Reducing GHGs from UK Households ‐ An Examination of Local Authority‐Level Data

As the threat of irreversible climate change has increased over time, the UK has focused on reducing its carbon emission levels. International treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol have informed national targets, directing the UK in reducing its climate impact. In order to achieve this an understanding of the factors that affect carbon emission reductions is vital. Identifying what dictates the success of UK local authorities in reducing their carbon emissions addresses this problem. The research uses secondary data regarding local authorities’ carbon emissions and regression analyses to explore the key factors affecting domestic emission levels over time. The research goes into further detail than existing literature through exploring sources of emissions across different sectors and analysing emissions reductions specifically between 2005-2016. Substantial and relatively consistent domestic emissions reductions were achieved in this time frame, exceeding the reductions provided by decarbonisation of the electricity grid. Standard deviations of 3% were observed in this sector, compared with 12% from Industrial & Commercial emissions. While population density demonstrated a statistically significant correlation with domestic GHG reductions, gross disposable household income was not found to be significant; however, it is a relevant indicator of total emissions levels in 2016. Through identifying these factors, suggestions to local government are made such as the implementation of region-specific strategies, tailoring these to the exact characteristics of a local authority. Furthermore, consideration of population density in conjunction with domestic and urban planning will allow for future emissions reductions to occur across the UK

Thermal Performance of Vacuum Insulated Window Shutter Systems

Windows are a major area of heat loss in buildings losing up to 10 times more energy compared to other building elements. Thermal shutters are used to improve the energy performance of windows in both hot and cold climatic conditions. The performance of thermal shutters however greatly depends on the thermal insulation and construction detailing, specifically cold-bridging, through the shutter, as well as between the shutter and window frames. This study evaluates the effects of cold-bridging, trickle ventilation and the size of the air cavity, between the vacuum insulated shutter and the window, on the performance of window thermal shutters. Thermal simulations are conducted in VOLTRA (Thermal analysis software) to assess the conditions. The results indicate that although thermal shutters reduce heat-loss through windows, their performance could be significantly affected by cold-bridging by up to 90%. The additional thermal resistance due to the air cavity and the ventilation through the trickle vent appeared to be much less significant compared to the effects of thermal bridging

Participation in domestic energy retrofit programmes: key spatio-temporal drivers

The Canadian government created the EcoENEGY Retrofit for Homes programme (2007–12) to improve residential energy efficiency and reduce emissions produced through energy use. The uptake of retrofits varied both spatially and temporally. This research examines spatio-temporal patterns of retrofit adoption to understand the drivers behind participation in the grant programme and assess how future grant-based programmes might improve the uptake of efficiency measures. Temporal analysis demonstrated continued growth of programme participation over its original period of availability, and this accelerated once the programme was extended for an additional year after its original closure date. However, some spatial correlations weakened, which may be attributable to changes in programme design during the extension period. Seasonal variation was also observed, with spikes in retrofit activity occurring in winter. A regression analysis for conversion rates in Ontario and British Columbia displayed significant positive correlations for high shelter costs (>30% of household income) and households occupied by usual residents (regular occupants). Population density, median property value (only in Ontario) and units that were recently occupied demonstrated negative correlations. Spatial variation at both the city and neighbourhood levels suggests a greater degree of programme customisation is required to ensure uniform building stock improvement

Turning national retrofit policies into local action: examples from the US BBNP and the Canadian eco-energy programs

Improving energy efficiency in existing dwellings is critical in efforts to address climate change. National level retrofit policies are useful for delivering large volumes of funding with a coordinated program brand. However, for countries such as the US and Canada, energy issues vary considerably nationwide and are therefore governed at the state or provincial level. Finding ways to calibrate national level policy objectives and structures for effective delivery at the local level is a critical policy priority, but is poorly understood by policymakers and underrepresented in academic research. This paper addresses this gap by analysing the US Better Buildings Neighborhood Program (2010-2013), and the Canadian Eco-Energy Retrofit Program (2009-2013). Both of these programs were created with a national level overarching structure and objectives, but were implemented in different ways at the state/provincial and local levels. The impact evaluations of each program found that they were broadly successful at the national level. This paper considers how each program targeted local action along three themes. 1) Housing stock factors including population, social, and demographic issues inherent to the spatial distribution and fundamentally unchangeable. 2) Program design factors consider issues such as leveraging local funding and resource pools. 3) Program delivery factors include implementation strategies for driving demand and workforce engagement. The results suggest that demographic factors are not predictive of overall program success (measured as total upgrades and/or energy savings). Effective program design and implementation can compensate for housing stock factors. A set of best practice principles are described for adapting national level program structures for effective local program delivery

Novel synthesis of pyran-3-hydrazide derivatives and their uses to the synthesis hydrazide-hydrazone, pyrazole and thiazole derivatives with anticancer activities

ABSTRACT. The multi-component reaction of ethyl acetoacetate with each of malononitrile (3) benzaldehyde (1) in ethanol containing triethylamine gave the ethyl 6-amino-5-cyano-2-methyl-4-phenyl-4H-pyran-3-carboxylate (4). The latter compound reacted with hydrazine hydrate to give the hydrazide derivative 6. Compound 6 underwent a series of hetero-cyclization reactions to give pyrzole, hydraide-hydrazone, thiazole derivatives. The produced compounds tested against cancer cell lines six cancer cell lines and showed that compounds 8b, 10b, 11a, 17a, 21 and 24a were the most cytotoxic compounds. Further tests of the latter compounds toward the five tyrosine kinases and Pim-1 kinase showed that compounds 10b, 21 and 24a were the most potent of the tested compounds and compounds 10a, 11a and 17a were of the highest inhibitions toward Pim-1 kinase. The high inhibitions of most of the tested compounds toward the selected cancer cell lines and the tyrosine kinases encourage for future work to be done.                     KEY WORDS: Hydrazide, Thiophene, Pyrazole, Pyran, Cytotoxicity, Tyrosine kinases   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2021, 35(3), 573-586.  DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v35i3.

