Assessing Potential for Reduction in Carbon Emissions in a Multi-unit of Residential Development in Sydney

© 2017 The Authors. There is an increase in the construction of multi-unit residential buildings around inner Sydney in the past few years. The energy consumption in Australia has increased by approximately 30% and associated carbon dioxide emissions. This research examines a large multi-unit residential case study located close to the Sydney's Central Business District (CBD). Current energy consumption for the common areas such as the basement, car parks, lobbies, etc. and water usage for gardens are estimated using the actual data on electricity and water usage. Potential for reduction in energy consumption and their equivalent carbon footprint values are examined. Three carbon emissions reduction strategies include: savings from electricity generation from roof solar PV installation; rainwater harvesting from the roof and minimising annual water loss by evaporation in swimming pools reducing energy demand for water supply. In addition, carbon benefits provided by the trees are calculated using an urban forest assessment tool. Recommendations suggest that installation of solar PV on the roof, using an appropriate swimming pool cover, rainwater harvesting and a better tree canopy cover collectively could improve the overall CO2 footprint performance of the selected case study

A bi-objective score-variance based linear assignment method for group decision making with hesitant fuzzy linguistic term sets

open access articleDecision makers usually prefer to express their preferences by linguistic variables. Classic fuzzy sets allowed expressing these preferences using a single linguistic value. Considering inevitable hesitancy of decision makers, hesitant fuzzy linguistic term sets allowed them to express individual evaluation using several linguistic values. Therefore, these sets improve the ability of humans to determine believes using their own language. Considering this feature, in this paper a method upon linear assignment method is proposed to solve group decision making problems using this kind of information, when criteria weights are known or unknown. The performance of the proposed method is illustrated in a numerical example and the results are compared with other methods to delineate the models efficiency. Following a logical and well-known mathematical logic along with simplicity of execution are the main advantages of the proposed method

Using Evolutionary Conserved Modules in Gene Networks as a Strategy to Leverage High Throughput Gene Expression Queries

Background: Large-scale gene expression studies have not yielded the expected insight into genetic networks that control complex processes. These anticipated discoveries have been limited not by technology, but by a lack of effective strategies to investigate the data in a manageable and meaningful way. Previous work suggests that using a pre-determined seednetwork of gene relationships to query large-scale expression datasets is an effective way to generate candidate genes for further study and network expansion or enrichment. Based on the evolutionary conservation of gene relationships, we test the hypothesis that a seed network derived from studies of retinal cell determination in the fly, Drosophila melanogaster, will be an effective way to identify novel candidate genes for their role in mouse retinal development. Methodology/Principal Findings: Our results demonstrate that a number of gene relationships regulating retinal cell differentiation in the fly are identifiable as pairwise correlations between genes from developing mouse retina. In addition, we demonstrate that our extracted seed-network of correlated mouse genes is an effective tool for querying datasets and provides a context to generate hypotheses. Our query identified 46 genes correlated with our extracted seed-network members. Approximately 54% of these candidates had been previously linked to the developing brain and 33% had been previously linked to the developing retina. Five of six candidate genes investigated further were validated by experiments examining spatial and temporal protein expression in the developing retina. Conclusions/Significance: We present an effective strategy for pursuing a systems biology approach that utilizes an evolutionary comparative framework between two model organisms, fly and mouse. Future implementation of this strategy will be useful to determine the extent of network conservation, not just gene conservation, between species and will facilitate the use of prior biological knowledge to develop rational systems-based hypotheses

Effects of silymarin on reducing liver aminotransferases in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases

Background: The hepatoprotective effects of silymann have been confinned by various researchers worldwide; however few studies are available about the therapeutic impact of silymarin on the level of aminotransferases in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Our purpose is to determine whether silymarin improves the serum level of Materials and Methods: Wlth NASH. This was a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial performed on 100 patients with NASH. Subjects were randomized to receive silymarin (140 mg/ql2h) for three months or placebo, given in the same manner. A blood sample was drawn at baseline (before treatment) and after completion of the treatment schedule to assess serum aminotransferase levels. We measured body mass index (BMI) before and after administration of the treatments for bo Results oups of patients. There were insignificant changes in BMI for both groups. The mean serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level in the case group significantly changed from 84.06 to 68.54 IU/mL following treatment with silymarin (p <0.001), however this change was not significant in the control group. The mean serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level in the case group significantly decreased from 71.94 to 54.70 IU/mL after treatment with silymarin This Conclusion: placebo group was not significant (from 62.94 to 61.56 IU/mL). Administration of silymarin can effectively reduce liver aminotransferases without any changes in BMI in patients with NASH disease

Measuring Sustainability Performance For A Multiunit Residential Development Case Study In Sydney

Multiunit residential development numbers are on the rise close to Sydney Central Business District (CBD) as more people are choosing to live in apartments. Energy efficiency and water savings in these developments are significantly important to develop sustainable communities of future. This paper selects and examines a large multi-dwelling residential estate case study in an eastern suburb of Sydney, located approximately within eight kilometres radial distance from Sydney’s CBD. Based on the electricity and water usage data, current electricity consumption for common areas and water usage for gardens are estimated. Three key sustainable options examined are: potential onsite renewable electricity generation from roof solar PV installation; techniques for reducing swimming pool heat loss and to maintain year wide adequate water temperature and roof rainwater harvesting potential. Associated costs are examined to comprehend useful energy and water efficient solutions. Recommendations suggest that solar PV installation, using an appropriate swimming pool cover and rain rainwater collection from the roof could meaningfully improve overall sustainability performance of the selected case study