bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Rigorous Integrator and Global Existence for Higher-Dimensional Semilinear Parabolic PDEs via Semigroup Theory
Authors: Duchesne Gabriel William , Lessard Jean-Philippe , Takayasu Akitoshi
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we introduce a general constructive method to compute solutions of initial value problems of semilinear parabolic partial differential equations on hyper-rectangular domains via semigroup theory and computer-assisted proofs. Once a numerical candidate for the solution is obtained via a finite dimensional projection, Chebyshev series expansions are used to solve the linearized equations about the approximation from which a solution map operator is constructed. Using the solution operator (which exists from semigroup theory), we define an infinite dimensional contraction operator whose unique fixed point together with its rigorous bounds provide the local inclusion of the solution. Applying this technique for multiple time steps leads to constructive proofs of existence of solutions over long time intervals. As applications, we study the 3D/2D Swift–Hohenberg, where we combine our method with explicit constructions of trapping regions to prove global existence of solutions of initial value problems converging asymptotically to nontrivial equilibria. A second application consists of the 2D Ohta–Kawasaki equation, providing a framework for handling derivatives in nonlinear terms.
Can communication Brain-Computer Interfaces read minds?
Authors: van Balen Bouke
Published: January 2025

Recent developments in the domain of communication Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology have raised questions about the ability for communication BCIs to read minds. How those questions are answered depends on how we theorize the mind and mindreading in the first place. Thus, in this paper, I ask (1) what does it mean to read minds? (2) can a communication BCI do this? (3) what does this mean for potential users of this technology? and (4) what is at stake morally in light of this? I show that current answers to these questions are conceptually unclear and committed to a Cartesian picture of the mind and its relation to the brain, questionably informing how debates about BCIs as mindreading devices are framed. I offer an alternative perspective on these questions by turning to an enactive perspective on mindedness. I argue that this perspective can offer conceptual as well as ethical clarification about what is at stake in the domain of communication BCIs. From this perspective, the concerns raised about BCIs as mindreading machines are demystified. Instead, concerns are raised about BCIs as enabling users to flourish as authentic communicators.
The role of divine grace in Kant’s rational religion
Authors: Hildebrand Carl
Published: January 2025

Kant’s rational religion has been described as a failure because his idea of redemption contains contradictory appeals to human responsibility and divine assistance. For example, John Hare has argued that Kant cannot explain how human beings can bridge a moral gap between an ideal state of virtue and an imperfect disposition. In this paper, I defend Kant from this criticism, arguing that his rational religion is coherent: human agency and divine assistance may each contribute to redemption without inconsistency. I argue that divine grace may be operative for Kant through the gradual process of character formation, in addition to the instantaneous change of heart, providing an alternative explanation of how the moral gap may be bridged. I compare this account with Erasmus’s account of free will and divine grace, arguing that each account employs a similar strategy and structure to explain the operation of grace. Though Kant’s position is not identical with historical (orthodox) Christianity, he holds that reason is necessarily religious in orientation and must remain open to the possibility that divine grace is necessary for moral improvement.
Metasomatic Alteration of Type 3 Ordinary and Carbonaceous Chondrites
Authors: Krot A. N. , Petaev M. I. , Piani L. , Marrocchi Y. , Fujiya W. , Pravdivtseva O. V. , Dobrică E. , Vacher L. G. , King A. J. , Lee M. , Van Kooten E. , Jacobsen B. , Alexander C. M. O’D. , Bischoff A. , Brearley A. J. , Le Guillou C. , Remusat L. , Leitner J. , Huss G. R.
Published: January 2025

Metasomatism refers to the process during which a pre-existing rock undergoes compositional and mineralogical transformations associated with chemical reactions triggered by the reaction of fluids which invade the protolith. It changes chemical compositions of minerals, promotes their dissolution and precipitation of new minerals. In this paper, we review metasomatic alteration of type 3 ordinary (H, L, LL) and carbonaceous (CV, CO, CK) chondrites, including (i) secondary mineralization, (ii) physicochemical conditions, (iii) chronology (53Mn-53Cr, 26Al-26Mg, 129I-129Xe) of metasomatic alteration, (iv) records of metasomatic alteration in H, O, N, C, S, and Cl isotopic systematics, (v) effects of metasomatic alteration on O- and Al-Mg-isotope systematics of primary minerals in chondrules and refractory inclusions, and (vi) sources of water ices in metasomatically altered CV, CO, and ordinary chondrites, and outline future studies.
Validation of a novel mask-based device for monitoring of comprehensive sleep parameters and sleep disordered breathing
Authors: Fox Benjamin D. , Shihab Murad , Nassir Abed , Kushinsky Dahlia , Barnea Ofer , Tal Asher
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aimed to validate the new DormoTech Vlab device’s performance, usability, and validity as a sleep test and physiological data recorder. The novel device has been designed for patient comfort, ease of use, and home-based assessment of sleep disordered breathing and other sleep-related measurements.

