Encyclopedia, Volume 5, Issue 4 (December 2025) – 36 articles

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) is increasingly recognised as a potential factor that can strengthen social cohesion and societal resilience. Yet, existing scholarship often valorises ICH without fully examining the challenges, exclusions, and political tensions it can produce. This article addresses that gap by critically reviewing UNESCO frameworks, case studies, and academic literature to evaluate both the opportunities and the limitations of ICH in contemporary societies. Our analysis highlights how ICH can contribute to shared identity, intergenerational transmission, and adaptive ecological knowledge, while also noting the risks of standardisation, misappropriation, and nationalistic appropriation. Using a comparative and critical literature review approach, we synthesise examples from diverse contexts to illustrate the dual role of ICH as both a community resource and a contested political tool. The findings do not suggest that ICH universally or inevitably generates resilience or cohesion. Rather, they map the paradigms in which ICH has been mobilised for these purposes, showing both the potential benefits and the risks. On this basis, the article offers policy recommendations that emphasise community-led safeguarding, integration of traditional knowledge into resilience frameworks, and vigilance against exclusionary or exploitative uses of ICH. Full article

This entry explores how foresight approaches can guide the future of water infrastructures. It highlights key long-term disruptive drivers of change—such as climate change, digital transformation, and geopolitical tensions—that infrastructures must withstand and adapt to. It also emphasizes the role of collective choices and innovation alliances, including Water-Oriented Living Labs, in shaping resilient and sustainable water systems. The focus is on transforming today’s infrastructures into adaptive systems that ensure water security and ecosystem integrity for future generations. Although many of the drivers of change are global, this entry emphasizes the European context, where policy frameworks and innovation agendas are currently shaping infrastructure transitions. Full article

The increasing presence of minors on digital platforms raises complex legal questions regarding their privacy, data protection, and the limits of parental authority in supervising their online activities. This entry analyses the legal framework applicable to the use of the Internet by minors, with particular emphasis on the validity of consent for data processing, the risks of overexposure, the need for digital literacy and the particularities of minors who create content. This study incorporates a comparative perspective, examining national and international approaches—especially in Spain, the United States, and France—to highlight the existing regulatory gaps and the urgent need for legal harmonisation in protecting minors in the digital age. Full article

A core feature of a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) is configuring instruction to match each student’s needs. For students who demonstrate academic achievement deficits and need supplemental remedial instruction, it must be coordinated among all scheduled activities, evidence-based, and individualized. Each of these matters results in challenges that must be addressed for the promise of an MTSS to be realized. One resolution involves systematic instruction during brief lessons (10 min or less). This instruction is time-sensitive, evidence-based, and can be properly configured for each tier and various students’ needs. Full article

Mutable collagenous tissue (MCT) is a type of connective tissue that is characterized by its capacity to undergo rapid, nervously mediated changes in mechanical properties. In terms of both the magnitude of these changes and the timescale within which they occur (less than one second to a few minutes), this tissue appears to be unique to the phylum Echinodermata and, as it is ubiquitous in all five extant echinoderm classes, it represents one of the four major defining features of the phylum, together with pentaradial symmetry, endoskeletal stereom (calcite meshwork), and the water vascular system. MCT has been the subject of intensive scientific investigation for over 50 years. The primary aim of this contribution is to provide a comprehensive and definitive survey of the current state of knowledge of this remarkable tissue. After outlining the history of the scientific investigation of MCT, we review current information on its anatomical distribution, organization at the histological, ultrastructural and molecular levels, and physiology—focusing on its mechanical behavior and the regulation of this behavior; its significance for echinoderm biology, including pathology; and biomedical and other applications that exploit MCT-derived components or biological principles. We conclude by drawing attention to more serious deficiencies in the current knowledge base and suggesting how these should be rectified. Full article

