A novel technique using a W-band metasurface for the purpose of transmissive fine powder layer sensing is presented. The proposed technique may allow for the detection, identification, and characterization of inhomogeneous ultrafine powder layers which are effectively hundreds of times thinner than the incident wavelengths used to sense them. Such a technique may be useful during personnel screening processes (i.e., at an airport) and in industrial manufacturing environments where early detection and quantization of harmful airborne particulates can be a matter of security or safety. To our knowledge, the requisite science involved in such a novel W-band metasurface sensing technique has not been fully explored.

The space shuttle, a revolutionary spacecraft that has played a significant role in human space exploration, was composed of various advanced materials that were carefully selected to meet the extreme demands of spaceflight. This review paper provides a comprehensive examination of the materials historically employed in the construction of space shuttles and explores the latest trends shaping the field. The evolution of space shuttle materials is traced from the inception of the space program to contemporary missions, highlighting key milestones, challenges, and breakthroughs. Emphasis is placed on the critical role that materials play in the overall performance, safety, and sustainability of space shuttles. The paper begins by elucidating the diverse requirements that materials must fulfill in the harsh and complex environment of space, encompassing extreme temperatures, radiation exposure, and mechanical stresses. A detailed analysis of the materials utilized in the fabrication of various shuttle components, such as thermal protection systems, structural elements, and propulsion systems, is presented. Special attention is given to the challenges posed by re-entry and the strategies employed to mitigate heat-related issues. Furthermore, the review explores recent innovations and emerging materials that are reshaping the landscape of space shuttle design. Advancements in nanotechnology, composite materials, and additive manufacturing are discussed in the context of their potential applications for enhancing shuttle performance and reducing mission costs. The paper also addresses the importance of sustainability in space exploration, exploring materials with lower environmental impact and improved recyclability. The review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on the future of materials, considering ongoing research, development, and the potential incorporation of cutting-edge technologies. Insights are provided into how the evolving landscape of materials science may influence the design and manufacturing processes of the next generation of space vehicles. This paper provides an overview of the materials used in the construction of the space shuttle, including their properties, applications, and challenges. The materials used in the space shuttle are critical in ensuring the safety, performance, and longevity of the spacecraft, and understanding their characteristics and performance in space is crucial for the advancement of aerospace engineering.

This article illustrates a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted role of hydrocarbons in the field of material science, bridging the gap between theoretical understanding and practical applications, also providing acumens into future perceptions. Hydrocarbons, which consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms, play a critical role in numerous sectors due to their extensive presence in both natural and synthetic environments. The study categorizes hydrocarbons into diverse categories such as alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, and aromatic hydrocarbons, each owning unique features that influence their physical properties and applications. This inclusive review comprehends the fundamental aspects of hydrocarbons, their indispensable compounds and elements, and their substantial contributions to material science, including their utilization in coatings, composites, and polymers. Besides, the article investigates into case studies that demonstrate the theoretical advancements and practical applications of hydrocarbons, as well as their latent in addressing future energy and environmental encounters. By investigative the role of hydrocarbons in the expansion of innovative materials and their implications for sustainability and technological progress, the article accentuates the significance of hydrocarbons in evolving the field of material science and technology.

Technology is in the way to reach in its climax but the basic understanding of science in many phenomena is still awaited despite the fact that nature witnesses. Scientific research reveals strong analogy between electron and photon. Atoms of solid state behavior that execute suitable electron transitions excite electron at target while absorbing heat energy at shunt level. De-excitation of electron under the pulling force of nearby unfilled state available at bare surface of atom results into depicting force energy shape-like Gaussian distribution called unit photon where inertia involved at each stage of changing state. The continuous cycles of excitation and de-excitation of electron confined within inter-state (filled to unfilled and unfilled to filled) result into generate force energy in wave-like fashion propagating in the inter-state electron’s gap of adjacent atoms in the lattice; in each unit photon, the force energy configures under electron’s trajectory while excitation period is due to inertia-levitation-inertia behaviors and force energy configures under electron’s trajectory while de-excitation period is due to inertia-gravitation-inertia behaviors. Silicon atom is considered as a model system of it. Uninterrupted confined inter-state electron-dynamics results into configure force energy that can travel immeasurable length where interruption from the point of generation termed it an overt photon –a long length photon. Such photons increase wavelength under decreasing energy when travelling in the medium other than inter-state electron’s gap where light glow is observed on attaining wavelength of their certain density in the visible range. They act as merged photons or squeezed photons while interacting (coordinating) to suitable medium, thus, on merging or squeezing convert into heat energy where atoms like silicon again configure them into force energy under the trajectory of electrons. Thus, heat energy dealing to suitable matter at atomic level transforms into photon energy. Involving levitation behavior in the course of exciting electron and gravitation behavior in the course of de-exciting electron validates that force of repulsion or attraction in certain materials engages the phenomenon of levitism or gravitism where inertia is exempted. Here, heat energy and photon energy explore matter at electron level. Thus, devise science to describe.

The objective of this article: analysis of research trends on the topic "Materials Science for Energy Engineering" for the period 2012-2021. Materials and methods: bibliometric analysis of data from the Scopus abstract database.Results. It is shown that this topic is developing faster than the general energy topics.The key feature of the research trends is a significant increase in work on the development of materials for renewable energy and a decrease in the number of publications related to nuclear power.The primary goal of many studies is to increase the efficiency of renewable energy production through the use of new materials.The importance of the topic is evidenced by the emergence of new journals that quickly entered the first quartile of the abstract databases Scopus and Web of Science, for example: ACS Applied Energy Materials.There has been a significant increase of interest in perovskite solar cells, layered semiconductors, triboelectric nanogenerators, cobalt compounds, sulfur compounds, and oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction during Electrolysis.Publications on electric batteries are well represented in all time intervals. The focus is on electrode materials and battery efficiency.

A novel electrophoretic technique to improve the sensing capabilities of charged particles in solution is presented. The proposed technique may improve the ability of metasurfaces to sense charged particles in solution by forcing them to preferentially sediment within metasurface regions of greatest sensitivity. Such a technique may be useful in various sensing applications, such as in biological, polymer, or environmental sciences, where low concentration particles in solution are of interest. The electrophoretic technique was simulated and experimentally tested using latex nanoparticles in solution. The results suggest that, using this technique, one may theoretically increase the particle density within the metasurface regions of greatest sensitivity by nearly 1900% in comparison to random sedimentation due to evaporation. Such an increase in particle density within the regions of greatest sensitivity may facilitate more precise material property measurements and enhance identification and detection capabilities of metasurfaces to low concentration particles in solution. It was experimentally verified that the electrophoretic technique enabled the preferential gathering of latex nanoparticles within the most sensitive metasurface regions, resulting in 900% - 1700% enhancements in metasurface sensing capabilities.

There is an increasing need for compact low-cost NMR apparatus that can be used on the laboratory bench and in the field. There are four main usage variants of usage: a) Time-Domain apparatus, particularly for physical measurements; b) Frequency Domain apparatus, particularly for chemical analysis, c) NMR Cryoporometry apparatus for measuring pore-size distributions, and d) MRI apparatus for imaging. For all of these, variable temperature capability may be vital. We have developed compact low-cost apparatus targeted at these applications. We discuss a hand-held size NMR spectrometer, and three different holdable NMR magnets, with sufficiently large internal bores for the Lab-Tools compact Peltier thermo-electric cooled variable-temperature probes. Currently the NMR Spectrometer is very suitable for a), NMR time-domain relaxation and c), NMR Cryoporometry. With a suitable high-homogeneity magnet it is also appropriate for simple use b), spectral analysis, or, with a suitable gradient set, use d), MRI. Together, the NMR Spectrometer, one of the NMR variable-temperature probes, and any of these NMR magnets make an excellent NMR Cryoporometers, as demonstrated by this paper, and previously published research. Equally, they make versatile general-purpose variable-temperature NMR systems for materials-science.

This study explores the advanced integration of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric systems in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) to optimize performance. OTEC, a promising renewable energy source, needs help in efficiency maximization. We address this by implementing Bi2Te3 thermoelectric generators (TEGs), known for their high thermoelectric efficiency at low-temperature differences. Our research encompasses a comprehensive simulation and analysis of these TEGs in OTEC systems, examining material properties, system design, and environmental impact. We present a novel approach to integrating these TEGs, optimizing their arrangement, and interfacing with the OTEC cycle to enhance overall efficiency. The study also investigates the durability and cost-effectiveness of Bi2Te3 TEGs in marine environments. Results demonstrate a significant improvement in energy conversion efficiency, highlighting the potential of Bi2Te3 TEGs in sustainable ocean energy exploitation. This work advances material science in renewable energy, providing valuable insights into the practical application of thermoelectric materials in large-scale energy systems. It paves the way for future research on material optimization and system integration, essential for developing efficient and sustainable OTEC systems.

Sometimes there are clear and natural limits to the scope of action of a science, and in other cases they are simply convenient ones. Geographic Information Science (GISc) is a transversal science, with contacts with all geosciences but also with various formal sciences such as Mathematics, Logic and Computer Science. A first approach to specifying the limits of a science is through its definition. Definitions of GISc are often so expansive that they have been rightly criticized for practicing gerrymandering, in particular with the rest of the geosciences. To avoid this, an operational definition is proposed that places GISc among the sciences that handle Data and not Information. This solves the gerrymandering problem without really implying a significant cut of what is usually considered within GISc. As an unforeseen consequence, this delimitation will allow it to be characterized as Formal Science, leaving it as the only geoscience with this characteristic.

Both the sustainability discourse and the debate on citizen science are strongly focused on the natural and technical sciences. Yet, numerous participatory research activities can be identified in the social sciences and humanities that address sustainability issues of various kinds. These have hardly been studied so far, and their contribution to addressing sustainability challenges is poorly known. The study investigates which sustainability topics are taken up by citizen science in the humanities and social sciences, which factors influence the choice of topics, and its implications. For this purpose, the concept of Citizen Social Science (CSS) is taken up and sustainability is operationalized via the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and its specific Targets. Based on a collection of CSS activities in Germany, the addressed sustainability topics are identified accordingly. It is then analyzed how these patterns depend on the main characteristics of CSS projects. The findings indicate a focus on three SDGs related to education, sustainable cities and partnerships for the Goals, while at the same time the project consortia are very heterogeneous. CSS shows particular strengths here through its multi-stakeholder approach. Going forward, the linkage of Citizen Science to the SDGs needs to be further formalized so that its transformative effects can be incorporated into SDG monitoring and the scientific institutions need additional incentives to participate in CSS.

Publicly-funded scientists have a responsibility to engage with the public on scientific information, but are lacking a standardized framework and assessment strategy to do it well. The PEPS (Public Engagement Practices for Scientists) Method is an outcomes-centered framework employing standardized pedagogical methods with quantifiable outcomes. This approach reveals that scientists often have unrealistic expectations for achieving affective learning outcomes (i.e. changing views from anti- to pro-vaccine) by solely cognitive learning strategies (i.e. supplying data). The PEPS Method can serve as a roadmap for standardized science communication assessments, complementing existing science communication training programs for the next generation of scientists.

