bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
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

AbstractPrevious 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

AbstractAccumulating 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

AbstractBioeconomy 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

AbstractBismuth 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

AbstractThis 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

AbstractThe 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

AbstractPredation 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

AbstractMortality 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

AbstractAcademics 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

AbstractThe 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

AbstractPhytoseiidae 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.
Efficient state representation with artificial potential fields for reinforcement learning
Authors: Jiang Hao , Li Shengze , Zhang Jieyuan , Zhu Yuqi , Xu Xinhai , Liu Donghong 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn the complex tasks environment, efficient state feature learning is a key factor to improve the performance of the agent’s policy. When encountering a similar new environment, reinforcement learning agents usually need to learn from scratch. However, humans naturally have a common sense of the environment and are able to use prior knowledge to extract environmental state features. Although the prior knowledge may not be fully applicable to the new environment, it is able to speed up the learning process of the state feature. Taking this inspiration, we propose an artificial potential field-based reinforcement learning (APF-RL) method. The method consists of an artificial potential field state feature abstractor (APF-SA) and an artificial potential field intrinsic reward model (APF-IR). The APF-SA can introduce human knowledge to accelerate the learning process of the state feature. The APF-IR can generate an intrinsic reward to reduce the invalid exploration and guide the learning of the agent’s policy. We conduct experiments on PySC2 with different mini-games. The experimental results show that the APF-RL method achieves improvement in the learning efficiency compared to the benchmarks.
Occurrence and distribution of pineapple mealybug wilt-associated viruses (PMWaVs) in MD2 pineapple fields in the Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia
Authors: Moreno Isabel , Rodríguez-Arévalo Kevin Alejandro , Tarazona-Velásquez Rubilma , Kondo Takumasa 
Published: February 2023

AbstractMD2 pineapple production in the Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia, has increased in recent years due to its preference in the national and international markets. Pineapple mealybug wilt (PMW), reported in all production areas around the world, is associated with two mealybug species, Dysmicoccus brevipes and D. neobrevipes, and a group of virus species known as pineapple mealybug wilt-associated viruses (PMWaVs). In a previous study, D. brevipes was determined to be the main mealybug species associated with pineapples in the region; hence, the objective of this study was to determine the occurrence and distribution of PMWaVs in pineapple plants and specimens of D. brevipes collected in five MD2 pineapple fields in the Department of Valle del Cauca. Our results confirmed the presence of three virus species in both plant and mealybug specimens. PMWaV3 showed the highest detection frequencies (92.6% and 88.7%), followed by PMWaV1 (26.5% and 8.3%) and PMWaV2 (12.0% and 2.0%) in plant and mealybug samples, respectively. Mixed infections of PMWaVs were found also in the studied plant material. The most common virus association consisting of PMWaV1 and PMWaV3 was found in 30 plant samples (20%). The correlation analysis between each virus species found in mealybugs and their pineapple host suggests that PMWaV3 is not only transmitted through infested plant material, but that D. brevipes may also play a role in the dynamics of disease dissemination. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of PMWaV transmission in MD2 pineapple-cultivated areas in the Valle del Cauca region.
Dynamical properties of minimal Ferenczi subshifts
Authors: ARBULÚ FELIPE , DURAND FABIEN 
Published: February 2023

AbstractWe provide an explicit
$\mathcal {S}$
-adic representation of rank-one subshifts with bounded spacers and call the subshifts obtained in this way ‘minimal Ferenczi subshifts’. We aim to show that this approach is very convenient to study the dynamical behavior of rank-one systems. For instance, we compute their topological rank, the strong and the weak orbit equivalence class. We observe that they have an induced system that is a Toeplitz subshift having discrete spectrum. We also characterize continuous and non-continuous eigenvalues of minimal Ferenczi subshifts.