Long term measurements of indoor radon equilibrium factor

To provide detailed information for bronchial dose estimates, aerosol particle size distributions, and radon gas concentration, measurements were made in six residential homes and three laboratory rooms in different office buildings in the city of Ottawa. In the literature, most particle size distribution measurements are taken with samplers operating for a few days at most. In this study, the particle size samplers collected the samples from 77 to 162 d. The equilibrium factor determined from the long-term measurements ranged from 0.6 to almost 1 with an average of 0.75. Even though radon concentrations were quite different between residential setting and office buildings, the average equilibrium factor was similar in the two different indoor environments. The results suggest that at least in some basements, if they were occupied, the radon dose would be about twice as high as normally estimated from the conventional F(eq) value of 0.4.     

The new equilibrium

This is the eighth and final article based on his recently completed Harvard University Ph.D. dissertation, "The Struggle for Control of California's Health Care Marketplace."     

Coagulation factor XIII: genetic linkage studies with F13B

Linkage relations of the F13B gene with 38 marker genes are analyzed, which, along with the data of earlier reports on the same subject, brings the number of comparisons to a total of 49. Practically all the lod scores are totally negative. This will mean that the F13B gene can hardly be located on the chromosomes/chromosome arms 1p, 2p, 4q, 6p, 14p, 15p, 20q, 21p, 22 and also not on longer segments of 3q, 6q, 7q, 9p, 9q, 11q, 13q, 14q, 16p, and 16q.     

Measurement of the equilibrium factor between radon and its progeny in the underground mining environment

A scintillation cell and a portable radiation spectrometer for radon progeny were respectively employed to measure the concentration of radon and that of its progeny in the underground gold mine environment. The measured concentrations were subsequently used to calculate the equilibrium factor between radon and its progeny. The results obtained indicate that various locations underground have different values of radon concentration and ratios of radon concentration to its progeny concentration. The differences can be ascribed to variations in grades of uranium at different locations and to some environmental factors such as ventilation, particle concentration, and the deposition of the progeny on surfaces or on the atmospheric aerosol.     

微量元素的平衡和微量元素的二重性

正确认识微量元素在人体中的作用 ,了解微量元素平衡和二重性对人体健康的意义。微量元素的平衡包括整体元素在人体中的平衡 ,微量元素之间比例的平衡。维持平衡可采取食物平衡的方法 ,特殊情况将采取药物进补调节。微量元素的二重性是指元素在人体内量效范围、价态存在形式所表现出的有益或有害作用。     

The accountability factor

Why the continuing parade of frauds? Fraud control begins and ends with the governing board. An effective governing board controls the executive staff (not vice-versa) and actively oversees money and where and how it is spent. If accountability is the issue, the logical question is "What are the signs that accountability is not a part of the hospital or system's culture?".     

Finding Canada's healthcare equilibrium

Economic equilibrium, in which demand for health services is in balance with supply, is an elusive phenomenon in advanced healthcare systems worldwide, yet some countries have come closer to economic stasis than Canada. In 2008, the Euro-Canada Health Consumer Index ranked Canada 30th out of 30 countries studied for value for money. Wait times were Canada's weakest spot, and, in terms of system design, context, and economics, there was clear evidence that Canada's healthcare system was out of equilibrium. Canadians can learn from Austria. If Canada expects better value for its healthcare dollar, then cost drivers need to be addressed in a design overhaul. Only then will Canada approach equilibrium.