cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Artificial photosynthetic reaction centers with carotenoid antennas

Abstract Two reaction center-antenna models based on a purpurin macrocycle linked to a C 60 and to a carotenoid polyene have been synthesized. In these systems the C 60 moiety is the primary electron acceptor, the purpurin is the primary electron donor and the carotenoid moiety acts both as an antenna and secondary electron donor. Formation of the initial charge separated state, C–Pur + –C 60 − , following excitation with light absorbed by either the purpurin or C 60 takes place on the 10 ps time scale. The final charge separated state, C + –Pur–C 60 − , is formed in one of the compounds with a quantum yield of 32% based upon light absorbed by the carotenoid. In order to function as an antenna, the carotenoid pigment must be electronically coupled to the purpurin. The purpurin C ring provides an excellent framework for locating a carotenoid polyene in partial conjugation with the macrocycle, leading to a relatively strong electronic communication between the chromophores; functionalization of a meso position of the purpurin provides a site for the covalent attachment of C 60 .
Speed is as powerful as clairvoyance

We introduce resource augmentation as a method for analyzing online scheduling problems. In resource augmentation analysis the on-line scheduler is given more resources, say faster processors or more processors, than the adversary. We apply this analysis to two well-known on-line scheduling problems, the classic uniprocessor CPU scheduling problem 1 |ri, pmtn|S Fi, and the best-effort firm real-time scheduling problem 1|ri, pmtn| S wi( 1- Ui). It is known that there are no constant competitive nonclairvoyant on-line algorithms for these problems. We show that there are simple on-line scheduling algorithms for these problems that are constant competitive if the online scheduler is equipped with a slightly faster processor than the adversary. Thus, a moderate increase in processor speed effectively gives the on-line scheduler the power of clairvoyance. Furthermore, the on-line scheduler can be constant competitive on all inputs that are not closely correlated with processor speed. We also show that the performance of an on-line scheduler is best-effort real time scheduling can be significantly improved if the system is designed in such a way that the laxity of every job is proportional to its length.
The dynamics of magnetic vortex states in a single permalloy nanoparticle

Abstract We demonstrate a novel method allowing the study of the magnetic state dynamics of a single nanoparticle by means of electron transport measurements. Elliptical 550 nm×240 nm permalloy nanoparticles are wired with non-magnetic leads for magnetotransport measurements in the presence of a radio frequency (RF) field. Their resistance exhibits sharp jumps due to the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) even at room temperature. An RF field induces DC voltage across the nanoparticle, which can be partially depleted at a certain RF frequency when a magnetic vortex core resonance is present. An application of an additional DC magnetic field eliminates the vortex and reinstates the unperturbed DC voltage level. The vortex core resonance frequencies are found and the smallest resonance widths are estimated to be less than 6 MHz.
Deepened chiral cavitands

Abstract Deep cavitands bearing eight asymmetric centers on their upper rims are prepared from octamino resorcinarenes. The resorcinarenes are acylated with Fmoc d - and l -alanine or Fmoc glycine acid chlorides. The asymmetric centers create a chiral magnetic environment as shown by binding achiral ɛ-caprolactam. The chiral steric environment shows modest enantioselectivity (55% de) for chiral guests such as pinane diols bound inside the cavitand.
Novel Water-Soluble Diorganyl Tellurides with Thiol Peroxidase and Antioxidant Activity

Novel water-soluble diaryl tellurides, alkyl aryl tellurides, and dialkyl tellurides carrying sulfopropyl groups were prepared and found to possess potent peroxide decomposing and chain-breaking antioxidative capacity. The dilithium, disodium, dipotassium, and bis-tetramethylammonium salts of bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) telluride (4) were treated with 2.3 equiv of 1,3-propanesultone in aqueous tert-butyl alcohol to give the corresponding salts 5 of bis-O-sulfopropylated diaryl telluride. A variety of diaryl ditellurides were reduced with sodium borohydride in ethanol. Upon addition of propanesultone to the resulting sodium arenetellurolates, the corresponding 3-aryltellurenylpropanesulfonic acid sodium salts 8 were precipitated. Diphenyl diselenide and dibutyl ditelluride reacted similarly to afford the sodium salts of 3-benzeneselenenylpropanesulfonic acid (9) and 4-telluraoctanesulfonic acid (10), respectively. The glutathione peroxidase-like activity of the water-soluble compounds was assessed at pH = 7.4 by ...
Beyond Triangles: A Distributed Framework for Estimating 3-profiles of Large Graphs

