cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Querying database knowledge

The role of database knowledge is usually limited to the evaluation of data queries. In this paper we argue that when this knowledge is of substantial volume and complexity, there is genuine need to query this repository of information. Moreover, since users of the database may not be able to distinguish between information that is data and information that is knowledge, access to knowledge and data should be provided with a single, coherent instrument. We provide an informal review of various kinds of knowledge queries, with possible syntax and semantics. We then formalize a framework of knowledge-rich databases, and a simple query language consisting of a pair of retrieve and describe statements. The retrieve statement is for querying the data (it corresponds to the basic retrieval statement of various knowledge-rich database systems). The describe statement is for querying the knowledge. Essentially, it inquires about the meaning of a concept under specified circumstances. We provide algorithms for evaluating sound and finite knowledge answers to describe queries, and we demonstrate them with examples.
N,N-dimethylaniline as a solvent for intramolecular Diels Alder reactions. Improved yields and changes in stereoisomer ratios

Abstract N,N-Dimethylaniline was found to be a superior solvent for intramolecular Diels Alder closures of 1,3,8-nonatrienes to trans-hydrindenes.
CAPACITY ALLOCATION METHODS FOR REDUCING URBAN TRAFFIC CONGESTION

It is unlikely that roadway construction or vehicle automation will be able to alleviate most major urban congestion in the near future (5–15 years). What else can be done to reasonable reduce congestion? Several approaches to reducing congestion be capacity allocation are reviewed: laissez-faire allocation, allocation by passenger load, ramp metering, road and parking pricing, allocation by trip purpose, rationing, and mixed strategies. These approaches are qualitatively compared against four criteria: effectiveness at reducing congestion, economic efficiency, income distribution effects, and flexibility of access for urgent trips. Recommendations are made regarding capacity-allocation measures with potential to reduce congestion and to increase economic efficiency. The equity impacts of these measures are identified and methods for mitigating these effects are proposed. Congestion pricing, together with free but metered on-ramps at freeways or with subsidies for lower-income households are found to deserve further study and an incremental method of adoption is outlined.
The sensitivity of weight selection on the Condorcet efficiency of weighted scoring rules

A weighted scoring rule, Rule λ, on three alternative elections selects the winner by awarding 1 point to each voter's first ranked candidate, λ points to the second ranked candidate, and zero to the third ranked candidate. The Condorcet winner is the candidate that would defeat each other candidate in a series of pairwise elections by majority rule. The Condorcet efficiency of Rule λ is the conditional probability that Rule λ selects the Condorcet winner, given that a Condorcet winner exists. Borda rule (λ=1/2) is the weighted scoring rule that maximizes Condorcet efficiency. The current study considers the conditional probability that Borda rule selects the Rule λ winner, given that Rule λ elects the Condorcet winner with a large electorate.
Flexible Linear Polyelectrolytes in Multivalent Salt Solutions: Solubility Conditions

Single- and double-stranded DNA and many biological and synthetic polyelectrolytes undergo two structural transitions upon increasing the concentration of multivalent salt or molecules. First, the expanded-stretched chains in low monovalent salt solutions collapse into nearly neutral compact structures when the density of multivalent salt approaches that of the monomers. With further addition of multivalent salt the chains redissolve acquiring expanded-coiled conformations. We study the redissolution transition using a two-state model (F.J. Solis, M. Olvera de la Cruz, J. Chem. Phys. 112, 2030 (2000)). The redissolution occurs when there is a high degree of screening of the electrostatic interactions between monomers, thus reducing the energy of the expanded state. The transition is determined by the chemical potential of the multivalent ions in the solution, μ and the inverse screening length, κ. The transition point also depends on the charge distribution along the chain but is nearly independent of the molecular weight and degree of flexibility of the polyelectrolytes. We generate a diagram of μversusκ2 where we find two regions of expanded conformations, one with charged chains and the other with overcharged (inverted charge) chains, separated by a collapsed nearly neutral conformation region. The collapse and redissolution transitions occur when the trajectory of the properties of the salt crosses the boundaries between these regions. We find that in most cases the redissolution occurs within the same expanded branch from which the chain precipitates.
Information Technology and Economic Development: Ireland's Coming of Age with Lessons for Developing Countries

AbstractThe contribution of information technology (IT) to economic growth and development is seen as an important factor underlying the pace of development in many countries. While Asia's tiger economies are often portrayed as models for economic growth, Ireland's recent economic performance has attracted considerable attention, earning it the label, Europe's Celtic Tiger.We adopt a framework of IT-led development to show how, despite having a weak indigenous IT sector, Ireland succeeded in creating a world-class industry in computer hardware, software and services. Behind this success lies a policy of "industrialization by invitation" through which Ireland selectively targeted foreign investment in high-tech industries using a menu of financial and tax-based incentives. Despite Ireland's success, intense competition from regions such as Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia has forced Irish policy makers to question whether this policy can produce sustained economic benefits.Ireland's response to these chal...
Noncolocated Control of a Damped String Using Time Delay

