cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interface Grammars for Modular Software Model Checking

Verification techniques relying on state enumeration (e.g., model checking) face two important challenges: the state-space explosion, an exponential increase in the state space as the number of components increases; and environment generation, modeling components that are either not available for analysis, or that cannot be handled by the verification tool in use. We propose a semi-automated approach for attacking these problems. In our approach, interfaces for the components not under analysis are specified using a specification language based on grammars. Specifically, an interface grammar for a component specifies the sequences of method invocations that are allowed by that component. We have built an compiler that takes the interface grammar for a component as input and generates a stub for that component. The stub thus generated can be used to replace that component during state space exploration, either to moderate state space explosion, or to provide an executable environment for the component under verification. We conducted a case study by writing an interface grammar for the Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) persistence interface, and using the resulting stub to check EJB clients using the JPF model checker. Our results show that EJB clients can be verified efficiently with JPF using our approach.
The vestibular nuclei and spinal motor activity.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the vestibular nuclei and spinal motor activity. Numerous supraspinal components of the central nervous system participate in the regulation of spinal motoneuron activity, among them the vestibular nuclei is located in the lower brain stem. The cells making up these nuclei are themselves under the influence of inputs from several sources, particularly the labyrinth and cerebellum, and the efferent pathways to which they give rise act as relays for impulses arising in these regions. The vestibular nuclei exert a fairly direct influence on the spinal cord by means of two pathways that include the lateral vestibulospinal tract originating in Deiters nucleus and the medial vestibulospinal tract originating in the medial and, to a lesser extent, the descending vestibular nuclei. It is found that when Deiters nucleus is stimulated with short trains of high frequency stimuli, polysynaptic potentials are commonly seen in most extensor and even some flexor, limb motoneurons. Even in animals under barbiturate anesthesia, these polysynaptic potentials reach much greater amplitudes than the monosynaptic potentials.
Nanometer scale optical studies of twin domains and defects in lanthanum aluminate crystals

A near‐field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) in transmission geometry was used to study optical characteristics of twin domains, domain boundaries, and other defects in lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO3) single crystals. Large optical contrast between domains was observed using linearly polarized NSOM light. This domain contrast can be changed and even reversed by varying the direction of the polarization axis with respect to the local crystallographic axis. We further demonstrate that the contrast depends critically on the numerical aperture of the collection objective lens, enabling us to differentiate between possible contrast mechanisms. In addition, microscopic stress birefringence associated with the domain boundaries was observed under crossed‐polar conditions. Submicron circular optical features on LaAlO3 are attributed to surface terminations of dislocations.
Stereoselective Synthesis of Highly Substituted Δ1-Pyrrolines: exo-Selective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions with Azlactones

We report herein a silver(I)-catalyzed exo-selective synthesis of highly substituted Δ1-pyrroline scaffolds from amino acid-derived munchnones. Silver acetate successfully catalyzed the cycloaddition reaction of azlactones with alkenes, generating Δ1-pyrrolines in very good yields without isomerization to the Δ2-pyrrolines or decarboxylation.
Correlation of tensile and shear strengths of metals with their friction properties

The relation between the theoretical tensile and the shear strengths and the friction properties of metals in contact with diamond, boron nitride, silicon carbide, manganese-zinc ferrite, and the metals themselves in vacuum was investigated. The relationship between the actual shear strength and the friction properties of the metal was also investigated. An estimate of the theoretical uniaxial tensile strength was obtained in terms of the equilibrium surface energy, interplanar spacing of the planes perpendicular to the tensile axis, and the Young's modulus of elasticity. An estimate of the theoretical shear strength for metals was obtained from the shear modulus, the repeat distance of atoms in the direction of shear of the metal, and the interplanar spacing of the shear planes. The coefficient of friction for metals was found to be related to the theoretical tensile, theoretical shear, and actual shear strengths of metals. The higher the strength, of the metal, the lower the coefficient of friction. Pre...
Laparoscopic optical coherence tomographic imaging of human ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. If diagnosed at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate is 94%, but drops to 68% for regional disease and 29% for distant metastasis; only 19% of all cases are diagnosed at the early, localized stage. Optical coherence tomography is a recently emerging nondestructive imaging technology, achieving high axial resolutions (10-20 microns) at imaging depths up to 2 mm. Previously, we studied OCT imaging in normal and diseased human ovary ex vivo to determine the features OCT is capable of resolving. Changes in collagen were suggested with several of the images that correlated with changes in collagen seen in malignancy. Areas of necrosis and blood vessels were also visualized using OCT, indicative of an underlying tissue abnormality. We recently developed a custom side-firing laparoscopic OCT (LOCT) probe fabricated specifically for in vivo laparoscopic imaging. The LOCT probe consists of a 38 mm diameter handpiece terminated in an 280 mm long, 4.6 mm diameter tip for insertion into the laparoscopic trocar and is capable of obtaining up to 9.5 mm image lengths at 10 micron axial resolution. In this study, we utilize the LOCT probe to image one or both ovaries of 20 patients undergoing laparotomy or transabdominal endoscopy and oophorectomy to determine if OCT is capable of identifying and/or differentiating normal and neoplastic ovary. To date, we have laparoscopically imaged the ovaries of ten patients successfully with no known complications.
Second-Order Shape Optimization for Geometric Inverse Problems in Vision

