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A mini-review of end-of-life management of wind turbines: Current practices and closing the circular economy gap
No full textRenewable energy generation and increased electrification are pivotal to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. Consequently, global deployment of wind turbines has soared, and the trend is expected to continue. Installed turbines have only recently started reaching the end of their design lives, and waste volumes are projected to escalate rapidly. Approximately 94% of a wind turbine (by mass) is recyclable, but the waste polymer composite blades are most commonly landfilled. This mini-review aims to review current end-of-life (EoL) management practices in the large-scale wind industry for countries with established EoL standards as well as those with less mature regulations. Data on current EoL management practices, initiatives and regulations in industry was sourced primarily from literature reviews and publicly available internet information. Additional insights and perspectives were gained from WindEurope’s EoL Issues and Strategies 2020 seminar and through communication with select individuals from various sectors such as wind energy development and operations, government, industry associations, academia and research organizations. The results show that the decision on EoL options is dictated by the remaining useful life (RUL) of the wind turbines, prevailing policies and electricity prices. The contribution of this article is, firstly, identifying a number of key technical, economic and regulatory questions that must be asked before deciding on the most appropriate EoL option. Secondly, the article identifies factors that impede current EoL management efforts to close the circular economy gap and those that can support sustainable technology deployment. Finally, the article considers the way that countries with a young fleet of wind farms may learn from more experienced nations. There are few proven business cases, and barriers to the profitability and effectiveness of EoL strategies include uncertainty about the assets’ RUL, collection logistics, the size of wind farm operation margins, low waste feedstock and limited markets for recycled products. Designing for circularity, stakeholder collaboration, circular business models and technology-specific regulations can improve EoL sustainability. The research found that wind turbine EoL management is dynamic and complex and needs to consider multiple, often conflicting factors. However, it is necessary and has immense environmental, technical and economic potential as the industry matures and business cases are proven
Effect of leukoreduction on inflammation in critically ill dogs receiving red blood cell transfusions: A randomized blinded controlled clinical trial
Get PDFBackground
Prestorage leukoreduction of red blood cell (RBC) bags prevents accumulation of pro-inflammatory mediators and experimentally attenuates post-transfusion inflammation in healthy dogs. However, the effect of leukoreduction on post-transfusion inflammation in critically ill dogs is unclear.
Hypothesis
Dogs transfused with leukoreduced (LR) RBC will have lower concentrations of leukocytes, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and C-reactive protein (CRP) within 24 hours of post-transfusion compared to dogs transfused with nonleukoreduced (NLR) RBC.
Animals
Sixty-one RBC-transfused dogs (LR = 34, NLR = 27).
Methods
Randomized, blinded, controlled preliminary clinical trial. Blood bag processing was randomized to create identically appearing LR and NLR bags. Group allocation occurred with transfusion of the oldest compatible RBC bag. Blood samples were collected pretransfusion and at 8 and 24 hours post-transfusion for leukocyte count, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and CRP. Data were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis using linear mixed effects models. Significance was set at P < .05.