Recent research studies noncolocated control of flexible mechanical systems using time delay. The developments are limited to undamped flexible systems; damped flexible systems have not been considered. This paper investigates noncolocated vibration control of a viscously damped string using time delay. The control system is formulated in the Laplace transform domain. Based on the understanding of the system eigenstructure, a modified Bode plot of the feedback controller is introduced in a design region
Nickel(0)-catalyzed coupling of vinylzirconiums to α-bromo-α,α-difluoro esters. Convenient generation of a functionalized allyldifluoro moiety

Abstract Vinylzirconium reagents couple with α-bromo-α,α-difluoro esters in the presence of a Ni(PPh3)4 catalyst to form alkenyl difluoro esters in good yields. This reaction exemplifies a novel mode of reactivity for α-bromo-α,α-difluoro esters wherein the inherent electrophilicity of the carbon–bromine bond is utilized in the course of the reaction rather than being formally reduced in Reformatzsky-type reactions. The choice of ester group in the reactant is critical to the success of this reaction with the isopropyl group, formed via a novel transesterification procedure, giving the best yields.
Solvent Effects on the Surface Composition of Bisphenol A Polycarbonate and Polydimethylsiloxane (BPAC−PDMS) Random Block Copolymers

The surface compositions of bisphenol A polycarbonate and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (BPAC−PDMS) random block copolymers were analyzed using angle-dependent electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and attenuated total reflection (ATR) FTIR. The composition was measured at sampling depths of 18, 73, and 103 A with angle-dependent ESCA and at a sampling depth of 4.1 μm with ATR-FTIR. The present study focuses on examining the quantitative effects of solvent casting and annealing on the surface composition of the BPAC−PDMS random block copolymers of varying bulk compositions. The effects of solvent casting were evaluated in terms of solvent solubility (or Hildebrand parameter) and solvent volatility (or boiling point). It was found that the casting solvents and annealing treatments influenced the surface compositions significantly, and each of the solvents gave the polymer film a different morphology in the near surface region. In addition, a physical picture of the near surface region (103 A) of silo...
On the large-N limit of the Itzykson-Zuber integral

Abstract We study the large-N limit of the Itzykson-Zuber integral and show that the leading term is given by the exponent of an action functional for the complex inviscid Burgers (Hopf) equation evaluated on its particular classical solution; the eigenvalue densities that enter in the IZ integral being the imaginary parts of the boundary values of this solution. We show how this result can be applied to “induced QCD” with an arbitrary potential U(x). We find that for a nonsingular U(x) in one dimension the eigenvalue density ϱ(x) at the saddle point is the solution of the functional equation G + (G − (x)) = G − (G + (x)) = x, where G ± (x) ≡ 1 2 U′(x) ± iπϱ(x) . As an illustration we present a number of new particular solutions of the c = 1 matrix model on a discrete real line.
The Wrong Type of Pluralism: Toward a Transdisciplinary Social Science

AbstractWhen heterodox economists talk of pluralism they are generally talking about pluralism within the economics profession—they are asking: how can we have a more pluralistic economics profession? This paper argues that another, perhaps more useful, way to think of pluralism and economics is from the perspective of all the social sciences. When considered in reference to the social science profession rather than in reference to the economics profession, the amount of pluralism increases significantly, since different social sciences follow quite different methodologies. But looking at pluralism from the social science perspective reveals a different type of pluralism problem in social science. While there may be plenty of pluralism within social science as a whole, there is a serious question about whether it is appropriately distributed. This paper argues that heterodox economists' agenda should be a greater blending of all the social science departments. It summarizes proposals to do so on both the ...
Why we still don't know how to simulate networks

Summary form only given. Discrete event simulation has been used in the evaluation of computer communications networks for three or four decades. Over this period of time our simulation capability has improved significantly due to the efforts of the simulation research community. There has also been significant progress over the years by the networking research community in understanding the use of simulation in the design and evaluation of network architectures, protocols and services. I will argue in this talk that, despite these advances, we still do not have an acceptable and widely-used methodology to simulate networks which often leads to the questioning of the credibility of simulation results. This can be attributed to many reasons, including 1) confusion and uncertainty within the networking community regarding the role that simulation plays in networking research, 2) fundamental limits that make it basically impossible to simulate Internet-scale networks, 3) the difficulty in building realistic network models and 4) the lack of acceptable standards for validity and repeatability of simulation experiments. I will suggest a high-level research agenda that addresses these issues with the ultimate aim of enriching the networking research community's ability to use simulation as a meaningful tool for performance evaluation and prediction.
Conceptual Design of Sodium-Cooled Central Receiver Solar Power Plant

