cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
k-Protected vertices in binary search trees

We show that for every k, the probability that a randomly selected vertex of a random binary search tree on n nodes is at distance k-1 from the closest leaf converges to a rational constant c"k as n goes to infinity.
Common patterns of violence experiences and depression and anxiety among adolescents

Purpose A considerable amount of research has examined violence experiences and psychopathology; however, few studies have examined how multiple settings and experiences of violence are associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Thermally Regenerative Hydrogen/Oxygen Fuel Cell Power Cycles

Two thermodynamic power cycles are analytically examined for future engineering feasibility. These power cycles use a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell for electrical energy production and use the thermal dissociation of water for regeneration of the hydrogen and oxygen. The first cycle uses a thermal energy input at over 2000K to thermally dissociate the water. The second cycle dissociates the water using an electrolyzer operating at high temperature (1300K) which receives both thermal and electrical energy as inputs. The results show that while the processes and devices of the 2000K thermal system exceed current technology limits, the high temperature electrolyzer system appears to be a state-of-the-art technology development, with the requirements for very high electrolyzer and fuel cell efficiencies seen as determining the feasibility of this system.
Submillimeter measurements of the Criegee intermediate CH2OO, in the gas phase

Abstract High frequency pure rotational transitions of the simplest Criegee intermediate, methylene peroxide (CH2OO), have been measured up to 1 THz. The data provide the most accurate spectroscopic parameters for the ground vibrational state. The molecule was produced in a flow cell with a DC discharge of CH2I2, O2 and Ar. Doppler limited measurements were made in the frequency ranges 220–320, 580–680 and 970–1080 GHz. A total of 211 transitions were measured and added to four transitions measured in the microwave to obtain a fit up to Jmax = 49 and K a max = 14 of the a-dipole spectrum.
SFI++ I: A New I-Band Tully-Fisher Template, the Cluster Peculiar Velocity Dispersion, and H0

The SFI++ consists of ~5000 spiral galaxies which have measurements suitable for the application of the I-band Tully-Fisher (TF) relation. This sample builds on the SCI and SFI samples published in the 1990s but includes significant amounts of new data as well as improved methods for parameter determination. We derive a new I-band TF relation from a subset of this sample which consists of 807 galaxies in the fields of 31 nearby clusters and groups. This sample constitutes the largest ever available for the calibration of the TF template and extends the range of line-widths over which the template is reliably measured. Careful accounting is made of observational and sample biases such as incompleteness, finite cluster size, galaxy morphology and environment. We find evidence for a type-dependent TF slope which is shallower for early type than for late type spirals. The line-of-sight cluster peculiar velocity dispersion is measured for the sample of 31 clusters. This value is directly related to the spectrum of initial density fluctuations and thus provides an independent verification of the best fit WMAP cosmology and an estimate of Omega^0.6 sigma_8 = 0.52+/-0.06. We also provide an independent measure of the TF zeropoint using 17 galaxies in the SFI++ sample for which Cepheid distances are available. In combination with the ``basket of clusters'' template relation these calibrator galaxies provide a measure of H0 = 74+/-2 (random) +/-6 (systematic) km/s/Mpc.
On the perihelion precession as a Machian effect

A Lagrangian is constructed which gives Newtonian gravity in the lowest-order approximation in an isotropic universe and also predicts the correct advance of the perihelion with the proper choice of a constant governing the ratio of inertial to gravitational mass. The situation considered is that of a test particle orbiting a central body with external mass at rest and distributed isotropically at large distances from the central body. In the theory developed, the perihelion advance is due to a small contribution to the test-particle inertial mass by the central attracting body rather than to a failure of the inverse-square law of attraction. Some interesting Machian features of this theory are that: (1) the local value of the gravitational constant is determined by the mass distribution of the external matter; (2) the orbits are fixed, and the perihelion advances unambiguously with respect to the external-mass distribution; (3) there are no vestiges of absolute space; (4) the perihelion precession arises from the inertial interaction of the test particle with the central mass; (5) the local rest mass is really determined by the mass distribution of the rest of the universe; and (6) a limited form of the equivalence principle is inherent in one of the equations.
Complex surface singularities with integral homology sphere links

While the topological types of normal surface singularities with homology sphere link have been classified, forming a rich class, until recently little was known about the possible analytic structures. We proved in [30] that many of them can be realized as complete intersection singularities of “splice type,” generalizing Brieskorn type. We show that a normal singularity with homology sphere link is of splice type if and only if some naturally occurring knots in the singularity link are themselves links of hypersurface sections of the singular point. The Casson Invariant Conjecture (CIC) asserts that for a complete intersection surface singularity whose link is an integral homology sphere, the Casson invariant of that link is one-eighth the signature of the Milnor fiber. In this paper we prove CIC for a large class of splice type singularities. The CIC suggests (and is motivated by the idea) that the Milnor fiber of a complete intersection singularity with homology sphere link Σ should be a 4–manifold canonically associated to Σ. We propose, and verify in a non-trivial case, a stronger conjecture than the CIC for splice type complete intersections: a precise topological description of the Milnor fiber. We also point out recent counterexamples to some overly optimistic earlier conjectures in [28] and [29]. AMS Classification numbers Primary: 14B05, 14H20 Secondary: 32S50, 57M25, 57N10
Coordination and learning with a partial language

