cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Creative Thought as Blind Variation and Selective Retention: Why Creativity is Inversely Related to Sightedness

Campbell (1960) proposed the theory that creativity required blind variation and selective retention (BVSR). More than a half century has transpired without any resolution of the controversy over the theory’s validity. This inability to reach consensus may reflect a fundamental failure on both sides to define the critical terms of the debate, namely, creativity and blindness. Hence, to help resolve the issue, the ideas making up a variant set are first described via three parameters: (a) the idea’s initial probability of generation, (b) its final utility, and (c) any prior knowledge of its utility value. These three subjective parameters are then used to derive a creativity index applicable to each idea in the set. The same parameters are also deployed to produce a sightedness metric that describes the sightedness of the variant set as well as each idea in that set. It is then logically demonstrated, first, that an idea’s creativity is inversely related to its sightedness, and, second, that an idea’s creativity is inversely related to the sightedness of the variant set that contains that idea. Furthermore, the same general conclusions hold when the third parameter is omitted from the two definitions or when the two definitions are not functions of identical parameters (e.g., novelty in one but originality in the other). Because blindness is just the inverse of sightedness, it automatically follows that creativity has an essential positive connection with blind variation. The article closes with a discussion of BVSR implications regarding the joint distribution of creativity and sightedness.
Does cardiac resynchronization therapy prevent heart failure

Device therapy for heart failure has become a wellestablished treatment for moderate to severely symptomatic heart failure through improved symptoms, exercise capacity, reverse remodeling, and morbidity with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) [1–3]. The survival benefit of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) has been well documented in clinical trials in patients with mild to moderate symptoms [4, 5], and CRT without an ICD also improved survival in more advanced patients, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or ambulatory class IV heart failure [3]. More recently, CRT studies have shown a reduction in heart failure hospitalization and improved left ventricular (LV) function and dimensions in milder heart failure (NYHA class I and II), primarily for QRS duration over 150 ms [6, 7]; however, no mortality difference was found with the addition of CRT in this milder heart failure population.
Synthesis and virucidal activity of a water-soluble, configurationally stable, derivatized C60 fullerene.

The bis(monosuccinimide) derivative of p,p9-bis(2-aminoethyl)diphenyl-C60 (compound 1), prepared by the fulleroid route, is active against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 (50% effective concentration [EC50] averaging approximately 6 microM) in acutely or chronically infected human lymphocytes and is active in vitro against 39-azido-39-deoxythymidine-resistant HIV-1 (EC50, approximately 3 microM). The virucidal properties of compound 1 were confirmed by virus inactivation assays. Compound 1 was noncytotoxic up to 100 microM in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and H9, Vero, and CEM cells. In cell-free assays, whereas the fullerene showed comparable activity against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and DNA polymerase alpha (50% inhibitory concentration of approximately 5 microM), it demonstrated selective activity against HIV-1 protease.
Energy spectra of strange particles hadronizing from a quark-gluon plasma.

Using a schematic hydrodynamic description of relativistic heavy-ion collisions in the regime of complete nuclear stopping, we study the freeze-out and strange particle energy spectra from a hadronized quark-gluon plasma. We argue that characteristic changes in the slopes of the ${\mathrm{K}}^{+}$ and ${\mathrm{K}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ meson energy spectra are a signature for the quark-gluon plasma phase transition.
Bat-like sonar for guiding mobile robots

The problem of docking mobile robots using a bat-like sonar system is considered in the context of prey capture in two dimensions. Two measures of performance, the capture probability and the mean capture time when capture occurs, are evaluated as a function of the ratio of speeds of the prey to the pursuer and in terms of the control strategies employing their quantitative information (range and azimuth to prey) or qualitative information (prey is to the left or right). By constraining the prey motion to be linear, the lower bound for the capture time can be determined from game theory. Simulations and experiments with real mobile robots show that both capture probability and mean capture time are inversely related to the prey/pursuer speed ratio. It is also observed that, while qualitative information is sufficient for capture, quantitative information allows capture to occur over a large range of speed ratios. Overall, the results demonstrate that bat-like sonar represents an efficient sensing system. >
Using QuickTime virtual reality objects in computer-assisted instruction of gross anatomy: Yorick--the VR Skull.

