Search

Abstract This research addresses the issue of the heritage preventive conservation in the perspective of energy sustainability, for contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and towards the EU Green Deal. The study analyses and compares four cases associated with different microclimate thresholds as suggested by the standard EN 16893:2018 (Cases 1–3) and as derived from the outputs of three degradation models for preserving paper, wood, and canvas paintings (Case 4). Weather-based indices (degree and gram days) were calculated to estimate trends in the potential energy demand of collection facilities in three European cities belonging to different Köppen-Geiger climate zones (Cfb, Csa, and Dfb), under recent past (1981–2010) and near/far future climate scenarios (2021–2050 and 2071–2100) from two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). The findings suggest that adapting facilities’ management strategies to focus on collections preservation can facilitate the achievement of 5 out of 17 SDGs, offering a viable alternative to costly energy retrofits and encouraging the development of shared solutions for similar facilities in the same climate zone. The results can contribute to inform the revision of EN 16893 and to face major challenges such as the preservation of paper collections in southern latitudes.

The contribution of school curricula to public understanding and acceptance of evolution is still mostly unknown, due to the scarcity of studies that compare the learning goals present in different curricula. To overcome this lack of data we analysed 19 school curricula (18 European and one from Israel) to study the differences regarding the inclusion of learning goals targeting evolution understanding. We performed a quantitative content analysis using the Framework for the Assessment of school Curricula on the presence of Evolutionary concepts (FACE). For each country/region we analysed what this educational system considered the minimum evolution education a citizen should get. Our results reveal that: (i) the curricula include less than half of the learning goals considered important for scientific literacy in evolution; (ii) the most frequent learning goals address basic knowledge of evolution; (iii) learning goals related with the processes that drive evolution are often not included or rarely mentioned; (iv) evolution is most often not linked to its applications in everyday life. These results highlight the need to rethink evolution education across Europe.

Evolution is a fundamental part of biology and thus it is essential that biology preservice teachers understand and accept it. The relationship between knowledge and acceptance of evolution, and specifically human evolution, has not been fully investigated in Israel. We sought to learn about that relationship amongst Israeli Jewish religious preservice science teachers. Twenty-three religious preservice teachers answered knowledge questions before and after participating in a human evolution activity and completed an acceptance questionnaire (I-SEA). In addition, eleven of them were interviewed regarding their knowledge of evolution and four were interviewed regarding their acceptance of evolution a few months after participating in the activity. Our main findings were that the relationship between knowledge and acceptance of evolution was not always one-to-one. The preservice teachers whose evolution knowledge is high and have firm religious faith accept the theory of evolution and are willing and eager to teach it. In addition, preservice teachers might have made a shift in their understanding of human evolution and thus accepted human evolution more due to the activity. More teacher training and exposure to evolution content and pedagogy are needed so that when preservice teachers will become in-service teachers they will teach evolution without hesitance.

In the current post-truth era, the ability to assess the reliability of information is an essential citizenship attribute. With nearly half of the present internet traffic estimated to be generated by bots, and misinformation being regularly weaponised by numerous parties for economic or political gain, it is imperative that citizens are equipped with the tools to discriminate facts from fiction, particularly for health- and science-related matters. The present study reports the results of a survey (n = 776) carried out to evaluate susceptibility to scientific misinformation and perception of news source reliability amongst students in an English secondary school. Two distinct scores were developed in order to differentially measure susceptibility to disinformation (i.e. deliberately false information) and unintentional misinformation (i.e. getting the facts wrong). Non-parametric analysis indicated that students' misinformation (as measured by both scores) decreased significantly over the course of the 5 years of secondary education. Interestingly, the adolescents who took part in the survey exhibited considerably lower belief in common science-based conspiracy theories than the levels previously reported among British adults. Students indicated teachers as their most frequent choice of scientific news. While social media were also indicated as common news sources, students expressed awareness of the unreliability of the content available on social media. Analysis of the open answers indicated that students considered BBC as the most trustworthy source of scientific information, and TikTok as the least trustworthy.

