cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LOCAL GROUP DWARF ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES. I. MAPPING THE DYNAMICS OF NGC 205 BEYOND THE TIDAL RADIUS

NGC 205 is the nearest example of a dwarf elliptical galaxy and the prototype of this enigmatic galaxy class. Photometric evidence suggests that NGC 205, a close satellite of the M31 galaxy, is tidally interacting with its parent galaxy. We present stellar radial velocity measurements out to a projected radius of 20' (5 kpc) in NGC 205 based on Keck DEIMOS multislit spectroscopic observations of 725 individual red giant branch stars. Our kinematic measurements extend from the center out to 6 times the effective radius of NGC 205, well past the expected tidal radius. The contamination in our kinematic sample from M31 field stars is estimated to be a few percent based on maximum likelihood fits to the distribution of stars in position-velocity space. We measure a maximum major-axis rotation speed for the body of NGC 205 of 11 ± 5 km s-1 and note that this is based on observing a definite turnover in the rotation curve; this is the first dE galaxy in which the maximum rotation velocity has been measured. Combined with the velocity dispersion, we conclude that NGC 205 is supported by a combination of rotation and anisotropic velocity dispersion. At a major-axis distance of 45 (1 kpc), the velocity profile of NGC 205 turns over; stars beyond this radius are moving counter to the rotation of the inner part of the galaxy. The turnover radius is coincident with the onset of isophotal twisting and the estimated tidal radius, suggesting that the outer kinematics of NGC 205 is dominated by gravitational interactions with the nearby M31 galaxy. The motion of stars beyond a radius of ~45 implies that NGC 205 is in a prograde encounter with its parent galaxy, M31.
The Case of Weak Will and Wayward Desire.

In this article, I confront Garvey’s argument that a weak-willed individual deserves partial excuse for trying to resist a strong desire that pushes him toward commission of a criminal act even though in the end he unreasonably abandons his resistance and commits the crime. I attempt to refute Garvey’s argument on two counts: one, I question whether the law should indeed provide mitigation to such an offender; and two, I argue that, even if it should, this mitigation may not come in the form of a partial defense. Defenses, even partial, are desert based, and there is nothing in Garvey’s offender’s circumstances that makes him less blameworthy for the crime he committed. A court may choose to treat such an offender more leniently but it should not be mandated to do so.
Leading without Followers: How Politics and Market Dynamics Trapped Innovations in Japan's Domestic Galapagos Telecommunications Sector

While globally successful Japanese industries were able to use their domestic market as a springboard into international markets, Japan’s telecommunications sector became decoupled from global markets, trapping Japanese ICT firms in the domestic market. This persistent pattern of leading without followers was not simply the result of misguided technological choices, ill-informed corporate strategies, or insular government standard-setting processes. Rather, the dynamics of competition, shaped and reshaped by political dynamics and regulatory structures, decoupled it from global markets. These dynamics created a “Galapagos effect”, in which winning in an isolated domestic market led to losing in global markets. Major regulatory shifts transformed the dynamics of competition since the late 1990s, decreasing the isolation of Japan’s telecommunications sector, but some factors pulling it along a proprietary trajectory persist. This paper highlights the dilemma of how to develop beyond a follower status, but avoid becoming a leader without followers.
Financing Security Through Elite Taxation: The Case of Colombia's “Democratic Security Taxes”

Governments across the developing world in general, and Latin America in particular, tend to have difficulty in raising taxes among elites. Beginning in 2002, however, the Colombian government adopted a series of wealth taxes among the wealthiest taxpayers. Revenue from the tax was earmarked for security expenditures and represented about 1 % of GDP. Drawing on elite interviews, surveys, government documents, and media sources, this article studies the factors behind the adoption of the tax. It finds that three main factors make the elite tax possible, namely the combination of fiscal and security crises, cohesion among business and government elites, and improving perceptions of the government's provision of public safety. The findings should inform efforts in the developing world, where low levels of fiscal extraction, deteriorating security conditions, and mounting public safety expenditures are common.
A two-variable refinement of the Stark conjecture in the function-field case

We propose a conjecture refining the Stark conjecture St( $K/k,S$ ) in the function-field case. Of course St( $K/k,S$ ) in this case is a theorem due to Deligne and independently to Hayes. The novel feature of our conjecture is that it involves two - rather than one-variable algebraic functions over finite fields. As the conjecture is formulated in the language and framework of Tate's thesis, we have powerful standard techniques at our disposal to study it. We build a case for our conjecture by: (i) proving a parallel result in the framework of adelic harmonic analysis, which we dub the adelic Stirling formula ; (ii) proving the conjecture in the genus-zero case; and (iii) explaining in detail how to deduce St( $K/k,S$ ) from our conjecture. In the genus-zero case the class of two-variable algebraic functions thus arising includes all the solitons over a genus-zero global field previously studied and applied by the author, collaborators and others. Ultimately the inspiration for this paper comes from striking examples given some years ago by Coleman and Thakur.
The surface of Io - A new model