Analysing the need for homogenisation of organisations and the incorporation of institutional theory in public administration is a relevant topic, given that it is a process that reflects the historical characteristics of an organisation built by the people who work there and the way in which it establishes relationships with its environment. The need to incorporate existing practices between organisations, which leads them to come closer together and converge, is a phenomenon known in the literature as isomorphism. This entry triggers a review of significant literature in the field, based on sound scientific principles, with the aim of contributing to the sharing of information for a better understanding of the structure and functioning of organisations against the backdrop of institutional isomorphism. In this way, it sought to convey the need to advance institutional theory in public administration based on isomorphism. Full article

The entry is intended to define the concepts of risk communication and emergency communication. At the same time, it explains the difference not only from a communication point of view but also from a cultural one. Risk and emergency are two sociologically relevant events, and they are culturally constructed. They are events that bring about a socio-cultural change, which, in turn, is triggered by the population’s responses on the basis of the social perception of the events themselves, also conveyed by the different forms of communication. When communicating risk and emergencies, it is essential to educate people about alert and emergency systems. Above all, what they refer to and what kind of message they contain. The “warning communication” must be specific and refer exclusively to the threat to start the first phase of the communication through which it is possible to understand the type of threat and define the communication plan to be implemented later. The use of social media, which is strongly spread in digital society, allows not only rapid dissemination of information but also rapid communication and message selection (speed and content of the message are equally important). Alert and warning systems are very often linked to risk systems, since the risk from natural disasters (eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis) or technological catastrophes (nuclear power plant explosions) follows emergency phases when the phenomenon occurs. The communication processes, in and emergency, must be able to explain, persuade but also confer an assist the political decision-maker and the decision-making process itself through an alert system (especially in the first phase), followed by continuous dissemination through the media that the digital society offers, as well as through the usual systems adopted by government bodies (for example, bulletins and news), specialized research institutions and institutes with information and communication functions. In risk and emergency management, information and communication are to be considered, respectively, a basic element and a means of dissemination and training to educate the population to perceive a risk, to recognise emergencies and the possible impact of the risk. Differences will be expressed and analysed with reference to international examples. Full article

In our contemporary societies, structured by unequal social relations of production, experiential knowledge remains in the shadow of expert or academic knowledge that provides legitimacy to any action that claims kinship. In the first part, this entry examines changes in the social theory of disability, characterized by the development of critical disability studies. The second part discusses forms of action in the disability field, specifically experiential knowledge, peer support, and their relationship to expert knowledge. Drawing upon a review of the literature, a synthesis of the evidence on the articulation of these three notions is produced. The results will illustrate the respective place and role of the different forms of knowledge derived from critical disability studies in the development of actions concerning disabilities. The information collected will make it possible to identify the links between these forms of knowledge and how they improve the ability of people with disabilities to obtain full citizenship. Full article

Building maintenance is crucial, yet predicting financial resources for it remains challenging, particularly during the design and construction phases. This research aims to analyze and synthesize existing studies on maintenance cost estimation, with a focus on identifying key trends, methodologies, and sustainability considerations. The review finds that most studies emphasize educational and office buildings, while limited attention has been given to infrastructure such as bridges and roads. Moreover, growing attention is being directed toward early-stage maintenance cost estimation and integrating sustainability principles into cost prediction models. The findings underscore that incorporating sustainability factors in maintenance planning enhances long-term performance, reduces lifecycle costs, and supports future-ready building management. The study concludes by highlighting the need for more comprehensive, sustainability-oriented frameworks to improve the accuracy and applicability of maintenance cost estimation in the built environment. Full article

Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly Generative AI (GenAI) and Large Language Models (LLMs), is rapidly reshaping higher education by transforming teaching, learning, assessment, research, and institutional management. This entry provides a state-of-the-art, comprehensive, evidence-based synthesis of established AI applications and their implications within the higher education landscape, emphasizing mature knowledge aimed at educators, researchers, and policymakers. AI technologies now support personalized learning pathways, enhance instructional efficiency, and improve academic productivity by facilitating tasks such as automated grading, adaptive feedback, and academic writing assistance. The widespread adoption of AI tools among students and faculty members has created a critical need for AI literacy—encompassing not only technical proficiency but also critical evaluation, ethical awareness, and metacognitive engagement with AI-generated content. Key opportunities include the deployment of adaptive tutoring and real-time feedback mechanisms that tailor instruction to individual learning trajectories; automated content generation, grading assistance, and administrative workflow optimization that reduce faculty workload; and AI-driven analytics that inform curriculum design and early intervention to improve student outcomes. At the same time, AI poses challenges related to academic integrity (e.g., plagiarism and misuse of generative content), algorithmic bias and data privacy, digital divides that exacerbate inequities, and risks of “cognitive debt” whereby over-reliance on AI tools may degrade working memory, creativity, and executive function. The lack of standardized AI policies and fragmented institutional governance highlight the urgent necessity for transparent frameworks that balance technological adoption with academic values. Anchored in several foundational pillars (such as a brief description of AI higher education, AI literacy, AI tools for educators and teaching staff, ethical use of AI, and institutional integration of AI in higher education), this entry emphasizes that AI is neither a panacea nor an intrinsic threat but a “technology of selection” whose impact depends on the deliberate choices of educators, institutions, and learners. When embraced with ethical discernment and educational accountability, AI holds the potential to foster a more inclusive, efficient, and democratic future for higher education; however, its success depends on purposeful integration, balancing innovation with academic values such as integrity, creativity, and inclusivity. Full article

This entry explains how China’s e-CNY, the retail form of its Central Bank Digital Currency, translates three design choices into improved access, affordability, and reliability: (1) enabling wallet-to-wallet payments on the CBDC ledger with settlement upon payment (SUP); (2) ensuring seamless integration at checkout with existing QR-code systems and popular payment apps; and (3) providing users with practical control through credentials stored on their devices and managed by licensed operators. With payment finality clarified in law and a two-tier structure in place, offline payments can shift to a hybrid architecture. It blends account- and token-based functionality across online and offline settings, incorporates tiered identity verification, and supports low-cost solutions. In essence, e-CNY demonstrates that strategic decisions regarding settlement, interoperability, and user control can expand financial inclusion while maintaining robust regulatory safeguards. Full article

Futures Literacy, as defined and promoted by UNESCO, is the capability to imagine, question, and use the future as a resource for better understanding the present and acting with intention. When applied to Cultural Heritage Education, it reframes heritage from a static object of preservation into a dynamic anticipatory system that evolves through dialogue between past, present, and future. This integrative approach enables learners and communities to strengthen what can be called cultural adaptive capacity, understood as the ability to ensure continuity of identity and traditions, to promote responsive innovation in the face of change, and to transmit heritage knowledge across generations. This entry situates Futures Literacy within a wider theoretical framework that includes complexity theory, anticipatory systems, and sustainability education. It emphasizes that heritage education must increasingly address uncertainty, diversity of perspectives, and interconnected challenges such as globalization, climate change, and cultural transformations. UNESCO Futures Literacy Laboratories conducted in different regions of the world, as well as ICCROM’s foresight initiatives, provide concrete examples of how anticipatory competences can be fostered in varied cultural contexts, demonstrating both universal patterns and context-specific adaptations. By embedding Futures Literacy into heritage education, cultural heritage becomes a living resource for nurturing resilience, global citizenship, and creativity. It allows communities not only to preserve their legacy but also to reimagine it as a driver of innovation and inclusion. Ultimately, this perspective highlights the potential of education to enhance cultural sustainability, foster intergenerational solidarity, and cultivate temporal justice, preparing societies to face the uncertainties of the future with confidence and responsibility. Full article

Design justice is an emerging framework that centers marginalized communities in the design of systems and technologies. Originating from the intersection of design, technology, and social justice movements, design justice challenges traditional design practices that often reinforce societal inequities. When applied to online education, it prompts critical examination of who benefits from digital learning environments and whose needs are overlooked. The framework operates on the principle that those most affected by a system should have a central role in designing it, going beyond accessible or universal design to fundamentally alter power structures within the design process itself. This entry introduces the principles of design justice and explores their relevance to online education and instructional design, arguing that seemingly neutral elements of course design—such as assessment modes, interface layout, or content formats can perpetuate inequities if created without attention to learners’ diverse contexts. Full article

