cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Achieving Rapid Recovery in an Overload Control for Large-Scale Service Systems

We consider an automatic overload control for two large service systems modeled as multiserver queues such as call centers. We assume that the two systems are designed to operate independently, but want to help each other respond to unexpected overloads. The proposed overload control automatically activates sharing sending some customers from one system to the other once a ratio of the queue lengths in the two systems crosses an activation threshold with ratio and activation threshold parameters for each direction. In this paper, we are primarily concerned with ensuring that the system recovers rapidly after the overload is over, either because i the two systems return to normal loading or ii the direction of the overload suddenly shifts in the opposite direction. To achieve rapid recovery, we introduce lower thresholds for the queue ratios, below which one-way sharing is released. As a basis for studying the complex dynamics, we develop a new six-dimensional fluid approximation for a system with time-varying arrival rates, extending a previous fluid approximation involving a stochastic averaging principle. We conduct simulations to confirm that the new algorithm is effective for predicting the system performance and choosing effective control parameters. The simulation and the algorithm show that the system can experience an inefficient nearly periodic behavior, corresponding to an oscillating equilibrium congestion collapse if the sharing is strongly inefficient and the control parameters are set inappropriately.
Decentralization and service delivery

Dissatisfied with centralized approaches to delivering local public services, a large number of countries are decentralizing responsibility for these services to lower-level, locally elected governments. The results have been mixed. The paper provides a framework for evaluating the benefits and costs, in terms of service delivery, of different approaches to decentralization, based on relationships of accountability between different actors in the delivery chain. Moving from a model of central provision to that of decentralization to local governments introduces a new relationship of accountability-between national and local policymakers-while altering existing relationships, such as that between citizens and elected politicians. Only by examining how these relationships change can we understand why decentralization can, and sometimes cannot, lead to better service delivery. In particular, the various instruments of decentralization-fiscal, administrative, regulatory, market, and financial-can affect the incentives facing service providers, even though they relate only to local policymakers. Likewise, and perhaps more significantly, the incentives facing local and national politicians can have a profound effect on the provision of local services. Finally, the process of implementing decentralization can be as important as the design of the system in influencing service delivery outcomes.
Search Models and Duration Data

SEARCH MODELS AND DURATION DATA By George R. Neumann* Contents 1. Introduction p. 1 2. Duration Distributions p. 3 2.1 Survivor, density, and hazard functions 2.2 Censoring Mechanisms 2.3 Nonparametric estimation 2.4 Parametric estimation 2.5 Sampling Issues 3. Econometric Models for Durations p. 17 3.1 Parametric Specifications 3.1a Specification Tests 3.2 Semiparametric Specifications 3.2.a Proportional Hazard Models 3.2.b Accelerated Failure Time Models 3.2.c Specification Tests 3.2.d Semiparametric Estimation of Strike Durations 3.3 Time Varying Covariates 3.4 Unmeasured Heterogeneity 4. Search Theory and Duration Models p. 46 4.1 Search Theory 4.2 First Generation Search Models 4.3 Second Generation Search Models 4.4 Multiple State Duration Models 4.5 Equilibrium Search Models 5. Summary p. 71 6. References p. 73
Geologic setting of serpentine deposits on Mars

Serpentine, recently discovered on Mars using Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter data, is uncommon but found in three geologic settings: (1) in melange terrains at the Claritas Rise and the Nili Fossae, (2) associated with a few southern highlands impact craters, and (3) associated with a regional olivine-rich stratigraphic unit near the Isidis basin. Any presently active serpentinization processes would be occurring beneath the surface and mineral products would not be apparent with surface and orbital data; however, finding serpentine in several Noachian terrains indicates active serpentinization processes in Mars' past. Important implications are the past production of magnetite, which may contribute to chemical remnant magnetization of Mars' crust, and production of H_2, which is a suitable energy source for chemosynthetic microbial life.
Lomonosov’s invariant subspace theorem for multivalued linear operators

The famous Lomonosov's invariant subspace theorem states that if a continuous linear operator T on an infinite-dimensional normed space E commutes with a compact operator K ¬= 0, i.e., TK = KT, then T has a non-trivial closed invariant subspace. We generalize this theorem for multivalued linear operators. We also provide an application to single-valued linear operators.
Lunar dust characterization by polarimetric signature I. Negative polarization branch of sphere aggregates of various porosities

