Designing a circular carbon and plastics economy for a sustainable future.

The linear production and consumption of plastics today is unsustainable. It creates large amounts of unnecessary and mismanaged waste, pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, undermining global climate targets and the Sustainable Development Goals. This Perspective provides an integrated technological, economic and legal view on how to deliver a circular carbon and plastics economy that minimizes carbon dioxide emissions. Different pathways that maximize recirculation of carbon (dioxide) between plastics waste and feedstocks are outlined, including mechanical, chemical and biological recycling, and those involving the use of biomass and carbon dioxide. Four future scenarios are described, only one of which achieves sufficient greenhouse gas savings in line with global climate targets. Such a bold system change requires 50% reduction in future plastic demand, complete phase-out of fossil-derived plastics, 95% recycling rates of retrievable plastics and use of renewable energy. It is hard to overstate the challenge of achieving this goal. We therefore present a roadmap outlining the scale and timing of the economic and legal interventions that could possibly support this. Assessing the service lifespan and recoverability of plastic products, along with considerations of sufficiency and smart design, can moreover provide design principles to guide future manufacturing, use and disposal of plastics.

Preliminary Validation and Gender Invariance of the Technology Anxiety Scale in Older Spanish Adults / Validación preliminar e invarianza de género de la Escala de Ansiedad Tecnológica en mayores españoles

Background: Technology anxiety is more prevalent in older people and can compromise their functionality in an increasingly techno-dependent world. There are no validated instruments to assess it in older Spanish people. Method: A technology anxiety scale was cross-culturally adapted and applied to 355 Spaniards (66% women, M = 78.63, SD = 6.77). Two models were tested by confirmatory factor analysis: a one-dimensional model (technology anxiety) and a model with two correlated factors (fear and confidence in technology, respectively). Results: Both showed an adequate fit, although higher in the two-factor correlated model (χ2 = 243.797, df = 26, CFI = .969, TLI = .945, SRMR = .039). Concurrent validity was confirmed through correlations with psychological well-being, quality of life, and health satisfaction. Configural, metric, and scalar factorial gender invariance were also verified. Conclusion: Our data support the preliminary validity of the Technology Anxiety Scale in older Spanish men and women. (AU)

Introducción: La ansiedad tecnológica es más prevalente en mayores y puede dificultar su funcionalidad en un mundo cada vez más tecnodependiente. No hay instrumentos validados para evaluarla en mayores españoles. Método: Se adaptó transculturalmente una escala de ansiedad tecnológica y se aplicó a 355 españoles (66% mujeres, M = 78,63, DT = 6,77). Se testaron dos modelos mediante análisis factorial confirmatorio: un modelo unidimensional (ansiedad tecnológica) y un modelo con dos factores correlacionados (miedo a la tecnología y confianza en la misma). Resultados: Ambos mostraron un ajuste adecuado, aunque mayor en el modelo de dos factores correlacionados (χ2 = 243,797, gl = 26, CFI = .969, TLI = .945, SRMR = .039). La validez concurrente se confirmó mediante correlaciones con bienestar psicológico, calidad de vida y satisfacción con la salud. También se verificó la invarianza de género configural, métrica y escalar. Conclusión: Los resultados confirman la validez preliminar de la Escala de Ansiedad Tecnológica en hombres y mujeres mayores españoles. (AU)

Human-centered visualization technologies for patient monitoring are the future: a narrative review.

Medical technology innovation has improved patient monitoring in perioperative and intensive care medicine and continuous improvement in the technology is now a central focus in this field. Because data density increases with the number of parameters captured by patient-monitoring devices, its interpretation has become more challenging. Therefore, it is necessary to support clinicians in managing information overload while improving their awareness and understanding about the patient's health status. Patient monitoring has almost exclusively operated on the single-sensor-single-indicator principle-a technology-centered way of presenting data in which specific parameters are measured and displayed individually as separate numbers and waves. An alternative is user-centered medical visualization technology, which integrates multiple pieces of information (e.g., vital signs), derived from multiple sensors into a single indicator-an avatar-based visualization-that is a meaningful representation of the real-world situation. Data are presented as changing shapes, colors, and animation frequencies, which can be perceived, integrated, and interpreted much more efficiently than other formats (e.g., numbers). The beneficial effects of these technologies have been confirmed in computer-based simulation studies; visualization technologies improved clinicians' situation awareness by helping them effectively perceive and verbalize the underlying medical issue, while improving diagnostic confidence and reducing workload. This review presents an overview of the scientific results and the evidence for the validity of these technologies.

Using technology to promote the development of health science libraries in China.

From the point of view of the development of libraries, technology has made possible the emergence and development of library automation; digital libraries; mobile libraries; and smart libraries. This article briefly describes the impact of technological developments and application in Health Science Libraries in China in relation to collections development, service provision and the role of library associations.

Papers and patents are becoming less disruptive over time.

