cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
T stage and functional outcome in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients

Background The locus and extent of resection and the type of reconstruction used in surgery are important joint determinants of functional outcome in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. However, prediction of functional outcome from broader factors such as clinical T stage and approximate locus of resection is important for the preoperative period when the extent of resection and the exact surgical reconstruction to be used may not be decided and preoperative counseling about potential functional outcomes is needed. Methods Oropharyngeal swallow efficiency (OPSE) and conversational speech understandability (CU) were measured preoperatively and 3 months posthealing in 68 patients. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether clinical T stage and planned surgical locus were significantly related to these two functional measures, and discriminant analysis was used on the data obtained at 3 months to determine how well CU and liquid OPSE jointly relate to the T stages. Results In patients with a planned oral tongue locus of resection, significant differences were found at 3 months posthealing on both CU and liquid OPSE between stages T1–T2 and T3 and between T1–T2 and T4. In patients with a planned oropharynx locus of resection, significant differences were found only on CU at 3 months. These occurred between T1–T2 and T4 and between T3 and T4. Discriminant analysis classified into the correct T stages 70% of T1–T2 and 75% of T4 stage patients, but only 28% of T3 stage patients. However, the T3-stage patients who were misclassified as T4 had significantly larger mean percent of oral tongue resected than those T3 stage patients who were misclassified as T1–T2. Conclusions These results are useful for the preoperative counseling of patients with clinical T stages 1–2 and 4. The relationship between T stage and postsurgical function found here is stronger than reported by previous authors, but is still very general. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Optimum design of a supercavitating torpedo considering overall size, shape, and structural configuration

Abstract A supercavitating torpedo is a complex high speed undersea weapon that is exposed to extreme operating conditions due to the weapon’s speed. To successfully design a torpedo that can survive in this environment, it is necessary to consider the torpedo shell as a critical component. The shell of a supercavitating torpedo must be designed to survive extreme loading conditions (depth pressure and thrust loading), meet frequency constraints, and fit inside the cavity generated by the cavitator. In this research, an algorithm to determine the optimal configuration of the torpedo is presented. This method formulates an optimization problem that determines the general shape of the torpedo in order to satisfy the required performance criteria. Simultaneously, a method to determine the optimal stiffener configuration in the torpedo structure is also presented. A torpedo configuration for a desired speed is obtained and the details of the process are thoroughly discussed.
Hydrogen transfer from 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene to anthracene

Kinetic studies of the transfer of hydrogen from 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene to anthracene were done at 350°C in the liquid phase. Principal products were phenanthrene and 9,10-dihydroanthracene. Autocatalysis occurred at low extents of reaction, where H-transfer from 9,10-dihydroanthracene to anthracene caused an increase in free radical concentrations. At higher extents of reaction, 9,10-dihydroanthracene inhibited rates by diverting intermediate 9-hydrophenanthryl radicals back to reactants. A quantitative kinetic model based on literature rate and thermodynamic data fits the observations well. A key net reaction is the transfer of an H-atom from a radical (9-hydrophenanthryl) to a molecule (anthracene). It is shown that this process does not involve a free H-atom intermediate. The derived rate constant for this exothermic process (7.5 × 103 M−1 s−1) is considerably greater than that for the related, but thermoneutral H-transfer between anthracene moieties (120 M−1 s−1).
Hormonal effects of an induction dose of etomidate for patients undergoing urgent myocardial revascularization.

Abstract The use of etomidate for induction of anesthesia in patients requiring urgent coronary artery surgery provides good cardiovascular stability. However, long-term etomidate infusions may cause transient signs of adrenocortical suppression. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an induction bolus dose of etomidate would cause clinically relevant endocrine dysfunction in urgent coronary artery bypass patients. With institutional review board approval, 11 patients were prospectively randomized to a diazepam (control) or etomidate rapid sequence induction. The diazepam group (n = 6; mean, 69 years) received 0.4 mg/kg of diazepam. The etomidate group (n = 5; mean, 54 years) received 0.3 mg/kg of etomidate. Maintenance anesthesia included nitrous oxide, oxygen, pancuronium, and fentanyl in increments up to 32 μg/kg. Hemodynamics, cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were measured both intraoperatively and postoperatively. The only significant differencebetween the two groups in hemodynamic parameters was a higher heart rate in the etomidate group. Both agents adequately controlled the stress response to intubation as judged from the levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol. However, in both groups epinephrine and norepinephrine increased between intubation and removal of the aortic cross-clamp. Cortisol also increased from the time of cross-clamp removal to 12 and 24 hours post-bypass. During anesthesia and surgery in the pre-bypass period, there was a decrease in cortisol over time in the etomidate group, and there was an increase with diazepam. Thus, etomidate provided stable hemodynamics, possible mild intraoperative adrenocortical suppression, a depressed hormonal stress response to intubation, and a normal hormonal reaction to the later part of surgery and the postoperative period.
Manifestations and possible sources of lunar transient phenomena /LTP/

Several different manifestations of lunar transient phenomena (LTP) have been reported. These include: (1) brightenings - both sudden and slow, (2) reddish - both bright and dull, (3) bluish -both bright and dull, (4) fairly abrupt dimmings or darkenings, and (5) obscurations, which may be accompanied by any of the other four manifestations. Approximately 200 lunar features exhibiting such anomalies have been reported at least once, but 80% of all observations are found in less than a dozen sites and 60% are found in about one-half dozen sites.
Clinical clues to the cause of Addison's disease.

