cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wake of a Compressor Cascade with Tip Gap, Part 2: Effects of Endwall Motion

The effects of relative motion between the blade tips and endwall on the flow downstream of a linear compressor cascade have been studied. Endwall motion was simulated by using a 0.25-mm-thick Mylar belt propelled ove ra sliding surface beneath the tips of the cascade blades. Three-component mean-velocity and turbulence measurements made in cross sections downstream of the cascade reveal that the wall motion flattens and shears the turbulence and mean-velocity distributions of the vortex. Mean-helicity density plots also show that endwall motion smears the vortex center from a single point (when seen in cross section) into a ribbon that makes an angle of some 30 deg with the endwall. Despite these effects, many critical features of the vortex are almost unaffected by the endwall motion. The vortex produces almost the same magnitude of streamwise mean-velocity deficit, and this deficit still dominates both the mean velocity field and the production of turbulence. Thus, although endwall motion distorts and displaces the leakage vortex it does not fundamentally alter the mechanisms that govern the development of its mean flow and turbulence structure.
Functional Characteristics of iGluR3 AMPA Receptor-Channels in Cell Attached Recordings

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluR's) are ligand gated ion channels that mediate most of the fast excitatory neurotransmission in the CNS. Aberrant function of glutamate neurotransmission can lead to epilepsy and other neurodegenerative disorders. The extracellular ligand binding domain is a bilobal structure that binds an agonist and induces channel activation. Data from single channel recordings from homomeric AMPA receptor subtype (GluR3) in cell-attached patches were analyzed using QuB software to examine preliminary kinetic models of agonist dependent channel activity. Cell attached recordings were performed with both full and partial agonists on stably transfected HEK 293 cells. Amplitude analysis uncovered three conductance states, 15 pS, 27 pS, and 40 pS, in the presence of the full agonist, glutamate, as well as the partial agonists, fluorowillardiine, chlorowillardiine and nitrowillardiine. Different modes of activation ranging from low to high open probability exist for this channel. In the presence of the full agonist, glutamate, during a high mode of activation, the channel prefers to open to the intermediate and large conductance states. In the presence of the willardiine partial agonists, the channel opens more frequently to the smallest and intermediate conductance states. Kinetic modeling using maximum interval likelihood rate optimization revealed two time constants in each open state and at least three in the closed state for the partial and the full agonists. These data suggest the mode of channel activation is similar for both glutamate and willardiine compounds with varying rates of activation. Supported by NIH NS049223.
Analysis of Cereal Starches by High-Performance Size Exclusion Chromatography

Starch has unique physicochemical characteristics among carbohydrates. Two important characteristics of starch are amylose/amylopectin ratio and molecular weight. The objective of this study was to develop a simple, one-step, and accurate method for the determination of amylose/amylopectin ratio and weight-averaged molecular weights of starch in whole meal cereal samples. This method would allow for the simultaneous measurement of these important properties without the time-consuming step of large-scale starch extraction. Starch from spring wheat, barley, oat, rye, buckwheat, rice, durum wheat, and corn was precipitated with ethanol and solubilized with potassium hydroxide and urea before analysis by a high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) system with a refractive index detector. To verify peak identity, fractions were collected and then gas chromatography analysis of soluble starch and beta-glucan assays was performed. All HPSEC fractions contained only glucose and no beta-glucan was detected, indicating that there was no contamination from non-starch polysaccharides. Weight-averaged molecular weights were calculated using a series of gel permeation chromatography grade dextrans. The method described in this study can be used to determine amylose/amylopectin ratio and weight-averaged molecular weight of cereal starches using as low as 25 mg whole meal samples without large-scale starch extraction.
Expressing ( a 2 + b 2 + c 2 + d 2 ) 3 as a sum of 23 sixth powers

Abstract It is shown that ( x 1 2 + x 2 2 + x 3 2 + x 4 2 ) 3 can be written as a sum of 23 sixth powers of linear forms. This is one less than is required in Kempner's 1912 identity. There is a corresponding set of 23 points in the four-dimensional unit ball which provides an exact quadrature rule for homogeneous polynomials of degree 6 on S 3 . It appears that this result is best possible, i.e., that no 22-term identity exists.
Can Satellite Sampling of Offshore Wind Speeds Realistically Represent Wind Speed Distributions

Wind speeds over the oceans are required for a range of applications but are difficult to obtain through in situ methods. Hence, remote sensing tools, which also offer the possibility of describing spatial variability, represent an attractive proposition. However, the uncertainties inherent in application of current remote sensing methodologies have yet to be fully quantified. Aside from known issues regarding absolute accuracy and precision, there are a number of biases inherent in remote retrieval of wind speeds using satellite-borne instrumentation that lead to overestimation of the wind resource and are demonstrated here to be of sufficient magnitude to merit further consideration. As an interim measure, error bounds are proposed for the wind speed probability distribution parameters, which may be applied to sparse datasets such as those likely to be obtained from satelliteborne instrumentation.
SU-FF-I-65: Evaluation of Four Volume-Based Image Registration Algorithms

