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Articles by Simon Jackson
Low-dose multi-walled carbon nanotubes are non-inflammatory alone but amplify lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine responses in A549 lung epithelial spheroids
Abstract Background: Airborne pollutants comprise biological agents such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and engineered nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which are increasingly prevalent in industrial and consumer applications. Although the pulmonary toxicity of high-dose CNT exposure is established, the inflammatory consequences of low-dose, non-cytotoxic CNT exposure, particularly in combination with other aerosols, remain poorly understood.
YprA-family helicases provide the missing link between diverse prokaryotic immune systems
Keywords prokaryotic immune systems bacteriophages mobile genetic elements synergistic antivirus protection helicases Introduction Genetic parasites, viruses in particular, are associated with all life forms and exhibit enormous diversity.
Assessment and Correction of Non-Linearity Effects for In Situ Rb-Sr Geochronology Applied to High 87 Rb/ 86 Sr Mica
Recent developments in inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) allow isobaric mass interferences to be minimised, enabling the direct measurement of beta-decay series isotopes, such as the parent and daughter isotopes in the 87Rb-87Sr system (Zack and Hogmalm 2016, Bolea-Fernandez et al. 2016). Laser ablation (LA) sampling coupled to an ICP-MS/MS provides a rapid, in situ approach for Rb-Sr dating of mica (e.g., Zack and Hogmalm 2016, see also Glorie et al.
Genome scale CRISPRi reveals both shared and strain-specific vulnerabilities in genetically diverse drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Abstract The global health burden caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is aggravated by the emergence and spread of drug resistance. Mutations that cause drug resistance can have collateral effects that increase the vulnerability of downstream pathways to inhibition. Here, using genome scale CRISPR interference we identified collateral effects associated with different drug-resistant genotypes of M. tuberculosis.
PSD Bank Rhein-Ruhr eG
(All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated) VICTORIA, British Columbia and OSLO, Norway and NEW YORK, March 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- British Columbia Investment Management Corporation ("BCI"), Norges Bank Investment Management and Brookfield today announced the launch of Northview Energy (the "Company" or "Northview"), a privately held renewable energy company that will acquire and own a diversified portfolio of contracted, operating renewable assets in the U.S. and Canada.
Reserved (low pay) seat threshold for 2026
UNISON’s principles of proportionality and fair representation mean that some seats on elected bodies are reserved for women and low-paid members, so that the make-up fairly represents the wider union. This includes the national executive council (NEC). The definition of low-paid reflects the median gross weekly earnings for all jobs – full time or part time – and is revised each year.
Reserved (low pay) seat threshold for 2026
UNISON’s principles of proportionality and fair representation mean that some seats on elected bodies are reserved for women and low-paid members, so that the make-up fairly represents the wider union. This includes the national executive council (NEC). The definition of low-paid reflects the median gross weekly earnings for all jobs – full time or part time – and is revised each year.
AFL Team, Yes. Billion-Dollar Stadium, No.
As a Tasmanian living near the Sapporo Dome in Hokkaido, Japan—Simon Jackson details how poor logistical planning, namely the barrier of water and the exorbitant cost of shipping, has turned a state-of-the-art facility with every advantage into a financial disaster. Simon explains how Hobart, with its vastly inferior transport links (38 flights a day vs. Sapporo’s 230+) and the high cost of crossing Bass Strait, stands no chance of making a billion-dollar dome work if Sapporo cannot.
New maritime decarbonisation technologies are affecting marine insurers
Opinion While many of these technologies are at early stages of development, their broader adoption will have implications for marine insurers A subscription is required to continue reading this content. Are you a subscriber? Sign in to continue reading. If content does not display, please refresh your browser. New to Lloyd's List? Buy a subscription to access our full service, with tailored daily headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Court of Appeal Rules on WIN WIN war risk detention claim
In April 2024, we reported on the decision of the English Commercial Court in this important case. The case concerned what the trial Judge described as the "illegal parking" of the Capesize bulk carrier WIN WIN inside Indonesian territorial waters in February 2019. In common with many other vessels, the WIN WIN had anchored off the island of Bintan, just inside the 12 mile limit, and without the approval of the authorities.
