The case for joined-up research on carbon emissions from the building stock: adding value to household and building energy datasets

To reach UK objectives for reducing carbon emissions, it is argued that joined-up research on energy use in buildings is essential to develop and support government policy initiatives. The performance based approach introduced in Part-L of the 2006 Building Regulations has further underlined the role of coordinated research to monitor their effectiveness and provide feedback for subsequent revisions. Unfortunately, differences in dwelling classifications systems used in major household surveys currently hinder much of the supporting analysis that might improve SAP and other energy models. The Carbon Reduction in Buildings project has begun a process of integrating or organising existing building energy datasets into a coherent structure for the domestic sector. In addition, it is proposed to archive these for researchers via a building data repository that would facilitate joined-up research more widely

Proteomic selection of immunodiagnostic antigens for human African trypanosomiasis and generation of a prototype lateral flow immunodiagnostic device.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of Human African Trypanosomiasis relies mainly on the Card Agglutination Test for Trypanosomiasis (CATT). While this test is successful, it is acknowledged that there may be room for improvement. Our aim was to develop a prototype lateral flow test based on the detection of antibodies to trypanosome antigens. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We took a non-biased approach to identify potential immunodiagnostic parasite protein antigens. The IgG fractions from the sera from Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infected and control patients were isolated using protein-G affinity chromatography and then immobilized on Sepharose beads. The IgG-beads were incubated with detergent lysates of trypanosomes and those proteins that bound were identified by mass spectrometry-based proteomic methods. This approach provided a list of twenty-four trypanosome proteins that selectively bound to the infection IgG fraction and that might, therefore, be considered as immunodiagnostic antigens. We selected four antigens from this list (ISG64, ISG65, ISG75 and GRESAG4) and performed protein expression trials in E. coli with twelve constructs. Seven soluble recombinant protein products (three for ISG64, two for ISG65 and one each for ISG75 and GRESAG4) were obtained and assessed for their immunodiagnostic potential by ELISA using individual and/or pooled patient sera. The ISG65 and ISG64 construct ELISAs performed well with respect to detecting T. b. gambiense infections, though less well for detecting T. b. rhodesiense infections, and the best performing ISG65 construct was used to develop a prototype lateral flow diagnostic device. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Using a panel of eighty randomized T. b. gambiense infection and control sera, the prototype showed reasonable sensitivity (88%) and specificity (93%) using visual readout in detecting T. b. gambiense infections. These results provide encouragement to further develop and optimize the lateral flow device for clinical use

Chemical speciation of nanoparticles surrounding metal-on-metal hips.

Spectromicroscopy of tissue surrounding failed CoCr metal-on-metal hip replacements detected corroded nanoscale debris in periprosthetic tissue in two chemical states, with concomitant mitochondrial damage. The majority of debris contained Cr(3+), with trace amounts of oxidised cobalt. A minority phase containing a core of metallic chromium and cobalt was also observed

Short-term disuse does not affect postabsorptive or postprandial muscle protein fractional breakdown rates

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordBACKGROUND: The decline in postabsorptive and postprandial muscle protein fractional synthesis rates (FSR) does not quantitatively account for muscle atrophy during uncomplicated, short-term disuse, when atrophy rates are the highest. We sought to determine whether 2 days of unilateral knee immobilization affects mixed muscle protein fractional breakdown rates (FBR) during postabsorptive and simulated postprandial conditions. METHODS: Twenty-three healthy, male participants (age: 22 ± 1 year; height: 179 ± 1 cm; body mass: 73.4 ± 1.5 kg; body mass index 22.8 ± 0.5 kg·m-2 ) took part in this randomized, controlled study. After 48 h of unilateral knee immobilization, primed continuous intravenous l-[15 N]-phenylalanine and l-[ring-2 H5 ]-phenylalanine infusions were used for parallel determinations of FBR and FSR, respectively, in a postabsorptive (saline infusion; FAST) or simulated postprandial state (67.5 mg·kg body mass-1 ·h-1 amino acid infusion; FED). Bilateral m. vastus lateralis biopsies from the control (CON) and immobilized (IMM) legs, and arterialized-venous blood samples, were collected throughout. RESULTS: Amino acid infusion rapidly increased plasma phenylalanine (59 ± 9%), leucine (76 ± 5%), isoleucine (109 ± 7%) and valine (42 ± 4%) concentrations in FED only (all P  0.05). However, immobilization decreased FSR (P < 0.05) in both FAST (0.071 ± 0.004 vs. 0.086 ± 0.007%·h-1 ; IMM vs CON, respectively) and FED (0.066 ± 0.016 vs. 0.119 ± 0.016%·h-1 ; IMM vs CON, respectively). Consequently, immobilization decreased net muscle protein balance (P < 0.05) and to a greater extent in FED (CON: -0.012 ± 0.025; IMM: -0.095 ± 0.023%·h-1 ; P < 0.05) than FAST (CON: -0.064 ± 0.020; IMM: -0.072 ± 0.017%·h-1 ). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that merely 2 days of leg immobilization does not modulate postabsorptive and simulated postprandial muscle protein breakdown rates. Instead, under these conditions the muscle negative muscle protein balance associated with brief periods of experimental disuse is driven near exclusively by reduced basal muscle protein synthesis rates and anabolic resistance to amino acid administration.Nutricia Research FoundationUniversity of ExeterBeachbody LLCNational Institute of Agin

