289 research outputs found
Embracing variations in patterns of use, pre and post design phase, to improve tenant energy performance
This paper elaborates a new energy performance benchmarking method to support green tenancy agreements and other energy performance contracts. The existing national energy reporting method does not categorise systemic variations in patterns of use. Results of a case study monitoring operational data of a multi-tenanted office building are presented. The data reveals the actual designed spectrum of occupant density accounts for a 44% increase in tenant energy demand per square meter and a 112% increase in tenant energy demand per full time employees [FTE], dramatically affecting the buildings internal gains, heating and cooling requirements. The study highlights how low levels of occupancy and extended operational hours can give a false representation of energy efficiency
Queer Temporalities: Boredom and Bodily Intelligence in Early Italian Slapstick Comedies
The adoption of cross-dressing by male characters in Italian comedy films of the 1910s has previously received little critical attention. Far from being isolated representations of queer behaviour, cross-dressing was more prolific both on-screen (and off) than was previously thought.
Within the early comedy canon lie the male-female cross-dressing films where the narrative is suspended to allow the audience to gaze upon the cross-dressed character. These films offer audiences a trans-perspective as their gaze is directed by the cross-dressed character to the transgendered body. The queerness of these films lies not only is the visibility of the queer characters but also in the productivity of the queerness. The film itself becomes queer as the narrative economy is replaced by a luxuriating of the queer body.
For the spectator a conflict occurs as the cross-dressed characterâs visibility, through the materialisation of the body, disrupts the perception of a trans-corpo-reality. Exposure of the cross-dressed character ruptures the heteronormative construction of the cinematic space. In the early Italian comedy films, knowledge of the cross-dressing comic star is the visibility that threatens the transgender character. The queerness of the cross-dressed character in Italian comedy films opens up temporalities and suggests the possibility of different modes of living, and of reading film texts. This paper argues that the popularisation of the cross-dressed male served as a transgressive force that provided an articulation of social tolerance in Italy at a time when gender roles were undergoing renegotiation. 
La âRagazza Terribileâ: The Wild Corporeality of Lea Giunchi, The Silent Italian Comedienne Of The 1910s
Cet article se penche sur les performances comiques fĂ©minines dans les comĂ©dies burlesques italiennes du dĂ©but des annĂ©es 1910. Alors que les comĂ©diens de lâĂ©poque Ă©taient habituellement des acteurs français et espagnols, les comĂ©diennes Ă©taient fermement ancrĂ©es dans la culture italienne ; elles Ă©taient non seulement de nationalitĂ© italienne, mais leurs performances comiques prenaient souvent place au sein dâespaces domestiques typiquement italiens. Ă travers une analyse de la sĂ©rie Lea (SocietĂ Italiana Cines, 1910-1916) avec Armanda (Lea) Giunchi, cet article Ă©tudie les performances des comĂ©diennes de lâĂ©poque en tant que lieu de remise en question lâidentitĂ© nationale italienne. Ces comĂ©dies centrĂ©es sur des actrices Ă©taient plus audacieuses dans leurs reprĂ©sentations de genre que les comĂ©dies masculines ou que le film de diva italien. LâĂ©tude de cette fĂ©minitĂ© moderne caractĂ©risĂ©e par un (mĂ©s)usage comique du corps permet Ă©galement dâexplorer ce que signifiait ĂȘtre italienne au dĂ©but du xxe siĂšcle.This paper explores female comic performance in Italian slapstick comedies of the early 1910s. While male slapstick comedians were usually French and Spanish comedy actors, female comics were firmly rooted in Italian culture; they were Italian born and often situated their comedy in typical Italian domestic spaces. Using the Lea series (SocietĂ Italiana Cines, 1910-1916) starring Armanda (Lea) Giunchi as a case study, this paper considers female comic performances as sites through which to interrogate Italian national identity. These female-centric comedies were far more ârisk-takingâ in terms of their representation of gender than either the male comedy films or the Italian diva genre. Thus, the conception of modern femininity characterised by the Italian female comicâs use, or misuse, of her body becomes a critical lens through which to analyse the conflict surrounding what it meant to be Italian at the beginning of the twentieth century
Whole family-based physical activity promotion intervention: the Families Reporting Every Step to Health pilot randomised controlled trial protocol
