bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Solution casting of cellulose acetate films: influence of surface substrate and humidity on wettability, morphology and optical properties
Authors: Kramar Ana , Rodríguez Ortega Irene , González-Gaitano Gustavo , González-Benito Javier 
Published: January 2023

AbstractVariations on the processing conditions of conventional methods for polymeric film preparation may allow tuning certain properties. In this work, different casting surfaces and humidity are presented as variables to consider for cellulose acetate (CA) film preparation using conventional solution casting method. Specifically, borosilicate glass, soda-lime glass and Teflon (PTFE) dishes have been used for casting and their influence on various properties on CA films assessed. The surfaces of glass dishes are smooth, while PTFE surface has a pattern constituted by concentric channels of micro dimensions (as seen by optical microscope), which is adopted by cast films upon drying. The resulting patterned films are translucent while films produced using smooth surfaces are transparent. The effect of the environment humidity (35%, 55% and 75% RH) in the properties of the CA films during the evaporation of solvent from solution has been evaluated. Higher humidity produces smoother surfaces and increased crystallinity as shown by XRD and DSC; however, the wettability of the films does not seem to be influenced by this variable. Due to the specific morphology of the patterned films, changes in material opacity upon wetting are detected, from translucent to transparent, while the removal of water from the surface restores the translucency. This micropatterning effect that causes different visual appearance of the material can find use as a humidity sensor in food packaging applications.
Suppression of Meloiodogyne incognita (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae) and Tylenchulus semipenterans (Tylenchida: Tylenchulidae) using Tilapia fish powder and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in vivo and in vitro
Authors: El-Ashry Ramadan M. , Aioub Ahmed A. A. , Awad Salonaz E. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractPlant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) in particular those belonging to the genera Meloidogyne and Tylenchulus are a limiting factor in the production of many plants. In this research, we investigate a strategy for the control of PPNs in vivo and in vitro. The purpose of this research is to evaluate different concentrations of Tilapia fish powder (TFP) and of (in the form of BECTO Grow Roots®) against egg hatching and second-stage juveniles of Meloiodogyne incognita (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae) under laboratory condition. We also assessed the effect of TFP and on M. incognita and Tylenchulus semipenterans (Tylenchida: Tylenchulidae) reproduction. Our data showed that the percentage of egg hatching inhibition ranged from 8.03 to 53.21% and 42.25 to 75.12% after five days of treatment at different concentrations of TFP and PGPR, respectively compared with the control. The percentage of M. incognita J2 mortality increase significantly (p ≤ 0.05) from 52.1 to 86.7 and 44.6 to 92.3% after seven days of treatment at different concentrations of TFP and PGPR, respectively compared with control. Under greenhouse conditions, a remarkable (p ≤ 0.05) increase in plant growth parameters was observed in cucumber plants that received TFP and In the field experiment, the highest reduction of T. semipeneterans density was TFP +  PGPR This holds both for healthy and infected trees. Healthy navel orange (HNO) + PGPR + TFP achieved maximum enhancement in orange weight/tree compared to other treatments. Our study recommended TFP and PGPR not only because of their potential against nematodes, but also because of their safety for humans, mammals and non-target organisms.
Fiscal policies in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: are spending or revenue measures more effective?
Authors: Weyerstrass Klaus , Kovac Rijad 
Published: January 2023

