Geothermal Energy: A Feasibility Study on the Application of Ground Source Heat Pumps

The purpose of this report was to study the feasibility of ground source heats pumps as an alternative energy. Specifically this pertains to the application of ground source heat pumps in educational facilities, such as WPI, and residential areas in order to offset a portion of these building\u27s heating and cooling duties. It was concluded that ground source heat pumps are an effective method for reducing the cost and energy use in building heating and cooling

Protein Electrophoresis Across Phase Boundaries in a U-Tube

Numerical and experimental investigations of electrophoresis of bovine hemoglobin in a two-phase system were conducted. The numerical model was generated in COMSOL 3.5 as a 2-D representation of a U-tube, assuming equilibrium at the phase interface, using electro-kinetic flow and conductive media DC equations. The experimental separation of the protein was conducted in a PEG-dextran two-phase solution in a U-tube, using an induced current up to 3kV. Both methods resulted in a successful migration of the protein across the interphase

Tragic but brave or just crips with chips? Songs and their lyrics in the Disability Arts Movement in Britain

Disability culture is a site within which social and positional identities are struggled for and dominant discourses rejected; in which mainstream representations of people with impairments – as victims of personal tragedy – are held to the light and revealed as hegemonic constructions within a disabling society. Drawing upon styles that range from jazz, blues and folk to reggae, performance poetry and punk, disabled singers and bands in the Disability Arts Movement in Britain have been central to the development of an affirmative disability discourse rooted in ideas of pride, anger and strength. Examining lyrics by Johnny Crescendo, Ian Stanton and the Fugertivs – performers emerging as part of this movement in the 1980s and 1990s – this article considers the dark humour which runs through much of this work. It is suggested that these lyrics' observational reflections on everyday experiences of being oppressed as disabled people have been overlooked within critical disability studies to date, but are important in developing an understanding of positive disability identity as a tool available to disabled people in order to make sense of, and express themselves within, the world in which they find themselves

The Transformation of Ambulatory Orthopedic Surgical Anesthesia: A Mixed Methods Study of Diffusion of Innovation in Healthcare

To provide insight into how an innovation in healthcare is implemented and diffuses into the system. Specifically studying the innovation of transitioning from the routine use of general anesthesia (GA) to peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) for anesthesia during ambulatory orthopaedic procedures on the upper and lower extremities

Estudio de la causalidad de los incendios forestales en Galicia

[EN] The goal of this research is to analyze the importance of the main factors contributing to the occurrence of wildfires in Galicia. The econometric models are specified taking into account as a dependent variable the number of fires and affected area, while these depend on a number of explanatory variables, including climatic and socio-economic characteristics. Based on the obtained results, we conclude that public policies should be oriented to re-structuring the agro-livestock sector, considering the evolution of the population pyramid, and new land uses. Such policies can help to reduce wildfires in Galicia.[ES] El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar la relevancia de los múltiples factores socio-económicos, agrarios y ambientales en la ocurrencia de los incendios forestales en Galicia. Los modelos econométricos presentados analizan el número de incendios ocurridos así como el número de hectáreas quemadas, en función de los múltiples factores indicados. A raíz de los resultados obtenidos, se concluye que determinadas políticas públicas preventivas diseñadas hacia una reorientación el sector agro-ganadero, el cuidado de la pirámide poblacional y un mejor aprovechamiento de los usos del suelo, pueden ayudar a disminuir los incendios forestales en Galicia de forma significativa.María Loureiro agradece la financiación recibida a través del programa ERANET-BIODIVERSA, proyecto “FIREMAN”, número EUI2008-03685Barreal, J.; Loureiro, M.; Picos, J. (2012). The causality of wildfires in Galicia. Economía Agraria y Recursos Naturales - Agricultural and Resource Economics. 12(1):99-114. https://doi.org/10.7201/earn.2012.01.04SWORD9911412

Global analysis of the mammalian RNA degradome reveals widespread miRNA-dependent and miRNA-independent endonucleolytic cleavage

The Ago2 component of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) is an endonuclease that cleaves mRNAs that base pair with high complementarity to RISC-bound microRNAs. Many examples of such direct cleavage have been identified in plants, but not in vertebrates, despite the conservation of catalytic capacity in vertebrate Ago2. We performed parallel analysis of RNA ends (PAREs), a deep sequencing approach that identifies 5′-phosphorylated, polyadenylated RNAs, to detect potential microRNA-directed mRNA cleavages in mouse embryo and adult tissues. We found that numerous mRNAs are potentially targeted for cleavage by endogenous microRNAs, but at very low levels relative to the mRNA abundance, apart from miR-151-5p-guided cleavage of the N4BP1 mRNA. We also find numerous examples of non-miRNA-directed cleavage, including cleavage of a group of mRNAs within a CA-repeat consensus sequence. The PARE analysis also identified many examples of adenylated small non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, tRNA processing intermediates and various other small RNAs, consistent with adenylation being part of a widespread proof-reading and/or degradation pathway for small RNAs

Improving understanding of service-user involvement and identity : collaborative research traversing disability, activism and the academy

