cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of geographical location, crop type and crop residue cover on bacterial and fungal community structures

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of geographical location, crop type, and residue coverage on soil microbial assemblages in Sherm soil from 30 geographically separate commercial fields in Ochiltree and Moore Counties of Texas. Crop residue coverage was derived from spectral data and used to classify sorghum and wheat fields into high and low crop residue categories. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis-polymerase chain reaction (DGGE-PCR) assays employing universal PCR primers that target prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomal genes were used to evaluate microbial community structure. An interaction between geographical location, crop type, and crop residue coverage was observed. A 50% similarity level was observed for overall bacterial community structure as determined using 16S data while a 59% similarity was observed for overall fungal community structure using 18S data. For the 16S composite dataset, high overall rates of correct classification (ORCC) were observed based on the user-defined groups of county by crop by residue coverage. A similar result was observed for fungal community structure using primer set FR1GC-FF390. Our data support the hypothesis that there are multiple provinces and multiple habitats that govern the assemblage of free-living taxa within the Moore–Ochiltree County agroecosystem. An ancient microbial assemblage based on historical features was identified and is still visible despite the presence of different crop types and cropping systems (Conventional vs. Conservation). For sorghum and wheat grown in Moore and Ochiltree Counties, a two-province state (Moore and Ochiltree Counties) was defined comprised of four habitats i.e. sorghum and wheat habitats influence by degree of residue coverage. Crop type and residue coverage can affect microbial assemblages within a geographical context.
Physiological genetics of alfalfa improvement: past failures, future prospects

Abstract The objective of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) improvement efforts over the last century, and with the advent of molecular biology, identify challenges for alfalfa improvement in the future. Yield trials conducted between 1986 and 1998 from around the US were used to compare yield and persistence of older alfalfa cultivars to those released in the 1990s. First and second harvest forage yield of recently released alfalfa cultivars were not improved over those of older cultivars. New cultivars had higher forage yield at fourth harvest, in early September, possibly due to a reduction in fall dormancy. Efforts to improve alfalfa persistence by breeding for improved disease resistance and greater winter hardiness also have not been effective at most locations. Use of molecular biology for alfalfa improvement depends upon identifying genes that control important agronomic traits that translate into greater yield, improved persistence, and enhanced forage quality. Few such genes have been identified in alfalfa, and their use might be complicated by the polyploid nature of this outcrossing species. The Medicago truncatula genome project is providing large amounts of sequence information, but little is known about the regulation of these genes and the function of their protein products in planta. Uncertainty exists regarding the effectiveness of transferring these genes to alfalfa to obtain a desired phenotype. Much remains to be done to identify key genes that determine agronomic performance of crop plants, including alfalfa, and to clarify mechanisms that regulate the expression of genes and the function(s) of their protein products under field conditions. Future efforts to improve agronomic performance of alfalfa will be enhanced by partnerships between public and private scientists because companies now dominate commercial release of new alfalfa cultivars.
Intra- and intergrain critical current in PbMo/sub 6/S/sub 8/ sintered samples

To study the mechanisms limiting the critical current in the superconductor lead-molybdenum-sulfide, powders having a narrow distribution of T/sub c/ and B/sub c2/ have been synthesized. The absence of a broadening in the specific heat jump at the superconducting transition in a magnetic field indicates that the distribution of the critical field over the grains is very narrow. For all the samples, B/sub c2/ lies between 50 and 60 T (at T=0 K), whereas the critical current density displays a sharp decrease at a pseudocritical field which can be half of the calorimetric value of B/sub c2/. This reflects the poor quality of the grain interfaces, which limits the intergrain critical current. On a cold-pressed sample, it was possible to determine the intragrain critical current, which is estimated to be one order of magnitude higher than the best intergrain value. Therefore, an appreciable improvement in critical current density is expected if good superconducting links between grains can be achieved.
Long-term Outcome of Cardiac Surgery in Patients With Mitral Stenosis and Severe Pulmonary Hypertension

Background Pulmonary hypertension increases perioperative risk in patients having mitral valve replacement, but most studies have included patients with mixed mitral valve disease and have not examined long-term outcome. Methods and Results We retrospectively examined the results and predictors of outcome of cardiac surgery in 43 patients (age, 62±13 years [mean±SD]; 81% women) with a primary diagnosis of mitral stenosis and severe pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary artery systolic pressure ≥60 mm Hg or mean pressure ≥50 mm Hg). Patients with more than mild mitral regurgitation were excluded. Thirty-eight patients (88%) were in NYHA functional class III or IV, and 11 patients (26%) had an acute presentation requiring urgent surgery. Preoperative hemodynamics demonstrated a mean mitral valve area of 0.7±0.3 cm2, mean pulmonary artery pressure of 50±9 mm Hg, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 81±18 mm Hg. Other characteristics included right ventricular failure (18 patients), coronary artery disease (...
A kinetic model for ductile-brittle fracture mode transition behavior

