bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does risk preference influence farm level adaptation strategies? – Survey evidence from Denmark
Authors: Nainggolan Doan , Moeis Faizal Rahmanto , Termansen Mette 
Published: September 2023

AbstractFarmers’ decisions to adopt new technology or measures for agricultural production processes are crucial for adapting to climate change. Meanwhile, risk preference has received great attention over the years in agriculture-related studies as it has been identified as a strong driver for agricultural production decisions. However, empirical studies on the relationship between farmers' risk preferences and adaptation choices in response to climate change remain scant. The present study, utilizing data from a farmer survey in Denmark, aims to examine farmer risk attitude and determine to what extent it influences crop choice decisions, such as crop changes, as an important part of farm level adaptation strategies. Applying a logit regression method, our study finds that: (1) the majority of farmers in the survey were identified as risk tolerant; (2) several demographic and socio-economic factors, such as work experience and farmland tenure were significantly related with farmer risk preference; (3) actual adoption of the majority of farm level adaptation strategies through crop changes and management was found to be significantly less likely for risk averse farmers compared to risk tolerant farmers. Therefore, policy development to promote successful adaptation measures in the agricultural sector should take into account farmers' risk preferences. To this end, risk averse farmers may need better targeting strategies. Future studies could further investigate the role of farmers' risk preferences on the adoption of a wider range of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures and technologies.
Strategic Action Fields Through Digital Network Data: An Examination of Charitable Food Provision in Greater Manchester
Authors: Oncini Filippo , Ciordia Alejandro 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis article illustrates how qualitative and network evidence complement one another for obtaining a deeper understanding of meso-level social orders theorized as strategic action fields. Making use of network data based on Twitter follower relationships and building on a previous qualitative study on the food charities active in Greater Manchester, we show how network-analytic formalizations of even apparently unimportant digital connections—Twitter ‘follows’—can provide meaningful insights into the functioning of strategic action fields. Focusing on this local charitable food provision field, the article makes a number of broader empirical and methodological contributions potentially relevant to the study of non-profits and other multi-organizational fields. The results of the network analyses mostly confirm the findings obtained using qualitative data, but also point to potential contradictions and puzzles that may indicate further lines of inquiry. In the discussion, we highlight the strengths and limitations of this approach and suggest how researchers could use easily available digital network data at different phases of their field investigations.
Effect of short-term exposure to air pollution on daily cardio- and cerebrovascular hospitalisations in areas with a low level of air pollution
Authors: Hasnain Md Golam , Garcia-Esperon Carlos , Tomari Yumi Kashida , Walker Rhonda , Saluja Tarunpreet , Rahman Md Mijanur , Boyle Andrew , Levi Christopher R. , Naidu Ravi , Filippelli Gabriel , Spratt Neil J. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractExposure to air pollution is associated with increased cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. However, the evidence regarding the short-term effect of air pollution on cardio- and cerebrovascular hospitalisations in areas with relatively low air pollution levels is limited. This study aims to examine the effect of short-term exposure to different air pollutants on hospital admissions due to cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases in rural and regional Australia with low air pollution. The study was conducted in five local Government areas of Hunter New England Local Health District (HNE-LHD). Hospitalisation data from January 2018 to February 2020 (820 days) were accessed from the HNE-LHD admitted patients’ dataset. Poisson regression model was used to examine the association between the exposure (air pollutants) and outcome variables (hospitalisation due to cardio- and cerebrovascular