cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FBstab: A proximally stabilized semismooth algorithm for convex quadratic programming

Abstract This paper introduces the proximally stabilized Fischer–Burmeister method (FBstab); a new algorithm for convex quadratic programming that synergistically combines the proximal point algorithm with a primal–dual semismooth Newton-type method. FBstab is numerically robust, easy to warmstart, handles degenerate primal–dual solutions, detects infeasibility/unboundedness and requires only that the Hessian matrix be positive semidefinite. We outline the algorithm, provide convergence and convergence rate proofs, and report some numerical results from model predictive control benchmarks and from the Maros–Meszaros test set. We show that FBstab is competitive with state of the art methods and is especially promising for model predictive control and other parameterized problems.
Lossy Identification Schemes from Decisional RSA

Lossy identification schemes derive tightly secure signature schemes via the Fiat-Shamir transformation. There exist several instantiations of lossy identification schemes by using several cryptographic assumptions. In this paper, we propose a new construction of lossy identification scheme from the decisional RSA assumption which are introduced by Groth. Our lossy identification scheme has efficient response algorithm because it requires no modular exponentiation.
A Troubling Court Decision for Reproductive Rights: Legal Recognition of Fetal Standing to Sue

Abortion remains one of the most divisive controversies in the United States, and few states restrict the practice more than Alabama. In 2018, Alabama voters passed an amendment to the state’s constitution that “recognize[s] and support[s] the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children.” Kansas, Missouri, and Louisiana have enacted similar language into their constitutions. These clauses variously classify fertilized eggs, zygotes, embryos, and fetuses as “persons” entitled to unspecified legal protections from the moment of conception. They have the potential for sweeping consequences. It is unclear whether and how these measures would lead to criminal penalties against pregnant women for activities like drug use that risk harming the fetus, as well as prohibitions on in vitro fertilization (IVF), stem cell research, or other practices that involve the destruction of human embryos.
Molecular beam epitaxy growth of antiferromagnetic Kagome metal FeSn

FeSn is a room-temperature antiferromagnet expected to host Dirac fermions in its electronic structure. The interplay of the magnetic degree of freedom and the Dirac fermions makes FeSn an attractive platform for spintronics and electronic devices. While stabilization of thin film FeSn is needed for the development of such devices, there exist no previous reports of epitaxial growth of single crystalline FeSn. Here, we report the realization of epitaxial thin films of FeSn (001) grown by molecular beam epitaxy on single crystal SrTiO3 (111) substrates. By combining X-ray diffraction, electrical transport, and torque magnetometry measurements, we demonstrate the high quality of these films with the residual resistivity ratio ρ xx ( 300 K ) / ρ xx ( 2 K ) = 24 and antiferromagnetic ordering at T N = 353 K. These developments open a pathway to manipulate the Dirac fermions in FeSn by both magnetic interactions and the electronic field effect for use in antiferromagnetic spintronics devices.
Phrase-level Prosodic Smothering in Makonde

This paper focuses on the issue of 'prosodic idiosyncrasies' as it arises in the Bantu language Makonde [kde]. Recently, Bennett, Harizanov, & Henderson (2018) proposed 'prosodic smothering', whereby prosodic requirements of an outer morpheme override (i.e. 'smother') prosodic properties of inner morphemes. We extend their analysis to phrase-level phonology in Makonde. Previous description has established that whether a nominal modifier forms a single phonological phrase φ with the noun is an idiosyncratic property, e.g. a [noun adjective] phrase maps to 2 phonological phrases φ (n) φ (adj) while a [noun demonstrative] phrase forms a single phonological phrase φ (n dem). Prosodic smothering is seen in [noun adj dem] sequences which form a single φ (n adj dem) phonological phrase, where the adj has been 'entrapped' and its prosody 'smothered'. We highlight three contributions which Makonde makes to understanding smothering: (i) smothering targets the lexical head, (ii) smothering is both inward-oriented (a morphological relation) and leftward-oriented (a linear relation), and (iii) a limited amount of outward smothering is parasitic on the presence of inward smothering. From the smothering facts in Makonde, we conclude that prosody is established at two stages: first, prosodic idiosyncrasies apply at spell-out (i.e. the mapping from syntax to phonology), followed by default prosodification which is established within the phonological module itself.
On the numerical solution of the exact factorization equations.

The exact factorization (EF) approach to coupled electron-ion dynamics recasts the time-dependent molecular Schrodinger equation as two coupled equations, one for the nuclear wavefunction and one for the conditional electronic wavefunction. The potentials appearing in these equations have provided insight into non-adiabatic processes, and new practical non-adiabatic dynamics methods have been formulated starting from these equations. Here, we provide a first demonstration of a self-consistent solution of the exact equations, with a preliminary analysis of their stability and convergence properties. The equations have an unprecedented mathematical form, involving a Hamiltonian outside the class of Hermitian Hamiltonians usually encountered in time-propagation, and so the usual numerical methods for time-dependent Schrodinger fail when applied in a straightforward way to the EF equations. We find an approach that enables stable propagation long enough to witness non-adiabatic behavior in a model system before non-trivial instabilities take over. Implications for the development and analysis of EF-based methods are discussed.
Precipitation phenomenon in stoichiometric Nd2Fe14B alloys modified with titanium and titanium with carbon