Abstract A kinetic model for ductile-brittle fracture mode transition has been developed. In the ductile-brittle transition temperature range, brittle and ductile fracture are characterized in terms of thermally activated growth processes of tensile model I and shear mode II cracks, respectively. The thermally activated bond breaking in tension and shear are assumed to proceed under the condition of local stress relaxation due to dislocation nucleation at the crack tip. The disclocation nucleation rate is considered to be proportional to the strain rate. The tensile and shear fracture probabilities are defined by the product of the jump probability from the stretching to the breaking state of bonds at the crack tip, the active volume, and the density of microcracks or microvoids. The ductile-brittle transition temperature can be determined provided both the tensile and shear fracture probabilities are the same. The ductile-brittle transition temperature is given as a function of the activation energies for bond breaking in tension and shear, and dislocation nucleation, as well as the microstructural and mechanical parameters. This kinetic model provides a rationale for an experimentally determined linear relationship of the ductile-brittle transition temperature measured by small punch tests to that by Charpy V-notch tests on temper embrittled steels.
Forced convective heat transfer in the monroe hot springs geothermal system

Abstract A knowledge of convective heat transfer is essential to understanding geothermal systems and other systems of moving groundwater. A simple, kinematic approach toward convective heat transfer is taken in this paper. Concern is not with the cause of the groundwater motion but only with the fact that the water is moving and transferring heat. The mathematical basis of convective heat transfer is the energy equation which is a statement of the first law of thermodynamics. The general solution of this equation for a specific model of groundwater flow has to be done numerically. The numerical algorithm used here employs a finite difference approximation to the energy equation that uses central differences for the heat conduction terms and one-sided differences for the heat convection terms. Gauss-Seidel iteration is then used to solve the finite difference equation at each node of a non-uniform mesh. The Monroe and Red Hill hot springs, a small hydrothermal system in central Utah, provide an example to illustrate the application of convective heat transfer theory to a geophysical problem. Two important conclusions regarding small geothermal systems follow immediately from the results of this application. First, the most rapid temperature rise in the convecting part of a geothermal system is near the surface. Below this initially rapid temperature increase the temperature increases very slowly, and thus temperatures extrapolated from shallow boreholes can be seriously in error. Second, the temperatures and heat flows observed at Monroe and Red Hill, and probably at many other small geothermal areas, can easily result from moderate vertical groundwater velocities in faults and fracture zones in an area of normal heat flow.
Theoretical assessment of the oligolysine model for ionic interactions in protein-DNA complexes.

The observed salt dependence of charged ligand binding to polyelectrolytes, such as proteins to DNA or antithrombin to heparin, is often interpreted by means of the “oligolysine model.” We review this model as derived entirely within the framework of the counterion condensation theory of polyelectrolytes with no introduction of outside assumptions. We update its comparison with experimental data on the structurally simple systems for which it was originally intended. We then compute the salt-dependence of the binding free energy for a variety of protein-DNA complexes with nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann (NLPB) simulation methods. The results of the NLPB calculations confirm the central prediction of the oligolysine model that the net charge density of DNA remains invariant to protein binding. Specifically, when a cationic protein residue penetrates the layer of counterions condensed on DNA, a counterion is released to bulk solution; and when an anionic protein residue penetrates the condensed counterion layer, an additional counterion is condensed from bulk solution. We also conclude, however, that the cumulative effect of charged protein residues distant from the binding interface makes a significant contribution to the salt dependence of binding, an observation not accommodated by the oligolysine model.
The influence of plasma lipoproteins from patients with abetalipoproteinemia on cellular cholesterol esterification.

Abstract In normal humans low density lipoproteins (LDL) constitute the major lipoprotein responsible for the delivery of cholesterol to cells and their uptake results in a decrease in cholesterol biosynthesis and an increase in cholesterol esterification. In the present study, we have examined whether plasma lipoproteins from patients with abetalipoproteinemia (ABL), who lack LDL in their plasma, can stimulate intracellular cholesterol esterification and, quantitatively, how this compares with normal LDL. Fibroblasts from normal and abetalipoproteinemic patients had similar cholesterol esterification rates when LDL was present in the medium. Esterification rates using ABL HDL 2 were significantly higher than that of normal HDL 2 in both normal and ABL fibroblasts. However, maximal rates of cellular cholesterol delivery are considerably greater for normal LDL than for the HDL 2 particles in ABL plasma. Our results indicate that lipoprotein particles present in the HDL 2 fraction of plasma from patients with ABL are able to provide sufficient cholesterol to cells so that cholesterol esterification is stimulated.
Visualizing number sequences: Secondary preservice mathematics teachers’ constructions of figurate numbers using magnetic color cubes

