Potential Of Co-production Research Articles

The future of clean energy: Agricultural residues as a bioethanol source and its ecological impacts in Africa

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of Africa's potential to produce bioethanol from agricultural residues and its environmental impact. The relentless consumption of fossil fuels and associated environmental challenges necessitate a shift toward sustainable energy sources, with bioethanol emerging as a promising alternative. This study evaluates the capacity for bioethanol generation from agricultural residues in Africa, considering its land, water, and carbon footprints. Based on data from 85 primary agricultural residues across Africa, approximately 102.256 Gt of fresh agricultural residue is estimated to be available in Africa, translating to approximately 62.117 Gt of dry-weight material. This significant capacity indicates a substantial potential for bioethanol production in Africa, corresponding to a net output of 207.127 EJ. The coproduction potential of bioethanol and electricity are also highlighted, with electricity accounting for 8.016 % of the total net bioethanol energy production. However, the environmental impact of bioethanol production varies across African nations, suggesting the need for optimization and sustainable practices. Additionally, the study discusses the challenges encountered in the bioethanol sector, including the sustainability of production, emission reduction, technological and financial constraints, and the broader context of biomass usage. In conclusion, although bioethanol production from agricultural residues is a promising alternative for Africa's energy sector, it should be realized only after a multifaceted assessment involving technological, economic, policy, and environmental considerations.

Enhancing soybean cultivation sustainability: impact of limestone mining co-products on soil and plant chemical attributes

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices necessitates innovative solutions for soil fertilization. This study aimed to assess the viability of using limestone mining co-products from the Irati and Corumbataí Formations as multi-nutrient sources for Glycine max cultivation. The experiment utilized a double factorial design (7 × 2) with five replications, randomly arranged and placed in pots within a greenhouse. The factors examined were the type of co-product (sedimentary rocks from the Irati Formation: rhythmite and bituminous shale; and the Corumbataí Formation: clayey siltstone) and the soil type (Haplic Arenosol and Rhodic Ferralsol). Soil ion content was assessed at 21 and 140 days after treatment application. Each pot housed four G. max plants, with leaf harvest occurring after 42 days of growth. Macronutrient content, leaf production, and soil ion availability were determined thereafter. Overall, co-product application led to increased soil pH and availability of essential ions, including K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, P, S-SO42−, and Si. At 140 days, rhythmite was notably effective in increasing pH, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in Haplic Arenosol, with respective increases of 22%, 224%, and 696%. Bituminous shale, on the other hand, significantly increased S-SO42− content by 67% and 426% in Rhodic Ferralsol and Haplic Arenosol, respectively. Moreover, the application of co-products resulted in enhanced accumulation of K, Ca, Mg, and S in G. max plants, alongside increased leaf production. In conclusion, the utilization of mining co-products positively influenced soil and plant chemical attributes, particularly enhancing leaf production in G. max. These findings highlight the potential of co-products as environmentally friendly solutions for soil fertilization, supporting sustainable agricultural practices. This research highlights a significant step towards sustainable agriculture by recycling mining waste into valuable soil amendments, which can improve crop yields and reduce the environmental impact of both mining and agricultural activities.Graphical

Overview of the Metabolite Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Seven Major and Minor Cereal Crops and Their Milling Fractions.

Cereal grains play an important role in human health as a source of macro- and micronutrients, besides phytochemicals. The metabolite diversity was investigated in cereal crops and their milling fractions by untargeted metabolomics ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) of 69 samples: 7 species (barley, oat, pearl millet, rye, sorghum, triticale, and wheat), 23 genotypes, and 4 milling fractions (husk, bran, flour, and wholegrain). Samples were also analyzed by in vitro antioxidant activity. UHPLC-MS/MS signals were processed using XCMS, and metabolite annotation was based on SIRIUS and GNPS libraries. Bran and husk showed the highest antioxidant capacity and phenolic content/diversity. The major metabolite classes were phenolic acids, flavonoids, fatty acyls, and organic acids. Sorghum, millet, barley, and oats showed distinct metabolite profiles, especially related to the bran fraction. Molecular networking and chemometrics provided a comprehensive insight into the metabolic profiling of cereal crops, unveiling the potential of coproducts and super cereals such as sorghum and millet as sources of polyphenols.

