (air in the presence of a spray) and dispersed-phase (droplets) behavior downstream of the swirl cup assembly outfitted with two different conical expansions (``flares``). One features a narrow expansion angle, the other possesses a wide expansion angle. Two-component phase-Doppler interferometry was employed to provide the information of droplet size and velocity components as well as continuous-phase velocity components. Photographs of light scattered by droplets from laser sheet were used for the study of flow field structures. This study reveals that (1) the air stream issued from the narrow flare remainsmore » close to the centerline and expands gradually downstream while the air stream issued from the wide flare expands immediately downstream of the swirl cup, and (2) the narrow flare provides weaker droplet dispersion, slower decay of droplet velocities, and finer droplet size compared to the wide flare. The results demonstrate that a relatively modest change in flare geometry can create a significant change in the structure of both the continuous and dispersed phases.« less
Kepler Mission's Focal Plane Characterization Models Implementation

The Kepler Mission photometer is an unusually complex array of CCDs. A large number of time-varying instrumental and systematic effects must be modeled and removed from the Kepler pixel data to produce light curves of sufficiently high quality for the mission to be successful in its planet-finding objective. After the launch of the spacecraft, many of these effects are difficult to remeasure frequently, and various interpolations over a small number of sample measurements must be used to determine the correct value of a given effect at different points in time. A library of software modules, called Focal Plane Characterization (FC) Models, is the element of the Kepler Science Processing Pipeline that handles this. FC, or products generated by FC, are used by nearly every element of the Science Operations Center (SOC) processing chain. FC includes Java components: database persistence classes, operations classes, model classes, and data importers; and MATLAB code: model classes, interpolation methods, and wrapper functions. These classes, their interactions, and the database tables they represent, are discussed. This paper describes how these data and the FC software work together to provide the pipeline with the correct values to remove non-photometric effects caused by the photometer and its electronics from the Kepler light curves. The interpolation mathematics is reviewed, as well as the special case of the sky-to-pixel/pixel-to-sky coordinate transformation code, which incorporates a compound model that is unique in the SOC software.
Classical-physics applications for Finsler $b$ space

Abstract The classical propagation of certain Lorentz-violating fermions is known to be governed by geodesics of a four-dimensional pseudo-Finsler b space parametrized by a prescribed background covector field. This work identifies systems in classical physics that are governed by the three-dimensional version of Finsler b space and constructs a geodesic for a sample non-constant choice for the background covector. The existence of these classical analogues demonstrates that Finsler b spaces possess applications in conventional physics, which may yield insight into the propagation of SME fermions on curved manifolds.
Interactions Among Friction, Wear, and System Stiffness—Part 3: Wear Model

It is shown that wear is an increasing function of system stiffness. The increase in the frequency of the applied load oscillations in normal direction causes increase of number of loading cycles per unit time that, in turn, causes increased rate of wear particles formation due to fatigue. A wear model has been developed which accounts for slider oscillation in the normal direction. Experimental data correlate very well with the theoretical analysis. 11 references, 7 figures, 3 tables.
FORMATION AND STRUCTURE OF LOW-DENSITY EXO-NEPTUNES

Kepler has found hundreds of Neptune-size (2-6 R{sub +}) planet candidates within 0.5 AU of their stars. The nature of the vast majority of these planets is not known because their masses have not been measured. Using theoretical models of planet formation, evolution, and structure, we explore the range of minimum plausible masses for low-density exo-Neptunes. We focus on highly irradiated planets with T{sub eq} {>=} 500 K. We consider two separate formation pathways for low-mass planets with voluminous atmospheres of light gases: core-nucleated accretion and outgassing of hydrogen from dissociated ices. We show that Neptune-size planets at T{sub eq} = 500 K with masses as small as a few times that of Earth can plausibly be formed by core-nucleated accretion coupled with subsequent inward migration. We also derive a limiting low-density mass-radius relation for rocky planets with outgassed hydrogen envelopes but no surface water. Rocky planets with outgassed hydrogen envelopes typically have computed radii well below 3 R{sub +}. For both planets with H/He envelopes from core-nucleated accretion and planets with outgassed hydrogen envelopes, we employ planet interior models to map the range of planet mass-envelope mass-equilibrium temperature parameter space that is consistent with Neptune-size planet radii. Atmospheric massmore » loss mediates which corners of this parameter space are populated by actual planets and ultimately governs the minimum plausible mass at a specified transit radius. We find that Kepler's 2-6 R{sub +} planet candidates at T{sub eq} = 500-1000 K could potentially have masses {approx}< 4 M{sub +}. Although our quantitative results depend on several assumptions, our qualitative finding that warm Neptune-size planets can have masses substantially smaller than those given by interpolating the masses and radii of planets within our Solar System is robust.« less
Freedom in the market

