cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive Assessment Of Mechanical Properties Of Peripheral Arteries

An ultrasound examination was used to noninvasively determine the changes in mechanical properties associated with age for the common carotid, brachial, popliteal, femoral, and tibial arteries. Forty-two normal male subjects, ranging in age from 8 to 60 years of age, were examined. The subjects were placed in one of three age groups: 38. Mechanical properties including percentage variation in diameter, pressure-strain, and circumferential elastic modulus were determined from changes in wall thickness and pulse pressure. Percentage variation in diameter (PVD) was seen to decrease with age for all arteries except the brachial, which remained relatively constant. Pressure-strain (Ep) and circumferential elastic moduli (Eo) were seen to increase with age in all arteries except the brachial, which remained relatively constant. Values of Ep and Eo were normalized into a stiffness index by dividing by the value found for the brachial artery. Stiffness indexes for the common carotid and femoral arteries were observed to increase more rapidly with age than the indexes obtained for the popliteal and tibial arteries. It is proposed that the stiffness index and changes in this parameter that occur with age may be useful in noninvasively assessing the progression of atherosclerosis.
Joint probability generating function for degrees of active/passive random intersection graphs

Correlations of active and passive random intersection graphs are studied in this paper. We present the joint probability generating function for degrees of Gactive(n, m, p) and Gpassive(n, m, p), which are generated by a random bipartite graph G*(n, m, p) on n + m vertices.
Selectivity in the anodic oxidation of cis- and trans-methoxylated propenylbenzenes. A useful expedient for the preparation of pure cis-propenylbenzene derivatives

Abstract Anodic oxidation of cis/trans mixtures of 1,2-dimethoxy-4-propenylbenzene, 4-methoxy-propenylbenzene, and 1,2-methylenedioxy-4-propenylbenzene led to preferential reaction of the trans-isomer. This result was applied to a preparative method for obtaining the pure (>98%) cis-isomer.
Multipolar framework chemistry. Gallium- and phosphorus-containing heterocycles

Abstract A novel six-membered heterocycle with B, Ga, N, and P heteroatoms, Me2 GaCH 2 PMe 2 BH 2 CH 2 N Me2, is synthesized from a lithiated borane base. Its reaction with anhydrous acids leads to GaMe bond cleavage and formation of monosubstituted derivatives. A similar derivative chemistry pertains for the analogous heterocycle, Me2 GaCH 2 NMe 2 BH 2 CH 2 N Me2. Two related six-membered heterocycles with phosphonia atoms are also characterized, one with a thionia ring atom and one a spiroheterocycle with piperidine: Me2P(CH2BH2)2SMe and Me2P(CH2BH2)2N(CH2)2CH2.
Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe

For the first time, we have a plausible and complete accounting of matter and energy in the Universe. Expressed a fraction of the critical density it goes like this: neutrinos, between 0.3% and 15%; stars, between 0.3% and 0.6%; baryons (total), 5% ± 0.5%; matter (total), 40% ± 10%; smooth, dark energy, 80% ± 20%; totaling to the critical density (within the errors). This accounting is consistent with the inflationary prediction of a flat Universe and measurements of the anisotropy of the CBR. It also defines three "dark problems": Where are the dark baryons? What is the nonbaryonic dark matter? What is the nature of the dark energy? The leading candidate for the (optically) dark baryons is diffuse hot gas; the leading candidates for the nonbaryonic dark matter are slowly moving elementary particles left over from the earliest moments (cold dark matter), such as axions or neutralinos; the leading candidates for the dark energy involve fundamental physics and include a cosmological constant (vacuum energy), a rolling scalar field (quintessence), and a network of light, frustrated topological defects.
Jan Hospers and the Rise of Paleomagnetism

The purpose of this article is to describe the key role that Jan Hospers played in the early stages of what has been called the revolution in the earth sciences: plate tectonics. Hospers was the first to demonstrate that reversals of the field and not self-reversals were responsible for reversed magnetization. He was the first to demonstrate empirically the validity of the geocentric axial dipole (GAD) hypothesis. Both are important foundation stones of modern global tectonics.
Finitely generated submodules of differentiable functions II

Let [E(Ω)]p be the Cartesian product of the space of real-valued infinitely differentiable functions on a connected open set Ω in Rn with itself p-times. The finitely generated submodules of [E(Ω)]p are of the form im(F) where F: [E(Ω)]q → [E(Ω)]p is a p × q matrix of infinitely differentiable functions on Ω. Let r = max{rank(F(x)): x ϵ Ω}. The main results of the present paper are that for Ω ⊂ Rn, if the finitely generated submodule im(F) is closed in [E(Ω)]p, then for every x ϵ ω with rank(F(x)) < r there exists an r × r sub-matrix A of F such that x is a zero of finite order of det(A), and for Ω ⊂ R1 the converse also holds.
Resource planning and bandwidth allocation in hybrid fiber-coax residential networks

