Standard Process Research Articles

Participation of Women in Chemical Processes and Catalysis Research: an Analysis of PhD Theses in Spanish Universities

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the presence of women in relation to doctoral theses in Chemical Processes and Catalysis carried out in Spanish universities in the period 2000 to 2022. Theoretical Framework: The main concepts and theories that support research related to doctoral theses and the presence of women in science are presented. It also presents background information on biblometric studies related to doctoral theses and women. Method: The methodology adopted is of the quantitative and descriptive documentary type. Data collection was done by accessing the TESEO database and this information was dumped into an ad hoc database. Then, data standardization process was carried out and the gender of each of the participants in the process of realization and defense of doctoral theses was determined. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed the completion of 602 theses, which were carried out in 31 Spanish universities, with the University of the Basque Country standing out as the university institution with the highest production with 21.9%. The contribution of women as part of the research field, whether in academic production, member of the thesis evaluation jury or as part of the evaluation tribunal, has been unrepresentative: 30.76% women compared to 69.24% men. Research Implications: This study has made it possible to identify the most productive Spanish universities in doctoral theses on chemical processes and catalysis. It has also shown that this field is mainly researched by men with a ratio of 2:1 with respect to women. Originality/Value: This study contributes to know the role of women in a specific STEM field such as chemical process chemistry and catalysis.

Committing AE from Sponges

Committing security has gained considerable attention in the field of authenticated encryption (AE). This can be traced back to a line of recent attacks, which entail that AE schemes used in practice should not only provide confidentiality and authenticity, but also committing security. Roughly speaking, a committing AE scheme guarantees that ciphertexts will decrypt only for one key. Despite the recent research effort in this area, the finalists of the NIST lightweight cryptography standardization process have not been put under consideration yet. We close this gap by providing an analysis of these schemes with respect to their committing security. Despite the structural similarities the finalists exhibit, our results are of a quite heterogeneous nature: We break four of the schemes with effectively no costs, while for two schemes our attacks are costlier, yet still efficient. For the remaining three schemes Isap, Ascon, and (a slightly modified version of) Schwaemm, we give formal security proofs. Our analysis reveals that sponges are well-suited for building committing AE schemes. Furthermore, we show several negative results when applying the zero-padding method to the NIST finalists.

Language lost, language regained: Adorno’s Proustian reflections on childhood, exile and experience

This essay traces how experiences of childhood and exile attain systematic meaning in Adorno’s critical theory of language. Adorno is shown to model the child’s understanding of language after Proust’s novel Á la recherche du temps perdus. Both focus on the names of places the child takes to be saturated with particular experiences and attributes a promise of renewed happiness. For Adorno, such an idea of language poses a challenge to the current rule of abstract conceptuality, unable to grasp such experiences. While just like Proust, he considers it retrospectively, Adorno writes in exile, that is, in a situation of the loss of his own language. Such loss must be interpreted not just in life-historical but in systematic terms as well: Firstly, in terms of a theory of language, insofar as the child’s understanding does not comply with the demands of conceptual thinking. Secondly, in terms of social theory, insofar as an emphatic reference to names has become problematic in the face of processes of economic standardisation and political abuse. And yet, Adorno’s Proustian reflections amount to a linguistic effort to recover with conceptual resources the experiences the names promise the child.

Influence of varying volume energy densities on the magnetic properties of additively manufactured Ni50Fe50

AbstractThe state of the art of nickel iron alloys specifies that low porosity and large grain sizes are essential to reach sufficient soft magnetic properties, e.g. like low coercivity. Both porosity and grain size are influenced by the volume energy density (VED) used during additive manufacturing (AM) and are relatively independent of the part geometry. Additional factors like residual stresses, also affecting the magnetic properties, are not only influenced by the VED but also the part geometry and are distributed irregularly. Based on this, the geometry independent adjustment of residual stresses is only possible to a limited extent. Due to this, it is of high interest whether the sole consideration and adaption of grain size and porosity is sufficient to reach and assure soft magnetic properties for Ni50Fe50 in as-built condition. In this study, it is investigated whether soft magnetic properties can be achieved during AM of a Ni50Fe50 alloy using a standard laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) process by varying the used VED. The influence of increasing VEDs of up to 667 J/mm3 in the manufacturing process on grain size, porosity, saturation flux density and coercivity is analyzed. It could be shown that in a defined parameter field, the magnetic properties can be improved with increasing energy density, as larger grains are formed, while the relative density is not decisively reduced (minimal coercivity 184 A/m). However, it could also be shown that a standard PBF-LB process and the sole consideration of grain size and porosity is not applicable to reach soft magnetic properties (coercivity of < 100 A/m) in as-built condition and additional characteristics like residual stresses need to be taken into consideration in future works.

