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Lack of increase in mercury contamination in coastal Western Australia since European settlement
No full textCurrent knowledge of long-term mercury (Hg) deposition is predominantly based on studies from the Northern Hemisphere, leading to a geographical bias in the comprehension of the global Hg cycle. Aiming to contribute to fill this knowledge gap, our study presents a high-resolution Hg record of a seagrass Posidonia australis sedimentary archive encompassing the last 3300 years in the Waychinicup estuary (Western Australia, WA). This setting is an ideal site for studying the natural Hg cycle, as it is located in the southwest of the state, outside the prevailing wind patterns that transport emissions from major Hg sources. Our results show that Hg concentrations fluctuated from ∼1300 BCE to 100 CE with a shift in the paleorecord around 350 BCE, which could potentially be associated with an intensified El Niño Southern Oscillation period. From around 100 until ∼1880 CE, the Hg concentration remained relatively constant (∼2 μg kg−1) with an increase up to 8 μg kg−1 from 1880 CE until present. Although Hg accumulation doubled since European settlement in WA (from 2.4 to 4.8 μg m−2 yr−1), such an increase can be explained by enhanced organic carbon accumulation, rather than changes in external Hg fluxes. Therefore, our study showcases the importance of considering biogeochemical processes when reconstructing long-term Hg accumulation based on sedimentary archives. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the key role of seagrass meadows as natural paleoarchives of environmental contamination, providing valuable insights into human impacts on coastal areas and to establish pre-anthropogenic baseline metal concentrations
"I care about transport sustainability, but i have children": Open-text surveys highlight the concerns of families with children
No full textThe importance of providing access to quality public transport has been discussed in numerous literature and reports. Despite growing recognition of the need for inclusive public transport, the specific mobility needs of children and their caregivers remain largely overlooked in transport planning and evaluation. Conventional assessments—which rely on structured, expert-driven criteria such as accessibility, punctuality, and safety— often fail to capture the nuanced capabilities and unequal access experienced by underrepresented groups, such as families with children. This study addresses this gap by adopting an inductive approach to analyze open-text responses from survey data collected between 2022 and 2023 by the Swedish Public Transport Association. Employing sentiment and content analysis, we investigated how the survey respondents address children-related accessibility challenges and concerns about traveling by public transport while accompanying children. Approximately 15 % of the survey respondents answered the open-text questions, with around 3 % (415 individuals in 2022 and 588 in 2023) specifically mentioning the words “child” or “children.” Reviewing the responses, we identified four key concerns that constrain the capabilities of children and their caregivers: (1) time-management pressures, (2) affordability and value concerns, (3) safety concerns, and (4) comfort and convenience limitations. Through the lenses of transport justice and capability theory, we argue that capability deprivation could reinforce car dependency or reduce mobility and social participation opportunities for families with children. The results underscore the need to integrate child- and caregiver-specific needs into public transport planning and design. Furthermore, this study highlights the value of unstructured public feedback in revealing unmet mobility demands and nuanced quality expectations, which are critical for ensuring equitable access to sustainable transport for all citizens
Circular economy in the extractive frontier : Tensions and pathways for transformative change in mining
No full textThe mining sector, like other sectors of the economy, is under increasing pressure to adopt circular economy (CE) principles across its value chains and core operations. This paper offers a critical and conceptually grounded contribution to understanding how CE can support systemic transformation in one of the most resource-intensive and path-dependent sectors of the global economy. It examines the structural and institutional conditions that shape the adoption of CE in mining and identifies key tensions that constrain or enable transformative change. In parallel, the paper explores emerging pathways informed by technological innovation, shifts in production routines, and the rise of new circular business models. These insights are synthesised into a multi-level framework that captures the dynamic interactions between micro-, meso-, and macro-level processes shaping CE transitions. In addition to offering a diagnostic perspective, the framework outlines concrete action points for advancing systemic change. Funding Agencies|Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation [MMW 2023.0056]; Swedish Energy Agency (Energimyndigheten) [P2022-01062]</p
A Framework for Road Authorities to Assess Their Readiness to Support Connected and Automated Driving