AbstractWe examine the effectiveness of different fiscal policies in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH). For this purpose, we use a structural macroeconomic model for the FBiH. In this model, GDP in the Federation is influenced by world demand and by domestic demand in the Federation. Domestic demand comprises consumption of private households, public consumption, and gross fixed capital formation. Employment depends positively on GDP and negatively on the tax wedge, i.e., the net wage plus social security contribution rates (including the unemployment insurance), and the personal income tax rate in the Federation. The latter allows the analysis of the impact of changes in social security contribution rates or in the income tax rate in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The following Federation-specific policy instruments are implemented in the model for the FBiH: Pension funds contribution rate in FBiH; contribution rate for health insurance in FBiH; contribution rate for the unemployment insurance in FBiH; benefits from social security; direct tax rates (income tax rate, corporate tax rate); public consumption in FBiH. Our results show that policy measures that reduce the tax wedge on labour income are highly effective in stimulating employment. Due to the large elasticity of imports with respect to demand, pure demand-side measures have little impact on real variables, indicating that a small open economy like the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has only little scope for influencing macroeconomic developments with pure demand management policies. Our results confirm earlier theoretical and empirical studies showing that the labour market can best be influenced positively by reducing the tax wedge. The multipliers of income tax reductions are larger and oscillate more than the effects of the other fiscal policy measures.
Economic and behavioral determinants of forced household savings during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Borowski Jakub , Jaworski Krystian 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThis study seeks to identify the determinants of forced household savings in 16 European Union (EU) member states in 2020. We show that the higher the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state, measured by the intensity of government restrictions or the number of COVID-19-related deaths, the higher the level of forced savings. Such savings also increased with gross domestic product per capita and the financial support provided for households and enterprises by the government. Additionally, savings cultures and personality traits that support compliance with pandemic-related restrictions and enhance coping with the hardship of the pandemic had a positive impact on forced savings. Our results show that while common pandemic shock may lead to discrepancies in forced savings in affected countries, their level depends largely on government response in the form of imposed restrictions as well as financial support for households and enterprises. Therefore, strong fiscal support during the pandemic can be likened to sowing the seeds for post-pandemic recovery, as savings accumulated during the pandemic shock may be used to finance the pent-up demand. This, in turn, suggests that fiscal responses during the pandemic may act as a significant driver of post-pandemic business cycle (de)synchronization and inflation differentials among EU member states and, more importantly, euro-area countries.
Educating for participatory active citizenship: an example from the ecological activist field
Authors: Cruz Joana P. , Malafaia Carla , Silva José Eduardo , Rovisco Maria , Menezes Isabel 
Published: January 2023

AbstractBased on a short-term ethnography with a grassroots group of young environmental activists in the city of Porto, Portugal, this paper describes and problematizes their use of participatory methodologies to engage individual, community and organizational actors in tackling the problems of global climate change. By initiating what they call a “friendship network” that seeks to achieve democratic and participatory forms of activism, the group brings together both experienced and circumstantial activists (Ollis & Hamel-Green in Aust Adult Learn 55:202–219, 2015) in order to foster plural and situated learning (Lave & Wenger, Situated learning legitimate peripheral participation, 1991). The group does so by promoting the commitment of all actors (including opposite-minded ones) to the co-creation of a 4-day-municipal event on the theme of environmental sustainability. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the strategic mechanism of the group and their actions as a nucleus, we firstly examine some of the groups’ views on civic and political participation (Stack, in Citizenship Studies 16:871–885, 2012) and, secondly, describe and discuss the methodologies they intentionally use to put citizenship-in-action and to foster the activation of ‘standby citizens’ (Amna & Ekman, in Amnå, E., & Ekman, J., Eur Political Sci Rev 6:261–281, 2014). This ethnography enabled us to learn how the group strives to achieve its goals by placing itself in-between the institutional sphere and the public realm: the ethnographer had the opportunity to observe their attempts to, on the one hand, influence decision-making by acquiring a degree of insider status in institutions that legislate and, on the other hand, to engage with large publics, encouraging citizens’ voices and involvement in processes of co-participation focused on promoting ecological consciousness and political change.
Sustainable energy transition and circular economy: The heterogeneity of potential investors in rural community renewable energy projects
Authors: Romero-Castro Noelia , Ángeles López-Cabarcos M. , Miramontes-Viña Vanessa , Ribeiro-Soriano Domingo 
Published: January 2023

