cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel continuous stitch fundoplication utilizing knotless barbed suture in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease: A pilot study

Abstract Introduction The intracorporeal placement and tying of suture (IT) can be challenging leading to prolonged CO 2 insufflation, anesthesia, and potential morbidity. The unidirectional barbed knotless suture (V-LOC) has emerged as an innovative technology that has been shown to reduce the time associated with IT. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis comparing our initial experience utilizing V-LOC to perform a novel continuous stitch laparoscopic fundoplication (CF) to standard laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (NF). Methods Institutional review board approval was obtained to analyze data on patients who underwent V-LOC CF and NF. Data retrieval included age, gender, weight, diagnosis, procedure, operative time, major complications (reoperation for wrap failure/migration or recurrent symptoms), and follow up. Results Twenty patients underwent the V-LOC CF and gastrostomy placement (GT) from January to October 2013. Seventeen patients underwent NF and GT from March 2012 to February 2013. There were no significant differences in age, weight, or incidence of major complications. V-LOC CF led to a significant 30% reduction in operative time compared to NF (79.1±24.2min vs. 113.8±25.9min, respectively, P Conclusions This is the first report documenting the continuous stitch fundoplication utilizing the unidirectional barbed knotless suture in children. Although follow-up is short, the V-LOC CF appears to be a safe and effective technique that may reduce operative time in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease. This technology may be beneficial in other minimally invasive applications in pediatric surgery.
CNDO Calculations of the g tensors and spin densities of small paramagnetic sulfur-containing anions on magnesium oxide

Abstract Using a CNDO semiempirical calculation principal values of g tensors and spin densities have been determined for the sulfur-containing molecules SO 2 − . SSO − , S 3 − , SCO − , and CS 2 − ,as well as CO 2 − . Bond angles and bond lengths were varied independently. The calculated values were compared with the experimentally determined values for the ions formed on the surface of magnesium oxide. Good agreement was achieved between the calculated and experimental g values: the former was often within experimental error. For SO 2 − , S 3 − , and SCO − the agreement was unique for a particular bond angle and bond length, thus providing a means of estimating the geometric structure for these paramagnetic ions. For S 2 O − , CS 2 − ,and CO 2 − several structures gave acceptable g values. Where possible, agreement between spin densities in the respective atomic orbitals was used as a secondary criterion to select the best structure. According to the calculations the d -orbital contribution to the total spin density never exceeded 11%.
SU(3) SYMMETRY-BREAKING INTERACTIONS.

It is proposed that all symmetry-breaking interactions ${H}^{i}$ are of the current-current form, and a calculational method suitable for obtaining sum rules is developed. The method essentially is to express the matrix elements of ${H}^{i}$ in terms of the matrix elements of the double commutator of ${H}^{i}$ with $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ generators. When the method is combined with the technique of reducing a pion, it can be shown that the $S$-wave amplitudes of both the triangle relation and the Lee-Sugawara relation of nonleptonic decays correspond to sum rules of photonic decay amplitudes and semileptonic decay amplitudes of hyperons.
Indirect Service Delivery Through Consultation: Review and Implications for Early Intervention

Consultation as a form of indirect service delivery is defined and its theoretical bases are discussed. Literature drawn from school psychology, counseling psychology, organizational theory, and special education is reviewed as regards three types of variables: input, process, and outcome. Barriers to the effective practice of consultation and implications for early intervention programming are discussed. Effective indirect service delivery through consultation requires specialized training for all staff involved and may increase opportunities for children with disabilities to receive early intervention in integrated settings.
Regions of Diversity 8, 9 and 13 contribute to Streptococcus pneumoniae virulence

Background Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia. Previously, using comparative genomic analyses, 13 regions of genomic plasticity have been identified in the S. pneumoniae genome. These "Regions of Diversity" (RDs) accounted for half the genomic variation observed amongst all pneumococci tested, moreover, were determined to encode a variety of putative virulence factors. To date, genes within 5 RDs have been unequivocally demonstrated to contribute to S. pneumoniae virulence. It is unknown if the remaining RDs also contribute to virulence.
The logic of indexicals

Since Kaplan (J Philos Logic 8(1): 81–98, 1979) first provided a logic for context-sensitive expressions, it has been thought that the only way to construct a logic for indexicals is to restrict it to arguments which take place in a single context— that is, instantaneous arguments, uttered by a single speaker, in a single place, etc. In this paper, I propose a logic which does away with these restrictions, and thus places arguments where they belong, in real world conversations. The central innovation is that validity depends not just on the sentences in the argument, but also on certain abstract relations between contexts. This enrichment of the notion of logical form leads to some seemingly counter-intuitive results: a sequence of sentences may make up a valid argument in one sequence of contexts, and an invalid one in another such sequence. I argue that this is an unavoidable result of context sensitivity in general, and of the nature of indexicals in particular, and that reflection on such examples will lead us to a better understanding of the idea of applying logic to context sensitive expressions, and thus to natural language in general.
Does general manager networking affect choice of trade partners in major league baseball