Purpose: To evaluate four different, volume‐based, automatic image registration algorithms from two commercially available treatment planning systems (Philips Syntegra, BrainLab BrainScan). Methods and Materials: Philips Syntegra provides Cross Correlation (CC), Local Correlation (LC) and Normalized Mutual Information (NMI) as optimization metrics. BrainScan applies Mutual Information (BSMI) as an optimization metric. These algorithms were evaluated with: 1) synthesis images, i.e., the images obtained by applying known transformations to a set of original CTimages, 2) CT and MR phantom images, and 3) CT and MR head images from 12 different patients with braintumors.Results: For synthesis images, the registration results were compared with known transformation parameters and all algorithms achieved sub‐millimeter accuracy in translation and sub‐degree accuracy in rotation. For phantom and patient images, the registration results were compared with those provided by manual registration. The mean and standard deviation of translation and rotation errors for the phantom study were 2.0±1.1 mm and 1.7±1.0 degree respectively. For the 12 sets of head images in this study, NMI algorithm, with registration accuracy within 1.5mm and 1 degree, performed better than other algorithms (p‐value 0.005). CC and BSMI performed poorly with potential errors close to 4mm and 3 degrees. We also noticed that LC and CC algorithms were much less robust and may fail to register when large translation and rotation were required. Conclusion: All algorithms themselves can achieve sub‐voxel accuracy for CT to CT registration of synthesis images. For clinical MR and CTimage registration, the accuracy is much reduced, probably due to the intensity and voxel size differences between those images. In addition, Normalized Mutual Information based model appears to outperform other algorithms for registering MR and CTimages of the brain.
The Keeping Quality of Pasteurized Egg

Summary Commercially produced pasteurized egg was stored in refrigerators at 36, 38 and 40°F and examined daily both organoleptically and bacteriologically. The counts at 20 and at 37°, as well as the coliform count, remained practically constant for a period, depending on the storage temperature, following which there was a sharp transition to a logarithmic phase. Using both bacteriological and organoleptic criteria, the egg remained satisfactory for at least 6 days provided the storage temperature did not exceed 38°F.
Blood respiratory properties of Bison bison.

Abstract The respiratory properties and basic hematology of blood from seven adult bison and one calf were determined. Average oxygen-carrying capacity was 22.2 ml:100 ml blood from adults and 17.0 in calf blood; hemoglobin averaged 17.1 g/100 ml in adults and 13.6 in the calf. Half saturation of the blood occurred at 32 mm Hg Po 2 ; at pH 7.40 and 37°C. The average Bohr effect was −0.40. Erythrocytes numbered 8.6 × 10 6 /mm 3 and were 52μm 3 in mean volume. Adult and calf cells differed in mean cell hemoglobin. adults 19.9 pg/cell cs 15.9 in the calf, and this difference evidently caused differences in Haldane effect, standard bicarbonate, and buffering capacity Bison are capable of prolonged running. Two features of the blood that promote this capacity are its comparatively great oxygen-carrying capacity and low oxygen affinity.
Hypersingular Boundary Integral Equations: Some Applications in Acoustic and Elastic Wave Scattering

Interpretation in terms of Hadamard finite-part integrals, even for integrals in three dimensions, is given, and this concept is compared with the Cauchy Principal Value, which, by itself, is insufficient to render meaning to the hypersingular integrals. Motivation for this work is given in the context of scattering of time-harmonic waves by cracks. A numerical example is given for the problem of acoustic scattering by a rigid screen in three spatial dimensions
RELATIVISTIC PARAMETRIZATION OF THE RHO MESON.

Abstract A relativistic generalization of the Breit-Wigner formula is improved and applied to the ϱ-meson. A good fit involving only one intrinsically free parameter is obtained. The new parametrization reduces to a simple Breit-Wigner form in the neighborhood of a resonance, but, as shown in the example of the ϱ-meson, it is a better representation of the scattering amplitude in that it is accurate at energies far away from the resonance.
Airspace security metrics: Design for assessing the impact of airspace security incidents

During the past three years, the System Operations Security organization of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Air Traffic Organization (ATO) has focused on developing metrics and associated automation tools to assess the impact of airspace security incidents on the National Airspace System (NAS). This organization has also explored ways to measure their progress in mitigating the impact of airspace security incidents on all NAS users.
Assessment of the Detrimental Effects of Steam on Al2O3-Scale Establishment

The effects of steam on the oxidation behavior of model Al2O3-scale forming Ni-base alloys at 1000 °C were studied. This was done by conducting tests using dry air and air +30 % H2O (“wet air” in short) gas environments. It was found that the critical concentration of Al (N Al * ) to form a continuous and protective alumina scale on Ni–Al–Cr alloys is increased when the environment is wet air. Based on a rigorous assessment of the parameters contained in Maak’s modification (Z Met 52:545, 1961) of Wagner’s criterion (Z Elektrochem 63:772, 1959) for the transition from internal oxidation to external scale formation, it was deduced that the factor that can change the critical concentration N Al * to the extent measured is the critical volume fraction f v * .
Revision, Weighting, and commitment in consensus group judgment

