cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Ionic Conduction in AgCl-Al2O3 Composites Induced by Plastic Deformation

Composites of AgCl and A12O3 were prepared by impregnating an alumina fiber paper with molten AgCl. The as-prepared composites showed no enhancement in the conductivity compared with pure AgCl samples prepared in a similar manner. When plastically deformed, the conductivity of both the pure and composite materials increased. After annealing at high temperatures, the conductivity of the pure AgCl sample decreased to the as-prepared value, whereas the composite maintained a 2- to 5-fold enhanced conductivity. This enhanced conductivity is due to deformation-induced defects which are stabilized by the alumina fibers rather than due to the AgCl/AI2O3 interface.
A simplified test for preference rationality of two-commodity choice

We provide a simplified test to determine if choice data from a two-commodity consumption set satisfies the Generalized Axiom of Revealed Preference (GARP), and thus the preference or utility maximization hypothesis. We construct an algorithm for this test and illustrate its application on experimental choice data.
Automated three-axis gonioreflectometer for computer graphics applications

We describe an automated three-axis gonioreflectometer, which can help increase the physical realism of computer graphics renderings by providing light scattering data for the surfaces in a scene. The gonioreflectometer performs rapid measurements of the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) for flat, isotropic, sample surfaces over the complete visible spectrum and over most of the incident and reflection hemispheres. The instrument employs a broadband light source and a detector with a diffraction grating and linear diode array. Validation is achieved by comparisons against reference surfaces and other instruments. The accuracy and spectral and angular ranges of the BRDFs are appropriate for computer graphics imagery, while reciprocity and energy conservation are preserved. Measured BRDFs on rough aluminum, metallic silver paint, and a glossy yellow paint are reported, and an example rendered automotive image is included.
Massive Quiescent Cores in Orion. II. Core Mass Function

We have surveyed submillimeter continuum emission from relatively quiescent regions in the Orion molecular cloud to determine how the core mass function in a high-mass star-forming region compares to the stellar initial mass function. Such studies are important for understanding the evolution of cores to stars, and for comparison to formation processes in high- and low-mass star-forming regions. We used the SHARC II camera on the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory telescope to obtain 350 μm data having angular resolution of about 9'', which corresponds to 0.02 pc at the distance of Orion. Further data processing using a deconvolution routine enhances the resolution to about 3''. Such high angular resolution allows a rare look into individually resolved dense structures in a massive star-forming region. Our analysis combining dust continuum and spectral line data defines a sample of 51 Orion molecular cores with masses ranging from 0.1 to 46 M☉ and a mean mass of 9.8 M☉, which is 1 order of magnitude higher than the value found in typical low-mass star-forming regions, such as Taurus. The majority of these cores cannot be supported by thermal pressure or turbulence, and are probably supercritical. They are thus likely precursors of protostars. The core mass function for the Orion quiescent cores can be fitted by a power law with an index equal to -0.85 ± 0.21. This is significantly flatter than the Salpeter initial mass function and is also flatter than the core mass function found in low and intermediate star-forming regions. When compared with other massive star-forming regions such as NGC 7538, this slope is flatter than the index derived for samples of cores with masses up to thousands of M☉. Closer inspection, however, indicates slopes in those regions similar to our result if only cores in a similar mass range are considered. Based on the comparison between the mass function of the Orion quiescent cores and those of cores in other regions, we find that the core mass function is flatter in an environment affected by ongoing high-mass star formation. Thus, it is likely that environmental processes play a role in shaping the stellar IMF later in the evolution of dense cores and the formation of stars in such regions.
Performance improvement in the management of sepsis.

Abstract Sepsis guidelines, although creating a base to allow change in health care practitioner behavior, do not, in and of themselves, effect change. Change only comes with institution of a PI program, converting a core of key goals of guideline recommendations to quality indicators, and giving feedback on performance. These quality indicators are tracked before or during (recommended approach) initiation of hospital-wide education to evaluate baseline performance. When combining multispecialty and multidisciplinary champions in the ED, hospital wards, ICU, and hospital administrative leadership with timely performance feedback, case failure analysis, and re-education, an opportunity to succeed in decreasing mortality in severe sepsis can be achieved. Sepsis bundle indicators require updating as new evidence emerges and new guidelines are published.(30,31)
The C-finite ansatz

A C-finite sequence is a sequence satisfying a linear recurrence equation with constant coefficients. While it is trivial to multiply two C-finite sequences (just like integers), it is not quite so trivial to “factorize” them, or to decide whether they are “prime”. Here we address these problems.
Evidence for rhombomeric organization of multiple respiratory oscillators in the bullfrog brainstem.

