Considering embodied energy and carbon in heritage buildings – a review

Approximately 20% of UK buildings can be defined as ‘heritage buildings’, offering unique values that should be preserved. They tend to use more energy than newer buildings, creating a strong case for energy retrofits to reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and improve thermal comfort. However, few studies of heritage retrofits examine embodied impacts, which are the energy and carbon impacts required to manufacture, transport and construct materials and components. This study considers the whole life (embodied plus operational) impacts of retrofitting heritage buildings, through a systematic literature review and thematic analysis. It concludes that; both embodied and operational impacts should be considered in retrofitting projects, retrofitting is better than demolish and rebuild in lifecycle terms, there is a lack of policy mandating for the measurement of lifecycle impacts and low impact retrofitting can be better for conserving heritage values and reducing embodied carbon

T Cell Responses to the RTS,S/AS01E and RTS,S/AS02D Malaria Candidate Vaccines Administered According to Different Schedules to Ghanaian Children

BACKGROUND: The Plasmodium falciparum pre-erythrocytic stage candidate vaccine RTS,S is being developed for protection of young children against malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. RTS,S formulated with the liposome based adjuvant AS01(E) or the oil-in-water based adjuvant AS02(D) induces P. falciparum circumsporozoite (CSP) antigen-specific antibody and T cell responses which have been associated with protection in the experimental malaria challenge model in adults. METHODS: This study was designed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity induced over a 19 month period by three vaccination schedules (0,1-, 0,1,2- and 0,1,7-month) of RTS,S/AS01(E) and RTS,S/AS02(D) in children aged 5-17 months in two research centers in Ghana. Control Rabies vaccine using the 0,1,2-month schedule was used in one of two study sites. RESULTS: Whole blood antigen stimulation followed by intra-cellular cytokine staining showed RTS,S/AS01(E) induced CSP specific CD4 T cells producing IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. Higher T cell responses were induced by a 0,1,7-month immunization schedule as compared with a 0,1- or 0,1,2-month schedule. RTS,S/AS01(E) induced higher CD4 T cell responses as compared to RTS,S/AS02(D) when given on a 0,1,7-month schedule. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support further Phase III evaluation of RTS,S/AS01(E). The role of immune effectors and immunization schedules on vaccine protection are currently under evaluation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00360230

Synthesis and Structure of Trinuclear W3S4 Clusters Bearing Aminophosphine Ligands and Their Reactivity toward Halides and Pseudohalides

The aminophosphine ligand (2-aminoethyl)- diphenylphosphine (edpp) has been coordinated to the W3(μ- S)(μ-S)3 cluster unit to afford trimetallic complex [W3S4Br3(edpp)3]+ (1+) in a one-step synthesis process with high yields. Related [W3S4X3(edpp)3]+ clusters (X = F−, Cl−, NCS−; 2+−4+) have been isolated by treating 1+ with the corresponding halide or pseudohalide salt. The structure of complexes 1+ to 4+ contains an incomplete W3S4 cubane-type cluster unit, and only one of the possible isomers is formed: the one with the phosphorus atoms trans to the capping sulfur and the amino groups trans to the bridging sulphurs. The remaining coordination position on each metal is occupied by X. Detailed studies using stopped-flow, 31P{1H} NMR, and ESI-MS have been carried out in order to understand the solution behavior and the kinetics of interconversion among species 1+, 2+, 3+, and 4+ in solution. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been also carried out on the reactions of cluster 1+ with the different anions. The whole set of experimental and theoretical data indicate that the actual mechanism of substitutions in these clusters is strongly dependent on the nature of the leaving and entering anions. The interaction between an entering F− and the amino group coordinated to the adjacent metal have also been found to be especially relevant to the kinetics of these reactions

