cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symbolic State Exploration

Abstract The exploration of the state space of the model is at the heart of model checking. Symbolic algorithms often use Binary Decision Diagrams for the representation of sets of states, and have to pay attention to the size of the BDDs. We review the techniques that have been proposed for this task in the framework of closed sequences of monotonic functions.
Chlorophyll budgets: Zooplankton grazing and phytoplankton growth in a temperate fjord and the Central Pacific Gyres1

The processes controlling the daily production and fate of phytoplankton pigments were evaluated in a moderately productive fjord (Dabob Bay, Washington) and the oligotrophic open ocean (North and South Central Pacific Gyres). The processes included phytoplankton growth, macrozooplankton grazing, microzooplankton grazing, the downward vertical flux of pheopigments, photodegradation, dark degradation, cell sinking, cell senescence, and physical mixing. A model was constructed describing the dynamic budget of chlorophyll and pheopigments within the euphotic zone. The model provides estimates of phytoplankton growth, macrozooplankton grazing, and microzooplankton grazing based on field measurements of the vertical distribution of pigments, the vertical flux of pigments out of the euphotic zone, and the flux of solar radiation through the water column. The pigment-specific rates (d−1) provided by the model are derived in situ without manipulation of either the phytoplankton or zooplankton, and the experiments are largely container-free. Growth rates, averaged over the whole euphotic zone, varied seasonally in Dabob Bay (0.05–0.9 d−1) and ca. 67% of the total daily grazing rate was due to macrozooplankton herbivores. Phytoplankton growth rates, averaged over the whole euphotic zone, were ca. 0.2 d−1 in the oceanic gyres, regardless of season or location, and ca. 95% of daily grazing was due to microzooplankton herbivores. The model suggests that grazing and growth are in balance.
Collective Goods and Collective Decision Mechanisms

Economists stress the role of differences in relative prices (or costs) in explaining observed behavior. However, the full potential of this type of analysis for clarifying a number of fundamental socio-political issues involving "collective" (or "public") goods has not yet been fully realized. With scattered but notable exceptions,1 writers in the area have focused on what "should be," neglecting the question of more traditional scientific interest of what "will be." We propose to provide a step towards the development of a complete comparative statics of collective goods at the same time we begin to explore some of its implications. To start with, the notion of a collective good is placed in the context of some recent advances in consumer theory. Part I then examines the factors causing differences in the costs of private, relative to collective, goods and, hence, in the proportion of any desire gratified by each type of good. Some demand side factors are also analyzed. Part II explores the role of differences in relative costs in determining the selection of a collective decision making mechanism: central planning or the market. The latter choice can be regarded as a special case of choice among alternative collective modes of gratifying desires, which is the second half of a complete comparative statics of collective goods.
Incorporation of implementation imprecision in automotive control design

Implementation of control software on physical systems requires the use of hardware that invariably introduces imprecisions. In particular, the use of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) introduces uncertainties in measured signals due to sampling and quantization effects. These imprecisions can have a significant effect on the tracking performance of the controller, to the point that it no longer meets the desired targets. This leads to costly design and verification iterations. In this paper, a generic methodology for modeling the uncertainty introduced by sampling and quantization is developed. The resulting values are then propagated through the system's state equations to determine the overall uncertainty bounds on the system model. This methodology is illustrated on the cold-start emission control problem. Verification is performed to ensure that the bounds have been accurately estimated. Finally, a sliding mode controller developed for the cold-start phase of an engine is modified to incorporate these bounds. Simulation on a real engine control unit (ECU) verifies the modified controller is more robust to implementation imprecision.
Differential responsiveness of pregnant and nonpregnant guinea pigs to the masculinizing action of testosterone propionate.

The response of pregnant and nonpregnant guinea pigs to the masculinizing action of testosterone propionate was investigated. Testosterone propionate will not induce malelike mounting nor clitoral hypertrophy in pregnant animals to the extent that these changes are induced in nonpregnant females. This inhibitory or “protective” action of pregnancy is lost within 3 days after parturition. In nonpregnant females, progesterone inhibited the testosterone propionate induction of mounting behavior, but not clitoral hypertrophy. A differential responsiveness of clitoral tissues and the tissues mediating mounting behavior is thought to be involved. Attention is directed to reports indicating that most pregnant women given androgens or gestagens during pregnancy did not become virilized, although these substances were sufficiently potent to masculinize their female fetuses.
Founding Integrative Medicine Centers of Excellence: One Strategy for Chiropractic Medicine to Build Higher Cultural Authority

