cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear silicon photonics

Silicon is evolving as a versatile photonic platform with multiple functionalities that can be seamlessly integrated. The tool box is rich starting from the ability to guide and amplify multiple wavelength sources at GHz bandwidths, to optomechanical MEMS. The strong confinement of light in ultra small structures also enables the generation of strong optical forces. We have recently shown that nonlinear optical forces can enable controllable manipulation of photonic structures. These advances should enable future micro-optomechanical systems (MOMS) with novel and distinct functionalities. A research area that recently has emerged is nonlinear optics using silicon photonics. Since the birth of nonlinear optics, researchers have continually focused on developing efficient nonlinear optical devices that require low optical powers. The strong light confinement in silicon waveguides results in a high effective nonlinearity ad enables fine tuning of waveguide dispersion which is essential for phase matching of parametric nonlinear optical processes such as four-wave-mixing (FWM) We demonstrated FWM-based frequency conversion in waveguides using as little as 1 mW of pump power in a ring-resonator geometry, and ∼100 mW of pump power over bandwidths exceeding 800 nm in a straight-waveguide device. In addition, by using the concept of time-space duality we have shown the temporally stretching and compressing of optical waveforms which allows for seamless transformation between the GHz and THz regimes.
Divergent exploration in design with a dynamic multiobjective optimization formulation

Formulation space exploration is a new strategy for multiobjective optimization that facilitates both divergent exploration and convergent optimization during the early stages of design. The formulation space is the union of all variable and design objective spaces identified by the designer as being valid and pragmatic problem formulations. By extending a computational search into the formulation space, the solution to an optimization problem is no longer predefined by any single problem formulation, as it is with traditional optimization methods. Instead, a designer is free to change, modify, and update design objectives, variables, and constraints and explore design alternatives without requiring a concrete understanding of the design problem a priori. To facilitate this process, we introduce a new vector/matrix-based definition for multiobjective optimization problems, which is dynamic in nature and easily modified. Additionally, we provide a set of exploration metrics to help guide designers while exploring the formulation space. Finally, we provide an example to illustrate the use of this new, dynamic approach to multiobjective optimization.
Use of Cholinesterase Inhibitors in Clinical Practice: Evidence-Based Recommendations

Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChE-Is) are the standard of therapy for treatment of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and are the only class of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of this condition. This review provides evidenced-based recommendations for use of ChE-Is in clinical practice. The author searched computerized literature databases of the approved ChE-Is widely used in clinical practice (donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine), and extended the review with bibliographies from identified articles and package inserts of information reviewed by the FDA. Double-blind, placebo-controlled trials providing Class I evidence were used as data sources whenever possible. Articles with Class II and Class III data were used when Class I data were unavailable. In general, ChE-Is exert modest reproducible effects in patients with mild-to-moderate AD. Drug–placebo differences are evident on global and cognitive measures. Secondary outcomes, including measures of activities of daily living and behavior, also typically demonstrate drug–placebo differences in favor of the active agent. Head-to-head trials of ChE-Is are limited; existing trials suggest no major differences in efficacy. Observations from clinical trials imply that early initiation of therapy is associated with greater long-term benefits. Clinical trials with withdrawal periods indicate that withdrawal and re-initiation of treatment may result in loss of benefit. Open-label extensions of double-blind trials show that differences in level of functioning between treated populations and extrapolated for untreated populations continue for several years. Side effects of ChE-Is include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia, and are more frequent during dose escalation than maintenance therapy. Clinical-trial populations differ substantially from unselected populations of AD patients, and these selection biases demand that efficacy data from clinical trials be generalized with caution.
Synthesis and intramolecular ring cleavage of 2-oxetanones

Abstract Intermolecular 2 + 2 aldehyde-ketene cycloaddition, followed by Lewis acid induced intramolecular ring opening of the 2-oxetanone product have been used to prepare tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran ring systems.
Reliability and characteristics of the Illiac electrostatic memory

The Illiac memory was completed in the spring of 1952. It was tested during the early part of the summer and in August was attached to the previously completed arithmetic unit. About three weeks were needed to complete the physical work necessary for this and to eliminate all unsoldered joints, misconnections, etc. Detailed records were kept after this time. This log begins on September 3 and covers every "on" period in detail. Later entries are more specific due to the added experience gained in isolating difficulties.
Synthesis of CsCuS6 and Cs6Cu2(TeS3)2(S6)2 in Molten Cs2SxTey Salts. Novel Compounds Containing Polychalcogenide Ligands