Abstract This study is about preservice secondary mathematics teachers’ visualization of summation formulas modeled by magnetic color cubes representations. The theoretical framework for this research draws from studies on quantitative reasoning ( Smith and Thompson, 2008 , Thompson, 1995 ) and quantitative transformations ( Schwartz, 1988 ). Data consist of videotaped qualitative interviews during which preservice mathematics teachers were asked to construct growing rectangles representing summation formulas. Data analysis is based on analytic induction and constant comparison methodology. Preservice teachers provided a diversity of additive and multiplicative visualizations. Results indicate that quantitative reasoning and mapping structures are fundamental constructs in establishing additive and multiplicative visualizations, hence constructing summation formulas meaningfully. Preservice teachers often had difficulties in explaining the relationships between the same-valued linear and areal quantities. They also established the rectangle condition as the essence of multiplicative visualization.
App isolation: get the security of multiple browsers with just one

Many browser-based attacks can be prevented by using separate browsers for separate web sites. However, most users access the web with only one browser. We explain the security benefits that using multiple browsers provides in terms of two concepts: entry-point restriction and state isolation. We combine these concepts into a general app isolation mechanism that can provide the same security benefits in a single browser. While not appropriate for all types of web sites, many sites with high-value user data can opt in to app isolation to gain defenses against a wide variety of browser-based attacks. We implement app isolation in the Chromium browser and verify its security properties using finite-state model checking. We also measure the performance overhead of app isolation and conduct a large-scale study to evaluate its adoption complexity for various types of sites, demonstrating how the app isolation mechanisms are suitable for protecting a number of high-value Web applications, such as online banking.
Performance Contracts: Predicting and Monitoring Grid Application Behavior

Given the dynamic nature of grid resources, adaptation is required to sustain a predictable level of application performance. A prerequisite of adaptation is the recognition of changing conditions. In this paper we introduce an application signature model and performance contracts to specify expected grid application behavior, and discuss our monitoring infrastructure that detects when actual behavior does not meet expectations. Experimental results are given for several scenarios.
Passive direction-of-arrival and range estimation for near-field sources

An algorithm for simultaneously estimating the range and bearing of multiple near-field sources is presented. The method is based on the application of signal subspace ideas to the spatial Wigner-Ville distribution approach originally presented by B.R. Breed and T.E. Posch (Proc. ICASSP'84, p.41B.9.1, 1984). The principal advantages of using signal-subspace methods are that the range/direction-of-arrival estimates are obtained with improved precision and resolution, and without computation or search of a complicated spectral surface. Additionally, these methods allow a simple and more effective extension of the spatial Wigner-Ville approach to cases in which noise and/or multiple signals are present. Simulations have shown that the algorithm performs well for a wide variety of test cases, and comparisons with the Cramer-Rao bound indicate near-optimal direction-of-arrival estimates. >
Simulation of Van Allen Probes plasmapause encounters

We use an E × B-driven plasmapause test particle (PTP) simulation to provide global contextual information for in situ measurements by the Van Allen Probes (Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP)) during 15–20 January 2013. During 120 h of simulation time beginning on 15 January, geomagnetic activity produced three plumes. The third and largest simulated plume formed during enhanced convection on 17 January, and survived as a rotating, wrapped, residual plume for tens of hours. To validate the simulation, we compare its output with RBSP data. Virtual RBSP satellites recorded 28 virtual plasmapause encounters during 15–19 January. For 26 of 28 (92%) virtual crossings, there were corresponding actual RBSP encounters with plasmapause density gradients. The mean difference in encounter time between model and data is 36 min. The mean model-data difference in radial location is 0.40 ± 0.05 RE. The model-data agreement is better for strong convection than for quiet or weakly disturbed conditions. On 18 January, both RBSP spacecraft crossed a tenuous, detached plasma feature at approximately the same time and nightside location as a wrapped residual plume, predicted by the model to have formed 32 h earlier on 17 January. The agreement between simulation and data indicates that the model-provided global information is adequate to correctly interpret the RBSP density observations.
Survival implications associated with variation in mastectomy rates for early-staged breast cancer

Despite a 20-year-old guideline from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Conference recommending breast conserving surgery with radiation (BCSR) over mastectomy for woman with early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) because it preserves the breast, recent evidence shows mastectomy rates increasing and higher-staged ESBC patients are more likely to receive mastectomy. These observations suggest that some patients and their providers believe that mastectomy has advantages over BCSR and these advantages increase with stage. These beliefs may persist because the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that served as the basis for the NIH guideline were populated mainly with lower-staged patients. Our objective is to assess the survival implications associated with mastectomy choice by patient alignment with the RCT populations. We used instrumental variable methods to estimate the relationship between surgery choice and survival for ESBC patients based on variation in local area surgery styles. We find results consistent with the RCTs for patients closely aligned to the RCT populations. However, for patients unlike those in the RCTs, our results suggest that higher mastectomy rates are associated with reduced survival. We are careful to interpret our estimates in terms of limitations of our estimation approach.
IL-10: a marker of cardiac bypass?

We appreciate the efforts of Matera and colleagues' study establishing the utility of IL-10 as a diagnostic and prognostic marker of early sepsis [1]; however, we have some concerns. Limiting the study to the surgical population limits the generalizability. More importantly, inclusion of 28 (of the 52) patients after on-pump cardiac surgery is concerning. Pump surgery is widely accepted to result in an intense surge in inflammatory markers, including IL-10 [2]. Also, the duration of pump surgery can be variable and the inflammatory response varies with the time spent on pump. The association of IL-10 with a worse prognosis (nonsurvivor group) may therefore not be valid. Cardiac ICU protocols such as the use of perioperative antibiotics were not discussed, which may affect mortality. In Table 3 of their article, the confidence interval for the odds ratio of IL-10 for the prognosis of bacteremic systemic inflammatory response syndrome patients includes the value 1 [1]. Including this value limits the applicability. The values of biomarkers were not checked daily, and therefore we cannot rule out a new increase in the levels of IL-10 secondary to subsequent episodes of inflammation [3]. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and IL-10 values on day 1 and day 7 correlate with mortality. The utility of an expensive and time-consuming biomarker is questioned when a simple, quick and bedside test could predict the outcome. Despite the positive results of the marker, it is difficult to imagine how such information would change management in the era of the surviving sepsis guidelines [4].
The Entire Regularization Path for the Support Vector Machine

In this paper we argue that the choice of the SVM cost parameter can be critical. We then derive an algorithm that can fit the entire path of SVM solutions for every value of the cost parameter, with essentially the same computational cost as fitting one SVM model.
On the Average Difference between the Solutions to Linear and Integer Knapsack Problems

We analyze the expected difference between the solutions to the integer and linear versions of the 0–1 Knapsack Problem. This difference is of interest partly because it may help understand the efficiency of a well-known fast backtracking algorithm for the integer 0–1 Knapsack Problem. We show that, under a fairly reasonable input distribution, the expected difference is 0(log2n/n); for a somewhat more restricted subclass of input distribution, we also show that the expected difference is Ω(l/n).
Two New Trifoliolate-Leaved Species of Cucurbitaceae (Cucurbiteae) from Central and South America

Two new species of Cucurbitaceae, tribe Cucurbiteae, with trifoliolate leaves are described from Costa Rica, one each in Cayaponia Silva Manso and Cionosicys Grisebach. Cayaponia hammelii Grayum, with large, pendent staminate flowers, ranges from Costa Rica to Pacific Ecuador, while the exceptionally large-fruited Cionosicys guabubu Grayum & J. A. Gonzalez is restricted to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and central Panama. Both of these new species have sometimes been misidentified as Cayaponia granatensis Cogniaux, a species with trilobate leaves that is dubiously present in Mesoamerica. The distinction between Cayaponia and the similar Cionosicys is discussed in some detail, and a key is provided for all species of Cionosicys with validly published names.
Cognitive load selectively interferes with utilitarian moral judgment

Traditional theories of moral development emphasize the role of controlled cognition in mature moral judgment, while a more recent trend emphasizes intuitive and emotional processes. Here we test a dual-process theory synthesizing these perspectives. More specifically, our theory associates utilitarian moral judgment (approving of harmful actions that maximize good consequences) with controlled cognitive processes and associates non-utilitarian moral judgment with automatic emotional responses. Consistent with this theory, we find that a cognitive load manipulation selectively interferes with utilitarian judgment. This interference effect provides direct evidence for the influence of controlled cognitive processes in moral judgment, and utilitarian moral judgment more specifically.
Factors influencing immunodominance hierarchies in TCD8+ -mediated antiviral responses.

CD8+ T-lymphocytes (TCD8+) perform a critical role in immunity against tumors and virus infections. A central feature of TCD8+ immune responses is immunodominance: the observation that TCD8+ responses consist of a limited collection of specificities with a structured hierarchy. These immunodominance hierarchies result from a complex combination of factors. Major roles are played by peptide binding affinity, T-cell repertoire, and antigen processing and presentation. While the bulk of our information comes from mouse model systems, an increasing number of human studies suggest that immunodominance will be even more complicated. This review outlines current knowledge of TCD8+ immunodominance to viral antigens and discusses the relevance and importance of a thorough understanding for the rational design of vaccines that elicit effective TCD8+ responses.
Abdominal pain after gastric bypass: suspects and solutions.

