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Towards sustainability by reducing speciesism:The effect of a prejudice-based intervention on people's attitudes and behaviours towards animals
Get PDFThe way we use animals for human consumption, medicines, and entertainment causes problems for the environment, our health, and animal welfare. This research investigated an intervention aimed at reducing harmful attitudes and behaviours towards animals. As the underlying mechanism of prejudice towards animals is similar to human outgroup prejudice, we designed an intervention based on synthesized insights from the prejudice literature. In two studies, participants (NStudy1 = 603 and NStudy2 = 600) either received an intervention or no intervention. Then, harmful attitudes and behaviours towards animals (Studies 1 and 2) and possible mediators (Study 2) were measured. The prejudice-based intervention led participants to more strongly intend to reduce their hurtful behaviours towards animals (Studies 1 and 2). Moreover, the intervention diminished participants' animal product consumption as measured after a week (Study 2). Whereas the intervention did not affect speciesist attitudes in Study 1, it did in the more strongly powered Study 2. Finally, the path model of Study 2 showed that perspective-taking and feelings associated with injustice played a role in reducing speciesism, whereas awareness of animal treatment did not. Together, our intervention provides an important step to sustainability by reducing speciesism.</p
Baseline PSMA PET/CT parameters predict overall survival and treatment response in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients
Get PDFObjective: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is a heterogeneous disease with varying survival outcomes. This study investigated whether baseline PSMA PET/CT parameters are associated with survival and treatment response. Methods: Sixty mCRPC patients underwent [18F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT before treatment with androgen receptor-targeted agents (ARTAs) or chemotherapy. Intensity-based parameters, volumetric parameters, metastatic sites and DmaxVox (distance between the two outermost voxels) from baseline PSMA PET/CT were collected, as well as age, Gleason score and laboratory parameters. Cox regression analysis evaluated their prognostic value for overall survival (OS). Additionally, a preliminary lesion-level analysis was done (n = 241 lesions) with lesion location and twelve radiomic features selected from previous literature. Logistic regression evaluated their association with PSMA PET/CT-based lesion progression after 3–4 months of treatment. Results: Total tumour volume (PSMA-TV) (HR = 1.41 per doubling [1.17–1.70]), total lesion uptake (TL-PSMA) (HR = 1.40 per doubling [1.16–1.69]) and DmaxVox (HR = 1.31 per 10 cm increase [1.07–1.62]) were prognostic for OS, each independent of baseline PSA level (HR = 0.82 per doubling [0.68–0.98]), haemoglobin level (HR = 0.68 per mmol/L increase [0.49–0.95]) and line of treatment. On lesion-level, location (prostate vs bone OR = 0.23 [0.06–0.83]) and SUVmean (OR = 1.72 per doubling [1.08–2.75]) were independent prognostic markers for lesion progression, morphological and texture-based radiomic features were not. Conclusion: Baseline PSMA PET/CT scans have prognostic value in mCRPC patients and can potentially aid in treatment decision-making. DmaxVox can serve as a simpler alternative to PSMA-TV when automated segmentation software is not available. When combined with PSMA-TV, lower PSA levels indicated worse OS, which may be a marker of tumour dedifferentiation. Further research is needed to validate these models in larger patient cohorts. Key Points: Question mCRPC is a highly heterogeneous disease, requiring good prognostic markers. Findings PSMA-TV was the best independent prognostic marker for OS; maximum distance between lesions (DmaxVox) can be used as a simpler alternative. Clinical relevance Baseline PSMA PET/CT parameters representing tumour burden were independently associated with OS in mCRPC patients, providing prognostic insights for clinical decision-making. Although PSMA-TV was the best prognostic marker, DmaxVox can serve as an easier to obtain alternative.</p
Diagnostic delay in women with cancer:What do we know and which factors contribute?