This article focuses on collaborative research traversing disability, activism and the academy to improve understanding of service-user involvement and identity. The project was undertaken by an organisation of disabled people, some of whom are, and some of whom are not, employed by academic institutions. It is an example of research fusion between disabled people’s activism and their work within the academy. The project aimed to identify meaningful ways of promoting involvement in the development of public services. Power relationships which shape the reality of disabled people’s participation in decision-making processes within services are critiqued. We explore ways in which disabled service users and our representative organisations can drive a form of political activism within services and through the academy to improve the lives of disabled people according to the priorities of disabled people themselves. This is not simply an academic project; we identify strategies for activism and change

The Human Mitochondrial Transcriptome

SummaryThe human mitochondrial genome comprises a distinct genetic system transcribed as precursor polycistronic transcripts that are subsequently cleaved to generate individual mRNAs, tRNAs, and rRNAs. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the human mitochondrial transcriptome across multiple cell lines and tissues. Using directional deep sequencing and parallel analysis of RNA ends, we demonstrate wide variation in mitochondrial transcript abundance and precisely resolve transcript processing and maturation events. We identify previously undescribed transcripts, including small RNAs, and observe the enrichment of several nuclear RNAs in mitochondria. Using high-throughput in vivo DNaseI footprinting, we establish the global profile of DNA-binding protein occupancy across the mitochondrial genome at single-nucleotide resolution, revealing regulatory features at mitochondrial transcription initiation sites and functional insights into disease-associated variants. This integrated analysis of the mitochondrial transcriptome reveals unexpected complexity in the regulation, expression, and processing of mitochondrial RNA and provides a resource for future studies of mitochondrial function (accessed at http://mitochondria.matticklab.com)

The Patient Centred Assessment Method for improving nurse-led biopsychosocial assessment of patients with long-term conditions: a feasibility RCT

BackgroundAnnual reviews of people living with long-term conditions (LTCs) are mostly conducted by practice nurses (PNs), who focus on the physical needs of patients. The broader mental well-being and social needs of patients are also important if they are to live well. The Patient Centred Assessment Method (PCAM) is a new tool to help PNs conduct biopsychosocial assessments of patients’ needs.Research questionsIs it feasible and acceptable to use the PCAM in primary care nurse-led reviews for those with LTCs? Is it feasible and acceptable to run a cluster randomised trial of the PCAM in primary care?MethodsFour practitioner and two patient focus groups explored the acceptability and implementation requirements of the PCAM, which was then tested in a feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial aiming to recruit eight general practitioner (GP) practices and 16 nurses. Baseline data collection was conducted with nurses prior to randomisation, with a cohort of 10 patients per nurse, including patient demographics, patient evaluation of consultation, patient-completed outcomes (measured via the Consultation and Relational Empathy, Patient Enablement Instrument, Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, General Health Questionnaire and the Short Form questionnaire-12 items) and nurse referrals/signposting to services. Patient follow-up questionnaires were completed at 8 weeks. Practices were then randomised to the PCAM intervention or care as usual (CAU). Data collection was repeated for a second cohort of patients. Fidelity was tested by comparing a sample of recorded consultations before and after PCAM training. Qualitative interviews were conducted with PCAM nurses and a sample of patients.ResultsApproaches to 159 eligible practices resulted in the recruitment of six practices (10 nurses), with five practices (seven nurses) completing both data collection phases. Nurses collected baseline data on 113 patients, 71 of whom (62.8%) completed follow-up questionnaires. Five practices were randomised: three practices (six nurses) to the PCAM arm and two practices (four nurses) to the CAU arm. In phase 2, seven nurses collected data on 77 patients, of whom 40 (52%) completed follow-up. Only four PCAM nurses agreed to recording consultations, with five pre- and four post-PCAM recordings obtained. Post PCAM training, there was evidence of more attention being given to patients’ mental well-being and social issues. The PCAM was fairly easily integrated into consultation, although some nurses reflected that this benefited from early support. Patients were not always aware of its use, but most were happy to have their needs assessed.LimitationsRecruitment of GP practices, and nurse recruitment and retention.ConclusionsThe PCAM is feasible and acceptable for use by primary care nurses and may have potential for encouraging biopsychosocial assessment of patients. Efforts required to recruit and retain staff indicate that a full trial is not feasible or cost-effective at this time.Future workThe PCAM intervention warrants further exploration as an effective mechanism for improving care for people with LTCs; this could be conducted within an implementation study.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN98973169

The use of telematics devices to improve automobile insurance rates

Most automobile insurance databases contain a large number of policyholders with zero claims. This high frequency of zeros may reflect the fact that some insureds make little use of their vehicle, or that they do not wish to make a claim for small accidents in order to avoid an increase in their premium, but it might also be because of good driving. We analyse information on exposure to risk and driving habits using telematics data from a Pay-as-you-Drive sample of insureds. We include distance travelled per year as part of an offset in a zero-inflated Poisson model to predict the excess of zeros. We show the existence of a learning effect for large values of distance travelled, so that longer driving should result in higher premium, but there should be a discount for drivers that accumulate longer distances over time due to the increased proportion of zero claims . We confirm that speed limit violations and driving in urban areas increase the expected number of accident claims . We discuss how telematics information can be used to design better insurance and to improve traffic safety