The acceptability of school-based interventions has been regularly examined among teachers and parents; however, students are less frequently assessed despite being the recipients of most interventions. Although recent studies have begun exploring how different student characteristics (e.g., gender) and types of acceptability assessments (e.g., dynamic) impact students' ratings, no studies have examined the role of intervention dosage despite early conceptual models highlighting the linkage between intervention acceptability, dosage, adherence, and effectiveness. This study explored 255 third-grade students' intervention dosage and acceptability ratings within the context of a class-wide writing intervention administered over 7 weeks. Results indicated that most students received a high number of intervention sessions throughout the study and rated the intervention as moderately acceptable. There was a statistically significant gender difference in students' postintervention acceptability ratings, with female students rating the class-wide writing intervention higher than male students. In addition, intervention dosage was a statistically significant predictor of students' postintervention acceptability ratings, although gender did not moderate these findings.

Immunology, a complex and rapidly evolving biological field, serves dual educational goals: training healthcare professionals and immunologists as well as promoting immune literacy among laypeople. This study conducted a scoping review of the literature to explore different aspects of immunology education, examining various contexts, levels, and content areas, including cognitive and motivational challenges. In addition, analysis covered different teaching strategies and research methodologies. Eight hundred and seventy-four articles were screened, and 20 articles proceeded to full-text analysis. Notably, the majority of the analysed studies concentrated on undergraduate education, emphasising strategies for teaching immunology, with a heavy reliance on quantitative research methods. Teaching strategies that were influential for improving the knowledge of the students were, for example, using games, using simulations and visualisations, using hands on experiments and self-directed learning. The content of the reviewed articles primarily revolved around topics related to innate and adaptive immunity, basic immunology, and immune system diseases. There was less emphasis on advanced immunology and on addressing the inherent complexity of the subject and even less on methods to motivate students to engage with immunology. Practical implications and suggestions for future research are described considering both healthcare practitioner training and immune literacy for laypeople.

What are the specific features of political dissent in Southeast Asia? And how may scholarly insights from the region contribute to the study of social movements in other world areas? In this article, we scrutinize the florescence of social activism in contemporary Southeast Asia by bringing together examples of popular protest in countries as diverse as Burma/Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, as well as in transnational arenas of mobilization that connect local struggles to globally relevant issues and forms of dissent. We discuss applications of social movements literature to specific Southeast Asian historical, political and socio-cultural modernities, arguing that anthropological scholarship, postcolonial and feminist theory, as well as the social scientific study of power ontologies in non-western societies, are necessary references to expand our understanding of social movements in the region. We simultaneously advance that Southeast Asian expressions of dissent often double as “alter-politics”, or alternative re-imaginings of the common good. Their study benefits from careful examination of situational arrangements of power in specific locales, with particular attention to domains of feeling, thought and practice that are commonly deemed as apolitical in modern political philosophy: intimacy, religion, and kinship. With this essay, we finally aim to treat Southeast Asia as a site for the production rather than the mere reception of theories of resistance.

Abstract Following an application from Alzchem Trostberg GmbH, submitted for authorisation of a health claim pursuant to Article 13(5) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 via the Competent Authority of Austria, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the scientific substantiation of a health claim related to creatine and improvement in cognitive function. The Panel considers that the food constituent, creatine, is sufficiently characterised. An improvement in cognitive function in one or more of its domains is a beneficial physiological effect. The applicant identified 21 human intervention studies on creatine supplementation and measures of cognitive function through a literature search. Two additional studies published after the search was conducted were identified through the reference list of a meta‐analysis. In weighing the evidence, the Panel took into account that the acute effect of creatine on working memory, observed in two studies at 20 g/day for 5–7 days, was not seen at lower doses (2.2–14 g/day), or with continuous consumption (5 g/day for 6 weeks following a 5‐day loading phase). Furthermore, the effect on response inhibition at 20 g/day for 7 days was an isolated finding among 10 intervention studies in healthy individuals, with no effects observed on other cognitive domains. The Panel also considered that the three intervention studies conducted in diseased individuals do not support an effect of creatine supplementation on cognition, and that the available evidence for a mechanism by which creatine could exert the claimed effect is weak. The Panel concludes that a cause‐and‐effect relationship has not been established between creatine supplementation and an improvement in cognitive function in one or more of its domains.