A conceptual design and performance and cost estimate for a liquid-sodium- cooled central receiver solar power plant have been completed. In this design, liquid sodium transfers thermal energy from the solar receiver to the steam Rankine cycle. The sodium leaves the receiver at a temperature of 593°C (1100°F) and is conducted to the base of the tower, where it is used to generate superheated steam, or, alternately, may be stored in insulated vessels for use in preventing transients during periods of cloud cover, or to extend the plant operating period. The steam drives a 16.55 MPa/538°C/538°C (2400 psi/1000°F/1000°F) reheat turbine which produces a net electrical output of 100 MW. At full power the receiver captures 89% of the solar power incident upon it; this power is then converted to electricity at a gross efficiency of 44.5%. The cost of the first plant is estimated to be $210 million in 1978 dollars; learning curve and -iass production effects could reduce the cost of the mature design to $164 million.
Problem Solving and Creativity in Public Policy Courses: Promoting Interest and Civic Engagement

This article examines the impact of problem-solving and creativity exercises on student interest in public policy making and behavior related to civic engagement. Researchers have long described policy making as a function of problem solving. Creativity has also been identified as an important component of the process. While these skills are promoted in upper level and graduate courses, they are difficult to implement in introductory curricula. The authors outline a series of problem-based creativity exercises designed for an introductory public policy course and explore their effects using a nonequivalent control group design. The article both analyzes short-term results and also contributes strategies to teach civic engagement. Dialogue on the use of these exercises adds to the existing stock of knowledge regarding civic engagement.
A COMPARISON OF SOLID MONOPROPELLANT COMBUSTION AND MODELING

Many of the ingredients in solid propellants burn as monopropellants. This paper focuses on the combustion characteristics of three typical monopropellants, AP, RDX and HMX. Monopropellant modeling efforts are reviewed. Early models describing monopropellants were primarily based on global kinetics. Although different physical pictures were assumed, the calculated burning rates of most of the models were very reasonable, compared to experimental data. Because of the agreement many authors have claimed their models to be correct Other investigators have been more objective, and have used their models to evaluate more detailed combustion characteristics, such as op, flame stand-off distances, etc. More recent models have been based on much more detailed kinetic mechanisms, and more detailed modeling of the condensed phase. One such model has recently been developed at BYU, building on the pioneering work of Melius, Yetter, and others. The model has been applied to AP, RDX and HMX, comparing the modeling calculations with available experimental data. The agreement is very reasonable for burning rate, surface temperature, temperature sensitivity, temperature profile, major species profiles and many minor species profiles.
Study of the effect of the charge transport layer in the electrical characteristics of the organic photovoltaics

Abstract Significant progress in fabrication and optimization of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) has been made during the last decade. The main reason for popularity of OPVs is due to their low production cost, large area devices and compatibility with flexible substrates [1] , [2] , [3] . Various approaches including optimizing morphology of the active layers [1] , [2] , introducing new materials as the donor and acceptor [3] , [4] , new device structures such as tandem structure [5] , [6] have been adapted to improve the efficiency of the organic photovoltaics. However, electrical characteristics of the OPVs do not only depend on the active layer materials or device structure. They can also be defined by the interface properties between active layers and the charge transport layers or the metal contacts. Within this paper, the effect of the thickness variation of the charge transport layer in the electrical properties of the bilayer heterojunction OPVs has been studied. Several devices with CuPc/PTCDI-C8 as the donor/acceptor layers have been fabricated with different thicknesses of electron transport layer. MoO3 and Alq3 have been used respectively as the hole transport layer (HTL) and the electron transport layer (ETL). It has been shown that the S-shape effect in the current–voltage curve is attributed to the accumulation of the charge carriers at the interface between the active layer and the charge transport layer [5] , [7] .
Heating of a Star by Disk Accretion

We examine various ways in which disk accretion can heat an accreting star. These include (1) radiation emitted from the disk surface that is intercepted by the stellar surface, (2) radiative flux directly across the disk-star interface, and (3) advection of thermal energy from the disk into the star. For each of these, the physics of the boundary layer between the disk and the star is crucial for determining the amount of stellar heating that occurs. We assess the importance of the methods listed above for heating the star in accreting pre-main-sequence stars and cataclysmic variables, using recent models of boundary layers in these systems. We find that intercepted radiation tends to be the most important source of stellar heating in thin disk systems such as T Tauri stars and high- cataclysmic variables. We argue that direct radiation across the disk-star interface will be unimportant in steady state systems. However, it may be important in outbursting systems, where the disk temperature rises and falls rapidly. Advection of thermal energy into the star becomes the dominant source of stellar heating in thick disk systems such as FU Orionis objects.
Conducting field experiments using eLancing's natural environment☆

