77823 research outputs found
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Optimizing quantum dots integration for enhanced charge dynamics in carbon perovskite solar cells
No full textMetal halide perovskites have reshaped the photovoltaic (PV) research, but their commercialization is hindered by limited stability and a spectral response confined to the visible range. This study explores the integration of CsPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs) with MAPbI3‐base perovskites as a strategy to convert ultraviolet light into visible light, thus enhancing both power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operational stability. Two types of QDs—one synthesized at room temperature with short‐chain ligands, the other commercially produced via hot injection with long‐chain ligands—are compared to assess the influence of synthesis route and surface chemistry on device performance. Heterojunction solar cells are fabricated by drop‐casting in ambient conditions, using a combination of QDs, MAPbI3 and the AVAI additive. Various integration methods (blending into the perovskite matrix, sequential deposition, and surface application) are investigated. Devices incorporating QDs show a PCE improvement of up to 11.8%, reaching 10.4% compared to 9.3% for the reference. Thanks to advanced characterization techniques, these results offer valuable insights into how the properties of quantum dots influence charge generation mechanisms, paving the way for more robust and scalable carbon‐based perovskite solar cell technologies
Fortuna y Maniac: dos rutas literarias hacia el capitalismo posmoderno y la deshumanización progresiva
No full textHace un tiempo tuve la oportunidad de leer dos libros: Fortuna, de Hernán Díaz (Premio Pulitzer, 2023) y Maniac, (2023), de Benjamín Labatut: dos novelas publicadas el mismo año por la editorial Anagrama. Dos novelas aparentemente diferentes, dos novelas aparentemente con temas específicos. Debo decir que había pasado un tiempo desde su lectura, hasta que una noche, en la universidad, me puse a escribir un ensayo sobre las narrativas legitimadoras del capitalismo posmoderno como sistema socio simbólico y económico: ambas novelas me vinieron a la cabeza. Entonces comprendí que debía dejar a un lado la compleja sociología fenomenológica. ¿Por qué? Pues porque en las novelas estaba la respuesta a mi tesis y de una forma mucho más clara y precisa..
Effects of pre-slaughter logistics duration on stress responses and coping profiles in commercial finishing pigs
Get PDFThe present study examined the impact of pre-slaughter logistics duration and coping profiles on physiological indicators of stress and inflammation in commercial finishing pigs. A total of 13 journeys involving 2465 commercial pigs (Hybrid DanBred × Piétrain) were monitored. A subset of 359 pigs was selected for blood sampling at slaughter to assess cortisol, glucose, lactate, creatine kinase (CK), Pig-MAP, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The logistics duration were categorised as follows: short logistics time or ST (210–300 min or 3.5–5 h), and long logistics time or LT (>300 - 5 h). The results obtained demonstrate that acute physiological stress responses are associated withST logistics, as evidenced by elevated cortisol and lactate levels. This phenomenon is presumably attributable to inadequate recovery during the period of lairage subsequent to handling and transportation. It has been demonstrated that MT are associated with elevated glucose levels, which may be indicative of a metabolic adaptation to moderate stress. Conversely, LT were associated with elevated CK levels, suggesting the possibility of muscle fatigue or exertion, potentially attributable to protracted logistics processes. Furthermore, the identification of three coping profiles provides additional insight into individual differences in stress responses and offers a potential framework for the early detection of compromised welfare in commercial settings. These findings underscore the need for tailored transport and lairage strategies that integrate both logistical and animal-based factors, particularly resilience
Science as a commons: Motivations for continued participation in citizen science projects
Get PDFThe study of the commons is a growing field of research that is highly relevant to fostering the sustainability of shared resources, including knowledge resources. Citizen science has great potential to constitute science as a knowledge commons, in which continued participation is essential for the long-term viability of inherently collaborative projects and the strengthening of communities. However, different motivations for participation can significantly influence continued engagement, and, consequently, the sustainability of these projects. This research explores, first, participants’ motivations for joining and continuing projects, as well as the reasons for abandoning them. Secondly, we analyse the influence of various motivations on continuity, with a particular focus on highly committed participants—an aspect hitherto scarcely investigated. Specifically, we examine whether these participants’ motivations are primarily associated with general interests (e.g., resource sustainability) alongside personal interests (e.g., capability building). This approach aligns with the key finding of commons theory, which challenges the idea that rational behaviour implies only self-interest. The analyses of 478 responses to the survey designed for this study reveal that participants who sustain CS projects through continued participation are driven by a combination of personal and general interests. These findings reflect cooperative behaviours characteristic of individuals who create or maintain commons. Therefore, we propose that science can be understood as a commons that can be collaboratively and sustainably managed by multiple, decentralized communities. Consequently, fostering cooperation is essential for the effective management of shared resources, particularly in citizen science projects. Enhancing our understanding of cooperation enables the better and more effective implementation of specific recommendations, such as optimizing communication among all those involved in citizen science projects and fostering awareness of common goals and collective achievements. In turn, this reinforces personal benefits, creating a virtuous circle that further strengthens cooperation and its benefits
The Leadership of Management Teams: A Fundamental Pillar in Building An Educational Culture for Coexistence and Participation
Get PDFBackground/purpose. Educational leadership plays a fundamental role in promoting a democratic school culture that fosters participation, coexistence, and inclusion. However, the development of such a culture largely depends on how leadership teams perform their roles and the leadership styles they adopt. This study aims to explore the perceptions of leadership teams and teachers regarding educational leadership and its influence on school coexistence.
