cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strong Secrecy and Reliable Byzantine Detection in the Presence of an Untrusted Relay

We consider a Gaussian two-hop network where the source and the destination can communicate only via a relay node who is both an eavesdropper and a Byzantine adversary. Both the source and the destination nodes are allowed to transmit, and the relay receives a superposition of their transmitted signals. We propose a new coding scheme that satisfies two requirements simultaneously: the transmitted message must be kept secret from the relay node, and the destination must be able to detect any Byzantine attack that the relay node might launch reliably and fast. The three main components of the proposed scheme are the nested lattice code, the privacy amplification scheme, and the algebraic manipulation detection (AMD) code. Specifically, for the Gaussian two-hop network, we show that lattice coding can successfully pair with AMD codes enabling its first application to a noisy channel model. We prove, using this new coding scheme, that the probability that the Byzantine attack goes undetected decreases exponentially fast with respect to the number of channel uses, while the loss in the secrecy rate, compared to the rate achievable when the relay is honest, can be made arbitrarily small. In addition, in contrast with prior work in Gaussian channels, the notion of secrecy provided here is strong secrecy.
Efficient approximation of diagonal unitaries over the clifford+T basis

We present an algorithm for the approximate decomposition of diagonal operators, focusing specifically on decompositions over the Clifford+T basis, that minimizes the number of phase-rotation gates in the synthesized approximation circuit. The equivalent T-count of the synthesized circuit is bounded by kC0 log2(1=e)+E(n, k), where k is the number of distinct phases in the diagonal n-qubit unitary, e is the desired precision, C0 is a quality factor of the implementation method (1 < C0 < 4), and E(n; k) is the total entanglement cost (in T gates). We determine an optimal decision boundary in (n, k, e)-space where our decomposition algorithm achieves lower entanglement cost than previous state-of-the-art techniques. Our method outperforms state-of-the-art techniques for a practical range of e values and diagonal operators and can reduce the number of T gates exponentially in n when k ≪ 2n.
Upstairs, Downstairs: Computers and Skills on Two Floors of a Large Bank

Many studies document a positive correlation between workplace computerization and employment of skilled labor in production. Why does this correlation arise? The authors posit that improvements in computer-based technology create incentives to substitute machinery for people in performing tasks that can be fully described by procedural or “rules-based” logic and hence performed by a computer. This process typically leaves many tasks unaltered, and management plays a key role—at least in the short run—in determining how these tasks are organized into jobs, with significant implications for skill demands. This conceptual framework proves useful in interpreting how jobs were affected by the introduction of digital check imaging in two departments of a large bank. In one department, the tasks not computerized were subdivided into narrow jobs; in the other department, management combined multiple linked tasks to create jobs of greater complexity. The framework may be applicable to many organizations.
Automated higher-order calculations: Status and prospects

In this presentation we review the current status in the automated evaluation of scattering amplitudes, with particular attention to the developments related with NLO calculations, which led to the construction of powerful multi-purpose computational tools. After a general overview, we will devote a short section to describe the GoSam framework for NLO calculations and its application to the production of Higgs boson plus jets. We will then briefly comment on the challenges presented by NNLO calculations, whose structure is considerably more complicated. Finally, we will describe some of the features of the integrand-reduction techniques beyond NLO, an alternative promising approach to multi-loop calculations which is currently under development.
Food Assistance Programs and Outcomes in the Context of Welfare Reform

Objective. Food assistance programs play an important role in meeting the basic needs of low-income households. We consider how the Food Stamp Program (FSP), labor force participation, and food insecurity status affect outcomes of low-income households under different program designs and economic conditions. Methods. Data from the Survey of Program Dynamics allow estimation of the effects of participation in FSP, labor market participation, and food insecurity on each other. To obtain estimates of behavioral relationships, we apply a simultaneous equation model and make a set of plausible assumptions about identification to implement the instrumental variable estimation. Results. Food insecurity has a positive effect on FSP participation, while labor force participation reduces FSP participation. Furthermore, FSP participation is more responsive to changes in the amount of program benefits than to changes in nonlabor income. Labor force participation has no direct effect on food insecurity; although not statistically significant, the effect of FSP participation on food insecurity is positive. A higher wage rate decreases FSP participation and increases participation in the labor force. Conclusion. The structural approach, which relies on particular identifying assumptions, allows us to explicity examine linkages among food program participation, labor force participation, and well-being, measured in terms of food insecurity. The results provide evidence that among low-income households, program parameters affect FSP participation, but no evidence that the food assistance reduces food insecurity.
Tribological Aspects of Metal Cutting

