Student's perceptions when two class groups were brought together to give presentations in a management subject

This communication presents the students’ perceptions after giving presentations when two class groups were brought together in the 2023-2024 academic course in the subject ‘Value Chain and Financial Economics’. The activity is consistent with the framework of the New Learning Context (NLC) implemented at La Salle-Universitat Ramon Llull (La Salle-URL), to promote active learning in an assessment activity by a group work. Students were organized in groups to give a presentation in front of two groups of classmates and two instructors. Findings indicate that engineering students value a multi-group presentation activity in a management subject for its potential to enhance learning, foster critical thinking, and enrich discussions. However, the study also highlights the need to balance challenges and support to manage stress and maintain focus.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Multi-Objective Optimization of a Hybrid Fossil/Renewable Carbon Methanol Cluster

Replacing fossil carbon- with renewable carbon-based technologies is imperative for transitioning to sustainable chemical production. However, most production pathways based on renewable carbon are currently economically unappealing. Here, we show that hybrid clusters exploiting synergies between different fossil and renewable carbon-based processes in terms of heat, mass, and power integration could make defossilized chemical technologies more competitive. We consider an integrated carbon cluster based on fossil and renewable carbon feedstocks for methanol production, including a novel oxy-combustion cycle for purge gas treatment and power generation. Using multiobjective optimization considering economic and environmental criteria (i.e., unitary production cost and global warming potential (GWP) impact, respectively), we find that integrated clusters could reduce the cost of carbon-neutral methanol by up to 30%, while leading to reductions in GWP impact from 21 to 142% for a given unitary production cost target, and heating utility savings between 80 and 100%. We conclude that hybridization of fossil and renewable technologies could become instrumental in enabling a gradual shift toward sustainable chemical production pathways.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Win–Win More Sustainable Routes for Acetic Acid Synthesis

Current efforts to decarbonize the chemical sector by using captured CO2 and electrolytic H2 typically lead to high production costs and environmental collateral damage. Hence, there is a clear need to look for alternative, more efficient synthesis routes that could pave the way for a fully sustainable chemical industry. Bearing this in mind, here, we evaluate the economic and environmental implications of two low technology readiness level (TRL) novel single-step synthesis routes for acetic acid production using CO2 as a raw material: gas-to-acid methane carboxylation and semiartificial photosynthesis. Using process simulation and life-cycle assessment, we determine that these pathways, under a specific set of assumptions, could outperform the business-as-usual methanol carbonylation process at their current development state in terms of global warming, human health, ecosystem quality, and resource scarcity impacts, showing no signs of burden shifting. Furthermore, these routes also result in lower production costs derived from the reduced energy requirement associated with a single synthesis step. Overall, our preliminary results of the low TRL technologies based on experimental data highlight the potential economic and environmental benefits of exploring alternative synthesis routes, which could help bridge the current fossil-based industrial landscape to a more sustainable future.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Safety of nanoparticle therapies during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The exclusion of pregnant women from clinical trials has led to insufficient safety data for many treatments, making it necessary to evaluate their potential benefits and risks during preclinical stages. Nanomedicines show potential for reduced toxicity but there is limited evidence about their safety for pregnant women and their fetuses. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of nanoparticles (NPs) on a key outcome of fetal toxicity (low birth weight) in murine models. In the meta-analysis of mouse models, negatively charged NPs tended to decrease birth weight (−69.8 mg, 95 % CI: −196 to 56.5), as did small (−191 mg, 95 % CI: −369 to −13.3) and plain inorganic nanosystems (−249 mg, 95 % CI: −535 to 37.4). In contrast, positively charged NPs resulted in increased birth weight (+29.3 mg, 95 % CI: 23.4 to 35.2). All findings were validated in studies with low heterogeneity and low risk of publication bias. Neither large NPs (+4.37 mg; 95 % CI: −45.3 to 54.0) nor polymer-coated NPs (+16.5 mg; 95 % CI: −44.7 to 77.6) had any clear association with birth weight. Similar results were observed in other models and experimental designs from articles not included in the meta-analysis, although no conclusions were drawn for other parameters due to high variability. Our findings pave the way for future research and the rational development of safer nanomedicines for use during pregnancy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A comparison of office workers’ co-creation experiences: A Health CASCADE multiple case study

Objectives Co-creation can used to develop public health interventions, improve their effectiveness, and increase intervention uptake through engaging stakeholders, but there is little in-depth exploration of the co-creators’ experience of taking part. Understanding the experience of taking part in a co-creation process can enhance future participation experiences, promote engagement and help design better co-creation processes in the future. The objective of this study was to explore the experiences of co-creators (i.e., office workers) involved in the co-creation process to address workplace sedentary behaviour. Study design Multiple case study. Methods Three small-to-medium sized enterprises participated in separate co-creation processes. Data were generated from observations during the workshops and semi-structured interviews (n = 31) employing elicitation techniques conducted after the co-creation process was completed. Each of the three cases were analysed separately (using thematic analysis), which then informed the cross-case comparison, the focus of this study. Results Comparison of co-creators' experiences across the three cases identified psychological, emotional, social and cognitive experiences which occurred before, during and after the co-creation process. The analysis identified both intended (e.g., sedentary behaviour awareness) and unintended (e.g., forming relationships) outcomes from these experiences. These experiences and outcomes were influenced by factors such as workplace environment and structure, design of the co-creation process and how it was facilitated, highlighting the interplay between the co-creation context and the broader work context. Conclusion This study contributes to the understanding of co-creation experience in the workplace setting. Recommendations were derived from using an iterative reflection process of the three cases.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Combining molecular modelling approaches for a holistic thermophysical characterisation of fluorinated refrigerant blends

