cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
U.S. racial and ethnic relations in the twenty-first century: are old divisions prevailing?

ABSTRACTIn this response to Valdez and Golash-Boza’s article, U.S. Racial and Ethnic Relations in the twenty-first century, I commend the authors for raising critical issues about the traditional lack of integration of race and ethnicity paradigms. However, I argue that, in an effort to make their claim about the distinction between the ethnicity and race paradigms, they end up oversimplifying some of the literature and overlook the ways in which race and ethnicity scholarship from the twenty-first century has made important advances towards paradigm integration. In my response I provide an alternate reading of some of the literature that the authors critique, focusing on the Mexican middle-class case. I then highlight scholars who are working towards race–ethnicity integration, moving past old paradigm divides. I conclude my response by introducing the concept of the “ethnoracial core”, which I believe moves us in the direction that Valdez and Golash-Boza are proposing.
The role of local heating in the 2015 Indian Heat Wave

India faced a major heat wave during the summer of 2015. Temperature anomalies peaked in the dry period before the onset of the summer monsoon, suggesting that local land-atmosphere feedbacks involving desiccated soils and vegetation might have played a role in driving the heat extreme. Upon examination of in situ data, reanalysis, satellite observations, and land surface models, we find that the heat wave included two distinct peaks: one in late May, and a second in early June. During the first peak we find that clear skies led to a positive net radiation anomaly at the surface, but there is no significant sensible heat flux anomaly within the core of the heat wave affected region. By the time of the second peak, however, soil moisture had dropped to anomalously low levels in the core heat wave region, net surface radiation was anomalously high, and a significant positive sensible heat flux anomaly developed. This led to a substantial local forcing on air temperature that contributed to the intensity of the event. The analysis indicates that the highly agricultural landscape of North and Central India can reinforce heat extremes under dry conditions.
Robustness Analysis of Flight Controllers for Fixed-Wing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Using Integral Quadratic Constraints

A robust analysis framework for mathematical validation of flight control systems is presented. The framework is specifically developed for the complete uncertainty characterization, quantification, and analysis of small fixed-wing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The analytical approach presented within is based on integral quadratic constraint (IQC) analysis and uses linear fractional transformations on uncertainties to represent system models. While IQC analysis has a sound theoretical foundation, there remains a lack of literature on applying IQCs to complex engineering systems and evaluating their effectiveness with physical data. One difficulty lies in appropriately characterizing and quantifying the uncertainties such that the resulting uncertain model is representative of the physical system while forming a computationally tractable problem that is not overly conservative. This paper addresses these challenges by applying IQC analysis tools to analyze the robustness of a UAS flight control system. Uncertainties are characterized and quantified based on mathematical models and flight test data obtained in-house for a small commercial off-the-shelf platform with a custom autopilot. Furthermore, an established gradient-based minimization routine is implemented with IQC analysis to demonstrate how IQC analysis can guide the control design process. This approach also reveals the controlled system’s sensitivities to uncertainties, thereby assisting the designer in determining how much uncertainty allowance ought to exist in certain aspects of the UAS. Finally, these methods are tested in physical flight to showcase the effectiveness of IQC analysis and assess the conservativeness of the approach. The proposed framework is also transferable to other fixed-wing UAS platforms, effectively taking IQC analysis beyond academic examples to practical application in UAS system design, control design, and airworthiness certification.
SecFact: Secure Large-scale QR and LU Factorizations

We are now in the big data era. Due to the emerging various systems and applications, such as the Internet of Things, cyber-physical systems, smart cities, smart healthcare, we are able to collect more data than ever before. On the other hand, it makes it very difficult to analyze such massive data in order to advance our science and engineering fields. We note that QR and LU factorizations are two of the most fundamental mathematical tools for data analysis. However, conducting QR or LU factorization of an $m\times n$ m × n matrix requires computational complexity of $\mathcal{O}(m^2n)$ O ( m 2 n ) . This incurs a formidable challenge in efficiently analyzing large-scale data sets by normal users or small companies on traditional resource-limited computers. To overcome this limitation, industry and academia propose to employ cloud computing that can offer abundant computing resources. This, however, obviously raises security concerns and hence a lot of users are reluctant to reveal their data to the cloud. To this end, we propose two secure outsourcing algorithms for efficiently performing large-scale QR and LU factorizations, respectively. We implement the proposed algorithms on the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) platform and a laptop. The experiment results show significant time saving for the user.
On the use of convected coordinate systems in the mechanics of continuous media derived from a QR factorization of F

