University–utility partnerships: Best practices for water innovation and collaboration

University–utility partnerships (UUPs) are mutually beneficial collaborations that promote and accelerate innovation in the water sector. The Leaders Innovation Forum for Technology (LIFT) program worked with representatives from universities and utilities to define successful methods and strategies for establishing strong university–utility collaborative partnerships. Overall, partners in a successful university–utility collaboration need to be honest and realistic to match university capabilities and utility needs. In order to manage expectations at both organizations, utilities and universities must understand their respective points of view. Building and maintaining strong relationships should be a primary concern. Successful UUPs are built upon strong relationships between organizations rather than just strong research ideas. Different implementation structures should be considered for UUPs depending on what works best for both organizations. Common hurdles to overcome when implementing UUPs include working across distances and managing risks related to financing, intellectual property, and public outreach.Practitioner pointsUniversity–utility collaborative partnerships are mutually beneficial and promote innovation throughout the water sector as a wholeEstablishing successful partnerships can be challenging, but difficulties can be mitigated by following the described best practicesPartnerships can be structured and implemented in a variety of ways depending on the specific needs of each organization involvedUniversity‐utility partnerships (UUPs) are mutually beneficial collaborations that promote and accelerate innovation in the water sector. The Leaders Innovation Forum for Technology (LIFT) program worked with representatives from universities and utilities to define successful methods and strategies for establishing strong university‐utility collaborative partnerships. Overall, partners in a successful universityutility collaboration need to be honest and realistic to match university capabilities and utility needs. In order to manage expectations at both organizations, utilities and universities must understand their respective points of view.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154337/1/wer1252.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154337/2/wer1252_am.pd

Carolina Forum: Shifting Urban Policy Targets: Impacts on North Carolina and the South; Planning for Natural Diversity: The N.C. Natural Heritage Program

This edition of Carolina Forum includes the following two reports: SHIFTING URBAN POLICY TARGETS: IMPACTS ON NORTH CAROLINA AND THE SOUTH: According to the press, the states of the Snowbelt are involved In a "new civil war" with the states of the Sunbelt. Governors have become generals, defending their regions. Skirmishes are fought in the North and South; while the major battle goes on in Washington, D.C. Battalions of regional interest groups are marshalled, each firing broadsides of research and policy analysis. Computers are the primary engines of war, supplying ammunition for policy thrusts and counterthrusts. To the victors go the spoils in the form of new federal funding formulas. Is this simply another media event, trying to capture public attention by overplaying political rhetoric? Maybe so, but beneath the rhetoric a significant shift In federal policy Is being engineered which will have lasting consequences for the citizens and public officials of North Carolina and other developing southern states. Under the guise of "targeting" federal funds on urban problem areas, the present administration Is systematically changing the rules for allocation of grants so as to favor older, declining cities, mostly In the Northeast and Midwest, while neglecting newer, growing southern and western areas. PLANNING FOR NATURAL DIVERSITY: THE N.C. NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM: For conservationists in North Carolina, it is an exciting time. In recent months, a four million dollar purchase of Currituck Banks sanctuaries has been made possible by the largest conservation gift in the history of American foundations. The preservation of the Green Swamp national natural landmark has been achieved through one of the largest land donations by an American corporation. Fund raising and negotiations are in progress to acquire more of North Carolina's finest natural areas. A strong conservation spirit is gaining force. Conservation in North Carolina is scoring victories through an unusual alliance of environmentalists, business, universities, foundations, and government. Many of the current achievements are spawned by the creation of two young and parallel efforts: the North Carolina Nature Conservancy and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program

Soy Isoflavones Genistein and Daidzein Exert Anti-Apoptotic Actions via a Selective ER-mediated Mechanism in Neurons following HIV-1 Tat1–86 Exposure