Methods

Forty-seven adults (mean age = 52 years, 42% female, body mass index 29.4 kg/m2) underwent simultaneous testing with the DormoTech Vlab device and routine full polysomnography (PSG) using the Nox A1 system (K192469, Nox Medical). The sleep studies were manually and independently scored according to recommended guidelines. The primary outcome measure was the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and its corresponding conventional severity level (i.e., normal, mild, moderate, severe). Secondary endpoints included other standard PSG parameters.

Results

The AHI was 21.7 ± 24.2 events/h (mean ± standard deviation) using the Vlab device versus 21.5 ± 23.9 events/h for gold standard PSG Nox A1 (p = 0.7). When AHI was grouped by severity, inter-test agreement was high (Cohen’s kappa = 0.97). Results between the two systems were largely similar in the secondary endpoints, with high correlation between the two systems, and statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences only in REM latency measurements. The Vlab device provides similar sleep study data to conventional gold standard PSG and clinically near-identical test interpretation in almost all cases.

Conclusion

Based on these results, the Vlab device can be considered substantially equivalent to the reference Nox A1 system in terms of usability, efficacy, and validity.

Clinical Trial Registration

Trial name: Evaluation of the Usability and Performance Assessment of the DormoTech VLAB Device as a Home Sleep Test Identification number: NCT06224972. Date of Registration: 2023-12-06.
Perfusion estimation from dynamic non-contrast computed tomography using self-supervised learning and a physics-inspired U-net transformer architecture
Authors: Liu Yi-Kuan , Cisneros Jorge , Nair Girish , Stevens Craig , Castillo Richard , Vinogradskiy Yevgeniy , Castillo Edward
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Pulmonary perfusion imaging is a key lung health indicator with clinical utility as a diagnostic and treatment planning tool. However, current nuclear medicine modalities face challenges like low spatial resolution and long acquisition times which limit clinical utility to non-emergency settings and often placing extra financial burden on the patient. This study introduces a novel deep learning approach to predict perfusion imaging from non-contrast inhale and exhale computed tomography scans (IE-CT).

Methods

We developed a U-Net Transformer architecture modified for Siamese IE-CT inputs, integrating insights from physical models and utilizing a self-supervised learning strategy tailored for lung function prediction. We aggregated 523 IE-CT images from nine different 4DCT imaging datasets for self-supervised training, aiming to learn a low-dimensional IE-CT feature space by reconstructing image volumes from random data augmentations. Supervised training for perfusion prediction used this feature space and transfer learning on a cohort of 44 patients who had both IE-CT and single-photon emission CT (SPECT/CT) perfusion scans.

Results

Testing with random bootstrapping, we estimated the mean and standard deviation of the spatial Spearman correlation between our predictions and the ground truth (SPECT perfusion) to be 0.742 ± 0.037, with a mean median correlation of 0.792 ± 0.036. These results represent a new state-of-the-art accuracy for predicting perfusion imaging from non-contrast CT.

Conclusion

Our approach combines low-dimensional feature representations of both inhale and exhale images into a deep learning model, aligning with previous physical modeling methods for characterizing perfusion from IE-CT. This likely contributes to the high spatial correlation with ground truth. With further development, our method could provide faster and more accurate lung function imaging, potentially expanding its clinical applications beyond what is currently possible with nuclear medicine.
Harnessing complexity: integrating remote sensing and fuzzy expert system for evaluating land use land cover changes and identifying mangrove forest vulnerability in Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. Monirul , Al Rafi Dewan Abdullah , Jannat Arifa , Aruga Kentaka , Liebenehm Sabine , Hossain Radita
Published: January 2025

Purpose: This study analyzes Landsat images to examine the alterations in land cover within the Sundarbans and its surrounding regions in Bangladesh, spanning twenty-one years from 2000 to 2021. Furthermore, we develop a mangrove vulnerability map considering the combined effect of eight socioeconomic, geophysical, and climatic factors. Methods: Land use land cover (LULC) changes in the study area over a 21-year period were assessed using a random forest model, and the vulnerability analysis employed a fuzzy expert-based multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) approach. Results: The results show that a significant portion of the mangrove forest has been transformed into aquaculture practices because of the expansion of high-value shrimp cultivation. A decrease in forest areas and the expansion of aquaculture zones suggest a livelihood shift among the local population over time. This transition has adversely affected human activities within the ecosystem and the biodiversity of mangrove forests. Consequently, it is imperative to implement suitable measures to enhance the state of mangrove forests and safeguard their biodiversity. The vulnerability analysis shows that the highly vulnerable, moderately vulnerable, and low vulnerable areas cover 35.66%, 26.86%, and 19.42%, respectively. Conclusion: The vulnerability maps generated in this research could serve as a valuable resource for coastal planners seeking to ensure the sustainable stewardship of these coastal mangrove forests. These results offer a detailed understanding of coastal mangrove LULC patterns and vulnerability status, which will be useful for policymakers and resource managers to urgently incorporate into coastal land use and environmental management practices.
Epilepsy as a Wilding of Sleep
Authors: Szűcs Anna , Halász Péter
Published: January 2025

Purpose

To review the mutual links of sleep and epilepsy.