Abstract Tuberculosis and other potentially treatable diseases remain important causes of adrenal insufficiency. Knowledge of the cause of adrenal destruction, although often difficult to ascertain clinically, is necessary for appropriate management. Clinical data are reviewed In eight patients with Addison's disease who underwent computed tomographic scanning and in 31 additional patients with Addison's disease in whom autopsy was performed. Seven of eight patients (87 percent) with tuberculous Addison's disease of no greater than two years' duration had enlarged glands whereas patients with longer duration of disease had smaller or normal-sized glands. Adrenal enlargement was also found in five of six (87 percent) subjects with carcinomatous replacement of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands were small or undetectable in each of 16 patients with idiopathic Addison's disease. Adrenal calcification was found in nine of 17 (53 percent) tuberculous patients and was not found in any of the 22 other patients. Duration of adrenal disease, adrenal size on computed tomographic scanning, and presence of adrenal calcification were useful clues to the cause of Addison's disease.
Power to the Points: Validating Data Memberships in Clusterings

In this paper, we present a method to attach affinity scores to the implicit labels of individual points in a clustering. The affinity scores capture the confidence level of the cluster that claims to "own" the point. We demonstrate that these scores accurately capture the quality of the label assigned to the point. We also show further applications of these scores to estimate global measures of clustering quality, as well as accelerate clustering algorithms by orders of magnitude using active selection based on affinity. This method is very general and applies to clusterings derived from any geometric source. It lends itself to easy visualization and can prove useful as part of an interactive visual analytics framework. It is also efficient: assigning an affinity score to a point depends only polynomially on the number of clusters and is independent both of the size and dimensionality of the data. It is based on techniques from the theory of interpolation, coupled with sampling and estimation algorithms from high dimensional computational geometry.
Entropy of thermally excited black rings

A string theory description of near extremal black rings is proposed. The entropy is computed and the thermodynamic properties are derived for a large family of black rings that have not yet been constructed in supergravity. It is also argued that the most general black ring in N = 8 supergravity has 21 parameters up to duality.
Internal markets for department chairs: Comparative advantage, life-cycle, and jury duty

We examine the internal market for department chairs in U.S. universities and pro-vide the first empirical evidence concerning the determinants of departmental chair service using data from the economics departments in eight large public universities. The results reveal the wage premium for chairs increases with length of service and continues for an extended period thereafter. The chair premium largely represents com-pensation for foregone research and the attendant atrophy of research skills. The empir-ical results also indicate that departments tend to choose productive scholars to serve as chair, but avoid putting their most productive scholars in that position unless they are past their peak productivity period in their life-cycle.
DOMESTIC AND TRADE POLICY FOR CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE

After a brief period of liberal agricultural policies, Central and East European (CEE) countries have begun to rely increasingly on price subsidies and trade restrictions. We outline the situation of CEE agriculture and describe current policies. Scarce government funds could be better used to support agriculture by providing partial loan guarantees, thus reducing private collateral requirements and making credit more widely available. This policy would provide income and not merely price insurance. In addition, it avoids the commodity bias associated with price policies. Others have argued that traditional price and trade policies should be used to support CEE agriculture, citing the example of OECD nations, and in particular the goal of joining the EC. We summarize and criticize these arguments. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Compositional superlattices based on PtCl/PtBr MX materials

We consider theoretically a novel class of compositional superlattices consisting of alternating layers of quasi-one-dimensional (QlD) MX (halogen-bridged, transition metal) chain materials. In particular, we have studied a superlattice based on the PtCl/PtBr unit where the Peierls band gap for PtCl is [approximately]2.4 eV and [approximately]1.5 eV for PtBr. We have calculated electronic properties, optical absorption and vibrational properties (e.g. Raman spectrum) of an MX superlattice using a discrete, two-band, tight-binding Peierls-Hubbard model. The electronic band structure reveals a typical subband structure and varies with the relative lengths of the constituent PtCl and PtBr units. The MX superlattice can be thought of as an analog of a GaAs/GaAl[sub x]As[sub 1-x] compositional superlattice but with the added feature that the optical, transport and various other physical properties are modified due to presence of nonlinear excitations (e.g. polarons) in the doped samples.
Self-Assembled Polyelectrolyte−Surfactant Complexes in Nonaqueous Solvents and in the Solid State

