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Abstract The engineering of biochars with desired morphologies and pore structures is a far-reaching objective towards sustainable pore-dependent environmental technologies, such as water and soil remediation or catalysis. We hereby report a series of experiments that allow the direct following of the shape and porosity of single biochar particles during pyrolysis. Particles ~ 1–2 mm in diameter of unwashed and water-washed raw walnut shells were continuously 3D imaged during pyrolysis to 575 ℃ at a 10 K min−1 in Ar to obtain time- and temperature-resolved x-ray micro computed tomographies to a 0.82 μm resolution. Results showed visual evidence of a 30% and 70% v/v particle shrinkage for unwashed and washed samples, respectively. Particle swelling between 200 and 300 ℃ in the unwashed sample provided evidence of the softening of native biopolymers associated with lignin in untreated biomass. A purpose-defined parameter Λ shows the temperature-dependence of pore re-distribution towards the center of the particle to be linear for both samples. Λ was found to be $$3.2\times {10}^{-4}{K}^{-1}$$ 3.2 × 10 - 4 K - 1 in the washed sample, approximately 3.5 times faster than in the unwashed one. Such linear dependence is significantly slower than an exponential Arrhenius-like trend thereby providing a qualitative measure of the heat and mass transport phenomena limiting the chemical reactions in the porous medium. This evidence is key to resolving the pathways to the thermochemical decomposition of biomass leading to preparation of precision-engineered biochars. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Do different genetic disorders impart different psychiatric risk profiles? This question has major implications for biological and translational aspects of psychiatry, but has been difficult to tackle given limited access to shared batteries of fine-grained clinical data across genetic disorders. Methods Using a new suite of generalizable analytic approaches, we examine gold-standard diagnostic ratings, scores on 66 dimensional measures of psychopathology, and measures of cognition and functioning in two different sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs)—Klinefelter (XXY/KS) and XYY syndrome (n = 102 and 64 vs. n = 74 and 60 matched XY controls, total n = 300). We focus on SCAs for their high collective prevalence, informativeness regarding differential X- vs. Y-chromosome effects, and potential relevance for normative sex differences. Results We show that XXY/KS elevates rates for most psychiatric diagnoses as previously reported for XYY, but disproportionately so for anxiety disorders. Fine-mapping across all 66 traits provides a detailed profile of psychopathology in XXY/KS which is strongly correlated with that of XYY (r = .75 across traits) and robust to ascertainment biases, but reveals: (i) a greater penetrance of XYY than KS/XXY for most traits except mood/anxiety problems, and (ii) a disproportionate impact of XYY vs. XXY/KS on social problems. XXY/KS and XYY showed a similar coupling of psychopathology with adaptive function and caregiver strain, but not IQ. Conclusions This work provides new tools for deep-phenotypic comparisons of genetic disorders in psychiatry and uses these to detail unique and shared effects of the X- and Y-chromosome on human behavior.

Abstract Background Within the last decades industrial swine herds in Europe grown significantly, creating an optimized reservoir for swine influenza A viruses (swIAV) to become enzootic, particularly in piglet producing herds among newborn, partly immunologically naïve piglets. To date, the only specific control measure to protect piglets from swIAV is the vaccination of sows, which provides passive immunity through maternally derived antibodies in colostrum of vaccinated sows. Interruption of infection chains through management practices have had limited success. This study focused on weaned piglets in five enzootically swIAV infected swine herds in North-West and North-East Germany and aimed to better understand swIAV infection patterns to improve piglet protection and reduce zoonotic risks. Participating farms fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: sow herd with ≥ 400 sows (actual size 600–1850 sows), piglets not vaccinated against influenza A virus and a history of recurrent respiratory problems associated with continuing influenza A virus infection. Influenza vaccination was performed in all sow herds, except for one, which discontinued vaccination during the study. Results First swIAV detections in weaned piglets occurred at 4 weeks of age in the nursery and continued to be detected in piglets up to 10 weeks of age showing enzootic swIAV infections in all herds over the entire nursery period. This included simultaneous circulation of two subtypes in a herd and co-infection with two subtypes in individual animals. Evidence for prolonged (at least 13 days) shedding was obtained in one piglet based on two consecutive swIAV positive samplings. Possible re-infection was suspected in twelve piglets based on three samplings, the second of which was swIAV negative in contrast to the first and third sampling which were swIAV positive. However, swIAV was not detected in nasal swabs from either suckling piglets or sows in the first week after farrowing. Conclusions Predominantly, weaned piglets were infected. There was no evidence of transmission from sow to piglet based on swIAV negative nasal swabs from sows and suckling piglets. Prolonged virus shedding by individual piglets as well as the co-circulation of different swIAV subtypes in a group or even individuals emphasize the potential of swIAV to increase genetic (and potentially phenotypic) variation and the need to continue close monitoring. Understanding the dynamics of swIAV infections in enzootically infected herds has the overall goal of improving protection to reduce economic losses due to swIAV-related disease and consequently to advance animal health and well-being.

