DESIGN OF A NET ZERO HOUSE AT 100-YEAR FLOOD ZONE IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT: A CASE OF SOLAR DECATHLON DESIGN CHALLENGE ENTRY

This paper discusses the design of a net-zero single-family house in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was proposed for the 2022 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge entry. The site was in a 100-year flood zone and registered as a national and local historic district. The interdisciplinary team consisted of University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC) students from the interior architecture and engineering departments who embraced the challenges of the local climate and the restrictions of the historic district guidelines. This entry, Moc House, focused on the integration of passive design and active HVAC systems including photovoltaic systems in the process. In responding to recent housing market changes in Chattanooga due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a young professional couple in their 30s who have two children was identified as the target market which guided the space planning. Market analysis, including ROI, was conducted in addition to construction cost calculations. Building materials were selected to enhance the durability and resilience of the house structure. Finally, energy analysis was conducted to check the project's Home Energy Rating using Ekotrope and found it less than zero. © 2023, College Publishing. All rights reserved.

Women's health care during COVID-19

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is disrupting health services worldwide. Women's health care is often acute and in continual demand, with poor health outcomes seen in women's health in particular in the recent Ebola and Swine flu epidemics. Regrettably, early reports globally and in the UK have shown a rise in the stillbirth rate. We aimed to evaluate the provision of obstetrics and gynaecology services in the UK during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We undertook an interview-based national survey of junior doctors in obstetrics and gynaecology in women's healthcare units in the National Health Service using the network of the UK Audit and Research Collaborative in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. We sought responses on general training, labour ward care, antenatal and postnatal care, benign gynaecology and gynaecology oncology services. Results: We received responses from 148/155 units (95%) contacted. Most completed specific training drills for managing obstetric and gynaecological emergencies (89/148, 60.1%) and two-person donning and doffing of personal protective Equipment (PPE) (96/148, 64.9%). The majority of surveyed units implemented COVID-19-specific protocols (130/148, 87.8%), offered adequate PPE (135/148, 91.2%) and operated dedicated COVID-19 emergency theatres (105/148,70.8%). Most units suspended elective gynaecology services (131/148, 88.5%). The 2-week referral pathway for oncological gynaecology was not affected in half of the units (76/148,51.4%), but half reported a planned reduction in oncology surgery (82/148, 55.4%) Discussion: Women's health care services have responded well to the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, however further planning is required for the long term.

Ergonomic Evaluation of Home Workspaces During the Coronavirus Pandemic

This study describes a methodology used to measure the working conditions experienced by people who normally work in an office, but who have worked from their home because of the Covid-19 pandemic. An online survey and two photographs showing the participant in their principal work location were used. Photo instructions supplied requested a sagittal view and a second perpendicular view of the participant in their usual working posture to allow full analysis applying the Rapid Office Strain Assessment using Kinovea software. Despite the ease of an on-line questionnaire, subsequent reception of photos has been problematic, and recruitment efforts via emails have had limited success. While the current participant population is limited (15), the methodology has been proved operational. This methodology can include participants from various employers to provide a general understanding of how working at home conditions compare with those previously experienced in-office. Photos are not always sent with the questionnaire which precludes ROSA use, but allows other complementary analyses. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.