The central goal of macromolecular synthesis is preparation of materials with tailored macroscopic properties. With increasing frequency, synthetic strategies not only address the formation of requisite covalent bonds, but also utilize the capability of molecules to self-organize. Self-assembly is defined as spontaneous intermolecular association via noncovalent bonds (e.g., electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonds, or hydrophobic interactions), resulting in thermodynamically stable, well-defined supramolecular structures with dimensions ranging from 10 nm to 10 μm. Self-organizing systems are widely represented in nature, e.g., double-helical structures of nucleic acids and bilayers of lipids within cell membranes, with organization and intimately linked function. Assembly through noncovalent interactions offers a number of advantages over chemical synthesis involving formation of covalent bonds: it does not require complicated preparative procedures, the reactions are typically fast, and the resulting structures may be capable of reversible adaptive rearrangement in response to changes in environment (e.g., solvent or temperature). Control over organization of synthetic supramolecular structures by tuning the assembly processes opens fascinating possibilities in the manipulation of materials properties on the molecular scale. This may be particularly important for fabrication of multifunctional materials for technological applications where precise control of properties is essential, e.g., electronic devices, microsensors, separation membranes, catalysts, and biomaterials.
A FUSE Survey of High-Latitude Galactic Molecular Hydrogen

Measurements of molecular hydrogen (H2) column densities are presented for the first six rotational levels (J = 0-5) for 73 extragalactic targets observed with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE). All of these have a final signal-to-noise ratio larger than 10 and are located at Galactic latitude |b| > 20?. The individual observations were calibrated with the FUSE calibration pipeline CalFUSE version 2.1 or higher and then carefully aligned in velocity. The final velocity shifts for all the FUSE segments are listed. H2 column densities or limits are determined for the six lowest rotational (J) levels for each H I component in the line of sight, using a curve-of-growth approach at low column densities (<16.5) and Voigt-profile fitting at higher column densities. Detections include 65 measurements of low-velocity H2 in the Galactic disk and lower halo. Eight sight lines yield nondetections for Galactic H2. The measured column densities range from log N(H2) = 14 to 20. Strong correlations are found between log N(H2) and T01, the excitation temperature of the H2, as well as between log N(H2) and the level population ratios (log[N(J')/N(J)]). The average fraction of nuclei in molecular hydrogen [f(H2)] in each sight line is calculated; however, because there are many H I clouds in each sight line, the physics of the transition from H I to H2 cannot be studied. Detections also include H2 in 16 intermediate-velocity clouds in the Galactic halo (out of 35 IVCs). Molecular hydrogen is seen in one high-velocity cloud (the Leading Arm of the Magellanic Stream), although 19 high-velocity clouds are intersected; this strongly suggests that dust is rare or absent in these objects. Finally, there are five detections of H2 in external galaxies.
Regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of cyclic amino esters

Abstract Several cyclic amino esters have been prepared regio- and diastereoselectively depending on the electrophile (cis or trans alkene) and its leaving group.
Does the Family Business Interaction Factor Represent a Resource or a Cost

The authors investigate the interaction between families and their businesses and the impact of this interaction on management and governance practices used. Family businesses participating in the family business programs at three U.S. universities completed questionnaires pertaining to family and business culture and practices. The research draws on the agency cost theory, governance, systems theory, and the resource-based view of organizations literature in the consideration of family firm attributes and the relationship between family members, nonfamily managers, and the firm. Chief executive officers generally perceive management practices, succession processes, and family environment more favorably than do either other family members or nonfamily managers. There are no significant differences in perceptions between active and inactive family members on the family scales. The difference in perceptions of the family firm between nonfamily managers and family managers is discussed as a challenge to the ...
Finite-dimensional spaces in resolving classes

Using the theory of resolving classes, we show that if $X$ is a CW complex of finite type such that $\map_*(X, S^{2n+1})\sim *$ for all sufficiently large $n$, then $\map_*(X, K) \sim *$ for every simply-connected finite-dimensional CW complex $K$; and under mild hypotheses on $\pi_1(X)$, the same conclusion holds for \textit{all} finite-dimensional complexes $K$. Since it is comparatively easy to prove the former condition for $X = B\ZZ/p$ (we give a proof in an appendix), this result can be applied to give a new, more elementary proof of the Sullivan conjecture.
Temperature feedback control for long-term carrier-envelope phase locking

By combining control of the Ti: Sapphire crystal temperature with the modulation of the pump laser power, the carrier-envelope offset frequency f CEO was locked for more than 19 hours.
The Emergence of Entrepreneurship Education: Development, Trends, and Challenges

Entrepreneurship has emerged over the last two decades as arguably the most potent economic force the world has ever experienced. With that expansion has come a similar increase in the field of ent...
Nicotine research cigarettes for the NIDA drug supply program