It is not unusual for baseball general managers (GMs) to have network ties to their potential trading partners, either to the other teams’ GMs or to the teams themselves. This article investigates ...
Low Bone Mineral Density in Adolescents with β-Thalassemia

The pervasiveness of low bone mass (LBM) in beta-thalassemia (Thal) patients (pts) is escalating as the average life expectancy of these pts increases. Adolescence is a period of substantial bone accrual, which is crucial for future bone strength. Studies of LBM are prevalent among adults with Thal. However, limited information exists about bone accrual and LBM in adolescents with the disease. Thirty-one pts with beta-Thal (26 Thal major [TM], 5 Thal intermedia [TI]), aged 9-20 years (mean: 15.3 years), 14 males and 17 females, underwent measurement of spinal bone mineral density (BMD) by DEXA (Lunar, Prodigy). Height, weight, body mass index, and Tanner stage were assessed at the time of the BMD measurement. A total of 16.1% of the patients had normal bone mass (Z > or = -1), 22.6% had reduced bone mass (Z = -1 to -2), and 61.3% had low bone mass (Z < or = -2). BMD Z correlated with height and weight Z scores. Some 53.9% of subjects had normal gonadal function and 46.1% had induced puberty with gonadal steroids. BMD Z significantly worsened with age (P < .0001). However, there was no difference in the LBM prevalence between subjects with normal versus those with induced puberty: BMD Z was -2 or less in 71.4% of subjects with normal puberty versus 66.7% in those with induced puberty. Our results indicate a high prevalence of LBM among adolescents with Thal regardless of adequate transfusion and chelation regimens. Bone accrual was found to be suboptimal in adolescents with normal or induced puberty. Thus, calcium and vitamin D supplementation with antiresorptive therapies should be evaluated in the adolescent Thal pt with close monitoring of growth and sexual development.
The relationship between sexual orientation and risk for suicide: research findings and future directions for research and prevention.

Abstract This paper reviews evidence for a link between suicide or suicidal behavior and sexual orientation by (1) reviewing studies of the rates of completed and attempted suicides for gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) people compared to the general population; (2) examining risk factors that might explain any differences; (3) outlining opportunities for prevention; and (4) providing directions for future research. Studies suggest an elevated risk of suicide attempts among some cohorts of GLB people, particularly GLB youth. Evidence is also strong that GLB youth are at high risk for associated maladaptive risk behaviors. Mental health problems and substance abuse disorders are critical predisposing factors for GLB suicide, as for the general populations. Future prevention research should he guided by a model that incorporates both risk and resilience factors among GLB persons.
Sensing charateristics of RNA oligomer coated SWNT gas sensors

In this paper, we investigated RNA base dependent gas sensing characteristics using single-stranded RNA (ss-RNA) decorated single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) devices. SWNTs were placed on to Au microelectrodes by a low temperature and low cost Dielectrophoretic assembly process. Four homo ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequences and four repeated RNA sequences were coated on to SWNTs and the corresponding changes in SWNT nanosensor behavior were explored. These RNA-SWNT devices function as Chemi-resistors where resistance change in response to vapors of methanol and IPA were measured. RNA decoration was found to improve the response of SWNTs to vapors of methanol and IPA significantly. The sensing response of homo RNA decorated SWNTs followed the trend: C > G > U > A for methanol and G > C > U > A for IPA. The sensing response of repeated base RNA coated SWNTs followed the trend: GU > AG > AC > CU for methanol and GU > AC > AG > CU for IPA. These dramatic differences in sensing characteristics of RNA-SWNTs provide new insights both to the binding affinities of RNA oligomers on SWNTs and to the formation of stable 3D structures by ss-RNAs on carbon nanotubes. These findings demonstrate a potential for controlling sensing specificity of RNA functionalized SWNT sensors for chemical and biological detection.
Implications of Food Web Interactions for Restoration of Missouri Ozark Glade Habitats

Ozark glades are gaps in forested areas that are dominated by grasses and forbs growing in rocky, nutrient-poor soil. Historically, these open, patchy habitats were maintained by natural and anthropogenic fire cycles that prohibited tree encroachment. However, because of decades of fire suppression, glades have become overgrown by fire-intolerant species such as Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). Current restoration practices include cutting down invasive cedars and burning brush piles, which represent habitat for Northern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus). Because Sceloporus actively consumes herbivores, we hypothesized that the presence of these lizards in and around brush piles might result in a trophic cascade, whereby damage on native plants is reduced. Field surveys across six Missouri glades indicated that lizard activity was minimal beyond 1 m from habitat structures. This activity pattern reduced grasshopper abundance by 75% and plant damage by over 66% on Echinacea paradoxa and Rudbeckia missouriensis near structures with lizards. A field transplant experiment demonstrated similar reductions in grasshopper abundance and damage on two other glade endemic species, Aster oblongifolius and Schizachyrium scoparium. These results demonstrate that future glade restoration efforts might benefit from considering top-down effects of predators in facilitating native plant establishment.
RNA Editing and Human Disorders

