cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Financial Statement Effects of Eliminating the Pooling‐of‐Interests Method of Acquisition Accounting

Accounting standard setters have become increasingly concerned with the perceived manipulation of financial statements afforded by the pooling‐of‐interests (pooling) method of accounting for corporate acquisitions. While different restrictions have been discussed, in September 1999 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued an Exposure Draft to eliminate the pooling method. This study provides a basis for evaluating restrictions on the pooling method by analyzing the financial statement effects on pooling acquisitions made by public corporations over the period 1992 through 1997. Using these acquisitions we (1) quantify the scope of the “pooling problem,” (2) estimate the financial statement repercussions of eliminating the pooling method, and (3) examine the effects of restricting pooling accounting to business combinations meeting various “merger of equals” restrictions. While our analysis does not address whether restrictions on the pooling method will influence the nature or level of acqui...
Multiply bridged acetylenic thiacyclophanes

Abstract The 4,17,30-trithia-[7 3 ](1,3,5)cyclophane ( 1 ) has been prepared by a two-stage, palladium assisted coupling of propargylOTHP with 1,3,5-tribromobenzene, followed by sulfide ring closure. The intermediate ( 8 ) on deprotection, followed by bromination and reaction with Na 2 S gives 1 in 58% yield.
The absence of radiative corrections from higher-order loops to the topological mass in (2 + 1)-dimensional electrodynamics

Abstract A proof is presented that there are no radiative corrections from higher loops to the topological mass term of abelian gauge theory in 2 + 1 dimensions, thus the coefficient of the topological mass term at one-loop order is exact to all higher orders.
Recent development in bonded NdFeB magnets

The magnetic properties of isotropic NdFeB powders used for bonded magnets are compared. The characteristics of two newly developed powders, namely MQP-13-9 and MQP-S-9-8 were compared with respect to existing powders. The advantages of spherical powders for injection molding were highlighted. Development targets for the 180°C application and NdFeB nanocomposites were also discussed.
Issues in nanomagnetism

Abstract An overview is provided of recent work at Argonne that covers three aspects of nanomagnetism. The first is in the area of spin transport, where all-metallic lateral spin valves are explored. The second is in the area of spin dynamics, where a variety of magnetic vortex geometries are summarized. And the third is in the area of self-assembly, where capsid templates derived from viruses are used to contain the growth of magnetic nanoparticles. In each case issues are highlighted associated with the relation between magnetism and structure.
Y3MnAu5: three distinctive d-metal functions in an intergrown cluster phase.

The new Y3MnAu5 intermetallic phase is obtained from the arc-melted elements in virtually quantitative yields after annealing at 1000 °C for ∼3 d. Its remarkable structure [rhombohedral, R3, Z = 6; a = 8.489(1) A, c = 18.144(2) A] consists of a 2:1 cubic-close-packed intergrowth between edge-shared Mn-centered Au rhombohedra (Mn@Au8) with gold-centered antiprismatic (Au@Y6) clusters via a common gold network. Magnetic susceptibility (χ) data for Y3MnAu5 were fitted by a Curie–Weiss law. The Curie constant indicates a large effective moment corresponding to nearly localized Mn spins S = 5/2, and the Weiss temperature demonstrates the dominance of ferromagnetic (FM) interactions. An antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition at TN = 75 K and a possible spin reorientation transition at 65 K were observed. Analysis of the χ data for T < TN suggests a planar noncollinear helical AFM structure that arises from competing AFM interactions between FM-aligned layers of spins in the ab-plane with a turn angle of 69° betwee...
OORT-Cloud and Kuiper-Belt Comets

This paper follows the broadly accepted theory that Oort-Cloud Comets originated in the Solar Nebula in the general region where the major planets, Jupiter and Saturn, were formed while the Kuiper-Belt Comets originated farther out where the temperatures were lower. The Oort-Cloud Comets are identified orbitally by long periods and random inclinations and, including the Halley-type comets, comets with a Tisserand Criterion less than 2.0. Kuiper-Belt comets are identified by short periods, usually much less than 200 years, and small inclinations to the ecliptic. Here two criteria for comet activity are found to separate the two classes of comets. These quantities NG1 and NG2, were intended to measure theoretical nongravitaional effects on comet orbits. They are only, mildly successful in correlations with observed cases of measured non-gravitational forces. But, in fact, their variations with perihelion distance separate the two classes of comets. The results are consistent with the theory that the activity or intrinsic brightness of Oort-Cloud Comets fall off faster with increasing perihelion distance that does the intrinsic brightness of short-period Kuiper-Belt Comets.
Highly Selective Reactions of Unbiased Alkenyl Halides and Alkylzinc Halides: Negishi-Plus Couplings

High yielding stereo- and chemoselective Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings in THF at room temperature of alkenyl iodides and bromides with primary and secondary alkyl zinc iodides have been developed with the aid of N-methyimidazole as the key additive.
Collective quartics from simple groups