Aims: To characterizeandsupplynicotine researchcigaretteson behalf of theNIDAdrug supply program for distribution to research investigators. Methods: Nicotine Research Cigarettes (NRCs) have been manufactured under the Spectrum brand for the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for use in research programs. Nine million cigarettes were manufactured in 24 batches with nicotine delivery levels ranging from 1.5mg/cigarette. Regular and menthol cigarettes were produced with each of 8 different blends of varying nicotine content and design features, including filters and ventilation. All 24 batcheswere characterized for nicotine,menthol and minor alkaloid content and yield; moisture content and yield; CO yield; tar yield; and TPM. The cigarettes were stored in freezers at−25 to−10 ◦C. For stability studypurposes, samples of all batches were stored at room, refrigerator, and freezer temperatures. These samples will be monitored periodically for alkaloid and moisture content. The cigarettes are distributed according to the NIDA drug supply guidelines. Conclusions: All batches of Nicotine Research Cigarettes are now available for research with NIDA approval through the NIDA drug supply program and are being monitored for stability. Financial support: This work was funded by NIDA.
Open string states and D-brane tension from vacuum string field theory

We propose a description of open string fields on a D25-brane in vacuum string field theory. We show that the tachyon mass is correctly reproduced from our proposal and further argue that the mass spectrum of all other open string states is correctly obtained as well. We identify the string coupling constant from the three-tachyon coupling and show that the tension of a D25-brane is correctly expressed in terms of the coupling constant, which resolves the controversy in the literature. We also discuss a reformulation of our description which is rather similar to boundary string field theory.
Oxygen atom abstraction from allylic alcohols and conjugated alkenyloxides

Abstract Allylic alcohols and conjugated dieneylepoxides undergo oxygen atom abstraction in their reactions with W2(OCH2But)6(py)2 to give alkenes. The present results are compared with earlier findings by Mayer and co-workers in their studies of oxygen atom abstraction reactions employing WCl2(PMePh2)4.
Normal Mode Interpretation of the Sound Propagation in Whispering Galleries

THE propagation of sound in ‘whispering galleries’1 is a very remarkable phenomenon, and in Lord Rayleigh's Theory of Sound he gives his well-known interpretation based on observations at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. According to my observation, which agrees with Lord Rayleigh's comment in his book, the opinion of the Astronomer Royal ascribing the phenomenon to the reflexion at the upper dome is hard to accept. This follows because at the diametrically opposite point of the gallery the whisper can scarcely be heard, whereas it becomes stronger as one approaches the speaker.
Existence of a solution to a nonlinear equation

Abstract Equation ( − Δ + k 2 ) u + f ( u ) = 0 in D, u | ∂ D = 0 , where k = const > 0 and D ⊂ R 3 is a bounded domain, has a solution if f : R → R is a continuous function in the region | u | ⩾ a , piecewise-continuous in the region | u | ⩽ a , with finitely many discontinuity points u j such that f ( u j ± 0 ) exist, and u f ( y ) ⩾ 0 for | u | ⩾ a , where a ⩾ 0 is an arbitrary fixed number.
A Hot DQ White Dwarf in the Open Star Cluster M35

We report the discovery of a hot DQ white dwarf, NGC 2168:LAWDS 28, that is a likely member of the 150 Myr old cluster NGC 2168 (M35). The spectrum of the white dwarf (WD) is dominated by C II features. The effective temperature is difficult to estimate but likely 20,000 K based on the temperatures of hot DQ WDs with similar spectra. NGC 2168:LAWDS 28 provides further evidence that hot DQ WDs may be the "missing" high-mass helium-atmosphere white dwarfs. Based on published studies, we find that the DBA WD LP 475-242 is likely a member of the Hyades open cluster, as often assumed. These two white dwarfs are the entire sample of known He-atmosphere WDs in open clusters with turnoff masses ≥2 M☉. Based on the number of known cluster DA white dwarfs and a redetermination of the H-atmosphere to He-atmosphere ratio, commonly known as the DA : DB ratio, we reexamine the hypothesis that the H- to He-atmosphere ratio in open clusters is the same as the ratio in the field. Under this hypothesis, we calculate that five He-atmosphere WDs are expected to have been discovered, with a probability of finding fewer than three He-atmosphere white dwarfs of 0.08, or at the ≈2 σ level.
Smoothing bias in the measurement of marginal effects

Abstract This paper examines the tendency of kernel regression estimators to underestimate marginal effects, or derivatives. By developing the connection between smoothing and ‘errors-in-variables’ structure, we explain how smoothing itself leads to attenuation bias in derivatives, or bias toward zero. When the true model is linear and the regressors normal, the attenuation bias is uniform, and can be accurately explained by standard ‘errors-in-variables’ bias formulae. These formulations also indicate the seriousness of the attenuation bias with different numbers of regressors and different sample sizes. For the situation where the true model is nonlinear, we examine the related errors-in-variables structure and indicate what features affect the size of attenuation bias in derivatives. Finally, we explain the connections between our analysis and the standard bias expansion for kernel regression estimators, including brief consideration of technical devices such as higher-order kernels.
Effect of Emissions Control Strategies on the Size and Composition Distribution of Urban Particulate Air Pollution