QuickTime virtual reality (QTVR) is a software technology that creates, on a normal computer screen, the illusion of holding and turning a three-dimensional object. QTVR is a practical photo-realistic virtual reality technology that is easily implemented on any current personal computer or via the Internet with no special hardware requirements. Because of its ability to present dynamic photo-quality images, we reasoned that QTVR can provide a more realistic presentation of anatomic structure than two-dimensional atlas pictures and facilitate study of specimens outside the dissection lab. We created QTVR objects, using portions of the skull, and incorporated them into an instructional program for first-year medical students. To obtain images, the bones of the skull were mounted on a rotating table, and a digital camera was positioned on a swinging arm so that the focal point remained coincident with the rotational center of the object as the camera was panned through a vertical arc. Digital images were captured at intervals of 10 degrees rotation of the object (horizontal pan). The camera was then swung through an arc with additional horizontal pan sequences taken at 10 degrees intervals of vertical pan. The images were edited to place the object on a solid black background, then assembled into a linear QuickTime movie. The linear movie was processed to yield a QTVR object movie that can be manipulated on vertical and horizontal axes using the mouse. QTVR movies were incorporated into an interactive environment that provided labeling, links to text-based information and self-testing capabilities. This program, Yorick-the VR Skull, has been used in our first-year medical and graduate gross anatomy courses for the past two years. Results of student evaluation of the program indicate that this QTVR-based program is an effective learning tool that is well received by students.
Gender, Constructed Masculinities, and Recruitment in the US Military

Enlisting Masculinity: The Construction of Gender in US Military Recruiting Advertising During the All-Volunteer Force. By Melissa T. Brown. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. 229 pp., $74.00 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-0-19-984282-7). Melissa T. Brown's Enlisting Masculinity offers a welcome contribution to feminist international relations scholarship through her examination of the recruitment strategies of the four branches of the US military. Given that the United States relies on an all-volunteer force (AVF), how does the military recruit new members? Brown argues that the military continues its traditional focus on masculinity to attract new recruits, but at the same time, each branch also utilizes different “constructions of masculinity,” of which conventional warrior masculinity is one type (p. 5). In the Introduction (Chapter 1), Brown posits two research questions. First, “when the military appeals to potential recruits, does it present service in masculine terms, and if so, what form or forms does that masculinity take?” And second, “how do recruiting materials construct gender as they create ideas about soldiering?” (p. 10). She draws attention to three main issues related to her research questions. The first relates to the actual “nature of military occupations.” The military is faced with the challenge of masculinizing noncombat jobs (for example, nursing and technical occupations). It does so by making the connection with combat and what it means to be a warrior. The second issue revolves around “women's place in the military's gendering of service.” This relates to women's integration into the services, while avoiding “disrupting the association between military service and masculinity that might draw in men.” The third issue concerns the differences between the branches (histories, “institutional culture,” and “specific personnel needs”). Each service employs “different constructions of masculinity” or uses “gender in their recruiting materials in significantly different ways” (p. 11). To answer her research questions …
Effects of Multiple Dentinal Lesions on the Rat Pulp

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of single and multiple dentinal lesions on the dental pulps of rats. 3H-proline was used to measure pulpal reactionary dentin deposition, and 3H-thymidine was used to measure pulpal cell proliferation by radioautography. Data were compared by factorial analysis of variance and a post-hoc Tukey test. A significant increase in radiolabeled collagenous proteins within reactionary dentin and pulpal cell labeling indices were evident coincident to single dentinal injuries, compared with controls (p < 0.001). After double injuries, the radiolabeled collagenous proteins within reactionary dentin and the pulpal labeling indices remained significantly greater than in controls (p < 0.01); however, each was significantly less than after single injuries (p < 0.05). These data suggest that pulpal cell proliferation and collagenous protein deposition into reactionary dentin are decreased subsequent to a previous dentinal injury. Thus, the healing potential of the dental pulp could be decreased by recent tooth cavity preparation.
THE LOCALIZATION OF CIRCULATING IMMUNE COMPLEXES IN EXPERIMENTAL SERUM SICKNESS : THE ROLE OF VASOACTIVE AMINES AND HYDRODYNAMIC FORCES

In serum sickness, mechanisms by which circulating immune complexes become localized in the walls of vessels and glomeruli have been studied. In affected arteries, morphologic observations showed that circulating marker particles of carbon would rapidly deposit along the luminal surface of the internal elastic lamina. This, as in previous studies, suggested an increase in vascular permeability during which large molecules were capable of being trapped by a filtering membrane in the vessel wall. In attempts to prevent the increase in vascular permeability, rabbits were treated with antagonists of histamine and serotonin. Such treatment markedly inhibited the localization of immune complexes in glomeruli, the development of proteinuria, and glomerular endothelial proliferation. Cardiovascular lesions also were largely prevented from developing. Depletion of platelets, the principal reservoir of vasoactive amines, had a similar though less pronounced effect. While the deposition of immune complexes was inhibited, allergic inflammation in general was not, since normal rabbits treated as above were found capable of developing full Arthus reactions and acute nephrotoxic nephritis. Hydrodynamic factors were noted to be important in determining the location of arterial lesions. Studies of aortas from unmodified rabbits and from those with surgically induced coarctations of the abdominal aorta revealed intimal lesions concentrated at areas of high turbulence, such as at branches, bifurcations, outflows and zones of configurational change. Lesions in these areas were also largely inhibitable by depletion of platelets or by antagonists of histamine and serotonin.
The Harvard solar satellite project