Get PDFTimely cancer diagnosis is important, but delays are common, also among women. This study reviews recent literature on diagnostic delays in women with breast cancer, focusing on individual-level factors and their interaction with micro, meso, exo, and macrosystem factors. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we conducted a scoping review on diagnostic delays in cancer among women, including qualitative and quantitative studies with oncological patients or healthcare professionals. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus for publications from 2018 to November 28, 2023, excluding studies not meeting the inclusion criteria, not in English or Dutch, or focused solely on cancer screening. Titles and full texts were screened, with disagreements resolved through discussion. Two reviewers independently extracted study details, population characteristics, study design, and factors contributing to diagnostic delays. Initially, 9699 records were retrieved, resulting in 129 relevant studies after exclusions. We focused on women's health and breast cancer, narrowing our scope to 22 studies in high-income countries. Studies explored diagnostic delays and factors at various levels: microsystem (demographics, health behaviours, psychology, healthcare interactions), mesosystem (schedules, peer and support networks), exosystem (social, cultural, environmental, accessibility factors), and macrosystem (broader cultural, societal contexts, healthcare policies). In high-income countries, diagnostic delays in breast cancer care involve factors across various systems, affecting individuals, peers, healthcare, and policies. Enhancing awareness, communication, and access is important, requiring targeted campaigns and infrastructure upgrades. The Bronfenbrenner's ecological model effectively addresses the multifaceted factors influencing diagnostic delays. Future research can benefit from applying this model to various cancers and income settings.</p
Experimental validation of boson sampling using detector binning
Get PDFWe experimentally demonstrate a testing strategy for boson samplers that is based on efficiently computable expressions for the output photon counting distributions binned over multiple optical modes. We apply this method to validate boson sampling experiments with three photons on a reconfigurable photonic chip, which implements a four-mode interferometer, analyzing 50 Haar-random unitary transformations while tuning photon distinguishability via controlled delays. We show that for high values of indistinguishability, the experiment accurately reproduces the ideal boson sampling binned-mode distributions, which exhibit variations that depend both on the specific interferometer implemented as well as the choice of bin, confirming the usefulness of the method to diagnose imperfections such as partial distinguishability or imperfect chip control. Finally, we analyze the behavior of Haar-averaged binned-mode distributions with partial distinguishability and demonstrate analytically that its variance is proportional to the average of the square of the photons' indistinguishability parameter. These findings highlight the central role of binning in boson sampling validation, offering a scalable and efficient framework for assessing multiphoton interference and experimental performance
Role of alkyl chain length and branching of substituents in diglycolamides on the complexation of Nd<sup>3+</sup> and Eu<sup>3+</sup> ions in ionic liquids:Spectroscopic, electrochemical and theoretical investigations
Get PDFThe effect of alkyl chain branching of diglycolamide (DGA) ligands on the complexation of the trivalent lanthanides Nd3+ and Eu3+was investigated systematically in ionic liquid mediums using UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence, cyclic voltammetry, infrared spectroscopy, etc. Density functional theory (DFT) studies were also carried out to explain the obtained results. The branched tetraalkyl DGA ligands used in this study are N,N,N′,N′-tetra-iso-propyl DGA(TIPDGA), N,N,N′,N′-tetra-iso-butyl DGA (TIBDGA), N,N,N′,N′-tetra-iso-amyl DGA (TIADGA), while the ionic liquid mainly used was C6mim•NTf2, some studies were also carried out with a lower and a higher alkyl chain ionic liquid, viz., C4mim•NTf2and C8mim•NTf2. A predominant presence of ML1,ML2 and ML3 species was found with complexation constants following the trend: βTIPDGA > βTIBDGA > βTIADGA, which was attributed to a steric effect. Judd-Ofelt parameters, which give a quantitative measure of the metal-O bond covalency were evaluated for the ligands as TIPDGA (Ω2 = 2.81 × 10−20 and Ω4 = 1.17 × 10−20), TIBDGA (Ω2 = 2.72 × 10−20 and Ω4 = 1.13 × 10−20), and TIADGA (Ω2 = 2.94 × 10−20 and Ω4 = 1.14 × 10−20). The excited state lifetime measurement for the luminescence studies revealed the formation of inner sphere complexes with the removal of all the water molecules from the primary coordination sphere of the Eu3+ ion. Upon complexation, the asymmetry around the Eu3+ ions enhanced which, however, remained almost similar for all the DGAs. The β values in the three different ionic liquids follow the trend:C4mim•NTf2 > C6mim•NTf2 > C8mim•NTf2. The exothermic nature of the complexation was evident by the trend in the β values obtained at different temperatures: β300 K > β313 K > β323 K.</p
Virtual Prototyping of Wet Granulation processes:Design and Optimisation via Multiscale Modelling and Rapid Prototyping