The market is traditionally hailed as the very exemplar of a system under which people enjoy freedom, in particular the negative sort of freedom associated with liberal and libertarian thought: freedom as noninterference. But how does the market appear from the perspective of a rival conception of freedom (freedom as non-domination) that is linked with the Roman and neo-Roman tradition of republicanism? The republican conception of freedom argues for important normative constraints on property, exchange, and regulation, without supporting extremes to the effect that ‘property is theft’ or ‘taxation is theft’ or anything of that kind. It does not cast a cold eye on commerce; it merely provides an alternative view of the attractions.
Integral bases for the universal enveloping algebras of map algebras

Given a finite-dimensional, simple Lie algebra g over C and A, a commutative, associative algebra with unityover C , we exhibit a Z -form for the universalenveloping algebra of the map algebra for g and anexplicit Z -basis for this Z -form. We also produceexplicit commutation formulas in the universal envelopingalgebra of the map algebra of sl2 that allow us to write certainelements in Poincar&eacute-Birkhoff-Witt order.Finally we give some applications of these formulas to therepresentation theory of the map algebras for sl2.
Gender differences in acute and chronic pain in the emergency department: Results of the 2014 academic emergency medicine consensus conference pain section

Pain is a leading public health problem in the United States, with an annual economic burden of more than $630 billion, and is one of the most common reasons that individuals seek emergency department (ED) care. There is a paucity of data regarding sex differences in the assessment and treatment of acute and chronic pain conditions in the ED. The Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference convened in Dallas, Texas, in May 2014 to develop a research agenda to address this issue among others related to sex differences in the ED. Prior to the conference, experts and stakeholders from emergency medicine and the pain research field reviewed the current literature and identified eight candidate priority areas. At the conference, these eight areas were reviewed and all eight were ratified using a nominal group technique to build consensus. These priority areas were: 1) gender differences in the pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for pain, including differences in opioid tolerance, side effects, or misuse; 2) gender differences in pain severity perceptions, clinically meaningful differences in acute pain, and pain treatment preferences; 3) gender differences in pain outcomes of ED patients across the life span; 4) gender differences in the relationship between acute pain and acute psychological responses; 5) the influence of physician-patient gender differences and characteristics on the assessment and treatment of pain; 6) gender differences in the influence of acute stress and chronic stress on acute pain responses; 7) gender differences in biological mechanisms and molecular pathways mediating acute pain in ED populations; and 8) gender differences in biological mechanisms and molecular pathways mediating chronic pain development after trauma, stress, or acute illness exposure. These areas represent priority areas for future scientific inquiry, and gaining understanding in these will be essential to improving our understanding of sex and gender differences in the assessment and treatment of pain conditions in emergency care settings.
Representations of inverse covariances by differential operators

In the cost function of three- or four-dimensional variational data assimilation, each term is weighted by the inverse of its associated error covariance matrix and the background error covariance matrix is usually much larger than the other covariance matrices. Although the background error covariances are traditionally normalized and parameterized by simple smooth homogeneous correlation functions, the covariance matrices constructed from these correlation functions are often too large to be inverted or even manipulated. It is thus desirable to find direct representations of the inverses of background error correlations. This problem is studied in this paper. In particular, it is shown that the background term can be written into ∫ dx|Dv(x)|2, that is, a squaredL2 norm of a vector differential operatorD, called the D-operator, applied to the field of analysis increment v(x). For autoregressive correlation functions, the D-operators are of finite orders. For Gaussian correlation functions, the D-operators are of infinite order. For practical applications, the Gaussian D-operators must be truncated to finite orders. The truncation errors are found to be small even when the Gaussian D-operators are truncated to low orders. With a truncated D-operator, the background term can be easily constructed with neither inversion nor direct calculation of the covariance matrix. D-operators are also derived for non-Gaussian correlations and transformed into non-isotropic forms.
Degradable dendrimers divergently synthesized via click chemistry

