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The transition to a circular economy : different paths for international and non-international micro-manufacturing firms
No full textThis article examines how environmental awareness, stakeholder pressure, circular economy orientation and internal barriers influence circular economy practices in international and non-international micro-firms. For this, we utilised fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) using data from 128 micro firms operating in different manufacturing industries in Estonia. Three paths were identified for explaining circular economy practices in internationally operating micro-firms and two paths for explaining it in micro-firms that do not operate internationally. Our results show that understanding the impact of the four before-mentioned aspects can be beneficial for engaging in circular economy efforts in both international and non-international micro-firms. The intricate five pathways (three for international and two for non-international) through which environmental awareness, stakeholder pressure, circular economy orientation, and internal barriers shape circular economy practices in micro-firms, challenging conventional understandings and offering nuanced insights for effective engagement in sustainable business practices. Based on the findings, theoretical and practical implications of this study and directions for future research are discussed.
Tuning the ground state of cuprate superconducting thin films by nanofaceted substrates
No full textAnisotropic transport properties have been assessed in a number of cuprate superconductors, providing evidence for a nematic state. We have recently shown that in ultra-thin YBa2Cu3O7−δ films, where nematicity is induced via strain engineering, there is a suppression of charge density wave scattering along the orthorhombic a-axis and a concomitant enhancement of strange metal behavior along the b-axis. Here we develop a microscopic model, that is based on the strong interaction between the substrate facets and the thin film, to account for the unconventional phenomenology. Based on the atomic force microscopy imaging of the substrates’ surface, the model is able to predict the absence (presence) of nematicity and the resulting transport properties in films grown on SrTiO3 (MgO) substrates. Our result paves the way to new tuning capabilities of the ground state of high-temperature superconductors by substrate engineering. We acknowledge support by the Swedish Research Council (VR), under the Projects 2018-04658 (F.L.), 2020-04945 (R.A.) and 2020-05184 (T.B.), by the University of Rome Sapienza, under the projects Ateneo 2021 (RM12117A4A7FD11B), Ateneo 2022 (RM12218162CF9D05), Ateneo 2023 (RM123188E830D258) (G.M., C.D.C., M.G., S.C.), by the Italian Ministero dell\u2019Universit\u00E0 e della Ricerca, under the PNRR MUR project PE0000023-NQSTI (M.G., S.C.), by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, under SE 806/20-1 (G.S.).</p
Overview of the “Voight-Kampff” Generative AI Authorship Verification Task at PAN and ELOQUENT 2024
No full textThe “Voight-Kampff” Generative AI Authorship Verification task aims to determine whether a text was generated by an AI or written by a human. As in its fictional inspiration,1 the Voight-Kampff task structures AI detection as a builder-breaker challenge: The builders, participants in the PAN lab, submit software to detect AI-written text and the breakers, participants in the ELOQUENT lab, submit AI-written text with the goal of fooling the builders. We formulate the task in a way that is reminiscent of a traditional authorship verification problem, where given a pair of texts, their human or machine authorship is to be inferred. For this first task installment, we further restrict the problem so that each pair is guaranteed to contain one human and one machine text. Hence the task description reads: Given two texts, one authored by a human, one by a machine: pick out the human. In total, we evaluated 43 detection systems (30 participant submissions and 13 baselines), ranging from linear classifiers to perplexity-based zero-shot systems. We tested them on 70 individual test set variants organized in 14 base collections, each designed on different constraints such as short texts, Unicode obfuscations, or language switching. The top systems achieve very high scores, proving themselves not perfect but sufficiently robust across a wide range of specialized testing regimes. Code used for creating the datasets and evaluating the systems, baselines, and data are available on GitHub.The “Voight-Kampff” Generative AI Authorship Detection Task @ PAN 2024 has been funded as part ofthe OpenWebSearch project by the European Commission (OpenWebSearch.eu, GA 101070014).</p
Telemonitoring of COPD Patients to Evaluate the "Rome Proposal"
No full textFor the first time in a telemonitoring context, we apply the Rome Proposal (RP), recently adopted by GOLD 2023, to assess the severity of exacerbations (ECOPD). So far, we have analysed 387 study weeks, which include only 18 ECOPDs; 4 mild, 13 moderate and 1 severe according to the criteria from RP. There is a promising potential of telemonitoring based on the RP
Buckwheat : an underutilized crop with attractive sensory qualities and health benefits.
