is attached to the rafters that support the deck ( see figure 3 ). the hrb configuration is often not recommended for residential use because dust and other particulates accumulate on the barrier, which can reduce the barrier ’ s performance. in addition, this type of installation eliminates attic space that might otherwise be used for storage purposes. however, the first problem can be minimized by using a radiant barrier with low emissivity on both sides. most of the heat transfer from the bottom side of the radiant barrier to the insulation occurs via radiation. this radiation heat transfer is affected by surface emissivity. the surface emissivity of the bottom side of the radiant barrier is relatively low because this side faces down. therefore, very little or no dust and other particulates accumulate on it. in comparing the performance of the trb and hrb configurations in attics equipped with r - 19 insulation, i found that they showed similar profiles and almost identical heat flux reductions. however, the trb showed a significantly greater reduction in attic air temperature than the hrb, because of the location of the radiant barrier. in the trb configuration, the radiant barrier is above the attic space ; in the hrb, the attic space is above the radiant barrier. in the trb, there is therefore less heat transfer from the deck to the rest of the attic. this is because the hrb reflects a significant amount of the heat from the deck that arrives at the barrier, thus making the attic hotter. the temperatures of the shingles were nearly identical in both cases. the temperature probe was located where the shingles overlap, where the temperature is greatly influenced by the solar flux and convection from the shingles to the ambient air rather than by what is beneath the roof layers. i used my measurements to calibrate an attic heat flow model. the model accurately predicted the reductions in ceiling heat flows in preretrofit as well as in retrofit cases for both hrb and trb configurations. the weather data used to drive the simulations were from typical meteorological year ( tmy ) tapes for the city of austin, texas. the modeling agreed with the experimental findings that reductions in heat flow differed depending on the level of insulation ( see figures 4 and 5 ). that is, there were more relative savings in the low - insulation case than in the highinsulation case. the modeling results for yearly aggregates — excluding the swing season months of march, april, october, and november — revealed that the radiant barrier produced the greatest reduction in


more relative savings in the low - insulation case than in the highinsulation case. the modeling results for yearly aggregates — excluding the swing season months of march, april, october, and november — revealed that the radiant barrier produced the greatest reduction in heat flows ( 44 % ) in attics insulated with r - 11. i excluded the swing season months because, in subtropical climates, little cooling or heating is done during these months. reductions in ceiling heat flows, in the range of 28 % and 23 %, were realized by the use of radiant barriers in combination with insulation levels of r - 19 and r - 30, respectively. these results are aggregated over the year. my experimental results differed slightly from the simulation results. in the field, i had obtained summertime reductions in ceiling heat flow of 42 %, 34 %, 25 % for insulation levels of r - 11, r - 19, and r - 30, respectively. one possible reason for the discrepancies in savings between the experiments and the simulations could be the number of days used in the two cases. during the experiments, the data were produced in seven - to ten - day increments, while yearly simulations using a tmy took into account every day in an eight - month period. the model predicted negative savings of less than 10 % in the heating season for an attic with a radiant barrier and either of two levels of insulation ( r - 11 or r - 30 ) compared to an attic with no radiant barrier. it is not known why the middle level of insulation did not follow the same pattern as the other two in this regard. one of the reasons for these losses is weather related. in austin, winters are mild with significant sunshine. in monthly simulations in subtropical regions, the heating energy savings would either be low — next to insignificant — or negative. sunshine is desirable during the heating season because it reduces the load on heating equipment. radiant barriers, on the other hand, limit the amount of solar radiation, which is carried to the conditioned space through the attic. this blockage of solar radiation from the attic deck is undesirable during the winter season, and helps to explain the negative savings produced. in warmer regions, wintertime savings could be realized. in subtropical ( hot and humid ) climates, more energy is used for cooling than for heating. therefore, even with this detrimental effect, the net annual savings in subtropical climates are still positive, because of the energy reductions that are realized in the summer. radiant barriers cut cooling energy demand in every situation that


after the flood - there ' s hope homes that are damaged by flooding can be repaired and made more durable. flooding is a fact of life that results in more damage to buildings throughout the united states than any other single natural cause. residential buildings are especially hard hit during floods ; the lives of the residents are disrupted and precious possessions are lost. while homeowners are discouraged or prohibited from building new homes in floodprone areas, existing homes, when damaged, must be repaired. builders can minimize damage to these homes from future flooding by repairing or renovating them using materials and methods that are resistant to flood damage. researchers at oak ridge national laboratory ( ornl ) and tuskegee university have been working to identify and evaluate building materials, systems, and methods that can be used to repair houses after flooding and that make the envelope of a house more resistant to future flood damage ( see “ after the flood, ” he jan / feb ’ 03, p. 12 ). we were also interested in providing a scientific basis for certifying building materials and systems that are resistant to flood damage, so that that information can inform future building code development. the department of homeland security, emergency preparedness and response directorate defines flood damage resistance as the ability of materials, components, and systems to withstand direct and prolonged contact with floodwater without sustaining degradation that requires more than cosmetic repair to restore it to its original condition. cosmetic repair includes cleaning, sanitizing, and resurfacing material ; resurfacing includes sanding, repairing joints, and repainting. repair should be less costly than simply replacing the affected materials and systems. as a result of our materials testing, we have identified another key attribute of flood damage resistance. individual materials that are considered flood damage resistant must not cause the degradation of adjacent materials, or the systems of which the material is a part. a 2 - ft flood our test facility is located on the experimental farm near an agricultural lake at tuskegee university, in tuskegee, alabama. initially, two test modules were built with typical home construction materials and methods. the modules were flooded to a level of 2 ft above the floor with water from an agricultural lake that reasonably represented typical riverine floodwater. the test modules were allowed to dry for 30 days. detailed information was collected to determine how these construction materials and systems were affected during and after flooding. test results from these materials and systems provided a baseline against which other materials and systems could be compared. based on what we learned in those tests, we conducted a second


was collected to determine how these construction materials and systems were affected during and after flooding. test results from these materials and systems provided a baseline against which other materials and systems could be compared. based on what we learned in those tests, we conducted a second set of tests. the second set of tests introduced materials and systems that we expected to be more flood damage resistant than typical construction materials and systems. in the second tests, unlike the first ones, we sanitized the materials and systems while they were drying, and cosmetically restored them after the drying period, in order to assess their performance after exposure to a flood. samples of the various materials were taken for testing and observation, and the test modules were then demolished and autopsied. the initial results of our research were reported in the article cited above. we built a third pair of modules to attempt dry floodproofing — constructing a building in such a way that no water enters the structure during flooding — and to test additional materials and systems for resistance to flood damage. in all of our testing, we employed relative humidity transmitters ; thermocouples that measured temperature ; and moisture sensors installed in wall studs, wall surfaces, floor joists, and floor surfaces ( see figure 1 ). a weather station provided data on ambient conditions during the test. we used a hand - held moisture meter to measure material moisture content during the postflood drying period. mold was sampled from the modules and tested in a laboratory to identify its type. flexural strength and modulus were determined for various types of siding and wallboard. we also developed detailed protocols for visual observation. while visual observation is subjective, the protocols were developed to systematize these observations and make them as detailed and consistent as possible throughout the series of tests. we made extensive photographic and video records as well. flood - damage - resistant materials and systems the ornl / tuskegee experiments tested only for resistance to physical degradation that results from the wetting and drying cycle associated with flooding. the testing did not address the structural impact on the envelope of externally applied hydrostatic pressures. postflooding mold growth was documented and selected specimens were analyzed. some test modules were also cleaned and sanitized to determine if mold growth could be controlled. however, bacteriological and toxic materials testing were not performed during this series of tests. and we did not test for the residual health effects of flooding on otherwise flood - damage - resistant materials and systems. such testing could potentially change our conclusions. the following conclusions should be viewed as preliminary


materials testing were not performed during this series of tests. and we did not test for the residual health effects of flooding on otherwise flood - damage - resistant materials and systems. such testing could potentially change our conclusions. the following conclusions should be viewed as preliminary, since the purpose of our project was to provide a scientific basis for certifying materials and systems for flood damage resistance for use in building codes, and as yet there is no accepted certifying test procedure. newly installed and painted plywood and hardboard lap siding maintained reasonable dimensional stability and mechanical properties after they were dried. the siding materials that we tested were washable after flooding and drying, but these materials remained discolored. however, older, weathered plywood and hardwood siding, or siding made of the same materials that is repeatedly wetted and dried over several cycles, could significantly degrade and require more than cosmetic repair to restore it to its original condition. both vinyl and fiber cement siding could be restored to preflood conditions through washing the portion below flood level. the corner boards, which were made from nominal 1 - inch sawn lumber, cracked and warped. vinyl corner trim showed no evidence of deterioration from flooding. fiberock sheathing, a water - resistant, fiber - reinforced gypsum panel manufactured by usg, maintained its integrity and mechanical properties. the fiberock dried to preflood conditions during the drying period. plywood sheathing maintained its integrity and mechanical properties. however, it had not dried to preflood conditions after 30 days. because water does not tend to escape quickly from behind plywood siding, we do not consider the combination of plywood siding and sheathing to be a good flood - damage - resistant system. lap siding tends to let moisture escape more quickly. if a flood - damage - resistant lap siding is employed, the use of plywood as sheathing is likely to make an acceptable flood - damage - resistant system. we experimented with 15 # felt under both vinyl and fiber cement lap siding and found that the sheathing had dried to preflood conditions at the time of autopsy. we will perform a test using tyvek house wrap at press time. according to the manufacturer, tyvek inhibits the passage of liquid water and it breathes, so water vapor from drying can pass through the material. we ’ ll know experimentally how it performs under flood conditions in a couple of months. the moisture content in wood studs above the flood line returned to preflood levels within the drying period. the portion of the stud