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) editing can be broadly defined as any process that changes the sequence of an RNA molecule in a way that could be encoded within the genome. These small, targeted changes at the RNA level can have profound effects on gene expression. Such programmed alterations can be controlled in a tissue-specific or developmentally regulated fashion, providing an alternative means of augmenting the information encoded within the genome. In mammalian cells, cytidine to uridine (C to U) and adenosine to inosine (A to I) changes have been observed in both coding and noncoding sequences, including microRNAs, and dysregulation has been linked to disease states. Editing enzymes are often essential, and can act on viral, as well as cellular RNAs. Some human pathogens utilise additional forms of RNA editing for gene expression; these forms of editing provide potential therapeutic targets. Key Concepts: RNA editing is a means of generating genetic diversity that is far more flexible than simply encoding information at the genomic level. Editing is regulated both developmentally and spatially, and dysregulation can have serious consequences. Most editing events in humans fall outside of coding regions; the functional consequences of many of these changes are still being elucidated, but will likely be far-reaching. Editing can impact the function of noncoding RNAs, including those involved in RNA silencing. RNA editing can have both antiviral and proviral effects. Keywords: base substitutions; gene expression; nucleotide insertion; modification; RNA editing
IMPROVING RISK ASSESSMENT FOR NONTARGET SAFETY OF TRANSGENIC CROPS

In many countries, government regulations require environmental risk as- sessment prior to commercial sale and widespread planting of transgenic crops. Here I evaluate the design and statistical rigor of experiments used by industry to assess the safety of transgenic plants for nontarget organisms, as required under U.S. regulations. This review reveals that a few simple improvements in experimental design could greatly increase the rigor and information content of studies required under current regulations. For example, although most experiments were conducted for 1-4 wk, some of the tested species can live a year or more and could experience much longer periods of exposure. Moreover, the number of replicates used in these studies was generally quite small (usually 2-6 replicates per treatment), resulting in experiments that had little chance of detecting real effects. Clearly, sample sizes should be bolstered, and nonsignificant results should be accompanied by an analysis of statistical power. In addition, information readily available over the Internet is insufficient for a quantitative assessment of a transgenic crop's safety. Improved access to information regarding the details of risk assessment studies could greatly increase the public's ability to evaluate industry's claims of safety.
Oceanographic Laboratories, University of Washington

The work of the Laboratories is conducted in three places: The main Laboratory situated on the shore of Lake Union on the University Campus; the Laboratory situated at Friday Harbor, Washington, which is on San Juan Island about eighty miles north of Seattle and east of Victoria, British Columbia; and on board the Laboratory research-boat, the Catalyst. The Laboratory at Seattle is in operation during the entire year. The Laboratory at Friday Harbor is in partial operation during the entire year but serves largely as a summer laboratory and as a base for the summer operation of the research-boat. This Laboratory, in addition to serving the needs of the staff and our students, has been used by many visiting scientists from different parts of the United States and Canada. Research is carried on in physics, chemistry, zoology, bacteriology, and botany. Following are some of the general activities in which the Laboratories were engaged during March 1, 1933 to March 1, 1934.
Poetic Expressions: Students of Color Express Resiliency Through Metaphors and Similes

The after-school City School Outreach youth program captured the attention of high school male students by offering them a physically and psychologically safe environment to talk about issues they faced. The students of color who attended the program used various forms of creative written expression (i.e., poetry, spoken word, and hip hop) to document and share their lived realities as African American and Latino youth. An analysis of their writings and subsequent interviews revealed a variety of coping strategies and resources that these resilient adolescent males of color used to transcend adversity in their environment. When adolescent males of color have a strong sense of cultural pride and awareness, they are able to construct a healthy self-concept that assists them in acts of agency and resistance against negative psychological forces in their environment. These students used familial and nonfamilial support mechanisms, such as peers, church, and mentors, to assist them in reducing the stressful im...
Documentation of selected constructs and parameter values in the aquatic model cleaner

Abstract Process representations critical to the phytoplankton and zooplankton submodels are described. These include constructs for: light- and nutrient-limitations and their interaction, temperature, consumption, and population-age structure. Values for key parameters are documented with reference to the literature on aquatic ecology and ecological modelling. Time-course relationships of the processes affecting the phytoplankton, zooplankton, phosphorus and nitrogen compartments are presented and discussed. These serve as additional documentation and are an important result of modelling synthesis.
Frequency dependence of spike timing reliability in cortical pyramidal cells and interneurons.