Supporting Narrative Design in Video Games: Proposal and Case Study with an Educational Video Game

Among the elements to consider when designing a video game, narrative stands out due to its importance in contextualizing and motivating. However, there are no standard processes for creating interactive digital narratives. In educational video games, a suitable narrative is even more essential to captivate players with a story, which serves as a vehicle for transmitting and evaluating knowledge. Consequently, this article proposes a narrative design process for video games, developed for general application but particularly useful for educational games. It defines a narrative structure, a set of design steps, and the documents generated during the process, each one representing a different perspective of the game’s narrative. To validate the proposal, a narrative-rich game called Time Invaders was designed to teach reading comprehension. It was tested with 237 school-age children, measuring their experience and satisfaction. The study revealed that the narrative was the most valued element of the game.

A simple and efficient method for palynological sample preparation

AbstractThe extraction of organic microfossils is a process that requires techniques based on the elimination of the mineral components of the rock (mainly silicates and carbonates) and the subsequent concentration of the microfossils. These techniques are very diverse and have in common the dissolution of the rock (maceration) with hydrofluoric acid and concentrated hydrochloric acid to extract the organic matter, which is potentially made up of dispersed organic matter and organic walled microfossils. In this process, there are at least two fundamental objectives. First, that the process respects the fidelity of the organic microfossil record (diversity and preservation). Second, effective elimination of dispersed organic matter, obtaining the maximum concentration of microfossils and microscopic slides with a homogeneous dispersion that allows optimal observing conditions. The method described in this paper is based on a filtration process of the organic matter resulting from the maceration process, employing polyester filters and a vacuum inversion system. In the standard vacuum process, the dispersed organic matter clogs the pores of the filter. The vacuum inversion injects filtered water that unclogs the pores of the filter vessel. The alternation between normal and reverse vacuum results in the progressive elimination of the dispersed organic matter and the concentration of the organic microfossils in a rapid and non-aggressive process.

Neonatal septicemia: Diagnostic challenges and the role of CRP and blood culture

Neonatal septicemia, a serious blood infection occurring within the first four weeks of life, is a significant cause of neonatal deaths. Its diagnosis is challenging due to the non-specific nature of its signs and symptoms. C-reactive protein (CRP) serves as a valuable biomarker for early detection, facilitating timely treatment and improving survival rates as a rapid adjunct to the standard blood culture process. This study explores the relationship between CRP levels and blood culture findings in diagnosing Neonatal septicemia. The objectives were to determine common organisms causing neonatal septicemia, to evaluate CRP as a diagnostic tool for Neonatal septicemia compared to blood culture results. The study examined the correlation between CRP levels and blood culture outcomes in neonates suspected of having sepsis. Blood samples were aseptically collected and inoculated in 1 set of BD BACTECTM Peds Plus/F blood culture bottles, incubated for five days using a BD BACTEC automated machine. The bacteria isolated from positive blood culture were processed using Vitek-2. CRP levels were determined using the latex agglutination card test, with positive samples further analyzed via quantitative nephelometry. Of the 321 samples, 28.97% (93) tested positive for bacterial sepsis via blood culture. Among these, 33.3% (31 cases) were , 18.3% (17 cases) were , and 11.8% (11 cases) were , with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) being the most common group overall. Among the Gram-negative organisms, (8.6%) and (6.5%) were significant contributors to neonatal septicemia. CRP was positive in 82 cases with blood culture-positive samples and in 105 cases with blood culture-negative samples, underscoring its potential as a diagnostic marker for Neonatal septicemia. While CRP is a valuable biomarker for detection of Neonatal septicemia, it should not be used as a sole diagnostic tool due to its lack of specificity. CRP testing provides a presumptive diagnosis that can guide early antibiotic therapy, emphasizing its significance in neonatal care.

