Fuel poverty, older people and cold weather: An all-island analysis

Executive Summary This report covers a number of different aspects of fuel poverty and older people. 1. An exploration of existing government survey data from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with a particular focus on older people and conducting additional targeted analyses where required. 2. An original survey in the Republic of Ireland exploring the lived experience of older people in cold weather. 3. A feasibility study of data logging thermometers placed in the homes of older tenants in local authority accommodation. 4. Analysis of excess winter mortality among older people including a consideration of differences between the two jurisdictions. Older people on the island of Ireland, as in many other countries, experience a ‘dual burden’ in terms of fuel poverty. They are more likely to experience fuel poverty and are also particularly vulnerable to health and social harm as a result of this experience. The numbers of older people vulnerable to ill-effects from cold homes will rise as numbers of people aged 80 and over, and those living with chronic illness or disability, increase. There were significant differences observed between expenditure-based, and subjective (EU-SILC) based fuel poverty indicators, for older people, and between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland data. This data required careful interpretation. The higher levels of fuel poverty recorded for older people on the island of Ireland appeared to be driven by all aspects of the fuel poverty model - poor housing condition, energy inefficient housing, rising fuel prices and low income. The majority of older people live in their own home and these homes tend to be older properties which are detached or semi-detached. Older people on the island are over-represented among houses which are in poor condition and which lack central heating in both jurisdictions. Lacking central heating was a more common experience for older people in the Republic of Ireland than in Northern Ireland. Data on energy efficiency measures were not comparable North/South but similar patterns were observed. Older people were less likely than the general population to have attic/loft or wall insulation or double glazing. Older people were also vulnerable from an income point of view. This would seem to be a particular issue in Northern Ireland where rates of income poverty are significantly increasing. In both jurisdictions older people were heavily reliant on social transfers to keep them out of poverty. Coupled with this, there is evidence that many older people are not claiming their full entitlements. Oil dependency was a particular issue in Northern Ireland. Very significant increases were observed in the price of heating oil, as well as electricity and gas in recent years. There was little available research evidence on the relationship between the older consumer and heating oil suppliers

Deep spectroscopy of z~1 6C radio galaxies - II. Breaking the redshift-radio power degeneracy

The results of a spectroscopic analysis of 3CR and 6C radio galaxies at redshift z~1 are contrasted with the properties of lower redshift radio galaxies, chosen to be matched in radio luminosity to the 6C sources studied at z~1, thus enabling the P-z degeneracy to be broken. Partial rank correlations and principal component analysis have been used to determine which of z and P are the critical parameters underlying the observed variation of the ionization state andd kinematics of the emission line gas. [OII]/H-beta is shown to be a useful ionization mechanism diagnostic. Statistical analysis of the data shows that the ionization state of the emission line gas is strongly correlated with radio power, once the effects of other parameters are removed. No dependence of ionization state on z is observed, implying that the ionization state of the emission line gas is solely a function of the AGN properties rather than the hostt galaxy and/or environment. Statistical analysis of the kinematic properties of the emission line gas shows that these are strongly correlated independently withh both P and z. The correlation with redshift is the stronger of the two, suggesting that host galaxy composition or environment may play a role in producing the less extreme gas kinematics observed in the emission line regions of low redshift galaxies. For both the ionization and kinematic properties of thee galaxies, the independent correlations observed with radio size are strongest. Radio source age is a determining factor for the extended emission line regions.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Bovine serum albumin as the dominant form of dietary protein reduces subcutaneous fat mass, plasma leptin and plasma corticosterone in high fat-fed C57/BL6J mice

Acknowledgements The authors thank Harriett Schellekens from the University College Cork and Paula O’Connor from Teagasc Moorepark Food Research Centre for their assistance in procuring laboratory space and equipment. The present study was funded by Teagasc. B. L. M. was funded by the Walsh Fellowship Program. J. R. S. was supported by a 1000-talents professorship from the Chinese government. The funding bodies had no input on the design of the study or in the interpretation of the data.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Subcellular localization of the FLT3-ITD oncogene plays a significant role in the production of NOX- and p22phox-derived reactive oxygen species in acute myeloid leukemia

Internal tandem duplication of the juxtamembrane domain of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3-ITD) receptor is the most prevalent FLT3 mutation accounting for 20% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. FLT3-ITD mutation results in ligand-independent constitutive activation of the receptor at the plasma membrane and ‘impaired trafficking’ of the receptor in compartments of the endomembrane system, such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). FLT3-ITD expressing cells have been shown to generate increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), in particular NADPH oxidase (NOX)-generated ROS which act as pro-survival signals. The purpose of this study is to investigate FLT3-ITD production of ROS at the plasma membrane and ER in the FLT3-ITD expressing AML cell line MV4-11. Receptor trafficking inhibitors; Tunicamycin and Brefeldin A induce ER retention of FLT3-ITD, resulting in a decrease in protein expression of NOX4 and its partner protein p22phox, thus demonstrating the critical importance of FLT3-ITD localization for the generation of pro-survival ROS. NOX-generated ROS contribute to total endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in AML as quantified by flow cytometry using the cell-permeable H2O2-probe Peroxy Orange 1 (PO1). We found that PI3K/AKT signaling only occurs when FLT3-ITD is expressed at the plasma membrane and is required for the production of NOX-generated ROS. ER retention of FLT3-ITD resulted in NOX4 deglycosylation and p22phox protein degradation

937-2 Safety and Efficacy of QW3600 (EchoGen®) in Producing LV Opacification During Stress Echocardiography in Normals

QW 3600 (EchoGen®) (EG) is a new ultrasonic contrast agent which produces intense LV cavity and even myocardial opacification following IV injection in animals. However, no data exists regarding the potential of this agent to be used in conjunction with stress echo in humans. Therefore, in 17 normals we compared the results of injecting equal volumes of normal saline and progressive doses of EG: 0.02 cc/kg (5 pts). 0.05cc/kg (4). and 0.1cc/kg (8) during stress echo performed to 85% of maximal heart rate. Echo was performed in apical 4 chamber view, and LV contrast opacification was assessed qualitatively (1 + weak and incomplete, 2+ complete cavity. 3+dense and complete) and by videodensitometry (0.3cm2) region of interest in mid cavity. All subjects tolerated the injections well without adverse events. No significant changes were observed in pulse oximetry, the ECG, or 25 laboratory studies. We analyzed the maximal change (Δ) in systolic (S) and diastolic (D) pressure (mmHg) and heart rate (HR) and peak videointensity (PVI) from baseline to post exertion following the injection of either saline or EG (Table, all p=NS for saline vs EG except PVI)DoseSalineEGΔHRΔSBPΔDBPPVIΔHRΔSBPΔDBPPVI0.0248431813424917280.0537351611434321420.13740191037441962LV opacification was absent with saline, was inconsistent at 0.02 and 0.05cc/kg doses, but was≥ 2+ in all but one 0.1cc/kg administration (mean 2.4). Peak LV videointensity after EG was 62 for 0.1cc/kg. Thus, EchoGen® is a new contrast agent which is well tolerated when used with stress echo in normals and results in complete LV opacification at a dose of 0.1cc/kg. EchoGen® should prove to be a useful adjunct to clinical stress echo

ENVIROSAT-2000 report: Federal agency satellite requirements

The requirement of Federal agencies, other than NOAA, for the data and services of civil operational environmental satellites (both polar orbiting and geostationary) are summarized. Agency plans for taking advantage of proposed future Earth sensing space systems, domestic and foreign, are cited also. Current data uses and future requirements are addressed as identified by each agency