bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recommendation Uncertainty in Implicit Feedback Recommender Systems
Authors: Coscrato Victor , Bridge Derek
Published: February 2023

A Recommender System’s recommendations will each carry a certain level of uncertainty. The quantification of this uncertainty can be useful in a variety of ways. Estimates of uncertainty might be used externally; for example, showing them to the user to increase user trust in the abilities of the system. They may also be used internally; for example, deciding the balance of ‘safe’ and less safe recommendations. In this work, we explore several methods for estimating uncertainty. The novelty comes from proposing methods that work in the implicit feedback setting. We use experiments on two datasets to compare a number of recommendation algorithms that are modified to perform uncertainty estimation. In our experiments, we show that some of these modified algorithms are less accurate than their unmodified counterparts, but others are actually more accurate. We also show which of these methods are best at enabling the recommender to be ‘aware’ of which of its recommendations are likely to be correct and which are likely to be wrong.
Personalised Filter Bias with Google and DuckDuckGo: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Akbar Awais , Caton Simon , Bierig Ralf
Published: February 2023

Personalisation in search has improved performance, focus, and user experience to a great extent, however, it also arguably polarises informational perspectives. This paper seeks to illustrate an experimental methodology to quantify how three situational user variables affect personalisation across two search engines: Google and DuckDuckGo. We find that the presence of cookies and prior search history markedly affect the first page of search results on both platforms, but that prior (shallow) browsing history has no observable effect. We also find that there is very little in common between the results of both search engines. We argue that these results advocate more consideration of how personalisation fosters filter biases.
Wandel von Protestpartizipation im Zuge der Digitalisierung
Authors: Villioth Lisa
Published: February 2023

Protest ist vielfältig, spielt sich in unterschiedlichen Räumen ab und deckt eine ganze Bandbreite an Formen, Aufwand und Motivationen ab. Im folgenden Kapitel sollen zentrale Begriffe dieser Arbeit geklärt werden und eine Zusammenfassung des Forschungsstandes zu Protestpartizipation erfolgen. Nach der Definition der Begriffe Protest, Soziale Bewegung, Internet, Social Media und Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), werden verschiedene Protesträume mit ihren Eigenschaften und Bedeutungen beschrieben: Straße, Massenmedien, Internet und hybride Protesträume. Darauf aufbauend folgt eine Vorstellung von Hybrid-Organisationen und der Strategie des Grassroots-Campaigning, bevor sich der letzte Teil dieses Kapitels dann explizit mit gegenwärtigen Trends in der Protestpartizipation befasst. Hier werden Eigenschaften und gesellschaftliche Konsequenzen von netzbasierter Kommunikation, Social Media und neuen ICTs erläutert und die Kritik des Clicktivism vorgestellt. In Konsequenz ergeben sich im Bereich des zivilgesellschaftlichen Engagements Tendenzen der Niedrigschwelligkeit, Individualisierung, Personalisierung und Kreativität.
Voraussetzungen und Motive für Protestpartizipation in der Umweltschutz-Bewegung – Empirische Befunde
Authors: Villioth Lisa
Published: February 2023

Bei der Betrachtung der Motive für Partizipation in der Umweltschutz-Bewegung auf der Individualebene einzelner Bürger*innen spielt eine Vielzahl von Komponenten eine wichtige Rolle. Um zu verstehen, welche Voraussetzungen erfüllt sein müssen, dass sich Individuen zivilgesellschaftlich engagieren, müssen insb. die Ressourcen dieser Personen berücksichtig werden. Zeit, Geld, Bildung, Netzwerke und auch Fähigkeiten zu kommunizieren und organisieren, zählen zu diesen Ressourcen. Darüber hinaus spielt aber auch ihr Bürgerschaftsverständnis eine wichtige Rolle. Ist es die Pflicht eines jeden, sich über Wahlen auf Bundes-, Landes- und Lokalebene hinaus zivilgesellschaftlich zu engagieren? Bedeutet Demokratie ‚von unten‘ mitzugestalten? Auch Emotionen und Affekte beeinflussen die Wahrscheinlichkeit für Partizipation. Wie Bürger*innen aufgewachsen sind und von ihrem Umfeld geprägt wurden, ist ein ebenso wichtiger Faktor wie konkrete Schlüsselmomente und Erfahrungen, die in der Vergangenheit gemacht wurden und das zivilgesellschaftliche Engagement bis heute motivieren.
Einstellungen zu Straßenprotest und Netzaktivismus
Authors: Villioth Lisa
Published: February 2023

In den vorangegangenen Kapiteln wurden bereits die Einstellungen der Interview-Partner*innen zu ihren Mitbürger*innen, ihrer eigenen Rolle als Bürger*in, dem Begriff von Mitgliedschaft usw. erläutert. An dieser Stelle folgt nun der explizite Fokus auf die Unterscheidung zwischen Straße und Netz – d. h. zwischen Aktivitäten, die (überwiegend) offline stattfinden und solchen, die (überwiegend) im Netz praktiziert werden. Denn um Motive für die Partizipation an Protestpraktiken einordnen und deuten zu können, müssen neben oben genannten Einstellungen und individuellen Ressourcen auch Einschätzungen berücksichtigt werden, für wie sinn- und wirkungsvoll Straßen- und Netzprotest gehalten werden, welche Vor- und Nachteile die Interview-Partner*innen in den verschiedenen Protestformen sehen und wie sie sich zur Kritik am Clicktivism äußern.
Digital gerahmte Experimentierumgebungen als dynamischer Zugang zu Funktionen
Authors: Digel Susanne , Engelhardt Alex , Roth Jürgen
Published: February 2023

