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The need to mitigate climate change calls for the construction industry to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for new and existing buildings by 2050. Zero carbon refurbishment (ZCR) for existing buildings is a significant area of interest, as many existing buildings will still be there in 2050. This paper investigates the global development, knowledge structure and gaps in the research field by conducting a systematic literature review. The final selection of 147 up-to-date journal articles was analysed using mixed-method data analysis, including quantitative (science mapping) and qualitative (thematic) analysis. Quantitative results reveal evolving research topics including energy performance and efficiency, life cycle environmental impacts, energy resources and policy, and decision-making with multi-objective optimisation. Research in ZCR is well-established in European countries and there is much interest and activity around the world. ZCR research on residential and office buildings provokes much consideration compared to other building types. The qualitative findings discuss the mainstream research areas (e.g. decision-making with multi-objective optimisation), determines research gaps (e.g. carbon impact), and recommends the future research agenda. The study offers academics a comprehensive understanding of ZCR research to link current research areas into future trends. It also provides construction professionals with current practices and an interdisciplinary guide to better deliver ZCR projects.

Introduction The Macmillan Scottish Mesothelioma Network was launched in April 2019, funded by a consortium of partners, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Mesothelioma UK and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. The network funds sessional time for Lead Clinicians, Clinical Nurse Specialists and administrative support in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness, and coordinates a weekly video-linked MDT meeting. We retrospectively reviewed MDT activity and outcomes over the first 12 months of operations. Methods All 42 MDTs held between 12.4.19–03.4.20 were reviewed retrospectively, using referral and MDT documentation and electronic case records. Results 223 patients from 25 Scottish hospitals were referred, prompting 331 case discussions. 89% (n=199) were male. The median age was 74 years. 140/223 (63%) patients described asbestos exposure. 181/223 patients were diagnosed with Mesothelioma. Performance status was recorded in 210/223 94% of cases, and was 0–1 in 148/223 (66%). 203/223 (91%) had histological sampling, which was definitive in 198/203 (98%) patients, via the following methods: Surgical Thoracoscopy (64/203 (32%)), Local Anaesthetic Thoracoscopy (54/203 (27%)), image-guided biopsy (63/203 (31%)), Abrams biopsy (6/203 (3%)), unrecorded (16/203 (8%)). Standard histology was supplemented by molecular studies in 34% cases (BAP1 in 59/203 (29%): P16 FISH in 37/203 (18%) resulting in the following sub-typing: Epithelioid (68%), Biphasic (13%), Sarcomatoid (12%), Desmoplastic (2.4%), Undifferentiated (1.2%) Transitional (0.6%). Disease stage was recorded 87% of MPM cases (54% stage 1, 10% stage II, 24% stage III, 12% stage IV). 16/203 (8%) patients had Peritoneal mesothelioma. Clinical trials, including MARS2, CONFIRM, ATOMIC-Meso, INFINITE, SYSTEMS2, TRIZELL, MESO-Trap were recommended in 84/181 (46%) patients. 26/84 (31%) patients were recruited, most frequently to MARS2 trial, representing 16% of the MPM population. A Palliative Care specialist was present for 32/42 (76%) MDT meetings, facilitating direct palliative care referral in 52/223 (23%) patients. Conclusion This review demonstrates the value of a fully funded national clinical network and associated MDT. Over the first 12 months of operation the network has provided high quality diagnostic services and a consistent approach to therapeutic options, based on international guidelines. Ensuring equitable access to a broad portfolio of clinical trials will remain a major priority for the network.

Workers have a legal obligation not to perform unsafe work. In many organisations this obligation is supported by an explicit authority to discontinue work or to stop the work of others if the conditions of work are unsafe. The supporting document is often called an ‘Authority to Stop an Unsafe Task.’ However, when conducting work at the sharp operational end of the organisation, stopping work for safety might be challenging at times. A better understanding is required about the stopping of work and the application of an ‘Authority to Stop.’ The aim of this research is to identify some of the factors that support and hinder a workforce to effectively stop work when a task is deemed unsafe. 10 focus groups were conducted with workers of various roles in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry. The findings outline reasons to stop, challenges and supporting factors of stopping, as well as ways of stopping. The results indicate that the stopping of an unsafe task does not solely hinge on the willingness of individual workers to stop, but also depends on contextual factors surrounding the stop work decision.

