Stepping up on savings

The UK government remains committed to the Climate Change Act 2008, which mandates an 80% reduction in CO2 from 1990 levels by 2050. As part of the strategy of achieving this reduction, all new homes from 2016 will be required to be zero carbon. The 2008 definition required all CO2 emissions to be reduced to zero through on-site means, covering both regulated emissions from heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting and unregulated emissions from household appliances. Embodied carbon from the construction of the building was excluded. In 2009 the concept of Allowable Solutions was introduced, which permits developers to pay for carbon saving achieved elsewhere. For example a developer may offset CO2 emissions against an approved ‘on, near or offsite’ scheme, such as a local energy storage solution or an investment into low carbon electricity generation. In 2011, a further major change removed unregulated emissions from the definition

Collisional stability of localized Yb(3P2{}^3\mathrm{P}_2) atoms immersed in a Fermi sea of Li

We establish an experimental method for a detailed investigation of inelastic collisional properties between ytterbium (Yb) in the metastable ${}^3\mathrm{P}_2$ state and ground state lithium (Li). By combining an optical lattice and a direct excitation to the ${}^3\mathrm{P}_2$ state we achieve high selectivity on the collisional partners. Using this method we determine inelastic loss coefficients in collisions between $^{174}$Yb(${}^3\mathrm{P}_2$) with magnetic sublevels of $m_J=0$ and $-2$ and ground state $^6$Li to be $(4.4\pm0.3)\times10^{-11}~\mathrm{cm}^3/\mathrm{s}$ and $(4.7\pm0.8)\times10^{-11}~\mathrm{cm}^3/\mathrm{s}$, respectively. Absence of spin changing processes in Yb(${}^3\mathrm{P}_2$)-Li inelastic collisions at low magnetic fields is confirmed by inelastic loss measurements on the $m_J=0$ state. We also demonstrate that our method allows us to look into loss processes in few-body systems separately.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

Assessment of THM Formation with MIOX

Current regulations on trihalomethane (THM) concentrations have led many utilities to explore the use of other oxidants and disinfectants to partially or completely replace chlorine in their treatment schemes. A mixed oxidant solution, generated electrolytically from brine, by the "MIOX" system, appears to be an attractive alternative to chlorine with respect to disinfection and THM formation. However, little is known about the chemical composition of this mixed oxidant solution except that which is based on electrochemical theory. The primary objective of this investigation was to evaluate the formation of THMs by MIOX and to compare the results with those obtained in control experiments using equivalent amounts of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). The secondary objective of this investigation was to characterize the mixed oxidant solution as to its chemical composition. Model waters of well-known chemical composition as well as several real waters of varying quality were treated with MIOX and with NaOCl under identical experimental conditions, and the extent and rate of THM formation was examined. The results showed that THM formation in MIOX-treated waters was essentially the same as that in NaOCl-treated waters. Little insight as to the chemical composition of the mixed oxidant solution was gained in this investigation.Master of Science in Environmental Engineerin

Seroprevalence of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in U.S. Children Ages 6-19, 2003-2010

Background:Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common herpesvirus linked to infectious mononucleosis and multiple cancers. There are no national estimates of EBV seroprevalence in the United States. Our objective was to estimate the overall prevalence and sociodemographic predictors of EBV among U.S. children and adolescents aged 6-19.Methods:We calculated prevalence estimates and prevalence ratios for EBV seroprevalence using data from the 2003-2010 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for children aged 6-19 (n = 8417). Poisson regression was used to calculate multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios across subgroup categories (sex, race/ethnicity, parental education, household income, household size, foreign-born, BMI, and household smoking).Findings:Overall EBV seroprevalence was 66.5% (95% CI 64.3%-68.7%.). Seroprevalence increased with age, ranging from 54.1% (95% CI 50.2%-57.9%) for 6-8 year olds to 82.9% (95% CI 80.0%-85.9%) for 18-19 year olds. Females had slightly higher seroprevalence (68.9%, 95% CI 66.3%-71.6%) compared to males (64.2%, 95% CI 61.7%-66.8%). Seroprevalence was substantially higher for Mexican-Americans (85.4%, 95% CI 83.1%-87.8%) and Non-Hispanic Blacks (83.1%, 95% CI 81.1%-85.1%) than Non-Hispanic Whites (56.9%, 95% CI 54.1%-59.8%). Large differences were also seen by family income, with children in the lowest income quartile having 81.0% (95% CI 77.6%-84.5%) seroprevalence compared to 53.9% (95% CI 50.5%-57.3%) in the highest income quartile, with similar results for parental education level. These results were not explained by household size, BMI, or parental smoking. Among those who were seropositive, EBV antibody titers were significantly higher for females, Non-Hispanic Blacks and Mexican-Americans, with no association found for socioeconomic factors.Conclusions:In the first nationally representative U.S. estimates, we found substantial socioeconomic and race/ethnic differences in the seroprevalence of EBV across all ages for U.S. children and adolescents. These estimates can help researchers and clinicians identify groups most at risk, inform research on EBV-cancer etiology, and motivate potential vaccine development

A preliminary assessment into the utility of social networks for engaging local communities in climate adaptation policy: working paper prepared for NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, Sydney, Australia.