We study the problem of approximating the 3-profile of a large graph. 3-profiles are generalizations of triangle counts that specify the number of times a small graph appears as an induced subgraph of a large graph. Our algorithm uses the novel concept of 3-profile sparsifiers: sparse graphs that can be used to approximate the full 3-profile counts for a given large graph. Further, we study the problem of estimating local and ego 3-profiles, two graph quantities that characterize the local neighborhood of each vertex of a graph.Our algorithm is distributed and operates as a vertex program over the GraphLab PowerGraph framework. We introduce the concept of edge pivoting which allows us to collect 2-hop information without maintaining an explicit 2-hop neighborhood list at each vertex. This enables the computation of all the local 3-profiles in parallel with minimal communication.We test our implementation in several experiments scaling up to 640 cores on Amazon EC2. We find that our algorithm can estimate the 3-profile of a graph in approximately the same time as triangle counting. For the harder problem of ego 3-profiles, we introduce an algorithm that can estimate profiles of hundreds of thousands of vertices in parallel, in the timescale of minutes.
Magnetism in heterogeneous thin film systems: Resonant X-ray scattering studies

Magnetic and chemical heterogeneity are common in a broad range of magnetic thin film systems. Emerging resonant soft X-ray scattering techniques are well suited to resolve such heterogeneity at relevant length scales. Resonant X-ray magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements laterally average over heterogeneity but can provide depth resolution in different ways, as illustrated in measurements resolving reversible and irreversible changes in different layers of exchange-spring heterostructures. Resonant small-angle scattering measures in-plane heterogeneity and can resolve magnetic and chemical scattering sources in different ways, as illustrated in measurements of granular alloy recording media.
Liquid water and active resurfacing on Europa

Arguments for recent resurfacing of Europa by H2O from a liquid layer are presented, based on new interpretations of recent spacecraft and earth-based observations and revised theoretical calculations. The heat flow in the core and shell due to tidal forces is discussed, and considerations of viscosity and convection in the interior are found to imply water retention in the outer 60 km or so of the silicates, forming a layer of water/ice many tens of km thick. The outer ice crust is considered to be too thin to support heat transport rates sufficient to freeze the underlying water. Observational evidence for the calculations would consist of an insulating layer of frosts derived from water boiling up between cracks in the surface crust. Evidence for the existence of such a frost layer, including the photometric function of Europa and the deposits of sulfur on the trailing hemisphere, is discussed.
Cu-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylations of aromatic and aliphatic phosphates with alkylzinc reagents. An effective method for enantioselective synthesis of tertiary and quaternary carbons

Efficient enantioselective Cu-catalyzed allylic alkylations of aromatic and aliphatic allylic phosphates bearing di- and trisubstituted olefins are disclosed. Enantioselective C−C bond forming reac...
Development and Validation of Online Parameter Estimation for HVAC Systems

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings by examining their heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems represents an opportunity. To improve energy efficiency, to increase occupant comfort, and to provide better system operation and control algorithms for these systems, online estimation of system parameters, including system thermophysical parameters and thermal loads, is desirable. Several reported studies have presented simulation results and assumed that the thermal loads are known. A difficulty in HVAC system parameter estimation is that most HVAC systems are nonlinear, have multiple and time varying parameters, and require an estimate of the thermal loads for a building zone. In this study, building zones and variable-air-volume units are modeled. The system parameters including the thermal loads are estimated using the recursive-least-squares method with a variable forgetting factor. The sensitivity of the estimation results to different factors is examined. The estimated parameters are used to predict the zone and variable-air-volume-discharge-air temperatures. Several experiments are used to validate the prediction results. The comparisons show good agreement between the experiments and the prediction results.
How to make sense of the jet correlations results at RHIC

We review the di-hadron correlation results from RHIC. A consistent physical picture was constructed based on the correlation landscape in p T , Δφ, Δη and particle species. We show that the data are consistent with competition between fragmentation of survived jets and response of the medium to quenched jets. At intermediate p T where the medium response are important, a large fraction of trigger hadrons do not come from jet fragmentation. We argue that these hadrons can strongly influence the interpretation of the low p T correlation data. We demonstrate this point through a simple geometrical jet absorption model simulation. The model shows that the correlation between medium response hadrons dominates the pair yield and mimics the double hump structure of the away-side Δφ distribution at low p T . This correlation was also shown to lead to complications in interpreting the results on reaction plane dependence and three particle correlations. Finally, we briefly discuss several related experimental issues which are important for proper interpretations of the experimental data.
Statistical mechanics of supercoiled DNA

The conformation of long supercoiled DNA loops under near physiological conditions has been the subject of a long series of laboratory and Monte Carlo experiments, and impressive agreement between theory and experiment has been achieved [1–2]. A closed unnicked DNA loop has fixed linking number: this constraint leads to a competition between twisting and bending (writhing) elastic energy which drives plectonemic supercoiling. However, entropy, as manifest through a fluctuation induced repulsive force, overwhelms this elastic effect for fractional linking number perturbations ∣σ∣ 0.02, plectonemic supercoils are stable, but thermal fluctuations continue to play an important role, competing with bending and twisting elastic energy to set the superhelical radius. We have constructed an analytic theory for this effect that agrees well with experiment [3], using methods from polymer statistical mechanics.
THE SOUTHERN FLANKING FIELDS OF THE 25 ORIONIS GROUP