Large degradable dendrimers (MW > 30 kDA) were synthesized in a divergent manner utilizing a novel 1,3,5-triazaadamantane (TAA) monomer that can degrade under acidic conditions.
On the higher order conformal covariant operators on the sphere

We will show that in the conformal class of the standard metric gSn on Sn, the scaling invariant functional maximizes at gSn when n is odd and or . For n odd and , gSn is not stable and the functional has no local maximizer. Here Q2m,g is the 2mth order Q-curvature.
The retryable processor

In the interest of improving readability, instruction retry is presented generically. Technical terms unique to the 6000 are avoided.
ON SCIENCE AND ITS EVOLUTION

I am one of the oldest members of this conference and I feel therefore that I may recall a bit of the early times of our science before saying a few words about subject presently most in the forefront of physics and its most popular area: particle physics.
Phenomenological bounds in inclusive neutrino interactions

Using expressions for the $nu$ and anti $nu$ charged and neutral current cross sections and the electroproduction structure function integral and positivity requirements of the sea contribution, bounds are obtained on sigma/sup anti nu N//sigma/sup anti nu N/, and sigma/sup anti nu N//sub nc//sigma/sup nu N/ /sub nc/ in the standard model. A bound on sigma/sup anti nu N//sigma/sup nu N/ obtained with a V + A term anti p'$gamma$/sub mu/(1-$gamma$$sub 5$)n is used to rule out such a term in the current. A plot of sigma/sup nu N//sub nc/ + sigma/ sup anti nu N//sub nc/ versus sigma/sup nu N//sub nc/ - sigma/sup anti nu N//sub nc/ is introduced to analyze the neutral current data. A new relation connecting moments of y and y distributions at a particular point y/sub n/ for $nu$ and anti $nu$ interactions is found. The results do not depend on the neutral current data. (auth)
A review of polytypism in lead iodide

Lead Iodide (PbI2) is an important inorganic solid for both basic scientific research and possible technological applications and in this brief review we discuss the structure of PbI2. Although the basic structure is a simple I-Pb-I layered structure with a [PbI6]4- near-octahedron being the basic building block, there are many ways of stacking the layers which results in many polytypes. We present 20 of the 23 entries for the structure of PbI2 from the Inorganic Structural Database and order them by polytype. This represents more than 80 years of crystallographic research in the structure of this compound. We present a simple way to view the 2H, 4H, 6H, and 6R polytypes and extend the procedure to higher-order polytypes. We note a relationship, not generally appreciated, between the distortion of the near [PbI6]4- octahedrons and the polytype. We suggest that the significance of vacancies has only recently been appreciated. We suggest that small discrepancies in structure determination are probably due to different distributions of vacancies and that there are, in practice, very many structures for macroscopic or even mesoscopic samples of a given polytype when vacancies are considered. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Consistency conditions and representations of a q-deformed Virasoro algebra

Abstract We derive deformations of the Virasoro algebra in terms of “diffeomorphisms” of functions on a discretized circle. The Curtright-Zachos deformation is recovered in one case, for deformation parameter a root of unity. Consistency conditions are then derived for this algebra by introducing the so-called “braid-Jacobi” identities. All the representations are subsequently found through use of these identities. Further, it is shown that no nontrivial central term can be incorporated, since it clashes with the consistency conditions. Finally, an alternative deformation is derived which generalizes the Drinfeld deformation of the SU(1,1) subgroup to the full algebra.
When Are Dynamic Relaying Strategies Necessary in Half-Duplex Wireless Networks?