The Socioeconomic Impact of Transport Costs for Adult Patients Requiring Haemodialysis: A Mixed Methods Study

Background/Objectives: Patients requiring haemodialysis often perceive the cost of their travels to the dialysis centres as a significant burden. The study aimed to collect a first Swiss national data set on transport costs and assess their impact on patients and their relatives. Methods: In addition to interviews with patients, a quantitative survey was developed and distributed online using a voluntary sampling strategy. Data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics. A Sounding Board of patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals accompanied all steps of the project. Results: A total of 6 dialysis patients were interviewed; 437 respondents of the national survey met the inclusion criteria. Patients travel a median distance of 7.5 km to their dialysis centres. For 78% of them, the journey takes up to 30 min, and nearly half use their private car as their main mode of transport. The median annual transport costs are CHF 2925 (mean = CHF 5041). Approximately half of the patients perceive transport costs as a burden or limitation, yet only about 30% receive financial support, for which there is no standard process. Patients requiring financial support reported difficulties navigating the system. Conclusions: This study highlighted that many dialysis patients are burdened by transport costs and receive limited financial support and counselling services. Implementation of a standardised process for financial support should be explored.

Grouping based calculus for propositional linear temporal logic

In this paper, the authors research the problem of loops in linear temporal logic PLTL. The task involves defining the standard rule application process for the derivation procedure (as used in [4] and [5]), determining and proving properties for the absence of a loop beneath some sequent, and creating a new calculus G*TL, which uses the proposed sequent grouping method, along with the method of marks (similar marking concepts were proposed in [5] and [6]). A new type of structural rule (GROUP), along with a modification of the rule (∘) to (∘*) is introduced. Finally, it is shown that the loop checking mechanism used in calculus G*TL is efficient, comparing it with other known calculi for logic PLTL.

FalconSign: An Efficient and High-Throughput Hardware Architecture for Falcon Signature Generation

Falcon is a lattice-based quantum-resistant digital signature scheme renowned for its high signature generation/verification speed and compact signature size. The scheme has been selected to be drafted in the third round of the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standardization process due to its unique attributes and robust security features. Despite its strengths, there has been a lack of research on hardware acceleration, primarily due to its complex calculation flow and floating-point operations, which hinders its widespread adoption. To address this issue, we propose FalconSign, a high-performance, configurable crypto-processor designed to accelerate Falcon signature generation on FPGA/ASIC through algorithmhardware co-design. Our approach involves a new scheduling flow and architecture for Fast-Fourier Sampling to enhance computing unit reuse and reduce processing time. Additionally, we introduce several optimized modules, including configurable randomness generation units, parallel floating-point processing units, and an optimized SamplerZ module, to improve execution efficiency. Furthermore, this paper presents a finely optimized hardware accelerator for the Falcon scheme. Our FPGA implementation results demonstrate a throughput improvement of approximately 5.1 x compared to state-of-the-art designs, with 2.8x/4.5x/4.2x/3.2x fewer in the area (LUTs/FFs/DSPs/BRAMs)-time product, for NIST security level V. The crypto-processor occupies an area of 0.71 mm2 and achieves 5.2k OPS at throughput on the TSMC 28nm process for NIST security level I.

Embodiment of Light‐Mediated Main‐Chain Scissionable Functionality While Preserving the Structure of Conventional Photoimaging Copolymer

AbstractThe rational design and development of a main‐chain scissionable functional copolymer platform is reported by incorporating a photocleavable nitrobenzyl ester group into the middle of the copolymer backbone while fully preserving its overall structure and function for photopatterning applications on delicate organic semiconductor films. As a model system, a positive‐tone photoimaging fluoroalkyl copolymer is used containing a photoisomerizable spiropyranyl unit. The nitrobenzyl ester functionality degrades under UV light and enhances solubility modulation and photopatternability by reducing chain length. This behavior is systematically studied across copolymers with varying, yet narrowly distributed, molecular weights. To further improve the sensitivity of the photoimaging copolymer, it is demonstrated that minimal structural modification of the cleavable group, specifically altering the positions of the methoxy and nitro groups, are highly effective. Finally, a square array of a chemically susceptible organic electron transport material, suitable for organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), is fabricated using the copolymer through conventional lithography and pattern transfer processes. This work highlights the importance of rationally designing main‐chain scission‐type light‐sensitive materials that maintain the core structure of conventional materials, making them highly compatible and desirable for standard organic electronic device fabrication processes.