Abstract The anuran brainstem is segmentally organized into rhombomeres (r) and this segmental organization is uniquely preserved throughout development. We hypothesized that rhombomeres associated with cranial nerves (CN) also contain oscillators that are capable of producing rhythmic motor output (bursts) in isolation. We used in vitro brainstem preparations from pre- and post-metamorphic bullfrogs ( Lithobates catesbeianus ) to determine if rhombomeric organization of oscillators is present throughout development. Brainstems were transected into segments containing one or more rhombomeres and motor output was measured with suction electrodes attached to CN V, X and XII. Rhythmic motor output was observed in 85% of tadpoles and 91% of frogs in an anterior segment (r0–r5), 27% of tadpoles and 18% of frogs in the middle segment (r6–r7), and 77% of tadpoles and 55% of frogs in the caudal segment (r8). There were significant reductions in burst frequency and whole nerve amplitude following transections. These data support the hypothesis that brainstem oscillators associated with specific groups of rhombomeres are present throughout development in anurans.
1,7-Asymmetric induction in a nitrogen ring expansion process facilitated by in situ tethering.

There are only a few methods for the asymmetric ring expansion of prochiral ketones. Symmetrically substituted cyclohexanones can be converted to the corresponding ring-expanded caprolactam with excellent 1,7-diastereoselectivity (≥93% ds) and yields (≥86%), using a chiral hydroxy azide-mediated Schmidt reaction.
Additivity of decoherence measures for multiqubit quantum systems

We introduce new measures of decoherence appropriate for evaluation of quantum computing designs. Environment-induced deviation of a quantum system's evolution from controlled dynamics is quantified by a single numerical measure. This measure is defined as a maximal norm of the density matrix deviation. We establish the property of additivity: in the regime of the onset of decoherence, the sum of the individual qubit error measures provides an estimate of the error for a several-qubit system. This property is illustrated by exact calculations for a spin-boson model.
Effect of viscous drag on optimum spanwise lift distribution

• ' l l ' NACA.TN 2340, April 1951. Gerlach, O. H., "Determination of Performance, Stability and Control Characteristics from Measurements in Non-Steady Manoeuvres," AGARD-CP-17, Sept. 1966, pp. 499-523. Gauss, C. F., "Theoria Motus Corporum Coelestium in Sectionibus Solem Ambientium," Univ. of Gottingen, Germany, 1809. Golub, O. H., and Van Loan, C. F., "An Analysis of the Total Least Squares Problem," SI AM Journal ofNumerical Analysis, Vol. 17, No. 6, 1980, pp. 883-893. Gleser, L. J., "Estimation in a Multivariate Errors in Variables Regression Model: Large Sample Results," Annals of Statistics, Vol. 9, No. 1, 1980, pp. 24-44. Huffel, S., "Analysis of the Total Least Squares Problem and Its Use in Parameter Estimation," PhD Dissertation, Leuven Univ., Leuven, Belgium, 1987.
Three Dimensional Analytical Head Field Model of a Perpendicular Recording Head

We previously described a simple, analytical three-dimensional head field model of a perpendicular recording head with a soft magnetic underlayer. In that model, we assumed the presence of two magnetically charged planes to obtain the head field at the region close to the head, surface and under the pole tip. For simplicity of calculation, the charge distribution was approximated by a step function. However, it was found that the field can be obtained analytically from a charge distribution given by a+1/(b-cx2) more accurately than from a step function approximation. In this paper, the derivation of the modified method is explained, and head fields obtained by the modified model are compared with those of the previous model and with large-scale experimental results. The modified model gives smoother head fields and better agreement with large-scale experimental results than the previous model.
Practical Issues In Achieving High-quality HFVS Data

The increase of productivity using simultaneous multiple sources also adds more complexity in field acquisition and data processing. There are a number of key issues associated only with High Fidelity Vibratory Seismic (HFVS1) technology. Understanding its pitfalls, one can fully realize the potential benefits of this technology. We will demonstrate some of the pitfalls by focusing on three main areas: the uniqueness of the phase-encoding scheme; the importance of quality control of vibratory phases in the field; and pitfalls of inverting HFVS data. We apply our best practice to a large 3D data set and illustrate the integration of field acquisition and data processing, leading to high-resolution images of geological structures.
The GF11 supercomputer

Abstract GF11 is a parallel computer currently under construction at the IBM Yorktown Research Center. The machine incorporates 576 floating-point processors arranged in a modified SIMD architecture. Each has space for 2 Mbytes of memory and is capable of 20 Mflops, giving the total machine a peak of 1.125 Gbytes of memory and 11.52 Gflops. The floating-point processors are interconnected by a dynamically reconfigurable non-blocking switching network. At each machine cycle any of 1024 pre-selected permutations of data can be realized among the processors. The main intended application of GF11 is a class of calculations arising from quantum chromodynamics.
Social support as a predictor of the outcome of depressive and anxiety disorder in short-term and long-term psychotherapy