Abstract We propose the use of eLancing as a natural environment to conduct field experiments in entrepreneurship research. eLancing, or Internet freelancing, involves millions of people around the world and consists of websites that link individuals and organizations interested in purchasing services or commissioning people to complete some type of work with individuals and organizations interested in providing such services or performing such work. We provide a description of how to conduct practically feasible field experiments using eLancing's natural environment to investigate important substantive areas such as entrepreneurial team efficacy and how execution differs from opportunity recognition, among other areas. Using eLancing to conduct field experiments allows researchers to overcome pervasive methodological challenges as revealed by a content analysis of the 175 empirical articles published in the Journal of Business Venturing from January 2005 to November 2010. Specifically, eLancing allows researchers to improve generalizability, address the omitted variables problem, improve the operationalization of constructs, improve confidence regarding the nature of causal relationships, and address other challenges such as participant bias and selective survival. Thus, using eLancing as a methodological tool has the potential to lead to important theoretical advancements and subsequent practical applications.
SPONTANEOUS SYMMETRY BREAKING IN PARTICLE PHYSICS: A CASE OF CROSS FERTILIZATION

I will begin by a short story about my background. I studied physics at the University of Tokyo. I was attracted to particle physics because of the three famous names, Nishina, Tomonaga and Yukawa, who were the founders of particle physics in Japan. But these people were at dieren t institutions than mine. On the other hand, condensed matter physics was pretty good at Tokyo. I got into particle physics only when I came back to Tokyo after the war. In hindsight, though, I must say that my early exposure to condensed matter physics has been quite benecial to me. Particle physics is an outgrowth of nuclear physics which began in the early 1930’s with the discovery of the neutron by Chadwick, the invention of the cyclotron by Lawrence, and the \invention" of meson theory by Yukawa. a The appearance of an ever increasing array of new particles in the subsequent decades, and the advances in quantum eld theory gradually led to our understanding of the basic laws of nature, culminating in the present standard model. When we faced those new particles, our rst attempts were to make sense out of them by nding some regularities in their properties. They invoked the symmetry principle to classify them. A symmetry in physics leads to a conservation law. Some conservation laws are exact, like energy and electric charge, but these attempts were based on approximate similarities of masses and interactions. Nevertheless, seeing similarities is a natural and very useful trait of the human mind. The near equality of proton and neutron masses and their interactions led to the concept of isospin SU(2) symmetry. 2 On the other hand, one could also go in the opposite direction, and elevate a symmetry to a more elaborate gauged symmetry. Then symmetry will determine the dynamics as well, a most attractive possibility. Thus the beautiful properties of electromagnetism was extended to the
Recent Developments with an Impact on the Future of Polyphosphazene Science and Technology

A new method for the synthesis of polyphosphazenes is described, together with the biomedical and electrochemical uses of phosphazene polymers with alkyl ether side groups
Path Integrals in Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics

Physics Department, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USAI discuss the use of path integrals to study strong-interaction physics from ﬁrstprinciples. The underlying theory is cast into path integrals which are evaluatednumerically using Monte Carlo methods on a space-time lattice. Examples aregiven on progress related to nuclear physics.Keywords: path integrals, lattice QCD, strong interaction, Monte Carlo
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ARTIFICIAL MARKET SIMULATIONS AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION

Artificial markets are an emerging form of agent-based simulation in which agents represent individual industries, firms, or consumers interacting under simulated market conditions. While artificial markets demonstrate considerable potential for advancing innovation research, the validity of the method depends on the ability of researchers to construct agents that faithfully capture the key behavior of targeted entities. To date, few such methods have been documented in the academic literature. This article describes a novel method for combining qualitative innovation research (case studies, grounded theory, and sequence analysis) with software engineering techniques to synthesize simulation-ready theories of adoption behavior. A step-by-step example is provided from the transportation domain. The result was a theory of adoption behavior that is sufficiently precise and formal to be expressed in Unified Modeling Language (UML). The article concludes with a discussion of the limitations of the method and recommendations future applications to the study of diffusion of innovation.
Thermal Emission Spectrometer Observations of Martian Planet-Encircling Dust Storm 2001A

Abstract The initiation and evolution of a planet-encircling dust storm on Mars have been observed in unprecedented detail by the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) on board the Mars Global Surveyor. A local dust storm began to expand quickly on 26 June 2001 (areo-centric longitude, L s =185°), becoming a planet-encircling dust storm by 11 July 2001. The dust storm had dust optical depth >2 over wide areas and caused atmospheric temperatures over a large vertical range to warm by >40 K from 20°N latitude to the south pole.
Sudakov suppression in azimuthal spin asymmetries