Pyramidal cells and interneurons in rat prefrontal cortical slices exhibit subthreshold oscillations when depolarized by constant current injection. For both types of neurons, the frequencies of th...
Interactions of 1D- and 2D-layered inorganic nanoparticles with fibroblasts and human mesenchymal stem cells

Aim: This study investigates the effects of tungsten disulfide nanotubes (WSNTs) and molybdenum disulfide nanoplatelets (MSNPs) on fibroblasts (NIH-3T3) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to determine safe dosages for potential biomedical applications. Materials & methods: Cytotoxicity of MSNPs and WSNTs (5–300 μg/ml) on NIH-3T3 and MSCs was assessed at 6, 12 or 24 h. MSC differentiation to adipocytes and osteoblasts was assessed following treatment for 24 h. Results: Only NIH-3T3 cells treated with MSNPs showed dose or time dependent increase in cytotoxicity. Differentiation markers of MSCs in treated groups were unaffected compared with untreated controls. Conclusion: MSNPs and WSNTs at concentrations less than 50 µg/ml are potentially safe for treatment of fibroblasts or MSCs for up to 24 h.
Inflammatory biomarkers in saliva: assessing the strength of association of diabetes mellitus and periodontal status with the oral inflammatory burden.

Aim To determine the strength of association of type 2 diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease with the oral inflammatory burden, as assessed by markers of inflammation in saliva. Material and Methods Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 192 subjects with or without type 2 diabetes. β-glucuronidase (βG) was measured via a fluorometric array and interlukin-1β (IL-1β) via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentration of both mediators was evaluated in relationship to clinical parameters, severity of periodontal disease and diabetes status. Results Regression analysis demonstrated that diabetes and periodontal disease was independently and positively correlated with increased concentration of βG in saliva (p < 0.001). Moreover, the relative association of periodontal disease with the level of βG in saliva was greater than the strength of association of the diabetic status. IL-1β concentration in saliva was primarily associated with the severity of periodontal disease (p < 0.01), but not the presence of diabetes (p = 0.50). Conclusions This study examined the nature of the inflammatory response in the oral cavity as assessed by inflammatory markers in saliva. Both periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus were independently associated with the oral inflammatory burden, in which the effect of periodontal disease was more pronounced.
PV Optics: a software package for solar cell and module design

PV Optics is a user-friendly software package developed to design and analyze solar cells and modules. It is applicable to a variety of optical structures, including thin and thick cells with light-trapping structures and metal optics. Using a combination of wave and ray optics to include effects of coherence and interference, it can be used to design single-junction and multijunction solar cells and modules. This paper describes some basic applications of PV Optics for crystalline and amorphous Si solar cell design. We present examples to examine the effects on solar cell performance of wafer thickness, antireflection coating thickness, texture height, and metal loss.
Blue Light Induces Phosphorylation at Seryl Residues on a Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Plasma Membrane Protein.

We have partially characterized the blue-light-stimulated in vitro phosphorylation of a membrane protein from etiolated Pisum sativum L. stems. Properties of the response have implicated its involvement in signal transduction of phototropic stimuli (T.W. Short, W.R. Briggs [1990] Plant Physiol 92: 179–185; P. Reymond, T.W. Short, W.R. Briggs [1992] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 4718–4721). Analysis of proteolysis products and phosphoamino acidanalysis indicate that the substrate protein is phosphorylated on multiple seryl residues. Kinetics of the in vitro reaction show phosphorylation to be complete within 2 to 5 min at 30[deg]C in either light-exposed or dark-control plasma membrane preparations, regardless of whether the membranes were first solubilized in Triton X-100. Nucleotide competition assays show the kinase to be ATP specific. The pH optimum covers a broad range with a maximum near 7.5. A wide array of salts inhibits the phosphorylation at high concentrations, but millimolar concentrations of Mg2+ are required to form Mg.ATP complexes for maximal activity, whereas excess free Mg2+ or Ca2+ are not required for the reaction.
Impact of gate resistance on RF performance of fully depleted SOI MOSFET

We demonstrate that a metal T-gate can significantly lower the gate resistance and improve the RF performance in fully depleted SOI (FDSOI) MOSFETs. FETs with various combinations of number of gate fingers and finger width are compared, and the results show that T-gate provides increased layout flexibility. The effects of the gate resistance on the RF performance are studied and a simplified distributed-gate model is presented to improve the accuracy of the BSIM model for RF circuit simulations.
Inhibition of glycine synthase by branched-chain α-keto acids: A possible mechanism for abnormal glycine metabolism in ketotic hyperglycinemia

