Practical Choice Research Articles

Design and development of wire-mesh packed bed liquid desiccant dehumidifier to reduce pressure-drop and carryover

In response to the high air-pressure drop and desiccant carryover experienced in liquid desiccant-packed bed dehumidifiers, which adversely affect the room environment and system economics, this study explored various modified wire-mesh packed bed designs. It experimentally evaluated dehumidification efficiency, and thermal performance across different corrugated wire-mesh packings, introducing a new design for cost-effective moisture removal while reducing pressure drop and desiccant carryover. Three specially designed packings (P-1, P-2, and P-3) were tested against standard commercial options like Celdek (7090, 6090, 5090) and Mellapak 250Y, focusing on optimizing performance. At a constant optimal concentration of the desiccant solution, the effects of airflow rates (ma), solution flow rates (ms), and solution temperatures (Ts) on the performance of the system was analyzed. The findings indicated that P-1 performed better than others, particularly in terms of condensation rate (CR) and moisture effectiveness (εm). Specifically, it outperformed the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) (benchmark) packing by 22.1 % and 8 % respectively at a solution concentration of 40 wt% and ma of 0.025 kg/s under ambient conditions of nearly 0.02921 kg/kg specific humidity and 31 °C temperature. Increasing the void fraction led to a reduction in air pressure drop while enhancing the wettability, and dehumidification efficiency. The packing, P-1, made of stainless steel (SS340) with 0.3 cm mesh was finally proposed to obtain better performance for dehumidification applications in buildings. Additionally, its potential to reduce air-pressure drop and desiccant carry-over can provide improved energy efficiency and enhanced air quality, making it a practical choice for sustainable building cooling solutions.

Adsorption And Advanced Oxidation Processes for Sustainable Treatment of Produced Water and Oil Wastewater, A Review

Wastewater contaminated with oil and organic materials, also known as oily wastewater (OW), is commonly produced in both industrial and residential settings. This type of wastewater typically contains fats, oils, and greases, along with petroleum-based substances like diesel oil, gasoline, and kerosene. OW is regarded as a severe threat to human, plants, animal in special and the environment generally, jeopardizing ecosystems. There is an increasing demand for efficient treatment techniques due to the increased OW worldwide discharge and stringent limits on effluent discharge. Traditional approaches have proven to be inefficient, costly, and time-consuming, often resulting in secondary pollution. The adsorption technique, on the other hand, is thought to be a more practical choice because of its ease of use, cheaper startup costs, and reduced need for land. With better separation efficiency and lower operating costs, the adsorption technique has become a viable option for treating OW. The development of super adsorbents with high adsorption capacities has further enhanced the effectiveness of this method. Advanced technologies in adsorption are constantly evolving to meet the current and future demands of OW treatment.

Rediscovering the Child

Maria Montessori’s early emphasis on systematic observation and experimentation to understand children’s learning predates the formal recognition of the “teacher as researcher” role, which emerged in the 1950s. This article explores the use of action research today in Montessori education, focusing on classroom-based action research (CBAR) and practitioner inquiry as key methodologies for enhancing teaching practices. We begin by defining classroom-based action research and its application in Montessori teacher education, highlighting its role in fostering reflective, evidence-based investigations that improve classroom practices. Two CBAR studies from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls are presented: (1) Kaul’s exploration of student choice in math practice and (2) Thompson’s investigation of structured literacy in a Montessori Children’s House. The article also discusses practitioner inquiry projects from Loyola University Maryland, which examine the inclusion of students with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the effectiveness of Montessori Math materials in promoting math fluency.

