Search

Professionals and tradespeople do not promote low carbon building options unless they have proven solutions and confidence to implement them. Consequently, without effective education and training they continue to ‘lock in’ high carbon options. Studies of education and training in sustainable and low-carbon building practices indicate collaborative learning approaches are required to address this issue. This paper presents interim results arguing there is potential to explore mobile learning application opportunities using user segmentation and emotional goal modelling methods. The research challenge addressed by this project is how to equip and motivate professionals, tradespeople and consumers to adopt low carbon opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of over-the-counter products, herbals, and vitamins or supplements (collectively termed "nonprescription medications") is common among individuals with cardiovascular disease. We sought to determine patterns and predictors of nonprescription medication use and assessed whether different survey methodology may result in variable patient reporting of these products. Methods and Results: We surveyed 161 patients with heart failure. The first 80 participants were provided a written survey to complete during their clinic appointment, and the next 80 age-matched participants met with study personnel for survey administration via face-to-face interview. Over-the-counter product use was reported by 88% of participants, whereas 34.8% took herbal supplements, and 65.2% took vitamins or supplements. Users of nonprescription medications were older, more likely to have an ischemic etiology, and concomitant chronic conditions. No differences in reporting were noted for patient versus provider-administered surveys. Discrepancies between survey and medical record data were common (40.4%), occurring most frequently with nonprescription aspirin, proton pump inhibitors, magnesium, and acetaminophen. Conclusions: The majority of study participants used nonprescription medications, and often did not report usage to health care providers. Patient education regarding importance of disclosure of nonprescription medications is crucial, as is consistent querying of use by heart failure providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Life expectancy, or the estimated average age of death, is among the most basic measures of a population''s health. However, monitoring differences in life expectancy among sociodemographically defined populations has been challenging, at least in the United States (US), because death certification does not include collection of markers of socioeconomic status (SES). In order to understand how SES and race/ethnicity independently and jointly affected overall health in a contemporary US population, we assigned a small-area-based measure of SES to all 689,036 deaths occurring in California during a three-year period (1999–2001) overlapping the most recent US census. Residence at death was geocoded to the smallest census area available (block group) and assigned to a quintile of a multifactorial SES index. We constructed life tables using mortality rates calculated by age, sex, race/ethnicity and neighborhood SES quintile, and produced corresponding life expectancy estimates. We found a 19.6 (±0.6) year gap in life expectancy between the sociodemographic groups with the longest life expectancy (highest SES quintile of Asian females; 84.9 years) and the shortest (lowest SES quintile of African–American males; 65.3 years). A positive SES gradient in life expectancy was observed among whites and African–Americans but not Hispanics or Asians. Age-specific mortality disparities varied among groups. Race/ethnicity and neighborhood SES had substantial and independent influences on life expectancy, underscoring the importance of monitoring health outcomes simultaneously by these factors. African–American males living in the poorest 20% of California neighborhoods had life expectancy comparable to that reported for males living in developing countries. Neighborhood SES represents a readily-available metric for ongoing surveillance of health disparities in the US. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using subtractive hybridization, we have identified 17 genes that are either up- or down-regulated in the hepatopancreas (Hp) of the lobster, Homarus americanus, by acute exposure to the juvenile hormone analog methoprene. The expression of some of the genes obtained from the subtraction libraries was confirmed by real time Q-PCR experiments. These genes encode several different classes of proteins including: structural, enzymatic and regulatory polypeptides. Enzymes represent the predominant genes up-regulated by methoprene. Included in this group are betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT) and two other enzymes of the methionine cycle. Increased expression of a translation factor (eIF2), as well as of cytosolic (aldose reductase), structural (β-tubulin, L5A) and plasma membrane (CD42d) proteins was observed. In addition, a major feature of altered gene expression in methoprene treated Hp was increased levels of enzymes associated with protein turnover, including trypsin, ubiquitin conjugating enzyme and ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase. Down-regulation of the members of the hemocyanin family was observed. Assays confirmed elevated levels of trypsin in the Hp of lobsters after 24 h exposure to methoprene. Our findings suggest a wide variety of cellular targets are altered by methoprene. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Activities of the enzymes lactase, sucrase, maltese, alkaline phosphatase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in mucosa of duodenum and ileum of the rat after 70% resection of mid-small intestine or sham operation (transection). We also measured the concentrations of zinc, copper, and manganese in several tissues to assess trace metal homeostasis postresection. Resection resulted in decreased specific activities of disaccharidases and alkaline phosphatase in duodenum, while specific activities remained unchanged in ileum. Specific activity of total SOD (the sum of Cu-Zn and Mn SOD) and Mn SOD was the same in duodenum after resection but was markedly increased in ileum. Tissue trace metal concentrations changed minimally. Because of post-resection mucosal growth, total segmental activity of clisaccharidases and alkaline phosphatase was the same in duodenum and increased in ileum of resectul compared to transected rats. Segmental activity of total SOD and Mn SOD doubled in duodenum and trebled in ileum of resected as compared to transected rats Thus, total segmental enzyme activity is maintained or increased postresection by increased enterocyte proliferation rate and mucosal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy from Waste is being deployed in both developed and developing economies as a route to reduce dependency on fossil fuels whilst making positive use of resources which might otherwise be landfilled. Energy from Waste supply chains are complex, with a rich diversity of partners and stakeholders involved. For this purpose, the selection of appropriate criteria to guide supply chain design, and in particular the selection of suppliers, is critical for success. In this study, a three-stage process was conducted to identify, refine and validate an evidence-based model. The evidence based model proposed comprises seven categories of criteria used in the design of these supply chains, namely Economic, Environmental, Location, Operations management, which has a sub-category of Plant operation, Political/Legal and Social. The work reported here supports practitioners and researchers involved in supply chain partner selection to systematise their thinking in relation to the criteria that may impact their study or project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that the perturbed stress field beneath valleys can result in roof instabilities in shallow underground coal and stone mines. Quantitatively predicting the magnitude of these stress perturbations, particularly beneath complicated three-dimensional (3D) topography, has not become commonplace in mine planning, perhaps due to the complexity and time-consuming nature of the problem. Here we utilize 3D digital elevation models and the 3D boundary element method (BEM) approach to efficiently calculate the pre-mining topographically perturbed stress field in the vicinity of the Carroll Hollow coal mine in eastern Ohio. We find that regions of elevated compressive stress in the mine correspond to areas in which cutter roof failure is a common source of roof instability. Furthermore, both the magnitude and inclination of the principal stresses calculated from the 3D topographic BEM model are found to be consistent with observed failure distributions within the mine. We propose that the approach outlined in this study can be efficiently applied to the mine planning process in order to mitigate or avoid potentially hazardous mining conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]