The predicted behavior of the size- and chemical-composition distribution of airborne particles in the Los Angeles area is examined as it changes in response to specific emissions control strategies. Model calculations indicate that strategies currently envisioned to control the emissions of primary particles in the Los Angeles area effectively reduce the atmospheric concentrations of particles between 0.1−0.3 μm particle diameter and above 2.5 μm particle diameter but do little to reduce particulate concentrations between 0.6 and 0.8 μm particle diameter. Analysis reveals that in Los Angeles, most atmospheric particles with diameters between 0.6−0.8 μm begin as water-soluble nonsea salt background particles over the Pacific Ocean which then are transformed by significant accumulation of gas-to-particle conversion products as they are advected across the urban area. Control of primary particulate emissions alone does not reduce the amount of secondary aerosol which forms in the atmosphere and may even serve to redistribute this secondary material to particles with diameters that scatter light more efficiently. Strategies originally designed to reduce ambient ozone concentrations through the control of emissions of reactive organic gases (ROG) and oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) would reduce fine particle mass concentrations at Claremont CA on August 28, 1987 by 9.5% under the conditions studied here, primarily by reducing aerosol nitrate concentrations. Additional controls on ammonia emissions would suppress aerosol nitrate formation further. The simultaneous use of all gas-phase and particle-phase emissions control measures studied here would reduce atmospheric particle concentrations by 46% at Claremont, CA, relative to the base case 1987 summer conditions.
Why High-error-rate Random Mutagenesis Libraries are Enriched in Functional and Improved Proteins

The fraction of proteins that retain wild-type function after mutation has long been observed to decline exponentially as the average number of mutations per gene increases. Recently, several groups have used error-prone polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to generate libraries with 15 to 30 mutations per gene, on average, and have reported that orders of magnitude more proteins retain function than would be expected from the low-mutation-rate trend. Proteins with improved or novel function were isolated disproportionately from these high-error-rate libraries, leading to claims that high mutation rates unlock regions of sequence space that are enriched in positively coupled mutations. Here, we show experimentally that error-prone PCR produces a broader non-Poisson distribution of mutations consistent with a detailed model of PCR. As error rates increase, this distribution leads directly to the observed excesses in functional clones. We then show that while very low mutation rates result in many functional sequences, only a small number are unique. By contrast, very high mutation rates produce mostly unique sequences, but few retain function. Thus an optimal mutation rate exists that balances uniqueness and retention of function. Overall, high-error-rate mutagenesis libraries are enriched in improved sequences because they contain more unique, functional clones. Our findings demonstrate how optimal error-prone PCR mutation rates may be calculated, and indicate that "optimal" rates depend on both the protein and the mutagenesis protocol.
Real operator algebras and real completely isometric theory

This paper is a continuation of the program started by Ruan (Acta Math Sin (Engl Ser) 19(3):485–496, 2003, Illinois J Math 47(4):1047–1062, 2003), of developing real operator space theory. In particular, we develop the theory of real operator algebras. We also show among other things that the injective envelope, \(C^*\)-envelope and non-commutative Shilov boundary exist for a real operator space. We develop real one-sided \(M\)-ideal theory and characterize one-sided \(M\)-ideals in real \(C^*\)-algebras and real operator algebras with contractive approximate identity.
Comment on “Nonlinear current-voltage curves of gold quantum point contacts” [Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 103104 (2005)]

In a recent Letter [Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 103104 (2005)], Yoshida et al. report that nonlinearities in current-voltage curves of gold quantum point contacts occur as a result of a shortening of the distance between electrodes at finite bias, presumably due to thermal expansion. For short wires, the electrode displacement induces a thickening of the wire, as well as nonlinearities of the IV curve, while the radius of long wires is left unchanged, thus resulting in a linear IV curve. We argue here that electron shell effects, which favor wires with certain "magic radii," prevent the thickening of long wires under compression, but have little effect on wires below a critical length.
Billiards with polynomial mixing rates

While many dynamical systems of mechanical origin, in particular billiards, are strongly chaotic—enjoy exponential mixing, the rates of mixing in many other models are slow (algebraic, or polynomial). The dynamics in the latter are intermittent between regular and chaotic, which makes them particularly interesting in physical studies. However, mathematical methods for the analysis of systems with slow mixing rates were developed just recently and are still difficult to apply to realistic models. Here, we reduce those methods to a practical scheme that allows us to obtain a nearly optimal bound on mixing rates. We demonstrate how the method works by applying it to several classes of chaotic billiards with slow mixing as well as discuss a few examples where the method, in its present form, fails.
Undocumented workers in the labor market: an analysis of the earnings of legal and illegal Mexican immigrants in the United States.