pass through the material. we ’ ll know experimentally how it performs under flood conditions in a couple of months. the moisture content in wood studs above the flood line returned to preflood levels within the drying period. the portion of the studs below the flood line did not, in most cases, dry to preflood levels during the drying period. we considered wood studs to be flood damage resistant as long as the wall system will permit them to continue to dry to normal moisture levels. fiberglass batt insulation appeared to retain moisture in the exterior wall cavities and below the floor ( see figure 2 ). the moisture on the fiberglass fibers appeared to keep adjacent walls and floor materials wetter longer ; this could potentially cause long - term damage to the subflooring, to the floor and wall framing, and to the gypsum board walls. when spray polyurethane foam ( spuf ) insulation was used in the wall cavities, the wallboard and wood studs in exterior walls dried at nearly the same rate as in the interior walls with empty cavities ( see figure 3, p. 22 ). spuf absorbs water very slowly and was undamaged by flooding. spuf did not retain moisture ; thus it did not reduce the flood damage resistance of the materials around it. when conventional paper - faced gypsum board was used with fiberglass batt insulation on exterior walls, the gypsum board lost about 50 % of its flexural strength ; at the end of the drying period, it remained wetter than the gypsum board on uninsulated interior walls. interior gypsum board walls dried out and regained flexural strength during the test period. the gypsum board could be restored to preflood conditions with cosmetic restoration ( see the article cited above for details ). conventional drywall supported mold growth during several tests, but it was cleaned and sanitized, which eliminated the mold stains. fiberock interior wallboard, a non - water - resistant gypsum product without paper facings by usg, regained about 70 % – 78 % of its initial strength when tested ( see table 1 ), and it dried out during the 30 - day drying period. although it supported mold growth, it could be cleaned, sanitized, and restored. fiberock exterior sheathing was applied to some interior walls. it regained 82 % – 87 % of its initial strength on an exterior wall insulated with spuf and 101 % – 130 %


it could be cleaned, sanitized, and restored. fiberock exterior sheathing was applied to some interior walls. it regained 82 % – 87 % of its initial strength on an exterior wall insulated with spuf and 101 % – 130 % of its initial strength on an interior, hollow - cavity wall. ( the strength actually increased in one instance after exposure to flooding. this happens occasionally with gypsum products, since complete hydration of all of the gypsum does not always occur in manufacturing, and subsequent exposure to water completes the process. ) the fiberock exterior sheathing applied to interior walls also dried out during the drying period. it did not support mold growth and its surfaces were easily cleaned and restored. ceramic tile performed well under flood conditions and showed no longterm deterioration. both latex flat paint and latex semigloss enamel paint peeled, blistered, and stained. mold grew on both types of paint. high - and low - permeability paints were tested. both types of paint had to be sanded and new coats of paint applied to restore the walls to preflood conditions. we also compared waterbased flat latex and oil - based enamel paint. the water - based latex flaked and blistered. oil - based flat enamel paint performed better than any other paint that we tested. it flaked and blistered very little and was much easier to restore than other paints. of all the paints tested, oil - based flat enamel paint was found to be the most flood damage resistant. however, we did not completely investigate the impact of oil - based enamel on the drying of adjacent materials and systems in this testing. vinyl wall covering blistered, peeled, and debonded after flooding. it damaged the surface of the gypsum board, and it may inhibit the drying of the substrate or wall system. exterior wood - paneled doors in a wood frame, and exterior prehung metal - clad doors in a wood frame were stained slightly, but could be washed and restored. foam - filled fiberglass and foam - filled metal were restored to preflood conditions with minimal effort. the fiberglass and metal doors used in the second modules were reused in the third modules and once again were easily restored. all the interior doors that we tested were severely stained after flooding and drying, and some warped, split, and peeled. considering the relatively low cost of replacement, we did not consider it economically feasible to restore any of these doors. all vinyl and aluminum


all the interior doors that we tested were severely stained after flooding and drying, and some warped, split, and peeled. considering the relatively low cost of replacement, we did not consider it economically feasible to restore any of these doors. all vinyl and aluminum window frames could be restored to preflood conditions with minimal effort. the sealed - concrete floor slab in all the slab - on - grade modules remained undamaged during and after flooding. the wood subflooring retained very high moisture content throughout the drying period when unfaced fiberglass batt insulation was installed underneath the subflooring. ( two 8 inch x 18 inch foundation vents were installed on opposite walls in the test modules. these were open throughout the drying period. the area of these vents exceeded code minimum requirements for a structure of this size, 64 ft2. ) when no floor insulation was used, the subflooring returned to preflood moisture levels during the drying period. wood subflooring and framing insulated with fiberglass batts could experience long - term moisture - related problems. at press time another module was being tested using spray polyurethane insulation under the subflooring. ceramic tile and quarry tile performed very well under flooding conditions and required only cleaning to be restored. all carpeting and padding became dirty and smelly after flooding. it also retained large amounts of moisture, which would slow the overall drying rate throughout the house. even if the carpet is able to withstand the flood, it should be removed for cleaning and drying, and to promote drying within the home. simulated wood flooring, a composite wood fiber and plastic material, warped and had open joints when it was left in place after flooding. this flooring had much less warping and shrinkage when it was removed, washed, and stacked to dry after flooding, but the process of removal damaged some of the pieces. the operable flood vents ( smart vent ) were closed prior to flooding and opened by themselves during the filling and draining of the floodwater. they operated as designed. these vents were blocked open throughout the drying period. the crawlspace humidity reached 100 % and remained high during the drying period. this humidity level is unacceptable in the long term, since it could contribute to both mold and wood decay. we believe that the high humidity level in the crawlspace resulted from the test module being placed in a basin that collected a significant amount of rainwater throughout the drying period. in order to keep it from providing a path for mold to enter the house, the


believe that the high humidity level in the crawlspace resulted from the test module being placed in a basin that collected a significant amount of rainwater throughout the drying period. in order to keep it from providing a path for mold to enter the house, the crawlspace area must be effectively sealed from the interior of the building. procedures for responding to flood damage along with evaluating materials for their flood - damage - resistant properties, we tested the effectiveness of some procedures for dealing with flood damage. punching holes in walls punching holes above the floor molding of the interior walls does not drain any water, nor does it dry the wall any faster, especially if floodwater has receded for several hours. in some instances, if holes are not punched in the walls, the gypsum board can easily be repaired and restored. punching holes in gypsum board walls to promote drainage is not an appropriate flood recovery procedure. the cleaning protocols that we followed used a clear - water rinse that did remove some dirt and staining, but not mold. a second washing with soap and water on selected materials ( vinyl and fiber cement siding, fiberglass doors and window frames ) did restore them to preflood conditions. after sanitizing with a solution of bleach ( trisodium phosphate ) and water, most elements that were not physically damaged could be restored to preflood conditions. severe mold growth occurred in the first tests when no attempt was made to clean or sanitize surfaces during the drying period. mold growth also occurred on exposed interior surfaces in most subsequent tests, and efforts were made to sanitize surfaces and remove mold. after sanitization, there was no visible mold for the remainder of the testing period. although no mold reappeared throughout the test period, we cannot verify the long - term elimination of mold. after demolition and autopsy of these units, it was determined that there was very little or no mold growth in the nonexposed ( hidden ) portions of the structure that were not sanitized. sanitizing appeared to work on the exposed surfaces of the modules to eliminate mold growth, and it is therefore a recommended procedure in the restoration of flood - damaged homes. sanitizing the nonexposed portions of the structure for mold control does not appear warranted, based on what we saw during the autopsy. all exterior siding tested could be restored, as could interior wallboards when spuf was the insulation used. ceramic tile floors and the sealed - concrete slab were easily restored. all windows and exterior doors tested could be restored. we


