cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Validation of 1985-1997 active cavity radiometer spacecraft measurements of total solar irradiance variability

Since 1978, long-term variations in the total solar irradiance (solar constant) have been monitored using spacecraft radiometers, at the 0.01% precision level. The irradiance measurements were performed from the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite [ERBS], Nimbus-7, Solar Maximum Mission [SMM], Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite [UARS], European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA), Solar and Heliospheric Observatory [SOHO], and the Space Shuttle Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science [ATLAS] spacecraft platforms. Radiometer responses can drift or shift at precision levels of a few hundreds of a percent. In-flight calibration sources are not available to detect radiometer response changes at radiometric accuracy or precision levels near the 0.01% (0.1 W/sq m) level. Inconsistent trends among the sets were used to identify possible instrumental drifts or shifts which may be incorrectly interpreted as solar irradiance changes while consistent trends among the different measurement sets were used to detect long-term irradiance variability components. In this paper, 1991-1998 corresponding ERBS, UARS, SOHO, and ATLAS irradiance measurements are inter-compared with each other as well as with the ERBS empirical irradiance fit. The empirical irradiance fit is based upon 10.7-cm solar radio flux (F10) and photometric sunspot index (PSI), indices of solar magnetic activity. Analyses of recent data sets identified no long-term shifts and drifts in the ERBS, SOHO, or UARS data sets. The typical value of the total solar irradiance is approximately 1365 Watts per meter squared (W/sq m).
Prolongations in differential algebra

We develop the theory of higher prolongations of algebraic varieties over fields in arbitrary characteristic with commuting Hasse-Schmidt derivations. Prolongations were introduced by Buium in the context of fields of characteristic 0 with a single derivation. Inspired by work of Vojta, we give a new construction of higher prolongations in a more general context. Generalizing a result of Buium in characteristic 0, we prove that these prolongations are represented by a certain functor, which shows that they can be viewed as ‘twisted jet spaces.’ We give a new proof of a theorem of Moosa, Pillay and Scanlon that the prolongation functor and jet space functor commute. We also prove that the m-th prolongation and m-th jet space of a variety are differentially isomorphic by showing that their infinite prolongations are isomorphic as schemes.
A selective review of the quantification of defect dynamics in growing Czochralski silicon crystals

A vast majority of modern microelectronic devices are built on the monocrystalline silicon substrates produced from the crystals grown by the Czochralski (CZ) process and the float-zone (FZ) process. Silicon crystals inherently contain various precipitates known as microdefects that often affect the yield and the performance of many devices. Hence, the quantitative understanding and the control of the microdefect formation and the microdefect distributions in silicon crystals play a central role in determining the quality of silicon substrates. This paper reviews significant developments in the field of the quantification of the defect dynamics in growing CZ and FZ crystals. The breakthrough discovery of the initial point defect incorporation in the vicinity of the melt/crystal interface made in the early 1980s allowed a simplified quantification of the CZ and the FZ defect dynamics. A deeper insight into the formation and the growth of microdefects was provided over the past decade by various treatments of the agglomeration of the intrinsic point defects of silicon. In particular, a rigorous quantification of the agglomeration of the point defects using the classical nucleation theory, a recently developed lumped model that captures the microdefect distribution by representing the actual population of microdefects by an equivalent population of identical microdefects, and another rigorous treatment involving the Fokker-Planck equations are discussed in detail.
Efficacy of prior skin puncture in preventing iv catheter damage

The efficacy, with respect to preventing iv catheter damage, of creating a skin entry site by first piercing the skin with a large gauge needle through which an over-the-needle teflon catheter is then placed was evaluated. In 50 adult volunteers two 22-gauge iv catheters and two 24-gauge catheters were placed through the forearm skin into the subcutaneous tissue. One catheter of each size was placed through an entry site created by piercing the skin with an 18-gauge disposable, stainless steel needle. One catheter of each size was inserted through nearby skin without creation of an entry site. Two to three weeks after insertion all catheters, along with 50 catheters of each size that had not been inserted, were examined under a microscope for evidence of damage. Intravenous catheter damage was more prevalent in the 24-gauge catheters than the 22-gauge catheters (P < 0.05). No differences in frequency of damage were noted for either gauge catheter inserted through an entry site compared with those inserted without a prior skin puncture. Twenty-four-gauge catheters, but not 22-gauge catheters, placed into the subcutaneous tissue were damaged more frequently than were catheters that had never been inserted (control catheters). This study demonstrated that 24-gauge catheters are more likely to be damaged during insertion into the subcutaneous tissue than are 22-gauge catheters. We also demonstrated that creation of a skin entry site by piercing the epidermis with a needle of larger gauge than the catheter to be placed is not efficacious in preventing intravenous catheter damage during insertion.
A 2.5-megacycle ferractor accumulator

Investigations of magnetic amplifiers at high frequencies indicate that reliable operation with a power gain of about three or four is possible at an information frequency of 2.5 megacycles using series pulse-type magnetic amplifiers. A unit employing several cores was constructed in order to gain experience in packaging and with operating problems at this frequency. Before going into a description of the unit itself a short explanation of the operation of the magnetic cores is given.
ACTIVE LONGITUDES REVEALED BY LARGE-SCALE AND LONG-LIVED CORONAL STREAMERS

