Physical activity in England: Who is meeting the recommended level of participation through sports and exercise?

This article is available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright © 2012 Anokye et al.Background: Little is known about the correlates of meeting recommended levels of participation in physical activity (PA) and how this understanding informs public health policies on behaviour change. Objective: To analyse who meets the recommended level of participation in PA in males and females separately by applying ‘process’ modelling frameworks (single vs. sequential 2-step process). Methods: Using the Health Survey for England 2006, (n = 14 142; ≥16 years), gender-specific regression models were estimated using bivariate probit with selectivity correction and single probit models. A ‘sequential, 2-step process’ modelled participation and meeting the recommended level separately, whereas the ‘single process’ considered both participation and level together. Results: In females, meeting the recommended level was associated with degree holders [Marginal effect (ME) = 0.013] and age (ME = −0.001), whereas in males, age was a significant correlate (ME = −0.003 to −0.004). The order of importance of correlates was similar across genders, with ethnicity being the most important correlate in both males (ME = −0.060) and females (ME = −0.133). In females, the ‘sequential, 2-step process’ performed better (ρ = −0.364, P < 0.001) than that in males (ρ = 0.154). Conclusion: The degree to which people undertake the recommended level of PA through vigorous activity varies between males and females, and the process that best predicts such decisions, i.e. whether it is a sequential, 2-step process or a single-step choice, is also different for males and females. Understanding this should help to identify subgroups that are less likely to meet the recommended level of PA (and hence more likely to benefit from any PA promotion intervention).This study was funded by the Department of Health’s Policy Research Programme

Measuring Process Modelling Success

Process-modelling has seen widespread acceptance, par ticularly on large IT-enabled Business Process Reengineering projects. It is applied, as a process design and management technique, across all life-cycle phases of a system. While there has been much research on aspects of process-modelling, little attention has focused on post-hoc evaluation of process-modelling success. This paper addresses this gap, and presents a process-modelling success measurement (PMS) framework, which includes the dimensions: process-model quality; model use; user satisfaction; and process modelling impact. Measurement items for each dimension are also suggested

BECCS based on bioethanol from wood residues: Potential towards a carbon-negative transport and side-effects

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is gaining broad interest as an effective strategy to go beyond carbon neutrality. So far, most of the work on BECCS focused on power systems, while its application to the transport sector has received much less attention. To contribute to filling this gap, this work investigates the potential of BECCS as a carbon-negative strategy in the transport sector by applying process modelling and life cycle assessment (LCA) to bioethanol production from lignocellulosic waste. The process was analyzed following a cradle-to-wheel approach, i.e., from biomass growth to the combustion of biofuel in the cars, assuming that the CO2 emitted in the fermentation and cogeneration units is captured, compressed and transported to be stored permanently in geological sites. Several scenarios differing in the bioethanol-gasoline blends (10–85% bioethanol) were considered for a functional unit of 1 km of distance travelled, comparing with fossil-based gasoline. Our results show that blends above 85% (ethanol/gasoline) could have the potential to deliver a net-negative emissions balance of −2.74 kg CO2 eq per 100 km travelled and up to −5.05 kg CO2 eq per 100 km using a low carbon electricity source. The final amount of net CO2 removal is highly dependent on the carbon intensity of the electricity and the heating utilities. Biofuels blends could, however, lead to burden-shifting in eutrophication, ozone depletion and formation, toxicity, land use, and water consumption. This work highlights the potential of BECCS in the transport sector, and the need to analyze impacts beyond climate change in future studies to avoid shifting burdens to other categoriesThis contribution was supported by the European project iFermenter (Grant Agreement 790507). S. Bello, G. Feijoo and M.T. Moreira belong to the Galician Competitive Research Group GRC ED431C 2017/29 and to the CRETUS Strategic Partnership (ED431E 2018/01). All these programs are co-funded by FEDER (EU)S

Thermo-environomic optimisation strategy for fuel decarbonisation process design and analysis

To meet the CO2 reduction targets and ensure sustainable energy supply, the development and deploy- ment of cost-competitive innovative low-carbon energy technologies is essential. To design and evaluate the competitiveness of such complex integrated energy conversion systems, a systematic thermo- environomic optimisation strategy for the consistent modelling, comparison and optimisation of fuel decarbonisation process options is developed. The environmental benefit and the energetic and eco- nomic costs are assessed for several carbon capture process options. The performance is systematically compared and the trade-offs are assessed to support decision-making and identify optimal process con- figurations with regard to the polygeneration of H2, electricity, heat and captured CO2. The importance of process integration in the synthesis of efficient decarbonisation processes is revealed. It appears that different process options are in competition when a carbon tax is introduced. The choice of the optimal configuration is defined by the priorities given to the different thermo-environomic criteria

Mapping the feasibility of lignocellulosic biorefinery routes: the relevance of system modelling in life cycle assessment

The defossilization of the chemical industry, together with negative emission technologies like carbon capture and storage and carbon capture and utilization have been defined as essential contributors to curb the climate crisis. To reach climate goals, it will also be necessary to support the sustainable development of biorefining pathways. The objective of this thesis is to determine the environmental weaknesses and strengths of second generation biorefineries. The analysis of different renewable carbon opportunities to reach climate neutrality goals and objectives beyond decarbonization was achieved though the life cycle assessment methodology. Studying different modelling systems allowed to support the consistent development of recommendations and best practices in regulations and standards of biorefineries