This article classifies Little Higgs models that have collective quartic couplings. There are two classes of collective quartics: Special Cosets and Special Quartics. After taking into account dangerous singlets, the smallest Special Coset models are SU(5)/SO(5) and SU(6)/Sp(6). The smallest Special Quartic model is SU(5)/SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) and has not previously been considered as a candidate Little Higgs model.
Anti-Bredt N-heterocyclic carbene: an efficient ligand for the gold(I)-catalyzed hydroamination of terminal alkynes with parent hydrazine

An anti-Bredt N-heterocyclic carbene gold(I) chloride complex was synthesized by taking advantage of the reversible insertion of the free carbene into the NH bond of hexamethyldisilazane. This precatalyst promotes the parent hydrazine hydroamination of terminal alkynes at room temperature.
A suggestive interface for 3D drawing

This paper introduces a new type of interface for 3D drawings that improves the usability of gestural interfaces and augments typical command-based modeling systems. In our suggestive interface, the user gives hints about a desired operation to the system by highlighting related geometric components in the scene. The system then infers possible operations based on the hints and presents the results of these operations as small thumbnails. The user completes the editing operation simply by clicking on the desired thumbnail. The hinting mechanism lets the user specify geometric relations among graphical components in the scene, and the multiple thumbnail suggestions make it possible to define many operations with relatively few distinct hint patterns. The suggestive interface system is implemented as a set of suggestion engines working in parallel, and is easily extended by adding customized engines. Our prototype 3D drawing system, Chateau, shows that a suggestive interface can effectively support construction of various 3D drawings.
Anatomy of spin-transfer torque

Spin-transfer torques occur in magnetic heterostructures because the transverse component of a spin current that flows from a nonmagnet into a ferromagnet is absorbed at the interface. We demonstrate this fact explicitly using free-electron models and first-principles electronic structure calculations for real material interfaces. Three distinct processes contribute to the absorption: (1) spin-dependent reflection and transmission, (2) rotation of reflected and transmitted spins, and (3) spatial precession of spins in the ferromagnet. When summed over all Fermi surface electrons, these processes reduce the transverse component of the transmitted and reflected spin currents to nearly zero for most systems of interest. Therefore, to a good approximation, the torque on the magnetization is proportional to the transverse piece of the incoming spin current.
Solving tree problems on a Mesh-connected processor Array

In this paper we present techniques that result in O ( n ) time algorithms for computing many properties and functions of an n -node forest stored in an n × n mesh of processors. Our algorithms include computing simple properties like the depth, the height, the number of descendents, the preorder (resp. postorder, inorder) number of every node, and a solution to the more complex problem of computing the Minimax value of a game tree. Our algorithms are asymptotically optimal since any nontrivial computation will require Ω ( n ) time on the mesh. All of our algorithms generalize to higher dimensional meshes.
Accountability in patenting of federally funded research

New data indicating underreporting of federal funding in academic biomedical patents highlight the pressing need for greater transparency under the Bayh-Dole Act.
OPTIMAL CROP INSURANCE UNDER CLIMATE VARIABILITY: CONTRASTING INSURER AND FARMER INTERESTS

This study illustrates the potential synergies and conflicts of interest between farmers and insurers in the selection of an optimal crop insurance contract. Special attention is given to how climate information influences this decision-making process. To do so, we consider a representative 40 ha, rainfed, cotton-peanut farm located in Jackson County, Florida. Our results show that year-to-year El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) based climate variability affects farmers' and insurers' net returns according to crop insurance contracts. Introduction of ENSO-based climate forecasts presents a significant impact on the selection of a particular contract to both the farmer and the insurer. We conclude that insurers and farmers can bridge their divergent interests by improving their understanding of the effect of climate conditions on the development of sustainable business plans.
Confinement, crossing symmetry, and glueballs

Abstract It is suggested that the quark-confining force is related by crossing symmetry to a color-singlet glueball g which is well described as a loop of one quantum of color magnetic flux. Electron pair annihilation as high as ≈ 2 GeV above the Y mass could produce Y → l+l− accompanied by g or one of its excited states.
Neutron-rich Hydromagnetic Outflows in Gamma-Ray Burst Sources

We demonstrate that "hot" MHD outflows from neutron-rich black hole debris disks can significantly alleviate the baryon-loading problem in gamma-ray burst sources. We argue that the neutron-to-proton ratio in disk-fed outflows might be as high as ~30 and show, with the help of an exact semianalytic relativistic-MHD solution, that the neutrons can decouple at a Lorentz factor γd ~ 15 even as the protons continue to accelerate to γ∞ ~ 200 and end up acquiring ~30% of the injected energy. We clarify the crucial role that the magnetic field plays in this process and prove that purely hydrodynamic outflows must have γd few × 102. The motion of the decoupled neutrons is not collinear with that of the decoupled protons, so, in contrast to previous suggestions based on purely hydrodynamic models, the two particle groups most likely do not collide after decoupling. The decoupled neutron flow might nevertheless contribute to the observed afterglow emission.
Witten index and threshold bound states of D-branes