Theories of scientific and technological change view discovery and invention as endogenous processes1,2, wherein previous accumulated knowledge enables future progress by allowing researchers to, in Newton's words, 'stand on the shoulders of giants'3-7. Recent decades have witnessed exponential growth in the volume of new scientific and technological knowledge, thereby creating conditions that should be ripe for major advances8,9. Yet contrary to this view, studies suggest that progress is slowing in several major fields10,11. Here, we analyse these claims at scale across six decades, using data on 45 million papers and 3.9 million patents from six large-scale datasets, together with a new quantitative metric-the CD index12-that characterizes how papers and patents change networks of citations in science and technology. We find that papers and patents are increasingly less likely to break with the past in ways that push science and technology in new directions. This pattern holds universally across fields and is robust across multiple different citation- and text-based metrics1,13-17. Subsequently, we link this decline in disruptiveness to a narrowing in the use of previous knowledge, allowing us to reconcile the patterns we observe with the 'shoulders of giants' view. We find that the observed declines are unlikely to be driven by changes in the quality of published science, citation practices or field-specific factors. Overall, our results suggest that slowing rates of disruption may reflect a fundamental shift in the nature of science and technology.

Inovação na agricultura familiar com a produção integrada de olerícolas e peixes / Innovation in family farming with the integrated production of olery crops and fish / Innovación en agricultura familiar con producción integrada de olivos y pescado

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e desenvolver uma nova tecnologia para agricultura familiar, que integre a olericultura com a criação de pintados em tanques elevados de geomembrana com recirculação de água. Para tanto, foram distribuídos aleatoriamente 240 peixes com peso médio de 10,67g em um tanque de geomembrana com capacidade de 30 m3 de água. A qualidade da água foi monitorada analisando as variáveis temperatura da água por meio de um termômetro, oxigênio dissolvido, pH, alcalinidade, nitrito e amônia por meio de kits colorimétricos. O arraçoamento foi realizado duas vezes ao dia às 07h00min e 19h00min com ração extrusada contendo 32% de proteína bruta, durante um período de 204 dias. Mensalmente foram realizadas biometrias para corrigir o arraçoamento, analisar o peso total médio, comprimento total médio, ganho de peso e conversão alimentar. A qualidade da água durante o período experimental não apresentou níveis críticos para a produção dos peixes e no final dos 204 dias de criação os peixes apresentaram peso final médio de 719,4g, comprimento final médio de 48,5cm, ganho de peso final médio de 708,5g e conversão alimentar média de 1,59. Quanto à produtividade das olerícolas, constatou-se que a água do efluente do sistema de criação forneceu quantidades adequadas de nutrientes necessários ao desenvolvimento das plantas. Os resultados indicam que o pintado tem potencial para ser criado em tanques elevados de geomembrana com sistema de recirculação de água e o efluente do sistema pode ser utilizado como uma alternativa para a produção integrada de peixes e olerícolas.(AU)

The present study aimed to evaluate and develop a new technology for family farming, which integrates vegetable farming with the creation of guinea fowl in elevated geomembrane tanks with water recirculation. To this end, 240 fish with an average weight of 10.67g were randomly distributed in a geomembrane tank with a capacity of 30 m3 of water. Water quality was monitored by analyzing the variables water temperature using a thermometer, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, nitrite and ammonia using colorimetric kits. Feeding was carried out twice a day at 7:00 am and 7:00 pm with extruded feed containing 32% crude protein, over a period of 204 days. Biometrics were carried out monthly to correct the diet, analyze the average total weight, average total length, weight gain and feed conversion. The water quality during the experimental period did not present critical levels for fish production and at the end of the 204 days of creation the fish had an average final weight of 719.4g, average final length of 48.5cm, average final weight gain of 708.5g and average feed conversion of 1.59. Regarding the productivity of the olerícolas, it was found that the effluent water of the rearing system provided adequate amounts of nutrients necessary for the development of the plants. The results indicate that the pintado has the potential to be created in elevated geomembrane tanks with water recirculation system and the effluent of the system can be used as an alternative for the integrated production of fish and olerícolas.(AU)

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar y desarrollar una nueva tecnología para la agricultura familiar, que integra la olericultura con la creación de pintados en tanques elevados de geomembrana con recirculación de agua. Con este fin, 240 peces con un peso promedio de 10.67g se distribuyeron aleatoriamente en un tanque de geomembrana con una capacidad de 30 m3 de agua. La calidad del agua fue monitoreada mediante el análisis de las variables temperatura del agua por medio de un termómetro, oxígeno disuelto, pH, alcalinidad, nitrito y amoníaco por medio de kits colorimétricos. La alimentación se realizó dos veces al día a las 07:00 y 19:00 con alimento extruido que contenía 32% de proteína cruda, durante un período de 204 días. La biometría se realizó mensualmente para corregir la alimentación, analizar el peso total promedio, la longitud total media, el aumento de peso y la conversión alimenticia. La calidad del agua durante el período experimental no presentó niveles críticos para la producción de peces y al final de los 204 días de cría los peces presentaron un peso final promedio de 719.4g, una longitud final promedio de 48.5cm, una ganancia de peso final promedio de 708.5g y una conversión alimenticia promedio de 1.59. En cuanto a la productividad de las olerícolas, se encontró que el agua efluente del sistema de cría proporcionó cantidades adecuadas de nutrientes necesarios para el desarrollo de las plantas. Los resultados indican que el pintado tiene el potencial de ser creado en tanques elevados de geomembrana con sistema de recirculación de agua y el efluente del sistema puede ser utilizado como una alternativa para la producción integrada de peces y olerícolas.(AU)

The Metamorphosing Professor: Adapting Teaching to Fulfill the Promise of Biology Education.

