cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why does return volatility differ in Chinese stock markets

Abstract Domestic A-shares and foreign B-shares listed in Chinese exchanges have the same ownership rights and dividends, yet A-shares are much more volatile than B-shares. We estimate a dynamic model under a modified mixture of distribution hypothesis (MMDH) assuming the contemporaneous dependence of stock returns and trading volume on an underlying mixing variable representing unobserved intensity of information arrival. We assume that the mixing variable follows a stochastic autoregressive process, and estimate a set of parameters characterizing the distribution of the latent information variable for 24 companies and value-weighted A- and B-share portfolios using Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). We find that (1) news enters the A-share market more intensively than the B-share market; (2) news is more highly correlated with trading for A-shares than for B-shares; and (3) news is more persistent for A-shares than for B-shares. Our econometric results also indicate that cross-section variation in volatility-related expected intensity of information flows and the amount of informed trading are related to information correlates, namely number of investors, variation in profits, and firm size. Our findings suggest that the MMDH provides useful insights into the underlying causes of A- and B-share volatility behavior in Chinese stock markets.
Distributed and Managed: Research Challenges and Opportunities of the Next Generation Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-physical systems increasingly rely on distributed computing platforms where sensing, computing, actuation, and communication resources are shared by a multitude of applications. Such 'cyber-physical cloud computing platforms' present novel challenges because the system is built from mobile embedded devices, is inherently distributed, and typically suffers from highly fluctuating connectivity among the modules. Architecting software for these systems raises many challenges not present in traditional cloud computing. Effective management of constrained resources and application isolation without adversely affecting performance are necessary. Autonomous fault management and real-time performance requirements must be met in a verifiable manner. It is also both critical and challenging to support multiple end-users whose diverse software applications have changing demands for computational and communication resources, while operating on different levels and in separate domains of security. The solution presented in this paper is based on a layered architecture consisting of a novel operating system, a middleware layer, and component-structured applications. The component model facilitates the construction of software applications from modular and reusable components that are deployed in the distributed system and interact only through well-defined mechanisms. The complexity of creating applications and performing system integration is mitigated through the use of a domain-specific model-driven development process that relies on a domain-specific modeling language and its accompanying graphical modeling tools, software generators for synthesizing infrastructure code, and the extensive use of model-based analysis for verification and validation.
Teacher Behavior under Performance Pay Incentives

Over the last decade many districts have implemented performance pay incentives to reward teachers for improving student test scores. Economic theory suggests that these programs could alter teacher work effort, cooperation, and retention. Because teachers can choose to work in a performance pay district that has characteristics correlated with teacher behavior, I use the distance between a teacher’s undergraduate institution and the nearest performance pay district as an instrumental variable. Using data from the 2003 and 2007 waves of the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), I find that teachers respond to performance pay incentives by working fewer hours per week at school. Performance pay also decreases participation in unpaid cooperative school activities, while there is suggestive evidence that teacher turnover decreases. The treatment effects are heterogeneous; male teachers respond more positively to performance pay than female teachers. In Florida, which restricts state performance pay funding to individual teachers or teams, I find that work effort and teacher turnover increase.
Information-Based Complexity, Feedback and Dynamics in Convex Programming

We study the intrinsic limitations of sequential convex optimization through the lens of feedback information theory. In the oracle model of optimization, an algorithm queries an oracle for noisy information about the unknown objective function and the goal is to (approximately) minimize every function in a given class using as few queries as possible. We show that, in order for a function to be optimized, the algorithm must be able to accumulate enough information about the objective. This, in turn, puts limits on the speed of optimization under specific assumptions on the oracle and the type of feedback. Our techniques are akin to the ones used in statistical literature to obtain minimax lower bounds on the risks of estimation procedures; the notable difference is that, unlike in the case of i.i.d. data, a sequential optimization algorithm can gather observations in a controlled manner, so that the amount of information at each step is allowed to change in time. In particular, we show that optimization algorithms often obey the law of diminishing returns: the signal-to-noise ratio drops as the optimization algorithm approaches the optimum. To underscore the generality of the tools, we use our approach to derive fundamental lower bounds for a certain active learning problem. Overall, the present work connects the intuitive notions of “information” in optimization, experimental design, estimation, and active learning to the quantitative notion of Shannon information.
Synthesis of Diindeno-Fused 4H-Cyclopenta[def]phenanthren-4-ones and Related Compounds via Benzannulated Enediynyl Propargylic Alcohols