Abstract An oblique, Cartesian, coordinate system arises from the geometry affiliated with a Gram–Schmidt (QR) factorization of the deformation gradient F , wherein Q is a proper orthogonal matrix and R is an upper-triangular matrix. Here a cube deforms into a parallelepiped whose edges are oblique and serve as the base vectors for a convected coordinate system. Components for the metric tensor, its dual, and their rates, evaluated in this convected coordinate system, are established for any state of deformation. Strains and strain rates are defined and quantified in terms of these metrics and their rates. Quotient laws and their affiliated Jacobians are constructed that govern how vector and tensor fields transform between this oblique coordinate system, where constitutive equations are ideally cast, and the reference, rectangular, Cartesian, coordinate system described in terms of Lagrangian variables, where boundary value problems are solved.
General Concepts of Juvenile Wood

As a tree grows, the wood produced varies both across the radius of the bole and along the height of the tree. Such within tree variation can be very large, especially in the conifers. When this variation is added to the inherent genetic differences in wood quality among trees, tremendous within species variation results. When one also considers the variation resulting from site differences and seed source used, it becomes very difficult to predict wood qualities. However, to ensure the best utilization of wood products, such variations must be considered. It is important to always remember that anything which affects the physiology and growth of a tree can affect its wood properties. Although the variation pattern of wood properties differs among species and with individual trees within species, it is present within trees, among trees, among families, among genera and among species.
Early segmentation in the mite Archegozetes longisetosus reveals conserved and derived aspects of chelicerate development

The arthropod body plan is comprised of several repeating segments along the anteroposterior body axis. This high degree of conservation, however, obfuscates the wide degree of underlying developmental variation present across and within arthropod groups. In chelicerates, the arthropod clade containing mites, spiders, scorpions, and horseshoe crabs, development is the most similar at the stages following early germ band segmentation. Comparative studies of chelicerate segmentation prior to these events, however, remain scarce. In order to elucidate and identify possible shared and derived aspects of chelicerate segmentation, we followed the early prosomal (anterior) segmentation in the model mite Archegozetes longisetosus using the expression of the conserved segmental marker hedgehog (hh). Our data indicate that the ancestral chelicerate likely utilized the gene hedgehog in a group of cells surrounding the germ disc. We also provide evidence that chelicerate segmentation, albeit via the conserved “short/intermediate germ” mode, progresses differently in the prosoma between Archegozetes and spiders and thus early, anterior segmentation in chelicerates is heterochronic.
Abstract P430: Neuroimaging of Goal Directed Behavior in Overweight Women

Background: The purpose of this pilot study was to test the Dual System approach to health behavior change in forty non-diabetic midlife women, age 47-55 years recruited from an internal medicine clinic, as the basis for future health behavior change research. The Dual System is a novel approach for use in clinical interventions, and includes goal-directed and habit-based systems. Based on this paradigm, participants successful with goal-directed behavior are also more successful developing habitual health behaviors concurrently over time, and will have improved health outcomes. Methods: Preliminary analysis compared the overweight (BMI 25-40 kg/m 2 ) experimental group (n=10) and healthy weight (BMI 18.5-25 kg/m 2 ) controls (n=13). All received instructions and a demonstration of the decision task outside the MRI scanner as well as written and verbal instructions inside the scanner. To assess performance, accuracy percentages on the task were calculated (correct responses divided by total number of responses x 100). The t-test was used to compare scores between groups on the decision task during training, outcome devaluation, and slips of action tasks. Results: Preliminary results indicate no significant difference in training scores between the overweight group (7.6±1.5) and healthy weight controls (7.1±1.6) (t=.765; p=.45). Scores on the outcome devaluation task were higher in the overweight (6.3; ± 0.5) than the healthy weight group (5.3; ± 1.7), although the difference did not reach significance (t=1.75; p=.09). No difference in scores was found between the overweight group (6.7± 2.0) vs. controls (5.2 ± 2.3) (t=1.587; p=.12), indicating no deficit in goal directedness or overreliance on habits. Behavioral results were consistent with fMRI findings of greater activation in the bilateral middle frontal gyrus regions (associated with planning and self-regulation) in overweight compared to healthy weight women during the outcome devaluation task. Conclusion: These preliminary findings have implications for the science of health behavior change. Overweight compared to healthy weight women were sensitive to goals, but had heightened self-regulation responses that indicate difficulty transforming goals into action. Future study is needed to test goal directed behavior as it relates to specific aspects of energy balance to guide interventions for long-term maintenance of physical activity, and to improve health outcomes.
Managing Customer Churn via Service Mode Control

We introduce a novel stochastic control model for the problem of a service firm interacting over time with one of its customers. The firm has two service modes available, which differ in their expected reward rates as well as their volatilities (risk). The firm's objective is to maximize the rewards generated over the customer's lifetime. Meanwhile, the customer is unsophisticated and might, probabilistically, abandon the system if unsatisfied with recent rewards. We show that the firm's optimal policy is either myopic or a sandwich policy. A sandwich policy is one where the firm utilizes the myopically optimal service mode when the customer is either very happy or very unhappy but that utilizes the service mode with inferior reward rate when the customer happiness is in a specific interval near the satisfaction threshold. Specifically, the firm should be risk averse when the customer is marginally satisfied and risk seeking when the customer is marginally unsatisfied. We find numerically that the customer lifetime value under the optimal policy is large relative to that under the myopic policy. We also show that our results are robust to a variety of alternative model specifications.
A Connectomic Atlas of the Human Cerebrum-Chapter 18: The Connectional Anatomy of Human Brain Networks

