cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CYP2B6 Pharmacogenetics–Based In Vitro–In Vivo Extrapolation of Efavirenz Clearance by Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling

Efavirenz is mainly cleared by CYP2B6. The CYP2B6*6 allele is associated with lower efavirenz clearance. Efavirenz clearance was predictable using in vitro data for carriers of the CYP2B6*1/*1 genotype, but the prediction in carriers of the CYP2B6*6 allele was poor. To test the hypothesis that incorporation of mechanism of reduced efavirenz metabolism by the CYP2B6*6 allele can predict the genetic effect on efavirenz pharmacokinetics, in vitro–in vivo extrapolation of efavirenz clearance was performed by physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling (Simcyp Simulator; Simcyp Ltd., Sheffield, UK) using data obtained from expressed CYP2B6.1 and CYP2B6.6 as well as human liver microsomes (HLMs) with CYP2B6*1/*1, *1/*6, and *6/*6 genotypes. Simulated pharmacokinetics of a single 600-mg oral dose of efavirenz for individuals with each genotype was compared with data observed in healthy subjects genotyped for the CYP2B6*6 allele (n = 20). Efavirenz clearance for carriers of the CYP2B6*1/*1 genotype was predicted reasonably well using HLM data, but the clearance in carriers of the CYP2B6*6 allele was underpredicted using both expressed and HLM systems. Improved prediction of efavirenz clearance was obtained from expressed CYP2B6 after recalculating intersystem extrapolation factors for CYP2B6.1 and CYP2B6.6 based on in vitro intrinsic clearance of bupropion 4-hydroxylation. These findings suggest that genetic effect on both CYP2B6 protein expression and catalytic efficiency needs to be taken into account for the prediction of pharmacokinetics in individuals carrying the CYP2B6*6/*6 genotype. Expressed CYP2B6 proteins may be a reliable in vitro system to predict effect of the CYP2B6*6 allele on the metabolism of CYP2B6 substrates.
Future muon dipole moment measurements

From the famous experiments of Stern and Gerlach to the present, measurements of magnetic dipole moments, and searches for electric dipole moments of “elementary” particles have played a major role in our understanding of sub-atomic physics. In this talk I discuss the progress on measurements and theory of the magnetic dipole moment of the muon. I also discuss a new proposal to search for a permanent electric dipole moment (EDM) of the muon and put it into the more general context of other EDM searches. These experiments, along with searches for the lepton flavor violating decays μ → e γ and μ − + A → e − + A , provide a path to the high-energy frontier through precision measurements.
Nonlinear multiscale filtering using mathematical morphology

A multiscale filtering scheme based on the three Matheron axioms for morphological openings is developed. It is shown that opening a signal with a gray scale operator does not introduce additional zero-crossings as one moves to coarser scales. Within this framework, the problem of choosing an appropriate structuring element is studied. In order to obtain a measure of the performance of different structuring elements, the statistical properties of gray scale opening are studied, using a powerful tool in mathematical morphology, namely, basis functions. >
MOPS: Multivariate orthogonal polynomials (symbolically)

In this paper we present a Maple library (MOPS) for computing Jack, Hermite, Laguerre, and Jacobi multivariate polynomials, as well as eigenvalue statistics for the Hermite, Laguerre, and Jacobi ensembles of random matrix theory. We also compute multivariate hypergeometric functions, and offer both symbolic and numerical evaluations for all these quantities. We prove that all algorithms are well-defined, analyze their complexity, and illustrate their performance in practice. Finally, we present a few applications of this library.
On the effect of temperature and strain-rate dependent viscosity on global mantle flow, net rotation, and plate-driving forces

SUMMARY Global circulation models are analysed using a temperature and strain-rate dependent rheology in order to refine previous estimates of the nature of mantle flow and plate driving forces. Based on temperature inferred from a tectonic model and seismic tomography, the suboceanic viscosity is lower than underneath continents by ∼ one order of magnitude. If net-rotations of the lithosphere with respect to a stable lower mantle reference frame are accounted for, the patterns of flow in the upper mantle are similar between models with layered and those with laterally varying viscosity. The excited net rotations scale with the viscosity contrast of continental roots to the ambient mantle; this contrast is dynamically limited by the power-law rheology. Surface net rotations match the orientation of hotspot reference-frame Euler poles well, and amplitudes are of the right order of magnitude. I compare prescribed surface velocity models with free-slip computations with imposed weak zones at the plate boundaries; velocity fields are generally consistent. Models based on laboratory creep laws for dry olivine are shown to be compatible with average radial viscosity profiles, plate velocities in terms of orientation and amplitudes, plateness of surface velocities, toroidal:poloidal partitioning, and fabric anisotropy formation under dislocation creep in the upper mantle. Including temperature-dependent variations increases the relative speeds of oceanic versus continental lithosphere, makes surface velocities more plate-like, and improves the general fit to observed plate motions. These findings imply that plate-driving force studies which are based on simpler mantle rheologies may need to be revisited.
Transmission System Expansion Plans in View Point of Deterministic, Probabilistic and Security Reliability Criteria