The stellar group surrounding the Be (B1 Vpe) star 25 Ori was discovered to be a pre-main-sequence (PMS) population by the CIDA Variability Survey of Orion and subsequent spectroscopy. We analyze Sloan Digital Sky Survey multiepoch photometry to map the southern extent of the 25 Ori group and characterize its PMS population. We compare this group to the neighboring Orion OB1a and OB1b subassociations and to active star formation sites (NGC 2068/NGC 2071) within the LDN 1630 dark cloud. We find that the 25 Ori group has a radius of 14, corresponding to 8-11 pc at the distances of Orion OB1a and OB1b. Given that the characteristic sizes of young open clusters are a few parsecs or less, this suggests that 25 Ori is an unbound association rather than an open cluster. Due to its PMS population having a low classical T Tauri star fraction (~10%), we conclude that the 25 Ori group is of comparable age to the 11 Myr Orion OB1a subassociation.
Least squares inversion of one-dimensional magnetotelluric data: An assessment of procedures employed by Brown University

The pirmary objective of this paper is to review inversion algorithms employed to interpret magnetotelluric data by the geophysical/electromagnetics group at Brown University. Examples are presented from a variety of tectonic regimes — the Rio Grande rift, the Colorado Plateau, and Iceland. Following a brief tutorial in which the basic relations for the inverse prrolem are developed, we discuss the detectability and resolvability of various elements of the models. The correlation between certain model parameters is stressed, a phenomena well-known to interpreters. In this paper we emphasize the importance of identifying the precise range of values for which two or more parameters are coupled — these ranges are defined by what wer term ‘saturation limits’. Generalized inverse theory is employed to arrive at ‘optimal’ models which are evaluated in terms of ‘resolution’ and ‘information’ matrices. The degree to which models fit a given dat base can be assessed using several quantitative approaches. We have found that it is impotant not only to determine the ‘best’ fitting model, but also to identify those marginal solutions which also fall within the range of uncertainty of the data. The results from our direct invverse method agree favorably with those from Monte Carlo methods.
The pressure and temperature dependence of methane decomposition

Single-channel hindered Gorin model RRKM calculations were performed on reaction (1). (1) Good agreement between theory and experiment was obtained for the temperature and pressure dependence of reaction (1). Isotopic data for the reverse association reaction, (−1), reported previously, are consistent with the model. Rate constants were cast in the form of an analytical expression and appropriate parameters were tabulated.
Wavelength selection-based nonlinear calibration for transcutaneous blood glucose sensing using Raman spectroscopy

While Raman spectroscopy provides a powerful tool for noninvasive and real time diagnostics of biological samples, its translation to the clinical setting has been impeded by the lack of robustness of spectroscopic calibration models and the size and cumbersome nature of conventional laboratory Raman systems. Linear multivariate calibration models employing full spectrum analysis are often misled by spurious correlations, such as system drift and covariations among constituents. In addition, such calibration schemes are prone to overfitting, especially in the presence of external interferences that may create nonlinearities in the spectra-concentration relationship. To address both of these issues we incorporate residue error plot-based wavelength selection and nonlinear support vector regression (SVR). Wavelength selection is used to eliminate uninformative regions of the spectrum, while SVR is used to model the curved effects such as those created by tissue turbidity and temperature fluctuations. Using glucose detection in tissue phantoms as a representative example, we show that even a substantial reduction in the number of wavelengths analyzed using SVR lead to calibration models of equivalent prediction accuracy as linear full spectrum analysis. Further, with clinical datasets obtained from human subject studies, we also demonstrate the prospective applicability of the selected wavelength subsets without sacrificing prediction accuracy, which has extensive implications for calibration maintenance and transfer. Additionally, such wavelength selection could substantially reduce the collection time of serial Raman acquisition systems. Given the reduced footprint of serial Raman systems in relation to conventional dispersive Raman spectrometers, we anticipate that the incorporation of wavelength selection in such hardware designs will enhance the possibility of miniaturized clinical systems for disease diagnosis in the near future.
Star formation and dust obscuration in the tidally distorted galaxy NGC 2442

