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How many samples do we need to be representative?:Grid sampling in Danish waters for assessing the distribution of microplastics and tire wear particles in seabed sediments
No full textThis study investigates the short-distance variability in microplastics (MPs) and tire wear particles (TWPs) concentrations in coastal sediment environments, aiming to refine sampling strategies for accurate environmental assessments. Grid sampling was conducted at two Danish sites, Strandby (∼0.57 km2, 16 sampling points with distance ranging from 215 to 1070 m) and Odense (∼0.95 km2, 13 sampling points, with distances ranging from 215 to 1577 m), followed by MP and TWP extraction and quantification. The results revealed significant variation in MP and TWP concentrations within and between sites, with Odense showing much higher contamination levels than Strandby likely due to the proximity to pollution sources and differences in depositional environments. No TWPs were detected at Strandby, likely due to its distance to road surfaces, as TWPs are made from the friction between tires and road surfaces. Monte Carlo simulations indicated that with 10 sampling points, the mean of the samples has a 50 % probability of being within 94-119 % of the true mean, defined here as the overall mean obtained from this study. The findings underscore the importance of collecting multiple samples to accurately represent MP pollution in the sediment compartment and provide recommendations for future monitoring efforts and sampling strategies.</p
Exploring the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Pressure Pain Tolerance in the General Population. The Tromsø Study 2015–2016
No full textBackground Physical activity (PA) is commonly recommended for the treatment and prevention of pain. Several small-sample studies have indicated a relationship between PA and pressure pain sensitivity. Methods This study used data from the seventh Troms? Study (2015?2016) cohort to assess how questionnaire-based leisure time PA (LTPA), occupational PA (OPA), and exercise-expended metabolic equivalent of task (MET) hours per week (n?=?21,083), as well as accelerometer-measured total counts and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; n?=?6778) relate to pressure pain tolerance (PTol). Flexible parametric survival analysis was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Higher LTPA and MET-hours per week were associated with higher levels of PTol (p??22.5 MET-hours per week. A similar pattern was observed for accelerometer-measured PA, with a HR of 0.91 (0.88, 0.95) for MVPA and 0.93 (0.90, 0.96) for total activity counts. No clear pattern was observed for OPA. Interaction analysis indicated generally stronger effects for men, but no differences across age groups. Conclusion The findings suggest that higher PA in leisure-time contexts is associated with higher pain tolerance levels in the general population. Significance Statement Higher physical activity levels are linked to increased pressure pain tolerance, highlighting its role in modulating pain. Notably, only leisure-time activity shows a beneficial effect, while occupational activity does not. These findings suggest that the type and combination of activity may uniquely influence pain perception, challenging the idea that all physical activity benefits pain equally. Since physical activity is widely used in clinical pain management, this distinction has key implications for tailoring exercise-based interventions to optimize outcomes.Background: Physical activity (PA) is commonly recommended for the treatment and prevention of pain. Several small-sample studies have indicated a relationship between PA and pressure pain sensitivity. Methods: This study used data from the seventh Tromsø Study (2015–2016) cohort to assess how questionnaire-based leisure time PA (LTPA), occupational PA (OPA), and exercise-expended metabolic equivalent of task (MET) hours per week (n = 21,083), as well as accelerometer-measured total counts and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; n = 6778) relate to pressure pain tolerance (PTol). Flexible parametric survival analysis was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Higher LTPA and MET-hours per week were associated with higher levels of PTol (p < 0.001). With sedentary LTPA as a reference group, results indicated a HR of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.83, 0.92) for light, 0.75 (0.71, 0.80) for moderate, and 0.63 (0.53, 0.73) for vigorous PA. Compared to < 7.5 MET-hours per week, HRs were 0.92 (0.88, 0.96) for 7.5–14.9 MET-hours per week, 0.84 (0.78, 0.89) for 15–22.5 MET-hours per week, and 0.86 (0.82, 0.91) for > 22.5 MET-hours per week. A similar pattern was observed for accelerometer-measured PA, with a HR of 0.91 (0.88, 0.95) for MVPA and 0.93 (0.90, 0.96) for total activity counts. No clear pattern was observed for OPA. Interaction analysis indicated generally stronger effects for men, but no differences across age groups. Conclusion: The findings suggest that higher PA in leisure-time contexts is associated with higher pain tolerance levels in the general population. Significance Statement: Higher physical activity levels are linked to increased pressure pain tolerance, highlighting its role in modulating pain. Notably, only leisure-time activity shows a beneficial effect, while occupational activity does not. These findings suggest that the type and combination of activity may uniquely influence pain perception, challenging the idea that all physical activity benefits pain equally. Since physical activity is widely used in clinical pain management, this distinction has key implications for tailoring exercise-based interventions to optimize outcomes.</p
Clinical risk phenotypes in diabetes and their associations with adverse cardiovascular events:A report from the Silesia Diabetes-Heart Project
