The significance of occupancy profiles in determining post retrofit indoor thermal comfort, overheating risk and building energy performance

Recently, retrofit of tower blocks has gained momentum particularly in the UK social housing sector due to the increasing rate of fuel poverty coupled with deteriorating indoor living conditions. However, the process of making improvements to the thermal performance of building envelopes can significantly impact on occupants’ thermal comfort, increasing overheating risks with the changing climate and associated heat waves. The first phase of the study evaluated the building energy performance of a 1960s social housing tower block prototype in London, pre-retrofit, where the building simulation model was created and calibrated with monitored indoor data and occupants’ interviews. The second research phase, the subject of this paper, uses the model to further investigate the impact of improved thermal insulation of the building envelope, based on U-values prescribed by the UK Building Regulations (Part L1B), on the potential risk of overheating. The study investigates the impact of retrofitting on occupants’ thermal comfort and building energy performance in the current and future climate scenarios (2030, 2050 and 2080). Results confirm that improving the U-value of external walls will significantly reduce the heating energy use by 70% under future climate scenarios while the Tₒ increases by 15-17% with U-value of 0.5 W/m²K and 0.3 W/m²K in comparison to the base case. The overall results indicate that the different occupancy patterns adopted in the simulation model have a significant impact on the predicted duration of overheating which will, in turn, have an impact on determining appropriate retrofit strategies to reduce overheating risks

Removed versus unremoved vicryl sutures used for subcuticular skin closure

Background: The objective was to compare the difference between removing vicryl suture thread after skin healing or burry the knots and leaving it to be absorbed in situ, after subcuticular skin closure of Pfannesteil incisions.Methods: Prospective, randomized controlled trial included 449 eligible participants were prospectively recruited between July 2016 and June 2017. All selected patients had a pfannenstial incision with subcuticular skin closure using 2-0 absorbable vicryl stiches (for primary caesarean section or extra peritoneal surgical approach to the prostate, bladder and distal ureters). The left side knot was buried under the skin edge and a knot in the midline and the right edge was made. After 10 days postoperative, the right half of the stitch thread and the two knots were removed, and the left half of the thread was left in situ. Patients were observed for any complication at time of stitch removal, after one month and after 6 months' post-operative.Results: Wound infection rate, hypertrophic scars, keloids and skin itching were significantly higher in the un-removed wound sides while skin dehiscence was significantly higher in the removed wound sides.Conclusions: Leaving behind absorbable suture material after wound healing -when used in subcuticular pfannenstial skin closure- is associated with increased rates of wound infection, hypertrophic scars, itching and keloids, which of course overweight any known benefits of the technique

Hydrological Study of Groundwater and its Appropriateness for Irrigation

Irrigation in most countries represents the largest share of all water use. Groundwater is the main water resource after the water of the Nile River in Egypt. The water situation in the future is not optimistic due to the economic development, the increase in population growth and the increase in the agricultural area, especially after the completion of the construction of Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, so suitable alternatives must be provided for irrigation water. This paper presents a hydrological study on groundwater for use in irrigation in Assiut, Upper Egypt, so that alternatives can be provided to the Nile River for water used for irrigation purposes and appropriate uses. The experiments were performed using an experimental form created to achieve the purpose of the study. The model consisted of a cascade aerator and a sand filter. packed bed filter was added to be filled with some media before the sand filter. The media that were used in the study were plastic balls (80 mm), gravel (5-8 mm) and coarse gravel (15-30 mm). The results showed that use of water leads to improving the efficiency of groundwater and thus making it suitable for irrigation purposes. Using this model with the addition of the media used in this study, groundwater was improved by up to 90% and therefore it could be used for irrigation. Finally, it is believed that the results of this study are useful in hydrological studies of groundwater for conditions similar to the ones under which this study was conducted

Diagnostics and outcome predictorso drug induced liver injury: a single center prospective study

Background: Although drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a rare clinical event, it carries significant morbidity and mortality. The diagnostic approach of DILI is still challenging because of lack of reliable markers that would allow distinguishing DILI from other causes of liver injury. Objective: To study the demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics, and their relation to outcome of patients with DILI. Patients and Methods: Case control study conducted on 80 participants divided into two groups; Group I 40 patients with acute DILI and Group II 40 patients with acute viral induced liver injury. Subjects were systematically evaluated for clinical and laboratory characteristics, other etiologies, severity of DILI with application of Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method (RUCAM) and liver biopsy whenever feasible and were all followed for 6 months thereafter. Results: Diclofenac was the most incriminated drug in DILI group (16 cases, 40%). Hepatocellular injury pattern was more common (28 cases, 70%). Infection with acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) were the commonest etiology of viral hepatitis (32 cases, 80%). All patients with acute viral hepatitis, improved with no recorded mortality nor chronicity. While 6 patients (15%) with DILI died. Conclusion: The diagnostic approach of DILI is still rudimentary and inaccurate and require high index of suspicion and thus, careful assessment is required to distinguish DILI from other causes of liver injury

Characterization of vacancy defects in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 by positron annihilation spectroscopy

