James P. Alter to Mr. Meredith (8 October 1962)

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/mercorr_pro/2067/thumbnail.jp

Defining and distributing longitudinal historical data in a general way through an intermediate structure

'Der Beitrag diskutiert am Beispiel von demographischen Mikrodaten methodologische Probleme von Längsschnittdaten. Die Herausforderungen bestehen darin, 1. Lebensverläufe in kartesische Datenformate zu transformieren, die mit den Erfordernissen gängiger statistischer Analysesysteme kompatibel sind, und 2. Datensätze für interlokale und interkulturelle Studien vergleichbar zu machen. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen wird eine intermediäre Datenstruktur (IDS) vorgeschlagen, die auf alle Datenbanken übertragen kann. Die Autoren erläutern den Vorteil des IDS-Ansatzes und die Maßnahmen, die zur Umsetzung des Konzeptes führen werden.' (Autorenreferat)'In recent years, studies of historical populations have shifted from tracing large-scale processes to analyzing longitudinal micro data in the form of 'life histories'. This approach expands the scope of social history by integrating data on a range of life course events. The complexity of life-course analysis, however, has limited most researchers to working with one specific database. The authors discuss methodological problems raised by longitudinal historical data and the challenge of converting life histories into rectangular datasets compatible with statistical analysis systems. The logical next step is comparing life courses across local and national databases, and they propose a strategy for sharing historical longitudinal data based on an intermediate data structure (IDS) that can be adopted by all databases. They describe the benefits of the IDS approach and activities that will advance the goals of simplifying and promoting research with longitudinal historical data.' (author's abstract

Bone mineral density in patients with inherited bone marrow failure syndromes.

BackgroundPatients with inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) may have several risk factors for low bone mineral density (BMD). We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of low BMD in IBMFS and determine the associated risk factors.MethodsPatients with IBMFS with at least one dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan were evaluated. Diagnosis of each IBMFS, Fanconi anemia (FA), dyskeratosis congenita, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome was confirmed by syndrome-specific tests. Data were gathered on age, height, and clinical history. DXA scans were completed at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and forearm. BMD was adjusted for height (HAZ) in children (age ≤20 years). Low BMD was defined as a BMD Z-score and HAZ ≤-2 in adults and children, respectively, in addition to patients currently on bisphosphonate therapy.ResultsNine of thirty-five adults (26%) and eleven of forty children (27%) had low BMD. Adults with FA had significantly lower BMD Z-scores than those with other diagnoses; however, HAZ did not vary significantly in children by diagnosis. Risk factors included hypogonadism, iron overload, and glucocorticoid use.ConclusionsAdults and children with IBMFS have high prevalence of low BMD. Prompt recognition of risk factors and management are essential to optimize bone health

Comment on ``Protective measurements of the wave function of a single squeezed harmonic-oscillator state''

Alter and Yamamoto [Phys. Rev. A 53, R2911 (1996)] claimed to consider ``protective measurements'' [Phys. Lett. A 178, 38 (1993)] which we have recently introduced. We show that the measurements discussed by Alter and Yamamoto ``are not'' the protective measurements we proposed. Therefore, their results are irrelevant to the nature of protective measurements.Comment: 2 pages LaTe

Health information portals: How can we improve the user\u27s search experience?

Health information portals (HIP) are now common place. Governments and other health agencies are using HIPs extensively to reduce costs and distribute information more effectively. Generally, HIPs are not very technically sophisticated specifically in terms of options for improving searching. There are many ways in which searching and retrieving relevant information can be improved. This paper presents an exploratory study which investigated five HIPs. Each HIP offered a range of features and functionality to assist with searching. Our research explored the features and functionality of each HIP. Through usability evaluations we compared the response of users to each HIP and identified users’ preferences for improved searching. We found that HIPs with improved search functionality and other features that assisted searching were better received by the users. Users regarded these portals as easier to understand, easier to use, required fewer steps in retrieving information and were more likely to say they would return. Comments from users are provided to illustrate further the importance of providing effective functionality. The paper concludes with recommendations for Health Information Portal builders on what is needed to improve the user search experience

