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Acute sarcopenia is defined by the development of incident sarcopenia (low muscle quantity/quality and function) within 6 months of a stressor event. However, outcome measures for clinical trials have not been validated. This study aimed to characterize changes in muscle quantity, quality, strength, and physical function during and after hospitalization.Patients aged ≥70 years admitted for elective colorectal surgery, emergency abdominal surgery or acute infections were recruited from a single university hospital. Assessments were carried out at baseline, and within 7 ± 2 days and 13 ± 1 weeks postoperatively or post-admission.A total of 79 participants (mean age 79 years, 39% female) were included. Physical function defined by the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Information System T-score declined from baseline (42.3, 95% CI 40.2-44.3) to 7 days (36.6, 95% CI 34.5-38.8; P = 0.001), with improvement after 13 weeks (40.5, 95% CI 37.9-43.0). Changes in muscle quantity, quality and function measurements were overall heterogeneous, with few significant changes at the study population level. Change in rectus femoris echogenicity over 13 weeks correlated with changes in handgrip strength (r = 0.53; P 0.001) and gait speed (r = 0.59; P = 0.003) over the same period.Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Information System T-score provides a sensitive measure of change in physical function in hospitalized older patients. However, changes in muscle quantity, quality and function measurements were heterogeneous, and not significant at the study population level. Further research should assess for factors that might be predictive of changes within individuals to enable stratified interventions. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 311-318.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether high intensity interval training (HIIT) would lead to improvements in 1) maximal VOParticipants completed a maximal exercise test at the beginning (T1) and end (T2) of a 6-week HIIT intervention; saliva samples were obtained at the beginning and 30 min following the first (T1) and last (T2) exercise session.Adults with asthma (A 6-week HIIT intervention led to a similar increase in VO

This report summarizes the primary output of this project, a book of COVID-era street reconfiguration case studies called Rethinking Streets During COVID-19: An Evidence-Based Guide to 25 Quick Redesigns for Physical Distancing, Public Use, and Spatial Equity. COVID-era needs have accelerated the process that many communities use to make street transformations due to: a need to remain physically distanced from others outside our immediate household; a need for more outdoor space close to home in every part of every community to access and enjoy; a need for more space to provide efficient mobility for essential workers in particular; and a need for more space for local businesses as they try to remain open safely. This project is the third in a series of NITC-supported case study books on best practices in street reconfigurations for more active, sustainable, and in this case, COVID-supportive uses. The full, 154-page book is available for free download from the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC).

Core deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) center around social communication and behavior. For those with ASD, these deficits complicate the task of learning how to cope with and manage complex social emotional issues. Although individuals with ASD may receive sufficient academic and basic behavioral support in school settings, supports for dealing with complex social emotional issues are more difficult to access, even though these issues significantly impact student learning. When addressing these challenging social- and emotional-based issues, school and professional personnel need more specific instructional skill sets and resources to effectively and compassionately support students with ASD. In this article, we address three challenging areas of social emotional development that are commonly experienced by individuals with ASD: Anxiety, social isolation, and grief. We briefly explore the existing research on these three topics, identify evidence-based practices and learning strategies to support social emotional learning in individuals with ASD, and include descriptive lists of practical resources that address anxiety, social isolation, and grief.

Mannheimia granulomatis was first isolated from pneumonic European hares in the 1980s and has since been reported sporadically in pneumonic Swedish roe deer and Australian cattle. Although the pneumonic lesions caused by M. haemolytica in livestock have been extensively studied and reported, little is published with regard to the pneumonic lesions associated with M. granulomatis infection in any species. We describe the histopathology of purulent bronchopneumonia associated with M. granulomatis in a Belgian hare ( Lepus europaeus) resident in British Columbia, Canada, and compare the lesions with those caused by M. haemolytica in livestock.

Nano-colloids and nano-crystals doped with ions of rare-earth elements have recently attracted a lot of attention in the scientific community due to their potential applications as biomarkers, fluorescent inks, gain media for lasers and optical amplifiers. Many rare-earth doped materials of different compositions, shapes and size distribution have been prepared by different synthetic methods, such as chemical vapor deposition, sol-gel process, micro-emulsion techniques, gas phase condensation methods, hydrothermal methods and laser ablation. In this paper micro-crystalline powder of the rare-earthdoped compound NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+ was synthesized using a simple wet process followed by baking in open air. Under 980 nm diode laser excitation strong fluorescence in the 100 nm band around 1531-nm peak was observed from the synthesized micro-powder. The micro-powder was pulverized using a ball mill and prepared in the form of nano-colloids in different liquids. The particle size of the obtained nano-colloids was measured using an atomic force microscope and a dynamic light scatterometer. The size of the nano-particles was close to 100-nm. The nano-colloids were utilized as a filling media in capillary optical amplifiers and lasers. The gain of a 7-cm-long capillary optical amplifier (150-micron inner diameter) was as high as 6 dB at 200 mW pump power. The synthesized nano-colloids and the active optical components using them can be potentially used in optical communication, signal processing, optical computing, and other applications.