Obstacles to co-producing evaluation knowledge: power, control and voluntary sector dynamics

Background: Despite literature recognising the huge potential of co-production as a positive approach to evidence creation, there is a dearth of evidence about how co-production principles can problematise knowledge exchange, specifically in evaluation work. Aims: To critically examine three evaluation projects commissioned by voluntary sector stakeholders to illustrate challenges in knowledge exchange linked to the co-production of evidence exchange. Methods: We critically compare the challenges experienced in co-producing evidence across three evaluations, reflecting on power dynamics, co-productive ways of working and emotions, which all impact upon successful knowledge exchange. Findings: In Project 1, internal monitoring data required for reporting was not shared. In Project 2, the commissioners’ need to evidence success resulted in limited knowledge sharing, with valuable learning about partnership issues and service delivery held internally. In Project 3, evidence demonstrating the failure of a local authority model of area management for community members was partially discredited by statutory stakeholders (state actors). Discussion and conclusions: Bias in evaluation reporting and academic publication can arise from current knowledge exchange processes, including co-production. Voluntary sector funding is problematic as stakeholders delivering programmes also commission evaluations. Knowledge exchange is influenced by vested interests arising from the political context in which data is gathered. Evaluators can face aggression, challenge and unfair treatment resulting in damaged relationships, and failures in knowledge exchange. The emotional elements of knowledge exchange remain under-reported. Varying and shifting power dynamics also limit knowledge exchange. Changing research practice, to support power sharing, needs further exploration to facilitate improved knowledge exchange.

Determinants of the coproduction of public health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study of students behaviors on a university campus

This article explores the effectiveness of coproduction and co-delivery in public health, specifically in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic on a university campus. We investigate the types of cooperation between students and their university (a government entity) to promote and maintain public health during the pandemic, focusing on people's willingness to engage in coproduction activities and the effectiveness of these measures in reducing virus transmission. The study examines college students' behaviors and attitudes toward public health measures like masks, social distancing, and vaccinations. Our goal is to generate knowledge about coproduction's potential in supporting public health efforts in an institutional and congregant living setting during future emergencies. Evaluating observational and survey data from Oregon, the study finds that students were more likely than the general public to participate in coproduction activities. It also highlights the unique challenges and opportunities for coproduction on college campuses. The article concludes by guiding future university administrators on effective communication channels to enhance responses during future pandemics.

Highly selective formation of CO from domestic wastewater with Zero CO2 emissions through solar energy catalysis

Utilizing two of the Earth's most abundant and inexhaustible resources, sunlight and domestic wastewater, to produce value-added CO presents an immense opportunity. Here, we present a novel strategy to selectively generate CO from domestic wastewater with the aid of concentrated solar power and high-entropy sulfide photocatalysts. Our designed system achieves an impressive CO yield of 35 μmol g−1 h−1 with 100% selectivity, showcasing the feasibility of utilizing solar energy alone to drive the heat-promoted photoreaction. Mechanistic investigations divulged the generation of a non-radical 1O2 species with a moderate redox potential. This process enables mild oxidation of carbonaceous organic matter in domestic wastewater, rather than complete mineralization of carbonaceous organic matter and reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 and CH4 during organic matter degradation. The findings present an effective and promising approach for low-carbon wastewater treatment, highlighting the potential of CO production from wastewater through solar energy catalysis. SynopsisThrough the rational design of the outdoor photocatalytic equipment, close to 100% selectivity from real domestic wastewater to CO gas was successfully achieved.