Perception of Parents Regarding Specialized Pediatric Dentistry

This study analyzed parents’ perceptions of pediatric dentistry and pediatric dental specialists, identified factors influencing their choice of dental practice for children, and compared perceptions between those with and without pediatric dentistry experience. A nationwide online survey (February 15 - 19, 2024) was conducted among 500 parents of children aged 15 years or younger: 170 from Seoul/Gyeonggi/ Incheon, 100 each from Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, Jeolla, and 30 from Gangwon. Data covered demographics, factors influencing dentist selection for children, awareness of pediatric dentists, and insights on whether parents had visited a pediatric dentist. 75.6% had visited a pediatric dental clinic, and 49.6% recognized pediatric dental specialists. Among visitors, 59.5% were aware of pediatric dental specialists, compared to 18.9% of non-visitors. Furthermore, 90.7% of parents aware of pediatric dental specialists had visited a clinic, versus 60.7% of those unaware. The highest visit rates were among parents with three children, especially aged 7 - 9. Awareness of pediatric dental specialists was highest among parents in their 20s, living in Gangwon, Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon regions, with professional occupations and household monthly incomes of 7.5 - 8.5 million won. Parents with experience visiting pediatric dental clinics prioritized dentists’ expertise; those without experience prioritized short waiting times. Prior experience with pediatric dental clinics significantly increased the intention to revisit and reduced hesitation. Improving parents’ perceptions of pediatric dentists enhances decision-making and accessibility for children’s specialized dental care. Professional associations must raise awareness of pediatric dentistry. Pediatric dentists should prioritize expertise and advance their specializations in pediatric orthodontics.

Scaling Down for Efficiency: Medium-Sized Transformer Models for Protein Sequence Transfer Learning.

Protein language models such as the transformer-based Evolutionary Scale Modeling 2 (ESM2) can offer deep insights into evolutionary and structural properties of proteins. While larger models, such as ESM2 15B, promise to capture more complex patterns in sequence space, they also present practical challenges due to their high dimensionality and high computational cost. We systematically evaluated the performance of all ESM2 models across many biological datasets to determine the impact of model size on transfer learning. Surprisingly, larger models do not always outperform smaller ones, especially when data is limited. Medium sized models, such as ESM2 650M, exhibited consistent performance, falling only slightly behind the 15B parameter model despite being over 20 times smaller. Additionally, we compared various methods of embedding compression to identify the most effective approach, and we found that mean embeddings consistently outperformed other compression methods. Our results show that ESM2 650M with mean embeddings offers an optimal balance between performance and efficiency, making it a practical and scalable choice for transfer learning in a variety of biological applications.

Preliminary application study of digital technology for constructing three-dimensional facial symmetry reference planes in anterior dental esthetic restoration

Objective: To explore the impact of digital technology in constructing a three-dimensional (3D) symmetry reference plane (SRP) for esthetic restoration of anterior teeth and to evaluate its clinical applicability. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2024, involving 20 patients [11 males and 9 females, aged (36.8±11.4) years] who underwent anterior esthetic restorations at the Department of Stomatology, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Symmetrical reference planes of patients' 3D facial models were constructed using three different algorithms: weighted Procrustes analysis (WPA), Procrustes analysis (PA) based on the ontology-mirror correlation method, and iterative closest point (ICP). The SRP defined by an associate chief physician served as the control (true-value group). The angular errors between each algorithm group and the true-value group were compared. The optimal algorithm was selected and combined with a three-dimensional digital smile design (DSD) to create virtual patients, followed by designing anterior restorations. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used by patients to score the aesthetic restoration results of the conventional design (control group) and the algorithm-based design (algorithm group). Results: The angular errors of the WPA, PA, and ICP groups were 1.43°±0.66°, 1.82°±0.88°, and 4.74°±2.03° respectively, with statistically significant differences among the groups (F=41.10, P<0.001). Pairwise comparisons showed that the WPA group had significantly smaller angular errors compared to the PA and ICP groups (P<0.05). The VAS scores for aesthetic restoration were significantly higher in the algorithm group (8.09±0.74) compared to the control group (6.30±1.38) (t=-5.49, P<0.001). Conclusions: The SRP constructed using the WPA algorithm demonstrated minimal angular error when compared to the expert-defined SRP and is considered the optimal choice in clinical practice, yielding high patient satisfaction.

