cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Politics of Poverty: Left Political Institutions, the Welfare State, and Poverty

This study investigates the impact of left political institutions on a nation's amount of poverty. Specifically, the analysis tests three possible causal relationships: whether left political institutions affect poverty separately from the welfare state, channeled through the welfare state, or combined with the welfare state. These relationships are tested with an unbalanced panel analysis of 16 rich Western democracies from 1967 to 1997 (N = 73, 74), two measures of poverty, and eight measures of left political institutions. The results demonstrate that the strength of left political institutions has a significant, powerful negative impact on poverty. Specifically, left political institutions partially combine with and partially channel through the welfare state. Voter turnout and the cumulative historical power of left parties entirely channel through the welfare state to reduce poverty. The percent of votes for left parties, the percent of seatsfor left parties, wage coordination, neocorporatism, gross union density and employed union density partially combine with and partially channel through the welfare state to reduce poverty. While the welfare state remains a crucial determinant of poverty, leftpolitical institutions are essential to explanations of the comparative historical variation in poverty.
The star formation law in a multifractal ISM

The surface density of the star formation rate in different galaxies, as well as in different parts of a single galaxy, scales non-linearly with the surface density of the total gas. This observationally established relation is known as the Kennicutt-Schmidt star formation law. The slope of the star formation law has been shown to change with the density of the gas against which the star formation rate is plotted. This dependence implies a non-linear scaling between the dense gas and the total gas surface densities within galaxies. Here, we explore a possible interpretation of this scaling as a property of the geometry of the interstellar medium (ISM), and we find that it arises naturally if the topology of the ISM is multifractal. Under the additional assumption that, at very high densities, the star formation time-scale is roughly constant, the star formation law itself can also be recovered as a consequence of the multifractal geometry of the ISM. The slope of the scaling depends on the width of the global probability density function (PDF), and is between 1.5 and 1.6 for wide PDFs relevant to high-mass systems, while it is higher for narrower PDFs appropriate for lower mass dwarf galaxies, in agreement with observations.
Network-on-Chip Firewall: Countering Defective and Malicious System-on-Chip Hardware

Mobile devices are in roles where the integrity and confidentiality of their apps and data are of paramount importance. They usually contain a System-on-Chip (SoC), which integrates microprocessors and peripheral Intellectual Property (IP) connected by a Network-on-Chip (NoC). Malicious IP or software could compromise critical data. Some types of attacks can be blocked by controlling data transfers on the NoC using Memory Management Units (MMUs) and other access control mechanisms. However, commodity processors do not provide strong assurances regarding the correctness of such mechanisms, and it is challenging to verify that all access control mechanisms in the system are correctly configured. We propose a NoC Firewall (NoCF) that provides a single locus of control and is amenable to formal analysis. We demonstrate an initial analysis of its ability to resist malformed NoC commands, which we believe is the first effort to detect vulnerabilities that arise from NoC protocol violations perpetrated by erroneous or malicious IP.
Good and bad points in scales

We address three questions raised by Cummings and Foreman regarding a model of Gitik and Sharon. We first analyze the PCF-theoretic structure of the Gitik---Sharon model, determining the extent of good and bad scales. We then classify the bad points of the bad scales existing in both the Gitik---Sharon model and other models containing bad scales. Finally, we investigate the ideal of subsets of singular cardinals of countable cofinality carrying good scales.
Cerebral Oximetry in Patients Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy Under Regional Anesthesia

Background and Purpose Near-infrared spectroscopy is a technique that can potentially monitor changes in cerebral oxygenation. There are at present limited clinical data regarding the value of this technology in relating neurological outcome to cerebrovascular hemoglobin oxygen saturation (Sco2). This investigation reports changes in Sco2 due to carotid cross-clamping during carotid endarterectomy in awake patients. Methods Sco2 was monitored in 38 adult patients undergoing 41 carotid endarterectomies under regional anesthesia. Ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres were monitored simultaneously during 36 operations, with ipsilateral monitoring alone in the remaining 5 operations. Results No significant difference was detected between ipsilateral and contralateral Sco2 during preclamp or postclamp periods. Carotid cross-clamping caused a statistically significant ( P <.01) decrease in the ipsilateral Sco2, which decreased from 71.8±6.91% to 65.8±8.2%, while the contralateral Sco2 remained stable at 70.5±7.5% and 70.3±7.9%. The change in ipsilateral Sco2 ranged from +2.6% to −28.6% of the preclamp value. The difference between ipsilateral and contralateral Sco2 during cross-clamping was statistically significant ( P <.001). The duration of cross-clamping was 39±11 minutes (range, 18 to 89 minutes). The decrease in ipsilateral Sco2 was highly variable from patient to patient and did not correlate with the duration of cross-clamping. Conclusions These results suggest that carotid artery occlusion causes a statistically significant but variable decrease in Sco2 in the majority of patients. Data in this investigation provide a range of Sco2 values that was not associated with a clinically detectable neurological dysfunction.
Body Segment Contributions to Sport Skill Performance: Two Contrasting Approaches