We develop a method for optimization in shape spaces, i.e., sets of surfaces modulo re-parametrization. Unlike previously proposed gradient flows, we achieve superlinear convergence rates through an approximation of the shape Hessian, which is generally hard to compute and suffers from a series of degeneracies. Our analysis highlights the role of mean curvature motion in comparison with first-order schemes: instead of surface area, our approach penalizes deformation, either by its Dirichlet energy or total variation, and hence does not suffer from shrinkage. The latter regularizer sparks the development of an alternating direction method of multipliers on triangular meshes. Therein, a conjugate-gradient solver enables us to bypass formation of the Gaussian normal equations appearing in the course of the overall optimization. We combine all of these ideas in a versatile geometric variation-regularized Levenberg-Marquardt-type method applicable to a variety of shape functionals, depending on intrinsic properties of the surface such as normal field and curvature as well as its embedding into space. Promising experimental results are reported.
Prevalence and risk factors for upper airway obstruction after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Objective To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for extrathoracic upper-airway obstruction after pediatric cardiac surgery. Study design A retrospective chart review was performed on 213 patients younger than 18 years of age who recovered from cardiac surgery in our multidisciplinary intensive care unit in 2012. Clinically significant upper-airway obstruction was defined as postextubation stridor with at least one of the following: receiving more than 2 corticosteroid doses, receiving helium-oxygen therapy, or reintubation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors for this complication. Results Thirty-five patients (16%) with extrathoracic upper-airway obstruction were identified. On bivariate analysis, patients with upper-airway obstruction had greater surgical complexity, greater vasoactive medication requirements, and longer postoperative durations of endotracheal intubation. They also were more difficult to calm while on mechanical ventilation, as indicated by greater infusion doses of narcotics and greater likelihood to receive dexmedetomidine or vecuronium. On multivariable analysis, adjunctive use of dexmedetomedine or vecuronium (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.4-8) remained independently associated with upper-airway obstruction. Conclusion Extrathoracic upper-airway obstruction is relatively common after pediatric cardiac surgery, especially in children who are difficult to calm during endotracheal intubation. Postoperative upper-airway obstruction could be an important outcome measure in future studies of sedation practices in this patient population.
Pipeline of successive approximation converters with optimum power merit factor

In this paper, we present a low power 12 bit 5 MSPS, successive approximation converter architecture using pipeline technique. The converter consumes 4 mW at the Nyquist rate input with 1.8 V power supply. By combination of pipeline and successive architecture, the entire circuit, simulated at the transistor level in a 0.18 μ CMOS process, achieves a FoM (Figure of Merit) of 0.19 pJ/conversion.
More dynamical supersymmetry breaking

Abstract In this paper we introduce a new class of theories which dynamically break supersymmetry based on the gauge group SU ( n ) × SU (3) × U (1) for even n . These theories are interesting in that no dynamical superpotential is generated in the absence of perturbations. For the example SU (4) × SU (3) × U (1) we explicitly demonstrate that all flat directions can be lifted through a renormalizable superpotential and that supersymmetry is dynamically broken. We drive the exact superpotential for this theory, which exhibits new and interesting dynamical phenomena. For example, modifications to classical constraints can be field dependent. We also consider the generalization to SU ( n ) × SU (3) × U (1) models (with even n > 4). We present a renormalizable superpotential which lifts all flat directions. Because SU (3) is not confining in the absence of perturbations, the analysis of supersymmetry breaking is very different in these theories from the n = 4 example. When the SU ( n ) gauge group confines, the Yukawa couplings drive the SU (3) theory into a regime with a dynamically generated superpotential. By considering a simplified version of these theories we argue that supersymmetry is probably broken.
Resection of fixed pelvic tumors using the Nd:YAG laser.

Clinical experience using the Nd: YAG laser to resect intra-abdominal malignancies is limited. Presented are two cases of recurrent gynecologic cancers, one ovarian carcinoma of low malignant potential and one fallopian tube carcinoma grade I, in which the Nd: YAG laser allowed removal of recurrent tumor fixed to sacral bone and pelvic sidewall. The ability to accomplish laser vaporization of the tumor bed along with periosteum may reduce the risk of local recurrence. Further investigation of laser treatment of tumors fixed to sacral or pubic bone, pelvic sidewall tissues or other structures should lead to the evolution of the Nd: YAG laser as a useful tool to the cancer surgeon.
Synthesis and ligand binding studies of 4'-iodobenzoyl esters of tropanes and piperidines at the dopamine transporter.