The role of elemental sulfur on Io is evaluated in light of duplications of its spectral properties by combinations of basalt and condensates of SO2 and its S2O and polysulfur oxide (PSO) dissociation products. Elemental sulfur is not seen to be present in spectrally significant amounts. It is instead suggested that Io's exposed surface consists of mafic silicates which have been partially covered by thin deposits of SO2, PSO, and S2O. A model in which most of the spectrally active frost occurs in the form of thin and ephemeral partial coatings on the topmost regolith particles is seen as most consistent with observations. Attention is drawn to similarities with the surface of Europa.
Responses of tranquilized post-partum ewes to alien lambs

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effect of tranquilization on the responses of ewes to alien lambs substituted for own lambs 48–72 h after parturition. Eleven ewes whose young had been taken away, and nine ewes with a lamb of their own, were penned with alien lambs following a single injection of the tranquilizer perphenazine. Seventeen control ewes, including 15 whose only young had been taken away, were also exposed to alien lambs after receiving placebo injections of normal saline. The responses of the ewes to the alien lambs were studied over a four-day period. All ten tranquilized ewes exposed to a single alien lamb without their own young present readily accepted the strange offspring. All of the tranquilized ewes accompanied by one of their own offspring, and a single ewe that was given an alien set of twins in place of her own single lamb, subsequently rejected the strange young. Six of 15 control ewes, with own young removed, accepted alien lambs. The remaining 11 control ewes rejected alien lambs. The success of fostering appeared to be positively related to the persistence of sucking attempts by the lamb, and inversely related to the aggressiveness of the ewe. Tranquilization under the conditions employed can be an efficient technique for fostering single alien lambs on post-partum ewes that have lost their own lambs, but does not facilitate fostering on ewes with their own young present.
Mathematics for string phenomenology

We survey some of the basic mathematical ideas and techniques which are used in string phenomenology, such as constructions of Calabi–Yau manifolds, singularities and orbifolds, toric geometry, variation of complex structure, and mirror symmetry.
Evaluation of Spatial Differencing Practices for the Discrete-Ordinates Method

Three popular spatial differencing practices for the discrete ordinates method are examined in detail for a basic two-dimensional Cartesian coordinates problem. These differencing schemes are 1) positive, 2) step, and 3) diamond schemes. The diamond scheme is shown to produce negative intensities under certain conditions irrespective of the number of control volumes employed, requiring some form of negative intensity fix-up. In absorbing-emitting or absorbing-emitting-scattering media, grid refinement can result in negative intensities when the diamond scheme is used. The diamond scheme and a positive scheme, which sets the negative intensities encountered in the diamond scheme to zero or very small number for purely absorbing media, can also produce physically unrealistic overshoots. The step scheme, although not considered as accurate as the diamond scheme, gives physically realistic results for the basic problem considered. Further evaluation of Fiveland's positive conditions, and variable weight and exponential-type schemes indicate a need for alternate spatial differencing schemes that describe the physics of radiative heat transfer more accurately.
Advances in tissue engineering

Nearly 30 years ago, we reported on a concept now known as Tissue Engineering. Here, we report on some of the advances in this now thriving area of research. In particular, significant advances in tissue engineering of skin, liver, spinal cord, blood vessels, and other areas are discussed.
Synthesis of colloidal Mn2+:ZnO quantum dots and high-TC ferromagnetic nanocrystalline thin films

We report the synthesis of colloidal Mn(2+)-doped ZnO (Mn(2+):ZnO) quantum dots and the preparation of room-temperature ferromagnetic nanocrystalline thin films. Mn(2+):ZnO nanocrystals were prepared by a hydrolysis and condensation reaction in DMSO under atmospheric conditions. Synthesis was monitored by electronic absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. Zn(OAc)(2) was found to strongly inhibit oxidation of Mn(2+) by O(2), allowing the synthesis of Mn(2+):ZnO to be performed aerobically. Mn(2+) ions were removed from the surfaces of as-prepared nanocrystals using dodecylamine to yield high-quality internally doped Mn(2+):ZnO colloids of nearly spherical shape and uniform diameter (6.1 +/- 0.7 nm). Simulations of the highly resolved X- and Q-band nanocrystal EPR spectra, combined with quantitative analysis of magnetic susceptibilities, confirmed that the manganese is substitutionally incorporated into the ZnO nanocrystals as Mn(2+) with very homogeneous speciation, differing from bulk Mn(2+):ZnO only in the magnitude of D-strain. Robust ferromagnetism was observed in spin-coated thin films of the nanocrystals, with 300 K saturation moments as large as 1.35 micro(B)/Mn(2+) and T(C) > 350 K. A distinct ferromagnetic resonance signal was observed in the EPR spectra of the ferromagnetic films. The occurrence of ferromagnetism in Mn(2+):ZnO and its dependence on synthetic variables are discussed in the context of these and previous theoretical and experimental results.
Crossed intermolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of styrenes by visible light photocatalysis