Chiropractic physicians are seeking a higher level of cultural authority within their communities and the United States health care system. This commentary suggests an innovative strategy that might expedite the attainment of professional authority while improving the training of chiropractic students and faculty. The authors propose the founding of integrative medicine centers of excellence by colleges of chiropractic that will employ clinical faculties comprised of allopathic, chiropractic, osteopathic, and naturopathic physicians. Initially, the health care facilities should offer primary care through an integrative medicine model. It is anticipated that these centers of excellence will require both government and private funding in order to develop research programs, provide high-quality patient care, and improve the medical training for students with residents programs.
Reactivity of sydnones with singlet oxygen

Abstract The rate constants k r for the reaction of several sydnones with singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 * ) have been measured by the competition technique based on the 485 nm laser flash photolysis of a 1 O 2 * sensitizer and the kinetics of depletion of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran. The sydnone with a methyl substituent at the 4-position is particularly reactive ( k r = (1 – 5) × 10 7 M −1 s −1 in various solvents). In contrast, the sydnones that are unsubstituted at the 4-position exhibit only poor reactivity towards 1 O 2 * ( k r ≤ 5 × 10 5 M −1 s −1 in methanol and benzene). The solvent polarity has a small positive influence on k r ; for example, on going from carbon tetrachloride to acetone or acetonitrile, the increase in k r for 4-methyl-3- p -tolylsydnone is only twofold to threefold. This can ben explained by a slight increase in dipole moment on achieving a transition state from a sydnone substrate that is already considerably polar.
Numbers, Pictures, and Politics: Teaching Research Methods Through Data Visualizations

Data visualization is the term used to describe the methods and technologies used to allow the exploration and communication of quantitative information graphically. Data visualization is a rapidly growing and evolving discipline, and visualizations are widely used to cover politics. Yet, while popular and scholarly publications widely use visualizations, the skills necessary for developing analytically powerful and aesthetically compelling graphics are not widely taught, at least not in political science. This article thus focuses on two innovative aspects of teaching research methods through the use of data visualizations. The first aspect concerns what is taught and the second concerns how the relevant material is taught. Unlike a more traditional course that emphasizes probability theory, inferential statistics, and formal hypothesis testing, my “Numbers, Pictures and Politics” (NPP) course spotlights the visualization tools and skills useful for understanding and communicating political and other soc...
Primers for 52 polymorphic regions in the Quercus rubra chloroplast, 47 of which amplify across 11 tracheophyte clades.

Postglacial migration studies in Quercus rubra L. (northern red oak) are hampered by low levels of population differentiation in the widely used universal chloroplast primers. We sequenced the large single copy (LSC) regions of the Q. rubra and Quercus ellipsoidalis chloroplasts to enable us to query additional regions for future studies on migration and speciation. Using 454 sequencing of long-range PCR amplicons and Sanger sequencing for gap closure, we report 65 coding sequences from Q. rubra and 59 from Q. ellipsoidalis. Comparison of our de novo assembly of the LSC region sequence for Q. rubra to Q. rubra chloroplast sequence (NCBI Reference Sequence: NC_020152.1) from a different tree revealed 106 polymorphisms, all within intergenic regions, that can serve as tools for postglacial migration studies and taxonomic studies within the Lobatae. Sequence alignment for the 59 complete coding regions in common for theQ. rubrachloroplast reference sequence, our Q. rubra sequence and our Q. ellipsoidalis sequence revealed no sequence polymorphisms and no indels. We also report the 52 primer pairs we used for gap closure, including 53 new primer pairs not previously reported. We tested these 52 primer pairs against 11 species representing the Tracheophyta and detected 47 that produced amplicons in all 11 species. The new universal primers we have identified provide additional tools for resolving the taxonomic relationships among the congeneric taxa of forest trees in the temperate and subtropical forests of the Northern Hemisphere.
Cancer clusters: A myth or a method☆

Abstract Historically, cluster reports have been considered to be only marginally productive and generally discouraged as statistical artifacts. This report presents the results of a three year study involving in excess of 100 cancer cluster reports. The majority of these investigations represented statistical events; there were, however, some exceptions. Several of these reports were the basis for larger and more productive studies. A survey of the types of reports received, their sources and outcomes is presented. Examples of productive and nonproductive studies are highlighted to indicate decision points for selecting the most promising reports. Investigators are encouraged to consider cancer cluster reports from lay individuals as well as from more authoratative sources (i.e., tumor registries, physicians, medical-social workers). Investigators are also urged to perform actual field investigations of those reports choosing statistically promising and/or provocative circumstances for the greatest likelihood of identifying new environmental risk factors for cancer.
A general approach to approximation problems of the Bernstein type

The Bernstein approximation problem is treated in a general setting of Banach function spaces. An abstract theory is developed which includes as special cases the solutions of the Bernstein problem given by Mergelyan and Pollard. It also provides a unified setting for related results from polynomial and trigonometric approximation theory and yields as corollaries a number of new results.
Understanding employee commitment in the public organization: a study of the juvenile detention center