The machining of metals presents a unique tribological situation in which atomically clean, metallic surfaces are cleaved from the interior of the workpiece and maintained in a condition of nearly 100 percent real area of contact with the tool surface during sliding. The conditions of high pressure, high temperature, and essentially uncontaminated contact during sliding create a highly ideal tribological system for analysis. As compared to conventional sliding wear, the analysis of which is complicated by multiple passes of the counterface materials and various forms of contamination and surface reaction, the predictive modeling of tool wear has achieved somewhat greater, if still modest, success. Current models of cutting tool wear are assessed with regard to their usefulness in developing quantitative analytical methods for designing new tool materials and for selecting optimum tool materials under variations in cutting conditions. Approaches which predict the relative wear resistances of potential tool materials from the physical and chemical properties of the tool-work-piece system, without recourse to calibration tests for each system, are emphasized.
Two-element phased array of monolithic vertical-cavity lasers

We demonstrate for the first time anti-guided coupling of two adjacent vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers, obtaining a 1-by-2 phased array. Anti-guiding by lateral modification of the longitudinal resonance is achieved by a patterned shallow etch performed between two epitaxial growths.
MINIMISING INFECTION RISK: A PERI-OPERATIVE CHECKLIST

Modifiable Risk Factors Preoperative Screening Preoperative Skin Cleansing Skin Preparation Perioperative Antibiotics Controlling the OR Environment Intraoperative Irrigation and Lavage Postoperative Wound Management
Landau level broadening without disorder, non-integer plateaus without interactions - an alternative model of the quantum Hall effect

I review some aspects of an alternative model of the quantum Hall effect, which is not based on the presence of disorder potentials. Instead, a quantization of the electronic drift current in the presence of crossed electric and magnetic fields is employed to construct a non-linear transport theory. Another important ingredient of the alternative theory is the coupling of the two-dimensional electron gas to the leads and the applied voltages. By working in a picture, where the external voltages fix the chemical potential in the 2D subsystem, the experimentally observed linear relation between the voltage and the location of the quantum Hall plateaus finds an natural explanation. Also, the classical Hall effect emerges as a natural limit of the quantum Hall effect. For low temperatures (or high currents), a non-integer substructure splits higher Landau levels into sublevels. The appearence of substructure and non-integer plateaus in the resistivity is NOT linked to electron-electron interactions, but caused by the presence of a (linear) electric field. Some of the resulting fractions correspond exactly to half-integer plateaus.
Identikit 2: an algorithm for reconstructing galactic collisions

Using a combination of self-consistent and test-particle techniques, Identikit 1 provided a way to vary the initial geometry of a galactic collision and instantly visualize the outcome. Identikit 2 uses the same techniques to define a mapping from the current morphology and kinematics of a tidal encounter back to the initial conditions. By requiring that various regions along a tidal feature all originate from a single disc with a unique orientation, this mapping can be used to derive the initial collision geometry. In addition, Identikit 2 offers a robust way to measure how well a particular model reproduces the morphology and kinematics of a pair of interacting galaxies. A set of eight self-consistent simulations is used to demonstrate the algorithm's ability to search a ten-dimensional parameter space and find near-optimal matches; all eight systems are successfully reconstructed.
Real Overvaluation, Terms of Trade Shocks and the Cost to Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of the Sudan

Starting from the premise that agriculture should play a pivotal role in the process of structural transformation and economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa; and taking the case of the Sudan, an African country with a sizeable agricultural economy, this paper addresses two inter-related issues in this regard. The first is the extent to which policy induced distortions influence the structure of incentives for agriculture where direct distortions induced by policies deployed directly on agriculture are distinguished from indirect ones caused by policies directed at the macro economic management of the economy. Second, the consequences for the growth of agriculture of these distortions given other growth fundamentals. Our analysis strongly supportsthe predictions of the endogenous growth model a la Easterly (1990), which calls foreconomic distortions to have deleterious effects on growth.
Instrumental study of the New Hampshire earthquakes of December, 1940

Astudy of original records and bulletin readings for two strong earthquakes in the Ossipee Mountains district of southeastern New Hampshire in December, 1940, gave for both φ = 43 ° 50 ′ N λ = 71 ° 1 7 ′ W S started from a depth of approximately 35 km., and P at the same time from a depth of 15 km. The second shock was multiple. Times at the focus were: 1940 December 20 d 07 h 27 m 26 s 24 d 13 h 43 m 45 s 47 s 57 s The velocities observed, in km/sec., were: View this table: Mechanism at the focus probably differed from that of earthquakes which involve surface faulting, but is not discussed in detail in this paper. First motion from the second earthquake was reversed from that of the first at near-by stations. No foreshocks preceded the first earthquake; there was a small one just before the second; and there were only ten after-shocks, the last one occurring on February 12, 1941. The Richter magnitude was at least 6 for the first and slightly greater for the second main shock. From this the energy can be computed as 1020 ergs or 7.4 × 1012 foot-pounds. This ranks both shocks as potentially destructive. They were felt to a distance of 350 miles, which means an area of potential perceptibility of the order of 385,000 square miles.
Agricultural trade liberalization in the Uruguay Round : one step forward, one step back?