Context. In support of NASA's exploration program and the return to the Moon, the polarimetric signature of dispersed individual Lunar regolith dust grains is studied to enable the characterization of the dust exopsheric environment by remote, in-situ, and standoff sensing. Aims. We explore the value of the negative polarization branch (NPB) as a signature for characterizing individual grains to determine if it can be used in the same way as for surfaces of planets and atmosphereless bodies.Methods. The linear polarization phase curve for single spheres of silicate and for aggregates of spherical silicate grains of different porosity are computed using the discrete dipole approximation (DDA) for a range of grain sizes. Features in these curves are identified and their evolution explored as a function of grain size and aggregate porosity. We focus particularly on the so-called negative polarization branch that has been historically used to characterize planetary surfaces.Results. Calculations show that polarization phase curves for spherical grains exhibit a sharp transition over a narrow range of size parameter between two distinct regimes, one typical of Rayleigh scattering and another dominated by a large NPB. The linear polarimetric signature observed for aggregates is a composite of a) the polarization induced by individual grains composing the aggregate and b) the polarization due to the aggregate as a whole dust grain. The weight of each component varies depending on the porosity of the aggregate. An NPB similar to the one observed for atmosphereless astronomical bodies is present for different ranges of the size parameter depending on the value of the porosity. It appears as a remnant of the negative branch exhibited by the single spherical grains. The sharper, narrow negative branch that is measured for some granular surfaces in the laboratory or seen in astronomical observations is not observed here.Conclusions. These results suggest that the wide negative branch is due to the scattering by individual grains and single aggregates, while the narrow negative branch is more likely due to coherent backscattering or shadowing effects in bulk material. The shape and evolution of the NPB could be used to characterize spherical grains and to differentiate between aggregates with the same porosity but different sizes, but does not appear to be a practical candidate for univocally differentiating between aggregates of different porosity.
Inhomogeneous accretion discs and the soft states of black hole X-ray binaries

Observations of black hole binaries (BHBs) have established a rich phenomenology of X-ray states. The soft states range from the low variability, accretion disc dominated thermal (TD) state to the higher variability, non-thermal steep power law (SPL) state. The disc component in all states is typically modelled with standard thin disc accretion theory. However, this theory is inconsistent with optical/UV spectral, variability and gravitational microlensing observations of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), the supermassive analogues of BHBs. An inhomogeneous disc (ID) model with large (� 0.4 dex) temperature fluctuations in each radial annulus can qualitatively explain all of these AGN observations. The inhomogeneity may be a consequence of instabilities in radiation-dominated discs, and therefore may be present in BHBs as well. We show that ID models can explain many features of the TD and SPL states of BHBs. The observed relationships between spectral hardness, disc fraction and rms variability amplitude in BHBs are reproduced with temperature fluctuations similar to those inferred in AGNs, suggesting a unified picture of luminous accretion discs across orders of magnitude in black hole mass. This picture can be tested with spectral fitting of ID models, X-ray polarization observations and radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations. If BHB accretion discs are indeed inhomogeneous, only the most disc-dominated states (disc fraction 0.95) can be used to robustly infer black hole spin using current continuum fitting methods.
Cosmological implications of a stellar initial mass function that varies with the Jeans mass in galaxies

Observations of star-forming galaxies at high z have suggested discrepancies in the inferred star formation rates (SFRs) either between data and models or between complementary measures of the SFR. These putative discrepancies could all be alleviated if the stellar initial mass function (IMF) is systematically weighted towards more high-mass star formation in rapidly star-forming galaxies. Here, we explore how the IMF might vary under the central assumption that the turnover mass in the IMF, , scales with the Jeans mass in giant molecular clouds (GMCs), . We employ hydrodynamic simulations of galaxies coupled with radiative transfer models to predict how the typical GMC Jeans mass, and hence the IMF, varies with galaxy properties. We then study the impact of such an IMF on the star formation law, the SFR–M* relation, sub-millimetre galaxies (SMGs) and the cosmic SFR density. Our main results are: the H2 mass-weighted Jeans mass in a galaxy scales well with the SFR when the SFR is greater than a few M⊙ yr−1. Stellar population synthesis modelling shows that this results in a non-linear relation between SFR and Lbol, such that SFR . Using this model relation, the inferred SFR of local ultraluminous infrared galaxies decreases by a factor of ∼2, and that of high-z SMGs decreases by a factor of ∼3–5. At z∼ 2, this results in a lowered normalization of the SFR–M* relation in better agreement with models, a reduced discrepancy between the observed cosmic SFR density and stellar mass density evolution, and SMG SFRs that are easier to accommodate in current hierarchical structure formation models. It further results in a Kennicutt–Schmidt star formation law with a slope of ∼1.6 when utilizing a physically motivated form for the CO–H2 conversion factor that varies with galaxy physical property. While each of the discrepancies considered here could be alleviated without appealing to a varying IMF, the modest variation implied by assuming is a plausible solution that simultaneously addresses numerous thorny issues regarding the SFRs of high-z galaxies.
A Note on Spontaneous Baryogenesis

The original calculation of’ spontaneous’ baryogenesis overlooked the role played by transport of particles onto the bubble walls. For typical ‘adiabatic’ wall thicknesses and velocities one can model the problem in a fluid approximation and the mechanism is best understood as another limit of ‘charge transport’ baryogenesis, and can produce a similar non-local effect in front of the wall.
An Efficient PTAS for Two-Strategy Anonymous Games