This paper proposes three methods for choosing the transmission system expansion plan considering three reliability constraints, which are deterministic reliability criterion, probabilistic reliability criterion and security criterion based on N-alpha contingency in order to give more successful market operation. The proposed method minimizes total investment cost. It models the transmission system expansion problem as an integer programming one. The method solves for the optimal strategy using a branch and bound method that utilizes a network flow approach and the maximum flow-minimum cut set theorem. The 21 bus system case study results demonstrate that the proposed method is practical for solving the power system expansion planning problem subject to practical future uncertainties.
Average-case active learning with costs

We analyze the expected cost of a greedy active learning algorithm. Our analysis extends previous work to a more general setting in which different queries have different costs. Moreover, queries may have more than two possible responses and the distribution over hypotheses may be non uniform. Specific applications include active learning with label costs, active learning for multiclass and partial label queries, and batch mode active learning. We also discuss an approximate version of interest when there are very many queries.
A memory-efficient data structure representing exact-match overlap graphs with application for next-generation DNA assembly

Motivation: Exact-match overlap graphs have been broadly used in the context of DNA assembly and the shortest super string problem where the number of strings n ranges from thousands to billions. The length of the strings is from 25 to 1000, depending on the DNA sequencing technologies. However, many DNA assemblers using overlap graphs suffer from the need for too much time and space in constructing the graphs. It is nearly impossible for these DNA assemblers to handle the huge amount of data produced by the next-generation sequencing technologies where the number n of strings could be several billions. If the overlap graph is explicitly stored, it would require Ω(n2) memory, which could be prohibitive in practice when n is greater than a hundred million. In this article, we propose a novel data structure using which the overlap graph can be compactly stored. This data structure requires only linear time to construct and and linear memory to store. Results: For a given set of input strings (also called reads), we can informally define an exact-match overlap graph as follows. Each read is represented as a node in the graph and there is an edge between two nodes if the corresponding reads overlap sufficiently. A formal description follows. The maximal exact-match overlap of two strings x and y, denoted by ovmax(x, y), is the longest string which is a suffix of x and a prefix of y. The exact-match overlap graph of n given strings of length is an edge-weighted graph in which each vertex is associated with a string and there is an edge (x, y) of weight ω=-|ovmax(x, y)| if and only if ω≤λ, where |ovmax(x, y)| is the length of ovmax(x, y) and λ is a given threshold. In this article, we show that the exact-match overlap graphs can be represented by a compact data structure that can be stored using at most (2λ-1)(2⌈logn⌉+⌈logλ⌉)n bits with a guarantee that the basic operation of accessing an edge takes O(log λ) time. We also propose two algorithms for constructing the data structure for the exact-match overlap graph. The first algorithm runs in O(λnlogn) worse-case time and requires O(λ) extra memory. The second one runs in O(λn) time and requires O(n) extra memory. Our experimental results on a huge amount of simulated data from sequence assembly show that the data structure can be constructed efficiently in time and memory. Availability: Our DNA sequence assembler that incorporates the data structure is freely available on the web at http://www.engr.uconn.edu/~htd06001/assembler/leap.zip Contact:hdinh@engr.uconn.edu; rajasek@engr.uconn.edu
Hecke stability and weight 1 modular forms

The Galois representations associated to weight 1 eigenforms over $$\bar{\mathbb {F}}_{p}$$ are remarkable in that they are unramified at $$p$$ , but the effective computation of these modular forms presents challenges. One complication in this setting is that a weight 1 cusp form over $$\bar{\mathbb {F}}_{p}$$ need not arise from reducing a weight 1 cusp form over $$\bar{\mathbb {Q}}$$ . In this article we propose a unified Hecke stability method for computing spaces of weight 1 modular forms of a given level in all characteristics simultaneously. Our main theorems outline conditions under which a finite-dimensional Hecke module of ratios of modular forms must consist of genuine modular forms. We conclude with some applications of the Hecke stability method that are motivated by the refined inverse Galois problem.
Coherent homodyne optical communication receivers with photorefractive optical beam combiners

The principles of operation and the results of performance measurements are reported of a new type of coherent optical receiver that used a dynamic volume index of refraction grating formed inside a photorefractive material to coherently combine signal and local oscillator light prior to photodetection. Because the refractive index grating is formed by the interference pattern generated where mutually coherent optical beams overlap, the receiver can automatically adjust to changes in angle of arrival or optical wavefront profiles which occur on time scales longer than the grating formation time. The grating appears stationary to high-speed phase modulation imposed on the signal beam and coherently diffracts local oscillator light into the signal beam direction. Performance measurements are reported for a prototype system that used two independent Nd:YAG lasers at 1.064 /spl mu/m, an iron-doped indium phosphide photorefractive crystal, and a four-slot phase modulation signal format. A receiver BER of 10/sup -6/ was obtained at received signal powers that corresponded to an average of 70 detected signal photons per bit at a source data rate of 50 Mb/s, 130 detected signal photons/bit at 220 Mb/s, and about 400 detected signal photons/bit at a 325 Mb/s source data rate. Quantum-limited operation corresponds to an average of six detected signal photons per transmitted information bit for this signal format. >
Photoluminescence from Single Semiconductor Nanostructures

