cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Hagedorn behaviour of pp-wave strings and N=4 SYM theory at finite R-charge density

Abstract We discuss the high temperature behaviour of IIB strings in the maximally symmetric plane wave background, and show that there is a Hagedorn temperature. We discuss the map between strings in the pp-wave background and the dual superconformal field theory in the thermal domain. The Hagedorn bound describes a curve in the R -charge chemical potential versus temperature phase diagram of the dual Yang–Mills theory and the theory manifestly exists on both sides. Using a recent observation of Brower, Lowe, and Tan, we update our earlier calculation to reflect that the pp-wave string exists on both sides of the Hagedorn bound as well.
Towards a formal taxonomy of hybrid uncertainty representations

Abstract In this paper we present some ideas about how to formally relate various uncertainty representations together in a taxonomic structure, capturing both syntactic and semantic generalization. Fuzziness and nonspecificity are presumed as primitive concepts of uncertainty, and transitive and intransitive methods operating with nonspecificity and fuzziness are introduced to generate a base class of hybrid uncertainty representational forms. Additive, maximal, and interval constraints then complete the characterization of the most important hybrid forms.
Transient, high-pressure solidification associated with cavitation in water

The very high pressures (≳1 GPa) that occur during the final stages of collapse of a cavitation bubble force the water in the vicinity of the bubble wall briefly (∼1 ns) into a metastable state of subcooling, relative to the equilibrium phase diagram. Estimates show that the subcooling can fall below the critical temperature for homogeneous nucleation of freezing and that high‐pressure ice particles form at a sufficient rate to affect the collapse. Because of the greater density of high‐pressure ice, a sudden drop in pressure occurs that triggers a shock wave that converges at the center of the compressed gas in the bubble. Such microshocks are believed to be the cause of the extremely short duration of the flashes of sonoluminescence (<50 ps) that have been observed from single cavitation bubbles. The occurrence of transient, high‐pressure solidification can explain different phenomena associated with cavitation, specifically the decrease in cavitation erosion and the increase in sonoluminescence as the ...
Hunting for glueballs in electron-positron annihilation.

We calculate the cross section for the exclusive production of J{sup PC} = 0{sup ++} glueballs G{sub 0} in association with the J = {psi} in e{sup +}e{sup -} annihilation using the pQCD factorization formalism. The required long-distance matrix element for the glueball is bounded by CUSB data from a search for resonances in radiative {Upsilon} decay. The cross section for e{sup +}e{sup -} {yields} J/{psi} + G{sub 0} at {radical}s = 10.6 GeV is similar to exclusive charmonium-pair production e{sup +}e{sup -} J/{psi} + h for h = {eta}{sub c} and {chi}{sub c0}, and is larger by a factor 2 than that for h = {eta}c(2S). As the subprocesses {gamma}* {yields} (c{bar c})(c{bar c}) and {gamma}* {yields} (c{bar c})(gg) are of the same nominal order in perturbative QCD, it is possible that some portion of the anomalously large signal observed by Belle in e{sup +}e{sup -} {yields} J/{psi}X may actually be due to the production of charmonium-glueball J/{psi}G{sub J} pairs.
Robust stability analysis of constrained model predictive control

Abstract In this paper, we show that a constrained Model Predictive Controller, based on one plant model, stabilizes another plant if and only if some corresponding constrained Model Predictive Controller, based on the plant, stabilizes the plant. Thus strong nominal stability results can be used to analyze robust stability properties of some existing Model Predictive Control algorithms, without introducing any additional on-line computations and without modifying any of their attractive features. How the results may be used to synthesize robust controllers is also discussed. Examples are shown to illustrate the key ideas behind the approach.
A Design Calculation Procedure for Shock-Free or Strong Passage Shock Turbomachinery Cascades

A previously described, inviscid design technique has been substantially improved to allow the generation of either shock-free, weak-shock or low total pressure loss supersonic rotor cascade designs. Improvements have been introduced in inflow-outflow boundary conditions, imposition of geometric constraints and in shock pressure rise specifications. Calculation examples are presented for precompression type rotor designs.
Short distance expansions of correlation functions in the Sine-Gordon theory

Abstract We examine the two-point correlation functions of the fields exp(iαΦ) in the sine-Gordon theory at all values of the coupling constant ĝb. Using conformal perturbation theory, we write down explicit integral expressions for every order of the short-distance expansion. Using a novel technique analogous to dimensional regularisation, we evaluate these integrals for the first few orders finding expressions in terms of generalised hypergeometric functions. From these derived expressions, we examine the limiting forms at the points where the sine-Gordon theory maps onto a doubled Ising and the Gross-Neveu SU(2) models. In this way we recover the known expansions to first subleading order of the spin and disorder fields about criticality in the Ising model and we correct an omission in past calculations of the Kosterlitz-Thouless flows in the Gross-Neveu SU(2) model.
Disruptive Effects of Azadirachtin on Development of Cotesia congregata in Host Tobacco Hornworm Larvae