Recent Findings

It is supported in several ways that epilepsy is ‘born’ in sleep and evolves as its ‘wilding’. At least twelve to thirty percent of seizures occur during non-rapid eyemovement (NREM) sleep and interictal epileptiform activity accumulates during NREM sleep, paralleling homeostatic power and sleep pressure. The imbalance of sleep-related synaptic plasticity carries the risk of over-excitation and epileptic derailment. This is seen in major epilepsies, where normal NREM sleep patterns are shown to transform to epileptic discharges. Epilepsies then ‘strike back’ to sleep impairing its structure and functions. The harm of seizures is obvious; and interictal discharges even in seizure free patients may bring insidious and permanent loss of cognitive functions.

Conclusion

Sleep reveals the real face of epilepsy. Understanding the fine mechanisms of NREM sleep may lead to more effective epilepsy therapies and help reducing the harm of interictal activity as well.
Recent trends in spatial modeling studies of air quality (2010–2023)
Authors: Badawy Hesham
Published: January 2025

The fast growth of urbanization and increases in urban populations have greatly affected air quality, creating a significant challenge for both the environment and public health in urban areas. Consequently, it has become essential to understand and evaluate the levels and impacts of air pollution in these regions for the purpose of sustainable urban development. This study explores recent advancements in spatial air quality research spanning from 2010 to 2023, synthesizing findings from various sources. To accomplish this, the study employs a comprehensive methodology that includes bibliometric analysis to measure research output and identify publication trends, content analysis to extract thematic insights from the literature, case studies to analyze applied models in practical situations, and survey analysis. The findings emphasize important research directions in the field of spatial air quality modeling, with a particular focus on health impact assessments, which are a recurring theme throughout the studies reviewed. Other essential areas of emphasis include predictions concerning emerging pollutants, assessments of indoor air quality in urban settings, and the effects of natural disasters specifically forest fires and dust storms on air quality. The study emphasizes progress in high-precision modeling, the incorporation of machine learning techniques, and the integration of climate change projections. Despite these advancements, notable gaps remain in the existing literature, especially concerning the scarcity of studies on emerging contaminants such as nanoparticles and persistent organic pollutants, and limited attention given to rural and developing regions. These gaps emphasize the necessity for interdisciplinary models that combine real-time data related to health, environmental concerns, and socioeconomic factors to improve the robustness and applicability of models. This paper emphasizes the significance of sustained access to real-time air quality data in assisting knowledgeable decision-making processes. It accentuates the essential necessity of enhancing awareness regarding the relationships among air quality, public health, and environmental well-being.
A Person-Centered Study of Construction Sector Workers’ Goal Orientation Profiles and Their Connections to Approaches to Learning, Self-efficacy, and Work Engagement
Authors: Puhakka Ilmari J. A. , Niemivirta Markku , Postareff Liisa , Nokelainen Petri
Published: January 2025

This study uses a person-centered approach to investigate construction workers’ learning at work, focusing on their approaches to learning, self-efficacy beliefs and work engagement and how these vary according to their goal orientation profiles. Survey data were collected from Finnish construction sector employees (N = 1,280) in June 2021. The data were analysed using latent profile analysis (LPA). Analyses revealed four goal orientation profiles: Disengaged (19.1%), Avoidance-oriented (2.1%), Performance-oriented (43.0%) and Mastery-oriented (35.7%). Profiles based on high learning orientation (Performance-oriented, Mastery-oriented) had higher emphasis on a deep approach to learning, as well as higher self-efficacy and work engagement. The profiles differed less regarding unreflective approach to learning. The results illuminate construction workers’ learning processes in terms of learning strategies and motivation and how they compare to those of the more extensively studied student population. The results also encourage finding ways to support workers’ mastery orientation to benefit not only learning but also well-being by enhancing more reflective learning approaches.
Yield of family screening for dilated cardiomyopathy: 10-year experience at a multidisciplinary cardiogenetic outpatient clinic
Authors: Thierry Isabelle P. , Muller Steven A. , Baas Annette F. , Dooijes Dennis , van Loon R. Laura E. , Schoemaker Angela E. , van der Harst Pim , Oerlemans Marish I. F. J. , Baars Hubert F. , Hassink Rutger J. , Asselbergs Folkert W. , van Tintelen J. Peter , te Riele Anneline S. J. M.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Current family screening approaches in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) depend on the presence or absence of a familial genetic variant, in which variant pathogenicity (i.e. benign or pathogenic) classification drives screening recommendations. However, this approach has never been systematically evaluated.