Background It is widely understood that cortical functions are mediated by complex, interdependent brain networks. These networks have been identified and studied using novel technologies such as functional magnetic resonance imaging under both resting-state and task-based conditions. However, no one has attempted to describe these networks in terms of their cortical parcellations. Objective To describe our approach to network modeling and discuss its significance for the future of neuronavigation in brain surgery using the cortical parcellation scheme detailed within this supplement. Methods Using network models previously elucidated by our group using coordinate-based meta-analytic techniques, we show the anatomic position and underlying white matter tracts of the cortical regions comprising 8 functional networks of the human cerebrum. These network models are displayed using Synaptive's clinically available BrightMatter tractography software (Synaptive Medical, Toronto, Canada). Results The relevant cortical parcellations of 8 different cerebral networks have been identified. The fiber tracts between these regions were used to construct anatomically precise models of the networks. Models are described for the dorsal attention, ventral attention, semantic, auditory, supplementary motor, ventral premotor, default mode, and salience networks. Conclusion Our goal is to move towards more precise, anatomically specific models of brain networks that can be constructed for individual patients and utilized in navigational platforms during brain surgery. We believe network modeling and future advances in navigation technology can provide a foundation for improving neurosurgical outcomes by allowing us to preserve complex brain networks.
Personalization of x-ray tube motion in digital breast tomosynthesis using virtual Defrise phantoms

In digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), projection images are acquired as the x-ray tube rotates in the plane of the chest wall. We constructed a prototype next-generation tomosynthesis (NGT) system that has an additional component of tube motion in the perpendicular direction (i.e., posteroanterior motion). Our previous work demonstrated the advantages of the NGT system using the Defrise phantom. The reconstruction shows higher contrast and fewer blurring artifacts. To expand upon that work, this paper analyzes how image quality can be further improved by customizing the motion path of the x-ray tube based on the object being imaged. In simulations, phantoms are created with realistic 3D breast outlines based on an established model of the breast under compression. The phantoms are given an internal structure similar to a Defrise phantom. Two tissue types (fibroglandular and adipose) are arranged in a square-wave pattern. The reconstruction is analyzed as a binary classification task using thresholding to segment the two tissue types. At various thresholds, the classification of each voxel in the reconstruction is compared against the phantom, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are calculated. It is shown that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) is dependent on the x-ray tube trajectory. The trajectory that maximizes AUC differs between phantoms. In conclusion, this paper demonstrates that the acquisition geometry in DBT should be personalized to the object being imaged in order to optimize the image quality.
Use of the Impella 5.0 Micro-Axial Flow Device in Refractory Cardiogenic Shock - A Single Center Experience

Introduction Patients with refractory cardiogenic shock have a mortality in excess of 80%. The use of percutaneous mechanical circulatory support devices to bridge patients with refractory cardiogenic shock to definitive therapy has steadily increased, although the benefit remains poorly defined. This study describes the Baylor St Luke's Medical Center - Texas Heart Institute institutional experience using the Impella 5.0 micro-axial flow device to treat patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. Methods A retrospective study of all consecutive Impella 5.0 devices implanted at our institution between 8/2013 - 12/2018. Results Sixty-eight patients with refractory cardiogenic shock received an Impella 5.0 as a bridge to decision or definitive therapy. The cohort mean age was 60.2±12.7 years, 85.3% were male, 51.5% were Caucasian and 50.0% had coronary artery disease. The etiology of cardiogenic shock was primarily acute on chronic decompensated systolic heart failure (89.7%). After a median of 10 days on support (range 1-83 days), thirty-five patients (51.5%) had significant improvement while on Impella 5.0 support and were successfully bridged; twenty-six patients received a durable left ventricular assist device, one received a heart transplantation and eight recovered. Thirty-three patients (48.5%) had failed to recover end-organ function and either expired or care was withdrawn. Conclusions In our single center experience, Impella 5.0 implantation allowed discrimination of a patient sub-population suitable for definitive long-term therapy and was associated with better than expected survival to hospital discharge in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock.
Beware the nanovoids.