Abstract This paper explores how efficiency promotes the use of structure in language. It starts from the premise that one of language's central characteristics is to provide a means for saying novel things about novel circumstances, its creativity. It is reasonable to expect that in a rich and changing environment, language will be incomplete. This encourages reliance on structure. It is shown how creative language use emerges from common knowledge structures, even if those structures are consistent with an a priori absence of a common language. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C60, C72.
An empirically based calculation of the extragalactic infrared background

Using the excellent observed correlations among various infrared wave bands with 12 and 60 μm luminosities, we calculate the 2-300 μm spectra of galaxies as a function of luminosity. We then use 12 μm and 60 μm galaxy luminosity functions derived from IRAS data, together with recent data on the redshift evolution of galaxy emissivity, to derive a new, empirically based infrared background spectrum from stellar and dust emission in galaxies. Our best estimate for the infrared background is of order 2-3 nW m-2 sr-1 with a peak around 200 μm reaching ~6-8 nW m-2 sr-1. Our empirically derived background spectrum is fairly flat in the mid-infrared, as opposed to spectra based on modeling with discrete temperatures that exhibit a pronounced "valley" in the mid-infrared. We also derive a conservative lower limit to the infrared background that is more than a factor of 2 lower than our derived flux.
Palladium-Catalyzed Amination of Aromatic C−H Bonds with Oxime Esters

We report a conceptually new approach to the direct amination of aromatic C−H bonds. In this process, an oxime ester function reacts with an aromatic C−H bond under redox-neutral conditions to form, in the case studied, an indole product. These reactions occur with relatively low catalyst loading (1 mol %) by a mechanism that appears to involve an unusual initial oxidative addition of an N−O bond to a Pd(0) species. The Pd(II) complex from oxidative addition of the N−X bond has been isolated for the first time, and evidence for the intermediacy of such oxidative addition products in the catalytic reaction has been gained.
Applications of a new space-partitioning technique

We present several applications of a recent space-partitioning technique of Chazelle, Sharir, and Welzl (Proceedings of the 6th Annual ACM Symposium on Computational Geometry, 1990, pp. 23---33). Our results include efficient algorithms for output-sensitive hidden surface removal, for ray shooting in two and three dimensions, and for constructing spanning trees with low stabbing number.
The need for translational research on drug-drug interactions.

Drug–drug interactions (DDIs) are an important clinical and public health concern. Although DDI screening now occurs during drug development, it is difficult to predict clinical importance based on in vitro experiments. Furthermore, older drugs that were not screened may have interactions that have not yet been identified. In this Commentary, we review the importance of DDIs and argue that a translational research approach is needed to produce clinically actionable information as well as generalizable biological knowledge. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2012); 91 5, 771–773. doi:10.1038/clpt.2012.39
Catecholamine response is attenuated during moderate-intensity exercise in response to the "lactate clamp"

Catecholamine release is known to be regulated by feedforward and feedback mechanisms. Norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (Epi) concentrations rise in response to stresses, such as exercise, that challenge blood glucose homeostasis. The purpose of this study was to assess the hypothesis that the lactate anion is involved in feedback control of catecholamine concentration. Six healthy active men (26 +/- 2 yr, 82 +/- 2 kg, 50.7 +/- 2.1 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)) were studied on five occasions after an overnight fast. Plasma concentrations of NE and Epi were determined during 90 min of rest and 90 min of exercise at 55% of peak O2 consumption (VO2 peak) two times with exogenous lactate infusion (lactate clamp, LC) and two times without LC (CON). The blood lactate profile ( approximately 4 mM) of a preliminary trial at 65% VO2 peak (65%) was matched during the subsequent LC trials. In resting men, plasma NE concentration was not different between trials, but during exercise all conditions were different with 65% > CON > LC (65%: 2,115 +/- 166 pg/ml, CON: 1,573 +/- 153 pg/ml, LC: 930 +/- 174 pg/ml, P < 0.05). Plasma Epi concentrations at rest were different between conditions, with LC less than 65% and CON (65%: 68 +/- 9 pg/ml, CON: 59 +/- 7 pg/ml, LC: 38 +/- 10 pg/ml, P < 0.05). During exercise, Epi concentration showed the same trend (65%: 262 +/- 37 pg/ml, CON: 190 +/- 34 pg/ml, LC: 113.2 +/- 23 pg/ml, P < 0.05). In conclusion, lactate attenuates the catecholamine response during moderate-intensity exercise, likely by feedback inhibition.
Emergence of coherent long wavelength oscillations after a quench: application to QCD