The photovoltaic performance of Cu(In1-x,Gax)Se2 (CIGS) materials is commonly assumed to be degraded by the presence of vacancy-related defects. However, experimental identification of specific vacancy defects remains challenging. In this work we report positron lifetime measurements on CIGS crystals with x = 0, and x = 0.05, saturation trapping to two dominant vacancy defect types, in both types of crystal, is observed and found to be independent of temperature between 15–300 K. Atomic superposition method calculations of the positron lifetimes for a range of vacancy defects in CIS and CGS are reported. The calculated lifetimes support the assignment of the first experimental lifetime component to monovacancy or divacancy defects, and the second to trivacancies, or possibly the large In-Se divacancy. Further, the calculated positron parameters obtained here provide evidence that positron annihilation spectroscopy has the capability to identify specific vacancy-related defects in the Cu(In1-x,Gax)Se2 chalcogenides

Immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory impact of Fragaria ananassa methanol extract in a rat model of cadmium chloride-induced pulmonary toxicity

Cadmium is an extremely dangerous heavy metal that can lead to disastrous consequences in all organisms. Several natural remedies reduce the toxicities of experimentally generated metals in animals. Strawberry Fragaria ananassa contains several bioactive compounds that may mitigate heavy-metal toxicity. The study aim was to evaluate the ability of a strawberry fruit methanol extract (SE) to reduce Cd toxicity and to identify and quantify the active constituents of SE. Forty Wistar rats were classified into four groups: the control group– 1 ml saline IP; SE group– 100 mg of SE/kg rats orally; cadmium (Cd) group–2 mg CdCl2/kg body weight/IP daily; and treated group– SE given 1 hour before Cd administration. Administration of Cd induced several histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations in lung sections. Biochemical analysis of lung homogenates and mRNA levels of antioxidants and inflammatory cytokines indicated significant changes to the risk profile. SE administration significantly decreased the oxidative stress, inflammation, tissue damage, the mean area percentage of collagen fibers, and positive immuno-expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB induced by CdCl2. Moreover, the MDA, TNF-α, GM-CSF, and IL-1β levels in Cd-exposed rat lung tissue were significantly lower in the SE-treated group than in the Cd-group. SE significantly augmented lung GSH, SOD, HO‐1, GPx-2, and Nrf2 levels in Cd-exposed rats. SE mitigated Cd-caused oxidative stress and lung inflammation. Therefore, regularly consuming a strawberry-rich diet could benefit general health and help prevent and treat diseases

Top research priorities in liver and gallbladder disorders in the UK

OBJECTIVES: There is a mismatch between research questions considered important by patients, carers and healthcare professionals and the research performed in many fields of medicine. The non-alcohol-related liver and gallbladder disorders priority setting partnership was established to identify the top research priorities in the prevention, diagnostic and treatment of gallbladder disorders and liver disorders not covered by the James-Lind Alliance (JLA) alcohol-related liver disease priority setting partnership. DESIGN: The methods broadly followed the principles of the JLA guidebook. The one major deviation from the JLA methodology was the final step of identifying priorities: instead of prioritisation by group discussions at a consensus workshop involving stakeholders, the prioritisation was achieved by a modified Delphi consensus process. RESULTS: A total of 428 unique valid diagnostic or treatment research questions were identified. A literature review established that none of these questions were considered 'answered' that is, high-quality systematic reviews suggest that further research is not required on the topic. The Delphi panel achieved consensus (at least 80% Delphi panel members agreed) that a research question was a top research priority for six questions. Four additional research questions with highest proportion of Delphi panel members ranking the question as highly important were added to constitute the top 10 research priorities. CONCLUSIONS: A priority setting process involving patients, carers and healthcare professionals has been used to identify the top 10priority areas for research related to liver and gallbladder disorders. Basic, translational, clinical and public health research are required to address these uncertainties

Extracorporeal cellular therapy (ELAD) in severe alcoholic hepatitis: A multinational, prospective, controlled, randomized trial.

Severe alcoholic hepatitis (sAH) is associated with a poor prognosis. There is no proven effective treatment for sAH, which is why early transplantation has been increasingly discussed. Hepatoblastoma-derived C3A cells express anti-inflammatory proteins and growth factors and were tested in an extracorporeal cellular therapy (ELAD) study to establish their effect on survival for subjects with sAH. Adults with sAH, bilirubin ≥8 mg/dL, Maddrey\u27s discriminant function ≥ 32, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score ≤ 35 were randomized to receive standard of care (SOC) only or 3-5 days of continuous ELAD treatment plus SOC. After a minimum follow-up of 91 days, overall survival (OS) was assessed by using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. A total of 203 subjects were enrolled (96 ELAD and 107 SOC) at 40 sites worldwide. Comparison of baseline characteristics showed no significant differences between groups and within subgroups. There was no significant difference in serious adverse events between the 2 groups. In an analysis of the intent-to-treat population, there was no difference in OS (51.0% versus 49.5%). The study failed its primary and secondary end point in a population with sAH and with a MELD ranging from 18 to 35 and no upper age limit. In the prespecified analysis of subjects with MELD \u3c 28 (n = 120), ELAD was associated with a trend toward higher OS at 91 days (68.6% versus 53.6%; P = .08). Regression analysis identified high creatinine and international normalized ratio, but not bilirubin, as the MELD components predicting negative outcomes with ELAD. A new trial investigating a potential benefit of ELAD in younger subjects with sufficient renal function and less severe coagulopathy has been initiated. Liver Transplantation 24 380-393 2018 AASLD