It is shown that transverse momentum dependent azimuthal spin asymmetries suffer from suppression due to Sudakov factors, in the region where the transverse momentum is much smaller than the large energy scale Q(2). The size and Q(2) dependence of this suppression are studied numerically for two, such asymmetries, both arising due to the Collins effect. General features are discussed of how the fall-off with Q(2) is affected by the nonperturbative Sudakov factor and by the transverse momentum weights and angular dependences that appear in different asymmetries. For a subset of asymmetries the asymptotic Q(2) behavior is calculated analytically, providing an upper bound for the decrease with energy of other asymmetries. The effect of Sudakov factors on the transverse momentum distributions is found to be very significant already at present-day collider energies. Therefore, it is essential to rake into account Sudakov factors in transverse momentum dependent azimuth;ll spin asymmetries, (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
THE NORMAL STATE OF HIGH Tc SUPERCONDUCTORS: A NEW QUANTUM LIQUID

A renormalization group analysis of interacting Fermion systems shows that there are two fundamentally different fixed points, Landau Fermi liquid theory and what has been called ‘‘Luttinger Liquid Theory’’ by Haldane, a type of state in which fluctuations of different quantum numbers—e.g., charge and spin—acquire distinct spectra, and Fermi surface correlations have unusual exponents. The luttinger liquids comprise most interacting 1‐dimensional systems, and some higher‐dimensional systems in which, as in the Hubbard model, the band spectrum is bounded above. All higher‐dimensional systems with true Mott‐Hubbard gaps and an upper Hubbard band, including most 2d Hubbard models, are Luttinger liquids. We summarize the experimental evidence in favor of the 2d Hubbard model for high T c superconductors and the constraints pointing towards its non‐Fermi liquid nature. We describe progress towards explaining normal state and superconducting properties and elucidating the high T c mechanism.
Structure and properties of rhombohedral CePd3Ga8: A variant of the cubic parent compound with BaHg11 structure type

Abstract Single crystals of a new intermetallic gallide, R-CePd3Ga8, have been synthesized from excess molten gallium. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that R-CePd3Ga8 crystallizes in the R-3m space group with a=b=c=8.4903(10) A and α=β=γ=89.993(17). R-CePd3Ga8 is a variant of the cubic BaHg11 structure type with three structural units: a Ce-centered polyhedron, a distorted cube of Pd2Ga6 and a Pd-centered cuboctahedron. The distortions of these units are compared to undistorted analogous units in intermetallic compounds with BaHg11 structure type. Field and temperature-dependent magnetization measurements on R-CePd3Ga8 reveal a paramagnetic material with strong antiferromagnetic correlations and a magnetization consistent with Ce3+. Electrical resistance measurements indicate Kondo behavior between localized Ce3+ magnetic moments.
Deconvolution techniques in Auger electron spectroscopy

Abstract The use of Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) to study band structure or Auger processes in solids has been limited by the lack of resolution resulting from the excitation and measurement methods used. In addition to these instrument broadening effects, it is found that discrete, inelastic interactions of Auger electrons in solids can contribute a structured, low-energy tail which extends several times the main bandwidth. By using the energy-loss and resolution information contained in the nearly elastically-backscattered electron distribution in a deconvolution technique, it was found that the effects of instrument broadening and inelastic interactions could be significantly reduced. Deconvoluted spectra were obtained from In and CdS as well as from oxygen adsorbed on several substrates.
Stellar structure modeling using a parallel genetic algorithm for objective global optimization

Genetic algorithms are a class of heuristic search techniques that apply basic evolutionary operators in a computational setting. We have designed a fully parallel and distributed hardware/software implementation of the generalized optimization subroutine PIKAIA, which utilizes a genetic algorithm to provide an objective determination of the globally optimal parameters for a given model against an observational data set. We have used this modeling tool in the context of white dwarf asteroseismology, i.e., the art and science of extracting physical and structural information about these stars from observations of their oscillation frequencies: The efficient, parallel exploration of parameter-space made possible by genetic-algorithm-based numerical optimization led us to a number of interesting physical results: (1) resolution of a hitherto puzzling discrepancy between stellar evolution models and prior asteroseismic inferences of the surface helium layer mass for a DBV white dwarf; (2) precise determination of the central oxygen mass fraction in a white dwarf star; and (3) a preliminary estimate of the astrophysically important but experimentally uncertain rate for the 12C(α, γ)16O nuclear reaction. These successes suggest that a broad class of computationally intensive modeling applications could also benefit from this approach.
Travelling waves in a nonlinearly suspended beam: some computational results and four open questions