Praxis: An Editorial Statement

Praxis: An Editorial Statemen

Political economics, collective action and wicked socio-ecological problems: A practice story from the field

Empowering integrative, sustainable and equitable approaches to wicked socio-ecological problems requires multiple disciplines and ways of knowing. Following calls for greater attention to political economics in this transdisciplinary work, we offer a practitioner perspective on political economy and collective action and their influences on our community engagement practice and public policy. Our perspective is grounded in a pervasive wicked problem in Australia, invasive rabbits, and the emergence of the Victorian Rabbit Action Network. The network grew out of a publically funded research project to support community-led action in rabbit management. Victorian residents and workers affected by rabbits – public and private land managers, scientists, government officers and others – were invited to engage in a participatory planning process to generate sustainable strategies to address the rabbit problem. Each stage in the process, which involved interviews, a workshop and consultations, was designed to nurture the critical enquiry, listening and learning skills of participants, advance understandings of the problem from multiple perspectives, generate collective options to guide decision-making, and encourage community-led collective action. We reflect on our understanding of these processes using the language and lens of political economics and, in particular, the context of democratic professionalism. In so doing, we define terms and refer to information resources that have enabled us to bring a practical working knowledge of political economics to our professional practice. Our intent is to motivate academics, community members, government officials, and scientists alike, to draw on their knowledge and field experiences and to share practice stories through the lens of political economics and collective action. This is an opportunity to engage each other in small ‘p’ politics of how we understand and act on wicked problems, to negotiate and connect across disciplines, practical experiences and human difference, so that people may work more creatively and effectively together to address the challenging issues of our time. &nbsp

Emerging infectious disease issues in blood safety.

Improvements in donor screening and testing and viral inactivation of plasma derivatives together have resulted in substantial declines in transfusion-transmitted infections over the last two decades. Most recently, nucleic acid testing techniques have been developed to screen blood and plasma donations for evidence of very recent viral infections that could be missed by conventional serologic tests. Nonetheless, the blood supply remains vulnerable to new and reemerging infections. In recent years, numerous infectious agents found worldwide have been identified as potential threats to the blood supply. Several newly discovered hepatitis viruses and agents of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies present unique challenges in assessing possible risks they may pose to the safety of blood and plasma products

Sensory quality of turnip greens and turnip tops grown in northwestern Spain

In Galicia (northwestern Spain), Brassica rapa var. rapa L. includes turnip greens and turnip tops as vegetable products. They are characterized by a particular sulfurous aroma, pungent flavor, and a bitter taste. In this work twelve local varieties grown as turnip greens and turnip tops were evaluated to define the sensory attributes, to relate them with secondary metabolites, and to select those sensorial traits that better describe these crops. Results showed differences in the sensory profiles of B. rapa varieties. Turnip greens were significantly differed for aroma intensity, leaf color, and salty taste, while turnip tops were for color and firmness of leaves, moistness and fibrosity in mouth, sharpness, and bitter taste. Secondary metabolites as glucosinolates in turnip greens and phenolic compounds in turnip tops were highly correlated with texture and flavor. Glucosinolates especially progoitrin (in turnip greens) and gluconapin (in turnip tops) showed correlation with bitter taste and aftertaste persistence. Correlation between sensory traits showed highest values between leaf firmness and stalk firmness (0.94**), leaf firmness and fibrosity (R=0.92**), aftertaste persistence and bitterness (R=0.91**) and between bitterness and moistness (R=-0.89**).Research supported by the Xunta de Galicia (PGIDIT06RAG40302PR) and Excma. Diputación Provincial de Pontevedra.Peer reviewe

High-pressure hydrogen testing of single crystal superalloys for advanced rocket engine turbopump turbine blades

A screening program to determine the effects of high pressure hydrogen on selected candidate materials for advanced single crystal turbine blade applications is examined. The alloys chosen for the investigation are CM SX-2, CM SX-4C, Rene N-4, and PWA1480. Testing is carried out in hydrogen and helium at 34 MPa and room temperature, with both notched and unnotched single crystal specimens. Results show a significant variation in susceptibility to Hydrogen Environment Embrittlement (HEE) among the four alloys and a marked difference in fracture topography between hydrogen and helium environment specimens