Analysis of greenhouse gas mitigation performance in UK urban areas

As the threat of irreversible climate change has increased over time, the UK has continued to set increasingly ambitious policies to reduce its carbon emission. An assessment of mitigation progress to date at the local authority level clarifies the factors that have affected greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the path to carbon neutrality. This research uses regression analyses between local authorities’ GHG emission redcutions and selected explanatory variables (including population density, household income, and manufacturing employment) identified from the literature to explore mitigation performance over time, focusing on GHG emissions changes between 2005 and 2016. Substantial and relatively consistent GHG emissions reductions were achieved in this time frame, with average total reductions across UK local authorities of 31.2%. Population density was moderately-to-strongly correlated with the success of transportation GHG emissions mitigation, though this sector has seen the smallest percentage declines over this period. Local authorities with densities below 25 inhabitants per hectare were generally among the poorest performers in transportation GHG mitigation. This underscores the need to support remote working and electrification of personal transportation in areas where public/active transportation options are not viable alternatives. Furthermore, consideration of population density in conjunction with domestic and urban planning will allow for future emissions reductions to occur across the UK. Fundamentally, GHG emissions reductions to date are largely driven by historic factors (density), shifting economic structures (deindustrialisation), and centralised initiatives (decarbonisation of electricity generation)

Identification of meat spoilage gene biomarkers in Pseudomonas putida using gene profiling

While current food science research mainly focuses on microbial changes in food products that lead to foodborne illnesses, meat spoilage remains as an unsolved problem for the meat industry. This can result in important economic losses, food waste and loss of consumer confidence in the meat market. Gram-negative bacteria involved in meat spoilage are aerobes or facultative anaerobes. These represent the group with the greatest meat spoilage potential, where Pseudomonas tend to dominate the microbial consortium under refrigeration and aerobic conditions. Identifying stress response genes under different environmental conditions can help researchers gain an understanding of how Pseudomonas adapts to current packaging and storage conditions. We examined the gene expression profile of Pseudomonas putida KT2440, which plays an important role in the spoilage of meat products. Gene expression profiles were evaluated to select the most differentially expressed genes at different temperatures (30 °C and 10 °C) and decreasing glucose concentrations, in order to identify key genes actively involved with the spoilage process. A total of 739 and 1269 were found to be differentially expressed at 30 °C and 10 °C respectively; of which 430 and 568 genes were overexpressed, and 309 and 701 genes were repressed at 30 °C and 10 °C respectively

Synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation of thiazole derivatives obtained from 2-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carbonitrile

Reactivity of 2-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carbonitrile towards thioglycolic acid resulted in thiazole derivative 1. The latter reacted with different chemical reagents to give thiazole, pyrano[2,3-d]thiazole and thiazolo[4,5-d]thiazole derivatives. Cytotoxicity effects of the newly synthesized products against six cancer cell lines, namely, human gastric cancer (NUGC), human colon cancer (DLD-1), human liver cancer (HA22T and HEPG-2), human breast cancer (MCF) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (HONE-1) as well as against a normal fibroblast cell (WI-38) were evaluated. The study showed that the 4,5,6,7 tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene derivatives 6a, 7, 8a,b, 9b and 10b,c were the most active compounds. Their potencies were attributed to the presence of the electron withdrawing groups

Seroprevalence of West Nile, Rift Valley, and sandfly arboviruses in Hashimiah, Jordan.

We conducted a serosurvey among patients of a health center in Hashimiah, a Jordanian town of 30,000 inhabitants located near a wastewater treatment plant and its effluent channel. Serum samples from 261 patients >/=5 years of age were assessed for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies against West Nile, sandfly Sicilian, sandfly Naples, and Rift Valley viruses; the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies was 8%, 47%, 30%, and 0%, respectively. Female participants were more likely to have been infected than male. Persons living within 2 km of the treatment plant were more likely to have been infected with West Nile (p=0.016) and sandfly Sicilian (p=0.010) viruses. Raising domestic animals within the house was a risk factor for sandfly Sicilian (p=0.003) but not for sandfly Naples virus (p=0.148). All serum samples were negative for IgM antibodies against the tested viruses. Our study is the first documentation of West Nile and sandfly viruses in Jordan and calls attention to the possible health hazards of living close to wastewater treatment plants and their effluent channels

Novel approaches for food safety management and communication

The current safety and quality controls in the food chain are lacking or inadequately applied and fail to prevent microbial and/or chemical contamination of food products, which leads to reduced confidence among consumers. On the other hand to meet market demands food business operators (producers, retailers, resellers) and regulators need to develop and apply structured quality and safety assurance systems based on thorough risk analysis and prevention, through monitoring, recording and controlling of critical parameters covering the entire product's life cycle. However the production, supply, and processing sectors of the food chain are fragmented and this lack of cohesion results in a failure to adopt new and innovative technologies, products and processes. The potential of using information technologies, for example, data storage, communication, cloud, in tandem with data science, for example, data mining, pattern recognition, uncertainty modelling, artificial intelligence, etc., through the whole food chain including processing within the food industry, retailers and even consumers, will provide stakeholders with novel tools regarding the implementation of a more efficient food safety management system