Interleaving of screen printed PEDOT:PSS/ Ag nanowires ink via bottom-up approach into flexible polyurethane coats patterned on bi-stretch fabrics for multimodal sensing and IR heating

Textile-integrated wearable sensors have exhibited an immense potential to transform human life by fetching safety and comfort at the forefront. This work underscores a novel design approach to fabricate textile-integrated multimodal sensors using a conductive ink coated bi-stretch nylon fabric. Conductive ink has been formulated by dispersing high aspect ratio silver nanowires into water-dispersed PEDOT: PSS solution with polyvinylpyrrolidone that allows sensing of various stimuli, including mechanical strains, temperature, humidity, etc. The fabrication of sensing elements involves the interleaving of screen-printed conductive ink into flexible coats, using water-borne polyurethane, achieved by the facile pad-dry-cure technique on bi-stretch fabric like a sandwich. Remarkable mechanical strain sensing performance in terms of sensitivity, repeatability, and stability has been demonstrated along with flexibility, bendability, and compliant form factor, making them suitable for applications in wearable technology and smart textiles. Moreover, the temperature and humidity sensing exhibit rapid response and wide detection ranges, making the sensor adaptable to diverse environmental conditions. The sensing fabric responds well to different strain and compression conditions. The as-developed fabric can also operate as an IR heating element when biased at certain operating conditions. These attributes make such elements an ideal candidate for various applications, such as human motion tracking, environmental monitoring, and healthcare devices. The sensor's low-cost, solvent-free production and scalability make it a practical choice for mass adoption.

Exploring Solvents and Sensitivity of Systems of Linear Equations Arising from Real World Phenomena Via Optimal Successive Over-relaxation Method

This study places a significant emphasis on assessing the efficiency of numerical methods, specifically in the context of solving linear equations of the form &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Ax&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; = &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;b&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;, where &amp;lt;I&amp;gt;A&amp;lt;/I&amp;gt; is a square matrix, &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;x&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; is a solvent vector, and &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;b&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; is a column vector representing real-world phenomena. The investigation compares the effectiveness of the Refined Successive Over Relaxation (RSOR) method to the standard Successive Over-relaxation (SOR) method. The core evaluation criteria encompass computational time (in seconds), convergence behavior, and the number of iterations necessary to approximate the solvents of five distinct real-world phenomena: Model Problem 1 (MP1) involving an Electrical Circuit, Model Problem 2 (MP2) focusing on Beam Deflection, Model Problem 3 (MP3) addressing Damped Vibrations of a Stretching Spring, Model Problem 4 (MP4) dealing with Linear Springs and Masses, and Model Problem 5 (MP5) focusing on Temperature Distribution on Heated Plate. The RSOR method generally outperforms the SOR method, particularly with a constant relaxation parameter (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;ω&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) in the range 1.0 &amp;lt; &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;ω&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; &amp;lt; 1.2. The RSOR method is favored for its robustness and efficiency with less need for fine-tuning &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;ω&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;, whereas the SOR method can achieve superior performance if the optimal &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;ω&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; is found, although this often requires time-consuming trial and error. Despite the potential for better performance with an optimal &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;ω&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;, the RSOR method’s consistent results make it the more practical choice in many cases. The study also explores the stability of the systems of linear equations arising from these phenomena by calculating their condition numbers (&amp;lt;I&amp;gt;K&amp;lt;/I&amp;gt;(&amp;lt;I&amp;gt;A&amp;lt;/I&amp;gt;)). More interestingly, the results reveal that all systems MP1 to MP4 exhibit instability when subjected to even modest perturbations, shedding light on potential challenges in their solvents. This research not only underscores the advantages of the RSOR method but also emphasizes the importance of understanding the stability of numerical solvents in the context of real-world problems. Additionally, the results for MP5 demonstrates that tiny changes to the original matrix’s coefficients have no effect on the desired solvent because the perturbed matrix’s condition number is the same as the original matrix’s, making the problem well-structured. The problem becomes ill-conditioned if there is an increase or decrement to the matrix’s coefficients that is bigger than 10&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;−5&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;. In summary, Sparse systems are sensitive to perturbations, resulting in instability. If the tolerance |&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;k&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;(&amp;lt;I&amp;gt;A&amp;lt;/I&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;0&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;i&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;) − &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;k&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;(&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;A&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;i&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;)| &amp;gt; 10&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;−5&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt; for all positive integers &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;i&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;, then the problem becomes poorly structured.