Participating in collaborative scientific research through citizen science, a component of open science holds significance for both citizen scientists and professional researchers. Yet, the ad-vantages for those orchestrating citizen science initiatives are often overlooked. Organizers en-compass a diverse range, including governmental entities, non-governmental organizations, corporations, universities, and institutions like libraries. For libraries, citizen science holds im-portance by fostering heightened civic and research interests, promoting scientific publishing, and contributing to overall scientific progress. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the specific ways in which citizen science can benefit libraries and how libraries can effectively utilize citizen science to achieve their goals. The paper is based on a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles that discuss the direct benefits of citizen science on libraries. A list of the main benefits of citizen science for libraries has been compiled from the literature. Additionally, the reasons why it is crucial for libraries to communicate the benefits of citizen science for their operations have been highlighted, particu-larly in terms of encouraging other libraries to actively engage in citizen science projects.

Participatory landscape conservation is an innovative approach that weaves theory and practice to bridge the gap between theoretical models and practical applications. Intertropical regions as the case of Mexico face challenges to conciliate regional governability, social justice, and nature conservation. The State of Michoacan is one of these regions where the challenges exacerbate since nature conservation is last due to its ongoing territorial disputes. We implemented the participatory landscape conservation approach by creating a complementary form of protected areas with ongoing conflicts, drought conditions, and extreme poverty. We conducted participatory mapping and land cover/use analyses as main methodological tools to reach consensus among stakeholders. We integrated, macro, micro and social scales to provide sound arguments to integrate local, scholar and policy makers perceptions. The outcomes of the participatory mapping analyses were assessed. The present papers provide evidence of the positive outcome of using a Participatory Landscape Conservation to establish a Biosphere Reserve, safeguarding one of the most biologically diverse and delicate ecosystems consisting of seasonally dry tropical forests within a rather disputed region. We discussed the relevance of our findings and compared them to ongoing regional and global trends in the light of other forms of establishing protected areas.

In the digital era in which over 4 billion people regularly access the internet, the conventional process of publishing scientific articles in academic journals following peer review is undergoing profound changes. Following physics and mathematics scholars who started to publish their work on the freely accessible arXiv server in the early 1990s, researchers of all disciplines increasingly publish scientific articles in the form of freely accessible and fully citeable preprints before or in parallel to conventional submission to academic journals for peer review. The full transition to open science, I argue in this study, requires to expand the education of students and young researchers to include scholarly communication in the digital era.

The Science-Sustainability poses an interdisciplinary paradox. On the one hand, the science for sustainability has increased in OECD economies in and in China as well as in the US in particular; on the other hand; the sustainability situation has worsened (Co2 emission has risen). On the face value, the adverse correlation shows a paradox. However, without explicating the science-sustainability relationship, it leads to a premature conclusion. In this study, we have drawn on three concrete questions for concrete answers. First, whether and how interdisciplinary sciences—energy science and environmental science—contribute to the sustainability. Second, whether and how the Sino-US inter-institutional analysis varies in the science-sustainability paradox. The empirical analysis from a panel data in the interdisciplinary and inter-institutional context show mixed patterns in three ways. First, the increase in the environmental science shows an improvement in the sustainability; the energy science shows a decline in the sustainability. Second, the Chinese environmental science has a comparative advantage to American environment science for the sustainability development, and the Chinese energy science has a comparative disadvantage to the US in the sustainability development. Third, the environmental science mediates the energy science in the science-sustainability relationships. Standing alone, the increase in the energy science harms sustainability; mediated by environmental science, it benefits sustainability. The study explains the adverse role of energy science in Jevons Paradox. The study also offers some policy paths for further research how capitalisms differently innovate, form strategies, and implement the practice.

The primary barrier to understanding visual and abstract information in STEM fields is representational competence the ability to generate, transform, analyze and explain representations. The relationship is known between the foundational visual literacy and the domain specific science literacy, however how science literacy is a function of science learning is still not well understood despite investigation across many fields. To support the improvement of students’ representational competence and promote learning in science, identification of visualization skills is necessary. This project details the development of an artificial neural network (ANN) capable of measuring and modeling visual science literacy (VSL) via neurological measurements using functional near infrared spectrometry (fNIRS). The developed model has the capacity to classify levels of scientific visual literacy allowing educators and curriculum designers the ability to create more targeted and immersive classroom resources such as virtual reality, to enhance the fundamental visual tools in science.

Motivated by experiments, we undertake an investigation of electronic structure reconstruction and its link to electrodynamic responses of monoclinic MoO$_2$. Using a combination of LDA band structure with DMFT for the subspace defined by the physically most relevant Mo $4d$-bands, we unearth the importance of multi-orbital electron interactions to MoO$_2$ parent compound. Supported by a microscopic description of quantum capacity we identify the implications of many-particle orbital reconstruction to understanding and evaluating voltage-capacity profiles intrinsic to MoO$_2$ battery material. Therein, we underline the importance of the dielectric function and optical conductivity in the characterisation of existing and candidate battery materials.

The present study examines the views of prospective science teachers in Colombia on creativity, employing a mixed-method approach that combines qualitative and quantitative techniques. This approach adapted and used an instrument previously developed by Diakidoy and Kanari [1] to explore student teachers' beliefs about creativity. The sample consisted of 152 science education students from two leading Colombian universities in representative cities. The findings align with previous international studies involving both practicing and trainee professionals, although subtle differences, likely due to cultural variations in the university settings, were observed. It emerged that future science teachers predominantly view creativity as an innate ability present in everyone and capable of development. Additionally, the study underscores the role of the classroom environment in fostering creativity, noting that effective creative expression also requires certain level of prior knowledge.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus emerged in Wuhan City, Hubei province of China at the end of 2019, has radically transformed the lives of people around the world. Due to its fast spreading, it is currently considered as a worldwide health, social and economic concern. The lack of knowledge on this area has encouraged academic sphere for extensive research, which is reflected in exponentially growing scientific literature in this area. However, current state of COVID-19 research reveals only early development of knowledge, while a comprehensive and in-depth overview remains neglected. Accordingly, the main aim of this paper is to fill the aforementioned gap in the literature and provide an extensive bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 research across science and social science research landscape, using innovative and sophisticated bibliometric approaches (e.g. Venn diagram, Biblioshiny descriptive statistics, VOSviewer co-occurrence network analysis, Jaccard distance cluster analysis, text mining based on logistic regression). The bibliometric analysis is based on the Scopus database including all relevant and latest information on COVID-19 related publications (n=16,866) in the first half of 2020. The empirical results indicate that there is still a lack of publications of COVID-19 and its implications in less-explored (non-health) sciences, especially in social sciences. Accordingly, the findings emphasize an importance of a comprehensive and in-depth approach considering different scientific disciplines in COVID-19 research. The understanding of the evolution of emerging scientific knowledge on COVID-19 is beneficial not only for scientific community but also for evidence-based policymaking in order to prevent and address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Variability is the predisposition of phenomena to assume different values over time. Variability is higher when the differences of cases from each other are larger or diverge from a specific value, such as arithmetic mean. This study focuses on the variability of research topics within and between research fields to explain, whenever possible, how the variability shapes the structure and dynamics of technological trajectories. Analysis of variability here applies the entropy and variance decomposition on main research fields in quantum technologies. Empirical evidence shows that variability in research topics is inversely proportional to the age of research fields. Inductive implications are that higher variability in research topics of recent scientific fields is due to uncertain dynamics that generates a heterogeneity of different technological trajectories some of them can growth and develop towards fruitful directions others can be dismissed. Hence the variability seems to be one of the drivers that shapes technological evolution and can provide policy and managerial implications to improve the scientific and technological forecasting that may support appropriate decisions of R&D investments towards promising research fields and technologies.

Dyslipidemia (Dys) is a disease characterised by abnormally high levels of lipids in the 1 blood. It causes the deposits of lipids on the arterial wall, leading to the insurgence of atherosclerosis, 2 i.e. the increased thickness of arterial walls, which finally increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. 3 Dyslipidemia is as comorbidity of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). A set of genes has been associated 4 with dyslipidemia, but examining the regulation of such genes in age and sex is still an open research 5 field. In this study, starting from publicly available databases, we select genes associated with 6 dyslipidemia and we analyse their basal level changes by means of age and sex. Also studying the 7 networks associated to the genes, we identify the rewiring changes showing that there exists a set of 8 genes whose expression changes with age in: artery tibial, artery aorta and blood. Finally, we report 9 about changes associated to gender atributes in the extracted data

Dyslipidemia (Dys) is a disease characterised by abnormally high levels of lipids in the blood. It causes the deposits of lipids on the arterial wall leading to the insurgence of atherosclerosis, i.e. the increased thickness of arterial walls, which finally increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Dyslipidemia is a comorbidity of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). A set of genes has been associated with dyslipidemia, but examining the regulation of such genes in age and sex is still an open research field. In this study, we select from publicly available databases the genes associated with dyslipidemia and analyse changes in the basal level of such genes by age and sex. Moreover, we also distinct differential rewiring of the related gene association network in males and females. Our results show that there exist a set of genes whose expression changes with age in artery tibial, artery aorta and blood. Moreover, there exist significant differences between sex.

Preprints is a multidisciplinary preprint platform that makes scientific manuscripts from all fields of research immediately available at www.preprints.org. Preprints is a free (not-for-profit) open access service supported by MDPI in Basel, Switzerland.

Hybrid carbon-silicon, carbon-nitrogen, and carbon-boron clathrates are new classes of Type I carbon-based clathrates that have been identified by first-principles computational methods by substituting atoms on the carbon clathrate framework with Si, N, and/or B atoms. The hybrid framework is further stabilized by embedding appropriate guest atoms within the cavities of the cage structure. Series of hybrid carbon-silicon, carbon-boron, carbon-nitrogen, and carbon-silicon-nitrogen clathrates have been shown to exhibit small positive values of the energy of formation, indicating that they may be metastable compounds and amenable to fabrication. In this overview article, the energy of formation, elastic properties, and electronic properties of selected hybrid carbon-based clathrates are summarized. Theoretical calculations that explore the potential applications of hybrid carbon-based clathrates as energy storage materials, electronic materials, or hard materials are presented. The computational results identify compositions of hybrid carbon-silicon and carbon-nitrogen clathrates that may be considered candidate materials for use as either electrode materials for Li-ion batteries or as hydrogen storage materials. Prior processing routes for fabricating selected hybrid carbon-based clathrates are highlighted and difficulties encountered are discussed.

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences suggested the definition of science literacy emphasize how crucial understanding the scientific process and the ability to evaluate conflicting scientific evidence is. The purpose of this article is to present an evidence-supported curriculum covering the fundamentals of logic, reasoning, and argumentation skills to address the emphasized basic knowledge, skills, and abilities required to be scientifically literate, which will prepare the public to understand and engage with science meaningfully. An analytic-synthetic approach toward understanding the notion of public is taken using a theoretical biomimetics framework that identifies naturally occurring objects or phenomena that descriptively captures the essence of a construct to facilitate creative problem-solving. In the present case, the problem being solved is how to reconcile what is meant by public, how it ought to be interpreted, the different levels of confidence in science that exist, and various understandings of science all with one another. The results demonstrate there is an inherent denotative-connotative inconsistency in the traditional notion of public that can be explicated through the concept of a fractal allowing for comprehension of the relationship between public confidence in, and understanding of, science.