This study examined the relationship between organizational commitment and several personal, role, professional, job and organizational factors among juvenile detention workers. The study revealed that (1) commitment is significantly correlated to role ambiguity, supervisor trust, rile matment-oriented attitude toward the detainee, job satisfaction, job involvement, and organizational trust, and (2) organizational trust, the treatment attitude. role ambiguity, and job involvement are major predictors of employee commitment to the detention center. Implications concerning the results of this study are discussed.
Laplace transforms of correlation functions for CARS

Analytic forms and series representations are presented for Laplace transforms of correlation functions derived from Kubo’s stochastic line shape theory. The absolute squares of these expressions describe CARS line shapes; theory real parts describe Raman line shapes.
Effects of catalysts and steam gasification on e.s.r. of carbon black

Abstract The effects of temperature and steam concentration on Spheron-6 carbon black with and without impregnated K 2 C0 3 and diluted with alumina have been measured by in-situ electron spin resonance (e.s.r.). For samples in flowing helium, heating from 290 to 1070 K results in a small increase in the carbon black resonance linewidth but a large and mostly irreversible increase in the resonance linewidth of carbon black with K 2 C0 3 at >650 K. The effect of steam concentration on the e.s.r. spectra of the carbon black at 875 K has been studied; an effect is observed only for carbon black with K 2 C0 3 . Increasing the steam concentration from 0 to 6.5 vol% results in reversible narrowing of the linewidth while hardly changing the free radical concentration. The mechanism of the line-broadening of the resonance resulting from heating the K 2 C0 3 -impregnated carbon black may be due to one of two processes: an unresolved nuclear hyperfine interaction between the unpaired electron of the carbon free radical and potassium, or an increased mobility of charge carriers produced by the potassium. The reversible effects of steam are attributed to a modificartion of these processes and may be related to the mechanism of catalysed gasification of coal.
Erythrokeratoderma Variabilis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

A 5-month-old boy with erythrokeratoderma variabilis is presented. The parents noted that the asymptomatic erythematous plaques changed over the course of hours to days. Topical therapy with retinoic acid proved ineffective. A brief review of the literature is presented
Increasing Task Engagement Using Preference or Choice-Making Some Behavioral and Methodological Factors Affecting Their Efficacy as Classroom Interventions

Frequent reprimands, low expectations, and infrequent praise characterize the daily school experiences of many students who display problem behaviors. This review evaluates preference and choice-making as possible interventions for improving these school experiences. Findings from 15 studies suggest that preference and choice-making may improve both academic performance and behavior. However, an underlying behavioral mechanism may more parsimoniously account for the effects attributed to each intervention. Moreover, the effects attributed to choice-making appear to vary with the type of methodological procedure used to control for preference. Teachers employing preference assessments when using choice-making are more likely to improve a student's task engagement than those relying on choice-making alone.
A Cultural Politics of Entrepreneurship in Nation‐Making: Phoenicians, Turks, and the Arab Commercial Essence in Brazil

Mapeando os fluxos de ideologias e imigrantes que partiram do oriente medio para o Brasil, este artigo pretende explorar como a ideia de fenicia nos nacionalismos sirio e libanes foi reformulada pelos sirio-libaneses no Brasil. Argumenta-se que eles alegaram possuir origens fenicias para poder bancar a posicao de empreendedores na nacao brasileira. Meu objetivo e tracar como se deu essa estrategia em duas epocas do Brasil no seculo XX: primeiro, o paradigma de agricultura que durou ate os anos vinte, e, segundo, o ideal de �o gigante industrial despertando.� Argumenta-se que as auto- declaracoes empreendedoras feitas pelos arabes a nacao brasileira foram marginalizadas no comeco do seculo XX mas ganharam um respeito equivocado na segundo guerra mundial. Demonstra-se que essa posicao posterior limitou-se a suposta aptidao nata comercial dos arabes, conirmada por sua auto-gloriicacao como herdeiros do mercan tilismo fenicio. Situando tal dinamica no debate sobre o empreendedorismo etnico, este artigo visa exprimir a politica cultural de empreendedorismo na formacao da nacao
Linear analysis of the Vortex-in-cell algorithm applied to Rayleigh-Taylor instability

Abstract The effect of the grid in the vortex-in-cell algorithm on the linear growth rates for an interface undergoing Rayleigh-Taylor instability is studied. Results show that the effect of the grid is qualitatively equivalent to the effect of surface tension. It is also found that only wavelengths which are ten times longer than the grid spacing are resolved with error of less than 10% in the growth rate.
Fostering diverse friendships: The role of beliefs about the value of diversity:

Encouraging dialogue between people of differing social backgrounds and beliefs can reduce prejudice and lead to greater appreciation of diversity, which in turn fosters attitudinally diverse frien...
Brain renin-angiotensin system dysfunction in hypertension: recent advances and perspectives.