Introduction : Family-based physical activity (PA) interventions present a promising avenue to promote childrenâs activity, however, high-quality experimental research is lacking. This paper describes the protocol for the FRESH (Families Reporting Every Step to Health) pilot trial, a child-led family-based PA intervention delivered online. Methods and analysis : FRESH is a three-armed, parallel-group, randomised controlled pilot trial using a 1:1:1 allocation ratio with follow-up assessments at 8- and 52-weeks post-baseline. Families will be eligible if a minimum of one child in school Years 3-6 (aged 7-11 years) and at least one adult responsible for that child are willing to participate. Family members can take part in the intervention irrespective of their participation in the accompanying evaluation and vice versa. Following baseline assessment, families will be randomly allocated to one of three arms: (1) FRESH, (2) pedometer-only, or (3) no-intervention control. All family members in the pedometer-only and FRESH arms receive pedometers and generic PA promotion information. FRESH families additionally receive access to the intervention website; allowing participants to select step challenges to âtravelâ to target cities around the world, log steps, and track progress as they virtually globetrot. Control families will receive no treatment. All family members will be eligible to participate in the evaluation with two follow-ups (8 and 52 weeks). Physical (e.g., fitness, blood pressure), psychosocial (e.g., social support), and behavioural (e.g., objectively-measured family PA) measures will be collected each time point. At 8-week follow-up, a mixed-methods process evaluation will be conducted (questionnaires and family focus groups) assessing acceptability of the intervention and evaluation. FRESH familiesâ website engagement will also be explored. Ethics and dissemination : This study received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee for the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Cambridge. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and to participating families
Shell Shape and Meat Condition in Selectively Bred Sydney Rock Oysters, Saccostrea glomerata (Gould, 1850): The Influence of Growâout Methods
The Australian edible oyster industry has been severely impacted by disease and declining yields since the 1970s. Selective breeding of Saccostrea glomerata is one measure addressing these problems by producing fastâgrowing, diseaseâresistant oysters. Farmers report that selected oysters have different growth characteristics than their wild counterparts using conventional growâout methods. This study investigated how different growâout methods influence commercially valuable oyster characteristics including shell length, shape, surface growth deformities and meat condition. In June 2015, selectively bred S. glomerata spat were deployed in two estuaries (Hawkesbury River and Georges River) in NSW, Australia, using three growâout methods (fixed trays, Stanway cylinders and floating baskets). In November 2015, oysters were transferred among growâout methods to test for the effects of changing growâout methods on oyster growth patterns. Oysters transferred from baskets to cylinders and from trays to cylinders had, on average, deeper and wider shells, a higher meat condition and fewer shell surface deformities than oysters in other growâout method combinations. However, these oysters were smaller than oysters not grown in cylinders. While there were some differences in growth patterns between the estuaries, overall it was the growâout methods that most influenced oyster characteristics. This was attributed to differences in the amount and magnitude of movement oysters experienced in the growâout methods, as recorded by motion sensors. This study demonstrates how growâout methods can be managed to achieve desired growth trajectories and therefore improve marketability among selective bred S. glomerata
School\u27s out: Parenting stress and screen time use in school-age children during the COVID-19 pandemic
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of children abruptly moved to online schooling, which required high levels of parental involvement. Family routines were disrupted, potentially increasing parental stress, and may be reflected in greater media screen time use in children. Objectives To determine whether (1) parenting styles and (2) parenting stress were associated with children\u27s screen time use during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Methods Parents (\u3e 18 years of age) were recruited to complete an online survey regarding changes in their children\u27s (6â12 years) screen time use and daily activities before and during the pandemic. Stress and parental involvement were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Alabama Parenting Questionnaires respectively. General linear models assessed whether parenting style and parent stress were associated with children\u27s screen time during the pandemic, adjusting for demographic variables and daily activities. Results 104 parents were enrolled, and 73 (70.2%) parents completed the surveys. Children\u27s screen time (e.g., watching television and playing video games) increased significantly, from 2.6 to 5.9h a day (p =.001) during pandemic-related school closures. Fewer changes in children\u27s screen time use were significantly associated with greater parental involvement (p =.017). Parent stress (p =.018) significantly predicted children\u27s screen time use. Lower household income was associated with increased hours of screen time in both models (both, p \u3c.05). Conclusions: Children\u27s screen time increased significantly during the initial months of the pandemic. Parent stress and parenting styles may be modifiable risk factors to promote children\u27s well-being during the ongoing pandemic