Abstract We consider the Witten index I = Tr (−1) F of SU(2) super Yang-Mills quantum mechanics (SYMQ) with N = 16, 8, 4 supersymmetries. The theory governs the interactions between a pair of D-branes under various circumstances, and our goal is to count the number of the threshold bound states directly from the low-energy effective theory. String theory and M-theory have predicted that I = 1 for N = 16, which in fact forms an underlying hypothesis of the M(atrix)-theory formulation. Also the consistency of conifold transitions in type II theories is known to require I = 0 for N = 8 and 4. Here, the bulk contribution to I is computed explicitly, and for N = 16, 8, 4, found to be 5 4 , 1 4 , 1 4 respectively, suggesting a common defect contribution of −1 4 . We illustrate how the defect term of −1 4 may arise in the SU(2) SYMQ by considering the effective dynamics along the asymptotic region.
Hiding Missing Energy in Missing Energy

Searches for supersymmetry (SUSY) often rely on a combination of hard physics objects (jets, leptons) along with large missing transverse energy to separate New Physics from Standard Model hard processes. We consider a class of “double-invisible” SUSY scenarios: where squarks, stops and sbottoms have a three-body decay into two (rather than one) invisible final-state particles. This occurs naturally when the LSP carries an additional conserved quantum number under which other superpartners are not charged. In these topologies, the available energy is diluted into invisible particles, reducing the observed missing energy and visible energy. This can lead to sizable changes in the sensitivity of existing searches, dramatically changing the qualitative constraints on superpartners. In particular, for mLSP ≳ 160 GeV, we find no robust constraints from the LHC at any squark mass for any generation, while for lighter LSPs we find significant reductions in constraints. If confirmed by a full reanalysis from the collaborations, such scenarios allow for the possibility of significantly more natural SUSY models. While not realized in the MSSM, such phenomenology occurs naturally in models with mixed sneutrinos, Dirac gauginos and NMSSM-like models.
The aims, methods, and effects of deliberative civic education through the national issues forums

This essay examines the goals, teaching methods, and educational impact of deliberative civic education. Brief descriptions of three current deliberative education programs are followed by an in‐depth analysis of the National Issues Forums (NIF). A summary of NIF materials clarifies the program's basic educational goals and methods. A review of qualitative and quantitative studies gauges NIF's effectiveness. Results show that NIF can bolster participants’ political self‐efficacy, refine their political judgments, broaden their political conversation networks, and reduce their conversational dominance; however, NIF may have no direct effect on political participation, and it may heighten participants’ skepticism about the efficacy of group‐based political action.
Axiomatic attribution for multilinear functions

We study the attribution problem. That is, given a real-valued characteristic function f of n variables and initial and final values r and s for its independent variables, our objective is to divide the responsibility for the change f(s) - f(r) in the characteristic function among each of its independent variables. We call these assigned responsibilities attributions, and we would like the attributions to form a complete partition of the total change. When r=0, the attribution problem coincides with a standard cost sharing model from the social choice literature (cf. Moulin [2]), where the characteristic function is the cost function, the independent variables are the demands of the agents, and the attributions are cost shares for the agents. We follow the cost sharing literature in identifying good attribution methods axiomatically (for a classical example, see Friedman and Moulin [1]). We consider: Additivity -- attributions are additive in the characteristic function, Dummy -- if the characteristic function does not depend on a variable, then its attribution is zero, and Affine Scale Invariance -- attributions are invariant under simultaneous affine transformation of the characteristic function and the variables.First, we show that when the characteristic function is the sum of a multilinear function and an additively separable one, every attribution method satisfying these axioms is a random order method. Intuitively, a multilinear function is determined by its values on the vertices of a hypercube, so its attributions should depend on these values alone, leading to the space of random order methods. The proof proceeds by using this idea to count dimensions.Second, in our main result, we show that there is a unique attribution method satisfying these axioms and Anonymity (which requires attributions to be invariant under relabeling of the variables) if and only if the characteristic function is the sum of a multilinear function and an additively separable one. The main technical tool is the use of Stokes' Theorem to compare attribution methods. The resulting method coincides with the classical Aumann-Shapley and Shapley-Shubik methods, and thus we term it the Aumann-Shapley-Shubik method. When the characteristic function is multilinear, our result prescribes this method for use; to this end, we provide a computationally efficient implementation.Together, our results single out the class of multilinear characteristic functions as a particularly nice one for attribution problems. We give several examples of natural attribution problems where such functions arise, including pay-per-click advertising, website traffic analysis, portfolio analysis, and performance analysis of sports teams.
Redundancy in collaborative dialogue