AbstractCommunity renewable energy has been acknowledged as a necessary step in the transition toward a sustainable energy system. It can contribute to the achievement of energy autonomy by communities. In rural settings, it can be a driver of sustainable rural development. And it can be seen as a specific contribution to circular economy from the energy sector. The willingness to invest in community renewable energy has received some attention in previous research but needs further investigation at the local rural scale through quantitative approaches. Based on a survey in a small Galician village, this study contributes to the filling of this gap. The willingness to invest of its inhabitants is analyzed in relation to alternative financial, sociodemographic and sociopsychological features. Survey results show the heterogeneity of individual attitudes and concerns that condition the willingness to invest in rural community renewable energy and the different perceptions of risk and return related to these projects. Cluster analysis allows identifying four different investor profiles (skeptics, financial illiterate, enthusiasts, yield investors). These should be accounted for by project promoters and policymakers when designing incentives and strategies to foster community renewable energy in rural settings.
Strongly sexually dimorphic forelegs are not more condition-dependent than less dimorphic traits in Drosophila prolongata
Authors: Perdigón Ferreira Jhoniel , Rohner Patrick T. , Lüpold Stefan 
Published: January 2023

AbstractDirectional sexual selection drives the evolution of traits that are most closely linked to reproductive success, giving rise to trait exaggeration and sexual dimorphism. Exaggerated structures are often costly and, therefore, thought to be expressed in a condition-dependent manner. Sexual selection theory thus predicts a direct link between directional sexual selection, sexual dimorphism, and sex-specific condition dependence. However, only a handful of studies investigate the relationship between sexual dimorphism and condition dependence. Using 21 genetic lines of Drosophila prolongata, we here compared the degree of sexual dimorphism and sex-specific condition dependence, measured as allometric slopes, in sexually selected and non-sexual traits. Our data revealed male-biased sexual dimorphism in all traits examined, most prominently in the sexually selected forelegs. However, there was no relationship between the degree of sex-specific condition dependence and sexual dimorphism across traits and genetic lines. Our results contradict theoretical predictions and highlight the importance of understanding the role of exaggerated traits in the context of both sexual and natural selection.
Autism Spectrum Disorder in Down Syndrome: Experiences from Caregivers
Authors: Spinazzi Noemi Alice , Velasco Alyssa Bianca , Wodecki Drew James , Patel Lina 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to learn about the experiences of families of individuals with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (DS-ASD), and to document the journey from early concerns to diagnosis and intervention. Caregivers completed an online survey describing their journey raising a child with DS-ASD. Survey responses were analyzed qualitatively and coded into categories to highlight common themes. Stereotypy, severe communication impairments, and behavioral difficulties prompted caregivers to pursue further evaluation. There was a mean 4.65-year gap between first noticing symptoms and receiving an ASD diagnosis. Several therapeutic interventions were identified as beneficial, including behavioral and communication support. Caregivers expressed frustration and described high levels of stress and social isolation. The diagnosis of ASD in children with DS is often delayed, and caregivers’ initial concerns are frequently dismissed. Raising a child with DS-ASD can lead to social isolation and elevated caregiver stress. More research is needed to tailor diagnostic algorithms and therapeutic interventions to the unique needs of this patient population. Caregivers yearn for improved understanding of DS-ASD, more targeted therapies and educational programs, and more overall support.
Concise review of the red macroalga dulse, Palmaria palmata (L.) Weber & Mohr
Authors: Stévant Pierrick , Schmedes Peter Søndergaard , Le Gall Line , Wegeberg Susse , Dumay Justine , Rebours Céline 
Published: January 2023