We use time-series ultraviolet full sun images to construct limb-synoptic maps of the Sun. On these maps, large-scale, long-lived coronal streamers appear as repetitive sinusoid-like arcs projected over the polar regions. They are caused by high altitude plasma produced from sunspot-rich regions at latitudes generally far from the poles. The non-uniform longitudinal distribution of these streamers reveals four longitudinal zones at the surface of the Sun from which sunspots erupt preferentially over the 5 year observing interval (2006 January to 2011 April). Spots in these zones (or clusters) have individual lifetimes short compared to the lifetimes of the coronal features which they sustain, and they erupt at different times. The four sunspot clusters contain >75% of all numbered sunspots in this period. They occupy two distinct longitudinal zones separated by ~180° and each spanning ~100° in longitude. The rotation rates of the spot clusters are ~5% faster than the rates at both the surface and the bottom of the convection zone. While no convincing theoretical framework exists to interpret the sunspot clusters in the longitude-time space, their persistent and nonuniform distribution indicates long-lived, azimuthal structures beneath the surface, and are compatible with the existence of previously reported active longitudes on the Sun.
Counter-rotating Kerr manifolds separated by a fluid shell

We describe a spheroidal fluid shell between two Kerr vacuum regions which have opposite rotation parameters. The shell has a stiff equation of state and a heat flow vector related to the rotational Killing current. The shell description is useful in exploring the significance of counter-rotation in Kerr metric matches.
Indifferent attachment: the role of degree in ranking friends

Each user of the MySpace social network can designate a small subset of her friends as Top Friends, placing them in a rank-ordered list displayed prominently on her profile. By examining users' #1 (best) and #2 (second-best) friends, we discover that MySpace users are nearly indifferent to these two friends' popularities when choosing which to designate as their best friend. Other pairs of ranks (e.g., #1-vs.-#3, #2-vs.-#3, ...) also reveal no marked preference for a popular friend over a less popular one. To the extent that ranking decisions form a window into broader decisions about whom to befriend at all, these observations suggest that positing individuals' tendency to attach to popular people---as in network-growth models like preferential attachment---may not suffice to explain the heavy-tailed degree distributions seen in real networks.
Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return

SUMMARY Altogether excellent results may be anticipated in the treatment of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return if one utilizes one of the available methods for unhurried complete correction.
Production of transgenic soybean plants using Agrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer.

Transgenic soybean plants have been produced using an Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer system. This procedure relied on a regeneration protocol in which shoot organogenesis was induced on cotyledons of soybean genotypes selected for susceptibility to Agrobacterium. Cotyledon explants were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens pTiT37-SE harboring pMON9749 (conferring kanamycin resistance and β-glucuronidase “GUS” activity) or pTiT37-SE∷pMON894 (conferring kanamycin resistance and glyphosate tolerance) and cultured on shoot induction medium containing kanamycin. Plantlets were tested for gene insertion 3–4 months post-inoculation. Approximately 6% of the shoots (8 plants to date) produced on the kanamycin-selected cotyledons were transgenic based on assays for GUS expression, kanamycin resistance or glyphosate tolerance. Progeny from two of these plants demonstrated co-segregation of kanamycin resistance and either GUS expression or glyphosate tolerance in a 3:1 ratio indicating a single insert inherited in a Mendelian fashion.
Auctions with shill bidding

Shill bidding has increased substantially in recent years since the technology employed to conduct on-line auctions enables many sellers to disguise their identities and bid. Although their intent is to gain by misleading the bidders on the value of the object, we show that in a common value auction sellers are worse off shill bidding. In fact, any out-of-auction mechanism that makes it difficult for them to shill bid increases their revenues. In addition, shill bidding reduces the surplus of the bidders and the surplus from trade. It is only the auctioneer who could gain from this activity and in that sense he may not have an incentive from within the auction to discourage shill bidding.
Planar Elliptic Growth

The planar elliptic extension of the Laplacian growth is, after a proper parametrization, given in a form of a solution to the equation for area-preserving diffeomorphisms. The infinite set of conservation laws associated with such elliptic growth is interpreted in terms of potential theory, and the relations between two major forms of the elliptic growth are analyzed. The constants of integration for closed form solutions are identified as the singularities of the Schwarz function, which are located both inside and outside the moving contour. Well-posedness of the recovery of the elliptic operator governing the process from the continuum of interfaces parametrized by time is addressed and two examples of exact solutions of elliptic growth are presented.
The distribution of auroral power increases and decreases

