Evaluation of retrofitting strategies for post-war office buildings

The energy used in non-domestic buildings accounts for 18 % of the energy use in the UK. Within the non-domestic building stock, 11 % of office buildings have a very high influence on the energy use. Thus, the retrofit of office buildings has a significant potential for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reduction within the non-domestic building stock. However, the replacement rate of existing buildings by new-build is only around 1-3 % per annum. Post-war office buildings, (built between 1945 and 1985) represent a promising sector for retrofit and energy demand reduction. They have disproportionately high energy consumption because many were built before the building regulations addressed thermal performance. The aim of the research is to evaluate the retrofit strategies for post-war office buildings accounting for the improved energy efficiency, thermal comfort and hence, productivity, capital and the running costs. The research seeks to provide the optimal generic retrofit strategies and illustrate sophisticated methods which will be the basis for guidelines about post-war office building retrofit. For this, multiple combinations of heating and cooling retrofit measures were applied to representative models (Exemplar) of post-war office buildings using dynamic thermal simulation modelling. The retrofit strategies include; applying envelope retrofit to UK Building Regulations Part L2B and The Passivhaus Institue EnerPHit standards for heating demand reduction and winter comfort. Passive cooling interventions such as shading devices and night ventilation and active cooling intervention such as mixed-mode ventilation were applied to overcome summer overheating. All retrofit combinations were evaluated considering future climate, inner and outer city locations and different orientations. In summary, the results showed that under current weather conditions Part L2B standard retrofit with passive cooling provided the optimum solution. In 2050, however, both Part L2B retrofit naturally ventilated cases with the passive cooling measures and EnerPHit retrofit mixed-mode ventilation cases provide the requisite thermal comfort and result in a similar range of energy consumption. It was concluded that to create generic retrofit solutions which could be applied to a given typology within the building stock is possible. The methodology and the Exemplar model could be used in future projects by decision-makers and the findings and analysis of the simulations could be taken as guidance for the widespread retrofit of post-war office buildings

Post-Pandemic Study Spaces: Post Occupancy Evaluation of BREEAM Excellence Rated University Building

This paper presents preliminary findings from a Post Occupancy Evaluation research of a BREEAM excellence-rated university building, to understand the experience of the students using university study spaces under a post-pandemic teaching and learning context. The research uses a combined qualitative and quantitative method and focuses on occupancy patterns, thermal comfort, air quality, noise and lighting level of the study spaces within the building, as well as the students’ preferences and experiences of the study spaces. The research collected over 200 questionnaire survey data from students who use the study areas, as well as monitored environmental data and observation data over 5 working days prior to the exam period. The study also compares the field research with the predicted performance simulation model data made before the pandemic, to understand the difference the pandemic has made to the designed usage and environmental comfort of the building. The result suggests that the post-pandemic occupancy level is significantly different from the pre-pandemic design assumptions and environmental control strategies need to be re-evaluated to provide optimum thermal comfort. Furthermore, the result raises questions in relation to overheating predictions in the performance simulation model, suggesting a need to re-evaluate overheating calculation criteria in educational buildings

Evaluation of refurbishment strategies for post-war office buildings

Multiple combinations of energy saving refurbishment measures were applied to representative models of post-war office buildings using EnergyPlus. Based on energy consumption, thermal comfort and costs, a range of heating and cooling refurbishment features were evaluated under a parameter study. The evaluation shows that although refurbished post-war offices with high insulation consume negligible amounts of heating energy, thermal comfort could only be provided by additional active cooling which results in higher costs and lower greenhouse gas reductions

Retrofitting post-war office buildings: Interventions for energy efficiency, improved comfort, productivity and cost reduction