Funktionale Zusammenhänge sind im Mathematikunterricht fast aller Jahrgangsstufen präsent, jedoch gelingt es Lernenden häufig nur unzureichend, tragfähige Vorstellungen zu Funktionen zu entwickeln. Experimente erweisen sich hier als geeignete Unterstützung. Werden sie durch Simulationen digital ergänzt, kann dies Lernende beim Experimentieren entlasten und den funktionalen Zusammenhang in den Vordergrund rücken. Es eröffnet auch eine dynamische Perspektive auf diesen und rückt das Änderungsverhalten der beteiligten Größen (Kovariation), das für Lernende eine besondere Hürde darstellt, stärker in den Fokus. Allerdings erfordert die Kombination von gegenständlichen Materialien und Simulationen gemäß dem Instrumental Approach die Genese zusätzlicher Nutzungsschemata durch Lernende, was kognitive Ressourcen bindet. Je näher die Materialien der mathematischen Tätigkeit stehen, umso effizienter ist diese Genese. Entscheidend für die Frage, ob digital gerahmte Experimente lernwirksamer sind, könnten demnach die dynamische Perspektive sowie die Passung der Materialien sein. Um dem nachzugehen, kontrastiert eine Pre-Post-Interventionsstudie (N = 442) ein Setting mit fokussierter Passung der Materialien, ein Setting mit zusätzlichem inhaltlichen Fokus auf Kovariation und eine Kontrollgruppe ausschließlich mit Simulationen. Dabei zeigt sich, dass allein durch die Kombination aus Simulationen und gegenständlichen Materialien kein Mehrwert für das Verständnis von Funktionen entsteht. Ergänzt um eine dynamische Perspektive und den Fokus auf Kovariation erzielt die Kombination allerdings größere Lernzuwächse.
KI-Labor: Online-Lernumgebungen zur künstlichen Intelligenz
Authors: Mühling Andreas , Bastian Morten
Published: February 2023

Künstliche Intelligenz und speziell auch maschinelles Lernen prägen als Technologie vermehrt unseren Alltag und werfen auch Fragen von gesamtgesellschaftlicher Tragweite auf. Die Thematisierung der Grundlagen dieser Verfahren ist damit auch eine schulische Aufgabe. Eine problemlose Einbettung in den existierenden Fachunterricht erscheint aber aus im Beitrag dargelegten Gründen nicht ohne Weiteres möglich, sodass zunächst eine fachdidaktische Aufbereitung der Themen – speziell auch in Form von Unterrichtsmaterial – erfolgen muss. Der Beitrag stellt dazu drei digitale Lernumgebungen vor, die basierend auf gemeinsamen theoretischen Überlegungen verschiedene Ausgestaltungen für Unterricht zu typischen Themen der künstlichen Intelligenz bzw. des maschinellen Lernens darstellen: Perceptren, künstliche neuronale Netze und Verstärkungslernen. Zentral für alle Umgebungen ist ein Element der interaktiven Exploration von Systemen, diese werden durch stärker oder weniger stark geleitete Bearbeitungswege und Aufgaben ergänzt.
Completely dark matter from rapid-turn multifield inflation
Authors: Kolb Edward W. , Long Andrew J. , McDonough Evan , Payeur Guillaume
Published: February 2023

Abstract

We study cosmological gravitational particle production as applied to “rapid-turn” models of inflation involving two scalar fields. We are interested in the production of massive spin-0 particles that only interact gravitationally and provide a candidate for the dark matter. Specifically, we study two models of rapid-turn multifield inflation, motivated in part by the de Sitter swampland conjecture, that are distinguished by the curvature of field space and the presence or absence of field space ‘angular momentum’ conservation. We find that one of these models leads to insufficient particle production and cannot explain the observed dark matter relic abundance. The second model is able to explain the origin of spin-0 dark matter via gravitational production, and we identify the relevant region of parameter space that is consistent with measurements of the dark-matter relic abundance, the dark-matter-photon isocurvature perturbations, and the spectrum of curvature perturbations that is probed by cosmological observations. Our work demonstrates the compatibility of the de Sitter swampland conjecture with completely dark matter.
Scrambling and entangling spinning particles
Authors: Hung Ling-Yan , Ji Kaixin , Wang Tianheng
Published: February 2023

Abstract

In this paper we revisit the gravitational eikonal amplitudes of two scattering spinning particles and inspect their scrambling power in the spin spaces that is quantified through the tripartite information. We found that in the non-relativistic limit and a special high-energy limit the leading contribution is a quantity that is universal and theory independent. The minimal coupling is singled out with minimal scrambling in a different high momenta limit. We also inspected the initial state dependence of entanglement generation and found that the spin coherent state with vanishing spin may not necessarily be the hardest to entangle. Interestingly, among a family of mixed states, the only P-rep state there known to be the best approximation of classical mixed states was singled out as one with minimal entanglement generated.
Reflected entropy for communicating black holes. Part I. Karch-Randall braneworlds
Authors: Afrasiar Mir , Basak Jaydeep Kumar , Chandra Ashish , Sengupta Gautam
Published: February 2023