Abstract Background Gastric bypass remains the mainstay of surgical therapy for obesity. Abdominal pain after gastric bypass is common and accounts for up to half of all postoperative complaints and emergency room visits. This article reviews the most important causes of abdominal pain specific to gastric bypass and discusses management considerations. Methods The current surgical literature was reviewed using PubMed, with a focus on abdominal pain after gastric bypass and the known pathologies that underlie its pathogenesis. Results The etiologies of abdominal pain after gastric bypass are diverse. A thorough understanding of their pathogenesis impacts favorably on clinical outcomes. Conclusions The differential diagnosis for abdominal pain after gastric bypass is large and includes benign and life-threatening entities. Its diverse causes require a broad evaluation that should be directed by history and clinical presentation. In the absence of a clear diagnosis, the threshold for surgical exploration in patients with abdominal pain after gastric bypass should be low.
Stalking and Intimate Partner Femicide

An 18-item stalking inventory and personal interviews with knowledgeable proxy informants and victims of attempted femicide were used to describe the frequency and type of intimate partner stalking that occurred within 12 months of attempted and actual partner femicide. One hundred forty-one femicide and 65 attempted femicide incidents were evaluated. The prevalence of stalking was 76% for femicide victims and 85% for attempted femicide victims. Incidence of intimate partner assault was 67% for femicide victims and 71% for attempted femicide victims. A statistically significant association existed between intimate partner physical assault and stalking for femicide victims as well as attempted femicide victims. Stalking is revealed to be a correlate of lethal and near lethal violence against women and, coupled with physical assault, is significantly associated with murder and attempted murder. Stalking must be considered a risk factor for both femicide and attempted femicide, and abused women should be so ...
Genetics of Expression of Asparaginase II Activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Expression of asparaginase II activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires the participation of the products of at least two cistrons, asp2 and asp3, which are unlinked on the yeast genetic map.
The anatomy and histology of the inferior glenohumeral ligament complex of the shoulder

The gross and histologic anatomy of the inferior glenohumeral ligament was studied in 11 fresh frozen cadaver shoulders. Arthroscopic observations of the joint capsule through the normal range of motion revealed that the inferior glenohumeral ligament is actually a complex of structures consisting of an anterior band, a posterior band, and an interposed axillary pouch. While these components of the inferior glenohumeral ligament complex were present in all 11 specimens, they were best demonstrated in some shoulders by placing the humeral head in internal or external rotation in varying degrees of abduction. Histologic examination of the joint capsule revealed that the anterior and posterior bands of the inferior glenohumeral ligament complex were readily identifiable as distinct structures comprised of thickened bands of well-organized collagen bundles. Although slight variations were noted in the attachment sites of the anterior and posterior bands to the glenoid, the inferior glenohumeral ligament complex was observed to attach to the humeral neck in one of two distinct configurations. A collar-like attachment, in which the entire inferior glenohumeral ligament complex attaches just inferior to the articular edge of the humeral head, was observed in six specimens. In the remaining five specimens, the attachment was in the shape of a "V," with the anterior and posterior bands attaching adjacent to the articular edge of the humeral head and the axillary pouch attaching at the apex of the "V" distal to the articular edge. The orientation and design of the inferior glenohumeral ligament complex supports the functional concept of this single structure as an important anterior and posterior stabilizer of the shoulder joint.
Grease burns of the hand: Preventable injuries☆

Grease burns to the hand represent a serious and preventable hazard. These injuries account for over 10% of all major burns seen in the emergency department. These burns occur when the cook attempts to move a pan with burning cooking oil and inadvertently spills the oil on the hand holding the pan. These burns are usually full thickness because of either the high temperatures of the flaming oils or the subsequent ignition of clothing. This article describes a patient who received severe partial and full thickness burns to the dominant hand following a grease burn in the domestic setting. Prevention through improved consumer education and warning labels for cooking oils should reduce the incidence of these serious injuries.
The Origin of Scintillations in Organic Materials

Calculations of the energy expended by a charged particle in producing optical excitation of molecules of the scintillator indicate the possibility that most of the energy emitted as light during a scintillation may stem, either directly or via intermolecular transfer, from molecules excited in this way. Observations of the slowly-decaying components of the emission suggest, however, that these components arise from molecules left in excited states as a result of the process of ion recombination.
Bulwarks against Market Pressures: Value Rationality in the For-Profit Pursuit of Social Missions

How do members of fair trade businesses hold their profit-maximizing interests in check in order to make room for extra-financial ones? Answering this question is important because corporations are increasingly called upon to be responsible—even social-value producing—citizens, but scholars do not fully understand how they become so. Using data from the fair trade industry, this article demonstrates that market pressures can be buffered in part by a type of Weberian discipline that is motivated by the meanings that members of an organization attach to the social consequences of their work.
Substance Use Treatment Counselors’ Attitudes Toward Evidence-Based Practice: The Importance of Organizational Context

This study addresses individual and organizational correlates of substance user treatment counselors’ attitudes toward evidence-based practice. Counselors (n = 293) from a probability sample of outpatient treatment organizations in a northeastern US state were surveyed in 2008. Multilevel [hierarchical linear model (HLM)] models address the nested sample. Attitudes toward evidence-based practice were measured with the Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (Aarons). Study limitations and implications for the implementation of evidence-based practices in routine substance user treatment organizations are addressed.
The modified oblique keller capsular interpositional arthroplasty for hallux rigidus.

Hallux rigidus is a common condition characterized by first metatarsophalangeal joint pain and limited hallux range of motion due to localized osteoarthritis of that joint. Patients who have had a failure of nonoperative treatment have several operative procedures available. Dorsal metatarsophalangeal joint cheilectomy has been recommended when there is mild to moderate joint damage and pain only at the end of the range of motion. Arthrodesis, implant arthroplasty, or interpositional/resection arthroplasty are options in cases in which the joint is not salvageable and there is pain throughout the range of motion. Each option offers specific advantages and disadvantages. Arthrodesis is associated with malunion, nonunion, shortening, and transfer metatarsalgia1. It eliminates motion and pain in most patients, but the concept of eliminating motion at the first metatarsophalangeal joint is not easily accepted by many patients. Implant arthroplasty with silicone or high-density polyethylene/metal composites is associated with stiffness, wear debris-related synovitis, and high failure rates2,3. The Keller resection arthroplasty maintains some metatarsophalangeal joint motion. It initially was described for the correction of a hallux valgus deformity4 with resection of a substantial portion (as much as one-third) of the proximal portion of the proximal phalanx and was associated with a high rate of complications, including lateral transfer metatarsalgia, decreased great toe strength, excessive shortening of the first ray, great toe cock-up deformity, and clawing of the interphalangeal joint5,6. Modified versions of the resection arthroplasty have been introduced for the treatment of hallux rigidus in an attempt to reduce these complications, to maintain hallux metatarsophalangeal joint range of motion, and to provide more predictable pain relief. Hamilton et al.7 modified the Keller procedure to reduce the amount of the proximal phalanx that is removed (only the proximal one-fourth) and interposed the dorsal metatarsophalangeal joint capsule into the joint to act as a soft-tissue spacer between the ends of the bone in the decompressed metatarsophalangeal joint space. Mroczek and Miller8 further modified Hamilton's procedure by changing the obliquity of the proximal phalangeal bone resection to retain the plantar base of the proximal phalanx and thereby change the sesamoid ligament insertion. The modified oblique Keller capsular interpositional arthroplasty is a motion-preserving procedure that is appealing to younger or more active patients, those with adjacent arthritis, and those who do not desire a fusion. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether this arthroplasty is an effective procedure for relieving pain and for maintaining range of motion and hallux strength and whether it results in a more normal plantar pressure distribution in comparison with a hallux metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis in a similar group of patients.
Allylamine and Allyl Alcohol Plasma Copolymerization: Synthesis of Customizable Biologically‐Reactive Three‐Dimensional Scaffolds

Plasma copolymerization is a powerful plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD)-based technique, and offers a distinct advantage over single-precursor PECVD of being able to deposit films with tunable functionality by adjusting the plasma precursor ratio. Here, an allylamine/allyl alcohol plasma copolymerization system was used to modify two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) substrates for biomedical applications. Films with customizable and predictable nitrogen and oxygen content, as well as surface wettability, were deposited on both Si wafers and 3D polymer scaffolds across a range of copolymerization conditions. Additionally, the bioreactivity of plasma-modified materials was evaluated using both human dermal fibroblast and E coli attachment studies.
Lithospheric Deformation in the equatorial Indian Ocean: Timing and Tibet