Injection of the insect growth regulator (IGR) azadirachtin into Manduca sexta larvae that were parasitized by Cotesia congregata adversely affected subsequent endoparasite development when the compound was administered prior to the first larval ecdysis of the wasps. Injection of 2.5-10 pg of azadirachtin into newly ecdysed fourth or fifth instar hosts partially inhibited or totally suppressed the first larval ecdysis of the parasites. Instead of initiating rapid growth similar to parasites developing in hosts injected with the solvent carrier (ethanol) only, parasites in azadirachtin-treated hosts never grew beyond the size normally attained in early terminal stage hosts. The host larvae survived for 2 weeks or longer following injection of azadirachtin, but their parasites never recovered and died encased within one or two exuvial cuticles. The parasitism-specific hemolymph polypeptides previously shown to be characteristic of terminal stage hosts were undetectable in larvae in which the parasites failed to ecdyse to the second instar. The observed effects of azadirachtin on development of C. congregata differ significantly from those induced by other IGRs in parasitized M. sexta, suggesting azadirachtin has a unique, though as yet undefined, mode of action. Compared to other IGRs, this compound is extremely potent in terms of the minimum doses required to prevent emergence, but affects only
Anomalies in parallel branch-and-bound algorithms

We consider the effects of parallelizing branch-and-bound algorithms by expanding several live nodes simultaneously. It is shown that it is quite possible for a parallel branch-and-bound algorithm using n2processors to take more time than one using n1processors, even though n1
Fractals in fractography

Abstract The fractal characteristics of a series of fractured AISI 4340 steel specimens were studied experimentally by means of vertical sections through the fracture surface. Extensive fractal data have been generated for both the fracture surfaces and their profiles. Fractal plots for the irregular profile curves differ significantly from those of the infinitely subdivisible curves with “self-similarity” as postulated by Mandelbrot. Instead of a linear fractal curve and constant fractal dimension D , we find a reversed sigmoidal curve (RSC) and variable D . Because of the inadequacies of the linear Richardson fractal equation, we have developed an alternative procedure whereby constant slopes β and γ are obtained from the RSCs for both profiles and surfaces respectively. Since a fractal equation for surfaces apparently does not exist, we propose one that parallels the Richardson equation for profiles. Slopes from the RSCs are related to the new constant fractal dimensions D β and D γ in the modified fractal equations for profiles and fracture surfaces. Some insight into the physical nature of the fractal dimension is afforded by its close similarity to fracture roughness parameters that have simple physical meanings. It is believed that the results of the extensive study may have general validity for the irregular complex curves and surfaces of nature.
Information, Direct Access to Farmers, and Rural Market Performance in Central India

This paper estimates the impact of a change in procurement strategy of a private buyer in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Beginning in October 2000, internet kiosks and warehouses were established that provide wholesale price information and an alternative marketing channel to soy farmers in the state. Using a new market-level dataset, the estimates suggest a significant increase in soy price after the introduction of kiosks, supporting the predictions of the theoretical model. Moreover, there is a robust increase in area under soy cultivation. The results point towards an improvement in the functioning of rural agricultural markets.
Electrochemical Deposition of Platinum from Aqueous Ammonium Hexachloroplatinate Solution

The morphology, microstructure, and electrochemical properties of platinum thin films deposited from aqueous ammonium hexachloroplatinate are dependent on the deposition potential. With increasing overpotential, the grainsize increases and the films exhibit stronger (111) texture. Films deposited at low overpotential exhibit very small grain size and a preferred (311) texture. In addition, films deposited at -0.5 and -0.6 V are porous with very high surface areas. The electrochemical response of the films is dependent on the morphology and microstructure.
Shape Discrimination Using Fourier Descriptors

Description or discrimination of boundary curves (shapes) is an important problem in picture processing and pattern recognition Fourier descriptors (FD's) have interesting properties in this respect. First, a critical review is given of two kinds of FD's. Some properties of the FD's are given and a distance measure is proposed, in terms of FD's, that measures the difference between two boundarv curves. It is shown how FD's can be used for obtaining skeletons fobjects. Finally, experimental results are given in character recognition and machine parts recognition.
Economics and Cognitive Science

The neo-classical approach to analyzing the performance of an economy assumes that in the face of pervasive scarcity individuals make choices reflecting a set of desires, wants or preferences. But valuable as this model has been for the development of an elegant body of theory it is a very imperfect tool for solving economic problems both at a moment of time but particularly over time. The puzzle I seek to unravel is how do humans evolve and believe in theories in the face of uncertainty.
The Influence Of Rock Anisotropy On Stress Measurements By Overcoring Techniques

Knowledge of the in situ state of stress is important in the application of rock mechanics principles. A number of references review the techniques available for measuring in situ stress in rocks and compare their advantages and disadvantages (Leeman, 1964; Fairhurst, 1967; Obert and Duvall, 1967, pp 409–459; McGarr and Gay, 1978; Goodman, 1980). Stresses in situ can be measured in boreholes, on outcrops or on the walls of underground galleries. Except for a few techniques that attempt to measure the state of stress directly, most involve the measurement of strains or displacements resulting from disturbing the state of stress in the rock. Strains or displacements are related to stresses through assumptions about material behavior.
New obstructions to symplectic embeddings

In this paper we establish new restrictions on the symplectic embeddings of basic shapes in symplectic vector spaces. By refining an embedding technique due to Guth, we also show that they are sharp.
FROM QUANTUM CELLULAR AUTOMATA TO QUANTUM LATTICE GASES

A natural architecture for nanoscale quantum computation is that of a quantum cellular automaton. Motivated by this observation, we begin an investigation of exactly unitary cellular automata. After proving that there can be no nontrivial, homogeneous, local, unitary, scalar cellular automaton in one dimension, we weaken the homogeneity condition and show that there are nontrivial, exactly unitary, partitioning cellular automata. We find a one-parameter family of evolution rules which are best interpreted as those for a one-particle quantum automaton. This model is naturally reformulated as a two component cellular automaton which we demonstrate to limit to the Dirac equation. We describe two generalizations of this automaton, the second, of which, to multiple interacting particles, is the correct definition of a quantum lattice gas.
Human Capital Response to Globalization: Education and Information Technology in India

Recent studies suggest that globalization increases inequality, by increasing skilled wage premiums in developing countries. This effect may be mitigated, however, if human capital responds to global opportunities. I study how the impact of globalization varies across Indian districts with different costs of learning English. Linguistic diversity in India compels individuals to learn English or Hindi. Some districts have lower relative costs of learning English due to linguistic predispositions. I demonstrate that these districts benefited more from globalization: They experienced greater growth in information technology and school enrollment. Consistent with this response, they experienced smaller increases in skilled wage premiums.
Social health insurance reexamined.

Social health insurance (SHI) is enjoying something of a revival in parts of the developing world. Many countries that have in the past relied largely on tax finance (and out-of-pocket payments) have introduced SHI, or are thinking about doing so. And countries with SHI already in place are making vigorous efforts to extend coverage to the informal sector. Ironically, this revival is occurring at a time when the traditional SHI countries in Europe have either already reduced payroll financing in favor of general revenues, or are in the process of doing so. This paper examines how SHI fares in health care delivery, revenue collection, covering the formal sector, and its impacts on the labor market. It argues that SHI does not necessarily deliver good quality care at a low cost, partly because of poor regulation of SHI purchasers. It suggests that the costs of collecting revenues can be substantial, even in the formal sector where nonenrollment and evasion are commonplace, and that while SHI can cover the formal sector and the poor relatively easily, it fares badly in terms of covering the nonpoor informal sector workers until the economy has reached a high level of economic development. The paper also argues that SHI can have negative labor market effects.
THE UPTAKE OF INTERSTELLAR GASEOUS CO INTO ICY GRAIN MANTLES IN A QUIESCENT DARK CLOUD

Data from the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory CO Mapping Survey of the Taurus molecular cloud are combined with extinction data for a sample of 292 background field stars to investigate the uptake of CO from the gas to icy grain mantles on dust within the cloud. On the assumption that the reservoir of CO in the ices is represented well by the combined abundances of solid CO and solid CO2 (which forms by oxidation of CO on the dust), we find that the total column density (gas + solid) correlates tightly with visual extinction (AV ) over the range 5 mag < AV < 30 mag, i.e., up to the highest extinctions covered by our sample. The mean depletion of gas-phase CO, expressed as δ(CO) = N(CO)ice/N(CO)total, increases monotonically from negligible levels for AV 5 to ~ 0.3 at AV = 10 and ~ 0.6 at AV = 30. As these results refer to line-of-sight averages, they must be considered lower limits to the actual depletion at loci deep within the cloud, which may approach unity. We show that it is plausible for such high levels of depletion to be reached in dense cores on timescales ~0.6 Myr, comparable with their expected lifetimes. Dispersal of cores during star formation may be effective in maintaining observable levels of gaseous CO on the longer timescales estimated for the age of the cloud.
Facile and Simple Synthesis of N-Alkyl and N-Aryl 2-Benzazepines by Nucleophilic Heteroannulation

Abstract An efficient and practical synthesis of N-alkyl and N-aryl 2-benzazepine has been developed. The key steps involved in the synthesis were palladium-mediated Heck reaction followed by aza heterocyclic ring construction by nucleophilic heteroannulation. This four-step sequence synthetic protocol gave moderate to good yields for a wide range of substrates. Subsequently, functionalization of the synthesized compound was carried out under Heck and Suzuki reaction conditions.
Polyester–Polycarbonate blends. III. Polyesters based on 1,4‐cyclohexanedimethanol/terephthalic acid/isophthalic acid

Melt blends of polycarbonate with Kodel, a homopolyester formed from 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and terephthalic acid, and with Kodar, a copolyester formed by replacing some of the terephthalic acid with isophthalic acid, were prepared and their transitional behavior were examined by thermal analysis and dynamic mechanical testing. Blends formed with either polyester were found to have a single Tg over the entire compositional range. Single composition-dependent α- and β-relaxation temperatures were also observed for blends made with either polyester at all compositions. From these data it is concluded that both Kodel and Kodar blends with polycarbonate form miscible amorphous phases. The role of ester–carbonate interchange reactions during melt mixing was experimentally examined and found to be unimportant, from which it is concluded that the observed miscible phase formation is due to physical interactions between the blend components.
Novel age-dependent learning deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease: implications for translational research.