We review some recent results in the spectroscopy of single CdSe nanocrystal quantum dots. By eliminating the effects of inhomogeneous broadening and ensemble averaging, single nanocrystal spectroscopy has revealed many new and previously unexpected physical phenomena. Among those discussed in this review are ultra-narrow emission lineshapes (∼600× narrower than ensemble spectra), a highly polarizable emitting state in the presence of strong local electric fields, line broadening as a result of environmental fluctuations, and shifting of the emission spectra over a wide range of energies (from less than 300 μeV to 80 meV). In addition, polarization spectroscopy of single nanocrystals has revealed the presence of a theoretically predicted two-dimensional transition dipole moment oriented in the xy plane of the nanocrystals. As a result, it is, in principle, possible to use polarization spectroscopy to determine the three-dimensional orientation of individual nanocrystals. These and other studies of single quantum dots have provided us with significant insight into the detailed physics and dynamics of this unique and fascinating physical system.
The spectrum of excitations of holographic Wilson loops

In the holographic framework, a half BPS Wilson loop in $ \mathcal{N} = 4 $ supersymmetric Yang-Mills in the fundamental, symmetric or antisymmetric representation of SU(N), is best described by a fundamental string, a D3 brane or a D5 brane with fluxes in their worldvolumes, respectively. We derive the spectrum of excitations of such D3 brane in AdS 5 × S 5 explicitly, considering its action in both the bosonic and the fermionic sectors, and demonstrate that it is organized according to short multiplets of the supergroup OSp(4∗|4). We also show that the modes of the fundamental string form an ultra-short multiplet of this supergroup. In the case of the D5 brane the bosonic spectrum is only partially known but we argue that it also fills representations of OSp(4∗|4). This way we provide a step towards a unifying picture for the description of holographic excitations of the circular and straight supersymmetric Wilson loops in arbitrary representations.
Exchanging Ohmic Losses in Metamaterial Absorbers With Useful Optical Absorption for Photovoltaics

Using metamaterial absorbers, we have shown that metallic layers in the absorbers do not necessarily constitute undesired resistive heating problem for photovoltaics. Tailoring the geometric skin depth of metals and employing the natural bulk absorbance characteristics of the semiconductors in those absorbers can enable the exchange of undesired resistive losses with the useful optical absorbance in the active semiconductors. Thus, Ohmic loss dominated metamaterial absorbers can be converted into photovoltaic near-perfect absorbers with the advantage of harvesting the full potential of light management offered by the metamaterial absorbers. Based on experimental permittivity data for indium gallium nitride, we have shown that between 75%–95% absorbance can be achieved in the semiconductor layers of the converted metamaterial absorbers. Besides other metamaterial and plasmonic devices, our results may also apply to photodectors and other metal or semiconductor based optical devices where resistive losses and power consumption are important pertaining to the device performance.
A New Look at the Forward Premium Puzzle

This paper analyzes the sampling properties of the widely documented large negative slope estimates in regressions of future exchange returns on current forward premium. We argue that the abnormal behavior of the slope estimators in these regressions arises from the simultaneous presence of high persistence, low signal-to-noise ratio, strong endogeneity, and an omitted variable problem. The paper develops the limiting theory for the slope parameter estimators in the levels and differenced forward premium regressions under some assumptions that match the empirical properties of the data. The asymptotic results derived in the paper help to reconcile the findings from the levels and difference specifications and provide important insights about the time-series properties of the implied risk premium. (JEL: C13, C22, F31)
A new method for determination of magnetization direction

The characterization and interpretation of magnetic anomalies rely upon knowledge of the total magnetization direction. Magnetization is usually assumed to consist solely, or primarily, of induced magnetization. The presence of strong remanent magnetization can alter the direction significantly and consequently adversely affect the interpretation, leading to erroneous sizes or shapes of causative bodies. Therefore, it is imperative to have some understanding of the total magnetization direction. We propose a method based upon the correlation between two quantities in magnetic data interpretation: the vertical gradient and the total gradient of the reduced-to-pole (RTP) field. This method is tested on both synthetic and field data sets. The results show that the method is effective in a variety of situations, including those with two-dimensional and three-dimensional dipping bodies and a field example that has a large deviation between the inducing field direction and the total magnetization direction.
Observable Lepton Flavor Symmetry at Lhc