We present a detailed investigation of the morphological distribution and level of star formation and dust obscuration in the nearby tidally distorted galaxy NGC 2442. Spitzer images in the IR at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8.0, and 24μm and GALEX images at 1500 A and 2300 A allow us to resolve the galaxy on scales between ~240 and 600 pc. We supplement these with archival data in the B, J, H, and K bands. We use the 8μm, 24μm, and FUV (1500 A) emission to study the star formation rate (SFR). We find that, globally, these tracers of star formation give a range of results of ~6–11 M_⊙ yr^(−1), with the dust-corrected FUV giving the highest value of SFR. We can reconcile the UV-and IR-based estimates by adopting a steeper UV extinction curve that lies in between the starburst (Calzetti) and Small Magellanic Cloud extinction curves. However, the regions of the highest SFR intensity along the spiral arms are consistent with a starburst-like extinction. Overall, the level of star formation we find is higher than previously published for this galaxy, by about a factor of 2, which, contrary to previous conclusions, implies that the interaction that caused the distorted morphology of NGC 2442 likely also triggered increased levels of star formation activity. We also find marked asymmetry in that the north spiral arm has a noticeably higher SFR than the southern arm. The tip of the southern spiral arm shows a likely tidally distorted peculiar morphology. It is UV bright and shows unusual IRAC colors, consistent with other published tidal features IRAC data. Outside of the spiral arms, we discover what appears to be a superbubble, ~1.7 kpc across, which is seen most clearly in the IRAC images. Significant Hα, UV, and IR emission in the area also suggest vigorous ongoing star formation. A known, recent supernova (SN 1999ga) is located at the edge of this superbubble. Although speculative at this stage, this area suggests a large star-forming region with a morphology shaped by generations of supernovae. Lastly, we discover an 8μm (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) circumnuclear ring with an ~0.8 kpc radius. The Hα emission is largely concentrated inside that ring and shows a vague spiral structure in the rest of the galaxy. The nuclear region shows the highest obscuration levels in the galaxy (A_(1600) ~ 3–4) most likely due to the circumnuclear dust ring.
Brain-injured children. With special reference to Doman-Delacato methods of treatment

In this short volume one finds again a statement of the theory and practice of the Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential, together with a presentation of the results of treatment in brain-injured children. The book lacks both the cosmic perspective and inferences of pedagogical revolution which have characterized earlier writings, and is a serious defense of the Institute's much criticized methods. The author, who began his work with neurologic disorders of children in his retirement years, shows broad knowledge of both current and classic writing in the field. However, these are drawn upon largely for purposes of elementary didacticism and to illustrate the overlapping and conflicting nature of current clinical terminology. References relating to the ability of the developing nervous system to compensate for injury are repeatedly cited, but those concerned with its susceptibility to irreversible damage to the growth potential are omitted. The main burden of the
Risk-averse control of undiscounted transient Markov models

We use Markov risk measures to formulate a risk-averse version of the undiscounted total cost problem for a transient controlled Markov process. Using the new concept of a multikernel, we derive conditions for a system to be risk transient, that is, to have finite risk over an infinite time horizon. We derive risk-averse dynamic programming equations satisfied by the optimal policy and we describe methods for solving these equations. We illustrate the results on an optimal stopping problem and an organ transplantation problem.
Biology of Aphthona nigriscutis (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae) in the laboratory

The flea beetle Aphthona nigriscutis Foudras was introduced to Canada in 1983 and the United States in 1989 for the biological control of leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L. Life history data for A. nigriscutis are described based on laboratory studies using insect populations from Barnes County, North Dakota, and Fallon County, Montana. Initial emergence of males and females from spring soil samples was synchronized, but complete emergence for males preceded that of females. For the Barnes County population, ≈80% of the adults were female. When adults were held as mated pairs at 25°C and a photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h, male longevity was longer than that of the female with a median longevity of 221 and 124 d, respectively. Oviposition started ≈10 d after female emergence and proceeded at a rate of 4 eggs per day over an average oviposition period of 109 d. Oviposition averaged 537 eggs per female with a range of 103—1,157. Eggs from the Fallon County population started to hatch within 10 d after oviposition when eggs were held at 25°C. Egg hatch averaged near 60% and occurred over a period of ≈8 d. Life history data for A. nigriscutis were similar to other univoltine Aphthona spp., except A. nigriscutis had a female-biased sex ratio, greater male longevity, and higher female oviposition.
The role of the collecting duct in urinary concentration.

The various segments of the collecting duct have interesting and important roles in the urinary concentrating mechanism. On one hand, the collecting duct contributes insignificantly to the medullary interstitial concentrating process, but on the other hand, urinary concentration occurs as the result of water abstraction from the collecting duct as it courses from the cortex to the papillary tip. Thus, the collecting duct seems to do little work for medullary concentration. It, nevertheless, gets credit for regulation of the final urine osmolality. The latter occurs as a consequence of finely tuned mechanisms which regulate the collecting duct's water permeability in an ambience where the interstitial osmolality is controlled by highly integrated mechanisms involving numerous different nephron segments. The purpose of this article is to review the specific role of each segment of the collecting duct in the urinary concentrating mechanism, while other contributions in this Symposium will discuss the water permeability of the collecting duct and the generation and maintenance of the medullary interstitial osmolality.
Electron microscopy of post-mortem changes in porcine muscle.