Pre-analytical mysteries: A case of severe hypervitaminosis D and mild hypercalcaemia
We describe a case of severe hypervitaminosis D and mild hypercalcaemia in a 68-year-old woman who presented with fatigue and weight loss. Her 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) was > 400 nmol/L (50-150) and corrected serum calcium was 2.83 mmol/L (2.1-2.6). Her intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) was 4.9 pmol/L (2.0-9.5). Further investigation revealed an IgM kappa paraprotein, and a bone marrow aspirate confirmed a diagnosis of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenstromâs macroglobulinemia (LPL/WM). As the vitamin D level was discordant with the patientâs other results and presentation, the presence of an assay interferent was suspected. A 1-in-2 dilution of the sample returned a 25OHD result of 84 nmol/L in keeping with the presence of an interferent. Testing for rheumatoid factor was negative. The sample was treated with an antibody blocking reagent (Scantibodies) and results were not consistent with heterophile antibody interference. The sample was then analysed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), which returned a 25OHD result of 82 nmol/L. Testing on an alternative immunoassay platform produced a 25OHD result of 75 nmol/L. Reapeted testing on the original platform following reduction of the monoclonal paraprotein with chemotherapy, returned a result of 64 nmol/L. The patientâs mild hypercalcaemia persisted following resolution of the monoclonal paraprotein, in keeping with a diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism. This case highlights the potential for paraproteins to cause assay interference, and the importance of considering interference when results are incongruous with the clinical presentation
Characterization of microtubule-associated protein tau isoforms and Alzheimerâs disease-like pathology in normal sheep (Ovis aries):Relevance to their potential as a model of Alzheimerâs disease
Alzheimerâs disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that accounts for up to 80% of all dementias. Characterised by deteriorations of memory and cognitive function, the key neuropathological features are accumulations of ÎČ-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau, as âplaquesâ and âtanglesâ, respectively. Despite extensive study, however, the exact mechanism underlying aggregate formation in Alzheimerâs disease remains elusive, as does the contribution of these aggregates to disease progression. Importantly, a recent evaluation of current Alzheimerâs disease animal models suggested that rodent models are not able to fully recapitulate the pathological intricacies of the disease as it occurs in humans. Therefore, increasing attention is being paid to species that might make good alternatives to rodents for studying the molecular pathology of Alzheimerâs disease. The sheep (Ovis aries) is one such species, although to date, there have been few molecular studies relating to Alzheimerâs disease in sheep. Here, we investigated the Alzheimerâs disease relevant histopathological characteristics of 22 sheep, using anti-ÎČ-amyloid (Abcam 12267 and mOC64) and phosphorylation specific anti-tau (AT8 and S396) antibodies. We identified numerous intraneuronal aggregates of both ÎČ-amyloid and tau that are consistent with early Alzheimerâs disease-like pathology. We confirmed the expression of two 3-repeat (1N3R, 2N3R) and two 4-repeat (1N4R, 2N4R) tau isoforms in the ovine brain, which result from the alternative splicing of two tau exons. Finally, we investigated the phosphorylation status of the serine396 residue in 30 sheep, and report that the phosphorylation of this residue begins in sheep aged as young as 2Â years. Together, these data show that sheep exhibit naturally occurring ÎČ-amyloid and tau pathologies, that reflect those that occur in the early stages of Alzheimerâs disease. This is an important step towards the validation of the sheep as a feasible large animal species in which to model Alzheimerâs disease. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00018-022-04572-z
'You can't fix this in six months': The intersectionality of women's substance use in the Irish context
The aim of this research was to explore the experiences and support, and intervention needs of women who are dealing with multiple issues, including problem substance use, with a view to gaining an in-depth understanding of womenâs life experiences, substance use trajectories and how these relate to factors such as motherhood, poverty, social exclusion, residency status, domestic violence, transactional sex, homelessness and incarceration. The objectives of the research were to: Explore the lived experiences of women with substance use and intersectional aspects, including their engagement with services. Define the unique gendered support needs and service pathways for women. Inform future Irish drug policy and service pathways. The study was funded under the Irish Research Council New Foundations programme that supports academic and non-governmental organisations (NGO) partnerships in order to address critical issues emerging within the Irish context.Irish Research Counci
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