Population structure, somatic incompatibility, and sporocarp overwintering in Chondrostereum purpureum

An investigation was conducted o f the population structure, the somatic incompatibility reaction, and sporocarp overwintering in Chondrostereum purpureum (Pers.:Fr.) Pouzar, a proposed mycoherbicide of undesirable hardwood species. Chondrostereum purpureum breeding populations o f recent cut-over sites in Thunder Bay, Ontario were found to have a high number of individuals possessing different alleles for somatic incompatibility. Up to nine fungal individuals per wood unit (logs, stumps) were found, with the majority of wood units having only one to three individuals. The macroscopic appearance of the somatic incompatibility interaction zone on malt extract agar varied among paired isolates and was occasionally ambiguous. Phenotypic variability of the interaction zone ranged from scant mycelia to massed hyphae between the two colonies. Microscopically the sparse interaction zone had chains of swollen spindle-shaped cells, while the massed interaction zone had distorted hyphae, encoded hyphae, and hyphal knots. Of overwintered sporocarps collected in the spring o f 1998 and 1999, 86% produced viable spores. Basidiospore levels in the spring may be greater than once thought, and thus may pose a threat to winter-damaged trees. This should be considered in the assessment of the epidemiology of C. purpureum, and in the assessment o f this fungus as a biocontrol agent

Urban scale modelling of traffic and cycling flow using spatial analysis and an assessment of factors that influence cyclist behaviour

To understand and facilitate modal shift to more sustainable modes of transport there is a need to model accessibility and connectivity at an urban scale using data collection and modelling procedures that require less data and specialist input than traditional transport models. This research has used spatial analysis modelling procedures based on space syntax to investigate the potential to model aggregate traffic flows at an urban scale, and to investigate the potential to apply the same methodology to model both aggregate and individual cycle flows. Cyclist behaviour has been investigated through a questionnaire to support modelling work. The research has demonstrated that spatial analysis modelling is an effective means of representing urban scale motor traffic network, however, modifications to the model were required to achieve a correlation between modelled and measured motor traffic flow comparable to other modelling procedures. Boundary weighting was found to be effective at representing traffic crossing the boundary of an isolated urban sub-area, but was not so effective at an urban scale. Road weighting was found to be effective in improving model performance by representing traffic flows along routes according to a national classification scheme. It was demonstrated that these modelling principles could be used to represent an urban bicycle network and that the impact of the modification of infrastructure on relative flows of both cyclists and motor traffic could be accommodated. The modelling approach has the potential to be extremely useful at an early planning stage to represent changes to flows across the network. A survey of behaviour identified that cyclists modify their journey to use cycling facilities such as on-road lanes and off-road paths, or to avoid particular areas perceived to be less favourable for cyclists and that analysis indicates that it is difficult to predict (25% from survey) individual route choice. Results indicate that there were more opportunities related to route characteristics that could be influenced by infrastructure changes for occasional cyclists than for frequent/everyday cyclists

Disparity in Higher Education Provision Caused by Technological Capabilities of Nations during Covid-19

During Covid-19, higher education institutions were forced to resort to emergency remote learning. The nations and higher education institutions with strong technological infrastructure and resources facilitated the provision of education and caused minimal interruption in teaching and learning. While the nations with poor technological infrastructure and non-availability of resources had to struggle to continue providing the education. This study, utilizing the job-demand resources model, provided insights into the influence of technological capabilities in providing higher education during the Covid-19 period and how a disparity is caused between different nations. The findings will benefit education policy developers and leaders of higher education institutions

Preparation for an energy positive community in the UK: modelling-led innovative housing practice in Wales

This paper presents a modelling-led approach to low carbon innovative housing, including a new build and five retrofits located in Wales. The research aims to investigate the implementation of combinations of existing and emerging low carbon technologies through a systems based approach to optimise the use of energy at the point of generation. A performance prediction model has been developed to examine the effectiveness of different strategies in relation to energy and carbon reduction. Simulation results for the new build show the potential to limit energy imported from the grid to about 25% with an annual export to import ratio of 1.55, providing an energy positive performance. For the retrofit properties, the application of Photovoltaics (PV) and LED lighting can reduce the total electricity demand from the grid by up to 90%, and the combination of reduced energy demand, renewable energy supply and battery storage has been shown to reduce net carbon emissions by up to 110%, with total financial savings of 90%-190% through reduced operating energy cost and earnings from renewable energy generation and export. Gas heating energy for the retrofits has been reduced by 20% to 80%. The new build ‘energy positive’, and retrofit ‘nearly-zero energy’, performances can be achieved through an integrative ‘systems’ based approach. This includes attention to affordability and replicability. A grid connection is still needed to balance across seasonal demand and renewable supply, however, the pressure on the grid to provide energy is reduced

The Flagship effect - sustainable schools projects as the education tool for sustainability

In the past ten years, many exemplar projects are completed in China to encourage the sharing of knowledge and experience of Sustainability. Many of these projects are landmark buildings, because they can attract more public attentions; then, raise more awareness of sustainable development. However, school projects are rarely mentioned in the news and annual inspirational project lists. The fundamental point of this paper is to challenge the common concept in China that school buildings are only used exclusively by children in formal education. According to the paper’s review of the school schemes in England and Wales, not only the inspirational sustainable schools created the opportunities and responsibilities to accelerate positive changes, but also they developed a vision of an asset that supports lifelong learning and sustainable lifestyles for the whole community. In this paper, the definition of a ‘sustainable school’ is summarised by comparing the statements and concepts in England and Wales. Moreover, the wide range of benefits gained by project stakeholders and communities are also demonstrated through case studies. In the end, the paper concludes the lessons and innovations which can be learnt by Chinese school projects. The illustrations provided by this paper do not aim to solve all the issues of promoting a sustainable school in China, but to open people’s minds to the impacts of their actions, and to help build the knowledge and cooperative framework to promote public sustainable projects

Type 1 diabetes incidence in Scotland between 2006 and 2019

Aims: To describe type 1 diabetes incidence in Scotland between 2006 and 2019. Methods: Repeated annual cross‐sectional studies of type 1 diabetes incidence were conducted. Incident cases were identified from the Scottish Care Information—Diabetes Collaboration (SCI‐DC), a population‐based register of people with diagnosed diabetes derived from primary and secondary care data. Mid‐year population estimates for Scotland were used as the denominator to calculate annual incidence with stratification by age and sex. Joinpoint regression was used to investigate whether incidence changed during the study period. Age and sex‐specific type 1 diabetes incidence over the whole time period was estimated by quintile of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), an area‐based measure, in which Q1 and Q5 denote the most and least deprived fifths of the population, respectively, with quasi‐Poisson regression used to compare incidence for Q5 compared to Q1. Results: The median (IQR) age of the study population of 14,564 individuals with incident type 1 diabetes was 24.1 (12.3–42.4) years, 56% were men, 23% were in Q1 and 16% were in Q5. Incidence of T1DM was higher in men than women overall (at around 22 and 17 per 100,000, respectively) and in under 15 year olds (approximately 40 per 100,000 in both sexes) than other age groups and was similar across the study period in all strata. There was an inverse association between socio‐economic status and type 1 diabetes incidence for 15–29, 30–49 and 50+ year olds [incidence rate ratio (IRR) for Q5 compared to Q1; IRR (95% CI) 0.52 (0.47–0.58), 0.68 (0.61–0.76) and 0.53(0.46–0.61), respectively] but not for under 15 year olds [1.02 (0.92–1.12)]. Conclusion: Incidence of type 1 diabetes varies by age, sex and socio‐economic status and has remained approximately stable from 2006 to 2019 in Scotland