Subconvexity for modular form L-functions in the t aspect

Modifying a method of Jutila, we prove a t aspect subconvexity estimate for L-functions associated to primitive holomorphic cusp forms of arbitrary level that is of comparable strength to Good's bound for the full modular group, thus resolving a problem that has been open for 35 years. A key innovation in our proof is a general form of Voronoi summation that applies to all fractions, even when the level is not squarefree.Comment: minor revisions; to appear in Adv. Math.; 30 page

Boys in the hood: a study of academic resilience among a group of at-risk, high-achieving, African American males in a southern California school district

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to investigate the perceptions of high achieving, at risk African American male students from 3 Southern California urban high school with regards to (a) the factors that make them at-risk for poor academic achievement, (b) the protective factors that contribute to their resilience and academic success, (c) the characteristics that best describe their resiliency, and (d) what can parents, school and school employees, and the community can do to increase the academic achievement of urban at-risk African American males. More specifically, this study examined the environmental risks that confront the Black males participating in this study, evidence of resilience in light of the risk faced, and explanations for the observed adaptation, and implications for educating young African American males. This qualitative study collected data from high achieving, at-risk, urban African-American high school males. A total of 11 9th -12th grade, African-American males participated in semi-structured interviews and a focus group interview. The semi-structured interviews consisted of 19 questions and the focus group interview consisted of 3 questions. Four conclusions were drawn from the findings of this study. First, it takes a network of supportive individuals to promote academic success among at-risk, urban African American males. Second, extracurricular programs were integral in promoting academic resilience for at-risk, urban African-American males. Third, the church was a contributing factor in fostering their academic success. Fourth, the participants possessed a unique set of personality traits, beliefs and temperament that has led to their academic success. Based on the findings of this current study, it is recommended that parents or guardians seek out opportunities to be involved in their child\u27s education, schools focus on ways to improve the learning environment for at-risk African-American males rather than the current practice of focusing on the under achievement of African-American males, schools need to create family-school-community partnerships to increase opportunities for school success for student\u27s, and urban communities provide programs that are academic based and include structured activities that promote social competence, problem solving skills, autonomy, and sense of meaning and purpose

Sexual orientation health inequality: Evidence from Understanding Society , the UK Longitudinal Household Study

Few studies from the United Kingdom have fully investigated inequalities between members of different sexual minority groups and heterosexuals over range of health outcomes. Using data from over 40,000 individuals, this study explores the health inequalities of sexual minority UK adults. We include respondents who identify as other and those who prefer not to say (PNS). Data come from wave three (2011–2012) of the nationally-representative Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Sexual orientation was asked in the self-completion portion of the study. Markers of health include physical and mental functioning, minor psychological distress, self-rated health, substance use and disability. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses tested for differences in markers of health between sexual orientation groups. Overall, heterosexual respondents had the best health while bisexual respondents had the worst. Gay and lesbian respondents reported poorer health than heterosexuals, specifically with regards to mental functioning, distress and illness status. The other and PNS respondents were most similar to each other and generally experienced fewer health inequalities than gay and lesbian respondents; they were less likely to use tobacco or alcohol. In sum, sexual minorities experience health inequality. The inclusion of other and PNS respondents has not been done in other studies and shows that while they may be healthier than gay/lesbian and bisexual respondents they still experiences poorer health than heterosexuals. Health promotion interventions are needed for these other and PNS individuals, who might not participate in interventions targeted toward known sexual minority groups

An Unexpected Outcome of a Pediatric Simulation Encounter for Occupational Therapy Students.

This presentation reviewed how to plan and implement a pediatric simulated educational experience to align with the targeted course learning objective(s). Participants learned how to incorporate best practices into simulation education in order to advance occupational therapy education