After evaluating the Uruguay Round's impact on agriculture and border protection in the next decade, the author concludes that while there was significant reform of the rules - particularly the conversion of nontariff barriers into tariffs and the reduction and binding of all tariffs - in practice, trade will probably be liberalized less than expected. The objective of the Round was to reverse protectionism and remove trade distortions. This may not be achieved in practice, at least not until further reductions are carried out in future rounds of negotiations. The major exception to this conclusion is in high-income Asian countries, where protection for major commodities will be significantly reduced. The tariffication and binding of all tariffs on agricultural products represents a significant step forward. Liberalization is implicit because countries are prohhibited from arbitrarily raising tariffs to new higher levels. But many of the newly established tariffs are so high in many countries as to effectively prohibit trade. Patterns of liberalization vary considerably by commodity and by country. Generally, the extent of liberalization was diminished by binding tariffs to the base period of 1986-88, when border protection was at a high point. In most OECD countries, this was worsened by "dirty tariffication:" the new base tariffs offered even greater protection than the nontariff barriers they replaced. Even after the commitments to tariff reductions in the Round, the ad valorem measure of the final binding tariffs will remain higher than the average rate of protection in 1982-93. A number of developing countries in East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East chose to lock in prior liberalization efforts on some products. But for most commodities, there will be little actual liberalization, since most developing countries chose to bind their tariffs at a maximum level. Even when countries reduced already-bound rates, bound tariffs remained significantly higher than current applied rates, giving countries the flexibility to raise tariffs later. The high level of bound tariffs may allow countries to apply variable tariffs below the bound level, thus failing to stabilize tariffs and improve market access. Moreover, the Round did not touch many of the worst distortions in developing countries, such as import subsidies, export taxes, state-trading monopolies, and domestic policies that implicitly tax agriculture.
Variational dual-tree framework for large-scale transition matrix approximation

In recent years, non-parametric methods utilizing random walks on graphs have been used to solve a wide range of machine learning problems, but in their simplest form they do not scale well due to the quadratic complexity. In this paper, a new dual-tree based variational approach for approximating the transition matrix and efficiently performing the random walk is proposed. The approach exploits a connection between kernel density estimation, mixture modeling, and random walk on graphs in an optimization of the transition matrix for the data graph that ties together edge transitions probabilities that are similar. Compared to the de facto standard approximation method based on k-nearest-neighbors, we demonstrate order of magnitudes speedup without sacrificing accuracy for Label Propagation tasks on benchmark data sets in semi-supervised learning.
Macroeconomies as constructively rational games

Real-world decision-makers are forced to be locally constructive; that is, their decisions are necessarily constrained by their interaction networks, information, beliefs, and physical states. This study transforms an otherwise standard dynamic macroeconomic model into an open-ended dynamic game by requiring consumers and firms with intertemporal utility and profit objectives to be locally constructive. Tested locally constructive decision processes for the consumers and firms range from simple reactive reinforcement learning to adaptive dynamic programming (ADP). Computational experiments are used to explore macroeconomic performance under alternative decision-process combinations relative to a social planner benchmark solution. A key finding is that simpler decision processes can outperform more sophisticated decision processes such as ADP. However, memory length permitting some degree of adaptive foresight is critical for good performance.
Topological complexity of some planar polygon spaces

Let \({\overline{M}}_{n,r}\) denote the space of isometry classes of n-gons in the plane with one side of length r and all others of length 1, and assume that \(1\le r<n-3\) and \(n-r\) is not an odd integer. Using known results about the mod-2 cohomology ring, we prove that its topological complexity satisfies \({\text {TC}}({\overline{M}}_{n,r})\ge 2n-6\). Since \({\overline{M}}_{n,r}\) is an \((n-3)\)-manifold, \({\text {TC}}({\overline{M}}_{n,r})\le 2n-5\). So our result is within 1 of being optimal.
Learning the structure of dynamic probabilistic networks

Dynamic probabilistic networks are a compact representation of complex stochastic processes. In this paper we examine how to learn the structure of a DPN from data. We extend structure scoring rules for standard probabilistic networks to the dynamic case, and show how to search for structure when some of the variables are hidden. Finally, we examine two applications where such a technology might be useful: predicting and classifying dynamic behaviors, and learning causal orderings in biological processes. We provide empirical results that demonstrate the applicability of our methods in both domains.
A modification to evidential probability

Selecting the right reference class and the right interval when faced with conflicting candidates and no possibility of establishing subset style dominance has been a problem for Kyburg's Evidential Probability system. Various methods have been proposed by Loui and Kyburg to solve this problem in a way that is both intuitively appealing and justifiable within Kyburg's framework. The scheme proposed in this paper leads to stronger statistical assertions without sacrificing too much of the intuitive appeal of Kyburg's latest proposal.
Effective Field Theory for Long Strings