saw during the autopsy. all exterior siding tested could be restored, as could interior wallboards when spuf was the insulation used. ceramic tile floors and the sealed - concrete slab were easily restored. all windows and exterior doors tested could be restored. we did not achieve dry floodproofing in two attempts ( see photo ). while the door and window dams that were designed and built were effective in preventing the entry of water through doors and windows, water entered the units through other paths, such as the joint between the interior partition and the exterior walls at floor level. although the joint between the sill plate and the concrete slab had been caulked, water entered there as well. additional steps were taken in the second attempt ; the external joint between the sill and the slab and other potential leak pathways on the exterior were sealed. despite these efforts, floodwater entered the modules. based on these failures, dry floodproofing is not considered an appropriate approach to flood damage resistance. more work is needed the primary purpose of our project was to identify and evaluate materials, systems, and methods that will make the envelope of a house more resistant to flood damage. these materials, systems, and methods are primarily intended for use to repair houses subsequent to flooding. then if the house floods again, damage will be reduced and restoration costs and efforts will be minimized. besides identifying flood - resistant materials, the purpose of our project was to develop a method to collect representative, measured, and reproducible data on how various materials and systems respond to flooding conditions, so that future recommendations for repairing flood - damaged houses can be based on scientific data. this methodology can then be used to develop a standard test procedure to certify which building materials and systems are resistant to flood damage ; the use of these materials and systems for repairing and rebuilding flood - damaged homes in flood - prone areas could be required by future building codes. a certifying test procedure must be developed and adopted by a certifying agency before the identification of materials as “ flood damage resistant ” will satisfy the requirement for the use of such materials by a building code group or local jurisdiction. this project, and other related activities at ornl and tuskegee, are contributing to the development of that certifying test procedure. - first page - previous page enter your comments in the box below : ( please note that all comments are subject to review prior to posting. )


swallowing small batteries is a big danger for children dec. 15 - small children are at serious risk of swallowing " button batteries " which can get stuck in their throats, causing choking or even worse, severe throat burns and possibly death. hurley and safe kids greater flint are spearheading local efforts for “ the battery controlled, ” a national partnership between safe kids worldwide and energizer that shares life - saving information with parents and caregivers about the potential risks of swallowing coin lithium batteries. in 2010 alone, more than 3, 500 " button batteries " swallowing cases, including 18 deaths, were reported to u. s. poison control centers, according to the national capital poison center. the most serious injuries are usually associated with the 20 mm diameter coin lithium battery. in the majority of swallowing incidents among children, the batteries are from remote control devices. dr. rima jibaly, hurley children ’ s hospital gastroenterologist, said, “ these coin - sized button batteries can get stuck in the throats of children. the saliva immediately triggers an electrical current that causes a chemical reaction that can severely burn the esophagus in as little as two hours. in some cases, children have died from their injuries. " “ once the burning reaction begins, it can continue even after the battery is removed, " said dr. brian nolan, director, hurley pediatric critical care unit. " this can paralyze vocal chords or form an abnormal connection between the esophagus and trachea ( wind pipe ). repairing that damage is painful and can require feeding tubes, breathing tubes and multiple surgeries. ” lew moquin, safe kids greater flint coordinator, explained that " parents and other caregivers often don ’ t realize that coin - sized button batteries are included in devices they buy. too often, these devices are left within reach of young children. car keys with electronic fobs, for example, are often shared with children for their amusement. the batteries inside, if swallowed, can get stuck in a child ’ s throat and cause serious injury or death. ” these batteries can be found in just about any device coin - sized button batteries, approximately the size of a nickel, are found in everyday devices such as : - mini remote control devices that unlock car doors and control portable dvd players, mp3 speakers and other devices - bathroom scales - reading lights - flameless candles - talking and singing books and greeting cards don ' t let children play with electronic devices many of these potentially - deadly batteries are often inside compartments within


and control portable dvd players, mp3 speakers and other devices - bathroom scales - reading lights - flameless candles - talking and singing books and greeting cards don ' t let children play with electronic devices many of these potentially - deadly batteries are often inside compartments within electronic devices. however, because many of these devices are not children ’ s toys, the battery compartments are easy to open. small children often have easy access to these devices and enjoy playing with them, and many parents do not know there is a risk. in a recent survey by the battery controlled, 66 % of parents responded that they have not read, seen or heard anything about the risks of coin - sized button batteries and 56 % said their children seem to like electronic devices more than their own toys. serious complications and deaths are increasing the number of cases where children have been seriously hurt or have died as a result of swallowing a button battery has more than quadrupled in the past five years ( 2006 - 2010 ) compared to the five years prior ( 2001 - 2005 ). preventative steps for parents and caregivers - examine devices and make sure the battery compartment is secure. strong tape is one option. - keep button batteries and devices that use them out of reach of small children if the battery compartments aren ’ t secure. - go to the emergency room immediately if swallowing is suspected. - tell others about this threat and share these steps. call the national battery ingestion hotline at ( 202 ) 625 - 3333 for additional treatment information.


national survey on drug use and health, 2010 ( icpsr 32722 ) alternate title : nsduh 2010 principal investigator ( s ) : united states department of health and human services. substance abuse and mental health services administration. center for behavioral health statistics and quality summary : the national survey on drug use and health ( nsduh ) series ( formerly titled national household survey on drug abuse ) primarily measures the prevalence and correlates of drug use in the united states. the surveys are designed to provide quarterly, as well as annual, estimates. information is provided on the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco among members of united states households aged 12 and older. questions included age at first use as well as lifetime, annual, and past - month usage for... ( more info ) this data is freely available. warning : this study is over 150mb in size and may take several minutes to download on a typical internet connection. united states department of health and human services. substance abuse and mental health services administration. center for behavioral health statistics and quality. national survey on drug use and health, 2010. icpsr32722 - v3. ann arbor, mi : inter - university consortium for political and social research [ distributor ], 2012 - 10 - 19. doi : 10. 3886 / icpsr32722. v3 persistent url : http : / / dx. doi. org / 10. 3886 / icpsr32722. v3 this survey was funded by : - united states department of health and human services. substance abuse and mental health services administration. center for behavioral health statistics and quality ( 283 - 2004 - 00022 ) scope of study summary : the national survey on drug use and health ( nsduh ) series ( formerly titled national household survey on drug abuse ) primarily measures the prevalence and correlates of drug use in the united states. the surveys are designed to provide quarterly, as well as annual, estimates. information is provided on the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco among members of united states households aged 12 and older. questions included age at first use as well as lifetime, annual, and past - month usage for the following drug classes : marijuana, cocaine ( and crack ), hallucinogens, heroin, inhalants, alcohol, tobacco, and nonmedical use of prescription drugs, including pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. the survey covered substance abuse treatment history


income, inhalants, marijuana, mental health, mental health services, methamphetamine, pain relievers, pregnancy, prescription drugs, sedatives, smoking, stimulants, substance abuse, substance abuse treatment, tobacco use, tranquilizers, youths geographic coverage : united states date of collection : unit of observation : individual universe : the civilian, noninstitutionalized population of the united states aged 12 and older, including residents of noninstitutional group quarters such as college dormitories, group homes, shelters, rooming houses, and civilians dwelling on military installations. data types : survey data data collection notes : data were collected and prepared for release by research triangle institute, research triangle park, north carolina. since 1999, the survey sample has employed a 50 - state design with an independent, multistage area probability sample for each of the 50 states and the district of columbia. prior to the 2002 survey, this series was titled national household surveys on drug abuse. although the design of the 2010 survey is similar to the design of the 1999 through 2001 surveys, there are important methodological differences since 2002 that affect the 2010 estimates. each nsduh respondent since 2002 has been given an incentive payment of $ 30. this change resulted in an improvement in the survey response rate. in addition, since 2002 new population data from the 2000 decennial census became available for use in nsduh sample weighting procedures. therefore the data from 2002 and later should not be compared with data collected in 2001 or earlier to assess changes over time. for selected variables, statistical imputation was performed following logical inference to replace missing responses. these variables are identified in the codebook as "... logically assigned " for the logical procedure, or by the designation " imputation - revised " in the variable label when the statistical procedure was also performed. the names of statistically imputed variables begin with the letters " ir ". for each imputation - revised variable, a corresponding imputation indicator variable indicates whether a case ' s value on the variable resulted from an interview response or was imputed. missing values for some demographic variables were imputed by the unweighted hot - deck technique used in previous surveys. beginning in 1999, imputation of missing values for many other variables was accomplished using predictive mean neighborhoods ( pmn ), a new procedure developed specifically for this survey. both the hot - deck and pmn imputation procedures are described in the codebook. to protect the privacy


of missing values for many other variables was accomplished using predictive mean neighborhoods ( pmn ), a new procedure developed specifically for this survey. both the hot - deck and pmn imputation procedures are described in the codebook. to protect the privacy of respondents, all variables that could be used to identify individuals have been encrypted or collapsed in the public use file. to further ensure respondent confidentiality, the data producer used data substitution and deletion of state identifiers and a subsample of records in the creation of the public use file. previously published estimates may not be exactly reproducible from the variables in the public use file due to the disclosure protection procedures that were implemented. the setup and dictionary files for stata are designed to be compatible with statase, version 8. this is a large data file requiring that approximately 400 megabytes of random access memory be allocated to stata. operations within stata, including conversion of the ascii data to stata format, are likely to be slow. analysts may wish to download subsets of data from the samhda survey documentation and analysis ( sda ) system for use with stata. in the income section, which was interviewer - administered, a split - sample study had been embedded within the 2006 and 2007 surveys to compare a shorter version of the income questions with a longer set of questions that had been used in previous surveys. this shorter version was adopted for the 2008 nsduh and will be used for future nsduhs. sample : a multistage area probability sample for each of the 50 states and the district of columbia has been used since 1999. a coordinated sample design was developed for the 2005 through 2009 nsduhs. the 2010 nsduh is an extension of the 5 - year sample design. although there is no overlap with the 1999 - 2004 samples, the coordinated design for 2005 through 2009 facilitated a 50 percent overlap in second - stage units ( area segments [ see below ] ) between each two successive years from 2005 through 2009. the 2004 nsduh continued the 50 percent overlap by retaining approximately half of the first - stage sampling units from the 2003 survey. the 2010 nsduh continues the 50 percent overlap by retaining half of the second - stage units from 2009. this design was intended to increase precision of estimates in year - to - year trend analyses because of the expected positive correlation resulting from the overlapping sample between successive survey years. the 2010 design allows for computation of estimates by state in all 50 states plus the district of