Treatment of propargylic diols 5−7 with thionyl chloride promoted a cascade sequence of reactions leading to dichlorides 10−12 and, after reduction with tributyltin hydride, the diindeno-fused 4H-cyclopenta[def]phenanthrenes 13−15 in a single operation. Hydrolysis of 13 and 14 furnished 4H-cyclopenta[def]phenanthren-4-ones 16 and 17, respectively. Air oxidation of an alkaline solution of dichloride 11 produced diketone 18.
THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL LITERACY IN DETERMINING RETIREMENT PLANS

NBER WORKING PAPER SERIESTHE ROLE OF FINANCIAL LITERACY IN DETERMINING RETIREMENT PLANSRobert ClarkMelinda Sandler MorrillSteven G. AllenWorking Paper 16612http://www.nber.org/papers/w16612NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH1050 Massachusetts AvenueCambridge, MA 02138December 2010This research is funded, in part, by a grant from FINRA Investor Education Foundation. We wouldlike to thank Jennifer Maki, Mehtab Randhawa, and Evan Rogers for their research assistance. Theresearch could not have been accomplished without the cooperation of the companies that partneredwith us. We would also like to thank Nicholas Horsewood, Annamaria Lusardi, Olivia Mitchell, andtwo anonymous referees for useful comments. All remaining errors are our own. The views expressedherein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of EconomicResearch, FINRA Investor Education Foundation, or any of its affiliated companies.© 2010 by Robert Clark, Melinda Sandler Morrill, and Steven G. Allen. All rights reserved. Shortsections of text, not to exceed two paragraphs, may be quoted without explicit permission providedthat full credit, including © notice, is given to the source.
Finite abelian subgroups of the mapping class group

The problem of enumeration of conjugacy classes of finite abelian sub- groups of the mapping class group Mof a compact closed surface X of genusis considered. A complete method of enumeration is achieved for finite elementary abelian subgroups and steps are taken toward enumera- tion of finite abelian subgroups.
Triples of arrangements and local systems

For a triple of complex hyperplane arrangements, there is a well-known long exact sequence relating the cohomology of the complements. We observe that this result extends to certain local coefficient systems, and use this extension to study the characteristic varieties of arrangements. We show that the first characteristic variety may contain components that are translated by characters of any order, thereby answering a question of A. Suciu.
A ligand-free solid-supported system for Sonogashira couplings: applications in nucleoside chemistry

A mild heterogeneous, ligand-free protocol for Sonogashira and Heck couplings has been developed and used to access several biologically important deoxynucleoside derivatives in a facile manner.
The coordinate-free approach to linear models

This book is about the coordinate-free, or geometric, approach to the theory of linear models; more precisely, Model I ANOVA and linear regression models with non-random predictors in a finite-dimensional setting. This approach is more insightful, more elegant, more direct, and simpler than the more common matrix approach to linear regression, analysis of variance, and analysis of covariance models in statistics. The book discusses the intuition behind and optimal properties of various methods of estimating and testing hypotheses about unknown parameters in the models. Topics covered range from linear algebra, such as inner product spaces, orthogonal projections, book orthogonal spaces, Tjur experimental designs, basic distribution theory, the geometric version of the Gauss-Markov theorem, optimal and non-optimal properties of Gauss-Markov, Bayes, and shrinkage estimators under assumption of normality, the optimal properties of F-test, and the analysis of covariance and missing observations.
Explaining exchange rate risk in world stock markets: A panel approach

Using a GARCH approach, we estimate a time-varying two-factor international asset pricing model for weekly equity index returns of 16 OECD countries. A trade-weighted basket of exchange rates and the MSCI world market index are used as risk factors. We find significant currency risk exposures in country equity index returns. We then explain these currency betas using several country-specific macroeconomic variables with a panel approach. We find that imports, exports, credit ratings, and tax revenues significantly affect currency risks in a way that is consistent with some economic hypotheses. Similar conclusions are obtained by using lagged explanatory variables, and thus these macroeconomic variables may be useful as predictors of currency risk exposures. Our results are robust to a number of alternative specifications.
A point‐process response model for spike trains from single neurons in neural circuits under optogenetic stimulation

Optogenetics is a new tool to study neuronal circuits that have been genetically modified to allow stimulation by flashes of light. We study recordings from single neurons within neural circuits under optogenetic stimulation. The data from these experiments present a statistical challenge of modeling a high-frequency point process (neuronal spikes) while the input is another high-frequency point process (light flashes). We further develop a generalized linear model approach to model the relationships between two point processes, employing additive point-process response functions. The resulting model, point-process responses for optogenetics (PRO), provides explicit nonlinear transformations to link the input point process with the output one. Such response functions may provide important and interpretable scientific insights into the properties of the biophysical process that governs neural spiking in response to optogenetic stimulation. We validate and compare the PRO model using a real dataset and simulations, and our model yields a superior area-under-the-curve value as high as 93% for predicting every future spike. For our experiment on the recurrent layer V circuit in the prefrontal cortex, the PRO model provides evidence that neurons integrate their inputs in a sophisticated manner. Another use of the model is that it enables understanding how neural circuits are altered under various disease conditions and/or experimental conditions by comparing the PRO parameters.
A distributed M-ary hypothesis testing problem with correlated observations