Computational modeling predicts that the hippocampus plays an important role in the ability to apply previously learned information to novel problems and situations (referred to as the ability to generalize information or simply as ‘transfer learning’). These predictions have been tested in humans using a computer-based task on which individuals with hippocampal damage are able to learn a series of complex discriminations with two stimulus features (shape and color), but are impaired in their ability to transfer this information to newly configured problems in which one of the features is altered. This deficit occurs despite the fact that the feature predictive of the reward (the relevant information) is not changed. The goal of the current study was to develop a mouse analog of transfer learning and to determine if this new task was sensitive to pathological changes in a mouse model of AD. We describe a task in which mice were able to learn a series of concurrent discriminations that contained two stimulus features (odor and digging media) and could transfer this learned information to new problems in which the irrelevant feature in each discrimination pair was altered. Moreover, we report age-dependent deficits specific to transfer learning in APP + PS1 mice relative to non-transgenic littermates. The robust impairment in transfer learning may be more sensitive to AD-like pathology than traditional cognitive assessments in that no deficits were observed in the APP + PS1 mice on the widely used Morris water maze task. These data describe a novel and sensitive paradigm to evaluate mnemonic decline in AD mouse models that has unique translational advantages over standard species-specific cognitive assessments (e.g., water maze for rodent and delayed paragraph recall for humans).
The effectiveness of crowdsourcing public participation in a planning context

Governments increasingly turn to the Internet to facilitate public participation activities, part of a recent push toward transparency, accountability, and citizen involvement in decision-making. These activities take many forms, and one specific form, the crowdsourcing model, is examined here for its effectiveness as a public participation method. In 2009, the Next Stop Design project was launched to test the crowdsourcing model in an online public participation experiment for bus stop shelter design. Drawing on the ideals of online democratic deliberation, 23 Next Stop Design participants were interviewed via instant messenger for their perceptions of the project as an effective public participation activity. Findings suggest that crowdsourcing is a promising online public participation method that may complement off–line methods.
Mind‐brain interaction. Mentalism, yes; dualism, no

A traditional working hypothesis in neuroscience holds that a complete account of brain function is possible, in principle, in strictly neurophysiological terms without invoking conscious or mental agents; the neural correlates of subjective experience are conceived to exert causal influence but not mental qualities per se. This long established materialist-behaviorist principle has been challenged in recent years by the introduction of a modified concept of the mind-brain relation in which consciousness is conceived to be emergent and causal. Psychophysical interaction is explained in terms of the emergence in nesting brain hierarchies of high order, functionally derived, mental properties that interact by laws and principles different from, and not reducible to those of neurophysiology. Reciprocal upward and downward, interlevel determination of the mental and neural action is accounted for on these terms without violating the principles of scientific explanation and without reducing the qualities of inner experience to those of physiology. Interaction of mind and brain becomes not only conceivable and scientifically tenable, but more plausible in some respects than were the older parallelist and identity views of the materialist position. This revised concept of consciousness as causal, with its recognition of mental phenomena as explanatory constructs in science, has brought a marked change during the past decade in the scientific status of consciousness and of mental and cognitive phenomena generally. Resultant mentalist trends within science have been accompanied also by a corollary rise in acceptance of various mentalist-related concepts and dualist beliefs in the supernatural, the paranormal, and in unembodied forms of conscious existence that receive no logical support from the new mind-brain concepts of neuroscience. Reasons are advanced to show that our latest mind brain model is fundamentally monistic and not only fails to support dualism, but serves to further discount fading prospects for finding dualist forms or domains of conscious experience not embodied in a functioning brain.
The algebra and statistics of generalized principal component analysis

We consider the problem of simultaneously segmenting data samples drawn from multiple linear subspaces and estimating model parameters for those subspaces. This "subspace segmentation" problem naturally arises in many computer vision applications such as motion and video segmentation, and in the recognition of human faces, textures, and range data. Generalized Principal Component Analysis (GPCA) has provided an effective way to resolve the strong coupling between data segmentation and model estimation inherent in subspace segmentation. Essentially, GPCA works by first finding a global algebraic representation of the unsegmented data set, and then decomposing the model into irreducible components, each corresponding to exactly one subspace. We provide a summary of important algebraic properties and statistical facts that are crucial for making GPCA both efficient and robust, even when the given data are corrupted with noise or contaminated by outliers. We demonstrate the effectiveness of GPCA using a large testbed of synthetic and real experiments.
Catastrophic planar dechanneling in strained-layer superlattices