The Harvard College Observatory is preparing, under the direction of Prof. Leo Golberg, instrumentation for an Orbiting Solar Observatory which is scheduled to be launched in 1963. Planned is a scanning spectrometer which will operate in the wavelength range from λ500 A to λ1500 A. The entrance slit will be at the focus of a 0·5in. diameter off-axis paraboloidal mirror, and the resulting angular field of view will be approximately 1 min2 of arc. Normally the stabilized satellite will point the instrument to within a few min of arc of the sun's center where detailed scans of the solar spectrum will be made. However, a command system will allow an operator on the earth to stop the spectral scan at any desired wavelength. In response to a second command, the satellite will begin a stepped raster scan of the sun's image thereby generating a monochromatic picture of the solar surface. The final image will be 40 min x 40 min of arc and will consist of 1600 picture elements; the intensity of each element will be known to 1 per cent accuracy.
Modeling Full-Scale Monolithic Catalytic Converters: Challenges and Possible Solutions

Modeling full-scale monolithic catalytic converters using state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics algorithms and techniques encounters a classical multiscale problem: the channels within the monolith have length scales that are ∼1-2 mm, while the converter itself has a length scale that is ∼5-10 cm. This necessitates very fine grids to resolve all the length scales, resulting in few million computational cells. When complex heterogeneous chemistry is included, the computational problem becomes all but intractable unless massively parallel computation is employed. Two approaches to address this difficulty are reviewed, and their effectiveness demonstrated for the computation of full-scale catalytic converters with complex chemistry. The first approach is one where only the larger scales are resolved by a grid, while the physics at the smallest scale (channel scale) are modeled using subgrid scale models whose development entails detailed flux balances at the "imaginary" fluid-solid interfaces within each computational cell. The second approach makes use of the in situ adaptive tabulation algorithm, after significant reformulation of the underlying mathematics, to accelerate computation of the surface reaction boundary conditions. Preliminary results shown here for a catalytic combustion application involving 19 species and 24 reactions indicate that both methods have the potential of improving computational efficiency by several orders of magnitude.
Chinese Theater and Strategic Missile Force Modernization and its Implications for the United States

Abstract The People's Republic of China (PRC), no longer content with its longstanding ‘minimalist’ nuclear posture and strategy, is enhancing the striking power and survivability of its theater and strategic missile forces and rethinking its nuclear doctrine in ways that may pose serious challenges for the United States. Although the modernization of Chinese nuclear and missile forces may ultimately result in greater strategic deterrence stability, this change will not come about immediately or automatically. Indeed, it is entirely possible that China's growing missile capabilities could decrease crisis stability under certain circumstances, especially in the event of a US–China conflict over Taiwan.
Leading-zero anticipator (LZA) in the IBM RISC System/6000 floating-point execution unit

This paper presents a technique used in the multiply-add-fused (MAF) unit of the IBM RISC System/6000 (RS/6000) processor for normalizing the floating-point results. Unlike the conventional procedures applied thus far, the so-called leading-zero anticipator (LZA) of the RS/6000 carries out processing of the leading zeros and ones in parallel with floating-point addition. Therefore, the new circuitry reduces the total latency of the MAF unit by enabling the normalization and addition to take place in a single cycle.
Protective Efficacy of Hybridoma Type-Specific Antibody Against Experimental Infection with Group-B Streptococcus

Murine monoclonal antibodies to group-B Streptococcus type III were developed by fusion of splenic lymphocytes from immunized BALB/c mice with the mouse-myeloma cell line SP 2/0. The four type III-specific antibodies, which were of the IgM class, protected neonatal rats against intraperitoneal infection with homologous-type group-B streptococci; survival rates were 95%-100% for protected rats but only 17% for unprotected rats. One antibody preparation offered excellent protection against any of five type-III strains employed. Monoclonal antibody provided protection when administered 4, 8, or 12 hr after infection, although delayed administration was less efficacious against more virulent strains. Monoclonal IgM also protected against intranasal inoculation of bacteria. These results indicate the potential therapeutic efficacy of monoclonal antibody in neonatal group-B streptococcal disease, but further laboratory investigations must precede clinical investigation of monoclonal or polyclonal antibody therapy in humans.
Event-related fMRI study of recognition of simulated CI speech