The plate tectonics revolution of the 1960s transformed our understanding of the way our planet works. Since its inception, the main modification to the plate tectonic theory is the recognition that many plate boundaries are not narrow, as originally assumed, but are hundreds to thousands of
Retrospective evaluation of frozen section use for thyroid nodules with a prior fine needle aspiration diagnosis of Bethesda II-VI: The Weill Cornell Medical College experience.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC)/New York Presbyterian Hospital (NYPH) experience with intraoperative frozen (IOF) section in the management of thyroid nodules with a fine needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis of Bethesda II–VI and to analyze the cost and pathology benefit it provides. Methods The surgical and cytopathology files at WCMC/NYPH were searched within the time period of January 2008 to May 2013. A total of 435 thyroid specimens were identified for which both an FNA and subsequent IOF section was performed. The FNA was correlated with the locations of the resected nodule and the nodule frozen for intraoperative diagnosis. The results of the FNA were compared to the IOF section diagnosis and final diagnosis (FD). Results Among 435 cases, the FNA diagnosis was Bethesda II: 149 cases, Bethesda III: 170 cases, Bethesda IV: 91 cases, Bethesda V: 19 cases, and Bethesda VI: 6 cases. There were a total of 83 carcinomas identified on FD, which included 69 papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), 12 follicular carcinomas, and 2 poorly differentiated carcinomas. The preoperative FNA diagnosis for these carcinomas was as follows: Bethesda II, 11/149 (7.4%), Bethesda III, 24/170 (14%), Bethesda IV, 26/91 (29%), Bethesda V, 16/19 (84%), and Bethesda VI, 6/6 (100%). IOF section contributed to the diagnosis of malignancy in 16/429 (4%) cases: 1/149 (0.7%) Bethesda II, 5/170 (3%) Bethesda III, 2/91 (1.1%) Bethesda IV, and 8/19 (42%) Bethesda V. The diagnosis of malignancy was confirmed in the 6 Bethesda VI cases by IOF section. There were no false positives on IOF section. IOF had a sensitivity and specificity of 26% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion The role of IOF section is limited in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. IOF section is most useful for nodules with an FNA diagnosis of Bethesda V lesions. The diagnosis of follicular variant of PTC remains difficult on frozen section.
Investigating the Accessibility of State Government Web Sites in Maryland

All citizens have the right to access information from their government. At both the federal and state levels in the United States, citizens with impairments expect the same access to government information as anyone else. When government information is available on a web site, that information must be accessible for people with impairments. People with perceptual, motor, and/or cognitive impairments may access web sites using different assistive technologies, such as screen readers or alternative keyboards, or may need content in alternative formats (e.g. a transcript needs to exist for any audio). In cooperation with the Maryland Technology Assistance Program, a research group from Towson University evaluated Maryland state government web sites for accessibility. The goal of this paper is to report on how well Maryland state government web sites are currently meeting the needs of these diverse user populations. This is a major issue: recent population estimates indicate that approximately 112 000 individuals in Maryland between the ages of 16 and 74 have a sensory impairment, and 281 000 individuals in Maryland between the ages of 16 and 74 have a physical impairment (see www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/DisabilityStatistics/acs.cfm for more population statistics).
Estimating Route Assembly Costs

Theoretical constructs for estimating unit assembly costs for geographically scattered supplies indicate that for point pickup (involving a trip from a central location to each supply point) the relationship between average round trip distance (ARD) to supply points and radius of assembly area (r) is ARD = 1.7r. However, this relationship is not appropriate for route type assembly. Based on a cobweb type road network where each route covers a wedge-shaped route area, average route mileage increases more slowly than ARD up to a radius of approximately 13 miles and then increases slightly more rapidly. Under certain conditions, route mileage and unit assembly costs can remain constant as radius of assembly area and total volume assembled increase.
A Pattern in Interstation Airline Travel

Principles in forecasting air traffic sought; typical pattern of interstation airline travel; suggestion of underlying law; paper intends to provide more accurate basis for forecasting; normalized airline trips between various stations tabulated.
Evaluating Hazard of Landslide-Induced Water Waves

Dimensional analysis of the landslide parameters which control dimensionless maximum wave amplitude, ηm/d, when slides impact with a water body, shows that dimensionless slide kinetic energy, Ek, i...
Abstract 2501: Combination therapy with mebendazole, trametinib and metformin eliminates recalcitrant NRASQ61Kmelanoma cells

Melanoma is an aggressive and lethal form of cancer with increasing incidence worldwide. In recent years, the FDA approved several promising treatments for malignant melanoma. However, treatment often fails due to the survival and regrowth of drug-resistant cells. Studies by our lab and others suggest that Melanoma Initiating Cells (MIC), a CD133+ population that forms xenograft tumors, may represent an intermediate stage in the acquisition of stable drug resistance. This study aims to determine the effect of CD133-expression and drug resistance in metastatic melanoma cells harboring difficult-to-treat mutation signatures by focusing on the two main downstream cascades of MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR. Our results show that triple combination therapy using mebendazole (repurposed anthelmintic BRAF inhibitor), trametinib (MEK inhibitor) and metformin (repurposed anti-diabetic mTOR inhibitor) synergistically reduces cell viability of NRASQ61K melanoma cells when compared with mebendazole, trametinib or metformin alone. Further, the surviving fraction from each monotherapy is highly enriched for CD133+ cells. Thus, the multi-kinase inhibitor trametinib, along with repurposed anthelmintic and anti-diabetic drugs may inhibit MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways, which could potentially be an effective therapy for the resistant subpopulation of melanoma initiating cells. Citation Format: Maryam AbdusSamad, Anirudh Gaur, Cynthia M. Simbulan-Rosenthal, Edward C. McCarron, Dean S. Rosenthal. Combination therapy with mebendazole, trametinib and metformin eliminates recalcitrant NRASQ61K melanoma cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2501.
Financial Parenting: Promoting Financial Self-Reliance of Young Consumers

