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Managing ecosystem services in the Brazilian Amazon : the influence of deforestation and forest degradation in the world’s largest rain forest
No full textThe Amazon rain forest covers an area of ~ 6.7 million km2 of South America; nearly 60% of it is in Brazil, while the rest is shared among eight other countries. This vast extent of rain forest is a globally significant ecosystem that provides numerous ecosystem services that benefit humanity including essential climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and hydrological stability. However, deforestation and forest degradation have led to the loss of approximately 15% of the Amazon rainforest since the 1970s, primarily driven by agricultural expansion, illegal mining, logging, and wildfires. These pressures have triggered a cascade of consequences, including biodiversity loss, disruption of cultural and ecosystem services, depletion of carbon sinks, and severe alterations to the hydrological cycle. While initially manifesting at local and regional scales, these effects increasingly pose risks to global climate stability. We simulated deforestation scenarios (15%, 50%, and 100% forest loss) using the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM 3.1) to evaluate precipitation changes and atmospheric responses. Results indicate substantial reductions in regional precipitation, hydrological disruptions affecting agricultural productivity, and an increasing risk of the Amazon transitioning from a carbon sink to a carbon source. This underscores the urgency of policy interventions, including stricter environmental regulations, trade restrictions on commodities produced illegally or in deforested areas, enhanced Indigenous land protection, and international cooperation to mitigate deforestation and promote sustainable land use. Immediate action is necessary to prevent irreversible ecological and climatic tipping points.PeerReviewe
Climate Change and urban resilience in smart cities : adaptation and mitigation strategies in Brazil and Germany
No full textUrban resilience is crucial in academic and policy discussions, particularly in balancing urban development and sustainability in both developed and developing countries. In developing nations, rising emissions and vulnerability challenge effective climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Advances in Information and Communication Technologies offer significant opportunities despite challenges. The digital revolution is central to enhancing urban management, especially in smart cities. In light of this context, this paper aims to investigate the literature advancements of urban resilience to climate change in smart cities and conduct a multi-case study analysis of adaptation and mitigation strategies in Brazilian and German smart cities, demonstrating their efforts to enhance urban resilience to climate challenges. The research used two main methods: a bibliometric analysis to review literature on climate change, urban resilience, and smart cities, and case studies of urban resilience practices in 10 smart cities from Brazil and Germany. The literature review highlights the increase in research on this theme, identifying five thematic clusters that reveal relationships among study topics and suggest future research directions. The cases highlighted local initiatives in Brazilian and German smart cities to enhance urban resilience to climate pressures, revealing notable differences due to varying levels of development and investment.PeerReviewe
Monetarisierungsstrategien und Game Design in Freemium Mobile Games – Eine Analyse am Beispiel von Clash of Clans
Get PDFDas Freemium Geschäftsmodell hat sich im vergangenen Jahrzehnt zu einer der beliebtesten
Monetarisierungsstrategien für digitale Distribution entwickelt. Dies gilt auch für den Mobile Gaming
Markt. Die Etablierung der Freemium Monetarisierung in diesem Bereich hat zu einem Wandel bei der Konzeption und Entwicklung von Mobile Games geführt. Um nachzuvollziehen, inwiefern Freemium Monetarsierungsstrategien das Game Design von Mobile Games beeinflussen, werden in dieser Arbeit die Bereiche Gameplay Design, Economy Design und Retention Design analysiert. Zu diesem Zweck werden die genannten Bereiche zunächst anhand einer Literaturanalyse untersucht. Die Forschungsergebnisse aus der Literaturanalyse werden daraufhin im Rahmen einer Game-Analyse des Mobile Games „Clash of Clans“ geprüft.During the past decade the freemium business model has become one of the most popular monetization
strategies in the digital distribution space. This also applies to the mobile gaming market. The rise of freemium monetization in this field caused a shift in the conceptualization and development of mobile games. To understand how freemium monetization strategies affect the game design of mobile games, this paper will analyse the gameplay design, economy design and retention design of freemium mobile games. Therefore these areas will be examined with the help of a literature analysis. After that the validity of the research results will be verified with the help of a game analysis of the mobile game “Clash of Clans”
Climate justice : the contribution of higher education institutions
No full textThe concept of climate justice extends traditional environmentalism by emphasizing the social dimensions of environmental issues. Recently, it has gained much attention due to the growing impacts of climate change, especially on vulnerable communities that contribute minimally to global emissions. Based on the need for research in this field, this paper reports on a study that examined how higher education institutions (HEIs) are integrating climate justice into education, based on a literature review and a set of case studies. These cases highlight actions undertaken by various HEIs to incorporate climate justice into education across the globe. Based on the increasing number of publications, the findings show a growing research interest in the topic and reveal that some countries such as the US, the UK, China, Australia, and Germany have a visible presence in the literature. It also provides a wide range of perspectives on educational practices in climate justice, including real-world examples of courses implemented in HEIs. The findings reveal that HEIs have significant potential to address climate justice in their educational programs, which may help to transform students’ values and actions despite challenges.PeerReviewe
More active, more nature-connected? The carry-over effect of physical activity in pro-environmental behavior
No full textPeerReviewe
Epidemiology and the medical burden of diabetic foot ulcers especially in patients with infection : a population-based analysis from Germany