In dialogues in which both agents are autonomous, each agent deliberates whether to accept or reject the contributions of the current speaker. A speaker cannot simply assume that a proposal or an assertion will be accepted. However, an examination of a corpus of naturally-occurring problem-solving dialogues shows that agents often do not explicitly indicate acceptance or rejection. Rather the speaker must infer whether the hearer understands and accepts the current contribution based on indirect evidence provided by the hearer's next dialogue contribution. In this paper, I propose a model of the role of informationally redundant utterances in providing evidence to support inferences about mutual understanding and acceptance. The model (1) requires a theory of mutual belief that supports mutual beliefs of various strengths; (2) explains the function of a class of informationally redundant utterances that cannot be explained by other accounts; and (3) contributes to a theory of dialogue by showing how mutual beliefs can be inferred in the absence of the master-slave assumption.
A combined phase I--phase II scaled potential algorithm for linear programming

We develop an extension of the affinely scaled potential reduction algorithm which simultaneously obtains feasibility and optimality in a standard form linear program, without the addition of any "M" terms. The method, and its lower-bounding procedure, are particularly simple compared with previous interior algorithms not requiring feasibility.
Alkali metal/halide thermal energy storage systems performance evaluation

A pseudoheat-pipe heat transfer mechanism has been demonstrated effective in terms of both total heat removal efficiency and rate, on the one hand, and system isothermal characteristics, on the other, for solar thermal energy storage systems of the kind being contemplated for spacecraft. The selection of appropriate salt and alkali metal substances for the system renders it applicable to a wide temperature range. The rapid heat transfer rate obtainable makes possible the placing of the thermal energy storage system around the solar receiver canister, and the immersing of heat transfer fluid tubes in the phase change salt to obtain an isothermal heat source.
Dense atom clouds in a holographic atom trap

We demonstrate the production of high-density cold 87Rb samples (2×1014atoms/cm3) in a simple optical lattice formed with YAG light that is diffracted from a holographic phase plate. A loading protocol is described that results in 10,000 atoms per 10µm×10µm×100µm unit cell of the lattice site. Rapid free evaporation leads to a temperature of 50µK and phase space densities of 1/150 within 50 ms. The resulting small, high-density atomic clouds are very attractive for a number of experiments, including ultracold Rydberg atom physics.
Synthesis and preliminary biological study of bisindolylmethanes accessed by an acid-catalyzed hydroarylation of vinyl indoles

An acid-catalyzed hydroarylation reaction of vinyl indoles is reported, which tolerates a wide range of heterocycles as the exogenous nucleophile such as indoles, pyrroles, and indolizines. The method rapidly accesses the biologically relevant bisindolylmethane scaffold in good to excellent yields. Evaluation of the biological activity of several synthesized analogues reveals cytotoxic activity against and selectivity for the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.
Lingual vibrotactile sensation magnitudes: comparison of suprathreshold responses in men and women.

The present literature on neurophysiological mechanisms of cutaneous mechanoreception includes a significant amount of research concerned with suprathreshold levels of stimulation. These efforts were initially performed to gain a better understanding of audition (Bekesy, 1960) and to aid in the development of cutaneous communication systems (Geldard, 1961). Numerous studies have systematically investigated the skin as a receiver of mechanical vibrations, a receiver that can function in a predictable manner at suprathreshold levels. Stevens (1961) performed a series of investigations relating subjective responses to stimulus intensities. Using the methods of magnitude estimation and production, he demonstrated that a power law function successfully describes the relationship between subjective intensity and the amplitude of vibration at the finger tip (Stevens, 1957). More recently, several researchers have begun to systematically study the various parameters that can. have an effect on suprathreshold vibrotactile power functions (Verrillo & Capraro, 1975; Verrillo & Chamberlain, 1972; Verrillo, Fraioli, & Smith, 1969; Verrillo& Smith, 1976; Zwislocki & Goodman, 1980). The total volume of research concerned with vibrotactile mechanoreception at suprathreshold levels has not provided much information dealing with comparisons of men and women. Verrillo (1979) accomplished a single definitive study, in which he used both magnitude estimation and magnitude production procedures to obtain suprathreshold information from the thenar eminence of the right hands of six men and six women. Results showed women to perceive suprathreshold vibratory stimuli as more intense than men. The two-fold purpose of the present preliminary study was: (1) to determine if the anterior midline portion of the human tongue can produce vibrotactile suprathreshold power functions compatible with those described in the literature; (2) to compare the lingual suprathreshold subjective magnitude responses of men and women.
Synthesis of optically active amino azapenams by the photolytic reaction of chromium aminocarbene complexes with N-protected imidazolines

Abstract Photolysis of optically active aminocarbene chromium complexes with N-protected imidazolines produced α-amino-N-protected azapenams in good yield and with high diastereoselectivity. Removal of the protecting group resulted in cleaving of the β-lactam to give N-acylimidazolines.
Z-Axis Anisotropic Electrically Conducting Polymer-Matrix Composite Film