The distributed M-ary hypothesis testing problem of detecting one of M/sub 0/ events by an (N+1)-person hierarchical team, when the observations are correlated, is examined. In this problem, each of the N subordinate decision makers (DMs) transmits one of a prespecified set of messages based on their data to a primary decision maker who, in turn, combines the messages with his or her own data to make the final team decision. The necessary conditions for the optimal decision rules of the DMs are derived. A nonlinear Gauss-Seidel iterative algorithm is developed for the person-by-person optimal decision rules, and its monotonic convergence to the person-by-person optimum is established. A fast approximation algorithm is proposed for computing certain conditional probabilities arising in the person-by-person optimal decision rules. The algorithms are illustrated with several examples, and implications for distributed organizational designs are pointed out. >
Fuzzy adaptive connection admission control for real-time applications in ATM-based heterogeneous networks

In this paper, we study connection-oriented communication service in heterogeneous network for real-time applications. Many existing distributed mission-critical systems are deployed over heterogeneous networks. Hence, it is necessary to extend the real-time communication technology to encompass heterogeneous networks. A connection can be considered as a contract between an application and the networkc the application specifies the characteristics of the traffic which it may generate and the network agrees to provide the requested quality of service (QoS) to the application. For real-time applications, the most crucial QoS is to meet deadline requirement. We propose a fuzzy intelligent system for connection admission control (CAC). Upon a request of connection establishment, the CAC determines if the worst case delays of the requesting and existing connections can be satisfied given the available network resources. If so, the CAC allocates appropriate network resources to the requesting connection. Our system uses fuzzy logic to capture the knowledge for adapting its strategy to dynamic system status. Our performance study demonstrates that system performance can be improved significantly and consistently with our fuzzy adaptive connection admission control. Our approach is compatible with current network standards and hence can be readily used in practical systems.
What lies beyond bioinformatics

Summary form only received as follows. Biology is going through a period of fundamental change. The full genome sequence for an increasing number of organisms is becoming available. Currently, the complete DNA sequences for numerous unicellular organisms are available and full sequences are becoming available for well-known multiorganisms. The identification of open reading frames (ORFs) and their assignments are proceeding at a rapid pace, and 50-80% the ORFs have been assigned in the fully sequenced microbial genomes. Once complete, these efforts will result in a complete 'parts catalogue' of the components found in a multitude of living cells. With the complete genetic makeup of a growing number of organisms becoming available, the pressing questions of how the phenotype can be predicted from the genotype arises. The experience with an increasing number of knockout organisms shows that the removal of, what were a priori thought to be essential, gene leads to a null phenotype and the knock-organism develops 'normally' with out the gene product of the deleted gene present. Thus, the relationship between genotype and the phenotype is complex and highly non-linear, and cannot be predicted from simply cataloging and assigning gene functions found in a genome. Genomics will give us detailed and complete compositional information, but not the dynamic and systemic characteristics that determine the physiological functions of living systems. The study of the genotype-phenotype relationship will lead to an entirely new branch of study, one that might be called Phenomics (in analogy to genomics). This talk puts forth a view of how this field is likely to evolve and the pivotal role that bio and chemical engineering may play in its development. Definition of the E. coli metabolic genotype is illustrated. The use of metabolic genotype to analyze, interpret, and predict the metabolic genotype-phenotype relationship is demonstrated.
Storage and Retrieval of Ground‐Water Data at the U.S. Geological Survey

The U.S. Geological Survey maintains a computerized ground-water site-inventory (GWSI) file that contains information about wells and springs at sites from all States of the United States. This file contains data collected by U.S. Geological Survey personnel and personnel of cooperating State, local, and Federal agencies. The file is easily accessible to members or users of the National Water Data Exchange. Since the establishment of the GWSI file in 1974, the data base has grown 19 percent per year and contains information on about 770,000 sites as of February 1981.
Necessary and sufficient conditions of quadratic stability of uncertain linear systems

The stability of linear systems subject to possibly fast time-varying uncertainties is analyzed. A necessary and sufficient condition of quadratic stability is derived. An uncertainty stability margin coefficient rho is introduced to give a quantitative measure of the stability. It is proposed that the uncertain region be approximated by a convex hyperpolyhedron. In this case, the computation of rho becomes a two-level optimization problem, in which the extremum of the inner level can be reached by one of the corners of the hyperpolyhedron. >
Scanning with Integrated Optics