MARKED changes were noted in porcine muscle during the initial 24-h post-mortem period. These changes were of particular interest in relation to muscle structure and water-binding, as described by Briskey and Wismer-Pedersen1.
The influence of demographic and phenotypic heterogeneity on the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Abstract In order to explore the influence of demographic and phenotypic characteristics on the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), data were analyzed from 3744 consecutive patients who underwent universal screening with a 50 g glucose load at 24–28 weeks gestational age. Those with a 1-h plasma glucose ≥130 mg/dl underwent a 3-h, 100-g oral glucose tolerance test following dietary preparation. The population was 39.1% White, 37.7% Black, 19.8% Hispanic and 3.4% Oriental/other. The overall prevalence of GDM was 3.5 cases/100. Significant inter-racial differences in maternal age and prepregnant percent ideal body weight (PIBW) were observed, with White patients being older and leaner than Blacks and Hispanics. By multiple logistic regression, Black and Hispanic race, maternal age and PIBW were found to have significant independent effects on the prevalence of GDM. Controlling for age and PIBW, the adjusted relative risk of GDM was significantly higher in Black (1.81, 95% CI 1.13–2.89) and Hispanic (2.45, 95% CI 1.48–4.04) patients compared to White. We conclude that demographic and phenotypic characteristics of populations need to be taken into consideration in future studies of prevalence of GDM, perinatal implications and therapeutic approaches to the disease.
Mechanisms Whereby Mononuclear Copper Proteins Functionalize Organic Substrates.

Although the number of proteins that utilize copper as an essential cofactor is not exceptionally large, the role played by many of these proteins appear central to the success of the organism. Over the last decade, great advances have been made in the understanding of copper proteins that utilize dioxygen in the course of the functionalization of organic substrates. These types of enzymes can be categorized, depending on whether the copper centers involved in substrate functionalization exist alone (mononuclear) or in a complex with other copper ions (bi- or polynuclear). This review is focused on the former category of proteins. One important feature of the mononuclear copper catalysts is the difficulty inorganic chemists have encountered in devising suitable model systems for the generation of biological activity. For this reason, the biological systems have often led the way, providing new paradigms for catalysis that can then be tested in appropriately designed model reactions. 162 refs.
Pinching, Pontrjagin classes, and negatively curved vector bundles

We prove several finiteness results for the class ℳa,b,π,n of n-manifolds that have fundamental groups isomorphic to π and that can be given complete Riemannian metrics of sectional curvatures within {a,b} where a≤b<0. In particular, if M is a closed negatively curved manifold of dimension at least three, then only finitely many manifolds in the class ℳa,b,π1(M),n are total spaces of vector bundles over M. Furthermore, given a word-hyperbolic group π and an integer n there exists a positive e=e(n,π) such that the tangent bundle of any manifold in the class ℳ-1-e, -1, π, n has zero rational Pontrjagin classes.
Do Consumers Use Information to Choose a Health-Care Provider System?

This study examines the use of information by employees in the Buyers Health Care Action Group, a purchasing coalition of large employers in Minneapolis. BHCAG employers contract directly with multiple health-care provider systems and attempt to inform employees about those choices. Shortly after the close of the 1998 open-enrollment period, a survey of 927 BHCAG employees with single-coverage health insurance was conducted. Seventy-six percent of the employees relied on information from their employer when selecting their current care system. Use of information from the employer was positively related to education and years of residence in the Twin Cities. Previous experience with doctors and hospitals in the care system also was a common information source. Older and low-income workers were more likely to use information from advertisements. The survey results suggest that employers can predict which information sources their employees will use.
Effect of Increased Scrotal Temperature on Sperm Production in Normal Men

Abstract Objective: To determine whether application of polyester-lined athletic supports to bring the testes closer to the abdomen increases scrotal temperature and decreases sperm production. Design: Prospective clinical study. Setting: University academic medical center. Patient(s): Twenty-one healthy male volunteers. Intervention(s): The study consisted of a pretreatment period of 6 weeks, a treatment phase of 52 weeks, and a recovery phase until return to normal sperm production. During the treatment phase, the men wore polyester-lined athletic supports (single layer, double layer, or double layer impregnated with aluminum) throughout the day. Main Outcome Measure(s): Semen parameters and sperm function tests. Result(s): In all three groups of subjects, scrotal temperature was consistently increased by 0.8 to 1°C while the subjects were wearing the athletic supports. Mean sperm concentration; sperm motility, morphology, and viability; sperm hyperactivation; and ability of spermatozoa to penetrate zone-free hamster oocytes were not affected by the increase in scrotal temperature. Conclusion(s): The increase in scrotal temperature induced by polyester-lined athletic supports was insufficient to cause significant suppression of spermatogenesis or alteration of sperm function.
On the Jacobian of a Function at a Zero Computed by a Fixed Point Algorithm

