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Encyclopedia, Volume 6, Issue 8 (August 2026) – 21 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Student engagement is a multidimensional construct encompassing behavioral, emotional, and cognitive involvement in university life. The University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI) provides a comprehensive measure of these dimensions and has demonstrated robust psychometric properties across diverse cultural contexts. Higher engagement is associated with better academic performance and efficacy, lower dropout intention, and lower student burnout; importantly, engagement can attenuate the adverse effects of burnout. Validated with university students across Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Asia, the USEI provides an internationally relevant framework for understanding and supporting student success and well-being. View this paper
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45 pages, 1461 KB  
Review
Furniture Arrangement as Pedagogical Mediation in Architecture Design Studios: A Review and the ASLE Framework
by Vera Bijelić
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080181 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 296
Abstract
Architecture design studios are complex learning environments in which knowledge develops through critique, collaboration, individual reflection, material exploration, and increasingly digital forms of practice. Although the physical organization of these spaces influences how such activities unfold, research on furniture arrangement remains fragmented across [...] Read more.
Architecture design studios are complex learning environments in which knowledge develops through critique, collaboration, individual reflection, material exploration, and increasingly digital forms of practice. Although the physical organization of these spaces influences how such activities unfold, research on furniture arrangement remains fragmented across ergonomics, learning environments, educational research, technology-enhanced education, and participatory design. This structured integrative review examined the mechanisms reported between furniture arrangement, related physical spatial configurations, and learning processes in architecture design studios and relevant adjacent educational settings. It also investigated the pedagogical, ergonomic, technological, and cultural conditions under which these mechanisms were reported as supportive or restrictive. Scopus, Web of Science All Databases, and ScienceDirect were searched on 7 August 2026. The searches identified 64 source-level records: 26 from Scopus, 19 from Web of Science, and 19 from ScienceDirect. Eight duplicate records were identified within the ScienceDirect results. Following cross-source deduplication, title and abstract screening, and full-text eligibility assessment, 15 publications were included in the integrative synthesis. Study characteristics, methodological quality, contextual relevance, furniture-related conditions, pedagogical activities, reported outcomes, explanatory mechanisms, evidentiary directness, and transferability were examined through an integrative, mechanism-oriented synthesis. The resulting relationships were subsequently organized through an abductive framework-development process into the provisional Adaptive Studio Learning Ecosystem (ASLE) framework. ASLE comprises five interrelated dimensions: spatial flexibility, ergonomic responsiveness, pedagogical mediation, technological support, and cultural–participatory fit. The synthesis supports activity–layout alignment rather than a universally optimal furniture configuration and indicates that spatial adaptability becomes educationally meaningful only when supported by appropriate pedagogical practices, ergonomic conditions, technological integration, and patterns of user participation. Because the evidence base includes a limited number of direct architecture-studio studies and relies partly on mechanisms transferred from adjacent settings, ASLE should be treated as a provisional, review-derived framework requiring empirical validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Sciences)
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35 pages, 866 KB  
Review
Digital Tools for Fostering Spatial Literacy and Spatial Thinking in Primary Geography Education: An Integrative Review and Conceptual Synthesis
by Nikolaos Voudrislis
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080180 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 450
Abstract
Spatial literacy and spatial thinking are fundamental skills for understanding space, interpreting geographical phenomena, and enabling active citizenship in a society increasingly driven by geospatial information. This review examines how digital tools and geospatial technologies contribute to cultivating spatial literacy and thinking within [...] Read more.