Abstract Objective To identify potential differences in brain activation when normal-hearing subjects listen to natural speech compared to speech signals with distortions characteristic of a cochlear implant (CI speech). Study Design Children and adults (n=6) listened to different categories of speech stimuli or rested across trials during silent intervals of the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. Stimuli including natural speech and speech signals processed to simulate a CI with eight spectral channels were presented. FMRI was performed on a 3.0-T MRI scanner using an acquisition method referred to as Hemodynamics Unrelated to Scanner Hardware (HUSH)-fMRI here. Auditory stimulation during silent intervals of the fMRI scans alternated with MR image acquisition on each trial. Trials from different experimental conditions were grouped, averaged, and analysed. Results Natural speech signals evoked robust cortical activation bilaterally relative to rest in all subjects. This brain activation pattern overlapped substantially with that evoked by CI speech, such that CI speech stimuli that were intelligible evoked brain activation patterns that were similar to natural speech. CI-speech intelligibility during fMRI acquisition was comparable to that observed outside of the scanner, suggesting minimal interference due to acoustic noise from the scanner. Conclusions HUSH fMRI on a 3-T MRI scanner is a time-efficient and sensitive method to detect cortical activation due to auditory processing of simulated CI speech.
Stochastic integrals for nonprevisible, multiparameter processes

We develop a general theory for stochastic integrals of generalized stochastic processesX(t), depending on multidimensional time, within the framework of the space of Wiener distributions (D *).
Steady-state groundwater inflow into a circular tunnel

Abstract The prediction of groundwater inflow into a tunnel is important for designing the tunnel drainage system and to minimize environmental impacts and the risk of tunnel instabilities and subsidence damage. Analytical solutions exist to calculate tunnel inflow, and, increasingly, numerical groundwater models are used to this end. In order to represent different types of tunnel support structures, this study reviews different boundary conditions that can be set at the tunnel perimeter to calculate tunnel inflow and recognizes different ways to account for the tunnel lining. Analytical solutions and numerical models to calculate tunnel inflow are compared and factors influencing the accuracy of numerical solutions are highlighted. The study suggests that numerical models provide estimates of tunnel inflows with sufficient accuracy for practical purposes if the tunnel is lined and has no drainage layer surrounding the lining, and if the hydraulic conductivity of the lining is several orders of magnitude lower than the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer, or if the lining is thick. Otherwise, the extent of the model domain must be large with respect to the extent of the tunnel to provide accurate results. It was shown that inflows are higher for lined tunnels with a drainage layer than for unlined tunnels, if the head in the drainage layer corresponds to the level of the tunnel center or invert. If the head in the drainage layer corresponds to the level of the tunnel crown, inflows are higher for unlined tunnels. The study further suggests that for unlined tunnels, inflows are higher at the invert than at the crown. For lined tunnels with a drainage layer, the reverse is true. Differences between inflows at the crown and invert decrease with increasing depth of the tunnel under the groundwater table. The numerical solution for flow into lined tunnels without drainage layer using a transfer (Cauchy type, or 3rd-kind) boundary condition produces lower inflows compared to using a specified head (Dirichlet type, or 1st-kind) boundary condition. Using a transfer boundary condition is especially inaccurate if the lining is thick.
Compactifying de Sitter space naturally selects a small cosmological constant

We study compactifications of $D$-dimensional de Sitter space with a $q$-form flux down to $D-Nq$ dimensions. We show that for $(N-1)(q-1)\geq 2$ there are double-exponentially or even infinitely many compact de Sitter vacua, and that their effective cosmological constants accumulate at zero. This population explosion of $\Lambda \ll 1$ de Sitters arises by a mechanism analogous to natural selection.
Topological design of wide area communication networks

This paper develops a model for designing a backbone network. It assumes the location of the backbone nodes, the traffic between the backbone nodes and the link capacities are given. It determines the links to be included in the design and the routes used by the origin destination pairs. The objective is to obtain the least cost design where the system costs consist of connection costs and queueing costs. The connection costs depend on link capacity and queueing costs are incurred by users due to the limited capacity of links. The Lagrangian relaxation embedded in a subgradient optimization procedure is used to obtain lower bounds on the optimal solution of the problem. A heuristic based on the Lagrangian relaxation is developed to generate feasible solutions.
Electron Spin Resonance and Electron Spin Echo Modulation Evidence for the Isomorphous Substitution of Ti in TAPO-5 Molecular Sieve

New evidence for the isomorphous substitution of titanium into titanium aluminophosphate molecular sieve of structure type AFI (TAPO-5) is reported by combined electron spin resonance (ESR) and electron spin echo modulation (ESEM) spectroscopic studies. Synthesized TAPO-5 and TiO2/SAPO-5 materials are compared. These materials were activated and then reduced by γ-irradiation at 77 K or by CO at ambient to high temperatures. γ-irradiation at 77 K of TAPO-5 produces an ESR signal characterized by g1 = 1.965, g2 = 1.920, and g3 = 1.879 best explained as arising from trivalent titanium at a framework site together with a strong signal due to V centers. γ-irradiation of TiO2/SAPO-5 gives an ESR signal with g⊥ = 1.971 and g∥ = 1.907 typical of Ti(III) in octahedral symmetry. Upon CO reduction TAPO-5 gives a spectrum with rhombic g parameters g1 = 1.969, g2 = 1.954, and g3 = 1.923, which are different from the corresponding parameters of the Ti(III) species produced by γ-irradiation. CO reduction of TiO2/SAPO-5 ...
Nova: low-cost data animation using a radar-sweep metaphor

Nova is a simple technique for animating a data sequence whose elements include a primary numeric component and possibly one or more secondary dimensions. We use nova to visualize program behavior such as individual memory allocations, where the number of bytes in each allocation is a natural primary numeric dimension.
Purification and properties of carbonic anhydrase from salmon erythrocytes.