Social support is known to be important for well-being of individuals, but it is not clear how it predicts psychotherapy outcome in patients suffering from depressive or anxiety disorders. The aim of the present study was to study the prediction of social support on the outcome of short-term and long-term psychotherapy. In the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study, 326 psychiatric outpatients, aged 20-46 years, and suffering from depressive or anxiety disorders, were randomly assigned to short-term psychotherapy (short-term psychodynamic or solution-focused) or long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. The level of social support at baseline was assessed using the Brief Inventory of Social Support and Integration (BISSI). Psychiatric symptoms were assessed with the Symptom Check List, Global Severity Index (SCL-90-GSI) at baseline and four times during a 3-year follow-up. Patients with a high level of social support before treatment benefitted more from long-term than short-term therapy at the 3-year follow-up, whereas patients with a low level of social support experienced no such benefit. Pretreatment social support seems to predict differentially short- and long-term psychotherapy and thus needs to be acknowledged when evaluating patient's resources and treatment options. More research is needed to verify these findings.
HEADS AND TAILS: A CHORDATE PHYLOGENY

Abstract— A cladistic analysis of chordates is presented, based on some 320 nested characters. All the principal higher taxa are defined by synapomorphies, including extinct acanthodians and placoderms. The data base draws broadly from adult anatomy (including osteological data for Recent and fossil taxa), embryology, physiology, and biochemistry. A conventional sequence of chordate higher taxa is generated (hemichordates, urochordates, cephalochordates, craniates). Among the craniates, cyclostomes are considered paraphyletic. Gnathostomes are monophyletic, but two fossil “agnathan” groups (galeaspids, osteostracans) are regarded as stem gnathostomes. Chondrichthyans and osteichthyans are monophyletic. New arguments for osteichthyan affinity of acanthodians are presented. The phylogenetic position of placoderms is still problematic, but they can no longer be perceived as stem chondrichthyans or even as “elasmobranchiomorphs.” Recent dipnoans and tetrapods are sister groups, but new paleontological discoveries refute many of their supposed osteological synapomorphies, thereby reopening the possibility of a closer relationship between tetrapods and osteolepiform rhipidistians.
The Dantzig selector and sparsity oracle inequalities

λ as an estimator of λ ∗ . They called this estimator “the Dantzig selector”. We study the properties of
Consequences of Weyl Consistency Conditions

The running of quantum field theories can be studied in detail with the use of a local renormalization group equation. The usual beta-function effects are easy to include, but by introducing spacetime-dependence of the various parameters of the theory one can efficiently incorporate renormalization effects of composite operators as well. An illustration of the power of these methods was presented by Osborn in the early 90s, who used consistency conditions following from the Abelian nature of the Weyl group to rederive Zamolodchikov’s c-theorem in d = 2 spacetime dimensions, and also to obtain a perturbative a-theorem in d = 4. In this work we present an extension of Osborn’s work to d = 6 and to general even d. We compute the full set of Weyl consistency conditions, and we discover among them a candidate for an a-theorem in d = 6, similar to the d = 2, 4 cases studied by Osborn. Additionally, we show that in any even spacetime dimension one finds a consistency condition that may serve as a generalization of the c-theorem, and that the associated candidate c-function involves the coefficient of the Euler term in the trace anomaly. Such a generalization hinges on proving the positivity of a certain “metric” in the space of couplings.
Electronic applications of flexible graphite

Flexible graphite is effective for electronic applications, specifically electro-magnetic interference (EMI) gasketing, resistive heating, thermoelectric-energy generation, and heat dissipation. It is comparable to or better than conductive-filled silicone materials for EMI gasketing. The shielding effectiveness reaches 125 dB. Flexible graphite as a heating element provides temperatures up to 980°C, response half-time down to 4 sec, and heat output at 60 sec up to 5600 J. The through-thickness, absolute thermoelectric power of flexible graphite is -2.6 µV/°C. Flexible graphite is effective as a thermal-interface material if the thickness is low (0.13 mm), the density is low (1.1 g/cm3), and the contact pressure is high (11.1 MPa). These applications make use of the flexibility and compliance of flexible graphite, in addition to its electronic and thermal behavior. Compliance is particularly important for the use of flexible graphite as interface materials, whether the interface is electromagnetic, thermoelectric, or thermal.
Intrinsic resistivity and the SO(5) theory of high-temperature superconductors

The topological structure of the order parameter in Zhang's SO(5) theory of superconductivity allows for an unusual type of dissipation mechanism by which current-carrying states can decay. The resistivity due to this mechanism, which involves orientation rather than amplitude order-parameter fluctuations, is calculated for the case of a thin superconducting wire. The approach is a suitably modified version of that pioneered by Langer and Ambegaokar for conventional superconductors.
Clinical review of clozapine treatment in a state hospital

Medical records of the first 37 patients to begin clozapine treatment at a state hospital in Oregon were reviewed for six months before clozapine treatment and six months after. Patients had a long history of schizophrenia and had responded poorly to antipsychotic medication. Clozapine treatment was generally well tolerated, although the rate of seizures (8 percent) was slightly higher than expected. Psychotic symptoms decreased as measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, as did symptoms of tardive dyskinesia as measured by the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale. Thirty-four patients remained hospitalized after six months of treatment. However, indicators of social function (hospital privilege level, community passes, violent episodes, and episodes of seclusion and restraint) all showed that patients improved markedly after receiving clozapine.
Provably safe and robust learning-based model predictive control