Nanovoids in organic semiconductors can serve as hosts for water inclusions that lead to trapping of electrons and holes.
The Effects of Wellness In The Schools (WITS) on Physical Activity During Recess in New York City Public Schools

Only 21% of U.S. children meet federal physical activity (PA) guidelines. Schools have insufficient time for physical education classes. School children typically have recess daily, making recess a venue to increase PA. Programs such as Wellness In the Schools (WITS) provide a coach during school recess to lead organized activities and encourage all students to participate may provide students with health, psychological, academic and social benefits. This study was a quasi-experimental matched-control design with seven WITS intervention schools and seven matched control schools, measuring two outcomes: 1) PA level, 2) PA type (measured with an observational tool: System for Observing Play and Leisure Activities in Youth (SOPLAY)). Outcomes were measured in second and third graders pre-(T0) and post-(T1), one school-year into the WITS intervention during outdoor (T0 and T1) and indoor (inclement weather) (T1 only) recess. Results at T1 were compared between control and WITS schools with ANOVA tests. For PA level, the WITS intervention increased PA in indoor recess, a higher percentage of WITS girls and boys were vigorously active, a lower percentage were sedentary, and overall recess PA levels were higher (all p ≤ .001). For PA type, WITS intervention schools had higher overall PA level during ball-like activities during outdoor recess in girls (p = 0.002) and boys (p = 0.010). This study suggests active recess interventions increase PA level during indoor recess and during ball-like activities in outdoor recess, suggesting the WITS intervention has the potential to increase PA during school and help students receive the benefits of regular PA.
Assessment of remittance and its impacts on economic growth in Nepal

This study delves into the issues related to remittance and its role in the Nepalese economy. Remittance is found to have positive association with human capital formation and financial development while negative impact on productivity and international trade in Nepal. Nepal is one of the leading nations of sending workers abroad received approximately US$ 6.29 billion of remittances, almost 25 per cent of its GDP in 2017/18. The investment of remitted amount in unproductive sectors like consumption expenses rather than in productive sectors has resulted in an increment in overall import. The remitted income has occupied a major position of financing which exceeds all the foreign aid and investment in recent years. Thus, the Government of Nepal should make an appropriate policy to maximize the benefit of remittance and retain the manpower to the sustainable economic growth and development sector of the country.
SpaceHuman: A Soft Robotic Prosthetic for Space Exploration

The project focuses on the human centered design approach for aiding crewed space operations in microgravity. The key element is enhancing the floating experience, while enabling humans to adapt in microgravity environments. The metaphor of the undersea world inspired the design of a body extension that can complement the interiors of Zero-G habitats. The analysis of the unique seahorse's tail structure became the insight into the overall biomimetic design. In fact, a seahorse tail enables movement, gripping and protection to the seahorse while floating. SpaceHuman is an additive prosthetic that can move around the body to grasp objects and handles in microgravity, protecting the wearer from injuries that might occur while floating in a confined habitat, while providing an adaptable and kinematically stable base. SpaceHuman has been designed through different computational design methods, to simulate its behavior in microgravity, and has been worn and tested on a Zero-G flight.
An Exploration and Characterization of Financial Performance of Standard and Poor’s 500 Index Constituents Led By Female CEOs

Numerous studies on corporate leadership show a disproportionately high number of men relative to women serving as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). According to BoardEx, as of the end of 2019 only approximately five percent of Standard and Poor’s 500 Index companies were led by a female CEO. Working with Standard and Poor’s Global Market Intelligence financial data from Compustat along with CEO gender data from Catalyst to investigate when female CEOs are hired and which financial factors contribute to a company having a female CEO. As having a female CEO is only one measure of a company’s dedication to diversity, two additional metrics were used as well, companies whose CEOs have taken the Catalyst Champions for Change Pledge and a list of SSGA Index constituents. The aim of this study is to understand under what financial circumstances a company hires a female CEO as opposed to a male CEO, and to explore if female led firms display financial patterns that are distinct from male led firms. Our approach is twofold, using time series analysis to interrogate trends in share price in the 12 months preceding and 12 months following CEO hire, and using clustering methods to better understand if certain financial metrics characterize companies that hire a female CEO. Our study is focused on Standard and Poor’s 500 Index companies that have hired a new CEO since the year 2000. Financial metrics explored in this study are stock returns, stock volatility, earnings per share, EBITA margin, gross profit margin, cash flow margin, return on assets, return on equity and return on capital. Dimension reduction was used and k-means clustering performed on the first three principal components. Preliminary results indicate that male and female led firms cluster together financially. Due to the inevitably high male to female ratio in corporate leadership, there are many fewer female led companies and these naturally group within the high density clusters.
A tree-planting decision support tool for urban heat mitigation

Heat poses an urgent threat to public health in cities, as the urban heat island (UHI) effect can amplify exposures, contributing to high heat-related mortality and morbidity. Urban trees have the potential to mitigate heat by providing substantial cooling, as well as co-benefits such as reductions in energy consumption. The City of Boston has attempted to expand its urban canopy, yet maintenance costs and high tree mortality have hindered successful canopy expansion. Here, we present an interactive web application called Right Place, Right Tree-Boston that aims to support informed decision-making for planting new trees. To highlight priority regions for canopy expansion, we developed a Boston-specific Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) and present this alongside maps of summer daytime land surface temperatures. We also provide information about tree pests and diseases, suitability of species for various conditions, land ownership, maintenance tips, and alternatives to tree planting. This web application is designed to support decision-making at multiple spatial scales, to assist city officials as well as residents who are interested in expanding or maintaining Boston's urban forest.
Teaching Video NeuroImages: Paroxysmal Dysarthria-Ataxia in Multiple Sclerosis.