After Montreal Protocol, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) appeared to be a permanent solution for replacing previous ozone-depleting substances. However, their utilisation has now progressively decreased following the Kigali Amendment application in 2016 due to their high global warming potential (GWP). Unsaturated HFCs, such as hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), are considered feasible alternatives due to their high reaction rates and low atmospheric lifetimes, resulting in very low GWP. However, available data on their physicochemical behaviour still needs to be improved, even with the recent increase in the amount of new experimental data for these systems. In this direction, computational tools provide a quick pathway to screen their properties and complete the information obtained from experimental work. In this contribution, two different molecular modelling tools, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the soft-SAFT equation of state (EOS), are combined to compute the coexistence densities, vapour pressure, heat capacity, interfacial tension, and dynamic viscosity of several refrigerant blends based on 3rd and 4th generation compounds, in order to provide a thermodynamic analysis of the properties of these mixtures, addressing them for drop-in replacement purposes. Results from MD are compared with REFPROP data and those from soft-SAFT, where the capacities of both modelling methods are addressed. In general, quantitative agreement is achieved using the two approaches, offering a framework to screen these properties for new mixtures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The first look: a biometric analysis of emotion recognition using key facial features

Introduction: Facial expressions play a crucial role in human emotion recognition and social interaction. Prior research has highlighted the significance of the eyes and mouth in identifying emotions; however, limited studies have validated these claims using robust biometric evidence. This study investigates the prioritization of facial features during emotion recognition and introduces an optimized approach to landmark-based analysis, enhancing efficiency without compromising accuracy. Methods: A total of 30 participants were recruited to evaluate images depicting six emotions: anger, disgust, fear, neutrality, sadness, and happiness. Eye-tracking technology was utilized to record gaze patterns, identifying the specific facial regions participants focused on during emotion recognition. The collected data informed the development of a streamlined facial landmark model, reducing the complexity of traditional approaches while preserving essential information. Results: The findings confirmed a consistent prioritization of the eyes and mouth, with minimal attention allocated to other facial areas. Leveraging these insights, we designed a reduced landmark model that minimizes the conventional 68-point structure to just 24 critical points, maintaining recognition accuracy while significantly improving processing speed. Discussion: The proposed model was evaluated using multiple classifiers, including Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), Random Decision Forest (RDF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM), demonstrating its robustness across various machine learning approaches. The optimized landmark selection reduces computational costs and enhances real-time emotion recognition applications. These results suggest that focusing on key facial features can improve the efficiency of biometric-based emotion recognition systems without sacrificing accuracy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sustainable Development Goals-Based Prospective Process Design Using Hybrid Modeling

Replacing fossil technologies with renewable carbon-based technologies is of vital importance for the development of sustainable chemical processes in the future. However, impacts beyond climate change should be carefully evaluated to ensure that this transition to defossilized chemicals is truly sustainable. Here, we develop a framework for sustainable process design that explicitly accounts for the performance attained in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is computed using standard life cycle assessment (LCA) metrics alongside the planetary boundaries (PBs) concept. We apply this approach to design a CO2 hydrogenation to methanol process, where economic and SDGs-based performance are the objectives optimized. We show that the environmentally optimal design reduces the impact on SDG 13 (climate action) substantially relative to the business-as-usual (BAU) fossil counterpart, yet this is done at the expense of worsening other categories. A prospective LCA reveals that such collateral damage will be drastically reduced in the future due to improvements in a range of economic sectors. Overall, this work highlights the need to embrace impacts beyond climate change in process design and the advantages of using hybrid surrogates to expedite the computation of Pareto designs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluating the co-creation process in public health interventions: the PROSECO framework

Objectives To date, there is a lack of evaluation frameworks to guide the planning and conducting of the evaluation of co-creation in public health. This study aims to identify and set the components of the PROSECO framework (PROcesS Evaluation framework for CO-creation) to support the evaluation of co-creation processes in public health interventions. Study design A multi-step, iterative approach combining the outcomes of two scoping reviews, expert validation, and design refinement. Methods The PROSECO framework was developed in three steps. Firstly, collecting results from two scoping reviews on process evaluation for co-creation and evaluation of co-creation methods. The scoping review results were analysed and refined by a selected group of experts and through a three-round anonymous survey. Based on those findings, the framework visualisation was developed and designed through multiple design iterations. Results The PROcesS Evaluation framework for CO-creation, called the PROSECO framework, was developed to assist researchers and stakeholders in evaluating a co-creation process. The framework comprises a list of 37 components grouped under the five dimensions of Delivery, Participation, Experiential, Context, and Impact. Conclusions PROSECO is the first framework to offer a systematic approach to evaluating co-creation. By integrating a diverse set of evaluation components, encompassing delivery, participation, experiential, impact, and context, it offers a flexible and comprehensive approach to address the complex nature of co-creation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bistable boundary conditions implying codimension 2 bifurcations

We consider generic families Xθ of smooth dynamical systems depending on parameters θ ∈ P where P is a 2-dimensional simply connected domain and assume that each Xθ only has a finite number of restpoints and periodic orbits. We prove that if over the boundary of P there is a S or Z shaped bifurcation graph containing two opposing fold bifurcation points while over the rest of the boundary there are no other bifurcation points, then, if there is no fold-Hopf bifurcation in P, there is a set of bifurcation curves in P that contain an odd number of cusps. In particular, there is at least one codimension 2 bifurcation point in the interior of P.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio