Ecological footprints and sustainable urban form

This paper presents the results of a four-yearresearch project (1997–2001) entitled `Housingas a basis for sustainable consumption'. Theoverall aim was to obtain more empirical andtheoretical knowledge about the connectionbetween physical urban planning and householdconsumption. This knowledge provides a platformfor discussing principles and practices forsustainable urban development.This project was based on two main assumptions.First, it was suggested that the significantand increasing environmental damage due toprivate household consumption presents a majorchallenge in achieving sustainable development.Second, a large part of this consumption appears to be influenced by our physical livingsituation, i.e., the way we design and locateour houses. This also applies to energy use forheating and technical appliances, transport,and even to the considerable amount ofequipment that is needed for householdoperation, redecoration and maintenance. Withrespect to transport, the study team includedboth everyday travel and leisure-time journeysin this research. While everyday trips such astravelling to work, shopping and taking thechildren to school are strongly influenced bythe living situation of the household, thismight also be true for leisure-time travel.Based on two large surveys in the Norwegiantowns of Greater Oslo and Førde, the studyteam collected data on housing-relatedconsumption from 537 households. Ecological Footprinting was then used asan analytical tool to analyse the environmentalconsequences of this consumption. Theseecological footprint analyses suggest thatsustainable urban development points towardsdecentralized concentration, i.e.,relatively small cities with a high density andshort distances between the houses andpublic/private services.     

Concentrations and emission rates of aerial ammonia, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide, dust and endotoxin in UK broiler and layer houses

Standard treatment for limited stage adenocarcinoma of the breast includes lumpectomy (or a quadrantectomy), axillary node dissection, regional radiation therapy and, if the prognostic factors are unfavourable, chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. This is supported by the results of American and European randomised trials. There have been many attempts at improving the modalities of conservative surgery and postoperative radiation therapy in order to maximize local control and minimize late sequellae. It is also likely that induction chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy applied in selected cases increase the proportion of patients who can be offered conservative surgery.     

A spread-spectrum based synchronization technique for digitalbroadcast systems

A technique that has been verified experimentally to improve the synchronization efficiency of digital communication systems over present systems without sacrificing reliability is presented. This technique is called the spread-spectrum system pilot technique (SSPT). Incorporated into this technique are elements of tone-calibrated techniques (TCT) and spread-spectrum systems. In the SSPT system, the desired pilot tone is modulated by a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) generator of finite duration and then linearly added to the source (customer) data that is actually being sent. At the receiver, the same finite PRBS sequence is used to decode the received signal. The system works because it provides an accurate version of the actual data carrier to be used in demodulation of the received signal. Based on the research presented, it is expected that this type of system will lead to better performance than currently used transparent-tone-in-band and other techniques used in multipath fading environments, which are especially problematic in mobile broadcast and communication applications     

Embedding simple machines to add novel dynamic functions to composites

One unique property of a machine-augmented composite (MAC) is its ability to convert a compressive force into a shear force, and vice versa, simply by the geometry of its angled sidewalls. The authors have discovered that a non-spinning ball dropped at a normal angle onto the MAC’s surface rebounds from that surface at an oblique angle and develops a significant rotational velocity. Through finite-element analyses, analytical study, and experiments, the magnitude and direction of the spin can be precisely controlled by tailoring the stiffness of the MAC through the properties and dimensions of its constituent materials. For more information, contact Gary F. Hawkins, The Aerospace Corporation, P.O. Box 92957 — M2/242, Los Angeles, CA 90009-2957; (310) 336-7379; fax (310) 336-5846; e-mail gary.f.hawkins@aero.org.     

Doublecortin May Play a Role in Defining Chondrocyte Phenotype

Embryonic development of articular cartilage has not been well understood and the role of doublecortin (DCX) in determination of chondrocyte phenotype is unknown. Here, we use a DCX promoter-driven eGFP reporter mouse model to study the dynamic gene expression profiles in mouse embryonic handplates at E12.5 to E13.5 when the condensed mesenchymal cells differentiate into either endochondral chondrocytes or joint interzone cells. Illumina microarray analysis identified a variety of genes that were expressed differentially in the different regions of mouse handplate. The unique expression patterns of many genes were revealed. Cytl1 and 3110032G18RIK were highly expressed in the proximal region of E12.5 handplate and the carpal region of E13.5 handplate, whereas Olfr538, Kctd15, and Cited1 were highly expressed in the distal region of E12.5 and the metacarpal region of E13.5 handplates. There was an increasing gradient of Hrc expression in the proximal to distal direction in E13.5 handplate. Furthermore, when human DCX protein was expressed in human adipose stem cells, collagen II was decreased while aggrecan, matrilin 2, and GDF5 were increased during the 14-day pellet culture. These findings suggest that DCX may play a role in defining chondrocyte phenotype.     