Controller design faces a trade-off between robustness and performance, and the reliability of linear controllers has caused many practitioners to focus on the former. However, there is renewed interest in improving system performance to deal with growing energy constraints. This paper describes a learning-based model predictive control (LBMPC) scheme that provides deterministic guarantees on robustness, while statistical identification tools are used to identify richer models of the system in order to improve performance; the benefits of this framework are that it handles state and input constraints, optimizes system performance with respect to a cost function, and can be designed to use a wide variety of parametric or nonparametric statistical tools. The main insight of LBMPC is that safety and performance can be decoupled under reasonable conditions in an optimization framework by maintaining two models of the system. The first is an approximate model with bounds on its uncertainty, and the second model is updated by statistical methods. LBMPC improves performance by choosing inputs that minimize a cost subject to the learned dynamics, and it ensures safety and robustness by checking whether these same inputs keep the approximate model stable when it is subject to uncertainty. Furthermore, we show that if the system is sufficiently excited, then the LBMPC control action probabilistically converges to that of an MPC computed using the true dynamics.
Purification of dye-labeled oligonucleotides by ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Singly- and dually-labeled synthetic oligonucleotides were purified by ion-pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using a 50x4.6-mm column packed with porous, 2.5 micrometer C(18) sorbent. We studied the mechanism of dye-labeled oligonucleotide retention in order to improve the quality of purification. By-products of oligonucleotide synthesis were characterized by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS). We purified oligonucleotides labeled with 6-carboxyfluorescein (6FAM), hexachlorofluorescein (HEX), tetrachlorofluorescein (TET), carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) and indodicarboxycyanine (Cy3) dyes, as well as dually-labeled TaqMan probes. Purification of a 0.1-micromole oligonucleotide synthesis in a single injection was demonstrated.
Motor case-to-insulation unbond repair accept/reject criterion

As the 1986 failure of a Titan 34D launch vehicle was linked directly to an insulation unbond of a solid rocket motor, a comprehensive nondestructive evaluation of bondline integrity was implemented by the motor manufacturer. Unbonds at the insulation-case interface were discovered in several production units of the Titan 34D solid rocker motors along the forward edge of the motor segment. These unbonds were repaired by machining a "J"-shaped groove in the insulation edge area. In order to assure its flightworthiness, the J-repairs were subjected to acceptance proof tests. Detailed finite element stress analyses were conducted to develop an accept/ reject criterion for use in J-repair proof tests. The proof-test criterion, established in terms of required prooftest loads and test-tool displacements, accounts for the effects of temperature, time-to-load, and J-repair size. The analyses indicate that J-repairs up to 0.25 in. deep can be accepted by the insulation bondline proof test. For a larger repair, however, an additional proof test is required after the J-repair is filled with filler material.
Thermodynamic and kinetic destabilization in LiBH4/Mg2NiH4: promise for borohydride-based hydrogen storage

The reversible LiBH4/Mg2NiH4 combined hydride system for hydrogen storage displays a concerted dehydrogenation reaction beginning at 250 °C with significantly low enthalpy (ΔH = 15.4 ± 2 kJ mol−1 H2) and entropy (ΔS = 62.2 ± 3 J K−1 mol−1 H2).
An Efficient Hybrid Peer-to-Peer System for Distributed Data Sharing

Peer-to-peer overlay networks are widely used in distributed systems. Based on whether a regular topology is maintained among peers, peer-to-peer networks can be divided into two categories: structured peer-to-peer networks in which peers are connected by a regular topology, and unstructured peer-to-peer networks in which the topology is arbitrary. Structured peer-to-peer networks usually can provide efficient and accurate services but need to spend a lot of effort in maintaining the regular topology. On the other hand, unstructured peer-to-peer networks are extremely resilient to the frequent peer joining and leaving but this is usually achieved at the expense of efficiency. The objective of this work is to design a hybrid peer-to-peer system for distributed data sharing which combines the advantages of both types of peer-to-peer networks and minimizes their disadvantages. The proposed hybrid peer-to-peer system is composed of two parts: the first part is a structured core network which forms the backbone of the hybrid system; the second part is made of multiple unstructured peer-to-peer networks each of which is attached to a node in the core network. The core structured network can narrow down the data lookup within a certain unstructured network accurately, while the unstructured networks provide a low-cost mechanism for peers to join or leave the system freely. A data lookup operation first checks the local unstructured network, and then, the structured network. This two-tier hierarchy can decouple the flexibility of the system from the efficiency of the system. Our simulation results demonstrate that the hybrid peer-to-peer system can utilize both the efficiency of structured peer-to-peer network and the flexibility of the unstructured peer-to-peer network and achieve a good balance between the two types of networks.
The role of urethral dilation in managing pediatric neurogenic bladder dysfunction

