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Life cycle assessment of buildings: an end-of-life perspective
Get PDFBuilding demolition waste represents a huge environmental challenge worldwide. The environmental implications are not only associated with volume, but also with carbon embodied in the waste. These adverse environmental impacts associated with the generated waste can be minimised through appropriate waste treatment strategies. This chapter evaluates the various stages of the life cycle of demolished waste materials, the potential carbon emission reduction associated with different demolished wastes and waste treatment strategy options. An assessment framework was developed and exemplified by a case study of a supermarket building. The results showed that the processing or treatment stage generate the largest amount of carbon emission (81%) in the life cycle of demolished waste materials, whilst the transportation stage contributed the least (1%). It was further found that steel waste recycling has the greatest environmental benefits (more than 90%) compared to concrete (less than 1%). Additionally, the study revealed that landfilling waste generated the largest
amount of carbon emissions compared to recycling. The findings can contribute to mitigating the environmental building demolition projects. Furthermore, the detailed assessment approach provides theoretical and methodological guidance which can be adopted to guide the quantitative analysis of other types of demolition projects globally
‘London is avocado on toast’: the urban imaginaries of the #LondonIsOpen campaign
Get PDFThis article examines the production, representations and reactions to the #LondonIsOpen campaign to ask how urban imaginaries are produced and what they entail for understanding the city. The analysis considers how the idea of a cosmopolitan, diverse and multicultural city is framed, what it includes and excludes and the distinct geographies of the city it produces. It draws on three data sources: documentary analysis of videos used in the campaign; social media analysis of tweets using #LondonIsOpen; and semi-structured interviews with key figures in the campaign team. The main arguments are that the appeal to openness contributes to the versatility of the campaign and the range of responses to it, making it highly adaptable and flexible to respond to current affairs; and that open London is geographically selective and imagined as business focused, trendy and cosmopolitan. In turn, the reactions to the idea of open London range from seeking a borderless world to anti-migrant rhetoric. Although the campaign represents London as welcoming and inclusive, such welcoming is partial and subject to contestation. The article concludes that over time, the openness of #LondonIsOpen has come to serve multiple political functions and act as a brand for the city
Assessing climate risk and strengthening resilience for UK Higher Education Institutions
Get PDFThis working paper and accompanying case studies aim to support UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to develop processes to assess their current and future climate risks, put in place plans to adapt to these risks, and identify opportunities to strengthen their resilience. This guidance summarises the latest evidence in line with national climate risk assessment and adaptation planning, and is intended to support decision makers, senior leaders, sustainability practitioners and risk experts within HEIs to undertake this urgent work. Potential activities are identified for key actors and communities including sector bodies and government.
Although the focus is on HEIs, the recommendations and approaches covered are applicable to Further Education Institutions (FEIs), albeit at more local scales and with less onus on research considerations
Effects of simulation training on student confidence in de-escalation skills
No full textBackground: There is increasing demand for access to mental health support services both for ongoing care and at time of crisis. Preparation of undergraduate students for encounters with those with ongoing mental health care and/or at a time of psychological distress/crisis remains sporadic and difficult to encompass. Simulation gives students opportunities to develop technical and non-technical skills through the recreation of an experience that is as close to reality as possible. Method: An exploratory evaluation of teaching practice of student self-perceptions of self-awareness and self-regulation in encountering clinical situations with persons in high states of arousal and potential conflict was conducted. To evaluate the exercise and its value, students were asked to self-evaluate their confidence and knowledge both prior to and subsequent to the teaching exercise. Results: There was a positive shift in self-awareness and self-regulation post training. Confidence in being able to de-escalate a situation was reported as the key outcome to take from the session, along with techniques on how to de-escalate a scenario. Conclusion: While it is not possible at this stage to definitively measure the impact of the teaching on practice or draw firm conclusions for education providers, the evaluation exercise does evidence individual impact and enjoyment. The teaching approach may prepare the future workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to provide high-quality care
Differences in urban heat island and its driving factors between central and new urban areas of Wuhan, China
