Regional Energy Transition (RET): how to improve the connection of praxis and theory?

A regional energy transition (RET) implies a drastic transformation of the energy system and, hence, a lot of challenges. A RET calls for an integrative local approach. In this essay we describe and compare the current practice and the state of knowledge on this topic. We find that theory has not yet developed sufficiently to address the practical challenges. Part of the problem is that what has been developed has too little connection with local practice. We conclude that the development of theoretical knowledge must be better attuned to the needs of the practitioners

User-relevant factors determining prosthesis choice in persons with major unilateral upper limb defects:A meta-synthesis of qualitative literature and focus group results

Objective Considering the high rejection rates of upper limb prostheses, it is important to determine which prosthesis fits best the needs of each user. The introduction of the multi-grip prostheses hands (MHP), which have functional advantages but are also more expensive, has made prosthesis selection even harder. Therefore, we aimed to identify user opinions on factors determining prosthesis choice of persons with major unilateral upper limb defects in order to facilitate a more optimal fit between user and prosthesis. Methods A qualitative meta-synthesis using a 'best-fit framework' approach was performed by searching five databases (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019126973). Studies were considered eligible if they contained qualitative content about adults with major unilateral upper limb defects experienced in using commercially available upper limb prostheses and focused on upper limb prosthesis users' opinions. Results of the meta-synthesis were validated with end-users (n = 11) in a focus group. Results Out of 6247 articles, 19 studies were included. An overview of six main themes ('physical', 'activities and participation', 'mental', 'social', 'rehabilitation, cost and prosthetist services' and 'prosthesis related factors') containing 86 subthemes that could affect prosthesis choice was created. Of these subthemes, 19 were added by the focus group. Important subthemes were 'work/school', 'functionality' and 'reactions from public'. Opinions of MHP-users were scarce. MHPs were experienced as more dexterous and life-like but also as less robust and difficult to control. Conclusion The huge number of factors that could determine upper limb prosthesis choice explains that preferences vary greatly. The created overview can be of great value to identify preferences and facilitate user-involvement in the selection process. Ultimately, this may contribute to a more successful match between user and prosthesis, resulting in a decrease of abandonment and increase of cost-effectiveness

Implementation Framework for Energy Flexibility Technologies in Alkmaar and Évora

This research was funded by POCITYF, (FP7 grant agreement No 864400).As energy generation based on renewable resources does not always match energy consumption profiles, Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) should embody energy flexibility technologies to decrease possible negative impacts on existing grids due to, e.g., reverse power flows. As part of the EU H2020 Smart Cities and Communities project POCITYF, the cities Alkmaar (NL) and evora (PT) aim to support the deployment and market uptake of such districts and in doing so demonstrate innovative and integrated technologies to enable flexibility in the energy system. This paper addresses implementation conditions for energy flexibility technologies that help cities to engender the expected impact and ensure replication of these technologies to other sites. It aims to guide both urban planners and technology solution providers through pitfalls and opportunities that can appear during the design and implementation of PEDs. Taking this into consideration, the RUGGEDISED innovation and implementation framework for smart city technology was taken as a starting point to describe and analyze the experiences in Alkmaar and evora.publishersversionpublishe

Challenges for a Positive Energy District Framework

This paper presents the key technical and non-technical challenges for the development of a Positive Energy District (PED) framework. It draws on literature, expert reviews and surveys. Initial findings reveal that there are seven primary interacting factors that cascade from the strategic to the specific, or from international ambitions to contextual opportunities (and vice versa). Each is a necessary and integral factor that underpins successful development of PEDs.COST Action CA19126 – Positive Energy Districts European Network (PED-EU-NET

