Achieving a holistic view of the life cycle performance of existing dwellings

Models which fully evaluate the life cycle energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of national housing stocks are not reported in literature. Capturing a holistic view of energy and emissions of the residential sector is an important process that can lead to a more effective policy making. This paper presents a methodology which evaluates the life cycle energy and GHG emissions of retrofitting housing stocks considering all life cycle stages and incorporating, to the greatest extent possible, all upstream inputs. To achieve this, we developed a hybrid model of the existing Irish housing stock, comprising a process-based approach supplemented by input-output LCA for installation of materials and fit-outs and maintenance of appliances. Life cycle analysis (LCA) is a commonly accepted technique for evaluating cradle-to-grave environmental impacts of a product. Using an assumed 50-year life span in all cases, representative archetypes were used to estimate the performance along retro fitting, operation, maintenance and disassembly phases of the three selected house retrofit scenarios: BaseCase (no interven- tion), Current Standards (retrofitting to meet current building regulations) and Passive House (retrofitting to meet Passive House Standards). Results show that detached houses displayed the highest range of life cycle energy and exhibited the greatest absolute and percentage reductions compared to other house types, as life cycle energy ranges from 386-614 kWh/m2yr, 225-261 kWh/m2yr and 126-137 kWh/m2yr for all house scenarios, respectively. Using these results an assessment is provided for policy makers on a holistic view of the life cycle performance of existing dwellings

Dynamics of a Disoriented Chiral Condensate

We use the linear $\sigma$ model to analyse the dynamics of a disoriented chiral condensate. For idealized boundary conditions appropriate to high energy collisions, the problem can be reduced to a one dimensional one. The evolution of the chiral state is then that of a simple dynamical system and can be studied analytically.Comment: 14 pages Latex, LPTHE Orsay 94/18 , SPhT T94/01

Assessment of heavy metal pollution in a columbite/tantalite mining site in Edege-Mbeki, North Central Nigeria

The release of pollutants due to mining activities, especially tailings, has negative consequences on soil and affects agricultural productivity. This study details the assessment of metals (Ni, Mn, Pb, Cd and Fe), physicochemical parameters of the soil and how they affect metal bioavailability and biotoxicity. Metal concentrations were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AA-6800 Shimadzu). The results of the analysis show that the mean pH varied from a minimum of 7.12±0.36 to a maximum of 7.60±0.28 across all the study area and sampling points. The percent organic matter had an average minimum value of 0.13±0.08% and a maximum value of 0.82±0.32% in the study area. The heavy metal analysis result shows that concentrations in all the soil and sediments of the study area were all below the maximum permissible limit. Mean concentrations of Ni, Mn, Cd, Pb and Fe had minimum values of 1.45±0.56, 43.3±0.43, 1.11±0.22, 5.50±0.28 and 522±0.88 mg/kg respectively, and the mean maximum concentrations had values of 11.70±0.90, 200±0.17, 20.7±0.11, 31.0±0.78 and 2716±0.83 mg/kg respectively. The findings show no metal contamination. However, the enrichment factor and contamination factor revealed that the presence of Ni, Mn, Cd and Cd in soil samples of the study area may be due to anthropogenic activities of mining.Keywords: Heavy metals, Edge-Mbeki, Physiochemical, Contaminatio

Determination of Organochlorine Pesticides in Carrot Harvested along the Banks of River Getsi, Kano State, Nigeria

Human risk investigation on twenty (20) organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in carrot plant cultivated along the banks of river Getsi, Kano state was undertaken. The samples were collected, stored, later extracted and cleaned up using florisil method. Analysis was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with electron capture detector. Results obtained revealed human risk index of OCPs in carrot to be averagely 30% (which is lesser than 1 but few OCPs) greater than 1 despite the average). Among Human Risk Index greater one (HRI>1) include only delta-BHC (benzene hexachlorate), aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, diedrin, endrin, and endrin aldehyde. Notwithstanding the aforementioned Organochlorine pesticide health risk index greater than 1, are not among the OCPs such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloromethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), heptachlor, endosulfans, and chlordanes that are regarded as endocrine disrupting chemicals. The cumulative health risk assessment associated with pesticide exposure in the vegetables studied shows negligible effects on the consumers. Even though the hazard indices recorded for carrot plant were low (30%) for consumers, does not imply full proof safety. Pesticide residues could accumulate over a period of time and this could have adverse chronic effects on consumers. &nbsp

Pediatric Psychologists’ Career Satisfaction: 2015 Society of Pediatric Psychology Workforce Survey Results.