Integrated optical circuits formed from thin dielectric films on a substrate offer the potential for scanners and recorders which are free of the limitations in spinner dynamics or in electron focusing which, at present, curtail the applicability of contemporary scanners in future high bandwidth systems. The integrated optical circuits operate as optical waveguides and couplers. Transmission through one guide and coupling (transition) to the adjacent guide are each low loss processes. An integrated assembly can be made in which the guides and couplers are so located and so equipped with electrodes that an electrically controllable switching tree is formed. Such a tree is able to commutate among 2n output ports, where n is the number of logic levels. The scanning among the output ports of the tree is inertialess and has a rate determined by the frequency of the pumping of the last logic level. Lasser film recorders are seen as devices which will emerge early from integrated optics technology.
A multiple criteria decision support system for autonomous underwater vehicle mission planning and control

The growing use of autonomous air, surface, ground and underwater systems is continually demonstrating new military and commercial possibilities and applications. The state of the art in the planning and control of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) is largely precarious because AUVs provide infrequent feedback, operate autonomously for long periods of time and yet have little knowledge of their dynamic environment. Consequently, mission planning and control is typically conducted based on human expert knowledge of vehicle capabilities, some level of observed environmental conditions and ad hoc optimisation with little assistance from computers. While the human expert offers a significant ability to mentally process data, the result typically lacks numeric and quantitative analysis of alternatives. Navigation of AUVs in the complex ocean environment involves time dependent dynamics, resulting in a problem that is computationally prohibitive for the use of brute force optimisation techniques. Although some research has been conducted for specific types of missions, and 'greedy' global-optimisation approaches have been investigated, no systematic and coherent approach to the requirement exists. We propose a dynamic multiple criteria decision support system that considers dynamic and episodic ocean phenomenon to provide reasonable and in-context recommendations with respect to the stated objective and subjective mission goals. Multi-criteria decision analysis, analytic network process and fuzzy sets are used in the model to reduce the vehicle routing solution space and maximise time-on station in adverse environments. The proposed system can be an added hierarchical layer on the top of a mission planning system currently under development by the United States Navy.
Credible commitments, contract enforcement problems and banks: Intermediation as credibility assurance

Abstract We consider contract enforceability problems in credit transactions and justify a bank as an organizational solution to market breakdown due to unenforceable contracts. Specifically, we explain: (i) why loan commitments exist, and (ii) why banks exist to sell such commitments. A loan commitment resolves moral hazard more efficiently than any combination of inside equity and spot credit. However, the market breaks down if commitment sellers are individuals, because their promises to honor contracts are not credible. With a large bank, a perfect sequential equilibrium is obtained in which credibility is restored.
On zonal jets in oceans

[1] We find that in parameter regimes relevant to the recently observed alternating zonal jets in oceans, the formation of these jets can be explained as due to an arrest of the turbulent inverse-cascade of energy by free Rossby waves (as opposed to Rossby basin modes) and a subsequent redirection of that energy into zonal modes. This mechanism, originally studied in the context of alternating jets in Jovian atmospheres and two dimensional turbulence in zonally-periodic configurations survives in spite of the presence of the meridional boundaries in the oceanic context.
MicroRNAs: Target Recognition and Regulatory Functions

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous ∼23 nt RNAs that play important gene-regulatory roles in animals and plants by pairing to the mRNAs of protein-coding genes to direct their posttranscriptional repression. This review outlines the current understanding of miRNA target recognition in animals and discusses the widespread impact of miRNAs on both the expression and evolution of protein-coding genes.
Feasibility of Using More Geothermal Energy to Generate Electricity

Human population is ever-increasing and, thus, demand for energy is escalating. Consequently, seeking clean methods of producing electricity is a most crucial endeavor at this time. The shrinking reserves of oil have added urgency to the matter as well. One other recognized source of renewable energy besides wind, water, and solar (WWS) is geothermal energy, which has been proven to be useful in baseload power generation, a significant advantage over WWS. As compared to fossil fuels, geothermal energy is not subjected to the supply and cost fluctuations of which fuel is at risk. To date, there have been a number of innovative procedures explored to use geothermal energy to produce electricity. A relatively innovative yet not uncommon method has been to use hot solid rocks to heat water and pump the superheated water to use in power plants. These rocks are generally underground and at higher temperatures due to their proximity to volcanoes or natural geothermal vents. The water goes deeper down into the earth's crust to become superheated by the rocks, and then is pumped out to power turbines, and subsequently returned into the ground to repeat the process. In Krafla, Iceland, during their Icelandic Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) in 2009, a borehole was accidentally dug into the magma at 2100 m. The temperature of this magma was about 900–1000 °C. A steel casing with perforations on the flat side was cemented into the well bottom. This design was to slow the heat flow, and superheated steam was made for the following two years till July 2012. The steam reached temperatures of 450 °C and was at high pressures. Krafla was the world's first magma-enhanced geothermal system (EGS) to generate electricity. This paper will explore the feasibility of using geothermal power plant methods as a sustainable source of clean energy. Geothermal energy has tremendous potential if the right methods can be found to tap that potential, as well as if the cost may be brought down by innovation and demand. In addition, an innovative method, which already exists in some form, is proposed in the current review to harness more geothermal energy for use.
A Nonperturbative Treatment of Two-dimensional Quantum Gravity

