Optimisation problems involving multiple objectives are commonly found in real-world applications. The existence of conflicting objectives produces trade-offs where a solution can be better with... Show moreOptimisation problems involving multiple objectives are commonly found in real-world applications. The existence of conflicting objectives produces trade-offs where a solution can be better with respect to one objective but requires a compromise in the other objectives. In many real-world problems the relationship between objectives is unknown or uncertain, and it is common to find problems with non-conflicting objectives. Understanding these relationships has been proven useful in different ways. The search efficiency of a multi-objective optimisation algorithm can benefit if objectives that are not essential to describe the Pareto-optimal front are omitted during the search procedure. Analysts and decision makers might get a better understanding about exiting synergies between the objectives, in turn facilitating the decision-making process of identifying the best solution. One particular useful technique to capture the relationships between objective functions is to rely on correlation measures. This chapter explores the literature of finding correlations among objective functions in solving multi-objective optimisation problems. Particularly, we focus on innovization and objective reduction approaches. We explain different statistical correlation measures and also provide details of benchmark and real-world optimisation problems solved by exploiting the correlations. This chapter provides an insight in solving multi-objective optimisation problems by considering the correlation among objective functions. Show less
Next to the Pareto dominance relation, alternative order relations can be useful in many-objective optimization. In particular, it is interesting to extend the Pareto dominance relation in order to... Show moreNext to the Pareto dominance relation, alternative order relations can be useful in many-objective optimization. In particular, it is interesting to extend the Pareto dominance relation in order to make more pairs comparable and decrease the size of the optimal set (for discrete approximations in continuous optimization or discrete problems), which tends to grow exponentially with an increasing number of objectives. Here, we review some basic concepts in order theory with a focus on the concept of an order extension. Moreover, we will define and discuss properties of some orders that have been proposed as alternatives to the Pareto dominance relation in the context of dealing with larger number of objective functions. The chapter compares the different concepts and reveals commonalities between them. It will be shown that many of the order extensions proposed are special cases of cone orders. Therefore, the chapter puts particular emphasize on the concept of dominance cones and demonstrates how different ways of defining dominance cones, such as by means of angles or by trade-offs, can be mapped onto each other. Show less
Offerhaus, A.; Andel, T.R. van; Stefanaki, A. 2023
Modern botanical gardens harbour collections that are usually a mixture of exotic and indigenous plants, frequently linked to the history of the garden. Their purpose is to awe or please their... Show moreModern botanical gardens harbour collections that are usually a mixture of exotic and indigenous plants, frequently linked to the history of the garden. Their purpose is to awe or please their visitors, to stimulate curiosity, raise awareness about the human impact on the environment and sometimes to actively preserve species that are threatened in their natural habitats. The earliest botanical gardens, however, started as places where prospective physicians learned to recognise medicinal plants. In this chapter we examineseveral herbaria collected in, or related to, the Leiden Hortus botanicus, from its origins to the mid-eighteenth century, showing how the collection, cultivation and identification of plant species intertwined with the education of physicians and pharmacists. Show less
Andel, T.R. van; de Campos Francozo, M; Alcantara Rodriguez, M. 2023
In this paper, we discuss practical challenges in ex-ante life cycle assessment (LCA) of emerging technologies, i.e., barriers to hands-on implementation, as opposed to the conceptual challenges... Show moreIn this paper, we discuss practical challenges in ex-ante life cycle assessment (LCA) of emerging technologies, i.e., barriers to hands-on implementation, as opposed to the conceptual challenges that recent contributions to the literature have been focusing on (see Giesen et al., 2020; Thonemann et al., 2020; Villares et al., 2017). We will illustrate the discussion with the case of emerging photovoltaics (PV), namely multijunction III-V/silicon tandem cell (III-V/Si). This case application helps structure the ex-ante LCA exercise and highlights the challenges of applying LCA early on in technology development, while providing sufficient general elements that apply to other emerging technologies.Written from the perspective of LCA analysts, the paper is organized around the LCA method. LCAs can be conducted at various stages of a technology development process, requiring different types of information at the various stages. By illustrating with the case study of emerging photovoltaics, the paper explores the importance of product performance optimization during technological development, and how it is directly linked to environmental performance during the use phase. It also demonstrates how the design and manufacturing choices that technology developers are confronted with can greatly influence environmental performance over the future product’s life cycle. The approach that emerges is one in which the LCA method remains flexible throughout the technology development process to accommodate its dynamic nature and the numerous uncertainties inherent in it. Show less