In previous work we used magnetic SU(N) gauge theory with adjoint representation Higgs scalars to describe the long distance quark-antiquark interaction in pure Yang-Mills theory, and later to obtain an effective string theory. The empirically determined parameters of the non-Abelian effective theory yielded ZN flux tubes resembling those of the Abelian Higgs model with LandauGinzburg parameter equal to 1/ √ 2, corresponding to a superconductor on the border between type I and type II. However, the physical significance of the differences between the Abelian and the ZN vortices was not elucidated and no principle was found to fix the value of the ’LandauGinzburg parameter’ κ of the non-Abelian theory determining the structure of the ZN vortices. Here we reexamine this point of view. We propose a consistency condition on ZN vortices underlying a confining string. This fixes the value of κ . The transverse distribution of pressure p(r) in the resulting ZN flux tubes provides a physical picture of these vortices which differs essentially from that of the vortices of the Abelian Higgs model. We speculate that this general picture is valid independent of the details of the effective magnetic gauge theory from which it was obtained. Long wavelength fluctuations of the axis of the ZN vortices lead from an effective field theory to an effective string theory with the Nambu-Goto action. This effective string theory depends on a single parameter, the string tension σ . In contrast, the effective field theory has a second parameter, the intrinsic width 1/M of the flux tube, and is applicable at intermediate distances in a range between 0.2 f m and 1 f m, where the contribution of the intrinsic width increases the flux tube width over that predicted by effective string theory.
RESIDENTIAL CHANGE AS A TURNING POINT IN THE LIFE COURSE OF CRIME: DESISTANCE OR TEMPORARY CESSATION?*

Many former prisoners return home to the same residential environment, with the same criminal opportunities and criminal peers, where they resided before incarceration. If the path to desistance from crime largely requires knifing off from past situations and establishing a new set of routine activities, then returning to one’s old environment and routines may drastically limit an ex-prisoner’s already dismal chances of desisting from crime. This study tests these ideas by examining how forced residential migration caused by Hurricane Katrina affected the likelihood of reincarceration among a sample of ex-prisoners originally from New Orleans, LA. Property damage from the hurricane induced some ex-prisoners who otherwise would have moved back to their former neighborhoods to move to new neighborhoods. Findings from an instrumental variables survival analysis reveal that those parolees who moved to a new parish following release were substantially less likely to be reincarcerated during the first 3 years after release than those exoffenders who moved back to the parish where they were originally convicted. Moreover, at no point in the 3-year time period was the hazard of reincarceration greater for those parolees who moved than for those who returned to the same parish.
Nonparametric Bayes pachinko allocation

Recent advances in topic models have explored complicated structured distributions to represent topic correlation. For example, the pachinko allocation model (PAM) captures arbitrary, nested, and possibly sparse correlations between topics using a directed acyclic graph (DAG). While PAM provides more flexibility and greater expressive power than previous models like latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), it is also more difficult to determine the appropriate topic structure for a specific dataset. In this paper, we propose a nonparametric Bayesian prior for PAM based on a variant of the hierarchical Dirichlet process (HDP). Although the HDP can capture topic correlations defined by nested data structure, it does not automatically discover such correlations from unstructured data. By assuming an HDP-based prior for PAM, we are able to learn both the number of topics and how the topics are correlated. We evaluate our model on synthetic and real-world text datasets, and show that nonparametric PAM achieves performance matching the best of PAM without manually tuning the number of topics.
Helen Holt: A Centenarian's Reflections on a Lifetime of Public Service

Women have made great strides in the past 100 years. As the iconic cigarette commercial told us almost 50 years ago, “You've come a long way, baby!” Yet women are still underrepresented in the highest leadership ranks, including state and federal office. Before being asked to “lean in” or share valuable insights, a small group of very capable women were leaders long before those two words were seen in the same sentence. One such remarkable woman, Helen Holt, was a “servant-leader” throughout her illustrious and inspiring career as a member of West Virginia's House of Delegates, then as secretary of state (1957–58), and later as a presidential appointee charged with developing the nation's nursing home system. Holt's work in state and federal government, her appointment by seven U.S. presidents to develop and implement the national nursing home program that is still in use today, and her leadership in civic and nonprofit organizations have made her an inspiration to countless women and men.
Bosonsampling is far from uniform

BosonSampling, which we proposed three years ago, is a scheme for using linear-optical networks to solve sampling problems that appear to be intractable for a classical computer. In a recent manuscript, Gogolin et al. claimed that even an ideal BosonSampling device's output would be "operationally indistinguishable" from a uniform random outcome, at least "without detailed a priori knowledge"; or at any rate, that telling the two apart might itself be a hard problem. We first answer these claims--explaining why the first is based on a definition of "a priori knowledge" such that, were it adopted, almost no quantum algorithm could be distinguished from a pure random-number source; while the second is neither new nor a practical obstacle to interesting BosonSampling experiments. However, we then go further, and address some interesting research questions inspired by Gogolin et al.'s arguments. We prove that, with high probability over a Haar-random matrix A, the BosonSampling distribution induced by A is far from the uniform distribution in total variation distance. More surprisingly, and counter to Gogolin et al., we give an efficient algorithm that distinguishes these two distributions with constant bias. Finally, we offer three "bonus" results about BosonSampling. First, we report an observation of Fernando Brandao: that one can efficiently sample a distribution that has large entropy and that's indistinguishable from a BosonSampling distribution by any circuit of fixed polynomial size. Second, we show that BosonSampling distributions can be efficiently distinguished from uniform even with photon losses and for general initial states. Third, we offer the simplest known proof that FermionSampling is solvable in classical polynomial time, and we reuse techniques from our BosonSampling analysis to characterize random FermionSampling distributions.
The Observation of 10–50 KeV Solar Flare X-rays by the OGO Satellites and their Correlation with Solar Radio and Energetic Particle Emission