Abstract This study investigates group members' estimates of unknown quantities and their confidence in those estimates in the context of a Revision and Weighting Model of consensus group judgment. In this model, revision refers to the individual process of changing an initial individual judgment as a result of social interaction. In contrast, weighting is the group process of combining revised individual judgments into a single group judgment. Results replicate the findings of J. A. Sniezek and R. A. Henry ( Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes , 1989) by showing group judgments to be (a) more accurate than individual judgments and (b) often outside the range of the group members' individual judgments. Both of these phenomena occurred during the act of setting the group consensus price estimate, i.e., the weighting process. In contrast, the revision process resulted in little change in members' judgments, but showed some evidence of increasing their confidence in those judgments. There was some indication that it was advantageous for group members to form individual judgments prior to the formation of a group judgment. In general, group members demonstrated high commitment to their group estimates.
Hydrologic and biogeochemical controls on trace element export from northern Wisconsin wetlands

Wetlands play an important role in determining the water quality of streams and are generally considered to act as a sink for many reactive species. However, retention of chemical constituents varies seasonally and is affected by hydrologic and biogeochemical processes including water source, mineral weathering, DOC and SPM cycling, redox status, precipitation/dissolution/adsorption, and seasonal events. Relatively little is known about the influence of these factors on trace element cycling in wetland-influenced streams. To explore the role of wetlands with respect to the retention/release of trace elements to streams, we examined temporal and spatial patterns of concentrations of a large suite of trace elements (via ICP-MS) and geochemical drivers in five streams and wetland rivulets draining natural wetlands in a northern Wisconsin watershed as well as in their groundwater sources (terrestrial recharge, lake recharge, and older lake recharge). We performed principal components analyses of the concentrations of elements and their geochemical drivers in both the streams and rivulets to assist in the identification of factors regulating trace element concentrations. Variation in trace and major element concentrations among the streams was strongly related to the proportion of terrestrial recharge contributing to the stream. A dominant influence of water source on rivulet chemistry was supported by association of groundwater-sourced elements (Ba, Ca, Cs, Mg, Na, Si, Sr) with the primary statistical factor. DOC appeared in the first principal component factor for the streams and in the second factor for the rivulets. Strong correlations of Al, Cd, Ce, Cu, La, Pb, Ti, and Zn with DOC supported the important influence of DOC on trace metal cycling. A number of elements in the rivulets (Al, La, Pb, Ti) and streams (Al, Ce, Cr, Cu, La, Pb, Ti, Zn) had a significant particulate cycle. Redox cycling and precipitation/dissolution reactions involving Fe and Mn likely impacted Cu and Mo as evidenced by the low levels in the rivulets. Variance in Fe, Mn and the metal oxy-anions was associated with factors related to redox cycling and adsorption reactions in the wetland sediments. In streams, DOC and metals with a high affinity for DOC were associated with a factor which also included negative loadings for groundwater-sourced elements, reflecting the importance of seasonal hydrologic events which flush DOC and metals from wetland sediments and dilute groundwater sourced metals. Redox processes were of secondary importance in the streams but of primary significance in the rivulets, documenting the importance of anoxic conditions in wetland sediments on groundwater en route to the stream.
Cholera toxin enhances Na+ absorption across MCF10A human mammary epithelia

Cellular mechanisms to account for the low Na(+) concentration in human milk are poorly defined. MCF10A cells, which were derived from human mammary epithelium and grown on permeable supports, exhibit amiloride- and benzamil-sensitive short-circuit current (Isc; a sensitive indicator of net ion transport), suggesting activity of the epithelial Na(+) channel ENaC. When cultured in the presence of cholera toxin (Ctx), MCF10A cells exhibit greater amiloride-sensitive Isc at all time points tested (2 h to 7 days), an effect that is not reduced with Ctx washout for 12 h. Amiloride-sensitive Isc remains elevated by Ctx in the presence of inhibitors for PKA (H-89, Rp-cAMP), PI3K (LY294002), and protein trafficking (brefeldin A). Additionally, the Ctx B subunit, alone, does not replicate these effects. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses indicate no significant increase in either the mRNA or protein expression for α-, β-, or, γ-ENaC subunits. Ctx increases the abundance of both β- and γ-ENaC in the apical membrane. Additionally, Ctx increases both phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated Nedd4-2 expression. These results demonstrate that human mammary epithelia express ENaC, which can account for the low Na(+) concentration in milk. Importantly, the results suggest that Ctx increases the expression but reduces the activity of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2, which would tend to reduce the ENaC retrieval and increase steady-state membrane residency. The results reveal a novel mechanism in human mammary gland epithelia by which Ctx regulates ENaC-mediated Na(+) transport, which may have inferences for epithelial ion transport regulation in other tissues throughout the body.
Controlled Hybridization Technique for Switchgrass