[1] The concept of an auroral substorm intrinsically involves a large increase in auroral power within a relatively short time (a large dP/dt). There is currently no standard for just how large a power increase is needed to identify a substorm. It is unclear whether auroral brightenings and fadings form a continuous distribution, or even whether large decreases in auroral power also occur within a short time (i.e., a negative, or inverse substorm). We used Polar UVI images of global auroral power to investigate these and related questions. Specifically we considered the distribution of dP/dt and (dP/dt)/P, that is, the distribution of absolute and relative changes in auroral power. At small values of ∣dP/dt∣, negative changes are much more frequent than positive changes. In fact, a small decrease in auroral power is the most frequent change between two consecutive Polar UVI images. Hence the power in the auroral oval is, the majority of the time, in slow decline. Large magnitude changes are rare, but turn out to be almost exclusively positive, implying inverse substorms do not exist. Beyond a 0.2%/s rate of change in auroral power (which amounts to a 37% change over the typical Polar UVI image spacing of 184 s), only positive events occur, within the measurable noise levels. However no clear boundary divides substorms from other types of auroral brightenings: rather the spectrum of large positive changes in auroral power is continuous. These results are relatively insensitive to the exact value of Δt (from 36 s to 6 min), and to whether the premidnight or postmidnight auroral oval is considered.
Analysis of Keck HIRES Spectra of Early L-Type Dwarfs

We present analyses of high- and medium-resolution spectra of early L dwarfs. We have used our latest set of model atmospheres to reproduce and analyze the observed features. We can model the optical flux and atomic line profiles with the best accuracy to date. The models used to reproduce the observations include dust condensation and dust opacities. Compared with previous studies using older models, we find that our dust treatment is much improved. The derived parameters for the objects are well in the expected range for old, very low mass objects. This is also supported by the absence of Li in most of the objects. For the objects showing Li, we can be almost certain they are brown dwarfs. However, a spectral analysis in general, and this one in particular, can only very roughly determine mass and age.
Exact nonstationary solutions to the mean-field equations of motion for two-component Bose-Einstein condensates in periodic potentials

We study the dynamics of two-component Bose–Einstein condensates in periodic potentials in one dimension. Elliptic potentials which have the sinusoidal optical potential as a special case are considered. We construct exact nonstationary solutions to the mean-field equations of motion. Among the solutions are two types of temporally periodic solutions—in one type there are condensate oscillations between neighbouring potential wells, while in the other the condensates oscillate from side to side within the wells. Our numerical studies of the stability of these solutions suggest the existence of one-parameter families of stable nonstationary solutions.
THE DENSE GAS IN THE CENTRAL KILOPARSEC OF NGC 6946

We present observations of the HCN and HCO -->+ -->J = 1–0 transitions in the center of the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 6946 made with the BIMA and CARMA interferometers. Using the BIMA SONG CO map, we investigate the change in the -->IHCN/ICO and -->IHCO+/ICO integrated intensity ratios as a function of radius in the central kiloparsec of the galaxy and find that they are strongly concentrated at the center. We use the 2MASS -->Ks-band image to find the stellar surface density and then construct a map of the hydrostatic midplane pressure. We apply a PDR model to the observed -->IHCN/IHCO+ integrated intensity ratio to calculate the number density of molecular hydrogen in the dense gas tracer emitting region and find that it is roughly constant at -->105 cm -->−3 across our map. We explore two hypotheses for the distribution of the dense gas. If the HCN and HCO -->+ emission comes from self-gravitating density peaks inside of a less dense gas distribution, there is a linear proportionality between the internal velocity dispersion of the dense gas and the size of the density peak. Alternatively, the HCN and HCO -->+ emission could come from dense gas homogeneously distributed throughout the center and bound by ambient pressure, similar to what is observed toward the center of the Milky Way. We find both of these hypotheses to be plausible. We fit the relationships between -->IHCN, IHCO+, and -->ICO. Correlations between the hydrostatic midplane pressure and -->IHCN and -->IHCO+ are demonstrated, and power-law fits are provided. We confirm the validity of a relation found by Blitz & Rosolowsky between pressure and the molecular to atomic gas ratio in the high hydrostatic midplane pressure regime ( -->106- -->108 cm -->−3 K).
Stereo- and regio-selective one-pot synthesis of triazole-based unnatural amino acids and β-amino triazoles

Synthesis of triazole based unnatural amino acids and β-amino triazoles has been described via a stereo and regioselective one-pot multi-component reaction of sulfamidates, sodium azide, and alkynes under MW conditions. The developed method is applicable to a broad substrate scope and has significant potential for the synthesis of unnatural amino acids with a triazole side chain.
Synthesis of a bimetallic chromium complex containing the novel pentaoxapentaphosphorinane [rpo]5 ring

Abstract The reaction of (iPr2N)2P(O)H with Cr(CO)6 in refluxing xylenes yields the complex (CO)4Cr[(iPr2N)PO]5Cr(CO)3 (2) in 33% yield after chromatography. A novel pentaoxapentaphosphorinane ring is generated during the reaction. IR, 1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectra are all consistent with a structure containing one cis-disubstituted chromium atom and one fac-trisubstituted chromium atom, bridged by the phosphorinane ligand.
Interstellar Turbulence. II. Energy Spectra of Molecular Regions in the Outer Galaxy

