Assessing Energy Efficiency for Economic and Sustainable Development in the Region of European Union Countries

The objective of this research is to estimate the energy-saving intensities of nations within the European Union, applying varied equations of the DEA analysis, such as the DEA, modified radial equation, Russel dynamic envelope analysis, and the adjusted Russel Dynamic envelope Analysis, throughout the period of 2010–2018. Unlike other studies, this analysis seeks to unravel whether European nations are effective in increasing the EE finance of their respective economies. Because the European Union not only has geographical ties between regions, it is also a collection of interests of various sovereign states, its energy exhibits efficiency changes under the relationship of competition and cooperation under that economic effect. Regarding this circumstance, different dynamic envelope evaluations were formulated. One primary finding is that nations such as Germany, Sweden, or Austria attain robust ecological safeguard performance, seem to be using less energy, and are ecologically efficient relative to other nations such as Denmark, Belgium, Spain, France, or Ireland. Furthermore, a group of Eastern EU nations attained reduced efficiency marks, which could be categorized as anticipated, as a result of reduced technological implementation within the principal manufacturing sectors. The main result of this study is that few nations are performing in terms of efficiency. Additionally, RE (Renewable Energy) power production expands as nations’ dynamic envelope analysis marks and creates inefficient governments nearer to the efficiency frontline. Inversely, the presence of peak-time power consumption reduced the dynamic envelope analysis marks and increased the distance from the Frontier of efficiency (the optimal value of efficiency).

Age differences in adaptation of medial-lateral gait parameters during split-belt treadmill walking

The split-belt treadmill has been used to examine the adaptation of spatial and temporal gait parameters. Historically, similar studies have focused on anterior-posterior (AP) spatiotemporal gait parameters because this paradigm is primarily a perturbation in the AP direction, but it is important to understand whether and how medial-lateral (ML) control adapts in this scenario. The ML control of balance must be actively controlled and adapted in different walking environments. Furthermore, it is well established that older adults have balance difficulties. Therefore, we seek to determine whether ML balance adaptation differs in older age. We analyzed split belt induced changes in gait parameters including variables which inform us about ML balance control in younger and older adults. Our primary finding is that younger adults showed sustained asymmetric changes in these ML balance parameters during the split condition. Specifically, younger adults sustained a greater displacement between their fast stance foot and their upper body, relative to the slow stance foot, in the ML direction. This finding suggests that younger adults may be exploiting passive dynamics in the ML direction, which may be more metabolically efficient. Older adults did not display the same degree of asymmetry, suggesting older adults may be more concerned about maintaining a stable gait.

THE INFLUENCE OF GOVERNMENT’S EXPENDITURE IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ON AIR POLLUTION IN TAIWAN

This study explores the influence of government’s spending on environmental protection on air pollution in Taiwan. Using the panel data of 20 counties, county-level cities, and municipalities in Taiwan covering the period from 2013 to 2018 and the spatial econometric analysis due to considering the possible spatial dependence of air pollution represented by PM2.5 concentration and SO2 emissions, the primary finding is that government’s spending in the environmental protection can statistically significantly improve air pollution regardless of where the financial source is. However, rather than the local fiscal expenditure on environmental protection, subsidies of the air pollution control from the central government can play more important roles to effectively improve air quality of the local area in Taiwan.

Strain and sex dependent effects of isolation housing relative to environmental enrichment on operant sensation seeking in mice

Sensation seeking is a multidimensional phenotype that predicts the development of drug addiction in humans and addiction-like drug seeking in rodents. Several lines of evidence suggest that chronic stress increases sensation seeking and addiction-like drug seeking through common genetic mechanisms. Discovery and characterization of these mechanisms would reveal how chronic stress interacts with the genome to influence sensation seeking and how drugs of abuse hijack these fundamental reward mechanisms to drive addiction. To this end, we tested the hypothesis that chronic isolation housing stress (relative to environmental enrichment) influences operant sensation seeking as a function of strain, sex, or their interaction. To determine if the BXD recombinant inbred panel could be used to identify genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying any identified gene-by-environment interactions, we used mice from the two BXD founder strains. Following 10 weeks of differential housing, we assessed operant sensation seeking using several reinforcement schedules. The primary finding from this study was that DBA/2J but not C57BL/6J mice were significantly vulnerable to an isolation-induced increase (relative to environmental enrichment) in sensation seeking during extinction when the sensory reward was no longer available; this effect was significantly more robust in females. These data reveal a previously unknown isolation-induced effect on extinction of operant sensation seeking that is sex-dependent, addiction-relevant, and that can be dissected using the BXD recombinant inbred panel.