Physicochemical characterization and cosmetic application of kelp blanching water polysaccharides

Seaweeds account for half of global mariculture and have become a key player in bio-based industries. Seaweed process typically starts with hot water blanching that helps reduce postharvest quality deterioration but also generates large amounts of hydrothermal waste. This study aims to explore the feasibility of isolating water-soluble biopolymers from seaweed hydrothermal waste and their potential applications. Using Saccharina japonica (formerly Laminaria japonica) blanching water as example, 2.9 g/L of polymeric substances were efficiently isolated by ultrafiltration, implying biopolymer coproduction potential of ~5.8 kt from blanching wastewater of current kelp industry. Physicochemical characterizations revealed polysaccharidic nature of the biopolymers, with high contents of fucose, uronic acids and sulfate, showing distinct but also overlapping structural features with hot water-extracted kelp polysaccharides. The main fraction of the blanching water polymers after anion exchange chromatography was acidic polysaccharide, the major backbone residues of which were (1–4) linked mannopyranose, (1–4) linked gulopyranose and (1–2) linked fucopyranose while the branched residues were primarily 1,3,4-, 1,2,4- and 1,4,6-linked hexoses but also 1,3,4-fucopyranose. Furthermore, the polysaccharides were found to have a good compatibility in cosmetic creams with added cohesiveness and freshness, demonstrating the application potential of such natural biopolymers from currently underexplored seaweed blanching water.

MXene-based single atom catalysts for efficient CO2RR towards CO: A novel strategy for high-throughput catalyst design and screening

A top-down strategy is performed to design Ti3C2O2 MXene-based single atom catalysts (SACs) considering the coordination environment and active metal center. A total of 50 SAC candidates composed of 25 transition metals (TMs) on N, S or N, N co-coordinated Ti3C2O2 (NS/NN-Ti3C2O2) are designed and screened for electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to CO. Consequently, 36 TM-NS/NN-Ti3C2O2 structures with considerable stability show stable side-on/end-on CO2 chemisorption, which are then selected for further investigation of CO2RR performance. Analysis on the limiting potential of CO production and the competition with HCOOH production, CO reduction, and hydrogen evolution reaction indicates Ru-NS-Ti3C2O2 and Co-NN-Ti3C2O2 as outstanding catalysts for CO2RR to CO. In actual electrocatalysis, Ru-NS-Ti3C2O2 exhibits an excellent electric field responding effect with ultra-low reaction energies at potentials of −0.80–0 V vs SHE, thus surpassing most of the reported catalysts by far. The two-dimensional descriptor corresponding to the relationship between SACs-intermediate interaction and CO2RR performance, within the near-optimal region of −0.30 < binding energy (Eb(COOH)) < 0.19 eV and −0.30 < Eb(CO) < 0 eV, is demonstrated for rapid screening of candidate catalysts. This work highlights Ti3C2O2 based N, S co-coordination Ru SAC as an outstanding electrocatalyst for CO2RR to CO, and provides a feasible strategy for rational design and screening of CO2RR catalysts.

Dialogical heritage practices at Kahalu’u bay and Keauhou, Hawaiʻi island

ABSTRACT This essay critically analyzes cultural and natural heritage of Kahalu`u Bay and Keauhou on the west coast of Hawai`i Island, which prospered as the royal centre from roughly A.D.1500 through the 1800s, through the lens of Hawaiian `ike (acceptance of knowledge diversity). Knowledge sources used here are archaeological reports, oral narratives, literature by contemporary Hawaiian scholars, organised into mo`olelo (Hawaiian story, oral history), as well as interviews. Similar to `ike, mo`olelo are alive and adapt to changing times, as seen here through a dialogical model of heritage and ontology of connectivity between multiple stakeholders, human and other-than-human. The analysis focuses on two case scenarios which open hybrid fora between human, Indigenous, land-based, institutional, and business agents. Although this heritage landscape has been sculpted and reordered by the tourism industry and remains entrapped in the late capitalist system, the framework of dialogical heritage brings the potential of co-production of new knowledge as well as new ways of thinking about heritage shaping and thus provides alternatives to Western colonial extractive practices.