design was intended to increase precision of estimates in year - to - year trend analyses because of the expected positive correlation resulting from the overlapping sample between successive survey years. the 2010 design allows for computation of estimates by state in all 50 states plus the district of columbia. states may therefore be viewed as the first level of stratification as well as a reporting variable. eight states, referred to as the large sample states, had a sample designed to yield 3, 600 respondents per state for the 2010 survey. this sample size was considered adequate to support direct state estimates. the remaining 43 states ( which include the district of columbia ) had a sample designed to yield 900 respondents per state in the 2010 survey. in these 43 states, adequate data were available to support reliable state estimates based on sae methodology. within each state, sampling strata called state sampling ( ss ) regions were formed. based on a composite size measure, states were partitioned geographically into roughly equal - sized regions. in other words, regions were formed such that each area yielded, in expectation, roughly the same number of interviews during each data collection period. the eight large sample states were divided into 48 ss regions each. the remaining states were divided into 12 ss regions each. therefore, the partitioning of the united states resulted in the formation of a total of 900 ss regions. unlike the 1999 through 2004 surveys, the first stage of selection for the 2005 through 2009 nsduhs was census tracts. the first stage of selection began with the construction of an area sample frame that contained one record for each census tract in the united states. if necessary, census tracts were aggregated within ss regions until each tract had, at a minimum, 150 dwelling units in urban areas and 100 dwelling units in rural areas. these census tracts served as the primary sampling units ( psus ) for the coordinated five - year sample. in advance of the survey period, specially trained listers had visited each area segment and listed all addresses for housing units and eligible group quarters units in a prescribed order. systematic sampling was used to select the allocated sample of addresses from each segment. beginning in 2002, each respondent who completed a full interview was given a $ 30 cash payment as a token of appreciation for his or her time. to improve the precision of the estimates, the sample allocation process targeted five age groups : 12 to 17 years, 18 to 25 years, 26 to 34 years, 35 to 49 years, and 50 years or older. the size measures used in selecting the area segments were coordinated with the dwelling unit and person selection


process targeted five age groups : 12 to 17 years, 18 to 25 years, 26 to 34 years, 35 to 49 years, and 50 years or older. the size measures used in selecting the area segments were coordinated with the dwelling unit and person selection process so that a nearly self - weighting sample could be achieved in each of the five age groups. the achieved sample size for the 2010 survey was 68, 487 persons. the public use file contains 57, 873 records due to a subsampling step used in the disclosure protection procedures. a key step in the data processing procedures established the minimum item response requirements in order for cases to be retained for weighting and further analysis ( i. e., " usable " cases ). these requirements, as well as full sampling methodology, are detailed in the codebook. due to various adjustments, such as those for nonresponse and post - stratification, the 2010 nsduh sample design is not self - weighting. analysts are advised to use the final sample weight when attempting to use the 2010 nsduh data to draw inferences about the target population or any subdomains of the target population. all estimates published in samhsa reports ( such as the results from the 2010 nsduh ) are weighted using the final analysis weight for the full sample. for the public use file, the corresponding final sample weight is denoted as analwt _ c, with the " c " denoting confidentiality protection. this sample weight represents the total number of target population persons each record on the file represents. note that the sum of analwt _ c, over all records on the data file, represents an estimate of the total number of people in the target population. in the 2008 nsduh ' s mental health module, the adult sample was split into a sample a who received the whodas questions liremem through liad68 and a sample b who received the sds questions mhad66a through mhad68. in the 2009 nsduh, however, all of the adults in the sample received the whodas questions. therefore, there is no need to have a separate adult mental health weight beginning in the 2009 nsduh because the person - level analysis weight can be used to produce the adult mental health estimates. mode of data collection : audio computer - assisted self interview ( acasi ), computer - assisted personal interview ( capi ), computer - assisted self interview ( casi ) response rates : strategies for ensuring high rates of participation resulted in


health estimates. mode of data collection : audio computer - assisted self interview ( acasi ), computer - assisted personal interview ( capi ), computer - assisted self interview ( casi ) response rates : strategies for ensuring high rates of participation resulted in a weighted screening response rate of 88. 8 percent and a weighted interview response rate for the cai of 74. 7 percent. ( note that these response rates reflect the original sample, not the subsampled data file referenced in this document. ) extent of processing : icpsr data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. icpsr also routinely creates ready - to - go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. in addition to these procedures, icpsr performed the following processing steps for this data collection : - performed consistency checks. - standardized missing values. - created online analysis version with question text. - checked for undocumented or out - of - range codes. original icpsr release : 2011 - 12 - 05 - 2012 - 11 - 21 the nsduh public - use data files have been updated with a corrected variable label. - 2012 - 10 - 19 the data files have been updated by omitting extraneous variables. - 2012 - 10 - 18 the 2010 nsduh public - use data file has been updated to include 12 new variables related to adult and adolescent depression, and a weight variable post stratified to the 2010 census. please view table 4 of the codebook for more information on these variables. - list all ~ 70 citations associated with this study - view citations for the entire series most recent publications - citations exports are provided above. export study - level metadata ( does not include variable - level metadata ) if you ' re looking for collection - level metadata rather than an individual metadata record, please visit our metadata records page.


lean, mean and green heating, cooling and powering the 2012 olympics in a sustainable way some modern olympic games have been branded as extravagant and a waste of public money. installations are costly and facilities in service for only a short period during the event – but are unsuitable for later use by the general public. mindful of this, the london 2012 organizers placed sustainability firmly at the core of this year ' s olympics. the provision of heating, cooling and power in a sustainable way is at the very centre of this effort and should ensure a positive legacy long after the games are over. many iec tcs ( technical committees ) and scs ( subcommittees ) prepare international standards for components and systems that are being installed on the olympic park. early green commitment when bidding to host the games the locog ( london organising committee of the olympic and paralympic games ) made a commitment to meet 20 % of the olympic park electricity requirements with new local renewable energy sources. these include advanced waste - to - energy technologies, pv ( photovoltaic ) panels, small scale wind turbines, bio - diesel generators and micro - co - generation for public lighting, venues, accommodation and electric vehicle power. all additional site electricity demand is to be met with off - site renewables, supplied by wind farms and marine current turbines. three iec tcs prepare international standards for renewable energy sources proposed for the 2012 games. they are tc 82 : solar photovoltaic energy systems, tc 88 : wind turbines and tc 114 : marine energy – wave, tidal and other water current converters. the commitment to renewable sources was restated in the london 2012 sustainability plan. furthermore, the oda ( olympic delivery authority ) set an overall target of cutting carbon emissions by 50 % across the olympic park, in comparison with schemes constructed and operated using more conventional means. to achieve this it adopted a ' lean, mean, green ' approach : - lean – minimizing energy demand by building energy - efficient venues - mean – supplying heat, cooling and power from on - site energy centres, further reducing their carbon emissions - green – generating heat and power from renewable sources. the right mean and green tools to provide heat, cooling and power on site, the organizers chose to build two flexible modular energy centres at kings yard ( olympic park ) and stratford city. each is equipped with a natural gas - fired cchp ( combined cooling, heat and power ) unit and bio - mass fired boilers. using zero carbon renewable energy sources such as biomass will provide savings in carbon emissions of more than 1 000 tonnes


city. each is equipped with a natural gas - fired cchp ( combined cooling, heat and power ) unit and bio - mass fired boilers. using zero carbon renewable energy sources such as biomass will provide savings in carbon emissions of more than 1 000 tonnes per year in comparison with schemes employing fossil fuels. chp ( combined heat and power ) plants are up to 30 % more energy efficient than those using traditional means of generation. basic demand for heat during winters will be met through the bio - boilers that burn sustainable biomass such as woodchips and pulp. iec tc 5 : steam turbines, has been asked by the smb ( standardization management board ) to carry out a study of standardization needs for chp. the energy centres have a flexible modular design that will avoid overcapacity in the first phase of development but allow future technologies to be incorporated in the buildings as they are developed and as demand grows after 2012. they will provide an efficient, low - carbon heating and cooling system across the site for the games and for the new community and housing projects that will be developed after 2012. between them the two centres currently produce 92, 7 mw of heating, 55 mw of cooling and 10 mw of electrical power. eventually they will be able to supply a total of 194, 9 mw of heating, 64 mw of cooling and 30 mw of electrical power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses. the centres are interconnected and electrical power is distributed by 200 km of underground cables running through two 6 km tunnels. this underground network has replaced 52 pylons and 130 km of overhead cables. iec tc 20 prepares international standards for electric cables. a primary electrical substation forms the central part of the utilities network. it takes power from the upstream 132 kv electrical network outside the park, ' stepping it down ' to 11 kv to supply venues and buildings across the olympic park and stratford city. each 132 / 11 kv transformer is supported by 11 000 items of switchgear and auxiliary equipment. standardization for power transformers is the task of iec tc 14, whilst tc 17 and its scs prepare international standards for high - and low - voltage switchgear and controlgear and associated assemblies. to minimize primary energy use, both centres exploit recovered waste heat for their operation. they use energy - efficient systems and mechanisms to reduce the costs of heat supply. ammonia - based chillers and electrical and absorption chillers enable the centres to meet the demand for cooling, while the site - wide heat network generates hot water and heats the aquatics centre swimming pools and other venues and