Abstract To lead off this section, Anne E. Atwater examines recent developments in kinesiology and biomechanics and discusses the appropriateness of distinguishing between these two areas. Atwater proceeds by tracing the development of the two areas, attempting to clarify the similarities and differences, and concludes by discussing new developments in technology and methodology, along with future directions for both kinesiology and biomechanics. The article by Doris I. Miller contrasts two methods for approaching the problems of body segment contributions to motor performance: joint immobilization with restraint and resultant muscle torque pattern. Miller indicates a preference for the second approach, but indicates that investigators face three major challenges when using it. The author completes the presentation with applications of this method to research on kicking and running.
NetVM: High Performance and Flexible Networking Using Virtualization on Commodity Platforms

NetVM brings virtualization to the Network by enabling high bandwidth network functions to operate at near line speed, while taking advantage of the flexibility and customization of low cost commodity servers. NetVM allows customizable data plane processing capabilities such as firewalls, proxies, and routers to be embedded within virtual machines, complementing the control plane capabilities of Software Defined Networking. NetVM makes it easy to dynamically scale, deploy, and reprogram network functions. This provides far greater flexibility than existing purpose-built, sometimes proprietary hardware, while still allowing complex policies and full packet inspection to determine subsequent processing. It does so with dramatically higher throughput than existing software router platforms. NetVM is built on top of the KVM platform and Intel DPDK library. We detail many of the challenges we have solved such as adding support for high-speed inter-VM communication through shared huge pages and enhancing the CPU scheduler to prevent overheads caused by inter-core communication and context switching. NetVM allows true zero-copy delivery of data to VMs both for packet processing and messaging among VMs within a trust boundary. Our evaluation shows how NetVM can compose complex network functionality from multiple pipelined VMs and still obtain throughputs up to 10 Gbps, an improvement of more than 250% compared to existing techniques that use SR-IOV for virtualized networking.
Immunotherapy for prostate cancer

Whereas androgen deprivation and chemotherapy have become the cornerstone of therapy for advanced prostate cancer, novel therapies are being developed that may expand upon currently available treatments. The identification of antigens expressed by prostate tissue and/or prostate cancer that are recognized by T cells or antibodies creates opportunities to develop novel immunotherapeutic approaches including tumor vaccines. Proteins expressed in prostate cancer including prostate-specific antigen, prostatic acid phosphatase, and prostate membrane antigen have been used as immunologic targets for immunotherapy. Moreover, innovations in cancer genomics and proteomics also will aid in the identification of immunologic targets. Emerging trials have demonstrated that immunotherapy may not only generate immune responses in patients, but also clinical responses. Future studies will be directed at capitalizing on these findings.
Anionic Four Electron Donor-Based Palladacycles as Catalysts for Addition Reactions of Arylboronic Acids with α,β-Unsaturated Ketones, Aldehydes and α-Ketoesters

Anionic four-electron donor-based palladacycle-catalyzed 1,4-additions of arylboronic acids with α,β-unsaturated ketones and 1,2-additions of arylboronic acids with aldehydes and α-ketoesters are described. Our study demonstrated that palladacycles were highly efficient, practical catalysts for these addition reactions. The work described here not only opened a new paradigm for the application of palladacycles, but may also pave the road for other metalacycles as practically useful catalysts for such addition reactions including asymmetric ones.
Merger Motives For U.S. Utility Acquirers: Evidence From Performance, Risk Metrics, And Executive Compensation

We study post-acquisition performance of US public utilities that acquired other US exchange listed firms during 1996?2002. We find that acquirer shareholders do not gain any abnormal returns from the acquisition over the two years following the acquisition and there are no unexpected gains in the underlying operating performance of the acquirers. We also find that while stock acquirers show a decrease in post-acquisition performance, their CEO salary increases relative to the industry. This suggests that method of payment may be an important factor in discerning the motivation for an acquisition. Lack of clarity regarding effects of a complex process like an acquisition, for shareholders and perhaps the even the management, combined with potential increase in prestige and salary for the management, may be the motivation for M&A activity in stock mergers. Cash acquirers may be more careful and consequently do not show subsequent underperformance.
Taking care of your own: ethnic and religious heterogeneity and income inequality