Drivers of grape berry sugar accumulation in field conditions at local scale

The final sugar concentration in grapes is an important parameter for winegrowers as it determines the alcohol content by volume of the final wine, allowing the timing of harvest to be optimised. In this research, a comprehensive dataset spanning seven years and 18 sites located in Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and satellite appellations (Bordeaux, France) was used to assess how growth and developmental factors (berry weight and mid-veraison date, respectively) and environmental factors (vine water status, nitrogen status, and mean air temperature) influence the dynamics of sugar accumulation. The results of this study highlight the strong influence of mean temperature on the timing of maximum sugar accumulation, the duration of sugar accumulation and maximum sugar concentration in grape berries. Berry weight and the rate of sugar accumulation also appeared to be significant drivers of final sugar concentration. Fast ripening and increased berry weight were associated with lower sugar concentrations. Sites were clustered according to parameters driving sugar accumulation dynamics and mapped at the scale of the study area, in order to link these findings to terroir expression. In this study, vine nitrogen status did not emerge as a significant explanatory variable in any of the models developed to analyse sugar accumulation dynamics and berry weight. A small but significant effect of vine water status on the precocity of the plateau and on berry weight was found. These results provide a better understanding of the factors that affect the dynamics of sugar accumulation in grape berries, which can help vine growers adapt to climate change. For example, by promoting practices that delay the onset of ripening to shift to a cooler period of ripening through choice of plant material and management practices. Alternatively, this can be done through an increase in berry weight, which lowers grape sugar and therefore wine alcohol concentration, taking care not to excessively alter the skin-pulp ratio to avoid reducing secondary metabolites.

The use of azithromycin in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract and ear

Despite the extensive accumulated clinical experience, inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract and ear still remain an important problem in the field of otorhinolaryngology, especially pediatric practice, since these diseases are associated with the risk of complications. One of the reasons for the ineffectiveness of conservative treatment is the incorrect initial antibacterial therapy. Errors in antimicrobial therapy are associated with both insufficient knowledge of clinical pharmacology by doctors and incorrect interpretation of anamnestic and clinical data, which leads to incorrect treatment of CCA. The aim of the work is to analyze the use of azithromycin in the treatment of upper respiratory tract and ear infections in children, based on pharmacological characteristics, as well as to consider current methods of antibiotic therapy in pediatric practice. An analysis of the literature and our own observations allows us to conclude that azithromycin is an effective antibacterial drug. Taking into account the low toxicity and good bioavailability, azithromycin continues to be one of the main drugs in the arsenal of doctors for the treatment of various infections, including respiratory diseases and infectious processes of ENT organs in children caused by both typical and atypical bacterial pathogens. The convenient dosage form and simple dosage regimen make this drug a popular choice in outpatient pediatric practice, which confirms the widespread use and trust in this antibacterial drug among both doctors and parents.

Atomistic Insights into the Ionic Response and Mechanism of Antifouling Zwitterionic Polymer Brushes.

Zwitterionic polymer brushes are not a practical choice since their ionic response mechanisms are unclear, despite their great potential for surface antifouling modification. Therefore, atomic force microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations investigated the ionic response of the surface electrical properties, hydration properties, and protein adhesion of three types of zwitterionic brushes. The surface of PMPC (poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine)) and PSBMA (poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate)) zwitterionic polymer brushes in salt solution exhibits a significant accumulation of cations, which results in a positive shift in the surface potential. In contrast, the surface of PSBMA polymer brushes demonstrates no notable change in potential. Furthermore, divalent Ca2+ enhances protein adhesion to polymer brushes by Ca2+ bridges. Conversely, monovalent Na+ diminishes the number of salt bridges between PSBMA and PCBMA (poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate)) zwitterionic polymer brushes and proteins via a competitive adsorption mechanism, thereby reducing protein adhesion. A summary of polymer brush material selection and design concepts in a salt solution environment is provided based on the salt response law of protein adhesion resistance of various zwitterionic materials. This work closes a research gap on the response mechanism of zwitterionic polymer brushes' antifouling performance in a salt solution environment, significantly advancing the practical use of these brushes.