We present a novel polynomial time approximation scheme fortwo-strategy anonymous games, in which the players’ utilityfunctions, although potentially different, do not differentiateamong the identities of the other players. Our algorithm computesan e-approximate Nash equilibrium of an n-player 2-strategyanonymous game in time $\text{poly}(n) \cdot(1/\epsilon)^{O(1/\epsilon^2)}$, which significantly improves uponthe running time $n^{O(1/\epsilon^2)}$ required by the algorithm ofDaskalakis & Papadimitriou, 2007. The improved running time isbased on a new structural understanding of approximate Nashequilibria: We show that, for any e, there exists ane-approximate Nash equilibrium in which either onlyO(1/e 3) players randomize, or all players who randomizeuse the same mixed strategy. To show this result we employ toolsfrom the literature on Stein’s Method.
Efficient Tree Layout in a Multilevel Memory Hierarchy

We consider the problem of laying out a tree or trie in a hierarchical memory, where the tree/trie has a fixed parent/child structure. The goal is to minimize the expected number of block transfers performed during a search operation, subject to a given probability distribution on the leaves. This problem was previously considered by Gil and Itai, who show optimal but high-complexity algorithms when the block-transfer size is known. We propose a simple greedy algorithm that is within an additive constant strictly less than 1 of optimal. We also present a relaxed greedy algorithm that permits more flexibility in the layout while decreasing performance (increasing the expected number of block transfers) by only a constant factor. Finally, we extend this latter algorithm to the cache-oblivious setting in which the block-transfer size is unknown to the algorithm; in particular this extension solves the problem for a multilevel memory hierarchy. The query performance of the cache-oblivious layout is within a constant factor of the query performance of the optimal layout with known block size.
Joint Scheduling of Tasks and Communication in WDM Optical Networks for Supporting Grid Computing

A flexible task model (FTM) is proposed for modeling the relationship between grid tasks. We investigate the problem of scheduling grid computing tasks under FTM using light-trails in WDM networks to supporting the data communication between the tasks. Simulation results show that our proposed task scheduling algorithm under FTM significantly reduces the total task completion time.
Plegarias y fórmulas devotas en el Poema de Mio Cid

This article tackles the question of authorship in the Poema de mio Cid placing the poet in a monastery at the end of the twelfth century. The prayers that appear throughout the text show that the author was educated and devout, the characteristics of a clergyman. The knowledge of biblical events and the presence of words with their original Latin spellings in Jimena's prayer signal the ecclesiastical origins of the poem, probably in the monastery of Cardena where the Cid was buried.
An Empirical Comparison of Multiple Imputation Methods for Categorical Data

ABSTRACTMultiple imputation is a common approach for dealing with missing values in statistical databases. The imputer fills in missing values with draws from predictive models estimated from the observed data, resulting in multiple, completed versions of the database. Researchers have developed a variety of default routines to implement multiple imputation; however, there has been limited research comparing the performance of these methods, particularly for categorical data. We use simulation studies to compare repeated sampling properties of three default multiple imputation methods for categorical data, including chained equations using generalized linear models, chained equations using classification and regression trees, and a fully Bayesian joint distribution based on Dirichlet process mixture models. We base the simulations on categorical data from the American Community Survey. In the circumstances of this study, the results suggest that default chained equations approaches based on generalized li...
Optical quorum cycles for efficient communication

Many optical networks face heterogeneous communication requests requiring topologies to be efficient and fault tolerant. For efficiency and distributed control, it is common in distributed systems and algorithms to group nodes into intersecting sets referred to as quorum sets. We show efficiency and distributed control can also be accomplished in optical network routing by applying the same established quorum set theory. Cycle-based optical network routing, whether using SONET rings or p-cycles, provides the sufficient reliability in the network. Light-trails forming a cycle allow broadcasts within a cycle to be used for efficient multicasts. Cyclic quorum sets also have all pairs of nodes occurring in one or more quorums, so efficient, arbitrary unicast communication can occur between any two nodes. Efficient broadcasts to all network nodes are possible by a node broadcasting to all quorum cycles to which it belongs ($$O(\sqrt{N})$$O(N)). In this paper, we propose applying the distributed efficiency of the quorum sets to routing optical cycles based on light-trails. With this new method of topology construction, unicast and multicast communication requests do not need to be known or even modeled a priori. Additionally, in the presence of network link faults, greater than 99 % average coverage enables the continued operation of nearly all arbitrary unicast and multicast requests in the network. Finally, to further improve the fault coverage, an augmentation to the ECBRA cycle finding algorithm is proposed.
Comparing Cash and Voucher Transfers in a Humanitarian Context: Evidence from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Despite recent calls in support of cash transfers, there is little rigorous evidence of the relative impacts of cash versus in-kind transfers, especially in humanitarian contexts, where a majority of such programs take place. This paper uses data from a randomized experiment in the Democratic Republic of Congo to assess the relative impacts and costs of equivalently valued cash and voucher transfers. The voucher program distorted households’ purchases along both the extensive and intensive margin as compared with unconstrained cash households. Yet there were no differences in food consumption or other measures of well-being, in part due to the fact that voucher households were able to resell part of what they purchased. As there were no significant benefits to vouchers, cash transfers were the more cost effective modality for both the implementing agency and program recipients in this context.
Collective behavior in random interaction

Resumen es: Recent investigations have looked at the many-body spectra of random two-body interactions. In fermion systems, such as the interacting shell model, one ...
The condition of the Turking class: Are online employers fair and honest?