The introduction of new high bandwidth services such as video-on-demand by cable operators will put a strain on existing resources. It is important for cable operators to know how many resources to commit to the network to satisfy customer demands. In this paper, we develop models of voice and video traffic to determine the effect of demand growth on hybrid fiber-coax networks. We obtain a set of guidelines that network operators can use to build out their networks in response to increased demand. We begin with one type of traffic and generalize to an arbitrary number of high-bandwidth constant bit rate (CBR) like services to obtain service blocking probabilities. We consider the effect of supporting variable bit rate (VBR) packet-switched traffic in addition to CBR services. These computations help us to determine how cable networks would function under various conditions (i.e., low, medium, and heavy loads). We also consider how the growth rate of the popularity of such services would change over time, and how this impacts network planning. Our findings will help cable operators estimate how much bandwidth they need to provision for a given traffic growth model and connection blocking requirement.
External interaction of the nuclear EMP with aircraft and missiles

The general problem of external coupling of the nuclear EMP to metal structures is discussed with attention directed toward aircraft and missiles. Theoretical and experimental data are presented for the skin current and charge densities induced on aircraft. Recommendations for future studies are also given.
Building Strategic Capacity: The Political Underpinnings of Coordinated Wage Bargaining

Encompassing labor movements and coordinated wage setting are central to the social democratic economic model that has proven successful among the nations of Western Europe. The coordination of wage bargaining across many unions and employers has been used to explain everything from inequality to unemployment. Yet there has been limited theoretical and quantitative empirical work exploring the determinants of bargaining coordination. I argue formally that more unequally distributed resources across unions should inhibit the centralization of strike powers in union federations. Using membership as a proxy for union resources, I find empirical evidence for this hypothesis in a panel of 15 OECD democracies, 1950–2000. I then show that the centralization of strike powers is a strong predictor of coordinated bargaining.
cis-dihydroxylation of unsaturated potassium alkyl- and aryltrifluoroborates.

The cis-dihydroxylation of olefin-containing potassium alkyl- and aryltrifluoroborates proceeds readily in moderate to excellent yields. The resulting diols are efficient coupling partners in Suzuki−Miyaura-type reactions with both alkenyl and aryl bromides.
Features of Afterbody Radiative Heating for Earth Entry

Radiative heating is identified as a major contributor to afterbody heating for Earth entry capsules at velocities above 10 km/s. Because of rate-limited electron–ion recombination processes, many of the electronically excited N and O atoms produced in the high-temperature/pressure forebody remain as they expand into the afterbody region, which results in significant afterbody radiation. Large radiative heating sensitivities to electron-impact ionization rates and escape factors are identified. Ablation products from a forebody ablator are shown to increase the afterbody radiation by nearly 40%, due to the influence of CO on the vibrational-electronic temperature. The tangent-slab radiation transport approach is shown to overpredict the radiative flux by as much as 50% in the afterbody, therefore making the more computationally expensive ray-tracing approach necessary for accurate radiative flux predictions. For the Stardust entry, the afterbody radiation is predicted to be nearly twice as large as the c...
Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité: Exploring the role of governance in fertility decline

A secular decline in fertility has taken place across the globe within a short span of human history. The timing and pace of this decline correspond broadly with changes in socio‐political institutions in different regions of the world, of Asia, and of India. We hypothesise that this shift in child‐bearing behaviour is related to cognitive changes wrought by the replacement of deeply hierarchical socio‐political institutions by the more egalitarian institutions of modern governance. These changes have enabled socio‐economic mobility and enhanced people's ability to shape their lives, internalising more of the positive and negative implications of their decisions, including childbearing decisions. Recent work in development economics argues that polities which foster local accountability are the most conducive to rapid development, and we argue that they also foster personal efficacy and rapid fertility decline. If true, our hypotheses indicate that development and fertility decline can be expected to be a...
Universities as Research Partners.

Universities are a key institution in the U.S. innovation system, and an important aspect of their involvement is the role they play in public-private partnerships. This note offers insights into the performance of industry-university research partnerships, using a survey of precommercial research projects funded by the Advanced Technology Program. Although results must be interpreted cautiously because of the small size of the sample, the study finds that projects with university involvement tend to be in areas involving new science and therefore experience more difficulty and delay, yet are more likely not to be aborted prematurely. Our interpretation is that universities are contributing to basic research awareness and insight among the partners in ATP-funded projects.
Realized Laplace transforms for estimation of jump diffusive volatility models

a b s t r a c t We develop an efficient and analytically tractable method for estimation of parametric volatility models that is robust to price-level jumps. The method entails first integrating intra-day data into the Realized Laplace Transform of volatility, which is a model-free estimate of the daily integrated empirical Laplace transform of the unobservable volatility. The estimation is then done by matching moments of the integrated joint Laplace transform with those implied by the parametric volatility model. In the empirical application, the best fitting volatility model is a non-diffusive two-factor model where low activity jumps drive its persistent component and more active jumps drive the transient one.
Palladium-catalyzed alkylation of unactivated C(sp3)-H bonds with primary alkyl iodides at room temperature: Facile synthesis of β-alkyl α-amino acids

