The Indoor Air Quality Trilemma: Improving Air Quality, Using Less Energy, and Meeting Stakeholder Requirements

Good indoor air quality (IAQ) is critically important for many aspects of our lives, including as we've found recently in reducing the transmission of airborne diseases such as COVID-19. Delivering good IAQ poses several challenges to organisations: it can require changes in working practices, be bounded by infrastructure capabilities such as buildings and their heating and ventilation systems, and result in substantial energy usage. In this study we have conducted a preliminary investigation measuring IAQ in a typical 'science lab' classroom, and engaging with stakeholders to jointly explore these data. Our mixed methods approach uncovers an indoor air quality 'trilemma', which relates air quality, energy usage, and stakeholder practices that can be mediated by, and understood as, a site for potentially impactful future HCI designs. © 2023 Owner/Author.

COVID-19 as an Energy Intervention: Lockdown Insights for HCI

As the operation of buildings accounts for around 30% of global CO2 emissions, reducing their energy consumption is considered crucial for climate change mitigation. Aware of this significance, the sustainable HCI (SHCI) community has conducted research on energy consumption for over 15 years. However, compared with domestic environments, commercial organisations are comprised of complex mixed-use buildings, and the socio-technical understanding of space and resulting energy use are relatively under-explored. In this late-breaking work, we present the initial findings of a longitudinal analysis that uses building energy data from a period covering the COVID-19 lockdown measures to help identify the energy associated with these buildings and their users. Viewing the pandemic as a unique, grand-scale 'energy intervention', the resulting consumption patterns are used to inform questions about leverage points for achieving change, stakeholder agency vs. infrastructure demand;and highlight the importance of putting energy data in context. © 2023 Owner/Author.

SARS CoV-2 vaccine seroconversion and infection rates in patients on active cancerdirected therapy

Background: Cancer-directed therapy, including cytotoxic chemotherapy and immunotherapy, is a known risk factor for decreased SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion after vaccination, as a result of impaired viral immunity. Outcomes of COVID-19 infection are worse in patients on active treatment, especially those with hematologic malignancies or undergoing stem cell transplantation. The association between cancer subtypes and seroconversion rates is not well established. The goal of this study was to investigate predictive factors for SARS CoV-2 seroconversion and infection. Methods: We reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients with documented SARS CoV-2 antibody levels (between 7/2020-8/2021) in one of the largest integrated health systems in Pennsylvania. Patients who had a diagnosis of hematologic or solid malignancy, were on active treatment (including adjuvant), and had received ≥1 dose of an FDA authorized SARS CoV-2 vaccine were included. Data regarding SARS CoV-2 serology, vaccination, cancer history, and treatment regimens for each patient were collected systematically. Positive serology (reflecting seroconversion) was defined as any value ≥0.8 units/mL. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine predictors of seroconversion. Data was analyzed using SPSS v26 (IBM Corp). Results: A total of 292 patients met the inclusion criteria. Hematologic malignancy was present in 80.5% of the patients and solid tumors in 26.7%. Active disease was present in 71.6% of the cohort. Two vaccine doses were given to 92.5% of the patients and 54.8% of patients received a booster dose (95.2% received mRNA vaccines, either BNT162b2 (Pfizer BioNTech) or mRNA-1273 (Moderna)). A history of COVID-19 infection was present in 15.1% of patients, 59.1% of whom were seropositive. Rates of seroconversion were equivalent in those who received the BNT162b2 (70.2%) or mRNA-1273 (70.9%) vaccines. Seroconversion rates were 69.9% in those with active disease, 81.9% without evidence of disease, and varied by diagnosis as follows (indolent B-cell lymphoma 73.3%, aggressive B-cell lymphoma (BCL) 55.9%, plasma cell dyscrasia 80.1%, CLL 39.5%, myeloid disorder 90.2%, lung cancer 80%, breast cancer 80%, GI cancers 81.3%, and GU cancers 76.9%). On univariate regression, receipt of treatment for CLL (OR 5.79, 95% CI 2.92-11.48, p < 0.001) and aggressive BCL (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.17-5.09) were predictive of negative serology. Results were not changed on multivariate regression when adjusted for age and active treatment. Conclusions: In this retrospective cohort of vaccinated patients on cancer-directed therapy, treatment for aggressive BCL and CLL was associated with negative seroconversion. In addition, more breakthrough infections occurred in seropositive patients, suggestive of underlying immunodeficiency related to treatment or decreased vaccine efficacy despite formation of virus-specific antibodies.

Space temperature policy towards net-zero: recommendations from a systematic review of UK HEI heating policies

The UK government has committed to reducing its carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are high energy users, with the largest proportion of their energy demand for space heating;an area still dominated by carbon-intensive fuels. This research addresses the UK HEI space temperature policy landscape, making direct links between space temperature policy and carbon management, advocating the development of evidence-based policies as a critical tool for reducing carbon emissions within the sector. Sixty-six space temperature policies were reviewed, and five experienced energy managers were interviewed to understand the range, development and use of space temperature policies in UK HEIs. The research identified a lack of consistency across these policies, leading to missed opportunities for making energy and carbon savings. The research highlights gaps in the available data and literature needed to connect policy to its effectiveness, and identifies the use of policy as a defensive tool against complaints rather than an active driver of energy reduction. A series of recommendations are proposed for national and institutional policymakers, suggesting areas for improvement and future research to facilitate effective development and practice in space temperature policy towards net-zero.

Lessons From One Future of Work: Opportunities to Flip the Gig Economy

Pervasive technologies are already transforming "The Future of Work." Mobile technologies, IoT, and data promise efficient and convenient work "on-demand." They are convenient too for platform providers whose clean and efficient interfaces for consumers disrupt marketplaces, offering digitally mediated access to services at a click. These same technologies provide access to work and labor markets whilst undermining promising flexible work and access to sufficient work. The global gig economy is expanding. Increasing numbers of workers see gig economy work as their main form of employment, yet have little voice in the construction of systems on which they depend. We argue that technologists must work with gig workers, policy makers, and other stakeholders to address the adverse effects of technologies on gig workers. To better understand relationships between workers and the technologies they use, we describe insights from research carried out with U.K. cycle couriers. We reflect on technology's role in giving these workers' agency, rights, and equity by design.