The construction industry, a major player in economic development, is facing increased pressure to address sustainability concerns amidst rapid population growth and urbanization. With global projections indicating a significant rise in building demand by 2050 , sustainability emerges as a crucial focus area and paradigm shift to enhance environmental friendliness, improved quality, and project outcomes. The UAE, renowned for its vibrant construction industry, offers a unique context for examining the integration of sustainable practices. The growing use of sustainable construction practices is growing in the U.A.E., where the built environment plays a key role in economic growth and environmental stewardship. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) aims to foster long-term sustainability while enhancing the standard of living for current as well as future generations by integrating social, environmental, and economic aspects within construction projects, while also reevaluating conventional sustainable development frameworks and embracing a Triple -Bottom Line approach. Through an exploration of the significance of sustainable construction materials, this researcher underscores the multifaceted benefits of locally sourced, recyclable, and renewable materials in reducing environmental impacts, fostering economic and social well-being, and improving overall project performance, and project management practices. The construction sector's role in economic development and its substantial environmental impact are discussed in, alignment with sustainable construction materials, sustainable construction practices, and the need to enhance environmental sustainability; and create healthier built environments. In the realm of sustainable construction materials, project management knowledge areas encompass a range of factors. These include the properties of materials sourced regionally;, the incorporation of recycled content;, considerations for indoor air quality, energy, and water efficiency parameters;, and how these properties relate to project scope, scheduling constraints, and challenges. Additionally, the availability of resources and competency levels, quality control standards, specifications, communication strategies, and stakeholder involvement play crucial roles. It is important to assess both the positive and negative risks associated with these elements across construction projects.

Biomimetic stimuli-responsive materials can respond to various external stimuli in the form of structural or morphological transformations by actively or passively converting input energy into mechanical energy. They are the core element of soft actuators for typical smart devices like soft robots, artificial muscles, intelligent sensors and nanogenerators. While significant progresses have been made in bioinspired stimuli-responsive materials, they have not yet achieved the remarkable properties in biological systems. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in biomimetic stimuli-responsive materials that are instrumental for soft actuators. Different stimuli-responsive principles for soft actuators are firstly discussed, including fluidic, electrical, thermal, magnetic, light and chemical stimuli. We further summarize the state-of-the-art stimuli-responsive materials for soft actuators and explore the advantages and disadvantages of using electroactive polymers, magnetic soft composites, hydrogels, liquid crystal elastomers, shape memory alloys and chemical-responsive materials. Finally, we provide a critical outlook on the field of stimuli-responsive soft actuators, and emphasize the challenges in the process of their implementation to various industries.

Magnesium is a promising material. It has a remarkable mix of mechanical and biomedical properties that made it suitable for a vast range of applications. With alloying, many of these inherent properties can be further improved. Today, it is primarily used in the automotive, aerospace, and medical industry. However, magnesium has its own set of drawbacks which the industry and research community are actively addressing. Magnesium’s rapid corrosion is its most significant drawback, and it dramatically impeded magnesium’s growth and expansion into other applications. This article will review both the engineering and biomedical aspects and applications for magnesium and its alloys. It will also elaborate on the challenges the material faces, how they can be overcome, and its outlook.

Business processes are continuously evolving in order to adapt to changes due to various factors. One important process drift perspective yet to be investigated is the detection of branching condition changes in the process model. None of the existing process drift detection methods focus on detecting changes of branching conditions in process models. Existing branching condition detection methods do not take changes within the process into account, hence results are inadequate to represent the changes of decision criteria of the process. In this paper, we present a method which can detect branching condition changes in process models. The method takes both process models and event logs as input, and translates event logs into decision sequences for change points detection. The proposed method is evaluated by simulated event logs.

Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice, has attracted tremendous attention due to its exceptional properties and diverse applications. Synthesis methods play a crucial role in tailoring graphene's properties for specific applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in graphene synthesis techniques, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD), exfoliation, epitaxial growth, and chemical reduction. We discuss the principles, advantages, challenges, and applications associated with each method. Furthermore, emerging trends and future prospects in graphene synthesis are explored, with a focus on scalability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability.

The text examines the assessment of learning in science and the use of technologies like Scratch to enhance this process. Assessment is crucial for measuring progress and guiding teaching, especially in science where it fosters scientific skills and understanding. The study focuses on third-year secondary education students, evaluating the impact of Scratch on their learning compared to a gamification approach. Scratch, developed by MIT, is effective in interactive teaching and improves academic performance and student motivation. The research used an experimental design with a control group (gamification) and an experimental group (Scratch), measuring acquired knowledge through pretests and posttests. Results show that both groups significantly improved their knowledge, although the control group had a higher baseline initially. Students valued collaboration and playful learning. However, they faced technical challenges and highlighted the importance of teamwork. The study concludes that Scratch has great educational potential, suggesting improvements such as redesigning activities and increasing work sessions to maximize its effectiveness in learning and student motivation.

Background: Fold change is widely used in biomedical research to quantify the magnitude of group differences in omics variables. However, the exact calculation method is often not reported, leading to inconsistent results. This study re-evaluates different fold-change calculation methods and provides a clear preference. Methods: Data scenarios with different distributions of treatment/test and reference data were created to challenge the assumption of interchangeable calculation methods. The main difference lies in the definition of the expected values of the groups used to calculate the log ratio, which is the basis of the fold change calculation. In addition, a multi-omics biomedical dataset was analyzed. Results: Using the arithmetic mean as the expected value for the treatment and reference groups resulted in incorrect fold change values more frequently than other methods, especially when the standard deviations between subgroups differed widely. Conclusions: The inferior arithmetic mean method is often perceived as the standard, although mathematically different equations are possible that differ mainly in the estimation of the expected value. Alternatives that define expectation by median, geometric mean, or paired fold change combinations are less susceptible to violations of equal variances or similar treatment/reference distributions.

This study presents an innovative approach to interdisciplinary education by integrating principles of biology, engineering and art to foster holistic learning experiences for children. The focus lies on assembling mycelium bricks as engineered living materials with promising applications in sustainable construction. Through a collaborative group task, children engage in the hands-on creation of these bricks, gaining insights into mycology, biomaterials engineering and artistic expression. The curriculum introduces fundamental concepts of mycelial growth and its potential in sustainable material development. Children actively participate in fabricating 3D forms (negative and positive) using mycelium bricks, thereby gaining practical knowledge in shaping and moulding living materials. This hands-on experience enhances their understanding of biological processes and cultivates an appreciation for sustainable design principles. The group task encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity as children collaboratively compose structures using mycelium bricks. Integrating art into the activity adds a creative dimension, allowing participants to explore aesthetic aspects while reinforcing the project’s interdisciplinary nature. Conversations about the material’s end of life and decomposition are framed within the broader context of Nature’s cycles, facilitating an understanding of sustainability. This interdisciplinary pedagogical approach provides a model for educators seeking to integrate diverse fields of knowledge into a cohesive and engaging learning experience. The study contributes to the emerging field of biomimetics education, illustrating the potential of integrating living materials and 3D understanding activities to nurture a holistic understanding of science, engineering and artistic expression in young learners.

This study evaluated the grain size and high organic content from drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) in the properties of ceramics. Samples were studied using raw and oven dried DWTS at 110 °C in two granulometries (0.180 mm and 0.075 mm), with and without calcination (550 °C), as partial replacement of two soils commonly used in ceramic production. Specimens were prepared with 5, 10, and 20% DWTS and calcined at 950 °C to determine their chemical, physical, mineralogical and mechanical properties. The DWTS reduced the density and increased the absorption and shrinkage of the specimens after calcination. An increase in strength with up to 10% sludge, driven by the presence of fluxing agents, was verified. The processing method had little influence on the properties of ceramic with above 10% of sludge. In conclusion, the use of raw DWTS obtained better results with low energy usage for its reuse.

The 'big data revolution' has enabled novel types of analyses in the life sciences, facilitated by public sharing and reuse of datasets. Here, we review the prodigious potential of reusing publicly available datasets and the challenges, limitations and risks associated with it. Possible solutions to issues and research integrity considerations are also discussed. Due to the prominence, abundance and wide distribution of sequencing data, we focus on the reuse of publicly available sequence datasets. We define ‘successful reuse’ as the use of previously published data to enable novel scientific findings and use selected examples of such reuse from different disciplines to illustrate the enormous potential of the practice, while acknowledging their respective limitations and risks. A checklist to determine the reuse value and potential of a particular dataset is also provided. The open discussion of data reuse and the establishment of the practice as a norm has the potential to benefit all stakeholders in the life sciences.

In Nature, it is common for living plants and non-living plant tissues to consist of materials with anisotropic multilayer and non-homogenous structure. The structure of tissues determines their self-shaping and self-folding capabilities in response to a stimulus in order to activate different functionalities. Predetermined movements are realized according to changes in environmental conditions, which trigger the fibrous anisotropic structure of the plants’ material. In this study, we present the fabrication process of low-cost anisotropic multilayer materials that are capable of realizing complex movements caused by small temperature changes (<40 ^oC). The mismatch in the thermo-mechanical properties between three or more anisotropic thin layers creates responsive materials that alter their shape owing to the developed internal stresses. Isotropic layers can perform only bending movements, whereas anisotropic multilayer materials can perform bending, twisting or complex combined modes. The movements of the material can be controlled by forming anisotropic homogenous metallic strips over an anisotropic polymer. As a result, inexpensive responsive materials can be developed to passively react to a very broad range of thermal requirements. We studied the major parameters that affect the sensitivity of the developed materials, as well as their failure modes and crack formation under thermal fatigue conditions.

Data science is facing the following major challenges: (1) developing scalable cross-disciplinary capabilities, (2) dealing with the increasing data volumes and their inherent complexity, (3) building tools that help to build trust, (4) creating mechanisms to efficiently operate in the domain of scientific assertions, (5) turning data into actionable knowledge units and (6) promoting data interoperability. As a way to overcome these challenges, we further develop the proposals by early Internet pioneers for Digital Objects as encapsulations of data and metadata made accessible by persistent identifiers. In the past decade, this concept was revisited by various groups within the Research Data Alliance and put in the context of the FAIR Guiding Principles for findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable data. The basic components of a FAIR Digital Object (FDO) as a self-contained, typed, machine-actionable data package are explained. A survey of use cases has indicated the growing interest of research communities in FDO solutions. We conclude that the FDO concept has the potential to act as the interoperable federative core of a hyperinfrastructure initiative such as the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).

The recent remarkable progress in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has renewed the discussion on the possibility of human-level AI. Despite the difficulty of the problem and the presence of many large gaps and challenges, most people working in the field think that human-level AI is achievable, but they disagree on the date. In this paper, I briefly discuss the possibility of human-level AI from the perspective of two traditions in the Islamic world, namely Kalam and Sufism, and despite their different mode of investigation, they converge to the same conclusion on this topic.

We introduce Get Free Copy (getfreecopy.com), a web-based platform designed to streamline the search for biomedical literature across major repositories like arXiv, bioRxiv, medRxiv, and PubMed Central (PMC). Addressing challenges posed by paywalls and fragmented databases, it offers a unified interface for efficient retrieval of free, legitimate copies of biomedical literature. The platform's implementation involves a Node.js backend and dynamic front-end display, enhancing accessibility and research efficiency. As an open-source project, Get Free Copy represents a significant contribution to the open-access movement, inviting global researcher collaboration for further development.