disease). The concentrations of gaseous air pollutants, Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ozone (O3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Ammonia (NH3) were below national benchmark concentrations for every day of the study period. In single pollutant models, SO2 and NO2 significantly increased the daily number of cardio- and cerebrovascular hospitalisations. The highest cumulative effect for SO2 was observed across lag 0–3 days (Incidence Rate Ratio, IRR: 1.77; 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 1.18–2.65; p-value: 0.01), and for NO2, it was across lag 0–2 days (IRR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.02–1.25; p-value: 0.02). In contrast, higher O3 was associated with decreased cardio- and cerebrovascular hospitalisations, with the largest effect observed at lag 0 (IRR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.89–0.98; p-value: 0.02). In the multi-pollutant model, the effect of NO2 remained significant at lag 0 and corresponded to a 21% increase in cardio- and cerebrovascular hospitalisation (95% CI: 1–44%; p-value = 0.04). Thus, the study revealed that gaseous air pollutants, specifically NO2, were positively related to increased cardio- and cerebrovascular hospitalisations, even at concentrations below the national standards.
Integrating consumer behaviour into the environmental assessment of circular packaging: a scoping review
Authors: Corona Blanca , Tunn Vivian S. C. , van den Broek Karlijn L. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPurposeThe impact of applying circular strategies to products is often measured through life cycle assessment (LCA). While LCA estimates and compares the impacts of circular products, its ability to integrate consumer behaviour is currently limited. The integration of consumer behavioural insights is especially relevant in the packaging sector, where consumer actions at the end-of-life are crucial for the success of circular strategies. This study explores integrating behavioural insights from consumer behaviour sciences (including psychology, sociology and socio-technical approaches) into LCA for a better assessment and design of circular packaging.MethodsThrough a scoping review, scientific literature was mapped to (1) investigate the current integration of consumer behaviour aspects within packaging LCAs and (2) explore the behavioural determinants influencing the recycling and reusing of circular packaging. By building on the insights from these reviews, this study provides recommendations on how to integrate behavioural insights with LCA to assess the impact of circular packaging systems.Results and discussionThe results indicate that LCA studies for packaging are generally based on assumptions on consumer behaviour, reducing their utility for circular decision-making. The main methods currently used to integrate behaviour variability are scenario and sensitivity analysis, with some studies using consumer profiles and behaviour research to support LCA modelling. Socio-technical approaches, e.g. agent-based modelling or system dynamics, have not been applied yet to integrate a behavioural perspective into the LCA of circular packaging, while this may be a promising avenue. The behaviour science literature covered several predictors found to be important to understand packaging reuse and recycling behaviour. Our review shows that attitudinal and value dimensions have consistently been found to influence both packaging reuse and recycling behaviour, while the latter is also strongly driven by control factors. While LCA modellers can obtain behavioural insights from the behavioural literature, the step of transforming these insights into quantifiable behaviour patterns still needs to be taken. Such endeavours can help to translate individual behaviour predictors into behavioural patterns regarding packaging reuse and recycling.ConclusionsConsumer behaviour is currently not widely considered in the LCA of circular packaging. Insights from consumer behaviour sciences can contribute to LCA studies in two main ways: defining consumer profiles and modelling socio-technical parameters. Consumer profiles could be drawn from the psychological behaviour literature, while socio-technical approaches can provide models of system behaviour where the interaction of different system actors and items is quantitatively modelled and coupled with LCA models.
Partizipation im studentischen Gesundheitsmanagement: Förderfaktoren und Barrieren der Mitbestimmung Studierender
Authors: Westbrock Anna 
Published: September 2023