to reduce the costs of heat supply. ammonia - based chillers and electrical and absorption chillers enable the centres to meet the demand for cooling, while the site - wide heat network generates hot water and heats the aquatics centre swimming pools and other venues and buildings. the roof of the olympic park copper box, the venue for various events, is fitted with 88 light pipes that allow natural light inside, reducing the demand for electric lights and achieving annual energy savings of up to 40 % in comparison with a more conventional structure. as with any major project, some adjustments were required late on in the process. as time constraints caused the installation of the preferred wind turbine system to be abandoned, the oda had to revise down its target for cutting carbon emissions, from 50 % to 43 %. however, energy efficiency schemes in boroughs surrounding the park have been introduced to make up for the shortfall and some small renewable sources, such as pv panels on the media centre and its car park and some micro wind turbines, have been added. further efforts will also be made to deliver additional carbon savings by reducing electricity consumption during the games. electrical installations at the core power generation and distribution are essential for the olympic and paralympic games and will provide a beneficial legacy for the local communities. they are just two of the countless electrical systems deployed during the event that rely on iec international standards for proper and safe operation. a successful, lean, mean and green london 2012 implies an iec success – albeit a discreet one.


the pathways from economic and social policies to improved food security and nutrition for the poor often are not well understood. yet each day governments decide on policies that ultimately affect their well - being. how households increase their incomes, acquire food, improve health, or cope with insecurity are important concerns that need to be examined in order to devise policies to help eradicate poverty. nearly all attempts to study these issues have used snapshot approaches — those that look at one point in time. these approaches are limited in that they do not reveal anything about the actual dynamics of poverty, food security, and their consequences for nutrition and health. in poverty, household food security, and nutrition in rural pakistan, research report 96, harold alderman and marito garcia address these concerns by looking at longitudinal data for a three - year period, 1986 - 89, and analyzing fluctuations in incomes, consumption, savings, nutrition and health - seeking behavior of 800 households in five districts in rural pakistan ( faisalabad and attock in punjab province, badin in sind, dir in north - west frontier province, and mastung / kalat in baluchistan ). the report examines income sources and wage formation in rural pakistan and investigates the level and distribution of income in poor households. it contributes to analysis of the temporal dimensions of poverty and thus adds to the literature on coping strategies of households. although the three - year panel of data analyzed is too short to model fully the dynamics of poverty, it is sufficient to indicate the fluidity of the economic environment that households in pakistan face. the report also traces the efficiency by which household incomes are converted to better nutritional well - being and the influence of other intervening factors such as health and education.


z94. 15 - organization planning and theory the new editors added to the excellent list of terms that previous editors had compiled. there have been some changes which have been added to the list and in addition, some of the new terms of quality management have been added because of the effect of tqm ( total quality management ) on organizational structure and culture. approximately 60 definitions have been added to the list to bring it more up - to - date and to make it more comprehensive. hopefully the more than 50 years experience will contribute to the needs of the users of the terms. dr. anita l. callahan, ph. d. dr. paul e. givens, ph. d. industrial & management systems department college of engineering university of south florida | a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z | adhocracy. a structure that is flexible, adaptive, and responsive ; organized around unique problems to be solved by groups of relative strangers with diverse professional skills. administration. ( 1 ) usually synonymous with the term management. however, it sometimes refers to the portion of management exclusive of establishing goals and policies. ( 2 ) that group of people who perform the process of administration. attribution theory. when individuals observe behaviors, they attempt to determine whether it is internally or externally caused. authoritarianism. the belief that here should be status and power differences among people in organizations. authority. the right to exercise power and to extend jurisdiction over others for the attainment of performance. ( 1 ) the " legitimate " ' right to direct or influence the performance of others under the condition of applying rewards and penalties. authority lies in the position in an organization, not in the man. this authority derived from institutionalized power should be distinguished from other authority concepts. ( 2 ) authority by subordinate acceptance - authority is a function of the degree to which subordinates accept decisions and direction and is derived from the group of subordinates. ( 3 ) authority of person - authority is derived from superior ability or knowledge or charismatic qualities. ( 4 ) authority by legal decree - authority invested by law to enforce statutes. ( see delegation, responsibility. ) autocratic leader. one who tends to control in an absolute manner through the use of personal domination and application of coercive measures. ( compare to participative management. ) autonomous work - group design.


al sharpton, jr. civil rights activist and minister born : oct. 3, 1954 birthplace : new york, n. y. a flamboyant and controversial african american political activist, sharpton was fully ordained as a pentocostal minister by the time he was 10. born into a middle class black family in brooklyn, the sharptons descended into poverty after al sharpton sr. abandoned the family around the same time. in 1969, when he was just 14, he became youth director of the new york branch of operation breadbasket, organized by activist jesse jackson, which distributed food in poor black communities. his teenage years were spent involved in a number of civil rights causes, and in 1970 he founded the national youth movement, an organization devoted to the problems of black urban youth. from 1973 to 1980, sharpton worked as soul singer james brown ' s tour manager. he remarked that brown became “ like the father i never had. ” in the 1980s sharpton became involved in a series of high profile, racially charged court cases. he received national attention for organizing protests surrounding the 1985 bernard goetz case, in which goetz, a white subway rider, shot four black youths whom he thought were going to rob him, and in the 1986 howard beach case, which involved in the death of black man named michael griffith, who was hit by a car and killed in howard beach, queens, after being chased by the white mob. sharpton ' s reputation as a tough defender of civil rights was badly tarnished, however, by the notoriety of the 1987 tawana brawley case, in which a black teenager claimed she was raped repeatedly by six white men over the course of several days. her wild and elaborate claims were eventually exposed as a hoax, and sharpton, who served as one of brawley ' s spokesmen, fanned the flames of the fraud with further reckless and unfounded accusations. critic stanley crouch called sharpton ' s tactics “ an ethnic version of mccathyism. ” he was successfully sued for defamation by one of the falsely accused rapists, a white assistant district attorney named steven pagones. decades later, sharpton still refuses to admit the case was a hoax, or to apologize for the damage and racial divisiveness the case generated. sharpton has been involved in a series of other causes celebres, including the “ central park jogger ” case ( 1990 ), crown heights case ( 1991 ), and the amadou diallo case ( 1999 ),


case generated. sharpton has been involved in a series of other causes celebres, including the “ central park jogger ” case ( 1990 ), crown heights case ( 1991 ), and the amadou diallo case ( 1999 ), among others. in 1991, sharpton founded his own civil rights organization, the national action network, which he continues to run today. he has run for political office in several unsuccessful bids : as a candidate for the new york state senate ( 1978 ), the u. s. senate ( 1992 and 1994 ) ; the mayoralty of new york city ( 1997 ), and the u. s. presidency ( 2004 ). a fiery and charismatic speaker known for his incisive wit and unapologetic dandyism, sharpton has been criticized for his relentless self - promotion, which sometimes overshadows his causes. while his supporters view him as an eloquent and fearless spokesman for african americans, his critics contend that his demagogic tactics have bred alienation and mistrust, and have in fact been destructive to black civil rights. in recent years, sharpton has attempted to transform himself into a more mainstream political figure, and has toned down his image and rhetoric. information please® database, © 2007 pearson education, inc. all rights reserved. more on al sharpton jr from infoplease :


the purpose of the conversation is nothing more than the following : advice to each other to correct a certain shortcoming ; ask a question to each other ; ask each other to complete a task ; to understand the idea to the work for each other ; familiar with each other ' s psychological characteristics. to this end, you should prevent to leave the conversation purpose. first, you should be good to use polite language. courtesy is the reveal of the feelings to respect others, and the guide wire of the conversation for each other. people are very keen to feel the politeness. there is an excellent conductor, and in each trip, she always first says please, and ends with thank. in this way, the entire carriages of passengers feel warm, and in the harmonious atmosphere, nobody fights or robs the seat. second, you should be patient to listen to the conversation, and express the interest. when you talk with others, you should be good at using your own attitude, facial expressions, inserted language and exclamations. for example, a slight smile, endorsed by nodding and so on will make the conversation more harmonious. never look around, be absent - minded, or from time to time to see watches, or do other things. third, you should be good to reflect each others feelings. if the other side of the conversation worries about something, you should begin with a sympathetic to say : i understand your feelings, if it was me, i will also so. this will make each other feel you respect his feelings, so that forming a sympathetic and an atmosphere of trust, so, your advice is also easy to work. fourth, you should be good to make your own equivalent to each other. human beings have a tendency to believe that the insiders, an experienced talker always commensurate with each other, even for the sitting posture, he always tries to give each other psychologically compatible with a sense of tone, volume, rhythm. for example, sat side by side is more common with sitting relatively on the psychological sense. standing upright with lumbar sitting becomes more respect for others than sitting sideways body. fifth, you should be good to choose a conversation opportunity. a person in their own or their familiar environment is more convincing than the conversation in an unfamiliar environment ; you can use the home advantage in his spare time, but also in the mental state of others with no alert naturally speak, even a few words, but also may get unexpected results. the donatello ninja turtles, is the perfect game which covers