Eaves and Scarf, and independently Todd, proved that the determinant of the Jacobian of a function at a zero computed by a fixed-point algorithm was zero or had the same sign as that of the artificial function used to start the algorithm. Here we show that any matrix satisfying this sign property can be realized as the Jacobian of a function at such a computed zero.
Spatial Localization of Recent Ancestors for Admixed Individuals

Ancestry analysis from genetic data plays a critical role in studies of human disease and evolution. Recent work has introduced explicit models for the geographic distribution of genetic variation and has shown that such explicit models yield superior accuracy in ancestry inference over nonmodel-based methods. Here we extend such work to introduce a method that models admixture between ancestors from multiple sources across a geographic continuum. We devise efficient algorithms based on hidden Markov models to localize on a map the recent ancestors (e.g., grandparents) of admixed individuals, joint with assigning ancestry at each locus in the genome. We validate our methods by using empirical data from individuals with mixed European ancestry from the Population Reference Sample study and show that our approach is able to localize their recent ancestors within an average of 470 km of the reported locations of their grandparents. Furthermore, simulations from real Population Reference Sample genotype data show that our method attains high accuracy in localizing recent ancestors of admixed individuals in Europe (an average of 550 km from their true location for localization of two ancestries in Europe, four generations ago). We explore the limits of ancestry localization under our approach and find that performance decreases as the number of distinct ancestries and generations since admixture increases. Finally, we build a map of expected localization accuracy across admixed individuals according to the location of origin within Europe of their ancestors.
Modifications of n-hexane hydroisomerization over Pt/mordenite as induced by aromatic cofeeds

In this note, the authors present evidence of competitive reaction in intrazeolitic media, showing that coreactants in the feed can induce rate and selectivity modifications of a primary reactant. The specific reaction considered is the hydroisomerization/hydrocracking of n-hexane over Pt/H-mordenite in the presence of an aromatic cofeed. In earlier work the authors have found that the presence of benzene in the feed significantly inhibits the reaction of the paraffin. In this work, they further examine such competitive reaction over Pt/mordenite by considering the effect of a series of aromatics on n-hexane reaction rate and isomer selectivities. The aromatics used include benzene, toluene, p-xylene, and mesitylene. The objective was to determine if correlations could be found among the aromatic size relative to zeolite pore size, the inhibition of the hexane reaction, and modifications to isomer selectivities. 8 references.
An Analysis of Patient Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes in Primary Pulmonary Sarcoma

Introduction Literature concerning primary pulmonary sarcomas (PPS) is limited to small case series. This study examines, in a large cohort, the clinical characteristics and therapeutic strategies of PPS and their impact on overall survival (OS). Methods This was a retrospective analysis from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (1988–2008). Eligible patients had primary PPS and underwent local therapy. Survival estimates were obtained using the Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox regression model. OS of PPS patients were compared with a cohort of 10,909 patients with extremity soft-tissue sarcomas. Results The cohort included 365 PPS patients with a median follow-up of 21 months. Fifty-five percent of the patients had large tumors (>5 cm), 76% were high-grade, and 16% had node-positive disease. Seventy-five percent of the cohort underwent surgery alone, 14% underwent surgery and radiation therapy, and 11% underwent radiation therapy alone. Multivariate analysis showed reduced OS for patients with tumors more than 5 cm (hazard ratio [HR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25–2.19), high tumor grade (HR 3.1, 95% CI 1.26–3.62), and unresectable disease (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.76–3.88. The 5-year OS for the cohort of pulmonary sarcomas versus sarcomas of the extremities was 35% versus 71% ( p Conclusion This large study examining PPS patients reveals a high rate of nodal involvement and a markedly worse OS than patients with extremity soft-tissue sarcomas. Thus, given the poor overall prognosis, it is recommended that PPS patients undergo a thorough mediastinal nodal evaluation to rule out locoregional metastasis and proceed with aggressive treatment.
A biologically inspired artificial fish using flexible matrix composite actuators: analysis and experiment

A bio-inspired prototype fish using the flexible matrix composite (FMC) muscle technology for fin and body actuation is developed. FMC actuators are pressure driven muscle-like actuators capable of large displacements as well as large blocking forces. An analytical model of the artificial fish using FMC actuators is developed and analysis results are presented. An experimental prototype of the artificial fish having FMC artificial muscles has been completed and tested. Constant mean thrusts have been achieved in the laboratory for a stationary fish for different undulation frequencies around 1 Hz. The experimental results demonstrate that a nearly constant thrust can be achieved through tuning of excitation frequency for given body stiffness. Free swimming results show that the prototype can swim at approximately 0.3 m s − 1.
Vertical wind shear on Jupiter from Cassini images