A novel azo-triazolopyridine-based dual naked-eye chemosensor for the selective detection of CN− and Cu2+ ions

A new chemosensor incorporating a triazolopyridine and an azo chromophore was synthesized and employed as a colorimetric sensor. Visual investigations for detecting anions and cations revealed that the sensor acts as a highly sensitive and selective chromogenic detector for cyanide (CN−) and copper (Cu2+) ions. The observable color change from yellow to deep orange for Cu2+ and from yellow to purple for CN− allows for detecting these ions without the need for advanced equipment, even with the naked eye. The sensor’s limit of detection (LOD) was determined to be 0.02 μM for CN− ions and 1.13 μM for Cu2+ ions. The Job plot indicated that the sensor binds to CN− and Cu2+ with a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 and 2:1, respectively. The ability to accurately and selectively distinguish Cu2+ and CN− ions makes this sensor valuable for various analytical applications, including environmental monitoring and chemical analysis. Its capacity to produce noticeable and distinct color changes enables the rapid and straightforward detection of these hazardous ions, making it a practical choice for real-world applications. The quantum yield of A-TAP/Cu2+ was 54 % at a λmax (maximum absorbance) of 450 nm, while that of A-TAP/CN− was 62 % at 538 nm, using a reference sensor with a λmax of 380 nm.

Optimizing Particle Density for Accurate Wave Simulation: A Comparative Study of Non-Breaking and Breaking Wave Conditions

This study investigates the optimal particle density for accurate wave simulation in non-breaking and breaking wave conditions using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH). Simulations were conducted using various particle densities, or particles per wavelength, to evaluate their impact on simulation accuracy and computational efficiency. In tests involving regular, non-breaking waves, particle densities in the range of np per L = 560 to 800 were found to provide satisfactory accuracy and computational efficiency. Increasing the particle density beyond np per L = 800 for more complex setups involving breaking waves did not significantly improve accuracy but resulted in much higher computational costs. Overall, the range of np per L = 560 to 800 offers the best balance between accuracy and efficiency, making it a practical choice for simulations with limited resources. This study underscores the trade-offs between accuracy and computational demand, providing guidance on the selection of particle density for various wave simulation scenarios.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during pregnancy.

Approximately one-third of the global population uses complementary medicine, as yoga and meditation, not endorsed by evidence-based conventional medicine and, with more difficulties in case of pregnancy. Our study investigates the prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) usage in Novara (Italy) and its province through a survey to pregnant women at 36 gestational weeks. The sample consisted of 70 women, average age of 33 years, most Caucasian, highly educated, mostly employed, under private gynecological care, with a prevalence of CAM use of 24.3 % [95 % CI 14.83; 36.01]. Six women (35.3 %) did not inform their healthcare provider of using these medicines, 15 women (88.2 %) express willingness to use complementary medicine in their next pregnancy, while 2 (11.8 %) are uncertain. The study found a significant association between higher education and CAM usage among pregnant women. Other factors, including nationality, occupation, choice of private practice, parity, physical activity, diet, smoking, pregnancy complications, and vaccination status, did not show significant relationships with CAM usage. Our objective is to delineate the characteristics of CAM users, explore the methodologies and motivations of their usage, and ascertain any correlations with the rejection of conventional vaccination practices. The analyzed population consists of 70 women aged 32.9 years in mean, mostly Caucasian, with a high level of education. Most women are under private gynecological care (84.3 %), half of the participants are experiencing their first pregnancy. Physical activity levels vary, with 34.3 % reporting high activity levels. Regarding diet, 77.1 % consider their eating habits moderately healthy, with a notable portion of smokers women (24.3 %); 20.0 % have experienced pregnancy complications. 17 participants utilized non-conventional or alternative medicine, with a prevalence of 24.3 [95 % CI 14.83; 36.01]. Six women (35.3 %) did not inform their healthcare provider about using CAM. Seven women (46.7 %) claim significant beneficial effects in most cases, while 8 (53.3 %) state this occasionally. Based on their experiences, 15 women (88.2 %) express willingness to use complementary alternative medicine in their subsequent pregnancy, while 2 (11.8 %) are uncertain. Only one person (11.1 %) used this type of therapy as a substitute for conventional treatment, but they informed their attending physician. The study seeks to enhance our understanding of CAM utilization in pregnancy, informing more comprehensive and evidence-based healthcare practices for expectant mothers.