Abstract

We obtain the reflected entropy for bipartite mixed state configurations of two adjacent and disjoint intervals at a finite temperature in BCFT2s with two distinct boundaries through a replica technique in the large central charge limit. Subsequently these field theory results are reproduced from bulk computations involving the entanglement wedge cross section in the dual BTZ black hole geometry truncated by two Karch-Randall branes. Our result confirms the holographic duality between the reflected entropy and the bulk entanglement wedge cross section in the context of the AdS3/BCFT2 scenario. We further investigate the critical issue of the holographic Markov gap between the reflected entropy and the mutual information for these configurations from the bulk braneworld geometry and study its variation with subsystem sizes and time.
Characterization of tropical plane curves up to genus six
Authors: Tewari Ayush Kumar
Published: February 2023

We provide a new forbidden criterion for the realizability of smooth tropical plane curves. This in turn provides us a complete classification of smooth tropical plane curves up to genus six.
Recent trends in glycoproteomics by characterization of intact glycopeptides
Authors: Piovesana Susy , Cavaliere Chiara , Cerrato Andrea , Laganà Aldo , Montone Carmela Maria , Capriotti Anna Laura
Published: February 2023

This trends article provides an overview of the state of the art in the analysis of intact glycopeptides by proteomics technologies based on LC–MS analysis. A brief description of the main techniques used at the different steps of the analytical workflow is provided, giving special attention to the most recent developments. The topics discussed include the need for dedicated sample preparation for intact glycopeptide purification from complex biological matrices. This section covers the common approaches with a special description of new materials and innovative reversible chemical derivatization strategies, specifically devised for intact glycopeptide analysis or dual enrichment of glycosylation and other post-translational modifications. The approaches are described for the characterization of intact glycopeptide structures by LC–MS and data analysis by bioinformatics for spectra annotation. The last section covers the open challenges in the field of intact glycopeptide analysis. These challenges include the need of a detailed description of the glycopeptide isomerism, the issues with quantitative analysis, and the lack of analytical methods for the large-scale characterization of glycosylation types that remain poorly characterized, such as C-mannosylation and tyrosine O-glycosylation. This bird’s-eye view article provides both a state of the art in the field of intact glycopeptide analysis and open challenges to prompt future research on the topic.

Graphical Abstract
Covariation of the amplitude and latency of motor evoked potentials elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation in a resting hand muscle
Authors: Vallence A. M. , Rurak B. K. , Fujiyama H. , Hammond G. R.
Published: February 2023

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique used to study human neurophysiology. A single TMS pulse delivered to the primary motor cortex can elicit a motor evoked potential (MEP) in a target muscle. MEP amplitude is a measure of corticospinal excitability and MEP latency is a measure of the time taken for intracortical processing, corticofugal conduction, spinal processing, and neuromuscular transmission. Although MEP amplitude is known to vary across trials with constant stimulus intensity, little is known about MEP latency variation. To investigate MEP amplitude and latency variation at the individual level, we scored single-pulse MEP amplitude and latency in a resting hand muscle from two datasets. MEP latency varied from trial to trial in individual participants with a median range of 3.9 ms. Shorter MEP latencies were associated with larger MEP amplitudes for most individuals (median r = − 0.47), showing that latency and amplitude are jointly determined by the excitability of the corticospinal system when TMS is delivered. TMS delivered during heightened excitability could discharge a greater number of cortico-cortical and corticospinal cells, increasing the amplitude and, by recurrent activation of corticospinal cells, the number of descending indirect waves. An increase in the amplitude and number of indirect waves would progressively recruit larger spinal motor neurons with large-diameter fast-conducting fibers, which would shorten MEP onset latency and increase MEP amplitude. In addition to MEP amplitude variability, understanding MEP latency variability is important given that these parameters are used to help characterize pathophysiology of movement disorders.
Two Complete Genomes of Male-Killing Wolbachia Infecting Ostrinia Moth Species Illuminate Their Evolutionary Dynamics and Association with Hosts
Authors: Muro Tomohiro , Hikida Hiroyuki , Fujii Takeshi , Kiuchi Takashi , Katsuma Susumu
Published: February 2023