We demonstrate a proof-of-principle of simple all-solid-state post-compression setup for low energy, high repetition rate laser pulses, where spectral broadening was performed using a combination of highly nonlinear bulk materials in a simple single pass geometry. 75 fs, 210 nJ pulses from an amplified 76 MHz, 15.7 W Yb:KGW oscillator after sequential spectral broadening in ZnS and YAG samples of 2 mm and 15 mm thickness, respectively, were compressed to 37 fs by means of Gires–Tournois interferometric mirrors. The post-compressed pulses with an average power of 11.47 W demonstrated reasonable spatial-spectral homogeneity of the beam with the spectral overlap parameter V>83% and good beam quality with Mx2=1.28 and My2=1.14.

This article explores the lack of unanimity regarding the nomenclature used to refer to the field of research that explores the intersection between art and science. A series of examples of nomenclatures and the context in which they are applied are listed and referenced. The diverse terminology reflects the heterogeneity, transdisciplinarity, and complexity of a research field in full expansion.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the degree of openness of scientific articles on bioeconomy. Based on a WoS corpus of 2,489 articles published between 2015 and 2019, we calculated bibliometric indicators, explored the openness of each paper and assessed the share of journals, countries and research areas of these articles. The results show a sharp increase and diversification of articles in the field of bioeconomy, with a beginning long tail distribution. 45.6% of the articles are freely available, and the share of OA papers is steadily increasing, from 31% in 2015 to 52% in 2019. Gold is the most important variant of OA. Open access is low in the applied research areas of chemical, agricultural and environmental engineering but higher in the domains of energy and fuels, forestry, and green and sustainable science and technology. The UK and the Netherlands have the highest rates of OA papers, followed by Spain and Germany. The funding rate of OA papers is higher than of non-OA papers. This is the first bibliometric study on open access to articles on bioeconomy. The results can be useful for the further development of OA editorial and funding criteria in the field of bioeconomy.

A naked human eye can perceive objects down to a millimeter length. While lenses and microscopes have overcome this limit, the human mind still lacks perspective when navigating conventional scales (1), especially in the range that are less palpable to naked human eye (2,3). This problem is particularly acute in the context of science communication, where the conventional scale bar units facilitate little comprehension regarding the perception for factorial size differences (3). Here we aim to bridge the gap of scale factors and perspectives using a universal toolkit of objects, which can help comprehend the relative change in length dimensions up to 13 orders of magnitude difference. We further have demonstrated the use of such a universal object toolkit as a length perceptive scale by illustrating and narrating biological phenomena. The meter to picometer ‘length perceptive scale’ proposed here has the potential to cover majority of length scales present in the biological realm, and is analogous to the time compression methods widely used in explaining cosmos timeline (4). Our toolkit can also be calibrated according to the users need in their scientific communication and illustrations, which will aid the readers’ benefit in understanding the length scale perception of illustrated phenomenon.

The understanding of the issues that affect the training of information professionals requires reflection on the impact of Digital Information and Communication Technologies in the current working world, characterized by the rupture of the notion of space / time and the crossing of jurisdictions and professional boundaries, where dilemmas pedagogies to qualify these professionals considering future perspectives. It was based on the assumption that "studies of graduates" are subsidies for the evaluation of the educational system in face of the demands of in the labor market, helping in the progression of the researches in information, education and work. The objective was to map the results obtained in the studies of graduates promoted in the postgraduate and undergraduate courses in Information Science and Librarianship to verify if the demands pointed out in the surveys with graduates are in line with the studies of Education and Training, the orientations of the National Curricular Guidelines (DCN) and the regulatory actions of the Federal Library Board (CFB). The sample consisted of 45 studies published in CI journals on their associated areas, in the Brazilian context, from 2000 to 2018, of which only 10 articles related to the Library Sciences were considered for the qualitative analysis of this initial phase. to enable a comparative analysis between the proposals of the DCN, the critical analysis of the academic area of ​​CI in the studies on education and professional formation (pedagogical projects and curricula) and the orientations of the class councils. The results were categorized according to the reflection of the graduates about their education, the experience of education, vision about professional practice and the labor market; and followed the structure of the DCN axes: profile; skills and abilities; curricular contents, internships and complementary activities; course structure and institutional evaluation. Prevalence of studies on the identification of graduates (gender, age group, employment and work place) was predominant; few focused on salary aspects; and there were no questions about cultural habits or perceptions about changes in the world of work. Results on issues related to job placement and employability have indicated the need to expand the range of possibilities that go beyond traditional information units and the importance of internships for understanding new virtual work spaces. The dimension of the academic formation was evaluated questioning the compatibility of the disciplines with the demands of the labor market and the satisfaction of the graduates with the course and profession, being indicated as more important contents for the professional life the more technical disciplines and that characterize the course of Librarianship, complemented by those related to management; and with less relevance to the language subjects; marketing; statistic; information and information technology, as opposed to the flexibility proposed by the DCN, adopted after 2002. It is concluded that the process has been guided by isolated initiatives, and that the collective debate involving university and the professional world lacks actions for the construction of dialogue, which may result in the definition of pedagogical and curricular projects suited to the demands of graduates in their regions of origin and demands of the world of work.

Chemistry is the last natural science discipline to embrace prepublishing, namely the publication of non-peer reviewed scientific articles on the internet. After a brief insight into the origins and the purpose of prepublishing in science, we conduct a concrete analysis of the concrete situation, aiming at providing an answer to several questions. Why the chemistry community has been late in embracing prepublishing? Is this in relation with the slow acceptance of open access publishing by the same community? Will prepublishing become a common habit also for chemistry scholars?

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their unique properties and promising applications in various fields such as electronics, optoelectronics, bioimaging, and sensing. The synthesis of GQDs is a critical step in harnessing their potential, and numerous methods have been developed to produce GQDs with specific properties. This review provides an overview of the different techniques employed for synthesizing GQDs, including top-down and bottom-up approaches. Furthermore, it discusses the advantages, limitations, and potential applications of each method, offering insights into the future direction of GQD synthesis research.

Optical polarizers are essential components for the selection and manipulation of light polarization states in optical systems. Over the past decade, the rapid advancement of photonic technologies and devices has led to the development of a range of novel optical polarizers, opening avenues for many breakthroughs and expanding applications across diverse fields. Particularly, two-dimensional (2D) materials, known for their atomic thin film structures and unique optical properties, have become attractive for implementing optical polarizers with high performance and new features that were not achievable before. This paper reviews recent progress in 2D-material-based optical polarizers. First, an overview of key properties of various 2D materials for realizing optical polarizers is provided. Next, the state-of-the-art optical polarizers based on 2D materials, which are categorized into spatial-light devices, fiber devices, and integrated waveguide devices, are reviewed and compared. Finally, we discuss the current challenges of this field as well as the exciting opportunities for future technological advances.

Tungsten fibre-reinforced tungsten composites (Wf/W) have been in development to overcome the inherent brittleness of tungsten as one of the most promising candidate for the first wall and divertor armour material in a future fusion power plant. As the development of Wf/W continues, the fracture toughness of the composite is one of the main design drivers. In this contribution the efforts on size upscaling of Wf/W based on Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) is shown together with fracture mechanical tests of two different size samples of Wf/W produced by CVD. Three-point bending tests according to ASTM E399 for brittle materials were used to get a first estimation of the toughness. A provisional fracture toughness value of up to 346MPam1/2 was calculated for the as-fabricated material. As the material does not show a brittle fracture in the as-fabricated state, the J-Integral approach based on the ASTM E1820 was additionally applied for this state. A maximum value of the J-integral of 41kJ/m2 (134,8MPam1/2) was determined for the largest samples. Post mortem investigations were employed to detail the active mechanisms and crack propagation.

Public trust in science was tested and relied on during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, which has shaped global events since the WHO declaration in March 11, 2020. Public trust has been impacted through the government recommendations and mandates informed by public health guidance, including non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical interventions. The free-flow of ideas and in-formation so essential to the functioning of science has faced unprecedented challenge from widespread censorship in both the media and in scientific journals. This has created a poisoned environment for the building of trust between science and society. Scientific norms and ac-countability must be restored in order to rebuild the vital relationship between scientists and the public they serve.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of thermocompression conditions on lignocellulosic biomass such as sugarcane bagasse (SCB) in the production of 100% binderless bio-based materials. Five parameters were investigated: pressure applied (7-102 MPa), molding temperature (60-240°C), molding time (5-30 min), fiber/fine particle ratio (0/100-100/0) and moisture content (0-20%). These parameters affected the properties and chemical composition of the materials. The density ranged from 1198 to 1507 kg/m3, the flexural modulus from 0.9 to 6.9 GPa and the flexural strength at breaking point from 6.1 to 43.6 MPa. Water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) respectively ranged from 21% to 240% and from 9% to 208%. Higher mechanical properties were obtained using SCB with fine particles, low moisture content (4-10%), high temperature (≥ 200°C) and pressure (≥ 68 MPa), while water resistance was improved using more severe thermocompression conditions with the highest temperature (240°C) and time (30 min) or a higher moisture content (≥ 12.5%). Correlations were noted between the mechanical properties and density, while the material obtained with only fine particles had the highest mechanical properties and density. Material obtained with a 30 min molding time had the lowest WA and TS due to internal chemical reorganization followed by hemicellulose hydrolysis into water-soluble extractables.

Smelting used to be less efficient in the past; therefore, wastes obtained from historical processing at smelter plants usually contain certain quantities of valuable metals. Upon the extraction of useful metal elements, metallurgical slag can be repurposed as an alternative mineral raw material in the building sector. A case study was conducted, which included an investigation of the physico-chemical, mineralogical, and microstructural properties of Pb-Zn slag found at the historic landfill near the Topilnica Veles smelter in North Macedonia. The slag was sampled using drill holes. The mineralogical and microstructural analysis revealed that the Pb-Zn slag is a very complex and inhomogeneous alternative raw material with utilizable levels of metals, specifically Pb (2.3 wt%), Zn (7.1 wt%), and Ag (27.5 ppm). Crystalline mineral phases wurtzite, sphalerite, galena, cerussite, akermanite, wüstite, monticellite, franklinite, and zincite were identified in the analyzed samples. The slag’s matrix consisted of alumino-silicates, amorphous silicates, and mixtures of spinel and silicates. Because the extraction of Pb, Zn, and Ag has economic potential, the first reutilization stage will be to convert metal concentrates into their collective concentrate, from which the maximum amount of these valuable elements may be taken out. This will include combination of gravity concentration and separation techniques. The next step is to assess the Pb-Zn slag’s potential applications in civil engineering based on its mineralogical and physico-mechanical properties. Alumino-silicates, amorphous silicates, and mixtures of spinel and silicates present in Pb-Zn slag, which contain high concentrations of SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and Fe2O3, are suitable for use in cementitious building composites. The goal of this research is to suggest a solution for closing the circle of slag's reutilization in terms of Zero Waste principles, so it is critical to thoroughly investigate the material and establish methods and preparation processes, as well as ways of concentrating useful components into commercial products.