In this paper, we study a simple question: when are dynamic relaying strategies essential in optimizing the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) in half-duplex wireless relay networks? This is motivated by apparently two contrasting results even for a simple three-node network with a single half-duplex relay. When all channels in the system are assumed to be independent and identically fading, a static schedule where the relay listens half the time and transmits half the time combined with quantize-map-and-forward (QMF) relaying is known to achieve the full-duplex performance. However, when there is no direct link between the source and the destination, a dynamic decode-and-forward (DDF) strategy is needed to achieve the optimal tradeoff. In this case, a static schedule is strictly suboptimal and the optimal tradeoff is significantly worse than the full-duplex performance. In this paper, we study the general case when the direct link is neither as strong as the other links nor fully nonexistent, and identify regimes where dynamic schedules are necessary and those where static schedules are enough. We identify four qualitatively different regimes for the single-relay channel, where the tradeoff between diversity and multiplexing is significantly different. We show that in all these regimes one of the above two strategies is sufficient to achieve the optimal tradeoff by developing a new upper bound on the best achievable tradeoff under channel state information available only at the receivers. A natural next question is whether these two strategies are sufficient to achieve the DMT of more general half-duplex wireless networks with a larger number of relays. We propose a generalization of the two existing schemes through a dynamic QMF (DQMF) strategy, where the relay listens for a fraction of time depending on received channel state information but not long enough to be able to decode. We show that such a DQMF strategy is needed to achieve the optimal DMT in a parallel channel with two relays, outperforming both DDF and static QMF strategies.
S-duality and 2d topological QFT

We study the superconformal index for the class of $$ \mathcal{N} = 2 $$ 4d superconformal field theories recently introduced by Gaiotto [1]. These theories are defined by compactifying the (2, 0) 6d theory on a Riemann surface with punctures. We interpret the index of the 4d theory associated to an n-punctured Riemann surface as the n-point correlation function of a 2d topological QFT living on the surface. Invariance of the index under generalized S-duality transformations (the mapping class group of the Riemann surface) translates into associativity of the operator algebra of the 2d TQFT. In the A 1 case, for which the 4d SCFTs have a Lagrangian realization, the structure constants and metric of the 2d TQFT can be calculated explicitly in terms of elliptic gamma functions. Associativity then holds thanks to a remarkable symmetry of an elliptic hypergeometric beta integral, proved very recently by van de Bult [2].
World-sheet and space-time physics in two-dimensional (super)string theory

Abstract We show that tree-level “resonant” N -tachyon scattering amplitudes, which define a sensible “bulk” S -matrix in critical (super)string theory in any dimension, have a simple structure in two-dimensional space-time, due to partial decoupling of a certain infinite set of discrete states. We also argue that the general (non-resonant) amplitudes are determined by the resonant ones, and calculate them explicitly, finding an interesting analytic structure. Finally, we discuss the space-time interpretation of our results.
Finite Element Integration on GPUs

We present a novel finite element integration method for low-order elements on GPUs. We achieve more than 100GF for element integration on first order discretizations of both the Laplacian and Elasticity operators on an NVIDIA GTX285, which has a nominal single precision peak flop rate of 1 TF/s and bandwidth of 159 GB/s, corresponding to a bandwidth limited peak of 40 GF/s.
A new approach to cyclic hydroxamic acids: Intramolecular cyclization of N-benzyloxy carbamates with carbon nucleophiles.

N-Alkyl-N-benzyloxy carbamates, 2, undergo facile intramolecular cyclization with a variety of carbon nucleophiles to give functionalized five- and six-membered protected cyclic hydroxamic acids, 3, in good to excellent yields. This method can be extended to prepare seven-membered cyclic hydroxamic acids in moderate yields. The sulfone intermediates 3 from this study can be alkylated while the corresponding phosphonates have been shown to undergo HWE reaction. The α,β-unsaturated synthon, 8, prepared by thermal elimination of sulfoxide 3m, undergoes Michael addition with secondary amines. The usefulness of this approach to prepare polydentate chelators has been demonstrated by the synthesis of bis cyclic hydroxamic acids 12, 14, and 15.
Biosynthesis of polyketide synthase extender units

This review covers the biosynthesis of extender units that are utilized for the assembly of polyketides by polyketide synthases. The metabolic origins of each of the currently known polyketide synthase extender units are covered.
Cocaine permeability and metabolism in colonic T-84 epithelial cell line.