The Portuguese Atlantic continental coast serves as a biogeographic transition zone where numerous macroalgal species reach their distribution limits, making it an especially intriguing area for studying shifts in species distribution. This region features sandy beaches and rocky outcrops that serve as habitats for a diverse range of organisms, including macroalgae. This illustrated guide aims to provide a simple and accessible overview of some of the most representative macroalgae species found along this coastline, specifically those designed for non-specialists in seaweed identification. Rather than offering a detailed identification key, the guide introduces key aspects of macroalgae—such as pigment composition, taxonomic classification, morphology, branching types, habitat on rocky shores, and potential human uses—in a clear and approachable format. Each species is accompanied by a photographic image, a general morphological description, and information about its typical habitat. Additionally, icons indicate whether a species has potential human applications or is considered non-indigenous. Species are categorized into green, brown, or red macroalgae based on their color and morphological characteristics. Full article

Agroeconomics is a specialized branch of economic science that examines the specific socio-economic relations in agriculture shaped by the distinctive features of production, labor organization, and land use. It investigates the interactions between economic activity and biological processes, while recognizing the social and ecological functions of agriculture. This entry provides a comprehensive overview of agroeconomic thought, with particular emphasis on the evolution of theoretical schools and the development of the concept of agricultural multifunctionality. Full article

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics has emerged as a powerful analytical technique in nutritional science, enabling comprehensive profiling of metabolites in biological samples. This entry explores the integration of NMR metabolomics in nutrition research, highlighting its principles, methodological considerations, and applications in dietary assessment, nutritional interventions, and biomarker discovery. The entry also addresses the advantages and limitations of NMR compared to other metabolomic techniques and discusses its future potential in personalized nutrition and health monitoring. Full article

Quantum computing is an emerging field in computing technology that harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics—including superposition, entanglement, and quantum tunneling—to process information in fundamentally new ways. While classical computers use bits that represent states of either 0 or 1, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits. Unlike classical bits, a qubit can exist in a superposition of the logical states 0 and 1 simultaneously. This property allows quantum-powered systems to perform certain complex computations much faster than classical computing systems. Quantum computing holds great potential to transform many sectors by enabling breakthroughs in quantum cryptography, information retrieval, optimization, and artificial intelligence. Through quantum algorithms such as Grover’s and Shor’s algorithms, quantum computers can significantly accelerate the speed of data searching and break encryption systems that would take classical computers billions of years to crack. While still in the relatively early stages of development, quantum computers hold considerable potential to shape our next generation of computing. Full article

Biosurfactants are amphipathic compounds produced by various microorganisms, including fungi and yeasts, with those produced by the latter being of particular interest as they are considered microorganisms of low or no sanitary risk. This article presents an analysis of the available information regarding the role these compounds play within the ecological habitat where yeasts inhabit, as well as their potential biotechnological applications in commercial areas. Some of the biological roles that biosurfactants play for their producing microorganisms are unknown and can be highly diverse, depending on the adaptive needs microorganisms have to survive the environmental conditions prevalent in their habitat. However, some of these roles that have been reported are related to nutrient availability, cellular communication, and competition, as well as surface colonization. The structures of biosurfactant molecules produced by yeasts are highly diverse, and so far, have been reported as sophorolipids, carbohydrate–protein–lipid complexes, carbohydrate–protein polymers, mixtures of lactones, and mannosylerythritol lipids. In addition to their properties as surfactants and/or emulsifiers, many of these molecules have also been reported to possess biological activities, including antimicrobial, antifungal, antitumoral, antioxidant, antiadhesive, antiviral, ultraviolet (UV)-protectant, anti-aging agent, moisturizing, and enzyme-activator/inhibitor properties. By understanding the functions that biosurfactants perform in nature, novel and efficient methods for their production can be proposed, as well as new applications in areas such as pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics. The latter is of particular interest due to the growing biosurfactant market and the processes that demand greater knowledge about their production, biological, and environmental interactions for their management and disposal. Full article