Smelting used to be less efficient in the past, so wastes obtained from historical processing at smelter plants usually contain certain quantities of valuable metals. A case study was conducted, which included an investigation of the physicochemical, mineralogical, and microstructural properties of raw material found at the historic slag pond near the Topilnica Veles smelter in North Macedonia. The Pb-Zn slag was sampled using traditional geophysical methods such as drill holes and pitholes. The mineralogical and microstructural analysis revealed that the Pb-Zn slag is a very complex and inhomogeneous alternative raw material with utilizable levels of metals, specifically Pb (2.24 wt%), Zn (7.10 wt%), and Ag (27.53 ppm). Amorphous phase, lead alloys, zinc alloys, wurtzite, sphalerite, galena, cerussite, elemental silver, elemental copper, elemental iron, magnetite, spinel, rutile, hematite, and troilite were also identified through qualitative mineralogical analysis. The glassy matrix composed of spinel, silicates, and mixed spinel-silicate is the most abundant constituent in slag composition. The various potential applications of the slag are possible based on its mineralogical and geochemical properties. Because the extraction of Pb, Zn, and Ag has certain economic potential, the next step, which will include gravity concentration and magnetic separation procedures, will be to form metal concentrates into their collective concentrate, from which the maximum amount of silver can be extracted. Slag's amorphous spinel, silicate, and mixed spinel-silicate phases, which contain high concentrations of SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and Fe2O3, are suitable for use in building materials such as cement clinker, filler, or aggregate for concrete or mortar. The goal of this research is to close the circle of slag's reutilization potential in terms of Net Zero and Zero Waste principles, so it is critical to thoroughly investigate the material and establish methods and preparation processes, as well as ways of concentrating useful components into commercial products.

Fire behavior of natural rubber latex foam under different thickness conditions(d=1,2and 5cm)were explored though a little of experiments by using the self-built small scale experimental platform. It can be shown that the flame spread law of thermally thin and thermally thickness are different. Natural rubber latex foam with thickness of 2cm show higher fire risk, which value of flame spread rate, maximum flame height, maximum mass loss rate and maximum temperature is 0.00293m/s, 851.875mm, 1.83g/s, 948K,repectively.That may because the thickness of residue formed of thermally thick materials is larger than the thin one, obstructing the contact of the natural rubber latex foam with fresh air .In addition, a special phenomenon is noticed that during the second stage, the bottom unburned zone located in the four edges(thermally thin material) and middle player(thermally thick material).

The use of naturally available materials not conforming to traditional specifications or standards, in the base and sub-base layers of road pavement structures, stabilised with New-age (Nano) Modified Emulsions (NME), have been tested, implemented and successfully verified through Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) in South Africa. This was made possible through the development and use of a design procedure addressing fundamental principles and based on scientific concepts, which are universally applicable. The understanding of and incorporation of the chemical interaction between the mineralogy of the materials and a NME stabilising agent (compatibility between the chemistry of the reactive agents and material mineralogy) into the design approach is key to achieving the required engineering properties. Stabilised materials evaluation is done using tests indicative of the basic engineering properties (physics) of compressive strengths, tensile strengths and durability. This article describes the basic materials design approach developed to ensure that organofunctional nano-silane modified emulsions can successfully be used for pavement layer construction utilising naturally available materials, at a low risk. The enablement of the use of naturally available materials in all pavement layers can have a considerable impact on the unit cost and life-cycle costs of road transportation infrastructure. TRANSLATE with x English ArabicHebrewPolish BulgarianHindiPortuguese CatalanHmong DawRomanian Chinese SimplifiedHungarianRussian Chinese TraditionalIndonesianSlovak CzechItalianSlovenian DanishJapaneseSpanish DutchKlingonSwedish EnglishKoreanThai EstonianLatvianTurkish FinnishLithuanianUkrainian FrenchMalayUrdu GermanMalteseVietnamese GreekNorwegianWelsh Haitian CreolePersian TRANSLATE with COPY THE URL BELOW Back EMBED THE SNIPPET BELOW IN YOUR SITE Enable collaborative features and customize widget: Bing Webmaster Portal Back

The review starts by highlighting the significance of nuclear power plants in contemporary world, especially its indispensable role in the global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. Then, it describes the impact of irradiation on microstructure and mechanical properties of reactor structural materials. The main part provides the reader with a thorough overview of crystal plasticity models developed to address the irradiation effects so far. All three groups of most important materials are included. Namely, the Zr alloys used for fuel cladding, austenitic stainless steels used for reactor internals and ferritic steels used for reactor pressure vessel. Other materials, especially those considered for construction of future fission and fusion nuclear power plants, are also mentioned. The review pays also special attention to ion implantation and instrumented nanoindentation which are a common way to substitute costly and time-consuming neutron irradiation campaigns.

Citizen science has emerged as a potent approach for environmental monitoring, leveraging the collective efforts of volunteers to gather data at unprecedented scales. Within the framework of the I-CHANGE project, MeteoTracker, a citizen science initiative, was employed to collect and analyze meteorological measurements. This paper presents the results of our analysis, demonstrating the effectiveness of citizen science in generating valuable environmental data. Through MeteoTracker, volunteers contributed to a comprehensive dataset, enabling insights into local weather patterns and trends. Our findings underscore the potential of citizen science to augment traditional monitoring efforts and inform decision-making processes in environmental research and management. The paper discusses the methodology employed, including data collection and statistical analysis techniques. Results highlight the reliability and accuracy of citizen-generated data, as well as the strengths of the MeteoTracker platform. The implications of our findings for environmental research, policy development, and public engagement are discussed, along with recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of citizen science initiatives in environmental monitoring.

The term artificial intelligence refers to the field of computer science that deals with the design and implementation of computer systems that mimic elements of human behavior that imply basic intelligence: learning, adaptability, inference, contextual understanding, and problem solving among others. Artificial intelligence is a point of intersection between multiple sciences such as computer science, psychology, philosophy, neurology, linguistics and engineering science, with the aim of synthesizing intelligent behavior, with elements of reasoning, learning and adaptation to the environment, while it is usually applied to specially made machines or computers.

Within rehabilitation, there is great need for a simple method to monitor wheelchair use, especially whether it is active or passive. For this purpose, an existing measurement technique was extended with a method for detecting self or attendant pushed wheelchair propulsion. The validity was determined by comparison with manual annotation of wheelchair use. Twenty-four amputation and stroke patients completed a semi-structured course of active and passive wheelchair use. Based on a machine learning approach, a method was developed that detected the type of movement. The machine learning method was trained based on the data of a single wheel sensor as well as a setup using an additional sensor on the frame. The method showed high accuracy (F1 = 0.886, frame and wheel sensor) even if only a single wheel sensor was used (F1 = 0.827). The developed and validated measurement method is ideally suited to easily determine wheelchair use and the corresponding activity level of patients in rehabilitation.

A modern binary executable is a composition of various networks. Control flow graphs are commonly used to represent an executable program in labeled datasets used for classification tasks. Control flow and term representations are widely adopted, but provide only a partial view of program semantics. This study is an empirical analysis of the networks composing malicious binaries in order to provide a complete representation of the structural properties of a program. This is accomplished by the measurement of structural properties of program networks in a malicious binary executable dataset. We demonstrate the presence of Scale-Free properties of network structure for program data dependency and control flow graphs, and show that data dependency graphs also have Small-World structural properties. We show that program data dependency graphs have a degree correlation that is structurally disassortative, and that control flow graphs have a neutral degree assortativity, indicating the use of random graphs to model the structural properties of program control flow graphs would show increased accuracy. By providing an increase in feature resolution within labeled datasets of executable programs we provide a quantitative basis to interpret the results of classifiers trained on CFG graph features. An increase in feature resolution allows for the structural properties of program classes to be analyzed for patterns as well as their component parts. By capturing a complete picture of program graphs we can enable theoretical solutions for the mapping a program's operational semantics to its structure.

Horticulture crops (fruit trees) had been grown and cultivated from ancient times in Central Asia. Few researchers have addressed the problem of this profitable sector in the former Great Silk Road, which was at the crossroads of trading avenues. Horticulture has received much attention in the last twenty years. To investigate the current state of research activity of horticulture in Central Asia, we downloaded 4205 English papers from the Scopus database between 2000-2020. We identified a total of 50 papers, and the last four years have witnessed significant growth in publication number, an average of 5 articles per year. Acta Horticulturea was one of the most productive journal. Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (Almaty) and the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan have worked productively to study high issues. United States Department of Agriculture and Swiss National Science Foundation with Karl Popper Foundation have supported scientific activity in the region. Top 15 highly cited articles were published within the framework of funded projects with international researchers. Researchers of Central Asia focused on walnut, grape and apple, studied on molecular level and cryopreservation of wild relatives for future use. Cherry, apricot, almond and pomegranate crops were less studied by researchers.

A considerable body of research exists on women in leadership and likewise on women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields. However, the intersection of the two is terra incognita: women in leadership in STEM. At the most fundamental level, we don’t even have a solid idea of how many women hold leadership positions in STEM. This study determined the proportion of women in leadership positions in several academic STEM areas via a sampling of institutions across the United States and other countries. In every area studied, women held fewer leadership positions than the proportion of female PhDs in those fields. The proportion of women in non-STEM specific top academic leadership roles was also examined to see what proportion of those individuals leading academic institutions might have background in a STEM discipline and how that compares to men in the same positions. This study opens the door to exploring the experiences of women who lead in STEM, which is likely to promote women’s participation in these fields.

This paper explores whether preprints can better support open science by providing links to other early-stage research outputs. This potentially has benefits for transparency and discoverability of research projects. By looking at preprint submission systems, online preprints and surveying those who run preprint servers, I examined to what extent this is currently possible. No preprints server provided a complete service, however many allowed the linking of several open science elements from the abstract page. I looked at variation based on subject, age, and size of preprint server. In conclusion, authors posting preprints should consider the options provided by different preprint servers. It appears that open science is just one focus of preprint servers and further improvements will be dependent on preprint server policies and priorities rather than overcoming any technical difficulties.

The field of polymer additive manufacturing (AM) has experienced rapid evolution, marked by significant advancements in materials science and technology. This paper reviews recent innovations in polymer materials tailored for additive manufacturing processes, focusing on enhancements in mechanical properties, functionalization, and processability. Key developments include the introduction of high-performance thermoplastics, composite materials incorporating fibers or nanoparticles, and novel photocurable resins. These materials offer improved strength, durability, and versatility compared to traditional polymers. Furthermore, research into bio-based and recyclable polymers highlights a growing trend towards sustainable manufacturing practices. Advances in material formulations, including self-healing and shape-memory polymers, are also examined for their potential to transform applications across various industries. This review synthesizes current research trends and provides a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in polymer AM materials, emphasizing the impact of these innovations on the future of manufacturing technologies.

The imperative to achieve carbon neutrality has driven significant advancements in the construction sector, particularly in the production and utilization of building materials. This paper explores innovative strategies and practices designed to reduce the carbon footprint of construction materials, with a focus on both the production processes and the application of sustainable materials. Key innovations include the development of low-carbon and carbon-negative materials, the integration of renewable energy sources in production, and the implementation of advanced recycling technologies. Case studies of successful projects demonstrate how these strategies can be applied in real-world scenarios, highlighting both the benefits and challenges encountered. The analysis also delves into the technical and economic aspects of these innovations, addressing the barriers to their widespread adoption and proposing solutions to overcome these challenges. Through a comprehensive examination of current practices and future trends, this paper aims to provide a roadmap for the construction industry to achieve carbon neutrality, contributing to broader climate change mitigation efforts and fostering a more sustainable built environment.