A model of lepton flavor symmetry is discussed, using the non-Abelian finite group T7 and the gauging of B-L, which has a residual Z3 symmetry in the charged-lepton Yukawa sector, allowing it to be observable at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) from the decay of the new Z' gauge boson of this model to a pair of scalar bosons which have the unusual highly distinguishable final states τ- τ- μ+ e+.
Clock and data recovery circuits with fast acquisition and low jitter

This paper presents a half-rate clock and data recovery circuit (CDR) that combines the best features, fast acquisition and low jitter, of digital phase selection and phase-lock-loop (PLL) CDR circuits. This CDR circuit consists of a phase selector, which can lock to the data in just a few clock cycles but has high jitter, and a PLL, which requires a much longer lock time but provides a low-jitter clock after locking. Fabricated in a 0.5 /spl mu/m CMOS process, the combined CDR achieves operation up to 750 Mbps. Measurements show at least a 6% acquisition range, an initial acquisition time of 8 bit times with jitter of 30% bit time, and jitter of 16 ps at 688 Mbps after a PLL lock time of 700 ns. Power dissipation is 300 mW and die area is 1.4 /spl times/ 1.4 mm/sup 2/.
Lunar Laser Ranging Science: Gravitational Physics and Lunar Interior and Geodesy

Abstract Laser pulses fired at retroreflectors on the Moon provide very accurate ranges. Analysis yields information on Earth, Moon, and orbit. The highly accurate retroreflector positions have uncertainties less than a meter. Tides on the Moon show strong dissipation, with Q = 33 ± 4 at a month and a weak dependence on period. Lunar rotation depends on interior properties; a fluid core is indicated with radius ∼20% that of the Moon. Tests of relativistic gravity verify the equivalence principle to ±1.4 × 10−13, limit deviations from Einstein’s general relativity, and show no rate for the gravitational constant G ˙ / G with uncertainty 9 × 10−13/year.
Lepton Flavor and Number Conservation, and Physics Beyond the Standard Model

The physics responsible for neutrino masses and lepton mixing remains unknown. More experimental data are needed to constrain and guide possible generalizations of the standard model of particle physics, and reveal the mechanism behind nonzero neutrino masses. Here, the physics associated with searches for the violation of lepton-flavor conservation in charged-lepton processes and the violation of lepton-number conservation in nuclear physics processes is summarized. In the first part, several aspects of charged-lepton flavor violation are discussed, especially its sensitivity to new particles and interactions beyond the standard model of particle physics. The discussion concentrates mostly on rare processes involving muons and electrons. In the second part, the status of the conservation of total lepton number is discussed. The discussion here concentrates on current and future probes of this apparent law of Nature via searches for neutrinoless double beta decay, which is also the most sensitive probe of the potential Majorana nature of neutrinos.
The effect of H2S on the crevice corrosion of aisi 410 and ca6nm stainless steels in 3.5% nacl solutions

Abstract Crevice corrosion of two martensitic stainless steels of different composition were studied in sodium chloride solution with and without H2S at pH 7.0 and 4.2. In the presence of H2S, crevice corrosion of both studied steels has been found to occur in the active region of potentials. In the nitrogen de-aerated solutions the corrosive attack occurred inside the crevice while in H2S-containing solutions the corrosion occurred outside crevice mouth.
Efficient sequential and parallel algorithms for planted motif search.

Background Motif searching is an important step in the detection of rare events occurring in a set of DNA or protein sequences. One formulation of the problem is known as (l,d)-motif search or Planted Motif Search (PMS). In PMS we are given two integers l and d and n biological sequences. We want to find all sequences of length l that appear in each of the input sequences with at most d mismatches. The PMS problem is NP-complete. PMS algorithms are typically evaluated on certain instances considered challenging. Despite ample research in the area, a considerable performance gap exists because many state of the art algorithms have large runtimes even for moderately challenging instances.
Why does democracy need education

Across countries, education and democracy are highly correlated. We motivate empirically and then model a causal mechanism explaining this correlation. In our model, schooling teaches people to interact with others and raises the benefits of civic participation, including voting and organizing. In the battle between democracy and dictatorship, democracy has a wide potential base of support but offers weak incentives to its defenders. Dictatorship provides stronger incentives to a narrower base. As education raises the benefits of civic engagement, it raises participation in support of a broad-based regime (democracy) relative to that in support of a narrow-based regime (dictatorship). This increases the likelihood of successful democratic revolutions against dictatorships, and reduces that of successful anti-democratic coups.
THE IMPACT OF GALAXY CLUSTER MERGERS ON COSMOLOGICAL PARAMETER ESTIMATION FROM SURVEYS OF THE SUNYAEV-ZEL'DOVICH EFFECT

