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When the wild things are: Defining mammalian diel activity and plasticity
No full textCircadian rhythms are a mechanism by which species adapt to environmental variability and fundamental to understanding species behavior. However, we lack data and a standardized framework to accurately assess and compare temporal activity for species during rapid ecological change. Through a global network representing 38 countries, we leveraged 8.9 million mammalian observations to create a library of 14,587 standardized diel activity estimates for 445 species. We found that less than half the species' estimates were in agreement with diel classifications from the reference literature and that species commonly used more than one diel classification. Species diel activity was highly plastic when exposed to anthropogenic change. Furthermore, body size and distributional extent were strongly associated with whether a species is diurnal or nocturnal. Our findings provide essential knowledge of species behavior in an era of rapid global change and suggest the need for a new, quantitative framework that defines diel activity logically and consistently while capturing species plasticity.</p
Abstract Book of the 9th World Conference on Future of Education, 2025:Child Labour In Pakistan
No full textChild labour remains a significant issue in developing nations, particularly in Pakistan. This persistent problem is exacerbated by poverty, a lack of educational opportunities, and other socio-economic challenges. Our 2017 study employed a mixed-methods strategy, utilizing Google Forms to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative findings revealed a strong correlation between the prevalence of child labour, high poverty levels, and limited access to education. Concurrently, qualitative insights from open-ended inquiries provided educators and other respondents with a platform to share their in-depth perspectives. These findings highlighted numerous challenges, including inadequate enforcement of child labour laws and insufficient resources for welfare and education programs. Despite government initiatives, the problem persists due to poor implementation and uneven resource distribution, especially in rural areas. Consequently, many children remain trapped in low-skilled, poorly paid jobs, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. Our study recommends a comprehensive approach to address these underlying issues. Key recommendations include enhancing access to quality education, strengthening law enforcement, and fostering collaboration between the government, civil society, and the private sector. By tackling these root causes, we can work towards eliminating child labour and improving the prospects of affected children
Heat exchanger design and performance evaluation for a high-temperature heat pump system under different two-phase correlations:4E analysis
No full textSupplying district heat and assisting the integration of renewable electricity, high-temperature heat pump technology is foreseen to play an essential role in renewable energy-powered thermal energy storage systems. However, existing studies on high-temperature heat pump performance prediction are usually based on utilizing specific heat transfer correlations of heat exchangers. It is difficult to guide the selection and combination of the two-phase correlations in the heat exchanger design and system performance assessment of the high-temperature heat pump. In the present study, we aim to focus on the impact of different two-phase correlations, and a comparative study is conducted among 8 correlations (4 flow condensation ones and 4 flow boiling ones) adopted for component design and system performance prediction. The results show that for designed condensers or evaporators, the dimensions, costs, and carbon emissions are significantly affected by different two-phase correlations. Among 16 pairs of two-phase correlations, little fluctuation of the system performance is observed at the design heat source temperature 80 °C. While at off-design heat source temperatures of 85, 90 or 95 °C, the energetic and exergetic performance parameters are significantly affected with high relative differences (9.88% of heating capacity, 3.27% of coefficient of performance, and 6.76% of exergy efficiency). Also, the system's economic and environmental performance indexes are influenced to some extent, with visible relative uncertainties (1.91% of the heating cost, 4.44% of the payback time, and 6.38% of the carbon emission). This research will help to promote the selection and utilization of two-phase correlations for the plate heat exchanger design and system assessment in larger renewable energy-powered high-temperature heat pump applications.</p
İnci Eviner
No full textIn the autumn of 2024 an enigmatic installation FIG.1 stood in London’s Regent’s Park. Resembling a small, tiered stage, the work appeared at once out of place and unexpectedly at home in the natural environment. Atop the structure was a collection of fragmented ceramic sculptures. These objects – comprising human and non-human body parts, such as torsos, tails and heads with pointed, bat-like ears – appeared ready for activation, as though caught on the verge of movement. Although individually fragile, collectively they conveyed a sense of latent power. Titled Materials of Mind Theatre, this installation was created by the Turkish artist İnci Eviner (b.1956) for Frieze Sculpture 2024. Working with ceramics students from the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul, Eviner produced twenty-five stoneware clay sculptures, conceiving each as a costume that embodies a particular persona, thought or emotion. Arranged on the stage, they coalesce into an exploration of bodies, identities and collective memory, while expanding the performative and narrative possibilities of sculpture ..
