cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The generalized degrees of freedom of the MIMO interference channel

The generalized degrees of freedom (GDoF) region of the MIMO Gaussian interference channel is obtained for the general case with an arbitrary number of antennas at each node and where the SNR and interference-to-noise ratios (INRs) vary with arbitrary exponents to a nominal SNR. The GDoF region reveals various insights through the joint dependence of optimal interference management techniques at high SNR on the SNR exponents that determine the relative strengths of direct-link SNRs and cross-link INRs and the numbers of antennas at the four terminals. For instance, it permits an in-depth look at the issue of rate-splitting and partial decoding at high SNR and it reveals that, unlike in the SISO case, treating interference as noise is not GDoF optimal always even in the very weak interference regime. Moreover, while the DoF-optimal strategy that relies just on transmit/receive zero-forcing beam-forming and time-sharing is not GDoF optimal (and thus has an unbounded gap to capacity) the precise characterization of the very strong interference regime, where single-user DoF performance can be achieved simultaneously for both users, depends on the relative numbers of antennas at the four terminals and thus deviates from what it is in the SISO case. For asymmetric numbers of antennas at the four nodes the shape of the symmetric GDoF curve can be a “distorted W” curve to the extent that for certain MIMO ICs it is a “V” curve.
Clouds and the Atmospheric Circulation Response to Warming

AbstractThe authors study the effect of clouds on the atmospheric circulation response to CO2 quadrupling in an aquaplanet model with a slab ocean lower boundary. The cloud effect is isolated by locking the clouds to either the control or 4xCO2 state in the shortwave (SW) or longwave (LW) radiation schemes. In the model, cloud radiative changes explain more than half of the total poleward expansion of the Hadley cells, midlatitude jets, and storm tracks under CO2 quadrupling, even though they cause only one-fourth of the total global-mean surface warming. The effect of clouds on circulation results mainly from the SW cloud radiative changes, which strongly enhance the equator-to-pole temperature gradient at all levels in the troposphere, favoring stronger and poleward-shifted midlatitude eddies. By contrast, quadrupling CO2 while holding the clouds fixed causes strong polar amplification and weakened midlatitude baroclinicity at lower levels, yielding only a small poleward expansion of the circulation. Th...
Membrane and Capillary Components of Lung Diffusion in Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.

Rationale: Autopsied lungs of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) demonstrate impaired alveolar development with larger and fewer alveoli, which is consistent with our previous physiologic findings of lower pulmonary diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DlCO) in infants and toddlers with BPD compared with healthy controls born at full term (FT). However, it is not known whether the decreased DlCO in infants with BPD results from a reduction in both components of DlCO: pulmonary membrane diffusing capacity (Dm) and Vc.Objectives: We hypothesized that impairment of alveolar development in BPD results in a decrease in both Dm and Vc components of DlCO but that the Dm/Vc ratio would not differ between the BPD and FT groups.Methods: DlCO was measured under conditions of room air and high inspired oxygen (90%), which enabled Dm and Vc to be calculated.Measurements and Main Results: Dm and Vc increased with increasing body length; however, infants with BPD had significantly lower Dm and ...
Copper-catalyzed amidations of bromo substituted furans and thiophenes

The CN cross-coupling reaction between aromatic halides and amides has now been applied to 2- and 3-substituted bromofurans and bromothiophenes. Catalytic CuI in the presence of N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine as a ligand and K3PO4 or K2CO3 as the base furnished 2- and 3-substituted amidofurans and thiophenes ranging from 11 to 99% depending on the particular amide source used.
Preprocessing X-Ray Transmission Data in CT Scanning

While the reconstruction algorithm utilized in computerized tomography (CT) is important, the overall performance of the system is limited by the quality of the measured transmission data which is used as a basis for the reconstruction process. If the projection values derived from the measured data do not adequately represent the line integrals of the linear attenuation coefficients within the slice being scanned, even a perfect reconstructruction algorithm will give rise to a distorted image. Phenomena which tend to deteriorate the quality of the measured data, and hence the final image, include the effective finite dimensions of the scanning aperture, distortions introduced by the detector system such as afterglow, and nonlinearities related to the spectral distribution of x-ray photons used in scanning. Computer methods of preprocessing the x-ray transmission data to minimize these distortions are discussed and illustrated.
Do land use regulations stifle residential development? Evidence from California cities

Abstract This paper estimates the extent to which the supply of new housing is restricted by land use regulations using a panel of California cities from 1970–1995. While land use regulation is found to significantly reduce residential development, estimates from fixed effects regressions are about 50–75% smaller than those from pooled regressions. Using the two-way fixed effects model, the implementation of an additional regulation is found to reduce residential permits by an average of 4%, which comes through reductions in both multifamily and single-family permits. Of the regulations measured, those categorized as zoning and general controls have the strongest effects. The partial effects of individual regulations show that while some significantly reduce development, others have a large positive impact.
'Fighting Fire with Fire': Rethinking the Role of Disgust in Hate Crimes