Abstract The effect of various amino acid metabolites on glycine oxidation by rat liver homogenate was investigated. Three compounds, α-ketoisovaleric acid, α-ketoisocaproic acid, and α-keto-β-methylvaleric acid, were found to inhibit glycine oxidation by 40–60%. In addition, these compounds also inhibited the glycine-CO 2 exchange reaction, a partial reaction of glycine synthase. The reverse reaction, glycine synthesis, was stimulated 4-fold by these α-keto acids. Pyruvate and α-ketoglutarate had no effect on any of these reactions. The parent amino acids, valine, isoleucine, and leucine, also had no effect on the reactions nor did any of their other metabolites with the exception of the branched-chain α-keto acids. The concentration dependence of the inhibition of glycine oxidation and stimulation of glycine synthesis by these branched-chain α-keto acids suggested that the inhibition of glycine oxidation by these compounds was the result of their further oxidation by branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase. However, the products of the branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase, isobutyryl CoA, isovaleryl CoA, or α-methylbutyryl CoA had no effect on glycine oxidation. Thus, it appeared that either the branched-chain α-keto acids altered glycine oxidation by direct binding to glycine synthase or that electrons derived from the oxidation of branched-chain α-keto acids were transferred to the glycine synthase system. It is proposed that glycine synthase and branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase either share a common subunit, possibly lipoamide dehydrogenase, or are so arranged on the mitochondrial membrane that electron transfer between these two enzymes occurs.
Signals and Switches in Mammalian Neural Crest Cell Differentiation

Neural crest cells (NCCs) comprise a multipotent, migratory cell population that generates a diverse array of cell and tissue types during vertebrate development. These include cartilage and bone, tendons, and connective tissue, as well as neurons, glia, melanocytes, and endocrine and adipose cells; this remarkable lineage potential persists into adult life. Taken together with a limited capacity for self-renewal, neural crest cells bear the hallmarks of stem and progenitor cells and are considered to be synonymous with vertebrate evolution. The neural crest has provided a system for exploring the mechanisms that govern developmental processes such as morphogenetic induction, cell migration, and fate determination. Today, much of the focus on neural crest cells revolves around their stem cell-like characteristics and potential for use in regenerative medicine. A thorough understanding of the signals and switches that govern mammalian neural crest patterning is central to potential therapeutic application of these cells and better appreciation of the role that neural crest cells play in vertebrate evolution, development, and disease.
Maturation increases early reproductive investment in Adélie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae

Correlations between female investment in egg production and age, breeding experience and laying date have been reported in several seabird species. In general, clutch and egg sizes increase with female age and breeding experience but decrease with laying date. Positive correlations of clutch and egg size with age and breeding experience can be caused by an increase in reproductive investment with maturation or they may be an artefact of lower survival rates for individuals with poor-quality phenotypes. Negative correlations of clutch and egg size with laying date might signal an adaptive reduction in egg production or be due in part to variation among individuals. We examined the interactions of female age, breeding experience, laying date and clutch and egg size in Adelie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae. Breeding experience strongly affected clutch size with 87.3% of all one-egg clutches laid by first-time breeders. In addition, increasing age had a positive influence on egg size and was associated with earlier laying dates. However, there was little evidence to suggest that either clutch or egg sizes are influenced by laying date. Laying dates and clutch and egg sizes did not affect a female’s probability of returning to breed in the following year, indicating that increased investment is a product of maturation and not of the loss of poor-quality breeders from the population. Our results suggest that as female Adelie Penguins gain foraging and breeding experience they are able to initiate breeding earlier, to lay complete clutches of two eggs and to lay larger eggs.
The Role of Interleukin-6 in Certain Age-Related Diseases

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with a wide range of functions. Perhaps the most important physiologically is its role as a mediator of the acute phase inflammatory response. Normally, there is little measurable IL-6 in the circulation, but levels increase abruptly to nanogram amounts during an inflammatory process. During aging, it has been proposed that the tight regulation of IL-6 gene expression becomes less effective and levels are measurable even when there is no evidence for inflammation. Several investigators have identified this cytokine as being involved in the pathogenesis of various disease processes and we have suggested that certain age-associated diseases are directly related. Among these are late-life lymphoma and myeloma, osteoporosis and possibly Alzheimer’s disease.
Beyond Boserup: Cameroonian Agroforestry Systems in Space and Time