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between measures of ethnic and religious heterogeneity on the one hand and measures of inequality and redistribution on the other, using state‐level US data.Design/methodology/approach – The relationship between ethnic/religious heterogeneity and inequality/redistribution is estimated, first, with ordinary least squares (OLS) and then with generalized method of moments (GMM). The principal explanatory variables for inequality and redistribution in the study are ethnic and religious polarization and fractionalization measures.Findings – It is found that inequality is positively associated with polarization and has an inverse‐U relationship with fractionalization. These findings are bolstered by findings of indirect effects of ethnic and religious heterogeneity on inequality through their influence on welfare programs.Originality/value – This is the first paper investigating the magnitude of possible direct and indirect effects of ethni...
Continental shelf GIS for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Abstract A marine sanctuary is an environment where the interests of science and society meet. Land and marine managers need access to the best scientific data available that describe the environment and environmental processes in sanctuaries. The sidescan sonar imagery, bathymetry, sample analyses and other data discussed in the papers in this volume have been made available as a U.S. Geological Survey CDROM publication.
Cardassian expansion: a model in which the universe is flat, matter dominated, and accelerating

Abstract A modification to the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker equation is proposed in which the universe is flat, matter dominated, and accelerating. An additional term, which contains only matter or radiation (no vacuum contribution), becomes the dominant driver of expansion at a late epoch of the universe. During the epoch when the new term dominates, the universe accelerates; we call this period of acceleration the Cardassian era. The universe can be flat and yet consist of only matter and radiation, and still be compatible with observations. The energy density required to close the universe is much smaller than in a standard cosmology, so that matter can be sufficient to provide a flat geometry. The new term required may arise, e.g., as a consequence of our observable universe living as a 3-dimensional brane in a higher-dimensional universe. The Cardassian model survives several observational tests, including the cosmic background radiation, the age of the universe, the cluster baryon fraction, and structure formation.
Synthesis of methoxy and hydroxy containing tetralones: versatile intermediates for the preparation of biologically relevant molecules

Abstract The synthesis of 5-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1-tetralone and the 7-hydroxy regioisomer along with the corresponding 5,7-dihydroxy analog has been achieved using an efficient directed metallation procedure followed by a regioselective methylene oxidation. This methodology represents a general synthetic route for the preparation of highly oxygenated tetralone analogs which are versatile building blocks for the construction of molecules of biological interest.
A minimal even type of the 2-adic Weil representation

The Weil representation is used to construct a minimal type of the two-fold central extension of \(\mathrm{Sp }_{2n}({\mathbb {Q}}_2)\). The corresponding Hecke algebra is shown to be isomorphic to the classical affine Hecke algebra of the split adjoint orthogonal group \(\mathrm{SO }_{2n+1}({\mathbb {Q}}_2)\).
Solvent Size vs Cohesive Energy as the Origin of Hydrophobicity

Two main physical explanations of hydrophobicity seem to be currently competing. The classical, intuitive view attributes it to the fact that interactions between water molecules are much stronger than those between water and nonpolar groups. The second, “heretic” view attributes it to the small size of the water molecule which increases the entropic cost of opening up a cavity to accommodate the solute. Here we examine the solvation of methane in water and in model liquids that lack one or more of water's properties and report a detailed decomposition of the solvation free energy, enthalpy, entropy, and heat capacity in these solvents. The results fully support the classical view. It is found that fluids with strong intermolecular interactions favor expulsion of methane to its pure phase or to CCl4, whereas fluids with weak intermolecular interactions do not. However, the specific thermodynamic signature of the hydrophobic effect (entropy driven at room temperature with a large heat capacity change) is a...
Efficient large scale linear programming support vector machines

This paper presents a decomposition method for efficiently constructing l1-norm Support Vector Machines (SVMs). The decomposition algorithm introduced in this paper possesses many desirable properties. For example, it is provably convergent, scales well to large datasets, is easy to implement, and can be extended to handle support vector regression and other SVM variants. We demonstrate the efficiency of our algorithm by training on (dense) synthetic datasets of sizes up to 20 million points (in ℝ32). The results show our algorithm to be several orders of magnitude faster than a previously published method for the same task. We also present experimental results on real data sets—our method is seen to be not only very fast, but also highly competitive against the leading SVM implementations.
A HYPOTHESIS FOR THE COLOR DIVERSITY OF THE KUIPER BELT

We propose a chemical and dynamical process to explain the surface colors of the Kuiper belt. In our hypothesis, the initial bulk compositions of the bodies themselves can be quite diverse—as is seen in comets—but the early surface compositions are set by volatile evaporation after the objects are formed. Strong gradients in surface composition, coupled with UV and particle irradiation, lead to the surface colors that are seen today. The objects formed in the inner part of the primordial belt retain only H2O and CO2 as the major ice species on their surfaces. Irradiation of these species plausibly results in the dark neutrally colored centaurs and Kuiper belt objects (KBOs). Object formed further in the disk retain CH3OH, which has been shown to lead to brighter redder surfaces after irradiation, as seen in the brighter redder centaurs and KBOs. Objects formed at the current location of the cold classical Kuiper belt uniquely retain NH3, which has been shown to affect irradiation chemistry and could plausibly lead to the unique colors of these objects. We propose observational and experimental tests of this hypothesis.
Bridged triarylamines: A new class of heterohelicenes