Abstract To model the dynamics of the chiral order parameter in a far from equilibrium phase transition, we consider quenching in the O(4) linear sigma model. We argue, and present numerical evidence, that in the period immediately following the quench long wavelength modes of the pion field are amplified. This results in large regions of coherent pion oscillations, and could lead to dramatic phenomenological consequences in heavy ion collisions.
ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE DISTRIBUTION AND LIGHT CURVES OF GAMMA-RAY BURST SUPERNOVAE

Photometry data were collected from the literature and analyzed for supernovae (SNe) that are thought to have a gamma-ray burst (GRB) association. There are several GRBs afterglow light curves that appear to have an SN component. For these light curves, the SN component was extracted and analyzed. An SN light-curve model was used to help determine the peak absolute magnitudes as well as estimates for the kinetic energy, ejected mass, and nickel mass in the explosion. The peak absolute magnitudes are, on average, brighter than those of similar SNe (stripped-envelope SNe) that do not have a GRB association, but this can easily be due to a selection effect. However, the kinetic energies and ejected masses were found to be considerably higher, on average, than those of similar SNe without a GRB association.
Review of Indirect WIMP Search Experiments

Observational evidence for dark matter can be explained by Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). These dark matter particle candidates could indirectly be detected through the observation of signals produced as part of WIMP annihilations or decays. Latest results from indirect searches for WIMPs are reviewed. Current and planned experiments are presented and their prospects and discovery potential discussed.
Solar-pumped gas laser development

The direct conversion of solar radiation into an inverted population for extraction in an optical cavity holds promise as a relatively simple system design. Broad-band photoabsorption in the visible or near-UV range is required to excite large volumes of gas and to ensure good solar absorption efficiency. The state excited must be a metastable state which is not quenched by the parent gas. The emission bandwidth must be less than approximately 10 A. The system should show chemical reversibility and an insensitivity to increasing temperature. Other properties such as good quantum efficiency and kinetic efficiency are also implied. A search of electronic-vibrational transitions in diatomic molecules satisfying these conditions is now in progress. A photodissociation-pumped atomic iodine laser is now being tested under solar pumping conditions. Photodissociation studies for thallium spin-flip metastable formation will begin in the near future.
Silicon tunnel diodes formed by proximity rapid thermal diffusion

We demonstrate the first silicon tunnel diodes (TDs) formed using proximity rapid thermal diffusion and spin-on diffusants. Room temperature peak-to-valley current ratio of 2 is obtained at approximately 100 A/cm/sup 2/ peak current density. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy is used to compare proximity rapid thermal diffusion with rapid thermal diffusion from spin-coated diffusants in direct contact with a device wafer. The proximity rapid thermal diffusion approach provides a cleaner wafer surface for subsequent processing and yields TDs with good local uniformity.
Nonlinear aerodynamic effects on bodies in supersonic flow

The supersonic flow about generic bodies was analyzed to identify the elments of the nonlinear flow and to determine the influence of geometry and flow conditions on the magnitude of these nonlinearities. The nonlinear effects were attributed to separated-flow nonlinearities and attached-flow nonlinearities. The nonlinear attached-flow contribution was further broken down into large-disturbance effects and entropy effects. Conical, attached-flow bundaries were developed to illustrate the flow regimes where the nonlinear effects are significant, and the use of these boundaries for angle of attack and three-dimensional geometries was indicated. Normal-force and pressure comparisons showed that the large-disturbance and separated-flow effects were the dominant nonlinear effects at low supersonic Mach numbers and that the entropy effects were dominant for high supersonic Mach number flow. The magnitude of all the nonlinear effects increased with increasing angle of attack. A full-potential method, NCOREL, which includes an approximate entropy correction, was shown to provide accurate attached-flow pressure estimates from Mach 1.6 through 4.6.
Star passages through the Oort cloud

Stars passing through the Oort cloud eject comets to interstellar space and initiate showers of comets into the planetary region. Monte Carlo simulations of such passages are performed on a representative distribution of cometary orbits. Ejected comets generally lie along a narrow tunnel “drilled” by the star through the cloud. However, shower comets come from the entire cloud, and do not give a strong signature of the star’s passage, except in the inverse semimajor axis distribution for the shower comets. The planetary system is likely not experiencing a cometary shower at this time.
Dipole induced transparency in waveguide coupled photonic crystal cavities

A weakly coupled quantum dot is used to control the transmission from a photonic crystal resonator into a photonic crystal waveguide. On-chip integration of local temperature tuning elements and efficient out-coupling with an integrated grating structure are demonstrated.
A structure-activity relationship for the estimation of rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with organic compounds