Electrocatalytic Upcycling of Biomass and Plastic Wastes to Biodegradable Polymer Monomers and Hydrogen Fuel at High Current Densities.

Transformation of biomass and plastic wastes to value-added chemicals and fuels is considered an upcycling process that is beneficial to resource utilization. Electrocatalysis offers a sustainable approach; however, it remains a huge challenge to increase the current density and deliver market-demanded chemicals with high selectivity. Herein, we demonstrate an electrocatalytic strategy for upcycling glycerol (from biodiesel byproduct) to lactic acid and ethylene glycol (from polyethylene terephthalate waste) to glycolic acid, with both products being as valuable monomers for biodegradable polymer production. By using a nickel hydroxide-supported gold electrocatalyst (Au/Ni(OH)2), we achieve high selectivities of lactic acid and glycolic acid (77 and 91%, respectively) with high current densities at moderate potentials (317.7 mA/cm2 at 0.95 V vs RHE and 326.2 mA/cm2 at 1.15 V vs RHE, respectively). We reveal that glycerol and ethylene glycol can be enriched at the Au/Ni(OH)2 interface through their adjacent hydroxyl groups, substantially increasing local concentrations and thus high current densities. As a proof of concept, we employed a membrane-free flow electrolyzer for upcycling triglyceride and PET bottles, attaining 11.2 g of lactic acid coupled with 9.3 L of H2 and 13.7 g of glycolic acid coupled with 9.4 L of H2, respectively, revealing the potential of coproduction of valuable chemicals and H2 fuel from wastes in a sustainable fashion.

Coproduction and modeling spatial contact networks prevent bias about infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus transmission for Snake River Basin salmonids

Much remains unknown about variation in pathogen transmission across the geographic range of a free-ranging fish or animal species and about the influence of movement (associated with husbandry practices or animal behavior) on pathogen transmission. Salmonid hatcheries are an ideal system in which to study these processes. Salmonid hatcheries are managed for endangered species recovery, supplementation of threatened or at-risk fish stocks, support of fisheries, and ecosystem stability. Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a rhabdovirus of significant concern to salmon aquaculture. Landscape IHNV transmission dynamics previously had been estimated only for salmonid hatcheries in the Lower Columbia River Basin (LCRB). The objectives of this study were to estimate IHNV transmission dynamics in a unique geographic region, the Snake River Basin (SRB), and to quantitatively estimate the effect of model coproduction on inference because previous assessments of coproduction have been qualitative. In contrast to the LCRB, the SRB has hatchery complexes consisting of a main hatchery and ≥1 satellite facility. Knowledge about hatchery complexes was held by a subset of project researchers but would not have been available to project modelers without coproduction. Project modelers generated and tested multiple versions of Bayesian susceptible-exposedinfected models to realistically represent the SRB and estimate the effect of coproduction. Models estimated the frequency of transmission routes, route-specific infection probabilities, and infection probabilities for combinations of salmonid hosts and IHNV lineages. Model results indicated that in the SRB, avoiding exposure to IHNV-positive adult salmonids is the most important action to prevent juvenile infections. Migrating adult salmonids exposed juvenile cohort-sites most frequently, and the infection probability was greatest following exposure to migrating adults. Without coproduction, the frequency of exposure by migrating adults would have been overestimated by 70 cohort-sites, and the infection probability following exposure to migrating adults would have been underestimated by∼0.09. The coproduced model had less uncertainty in the infection probability if no transmission route could be identified (Bayesian credible interval (BCI) width = 0.12) compared to the model without coproduction (BCI width = 0.34). Evidence for virus lineage MD specialization on steelhead and rainbow trout (both Oncorhynchus mykiss) was apparent without model coproduction. In the SRB, we found a greater probability of virus lineage UC infection in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) compared to in O. mykiss, whereas in the LCRB, UC more clearly exhibited a generalist approach. Coproduction influenced estimates that depended on transmission routes, which operated differently at main hatcheries and satellite sites within hatchery complexes. Hatchery complexes are found outside of the SRB and are not specific to salmonid hatcheries alone. There is great potential for coproduction and modeling spatial contact networks to advance understanding about infectious disease transmission in complex production systems and surrounding free-ranging animal populations.