This essay asks how communities should respond to crimes expressing hate, not merely toward an individual victim, but also toward the larger group of which that victim is part. In particular it explores the proposal of Dan Kahan, that communities have been, and should be, mobilizing the emotion of disgust expressed in hate crimes themselves. It argues that Kahan's approach to hate crimes is deeply flawed, for several reasons. First, fighting disgust fire with disgust fire is less prevalent as a response by targeted groups than Kahan suggests: an examination of the strategies of recently-targeted Arab and Muslim Americans, and gays and lesbians who have been longstanding targets of group-based violence, reveals that neither group has deployed this approach to any significant degree. The varied strategies used by these groups have, in fact, focused less on the public perception of the perpetrator than on the public stigma associated with the targeted population. This focus is appropriate given the essay's second major argument: that recent research has shown group-based violence to be not a simple expression of hierarchical judgment, but an opportunistic crime, in which perpetrators negotiate a range of status-related anxieties through agression against socially stigmatized targets. Public expressions of disgust may, in fact, incite potential perpetrators, without addressing the stigmatization that constructs some groups as available targets. Third, a regime of publicly-articulated disgust is also likely to produce forms of subjectivity and civic engagement that will corrode the social fabric of the communities in which it is deployed. Finally, the essay concludes that a better approach would use enhanced sanctions to draw the lines regarding acceptable conduct, and would direct community-based efforts toward mitigating or eliminating the stigma that creates available targets.
Structure-based QSAR analysis of a set of 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydropyrones as inhibitors of HIV-1 protease: an application of the receptor-dependent (RD) 4D-QSAR formalism.

Receptor-dependent (RD) 4D-QSAR models were constructed for a set of 39 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydropyrone analogue HIV-1 protease inhibitors. The receptor model used in this QSAR analysis was derived from the HIV-1 protease (PDB ID 1d4s) crystal structure. The bound ligand in the active site of the enzyme, also a 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydropyrone analogue, was used as the reference ligand for docking the data set compounds. The optimized RD 4D-QSAR models are not only statistically significant (r2 = 0.86, q2 = 0.80 for four- and greater-term models) but also possess reasonable predictivity based on test set predictions. The proposed “active” conformations of the docked analogues in the active site of the enzyme are consistent in overall molecular shape with those suggested from crystallographic studies. Moreover, the RD 4D-QSAR models also “capture” the existence of specific induced-fit interactions between the enzyme active site and each specific inhibitor. Hydrophobic interactions, steric shape requirements, and hy...
Healthy Reflections: The Influence of Mirror-Induced Self-Awareness on Taste Perceptions

AbstractTaste, as a focal aspect of food products, plays a major role in food consumption decisions as well as consumers’ eating habits. Here, we show that the taste perception of unhealthy food is malleable, and the presence of a mirror can make unhealthy food less tasty by increasing self-awareness. After eating unhealthy food in front of a mirror, individuals experience the discomfort of acting against the standards of healthy eating. We argue that people attribute this discomfort to the food’s taste since it is difficult to attribute the discomfort to the self while being self-aware. Four studies test the proposed effect of a mirror on food taste and consumption and examine its boundary conditions.
Bayesian latent variable models for the analysis of experimental psychology data

In this paper, we address the use of Bayesian factor analysis and structural equation models to draw inferences from experimental psychology data. While such application is non-standard, the models are generally useful for the unified analysis of multivariate data that stem from, e.g., subjects' responses to multiple experimental stimuli. We first review the models and the parameter identification issues inherent in the models. We then provide details on model estimation via JAGS and on Bayes factor estimation. Finally, we use the models to re-analyze experimental data on risky choice, comparing the approach to simpler, alternative methods.
Physical activity, screen time, and school absenteeism: self-reports from NHANES 2005-2008.

AbstractObjective The purpose of this study was to examine how lifestyle behaviors in the context of physical activity levels and screen time are associated with school absenteeism.Methods We analyzed 2005–2008 NHANES data of proxy interviews for 1048 children aged 6–11 years and in-person self-reports of 1117 adolescents aged 12–18 years. Missing 10% of school days during the past school year was defined as severe school absenteeism (SSA).Results Watching TV ≥2 hours a day was significantly associated with SSA among both children (OR = 3.51 [1.03–12.0]) and adolescents (OR = 3.96 [1.84–8.52]) compared with their peers watching <2 hours a day. A U-shaped association was identified between the level of physical activity and SSA among children. Both inactive children (OR = 12.4 [1.43–108]) and highly active children (14.8 [2.82–77.7]) had higher odds of SSA compared with children with medium levels of physical activity. No associations were observed for either children 0.57 ([0.16–1.99]) or adolescents (0.9...
Resource Allocation under Fire