Abstract Critics of online labor markets claim that employer abuses are endemic in these markets. Surveying a sample of workers, I find that, on average, workers perceive online employers to be slightly fairer and more honest than offline employers.
Shared Consumption: A Technological Analysis

James BUCHANAN (Economica, [1966]) has argued that Alfred MARSHALL'S theory of jointly-supplied goods can be extended to analyze the allocation of impure public goods. This article introduces a way of modelling sharing technologies for jointly-supplied goods that captures the essential features of BUCHANAN'S proposal. Public and private goods are special cases of shared goods obtained by appropriately specifying the sharing technology. Necessary conditions for an allocation in a shared goods economy to be PARETO optimal are identified and related to the optimality conditions for public and private goods.
Evidence-based medicine

Clinical practice guidelines are an important product of the National Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel (CATMAT). Recent guidelines have been published on the guiding principles for clinical practice guidelines. The ninth principle states: "Clinical practice guidelines should: (a) cite the specific evidence bearing upon the conclusion, (b) indicate the strength of the evidence [and] (c) specify the date of the most recent evidence considered." The following is CATMAT9s statement on evidence-based medicine and the scales used to grade its recommendations.
The Spillover Effect of Race on Police Expenditures: An Alternative Test of the Minority Threat Hypothesis

This paper implements a novel application of spatial econometrics to test the minority threat hypothesis by estimating the relationship and potential spillovers between race and police expenditures. This paper uses a strategic interaction framework to describe the mechanism that may drive expenditure spillovers as well as demographic spillovers. Estimating a Spatial Durbin Model (SDM), the findings of this study show counties with more residential segregation and are more conservative exhibit positive spillovers on neighboring county police expenditures. This paper makes a contribution by showing the effects of greater minority threat is not limited within geographic boundaries.
A generalization of the Strong Castelnuovo Lemma

We consider a set X of distinct points in the n-dimensional projective space over an algebraically closed field k. Let A denote the coordinate ring of X, and let ai(X)=dimk[ToriR(A,k)]i+1. Green's Strong Castelnuovo Lemma (SCL) shows that if the points are in general position, then an−1(X)≠0 if and only if the points are on a rational normal curve. Cavaliere, Rossi and Valla (1995) conjectured in [2] that if the points are not necessarily in general position the possible extension of the SCL should be the following: an−1(X)≠0 if and only if either the points are on a rational normal curve or in the union of two linear subspaces whose dimensions add up to n. In this work we prove the conjecture.
On Kirchhoff’s theorems with coefficients in a line bundle

We prove ‘twisted’ versions of Kirchhoff’s network theorem and Kirchhoff’s matrix-tree theorem on connected finite graphs. Twisting here refers to chains with coefficients in a flat unitary line bundle.
Quasimolecular simulation of large liquid drops

Large liquid drops are simulated by molecular aggregates called quasimolecules. The quasimolecules interact in accordance with classical molecular-type formulae. Supercomputer examples are described and discussed for both stationary and falling water drops.
Requiem for the Representative Consumer? Aggregate Implications of Microeconomic Consumption Behavior

Macroeconomists pursuing microfoundations for aggregate consumption have generally adopted one of two approaches: either to model microeconomic consumption behavior carefully and then to aggregate, or to thoroughly understand the behavior of a `representative consumer' in general equilibrium, then to introduce microeconomic risk and heterogeneity. The broad conclusion from the `bottom up' approach has been that precautionary saving and microeconomic heterogeneity can profoundly change behavior (Stephen P. Zeldes (1989); Angus S. Deaton (1991); Christopher D. Carroll (1992)). The broad conclusion from the `top down' approach has been that precautionary saving is of little importance in determining the aggregate capital stock (S. Rao Aiyagari (1994); Per Krusell and Anthony A. Smith (1998)), leading some economists to conclude that heterogeneity is unimportant for macroeconomic purposes. This paper shows that while general equilibrium effects do imply that the aggregate magnitude of precautionary saving is modest, nevertheless when a model with uninsurable idiosyncratic risk is modified so that it can match the key micro facts, it produces behavior very different in important respects from that produced by the representative agent economy. This leads to the conclusion that for many purposes, the representative consumer model should be abandoned in favor of a model which matches key microeconomic facts.
HIPIQS: a high-performance switch architecture using input queuing