Abstract 1. 1. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) from erythrocytes of the pink salmon, Onchorhyncus gorbushka, was purified using chloroform-ethanol extraction and Sephadex G-75 gel filtration. 2. 2. A single, high specific-activity CA isozyme having a molecular weight of 29,000 was found. The enzyme sedimented as a single boundary at a sedimentation velocity of 2.9S. 3. 3. Amino acid analysis revealed a composition similar to other submammalian CAs with the exception that the cysteine content was low (1 mol cysteine/mol enzyme). 4. 4. Like other submammalian CAs, the presence of a sulfhydryl reducing agent was required to maintain full activity and to prevent structural changes in the enzyme.
The effects of social and health consequence framing on heavy drinking intentions among college students

OBJECTIVES: Many interventions targeting college student drinking have focused on negative health effects of drinking heavily; however, some research suggests that social factors may have a stronger influence on the drinking behaviour of young people. Moreover, few studies have examined message framing effects in the context of alcohol consumption. This study investigated the effects of social and health consequence framing on college students' intentions to engage in heavy drinking. DESIGN: This study used a 2 × 2 experimental design with an appended control condition. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four college students (74 women; Mage = 18.9) participated in this study for course credit. Participants read vignettes that were ostensibly written by a recent graduate from the university, who described an episode of drinking in which he or she experienced either social or health consequences. These consequences were framed as either a gain (i.e., positive consequences of not drinking heavily) or a loss (i.e., negative consequences of drinking heavily). After reading the vignette, participants completed a measure of heavy drinking intentions. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed that social consequences were associated with lower heavy drinking intentions when framed as a loss and that health consequences were associated with lower heavy drinking intentions when framed as a gain. These effects were stronger among those who reported higher (vs. lower) levels of previous drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that interventions that focus on the negative health effects of heavy drinking may be improved by instead emphasizing the negative social consequences of drinking heavily and the positive health consequences of avoiding this behaviour. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Previous studies have shown that gain frames are more effective than loss frames when highlighting the health consequences of health risk behaviours, such as heavy drinking. The heavy drinking behaviour of young people is influenced by social factors (e.g., perceived social consequences). However, little is known about framing effects for social consequences of heavy drinking. What does this study add? This study builds on previous research by demonstrating that a loss frame is more effective than a gain frame when highlighting the social consequences of health risk behaviour. Framing effects are strongest for those with more previous drinking experience. Language: en
A Fluid Salt-Bridging Cluster and the Stabilization of p53

p53 is a homotetrameric tumor suppressor protein that is found to be mutated in most human cancers. Some of these mutations, particularly mutations to R337, fall in the tetramerization domain and cause defects in tetramer formation leading to loss of function. Mutation to His at this site has been found to destabilize the tetramer in a pH-dependent fashion. In structures of the tetramerization domain determined by crystallography, R337 from one monomer makes a salt bridge with D352 from another monomer, apparently helping to stabilize the tetramer. Here we present molecular dynamics simulations of wild-type p53 and the R337His mutant at several different pH and salt conditions. We find that the 337-352 salt bridge is joined by two other charged side chains, R333 and E349. These four residues do not settle into a fixed pattern of salt bridging, but continue to exchange salt-bridging partners on the nanosecond time scale throughout the simulation. This unusual system of fluid salt bridging may explain the previous finding from alanine scanning experiments that R333 contributes significantly to protein stability, even though in the crystal structure it is extended outward into solvent. This extended conformation of R333 appears to be the result of a specific crystal contact and, this contact being absent in the simulation, R333 turns inward to join its interaction partners. When R337 is mutated to His but remains positively charged, it maintains the original interaction with D352, but the newly observed interaction with E349 is weakened, accounting for the reduced stability of R337H even under mildly acidic conditions. When this His is deprotonated, the interaction with D352 is also lost, accounting for the further destabilization observed under mildly alkaline conditions. Simulations were carried out using both explicit and implicit solvent models, and both displayed similar behavior of the fluid salt-bridging cluster, suggesting that implicit solvent models can capture at least the qualitative features of this phenomenon as well as explicit solvent. Simulations under strongly acidic conditions in implicit solvent displayed the beginnings of the unfolding process, a destabilization of the hydrophobic dimer-dimer interface. Computational alanine scanning using the molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area method showed significant correlation to experimental unfolding data for charged and polar residues, but much weaker correlation for hydrophobic residues.
Are women’s employment and fertility histories interdependent? An examination of causal order using event history analysis