A series of bridged triarylamines, which constitute a new class of heterohelicenes, have been synthesized using a simple three-step procedure. These compounds are shown to be highly luminescent chromophores and are capable of being oxidized. The solid-state structures of these helicenes show a tendency for π-stacking interactions into an overall zigzag motif.
SLIDE: subspace-based line detection

An analogy is made between each straight line in an image and a planar propagating wavefront impinging on an array of sensors so as to obtain a mathematical model exploited in recent high resolution methods for direction-of-arrival estimation in sensor array processing. The new so-called SLIDE (subspace-based line detection) algorithm then exploits the spatial coherence between the contributions of each line in different rows of the image to enhance and distinguish a signal subspace that is defined by the desired line parameters. SLIDE yields closed-form and high resolution estimates for line parameters, and its computational complexity and storage requirements are far less than those of the standard method of the Hough transform. If unknown a priori, the number of lines is also estimated in the proposed technique. The signal representation employed in this formulation is also generalized to handle grey-scale images as well. The technique has also been generalized to fitting planes in 3-D images. Some practical issues of the proposed technique are given. >
Optimal spatial transportation networks where link costs are sublinear in link capacity

Consider designing a transportation network on n vertices in the plane, with traffic demand uniform over all source–destination pairs. Suppose the cost of a link of length and capacity c scales as for fixed 0<β<1. Under appropriate standardization, the cost of the minimum cost Gilbert network grows essentially as nα(β), where α(β) = 1−(β/2) on and on . This quantity is an upper bound in the worst case (of vertex positions) and a lower bound under mild regularity assumptions. Essentially the same bounds hold if we constrain the network to be efficient in the sense that average route length is only 1+o(1) times the average straight line length. The transition at corresponds to the dominant cost contribution changing from short links to long links. The upper bounds arise in the following type of hierarchical networks, which are therefore optimal in an order-of-magnitude sense. On the large scale, we use a sparse Poisson line process to provide long-range links. On the medium scale, we use hierarchical routing on the square lattice. On the small scale, we link vertices directly to medium-grid points. We discuss one of the many possible variant models, in which links also have a designed maximum speed s and the cost becomes .
Orthogonal frames of translates

Abstract Two Bessel sequences are orthogonal if the composition of the synthesis operator of one sequence with the analysis operator of the other sequence is the 0 operator. We characterize when two Bessel sequences are orthogonal when the Bessel sequences have the form of translates of a finite number of functions in L 2 ( R d ) . The characterizations are applied to Bessel sequences which have an affine structure, and a quasi-affine structure. These also lead to characterizations of superframes. Moreover, we characterize perfect reconstruction, i.e., duality, of subspace frames for translation invariant (bandlimited) subspaces of L 2 ( R d ) .
Greedy Bases for Besov Spaces

We prove that the Banach space $(\bigoplus_{n=1}^{\infty}\ell_{p}^{n})_{\ell_{q}}$ , which is isomorphic to certain Besov spaces, has a greedy basis whenever 1≤p≤∞ and 1<q<∞. Furthermore, the Banach spaces $(\bigoplus_{n=1}^{\infty}\ell _{p}^{n})_{\ell_{1}}$ , with 1<p≤∞, and $(\bigoplus_{n=1}^{\infty}\ell_{p}^{n})_{c_{0}}$ , with 1≤p<∞, do not have a greedy basis. We prove as well that the space $(\bigoplus_{n=1}^{\infty}\ell _{p}^{n})_{\ell_{q}}$ has a 1-greedy basis if and only if 1≤p=q≤∞.
Site-specific preparation of 4-substituted-6-fluoro(carboalkoxyl)benzo[b]furans and benzo[b]thiophenes via base-catalyzed cyclization of enyne derivatives

A site-specific synthesis of 4-substituted-6-fluoro(carboalkoxyl)benzo[b]furans and benzo[b]thiophenes is described. The reactions of heterocyclic aromatic aldehydes with a Wittig reagent, followed by Sonogashira reaction with terminal alkynes, and subsequent base-catalyzed cyclization site-specifically provide 4-substituted-6-fluoro(carboalkoxyl)benzo[b]furans and benzo[b]thiophenes in good yields.
A Reusable Unsupported Rhenium Nanocrystalline Catalyst for Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of Alcohols through γ‐C–H Activation

Rhenium nanocrystalline particles (Re NPs), of 2 nm size, were prepared from NH4ReO4 under mild conditions in neat alcohol. The unsupported Re NPs convert secondary and benzylic alcohols to ketones and aldehydes, respectively, through catalytic acceptorless dehydrogenation (AD). The oxidant- and acceptor-free neat dehydrogenation of alcohols to obtain dihydrogen gas is a green and atom-economical process for making carbonyl compounds. Secondary aliphatic alcohols give quantitative conversion and yield. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Re K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data confirmed the characterization of the Re NPs as metallic rhenium with surface oxidation to rhenium(IV) oxide (ReO2). Isotope labeling experiments revealed a novel γ-CH activation mechanism for AD of alcohols.
Imaging offsets in the moho : Synthetic tests using gaussian beams with teleseismic waves