We propose a nonperturbative definition of two-dimensional quantum gravity, based on a double scaling limit of the random matrix model. We develop an operator formalism for utilizing the method of orthogonal polynomials that allows us to solve the matrix models to all orders in the genus expansion. Using this formalism we derive an exact differential equation for the partition function of two-dimensional gravity as a function of the string coupling constant that governs the genus expansion of two-dimensional surfaces, and discuss its properties and consequences. We construct and discuss the correlation functions of an infinite set of pointlike and loop operators to all orders in the genus expansion.
QCD hard scattering results from PHENIX at RHIC

Data on hadron production at high transverse momentum (p T > 2 GeV/c) in p+p, d+Au, and Au+Au collisions at GeV from the PHENIX experiment at RHIC are reviewed. The single inclusive spectrum of light hadrons produced in central Au+Au reactions shows significant differences compared to p+p and d+Au collisions, and provides interesting information on the properties of the underlying QCD medium present in heavy-ion reactions at collider energies.
Teachers' Perspective on Using Technology as an Instructional Tool.

Federal mandates require technology use in the classroom, but not all English language arts (ELA) teachers have implemented technology as an integral part of teaching. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate why ELA teachers in 2 local high schools rarely or never use technology as an instructional tool. The study was supported by theories of constructivism, multiple intelligences, and problem-based learning. The guiding research questions sought to explore teachers’ perspectives regarding integrating technology within the ELA curriculum. Qualitative data were collected via face-to-face interviews, field notes from classroom visits, and unobtrusive documents which included lesson plans and check-out logs for equipment from 8 participants. Open coding was used as themes emerged during the data analysis. A qualitative typological analysis was used to analyze individual cases, and a crosscase analysis clustered themes from participants’ interview responses. Findings suggested teachers’ limited use of technology resulted from inadequate access to equipment, inability to troubleshoot minor technology problems, and the absence of training in learning activities. The project included professional development training sessions focused on technology use as a teaching tool. Recommendations include initiating opportunities for teachers to demonstrate proficiency in embedding technology as a pivotal teaching strategy in all disciplines. By providing effective technology training and embedding technology in instruction, students may be better prepared to compete in the technological society of the 21 st century and global workforce.
Synthesis of Each Enantiomer of Rocaglamide by Means of a Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Nazarov‐Type Cyclization

A recently reported Pd0-catalyzed asymmetric Nazarov-type cyclization has been successfully applied in the key step of the first catalytic asymmetric total synthesis of (−)-rocaglamide (natural) and (+)-rocaglamide. The stereochemistry at the C3 position that controls the stereochemistry of all other stereocenters is determined in the cyclization step. This versatile and modular synthesis proceeds from simple reagents.
Using optical coherence tomography to monitor effects of electromechanical reshaping in septal cartilage

Electromechanical reshaping (EMR) of cartilage is a promising noninvasive technique with potential for broad application in reconstructive surgery. EMR involves applying direct current electrical fields to localized stress regions and then initiating a series of oxidation-reduction reactions, thus effecting a shape change. Previous EMR studies have focused on macroscopic structural measurements of the shape change effect or monitoring of electrical current flow. Only limited investigation of structural changes in the tissue at the histologic level have been performed, and not in real time. This study is the first to use optical coherence tomography (OCT) to examine structural changes in cartilage during EMR. Two platinum needle electrodes were inserted into fixed rectangular rabbit nasal septal cartilage specimens. The spectral domain OCT probe was then positioned above the anode needle. A constant voltage of 6V was applied for 3 minutes, and images were obtained (8 frames/second). OCT was also performed in specimens undergoing dehydration under ambient conditions and during pH changes produced by the addition of HCl, as both processes accompany EMR. The OCT data identified distinct findings among the three conditions, suggesting that EMR causes a much greater degree of reshaping on a molecular level than dehydration or a change in pH alone. OCT provides a means to gauge structural changes in the tissue matrix during EMR. The application of OCT to image the EMR process will add to our understanding of the mechanisms of action involved and potentially facilitate optimization of this process.
Variograms of the cosmic microwave background temperature fluctuations: confirmation of deviations from statistical isotropy

