A multilevel event history analysis of the effects of grandmothers on child mortality in a historical German population (Krummhörn, Ostfriesland, 1720-1874)

We analyzed data from the historic population of the Krummhörn (Ostfriesland, Germany, 1720-1874) to determine the effects of grandparents in general and grandmothers in particular on child mortality. Multilevel event-history models were used to test how the survival of grandparents in general influenced the survival of the children. Random effects were included in some models in order to take the potentially influential effect of unobserved heterogeneity into account. It could be shown that while maternal grandmothers indeed improved the child’s survival, paternal grandmothers worsened it. Both grandfathers had no effect. These findings are not only in accordance with the assumptions of the “grandmother hypothesis” but also may be interpreted as hints for differential grandparental investment strategies.

A multilevel event history analysis of the effects of grandmothers on child mortality in a historical German population

We analyzed data from the historic population of the Krummhörn (Ostfriesland, Germany, 1720-1874) to determine the effects of grandparents in general and grandmothers in particular on child mortality. Multilevel event-history models were used to test how the survival of grandparents in general influenced the survival of the children. Random effects were included in some models in order to take the potentially influential effect of unobserved heterogeneity into account. It could be shown that while maternal grandmothers indeed improved the child’s survival, paternal grandmothers worsened it. Both grandfathers had no effect. These findings are not only in accordance with the assumptions of the "grandmother hypothesis" but also may be interpreted as hints for differential grandparental investment strategies."evil mother-in-law", child mortality, Germany, grandmother hypothesis, grandparents, infant and child mortality, kin selection, Krummhörn, life history theory, menopause, multilevel event history models

Kompics: a message-passing component model for building distributed systems

The Kompics component model and programming framework was designedto simplify the development of increasingly complex distributed systems. Systems built with Kompics leverage multi-core machines out of the box and they can be dynamically reconfigured to support hot software upgrades. A simulation framework enables deterministic debugging and reproducible performance evaluation of unmodified Kompics distributed systems. We describe the component model and show how to program and compose event-based distributed systems. We present the architectural patterns and abstractions that Kompics facilitates and we highlight a case study of a complex distributed middleware that we have built with Kompics. We show how our approach enables systematic development and evaluation of large-scale and dynamic distributed systems

KALwEN: a new practical and interoperable key management scheme for body sensor networks

Key management is the pillar of a security architecture. Body sensor networks (BSNs) pose several challenges–some inherited from wireless sensor networks (WSNs), some unique to themselves–that require a new key management scheme to be tailor-made. The challenge is taken on, and the result is KALwEN, a new parameterized key management scheme that combines the best-suited cryptographic techniques in a seamless framework. KALwEN is user-friendly in the sense that it requires no expert knowledge of a user, and instead only requires a user to follow a simple set of instructions when bootstrapping or extending a network. One of KALwEN's key features is that it allows sensor devices from different manufacturers, which expectedly do not have any pre-shared secret, to establish secure communications with each other. KALwEN is decentralized, such that it does not rely on the availability of a local processing unit (LPU). KALwEN supports secure global broadcast, local broadcast, and local (neighbor-to-neighbor) unicast, while preserving past key secrecy and future key secrecy (FKS). The fact that the cryptographic protocols of KALwEN have been formally verified also makes a convincing case. With both formal verification and experimental evaluation, our results should appeal to theorists and practitioners alike