Abstract Recently, a catastrophic dechanneling effect has been discovered to occur when the effective half-wavelength of a planarchanneled ion beam matches the path length per layer of a strained-layer superlattice (SLS). We report continuum model calculations of planar channeled trajectories in SLSs to obtain the depth dependence of the dechanneling for various incident angles. The calculations are in good agreement with the dechanneling measurements. In addition, features of the calculated dechanneling versus depth are found to be quite sensitive to the continuum potential near the planes and these features are experimentally resolvable.
Variability of Solar Five-Minute Oscillations in the Corona as Observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrophotometer (ESP) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (SDO/EVE)

Solar five-minute oscillations have been detected in the power spectra of two six-day time intervals from soft X-ray measurements of the Sun observed as a star using the Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrophotometer (ESP) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE). The frequencies of the largest amplitude peaks were found to match the known low-degree (l=0 – 3) modes of global acoustic oscillations within 3.7 μHz and can be explained by a leakage of the global modes into the corona. Due to the strong variability of the solar atmosphere between the photosphere and the corona, the frequencies and amplitudes of the coronal oscillations are likely to vary with time. We investigated the variations in the power spectra for individual days and their association with changes of solar activity, e.g. with the mean level of the EUV irradiance, and its short-term variations caused by evolving active regions. Our analysis of samples of one-day oscillation power spectra for a 49-day period of low and intermediate solar activity showed little correlation with the mean EUV irradiance and the short-term variability of the irradiance. We suggest that some other changes in the solar atmosphere, e.g., magnetic fields and/or inter-network configuration may affect the mode leakage to the corona.
Construction of multi-instantons in eight dimensions

Abstract We consider an eight-dimensional local octonionic theory with the seven-sphere playing the role of the gauge group. Duality conditions for two- and four-forms in eight dimensions are related. Dual fields—octonionic instantons—solve an 8D generalization of the Yang–Mills equation. Modifying the ADHM construction of 4D instantons, we find general k-instanton 8D solutions which depends on 16k−7 effective parameters.
Improved measurement of polarization state in terahertz polarization spectroscopy

A calibration scheme is presented for improved polarization state measurement of terahertz pulses. In this scheme the polarization response of a two-contact terahertz photoconductive detector is accurately measured, and is used to correct for the impact of the nonidealities of the detector. Experimental results show excellent subdegree angular accuracy and at least 60% error reduction with this scheme.
Geochemical constraints on the origin of the Moon

Hypothesis for the origin of the moon involve variants on capture, double-planet, and fission processes. Double-planet and fission hypotheses are examined in the light of siderophile trace elements. The siderophile trace elements chosen (W, Re, Mo, P, Ga, Ge) have well understood geochemical behavior such that appropriate metal/silicate partition coefficients are available and their abundances in the lunar and terrestrial mantles 4.4-4.5 Gyr ago may be reasonably inferred. The fission hypothesis of Ringwood (1979) is not consistent with the behavior of Re, Mo, and P. The hybrid fission hypothesis of Wanke et al. (1983) overcomes many of the deficiencies of Ringwood's hypothesis, but is not readily reconcilable with the behavior of Re and Ir. The double-planet hypothesis as most recently advanced by Newsom and Drake (1982, 1983) appears to be consistent with siderophile-element behavior in the moon.
Heimia salicifolia: a phytochemical and phytopharmacologic review.

Abstract Heimia salicifolia grows wild from Mexico to Argentina. The aerial parts have a wide folk reputation for antisyphilitic, sudorific, antipyretic, laxative and diuretic activity, and are reported to be useful in preparing post partum baths and to enhance wound healing. Its four most studied alkaloids are vertine, lyfoline, lythrine and nesodine. Structural relationships of the Heimia alkaloids and certain synthetic 4-arylquinolizidines are reviewed here. Preliminary clinical evaluation indicates that vertine and lythrine given orally appear to lack the psychodysleptic activity that has been touted for native brews said to incorporate H. salicifolia. Most of the animal studies discussed here have focused on the ataractic, antiinflammatory and antispasmodic potential of vertine and on the hydrodiuretic potential of lythrine and decine, a structurally related alkaloid found in Decodon verticillatus . The ataractic activity of vertine does not appear to be dependent on the depletion or blockade of catecholamines, while its antiinflammatory capacity seen in both exudative and immunologie systems seems to be dependent in part on an intact pituitary-adrenal system and in part on inhibition of prostaglandin synthase. The antispasmodic activity of vertine has been demonstrated on many isolated tissues using different agonists, but appears to be largely musculotropic in nature. Only lythrine and decinine have been shown to be true hydrodiuretics and may prove to be useful in treating Addison's disease and general nephrosis. A number of synthetic 4-arylquinolizidines and related compounds appear to possess antiinflammatory potential.
Can't Get No (Dis)Satisfaction: The Statecraft Simulation's Effect on Student Decision Making