More than 70 cases have been observed of energetic solar flare X-ray bursts by large ionization chambers on the OGO satellites in space. The ionization chambers have an energy range between 10 and 50 KeV for X-rays and are also sensitive to solar protons and electrons. A study has been made of the X-ray microwave relationship, and it is found that the total energy released in the form of X-rays between 10 and 50 KeV is approximately proportional to the peak or total energy simultaneously released in the form of microwave emission. For a given burst the rise time, decay time and total duration are similar for the 10–50 KeV X-rays and the 3 to 10 cm radio emission. Roughly exponential decay phases are observed for both emissions with time constants between 1 and 10 min. All 3 or 10 cm radio bursts with peak intensity greater than 80 solar flux units are accompanied by an X-ray burst greater than 3x10−7 ergs cm−2 sec−1 peak intensity. The probability of detecting such X-ray events is low unless the radio spectrum extends into the centimetric range of wavelengths. The best correlation between cm-λ and energetic X-rays is observed for the first event in a flare. Subsequent structure and second bursts may not correspond even when the radio emission is rich in the microwave component. The mechanism for the energetic X-rays is shown to be bremsstrahlung probably of fast electrons on a cooler plasma. If the radio emission is assumed to be synchrotron radiation then a relationship is developed between density and magnetic field which meets the observed quantitative results. One finds, on the average, that 5 × 10−54 joules m−2 (CPS)−1 of microwave energy at the Earth are required per electron at the Sun to provide the radio emission for the various events.
Enrichment and Isolation Techniques for Animal Cell Types

Introduction Methods of Cell Separation and Enrichment Isolation of Cells from Tissues Selective Medium for Enrichment or Depletion of Specific Cell Types Selective Adhesion Methods Cloning Techniques Physical and Biological Methods of Cell Separation Density Gradient Electrophoresis Velocity Sedimentation Elutriation or Counterflow Centrifugation Affinity Binding Cell Separation with Magnetic Beads Flow Cytometry Applications of Purification and Enrichment Techniques for Diverse Cell Types by Implementing a Combination of Methods Discussion References Keywords: culture media; hormones; surfaces; cloning
Young massive star clusters in M51

A search for young massive star clusters (YMCs) in the nearby face-on spiral galaxy M51 (NGC 5194) has been carried out using UBV CCD images from the prime focus camera on the Lick 3-m Shane telescope. The YMC population is found to be quite rich with a specific U-band luminosity consistent with the high current star formation rate (SFR) of this galaxy. The brightest clusters have far brighter than any young clusters currently known in the Milky Way and even surpassing the luminosity of the R136 cluster in the 30 Dor complex in the Large Magellanic Cloud. A few of the YMCs are examined on archive images from the Wide Field Planetary Camera (WF/PC2) on board the Hubble Space Telescope(HST), confirming their cluster nature and providing estimates of their effective radii of 2–3 pc. The number of YMCs in M51 is compatible with extrapolation of a power-law luminosity function with exponent ∼−2 from a Milky Way-like population of open clusters. Both the SFR and TL(U) of M51 are similar to those of other cluster-rich spiral galaxies like NGC 1313 and M83.
Characterization of C/Enhanced Sic Composite During Creep-Rupture Tests Using an Ultrasonic Guided Wave Scan System

An ultrasonic guided wave scan system was used to nondestructively monitor damage over time and position in a C/enhanced SiC sample that was creep tested to failure at 1200 C in air at a stress of 69 MPa (10 ksi). The use of the guided wave scan system for mapping evolving oxidation profiles (via porosity gradients resulting from oxidation) along the sample length and predicting failure location was explored. The creep-rupture tests were interrupted for ultrasonic evaluation every two hours until failure at approx. 17.5 cumulative hours.
Long-term evolution of navigation satellite orbits: GPS/GLONASS/GALILEO