Rising suppression cost and severity of wildfires in the United States have prompted debate over federal wildfire management policy. We estimate an econometric model of suppression resource allocation using a dynamic panel dataset on over 500 wildfires in the western United States. We find that more hand crews and engines are dispatched to fires that threaten homes, while more aircraft are dispatched to fires that start near higher-value homes. We combine our results with projected housing growth estimates in California to show that suppression expenditures may rise by nearly $24 million per year.
REM sleep behavior and motor findings in Parkinson's disease: A cross sectional analysis

Background : Parkinson's disease (PD) represents a major public health challenge that will only grow in our aging population. Understanding the connection between PD and associated prodromal conditions, such as rapid eye movement sleep behavioral disorder (RBD), is critical to identifying prevention strategies. However, the relationship between RBD and severity of motor findings in early PD is unknown. This study aims to examine this relationship. Methods : The study population consisted of 418 PD patients who completed the Movement Disorders Society‐United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS‐UPDRS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REM) disorder questionnaires at the baseline visit of the Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). Cross‐sectional analysis was carried out to assess the association between REM Sleep Behavior Screening Questionnaire score and MDS UPDRS‐3 (motor) score categories. Correlation with a higher score category was described as “worse motor findings”. A score of 5 on the REM disorder questionnaire was defined as predictive of RBD. Results : Out of the 418 PD patients, 113 (27.0%) had RBD. With univariate logistic regression analysis, individuals with scores predictive of RBD were 1.66 times more likely to have worse motor findings (p = 0.028). Even with age, gender, and Geriatric Depression Scale scores taken into account, individuals with scores predictive of RBD were 1.69 times more likely to have worse motor findings (p = 0.025). Discussion : PD patients with RBD symptoms had worse motor findings than those unlikely to have RBD. This association provides further evidence for the relationship between RBD and PD.
Ghost-House Busters: The Electoral Response to a Large Anti–Tax Evasion Program

The incentives of political agents to enforce tax collection are key determinants of the levels of compliance. We study the electoral response to the Ghost Buildings program, a nationwide anti-tax evasion policy in Italy that used innovative monitoring technologies to target buildings hidden from tax authorities. Two million buildings were registered as a result of the program. Our difference-in-differences identification strategy exploits both variation across towns in the ex-ante program scope to increase enforcement as well as administrative data on actual building registrations. Local incumbents experience an increase in their reelection likelihood as a consequence of the policy. In addition, these political returns are higher in areas with lower tax evasion tolerance and with higher speed of public good provision, implying complementarity among enforcement policies, the underlying tax culture, and government efficiency.
Accelerating the LOBPCG method on GPUs using a blocked sparse matrix vector product

This paper presents a heterogeneous CPU-GPU implementation for a sparse iterative eigensolver -- the Locally Optimal Block Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient (LOBPCG). For the key routine generating the Krylov search spaces via the product of a sparse matrix and a block of vectors, we propose a GPU kernel based on a modified sliced ELLPACK format. Blocking a set of vectors and processing them simultaneously accelerates the computation of a set of consecutive SpMVs significantly. Comparing the performance against similar routines from Intel's MKL and NVIDIA's cuSPARSE library we identify appealing performance improvements. We integrate it into the highly optimized LOBPCG implementation. Compared to the BLOBEX CPU implementation running on two eight-core Intel Xeon E5-2690s, we accelerate the computation of a small set of eigenvectors using NVIDIA's K40 GPU by typically more than an order of magnitude.
A Bismuth-Halide Double Perovskite with Long Carrier Recombination Lifetime for Photovoltaic Applications

Despite the remarkable rise in efficiencies of solar cells containing the lead-halide perovskite absorbers RPbX3 (R = organic cation; X = Br– or I–), the toxicity of lead remains a concern for the large-scale implementation of this technology. This has spurred the search for lead-free materials with similar optoelectronic properties. Here, we use the double-perovskite structure to incorporate nontoxic Bi3+ into the perovskite lattice in Cs2AgBiBr6 (1). The solid shows a long room-temperature fundamental photoluminescence (PL) lifetime of ca. 660 ns, which is very encouraging for photovoltaic applications. Comparison between single-crystal and powder PL decay curves of 1 suggests inherently high defect tolerance. The material has an indirect bandgap of 1.95 eV, suited for a tandem solar cell. Furthermore, 1 is significantly more heat and moisture stable compared to (MA)PbI3. The extremely promising optical and physical properties of 1 shown here motivate further exploration of both inorganic and hybrid hal...
The Effect of Social Security on Retirement in the Early 1970s

We analyze detailed longitudinal data on a cohort of males aged 58–67 in 1969–1973, a period of substantial increases in real Social Security benefits. We find the following: (1) the accelerating decline in labor force participation of elderly men in 1969–1973 can be explained by the large increase in real Social Security benefits; (2) there is evidence of a liquidity constraint effect for an important subgroup of the elderly; (3) the magnitude of this induced retirement effect is large enough that ignoring it can lead to serious underestimation of the fiscal implications of changes in benefit provisions. Our results are interpreted in the historical context of a particular cohort undergoing major, unanticipated transfers of wealth; the steady-state effects of Social Security on retirement may not be the same.
Language, Task and Situation: Authenticity in the Classroom

