National Energy Action

Hard-to-reach (HTR) energy users encompass individuals who are physically difficult to reach, underserved, or challenging to engage and motivate in demand-side energy programmes. Given a mix of societal challenges (e.g. inequity, energy poverty, decarbonisation, the COVID-19 pandemic), HTR energy users are receiving increasing attention. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the performance of interventions that target (explicitly or implicitly) HTR energy users, particularly from a behaviour change perspective. Our study addresses this knowledge gap, and aims to provide a systematic ex-post comparative cross-country assessment of nineteen case studies, implemented in eight countries. From a methodological point of view, our study explores and tests the usefulness of applying the ‘Building Blocks of Behaviour Change’ (BBBC) in assessing the extent to which interventions employ design and implementation practices that are known to drive behaviour change. Our findings reveal that interventions perform well with respect to the Audience, Behaviour, and Delivery building blocks, but show room for improvement in the Content and Evaluate blocks. Assessing the BBBC framework reveals promising results in terms of credibility, confirmability, transferability, and reliability; however, limitations and uncertainties are also present. Considering the exploratory methodological nature of our study, the results highlight numerous context-specific factors that frame our findings and the suitability of the research approach. We underscore that greater attention must be paid to both the integration of behavioural science methods into HTR interventions, and the systematic analysis of heterogeneity in future HTR-related energy research.

The decarbonisation of energy systems to achieve net zero carbon emissions will likely see the rapid development of carbon capture and storage, energy storage in the subsurface and geothermal energy projects. Subsurface data such as seismic reflection surveys and borehole data are vital for geoscientists and engineers to carry out comprehensive assessments of both the opportunities and risks for these developments. Here, for the first time, legacy subsurface data from onshore oil and gas exploration in the UK is collated and analysed. We provide a description of the spatial coverage and a chronology of the acquisition of key seismic reflection and borehole data, as well as examine data resolution and limitations. We discuss the implications of spatial variability in subsurface datasets and the associated subsurface uncertainty. This variability is vitally important to understanding the suitability of data for decision making. We examine societal aspects of data uncertainty and discuss that when the same data are used to communicate subsurface uncertainty and risk, the source of the data should also be considered, especially where data is not easily publicly accessible. Understanding the provenance of data is vitally important for future geoenergy activities and public confidence in subsurface activities.

ABSTRACTTraditional seismic design of framed structures uses a single constant value for the strength reduction factor. In this work, explicit expressions for different values of strength reduction factors for the first significant modes of steel moment resisting frames including strength deterioration and panel zone effects are developed. These factors are functions of modal periods and damage and are designed for four performance levels in a performance – based seismic design framework. The above factors are obtained through extensive parametric studies involving 20 steel frames and 100 far – field ground motions and following a two steps procedure: First an equivalent linear structure with the same mass and elastic stiffness of the original non – linear one is constructed based on equivalent modal damping ratios, which substitute the non‐linearities; then use of these equivalent modal damping ratios in conjunction with modal damping reduction factors leads to modal strength reduction factors. Using these factors, one can obtain the seismic design base shear of a frame through response spectrum analysis. Thus, a more accurate and rational seismic design method is established. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the method and demonstrate its advantages against conventional seismic design methods.

Objective. Spinal epidural haematoma (SEH) causing spinal cord compression is potentially a cause of long-term neurological disability. We reviewed the relevant literature with the intention of establishing the factors that influence long-term outcome and the timeframe within which operative intervention must be undertaken for optimal results. Methods. A total of 1177 papers were identified using PubMed among which 31 papers were selected and analysed. The grades of neurological deficit, pre- and post-operatively, were classified according to the Frankel grade. The timing of surgery was from the onset of first symptoms of incomplete cord lesions and the onset of paraplegia with complete lesions. Results. The two main factors that determine long-term outcome were the degree of neurological deficit at the time of treatment and the timing of surgical intervention. Fifty-six per cent of patients who had ‘incomplete SCI’ made a full neurological recovery as compared to 27% when the initial injury was ‘complete SCI’ (Chi square, p < 0.001). Operative intervention within 12 h of onset of symptoms gave the best chance of recovery to ‘normal’ (Frankel E), even in patients who were paraplegic (Frankel A) pre-operatively. Conclusion. Recovery to ‘normal’, or ‘incomplete SCI’, is possible with surgical decompression if performed within 12 h, even if the patient is paraplegic pre-operatively. If the diagnosis is suspected, immediate investigations must be undertaken and/or arrangements for appropriate referral must be made urgently to ensure diagnosis and treatment in the tertiary centre within the 12 h window.

This is an updated version of the first North of England Asthma Guideline (1,2) and summarizes the full guideline. (3) This paper presents all the recommendations within the guideline and, where these are new or substantially altered from the original version, it also presents a summary of the supporting evidence. The aims and methods of development (summarized in Box 1) of this guideline are unchanged from the original version, to which readers are directed for more detail. The research questions raised during the development of this guideline are shown in Box 2.

We report 611 non-mosaic and 91 mosaic findings of trisomies 13, 18 and 21, and numerical sex chromosome abnormalities in a series of 20,527 CVS, in the Association of Clinical Cytogeneticists U.K. Collaborative Study, the majority with analysis of both direct preparations and cultured cells. No false-positive results were encountered among the 611 non-mosaic cases, making these findings a very reliable indicator of the fetal karyotype. One false-negative case was reported. In contrast, the 91 mosaic abnormalities were unreliable predictors of fetal abnormality. Many were associated with normal outcomes, but a significant proportion of cases of each individual aneuploidy proved genuine. Mosaicism for 45,X, and trisomies 13 and 18 was disproportionately common. 17 of the mosaic cases showed complete discordance between the karyotype from direct preparations and that from cultured cells. All would have resulted in either a false-positive or a false-negative finding if only one technique had been used. Based on our experience, and that of others, we believe that the highest level of predictive accuracy using CVS can only be achieved if both direct preparation and cell culture are performed. In addition, we continue to recommend that all pregnancies demonstrating mosaicism for these aneuploidies at CVS undergo amniocentesis or fetal blood sampling to differentiate between confined placental mosaicism and true fetal karyotypic abnormality.

Cytogenetically visible interstitial duplications of proximal 15q, which lack the Prader-Willi Angelman critical region (PWACR) frequently segregate in families without phenotypic effect, but the nature of the extra euchromatin has remained unclear. We used comparative genome hybridisation to confirm that the extra material in a cytogenetic triplication originated from proximal 15q. A PAC clone containing sequences specific for the type-1 neurofibromatosis (NF-1) pseudogenes, which map to 15q11.2, hybridised along the length of the enlarged region between the PWACR and the centromere. Computerised measurement of the fluorescent signal from the enlarged and normal chromosomes gave an average ratio of 9.85:1, consistent with amplification. In a second family, an amplified P1-4 signal co-segregated with a cytogenetic duplication and the average ratio between amplified and normal signals in the proband was 8.22:1. Ratios in noncarrier family members and control individuals were close to unity in most cases, but significantly greater than one in at least one instance. Our results provide a novel explanation for cytogenetic variation in 15q11.2. They also suggest that NF-1 pseudogene copy number may be polymorphic in the normal population, and that high copy numbers can produce G bands which do not reflect those of the normal constitutional karyotype.