Role of the loop segment in the urinary concentrating defect of hypercalcemia

Role of the loop segment in the urinary concentrating defect of hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia is associated with impaired urinary concentrating ability. To explore the mechanism(s) by which hypercalcemia impairs chloride transport in the loop of Henle, we carried out in vivo microperfusion of the loop segment in Sprague–Dawley rats rendered acutely hypercalcemie (12.1 ± 0.1 mg/dliter) by calcium gluconate infusion. Control rats were infused with sodium gluconate and had normal plasma calcium (8.0 ± 0.2 mg/dliter). Compared to control, fractional chloride reabsorption was decreased (61 ± 4 to 50 ± 3%; P < 0.05) and early distal chloride increased 74 ± 6 to 98 ± 3 mEq/liter (P < 0.001) in hypercalcemia. During hypercalcemia, infusion of verapamil failed to increase fractional chloride reabsorption (49 ± 4%; P < 0.05) or decrease early distal chloride (95 ± 2; P < 0.05) toward control values. Similarly, indomethacin did not improve fractional chloride reabsorption (48 ± 4%; P < 0.05) or distal chloride concentration (93 ± 7; P < 0.05). In control rats infused with Ringers HCO3, the addition of calcium 8.0 mEq/liter to the perfusate increased early distal calcium (0.22 to 3.11 mEq/liter) but was associated with no change in fractional chloride reabsorption (-6 ± 6%) and a slight decrease in early distal chloride (-9 ± 3 mEq/liter; P < 0.05). These data are consistent with the hypothesis that an elevated plasma, not luminal calcium, concentration impairs chloride reabsorption in the loop segment, primarily the ADH–stimulated component. This may have an important role in the urinary concentrating defect of hypercalcemia

Properties of Char Produced from Pyrolysis of Southern Pine

Bench scale pyrolyses were carried out on southern pine at conditions of 250, 350, 400, 500, and 800 C for 1, 2, and 4 hours in a flowing nitrogen atmosphere at flow rates of 135 and 405 milliliters per minute. Data presented in this paper represent work on the properties of the chars produced under these conditions. Results of oxygen bomb calorimetry, density and specific gravity measurements, carbon and hydrogen analyses, and gravimetric yields were statistically analyzed to determine the influence of process conditions on char properties. In general, char yield and percentage of hydrogen and oxygen decreased, while the carbon percentage increased with increasing temperature

Glucose Attenuation of Auxin-Mediated Bimodality in Lateral Root Formation Is Partly Coupled by the Heterotrimeric G Protein Complex

Auxin and glucose are both essential elements in normal root development. The heterotrimeric G protein complex in Arabidopsis thaliana, defined as containing alpha (AtGPA1), beta (AGB1), and gamma (AGG) subunits and a GTPase accelerating protein called Regulator of G Signaling 1 protein (AtRGS1), are involved in glucose signaling and regulate auxin transport.A systems approach was used to show that formation of lateral roots, a process requiring coordinated cell division followed by targeted cell expansion, involves a signaling interaction between glucose and auxin. We dissected the relationship between auxin and glucose action using lateral root formation as the biological context. We found that auxin and glucose act synergistically to yield a complex output involving both stimulatory and antagonist glucose effects on auxin responsiveness. Auxin-induced, lateral-root formation becomes bimodal with regard to auxin dose in the presence of glucose. This bimodality is mediated, in part, by the G protein complex defined above.Auxin and glucose are essential signals controlling the rate of cell proliferation and expansion in roots. Auxin promotes the formation of lateral roots and is consequently essential for proper root architecture. Glucose affects the activation state of the heterotrimeric G protein complex which regulates auxin distribution in the root. The bimodality of auxin-induced, lateral-root formation becomes prominent in the presence of glucose and in roots lacking the G protein complex. Bimodality is apparent without added glucose in all loss-of-function mutants for these G protein components, suggesting that the heterotrimeric G protein complex attenuates the bimodality and that glucose inhibits this attenuation through the complex. The bimodality can be further resolved into the processes of lateral root primordia formation and lateral root emergence, from which a model integrating these signals is proposed

Quantum limit in resonant vacuum tunneling transducers

We propose an electromechanical transducer based on a resonant-tunneling configuration that, with respect to the standard tunneling transducers, allows larger tunneling currents while using the same bias voltage. The increased current leads to an increase of the shot noise and an increase of the momentum noise which determine the quantum limit in the system under monitoring. Experiments with micromachined masses at 4.2 K could show dominance of the momentum noise over the Brownian noise, allowing observation of the quantum-mechanical noise at the mesoscopic scale