Results
No significant differences were found between groups in concentrations of leukocytes (P = .93), IL-6 (P = .99), IL-8 (P = .75), MCP-1 (P = .69), or CRP (P = .18) over time. Eleven LR dogs (32%) and 4 NLR dogs (15%) were euthanized in the hospital (P = .14). No natural deaths occurred.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance
No differences in inflammation biomarker concentrations were detected over time between dogs transfused with LR or NLR RBC, but heterogeneity likely hampered the ability to detect a difference with this sample size. The novel randomization and enrollment protocol was successfully implemented across 2 participating institutions and will be easily scaled up for a future multicenter clinical trial
Revocable policy-based chameleon hash for blockchain rewriting
No full textPolicy-based chameleon hash is a useful primitive for blockchain rewriting systems. It allows a user to create a mutable transaction associated with an access policy, whereas a modifier who possesses sufficient rewriting privileges from a trusted authority satisfying the access policy can rewrite the mutable transaction. However, it lacks a revocation mechanism. The modifiers can always rewrite the mutable transactions even if their given rewriting privileges are compromised. In this work, we introduce revocable policy-based chameleon. The property of revocation allows some modifiers’ rewriting privileges to be revoked, regardless of whether their rewriting privileges are compromised or not
Altered subgenomic RNA abundance provides unique insight into SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7/Alpha variant infections
Get PDFB.1.1.7 lineage SARS-CoV-2 is more transmissible, leads to greater clinical severity, and results in modest reductions in antibody neutralization. Subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) is produced by discontinuous transcription of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Applying our tool (periscope) to ARTIC Network Oxford Nanopore Technologies genomic sequencing data from 4400 SARS-CoV-2 positive clinical samples, we show that normalised sgRNA is significantly increased in B.1.1.7 (alpha) infections (n = 879). This increase is seen over the previous dominant lineage in the UK, B.1.177 (n = 943), which is independent of genomic reads, E cycle threshold and days since symptom onset at sampling. A noncanonical sgRNA which could represent ORF9b is found in 98.4% of B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 infections compared with only 13.8% of other lineages, with a 16-fold increase in median sgRNA abundance. We demonstrate that ORF9b protein levels are increased 6-fold in B.1.1.7 compared to a B lineage virus in vitro. We hypothesise that increased ORF9b in B.1.1.7 is a direct consequence of a triple nucleotide mutation in nucleocapsid (28280:GAT > CAT, D3L) creating a transcription regulatory-like sequence complementary to a region 3’ of the genomic leader. These findings provide a unique insight into the biology of B.1.1.7 and support monitoring of sgRNA profiles to evaluate emerging potential variants of concern
Exploring energy policy scenarios for the Northern Territory (of Australia) to transition to a low carbon economy by 2050
Get PDFThe Northern Territory (NT) of Australia has one of the highest rates of solar insolation in Australia which can be a catalyst for future energy development. In addition, it has a unique set of circumstances which present both challenges and opportunities for the development of its energy policies and require customised energy planning solutions and policies. This study explores the potential for long-range renewable energy (RE) planning and climate policies for the NT to transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050, while achieving sustainable economic growth. A literature review was conducted to explore the range of challenges and opportunities faced by the NT; the energy policy landscape for low-emissions technologies; key factors influencing the effectiveness of energy policies; energy policy analysis tools; and energy models used to inform energy policy. A mixed methods approach was used for this study. Qualitative data was collected through an expert stakeholder survey and interviews, analysed using the NViVO software, then used for the development of three hypothetical policy scenarios: business-as-usual (BAU), High Industry Growth (HIG) and Renewable Energy Export (REE)), as well as for input data for the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) energy modelling tool. The results of the LEAP simulations were analysed and used to recommend potentially effective low emissions/renewable policy areas for the NT. Findings from a PESTLE analysis conducted on the survey and interview responses indicate that many of the key barriers and potential opportunities for renewable energy development fall primarily within political, economic and legislative factors, demonstrating a policy gap in the NT. Findings from the LEAP simulations indicate that under the HIG scenario, energy demand from a digital/data centre industry would be around 334.1 PJ by 2050 (compared to 208.5 PJ in the BAU) and could be met largely with 41GW of installed solar capacity and 25.5 PJ of biofuels, yield net benefits of 30.8 million and see emissions reduced to around 159 kt CO2-e by 2050. A range of potential policy mechanisms can be applied across all sectors in the NT, however technology-specific policies applied primarily to the industry and transport sectors are likely to have a more significant impact on a lower emissions economy. These include hydrogen bus trials, lower taxes for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), collaborations between governments, fleet operators and consumers, support for training/education programs, collaborative technology research and pilot programs. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted to explore variations in the carbon price, fuel supply mix optimization, and lower or higher industry demand growth. These results showed that slight variations in inputs and assumptions can affect the need and timing of appropriate policies to support a desired outcome or goal. In conclusion, a low-emissions economy based on an industry powered by renewable energy is possible with the support of a range of effectively timed energy and climate policies, and effective energy transition policies for the NT need to be developed with careful consideration of the unique circumstances and existing barriers in the NT. In reality, the future is likely to be a combination of elements in both HIG scenario and a REE scenario. If implemented and sequenced appropriately, energy policies can be effective in laying the groundwork for a smoother transition to low-carbon economy in the NT. Study limitations include a lack of available NT data, rapidly changing energy environment (advancements and cost reductions in technology), and limitations of the LEAP modelling tool such as its inability to model energy storage options and carbon price escalation. Recommendations for future research include developing additional scenarios with different assumptions, adopting a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach to stakeholder responses, evaluating the effectiveness of recently implemented renewable energy, EV, and climate policies by the NT Government, and developing an NT-specific LEAP modelling tool as NT data becomes more available
Using Audio-Visual simulation to elicit nursing students’ noticing and interpreting skills to assess pain in culturally diverse patients
No full textBackground
Pain is a complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon. Nurses play a vital role in assessing and managing pain and must use sound clinical reasoning to accurately make clinical judgments to notice, interpret and respond to patients’ pain.