Four analogs and two homologs of cocaine, designed as potent cocaine antagonists, were synthesized. The SN2 reaction between ecgonine methyl ester (13) or appropriately substituted piperidinol (19, 21) and appropriately substituted 4-iodobenzoyl chloride gave 4-iodobenzoyl esters of tropanes and piperidines (5−8). 2‘-Hydroxycocaine (9) was obtained from 2‘-acetoxycocaine (12) by selective transesterification with MeOH saturated with dry HCl gas. 2‘-Acetoxycocaine (12) was synthesized from acetylsalicyloyl chloride (23) and ecgonine methyl ester (13). The binding affinities of these compounds were determined at the dopamine transporter for the displacement of [3H]WIN-35428. An iodo group substitution at the 4‘-position of cocaine decreased dopamine transporter binding potency, while a hydroxy or acetoxy group at the 2‘-position exhibited increased binding potency for the dopamine transporter compared to cocaine (10- and 3.58-fold, respectively). 2‘-Hydroxylation also enhanced the binding potency of 4‘-iodo...
Thermal-structural mission analyses of air-cooled gas turbine blades

Cyclic temperature and stress-strain states in cooled turbine blades were calculated for a simulated mission of an advanced technology aircraft engine. TACTl (three dimensional heat transfer) and MARC (nonlinear structural analysis) computer programs were used to analyze impingement cooled airfoils, with and without leading-edge film cooling. Creep was the predominant damage mode, particularly around film cooling holes. Radially angled holes exhibited less creep than holes normal to surface. Beam-type analyses of all-impingement cooled airfoils gave fair agreement with MARC results for initial creep.
Gênero e política no pensamento de Maquiavel

O texto e parte de uma analise mais ampla da teorica politica Hanna Pitkin sobre as relacoes de genero na obra de Nicolau Maquiavel. Apresenta uma analise das representacoes do feminino nos textos do autor florentino. Ha um inventario detalhado, no artigo, de quais sao as imagens das mulheres e como elas sao mobilizadas. Com ele, Pitkin discute as implicacoes politicas dessas imagens. A oposicao entre o masculino e o feminino e apresentada como um componente importante das compreensoes do poder e do Estado em Maquiavel.
MAC Centered Cooperation — Synergistic Design of Network Coding, Multi-Packet Reception, and Improved Fairness to Increase Network Throughput

We design a cross-layer approach to aid in developing a cooperative solution using multi-packet reception (MPR), network coding (NC), and medium access (MAC). We construct a model for the behavior of the IEEE 802.11 MAC protocol and apply it to key small canonical topology components and their larger counterparts. The results obtained from this model match the available experimental results with fidelity. Using this model, we show that fairness allocation by the 802.11 MAC can significantly impede performance; hence, we devise a new MAC that not only substantially improves throughput, but provides fairness to flows of information rather than to nodes. We show that cooperation between NC, MPR, and our new MAC achieves super-additive gains of up to 6.3 times that of routing with the standard 802.11 MAC. Furthermore, we extend the model to analyze our MAC's asymptotic and throughput behaviors as the number of nodes increases or the MPR capability is limited to only a single node. Finally, we show that although network performance is reduced under substantial asymmetry or limited implementation of MPR to a central node, there are some important practical cases, even under these conditions, where MPR, NC, and their combination provide significant gains.
Mothers' Community Participation and Child Health*

We use rich data from the Indonesia Family Life Survey to assess the relationship between mothers' access to social capital via participation in community activities and their children's health. We exploit the advantages of longitudinal data and community fixed effects to mitigate some of the concerns about spuriousness and reverse causality that predominate in this literature. We find that children from families with relatively low levels of human and financial capital fare better with respect to health status when their mothers are more active participants in community organizations. In fact, the association between maternal participation and child health is strong and positive only for children from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds, as measured by their mothers' educational and household economic resources. The results suggest that in poorer settings community involvement may benefit disadvantaged families, possibly by providing resources and information that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Catecholamine metabolism and neurologic disease

Publisher Summary This chapter describes catecholamine metabolism in neurological disease. Studies based on the probenecid loading technique suggest a close relationship between central dopaminergic mechanisms and overall Parkinsonian severity. Separate analysis of the three cardinal Parkinsonian signs indicates, however, that this relationship holds for rigidity and akinesia but not for tremor. This observation, as well as results from certain animal models of Parkinson's disease, supports the contention that neurohumoral mechanisms sub-serving tremor may differ from those relating to rigidity or akinesia. It is probable that the amount of reduction in central dopamine turnover in untreated Parkinsonian patients reflects the degree of degeneration of dopaminergic neurons originating in the substantia nigra. Assays of postmortem tissues or lumbar CSF suggest that a reduction in central dopamine metabolism also occurs in patients with Huntington's disease. The chapter highlights that although there is a tendency for an inverse correlation between choreatic severity and the probenecid-induced accumulation of HVA, this relationship is not statistically significant in the 11 patients studied to date. The characteristic histopathologic changes in Huntington's disease do not involve neurons known to contain dopamine.
Identifying peer effects using spatial analysis: the role of peers on risky sexual behavior

