Mohamed Refaee

The solution structure of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor at high pressure

The solution structure of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) at a pressure of 2 kbar is presented. The structure was calculated as a change from an energy‐minimized low‐pressure structure, using 1H chemical shifts as restraints. The structure has changed by 0.24 Å RMS, and has almost unchanged volume. The largest changes as a result of pressure are in the loop 10–16, which contains the active site of BPTI, and residues 38–42, which are adjacent to buried water molecules. Hydrogen bonds are compressed by 0.029 ± 0.117 Å, with the longer hydrogen bonds, including those to internal buried water molecules, being compressed more. The hydrophobic core is also compressed, largely from reduction of packing defects. The parts of the structure that have the greatest change are close to buried water molecules, thus highlighting the importance of water molecules as the nucleation sites for volume fluctuation of proteins in native conditions.

Urban Environmental Quality: Perceptions and Measures in Three UK cities

The recent promotion of city center living within United Kingdom (UK) policy has led to commensurate interest in the quality of the urban environment, particularly in the impact and influence that environmental quality has on quality of life and urban sustainability. This paper presents an overview of a study into environmental quality, looking at the environmental conditions and the opinions and experiences of people who live in three of the UK’s major cities; London, Sheffield and Manchester. Environmental quality is both subjective and objective in its nature, and it is this combination that is of particular interest to this study. An innovative multi-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques, has been developed and employed. Environmental monitoring (indoor and outdoor air quality and noise levels) was undertaken alongside participant lead photo-surveys, sound-walks and semistructured interviews with city center residents. The case studies provide a detailed insight into the components that influence environmental quality; both perceived and measured. The collection and analysis of data has led to the production of ‘local environmental quality maps’ - spatial representations of local and expert knowledge on urban environmental factors. These maps offer a way to feed different perspectives on environmental issues to decision makers for future policy development. The findings of this study help to understand the influence environmental quality has on quality of life, this in turn can aid urban policy, planning and design. The wider implications of this study to the concept of urban sustainability are also discussed.

Chapter 8 Environmental quality, housing and city residents: a sensory urbanism approach

This chapter considers the role and potential of sensory urbanism as an approach to exploring peoples sensorial experiences and understandings of their local environments. Such an approach is warranted given the influential role of the senses in developing and affecting experience of the urban environment. Debate about the role of the senses in shaping urban experience has progressed in recent years and increasingly is taking place across disciplines (Adams & Guy, 2007). Pallasmaa (2005, p. 40) describes this sensory urban engagement when he says:I confront the city with my body … I experience myself in the city, and the city exists through my embodied experience. The city and my body supplement and define each other. I dwell in the city and the city dwells in me.

Trends of Indoor Environment and Energy Consumption Incidence by Human Activities

This study has been undertaken as part of the Energy Innovation for Deprived Communities (EIDC) project, which aims to deliver a new approach to energy efficiency and renewable energy projects within a minimum of ten of the most deprived communities across six Local Authorities within Yorkshire and the Humber region in the UK. The properties will be assessed by energy efficiency experts and then brought up to modern standards with a range of measures including so-called smart electricity meters and heating systems upgrades to boilers, wall and loft insulations, double glazing, insulated cladding and even solar panels where appropriate. It is important for the success of the EIDC project that both detailed monitoring and post occupancy evaluation are performed on a sample of houses before rolling out a wider refurbishment. Energy consumption and indoor environment were analysed based on indoor activity of participants. The results from one dwelling showed that the energy consumption rises in the evening due to the use of cooker to prepare dinner and the use of electric shower. In addition, the temperatures increased in the evening for everyday and remained on that level till late night due the lack of ventilation during the time. Electrical energy consumption was correlated to the indoor environment and indoor air quality. The results showed that electrical energy has a direct proportion to indoor air temperature levels i.e. temperature increases when electrical energy consumption increases.