A previous technique for the calculation of rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of the OH radical with organic compounds has been updated and extended to include sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds. The overall OH radical reaction rate constants are separated into individual processes involving (a) H-atom abstraction from CH and OH bonds in saturated organics, (b) OH radical addition to >CC NH, >N, SH, and S groups. During its development, this estimation technique has been tested against the available database, and only for 18 out of a total of ca. 300 organic compounds do the calculated and experimental room temperature rate constants disagree by more than a factor of 2. This suggests that this technique has utility in estimating OH radical reaction rate constants at room temperature and atmospheric pressure of air, and hence atmospheric lifetimes due to OH radical reaction, for organic compounds for which experimental data are not available. In addition, OH radical reaction rate constants can be estimated over the temperature range ca. 250–1000 K for those organic compounds which react via H-atom abstraction from CH and OH bonds, and over the temperature range ca. 250–500 K for compounds containing >CC< bond systems.
Ensuring equitable access to public health care: Two steps forward, one step back

Abstract Advancements by the federal government to extend access to health care to Medicaid eligible populations have been countered by state government efforts to curtail program benefits and eligibility. Fiscally and philosophically-based legislation and Medicaid waivers have created a patchwork of state policies that contradict the original civil rights orientation of the program. This examination of equitable access to Medicaid programs and services reviews individual and community factors and fiscal and institutional barriers that contribute to discriminatory practices and then explores ways in which the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) addresses those issues. We find that the ACA funding authorizations for numerous innovative programs strives to substantially redress issues of discriminatory and inequitable service provision.
Mild head injury in children: Identification, clinical evaluation, neuroimaging, and disposition

Abstract Pediatric head injury presents in various degrees of severity. Early intervention in the patient with a severe head injury is the key to preventing secondary central nervous system damage. Patients with a head injury are easily identified, often by clinical examination alone. However, patients with a mild head injury present a challenge to practitioners, particularly in identification, knowing what is important in the clinical evaluation, deciding whether to use neuroimaging, and knowing where to send the child for observation. Use of the Glasgow Coma Score, primary survey, and identification of historic and clinical features that are suggestive of severe head injury may guide pediatric nurse practitioners in providing appropriate medical care and disposition.
Multiplier Offset Voltages in Adaptive Arrays

The effects of multiplier offset voltages in adaptive arrays are examined. Multiplier offset voltages arise when active circuits are used to implement the error-by-signal multipliers required in an array based on the LMS algorithm. These offset voltages are known from experimental work to have a strong effect on array performance. It is first shown how multiplier offset voltages may be included in the differential equations for the array weights. Then their effect on weight behavior is studied. It is found that the offset voltages affect the final values of the weights, but not the time constants. Furthermore, the effect they have is influenced by the amount of element noise in the array. An adequate amount of noise is necessary to minimize weight errors due to offset voltages. An example is treated to show the effect of offset voltages on the final array weights and the output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). With offset voltages present, it is found that there is a maximum SNR that can be obtained from the array. A specific input SNR is required to obtain this maximum output SNR. Finally, it is shown that a finite operating range for the weights places a further restriction on the acceptable values of offset voltages and noise.
An analysis of the Jobs Credit Scheme using a simple model

We estimated the effect of the Jobs Credit Scheme (JCS) – a temporary wage subsidy programme – in protecting local workers from retrenchment using a one-period Cobb–Douglas production function under five scenarios of economic contractions in 2009: optimistic (−2%), actual (−3.1%), expected (−5%), pessimistic (−10%) and catastrophic (−20%). The JCS had a substitution effect that could save 32,000–50,000 local jobs, but would be less effective in serious economic contractions. Our model's prediction was biased upwards because of adjustment costs. The main effect of the programme was a wealth transfer to firm owners which could be inequitable. The deadweight loss at 1.62% of the programme cost was small. The alternative policy of simultaneously taxing foreign workers and transferring a lump sum to firms could achieve the same outcome with a smaller wealth transfer.
Exact pattern matching with feed-forward bloom filters

This article presents a new, memory efficient and cache-optimized algorithm for simultaneously searching for a large number of patterns in a very large corpus. This algorithm builds upon the Rabin-Karp string search algorithm and incorporates a new type of Bloom filter that we call a feed-forward Bloom filter. While it retains the asymptotic time complexity of previous multiple pattern matching algorithms, we show that this technique, along with a CPU architecture-aware design of the Bloom filter, can provide speed-ups between 2× and 30×, and memory consumption reductions as large as 50× when compared with grep. Our algorithm is also well suited for implementations on GPUs: A modern GPU can search for 3 million patterns at a rate of 580MB/s, and for 100 million patterns (a prohibitive number for traditional algorithms) at a rate of 170MB/s.
Unsteady heat transfer from a sphere at low Reynolds and Strouhal numbers

