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In seeking to promote cycling in wintertime, it is desirable to understand how important the winter maintenance service level is in people's decision to cycle or not, and methods to compare different road conditions on cycleways are therefore needed. By measuring friction, an assessment of the service level can be achieved, but methods available often involve the use of large vehicles, which can lead to overloading damage on cycleways, and constitute a safety risk for cyclists and pedestrians. A portable friction tester (PFT), originally designed to measure friction on road markings, was thought to be an appropriate instrument for cycleways and was, therefore, tested on different winter road conditions, and on different cycleway pavement materials. In this study, it was found that the PFT is a valuable tool for measuring friction on cycleways. Different winter road conditions, as well as different pavement materials, can be distinguished from each other through PFT measurements. The PFT provides a good complement to visual inspections of cycleways in winter maintenance evaluation and can, for example, be used to determine if desired service levels have been achieved. CE Database keywords: Bicycles; Friction; Measurement; Roads; Maintenance.

Fundamental effects in nanophotonic resonance systems focused on singular states and their properties are presented. Strongly related to lattice geometry and material composition, there appear resonant bright channels and non-resonant dark channels in the spectra. The bright state corresponds to high reflectivity guided-mode resonance (GMR) whereas the dark channel represents a bound state in the continuum (BIC). Even in simple systems, singular states with tunable bandwidth appear as isolated spectral lines that are widely separated from other resonance features. Under moderate lattice modulation, there ensues leaky-band metamorphosis, merging modal bands and resulting in offset dark states and reflective BICs along with transmissive BICs within a high-reflectance wideband. Rytov-type effective medium theory (EMT) is shown to be a powerful means to describe, formulate, and understand the collective GMR/BIC fundamentals in resonant photonic systems. Particularly, the discarded Rytov analytical solution for asymmetric fields is shown here to predict the dark BIC states essentially exactly for considerable modulation levels. The propagation constant of an equivalent EMT homogeneous film provides a quantitative evaluation of the eminent, oft-cited embedded BIC eigenvalue. The work concludes with experimental verification of key effects.

We experimentally verify a new class of coherent absorbers based on guided-mode resonance effects in periodic thin films. We design a silicon-based resonant absorber that is fabricated and tested near the 1300-nm wavelength. Implementing phase control, the device can, in principle, be switched between full absorption and full scattering. The first experimental prototype presented herein shows ∼78% absorption in the in-phase state. Nearly total scattering is realized in the out-of-phase state. The experimental results agree reasonably well with theory. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The 'nanny state' has become a popular metaphor in debates about public health regulation. It fulfils a particular role in that debate: to caution government against taking action. This paper presents case studies of nanny state criticisms, using them to identify a series of contextual features that may assist in better understanding, evaluating and where appropriate, resisting the rhetorical force of nanny state criticisms. The case studies presented include Rush Limbaugh's reactions to Michelle Obama's efforts to encourage American food companies to market healthier food to children; Christopher Hitchens' critique of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's public health policies; and the reaction of neoliberal think tanks to Australia's plain tobacco packaging legislation. These case studies do not provide a basis for making generalisations about the practice of 'nanny state name-calling'. Nor do they preclude debate about the appropriate limits of government action. However, in appropriate cases they may assist policy-makers and public health advocates to contest the framing of public health interventions as unwarranted incursions into the private lives of individuals. One important lesson from these case studies is that the principal concern of nanny state critics is not loss of freedom as such, but the role of the state. The nanny state critique is ultimately a call for the state to be agnostic about the health of citizens, allowing market forces to dominate. Although the nanny state critique is not new, it is a significant challenge to government efforts to address lifestyle-influenced risk factors for non-communicable diseases, including tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, and unhealthy diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead-free ammunition is becoming increasingly popular because of the environmental and human health issues associated with the use of leaded ammunition. However, there is a lack of data on the emissions produced by firing such ammunition. We report emission factors for toxic gases and particle-bound compounds produced by firing lead-free ammunition in a test chamber. Carbon monoxide, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide levels within the chamber were analysed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, while total suspended particles and respirable particles were determined gravimetrically. The metal content of the particulate emissions was determined and the associated organic compounds were characterized in detail using a method based on thermal desorption coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The particulate matter (∼30 mg/round) consisted primarily of metals such as Cu, Zn, and Fe along with soot arising from incomplete combustion. Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic aromatic compounds such as carbazole, quinolone, and phenazine were responsible for some of the 25 most significant chromatographic peaks, together with PAHs, diphenylamine, and phthalates. Emission factors were determined for PAHs and oxygenated PAHs; the latter were less abundant in the gun smoke particles than in domestic dust and diesel combustion smoke. This may be due to the oxygen-deficient conditions that occur when the gun is fired. By using an electrical low pressure impactor, it was demonstrated that more than 90% of the particles produced immediately after firing the weapon had diameters of less than 30 nm, and so most of the gun smoke particles belonged to the nanoparticle regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at developing a new approach for analyzing life-cycle costs for road barriers during the road planning and design process. A method called Activity-Based Life-Cycle Costing using the Monte Carlo Simulation was used to analyze and calculate the lifecycle costs. The results show a potential for increasing efficiency throughout the road planning and design process by minimizing the life-cycle costs of road components. The results also show that implementation of life-cycle cost analyses in the road planning and design process is possible, but difficult, mainly due to lack of relevant data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to perform an initial characterization of Swedish soldiers' exposure to air pollutants in Afghanistan and screen for potential health hazards. Stationary monitoring was performed in two military camps, International Security Assistance Force Headquarters in Kabul and Camp Northern Lights in Mazar-e Sharif, at both outdoor and indoor locations. A broad screening including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), oxygenated PAHs, n-alkanes, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide, toxic metals, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was performed over 2 weeks in the autumn of 2009. The results were compared to current air quality guidelines. Particulate matter was identified as the main potential health hazard since military exposure guidelines for marginal effects were exceeded outdoors. In addition, especially in Kabul, levels of particle-bound PAHs and oxy-PAHs were high, whereas levels of toxic metals were generally low. Among gaseous pollutants, elevated NO2 levels in Kabul supported combustion as a major contributor to the poor air quality. VOC levels were generally low, but levels of some pollutants exceeded current guidelines. Because of elevated concentrations of particles with a high content of toxic organics, further monitoring and characterization of the occupational environment are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It can be problematic to collect representative samples in the occupational environment of deployed soldiers using personal samplers. In this study, several air sampling strategies were examined to identify the most efficient method for collecting air samples that were representative of the soldiers' exposure profiles at the Swedish KFOR Camp Victoria outside Pristina, Kosovo. Stationary monitoring was performed during two 5-day sampling campaigns, one in summer and one in winter. The acquired data were related to measurements obtained by personal monitoring of three and four subgroups, respectively. Patrolling soldiers, mechanics, and indoor workers were selected to represent groups with different exposure profiles, and the particles, metals associated with particles, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, and volatile organic compounds that they were exposed to were measured. Generally, low concentrations of the analytes were found in both sampling periods, but the variability was greater in the winter campaign. Samples collected by stationary samplers captured most of the variation in the personnel's exposure, according to principal component analysis (PCA). However, the results also indicate that personal exposure to most potential pollutants would be underestimated if a single outdoor station was used to monitor them. Nevertheless, combined data from stations located outdoors and in relevant microenvironments (workshop, office, and guard station) provided substantially better representation. Thus, it may be possible to obtain monitoring data without using personal samplers in these inherently problematic situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, are the leading cause of death and disability in both the developed and developing world (excluding sub-Saharan Africa). At present, the global framework for action on chronic disease is strongly 'World Health Organization (WHO)-centric', defined by two WHO initiatives: the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. This paper explores the difficulties of developing a collective response to global health challenges, and draws out some implications for chronic disease. It highlights how political partnerships and improved governance structures, economic processes, and international laws and standards function as three, concurrent pathways for encouraging policy implementation at country level and for building collective commitment to address the transnational determinants of chronic disease. The paper evaluates WHO's initiatives on chronic disease in terms of these pathways, and makes the case for a global compact on chronic disease as a possible structure for advancing WHO's free-standing goal of reducing mortality from chronic diseases by an additional 2% between 2005 and 2015. Beneath this overarching structure, the paper argues that global agencies, donor governments and other global health stakeholders could achieve greater impact by coordinating their efforts within a series of semi-autonomous 'policy channels' or 'workstreams'. These workstreams -- including trade and agriculture, consumer health issues and workplace health promotion -- could act as focal points for international cooperation, drawing in a wider range of health stakeholders within their areas of comparative advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have previously found that isolated B-CLL cells from progressive disease produce less interleukin-1β (IL-lβ) as compared with cells from patients with indolent disease. Here we extend that finding to include measurements of IL-1β mRNA and secretion of I L-lα and interleukin-6 (IL- 6). As before, a lower production of IL-lβ was found in cells from progressive disease. IL-6 was produced by cells from patients at all stages, with a tendency to follow the 1L-1β production. Low secretion of IL-la was noted. When viable cells were permeabilized and analysed at the single cell level with monoclonal antibodies, most B-CLL cells were found to contain 1L-lα. A minor fraction of non-permcabilized cells expressed IL-1β the cell membrane. However, only small fractions of cells were positive for intracellular IL-1β (> 1%) and almost no IL-6-positive cells were found. We conclude that either IL-lβ and IL-6 are produced by a minor population of undefined cells, or that a more sensitive in situ method is needed to detect production of these cytokines in B-CLL cells. The possible biological significance of secreted, and membrane-expressed helper factors in B-CLL is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide experimental evidence of a hybrid photonic device supporting simultaneously surface-plasmon polaritons and resonant leaky modes. A fabricated metallo-dielectric structure exhibits a pronounced plasmonic resonance at 799 nm wavelength and a modal resonance at 669 nm in transverse magnetic polarization. In transverse electric polarization, a weak modal resonance appears at 725 nm wavelength. We identify the corresponding modes by computing the attendant internal field distributions. Numerically computed spectra are in good agreement with our measurements. Since traditional modal and plasmonic devices find many uses, their hybrid versions may enable the extension of their applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]