Basic Terra fusion product algorithm theoretical basis and data specifications

The basic Terra fusion product provides general atmospheric and surface research community a unique temporally-fused set of radiance measurements from all the Terra instruments, namely, the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), the Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES), and the Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT). This product contains (1) radiance values of IOFVs (pixels) for each spectral band at a native resolution for each instrument, (2) their quality flags associated with radiance values, (3) their latitude and longitude information at a native resolution, (4) time of observations, (5) instrument viewing geometry, and (6) solar position.NASA ACCESS program under contract NNX16AMO7AThis research is part of the Blue Waters sustained-petascale computing project, which is supported by the National Science Foundation (awards OCI-0725070 and ACI-1238993) and the state of Illinois. Blue Waters is a joint effort of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and its National Center for Supercomputing Applications.The computations for this research also used the NSF-supported ROGER (Resourcing Open Geospatial Education and Research) cyberGIS supercomputer (Award#: 1429699).Ope

The Lifelong Mortality Risks of World War II Experiences

This longitudinal study of American veterans investigated the mortality risks of five World War II military experiences (i.e., combat exposure) and their variation among veterans in the post-war years

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in obesity-related genes and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a prospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to examine the associations between 16 specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 8 obesity-related genes and overall and cause-specific mortality. We also examined the associations between the SNPs and body mass index (BMI) and change in BMI over time.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were analyzed from 9,919 individuals who participated in two large community-based cohort studies conducted in Washington County, Maryland in 1974 (CLUE I) and 1989 (CLUE II). DNA from blood collected in 1989 was genotyped for 16 SNPs in 8 obesity-related genes: monoamine oxidase A (<it>MAOA</it>), lipoprotein lipase (<it>LPL</it>), paraoxonase 1 and 2 (<it>PON1 </it>and <it>PON2</it>), leptin receptor (<it>LEPR</it>), tumor necrosis factor-α (<it>TNFα</it>), and peroxisome proliferative activated receptor-γ and -δ (<it>PPARG </it>and <it>PPARD</it>). Data on height and weight in 1989 (CLUE II baseline) and at age 21 were collected from participants at the time of blood collection. All participants were followed from 1989 to the date of death or the end of follow-up in 2005. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to obtain the relative risk (RR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each SNP and mortality outcomes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results showed no patterns of association for the selected SNPs and the all-cause and cause-specific mortality outcomes, although statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) were observed between <it>PPARG </it>rs4684847 and all-cause mortality (CC: reference; CT: RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.89, 1.11; TT: RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.39, 0.93) and cancer-related mortality (CC: reference; CT: RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.82, 1.25; TT: RR 0.22, 95% CI 0.06, 0.90) and <it>TNFα </it>rs1799964 and cancer-related mortality (TT: reference; CT: RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.03, 1.47; CC: RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.54, 1.28). Additional analyses showed significant associations between SNPs in <it>LEPR </it>with BMI (rs1137101) and change in BMI over time (rs1045895 and rs1137101).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Findings from this cohort study suggest that the selected SNPs are not associated with overall or cause-specific death, although several <it>LEPR </it>SNPs may be related to BMI and BMI change over time.</p

Robust 6DOF motion estimation for non-overlapping multi-camera systems

This paper introduces a novel, robust approach for 6DOF motion estimation of a multi-camera system with non-overlapping views. The proposed approach is able to solve the pose estimation, including scale, for a two camera system with non-overlapping views. In contrast to previous approaches, it degrades gracefully if the motion is close to degenerate. For degenerate motions the technique estimates the remaining 5DOF. The proposed technique is evaluated on real and synthetic sequences.Brian Clipp, Jae-Hak Kim, Jan-Michael Frahm, Marc Pollefeys and Richard Hartle

Effects of Patch-burn Grazing on Breeding Density and Territory Size of Dickcissels

Ongoing habitat loss and intensification of management of remaining grasslands have led to large population declines of grassland songbirds in North America. As an alternative to intensive and homogeneous use of rangelands, patch-burn grazing creates heterogeneity in vegetative structure across the landscape by restoring the historical interaction of fire and grazing by large ungulates. Patch-burn grazing can increase diversity and abundance of grassland songbirds, but effects on local breeding density and territory size remain unknown, despite both being important in regulating population dynamics of species. Understanding patterns of density and territory size across the landscape is especially important for species experiencing steep declines in breeding habitat, such as grassland songbirds. During a two-year field study, we tested how densities and territory sizes of Dickcissels (Spiza americana), a common grassland songbird, varied among treatment units that were managed with patch-burn grazing or annual burning with or without grazing at a tallgrass prairie site in northeastern Kansas. We found that local densities of male Dickcissels did not differ among management regimes. However, within the patch-burn grazing treatment, densities were highest in the patch that was burned the previous year and lowest in the most recently burned patch. Furthermore, densities of male Dickcissels were lower in 2013 than in 2014, especially in burned and grazed units that had little vegetative structure and nest cover after the drought conditions of the previous two years. Territory size was not affected by rangeland management, while local densities of Dickcissels only explained ~10% of the variation in territory size. Our results show that patch-burn grazing does not negatively impact densities of breeding Dickcissels compared to annual burning and grazing. Moreover, Dickcissel populations might benefit from patch-burn grazing if males preferentially settle in unburned patches with high forb cover, especially during or directly following drought conditions