Sensitive surveys of the cosmic microwave background will detect thousands of galaxy clusters via the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect. Two SZ observables, the central or maximum and integrated Comptonization parameters ymax and Y, relate in a simple way to the total cluster mass, which allows the construction of mass functions (MFs) that can be used to estimate cosmological parameters such as ΩM, σ8, and the dark energy parameter w. However, clusters form from the mergers of smaller structures, events that can disrupt the equilibrium of intracluster gas on which SZ- M relations rely. From a set of N-body/hydrodynamical simulations of binary cluster mergers, we calculate the evolution of Y and ymax over the course of merger events and find that both parameters are transiently boosted, primarily during the first core passage. We then use a semianalytic technique developed by Randall et al. to estimate the effect of merger boosts on the distribution functions YF and yF of Y and ymax, respectively, via cluster merger histories determined from extended Press-Schechter (PS) merger trees. We find that boosts do not induce an overall systematic effect on YFs, and the values of ΩM, σ8, and w were returned to within 2% of values expected from the nonboosted YFs. The boosted yFs are significantly biased, however, causing ΩM to be underestimated by 15%-45%, σ8 to be overestimated by 10%-25%, and w to be pushed to more negative values by 25%-45%. We confirm that the integrated SZ effect, Y, is far more robust to mergers than ymax, as previously reported by Motl et al. and similarly found for the X-ray equivalent YX, and we conclude that Y is the superior choice for constraining cosmological parameters.
Copper binding in the prion protein.

A conformational change of the prion protein is responsible for a class of neurodegenerative diseases called the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies that include mad cow disease and the human afflictions kuru and Creutzfeldt−Jakob disease. Despite the attention given to these diseases, the normal function of the prion protein in healthy tissue is unknown. Research over the past few years, however, demonstrates that the prion protein is a copper binding protein with high selectivity for Cu2+. The structural features of the Cu2+ binding sites have now been characterized and are providing important clues about the normal function of the prion protein and perhaps how metals or loss of protein function play a role in disease. The link between prion protein and copper may provide insight into the general, and recently appreciated, role of metals in neurodegenerative disease.
Processes on Unimodular Random Networks

We investigate unimodular random networks. Our motivations include their characterization via reversibility of an associated random walk and their similarities to unimodular quasi-transitive graphs. We extend various theorems concerning random walks, percolation, spanning forests, and amenability from the known context of unimodular quasi-transitive graphs to the more general context of unimodular random networks. We give properties of a trace associated to unimodular random networks with applications to stochastic comparison of continuous-time random walk.
Quantum Impurity in a Nearly Critical Two Dimensional Antiferromagnet

The spin dynamics of an arbitrary localized impurity in an insulating two-dimensional antiferromagnet, across the host transition from a paramagnet with a spin gap to a Neel state, is described. The impurity spin susceptibility has a Curie-like divergence at the quantum-critical coupling, but with a universal effective spin that is neither an integer nor a half-odd integer. In the Neel state, the transverse impurity susceptibility is a universal number divided by the host spin stiffness (which determines the energy cost to slow twists in the orientation of the Neel order). These and numerous other results for the thermodynamics, Knight shift, and magnon damping have important applications in experiments on layered transition metal oxides.
Rethinking Political Bargaining: Policymaking with a Single Proposer

Most political bargaining in the U.S. system has two features which are constitutionally mandated: (1) only one actor can make a formal proposal, and (2) he or she can make an indefinite number of proposals. Existing work in economics and political science ignores at least one of these features. I construct a model incorporating both of these components of political bargaining. The main finding of this article is that time preferences and the number of periods have no effect on the equilibrium policy outcomes, which are identical to those first stated by Romer and Rosenthal in a one-period model. This result suggests that impatience and time preferences may not be key features of political bargaining. This model has implications for constitutional and statutory rules regarding bargaining: it can be applied to presidential appointments, legislation, citizen initiatives, vetoes and filibusters (e.g., Krehbiel’s pivotal politics model), and term limits.
Explaining the “immigrant effect” on auto use: the influences of neighborhoods and preferences

Since immigrants will account for most urban growth in the United States for the foreseeable future, better understanding their travel patterns is a critical task for transportation and land use planners. Immigrants initially travel in personal vehicles far less than the US-born, even when controlling for demographics, but their reliance on autos increases the longer they live in the US. Cultural or habitual differences, followed by assimilation to auto use, could partly explain this pattern; and it may also be partly due to changes in locations and characteristics of home and work neighborhoods. Previous studies have rarely investigated non-work travel, and have not tested workplace land use measures, compared the relative influences of enclave and home neighborhood measures, or looked at the role of culturally-bound residential preferences or motivations for migration. This study relies on a unique and rich dataset consisting of a survey of US residents born in South Asia, Latin America, and the US, joined to spatial information in a GIS. I find that the home built environment is the most consistently influential factor in explaining the lower auto use of both recent and settled Latin American immigrants. Indian immigrants use autos less than would be expected given their home and work neighborhoods. There is little evidence that either ethnic enclaves, or cultural differences, play a role in lower auto use by immigrants. These results suggest there may be a role for neighborhood built environment policies in delaying immigrant assimilation to auto use in the US.
A Deterministic Global Design Optimization Method for Nonconvex Generalized Polynomial Problems