This paper explores the role of peer effects on early sexual debut for a sample of adolescents using data from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health (Add Health). Most studies analyzing peer influences ignore the "reflection" problem that occurs with studying peer effects. To address the reflection problem, this paper employs a spatial econometric approach to estimate a social interactions model. This is the first study in the literature on adolescent risky sexual behavior to use this approach to estimate peer effects. Similar to other research on peer effects and adolescent risky sexual behavior, this paper finds the existence of peer effects. However, the more vital outcome from this study is that older and male peers increase the likelihood of adolescent early sexual debut, while peers whose mothers are more open about sexual activity decrease adolescent risky sexual behavior. This methodology can help further our knowledge about the social context that influences adolescent sexual behavior.
Some comparisons for Gaussian processes

Extensions and variants are given for the well-known comparison principle for Gaussian processes based on ordering by pairwise distance.
Kinetic Analysis of Thermite Reactions in Al-MoO3 Nanocomposites

Reactions in energetic Al-MoO 3 nanocomposites prepared by arrested reactive milling were investigated by scanning calorimetry and heated filament ignition experiments. The calorimetry data were processed to obtain kinetic parameters describing the reaction between Al and MoO 3 . The reaction was treated as a combination of four subreactions, which were described by a combination of a diffusion-controlled reaction model and first-order reactions. The activation energies determined in this study allowed the comparison to reference values for the decomposition of MOO 3 and the diffusion of oxygen through an Al 2 O 3 product layer. The kinetic model was extrapolated to high heating rates in the 10 3 -10 6 K/s range and compared to ignition data. It was concluded that ignition of Al-MoO 3 nanocomposites prepared by arrested reactive milling is primarily controlled by oxygen diffusion in Al 2 O 3 .
Conceptual developments in design components and machine elements

Many machine elements on the market today have been designed and implemented many decades ago. Some R & D is performed on design optimization. The paper demonstrates directions of conceptual evolution of traditional design components and feasibility of their significant improvements. Role of the Axiom of Ideality and of the Prevailing Trends of Evolution of engineering systems in creating novel concepts is emphasized. Descriptions of new concepts of power transmission gears and couplings, key connections, vibration isolators, cantilever design components characterized by high performance parameters are presented.
United States Quaternary coastal sequences and molluscan racemization geochronology – What have they meant for each other over the past 45 years?

Abstract The field of amino acid racemization (AAR) geochronology had its beginnings in the 1960's with the analysis of Quaternary mollusks of known relative age from United States Atlantic coast sites. Subsequent AAR studies of sites from Florida, California and then the entire western and eastern coasts of the U.S. have documented two important concepts: 1) in both uplifted marine terrace and subsurface sections, it can be demonstrated that D/L values increase with increasing geologic age; 2) D/L values in samples of equal age increase with decreasing latitude (increasing temperature). These two north–south coastlines with broad latitude ranges (Pacific sites span more than 20°, Atlantic sites more than 15°) provide an ideal, rare framework to test these principles, and the contrast in thermal histories of these two coasts (one maritime, the other more continental) adds additional insights into issues of aminozone correlation over latitude ranges as small as 2°. The trend of D/L values vs. latitude (isochrons) is established using calibrations based primarily on U–Th coral dating, the best of these calibrated trends seen for multiple sites on the Pacific coast. Pacific coast isochrons follow smooth trends and have been used to create and evaluate kinetic models using the modern latitudinal temperature gradient for comparison. Atlantic coast isochrons are more difficult to reconcile with the modern temperature gradient and available U–Th coral ages, suggesting either complex effective temperatures or unknown diagenetic effects on the AAR results. In addition to these studies that used local or regional field studies to test and evaluate AAR methods, relative or numerical ages based on AAR studies on both coasts have contributed to research on coastal uplift or subsidence rates, coastal stratigraphy and sea-level history, age mixing, and diagenesis of carbonate fossils.
Enantioselective ring opening of meso aziridines catalyzed by Tridentate Schiff base chromium(III) complexes.