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of β-alkyl α-amino acids via palladium-catalyzed β-C(sp3)–H alkylation of aminoquinoline-coupled phthaloyl alanine is developed. The new TFA-promoted reaction conditions provide excellent C–H alkylation reactivity with alkyl iodides bearing moderately electron-withdrawing groups at room temperature. A range of β-alkyl α-amino acid products, including some difficult to access by other means, can be quickly prepared from readily available primary alkyl iodides and alanine precursors.
A realizable modified tent map for true random number generation

Tent map is a discrete-time piecewise-affine I/O characteristic curve, which is used for chaos-based applications, such as true random number generation. However, tent map suffers from the inability to maintain the output state confined to the input range under noise and process variations. In this paper, we propose a modified tent map, which is interchangeable with the tent map for practical applications. In the proposed modified tent map, the confinement problem is solved while maintaining the functionality of the tent map. We also demonstrate simulation results for the circuit implementation of the presented modified tent map for true random number generation.
Stochastic Methods for Dependability, Performability, and Security Evaluation

Stochastic methods are commonly used for dependability evaluation. In the mid 1970’s, stochastic evaluation was proposed for combined performance/dependability evaluation, called performability evaluation. Extending reliability evaluation to include performance related behaviors presented new challenges, most notably due to the large difference in time scale of performance- and dependability-related events. Stochastic Petri nets, invented shortly thereafter, played an integral part in the development of performability evaluation methods. Most recently, stochastic evaluation has been proposed to quantify the security or survivability that a system provides, taking into account malicious attacks on the system. As with performability evaluation, attempts to stochastically evaluate system security and survivability met new challenges, and researchers have attempted to use stochastic net models to quantify the security and survivability a system will provide.
Multilevel fast multipole algorithm for analysis of large-scale microstrip structures

An efficient algorithm combining multilevel fast multipole method and the discrete complex image method is presented for analyzing large-scale microstrip structures. The resulting algorithm has the memory requirement and the CPU time per iteration proportional to O(NlogN), where N denotes the number of unknowns. Numerical results for microstrip antennas are presented to demonstrate the efficiency and accuracy of this method.
Thermodynamic trends in carbon-hydrogen bond activation in nitriles and chloroalkanes at rhodium.

Several transition-metal systems have been used to establish correlations between metal−carbon and carbon−hydrogen bonds. Here, the [Tp′RhL] fragment, where Tp′ = tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate and L = neopentyl isocyanide, is used to investigate C−H bond activation in a series of linear alkylnitriles and chloroalkanes. Using a combination of kinetic techniques, relative free energies can be found for the compounds TpRhL(CH3)H, Tp′RhL[(CH2)nCN]H (n = 1−5), and Tp′RhL[(CH2)mCl]H (m = 1, 3, 4, 5). It is found that the CN and Cl substituents dramatically strengthen the M−C bond more than anticipated if in the α-position, with the effect on bond strength diminishing substantially as the X group moves further from the metal (i.e, β, γ, δ). Examination of M−C vs C−H bond strengths shows that the Tp′RhL(CH2X)H compounds (X = phenyl, vinyl, CN, Cl) all show a good correlation, as do the alkyl, aryl, and vinyl derivatives. The compounds in the former group, however, have stronger M−C bonds than expected based o...
Synthesis and Rearrangement of 3′-α-Diethylphosphono-3′-β-O-methanesulfonyluridines

Abstract Preparation of a uridine derivative bearing both diethylphosphono and methanesulfonate substituents at the 3′-position has been accomplished by reaction of the corresponding α-hydroxy phosphonate with methanesulfinyl chloride and subsequent oxidation. While this methanesulfonate did not undergo elimination under standard reaction conditions, treatment with TBAF results in a novel rearrangement leading to the corresponding 2′-phosphate.
Symmetry and the Arrow of Time in Theoretical Black Hole Astrophysics