Abstract Precipitation phenomenon has been investigated in stoichiometric Nd2Fe14B alloys modified with Ti and Ti with C. Precipitates can be used to inhibit grain growth and understanding the precipitation process is important in order to form the most effective dispersion. In the NdFeBTi system, TiB2, and in the NdFeBTiC system. TiC are found to be the precipitating phases. Depending on composition, the precipitates can form at high temperatures in the liquid, during cooling after solidification, and during heat treatment. The precipitates form on grain or phase boundaries. The TiC precipitates typically form as discrete particles while the TiB2 precipitates form generally in a globular bunched-up fashion. After a homogenization heat treatment, the equilibrium solubilities of Ti and Ti with C in the Nd2Fe14B phase are found to be 0.47 wt.% and ⩽0.06 wt.% respectively. This means that almost all of the alloyed Ti and C can be precipitated as TiC which returns the excellent intrinsic magnetic properties of the hard magnetic phase. Both the carbides and the borides are found to have excellent high-temperature stability and resist coarsening and dissolution at least to 1000°C. Since Ti and C react to form TiC the amount of hard magnetic phase is not reduced while Ti addition alone reacts with boron and reduces the amount of hard magnetic phase if extra boron is not added.
Maternal age alters offspring lifespan, fitness, and lifespan extension under caloric restriction

Maternal age has a negative effect on offspring lifespan in a range of taxa and is hypothesized to influence the evolution of aging. However, the mechanisms of maternal age effects are unknown, and it remains unclear if maternal age alters offspring response to therapeutic interventions to aging. Here, we evaluate maternal age effects on offspring lifespan, reproduction, and the response to caloric restriction, and investigate maternal investment as a source of maternal age effects using the rotifer, Brachionus manjavacas, an aquatic invertebrate. We found that offspring lifespan and fecundity decline with increasing maternal age. Caloric restriction increases lifespan in all offspring, but the magnitude of lifespan extension is greater in the offspring from older mothers. The trade-off between reproduction and lifespan extension under low food conditions expected by life history theory is observed in young-mother offspring, but not in old-mother offspring. Age-related changes in maternal resource allocation to reproduction do not drive changes in offspring fitness or plasticity under caloric restriction in B. manjavacas. Our results suggest that the declines in reproduction in old-mother offspring negate the evolutionary fitness benefits of lifespan extension under caloric restriction.
On Concurrently Secure Computation in the Multiple Ideal Query Model.

The multiple ideal query (MIQ) model was introduced by Goyal, Jain and Ostrovsky [Crypto’10] as a relaxed notion of security which allows one to construct concurrently secure protocols in the plain model. The main question relevant to the MIQ model is how many queries must we allow to the ideal world adversary? The importance of the above question stems from the fact that if the answer is positive, then it would enable meaningful security guarantees in many application scenarios, as well as, lead to resolution of long standing open questions such as fully concurrent password based key exchange in the plain model. In this work, we continue the study of the MIQ model and prove severe lower bounds on the number of ideal queries per session. Following are our main results: 1. There exists a two-party functionality that cannot be securely realized in the MIQ model with only a constant number of ideal queries per session. 2. There exists a two-party functionality that cannot be securely realized in the MIQ model by any constant round protocol, with any polynomial number of ideal queries per session. Both of these results are unconditional and even rule out protocols proven secure using a non-black-box simulator. We in fact prove a more general theorem which allows for trade-off between round complexity and the number of ideal queries per session. We obtain our negative results in the following two steps: 1. We first prove our results with respect to black-box simulation, i.e., we only rule out simulators that make black-box use of the adversary. 2. Next, we give a technique to “compile” our negative results w.r.t. black-box simulation into full impossibility results (ruling out non-black-box simulation as well) in the MIQ model. Interestingly, our compiler uses ideas from the work on obfuscation using tamperproof hardware [GIS10, GO96], even though our setting does not involve any hardware tokens. ∗This is the full version of the Eurocrypt’13 paper. †Microsoft Research, India. Email: vipul@microsoft.com ‡MIT and Boston University. Email: abhishek@csail.mit.edu. This material is based on research sponsored by NSF grant #1218461 and DARPA under agreement number FA8750-11-2-0225. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation thereon. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of DARPA or the U.S. Government. The author also thanks RISCS (Reliable Information Systems and Cyber Security) institute.
Ca6[Cr2N6]H, the first quaternary nitride-hydride.