A catalytic method for the enantioselective ring opening of meso aziridines by TMSN3 is described. Tridentate Schiff base chromium complexes derived from 1-amino-2-indanol were identified as the optimal catalysts.
Intramolecular addition reactions during heteroatom directed photoarylation

Abstract The intramolecular addition reactions of phototransient species generated upon heteroatom directed photoarylation were investigated. Novel temperature effects were observed for both the photocyclization and intramolecular addition reactions. Moreover, the addition products observed differ considerably from the (3 + 2) cycloadducts which were obtained upon intermolecular addition to the phototransient species.
Palladium-Catalyzed Annulation of Arynes by 2-Halobenzaldehydes: Synthesis of Fluoren-9-ones

Arynes, generated in situ from 2-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates and CsF, undergo annulation by o-haloarenecarboxaldehydes in the presence of a Pd catalyst, providing a useful new method for the synthesis of fluoren-9-ones in good yields.
Repulsive dark matter

Abstract It seems necessary to suppress, at least partially, the formation of structure on subgalactic scales. As an alternative to warm or collisional dark matter, I postulate a condensate of massive bosons interacting via a repulsive interparticle potential, plus gravity. This leads to a minimum lengthscale for bound objects, and to superfluidity. Galactic dynamics may differ significantly from that of more generic dark matter in not unwelcome ways, especially in the core. Such particles can be realized as quanta of a relativistic massive scalar field with a quartic self-interaction. At high densities, the equation of state has the same form as that of an ideal relativistic gas despite the interactions. If the nonrelativistic lengthscale is of order a kiloparsec, then the energy density in these particles was comparable to that of photons at early times, but small enough to avoid conflict with primordial nucleosynthesis.
Temperature Measurements in Sliding Elastohydrodynamic Point Contacts

Techniques using the infrared radiation emitted by a sliding elastohydrodynamic (EHD) point contact to measure oil film and surface temperature are discussed. Temperature distributions in the EHD contact are presented for a naphthenic mineral oil at 1.04 GN/sq m (150,000 psi) Hertz pressure and several sliding velocities. Film temperatures as high as 360 C are reported at locations near the points of minimum film thickness in the contact side lobes.
Beam Expansion and Focusing Effects on Evaporative Laser Cutting

In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the use of high-power lasers as a tool for material processing, such as welding, trimming, scribing, cutting, etc.. Material processing is achieved by evaporating material with a focused Gaussian laser beam as a heat source. A Gaussian laser beam at TWM{sub 00} mode is focused by a lens through which the laser beam passes and behind which it converges to a minimum beam waist around the focal point of the lens. With this concentrated energy at the focal point of the lens it is possible to heat, melt, and vaporize any known material. Investigations in the ares of laser material processing have treated cases with and without phase change, and a variety of irradiation or source conditions have been studied both theoretically and experimentally. Thermal models may be divided into two main categories: (1) models with detailed treatment of thermal conduction and (2) models where details of phase transition vaporization are considered. In the present work, evaporative cutting of a semi-infinite material with a moving, focused continuous-wave laser is considered. The effect of focusing parameters, such as position of lens focal point above or below the surface, minimum beam radius,more » and beam divergence rate are investigated.« less
Asymptotic vanishing conditions which force regularity in local rings of prime characteristic

Let $(R,\m,k)$ be a local (Noetherian) ring of positive prime characteristic $p$ and dimension $d$. Let $G_\dt$ be a minimal resolution of the residue field $k$, and for each $i\ge 0$, let $\gothic t_i(R) = \lim_{e\to \8} {\length(H_i(F^e(G_\dt)))}/{p^{ed}}$. We show that if $\gothic t_i(R) = 0$ for some $i>0$, then $R$ is a regular local ring. Using the same method, we are also able to show that if $R$ is an excellent local domain and $\Tor_i^R(k,R^+) = 0$ for some $i>0$, then $R$ is regular (where $R^+$ is the absolute integral closure of $R$). Both of the two results were previously known only for $i = 1$ or $2$ via completely different methods.
SOFT GELS WITH ORDERED IRON PARTICLES: FABRICATION AND ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL RESPONSE

For a number of years we and others have investigated electrorheological (ER) gel systems comprising low-modulus elastomers mixed with various particles. Unlike ER fluids, the particles in gels do not change relative positions, thus creating model systems that can be used to check equilibrium theories of ER response. To make such materials, a magnetic field was used to align iron particles during the cure of a liquid silicone prepolymer in a sheet mold. Particle chains were made with as little as 0.5% particles, and aligned at angles from 0 to 45° to the normal. The gap between the particles was controlled by swelling the crosslinked material with additional prepolymer. The dependence of the ER effect on particle structuring in these materials was investigated experimentally using rheometry and dielectrometry. Also investigated were the properties of these materials as transducers and actuators.
The Impact of Operational Diversity on Corporate Philanthropy: An Empirical Study of U.S. Companies.