We report a method for the crossed [2 + 2] cycloaddition of styrenes using visible light photocatalysis. Few methods for the synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted cyclobutanes by photochemical [2 + 2] cycloaddition are known. We show that careful tuning of the electrochemical properties of a ruthenium photocatalyst enable the efficient crossed [2 + 2] cycloaddition of styrenes upon irradiation with visible light. We outline the logic that enables high crossed chemoselectivity, and we also demonstrate that this reaction is remarkably efficient; gram-scale reactions can be conducted with as little as 0.025 mol% of the photocatalyst.
Distributed Rate Allocation for Wireless Networks

This paper develops a distributed algorithm for rate allocation in wireless networks that achieves the same throughput region as optimal centralized algorithms. This cross-layer algorithm jointly performs medium access control and physical-layer rate adaptation. The paper establishes that this algorithm is throughput-optimal for general rate regions. In contrast to on-off scheduling, rate allocation enables optimal utilization of physical-layer schemes by scheduling multiple rate levels. The algorithm is based on local queue-length information, and thus the algorithm is of significant practical value. An important application of this algorithm is in multiple-band multiple-radio throughput-optimal distributed scheduling for white-space networks. The algorithm requires that each link can determine the global feasibility of increasing its current data-rate. In many classes of networks, any one link's data-rate primarily impacts its neighbors and this impact decays with distance. Hence, local exchanges can provide the information needed to determine feasibility. Along these lines, the paper discusses the potential use of existing physical-layer control messages to determine feasibility. This can be considered as a technique analogous to carrier sensing in carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) networks.
Distributed Diagnosis Under Bounded-Delay Communication of Immediately Forwarded Local Observations

We study distributed failure diagnosis under a -bounded communication delay, where each local site transmits its observations to other sites immediately after each observation and the transmitted observation is received within at most more event executions of the plant. A notion of diagnosability is introduced so that any failure can be diagnosed within a bounded delay of its occurrence by one of the local sites using its own observations and the -bounded delayed observations received from other local sites. The local sites communicate among each other using an ldquoimmediate observation passing (iop)rdquo protocol, forwarding any observation immediately up on its occurrence. We construct models for the -bounded communication delay and use them to extend the system and nonfault specification models for capturing the effect of bounded-delay communication. By using the extended system and specification models, the distributed diagnosis problem under the immediate observation passing protocol is then converted to a decentralized diagnosis problem of our previous work, where the results are applied for verifying diagnosability and for synthesizing local diagnosers. Methods by which complexity of testing diagnosability and of online diagnosis can be reduced are presented. Finally, we compare the notions of diagnosability, codiagnosability, and diagnosability.
One for the road: Public transportation, alcohol consumption, and intoxicated driving

We exploit arguably exogenous train schedule changes in Washington DC to investigate the relationship between public transportation, the risky decision to consume alcohol, and the criminal decision to engage in alcohol-impaired driving. Using variation over time, across days of the week, and over the course of the day, we provide evidence that overall there was little effect of expanded public transit service on DUI arrests, alcohol related fatal traffic and alcohol related arrests. However, we find that these overall effects mask considerable heterogeneity across geographic areas. Specifically, we find that areas where bars are within walking distance to transit stations experience increases in alcohol related arrests and decreases in DUI arrests. We observe no sign of behavioral changes in neighborhoods without any bars within walking distance of transit stations.
Homoleptic star-shaped Ru(II) complexes

A series of homoleptic Ru(II) star complexes were synthesized and bound to semi- conductor metal oxide nanoparticle films. In the nanosized, highly symmetrical "star"- shaped complexes, the Ru(II) center is coordinated to three identical bipyridine ligands car- rying conjugated oligophenylenethynylene (OPE) rigid linker units terminating with carboxylic anchor groups. In this report, we describe how this concept is being applied toward the development of chromophoric units that are isolated from the surface of the semi- conductor, and some possible advantages of this surface engineering strategy.
The Preparation of 4,5-Dihydro-3-Aryl-Naphth-[1,2-c]- Isoxazoles From Dilithiated 1-Tetralone Oxime and Aromatic Esters

Abstract Dilithiated 1-tetralone oxime was prepared in excess lithium diisopropylamide and condensed with a variety of esters followed by acid cyclization of C-acylated intermediates to substituted 4,5-dihydronaphth-[1,2-c]-isoxazoles.
Null-Space Square-Root Information Filtering and Smoothing for Singular Problems

A new algorithm that does square-root information filtering and fixed-interval smoothing has been developed for singular discrete-time estimation problems. Singular measurements arise if one uses a Markov measurement error model or if one uses the quaternion normalization constraint in an attitude determination problem. The dynamics model becomes singular if delay states are included or if a system time constant is short compared to the sample interval. The new algorithm uses the lower-triangular/orthonormal factorization null-space method to deal with the estimation problem's linear equality constraints. This method is applied recursively and transforms the estimated quantities into components that are exactly determined by the constraints and components in the null space of the constraints. These latter components are estimated using linear least-squares techniques, which is the standard approach of square -root information filtering and smoothing methods. The new algorithm uses more computation and more memory than the only known competitor that can solve similar problems, but it has superior numerical stability. This improvement is demonstrated using an example one-dimensional tracking problem that includes Markov models and dynamics and measurement singularities. The new algorithm's computations nearly achieve machine precision even when the competing algorithm produces meaningless results.
Frontiers and sustainable economic development