Spatial literacy and spatial thinking are fundamental skills for understanding space, interpreting geographical phenomena, and enabling active citizenship in a society increasingly driven by geospatial information. This review examines how digital tools and geospatial technologies contribute to cultivating spatial literacy and thinking within primary geography education. Following an integrative, PRISMA-informed review methodology combining searches of Scopus, Web of Science, and ERIC (n = 1373 records identified), this study draws on a corpus of 141 studies—comprising an original set of sources supplemented by newly identified, priority-ranked literature—examining digital maps, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Web GIS, StoryMaps, collaborative mapping, digital games, and augmented and virtual reality in geography teaching. This review proposes an explicit conceptual model clarifying the hierarchical and complementary relationships among spatial skills, spatial thinking, critical spatial thinking, spatial literacy, and spatial citizenship, together with a four-dimensional typology distinguishing technological platforms, representational formats, pedagogical approaches, and learning activity types; both are proposed as synthesizing heuristics for organizing the reviewed evidence and are offered as a basis for future empirical validation rather than as established models. The findings suggest that pedagogically grounded digital integration strengthens spatial skills, shifts learning toward active, participatory models, and helps cultivate spatial citizenship, though the strength of this evidence varies considerably by tool and by educational level, with primary-specific support remaining comparatively limited for higher-order outcomes such as critical spatial thinking. Crucially, the effective integration of these technologies depends on structured teacher training—addressing self-efficacy and confidence-related barriers alongside technical skills—and the adoption of innovative instructional approaches. Ultimately, digital tools provide effective means of deepening geographical learning and strengthening spatial literacy in primary schools. Realizing this potential, however, depends on matching the selection and use of each tool to the specific dimension of spatial learning it is evidenced to support. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Sciences)
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23 pages, 8922 KB  
Entry
The Saltpeter Industry in Chile: Technologies, Work, and Culture Across the 19th–20th Centuries
by José Antonio González Pizarro
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080179 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 279
Definition
This examines the development of the saltpeter industry in Chile after the War of the Pacific (1879–1883), a conflict between Chile and a Bolivian–Peruvian alliance. Chile’s victory meant the annexation of the territories of Antofagasta and Tarapacá, effectively controlling the production of sodium [...] Read more.
This examines the development of the saltpeter industry in Chile after the War of the Pacific (1879–1883), a conflict between Chile and a Bolivian–Peruvian alliance. Chile’s victory meant the annexation of the territories of Antofagasta and Tarapacá, effectively controlling the production of sodium nitrate and the global saltpeter monopoly. Industrial development was reflected through changes in foreign and Chilean capitals, technologies, and work practices. In Tarapacá, the most important investments in the 19th century were British and German. In Antofagasta, Chilean, English, German, and Croatian investments were prominent in the 19th and 20th centuries. And since 1926, American capitals have occupied the spotlight. The dominant technologies were the Shanks system between 1880–1926, the Guggenheim from 1926–1954, and the introduction of Solar Evaporation in the 1950s. Work evolved from manual artisanal labor without legal protection to mechanization under social laws. Saltpeter represented, in the social and economic history of Chile, the rise of the proletariat, communal social movements, a strong labor press, and a series of strikes and massacres. From the saltpeter era sprouted powerful literature, poetry, and music throughout the 20th century until today. The nitrate industry reached its peak between 1881 and 1917. During this period, it had to confront competition from synthetic nitrate and ceased to be the main source of revenue for the national treasury of Chile. This was followed by a period of decline and crisis from 1918 to 1931, the latter intertwined with the global financial crisis. Various state and business measures made it possible for a small number of nitrate oficinas (processing plants and settlements) in Tarapacá and Antofagasta to continue operating until the nationalization of the nitrate industry in 1971. The nitrate industry took place during the first globalization of liberalism, one that brought flows of capital, migration from Europe to the American Continent, changes to marine navigation, and the opening of various markets in Asia, Europe, and Africa. Nitrate became the most effective fertilizer for agriculture and replaced guano in crop production. In order to analyze this topic, we will utilize the results of the main monographic studies, texts used for historical and political context, and works with interpretative theses about specific periods of nitrate production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Encyclopedia of Social Sciences)
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9 pages, 521 KB  
Entry
Food Traditions in Macau and Hong Kong
by Adriaan De Man and Amare Wondirad
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080178 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 274
Definition
As an expression of cultural identity, food is rooted in social transformation and, in the area of the Pearl River Delta, the cuisines of Macau and Hong Kong have been shaped by global interactions. Despite a geographical adjacency, both Special Administrative Regions (SARs) [...] Read more.
As an expression of cultural identity, food is rooted in social transformation and, in the area of the Pearl River Delta, the cuisines of Macau and Hong Kong have been shaped by global interactions. Despite a geographical adjacency, both Special Administrative Regions (SARs) display unique foodways. While typical Macanese cuisine integrates not only Portuguese and Chinese but also African and Indian fusions, the Cantonese gastronomy of Hong Kong is heavily based on street food culture and the hybridity of cha chaan teng dishes. This encyclopedia entry looks at local food traditions from colonial culinary practice to globalized consumption. It illustrates a continuous adaptiveness in the wake of socioeconomic change, as well as the resilience needed for preserving heritage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Food and Food Culture)
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17 pages, 803 KB  
Entry
Employee Experience Management: A Multidimensional, Structural and Mechanism-Based Perspective
by Paula Cristina Nunes Figueiredo and Vandana Mohanty
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080177 - 20 Aug 2026
Viewed by 413
Definition
Employee experience management (EXM) is a strategic and systematic approach through which organisations design, coordinate, and continuously improve the structural conditions, organisational mechanisms, and interactions in the workplace. These interactions shape the experiences lived by employees throughout their professional trajectory. Based on organisational [...] Read more.