This paper investigates the impact of diversity on corporate philanthropy. Compared to previous studies that have considered the influence of board diversity and CEO gender on corporate philanthropy, this study introduces the concept of operational diversity, which is the implementation of diversity programs at management, employee, and supply chain levels, and further, it explains why operational diversity influences corporate philanthropy, by using the premises of resource dependence theory. Second, this study also investigates the influence of board diversity on corporate philanthropy. Third, this study uses a large sample of U.S. firms over the period of 1991–2009 and tries to mitigate possible omitted variables and endogeneity problems that are often overlooked in previous research. We demonstrate that firms with operational diversity programs are likely more dependent on a broad variety of resources and give more to community as a strategic maneuver; hence, operational diversity is a better indicator for predicting future corporate giving than board diversity alone. However, having a woman or a member of a minority as a company’s chief executive officer is not sufficient to impact its charitable giving. A battery of robustness tests support our conclusion and confirm that our results are not driven by a firm’s general corporate social responsibility (CSR) score, gender or independence of board members, or firm ownership. This paper will assist researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders in deepening their understanding of the predictors of corporate giving.
An improved stability criterion for systems with distributed delays

This article improves the formulation of discretized Lyapunov functional method for systems with distributed delays. The main idea is to apply Jensen's inequality and variable elimination in matrix inequalities. The resulting stability criterion is much simpler. Experience in numerical calculation indicates that it generally converges to the analytical result as grid size decreases, and the speed of convergence is much faster than the previous method. The new formulation is also applicable to a wider class of systems. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hyperscaling-violation on probe D-branes

For the field theories dual to D3/D7- and D3/D5-brane systems we find nonrelativistic finite density fixed points exhibiting a violation of hyperscaling. This violation is measured by the critical exponent θ = 1 while the dynamical critical exponent is z = 2. At zero temperature we compute the thermodynamic potentials, the speed of normal sound, and the speed of zero sound for both these massive D3/D(2n+1)-brane systems near their non-relativistic fixed points. Moreover, we determine the first correction to the free energy for small temperatures yielding the critical exponents α and ν.
Limitations of linear theory for sonic boom calculations

Current sonic boom minimization theories have been reviewed to emphasize the capabilities and flexibilities of the methods. Preliminary comparisons of sonic booms predicted for two Mach 3 concepts illustrate the benefits of shaping. Finally, for very simple bodies of revolution, sonic boom predictions were made using two method— a modified linear theory method and a nonlinear method—for both far-Held N-waves and midfield signature shapes. Preliminary analysis on these simple bodies verified that current modified linear theory prediction methods become inadequate for predicting midfield signatures for Mach numbers above three. The importance of impulse in sonic boom response and the importance of three-dimensional effects which could not be simulated with the bodies of revolution will determine the validity of current modified linear theory methods in predicting midfield signatures at lower Mach numbers. ENEWED interest in the possible development of a high- speed civil transport (HSCT) in this country has resulted in an assessment of the technology needs and environmental concerns surrounding such a vehicle. One environmental con- cern which could have significant impact on the economic viability of a HSCT is the sonic boom created by supersonic overland flight. Commercial overland supersonic flight is pro- hibited by law in the United States. In order to examine the possibility of modifying this law, technologists must first es- tablish an acceptability criteria and then demonstrate that this criteria can be met with an economically viable vehicle design concept. Even if overland supersonic flight does not become a reality, methods of predicting primary boom footprints, caustic levels and locations, and a statistical variability of waveforms due to atmospheric effects must be available so that any effects of sonic boom could be predicted. Most currently used prediction methods are based on the- ories developed by Whitham1 for a supersonic projectile, and by Walkden2 who extended the analysis to include lifting bod- ies. These theories combined with the supersonic area rule theory developed by Hayes 3 led to the generally accepted prediction methods described in some detail in Ref. 4. Orig- inally, it was felt that all sonic boom pressure signatures would have attained the standard TV-wave shape when they inter- sected the ground. Work by McLean5 indicated that this was not so for airplanes with extensive lifting surfaces. The "freez- ing" effects of the real atmosphere pointed out by Hayes 6 reinforced the idea that the signature may still retain midfield effects when it intersects the ground. A midfield signature retains effects of the airplane shape and, thus, offers shaping as a possible avenue of minimizing the sonic boom.
Observer-based quantized output feedback control of nonlinear systems

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of stabilizing a nonlinear system by means of quantized output feedback. A conceptual framework is presented in which the control input is generated by an observer-based feedback controller acting on quantized output measurements. A stabilization result is established under the assumption that this observer-based controller possesses robustness with respect to output measurement errors in an input-to-state stability (ISS) sense. Designing such observers and controllers is a largely open problem, some partial results on which are discussed. The main goal of the paper is to encourage further work on this important topic.
THE SYNTHESIS OF GEM-CYCLOPENTYL SUBSTITUTED GLUTARATES VIA THE OXIDATIVE RING CONTRACTION OF 2-ACETYLCYCLOHEXANONES