The reaction of Cu with excess Cs[sub 2]S[sub x] and Cs[sub 2]S[sub x]Te[sub y] produced two new copper/polychalcogenides CsCuS[sub 6] (1) and Cs[sub 6]Cu[sub 2](S[sub 6])[sub 2](TeS[sub 3])[sub 2] (2). Orange-red 1 was synthesized by the reaction of copper powder with Cs[sub 2]S[sub 11] in the 1.25:1 molar ratio at 270[degrees]C for 4 days. Red 2 was synthesized by the reaction of copper powder with Cs[sub 2]S[sub 6]Te[sub 0.7] in the 2:3 molar ratio at 230[degrees]C for 96 h or by the reaction of CuTe with Cs[sub 2]S[sub 6] in a 2:3 molar ratio at 250[degrees]C for 96 h. Crystal data for 1: triclinic P[bar 1], Z = 2, a = 10.664(2) [angstrom], b = 11.223(1) [angstrom], c = 7.1599(8) [angstrom], [alpha] = 94.64(1)[degrees], [beta] = 101.32(1)[degrees], [gamma] = 74.04(1)[degrees], V = 807.5(4) [angstrom][sup 3], 2[theta][sub max] = 60[degrees]. Number of data measured: 4709. Number of data having F[sub 0][sup 2] > 3[sigma](F[sub 0][sup 2]): 2800. Final R/R[sub w] = 0.036/0.044. Crystal data for 2: a = 21.072(4) [angstrom], b = 13.173(3) [angstrom], c = 11.948(2) [angstrom], V = 3317(1) [angstrom][sup 3] at 20[degrees]C, 2[theta][sub max] = 55[degrees], space group Cmca, Mo K[alpha] radiation. Number of data having F[sub 0][supmore » 2] > 3[sigma](F[sub 0][sup 2]): 1437. Final R/R[sub w] = 0.031/0.026. The structure of CsCuS[sub 6] is assembled from one-dimensional [Cu(S[sub 6])][sub n][sup n[minus]] centrosymmetric chains (running parallel to the crystallographic [011] direction) separated by Cs[sup +] atoms. Cs[sub 6]Cu[sub 2](S[sub 6])[sub 2](TeS[sub 3])[sub 2] contains a dimeric anion assembled from two tetrahedral Cu[sup +] atoms joined by two trigonal pyramidal TeS[sub 3][sup 2[minus]] ligands and two chelating S[sub 6][sup 2[minus]] ligands. The infrared and uv/vis/near-ir spectra of these compounds are reported. 25 refs., 6 figs., 5 tabs.« less
Design principles of an office specification language

Office automation, interpreted most generally, is the utilization of technology to improve the productivity and quality of office work. This concept encompasses a wide range of devices, technologies, tools, and systems. One of its most powerful instances is the notion of an automated office information system. This is a software-intensive, computer-based system that seeks to support (and where appropriate, to automate) an entire office procedure, rather than simply to improve the performance of individual office tasks. However, there is a major impediment to the realization of such systems: because of their application-oriented and office-specific character, they are extremely costly to construct. One of the major reasons for this cost is that office systems analysts lack any tools or methodologies to employ in the process of determining and expressing the requirements of an automated office system. An office specification language is used to describe in a natural yet precise fashion the operation of an office system; its use can improve the process of constructing the system in a number of ways. In this paper, we set forth an approach to the design of office specification languages and present an overview of the major concepts in OSL, one such language that we are developing.
Assessment of relative flammability and thermochemical properties of some thermoplastic materials

The thermochemical and flammability characteristics of some typical thermoplastic materials currently in use and others being considered for use in aircraft interiors are described. The properties studied included (1) thermal mechanical properties such as glass transition and melt temperature, (2) changes in polymer enthalpy by differential scanning calorimetry, (3) thermogravimetric analysis in an anaerobic and oxidative environment, (4) oxygen index, (5) smoke evolution, (6) relative toxicity of the volatile products of pyrolysis, and (7) selected physical properties. The generic polymers which were evaluated included: acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, bisphenol A polycarbonate, bisphenol fluorenone carbonatedimethylsiloxane block polymer, phenolphthalein-bisphenol A polycarbonate, phenolphthalein polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyaryl sulfone, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride homopolymer, polyvinyl fluoride, and polyvinylidene fluoride. Processing parameters including molding characteristics of some of the advanced polymers are described. Test results and relative rankings of some of the flammability, smoke and toxicity properties are presented.
On Factorizations of Smooth Nonnegative Matrix-Values Functions and on Smooth Functions with Values in Polyhedra

We discuss the possibility to represent smooth nonnegative matrix-valued functions as finite linear combinations of fixed matrices with positive real-valued coefficients whose square roots are Lipschitz continuous. This issue is reduced to a similar problem for smooth functions with values in a polyhedron.
A Generalized Options-based Approach to Mitigate Perturbations in a Maritime Security System-of-Systems