[1] Multifilter images of Jupiter acquired by the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) are used to derive zonal winds at altitudes above and below the visible cloud deck. Small features unique to the ultraviolet images of ISS are tracked to get the systematic high-altitude zonal winds. Comparison between the zonal winds from ultraviolet images and the vertical profile of zonal winds from the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) shows that the zonal winds from the ultraviolet images are from a pressure level that is ∼0.2 scale heights higher than the pressure level of the zonal winds from continuum-band images. Deeper zonal winds at different latitudes of the equatorial region are measured by tracking cloud features observed within hot spots on continuum-band images. The deeper zonal winds in this study extend the measurement of the Galileo probe to different latitudes of the equatorial region. Comparison between the Galileo probe and this study suggests that these fast-moving clouds within hot spots are deeper than 3 bars and are therefore probably water clouds.
PSQL: a query language for probabilistic relational data

Abstract Database systems based on the relational model have become very popular for the storage of large volumes of business-related data. Although the relational model provides a great range of advantages over other data models, it was designed to support deterministic data and, consequently, it lacks a comprehensive way for handling uncertain data. However, in all real-world environments, uncertainty in data values is a common occurrence. Therefore, there is a need to extend the relational model so that data uncertainty can be captured explicitly. In an earlier work, we have proposed a probabilistic relational algebra that is a consistent extension of the conventional relational algebra and is reducible to the latter. The contribution of this work is the development of a non-procedural probabilistic query language—structured around the popular SQL—that can be built on top of that algebra. We formalize the extended syntax, provide examples to illustrate the syntax, and examine query formulation from a decision-theoretic perspective.
Have Casinos Contributed to Rising Bankruptcy Rates

This paper examines the relationship between casino gambling and bankruptcy rates in U.S. counties using a panel of U.S. county-level data from 1990 through 2005. We contribute to the literature in several ways, perhaps most notably by examining the possibility that the effect of a casino on bankruptcy may differ over the casino’s lifespan. Results confirm this possibility, indicating that the impact of casinos on bankruptcy follows a “U-shaped” curve over the life of the casino. More specifically, regression analysis indicates the existence of a casino in a county increases the bankruptcy rate by more than 9% in the first year of operation. The percentage of additional bankruptcies then decreases through the third year after the casino opens. Bankruptcy rates in casino counties then slightly fall below that of non-casino counties during the fourth through seventh years after opening, increasing once again in the eighth year and thereafter. This cycle corresponds closely to the 6 year statute of limitations period applicable to Chapter 7 bankruptcies.
Theory of hadronic B decays

I give an overview of the theory of hadronic B decays, focusing on three aspects: a) factorization proofs from the soft-collinear effective theory; b) implications for the phenomenology of B ¯ → π π decays; c) factorization in “wrong-charm” B ¯ → D π decays.
Why do regulated jitney services often fail? Evidence from the New York City group ride vehicle project

Abstract Many US cities have unsuccessfully experimented with jitney projects to improve transit service, reduce costs, and adapt to shifting demographics. The impetus for this research was to take advantage of a natural policy experiment, the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission׳s (TLC) Group Ride Vehicle (GRV) Pilot Project, to evaluate why jitneys often fail when regulated to supplement conventional transit. The Commission developed the pilot project in response to service cuts on dozens of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus routes throughout the city. These cuts, coupled with higher transit fares, dramatically limited transit access for many city residents. Shortly after the service reductions went into effect in June 2010, the Commission announced the pilot project to bring commuter vans (commuter vans are the licensed jitneys in New York City) to five service areas that lost regular bus service. They expected the project to improve access for New Yorkers and create opportunity for jitney drivers and operators. The pilot project targeted service areas in Brooklyn and Queens, and the Commission received commitments from five existing commuter van operators to participate in the project. The project was controversial for multiple reasons, including the City׳s willingness to privatize formerly public transit service and the imposition of two fares for Group Ride Vehicle riders traveling into Manhattan. The first Group Ride Vehicle began service in September 2010, and despite optimism from operators and the TLC, the program was unofficially discontinued after only a few months. Though the pilot project failed to attract riders, it highlighted the importance of commuter vans for transit-dependent populations that rely on them and suggests many challenges to formalizing informal transit in the United States. Using the Group Ride Vehicle project as our starting point, we explore why informal jitneys in the United States succeed, and whether the conditions under which they prosper are compatible with conventional transit operations. Focus groups with operators, unstructured interviews with drivers and riders and participant observation are used to help explain the challenges facing the formalization of jitney services in New York. Our analysis identified four reasons why the GRV project failed: (1) a lack of subsidy to maintain service and build demand, (2) a two-month gap between the service cuts and jitney service implementation, (3) poorly branded service, and (4) confusing language used to describe the program. We argue that some of these factors are more perceived than real, but all of them reflect the difficulty of scaling up a niche jitney service to a general purpose transit service.
An iterative method for solving electrostatic problems

The method of steepest descent is applied to the solution of electrostatic problems. The relation between this method and the Rayleigh-Ritz, Galerkin's, and the method of least squares is outlined. Also, explicit error formulas are given for the rate of convergence for this method. It is shown that this method is also suitable for solving singular operator equations. In that case this method monotonically converges to the solution with minimum norm. Finally, it is shown that the technique yields as a by-product the smallest eigenvalue of the operator in the finite dimensional space in which the problem is solved. Numerical results are presented only for the electrostatic case to illustrate the validity of this procedure which show excellent agreement with other available data.
Photochemical Tyrosine Oxidation with a Hydrogen-Bonded Proton Acceptor by Bidirectional Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer.

