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Information about several papers discussed at the 2nd Conference on Skeletal Biology and Medicine on April 25-28, 2007 in New York City is presented. Topics include skeletal medicine which encompasses the fields of aging, obstetrics, pharmacology and gynecology. The event aims to allow new researches relevant to joints and bones, to permit junior investigators in joining peer and mentors dialogue and to provide scientists and academic physicians with new opportunities.

We discuss the potential for adopting a critical load (CL) of air pollutant-deposition approach to inform natural resource protection and management in New York. The CL reflects the quantitative exposure to pollutants below which significant harmful effects on specified sensitive elements of the environment do not occur. Here, we discuss how CLs can be used to protect sensitive ecosystems against the harmful effects of atmospheric sulfur and nitrogen deposition and associated soil and water acidification and nutrient enrichment. The CL can be used diagnostically to determine resources at risk and prescriptively to evaluate the effectiveness of regulations and to manage resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the aftermaths of Hurricanes Irene, in 2011, and Sandy, in 2012, New York City has come to recognize the critical need to better prepare for future storm surges and to anticipate future trends, such as climate change and socio-economic developments. The research presented in this report assesses the costs of six different flood management strategies to anticipate long-term challenges the City will face. The proposed strategies vary from increasing resilience by upgrading building codes and introducing small scale protection measures, to creating green infrastructure as buffer zones and large protective engineering works such as storm surge barriers. The initial investment costs of alternative strategies vary between $11.6 and $23.8 bn, maximally. We show that a hybrid solution, combining protection of critical infrastructure and resilience measures that can be upgraded over time, is less expensive. However, with increasing risk in the future, storm surge barriers may become cost-effective, as they can provide protection to the largest areas in both New York and New Jersey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterfronts are attractive areas for many-often competing-uses in New York City (NYC) and are seen as multifunctional locations for economic, environmental, and social activities on the interface between land and water. The NYC waterfront plays a crucial role as a first line of flood defense and in managing flood risk and protecting the city from future climate change and sea-level rise. The city of New York has embarked on a climate adaptation program (PlaNYC) outlining the policies needed to anticipate the impacts of climate change. As part of this policy, the Department of City Planning has recently prepared Vision 2020: New York City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan for the over 500 miles of NYC waterfront (). An integral part of the vision is to improve resilience to climate change and sea-level rise. This study seeks to provide guidance for advancing the goals of NYC Vision 2020 by assessing how flood insurance, flood zoning, and building code policies can contribute to waterfront development that is more resilient to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The New York Stem Cell Foundation's 'Fifth Annual Translational Stem Cell Research Conference' convened on October 12-13, 2010 at the Rockefeller University in New York City. The conference attracted over 400 scientists, patient advocates, and stem cell research supporters from 16 countries. In addition to poster and platform presentations, the conference featured panels entitled 'Road to the Clinic' and 'Regulatory Roadblocks.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presented by the New York Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health, the symposium 'Probiotic Foods and Supplements: The Science and Regulations of Labeling,' was held on June 12, 2010 at the New York Academy of Sciences, New York, NY, the goals of which were to facilitate the exchange of ideas regarding labeling and substantiation of claims for probiotics among academic, industry, and regulatory professionals, and to discuss ways to translate and communicate research results in a truthful way to the consumer and to such health professionals as physicians, pharmacists, and dieticians. The target audience for this symposium included academicians interested in conducting research on the health benefits of probiotics; scientists; communications personnel, and regulatory specialists from companies involved in, or interested in, the marketing of probiotics; U.S. government regulatory experts tasked with oversight of probiotic foods and dietary supplement products; and other experts in the field interested in the development of probiotics for the U.S. market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the challenges of climate changes in New York City. It offers information on previous assessments of the impacts of climate changes and adaptation studies in the New York City region. It discusses the extreme climate events faced by the city and their impacts on the critical infrastructure, the city's sustainability plan, PlaNYC, created by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the plans and works of the New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC), launched in August 2008.

The article focuses on the incorporation of both the greenhouse gas mitigation actions and the adaptation to climate change in the risk management plans by the New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC). It discusses the efficacy of a risk-based approach to climate change adaptation, the risk management for the mitigation of greenhouse emissions and the climate adaptation, and the Flexible Adaptation Pathways to address the impacts of climate hazards on critical infrastructure in the city.

The article focuses on the role of the private insurance industry in developing climate change adaptation pathways for the New York City region. It discusses how the experiences of insurance companies in translating risk information into commercial practices can help the risk management approach of the New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC). It states that the insurance industry risk assessment tools can be used to evaluate possible economic costs of climatic events.

The workbook "Climate Protection Levels" (CPL) on the impacts of climate changes on the infrastructure in New York City that relates to articles that appeared in the periodical "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences" is presented.