A z-axis anisotropic electrically conducting polymer-matrix composite film was developed. It comprised 25 vol.% copper coated polyether sulfone particles and a polyimidesiloxane matrix. Each particle protruded from both sides of the film and provided a conducting path along the z-axis. A z-axis pressure of 40 kPa resulted in a z-axis electrical resistivity of 2 ohm.cm for the overall film (i.e., 5 × 10−2 ohm.cm for a conducting path); subsequent pressure removal caused the resistivity to rise to 7 ohm.cm only. The film exhibited negligible stress relaxation and a low modulus of 1.67 GPa.
Sum Rules from an Extra Dimension

Using the gravity side of the AdS/CFT correspondence, we investigate the analytic properties of thermal retarded Green’s functions for scalars, conserved currents, the stress tensor, and massless fermions. We provide some results concerning their large and small frequency behavior and their pole structure. From these results, it is straightforward to prove the validity of various sum rules on the field theory side of the duality. We introduce a novel contraction mapping we use to study the large frequency behavior of the Green’s functions.
Effectiveness and detection of denial-of-service attacks in tor

Tor is one of the more popular systems for anonymizing near-real-time communications on the Internet. Borisov et al. [2007] proposed a denial-of-service-based attack on Tor (and related systems) that significantly increases the probability of compromising the anonymity provided. In this article, we analyze the effectiveness of the attack using both an analytic model and simulation. We also describe two algorithms for detecting such attacks, one deterministic and proved correct, the other probabilistic and verified in simulation.
Five laws for integrating medical and social services: lessons from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Because persons with disabilities (PWDs) use health and social services extensively, both the United States and the United Kingdom have begun to integrate care across systems. Initiatives in these two countries are examined within the context of the reality that personal needs and use of systems differ by age and by type and severity of disability. The lessons derived from this scrutiny are presented in the form of five “laws” of integration. These laws identify three levels of integration, point to alternative roles for physicians, outline resource requirements, highlight friction from differing medical and social paradigms, and urge policy makers and administrators to consider carefully who would be most appropriately selected to design, oversee, and administer integration initiatives. Both users and caregivers must be involved in planning to ensure that all three levels of integration are attended to and that the borders between medical and other systems are clarified.
The consequences of the FASB's 1998 proposal on accounting for stock option repricing ☆

Abstract We examine repricing activity surrounding the FASB's 1998 announcement regarding accounting for repriced options. We find that repricing increases during, and decreases after, the 12-day window between the announcement and proposed effective dates, consistent with firms timing repricings to avoid recording an expense. We find that firms experiencing increasing earnings patterns, firms with earnings around zero, and growth firms are more likely to reprice in the window, but having repriced recently decreases the likelihood of doing so. The evidence suggests that firms trade off financial reporting benefits against reputation costs in decisions to time repricings to get favorable accounting treatment.
Osmotically induced helix-coil transition in poly(glutamic acid).

Protein folding and conformational changes are influenced by protein-water interactions and, as such, the energetics of protein function are necessarily linked to water activity. Here, we have chosen the helix-coil transition in poly(glutamic acid) as a model system to investigate the importance of hydration to protein structure by using the osmotic stress method combined with circular dichroism spectroscopy. Osmotic stress is applied using poly(ethylene glycol), molecular weight of 400, as the osmolyte. The energetics of the helix-coil transition under applied osmotic stress allows us to calculate the change in the number of preferentially included water molecules per residue accompanying the thermally induced conformational change. We find that osmotic stress raises the helix-coil transition temperature by favoring the more compact α-helical state over the more hydrated coil state. The contribution of other forces to α-helix stability also are explored by varying pH and studying a random copolymer, poly(glutamic acid-r-alanine). In this article, we clearly show the influence of osmotic pressure on the peptide folding equilibrium. Our results suggest that to study protein folding in vitro, the osmotic pressure, in addition to pH and salt concentration, should be controlled to better approximate the crowded environment inside cells.
Modern cosmology: The harmonious and the discordant facts

Six months before the meeting at Les Treilles, I gave an invited talk on observational cosmology to an international conference of relativists in Goa, India. Although at the meeting in France, we were discussing the more philosophical aspects of the way a beginning can be thought of, I believe it is worthwhile for us all to look critically at the modern evidence concerning cosmology. For this reason I reproduce below the text of the lecture that I gave in Goa. Some parts of this were discussed in Les Treilles.
Total synthesis of auripyrone B using a non-aldol aldol-cuprate opening process.

A non-aldol aldol−cuprate opening generates the polypropionate 11 from the epoxy ether 14 in eight steps as a single diastereomer. A highly stereoselective aldol reaction of 8 with 9 gives the aldol product 7 in high yield and excellent diastereoselectivity, due to double stereodifferentiation. This compound was used for an efficient synthesis of the natural product auripyrone B 2 in only 20 steps and 8% overall yield from 14 using a late-stage spiroketalization onto a stable hemiketal as the final key step.
Apoptosis Signal-Regulating Kinase 1 Attenuates Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Secretion