Methods

To describe the yield of DCM family screening stratified by variant classification in the Netherlands, we included 358 relatives (mean age ± standard deviation: 44.4 ± 15.9 years at baseline; 52% female; 41% (likely) pathogenic (LP/P) variant carriers from 210 families). Demographics, symptoms and genetic/cardiac test results were obtained. Endpoints were the development of DCM (left ventricular ejection fraction < 50% of non-ischaemic aetiology) or occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (i.e. heart failure hospitalisation, ventricular arrhythmia or death). Probability of DCM or MACE was assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

DCM was present in 32 relatives (9%) (25/32 (78%) with LP/P variant) at baseline and in an additional 10/97 relatives (10%) (9/10 (90%) with LP/P variant) who were re-evaluated during a median follow-up time of 5.0 years (interquartile range: 3.2–7.4). Of the 128 relatives without the familial LP/P variant, none developed DCM. MACE was experienced by 5 relatives (1%) (4/5 (80%) with LP/P variant), all of whom had DCM at the time of the event.

Conclusion

The yield of DCM family screening was ~10% at baseline and another ~10% during 5‑year follow-up. Relatives without the familial LP/P variant could be safely discharged. These results reinforce the use of a genetics-first screening approach in relatives from families with an LP/P variant. This will lower the burden on resources in Dutch hospitals and help allocate resources to those who are most likely to benefit.
Crafting congruence: towards systematic scenario design in maritime simulator training and assessment
Authors: Harrington Susan , Sellberg Charlott , Lindwall Oskar
Published: January 2025

In this study, we explore the current practices of experienced instructors in developing scenarios for maritime simulator training and assessment. Scenario design is fundamental to effective simulator-based training but remains underexplored in extant literature. Through a series of semi-structured interviews (n = 16), we identify the core concerns of instructors designing scenarios; (1) realism, authenticity, and fidelity; (2) designing for students’ requirements; (3) the importance of clear learning objectives. Based on the results, we propose that functional congruence is a more fitting term than realism, authenticity, and fidelity in this context, as effective simulator training requires a balance between a simulator realistic enough for immersive learning experiences, and a focus on clear learning objectives. In consideration of the need to train students to function as part of a team of competent experts, moreover, we propose the introduction of an established instructional design model into the scenario design process. The proposed model has proven successful in simulator-based training in the similarly high-risk and safety-critical field of healthcare and has the potential to both complement the current practices of experienced instructors and act as a valuable resource for those newer to the role in designing training transferrable to professional practice.
Rapid Grain Segmentation of Heat-treated and Annealed LPBF Haynes 282 Using an Unsupervised Learning-Based Computer Vision Approach
Authors: Yi Yu-Tsen , Seo Junwon , Murphy Kevin , Rollett Anthony
Published: January 2025

Grain size distribution is a critical factor in determining materials’ physical and mechanical properties, including thermal conductivity, hardness, and creep behavior. Understanding the distribution of grain sizes is essential for advancing the comprehension of material properties and improving materials development and design. Traditional methods for determining grain size, such as electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), are resource-intensive, underscoring the need for more efficient approaches to grain segmentation in standard micrographs, such as those obtained via SEM and optical imaging. This paper presents a streamlined, unsupervised computer vision pipeline that employs superpixel segmentation and region adjacency merging techniques to segment and measure grain geometry from micrographs efficiently. The pipeline is validated using two methods: hand-labeled SEM images of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) fabricated Haynes 282 Ni-alloy and open-source EBSD data of IN100 from Dream3D. Both validation approaches achieved IoU and Dice scores greater than 0.9, while processing an image with a resolution of 1000 × 1000 pixels in under 40 s, demonstrating a fast and sufficiently accurate pipeline.
The impact of utility-scale RES power production on the Italian electricity prices
Authors: Alessi Damiano , Bonaldo Cinzia , Fontini Fulvio
Published: January 2025

The rise of power production from non-programmable renewable power sources imply a reduction in power price and an increasing stress to the power system. In the paper the impact of new investments in variable renewable energy sources on the Italian electricity system is evaluated. In order to do so, demand and supply curves of the day-ahead market of some representative days and periods of the year are simulated taking into account the introduction of new solar and wind power plants in the offer curve, as well the zonal configuration of the Italian market and the transmission constraints. Results show that new renewable investments significantly affect electricity prices but only in the southernmost Italian zones. However, the North zone, which accounts for the majority of all Italian load, shows a comparatively lower benefit from the investments, particularly in those months and hours of the day in which there is a limited supply of wind power. Limited transmission capacity to transfer power from the south towards north of Italy worsen this. Conversely, the southernmost zones and islands benefit from photovoltaic and wind power investments, reducing prices. However, high production in these regions, coupled with transmission constraints, leads also to high curtailments when generation exceeds demand. Finally, the planned transmission capacity expansion is also considered. It is shown that it further reduces the prices in the northernmost zones, yet it is not enough to fully transfer the positive impact on prices in southernmost zones or to reduce the curtailments, which can be as high as 60% of the new capacity in some zones.
Investigating novel material additives for improved radiation shielding in ultra-high performance cement mortars
Authors: Korkmaz Abdul Vahap , Akkurt İskender
Published: January 2025