Magnetic ceramic nanoparticles system xTm2O3-(1-x)alpha-Fe2O3 (x=0.1 and 0.5) was synthesized by mechanochemical activation starting from hematite and thulium oxide precursors and characterized by transmission Mӧssbauer spectroscopy. The Mӧssbauer spectra were typically analyzed considering 1-3 sextets, corresponding to hematite (with and without thulium doping) and a doublet, representing thulium iron perovskite (thulium orthoferrite). The magnetic hyperfine fields (BHF) and doublet abundance were studied as function of the ball milling time (BMT) for both molar concentrations employed. The results are consistent with the formation of solid solutions in the investigated system. The mixed-oxide nanoparticle system synthesized may have important applications in displays, sensors and photovoltaics, and is paving the way for emerging utilizations related to mechanically flexible electronics.

This article is a scoping review analyzing advances in experimental studies on bacterial self-healing of concrete. From Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and Google Scholar search engine databases, 54 studies were selected for analysis, and an increasing trend of publications since 2015 was found, with India as the country with the largest research presence. Different ma-terials are used as replacement or admixture in concrete, such as fibers, particles and recycled material from construction waste. It was found that the most commonly used bacteria are Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus sphaericus, which can improve the strength of concrete by generating calcite and sealing cracks. In addition, it was found that the presence of materials such as fibers, ashes and construction recyclates can protect bacteria in an alkaline environment. The designs usually in-clude more than two experimental groups and a control. In summary, this study highlights the importance of bacterial self-healing in concrete and provides information on advances in this field of research.

In response to growing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable resources, researchers worldwide are examining how to develop materials that are environmentally friendly and that can be effectively recycled as they reach the end of their useful life. Particularly interesting are polyurethanes (PUs), a broad class of synthetic polymers utilized in several applications. However, because of the high energy consumption and unwanted chemical side reactions, their chemical recycling is challenging. A possible method for recovering PU is biological recycling, which breaks down complex compounds using microbes and enzymes. The biodegradation susceptibility of novel PUs using tree bark extractives as building blocks is examined in this work. The PUs were synthesized with partial or complete substitution of conventional fossil-based polyol (PEG 400) with hydrophilic extractives from black alder bark. Biodegradation experiments in sewage water and compost-enriched soil were conducted over 60 days. Results indicate increased biodegradation in PUs containing bark-based polyols, showing weight losses of up to 15.7% and 15.6% in sewage water and soil, respectively, compared to 9.6% and 12.4% for fossil-based PU. Analytical pyrolysis and FTIR analysis revealed more significant structural changes in extractives-containing PU materials after biodegradation compared to fossil-based PU, indicating the cleavage of covalent bonds mainly in carbohydrate and aromatic constituents of biopolyol. But the urethane bonds revealed the highest stability towards biodegradation compared to others linkages in both fossil-based and bio-based PU. The study demonstrates the potential of using bark-derived polyols to design PU materials suitable for biological recycling, contributing to more environmentally friendly waste management strategies. Further investigations are needed to optimize the conditions for the biological conversion of PU materials synthesized with bark-based polyols.

Wounds are structural and functional disruptions of the skin that occur because of an accident. Chronic wounds are caused by a breakdown in the finely coordinated cascade of events that occurs during wound healing. Wound healing is a long process that split into at least three continuous and overlapping processes: an inflammatory response, a proliferative phase that leads to tissue repair, and third one is tissue remodeling. Therefore, wound healing studies are extensively studied to develop techniques that can achieve maximum recovery with minimum scar. Several growth hormones and cytokines secreted at the wound site tightly regulate wound healing processes. The traditional approach for wound management has been represented by topical treatments. Metal nanoparticles (e.g., silver, gold, zinc) are increasingly being employed in dermatology due to their favorable effects on wound healing, as well as in treating and preventing bacterial infections. The development of wound dressings materials has now been used to overcome the issues of external environments. The impregnated nanomaterials have provided moist environment that removes the exudates and avoid maceration. This review highlights the mechanism and focus on the current advancement of various nanoparticles impregnation material for wound healing process that can protect wound from infection and maintain the optimum exchange of gases.

Decades ago, when computational was expensive and limited, the structural design was mostly performed by hand calculations using simple mathematical models. For example, it was a common practice to design a structure as complex as the wing of an aircraft by simple beam analysis. However, ever since the classic paper by Turner et al., due to a rapid increase in computational, more complex mathematical models are being used to simulate the physical behavior of complex structural components. To solve intractable problems unsolvable by hand calculations, numerical techniques like Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Finite Difference Method etc. are being employed. In fact, the availability of these methods has led to the development of an entirely new area of research known as Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) where various disciplines are considered in an optimization problem. The most important question while using a mathematical model to represent practical industrial problems is to what extent these models represent the real-life situation. Computational models are always built on upon assumptions. Simply at looking at the simulation outcomes i.e. the graphical and numerical results, it is often very difficult to ensure if the underlying assumption holds and that the results are reliable. This has led to the development of another field of research known as Verification and Validation (called V&V in short).

In a recent paper discussing Newton’s third law in the framework of special relativity for charged bodies, it was suggested that one can construct a practical relativistic motor provided high enough charge and current densities are available. As on the macroscopic scale charge density is limited by the phenomena of dielectric breakdown, it was suggested to take advantage of the high charge densities which are available on the microscopic scale. A preliminary analysis of this option denoted "nano relativistic scale" is studied in the current paper.

Highlights: A new material with a bending strength higher than that of concrete was developed using vegetable or fruit waste. The new material maintains the color, taste, and flavor of the original vegetable or fruit. Without water resistant treatment, the material is edible and can be conditioned with seasonings

Quasicrystals are a class of ordered solids made of typical metallic atoms but they do not exhibit the physical properties usually signaling the presence of metallic bonding and their electrical and thermal transport properties resemble a more semiconductor-like than metallic character. In this paper I first review a number of experimental results and numerical simulations suggesting that the origin of the unusual properties of these compounds can be traced back to two main features. For one thing, we have the formation of covalent bonds among certain atoms grouped into clusters at a local scale. Thus, the nature of chemical bonding among certain constituent atoms should play a significant role in the onset of non-metallic physical properties of quasicrystals bearing transition-metal elements. On the other hand, the self-similar symmetry of the underlying structure gives rise to the presence of an extended chemical bonding network due to a hierarchical nesting of clusters. This novel structural design leads to the existence of quite diverse wave functions, whose transmission characteristics range from extended to almost localized ones. Finally, the potential of quasicrystals as thermoelectric materials is discussed on the basis of their specific transport properties.

A significant number and range of challenges besetting sustainability can be traced to the actions and interactions of multiple autonomous agents (people mostly) and the entities they create (e.g., institutions, policies, social network) in the corresponding social-environmental systems (SES). To address these challenges, we need to understand decisions made and actions taken by agents, the outcomes of their actions, including the feedbacks on the corresponding agents and environment. The science of Agent-based Complex Systems—ACS science—has a significant potential to handle such challenges. The advantages of ACS science for sustainability are addressed by way of identifying the key elements and challenges in sustainability science, the generic features of ACS, and the key advances and challenges in modeling ACS. Artificial intelligence and data science promise to improve understanding of agents’ behaviors, detect SES structures, and formulate SES mechanisms.

Abstract This essay presents a real-world demonstration of the evidence-based science communication process, showing how it can be used to create scientific data visualizations for public audiences. Visualizing research data can be an important science communication tool. Maximizing its effectiveness has the potential to benefit millions of viewers. As with many forms of science communication, creators of such data visualizations typically rely on their own judgments and the views of the scientists providing the data to inform their science communication decision-making. But that leaves out a critical stakeholder in the communications pipeline: the intended audience. Here, we show the practical steps that our team - the Advanced Visualization Lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - has taken to shift towards more evidence-based practice to enhance our science communication impact. We do this using concrete examples from our work on two scientific documentary films, one on the theme of ‘solar superstorms’ and the other focusing on the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. We used audience research with each of these films to inform our strategies and designs. We describe how such research evidence informed our understanding of ‘what works and why’ with cinematic-style data visualizations for the public. We close the essay with our key ‘take home’ messages from this evidence-based science communication process.

This article identifies promising research areas on the PETROLEUM SCIENCE topic via bibliometric analysis of the 2018-2021 publications in the highly cited Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, which is included in the Journal Citation Reports Section: ENERGY & FUELS — Q2 Quartile, ENGINEERING, PETROLEUM — Q1 Quartile. Bibliometric metadata from Web of Science were used for 866 articles in 2018, 1,142 — in 2019, 1,138 — in 2020, and 1,832 in 2021. The clustering of articles was performed using the texts of the Title, Abstract, Keywords, and Keywords Plus fields. The demo version of the Lingo3G algorithm was used. For the two major clusters, the most promising research topics were determined by comparing the titles of the 350 most cited and 350 least cited articles for each year. The hypothesis that low-cited papers often have the same subject matter as high-cited papers of previous years is discussed.

Precision medicine emphasizes fine-grained diagnostics, taking individual variability into account to enhance treatment effectiveness. Parkinson's Disease (PD) heterogeneity among individuals is a proof that disease subtypes exist, and assigning individuals to subgroups is necessary for a better understanding of disease mechanisms and designing precise treatment approaches. The purpose of this study was to identify PD subtypes using RNA-Seq data in a combined pipeline including unsupervised machine learning, bioinformatics, and network analysis. 210 post mortem brain RNA-Seq samples from PD (n = 115) and Normal Controls (NC, n = 95) were obtained with a systematic data retrieval following PRISMA statements and a fully data-driven clustering pipeline was performed to identify PD subtypes. Bioinformatics and Network analyses were performed to characterize the disease mechanisms of the identified PD subtypes and to identify target genes for drug repurposing. Two PD clusters were identified and 42 DEGs were found (p.adjusted ≤ 0.01). PD clusters had significantly different gene network structures (p &lt; 0.0001) and phenotype-specific disease mechanisms, highlighting the differential involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway regulating adult neurogenesis. NEUROD1 was identified as a key regulator of gene networks and ISX9 and PD98059 were identified as NEUROD1-interacting compounds with disease-modifying potential, reducing the effects of dopaminergic neurodegeneration. This hybrid data analysis approach could enable precision medicine applications by providing insights for the identification and characterization of pathological subtypes. This workflow has proven useful on PD brain RNA-Seq, but its application to other neurodegenerative diseases is encouraged.

This paper focuses on the non-destructive dielectric measurement for low-loss planar materials with a thickness of less than 3 mm using a large coaxial probe with an outer diameter of 48 mm. The aperture probe calibration procedure required only to make a measurement of the half-space air and three offset shorts. The reflection coefficient for the thin material is measured using a Keysight E5071C network analyzer from 0.3 MHz to 650 MHz and then converted to a relative dielectric constant and tangent loss via closed form capacitance model and lift-off calibration process. Measurement error of dielectric constant, Δε_r is less than 2.5 % from 1 MHz to 400 MHz and the resolution of loss tangent, tan δ measurement is capable of achieving 3×10^-3.