The multivariate tool of principal component analysis (PCA) is applied to 23 fields in the FCRAO CO Survey of the Outer Galaxy. PCA enables the identification of line profile differences, which are assumed to be generated from fluctuations within a turbulent velocity field. The variation of these velocity differences with spatial scale within a molecular region is described by a singular power law, δv = cLα, which can be used as a powerful diagnostic to turbulent motions. For the ensemble of 23 fields, we find a mean value = 0.62 ± 0.11. From a recent calibration of this method using fractal Brownian motion simulations (Brunt & Heyer), the measured velocity difference-size relationship corresponds to an energy spectrum, E(k), which varies as k-β, where β = 2.17 ± 0.31. We compare our results to both decaying and forced hydrodynamic simulations of turbulence. We conclude that energy must be continually injected into the regions to replenish that lost by dissipative processes such as shocks. The absence of large, widely distributed shocks within the targeted fields suggests that the energy is injected at spatial scales less than several parsecs.
Interactive wavelet-based image compression with arbitrary region preservation

We have developed a software module which performs 2-D and 3-D image compression based on wavelet transforms. The compression is not losless, but the software allows the user to interactively determine the degree of compression (by viewing the results) and to interactively define specific regions of the image — of any size and shape — that ar to be preserved with maximum fidelity while the rest of the image is compressed (again, viewing the results). These capabilities may be of interest in applications such as teleradiology.
Potential DNA bis-intercalating agents: synthesis and antitumor activity of novel, conformationally restricted bis(9-aminoacridines)

A series of bis(9-aminoacridines) bridged by conformationally restricted tethers was synthesized and evaluated against L1210 in vitro. Several of these compounds were found to be highly active in this test system, with ID50 values below 10−7 M. CPK molecular models suggest that this antitumor activity can be correlated to the ability of these bis(9-aminoacridines) to form bis-intercalative complexes with DNA.
Trade Creation and Trade Diversion: New Empirical Results

SUMMARY In this paper we raise questions regarding the appropriateness of the traditional gravity model for evaluating the existence of trade creation and trade diversion in the context of regional trade arrangements. We demonstrate that existing methods fail to separate multilateral and allocation effects, and are therefore unable to say anything useful about either. Further, we point out that omitted variables-perennially unobservables-further contribute to the contamination of the results. Bearing these criticisms in mind, we provide a new methodology for assessing the effect of preferential trading arrangements on the trade volumes, and hence, the welfare of member and non-member countries. We offer a test that separates these effects, and employ it in an assessment of the EC. We find that the allocation effects of the EC caused 5 of its 11 members to divert trade toward bloc members, and 2 of its members to divert trade away from the EC. We also find that the EC increased multilateral trade for both ...
Excursion decompositions for SLE and Watts' crossing formula

It is known that Schramm-Loewner Evolutions (SLEs) have a.s. frontier points if κ>4 and a.s. cutpoints if 4 4, an appropriate version of SLE(κ) has a renewal property: it starts afresh after visiting its frontier. Thus one can give an excursion decomposition for this particular SLE(κ) “away from its frontier”. For 4<κ<8, there is a two-sided analogue of this situation: a particular version of SLE(κ) has a renewal property w.r.t its cutpoints; one studies excursion decompositions of this SLE “away from its cutpoints”. For κ=6, this overlaps Virag's results on “Brownian beads”. As a by-product of this construction, one proves Watts' formula, which describes the probability of a double crossing in a rectangle for critical plane percolation.
How Does Appraisal Smoothing Bias Real Estate Returns Measurement

This paper examines and clarifies several related issues about real estate return indexes. Specifically, even if real estate valuation smoothing exists at the individual property level, such errors may offset in the aggregate. Using data from commercial property appraisals and corresponding transactions, appraisal smoothing errors engender an underestimation of both the first and second moments for real estate returns. After correcting for these “underestimations,” real estate mean returns and the variance appear to be quite similar to those of stocks.
Twisted Orbifold K-Theory

We use equivariant methods to define and study the orbifold K-theory of an orbifold X. Adapting techniques from equivariant K-theory, we construct a Chern character and exhibit a multiplicative decomposition for K*orb(X)⊗ℚ, in particular showing that it is additively isomorphic to the orbifold cohomology of X. A number of examples are provided. We then use the theory of projective representations to define the notion of twisted orbifold K–theory in the presence of discrete torsion. An explicit expression for this is obtained in the case of a global quotient.
The Variability and Rotation of Pre-Main-Sequence Stars in IC 348: Does Intracluster Environment Influence Stellar Rotation?