A new design optimization method is described for finding global solutions of models with a nonconvex objective function and nonlinear constraints. All functions are assumed to be generalized polynomials. By introducing new variables, the original model is transformed into one with a linear objective function, one convex and one reversed convex constraint. A two-phase algorithm that includes global feasible search and local optimal search is used for globally optimizing the transformed model. Several examples illustrate the method.
How Important Is the Efficiency of Government Investment? The Case of the Republic of Congo

The Republic of Congo, an oil rich country in Central Africa, has made substantial progress in the past decade in stabilizing the economy and achieving high growth rates. However, despite reaching middle-income country status in 2006, the economy is not diversified, poverty remains pervasive, and social indicators are well below the average for countries with a similar income level. This paper analyzes aspects of an ambitious investment program on which the government has embarked to improve the provision of basic services and promote private sector development. The success of this program, however, is questionable given the low absorptive capacity of the country and in particular the poor efficiency of public investment management. The analysis is based on simulations with an economy-wide model for analysis of development strategies and government policies, MAMS (Maquette for MDG Simulations). The results of the simulations show that slightly delaying large investment projects, while simultaneously improving the efficiency of the investment program, would lead to significantly higher growth rates and lower poverty levels. The analysis therefore confirms the importance of efficient public investment management for the optimal use of the country's resources.
Finite-Time Rendezvous Algorithms for Mobile Autonomous Agents

This technical note focuses on finite-time rendezvous problems which refer to agreement on states in finite time within certain available information range. Using semistability theory for discontinuous dynamical systems, we develop a framework for designing finite-time semistable rendezvous protocols for multiagent dynamical systems. Specifically, we present distributed nonsmooth static state and dynamic output feedback controller architectures for finite-time rendezvous with a novel two-step proof of stability and finite-time convergence.
Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia that occurs after cardiac surgery. It is associated with an increase in morbidity, length of hospital stay and mortality. Patients who are at higher risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation should receive prophylactic treatment. Atrial fibrillation usually resolves spontaneously after heart rate is controlled; however, if patients are highly symptomatic or hemodynamically unstable, sinus rhythm should be restored by electrical or pharmacologic cardioversion.
Nonvalvular Cardiovascular Device—Related Infections

More than a century ago, Osler took numerous syndrome descriptions of cardiac valvular infection that were incomplete and confusing and categorized them into the cardiovascular infections known as infective endocarditis. Because he was both a clinician and a pathologist, he was able to provide a meaningful outline of this complex disease. Technical advances have allowed us to better subcategorize infective endocarditis on the basis of microbiological etiology. More recently, the syndromes of infective endocarditis and endarteritis have been expanded to include infections involving a variety of cardiovascular prostheses and devices that are used to replace or assist damaged or dysfunctional tissues (Table 1). Taken together, infections of these novel intracardiac, arterial, and venous devices are frequently seen in medical centers throughout the developed world. In response, the American Heart Association’s Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease wrote this review to assist and educate clinicians who care for an increasing number of patients with nonvalvular cardiovascular device–related infections. Because timely guidelines1,2 exist that address the prevention and management of intravascular catheter–related infections, these device-related infections are not discussed in the present Statement. View this table: TABLE 1. Nonvalvular Cardiovascular Device–Related Infections This review is divided into two broad sections. The first section examines general principles for the evaluation and management of infection that apply to all nonvalvular cardiovascular devices. Despite the marked variability in composition, structure, function, and frequency of infection among the various types of nonvalvular cardiovascular devices reviewed in this article, there are several areas of commonality for infection of these devices. These include clinical manifestations, microbiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The second section addresses each device and describes unique clinical features of infection. Each device is placed into one of 3 categories—intracardiac, arterial, or venous—for discussion. ### Clinical Manifestations The specific signs and symptoms associated with an infection of a …
A Reconnection Switch to Trigger gamma-Ray Burst Jet Dissipation