Abstract We studied the uptake, transport and metabolism of cocaine in human intestine using the colonic T-84 monolayers as a model. T-84 cells were grown in DMEM/Ham's F-12 medium containing 6 % newborn calf serum at 37 ° C on 1.0 μm collagen inserts. The cells develop into a polarized monolayer with the apical surface facing the upper chamber and the basolateral surface facing the lower. The monolayers develop a transepithelial resistance of ≥ 600 Ω cm 2 in 7 days. Varying concentrations of cocaine HCl was added in a serum free medium to the luminal side only, and after 30 min and 60 min samples from the luminal and serosal aspect were removed for analysis. Cocaine and its metabolites were measured by G C/MS. Cocaine transport across T-84 monolayers increased linearly with increasing concentration of cocaine, with no significant difference between 30 min and 60 min of exposure. Transepithelial resistance did not change even at 800 ng of cocaine suggesting no effect on monolayer viability. The metabolites, benzoylecgonine (BE) and ecgonine methyl ester (EME) but not norcocaine were detected in both luminal and serosal side. The concentrations of BE and EME in the luminal side were significantly higher than in the serosal. Combined recovery of cocaine, BE and EME from luminal and serosal sides were 52 – 80 % of total added cocaine. While fresh medium did not metabolize cocaine, media previously exposed to the monolayer (cell-free medium) caused a significant breakdown into BE and EME, suggesting that esterases may be released into the medium. These results indicate transfer of cocaine across this model of intestinal epithelial cell line is by simple diffusion and is concentration dependent. These studies imply that cocaine in swallowed amniotic fluid can be absorbed by the fetal gastrointestinal tract.
Lattice Dynamics of Terbium

The frequency-wave-vector dispersion relation for the normal modes of vibration of terbium at room temperature has been measured by means of slow-neutron inelastic scattering techniques. The triple-axis spectrometer at the Oak Ridge high flux isotope reactor was used, mostly in the constant-$Q$ mode of operation. Phonon frequencies for wave vectors along the principal symmetry directions have been determined and, in addition, measurements of phonon frequencies along the boundaries of the Brillouin zone and along a more general direction are reported. The data have been fitted with a Born-von K\'arm\'an force model which includes interactions out to the eighth nearest neighbor. The interactions have been assumed to be general (tensor) out to the fourth neighbor and axially symmetric beyond. The model has been used to calculate a frequency distribution function $g(\ensuremath{\nu})$ and related quantities such as the lattice specific heat and Debye temperature.
Linearizing the observed power spectrum

Semi-analytic treatment of the power spectrum with the approximation of constant linear bias provides a way to compare cosmological models to a large amount of data, as Peacock &38; Dodds have shown. By applying the appropriate corrections to the observational power spectrum it is possible to recover the underlying linear power spectrum for any given cosmological model. Using extensive N-body simulations we carefully test and calibrate all important corrections. To demonstrate that the method is applicable to a wide range of cosmological models, we test the standard Ω = 1 cold dark matter (CDM) model, Ω < 1 models that include a cosmological constant (ΛCDM), and Ω = 1 models with a mixture of cold and hot dark matter (CHDM), both with one massive neutrino and two equal mass neutrinos. The ΛCDM and CHDM models are normalized to COBE and to cluster abundances. Our tests indicate that the improved linear–non-linear mapping recently suggested by Peacock &38; Dodds for treating CDM-type power spectra works well for a wide range of scale-dependent power spectra. However, we find that the Peacock &38; Dodds prescription for the recovery of the linear power spectrum from observations, which is often used to test cosmological models, can be misleading because the corrections are model-dependent. A model should not be judged based on the linear spectrum recovered by that procedure, but must be compared with the recovered spectrum for that particular model. When we apply the proper corrections for a given model to the observational power spectrum, we find that no model in our test group recovers the linear power spectrum well for the bias values suggested by Peacock &38; Dodds between Abell, radio, optical, and IRAS catalogues: bA : bR : bO : bI = 4.5 : 1.9 : 1.3 : 1.0, with bI = 1.0. The recovered linear ΛCDM and CHDM power spectra were systematically below their respective linear power spectra using bI = 1.0. When we allow bl to vary (keeping the same bias ratios) we find that: (i) CHDM models give very good fits to observations if optically selected galaxies are slightly biased (bO ∼ 1.1). (ii) Most ΛCDM models give worse but acceptable fits if blue galaxies are considerably antibiased (0.6 ≲ bO ≲ 0.9) and fail if optical galaxies are biased. (iii) There is a universal shape of the recovered linear power spectrum of all ΛCDM models over their entire range of explored wavenumbers, 0.01 ≲ k ≲ 0.6 h Mpc−1. For a given bias, recovered linear power spectra of CDM and CHDM models are nearly the same as that of ΛCDM in the region 0.01 ≲ k ≲ 0.2 h Mpc−1 but diverge from this spectrum at higher k. We tabulate the recovered linear spectra, and also the initial linear spectra, for all the models considered.
Is the galactic corona produced by galactic flares