No full textAims: Diabetes is characterized by clinical heterogeneity. This study aimed to identify different clinical phenotypes of real-world people with diabetes and to assess their associations with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Methods: From a prospective Polish registry of people with diabetes, hierarchical cluster analysis was performed based on 19 variables, including co-morbidities and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. The primary outcome was the risk of MACEs (CV death, acute coronary syndrome and myocardial revascularizations, ischaemic stroke, new onset heart failure, and hospitalization for CV reasons). Secondary exploratory outcomes were each MACE component and all-cause death. Results: On 2109 participants (median age 60 years, interquartile range [IQR] 45–69, 51.3% men) included, three different phenotypes were identified: (i) cluster 1 (27.8%) – young with type 1 diabetes; (ii) cluster 2 (42.0%) – elderly with type 2 diabetes and high complexity; (iii) cluster 3 (30.2%) – middle-aged with type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic risk factors. Compared to cluster 1, the risk of primary outcome was higher for clusters 2 and 3 (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.93, 95% CI 1.60–5.36, and aHR 1.85 95% CI 1.07–3.20, respectively). Using cluster 3 as the reference, cluster 1 was associated with a lower risk (aHR 0.54, 95% CI 0.31–0.94), and cluster 2 with a higher risk (aHR 1.58, 95% CI 1.08–2.33). Conclusions: People with diabetes aggregate into different clinical phenotypes, each with different risks of MACEs. Integrated approaches tailored to these diverse clinical profiles are needed to improve outcomes in this heterogeneous and multifaceted disease.</p
Effects of culture conditions on cell morphology and differentiation responses to PMA in THP-1 cells
Full text linkThe THP-1 monocyte cell line can be differentiated into macrophage-like cells upon stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and therefore widely used in inflammatory research. However, there is a lack of evidence-based protocols for cell culture and differentiation. In this study, we highlight how culture conditions influence THP-1 cells and their response to PMA stimulation. After thawing, THP-1 cells were cultured for up to 4 weeks and monitored by phase-contrast microscopy. Stressed cells (>1 × 10 6 cells/mL for 72 h without medium replenishment) were assessed for CD80 and MHC-II expression and the subset distribution by flow cytometry. For PMA stimulation (10 μg/mL), standard cells under normal nutrient conditions (5 × 10 5 cells/mL), low (2 × 10 5 cells/mL), and high (1 × 10 6 cells/mL) cell densities, along with stressed cells at 1 × 10 6 cells/mL density, were seeded and observed at 24 and 48 h. Cells formed aggregates containing more than 10 cells during the first week in suspension but gradually transitioned to single cells with continuous culture. Metabolically stressed cells developed protrusions, showed increased adherence, and expressed higher levels of MHC-II compared to standard cells ( p = 0.02). These cells also displayed signs of partial differentiation, with fewer MHC-II −CD80 − cells ( p < 0.001) and more MHC-II +CD80 − cells ( p < 0.001) than non-stressed cells. Optimal and uniform differentiation was observed after 3–4 weeks of recovery, at seeding densities below 1 × 10 6 cells/mL, and under non-stressed conditions. These findings show that THP-1 culture conditions, including recovery time post-thawing, stress status and seeding density, have a major impact on their responsiveness to PMA.</p
Outsourcing Agile Projects with Time-and-Material Contracts: A Trust-Control Duality Perspective
Full text linkAlthough agile principles are widely adopted for information systems development (ISD), we know little about the use of agile principles in outsourced ISD projects, especially from a client perspective. Client organisations have been reluctant to adopt agile principles in outsourced relationships because of the traditional dominance of fixed-price contracting and lack of knowledge on creating client value without jeopardising supplier interests. Against this backdrop, we apply a trust-control duality perspective to understand and explain how a Danish government agency successfully outsourced an ISD project to a supplier based on agile principles and time-and-material contracting. Drawing on these findings and extant literature, we offer theoretical and practical contributions to the literature on outsourced agile ISD focused on managing such arrangements and on using a trust-control duality perspective to understand the client’s relationship with suppliers
Machine Learning-Driven Cellular-Satellite Multi-Connectivity for Monitoring Livestock Transport in Rural Areas
Full text linkEmerging domains such as wireless industrial control, vehicular communications, smart grids, and augmented reality demand low latency, high throughput, and high reliability from wireless communication systems. Unfortunately, single connectivity (SC) communications frequently fail to fulfill these stringent requirements. To address these challenges, employing a multi-connectivity (MC) solution appears to be a promising technique. In this paper, in the context of Horizon Europe COMMECT project, we seek to develop a multi-connectivity solution that intelligently integrates cellular and satellite networks for the purpose of monitoring livestock transport in rural regions where 5G coverage is limited. Multi-connectivity can be helpful for meeting EU regulations requiring seamless communication between transport units and the operational center to ensure animal welfare during transit. To achieve this, we employ machine learning (ML) models within a Classification and Regression framework in the proposed multi-connectivity solution. The ML models process radio-related key performance indicators (KPIs) as inputs to estimate network throughput and latency. The outputs of the model are used to decide whether to continue with the cellular link or activate the backup satellite link in the multi-connectivity setup, ensuring an almost uninterrupted connection. This capability is particularly crucial in regions where 5G coverage is limited, and maintaining a reliable connection is essential. To evaluate the proposed framework, we used a hybrid emulation setup based on experimental data collected in the northern part of Denmark. The emulation results demonstrate that the MC solution significantly outperforms the cellular SC. Although our solution is designed for livestock transport monitoring, it can be adapted for other applications, such as precision farming, in areas with insufficient 5G availability.</p