Wolbachia is an extremely widespread intracellular symbiont which causes reproductive manipulation on various arthropod hosts. Male progenies are killed in Wolbachia-infected lineages of the Japanese Ostrinia moth population. While the mechanism of male killing and the evolutionary interaction between host and symbiont are significant concerns for this system, the absence of Wolbachia genomic information has limited approaches to these issues. We determined the complete genome sequences of wFur and wSca, the male-killing Wolbachia of Ostrinia furnacalis and Ostrinia scapulalis. The two genomes shared an extremely high degree of homology, with over 95% of the predicted protein sequences being identical. A comparison of these two genomes revealed nearly minimal genome evolution, with a strong emphasis on the frequent genome rearrangements and the rapid evolution of ankyrin repeat-containing proteins. Additionally, we determined the mitochondrial genomes of both species’ infected lineages and performed phylogenetic analyses to deduce the evolutionary dynamics of Wolbachia infection in the Ostrinia clade. According to the inferred phylogenetic relationship, two possible scenarios were proposed: (1) Wolbachia infection was established in the Ostrinia clade prior to the speciation of related species such as O. furnacalis and O. scapulalis, or (2) Wolbachia infection in these species was introgressively transferred from a currently unidentified relative. Simultaneously, the relatively high homology of mitochondrial genomes suggested recent Wolbachia introgression between infected Ostrinia species. The findings of this study collectively shed light on the host-symbiont interaction from an evolutionary standpoint.
Improving Quality Metrics with a Day‐only Skin Abscess Protocol: Experience from Australia
Authors: Li Crystal , Nguyen Peter , Garg Parul , Pham Helen , Hitos Kerry , Pang Tony
Published: February 2023

Background

Skin abscesses are a common emergency presentation often requiring incision and drainage; however, issues with theatre access lead to delays in management and high costs. The long‐term impact in a tertiary centre of a standardised day‐only protocol is unknown. The aim was to evaluate the impact of day‐only skin abscess protocol (DOSAP) for emergency surgery of skin abscesses in a tertiary institution in Australia and to provide a blueprint for other institutions.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study analysed several time periods: Period A (July 2014 to 2015, n = 201) pre‐DOSAP implementation, Period B (July 2016 to 2017, n = 259) post‐DOSAP, and Period C (July 2018 to 2022, n = 1,625) prospectively analysed four 12‐month periods to assess long‐term utilisation of DOSAP. Primary outcomes were length of stay and delay to theatre. Secondary outcome measures included theatre start time, representation rates and total costs. Statistical analysis using nonparametric methods was used to analyse the data.

Results

There was a significant decrease in ward length of stay (1.25 days vs. 0.65 days, P < 0.0001), delay to theatre (0.81 days vs. 0.44 days, P < 0.0001) and theatre start time before 10AM (44 cases vs. 96 cases, P < 0.0001) after implementation of DOSAP. There was a significant decrease in median cost of admission of $711.74 after accounting for inflation. Period C reported 1,006 abscess presentations successfully managed by DOSAP over the four‐year period.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates the successful implementation of DOSAP in an Australian tertiary centre. The ongoing utilisation of the protocol demonstrates the ease of applicability.
Flow development and leading edge vorticity in bristled insect wings
Authors: O’Callaghan Felicity , Lehmann Fritz-Olaf
Published: February 2023

Small flying insects such as the tiny thrip Gynaikothrips ficorum have wings with bristles attached to a solid shaft instead of solid membranes. Air passing through the bristle fringe, however, makes bristled insect wings less effective for aerodynamic force production. In this study, we quantified the ability of bristled wings to generate a leading edge vortex (LEV) for lift support during wing flapping, scored its circulation during wing translation, and investigated its behaviour at the stroke reversals. The data were measured in robotic model wings flapping with a generic kinematic pattern at Reynolds number of ~ 3.4, while applying two-dimensional particle image velocimetry. We found that aerodynamic performance due to LEV circulation linearly decreases with increasing bristle spacing. The wings of Gynaikothrips ficorum might thus produce approximately 9% less aerodynamic force for flight than a solid membranous wing. At the stroke reversals, leading and trailing edge vortices dissipate quickly within no more than ~ 2% of the stroke cycle duration. This elevated dissipation makes vortex shedding obsolete during the reversals and allows a quick build-up of counter-vorticity when the wing reverses flapping direction. In sum, our findings highlight the flow conditions associated with bristled wing design in insects and are thus significant for assessing biological fitness and dispersal of insects flying in a viscosity-dominated fluid regime.
Can global warming bring more dust?
Authors: Zhou Yumeng , Wu Tongwen , Zhou Yang , Zhang Jie , Zhang Fang , Su Xiaole , Jie Weihua , Zhao He , Zhang Yanwu , Wang Jun
Published: February 2023

In the late twentieth century, global mean surface air temperature especially on land is continuously warming. Our analyses show that the global mean of dust increased since 1980, using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis version 2 for Research and Applications (MERRA-2) reanalysis data. This variation of global dust is mainly contributed by the dust increase outside of dust core areas (i.e. high dust mass concentration region). The causes to result in global dust variations are explored. In dust core areas, surface wind is the primary driving factor for surface dust, both of which show no remarkable trends of increase or decrease since 1980. In areas outside of the core areas, especially in arid and semi-arid areas in North and Middle Asia, surface air temperature warming is the primary impact factor causing the dust increase. An increase in surface air temperature is accompanied by enhancement of atmospheric instability which can trigger more upward motion and bring more dust. All 9 Earth System Models (ESMs) for the Aerosol Chemistry Model Intercomparison Project (AerChemMIP) reproduce the reasonable spatial distribution and seasonal cycle of dust in the present day. But only a few models such as BCC-ESM1 and GFDL-ESM4 simulate the increasing trend of dust similar to MERRA-2. While the primary impact of wind in dust core areas, and surface temperature outside of the core areas, especially in middle to high latitudes in Eurasian continent, are presented in most ESMs.
Age prediction in sub-adults based on MRI segmentation of 3rd molar tissue volumes
Authors: Bjørk Mai Britt , Kvaal Sigrid Ingeborg , Bleka Øyvind , Sakinis Tomas , Tuvnes Frode Alexander , Haugland Mari-Ann , Lauritzen Peter Mæhre , Eggesbø Heidi Beate
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Our aim was to investigate tissue volumes measured by MRI segmentation of the entire 3rd molar for prediction of a sub-adult being older than 18 years.