A new nonlinear differential equation for a nonlinearly supported beam is proposed. Numerical evidence is presented on the existence, interaction, and spontaneous decomposition properties of travelling waves in such a beam. In particular, these waves seem to possess the ability to pass through each other like solitons, and more complicated shapes seem to decompose into simpler ones. At present, there is no mathematical explanation for these phenomena, and several open mathematical questions are posed.
Characteristic differences between the modal parameters of cast and forged structures

Introduction C OMPONENT and material manufacturing techniques of complex aerospace systems can often have a significant effect on the modal vibration characteristics of the structure.' Steel alloys, manufactured by both casting and forging techniques, are used extensively in rocket engine components for their high strength and durability under severe environmental and vibration loading conditions. Modal frequencies and damping of any structure, which are a function of the material characteristics, density, modulus, thickness, size, stiffness, and mass, among others, are often studied for analysis and predictions. When any of these properties vary, it impacts the modal parameters and thus the dynamic behavior of the structure under consideration. Consider a uniform cantilevered beam. To determine the natural frequencies and vibration modes of the beam, the Bernoulli-Euler equation can be solved under free vibration, uniformity, constant coefficient, and other simplifying assumptions. The resulting solution for the frequency is an inverse function of the length squared, multiplied by the square root of the modulus, times the inertia, divided by the density, times the cross-sectional area. The mode shapes are given, on the other hand, as a combination of sinusoidal and hyperbolic functions of position from the fixed end of the beam. The effects of shear and rotational inertia also contribute to variations in the modal frequencies and shape functions, but their effects are often neglected. On the other hand, the damping characteristics depend on the material properties, the structural constraints, geometry, temperature, and other factors. Dynamic stability is solely dependent on the internal damping of the structure, unless
Institutional factors affecting offshore business process and information technology outsourcing

Micro and macro level impacts of offshore outsourcing are far from clear. Thus there are some well-founded rationales for and against offshore outsourcing as well as a number of misinformed and ill guided viewpoints. Using institutional theory as a lens, this paper analyzes the drivers of offshore business process and information technology outsourcing. We examine the mechanisms by which regulative rules, social rules, culturally supported habits and subconsciously accepted rules and customs influence assessment, selection as well as continuation of outsourcing projects. Managerial and policy implications are discussed and directions for future research have been suggested.
Gravitational Microlensing near Caustics. II. Cusps

We present a rigorous, detailed study of the generic, quantitative properties of gravitational lensing near cusp catastrophes. Concentrating on the case in which the individual images are unresolved, we derive explicit formulas for the total magnification and centroid of the images created for sources outside, on, and inside the cusped caustic. We obtain new results on how the image magnifications scale with respect to separation from the cusped caustic for arbitrary source positions. Along the axis of symmetry of the cusp, the total magnification μ scales as μ ∝ u-1, where u is the distance of the source from the cusp, whereas perpendicular to this axis, μ ∝ u-2/3. When the source passes through a point u0 on a fold arc abutting the cusp, the image centroid has a jump discontinuity; we present a formula for the size of the jump in terms of the local derivatives of the lens potential and show that the magnitude of the jump scales as |u|1/2 for |u| 1, where |u| is the horizontal distance between u0 and the cusp. The total magnifications for a small extended source located both on and perpendicular to the axis of symmetry are also derived, for both uniform and limb-darkened surface brightness profiles. We find that the difference in magnification between a finite and point source is 5% for separations of 2.5 source radii from the cusp point, while the effect of limb darkening is 1% in the same range. Our predictions for the astrometric and photometric behavior of both pointlike and finite sources passing near a cusp are illustrated and verified using numerical simulations of the cusp-crossing Galactic binary lens event MACHO-1997-BUL-28. Our results can be applied to any microlensing system with cusp caustics, including Galactic binary lenses and quasar microlensing; we discuss several possible applications of our results to these topics.
Extremal transitions in heterotic string theory

Abstract In this paper we study extremal transitions between heterotic string compactifications, i.e. transitions between pairs ( M , V ) where M is a Calabi-Yau manifold and V a gauge bundle. Bundle transitions are described using language recently espoused by Friedman, Morgan and Witten. In addition, partly as a check on our methods, we also study how small instantons are described in the same language, and also describe the sheaves corresponding to small instantons.
Vibration and noise control using an optimal output feedback controller

In this paper the design of an optimal controller using discretely placed collocated sensor/actuator pairs to control the vibration of a plate structure is presented. Three- dimensional finite elements are used to model the smart structure containing discrete piezoelectric sensors and actuators by the use of a combination of solid, transition, and shell elements. Since several discrete piezoelectric patches are spatially distributed in the structure to effectively observe and control the vibration of a structure, the system model is thus utilized to design multi-input-multi- output (MIMO) controller. The output feedback controller is then employed to emulate the optimal controller by solving the Riccati equations from modal space model. An optimal controller design for the vibration suppression of a clamped plate is presented for the steady state excitation case. The reduction in the sound pressure level inside an enclosure radiated from this optimally controlled vibrating plate is also estimated.
International differences in production techniques: Implications for the factor content of trade