Due to the complex and highly dynamic contexts in which systems operate nowadays, it has become crucial that, early in the architecting phase, System Architects take into account options to be utilized throughout the system’s lifecycle to improve performance and lifecycle properties, such as flexibility. This paper introduces a preliminary approach that allows for the identification of relevant options, which are capable of mitigating perturbations negatively impacting a system of interest. The approach consists of the generation, evaluation and selection of relevant generalized options (enabling both changeability and robustness), and is demonstrated by application to a Maritime Security SoS case study. The inputs to the process are a list of desired design principles to implement in the system, and a list of perturbations that may affect the delivery of value to stakeholders (options are meant to mitigate perturbations). Four different metrics for option evaluation are proposed, together with techniques that can help during the process of selection of options.
The Wigner-Dyson-Mehta Bulk Universality Conjecture for Wigner Matrices

A well known conjecture of Wigner, Dyson, and Mehta asserts that the (appropriately normalized) $k$-point correlation functions of the eigenvalues of random $n \times n$ Wigner matrices in the bulk of the spectrum converge (in various senses) to the $k$-point correlation function of the Dyson sine process in the asymptotic limit $n\to\infty$. There has been much recent progress on this conjecture; in particular, it has been established under a wide variety of decay, regularity, and moment hypotheses on the underlying atom distribution of the Wigner ensemble, and using various notions of convergence. Building upon these previous results, we establish new instances of this conjecture with weaker hypotheses on the atom distribution and stronger notions of convergence. In particular, assuming only a finite moment condition on the atom distribution, we can obtain convergence in the vague sense, and assuming an additional regularity condition, we can upgrade this convergence to locally $L^1$ convergence. As an application, we determine the limiting distribution of the number of eigenvalues $N_I$ in a short interval $I$ of length $\Theta (1/n)$. As a corollary of this result, we obtain an extension of a result of Jimbo et. al. concerning the behavior of spacing in the bulk.
Constraints on Torque-reversing Accretion-powered X-Ray Pulsars

The observed abrupt torque reversals in X-ray pulsars, 4U 1626-67, GX 1+4, and OAO 1657—415, can be explained by a transition in accretion-flow rotation from Keplerian to sub-Keplerian, which takes place at a critical accretion rate, ~1016-1017gs-1. When a pulsar system spins up near equilibrium spin before the transition, the system goes into spin-down after transition to sub-Keplerian. If a system is well into the spin-up regime, the transition can cause a sharp decrease in spin-up rate but not a sudden spin-down. These observable types of abrupt torque change are distinguished from the smooth torque variation caused by a change of in the Keplerian flow. The observed abrupt torque reversal is expected when the pulsar magnetic field B* ~5 × 1011b−1/2p L P1/2*,10 G, where the magnetic pitch parameter bp is of the order of a few, Lx,36 is the X-ray luminosity in 1036 ergs s-1, and P*,10 is the pulsar spin period in 10 s. Observed quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) periods tightly constrain the model. For 4U 1626-67, ≈ 2.7 × 1016 g s-1 with b1/2p B* ≈ 2 × 1012 G. We estimate ~6 × 1016 g s-1 and b1/2p B* ~5 × 1013 G for GX 1+4, and ~1 × 1017 g s-1 and b1/2p B* ~2 × 1013G for OAO 1657-415. Reliable detection of QPOs before and after torque reversal could directly test the model. We discuss some outstanding uncertainties and difficulties in the present model.
Segmentation of suspicious objects in an x-ray image using automated region filling approach

To accommodate the flow of commerce, cargo inspection systems require a high probability of detection and low false alarm rate while still maintaining a minimum scan speed. Since objects of interest (high atomic-number metals) will often be heavily shielded to avoid detection, any detection algorithm must be able to identify such objects despite the shielding. Since pixels of a shielded object have a greater opacity than the shielding, we use a clustering method to classify objects in the image by pixel intensity levels. We then look within each intensity level region for sub-clusters of pixels with greater opacity than the surrounding region. A region containing an object has an enclosed-contour region (a hole) inside of it. We apply a region filling technique to fill in the hole, which represents a shielded object of potential interest. One method for region filling is seed-growing, which puts a "seed" starting point in the hole area and uses a selected structural element to fill out that region. However, automatic seed point selection is a hard problem; it requires additional information to decide if a pixel is within an enclosed region. Here, we propose a simple, robust method for region filling that avoids the problem of seed point selection. In our approach, we calculate the gradient Gx and Gy at each pixel in a binary image, and fill in 1s between a pair of x 1 Gx(x1,y)=-1 and x 2 Gx(x2,y)=1 , and do the same thing in y-direction. The intersection of the two results will be filled region. We give a detailed discussion of our algorithm, discuss the strengths this method has over other methods, and show results of using our method.
Synthesis and thermal stability of benzimidazole–aromatic imide copolymers

Four kinds of aminophenylbenzimidazoles were synthesized by reacting 3,3′-diaminobenzidine and 1,2,4,5-tetraaminobenzene with p- and m-aminobenzoic acid. These four diamines were polymerized with pyromellitic anhydride and 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone-tetracarboxylic anhydride. Polymers of highest intrinsic viscosities were obtained by adding the powdered anhydrides to dimethylsulfoxide solutions of the amines. Permutation of the above monomers yielded eight different benzimidazole–aromatic imide copolymers which were cast from solutions and cured at 280°C. to 300°C. in air. The polymer films show excellent thermal stability.
Bekenstein bounds in de Sitter and flat space

The D-bound on the entropy of matter systems in de Sitter space is shown to be closely related to the Bekenstein bound, which applies in a flat background. This holds in arbitrary dimensions if the Bekenstein bound is calibrated by a classical Geroch process. We discuss the relation of these bounds to the more general bound on the entropy to area ratio. We find that black holes do not saturate the Bekenstein bound in dimensions greater than four.
Visualization of protein interactions in living cells.