; you can use the home advantage in his spare time, but also in the mental state of others with no alert naturally speak, even a few words, but also may get unexpected results. the donatello ninja turtles, is the perfect game which covers one and all, with its potential viewers, and also it helps to get more fans who are said to be addicts, and try to watch the latest editions too in a well versed manner.. readby : alan expert | 2013 - 05 - 14 content being the king, it is important for a website to have unique, fresh, crisp and informative content for its success. this is possible by hiring a content writing company that can make a difference. content writing services india has the ability of doing so for online success of a business.. readby : dimensioniseo | 2013 - 05 - 08 psychology expert shijing jie said around us you can often hear some middle - aged man said they were old. from the physiological structure point of view, their physical condition is ager than the young people ; it not means that they are really old.. readby : toryyang | 2013 - 05 - 02 content writing services are extensively used these days for promoting the product of the company on the internet. so for the reason, the content is developed after rigorous research and deep analysis of the product.. readby : dimensioniseo | 2013 - 04 - 29 today, it ' s still a time that people turn pale at the mention of cancer. because of some bad living habits in life, it is likely to lead to cancer. there are several common cancer - causing foods around you, and you definitely have eaten.. readby : toryyang | 2011 - 10 - 07 | food and beverage many people often feel throat itching, dryness, burning, painful and cough. these are the typical symptoms of chronic pharyngitis. there are several bad habits in our daily life will lead to this disease.. readby : toryyang | 2011 - 05 - 04 | health during spring and summer, office ladies have few exercise and they often turn on the air conditioning, which is easy to make them feel tired. some experts said women are more prone to fatigue as 3 times as men.. readby : toryyang | 2011 - 04 - 30 | wellness


how our information is produced : our methods " evidence - based " means : supported by scientific evidence and proof. most people who are interested in evidence - based health information already know this. yet : how is our evidence - based health information actually produced in detail? what individual steps are necessary? who reviews or tests the contents? how does the information stay up - to - date? we explain our methods using an easy - to - read diagram. read more here to find out about how we produce evidence - based information the basic principles of evidence - based medicine do you know the trick with the spoon in the top of the champagne bottle? a spoon put into an opened champagne bottle is supposed to keep the champagne fresh and bubbly for longer. how can you test if that is true? and what has that got to do with evidence - based medicine? read more here about the basics of evidence - based medicine why is it important for people to be " randomized " in trials? the story of an important large randomized trial from 1954 shows the importance of " randomizing " people in trials. the trial tested the use of high levels of oxygen in incubators for preterm babies and found that it was causing blindness in many babies. this was used for many years without being adequately tested. a cautionary tale of medically - caused blindness is it possible to find out in trials whether a treatment has a benefit based solely on measured data? readings like blood pressure or cholesterol levels are important in the field of medicine. but can they also predict how a particular treatment affects events that are critical to patients, like heart attacks or broken bones? you can read more here about the use of readings in testing treatments


about 4, 200 athletes from about 165 countries competed for medals at the london 2012 paralympic games impressively demonstrating the high standards of international disabled sport. one example of this was the 24 : 50, 22 minutes that it took former formula 1 racing driver alessandro zanardi to cover the specified 16km in the hand bike time trial to win the gold medal. whereas sports equipment such as hand bikes are individually built and totally customised to the specific requirements of the athletes and their physical impairment, as far as their clothing is concerned they frequently only have access to the ready - made clothes for able - bodied athletes. within the framework of the research project ( aif - nr. 17377 n ), scientists at the hohenstein institute in bonnigheim are aiming to optimise functionality and comfort of sportswear for wheelchair users. project leader anke klepser ascertained the physical dimensions of male wheelchair basket ball players and hand bikers : “ by choosing these particular sports we are covering both indoor and outdoor sports which means that our research results can also be adapted to other sports disciplines. a further benefit is that we are examining two different body postures, the more horizontal body position of the hand bikers and the upright sitting position of the wheelchair basketball players and this enables any results to be easily transferred to other sports. ” the test persons were measured once in a stationary 3d bodyscanner in their usual wheelchair and then also with a handscanner in their respective sports wheelchair. back in the 1980s clothing technology experts had already captured the physical dimensions of wheelchair users in order to improve the fit of everyday clothing. with the assistance of today ' s 3d scanner technology first of all the body can be captured in full and then a virtual twin ( avatar ) can be compiled which can be used to measure on the computer, as required, individual body measurements such as the back, legs or arms. an important objective of the project is to use the measurement data to optimise the cuts and seam lines of sportswear. but also the physiological comfort, or in other words, the ability of the textiles to absorb body sweat and divert it away from the body as well as the heat insulation of the materials should also be adapted to the specific requirements of the athletes. skin irritations caused by mechanical actions such as intensive friction of the arms on the upper body should be minimised in the demonstration / functional samples that are to be developed. the sitting position of wheelchair users in particular creates specific requirements for clothing cuts. in order to achieve a horizontal waistband fit


as intensive friction of the arms on the upper body should be minimised in the demonstration / functional samples that are to be developed. the sitting position of wheelchair users in particular creates specific requirements for clothing cuts. in order to achieve a horizontal waistband fit, the back part of the trousers must be cut longer than the front. the horizontal position of the handbikers on the other hand requires the exact opposite in functionalities if the sportswear is to sit in the optimum position. in the majority of wheelchair athletes the upper body and arms are very muscular which must be taken into consideration in the design of shirts and jackets. to create a good fit with extensive freedom of movement, the clothing items should therefore have adapted seam lines. in addition to the anatomical specifics, as part of their project, the researchers also collated those special requirements which arise from the sports commitment of the athletes. therefore, in addition to the 3d scanner measurements, anke klepser has also conducted a survey to collate the optimisation wishes of the test persons. for instance, the hand bikers said that they would like to see a narrow lower leg trouser width which would offer them better head wind protection. the scientists also had to consider the specific requirements of disabled athletes in relation to the diversion of body sweat, also known as clothing moisture management. due to the position of the back or back of the thigh which is in close contact with the hand bike or wheel chair, moisture can very quickly get trapped. this could be avoided through the use of various suitable materials and functional designs in these areas ( comfort - mapping ) in contrast to this, depending on the type and degree of the spinal cord injury, for the majority of wheelchair athletes, the paralysis of the extremities is also linked to a restricted functionality of the body ' s own temperature control. for example, quadriplegics whose legs and arms are affected to a greater or lesser extent by the paralysis, do not sweat or only sweat to a limited extent and run the risk, especially in the case of very high external temperatures and / or high physical exertion, of suffering a circulatory collapse due to the body overheating. water applied externally to the clothing can help in such cases by ensuring the necessary cooling through evaporation. anke klepser and her team also had to consider other specific aspects in their research work. " the clothing requirements for wheelchair athletes are extremely variable and complex. we hope that our data and information will form the basis for


evaporation. anke klepser and her team also had to consider other specific aspects in their research work. " the clothing requirements for wheelchair athletes are extremely variable and complex. we hope that our data and information will form the basis for many optimised products which will make life easier for the athletes and will support them appropriately in their outstanding achievements. it is expected that the results of the project will be available for interested manufacturers from early 2014. phone : + 49 7143 271 - 325 rose - marie riedl | source : hohenstein institute further information : www. hohenstein. de more articles from materials sciences : stacking 2 - d materials produces surprising results 17. 05. 2013 | massachusetts institute of technology engineered biomaterial could improve success of medical implants 15. 05. 2013 | university of washington researchers have shown that, by using global positioning systems ( gps ) to measure ground deformation caused by a large underwater earthquake, they can provide accurate warning of the resulting tsunami in just a few minutes after the earthquake onset. for the devastating japan 2011 event, the team reveals that the analysis of the gps data and issue of a detailed tsunami alert would have taken no more than three minutes. the results are published on 17 may in natural hazards and earth system sciences, an open access journal of... a new study of glaciers worldwide using observations from two nasa satellites has helped resolve differences in estimates of how fast glaciers are disappearing and contributing to sea level rise. the new research found glaciers outside of the greenland and antarctic ice sheets, repositories of 1 percent of all land ice, lost an average of 571 trillion pounds ( 259 trillion kilograms ) of mass every year during the six - year study period, making the oceans rise 0. 03 inches ( 0. 7 mm ) per year.... about 99 % of the world ’ s land ice is stored in the huge ice sheets of antarctica and greenland, while only 1 % is contained in glaciers. however, the meltwater of glaciers contributed almost as much to the rise in sea level in the period 2003 to 2009 as the two ice sheets : about one third. this is one of the results of an international study with the involvement of geographers from the university of zurich. second sound is a quantum mechanical phenomenon, which has been observed only in superfluid helium. physicists from the university of innsbruck, austria, in collaboration with colleagues from the university of trento, italy, have now proven the propagation of such a temperature wave in a quantum