Abstract A recent study was performed to examine whether long-term growth in the eccentricity evolution exists for the disposal orbits of navigation satellite systems such as GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO. Previous studies examined the orbit stability for GPS Block II satellites. The orbits of the non-operational GPS Block I satellites are included in this study because they are at 63.4° inclination, which is different from GPS Block II. Similar to earlier studies, long-term perturbations and stability of these orbits are understood through analytical and numerical investigations. Initially near circular, these types of orbits may evolve into orbits with large eccentricity (as much as 0.7 over 150 years). Analytical approximations through doubly-averaged equations reveal that the cause is due to the resonance induced by Sun/Moon and J2 secular perturbations. A total of 105 non-operational GLONASS satellites and upper stages and 10 GPS/Block I satellites were propagated for 200 years. Results show that the GLONASS satellites will start to enter the operating GPS constellation after 40 years. The uncovered resonance effect is strongly dependent on orbit inclination and altitude. The effect becomes more pronounced for GALILEO orbits due to their higher altitude, 3000 km above GPS. Strategies to minimize the significant eccentricity growth are identified in this study. These results directly impact the safety of future navigation satellites in the altitude region from 19,000 to 24,000 km. The dependence on initial inclination may help the designers of GPS III and GALILEO systems select the proper inclination for minimizing the large eccentricity growth. The maximum eccentricity growth for GPS and GALILEO can be significantly reduced by selecting operational inclinations a few degrees from the current nominal values for both programs.
Habit Formation, Catching Up with the Joneses, and Economic Growth

Our objective is to investigate how alternative assumptions about preferences affect the process of economic growth. To do this, we analyze a neoclassical growth model under three alternative preference specifications: (i) time separable, (ii) catching up with the Joneses, and (iii) habit formation. Departing from the time separable specification leads to important differences in the dynamic structure, the adjustment path followed by key economic variables, the correlation patterns implied by the time series generated by the model, and the speed of convergence to the new steady state. In the catching up with the Joneses economy the differences arise from a consumption externality, while in the habit formation economy the difference arises from the fact that agents not only smooth consumption but also its rate of change.
Scheduling of bandwidth-constrained multimedia traffic

Multimedia applications describe unique requirements that must be met by computer network and operating system components. In particular, the time-dependencies of multimedia data require mechanisms to ensure timely and predictable delivery of data from their sources to destinations. For single medium applications which have relatively constant bandwidth utilization, connections from source to destination can be tailored to moderate ranges of data rates. On the other hand, due to the large variation in multimedia object sizes and concurrency in object presentation, multimedia applications can require a correspondingly large variation in required bandwidth over the life of a connection. Data of these types may not arrive in time to meet the intended playout schedule when the capacity of the channel is exceeded. In this paper we present an approach to remedying this situation by effectively smoothing the bandwidth requirement over time via a scheduling mechanism.
Morse Theory and Infinite Families¶of Harmonic Maps Between Spheres

Existence of an infinite sequence of harmonic maps between spheres of certain dimensions was proven by Bizon and Chmaj. This sequence shares many features of the Bartnik–McKinnon sequence of solutions to the Einstein–Yang–Mills equations as well as sequences of solutions that have arisen in other physical models. We apply Morse theoretic methods to prove existence of the harmonic map sequence and to prove certain index and convergence properties of this sequence. In addition, we generalize the result of Bizon and Chmaj to produce infinite sequences of harmonic maps not previously known. The key features “responsible” for the existence and properties of the sequence are thereby seen to be the presence of a reflection (ℤ2) symmetry and the existence of a singular harmonic map of infinite index which is invariant under this symmetry.
Synaptic dynamics: Linear model and adaptation algorithm

In this research, temporal processing in brain neural circuitries is addressed by a dynamic model of synaptic connections in which the synapse model accounts for both pre- and post-synaptic processes determining its temporal dynamics and strength. Neurons, which are excited by the post-synaptic potentials of hundred of the synapses, build the computational engine capable of processing dynamic neural stimuli. Temporal dynamics in neural models with dynamic synapses will be analyzed, and learning algorithms for synaptic adaptation of neural networks with hundreds of synaptic connections are proposed. The paper starts by introducing a linear approximate model for the temporal dynamics of synaptic transmission. The proposed linear model substantially simplifies the analysis and training of spiking neural networks. Furthermore, it is capable of replicating the synaptic response of the non-linear facilitation-depression model with an accuracy better than 92.5%. In the second part of the paper, a supervised spike-in-spike-out learning rule for synaptic adaptation in dynamic synapse neural networks (DSNN) is proposed. The proposed learning rule is a biologically plausible process, and it is capable of simultaneously adjusting both pre- and post-synaptic components of individual synapses. The last section of the paper starts with presenting the rigorous analysis of the learning algorithm in a system identification task with hundreds of synaptic connections which confirms the learning algorithm's accuracy, repeatability and scalability. The DSNN is utilized to predict the spiking activity of cortical neurons and pattern recognition tasks. The DSNN model is demonstrated to be a generative model capable of producing different cortical neuron spiking patterns and CA1 Pyramidal neurons recordings. A single-layer DSNN classifier on a benchmark pattern recognition task outperforms a 2-Layer Neural Network and GMM classifiers while having fewer numbers of free parameters and decides with a shorter observation of data. DSNN performance in the benchmark pattern recognition problem shows 96.7% accuracy in classifying three classes of spiking activity.
Stereoelectronic Effect for the Selectivity in C−H Insertion of Alkylidene Carbenes and Its Application to the Synthesis of Platensimycin