"This paper studies the differences in earnings between Mexican legal and illegal immigrants in the United States. The analysis includes a cross-sectional examination of the wage differences between legal and undocumented workers as well as a longitudinal analysis examining the impact of legalization on the earnings of previously-undocumented workers. It is shown that the average hourly wage rate of male Mexican legal immigrants in the United States was 41.8% higher than that of undocumented workers while female legal immigrants earned 40.8% more."
Space bounds for a game on graphs

We study a one-person game played by placing pebbles, according to certain rules, on the vertices of a directed graph. In [3] it was shown that for each graph with n vertices and maximum in-degree d , there is a pebbling strategy which requires at most c(d) n/log n pebbles. Here we show that this bound is tight to within a constant factor. We also analyze a variety of pebbling algorithms, including one which achieves the 0(n/log n) bound.
Evaluation of the orogenic belt hypothesis for the formation of the Thaumasia Highlands, Mars

[1] Thrust faults along the southern margin of the Thaumasia Highlands, Mars, comprise a set of discrete subparallel south verging structures. Previous work proposed that the faults collectively define a narrow Earth‐like orogenic belt composed of a deformed lithospheric section translating southward through Tharsis above a regional decollement. This hypothesis is tested here by comparing topographic slopes across the Thaumasia Highlands to the values required by thrust faulting in a critical taper wedge setting. In general, topographic slopes across the Thaumasia Highlands, 0.418–1.017°, are too shallow for the Martian lithosphere to have deformed as a critical taper wedge, assuming reasonable values for pore fluid pressure ratios and frictional strengths of the wedge material and putative decollement. Combined with the absence of a mechanism to provide the necessary values of horizontal shortening (hundreds of km), nearly lithostatic pore fluid pressure ratios, and nearly frictionless decollements over regional scales on Mars that would be necessary for lithospheric translation as a wedge, the results are consistent with thrust fault deformation across Mars that is not integrated at depth into subhorizontal structures, but which function instead as discrete structures. Citation: Nahm, A. L., and R. A. Schultz (2010), Evaluation of the orogenic belt hypothesis for the formation of the Thaumasia Highlands, Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 115, E04008, doi:10.1029/2009JE003327.
Measurement of polarization mode dispersion in high-birefringence fibers.

A broadband superluminescent diode at 0.84 μm is used to measure the group-delay difference in four high-birefringence single-mode fibers. Measured values range from 0.6–0.9 nsec/km for the stress-induced birefringence fibers to 3.6 nsec/km for the elliptical-core fiber.
INTERPRETING THE MORPHOLOGY OF DIFFUSE LIGHT AROUND SATELLITE GALAXIES

Recent observations of surface brightness distributions of both Milky Way and M31 satellite galaxies have revealed many instances of sudden changes or breaks in the slope of the surface brightness profiles (at some break radius rbreak). These breaks are often accompanied by increasingly elliptical isophotes and sometimes by isophote twisting. We investigate the hypothesis of a tidal origin for these features by applying the same ellipse-fitting techniques that are used on observed galaxies to numerical simulations of the destruction of satellites, represented by spherical, single-component systems. We examine how observed quantities such as rbreak, ellipticity e, and position angle of the fitted ellipses and amplitude of the extra-break population vary with the satellite's orbital eccentricity and phase, as well as our viewpoint relative to the orbit. We also look at orbit and viewpoint dependence of the rate of change of the latter three quantities with radius. We find that there are trends with orbital phase and eccentricity in all observed quantities, many of which are preserved through a wide variety of viewing angles. In particular, a generic feature of all simulations is a depletion zone just interior to an excess zone, regions in which the surface brightness is lower and higher, respectively, than the initial profile. A clear interpretation of any individual image, however, is likely to be hampered by the dependence of the observable features on these multiple parameters. For example, breaks can be excited by several physical processes and can occur well within the bound satellite population. Nevertheless, we do find we can place loose constraints on the tidal radius, mass-loss rate, orbital type and phase of the satellite, and nature of breaks, using photometric data alone.
Trust, treason, and trials: An example of how the evolution of preferences can be driven by legal institutions

This study tries to enlarge the scope of law and economics by providing an example that legal institutions do not only have short-run effects on present behavior by changing the cost-benefit relation of different actions but can also drive the evolution of preferences. Therefore legal design has long-run effects on behavior which should not by neglected by legislators. The study presents a simple model of cooperation where only one party has the option to observe the outcome of joint efforts. While this party can pretend a failure of cooperation, the other party has the option to monitor its partner. The model considers resource variables and a psychological variable reflecting remorse in case of betrayal. Players are assumed to behave rationally according to given preferences, but preferences may change in the course of evolution. The results show that a "good" design of legal institutions can crowd out "bad" preferences. Copyright 1998 by Oxford University Press.
Performance of Skilled Migrants in the U.S. : A Dynamic Approach

The initial occupational placements of male immigrants in the United States labor market vary significantly by country of origin even when education and other individual factors are taken into account. Does the heterogeneity persist over time? Using data from the 1980, 1990, and 2000 Censuses, this paper finds that the performance of migrants from countries with lower initial occupational placement levels improves at a higher rate compared with that of migrants originating from countries with higher initial performance levels. Nevertheless, the magnitude of convergence suggests that full catch-up is unlikely. The impact of country specific attributes on the immigrants' occupational placement occurs mainly through their effect on initial performance and they lose significance when initial occupational levels are controlled for in the estimation.
A NEW NEARBY CANDIDATE STAR CLUSTER IN OPHIUCHUS AT d 170 pc