Simulations are often employed as content-teaching tools in political science, but their effect on students' reasoning skills is rarely assessed. This article explores what effect the Statecraft simulation might have on undergraduate students' perceptions of their decision making. Decisions are often evaluated on the basis of whether their outcomes are good or bad, not whether a sound reasoning process was used to reach them. A survey was administered at multiple points in an international relations course to gauge students' satisfaction with the decision-making processes and outcomes in their respective teams during the Statecraft simulation. Students also engaged in exercises in which their teams' tentative plans were evaluated as if the plans had generated unfavorable outcomes after implementation. An analysis of students' reactions to the Statecraft simulation, their performance in the simulation, and other data showed no obvious association between Statecraft and changes in student perceptions of the...
Inorganic Clusters as Single-Source Precursors for Preparation of CdSe, ZnSe, and CdSe/ZnS Nanomaterials

Molecular inorganic clusters, which are stable under ambient conditions, can be used as convenient single-source precursors for controlled preparation of 2−9-nm CdSe and CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals and 2−5-nm nanocrystals of ZnSe. The use of a cluster-based single-source precursor allows nanomaterial growth to be initiated at low temperature without the pyrolytic step for nucleus formation traditionally required for lyothermal growth processes. The elimination of the pyrolytic step allows greater synthetic control, slow thermodynamic growth at lower temperatures, high crystallinity, and reaction scalability (>50 g/L) while maintaining size dispersity at ∼5%.
XMM-Newton Reveals the Quasar Outflow in PG 1115+080

We report on an observation of the broad absorption line (BAL) quasar PG 1115+080 performed with the XMM-Newton observatory. Spectral analysis reveals the second case of a relativistic X-ray-absorbing outflow in a BAL quasar. The first case was revealed in a recent observation of APM 08279+5255 with the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. As in the case of APM 08279+5255, the observed flux of PG 1115+080 is greatly magnified by gravitational lensing. The relatively high redshift (z = 1.72) of the quasar places the redshifted energies of resonant absorption features in a sensitive portion of the XMM-Newton spectral response. The spectrum indicates the presence of complex low-energy absorption in the 0.2-0.6 keV observed energy band and high-energy absorption in the 2-5 keV observed energy band. The high-energy absorption is best modeled by two Gaussian absorption lines with rest-frame energies of 7.4 and 9.5 keV. Assuming that these two lines are produced by resonant absorption due to Fe XXV Kα, we infer that the X-ray absorbers are outflowing with velocities of ~ 0.10c and ~ 0.34c, respectively. We have detected significant variability of the energies and widths of the X-ray BALs in PG 1115+080 and APM 08279+5255 over timescales of 19 and 1.8 weeks (proper time), respectively. The BAL variability observed from APM 08279+5255 supports our earlier conclusion that these absorbers are most likely launched at relatively small radii of 1016(Mbh/M8)1/2 cm. A comparison of the ionization properties and column densities of the low-energy and high-energy absorbers indicates that these absorbers are likely distinct; however, higher spectral resolution is needed to confirm this result. Finally, we comment on prospects for constraining the kinematic and ionization properties of these X-ray BALs with the next generation of X-ray observatories.
Numerical taxonomy on data: experimental results

The numerical taxonomy problems associated with most of the optimization criteria described above are NP - hard [3, 5, 1, 4]. In, the first positive result for numerical taxonomy was presented. They showed that if e is the distance to the closest tree metric under the L{sub {infinity}} norm. i.e., e = min{sub T} [L{sub {infinity}} (T-D)], then it is possible to construct a tree T such that L{sub {infinity}} (T-D) {le} 3e, that is, they gave a 3-approximation algorithm for this problem. We will refer to this algorithm as the Single Pivot (SP) heuristic.
Accelerator Disaster Scenarios, the Unabomber, and Scientific Risks

The possibility that experiments at high-energy accelerators could create new forms of matter that would ultimately destroy the Earth has been considered several times in the past quarter century. One consequence of the earliest of these disaster scenarios was that the authors of a 1993 article in Physics Today who reviewed the experiments that had been carried out at the Bevalac at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory were placed on the FBI’s Unabomber watch list. Later, concerns that experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory might create mini black holes or nuggets of stable strange quark matter resulted in a flurry of articles in the popular press. I discuss this history, as well as Richard A. Posner’s provocative analysis and recommendations on how to deal with such scientific risks. I conclude that better communication between scientists and nonscientists would serve to assuage unreasonable fears and focus attention on truly serious potential threats to humankind.
Progress in elucidating the molecular basis of the host plant - Aspergillus flavus interaction: a basis for devising strategies to reduce aflatoxin contamination in crops.