Advances in modelling of biomimetic fluid flow at different scales

The biomimetic flow at different scales has been discussed at length. The need of looking into the biological surfaces and morphologies and both geometrical and physical similarities to imitate the technological products and processes has been emphasized. The complex fluid flow and heat transfer problems, the fluid-interface and the physics involved at multiscale and macro-, meso-, micro- and nano-scales have been discussed. The flow and heat transfer simulation is done by various CFD solvers including Navier-Stokes and energy equations, lattice Boltzmann method and molecular dynamics method. Combined continuum-molecular dynamics method is also reviewed

Correlation of Meat pH and Muscle Fiber Characteristics, Cortisol Level, and Tenascin C Gene Expression in Pigs

The effects of meat pH on muscle fiber characteristics, cortisol level, and Tenascin C (TNC) gene expression were examined. The muscle samples (n=100) were randomly collected from the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) to determine meat pH at 24 hours (meat pH24h) post-mortem. Muscle samples (five samples per group) with divergent meat pH levels (low versus high) were selected to study muscle fiber characteristics and mRNA expression based on quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Blood samples (five samples per group) of the two meat pH levels were taken for serum cortisol analysis. The results showed that there was no significant differences between the groups for the muscle fiber characteristics of total number of fibers, muscle fiber diameter, cross-section area, perimysium thickness, and endomysium thickness. Different meat pH24h values did not affect the cortisol level. The mRNA expression of the TNC gene was significantly (p<0.05) downregulated in the low meat pH24h group compared to the high meat pH24h group. In conclusion, meat pH24h was unrelated to the cortisol level and muscle fiber characteristics. However, the TNC gene might play a role in meat pH24h in pigs

Sleep quality is related to hyperinsulinemia in postmenopausal women [Postmenopozal kadinlarda uyku kalitesi hiperinsulinemi ile ilişkilidir özet]

Objective: In this study, our aim was to investigate the relationship among sleep disturbances and biochemical, hormonal and inflammatory parameters. Material and methods: In this prospective study, 58 postmenopausal women without any concomitant disease other than metabolic syndrome were included. We applied Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and asked self-reported sleep duration of participants. We compared the results with hormonal and metabolic parameters. Results: Participants with a poor PSQI were older (p=0.022), had a higher hip circumference (p=0.03) and had a longer duration of menopause (p=0.012) when compared to participants with a good PSQI. Participants with a poor PSQI had lower HDL (p=0.008) and higher insulin (p=0.027) when compared to participants with a good PSQI. There was no association between sleep duration and the parameters searched. Conclusion: Sleep complaints are related to hyperinsulinemia and lipid abnormalities

Fe-modified hydrochar from orange peel as adsorbent of food colorant Brilliant Black: process optimization and kinetic studies

Çatlıoğlu, F. N. ( Aksaray, Yazar )Abstract: The main aims of this work were to produce and characterize Fe-modified hydrochar from orange peel waste, optimize the adsorption through response surface methodology, investigate the role of treatment time, dye concentration, adsorbent dose and temperature, and determine the dominant mechanisms through kinetics analysis. Orange peel waste was hydrothermally carbonized at 200 °C for 8 h, and the hydrochar was embedded with magnetite nanoparticles. The composite adsorbent was characterized through spectrometric and surface analytical methods. Subsequently, analysis of variance was used to design the experimental runs, propose a polynomial equation describing the adsorption process and finally optimize the adsorption conditions. The results indicated that 99% removal can be theoretically achieved at the following conditions: dye initial concentration of 6.08 mg/L, treatment time of 26.30 min, temperature of 44.79 °C and adsorbent concentration of 2.27 g/L. The dominant factors were the dye and adsorbent concentration, whereas time and temperature variations had a much lesser impact. Among examined models, the Langmuir model showed a better match to the experimental data. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was determined as 10.49 mg/g. The mechanism of interaction was largely based on surface chemisorption between the dye and adsorbent. Fe-modified hydrochar exhibited a positive adsorption behavior, and it was shown that a new valorization option for orange peel waste is available. This option may follow other valorization pathways, such as isolation of biologically active molecules, therefore offering a complete solution to this type of waste. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.