The novel quaternary nitride−hydride Ca6[Cr2N6]H was synthesized at 1000 °C in sealed niobium or stainless steel tubes. It crystallizes in the space group R3 (No. 148, Z = 3) with lattice constant...
Approaches to the Synthesis of Heptitol Derivatives via Stereocontrolled Functionalization of Cycloheptatrienone Using Organo-Iron Chemistry

Abstract A stereo-chemically defined, differentially protected polyhydroxylated heptanedial derivative was prepared by the stereo- and regio-controlled functionalization of cycloheptatrienone, followed by cleavage of the ring to afford the acyclic derivative in high yields.
Novel 8-hydroxy-3-phenoxazinone derivatives related to the actinomycin D chromophore

A reexamination of the reaction of the model actinomycin D chromophore (1a) with DDQ revealed the presence of hitherto unknown 8-hydroxy-substituted phenoxazinone derivative 1c as a minor product along with the 7-hydroxy derivative 1b as the major product. Further, the isomeric hydroxy derivatives can be conveniently converted by reaction with suitable alkyl halides to afford the corresponding alkylated products with suitable alkylating species for interaction of the actinomycin D chromophore with DNA of the cell.
Semi-synthesis of paclitaxel from naturally occurring glycosidic precursors

Paclitaxel, an antitumor drug effective on ovarian and breast carcinomas, is currently being produced both by direct isolation from the bark of Taxus brevifolia and by semi-synthesis from a natural precursor, 10-deacetyl baccatin III. Although other potential precursors such as 10-deacetyl paclitaxel-7-xyloside were known since 1984, their conversion to paclitaxel could not be achieved because of the lack of suitable methodology for hydrolyzing the xylose residue, compatible with the stability of the compound. A method is described here using periodate, followed by phenylhydrazine, to effect deglycosidation of 10-deacetyl paclitaxel-7-xyloside to form 10-deacetyl paclitaxel. In addition, by including an intermediate acetylation step before the reaction with phenylhydrazine, “direct” conversion of this xyloside to paclitaxel itself, is described. Because 10-deacetyl paclitaxel-7-xyloside occurs at >0.1% in the bark of Taxus brevifolia, its successful hydrolytic conversion to paclitaxel represents an extremely important reaction for the enhanced availability of this drug.
Organocatalytic enantioselective Michael addition of thioacetic acid to enones

An enantioselective, organocatalytic Michael addition reaction of thioacetic acid with enones has been developed. The process, catalyzed by a chiral bifunctional amine thiourea, furnishes products in excellent yields with up to 63% ee.
Phosphine-boranes as selective reagents for the radical deoxygenation of a hindered secondary alcohol

Abstract The xanthate of a hindered secondary alcohol can be deoxygenated easily with phosphine-boranes and AIBN in a high yielding radical chain reaction. A similar efficient olefin forming reaction has been seen with a 1,2-dixanthate under the same conditions. In contrast to tin hydride based reagents phosphine-boranes do not reduce chlorides or bromides.
Synthesis and reactivity of N-acyl-5- (1-hydroxyalkyl)-2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones.

The Nozaki−Hiyama−Kishi reaction was used to prepare the 5-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones 3. Reduction, oxidation, and substitution reactions of 3 were examined.
Horizontal gene cluster transfer increased hallucinogenic mushroom diversity

Secondary metabolites are a heterogeneous class of chemicals that often mediate interactions between species. The tryptophan-derived secondary metabolite, psilocin, is a serotonin receptor agonist that induces altered states of consciousness. A phylogenetically disjunct group of mushroom-forming fungi in the Agaricales produce the psilocin prodrug, psilocybin. Spotty phylogenetic distributions of fungal compounds are sometimes explained by horizontal transfer of metabolic gene clusters among unrelated fungi with overlapping niches. We report the discovery of a psilocybin gene cluster in three hallucinogenic mushroom genomes, and evidence for its horizontal transfer between fungal lineages. Patterns of gene distribution and transmission suggest that synthesis of psilocybin may have provided a fitness advantage in the dung and late wood-decay fungal niches, which may serve as reservoirs of fungal indole-based metabolites that alter behavior of mycophagous and wood-eating invertebrates. These hallucinogenic mushroom genomes will serve as models in neurochemical ecology, advancing the (bio)prospecting and synthetic biology of novel neuropharmaceuticals.
Heterocyclic and acyclic azadiene diels‐alder reactions: Total synthesis of nothapodytine B

A summary of the applications of the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reactions of heterocyclic and acyclic azadienes in the total synthesis of natural products is provided and a recent application in the total synthesis of nothapodytine B (mappicine ketone) is presented in detail.
Coccinellid host morphology dictates morphological diversity of the parasitoid wasp Dinocampus coccinellae

Abstract Pararsitoid-host interactions involving host species that are newly introduced into the range of a generalist parasitoid provide systems that can be examined for phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary changes in parasitoid-host dynamics. The solitary Braconid parasitoid wasp, Dinocampus coccinellae, has a cosmopolitan distribution and parasitizes approximately 50 species of predatory lady beetles (ladybirds) in the family Coccinellidae. In this study we quantified the effect of six (4 native North American and 2 non-native North American) host species on the morphometrics of D. coccinellae. Adult lady beetles were collected from 13 locations in the United States and reared in the laboratory until D. coccinellae exited from their adult beetle hosts. Eighty-nine individual D. coccinellae females and their associated host were weighed and morphometric measurements were taken. The smallest lady beetle host Hippodamia parenthesis produced the smallest adult wasps; the largest host species, Coccinella septempunctata, produced the largest female wasps. A directional cline in morphology of wasps and their coccinellid hosts was also observed in a dry-weight regression (R2 = 0.4066, p-value
Size-Induced Metal to Semiconductor Transition in a Stabilized Gold Cluster Ensemble