The recent discoveries of nearby star clusters and associations within a few hundred pc of the Sun, as well as the order of magnitude difference in the formation rates of the embedded and open cluster populations, suggests that additional poor stellar groups are likely to be found at surprisingly close distances to the Sun. Here I describe a new nearby stellar aggregate found by virtue of the parallel proper motions, similar trigonometric parallaxes, and consistent color-magnitude distribution of its early-type members. The 120 Myr old group lies in Ophiuchus at d 170 pc, with its most massive member being the 4th magnitude post-main-sequence B8 II-III star μ Oph. The group may have escaped previous notice due to its nonnegligible extinction (AV 0.9 mag). If the group was born with a normal initial mass function, and the nine B- and A-type systems represent a complete system of intermediate-mass stars, then the original population was probably of order ~200 systems. The age and space motion of the new cluster are very similar to those of the Pleiades, the α Per cluster, and the AB Dor moving group, suggesting that these aggregates may have formed in the same star-forming complex some ~108 yr ago.
Some Stably Tame Polynomial Automorphisms

We study the structure of length three polynomial automorphisms of R[X,Y] when R is a UFD. These results are used to prove that if SLm(R[X1,X2,�,Xn])=Em(R[X1,X2,�,Xn]) for all n=0 and for all m=3 then all length three polynomial automorphisms of R[X,Y] are stably tame.
Confinement, form factors, and deep-inelastic scattering in two-dimensional quantum chromodynamics

We clarify the gauge invariance, infrared structure, and completeness of 't Hooft's solution for the meson sector of two-dimensional quantum chromodynamics. Electromagnetic form factors of mesons are then shown to obey an asymptotic power law, whose power is dynamically determined and is not related to the short-distance behavior of the theory. Following a review of the total annihilation cross section for producing hadrons, we discuss deep-inelastic lepton scattering. As expected, Bjorken scaling is obtained, but we show how the sum over hadronic final states reproduces the parton model precisely. The Drell-Yan-West relation and Bloom-Gilman duality are fulfilled for the relation between the scaling function and form factors. We conclude by speculating on the applicability of our picture of form factors to the real, four-dimensional world. We argue that this is a viable alternative to dimensional scaling and, phenomenologically, the differences between our predictions and the dimensional counting rules are slight for light quarks. Finally, we attempt to abstract those features of the model which may guide us toward a solution to the four-dimensional problem. (AIP)
A Note on the Picard-Fuchs Equations for N=2 Seiberg-Witten Theories

A concise presentation of the PF equations for N= 2 Seiberg–Witten theories for the classical groups of rank r with Nf massless hypermultiplets in the fundamental representation is provided. For Nf=0 all r PF equations can be given in a generic form. For certain cases with Nf≠0, not all equations are generic. However, in all cases there are at least r-2 generic PF equations. For these cases the classical part of the equations is generic, while the quantum part can be formulated using a method described in a previous paper by the authors, which is well suited to symbolic computer calculations.
Identification and characterization of agonist epitopes of the MUC1-C oncoprotein.

The MUC1 tumor-associated antigen is overexpressed in the majority of human carcinomas and several hematologic malignancies. Much attention has been paid to the hypoglycosylated variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) region of the N-terminus of MUC1 as a vaccine target, and recombinant viral vector vaccines are also being evaluated that express the entire MUC1 transgene. While previous studies have described MUC1 as a tumor-associated tissue differentiation antigen, studies have now determined that the C-terminus of MUC1 (MUC1-C) is an oncoprotein, and its expression is an indication of poor prognosis in numerous tumor types. We report here the identification of nine potential CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes of MUC1, seven in the C-terminus and two in the VNTR region, and have identified enhancer agonist peptides for each of these epitopes. These epitopes span HLA-A2, HLA-A3, and HLA-A24 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I alleles, which encompass the majority of the population. The agonist peptides, compared to the native peptides, more efficiently (a) generate T-cell lines from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of cancer patients, (b) enhance the production of IFN-γ by peptide-activated human T cells, and (c) lyse human tumor cell targets in an MHC-restricted manner. The agonist epitopes described here can be incorporated into various vaccine platforms and for the ex vivo generation of human T cells. These studies provide the rationale for the T-cell-mediated targeting of the oncogenic MUC1-C, which has been shown to be an important factor in both drug resistance and poor prognosis for numerous tumor types.
A New Numerical Tool for Fast Ships in Following Seas