Prompt gamma-ray burst (GRB) emission requires some mechanism to dissipate an ultrarelativistic jet. Internal shocks or some form of electromagnetic dissipation are candidate mechanisms. Any mechanism needs to answer basic questions, such as what is the origin of variability, what radius does dissipation occur at, and how does efficient prompt emission occur. These mechanisms also need to be consistent with how ultrarelativistic jets form and stay baryon pure despite turbulence and electromagnetic reconnection near the compact object and despite stellar entrainment within the collapsar model. We use the latest magnetohydrodynamical models of ultrarelativistic jets to explore some of these questions in the context of electromagnetic dissipation due to the slow collisional and fast collisionless reconnection mechanisms, as often associated with Sweet-Parker and Petschek reconnection, respectively. For a highly magnetized ultrarelativistic jet and typical collapsar parameters, we find that significant electromagnetic dissipation may be avoided until it proceeds catastrophically near the jet photosphere at large radii (r {approx} 10{sup 13}-10{sup 14}cm), by which the jet obtains a high Lorentz factor ({gamma} {approx} 100-1000), has a luminosity of L{sub j} {approx} 10{sup 50}-10{sup 51} erg s{sup -1}, has observer variability timescales of order 1s (ranging from 0.001-10s), achieves {gamma}{theta}{sub j} {approx} 10-20more » (for opening half-angle {theta}{sub j}) and so is able to produce jet breaks, and has comparable energy available for both prompt and afterglow emission. A range of model parameters are investigated and simplified scaling laws are derived. This reconnection switch mechanism allows for highly efficient conversion of electromagnetic energy into prompt emission and associates the observed prompt GRB pulse temporal structure with dissipation timescales of some number of reconnecting current sheets embedded in the jet. We hope this work helps motivate the development of self-consistent radiative compressible relativistic reconnection models.« less
Globalization, local ecosystems, and the rural poor

Summary In this paper, we draw upon models from ecology and New Institutional Economics to examine the various mechanisms through which globalization can lead to loss in resilience of ecosystems and thus increase the vulnerability of poor people who depend on it. To illustrate ecological dynamics, we examine a semi-arid savanna ecosystem that is characterized by nonlinearities and multiple steady states. We discuss how traditional knowledge and institutions affect resource use patterns and resilience of such an ecosystem in the absence of trade. Then we examine the effects of trade liberalization and international technology transfers on institutional and ecological dynamics, and consequently, on poverty.
Effects of Husbands' Migration on Mental Health and Gender Role Ideology of Rural Mexican Women

Our purpose for this study was to investigate the roles of migration in rural Mexican migrant-sending communities. Specifically, we examined the effects of changing gender role ideology on the mental health of wives whose spouses migrated to the United States. The sending group scored significantly higher in egalitarian gender role ideology but lower in general mental health than the nonsending group. We found through mediation analysis that the difference in gender role ideology mediated the difference in mental health between the two groups. Results are contrary to some psychological and feminist literature advocating benefits of masculine or androgynous ideology.
Assessing mitigation of wildfire severity by fuel treatments - an example from the Coastal Plain of Mississippi

Fuel treatments such as prescribed fire are a controversial tenet of wildfire management. Despite a well-established theoretical basis for their use, scant empirical evidence currently exists on fuel treatment effectiveness for mitigating the behaviour and effects of extreme wildfire events. We report the results of a fire severity evaluation of an escaped prescribed fire that burned into an area previously treated with repeated prescribed fires. We observed significantly lower scorch heights, crown damage, and ground char in the treated area. We attribute the moderated fire severity in the treated area to a significantly altered fuel profile created by the repeated prescribed fires. Though our results represent just one treatment area in a single wildfire, they add to a depauperate database and bring us a step closer to defining the conditions under which fuel treatments are an effective pre-suppression strategy.
On the Singularities in the Susceptibility Expansion for the Two-Dimensional Ising Model

For temperatures below the critical temperature, the magnetic susceptibility for the two-dimensional isotropic Ising model can be expressed in terms of an infinite series of multiple integrals. With respect to a parameter related to temperature and the interaction constant, the integrals may be extended to functions analytic outside the unit circle. In a groundbreaking paper, Nickel (J Phys A 32:3889–3906, 1999) identified a class of singularities of these integrals on the unit circle. In this note we show that there are no other singularities on the unit circle.
Magnetic graphitic carbon nitride: its application in the C–H activation of amines

Magnetic graphitic carbon nitride, Fe@g-C3N4, has been synthesized by adorning a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) support with iron oxide via non-covalent interaction. The magnetically recyclable catalyst showed excellent reactivity for the expeditious C-H activation and cyanation of amines.
Lewis acid promoted aldol reaction of fluorinated silyl enol ethers from new fluoroacetylsilane derivatives

New fluorinated silyl enol ethers with various trialkylsilyl groups were synthesized. Various fluorinated β-hydroxy ketones were synthesized by Lewis acid promoted aldol reaction of silyl enol ethers with diverse aldehydes. Reactivity of various trialkylsilyloxy groups toward Lewis acid was also studied.
Quantum mechanics of the scalar field in the new inflationary universe.