Switch-based interconnects are used in a number of application domains, including parallel system interconnects, local area networks, and wide area networks. However, very few switches have been designed that are suitable for more than one of these application domains. Such a switch must offer both extremely low latency and very high throughput for a variety of different message sizes. While some architectures with output queuing have been shown to perform extremely well in terms of throughput, their performance can suffer when used in systems where a significant portion of the packets are extremely small. On the other hand, architectures with input queuing offer limited throughput or require fairly complex and centralized arbitration that increases latency. In this paper, we present a new input queue-based switch architecture called HIPIQS (HIgh-Performance Input-Queued Switch). It offers low latency for a range of message sizes and provides throughput comparable to that of output queuing approaches. Furthermore, it allows simple and distributed arbitration. HIPIQS uses a dynamically allocated multiqueue organization, pipelined access to multibank input buffers, and small cross-point buffers to deliver high performance. Our simulation results show that HIPIQS can deliver performance close to that of output queuing approaches over a range of message sizes, system sizes, and traffic. The switch architecture can therefore be used to build high performance switches that are useful for both parallel system interconnects and for building computer networks.
Binary and Long-Term (Triple?) Modulations of 4U 1820-30 in NGC 6624

We present timing analysis results for Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observations of X-ray binary source 4U 1820-30 located in the globular cluster NGC 6624. The light curves of observations made between 1996 October and 1997 September show that the maximum of the 685 s binary period modulation folded by the linear ephemeris from previous observations has a phase shift of -0.20 ± 0.06. Combined with historical results (1976-1997), the binary period derivative is measured to be /P = (-3.47 ± 1.48) × 10-8 yr-1. The previous known (~176 day) long-term modulation is significant in the X-ray light curve obtained by analysis of the RXTE All-Sky Monitor (ASM) during the years 1996-2000. The RXTE ASM ephemeris is extended by analysis of all historical data (Vela 5B and Ginga) to yield a period of 171.033 ± 0.326 days with no evidence for period change (|/P| < 2.20 × 10-4 yr-1). All reported X-ray burst activity is confined to within ±23 days of the predicted minima. This stable long-term modulation is consistent with 4U 1820-30 being a hierarchical triple system with a ~1.1 day period companion.
Metallic bond effects on mean excitation energies for stopping powers

Abstract Mean excitation energies for first row metals are evaluated by the local plasma approximation including individual particle corrections according to Pines' procedure and the Wigner-Seitz model of the metallic state. Remarkably good agreement with experimental values is obtained.
Structure and Use of ALGOL 60

ALGOL 60 is a universal, algebraic, machine-independent programming language. It was designed by a group representing computer societies from many different countries. Its primary aims are: (1) simplification of program preparation, (2) simplification of program exchange, and (3) incorporation of the important programming techniques presently known. An elaboration of the concepts of ALGOL 60 is given, mostly with the help of illustrative examples. (auth)
Surfactant-induced migration of a spherical drop in Stokes flow

In Stokes flows, symmetry considerations dictate that a neutrally buoyant spherical particle will not migrate laterally with respect to the local flow direction. We show that a loss of symmetry due to flow-induced surfactant redistribution leads to cross-stream drift of a spherical drop in Poiseuille flow. We derive analytical expressions for the migration velocity in the limit of small nonuniformities in the surfactant distribution, corresponding to weak-flow conditions or a high-viscosity drop. The analysis predicts migration toward the flow centerline.
Asthma And Proinflammatory Conditions: A Population-based Retrospective Matched Cohort Study

Abstract Objective To determine the association between asthma and proinflammatory conditions. Participants and Methods This population-based retrospective matched cohort study enrolled all asthmatic patients among Rochester, Minnesota, residents between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1983. For each asthmatic patient, 2 age-and sex-matched nonasthmatic individuals were drawn from the same population. The asthmatic and nonasthmatic cohorts were followed forward in the Rochester Epidemiology Project diagnostic index for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), diabetes mellitus (DM), and coronary heart disease (CHD) as outcome events. Data were fitted to Cox proportional hazards models. Results We identified 2392 asthmatic patients and 4784 nonasthmatic controls. Of the asthmatic patients, 1356 (57%) were male, and mean age at asthma onset was 15.1 years. Incidence rates of IBD, RA, DM, and CHD in nonasthmatic controls were 32.8, 175.9, 132.0, and 389.7 per 100,000 person-years, respectively; those for asthmatic patients were 41.4, 227.9, 282.6, and 563.7 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Asthma was associated with increased risks of DM (hazard ratio, 2.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-3.13; P P =.02) but not with increased risks of IBD or RA. Conclusion Although asthma is a helper T cell type 2–predominant condition, it may increase the risks of helper T cell type 1–polarized proinflammatory conditions, such as CHD and DM. Physicians who care for asthmatic patients need to address these unrecognized risks in asthmatic patients.
Changes in fine particulate matter measurement methods and ambient concentrations in California