Ligand binding to cell membrane receptors sets off a series of protein interactions that convey the nuances of ligand identity to the cell interior. The information may be encoded in conformational changes, the interaction kinetics and, in the case of multichain immunoreceptors, by chain rearrangements. The signals may be modulated by dynamic compartmentalization of the cell membrane, cellular architecture, motility, and activation—all of which are difficult to reconstitute for studies of receptor signaling in vitro. In this chapter, we will discuss how protein interactions in general and receptor signaling in particular can be studied in living cells by different fluorescence imaging techniques. Particularly versatile are methods that exploit Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET), which is exquisitely sensitive to the nanometer-range proximity and orientation between fluorophores. Fluorescence correlation microscopy (FCM) can provide complementary information about the stoichiometry and diffusion kinetics of large complexes, while bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and other complementation techniques can capture transient interactions. A continuing challenge is extracting from the imaging data the quantitative information that is necessary to verify different models of signal transduction.
Semiclassical analysis of extended dynamical mean-field equations

The extended dynamical mean field equations are analyzed using semiclassical methods for a model describing an interacting Fermi-Bose system. We compare the semiclassical approach with the exact quantum Monte Carlo method. We found the transition to an ordered state to be of the first order for any dimension below four.
High-Energy Spectral Components in Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglows

We investigate two high-energy radiation mechanisms, the proton-synchrotron and the electron inverse Compton emission, and explore their possible signatures in the broadband spectra and in the keV-GeV light curves of gamma-ray burst afterglows. We develop a simple analytical approach, also allowing for the effects of photon-photon pair production, and explore the conditions under which one or the other of these components dominates. We identify three parameter-space regions in which different spectral components dominate: (1) a region where the proton-synchrotron and other hadron-related emission components dominate, which is small; (2) a region in which the electron inverse Compton component dominates, which is substantial; and (3) a third substantial region in which electron-synchrotron emission dominates. We discuss the prospects and astrophysical implications of directly detecting the inverse Compton and the proton high-energy components in various bands, in particular, in the GeV band, with future missions such as the Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) and in the X-ray band with Chandra. We find that regime II parameter space is the most favorable regime for high-energy emission. The inverse Compton component is detectable by GLAST within hours for bursts at typical cosmological distances and by Chandra within days if the ambient density is high.
Localized defects in semiconductors

A method of calculating the energies of bound states associated with imperfections described by short-range potentials in semiconductors is presented and applied. The method is based on solid-state scattering theory and involves expansion of physical quantities in terms of the Wannier functions for a many-band system. The properties of Bloch functions and Wannier functions are investigated to enable the numerical computation of matrix elements. Application is made to the neutral vacancy in silicon. A pseudopotential is employed to represent the change in the crystal potential produced by the vacancy. It is found that the vacancy produces a localized state in which low-lying energy bands and interband couplings are important, in contrast to the shallow donor and acceptor states which have been studied in the past.
On the Christoffel-Darboux Kernel for Random Hermitian Matrices with External Source

Bleher & Kuijlaars and Daems & Kuijlaars showed that the correlation functions of the eigenvalues of a random matrix from unitary ensemble with external source can be expressed in terms of the Christoffel-Darboux kernel for multiple orthogonal polynomials. We obtain a representation of this Christoffel-Darboux kernel in terms of the usual orthogonal polynomials.
Solar activity and the weather

Attempts during the past century to establish a connection between solar activity and the weather are discussed. Some critical remarks about the quality of much of the literature in this field are given, and several recent investigations are summarized. Use of the solar-interplanetary magnetic sector structure in future investigations may add an element of cohesiveness and interaction to these investigations.
On the Core and Dual Set of Linear Programming Games

We study the relation between the core of a given LP-game and the set of payoff vectors generated by optimal dual solutions to the corresponding linear program. It is well known that the set of dual payoffs is contained in the core, and that cores of games in which players are replicated converge to the set of dual payoffs when the number of replications tends to infinity. We give a necessary and sufficient condition for finite convergence. As corollaries we strengthen a sufficient condition due to Owen and obtain new conditions as well. We also study conditions in which the core and the set of dual payoffs coincide even without replication. We give a necessary and sufficient condition for this phenomenon and present two classes of LP-games with this property which properly subsumes all examples of this type discussed in the literature.
Scaling and the fractal geometry of two-dimensional quantum gravity