An axisymmetric formulation is employed to examine convective heat transfer from a sphere in a traveling sound wave. Time-dependent thermal displacement and induced transient flows are found to increase the minimum value for transient heat transfer significantly above the pure conduction limit. Transient effects are found to cause significant differences when compared to a quasi-steady analysis in the determination of transient convection. General trends are found for a range of low Strouhal and Reynolds numbers.
Phase structure of a brane/anti-brane system at large N

We further analyze a class of recently studied metastable string vacua obtained by wrapping D5-branes and anti-D5-branes over rigid homologous S2's of a non-compact Calabi-Yau threefold. The large N dual description is characterized by a potential for the glueball fields which is determined by an auxiliary matrix model. The higher order corrections to this potential produce a suprisingly rich phase structure. In particular, at sufficiently large 't Hooft coupling the metastable vacua present at weak coupling cease to exist. This instability can already be seen by an open string two loop contribution to the glueball potential. The glueball potential also lifts some of the degeneracy in the vacua characterized by the phases of the glueball fields. This generates an exactly computable non-vanishing axion potential at large N.
Attribute substitution in systems engineering

Cognitive biases affect decision making in systems engineering (SE). Daniel Kahneman, 2002 Nobel laureate for his pioneering studies of cognitive biases in economic decision making, describes many disparate cognitive biases as abstractly belonging to one higher-level bias, that of attribute substitution. Attribute substitution occurs when an answer about a target attribute is unconscientiously provided by referring to a sublevel heuristic attribute that is simpler or more easily accessible, while other subattributes are ignored. The essence of this biasing process is generalized with real examples at all phases of the systems engineering process. Willful awareness of attribute substitution, however, can help prevent erroneous reduction in focus, and ensure that valid systems are being built to satisfy customer needs. © 2009 Wiley Periodcals, Inc. Syst Eng
SAMNet: a network-based approach to integrate multi-dimensional high throughput datasets

The rapid development of high throughput biotechnologies has led to an onslaught of data describing genetic perturbations and changes in mRNA and protein levels in the cell. Because each assay provides a one-dimensional snapshot of active signaling pathways, it has become desirable to perform multiple assays (e.g. mRNA expression and phospho-proteomics) to measure a single condition. However, as experiments expand to accommodate various cellular conditions, proper analysis and interpretation of these data have become more challenging. Here we introduce a novel approach called SAMNet, for Simultaneous Analysis of Multiple Networks, that is able to interpret diverse assays over multiple perturbations. The algorithm uses a constrained optimization approach to integrate mRNA expression data with upstream genes, selecting edges in the protein–protein interaction network that best explain the changes across all perturbations. The result is a putative set of protein interactions that succinctly summarizes the results from all experiments, highlighting the network elements unique to each perturbation. We evaluated SAMNet in both yeast and human datasets. The yeast dataset measured the cellular response to seven different transition metals, and the human dataset measured cellular changes in four different lung cancer models of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), a crucial process in tumor metastasis. SAMNet was able to identify canonical yeast metal-processing genes unique to each commodity in the yeast dataset, as well as human genes such as β-catenin and TCF7L2/TCF4 that are required for EMT signaling but escaped detection in the mRNA and phospho-proteomic data. Moreover, SAMNet also highlighted drugs likely to modulate EMT, identifying a series of less canonical genes known to be affected by the BCR-ABL inhibitor imatinib (Gleevec), suggesting a possible influence of this drug on EMT.
Property taxes and elderly mobility

The 2000-05 housing market boom in the U.S. has caused sharp increases in residential property taxes. Housing-rich but income-poor elderly homeowners often complain about rising tax burdens, and anecdotal evidence suggests that some move to reduce their tax burden. There has been little systematic analysis, however, of the link between property tax levels and the mobility rate of elderly homeowners. This paper investigates this link using household-level panel data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and a newly collected data set on state-provided property tax relief programs. These relief programs generate variation in effective property tax burdens that is not due solely to arguably endogenous local community choices about taxes and expenditure programs. The findings provide evidence suggesting that higher property taxes raise mobility among elderly homeowners. The point estimates from instrumental variable estimation using relief programs to generate instruments suggest that a $100 increase in annual property taxes is associated with a 0.73 percentage point increase in the two-year mobility rate for homeowners over the age of 50. This is an eight percent increase from the baseline two-year mobility rate of nine percent. These results are robust to alternative specifications.
High Temperature Raman Studies of Phase Transitions in Thin Film Dielectrics