GeSn alloys with Sn contents of 8.4 % and 10.7 % are grown pseudomorphically on Ge buffers on Si (001) substrates. The alloys as-grown are compressively strained, and therefore indirect bandgap. Undercut GeSn on Ge microdisk structures are fabricated and strained by silicon nitride stressor layers, which leads to tensile strain in the alloys, and direct bandgap photoluminescence in the 3-5 µm gas sensing window of the electromagnetic spectrum. The use of pseudomorphic layers and external stress mitigates the need for plastic deformation to obtain direct bandgap alloys. It is demonstrated, that the optically pumped light emission overlaps with the methane absorption lines, suggesting that GeSn alloys are well suited for mid-infrared integrated gas sensors on Si chips.

To assess the long term impact of ptosis surgery on health-related quality-of-life using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) patient-reported outcome measure. A retrospective case note review was carried out on all patients who had undergone ptosis surgery (6 November 2008 to 5 December 2010) by one surgeon at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Patient demographics, surgical technique, and complications were recorded. The GBI questionnaire data was obtained by telephone interview. A total of 62 ptosis operations (33 right, 29 left, of which 18 were bilateral) on 44 patients; 20 male, 24 female were included. Median age 77 years (range: 17–95 years). One wound dehiscence occurred, but no redo ptosis procedures were required. GBI data was obtained on 32 patients (45 ptosis procedures) at a mean follow-up period of 42.8 months postoperatively (range 31–67 months). The mean total GBI score for ptosis surgery was +21.36 (range 0–58.33; 95% confidence interval: 17.28–25.43, P

A solar eclipse is an impressive natural phenomenon that was last experienced in Europe in 2006. Last year, on March 20th 2015, a solar eclipse was visible in much of Europe. Solar retinopathy is a recognised potentially sight threatening condition that has been associated with direct or unprotected sun gazing. Public education has been shown to improve behaviour and attitudes that could influence the development of solar retinopathy during an eclipse. We have performed a study through newspapers prior to the 2015 solar eclipse in different European countries, in order to determine the level of public health awareness and attitudes to protection.Die Sonnenfinsternis ist ein beeindruckendes Naturphänomen, welches in Europa zuletzt 2006 erlebt wurde. Am 20. März 2015 konnte eine Sonnenfinsternis in einem großen Teil Europas beobachtet werden. Ohne geeigneten Augenschutz sollte jedoch eine Sonnenfinsternis nicht betrachtet werden, da dadurch Solarretinopathie verursacht werden kann. Die öffentliche Bildung über das Verhalten bei einer Sonnenfinsternis zeigt sich intensiver. In dieser Studie wurden die Aufklärungskampagnen von Zeitungen vor der letzten Sonnenfinsternis in verschiedenen EU-Ländern miteinander verglichen.

The history of studies on the chromomeres of lampbrush chromosomes is outlined and evidence for the nature and function of these structures is collected and summarised. Chromomeres and their associated loops on lampbrush chromosomes are not genetic units although in some special cases, they consist of specific families of repeated DNA sequences. The emergence of a chromomeric organisation coincides with the onset and intensification of transcription on lampbrush loops. Modern molecular studies have provided evidence that the chromatin of lampbrush chromomeres differs in several important respects from that of condensed metaphase chromosomes. It is in a highly dynamic state that facilitates localised transcription whilst keeping the chromosome safe from structural changes that might impede its orderly progression up to and through meiotic metaphase 1. Lampbrush chromosomes (LBCs) are a physically induced phenomenon, facilitated by the selective absence of molecular factors that would interfere with their main transcriptional role. LBC morphology is highly dynamic and driven by transcriptive activity.

Common laundry products, used in washing and drying machines, can contribute to outdoor emissions through dryer vents. However, the types and amounts of chemicals emitted are largely unknown. To investigate these emissions, we analyzed the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) both in the headspace of fragranced laundry products and in the air emitted from dryer vents during use of these products. In a controlled study of washing and drying laundry, we sampled emissions from two residential dryer vents during the use of no products, fragranced detergent, and fragranced detergent plus fragranced dryer sheet. Our analyses found more than 25 VOCs emitted from dryer vents, with the highest concentrations of acetaldehyde, acetone, and ethanol. Seven of these VOCs are classified as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and two as carcinogenic HAPs (acetaldehyde and benzene) with no safe exposure level, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. As context for significance, the acetaldehyde emissions during use of one brand of laundry detergent would represent 3% of total acetaldehyde emissions from automobiles in the study area. Our study points to the need for additional research on this source of emissions and the potential impacts on human and environmental health.

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