We carry out a sequence of numerical tests to understand conditions under which rapid changes in crustal thickness can be reliably imaged by teleseismic body waves. Using the finite-difference method over a 2-D grid, we compute synthetic seismograms resulting from a planar P-wavefield incident below the grid. We then image the Moho using a migration scheme based on the Gaussian beam representation of the wavefield. The use of Gaussian beams for the downward propagation of the wavefield is particularly advantageous in certain geologically critical cases such as overthrusting of continental lithosphere, resulting in the juxtaposition of high-velocity mantle material over crustal rocks. In contrast to ray-based methods, Gaussian beam migration requires no special treatment to handle such heterogeneities. Our results suggest that with adequate station spacing and signal-to-noise ratios, offsets of the Moho, on the order of 10 km in height, can be reliably imaged beneath thickened crust at depths of about 50 km. Furthermore, even sharp corners and edges are faithfully imaged when precise values of seismic wave speeds are available. Our tests also demonstrate that flexibility in choices of different types of seismic phases is important, because any single phase has trade-offs in issues such as spatial resolution, array aperture, and amplitude of signals.
EXTENDED OPERATOR ALGEBRA AND REDUCIBILITY IN THE WZW PERMUTATION ORBIFOLDS

Recently the operator algebra, including the twisted affine primary fields, and a set of twisted KZ equations were given for the WZW permutation orbifolds. In the first part of this paper we extend this operator algebra to include the so-called orbifold Virasoro algebra of each WZW permutation orbifold. These algebras generalize the orbifold Virasoro algebras (twisted Virasoro operators) found some years ago in the cyclic permutation orbifolds. In the second part, we discuss the reducibility of the twisted affine primary fields of the WZW permutation orbifolds, obtaining a simpler set of single-cycle twisted KZ equations. Finally we combine the orbifold Virasoro algebra and the single-cycle twisted KZ equations to investigate the spectrum of each orbifold, identifying the analogues of the principal primary states and fields also seen earlier in cyclic permutation orbifolds. Some remarks about general WZW orbifolds are also included.
Common tongue: The impact of language on economic performance

This paper investigates the impact of language on economic performance. I use the 1956 reorganization of Indian states on linguistic lines as a natural experiment to estimate the impact of speaking the majority language on educational and occupational outcomes. I find that districts that spoke the majority language of the state during colonial times enjoy persistent economic benefits, as evidenced by higher educational achievement and employment in communication intensive sectors. After reorganization, historically minority language districts experience greater growth in educational achievement, indicating that reassignment could reverse the impact of history.
Analgesic efficacy of sodium salicylate in an amphotericin B-induced bovine synovitis-arthritis model

This study examined the efficacy of sodium salicylate for providing analgesia in an amphotericin B-induced bovine synovitis-arthritis model using 10 male Holstein calves, 4 to 6 mo old and weighing approximately 250 kg. The study used a repeated measures partial crossover design with 2 phases, consisting of 3 treatment periods within each phase. Calves were blocked by body weight and randomly assigned to the sodium salicylate (50 mg/kg i.v.) or placebo group for phase 1. In period 1, lameness induction was simulated with a needle prick of the coronary band, followed by drug or placebo administration. At predetermined time points, serial blood samples for cortisol and salicylate concentrations, electrodermal activity measurements, heart rates, and pressure mat data were collected. Visual lameness scores were recorded by an observer blinded to treatments. In period 2, lameness was induced with injection of amphotericin B into the distal interphalangeal joint, followed by drug or placebo administration, with sample collection as described previously. In period 3, the drug or placebo was administered to the respective calves with sample collection. After a 10-d washout period, phase 2 was conducted with treatments crossed over between groups. Cortisol and salicylate samples were analyzed by competitive chemiluminescent immunoassay and fluorescence polarization immunoassay, respectively. The pharmacokinetic data were analyzed using compartmental analysis. Mean intravenous salicylate apparent volume of distribution was 0.2 +/- 0.005 L/kg, total body clearance was 4.3 +/- 0.2 mL/min.kg, and elimination half-life was 36.9 +/- 1.2 min. The repeated measures data were analyzed based on a univariate split-plot approach with a random effects-mixed model. Differences in stance phase duration and serum cortisol concentration values were seen both between periods and between treatment group x periods; differences in heart rate, contact surface area, and contact pressure values were seen between periods, suggesting that our lameness model was effective. No differences were seen between treatment groups. When analyzed by visual lameness score, differences were seen in heart rate, contact surface area, contact pressure, and cortisol concentrations. Area under the time-effect curves, determined by using the trapezoidal rule, had results similar to the repeated measures data, except for a difference in period for electrodermal activity. This amphotericin B-induced synovitis-arthritis model is a useful tool for studying changes associated with lameness in cattle. Sodium salicylate was not effective in providing analgesia after lameness.
Active Learning and Best-Response Dynamics

We examine an important setting for engineered systems in which low-power distributed sensors are each making highly noisy measurements of some unknown target function. A center wants to accurately learn this function by querying a small number of sensors, which ordinarily would be impossible due to the high noise rate. The question we address is whether local communication among sensors, together with natural best-response dynamics in an appropriately-defined game, can denoise the system without destroying the true signal and allow the center to succeed from only a small number of active queries. By using techniques from game theory and empirical processes, we prove positive (and negative) results on the denoising power of several natural dynamics. We then show experimentally that when combined with recent agnostic active learning algorithms, this process can achieve low error from very few queries, performing substantially better than active or passive learning without these denoising dynamics as well as passive learning with denoising.
The Mosaic Ancestry of the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel and the D. melanogaster Reference Genome Reveals a Network of Epistatic Fitness Interactions

North American populations of Drosophila melanogaster derive from both European and African source populations, but despite their importance for genetic research, patterns of ancestry along their genomes are largely undocumented. Here, I infer geographic ancestry along genomes of the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) and the D. melanogaster reference genome, which may have implications for reference alignment, association mapping, and population genomic studies in Drosophila. Overall, the proportion of African ancestry was estimated to be 20% for the DGRP and 9% for the reference genome. Combining my estimate of admixture timing with historical records, I provide the first estimate of natural generation time for this species (approximately 15 generations per year). Ancestry levels were found to vary strikingly across the genome, with less African introgression on the X chromosome, in regions of high recombination, and at genes involved in specific processes (e.g., circadian rhythm). An important role for natural selection during the admixture process was further supported by evidence that many unlinked pairs of loci showed a deficiency of Africa-Europe allele combinations between them. Numerous epistatic fitness interactions may therefore exist between African and European genotypes, leading to ongoing selection against incompatible variants. By focusing on hubs in this network of fitness interactions, I identified a set of interacting loci that include genes with roles in sensation and neuropeptide/hormone reception. These findings suggest that admixed D. melanogaster samples could become an important study system for the genetics of early-stage isolation between populations.
On the recognition of curved objects

The problem of determining the identity and pose of occluded objects from noisy data is examined. Previous work has shown that local measurements of the position and surface orientation of small patches of an object's surface may be used in a constrained search process to solve this problem, for the case of rigid polygonal objects using 2-D sensory data, or rigid polyhedral objects using 3-D data. The recognition system is extended to recognize and locate curved objects. The extension is done in two dimensions, and applies to the recognition of 2-D objects from 2-D data, or to the recognition of the 3-D objects in stable positions from 2-D data. >
Palladium Fluoride Complexes: One More Step toward Metal‐Mediated C−F Bond Formation

The first molecular complexes of palladium containing a Pd-F bond, both fluorides and bifluorides, were synthesized and fully characterized in the solid state and in solution. Reactivity studies of the Pd fluoride complexes revealed their unexpected stability and unusual chemical properties, different from the hydroxo, chloro, bromo, and iodo analogues. A novel efficient method to generate "naked fluoride" was developed using [(Ph(3)P)(2)Pd(F)Ph]. The naked fluoride from the Pd source fluorinated dichloromethane, deprotonated chloroform, and catalyzed di- and trimerization of hexafluoropropene under uncommonly mild conditions.
Functional genetic polymorphisms in ILT3 are associated with decreased surface expression on dendritic cells and increased serum cytokines in lupus patients

Objective Hyperactivity of the type I interferon (IFN) pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Immunoglobulin like transcript (ILT3) is an immunohibitory transmembrane molecule which is induced by type I IFNs. ILT3 is expressed by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs), monocytoid dendritic cells (MDCs), and monocytes/macrophages. Given the pathogenic role of IFN in SLE, we hypothesised that the IFN-induced immunosuppressive ILT3 receptor may be dysfunctional in human SLE. Methods 132 European-derived and 79 Hispanic-American SLE patients were genotyped for two coding-change single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) predicted to interfere with protein folding in ILT3 (rs11540761 and rs1048801). 116 control DNA samples and sera from healthy controls were also studied. We detected associations between ILT3 genotype and serum cytokine profiles. ILT3 expression levels on PDCs and MDCs from 18 patients and 10 controls were studied by flow cytometry. Results The rs11540761 SNP in the extracellular region was associated with decreased cell surface expression of ILT3 on circulating MDCs and to a lesser extent PDCs in SLE patients. The cytoplasmically located rs1048801 SNP was not associated with a change in dendritic cells expression of ILT3. Both SNPs were significantly and independently associated with increased levels of serum type I IFN activity in SLE patients. The rs1048801 SNP was also associated with increased serum levels of TNF-α. Conclusions Loss-of-function polymorphisms in ILT3 are associated with increased inflammatory cytokine levels in SLE, supporting a biological role for ILT3 in SLE.
Supporting Instructors in Collaborating with Researchers using MOOClets

