6 research outputs found
Evaluation of the use of Home Energy Monitoring and Management Systems (HEMS) to support adoption of renovation measures: D2.3.1. Evaluation report HEMS
No full textIn the current context of energy transition, practices for reducing energy consumption are encouraged by many local authority schemes, in particular for households. Homeowners are called upon to change their energy practices to save money, while ensuring better comfort in the home.Home Energy Monitoring or Management Systems (HEMS) are tools that homeowners can use to increase their energy awareness. Municipalities hope that – by providing HEMS to homeowners - this will lead to the adoption of energy-saving measures. This study therefore aimed to explore how LAs can adopt HEMS distribution actions, and if the adoption of provided HEMS by homeowners can affect the energy use behaviour and willingness of homeowners to adopt also other low-carbon technologies.The study used innovation adoption theory and a qualitative research method on the adoption of HEMS, supported by quantitative insights. It uses the insights from seven Local Authorities (LAs) from four countries (Belgium, France, The Netherlands, UK), who evaluated their actions to have homeowners adopt HEMS, as well as the energy behaviour in target areas using demo exemplars.The study first categorises HEMS types based on the factors that might affect the adoption of home energy renovation measures. Second, it investigates adoption parameters according to each adoption phase for local authorities, as well as homeowners. Third, it analyses homeowners experiences through an ex ante and ex post HEMS installation survey. Finally, it assesses the recommendations suggested by participating local authorities.The study finds that HEMS actions can be embedded in other LA actions regarding sustainability awareness raising and housing renovation. LAs particularly value that HEMS can support them with more accurate real-time energy use and comfort data. However, HEMS should be carefully selected and tested based on cost efficiency, ease of installation, compatibility with the energy management and legal system, simplicity of the feedback and supporting administration and data access arrangements.The majority of homeowners who installed the HEMS were (highly) satisfied with the HEMS installed in their house and already convinced before the installation that the HEMS would help them to save energy. More than half of the individuals also reported energy-related behavioral change. About 30% of the individuals invested in energy-saving measures, while 70% had not adjusted anything. The adoption of HEMS can support homeowners’ behavioral change but does not necessarily lead to adoption of renovation measures by homeowners.On the one hand, homeowners are likely to change their behaviour if they would get options beyond simple digital meters, on the other hand LAs find their role to help homeowners adopting more advanced HEMS as a complex one-off experiment. Collaboration is key for upscaling the adoption of HEMS.Housing Managemen
Gas mass transfer in syngas fermentation broths is enhanced by ethanol
No full textIn gas fermentations (using O2, CO, H2, CH4 or CO2), gas-to-liquid mass transfer is often regarded as one of the limiting processes. However, it is widely known that components in fermentation broths (e.g., salts, biomass, proteins, antifoam, and organic products such as alcohols and acids) have tremendous impact on the volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa. We studied the influence of ethanol on mass transfer in three fermentation broths derived from syngas fermentation. In demineralized water, we observed that the addition of ethanol, the expected product, increased kLa two-fold in the 0–5 g L−1 range, after which near-constant kLa values were obtained. In the fermentation broths, kLa was increased significantly (2–4 fold compared to water) by ethanol supplementation, and to be highly influenced by broth salinity. Our results indicate that kLa is a dynamic parameter in gas fermentation experiments and can be significantly increased due to broth components.BT/Bioprocess Engineerin
The Quasi-Equilibrium Longitudinal Profile in Backwater Reaches of the Engineered Alluvial River: A Space-Marching Method