Material and method

We used a 1.5-T MR scanner with a customized high-resolution single T2 sequence acquisition with 0.37 mm iso-voxels. Two dental cotton rolls drawn with water stabilized the bite and delineated teeth from oral air. Segmentation of the different tooth tissue volumes was performed using SliceOmatic (Tomovision©). Linear regression was used to analyze the association between mathematical transformation outcomes of the tissue volumes, age, and sex. Performance of different transformation outcomes and tooth combinations were assessed based on the p value of the age variable, combined or separated for each sex depending on the selected model. The predictive probability of being older than 18 years was obtained by a Bayesian approach.

Results

We included 67 volunteers (F/M: 45/22), range 14–24 years, median age 18 years. The transformation outcome (pulp + predentine)/total volume for upper 3rd molars had the strongest association with age (p = 3.4 × 10−9).

Conclusion

MRI segmentation of tooth tissue volumes might prove useful in the prediction of age older than 18 years in sub-adults.
Are the [6]-coordinated sites in tourmaline in certain cases partially vacant?
Authors: Ertl Andreas
Published: February 2023

Tourmaline has two different [6]-coordinated sites, the Y site and the Z site. Vacancies were reported from both sites. Based on high-quality chemical and single-crystal structural data it usually needs increasing proportions of short-range order configurations Na(Al2□)Al6(BO3)3[Si6O18]V(OH)3W(OH) or Na(Al2□)Al6(BO3)3[Si6O18]V(OH)3WF in order to produce Y-site vacancies (with □ being the symbol for a vacant site). Less commonly, the short-range configuration Ca(Al2□)Al6(BO3)3[Si5T3+O18]V(OH)3W(OH) could occur in Al-rich tourmalines with a Si deficiency, where T3+  = B, Al. Therefore, tourmalines enriched in cations with charge 2 + (Fe2+, Mn2+, Mg) contain only insignificant Y-site vacancies. Aluminum-rich tourmalines with ≥ 7.0 apfu Altotal that usually contain ≥ 0.2 apfu Li may have significant vacancies at the Y site. However, no more than 12% vacancies (0.36 pfu) at the Y site can be observed in such samples. If no chemical data for Li is available it is proposed to calculate the Li content in such colourless or coloured tourmalines (elbaite, fluor-elbaite, fluor-liddicoatite, rossmanite) for Y = 2.8 apfu or for Y + Z + T = 14.8 apfu, because this calculation should give more accurate results than calculating the Li content as the difference to 3.0 apfu at the Y site. For Fe2+-rich and Mg-bearing tourmalines from the schorl-dravite series with MgO > 1.0 wt% (and only minor amounts of Fe3+, Cr3+ and V3+) the structural formula can still be calculated for Y + Z + T = 15 apfu, because such tourmalines do not appear to contain significant Y-site vacancies. It can further be concluded that the Z site could be only ≤ 1% vacant and therefore such vacancies would be insignificant even in Al-rich tourmaline.
Onset of periodontitis — a registry-based cohort study
Authors: Trullenque-Eriksson Anna , Derks Jan , Andersson Jessica Skoogh
Published: February 2023

Objectives

The present retrospective registry-based cohort study aimed to identify parameters associated with the onset of periodontitis in young adults.

Material and methods

A total of 345 Swedish subjects were clinically examined at age 19 years (as part of an epidemiological survey) and then followed up to 31 years through the Swedish Quality Registry for Caries and Periodontal diseases (SKaPa). The registry data including periodontal parameters were obtained for the period 2010–2018 (23–31 years). Logistic regression and survival models were used to identify risk factors for periodontitis (PPD ≥6 mm at ≥2 teeth).

Results

The incidence of periodontitis during the 12-year observation period was 9.8%. Cigarette smoking (modified pack-years; HR 2.35, 95%CI 1.34–4.13) and increased probing pocket depth (number of sites with PPD 4–5 mm; HR 1.04, 95%CI 1.01–1.07) at 19 years were risk factors for periodontitis in subsequent young adulthood. No statistically significant association was identified for gender, snuff use, plaque and marginal bleeding scores.

Conclusion

Cigarette smoking and increased probing pocket depth (≥4 mm) in late adolescence (19 years) were relevant risk factors for periodontitis in young adulthood.