This review focuses on the dysfunction of the intrinsic brain renin–angiotensin system (RAS) in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Hyperactivity of the brain RAS plays a critical role in mediating hypertension in both humans and animal models of hypertension, including the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). The specific mechanisms by which increased brain RAS activity results in hypertension are not well understood but include increases in sympathetic vasomotor tone and impaired arterial baroreflex function. We discuss the contribution of endogenous angiotensin (Ang) II actions on presympathetic vasomotor rostral ventrolateral medulla neurons to enhance sympathetic activity and maintain hypertension. In addition, we discuss Ang II-induced attenuation of afferent baroreceptor feedback within the nucleus tractus solitarius and its relevance to the development of hypertension. We also outline the cellular and molecular mechanisms of Ang II signal transduction that may be critical for the initiation and establishment of hypertension. In particular, we present evidence for a phosphoinositide-3-kinase-dependent signaling pathway that appears to contribute to hypertension in the SHR, possibly via augmented Ang II-induced increases in neuronal firing rate and enhanced transcriptional noradrenaline neuromodulation. Finally, we outline future directions in utilizing our understanding of the brain RAS dysfunction in hypertension for the development of improved therapeutic intervention in hypertension.
Decomposition Kinetics of CaYb2O4

The kinetics of decomposition of CaYb2O4 were studied using quantitative analysis by X-ray diffraction methods and a modified method of “standard binary mixtures.” This type of method was required as total composition remained constant with only the phase assemblage changing. The experimental factors considered in obtaining meaningful results from such a procedure are covered. The linearity of the fraction decomposed or concentration unreacted versus time curves at various temperatures revealed that the decomposition proceeded according to “zero-order” kinetics. The activation energy for this process was 100 kcal/mole.
ICA mixture model based unsupervised classification of hyperspectral imagery

Conventional remote sensing classification techniques that model the data in each class with a multivariate Gaussian distribution are inefficient, as this assumption is generally not valid in practice. We present a novel, independent component analysis (ICA) based approach for unsupervised classification of hyperspectral imagery. ICA, employed for a mixture model, estimates the data density in each class and models class distributions with nonGaussian structure, formulating the ICA mixture model (ICAMM). We apply the ICAMM for unsupervised classification of a test image from the AVIRIS sensor. Four feature extraction techniques namely principal component analysis, segmented principal component analysis, orthogonal subspace projection and projection pursuit have been considered as preprocessing steps for reducing the data dimensionality. The results demonstrate that the ICAMM significantly outperforms the K-means algorithm for land cover classification of hyperspectral imagery implemented on reduced data sets. Moreover, datasets extracted using segmented principal component analysis produce the highest classification accuracy.
Unsupervised Kernel Dimension Reduction

We apply the framework of kernel dimension reduction, originally designed for supervised problems, to unsupervised dimensionality reduction. In this framework, kernel-based measures of independence are used to derive low-dimensional representations that maximally capture information in covariates in order to predict responses. We extend this idea and develop similarly motivated measures for unsupervised problems where covariates and responses are the same. Our empirical studies show that the resulting compact representation yields meaningful and appealing visualization and clustering of data. Furthermore, when used in conjunction with supervised learners for classification, our methods lead to lower classification errors than state-of-the-art methods, especially when embedding data in spaces of very few dimensions.
Dynamic analysis of brushless motors based on compact representations of the equations of motion

Formulation of the equations of motion for brushless motors in the compact form is considered. It is demonstrated that, by incorporating a combination of time scaling and linear state transformations, compact representations for the equations of motion can be obtained. It is shown that, by nondimensionalizing the equations of motion for brushless motors, one can significantly reduce the number of parameters in the model, and thus significantly reduce the complexity associated with the dynamic analysis procedure. Using the compact representations, it is demonstrated that the systems under investigation, subject to constant inputs and loads, possess multiple equilibrium states which characterize the global stability. As a by-product of the proposed scheme, an equivalence relationship between brushless motors and the Lorenz system is presented. >
Expanded endonasal endoscopic approach for resection of a large skull base aneurysmal bone cyst in a pediatric patient with extensive cranial fibrous dysplasia

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are uncommon non-neoplastic, hemorrhagic, and expansile osseous lesions. These lesions most commonly occur in the first two decades of life and affect the long bones and spinal column. Skull base involvement is rare. The authors report the case of a 16-year-old boy who presented with acute visual decline and was found to have a large skull base ABC centered in the sphenoid sinus. In addition, the patient had extensive cranial fibrous dysplasia. The patient underwent a staged expanded endonasal endoscopic approach for complete resection of this lesion with excellent return of his vision. This case adds to the growing body of evidence supporting a role for expanded endonasal endoscopic procedures in pediatric patients with skull base pathologies.
The most influential articles in critical care medicine.