PSD Bank Rhein-Ruhr eG
The World's Largest Framework Agreement for the Purchase of Hydroelectricity Over $3 Billion of Contracts Signed Today for 670 MW Holtwood and Safe Harbor Facilities in Pennsylvania NEW YORK and PITTSBURGH, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM; TSX: BAM), together with Brookfield Renewable (NYSE: BEP, BEPC; TSX: BEP.UN, BEPC) ("Brookfield") and Google today announced a first-of- its-kind Hydro Framework Agreement ("HFA") to deliver up to 3,000 megawatts...
We survey a car before buying, so why not a house?
I recently read some research from Compare My Move which said only 45% of homeowners in the UK have instructed an independent surveyor. While this figure might be across all their property purchases, I’d say that on a case-by-case basis - for individual transactions - it’s actually closer to 10-20%. It’s an ongoing problem in the world of surveying and perhaps something we also need to work on in the wider housing and mortgage industry.
How housing associations are winning the retrofit race
When we think about social housing, ‘energy-efficient’ probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Most of us assume such properties have seen better days, especially after some high-profile cases concerning mould in homes. Yet 76% of social housing now meets Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C or better, according to the latest report from Sustainability for Housing (SfH).
Why ‘valuations’ can go down as house prices go up Original
House asking prices are still on the up, hitting a new record for the second month in a row. In May they jumped 0.6% - that’s £2,335 - taking the average asking price to £379,517, according to Rightmove. The outlook is increasingly upbeat. Knight Frank has also revised its UK house price growth forecast for 2025 to 3.5%, up from 2.5%, and is now predicting a 22.8% rise over the next five years.
Reform’s popularity raises questions over EPC targets
We recently saw Reform UK make significant inroads during England’s local and mayoral elections. Whichever side of the political fence you sit on, this shift marks a significant change and one that could shape future policies, especially those around energy efficiency targets. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK secured 677 of around 1,600 contested seats, gaining majority control in ten local councils, winning two mayoral races, and securing a fifth seat in the House of Commons.
Promoting global collaboration to improve bioaerosol exposure assessment and understanding of associated health impacts: outcomes from a series of workshops
Article metrics loading... /content/journal/micro/10.1099/mic.0.001561 Download as PowerPoint /deliver/fulltext/micro/171/5/mic001561.html?itemId=/content/journal/micro/10.1099/mic.0.001561&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah References Whitby C, Ferguson RMW, Colbeck I, Dumbrell AJ, Nasir ZA et al. Compendium of analytical methods for sampling, characterization and quantification of bioaerosols. In Bohan DA, Dumbrell A.
Do we need Lord Sugar to help retrofit Britain?
Like many of you, I expect, I recently watched the final of this year’s The Apprentice, where Lord Sugar chose to invest in the owner of an air-conditioning company rather than the Indian-Italian pizza business. For those who didn’t tune in, Lord Sugar ultimately backed Dean ‘Daddy Cool’ and his growing air conditioning business, spotting an opportunity as UK summers become increasingly warmer due to climate change.
It’s not just mortgages, buyers need guidance on surveys too
So far, this year is shaping up to be a strong one for first-time buyers, meaning a whole new generation of homeowners are entering the market. First-timers made up a record 33% of all buyers in the first half of 2025, according to research from Hamptons.
Seize the day – campaigning for a four-day week - Magazine
It’s the old joke – apart from the minimum wage, the health and safety act, maternity and paternity rights, equal pay, holiday and sick leave entitlements, pension provision, the 40-hour work week and the two-day weekend, what have unions ever done for us? They all seem pretty obvious now. Each has had a profound, transformative impact on the lives of working people. There would be complete outrage if any of them were taken away. But they didn’t start out as obvious, or easy.