No full textDue to limited data on the epidemiology of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) in Germany, especially for those infected, the study determined the prevalence and incidence of DFU and the associated medical burden. Anonymised claims data of 3.3 million insured lives were sourced from a statutory health insurance fund. Patients with DFU between 04/01/2016 and 12/31/2019 were selected (n = 7764) and divided into patients with/without infection/with prophylactic use of antibiotics. Outcome variables were described categorically. Two-sided t-tests and chi-squared tests (p < 0.05) were performed. The prevalence and incidence in patients with DFU was 4.6% and 2.1%, respectively. The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 7.9, significantly higher in those infected than in those uninfected (8.1% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.0001). Amputations occurred significantly more often in DFU patients with infection than in those without (minor 25.4% vs. 3.0%, p < 0.0001; major 6.7% vs. 1.2%, p < 0.0001). The 5-year mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with infection than in those without (64.0% vs. 51.3%, p < 0.0001). The occurrence of comorbidities and complications associated with DFU, in particular the high overall medical burden and mortality rate—especially in DFU patients with infections—underscores the importance of prevention and early, appropriate treatment.PeerReviewe
Warum wir zur grünen Dose greifen : was verrät uns das über unser Gesundheitsbewusstsein? - Teil 3 der Studie der HAW Hamburg
No full textNonPeerReviewe
Entwicklung eines Cobot-Sensor-Systems zur Online-Erkennung und Verschweißung von Schlitz-Zapfen-Verbindungen
Get PDFDie Bachelorarbeit befasst sich mit der Entwicklung eines Cobot-Sensor-Systems zur Online-Erkennung von Schlitzen und Verschweißung von Schlitz-Zapfen-Verbindungen. Das System vereinfacht und automatisiert den Schweißprozess, wodurch der Bedarf an umfangreichen Roboterprogrammierkenntnissen entfällt und die Produktionseffizienz, insbesondere in High-Mix/Low-Volume-Produktion, gesteigert wird. Die Arbeit basiert auf dem Projekt ProcessIt und führt Methoden zur Verarbeitung von Punktwolken ein, darunter die Randpunkterkennung, die Generierung medialer Achsen und die Identifikation der Schlitzbreite. Diese wurden in Python mit der Open3D-Bibliothek entwickelt und in das ROS-Framework integriert. Tests zeigen eine erfolgreiche Erkennung von Schlitz- Zapfen-Merkmale, die Trajektorienplanung und die Online-Verfolgung, wobei Herausforderungen bei schmalen Schlitzen, der Verfolgung bei hohen Geschwindigkeiten und verrauschten Daten bestehen. Die Arbeit hebt Optimierungspotenziale hinsichtlich Verarbeitungszeit,
Parameteranpassung und der Erweiterung auf gekrümmte Schlitzgeometrien hervor.The thesis focuses on the development of a Cobot-Sensor system for online detection of slits and welding of mortise and tenon joints. The system simplifies and automates the welding process, eliminating the need for extensive robot programming skills and enhancing production efficiency, particularly for high-mix/low-volume production environments. The work leverages the project ProcessIt and introduces methods for point cloud processing, including boudary detection, medial axis generation, and slit width identification, implemented in Python using the Open3D library and integrated into the ROS framework. Testing demonstrates successful detection of slit and mortise-tenon features, trajectory planning, and online following, though challenges remain with narrow slits, high-speed tracking, and noisy data. The thesis highlights optimization opportunities for processing speed, parameter refinement, and extending applicability to curved slit geometries
When access to education matters more than income inequality : a structural equation modelling analysis of climate adaptation and mitigation
No full textPeerReviewe
Study-related demands, resources and curriculum from students’ perspective : results of a qualitative descriptive study among students in nursing and healthcare in Germany
No full textBackground: Health-related studies are associated with numerous academic and clinical demands that can lead to stress and mental strain. Therefore, university interventions to promote health and well-being are important. However, the academic sources of stress and resources for the group of nursing and healthcare students have not yet been explored in Germany. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate these factors from the students’ perspective. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted. Findings are based on interviews with students from the Department of Nursing and Management in Germany, carried out between October 2022 and January 2023. The interviews were audio‑recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results are presented in a descriptive summary. Results: Participants reported performance demands, time pressure, group tasks, peer relationships, as well as organizational factors and ergonomic conditions within learning environments as primary stressors in their studies. Essential resources highlighted by the students included opportunities for personal development, physical activity, peer support, and individual competencies. Health was conceptualized by the interviewees as multidimensional, encompassing mental, physical, and social aspects. Integrate a health module into the curriculum was met with ambivalence among participants; on the one hand, it was perceived as an opportunity to enhance awareness of health and self-care, while on the other hand, there was concern regarding potential overload through mandatory obligations. However, participants agreed that a balanced approach, incorporating structured offerings alongside room for individual autonomy, is essential. Conclusions: In summary, this study identified study-related stress factors and their impact on mental well-being from the students’ perspective. The stressors reported by our students largely correspond to those identified in international studies involving nursing students in other countries. The current study is limited by the small sample. However, the findings highlight the importance to create healthy study conditions. Findings are particularly relevant for universities and educators in Germany, who would like to become more aware of the study-related stressors of nursing and healthcare students and discuss suitable preventive measures. Further quantitative research should examine the academic demands and their impact on students’ mental health. A nationwide, representative study would be a valuable next step.PeerReviewe