This chapter reviews the financial parenting practices that foster the development of children’s financial knowledge and skills, preparing them to become financially self-reliant adults. Financial self-reliance encompasses financial independence and financial capability as well as the ability to make prudent financial decisions based on available options and resources. In many countries, financial self-reliance is a key marker of adult status. Parents play an important role in shaping the financial knowledge and skills their children need to achieve this milestone. Financial parenting refers to three contexts through which parents influence children’s progress toward financial self-reliance: socialization, parenting style, and parental social class. This chapter has two objectives: (1) to describe the ways that financial parenting promotes the acquisition of financial knowledge and skills and (2) to propose how financial parenting promotes or constrains financial self-reliance. We conclude with recommendations for those who work with or on behalf of young consumers.
The Search for Human Cognitive Specializations

What psychological abilities, if any, are unique to humans, and what are the underlying neural specializations that give rise to these abilities? Despite many decades of research on this question, we still remain far from a definitive answer. This chapter provides a critical review of the state of the field, surveying existing proposals and examining theoretical and empirical challenges to progress. The chapter focuses on three putatively unique human cognitive abilities as case studies—language, mindreading, and culture—and proposes a systematic search strategy for human cognitive specializations.
It’s More than Just a Big Dick: Desires, Experiences, and How Male Escorts Satisfy Their Customers

ABSTRACTThe scholarly literature is replete with studies of female prostitutes, their customers, prostitution dynamics, and understandings of the how, where, when, how much, and why of such interactions. However, male escorts is lacking. Based on content analysis of the online reviews of 627 male escorts, this study examines the experiences and perspectives of men who locate, contact, and purchase the time and services of male escorts. Findings reveal that sexual services and sexual skills are only one aspect on which male escorts are assessed. Also, and sometimes more important, are issues of intimacy, social interactions, and personality.
Prioritized Allocation of Emergency Responders based on a Continuous-Time Incident Prediction Model

Efficient emergency response is a major concern in densely populated urban areas. Numerous techniques have been proposed to allocate emergency responders to optimize response times, coverage, and incident prevention. Effective response depends, in turn, on effective prediction of incidents occurring in space and time, a problem which has also received considerable prior attention. We formulate a non-linear mathematical program maximizing expected incident coverage, and propose a novel algorithmic framework for solving this problem. In order to aid the optimization problem, we propose a novel incident prediction mechanism. Prior art in incident prediction does not generally consider incident priorities which are crucial in optimal dispatch, and spatial modeling either considers each discretized area independently, or learns a homogeneous model. We bridge these gaps by learning a joint distribution of both incident arrival time and severity, with spatial heterogeneity captured using a hierarchical clustering approach. Moreover, our decomposition of the joint arrival and severity distributions allows us to independently learn the continuous-time arrival model, and subsequently use a multinomial logistic regression to capture severity, conditional on incident time. We use real traffic accident and response data from the urban area around Nashville, USA, to evaluate the proposed approach, showing that it significantly outperforms prior art as well as the real dispatch method currently in use.
A stability-instability boundary for disturbance-free slow adaptation and unmodeled dynamics

The instability of adaptive schemes at very low or even infinitesimal values of parameter adjustment gain has the form of a slow drift of adjustable parameters. With an averaging analysis we derive not only a sufficient condition for stability of this drift, but also a sufficient condition for it to be unstable. The result is a sharp boundary between stability and instability, which has a simple interpretation of signal energy.
Walking in the City: The Arrival of the Rhetorical Subject

Although hermeneutic habits of mind privilege the representation as a site of discovery and reflection, the reverse is equally true for residents in familiar environments. That is, the body’s movement through everyday spaces can engender an indexical map, thus a memory storehouse, and sites and substances for invention. This chapter forwards the generative, interpretive potential of oscillation, defined as sensations and reflections tied directly to bodily movements through a built environment leading, on occasion, to ecological thinking and equitable, inclusive action. Oscillation is visited through affect theory, De Certeau’s “Walking in the City” and narratives of non-hermeneutic exposure to include Ackerman’s fieldwork in post-industrial neighborhoods. Oscillation provides a techne beyond representational dependencies and closer to a given ecology’s vital potential.