While the basic laws of physics seem time-reversal invariant, our understanding of the apparent irreversibility of the macroscopic world is well grounded in the notion of entropy. Because astrophysics deals with the largest structures in the Universe, one expects evidence there for the most pronounced entropic arrow of time. However, in recent theoretical astrophysics work it appears possible to identify constructs with time-reversal symmetry, which is puzzling in the large-scale realm especially because it involves the engines of powerful outflows in active galactic nuclei which deal with macroscopic constituents such as accretion disks, magnetic fields, and black holes. Nonetheless, the underlying theoretical structure from which this accreting black hole framework emerges displays a time-symmetric harmonic behavior, a feature reminiscent of basic and simple laws of physics. While we may expect such behavior for classical black holes due to their simplicity, manifestations of such symmetry on the scale of galaxies, instead, surprise. In fact, we identify a parallel between the astrophysical tug-of-war between accretion disks and jets in this model and the time symmetry-breaking of a simple overdamped harmonic oscillator. The validity of these theoretical ideas in combination with this unexpected parallel suggests that black holes are more influential in astrophysics than currently recognized and that black hole astrophysics is a more fundamental discipline.
Stable mesh decimation

Current mesh reduction techniques, while numerous, all primarily reduce mesh size by successive element deletion (e.g. edge collapses) with the goal of geometric and topological feature preservation. The choice of geometric error used to guide the reduction process is chosen independent of the function the end user aims to calculate, analyze, or adaptively refine. In this paper, we argue that such a decoupling of structure from function modeling is often unwise as small changes in geometry may cause large changes in the associated function. A stable approach to mesh decimation, therefore, ought to be guided primarily by an analysis of functional sensitivity, a property dependent on both the particular application and the equations used for computation (e.g. integrals, derivatives, or integral/partial differential equations). We present a methodology to elucidate the geometric sensitivity of functionals via two major functional discretization techniques: Galerkin finite element and discrete exterior calculus. A number of examples are given to illustrate the methodology and provide numerical examples to further substantiate our choices.
Helical chirality in dendronized polyarylacetylenes

Dendronized polymers are an archetypal polymer architecture upon which new concepts for single-molecule and bottom-up self-assembly of nanotechnologies can be derived. Helical order and control of its screw sense within the cylindrical macromolecules promises to enhance the utility of these building blocks. Herein we summarize efforts to program the handedness of helical, self-organizable dendronized polyarylacetylenes as well as of related dendronized polymers.
Sound and complete elimination of singleton kinds

Singleton kinds provide an elegant device for expressing type equality information resulting from modern module languages, but they can complicate the metatheory of languages in which they appear. I present a translation from a language with singleton kinds to one without, and prove this translation to be sound and complete. This translation is useful for type-preserving compilers generating typed target languages. The proof of soundness and completeness is done by normalizing type equivalence derivations using Stone and Harper's type equivalence decision procedure.
Simple Köhler homogenizers for image-forming solar concentrators

Image-forming solar concentrators which project an image of the sun on the photovoltaic cell may have high thermodynamic efficiency, but suffer from non-uniform irradiance distribution and a nonsquare irradiance pattern. In this paper we discuss how to apply the Kohler illumination technique to solve these problems with an optimization approach. Two examples, a Fresnel lens-based concentrator and a two-mirror aplanatic system, are shown for demonstration. The uniformity of these systems is greatly improved by adding simple Kohler homogenizers in the form of aspheric lenses generated with our approach.
Simple and Near-Optimal Mechanisms for Market Intermediation

A prevalent market structure in the Internet economy consists of buyers and sellers connected by a platform (such as Amazon or eBay) that acts as an intermediary and keeps a share of the revenue of each transaction. While the optimal mechanism that maximizes the intermediary’s profit in such a setting may be quite complicated, the mechanisms observed in reality are generally much simpler, e.g., applying an affine function to the price of the transaction as the intermediary’s fee. [7, 8] initiated the study of such fee-setting mechanisms in two-sided markets, and we continue this investigation by addressing the question of when an affine fee schedule is approximately optimal for worst-case seller distribution. On one hand our work supplies non-trivial sufficient conditions on the buyer side (i.e. linearity of marginal revenue function, or MHR property of value and value minus cost distributions) under which an affine fee schedule can obtain a constant fraction of the intermediary’s optimal profit for all seller distributions. On the other hand we complement our result by showing that proper affine fee-setting mechanisms (e.g. those used in eBay and Amazon selling plans) are unable to extract a constant fraction of optimal profit in the worst-case seller distribution. As subsidiary results we also show there exists a constant gap between maximum surplus and maximum revenue under the aforementioned conditions. Most of the mechanisms that we propose are also prior-independent with respect to the seller, which signifies the practical implications of our result.
Intra- and intermolecular trapping of cyclopentapyrazine carbenes derived from 1,2-dialkynylimidazoles

Abstract The thermolysis of 1,2-dialkynylimidazoles in benzene solution affords high yields of 7-phenyl-5 H -cyclopentapyrazines, which presumably form by solvent trapping of cyclopentapyrazine carbene intermediates. In cases where dialkynylimidazole contains side chains that can participate in intramolecular carbene C–H insertion or olefin addition, these processes compete with solvent addition to afford novel tri- and tetracyclic pyrazines, which can be obtained in good yield when the thermolysis is carried out in hexafluorobenzene.
Econometric Analysis of Present Value Models When the Discount Factor Is near One

