We continue our investigation of the real space H of Hermitian matrices in $${M_n}(\mathbb{C})$$ with respect to norms on $${\mathbb{C}^n}$$. We complete the commutative case by showing that any proper real subspace of the real diagonal matrices on $${\mathbb{C}^n}$$ can appear as H. For the non-commutative case, we give a complete solution when n=3 and we provide various illustrative examples for n ≥ 4. We end with a short list of problems.

We evaluated the impact of reflex urine culture screen results on antibiotic initiation. More patients with positive urine screen but negative culture received antibiotics than those with a negative screen (30.5 vs 7.1%). Urine screen results may inappropriately influence antibiotic initiation in patients with a low likelihood of infection.

We investigate the real space H of Hermitian matrices in $M_n(\mathbb{C})$ with respect to norms on $\mathbb{C}^n$ . For absolute norms, the general form of Hermitian matrices was essentially established by Schneider and Turner [Schneider and Turner, Linear and Multilinear Algebra (1973), 9–31]. Here, we offer a much shorter proof. For non-absolute norms, we begin an investigation of H by means of a series of examples, with particular reference to dimension and commutativity.

Field experiments were conducted in 1984 and 1985 at Stuttgart, AR, to investigate the interspecific and intraspecific interference of broadleaf signalgrass densities of 0, 10, 50, 100, and 150 plants/m2 with rice. In 1984, significant reductions in rice leaf area index (LAI) occurred 6 weeks after emergence with all broadleaf signalgrass densities. The first reduction in LAI occurred 8 weeks after emergence at the density of 150 plants/m2 in 1985. Densities of 50 plants/m2 or greater reduced rice dry weight 6 weeks after emergence in 1984, and the highest density of 150 plants/m2 reduced rice dry weight 12 weeks after emergence in 1985. Height of rice was reduced by densities of 100 and 150 plants/m2. Linear regression equations indicated that each broadleaf signalgrass plant/m2 reduced rough rice yield 18 kg/ha both years. Growth of broadleaf signalgrass was reduced by interspecific and intraspecific interference. The dry weight of broadleaf signalgrass increased at a decreasing rate at plant densities of 100 to 150/m2 when grown alone in 1984 and 1985, when a quadratic equation best described the response. Regression equations indicated interspecific interference from rice reduced broadleaf signalgrass dry weight an average of 48 and 81% in 1984 and 1985, respectively. The height of broadleaf signalgrass was greater when grown with rice than when grown alone.

Interference from broadleaf signalgrass at a density of 180 plants/m2 reduced rough rice yields of ‘Bond’ a maximum of 48% at 95 days after rice emergence and reduced yields of ‘Mars' a maximum of 21% from season-long interference. Interference durations of 40 days or longer reduced the panicles/m2, culms/m2, and plant height of rice. Straw dry weight of Bond and Mars was reduced 41 and 26%, respectively, from season-long interference. Increased durations of weed interference did not affect the number of spikelets/panicle, percent filled spikelets, rough kernel weight, or head rice yield of either cultivar. Broadleaf signalgrass produced less dry weight and fewer panicles/m2 when grown with Mars than with Bond.

We used a web-based mixed methods survey (HowsYourHealth – Frail) to explore the health of frail older (78% age 80 or older) adults enrolled in a home-based primary care program in Vancouver, Canada. Sixty per cent of eligible respondents participated, representing over one quarter (92/350, 26.2%) of all individuals receiving the service. Despite high levels of co-morbidity and functional dependence, 50 per cent rated their health as good, very good, or excellent. Adjusted odds ratios for positive self-rated health were 7.50, 95 per cent CI [1.09, 51.81] and 4.85, 95 per cent CI [1.02, 22.95] for absence of bothersome symptoms and being able to talk to family or friends respectively. Narrative responses to questions about end of life and living with illness are also described. Results suggest that greater focus on symptom management, and supporting social contact, may improve frail seniors’ health.

In order to examine the mechanism whereby stunted children have poor developmental levels, we compared the behaviour of stunted (N=78) and nonstunted (N=26) children aged 12 to 24 months, and examined the relationship of their behaviour to their developmental levels. The effect of nutritional supplementation with or without psychosocial stimulation on the stunted children's behaviour was also examined. The children were observed at home during 4 days over a period of 6 months. The stunted children showed significantly more apathy, and less enthusiasm and variety in exploring, were less happy and more fussy. Caretakers' vocalisations to them were less warm or instructive. Stunted children's activity level, exploratory and happy behaviours were predictive of change in developmental levels measured on the Griffiths Scales, from enrolment to 12 and 24 months later. Supplementation predicted mental age at 12 and 24 months after enrolment, however, it had no significant effect on behaviour.

The response of the Antarctic ice sheet to climate change over the next 500 years is calculated using the output of a transient-coupled ocean-atmosphere simulation assuming the atmospheric CO2 value increases up to three times present levels. The main effects on the ice sheet on this time-scale include increasing rates of accumulation, minimal surface melting, and basal melting of ice shelves. A semi-Lagrangian transport scheme for moisture was used to improve the model’s ability to represent realistic rates of accumulation under present-day conditions, and thereby increase confidence in the anomalies calculated under a warmer climate. The response of the Antarctic ice sheet to the warming is increased accumulation inland, offset by loss from basal melting from the floating ice, and increased ice flow near the grounding line. The preliminary results of this study show that the change to the ice-sheet balance for the transient-coupled model forcing amounted to a minimal sea-level contribution in the next century, but a net positive sea-level rise of 0.21 m by 500 years. This new result supercedes earlier results that showed the Antarctic ice sheet made a net negative contribution to sea-level rise over the next century. However, the amplitude of the sea-level rise is still dominated In the much larger contributions expected from thermal expansion of the ocean of 0.25 m for 100 years and 1.00 m for 500 years.