National banks and Financial Holding Companies (FHC) solicited permission from the Federal Reserve Board and the Treasury Department to add real estate brokerage and management services to list of permissible business activities under the 1999 Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act (GLB). To date, permission has been denied due to the Community Choice in Real Estate Act, HR 111 and S 98. This study offers a method of combining the financial data of two independent industries. Additionally, this study identifies the scale returns and cost complementarities that may occur if banks offered real estate brokerage services under a single organization. Considerable evidence suggests that joining bank and real estate activities under a single organization would continue to generate increasing returns to scale for banks even when large levels of real estate brokerage services are offered by the joint institution. In addition, the results indicate evidence that bank acquisitions of real estate brokerages do create some cost saving synergies from cost complementarities between product lines. Finally, complementarities exist between traditional bank services and real estate services most at low levels of real estate outputs.

In this paper we investigate optical properties and size distribution of the nano-colloids made of trivalent rare-earth ion doped fluorides: holmium and ytterbium, thulium and ytterbium, and erbium and ytterbium co-doped NaYF4. These materials were synthesized by using simple co-precipitation synthetic method. The initially prepared micro-crystals had very weak or no visible upconversion fluorescence signals when being pumped with a 980-nm laser. The fluorescence intensity significantly increased after the crystals were annealed at a temperature of 400°C - 600°C undergoing the transition from cubic alpha to hexagonal beta phase of the fluoride host. Nano-colloids of the crystals were made in polar solvents using the laser ablation and ball milling methods. Size analyses of the prepared nano-colloids were conducted using a dynamic light scatterometer and atomic force microscope. The nano-colloids were filled in holey PCFs and their fluorescent properties were studied and the feasibility of new a type of fiber amplifier/laser was evaluated.

This paper examines the developments in the production efficiency of the Austrian insurance market for the period 1994-1999 using firm-specific data on life/health and non-life insurers obtained from the Austrian insurance regulatory authority. The article uses a Bayesian stochastic frontier to obtain aggregate and firm-specific estimates of production efficiency across insurer types and time. The study provides strong evidence that the process of deregulation had positive effects on the production efficiency of Austrian insurers. The life/health and non-life firms showed similar patterns of development in that they were less efficient during the years 1994-1996 and significantly more efficient in 1997-1999. If the Austrian experience is representative, similar benefits from deregulation may be expected for the Central and Eastern European countries that prepare for the accession to the European Union.

Using a stochastic frontier methodology that incorporates Bayesian statistics, this paper analyzes the cost efficiency of real estate investment trusts (REITs) by observing the deviations of the measured costs of individual REITs from a defined efficient cost frontier. Using 1995–1997 data, we extend the previous research in this area and measure REIT efficiency more precisely by isolating random measurement error from the overall deviations from the efficient cost frontier. We calculate the magnitude of each REIT's managerial inefficiency, the industry inefficiency, and returns to scale. In addition, we assess specific characteristics of REITs for their contribution to inefficiency by calculating the odds ratio that a REIT with a specific characteristic is more efficient than a REIT with an alternative characteristic. The results show that, for the years studied, REITs are relatively cost efficient with most REITs facing increasing returns to scale. Additionally, the REIT's use of debt and the REIT's management style significantly affect the cost performance of REITs during the aforementioned time period. Finally, diversification across property types, as measured, does not seem to influence REIT cost efficiency.

Purpose This exposition explains how Elementary Theory works and how it has been developed over the last two-and-a-half decades. Both increased scope and heightened precision are covered. Methodology/Approach Theoretic methodology is explained. Using that method formal models are constructed analogous to empirical events. Those models predict events, design experiments, and guide applications in the field. Findings There is a widely held belief in sociology that theory becomes more vague and imprecise as its scope broadens. Whereas broader generalizations are more vague than narrower ones, this exposition shows that abstract theory becomes more precise as its scope broadens. Research Limitations/Implications Here implications and limitations are closely connected. Regarding implications, this exposition shows that scientific explanations and predictions are viable today in sociology but only when exact theory is employed. Regarding limitations, the theory and research included in this exposition make clear why the empiricist search for regularities that dominates sociological research is so very limited in its results. Originality/Value of Chapter This exposition demonstrates that theory is the method of all the sciences and in particular the science of sociology.