Abstract We examine the scaling of geodesic correlation functions in two-dimensional gravity and in spin systems coupled to gravity. The numerial data support the scaling hypothesis and indicate that the quantum geometry develops a non-perturbative length scale. The existence of this length scale allows us to extract a Hausdorff dimension. In the case of pure gravity we find d H ≈ 3.8, in support of recent theoretical calculations that d H = 4. We also discuss the back-reaction of matter on the geometry.
Radio Halo and Relic Candidates from the Westerbork Northern Sky Survey

We have undertaken a systematic search for diffuse radio halos and relics in all of the Abell clusters that are visible in the Westerbork Northern Sky Survey. In this survey we found 18 candidates, 11 of which are already known from the literature and seven for which we provide the first evidence of diffuse radio emission. All the clusters in this sample show other evidence for a recent or ongoing merger. We also investigate the correlation between cluster X-ray luminosity and radio power of halos. We develop a very simple model for merger shocks that reproduce the sense of this correlation, although it is probably not as steep as the correlation in the data. We discuss the implications of X-ray-radio correlations for future detections of radio halos.
Hydroxyl-directed regioselective monodemethylation of polymethoxyarenes

Les groupes methoxy en ortho des substituants β-hydroxyethyl ou γ-hydroxypropyl dans les derives de polymethoxybenzenes sont regioselectivement demethyles par l'ethanethiolate de sodium dans le DMF. Des methoxydihydro benzofurannes ou methoxychromannes sont produits par cyclisation des derives demethyles
Extension of growth-plate cartilage into the metaphysis: a sign of healing fracture in abused infants

The present study was carried out to determine if healing metaphyseal injury in abused infants is accompanied by an increase in the thickness of the growth-plate zone of hypertrophic cartilage and if a radiolucent extension from the growth plate into the metaphysis correlates with this histologic indicator of healing fracture. The radiologic studies of 13 infants who died with evidence of inflicted injury were reviewed. Thirteen distal metaphyseal fractures were identified. Histologically, nine of these fractures were noted to be healing and four showed no evidence of healing. The nine healing injuries were accompanied by statistically significant thickening of the zone of hypertrophic cartilage. Seven of these demonstrated localized areas of hypertrophic cartilage extension; in six of these, corresponding radiolucent extensions of the growth plate into the metaphysis were seen. The extensions tended to be single and focal with minimal osseous injury and broad and multiple with extensive injury. No similar extension was visible in the four acute injuries. Because metaphyseal injuries are notoriously difficult to date, the presence of a reliable radiologic indicator of healing metaphyseal fracture can be important in the evaluation of infant abuse. Because the radiologic findings reflect the histologic alterations, extension of the growth-plate cartilage into the metaphysis may have implications for estimating fracture age.
Specialization and Success: Evidence from Venture Capital

This paper examines how organizational structure affects behavior and outcomes, studying the performance of different types of venture capital organizations. We find a strong positive relationship between the degree of specialization by individual venture capitalists at a firm and its success. When the individual investment professionals are highly specialized themselves, the marginal effect of increasing overall firm specialization is much weaker. The poorer performance by generalists appears to be due to both an inefficient allocation of funding across industries and poor selection of investments within industries. Venture capital organizations with more experience tend to outperform those with less experience.
Rapid Transition of Uncombed Penumbrae to Faculae during Large Flares

In the past two decades, the complex nature of sunspots has been disclosed with high-resolution observations. One of the most important findings is the 'uncombed' penumbral structure, where a more horizontal magnetic component carrying most of Evershed flows is embedded in a more vertical magnetic background. The penumbral bright grains are locations of hot upflows and dark fibrils are locations of horizontal flows that are guided by a nearly horizontal magnetic field. On the other hand, it was found that flares may change the topology of sunspots in {delta} configuration: the structure at the flaring polarity inversion line becomes darkened while sections of peripheral penumbrae may disappear quickly and permanently associated with flares. The high spatial and temporal resolution observations obtained with the Hinode/Solar Optical Telescope provide an excellent opportunity to study the evolution of penumbral fine structures associated with major flares. Taking advantage of two near-limb events, we found that in sections of peripheral penumbrae swept by flare ribbons the dark fibrils completely disappear, while the bright grains evolve into faculae that are signatures of vertical magnetic flux tubes. The corresponding magnetic fluxes measured in the decaying penumbrae show stepwise changes temporally correlated with the flares. These observations suggestmore » that the horizontal magnetic field component of the penumbra could be straightened upward (i.e., turning from horizontal to vertical) due to magnetic field restructuring associated with flares, which results in the transition of penumbrae to faculae.« less
Mechanism of organization increase in complex systems