Purpose: The study aimed to examine query strategies that would provide an exhaustive search method to retrieve the most referenced articles within specific categories of critical care. Material and Methods: A comprehensive list of the most cited critical care medicine articles was generated by searching the Science Citation Index Expanded data set using general critical care terms keywords such as "critical care," critical care journal titles, and keywords for subsubjects of critical care. Results: The final database included 1187 articles published between 1905 and 2006. The most cited article was referenced 4909 times. The most productive search term was intensive care. However, this term only retrieved 25% of the top 100 articles. Furthermore, 662 of the top 1000 articles could not be found using any of the basic critical care search terms. Sepsis, acute lung injury, and mechanical ventilation were the most common areas of focus for the articles retrieved. Conclusion: Retrieving frequently cited, influential articles in critical care requires using multiple search terms and manuscript sources. Periodic compilations of most cited articles may be useful for critical care practitioners and researches to keep abreast of important information. © 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc.
PRR3 Is a Vascular Regulator of TOC1 Stability in the Arabidopsis Circadian Clock

The pseudoresponse regulators (PRRs) participate in the progression of the circadian clock in Arabidopsis thaliana. The founding member of the family, TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION1 (TOC1), is an essential component of the transcriptional network that constitutes the core mechanism of the circadian oscillator. Recent data suggest a role in circadian regulation for all five members of the PRR family; however, the molecular function of TOC1 or any other PRRs remains unknown. In this work, we present evidence for the involvement of PRR3 in the regulation of TOC1 protein stability. PRR3 was temporally coexpressed with TOC1 under different photoperiods, yet its tissue expression was only partially overlapping with that of TOC1, as PRR3 appeared restricted to the vasculature. Decreased expression of PRR3 resulted in reduced levels of TOC1 protein, while overexpression of PRR3 caused an increase in the levels of TOC1, all without affecting the amount of TOC1 transcript. PRR3 was able to bind to TOC1 in yeast and in plants and to perturb TOC1 interaction with ZEITLUPE (ZTL), which targets TOC1 for proteasome-dependent degradation. Together, our results indicate that PRR3 might function to modulate TOC1 stability by hindering ZTL-dependent TOC1 degradation, suggesting the existence of local regulators of clock activity and adding to the growing importance of posttranslational regulation in the design of circadian timing mechanisms in plants.
Prognostic impact of TID in regadenoson MPI: Some patients and certain events

TID refers to an enlarged left ventricular (LV) cavity measured in post-stress scintigraphy images relative to resting images. Lester et al appropriately highlight the importance of selecting an appropriate TID cut-off ratio. The cut-off ratio used to define TID has varied in the literature based on stress modality, nuclear tracer, imaging protocol, and other technical factors.5 The authors derived a cut-off ratio of 1.33 in this study, as this value encompassed 95% of the cohort population. TID has been shown to independently provide diagnostic utility in predicting severe and extensive coronary artery disease (CAD) and overall poor prognosis. However, there is a controversy regarding its appropriate application across varying clinical settings. Some of these inconsistent findings may be explained by the underlying mechanism of TID, which is still debated. One hypothesized pathophysiologic mechanism is diffuse subendocardial hypoperfusion resulting in reduced radiotracer uptake in the subendocardial zone, thus, making the appearance of an enlarged LV cavity.5 An alternative theory is ischemia resulting in reduced LV function with resultant elevated end-systolic volume. The true mechanism may combine these two theories.6,7 These potential mechanisms can explain why TID is not always associated with severe CAD on angiography or poor prognosis. Patients who have other causes of diffuse subendocardial ischemia, such as hypertensive heart disease and LV hypertrophy or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, can have TID without obstructive CAD. Other potential mechanisms for falsely increased TID ratios include suboptimal technique, errors in slice selection for tomographic analysis, patients with small LV ventricles, different doses of administered radionuclide, or motion artifacts.5 Thus, it is important to appropriately identify these factors prior to assessing for TID. Regadenoson is a selective adenosine A2A receptor agonist which causes sinus tachycardia. It has been proposed that the mechanism for tachycardia is mainly due to sympathoexcitation rather than being baroreflex mediated8,9 as the heart rate response is blunted among diabetics.9 Thus, one would expect this to generate diffuse subendocardial hypoperfusion in certain clinical scenarios, which is one of the proposed underlying mechanisms of TID.
Workload execution strategies and parallel speedup on clustered computers