There is debate on the use of authenticity in language classrooms in terms of language, task, and situation. “Authenticity of language” spans a continuum that begins with inauthentic materials – wholly created by a teacher or materials developer – to constructed materials, modified from real-world materials, to those materials created for non-pedagogical L1 purposes. “Authenticity of task” questions whether students are engaging with language materials in a way that would appear natural outside the classroom. “Authenticity of situation” refers to non-classroom contexts. Complicating ideas of authenticity is the question of materials selection. This paper explores teachers’ awareness of authenticity and suggests ways to incorporate authentic language, tasks, and situations to enhance classroom learning.
WHAT ARE WE LEARNING FROM RHIC

Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, New York, began operation in 2000 culminating over ten years of development and construction, and a much longer period of theoretical speculations about the properties of hot QCD matter produced in nuclear collisions in the collider regime. RHIC's 2.4mile rings contain superconducting magnets, which operate at minus 451.6 degrees Fahrenheit, 4.5 degrees above the absolute zero. RHIC collides two intersecting heavy ion beams at center-of-mass energy of up to 200 GeV/A (at luminosity of up to 10{sup 26}sec{sup -1}cm{sup 2}, which can be further increased in the future), and polarized proton beams at c.m.s. energy of up to 500 GeV. The total energy in the gold-gold collision thus reaches 40 TeV, which is at present the World's record collision energy. In the pp mode, the unique possibility offered by RHIC for the first time is the study of double spin asymmetries and other spin observables. This talk is an attempt to summarize some of the first results obtained at RHIC. The author discusses the significance of these measurements for establishing the properties of hot and dense QCD matter and for understanding the dynamics of the theory at the high parton density, strong color field frontier.
Careers in Farming: Evidence from the Chilean Wine-grape Market

This paper investigates the presence of career incentives in arm's-length contracts between wine-grape farmers and wineries in Chile. We observe explicit incentives in pay-for-performance provisions that depend on measurable characteristics of grape quality, and we test for the presence of complementary implicit incentives that arise from competition in the market for contract farmers. In addition to the traditional use of long-term contracts as ex ante protection against potential future hold-up, we hypothesize that long-term contracts represent the final stage in the farmers' "careers" after a series of short-term contracts. We develop a model of career concerns that incorporates investment in training by wineries and find conditions under which long-term contracts are preferred to short-term contracts. We find that contracts in the Chilean wine-grape market are structured like a ladder and that career incentives are important in a setting which uses long-term contracts for high-quality provision. In general, farmers that have invested in high-quality production, and those that are more able, educated, and experienced can access long-term contracts.
Local option sales tax, state capital grants, and disparity of school capital outlays: The case of Georgia

In recent years, the disparity of school capital outlays has received increasing attention as many schools are facing challenges to meet increasing capital needs. With data of Georgia county school districts during FY2003-2008, this study examines how the disparity of school capital outlays is affected by the mix of capital revenues. Using multiple methods including spatial data analysis, quartile analysis, and inequality decomposition, we find that (1) school capital outlays in Georgia counties are negatively associated with the percentage of black population and the poverty rate, (2) state capital grants do not play an equalization role in school capital outlays, and (3) the use of ESPLOST has some equalizing effects on the funding for school facilities, contrary to earlier findings in the literature.
Actor-Critic Policy Learning in Cooperative Planning

In this paper, we introduce a method for learning and adapting cooperative control strategies in real-time stochastic domains. Our framework is an instance of the intelligent cooperative control architecture (iCCA). The agent starts by following the "safe" plan calculated by the planning module and incrementally adapting the policy to maximize rewards. Actor-critic and consensus-based bundle algorithm (CBBA) were employed as the building blocks of the iCCA framework. We demonstrate the performance of our approach by simulating limited fuel unmanned aerial vehicles aiming for stochastic targets. The integrated framework boosted the optimality of the solution by 10 percent compared to running each of the modules individually.
The Plastic Properties of Several Types of Unvulcanized Rubber Stocks at High Rates of Shear

Abstract Marzetti, Griffiths, and others have employed the extrusion method for studying the plastic properties of unvulcanized rubber. Some of the results, particularly those of Marzetti, have been very interesting from an academic standpoint. However, none of these experimenters has employed rates of shear differing greatly from those of the compression-type plastometers, which operate at rates much lower than those existing in factory tubing machines. It seemed, then, that this fact might explain why no great discrepancies between extrusion plasticity results and those of the parallel-plate compression-type plastometer were found, at least in so far as could be discovered in the literature. Hence, it was thought desirable, from both an academic and a practical standpoint, to make a study of the flow of rubber through an orifice over a wide range of rates of shear.
Resveratrol Tetramers from Vatica diospyroides