Bossema, F.G.; Zwetsloot, C.P.A..; Smeets, I. 2023
This chapter describes the development of a math trail for high school students. In 2016, we developed this trail through Leiden (The Netherlands) during a student project for the Science... Show moreThis chapter describes the development of a math trail for high school students. In 2016, we developed this trail through Leiden (The Netherlands) during a student project for the Science Communication and Society specialization, a track for master students at the Faculty of Science at Leiden University. Our aim was to provide a guided trail through the city that links everyday sights to mathematical concepts within the curriculum of high school students between 13 and 15 years old. The entire project was carried out in 3 weeks. We did background research, consisting of literature reviews, target audience surveys with school children, and focus groups with teachers. Based on the conclusions from this background research, we developed questions that suited both the goal to make the math trail a fun experience that makes math less abstract and the goal to include questions from across the curriculum. In this chapter, we would like to share our insights from the background research and our experiences in developing a math trail. We moreover aim to provide those who are interested in designing a math trail in their city with a practical step-by-step plan and checklist. Show less
Agriculture, especially the livestock sector, hugely stresses the environment through its climate change, land use, and water use impacts, among others. Hence, reducing meat consumption can greatly... Show moreAgriculture, especially the livestock sector, hugely stresses the environment through its climate change, land use, and water use impacts, among others. Hence, reducing meat consumption can greatly reduce agriculture’s heavy environmental burden. Meat replacements can deliver similar nutrients, and some even mimic meat to facilitate substitution. However, replacements come with their own environmental impacts, which can be highly uncertain, particularly for emerging replacements. This chapter synthesizes the environmental impacts of meat (poultry, pork, and beef) compared to conventional (seafood, eggs, tofu and tempeh, pulses, and nuts) and emerging (plant-based meat analogs, algae, mycoprotein, insects, and cultured meat) meat replacements. We compare their environmental impacts based on life cycle assessment and highlight impact hotspots, opportunities for improvement, and key research gaps. Overall, while conventional replacements already offer more sustainable alternatives to meat, emerging replacements often result in trade-offs that we can proactively tackle today to reduce environmental impacts in the future. Show less
Bouma, J.; Soethoudt, M.; Gils, N. van; Xia, L.; Stelt, M, van der; Heitman, L.H. 2022
Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that activate a variety of pathways upon activation by (partial) agonists including the G... Show moreCannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that activate a variety of pathways upon activation by (partial) agonists including the G protein pathway and the recruitment of β-arrestins. Differences in the activation level of these pathways lead to biased signaling. Here, we describe a detailed protocol to characterize the potency and efficacy of ligands to induce or inhibit β-arrestin recruitment to the human CB1R and CB2R using the PathHunter® assay. This is a cellular assay that uses a β-galactosidase complementation system which has a chemiluminescent read-out and can be performed in 384-well plates. We have successfully used this assay to characterize a set of reference ligands (both agonists, antagonists, and an inverse agonist) on human CB1R and CB2R, of which some examples will be presented here. Show less
Direct plant growth promotion can be achieved by several mechanisms. Indirect plant growth promotion occurs by protection of the plant against pathogens, most often fungi but also bacteria and... Show moreDirect plant growth promotion can be achieved by several mechanisms. Indirect plant growth promotion occurs by protection of the plant against pathogens, most often fungi but also bacteria and viruses. This chapter discusses the role of companies in the complicated, time-consuming, and expensive process from harvesting seeds to food on the plate. Mycorrhizal fungi live in symbiosis with more than 80% of the land plants. Mycorrhizal fungi can be considered as an extension of the root system. A potentially valuable product is often patented to protect its application. Discoveries at universities are published, often in specialized journals. The authorization process of plant protection products consists of evaluation of dossiers of the active microorganism and of the formulated product. Many chemical firms have recognized the demand for biological products and have become active in the biological crop protection business. Show less