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus) oil as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. Tiger nuts (C. esculentus) is an edible tuber with history of consumption as food. The NF is the oil obtained from the nuts through cold pressing of the seeds flour. Oleic acid is the major component, representing 65%–69% of the oil's total fatty acids. The applicant proposed to use the NF as an ingredient in several food categories, and as a cooking oil or added as a condiment. The Panel notes that there are no safety concerns regarding stability if the NF complies with the proposed specification limits during its entire shelf‐life. Taking into consideration the composition of the NF and the proposed conditions of use, the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. The Panel considers that, based on the production process, composition of the NF, history of use of and composition of the source, no toxicological studies are required on the NF. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed conditions of use.

Abstract Vitamins and essential minerals are micronutrients that are required for the normal functioning of the human body. However, they may lead to adverse health effects if consumed in excess. A tolerable upper intake level (UL) is a science‐based reference value that supports policy‐makers and other relevant actors in managing the risks of excess nutrient intake. EFSA's principles for establishing ULs for vitamins and minerals were originally developed by the Scientific Committee on Food in 2000. This guidance from the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens provides an updated framework for UL assessments. A draft was published in 2022 and underwent a 2‐year piloting period. The present document incorporates revisions based on the experience gained through its practical implementation. It covers aspects related to the planning of the risk assessment (problem formulation and definition of methods) and its implementation (evidence retrieval, appraisal, synthesis, integration, uncertainty analysis). As in the previous framework, the general principles developed for the risk assessment of chemicals in food are applied, i.e. hazard identification, hazard characterisation, intake assessment, risk characterisation. Specific to nutrients are their biochemical and physiological roles and the specific and selective mechanisms that maintain the systemic homeostasis and accumulation of the nutrient in the body. Such considerations must also be taken into account when conducting risk assessments of nutrients.

Exposure to inspirational and relatable role models is crucial towards fostering engagement of learners with scientific disciplines. However, the representation of scientists in popular culture is still far from being adequately gender- and race-inclusive. This study evaluated the gender balance and impact of scientific role models using a two-pronged experimental approach. The gender balance was investigated in search engines, online databases, and school curricula. A survey was used to investigate English secondary students' awareness of role models and intentions to pursue further scientific studies. Our findings revealed a widespread female underrepresentation amongst scientific role models in all the analysed online sources and in high school curricula provided by the three main English exam boards. The survey (??=356) revealed that students were considerably more likely to identify famous male than female scientists. While awareness of female role models was significantly associated with students' gender, this was not the case for male role models. A statistically significant correlation was also observed between the number of identified role models and intentions to pursue scientific studies in Key Stage 4 girls. This study reinforces the urgency of ensuring school curricula and online resources provide a more modern and inclusive representation of scientists.