Degradation Diagnosis and Control Strategy for a Diesel Hybrid Powertrain Considering State of Health

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) are a practical choice for energy saving in the transportation field. Degradation diagnosis (DD) is one of the main methods to guarantee system robustness. However, the classical DD methods cannot meet the requirements of HEV due to their system complexity. In this study, a novel Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) study was conducted to face these challenges. Firstly, a physical P2 HEV model with a rule-based controller was built, and its diesel engine sub-model was simplified by a neural network (NN) to ensure real-time performance of the degradation prognostics. Secondly, a degradation prognostics method based on gray relation analysis–principal component analysis (GRA-PCA) was illustrated, which could confirm degradation 2 s after the health index fell below the threshold. Finally, a degradation tolerance strategy based on long short term memory–model predictive control (LSTM-MPC) was performed to optimize vehicle speed tracing with minimal energy consumption and was validated by three cases. The result shows that the energy consumption stayed nearly unchanged for the engine degradation case. For the battery degradation case, the tracing error was reduced by 11.7% with 4.3% more energy consumption. For combined degradation, the strategy achieved a 12.3% tracing error reduction with 3.7% more energy consumption. The suggested PHM method guaranteed vehicle power performance under degradation situations.

Unveiling the drivers of green loan disclosures: a study of financial and governance determinants

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the factors influencing Indian banks’ choice of green loan disclosure practices. The study analyzes the effect of financial and governance variables to understand the sustainable reporting (through green lending) behavior of Indian banks.Design/methodology/approachThe data on green loan disclosure has been hand-collected from the annual reports using a content analysis approach. Using the data of 26 banks for 12 years (2012–2023), the study uses the panel regression method to control for cross-sectional heterogeneity and generalized methods of the moment to address potential endogeneity issues.FindingsThe empirical results depict that larger banks with sufficient risk capital and a strong corporate governance framework demonstrate greater disclosure of green loans. However, growth opportunities and higher market value impedes the reporting of green lending.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of the study will enhance the extant literature on sustainability disclosure by integrating the financial sector companies in the context of an emerging economy. However, future research may include nonbanking finance companies as well.Social implicationsBanks use societal deposits to invest in productive avenues, and therefore, it is paramount to understand their social and environmental consciousness while evaluating a financing proposal. This research provides a thorough understanding of the sustainable reporting of banks through the lens of green lending.Originality/valueThis research provides unique evidence on the bank-specific determinants of green loan disclosure in an emerging economy context as against the extant literature which primarily focused on sustainable reporting of nonfinancial companies.

Evaluation of food pattern behaviours following nutritional education for health professionals