Controlled hybridizations of plants are necessary for genetic studies, including those that use molecular markers. A hybridization technique for grass species such as switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L., with indurate floral bracts has not been previously reported. The objective of this study was to develop a technique for emasculating and hybridizing switchgrass. Emasculations were successful when the top of the stigmas could be seen through the translucent tips of the lemma and palea. Panicle branches containing 25 to 50 fertile florets were emasculated at this stage after removing excess panicle branches. Both sessile staminate florets and the fertile florets of a spikelet were emasculated because removal of the sessile floret damaged the upper fertile floret. Emasculations and hybridization were completed before natural pollen shed, which occurs after 1000 h in the greenhouse. Panicle branches with emasculated florets were covered with glassine bags, Anthers from florets of male parents at a similar stage of development were collected in petri dishes and shaken to induce pollen shed. Pollen in petri dishes was applied directly to stigmas of florets emasculated previously the same morning. The average percentage of crossability [(seed/floret emasculated and fertilized) 100] for crosses that produced seed was 27%, with a range of 4 to 86%. The procedure was successfully used to make controlled crosses in a greenhouse between plants of'Summer', an upland tetraploid, and 'Kanlow', a lowland tetraploid switchgrass.
Percent amino-acid identity thresholds are not necessarily conservative for predicting allergenic cross-reactivity

International guidance on assessing amino-acid sequences for allergenic cross reactivity, such as that provided by Codex, relies on percent amino-acid identity across local alignments. Previous work has shown this approach to exhibit poor selectivity for true allergen cross-reactivity. Here we provide a hypothetical example illustrating that this approach is also not necessarily conservative in detecting high similarity across amino acid sequences, and thus, is not necessarily conservative in detecting potential allergenic cross reactivity among proteins. It is recommended that an established local-alignment bioinformatic tool like FASTA be used in conjunction with statistical measures of similarity to detect the risk of a protein cross-reacting with an allergen.
Evidence for Tunneling of Charge-Density Waves in Ta S 3

The charge-density-wave contribution to ac and dc conductivity, rectification, and harmonic mixing has been measured on a single crystal of orthorhombic Ta${\mathrm{S}}_{3}$. A modified tunneling theory based on the Zener model of charge-density-wave conduction provides a detailed and quantitative account of these experiments. This evidence strongly supports the hypothesis that macroscopic quantum effects are observed in the megahertz frequency region at temperatures as high as 200 K.
Nods: a family of cytosolic proteins that regulate the host response to pathogens.

Genetic variation in Nod2 is associated with susceptibility to Crohn's disease. Nod2 and its homologue, Nod1, are members of a growing family of cytosolic factors related to the apoptosis regulator Apaf-1 and a class of plant disease resistance proteins. Nod1 and Nod2 confer responsiveness to lipopolysaccharides and interact with RICK, a mediator of NF-κB activation. Nod1 and Nod2 and related Nods appear to regulate the host response to pathogens, a process that may be faulty in certain inflammatory diseases. Recent studies that suggest that Nods may be involved in the recognition of pathogen components in the cytosol of mammalian cells are reviewed.
Cómo se recupera una lengua minoritaria: El ejemplo del Euskera en la Comunidad Autónoma Vasca

Presentamos aqui la situacion linguistica de la Comunidad Autonoma Vasca, situada en el norte de Espana, en la que conviven como lenguas oficiales el castellano y una lengua minoritaria, el euskera o vasco. El euskera ha pasado por varios estadios: mantenida durante miles de anos pese a su caracter oral (sin literatura escrita hasta el siglo XVI) vio reducido su uso de un 95% a un 20% desde finales del siglo XIX hasta la muerte del dictador Francisco Franco (1975). Se han cumplido mas de veinte anos desde que el Estatuto de Autonomia (Comunidad Autonoma Vasca, 1979) proclamo el euskera lengua oficial de la Comunidad Autonoma del Pais Vasco (junto con el castellano) y se empezo la recuperacion de las propias instituciones. En este articulo repasamos las bases de la planificacion linguistica en la Comunidad Autonoma Vasca. Y mencionamos los retos principales a los que se enfrento con exito esa comunidad, y los que le quedan aun para conseguir la inversion del desplazamiento linguistico, eje central de la politica linguistica en la CAV (Comunidad Autonoma Vasca). In this article we present the linguistic situation in the Basque Country Autonomous Community (north of Spain), where two languages live together as official languages: Spanish and Euskera, a minority language. Euskera has had a long story: it has been kept alive during thousand of years in an oral way (it has no written documents until the 17th century). From the last decades of the 19th century to dictator Franco’s death (1975), its usage was reduced from a 95% to a 20%. The Autonomy Statute (1979) made Euskera a co-official language of the Basque Country Autonomous Community; since that moment the recovery of the Basque institutions started. In this article we try to explain the basis of linguistic planning in the BAC and the past and future challenges in order to achieve the reversing language shift.
New treatments for perioperative cardiac arrhythmias

Cardiac arrhythmias remain a major source of morbidity, mortality, and prolonged postoperative hospital stay in surgical patients. Recent studies in patients experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have expanded our knowledge in the management of cardiac arrhythmias. Future advances require additional studies focused on the unique proarrhythmic substrates in surgical patients, to provide a clear rationale for antiarrhythmic drug therapy in the perioperative period.
Effectiveness of journal ranking schemes as a tool for locating information.