Method
Exploratory research on the impact of a newly developed AV simulation on nursing students' Noticing and Interpreting skills in assessing pain of culturally diverse patients. Data were collected via self-administered pre and post–intervention surveys.
Findings
The majority of participants were able to identify that the patient was in greater pain than reported, however some participants were unable to notice and interpret the impact of culture during pain assessment. Participants were more aware of the subjectivity of pain (cultural knowledge), and that the strategies learnt would improve their future clinical practice (cultural desire).
Conclusion
Findings support the need to include AV simulations in the nursing curriculum to enhance student nurses’ cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills regarding pain, all complex factors for making the best clinical judgments to respond to pain
Influence of dynamic content on visual attention during video advertisements
Get PDFPurpose
Dynamic advertising, including television and online video ads, demands new theory and tools developed to understand attention to moving stimuli. The purpose of this study is to empirically test the predictions of a new dynamic attention theory, Dynamic Human-Centred Communication Systems Theory, versus the predictions of salience theory.
Design/methodology/approach
An eye-tracking study used a sample of consumers to measure visual attention to potential areas of interest (AOIs) in a random selection of unfamiliar video ads. An eye-tracking software feature called intelligent bounding boxes (IBBs) was used to track attention to moving AOIs. AOIs were coded for the presence of static salience variables (size, brightness, colour and clutter) and dynamic attention theory dimensions (imminence, motivational relevance, task relevance and stability).
Findings
Static salience variables contributed 90% of explained variance in fixation and 57% in fixation duration. However, the data further supported the three-way interaction uniquely predicted by dynamic attention theory: between imminence (central vs peripheral), relevance (motivational or task relevant vs not) and stability (fleeting vs stable). The findings of this study indicate that viewers treat dynamic stimuli like real life, paying less attention to central, relevant and stable AOIs, which are available across time and space in the environment and so do not need to be memorised.
Research limitations/implications
Despite the limitations of small samples of consumers and video ads, the results of this study demonstrate the potential of two relatively recent innovations, which have received limited emphasis in the marketing literature: dynamic attention theory and IBBs.
Practical implications
This study documents what does and does not attract attention to video advertising. What gets attention according to salience theory (e.g. central location) may not always get attention in dynamic advertising because of the effects of relevance and stability. To better understand how to execute video advertising to direct and retain attention to important AOIs, advertisers and advertising researchers are encouraged to use IBBs.
Originality/value
This study makes two original contributions: to marketing theory, by showing how dynamic attention theory can predict attention to video advertising better than salience theory, and to marketing research, showing the utility of tracking visual attention to moving objects in video advertising with IBBs, which appear underutilised in advertising research
Immunodominant MHC-II (Major Histocompatibility Complex II) Restricted Epitopes in Human Apolipoprotein B
No full textBackground:
CD (cluster of differentiation) 4+ T-cell responses to APOB (apolipoprotein B) are well characterized in atherosclerotic mice and detectable in humans. CD4+ T cells recognize antigenic peptides displayed on highly polymorphic HLA (human leukocyte antigen)-II. Immunogenicity of individual APOB peptides is largely unknown in humans. Only 1 HLA-II-restricted epitope was validated using the DRB1*07:01-APOB3036–3050 tetramer. We hypothesized that human APOB may contain discrete immunodominant CD4+ T-cell epitopes that trigger atherosclerosis-related autoimmune responses in donors with diverse HLA alleles.