A systematic study of C-H insertion reactions with variously substituted and conformationally constrained substrates was carried out. High selectivity in the insertion between two competing C-H bonds caused by a strong stereoelectronic effect of an oxygen substituent was achieved. This regioselective C-H insertion reaction was employed as a platform to develop a concise asymmetric synthesis of platensimycin.
Backtracking and the ethics of framing: lessons from voles and vasopressin.

When communicating scientific information, experts often face difficult choices about how to promote public understanding while also maintaining an appropriate level of objectivity. We argue that one way for scientists and others involved in communicating scientific information to alleviate these tensions is to pay closer attention to the major frames employed in the contexts in which they work. By doing so, they can ideally employ useful frames while also enabling the recipients of information to “backtrack” to relatively uncontroversial facts and recognize how these frames relate to their own values and perspectives. Important strategies for promoting this sort of backtracking include identifying the weaknesses of particular frames, preventing misunderstanding of them, differentiating well-supported findings from more speculative claims, and acknowledging major alternative frames.
EXPRESSION OF THE LARGE ATP SYNTHASE GENE CLUSTER FROM SPINACH CHLOROPLASTS

Summary We have examined the expression of the spinach ( Spinacia oleracea ) chloroplast large ATP synthase gene cluster. This gene cluster encodes the small ribosomal subunit protein two (rps2), and four proteins of the ATP synthase protein complex: CF 0 -IV (atpI), CF 0 -III (atpH), CF 0 -I (atpF), and CF 1 -α (atpA). Experiments to specifically 5′ end label (cap) primary transcripts revealed two regions of transcription initiation, one located upstream of the rpen gene and the other upstream of atpH. Northern analysis revealed greater than thirty transcripts derived from this gene cluster, the majority of which are processing products derived from the primary transcripts. In addition, two RNA species were identified as containing the atpF intron in a lariat structure. Processing steps include splicing to remove the group II intron found in atpF, as well as endonucleolytic and exonucleolytic cleavages. An ordered series of processing steps is proposed.
Structured Sparse Priors for Image Classification

Model-based compressive sensing (CS) exploits the structure inherent in sparse signals for the design of better signal recovery algorithms. This information about structure is often captured in the form of a prior on the sparse coefficients, with the Laplacian being the most common such choice (leading to l 1 -norm minimization). Recent work has exploited the discriminative capability of sparse representations for image classification by employing class-specific dictionaries in the CS framework. Our contribution is a logical extension of these ideas into structured sparsity for classification. We introduce the notion of discriminative class-specific priors in conjunction with class specific dictionaries, specifically the spike-and-slab prior widely applied in Bayesian sparse regression. Significantly, the proposed framework takes the burden off the demand for abundant training image samples necessary for the success of sparsity-based classification schemes. We demonstrate this practical benefit of our approach in important applications, such as face recognition and object categorization.
Disinflation and Fiscal Reform: A Neoclassical Perspective

Abstract Many Latin American countries engaged in disinflation programs based on both exchange rate management and fiscal reforms. In most of the cases, part of the fiscal reform was not implemented and the program had to be abandoned. The aftermath of these programs is not encouraging. In this paper we show that, if the reform process is uncertain and inflation has welfare costs, the optimal exchange rate policy indeed implies the initiation of a disinflation program at the announcement of the fiscal reform, even if it implies the possibility of a balance of payments crisis. Finally, we show that it is optimal to engage in a sequence of stabilization programs until one of them is successful.
Signs of thermalization from RHIC experiments

Selected results from the first five years of RHIC data taking are reviewed with emphasis on the evidence for thermalization in central Au + Au collisions at \( \sqrt{{s_{NN}}}\) = 200GeV.
X-Ray Observations of V4641 SGR (SAX J1819.3–2525) during the Brief and Violent Outburst of 2003

We present the results of detailed analysis of pointed X-ray observations by RXTE of the black hole X-ray binary (BHXRB) system V4641 Sgr (SAX J1819.3-2525) during its outburst of 2003 August. Soft X-ray (3-20 keV) flux variations by factors of 10 or more on timescales of minutes or shorter were seen. The rapid and strong variability of this source sets it apart from typical XRBs. In spite of large luminosity fluctuations, the spectral state of the source did not change significantly during the dwells, which suggests that the physical emission processes did not change much during the observations. The energy spectra during the dwells were dominated by a hard Comptonized power-law component, indicative of the canonical low/hard state observed in other BHXRBs. No soft thermal component was found in three out of the four RXTE pointings. However, spectral deconvolution of the observation with the largest average luminosity suggests an obscured, hot accretion disk. During one of the observations, we detected a short-term (~100 s) soft X-ray dropout, which is apparently due to variability in the observed column density. A strong Fe Kα fluorescent emission line near 6.5 keV was detected with large equivalent widths in the range 700-1000 eV. In the temporal domain, the Fourier power spectra were dominated by red noise below a few hertz. Poisson noise dominated at higher frequencies, and no high-frequency features were detected. The strong Comptonized spectra, broad iron emission line, absence of a disk component in the spectra, absence of any timing variability above a few hertz, and occasional large changes in the column density along the line of sight all support an enshrouded black hole with occasional outflow and a very dynamic environment.
Diastereocontrol in rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of chiral acyclic allylic alcohol derivatives