Abstract The negative correlation between women’s employment and fertility is well documented. However, the causal nature of that relationship is not clearly understood. Does increased fertility decrease labor force participation? Or, does labor force participation decrease fertility? Or are both true? Data from the 1979–1994 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth are examined using event history analysis. Detailed part-time and full-time employment histories and time-sensitive measures of fertility are analyzed. Findings indicate that both pregnancy and the number of preschoolers hinder non-employed women’s entrance to the work force. While pregnancy has no effect on employed women’s hazard of exit, preschool children increase the hazard of labor force exit for full-time workers. Older children have the opposite effect: they encourage full-time employment. Older children decrease the likelihood that mothers will exit either part- or full-time employment and increase the likelihood that non-employed mothers will enter full-time employment. Finally, both part- and full-time employment reduce women’s hazard of pregnancy. Findings are consistent across racial and ethnic categories.
Wave equation Green's function approximations for nearly-planar half-planes and half-spaces

Abstract Studies of subsurface wave-scattering often rely on wave equation Green's functions for half-planes or half-spaces with plane surfaces. Small deviations from the planar are assumed to have negligible effect away from the surface. Based on extensively-developed perturbation schemes, this article gives analytical first-order approximations for 2D and 3D wave equation Green's functions in the interiors of respectively, half-planes and half-spaces by two approaches. The first approach involves a boundary perturbation, while the second approach invokes a coordinate transformation leading to a perturbation of the governing equations themselves. The cases of, respectively, the functions and their normal derivatives vanishing on the surface are treated. Some numerical results for specific examples are presented and discussed.
Laparoscopic-assisted colon surgery by abdominal wall lifting with newly developed lifting bars

Background: The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic-assisted colon surgery by lifting the abdominal wall with newly developed lifting bars. Methods: We have made and used two kinds of lifting bars: type I and type T. Two I-type lifting bars are used in transverse colectomy and right hemicolectomy. One I-type lifting bar and one T-type bar are used in sigmoid colectomy and low anterior resection. After the intestine is dissected and the mesenterium is treated under laparoscopy, a small laparotomy wound about 4 to 6 cm long is made, and the intestine is pulled out of the body for extracorporeal anastomosis. Results: The mean operating time was 153.8 ± 51.9 min, and no particular complications were noted. Conclusions: Since postoperative pain is mild and postoperative recovery is rapid, this method is considered to be an effective surgical procedure.
Sensitization of TRAIL-resistant LNCaP cells by resveratrol (3, 4', 5 tri-hydroxystilbene): molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential

We have previously shown that prostate cancer LNCaP cells are resistant to TRAIL, and downregulation of PI-3K/Akt pathway by molecular and pharmacological means sensitizes cells to undergo apoptosis by TRAIL and curcumin. The purpose of this study was to examine the molecular mechanisms by which resveratrol sensitized TRAIL-resistant LNCaP cells. Resveratrol inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in androgen-dependent LNCaP cells, but had no effect on normal human prostate epithelial cells. Resveratrol upregulated the expression of Bax, Bak, PUMA, Noxa, Bim, TRAIL-R1/DR4 and TRAIL-R2/DR5, and downregulated the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, survivin and XIAP. Treatment of LNCaP cells with resveratrol resulted in generation of reactive oxygen species, translocation of Bax and p53 to mitochondria, subsequent drop in mitochondrial membrane potential, release of mitochondrial proteins (cytochrome c, AIF, Smac/DIABLO and Omi/HtrA2), activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 and induction of apoptosis. The ability of resveratrol to sensitize TRAIL-resistant LNCaP cells was inhibited by dominant negative FADD, caspase-8 siRNA or N-acetyl cysteine. Smac siRNA inhibited resveratrol-induced apoptosis, whereas Smac N7 peptide induced apoptosis and enhanced the effectiveness of resveratrol. Resveratrol either alone or in combination with TRAIL or Smac can be used for the prevention and/or treatment of human prostate cancer.
Overexpression of CXCR4 in primary tumor of patients with HER-2 negative breast cancer was predictive of a poor disease-free survival: a validation study.

Although HER-2 negative tumors are thought to be less aggressive than their counterpart, there is a subset that behaves poorly. The molecular mechanism to account for this is unknown. The chemokine receptor CXCR4 is often upregulated in a wide array of cancers. Using a training dataset, we previously reported that high CXCR4 overexpression portends a poor outcome among patients with HER-2 negative breast tumors. This study aims to validate these findings, using our validation dataset. There were 115 patients with stages I–III, HER-2 negative breast cancers who were prospectively accrued and analyzed. CXCR4 levels from primary tumors were detected using Western blots, and results were quantified against 1 μg of HeLa cells. CXCR4 expression was defined as low (<6.6 fold) or high (≥6.6 fold). Primary endpoint was cancer recurrence. Statistical analysis performed included Spearman correlation, Fisher exact test, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, Cox proportional hazard ratio model, and log-rank test. There were 13 patients in the high (≥6.6 fold) and 102 patients in the low CXCR4 group (<6.6 fold). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) for the cohort was 84 and 71%, respectively. The 5-year OS for the high CXCR4 group was 52% and for the low CXCR4 group was 86% (P = 0.08). The 5-year DFS for the high CXCR4 and low CXCR4 group was 38 and 74%, respectively (P = 0.01). We validated that high CXCR4 overexpression in primary tumors of patients with HER-2 negative tumors portend a poor outcome. These findings should be confirmed with either a prospective clinical trial and/or an external validation study.
Effect of Age and Other Factors on Maximal Heart Rate