Understanding the complex interrelationships of plant and fungal gene products during the host plant—Aspergillus flavus interaction is key in developing strategies to interrupt the aflatoxin contamination process. Fungal processes necessary for invasion of the plant and production of aflatoxin can be broken down into three categories: 1) cell wall degradation (cellulases, pectinases, amylases, and proteinases), 2) fungal development (cell wall synthesis and conidiophore and conidial formation), and 3) aflatoxin biosynthesis and regulation. Fungal expressed sequence tag (EST) projects have led to a rapid expansion in the number of candidate genes governing the processes involved in invasion of the plant and aflatoxin contamination. Plant factors have been discovered through the use of proteomics and natural product chemistry that may influence fungal processes involved in invasion and aflatoxin contamination. These factors can also be divided into three categories: 1) seed proteins/inhibitors of fungal cel...
Network Anomaly Detection Using Co-clustering

Early Internet architecture design goals did not put security as a high priority. However, today Internet security is a quickly growing concern. The prevalence of Internet attacks has increased significantly, but still the challenge of detecting such attacks generally falls on the end hosts and service providers, requiring system administrators to detect and block attacks on their own. In particular, as social networks have become central hubs of information and communication, they are increasingly the target of attention and attacks. This creates a challenge of carefully distinguishing malicious connections from normal ones. Previous work has shown that for a variety of Internet attacks, there is a small subset of connection measurements that are good indicators of whether a connection is part of an attack or not. In this paper we look at the effectiveness of using two different co-clustering algorithms to both cluster connections as well as mark which connection measurements are strong indicators of what makes any given cluster anomalous relative to the total data set. We run experiments with these co-clustering algorithms on the KDD 1999 Cup data set. In our experiments we find that soft co-clustering, running on samples of data, finds consistent parameters that are strong indicators of anomalous detections and creates clusters, that are highly pure. When running hard co-clustering on the full data set (over 100 runs), we on average have one cluster with 92.44% attack connections and the other with 75.84% normal connections. These results are on par with the KDD 1999 Cup winning entry, showing that co-clustering is a strong, unsupervised method for separating normal connections from anomalous ones. Finally, we believe that the ideas presented in this work may inspire research for anomaly detection in social networks, such as identifying spammers and fraudsters.
An axiomatic basis for the three objective social welfare function within a poverty context

Abstract This article argues that numbers of uncompensated losers, here equated with numbers below the poverty line, should accompany distribution and efficiency as a third element in the SWF. No constant weights, efficiency and distribution SWF can satisfy two simple axioms.
Synthesis of dialkyl and diaryl benzylphosphonates through a ZnI2-mediated reaction

Abstract Several trialkyl and two triaryl phosphites have been tested for their reactivity in the zinc iodide mediated conversion of benzyl alcohol to the corresponding phosphonates. Most react smoothly to afford the desired phosphonate diesters, including hindered and nonracemic phosphites. The implications of this reactivity on the reactions involved in the transformation are discussed.
Cross-channel collaborations in peer-to-peer streaming

Peer-to-Peer(P2P) streaming has become a very popular technique to realize live media broadcast over the Internet. Most previous research of P2P streaming focuses on the delivery of a single media stream (called a channel). The widely deployed implementations, however, all concurrently offer multiple channels through their P2P networks. This paper investigates the overlay organization for multi-channel P2P streaming systems through modeling and simulations. In particular, this paper examines the potential collaborations among nodes across multiple channels. Our investigation shows that collaboration among nodes across different channels can improve the overall performance of the multi-channel P2P streaming system. However, the collaboration strategies need to be carefully selected. Simple collaboration strategies, such as treating collaborative nodes (those "borrowed" from other channels) the same as a channel's native nodes (those playing the channel), tend to have marginal or even negative effects on the whole system performance. This result is contrary to common impression - the larger population the better performance of P2P system - and we found that this is caused by the differences between P2P streaming and traditional P2P file-sharing systems. Furthermore, this paper proposes a set of simple strategies that controls the upload-download ratio of collaborative nodes. We showed that this set of strategies produces a much better collaboration result for multi-channel P2P streaming systems. Although only a preliminary study, we believe the results will promote further investigation on the topic of multi-channel P2P streaming.
Evaluation of an advanced chemically amplified resist for next-generation lithography mask fabrication

Interest in chemically amplified (CA) resist systems has been increasing for advanced mask fabrication due to their superior e-beam sensitivity, contrast and resolution compared to traditional non-CA e-beam resists on high kV (50-100kV) exposure systems. However, most CA resists available are sensitive to temperature variations during the post apply and/or post exposure (PAB/PEB) process steps. This temperature sensitivity can result in poor CD uniformity across the mask. An advanced positive tone CA resist developed at IBM, KRS-XE, has been investigated for use in the fabrication of NGL masks (the continuous membrane and stencil versions of electron projection lithography as well as proximity x-ray masks). KRS-XE is an improved ketal resist system that is robust towards airborne contaminants, is compatible with 0.263N TMAH aqueous developer and has a wide PAB/PEB process latitude. This CA resist has been found to be insensitive with respect to dose and CD over a PAB temperature range of 105°C to 120°C and a PEB temperature range from room temperature to 110°C. Line/space features down to 75nm have been demonstrated in this resist on the IBM EL4+ 75kV vector scan e-beam system. This paper discusses the performance of KRS-XE with respect to CD uniformity on NGL membrane masks and compares the experimentally obtained results from both KRS-XE and a PEB sensitive CA resist (Shipley UVIII™) against the PEB temperature variations predicted from a finite difference model for each mask format.
Electronic and steric control in carbon-hydrogen insertion reactions of diazoacetoacetates catalyzed by dirhodium(II) carboxylates and carboxamides