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund
Für ein erfolgreiches studentisches Gesundheitsmanagement (SGM) ist die Partizipation Studierender entscheidend. Die Vorteile von Partizipation sind vielfach belegt und verschiedene Partizipationsmöglichkeiten im SGM bereits erprobt. Dennoch gestaltet es sich schwierig, Partizipierende zu gewinnen. Um dem entgegenwirken, ist es das Ziel der folgenden Arbeit, Förderfaktoren und Barrieren der Studierendenpartizipation im SGM zu identifizieren und erste Empfehlungen für die Praxis abzuleiten.

Methode
Da bisher ein sehr eingeschränkter Forschungsstand hinsichtlich der genannten Fragestellung vorliegt, wurde ein qualitatives, exploratives Vorgehen gewählt. Es wurden 9 semistrukturierte Interviews mit Studierenden der Hochschule Kempten geführt. Die Auswertung erfolgte anhand der qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse nach Kuckartz.

Ergebnisse
Die Studierenden berichten von förderlichen und hinderlichen Faktoren, die sich in personenbezogene und verhältnisbezogene aufteilen lassen. Zu den personenbezogenen Einflussfaktoren zählen individuelle, soziale sowie studiums- und berufsbezogene Einflüsse. Als verhältnisbezogene Faktoren wurden die Einbettung der Partizipation, die Art des Projekts und der Zusammenarbeit, Bekanntheit und Zugang zum SGM, der Studienrhythmus und zusätzliche Anreize identifiziert.

Schlussfolgerung
Anhand der Interviews konnten konkrete Einflussfaktoren auf die Partizipation der Studierenden an der Hochschule Kempten erfasst werden. Diese bilden wichtige Ansatzpunkte für die erfolgreiche Mitwirkung Studierender im SGM und können damit langfristig zu einer nachhaltigen Förderung der Gesundheit Studierender beitragen.
Frailty and its influence on mortality and morbidity in COPD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Verduri Alessia , Carter Ben , Laraman James , Rice Ceara , Clini Enrico , Maskell Nick Anthony , Hewitt Jonathan 
Published: September 2023

AbstractFrailty increases vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Long-term conditions increase the risk of frailty. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE from inception to March 2022. Quality assessment was conducted using the NOS. Data was analysed in a pooled a random-effects meta-analysis. Our primary outcome was the impact of frailty on mortality in adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) diagnosis according to the guidelines. Secondary outcomes were: frailty and association with readmissions, hospitalisations, exacerbation rates, and prevalence of frailty in COPD. We identified 25 studies, with 5882 participants. The median prevalence of frailty was 47% (IQR, 39.3–66.3%, range 6.4–72%). There was an association between COPD patients living with frailty and increased risk of mortality versus COPD patients without frailty (pooled OR, 4.21 (95% CI 2.99–5.93, I2 55%). A descriptive analysis of relationship between frailty and hospital readmission and all cause hospitalization showed positive associations. The relationship between frailty and the risk of exacerbation showed a pooled OR, 1.45 (95% CI 0.37–5.70, I2 80%). Frailty is significantly associated with higher mortality risk in COPD. Frailty is common in patients with COPD and its measurement should be considered in clinical practice to better characterise COPD.
Development of a signature verification model based on a small number of samples
Authors: Chang Shyang-Jye , Wu Tai-Rong 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIn this study, an improved AlexNet and transfer learning architecture was used to construct a signature recognition model based on a small number of samples to verify offline signatures. To enhance the features of signatures, drawing boards were used to extract the pen pressure and brush stroke of these signatures. The signatures of eight individuals were used to build the samples and test the generalizability of the model for signatures of different individuals. Visualization technology was first used to adjust the