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Composite nanofiltration membranes for water treatment: implementation and educational issues /
No full textThis paper implements a Case Study Analysis method within the Mechanical engineering masters’ course Module T210M109 Microelectromechanical Systems Design at Kaunas University of Technology. This method guides students through experimental planning, fabrication, characterization, and interpretation, leading to deeper understanding of membrane composition and its structure, and relationship between properties and real-world engineering application areas. The paper examines the implementation and educational issues in design of composite nanofiltration membranes used in removal of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) from water. It highlights both, the scientific challenges of membrane fabrication and the pedagogical value of integrating Case Study Analysis into engineering. Thus, students demonstrated improved ability to make technical decisions, analyze the cases of different microfabrication techniques and interpret the obtained results with the help of Case Study method
Boosting triplet‐triplet annihilation upconversion in OLEDs via substituent control in dicarbazolyl anthracenes /
No full textThe aim of this work is the exploration of the impact of the methoxy‐, methoxyethoxy‐ and tert ‐butyl functional groups on the structure‐property relationships of the derivatives of anthracene and carbazole exhibiting triplet‐triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion. The synthesis of three new organic semiconductors that possess tert ‐butyl, methoxy, or methoxyethoxy side groups linked via C‐3 and C‐6 positions of carbazole fragments is reported. The compounds exhibit high thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperatures in the range of 377–413 °C. The emitter with tert ‐butylcarbazole moiety exhibits a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 68.2%, ionization energy of 5.65 eV. The occurrence of TTA is discussed in detail, drawing on both experimental data and theoretical analysis. Organic light emitting diode based on the neat layer of the emitter shows maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 3.1%. Optimization of the device structure using a host‐guest system allows to increase the EQE to 10.7%. It is shown that high EQE is a result of improved horizontal molecular alignment, TTA upconversion and high PLQY
Comparative secretome dynamics of Beauveria bassiana under solid-state and submerged fermentation /
No full textBeauveria bassiana (Bb) is a fungal entomopathogen that is popular in the industry as a biopesticide. Recently, some Bb strains have been demonstrated to have the ability to produce lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. Hence, to explore this fungus beyond its biocontrol applications - especially in bioprocesses which may involve its lignocellulolytic machinery- its differential secretome response to lignocellulosic biomass degradation under submerged fermentation (SF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) conditions was evaluated for the first time using a Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based approach. Initially secreted Bb proteins under the two conditions were harvested, and subjected to LC-MS/MS. Subsequently, the differential expression of the proteins was analysed while their carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), functional and gene ontology were annotated. Results revealed that the Bb secretome contained 613 (40 upregulated) and 1162 (301 upregulated) proteins during SF and SSF cultivations, respectively. Approximately 70 % of the proteins were identified with the general secretory (Sec) pathway, while showing low probabilities of being transmembrane proteins. The secretomes were principally composed of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), proteases, metabolic proteins and structural proteins. Gene ontology also highlighted biomass deconstruction, facilitated by the plethora of Bb CAZymes as well as its proteases, as a prominent metabolic activity in the secretomes. Biological processes, such as microtubule cytoskeleton organisation, the glucan and cellulose catabolic process, as well as the carbohydrate metabolic process, were observed to be more pronounced in SSF relative to SF. The 147 and 236 CAZymes annotated during SF and SSF cultivation were observed to act on a wide range of polysaccharides, including cellulose, starch, xylan, lignin, chitin, and peptidoglycans. Hence, these findings demonstrate the higher complexity of Bb lignocellulose degradation under SSF relative to SF, thus further highlighting Bb as a model entomopathogen with potential in biomass pretreatment for biofuel production and the production of important enzymes for biomass valorisation and other sustainable bioprocesses
Pažinkime. Vladislovas Montvila. Paskutinysis Mitėniškių dvaro savininkas (1885 09 281 – 1942 02 05) /
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Multidimensional pedagogical framework for interprofessional education: blending classroom, high fidelity and extended reality simulation /
No full textThe growing complexity of healthcare systems and the imperative for collaborative practice underscore the pressing need to innovate interprofessional education. This paper presents a multidimensional pedagogical framework that integrates blended classroom-based learning, high-fidelity simulation (HFS), and AI-enhanced extended reality (XR) technologies to develop interprofessional competences and improve preparedness for emergency care. Grounded in socio-constructivist and student-centred educational theories, the approach combines theoretical knowledge acquisition with immersive and experiential learning environments that reflect the realities of clinical practice. HFS provides a controlled setting to cultivate critical thinking, decision-making, and collaborative skills. In parallel, AI-enhanced XR introduces adaptive, gamified scenarios that foster digital competence, emotional resilience, and situated cognition. Together, these elements form a cohesive educational strategy that prepares nursing, midwifery, and medical students for high-stakes clinical situations such as anaphylaxis and trauma care. The framework contributes to enhanced patient safety, learner engagement, and the cultivation of future-ready professionals. It also responds to international calls for digital transformation and innovation in healthcare education. By harmonising traditional teaching methods with emerging technologies, this framework offers a globally relevant, scalable solution for advancing interprofessional learning across diverse healthcare contexts