In recent years, heavy concrete has been widely used in industry due to the growing application of nuclear technology and the harmful effects of atomic radiation, such as gamma rays, on the environment. The primary component of concrete is cement, which is the critical factor that determines the most important properties of concrete, such as durability, hardness, and structural integrity. This study suggests that metaschist-modified cement (Portland Cement, CEM I 52.5 N) produced using traditional cement manufacturing methods may offer an alternative to ordinary cement clay-mixed cement (Portland Cement CEM I 52.5 N) for radiation protection in nuclear energy applications. This study comprehensively investigated materials such as ordinary cement clay and metaschist, which can be potentially used to protect radioactive substances in cement mortars. Mortars produced using micronized metaschist (MSC) and ordinary cement clay (OCC) were analyzed at different energy levels. The mass attenuation coefficient (MAC) of cement samples was determined experimentally using various radioactive point sources. Additionally, hydraulic and mechanical tests were conducted based on cement standards (TSE EN 196-1, TS EN 196-3, and TS EN 196-6) to evaluate the performance of the produced cement samples. The results indicate that the metaschist-modified Portland cement (MMPC-52,5/N) mixture demonstrates superior radioactive shielding performance compared to ordinary cement clay-mixed cement (Ordinary Portland Cement, CEM I 52.5 N). Cement samples containing MMPC-52,5/N demonstrate superior performance characteristics and high radiation shielding properties, indicating significant potential for applications in nuclear technology.
Macadamia biowaste-derived adsorbents for application in water treatment and gas sensing: the current status. Rapid review 2014 to 2024
Authors: Pakade Vusumzi Emmanuel
Published: January 2025

The production and consumption of macadamia nuts and oil have escalated over the past few years. Macadamia nuts and oil are rich in minerals and have been linked to lower blood cholesterol levels and a reduced risk of heart disease. The production of nutshell by-products, which require long-term environmental management, has expanded in tandem with the harvesting of nuts and oil. One of the strategies adopted to beneficiate the nutshells is the creation of adsorbents to capture gases, metal ions, and organic pollutants. As a result, macadamia-based adsorbents are currently gaining popularity for a variety of applications. This paper reviews the utilization of macadamia adsorbents in water remediation, gas capture, and fuel cells. The review summarizes the current status and predicts future developments. According to the data gathered in this review, the removal of Cr(VI) and methylene blue appears to be popular among researchers, while other metals and organic compounds have received very little attention. In fact, there is a paucity of data relating to use of macadamia-based adsorbents to remove pharmaceuticals and other emerging contaminants. Although satisfactory adsorption performance for a few pollutants has been reported, the technique still requires further development and extension to other pollutants and applications.
Developing high-voltage flexible diodes by nitrogen-doped sputtering of silicon carbide onto buckypaper and grapheme paper, and investigating its thermoelectric and photoelectric voltage effects
Authors: Lin Chia-Yi , Liu Jih-Hsin
Published: January 2025

This paper investigates the development and characterization of high-voltage PN diodes using nitrogen-doped silicon carbide (N-SiC) deposited on carbon nanotube paper (BP) and graphene paper (GP), respectively. The process involves fabricating flexible semiconductor substrates made of carbon materials, specifically BP composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and GP produced from multilayer graphene powder. Material properties were analyzed using Raman spectroscopy, Hall measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Electrical characteristics revealed that the diode fabricated with 20 min of N-SiC sputtering on BP exhibited a reverse breakdown voltage of -476 volts, surpassing that of the diode based on GP, which showed a reverse breakdown voltage of -88 volts. Moreover, this study underscores the significance of N-SiC deposition in modulating the properties of carbon-based materials and provides insights into the high-temperature thermoelectric and photoelectric effects of high-voltage carbon material diodes.
Reconstructing the Map: A Neopragmatist Perspective on Cartography in the Context of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Authors: Kühne Olaf , Edler Dennis
Published: January 2025

The present article explores possibilities for a new theoretical framework in cartography based on a neopragmatist approach. Starting with an outline of Traditional and Critical Cartography, a neopragmatist perspective is developed that promotes inclusivity and problem-solving orientation. This approach draws on the analytical framework of Karl Popper’s Three Worlds Theory, specifically the Theory of Three Spaces. Neopragmatism emphasizes the production of useful knowledge over absolute truth and acknowledges the contingency and flexible interpretability of cartographic representations. In this context, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is described as a dynamic tool for problem-solving, capable of supporting continuous learning and application-oriented adaptation. By employing AI within a neopragmatist framework in cartography, new possibilities emerge for integrating and utilizing diverse social perspectives and (geospatial) data. This approach enables an expansion of the theoretical and practical applicability of cartography. Finally, the article illustrates that the deconstruction—building on J. B. Harley’s influential article Deconstructing the Map (1989)—and reconstruction of maps must exist in a recursive relationship to enable a context- and solution-oriented cartography.
Applied machine learning for predicting the properties and carbon and phosphorus fate of pristine and engineered hydrochar
Authors: Xie Shiyu , Zhang Tao , You Siming , Mukherjee Santanu , Pu Mingjun , Chen Qing , Wang Yaosheng , Ali Esmat F. , Abdelrahman Hamada , Rinklebe Jörg , Lee Sang Soo , Shaheen Sabry M.
Published: January 2025