Background The rise of electronic publishing [1], preprint archives, blogs, and wikis is raising concerns among publishers, editors, and scientists about the present day relevance of academic journals and traditional peer review [2]. These concerns are especially fuelled by the ability of search engines to automatically identify and sort information [1]. It appears that academic journals can only remain relevant if acceptance of research for publication within a journal allows readers to infer immediate, reliable information on the value of that research. Methodology/Principal Findings Here, we systematically evaluate the effectiveness of journals, through the work of editors and reviewers, at evaluating unpublished research. We find that the distribution of the number of citations to a paper published in a given journal in a specific year converges to a steady state after a journal-specific transient time, and demonstrate that in the steady state the logarithm of the number of citations has a journal-specific typical value. We then develop a model for the asymptotic number of citations accrued by papers published in a journal that closely matches the data. Conclusions/Significance Our model enables us to quantify both the typical impact and the range of impacts of papers published in a journal. Finally, we propose a journal-ranking scheme that maximizes the efficiency of locating high impact research.
Variation in genome-wide levels of meiotic recombination is established at the onset of prophase in mammalian males.

Segregation of chromosomes during the first meiotic division relies on crossovers established during prophase. Although crossovers are strictly regulated so that at least one occurs per chromosome, individual variation in crossover levels is not uncommon. In an analysis of different inbred strains of male mice, we identified among-strain variation in the number of foci for the crossover-associated protein MLH1. We report studies of strains with “low” (CAST/EiJ), “medium” (C3H/HeJ), and “high” (C57BL/6J) genome-wide MLH1 values to define factors responsible for this variation. We utilized immunofluorescence to analyze the number and distribution of proteins that function at different stages in the recombination pathway: RAD51 and DMC1, strand invasion proteins acting shortly after double-strand break (DSB) formation, MSH4, part of the complex stabilizing double Holliday junctions, and the Bloom helicase BLM, thought to have anti-crossover activity. For each protein, we identified strain-specific differences that mirrored the results for MLH1; i.e., CAST/EiJ mice had the lowest values, C3H/HeJ mice intermediate values, and C57BL/6J mice the highest values. This indicates that differences in the numbers of DSBs (as identified by RAD51 and DMC1) are translated into differences in the number of crossovers, suggesting that variation in crossover levels is established by the time of DSB formation. However, DSBs per se are unlikely to be the primary determinant, since allelic variation for the DSB-inducing locus Spo11 resulted in differences in the numbers of DSBs but not the number of MLH1 foci. Instead, chromatin conformation appears to be a more important contributor, since analysis of synaptonemal complex length and DNA loop size also identified consistent strain-specific differences; i.e., crossover frequency increased with synaptonemal complex length and was inversely related to chromatin loop size. This indicates a relationship between recombination and chromatin compaction that may develop as DSBs form or earlier during establishment of the meiotic axis.
Influence of volume loading on intraoperative hemodynamics and perioperative fluid retention in patients with valvular regurgitation undergoing prosthetic replacement.

Abstract Preload and afterload were controlled intraoperatively in 2 groups of patients with valvular regurgitation and congestive heart failure in order to determine the effect of fluid loading on weight gain and subsequent recovery. As a part of their anesthetic management before cardiopulmonary bypass, 16 patients were given 1 liter of crystalloid with nitroprusside infused at 1 μg/kg/min and 16 received 4 liters of crystalloid with nitroprusside at 4 μg/kg/min. Arterial and filling pressures were kept the same in both groups. Heart rate and vascular resistance became significantly lower and cardiac index and stroke volume significantly higher in the fluid-augmented group. The transition to cardiopulmonary bypass was smoother for the fluid-augmented patients. All patients survived, and 2 in each group were ventilated beyond 24 hours. The mean weight gain at surgery was the same in the 2 groups (3 kg). For the first 2 postoperative days, body weight remained unchanged and thereafter, both groups lost weight at 0.6 kg/day. Preoperative weight was reached on day 7 and discharge occurred on day 15, 2 kg below control. Thus, a modest operative weight gain in these patients is inevitable, benign, and independent of the volume of fluid infused before bypass.
Security Vulnerability Due to Channel Aggregation/Bonding in LTE and HSPA+ Network

