By attaching sensors to GPS-enabled cell phones, we can gather the raw data necessary to begin understand how urban air pollution impacts both individuals and communities. In this paper we introduce a hardware and software platform for exploring algorithms and data gathered from pollution sensors integrated into cell phones, and discuss our main research agenda going forward.
Burkholderia cepacia isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) attending five CF centers were studied for relatedness by cellular fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and by chromosomal DNA restriction analysis. Twenty-eight of 32 (87.5%) isolates tested were grouped in cluster group 1 based on their FAME profiles. DNA analysis revealed that 29 of 32 (90.6%) B. cepacia isolates from five CF centers had one closely related DNA pattern. To examine strain variation over a time period, FAME profiles and DNA patterns of isolates from serial cultures on seven patients from center D were studied. For four patients, all serial B. cepacia isolates belonged to a single FAME cluster group; for the remaining three patients, all serial isolates belonged to any two of the four cluster groups. On serial culture isolates, a single DNA pattern (pattern A) was found in 31 of 32 isolates demonstrating a close genetic relatedness. These data corroborate the observations that the majority of patients colonised with B. cepacia in a CF center harbor strains genetically closely related as determined by FAME profiles and DNA patterns.
An increasing number of families in the United States are converting to woodburning stoves in an effort to reduce winter heating bills. Woodburning stoves operate as a contained combuster of wood and produce a variety of pollutants as byproducts of combustion. Although technological advances have reduced emissions to some degree, even the most efficient woodburning stoves emit hazardous pollutants directly into the home when the stove is operating and the door is opened to add wood. The question arises as to whether pollutants are accumulating in homes where woodburning stoves are used as a source of heat. This issue is especially important considering the trend to increase home insulation and overall airtightness in an effort to conserve energy and reduce heat loss. This paper reviews the clinical case report that first postulated an association of recurrent chest illness with woodburning stove exposure and summarizes the findings to date on respiratory effects of wood heat for young children.
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