Get PDFUrban heat island (UHI) is one of the important effects of urbanization on built environment. Land surface temperature data was taken from moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) to investigate the long-term spatiotemporal patterns of UHI in Wuhan during 2001~2018 and, the UHI intensity changes of built-up land in 13 administrative regions in Wuhan were analyzed. Furthermore, 34 spatial error models and 34 ordinary least squares models were established and compared. Spatial error models showed good fitting effect, which were used to determine the influence of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference building index (NDBI), and social–economic factors (population and nighttime light) on UHI intensity in central urban area and new urban area. The explanatory power changes of these four indicators during 2001~2018 were explored as well. The average UHI intensity in 2014~2018 has increased by about 0.45 °C compared to that in 2001~2005. NDBI is the most dominant factor contributing to the increase in temperature. The impact of NDVI on UHI intensity changes from negative to positive, and the impact of NDBI on UHI intensity in central urban area is weakened during 2001–2018. Social–economic factors have a greater impact on new urban area than on central urban area. These findings show the effects and the explanatory power changes of driving factors during 18 years, which can provide a better understanding of the formation and development of UHI and support for the future urban planning of Wuhan
The nature of intellectual disabilities and its relationship to intellectual disability nursing
No full textThis chapter explores the nature and various manifestations of intellectual disabilities, along with its relationship to intellectual disability nursing. It commences by describing in some detail the term intellectual disabilities, along with some of the criteria that are used in determining its presence, and this leads us to defining the term. This is sometimes difficult, as the term means different things to different people—not only in the United Kingdom, but also internationally (Gates and Mafuba, 2016). Furthermore, it will be shown that the term has different meanings between the many health and social care professionals, service agencies and other disciplines involved in supporting people with intellectual disabilities. Next, the chapter outlines some of the important issues surrounding its incidence and prevalence. Distinctions are made between pre-, peri-, and postnatal factors of causation. This is followed by an outline of causation, and some of the more common genetic and chromosomal abnormalities, and their manifestation, and the chapter will identify aspects of co-morbidity, and some of the health challenges that this group of people may experience because of these clinical manifestations. The second half of this chapter will then explore intellectual disability nursing, its strong value base, and its long relationship in supporting this group of people and their families. Also explored will be services, and how such services can contribute to the health and well-being of people with intellectual disabilities, making a small but nonetheless valuable contribution to improving the quality of lives for this often marginalised and vulnerable group of people. The content of this chapter is contextualised within the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) of the United Kingdom (NMC, 2018) and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) (NMBI, 2016) standards and requirements for competence
Regulation of mild cognitive impairment associated with liver disease by humoral factors derived from the gastrointestinal tract and MRI research progress: a literature review
Get PDFPatients with liver disease are prone to various cognitive impairments. It is undeniable that cognitive impairment is often regulated by both the nervous system and the immune system. In this review our research focused on the regulation of mild cognitive impairment associated with liver disease by humoral factors derived from the gastrointestinal tract, and revealed that its mechanisms may be involved with hyperammonemia, neuroinflammation, brain energy and neurotransmitter metabolic disorders, and liver-derived factors. In addition, we share the emerging research progress in magnetic resonance imaging techniques of the brain during mild cognitive impairment associated with liver disease, in order to provide ideas for the prevention and treatment of mild cognitive impairment in liver disease
Downstream process and evaluation of the concomitant impact of a recombinant glycosylated L-asparaginase on leukemic cancer cells and the bone marrow tumor microenvironment
Get PDFL-asparaginase (L-ASNase) is a life-saving medication used in the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
(ALL) which affects over 60,000 people yearly. However, L-ASNase still requires improvement since up to 60% of
the patients develop hypersensitivity due to its immunogenicity. To address this issue, this work describes the downstream process of an L-ASNase from Erwinia chrysanthemi expressed extracellularly by Pichia pastoris with human-like glycosylation pattern and its further impact on leukemic cells co-cultured with bone marrow (BM)
cytoprotective stromal cells. After size exclusion chromathography, a final yield of 54.93% was achieved and the proteomics analyses confirmed the attainment of an extremely pure enzyme. Glycosylated L-ASNase induced the
complete inhibition of the proliferation of ALL and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) cell lines tested, independently of the presence of BM stromal cells. However, the cytotoxic efficacy (induction of apoptosis) of glycosylated L-ASNase varied across cell lines, with ALL cell lines showing the most sensitivity. Additionally, the proapoptotic effect of glycosylated L-ASNase was partially inhibited by BM stromal cells. Taken together, our data warrant further investigations for the use of glycosylated L-ASNase against ALL and AML that should take into consideration the mechanisms of resistance mediated by the BM stroma for improved efficacy