A size-induced transition from a positive to a negative temperature coefficient of electrical conductivity is displayed by thin films of a series of six dodecanethiol-stabilized gold cluster complexes with the gold core diameter progressively increasing from 1.7 to 7.2 nm. The size of the gold core may influence both its intrinsic conductivity and the charging energy barrier for tunneling to an adjacent monolayer-encapsulated cluster.
The Spillover of Spotlight: Platform Recommendation in the Mobile App Market

Product recommendations are ubiquitous in platform-based markets. This paper investigates the externality of platform-provided recommendations by focusing on the demand spillover to related product...
Synthesis, characterization, and structure-property relationships in two new polar oxides: Zn2(MoO4)(SeO3) and Zn2(MoO4)(TeO3).

Two new noncentrosymmetric (NCS) polar oxide materials, Zn2(MoO4)(AO3) (A = Se4+ or Te4+), have been synthesized by hydrothermal and solid-state techniques. Their crystal structures have been determined, and characterization of their functional properties (second-harmonic generation, piezoelectricity, and polarization) has been performed. The isostructural materials exhibit a three-dimensional network consisting of ZnO4, ZnO6, MoO4, and AO3 polyhedra that share edges and corners. Powder second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements using 1064 nm radiation indicate the materials exhibit moderate SHG efficiencies of 100 × and 80 × α-SiO2 for Zn2(MoO4)(SeO3) and Zn2(MoO4)(TeO3), respectively. Particle size vs SHG efficiency measurements indicate the materials are type 1 non-phase-matchable. Converse piezoelectric measurements resulted in d33 values of ∼14 and ∼30 pm/V for Zn2(MoO4)(SeO3) and Zn2(MoO4)(TeO3), respectively, whereas pyroelectric measurements revealed coefficients of −0.31 and −0.64 μC/m2 K at 5...
2,4,6-trichloropyrimidine. Reaction with ethanolamine and diethanolamine

2,4,6-Trichloropyrimidine, 1, reacts with neutral nucleophiles, such as ethanolamine and diethanolamine, to produce both mono- and disubstituted derivatives resulting from replacement of either one (2 and 3) or two (4) chlorine atoms. The third chlorine could not be replaced by these nucleophiles. Failure of this final step was attributed to intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the nucleophiles.
Reaction of sarcosine with chromone-3-carbaldehyde and 6,6‘-(polymethylenedioxy)di(chromone-3-carbaldehyde)

On treatment with N-methylglycine in DMF, the chromone-3-carbaldehydes 1a-c produce 3-[3-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-1-methyl-2,5-dihydropyrrol-2-yl]-4H-chromen-4-ones 10a-c and the deformylated products 9a-c, whereas the bis-chromone derivatives 12a-c give the bis[3-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-1-methylpyrrole] structures 13a-c.
Synthesis of 1-Aza-cryptophycin 1, an Unstable Cryptophycin. An Unusual Skeletal Rearrangement

Abstract A total synthesis of cryptophycin 337 (1-aza-cryptophycin 1, 2 ), an analogue of the potent antitumor antibiotic cryptophycin 1 ( 1 ), is described. Cryptophycin 337 was unstable and underwent an unexpected skeletal rearrangement. ( R )-Mandelic acid was used as the sole source of asymmetry for the synthesis of unit A.
Conjugated macrocycles related to the porphyrins. Part 3 . Acid catalyzed condensations of thiophenecarboxaldehydes with a dipyrrylmethane

MacDonald condensation of a dipyrrylmethanedicarboxylic acid 3b with 2,2′-dithienylmethane-5,5′-dicarboxaldehyde (2b) failed to give the expected dithiophene porphyrin analog 1b. However, oxidation of the reaction mixtures with DDQ gave trace amounts of porphyrin-like materials. Model studies indicate that these fractions are meso-dithienylporphyrins. The synthesis of three related α,γ-disubstituted porphyrins is described.
Stereochemistry and Reactions of Presilphiperfolanol: A Branch Point Marker in Triquinane Sesquiterpene Biogenesis

The structure and stereochemistry of the tricyclic sesquiterpene alcohol (−)-presilphiperfolanol, a structural precursor for the angular and propellane triquinane sesquiterpenes, are established as...
Higher-order bosonic topological phases in spin models

We discuss an extension of higher-order topological phases to include bosonic systems. We present two spin models for a second-order topological phase protected by a global ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ symmetry. One model is built from layers of an exactly solvable cluster model for a one-dimensional ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ topological phase, while the other is built from more conventional spin couplings (XY or Heisenberg). These models host gapped, symmetry-protected topological phases on their edges, and corner modes that fall into a projective representation of the symmetry. Using Jordan-Wigner transformations we show that both our models are related to a bilayer of free Majorana fermions that form a fermionic second-order topological phase. We also discuss how our models can be extended to three dimensions to form a third-order topological phase.
Scalable preconditioning of block-structured linear algebra systems using ADMM