so when is a chicken not a chicken? when it ducks! you might be wondering how in the world that pathetic old joke is relevant to those spinning little ( or big ) fans in your computer case. if you ’ re a custom pc builder, be it for the sweet sound of silence, or for some rage against the machine overclocking, if there ’ s one thing that you know, it ’ s fans. electronics don ’ t like to be hot, and whether it ’ s moving air over a heatsink or moving air over a liquid cooling radiator, at some point you just have to transfer the heat that computer parts generate into the air. that means you need ye olde whirling dervish, aka a fan. but fans are tricky. you ’ re often limited to the size of the fan that you can use, which reduces their efficiency. the speed that they run at and the design of the fan blades determine all sorts of factors from the amount of air moved, to the pressure of the air, to the focus cone of how the air moves, to the amount of power the fans consume, to the noise that they make as the blades spin around going whir whir whir. and then there ’ s the bearing design. how long will the fan really last? when it comes to pcs, fans are a tricky business! but what if your fan … wasn ’ t a fan? general electric has developed an interesting novel approach to moving air in consumer electronics, which they based not on ye olde whirling dervish, but on a bellows. taking a concept from their commercial jet engines, ge used tiny ceramic piezoelectronics and two 40mm x 40mm metal plates to make what they call a dual piezo cooling jet ( dcj ). the little buggers are smaller than fans, move more air, use less electricity, and make so little noise as to be virtually inaudible. and with no bearings to grind, in theory they ’ ll last longer too! allegedly they don ’ t even gather dust. in theory they ’ re better all - around than any fan. now, you ’ re probably thinking, “ sounds great! where can i get a dcj? ” that ’ s where problems start to come in. because ge isn ’ t really interested in manufacturing and selling the dcjs themselves. they ’ re only promoting the intellectual property. ge is presently demonstrating dcjs to manufacturers and so far have licensed the design to only one company :


start to come in. because ge isn ’ t really interested in manufacturing and selling the dcjs themselves. they ’ re only promoting the intellectual property. ge is presently demonstrating dcjs to manufacturers and so far have licensed the design to only one company : fujikura ltd of japan. so it may be some time yet before you can buy one. there ’ s also another problem : the way that they work. as you watch their video, you realize one really important thing, dcjs are thin. like really really thin. sure, they create a jet of air, but how often in a big pc case do you need a really tiny jetstream? if you want a big fan, or need to cover a lot of area, the dcj may not be for you. they look to create a very concentrated little jetstream. sure, it moves air, but how many of the little buggers do you need to cover as much area as you want? and in the case of an exhaust fan, what ’ ll it feel like to be the person who dares to walk behind the computer? so there may be a few features that need tweaking for pc use. it ’ s a design that ’ ll work great in super - thin devices, like smartphones, tablets, and ultrabooks. i ’ m not so convinced about larger consumer electronics though. not without a serious rethink of how air moves in the device. i don ’ t see someone fitting a dcj into any traditional fan slot. they just work too differently, moving air along a completely different axis. i ’ m also not sure that i like the idea of my cellphone having a fan. still, it ’ s interesting, isn ’ t it? we could find that five years from now the dual piezo cooling jet may just have completely revolutionized consumer electronics airflow designs. i can already see a few of my old theoretical computer case designs that i ’ d been thinking about for silence that didn ’ t work well with traditional spinning fans would work quite the treat with dcjs. they ’ d finally become reasonable designs. makes me wish i had the money to patent a few case designs and manufacture them. it also makes me wonder, if they can move air so much more efficiently, and air is just a fluid ( as far as the physics of fluid dynamics are concerned ) how about an adaptation to water? and if that works, what about other liquids? from better water cooling rigs in pcs to fuel injection in cars, just how many things


interrupt the execution of an expression and allow the inspection of the environment where browser was called from. browser ( text = " ", condition = null, expr = true, skipcalls = 0l ) - a text string that can be retrieved once the browser is invoked. - a condition that can be retrieved once the browser is invoked. - an expression, which if it evaluates to truethe debugger will invoked, otherwise control is returned directly. - how many previous calls to skip when reporting the calling context. a call to browser can be included in the body of a function. when reached, this causes a pause in the execution of the current expression and allows access to the r interpreter. the purpose of the condition arguments are to allow helper programs ( e. g. external debuggers ) to insert specific values here, so that the specific call to browser ( perhaps its location in a source file ) can be identified and special processing can be achieved. the values can be retrieved by calling the purpose of the expr argument is to allow for the illusion of conditional debugging. it is an illusion, because execution is always paused at the call to browser, but control is only passed to the evaluator described below if expr evaluates to true. in most cases it is going to be more efficient to use an if statement in the calling program, but in some cases using this argument will be simpler. skipcalls argument should be used when the browser ( ) call is nested within another debugging function : it will look further up the call stack to report its location. at the browser prompt the user can enter commands or r expressions, followed by a newline. the commands are - ( or just an empty line, by default ) exit the browser and continue execution at the next statement. - synonym for - enter the step - through debugger if the function is interpreted. this changes the meaning of c : see the documentation for debug. for byte compiled functions nis equivalent to - print a stack trace of all active function calls. - exit the browser and the current evaluation and return to the top - level prompt. ( leading and trailing whitespace is ignored, except for an empty line ). anything else entered at the browser prompt is interpreted as an r expression to be evaluated in the calling environment : in particular typing an object name will cause the object to be printed, and ls ( ) lists the objects in the calling frame. ( if you want to look at an object


last reviewed by faculty of harvard medical school on january 24, 2013 by harvey b. simon, m. d. harvard medical school regular exercise has enormous health benefits. most importantly, it reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and premature death. and that ' s not all. many studies link physical activity to protection against : - high blood pressure - osteoporosis and fractures - colon cancer, breast cancer and possibly prostate cancer. despite all these benefits, only about one in four american adults gets the exercise they need to promote health. people have many excuses for not exercising. one excuse concerns the belief that exercise causes arthritis. is this true or not? back to top excuses, excuses, excuses couch potatoes have many excuses to explain their sedentary ways. lack of time is the most common. the belief that exercise is too hard is a close second. but neither excuse is very convincing. all it takes is 30 minutes of moderate exercise nearly every day to promote health. what about the arthritis excuse? recent studies show that exercise can be safe for joints, both in older, overweight folks and in athletes. even if it were true, it might be wise to accept aching knees as the price for a healthy heart, brain and metabolism ( cholesterol, blood sugar, body fat and muscle ). back to top should runners worry? running, in particular, is considered to be hard on the body. unlike walking, running is a high - impact exercise. it ' s simply a matter of gravity : what goes up must come down. walkers have one foot on the ground at all times, while joggers and runners are entirely airborne for part of every stride. each time a foot hits the ground, it puts a stress equal to eight times the body ' s weight on a person ' s feet, legs, hips and neck. in just one mile, a runner ' s legs will have to absorb tons and tons of force from the impact. running actually causes relatively few physical problems. it ' s a testament to the wonderful construction of the human body. the faster the pace, however, the greater the impact and the greater the risk of injury. but that doesn ' t mean that running will cause arthritis. in fact, new studies provide reassurance that exercise, and particularly running, are safe for healthy joints. exercise may even help joints stay healthy. back to top what the research shows framingham offspring cohort in 1948, more than 5, 200 residents of framingham, ma volunteered for the framingham heart study.


running, are safe for healthy joints. exercise may even help joints stay healthy. back to top what the research shows framingham offspring cohort in 1948, more than 5, 200 residents of framingham, ma volunteered for the framingham heart study. this study has given us major insights into the causes of heart attack and stroke. in 1971, scientists began a new study of the children of the original volunteers and the spouses of those children. between 1993 and 1994, 1, 279 members of the framingham offspring cohort enrolled in a study of exercise and arthritis. the average age of participants was 53. all of the volunteers were free of arthritis when the study began. each answered detailed questions about their patterns of exercise, including walking, jogging, being active enough to work up a sweat and their overall exercise level. everyone provided information about knee injuries and symptoms of knee pain and stiffness. in addition, participants were weighed and measured, and had a full series of knee x - rays. between 2002 and 2005, the subjects again answered questions about knee pain and injury and had another set of x - rays. all the x - rays were independently evaluated by two experts who didn ' t know the subjects ' exercise histories. when the results were tallied, the researchers found no link between exercise and arthritis of the knee. the most active people had the same risk of arthritis as the least active, both in terms of symptoms and x - ray abnormalities. exercise was as friendly to the knees of joggers as walkers, even though jogging subjects the lower body to much higher impact and stress than walking. and even though obesity is an important risk factor for arthritis, physically active overweight members of the study group fared just as well as their slim peers. high - tech australian study the framingham study goes a long way toward dispelling the idea that exercise causes arthritis. but it did not confirm the hope that exercise might actually be good for joints. in osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, the cartilage that cushions the joints starts to wear away. because cartilage does not have its own blood supply, it must get its nutrients from the joint fluid that bathes it. exercise compresses joints, forcing more nutrient - rich fluid into cartilage. perhaps, then, repetitive exercise is good for joints. australian researchers studied 297 men and women who were between the ages of 40 and 69 when the study began in the early 1990s. all were healthy and had no histories of knee injuries or disease.