Vatdiospyroidol (1), a novel cytotoxic resveratrol tetramer, was isolated from the stems of Vatica diospyroides Sym. (Dipterocarpaceae) by bioassay-guided fractionation monitored with a human oral epidermoid carcinoma (KB) cell line. Another novel resveratrol tetramer, vaticaphenol A (2), was obtained as a noncytotoxic constituent, along with the known compounds, bergenin, betulin, betulinic acid, mangiferonic acid, and (E)-resveratrol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectral analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments, and by molecular modeling.
Exploiting Social Tie Structure for Cooperative Wireless Networking: A Social Group Utility Maximization Framework

We develop a social group utility maximization (SGUM) framework for cooperative wireless networking that takes into account both social relationships and physical coupling among users. Specifically, instead of maximizing its individual utility or the overall network utility, each user aims to maximize its social group utility that hinges heavily on its social tie structure with other users. We show that this framework provides rich modeling flexibility and spans the continuum between non-cooperative game and network utility maximization (NUM)—two traditionally disjoint paradigms for network optimization. Based on this framework, we study three important applications of SGUM, in database assisted spectrum access, power control, and random access control, respectively. For the case of database assisted spectrum access, we show that the SGUM game is a potential game and always admits a socially-aware Nash equilibrium (SNE). We also develop a distributed spectrum access algorithm that can converge to the SNE and also quantify the trade-off between the performance and convergence time of the algorithm. For the cases of power control and random access control, we show that there exists a unique SNE and the network performance improves as the strength of social ties increase. Numerical results corroborate that the SGUM solutions can achieve superior performance using real social data trace. Furthermore, we show that the SGUM framework can be generalized to take into account both positive and negative social ties among users, which can be a useful tool for studying network security problems.
Synthesis of N-styrenyl amidines from α,β-unsaturated nitrones and isocyanates through CO2 elimination and styrenyl migration

A mild, metal-free, and modular route for the preparation of N-styrenyl amidines from N-aryl-α,β-unsaturated nitrones and isocyanates has been developed that accesses an initial oxadiazolidinone intermediate that can undergo CO2 elimination and styrenyl migration. The use of a migration event to install N-styrenyl amidine substituents circumvents a limitation of traditional Pinner-type methods for amidine synthesis that require the use of amine nucleophiles. The modularity of the nitrone and isocyanate reagents provides access to a variety of differentially substituted N-styrenyl amidines. The scope and tolerance of the method are presented, and preliminary mechanistic data for the transformation are discussed.
Preoperative Indexed Left Ventricular Dimensions to Predict Early Recovery of Left Ventricular Function After Aortic Valve Replacement for Chronic Aortic Regurgitation

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) improves left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation (AR). The objective of this study is to determine predictors for normalization of impaired LV systolic function after valve replacement for chronic AR. Methods and Results: Between 1997 and 2007, 171 patients underwent AVR for severe chronic AR. Of these patients, 79 patients with LV systolic dysfunction or severe LV dilatation preoperatively, who were evaluated by echocardiography at predischarge and early follow up (mean, 6 months) were examined. The mean preoperative ejection fraction was 49%. The mean LV end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions were 52.32±8.35mm and 69.59±7.80mm, respectively. In the early follow up, 62 of 79 patients exhibited restored normal LV function. LV end-systolic dimension and LV end-diastolic dimension were significantly decreased early after AVR (52.32±8.35mm vs 37.82±6.88mm, and 69.59±7.80mm vs 51.55±6.40mm, respectively). Operative mortality was 3.7%. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that preoperative indexed LV end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions were independent predictors of restored LV systolic function. The sensitivity and specicity in predicting normalization of LV function were 88% and 92% for indexed LVESD <35.32mm/m2 and 71% and 86% for indexed LVEDD <44.42mm/m2. Conclusions: In patients who received a valve replacement for chronic AR, smaller indexed LV systolic and diastolic dimensions were associated with early restoration of LV systolic function. (Circ J 2010; 74: 2340-2345)
Production of Congenital Adrenal Cortical Hyperplasia, Hypospadias, And Clitoral Hypertrophy (Adrenogenital Syndrome) in Rats by Inactivation of 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase.

SummaryVarying daily doses of a steroidal inhibitor of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (2α-cyano-4,4,17α-trimethylandrost-5-en-17β-ol-3-one), were administered to pregnant rats on the 15 th to 20th days of gestation to determine whether this inhibitor could produce the biological manifestations of the human disease associated with deficient activity of this enzyme. A single dose of the inhibitor was also administered to pregnant rats on various days to determine the critical periods for production of these manifestations. Infants with this disorder have hyperplastic adrenal cortices deficient in activity of the 3β-enzyme, incomplete masculine development in males resulting in hypospadias with shortening of the anogenital distance, and clitoral hypertrophy without urethral orificial displacement in females. The experimental fetuses had adrenal cortical hyperplasia (average of 5.9 ± 1.32 mg against 2.2 ± 0.26 mg controls), deficient histochemical activity of the 3β-enzyme in the adrenals and testes, increas...
Variational Asymptotic Modeling of Cosserat Elastic Plates

One of the most important branches of applied mechanics is the theory of plates—defined to be plane structural elements whose thickness is very small when compared to the two planar dimensions. The...
Dye-sensitized TiO2 nanotube solar cells: rational structural and surface engineering on TiO2 nanotubes.