Urethral dilation is an effective method of treating children with neurogenic bladders who have poor bladder compliance, high leak point pressure, and are unresponsive to standard therapy with anticholinergic medications and clean intermittent catheterization. Urethral dilation can be successfully applied to boys and girls and has few side effects. There are no demonstrated long-term effects on continence. However, the use of urethral dilation has been limited by two factors: 1) general disregard given to urethral dilation when applied to children and adults with recurrent urinary tract infections and lower urinary tract symptoms, and 2) the general efficacy of conventional therapy that limits the number of children who may actually benefit from the procedure.
BIQUANDLES FOR VIRTUAL KNOTS

This paper studies the biquandle as an invariant of virtual knots and links, analyzing its structure via composition of biquandle morphisms where elementary morphisms are associated with the crossings and virtual crossings in the diagram.
Opportunistic orthogonal writing on dirty paper

A simple scheme that achieves the capacity and the reliability function of the wideband Costa dirty-paper channel is proposed. The scheme can be interpreted as an opportunistic version of pulse position modulation (PPM). This interpretation suggests a natural generalization of the scheme which we show to achieve the capacity per unit cost of Gel'fand-Pinsker channels with a zero-cost input letter.
Quantum modulation of island nucleation on top of a metal nanomesa

Abstract We present a theoretical analysis of selectivity of nucleation location for the two-dimensional island on top of a metal nanomesa. It has been observed experimentally that the nucleation can start either along the periphery of the mesa top or in the middle, depending on the mesa height. Such an intriguing nucleation behavior is shown to originate from the thickness-dependent mesa edge barrier for an adatom to jump off the mesa, which we attributed to be induced by the quantum size effect. Based on the experimentally observed nucleation locations, we estimate that the mesa edge barriers for the 5- and 6-layer Pb(1 1 1) mesas can differ by ∼19 ± 5 meV.
Isolation of C76, a chiral (D2) allotrope of carbon

A LONG search for molecular allotropic forms of carbon1–4 culminated in the discovery5–7 of a method for preparing large quantities of the C60 molecule and the subsequent confirmation8,9 of its cage-like truncated-icosahedral structure1. The C70 molecule prepared by the same method was later also isolated and found to have the predicted cylindrical (D5h) structure. Incomplete chromatographic separation of the large molecules C76, C78 and C84 was achieved at the same time10,11, and small quantities of highly enriched samples were later isolated12. Preliminary NMR and spectroscopic studies of these carbon clusters failed, however, to provide evidence for the symmetrical structures predicted earlier13. Here we report the isolation and characterization of the C76 molecule, a third molecular form of carbon following C60 and C70. We isolated and purified substantial quantities of this species using the extraction technique of ref. 6 together with chromatography. The 13C NMR spectrum consists of 19 lines of essentially equal intensity, confirming a compact, cage-like fullerene structure. Among the several thousand possible structures for C76, theoretical calculations by Manolopolous14 predict a chiral structure with D2 symmetry, consisting of a spiralling, double-helical arrangement of edge-sharing pentagons and hexagons. Our NMR spectrum is uniquely consistent with this remarkable structure.
The Ethical and Legal Concerns of Spyware

Abstract Computer users are threatened by stealth invaders, in the form of spyware, which gather users' personal information for target marketing purposes, but can also disrupt the operation of the computer. This article examines the ethical and legal controversy within the United States surrounding spyware. the various methods of battling spyware, including approaches by individual users, organizations, and government oversight, legislation, and litigation, are discussed.
Dynamic Modeling and Simulation of Satellite Tethered Systems

The objective of this paper is to study the dynamic simulation of a tether as it is deployed or retrieved by a winch on a satellite orbiting around earth. In an effort to understand the problem incrementally, the following three models were developed: (a) Model 1: A tether with constant length moves on earth in the plane of constant gravity; (b) Model 2: A tether is deployed from a drum on earth in the plane of constant gravity, i.e., length of the cable changes during deployment; (c) Model 3: A tether is deployed from a drum on an orbiting satellite. These models have been chosen to bring different aspects as well as levels of difficulty in the analysis. For example, in Model 1, the length of cable is fixed and the gravity direction is constant during motion. The equations of motion for this model are derived using Newton's laws and Hamilton's principle to show the equivalence of the two methods. In Model 2, free length of the cable changes during deployment. The changing length of the cable introduces coupled nonlinearities into the motion. Model 3 includes the orbital effect on the motion of deployed cable. Each of these three dynamic models characterized by partial differential equations are first converted to a finite number of ordinary differential equations using Ritz's procedure and are then numerically integrated using Matlab ODE solvers.
High Yield, One-Pot Syntheses of Symmetrical Diaryl- N , N -Dialkyl Carbamoylmethylphosphine Oxide (CMPO) Ligands

Abstract A simple one-pot high yield (˜70%) process is reported for the synthesis, in ˜100 g amounts, of a series of symmetrical diaryl-N,N-di-i-butylcarbamoylphosphine oxide (CMPO) actinide extractants, aryl = 4-t-butylphenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl and 2,4,6-tri-i-propylphenyl.
A New Model for the Distribution of Flare Energies