Beyond the ‘usual suspects’? Engaging children in diverse communities in co-producing an arboretum-meadow: Professional partner perspectives

Nature-based solutions (NBS) can mitigate the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and mental wellbeing prioritised by the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The advantages of co-producing NBS with local communities have been explored, yet there is a lack of understanding of professional partners’ priorities in relation to specific projects, and their perceptions of the opportunities and challenges encountered during the co-productive process. The benefits of co-producing NBS with children are not understood, particularly in deprived, diverse communities. We addressed these gaps by conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with eight professional partners in contrasting roles involved in the co-production of an educational arboretum-meadow on a redundant mini-golf site in Wardown Park, within the High Town ward of Luton, Bedfordshire, UK. Here there is considerable ethnic diversity with 41% residents White British, and 59% other ethnicities. There are significant Black and Minority Ethnic communities (38%). A high percentage of households live with overcrowding (24%) and 31% year six children are obese. All partners prioritised connecting children to nature. The social benefits of the project were prioritised over ecological and climate-related ones. Most participants perceived diverse partner expertise and priorities as an opportunity of co-production. Covid-19 was considered a significant challenge and an opportunity. Our research provides insight into the potential for co-production of NBS in a relatively deprived, ethnically diverse context to contribute to “futureproofing” towns and cities by fostering nature connection amongst children, whilst providing a novel, creative approach to managing and maintaining GI under austerity. Learning from this project has international transferability as a ‘flagship project’ illustrating how the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be addressed at the local level.

Efficient co-production of EPA and DHA by Schizochytrium sp. via regulation of the polyketide synthase pathway.

Presently, the supply of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) traditionally produced by marine fisheries will be insufficient to meet their market demand in food industry. Thus a sustainable alternative source is urgently required. Schizochytrium sp. is an ideal producer of DHA; however, its ability to co-produce DHA and EPA has not yet been proved. Herein, we first described a cobalamin-independent methionine synthase-like (MetE-like) complex, which contains independent acyltransferase and 3-ketoacyl synthase domains, independent of the traditional polyketide synthase (PKS) system. When the MetE-like complex was activated, the EPA content was increased from 1.26% to 7.63%, which is 6.06-folds higher than that in the inactivated condition. Through lipidomics, we find that EPA is more inclined to be stored as triglyceride. Finally, the EPA production was enhanced from 4.19 to 29.83 (mg/g cell dry weight) using mixed carbon sources, and the final yield reached 2.25 g/L EPA and 9.59 g/L DHA, which means that Schizochytrium sp. has great market potential for co-production of EPA and DHA.

Engaging the less-often-heard in public health research grant writing: a case study of co-production involving underserved migrant mothers in the UK

BackgroundIn the UK, one-in-three births are to a non-UK born woman. A gap exists in co-produced research to understand their experiences. The UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) defines co-production as “an approach in which researchers, practitioners, and members of the public work together, sharing power and responsibility”. This project co-produced a grant proposal to improve maternity care for underserved migrant women in the UK. We reflect on transferrable learning for engaging those whose voices are less-often-heard in grant writing. MethodsAn expert by experience, an underserved migrant woman who had given birth in the UK, joined the research team. Four online engagement workshops were conducted; two involved only migrant women and two were multi-disciplinary. 26 underserved migrant women attended the online engagement workshops. NIHR INVOLVE guidance was consulted. FindingsWomen said they were often asked about negative experiences that felt disempowering, and rarely asked about solutions. Thus, our proposal will focus on co-designing solutions. Women felt that having an expert by experience co-host workshops encouraged engagement, so we integrated an expert into our methods. Women were uncomfortable in professional groups. Thus, our proposed steering and focus groups will have an expert by experience subgroup with elected members attending multi-disciplinary groups. We plan to engage mostly online as women preferred this method to enable flexibility with childcare. The lead expert by experience helped to form the proposal through brainstorming, co-drafting, and feedback; experts by experience commented on the draft via email and workshops. The lead expert by experience wished to gain further experience of research methods, for which we requested additional funding. InterpretationThe findings from this project are limited and not fully representative of all migrant groups, as only migrant women who have given birth in the UK were engaged. However, the work has highlighted the immense potential for co-production in public health research, and the value of adapting how investigators plan research to maximise the voices of the less-often-heard. FundingNational Institute for Health and Care Research Design Service London Public Involvement Fund.