ABSTRACT A two step synthesis of differentially protected gem-cyclopentyl glutarates has been developed from 2-acetylcyclohexanone and acrylates. The key step involves an oxidative ring contraction reaction with hydrogen peroxide. The methodology has been used to prepare intermediates used in the preparation of the atriopeptidase inhibitor candoxatril.
Mechanisms of radiation-induced gene responses

While identifying genes differentially expressed in cells exposed to ultraviolet radiation, we identified a transcript with a 25-nucleotide region that is highly conserved among a variety of species, including Bacillus circulans, pumpkin, yeast, Drosophila, mouse, and man. In the 5' untranslated region of a gene, the sequence is predominantly in a +/+ orientation with respect to the coding DNA strand; while in the coding region and the 3' untranslated region, the sequence is most frequently in a -/+ orientation. The element is found in many different genes that have diverse functions. Gel mobility shift assays demonstrated the presence of a protein in HeLa cell extracts that binds to the sense and antisense single-stranded consensus oligomers, as well as to double-stranded oligonucleotide. When double-stranded oligomer was used, the size shift demonstrated an additional protein-oligomer complex larger than the one bound to either sense or antisense single-stranded consensus oligomers alone. This element may bind to protein(s) that maintain DNA in a single-stranded orientation for transcription, or be important in the transcription-coupled DNA repair process.
An algorithm to design finite field multipliers using a self-dual normal basis

The concept of using a self-dual normal basis to design the Massey-Omura finite-field multiplier is presented. An algorithm is given to locate a self-dual normal basis for GF(2/sup m/) for odd m. A method to construct the product function for designing the Massey-Omura multiplier is developed. It is shown that the construction of the product function based on a self-dual basis is simpler than that based on an arbitrary normal basis. >
Cryptographic redundancy and mixing functions

This paper studies the use of structures based on error correcting codes to achieve secrecy rather than error control. In many cases, however, the same code can achieve both error control and secrecy. It describes an optimal construction for combining multiple semisecure channels, e.g., a bundle of fiber-optic cables or reels of tape sent by independent couriers, into a single channel with much higher security. It shows how mixing and scrambling functions formed from error correcting codes can be used to enhance the security of trunked communications circuits and conventional cryptographic systems which depend, for their security, on unproven assertions about computational difficulty.
A Survey for Young Spectroscopic Binary K7-M4 Stars in Ophiuchus

This paper describes a high-resolution, infrared spectroscopic survey of young, low-mass stars that is designed to identify and characterize pre-main-sequence spectroscopic binaries. This is the first large infrared radial velocity survey of very young stars to date. The frequency and mass ratio distribution of the closest, low-mass binaries bear directly on models of stellar, brown dwarf, and planetary mass companion formation. Furthermore, spectroscopic binaries can provide mass ratios and ultimately masses, independent of assumptions, needed to calibrate models of young star evolution. I present the initial results from observations of a uniform sample of 33 T Tauri M stars in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud. The average mass of this sample is less than that of other young star radial velocity surveys of similar scope by a factor of ~2. Almost every star was observed at 3-4 epochs over 3 yr with the 10 m Keck II telescope and the facility infrared spectrometer NIRSPEC. An internal precision of 0.43 km s-1 was obtained with standard cross-correlation calibration techniques. Four of the targets are newly discovered spectroscopic binaries, one of which is located in a subarcsecond, hierarchical quadruple system. Three other subarcsecond visual binaries were also serendipitously identified during target acquisition. The spectroscopic multiplicity of the sample is comparable to that of earlier type, pre-main-sequence objects. Therefore, there is no dearth of young, low-mass spectroscopic binary stars, at least in the Ophiuchus region.
Quantum Schubert Calculus

This paper works out the versions of the classical Giambelli and Pieri formulas in the context of quantum cohomology of a complex Grassmannian.
Theoretical determination of the Raman spectra of MgSiO3 perovskite and post-perovskite at high pressure

[1] We use the density functional perturbation theory to determine for the first time the pressure evolution of the Raman intensities for a mineral, the two high-pressure structures of MgSiO3 perovskite and post-perovskite. At high pressures, the Raman powder spectra reveals three main peaks for the perovskite structure and one main peak for the post-perovskite structure. Due to the large differences in the spectra of the two phases Raman spectroscopy can be used as a good experimental indication of the phase transition.
On a class of discrete memoryless broadcast interference channels

We study a class of discrete memoryless broadcast interference channels (DM-BICs), where one of the broadcast receivers is subject to the interference from a point-to-point transmission. A general achievable rate region R based on rate splitting, superposition coding and binning at the broadcast transmitter and rate splitting at the interfering transmitter is derived. Under two partial order broadcast conditions interference-oblivious less noisy and interference-cognizant less noisy, a reduced form of R is shown to be equivalent to the region based on a simpler scheme that uses only superposition coding at the broadcast transmitter. Furthermore, the capacity regions of a DM-BIC under the two partial order broadcast conditions are characterized respectively for the strong and very strong interference conditions.
SEMI-ADDITIVE FUNCTIONALS AND COCYCLES IN THE CONTEXT OF SELF-SIMILARITY