A new model is presented for the distribution of solar (and stellar) flare energies. Flares are assumed to result from energy release in multiple reconnecting current sheets (RCSs) in the solar corona. The model takes into account both the dynamical evolution of separate RCSs and their interaction by virtue of coalescence. Thus an attempt is made to generalize previously suggested avalanche and RCS models for the flare frequency distribution. The number of RCSs is not specified and the strength of their interaction is governed by a coalescence parameter. Under quite general assumptions, the resulting distribution can be approximated by a power law with the slope 3/2 < α < 7/4, as required by numerous observations. A softer distribution of numerous ‘nanoflares’, responsible for the coronal heating, is also possible under suitable choice of parameters.
Experiments on Tubes Conveying Fluid

Tests are conducted for tubes conveying fluid for six types of support conditions. The objectives are to understand the dynamic characteristics of such systems for different support conditions and to explore the methods to control tube stability. Transition from one instability mechanism to another is examined, and the feasibility of using feedback control to increase the critical flow velocity is demonstrated.
Regimes of Helium Burning

The burning regimes encountered by laminar deflagrations and Zeldovich von Neumann Doring (ZND) detonations propagating through helium-rich compositions in the presence of buoyancy-driven turbulence are analyzed. Particular attention is given to models of X-ray bursts that start with a thermonuclear runaway on the surface of a neutron star and to the thin-shell helium instability of intermediate-mass stars. In the X-ray burst case, turbulent deflagrations propagating in the lateral or radial direction encounter a transition from the distributed regime to the flamelet regime at a density of ~108 g cm-3. In the radial direction, the purely laminar deflagration width is larger than the pressure scale height for densities smaller than ~106 g cm-3. Self-sustained laminar deflagrations traveling in the radial direction cannot exist below this density. Similarly, the planar ZND detonation width becomes larger than the pressure scale height at ~107 g cm-3, suggesting that steady state, self-sustained detonations cannot come into existence in the radial direction. In the thin helium shell case, turbulent deflagrations traveling in the lateral or radial direction encounter the distributed regime at densities below ~107 g cm-3 and the flamelet regime at larger densities. In the radial direction, the purely laminar deflagration width is larger than the pressure scale height for densities smaller than ~104 g cm-3, indicating that steady state laminar deflagrations cannot form below this density. The planar ZND detonation width becomes larger than the pressure scale height at ~5 × 104 g cm-3, suggesting that steady state, self-sustained detonations cannot come into existence in the radial direction.
Non-leptonic hyperon decays in chiral perturbation theory

The non-leptonic hyperon decays are analyzed up to one-loop order including all counterterms in the framework of heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory. We use the exchange of the spin-\(\frac{3}{2}\) decuplet resonances as an indication of which low-energy constants contribute significantly to these investigated processes. We choose four independent decay amplitudes that are not related by isospin relations in order to perform a fit for the pertinent low-energy constants and find a satisfactory fit both for s- and p-waves. The chiral corrections to the lowest order forms for the s-waves are moderate whereas there are significant modifications of the p-wave amplitudes.
Sweepouts of amalgamated 3-manifolds

We show that if two 3‐manifolds with toroidal boundary are glued via a “sufficiently complicated" map then every Heegaard splitting of the resulting 3‐manifold is weakly reducible. Additionally, suppose X[F Y is a manifold obtained by gluing X and Y , two connected small manifolds with incompressible boundary, along a closed surface F . Then the following inequality on genera is obtained: g.X[F Y/ 1 .g.X/Cg.Y/ 2g.F//: Both results follow from a new technique to simplify the intersection between an incompressible surface and a strongly irreducible Heegaard splitting. 57N10, 57M99; 57M27
The Mandatory Disclosure of Trades and Market Liquidity

Financial market regulations require various "insiders" to disclose their trades after the trades are made. We show that such mandatory disclosure rules can increase insiders' expected trading profits. This is because disclosure leads to profitable trading opportunities for insiders even if they possess no private information on the asset's value. We also show that insiders will generally not voluntarily disclose their trades, so for disclosure to be forthcoming, it must be mandatory. Key to the analysis is that the market cannot observe whether an insider is trading on private information regarding asset value or is trading for personal portfolio reasons. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Thermal Water Vapor Emission from Shocked Regions in Orion