There has been a growing recognition regarding the use of social networks to engage the community in government actions. However, despite increasing awareness about the potential importance of social networks, there is very limited evidence for their application in relation to climate policy. This study addresses this gap by assessing the potential of social networks for engaging local communities in climate adaptation policy, drawing on a case study of the Shoalhaven region in Australia. View/download https://www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/Cunninghametal2014utilityofsocialnetworks.pd

A metagenomic assessment of the bacteria associated with Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Lucilia Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae) is a blow fly genus of forensic, medical, veterinary, and agricultural importance. This genus is also famous because of its beneficial uses in maggot debridement therapy (MDT). Although the genus is of considerable economic importance, our knowledge about microbes associated with these flies and how these bacteria are horizontally and trans-generationally transmitted is limited. In this study, we characterized bacteria associated with different life stages of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) and Lucilia cuprina(Wiedemann) and in the salivary gland of L. sericata by using 16S rDNA 454 pyrosequencing. Bacteria associated with the salivary gland of L. sericata were also characterized using light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results from this study suggest that the majority of bacteria associated with these flies belong to phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, andBacteroidetes, and most bacteria are maintained intragenerationally, with a considerable degree of turnover from generation to generation. In both species, second-generation eggs exhibited the highest bacterial phylum diversity (20 % genetic distance) than other life stages. The Lucilia sister species shared the majority of their classified genera. Of the shared bacterial genera, Providencia, Ignatzschineria, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Vagococcus, Morganella, and Myroides were present at relatively high abundances. Lactobacillus, Proteus,Diaphorobacter, and Morganella were the dominant bacterial genera associated with a survey of the salivary gland of L. sericata. TEM analysis showed a sparse distribution of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in the salivary gland of L. sericata. There was more evidence for horizontal transmission of bacteria than there was for trans-generational inheritance. Several pathogenic genera were either amplified or reduced by the larval feeding on decomposing liver as a resource. Overall, this study provides information on bacterial communities associated with different life stages of Lucilia and their horizontal and trans-generational transmission, which may help in the development of better vector-borne disease management and MDT methods

Plasmodium falciparum: linkage disequilibrium between loci in chromosomes 7 and 5 and chloroquine selective pressure in Northern Nigeria.

In view of the recent discovery (Molecular Cell 6, 861-871) of a (Lys76Thr) codon change in gene pfcrt on chromosome 7 which determines in vitro chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum, we have re-examined samples taken before treatment in our study in Zaria, Northern Nigeria (Parasitology, 119, 343-348). Drug resistance was present in 5/5 cases where the pfcrt 76Thr codon change was seen (100% positive predictive value). Drug sensitivity was found in 26/28 cases where the change was absent (93% negative predictive value). Allele pfcrt 76Thr showed strong linkage disequilibrium with pfmdr1 Tyr86 on chromosome 5, more complete than that between pfcrt and cg2 alleles situated between recombination cross-over points on chromosome 7. Physical linkage of cg2 with pfcrt may account for linkage disequilibrium between their alleles but in the case of genes pfmdr1 and pfcrt, on different chromosomes, it is likely that this is maintained epistatically through the selective pressure of chloroquine

Incorporation of zebularine from its 2′-deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate derivative and activity as a template-coding nucleobase

Zebularine (1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-1,2-dihydropyrimidin-2-one) was studied as both a 2 ′-deoxyribosyl 5 ′-triphosphate derivative and as a template incorporated into an oligonucleotide. Using a novel pyrosequencing assay, zebularine acted as cytosine analog and was incorporated into DNA with a template pairing profile most similar to cytosine, pairing with greatest efficiency opposite guanine in the template strand. Guanine was incorporated with greater affinity than adenine opposite a zebularine in the template strand. Computer modeling of base-pairing structures supported a better fit of zebularine opposite guanine than adenine. Zebularine acts as a cytosine analog, which supports its activity as an inhibitor of cytosine methyltransferase.A.S.Y. is the recipient of a STOP Cancer Career Development Award and the T.Franklin Williams Scholars-American Society of Oncology Career Development Award. This work was sponsored in part by a grant from the Wright Foundation.Peer reviewe

Statistical Adaptive Sensing by Detectors with Spectrally Overlapping Bands

It has recently been reported that by using a spectral-tuning algorithm, the photocurrents of multiple detectors with spectrally overlapping responsivities can be optimally combined to synthesize, within certain limits, the response of a detector with an arbitrary responsivity. However, it is known that the presence of noise in the photocurrent can degrade the performance of this algorithm significantly, depending on the choice of the responsivity spectrum to be synthesized. We generalize this algorithm to accommodate noise. The results are applied to quantum-dot mid-infrared detectors with bias-dependent spectral responses. Simulation and experiment are used to show the ability of the algorithm to reduce the adverse effect of noise on its spectral-tuning capability