196 research outputs found
Developing non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) through building design
Purpose: Physical inactivity has a considerable negative impact on health. Physical activity has reduced partly due to workplace and lifestyle changes, causing people to spend more time in buildings and increasing sedentary behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to address a largely untapped opportunity for designers and managers to improve building usersâ health by designing buildings that raise usersâ Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) levels. In this research a conceptual model was developed to assess buildingsâ performance in providing NEAT-promoting opportunities through building design features and management, in relation to building usersâ propensity for NEAT behaviours. Design/methodology/approach: The conceptual model was developed by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers and data to populate the model was obtained through a survey of 75 buildings in Jakarta (Indonesia). Findings: The presented proof-of-concept shows that the modelâs âmeso-scaleâ approach to study physical activity and building design can lead to potential improvements of NEAT levels and physical activity in buildings. Originality/value: The review of precedent models shows that this subject has been researched at micro-scale (i.e. detailed monitoring of individualsâ movement) and macro-scale (i.e. epidemiological studies of populationsâ health). The presented model is original, as it explores a âmeso-scaleâ(i.e. building scale) that is unique.</p
A Sustainable Campus: The Sydney Declaration on Interspecies Sustainability
Under the remit of an expanded definition of sustainability â one that acknowledges animal agriculture as a key carbon intensive industry, and one that includes interspecies ethics as an integral part of social justice â institutions such as Universities can and should play a role in supporting a wider agenda for sustainable food practices on campus. By drawing out clear connections between sustainability objectives on campus and the shift away from animal based products, the objective of this article is to advocate for a more consistent understanding and implementation of sustainability measures as championed by university campuses at large. We will draw out clear connections between sustainability objectives on campus and the shift away from animal based products. Overall, our arguments are contextualised within broader debates on the relationship between sustainability, social justice and interspecies ethics. We envisage that such discussion will contribute to an enriched, more robust sense of sustainabilityâone in which food justice refers not only to justice for human consumers and producers of food and the land used by them, but also to justice for the nonhuman animals considered as potential sources of food themselves
First NuSTAR Limits on Quiet Sun Hard X-Ray Transient Events
We present the first results of a search for transient hard X-ray (HXR)
emission in the quiet solar corona with the \textit{Nuclear Spectroscopic
Telescope Array} (\textit{NuSTAR}) satellite. While \textit{NuSTAR} was
designed as an astrophysics mission, it can observe the Sun above 2~keV with
unprecedented sensitivity due to its pioneering use of focusing optics.
\textit{NuSTAR} first observed quiet Sun regions on 2014 November 1, although
out-of-view active regions contributed a notable amount of background in the
form of single-bounce (unfocused) X-rays. We conducted a search for quiet Sun
transient brightenings on time scales of 100 s and set upper limits on emission
in two energy bands. We set 2.5--4~keV limits on brightenings with time scales
of 100 s, expressed as the temperature T and emission measure EM of a thermal
plasma. We also set 10--20~keV limits on brightenings with time scales of 30,
60, and 100 s, expressed as model-independent photon fluxes. The limits in both
bands are well below previous HXR microflare detections, though not low enough
to detect events of equivalent T and EM as quiet Sun brightenings seen in soft
X-ray observations. We expect future observations during solar minimum to
increase the \textit{NuSTAR} sensitivity by over two orders of magnitude due to
higher instrument livetime and reduced solar background.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journa
The First Focused Hard X-ray Images of the Sun with NuSTAR
We present results from the the first campaign of dedicated solar
observations undertaken by the \textit{Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray}
({\em NuSTAR}) hard X-ray telescope. Designed as an astrophysics mission, {\em
NuSTAR} nonetheless has the capability of directly imaging the Sun at hard
X-ray energies (3~keV) with an increase in sensitivity of at least two
magnitude compared to current non-focusing telescopes. In this paper we
describe the scientific areas where \textit{NuSTAR} will make major
improvements on existing solar measurements. We report on the techniques used
to observe the Sun with \textit{NuSTAR}, their limitations and complications,
and the procedures developed to optimize solar data quality derived from our
experience with the initial solar observations. These first observations are
briefly described, including the measurement of the Fe K-shell lines in a
decaying X-class flare, hard X-ray emission from high in the solar corona, and
full-disk hard X-ray images of the Sun.Comment: 11 pages, accepted to Ap
Exploring Play and Creativity in Pre-schooler's use of apps: Final Project Report
This report outlines the key findings of a co-produced study, developed in collaboration between academics at the Universities of Sheffield and Edinburgh, the BBC (CBeebies), Monteney Pirmary School and the childrenâs media companies Dubit and Foundling Bird (Appendix 1 outlines the project team members and Advisory Board members). The project was co-produced in that all project partners contributed to the development of the project aims and objectives and were involved in data collection, analysis and dissemination. The aim of the study was to identify pre-school childrenâs (aged 0-5) uses of and responses to tablet apps in terms of the impact on their play and creativity
Dressings and securements for the prevention of peripheral intravenous catheter failure in adults (SAVE): a pragmatic, randomised controlled, superiority trial
