Exploring the impact of virtual reality on presence: findings from a classroom experiment

Introduction: This study examines the perception of presence among students using virtual reality (VR) compared to iPads. The research aimed to provide deeper insights into students' immersive experiences and identify factors influencing perceived presence. Method and results: Using a comparative approach, we show a significant difference between the two groups, with students using VR reporting a heightened sense of immersion. Additionally, participant's previous experience with immersive VR affect the presence significantly, while we report no detectable effects of age and gender. Discussion: These findings contribute to the discussion on innovative teaching methods, supporting the development of more effective and inclusive virtual learning environments

Successional transition from broadleaf to bamboo forests promotes fungal communities and soil carbon mineralization following the altered litterfall quality

Forest succession alters soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics by changing litter quality of litter entering the soil and affecting microbial communities. However, few studies have explored how litter quality interacts with soil fungal communities to regulate SOC mineralization during successional changes in forest succession. We studied the relationship between litter quality, SOC mineralization, and associated fungal composition by conducting an in-situ decomposition experiment in a natural broadleaf forest and a pure Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forest, where the succession in former forest arrested by structurally inferior bamboo grasses. On average, topsoil organic carbon mineralization increased by 73 % and subsoil by 233 % (only during autumn) following the broadleaf forest transitions to bamboo dominance. More decomposable litterfall in the bamboo forests increased the abundance of saprophytic fungi (e.g., Mortierellales and Chaetothyriales orders) and enhanced topsoil degradation functions, promoting SOC mineralization compared to the broadleaf forest. Higher water-soluble organic carbon content increased subsoil organic carbon mineralization by increasing the abundance of Mortierellales order. Our results emphasized the importance of interaction between litter quality and fungal composition (especially saprophytic fungi) regulated SOC mineralization in arrested succession. The enhanced SOC mineralization after the broadleaf forest transition to bamboo forest suggested that the traits of Moso bamboo, such as fast litterfall decomposition, can accelerate SOC mineralization to reinforce its dominance. By examining the role of microbial decomposition in regulating soil nutrient dynamics in the context of arrested succession, our study offered a unique mechanistic perspective on the belowground drivers of bamboo dominance, with important implications for forest structure and function

Catchments Amplify Reservoir Thermal Response to Climate Warming

Lentic waters integrate atmosphere and catchment processes, and thus ultimately capture climate signals. However, studies of climate warming effects on lentic waters usually do not sufficiently account for a change in heat flux from the catchment through altered inflow temperature and discharge under climate change. This is particularly relevant for reservoirs, which are highly impacted by catchment hydrology and may be affected by upstream reservoirs or pre‐dams. This study explicitly quantified how the catchment and pre‐dams modify the thermal response of Rappbode Reservoir, Germany's largest drinking water reservoir system, to climate change. We established a catchment‐lake modeling chain in the main reservoir and its two pre‐dams utilizing the lake model GOTM, the catchment model mHM, and the stream temperature model Air2stream, forced by an ensemble of climate projections under RCP2.6 and 8.5 warming scenarios. Results exhibited a warming of 0.27/0.15°C decade−1 for the surface/bottom temperatures of the main reservoir, with approximately 8%/24% of this warming attributed to the catchment warming, respectively. The catchment warming amplified the deep water warming more than at the surface, contrary to the atmospheric warming effect, and advanced stratification by about 1 week, while having a minor impact on stratification intensity. On the other hand, pre‐dams reduced the inflow temperature into the main reservoir in spring, and consequently lowered the hypolimnetic temperature and postponed stratification onset. This shielded the main reservoir from climate warming, although overall the contribution of pre‐dams was minimal. Altogether, our study highlights the importance of catchment alterations and seasonality when projecting reservoir warming, and provides insights into catchment‐reservoir coupling under climate change

Furcht neu erleben Der Einfluss von VR-Technologien auf die Wahrnehmung von Angst in Horrorspielen

„Ward 13: Escape the Fear“ ist ein immersives VR-Horrorspiel, in dem der Spieler einen investigativen Journalisten spielt der in einem verlassenen Sanatorium erwacht. In den düsteren Gängen der Station 13 lauert eine übernatürliche Bedrohung, die durch Angst real wird. Um zu überleben, müssen Rätsel gelöst, Hinweise gefunden und der eigene Verstand bewahrt werden. Mit psychologischem Terror, dynamischer Bedrohung und interaktiver Erzählung bietet das Spiel ein intensives VR-Erlebnis voller Spannung und Dunkelheit

Comparative study on the effect of mild temperature conditions in fractionated sterilization of carrot juice on microbiological stability and sensory properties

Carrot juice is valued for its high vitamin and antioxidant content, necessitating gentle thermal processing to preserve these nutrients. Its slightly acidic pH value requires a two-step heating process, warranting optimization to enhance product quality and resource efficiency. This study investigated the impact of varying the first heating step between 100 and 130 °C on chemical, sensory, and microbiological parameters. While other chemical parameters remained stable, lactic acid content increased significantly from 55 to 1405 mg/L over downtimes, highlighting the influence of external factors that could not be influenced within the investigations. Lower heating temperatures compromised microbiological stability, with spore-forming bacteria (5 colony forming units per 20 mL) detected at just a 10 °C reduction. Sensory quality showed minimal change, with descriptive analysis identifying only 3 respectively 4 significantly different attributes out of 19 across the factors experimental parameter setting and technical repetition. The quality of raw materials had a more pronounced impact on sensory outcomes than the heating temperature. This study concludes that adjusting the first heating temperature has limited benefits for sensory quality but risks microbiological safety. Emphasis should therefore be placed on ensuring high-quality raw materials and consistent raw juice properties to maintain product quality