Abstract This paper examines how production techniques differ across countries, factors, and industries and considers its implications for previous empirical evidence on the Vanek prediction. I find that production techniques differ substantially across countries and factors, but differ much less across industries within a country. Davis and Weinstein (2001) argue that modeling cross-industry differences (multiple-cone specialization) improves the fit of the Vanek prediction; however, their test statistics are unchanged when one restricts techniques to be identical across industries within a country. Thus, the bulk of world factor content of trade does not arise from specialization.
Comparison of local anesthetic-cyclodextrin non-covalent complexes using capillary electrophoresis and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Non-covalent complexes between three derivitized cyclodextrins (CD’s) and six local anesthetics were studied using capillary electrophoresis (CE) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The CE study was performed using the complete filling technique (CFT). A comparison between the migration data from CE and ESI-MS inclusion complex peak abundances was made representing the association between local anesthetics and CD’s in the solution and the gas phase, respectively. The results from this study showed comparable behavior of the complexes in the CE and mass spectrometer, indicating similarity in the parameters controlling the stability of these complexes. Therefore, the formation of specific non-covalent complexes, as shown in this study, could be used to predict the behavior of a complexing agent with a substrate in the solution phase by observing data obtained from ESI-MS.
The Escape of high-energy photons from gamma-ray bursts

Eleven bright gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by BATSE have also been seen at much higher ener- gies by EGRET, six at energies above 10 MeV. Most distinctive among these is GRB 940217, which includes long duration, hard gamma-ray emission, and the most energetic GRB photon detection to date, around 18 GeV. Such observations imply that these bursts are optically thin to photon-photon pair production at all observed energies, for target photons both internal and external to the source. For bursts more than about 30 pc away, internal transparency can be achieved only if the source is moving with a relativistic bulk Lorentz factor ! ? 1, or if the radiation is highly beamed. Early calculations of cc ) ee~ considerations for GRBs were limited to cases of a beam with opening half-angle # B D 1/!, or expansions of in-nitely thin spherical shells. This paper presents our extension of pair production optical depth calculations in relativistically expanding sources to more general geometries, including shells of -nite thickness and arbitrary opening angle. The problem is reduced analytically to a single integral in the special, but quite broadly applicable, case of observing photons only along the axis of the expansion. We -nd that the minimum bulk Lorentz factor for the EGRET sources to be optically thin, i.e., display no spectral attenuation, is only moderately dependent on the shell thickness and virtually independent of its opening solid angle if This insensitivity to relieves the commonly per- # B Z 1/!. # B ceived number problem for nonrepeating sources at cosmological distances, i.e., it is not necessary to invoke small to e†ect photon escape. The values of ! obtained, typically of the order of 10 for halo # B bursts and for sources of cosmological origin, depend somewhat on the choice of GRB timescale Z100 used to determine the expansion size. Our new limits on required velocity for given source geometries will aid in placing realistic constraints on GRB source models. Subject headings: gamma rays: bursts E radiation mechanisms: nonthermal E relativity E stars: neutron
Solar Neutrino Results from Super-Kamiokande☆

Abstract Super-Kamiokande-IV (SK-IV) data taking began in September of 2008, after upgrading the electronics and data acquisition system. Due to these upgrades and improvements to water system dynamics, calibration and analysis techniques, a solar neutrino signal could be extracted at recoil electron kinetic energies as low as 3.5 MeV. When the SK-IV data is combined with the previous three SK phases, the SK extracted solar neutrino flux is found to be [2.37 ± 0.015(stat.) ± 0.04(syst.)] × 10 6 /(cm 2 sec). The combination of the SK recoil electron energy spectra slightly favors distortions due to a changing electron flavor content. Such distortions are predicted when assuming standard solar neutrino oscillation solutions. An extended maximum likelihood fit to the amplitude of the expected solar zenith angle variation of the neutrino-electron elastic scattering rate results in a day-night asymmetry of [−3.2 ± 1.1(stat.)±0.5(syst.)]%. A solar neutrino global oscillation analysis including all current solar neutrino data, as well as KamLAND reactor antineutrino data, measures the solar mixing angle as sin 2 θ 12 = 0.305 ± 0.013, the solar neutrino mass squared splitting as Δ m 21 2 = 7.49 −0.17 +0.19 × 10 −5 eV 2 and sin 2 θ 13 = 0.026 −0.012 +0.017 .
Two-state, reversible, universal cellular automata in three dimensions