Within the UK non-domestic building stock, offices built between 1940 and 1980, are especially in need of retrofit, they can suffer from high energy consumption and thermal discomfort. Many post-war offices will still be in use throughout the first half of this century. This paper evaluates retrofit strategies for post-war office buildings accounting for the improved energy efficiency, thermal comfort and hence productivity, and reduction of capital and running costs. The aim of the paper is seeking optimal, generic retrofit strategies to provide guidance to building owners, occupiers and other decision makers. Dynamic thermal modelling is used to compare retrofit outcomes for existing building standards (PartL2B) and higher standards (Passivhaus retrofit: EnerPHit). The effects of location and orientation and both current and future UK weather conditions (2050) are considered. Multiple combinations of heating and cooling strategies and retrofit measures are assessed. The analysis methodology uses a sophisticated comfort, productivity and cost assessment. An Overall Building Thermal Discomfort (OBTD) index is introduced which enriches the current CIBSE overheating criterion 1 by including the number of occupants. Productivity improvements as a result of better comfort are included in cost calculations. Cost benefits are calculated both for buildings used by the owner (CBO) and for buildings let to a tenant (CBT). On cost and energy grounds, UK building regulation compliant retrofit is optimal provided that passive summertime overheating controls, such as night ventilation, blinds and/or overhangs, are installed. The EnerPHit standard retrofit provides resilience as the climate warms provided summer cooling is available, for example through mixed-mode ventilation

Investigation of variants of critically important antioxidant enzyme genes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Aim: To investigate the possible effects of polymorphisms in genes encoding some important antioxidant enzymes such as super oxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), endothelial NOS (eNOS) and catalase (CAT) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).Methods: Peripheral blood of 100 patients with PCOS and 100 healthy control group were collected, Polymorphisms in related genes was investigated by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. In addition, the related biochemical values of the patients were also investigated.Result: In our study there is no significant results for SOD2 gene but the results obtained between GPX1, eNOS and CAT genes were significant. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, triglyceride, waist circumference and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) were found to be significant with the disease, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was found to be effective in preventing the disease.Conclusions: These findings suggest that polymorphisms in genes encoding GPX1, eNOS and CAT enzymes may be associated with PCOS. Additionally, it is thought that the genes of FBS, triglyceride, insulin, DHEAS and waist circumference are important in the pathogenesis of the disease in the presence of homozygous mutation

Current treatment strategies in malignant pleural mesothelioma with a treatment algorithm

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. The main therapeutic options for MPM include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy (RT). Although multimodality therapy has been reported to improve survival, not every medically operable patient is able to undergo all recommended therapy. With improvements in surgical techniques and systemic therapies, as well as advancements in RT, there has been a potential new paradigm in the management of this disease. In this review, we discuss the current literature on MPM management and propose a functional treatment algorithm

Left Atrial Function Is Improved in Short-Term Follow-Up after Catheter Ablation of Outflow Tract Premature Ventricular Complexes

Background: Association of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and efficacy of catheter ablation treatment have been demonstrated in studies. The role of left atrial (LA) mechanics in the etiopathogenesis of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CMP) as well as changes in LA mechanics with catheter ablation have not been studied before. Methods: A total number of 61 patients (Mean Age 43 ± 3) with idiopathic outflow tract (OT) PVCs undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were enrolled. ECG, 24 h Holter, and echocardiographic evaluation with left ventricular (LV) diastolic functions and LA volumetric assessments were performed before and three months after RFCA. Results: Along with a marginal increase in left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), improvement in diastolic functions and left atrial mechanics were observed in the study (LVEF 53 ± 7 versus 57 ± 6, p < 0.01) in short-term follow-up. The frequency of LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) decreased with catheter ablation (n = 5 to 0, p = 0.02). The overall LA function improved. Left atrium passive and overall emptying fraction (LAEF) increased significantly (0.32 ± 0.04 to 0.41 ± 0.04, p < 0.05 and 0.62 ± 0.04 to 0.65 ± 0.004, p < 0.05, respectively). Active LAEF decreased significantly (0.29 ± 0.005 to 0.24 ± 0.006, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study are indicative of "PVC-induced atriomyopathy" which responds to RFCA in short-term follow-up. Atrial dysfunction might play a role in symptoms and etiopathogenesis of LVSD