Nano-colloids and nano-crystals doped with ions of rare-earth elements have recently attracted a lot of attention in the scientific community. This attention is due to unique physical, chemical and optical properties attributed to nanometer size of the particles. They have great potential of being used in applications spanning from new types of lasers, especially blue and UV ones, phosphorous display monitors, optical communications, and fluorescence imaging. In this paper we investigate the near-infrared upconversion luminescence in bulk crystals and nanocolloid filled photonic crystal fiber with ytterbium and holmium co-doped NaYF4 phosphor. The phosphor is prepared by using simple co-precipitation synthetic method. The initially prepared phosphor has very week upconversion fluorescence. The fluorescence significantly increased after the phosphor was annealed at a temperature of 600 °C. Nanocolloids of this phosphor were obtained using 1-propanol as solvent and they were utilized as laser filling medium in photonic crystal fibers. Under 980 nm diode laser excitation very strong upconversion signals were obtained for ytterbium and holmium co-doped phosphor at 541 nm, 646 nm and 751 nm. Pump power emissions, laser ablation and size analysis of the particles was conducted to understand the upconversion mechanisms. The particle sizes of the nanocolloids were analyzed using Atomic Force Microscope and Malvern Zetasizer instrument. The reported nanocolloids are good candidates for fluorescent biosensing applications and also as a new laser filling medium in fiber laser.

Both the real estate brokerage and the real estate investment trusts (REIT) industries have experienced dramatic structural and institutional changes in the last few years. These changes have brought the issue of operating efficiencies to the forefront. In this article, we summarize and critically review the operating efficiency literature for the real estate industry. In particular, we focus on X-efficiency, economies of scale and economies of scope for the real estate brokerage services market and for REITs. In addition, we attempt to identify future research paths that may extend and improve the current literature on real estate managerial efficiencies. Introduction Due to the rapidly changing market structure of the financial services industry, academics and practitioners regard this sector as an important one to monitor. The structural changes to the real estate industry represent some of the most dynamic transformations in the financial services sector. Some of the important structural changes to the real estate brokerage industry include the rapid consolidation of the industry and new intermediary relationships such as the buyer's agency, disclosed dual agency, facilitators and other non-agency brokerage contracts. The market has become more reliant on interactive multimedia marketing tools like the Internet and email. Finally, brokerage firm managers must make difficult decisions such as whether or not to franchise their organization or to participate in affinity programs. Changes and decisions such as these are likely to alter the product mix and competitiveness in the market, which will in turn, affect the performance and efficiency levels of brokerage firms. In the real estate investment industry, real estate investment trusts (REITs) have become a dominant form of real estate equity ownership.1 In recent years, the REIT industry has both grown and consolidated. Compared to the recent past, there are more REITs and they are larger in size. Insight into the economics of this activity can be gained through a study of REIT efficiency. If REITS are becoming more efficient through expansion, then the expansion process is likely to continue. The purpose of this article is to critically examine existing research relating to the operational efficiency of real estate firms and REITs.2 Efficiency studies in real estate have, for the most part, focused on residential brokerages, REITs and real estate lending. In addition, we try to identify future research paths that may extend and improve the current literature on real estate managerial efficiencies. A Primer on Economies of Scale, Economies of Scope and X-Efficiency Economies of Scale: Traditional Estimation To estimate economies of scale traditionally entails estimation of a cost function with empirical data and measuring the slope of the cost function for a given level of firm output. Economies of scale for an industry can be measured both by overall scale economies and product specific scale economies. For a multi-product firm, overall economies of scale exist when total costs increase disproportionately less than output. To be scale efficient, a firm must operate at the minimum of a Ushaped average cost curve. At this point, a firm cannot decrease its average costs by either increasing or decreasing output levels. If markets are competitive, firms that are not optimally sized will alter their output until they are scale efficient. Product-specific economies of scale examine the impact on cost by altering the production of a particular output. There are several problems associated with estimating economies of scale from a cost function. First, a specified functional form may not sufficiently incorporate the technologies of different firm types into the model. For instance, a franchise brokerage may have different technologies than an independent firm. Also, if important variables are omitted from the model, or if additional variables need to be included to control for differences between firms, the estimated scale economies may not be robust. …

