A review of selected neighbourhood sustainability assessment frameworks using the Bellagio STAMP

Purpose The neighbourhood sustainability assessment frameworks through which a proposed neighbourhood development can be evaluated against an array of sustainability indicators began to gain prominence in the first decade of the twenty-first century. However, how these frameworks align with the Bellagio STAMP is an area yet to be examined by existing studies to inform their better development and usage in the delivery of sustainable neighbourhoods. The purpose of this paper is to review selected neighbourhood sustainability assessment frameworks using the Bellagio STAMP with the aim of identifying areas for improvement, while also exploring the possibilities of adopting the Bellagio STAMP as a consensus approach and reference to sustainability assessment at the neighbourhood level. Design/methodology/approach Adopting document analysis as a data collection method, the paper reviews BREEAM communities, LEED Neighbourhood Development, Pearl community rating system and Green Star communities using the Bellagio STAMP. Findings Findings from the study revealed that some of the selected assessment frameworks align partially with the Bellagio STAMP in their development, while areas for improvement were identified. Research limitations/implications The study recommends that the Bellagio STAMP could offer helpful guidelines and procedure in conceptualising sustainability assessment at the neighbourhood level especially in developing countries where such a framework is yet to be conceived. Originality/value This study adds to the sustainability assessment literature by operationalising the Bellagio STAMP leading to its better understanding and application in sustainability assessment either in practice or in theory

Spatial distribution of metabolites in the retina and its relevance to studies of metabolic retinal disorders

Introduction: The primate retina has evolved regional specialisations for specific visual functions. The macula is specialised towards high acuity vision and is an area that contains an increased density of cone photoreceptors and signal processing neurons. Different regions in the retina display unique susceptibility to pathology, with many retinal diseases primarily affecting the macula. Objectives: To better understand the properties of different retinal areas we studied the differential distribution of metabolites across the retina. Methods: We conducted an untargeted metabolomics analysis on full-thickness punches from three different regions (macula, temporal peri-macula and periphery) of healthy primate retina. Results: Nearly half of all metabolites identified showed differential abundance in at least one comparison between the three regions. Furthermore, mapping metabolomics results from macula-specific eye diseases onto our region-specific metabolite distributions revealed differential abundance defining systemic metabolic dysregulations that were region specific. Conclusions: The unique metabolic phenotype of different retinal regions is likely due to the differential distribution of different cell types in these regions reflecting the specific metabolic requirements of each cell type. Our results may help to better understand the pathobiology of retinal diseases with region specificity

Energy efficiency and renewables

The debate between exponents of 'supply side' and 'demand side' approaches to dealing with environmental problems like climate change can sometimes become polarised. At one extreme it is sometimes claimed that the potential for energy efficiency and demands reductions is so large that we hardly need to worry about the supply side. At the other extreme it is sometimes claimed that the potential for renewables is so large that we can forget about energy conservation. This paper looks at how these views stand up in the context of both short and long term sustainable energy policy and seeks a pragmatic strategic compromise

Identification of genetic factors influencing metabolic dysregulation and retinal support for MacTel, a retinal disorder

Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel) is a rare degenerative retinal disease with complex genetic architecture. We performed a genome-wide association study on 1,067 MacTel patients and 3,799 controls, which identified eight novel genome-wide significant loci (p < 5 × 10−8), and confirmed all three previously reported loci. Using MAGMA, eQTL and transcriptome-wide association analysis, we prioritised 48 genes implicated in serine-glycine biosynthesis, metabolite transport, and retinal vasculature and thickness. Mendelian randomization indicated a likely causative role of serine (FDR = 3.9 × 10−47) and glycine depletion (FDR = 0.006) as well as alanine abundance (FDR = 0.009). Polygenic risk scoring achieved an accuracy of 0.74 and was associated in UKBiobank with retinal damage (p = 0.009). This represents the largest genetic study on MacTel to date and further highlights genetically-induced systemic and tissue-specific metabolic dysregulation in MacTel patients, which impinges on retinal health

Renewable energy in remote communities

This article is the result of a competitively tendered University-funded project, this brings together two major Government Policy areas: sustainable communities and use of carbon fuels, and is aimed at influencing the policy debate on the difficulties of linking remote communities to renewable energy production because of poor distribution networks. Linkage with the Sustainable Communities agenda is an essential ingredient, as the proposal is that the renewable energy technologies will be installed and maintained by the communities themselves

Post-construction thermal testing: Some recent measurements

In the UK, it has become apparent in recent years that there is often a discrepancy between the steady-state predicted and the measured in situ thermal performance of the building fabric, with the measured in situ performance being greater than that predicted. This discrepancy or gap in the thermal performance of the building fabric is commonly referred to as the building fabric 'performance gap'. This paper presents the results and key messages obtained from undertaking a whole-building heat loss test (a coheating test) on seven new-build dwellings as part of the Technology Strategy Board's Building Performance Evaluation Programme. While the total number of dwellings involved in the work reported here is small, the results illustrate that a wide range of discrepancies in thermal performance was measured for the tested dwellings. Despite this, the results also indicate that it is possible to construct dwellings where the building fabric performs thermally more or less as predicted, thus effectively bridging the traditional building fabric performance gap that exists in mainstream housing in the UK