The potential and pitfalls of co-producing urban knowledge: Rethinking spaces of engagement

Securing sustainable and just transition pathways in cities is recognised as key to addressing global environmental challenges. There is increasing acceptance that transformative change in cities must be shaped by the co-production of knowledge between diverse partners. The creation of spaces of collaboration, referred to in the literature as ‘third spaces’, is integral to such co-production of knowledge. However, evidence to support a direct relationship between third spaces of engagement and securing urban transformation is largely undocumented. This paper deepens and develops the idea of shared spaces for knowledge co-production by drawing on the experiences of City officials and PhD researchers in a City-University knowledge partnership in Cape Town. It uses the data to critique the third space for its limited engagement with how the relationship between individual knowledge brokers and their home institutions effects change. The findings of the paper show that, despite the benefits of boundary crossing between the academy and practice, such crossings also leave individuals peripheralised from their ‘home’ institutions. This disconnect and sense of ‘homelessness’ limits the potential of co-production to affect urban transformation. To address the conceptual lacunae of the third space, I develop the idea of the portal to reflect the dynamic exchange required between individuals and their home institutions for realising relevant change. The form of the portal is not spatially bound, but reflects dynamic processes of entering and exiting sites of knowledge exchange to secure a sense of belonging. By highlighting the need to include processes for anchoring institutional learning, the concept of portals for knowledge exchange offers additional scope for securing urban transformation.

Co-production in public health research grant writing: engaging underserved migrant mothers in the UK

Abstract Background In the UK, one in three births is to a non-UK born woman, but there is a gap in co-produced research to explore their experiences. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) defines co-production as ‘an approach in which researchers, practitioners, and members of the public work together, sharing power and responsibility'. This project co-produced a grant proposal to improve maternity care for underserved migrant women in the UK. We reflect on transferrable learning for engaging those whose voices are less often heard in grant writing. Methods An expert by experience, an underserved migrant woman who gave birth in the UK, joined the research team. Four online engagement workshops were conducted; two involved only migrant women, two were multi-disciplinary. 26 underserved migrant women attended. NIHR INVOLVE public involvement guidance was consulted. Results Women said they were often asked about negative experiences which felt disempowering, and rarely asked about solutions. Thus, we shifted the focus of our work to co-designing solutions. Women said that having an expert by experience co-host workshops encouraged engagement, so we integrated this into our methods. Some women were uncomfortable in professional groups. Thus, our proposed steering and focus groups will have an expert by experience subgroup with elected members attending multi-disciplinary groups. We will engage mostly online as women preferred this to enable flexibility with childcare. The lead expert by experience helped form the proposal through brainstorming, co-drafting, and feedback; experts by experience commented on the draft via email and workshops. The lead expert by experience wished to gain further experience of research methods, for which we requested additional funding. Conclusions This project highlights the immense potential for co-production in public health research, and the value of adapting research planning to maximise the voices of the less often heard. Key messages • Engaging experts by experiences in public health research planning is key to ensuring our work addresses the needs of underserved communities. • Co-Production of research requires determination to involve those whose voices are less often heard from the beginning of the research process, and to commit to joined working throughout.