Amino acid radical generation and transport are fundamentally important to numerous essential biological processes to which small molecule models lend valuable mechanistic insights. Pyridyl-amino acid-methyl esters are appended to a rhenium(I) tricarbonyl 1,10-phenanthroline core to yield rhenium–amino acid complexes with tyrosine ([Re]–Y–OH) and phenylalanine ([Re]–F). The emission from the [Re] center is more significantly quenched for [Re]–Y–OH upon addition of base. Time-resolved studies establish that excited-state quenching occurs by a combination of static and dynamic mechanisms. The degree of quenching depends on the strength of the base, consistent with a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) quenching mechanism. Comparative studies of [Re]–Y–OH and [Re]–F enable a detailed mechanistic analysis of a bidirectional PCET process.
Growth, Industrialization, and the Intergenerational Correlation of Advantage

The shift from feudalism to industrial capitalism was generally accompanied by an increase in social mobility. We ask whether such an increase has occurred in a developing nation currently undergoing rapid industrialization, Indonesia. It has, at least as measured by a declining intergenerational correlation of education. To highlight the effects of economic growth on intergenerational mobility, we contrast Indonesia's experience with that of Bangladesh, where industrialization has proceeded more slowly and the correlation between parents’ and children's education has been roughly stable. We also examine potential causal channels for the rising educational mobility we find in Indonesia, but cannot identify specific pathways related to above-average school building or rapid industrialization in a region.
Effect of oxidation-reduction cycling on C2H6 hydrogenolysis: Comparison of Ru, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pt, and Pd on SiO2

Abstract Activities of C2H6 hydrogenolysis on 5% Ru, Rh, Ni, Ir, Pt and Pd supported on SiO2 are compared as functions of oxidation and reduction treatments. It is shown that activities after oxidation and low-temperature reduction vary by a factor of ~ 106 between metals in the order Ru > Rh > Ir ~ Ni > Pt > Pd. Annealing at high temperatures causes all rates to decrease, with the largest changes (~103) on Ru and Rh and smaller changes (3 to 30) on other metals. Most rates do not change significantly with reaction time, but Ir rapidly deactivates due to carbon formation. These results correlate with the ability of each metal to retain the high-activity, low-coordination sites produced by oxidation and low-temperature reduction and, for Pt, the inability to form the oxide. Thus, Ni and Pd exhibit small changes because the metal surfaces anneal by 200 °C, and the more refractory Ru, Rh, and Ir can be retained in the high-activity state during hydrogenolysis.
Price and Volume Reactions to Public Information Releases: An Experimental Approach Incorporating Traders' Subjective Beliefs*

This paper examines how market prices, volume, and traders' dividend expectations respond to public information releases in laboratory markets for a long-lived financial asset. The objective is to study deviations from the symmetric information risk-neutral rational expectations (RE) benchmark, which predicts no trade in such settings. The results of a series of double-auction and call markets are reported in which traders manage a portfolio of cash and asset shares over 15 rounds of trading. A public signal regarding the value of the liquidating dividend is released every third round, and traders' subjective expectations of the liquidating dividend are elicited each round as cash-motivated forecasts. We find that, despite the public dividend signal, traders' dividend forecasts are heterogeneous. Forecasts and prices both underreact to the public signals, with prices under-reacting more than forecasts. In general, price changes are not closely associated with public signals, and there is greater excess price volatility in double auctions than in call markets. Forty-three percent of trades are inconsistent with the trader's forecasts, and inconsistent trades occur more frequently in the double-auction markets. On average, approximately 10 percent of the outstanding shares are traded in each round, and trading volume is increasing in the mean absolute forecast revision and decreasing in the contemporaneous dispersion in forecasts. These results suggest that differential processing of the public signal and/or speculative trading for short-term gain may help to explain why symmetric information RE predictions are often not supported in empirical and experimental settings. They also suggest that market reactions to public information releases may be influenced by market microstructure.
Treatment of lymphosarcoma in the dog with L-asparaginase

Three dogs with advanced lymphosarcoma were treated with L-asparaginase from E. coli. All three responded to therapy by marked regression of lymph nodes and dramatic improvement in general condition without evidence of toxicity. Two dogs returned temporarily to normal health and were clinically free of disease; the other showed a marked partial remission. One of the three dogs has remained in good health for 50 days after treatment was discontinued although the disease now shows signs of recurrence. Early relapse in the other two cases may be attributed to insufficient dosage of L-asparaginase.