Using the Long Wavelength Spectrometer on board the Infrared Space Observatory, we have observed thermal water vapor emission from a roughly circular field of view approximately 75" in diameter centered on the Orion BN-KL region. The Fabry-Perot line strengths, line widths, and spectral line shifts observed in eight transitions between 71 and 125 micron show good agreement with models of thermal emission arising from a molecular cloud subjected to a magnetohydrodynamic C-type shock. Both the breadth and the relative strengths of the observed lines argue for emission from a shock rather than from warm quiescent gas in the Orion core. Although one of the eight transitions appears anomalously strong and may be subject to the effects of radiative pumping, the other seven indicate an H2O/H2 abundance ratio on the order of 5 x 10(exp -4) and a corresponding gas-phase oxygen-to-hydrogen abundance ratio on the order of 4 x 10(exp -4). Given current estimates of the interstellar, gas-phase, oxygen and carbon abundances in the solar vicinity, this value is consistent with theoretical shock models that predict the conversion into water of all the gas-phase oxygen that is not bound as CO. The overall cooling provided by rotational transitions of H2O in this region appears to be comparable to the cooling through rotational lines of CO but is an order of magnitude lower than cooling through H2 emission. However, the model that best fits our observations shows cooling by H2O and CO dominant in that portion of the postshock region where temperatures are below approximately 800 K and neither vibrational nor rotational radiative cooling by H2 is appreciable.
Use of the 1,2,5-thiadiazolidin-3-one 1,1 dioxide and isothiazolidin-3-one 1,1 dioxide scaffolds in the design of potent inhibitors of serine proteinases

The attachment of a phosphate leaving group to the 1,2,5-thiadiazolidin-3-one 1,1 dioxide and isothiazolidin-3-one 1,1 dioxide scaffolds was found to yield highly potent, time-dependent inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase (HLE).
Interest Tax Shields: A Barrier Options Approach

There is a link between barrier options and tax shields of interest expense. We combine this link with a traditional valuation approach, to present practical valuation formulas for interest tax shields in three debt scenarios with risk of default: (1) constant debt, (2) delayed debt, and (3) debt refinancing. In all cases, default and refinancing are contingent on the random evolution of the income of the firm. For each scenario, we work out sensitivity analysis of the value of tax shields with respect to income, growth, systematic and business risk, risk-free interest rate, interest coverage ratio covenant, and the firm’s refinancing strategy.
The beam radiance estimate for volumetric photon mapping

We present a new method for efficiently simulating the scattering of light within participating media. Using a theoretical reformulation of volumetric photon mapping, we develop a novel photon gathering technique for participating media. Traditional volumetric photon mapping samples the in-scattered radiance at numerous points along the length of a single ray by performing costly range queries within the photon map. Our technique replaces these multiple point-queries with a single beam-query, which explicitly gathers all photons along the length of an entire ray. These photons are used to estimate the accumulated in-scattered radiance arriving from a particular direction and need to be gathered only once per ray. Our method handles both fixed and adaptive kernels, is faster than regular volumetric photon mapping, and produces images with less noise.
Quasiparticle interactions in two- and three-dimensional superconductors

I investigate the difference between the quasiparticle properties in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) s-wave superconductors. Using the original BCS model for the pairing interaction and direct Coulomb interaction I show that quasiparticle interactions lead to a stronger energy dependence in the single-particle self-energies in 2D than in 3D superconductors. This difference arises from the presence of the low-lying collective mode of the order parameter in the 2D case which ensures that oscillator strength in the response function is at low frequencies, ~ Δ. This strong quantitative difference between 2D and 3D superconductors points to the importance of treating quasiparticle interactions in low-dimensional superconductors rather than assuming that renormalizations remain unchanged from the normal state.
Voyager observations of Jovian millisecond radio bursts

Voyager Planetary Radio Astronomy data collected over 30-day intervals centered on the two close encounters with Jupiter were utilized to study the characteristics of millisecond-duration radio bursts (s-bursts) at frequencies between 5 and 15 MHz. In this frequency range, s-bursts are found to occur almost independently of Central Meridian Longitude and to depend entirely on the phase of Io with respect to the observer's planetocentric line of sight. Individual bursts typically cover a total frequency range of about 1.5 to 3 MHz, and they are usually strongly circularly polarized. Most bursts in a particular s-burst storm will exhibit the same polarization sense (either right-hand or left-hand), and there is some evidence for a systematic pattern in which one polarizations sense is preferred over the other as a function of Io phase and Central Meridian Longitude. These data are all suggestive of a radio source that is located along the instantaneous Io flux tube and that extends over a linear dimension of 5000 km along the field lines in both the northern and southern Hemispheres.
High-Redshift Superwinds as the Source of the Strongest Mg II Absorbers: A Feasibility Analysis

We present High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer/Keck profiles of four extremely strong (Wr > 1.8 A) Mg II absorbers at 1 1.8 A evolve away from z = 2 to the present. We propose that a substantial fraction of these very strong absorbers are due to superwinds and that their evolution is related to the redshift evolution of star-forming galaxies. Based on the observed redshift number density of Wr > 1.8 A Mg II absorbers at 1 < z < 2, we explore whether it is realistic that superwinds from starbursting galaxies could give rise to these absorbers. Finally, we do an analysis of the superwind connection to damped Lyα absorbers (DLAs). DLAs and superwinds evolve differently and usually have different kinematic structure, indicating that superwinds probably do not give rise to the majority of DLAs.
Interface-Limited Growth of Heterogeneously Nucleated Ice in Supercooled Water