Methods:
We selected 20 APOB-derived peptides (APOB20) from an in silico screen and experimentally validated binding to the most commonly occurring human HLA-II alleles. We optimized a restimulation-based workflow to evaluate antigenicity of multiple candidate peptides in HLA-typed donors. This included activation-induced marker assay, intracellular cytokine staining, IFNγ (interferon gamma) enzyme–linked immunospot and cytometric bead array. High-throughput sequencing revealed TCR (T-cell receptor) clonalities of APOB-reactive CD4+ T cells.
Results:
Using stringent positive, negative, and crossover stimulation controls, we confirmed specificity of expansion-based protocols to detect CD4+ T cytokine responses to the APOB20 pool. Ex vivo assessment of AIM+CD4+ T cells revealed a statistically significant autoimmune response to APOB20 but not to a ubiquitously expressed negative control protein, actin. Resolution of CD4+ T responses to the level of individual peptides using IFNγ enzyme–linked immunospot led to the discovery of 6 immunodominant epitopes (APOB6) that triggered robust CD4+ T activation in most donors. APOB6-specific responding CD4+ T cells were enriched in unique expanded TCR clonotypes and preferentially expressed memory markers. Cytometric bead array analysis detected APOB6-induced secretion of both proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines. In clinical samples from patients with angiographically verified coronary artery disease, APOB6 stimulation induced higher activation and memory phenotypes and augmented secretion of proinflammatory cytokines TNF (tumor necrosis factor) and IFNγ, compared with patients with low coronary artery disease.
Conclusions:
Using 3 cohorts, each with ≈20 donors, we discovered and validated 6 immunodominant, HLA-II–restricted APOB epitopes. The immune response to these APOB epitopes correlated with coronary artery disease severity
Multi-locus genome-wide association studies reveal novel alleles for flowering time under vernalisation and extended photoperiod in a barley MAGIC population
Get PDFOptimal flowering time has a major impact on grain yield in crop species, including the globally important temperate cereal crop barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Understanding the genetics of flowering is a key avenue to enhancing yield potential. Although bi-parental populations were used intensively to map genes controlling flowering, their lack of genetic diversity requires additional work to obtain desired gene combinations in the selected lines, especially when the two parental cultivars did not carry the genes. Multi-parent mapping populations, which use a combination of four or eight parental cultivars, have higher genetic and phenotypic diversity and can provide novel genetic combinations that cannot be achieved using bi-parental populations. This study uses a Multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population from four commercial barley cultivars to identify genes controlling flowering time in different environmental conditions. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using 5,112 high-quality markers from Diversity Arrays Technology sequencing (DArT-seq), and Kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) genetic markers were developed. Phenotypic data were collected from fifteen different field trials for three consecutive years. Planting was conducted at various sowing times, and plants were grown with/without additional vernalisation and extended photoperiod treatments. This study detected fourteen stable regions associated with flowering time across multiple environments. GWAS combined with pangenome data highlighted the role of CEN gene in flowering and enabled the prediction of different CEN alleles from parental lines. As the founder lines of the multi-parental population are elite germplasm, the favourable alleles identified in this study are directly relevant to breeding, increasing the efficiency of subsequent breeding strategies and offering better grain yield and adaptation to growing conditions
Editorial for topical collections on emerging trends in artificial intelligence and machine learning
No full textIt gives us a great pleasure to introduce this special issue focused on the recent advances in various areas of pattern recognition, machine learning and artificial intelligence. We congratulate the authors who contributed successful submissions and thank the reviewers who worked hard on a tight timeframe.
As a result of the open call for papers, which was widely disseminated, we received 34 submissions which were judged to be within scope of the special issue. We encouraged contributions on any topic under the broad umbrella of NCAA. In addition, a selection of high-quality manuscripts presented at MedPRAI 2020 has been invited to submit an extended version of their work. Each submission was assigned to one of the guest editors, making sure that any potential conflict of interest is avoided. We then solicited reviews from experts in the field following the standard practices of the journal. Following a rigorous reviewing process, which extended to two or three rounds in some cases, we ultimately accepted 13 papers for publication in this special issue. These reflect both the range of the research in the field today and also the depth of the problems that are being studied.
We believe the research presented in this special issue will provide a valuable resource for those working in the field over the coming years. Once again, we thank everyone who contributed to the success of this special issue, both authors and reviewers. We also wish to thank journal staff members for their ongoing support and assistance