Reverse-time migration of mobile marine vibrator data

Marine vibrators are viable alternatives to seismic air guns in ocean-bottom acquisition due to their less adverse impact on the environment, their ability to generate lower frequency content, and their suitability for simultaneous acquisition. However, mobile marine vibrators introduce a unique set of processing and imaging challenges for ocean-bottom acquisition, the main examples of which are the Doppler effect and the time-dependent source-receiver offsets, which are not features of conventional marine acquisitions. Standard seismic data processing and imaging techniques assume stationary sources and are not fully suitable for mobile marine vibrator data without modifications. Not accounting for source motion in seismic imaging introduces phase change and mispositioning of imaged structures. Further, ignoring source-motion effects in imaging workflow may lead to the estimation of inaccurate migration velocity models or imply the use of incorrect migration velocity, e.g., in seismic-to-well ties. We develop a reverse-time migration (RTM) approach that accounts for the source-motion effects and is capable of producing accurate subsurface images, closely matching stationary acquisition and imaging results. Synthetic examples illustrate the ability of the proposed method to construct accurate subsurface RTM images even for source velocities higher than those commonly used in typical marine acquisitions. Our approach is not limited to imaging mobile marine vibrator data in ocean-bottom acquisition, but is also applicable to mobile streamer data using marine vibrators or seismic air-gun sources.

Damage characterization of AlSi10Mg plates subjected to rigid impacts up to 300 m/s: comparison between subtractive and additive manufacturing

Mechanical structures built using the additive manufacturing (AM) process are generating significant interest due to their ability to design structural components with complex geometries. Indeed, additive processes, by adding material layer by layer, enables the creation of geometries that would be unfeasible using standard processes. However, while mechanical tests have extensively validated the use of conventional processes, the characterization of parts generated by less conventional processes, such as additive manufacturing, remains open to discussion. Specifically, will a part manufactured by AM meet the specifications in terms of mechanical strength? This paper contributes to answering this question by comparing identical AlSi10Mg plates manufactured using the AM process with a LASER powder bed fusion (L-PBF) machine (additive) and by conventional subtractive process (SM), subjected to high-velocity impacts. The impacts have been conducted on additive and subtractive 70*150*2 mm plates up to 300 m/s.” Based on measurements of projectile impact and residual velocities, as well as the study of deformation profiles of the different plates, the damage domains were identified. These tests highlighted significant differences between the different processes.

Characterization of Bimetallic Pd-Fe Nanoparticles Synthesized in Escherichia coli.

Biologically mediated nanoparticle (NP) synthesis offers a reliable and sustainable alternative route for metal NP production. Compared with conventional chemical and physical production methods that require hazardous materials and considerable energy expenditure, some microorganisms can reduce metal ions into NPs during standard metabolic processes. However, to be considered a feasible commercial option, the properties and inherent activity of bio-NPs still need to be significantly improved. In this work, we present an Escherichia coli-mediated synthesis method for catalytically active Pd-Fe NPs. The produced biogenic Pd-Fe NPs with varying Fe content were characterized using complementary analytical techniques to assess their size, composition, and structural properties. In addition, their catalytic performance was assessed by using standardized chemical reactions. We demonstrate that the combination of Pd with Fe leads to synergistic effects that enhance the catalytic performance of Pd NPs and make biogenic Pd-Fe NPs excellent potential substitutes for currently used catalysts. Briefly, the apparent rates for the model reaction of 4-nitrophenol reduction to 4-aminophenol catalyzed by Pd-based nanoparticles were as high as 0.1312 min-1 using bimetallic Pd-Fe NPs, which is far superior to the rates of monometallic Pd NPs counterparts. This study provides a feasible strategy for the synthesis of multimetallic Pd-based NPs using common microbial processes. It emphasizes the potential of biogenic Pd-Fe NPs as efficient and sustainable catalysts for hydrogenation reactions, offering an environmentally friendly synthesis for various applications, including wastewater treatment and the production of fine chemicals.