Teaching students at all levels of education has undergone extensive changes, particularly in the past decade. Our present student population has transformed dramatically in the 21st century due to the changing demographics of the nation, an increasing use of technology both inside and outside the classroom, along with an expectation to have information instantaneously available to peruse and utilize as a source of material. Today's instructors also need to adapt to these changes by assessing how well students are learning new concepts, as well as how much material students retain for future coursework. Here, we explore the recent history of science education, and the progress that has been made to overcome multiple learning obstacles, particularly relevant to PEERs (persons excluded because of their ethnicity or race) in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). We hope to provide insight into how educators are restructuring the way they design their teaching portfolios to provide better outcomes for the students of today's educational system.

Progress towards enhanced access and use of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic: A need to be mindful of the continued digital divide for many rural and northern communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic produced unprecedented adoption and deployment of technology in rural and northern areas; however, this expansion widened the digital divide for many. Evidence shows that older adults' use of technology has increased. Coupled with an increasing number of available technologies to enhance healthcare delivery, social engagement, meaningful activities, and support to carers, we are at a crossroads for change. Emerging strategies used by organizations to promote technology and support efforts to bridge and close the digital divide are discussed. In a post-pandemic society, policy-makers can play a critical role to ensure that improvements, efficiency gains, and lessons learned are fully leveraged to reap the benefits of technology use by older adults, care partners, and the healthcare system. Recommendations are given for policy-makers to capitalize on this opportunity to narrow the digital divide for those in rural and northern communities.

Enhancing the use of technology in the long-term care sector in Canada: Insights from citizen panels and a national stakeholder dialogue.

Enhancing the use of technology in long-term care has been identified as a key part of broader efforts to strengthen the sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. To inform such efforts, we convened a series of citizen panels, followed by a national stakeholder dialogue with system leaders focused on reimagining the long-term care sector using technology. Key actions prioritized through the deliberations convened included: developing an innovation roadmap/agenda (including national standards and guidelines); using co-design approaches for the strengthening the long-term care sector and for technological innovation; identifying and coordinating existing innovation projects to support scale and spread; enabling rapid-learning and improvement cycles to support the development, evaluation, and implementation of new technologies; and using funding models that enable the flexibility needed for such rapid-learning cycles.

Age, morbidity, or something else? A residual approach using microdata to measure the impact of technological progress on health care expenditure.

This study measures the increment of health care expenditure (HCE) that can be attributed to technological progress and change in medical practice by using a residual approach and microdata. We examine repeated cross-sections of individuals experiencing an initial health shock at different point in time over a 10-year window and capture the impact of unobservable technology and medical practice to which they are exposed after allowing for differences in health and socioeconomic characteristics. We decompose the residual increment in the part that is due to the effect of delaying time to death, that is, individuals surviving longer after a health shock and thus contributing longer to the demand of care, and the part that is due to increasing intensity of resource use, that is, the basket of services becoming more expensive to allow for the cost of innovation. We use data from the Danish National Health System that offers universal coverage and is free of charge at the point of access. We find that technological progress and change in medical practice can explain about 60% of the increment of HCE, in line with macroeconomic studies that traditionally investigate this subject.

Universities' Scientific and Technological Transformation in China: Its Efficiency and Influencing Factors in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Universities are important sources of knowledge and key members of the regional innovation system. The key problem in Chinese universities is the low efficiency of the scientific and technological (S&T) transformation, which limits the promotion of regional innovation and economic development. This article proposes the three-stage efficiency analytical framework, which regards it as a complex and interactive process. Avoiding the problem of considering the input and output of university S&T transformation as a "black box" and neglecting the links among different transformation stages. The super efficiency network SBM model is applied to the heterogeneous region of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Empirical research proves that university S&T transformation has not been effectively improved and the scientific resources invested in universities have not been efficiently utilized in recent years. Generally, Despite the correlation between regional economy and transformation efficiency, the exclusive increase in resources is not enough. Regional openness and the quality of research talents are key factors for the application of technological innovation and technology marketization. Universities should not only pursue the number of research outputs but pay more attention to high-quality knowledge production to overcome difficulties in research achievements transformation.

Mapping technological innovation dynamics in artificial intelligence domains: Evidence from a global patent analysis.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a technology at the center of many political, economic, and societal debates. This paper formulates a new AI patent search strategy and applies this to provide a landscape analysis of AI innovation dynamics and technology evolution. The paper uses patent analyses, network analyses, and source path link count algorithms to examine AI spatial and temporal trends, cooperation features, cross-organization knowledge flow and technological routes. Results indicate a growing yet concentrated, non-collaborative and multi-path development and protection profile for AI patenting, with cross-organization knowledge flows based mainly on interorganizational knowledge citation links.