HIV-1 viral protein Tat partially mediates the neural dysfunction and neuronal cell death associated with HIV-1 induced neurodegeneration and neurocognitive disorders. Soy isoflavones provide protection against various neurotoxic insults to maintain neuronal function and thus help preserve neurocognitive capacity.We demonstrate in primary cortical cell cultures that 17β-estradiol or isoflavones (genistein or daidzein) attenuate Tat(1-86)-induced expression of apoptotic proteins and subsequent cell death. Exposure of cultured neurons to the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 abolished the anti-apoptotic actions of isoflavones. Use of ERα or ERβ specific antagonists determined the involvement of both ER isoforms in genistein and daidzein inhibition of caspase activity; ERβ selectively mediated downregulation of mitochondrial pro-apoptotic protein Bax. The findings suggest soy isoflavones effectively diminished HIV-1 Tat-induced apoptotic signaling.Collectively, our results suggest that soy isoflavones represent an adjunctive therapeutic option with combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) to preserve neuronal functioning and sustain neurocognitive abilities of HIV-1 infected persons

Influence of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Materials on Building Energy Performance

Due to their porous nature, lightweight aggregates have been shown to exhibit thermal properties that are advantageous when used in building materials such as lightweight concrete, grout, mortar, and concrete masonry units. Limited data exist on the thermal properties of materials that incorporate lightweight aggregate where the pore system has not been altered, and very few studies have been performed to quantify the building energy performance of structures constructed using lightweight building materials in commonly utilized structural and building envelope components. In this study, several lightweight concrete and masonry building materials were tested to determine the thermal properties of the bulk materials, providing more accurate inputs to building energy simulation than have previously been used. These properties were used in EnergyPlus building energy simulation models for several types of commercial structures for which materials containing lightweight aggregates are an alternative commonly considered for economic and aesthetic reasons. In a simple model, use of sand lightweight concrete resulted in prediction of 15–17% heating energy savings and 10% cooling energy savings, while use of all lightweight concrete resulted in prediction of approximately 35–40% heating energy savings and 30% cooling energy savings. In more complex EnergyPlus reference models, results indicated superior thermal performance of lightweight aggregate building materials in 48 of 50 building energy simulations. Predicted energy savings for the five models ranged from 0.2% to 6.4%

Influence of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete Materials on Building Energy Performance

Due to their porous nature, lightweight aggregates have been shown to exhibit thermal properties that are advantageous when used in building materials such as lightweight concrete, grout, mortar, and concrete masonry units. Limited data exist on the thermal properties of materials that incorporate lightweight aggregate where the pore system has not been altered, and very few studies have been performed to quantify the building energy performance of structures constructed using lightweight building materials in commonly utilized structural and building envelope components. In this study, several lightweight concrete and masonry building materials were tested to determine the thermal properties of the bulk materials, providing more accurate inputs to building energy simulation than have previously been used. These properties were used in EnergyPlus building energy simulation models for several types of commercial structures for which materials containing lightweight aggregates are an alternative commonly considered for economic and aesthetic reasons. In a simple model, use of sand lightweight concrete resulted in prediction of 15–17% heating energy savings and 10% cooling energy savings, while use of all lightweight concrete resulted in prediction of approximately 35–40% heating energy savings and 30% cooling energy savings. In more complex EnergyPlus reference models, results indicated superior thermal performance of lightweight aggregate building materials in 48 of 50 building energy simulations. Predicted energy savings for the five models ranged from 0.2% to 6.4%

NeuroAIDS in Africa

In July 2009, the Center for Mental Health Research on AIDS at the National Institute of Mental Health organized and supported the meeting “NeuroAIDS in Africa.” This meeting was held in Cape Town, South Africa, and was affiliated with the 5th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention. Presentations began with an overview of the epidemiology of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, the molecular epidemiology of HIV, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs), and HAND treatment. These introductory talks were followed by presentations on HAND research and clinical care in Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, and Zambia. Topics discussed included best practices for assessing neurocognitive disorders, patterns of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in the region, subtype-associated risk for HAND, pediatric HIV assessments and neurodevelopment, HIV-associated CNS opportunistic infections and immune reconstitution syndrome, the evolving changes in treatment implementation, and various opportunities and strategies for NeuroAIDS research and capacity building in the regio