Clinical relevance

Our study identified cigarette smoking and increased probing depth in late adolescence as relevant risk factors of periodontitis in young adulthood. Preventive programs should therefore consider both cigarette smoking and probing pocket depths in their risk assessment.
Suitability test of virtual reality applications for older people considering the spatial orientation ability
Authors: Bürger D. , Pastel S. , Chen C.-H. , Petri K. , Schmitz M. , Wischerath L. , Witte K.
Published: February 2023

Previous studies showed similar spatial orientation ability (SO) between real world (RW) and virtual reality (VR). As the SO deteriorates with age, it is crucial to investigate whether the degradation is similar in VR, as it may affect the use of VR tools for older people, such as in physical therapy. Therefore, we extended our previous study, in which similar SO between RW and VR was measured for younger participants (18–35 years) with a higher age group (> 55 years) to examine the VR's influence on their SO. Two main tests were conducted. In the first test, the participants were blindfolded, asked to rotate (0°, 45°, 180°, 225°) on a fixed starting position, and walk straight to different objects they had memorized before. This test was conducted twice. An ANOVA only revealed a significant interaction between the factors Age (young/old) and Condition (VR/RW) for the 45°-rotation in the second run. Here, both age groups performed similarly in RW, while in VR, greater deviations in the older participants appeared. Nevertheless, the overall Age*Condition-interaction in the first test was not significant. In the second test, subjects were required to walk blindfolded to two objects starting from different positions. The starting position and objects changed three times in each condition but were equal between RW and VR. No interactions between the factors Age and Condition were found (p > 0.05). Both tests showed a similar influence of VR on the SO of both age groups, supporting the usage of VR, regardless of age.
The short-term effects of air pollution exposure on preterm births in Chongqing, China: 2015–2020
Authors: Ming Xin , He Ziyi , Li Yannan , Hu Yaqiong , Yang Yunping , Chen Hongyan , Chen Qin , Yang Huan , Zhou Wenzheng
Published: February 2023

Accumulating evidence suggested that the risk of preterm births (PTBs) following prenatal exposure to air pollution was inconclusive. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between air pollution exposure in the days before delivery and PTB and assess the threshold effect of short-term prenatal exposure to air pollution on PTB. This study collected data including meteorological factors, air pollutants, and information in Birth Certificate System from 9 districts during 2015–2020 in Chongqing, China. Generalized additive models (GAMs) with the distributed lag non-linear models were conducted to assess the acute impact of air pollutants on the daily counts of PTB, after controlling for potential confounding factors. We observed that PM2.5was related to increased occurrence of PTB on lag 0–3 and lag 10–21 days, with the strongest on the first day (RR = 1.017, 95%CI: 1.000–1.034) and then decreasing. The thresholds of PM2.5for lag 1–7 and 1–30 days were 100 μg/m3and 50 μg/m3, respectively. The lag effect of PM10on PTB was very similar to that of PM2.5. In addition, the lagged and cumulative exposure of SO2and NO2was also associated with the increased risk of PTB. The lag relative risk and cumulative relative risk of CO exposure were the strongest, with a maximum RR at lag 0 (RR = 1.044, 95%CI: 1.018, 1.069). Importantly, the exposure–response curve of CO showed that RR increased rapidly when the concentration exceeded 1000 μg/m3. This study indicated significant associations between air pollution and PTB. The relative risk decreases with day lag, while the cumulative effect increases. Thus, pregnant women should understand the risk of air pollution and try to avoid high concentration exposure.
Threatened sustainability: extractivist tendencies in the forest-based bioeconomy in Finland
Authors: Holz Jana R.
Published: February 2023

Bioeconomy is portrayed by the EU and several national governments as a central element contributing to sustainability strategies and a post-fossil transformation. This paper critically engages with extractivist patterns and tendencies in the forest sector as one of the main bio-based sectors. It argues that despite the official endorsement of circularity and renewability in the forest-based bioeconomy, current developments of modern bioeconomy might threaten sustainability prospects. The Finnish forest-based bioeconomy and one of its well-known showcase projects, the bioproduct mill (BPM) in the municipality of Äänekoski, serve as a case study in this paper. The forest-based bioeconomy in Finland is scrutinized as a potential continuation or consolidation of extractivist patterns, rather than an alternative to these tendencies. The lens of extractivism is applied to identify possible extractivist and unsustainable characteristics of the case study which are discussed along the following dimensions: (A) degree of export orientation and processing, (B) the scale, scope, and speed of extraction, (C) socio-economic and environmental impacts, and (D) subjective relations to nature. The extractivist lens provides analytical value to scrutinizing practices, principles, and dynamics of the contested political field and vision of bioeconomy in the Finnish forest sector. The analysis results in a discussion of latent and manifest social, political, and ecological contradictions within the forest-based bioeconomy in Finland. Based on its analytical lens and the empirical case of the BPM in Äänekoski, it can be concluded that extractivist patterns and tendencies are perpetuated within the Finnish forest-based bioeconomy.
Tuning Aerosol Deposition of BiVO4 Films for Effective Sunlight Harvesting
Authors: Elsenberg A. , Emmler T. , Schieda M. , Gärtner F. , Klassen T.
Published: February 2023