Abstract In an attempt to reduce the confusion regarding reported effects of age upon maximal exercise heart rate (HR max), a comprehensive review of the English literature was conducted to obtain descriptive statistical data representing over 23,000 independent subjects from 5 to 81 years old. The data were split randomly into two data sets for independent regression analyses. HR max was the dependent variable while independent variables include: age, age2, age3, age4, sex, level of fitness, type of ergometer, exercise protocol, continent of residence, and race. After cross validation the data were pooled and reanalyzed. Additional validation was accomplished on identifiable subsets of the data, e.g., cross sectional, longitudinal, training, comparative ergometry, and comparative sex studies. Results identified negative linear and non-linear age factors, an ergometry factor, a fitness factor and a continent factor. Age accounted for about 70–75% of the variability. Generalized equations were proposed. Ev...
Isolation and characterization of a novel acid degradation impurity of Amlodipine Besylate using Q-TOF, NMR, IR and single crystal X-ray

Forced degradation of Amlodipine Besylate (AMD) in acidic condition gave rise to a potential unknown impurity. This unknown acid degradation product (ADP) was evaluated using a new-reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), where it was eluted at 1.24 relative retention time to AMD peak. ADP was isolated using preparative HPLC from degradation mixture. Later, structure of ADP was elucidated using high resolution MS, multidimensional NMR and FTIR spectroscopic techniques, and characterized as ethyl-6-(2-chlorophenyl)-8-methyl-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]oxazine-5-carboxylate. The presence of ADP recemic mixture was confirmed by polarimeter and chiral HPLC. Given the complexity associated with ADP generation, single crystal X-ray crystallography technique was used to confirm proposed structure. In addition, reaction mechanism was postulated and confirmed using computational chemistry. To our knowledge, it is a novel impurity and not reported elsewhere.
The Sarah Murnaghan debacle: A health policy perspective on transplant candidate selection

Bruce has offered an interesting perspective on the “case of Sarah Murnaghan.” She focuses on 2 issues: transplant candidate selection criteria and the process by which potential transplant candidates are selected. She concludes that, “transplant selection committees may be vulnerable to groupthink.” If Bruce were to test her hypothesis by observing a series of patient selection committee meetings, she would more likely find controversy based on differing opinions than consensus induced by groupthink. However, in the meantime, while she makes the necessary arrangements, I would like to take this opportunity to offer Bruce a detailed health policy perspective on transplant candidate selection. Transplant candidate selection has been, and always will be, controversial. The ultimate goal is to maximize outcomes while minimizing costs, thus assuring scarce medical resources are deployed cost-effectively. This essentially utilitarian perspective must be tempered by the fact that patients in need of a transplant should also have an equal opportunity of receiving one. Unfortunately, reality is often troublesome. This duality of purpose—balancing utility and equity—is difficult to achieve at the individual patient-level. The entire Sarah Murnaghan affair was an exceptionally obtuse health policy debacle engendered by appalling legal proceedings that placed one identifiable patient’s interests ahead of other patients similarly situated, but who lacked the necessary legal and political clout to compromise an organ distribution system that best represents broader societal interests. Furthermore, the entire fiasco violated the aforementioned principles of equity and utility. Therefore, in my opinion, and contrary to Bruce, no lessons were learned from this charade, which merely underscored the fact that the donor organ supply is insufficient to meet demand, let alone need. Furthermore,
Bipolar radiofrequency plasma ablation (Coblation) of lymphatic malformations of the tongue.