Resource Reviews

Reviews of Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible, by James Vanderkam. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2012. 188 pp. $17.00; ISBN 0-8028-6679-0. Reviewed by Robert Burgess, Head, Acquisitions, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri. Jerusalem Testament Palestinian Christians Speak, 1988-2008, by Melanie A. May. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2010. 180 pp.$16.00; ISBN 0-8028-6485-7. Reviewed by Robert Burgess, Head, Acquisitions, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri. Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind, by Mark A. Noll. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2011. 180 pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8028-6637-0. Reviewed by Jane Scott, Public Services Librarian, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon. Romans: Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators. Translated and edited by J. Patout Burns Jr. and Father Constantine Newman. Edited by Robert Louis Wilken. The Church Bible. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012. 428 pp.$30.50; ISBN 978-0-8028-2575-9 (Hardcover). Reviewed by J. Craig Kubic, Director of Library Services, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri. Sunday School That Really Works: A Strategy for Connecting Congregations and Communities, by Steve R. Parr. Grand Rapids: Kregal, 2010. 218 pp. $11.10; ISBN 978-0-8254-3567-6 (Softcover). Reviewed by J. Craig Kubic, Director of Library Services, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri. Tasting Heaven on Earth: Worship in Sixth-Century Constantinople, by Walter D. Ray. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2012. 158 pp. ISBN: 978-0-8028-6663-9. Reviewed by Rebecca Russo, Instruction Librarian, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, California. Unlocking the Growth: You Will Be Amazed at Your Church’s Potential, by Michael Harvey. Grand Rapids: Monarch, 2012. 191 pp.$26.30; ISBN 978-0-8572-1198-9 (Softcover). Reviewed by J. Craig Kubic, Director of Library Services, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Missouri. A Week in the Life of Corinth, by Ben Witherington III. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press Academic, 2012. 158 pp. $16.00; ISBN 978-0-8308-3962-9. Reviewed by Kathleen Kempa, Reference and Electronic Services Librarian, Steelman Library, Southeastern University, Lakeland, Florida

HOLLOTRON switch for megawatt lightweight space inverters

The feasibility of satisfying the switching requirements for a megawatt ultralight inverter system using HOLLOTRON switch technology was determined. The existing experimental switch hardware was modified to investigate a coaxial HOLLOTRON switch configuration and the results were compared with those obtained for a modified linear HOLLOTRON configuration. It was concluded that scaling the HOLLOTRON switch to the current and voltage specifications required for a megawatt converter system is indeed feasible using a modified linear configuration. The experimental HOLLOTRON switch operated at parameters comparable to the scaled coaxial HOLLOTRON. However, the linear HOLLOTRON data verified the capability for meeting all the design objectives simultaneously including current density (greater than 2 A/sq cm), voltage (5 kV), switching frequency (20 kHz), switching time (300 ns), and forward voltage drop (less than or equal to 20 V). Scaling relations were determined and a preliminary design was completed for an engineering model linear HOLLOTRON switch to meet the megawatt converter system specifications

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with multiple-organ failure: Can molecular adsorbent recirculating system therapy improve survival?

BACKGROUND: Liver dialysis, molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) particularly, has been used in liver failure to bridge to transplantation. We expanded the indication for MARS to patients with acute shock liver failure and cardiopulmonary failure on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), aiming to improve survival to wean from ECMO. METHODS: Retrospective chart analysis of patients on ECMO between 2010 and 2015 found 28 patients who met the criteria for acute liver failure, diagnosed by hyperbilirubinemia (total bilirubin ≥10 mg/dl) or by elevated transaminase (alanine transaminase \u3e1,000 IU/liter). Of these patients, 14 underwent MARS treatment (Group M), and 14 were supported with optimal medical treatment without MARS (Group C). Patient characteristics, liver function, and survival were compared between groups. RESULTS: Demographics, clinical risk factors, and pre-ECMO laboratory data were identical between the groups. MARS was used continuously for 8 days ± 9 in Group M. Total bilirubin, alanine transaminase, and international normalized ratio were improved significantly in Group M. There were no MARS-related complications. Survival to wean from ECMO for Group M was 64% (9/14) vs 21% (3/14) for Group C (p = 0.02). Mortality related to worsening liver dysfunction during ECMO was 40% (2/5 deaths) in Group M and 100% (11/11 deaths) in Group C (p = 0.004). The 30-day survival after ECMO was 43% (6/14) in Group M and 14% (2/14) in Group C (p = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: MARS therapy in patients on ECMO safely accelerated recovery of liver function and improved survival to wean from ECMO, without increasing complications