Shifting cultivation is the primary means of livelihood for subsistence farmers in the Congo Basin of central Africa. This agroforestry system, which depends on long periods of forest-fallow to maintain soil fertility as well as for the provision of non-wood forest products, is under pressure as populations increase. Where long fallows are no longer possible, productivity declines in the absence of input substitution or the forest frontier is pushed further back as new land is brought into the rotation. Conversely, where the system is in equilibrium the landscape is characterized by a dynamically stable mosaic of land use that provides an adequate rural livelihood. The landscape and household level impacts of shifting cultivation and ex ante assessment of alternative agroforestry systems are best captured by a model that accounts for spatial and temporal factors. To do so requires an approach that explicitly accounts for the differing relative importance of various economic (e.g., fallow type and soil fertility) and non-economic (e.g., proximity to other fields and protection of land use rights) decision criteria in the household's choice of location to cultivate in any one year. This paper outlines an approach to soliciting this information, discusses the implications of the decision criteria for land use intensification and uses them to model household decision-making in a way that effectively simulates the spatial and dynamic mosaic of land use characteristic of shifting cultivation. Not only are non-economic decision criteria important in land use decisions in general, they also have a significant impact on land use intensification. In fact, the research described here demonstrates that both household-specific preferences and household-specific initial conditions can lead to intensification of land use apart from intensification that arises due to increasing population density a la Boserup (1965).
An Equilibrium Theory of Galactic Isopleths

In the original classification system of galaxies given by Hubble1, the optical morphology of elliptical galaxies was described in terms of a single ellipticity parameter, E = 10 (major axis — minor axis)/(major axis), which ranged from zero through approximately seven for the observed sample. The upper limit of ellipticity, together with the ages of these galaxies (population II stars) could be interpreted readily in terms of equilibrium bodies of rotation. Although Hubble2 anticipated a hypothetical transition class, SO, of galaxies between the ellipticals (E galaxies) and the spiral galaxies, with ellipticities greater than or equal to seven, these were not found until the photographic survey of the nearby galaxies (1936–50).
Object-Oriented Programming without Inheritance (Invited Talk)

Object-oriented programming is often characterized as encapsulation plus polymorphism plus inheritance. The original Simula67 demonstrated that we could do without encapsulation and Kristen Nygaard insisted that some OOP could be done without inheritance. I present generic programming as providing encapsulation plus polymorphism. In C++, this view is directly supported by language facilities, such as classes, templates and (only recently) concepts. I show a range of type-and-resource-safe techniques covering a wide range of applications including containers, algebraic concepts, and numerical and non-numerical algorithms.
Methodological Issues in Cross-Sectional and Panel Estimates of the HR-Firm Performance Link

Because companies differ in factors such as management ability that may lead to both high performance work systems and enhanced firm performance, conventional estimates of the effects of human resource (HR) management practices on firm performance may be biased upward. Alternatively, if HR management practices are measured with error, estimates of their effects on firm performance may be biased downward. We find that while longitudinal estimates that avoid the first source of bias are substantially smaller than cross-sectional estimates, the former are strongly influenced by errors in measuring HR management practices. Based on independent estimates of the measurement error, we calculate a range of estimates that correct for both biases. We estimate that a one-standard deviation increase in our measure of high performance work systems raises the market value of the corporation by approximately $15,000 per employee.
Association of Hearing Loss and Loneliness in Older Adults.

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine factors associated with loneliness in older adults presenting for hearing loss treatment. Method: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 145 participants (aged 50-94) who presented for hearing aids or cochlear implants and were enrolled in the Studying Multiple Outcomes After Aural Rehabilitative Treatment (SMART) study from 2011 to 2013. Social, communicative, physical, and mental health functioning were assessed using self-administered questionnaires, and loneliness using the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale. Results: Younger age and greater hearing loss were significantly associated with greater loneliness. Metrics of depressive symptoms and hearing-related quality of life, communication difficulties, and emotional well-being, mental health, and 36-Item Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form (SF-36) scores were moderately or highly correlated with loneliness. Discussion: Younger age and greater hearing loss are independ...
Mapping Thickness Dependent Thermal Conductivity of GaN

Frequency domain thermoreflectance (FDTR) is used to create quantitative maps of thermal conductivity and thickness for a thinning gallium nitride (GaN) film on silicon carbide (SiC). GaN was grown by molecular beam epitaxy on a 4H-SiC substrate with a gradient in the film thickness found near the edge of the chip. The sample was then coated with a 5 nm nickel adhesion layer and a 85 nm gold transducer layer for the FDTR measurement. A piezo stage raster scans the sample to create phase images at different frequencies. For each pixel, a periodically modulated continuous-wave laser (the red pump beam) is focused to a Gaussian spot, less than 2 um in diameter, to locally heat the sample, while a second beam (the green probe beam) monitors the surface temperature through a proportional change in the reflectivity of gold. The pump beam is modulated simultaneously at six frequencies and the thermal conductivity and thickness of the GaN film are extracted by minimizing the error between the measured probe phase lag at each frequency and an analytical solution to the heat diffusion equation in a multilayer stack of materials. A scanning electron microscope image verifies the thinning GaN. We mark the imaged area with a red box. A schematic of the GaN sample in our measurement system is shown in the top right corner, along with the two fitting properties highlighted with a red box. We show the six phase images and the two obtained property maps: thickness and thermal conductivity of the GaN. Our results indicate a thickness dependent thermal conductivity of GaN, which has implications of thermal management in GaN-based high electron mobility transistors.
Caring for the Health Commons: What it is and Who's Responsible for it