A variability study of the young cluster IC 348 at Van Vleck Observatory has been extended to a total of 7 yr. Twelve new periodic stars have been found in the last 2 yr, bringing the total discovered by this program to 40. In addition, we confirm 16 of the periods reported by others and resolve some discrepancies. The total number of known rotation periods in the cluster from all studies has now reached 70. This is sufficient to demonstrate that the parent population of K5-M2 stars is rotationally indistinguishable from that in the Orion Nebula Cluster, even though their radii are 20% smaller and they would be expected to spin about twice as fast if angular momentum were conserved. The median radius and therefore the inferred age of the IC 348 stars actually closely matches that of NGC 2264, but the stars spin significantly more slowly. This suggests that another factor besides mass and age plays a role in establishing the rotation properties within a cluster, and we suggest that it is environment. If disk locking were to persist for longer times in less harsh environments because the disks themselves persist for longer times, it could explain the generally slower rotation rates observed for stars in this cluster, whose earliest type star is of class B5. We have also obtained radial velocities, the first for pre-main-sequence stars in IC 348, and v sin i measurements for 30 cluster stars to assist in the study of rotation and as an independent check on stellar radii. Several unusual variable stars are discussed; in some or all cases their behavior may be linked to occultations by circumstellar material. A strong correlation exists between the range of photometric variability and the slope of the spectral energy distribution in the infrared. Nineteen of the 21 stars with I ranges exceeding 0.4 mag show infrared evidence for circumstellar disks.
A Point-Source Excess in Abell 1185: Intergalactic Globular Clusters?

Deep imaging with WFPC2 and the Hubble Space Telescope has been used to search for a population of intergalactic globular clusters (GCs) belonging to A1185, a richness class I cluster at cz = 9800 km s-1. The field is noteworthy in that contains no bright galaxies and yet is centered on the peak of the cluster's X-ray surface brightness distribution. We detect a total of 99 point sources in this field to a limiting magnitude of IF814W 26. An identical analysis of the Hubble Deep Field North, which serves as our control field, reveals a total of 12 objects in the same magnitude range. We discuss possible explanations for this discrepancy and conclude that the point source excess is likely due to the presence of GCs within A1185. The number and spatial distributions of these GCs are consistent with their being intergalactic in nature, although we cannot rule out the possibility that some of the GCs may be associated with neighboring bright galaxies. Deeper imaging with the Advanced Camera for Surveys may resolve this ambiguity.
Surface modification with lasers

Laser-induced processing has been widely exploited in the microelectronics industry, to produce deposits with well-controlled chemical composition, feature size, and morphology. A brief survey of the most commonly used techniques for laser patterning of materials on surfaces is presented. The issues which are key to continued progress in the field of surface modification with lasers are examined, including laser heating of surfaces, the role of mass transport in the kinetics of deposit growth, the study of the surface reactions involved in laserinduced processes, and some aspects of materials properties which are important in surface modification techniques.
Delta wing vortex control via recessed angled spanwise blowing

A novel vortex control technique, known as recessed angled span wise blowing, has been investigated in a water tunnel on a beveled 60-deg delta wing. Three pairs of blowing ports, located on the suction side of the wing and beneath the vortex core, were canted upward in the spanwise direction such that the injected flow is parallel to the beveled edge. Flow visualization experiments were performed using dye injected into the leadingedge vortices near the wing apex with the vortex burst location visually observed. Blowing coefficient values up to 0.1 were used in the experiments, although the effectiveness of blowing at a single chord location remained the same above blowing coefficients of 0.05. Maximum improvement in vortex breakdown location of 15% chord was obtained at an angle of attack of 22 deg and blowing coefficient of 0.05. Blowing from a port downstream of the natural burst location delayed vortex breakdown, whereas blowing upstream of the natural burst prompted vortex breakdown at the blowing port. Blowing ports at 41 % chord had the greatest effect in delaying vortex breakdown. These observations are explained via Rayleigh's stability criterion for circular flow.
Measures of statistical complexity: Why?

Abstract We review several statistical complexity measures proposed over the last decade and a half as general indicators of structure or correlation. Recently, Lopez-Ruiz, Mancini, and Calbet [Phys. Lett. A 209 (1995) 321] introduced another measure of statistical complexity C LMC that, like others, satisfies the “boundary conditions” of vanishing in the extreme ordered and disordered limits. We examine some properties of C LMC and find that it is neither an intensive nor an extensive thermodynamic variable and that it vanishes exponentially in the thermodynamic limit for all one-dimensional finite-range spin systems. We propose a simple alteration of C LMC that renders it extensive. However, this remedy results in a quantity that is a trivial function of the entropy density and hence of no use as a measure of structure or memory. We conclude by suggesting that a useful “statistical complexity” must not only obey the ordered-random boundary conditions of vanishing, it must also be defined in a setting that gives a clear interpretation to what structures are quantified.
Nickel‐Catalyzed [2+2+2] Cycloaddition of Diynes and Cyanamides

A variety of bicyclic N,N-disubstituted 2-aminopyridines have been prepared from diynes and cyanamides by nickel-catalyzed [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions. The reactions proceeded at room temperature with low catalyst loading to afford 2-aminopyridines in good to excellent yields. The method is amenable to both internal and terminal diynes and proceeds in a regioselective manner. A number of cyanamides with diverse functional group tolerance were used. The intermolecular version employing 3-hexyne and N-cyanopyrrolidine also afforded the desired N,N-disubstituted 2-aminopyridine in good yield.
Superstrings and manifolds of exceptional holonomy