architecture, activation function, and normalization of the model, improving the accuracy from 77.50 to 96.87%. Subsequently, transfer learning was used to solve the problem of the small number of samples, and the number of channels of the model was changed to improve its feature extraction. After all samples were prepared, 560 samples of the source database and 80 samples of the target database were used for transfer learning, which further improved the accuracy to 97.28%. To verify whether the model can recognize newly collected signatures, several original signatures, simple forged signatures, and skilled forged signatures were tested, revealing recognition rates of 91.25%, 95.63%, and 85.63%, respectively. In addition, the overall precision, recall, and F1 score of the model were 90.68%, 91.25%, and 90.97%, respectively, confirming an improvement in the feature extraction capability by extracting brush stroke and that transfer learning can be used with a small number of samples to create a model with excellent recognition rates and generalizability.
Identifying the natural and anthropogenic drivers of absorbing aerosols using OMI data and HYSPLIT model over South Asia
Authors: Nawaz Hasan , Tariq Salman , Haq Zia ul , Mehmood Usman 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAerosols absorption contributes significantly to the total radiative effects of aerosols and so an important component of radiative forcing estimates. Therefore, this study explores the spatiotemporal distribution of ultraviolet aerosol index (UVAI), future trends, potential sources of absorbing aerosols and their relationship with temperature, wind speed, precipitation and total ozone column using Ozone Monitoring Instrument retrieved UVAI and HYSPLIT model over South Asia during October 2004 to March 2022. The mean UVAI within the ranges of 0.56–1.62 are observed over Eastern and Southern Pakistan and Northern India associated with dust and biomass burning aerosols. The interannual variations in UVAI show that the values of UVAI increases from 1.73 to 3.11 during 2018–2021 over the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Contrary to this, UVAI < 0 is observed along the Karakorum and Himalaya range during 2005–2021 indicating presence of non-absorbing aerosols. The interaannual variations in UVAI reveal highest UVAI of 0.64 in December followed by 0.51 in July over South Asia. Seasonally, UVAI shows increasing trend at the rate of 0.9064 DJF−1, 0.3810 JJA−1, 0.2707 SON−1 and 0.0774 MAM−1 over South Asia. A positive correlation of 0.56 is observed between UVAI and wind speed followed by over Southern Pakistan followed 0.43 between UVAI and total ozone column Southern Pakistan and India. The UVAI shows increasing trend at the rate of 0.1409, 0.1124, 0.1224, 0.1015, 0.1242 and 0.2054 per year over Lahore, Karachi, Kanpur, New-Delhi, Varanasi, and Dhaka with maximum UVAI of 5.55, 4.47, 4.51, 4.99, 4.61 and 4.65 respectively during the study period. The anthropogenic productivity analysis reveals that primary industry and secondary industry contributes in lowering UVAI values whereas tertiary industry, energy consumption and gross domestic products increase aerosols loading in South Asia. Moreover, HYSPLIT cluster analysis further reveals the localized and trans-boundary sources of absorbing aerosols over the selected cities.
Treatment of Lp(a): Is It the Future or Are We Ready Today?
Authors: Tselepis Alexandros D. 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Purpose of Review
The goal of this review is to present the pharmacodynamic effectiveness as well as the clinical efficacy and safety of investigational antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interference RNAs (siRNAs) drugs that specifically target lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)). The review will discuss whether the existing lipid-lowering therapies are adequate to treat high Lp(a) levels or whether it is necessary to use the emerging new therapeutic approaches which are based on the current RNA technologies.