Exploiting new resource “frontiers,” such as agricultural land and mineral reserves, is a fundamental feature of economic development in poor economies. Yet frontier-based development is symptomatic of a pattern of economy-wide resource exploitation in developing economies that: (a) generates little additional economic rents, and (b) what rents are generated are not being reinvested in other sectors. Such development is inherently unsustainable. The following paper explains this phenomenon, and provides evidence that long-run expansion of agricultural land and oil and natural gas proved reserves across poor economies is associated with lower levels of real income per capita. The paper proposes a frontier expansion hypothesis to explain why the structural economic dependence of these economies on frontier land expansion and resource exploitation is not conducive to sustained long-run growth. The key to sustainable economic development in poor economies will be improving the economic integration between frontier and other sectors of the economy, targeting policies to improved resource management in frontier areas and overcoming problems of corruption and rent-seeking in resource sectors.
A tight closure analogue of analytic spread

An analogue of the theory of integral closure and reductions is developed for a more general class of closures, called Nakayama closures. It is shown that tight closure is a Nakayama closure by proving a “Nakayama lemma for tight closure”. Then, after strengthening A. Vraciu's theory of *-independence and the special part of tight closure, it is shown that all minimal *-reductions of an ideal in an analytically irreducible excellent local ring of positive characteristic have the same minimal number of generators. This number is called the *-spread of the ideal, by analogy with the notion of analytic spread.
Preparation of α-Oxygenated Ketones by the Dioxygenation of Alkenyl Boronic Acids

Two in two: Dioxygenation of alkenyl boronic acids has been achieved with N-hydroxyphthalimide. The two-step process involves etherification of an alkenyl boronic acid with N-hydroxyphthalimide followed by a [3,3] rearrangement. The dioxygenated product can then be hydrolyzed to form either the corresponding α-hydroxy ketone or the α-benzoyloxy ketone.
Crosstalk between three-dimensional plasmonic slot waveguides

We investigate in detail the crosstalk between three-dimensional plasmonic slot waveguides. We show that, with appropriate design, the crosstalk between such waveguides can be greatly reduced, without significantly affecting their modal size and attenuation length.
Rounding Arrangements Dynamically

We describe a robust, dynamic algorithm to compute the arrangement of a set of line segments in the plane, and its implementation. The algorithm is robust because, following Greene7 and Hobby,11 it rounds the endpoints and intersections of all line segments to representable points, but in a way that is globally topologically consistent. The algorithm is dynamic because, following Mulmuley,16 it uses a randomized hierarchy of vertical cell decompositions to make locating points, and inserting and deleting line segments, efficient. Our algorithm is novel because it marries the robustness of the Greene and Hobby algorithms with Mulmuley's dynamic algorithm in a way that preserves the desirable properties of each.
Time-Dependent Fully Nonlinear Geostrophic Adjustment

Shock-capturing numerical methods are employed to integrate the fully nonlinear, rotating 1D shallow-water equations starting from steplike nongeostrophic initial conditions (a Rossby adjustment problem). Such numerical methods allow one to observe the formation of multiple bores during the transient adjustment process as well as their decay due to rotation. It is demonstrated that increasing the rotation and/or the nonlinearity increases the rate of decay. Additionally, the time required for adjustment to be completed and its dependence on nonlinearity is examined; this time is found to be highly measure dependent. Lastly, the final adjusted state of the system is observed through long time integrations. Although the bores that form provide a mechanism for dissipation, their decay results in a final state in very good agreement with the one computed by well-known (dissipationless) conservation methods.
Nonenzymatic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of α‐(Arylthio)‐ and α‐(Alkylthio)alkanoic Acids

The title resolution proceeds smoothly in the presence of a pyrimidobenzothiazole organocatalyst.
IDEA: A New Intrusion Detection Data Source

In the context of computer systems, an intrusion is generally considered to be a harmful endeavor to prevent others from legitimate use of that system, to obtain data which is not normally available to the intruder, or to plant data or disrupt data already existent on the machines. Traditionally intrusion detection has relied on two data sources: various log files which record user's activity, and network traffic which contains potential threats. This research presents a system which we call IDEA; the Intrusion DEtection Automata system. We utilize a third source of data for intrusion detection in the form of an instrumented process. Open source software is recompiled using a modified compiler we have created, and the resulting executable program generates the data as it runs. An external monitoring facility then checks the behavior of the program against known good execution paths. These paths are specified either using a domain specific language and hand-written rules, or by running the software in a learning mode and capturing the normal behavior for later comparison.
IS THERE DOWRY INFLATION IN SOUTH ASIA