Abstract This paper develops asymptotic econometric theory to help understand data generated by a present value model with a discount factor near one. A leading application is to exchange rate models. A key assumption of the asymptotic theory is that the discount factor approaches one as the sample size grows. The finite sample approximation implied by the asymptotic theory is quantitatively congruent with the modest departures from random walk behavior that are typically found and with imprecise estimation of a well-studied regression relating spot and forward exchange rates.
Coding of Two-Tone Images

We review the concepts and techniques of efficient coding for the transmission or storage of two-tone images, such as business documents and weather maps. Digitization considerations are presented first. Then we discuss in detail the basic concepts (both heuristic and mathematical) of efficient coding. This is followed by descriptions of typical coding techniques. Finally, channel errors and buffer requirements are discussed briefly.
Disease Management - Constructing Optimal NRTI-Based Combinations: Past, Present, and Future

More than a decade ago, it became apparent that treatment of HIV infection with only 1 antiretroviral agent was associated with the rapid development of resistance. Clinical trials conducted at that time showed that combining 2 antiretroviral agents improved virologic and immunologic responses, compared with use of a single agent. Accordingly, 2-drug combination antiretroviral therapy became the standard of care to maintain viral suppression and minimize the emergence of resistant strains and, thereby, reduce the risk of disease progression and death. Subsequent experience and clinical trials showed that 3-drug combinations were substantially more effective than 2-drug combinations. Recommended 3-drug regimens of highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) generally include 2 nucleoside or nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), plus 1 nonnucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or 1 protease inhibitor (PI). (Published: 19 January 2006) doi:10.1186/1758-2652-8-1-16 Full text: BioMed Central: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1758-2652/content/8/1/16 PubMed Central: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2759642/
Allylic oxidation catalyzed by chiral dinuclear copper complexes

Abstract Copper(I) complexes prepared in situ from Cu(I)(CH 3 CN) 4 PF 6 and several chiral dinucleating ligands have been studied as catalysts for the allylic oxidation of cyclohexene with tert -butyl perbenzoate. Cyclohexenyl benzoate was obtained in yields ranging from 30–92% and with enantioselectivities up to 37% ee. Surprisingly, the formation of an imide has also been observed in significant yields.
The institutional foundations of China's market transition

April 1999 This paper intends to properly account for China's two decades of market transition by examining its institutional foundations. The journey of transition is analyzed as a two-stage process. In the first stage (1978-93), the system was reformed to unleash the standard forces of incentives, hard budget constraints, and competition, but the underlying institutional forms and mechanisms are far from conventional: reforming government through regional decentralization; entry and expansion of nonstate (mostly local government) enterprises; financial stability through "financial dualism;" and a dual-track approach to market liberalization. In the second stage, China aimed to build a rule-based market system incorporating international best practice institutions but proceeded in its own way. Major progress was made in the first five years (1994-98) on the unification of exchange rates and convertability of the current account; the overhaul of the tax and fiscal systems; reorganization of the central bank; downsizing of the government bureaucracy; and privatization and restructuring of state-owned enterprises. To complete its transition to markets, China still faces serious challenges, especially in transforming its financial system and state-owned enterprises and in establishing the rule of law. The paper concludes by reflecting on the economics of reform and institutional change from the Chinese experience. The main lesson learned is that considerable growth is possible with sensible but not perfect institutions, and that some unconventional "transitional institutions" can be more effective than the best practice institutions for a period of time because of the second-best principle. Specific lessons include: incentives, hard budget constraints, and competition should apply not only to firms but also to governments; reforms can be implemented without creating many or big losers; and successful reforms require appropriate, but not necessarily optimal, sequencing.
Cessation of screech in underexpanded jets

In significantly underexpanded jets, screech inherently ceases to exist. This paper studies screech cessation in a supersonic rectangular jet and provides an explanation for its occurrence. Experimental data are presented for fully expanded Mach numbers, Mj, ranging from 1.1 to 1.9. Screech becomes unsteady beyond Mj=1.65 and ceases to exist beyond Mj=1.75. The reason for this cessation has remained a mystery, and this paper examines three suspects: (i) the theory of a frequency mismatch between screech tones and the band of the most-amplified jet instability waves, (ii) the notion that Mach disk formation disrupts the shock-cell structure and weakens the screech-producing shocks, and (iii) the idea that acoustic feedback and receptivity diminish at high levels of underexpansion. A thorough interrogation of experimental data shows that (i) is not the main cause of screech cessation here, (ii) plays an insignificant role, and (iii) appears to have been largely responsible for screech cessation. Cessation occurs because feedback to the jet lip is diminished due to excessive expansion of the jet boundary. Further, since the jet lip now reflects and scatters low intensity sound, the end result is poor receptivity at the initial shear layer. This theory is substantiated by the re-activation of screech when the nozzle lip thickness is made larger than the expanded jet boundary. Finally, increasing lip thickness is seen to produce a systematic shift (to higher Mj) of the onset of cessation. The results of this study are of direct relevance to the sonic fatigue problem in aircraft structures, because understanding screech helps prevent such damage.
Valuing Multifactor Real Options Using an Implied Binomial Tree