This paper investigates the potential relevance to health care reform of the Nobel Prize-winning research of Elinor Ostrom on community-based management of natural resource commons. Two related interpretations of the concept of a “health commons” are considered, the first (a micro-commons) consisting of specific programs of quality improvement or health promotion, and the second encompassing the entire system of physical, financial, human, and social resources relevant to the delivery of health care in a region. The proliferation of micro-commons has deepened the fragmentation of health care delivery systems, and rising costs of health care threaten the long-term sustainability of this mode of delivery. Cross-stakeholder collaborations can serve as “stewards” of either of these health commons, under conditions analogous to the Design Principles identified by Ostrom. Examples from the case of Grand Junction, Colorado, are used to illustrate the relevance of these principles to shared stewardship of a regional health commons. The paper concludes with a set of questions that can help assess a community’s ability to more effectively manage their own system of health care delivery.
1.5-μm phase-sensitive amplifier for ultrahigh-speed communications

Optical parametric amplifiers provide gain to an input signal in a phase-sensitive fashion; hence the name phase-sensitive amplifiers (PSAs). Recently, quantum-limited PSAs with large gains and phase-sensitive signal amplification at 1.06 μm have been demonstrated.1,2 PSAs possess many properties that make them attractive for use in ultrahigh-speed communications and networks: They do not add any spontaneous-emission noise, and the signal-to-noise ratio is preserved as the signal is amplified. In this sense they make an ideal amplifier with a 0-dB theoretical noise figure.1 They are unidirectional in that the gain exists only for light propagating in the same direction as the pump light in the amplifier. PSAs can be designed for operation at any wavelength; hence the full low-loss window of the fused-silica fiber becomes usable. In contrast, the erbium-fiber amplifier provides gain over a relatively narrow wavelength range (≃40 nm). In a fiber/amplifier line the use of PSAs automatically compensates for the degrading effects of dispersion; there is no need for extra dispersion-compensating devices.3 Short pulses can propagate without significant broadening over distances up to 100 times the dispersion length of the fiber. Moreover, dispersion can be compensated in both the positive and the negative group-velocity-dispersion (GVD) regions of the fused-silica fiber. When used with solitons, PSAs can reduce the Gordon–Haus timing jitter without the need for extra filters.4 Solitons can propagate over long distances without generating dispersive radiation during amplification and decay between the amplifiers.5 The preceding properties can be very useful for upgrading the capacity of the existing 1.3-μm fiber plant.
MULTIPLE MATING AND FEMALE FITNESS IN DROSOPHILA PSEUDOOBSCURA.

All biological processes directly related to reproduction play a role in determining fitness. Collectively, these processes determine the fertility component of fitness, where fertility is defined in its broadest sense. The importance of fertility differences to selection has been demonstrated repeatedly over the past 15 years, particularly in studies with Drosophila species (e.g., Prout, 1971, with D. melanogaster; Anderson and Watanabe, 1974, with D. pseudoobscura). One aspect of fertility that has only recently received attention is multiple mating (review of Drosophila research in Gromko et al., in press). Once thought to be mostly a laboratory phenomenon in Drosophila, multiple mating has been reported in natural populations of several species (reviewed in Gromko et al., in press; Loukas et al., 198 1), and at very high rates (e.g., Levine et al., 1980). Rates of multiple insemination sometimes differ among populations of a species, as for example they do among the three populations of D. pseudoobscura studied to date (Anderson, 1974; Cobbs, 1977; Levine et al., 1980). These results are not surprising, since multiple insemination may be sensitive to both population densities and environmental conditions. In general, males who mate repeatedly leave more offspring than those who mate less frequently (Bateman, 1948); and the resulting differences in male mating success produce a powerful form of sexual selection known to be important in laboratory (Anderson and Watanabe, 1974) and natural (Anderson et al., 1979) populations of D. pseudoobscura. Repeated mat-
Photoproduction of soft pions in γ + 3He → π+ + 3H

Abstract The algebra of currents and the partially conserved axial-vector current hypothesis are used in the soft-pion approximation for the process γ + 3 He → π + + 3 H . The 3He and 3H nuclei are treated as “elementary” particles, the nuclear form factors required being obtained from electron - 3He and electron - 3H scattering experiments. The results are in good agreement with experiment at low momentum transfer.
Effect of parathyroid extract and phosphate salts on renal calcium and phosphate excretion after parathyroidectomy.