The six-degrees-of-freedom ship motions of a ship at speeds other than zero are always measured in terms of encounter frequency and often, the incident waves in experimental data are also measured only in the encounter frequency domain. Using these measured data to obtain transfer functions from irregular following sea ship motions is complicated by the combined effects of very low encounter frequencies and the 'folding" of the sea spectra. This results in having both overtaking and encountered waves of the same encounter frequency but different wavelengths. Computing transfer functions becomes untenable when the ship speed approaches the wave phase velocity, where the encounter spectrum has a mathematical singularity. St. Denis and Pierson (1953, "On the Motions of Ships in Confused Seas, " Soc. Nav. Archit. Mar. Eng., Trans., 61, pp. 280-357) suggested the basic relationships between response ship motions or moments that can be developed in the wave frequency domain at the outset. The St. Denis-Pierson method is based on a linear theory and works well when the ship response regime is linear or weakly nonlinear. However, for high-speed craft operating at different headings where the problems are nonlinear, especially strongly nonlinear, the St. Denis-Pierson assumptions will break down inducing error (1953, "On the Motions of Ships in Confused Seas, " Soc. Nav. Archit. Mar. Eng., Trans., 61, pp. 280-357). Furthermore, using the frequency resolution method to remove the singularity point may also induce errors, especially when the singularity point is located near the peak of stationary frequency. How to obtain the correct frequency resolution in the local region of singularity point is still an unsolved problem. In this study we will propose a new method capable of predicting ship response motions for crafts with nonlinear or strongly nonlinear behaviors quantitatively. For example, using this method, one can use measured ship motion data in head seas to predict the motions of the ship at high speed in following seas. The new method has six steps, including using a filter to eliminate those unexpected modes that are not from incident waves, inertial motions, or nonlinear interactions, and applying a higher-order Taylor expansion to eliminate the singularity point. We refer to the new method as the Lin-Hoyt method, which agrees reasonably well with computations of the nonlinear "digital, self-consistent, ship experimental laboratory ship motion model, " also known as DiSSEL (2006, "Numerical Modeling of Nonlinear Interactions Between Ships and Surface Gravity Waves II: Ship Boundary Condition, " J. Ship Res., 50(2), pp. 181-186). We also use experimental head sea data to validate the simulations of DiSSEL. The Lin-Hoyt method is fast and inexpensive. The differences in the results of the numerical simulations obtained by the Lin-Hoyt method and other linear methods diverge rapidly with increased forward ship speed due to the nonlinearity of ship motion responses.
Families of absolutely simple hyperelliptic jacobians

We prove that the jacobian of a hyperelliptic curve $y^2=(x-t)h(x)$ has no nontrivial endomorphisms over an algebraic closure of the ground field $K$ of characteristic zero if $t \in K$ and the Galois group of the polynomial $h(x)$ over $K$ is "very big" and $deg(h)$ is an even number >8. (The case of odd $deg(h)>3$ follows easily from previous results of the author.)
A Mid-Infrared Study of the Young Stellar Population in the NGC 2024 Cluster

We present the results of the first broadband N (10.8 μm) survey of the NGC 2024 cluster. The mid-infrared data were combined with our previously published JHKL photometry to construct spectral energy distributions for all detected sources. The main scientific goals were to investigate the nature of the young stellar objects (YSOs) in the cluster and to examine the efficiency of detecting circumstellar disk sources from near-infrared JHKL color-color diagrams. Out of 59 sources surveyed having K-band (2.2 μm) magnitudes mK ≤ 10.5, we detected 35 (~59%) at 10 μm. Combining these detections and upper limits for the nondetections with existing JHKL data, we identify one Class I, six flat-spectrum, 28 Class II, and five Class III sources. We find a circumstellar disk fraction for NGC 2024 of ~85% ± 15%, which confirms earlier published suggestions that the majority, if not all, of the stars in the NGC 2024 cluster formed with disks, and these disks still exist at the present time. In addition, all but one of the disk sources identified in our survey lie in the infrared-excess region of the JHKL color-color diagram for the NGC 2024 cluster. This demonstrates that JHKL color-color diagrams are extremely efficient in identifying YSOs with circumstellar disks. Of the 14 sources in our survey with K-L colors suggestive of protostellar objects, ~29% are protostellar in nature, while ~7% are true Class I sources. This may be due to extinction producing very red K-L colors in Class II YSOs, thus making them appear similar in color to protostars. This suggests that caution must be applied when estimating the sizes and lifetimes of protostellar populations within star-forming regions based on K-L colors alone. A comparison of the ratio of the number of Class I and flat-spectrum sources to the number of Class II and III sources in NGC 2024, ρ Oph, and Taurus-Auriga indicates that NGC 2024 and ρ Oph have similar ages, while Taurus-Auriga is an older region of star formation, consistent with published T Tauri star ages in each region. Finally, we calculate the luminosities of the Class II sources in NGC 2024, ρ Oph, and Taurus and discuss the results.
Are there really any experimental limits on a light Higgs boson

The experimental evidence regarding a light Higgs boson is reviewed. It is shown that a light Higgs boson with almost any mass between 14 MeV/${c}^{2}$ and 1 GeV/${c}^{2}$ is still allowed by existing data. The only limit in this range comes from B-decay data which, for sufficiently large values of the top-quark mass, excludes a Higgs boson with a mass between 2${m}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ and \ensuremath{\sim}700 MeV/${c}^{2}$. Discussions of light-Higgs-boson emission in the decays of K, \ensuremath{\pi}, \ensuremath{\mu}, \ensuremath{\tau}, \ensuremath{\eta}', and \ensuremath{\Upsilon} are also given.