Heterogeneous ice growth exhibits a maximum in freezing rate arising from the competition between kinetics and the thermodynamic driving force between the solid and liquid states. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the atomistic details of this competition, focusing on water properties in the interfacial region along the secondary prismatic direction. The crystal growth velocity is maximized when the efficiency of converting interfacial water molecules to ice, collectively known as the attachment kinetics, is greatest. We find water molecules that contact the intermediate ice layer in concave regions along the atomistically roughened surface are more likely to freeze directly. An increased roughening of the solid surface at large undercoolings consequently plays an important limiting role in the rate of ice growth, as water molecules are unable to integrate into increasingly deeper surface pockets. These results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms for self-assembly of solid...
High propeller twist and unusual hydrogen bonding patterns from the MD simulation of (dG)6 · (dC)6

A molecular dynamics (MD) study of (dG)6 · (dC)6 including counter ions and 292 water molecules was made. The hydrogen bonding pattern and propeller twist angles for the mini-helix are reported as averages for times spanning 21–30, 31–40, 41–50, and 51–60 ps. The propeller twist angles range from 18° to 38°. Bifurcated and interstrand neighboring base (twisted) hydrogen bonding patterns were found.
Polymorphism in Cholesteryl Esters: Cholesteryl Palmitate

Abstract The thermal transitions in cholesteryl palmitate have been evaluated and compared to previously reported data. A sample synthesized from carefully purified cholesterol and palmitic acid using p-toluene sulfonic acid compared directly with previously reported data. A sample of recrystallized ester from a commercial source showed a slightly depressed solid to mesophase transition temperature. However, the mesophase proved to be smectic, commonly reported as monotropic with respect to the solid phase. Both smectic to cholesteric and cholesteric to isotropic liquid transitions were very sharp, indicating a very pure material. It is postulated that a specific impurity, an antioxidant, is responsible for this previously unreported effect. This effect of related compound interaction has been reported for nematic mesophase forming compounds. Thin layer chromatography, microscopy, depolarized light intensity analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and NMR spectroscopy data are discussed.
The absorption coefficient for slow electrons in mercury vapour

The effective cross-sectional area of an atom is defined in this paper as that area within which a passing electron is deflected so that it can no longer go through a system of slits defining a beam of electrons. The sum of all these areas in a cubic centimetre of the gas defines the absorption coefficient, the reciprocal of which is the mean free path. The absorption coefficient is a function of the atom studied and the velocity of the electron. It way also depend on the geometry of the apparatus which defines the maximum angle of deflection. From the agreement of the results obtained by several observers with different limiting angles, the variation of the observed absorption coefficient with size of the limiting angle appears to be small. The absorption coefficient is compound from the equation I = I e-α xp , where I is the electron current at the end of the path, I the current at the beginning of the path, x the path length, p the pressure of the gas α the absorption coefficient. Apparatus .—For the measurement of the absorption coefficient a modification of Ramsauer's original apparatus was used. The same modification was previously used for the measurement of the absorption coefficient in other gases giving results in good agreement with those by Ramsauer's more complicated apparatus.
Extending single-photon optimized superconducting transition edge sensors beyond the single-photon counting regime

We illuminate a photon-number-resolving transition edge sensor with strong pulses of light containing up to 6.7 million photons (0.85 pJ per pulse). These bright pulses heat the sensor far beyond its transition edge into the normal resistance regime. We show that the sensor operates from the single-photon-counting regime to picowatt levels of light and that the detection noise is below shot-noise for up to 1000 photons.
The pathogenesis of osteoporosis.

Abstract Changes in the calciotropic hormones with age contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. In both postmenopausal (Type I) and senile osteoporosis (Type II) it is common to find reduced levels of serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and malabsorption of calcium. In Type I patients a reduced level of serum parathyroid hormone causes a real decrease in serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D production and malabsorption of calcium, whereas in Type II patients the decline in 1α-hydroxylase activity in the kidney causes a decline in serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D which leads to malabsorption of calcium and secondary hyperparathyroidism. In the final analysis both pathways lead to bone loss. In some Type II patients there may be a decline also in the function or number of the vitamin D-binding receptors in the gut. Treatment of patients with vitamin D analogues, however, normalizes calcium absorption and improves calcium balance. The improvement in calcium balance reduces bone resorption and prevents further bone loss; in addition recent studies have shown that therapy with vitamin D analogues leads to a reduction in fracture incidence.
Strong polarization mode coupling in microresonators

We observe strong modal coupling between the TE00 and TM00 modes in Si3N4 ring resonators revealed by avoided crossings of the corresponding resonances. Such couplings result in significant shifts of the resonance frequencies over a wide range around the crossing points. This leads to an effective dispersion that is one order of magnitude larger than the intrinsic dispersion and creates broad windows of anomalous dispersion. We also observe the changes to frequency comb spectra generated in Si3N4 microresonators due to polarization mode and higher-order mode crossings and suggest approaches to avoid these effects. Alternatively, such polarization mode crossings can be used as a tool for dispersion engineering in microresonators.