Rapid and unambiguous characterization of crystalline phases in submicron sputter deposited TiO/sub 2/ films on silica substrates can be inferred from measured Raman spectra. Pure anatase and rutile, mixed phase, and amorphous films to thicknesses of several hundred Angstroms and greater yield Raman spectra exhibiting little interference from the substrate when the appropriate component of the scattered light is analyzed. In situ Raman spectra were acquired as a function of temperature to 900/sup 0/C using conventional radiant heating techniques and to temperatures near 2000/sup 0/C using 10.6/sup +/ radiation from a CW CO/sub 2/ laser as a localized heating source. Pulsed Raman excitation/gated detection techniques were used to minimize blackbody radiation interference at these high temperatures. Anatase and amorphous TiO/sub 2/ films transform irreversibly to the rutile phase at temperatures below 900/sup 0/C while rutile appears to be sable at much higher temperatures. Measurements performed on uncoated silica substrates at temperatures where the glass becomes fluid suggest that the strongly crosslinked glass has partially transformed into a chain-like structure. 12 references, 8 figures.
Experimental and Analytical Estimation of Loss Factors by the Power Input Method

The Power Input Method (PIM) is used both experimentally and a nalytically to estimate the system loss factor for sandwich panels with various configurations of Constrained Layer Damping (CLD) treatments over a broad frequency range. The experimental power input method is applied to both uniformly and non -uniformly da mped structures. Results are compared with results from other experimental methods. A new analytical power input method is proposed for evaluating the loss factor of built -up structures, based on the finite element model with assigned properties of the con stituents. The new analytical power input method is evaluated by comparison with the commonly used Modal Strain Energy (MSE) method. Instead of making an approximate correction of the constant material properties, this analytical power input method directl y takes into account the frequency -dependent material properties of the viscoelastic material using the MSC/NASTRAN direct frequency response solution. Results of experimental and analytical methods are presented, compared and discussed. It is shown that: 1) all three currently available experimental methods yield consistent results, while the power input method gives damping estimation other than just at several discrete frequencies basically in the low frequency range; 2) both the analytical power input m ethod and the modal strain energy method yield consistent results with the experimental power input method. Furthermore, both experimental and analytical power input methods are used to investigate how loss factors change as the excitation position change. This shows another merit of the analytical power input method, because analytical modal methods cannot take into account the change of excitation position.
Rank aggregation via nuclear norm minimization

The process of rank aggregation is intimately intertwined with the structure of skew symmetric matrices. We apply recent advances in the theory and algorithms of matrix completion to skew-symmetric matrices. This combination of ideas produces a new method for ranking a set of items. The essence of our idea is that a rank aggregation describes a partially filled skew-symmetric matrix. We extend an algorithm for matrix completion to handle skew-symmetric data and use that to extract ranks for each item.Our algorithm applies to both pairwise comparison and rating data. Because it is based on matrix completion, it is robust to both noise and incomplete data. We show a formal recovery result for the noiseless case and present a detailed study of the algorithm on synthetic data and Netflix ratings.
Restricting SLE(8/3) to an annulus

Abstract We study the probability that chordal SLE 8 / 3 in the unit disk from exp ( i x ) to 1 avoids the disk of radius q centered at zero. We find the initial/boundary value problem satisfied by this probability as a function of x and a = ln q , and show that asymptotically as q tends to 1 this probability decays like exp ( − c x / ( 1 − q ) ) with c = 5 π / 8 for 0 x ≤ π . We also give a representation of this probability as a multiplicative functional of a Legendre process.
STATISTICAL INFERENCE VIA BOOTSTRAPPING FOR MEASURES OF INEQUALITY

SUMMARY In this paper we consider the use of bootstrap methods to compute interval estimates and perform hypothesis tests for decomposable measures of economic inequality. Two applications of this approach, using the Gini coefficient and Theil's entropy measures of inequality, are provided. Our first application employs preand post-tax aggregate state income data, constructed from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. We find that although casual observation of the inequality measures suggests that the post-tax distribution of income is less equal among states than pre-tax income, none of these observed differences are statistically significant at the 10% level. Our second application uses the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data to study youth inequality. We find that youth inequality decreases as the cohort ages, but between age-group inequality has increased in the latter half of the 1980s. The results suggest that (1) statistical inference is essential even when large samples are available, and (2) the bootstrap procedure appears to perform well in this setting. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. J. appl. econom. 12: 133-150, 1997.
Race, ethnicity, and pain treatment: striving to understand the causes and solutions to the disparities in pain treatment.

would like for them to know that I am in pain or this part of my body hurts or the other part hurts — that I am not lying about it. To examine me and to cut down on the pain….And help me out.Patient with Sickle Cell Disease, Focus Group Participant Pain in the United States is widely recognized to be undertreated; however, the capacity to treat pain has never been greater. The causes of this undertreatment are varied. As we focus on pain and why it is too often ineffectively treated, we also discover that this undertreatment afflicts some more than others. What divides the some from the others isn't limited to one factor, but one particularly disturbing factor is race and ethnicity. Racial and ethnic minority populations are at higher risk for oligoanalgesia, or the ineffective treatment of pain. Only through further study of the differences in pain treatment based on race and ethnicity can we develop strategies to reduce the disparities in care.
GALAXY MASS, METALLICITY, RADIUS, AND STAR FORMATION RATES