This article examines the productive efficiency levels present in the market for residential real estate brokerage services by employing the stochastic frontier approach. The only prior study (Anderson, Zumpano, Elder and Fok, 1998) that examined productive efficiency in this sector employed data envelopment analysis. This current article addresses potential statistical limitations of Data Envelopment Analysis and uses an alternative statistical tool, the stochastic frontier approach, to estimate X-efficiencies. This technique overcomes many of the statistical limitations of DEA and provides additional productive efficiency estimates. The results suggest that residential real estate brokerage firms are relatively efficient, in contrast to the earlier study that found significant inefficiencies present in this market. Firms could only reduce their average total costs by 12% given firm outputs and input prices. Additionally, the firms were divided into three size categories to examine the impact of firm size on efficiency. The results indicate that small firms are the most efficient group. Hence, there seems to be a tradeoff between scale efficiency and productive efficiency.

Using 1994–1995 microeconomic data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), this article estimates cost and profit X-efficiency levels in the residential real estate brokerage market using traditional and Bayesian stochastic frontier models. We find that firms err more from failure to maximize profits than from failure to minimize costs. To determine what characteristics influence efficiency, we perform a regression analysis. The results show that franchising and firm age are associated with increases in efficiency, while MLS affiliation and producing a balanced output of listings and sales decrease performance. Finally, we estimate economies of scale and find compelling evidence that firms are operating at increasing returns to scale.

This paper provides substantial evidence that real estate brokerage firms choosing to franchise are more cost-efficient than firms that remain independent. It uses 1995 cost data obtained from a nationwide survey of real estate brokerages to analyze the differences in firm efficiency across firm type—franchised and independent. We estimate a single stochastic cost frontier using Bayesian statistics and measure firm efficiency relative to that frontier conditional on firm type. The results indicate that real estate brokerages are relatively efficient, implying a competitive market, but franchised brokerages are substantially more efficient than their independent counterparts.

In response to escalating business travel costs, many firms have formed corporate travel management departments to help control these expenses. This study examines how efficiently these departments are operating by employing a stochastic frontier technique in addition to a linear programming procedure. Both of these methods construct efficient frontiers that represent the minimum costs that need to be allocated to corporate travel given the number of trips that firms take. Any costs incurred beyond the efficient frontiers are deemed excess, and the firms are classified as inefficient. The results using both procedures indicate that the corporate travel management departments are relatively efficient. In a competitive market, it is expected that more firms will begin to use in-house travel management departments to help control the rise of travel-related expenses.

Executive Summary: In this article, we estimate X-efficiency levels in the nursing home industry and investigate the impact of their profit status and chain affiliation on performance. Using a Bayesian stochastic frontier approach and a nation-wide data set, we find that nursing homes are relatively cost inefficient. We also find strong evidence that chain affiliations and nonprofit status reduce a firm's operational cost efficiency. Finding that chain-affiliated homes are less cost efficient than independent homes casts concerns on the industry in light of the recent growth in chain affiliations.

We tested the hypothesis that cross-bridge mechanisms of contraction differed in early postmenopausal women who did or did not receive hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Vastus lateralis biopsies were obtained from 17 postmenopausal women (49–57 years old), 8 of whom were on HRT for the previous 24 ± 5 months and 9 of whom were never on HRT. Electrophoresis and enzyme histochemistry revealed that fiber myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform distribution, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of slow and fast fibers, and the relative CSA occupied by each, were similar for HRT and non-HRT groups. Single permeabilized fibers containing type IIa MHC had greater Ca2+-activated peak specific force, unloaded shortening velocity, and peak power than fibers containing type I MHC, but in all cases the values for HRT and non-HRT groups were similar. In this cross-sectional study, we found no evidence that Ca2+-activated fiber function, MHC isoform distribution, or relative CSA occupied by slow and fast fibers differed between HRT and non-HRT groups.

This paper examines how group-based assessments concerning employee ability impact employee compensation. The employer learns about worker ability through Bayesian updating, creating an additional channel for wage growth that is not available to those workers with only general labor market experience. Consistent with the model's predictions, results from National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) indicate that black workers fare much better relative to white workers in returns to tenure than in returns to experience. Finally, parameter estimates in the structural model suggest that employers initially undervalue black males but that their wages rise with learning by employers over time. On average black males earn lower wages than white males, just as average wages differ across many groups. This paper examines one explanation for this wage gap: the possibility that employers underestimate the ability of workers in one or more groups. In particular, this paper proposes a model that provides explicit predictions about the affect of employer's perceptions on workers' returns to general experience and tenure on the job. We then examine the wage growth of young males to see whether patterns are consistent with the model. Economic theory provides many other explanations for differences in wages across groups.