Abstract. This article is the first systematic attempt to measure the existence and degree of dowry inflation in South Asia. The popular press and scholarly literature have assumed dowry inflation in South Asia for some time, and there are now a number of theoretical papers that have attempted to explain the rise of dowries in South Asia. Despite these advances, there has been no systematic study of dowry inflation. Using large-sample retrospective survey data from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal, researchers assess the empirical evidence for dowry inflation. They find no evidence that real dowry amounts have systematically increased over time in South Asia.
Differential Raman cross section of dimethyl sulfide

Biogenic sulfur compounds such as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) are important contributors to the global carbon cycle. The differential Raman cross section of DMS relative to the nitrogen fundamental, σDMS, has been measured at several excitation wavelengths in order to assess the applicability of Raman spectroscopy for the direct quantitative measurement of this compound. At 488 nm, σDMS for the ν6 carbon–sulfur stretching mode was found to be 4.9 ± 1.6, while for the ν2 carbon–hydrogen stretching mode it was 2.8 ± 0.9. Using, KrF laser excitation, values for σDMS could be measured simultaneously at two excitation wavelengths, 248.32 and 248.69 nm. The average values of σDMS for 248-nm excitation based on measurements at these two excitation wavelengths were 3.5 ± 1.4 for the carbon–sulfur stretching mode and 4.6 ± 0.6 for the carbon–hydrogen stretching mode. The results indicate that no significant resonance enhancement of σDMS for either mode occurs, although they show some slight enhancement of the cross section for the ν2 band (CH stretching mode). It was concluded that the measured values of σDMS are high enough to allow the quantitative detection of DMS at the millimolar level. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Working over Time: Dynamic Inconsistency in Real Effort Tasks

Experimental tests of dynamically inconsistent time preferences have largely relied on choices over time-dated monetary rewards. Several recent studies have failed to nd the standard patterns of present bias. However, such monetary studies contain oftendiscussed confounds. In this paper, we sidestep these confounds and investigate choices over consumption (real eort) in a longitudinal experiment. We pair this eort study with a companion monetary discounting study. We conrm very limited time inconsistency in monetary choices. However, subjects show considerably more present bias in eort. Furthermore, present bias in the allocation of work has predictive power for demand of a meaningfully binding commitment device. Therefore our ndings validate a key implication of models of dynamic inconsistency, with corresponding policy implications.
An Integrated in Silico Analysis of Drug-Binding to Human Serum Albumin

Approaches such as quantitative structure−activity relationships (QSAR) and molecular modeling are integrated with the study of complex networks to understand drug binding to human serum albumin (HSA). A robust QSAR model using the topological substructural molecular descriptors/design (TOPS-MODE) approach has been derived and shows good predictability and interpretability in terms of structural contribution to drug binding to HSA. A perfect agreement exists between the group/fragment contributions found by TOPS-MODE and the specific interactions of drugs with HSA. These results indicate a preponderant contribution of hydrophobic regions of drugs to the specific binding to drug-binding sites 1 and 2 in HSA and specific roles of polar groups which anchor drugs to HSA binding sites. The occurrence of fragments contributing to drug binding to HSA can be represented by complex networks. The fragment-to-fragment complex network displays “small-world” and “scale-free” characteristics and in this way is similar ...
Chairing a WTO Negotiation

Since 1997 efforts by member states of the World Trade Organization to negotiate multilateral decisions, at the ministerial level and below, have been less efficient and less legitimate than many would prefer. Yet proposals for formal changes to decision-making institutions have not achieved consensus. Meanwhile, member states have given a limited role to the chairs of their negotiating bodies to build consensus and mediate deadlocks. Very little has been published describing how chairs perform this function or assessing the effectiveness of different techniques. Research indicates that WTO chairs use three types of mediation tactics. The most passive are observation, diagnosis and communication tactics. Type 2 are called formulation tactics, and occasionally they use the most directive or manipulative tactics. Each type of move raises its own dilemmas for the chair, whose decisions are sometimes controversial. The way these mediators operate may have a significant effect on the likelihood of agreement, the distribution of gains and losses, and the WTO’s legitimacy, even in a famously ‘member-driven’ organization. A review of recent experience points to lessons for future practice and suggests an informal innovation to enhance chairs’ preparation for this task.
Labor Conflict and Foreign Investments: An Analysis of FDI in India

This paper analyzes patterns of foreign direct investment in India. We investigate how labor conflict, credit constraints, and indicators of a state’s economic health influence location decisions of foreign firms. We account for the possible endogeneity of labor conflict variables in modeling the location decisions of foreign firms. This is accomplished by using a state-specific fixed effects framework that captures the presence of unobservables, which may influence investment decisions and labor unrest simultaneously. Results indicate that labor unrest is highly endogenous across the states of India, and has a strong negative impact on foreign investment.
ABSOLUTE CONFIGURATION AND TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF (+)-CURACIN A, AN ANTIPROLIFERATIVE AGENT FROM THE CYANOBACTERIUM LYNGBYA MAJUSCULA