We address a unique security vulnerability in long term evolution (LTE) advanced and high speed packet access (HSPA+) wireless networks due to carrier/channel bonding. This vulnerability is shown to result in various amounts of service disruption based on the radio network parameters and the user locations. Typically, channel bonding have been perceived as a means to enhance the bandwidth and throughput for the users. However, this could also result in the loss of orthogonality between the bonded spectrum bands. We show that this leads to a security vulnerability that can be exploited by an attacker to cause service disruption. In this case, the attacker need not even operate in the same bands as the user, to be effective. We present an analysis to compare the loss in throughput caused by the vulnerability due to channel bonding in advanced LTE and HSPA+ networks. Results indicate that channel bonding is susceptible to about 70\% loss of throughput in LTE networks and about 11-15\% in HSPA+ networks compared to systems with no bonding. Also, users farther away from the base station suffer larger throughput degradation due to channel bonding in LTE networks, while it causes larger degradation in throughput for near users in HSPA+ networks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to identify and analyze a significant security vulnerability in LTE and HSPA+ networks.
The U.S. State Department and the Failure to Rescue: New Evidence on the Missed Opportunity at Bergen-Belsen

Both the Allies and the Germans detained and interned noncombatant "enemy" aliens during the war. When it suited their purposes, Nazi leaders looked to trade Jews for Germans being held by the Allies. The Nazis even built a special camp at Bergen-Belsen for Jews who could be used as bargaining chips. However, the U.S. State Department, under pressure from British and American intelligence, undermined a proposed exchange of such Jews for Germans from Latin America. Although large numbers of Germans were willing to be repatriated, American officials feared that doing so would help the Third Reich's war effort. They also suspected that the Jews being traded to the Allies were spies. Although the United States did eventually reverse its stance and tried to rescue these Jews, it was too late to save most of them.
Constitutive Expression of FasL in Thyrocytes

C. Giordano et al . ([1][1]) reported evidence that the ligand for Fas antigen (FasL) is constitutively expressed on thyroid follicular cells from both normal and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) tissue, and that normal thyrocytes express Fas antigen only after induction with interleukin-1β (IL-1β).
Reliability evaluation algorithms for distributed systems

The authors introduce two techniques for computing the reliability of a distributed computing system (DCS). The first scheme uses two steps and requires enumeration of multiterminal connections which, in turn, leads to the reliability expression. The second technique, called FARE (Fast Algorithm for Reliability Evaluation), does not require an a priori knowledge of multiterminal connections for computing the reliability expression. A performance parameter called the communication cost index (CCI) is defined. The authors compare algorithms with an existing method in terms of computer time and memory requirement. The results show that FARE outperforms two-step methods. >
Surgical training using three-dimensional simulation in placement of cervical lateral mass screws: a blinded randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The skills and knowledge that residents have to master has increased, yet the amount of hours that the residents are allowed to work has been reduced. There is a strong need to improve training techniques to compensate for these changes. One approach is to use simulation-training methods to shorten the learning curve for surgeons in training. PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of surgical training using three-dimensional (3D) simulation on the placement of lateral mass screws in the cervical spine on either cadavers or sawbones. STUDY DESIGN: A blinded randomized control study. METHODS: Fifteen orthopedic residents, postgraduate year (PGY) 1 to 6, were asked to simulate Magerl lateral mass screw trajectories from C3–C7 on cadavers using a navigated drill guide, but with no feedback as to the actual trajectory within the bone (Baseline 1). This was repeated to determine baseline accuracy (Baseline 2). They were then randomized into three groups: Group 1, control, did not receive any training, whereas Groups 2 and 3 received 3D navigational feedback as to the intended drill trajectory on sawbones and cadavers, respectively. All three groups then performed final simulated drilling (final test). All 3D images were deidentified and reviewed by a blinded single fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon. Each image/screw was measured for the starting site, caudad/cephalad angle, and medial/lateral angle to determine trajectory accuracy. RESULTS: The aggregate mean difference from a perfect screw was compiled for each session for each group. A negative difference shows improvement, whereas a positive difference shows regression.ThedifferencebetweenfinaltestandBaseline1inthecontrolgroupwas2.4 � ,suggestingregression. In contrast, the differences forgroups sawbone and cadaver were � 8.2 � and � 7.2 � , respectively, suggesting improvement. When comparing the difference in aggregate sum angle for the sawbones and cadaver groups with the control group, the difference was statistically significant (p!.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Training with 3D navigation significantly improved the ability of orthopedic residents to properly drill simulated lateral mass screws. As such, training with 3D navigation may be a useful adjunct in resident surgical education. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Preparing Special Educators for Culturally Responsive School-Community Partnerships

Today's increasingly multicultural student population requires that school-community partnerships operate from culturally responsive frameworks. Incorporating significant resources from multicultural communities is an essential component within school-community partnerships. Although such a partnership is an essential strategy, it has not been fully integrated into teacher preparation programs. To this end, colleges and universities have an awesome role to play in reframing content and field experiences to prepare special education teachers and administrators. This article explores the necessity of culturally responsive school-community partnerships for preparing special educators.
A second order stochastic approximation algorithm using only function measurements