Most education and workplace learning takes place in classroom contexts far removed from laboratories or field sites with special arrangements for scientific research. But digital online resources provide a novel opportunity for large-scale efforts to bridge the real-world and laboratory settings which support data collection and randomized A/B experiments comparing different versions of content or interactions [2]. However, there are substantial technological and practical barriers in aligning instructors and researchers to use learning technologies like blended lessons/exercises & MOOCs as both a service for students and a realistic context to conduct research. This paper explains how the concept of a "MOOClet" can facilitate research-practitioner collaborations. MOOClets [3] are defined as modular components of a digital resource that can be implemented in technology to: (1) allow modification to create multiple versions, (2) allow experimental comparison and personalization of different versions, (3) reliably specify what data are collected. We suggest a framework in which instructors specify what kinds of changes to lessons, exercises, and emails they would be willing to adopt, and what data they will collect and make available. Researchers can then: (1) specify or design experiments that compare the effects of different versions on quantifiable outcomes. (2) Explore algorithms for maximizing particular outcomes by choosing alternative versions of a MOOClet based on the input variables available. We present a prototype survey tool for instructors intended to facilitate practitioner-researcher matches and successful collaborations.
Learning to love the swamp: Reshaping education for public service

Peggy McIntosh, Associate Director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women, has written several articles I admire. One I particularly treasure and often send to friends and colleagues is called "Feeling Like a Fraud." It comes in two parts [McIntosh, 1985, 1989]. In the second she describes the feelings leading up to her presentation. She says she had been eagerly looking forward to the talk for months. Her earlier paper had been well received, and she was pleased to develop her thinking in the company of people whose work she valued. She wrote page after page of new ideas. However, she found herself unable to organize her ideas or her pages. The day of the lecture approached, and she could not get clear on her outline. She began, fittingly enough, to feel like a fraud. Rather than despair, she explains further ". . . the trick . . is to try to hold onto the very feelings that are giving you the most trouble, and trust them to lead you to some new ground, some new way of seeing or being" [McIntosh, 1989, p. 2]. Dr. McIntosh decided it was the outline form itself that was giving her the most trouble. She preferred a list. She wanted to talk about several different encounters with her topic and track her several efforts at acting on her learning. She describes herself as realizing that for her the notion of an outline carried a ranking of ideas she did not feel; starting with "any one . . as the most important distorted [her] sense of the whole matter" [McIntosh, 1989, p. 2]. The parallels are clear for me. I too once looked forward to this presidential address, although as it got closer the anticipatory pleasure faded, replaced with anxiety. I tried to reassure myself, as did McIntosh in her world, that my earlier appearances at APPAM and places like it had been generally well received. I too am among people whose work I admire and value. And like McIntosh, as the months passed, I wrote page after page and got nowhere, or at least nowhere I wanted to be. McIntosh cautions us, in her article on fraudulence, not to give up too
Non-programmers identifying functionality in unfamiliar code: strategies and barriers

Source code on the web is a widely available and potentially rich learning resource for non-programmers. However, unfamiliar code can be daunting to end-users without programming experience. This paper describes the results of an exploratory study in which we asked non-programmers to find and modify the code responsible for specific functionality within unfamiliar programs. We present two interacting models of how non-programmers approach this problem: the Task Process Model and the Landmark-Mapping model. Using these models, we describe code search strategies non-programmers employed and the barriers they encountered. Finally, we propose guidelines for future programming environments that support non-programmers in finding functionality in unfamiliar programs.
Specifying a safety-critical control system in Z

The paper presents a formal specification in the Z notation for a safety-critical control system. It describes a particular medical device but is quite generic and should be widely applicable. The specification emphasizes safety interlocking and other discontinuous features that are not considered in classical control theory. A method for calculating interlock conditions for particular operations from system safety assertions is proposed; it is similar to ordinary Z precondition calculation, but usually results in stronger preconditions. The specification is presented as a partially complete framework that can be edited and filled in with the specific features of a particular control system. Our system is large but the specification is concise. It is built up from components, subsystems, conditions and modes that are developed separately, but also accounts for behaviors that emerge at the system level. The specification illustrates several useful idioms of the Z notation, and demonstrates that an object-oriented specification style can be expressed in ordinary Z. >
Off-shell effects in heavy particle production

Abstract Off-shell propagation of nucleons is neglected in one-body transport models of heavy-ion collisions, but could be significant in processes that are limited by phase space, such as the threshold production of heavy particles. We estimate the relative magnitude of off-shell production to on-shell production of the N ∗ (1535) resonance in heavy ion collisions. In the region where the on-shell production is dominated by a two-step mechanism with an intermediate Δ, we find that the contribution of off-shell scattering between projectile and target nucleons is indeed small. Beyond the latter contribution, however, correlations in the initial wave function produce off-shell contributions which can exceed those of the on-shell Δ mechanism.
Dark matter with time dependent mass