This paper proposes an approach for solving a multifactor real options problem by approximating the underlying stochastic process with an implied binomial tree. The implied binomial tree is constructed to be consistent with simulated market information. By simulating European option prices as artificial market information, we apply the implied binomial tree method for real options valuation when the options are contingent on the value of market uncertainties that are not traded assets. Compared to the discrete approximations suggested in the current literature, this method offers a more flexible distribution assumption for project values and therefore provides an alternative approach to estimating the value of high-dimensional real options. For risk managers, it serves as a capital budgeting method for projects with managerial flexibility.
Propagation of 2-monotone lower probabilities on an undirected graph

Lower and upper probabilities, also known as Choquet capacities, are widely used as a convenient representation for sets of probability distributions. This paper presents a graphical decomposition and exact propagation algorithm for computing marginal posteriors of 2-monotone lower probabilities (equivalently, 2-alternating upper probabilities).
Halogens and noble gases

This chapter reviews the literature reported during 2007 concerning the elemental halogens and noble gases as well as compounds containing these elements in their positive oxidation states.
Carbodissection of the internal thoracic artery pedicle

Carbodissection of the internal thoracic artery pedicle facilitates separation of the internal thoracic artery from the chest wall and permits rapid atraumatic exposure of its branches for precise clipping under direct vision, without the risks of thermal injury inherent in cautery dissection of the pedicle. Twenty-four internal thoracic arteries have been prepared for coronary artery bypass grafting using carbodissection, with no complications and an average operating time of 19.8 minutes.
Imine Derivatives of Fumaraldehyde From Oxidation of A β-Aziridinyl Alcohol

Abstract Oxidation of a β-aziridinyl alcohol with tetrapropylammonium perruthenate yields a pyrrole and two unusual imine derivatives of fumaraldehyde.
The Effect of School Quality on Black-White Health Differences: Evidence From Segregated Southern Schools

This study assesses the effect of black-white differences in school quality on black-white differences in health in later life resulting from the racial convergence in school quality for cohorts born between 1910 and 1950 in southern states with segregated schools. Using data from the 1984–2007 National Health Interview Surveys linked to race-specific data on school quality, we find that reductions in the black-white gap in school quality led to modest reductions in the black-white gap in disability.
The Welfare Effects of Inflation Volatility and Institutions: Implications for Emerging Market Economies

Using a micro-foundation based monetary Small Open Economy (SOE) model of McCandless (2008) with a cash-in-advance constraint, a capital adjustment cost, foreign bonds, and a trade sector, the study quantifies the welfare implications under two policy scenarios: (a) a reduction in inflation volatility and (b) an improvement in institutions. The monetary small open economy model is calibrated using quarterly data from 1989 to 2006 for an emerging market economy, Mexico, a country that, by the study’s measure has poor financial institutions and moderately high inflation volatility. The results of the model suggest that decreasing inflation volatility leads to about 8 percent increase in welfare, at most, while improving institutions leads to an increase in welfare by about 10 percent, at most. Furthermore, when the decrease in inflation volatility is coupled with the improvement in institutions the welfare increase is in the range of around 11–19 percent, depending on the degree of the drop in inflation volatility and the level of development in financial institutions. Finally, the study analyzes the impact of the reduction in inflation volatility versus the impact of the improvement in institutions on the behavior of the endogenous variables along the transition path. One policy implication of these results is that an emerging market economy, like Mexico, with relatively high inflation volatility and underdeveloped financial institutions, can get large welfare gains from either reducing inflation volatility or improving their institutions, with the largest gains coming from the latter. A long-run sustainable economic development policy will lean more towards the improvement in institutions rather than the reduction of inflation volatility.
Adaptive Mollifiers for High Resolution Recovery of Piecewise Smooth Data from its Spectral Information

We discuss the reconstruction of piecewise smooth data from its (pseudo-) spectral information. Spectral projections enjoy superior resolution provided the data is globally smooth, while the presence of jump discontinuities is responsible for spurious O (1) Gibbs oscillations in the neighborhood of edges and an overall deterioration of the unacceptable first-order convergence in rate. The purpose is to regain the superior accuracy in the piecewise smooth case, and this is achieved by mollification. Here we utilize a modified version of the two-parameter family of spectral mollifiers introduced by Gottlieb and Tadmor [GoTa85]. The ubiquitous one-parameter, finite-order mollifiers are based on dilation . In contrast, our mollifiers achieve their high resolution by an intricate process of high-order cancellation . To this end, we first implement a localization step using an edge detection procedure [GeTa00a, b]. The accurate recovery of piecewise smooth data is then carried out in the direction of smoothness away from the edges, and adaptivity is responsible for the high resolution. The resulting adaptive mollifier greatly accelerates the convergence rate, recovering piecewise analytic data within exponential accuracy while removing the spurious oscillations that remained in [GoTa85]. Thus, these adaptive mollifiers offer a robust, general-purpose ``black box'' procedure for accurate post-processing of piecewise smooth data.
A dynamic model of capital and arms accumulation