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) offers high photon efficiencies in solar photo-anodes, due to its suitable semiconductor band gap energies and associated visible light absorption. In well-tuned conditions, such anodes enable green hydrogen generation in photoelectrochemical water splitting cells. Bismuth vanadate films have to ensure high efficiencies in electron/hole pair generation and sufficiently high rates of charge transfer to the conducting substrate and the electrolyte, respectively. Thus, the tuning of coating properties has to aim for high phase purity, good layer integrity as well as optimum diffusion path lengths. In order to explore the potential of aerosol deposition to produce BiVO4 films with high photoelectrochemical activity and to elucidate influences on microstructure and application properties, powder sizes and spraying parameters had to be tailored. By ball milling over durations of up to 20 min, particles sizes in the range from 8.3 down to 0.6 µm were obtained. With respect to spray conditions, the process gas pressure was varied from 1.0 to 2.1 bar corresponding to gas flow rates of 10-40 l/min. The wide range of powder sizes and parameters in aerosol deposition allowed for developing a window of deposition in order to derive the most promising combinations for layer build-up. Optimum parameter sets in application on stainless steel substrates were transferred to FTO-coated glass substrates for backlit cell layouts. The thickness and conductivity of the layers were adjusted to a layer thickness range of 200-500 nm in order to achieve maximum photocurrents. The production of homogeneous, large-scale prototypes demonstrates that aerosol deposition is suitable for processing layers for solar energy harvesting with high photo current densities of up to 3.55 mA/cm2.
Climate migration in Asia
Authors: Wesselbaum Dennis
Published: February 2023

This paper investigates the role of climatic factors in the migration decision. We use international migration flows between 198 origin countries and 16 OECD countries. We focus on the difference in the effect of climatic factors by region. Asia is an interesting region to study this relationship, because it is the most populated region in the world and the most affected one by climate change. Temperature has a smaller effect on migration towards OECD countries in Asia compared to Europe, Africa, and North America. For disasters, we only find a stronger effect on migration in Asia compared to Africa. Temperature matters in most regions while disasters do not. Generally, higher temperatures increase migration flows except in Asia, South America, and the Pacific.
“Like putting on an old pair of gloves” or “realising i am actually over it”: a qualitative study exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions on eating disorder recovery in the UK
Authors: Pegram Georgina , Craddock Nadia , Lewis-Smith Helena
Published: February 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions posed unique challenges for people living with eating disorders (EDs), particularly relating to social isolation and changes in treatment access. However, less is known about the experience of lockdown for people ‘in recovery’ from EDs or disordered eating (DE) (i.e., with an ED/DE history). This study explored: (i) how people with a self-reported ED/DE history responded to and managed the experience of lockdown, specifically in relation to their recovery, and (ii) coping strategies for the management of recovery. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between June and August 2020 with 20 adults with a self-reported ED/DE history living in the UK. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis within a critical realist framework. Three overarching themes were identified: (1) Seeking safety and stability during a pandemic, (2) Lockdown prompting realisations about recovery, and (3) Exploring self-compassion as a more adaptive approach. While most participants experienced a resurgence in ED symptoms during lockdown, many reflected on the successful management of these as reinforcing their recovery. These findings have important implications for understanding ED recovery, in addition to informing interventions to better promote recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
Multiple Fish Species Supplement Predation in Estuaries Despite the Dominance of a Single Consumer
Authors: Mosman Jesse D. , Gilby Ben L. , Olds Andrew D. , Goodridge Gaines Lucy A. , Borland Hayden P. , Henderson Christopher J.
Published: February 2023

Predation is important in maintaining the community structure, functioning and ecological resilience of estuarine seascapes. Understanding how predator community structure, seascape context and habitat condition combine to influence predation is vital in managing estuarine ecosystems. We measured relationships between predator species richness, predator abundance and individual species abundances as well as seascape context and habitat condition, on relative predation probability in mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and unvegetated sediment across 11 estuaries in Queensland, Australia. Predation was quantified using videoed assays of tethered invertebrates (i.e. ghost nippers, Trypaea australiensis) and fish assemblages were surveyed using remote underwater video systems. Yellowfin bream (Acanthopagrus australis) dominated predation in all three habitats; however, predation was not correlated with yellowfin bream abundance. Instead, predation increased fourfold in mangroves and threefold in unvegetated sediment when predatory species richness was highest (> 3 species), and increased threefold in seagrass when predator abundance was highest (> 10 individuals). Predation in mangroves increased fourfold in forests with a lower pneumatophore density (< 50/m2). In seagrass, predation increased threefold at sites that had a greater extent (> 2000 m2) of seagrass, with longer shoot lengths (> 30 cm) and at sites that were closer to (< 2000 m) the estuary mouth. Predation on unvegetated sediment increased threefold when more extensive salt marshes (> 15000 m2) were nearby. These findings demonstrate the importance of predator richness and abundance in supplementing predation in estuaries, despite the dominance of a single species, and highlight how seascape context and habitat condition can have strong effects on predation in estuaries.
Greece since the 1960s: the mortality transition revisited: a joinpoint regression analysis
Authors: Zafeiris Konstantinos N.
Published: February 2023