The present review was intended to provide several important biological insights into the practice of implant dentistry. Despite many benefits, it’s clear that a dental implant does not share the features of a dentoperiodontal unit, and alveolar bone tolerates an implant, as far as its physiology goes, within the range of adequate response to direct masticatory load. The importance of a gingival tight seal around the transmucosal part of an implant cannot be overestimated from both biological and esthetic aspects. Considering the multifactorial nature of bone augmentation, the successful outcome of this type of surgery is still a matter of chance.

Abstract Cerebral atrophy is a key finding in patients with dementia and usually determined on MRI. We tested whether cerebral atrophy can be imaged with FDG PET by applying deformation-based morphometry (DBM). We retrospectively identified 26 patients with a biomarker-supported clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who had received FDG PET on a fully-digital PET/CT system and structural MRI and compared them to 13 healthy elderly controls (HEC). We performed DBM with FDG PET data (FDG-DBM). As a reference standard for determining atrophy we used voxel-based morphometry of MRI data (MRI-VBM). For conventional analysis of hypometabolism, scaled FDG PET scans (reference: brain parenchyma) were compared between groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed. ROI read-outs were tested for associations with cognitive test performance. FDG-DBM showed abnormalities in AD mainly in the bilateral hippocampi. Similarly, MRI-VBM showed hippocampal atrophy. By contrast, conventional FDG PET analysis revealed reduced bilateral temporo-parietal FDG uptake (all p 0.1). The opposite held true for conventional FDG uptake (p > 0.1 and p = 0.001, respectively). Hippocampal atrophy in AD can be detected by applying DBM to clinical, fully-digital FDG PET. It correlates with cognitive performance and might constitute a biomarker of neurodegeneration that is complementary to conventional FDG PET analysis of regional hypometabolism.

Abstract Phytochromes (Phys) are a divergent cohort of bili-proteins that detect light through reversible interconversion between dark-adapted Pr and photoactivated Pfr states. While our understandings of downstream events are emerging, it remains unclear how Phys translate light into an interpretable conformational signal. Here, we present models of both states for a dimeric Phy with histidine kinase (HK) activity from the proteobacterium Pseudomonas syringae, which were built from high-resolution cryo-EM maps (2.8–3.4-Å) of the photosensory module (PSM) and its following signaling (S) helix together with lower resolution maps for the downstream output region augmented by RoseTTAFold and AlphaFold structural predictions. The head-to-head models reveal the PSM and its photointerconversion mechanism with strong clarity, while the HK region is interpretable but relatively mobile. Pr/Pfr comparisons show that bilin phototransformation alters PSM architecture culminating in a scissoring motion of the paired S-helices linking the PSMs to the HK bidomains that ends in reorientation of the paired catalytic ATPase modules relative to the phosphoacceptor histidines. This action apparently primes autophosphorylation enroute to phosphotransfer to the cognate DNA-binding response regulator AlgB which drives quorum-sensing behavior through transient association with the photoreceptor. Collectively, these models illustrate how light absorption conformationally translates into accelerated signaling by Phy-type kinases.

In many science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) domains, instruction on foundational concepts heavily relies on visuals. Instructors often assume that students can mentally visualize concepts but students often struggle with internal visualization skills--the ability to mentally visualize information. In order to address this issue, we developed a formal, as well as an informal assessment of students' internal visualization skills in the context of engineering instruction. To validate the assessments, we used data triangulation methods. We drew on data from two separate studies conducted in a small-scale lab experiment and in a larger-scale classroom context. Our studies demonstrate that an intelligent tutoring system with interactive visual representations can serve as an informal assessment of students' internal visualization skills, predicting their performance on a formal assessment of these skills. Our study enriches methodological and theoretical underpinnings in educational research and practices in multiple ways: it contributes to research methodologies by illustrating how multimodal triangulation can be used for test development, theories of learning by offering pathways to assessing internal visualization skills that are not directly observable, and instructional practices in STEM education by enabling instructors to determine when and where they should provide additional scaffoldings.