AbstractPalmaria palmata, commonly referred to as dulse, is a well-known and highly valued red macroalga distributed along the North Atlantic shores within a latitude range of approximately 40 to 80 °N. It is a species of commercial importance with historical records of use as food dating back several centuries to the current harvesting of dulse by hand-picking on the foreshore in Western Europe as well as Canada (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) and USA (Maine). Because the demand for P. palmata increases and future sustainable commercial developments cannot rely solely on wild-harvested biomass, significant efforts have been made by research and industrial actors to cultivate the species. The low rates of spore release and germination, high mortality and epibiont contaminations remain major bottlenecks and point towards the need for optimized hatchery methods to enable upscaling the biomass production. The present review summarizes the available knowledge related to the biology, including the unique life history of the species among the Rhodophyta, the ecology as well as the nutrient composition and quality of P. palmata as food. Recent advances in taxonomy and cultivation techniques are reported along with a status of regulations for the commercial harvest of wild populations. An outlook on future industrial perspectives using biomass of P. palmata is also given.
Co-modified 3D printed β-tricalcium phosphate with magnesium and selenium promotes bone defect regeneration in ovariectomized rat
Authors: Tao Zhou-Shan , Li Tian-Lin , Wei Shan 
Published: January 2023

AbstractMagnesium (Mg) and Selenium (Se) are essential elements for bone health and have been studied extensively for its powerful osteogenesis and promoting bone regeneration. The purpose was to observe whether Co-modified 3D-printed β-tricalcium phosphate with Mg and Se could promote bone defect regeneration in an ovariectomized(OVX) rat model. The MC3T3-E1 cells were co-cultured with the leachate of β-TCP, Mg-TCP, and Mg/Se-TCP and induced to osteogenesis, and the cell viability, ROS, and osteogenic activity were observed by Cell Count Kit-8(CCK-8), fluorescent probe 2′, 7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate, Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, Alizarin Red(RES) staining, western blotting(WB), and immunofluorescence. Then the β-TCP, Mg-TCP, and Mg/Se-TCP were implanted into the femoral epiphysis bone defect model of OVX rats for 12 weeks. Micro-CT and histology analysis were used to observe the therapeutic effect. In vitro results show that the cell mineralization and osteogenic activity of the Mg/Se-TCP group is significantly higher than the β-TCP group and Mg-TCP group. Protein expressions such as FOxO1, SIRT1, SOD2, Runx-2, Cola1a, and OC of the Mg/Se-TCP group are significantly higher than the Con group and the β-TCP group. The results of intracellular ROS and SIRT1 and SOD2 immunofluorescence showed that Mg/Se-TCP can restore the oxidative stress balance of osteoblasts. Micro-CT and histology analysis showed that treatment with Mg/Se-TCP showed the largest amount of bone tissue in the defect area (p < 0.05), and exhibited lower values of residual biological material (p < 0.05), compared to that of the β-TCP group and Mg-TCP group. Our research results confirm that Mg/Se-TCP can improve the activity and function of osteoblasts and enhance bone regeneration mediated by reducing intracellular ROS in OVX rat models.
Graphical Abstract
New designs of 4 × 2 photonic crystal encoders using ring resonators
Authors: Kamal Shaimaa M. , Ali Tamer A. , Rafat Nadia H. 
Published: January 2023

AbstractOptical encoders are pivotal elements in optical communication applications. There is much need for ultra-compact and high-speed novel designs. This work proposes two new designs of fast, compact 4 × 2 optical encoders using two dimensional photonic crystals. The proposed structures consist of square lattice silicon rods embedded in an air background. The operation of these encoders is based on the wave interference technique. The encoders are designed to help in achieving better performance through increasing the contrast ratio and decreasing the power loss and the return loss. The PWE method is used to analyze the photonic band gap. We used FDTD simulation to obtain the electric field distribution inside each structure and the normalized output power. We prove that the scattering rods improve the directivity of the light toward the desired paths and decrease the backward reflection. The proposed encoders have small footprint areas of 204.8 and 160.4 μm2 and operate at wavelength 1550 nm. They achieve low response time (254 and 163 fs) and high contrast ratio (6.69 and 12.9 dB). Simplicity and compactness of the designs make them suitable for optical signal processors and photonic integrated circuits. Another advantage of these designs is that low input power is enough for the encoders’ operation, because there is no non-linear materials included. Our designs compete with the published works in the last few years especially in their footprint and response time.
Ten reasons why research collaborations succeed—a random forest approach
Authors: Hückstädt Malte 
Published: January 2023