No full textAn engineered alluvial river (i.e., a fixed-width channel) has constrained planform but is free to adjust channel slope and bed surface texture. These features are subject to controls: the hydrograph, sediment flux, and downstream base level. If the controls are sustained (or change slowly relative to the timescale of channel response), the channel ultimately achieves an equilibrium (or quasi-equilibrium) state. For brevity, we use the term “quasi-equilibrium” as a shorthand for both states. This quasi-equilibrium state is characterized by quasi-static and dynamic components, which define the characteristic timescale at which the dynamics of bed level average out. Although analytical models of quasi-equilibrium channel geometry in quasi-normal flow segments exist, rapid methods for determining the quasi-equilibrium geometry in backwater-dominated segments are still lacking. We show that, irrespective of its dynamics, the bed slope of a backwater or quasi-normal flow segment can be approximated as quasi-static (i.e., the static slope approximation). This approximation enables us to derive a rapid numerical space-marching solution of the quasi-static component for quasi-equilibrium channel geometry in both backwater and quasi-normal flow segments. A space-marching method means that the solution is found by stepping through space without the necessity of computing the transient phase. An additional numerical time stepping model describes the dynamic component of the quasi-equilibrium channel geometry. Tests of the two models against a backwater-Exner model confirm their validity. Our analysis validates previous studies in showing that the flow duration curve determines the quasi-static equilibrium profile, whereas the flow rate sequence governs the dynamic fluctuations.Rivers, Ports, Waterways and Dredging EngineeringEnvironmental Fluid Mechanic
Conducting international consumer research with children : challenges and potential solutions
No full textThis chapter discusses challenges faced when doing cross-cultural research with children, along with suggested solutions to these challenges. The inspiration for this chapter stems from an ongoing international public policy research project underway by a subset of the current authors in multiple countries (Belgium, China, France, Poland, the U.K., and the U.S.; Author Cite, 2015). Many of the challenges and solutions discussed will be of interest to those conducting public policy research with young consumers in general (whether culture is a variable of interest or not), and to those conducting cross-cultural public policy research with young consumers
AUTS2-related Syndrome: Insights from a large European cohort
No full textAbstract
Purpose:
AUTS2-related syndrome is characterized by developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability. From alternative promoters, AUTS2 encodes 2 distinct long and short isoforms encoding a putative transcriptional activator.
Methods:
Through a European collaborative study, we collected clinical and genotype data on the largest AUTS2-related syndrome cohort of 58 patients harboring genomic rearrangements or single-nucleotide variants (SNVs).
Results:
Pathogenic SNVs were recurrently found in individuals from different countries, suggesting mutational hotspots. Independent of the underlying defect at the AUTS2 locus, we observed that autistic behavior, hyperactivity, learning difficulties, and speech delay are common features of AUTS2-related syndrome. Among patients with SNVs, individuals carrying pathogenic variants affecting both longer and shorter AUTS2 transcripts showed a recognizable phenotype with microcephaly, brachycephaly, microretrognathia, broad nasal base, and anteverted nares. Behavioral disorders were more common in patients with variants affecting only the longer isoform. Arthrogryposis and stiff movements were only observed in patients with SNVs.
Conclusion:
This study provides a comprehensive clinical characterization of AUTS2-related syndrome, reveals few genotype-phenotype correlations, and suggests that the disruption of the 2 distinct AUTS2 transcripts has a different impact on the clinical phenotype.Abstract
Purpose:
AUTS2-related syndrome is characterized by developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability. From alternative promoters, AUTS2 encodes 2 distinct long and short isoforms encoding a putative transcriptional activator.
Methods:
Through a European collaborative study, we collected clinical and genotype data on the largest AUTS2-related syndrome cohort of 58 patients harboring genomic rearrangements or single-nucleotide variants (SNVs).
Results:
Pathogenic SNVs were recurrently found in individuals from different countries, suggesting mutational hotspots. Independent of the underlying defect at the AUTS2 locus, we observed that autistic behavior, hyperactivity, learning difficulties, and speech delay are common features of AUTS2-related syndrome. Among patients with SNVs, individuals carrying pathogenic variants affecting both longer and shorter AUTS2 transcripts showed a recognizable phenotype with microcephaly, brachycephaly, microretrognathia, broad nasal base, and anteverted nares. Behavioral disorders were more common in patients with variants affecting only the longer isoform. Arthrogryposis and stiff movements were only observed in patients with SNVs.
Conclusion:
This study provides a comprehensive clinical characterization of AUTS2-related syndrome, reveals few genotype-phenotype correlations, and suggests that the disruption of the 2 distinct AUTS2 transcripts has a different impact on the clinical phenotype