How does competitive arms accumulation affect investment and capital accumulation? In a dynamic optimization framework including both investment and military spending, we find that, when the utility function is separable between consumption and the weapon stocks, an unanticipated rise in current military threat reduces current investment and an anticipated rise in future military threat stimulates current investment. But when the utility function is nonseparable between consumption and the weapon stocks, a current military threat may not decrease the short-run investment. In the long run, capital accumulation is independent of the military conflicts among countries regardless of the form of the utility function.
A Natural Generalization of Bounded Tree-Width and Bounded Clique-Width

We investigate a new width parameter, the fusion-width of a graph. It is a natural generalization of the tree-width, yet strong enough that not only graphs of bounded tree-width, but also graphs of bounded clique-width, trivially have bounded fusion-width. In particular, there is no exponential growth between tree-width and fusion-width, as is the case between tree-width and clique-width. The new parameter gives a good intuition about the relationship between tree-width and clique-width.
TETRA observation of gamma-rays at ground level associated with nearby thunderstorms.

[1] Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs)—very short, intense bursts of electrons, positrons, and energetic photons originating from terrestrial thunderstorms—have been detected with satellite instruments. TGF and Energetic Thunderstorm Rooftop Array (TETRA), an array of NaI(Tl) scintillators at Louisiana State University, has now been used to detect similar bursts of 50 keV to over 2 MeV gamma-rays at ground level. After 2.6 years of observation, 24 events with durations 0.02–4.2 ms have been detected associated with nearby lightning, three of them coincident events observed by detectors separated by ∼1000 m. Nine of the events occurred within 6 ms and 5 km of negative polarity cloud-to-ground lightning strokes with measured currents in excess of 20 kA. The events reported here constitute the first catalog of TGFs observed at ground level in close proximity to the acceleration site.
Reflections on Slavery, Seclusion and Female Labor in the Maradi Region of Niger in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

This essay argues that female participation in agriculture and limited seclusion in Maradi (Niger) today do not stem from the absence of agricultural slavery in the pre-colonial period but rather result from the resistance of the Katsinawa elite to the Islamic reforms of the Sokoto Caliphate and from the absence of rimji (plantation) slavery in the region. The abolition of slavery did not mark a watershed in the rise of seclusion, as M. G. Smith argues was the case in Nigeria, but rather triggered a series of reformulations of marriage and female hierarchy. Semi-legitimate and legitimate polygynous marriages permitted men and women of the wealthier classes to retain the labor of former female slaves as ‘concubines’ and later enabled them to use junior wives to perform the duties once carried out by slaves. Women countered the ambiguities of such marriages by asserting their worth through wedding ritual and later by adopting the veiling of elite women. As economic and cultural ties with northern Nigeria grew during the colonial and post-colonial periods, and as goods and services reduced some of the labor demands upon urban women, seclusion gained in popularity. By acquiescing to the dependency implicit in purdah women could protect themselves from the labor demands of others and could sometimes free themselves up to earn independent incomes of their own. Thus the recent adoption of seclusion in Maradi has not arisen out of a unilateral decision on the part of newly freed women to adopt seclusion as a sign of status, as Smith claimed for Northern Nigeria, but resulted instead from of a series of redefinitions, contestations and negotiations of marriage in which both men and women have been active.
Continuous extrusion production of microcellular rigid PVC

This study examined the effect of Poly[vinyl chloride] (PVC) formulation on the cell morphology and density of rigid PVC foamed with supercritical CO2 in a continuous extrusion process. Cell morphology and the density of foamed samples were controlled by blending two acrylic-based processing aids (all-acrylic foam modifier K-400 and acrylic-based impact modifier KM-334), using a mixture design. The effect of blend ratios on the fusion and die swell behaviors of PVC was investigated by means of a torque rheometer and on a single-screw extrusion capillary rheometer, respectively. Fusion was promoted as the relative amount of the all-acrylic foam modifier increased in the blends. Similarly, the elastic constant of PVC, derived from the linear relationship between the die swell and apparent shear stress, increased upon increasing the relative amount of the all-acrylic foam modifier in the blends, thus suggesting an increase in the melt elasticity of PVC. Microcellular rigid PVC foams with densities of approximately 0.15 g/cm3 and a tenfold volume expansion were produced. An optimum ratio of impact modifier to all-acrylic foam modifier of 1:3 was found to maximize the foam expansion. Using impact modifier alone or all-acrylic foam modifier alone yielded expansions considerably lower than that achieved with the 1:3 blend. The experimental results indicated that fusion is not the only criterion to control the cell morphology and density achieved in microcellular rigid PVC foams. The melt must have a viscosity low enough to allow bubble formation and growth, as well as elasticity high enough to prevent cell coalescence. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Ricci flow and black holes