Abstract Diastereoselectivities in rhodium-catalyzed hydroborations of the chiral allylic alcohol derivatives (1) – (11) are governed predominantly by electronic and “shape” factors.
Studies of polycrystalline n-GaAs junctions: effects of metal ion chemisorption on the photoelectrochemical properties of n-GaAs/KOH-Se-/2-, n-GaAs/CH3CN-ferrocene+/0, and n-GaAs/Au interfaces

Current-voltage and spectral response properties were determined for polycrystalline n-GaAs photoanodes in contact with aqueous KOH-Se/sup -2/-/ and nonaqueous CH/sub 3/CN-ferrocene/sup +/0/-LiClO/sub 4/ electrolytes. The n-GaAs/KOH-Se/sup -/2-/ system initially exhibited poor junction behavior, but chemisorption of Ru/sup III/, Rh/sup III/, Ir/sup III/, Co/sup III/, or Os/sup III/ ions onto the GaAs photoanode was found to yield improved I-V properties. The trend in I-V improvement correlated with improved electrocatalysis of Se/sup 2/minus// oxidation at p-GaAs, N/sup +/-GaAs, and In/sub 2/O/sub 3/ electrode surfaces. The n-GaAs/CH/sub 3/CH system displayed excellent junction behavior and did not respond to metal chemisorption treatments. These results are consistent with the metal-ion-induced improvements being predominantly due to electrocatalytic effects.
Uniruled Symplectic Divisors

In this article, we consider the problem of lifting the GW theory of a symplectic divisor to that of the ambient manifold in the context of symplectic birational geometry. In particular, we generalize Maulik–Pandharipande’s relative/absolute correspondence to relative-divisor/absolute correspondence. Then, we use it to lift a minimal uniruled invariant of a divisor to that of the ambient manifold.
On the temperature dependence of possible S8 infrared bands in planetary atmospheres

Measurements of the temperature dependence between 77 and 333 K of the infrared spectrum of cyclic octatomic sulfur are reported. It is suggested that the 23 micrometer Jovian feature is not due to 3 sub 8 and that the temperature dependence of the frequency of the 835/cm band of S sub 8 may be a useful temperature marker in planetary studies.
The Emergence and Persistence of the Anglo-Saxon and German Financial Systems

We use a moral hazard model to compare monitored (nontraded) bank loans and traded (nonmonitored) bonds as sources of external funds for industry. We contrast the theoretical conditions that favor each system with the historical conditions prevailing when these financial systems evolved during the British and German industrial revolutions. To study persistence, we consider an entry model where financiers take the industrial structure as given when they lend and firms take the financial system as given when they borrow. We show multiple equilibria can exist, compare equilibria in welfare terms, and discuss their robustness to coordination between lenders and borrowers. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
Admission Criteria and Immigrant Earnings Profiles

This study examines the effect of legal immigration admissions criteria on earnings profiles of immigrants in the United States. It is based on 1980 census data matched to Immigration and Naturalization Service information. The authors examine the theoretical and empirical effects on immigrants' earnings on the basis of the criterion for admission?either occupational skills or kinship. The study focuses on immigrants' entire life-cycle earnings after entering the United States rather than solely on their initial or average earnings.
Cosmic Reionization Redux

We show that numerical simulations of reionization that resolve the Lyman limit systems (and, thus, correctly count absorptions of ionizing photons) have converged to about a 10% level for 5 < z < 6.2 and are in reasonable agreement (within 10%) with the SDSS data in this redshift interval. The SDSS data thus constrain the redshift of overlap of cosmic H II regions to zOVL = 6.1 ± 0.15. At higher redshifts, the simulations are far from convergence on the mean Gunn-Peterson optical depth but achieve good convergence for the mean neutral hydrogen fraction. The simulations that fit the SDSS data, however, do not have nearly enough resolution to resolve the earliest episodes of star formation and are very far from converging on the precise value of the optical depth to Thomson scattering—any value between 6% and 10% is possible, depending on the convergence rate of the simulations and the fractional contribution of Population III stars. This is generally consistent with the third-year WMAP results, but much higher resolution simulations are required to come up with the sufficiently precise value for the Thomson optical depth that can be statistically compared with the WMAP data.