A novel two-state, Reversible Cellular Automata (RCA) is described. This three-dimensional RCA is shown to be capable of universal computation. Additionally, evidence is offered that this RCA is capable of universal construction.
Knot concordance and homology cobordism

We consider the question: “If the zero-framed surgeries on two oriented knots in S3 are Z-homology cobordant, preserving the homology class of the positive meridians, are the knots themselves concordant?” We show that this question has a negative answer in the smooth category, even for topologically slice knots. To show this we first prove that the zero-framed surgery on K is Z-homology cobordant to the zero-framed surgery on many of its winding number one satellites P (K). Then we prove that in many cases the τ and s-invariants of K and P (K) differ. Consequently neither τ nor s is an invariant of the smooth homology cobordism class of the zero-framed surgery. We also show that a natural rational version of this question has a negative answer in both the topological and smooth categories by proving similar results for K and its (p, 1)-cables.
AdS Description of Induced Higher-Spin Gauge Theory

We study deformations of three-dimensional large N CFTs by double-trace operators constructed from spin s single-trace operators of dimension Δ. These theories possess UV fixed points, and we calculate the change of the 3-sphere free energy δF = F UV − F IR. To describe the UV fixed point using the dual AdS4 space we modify the boundary conditions on the spin s field in the bulk; this approach produces δF in agreement with the field theory calculations. If the spin s operator is a conserved current, then the fixed point is described by an induced parity invariant conformal spin s gauge theory. The low spin examples are QED3 (s = 1) and the 3-d induced conformal gravity (s = 2). When the original CFT is that of N conformal complex scalar or fermion fields, the U(N) singlet sector of the induced 3-d gauge theory is dual to Vasiliev’s theory in AdS4 with alternate boundary conditions on the spin s massless gauge field. We test this correspondence by calculating the leading term in δF for large N. We show that the coefficient of $ \frac{1}{2} $ log N in δF is equal to the number of spin s − 1 gauge parameters that act trivially on the spin s gauge field. We discuss generalizations of these results to 3-d gauge theories including Chern-Simons terms and to theories where s is half-integer. We also argue that the Weyl anomaly a-coefficients of conformal spin s theories in even dimensions d, such as that of the Weyl-squared gravity in d = 4, can be efficiently calculated using massless spin s fields in AdS d+1 with alternate boundary conditions. Using this method we derive a simple formula for the Weyl anomaly a-coefficients of the d = 4 Fradkin-Tseytlin conformal higher-spin gauge fields. Similarly, using alternate boundary conditions in AdS3 we reproduce the well-known central charge c = −26 of the bc ghosts in 2-d gravity, as well as its higher- spin generalizations.
Three-dimensional subband/wavelet coding of video with motion compensation

In this work, we present a video coding system based on 3D subband coding with motion compensation (MC-3DSBC) which is novel both in its generation of 3D subbands and in their subsequent encoding. The rate allocation from the GOP level to each class of subbands is optimized by utilizing the structural property of MC-3DSBC that additive superposition approximately holds for both rate and distortion at the unit level. Experimental results show that the performance of the proposed video coding system exceeds that of an MPEG-1 implementation for several video test sequences covering various camera and object motions.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Local Market and National Components in House Price Appreciation

Abstract We analyze real home price appreciation using a long time series (1971–1989) and large cross section (56 metro areas). Our findings yield important new insights into two outstanding issues in real estate finance and economics. The first deals with the implications for investment opportunities in housing across metro areas. A striking result is that we cannot reject the null hypothesis of equal appreciation rates across locales. A priori, the results are suggestive of equal expected appreciation across the different local markets. However, it is noteworthy that we find significant serial correlation in some local appreciation series. This is consistent with previous findings by Case and Shiller [6]and suggests that prescient market timers might have been able to make money in selective markets. We then consider the potential implications of equal appreciation rates across cities for housing market equilibrium in light of the fact that price levels do materially differ across metro areas. We argue that equal real appreciation rates starting from different price levels imply increasingly divergent prices of local traits in terms of foregone consumption. Without special assumptions with respect to income and productivity differentials across locations or to local trait income elasticities of demand, the appreciation rates in high housing price level areas ultimately have to fall below those in low price level areas. Preliminary evidence indicates that higher priced areas tend to have significantly lower appreciation rates (controlling for local fixed effects and a common, time-varying effect).
An overview of fluctuation and correlation results in relativistic heavy-ion collisions

A great deal of recent data on event-by-event fluctuation and correlation measurements have been released by several experiments at the SPS and RHIC. Recent results on charge fluctuations, balance functions in pseudorapidity and average transverse momentum fluctuations will be reviewed. The results will be compared to various model predictions after examining contributions to each observable from known physics processes.