Abstract Background The “Work Programme - UN Decade of action on nutrition 2016-2025” highlights the importance of implementing Recommendation 19 of the Second International Conference on Nutrition of FAO and WHO related to nutrition education interventions (NEI) for health professionals (HP), in order to develop nutritional skills based on national dietary guidelines and coherent policies relating to food. The Local Health Agency integrated with Trieste University (ASUGI), since 2009, has performed 25 NEI with the formation of 910 HP. Post pandemic, the content of ASUGI’s last 5 NEI, programmed by the prevention plan of the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, was aligned with the principles of the European Farm to Fork Strategy linked to Sustainable Healthy Diets (SHD). Objectives The objectives of the training programme (TP), approved for Continuing Medical Education, was to change and evaluate food pattern behaviour (FPB) of HP (n = 200) to adhere to the SHD. TP was characterized by a systemic view on complex interconnections between nutritional and sensorial food value, sustainability of food chain systems, evolution of urban food environments, as contexts into which SHD choices can be applied. The 2 days training, spread over 14 hours with 40 participants, concluded with interactive work and experiences to applied knowledge and beginning to make informed healthy dietary choices in practice. Results 6 months after the conclusion of TP it was reported that the percentage of HP who consumed the recommended portions of fruits and vegetables had increased from 62% to 70% and from 28% to 35% respectively, while those who consumed no cured meats, red meats or legumes, changed from 24% to 35%, from 19% to 25%, from 6% to 3% respectively. Conclusions The evaluation of the TP systemic structure has shown its effectiveness in improving some healthy FPB of HP and the importance of applying a continuous improvement process of the program to better adhere to the whole SHD. Key messages • The systemic and integrated structure of nutritional education intervention programs for health professionals contributes to improving their healthy food pattern behaviour. • The relationships between complex policies of food systems and the 17 SDGs included in the training programs on nutrition education are useful for promoting adherence to healthy and sustainable diets.

Ecosystem services provided by silvopastoral systems: a review

Abstract Silvopastoral systems (SPSs) constitute a modality of agroforestry systems in which trees or shrubs, pastures and animals mutually grow, interacting with the environment, and providing several ecosystem services. This review aims to comprehensively discuss the ecosystem services provided by SPSs in different countries, highlighting the diverse ways these systems can contribute to human well-being and environmental sustainability, also emphasizing the importance of management strategies, the differences among systems and the main shortcomings and challenges to optimizing ecosystem service delivery from SPSs. The review focused on global studies, mainly those published between 2010 and 2024, directly relevant to the topic. We used Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science databases for literature screening. SPSs have demonstrated worldwide potential to enhance human food and forage production, nutrient cycling, soil fertility, biological nitrogen fixation, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas mitigation, erosion control, microclimate regulation, pollination, control of pests and diseases, biodiversity, residue absorption, water quality, spiritual enrichment, recreation and aesthetic experiences. However, most ecosystem services provided by SPSs depend on climate conditions, soil type, choice of species, system design and management practices to ensure that such benefits are not provided at the cost of other important services. Interaction among components is a major challenge for system management and evaluations. Adopting SPSs has the potential to promote sustainable agriculture. Long-term studies are needed to elucidate the implications of multiple interactions within the system and their impact on ecosystem service delivery. Public policies, including evaluating ecosystem services, should be developed to promote the adoption of SPSs.

A Presentation Framework to Simplify the Development of Java EE Application Thin Clients

Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) is the most widely adopted platform for developing enterprise-grade applications. This paper presents the design and implementation of a web-based presentation framework for Java EE applications, aimed at simplifying the development process of thin clients. The framework introduces enhancements over existing Java EE frameworks by streamlining repetitive development tasks and integrating multiple design patterns like MVC-2, Service-to-Worker, and Intercepting Filter. A comprehensive evaluation showcases the framework's ability to improve flexibility, reusability, and maintainability, making it a practical choice for enterprise applications.

Estimating heterogeneous effects: Applications to labor economics

A growing number of applications involve settings where, in order to infer heterogeneous effects, a researcher compares various units. Examples of research designs include children moving between different neighborhoods, workers moving between firms, patients migrating from one city to another, and banks offering loans to different firms. We present a unified framework for these settings, based on a linear model with normal random coefficients and normal errors. Using the model, we discuss how to recover the mean and dispersion of effects, other features of their distribution, and to construct predictors of the effects. We provide moment conditions on the model’s parameters, and outline various estimation strategies. A main objective of the paper is to clarify some of the underlying assumptions by highlighting their economic content, and to discuss and inform some of the key practical choices.