Abstract We study the solution of block-structured linear algebra systems arising in optimization by using iterative solution techniques. These systems are the core computational bottleneck of many problems of interest such as parameter estimation, optimal control, network optimization, and stochastic programming. Our approach uses a Krylov solver (GMRES) that is preconditioned with an alternating method of multipliers (ADMM). We show that this ADMM-GMRES approach overcomes well-known scalability issues of Schur complement decomposition in problems that exhibit a high degree of coupling. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated using linear systems that arise in stochastic optimal power flow problems and that contain up to 2 million total variables and 4000 coupling variables. We find that ADMM-GMRES is nearly an order of magnitude faster than Schur complement decomposition. Moreover, we demonstrate that the approach is robust to the selection of the augmented Lagrangian penalty parameter, which is a key advantage over the direct use of ADMM.
Choosing panels of genomics assays using submodular optimization

Due to the high cost of sequencing-based genomics assays such as ChIP-seq and DNase-seq, the epigenomic characterization of a cell type is typically carried out using a small panel of assay types. Deciding a priori which assays to perform is, thus, a critical step in many studies. We present the submodular selection of assays (SSA), a method for choosing a diverse panel of genomic assays that leverages methods from submodular optimization. More generally, this application serves as a model for how submodular optimization can be applied to other discrete problems in biology.
Zeolite-Mediated Cyclization of an Epoxide-Containing Polyene†

The utility of zeolites as promoters for the cyclization of an epoxide-containing polyene has been investigated. Reaction of polyene 1 with oven-dried 4 A molecular sieves (type A zeolite) proceeds efficiently to generate bicyclic alcohol 2 in a 90% isolated yield. The reaction is sensitive to a variety of factors, including solvent type, water content, and zeolite acidity. Reactivity is apparently due to the zeolite lattice, since alumina and silica either are unreactive or generate a complex mixture of epoxide ring-opened products. Compared to the aluminum-based Lewis acid Me2AlCl, the zeolite-promoted cyclization of 1 was a more facile reaction, providing excellent product recovery after filtration. These results indicate that zeolites represent a new class of promoters in biomimetic polyene cyclizations.
The photooxidation of methyl Tertiary butyl ether

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) has been proposed and is being used as an additive to increase the octane of gasoline without the use of tetraethyl lead and alkylbenzenes. The present experiments have been performed to examine the kinetics and mechanisms of the atmospheric removal of MTBE. The kinetics of the reaction of OH with MTBE was examined by using a relative rate technique in which photolysis of methyl nitrite was used as the source of OH. With n-butane as the reference compound a value of (2.99 ± 0.12) × 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 at a temperature of 298 K was obtained for the rate constant. The products (and product yields) for the OH reaction with MTBE in the presence of NOx were also determined and found to be t-butyl formate (0.68 ± 0.05), methyl acetate (0.14 ± 0.02), acetone (0.026 ± 0.003), t-butanol (0.062 ± 0.009), and formaldehyde (0.48 ± 0.05) in mols/mol MTBE converted. The OH rate constant for the major product formed, t-butyl formate was also measured and found to be (7.37 ± 0.05) × 10−13 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. Mechanisms to rationalize the formation of the products are presented.
Unsaturated Nitriles: Precursors for a Domino Ozonolysis-Aldol Synthesis of Oxonitriles.

Cyclic five-, six-, and seven-membered oxonitriles are prepared by a tandem ozonolysis−aldol sequence. Cyclopentenylacetonitrile (4) and cyclohexenylacetonitrile (12) afford the ring-expanded oxoni...
Substituted triethylene glycols from dibutylstannylene acetals

Abstract Stannylene acetals prepared from disubstituted vicinal diols can be alkylated with a half equivalent of 1,2-dibromoethane to produce tetrasubstituted triethylene glycols 2 , or with two equivalents of 2-chloroethanol to produce disubstituted triethylene glycols 1 .
Syntheses of New Phosphorus-Containing Azabicycloalkanes and Their Microbial Hydroxylation Using Beauveria bassiana

Representative novel phosphorus-containing azabicyclic substrates have been synthesized and subsequently microbially hydroxylated in fair to good yields using the microorganism Beauveria bassiana. ...
Differential regional decline in dopamine receptor availability across adulthood: Linear and nonlinear effects of age

Theories of adult brain development, based on neuropsychological test results and structural neuroimaging, suggest differential rates of age-related change in function across cortical and subcortical sub-regions. However, it remains unclear if these trends also extend to the aging dopamine system. Here we examined cross-sectional adult age differences in estimates of D2-like receptor binding potential across several cortical and subcortical brain regions using PET imaging and the radiotracer [18 F]Fallypride in two samples of healthy human adults (combined N = 132). After accounting for regional differences in overall radioligand binding, estimated percent difference in receptor binding potential by decade (linear effects) were highest in most temporal and frontal cortical regions (~6-16% per decade), moderate in parahippocampal gyrus, pregenual frontal cortex, fusiform gyrus, caudate, putamen, thalamus, and amygdala (~3-5%), and weakest in subcallosal frontal cortex, ventral striatum, pallidum, and hippocampus (~0-2%). Some regions showed linear effects of age while many showed curvilinear effects such that binding potential declined from young adulthood to middle age and then was relatively stable until old age. Overall, these data indicate that the rate and pattern of decline in D2 receptor availability is regionally heterogeneous. However, the differences across regions were challenging to organize within existing theories of brain development and did not show the same pattern of regional change that has been observed in gray matter volume, white matter integrity, or cognitive performance. This variation suggests that existing theories of adult brain development may need to be modified to better account for the spatial dynamics of dopaminergic system aging.
Conversion of Nitroalkenes into β-(Trichloromethyl) Nitroalkanes