Materials/methods. The study was conducted in 75 educational centres in Aragón (Spain) using a mixed-methods approach. Data were collected from both teachers and school leaders through a questionnaire and a discussion group. The analysis focused on the functions, skills, and beliefs that shape educational leadership practices.
Results. The findings reveal a generally positive perception of educational leadership, especially regarding its role in creating a favourable organisational climate and promoting constructive interpersonal relationships. Competencies such as communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork emerged as essential to effective leadership. Additionally, the importance of collegial and participatory leadership practices was emphasised.
Conclusion. The study concludes that distributed leadership dynamics make a significant contribution to fostering inclusive and democratic school environments. This form of leadership not only enhances coexistence but also promotes the overall well-being of the educational community by encouraging the active engagement of all stakeholders in decision-making processes
Thermodynamics-informed graph neural networks for real-time simulation of digital human twins
Get PDFAbstract
The growing importance of real-time simulation in the medical field has exposed the limitations and bottlenecks inherent in the digital representation of complex biological systems. This paper presents a novel methodology aimed at advancing current lines of research in soft tissue simulation. The proposed approach introduces a hybrid model that integrates the geometric bias of graph neural networks with the physical bias derived from the imposition of a metriplectic structure as soft and hard constrains in the architecture, being able to simulate hepatic tissue with dissipative properties. This approach provides an efficient solution capable of generating predictions at high feedback rate while maintaining a remarkable generalization ability for previously unseen anatomies. This makes these features particularly relevant in the context of precision medicine and haptic rendering. Furthermore, this work synthesizes two prominent concepts in recent years: the role of message passing as a geometric mechanism fundamental to graph neural networks, and the potential of thermodynamics-informed networks to enhance extrapolation capabilities beyond training scenarios. We develop a multi-graph interaction between the computational model of the liver and a surgical tool. A displacement imposed at the contact region initiates a controlled flow of information that propagates throughout the graph model, aiming to achieve a steady and more efficient exchange of information across the entire network. The physics bias is obtained by imposing a metriplectic structure, enforced via strong and soft constraints. This ensures that the network satisfies thermodynamic principles during inference, even for a previously unseen system. Based on the adopted methodologies, we propose a model that predicts human liver responses to traction and compression loads in as little as 7.3 milliseconds for optimized configurations and as fast as 1.65 milliseconds in the most efficient cases, all in the forward pass. The model achieves relative position errors below 0.15%, with stress tensor and velocity estimations maintaining relative errors under 7%. This demonstrates the robustness of the approach developed, which is capable of handling diverse load states and anatomies effectively. This work highlights the feasibility of integrating real-time simulation with patient-specific geometries through deep learning, paving the way for more robust digital human twins in medical applications
Characterizing Asymmetries in the TenTen Corpus Family Membership: An Implicit Hierarchy in Multilingual Digital Tools
Get PDFIn this work, we examine the limitations of digital tools in facilitating cross-linguistic and cross-cultural research from a humanistic perspective. Our primary objective is to draw comparisons between the TenTen corpora, assessing their degree of similarity. In order to achieve this goal, we will conduct cluster analysis on the 43 corpora within the TenTen Corpus Family using a set of parameters that characterize this family membership. This analysis pinpoints the TenTen corpora that exhibit the most similar characteristics within the family, bringing to the surface an implicit hierarchy within the Sketch Engine platform, a multilingual digital tool environment. This hierarchy is structured into four distinct clusters, definable by size, number of functional tools, versions, and Part-of-Speech (PoS) tagging. The findings of the current study call for prudence when comparing the TenTen corpora, but also suggest a way of improving a multilingual environment; the examination and establishment of connections among the TenTen corpora are imperative for a comprehensive understanding of multilingualism in Digital Humanities.