A 20-year-old man presented with vertigo followed by hourly episodes of dysarthria and incoordination lasting 5–20 seconds (video 1). Neurologic examination was normal between episodes. The only brain/spine MRI lesion was in the right superior cerebellar peduncle (figure, A). CSF analysis revealed elevated white blood cells (6/μL [normal, 0–5]) and oligoclonal bands (≥4). Paroxysmal dysarthria–ataxia associated with CNS demyelination was diagnosed and episodes resolved with oral acetazolamide 250 mg twice daily. Subsequent MRI of the brain and spine (figure, B) confirmed multiple sclerosis. Paroxysmal dysarthria–ataxia arises from ephaptic transmission within midbrain or cerebellar multiple sclerosis lesions and may respond to carbamazepine or acetazolamide.1 It should be distinguished from genetic or contactin-associated protein-like-2 (CASPR2) immunoglobulin G–associated episodic ataxia.2
Human-Induced Global Warming

THE RECORDS OF CO 2 ABUNDANCE AND GLOBAL TEMPERATURES IN MODERN TIMES Ice cores contain trapped bubbles of air which, provided they can be properly dated, represent a record of the composition of air over time. Because of the weight of overlying layers of ice, compressing the pores in the ice, it is very difficult to extend the record back as far as that for temperature derived from the isotopic composition of the water itself. In fact, the manner in which the air bubbles were originally trapped in ice results in their movement upward or downward relative to the ice itself, making age determination a challenge. Figure 22.1 displays CO 2 values from an ice core collected in Greenland. The dating of the air was achieved by taking advantage of a byproduct of nuclear weapons testing: The isotope 14 C reached a peak in Earth's atmosphere, from the detonation of nuclear bombs, in 1963. Using this peak in heavy carbon, geochemists M. Wahlen of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and colleagues determined that the trapped air was displaced by the equivalent of 200 years relative to the ice surrounding it. With this important correction, the figure shows that, during the Little Ice Age, CO 2 values were fairly constant. Beginning in the mid-1800s, carbon dioxide began to increase. Direct measurements from a station in Hawaii, selected to be high above any local industries and hence sampling worldwide CO 2 borne by the trade winds, show that the increase accelerates after World War II.
Barrett's esophagus: A prevalent, occult complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Abstract A prospective study of patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus and reevaluate the diagnostic approach necessary to detect this complication. Endoscopy with mucosal biopsy was performed in 97 subjects. Twelve (12.4%) were found to have Barrett's esophagus. The sensitivity and specificity of the endoscopic and radiologic examinations for Barrett's esophagus were prospectively evaluated. Endoscopy (92%) was significantly more sensitive than radiology (24%) in detecting Barrett's esophagus (p
The Refractive Index of H 2 H 2 O; The Refractive Index and Density of Solutions of H 2 H 2 O in H 1 H 1 O

A determination has been made of the refractive index of nearly pure ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{2}$O and of a 50 percent solution of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{2}$O in ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{1}$O over a range of temperatures and wave-lengths. In both cases temperatures of maximum refractive index have been found. The differences between these temperatures and the temperature of maximum refractive index for ordinary water are in accord with the differences in those physical properties of the two kinds of water which have already been investigated. The dispersion of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{2}$O is lower than that of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{1}$O. The densities and refractive indices of solutions of different concentrations of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{2}$O in ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}^{1}$O have been determined. It is found that these solutions do not obey the laws of the ideal solution to the extent that the partial molal volumes are functions of the concentration of the isotopic water. This deviation from ideality is not found in the refractive indices of these solutions.
Semiclassical extremal black holes.