Algae Ingestion Increases Resting and Exercised Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis Rates to a Similar Extent as Mycoprotein in Young Adults

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordData availability: Data described in the manuscript may be made available upon request, pending application.BACKGROUND: Spirulina [SPIR] (cyanobacterium) and chlorella [CHLO] (microalgae) are foods rich in protein and essential amino acids; however, their capacity to stimulate myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS) in humans remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the impact of ingesting SPIR and CHLO compared with an established high-quality nonanimal-derived dietary protein source (fungal-derived mycoprotein [MYCO]) on plasma amino acid concentrations, as well as resting and postexercise MyoPS rates in young adults. METHODS: Thirty-six healthy young adults (age: 22 ± 3 y; BMI: 23 ± 3 kg·m-2; male [m]/female [f], 18/18) participated in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group trial. Participants received a primed, continuous infusion of L-[ring-2H5]-phenylalanine and completed a bout of unilateral-resistance leg exercise before ingesting a drink containing 25 g protein from MYCO (n = 12; m/f, 6/6), SPIR (n = 12; m/f, 6/6), or CHLO (n = 12; m/f, 6/6). Blood and bilateral muscle samples were collected at baseline and during a 4-h postprandial and postexercise period to assess the plasma amino acid concentrations and MyoPS rates in rested and exercised tissue. RESULTS: Protein ingestion increased the plasma total and essential amino acid concentrations (time effects; all P 0.05), but with higher rates in exercised compared with rested muscle (time × exercise effect; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The ingestion of a single bolus of algae-derived SPIR and CHLO increases resting and postexercise MyoPS rates to a comparable extent as MYCO, despite divergent postprandial plasma amino acid responses

Daily mycoprotein consumption for one week does not affect insulin sensitivity or glycaemic control but modulates the plasma lipidome in healthy adults: a randomised controlled trial

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Cambridge University Press via the DOI in this record.Mycoprotein consumption has been shown to improve acute postprandial glycaemic control and decrease circulating cholesterol concentrations. We investigated the impact of incorporating mycoprotein into the diet on insulin sensitivity (IS), glycaemic control and plasma lipoprotein composition. Twenty healthy adults participated in a randomised, parallel-group trial in which they consumed a 7 d fully-controlled diet where lunch and dinner contained either meat/fish (CON) or mycoprotein (MYC) as the primary source of dietary protein. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed pre- and post- intervention, and 24h continuous blood glucose monitoring was applied throughout. Fasting plasma samples were obtained pre- and post- intervention and were analysed using quantitative, targeted NMR-based metabonomics. There were no changes within or between groups in blood glucose or serum insulin responses, nor in IS (Cederholm; 51±3 to 51±3 and 54±3 to 53±3 mg.L2/mmol.mU.min in CON and MYC, respectively; P<0.05) or 24 h glycaemic profiles. No differences between groups were found for 171 of the 224 metabonomic targets. Forty five lipid concentrations of different lipoprotein fractions (VLDL, LDL, IDL and HDL) remained unchanged in CON but showed a coordinated decrease (7-27 %; all P<0.05) in MYC. Total plasma cholesterol, free-C, LDL-C, HDL2-C, DHA and omega-3 fatty acids decreased to a larger degree in MYC (14-19 %) compared with CON (3-11 %; P<0.05). Substituting meat/fish for mycoprotein twice-daily for one week did not modulate whole-body IS or glycaemic control but resulted in changes to plasma lipid composition; the latter primarily consisting of a coordinated reduction in circulating cholesterol containing lipoproteins.QuornMarlow Foods Lt

Neuronal circuitry for pain processing in the dorsal horn

Neurons in the spinal dorsal horn process sensory information, which is then transmitted to several brain regions, including those responsible for pain perception. The dorsal horn provides numerous potential targets for the development of novel analgesics and is thought to undergo changes that contribute to the exaggerated pain felt after nerve injury and inflammation. Despite its obvious importance, we still know little about the neuronal circuits that process sensory information, mainly because of the heterogeneity of the various neuronal components that make up these circuits. Recent studies have begun to shed light on the neuronal organization and circuitry of this complex region