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Energy reporting is the principle that all energy-using devices in buildings should be able to track their own energy use and report this to the local network. Energy reporting can provide building owners with easy access to highly granular energy use data. This report makes the case that energy reporting should become a free basic feature of all devices, and reports on a project intended to move us towards that goal. The project collected a set of demonstration devices with energy reporting features, including products that were modified by the project team or the manufacturer, or are already available for sale. To show these devices operating live at meetings and conferences, the team created a management system that queries the energy reporting devices for their data, stores the data, and displays it in compelling visualizations. The devices covered a wide range, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (thermostat and air purifier); lighting (individual bulb, task light, and auto-dimming overhead light); a vehicle charger; a water heater; electronics (notebook personal computer and universal serial bus charger); and three external meters (one integral with a dimming light switch). The demonstration uses a variety of communication protocols. The report reviews existing communication protocols that support energy reporting and describes how to use them with a proposed reference data model for energy reporting. It also assesses ways that energy codes and standards processes can be leveraged to drive energy reporting technology into the market. Energy reporting could ultimately save California on the order of 2.5 terawatt-hours per year and about $0.8 billion per year. Energy reporting is a highly practical technology with minimal (sometimes no) cost to consumers and manufacturers. This report discusses creation of the energy reporting devices themselves, analysis and recommendations for data models and protocols for energy reporting, and energy codes and standards implications of energy reporting technology. While energy reporting does not directly save energy, it provides information for better decision-making to save energy in changing equipment operation, maintenance, and replacement.

Abstract The phenomena of superconductivity and charge density waves are observed in close vicinity in many strongly correlated materials. Increasing evidence from experiments and numerical simulations suggests both phenomena can also occur in an intertwined manner, where the superconducting order parameter is coupled to the electronic density. Employing density matrix renormalization group simulations, we investigate the nature of such an intertwined state of matter stabilized in the phase diagram of the elementary $$t-{t}^{{\prime} }-U$$ t − t ′ − U Hubbard model in the strong coupling regime. Remarkably, the condensate of Cooper pairs is shown to be fragmented in the presence of a charge density wave where more than one pairing wave function is macroscopically occupied. Moreover, we provide conclusive evidence that the macroscopic wave functions of the superconducting fragments are well-described by soliton solutions of a Ginzburg-Landau equation in a periodic potential constituted by the charge density wave. In the presence of an orbital magnetic field, the order parameters are gauge invariant, and superconducting vortices are pinned between the stripes. This intertwined Ginzburg-Landau theory is proposed as an effective low-energy description of the stripe fragmented superconductor.

Abstract The development of granulomas with central necrosis harboring Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the hallmark of human tuberculosis (TB). New anti-TB therapies need to effectively penetrate the cellular and necrotic compartments of these lesions and reach sufficient concentrations to eliminate Mtb. BTZ-043 is a novel antibiotic showing good bactericidal activity in humans in a phase IIa trial. Here, we report on lesional BTZ-043 concentrations severalfold above the minimal-inhibitory-concentration and the substantial local efficacy of BTZ-043 in interleukin-13-overexpressing mice, which mimic human TB pathology of granuloma necrosis. High-resolution MALDI imaging further reveals that BTZ-043 diffuses and accumulates in the cellular compartment, and fully penetrates the necrotic center. This is the first study that visualizes an efficient penetration and accumulation of a clinical-stage TB drug in human-like centrally necrotizing granulomas and that also determines its lesional activity. Our results most likely predict a substantial bactericidal effect of BTZ-043 at these hard-to-reach sites in TB patients.

Approximately 20% of primary energy consumed in the U.S. is attributed to HVAC use. Ideally, HVAC operation would be driven by actual building occupancy, but lack of reliable occupancy information often results in the use of conservative static schedules. This disparity is even more pronounced in a college campus, where the function of each space differs by building (classrooms, offices, libraries) and the class schedules change frequently -- every semester, day of week, and hour. While several research papers propose the use of counts of the Wi-Fi connections (e.g., phones, computers) as a proxy for occupancy, few real-world implementationsexist. This paper describes the development and deployment of an open-sourceWi-Fi-to-Occupancy software library in 65 buildings of a college campus, and the plannedintegration with the building energy management and control system at the building scale. Overa year of Wi-Fi data was gathered into distinct academic periods, including fall and springsemester, academic breaks, and summer sessions. Patterns such as students moving between classrooms, closing laptops before exams, etc., can be visualized from the data. Approximating occupancy from Wi-Fi data presents challenges which we address in this project -- for example, identifying static devices, or estimating the ratio of devices per person. Utilizing real-time occupancy data to inform optimal HVAC schedules and ventilation rates creates the potential to identify and reduce energy waste. Other potential applications include forecasting occupancy, and using Wi-Fi data to predict peak demands. Finally, the paper discusses how to easily scale these tools to other buildings.