Purpose: Online education enables location-independent learning, potentially providing university students with more flexible study programs and reducing traffic-related CO2 emissions. This paper aims to examine whether online education can contribute to university-related sustainable everyday mobility, with particular consideration given to aspects of social sustainability and potential rebound effects. Specifically, it explores sustainability dilemmas that arise from conflicting social and ecological effects. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on qualitative data from mobility diaries and extensive semistructured interviews (n = 26) collected at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences in Germany, this study deploys thematic analysis and a typification approach to analyze and classify students' daily practices related to studying, mobility and dwelling, which may be impacted by online education. Findings: The study identifies six distinct student types with diverse practices in studying, mobility and dwelling. Comparisons between student types reveal stark differences regarding professional and social goals that students associate with their studies, influencing university-related mobility and residential choices. This leads to varying assessments of online education, with some students expecting benefits and others anticipating severe drawbacks. Practical implications: The typology developed in this paper can assist Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in comparable contexts in understanding the distinct needs and motivations of students, thereby proactively identifying sustainability dilemmas associated with online education. By leveraging these findings, HEIs can effectively balance diverse interests and contribute meaningfully to sustainability. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is among the first to systematically investigate conflicts and rebound effects of online education in the context of sustainable mobility within HEIs.

Abstract Background We investigated the potential of an imaging-aware GPT-4-based chatbot in providing diagnoses based on imaging descriptions of abdominal pathologies. Methods Utilizing zero-shot learning via the LlamaIndex framework, GPT-4 was enhanced using the 96 documents from the Radiographics Top 10 Reading List on gastrointestinal imaging, creating a gastrointestinal imaging-aware chatbot (GIA-CB). To assess its diagnostic capability, 50 cases on a variety of abdominal pathologies were created, comprising radiological findings in fluoroscopy, MRI, and CT. We compared the GIA-CB to the generic GPT-4 chatbot (g-CB) in providing the primary and 2 additional differential diagnoses, using interpretations from senior-level radiologists as ground truth. The trustworthiness of the GIA-CB was evaluated by investigating the source documents as provided by the knowledge-retrieval mechanism. Mann–Whitney U test was employed. Results The GIA-CB demonstrated a high capability to identify the most appropriate differential diagnosis in 39/50 cases (78%), significantly surpassing the g-CB in 27/50 cases (54%) (p = 0.006). Notably, the GIA-CB offered the primary differential in the top 3 differential diagnoses in 45/50 cases (90%) versus g-CB with 37/50 cases (74%) (p = 0.022) and always with appropriate explanations. The median response time was 29.8 s for GIA-CB and 15.7 s for g-CB, and the mean cost per case was $0.15 and $0.02, respectively. Conclusions The GIA-CB not only provided an accurate diagnosis for gastrointestinal pathologies, but also direct access to source documents, providing insight into the decision-making process, a step towards trustworthy and explainable AI. Integrating context-specific data into AI models can support evidence-based clinical decision-making. Relevance statement A context-aware GPT-4 chatbot demonstrates high accuracy in providing differential diagnoses based on imaging descriptions, surpassing the generic GPT-4. It provided formulated rationale and source excerpts supporting the diagnoses, thus enhancing trustworthy decision-support. Key points • Knowledge retrieval enhances differential diagnoses in a gastrointestinal imaging-aware chatbot (GIA-CB). • GIA-CB outperformed the generic counterpart, providing formulated rationale and source excerpts. • GIA-CB has the potential to pave the way for AI-assisted decision support systems. Graphical Abstract

The growing emphasis on sustainable product development systems from the need to address environmental, social, and economic challenges associated with traditional production processes. This study is motivated by the integrating sustainability into product design and operations, using emerging technologies to enable data-driven decisions, optimise resource use, and improve supply chain transparency. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) translates customer needs into design features that align with sustainability goals. This research conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of journal articles published between 2012 and 2023, focusing on the application of QFD in sustainable product development, specifically in the agro-industrial sector. A total of 39 scientific papers were sourced from Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed databases and analysed using VOS viewer. The study aims to identify how QFD and other methods support sustainable product development by linking design features to sustainability goals. The results reveal strong correlations between key themes ‘sustainability’, ‘QFD’, and ‘new product development’ demonstrating the potential of QFD to drive sustainable innovation. The findings are presented in both quantitative and qualitative formats, illustrated through article overview diagrams, keyword analysis visualisations, and trends in QFD integration. These insights provide a useful reference for agro-industrial companies aiming to integrate sustainability into product development.