Coalition Formation and Firm Representatives’ Answers to Complainers on Social Media: Their Interplay and the Coalition Ripple Effect
Full text linkWe ask whether complaint answers by firm representatives depend on coalition formation—others taking sides with complainers or firm representatives—and whether coalition formation by third actors depends on complaint answers. An online field study revealed that, from the firm representative perspective, the 73.2% probability of a complaint answer in the absence of any coalition decreases to 10.9%–12.8% in the presence of a prior coalition with a firm representative or complainer. From the third actor perspective, the probability of the formation of a coalition with a firm representative decreases by one-third in the presence versus absence of a prior complaint answer; coalitions with complainers are not curtailed. Furthermore, a coalition with a firm representative shifts the average complaint answer from somewhat favorable to unfavorable, which facilitates coalitions with complainers, creating a coalition ripple effect. The results offer managerial guidance, as dissatisfying online complaint handling remains problematic
More-than-capitalist economies:Insights from community supported agriculture, tiny houses and hitchhiking in Denmark
Full text linkThe accelerating planetary crises call for rapid reductions in carbon emissions, unlikely to be achieved alone through increasing renewable energy and more efficient production. A wide-ranging transformation of affluent lifestyles and current consumption-production relationships is needed as well. This brings existing economic models into question, as profit often stands in the way of necessary reductions. Thus, a growing field of research points to the need of rethinking the economic system, and frameworks of degrowth and sufficiency are receiving more attention.In the context of Denmark, this paper maps the landscape of both mainstream and alternative consumption-production relationships across three high-emission domains: food, housing and mobility. Based on focus groups with 52 professional stakeholders, I identify a correlation between economic activities and sustainability approaches, with efficiency-oriented models being tied to profit-driven economies and sufficiency-oriented models aligned with alternative, collective economic practices. This finding shows how economic systems shape the strategies organizations employ in addressing environmental challenges.Furthermore, more-than-capitalist economic activities in this landscape are explored. By zooming in on three cases, community supported agriculture, tiny houses and hitchhiking, I draw attention to diverse economies as a lens to reframe consumption-production relationships in a sufficiency-oriented direction. I contribute to this field by proposing three key dimensions in which more-than-capitalist actors share characteristics across food, housing and mobility: 1) spatial; 2) temporal; and 3) relational. Highlighting these, the paper calls for further research and attention to spatial proximity, long-term engagement and community-building in developing consumption-production relationships for a sustainable future
Safe and infinite resource scheduling using energy timed automata
No full textWe study the existence of infinite and safe schedules for resource-dependent real-time systems, in the setting of multiple continuous resources. Specifically, we explore the multi-variable extension of Energy Timed Automata, where variables are bounded by polyhedra in Rn. We ask the question of whether there exist infinite runs satisfying such boundary constraints and show how schedules can be synthesized by characterising these runs as limit sets using quantifier elimination for linear real arithmetic. We show that for linear limit sets, it is possible to characterise such infinite runs. Additionally, we relate this to an earlier decidability result for single-variable Energy Timed Automata that are flat and segmented, and show constructively that there exist flat and segmented multi-variable Energy Timed Automata that give rise to non-linear limit sets. Lastly, we solidify our framework and method with a case study. Specifically, a multi-agent extension of an industrial case concerned with oil tanks, originally provided by the HYDAC company.</p
Global insights into extracellular polymeric substances from activated sludge:Yield, composition, and microbial communities
Full text linkActivated sludge (AS) wastewater treatment generates substantial excess sludge which needs to be discarded and thereby increasing operational costs. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) within AS present a potential resource for recovery, reducing sludge volume and mass while adding value. Achieving this goal requires a better characterization of EPS, as the relationship between its composition and the microbial communities responsible for its production remains insufficiently understood. Here, we analysed extracted EPS from 16 wastewater treatment plants across 13 countries and 5 continents and found that alkaline extractable EPS yields varied widely (2.81-18.5 wt.% VSS). The microbial community composition of abundant species varied across plants and particularly across continents and did not correlate to the EPS yield. Only sludge retention time had a significant correlation with the EPS yield (p < 0.005). Traditional colorimetric assays failed to detect compositional trends of the EPS, but Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis indicated that extracted EPS from biological phosphorus removal systems had higher lipid and polysaccharide content, while chemical phosphorus removal systems had higher relative protein content. Thus, FTIR proved effective for distinguishing extracted EPS composition, demonstrating its potential as a high-throughput characterization tool. These findings highlighted that the wastewater treatment design and operation may shape the functional groups in EPS when using the alkaline method. More investigations are needed to find possible correlations between the composition of extracted EPS and the microbial community structure. Overall, the study presents a baseline for the amount and overall composition of biopolymers that can be extracted from global AS plants for recovery.</p