The absolute configuration of curacin A was determined as (2R,13R,19R,21S)-1 by comparison of degradation products 2 and 3 with the same materials prepared by asymmetric synthesis. The total synthesis of 1 was completed from (1R,2S)-2-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (8) and the amino alcohol derivative 46. The latter was prepared from 4-pentynal (14) and the Garner aldehyde (43). Asymmetric allylation of 14 followed by methylation of the derived alcohol 16 gave 17, which was subjected to zirconation−iodination to yield 18. The latter was coupled to the vinyl boronate 21, prepared from 4-pentynyl acetate (20), in the presence of Pd(0), and the resultant trienol 22 was converted to phosphonium iodide 24. Wittig reaction of the ylide from 24 with 43 afforded tetraene 44 which produced 45 upon methanolysis. The mesylate 46 was advanced to thioester 48 either by direct coupling with potassium thiolate 47 obtained from (−)-8 or indirectly via 49. The amino thioester liberated from 48 underwent thermal cycliza...
Base-Catalyzed Stereoselective Isomerization of Electron-Deficient Propargylic Alcohols to E-Enones

We have developed highly stereoselective methods to isomerize electron-deficient propargylic alcohols to E-enones under mild conditions (EWG = electron-withdrawing group). Among weak bases we screened, catalytic (10-20 mol %) 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) was found to be effective in most cases. When the substrate is conjugated with an amide, the addition of sodium acetate catalyzed the isomerization.
Co-processed Poultry Litter and Dewatered Municipal Biosolids: Feasibility as an Alternative Management Approach for Surplus Waste

Neither poultry litter nor DMB currently have economically sustainable utilization options that are also environmentally sustainable. The purpose of this research is to investigate the appropriateness of blending poultry litter and DMB as a sustainable way to utilize these products, for use in agricultural practices, in a cost efficient manner.
Theory of crystal growth and interface motion in crystalline materials

Abstract The theory of crystal growth for diffuse and for non-singular surfaces is re-examined. It is found that if a critical driving force is exceeded the surface will be able to advance normal to itself without needing steps; if this driving force is not exceeded lateral step motion is necessary. For extremely diffuse interfaces this critical driving force will be so small that any measurable driving force will exceed it. For sharp interfaces the critical driving force will be very large, and most growth will occur by lateral step motion. For most systems however the critical driving force should be accessible experimentally. In addition the nature of a step in a diffuse interface is discussed and its energy calculated. The conditions for interface motion by classical nucleation or screw dislocation mechanisms are derived.
The Gravity Probe B Relativity Mission

Abstract The NASA/Stanford Relativity Mission Gravity Probe B (GP-B) experiment will provide two extremely precise tests of General Relativity based on observations of electrically suspended gyroscopes in a satellite in a 650 km circular polar orbit around the Earth. The project is now nearing completion. Final assembly of the instrument will take place later this year and launch is scheduled for October 2000. GP-B will provide a very accurate measurement of the frame-dragging effect, with its subtle connections to gravitomagnetism and Mach's principle. In addition to measuring frame dragging to 0.3%, it will measure the geodetic effect to approximately 1 part in 105. GP-B is a controlled physics experiment where error terms such as the Newtonian drifts of gyroscopes are reduced to negligible values, and where the apparatus is under the experimenters' control.
Millihertz quasi‐periodic optical oscillations in 4U 0614+091

We report the discovery of a 1-mHz optical quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the candidate ultra-compact low-mass X-ray binary 4U 0614+091. The ultra-low-frequency QPO has no X-ray counterpart in contemporaneous RXTE/PCA data and is likely a signature of structure in the accretion disc. The QPO can be reasonably fitted with a single sine wave but with a phase jump part way through the observation, indicating that it is not coherent. We also identify a 48-min modulation, approximately consistent with the suggested orbital period of O’Brien and Shahbaz et al. If this is indeed orbital, it supports an identification of 4U 0614+091 as an ultra-compact source.
Low molecular weight organogelators for water

Mono-urea serine derivatives with low molecular weights were prepared in one step and show remarkable self-assembling and gelation properties in water.
Platform for integrated vacuum microelectronic circuits

Vacuum devices are preferred to solid-state for applications requiring radiation stability, a wide range in operating temperature, or high power at high frequency. However, difficulties associated with integrating these devices on the microscale have limited their development. We describe a monolithic vacuum microelectronic integration platform based on freestanding polysilicon MEMS devices with integrated carbon nanotube (CNT) field emitters. A four panel vacuum microtriode consisting of a cathode, extraction grid, control grid, and anode is being developed as the key active circuit component of the platform. We also describe efforts to develop cathodes with sufficient emission stability and lifetime for practical circuit implementation. Lifetime of CNT-based cathodes is being optimized through use of multilayer catalysts and CNT coating processes. This platform has the potential to enable high performance, integrated vacuum microelectronic circuits including amplifiers, oscillators, and logic circuits.
Thermal Expansion and Diffusion Coefficients of Carbon Nanotube-Polymer Composites

Classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations employing Brenner potential for intra-nanotube interactions and van der Waals forces for polymer-nanotube interface have been used to investigate thermal expansion and diffusion characteristics of carbon nanotube-polyethylene composites. Addition of carbon nanotubes to polymer matrix is found to significantly increase the glass transition temperature Tg, and thermal expansion and diffusion coefficients in the composite above Tg. The increase has been attributed to the temperature dependent increase of the excluded volume for the polymer chains, and the findings could have implications in the composite processing, coating and painting applications.
Enhancement in Quality Factor of SRF Niobium Cavities by Material Diffusion

An increase in the quality factor of superconducting radiofrequency cavities is achieved by minimizing the surface resistance during processing steps. The surface resistance is the sum of temperature independent residual resistance and temperature/material dependent Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) resistance. High temperature heat treatment usually reduces the impurities concentration from the bulk niobium, lowering the residual resistance. The BCS part can be reduced by selectively doping non-magnetic impurities. The increase in quality factor, termed as Q-rise, was observed in cavities when titanium or nitrogen thermally diffused in the inner cavity surface.
Distributions of flux vacua

We give results for the distribution and number of flux vacua of various types, supersymmetric and nonsupersymmetric, in IIB string theory compactified on Calabi-Yau manifolds. We compare this with related problems such as counting attractor points.
Compton Scattering on Light Nuclei

Compton scattering on light nuclei (A = 2, 3) has emerged as an effective avenue to search for signatures of neutron polarizabilities, both spin-independent and spin-dependent ones. In this discussion I will focus on the theoretical aspect of Compton scattering on light nuclei; giving first a brief overview and therafter concentrating on our Compton scattering calculations based on Chiral effective theory at energies of the order of pion mass. These elasticγd andγHe-3 calculations include nucleons, pions as the basic degrees of freedom. I will also discuss γd results where the� -isobar has been included explicitly. Our results on unpolarized and polarization observables suggest that a combination of experiments and further theoretical efforts will provide an extraction of the neutron polarizabilities.
Development of a Bioorthogonal and Highly Efficient Conjugation Method for Quantum Dots using Tetrazine-Norbornene Cycloaddition

We present a bioorthogonal and modular conjugation method for efficient coupling of organic dyes and biomolecules to quantum dots (QDs) using a norbornene-tetrazine cycloaddition. The use of noncoordinating functional groups combined with the rapid rate of the cycloaddition leads to highly efficient conjugation. We have applied this method to the in situ targeting of norbornene-coated QDs to live cancer cells labeled with tetrazine-modified proteins.
Comparative Performance of Several Flexible Docking Programs and Scoring Functions: Enrichment Studies for a Diverse Set of Pharmaceutically Relevant Targets

Virtual screening by molecular docking has become a widely used approach to lead discovery in the pharmaceutical industry when a high-resolution structure of the biological target of interest is available. The performance of three widely used docking programs (Glide, GOLD, and DOCK) for virtual database screening is studied when they are applied to the same protein target and ligand set. Comparisons of the docking programs and scoring functions using a large and diverse data set of pharmaceutically interesting targets and active compounds are carried out. We focus on the problem of docking and scoring flexible compounds which are sterically capable of docking into a rigid conformation of the receptor. The Glide XP methodology is shown to consistently yield enrichments superior to the two alternative methods, while GOLD outperforms DOCK on average. The study also shows that docking into multiple receptor structures can decrease the docking error in screening a diverse set of active compounds.
On Positivity in T-Equivariant K-Theory of Flag Varieties

We prove some general results on the T-equivariant K-theory K T (G/P) of the flag variety G/P, where G is a complex semisimple algebraic group, P is a parabolic subgroup, and T is a maximal torus contained in P. In particular, we make a conjecture about a positivity phenomenon in K T (G/P) for the product of two basis elements written in terms of the basis of K T (G/P) given by the dual of the structure sheaf (of Schubert varieties) basis. (For the full flag variety G/B, this dual basis is closely related to the basis given by Kostant-Kumar.) This conjecture is parallel to (but different from) the conjecture of Griffeth-Ram for the structure constants of the product in the structure sheaf basis. We give explicit expressions for the product in the T-equivariant K-theory of projective spaces in terms of these bases. In particular, we establish our conjecture and the conjecture of Griffeth-Ram in this case.
High-perveance W-band sheet-beam electron gun design

A design methodology for sheet-beam formation and solenoidal magnetic field transport is described, and a point design for a W-band amplifier gun and beam transport is presented. The gun topology flexibly permits adjustment of beam width to accommodate various interaction circuits while maintaining beam height. This topology has been employed in the design of a 19.5 kV, 3.6 A (1.32 mu-perv.) gun with beam final cross-section of approximately 4.2 mm x; 0.32 mm, using the 3-D gun code MICHELLE in conjunction with the magnet code MAXWELL-3D. Beam thermal effects due to cathode temperature are also included in the simulation.
Keeping consumers in the red: Hedonic debt prioritization within multiple debt accounts