Gradient flow in a potential energy (or Euclidean action) landscape provides a natural set of paths connecting different saddle points. We apply this method to general relativity, where gradient flow is Ricci flow, and focus on the example of four-dimensional Euclidean gravity with boundary S1 × S2, representing the canonical ensemble for gravity in a box. At high temperature the action has three saddle points: hot flat space and a large and small black hole. Adding a time direction, these also give static five-dimensional Kaluza–Klein solutions, whose potential energy equals the four-dimensional action. The small black hole has a Gross–Perry–Yaffe-type negative mode, and is therefore unstable under Ricci flow. We numerically simulate the two flows seeded by this mode, finding that they lead to the large black hole and to hot flat space respectively, in the latter case via a topology-changing singularity. In the context of string theory these flows are world-sheet renormalization group trajectories. We also use them to construct a novel free energy diagram for the canonical ensemble.
Experimental Studies of Earth's Deep Interior: Accuracy and Versatility of Diamond-Anvil Cells

Phase equilibria, chemical reactions, equations of state and elasticity investigated at high P-T in candidate materials for the mantle and the core provide an experimental basis for modelling the structure, dynamics and evolution of the Earth's deep interior. During the past three decades, diamond-anvil cells have been developed for experimental simulation of the pressure conditions of the entire Earth in the laboratory. Simultaneous high temperatures have been generated with various heating techniques. Physical and chemical properties of materials have been determined in situ at high P-T with microsampling techniques. Further improvements in accuracy and versatility of these measurements are essential for resolving key geophysical problems. Some recent developments in our laboratory are summarized, and assessments of the present status and immediate future of the field are offered.
Evans Functions, Jost Functions, and Fredholm Determinants

The principal results of this paper consist of an intrinsic definition of the Evans function in terms of newly introduced generalized matrix-valued Jost solutions for general first-order matrix-valued differential equations on the real line, and a proof of the fact that the Evans function, a finite-dimensional determinant by construction, coincides with a modified Fredholm determinant associated with a Birman–Schwinger-type integral operator up to an explicitly computable nonvanishing factor.
Oculomotor and Neuropsychological Effects of Antipsychotic Treatment for Schizophrenia

Cognitive enhancement has become an important target for drug therapies in schizophrenia. Treatment development in this area requires assessment approaches that are sensitive to procognitive effects of antipsychotic and adjunctive treatments. Ideally, new treatments will have translational characteristics for parallel human and animal research. Previous studies of antipsychotic effects on cognition have relied primarily on paper-and-pencil neuropsychological testing. No study has directly compared neurophysiological biomarkers and neuropsychological testing as strategies for assessing cognitive effects of antipsychotic treatment early in the course of schizophrenia. Antipsychotic-naive patients with schizophrenia were tested before treatment with risperidone and again 6 weeks later. Matched healthy participants were tested over a similar time period. Test-retest reliability, effect sizes of within-subject change, and multivariate/univariate analysis of variance were used to compare 3 neurophysiological tests (visually guided saccade, memory-guided saccade, and antisaccade) with neuropsychological tests covering 4 cognitive domains (executive function, attention, memory, and manual motor function). While both measurement approaches showed robust neurocognitive impairments in patients prior to risperidone treatment, oculomotor biomarkers were more sensitive to treatment-related effects on neurocognitive function than traditional neuropsychological measures. Further, unlike the pattern of modest generalized cognitive improvement suggested by neuropsychological measures, the oculomotor findings revealed a mixed pattern of beneficial and adverse treatment-related effects. These findings warrant further investigation regarding the utility of neurophysiological biomarkers for assessing cognitive outcomes of antipsychotic treatment in clinical trials and in early-phase drug development.
Simulation of transient effects in the heavy ion fusion injectors

We have used the 2-D PIC code, GYMNOS, to study the transient behaviors in the Heavy Ion Fusion (HIF) injectors. GYMNOS simulations accurately provide the steady state Child-Langmuir current and the beam transient behavior within a planar diode. The simulations of the LBL HIF ESAC injector experiments agree well with the experimental data and EGUN steady state results. Simulations of the nominal EHF injectors have revealed the need to design the accelerating electrodes carefully to control the ion beam current, particularly the ion loss at the end of the bunch as the extraction voltage is reduced. >