Japanese narcissism refers to a culturally embedded form of narcissistic personality that emerges within collectivist societies, particularly in Japan, where self-worth is maintained through emotional over-adaptation, perfectionism, self-sacrifice, and conformity to internalized moral obligations. Within the framework of Schema Therapy, this construct is characterized by dominant coping modes, such as Armor mode and Demanding Community mode, that suppress vulnerable emotional states and promote socially sanctioned compliance. Although narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) has been extensively studied in individualistic Western cultures, its manifestation in collectivist cultures remains underexplored. Japanese narcissism offers a culturally contextualized model that integrates psychoanalytic and Schema Therapy perspectives to explain thin-skinned narcissistic vulnerability, disguised as adaptive functioning. Clinical observations and case analyses indicate that patients often develop Armor mode (fusing Detached Protector and Perfectionistic Over-controller functions) and Demanding Community mode (internalizing collective moral expectations). These adaptive-appearing modes mask core maladaptive schemas—Emotional Deprivation, Defectiveness/Shame, Enmeshment, and Self-Sacrifice—while being mistaken for mature or healthy functioning. Historically, such patterns have been reinforced by moral-collectivist ideals, exemplified by the Imperial Rescript on Education, which valorized loyalty, endurance, and self-denial. Japanese narcissism may therefore represent a culturally specific clinical configuration, suggesting the need for contextually adapted Schema Therapy interventions that recognize both the harmony-preserving and narcissism-reinforcing functions of adaptive behavior. This framework contributes to the cross-cultural extension of Schema Therapy by theorizing how narcissistic structures manifest in collectivist societies, and highlights the need for empirical validation of culturally sensitive treatment protocols. Full article

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to examine hip rotator range of motion (ROM) and strength values across athletic, injured, and non-active populations, and to determine how these values differ when measured at different hip flexion angles. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines across six electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and Medline) from inception to June 2025. Eligible studies included observational, cross-sectional, case-control, or randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies that quantitatively assessed hip IR/ER ROM and/or strength in defined population groups (athletic, injured, or non-active). Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts, extracted data on study design, population characteristics, measurement methods, and outcome variables, and assessed risk of bias using an established tool. Discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer. Results: 11 studies met the inclusion criteria, including 1276 participants across athletic, injured, and non-active populations. Hip rotator ROM was measured in nine studies and strength in three, with varying testing angles (0° and/or 90° hip flexion). Overall, athletes showed greater ROM at 0° compared to injured and non-active groups, but had reduced ROM at 90° relative to non-active participants. Non-active individuals had the lowest ROM at 0°. Strength findings, though limited, indicated higher values at 90° than at 0°. Conclusions: Hip rotator ROM and strength vary across populations and testing angles, with ROM generally lower and strength higher at 90° of hip flexion. Due to methodological inconsistencies, findings should be interpreted as directional evidence, reinforcing the need for standardized assessment protocols in future research. Full article

Mentoring is a series of communication interactions over time that involve the exchange of experiences or accumulated knowledge between individuals in a relationship with the intent of assisting growth and developing capacity. More specifically, mentoring frequently occurs in dyads that provide developmental mentoring, career development, psychosocial support, and role modeling across a continuum of formal and informal mentoring relationships, including episodic interactions. Mentoring has a long history, from guidance documented in Homer’s “Odyssey” dating back to 700 BCE, to structured mentoring programs used by organizations such as the Big Brothers (founded in 1910). However, mentoring research did not gain widespread prevalence until the 1980s when mentoring was applied across various employment sectors. This entry encompasses international scholarly publications across disciplines such as communication, business, education, medicine, engineering, psychology, sociology, and more to identify and explain key mentoring concepts, provide a comprehensive summary of existing research findings, offer strategies for effective mentoring practices, and highlight future research directions. Full article