The standard inflationary model predicts an isotropic distribution of the cosmic microwave background temperature fluctuations. Detection of deviations from statistical isotropy would call for a revision of the physics of the early Universe. This paper introduces the variogram as a powerful tool for detecting and characterizing deviations from statistical isotropy in cosmic microwave background maps. Application to the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe data clearly shows differences between the Northern and the Southern hemispheres. The sill and range of the Northern hemisphere's variogram are lower than those of the Southern hemisphere. Moreover, the variogram for the Northern hemisphere lies outside the 99 per cent confidence limit for scales of above 10°. Differences between the Northern and Southern hemispheres in the functional dependence of the variogram with the scale can be used as a validation benchmark for proposed anisotropic cosmological models.
Capital Accumulation and Economic Growth in a Small Open Economy

List of figures List of tables Preface 1. Introduction and brief overview Part I. Models of Balanced Growth: 2. Basic growth model with fixed labor supply 3. Basic growth model with endogenous labor supply Part II. Transitional Dynamics and Long-run Growth: 4. Transitional dynamics and endogenous growth in one-sector models 5. Two-sector growth models 6. Non-scale growth models Part III. FOREIGN AID, CAPITAL ACCUMULATION and ECONOMIC GROWTH: 7. Basic model of foreign aid 8. Foreign aid, capital accumulation, and economic growth: some extensions References Index.
The curvelet representation of wave propagators is optimally sparse

This paper argues that curvelets provide a powerful tool for representing very general linear symmetric systems of hyperbolic differential equations. Curvelets are a recently developed multiscale system [7, 9] in which the elements are highly anisotropic at fine scales, with effective support shaped according to the parabolic scaling principle width length2 at fine scales. We prove that for a wide class of linear hyperbolic differential equations, the curvelet representation of the solution operator is both optimally sparse and well organized. * It is sparse in the sense that the matrix entries decay nearly exponentially fast (i.e., faster than any negative polynomial) * and well organized in the sense that the very few nonnegligible entries occur near a few shifted diagonals. Indeed, we show that the wave group maps each curvelet onto a sum of curveletlike waveforms whose locations and orientations are obtained by following the different Hamiltonian flows - hence the diagonal shifts in the curvelet representation. A physical interpretation of this result is that curvelets may be viewed as coherent waveforms with enough frequency localization so that they behave like waves but at the same time, with enough spatial localization so that they simultaneously behave like particles.
Feasibility of EMG-based control of shoulder muscle FNS via artificial neural network

We investigated the potential use of EMG recordings from voluntary shoulder muscles in individuals with C5 spinal cord injury to automatically control the stimulation to paralyzed shoulder muscles in a task-appropriate manner. A musculoskeletal model of the human shoulder and elbow was modified to have maximum muscle forces appropriate for C5 spinal cord injury, including completely and partially paralyzed muscles. Inverse model simulations generated muscle activation levels that were used to train an artificial neural network (ANN) to automatically generate appropriate stimulation patterns for the "paralyzed" muscles based on "voluntary" muscle activations. We found that substantial additional shoulder strength could be provided by assuming that just two paralyzed muscles (pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi) were stimulated. Further, the needed activations of these "stimulated" muscles could be predicted with reasonable accuracy using the activation levels just two "voluntary" muscles (trapezius and rhomboids) as ANN inputs.
Spatial Price Linkages Between Chinese Regional Beef Markets

This paper investigates the spatial price linkages between Chinese regional beef markets using cointegration methods. Cointegration tests indicate that long-run cointegration relationships exist for many Chinese regional beef markets. However, short-run cointegration relationships are not observed for most regional markets.
The Impact of Channel Feedback on Opportunistic Relay Selection for Hybrid-ARQ in Wireless Networks

This paper presents a decentralized relay selection protocol for a dense wireless network and describes channel feedback strategies that improve its performance. The proposed selection protocol supports hybrid automatic repeat request transmission where relays forward parity information to the destination in the event of a decoding error. Channel feedback is employed for refining the relay selection process and to select an appropriate transmission mode in a proposed adaptive modulation transmission framework. An approximation of the throughput of the proposed adaptive modulation strategy is presented, and the dependence of the throughput on system parameters such as the relay contention probability and the adaptive modulation switching point is illustrated via maximization of this approximation. Simulations show that the throughput of the proposed selection strategy is comparable with that yielded by a centralized selection approach that relies on geographic information.
Precompactness of solutions to the Ricci flow in the absence of injectivity radius estimates