Abstract: Owing to well-defined structural parametersand enhanced electronic properties, highly ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays have been employed to substitute TiO 2 nanoparticles for use in dye-sensitized solar cells. To fur-ther improve the performance of dye-sensitized TiO 2 nanotube solar cells, efforts have been directed towardthe optimization of TiO 2 photoanodes, dyes, electrolytes,and counter electrodes. Herein, we highlight recent prog-ress in rational structural and surface engineering onanodic TiO 2 nanotube arrays and their effects on improv-ing the power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized TiO 2 nanotube solar cells.Keywords: dye-sensitized solar cells · electrochemistry ·nanostructures · surface chemistry · titanium 1. Introduction Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) composed of nanostruc-tured photoanodes (e.g., TiO 2 nanoparticle (NP) films),dyes, redox electrolytes, and counter electrodes have re-ceived considerable interest in the past two decades owingprimarily to their high solar-to-electricity conversion effi-ciency at a very competitive fabrication cost.
Detraining from total body exercise ergometry in individuals with spinal cord injury

This study was designed to investigate the effects of detraining that occurred during an 8 week period of muscular inactivity following a 12 week training program of artificial computerized functional electrical stimulation cycle ergometry (CFES LE) and arm ergometry. Six spinal cord injured male individuals were followed through an 8 week detraining period that was preceded by a 12 week exercise program including CFES LE and arm ergometry. Maximal graded exercise tests were completed and measurements of peak oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), ventilation (VE) workload, and creatine kinase were taken. Testing occurred at initial training (0T), after 12 weeks of training (12T), and after 8 weeks of detraining (DT). After the training program, peak VO2 increased significantly from 0.562 +/- 0.126 (0T) to 1.021 +/- 0.247 l/min (12T, P < 0.05). After DT, peak VO2 decreased to 0.791 +/- 0.216 l/min, which was lower than 12T (P < 0.05), yet higher than 0T (P < 0.05). After DT, peak workoad had decreased from 0.675 +/- 0.203 (12T) to 0.32 +/- 0.203 kp (P < 0.05), which was not different than 0T. Creatine kinase levels were significantly lower both at 12T and DT compared to 0T (P < 0.05). In addition, this training program induced linear increases in both VO2 and HR with workload, which were retained after DT. These increases did not reach statistical significance. however. No apparent relationship existed between these values at baseline. There were no significant differences in submaximal or peak HR of VE between the three testing periods. The results indicate that both peripheral muscular adaptations and central distribution adaptations in SCI individuals are partially maintained following 8 weeks of DT from CFES LE and arm ergometry.
Uniting C1-Ammonium Enolates and Transition Metal Electrophiles via Cooperative Catalysis: The Direct Asymmetric α-Allylation of Aryl Acetic Acid Esters

The direct, catalytic, asymmetric α-functionalization of acyclic esters constitutes a significant challenge in the area of asymmetric catalysis, particularly where the configurational integrity of the products is problematic. Through the unprecedented merger of two independent, yet complementary, catalysis events it has been possible to facilitate the direct asymmetric α-allylation of readily available aryl acetic acid esters. Since enantioselection is determined by the nucleophile, this conceptual approach to cooperative catalysis constitutes a potentially general solution to the direct catalytic asymmetric α-functionalization of acyclic esters.
SPECULATIVE TRADING IN REITS

The recent extremes in the real estate economic cycle have created an ideal setting to investigate the role of speculative trading. Specifically, we focus on speculative trading in real estate investment trusts (REITs) during the recent boom and bust in real estate. Although we find a strong relation between speculative trading in REITs and the economic cycle, we do not find evidence that speculative trading is related to future returns. Our results suggest that although increased speculative trading is apparent in REITs during the boom years, the level of speculative trading in REITs does not appear to affect the quality of markets at large.
Modular Homogeneous Chromophore-Catalyst Assemblies.