Khosro Abad iron ore deposit is located 130 km of Kermanshah, 30 km northeast of Sonqor city close to Khosro Abad village, in the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. Based on the field observation, exposed units in the area include; basaltic-andesite volcanic rocks and limestone of the Sonqor Volcanic-Sedimentary Complex. The quartz-monzonite body intruded the sequence and caused a contact metamorphism of up to greenschist facies, and development of hydrothermal alteration halos. Discharged iron bearing hydrothermal fluid destabilized due to physicochemical changes and deposited the iron ore in the contact of limestone, basaltic-andesite and quartz-monzonite intrusion. Control of iron ore mineralization by the contact of quartz-monzonite and volcano-sedimentary sequence and presence of skarn mineralogy is evidence of skarn mineralization in Khosrow Abad. Geophysical survey was carried out using magnetometry technique (1305 stations), covering an area of 3.6 Km2 for defining the high potential areas of iron mineralization and depth estimation. In this research, total magnetic, reduction to pole, analytical signal, and upward continuation maps were prepared, and based on the obtained results four anomaly blocks of; An(A)-An(A´)-An(B)-An(C) were identified. An(C) anomaly is shallower than the others and extend approximately down to 50 meters, while other anomalies are much deeper. The maximum magnetic anomaly in total field intensity and RTP maps is 46426.1 and 49474.6 nanotesla, respectively, along a northeast-southwest trend, aligned with the contact of meta-andesite-basalt and crystallized limestone units. Introduction The magnetometric exploration technique is one of the low-cost, widely used, and indirect methods for mineral exploration and tracking of oxidizing intrusive bodies containing Fe-Ti oxides, such as magnetite, titanomagnetite, and titanohematite, as well as some iron sulfides such as pyrrhotite (Donohue et al., 2012). The Khosrow Abad iron ore deposit is located in west Iran’s iron metallogenic zone of the Sonqor series. It is located northwest of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone; northeast of the Sonqor town (Kermanshah province) (Ghorbani, 2007) in Sonqor-Baneh volcanic belt (Azizi and Moinevaziri, 2009). In the northeast of Sonqor, hypabyssal acidic intrusive bodies penetrated the Upper Jurassic rock units, including basaltic meta-andesite volcanic rocks and limy slates (calc-shale), causing skarn development and iron ore mineralization. Mineralization is mainly hosted in the meta basaltic andesite unit's skarn zone, differentiating it from other common carbonate-hosted skarn deposits (e.g., Ebrahimi Fard et al., 2022a; Ebrahimi Fard et al., 2022b). The main purpose of current research is to examine the magnetometric geophysical explorations' accuracy in detecting possible ore zones as well as the depth of oxidized (magnetic) intrusive bodies and current emplacement depth and possible associated mineralization. The main challenges were locating the magnetite ore zone covered by recent alluvium and ore zone has limited exposure, and skarn ore facies without classic carbonates as a host rock. Calc-silicate minerals in association with oxide and sulfide minerals formed the skarn zones in the Khosrow Abad deposit. Magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, garnet, clinopyroxene, sodic plagioclase (albite), actinolite, epidote, chlorite, calcite, quartz, and iron hydroxides such as hematite, goethite, and limonite are the main constitute of the skarn zones. The main fracture system in the Khosrow Abad is a large strike-slip fault with an approximately north-south (NNW-SSE) trend and more than 80 degrees dip towards the east. Iron ore mineralization is mainly located in the eastern edge of this fault which formed a shear zone in the metamorphosed volcanic unit. Material and methods Based on the geological map, field observations, geological structures, mineralization limited exposure, and geophysical exploration were carried out perpendicular to apparent structures (probable veins and faults trend) along the northwest-southeast direction. The exploration pattern of the survey was, 25 10 m (profile distance of 25 m and 10 m reading intervals) in the ore zone and a 20 25 m pattern in surrounding rocks (1350 stations). Measurements were carried out by a Proton magnetometer model G856 manufactured by Geometrics. Magnetic surveys were mainly focused on meta basaltic andesite and quartz monzonite units. Qualitative and quantitative data processing and interpretations of data were carried out by using Geosoft Oasis Montaj and Magmap software. The highest field intensity recorded in the area is 52049 nT and the lowest recorded is 43619 nT, which according to the IGRF of 47515nT, is possibly due to the changes caused by the presence of medium-grade magnetite mineralization. Discussion In the total magnetic intensity map, magnetic anomalies were detected with the northwest-southeast trend which is related to discontinuous lenses along the main fault. In the IGRF-REM map, the maximum intensity value of anomalies is equal to 4534 nanotesla. All 4 detected anomalies; (A), (A´), (B), and (C) are high-intensity anomalies in this range. Anomaly (C) is marked on the map with moderate to relatively weak intensity. The upward continuation map indicates that the ore zone continues at least to a depth of more than 70 meters. The Euler's deconvolution method shows an estimate of the anomaly depth, An(C) anomaly is shallower than the others and has a depth of about 50 meters. Based on Spector and Grant's method, the estimated depth of Khosrow Abad iron ore mineralization is about 0.03 km, which is a reasonable estimate. The minimum depth of anomalies in most areas is about 30 meters. The model prepared by Encom Quickmag software shows that linear anomalies are located in line with the regional faults and parallel to each other with medium depth. For validation of the modeling results, based on the data interpretation (analytical signal map, pole-to-pole map, and transversal continuation), several drilling points were proposed for borehole drilling. Conclusion Based on the geophysical data processing and interpretation (analytical signal map, reduction to pole map, and upward continuation) as well as modeling results, several locations were proposed for borehole drilling. The BH-1 borehole is located in the An (A) block anomaly central point, and according to the core logging data, this anomaly is introduced as an anomaly with good intensity, and according to the continuation map with a depth of more than 30 meters is almost match the geophysical interpretation and model. After the drilling campaign, it was discovered that geophysical prediction shows a good agreement with the drilling data, which confirms the effectiveness of the proper design and implemented geophysical survey for iron ore exploration in the Khosrow Abad deposit, which could be used for other skarn iron ore deposits of the region.