Recent Findings
Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), independent of other conventional risk factors. High Lp(a) levels are also independently associated with an increased risk of aortic stenosis progression rate. Plasma Lp(a) levels are primarily genetically determined by variation in the LPA gene coding for apo(a). All secondary prevention trials have demonstrated that the existing hypolipidemic therapies are not adequate to reduce Lp(a) levels to such an extent that could lead to a substantial reduction of ASCVD risk. This has led to the development of new drugs that target the mRNA transcript of LPA and efficiently inhibit Lp(a) synthesis leading to potent Lp(a) reduction. These new drugs are the ASO pelacarsen and the siRNAs olpasiran and SLN360. Recent pharmacodynamic studies showed that all these drugs potently reduce Lp(a) up to 98%, in a dose-dependent manner. Ongoing clinical trials will determine the Lp(a)-lowering efficacy, tolerability, and safety of these drugs as well as their potential effectiveness in reducing the ASCVD risk attributed to high plasma Lp(a) levels.

Summary
We are not ready today to significantly reduce plasma Lp(a). Emerging therapies potently decrease Lp(a) and ongoing clinical trials will determine their effectiveness in reducing ASCVD risk in subjects with high Lp(a) levels.
Chitosan oligosaccharide suppresses osteosarcoma malignancy by inhibiting CEMIP via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway
Authors: Sim IlJin , Choe WonGyom , Ri JinJu , Su Hang , Moqbel Safwat Adel Abdo , Yan WeiQi 
Published: September 2023

AbstractOsteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor that is prone to metastasize early and primarily affects children and adolescents. Cell migration-inducing protein (CEMIP) plays a crucial role in the progression and malignancy of various tumor diseases, including osteosarcoma. Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), an oligomer isolated from chitin, has been found to have significant anti-tumor activity in various cancers. This study investigates the effects of COS on CEMIP expression in osteosarcoma and explores the underlying mechanism. In present study, in vitro experiments were conducted to confirm the inhibitory activity of COS on human osteosarcoma cells. Our results demonstrate that COS possesses inhibitory effects against human osteosarcoma cells and significantly suppresses CEMIP expression in vitro. Next, we studied the inhibition of the expression of CEMIP by COS and then performed bioinformatics analysis to explore the potential inhibitory mechanism of COS against signaling pathways involved in regulating CEMIP expression. Bioinformatics analysis predicted a close association between the PI3K signaling pathway and CEMIP expression and that the inhibitory effect of COS on CEMIP expression may be related to PI3K signaling pathway regulation. The results of this study show that COS treatment significantly inhibits CEMIP expression and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, as observed both in vitro and in vivo. This study demonstrates that COS could inhibit the expression of CEMIP, which is closely related to osteosarcoma malignancy. This inhibitory effect may be attributed to the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.
Traditional Management of Maize in the Sierra Sur, Oaxaca, Maintains Moderate Levels of Genetic Diversity and Low Population Differentiation Among Landraces
Authors: Aragón-Martínez María del Consuelo , Serrato-Díaz Alejandra , Rocha-Munive Martha Graciela , Ramírez-Corona Fabiola , Vargas-Mendoza Carlos Fabián , Rendón-Aguilar Beatriz 
Published: September 2023

AbstractOaxaca is one of the areas of early maize diversification, with 28 to 35 recognized agronomic races. Campesinos (farmers) cultivate at least ten different races in the Los Loxicha region. There is evidence of introgression between them; however, some traditional practices have promoted further differentiation evidenced by the presence of different landraces, clearly recognized by various morphological and phenological characteristics. Therefore, moderate levels of genetic diversity and low levels of population differentiation are expected. Seven communities belonging to two municipalities were selected in 2005. In total, 140 semistructured interviews were administered, inquiring about cultural practices, which included questions about maize seed, ear, and cob management and selection and maize cultivation. Based on interviews and permissions, 30 maize plants from each of 28 fields (milpas) with maize crop belonging to five landraces (Conejo, Hueso, Tablita, Tepecente, and Pinto) were sampled. From the 82 ISSR loci amplified, Hueso and Conejo exhibited the highest and lowest number of loci (70 and 56 loci, respectively); 72% of loci analyzed in the five populations were polymorphic. The Hueso landrace presented the highest percentage of polymorphism (73%) and Conejo the lowest (54%). The expected heterozygosity (HeT) for the five landraces was 0.225 ± 0.032, and the genetic diversity of Nei (HST) was 0.225 ± 0.034. The population differentiation values obtained with GST indicated that Tablita and Hueso were the least differentiated, while the most differentiated were Pinto and Tepecente. STRUCTURE analysis identified two genetically differentiated groups (k = 2), consistent with the length of their agricultural cycle (number of days until flowering). UPGMA analysis showed that milpas belonging to the same landrace and with a specific agricultural cycle length were grouped, regardless of their geographic distribution. These results indicate that traditional management of maize in the Los Loxicha region, particularly as it relates to the selection of ears and seeds and control of the agricultural cycle, maintains a balance between morphological differentiation, moderate levels of genetic diversity and gene flow, and low levels of population differentiation. This has contributed to the high richness and low evenness of agronomic races reported for the mountainous regions of the Sierra Madre del Sur and for Oaxaca.