Addressing wastewater challenges in the dairy industry: A focused case study /
No full textThis Research Paper addresses the hypothesis that wastewater characteristics in the dairy industry vary with product type and operational procedures, and that current treatment methods face limitations in managing such variability. The study examined raw and clean-in-place (CIP) wastewater from a Serbian dairy plant over three years. Physico-chemical and microbiological analyses included pH, protein, fat, carbohydrates, total solids, total microorganisms, E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and dissolved oxygen (O2).Dairy plants produced 0.2-10 L wastewater per litre of milk. Protein content ranged 0.07-0.31 g/100 ml, fat 0.01-0.19 g/100 ml, and carbohydrates up to 1.37%. Total solids were 0.13-2.95%. pH varied from 4.41 to 12.76, affected by lactic fermentation and cleaning agents. COD values (529-12,476 mg/l) indicated strong organic loads. Microbiological counts were highly variable, with E. coli up to 103 cfu/ml and total microorganisms up to 1 × 108 cfu/ml. Nitrogen ranged 36-104 mg/l and phosphorus reached 10.91 mg/l, sometimes exceeding limits. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained 61.86% of variance, driven by N, pH, P, E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, and oxygen content. Seasonal patterns were identified: higher TSS during spring and summer, and increased microbial loads, COD, and oxygen fluctuations in autumn and winter. The findings demonstrate that dairy wastewater is complex and variable, requiring adaptive treatment strategies. Optimised management, including pH control, nutrient removal, and combined biological and advanced technologies, can improve treatment efficiency, support reuse, and mitigate environmental impact
Developing problem-solving skills to support sustainability in STEM education using generative AI tools /
No full textThis paper presents a novel, multi-stage modelling approach for integrating Generative AI (GenAI) tools into design-based STEM education, promoting sustainability and 21st-century problem-solving skills. The proposed methodology includes (i) a conceptual model that defines structural aspects of the domain at a high abstraction level; (ii) a contextual model for defining the internal context; (iii) a GenAI-based model for solving the STEM task, which consists of a generic model for integrating GenAI tools into STEM-driven education and a process model, presenting learning/design processes using those tools. A case study involving the design of an autonomous folkrace robot illustrates the implementation of the approach. Based on Likert-scale evaluations, quantitative results demonstrate a significant impact of GenAI tools in enhancing critical thinking, conceptual understanding, creativity, and engineering practices, particularly during the prototyping and testing phases. This paper concludes that the structured integration of GenAI tools supports personalized, inquiry-based, and sustainable STEM education, while also raising new challenges in prompt engineering and ethical use. This approach provides educators with a systematic pathway for leveraging AI to develop STEM-based skills essential for future sustainable development
Fermented food consumption across European regions: protocol for the development and validation of the web-based fermented foods frequency questionnaire (3FQ) /
No full textBACKGROUND: Fermented foods vary significantly by food substrate and regional consumption patterns. Although they are consumed worldwide, their intake and potential health benefits remain understudied. Europe, in particular, lacks specific consumption recommendations for most fermented foods. OBJECTIVE: This project, which is under the framework of the Promoting Innovation Of Fermented Foods (PIMENTO) Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action (CA20128), aims to develop a validated tool to quantitatively estimate fermented food intake across 4 European regions. METHODS: The Fermented Food Frequency Questionnaire (3FQ) was designed to quantify fermented food intake in terms of frequency and quantity. Fermented foods were categorized into broad groups (eg, dairy, plant-based, meat, beverages) based on product classifications, ensuring that the foods included were genuinely fermented through ingredient analysis according to the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus for fermented foods as a guide. For each main fermented food group, subcategories were determined after detailed discussions by a scientific expert panel that provided country-specific examples. For example, for hard cheeses, Parmigiano was chosen in the Italian version, and Graviera in the Greek version. The questionnaire was developed in English (universal version) and then translated into multiple languages using the back-translation method. Each version was pilot-tested for clarity, and data for the prospective validation were gathered. This included two key steps: (1) assessing repeatability by having participants retake the questionnaire after 6 weeks and (2) confirming accuracy by comparing 3FQ results against 24-hour dietary recalls from a subsample of participants. Statistical analyses will be used to confirm agreement between the methods. Representative sample calculations were performed for 4 groups by biological sex and age group (between 18 and 49.9 years and 50+ years). To ensure representative sample obtainment, participants aged 18+ years were recruited via the internet using multiple strategies, including social media platforms in all countries, snowball sampling, and potential supplementation with panels provided by the survey platform. Prior to all responses, participants were asked to provide informed consent and agree to data collection under ethical guidelines using a General Data Protection Regulation-compliant platform. RESULTS: A representative sample of 1536 participants per European region was targeted, ensuring diversity in age and sex, with the goal of achieving a 60% response rate. A multilingual questionnaire was developed and pilot-tested for clarity. The upcoming steps will include final validation for accuracy and repeatability using 24-hour dietary recalls and specific statistical techniques of analysis to ensure reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The validated web-based 3FQ aims to address the current gaps in fermented food intake to help improve future research in this important area. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/69212