Extremal black holes are studied in a two-dimensional model motivated by a dimensional reduction from four dimensions. Their quantum-corrected geometry is calculated semiclassically and a mild singularity is shown to appear at the horizon. Extensions of the geometry past the horizon are not unique but there are continuations free from malevolent singularities. A few comments are made about the relevance of these results to four dimensions and to the study of black hole entropy and information loss.
Microbial Encounters of a Symbiotic Kind: Attaching to Roots and Other Surfaces

Attachment of bacteria to plant surfaces is a necessary prelude to the interaction, either pathological or mutualistic, that follows. For symbiotic nitrogen fixation to occur and, in particular, for nodules to develop for housing the nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the legume–Rhizobium mutualism, attachment of rhizobia to roots is critical. Nodules form on some legume roots as a consequence of Nod factor perception if the rhizobia do not attach, but they remain uninfected because attachment is needed for infection-thread formation. Numerous studies have shown that rhizobial cell surface components are required for optimal root attachment and colonization. These components include polysaccharides such as exopolysaccharides, lipopolysaccharides, cyclic β-1,2-glucans, and cellulose fibrils; and also proteins, including flagellae, pili, rhicadhesin, and a bacterial lectin known as Bj38. Loss of function of genes encoding exo-, capsular-, and lipopolysacchrides as well as cyclic β-1,2-glucan often result in diminished root attachment and poorly infected nodules. However, no mutant phenotypes have been described for the loss of function of either rhicadhesin or bacterial lectin because genes encoding these traits have not yet been identified. Rhizobium leguminosarum mutants defective in cellulose fibril production still induce nitrogen-fixing nodule formation, and moreover, not all rhizobia synthesize cellulose fibrils, strongly suggesting that fibrils are not universally required for attachment to plant roots. On the plant side, very little is known about the factors required for rhizobial attachment. Carbohydrate-binding proteins, particularly lectins, have been implicated, but few other plant proteins have been described. This review describes what is known about the genes and proteins that are involved in attachment and colonization of rhizobia on legumes. We focus not only on attachment to root hairs and epidermal cells, but also on ex planta adherence. To that end, we consider rhizobial attachment to the root surface as well as to abiotic surfaces as a biofilm, i.e., a structured community of bacteria adherent to a surface and to each other, and surrounded by exopolymer. We also examine the effects of cell surface mutations on biofilm development in other bacteria with the goal of establishing commonalities with nitrogen-fixing rhizobia.
The Assumptions of Bell's Proof

Abstract While it is widely agreed that Bell's theorem is an important result in the foundations of quantum physics, there is much disagreement about what exactly Bell's theorem shows. It is agreed that Bell derived a contradiction with experimental facts from some list of assumptions, thus showing that at least one of the assumptions must be wrong; but there is disagreement about what the assumptions were that went into the argument. In this paper, I make a few points in order to help clarify the situation. Introduction Different authors have expressed very different views about what Bell's theorem shows about physics. The disagreement concerns particularly the question of which assumptions go into the argument. Since we have to give up one of the assumptions leading to the empirically violated Bell inequality, knowing what the assumptions were is crucial. For example, if author X believes that the argument requires only one assumption, A 1 , while author Y believes that it requires two, A 1 and A 2 , then X will conclude that A 1 ¬ must be abandoned, while Y will conclude that either A 1 or A 2 must abandoned, so A 1 may well be true in our world if A 2 is false. In this paper, I consider several assumptions that have been mentioned in connection with Bell's theorem, and I look into their roles in the proof of Bell's theorem. While I do not say anything here that has never been said before, I hope that my remarks can nevertheless be helpful to some readers. For the sake of definiteness, the version of the relevant experiment that I will consider involves two spin-1\2 particles, initially in the singlet spin state ψ = 2 −1/2 (|↑↓ ⟩ − |↓↑ ⟩). Two widely separated experimenters, Alice and Bob, have one particle transported to each of them. At spacelike separation, they each choose a direction in space, represented by the unit vectors a and b , and carry out a quantum measurement of the spin observable in this direction on their particle, ( a · σ ) ⊗ I and I ⊗ ( b · σ ), with I the 2 × 2 unit matrix and σ the triple of Paulimatrices. The possible outcomes, A and B , are±1 on each side. Bell's theorem is the statement that under the assumptions we are about to discuss, Bell's inequality holds; quantum theory predicts violations of Bell's inequality, and experiments have confirmed these predictions.
Change in Properties of Physarum polycephalum Amoebae During Extended Culture

Abstract During two years of passage, several myxamoebal strains of Physarum polycephalum changed with regard to their properties in crosses and plaque morphology. These changes have been correlated with increased nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid content.
A Natural Partial Order on The Prime Numbers

A natural partial order on the set of prime numbers was derived by the author from the internal symmetries of the primary finite fields, independently of Ford a.a., who investigated Pratt trees for primality tests. It leads to a correspondence with the Hopf algebra of rooted trees, and as an application, to an alternative approach to the Prime Number Theorem.
The mini anterior approach: Optimizes total hip arthroplasty outcomes—Opposes

Abstract Much has been written and talked about in both the lay press as well as orthopaedic journals regarding the potential for enhanced recovery in anterior total hip arthroplasty. It is our feeling that the evidence regarding this claim is weak at best, and that the approach has a high complication rate in many surgeon’s hands. We propose the elements of leading to enhance recovery as it applies to all approaches to total hip arthroplasty and propose alternative means to achieve them.
Teaching history on the border: teachers voice their views