In our paper we contribute to the burgeoning literature in the psychology of debt repayment. Across three experiments, we explore the effects of the type (hedonic or utilitarian) and the timing of debt on consumers' debt repayment when managing multiple debt accounts. While prior literature has demonstrated that debtors who own multiple credit cards behave irrationally by paying down smaller balances rather than balances with higher interest rates, we found that debts incurred for hedonic purchases and in the distant past (versus proximal past) amplify this effect. The anticipated impact of debt repayment on consumption enjoyment is found to mediate this effect.
Do Better Customers Utilize Electronic Distribution Channels? The Case of PC Banking

Many service firms are pursuing electronic distribution strategies to augment existing physical infrastructure for product and service delivery. But little systematic study has been made for whether and how characteristics or behaviors might differ between customers who use electronic delivery systems and those who use traditional channels. We explore these differences by comparing customers who utilize personal-computer-based home banking (PC banking) to other bank customers. Case studies and detailed customer data from four institutions suggest that PC banking customers are apparently more profitable, principally due to unobservable characteristics extant before the adoption of PC banking. Demographic characteristics and changes in customer behavior following adoption of PC banking account for only a small fraction of overall differences. It also appears that retention is marginally higher for customers of the online channel.
Improved method for samarium diiodide induced reductive coupling reactions of acid halides

Abstract Acid halides are known to be reductively coupled with aldehydes and ketones in the presence of samarium diiodide to generate α-hydroxy ketones. Low yields coupled product are obtained due to the competitive process of tetrahydrofuran attack on the acid chloride. This competitive reaction can be avoided and yields improved by preparation of samarium diiodide in acetonitrile.
Benchmarking competitiveness in transition economies

This paper constructs an indicator for the current level of international competitiveness of countries in transition. We find that Hungary is the most competitive country in the group while Turkmenistan is the least. Competitiveness measurement, in our view, is a way to use uniform criteria to gauge the extent to which a country makes use of various levers to promote sustained improvements in its well-being. We construct our measure of competitiveness drawing upon both the popular literature on competitiveness as well as modern economic theory. The approach acknowledges the importance of synergies between firms, markets, and government and, above all, the crucial role of institutions. Our choice of variables stresses the special characteristics of transition countries. By bringing to bear all the existing data on these countries, together with new survey data collected for the purpose, we are able to go beyond the mere ranking of countries to decompose the sources of competitiveness into their constituent parts. This allows policy makers to identify areas where their countries are lagging behind relative to other countries in their region. Our indicator is also compatible with the Global Competitiveness Report series categories, thus allowing us to benchmark transition countries against the rest of the world. JEL classification: C82, O47, O57, P27, P52.
Metal–silicate partitioning of cesium: Implications for core formation

Here we present the first set of metal-silicate partitioning data for Cs, which we use to examine whether the primitive man- tle depletion of Cs can be attributed to core segregation. Our experiments independently varied pressure from 5 to 15 GPa, temperature from 1900 to 2400 � C, metallic sulfur content from pure Fe to pure FeS, silicate melt polymerization, expressed as a ratio of non-bridging oxygens to tetrahedrally coordinated cations (nbo/t) from 1.26 to 3.1, and fO2 from two to four log units below the iron-wustite buffer. The most important controls on the partitioning behavior of alkalis were the metallic sul- fur content, expressed as XS, and the nbo/t of the silicate liquid. Normalization of XS to 0.5 yielded the following expressions for D-values as a function of nbo/t: log DNa = � 2.0 + 0.44 · (nbo/t), log DK = � 2.4 + 0.67 · (nbo/t), and log DCs = � 3.2 + 1.17 · (nbo/t). Normalization of nbo/t to 2.7 resulted in the following equations for D-values as a function of S content: log DNa = � 4.1 + 6.4 · XS, log DK = � 7.7 + 13.9 · XS, and log DCs = � 12.1 + 23.3 · XS. There appears to be a negative pressure effect up to 15 GPa, but it should be noted that this trend was not present before normalization, and is based on only two measurements. There is a positive trend in cesium's metal-silicate partition coefficient with increasing temperature. DCs exhibits the largest change and increased by a factor of three over 500 � C. The effect of oxy- gen fugacity has not been precisely determined but in general, lowering fO2 by two log units resulted in a rise in all D-values of approximately an order of magnitude. In general, the sensitivity of partition coefficients to changing parameters increased with atomic number. The highest D-value for Cs observed in this study is 0.345, which was obtained at nbo/t of 2.7 and a metal phase of pure FeS. This metallic composition has far more S than has been suggested for any credible core-forming metal. We therefore conclude that the depletion of Cs in Earth's mantle is either caused by radically different behavior of Cs at pressures higher than 15 GPa or is not related to core formation. Even so, we have shown that a planet with a sufficient S inventory may incor- porate significant amounts of alkali elements into its core. � 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.