Age differences in adaptation of medial-lateral gait parameters during split-belt treadmill walking

The split-belt treadmill (SBT) has been used to examine the adaptation of spatial and temporal gait parameters. Historically, SBT studies have focused on anterior-posterior (AP) spatiotemporal gait parameters because SBT is primarily a perturbation in the anterior-posterior direction, but it is important to understand whether and how ML control adapts in this scenario. The medial-lateral (ML) control of balance must be actively controlled and adapted in different walking environments. Furthermore, we seek to determine whether ML balance adaptation differs in older age. We analyzed SBT-induced changes in gait parameters including variables which inform us about ML balance control in younger and older adults. Our primary finding is that younger adults showed sustained asymmetric changes in these ML balance parameters during the split condition of the SBT. Specifically, younger adults sustained a greater displacement between their fast stance foot and their upper body, relative to the slow stance foot, in the ML direction. This finding suggests that younger adults may be exploiting passive dynamics in the ML direction during the SBT, which may be more metabolically efficient. Additionally, the ML parameters did not show any aftereffects despite large adjustments during the split condition, which may indicate higher level neural control than AP parameters.

COVID-19 Pandemic Forecasting Using CNN-LSTM: A Hybrid Approach

COVID-19 has sparked a worldwide pandemic, with the number of infected cases and deaths rising on a regular basis. Along with recent advances in soft computing technology, researchers are now actively developing and enhancing different mathematical and machine-learning algorithms to forecast the future trend of this pandemic. Thus, if we can accurately forecast the trend of cases globally, the spread of the pandemic can be controlled. In this study, a hybrid CNN-LSTM model was developed on a time-series dataset to forecast the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19. The proposed model was evaluated and compared with 17 baseline models on test and forecast data. The primary finding of this research is that the proposed CNN-LSTM model outperformed them all, with the lowest average MAPE, RMSE, and RRMSE values on both test and forecast data. Conclusively, our experimental results show that, while standalone CNN and LSTM models provide acceptable and efficient forecasting performance for the confirmed COVID-19 cases time series, combining both models in the proposed CNN-LSTM encoder-decoder structure provides a significant boost in forecasting performance. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the suggested model produced satisfactory predicting results even with a small amount of data.

Clinical and molecular characterization of craniofrontonasal syndrome: new symptoms and novel pathogenic variants in the EFNB1 gene

Background Craniofrontonasal syndrome (CFNS) is a rare X-linked disorder that results from pathogenic variants in the EFNB1 gene. The syndrome paradoxically presents with greater severity of the symptoms in heterozygous females than hemizygous males. Results We have recruited and screened a female cohort affected with CFNS. Our primary finding was the description of monozygotic twins, i.e., patients 5 and 6, discordant for the CFNS phenotype. Intriguingly, patient 5 presented classical CFNS gestalt, whereas patient 6 manifested only very subtle craniofacial features, not resembling CFNS. Besides, we have expanded the mutational spectrum of the EFNB1 gene through reporting four novel pathogenic variants—p.(Trp12*), p.(Cys64Phe), p.(Tyr73Metfs*86), p.(Glu210*). All those alterations were found applying either targeted NGS of a custom gene panel or PCR followed by Sanger sequencing and evaluated using in silico predictors. Lastly, we have also expanded the CFNS phenotypic spectrum by describing in patient 3 several novel features of the syndrome, such as bifid hallux, bicornuate uterus, and abnormal right ovary segmented into six parts. Conclusions We have described the unreported so far differences of the clinical phenotype in the monozygotic twin patients 5 and 6 harboring an identical p.(Glu210*) variant located in the EFNB1 gene. With our finding, we have pointed to an unusual phenomenon of mildly affected females with CFNS, who may not manifest features suggestive of the syndrome. Consequently, this study may be valuable for geneticists consulting patients with craniofacial disorders.

Can ECE professionals be advocates? Perspectives from the child care advocacy movement in Manitoba and Ontario

In this major research paper, findings from a qualitative study with fourteen informants from four child care social movement organizations (SMOs) in Manitoba and Ontario are presented. Using the political economy of care theory to interpret informant perspectives on early childhood educators (ECE) as advocates, the purpose of this study was to understand what role, if any, ECEs should play in provincial child care advocacy. Based on informant perspectives, the primary finding of this study is that ECE professionals can be advocates on the micro level, for children and families, within their own programs. This paper discusses informant perspectives on where we are in provincial child care advocacy, where we might be headed and what role ECEs can play in the continued fight for child care provisions that reflect values of inclusion, equality and a better Canada for all children, families and parents.

Can ECE professionals be advocates? Perspectives from the child care advocacy movement in Manitoba and Ontario

In this major research paper, findings from a qualitative study with fourteen informants from four child care social movement organizations (SMOs) in Manitoba and Ontario are presented. Using the political economy of care theory to interpret informant perspectives on early childhood educators (ECE) as advocates, the purpose of this study was to understand what role, if any, ECEs should play in provincial child care advocacy. Based on informant perspectives, the primary finding of this study is that ECE professionals can be advocates on the micro level, for children and families, within their own programs. This paper discusses informant perspectives on where we are in provincial child care advocacy, where we might be headed and what role ECEs can play in the continued fight for child care provisions that reflect values of inclusion, equality and a better Canada for all children, families and parents.