Calibration of multiplexed fiber-optic spectroscopy

Large-scale commercial bioprocesses that manufacture biopharmaceutical products such as monoclonal antibodies generally involve multiple bioreactors operated in parallel. Spectra recorded during in situ monitoring of multiple bioreactors by multiplexed fiber-optic spectroscopies contain not only spectral information of the chemical constituents but also contributions resulting from differences in the optical properties of the probes. Spectra with variations induced by probe differences cannot be efficiently modeled by the commonly used multivariate linear calibration models or effectively removed by popular empirical preprocessing methods. In this study, for the first time, a calibration model is proposed for the analysis of complex spectral data sets arising from multiplexed probes. In the proposed calibration model, the spectral variations introduced by probe differences are explicitly modeled by introducing a multiplicative parameter for each optical probe, and then their detrimental effects are effectively mitigated through a "dual calibration" strategy. The performance of the proposed multiplex calibration model has been tested on two multiplexed spectral data sets (i.e., MIR data of ternary mixtures and NIR data of bioprocesses). Experimental results suggest that the proposed calibration model can effectively mitigate the detrimental effects of probe differences and hence provide much more accurate predictions than commonly used multivariate linear calibration models (such as PLS) with and without empirical data preprocessing methods such as orthogonal signal correction, standard normal variate, or multiplicative signal correction.     

Assessment of high and low contrast visual acuity after photorefractive keratectomy for myopia

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to assess visual acuity using standardized charts and illumination conditions after photorefractive keratectomy. METHODS: High and low contrast visual acuity were measured on Bailey-Lovie logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) charts under high and low illumination conditions on 105 photorefractive keratectomy patients who had been treated with the Summit (N = 60) or the VISX (N = 45) excimer laser. RESULTS: Best corrected visual acuity was reduced in the treated eye compared with the untreated control eye under all test conditions, with the greatest differences under conditions of low contrast and low illumination. Reduction of acuity under low contrast and low illumination was related to small optic zone sizes and steep ablation edge profiles found in Summit-treated eyes. In the VISX-treated eyes, high contrast acuity was reduced in the presence of central topographical irregularities, subepithelial haze, and higher myopic corrections. CONCLUSIONS: Testing conditions such as those described here may be useful in quantifying vision degradation in suboptimal viewing conditions and among patients with vague complaints.     

Immunological influences in attention-deficit disorder and schizophrenia; is there a link between these two conditions?

This paper aims to explore the influence of the immune system on the pathobiochemistry of movement disorders (Tourette syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorders and attention-deficit disorder, with and without hyperactivity) and schizophrenia. In children, a temporal relationship has been observed between contraction of a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection and subsequent presentation with one of the movement disorders. Pathology investigations reveal that elevated antineuronal antibodies are associated with movement disorders. Similarly, elevations in interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 have been reported in schizophrenia. It is now known that the immune system can be activated by conditions other than a viral or bacterial infection, such as: neurological insult, neurotoxicity--endogenous and environmental, neurotransmitter and cholesterol dysregulation. These latter avenues of immune system activation will be explored with respect to schizophrenia.     

Understanding the pre-referral factors associated with differential 6-month outcomes among children receiving system-of-care services.

The authors of this study used a subset of data from the national evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program to investigate the prereferral characteristics and experiences of children with serious emotional disturbance as they relate to indicators of clinically significant improvement and deterioration during their first 6 months of service. Minority racial/ethnic background, a history of substance and out-of-home placement were identified as predictors of deterioration at 6 months, higher levels of functional impairment, higher levels of caregiver strain, and poorer academic functioning were associated with significantly lower odds of deterioration. Initial service experience was examined in an effort to explain the relationship between identified prereferral characteristics and 6-month change status. Implications are considered and discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Firm Performance and Information Technology Utilization in the Construction Industry

This paper, which is written to both researchers and practitioners, examines the impact of information technology (IT) on construction firm performance. Based on data collected from 74 construction firms, regression analysis is used to test the relationship between performance and IT. Analysis provides empirical evidence that IT is positively associated with firm performance, schedule performance, and cost performance. Firm performance is a composite score of several metrics of performance: schedule performance, cost performance, customer satisfaction, safety performance, and profit. The regression analysis shows that for every 1?unit increase in IT utilization, there is an increase of about 2, 5, and 3% in firm performance, schedule performance, and cost performance, respectively. No relationship is found between IT use and customer satisfaction, safety performance, and profitability.