Enhancing Carbon Trading Mechanisms through Innovative Collaboration: Case Studies from Developing Nations

Against a backdrop of global climate change mitigation efforts, carbon trading has emerged as a critical mechanism, yet developing countries often lack the necessary infrastructure and collaborative frameworks. The research investigates how intermediaries facilitate stakeholders and employ innovative practices to foster effective carbon trading markets. Methodologically, it employs a qualitative approach, conducting in-depth case studies of four intermediaries through 32 semi-structured interviews and archival document. Findings underscore the pivotal role of digital platforms in enabling real-time trading, rigorous standardization processes to ensure market credibility, and multi-stakeholder engagement strategies that promote inclusive participation. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of carbon trading by illustrating how digital platforms and technological integration enhance resource acquisition and allocation. It emphasizes the significance of standardization and verification processes in building trust among stakeholders, crucial for effective supply chain collaboration. Practically, the study highlights the benefits of these approaches in enhancing market efficiency and transparency. It also underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement strategies and strategic alliances for creating resilient and inclusive carbon trading markets, offering actionable insights for stakeholders and policymakers alike.

Spray Drying Process Challenges and Considerations for Inhaled Biologics- A Review.

Spray drying presents numerous advantages over other drying technologies, particularly for inhaled biologics because of the fine-tuned particle attributes requirements. To fully leverage these benefits, it is crucial to address several process challenges and considerations throughout the end-to-end spray-drying process, including stages prior to, during, and post- drying. This review provides a detailed overview of the challenges associated with spray-drying of biologics along with the aspects of protein degradation. Furthermore, it delineates the entire spray-drying process, comprising feed solution preparation, spray drying, and bulk powder handling, along with protein degradation mechanisms and analytical tools for protein and aerosol performance assessment. Pertaining to inhaled biologic products, this review also sheds light on major bottlenecks and potential challenges, particularly during scale-up. While some challenges are yet to be conclusively addressed, potential control and mitigation strategies from industry perspective are presented and examined. Lastly, the review briefly explores trending topics in this field that could add value to the standard spray-drying process and may be incorporated in future drying technologies.

Matter-antimatter (a)symmetry in de Sitter Universe

We investigate the matter-antimatter properties of elementary systems, modeled as free quantum fields, within the global structure of de Sitter spacetime. By leveraging the distinctive causal and analytic properties of de Sitter spacetime, we propose that matter-antimatter asymmetry could emerge as an observer-dependent effect shaped by time orientation within a local causal patch, rather than as a fundamental property of de Sitter Universe itself. This kinematic perspective complements, rather than replaces, standard dynamical processes —such as baryon number violation, violation, and nonequilibrium processes— that fulfill Sakharov's criteria. Within this framework, the limited presence of antimatter in our predominantly matter-filled Universe, specifically within the causal patch of de Sitter spacetime under consideration, may arise from these mechanisms, though through pathways distinct from conventional interpretations.

“Developing a manual clinical trials screening process in a diverse southern gynecologic oncology practice”

ObjectiveThere is no standard clinical trial screening process in gynecologic oncology. In our low resource, highly diverse gynecologic oncology patient population, we sought to create an equitable, adaptable, manual screening process. MethodsOur objective is to describe our clinical trial screening process and success in improving trial enrollment. An Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved quality improvement (QI) project was implemented in July 2022 to evaluate trial access. Screenable events were defined. Potential patients were those with a screenable event: new patients or diagnoses, regimen changes, progressions, and recurrences. Events were categorized into screen positive or screened no trial available. Screen positives were further categorized as screen positive, enrollment failure events or enrollments. Data about patients were collected via weekly research team meetings. Monthly meetings occurred to review progress. The data were compared to trials available, number of patients with trail available, and those that enrolled. Reasons for enrollment fails were tracked. ResultsOver time, “screen no trial available” (SNTA) rates stayed stable, but enrollment rates increased. Patient preference accounted for 32.8 % of enrollment failures (n = 42), pre-existing symptoms 23.4 % (n = 30), and location 21.1 % (n = 27). During increased employee turnover, there was a rise in enrollment fails due to staffing (n = 6, 4.7 %). We describe an effective process of clearly defining and tracking our patient population and ‘screenable events’ for which all patients are screened and offered trial participation if eligible. ConclusionsWe show that we improved understanding of the patient population, built a clinical trial portfolio better matched to population served, exceeded national averages for enrolling patients on trials, and are improving number eligible.