Abstract Background Black men are more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to non-Hispanic White men, especially those over 55 years of age. Although there is ample evidence around the efficacy of peer-led diabetes self-management and support (PLDSMS) programs in improving diabetes health outcomes, Black men living with T2D experience several barriers to meaningful participation in peer-led programs and program developers face barriers to implementation. This qualitative study aimed to identify perspectives from collaborators on barriers and facilitators that impact the implementation of a PLDSMS intervention for older Black men with T2D. Methods Qualitative data were collected as part of the Michigan Men’s Diabetes Project. We used the Tailored Implementation in Chronic Diseases (TICD) Checklist to construct the semi-structured interview guide. TICD domains served as themes. Codes were later generated as a team (N = 3) from chunks of related text. Eight 1-on-1 semi-structured interviews (two researchers, three peer leaders, one community collaborator, two certified diabetes care and education specialists) were conducted between April 13–22, 2022 via Zoom. We engaged in thematic content analysis and used the rigorous and accelerated data reduction (RADaR) technique and Rapid analysis. Results Themes included guideline factors; individual collaborator factors; patient factors; professional interactions; incentives and resources; capacity for organizational change; and use of technology. Guidelines for implementing a PLDSMS program for Black men with T2D are lacking. For effective implementation, collaborators need interpersonal and session facilitation skills, flexibility, and cultural awareness. Although Black men with T2D may initially be apprehensive about participating in a PLDSMS program due to lack of knowledge, masculine norms, and stigma, these programs offer a safe space, a sense of brotherhood, and transparency. Having a physician champion is key in supporting organizational changes needed to implement PLDSMS programs in health systems, particularly as PLDSMS is not currently a billable service. Conclusions The PLDSMS program is culturally relevant in engaging older Black men with T2D. In addition to building trust among participants, successful development and implementation of a peer support program requires flexibility and tailored communication strategies. Findings can be used to inform future iterations of PLDSMS programs.

Abstract Background Paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic granulomatous enteritis that affects domestic and wild ruminants and camelids. The disease has rarely been reported in alpacas in Germany. This publication describes epidemiologically independent cases of paratuberculosis in two alpacas in Germany. Case presentation Two alpacas, a 26-year-old female zoo animal (case 1) and a 2.5-year-old breeding stallion from a private owner (case 2), presented with progressive emaciation, leading to death (case 2) or euthanasia (case 1) because of deteriorating general condition. In both cases typical granulomatous lesions in the intestinal mucosa and mesenteric lymph nodes were found. In case 2, other lymph nodes were severely enlarged and MAP was detected in the mandibular lymph node, lung, and liver by qPCR. The MAP isolates differed between the alpacas, with two distinct phylogenetic clades (Clade 1 and 8) within Subgroup A of the MAP-C type group and two distinct INMV profiles (INMV 2 and 1) found. These genotypes have been identified in cattle and goats in different regions in Germany. The genotype isolated from case 1 has been detected in goats from the zoo since 2011, indicating transmission between these species. Conclusions MAP can cause severe clinical disease in alpacas of variable age and under different husbandry conditions. Therefore, paratuberculosis should be considered for differential diagnosis in alpacas with emaciation and poor general condition. Although not definitely shown, cross-species infection between ruminant species and camelids is exceedingly likely.

Indentureship had profound and lasting effects on the bodies of those involved. Recruitment processes, along with the harrowing conditions of transport and labour, radically reshaped the material and physical realities of indentured labourers, influencing not only their immediate bodily experiences but also the socio-cultural practices and embodied memories they would pass down to future generations. As such, indentured corporeality dwells in but also extends beyond the tangible realm of labour, touching on deeper questions of how bodies can be understood, experienced and mediated under colonial exploitation and beyond. To trace the intricate interplay between the concrete and sensory actualities of indentured bodies and the cultural processes inherent to embodiments of indenture , this special issue brings together interdisciplinary perspectives that examine how bodies became both sites of colonial inscription and sites of resilience and resistance. Through historical analysis, literary exploration, artistic representation and anthropological insight, contributors attend to how the afterlives of indenture continue to shape our understanding of indentured identity, memory and belonging, revealing the body as both a marker of oppression and a medium for enduring cultural expression.