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is an endogenous peptide hormone that is synthesized and secreted by the myocardium in health and disease. Although the bioactivity of this molecule has been studied extensively, cellular mechanisms governing its processing and secretion are not fully understood. Through a yeast two-hybrid screen of a cDNA library made from tissue of a failing human heart, we have discovered that the precursor of ANP, natriuretic peptide precursor (NPPA), physically interacts with the N-terminus of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), a kinase believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of heart failure. We demonstrated that NPPA is a substrate of ASK1 in an in vitro kinase assay. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy shows that, when expressed in Hela cells, ASK1 and NPPA exhibit distinct, but overlapping, staining patterns, suggesting partial colocalization in cells. Additionally, coexpressing wild-type ASK1 with NPPA in Hela cells led to reduced levels of NPPA in the culture medium, suggesting that ASK1 negatively impacts NPPA processing and/or secretion. This negative effect was less pronounced when a dominant-negative allele of ASK1 with deficient kinase activity was coexpressed with NPPA. Because both ASK1 and ANP are associated with pathologic cardiac hypertrophy, their interaction may have pathophysiological and therapeutic relevance.
Selective and Practical Synthesis of Penciclovir

Abstract A selective and practical method has been developed for the synthesis of penciclovir (1) in gram quantities involving a highly N 9 selective alykylation of 2-amino-6-chloropurine (9) with 2-(2-phenyl-1,3-dioxane-5-yl)ethanol (12) as a key step.
Enantioselective organocatalytic tandem Michael-Aldol reactions: one-pot synthesis of chiral thiochromenes.

A highly enantioselective (S) diphenylpyrrolinol silyl ether promoted tandem Michael−aldol reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes with 2-mercaptobenzaldehydes has been developed. The method affords ...
Free vibration of sandwich beams using the dynamic stiffness method

Abstract The free vibration analysis of three-layered symmetric sandwich beams is carried out using the dynamic stiffness method. First the governing partial differential equations of motion in free natural vibration are derived using Hamilton’s principle. The formulation leads to two partial differential equations that are coupled both in axial and bending deformations. For harmonic oscillation, the two equations are combined into one ordinary differential equation, which applies to both axial and bending displacements. A closed form analytical solution is then sought in its most general form. By applying the boundary conditions the dynamic stiffness matrix is developed. The Wittrick–Williams algorithm is used as a solution technique to compute the natural frequencies and mode shapes of an example sandwich beam. The discussion of results is followed by some concluding remarks.
Optimal Sequential Plantings of Corn and Soybeans Under Price Uncertainty

We examine crop choice and fertilizer applications as the solution to stochastic dynamic optimization problem for an innite stream of discounted prots. The ecient decision rule depends on the stochastic evolution of commodity prices, fertilizer prices, and the agronomic eects of rotation versus monoculture. This decision rule includes an account of real option values associated with maintaining soil quality and disposition in an environment with highly uncertain future prices and irreversible past planting decisions. We parameterize a baseline model for a representative acre in Iowa and compare the model’s predictions and prots to relatively naive, shorter-horizon decision rules, and a eld managed with optimal fertilizer applications conditional on corn and soybeans always being rotated. We also examine the
Not 'Islands, Entire of Themselves': Exploring the Spatial Context of City-level Robbery Rates.

The current study examines spatial dependence in robbery rates for a sample of 1,056 cities with 25,000 or more residents over the 2000–2003 period. Although commonly considered in some macro-level research, spatial processes have not been examined in relation to city-level variation in robbery. The results of our regression analyses suggest that city robbery rates are not spatially independent. We find that spatial dependence is better accounted for by spatial error models than by spatial lag models. Further exploration of various spatial weights matrices indicates that robbery rates of cities within the same state are related to robbery rates of other cities within the same state, regardless of their proximity. Our analyses illustrate how systematic inquiry into spatial processes can alert researchers to important omitted variable biases and identify intriguing problems for future research.
Flutter Speed Degradation of Damaged, Optimized Flight Vehicles

A STUDY of the effects of mass and stiffness changes on the flutter degradation of optimized wings is presented in this paper. The wings were optimized for weight with constraints on strength, displacement, and flutter speed. The mass and stiffness changes are representative of battle damage. The structural box is idealized by finite elements consisting of membranes, shear panels, and bar elements. The aerodynamic force matrix is generated by incompressible strip theory. Five damage models involving two wing boxes are included. The effect of damage on aerodynamic flow is not treated.
23andMe, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Future of Genetic Testing

On November 22, 2013, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) effectively halted health-related direct-to-consumer genetic testing in the United States by sending a warning letter to 23andMe, the leading company in the field, directing it to stop providing such testing. The FDA acted as the era of widespread, clinical use of DNA sequencing rapidly approaches. The agency’s action will contribute to changes in which genetic tests are offered to patients and how testing is provided.
Design of a high affinity peptidomimetic opioid agonist from peptide pharmacophore models.