A Hardware-Efficient Novelty-Aware Spike Sorting Approach for Brain-Implantable Microsystems.

Unsupervised spike sorting, a vital processing step in real-time brain-implantable microsystems, is faced with the prominent challenge of managing nonstationarity in neural signals. In long-term recordings, spike waveforms gradually change and new source neurons are likely to become activated. Adaptive spike sorters combined with on-implant training units effectively process the nonstationary signals at the cost of high hardware resource utilization. On the other hand, static approaches, while being hardware-friendly, are subjected to decreased processing performance in such recordings where the neural signal characteristics gradually change. To strike a balance between the hardware cost and processing performance, this study proposes a hardware-efficient novelty-aware spike sorting approach that is capable of dealing with both variated spike waveforms and spike waveforms generated from new source neurons. Its improved hardware efficiency compared to adaptive ones and capability of dealing with nonstationary signals make it attractive for implantable applications. The proposed novelty-aware spike sorting especially would be a good fit for brain-computer interfaces where long-term, real-time interaction with the brain is required, and the available on-implant hardware resources are limited. Our unsupervised spike sorting benefits from a novelty detection process to deal with neural signal variations. It tracks the spike features so that in case of detecting an unexpected change (novelty detection) both on and off-implant parameters are updated to preserve the performance in new state. To make the proposed approach agile enough to be suitable for brain implants, the on-implant computations are reduced while the computational burden is realized off-implant. The performance of our proposed approach is evaluated using both synthetic and real datasets. The results demonstrate that, in the mean, it is capable of detecting 94.31% of novel spikes (wave-drifted or emerged spikes) with a classification accuracy (CA) of 96.31%. Moreover, an FPGA prototype of the on-implant circuit is implemented and tested. It is shown that in comparison to the OSORT algorithm, a pivotal spike sorting method, our spike sorting provides a higher CA at significantly lower hardware resources. The proposed circuit is also implemented in a 180-nm standard CMOS process, achieving a power consumption of 1.78[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] per channel and a chip area of 0.07[Formula: see text]mm2 per channel.

Automated three-step solid-phase extraction of toxicologically relevant psychotropic compounds and metabolites from plasma followed by LC-MS/MS analysis

This study describes a method for the quantification of multiple toxicologically relevant compounds in plasma samples from suicide attempt patients using an automated three-step solid-phase extraction (SPE) with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB®) sorbent, with subsequent analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). This novel approach simplifies the standard five-step SPE process by eliminating the conditioning and equilibration steps. Target analytes included amitriptyline, amphetamine, benzoylecgonine, carbamazepine, cocaethylene, cocaine, codeine, diazepam, fluoxetine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methamphetamine, morphine, nortriptyline, paroxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine. Plasma samples (100 µL) were diluted with 4 % phosphoric acid in water, mixed with deuterated internal standards, and subjected to automated SPE using an ASPEC® automation. Analysis was performed using an octadecyl column (1.8 µm, 150 × 2.1 mm) with a 15-minute chromatographic run. The automated SPE took 24 min per sample. Intra-assay precision was 1.6–10.1 %, inter-assay precision was 1.5–5.8 %, and accuracy was 94.4 %–106.6 %. Extraction yields varied from 14.6 % to 78.7 %, with matrix effects ranging from −15.9 % to 13.3 %. The validated method was applied to samples from 50 suicide attempt patients, of which 28 contained quantifiable amounts of the target substances. This study describes the first application of an automated three-step SPE procedure for the extraction of multiple relevant analytes in emergency toxicology