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If you choose to follow any links to the complete text of articles listed below, you will be leaving the Strategian Web site. If you wish to return to this page from the Web page you are sent to, please use the Back option of your browser. Feature Articles: Graham R. Law, Eleanor V. Kane, Eve Roman, Alex Smith, and Ray Cartwright Residential Radon Exposure and Adult Acute Leukaemia. (... exposure to radon gas within the home has been and is a widely-discussed issue. Radon gas is produced as a result of the natural decay of minerals containing uranium or thorium found in rocks, the soil, water, etc. This gas can then leak into a home especially through the basement. Radon gas has been discussed and studied as a health hazard, because the gas can be inhaled by humans and deposited in the bronchial tubes and the lungs. Some studies have suggested that exposure to radon gas in the home could be a cause of cancer--especially lung cancer and leukemia [some information taken from the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology]. This study investigated whether or not exposure to radon gas in the home could be a factor in the development of leukemia in humans. The authors studied 807 individuals from 16-69 years of age with confirmed cases of acute leukemia plus 1,593 matched control subjects without leukemia from the southwest, north, and northwest of England. Data was collected between 1991 and 1996. As part of the study, radon gas measurements were taken by passive detectors for 6 months in 1,881 homes in which the individuals with leukemia and the control subjects lived or had lived. The results of the study showed no association between acute leukaemia and radon. The authors conclude that our findings do not support the suggestion that exposure to naturally occurring radon gas in homes is a causal factor for leukaemia in the UK--from the text of the article; see the bibliography) The Lancet Volume 355, Number 9218 (May 27, 2000): 1888. Other Articles of Note: Mark A. Reed and James M. Tour Computing with Molecules. (... a very readable overview and current review of molecular electronics--a field emerging around the premise that it is possible to build individual molecules that can perform functions identical or analogous to those of the transistors, diodes, conductors and other key components of today’s microcircuits used to operate computers. These functions include conducting and switching electric current and storing information. Other keywords and phrases -- artificial brain, computer circuit, molecular-scale electronics, Moore's Law -- from the text of the article) Scientific American Volume 282, Number 6 (June 2000): 86-93. **The complete text of this article is currently available through the Web site of Scientific American** John R. Barker and Marc H. Ross An Introduction to Global Warming. (... an article that presents the basic physics of climate and of climate changes associated with increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. See the section Climate Certainties and Uncertainties for a very readable summary of what, according to the authors, is known, what is fairly certain, and what is still very uncertain about climate change in the near future. The authors conclude by saying much work needs to be done to improve the predictive models [of global warming and potential climate change], and much of it will be done by physicists. Other keywords and phrases -- carbon dioxide, CO2, emissions, greenhouse effect -- from the text of the abstract and article) American Journal of Physics Volume 67, Number 12 (December 1999): 1216-1226. **An abstract of this article is currently available through the Web site of American Journal of Physics** Jenny S. Cory and Judith H. Myers Direct and Indirect Ecological Effects of Biological Control. (... a summary of a symposium on Evaluating Indirect Ecological Effects of Biological Control [Montpellier, France, October 17-20, 1999] sponsored by the International Organization of Biological Control. Biological control uses birds, insects, viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc. that occur naturally in certain locations and habitats to control the populations of plants, insects, etc. that are considered pests in other habitats. The symposium was organized to discuss ways to predict and/or limit the negative ecological effects that may occur when biological control of pests is attempted. Other keywords and phrases -- biopesticide, green approach to pest management, invasive species -- from the text of the article) Trends in Ecology & Evolution Volume 15, Number 4 (April 2000): 137-139. Andrew Mountain Gene Therapy: The First Decade. (... a very useful review of the progress made, pitfalls encountered, and paths taken during the first decade of the use of gene therapy. Gene therapy--the treatment or prevention of disease by gene transfer--is unique compared to most current medical treatments and therapies in that it aims at treating or eliminating the causes of disease, whereas most current drugs treat the symptoms of disease. See page 125 for a list of the most promising gene-therapy concepts at the present time. The author concludes by writing the most important recent development in gene therapy is the clear demonstration of efficacy [effectiveness] in clinical studies. Other keywords and phrases -- ad, adenovirus, cancer, cationic lipid, condensed DNA particles, cystic fibrosis, electroporation, HIV, naked DNA, needle-free injection, retrovirus, rv, vector -- from the text of the article; see the extensive bibliography) Trends in Biotechnology Volume 18, Number 3 (March 2000): 119-128. How to find the above journals, magazines, and other publications? See Step 3: Locate of the Information Strategy for details. Questions about any or all of the above? Please let me know. |
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