A model of system performance for parallel processing on clustered multiprocessors is developed which unifies multiprogramming with speedup and scaled-speedup. The model is used to explore processor to process allocation alternatives for executing a workload consisting of multiple processes. Heuristics are developed that relate cluster size to parallel fraction of a program and to process scaling factors. The basic analytical model is made more sophisticated by incorporating considerations that affect the realizable speedup, including explicit process scaling, Degree of Parallelism (DOP) as a discrete function, and communication overhead. New developments incorporate nonuniform workload, interconnection network probability of acceptance of requests, nonuniform memory access, and multithreaded processes.
Issues in Measuring the Efficiency of Property-Liability Insurers

We evaluate the two main methods to measuring property-liability insurer efficiency: the production and "flow" (or financial intermediation) approaches. The two approaches are not mutually consistent and thus potentially yield different answers to tested hypotheses. The production approach is more closely related to traditional measures of firm performance  return on assets, return on equity, and expense to premium ratio. In addition, efficient production approach firms are generally significantly less likely to fail, while firms characterized as efficient by the flow approach are generally more likely to fail. Further, we test output definitions and find the theoretical concern regarding the production approach's use of losses as a measure of output is not validated empirically.
A metrics-based software maintenance effort model

We derive a model for estimating adaptive software maintenance effort in person hours, the adaptive maintenance effort model (AMEffMo). A number of metrics such as lines of code changed and number of operators changed were found to be strongly correlated to maintenance effort. The regression models performed well in predicting adaptive maintenance effort as well as provide useful information for managers and maintainers.
Designing a Virtual Tutee System to Enhance College Student Motivation

This paper proposes a design framework of a Virtual Tutee System (VTS) that applies agent technology to improve intrinsic motivation to read. A VTS is a computer-based learning environment in which students become tutors of virtual peers. A VTS capitalizes on the motivational benefits of peer tutoring with additional strategies to support the motivational needs of individual students. The proposed framework provides four design principles and the component guidelines. The paper concludes with an example VTS implementation scenario.
Diagnosis and Reporting of Follicular-Patterned Thyroid Lesions by Fine Needle Aspiration

Over the past 3 decades, fine needle aspiration (FNA) has developed as the most accurate and cost-effective initial method for guiding the clinical management of patients with thyroid nodules. Thyroid FNA specimens containing follicular-patterned lesions are the most commonly encountered and include various forms of benign thyroid nodules, follicular carcinomas, and the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Based primarily upon the cytoarchitectural pattern, FNA is used as a screening test for follicular-patterned lesions to identify the majority of patients with benign nodules who can be managed without surgical intervention. The terminology and reporting of thyroid FNA results have been problematic due to significant variation between laboratories, but the recent multidisciplinary NCI Thyroid FNA State of the Science Conference has provided a seven-tiered diagnostic solution. A key element of this approach is the category "atypical cells of undetermined significance" (ACUS) which is used for those aspirates which cannot be easily classified as benign, suspicious, or malignant. Lesions in this category represent approximately 3-6% of thyroid FNAs and have a risk of malignancy intermediate between the "benign" category and the "suspicious for a follicular neoplasm" category. The recommended follow-up for an ACUS diagnosis is clinical correlation and in most cases, repeat FNA sampling.
Short-wavelength instability and decay of a vortex pair in a stratified fluid

The evolution of a counter-rotating vortex pair in a stably stratified fluid is investigated using direct numerical simulations. The study focuses on the short-wavelength elliptic instability occurring in this flow and the subsequent decay of the vortices. Depending on the level of stratification, as characterized by the Froude number which indicates the time scale of buoyancy to that of the instability, and the stage of evolution, stratification effects may significantly alter the behaviour of the flow. In the case of weak to moderate stratification, the elliptic instability develops qualitatively in the same manner as in unstratified fluid. The primary effect of stratification is to reduce the vortex separation distance which enhances the mutually induced strain. Consequently, the instability has an earlier onset and higher growth rate with increasing stratification. The behaviour is essentially described by linear stability theory for unstratified flow if the varying separation distance is taken into account. On the other hand, the final breakdown and decay of the flow may be greatly modified by stratification since buoyancy effects eventually emerge after sufficient time has elapsed. The decay is enhanced owing to additional mechanisms not present in unstratified flow. Secondary vertical vortex structures form between the primary vortices promoting fluid exchange in the transverse direction. Detrainment of fluid from the primary vortices by the generated baroclinic torque also contributes to the more rapid breakdown of the flow. In the case of strong stratification, in which the time scale of buoyancy is comparable to that of the instability, the flow is significantly altered. As a result of strong baroclinic torque, the primary vortices are brought together and detrainment occurs earlier. The associated reduction in radii of the vortices results in a higher axial wave mode and a more complex radial structure of the instability. Detrainment and mixing accelerate their decay. Late time evolution is dominated by the successive generation of alternate signed baroclinic torque which results in an oscillation of the total flow circulation at the buoyancy frequency.
The Demonstration of Power: Violence Profile No. 10

Annual progress report sums up findings suggesting that fear and inequity may be television's most pervasive lessons; 1978 Index shows violence up in children's hours.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome following Treatment with Sunitinib Malate

Sunitinib malate (Sutent, SU011248) is an oral multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) used for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma and imatinib (Gleevec)—resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with few reported side effects including asthenia, myelosuppression, diarrhea, and mucositis. Scarce literature exists regarding the rare but often serious toxicities of sunitinib. Autoimmune and neurological side effects have been linked to sunitinib’s inhibition of VEGF receptors with a corresponding increase in VEGF levels, which is associated with development of different neuropathies. We hereby report an interesting case of Guillain-Barre syndrome in a middle-aged patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma following sunitinib treatment.
Effect of pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in a case of pemphigus foliaceus.