We propose a simple model in which the cosmological dark matter consists of particles whose mass increases with the scale factor of the universe. The particle mass is generated by the expectation value of a scalar field which does not have a stable vacuum state, but which is effectively stabilized by the rest energy of the ambient particles. As the universe expands, the density of particles decreases, leading to an increase in the vacuum expectation value of the scalar (and hence the mass of the particle). The energy density of the coupled system of variable-mass particles (``vamps'') redshifts more slowly than that of ordinary matter. Consequently, the age of the universe is larger than in conventional scenarios.
Charon's Radius and Density from the Combined Data Sets of the 2005 July 11 Occultation

The 2005 July 11 C313.2 stellar occultation by Charon was observed by three separate research groups, including our own, at observatories throughout South America. Here, the published timings from the three data sets have been combined to more accurately determine the mean radius of Charon: 606.0 ± 1.5 km. Our analysis indicates that a slight oblateness in the body (0.006 ± 0.003) best matches the data, with a confidence level of 86%. The oblateness has a pole position angle of 714 ± 104 and is consistent with Charon's pole position angle of 67°. Charon's mean radius corresponds to a bulk density of 1.63 ± 0.07 g cm-3, which is significantly less than Pluto's (1.92 ± 0.12 g cm-3). This density differential favors an impact formation scenario for the system in which at least one of the impactors was differentiated. Finally, unexplained differences between chord timings measured at Cerro Pachon and the rest of the data set could be indicative of a depression as deep as 7 km on Charon's limb.
Models of cuspy triaxial galaxies

We construct numerical models of mildly triaxial elliptical galaxies with central density cusps. Using a technique we call "adiabatic squeezing," we begin with a spherical γ = 1 Hernquist model and apply a drag to the velocities of the particles along each principal axis. The final models are stable in isolation, preserving their density structure and figure shape over many dynamical timescales. The density profile and axial ratios compare well to the observed properties of elliptical galaxies. The orbital structure of these models show a mixture of tubes, boxes, and boxlets, as expected for triaxial systems, with very few chaotic orbits. These N-body realizations of cuspy triaxial galaxies provide a basis for the study of dynamical evolution of elliptical galaxies.
Semantics of types for database objects

This paper proposes a denotational semantics of types for database objects. A simple typed language to represent database objects is defined and its denotational semantics is given. In this language, sets are first-class values and a join and a projection are available as typed operations on general data structures including sets.
The Morality of Larks and Owls Unethical Behavior Depends on Chronotype as Well as Time of Day

The recently-documented “morning morality effect” indicates that people act most ethically in the morning because their energy wanes with the day. An estimated 40% of the population, however, experience increased energy levels later in the day. These “evening people,” we propose, should not show the morning morality effect. Instead, they should show the same or an increasing propensity toward ethicality in the evening. Two experiments supported this hypothesis, showing that people with a morning chronotype tend to behave more ethically in the morning than the evening, while people with an evening chronotype tend to behave more ethically in the evening than the morning. Thus, understanding when people will behave unethically may require an appreciation of both the person (chronotype) and the situation (time-of-day): a chronotype morality effect.
How to Price Discriminate When Tariff Size Matters

Firms that serve a large market with many diverse consumer types use discriminatory or nonlinear pricing to extract higher revenue, inducing consumers to separate by self-selecting from a large number of tariff options. But the extent of price discrimination must often be tempered by the high costs of devising and managing discriminatory tariffs, including costs of supporting consumers in understanding and making selection from a complex menu of choices. These tariff design trade-offs occur in many industries where firms face many consumer types and each consumer picks the number of units to consume over time. Examples include wireless communication services, other telecom and information technology products, legal plans, fitness clubs, automobile clubs, parking, healthcare plans, and many services and utilities. This paper evaluates alternative ways to price discriminate while accounting for both revenues and tariff management costs. The revenue-maximizing menu of quantity-price bundles can be very or infinitely large and hence not practical. Instead, two-part tariffs 2PTs, which charge a fixed entry fee and a per-unit fee, can extract a large fraction of the optimal revenue with a small menu of choices, and they become more attractive once the costs of tariff management are factored in. We show that three-part tariffs 3PTs, which use an additional instrument, the “free allowance,” are an even more efficient way to price discriminate. A relatively small menu of 3PTs can be more profitable than a menu of 2PTs of any size. This 3PT menu can be designed with less information about consumer preferences relative to the menu of two-part tariffs, which, in order to segment customers optimally, needs fine-grained information about preferences. Our analysis reveals a counterintuitive insight that more-complex tariffs need not always be more profitable; it matters whether the complexity is from many choices or more pricing instruments.