Abstract The fine particle (PM2.5) air pollution monitoring network in California underwent major changes between 1988 and 2013, adding continuous beta attenuation monitors (BAM) to the network. This paper analyzes temporal patterns using PM2.5 mass measurements from three major air basins. Regressions of BAM against filter measurements generally show BAM reads higher by 3–6 μg/m3 for annual averages. Most monitoring sites show clear downward trends in PM2.5 concentrations over time, especially in the Los Angeles area where concentrations have decreased by more than 50% since the 1990s. In most cases, PM2.5 concentrations are elevated in winter compared to summer, with basin-wide average increases of 80 ± 25% for the San Francisco Bay area and 123 ± 28% for the San Joaquin Valley. The differences are more prominent at night due to wood-burning and stagnant atmospheric conditions. The reverse is true at inland sites in southern California, which show average reductions of 46 ± 12% in winter. Weekend concentrations are slightly lower than on weekdays. Average weekend reductions in PM2.5 relative to mid-week values are 8.9 ± 5.9% for the San Francisco Bay area and 8.0 ± 3.0% for the San Joaquin Valley. Up to 25% reductions in PM2.5 are observed on weekends at traffic-dominated sites such as West Oakland.
Stability in the patent race contest of Lee and Wilde

To determine how expenditure and profits vary with the number of firms in the patent race contest of Lee and Wilde, it is traditional to impose an ad-hoc stability condition on the best response function. This paper relates the stability condition to the standard myopic adjustment mechanism and shows that a concave hazard rate function with non- increasing hazard rate elasticity is sufficient for the analysis. We provide examples and reveal additional qualitative properties of the Lee and Wilde model.
Noninvasive Real-Time Evaluation of the Anisotropic Thermal Diffusivity in Thin Polymer Films for Electronics Packaging

We describe an experimental method capable of evaluating the in- and out-of-plane components of the anisotropic thermal diffusivity in supported and unsupported thin polymer films. The technique is used to quantify the in-plane thermal diffusivity in films of PMDA/ODA (Dupont’s PI2545), BTDA/ODA/MPD (Dupont’s PI2555), BPDA/PPD (Dupont’s PI2611), BCB (Dow’s Cyclotene 3022) and HFDA-APBP (Amoco’s UD4212) with thicknesses in the 1–10 micron range.
APEC Open Regionalism and its Impact on the World Economy: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis

T HE Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, a loose-knit, 21member regional institution, could assume a more pivotal role in the integration of the Pacific Rim, a market for more than 60 per cent of US agriculture and food exports, and play a central role in promoting global liberalisation (Bergsten, 1997). In 1994, APEC announced its ‘Bogor Declaration’, a plan to achieve free trade in 2010 for developed members and in 2020 for other members. It also pledged that it would pursue such a regional free trade arrangement by promoting ‘open regionalism,’ calling for ‘not only’ ‘the actual reduction of barriers among APEC economies but also between APEC economies and non-APEC economies.’ Such an approach, it is argued, promotes economic benefits not only for APEC members, but also could serve as a ‘building block’ for pursuing the goal of global free trade. Members’ liberalisation plans (known as Individual Action Plans) under the Bogor Declaration were first tabled at the Manila Ministerial Meeting in November 1996 for implementation beginning in 1997. These country plans were updated at each successive Ministerial meeting since then. Peer pressure is used to assure comparability in commitments among the 21 economies as members pursue ‘concerted unilateral liberalisation,’ but in consultation with and under the scrutiny of other members. APEC members called for comprehensive treatment, including controversial sectors like agriculture, but
Synthesis of imidazoisoindol-3-ones by a palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C―H insertion reaction

Abstract A simple protocol for the synthesis of various imidazoisoindol-3-ones is described by employing a palladium-catalyzed intramolecular C–H insertion reaction of substituted 2-haloaryl imidazolin-2-ones.
Electron impact cross sections for aeronomy.

Quantitative comparison of systematic approaches to generation of inelastic impact cross section with aid of simple universal excitation cross section function
Harmonic analysis of fractal measures