PEMPHIGUS foliaceus is a chronic skin disease of young adults, with a mortality rate of about 40 per cent (1). It is a severely incapacitating disorder of unknown etiology and poorly understood pathogenesis. Among its peculiarities are the prevalence of Jewish people amongst those so affected and the tendency of these patients to high eosinophil counts. In the light of recent knowledge on hematopoietic effects of hormones of the adrenal cortex, this latter fact would attract attention to the adrenal cortex as a factor in the pathogenesis of this disease. Previous observations have suggested that the adrenal might play such a role in various types of pemphigus. Talbott, Lever and Consolazio (2) studied metabolic changes in 34 patients with pemphigus and found that patients “with acute pemphigus showed many changes in the serum which suggest adrenal insufficiency.” They also found pathologic evidence that “damage to the adrenal glands was associated with the pathogenesis of the blood studies.” The literatur...
Kindergarten Black–White Test Score Gaps: Re-examining the Roles of Socioeconomic Status and School Quality with New Data

Black–white test score gaps form in early childhood and widen over elementary school. Sociologists have debated the roles that socioeconomic status (SES) and school quality play in explaining these patterns. In this study, I replicate and extend past research using new nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten Class of 2010–2011. I find black–white test score gaps at kindergarten entry in 2010 in reading (SD = .32), math (SD = .54), and working memory (SD = .52 among children with valid scores). Math and reading gaps widened by approximately .06 standard deviations over kindergarten, but the working memory gap was constant. Multivariate regressions show that student SES explained the reading gap at school entry, but gap decompositions suggest that school quality differences were responsible for the widening of the reading gap over kindergarten. SES explained much of the math gap at school entry, but the widening of the math gap could not be explained by SES, school quality, or other hypotheses.
Structure-Function Relationships in the Stereospecific and Manganese-dependent 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine/ Tyrosine-sulfating Activity of Human Monoamine-form Phenol Sulfotransferase, SULT1A3

The human monoamine-form phenol sulfotransferase (PST), SULT1A3, has a unique 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa)/tyrosine-sulfating activity that is stereospecific for their d-form enantiomers and can be stimulated dramatically by Mn(2+). This activity is not present in the simple phenol-form PST, SULT1A1, which is otherwise >93% identical to SULT1A3 in amino acid sequence. The majority of the differences between these two proteins reside in two variable regions of their sequences. Through the characterization of chimeric PSTs where these two regions were exchanged between them, it was demonstrated that variable Region II of SULT1A3 is required for the stereospecificity of its Dopa/tyrosine-sulfating activity, whereas variable Region I of SULT1A3 is required for the stimulation by Mn(2+) of this activity. Further studies using point-mutated SULT1A3s mutated at amino acid residues in these two regions and deletional mutants missing residues 84-86 and 84-90 implicate residue Glu-146 (in variable Region II of SULT1A3), as well as the presence of residues 84-90 of variable Region I, in the stereospecificity in the absence of Mn(2+). Residue Asp-86 (in variable Region I of SULT1A3), on the other hand, is critical in the Mn(2+) stimulation of the Dopa/tyrosine-sulfating activity of SULT1A3. A model is proposed, with reference to the reported x-ray crystal structure of SULT1A3, to explain how the normal role of SULT1A3 in dopamine regulation may be subverted in the presence of Mn(2+). These studies could be relevant in understanding the stereoselective action of SULT1A3 on chiral drugs.
Phenotyping Genetic Diseases Using an Extension of µ-Scores for Multivariate Data

As the ﬁeld of genomics matures, more complex genotypes and phenotypes are being stud-ied. Fanconi anemia (FA), for example, is an inherited chromosome instability syndrome with acomplex array of variable disease phenotypes including congenital malformations, hematologicalmanifestations, and cancer. To better understand speciﬁc aspects of the genetic etiology of FAand other rare diseases with complex phenotypes, it is often necessary to reduce the dimensions ofthe disease phenotype information. Towards this end, we extend a novel non-parametric approachto include information about a hierarchical structure among disease phenotypes. The proposedextension increases information content of the phenotype scores obtained and, thereby, the powerof genotype-phenotype relationships studies.KEYWORDS: multidimensional, ranking, Fanconi anemia, censoring, genotype, phenotype, non-parametric
Rituals Enhance Consumption