This article proposes a variational approach to describe the evolution of organization of complex systems from first principles, as increased efficiency of physical action. Most simply stated, physical action is the product of the energy and time necessary for motion. When complex systems are modeled as flow networks, this efficiency is defined as a decrease of action for one element to cross between two nodes, or endpoints of motion-a principle of least unit action. We find a connection with another principle, that of most total action, or a tendency for increase of the total action of a system. This increase provides more energy and time for minimization of the constraints to motion to decrease unit action, and therefore, to increase organization. Also, with the decrease of unit action in a system, its capacity for total amount of action increases. We present a model of positive feedback between action efficiency and the total amount of action in a complex system, based on a system of ordinary differential equations, which leads to an exponential growth with time of each and a power law relation between the two. We present an agreement of our model with data for core processing units of computers. This approach can help to describe, measure, manage, design, and predict future behavior of complex systems to achieve the highest rates of self-organization and robustness. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 18-28, 2015
The Political Economy of Differentiating Markets: Facing Reality inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture

vant due to long-standing trends in agricultural and food production and marketing. Economic trends within the food system mirror changes taking place throughout the economy-growing consolidation at all levels, increasing use of supply chains in lieu of arms-length spot market transactions, and ever-increasing product offerings tailored to specific market niches. If the food system is no longer characterized by atomistic competitors producing and marketing relatively few basic commodities with limited variation in product attributes, what economic role is served by USDA involvement in commodity standards and grading? Commodity standards serve multiple and often overlapping functions. Product identity standards serve to protect market participants from fraudulent or deceptive practices as products move through the production and marketing chain. Grade standards serve to facilitate markets by categorizing commodities according to economically important attributes. It is also possible that under certain circumstances standards may play a less benevolent role if they are used as a tool to extract economic rents for particular segments of the industry. In this paper, we focus on commodity standards and grading services primarily as mechanisms that facilitate the operation of the agricultural and food production and marketing system.1 In this vein, Giovannucci and Reardon identify two important developments relating to the role of grades and standards in an increasingly globalized agricultural and food economy. First, there is a shift from commodity-oriented "mass markets" toward ma kets characterized by highly differentiated products and niches. As a result, grades and standards are shifting from a traditional role of reducing transaction costs in broad commodity markets toward an emerging role as strategic tools for product differentiation and m rket segmentation. Second, there is a shift in the role of grades and standards from emphasis on outcomes (i.e., measurable product attributes) toward processes (e.g., how the product is produced, processed, handled, etc.). Changes in the role of the USDA in the arena of grades and standards mirror the worldwide developments noted by Giovannucci and Reardon. Our premise is that USDA involvement in commodity standards and grading continues to provide benefits in traditionally important ways, but that the functions performed by the USDA are changing and thus maintaining relevance, as the agricultural and food system itself evolves.
Theoretical characterization of end-on and side-on peroxide coordination in ligated Cu2O2 models.

The relative energetics of μ-η1:η1 (trans end-on) and μ-η2:η2 (side-on) peroxo isomers of Cu2O2 fragments supported by 0, 2, 4, and 6 ammonia ligands have been computed with various density functional, coupled-cluster, and multiconfigurational protocols. There is substantial disagreement between the different levels for most cases, although completely renormalized coupled-cluster methods appear to offer the most reliable predictions. The significant biradical character of the end-on peroxo isomer proves problematic for the density functionals, while the demands on active space size and the need to account for interactions between different states in second-order perturbation theory prove challenging for the multireference treatments. In the latter case, it proved impossible to achieve any convincing convergence.
Cortisol blockade of progesterone: a possible molecular mechanism involved in the initiation of human labor.

In most mammals, labor is heralded by progesterone withdrawal, which is believed to be related to the activation of multiple pathways leading to parturition. In humans, despite no decrease in placental progesterone production, activation of similar pathways preceding labor suggests the presence of an endogenous antiprogestin, which we reasoned might be cortisol, whose secretion from the fetal adrenal rises markedly at the end of human gestation. We report that in primary cultures of human placenta, cortisol is able to compete with the action of progesterone in the regulation of the corticotropinreleasing hormone (CRH) gene. CRH is a peptide highly expressed in human placenta at the end of gestation, which has been suggested to be involved in regulating the timing of parturition. These findings provide a model for functional progesterone withdrawal at the end of human pregnancy, which may be involved in the initiation of labor.
FASTBUS Software Progress

The current status of the Fastbus software development program of the Fastbus Software Working Group is reported, and future plans are discussed. A package of Fastbus interface subroutines has been prepared as a proposed standard, language support for diagnostics and bench testing has been developed, and new documentation to help users find these resources and use them effectively is being written.
REPURPOSING PHARMACEUTICALS: DOES UNITED STATES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW AND REGULATORY POLICY ASSIGN SUFFICIENT VALUE TO NEW USE PATENTS?