Water Quality Assessment: Endotoxin Brings Real-Time Measurements and Non-Faecally Transmitted Bacteria to the Table
You are already at the latest version We have used a rapid, portable assay (Bacterisk) to determine bacterial water quality along several inland waters in SW England. Water samples were compared by conventional membrane filter and culture methods for faecal indicator bacteria (FIB; E. coli and enterococci) and endotoxin measurement by Bacterisk. The Bacterisk data, measured in near real-time, correlates well with both E.
Health conference: business closes on privatisation and NHS England
Photos: Steve Forrest, Workers’ Photos The final session of UNISON’s annual health conference, held in Liverpool, saw a set of motions on resisting privatisation and two emergency motions concerning the recently announced abolition of NHS England. On privatisation, Sara Jane Gallimore moved the motion ‘Bring services home and resist privatisation’ on behalf of the operational services occupational group.
Health: Occupations facing unique challenges
Images: Steve Forrest, Workers’ Photos The unique challenges faced by different occupations were debated at UNISON’s national health conference in Liverpool this week. A set of motions addressed this in relation to 111 and emergency call takers, nurses and midwifery and allied health professionals. First up, a motion about 111 or emergency call handlers highlighted the pressure they face and the stress it causes in being the first point of contact for patients facing health emergencies.
Streeting tells health conference: 'The challenge is enormous'
Wes Streeting, secretary of state for health and social care, addressed UNISON’s national health conference on Wednesday morning.
Health: Standing in solidarity with Gaza's first responders
Health conference paused to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day (28 April) on Wednesday morning. Tanya Pretswell, chair of the health service group executive, read a statement. She said: “UNISON are appalled by the blockade on humanitarian aid and resumption of the Israeli government’s devastating assault on Gaza following two months of ceasefire.
Health conference: looking forwards to the Year of Green Activity 2026
A standalone motion at health conference on Tuesday afternoon cast ahead to UNISON’s 2026 Year of Green Activity. The motion on ‘maintaining our commitment to a greener NHS’ was moved by the chair of the health service group executive (SGE), Tanya Pretswell (pictured above). She said: “Globally the climate crisis is accelerating. Yearly we are observing record temperatures at each extreme.
Christina McAnea tells health conference: ‘We are more than a match for anyone’
Photo: Steve Forrest, Workers’ Photos UNISON’s general secretary Christina McAnea addressed the union’s health conference this afternoon in Liverpool. Opening, she said: “Conference, a lot has changed since we met last year in Brighton. Most importantly of course, we have finally seen the back of the Tories. “And after 14 years of cuts, chaos, damage and division, this was a welcome change.
Health conference: Violence and harassment are not part of the job'
Image: Steve Forrest, Workers’ photos Delegates at health conference have heard harrowing, personal stories of health workers facing violence and harassment in the course of their jobs. The stories came in a section of motions, on Monday afternoon, looking at health, safety and wellbeing in the sector.
Health conference: Supporting migrant health and care workers
Photo: Steve Forrest, Workers’ photos Genevieve Gencianos, migration programme co-ordinator for the global trade union federation Public Services International (PSI), addressed UNISON’s health conference, in Liverpool, on Monday afternoon. Ms Gencianos (pictured above) spoke about PSI’s work to ensure decent work, quality public services and the fair and ethical recruitment of migrant health workers.
Power lines and property prices
As the Government moves ahead with its housebuilding and clean energy plans, we’ve learnt those living near newly-installed pylons will receive a discount on their energy bills. Under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, the Government is offering those living within 500 metres of new pylons, electricity bill discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years - £250 a year.