3D printed copper embedded carbon electrochemical sensors for the determination of total sugars to diagnose intestinal malabsorption
No full textMalabsorption arises when the digestion or absorption of key nutrients, such as sugars, is impaired. While this condition can affect younger children and individuals with bowel disorders, it is particularly prevalent in the elderly. Early diagnosis of sugar malabsorption is critical for effective management; however, the widely used faecal Benedict’s reagent test frequently produces false positives and lacks sensitivity, underscoring the need for a more robust assay for total faecal sugar detection. We developed a dual-extruded (DE) 3D-printed electrode, composed of copper polylactic acid (Cu/PLA) and carbon black polylactic acid (CB/PLA) in a helix design. The DE electrode demonstrated superior stability compared to copper film-deposited CB/PLA electrodes and exhibited excellent batch-to-batch reproducibility. The DE electrode could detect both monosaccharides and disaccharides, with enhanced sensitivity toward monosaccharides. Crucially, the DE electrode identified subtle variations in total sugar levels arising from changes in concentration and composition, which Benedict’s reagent failed to detect. The DE electrode showed high selectivity for sugars over common faecal interferences and proved more effective than Benedict’s reagent in quantifying total sugars within faecal pellet samples. Notably, it detected an age-related increase in faecal sugar levels, a key diagnostic marker of malabsorption. Overall, the DE electrode represents a simple, reliable, and robust electrochemical sensor for stool analysis. By enabling sensitive and accurate measurement of total faecal sugars, it offers significant translational potential as a diagnostic screening tool for malabsorption, advancing clinical practice.<br/
The potential of machine learning to predict melting response time of phase change materials in triplex-tube latent thermal energy storage systems
No full textAccurate prediction of the melting response time is vital for optimizing thermal energy storage systems, which play a key role in addressing the temporal mismatch between thermal energy demand and supply in the built environment. This study aims to quantitatively predict the melting response time of a novel triplex-tube thermal energy storage system incorporating phase change materials and Y-shaped fins to enhance heat transfer. A numerical model based on the enthalpy-porosity method was developed to simulate the melting process, resulting in a dataset comprising 60 cases with melting response times ranging from 15 to 45 min under varying design and operational conditions. The key parameters investigated include fin angle (10°–30°), fin width (5–15 mm), and heat transfer fluid temperature (60 °C–80 °C). Prior to model development, variable independence was validated to ensure robust predictions. Four machine learning algorithms—polynomial regression, support vector regression, random forest regression, and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost)—were employed, with hyperparameter optimization performed using a Bayesian approach. The XGBoost model demonstrated superior predictive capability, achieving an accuracy of 92 %. Feature importance analysis revealed that fin width and heat transfer fluid temperature were the dominant factors, contributing 51 % and 47 % to the prediction variance, respectively, whereas fin angle had a marginal influence of 2 %. This work provides a novel application of machine learning techniques to the design and optimization of thermal energy storage systems, offering valuable insights into improving their melting performance and operational efficiency.</p
Investigating illicit dog health supplements using various analytical techniques
No full textHealth supplements are widely used by pet owners to provide a long and healthy life for their pets. Despite the widespread use of pet health supplements, the regulation of these products remains limited, so they are more likely to be targeted to be made as illegal products. Within this study we investigated two dog supplements used for joint care that were suspected to be illicit using a range of analytical measurement techniques. Visual inspection of the external packaging showed similarities between the real and illicit products, but there were clear differences in the blister pack and appearance of the supplements. The illicit supplements had a lower weight and increased hardness. The infra-red spectra of the real and illicit supplement were closely correlated, but there were a significantly lower amount of vitamin C, vitamin E, manganese and Omega-3 fatty acids present within the illicit tablets. Our findings showcase that the illicit tablets are falsified as they contain a lower quantity of ingredients by cutting real original tablets with bulking agents to vastly increase the yield. Our findings showcase that illicit pet supplements are being produced and sold using online marketplaces providing considerable risk to pet owners and therefore there is a need for greater awareness on the risks posed by illicit products.<br/
Movement decisions reflect compromised statewide connectivity for mountain lions in California
No full textHuman-induced habitat fragmentation threatens connectivity for populations of wide-ranging species by compromising long-distance dispersal. We evaluated movement-based resource selection of dispersing mountain lions (Puma concolor) to identify specific landscape conditions influencing movement decisions and connectivity between populations across the US state of California. Our results elucidate how anthropogenic features inhibit dispersal at the statewide scale, as mountain lions avoided development more strongly as both the area of and building density within developed patches increased. Furthermore, dispersing mountain lions strongly avoided crossing roadways but exhibited relaxed avoidance in areas where vegetative cover was present on both sides of the road. Importantly, mountain lions selected even relatively small patches of natural habitat, which may function as stepping-stones promoting movement through otherwise unsuitable habitat. We provide empirical evidence linking genetic structure suggestive of reduced connectivity to underlying behavioral mechanisms. Understanding behavior during dispersal is fundamental to conserving connectivity between and viability of populations persisting within fragmented landscapes—and to facilitate recolonization of historical ranges.</p
Prospects of Artificial Intelligence in the Environment
No full textThis book gives readers insight into the state-of-the-art use of artificial intelligence for the environment. It encompasses most of the significant facets of current breakthroughs in the fields of conceptions, methodologies, resources, and leading artificial intelligence solutions for the environment. This book presents research at the forefront on applications of artificial intelligence in combating climate change, natural hazards, and textile dyeing pollution (water pollution), for forecasting, assessing air quality trends, and air pollution monitoring. It explains how machine learning can prove to be an efficient technique to forecast the consumption of energy and how AI can be effective for renewable energy systems. Research in this book widens its scope to present the problems, opportunities, and directives for the application of AI systems in engine exhaust prediction. One of the new and interesting things explored is to provide and predict the rate of decay of human lung tissue (due to Particulate Matter exposure) with the help of AI in this book. Likewise, the book opens its scope to various environmental problems and focuses on giving the best solutions with an application of artificial intelligence; this feature makes this book an indispensable guide for environmental scientists and AI researchers of all levels. The book is written comprehensively so that engineering professionals, programmers, environmentalists, graduates, postgraduates, and researchers from beginning/intermediate level to advance level can be enlightened.</p
Mad Ecopoetics as Resistance:Restor[y]ing Multispecies Relationships through a Borderline-Centred Art Practice
No full textThis presentation emerges from my doctoral research and develops a borderline-centred creative practice as both scholarly enquiry and act of resistance to sanist and anthropocentric discourse. I develop this from my own experience as someone diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).Clinically defined by emotional intensity and unstable identity, BPD is here reframed as an embodied awareness of relational entanglement — the existential experience of borderlines expose the porous boundaries of the individual, and the co-constitutive nature of identity.My research reclaims borderline madness as ecological sensibility. Rooted in Mad Studies, feminist theory, and multispecies philosophy, my research repositions borderline epistemologies as those which might provide insights into how identity is co-constituted not only of human others, but non-human others also