An attempt is made to clarify the quantum theory of the ``slow-rollover'' phase transition which characterizes the new inflationary universe model. We discuss the theory of the upside-down harmonic oscillator as a toy model, with particular emphasis on the fact that the system can be described at late times by a classical probability distribution. An approximate but exactly soluble model for the scalar field is then constructed, based on three principal assumptions: (1) exact de Sit- ter expansion for all time; (2) a quadratic potential function which changes from stable to unstable as a function of time; and (3) an initial state which is thermal in the asymptotic past. It is proposed that this model would be the proper starting point for a perturbative calculation in more realistic models. The scalar field can also be described at late times by a classical probability distribution, and numerical calculations are carried out to illustrate how this distribution depends on the parameters of the model. For a suitable choice of these parameters, a sufficient period of inflation can be easily obtained. Density fluctuations can be calculated exactly in this model, and the results agree very well with those previously obtained using approximate methods.
Use cases for distributed real-time software architectures

This paper describes how use cases can be applied to the architectural design of distributed real-time applications. In order to benefit from use cases in distributed real-time design, it is necessary to extend use cases, particularly in the design phase, when important design decisions need to be made. To achieve this, use cases are integrated with CODARTS (Concurrent Design Approach for Real-Time Systems) distributed design concepts. Three different types of architectural use cases are described, client/server use cases, subscription use cases and real-time control use cases. Different forms of message communication are associated with the different use case types. The software architecture of the distributed real-time system is achieved by composing it from the use cases.
Technical reports and other non-GPO documents

Abstract This column contains reviews of selected technical reports available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), and reviews of non-GPO publications. The reports listed below were selected from a larger number of titles acquired by the Editor's institution.
Double diastereoselective acetate aldol reactions with chiral N-acetyl thiazolidinethione reagents.

Double diastereoselective acetate aldol reactions using the N-acetyl thiazolidinethione-based chiral auxiliaries 1 and 2 and chiral aldehydes are described. Aldehydes that bear α-alkyl stereocenters exhibit moderate levels of double diastereoselection, while those that bear α- or β-alkoxy substitution exhibit little to no double diastereoselection. In all cases studied, the stereoselectivity of the reaction is dictated by the reagent, not the substrate.
COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN RAILWAY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS METHODOLOGY AND EXAMPLES

Satisfactory operation of railway electrical systems relies on systematic identification of their electrical interactions at an early stage of the design. There is considerable historic work available on such matters. However the interactions have become more subtle, and the resolution of recent situations should give pointers towards what must be examined in future. It is believed that the usage of an Electrical System Compatibility Diagram and Matrix provides an appropriate method of achieving correct design.
Photocleavage of o-nitrobenzyl ether derivatives for rapid biomedical release applications

Abstract The externally controlled cleavage of covalently linked prodrugs, proteins, or solid-phase formulation vehicles offers potential advantages for controlled drug or gene delivery. A series of o-nitrobenzyl ester compounds (1–8) were synthesized to allow a systematic study of photolability. The o-nitrobenzyl ester was strictly required for photolability, while imido esters were not photolabile. The degradation kinetics of 1-o-phenylethyl ester was an order of magnitude faster than that of o-nitrobenzyl ester. Tosylate, phosphate, and benzoate derivatives of 1-o-nitrophenylethyl displayed similar photolability (>80% decomposition within 10 min at 3.5 mW/cm2 at 365 nm). O-o-Nitrobenzyl O′,O″-diethyl phosphate displayed the fastest decomposition at photoirradiation condition (3.5 mW/cm2, 365 nm) suitable for biological systems. We report the synthesis and photo-decomposition of 1-o-nitrophenylethyl derivatives amenable for the creation of photolabile prodrugs or formulation particles for drug depots, DNA condensation, or tissue engineering applications.
High affinity ligands for the α7 nicotinic receptor that show no cross-reactivity with the 5-HT3 receptor

Abstract Potent and selective ligands of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor are required to understand the pharmacological effect of α7 activation. A common cross-reactivity occurs with serotonergic 5-HT3 receptors with which α7 receptors have a high sequence homology. We demonstrate that certain quinuclidine 3-biaryl carboxamides are high affinity α7 ligands with an excellent binding selectivity over 5-HT3 receptors.
The GATT's starting point : tariff levels circa 1947

How high were import tariffs when GATT participants began negotiations to reduce them in 1947? Establishing this starting point is key to determining how successful the GATT has been in bringing down trade barriers. If the average tariff level was about 40 percent, as commonly reported, the implied early tariff reductions were substantial, but this number has never been verified. This paper examines the evidence on tariff levels in the late 1940s and early 1950s and finds that the average tariff level going into the first Geneva Round of 1947 was about 22 percent. It also find that tariffs fell by relatively more in the late 1940s and early 1950s for a core group of GATT participants (the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia) than they did for many other important countries, including the set of other (non-core) GATT participants.
Mind the Gap: Gender Differences in Global Leadership Self-Efficacies

The current literature suggests that to succeed in global roles, one needs a global mindset, and in this study, we examine gender differences in global leadership self-efficacies in a random sample of 1,187 managers from 74 countries. Using the Global Mindset Inventory, we found that women demonstrated stronger global leadership profiles in regard to passion for diversity, intercultural empathy, and diplomacy. Conversely, men tended to show strong global leadership self-efficacies regarding global business savvy, cosmopolitan outlook, and interpersonal impact. We discuss the implications of our findings for shared leadership in global contexts and offer a series of suggestions regarding future directions for research.