Derived from the Community Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders scale (CATSO), the Perceptions of Sex Offenders (PSO) scale is 20-item instrument designed to be a practical and accurate assessment of perceptions of those who have offended sexually. The PSO was developed by Harper and Hogue through a revision of the CATSO scale, incorporating exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with new validation samples. A three-factor scale emerged which assesses perceptions related to the sentencing and management of sexual offenders, stereotype endorsement of the person who offends sexually, and perception of the person who has offended sexually as a continued risk. This entry outlines the historical context of the PSO and the social science literature in which the instrument has been used. As well, this entry describes the development and psychometric properties of the PSO as well as the potential uses of the instrument in non-academic settings (e.g., judicial, restorative justice). Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented event in contemporary history, with far-reaching repercussions for the global economy and society. This article examines the economic challenges and consequences of this pandemic for women. It further explores the pandemic effects on women’s health and well-being, exacerbated by the limited access to basic healthcare and mental health resources, and it points out the challenges facing women in frontline occupations (namely, healthcare). This article also highlights the alarming surge in domestic violence and abuse against women during the pandemic, aggravated by lockdown measures and isolation from support networks. In addition, this article discusses various social and political implications of this pandemic for women, and it reveals how women demonstrated significant resilience over the pandemic-related struggles. The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to persist in the post-pandemic era as they intersect with ongoing social and economic transformations and new events/crises. At this point, it remains to be determined to what extent this pandemic has decelerated (or even reversed) the progress that was made over the past few decades in terms of reducing gender inequality and enhancing women’s social status, and to what degree women’s resilience in the face of this pandemic has mitigated its adverse effects on their economic opportunities and social positions. Nevertheless, this article aims to provide a reference for governments, women’s organizations, and policymakers in assessing the implications of this pandemic for women and in designing sustained and targeted measures to support women vis-à-vis future crises. Full article

Adolescence, one of the most crucial developmental phases in life, was previously commonly considered a vulnerable period, characterized especially by risk factors that can lead to a variety of internalizing or externalizing problems. The present work goes beyond the classical view of adolescence as a vulnerable stage by supporting a more recent conceptualization of adolescence as a “window of opportunities”, driven by the interplay and influences between individual and environmental factors. The authors considered individual differences related to temperament and personality to account for individual factors, and school, family, and peer support as social factors. Moreover, the authors specified the contexts in which individual differences are particularly relevant for youths’ adjustment and psychological well-being, considering the main adaptive and maladaptive facets that adolescent development can assume. Lastly, the authors also considered the main intervention approaches to prevent risks and foster positive development in youths over time, especially accounting for social and environmental resources accessible to adolescents. Full article

Rectal cancer has become a significant health concern in current years, but there are very effective current neo-adjuvant treatment modalities which can result in the complete disappearance of the disease without surgery, which is often associated with severe post-surgical sequelae. Therefore, a significant effort has been made to identify the subset of patients who can avoid surgery and to investigate the long-term oncologic and functional results associated with the Non-Operative Management of such a disease. Full article

Ocean Literacy (OL) can be broadly defined as a framework for understanding the complex and evolving relationships between people and the ocean. It is increasingly recognized as a vital component of marine conservation and sustainability efforts. OL is inherently interdisciplinary, and psychology, while being a particularly relevant field, remains an underutilized field in this space. This paper demonstrates how psychological theories, frameworks, and validated measures can meaningfully inform OL strategies across its ten proposed dimensions: knowledge, awareness, attitudes, behavior, activism, communication, emotional connections, access and experience, adaptive capacity, and trust and transparency. Full article