Application of advanced techniques and machine learning (ML) for designing and predicting the properties of engineered hydrochar/biochar is of great agro-environmental concern. Carbon (C) stability and phosphorus (P) availability in hydrochar (HC) are among the key limitations as they cannot be accurately predicted by traditional one-factor tests and might be overcome by engineering the pristine HC. Therefore, the aims of this study were (1) to determine the optimal production conditions of engineered swine manure HC with high C stability and P availability, and (2) to develop the best ML models to predict the properties of HC derived from different feedstocks. Pristine- (HC) and FeCl3 impregnated swine manure-derived HC (HC-Fe) were produced by hydrothermal carbonization under different pH (4, 7, and 10), reaction temperature (180, 220, and 260 ℃), and residence time (60, 120, and 180 min) and characterized using thermo-gravimetric, microscopic, and spectroscopic analyses. Also, different ML algorithms were used to model and predict the hydrochar solid yield, properties, and nutrients content. FeCl3 impregnation increased Fe-phosphate content, while it reduced H/C and O/C ratios and hydroxyapatite P content, and therefore improved C stability and P availability in the HC-Fe as compared to HC, particularly under lower pH (4), temperature of 220 ℃, and at 120 min. The generalized additive ML model outperformed the other models for predicting the HC properties with a correlation coefficient of 0.86. The ML analysis showed that the most influential features on the hydrochar C stability were the H and O contents in the biomass, while P availability in HC was more dependent on the C, N and O contents in biomass. These results provided optimal production conditions for Fe-engineered manure hydrochar and identified the best performing ML model for predicting hydrochar properties. The main implication of this study is that it offers a high potential to improve the utilization of biowastes and produce biowaste-derived engineered hydrochar with high C stability and P availability on a large scale.

Graphical Abstract
Evaluation of European Critical Raw Material Assessments under Energy Transition Considerations: Applications and Prospects
Authors: Feichtinger Gerald , Posch Wolfgang
Published: January 2025

This article evaluates the results of the European criticality assessments for raw materials of utmost importance to successfully manage the European energy transition towards achieving net-zero. Since 2011, the European Commission has published every three years a list in which raw materials of interest are critically assessed with respect to their economic importance and supply risk. These publicly available data are used and analysed by using methods of descriptive statistics to identify potential patterns and anomalies. Furthermore, a novel attempt is made to rank all raw materials of interest using the Euclidean distance as well as other metrics such as Manhattan, Chebychev or Minkowski distance. The results show that based on the Euclidean distance particularly tungsten and manganese are the two most critical raw materials. Since 2017, all raw materials show in average an increasing trend in economic importance and in Euclidean distance, but also a decreasing trend in supply risk. Moreover, the gradients of the Euclidean distance indicate a wider variation within the raw materials of interest. Concluding remarks include future applications of distance-based metrics particularly in the area of sustainable strategy development in portfolio analysis or life cycle assessments as well as for the introduction of a new distance-based classification scheme.
Key environmental predictors as drivers of avifauna assemblages in Ghana’s coastal ecosystems
Authors: Tamekloe Samuel Etornam , Ansah-Monney Kweku , Deikumah Justus Precious
Published: January 2025

Avian assemblages are not only influenced by spatial factors but also by temporal variations in environmental conditions, creating dynamic patterns of bird presence in a given area. This study examined environmental elements affecting bird assemblages in Ghana's coastal ecosystems. We conducted point transect sampling along a 15-km coastal stretch, analyzing bird abundance, richness, and diversity in relation to microclimate and urbanization. Humidity and wind speed had a significant negative relationship with bird abundance as well as time of day (morning) having a negative relationship. Mean bird richness, diversity, were significantly higher in natural shoreline areas compared to urbanized ones. Bird abundance and seasonality were positive related where wet season was characterized by higher bird numbers which can be attributed to the favorability of the wet season in terms of food availability and habitat suitability. Indicator Species Analysis identified nineteen species significantly associated specific habitat characterization, with eleven species linked to lagoon adjacent shorelines. These results show the relationship between environmental factors and avian assemblages in coastal ecosystems, highlighting impacts of human disturbance and climate-related factors and the importance of pristine ecosystems in biodiversity conservation.
Microencapsulation using spray drying of anthoxyanins from Lannea microcarpa (African grape) fruits juice with pyrodextrin from sweet potato starch
Authors: Tsatsop Roli Karole Tsague , Chendjou Stive Martial Sikandi , Djiobie Gertrude Eleonore Tchienou , Nkenmogne Sidonie Beatrice , Nguimbou Richard Marcel , Nguemtchouin Marie Mbouga , Ngassoum Martin Benoit
Published: January 2025