Mortality transition in Greece is a well-studied phenomenon in several of its aspects. It is characterised by an almost constant increase in life expectancy at birth and other ages and a parallel decrease in death probabilities. The scope of this paper is a comprehensive assessment of the mortality transition in Greece since 1961, in the light of holistic analysis. Within this paper, life tables by gender were calculated and the temporal trends of life expectancy at several ages were examined. Moreover, a cluster analysis was used in order to verify the temporal changes in the mortality patterns. The probabilities of death in large age classes are presented. Furthermore, the death distribution was analysed in relation to various parameters: the modal age at death, mode, left and right inflexion points and the length of the old age heap. Before that, a non-linear regression method, originating from the stochastic analysis, was applied. Additionally, the Gini coefficient, average inter-individual differences, and interquartile range of survival curves were examined. Finally, the standardised rates of the major causes of death are presented. All the analysis variables were scholastically examined for their temporal trends with the method of Joinpoint Regression analysis. Mortality transition in Greece after the year 1961 is asymmetrical with a gender and an age-specific component, leading to the elevation of life expectancy at birth over time. During this period, the older ages’ mortality decreases, but at a slower pace than that of the younger ones. The modal age at death, mode, the left and right inflexion points and the width of the old age heap denote the compression of mortality in the country. The old age death heap shifts towards older ages, while at the same time, the variability of ages at death decreases, being verified by the Gini Coefficient and average inter-individual differences. As a result, the rectangularization of survival curves is evident. These changes have a different pace of transition over time, especially after the emergence of the economic crisis. Finally, the major causes of death were the diseases of the circulatory system, neoplasms, diseases of the respiratory system and others. The temporal trends of these diseases differ according to the diseases and gender. Greece’s mortality transition is an asymmetrical stepwise process characterised by its gender and age-specific characteristics. This process, despite being a continuous one, is not linear. Instead, a combination of serious developments over time governs the country’s modern mortality regime. The evaluation of Greece’s mortality transition through the lens of more advanced analytical methods may provide new insights and methodological alternatives for assessing mortality transition in other countries of the world.
Stress adaptation and resilience of academics in higher education
Authors: Ross P. M. , Scanes E. , Locke W.
Published: February 2023

Academics in higher education around the world indicate high levels of stress from multiple sources. The COVID-19 pandemic has only served to intensify stress levels. Adaptation and resilience are needed if academics, particularly those focused on education and teaching, are to endure, learn, and bounce back during this era of stress and contribute to education quality and student learning. This review is organized to answer two key questions. First, what are the main forms of stress for academics, especially those focused on education and teaching? Second, what are the responses of academics to stress and is the concept of resilience relevant to understand the consequences for academic careers oriented toward education and education quality? To answer these questions, we first critically review the literature on the responses of academics to stress and the concept of resilience, which has been employed by multiple disciplines, including teacher education. We then broadly define the resilience of academics as their capacity to learn from and adapt to stress; our definition is perhaps less about individual personality characteristics and more associated with the relational aspect of the socioecological higher education ecosystem. There are, however, limits to resilience and its potential effects on education quality and student learning. Given higher education’s adverse operating environment and the significant contributions of academics to the knowledge economy and graduate quality, understanding and building the resilience of academics to adapt and succeed has never been more critical.
Metabolic syndrome and thyroid Cancer: risk, prognosis, and mechanism
Authors: Li Ling-Rui , Song Jun-Long , Liu Han-Qing , Chen Chuang
Published: February 2023

The increasing incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) cannot be fully explained by overdiagnosis. Metabolic syndrome (Met S) is highly prevalent due to the modern lifestyle, which can lead to the development of tumors. This review expounds on the relationship between Met S and TC risk, prognosis and its possible biological mechanism. Met S and its components were associated with an increased risk and aggressiveness of TC, and there were gender differences in most studies. Abnormal metabolism places the body in a state of chronic inflammation for a long time, and thyroid-stimulating hormones may initiate tumorigenesis. Insulin resistance has a central role assisted by adipokines, angiotensin II, and estrogen. Together, these factors contribute to the progression of TC. Therefore, direct predictors of metabolic disorders (e.g., central obesity, insulin resistance and apolipoprotein levels) are expected to become new markers for diagnosis and prognosis. cAMP, insulin-like growth factor axis, angiotensin II, and AMPK-related signaling pathways could provide new targets for TC treatment.
Current Status of Phytoseiid Mites as Biological Control Agents in Latin America and Experiences from Argentina Using Neoseiulus californicus
Authors: Vásquez Carlos , Colmenárez Yelitza Coromoto , Greco Nancy , Ramos Mayra
Published: February 2023

Phytoseiidae is a large family of Mesostigmata mites. Members of this family are important biological control agents across the world since they are well-known natural enemies of phytophagous arthropods on cultivated and non-cultivated plants, mainly used to control pest spider mites. However, some can control thrips in greenhouses and fields. Several studies reporting on species in Latin America have been published. The most extensive studies were conducted in Brazil. Phytoseiid mites have been used in different biological control approaches, with two successful classical biological control programs: the biocontrol of the cassava green mite using Typhlodromalus aripo (Deleon) in Africa and the citrus and avocado mites by Euseius stipulatus (Athias-Henriot) in California. Efforts in using phytoseiid mites to enforce biological control of different phytophagous mites are being made in Latin America. Till now, only a few successful examples are available on this topic. This fact highlights the need to continue the investigations on the ability of other unknown species to be used in biological control through close collaboration between researchers and biocontrol companies. Various challenges remain, such as developing better rearing systems to provide a large number of predators to farmers in various crop systems, training farmers to improve their understanding of the use of predators, and chemical control aimed at conservation biological control, looking forward to increasing the use of the phytoseiid mites as biological control agents in Latin America and the Caribbean.