Carboxylate and carboxamide ligands on dirhodium (II) catalysts can provide enormous regiocontrol in carbon-hydrogen insertion reactions of diazoacetates esters. Whereas 2,3,4-trimethyl-3-pentyl diazoacetoacetate (1) forms γ-lactone products from insertion into primary and tertiary C-H bonds in a statistical distribution (61:39) with dirhoduim(II) tetrakis (perfluorobutyrate), only tertiary C-H insertion is observed with dirhodium(II) tetraacetamide. Similar results are obtained with 2-methyl-2-octyl diazoacetoacetate (3), where competition for insertion exists between secondary and primary C-H bonds and electronic factors govern regioselection
Catalytic, Asymmetric, Interrupted Feist–Bénary Reactions of α-Tosyloxyacetophenones

A new variant of the Interrupted Feist–Benary (IFB) reaction uses α-tosyloxyacetophenones as electrophiles and proceeds in good yields and excellent enantioselectivities.
M theory, orientifolds and G - flux

We study the properties of M and F theory compactifications to three and four dimensions with background fluxes. We provide a simple construction of supersymmetric vacua, including some with orientifold descriptions. These vacua, which have warp factors, typically have fewer moduli than conventional Calabi-Yau compactifications. The mechanism for anomaly cancellation in the orientifold models involves background RR and NS fluxes. We consider in detail an orientifold of K3 × T2 with background fluxes. After a combination of T and S-dualities, this type IIB orientifold is mapped to a compactification of the SO(32) heterotic string on a non-Kahler space with torsion.
Sasakian Geometry, Homotopy Spheres and Positive Ricci Curvature

Abstract We discuss the Sasakian geometry of odd dimensional homotopy spheres. In particular, we give a completely new proof of the existence of metrics of positive Ricci curvature on exotic spheres that can be realized as the boundary of a parallelizable manifold. Furthermore, it is shown that on such homotopy spheres Σ2n+1 the moduli space of Sasakian structures has infinitely many positive components determined by inequivalent underlying contact structures. We also prove the existence of Sasakian metrics with positive Ricci curvature on each of the known 22m distinct diffeomorphism types of homotopy real projective spaces RP 4m+1 .
Turning Up the Volume: An Experimental Investigation of the Role of Mutual Monitoring in Tournaments

This study investigates experimentally how mutual monitoring affects effort when employees are compensated via rank-order tournaments. Theory and anecdotal evidence suggest that mutual monitoring may either decrease effort by facilitating collusion or increase effort by stimulating competition. In our first experiment, we find that mutual monitoring increases effort, because participants do not attempt to collude but rather behave competitively. This result leads us to expand our theory and develop hypotheses to predict that the effect of mutual monitoring depends on whether employees have the inclination to collude or compete. Specifically, we predict that mutual monitoring decreases effort when employees are inclined to collude and increases effort when employees are inclined to compete; that is, mutual monitoring will not change the basic inclination created by the workplace setting, but will �turn up the volume� on the effect that such inclination has on effort. Consistent with our predictions, our second experiment finds that mutual monitoring leads to lower effort when participants have a collusive inclination and (eventually) higher effort when they have a competitive inclination. Overall, the results from these two experiments suggest that allowing employees to observe each other's productive effort in tournament incentive settings may have positive or negative consequences for the firm, depending on whether environmental factors predispose employees to collude or compete.
Heralding efficiency and correlated-mode coupling of near-IR fiber-coupled photon pairs

We report on a systematic experimental study of the heralding efficiency and generation rate of telecom-band infrared photon pairs generated by spontaneous parametric down-conversion and coupled to single-mode optical fibers. We define the correlated-mode coupling efficiency, an inherent source efficiency, and explain its relation to heralding efficiency. For our experiment, we developed a reconfigurable computer-controlled pump-beam and collection-mode optical apparatus which we used to measure the generation rate and correlated-mode coupling efficiency. The use of low-noise, high-efficiency superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors in this setup allowed us to explore focus configurations with low overall photon flux. The measured data agree well with theory, and we demonstrated a correlated-mode coupling efficiency of $97%\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2%$, which is the highest efficiency yet achieved for this type of system. These results confirm theoretical treatments and demonstrate that very high overall heralding efficiencies can, in principle, be achieved in quantum optical systems. It is expected that these results and techniques will be widely incorporated into future systems that require, or benefit from, a high heralding efficiency.