Anthocyanins rich fruits of Lannea microcarpa (African grape) with antioxidant activity are an important food and herbal medicine in central Africa. This study sought to use response surface methodology to optimize spray drying microencapsulation of anthocyanins from L. microcarpa fruit juice, examining the influence of inlet air temperature (120—150 °C), inlet air flow rate (60—80 m3/h) and carrier agent (pyrodextrin) concentration (8 -16 g/100 g of juice), on various spray-dried powders characteristics. Moreover, the thermal stability study of L. microcarpa fruit juice powder produced at optimal process conditions was studied. The linear effect of inlet air temperature, inlet air flow rate and carrier agent concentration significantly affected the fruit powder properties (Moisture content, hygroscopicity, encapsulation efficiency) (P < 0.05), except in the case of hygroscopicity where linear effect of inlet air temperature did not. The optimum spray drying conditions to obtain the encapsulated fruit juice powder were determined as 150°C inlet air temperature, 80 m3/h inlet air flow rate and 9 g/100 g carrier agent concentration. The optimal spray dried juice powder was produced with a product yield of 72.4%, water activity of 0.281, having a poor flowability but high cohesiveness. Dynamic Vapor Sorption analysis showed sorption isotherm fitted GAB and BET models well and lower water activity (aw < 0.5) at 25 °C could be favorable for storage of L. microcarpa powders. Additionally, the stability study shown according to the degradation rate obtained that encapsulated fruit juice powder stored at 25  C exhibited greater stability with rate constant k = 0.0018 day-1 significantly lower than the same spray dried L. microcarpa juice powder stored at 35°C (k = 0.0035 day-1) (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate microencapsulation through spray drying using pyrodextrin from sweet potato was feasible for enhancing the stabilization of anthocyanins in form of powder with potential application in food and chemical industries.

Graphical Abstract
Job satisfaction and animal welfare at slaughter: A survey of Official Veterinarians in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland
Authors: O’Connor Imogen , Gouveia Kelly
Published: January 2025

In the UK and the Republic of Ireland, Official Veterinarians (OVs) are employed by the Food Standards Agency and the Food Safety Authority, respectively, as legal authorities for both animal welfare and food safety. However, little is known about job satisfaction in this profession which has the potential to impact professionals’ well-being and performance. Moreover, despite animal welfare issues being a reality that OVs witness, we do not yet understand how OVs perceive these issues at slaughter or whether this impacts job satisfaction. We assessed OVs’ perceptions on job satisfaction and views on welfare at slaughter across the UK and ROI, through an online questionnaire with 113 participants, which included socio-demographic information of participants and questions or statements about different aspects of job satisfaction and animal welfare issues at slaughter. While most OVs committed to their work they reported issues that may compromise job satisfaction, such as often experiencing loneliness at work, threatening situations and sleep disorders. Moreover, job satisfaction was often impacted by animal welfare incidents, and conflicts with food business operators were considered one of the greatest barriers to improving welfare at slaughter. There is also the likelihood of professionals’ individual ethical values being challenged since OVs are virtually certain to witness religious slaughter yet disagree with this practice to the extent that they consider it should be banned. We reveal significant challenges associated with the role of OV that justify creation of a support network to assist and safeguard this profession, as well as animal welfare at slaughter.
Empires of Obligation: Law, Money, and Debt between England and the Ottoman Empire, 1670–1720
Authors: Nye Ellen M.
Published: January 2025

During the 1690s, both the English and Ottoman states developed new institutions for longer-term borrowing and reformed their imperial monetary systems. These synchronous but divergent developments present a puzzle that has not been answered by rigidly separate English and Ottoman historiographies. “Empires of Obligation” follows merchants trading between England and the Ottoman Empire to understand how both states responded differently to the challenges of global trade and fiscal crisis. At this time, English merchants were the most powerful European traders in the Ottoman Empire, and the Ottoman Empire represented England’s greatest single market for its woolen textiles, its largest industry. As Levant Company merchants swapped woolens for silk, they also blended international private credit with domestic public finance. They were the largest merchant investors relative to the size of their trade in the Bank of England and helped facilitate Ottoman longer-term public borrowing through the mālikāne system. From within England’s bureaucracy, they also worked to ease global trade through an “intrinsic value” theory of money, the idea that coins represented a government commitment to provide a fixed amount of precious metal. At the same time, the Ottoman state sought to redefine money as an instrument of the state, not a tool of trade. Following merchants who themselves bridged two empires that are rarely compared shows interconnected but divergent responses to the challenges of making money work both within and between states at the end of the seventeenth century.
Development of a digital program for training non-specialist providers to deliver a psychosocial intervention for depression: a formative study to support scaling up task-shared depression care in the United States
Authors: Naslund John A. , Carmio Natali , Taha Sarah , Amara Margaux , Wood Sheena , Patel Anushka , Romero Sara , Floyd Kyle , Meredith Brittany , Rodriguez Berta , Grajeda Kelly , Brune Rebecca , Keller Andy , Patel Vikram , Sanchez Katherine
Published: January 2025