The overall objective of this investigation was to explore the views of border history teachers on a wide variety of issues that influence their instructional approaches, curricular content choices, and capacity to teach history more effectively. More specifically, the focus was on identifying factors that affect their ability to utilize culturally relevant pedagogy and to integrate into their classroom instruction elements of the local border community, and of the Latin American, Latino, and Mexican American experience. Findings confirmed that structural factors such as mandated curriculum standards, adopted textbooks, and high-stakes tests all serve to limit the teachers’ ability to integrate the Latino and minority experience into their classroom narrative. Although most teachers expressed support for the inclusion of Latino history, in actual practice they reported having insufficient time, training, or resources to adequately do so. The implications that Latino curricular exclusion has for students o...
The Balkans' new political dynamic

The Balkans is currently going through its most profound period of change since Slobodan Milosevic's overthrow in October 2000. Montenegro has declared its independence from the state union of Serbia and Montenegro; the Kosovo future status talks are in their final stages and by all indications will suggest some form of independence for the Serbian province; new governments are in place in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia; while the results of Serbia’s January 2007 elections suggest that Serbian politics will be unstable for the foreseeable future. All of this is occurring at a time when two of the pillars promoting stability in the Balkans - a substantial U.S. military presence and the foreseeable prospect of EU accession for the countries of the region - are being withdrawn. Meanwhile, anew variable is being introduced into the strategic equation in The region - the return of Russia as a serious player. As a result of all of these new developments without a more serious commitment to the region from both Washington and Brussels over the next few years, there is a serious likelihood that the democratic and economic transitions in the region will suffer serious setbacks or delays.
A Compatible, Energy and Symmetry Preserving Lagrangian Hydrodynamics Algorithm in Three-Dimensional Cartesian Geometry

This work presents a numerical algorithm for the solution of fluid dynamics problems with moderate to high speed flow in three dimensions. Cartesian geometry is chosen owing to the fact that in this coordinate system no curvature terms are present that break the conservation law structure of the fluid equations. Written in Lagrangian form, these equations are discretized utilizing compatible, control volume differencing with a staggered-grid placement of the spatial variables. The concept of “compatibility” means that the forces used in the momentum equation to advance velocity are also incorporated into the internal energy equation so that these equations together define the total energy as a quantity that is exactly conserved in time in discrete form. Multiple pressures are utilized in each zone; they produce forces that resist spurious vorticity generation. This difficulty can severely limit the utility of the Lagrangian formulation in two dimensions and make this representation otherwise virtually useless in three dimensions. An edge-centered artificial viscosity whose magnitude is regulated by local velocity gradients is used to capture shocks. The particular difficulty of exactly preserving one-dimensional spherical symmetry in three-dimensional geometry is solved. This problem has both practical and pedagogical significance. The algorithm is suitable for both structured and unstructured grids. Limitations that symmetry preservation imposes on the latter type of grids are delineated.
The wholesomeness of fish protein concentrate: a new approach to the evaluation of food safety.

Abstract Evaluation of the safety of new foods or of traditional foods treated by new processes is limited by the degree to which their level in the diet of experimental animals can be exaggerated without introducing nutritional complications. This difficulty can be overcome by preparing extracts of the food and studying the toxicity of these extracts. Application of such an approach to Fish Protein Concentrate (FPC) using successive extraction with hexane, chloroform, ethanol, and water and feeding the extracts to rats and mice at levels equivalent to some 500% FPC in the diet failed to uncover any toxic principles. For general application of the method to be practical, a suitable extraction plant would have to be available.
Historic overview of studies on fatty acid-binding proteins

Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) were first identified in the cytosol of rat intestinal mucosa during studies on the regulation of intestinal fatty acid uptake. The subsequent finding of FABP activity in the cytosol of many other tissues initially was believed to reflect a single protein. However, the FABPs are now recognized as products of an ancient gene family comprised of at least 9 structurally related, soluble intracellular members, a number of which exhibit high-affinity binding of long-chain fatty acids. Despite recent insights into regulation and tissue-specific expression suggesting FABPs to subserve diverse roles, their precise biological functions remain to be elucidated.
APICAL FOLIAR NECTARY OF POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM: PUNICACEAE)

This is the first report of an extrafloral nectary in the Punicaceae. Each leaf of pomegranate bears a single apical nectary that consists of a closely packed spherical mass of densely staining cells, and of a surrounding layer of cells that are larger and more vacuolate, though still densely staining. The epidermis at the apex of the nectary (which is also comprised of small, densely staining cells) bulges to form a bump over a small chamber. The leaf apex lacks stomata or other specialized pores for nectar to escape. However, separation of epidermal cells and conspicuous ruptures sometimes occur. The -midvein and 2-4 lateral bundles converge on the nectary. The xylem stops before reaching the nectary, but the phloem continues, curving about halfway around the nectariferous tissue. Chromatographic analysis of nectar droplets showed roughly equal amounts of fructose, glucose, and sucrose. This nectary resembles leaf apical glands of Lafoensia in the closely related family Lythraceae.
Improvement in exercise capacity of candidates awaiting heart transplantation