Effects of patch-burn grazing on breeding density and territory size of Dickcissels

Ongoing habitat loss and intensification of management of remaining grasslands have led to large population declines of grassland songbirds in North America. As an alternative to intensive and homogeneous use of rangelands, patch-burn grazing creates heterogeneity in vegetative structure across the landscape by restoring the historical interaction of fire and grazing by large ungulates. Patch-burn grazing can increase diversity and abundance of grassland songbirds, but effects on local breeding density and territory size remain unknown, despite both being important in regulating population dynamics of species. Understanding patterns of density and territory size across the landscape is especially important for species experiencing steep declines in breeding habitat, such as grassland songbirds. During a two-year field study, we tested how densities and territory sizes of Dickcissels (Spiza americana), a common grassland songbird, varied among treatment units that were managed with patch-burn grazing or annual burning with or without grazing at a tallgrass prairie site in northeastern Kansas. We found that local densities of male Dickcissels did not differ among management regimes. However, within the patch-burn grazing treatment, densities were highest in the patch that was burned the previous year and lowest in the most recently burned patch. Furthermore, densities of male Dickcissels were lower in 2013 than in 2014, especially in burned and grazed units that had little vegetative structure and nest cover after the drought conditions of the previous two years. Territory size was not affected by rangeland management, while local densities of Dickcissels only explained ~10% of the variation in territory size. Our results show that patch-burn grazing does not negatively impact densities of breeding Dickcissels compared to annual burning and grazing. Moreover, Dickcissel populations might benefit from patch-burn grazing if males preferentially settle in unburned patches with high forb cover, especially during or directly following drought conditions

The relationship between older cancer survivors’ reports of depression, anxiety and pain to health providers’ findings and mortality

8597 Background: Older cancer survivors may experience psychological distress due to their cancer experience and aging health. This study aimed to compare primary care and specialty providers’ inquiries of pain, depression and anxiety to older cancer survivors’ questionnaire responses. Methods: 153 patients seen in oncology clinics at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Durham, NC) from November 1999 until April 2000 completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and a pain thermometer questionnaire. Blinded chart review examined health provider inquiries of pain, anxiety and depression. Cox proportional hazards survival analyses were performed on subjective pain, anxiety and depression with comorbidities and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) added in controlled models. Results: Patients were on average aged 68, had 5.4 comorbidities, 87.4% KPS, and were 3.1 years from a cancer diagnosis. Health providers missed 17 of 94 patients with significant levels of self-reported pain (sensitivity 0.82). Although 28 (20.6%) and 33 (25.8%) patients screened positively for depression and anxiety respectively, providers asked 7 patients about anxiety (sensitivity 0.15) and 16 patients about depression (sensitivity 0.25). The overall three year mortality was 37.9%. Pain was not associated with mortality. Patients screening for depression [HR 2.03 (95% CI: 1.03, 4.01)] and anxiety [HR 2.02 (95% CI: 1.01, 4.04)] had lower 3 year survival. KPS and comorbidities diminished these effects. Conclusions: In older cancer survivors, anxiety and depression may have an association with mortality. To improve detection, oncology and primary care providers should routinely inquire about mood and aim to intervene with pharmacologic or supportive treatments. No significant financial relationships to disclose. </jats:p

The relationship between older cancer survivors’ reports of depression, anxiety and pain to health providers’ findings and mortality

8597 Background: Older cancer survivors may experience psychological distress due to their cancer experience and aging health. This study aimed to compare primary care and specialty providers’ inquiries of pain, depression and anxiety to older cancer survivors’ questionnaire responses. Methods: 153 patients seen in oncology clinics at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Durham, NC) from November 1999 until April 2000 completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and a pain thermometer questionnaire. Blinded chart review examined health provider inquiries of pain, anxiety and depression. Cox proportional hazards survival analyses were performed on subjective pain, anxiety and depression with comorbidities and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) added in controlled models. Results: Patients were on average aged 68, had 5.4 comorbidities, 87.4% KPS, and were 3.1 years from a cancer diagnosis. Health providers missed 17 of 94 patients with significant levels of self-reported pain (sensitivity 0.82). Although 28 (20.6%) and 33 (25.8%) patients screened positively for depression and anxiety respectively, providers asked 7 patients about anxiety (sensitivity 0.15) and 16 patients about depression (sensitivity 0.25). The overall three year mortality was 37.9%. Pain was not associated with mortality. Patients screening for depression [HR 2.03 (95% CI: 1.03, 4.01)] and anxiety [HR 2.02 (95% CI: 1.01, 4.04)] had lower 3 year survival. KPS and comorbidities diminished these effects. Conclusions: In older cancer survivors, anxiety and depression may have an association with mortality. To improve detection, oncology and primary care providers should routinely inquire about mood and aim to intervene with pharmacologic or supportive treatments. No significant financial relationships to disclose