Task-sharing holds promise for bridging gaps in access to mental healthcare; yet there remain significant challenges to scaling up task-sharing models. This formative study aimed to develop a digital platform for training non-specialist providers without prior experience in mental healthcare to deliver a brief psychosocial intervention for depression in community settings in Texas. A 5-step development approach was employed, consisting of: blueprinting, scripting, video production and digital content creation, uploading digital content to a Learning Management System and user testing. This resulted in the development of two courses, one called Foundational Skills covering the skills to become an effective counselor, and the second called Behavioral Activation covering the skills for addressing adult depression. Twenty-one participants with a range of health-related backgrounds, including 11 with prior training in mental healthcare, completed the training and joined focus group discussions offering qualitative feedback and recommendations for improving the program’s usability. Participant feedback centered around the need to make the content more interactive, to include additional engaging features, and to improve the layout and usability of the platform. The next steps will involve evaluating the training program on developing the skills of non-specialist providers and supporting its uptake and implementation.
Leading Portuguese shoes’ digital transformation: A multiple case analysis of SMEs from a cluster-based brand
Authors: Casais Beatriz , Caldas Cátia
Published: January 2025

Research in digital transformation has focused on the challenges, determinants, or influencing resources, tools, and capabilities that enhance successful performance, innovation, competitive advantage, and internationalization. This paper discusses the process of digital transformation in the context of the footwear industry in Portugal, which is an interesting cluster of small and medium enterprises with a reported turnaround from traditional manufacturing targeting the domestic market to an innovative industry highly focused on export. The authors analyzed five important footwear companies ‘Made in Portugal’. The results show different stages of digital transformation, different levels of digital leadership, and different digital capabilities. The heterogeneous stage of digital maturity found has implications in the desired common positioning of the clustering-based brand ‘Portuguese Shoes’. The paper offers guidance for companies to align with the digital transformation requirements and respond to the global digital challenges, which can be transferred to other clustering industries and geographies.
Additives in foods marketed to children in Uruguay, an emerging Latin American country
Authors: Alcaire Florencia , Giménez Ana , Ares Gastón
Published: January 2025

Foods are frequently marketed to children through the inclusion of a wide range of elements on the packages. Several studies conducted in different countries around the globe have shown that products marketed to children are usually high in sugar and other nutrients associated with non-communicable diseases. The present exploratory cross-sectional study aimed at providing additional evidence on the composition of products marketed to children by analysing the disclosure of additives in such products. Data were collected at nine supermarkets in two Uruguayan cities between August and October 2021. All packaged products available in each supermarket were surveyed using a cell phone app, except for culinary ingredients. All the information from the labels was extracted. Products marketed to children were identified based on the presence of indicators of child-directed marketing on the package. The disclosure of additives was analysed based on the information available in the ingredient list. The prevalence of food additive disclosure was calculated. Of the 7,343 products included in the database, 573 (7.8%) were classified as marketed to children. Candies and cookies were the categories with the largest number of products marketed to children. The great majority of the products marketed to children disclosed at least one food additive (93.5%). These products tended to more frequently notify colourings, antioxidants, acidity regulators, raising agents, stabilisers, humectants, anticaking agents, and glazing agents compared to products not marketed to children. These findings underscore the need to expand the current scope of regulations on marketing targeted at children beyond nutrients to include additives potentially linked to adverse health effects, such as artificial colourings.
The goal-over-source asymmetry in Thai and Korean
Authors: Khammee Kultida , Rhee Seongha
Published: January 2025

Thai and Korean have large inventories of adpositional particles, including source and goal markers. As reported in many languages, Thai and Korean adpositions also prominently exhibit the ‘goal-over-source asymmetry’ at multiple levels. This article supports this hypothesis on asymmetry from these two typologically and genealogically distinct languages. In both languages, goal markers far exceed source markers in number, confirming the hypothesis. Even among the allative-ablative-(locative) syncretic forms, the proportion of use for goal marking far exceeds that for source marking, again upholding the asymmetry hypothesis. The multiplicity of forms in the two polar categories is largely due to the stacking of multiple markers of (nearly-)synonymous adpositions as a strategy to reinforce meaning or to add finer shades of meaning. The multiplicity of forms is also due to frequent innovation of new forms, especially goal markers, in an effort to enhance expressivity and to entertain the desire for creativity. This is evident in the fact that the forms being innovated tend to carry more lexical content than older, fully grammaticalized forms, and thus carry more expressive potential. Drawing upon corpus data, this paper addresses the goal-over-source asymmetry in Korean and Thai from pragmatic and grammaticalization perspectives.