Integrating an Institutional CRIS with an OA IR

Poster describing and illustrating work undertaken by ULCC and Symplectic to integrate an existing Symplectic Elements Current Research Information System with a new externally available EPrints Open Access repository, including support for harvesting full-text from UK PubMed Central

An investigation of the socio-economic, technical and appliance related factors affecting high electrical energy demand in UK homes

The amount of electricity used in individual UK homes varies considerably. Previous UK energy research has identified that high electricity consuming homes not only use more electricity, compared with others, but appear to be consuming even more electricity over time. Furthermore, there is additional evidence which shows that high consuming dwellings also have a greater potential to make energy savings than those who consume less. It has been suggested that future UK energy policy might focus on reducing the demand of high electricity consumers in order to reduce overall CO2 emissions. Therefore, understanding what drives high usage in domestic buildings is essential to support informed decisions. This thesis asserts that to improve knowledge and understanding of the factors affecting high electrical energy consumption in UK domestic buildings, it is necessary to combine an analysis of the occupants socio-economic characteristics, dwelling technical characteristics and appliance related aspects, with detailed monitoring of the ownership, power demand and occupants use of electrical appliances. Using a sample of 315 UK homes, the influence of socio-economic, technical and appliance related characteristics on the probability of a household being a high electrical energy consumer was investigated (Odds ratio analysis). Detailed appliance monitoring data was collected from 27 UK homes to establish the contributions of appliance ownership, power demand and use to high electrical energy demand (Appliance Electricity Use Survey). The current research found similar skewed electricity distributions towards high electricity consumers for both the 315 and 27 home cohorts. Conflicting results were however obtained from the two household samples with regard to whether high electricity consumers are increasing electrical energy demand over time. The results of the odds ratio analysis and Appliance Electricity Use Survey suggest that high electricity consumption in domestic buildings is related to a combination of the socio-economic characteristics of the building occupants, technical characteristics of the dwelling and the ownership, power demand and use of electrical appliances

Determinants of high electrical energy demand in UK homes: appliance ownership and use

This paper provides an analysis of the appliance ownership and use factors contributing to high electrical energy demand in UK homes. The data were collected during a large-scale, city-wide survey, carried out in Leicester, UK, in 2009-2010. Annual electricity consumption and appliance ownership and use were established for 183 dwellings and an odds ratio analysis used to identify the factors that led to high electricity consumption. Many of the appliance ownership and use factors have not previously been studied for the UK domestic sector. The results of this study should be of key interest to government policy makers and energy supply companies interested in the underlying drivers of the highly positively skewed distribution of UK domestic electricity use. The study identifies those appliances that could be targeted for technical improvements or subjected to campaigns to encourage more energy efficient use in order to reduce electricity consumption among high demand households. This paper builds on earlier work by the current authors which identified the households (socio-demographic and dwelling characteristics) most likely to be high electricity consumers. The current work provides the basis for advice and guidance to those households that would enable them to, over time, reduce their electricity use

The use of attractive yeast species for controlling Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila)