AbstractThe state of research in the Science of Team Science is characterised by a wide range of findings on how successful research collaboration should be structured. However, it remains unclear how the multitude of findings can be put into a hierarchical order with regard to their significance for the success of cooperation. This is where the article comes in: based on the state of research, the question of which intra- and interpersonal factors are most significant for the success of a research team is investigated. In order to explore the ten most important reasons for the success of a research collaboration, a Random Forest classifier is specified that predicts the success of research collaborations on the basis of 51 input variables. The analyses presented in the paper are based on representative survey data on n = 1.417 principal investigators and spokespersons of ongoing and completed research clusters funded by the German Research Foundation. The success of a research cluster is operationalised as the extent to which it has achieved the goals that it communicated to the funding agency before it began. Highly realistic and clear research objectives are central to the success of research clusters, as are comprehensive agreement on objectives, close interconnection of the subprojects’ research work and a fair and trusting cooperation climate.
Agriculture without paraquat is feasible without loss of productivity—lessons learned from phasing out a highly hazardous herbicide
Authors: Stuart Alexander M. , Merfield Charles N. , Horgan Finbarr G. , Willis Sheila , Watts Meriel A. , Ramírez-Muñoz Fernando , U Jorge Sánchez , Utyasheva Leah , Eddleston Michael , Davis Mark L. , Neumeister Lars , Sanou Manoé R. , Williamson Stephanie 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
A small proportion of the thousands of pesticides on the market today are associated with a disproportionately high incidence of severe acute pesticide poisoning and suicide. Paraquat stands out as one of the most lethal pesticides in common use, frequently involved in fatal incidents due to suicides or accidental exposure. Even though paraquat has been banned in over 67 countries, it is still widely used in many others, particularly in Asia and Latin America. Based on a literature review and consultations, this paper identifies options for replacing paraquat and distils practical lessons from numerous successes around the world. Our aim is to support regulators, policymakers, agronomists and the supply chain sector with practical information related to phasing out paraquat. Production data consistently failed to show any negative effects of banning paraquat on agricultural productivity. A wide range of alternative approaches to weed management and crop defoliation are available, many of which do not rely on herbicides. Over 1.25 million farmers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) successfully produce a range of crops for private voluntary standards (PVS) in food and fiber supply chains which prohibit paraquat use. We conclude from the findings of this study that eliminating paraquat will save lives without reducing agricultural productivity. Less hazardous and more sustainable alternatives exist. To enhance successful adoption and uptake of these methods on a wide scale, farmers require training and support within an enabling policy environment.
Marvelous advertising returns? A meta-analysis of advertising elasticities in the entertainment industry
Authors: Schöndeling Andrea , Burmester Alexa B. , Edeling Alexander , Marchand André , Clement Michel 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
How does advertising affect supply and demand in the entertainment industry? Different advertising and distribution mechanisms and unique product characteristics limit the transferability of findings from other industries to the entertainment industry. This meta-analysis focuses on 290 documented elasticities, drawn from 59 studies of movies and video games, and establishes new findings and empirical generalizations. First, the average advertising elasticity in the entertainment industry is .33 (method bias-corrected .20), approximately three times higher than the average identified for other industries. Second, average advertising elasticities are higher for demand (e.g., revenue) than for supply (e.g., screens). Third, elasticities of pre-launch advertising are higher than those of overall advertising budgets, but with respect to the success period, elasticities are higher for later periods, and in total, compared to the launch period. Fourth, elasticities tend to be rather recession-proof and consistent across geographic regions but decreased after the rise of social media platforms.