A personal reflection upon navigating into a senior academic role
Get PDFThere are 22,795 University professors in the UK, where 6,340 are women and only 40 are Black women, whilst Asian women are a few more in number. This clearly demonstrates the uncommon narrative of the under-representation of Black minority ethnic (BME) academics in higher education (HE) which has been written about in detail. In contrast, it is rare to read reports on initiatives to successfully navigate senior academic posts. In this article, I will describe two initiatives that I have developed and organized to successfully navigate senior BME academic posts, which have impacted my journey. The first initiative was to understand why postdoctoral researchers were “post-docing” for years, having not been successful in making the transition to lecturers. What was hindering the transition? I was one of them, and some of my female peers as well, who incidentally left HE. I was determined not to leave. I again thought about how to tackle it. It is a known fact that hearing successful BME people experiences and journeys and also understanding how they navigated HE can be powerful. In addition, empowering oneself with additional skills including mentoring, networking, applying for positions, not excluding ourselves due to the lack of confidence, and finally, the importance of having a work–life balance is important as health is wealth. I used this to put together the BME Early Career Researcher (ECR) conference—How to Stay in Academia. After 6 years, it is still going strong. In this article, I will share the impact made over the years which will include testimonies and promotions, including my recent promotion to an associate professor. The second initiative was to understand the barriers and challenges of senior lecturers being promoted to readers and professors. Having successfully transitioned to a lecturer, being overlooked for promotion was now an issue. The project was conducted in 2016/17 at KCL as part of the action plans that needed to be delivered having been a recipient of the Bronze Race Equality Charter Mark. I was provided with a cohort of 51 names of BME staff from different disciplines and was directed to see how I would engage them to hear their experiences. My first concern was that the staff would have engaged in previous initiatives with little or no benefits to them; however, this did not deter me. I thought of the best approach which commenced with a phone interview and then followed up with a focus group, ending with an informal conversation with the Principal of the University. Within 6 months, a BME male was promoted to professor. After a year, both genders were promoted to associate professors (readers) and professors, and to date, I am aware of at least 10 promotions. In both examples, I will demonstrate the support from our allies, some of whom are senior leaders that have openly supported us in our journey. This article will demonstrate a slight shift in the narrative, but a lot more needs to be done, and I am convinced the time is right to start pushing for more. This special issue is an example
Realist synthesis protocol for understanding which strategies are effective to prevent urinary tract infection in older people in care homes
No full textAim: To identify and characterize strategies, which contribute to the prevention of urinary tract infection (UTI) in older people living in care homes.
Design: The realist synthesis has four iterative stages to (1) develop initial programme theory; (2) search for evidence; (3) test and refine theory supported by relevant evidence and (4) formulate recommendations. Data from research articles and other sources will be used to explore the connection between interventions and the context in which they are applied in order to understand the mechanisms, which influence the outcomes to prevent UTI.
Methods: A scoping search of the literature and workshops with stakeholders will identify initial programme theories. These theories will be tested and refined through a systematic search for evidence relating to mechanisms that trigger prevention and recognition of UTI in older people in care homes. Interviews with key stakeholders will establish practical relevance of the theories and their potential for implementation.
Discussion: UTI is the most commonly diagnosed infection in care home residents. Evidence on the effectiveness of strategies to prevent UTI in long-term care facilities does not address the practicality of implementing these approaches in UK care homes. The realist synthesis is designed to examine this important gap in evidence.
Impact: Our evidence-informed programme theory will help inform programmes to improve practice to reduce the incidence of UTI in older people living in care homes and related research. Patient and public involvement will be crucial to ensuring that our findings reach carers and the public.
Patient and public contribution: Involvement of patient and public representatives is embedded throughout the study to ensure it is underpinned by multiple perspectives of importance to care home residents. Our co-investigator representing patient and public involvement is a lay member of the team and will chair the Project Advisory Group, which has two additional lay members. This will help to ensure that our findings and resources reach carers and the public and represent their voice in our publications and presentations to professional and lay audiences