The following sections are included:IntroductionThe Legal Status of New Use PatentsThe US Pharmaceutical Industry’s R&D and Regulatory Approval ProcessTechnology Strategy: The Repurposing ApproachDiscussion and Recommendations for Future ResearchReferences
Gene × environment interaction by a longitudinal epigenome-wide association study (LEWAS) overcomes limitations of genome-wide association study (GWAS).

The goal of genome-wide association studies is to identify SNPs unique to disease. It usually involves a single sampling from subjects’ lifetimes. While primary DNA sequence variation influences gene-expression levels, expression is also influenced by epigenetics, including the ‘somatic epitype’ (GSE), an epigenotype acquired postnatally. While genes are inherited, and novel polymorphisms do not routinely appear, GSE is fluid. Furthermore, GSE could respond to environmental factors (such as heavy metals) and to differences in exercise, maternal care and dietary supplements – all of which postnatally modify oxidation or methylation of DNA, leading to altered gene expression. Change in epigenetic status may be critical for the development of many diseases. We propose a ‘longitudinal epigenome-wide association study’, wherein GSE are measured at multiple time points along with subjects’ histories. This Longitudinal epigenome-wide association study, based on the ‘dynamic’ somatic epitype over the ‘static’ gen...
Minimal tori with low nullity

Abstract The nullity of a minimal submanifold M ⊂ S n is the dimension of the nullspace of the second variation of the area functional. That space contains as a subspace the effect of the group of rigid motions SO ( n + 1 ) of the ambient space, modulo those motions which preserve M, whose dimension is the Killing nullity k n ( M ) of M. In the case of 2-dimensional tori M in S 3 , there is an additional naturally-defined 2-dimensional subspace that contributes to the nullity; the dimension of the sum of the action of the rigid motions and this space is the natural nullity n n t ( M ) . In this paper we will study minimal tori in S 3 with natural nullity less than 8. We construct minimal immersions of the plane R 2 in S 3 that contain all possible examples of tori with n n t ( M ) 8 . We prove that the examples of Lawson and Hsiang with k n ( M ) = 5 also have n n t ( M ) = 5 , and we prove that if the n n t ( M ) ⩽ 6 then the group of isometries of M is not trivial.
Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS): Design and On-Orbit Performance Measurements

The Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS), developed and built by Lockheed Martin Astro space for the NASA Lewis Research Center, was launched in September 1993 on the shuttle STS 51 mission. ACTS is a digital experimental communications test bed that incorporates gigahertz bandwidth transponders operating at Ka band, hopping spot beams, on-board storage and switching, and dynamic rain fade compensation. This paper describes the ACTS enabling technologies, the design of the communications payload, the constraints imposed on the spacecraft bus, and the measurements conducted to verify the performance of the system in orbit.
Band tails, length scales, and localization.

The one-parameter scaling theory of Anderson localization is discussed in the light of recent numerical results. It is argued that apparent violations of scaling can be understood as crossover phenomena, which should be expected to occur whenever the density of states varies rapidly near the mobility edge. The apparent existence of a sharp effective band edge for some two- and three-dimensional models with off-diagonal disorder, and the consequences for spin-glass models which follow from this, are also considered. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Pollution Control and Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico: An Industry-Level Analysis

Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into developing countries have been increasing dramatically over the past decade. At the same time, there has been widespread concern that lax environmental standards are in part responsible for this surge. This paper revisits the question of the existence of a pollution haven effect by examining the extent to which the pollution intensity of production helps explain FDI in Mexico. We focus on pollution intensities, which are directly related to emission regulations, rather than unobservable pollution taxes and allow for substitution between capital and pollution. Examining several different pollutants, we find a positive correlation between FDI and pollution that is statistically and economically significant in the case of the highly regulated sulfur dioxide emissions. Industries for which the estimated relationship between FDI and pollution is positive receive up to 30% of total FDI and 30% of manufacturing output. Although we confirm the importance of Mexico’s comparative advantage in labor-intensive production processes, consistent with the previous literature, our results suggest that environmental considerations may matter as well for firms’ investment decisions.
Particle capture in binary solidification

We examine the interaction of a spherical foreign particle with a propagating solidification front in a binary alloy. Depending on the material properties and the speed of the front, the particle may be pushed ahead of the front, or engulfed and incorporated into the solid phase. We apply numerical boundary integral and continuation methods to determine the critical speed for particle capture, as a function of the system parameters. We reconcile the differing predictions of previous theoretical works, and show that many typical systems may obey a new scaling of the critical speed, as obtained here. We show that due to constitutional undercooling, the presence of solute decreases particle speeds by an order of magnitude below those for a single-component system. We briefly consider the case of spherical bubbles, where thermocapillary and solutocapillary effects play a large role.
Youth Language, Gaul Sociability, and the New Indonesian Middle Class