Employee experience management (EXM) is a strategic and systematic approach through which organisations design, coordinate, and continuously improve the structural conditions, organisational mechanisms, and interactions in the workplace. These interactions shape the experiences lived by employees throughout their professional trajectory. Based on organisational psychology, human resource management (HRM), organisational behaviour, human-centred design, and technological studies, EXM seeks to understand how employees perceive, interpret, and attribute meaning to their interactions with organisational environments. Employee experience (EX) thus emerges from the dynamic interaction between structural conditions, organisational mechanisms, and the psychological interpretation that employees make of their experiences in the workplace, influencing well-being, engagement, performance, and organisational sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Encyclopedia of Social Sciences)
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28 pages, 4235 KB  
Review
Towards High-Strength Transparent Glass-Ceramics: Processing, Microstructure, and Applications
by Ivan Veselov, Georgiy Shakhgildyan, Kirill Tregubov, Daniil Vinogradov and Vladimir Sigaev
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080176 - 19 Aug 2026
Viewed by 302
Abstract
Glass-ceramics are inorganic, non-metallic materials obtained by controlled crystallization of glasses through different processing routes; they contain at least one functional crystalline phase together with a residual glass, and the crystallized fraction may range from trace levels to nearly complete crystallization. Transparent glass-ceramics [...] Read more.
Glass-ceramics are inorganic, non-metallic materials obtained by controlled crystallization of glasses through different processing routes; they contain at least one functional crystalline phase together with a residual glass, and the crystallized fraction may range from trace levels to nearly complete crystallization. Transparent glass-ceramics (TGCs) constitute the optically transparent subset of this class and combine a controlled crystalline microstructure with a residual amorphous matrix. Their transparency distinguishes them from conventional opaque glass-ceramics and is achieved by minimizing light scattering through careful control of crystallite size, volume fraction, spatial distribution, and refractive-index mismatch between the crystalline and glassy phases. Unlike conventional sintered ceramics, TGCs retain many of the processing advantages of glass while incorporating crystalline phases that can enhance mechanical, thermal, optical, or functional properties. Depending on their composition and microstructure, TGCs may exhibit improved hardness, fracture toughness, thermal stability, chemical durability, luminescence, nonlinear optical response, or ion-exchange strengthening capability. These features make TGCs attractive for applications requiring both optical clarity and advanced performance, including protective cover glass, transparent armour, precision optical substrates, laser and photonic components, optical sensors, and multifunctional host materials for rare-earth ions and nanoparticles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Vitreous and Glass-Based Materials for the Circular Economy)
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17 pages, 283 KB  
Entry
Synthetic Media: Deepfakes, AI-Generated Content, and Authenticity in the Digital Society
by Dan Valeriu Voinea
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080175 - 18 Aug 2026
Viewed by 758
Definition
Synthetic media are digital artifacts (image, video, audio, text, or multimodal content) that are wholly or partly generated or materially manipulated by artificial intelligence (AI), particularly by deep-learning models. In consequence, their form, source, identity signal, or evidentiary relation to recorded events becomes [...] Read more.
Synthetic media are digital artifacts (image, video, audio, text, or multimodal content) that are wholly or partly generated or materially manipulated by artificial intelligence (AI), particularly by deep-learning models. In consequence, their form, source, identity signal, or evidentiary relation to recorded events becomes partly or wholly artificial. A deepfake is the best-known subclass: AI-generated or AI-manipulated image, audio, or video content (including audio-only voice clones and still images) that realistically depicts an existing or fictitious person, object, place, or event and could falsely appear to be authentic. Contemporary scholarly and legal usage defines deepfakes by their technological origin and their capacity to deceive rather than by the creator’s intent, so disclosed and beneficial applications (accessibility, dubbing, entertainment, and research) are synthetic media as well. They are distinguished from cheapfakes (or shallowfakes), which achieve deception through conventional, non-AI editing such as selective cropping, slowing, or recontextualization. The social significance of synthetic media is not intrinsic but depends on consent, context, disclosure, and distribution, and on the institutional conditions under which audiences judge authenticity across the expanding volume of AI-generated content (AIGC) in the digital society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City)
24 pages, 3931 KB  
Review
Monascus Yellow Pigments as Functional Food Ingredients
by Chun-Lin Lee and Tzu-Ming Pan
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080174 - 17 Aug 2026
Viewed by 425
Abstract
Monascus yellow pigments, including monascin, ankaflavin, and the derivative monascinol, are azaphilone secondary metabolites produced by Monascus species. They have attracted attention as candidate functional-food ingredients because experimental studies indicate activity in pathways relevant to lipid and glucose metabolism. Available evidence, however, is [...] Read more.