No full textConnected and Automated Driving (CAD) will bring disruption to individuals, economies, and society. Most forms of CAD require some level of support from the infrastructure for their safe operation, in particular communications. However, additional infrastructure services to support CAD could improve safety and robustness and bring further benefits such as increased capacity. However, the infrastructure requirements of vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are not always clear, and it is therefore difficult for National Road Authorities (NRA) to prepare future levels of support for CAD, given rapidly evolving technology and uncertain projections of future CAD demand. There is a need to articulate those requirements, bringing stakeholders together to formulate a structured approach, and a roadmap that will advance safe and smart roads that support CAD. This paper presents the DiREC project (consortium partners: TRL, ARUP, TU Delft, VTT, VTI and FEHRL) funded by the CEDR Transnational Road Research Programme Call 2020 with funding provided by CEDR members of Belgium (Flanders), Denmark, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. DiREC is seeking to address the above challenge. The project has established a CAV-Readiness Framework (CRF) based on a level of service approach to understand the needs of CAD, and to define the infrastructure and services that NRAs could provide to support these needs.Research funding provided by the CEDR Transnational Road Research Programme Call 2020.Digital Road for Evolving Connected and Automated Driving (DiREC
Thermo-elasticity problems with evolving microstructures
No full textWe consider the mathematical analysis and homogenization of a moving boundary problem posed for a highly heterogeneous, periodically perforated domain. More specifically, we are looking at a one-phase thermo-elasticity system with phase transformations where small inclusions, initially periodically distributed, are growing or shrinking based on a kinetic under-cooling-type law and where surface stresses are created based on the curvature of the phase interface. This growth is assumed to be uniform in each individual cell of the perforated domain. After transforming to the initial reference configuration (utilizing the Hanzawa transformation), we use the contraction mapping principle to show the existence of a unique solution for a possibly small but ε independent time interval (ε is here the scale of heterogeneity). In the homogenization limit, we recover a macroscopic thermo-elasticity problem which is strongly non-linearly coupled (via an internal parameter called height function) to local changes in geometry. As a direct by-product of the mathematical analysis work, we present an alternative equivalent formulation which lends itself to an effective pre-computing strategy that is very much needed as the limit problem is computationally expensive
AI for colon cancer : A focus on classification, detection, and predictive modeling
No full textPurpose: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognized for its potential in improving the detection, classification, prediction, and segmentation of colon cancer. Yet, the reliability of these applications depends on the quality and completeness of the underlying studies. This systematic review evaluates the current state of AI applications in colon cancer research, focusing on their impact on diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and patient outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published between 2020 and 2024. The quality of the included studies was assessed using standardized criteria. A meta-analysis was performed where applicable, and a subgroup analysis was conducted based on the type of AI technology (e.g., deep learning, machine learning) and its application (detection, classification, etc.). Additionally, we recorded whether each study incorporated Explainable AI (XAI) techniques or Generative AI (e.g., GANs) as part of its methodology. Results: In 80 articles, AI models showed significant improvements in diagnostic accuracy, particularly in polyp detection during colonoscopies and histopathological analysis. Deep learning approaches often outperformed traditional methods. However, clinical integration remains challenging due to data and validation gaps. Conclusion: AI holds great promise in colon cancer diagnosis and treatment. Future work should focus on integrating AI tools into clinical workflows through explainable models and standardized validation.
Hazardous alcohol use among patients with psychiatric disorders : Findings from phosphatidylethanol (PEth) screening in healthcare
No full textIdentifying hazardous alcohol use among patients with psychiatric disorders is important for improving treatment outcomes. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of hazardous alcohol use across 20 psychiatric diagnoses using phosphatidylethanol (PEth) blood sampling. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of PEth samples collected between 2017 and 2023 from a regional Swedish healthcare database, linked to clinician-assessed psychiatric diagnoses. Participants were adults (≥18 years) with a psychiatric disorder (N = 18,240). Hazardous alcohol use was defined as a PEth concentration > 0.30 µmol/L (∼210 µg/L). Marginal risk ratios (RR) were estimated using logistic regression adjusted for sex, age, comorbidity, season, and healthcare setting. In the sample (mean age: 40 years; 58.7 % female), 7.4 % screened positive for hazardous use. The highest prevalence was observed in patients with substance use disorder (12 %, RR: 1.87, 95 % CI: 1.57–2.23) and panic disorder (8.8 %, RR: 1.43, 95 % CI: 1.19–1.70). Lower prevalence was seen in patients with exhaustion syndrome (5.4 %), ADHD (5.0 %), and obsessive–compulsive disorder (4.2 %). Panic disorder remained significantly associated with hazardous use after adjustment. Male sex (RR: 1.79, 95 % CI: 1.58–2.02) and age, with the highest risk observed around 60 years, were both strongly associated with increased risk. Hazardous alcohol use is prevalent among patients with psychiatric disorders when assessed with PEth. Targeted screening, especially among older men and patients with panic disorder, may improve identification and intervention.Correction in: ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS, Volume 172DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108512</p