ConspectusPhotosynthetic reaction center (RC) proteins convert incident solar energy to chemical energy through a network of molecular cofactors which have been evolutionarily tuned to couple efficient light-harvesting, directional electron transfer, and long-lived charge separation with secondary reaction sequences. These molecular cofactors are embedded within a complex protein environment which precisely positions each cofactor in optimal geometries along efficient electron transfer pathways with localized protein environments facilitating sequential and accumulative charge transfer. By contrast, it is difficult to approach a similar level of structural complexity in synthetic architectures for solar energy conversion. However, by using appropriate self-assembly strategies, we anticipate that molecular modules, which are independently synthesized and optimized for either light-harvesting or redox catalysis, can be organized into spatial arrangements that functionally mimic natural photosynthesis.In thi...
Unit Commitment With Continuous-Time Generation and Ramping Trajectory Models

There is increasing evidence of shortage of ramping resources in the real-time operation of power systems. To explain and remedy this problem systematically, in this paper we take a novel look at the way the day-ahead unit commitment (UC) problem represents the information about load, generation and ramping constraints. We specifically investigate the approximation error made in mapping of the original problem, that would decide the continuous-time generation and ramping trajectories of the committed generating units, onto the discrete-time problem that is solved in practice. We first show that current practice amounts to approximating the trajectories with linear splines. We then offer a different representation through cubic splines that provides physically feasible schedules and increases the accuracy of the continuous-time generation and ramping trajectories by capturing sub-hourly variations and ramping of load in the day-ahead power system operation. The corresponding day-ahead UC model is formulated as an instance of mixed-integer linear programming (MILP), with the same number of binary variables as the traditional UC formulation. Numerical simulation over real load data from the California ISO demonstrate that the proposed UC model reduces the total day-ahead and real-time operation cost, and the number of events of ramping scarcity in the real-time operations.
Energy-efficient resource allocation for SWIPT in multiple access channels

In this paper, we study optimal resource allocation strategies for simultaneous information and power transfer (SWIPT) focusing on the system energy efficiency. We consider two-user multiple access channels in which energy harvesting (EH) and information decoding (ID) nodes are spatially separated. We formulate optimization problems that maximize system energy efficiency while taking harvested energy constraints into account. These are concave-linear fractional problems, and hence Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions are necessary and sufficient to obtain globally optimal solution. Solving these optimization problems, we provide analytical expressions for optimal transmit power allocation among the source nodes, and identify the corresponding energy efficiency. We confirm the theoretical analysis via numerical results. Furthermore, we also characterize the effect of circuit power consumption on the system's efficiency as the harvested energy demand varies.
Early CT Findings of Global Central Nervous System Hypoperfusion

The early computed tomographic (CT) findings of acute global central nervous system hypoperfusion were studied in 10 patients. The findings could be characterized as: (1) diffuse mass effect with effacement of the cerebral sulci and of the brainstem cisterns (nine patients); (2) global decrease in the cortical gray-matter density from edema, causing loss of the normal gray-white matter differentiation (six patients); (3) low-density lesions of the basal ganglia bilaterally (five patients); and (4) decreased gray-matter density in watershed distributions bilaterally (two patients). Subsequent contrast-enhanced scans in three of the 10 patients demonstrated selective enhancement of the cerebral cortex or the basal ganglia or both. The CT findings seen in this study predicted a poor outcome; nine of the 10 patients died from the insult. The abnormal CT findings can be ascribed to increased vulnerability of the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia to hypotensive episodes. This vulnerability is due to the large metabolic demand of these regions and their characteristic local cerebral blood flow.
Molecular dynamics simulation of DNA‐directed assembly of nanoparticle superlattices using patterned templates

DNA-directed assembly is a well developed approach in constructing desired nano-architectures. On the other hand, E-beam lithography is widely utilized for high resolution nano-scale patterning. Recently, a new technique combining these two methods was developed to epitaxially grow DNA-mediated nanoparticle superlattices on patterned substrates. However, defects are observed in epitaxial layers which restricts this technique from building large-scale superlattices for real applications. Here we use molecular dynamics simulations to study and predict defect formation on adsorbed superlattice monolayers. We demonstrate that this epitaxial growth is energetically driven by maximizing DNA hybridization between the epitaxial layer and the substrate and that the shape anisotropy of the DNA-mediated template posts leads to structural defects. We also develop design rules to dramatically reduce defects on epitaxial layers. Ultimately, with the assist of the computational study, this technique will open the door to constructing well-ordered, three-dimensional novel nanomaterials. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 1687–1692
Looking for a success in the euro crisis adjustment programs: the case of Portugal

Portugal’s adjustment program in 2010-14 under the troika was extensive and aimed at addressing its large debt and anemic growth, so it may serve as a blueprint for reforms in the Eurozone. This paper argues that, conditional on a diagnosis of the underlying problems of the Portuguese economy, the adjustment program failed to deliver in definitely addressing the problems in public finances, but succeeded in leaving promising signs of reform in the structure of the economy. In particular, on the negative side, public debt is still high, primary surpluses improved modestly, and public spending barely fell as the problem of ever-rising pension payments remained unsolved. On the positive side, unemployment fell sharply, exports and the current account balance rose, capital and labor reallocated to more productive and tradable sectors, and the country is growing faster than the EU for the first time in 15 years.
Kazhdan–Lusztig polynomials and character formulae for the Lie superalgebra q(n)

