Publications

Scientists have known about microplastics in nature since the 1970s, but lately they are finding these tiny plastics almost everywhere they look – in the air, lakes, rivers, oceans, on land, and even in remote places like Arctic lakes and snow! This article will introduce young audiences to the hidden universe of microplastics, the tools scientists use to analyse them, and how people can do their own experiments to analyse microplastics from a nearby beach.

With their variable active sites Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) can achieve visible-light absorption and efficient charge separation for photocatalytic, and conductivity for electrocatalytic  CO₂   reduction into value added chemicals. This work illustrates the importance of porous carbon fiber layers (CFLs) on the activity and selectivity of MOF based  photocathodes towards the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) in a zero-gap gas phase photoelectrolyzer. The wettability of the CFL modulates the local environment on the metal organic framework catalyst (UiO-66-NH₂, yellow coloured). Hydrophobic CFL-based MOF photocathodes lead to CO₂RR, producing liquid hydrocarbons ( CxHyOz) such as formate, methanol and ethanol. In contrast, hydrophilic, wetted CFL-based photocathodes favor the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER).The results are a step further in understanding how the design and composition of the photoelectrodes in photoelectrochemical electrolyzers can impact the  CO₂  reduction efficiency and selectivity.

This guide provides topics to consider when initiating or running a citizen science project on alien species or invasive alien species. It includes key recommendations on how to engage with your target audience, plan and design your project, handle data, perform analyses and evaluate your project outputs. It is intended to help anyone set up an alien species citizen science project. Target people include NGO workers, researchers, policymakers, volunteer groups, government agency workers, project managers, invasive species managers, teachers and the general public. Since there are many published guides on citizen science, this guide summarises the most relevant topics, highlights topics that are more relevant in the context of (invasive) alien species, and refers to other sources of information.

The guide is translated into 23 languages.

These essays on various aspects of textile research encompass a wide chronological perspective and vast geographical area, enriching traditional disciplines with innovative methodologies such as isotopic tracing of provenance, textile analysis, protein analysis, digital motion capture, and exploration of textile expressions in texts and folklore. All essays in this volume have been written by international teams of scholars from the participating countries. The anthology serves as a comprehensive and innovative resource, consolidating the research outcomes and insights gained from the interdisciplinary exploration of textiles in European history within the framework of EuroWeb. This volume has the potential to contribute to the advancement of European scientific excellence and competitiveness, fostering a deeper understanding of the cultural, technological, and societal significance of textiles and clothing in shaping European identity and heritage through the millenia. We hope that the anthology will find a wide and interested readership, and that it will inspire many new research projects in the field of textile history.

Constant integration of new technologies in our daily lives exposes us to various security threats. While numerous security solutions have been developed to protect us from these threats, they fail due to users’ insufficient comprehension of how to employ them optimally. This challenge often stems from inadequate capture of Usable Security (USec) requirements. This paper aims to tackle this issue by proposing US4USec, a User Stories (US) model tailored for capturing USec requirements. US4USec has been constructed based on best practices for the consideration and integration of non-functional requirements (NFR) into US models that have been identified via a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The coverage and completeness of US4USec have been demonstrated by applying it to a set of security US.

Metal–organic framework (MOF) materials have attracted a lot of attention for their potential biomedical applications. They offer unprecedented porosity, tunability, and versatile metal-organic chemistry that can enable novel therapeutic approaches in different indications such as cancer (immuno-)therapy, inflammation, regenerative medicine, and infectious diseases. However, this wealth of preclinical investigation has not translated effectively into the clinic. In this review, we take a translational perspective in analyzing MOF chemistry and the features of MOF (nano-)materials for different biomedical applications. We also assess the remaining barriers to clinical translation of MOFs and critically discuss possible approaches towards realistically bridging the translational gap and, ultimately, generating clinical impact.

This section of the ERBfacility Action Advice Hub gives a concise guide to monitoring a range of contextual parameters in raptors, with a focus on those that are (a) most useful for interpretation of pan-European contaminant studies and (b) most feasible to record by many researchers across Europe.

Recognising the unique challenges and opportunities faced by people on the autism spectrum in navigating the complex world of media, the ASDigital and a-STEP COST Action (CA19104) have brought together a group of academics, professionals and people on the autism spectrum to develop short, user-friendly approaches that reflect on the existing evidence on the challenges and promise of this relationship.
The primary objective of this book titled “Media Literacy and Assistive Technologies for Empowerment in Autism” is to examine and shed light on the aforementioned dynamics. It aims to provide valuable perspectives on how media literacy and assistive technology can enhance the capabilities of individuals with autism, enabling them to flourish in the era of digital advancements.
Promoting more media literacy initiatives including individuals in the autism spectrum could provide them the tools to navigate an ever-evolving digital landscape with confidence and competence (Ressa, 2022). Therefore, in the first part of this book, called “Autism, Diversity, and Media Literacy”, six chapters are presented, to explore the different intersections between the fields of media literacy, media education, diversity, and autism.
Taking into consideration that Assistive Technologies (AT) show great promise in supporting people with diverse abilities and expertise, including people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disability (ID), and that intuitive, inclusive design and proper implementation of AT can foster confidence and self-sufficiency to truly empower and socially include individuals across the ASD and ID spectra. The second half of this book, entitled “Assistive Technologies, Empowerment, and Inclusion”, has as its main goal to delve into a broad range of assistive technologies at the nexus of empowerment and inclusion.

Climate change has wide-ranging adverse effects on wildlife and the essential ecosystem services they provide. Bats are a diverse and widely distributed group that make up about a fifth of all the native mammal species in Europe. All but one of our 45 species are insect-eaters, and they play a vital role in regulating insect populations. Despite their vulnerability to climate change, bats have received relatively little attention compared to other animal groups.