Get PDFWet granulation processes are essential in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, where they play a critical role in enhancing the flowability, compressibility, and homogeneity of powder blends -- properties essential for high-quality manufacturing. The (bio-)pharmaceutical industry is currently changing paradigms from traditional batch processing to continuous manufacturing, driven by the need for increased efficiency, flexibility, and product consistency. However, process optimisation relies heavily on empirical adjustments and time-consuming experimental prototyping, which can be costly and inefficient. This doctoral thesis presents a comprehensive study on experiments and modelling of wet granulation processes. We aim to advance the field by developing a comprehensive multiscale modelling framework that combines the discrete particle method (DPM), population balance (PB) models, and rapid prototyping, to optimise and predict wet granulation process behaviour, enabling virtual prototyping. The study highlights the significance of geometry and formulation dependencies on wet granulation performance, identifies the limitations of existing models that rely on empirical adjustments and assumptions, and proposes the quadrature method of moments to model wet granulation processes. Finally, MercuryPBM is introduced, an open-source software for PB modelling of granular applications with distributed properties, which is designed to facilitate virtual prototyping of wet granulation processes. This research not only contributes to a deeper understanding of wet granulation, but also provides a valuable tool for industrial applications, paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective wet granulation processes by virtual prototyping
Counter-ion mobility in cation-exchange membranes:Single electrolytes versus mixtures
Get PDFMany electrochemical technologies utilize ion-exchange membranes for water treatment (e.g. electrodialysis), energy conversion applications (e.g. redox flow batteries), and electrochemical synthesis (e.g. bipolar membrane electrodialysis). Ion mobility inside the membrane plays a primary role in determining the energy efficiency and ion selectivity of the process. We investigated the mobility of Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ inside commercial cation-exchange membranes based on conductivity measurements in single electrolyte solutions. Moreover, we employed a transport model to simulate two scenarios for the counter-ion mobilities in a binary mixture of Na+ and Mg2+. In a single electrolyte, the mobility of various counter-ions is reduced to different extents mainly based on the membrane water volume fraction as well as the ion hydration. For example, in membranes with low-to-moderate water volume fractions, the Mg2+ mobility is 9–17 times more reduced than the mobility of Na+. In a mixture, this difference in mobility reduction is less pronounced since the ions are limited by the surrounding counter-ions inside the membranes. In this regard, the counter-ion mobilities for a single electrolyte do not necessarily reflect the counter-ion selectivity during multi-electrolyte experiments. Furthermore, the counter-ion selectivity in electrodialysis is highly influenced by the ion partitioning within the membrane in addition to ion mobilities in the diffusion boundary layer.</p
Tuning synthesis and sonochemistry forges learning and enhances educational training:Protection of 1,3-diols under heterogeneous catalysis as sustainable case study
Get PDFThis research article describes the thermal and sonochemical enhancements of 1,3-diol protection, via acetal formation, catalyzed by a biomass-derived heterogeneous catalyst. This investigation was also conducted under the framework of a postgraduate program in green chemistry, and the application of ultrasonic activation represented an opportunity to expose the field to junior colleagues unaware of sonochemistry. Accordingly, we show not only a facile and high-yielding synthetic transformation, but also the pluses of performing a parallel protocol using low-frequency ultrasound, which provided new learning tools and skills in context. The main role of sound waves can be associated to enhanced mass transfer of the heterogeneous reaction (false sonochemistry). Acoustic energy was delivered into the reagents and solvent using so-called cavitation intensifying bags (CIB). The micropitted polymeric material enabled a greater focused radiation that proved to be highly reproducible at 25 °C and led to reaction completion much faster than the conventional external heating. Furthermore, sonication fine-tunes selectivity in ketal formation, as witnessed by a facile synthesis of solketal, a green solvent obtained by acetalization of glycerol. The pedagogical benefits of conveying education in sonochemistry are outlined, alongside the catalyst characterization of the ultrasound-driven reaction. Our ambition is to stimulate similar pursuits in synthesis and catalysis at other laboratories and educational institutions
Responses to trade-offs between expanding tree crops and provisioning services in a transitioning multifunctional landscape in Ghana’s Eastern Region
Get PDFContext:Expanding tree crops in West Africa is changing landscape structure and the availability of landscape services, yet little research addresses how users cope with these changes.Objectives:This study examines how users manage trade-offs in landscape services and what factors influence their strategies, focusing on changes in the availability, use, and source of landscape services and the impact of sociodemographic factors, production systems, and perceptions of substitutability.Methods:A survey among 245 farmers (93%) and other residents (7%) in a transitioning mosaic landscape dominated by cocoa and oil palm in Ghana’s Eastern Region was conducted, supplemented by field observations. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests based on contingency tables were used to analyze changes in landscape service use and sources over 20 years.Results:Over the past 20 years, people’s use of commercial crops and agricultural water has increased by 8–11%, while the use of mushrooms (56%), bushmeat (68%), snails (53%) and timber (23%) declined. Users increasingly turned to alternative land-cover types and markets or substituted landscape services with domesticated, technological, or synthetic alternatives. The dominant tree crop and respondents’ age, occupation, and substitutability perceptions influence responses to dwindling landscape services.Conclusions:To prevent further decline in landscape services, all sources, both natural and human-modified ones, should be considered. Efforts must balance production and nature conservation, raise awareness of landscape dynamics, and enhance the resilience of vulnerable people. Awareness is crucial, as the availability of alternatives may reduce rural people’s sense of urgency and willingness to act for conservation