Military personnel routinely complete stressful training exercises in harsh environmental conditions to prepare for intense operational demands. Purpose: This study determined the effect of environmental conditions on salivary hormone profiles in Marines during a mountain warfare training exercise (MTX). Methods: Two cohorts of Marines (age 22 ± 4, height 174 ± 7 cm, body mass 79.2 ± 11.5 kg) completed an MTX (elevation 2100 to 3500 m) in the Fall (n = 63, temperature 11 ± 2 °C) and Winter (n = 64, temperature −5 ± 4 °C). Saliva samples were provided before (PRE), during (MID), and after (POST) the MTX, and were assayed for α-amylase, cortisol, DHEA, testosterone, and osteocalcin. Results: Linear mixed models were used to determine significant interactions (time × season) and found differences in DHEA, testosterone, and osteocalcin. Testosterone and DHEA were lower at MID compared to PRE and POST during the Fall MTX. Testosterone was higher at MID compared to PRE and POST during the Winter MTX, while DHEA remained stable. Osteocalcin was higher in Fall participants compared to Winter but demonstrated a similar trend to increase at MID and decrease at POST in both groups. Cortisol was higher during the Winter MTX compared to the Fall. Conclusions: These findings highlight the differential physiological stress responses in varying seasonal conditions, suggesting the need for tailored training strategies to enhance military readiness and prevent hormonal dysregulation. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these seasonal effects.

Abstract Objective: Poor diets and food insecurity during adolescence can have long-lasting effects, and Métis youth may be at higher risk. This study, as part of the Food and Nutrition Security for Manitoba Youth study, examines dietary intakes, food behaviours and health indicators of Métis compared with non-Métis youth. Design: This observational cross-sectional study involved a cohort of adolescents who completed a self-administered web-based survey on demographics, dietary intake (24-h recall), food behaviours, food security and select health indicators. Setting: Manitoba, Canada Participants: Participants included 1587 Manitoba grade nine students, with 135 (8·5 %) self-identifying as Métis, a distinct Indigenous nation living in Canada. Results: Median intake of sugar was significantly higher in Métis (89·2 g) compared with non-Métis (76·3 g) participants. Percent energy intake of saturated fat was also significantly higher in Métis (12·4 %) than non-Métis (11·6 %) participants. Median intakes of grain products and meat and alternatives servings were significantly lower among Métis than non-Métis (6·0 v. 7·0 and 1·8 v. 2·0, respectively) participants. Intake of other foods was significantly higher in Métis (4·0) than non-Métis (3·0). Significantly more Métis participants were food insecure (33·1 %) compared with non-Métis participants (19·1 %). Significantly more Métis participants ate family dinners and breakfast less often than non-Métis participants and had lower self-reported health. Significantly more Métis participants had a BMI classified as obese compared with non-Métis participants (12·6 % v. 7·1 %). Conclusions: The dietary intakes observed in this study, both among Métis and non-Métis youth, are concerning. Many have dietary patterns that put them at risk for developing health issues in the future.

During the 2020 austral summer, the pristine atmosphere of the southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) basin experienced significant perturbations. This study examines the variability of aerosols and carbon monoxide (CO) over this remote oceanic region and investigates the underlying processes in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere (UT-LS). Aerosol profiles in January and February 2020 revealed a multi-layer structure in the tropical UT-LS. Numerical models – the FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model (FLEXPART) and the Modèle Isentropique de transport Mésoéchelle de l'Ozone Stratosphérique par Advection (MIMOSA) – indicated that the lower-stratospheric aerosol content was influenced by the intense and persistent stratospheric aerosol layer generated during the 2019–2020 extreme Australian bushfire events. A portion of this layer was transported eastward by prevailing easterly winds, leading to increased aerosol extinction profiles over Réunion on 27 and 28 January. Analysis of advected potential vorticity revealed isentropic transport of air masses containing Australian biomass burning aerosols from extratropical latitudes to Réunion at the 400 K isentropic level on 28 January. Interestingly, we found that biomass burning (BB) activity in eastern Africa, though weak during this season, significantly influenced (contributed up to 90 % of) the vertical distribution of CO and aerosols in the upper troposphere over the SWIO basin. Ground-based observations at Réunion confirmed the simultaneous presence of African and Australian aerosol layers. This study provides the first evidence of African BB emissions impacting the CO and aerosol distribution in the upper troposphere over the SWIO basin during the convective season.

Abstract CPO‐27 is a metal‐organic framework (MOF) with coordinatively unsaturated metal centers (open metal sites). It is therefore an ideal host material for small guest molecules, including water. This opens up numerous possible applications, such as proton conduction, humidity sensing, water harvesting, or adsorption‐driven heat pumps. For all of these applications, profound knowledge of the adsorption and desorption of water in the micropores is mandatory. The hydration and water structure in CPO‐27‐M (M = Zn or Cu) is investigated using water vapor sorption, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and molecular dynamics simulation. In the pores of CPO‐27‐Zn, water binds as a ligand to the Zn center. Additional water molecules are stepwise incorporated at defined positions, forming a network of H‐bonds with the framework and with each other. In CPO‐27‐Cu, hydration proceeds by an entirely different mechanism. Here, water does not coordinate to the metal center, but only forms H‐bonds with the framework; pore filling occurs mostly in a single step, with the open metal site remaining unoccupied. Water in the pores forms clusters with extensive intra‐cluster H‐bonding.