No full textThe pseudocereal buckwheat is one of the ancient domesticated crops. The aim of the present review was to outline the potential of buckwheat as an agricultural crop and brings studies on buckwheat into a new larger perspective combining current knowledge in agricultural history and practice, nutritional and sensory properties, as well as possible benefits to human health. Historically, buckwheat was an appreciated crop because of its short growth period, moderate requirements for growth conditions, and high adaptability to adverse environments. Nowadays, interest in buckwheat-based food has increased because of its nutritional composition and many beneficial properties for human health. Buckwheat is a rich course of proteins, dietary fibers, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds, including flavonoids. Moreover, it contains no gluten and can be used in the production of gluten-free foods for individuals diagnosed with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or wheat protein allergies. Buckwheat is traditionally used in the production of various foods and can be successfully incorporated into various new food formulations with positive effects on their nutritional value and attractive sensory properties. Further research is needed to optimize buckwheat-based food development and understand the mechanism of the health effects of buckwheat consumption on human well-being.The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by CF Lundströms stiftelse (CF2022-0001), Sweden.</p
Physico-chemical properties of pea fibre and pea protein blends and the implications for in vitro batch fermentation using human inoculum
No full textThe incorporation of fibre into pea protein matrices influences their microstructure, yet our understanding of their gut fermentability remains unexplored. In this study, dietary fibres and protein from yellow pea were investigated for their physico-chemical properties and impact on in vitro colonic fermentation using human inoculum. Pea fibre and pea protein blends were studied at different pH and after thermal treatment at 95 °C for 30 min with oscillatory rheology, static light scattering and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The effect on in vitro colonic fermentation was evaluated measuring gas production, ammonia, and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Rheology indicated that during thermal treatment a firmer gel is formed close to the protein isoelectric point with a structure characterised by aggregation, but less particle swelling compared to other pH. Addition of fibre led to higher storage modulus (G′), with the fibre dominating the rheological properties. Fermentation of samples containing protein led to higher levels of ammonia and SCFA compared to only fibres. Blends produced higher amounts of valerate, i-valerate and caproate, and lower amounts of ammonia. Reduced fermentation of proteins in the presence of fibres was also reflected in a more intact microstructure of the protein particles in the digesta. Although thermal treatment of blends caused particle swelling and induced gelation, only small differences could be discerned in the in vitro colonic fermentation outcomes. Our results highlight that potentially harmful fermentation products from protein, such as ammonia, were reduced in the presence of pea hull fibre. The study was performed within the PANSweden project which acknowledge financial support from the Swedish research council, FORMAS grant number 2020-02843. We acknowledge Orkla for providing fibre samples and Lantmannen ¨ for providing protein samples</p
The climate and environmental effects of policies for moving freight transport from road to other modes : The case of Sweden
No full textThe objective of this paper is to determine how policy instruments which aim to achieve a modal shift of long-haul freight transport from road to rail or sea affect the direct emissions to air of greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. The analysis is conducted in two stages. First, a range of forecasts reflecting different assumptions are applied using the Swedish national freight transport model (SAMGODS) to derive a range of possible future developments of emissions levels up to 2030 and 2040. This has involved determining emission factors per tonne-km for each of the SAMGODS model's six road freight vehicle types, eleven freight train variants and 22 ship types. The model outcomes are then compared to those of the base year of 2017. Second, the effects of two hypothetical modal shift policy instruments are analyzed with respect to their potential impact on emissions to air. The effects of these two policy instruments are evaluated for the base-year of 2017 and for the 2030 and 2040 forecasts. The paper also analyzes whether the Swedish climate objective for domestic transport in 2030 can be expected to be fulfilled given different forecasts and policy instruments. Within the context of a predicted large increase in total freight tonne-km (between 31 and 53%), emissions of greenhouse gases are calculated to decrease by 50 to 60% by 2040. This means that the Swedish freight transport sector will not achieve its share of greenhouse gas emissions reductions necessary to attain the national climate objective of a 70% reduction by 2030. Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) are forecast to reduce by between 60 and 75%, emissions of sulfur dioxides to reduce by between 41 and 50%, emissions of volatile organic compounds to increase by 8 to 30% and emissions of particulate matter (from exhaust and tyre/road wear) are calculated to increase by between 13 and 33%. Using modal shift policy instruments to achieve greenhouse gas reductions is calculated to attain worse results over time, by 2040 it might even be counterproductive. The project was funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).</p
Independent assessment in trials with automated vehicles – Drive Sweden Policy Lab Case 6
No full text The purpose of case 6 of the Drive Sweden Policy Lab 2023-25 is to examine the scope of an independent assessment in trials with automated road vehicles. The Swedish Transport Agency's regulations and general advice on permission to conduct trials with automated vehicles have recently been amended by adding a general advice that the applicant´s risk assessment should in certain cases be supplemented with a statement from an independent assessor regarding traffic safety (TSFS 2021:4, last amended by TSFS 2022:82). The regulation enables trials with automated vehicles in Sweden since 2017 and clarifies the circumstances under which it is reasonable safe to conduct trials with such vehicles. In the beginning of 2023, a policy lab was initiated with Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Austrian actors, which acts as a platform for collaborative policy development by relevant actors facing a common policy related challenge. Vehicle manufacturers, transport providers and operators, authorities, potential assessors, and applied research examine together the scope of independent assessments for trials with automated vehicles. The policy lab generates guidelines for independent assessments by clarifying and exemplifying the application and scope of such assessments in trials with automated vehicles. The policy lab considers knowledge and previous experiences from other transport sectors, from various countries with independent assessment already in place and from relevant EU and UNECE regulations, such as the requirements of independent assessment for the international market e.g., for a type-approval in the EU (ADS compliance assessment) or the proposed process for audits from the working group Validation Methods for Automated Driving as part of WP29. Drive Sweden Policy Lab case 6 is partly financed by Sweden´s innovation agency Vinnova, through its strategic innovation program Drive Sweden, and partly by the project parties.The SIPs are financed by Sweden's innovation agency Vinnova, Formas, a research council for sustainable development, and the Energy Agency. Lindholmen Science Park AB hosts Drive Sweden.This project is partly financed by Vinnova through Drive Sweden, partly by the parties within Drive Sweden Policy Lab case 6.</p
Algorithmic Transparency, Manipulation, and Two Concepts of Liberty
No full textAs more decisions are made by automated algorithmic systems, the transparency of these systems has come under scrutiny. While such transparency is typically seen as beneficial, there is a also a critical, Foucauldian account of it. From this perspective, worries have recently been articulated that algorithmic transparency can be used for manipulation, as part of a disciplinary power structure. Klenk (Philosophy & Technology 36, 79, 2023) recently argued that such manipulation should not be understood as exploitation of vulnerable victims, but rather as indifference to whether the information provided enhances decision-making by revealing reasons. This short commentary on Klenk uses Berlin’s (1958) two concepts of liberty to further illuminate the concept of transparency as manipulation, finding alignment between positive liberty and the critical account. Open access funding provided by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. The author received noexternal funding for this work.</p
Measurements of droplet size and velocity for three selected nozzles
No full textSprays produced by injecting water into quiescent air by three different types of nozzles were characterised by optical methods. The droplet velocities and droplet size distributions were assessed by the use of high speed shadowgraphs