We consider affine systems inR n constructed from a given integral invertible and expansive matrixR, and a finite setB of translates,σ bx:=R–1x+b; the corresponding measure μ onR n is a probability measure fixed by the self-similarity $$\mu = \left| B \right|^{ - 1} \sum\nolimits_{b \in B} {\mu o\sigma _b^{ - 1} } $$ . There are twoa priori candidates for an associated orthogonal harmonic analysis: (i) the existence of some subset Λ inR n such that the exponentials {eiλ·x}Λ form anorthogonal basis forL 2(μ); and (ii) the existence of a certaindual pair of representations of theC *-algebraO N wheren is the cardinality of the setB. (For eachN, theC *-algebraO N is known to be simple; it is also called the Cuntz algebra.) We show that, in the “typical” fractal case, the naive version (i) must be rejected; typically the orthogonal exponentials inL 2(μ) fail to span a dense subspace. Instead we show that theC *-algebraic version of an orthogonal harmonic analysis, namely (ii), is a natural substitute. It turns out that this version is still based on exponentialse iλ·x, but in a more indirect way. (See details in Section 5 below.) Our main result concerns the intrinsic geometric features of affine systems, based onR andB, such that μ has theC *-algebra property (ii). Specifically, we show that μ has an orthogonal harmonic analysis (in the sense (ii)) if the system (R, B) satisfies some specific symmetry conditions (which are geometric in nature). Our conditions for (ii) are stated in terms of two pieces of data: (a) aunitary generalized Hadamard matrix, and (b) a certainsystem of lattices which must exist and, at the same time, be compatible with the Hadamard matrix. A partial converse to this result is also given. Several examples are calculated, and a new maximality condition for exponentials is identified.
ULTRASONIC IRRADIATION AND THE HOMO- AND HETERO-DIELS-ALDER REACTION

The effects of ultrasound on the hetero- and homo-Diels- Alder reactions have been investigated varying ultrasonic source and solvent. Irradiation enhances both reactions minimally; however, while this appears to be due to cavitation in the homo Diels-Alder reaction, mechanical mixing appears to be the cause in the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction.
Charged Drop Dynamics Experiment Using an Electrostatic-Acoustic Hybrid System

In this paper, we describe the design and the performance of an electrostatic-acoustic hybrid system and its application to a charge drop rotation experiment. This system can levitate a charged drop electrostatically and induce drop rotation or oscillation by imposing an acoustic torque or an oscillating acoustic pressure. Using this system, the equilibrium shapes and stability of a rotating charged drop were experimentally investigated. A 3 mm size water drop was rotated as a rigid body and its gyrostatic equilibrium shapes were observed. Families of axisymmetric shapes, two-lobed shapes, and eventual fissioning have been observed. With the assumption of “effective surface tension” in which the surface charge simply modified the surface tension of neutral liquid, the results agree exceptionally well with the Brown and Scriven's prediction for uncharged drops.
Aspects of high density effective theory in QCD

Abstract We study an effective theory of QCD at high density in detail, including the finite temperature effects and the leading order correction in 1/μ expansion. We investigate the Cooper pair gap equation and find that the color–flavor locking phase is energetically preferred at high density. We also find the color-superconducting phase transition occurs in dense quark matter when the chemical potential is larger than 250±100 MeV and the temperature is lower than 0.57 times the Cooper pair gap in the leading order in the hard-dense-loop approximation. The quark–neutrino four-Fermi coupling and the quark–axion coupling receive significant corrections in dense quark matter.
Monte Carlo exploration of Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein solutions to the solar neutrino problem.

The paper explores the impact of astrophysical uncertainties on the Mikheyev-Smirnov-Wolfenstein (MSW) solution by calculating the allowed MSW solutions for 1000 different solar models with a Monte Carlo selection of solar model input parameters, assuming a full three-family MSW mixing. Applications are made to the chlorine, gallium, Kamiokande, and Borexino experiments. The initial GALLEX result limits the mixing parameters to the upper diagonal and the vertical regions of the MSW triangle. The expected event rates in the Borexino experiment are also calculated, assuming the MSW solutions implied by GALLEX.
Gamma-Ray Burst Host Galaxies Have "Normal" Luminosities.

The galactic environment of gamma-ray bursts can provide good evidence about the nature of the progenitor system, with two old arguments implying that the burst host galaxies are significantly subluminous. New data and new analysis have now reversed this picture: (1) Even though the first two known host galaxies are indeed greatly subluminous, the next eight hosts have absolute magnitudes typical for a population of field galaxies. A detailed analysis of the 16 known hosts (10 with redshifts) shows them to be consistent with a Schechter luminosity function with R* = -21.8 ± 1.0, as expected for normal galaxies. (2) Bright bursts from the Interplanetary Network are typically 18 times brighter than the faint bursts with redshifts; however, the bright bursts do not have galaxies inside their error boxes to limits deeper than expected based on the luminosities for the two samples being identical. A new solution to this dilemma is that a broad burst luminosity function along with a burst number density varying as the star formation rate will require the average luminosity of the bright sample (>6 × 1058 photons s-1 or >1.7 × 1052 ergs s-1) to be much greater than the average luminosity of the faint sample (~1058 photons s-1 or ~3 × 1051 ergs s-1). This places the bright bursts at distances for which host galaxies with a normal luminosity will not violate the observed limits. In conclusion, all current evidence points to gamma-ray burst host galaxies being normal in luminosity.
Multitasking workload scheduling on flexible-core chip multiprocessors