Kernel functions of stable, self-similar mixed moving averages are known to be related to nonsingular flows. We identify and examine here a new functional occuring in this relation and study its properties. To prove its existence, we develop a general result about semi-additive functionals related to cocycles. The functional we identify, is helpful when solving for the kernel function generated by a flow. Its presence also sheds light on the previous results on the subject.
José Martí, Nuestra (Macondo) América

El articulo se enfoca en la herencia y en la trascendencia intelectual de Jose Marti, desde los contextos de la modernizacion frustrada de America hispana en el siglo XX y de sus diversas conceptualizaciones y justificaciones (problemas de la identidad cultural reflejados en el realismo magico y en el macondismo-este derivado de Cien anos de soledad, 1967-, las profecias malogradas de Marti, diversos postulados posmodernos). Desde esta perspectiva se discute el ensayo "fundacional" de Marti, "Nuestra America". Dejando de un lado las lecturas patrioticas acostumbradas, el articulo senala la violencia latente y casi-totalitaria del discurso de Marti, su Realpolitik, su voluntarismo utopico, virajes y contradicciones bipolares, imaginacion cautivante pero vacua, solucion mitico-metaforica del problema de la identidad, todo lo cual problematiza la mision del ensayo. "Nuestra America" emerge como uno de los textos paradigmaticos de la actitud romantica, basicamente conservadora y antimoderna, que el pensamiento hispanoamericano adopta hacia finales del siglo XIX, y que encuentra su figura completa en el macondismo
The transverse proximity effect: a probe to the environment, anisotropy, and megayear variability of qsos

The transverse proximity effect is the expected decrease in the strength of the Lya forest absorption in a QSO spectrum when another QSO lying close to the line of sight enhances the photoionization rate above that due to the average cosmic ionizing background. We select three QSOs from the Early Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey that have nearby foreground QSOs, with proper line of sight tangential separations of 0.50, 0.82, and 1.10 h^{-1} Mpc. We estimate that the ionizing flux from the foreground QSO should increase the photoionization rate by a factor (94, 13, 13) in these three cases, which would be clearly detectable in the first QSO and marginally so in the other two. We do not detect the transverse proximity effect. Three possible explanations are provided: an increase of the gas density in the vicinity of QSOs, time variability, and anisotropy of the QSO emission. We find that the increase of gas density near QSOs can be important if they are located in the most massive halos present at high redshift, but is not enough to fully explain the absence of the transverse proximity effect. Anisotropy requires an unrealistically small opening angle of the QSO emission. Variability demands that the luminosity of the QSO with the largest predicted effect was much lower 10^6 years ago, whereas the transverse proximity effect observed in the HeII Lya absorption in QSO 0302-003 by Jakobsen et al. (2003) implies a lifetime longer than 10^7 years. A combination of all three effects may better explain the lack of Lya absorption reduction. A larger sample of QSO pairs may be used to diagnose the environment, anisotropy and lifetime distribution of QSOs.
Shape and the Information in Medical Images

In the past decade there have been unprecedented theoretical and practical advances in morphometrics, the multivariate statistics of object shape. In this approach, shapes are defined as equivalence classes of discrete point-sets under the operation of the Euclidean similarity group. Three basic ideas underlie scientific analysis of these constructs. First, a distance (Procrustes distance) between every pair of shapes is characterized by a least-squares formula. This metric makes the set of shapes into a Riemannian manifold (Kendall's shape space) and leads immediately to a sturdy algorithm for averaging samples of shapes. Second, a complete linear multivariate analysis of the equivalence classes goes forward after normal projection of these equivalence classes onto the tangent plane to the manifold in the vicinity of the average shape. Third, effects on shape, such as comparisons of group means, may be visualized by the thin-plate spline, an interpolant that also, indirectly, supplies an orthonormal basis for the tangent space. The methods apply quite generally to representations of scenes in terms of corresponding (landmark) points; many extend to the additional information in smooth curves of characteristic shape. This article reviews the three main features of the present toolkit, the underlying statistical and geometric models, and the extensions, some already demonstrated and some currently under construction, that reach out to the additional information content of biomedical images in common clinical or scientific applications. The tasks for which these tools are suited include standardizing scenes against Euclidean similarity transformations or shear transformations, detecting, testing, encoding, or visualizing patterns of shape variation within or between groups, and averaging images after shape variation is normalized. The optimal protocols the new methods provide for many formal problems of image understanding should be considered for versions of the same problems in diverse other application domains.
Classical theory of a free-electron laser

Abstract We present a completely classical analysis of the small-signal regime of a free-electron laser. It is explicitly shown that the amplification is due to stimulated scattering produced by a bunching of the electron distribution.