Drosophila suzukii is an invasive pest of soft and stone fruit originating from southeast Asia, which is now present in most northern temperate regions after multiple invasions. D. suzukii has the uncommon ability among Drosophila species to oviposit in ripening fruit and like other Drosophila species is attracted to volatile metabolites produces by individual fruit associated yeast isolates. To aid survival during unfavourable temperate winters, D suzukii enters a reproductive diapause, a behaviour that is associated with a morphologically distinct winter phenotype. The D. suzukii morphs occupy different niches and very in olfactory attraction. Yeast baits have the potential to be used to target phenotypes in attract-and-kill strategies, as liquid baits in traps and as phagostimulant baits with insecticides. In Chapter 2, two-way laboratory choice tests and field trapping revealed D. suzukii was attracted to volatile metabolites produced by several yeast species and combinations, most notably Metschnikowia pulcherrimaand Hanseniaspora uvarum, seperately and when combined post-fermentation. Chapter 3 used a DNA metabarcoding approach to investigate general fungal and Saccharomycetales yeast communities during ripening on strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and blueberry. On average there was a 5-fold greater difference in fungal communities between fruit types than across maturation stages. Additionally, raspberry, which has a higher susceptibility to D suzukii compared to other fruits, had a greater prevalence of Saccharmycetales yeast attractive to D. suzukii, including H. uvarum. Chapter 4 demonstrated that preference for volatile metabolites from both single yeast species and combinations varies between summer- and winter-morphs. Most notably Candida zemplinina, when fermented in sterile strawberry juice or yeast peptone dextrose media (YPD), was more attractive to winter-morphs. However, co-fermented yeasts were no more attractive than post-ferment mixes of constituent yeasts or single species. Chapter 5 identified a number of effective yeast phagostimulant baits in combination with insecticides. There was some evidence that combinations of yeasts were more effective than single species. M. pulcherrima + H. uvarum, combined with lambda-cyhalothrinwas more effective than H. uvarum for both summer- and winter-morph flies and Candida zemplininia for summer-morphs. As with attraction, the effectiveness of yeast phagostimulant baits varied between D. suzukii summer- and winter-morphs. C.zemplininia or H.uvarum + C.zemplininia were more effective phagostimulant baits against winter-than summer-morphs when combined with lambda-cyhalothrin or cyantraniliprole as well as H. uvarumcombined with cyantraniliprole. This thesis has added to the growing body of knowledge of D suzukii: yeast interactions and their possible exploitation in pest control. Several yeast species and combinations that are attractive and effective phagostimulant baits in combination with insecticides of novel attractive and selective yeast baits for D suzukii morphs has potentially important implications for season-long control where different baits should be used to optimise attraction to the different phenotypes

2022-13 Savings After Retirement

Abstract: Retired households, especially those with high lifetime income, decumulate their wealth very slowly, and many die leaving large estates. The three leading explanations for the ‘retirement savings puzzle” are the desire to insure against uncertain lifespans and medical expenses, the desire to leave bequests to one’s heirs, and the desire to remain in one’s own home. We discuss the empirical strategies used to differentiate these motivations, most of which go beyond wealth to exploit additional features of the data. The literature suggests that all the motivations are present, but has yet to reach a consensus about their relative importanc

TimeClassifier - A Visual Analytic System for the Classification of Multi-Dimensional Time-Series Data

Biologists studying animals in their natural environment are increasingly using sensors such as accelerometers in animal-attached ‘smart’ tags because it is widely acknowledged that this approach can enhance the understanding of ecological and behavioural processes. The potential of such tags is tempered by the difficulty of extracting animal behaviour from the sensors which is currently primarily dependent on the manual inspection of multiple time-series graphs. This is time-consuming and error-prone for the domain expert and is now the limiting factor for realising the value of tags in this area. We introduce TimeClassifier, a visual analytic system for the classification of time-series data for movement ecologists. We deploy our system with biologists and report two real-world case studies of its use

Analysis tool for initial high level assessment of candidate MEA architectures

Mass and efficiency are key performance indicators for the development and design of future electric power systems (EPS) for more-electric aircraft (MEA). However, to enable consideration of high-level EPS architecture design trades, there is a requirement for modelling and simulation based analysis to support this activity. The predominant focus to date has been towards the more detailed aspects of analysis, however there is also a significant requirement to be able to perform rapid high-level trades of candidate architectures and technologies. Such a capability facilitates a better appreciation of the conflicting desires to maximize availability and efficiency in candidate MEA architectures, whilst minimizing the overall system mass. It also provides a highly valuable and quantitative assessment of the systemic impact of new enabling technologies being considered for MEA applications. Without this capability, predesign assessments are often time consuming and of a qualitative manner. Accordingly, this paper will present a steady state pre-design analysis tool for MEA architectures, which enables analysis of the architecture performance at different stages of the flight profile. By providing drag and drop models of key MEA electrical power system components configured for common voltage and power levels, the tool facilitates the rapid construction of candidate architectures which then enables the subsequent quantitative assessment of overall system mass and efficiency. Key to the credibility and usefulness of this tool, is the appropriate marrying of validated fundamental mathematical models (for example in the evaluation of system losses), up-to-date data driven models (for example, relating to component masses or power densities) and the flexibility to incorporate new models of technologies under consideration. The paper will describe these core elements and present selected case studies demonstrating potential uses of the tool in architecture assessment and down-selection, technology impact, and design-point sensitivity analysis