Objectives There is a paucity of research focused on enhancing access to mental healthcare for older African Americans with type 2 diabetes (T2D), who may be at risk for or living with comorbid depression. This study aims to identify barriers and facilitators to mental healthcare utilisation among this population, guided by the theoretical domains framework (TDF).Design This qualitative study involved 30 interviews with older African American adults diagnosed with T2D. The interview questions were aligned with TDF domains to capture participant perspectives on barriers and facilitators to mental healthcare use.Setting Interviews were conducted via telephone by a licensed clinician trained in social work. Each session lasted 60–90 min and was transcribed and analysed.Participants The study included 30 African American adults (15 males and 15 females), aged 60 and above, living in an urban area in the Midwest.Primary and secondary outcomes The primary outcome was the identification of themes from participant responses, analysed using thematic content techniques and categorised into TDF constructs. Demographic data served as the secondary outcome.Results Nine key themes were identified, categorised under major TDF domains and constructs. Significant barriers included (1) systemic racism (‘knowledge’), (2) normalisation of depressive symptoms (‘beliefs about consequences’), (3) perceived stigma (‘beliefs about consequences’) and 4) costs of medications and healthcare (‘environmental context and resources’). Facilitators to seeking mental healthcare included (1) empowerment (‘beliefs about capabilities’), (2) perceived benefits of mental health exams (‘beliefs about consequences’), (3) positive provider experiences (‘reinforcement’), (4) recognition of depressive symptoms as a motivator (‘goals’) and (5) support networks (‘social influences’).Conclusion and implications Key findings highlight that fostering positive patient–provider relationships and enhancing self-recognition of depressive symptoms can significantly encourage mental healthcare utilisation among older African Americans with T2D. These findings suggest that future interventions should focus on strengthening these relationships and improving self-awareness to better mental health outcomes.

Electronic portfolios have become popular in teacher education programs as they allow learners to document and reflect upon their work and learning process. This cross-sectional study examines data gathered from 19 primary and secondary EFL teachers enrolled in a postgraduate program. The study aims at understanding these teachers' learning experiences while developing an electronic portfolio. A survey questionnaire with Likert-type, checkboxes-type and open-ended questions were used to collect data. The results indicated that teachers valued e-portfolios as an authentic and process-oriented assessment tool that involves reflection, documentation, and dissemination of their work.

Purpose: To compute reference centiles for 5- and 30-m sprint times relative to chronological and skeletal age in youth soccer players. Subsequently, to compare individual's sprint performance scores derived from the chronological and skeletal age reference centiles. Methods: Sprint times were collected for a sample of male U11 to U19 soccer players (n = 1745 data points). Skeletal age data were available for a subsample (n = 776 data points). Reference centiles were fitted using generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape. Individual z scores relative to chronological and skeletal age reference centiles were computed and compared for each maturity group (late, on-time, early, and very early) using standardized mean differences (SMD). Results: Reference centiles for chronological age increased more rapidly between 10.5 and 15.5 years, while reference centiles for skeletal age increased more rapidly between 13.0 and 16.5 years. Differences in chronological and skeletal z scores for very early (SMD: −0.73 to −0.43) and late (SMD: 0.58 to 1.29) maturing players were small to large, while differences for early (SMD: −0.30 to −0.19) and on-time (SMD: 0.16 to 0.28) were trivial to small. Conclusion: Reference centiles provide a valuable tool to assist the evaluation of sprint performance in relation to chronological and skeletal age for talent identification purposes in youth soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feedback remains a controversial topic for several reasons, the most relevant being the effectiveness and students' appraisal of the practice. This article explores second language learners' perceptions of feedback as a teaching and learning strategy. In second language teaching, it is necessary to know learners' previous knowledge and experiences regarding how they receive feedback, since this practice has an impact on the improvement of writing. To this end, in this research, an online questionnaire was distributed to 202 participants taking an English course to ask them about: types of feedback received, preferences regarding feedback, effectiveness of feedback and experiences with feedback. Analysis of their responses, quantitative and qualitative, shows that participants have preferences about how they expect feedback to be given, although these are not consistent with what theory suggests as effective. In addition, participants argue that their experience with feedback is related to a rather normative correction in which teachers focus on attending to microstructural aspects; therefore, students' view of textual quality is linked to normative processes. These aspects are important to address in the development of writing classes for second-language learners.