Positive Energy Districts: Identifying Challenges and Interdependencies

Positive Energy Districts (PED) are areas within cities that generate more renewable energy than they consume, contributing to cities’ energy system transformation toward carbon neutrality. Since PED is a novel concept, the implementation is very challenging. Within the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action, which offers an open space for collaboration among scientists across Europe (and beyond), this paper asks what the needs for supporting the implementation of PEDs are. To answer this, it draws on Delphi process (expert reviews) as the main method alongside the literature review and also uses surveys as supplementary methods to identify the main challenges for developing PEDs. Initial findings reveal seven interacting topics that later were ranked as highest to the lowest as the following: governance, incentive, social, process, market, technology and context. These are interrelated and interdependent, implying that none can be considered in isolation of the others and cannot be left out in order to ensure the successful development of PEDs. The resources that are needed to address these challenges are a common need for systematic understanding of the processes behind them, as well as cross-disciplinary models and protocols to manage the complexity of developing PEDs. The results can be the basis for devising the conceptual framework on the development of new PED guides and tools

Age and gender differences in non-motor symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease

BackgroundNon-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are highly prevalent and heterogenic. Previous studies aimed to gain more insight on this heterogeneity by investigating age and gender differences in non-motor symptom severity, but findings were inconsistent. Furthermore, besides examining the single effects of age and gender, the interaction between them in relation to non-motor functioning has -as far as we know- not been investigated before.ObjectivesTo investigate the association of age and gender identity -as well as the interaction between age and gender identity- with non-motor symptoms and their impact on quality of life.MethodsWe combined three large and independent studies. This approach resulted in a total number of unique participants of 1,509. We used linear regression models to assess the association of age and gender identity, and their interaction, with non-motor symptoms and their impact on quality of life.ResultsOlder people with PD generally had worse cognitive functioning, worse autonomic functioning and worse quality of life. Women with PD generally experienced more anxiety, worse autonomic functioning and worse quality of life compared to men with PD, whereas men with PD generally had worse cognitive functioning. In interaction analyses by age and gender identity, depressive symptoms and anxiety were disproportionally worse with increasing age in women compared to men.ConclusionOur findings indicate that both age and gender -as well as their interaction- are differentially associated with non-motor symptoms of PD. Both research and clinical practice should pay more attention to demographic subgroups differences and possible different treatment approaches with respect to age and gender. We showed how combining datasets is of added value in this kind of analyses and encourage others to use similar approaches

The detection of a strong episignature for Chung–Jansen syndrome, partially overlapping with Börjeson–Forssman–Lehmann and White–Kernohan syndromes

Chung-Jansen syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, behavioral problems, obesity and dysmorphic features. It is caused by pathogenic variants in the PHIP gene that encodes for the Pleckstrin homology domain-interacting protein, which is part of an epigenetic modifier protein complex. Therefore, we hypothesized that PHIP haploinsufficiency may impact genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm). We assessed the DNAm profiles of affected individuals with pathogenic and likely pathogenic PHIP variants with Infinium Methylation EPIC arrays and report a specific and sensitive DNAm episignature biomarker for Chung–Jansen syndrome. In addition, we observed similarities between the methylation profile of Chung–Jansen syndrome and that of functionally related and clinically partially overlapping genetic disorders, White–Kernohan syndrome (caused by variants in DDB1 gene) and Börjeson–Forssman–Lehmann syndrome (caused by variants in PHF6 gene). Based on these observations we also proceeded to develop a common episignature biomarker for these disorders. These newly defined episignatures can be used as part of a multiclass episignature classifier for screening of affected individuals with rare disorders and interpretation of genetic variants of unknown clinical significance, and provide further insights into the common molecular pathophysiology of the clinically-related Chung–Jansen, Börjeson–Forssman–Lehmann and White–Kernohan syndromes.</p

Regional Energy Transition (RET): how to improve the connection of praxis and theory?

<p>A regional energy transition (RET) implies a drastic transformation of the energy system and, hence, a lot of challenges. A RET calls for an integrative local approach. In this essay we describe and compare the current practice and the state of knowledge on this topic. We find that theory has not yet developed sufficiently to address the practical challenges. Part of the problem is that what has been developed has too little connection with local practice. We conclude that the development of theoretical knowledge must be better attuned to the needs of the practitioners.</p