A pair of diastereomeric peptidomimetics based upon opioid receptor-binding pharmacophore models derived for a series of opioid tetrapeptides was synthesized. Both analogues display high opioid receptor affinity, moderate selectivity for the μ opioid receptor, and are potent, full agonists.
Canonical Artin stacks over log smooth schemes

We develop a theory of toric Artin stacks extending the theories of toric Deligne–Mumford stacks developed by Borisov–Chen–Smith, Fantechi–Mann–Nironi, and Iwanari. We also generalize the Chevalley–Shephard–Todd theorem to the case of diagonalizable group schemes. These are both applications of our main theorem which shows that a toroidal embedding \(X\) is canonically the good moduli space (in the sense of Alper) of a smooth log smooth Artin stack whose stacky structure is supported on the singular locus of \(X\).
Modeling the Young Sun's Solar Wind and its Interaction with Earth's Paleomagnetosphere

[1] We present a focused parameter study of solar wind–magnetosphere interaction for the young Sun and Earth, ∼3.5 Gyr ago, that relies on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations for both the solar wind and the magnetosphere. By simulating the quiescent young Sun and its wind we are able to propagate the MHD simulations up to Earth's magnetosphere and obtain a physically realistic solar forcing of it. We assess how sensitive the young solar wind is to changes in the coronal base density, sunspot placement and magnetic field strength, dipole magnetic field strength, and the Sun's rotation period. From this analysis we obtain a range of plausible solar wind conditions to which the paleomagnetosphere may have been subject. Scaling relationships from the literature suggest that a young Sun would have had a mass flux different from the present Sun. We evaluate how the mass flux changes with the aforementioned factors and determine the importance of this and several other key solar and magnetospheric variables with respect to their impact on the paleomagnetosphere. We vary the solar wind speed, density, interplanetary magnetic field strength, and orientation as well as Earth's dipole magnetic field strength and tilt in a number of steady state scenarios that are representative of young Sun-Earth interaction. This study is done as a first step of a more comprehensive effort toward understanding the implications of Sun-Earth interaction for planetary atmospheric evolution.
Development of a fusion fuel cycle systems code

The tritium inventory in a D-T fusion experiment, like ITER, may be the major hazard onsite. This tritium is distributed throughout various systems and components. A major thrust of safety work has been aimed at reducing these tritium inventories, or at least at minimizing the amount of tritium that could be mobilized. I have developed models for a time-dependent fuel cycle systems code, which will aid in directing designers towards safer, lower inventory designs. The code will provide a self-consistent picture of system interactions and system interdependencies, and provide a better understanding of how tritium inventories are influenced. A ``systems`` approach is valuable in that a wide range of parameters can be studied, and more promising regions of parameter space can be identified. Ultimately, designers can use this information to specify a machine with minimum tritium inventory, given various constraints. Here, I discuss the models that describe tritium inventory in various components as a function of system parameters, and the unique capabilities of a code that will implement them. The models are time dependent and reflect a level of detail consistent with a systems type of analysis. The models support both a stand-alone Tritium Systems Code, and a module formore » the SUPERCODE, a time-dependent tokamak systems code. Through both versions, we should gain a better understanding of the interactions among the various components of the fuel cycle systems.« less
Moral Hazard in Leasing Contracts: Evidence from the New York City Taxi Industry

AbstractIn this study, I investigate the effects of moral hazard in leasing contracts by examining the driving outcomes of all long-term lessees and owner-operators of New York City taxis. I find that moral hazard explains a sizable fraction of lessees’ accidents, driving violations, and vehicle inspection failures. To address the possibility of endogenous contract choice, I conduct an instrumental variables analysis of the cross section of all drivers and a panel-data analysis of a subset of drivers who switched from leasing to owning.
D-brane topology changing transitions

Abstract We study D-branes on three-dimensional orbifold backgrounds that admit topologically distinct resolutions differing by flop transitions. We show that these distinct phases are part of the vacuum moduli space of the super Yang-Mills gauge theory describing the D-brane dynamics. In this way we establish that D-branes—like fundamental strings—allow for physically smooth topology changing transitions.
Icecube Observatory: Neutrinos and the Origin of Cosmic Rays

The completed IceCube Observatory, the first km 3 neutrino telescope, is already providing the most stringent limits on the flux of high energy cosmic neutrinos from point-like and diffuse galactic and extra-galactic sources. The non-detection of extra-terrestrial neutrinos has important consequences on the origin of the cosmic rays. Here the current status of astrophysical neutrino searches, and of the observation of a persistent cosmic ray anisotropy above 100TeV, are reviewed.
Reliability analysis of large, complex systems using ASSIST

The SURE reliability analysis program is discussed as well as the ASSIST model generation program. It is found that semi-Markov modeling using model reduction strategies with the ASSIST program can be used to accurately solve problems at least as complex as other reliability analysis tools can solve. Moreover, semi-Markov analysis provides the flexibility needed for modeling realistic fault-tolerant systems.
Light scattering from a sphere on or near an interface.