We’re at risk of creating a two-tiered green mortgage market
We’ve recently heard Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, describe it as “impossible” for the UK to meet its net zero target by 2050, without either a significant drop in living standards or bankrupting the country. That target - set in law by former Tory Prime Minister, Theresa May, in 2019 - commits the UK to cutting carbon emissions until we remove as much as we produce, in line with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
Industry stuck between a rock and a hard place over Reeves’ plans
As Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, meets with regulators, we’re starting to get a clearer sense of the Government’s plans for the mortgage market as part of its broader push for growth. It’s already made clear that it wants the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to relax mortgage regulations in an effort to stimulate growth and recently, we saw the regulator issue a statement reminding lenders of the flexibility already built into its rules, particularly around stress testing.
More green mortgage options expected as 2030 approaches
"Buy-to-let lenders are, in many ways, setting the direction for the wider mortgage market by testing out what works and what doesn’t. " I recently spoke at Elmhurst Energy’s National Conference about the green mortgage space and how lenders are approaching energy efficiency and retrofitting. One of the key points I raised was just how limited the options still are. There are currently around 60 green mortgage products available, according to the Green Finance Institute.
Independent review of water industry opens for evidence
The Cunliffe review, the independent water commission review looking into England’s water industry, opened for submissions of evidence today. The review is headed up by former deputy governor of the Bank of England Sir Jon Cunliffe and it aims to “stand back from the current system and explore, with an open mind, potential changes,” according to its chair. It comes after multiple high-profile controversies in the English water industry over the last year.
Could Scottish-style upfront valuations be on the way?
While a Stamp Duty holiday always gives the mortgage market a welcome lift, every time the cut-off deadline draws near, we see the same frustrating delays. At the last count, Rightmove said over 550,000 homes had been sold ahead of the deadline and were still awaiting legal completion. Come April 1st I expect there will be some disappointed buyers who miss out on the savings simply because of how slow the home-buying process is in England and Wales.
Demand expected to stay strong beyond Stamp Duty deadline
The housing market has had a busy start to the year, and while the Stamp Duty deadline has definitely played a part, it looks like some of the activity we’re seeing now could carry on well into the spring and hopefully beyond. Over Christmas and New Year, we saw buyers rushing to meet the Stamp Duty cutoff with the changed thresholds coming into force on the 1st April, and that is no April Fool, given the extra costs for all.
Polyphase Metamorphism of the Northern Rae Craton (Baffin Island, Arctic Canada) and Trace Element Behaviour in Monazite: Insights From Phase Equilibria Modelling and Geochronology
1 Introduction The geology of northern Baffin Island has long been underinvestigated and as such, it constitutes a missing link in any tectonic correlation between Arctic Canada and West Greenland and our understanding of the assembly of supercontinent Nuna. Regionally, the northeastern Canadian Arctic records evidence of dominantly Paleoproterozoic tectonic reworking by at least three orogens that contributed to assembling Laurentia (St-Onge et al.
Cowboy care companies
Images: Ralph Hodgson When we call bad builders ‘cowboys’, it means they’re reckless, dishonest, a bit rubbish. Cowboy care agencies are even worse. They don’t turn up, cause chaos and then ride off into the sunset. They’re more calculated, controlling and even more insidious. The bait Wacuka (pictured above) is a UNISON member and activist. She was born and raised in Kenya, where she qualified and worked in communications development.
Rise in under 45s renting shows urgent need for more homes
"Perhaps the new talks underway could create an opportunity for collaboration between developers, the Government, and regulators to coordinate efforts to stimulate both homebuilding and the first-time buyer market." As figures reveal a rise in the number of under 45s renting, the need for new housing - and for the Government to meet its targets - is growing by the day.
Holocaust Memorial Day: for a better future
Every year UNISON marks Holocaust Memorial Day, which takes place on 27 January. This day is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and death camp, which took place 80 years ago this year. It is also marks 30 years since the genocide in Bosnia.