Dans ce travail, nous examinons les limites des outils numériques dans la facilitation de la recherche interlinguistique et interculturelle d’un point de vue humaniste. Notre objectif principal est de comparer les corpus TenTen, en évaluant leur degré de similarité. Pour atteindre cet objectif, nous réaliserons une analyse de regroupement sur les 43 corpus de la famille des corpus TenTen en utilisant un ensemble de paramètres caractérisant cette appartenance familiale. Cette analyse identifie les corpus TenTen qui présentent les caractéristiques les plus similaires au sein de la famille, révélant une hiérarchie implicite au sein de la plateforme Sketch Engine, un environnement d’outils numériques multilingues. Cette hiérarchie est structurée en quatre groupes distincts, définis par la taille, le nombre d’outils fonctionnels, les versions et le marquage des parties du discours (PoS). Les résultats de l’étude actuelle appellent à la prudence lors de la comparaison des corpus TenTen, mais suggèrent également un moyen d’améliorer un environnement multilingue ; l’examen et l’établissement de connexions entre les corpus TenTen sont impératifs pour une compréhension complète du multilinguisme dans les Humanités Numériques
Dinero, poder y guerra en el Mediterráneo medieval. Las consecuencias del hundimiento de una nave comercial catalana en Siracusa en 1429
No full textEn 1429 una nave mercantil catalana fue hundida frente a las aguas de Siracusa por un famoso patrón genovés, Paolo Cicogna, considerado a menudo un pirata. En este trabajo analizamos las consecuencias de este ataque, que se inscribe en un contexto de intensas tensiones políticas entre las principales potencias del Mediterráneo occidental (Corona de Aragón, Génova, Milán y Florencia). Esta situación influirá en la gestión del conflicto comercial iniciado por los mercaderes afectados, entre los que destaca el barcelonés Joan de Torralba, cuyo capital sociopolítico facilitará la concesión de una marca o represalia por Alfonso el Magnánimo contra la república de Florencia
Towards Effective Wearable Design: 20 Key Factors for Monitoring Physiological Health in Animals
No full textRobust physiological biosensing in animals is valuable for improving health monitoring and advancing animal welfare. However, the design of wearable devices for this purpose faces significant challenges affecting measurement accuracy and user acceptance. These include insufficient adaptation to the specific characteristics of the animal user, limitations in measurement methods, and a lack of standardised documentation regarding usage conditions. This study presents the 20-Factors Framework, a comprehensive framework based on 20 critical factors for designing and evaluating biosensing wearables for continuous physiological monitoring in animals, with a focus on dogs and cats. Developed through a systematic literature review and real-world project participation, the framework is structured using the 5Ws+1H Method (Who, Why, What, When, Where, How), enabling the identification of design gaps and the analysis of interactions between key factors shaping both the physical and functional aspects of these systems. To validate its applicability, a case study on thermal stress monitoring in cats illustrates how these factors can be practically integrated, reinforcing the framework’s relevance for research and industry applications. The findings underscore the importance of considering Animal-Computer Interaction (ACI) through Animal-Centred Design (ACD) to ensure that biosensing technologies are aligned with the needs of the animal user—maximising precision, functionality, and acceptability. This work establishes a solid foundation for future research and innovation in biosensing wearables, offering opportunities for implementation across different species and environments while promoting stricter standards in engineering applications
Disseminating research results in The Conversation: An analysis of comprehensibility strategies
No full textRecognizing the key role of knowledge dissemination in socio-economic progress, The Conversation is a news website intended to promote the public understanding of science. When using this platform to disseminate their own findings, scholars need to recontextualize their published research to make it suitable for a wide audience. However, despite the potential of this website for improving science literacy, there is little research on the strategies used to render scientific knowledge comprehensible for the general audience. This article studies the recontextualization strategies that researchers utilize to facilitate understanding when reporting their own research in The Conversation. For this purpose, we analyze a dataset consisting of 50 Environment articles. Adopting a multimodal perspective, we propose an analytical framework that can account for the various semiotic resources employed to aid comprehensibility. We analyze the frequency, function and formal features of the following elements that facilitate understanding: (i) verbal in-text elaboration (exemplification, reformulation, definition, analogy and explicitation); (ii) visuals; and (iii) hyperlinks to supplementary information. The results show that the technological features of The Conversation (e.g., hyperlinking, multimodal embedding) shape how researchers adapt and reframe their discourse, enabling a distinctive form of knowledge dissemination. Through this analysis, we aim to shed light on the multimodal recontextualization strategies that facilitate effective knowledge dissemination in science news websites