Little is known about the career satisfaction of pediatric psychologists, who specialize in psychological research, teaching, and clinical service in the context of pediatric health care. As part of the larger Society of Pediatric Psychology Workforce Survey and in collaboration with the American Psychological Association Center for Workforce Studies, this study aimed to (1) describe the career domains which pediatric psychologists perceive to be important and their satisfaction in each domain, and (2) compare satisfaction of pediatric psychologists across work settings, number of positions, appointment duration, professional roles, career stage, academic rank, and gender. Responses from 336 pediatric psychologists demonstrated high career satisfaction. Domains of career satisfaction that received mean scores indicating high importance include balance of work and personal lives, peer/collegial support, and flexibility and choice in the workplace, but on average respondents reported being only somewhat satisfied in these domains. Total satisfaction scores were significantly higher among pediatric psychologists in 9–10-month appointments, primarily research careers, and at higher academic ranks, but scores were similar across employment settings and genders. To enhance career satisfaction and retention, pediatric psychologists may seek additional mentorship or explore new employment roles, and administrators and managers may consider adopting workplace policies or making environmental changes that could address specific areas of need

A DigitalCAT: A Fusion of Creativity Assessment Theory and HCI

As a ‘gold standard’ creativity assessment method, it is important to reflect on the digital future of Amabile’s Consensual Assessment Technique (CAT). Over the past three decades, the CAT has given creativity researchers a formal tool on which to build a true science out of the subjective phenomenon of creativity in a vast range of domains. Research practice, however, has relied on primitive paper-based tools or only rudimentary digital technology. As a result, it is high time a more sophisticated, standardized research tool is developed to greatly facilitate future creativity research and assessment - a DigitalCAT - building on expertise from the design research, psychology and human-computer interaction (HCI) disciplines

Continuity of Optimal Control Costs and its application to Weak KAM Theory

We prove continuity of certain cost functions arising from optimal control of affine control systems. We give sharp sufficient conditions for this continuity. As an application, we prove a version of weak KAM theorem and consider the Aubry-Mather problems corresponding to these systems.Comment: 23 pages, 1 figures, added explanations in the proofs of the main theorem and the exampl

Bogomol'nyi equations for solitons in Maxwell-Chern-Simons gauge theories with the magnetic moment interaction term

Without assuming rotational invariance, we derive Bogomol'nyi equations for the solitons in the abelian Chern-Simons gauge theories with the anomalous magnetic moment interaction. We also evaluate the number of zero modes around a static soliton configuration.Comment: 9 pages, Revtex, SNUTP-94/6

A comparative study on the in vitro antibacterial activity of the pneumatophores of Heritiera fomes and Xylocarpus moluccensis

Se evaluó la actividad antibacteriana in vitro de los extractos de etanol de los neumatóforos de Xylocarpus moluccensis (Familia: Meliaceae) y Heritiera fomes (Familia: Sterculiaceae) frente a diversas cepas bacterianas utilizando el ensayo de difusión en disco. Ambos extractos presentaron perfi les antibacterianos similares, y las zonas de inhibición fueron >10 mm en la mayoría de los casos. Estos extractos presentaron la máxima actividad frente a aerógenos Enterobacter, siendo las zonas de inhibición de 19 y 21 mm, respectivamente. La concentración inhibitoria mínima (CIM) se determinó mediante el método de dilución en caldo de cultivo. El extracto de X. moluccensis fue el más potente frente a Shigella boydii y Shigella sonnie (CIM = 200 y 300 μg/mL, respectivamente). Se puede asumir que X. moluccensis y H. fomes podrían ser fuentes potenciales de nuevos descubrimientos para el desarrollo de fármacos.The ethanol extracts of the pneumatophores of Xylocarpus moluccensis (Family: Meliaceae) and Heritiera fomes (Family: Sterculiaceae) were assessed for in vitro antibacterial activities against a number of bacterial strains using the disc diffusion assay. Both extracts showed similar antibacterial profi les, and the zones of inhibitions were >10 mm in the most cases. These extracts exhibited the most prominent activity against Enterobacter aerogenes, with the zones of inhibition of 19 and 21 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the broth dilution method. The extract of X. moluccensis was the most potent against Shigella boydii and Shigella sonnie (MIC = 200 and 300 μg/mL, respectively). It can be assumed that that X. moluccensis and H. fomes could be potential sources for novel ‘lead’ discovery for antibacterial drug development