The digital world has a wealth of data, such as Internet of Things (IoT) data, business data, health data, mobile data, urban data, security data, and many more, in the current age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0 or 4IR). Extracting knowledge or useful insights from these data can be used for smart decision-making in various applications domains. In the area of data science, advanced analytics methods including machine learning modeling can provide actionable insights or deeper knowledge about data, which makes the computing process automatic and smart. In this paper, we present a comprehensive view on "Data Science'' including various types of advanced analytics methods that can be applied to enhance the intelligence and capabilities of an application through smart decision-making in different scenarios. We also discuss and summarize ten potential real-world application domains including business, healthcare, cybersecurity, urban and rural data science, and so on by taking into account data-driven smart computing and decision making. Based on this, we finally highlight the challenges and potential research directions within the scope of our study. Overall, this paper aims to serve as a reference point on data science and advanced analytics to the researchers and decision-makers as well as application developers, particularly from the data-driven solution point of view for real-world problems.

In order to establish a new discipline specializing in accident science from the perspective of safety science. Under the guidance of the current research theories and methods of safety science, combined with the research paradigm of humanities and social medicine, this paper puts forward new viewpoints, new theories and new models about accident research. First of all, through literature retrieval, this paper analyzes the relevant research results of accidents at home and abroad, and expounds the existing problems and the basic trend of accident science research. Secondly, it puts forward eight kinds of attribute relations of the accident, and makes clear the characteristics and connotation of the accident. In the study of accident types, a hierarchical classification model based on accident cognition is created for the first time. It also points out the logical relevance of five levels of accident science research and the realistic relevance of three levels. At the same time, according to the thought of science of science, this paper puts forward a new definition of safety under the thinking of accident science and other basic concepts related to safety science, and explains the connotation. In addition, it creates and constructs the basic concept of accident science, establishes the conceptual model of accident science, and points out the “3-4-5” model of accident science research and its connotation. Thirdly, draw lessons from the interdisciplinary paradigm to study the relevant theoretical basis and discipline classification relationship of accident science, and construct the tree of accident science. Finally, the research contents of three main aspects of accident science are summarized. The results show that the research results in this paper not only play a fundamental role in the basic construction of accident science, but also further enrich and perfect the discipline system of safety science, which has a certain theoretical significance.

Predatory research field in science is when an emerging scientific topic destroys current topics and characterizes a main scientific change. Predatory research field can be a basic driver of scientific and technological change that generates a 'creative destruction' in science and society in contexts of knowledge-based competition and rapid changes. The prediction of proposed theory of predatory research fields is that it destroys with a fast growth other research fields. The theoretical approach is tested here in research fields of large language models (LLM) by analyzing the transformers (a deep learning architecture based on the multi-head attention mechanism) proposed in 2017 and from November 2022 started main applications in generative artificial intelligence with innovations of BERT, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot (launched on February 7, 2023) and other natural language processing tools driven by AI technology for engaging conversations, gain insights, automate tasks, etc., etc. Statistical evidence suggests that growth rate of transformer technologies is 80.58%, a high level compared to all other research fields in machine learning (having a growth rate of 13.83%). Moreover, predatory research field of transformers has a destructive power such that all other domains in LLM from 2021 to 2023 have a general reduction of scientific growth. The impact of transformers is much more drastic of previous radical technologies such as CNN having a temporal growth rate of 0.16%, lower than 0.38% by transformers, ceteris paribus. These analysis reveals that transformers have characteristics to generate a radical scientific and technological change in a not-too-distant future. Overall, then, the study suggests that predatory research field on emerging topics and technologies can generate path-breaking innovations and the examination here can clarify the essential elements of the science dynamics for a better theory of scientific and technological change, providing also main implications for knowledge policy to support promising research fields and technologies to guide economic and social change.

(1) Teeth, represent in humans the most resilient tissues. However, exposure to concentrated acids might lead to their obliteration, thus making human identification difficult. Teeth often contain dental restorations from materials that are even more resilient to acid impact. This paper introduces novel method of 3D reconstruction of dental patterns as a crucial step for digital identification with dental records.; (2) With combination of modern methods of Micro-Computer Tomography, Cone Beam Computer Tomography, Attenuated Total Reflection in conjunction with Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Artificial Intelligence Convolutional Neural Network algorithms, the paper presents the way of 3D dental pattern reconstruction and human remains identification. Research studies morphology of teeth, bone, and dental materials (Amalgam, Composite, Glass-ionomer cement) under different periods of exposure to 75% sulfuric acid; (3) Results reveal significant volume loss in bone, enamel, dentine, and as well glass-ionomer cement. Results also reveal significant resistance of composite and amalgam dental materials to sulfuric acid impact, thus serving as strong parts in the dental pattern mosaic. Paper also introduces probably first successful artificial intelligence application in automated forensic CBCT segmentation.; (4) Interdisciplinary cooperation utilizing mentioned technologies can solve problem of human remains identification with 3D reconstruction of dental patterns and their 2D projections over existing ante-mortem records.

This article explores the apologetic discourse towards the convergence between Pure Land Buddhism and science of the contemporary Chinese Buddhist monk Da An (1959- ). Faced with the formidable challenge posed by contemporary science towards public acceptance of Buddhism, Da An endeavors to employ science as a medium for propagating Pure Land teachings, seeking to accommodate the preferences of scientifically inclined individuals. He utilizes several theoretical physics concepts to validate that certain ostensibly miraculous accounts within Pure Land Buddhist texts are not incompatible with contemporary science. Further, he asserts that certain supernatural narratives therein indicate that some physical principles still residing in theoretical conjectures on Earth have already been validated and can be utilized at will by the celestial beings in Sukhāvatī, thus asserting the supremacy of Pure Land teachings over science. The article endeavors to examine the contemporary dialogue between Pure Land Buddhism and science, which has been overlooked in the current research realm of the interaction between Buddhism and science.

Despite the growing number of published studies on student learning in the laboratory, there is a critical need to improve methodological rigor. Resonating with discussions on research methods, this paper outlines the importance of theory-informed research questions, the minimization of researcher and participant biases, and the use of triangulation and iteration in data collection to establish rigor. An illustrative case is presented within the context of a large interdisciplinary research project aimed at improving laboratory learning at the university level. The project incorporates two research avenues: one focusing on literature and faculty perspectives, and the other on a comprehensive assessment of multidimensional learning in the laboratory. The project employs a mixed methods paradigm and is grounded in a conceptual framework that conceptualizes laboratory work as epistemic practice, requiring a holistic analysis of student learning. The article concludes by discussing the results and implications of the project's findings, which are synthesized to highlight aspects of establishing methodological rigor. The overarching goal is to develop a comprehensive assessment instrument that captures the complexity and richness of the laboratory learning environment. The findings from this research are expected to contribute to the advancement of laboratory education research by providing a model for methodological rigor that can be applied across various scientific and interdisciplinary contexts.

Knowledge is not merely the characteristic of certain pieces of information being deemed true and justifiable, but rather a process. Within an axiomatic system, the set of information that reaches the status of knowledge forms a universe that provides an interpretation of the reality one aims to describe. Language exchanges information through communication and the process of justification (exchange of information), if it consistently justifies a particular piece of information, it elevates it to knowledge. In this paper, we provide a framework for knowledge within an axiomatic model where we define the fundamental elements of communication and grammar. As a result, the structure dictates that knowledge, to be considered as such, must be investigateable by anyone who utilizes it in its entirety, both in form and content. Ultimately, the development of knowledge processing, referred to as \emph{knowmatics}, represents a clear evolution of the computer science that processes information (subset of knowledge).

This article seeks to understand how the incorporation of new scientific articles in the field of urban studies on topics related to housing, manage to impact specialized media. In other words, it seeks to identify whether social science that publishes findings on housing has become less relevant over time, as occurs in other areas of knowledge. To do this, data is collected from the Web of Science of the urban studies categories, using as a filter that either in the title, keywords or abstract contain the word "housing". With this database, all the DOIs of the indexed articles are taken and it is reviewed whether those new DOIs incorporated into the knowledge database have impacted in relation to new citations that of said DOIs that are added in the future. More than looking for the impact of an article for the particular, it is sought to review added values. It is identified that the only disruptive moment occurred after the 2008 real estate crisis. This finding emphasizes the importance of looking for new paths for the production of knowledge on housing that is novel and original, that manages to break with an apparent trend of scarce innovation or lack of knowledge among peers of what is being published in the matter.

This review explores the complex interrelationships between emotion, attention, and behavior, drawing upon empirical evidence from psychological, neuroscientific, and clinical studies. It delves into the neural mechanisms that underlie these interactions, with a focus on key brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Clinical cases involving stroke and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are examined to illustrate the real-world implications of these cognitive interactions. The review also discusses the impact of effective emotion regulation strategies and the role of attention as a cognitive mechanism that influences both emotion and behavior. Neuroimaging studies, particularly functional MRI, are highlighted for their role in providing a deeper understanding of these intricate relationships. The review concludes by emphasizing the importance of this triadic relationship in adaptive functioning and its broader implications for mental health, interpersonal relationships, and quality of life.

Human activities continue to degrade oceanic, coastal and inland waters. The generational change in the role of society in actively looking after the health of water resources can be achieved through the expansion of ocean and water literacy in schools. The Network of European Blue Schools established under the EU4Ocean Coalition for Ocean Literacy has improved ocean and water literacy; however, this Network needs to grow and be supported. Here we present ProBleu; a recently funded EU project that will expand and support the Network, partly through the use of citizen science. The core of the proposed methodology is facilitating school activities related to ocean and water literacy through funding calls to sustain and enrich current school activities, and kick-start and support new activities. The outcomes of the project are anticipated to have wide and long-term impacts across society, oceanic, coastal and inland water environments.

The objective of this research is to establish a better understanding of the current landscape of digital learning research and sustainable development by using CiteSpace. First, we retrieved published publications from the Web of Science (2004–2022). Following that, we examined the primary research strengths and important subjects of digital learning from two perspectives: collaboration networks (including collaborative networks across countries, institutions, and authors) and co-citation networks. We examined the co-citation network from three perspectives: cluster analysis, the most active citers, top references. Furthermore, referenced journals, popular themes, and rising trends were examined. These findings indicate the primary study subjects in the field of digital learning, the most intriguing research literature, and each period's emerging research hotspots. Finally, we proposed further study ideas for future paths.

The geographic variability of the dorsal pattern (DP) of the Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus, across its native range was studied with the aim to understand whether the distributions of this phenotypic trait were more shaped by allopatric differentiation rather than adaptive processes. A total of 1298 georeferenced observations scattered across the Italian peninsula and the main islands (Sicily, Corsica and Sardinia) were obtained from citizen science databases and five DPs were characterized by different shapes of the dark pattern (“reticulated”, “campestris”, “reticulated/campestris” and “striped”) or by absence of it (“concolor”). Frequencies of different DP phenotypes differ between the two main mtDNA lineages settled in central-northern and in southern Italy respectively. This pattern may be indicative of a role of long-term allopatric historical processes in determining the observed pattern. The analysis also identified a putative wide area of secondary contact, in central southern Italy, characterized by high diversity of the DP. Generalized Linear Models (GLMs), used to estimate a possible association between bioclimatic variables and the observed phenotypic variation, showed that each of the five DPs is correlated to different environmental factors and show different distribution of areas with high probability of occurrence. However, for all but one of the DPs, the area with the greatest probability does not correspond exactly to the real distribution of the DP. Conversely, the “concolor” phenotype does not seem related to any particular mtDNA lineage and it shows a preference for areas with high temperature and low rainfall. This is in agreement with the expectation of low amount of melanin of the dorsal pattern that, in the study areas, is characterized by a light uniform coloration which could confer a better thermoregulation ability in high temperatures environments avoiding overheating.