Background: Two billion peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are used globally each year, but optimal dressing and securement methods are not well established. We aimed to compare the efficacy and costs of three alternative approaches to standard non-bordered polyurethane dressings. Methods: We did a pragmatic, randomised controlled, parallel-group superiority trial at two hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older and required PIVC insertion for clinical treatment, which was expected to be required for longer than 24 h. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) via a centralised web-based randomisation service using random block sizes, stratified by hospital, to receive tissue adhesive with polyurethane dressing, bordered polyurethane dressing, a securement device with polyurethane dressing, or polyurethane dressing (control). Randomisation was concealed before allocation. Patients, clinicians, and research staff were not masked because of the nature of the intervention, but infections were adjudicated by a physician who was masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was all-cause PIVC failure (as a composite of complete dislodgement, occlusion, phlebitis, and infection [primary bloodstream infection or local infection]). Analysis was by modified intention to treat. This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12611000769987. Findings: Between March 18, 2013, and Sept 9, 2014, we randomly assigned 1807 patients to receive tissue adhesive with polyurethane (n=446), bordered polyurethane (n=454), securement device with polyurethane (n=453), or polyurethane (n=454); 1697 patients comprised the modified intention-to-treat population. 163 (38%) of 427 patients in the tissue adhesive with polyurethane group (absolute risk difference â4·5% [95% CI â11·1 to 2·1%], p=0·19), 169 (40%) of 423 of patients in the bordered polyurethane group (â2·7% [â9·3 to 3·9%] p=0·44), 176 (41%) of 425 patients in the securement device with poplyurethane group (â1·2% [â7·9% to 5·4%], p=0·73), and 180 (43%) of 422 patients in the polyurethane group had PIVC failure. 17 patients in the tissue adhesive with polyurethane group, two patients in the bordered polyurethane group, eight patients in the securement device with polyurethane group, and seven patients in the polyurethane group had skin adverse events. Total costs of the trial interventions did not differ significantly between groups. Interpretation: Current dressing and securement methods are commonly associated with PIVC failure and poor durability, with simultaneous use of multiple products commonly required. Cost is currently the main factor that determines product choice. Innovations to achieve effective, durable dressings and securements, and randomised controlled trials assessing their effectiveness are urgently needed
Protecting eyewitness evidence: Examining the efficacy of a self-administered interview tool
Given the crucial role of eyewitness evidence, statements should be obtained as soon as possible after an incident. This is not always achieved due to demands on police resources. Two studies trace the development of a new tool, the Self-Administered Interview (SAI), designed to elicit a comprehensive initial statement. In Study 1, SAI participants reported more correct details than participants who provided a free recall account, and performed at the same level as participants given a Cognitive Interview. In Study 2, participants viewed a simulated crime and half recorded their statement using the SAI. After a delay of 1 week, all participants completed a free recall test. SAI participants recalled more correct details in the delayed recall task than control participants
Intestinal microbiota modulation and improved growth in pigs with postâweaning antibiotic and ZnO supplementation but only subtle microbiota efects with Bacillus altitudinis
peer-reviewedThe objective was to evaluate the efect of dietary Bacillus altitudinis spore supplementation during
day (D)0â28 post-weaning (PW) and/or D29â56 PW compared with antibiotic and zinc oxide (AB+ZnO)
supplementation on pig growth and gut microbiota. Eighty piglets were selected at weaning and
randomly assigned to one of fve dietary treatments: (1) negative control (Con/Con); (2) probiotic
spores from D29â56 PW (Con/Pro); (3) probiotic spores from D0â28 PW (Pro/Con); (4) probiotic spores
from D0â56 PW (Pro/Pro) and (5) AB+ZnO from D0â28 PW. Overall, compared with the AB+ZnO
group, the Pro/Con group had lower body weight, average daily gain and feed intake and the Pro/Pro
group tended to have lower daily gain and feed intake. However, none of these parameters difered
between any of the probiotic-treated groups and the Con/Con group. Overall, AB+ZnO-supplemented
pigs had higher Bacteroidaceae and Prevotellaceae and lower Lactobacillaceae and Spirochaetaceae
abundance compared to the Con/Con group, which may help to explain improvements in growth
between D15â28 PW. The butyrate-producing genera Agathobacter, Faecalibacterium and Roseburia
were more abundant in the Pro/Con group compared with the Con/Con group on D35 PW. Thus, whilst
supplementation with B. altitudinis did not enhance pig growth performance, it did have a subtle,
albeit potentially benefcial, impact on the intestinal microbiota
The first X-ray imaging spectroscopy of quiescent solar active regions with NuSTAR
We present the first observations of quiescent active regions (ARs) using NuSTAR, a focusing hard X-ray telescope capable of studying faint solar emission from high temperature and non-thermal sources. We analyze the first directly imaged and spectrally resolved X-rays above 2~keV from non-flaring ARs, observed near the west limb on 2014 November 1. The NuSTAR X-ray images match bright features seen in extreme ultraviolet and soft X-rays. The NuSTAR imaging spectroscopy is consistent with isothermal emission of temperatures 3.1 â 4.4~MK and emission measures 1 â 8 Ă 10^(46)~cm^(â3). We do not observe emission above 5~MK but our short effective exposure times restrict the spectral dynamic range. With few counts above 6~keV, we can place constraints on the presence of an additional hotter component between 5 and 12~MK of ⌠10^(46)cm^(â3) and âŒ10^(43) cm^(â3), respectively, at least an order of magnitude stricter than previous limits. With longer duration observations and a weakening solar cycle (resulting in an increased livetime), future NuSTAR observations will have sensitivity to a wider range of temperatures as well as possible non-thermal emission
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