The effect of the differential rotation of the disk of the Galaxy on magnetic field which penetrates the disk is considered. The magnetic field will be progressively distorted from a potential (current-free) form and will at some stage become unstable. It is expected that an MHD instability, a resistive instability, or a combination of the two, will result in the release of the excess magnetic energy and that part of the released energy will be converted into heat. By estimating the energy release and the rate at which this process will occur and by assuming that this energy input is balanced by radiation, estimates were obtained of the parameters of the resulting plasma. It appears that this process alone can heat a galactic corona to temperatures of order 10 to the 6th power K.
Improved Bounds on Quantum Learning Algorithms

In this article we give several new results on the complexity of algorithms that learn Boolean functions from quantum queries and quantum examples.
High diastereofacial selectivity in the additions of the enolates of aminocarbene complexes to chiral aldehydes without the assistance of a Lewis acid

Addition des enolates de complexes de (dialkylamino-1 ethylidene) chromes a des aldehydes chiraux
Effective use of boolean satisfiability procedures in the formal verification of superscalar and VLIW microprocessors

We compare SAT-checkers and decision diagrams on the evaluation of Boolean formulae produced in the formal verification of both correct and buggy versions of superscalar and VLIW microprocessors. The microprocessors are described in a high-level hardware description language, based on the logic of equality with uninterpreted functions and memories (EUFM). The formal verification is done with Burch and Dill's correctness criterion, using flushing to map the state of the implementation processor to the state of the specification. The EUFM correctness formula is translated to an equivalent Boolean formula by exploiting the property of positive equality, and using the automatic tool EVC. We identify the SAT-checkers Chaff and BerkMin as significantly outperforming the rest of the SAT tools when evaluating the Boolean correctness formulae. We examine ways to enhance the performance of Chaff and BerkMin by variations when generating the Boolean formulae. We reassess optimizations we developed earlier to speed up the formal verification.
Data-adaptive wavelets and multi-scale singular-spectrum analysis

Using multi-scale ideas from wavelet analysis, we extend singular-spectrum analysis (SSA) to the study of nonstationary time series, including the case where intermittency gives rise to the divergence of their variance. The wavelet transform resembles a local Fourier transform within a finite moving window whose width W , proportional to the major period of interest, is varied to explore a broad range of such periods. SSA, on the other hand, relies on the construction of the lag-correlation matrix C onM lagged copies of the time series over a fixed window width W to detect the regular part of the variability in that window in terms of the minimal number of oscillatory components; hereW DM1t with1t as the time step. The proposed multi-scale SSA is a local SSA analysis within a moving window of widthM W N , whereN is the length of the time series. Multi-scale SSA variesW , while keeping a fixed W=M ratio, and uses the eigenvectors of the corresponding lag-correlation matrix C .M/ as data-adaptive wavelets; successive eigenvectors of C .M/ correspond approximately to successive derivatives of the first mother wavelet in standard wavelet analysis. Multi-scale SSA thus solves objectively the delicate problem of optimizing the analyzing wavelet in the time‐frequency domain by a suitable localization of the signal’s correlation matrix. We present several examples of application to synthetic signals with fractal or power-law behavior which mimic selected features of certain climatic or geophysical time series. The method is applied next to the monthly values of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) for 1933‐1996; the SOI time series is widely believed to capture major features of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the Tropical Pacific. Our methodology highlights an abrupt periodicity shift in the SOI near 1960. This abrupt shift between 5 and 3 years supports the Devil’s staircase scenario for the ENSO phenomenon (preliminary results of this study were presented at the XXII General Assembly of the European Geophysical Society, Vienna, May 1997, and at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, December 1997). © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
On the Origin of Intrinsic Narrow Absorption Lines in z ≲ 1 QSOs

We present an exhaustive statistical analysis of the associated (Δvabs -0.5], and mediocre C IV FWHM (6000 km s-1) do not have detectable associated NALs, down to Wr(C ) = 0.35 A. We also find that broad absorption line (BAL) QSOs have an enhanced probability of hosting detectable NAL gas. In addition, we find that the velocity distribution of associated NALs is peaked around the emission redshifts rather than the systemic redshifts of the QSOs. Finally, we find only one strong NAL [Wr(C ) 1.5 A] in our low-redshift sample. A comparison with previous higher redshift surveys reveals evolution in the number of strong NAL systems with redshift. We interpret these results in the context of an accretion disk model. We propose that NAL gas hugs the streamlines of the faster, denser, low-latitude wind, which has been associated with BALs. In the framework of this scenario, we can explain the observational clues as resulting from differences in orientation and wind properties, the latter presumably associated with the QSO radio properties.
Rapid turnover of plasma virions and CD4 lymphocytes in HIV-1 infection

Treatment of infected patients with ABT-538, an inhibitor of the protease of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), causes plasma HIV-1 levels to decrease exponentially (mean half-life, 2.1 +/- 0.4 days) and CD4 lymphocyte counts to rise substantially. Minimum estimates of HIV-1 production and clearance and of CD4 lymphocyte turnover indicate that replication of HIV-1 in vivo is continuous and highly productive, driving the rapid turnover of CD4 lymphocytes.
Dynamic matching market design

We introduce a simple benchmark model of dynamic matching in networked markets, where agents arrive and depart stochastically and the network of acceptable transactions between agents forms a random graph. We analyze our model from three perspectives: waiting time, optimization, and information. The main insight of our analysis is that waiting to thicken the market can be substantially more important than increasing the speed of transactions, and this is quite robust to the presence of waiting costs. From an optimization perspective, naive local algorithms, that choose the right time to match agents but do not exploit global network structure, can perform very close to optimal algorithms. From an information perspective, algorithms that employ even partial information on agents' departure times perform substantially better than those that lack such information. Information and waiting are complements; information about departure times is necessary for waiting to yield large gains. To elicit agents' departure times, we design an incentive-compatible continuous-time dynamic mechanism without transfers. LINK: www.ssrn.com/abstract=2394319
The risk of unintended pregnancy among young women with mental health symptoms.

Depression and stress have been linked with poor contraceptive behavior but whether existing mental health symptoms influence womens subsequent risk of unintended pregnancy is unclear. We prospectively examined the effect of depression and stress symptoms on young womens pregnancy risk over one year. We used panel data from a longitudinal study of 992 U.S. women ages 18-20 years who reported a strong desire to avoid pregnancy. Weekly journal surveys measured relationship contraceptive use and pregnancy outcomes. We examined 27572 journal surveys from 940 women over the first study year. Our outcome was self-reported pregnancy. At baseline we assessed moderate/severe depression (CESD-5) and stress (PSS-4) symptoms. We estimated the effect of baseline mental health symptoms on pregnancy risk with discrete-time mixed-effects proportional hazard models using logistic regression. At baseline 24% and 23% of women reported moderate/severe depression and stress symptoms respectively. Ten percent of young women not intending pregnancy became pregnant during the study. Rates of pregnancy were higher among women with baseline depression (14% versus 9% p = 0.04) and stress (15% versus 9% p = 0.03) compared to women without symptoms. In multivariable models the risk of pregnancy was 1.6 times higher among women with stress symptoms compared to those without stress (aRR 1.6 CI 1.12.7). Women with co-occurring stress and depression symptoms had over twice the risk of pregnancy (aRR 2.1 CI 1.13.8) compared to those without symptoms. Among women without a prior pregnancy having co-occurring stress and depression symptoms was the strongest predictor of subsequent pregnancy (aRR 2.3 CI 1.24.3) while stress alone was the strongest predictor among women with a prior pregnancy (aRR 3.0 CI 1.18.8). Depression symptoms were not independently associated with young womens pregnancy risk. In conclusion stress and especially co-occurring stress and depression symptoms consistently and adversely influenced these young womens risk of unintended pregnancy over one year. Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Formation of plexiform lesions in experimental severe pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background— The plexiform lesion is the hallmark of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, its genesis and hemodynamic effects are largely unknown because of the limited availability of lung tissue samples from patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and the lack of appropriate animal models. This study investigated whether rats with severe progressive pulmonary hypertension developed plexiform lesions. Methods and Results— After a single subcutaneous injection of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor blocker Sugen 5416, rats were exposed to hypoxia for 3 weeks. They were then returned to normoxia for an additional 10 to 11 weeks. Hemodynamic and histological examinations were performed at 13 to 14 weeks after the Sugen 5416 injection. All rats developed pulmonary hypertension (right ventricular systolic pressure ≈100 mm Hg) and severe pulmonary arteriopathy, including concentric neointimal and complex plexiform-like lesions. There were 2 patterns of complex lesion formation: a l...
Diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia

The diagnosis of ventilator pneumonia remains a controversial area. Use of standard clinical criteria has been found to be inadequate. Use of a clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) has improved the diagnostic utility of clinical criteria. For the intubated patient, there is ready access to the lower respiratory tract. Samples include endotracheal aspirates, bronchoalveolar lavage and protected brush specimen. The latter two can be obtained blindly or via a bronchoscope. The culture results are more meaningful if reported in a semi-quantitative model. There is increasing evidence that culture results predict mortality and can be used to direct duration and type of therapy.
Money supply announcements and real economic activity

Abstract This paper derives testable implications of a model due to Siegel (1985) in which interest rates react to announced innovations in the money supply solely because money announcements reveal information about real economic activity. Tests of these implications yield results inconsistent with the model. In addition, the results contradict the finding of Huizinga and Leiderman (1987) that interest rates tended to rise in response to unexpected increases in the monetary base from October 1979 to February 1984.
Analysis of continuous strict local martingales via h-transforms

Abstract We study strict local martingales via h -transforms, a method which first appeared in work by Delbaen and Schachermayer. We show that strict local martingales arise whenever there is a consistent family of change of measures where the two measures are not equivalent to one another. Several old and new strict local martingales are identified. We treat examples of diffusions with various boundary behavior, size-bias sampling of diffusion paths, and non-colliding diffusions. A multidimensional generalization to conformal strict local martingales is achieved through Kelvin transform. As curious examples of non-standard behavior, we show by various examples that strict local martingales do not behave uniformly when the function ( x − K ) + is applied to them. Implications to the recent literature on financial bubbles are discussed.
Dense, Fe-rich Ejecta in Supernova Remnants DEM L238 and DEM L249: A New Class of Type Ia Supernova?

We present observations of two LMC supernova remnants (SNRs), DEM L238 and DEM L249, with the Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray satellites. Bright central emission, surrounded by a faint shell, is present in both remnants. The central emission has an entirely thermal spectrum dominated by strong Fe L-shell lines, with the deduced Fe abundance in excess of solar and not consistent with the LMC abundance. This Fe overabundance leads to the conclusion that DEM L238 and DEM L249 are remnants of thermonuclear (Type Ia) explosions. The shell emission originates in gas swept up and heated by the blast wave. A standard Sedov analysis implies about 50 M☉ in both swept-up shells, SNR ages between 10,000 and 15,000 yr, low (0.05 cm-3) preshock densities, and subluminous explosions with energies of 3 × 1050 ergs. The central Fe-rich supernova ejecta are close to collisional ionization equilibrium. Their presence is unexpected, because standard Type Ia SNR models predict faint ejecta emission with short ionization ages. Both SNRs belong to a previously unrecognized class of Type Ia SNRs characterized by bright interior emission. Denser than expected ejecta and/or a dense circumstellar medium around the progenitors are required to explain the presence of Fe-rich ejecta in these SNRs. Substantial amounts of circumstellar gas are more likely to be present in explosions of more massive Type Ia progenitors. DEM L238, DEM L249, and similar SNRs could be remnants of "prompt" Type Ia explosions with young (~100 Myr old) progenitors.