Consider a sequence of pointed n{dimensional complete Riemannian manifolds f(Mi;gi (t );Oi )g such that t2 [0;T] are solutions to the Ricci flow and gi(t) have uniformly bounded curvatures and derivatives of curvatures. Richard Hamilton showed that if the initial injectivity radii are uniformly bounded below then there is a subsequence which converges to an n{dimensional solution to the Ricci flow. We prove a generalization of this theorem where the initial metrics may collapse. Without injectivity radius bounds we must allow for convergence in the Gromov{Hausdor sense to a space which is not a manifold but only a metric space. We then look at the local geometry of the limit to understand how it relates to the Ricci flow.
On the deletion channel with small deletion probability

The deletion channel is the simplest point-to-point communication channel that models lack of synchronization. Despite significant effort, little is known about its capacity, and even less about optimal coding schemes. In this paper we initiate a new systematic approach to this problem, by demonstrating that capacity can be computed in a series expansion for small deletion probability.We compute two leading terms of this expansion, and show that capacity is achieved, up to this order, by i.i.d. uniform random distribution of the input. We think that this strategy can be useful in a number of capacity calculations.
t Hooft suppression and holographic entropy

Recent works have related the bulk first law of black hole mechanics to the first law of entanglement in a dual CFT. These are first order relations, and receive corrections for finite changes. In particular, the latter is naively expected to be accurate only for small changes in the quantum state. But when Newton's constant is small relative to the AdS scale, the former holds to good approximation even for classical perturbations that contain many quanta. This suggests that - for appropriate states - corrections to the first law of entanglement are suppressed by powers of N in CFTs whose correlators satisfy 't Hooft large-N power counting. We take first steps toward verifying that this is so by studying the large-N structure of the entropy of spatial regions for a class of CFT states motivated by those created from the vacuum by acting with real-time single-trace sources. We show that 1=N counting matches bulk predictions, though we require the eect of the source on the modular hamiltonian to be non-singular. The magnitude of our sources is N with fixed-but-small as N ! 1. Our results also provide a perturbative derivation - without relying on the replica trick - of the subleading Faulkner-Lewkowycz-Maldacena correction to the Ryu-Takayagi and Hubeny-Rangamani-Takayanagi conjectures at all orders in 1=N.
A new pruning method for solving decision trees and game trees

The main goal of this paper is to describe a new pruning method for solving decision trees and game trees. The pruning method for decision trees suggests a slight variant of decision trees that we call scenario trees. In scenario trees, we do not need a conditional probability for each edge emanating from a chance node. Instead, we require a joint probability for each path from the root node to a leaf node. We compare the pruning method to the traditional rollback method for decision trees and game trees. For problems that require Bayesian revision of probabilities, a scenario tree representation with the pruning method is more efficient than a decision tree representation with the rollback method. For game trees, the pruning method is more efficient than the rollback method.
Building logical qubits in a superconducting quantum computing system

The technological world is in the midst of a quantum computing and quantum information revolution. Since Richard Feynman’s famous ‘plenty of room at the bottom’ lecture (Feynman, Engineering and Science 23, 22 (1960)), hinting at the notion of novel devices employing quantum mechanics, the quantum information community has taken gigantic strides in understanding the potential applications of a quantum computer and laid the foundational requirements for building one. We believe that the next significant step will be to demonstrate a quantum memory, in which a system of interacting qubits stores an encoded logical qubit state longer than the incorporated parts. Here, we describe the important route towards a logical memory with superconducting qubits, employing a rotated version of the surface code. The current status of technology with regards to interconnected superconducting-qubit networks will be described and near-term areas of focus to improve devices will be identified. Overall, the progress in this exciting field has been astounding, but we are at an important turning point, where it will be critical to incorporate engineering solutions with quantum architectural considerations, laying the foundation towards scalable fault-tolerant quantum computers in the near future.
Critical role of PPARγ in myeloid-derived suppressor cell-stimulated cancer cell proliferation and metastasis

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) is a key enzyme controlling neutral lipid metabolic signaling in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). MDSCs from LAL-deficient (lal-/-) mice directly stimulate cancer cell proliferation. PPARγ ligand treatment inhibited lal-/- MDSCs stimulation of tumor cell growth and metastasis in vivo, and tumor cell proliferation and migration in vitro. In addition, PPARγ ligand treatment impaired lal-/- MDSCs transendothelial migration, and differentiation from lineage-negative cells. The corrective effects of PPARγ ligand on lal-/- MDSCs functions were mediated by regulating the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and subsequently blocking MDSCs ROS overproduction. Furthermore, in the myeloid-specific dominant-negative PPARγ (dnPPARγ) overexpression bitransgenic mouse model, tumor growth and metastasis were enhanced, and MDSCs from these mice stimulated tumor cell proliferation and migration. MDSCs with dnPPARγ overexpression showed increased transendothelial migration, overactivation of the mTOR pathway, and ROS overproduction. These results indicate that PPARγ plays a critical role in neutral lipid metabolic signaling controlled by LAL, which provides a mechanistic basis for clinically targeting MDSCs to reduce the risk of cancer proliferation, growth and metastasis.
Synthesis and High-Throughput Screening of N-Acetyl-β-hexosaminidase Inhibitor Libraries Targeting Osteoarthritis