Abstract Objectives. This study determined the frequency of improvement in peak oxygen uptake and its role in reevaluation of candidates awaiting heart transplantation. Background. Ambulatory candidates for transplantation usually wait >6 months to undergo the procedure, and during this period symptoms may lessen, and peak oxygen uptake may improve. Whereas initial transplant candidacy is based increasingly on objective criteria, there are no established guidelines for reevaluation to determine who can leave the active waiting list. Methods. All ambulatory transplant candidates with initial peak oxygen uptake Results. In 38 of the 68 patients, peak oxygen uptake increased by ≥2 ml/kg per min to a level ≥ 12 ml/kg per min after 6 ± 5 months, together with an increase in anaerobic threshold, peak oxygen pulse and exercise heart rate reserve and a decrease in heart rate at rest. Increased peak oxygen uptake was accompanied by stable clinical status without congestion in 31 of 38 patients, and these 31 were taken off the active waiting list. At 2 years, their actuarial survival rate was 100%, and the survival rate without relisting for transplantation was 85%. Conclusion. Reevaluation of exercise capacity and clinical status allowed removal of 31 (29%) of 107 ambulatory transplant candidates from the waiting list with excellent early survival despite low peak oxygen uptake on initial testing. The ability to increase peak oxygen uptake, particularly with increased peak oxygen pulse, may indicate improved prognosis as well as functional capacity and, in combination with stable clinical status, may be an indication to defer transplantation in favor of more compromised candidates.
Equivalent antenna radius for narrow slot apertures having depth

The problem of electromagnetic penetration of a narrow slot aperture in a thick perfectly conducting plane is reduced to the solution of Hallen's integral equation with an equivalent antenna radius. The depth and width of the slot are assumed to be small compared to both the length of the slot and the wavelength. The equivalent radius is evaluated in terms of the solution to the transverse static problem. Simple approximations for the equivalent radius is also given. Hallen's integral equation is solved by the Galerkin method with piecewise sinusoidal basis functions. Large slot depth-to-width ratios give rise to vanishingly small equivalent radii and thus large antenna resonance quality factors. A simple correction to the static field distribution in the slot is also given. This correction allows the depth to become somewhat larger relative to the wavelength. >
THE EFFICIENCY OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONEY MARKETS: A REPLY

In their original article, McInish and Puglisi (1982) examine the weak form efficiency of nineteen international money market instruments using a runs test. Taylor asserts that on theoretical grounds other tests would have been better. McInish and Puglisi argue that their tests were satisfactory and that until empirical evidence is offered the economic significance of Taylor's claims is uncertain (at best).
Nuclear export of influenza virus ribonucleoproteins: identification of an export intermediate at the nuclear periphery.

A critical phase of the influenza virus life cycle is the regulated translocation of genomic ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs) from the nuclear interior, across the nuclear envelope, and into the cytoplasm. Two viral proteins, M1 and NS2, have previously been implicated as mediators of vRNP export. We show here that vRNP nuclear export is prevented by leptomycin B (LMB), an inhibitor of the cellular factor CRM1. In LMB-treated cells, vRNPs were found in a peripheral nuclear location that localized with the nuclear lamina. vRNPs were not colocalized with either M1 or NS2. In situ extraction of cells late in infection also revealed a peripheral localization of nuclear vRNPs, whereas early in infection vRNPs were dispersed throughout the nuclear interior. We believe that vRNPs at the nuclear periphery represent a novel intermediate in the influenza virus nuclear export pathway.
Bankruptcy prediction of financially stressed firms: an examination of the predictive accuracy of artificial neural networks

This is an extension of prior studies that have used artificial neural networks to predict bankruptcy. The incremental contribution of this study is threefold. First, we use only financially stressed firms in our control sample. This enables the models to more closely approximate the actual decision processes of auditors and other interested parties. Second, we develop a more parsimonious model using qualitative ‘bad news’ variables that prior research indicates measure financial distress. Past research has focused on the ‘usefulness’ of accounting numbers and therefore often ignored non-accounting variables that may contribute to the classification accuracy of the distress prediction models. In addition, rather than use multiple financial ratios, we include a single variable of financial distress using the Zmijewski distress score that incorporates ratios measuring profitability, liquidity, and solvency. Finally, we develop and test a genetic algorithm neural network model. We examine its predictive ability to that of a backpropagation neural network and a model using multiple discriminant analysis. The results indicate that the misclassification cost of the genetic algorithm-based neural network was the lowest among the models. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.