Abstract The cesium fluoride-catalyzed reaction of (trichloromethyl) - trimethylsilane with conjugated nitroalkenes affords β-(trichloromethyl)nitroalkanes.
Cross-site comparison of ribosomal depletion kits for Illumina RNAseq library construction

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) comprises at least 90% of total RNA extracted from mammalian tissue or cell line samples. Informative transcriptional profiling using massively parallel sequencing technologies requires either enrichment of mature poly-adenylated transcripts or targeted depletion of the rRNA fraction. The latter method is of particular interest because it is compatible with degraded samples such as those extracted from FFPE and also captures transcripts that are not poly-adenylated such as some non-coding RNAs. Here we provide a cross-site study that evaluates the performance of ribosomal RNA removal kits from Illumina, Takara/Clontech, Kapa Biosystems, Lexogen, New England Biolabs and Qiagen on intact and degraded RNA samples. We find that all of the kits are capable of performing significant ribosomal depletion, though there are differences in their ease of use. All kits were able to remove ribosomal RNA to below 20% with intact RNA and identify ~ 14,000 protein coding genes from the Universal Human Reference RNA sample at >1FPKM. Analysis of differentially detected genes between kits suggests that transcript length may be a key factor in library production efficiency. These results provide a roadmap for labs on the strengths of each of these methods and how best to utilize them.
Assessment and Refinement of Sample Preparation Methods for Deep and Quantitative Plant Proteome Profiling.

A major challenge in the field of proteomics is obtaining high-quality peptides for comprehensive proteome profiling by LC-MS. Here, evaluation and modification of a range of sample preparation methods using photosynthetically active Arabidopsis leaf tissue are done. It was found that inclusion of filter-aided sample preparation (FASP) based on filter digestion improves all protein extraction methods tested. Ultimately, a detergent-free urea-FASP approach that enables deep and robust quantification of leaf and root proteomes is shown. For example, from 4-day-old leaf tissue, up to 11 690 proteins were profiled from a single sample replicate. This method should be broadly applicable to researchers working with difficult to process plant samples.
Cross-conjugated cyclopentenone prostaglandins synthesis of Δ7-10-chloro-15-deoxy PGA1 ethyl ester

Abstract The cationic cyclopentannelation reaction provides an unconventional but highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of unsaturated prostanoids and their analogs.
Reduced demand uncertainty and the sustainability of collusion: How AI could affect competition

Abstract We model how a technology that perfectly predicts one of two stochastic demand shocks alters the character and sustainability of collusion. Our results show that mechanisms that reduce firms’ uncertainty about the true level of demand have ambiguous welfare implications for consumers and firms alike. An exogenous improvement in firms’ ability to predict demand may make collusion possible where it was previously unsustainable or more profitable where it previously existed. However, an increase in transparency also may make collusion impracticable where it had been possible. The intuition for this ambiguity is that greater clarity about the true state of demand raises the payoffs both to colluding and to cheating. Our findings on the ambiguous welfare implications of reduced uncertainty contribute to the emerging literature on how algorithms, artificial intelligence (AI), and “big data” in market intelligence applications may affect competition.
Compost Quality Recommendations for Remediating Urban Soils.

Poor soil health is a critical problem in many urban landscapes. Degraded soil restricts plant growth and microorganism activity, limiting the ability of urban landscapes to perform much needed ecosystem services. Incorporation of approximately 33% compost by volume into degraded soil has been proven to improve soil health and structure over time while avoiding the financial and environmental costs of importing soil mixes from elsewhere. However, additions of high volumes of compost could potentially increase the risk of nutrient loss through leaching and runoff. The objective of our study was to consider the effects of different compost amendments on soil health, plant health and susceptibility to nutrient leaching in order to identify ranges of acceptable compost characteristics that could be used for soil remediation in the urban landscape. A bioassay was conducted with Phaseolus vulgaris (Bush Bean) to measure the effect of nine composts from different feedstocks on various plant health parameters. Leachate was collected prior to planting to measure nutrient loss from each treatment. All compost amendments were found to improve soil health. Nutrient-rich, manure-based composts produced the greatest plant growth, but also leached high concentrations of nitrate and phosphorus. Some treatments provided sufficient nutrients for plant growth without excess nutrient loss. When incorporating as much as 33% compost by volume into a landscape bed, the optimal compost will generally have a C:N ratio of 10–20, P-content <1.0% and a soluble salt content between 1.0 and 3.5 mmhos/cm. These recommendations should ensure optimal plant and soil health and minimize nutrient leaching.
Health Information Technology and Accountable Care Organizations: A Systematic Review and Future Directions.