. perhaps, then, repetitive exercise is good for joints. australian researchers studied 297 men and women who were between the ages of 40 and 69 when the study began in the early 1990s. all were healthy and had no histories of knee injuries or disease. the volunteers were weighed and measured, and they provided detailed information about their exercise habits and joint symptoms. the evaluations were repeated between 2003 and 2004 ; each subject also had a knee mri. the results showed that people who performed the most vigorous weight - bearing exercise had the thickest, healthiest knee cartilage. back to top the knees of long - distance runners the framingham study is important because it evaluated a group of ordinary people just like many of us : middle - aged, often overweight, and not overly athletic adults. but how about serious long - distance runners? a 2008 study that compared 284 dedicated runners with 156 non - runners found little evidence that exercise causes arthritis. after a remarkably long 21 - year follow - up period, the runners actually experienced significantly less musculoskeletal disability than did their sedentary peers and the runners also enjoyed a 39 % lower mortality rate. the new research is impressive and confirms earlier studies. former varsity runners, for example, are no more likely to develop arthritis in their legs than former college swimmers. champion runners are no more likely to end up with arthritic hips than non - athletes. if exercise is so safe for joints, why do so many retired football players appear in advertisements for arthritis medication? the answer is traumatic injury. a joint injury can seem to heal completely, but residual damage can slowly progress to arthritis later in life. a study of 1, 321 johns hopkins medical school graduates proves the point. nearly 14 % of doctors who suffered hip injuries during their student years developed hip arthritis by age 65. only 6 % of those without hip injuries developed arthritis. a knee injury in youth was even more significant, producing a fivefold increase in the risk of arthritis of the knee in adults. with care, jogging and running can be safe and enjoyable. the main rules are familiar : start slowly, build up gradually, alternate harder and easier work outs, and listen to your body. here are a few additional tips :


| | | | diseases and conditions what is it? a phobia is a persistent, excessive, unrealistic fear of an object, person, animal, activity or situation. it is a type of anxiety disorder. a person with a phobia either tries to avoid the thing that triggers the fear, or endures it with great anxiety and distress. some phobias are very specific and limited. for example, a person may fear only spiders ( arachnophobia ) or cats ( galeophobia ). in this case, the person lives relatively free of anxiety by avoiding the thing he or she fears. some phobias cause trouble in a wider variety of places or situations. for example, symptoms of acrophobia ( fear of heights ) can be triggered by looking out the window of an office building or by driving over a high bridge. the fear of confined spaces ( claustrophobia ) can be triggered by riding in an elevator or by using a small restroom. people with these phobias may need to alter their lives drastically. in extreme cases, the phobia may dictate the person ' s employment, job location, driving route, recreational and social activities, or home environment. there are three major types of phobia : - specific phobia ( simple phobia ). with this most common form of phobia, people may fear specific animals ( such as dogs, cats, spiders, snakes ), people ( such as clowns, dentists, doctors ), environments ( such as dark places, thunderstorms, high places ) or situations ( such as flying in a plane, riding on a train, being in a confined space ). these conditions are at least partly genetic ( inherited ) and seem to run in families. - social phobia ( social anxiety disorder ). people with social phobia fear social situations where they may be humiliated, embarrassed or judged by others. they become particularly anxious when unfamiliar people are involved. the fear may be limited to performance, such as giving a lecture, concert or business presentation. or it may be more generalized, so that the phobic person avoids many social situations, such as eating in public or using a public restroom. social phobia seems to run in families. people who have been shy or solitary as children, or who have a history of unhappy or negative social experiences in childhood, seem more likely to develop this disorder. - agoraphobia. agoraphobia is a fear of being in


families. people who have been shy or solitary as children, or who have a history of unhappy or negative social experiences in childhood, seem more likely to develop this disorder. - agoraphobia. agoraphobia is a fear of being in public places where it would be difficult or embarrassing to make a sudden exit. a person with agoraphobia may avoid going to a movie or a concert, or traveling on a bus or a train. in many cases, he or she also has repeated, unexpected panic attacks ( intense fear and a set of uncomfortable physical symptoms - - trembling, heart palpitations and sweating ). childhood phobias occur most commonly between the ages of 5 and 9, and tend to last a short while. most longer - lasting phobias begin later in life, especially in people in their 20s. adult phobias tend to last for many years, and they are less likely to go away on their own. without proper treatment, phobia can increase an adult ' s risk of other types of psychiatric illness, especially other anxiety disorders, depression and substance abuse. the symptoms of phobia are : - excessive, unreasonable, persistent feelings of fear or anxiety that are triggered by a particular object, activity or situation. the feelings are either irrational or out of proportion to any actual threat. for example, while anyone may be afraid of an unrestrained, menacing dog, most people do not run away from a calm, quiet animal on a leash. - anxiety - related physical symptoms. these can include tremors, palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea or other symptoms that reflect the body ' s " fight or flight " response to danger. - avoidance of the object, activity or situation that triggers the phobia. because people who have phobias recognize that their fears are exaggerated, they are often ashamed or embarrassed about their symptoms. to prevent anxiety symptoms or embarrassment, they avoid the triggers for the phobia. a mental health professional is likely to ask about current symptoms and family history, particularly whether other family members have had phobias. you may want to report any experience or trauma that may have set off the phobia - - for example, a dog attack leading to a fear of dogs. it may be helpful to discuss how you react - - your thoughts, feelings and physical symptoms - - when you are confronted with the thing you fear. also, describe what you do to avoid fearful situations, and how the phobia affects your daily


it may be helpful to discuss how you react - - your thoughts, feelings and physical symptoms - - when you are confronted with the thing you fear. also, describe what you do to avoid fearful situations, and how the phobia affects your daily life, including your job and your personal relationships. your doctor will ask about depression and substance use because many people with phobias have these problems as well. in children, specific phobias can be short - term problems that disappear within a few months. in adults, about 80 % of new phobias become chronic ( long - term ) conditions that do not go away without proper treatment. there is no way to prevent a phobia from starting. however, treatment can reduce the negative impact of the disorder. treatment usually includes some combination of psychotherapy and medication : - specific phobia. cognitive - behavioral therapy can help, especially a procedure called either desensitization therapy or exposure therapy. this technique involves gradually increasing your exposure to the thing you fear, at your own pace, under controlled circumstances. as you are exposed to the object, you are taught to master your fear through relaxation, breathing control or other anxiety - reducing strategies. for short - term treatment of phobias, your doctor may prescribe an antianxiety medication. if the phobia is confronted only occasionally, as in a fear of flying, the use of medication can be limited. - social phobia. if your social phobia centers on one particular performance ( for example, giving a lecture or playing in a concert ), your doctor may prescribe a medication called a beta - blocker such as propranolol ( inderal ). this medicine can be taken just prior to the performance. it dampens the physical effects of anxiety ( pounding heart or trembling fingers ), but usually does not affect the mental sharpness needed for speaking or the physical dexterity needed for playing an instrument. for more generalized or long - term forms of social phobia, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant, usually an ssri ( selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor ) such as sertraline ( zoloft ), paroxetine ( paxil ) or fluoxetine ( prozac ). if an ssri is not effective, your doctor may prescribe an alternative antidepressant or antianxiety medication. cognitive - behavioral therapy also works well for many people with social phobia, in both individual and group settings


). if an ssri is not effective, your doctor may prescribe an alternative antidepressant or antianxiety medication. cognitive - behavioral therapy also works well for many people with social phobia, in both individual and group settings. - agoraphobia. the treatment for this disorder is similar to the treatment for panic disorder. drug treatment includes ssri antidepressants or older antidepressants, such as clomipramine ( anafranil ) and imipramine ( tofranil ) and benzodiazepine antianxiety medications, such as clonazepam ( klonopin ), diazepam ( valium ) and lorazepam ( ativan ). psychotherapy is also helpful, particularly cognitive - behavioral therapy. when to call a professional make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as possible if you are troubled by fears or anxieties that are disturbing your peace of mind ; interfering with your personal relationships ; or preventing you from functioning normally at home, school or work. the outlook is very good for people with specific phobia or social phobia. according to the u. s. national institute of mental health, about 75 % of people with specific phobias overcome their fears through cognitive - behavioral therapy, while 80 % of those with social phobia find relief from medication, cognitive - behavioral therapy or a combination. when agoraphobia occurs with panic disorder, the prognosis is also good. with appropriate treatment, 30 % to 40 % of patients become free of symptoms for extended periods, while another 50 % continue to experience only mild symptoms that do not significantly affect daily life. american psychiatric association 1000 wilson blvd. arlington, va 22209 - 3901 national institute of mental health science writing, press, and dissemination branch 6001 executive blvd. room 8184, msc 9663 bethesda, md 20892 - 9663 tty toll - free : 1 - 866 - 415 - 8051 american psychological association 750 first st., ne washington, dc 20002 - 4242 national mental health association 2000 n. beauregard st., 6th floor alexandria, va 22311 last updated february 17, 2011 a phobia is a persistent, excessive, unrealistic fear of an object, person, animal, activity or situation. intelihealth medical content 8876, 9475, 10541, 31038, 31348,