C1 Nitrogen iminocyclitols are potent inhibitors of N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidases. Given hexosaminidases' important roles in osteoarthritis, we developed two straightforward and efficient syntheses of C1 nitrogen iminocyclitols from two readily available starting materials, d-mannosamine hydrochloride and the microbial oxidation product of fructose. A diversity-oriented synthetic strategy was then performed by coupling these core structures with various aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and alkynes to generate three separate libraries. High-throughput screening of the generated libraries with human N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidases produced only moderate inhibitory activities. However, the synthetic approach and screening strategy for these compounds will be applied to develop new potent inhibitors of human N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidases, particularly when combined with the structural information of these enzymes.
Co-integration and error correction: representation, estimation, and testing

The relationship between co-integration and error correction models, first suggested in Granger (1981), is here extended and used to develop estimation procedures, tests, and empirical examples.If each element of a vector of time series xt first achieves stationarity after differencing, but a linear combination α'xt, is already stationary, the time series xt are said to be co-integrated with co-integrating vector α. There may be several such co-integrating vectors so that α becomes a matrix. Interpreting α'xt, = 0 as a long run equilibrium, co-integration implies that deviations from equilibrium are stationary, with finite variance, even though the series themselves are nonstationary and have infinite variance.The paper presents a representation theorem based on Granger (1983), which connects the moving average, autoregressive, and error correction representations for co-integrated systems. A vector autoregression in differenced variables is incompatible with these representations. Estimation of these models is discussed and a simple but asymptotically efficient two-step estimator is proposed. Testing for co-integration combines the problems of unit root tests and tests with parameters unidentified under the null. Seven statistics are formulated and analyzed. The critical values of these statistics are calculated based on a Monte Carlo simulation. Using these critical values, the power properties of the tests are examined and one test procedure is recommended for application.In a series of examples it is found that consumption and income are co-integrated, wages and prices are not, short and long interest rates are, and nominal GNP is co-integrated with M2, but not M1, M3, or aggregate liquid assets.
Intense turquoise colors of apatite-type compounds with Mn5+ in tetrahedral coordination

Abstract The solid solutions of chlorapatite compounds Ba5Mn3−xVxO12Cl (x = 0–3.0) and Ba5Mn3−xPxO12Cl (x = 0–3.0) have been synthesized through solid state reactions and Pechini or sol–gel method using citric acid. The colors of the samples change from white (x = 3.0) through turquoise (x = 1.5) to dark green (x = 0) with increasing amount of manganese. Optical measurements reveal that the origin of the color is presumably a combination of d–d transitions of Mn5+ and cation-anion charge transfer from transition metals to oxygens. Near IR reflectance measurements indicate that synthesized compounds are promising materials for “cool pigments” applications. Magnetic measurements verify that manganese has two unpaired electrons and exhibits 5 + oxidation state. The IR spectra change systematically with sample compositions and the fingerprint region (700 cm−1 to 1100 cm−1) indicates characteristic bands belonging to (MnO4)3−, (VO4)3− and (PO4)3− functional groups. Structure refinements using neutron data confirm that Mn5+, V5+ and P5+ cations occupy the tetrahedral sites in the apatite structure.
Coping with Extragrammaticality

Practical natural language interfaces must exhibit robust behaviour in the presence of extragrammatical user input. This paper classifies different types of grammatical deviations and related phenomena at the lexical and sentential levels, discussing recovery strategies tailored to specific phenomena in the classification. Such strategies constitute a tool chest of computationally tractable methods for coping with extragrammaticality in restricted domain natural language. Some of the strategies have been tested and proven viable in existing parsers.
Carbocyclic Amino Ketones by Bredt's Rule-Arrested Kulinkovich-de Meijere Reaction

The Ti(II) -mediated formation of cyclopropylamines from alkenes and amides, the Kulinkovich-de Meijere reaction, involves two carbon-carbon bond-forming steps. Strategic use of a tricyclic intermediate can arrest the process if the second step requires formation of a bridgehead double bond. Use of this Bredt's rule constraint results in the production of carbocyclic amino ketones, key alkaloid building blocks.