Vibocracy refers to societal conditions in which public life and decision-making are shaped by affective resonance, performative legitimacy, and unstable epistemic frames, often amplified by algorithmic media and neo-oral communication environments. Unlike wicked problems, which presuppose shared intelligibility, and post-truth politics, which emphasize the erosion of factual authority, vibocracy designates contexts where problems themselves are enacted and sustained through affective circulation. Recent years have seen the emergence of societal challenges where public life and decision-making are shaped less by shared evidence and deliberative reasoning than by affective resonance and performative legitimacy. This entry introduces the concept of vibocracy to describe these conditions and distinguishes it from existing categories such as wicked problems and messes. The analysis is based on a conceptual synthesis of scholarship from planning, organizational studies, media theory, and political science, combined with illustrative examples from recent societal controversies. The main finding is that vibocratic problems resist not only solutions but stable framing itself, creating volatile, performative arenas where legitimacy is enacted rather than negotiated. The entry concludes by proposing vibocracy as a distinct conceptual lens for understanding emerging societal challenges and outlines methodological implications for researchers and practitioners. Full article

To address the gaps in cyber range survey research, this entry develops and applies a structured classification taxonomy to support the comparison, evaluation, and design of cyber ranges. The entry will address the following question: What are the objectives and key features of current cyber ranges, and how can they be classified into a comprehensive taxonomy? The entry synthesizes existing frameworks and analyzes and classifies a variety of documented cyber ranges to find similarities and gaps in the current classification methods. The findings indicate recurring design elements across ranges, persistent gaps in standardization, and demonstrate how the University of West Florida (UWF) Cyber Range exemplifies the taxonomy application in practice. The goal is to facilitate informed decision-making by cybersecurity professionals when choosing platforms and to support academic research in cybersecurity education. Pulling information from studies about other cyber ranges to compare with the UWF Cyber Range, this taxonomy aims to contribute to the documentation of cyber ranges by providing a clear understanding of the current cyber range landscape. Full article

The axisymmetric geometries of both internal and external profiles of church bells, along with the properties of the bell metal, are of vital importance to their acoustics. The role of “golden geometry” in determining the visual characteristics of the outer profile of a modern English church bell is presented. It is shown that a golden rectangle, a golden triangle, and a golden angle are all important factors. Three angular parameters are identified as measures of these attributes of the bell’s “goldenness”. Two of these features are shown to result from an underlying regular pentagon with one side defined by the bell’s mouth. The centre of this pentagon determines the location of the bell’s shoulders. Further minor features are also shown to be determined by golden geometry. The evolution of the three angular parameters over the previous millennium is included, showing a tendency to trend quickly towards the golden values in all the cases. Ultimately, the angular parameters for the English church bell of focus here are used for comparison with other modern European bells studied previously. The bells considered all displayed at least two of the three major golden features to an agreement of better than 1%. Full article

Cognition is often modeled in terms of abstract reasoning and neural computation, yet a growing body of theoretical and experimental work suggests that the roots of cognition lie in fundamental embodied regulatory processes. This article presents a theory of cognition grounded in sensing, feeling, and affect—capacities that precede neural systems and are observable in even the simplest living organisms. Based on the info-computational framework, this entry outlines how cognition and proto-subjectivity co-emerge in biological systems. Embodied appraisal—the system’s ability to evaluate internal and external conditions in terms of valence (positive/negative; good/bad)—and the capacity to regulate accordingly are described as mutually constitutive processes observable at the cellular level. This concept reframes cognition not as abstract symbolic reasoning but as value-sensitive, embodied information dynamics resulting from self-regulating engagement with the environment that spans scales from unicellular organisms to complex animals. In this context, information is physically instantiated, and computation is the dynamic, self-modifying process by which organisms regulate and organize themselves. Cognition thus emerges from the dynamic coupling of sensing, internal evaluation, and adaptive morphological (material shape-based) activity. Grounded in findings from developmental biology, bioelectric signaling, morphological computation, and basal cognition, this account situates intelligence as an affect-driven regulatory capacity intrinsic to biological life. While focused on biological systems, this framework also offers conceptual insights for developing more adaptive and embodied forms of artificial intelligence. Future experiments with minimal living systems or synthetic agents may help operationalize and test the proposed mechanisms of proto-subjectivity and affect regulation. Full article