While technology trends have ushered in the age of chip multiprocessors (CMP), a fundamental question is what size to make each core. Most current commercial designs are symmetric CMPs (SCMP) in which each core is identical and range from a simple RISC processor to a complex out-of-order x86 processor. Some researchers have proposed asymmetric CMPs (ACMP) consisting of multiple types of cores. While less of an issue for ACMPs, the fixed nature of both these architectures makes them vulnerable to mismatches between the granularity of the cores and the parallelism in the workload, which can cause inefficient execution. To remedy this weakness, recent research has proposed flexible-core CMPs (FCMP), which have the capability of aggregating multiple small processing cores to form larger logical processors. FCMPs introduce a new resource allocation and scheduling problem which must determine how many logical processors should be configured, how powerful each processor should be, and where/when each task should run. This paper introduces and motivates this problem, describes the challenges associated with it, and evaluates algorithms appropriate for multitasking on FCMPs. We also evaluate static-core CMPs of various configurations and compare them to FCMPs for various multitasking workloads.
Earthquake waves in a random medium

Measurements are conducted with small samples in the laboratory and thus for all practical purposes the medium is macroscopically homogeneous. On the other hand, the uncertainties and the irregular changes in situ are macroscopic inhomogeneities. This work is an attempt to account for these stochastic changes in the elastic properties and density in a rational manner. The method used is that of Karal and Keller which is based on the use of the Green's function and neglect of third-order correlations. The resulting integral equations are solved by Laplace transform. The analysis indicates that the energy decay in the mean motion through random mode coupling introduces damping into even a purley'elastic medium and enhances the damping in a significant manner in a hysteretic viscoelastic medium. This consideration is important in relating the damping and dispersion characteristics of wave in situ to those measured in the laboratory. The formulation is extended to multilayer systems through transfer matrices and to arbitrary inputs by Fourier transform. Sample calculations are presented for single and multilayer systems to obtain response spectra and for the response to Gaussian and actual earthquake input motions.
Simple braids for surface homeomorphisms

Abstract Let S be a compact, oriented surface with negative Euler characteristic and let f : S → S be a homeomorphism isotopic to the identity. If there exists a periodic orbit with a non-zero rotation vector ( p → , q ) , then there exists a simple braid with the same rotation vector.
Techniques of preparation and crystal chemistry of transuranic chalcogenides and pnictides

The crystal chemistry of a number of transuranic chalcogenides and pnictides has been investigated using /sup 243/Am, /sup 248/Cm, /sup 249/Bk, and /sup 249/Cf. These compounds were prepared from the corresponding metals by direct reaction with the chalcogen or pnictogen element at elevated temperatures. Higher chalcogenides were thermally dissociated to yield ones of lower stoichiometry, terminating with the sesquichalcogenides; only monopnictides of these transplutonium elements were found. All products were examined by x-ray powder diffraction. In this paper the methods for preparing the actinide chalcogenides and pnictides on a gram scale are reviewed, and the microtechniques used for submilligram quantities of the transamericium elements are presented. The results obtained during this study are compared to data previously reported for the lighter actinide compounds, and the trends observed across the series are discussed.
Harnack Estimates for Ricci Flow on a Warped Product

In this paper, we study the Ricci flow on a closed manifold equipped with a warped product metric \((N\times F,g_{N}+f^2 g_{F})\) in which \((F,g_{F})\) is Ricci flat. Using the framework of monotone formulas, we derive several estimates for the adapted heat conjugate fundamental solution which include an analog of Perelman’s differential Harnack inequality (The entropy formula for the Ricci flow and its geometric applications, 2002).
Urethral and Bladder Injections for Incontinence Including Botox

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urge incontinence (UI) are increasingly significant health concerns for millions of women. Investigation continues into the use of different types of procedures for the surgical management of UI that can be done in the ambulatory office without the use of general or regional anesthesia. Injectable treatment for SUI and UI lend themselves to the ambulatory or office setting and mimic the efficacy and safety profiles of currently available procedures.
Modeling dispersive coupling and losses of localized optical and mechanical modes in optomechanical crystals.

Periodically structured materials can sustain both optical and mechanical excitations which are tailored by the geometry. Here we analyze the properties of dispersively coupled planar photonic and phononic crystals: optomechanical crystals. In particular, the properties of co-resonant optical and mechanical cavities in quasi-1D (patterned nanobeam) and quasi-2D (patterned membrane) geometries are studied. It is shown that the mechanical Q and optomechanical coupling in these structures can vary by many orders of magnitude with modest changes in geometry. An intuitive picture is developed based upon a perturbation theory for shifting material boundaries that allows the optomechanical properties to be designed and optimized. Several designs are presented with mechanical frequency ∼ 1-10 GHz, optical Q-factor Q_o > 10^7, motional masses m_(eff) ≈ 100 femtograms, optomechanical coupling length L_(OM) 10^7 for total device size less than 30 μm).