The condition of having an $N=1$ spacetime supersymmetry for heterotic string leads to 4 distinct possibilities for compactifications namely compactifications down to 6,4,3 and 2 dimensions. Compactifications to 6 and 4 dimensions have been studied extensively before (corresponding to $K3$ and a Calabi-Yau threefold respectively). Here we complete the study of the other two cases corresponding to compactification down to 3 on a 7 dimensional manifold of $G_2$ holonomy and compactification down to 2 on an 8 dimensional manifold of $Spin(7)$ holonomy. We study the extended chiral algebra and find the space of exactly marginal deformations. It turns out that the role the $U(1)$ current plays in the $N=2$ superconformal theories, is played by tri-critical Ising model in the case of $G_2$ and Ising model in the case of $Spin(7)$ manifolds. Certain generalizations of mirror symmetry are found for these two cases. We also discuss a topological twisting in each case.
Byzantine vector consensus in complete graphs

Consider a network of n processes, each of which has a d-dimensional vector of reals as its input. Each process can communicate directly with all the processes in the system; thus the communication network is a complete graph. All the communication channels are reliable and FIFO (first-in-first-out).We prove that in a synchronous system, n≥ max(3f+1, (d+1)f+1) is necessary and sufficient for achieving Byzantine vector consensus.In an asynchronous system, it is known that exact consensus is impossible in presence of faulty processes. For an asynchronous system, we prove that n≥ (d+2)f+1 is necessary and sufficient to achieve approximate Byzantine vector consensus.Our sufficiency proofs are constructive. We prove sufficiency by providing explicit algorithms that solve exact BVC in synchronous systems, and approximate BVC in asynchronous systems.
Compressive Strength of Titanium Alloy Skin-Stringer Panels Selectively Reinforced with Boron-Aluminum Composite

Description of a method of selectively reinforcing conventional titanium airframe structure with unidirectional boron-aluminum composite attached by brazing which has been successfully demonstrated based on compression tests of short skin-stringer panels. Improvements in structural performance exceeded 25% on an equivalent weight basis over the range from room temperature to 800 F, both in terms of initial buckling and maximum strengths. Room-temperature performance was not affected by prior exposure at 600 F for 1000 hours in air, or by 400 cycles between -65 and 600 F. The experimental results were generally predictable on the basis of existing analytical procedures. No evidence of failure was observed in the braze bond between the boron-aluminum composite and the titanium alloy.
Genotype and Tissue-Specific Effects on Alternative Splicing of the Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Gene in Humans

Context: Noncoding single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the TCF7L2 gene are confirmed risk factors for type 2 diabetes, but the mechanism by which they increase risk is unknown. Objective: We hypothesized that associated SNPs alter TCF7L2 splicing and that splice forms have altered biological roles. Design: Splice forms and 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions were characterized in sc adipose, muscle, liver, HepG2 cells, pancreas, and islet. Isoform-specific transcript levels were quantified in sc adipose. Alternative splice forms were characterized in HepG2 liver cells under glucose and insulin conditions and in SGBS cells with differentiation. Major isoforms were characterized by transfection. Setting: The study was conducted at an ambulatory general clinical research center. Patients: Patients included 78 healthy, nondiabetic study subjects characterized for insulin sensitivity and secretion. Results: We identified 32 alternatively spliced transcripts and multiple-length 3′ untranslated region trans...
Dynamic intelligent scheduling and control of reconfigurable parallel architectures for computer vision/image processing

Abstract This paper presents a system for dynamic intelligent scheduling and control of reconfigurable parallel processors. The purpose of the system is to provide a rapid prototyping capability for computer vision/image processing tasks. The scheduler particularly addresses the problems of algorithms with execution times that depend on the image data and processing scenarios that vary dynamically based on the input image. Since conventional scheduling methods cannot produce schedules for most tasks of this type, a dynamic controller is used to schedule the task and reconfigure the machine “on the fly.” This dynamic scheduling system attempts to balance the overall processing scenario with the needs of the individual routines that make up the task. This paper discusses the implementation of the DISC ( D ynamic I ntelligent S cheduling and C ontrol) system. Emphasis is on the scheduling heuristics as they apply to a reconfigurable parallel processor, the information in the system database, and the use of the system for prototyping computer vision/image processing tasks on a partitionable parallel system.
Conformational analysis, molecular shape comparison, and pharmacophore identification of different allosteric modulators of muscarinic receptors.