Opinion: My life would have ended there
Written by Helen Illidge on behalf of Paddy Toner (pictured above) This year on the 27 January, Holocaust Memorial Day marks 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz–Birkenau camp. It is estimated that 1.1m people were murdered there, over 90% of them were Jewish. I am registered blind. I have retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary and degenerative condition which I was born with. And now only have light perception as my sight.
Buyers are defying the odds
The economic outlook might feel a bit uncertain right now, following some of the fallout from Chancellor, Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget, but the property market is powering ahead. We saw a subdued end to 2024. Rising swap rates and higher than expected inflation had everyone bracing for the worst, and to some extent, we found ourselves in a spiral of talking everything down. But fast forward to January, and things have shifted.
Not always easy to add value by retrofitting
As lenders, policymakers, and the Government continue brainstorming ways to encourage more homeowners to retrofit, we’re hearing of some interesting ideas floating around. The Energy Security and Net Zero Committee recently held a one-off session on Retrofitting Homes for Net Zero, where Joanne Wheeler, co-head of policy and places at the UK Green Building Council, argued that we need to reach a point where homeowners are motivated to retrofit because it adds value to their homes.
NEC election candidate applications now open
The candidate application and nomination period opens today (Monday 13 January) for UNISON’s NEC elections 2025, which take place over the next five months. It will remain open until 5pm 14 February. Throughout its structures, UNISON is a lay member led union, and the national executive council (NEC) is the union’s senior decision-making body. It is re-elected every two years.
Will the mortgage market be ready for 1.5 million homes?
As the Government pushes forward with its plans to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years, one question that still lingers is whether there will be the appetite from lenders for the new-build homes? Labour recently published revisions to its long-awaited National Planning Policy framework (NPPF), which included scaled-back plans for affordable housing.
Structure and mechanism of the Zorya anti-phage defense system - Nature
Abstract Zorya is a recently identified and widely distributed bacterial immune system that protects bacteria from viral (phage) infections. Three Zorya subtypes have been discovered, each containing predicted membrane-embedded ZorAB complexes paired with soluble subunits that differ among Zorya subtypes, notably ZorC and ZorD in type I Zorya systems1,2.
Young members do not want to sit on the sidelines
UNISON young members conference took place last weekend, capping off TUC’s Young Workers Month in November. Young members (aged 30 and below) from across the UK gathered in Swansea to discuss a range of issues. These included engaging apprentices in the union, to educating and retaining young activists, to celebrating the union’s Year of LGBT+ workers.
The Winter Essentials Grant
“The cost of living crisis hasn’t stopped, it’s become the norm.” Karen Poole, of UNISON’s Lancashire Constabulary branch, understands this all too well. She’s speaking to UNISON about the upcoming Winter Essentials Grant run by There for You, UNISON’s welfare charity and about her role as a branch welfare officer and a trustee of There for You. Winter Essentials Grant The Winter Essentials Grant is the 2024 replacement for the charity’s Winter Fuel Grant.
Firm Foundations – housing: a basic human right - Magazine
‘Everyone has a basic human right to a decent and affordable home.’ This is the opening line of the foreword to UNISON’s housing manifesto, launched in January 2020. The manifesto outlined the crisis in the UK’s housing system and UNISON’s plan to make this fundamental right a reality. However, since then little has changed in the UK’s housing situation.
Is there trouble ahead for Labour’s 1.5 million homes target?
Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook recently appeared before the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, where he admitted delivering Labour’s promised 1.5 million homes would be more difficult than expected. “I should be clear at the outset that delivering 1.5 million homes is going to be more difficult than we expected in Opposition. I will be very candid about this,” Pennycook told the committee.
Time to go big or go home with green initiatives
We’re starting to hear more from the Government about how it plans to improve the energy efficiency of five million homes over the next five years through its Warm Homes Plan. Two recent announcements include the launch of the Warm Homes Grant, which will be rolled out in April 2025, and additional funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), along with a relaxation of some of its qualifying criteria.
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