SummaryChanges in renal phosphate and calcium excretion in the 24 hours following parathyroidectomy in the rat have been studied. Parathyroidectomy alters renal control of phosphate excretion so that little phosphate is excreted until serum phosphate is increased to about 13 mg %. Excretion increases suddenly about 16 hours postoperatively in untreated rats but occurs sooner if phosphate ions are injected to hasten the rise in serum phosphate. Parathyroid extract hastens return toward normal excretion rates by altering the renal mechanism for excretion toward the normal state. Calcium excretion increases considerably at parathyroidectomy but declines as the serum level falls and returns to a normal rate at about the same time as does phosphate excretion in the untreated animal (16 hr). This also appears to be due to changes in the renal excretory mechanism. By its effect on this mechanism, parathyroid extract hastens the return of calcium excretion to within normal limits, this occurring at higher serum c...
Reversal of an antiestrogen-mediated cell cycle arrest of MCF-7 cells by viral tumor antigens requires the retinoblastoma protein-binding domain

Proliferation of MCF-7 cells is estrogen dependent and antiestrogen sensitive. In the absence of estrogens or presence of antiestrogens MCF-7 cells arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, and this arrest is associated with an accumulation of the active, hypophosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Because active pRb negatively regulates passage from G1 to S phase, this suggests that pRb is a crucial target of estrogen action, and that its inactivation might lead to antiestrogen resistance. We tested this hypothesis by expressing viral tumor antigens (T antigens), which bind and inactivate pRb, in MCF-7 cells, and determining the effects on cell proliferation in the presence of antiestrogens. The results of these experiments demonstrate that T antigen expression confers antiestrogen resistance to MCF-7 cells. Using a panel of mutant T antigens, we further demonstrate that the pRb-binding, but not the p53 binding domain is required to confer antiestrogen resistance. Thus, pRb is an important target of estrogen action, and its inactivation can contribute to the development of antiestrogen resistance.
Benga and Ohangla orature: The subversive traditional curriculum

AbstractTraditional African education continues to play an influential social role in contemporary Africa and it‘s often overlooked. Unlike the adopted western education that is undertaken through schooling, it has an informal curriculum and is lifelong. In this study I make the case that modern Luo music, benga and ohangla, is part of the African traditional education, specifically oral literature (orature); in keeping with the goals of such education, the music plays an important role in the production of knowledge and the creation of a collective historical past. Also, the orature problematizes identity by raising questions about what it means to be part of the Luo community. Furthermore, it is at the socio-political fore-front as it provides the language to define the ‘other’ in juxtaposition to the Luo. The orature has been important in the political socialization of the Luo community, particularly so in the veneration of Raila Odinga. To what extent then does this form of orature fit in Kenya‘s fled...
Energy-aware Thread and Data Management in Heterogeneous Multi-core, Multi-memory Systems

By 2004, microprocessor design focused on multicore scaling—increasing the number of cores per die in each generation—as the primary strategy for improving performance. These multicore processors typically equip multiple memory subsystems to improve data throughput. In addition, these systems employ heterogeneous processors such as GPUs and heterogeneous memories like non-volatile memory to improve performance, capacity, and energy efficiency. With the increasing volume of hardware resources and system complexity caused by heterogeneity, future systems will require intelligent ways to manage hardware resources. Early research to improve performance and energy efficiency on heterogeneous, multi-core, multi-memory systems focused on tuning a single primitive or at best a few primitives in the systems. The key limitation of past efforts is their lack of a holistic approach to resource management that balances the tradeoff between performance and energy consumption. In addition, the shift from simple, homogeneous systems to these heterogeneous, multicore, multi-memory systems requires in-depth understanding of efficient resource management for scalable execution, including new models that capture the interchange between performance and energy, smarter resource management strategies, and novel low-level performance/energy tuning primitives and runtime systems. Tuning an application to control available resources efficiently has become a daunting challenge; managing resources in automation ismore » still a dark art since the tradeoffs among programming, energy, and performance remain insufficiently understood. In this dissertation, I have developed theories, models, and resource management techniques to enable energy-efficient execution of parallel applications through thread and data management in these heterogeneous multi-core, multi-memory systems. I study the effect of dynamic concurrent throttling on the performance and energy of multi-core, non-uniform memory access (NUMA) systems. I use critical path analysis to quantify memory contention in the NUMA memory system and determine thread mappings. In addition, I implement a runtime system that combines concurrent throttling and a novel thread mapping algorithm to manage thread resources and improve energy efficient execution in multi-core, NUMA systems.« less