The politics of coproduction during Latin America’s ‘Pink Tide’: Water, housing, and waste in comparative perspective

Coproduction brings together a diverse range of state and non-state actors to create and deliver public services. These processes, which occur across the Global South, have been widely studied. However, insufficient critical attention has been paid to their politics. We address this gap in the literature by analysing the politics of coproduction in Latin America during the ‘pink tide’ of the early twenty-first century. Drawing on original qualitative research, this article explores the coproduction of three distinct public services—water, housing, and waste—in three countries where left-leaning presidents and governments were elected into office—Ecuador, Bolivia, and Uruguay. We argue that coproduction is intrinsically political in these three cases; that is, the ‘political’ is internal to, and inherent in, coproduction. Our comparative analysis centres on two political dimensions—subject-making and collective autonomy—and shows that tensions around these two issues were central to coproduction in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Uruguay . The article demonstrates the importance of not treating politics as a mere contextual concern in coproduction analysis and shows that coproduction has the capacity to reshape political relationships and subjectivities. Taking politics into account is essential to understanding the dynamics and potential of coproduction in the Global South. Our comparative analysis also provides new insights into Latin American politics, especially concerning 'pink tide' governments and the provisioning of public services.

New frontiers in e-health. Policies and the Doctor@Home case study.

In recent years, and even more following the need for social distancing generated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, e-health has become an increasingly widespread reality in clinical practice, especially for those clinicians operating in the front-line, like nurses. Its growing importance has been followed by increasing attention both by the literature as well as in the generation of specific rules aimed at regulating the phenomenon. A regulatory review of the literature aims to outline the current regulatory framework relating to telemedicine. Telemedicine, especially in a pandemic context, calls for regulation that runs parallel to the rapid evolution of the phenomenon itself. The paper traces the European, Italian, and Regional legislation, focusing then on a practical experience of telemedicine, called Doctor @ Home, active at the IRCCS National Cancer Center in Aviano (Italy). First, the need for regulatory harmonization emerges. Secondly, the potential of co-production and co-learning processes for healthcare professionals and patients arises to adapt to the outpatient needs of patients in a post-pandemic "new normal," exploiting the new technological tools made available by the National Health Service.

Evaluating co-production as a guiding philosophy for EAP teacher training course development

This paper considers the research philosophy of co-production for use in the field of EAP, where it has been little utilised as a guiding principle for research and development projects. The central question to be addressed is the appropriacy of co-production in a specific setting, and the challenges and benefits it brings to the research process. For projects situated in settings that are relatively unfamiliar to professional researchers, co-production provides a promising framework to i) ensure diversity of contextually appropriate perspectives, ii) engender collaboration and egalitarianism, iii) build capacity for action, and iv) engage with and bring together the community to work towards a common goal.We explored the potential of co-production through a project aiming to improve EAP teaching quality in tertiary education in Uzbekistan. The project was designed and implemented by one UK-based and four Uzbekistan-based team members who trained tertiary-level teachers to better instruct EAP, and it successfully reached approximately 300 teaching professionals across Uzbekistan. We detail how co-production brought value to the project but also ways in which it could not be fully implemented. We intend this paper to be an introduction to the application of co-production, through which others in EAP can explore its exciting possibilities.

Investigating the Effect of the Initial Valence States of Copper on CO2 Electroreduction

AbstractAbstract: The valence states of copper always play an important role for the most studied copper‐based catalysts in CO2 electroreduction (CO2ERR). In this work, distinct Cu, Cu2O, and CuO nanoparticles with similar particle size on active carbon are synthesized via carbonthermal reduction. Although all CuOx nanoparticles are reduced to metallic Cu during CO2ERR, their different initial valence states result in particle‐size variations and different CO2ERR performances. Cu nanoparticles in Cu/C evolve into smaller particles, while those derived from Cu2O/C and CuO/C agglomerate into larger ones. The optimal CO production potential of CO drops with decreasing particle size and is as low as −0.7 V (vs. the eversible hydrogen electrode) on Cu/C. Furthermore, Cu nanoparticles in Cu/C expose much more active sites with higher electrochemical active area and stronger CO adsorption, which further promote C−C coupling to produce C2+ products while inhibiting competitive hydrogen evolution.