The number of AI applications in education is growing every day. One recent AI application in the educational sector is Chatbot technology, which is used to support teaching and administrative tasks. This document presents the design and implementation of a Chatbot called Tashi-Bot that helps applicants and university students to obtain information from an educational institution about certain academic and administrative processes. Among these are processes related to well-being, tuition, costs, admission, and other services. In order to design the Chatbot, an analysis of the state of the art, methodologies, and suitable tools was carried out, and a survey was conducted to discover the needs of users and their preferences in the use of a Chatbot for this specific purpose. Tashi-Bot was implemented on the SnatchBot platform and later deployed on a Telegram channel. In its evaluation, a final survey was carried out to check on the satisfaction of the users. The results suggest that Tashi-Bot could help applicants and university students to find information on academic and administrative processes with great certainty and without the need for human interaction. Tashi-Bot can be found at: https://web.telegram.org/#/im?p=@TashiE_Bot..

Scientists who hope to obtain a faculty position at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) need a distinct skill set and outlook on their future teaching and research career. To obtain a position at a PUI, candidates should 1) design a strategy for obtaining a faculty position that suits each individual’s career goals and aspirations, 2) prepare for the application process, on-campus interview, and contract negotiations, and 3) plan a strategy for the probationary period leading up to tenure and promotion. Given the different types of PUIs, candidates need to consider whether they seek a position that consists of all or mostly all teaching, or both teaching and research. Candidates should educate themselves on the expectations at PUI’s, including current thought, practice, and aspirations for science pedagogy, and gain teaching experience prior to seeking a suitable position. If the candidate’s goal is a position with both teaching and research, it is important to discuss with the current research mentor what projects the candidate can take with them to their new position. The candidate should also consider what types of projects will be successful with undergraduate student researchers in a PUI research environment Importantly, candidates should clearly demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion in their teaching, research, and outreach, and application materials should demonstrate this. On interviews, candidates should be knowledgeable about the mission, values, and resources of the institution and how the candidate will contribute to that mission. Once hired, new faculty should discuss a formal or informal mentoring plan during the probationary period that includes peer evaluations on a regular basis, and maintain communication with the department chair or designated mentor regarding teaching, research, and service activities.

Introduction: The Pandemic of COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 motivated the scientific community to work together in order to gather, organize, process and distribute data on the novel biomedical hazard. Here, we analyzed how the scientific community responded to this challenge by quantifying distribution and availability patterns of the academic information related to COVID-19. The aim of our study was to assess the quality of the information flow and scientific collaboration, two factors we believe to be critical for finding new solutions for the ongoing pandemic. Materials and methods: The RISmed R package, and a custom Python script were used to fetch metadata on articles indexed in PubMed and published on Rxiv preprint server. Scopus was manually searched and the metadata was exported in BibTex file. Publication rate and publication status, affiliation and author count per article, and submission-to-publication time were analysed in R. Biblioshiny application was used to create a world collaboration map. Results: Our preliminary data suggest that COVID-19 pandemic resulted in generation of a large amount of scientific data, and demonstrates potential problems regarding the information velocity, availability, and scientific collaboration in the early stages of the pandemic. More specifically, our results indicate precarious overload of the standard publication systems, significant problems with data availability and apparent deficient collaboration. Conclusion: In conclusion, we believe the scientific community could have used the data more efficiently in order to create proper foundations for finding new solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, we believe we can learn from this on the go and adopt open science principles and a more mindful approach to COVID-19-related data to accelerate the discovery of more efficient solutions. We take this opportunity to invite our colleagues to contribute to this global scientific collaboration by publishing their findings with maximal transparency.

History is often thought to be dull and boring – where large numbers of facts are memorized for passing exams. But the past informs the present and future, especially in delineating the context surrounding specific events that, in turn, help provide a deeper understanding of their causes and implications. Scientific progress (whether incremental or breakthroughs) is built upon prior work. Chronological examination of computational chemistry’s evolution reveals the existence of major “epochs” (e.g., transition from semi-empirical methods to first principles calculations), and the centrality of key ideas (e.g., Schrodinger equation and Born Oppenheimer approximation) in potentiating progress in the field. The longstanding question of whether computing power (both capacity and speed) or theoretical insights play a more important role in advancing computational chemistry was examined by taking into account the field’s development holistically. Specifically, availability of large amount of computing power at declining cost, and advent of graphics processing unit (GPU) powered parallel computing are enabling tools for solving hitherto intractable problems. On the other hand, this essay argues (using Born Oppenheimer approximation as an example) that theoretical insights’ role in unlocking problems through simple (but insightful) assumptions is often overlooked. Collectively, the essay should be useful as a primer for appreciating major development periods in computational chemistry, from which counterfactual questions illuminate the relative importance of theoretical insights and advances in computer science in moving the field forward.

The night has historically been neglected in both disciplinary and interdisciplinary research. To some extent, this is not surprising, given the diurnal bias of human researchers, and the difficulty of performing work at night. The night is, however, a critical element of biological, chemical, physical, and social systems on Earth. Moreover, research into social issues such as inequality, demographic changes, and the transition to a sustainable economy will be compromised if night is not considered. Recent years, however, have seen a surge in research into the night. We argue that “night studies” is on the cusp of coming into its own as an interdisciplinary field, and when it does, the field will consider questions that disciplinary researchers haven’t yet thought to ask.

Recombinant laboratory plasmids (RLPs) are common in biological research and freely shared among academic research laboratories (ARLs), a practice required by many research funding agencies. However, the generation of accurate, reproducible results in experiments utilizing RLPs can be hampered by a lack of accompanying sequence information and metadata. This culture of RLP sharing without knowledge of sequence or etiology is accepted by publishers, not regulated by governments, and outside the realm of bio-industry. In addition, no centralized infrastructure currently exists to collate such data, which at the moment is fragmented across companies, non-profits, and governments and thus is not easily accessed or enacted toward threat assessment. The ubiquity, free exchange, and dual-use risk of RLPs exemplifies a biosecurity threat and elevates the need to characterize their composition to facilitate improved biorisk management by the academic community. A number of common sense solutions are available to create a culture that addresses the biosecurity gap posed by RLP sharing. Culture shift in RLP management will require new norms, effective data management for collation of RLP sequences and metadata, and an incentive structure that encourages sequencing by stakeholders. The next generation of researchers must initiate and champion this shift with support from funding agencies and endorsement from governments and international organizations. Coordination of efforts and stakeholders will require international public/private collaboration, a structure that will be critical to ensure widespread utility as well as the ability of lower-resourced partners to participate, contribute, and benefit.

Nervous systems and brains’ computational abilities are an evolutionary innovation, specializing and speed-optimizing ancient biophysical dynamics. Bioelectric signaling originated in cells’ communication with the outside world and with each other, in order to cooperate toward adaptive construction and repair of multicellular bodies. Here we review the emerging field of developmental bioelectricity, which links the field of basal cognition to state-of-the-art questions in regenerative medicine, synthetic bioengineering, cognitive science, and even machine learning and artificial intelligence. One of the predictions of this view is that regeneration and regulative development are able to restore correct large-scale anatomies from diverse starting states because, like the brain, they exploit bioelectric encoding of distributed goal states - in this case, pattern memories. Based on this idea, we propose a new interpretation of recent stochastic regenerative phenotypes in planaria, by appealing to computational models of memory representation and processing in the brain. Moreover, we discuss novel findings showing that bioelectric changes induced in planaria can be stored in tissue for over a week, thus revealing that somatic bioelectric circuits in vivo can implement a long-term, re-writable memory medium. A consideration of the mechanisms, evolution, and functionality of basal cognition makes novel predictions and provides an integrative perspective on the evolution, physiology, and biomedicine of information processing in vivo.

In Australia, orthodox soil scientists and alternative practitioners who promote ‘regenerative agriculture’ have not been communicating and engaging effectively with each other. Over many years scientists in CSIRO, state departments and universities have made significant achievements in mapping soil distribution, describing soil behaviour and identifying key soil properties and processes that are fundamental to healthy soil function. However, many alternative practitioners are dismissive of these achievements and highly critical of orthodox soil science. Yet many of the tools of soil science are essential to conduct evidence-based research towards elucidating how and why the exceptional results claimed by some alternative practitioners are achieved. We stress the importance of effective engagement and communication among all parties to resolve this ‘clash of cultures’.

The Cosmic-Ray Extremely Distributed Observatory (CREDO) is a project dedicated to global studies of extremely extended cosmic-ray phenomena, the cosmic-ray ensembles (CRE), beyond the capabilities of existing detectors and observatories. Up to date cosmic-ray research has been focused on detecting single air showers, while the search for ensembles of cosmic-rays, which may overspread a significant fraction of the Earth, is a scientific terra incognita. Instead of developing and commissioning a completely new global detector infrastructure, CREDO proposes approaching the global cosmic-ray analysis objectives with all types of available detectors, from professional to pocket size, merged into a worldwide network. With such a network it is possible to search for evidences of correlated cosmic-ray ensembles. One of the observables that can be investigated in CREDO is a number of spatially isolated events collected in a small time window which could shed light on fundamental physics issues. The CREDO mission and strategy requires active engagement of a large number of participants, also non-experts, who will contribute to the project by using common electronic devices (e.g. smartphones). In this note the status and perspectives of the project is presented.

Spirit of science is one of the important components of science education theory. It not only directly affects the level of science education, but also indirectly affects the selection, education and evaluation of scientific researchers, and the development of science and technology in a country or region. Although more than a century ago, the researchers began to discuss the topic of spirit of science. However, to date, the research of the definition, attribute, structural model and its characteristics of the spirit of science has not yet made a breakthrough. Based on the detailed literature review, the related theoretical analysis and the research of the structural model of the spirit of science, this paper puts forward the new definition, the attribute and the establishment of the structural model of the spirit of science, and analyzes the match the situation from new structural model of the spirit of science and the scientific nature published by the American Society for the Advancement of Science. The results of this study are of great significance for raising the level of scientific education and cultivating future scientific researchers, enhancing their motivation and skills in innovation in scientific research and promoting the development of future scientific undertakings.

An ambitious citizen-science effort in the city of Indianapolis (Indiana, USA) led to the collection and analysis of a large number of samples at the property scale, facilitating the analysis of differences in soil metal concentrations as a function of property location (i.e., dripline, yard, and street) and location within the city. This effort indicated that dripline soils had substantially higher values of lead and zinc than other soil locations on a given property, and this pattern was heightened in properties nearer the urban core. Soil lead values typically exceeded the levels deemed safe for children’s play areas in the US (<400 ppm), and almost always exceeded safe gardening guidelines (<200 ppm). As a whole, this study identified locations within properties, and cities, that exhibited the highest exposure risk to children, and also exhibited the power of citizen science to produce data at a spatial scale (i.e., within a property boundary) that is usually impossible to feasibly collect in a typical research study.