Four experiments tested the novel hypothesis that ritualistic behavior potentiates and enhances ensuing consumption— an effect found for chocolates, lemonade, and even carrots. Experiment 1 showed that participants who engaged in ritualized behavior, compared with those who did not, evaluated chocolate as more flavorful, valuable, and deserving of behavioral savoring. Experiment 2 demonstrated that random gestures do not boost consumption as much as ritualistic gestures do. It further showed that a delay between a ritual and the opportunity to consume heightens enjoyment, which attests to the idea that ritual behavior stimulates goal-directed action (to consume). Experiment 3 found that performing a ritual oneself enhances consumption more than watching someone else perform the same ritual, suggesting that personal involvement is crucial for the benefits of rituals to emerge. Finally, Experiment 4 provided direct evidence of the underlying process: Rituals enhance the enjoyment of consumption because of the greater involvement in the experience that they prompt.
Definitions and Explanatory Notes

A generic term denoting any localized tumorous collection of collagen associated with sparse numbers of fibroblasts.
Characterization of the FKBP12-Encoding Genes in Aspergillus fumigatus.

Invasive aspergillosis, largely caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, is responsible for a growing number of deaths among immunosuppressed patients. Immunosuppressants such as FK506 (tacrolimus) that target calcineurin have shown promise for antifungal drug development. FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) form a complex with calcineurin in the presence of FK506 (FKBP12-FK506) and inhibit calcineurin activity. Research on FKBPs in fungi is limited, and none of the FKBPs have been previously characterized in A. fumigatus. We identified four orthologous genes of FKBP12, the human FK506 binding partner, in A. fumigatus and designated them fkbp12-1, fkbp12-2, fkbp12-3, and fkbp12-4. Deletional analysis of the four genes revealed that the Δfkbp12-1 strain was resistant to FK506, indicating FKBP12-1 as the key mediator of FK506-binding to calcineurin. The endogenously expressed FKBP12-1-EGFP fusion protein localized to the cytoplasm and nuclei under normal growth conditions but also to the hyphal septa following FK506 treatment, revealing its interaction with calcineurin. The FKBP12-1-EGFP fusion protein didn’t localize at the septa in the presence of FK506 in the cnaA deletion background, confirming its interaction with calcineurin. Testing of all deletion strains in the Galleria mellonella model of aspergillosis suggested that these proteins don’t play an important role in virulence. While the Δfkbp12-2 and Δfkbp12-3 strains didn’t show any discernable phenotype, the Δfkbp12-4 strain displayed slight growth defect under normal growth conditions and inhibition of the caspofungin-mediated “paradoxical growth effect” at higher concentrations of the antifungal caspofungin. Together, these results indicate that while only FKBP12-1 is the bona fide binding partner of FK506, leading to the inhibition of calcineurin in A. fumigatus, FKBP12-4 may play a role in basal growth and the caspofungin-mediated paradoxical growth response. Exploitation of differences between A. fumigatus FKBP12-1 and human FKBP12 will be critical for the generation of fungal-specific FK506 analogs to inhibit fungal calcineurin and treat invasive fungal disease.
IL-2 complex rescues CD8+ T cell tolerance for cancer immunotherapy (VAC7P.1041)

IL-2 is a well-characterized T cell growth factor that promotes proliferation and effector function of CD8+ T cells. For this reason, IL-2 has been used to boost immune responses in patients with melanoma. However, IL-2 treatment requires large potentially toxic doses of IL-2, and often only limited therapeutic efficacy is acheived. Efforts to enhance the efficacy and safety of IL-2 have recently focused on the use of cytokine/antibody complexes. These complexes demonstrate greater bioactivity in vivo relative to IL-2 alone, making them an attractive approach for improved immunotherapy. One of the major impediments to anti-tumor immunity is CD8+ T cell tolerance, where tumor-reactive T cells are either eliminated by apoptosis or rendered dysfunctional/anergic. The influence of IL-2 complex (IL-2c) on tolerant CD8+ T cells has not been explored. We utilized a mouse model of T cell tolerance to examine how IL-2c treatment impacts tolerant tumor-reactive T cells during immunotherapy for leukemia. Specifically, IL-2c was administered daily starting 3 days after T cell transfer into tumor-bearing mice. The function and persistence of transferred tumor-reactive T cells was assessed 5 days later. Treatment with IL-2c prevented apoptotic deletion of transferred CD8+ T cells and improved effector function. These results suggest that IL-2c treatment is sufficient to overcome peripheral T cell tolerance, and support further exploration of IL-2c as an immunotherapeutic for cancer.