Considers the problem of loss function minimization when only (possibly noisy) measurements of the loss function are available. In particular, no measurements of the gradient of the loss function are assumed available. The simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) algorithm displays the classic behavior of first-order search algorithms by typically exhibiting a steep initial decline in the loss function followed by a slow decline to the optimum. This paper presents a second-order SPSA algorithm that is based on estimating both the loss function gradient and inverse Hessian matrix at each iteration. The aim of this approach is to emulate the acceleration properties associated with deterministic algorithms of Newton-Raphson form, particularly in the terminal phase where the first-order SPSA algorithm slows down in its convergence. This second-order SPSA algorithm requires only three loss function measurements at each iteration, independent of the problem dimension. >
Coping with stress

Sixty per cent of office visits to family practitioners are prompted by emotionally induced, stress-related symptoms. How a person responds to life events, not the events themselves, influences susceptibility to disease. Failure to cope well with stress can enhance illness and impair the immune system, whereas adequate coping reflects psychological strength that promotes health. The core of stress management is teaching a patient to relax and it is here that hypnosis is of major importance. Hypnotic suggestion exerts a potent force on imagination. Using self-hypnosis with ego-strengthening suggestions enhances self-esteem and a healthy sense of control over one's life. Neutralizing anxiety, fear and tension through hypnosis creates a generalized decrease in autonomic nervous system activity which results in reducing the stress that contributes to disease.
Outcomes and predictors of late-life depression trajectories in older primary care patients.

Objectives The naturalistic outcomes of depression in older primary care patients have been poorly characterized. The authors sought to identify depressive trajectories over 2 years and to examine specified outcome predictors. Design Two-year observational cohort study. Setting University-based and independent practice primary care practices in greater Rochester. Participants All patients aged >65 years presenting for care on selected recruitment days were eligible to participate. Of 392 subjects enrolled, 316 (80.6%) completed study measures over a 2-year follow-up. Measurements Depression trajectories were derived by applying longitudinal cluster analysis to weekly depression status from the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation. Results The authors identified six distinct trajectory clusters that followed clinically intuitive patterns. Although subjects initially nondepressed or in the subsyndromal to minor depression range had a range of possible outcomes over 2 years, the cluster initially near the major depression level remained at that level over time. Consistent predictors of depression trajectory were baseline depressive symptom severity, medical burden, and psychiatric functional status; for some clusters, previous history of depression and perceived social support also had prognostic significance. Conclusion The "real-world" outcomes of patients with more severe depressive symptoms are strikingly poor. Given the diverse outcomes of those with subsyndromal to mild forms of minor depression, clinicians might focus treatments on those at highest risk of poor outcome, i.e., those with greater depressive symptoms and medical burden and lower psychiatric functioning and social support. Preventive interventions research might focus on developing treatments to mitigate potentially modifiable risks such as deficits in social support.
Complications following transfemoral cerebral angiography for cerebral ischemia. Report of 159 Angiograms and Correlation with Surgical Risk

One hundred fifty-nine transfemoral cerebral angiograms for patients with carotid stenosis who subsequently underwent carotid endarterectomy were reviewed. No patient with an asymptomatic carotid bruit developed cerebrovascular complications during angiography. Patients with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) had a 4.5% incidence of complications. Patients with stroke in evolution had a complication rate of 7.7%. Patients with completed strokes had no angiographic complications. No complication lasted more than 1 hour; all occurred during angiography or immediately afterwards. Stroke in progress has too high a surgical and angiographic risk to warrant study. Transient ischemic attacks have an acceptable morbidity both surgically and angiographically.
Immunohistochemical analysis of lung carcinomas with pure or partial bronchioloalveolar differentiation.

Abstract Context.—In 1999, the World Health Organization redefined bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (BACs) as those neoplasms with only a pure lepidic growth pattern and no invasion. Objectives.—The present study examined 45 lung cancers with a BAC component (1) to determine whether these tumors would be classified as BACs by current World Health Organization standards, (2) to quantitate the BAC component within these tumors, and (3) to see if phenotypic differences exist between the so-called invasive and noninvasive regions of these tumors. Design.—Retrospective review of hematoxylin-eosin–stained slides and classification of histologic grade, tumor subtype, and percentage of pure BAC pattern, with further characterization by immunohistochemical staining for thyroid transcription factor 1, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 20, and Ki-67 antibodies. Results.—Only 7 (15.6%) of the 45 tumors examined could be classified as BAC by current strict World Health Organization criteria. Those tumors, classified as nonmucin...
Challenges in Scheduling Aggregation in Cyberphysical Information Processing Systems

Data aggregation is an important element in information processing systems, including MapReduce clusters and cyber physical networks. Unlike simple sensor networks, all the data in information processing systems must be eventually aggregated. Our goal is to lower overall latency in these systems by intelligently scheduling aggregation on intermediate routing nodes. In order to understand the potential challenges associated with constructing a distributed scheduler that minimizes latency, we developed a simple model of wireless information processing systems and simulation of our model. Unlike previous models, our model explicitly takes into account link latency and computation time. Our model also considers heterogeneous computing capabilities. We tested the latency while randomly assigning aggregation computation to nodes in the network. Preliminary results indicate that in cases where the computation time is greater than transmission time, in-network aggregation can have a large effect (reducing latency by 50% or more). However, naive scheduling can have a detrimental effect. Specifically, when the root node (a.k.a the base station) is faster than the other nodes, the latency can increase with increased coverage, and these effects vary with the number of nodes present.
Steady-state response of a delay-constrained adaptive linear predictor filter to a sinusoid in white noise

An analysis is presented for the steady-state response of a delay-constrained adaptive linear predictor filter to a sinusoid in white noise. Expressions are derived for the steady-state adaptive weights, frequency response, and line suppression. A useful bound is also derived for the worst-case output signal-to-noise ratio as a function of normalized frequency and the order of the filter.
Residential Segregation and the Transformation of Home Mortgage Lending

This article shows that, after decades of inequality, the 1990s saw sudden and dramatic increases in lending to low income and minority groups. Drawing in part on the work of Williams, Nesiba and McConnell (2005), we argue that government deregulation, industry restructuring and government-insured loans all fueled this growth by increasing the sources of loans to minorities. We further argue that this increased lending had small but perceptible effects on residential segregation. But, the transformation of the home mortgage industry also gave rise to new lenders who were quite unlike the old. We contend that the nature of lending was even more important than the amount: some lenders and types of lending had much more of an impact on residential segregation than did others. Specifically, loans from traditional lenders tended to decrease segregation. Conversely, loans from subprime and manufactured housing lenders that specialized in serving low income and minority markets either had no statistically significant effect on segregation or even increased it.
Sex-Specific Effects of Cis-Regulatory Variants in Drosophila melanogaster

Sexual dimorphism at the level of gene expression is common and well documented, but much less is known about how different cis-regulatory alleles interact with the different trans-regulatory environments present in males and females. Here we show that sex-specific effects of cis-regulatory variants are common in Drosophila.
Angiosperm leaf vein patterns are linked to leaf functions in a global-scale data set.

 Premise of the study : Leaves are plants ’ primary interface with the atmosphere and affect a range of ecological processes. Vein patterns are one of the most prominent aspects of leaf form, and the functional signifi cance of different vein patterns is gaining increasing attention.  Methods : Phylogenetic and standard ANOVA and regression were used to provide the fi rst global-scale, phylogenetically based test of relations between angiosperm vein patterns and leaf functional traits. Pagel ’ s λ was used to test for phylogenetic signal in all traits.  Key results : All leaf traits had signifi cant phylogenetic signal. Signifi cant phylogenetically based relations were found between secondary vein pattern and leaf functions, linking leaf form to the well-known trade-off between physiological activity and leaf life span. The relations between primary vein pattern and leaf functions were not found to be signifi cant with phylogenetic tests, suggesting these relations may be the result of changes within a few lineages, followed by phylogenetic conservatism, rather than multiple instances of correlated trait evolution. The relation between minor vein density and maximum photosynthetic rate was found to be marginally nonsignifi cant with phylogenetic regression, which does not rule out coordinated evolution of hydraulic supply and demand.  Conclusions : Although phylogenetic conservatism may weaken statistical relations between vein patterns and leaf functions, phylogenetic relations can provide a complementary source of information for inferring unmeasured values of leaf traits. Relations among vein patterns, leaf functions, and phylogeny will be valuable for estimating functional attributes of living and fossil plant species and communities.
Transience of vaccine-induced HIV-1-specific CTL and definition of vaccine "response".

Abstract Many vaccine approaches emphasize producing HIV-1-specific CD8+ T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses. Towards this goal, many studies simply classify vaccinees as “responders” or “nonresponders,” based on arbitrary cutoff criteria. HIV-1-uninfected participants receiving the TBC-3B vaccine were assessed for HIV-1-specific CTL by interferon-γ ELISpot, and compared to HIV-1-infected control subjects not on antiretroviral therapy. Vaccinees also were tested for HIV-1-specific antibody responses and generalized CD8+ T-lymphocyte activation. Different criteria for vaccine “responder” status were applied to the measured CTL values. The vaccinees showed evidence of vaccine exposure by CD8+ T-lymphocyte activation and HIV-1-specific antibodies. Considering any single positive HIV-1-specific CTL measurement a vaccine “response,” all vaccinees could be classified as “responders,” but even slight increases in the stringency of response criteria resulted in a steep decline of the “response” rate. In contrast, HIV-1-infected persons were clearly “responders” against the same proteins by the same criteria. Quantitative assessment of CTL demonstrated low and transient HIV-1-specific CTL compared to natural infection. These analyses emphasize the pitfalls of summarizing vaccine study results using simple cutoff criteria to define response rates, and suggest the utility of more comprehensive descriptions to describe vaccine immunogenicity and persistence of responses.