Summary Objective To describe the removal of lymphatic malformations of the tongue using bipolar radiofrequency plasma ablation. Methods We report a retrospective case series at a tertiary care academic children’s hospital. Three children with lymphatic malformations of the tongue causing symptomatic pain, bleeding and difficulty eating were treated with bipolar radiofrequency plasma ablation (Coblation). Two children had previously undergone wide local excision, both of whom experienced rapid multifocal recurrences. Using the bipolar radiofrequency plasma ablation wand, each lymphatic malformation was ablated to the submucosal surface of the tongue. In all three children, healing occurred by secondary intention. Results All three children were able to resume a regular diet and were discharged from the hospital by post-operative day 1. After a minimum 6 months follow-up, none of the lesions have recurred and none have required additional treatment. One child has a palpable scar in the central portion of the tongue, where the previous wide local excision had been closed with sutures. She remains asymptomatic without complaints. There were no complications in any child. Conclusions Bipolar radiofrequency plasma ablation (Coblation) may provide a safe, simple and effective technique for removal of lymphatic malformations of the tongue in children.
Resistive transition in two-dimensional arrays of superconducting weak links

We present results of measurements on large arrays of PbBi/Cu proximity-effect junctions. Extrapolation of the critical current measured at low temperature to the region at and above ${T}_{c}$ allows us to describe the initial drop in resistance by a simple model of the proximity effect, and also to define an appropriate effective temperature $\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{T}\ensuremath{\cong}\frac{{E}_{J}({T}_{c})T}{{E}_{J}(T)}$ for describing the vortex-unbinding transition. Nonlinear $I\ensuremath{-}V$ curves above ${T}_{c}$ are described by a crossover function whose form is consistent with the theory of Halperin and Nelson.
Increased neurovirulence of polytropic mouse retroviruses delivered by inoculation of brain with infected neural stem cells.

Following intraperitoneal (IP) inoculation of neonatal mice, the polytropic recombinant murine leukemia virus (MuLV), Fr98, induces a severe brain disease characterized by ataxia, seizures and death. In contrast, no apparent clinical neurological disease is seen after IP infection with Fr54, a polytropic MuLV differing from Fr98 in its envelope gene sequences. In the brain both Fr98 and Fr54 infect primarily capillary endothelial cells and microglia. However, the level of microglial infection by Fr98 is twofold higher than by Fr54, which might account for the difference in neurovirulence. In the present study, in order to test directly whether an increase in the number of microglia infected by Fr54 would be sufficient to induce clinical disease, we attempted to increase the level of Fr54 in the brain by changing the route of infection. After intraventricular inoculation with Fr54-infected neural stem cells (clone C17.2), a well-established vehicle for delivery of viruses and genes to the brain, mice became ataxic and died 4 weeks postinfection. In these mice induction of brain disease was correlated with a higher level of viral antigen in the cerebrum and an increase in the number of infected microglial cells in all brain regions examined compared with mice inoculated IP. In contrast, mice inoculated with neural stem cells infected with an ecotropic nonneurovirulent murine leukemia virus, FB29, developed no clinical disease in spite of evidence for widespread infection of microglia in brain. Since the main differences between Fr54 and FB29 are in the SU (gp70) region of the envelope gene, this region is most likely to account for the differences in induction of CNS disease seen in the current experiments.
The applications of atomic force microscopy to vision science

The atomic force microscope (AFM) is widely used in materials science and has found many applications in biological sciences but has been limited in use in vision science. The AFM can be used to image the topography of soft biological materials in their native environments. It can also be used to probe the mechanical properties of cells and extracellular matrices, including their intrinsic elastic modulus and receptor-ligand interactions. In this review, the operation of the AFM is described along with a review of how it has been thus far used in vision science. It is hoped that this review will serve to stimulate vision scientists to consider incorporating AFM as part of their research toolkit.
Racial differences in attitudes toward crime control

Utilizing National Opinion Research Center (NORC) data from 1980 through 1986, this research examined the connection between race and attitudes toward crime. Using simple cross tabulation, the authors looked for racial differences in attitudes toward court harshness, use of wiretaps, support of gun control, and government spending to control crime and drug abuse. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to discover the extent that race, rather than socioeconomic, sociological, political, or demographic variables, explains differences between the attitudes of Blacks and whites toward crime. Differences in reported gun ownership were also researched. The authors found some convergence between attitudes of Blacks and whites toward crime since 1980. Bivariate analysis found statistically significant differences between the attitudes of Blacks and whites for all dependent variables, but in the multivariate analysis race was a significant factor only on attitudes toward court harshness and use of wiretaps once other factors were controlled. The authors discuss some theoretical and policy implications of their findings.
A SUB‐SURFACE STRENGTHENING MODEL FOR A NON‐PROPAGATING FATIGUE CRACK IN MARTENSITIC–FERRITIC STEEL

Microcrack growth in a ferrite grain in a two phase martensitic–ferritic steel was studied. A local deformation parameter, the unzipping crack increment, can be used to characterize crack tip deformation and crack growth rate. The microcrack growth behavior is interpreted in terms of the calculated unzipping crack increment.
A 1900MHz-band GSM-based clock-harvesting receiver with −87dBm sensitivity

A 0.13µm CMOS clock-harvesting receiver is presented which extracts a 21Hz clock embedded within the GSM standard for the wake-up of a wireless sensor network. In active mode, the receiver achieves −87dBm sensitivity with 57µs of jitter at the output while consuming 126µW. The receiver is optimized for heavy duty-cycling with a sleep-mode power consumption of only 81pW.