A randomised controlled study of high intensity exercise as a dishabituating stimulus to improve hypoglycaemia awareness in people with type 1 diabetes:a proof of concept study

Aims/hypothesis Approximately 25% of people with type 1 diabetes have suppressed counterregulatory hormonal and symptomatic responses to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, which renders them at increased risk of severe, disabling hypoglycaemia. This is called impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (IAH), the cause of which is unknown. We recently proposed that IAH develops through habituation, a form of adaptive memory to preceding hypoglycaemia. Consistent with this hypothesis, we demonstrated restoration of defective counterregulatory hormonal responses to hypoglycaemia (referred to as dishabituation) in a rodent model of IAH following introduction of a novel stress stimulus (high intensity training [HIT]). In this proof-of-concept study we sought to further test this hypothesis by examining whether a single episode of HIT would amplify counterregulatory responses to subsequent hypoglycaemia in people with type 1 diabetes who had IAH (assessed by Gold score ≥4, modified Clarke score ≥4 or Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE) hypoglycaemia awareness rating 2 or 3). The primary outcome was the difference in adrenaline response to hypoglycaemia following both a single episode of HIT and rest. Methods In this randomised, crossover study 12 participants aged between 18 and 55 years with type 1 diabetes for ≥5 years and an HbA1c < 75 mmol/mol (9%) were recruited. Individuals were randomised using computer generated block randomisation to start with one episode of HIT (4 × 30 s cycle sprints [2 min recovery] at 150% of maximum wattage achieved during V˙O2peak assessment) or rest (control). The following day they underwent a 90 min hyperinsulinaemic–hypoglycaemic clamp study at 2.5 mmol/l with measurement of hormonal counterregulatory response, symptom scores and cognitive testing (four-choice reaction time and digit symbol substitution test). Each intervention and subsequent clamp study was separated by at least 2 weeks. The participants and investigators were not blinded to the intervention or measurements during the study. The investigators were blinded to the primary outcome and blood analysis results. Results All participants (six male and six female, age 19–54 years, median [IQR] duration of type 1 diabetes 24.5 [17.3–29.0] years, mean [SEM] HbA1c 56 [3.67] mmol/mol; 7.3% [0.34%]) completed the study (both interventions and two clamps). In comparison with the rest study, a single episode of HIT led to a 29% increase in the adrenaline (epinephrine) response (mean [SEM]) (2286.5 [343.1] vs 2953.8 [384.9] pmol/l); a significant increase in total symptom scores (Edinburgh Hypoglycaemia Symptom Scale: 24.25 [2.960 vs 27.5 [3.9]; p < 0.05), and a significant prolongation of four-choice reaction time (591.8 [22.5] vs 659.9 [39.86] ms; p < 0.01] during equivalent hypoglycaemia induced the following day. Conclusions/interpretation These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that IAH develops in people with type 1 diabetes as a habituated response and that introduction of a novel stressor can restore, at least partially, the adapted counterregulatory hormonal, symptomatic and cognitive responses to hypoglycaemia.Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Onlin

The actual performance of aspiring low energy social houses in the United Kingdom

This paper compares the actual energy performance of six flats and two houses built to low energy standards (Code for Sustainable Homes Levels 4 and 5) with a near identical flat and house built to minimum compliance only (Building Regulations). As low energy homes are only recently emerging in the United Kingdom housing stock, and even fewer are subject to Post Occupancy Evaluation, little is known about their actual energy use in operation. The results show that low energy dwellings may consume more energy than expected and the behaviour of the occupants residing in low energy homes plays an important role in determining their actual energy consumption