Working with 108,786 Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) low-redshift galaxies, we have examined the relation between galaxy mass, metallicity, radius, and star formation rates (SFRs) primarily in the central portions of galaxies. We subdivided the redshift range covered in our sample, 0.07 ≤ z ≤ 0.3, into three narrower redshift bins, and three sets of radial size. We show that for 72% of the galaxies the observed gas metallicities, Zx , are consistent with (1) a quantitative physical relation for star formation through episodic infall of gas of metallicity Zi = 0.125 × 10–3 ± 1.25 × 10–3; (2) thorough mixing of infalling and native gas before onset of star formation; (3) an SFR proportional to the 3/2 power of the infalling mass rate, ; and (4) intermittent quiescent phases devoid of star formation during which the native gas in a galaxy exhibits a characteristic elevated gas metallicity, Z 0, dependent on galaxy mass, M *, and a characteristic ratio of stellar mass to native mass of gas, Mg . Most if not all our star-forming galaxies with M * ≤ 2.0 × 1010 M ☉, and many with M * ≥ 2.0 × 1010 M ☉ and large radii appear fed by infall. Smaller massive galaxies with high Zx and high SFRs show more complex behavior. A mean-field-theory toy model for the physics of infall accounts for the relation and permits us to estimate the mean densities and velocities of clumps of baryonic matter traversing the dark matter halos in which the SDSS galaxies may be embedded.
Long‐term creep‐rate changes and their causes

[1] We discuss measurements of the long-term creep rate from the San Juan Bautista section of the San Andreas fault. These observations of aseismic slip span a period of approximately half a century making it the longest creep record ever measured along an active fault zone. The records show systematic changes in creep rate over time scales of tens of years, and we address potential causes of these changes. In principle, they may be caused either by changes in resistive forces within the fault zone or by variations in plate-tectonic driving forces. Such driving force variations have recently been suggested to have occurred in the same area (Western North America) and within the same time window. These should give rise to observable effects in the creep data, but we find no evidence for temporal changes in plate-tectonic forcing at these time scales. A natural explanation for the observed long-term changes is elastic reloading of adjacent locked portions of the San Andreas fault after large earthquakes and possibly aseismic strain release that occurs before the earthquakes.
Standards and innovation: US public/private partnerships to support technology-based economic growth

This paper examines how strategic alliances to create and use standards affect economic growth and development. The explanation of the link from standards to economic growth and development is through the effects of standards on the incentives to perform industrial research and development (R&D). We examine product standards, metrology traceable to national and international standards, and regulatory standards to address negative externalities. The paper develops a theoretical explanation for the link from standards to growth, survey/interview-guides to gather information from industrial R&D experts about the explanation, and case-study evidence about the explanation. We discuss the standard-setting process and explain that it entails strategic alliances among firms and with government involvement. Case studies of R&D projects in firms and in a national laboratory support the belief that standards implemented via strategic alliances leverage economic growth and development.
WAVELETS AND FRACTAL IMAGE COMPRESSION BASED ON THEIR SELF-SIMILARITY OF THE SPACE-FREQUENCY PLANE OF IMAGES

This paper presents a fusion scheme for wavelets and fractal image compression based on the self-similarity of the space-frequency plane of sub-bands after wavelet transformation of images. Various kinds of wavelet transform are examined for the characteristics of their self-similarity and evaluated for the adoption of fractal encoder. The aim of this paper is to reduce the information of the two sets of blocks involved in the fractal image compression by using the self-similarity of images. And also, the new video encoder using the fusion method of wavelets and fractal adopts the similar manner as the motion compensation technique of MPEG encoder. Experimental results show almost the same PSNR and bits rate as conventional fractal image encoder by depending on the sampled images through computer simulations.
Socio-economic differences in the consumption of vegetables, fruit and berries in Russian and Finnish Karelia: 1992–2007

Background: Food habits and their socio-economic differences in Russia have rarely been compared to those in western countries. Our aim was to determine socio-economic differences and their changes in the consumption of vegetables, fruit and berries in two neighbouring areas: the district of Pitkaranta in the Republic of Karelia, Russia, and North Karelia, Finland. Methods: Cross-sectional risk factor surveys in Pitkaranta, in 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007 (1144 men, 1528 women) and in North Karelia, in 1992, 1997 and 2002 (2049 men, 2316 women), were carried out. Data collected with a self-administered questionnaire were analysed with logistic regression. Results: The consumption of fruit and vegetables was more common in North Karelia than in Pitkaranta, but increased markedly in Pitkaranta from 1992 to 2007. In Pitkaranta, women, and in North Karelia both men and women with higher education ate fresh vegetables more often than those with a lower education. In both areas, daily consumption of fruit tended to be more common among subjects with a higher education. In Pitkaranta, there were virtually no differences by employment status. In North Karelia, vegetable consumption was less common among the unemployed than the employed subjects. Only minor socio-economic differences in berry consumption were observed. The educational differences in vegetable consumption seemed to widen in Pitkaranta and narrow in North Karelia. Conclusion: A converging trend was observed, with the Russian consumption levels and socio-economic differences starting to approach those observed in Finland. This may be partly explained by the improvements in availability and affordability of fruit and vegetables in Pitkaranta.
Spectral Types of Red Supergiants in NGC 6822 and the Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte Galaxy

We present moderate-resolution spectroscopic observations of red supergiants (RSGs) in the low-metallicity Local Group galaxies NGC 6822 (Z = 0.4 Z ☉) and Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte (WLM; Z = 0.1 Z ☉). By combining these observations with reduction techniques for multislit data reduction and flux calibration, we are able to analyze spectroscopic data of 16 RSGs in NGC 6822 and spectrophotometric data of 11 RSGs in WLM. Using these observations, we determine spectral types for these massive stars, comparing them to Milky Way and Magellanic Cloud RSGs and thus extending observational evidence of the abundance-dependent shift of RSG spectral types to lower metallicities. In addition, we have uncovered two RSGs with unusually late spectral types (J000158.14-152332.2 in WLM, with a spectral type of M3 I, and J194453.46-144552.6 in NGC 6822, with a spectral type of M4.5 I) and a third RSG (J194449.96-144333.5 in NGC 6822) whose spectral type has varied from an M2.5 in 1997 to a K5 in 2008. All three of these stars could potentially be members of a recently discovered class of extreme RSG variables.
Characterization of various bitumen samples from tar sands

ABSTRACT We have investigated twenty three bitumen samples obtained using different separation methods such as: ultracentrifugation, Dean-Stark extraction, solvent extraction employing vigorous agitation, hot water separation and the Solvent Extraction Spherical Agglomeration technique. These samples were extracted from oil sand feedstocks of different grades, Suncor sludge pond tailings and mineral agglomerates obtained from the Solvent Extraction Spherical Agglomeration process. All of the bitumen samples were examined on a comparative basis using various analytical techniques. These included: fractionation into asphaltenes and maltenes; elemental analyses; molecular weight determination using vapour pressure osmometry and gel permeation chromatography, infrared, proton and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Proton and 13C n.m.r. spectroscopic data were used to determine the distribution of various types of hydrogens and carbons in the samples. These data were also used to derive various molec...
Insights into the role of nitric oxide in inflammatory arthritis.

Considerable evidence implicates NO as a mediator of inflammation and connective tissue injury in experimental models of arthritis as well as RA.
Will geographical indications supply excessive quality

This study investigates the choice of quality by producer organisations (POs) in charge of defining product specifications for geographical indications. The model assumes that the PO chooses the quality level that maximises joint producer profits in anticipation of the competitive equilibrium that arises once quality is set. Using a fairly general variant of the vertical differentiation model and a flexible specification of production costs, we show that the PO has an incentive to supply quality in excess of the socially optimal level. , Oxford University Press.
Self-organized criticality in living systems

Abstract We suggest that ensembles of self-replicating entities such as biological systems naturally evolve to a self-organized critical state in which fluctuations, as well as waiting times between phase transitions (“epochs”), are distributed according to a 1 f α power law. Such distributions can explain observed frequency distributions in extinction events as well as fractal population structures, and support the punctuated equilibrium picture of evolution. We demonstrate these concepts by analyzing a population of coexisting self-replicating strings (segments of computer code) subject to mutation and survival of the fittest, which constitutes an artificial living system.
Trade of woody biomass for electricity generation under climate mitigation policy

Abstract Bio-energy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) has the potential to be a key mitigation option, because it can generate electricity and absorb emissions at the same time. However, biomass is not distributed evenly across the globe and regions with a potentially high demand might be constrained by limited domestic supply. Therefore, climate mitigation policies might create the incentive to trade biomass internationally. This paper uses scenarios generated by the integrated assessment model WITCH to study trade of woody biomass from multiple perspectives: the volume of biomass traded, its value, the impact on other power generation technologies and on the efficiency of mitigation policy. The policy scenarios consist of three representative carbon tax policies (4.8 W/m 2 , 3.8 W/m 2 and 3.2 W/m 2 radiative forcing values in 2100) and a cap-and-trade scheme (3.8 W/m 2 in 2100). Results show that the incentive to trade biomass is high: at least 50% of biomass consumed globally is traded internationally. Regions trade 13–69 EJ/yr of woody biomass in 2050 and 55–81 EJ/yr in 2100. In 2100 the value of biomass traded is equal to US$ 0.7–7.2 Trillion. Trade of woody biomass substantially increases the efficiency of the mitigation policy. In the tax scenarios, abatement increases by 120–323 Gt CO 2 over the century. In the cap-and-trade scenario biomass trade reduces the price of emission allowances by 34% in 2100 and cumulative discounted policy costs by 14%.