The Energy Transition Process in a Rural Area: an Irish Case Study of becoming a Sustainable Energy Community

The 12th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2017), Dubrovnik, Croatia, 4-8 October 2017Most commentators will agree that the net benefit of carbon is over. A paradigm shift is underway to retire the current carbon based energy system, and this energy transition to a low carbon world will be the most difficult challenge that this generation will face. In this paper the Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) Programme is introduced; this new network of Irish communities will become a driver in the current energy transition and is being championed by the Irish national energy agency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. An SEC is a community in which everyone works together to develop a sustainable energy system for the benefit of the community. This is achieved by aiming, as far as possible, to be energy efficient; using renewable energy where feasible and also to embrace smart energy technologies. This research reports on the establishment of Erris, Co. Mayo as an SEC, and presents three years of data since their energy transition began in 2014. The literature highlights several SEC barriers. The SEC model addresses each of the barriers and directly addresses the problem that communities face due to the lack of sufficient capacity at the start of the energy transition process.Irish Research CouncilSustainable Energy Authority of IrelandPagination (dc.identifier.start/endpage): Optiona

High prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults with Crohn's disease: associations with disease and lifestyle factors.

peer-reviewedObesity and overweight are major public health issues. Although traditionally associated with weight loss, there is now evidence that increasing Body Mass Index (BMI) and overweight are emerging features of Crohn's disease (CD) and may be associated with more severe disease course. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with CD compared with matched healthy controls and to identify disease-specific and generic factors associated with current BMI in this group.PUBLISHEDpeer-reviewe

ESPEN Guideline: Clinical Nutrition in inflammatory bowel disease

Introduction: The ESPEN guideline presents a multidisciplinary focus on clinical nutrition in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methodology: The guideline is based on extensive systematic review of the literature, but relies on expert opinion when objective data were lacking or inconclusive. The conclusions and 64 recommendations have been subject to full peer review and a Delphi process in which uniformly positive responses (agree or strongly agree) were required. Results: IBD is increasingly common and potential dietary factors in its aetiology are briefly reviewed. Malnutrition is highly prevalent in IBD – especially in Crohn's disease. Increased energy and protein requirements are observed in some patients. The management of malnu-trition in IBD is considered within the general context of support for malnourished patients. Treatment of iron deficiency (parenterally if necessary) is strongly recommended. Routine provision of a special diet in IBD is not however supported. Parenteral nutrition is indicated only when enteral nutrition has failed or is impossible. The recommended perioperative man-agement of patients with IBD undergoing surgery accords with general ESPEN guidance for patients having abdominal surgery. Probiotics may be helpful in UC but not Crohn's disease. Primary therapy using nutrition to treat IBD is not supported in ulcerative colitis, but is mod-erately well supported in Crohn's disease, especially in children where the adverse conse-quences of steroid therapy are proportionally greater. However, exclusion diets are generally not recommended and there is little evidence to support any particular formula feed when nutritional regimens are constructed. Conclusions: Available objective data to guide nutritional support and primary nutritional therapy in IBD are presented as 64 recommendations, of which 9 are very strong recom-mendations (grade A), 22 are strong recommendations (grade B) and 12 are based only on sparse evidence (grade 0); 21 recommendations are good practice points (GPP)

Undernutrition in inactive and mildly active Crohn\u27s Disease : an unrecognised problem?

THESIS 9482Crohn\u27s disease (CD), the incidence of which is increasing worldwide, is a chronic transmural inflammatory disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. It follows a relapsing remitting course and results in symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Undernutrition is a common feature of active disease, with weight loss and malnutrition apparent during flare-ups and periods of high disease activity affecting up to 85% of patients. On the other hand, during disease remission or at times of low disease activity, undernutrition is not so apparent and can be difficult to diagnose as most patients in remission look and feel well and lack the typical signs normally associated with malnutrition. However, as subclinical inflammation and symptoms predisposing patients to undernutrition can persist, and treatments such as corticosteroids can add to the risk of undernutrition (as they cause muscle wasting and bone loss but can also lead to weight gain and redistribution of body fat); undernutrition can occur and remain un-noticed due to weight gain

High prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults with Crohn\u27s disease: associations with disease and lifestyle factors.

Obesity and overweight are major public health issues. Although traditionally associated with weight loss, there is now evidence that increasing Body Mass Index (BMI) and overweight are emerging features of Crohn\u27s disease (CD) and may be associated with more severe disease course. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with CD compared with matched healthy controls and to identify disease-specific and generic factors associated with current BMI in this group.PUBLISHEDpeer-reviewe

High prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults with Crohn's disease: associations with disease and lifestyle factors.

Obesity and overweight are major public health issues. Although traditionally associated with weight loss, there is now evidence that increasing Body Mass Index (BMI) and overweight are emerging features of Crohn's disease (CD) and may be associated with more severe disease course. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with CD compared with matched healthy controls and to identify disease-specific and generic factors associated with current BMI in this group