Structurally dissimilar compounds such as alcuronium and the newly synthesized substances derived from the bisbenzyl ether TMB4 and from hexamethonium stabilize antagonist binding to M2-cholinoceptors which is indicative of an allosteric action. In order to propose a hypothesis for the common pharmacophore and the corresponding active conformations, seven flexible compounds in a data set were individually aligned onto the most active and, additionally, rigid alcuronium molecule using a torsional angle flexible fit. An S-shape conformation was found to be a plausible general active conformation. In a subsequent molecular shape analysis the overlap and the nonoverlap steric volumes, RMS alignment as well as electrostatic field potentials were employed as possible structure−activity correlation descriptors. The corresponding 3D-QSAR formulation exhibits a correlation between allosteric modulation potency and the nonoverlap steric volume as well as the proton and oxygen anion probe electrostatic field potenti...
The interplay between Gamma-Ray Bursts and their environment

Abstract Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are the most energetic and most relativistic phenomenon in the Universe. Understanding the nature of their progenitors has been one of the primary efforts of current research in high energy astrophysics, and their unmatched luminosity and other properties makes them ideal cosmological probes. In this contribution, I review the observational effects resulting from the interaction between the longer wavelength radiation accompanying GRBs and their close environment. In particular, it discusses signatures that, in addition to providing powerful clues on the GRB progenitors, can also shed light on the physical characteristics, such as metallicity and dust content, of the GRB host galaxies.
An associative processor for air traffic control

In recent years associative memories have been receiving an increasing amount of attention. At the same time multiprocessor and parallel processing systems have been under study to solve very large problems. An associative processor is one form of a parallel processor that seems able to provide a cost effective solution to many problems such as the air traffic control (ATC) problem.
Relativistic spin-polarized theory of magnetoelastic coupling and magnetic anisotropy strain dependence: Application to Co/Cu(001)

A self-consistent relativistic spin-polarized version of the total-energy full-potential linearized-augmented-plane-wave (FLAPW) method is developed on the basis of a second-variation treatment of the spin-orbit coupling (SOC). As illustration, the method is applied to determine the magnetoelastic coupling, orbital magnetic moment anisotropy and magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) of a Co overlayer on Cu(001). The MAE (-0.36 meV) calculated at the equilibrium overlayer/substrate distance is in good agreement with experiment. As discovered earlier by Wu and Freeman, we find a linear dependence of the MAE on the overlayer/substrate distance. The calculated positive effective magnetoelastic coupling coefficient (1.13 meV) is caused by a positive surface magnetoelastic anisotropy (0.23 meV). This causes a negative magnetostriction coefficient ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{001}=\ensuremath{-}5.20\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ and an isotropic magnetostriction coefficient ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{s}=\ensuremath{-}5.65\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ that is in very good agreement with previous studies based on a perturbative SOC treatment.
Sn-Free Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Glycosyl Bromides with Activated Alkenes

A mild, stereoselective method for the Ni-catalyzed synthesis of α-C-alkylglycosides is reported. This approach entails the reductive coupling of glycosyl bromides with activated alkenes at room temperature, with low alkene loading as an important feature. Diastereoselective coupling with 2-substituted acrylate derivatives was made possible through the use of 2,4-dimethyl-3-pentanol as a proton source.
Reionization of the Universe and the Early Production of Metals

We simulate a plausible cosmological model in considerable physical and numerical detail through the successive phases of reheating (at 10 z 20) and reionization at z ≈ 7. We assume an efficiency of high-mass star formation appropriate to leave the universe, after it becomes transparent, with an ionizing background J21 ≈ 0.4 (at z = 4), near (and perhaps slightly below) the observed value. Since the same stars produce the ionizing radiation and the first generation of heavy elements, a mean metallicity of Z/Z☉ ~ 1/200 is produced in this early phase, but there is a large variation about this mean, with the high density regions having Z/Z☉ ≈ 1/30 and the low density regions (or the Lyα forest with NH I 1013.5 cm2) having essentially no metals. When it occurs, reionization is very rapid (phase change-like), which will leave a signature that may be detectable by very large area meter-wavelength radio instruments. Also, the background UV radiation field will show a sharp drop of ~10-3 from 1 to 4 ryd because of absorption edges. The simulated volume is too small to form L* galaxies, but the smaller objects that are found in the simulation obey the Faber-Jackson relation. In order to explore theoretically this domain of "the end of the dark ages" quantitatively, numerical simulations must have a mass resolution of the order of 104.5 M☉ in baryons, have high spatial resolution (1 kpc) to resolve strong clumping, and allow for detailed and accurate treatment of both the radiation field and atomic/molecular physics.
17O NMR spectroscopy: Assessment of steric perturbation of structure in organic compounds

Description d'une part des relations entre les deplacements chimiques de RMN 17 O et l'angle de torsion entre les groupements fonctionnels contenant un atome d'oxygene et les cycles aromatiques dans un certain nombre de systemes. Ces systemes impliquent des molecules dans lesquelles les interactions de van der Waals sont reduites par rotation autour d'une liaison simple. Etude, d'autre part des deplacements chimiques de RMN 17 O des groupements carbonyle de systemes plans, rigides
Seasonal Adjustment and Other Data Transformations

In this article, it is shown that the case for using optimal signal-extraction filters is not all that convincing once it is recognized that seasonal adjustment is typically not the only transformation applied to data. Seasonal adjustment is viewed as any general linear filter. All other data transformations are also assumed to be linear. Although optimal filters always dominate uniform filters, their dominance critically depends on performing seasonal adjustment and the other data transformations in the right sequence. The conclusions of our article make a strong case in favor of the wide practice of uniform filtering.
Liouville Type Property and Spreading Speeds of KPP Equations in Periodic Media with Localized Spatial Inhomogeneity