The light-scattering problem of a sphere on or near a plane surface is solved by using an extension of the Mie theory. The approach taken is to solve the boundary conditions at the sphere and at the surface simultaneously and to develop the scattering amplitude and Mueller scattering matrices. This is performed by projecting the fields in the half-space region not including the sphere multiplied by an appropriate Fresnel reflection coefficient onto the half-space region including the sphere. An assumption is that the scattered fields from the sphere, reflecting off the surface and interacting with the sphere, are incident upon the surface at near-normal incidence. The exact solution is asymptotically approached when either the sphere is a large distance from the surface or the refractive index of the surface approaches infinity.
Limit cycles in four dimensions

We present an example of a limit cycle, i.e., a recurrent flow-line of the beta-function vector field, in a unitary four-dimensional gauge theory. We thus prove that beta functions of four-dimensional gauge theories do not produce gradient flows. The limit cycle is established in perturbation theory with a three-loop calculation which we describe in detail. © 2012 SISSA, Trieste, Italy.
Polymerization with freezing

Irreversible aggregation processes involving reactive and frozen clusters are investigated using the rate equation approach. In aggregation events, two clusters join irreversibly to form a larger cluster; additionally, reactive clusters may spontaneously freeze. Frozen clusters do not participate in merger events. Generally, freezing controls the nature of the aggregation process, as demonstrated by the final distribution of frozen clusters. The cluster mass distribution has a power-law tail, Fk~k−γ, when the freezing process is sufficiently slow. Different exponents, γ = 1 and 3, are found for the constant and the product aggregation rates, respectively. For the latter case, the standard polymerization model, either no gels, or a single gel, or even multiple gels, may be produced.
Exhaust flow and propulsion characteristics of a pulsed MPD arc thruster.

Experimental investigation of the near-field, megawatt, single-shot exhaust for the self-field and auxiliary field cases (0 to 2 tesla) for a pulsed MPD arc thrustor. Plasma impact pressure and number density are correlated to provide velocity profiles (30,000 to 70,000 m/sec), thrust (10 to 120 N), impulse (3 to 16 N-sec) and mass accounting. The data agree with Hugel's self-field theory for the case where thrust is produced entirely by electromagnetic force. The data show that the thrust monotonically increases with auxiliary field.
Bayesian Detection in Bounded Height Tree Networks

We study the detection performance of large scale sensor networks, configured as trees with bounded height, in which information is progressively compressed as it moves towards the root of the tree. We show that, under a Bayesian formulation, the error probability decays exponentially fast, and we provide bounds for the error exponent. We then focus on the case where the tree has certain symmetry properties. We derive the form of the optimal exponent within a restricted class of easily implementable strategies, as well as optimal strategies within that class. We also find conditions under which (suitably defined) majority rules are optimal. Finally, we provide evidence that in designing a network it is preferable to keep the branching factor small for nodes other than the neighbors of the leaves.
Reinvestigation of a modified Hantzsch thiazole synthesis

Abstract A recently reported modified Hantzsch reaction was reinvestigated and conditions were found to reach enantiomerically pure thiazole amino acid derivatives.
Thermal Conductivity of MgO at High Pressures

The first non-empirical prediction of lattice thermal conductivity of MgO has been determined using molecular dynamics (MD), a non-empirical ionic model (the Variationally Induced Breathing (VIB) model), and Green-Kubo theory. The computation is first-principles is the sense that no parameters are fit to experiment. Results are presented at low pressure as a function of temperature, and for 2500K for pressures to 290 GPa. We find an unexpectedly small pressure effect at small compressions, perhaps due to saturation of thermal conductivity at the high temperatures due to the small mean free path. At higher pressure expected behavior is found.
Should transfer payments be indexed to local price levels

Abstract When individuals are mobile, utility levels will be equalized across space, and equity is not improved by indexing transfers to local prices. Indexing is also inefficient, since transfers to high cost areas buy less. The true rationale for indexing is that optimal transfer policy should equalize the marginal utilities of income, not the total utility levels. The marginal utility of income may be higher in high price areas, especially when local amenities and income are complements. The current level of implicit indexing appears too strong to be optimal, despite the absence of any specific indexing rules
Symmetry analysis of periodicity and internal torsional conformers around a single bond

Abstract A simple formula to predict the number of equivalent conformations upon internal rotation around a single bond is derived. If the separate parts A and B, of a single bonded molecule A-B, possess Na and Nb symmetry planes that contain the single bond, the number of symmetrical conformations is found to be Z = NaNb/J, where J is the number of these planes which are common. The energy potential for internal rotation then has a period of 2π/Z. Unsymmetrical conformations are infinite in number, but are shown to occur in infinite sets, each set with 2NaNb/J equivalent conformations. Extension to three-center molecules is also made.
The Rise in Old-Age Longevity and the Market for Long-Term Care

This paper analyzes how markets for old-age care respond to the aging of populations. We consider how the biological forces which govern the stocks of frail and healthy persons in a population interact with economic forces which govern the demand and supply for labor-intensive care.... We test our predictions empirically using state- and county-level evidence on the U.S. market for long-term care in nursing homes over the last three decades. (EXCERPT)