This article examines the linguistic form and social functions of bahasa gaul, the informal Indonesian "language of sociability," as it is used among Indonesian university students and in various publications aimed at middle-class Indonesian youth. Bahasa gaul registers youth modernity in both its positive and more contested aspects. It expresses not only young people's aspirations for social and economic mobility, but also an increasingly cosmopolitan, national youth culture. Perhaps most significantly, bahasa gaul articulates the desire of Indonesian youth for new types of social belonging through the formulation of relationships that are more egalitarian and interactionally fluid as well as more personally expressive and psychologically individualized.
Auralization of Hybrid Wing–Body Aircraft Flyover Noise from System Noise Predictions

System noise assessments of a state-of-the-art reference aircraft (similar to a Boeing 777-200ER with GE90-like turbofan engines) and several hybrid wing–body aircraft configurations were recently performed using NASA engine and aircraft system analysis tools. The hybrid wing–body aircraft were sized to an equivalent mission as the reference aircraft and assessments were performed using measurements of airframe shielding from a series of propulsion airframe aeroacoustic experiments. The focus of this work is to auralize flyover noise from the reference aircraft and the best hybrid wing–body configuration using source noise predictions and shielding data based largely on the earlier assessments. Here, auralization refers to the process by which numerical predictions are converted into audible pressure time histories. It entails synthesis of the source noise and propagation of that noise to a receiver on the ground. For each aircraft, three flyover conditions are auralized. These correspond to approach, sid...
Federal communication about obesity in the Dietary Guidelines and checkoff programs.

The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans focus on obesity prevention. They recommend increased consumption of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, and low-fat dairy products, within a balanced diet whose total calories have been moderately reduced. Meanwhile, other well-known and well-funded federally sponsored consumer communications promote increased total consumption of beef, pork, and dairy products, including energy dense foods such as bacon cheeseburgers, barbecue pork ribs, pizza, and butter. These latter communications are sponsored by the federal government's commodity promotion programs, known as “checkoff” programs. The programs are established by Congress, approved by a majority of the commodity's producers, managed jointly by a producer board and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and funded through a tax on the producers. The federal government enforces the collection of more than $600 million annually in mandatory assessments, approves the advertising and marketing programs, and defends checkoff communication in court as the federal government's own message—in legal jargon, as its own “government speech.” Federal support for promoting fruits and vegetables is small by comparison. The checkoff programs recently have become more clearly identified as federal programs. After a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of the checkoff programs, calls for consistency with the Dietary Guidelines may get louder. The current inconsistencies in federal communication undermine the effectiveness of the Dietary Guidelines as an antidote to the shortcomings of the private sector market for information about weight and obesity.
From linear optical quantum computing to Heisenberg-limited interferometry

The working principles of linear optical quantum computing are based on photodetection, namely, projective measurements. The use of photodetection can provide efficient nonlinear interactions between photons at the single-photon level, which is technically problematic otherwise. We report an application of such a technique to prepare quantum correlations as an important resource for Heisenberg-limited optical interferometry, where the sensitivity of phase measurements can be improved beyond the usual shot-noise limit. Furthermore, using such nonlinearities, optical quantum non-demolition measurements can now be carried out easily at the single-photon level.
Micropropagation, decontamination, transcontinental shipping and hydroponic growth of Cattleya while sealed in semipermeable membrane vessels

Abstract Two varieties of Cattleya orchids (Cattleya loddigessi `Elen'×C. loddigessi Alba `Extra' and Brassolaeliocattleya. Mem. `Helen Brown' Sweet Afton) were micropropagated in sealed, 3-dimensional polypropylene vessels with microporous, semipermeable membrane films. Plantlets in these vessels were grown in vitro and shipped, including post-storage recovery in a hydroponic system. During tissue culture on sugar-containing media, chance contaminants were eliminated on the vessels' outer surface. Decontamination did not affect biomass, carbohydrate content or subsequent growth of tissues contained within the vessels. Plantlets were shipped from Japan to the United States and arrived without changes in fresh or dry weight of whole plantlets, however, shoot dry weight increased significantly. Sucrose, glucose and fructose reserves established on sugar containing media were utilized during shipping while shoot dry weight increased. Plantlets grew photoautotrophically in hydroponic culture in the greenhouse in the same sealed-membrane vessels. Carbohydrate concentration of plantlets following hydroponic culture was not significantly different than levels after the shipping process. Sealed-membrane vessels for micropropagation, decontamination, shipping and greenhouse growth were useful for culture of Cattleya and facilitate scale-up of materials handling and international commerce of tissue-cultured plants.
Novel triazene dyes from N-heterocyclic carbenes and azides: syntheses, stability, and spectroscopic properties

Abstract A series of substituted triazene dyes were synthesized by coupling functionalized imidazol-2-ylidenes with various azides (alkyl, vinyl, aryl, and heteroaryl), in moderate to excellent yields. Their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic studies (IR, NMR, UV–vis, and HRMS). Additionally, the solid-state structure of triazene dye 7 was secured by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Electron delocalization between the two coupled components was studied using UV–vis spectroscopy. The respective triazenes were found to exhibit λmax values ranging between 294 and 450 nm.