Environmental assessment in Estonia – A quest for an effective EA system
No full textThe effectiveness of Environmental Assessment (EA) has been intensively discussed in academia and practice. However, few studies provided a longitudinal analysis of a country or examined in-depth the interactions with the institutional context. This article aims to contribute to the understanding of EA-effectiveness by examining the interaction of EA with planning and decision-making institutions. Therefore, we present an in-depth historical analysis of how EA together with the planning and decision-making system evolved over time, using Estonia as a case. We developed an analytical framework to analyse the various effectiveness dimensions of EA (procedural, substantive, transactive, legitimacy, and knowledge& learning) and their interactions with the broader institutional setting of planning and decision-making, and conducted document analysis (of regulations, policies and evaluations), interviews and a focus group, reviewing the period between 1988 and 2024. Important findings include that the dominance of the effectiveness dimensions is dynamic characterized by the interaction between the EA-system and the broader institutional setting of the planning system. Furthermore, there is interaction between the different dimensions of effectiveness over time. This means that EA effectiveness cannot be fully understood by examining one single effectiveness dimension nor by considering EA in isolation; the broader institutional context must be considered. To improve EA effectiveness, it is crucial to acknowledge this, and to address multiple effectiveness dimensions as well as the broader institutional setting. Perhaps the key to enhancing EA effectiveness lies beyond EA itself, which aligns with its original role as an instrument to aid decision-making and planning.
Status overview of the torrefaction technology, its limitations, and prospective solutions: A reactor design and performance viewpoint
No full textThe goal of torrefaction is to transform lignocellulosic biomass into a solid product with better characteristics than raw biomass. Torrefaction is especially helpful when converting biomass into a final energy carrier via thermochemical processes like gasification and direct combustion. However, even though torrefied biomass has demonstrated advantageous quality, the prevailing torrefaction methods are not yet considered sufficiently advanced to overcome certain operational difficulties such as finding the proper balance between salient independent variables like temperature, reaction time and particle size; hence, much of the torrefied products obtained exhibit inconsistent properties. The technique also lacks the ability to efficiently handle a wide range of biomass feedstocks and exhibits scale-up issues that could be linked to poor temperature control and non-uniform heat distribution. Many of the existing torrefaction systems have been developed and validated for use in the processing of wood-based materials. Studies performed with non-woody materials yielded unsatisfactory results due to their inclination to ignite and carbonize readily during torrefaction. This review, therefore, presents a status overview of torrefaction technology and discusses the limitations of the technique from a reactor design perspective, as well as identifies system-level research that could potentially help to address the technology’s constraints. The basic principles of torrefaction and the mechanisms that affect the quality of torrefied products, including key process variables and kinetics are also discussed. Other expounded aspects include reactor design concepts, process monitoring and control, and specific technological barriers thought to hamper the technology’s attempt to achieve commercial success.Validerad;2025;Nivå 2;2025-12-01 (u2);Full text license: CC BY</p
Global ocean indicators : Marking pathways at the science-policy nexus
No full textOcean knowledge is crucial for shaping policies that enable sustainable development, adaptation, and well-being at all levels, as everyone-either directly or indirectly-depends on the ocean, which today faces escalating threats from climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, pushing us beyond critical planetary boundaries. Ocean indicators are crucial for translating ocean science and data into practical metrics, guidance, and tools informing on the state and health of the ocean that can be directly applied by policymakers, practitioners, and the public. Despite their critical importance, ocean indicators trail behind those for continental areas, limiting effective monitoring and policy integration. Developing reliable, comparable, and regularly updated ocean indicators, backed by a unified international framework, is essential for delivering coherent, actionable insights that can guide global goals and protect the ocean's future. This paper establishes a scientific foundation for ocean indicators through international and multidisciplinary collaboration, presenting defined criteria and a set of pilot indicators for the ocean's physical, biogeochemical, biodiversity, and ecosystem aspects. The proposed framework offers a solid foundation for generating indicators that not only track the ocean state but also provide outputs for application in informing policy and decision-making