Control of development, secondary metabolism and light-dependent carotenoid biosynthesis by the velvet complex of Neurospora crassa

Neurospora crassa is an established reference organism to investigate carotene biosynthesis and light regulation. However, there is little evidence of its capacity to produce secondary metabolites. Here, we report the role of the fungal-specific regulatory velvet complexes in development and secondary metabolism (SM) in N. crassa. Three velvet proteins VE-1, VE-2, VOS-1, and a putative methyltransferase LAE-1 show light-independent nucleocytoplasmic localization. Two distinct velvet complexes, a heterotrimeric VE-1/VE-2/LAE-1 and a heterodimeric VE-2/VOS-1 are found in vivo. The heterotrimer-complex, which positively regulates sexual development and represses asexual sporulation, suppresses siderophore coprogen production under iron starvation conditions. The VE-1/VE-2 heterodimer controls carotene production. VE-1 regulates the expression of .15% of the whole genome, comprising mainly regulatory and developmental features. We also studied intergenera functions of the velvet complex through complementation of Aspergillus nidulans veA, velB, laeA, vosA mutants with their N. crassa orthologs ve-1, ve-2, lae-1, and vos-1, respectively. Expression of VE-1 and VE-2 in A. nidulans successfully substitutes the developmental and SM functions of VeA and VelB by forming two functional chimeric velvet complexes in vivo, VelB/VE-1/LaeA and VE-2/VeA/LaeA, respectively. Reciprocally, expression of veA restores the phenotypes of the N. crassa ve-1 mutant. All N. crassa velvet proteins heterologously expressed in A. nidulans are localized to the nuclear fraction independent of light. These data highlight the conservation of the complex formation in N. crassa and A. nidulans. However, they also underline the intergenera similarities and differences of velvet roles according to different life styles, niches and ontogenetic processes

Risk factors associated with adverse fetal outcomes in pregnancies affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a secondary analysis of the WAPM study on COVID-19.

Objectives To evaluate the strength of association between maternal and pregnancy characteristics and the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in pregnancies with laboratory confirmed COVID-19. Methods Secondary analysis of a multinational, cohort study on all consecutive pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from February 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020 from 73 centers from 22 different countries. A confirmed case of COVID-19 was defined as a positive result on real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay of nasal and pharyngeal swab specimens. The primary outcome was a composite adverse fetal outcome, defined as the presence of either abortion (pregnancy loss before 22 weeks of gestations), stillbirth (intrauterine fetal death after 22 weeks of gestation), neonatal death (death of a live-born infant within the first 28 days of life), and perinatal death (either stillbirth or neonatal death). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate parameters independently associated with the primary outcome. Logistic regression was reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Mean gestational age at diagnosis was 30.6+/-9.5 weeks, with 8.0% of women being diagnosed in the first, 22.2% in the second and 69.8% in the third trimester of pregnancy. There were six miscarriage (2.3%), six intrauterine device (IUD) (2.3) and 5 (2.0%) neonatal deaths, with an overall rate of perinatal death of 4.2% (11/265), thus resulting into 17 cases experiencing and 226 not experiencing composite adverse fetal outcome. Neither stillbirths nor neonatal deaths had congenital anomalies found at antenatal or postnatal evaluation. Furthermore, none of the cases experiencing IUD had signs of impending demise at arterial or venous Doppler. Neonatal deaths were all considered as prematurity-related adverse events. Of the 250 live-born neonates, one (0.4%) was found positive at RT-PCR pharyngeal swabs performed after delivery. The mother was tested positive during the third trimester of pregnancy. The newborn was asymptomatic and had negative RT-PCR test after 14 days of life. At logistic regression analysis, gestational age at diagnosis (OR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.8-0.9 per week increase; pPeer reviewe

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo