Hydroperoxide generation in irradiation-sterilized SUS and potential risks of protein oxidation

Oxidation in polymeric medical implants sterilized by ionizing radiation is by now a well-studied phenomenon. One byproduct of the multitude of oxidative pathways initiated during irradiation of polymers is the generation of hydroperoxide groups bound to polymer chains or fragments (see Figure 1 and reference below). We have discovered that exposure to irradiation-sterilized SUS containers has the potential to induce measurable amounts of oxidation in some protein therapeutics, especially in the context of stability studies having high surface area to volume conditions and/or low protein concentration formulations. This presentation will discuss efforts in our laboratories to quantify the oxidizing species (e.g. hydroperoxides) in SUS containers and explore the parameters that could lead to variability in the amounts present and available to react with product molecules. Using the information gained, we provide a strategy to assess potential risk of protein oxidation in commercial manufacturing operations. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Exploring the multiple policy objectives for Primary Care Networks: a qualitative interview study with national policy stakeholders

Objectives: English general practice is suffering a workforce crisis, with GPs retiring early and trainees reluctant to enter the profession. To address this, additional funding has been offered, but only through participation in collaborations known as Primary Care Networks (PCNs). This study explored national policy objectives underpinning PCNs, and mechanisms expected to help achieve these, from the perspective of those driving the policy. Design: Qualitative semi-structured interviews and policy document analysis. Setting and participants: National level policy maker and stakeholder interviewees (n=16). Policy document analysis of Network Contract Direct Enhanced Service draft service specifications. Analysis: Interviews were transcribed, coded, and organised thematically according to policy objectives and mechanisms. Thematic data was organised into a matrix so prominent elements to be identified and emphasised accordingly. Themes were considered alongside objectives embedded in PCN draft service delivery requirements. Results: Three themes of policy objectives and associated mechanisms were identified:(1) Supporting general practice;(2) Place-based inter-organisational collaboration;(3) Primary care ‘voice’. Interviewees emphasised and sequenced themes differently suggesting meeting objectives for one was necessary to realise another. Interviewees most closely linked to primary care emphasised the importance of(1). The objectives embedded in draft service delivery requirements primarily emphasised(2). Conclusions: These policy objectives are not mutually exclusive but may imply different approaches to prioritising investment or necessitate more explicit temporal sequencing, with the stabilisation of a struggling primary care sector probably needing to occur before meaningful engagement with other community service providers can be achieved or a ‘collective voice’ is agreed. Multiple objectives create space for stakeholders to feel dissatisfied when implementation details do not match expectations, as the negative reaction to draft service delivery requirements illustrates. Our study offers policy makers suggestions about how confidence in the policy might be restored by crafting delivery requirements so all groups see opportunities to meet favoured objectives

Heat recovery opportunities in UK manufacturing

A database of the heat demand, heat recovery potential and location of UK industrial sites involved in the EU Emissions Trading System, was used to estimate the potential application of different heat recovery technologies. The options considered for recovering the heat were recovery for use on-site, using heat exchangers; upgrading the heat to a higher temperature, using heat pumps; conversion of the heat energy to fulfill a chilling demand, using absorption chillers; conversion of the heat energy to electrical energy, using Rankine cycles; and transport of the heat to fulfill an off-site heat demand. A broad analysis of this type, which investigates a large number of sites, cannot accurately identify site level opportunities. However the analysis can provide an indicative assessment of the overall potential for different technologies. The greatest potential for reusing this surplus heat was found to be recovery at low temperatures, utilising heat exchangers; and in conversion to electrical power, mostly using organic Rankine cycle technology. Both these technologies exist in commercial applications, but are not well established, support for their development and installation could increase the use. The overall heat recoverable using a combination of these technologies was estimated at 52PJ/yr, saving 2.0MtCO2e/yr in comparison to supplying the energy outputs in a conventional manner. A network and market for trading in heat and the wider use of district heating systems could open considerable potential for exporting heat from industrial sites to other users

Decomposing Changes in the Energy Demand of UK Manufacturing

Over the period 1990-2007 the energy demand of UK manufacturing has fallen. A decomposition analysis was conducted to identify the effects of changes in output, structure and energy intensity on the changing energy demand. It was found that a falling energy intensity (indicating improving energy efficiency) was the principle reason for the fall in energy demand. As the UK manufacturing sector is so broad in its uses of energy, it was split into an energy-intensive (EI) and a non-energy-intensive (NEI) sub-sector to better understand the improvement in energy efficiency. The NEI sub-sector made much greater relative reductions in energy intensity in comparison to the EI sub-sector. Previous studies indicate that the EI sector may have made larger improvements in energy intensity in the period between 1973 and 1990 and this may be the reason for the limited improvement seen here. Neither energy price nor production growth appears strongly correlated with the improving efficiency over the period 1990-2007

Autonomy, accountability, and ambiguity in arm’s-length meta-governance: the case of NHS England

Meta-governance involves orchestrating the ‘rules of the game’ in public management. Arm’s-length bodies are particularly important vehicles for this. We consider the case of an arm’s-length body (NHS England) created to oversee the English NHS’ day-to-day operation, and remove ‘political interference’. Although mandated by the Department of Health it has increasingly operated as policy-maker, developing policies in tension with existing legislation, while Ministers have faded from public-facing accounts of service operation. This suggests NHS England operates as a meta-governor, insulating government whilst pursuing its own agenda, and raises crucial questions about governmental accountability whilst simultaneously making answers harder to obtain

Opportunities for Energy Demand and Carbon Emissions Reduction in the Chemicals Sector

The opportunities and challenges to reducing industrial energy demand and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the Chemicals sector are evaluated with a focus is on the situation in the United Kingdom (UK), although the lessons learned are applicable across much of the industrialised world. This sector can be characterised as being quite heterogeneous, and as sitting on the boundary between energy-intensive (EI) and non-energy-intensive (NEI) industrial sectors. Currently-available technologies will lead to further, short-term energy and CO2 emissions savings in chemicals processing, but the prospects for the commercial exploitation of innovative technologies by mid-21st century are far more speculative. The chemicals sector has long been the largest owner of generating plant in UK industry. Most generation is from CHP plant with significant amounts of excess electricity exported to the grid or other industrial sectors. Special care was taken not to ‘double count’ auto-generation and grid decarbonisation; so that the relative contributions to decarbonisations of each was accounted for separately. There are a number of non-technological barriers to the take-up of such technologies going forward. Consequently, the transition to a low carbon future in UK industry by 2050 will exhibit rather large uncertainties. The attainment of significant falls in carbon emissions over this period will depends critically on the adoption of a small number of key technologies [e.g., carbon capture and storage (CCS), energy efficiency techniques, and bioenergy], alongside a decarbonisation of the electricity supply