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of an extension of use of oil from Schizochytrium limacinum (strain FCC‐3204) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The extension of use pertains to the use of the NF as a food ingredient in protein products at a maximum use level of 1 g of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in 100 g of product. The Panel considers that the information provided on the composition and the production process is sufficiently described and does not raise safety concerns. S. limacinum was attributed the qualified presumption of safety (QPS) status with the qualification ‘for production purposes only’. Data provided demonstrated the absence of viable cells in the NF. Under the proposed extension of use, the highest intake estimate (at the 95th percentile) of DHA from the NF in protein products is 6.3 mg DHA/kg bw per day for adolescents. The Panel notes that the exposure to DHA from the new intended use of the NF in protein products is very low compared to the exposure to DHA from the already authorised food categories (excluding food supplements). The Panel concludes that the NF (oil from S. limacinum (FCC‐3204)) is safe under the new intended use.

IntroductionBisphenol A (BPA) is a common contaminant widely used in many industrial sectors. Because of its wide use and dispersion, it can be accumulated in living human bodies through both oral assumption and nondietary routes. BPA exhibits hormone-like properties, falling under the class of endocrine disruptors; therefore, it can alter relevant physiological functions. In particular, in women, it can affect folliculogenesis and therefore reproduction, contributing not only to infertility, but also to endometriosis and premature puberty.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter study on 91 women undergoing a first in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in the Campania region (Southern Italy). We investigated the presence and concentration of BPA in serum and follicular fluids to assess the effects of airborne BPA contamination. The analysis was conducted on 32 women living in a low environmental impact (LEI) area, from the Sele Valley River and Cilento region, and 59 women living in a high environmental impact (HEI) area, the so-called “Land of Fires”, a highly contaminated territory widely exposed to illegal waste practices.ResultsA higher average BPA content in both blood serum and follicular fluid was revealed in the HEI group when compared with the LEI group. In addition, we revealed higher average BPA content in blood serum than in folliclular fluid in the HEI area, with opposite average content in the two fluids in the LEI zone. In addition, our results also showed a lack of correlation between BPA content in follicular and serum fluids both in the overall population and in the HEI and LEI groups, with peculiar trends in different subsets of women.ConclusionFrom our results, we revealed a heterogeneity in the distribution of BPA content between serum and follicular fluid. Further studies are needed to unravel the bioaccumulation mechanisms of BPA in highly polluted and nonpolluted areas.

Abstract The European Commission requested EFSA to update the scientific guidance for the preparation of notifications for authorisation of traditional foods, previously developed following the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foods. This guidance document provides advice on the scientific information needed to be submitted by applicants when submitting traditional food notifications pursuant to Article 14 and traditional food applications pursuant to Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The safety of a traditional food should be substantiated by data on its composition, its experience of continued use and its proposed conditions of use. Its normal consumption should not be nutritionally disadvantageous. The applicant should integrate the information on the composition and the experience of continued use and provide a concise overall consideration on how this substantiates the history of safe use of the traditional food and how this relates to the proposed conditions of use for the EU. Potential health hazards identified on the basis of compositional data and/or data from the experience of continued use should be discussed. On the basis of the information provided, EFSA will assess the safety related to the consumption of the traditional food under the proposed conditions of use.

Abstract The European Commission requested EFSA to update the scientific guidance for the preparation of applications for authorisation of novel foods, previously developed following the adoption of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foods. This guidance document provides advice on the scientific information needed to be submitted by the applicant towards demonstrating the safety of the novel food. Requirements pertain to the description of the novel food, production process, compositional data, specifications, proposed uses and use levels and anticipated intake of the novel food. Furthermore, information needed in sections on the history of use of the novel food and/or its source, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicological information, nutritional information and allergenicity is also described. The applicant should integrate and interpret the data presented in the different sections to provide their overall considerations on how the information supports the safety of the novel food under the proposed conditions of use. Where potential health hazards have been identified, they are to be discussed in relation to the anticipated intake of the novel food and the proposed target populations. On the basis of the information provided, EFSA will assess the safety of the novel food under the proposed conditions of use.