Background: Since the inception of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), many have acknowledged the potential synergy between ACOs and health information technology (IT) in meeting quality and cost goals. Objective: We conducted a systematic review of the literature in order to describe what research has been conducted at the intersection of health IT and ACOs and identify directions for future research. Methods: We identified empirical studies discussing the use of health IT via PubMed search with subsequent snowball reference review. The type of health IT, how health IT was included in the study, use of theory, population, and findings were extracted from each study. Results: Our search resulted in 32 studies describing the intersection of health IT and ACOs, mainly in the form of electronic health records and health information exchange. Studies were divided into three streams by purpose; those that considered health IT as a factor for ACO participation, health IT use by current ACOs, and ACO performance as a function of health IT capabilities. Although most studies found a positive association between health IT and ACO participation, studies that address the performance of ACOs in terms of their health IT capabilities show more mixed results. Conclusions: In order to better understand this emerging relationship between health IT and ACO performance, we propose future research should consider more quasi-experimental studies, the use of theory, and merging health, quality, cost, and health IT use data across ACO member organizations.
Cross-Domain CNN for Hyperspectral Image Classification

In this paper, we address the dataset scarcity issue with the hyperspectral image classification. As only a few thousands of pixels are available for training, it is difficult to effectively learn high-capacity Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). To cope with this problem, we propose a novel cross-domain CNN containing the shared parameters which can co-learn across multiple hyperspectral datasets. the network also contains the non-shared portions designed to handle the dataset-specific spectral characteristics and the associated classification tasks. Our approach is the first attempt to learn a CNN for multiple hyperspectral datasets, in an end-to-end fashion. Moreover, we have experimentally shown that the proposed network trained on three of the widely used datasets outperform all the baseline networks which are trained on single dataset.
Darwinian Evolution of Cooperation via Punishment in the "Public Goods" Game

The evolution of cooperation has been a perennial problem for evolutionary biology because cooperation is undermined by selfish cheaters (or “free riders”) that profit from cooperators but do not invest any resources themselves. In a purely “selfish” view of evolution, those cheaters should be favored. Evolutionary game theory has been able to show that under certain conditions, cooperation nonetheless evolves stably. One of these scenarios utilizes the power of punishment to suppress free riders, but only if players interact in a structured population where cooperators are likely to be surrounded by other cooperators. Here we show that cooperation via punishment can evolve even in well-mixed populations that play the “public goods” game, if the synergy effect of cooperation is high enough. As the synergy is increased, populations transition from defection to cooperation in a manner reminiscent of a phase transition. If punishment is turned off, the critical synergy is significantly higher, illustrating that (as shown before) punishment aids in establishing cooperation. We also show that the critical point depends on the mutation rate so that higher mutation rates discourage cooperation, as has been observed before in the Prisoner’s Dilemma.
Mapping and localization from planar markers

Abstract Squared planar markers are a popular tool for fast, accurate and robust camera localization, but its use is frequently limited to a single marker, or at most, to a small set of them for which their relative pose is known beforehand. Mapping and localization from a large set of planar markers is yet a scarcely treated problem in favour of keypoint-based approaches. However, while keypoint detectors are not robust to rapid motion, large changes in viewpoint, or significant changes in appearance, fiducial markers can be robustly detected under a wider range of conditions. This paper proposes a novel method to simultaneously solve the problems of mapping and localization from a set of squared planar markers. First, a quiver of pairwise relative marker poses is created, from which an initial pose graph is obtained. The pose graph may contain small pairwise pose errors, that when propagated, leads to large errors. Thus, we distribute the rotational and translational error along the basis cycles of the graph so as to obtain a corrected pose graph. Finally, we perform a global pose optimization by minimizing the reprojection errors of the planar markers in all observed frames. The experiments conducted show that our method performs better than Structure from Motion and visual SLAM techniques.
A general state-sum construction of 2-dimensional topological quantum field theories with defects

We derive a general state sum construction for 2D topological quantum field theories (TQFTs) with source defects on oriented curves, extending the state-sum construction from special symmetric Frobenius algebra for 2D TQFTs without defects (cf. Lauda and Pfeiffer [State-sum construction of two-dimensional open-closed topological quantum field theories, J. Knot Theory Ramifications 16 (2007) 1121–1163, doi: 10.1142/S0218216507005725]). From the extended Pachner moves (Crane and Yetter [Moves on filtered PL manifolds and stratified PL spaces, arXiv:1404.3142]), we derive equations that we subsequently translate into string diagrams so that we can easily observe their properties. As in Dougherty, Park and Yetter [On 2-dimensional Dijkgraaf–Witten theory with defects, to appear in J. Knots Theory Ramifications], we require that triangulations be flaglike, meaning that each simplex of the triangulation is either disjoint from the defect curve, or intersects it in a closed face, and that the extended Pachner moves preserve flaglikeness.
Open-minded imitation can achieve near-optimal vaccination coverage.

Game-theoretic studies of voluntary vaccination predict that a socially unstructured population that is guided exclusively by individual rational self-interest always reaches a Nash equilibrium with vaccination coverage that is below the societal optimum. Human decision-making involves additional mechanisms, such as imitation of the successful strategies of others. However, previous research has found that imitation leads to vaccination coverage that is even below the Nash equilibrium. In this work, we note that these conclusions rely on the widely accepted use of Fermi functions for modeling the probabilities of switching to another strategy. We consider here a more general functional form of the switching probabilities. It involves one additional parameter $$\alpha $$ . This parameter can be loosely interpreted as a degree of open-mindedness. The resulting dynamics are consistent with the ones that would be generated by functions that give best fits for empirical data in a widely cited psychological experiment. We show that sufficiently high levels of open-mindedness, as conceptualized by our parameter $$\alpha $$ , will drive equilibrium vaccination coverage levels above the Nash equilibrium, and in fact arbitrarily close to the societal optimum. These results were obtained both through mathematical analysis and numerical simulations.
CONVERGENT BAYESIAN FORMULATIONS OF BLIND SOURCE SEPARATION AND ELECTROMAGNETIC SOURCE ESTIMATION

We consider two areas of research that have been developing in parallel over the last decade: blind source separation (BSS) and electromagnetic source estimation (ESE). BSS deals with the recovery of source signals when only mixtures of signals can be obtained from an array of detectors and the only prior knowledge consists of some information about the nature of the source signals. On the other hand, ESE utilizes knowledge of the electromagnetic forward problem to assign source signals to their respective generators, while information about the signals themselves is typically ignored.
Transfer maps and projection formulas

Transfer maps and projection formulas are undoubtedly one of the key tools in the development and computation of (co)homology theories. In this note we develop an unified treatment of transfer maps and projection formulas in the non-commutative setting of dg categories. As an application, we obtain transfer maps and projection formulas in algebraic K-theory, cyclic homology, topological cyclic homology, and other scheme invariants.
A Data-Driven Approach for Autonomous Motion Planning and Control in Off-Road Driving Scenarios

This paper presents a novel data-driven approach for vehicle motion planning and control in off-road driving scenarios. For autonomous off-road driving, environmental conditions impact terrain traversability as a function of weather, surface composition, and slope. Geographical information system (GIS) and National Centers for Environmental Information datasets are processed to provide this information for interactive planning and control system elements. A top-level global route planner (GRP) defines optimal waypoints using dynamic programming (DP). A local path planner (LPP) computes a desired trajectory between waypoints such that infeasible control states and collisions with obstacles are avoided. The LPP also updates the GRP with real-time sensing and control data. A low-level feedback controller applies feedback linearization to asymptotically track the specified LPP trajectory. Autonomous driving simulation results are presented for traversal of terrains in Oregon and Indiana case studies.
Noisy Tensor Completion via the Sum-of-Squares Hierarchy

In the noisy tensor completion problem we observe m entries (whose location is chosen uniformly at random) from an unknown n1 n2 n3 tensor T . We assume that T is entry-wise close to being rankr. Our goal is to fill in its missing entries using as few observations as possible. Let n = max(n1;n2;n3). We show that if m = n 3=2 r then there is a polynomial time algorithm based on the sixth level of the sum-of-squares hierarchy for completing it. Our estimate agrees with almost all of T ’s entries almost exactly and works even when our observations are corrupted by noise. This is also the first algorithm for tensor completion that works in the overcomplete case whenr > n, and in fact it works all the way up tor = n 3=2 . Our proofs are short and simple and are based on establishing a new connection between noisy tensor completion (through the language of Rademacher complexity) and the task of refuting random constant satisfaction problems. This connection seems to have gone unnoticed even in the context of matrix completion. Furthermore, we use this connection to show matching lower bounds. Our main technical result is in characterizing the Rademacher complexity of the sequence of norms that arise in the sum-of-squares relaxations to the tensor nuclear norm. These results point to an interesting new direction: Can we explore computational vs. sample complexity tradeoffs through the sum-of-squares hierarchy?
Adjoints of rationally induced composition operators

Abstract We give an elementary proof of a formula recently obtained by Hammond, Moorhouse, and Robbins for the adjoint of a rationally induced composition operator on the Hardy space H 2 [Christopher Hammond, Jennifer Moorhouse, Marian E. Robbins, Adjoints of composition operators with rational symbol, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 341 (2008) 626–639]. We discuss some variants and implications of this formula, and use it to provide a sufficient condition for a rationally induced composition operator adjoint to be a compact perturbation of a weighted composition operator.
On Computing Average Common Substring Over Run Length Encoded Sequences

The Average Common Substring (ACS) is a popular alignment-free distance measure for phylogeny reconstruction. The ACS can be computed in O(n) space and time, where n=x+y is the input size. The compressed string matching is the study of string matching problems with the following twist: the input data is in a compressed format and the underling task must be performed with little or no decompression. In this paper, we revisit the ACS problem under this paradigm where the input sequences are given in their run-length encoded format. We present an algorithm to compute ACS(X,Y) in O(Nlog N) time using O(N) space, where N is the total length of sequences after run-length encoding.