Abstract We compute the characters of the finite dimensional irreducible representations of the Lie superalgebra q (n) and formulate a precise conjecture for the other irreducible characters in category O . The guiding principle is that the representation theory of q (n) should be described by Lusztig's canonical basis for “tensor space” over the quantum group of type b ∞ .
Passive Wi-Fi: Bringing Low Power to Wi-Fi Transmissions

Wi-Fi has traditionally been considered a power-consuming communication system and has not been widely adopting in the sensor network and IoT space. We introduce Passive Wi-Fi that demonstrates for the first time that one can generate 802.11b transmissions using backscatter communication, while consuming 3- 4 orders of magnitude lower power than existing Wi-Fi chipsets. Passive Wi-Fi transmissions can be decoded on any Wi-Fi device including routers, mobile phones and tablets. Building on this, we also present a network stack design that enables passive Wi-Fi transmitters to coexist with other devices in the ISM band, without incurring the power consumption of carrier sense and medium access control operations. We build prototype hardware and implement all four 802.11b bit rates on an FPGA platform. Our experimental evaluation shows that passive Wi-Fi transmissions can be decoded on off-the-shelf smartphones and Wi-Fi chipsets over distances of 30-100 feet in various line-of- sight and through-the-wall scenarios. Finally, we design a passive Wi-Fi IC that shows that 1 and 11 Mbps transmissions consume 14.5 and 59.2 µW respectively. This translates to 10000x lower power than existing Wi-Fi chipsets and 1000x lower power than Bluetooth LTE and ZigBee.
Idle time garbage collection scheduling

Efficient garbage collection is increasingly important in today's managed language runtime systems that demand low latency, low memory consumption, and high throughput. Garbage collection may pause the application for many milliseconds to identify live memory, free unused memory, and compact fragmented regions of memory, even when employing concurrent garbage collection. In animation-based applications that require 60 frames per second, these pause times may be observable, degrading user experience. This paper introduces idle time garbage collection scheduling to increase the responsiveness of applications by hiding expensive garbage collection operations inside of small, otherwise unused idle portions of the application's execution, resulting in smoother animations. Additionally we take advantage of idleness to reduce memory consumption while allowing higher memory use when high throughput is required. We implemented idle time garbage collection scheduling in V8, an open-source, production JavaScript virtual machine running within Chrome. We present performance results on various benchmarks running popular webpages and show that idle time garbage collection scheduling can significantly improve latency and memory consumption. Furthermore, we introduce a new metric called frame time discrepancy to quantify the quality of the user experience and precisely measure the improvements that idle time garbage collection provides for a WebGL-based game benchmark. Idle time garbage collection is shipped and enabled by default in Chrome.
Improving Aircraft Collision Risk Estimation Using the Cross-Entropy Method

Estimates of mid-air collision risk are obtained through Monte Carlo simulation of encounters sampled from a probabilistic airspace model. Due to the rarity of collision events, typically millions of simulations are required. A technique known as importance sampling has been used in the past to bias the sampling on trajectories that are likely to result in collisions. However, determining a suitable importance sampling distribution is difficult. This paper explores the use of the cross-entropy method to adaptively determine a suitable sampling distribution and analyzes its performance. The results show that reliable estimates of collision risk can be obtained with only a fraction of the computational cost required by methods used in past studies.
Diode-pumped solid-state lasers

Solid-state lasers have traditionally been pumped by pulsed flashlamps or cw arc lamps, but diode lasers are increasingly being used for optical excitation. Diode laser pumps cannot only serve as a direct replacement for lamps, but can also allow new regimes of laser operation that are unattainable with lamp pumping. Some of the significant attributes of diode lasers as pump sources relative to lamps are their much higher spatial and spectral brightness, high electrical-to-optical efficiency, long lifetime, and flexibility in temporal waveform. These attributes have enabled the demonstration of highly efficient solid-state lasers, 20%, narrow linewidths, <1 Hz, compact high-power lasers, and fiber lasers and amplifiers. The impact of diode-laser pumps on solid-state laser performance will be discussed and examples of novel laser sources will be presented.
Death Squads and Death Lists: Targeted Killing and the Character of the State

The intention of this paper is to urge critical reflection upon current US practices of targeted killing by considering not just whether acts of targeted killing can be legally justified but also what sort of state we are turning into when we organize the use of lethal force in this way -- maintaining a list of named enemies of the state who are to be eliminated in this way. My paper uses the unpleasant terminology of "death lists" and "death squads" to jolt us into this reflection. Of course, there are differences between the activities of death squads in (say) El Salvador in the early 1980s and the processes by which US special forces, intelligence personnel, and drone operators, kill the individuals named on a list of state enemies, one by one. They are not morally equivalent. But the two sets of phenomena are much closer to one another than we ought to be comfortable with. And we certainly should not be comfortable with a world in which death lists and death squads -- even of the respectable American kind -- become a standard practice and standard operating procedure for all states.