The current paper is devoted to the study of semilinear dispersal evolution equations of the form $$\begin{aligned} u_t(t,x)=(\mathcal {A}u)(t,x)+u(t,x)f(t,x,u(t,x)),\quad x\in \mathcal {H}, \end{aligned}$$ where \(\mathcal {H}=\mathbb {R}^N\) or \(\mathbb {Z}^N,\; \mathcal {A}\) is a random dispersal operator or nonlocal dispersal operator in the case \(\mathcal {H}=\mathbb {R}^N\) and is a discrete dispersal operator in the case \(\mathcal {H}=\mathbb {Z}^N\), and \(f\) is periodic in \(t\), asymptotically periodic in \(x\) (i.e. \(f(t,x,u)-f_0(t,x,u)\) converges to \(0\) as \(\Vert x\Vert \rightarrow \infty \) for some time and space periodic function \(f_0(t,x,u)\)), and is of KPP type in \(u\). It is proved that Liouville type property for such equations holds, that is, time periodic strictly positive solutions are unique. It is also proved that if \(u\equiv 0\) is a linearly unstable solution to the time and space periodic limit equation of such an equation, then it has a unique stable time periodic strictly positive solution and has a spatial spreading speed in every direction.
Large Coded Aperture Mask for Spaceflight Hard X-ray Images

The 2.6 square meter coded aperture mask is a vital part of the Burst Alert Telescope on the Swift mission. A random, but known pattern of more than 50,000 lead tiles, each 5 mm square, was bonded to a large honeycomb panel which projects a shadow on the detector array during a gamma ray burst. A two-year development process was necessary to explore ideas, apply techniques, and finalize procedures to meet the strict requirements for the coded aperture mask. Challenges included finding a honeycomb substrate with minimal gamma ray attenuation, selecting an adhesive with adequate bond strength to hold the tiles in place but flexible enough to allow the tiles to expand and contract without distorting the panel under large temperature gradients, and eliminating excess adhesive from all untiled areas. Finding an efficient way to bond the > 50,000 lead tiles to the panel while maintaining positional tolerances within +0.1 mm was no small task. In order to generate the desired bondline, adhesive was applied and allowed to cure to each tile. The 'pre-cured' tiles were located in a tool to maintain positional accuracy, wet adhesive was applied to the panel, and the wetted substrate was lowered to the tile surface with synchronized actuators. Using this procedure, the entire tile pattern was transferred to the large honeycomb panel in a single bond. The pressure for the bond was achieved by enclosing the entire system in a vacuum bag. Thermal vacuum and acoustic tests validated this approach. This paper discusses the methods, materials, and techniques used to fabricate this very large and unique coded aperture mask for the Swift mission.
On the formal definition of PL/I

This paper describes a formal definition of PL/I which has been produced by a group in the IBM Vienna Laboratory. The paper contains the outlines of the method rather than details of PL/I. The definition currently exists as a Technical Report "Formal Definition of PL/I" which contains the abstract syntax and the semantics for PL/I program text. A second version of this Technical Report is under preparation and will complete the description of PL/I in these areas where the first version omitted language features, or showed major deviations from the current language. The language described in the Report is PL/I as specified in the PL/I Language Specifications of the IBM Systems Reference Library, supplemented by additional information.
Resistive Power in CMOS Circuits

Interconnect resistance dissipates a portion of the total transient power in CMOS circuits. Conduction losses increase with larger interconnect resistance. It is shown in this paper that these losses do not add to the total power dissipation of a CMOS circuit through I2R losses. Interconnect resistance can, however, increase the short-circuit power of both the driver and load gates.
Airborne Operation of an Infrared Low-Level Wind Shear Prediction System

Airborne testing under simulated and actual low-level wind shear conditions is underway on a NASA-Ames Learjet. An infrared CO2 band radiometer with a forward 'look distance' of 5 to 8 kilometers measures the air temperature weighted to this range ahead of the approach configured aircraft. Shear alerts occur when the difference between the forward temperature and static air temperature at the aircraft exceed a set value or when a perturbation occurs in the normally constant potential temperature. Aircraft approaches into thunderstorm downburst phenomena were simulated by approaches into cool estuarine air adjacent to much warmer air over land and by actual light wind shear conditions at Travis Air Force Base. Conditions were verified by the radiometer system with extensive on-board data acquisition.
The Economics of Wetland Ecosystem Restoration and Mitigation: Discussion

In other areas of environmental policy, establishing equivalent trades is reasonably straightforward. Emissions of CO2 have the same effect on global climate regardless of where they are emitted so that a ton of CO2 emissions is equivalent to any other ton of CO2 emissions. Similarly, the SO2 permit market treats all emissions of equal quantity as being equivalent (though when and where SO2 is emitted matters). For wetlands, however, the issue is much more complex. Wetlands provide many different ecosystem functions, which generate a whole range of ecosystem services including flood control, nutrient cycling, water purification, wildlife habitat, recreation, and aesthetic values. Comparing different wetlands is difficult because wetlands can differ on a number