Monascus yellow pigments, including monascin, ankaflavin, and the derivative monascinol, are azaphilone secondary metabolites produced by Monascus species. They have attracted attention as candidate functional-food ingredients because experimental studies indicate activity in pathways relevant to lipid and glucose metabolism. Available evidence, however, is heterogeneous and is derived predominantly from in vitro and animal studies; the human evidence is limited to small, short-term studies of Monascus-fermented preparations rather than isolated pigments. Reported associations with PPAR-α/γ and AMPK signaling, and with gut–liver-axis outcomes, should therefore be interpreted as mechanistic or preclinical observations. Monascus yellow pigments may offer a promising safety profile relative to monacolin K-containing preparations, but their long-term efficacy, dose standardization, and safety require confirmation in adequately powered human trials. Monascus-fermented products are being investigated beyond their traditional use as colorants and sources of monacolin K, partly because monacolin K has statin-like safety concerns. This review summarizes the structural diversity, biosynthetic pathways, and reported pharmacological activities of monascin, ankaflavin, and monascinol. Preclinical studies suggest that these azaphilones may influence PPAR-α/γ-, AMPK-, oxidative-stress-, and inflammation-related pathways and may affect lipid and glucose metabolism. Evidence for gut-microbiota modulation by monascinol is currently derived mainly from animal and mechanistic studies. Human data remain limited, including a small, short-duration trial of a Monascus-fermented preparation enriched in monascin and ankaflavin; these findings support short-term investigation but do not establish long-term clinical efficacy or comparative safety. Accordingly, Monascus yellow pigments should be regarded as promising candidate functional ingredients whose composition, bioavailability, dose, long-term safety, and clinical applicability require further rigorous evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Encyclopedia of Fungi)
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20 pages, 3982 KB  
Review
Environmental Sustainability of Natural and Synthetic Fibers in Textiles and Composite Applications
by Sayam, Tarikul Islam, Sakil Mahmud and Subrata Chandra Das
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080173 - 14 Aug 2026
Viewed by 1264
Abstract
Environmental sustainability of natural and synthetic fibers used in textiles and composites depends on their impacts throughout production, use, and end-of-life (EoL) stages. Natural fibers are renewable and biodegradable but may require substantial water and agricultural inputs, whereas synthetic fibers contribute to fossil [...] Read more.
Environmental sustainability of natural and synthetic fibers used in textiles and composites depends on their impacts throughout production, use, and end-of-life (EoL) stages. Natural fibers are renewable and biodegradable but may require substantial water and agricultural inputs, whereas synthetic fibers contribute to fossil resource depletion, microplastic pollution, and persistent waste generation. Natural fibers are often regarded as more sustainable alternatives to synthetic fiber; however, evidence from a life cycle assessment (LCA) reveals a more nuanced reality. As demand for fiber-based materials increases across textile and composite applications, a deeper understanding of the environmental implications of both natural and synthetic options becomes essential. This review compares these fiber categories from a life cycle perspective, examining carbon footprint, energy demands, resource consumption, and EoL pathways. Natural fibers such as cotton, flax, jute, hemp, sisal, banana, coir, and emerging plant-based alternatives offer advantages including biodegradability and carbon sequestration during cultivation. Nevertheless, agricultural practices and subsequent industrial processing require substantial land, water, and chemical inputs. Synthetic fibers, predominantly derived from fossil resources, provide a long service life and consistent performance but are associated with high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, dependence on non-renewable feedstocks, microplastic pollution, and broader environmental impacts. By presenting a comprehensive life cycle-based comparison, this review identifies the conditions under which each fiber type may offer environmental benefits, supporting informed material selection for sustainable development. Full article
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20 pages, 1980 KB  
Systematic Review
Digitised Entrepreneurship Education in Tertiary Institutions: A Systematic Literature Review of Research Themes and Entrepreneurial Effectiveness
by Emmanuel Udekwe, Chux Gervase Iwu, Chidi Chinedu Udekwe, Nana Agyeman-Prempeh, Lucky Sibanda, Robertson Khan Tengeh and Tendai Makwara
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080172 - 13 Aug 2026
Viewed by 369
Abstract
Entrepreneurship Education (EE) is acknowledged for developing entrepreneurial skills, ideas, and knowledge to support individuals and foster independence, thereby promoting economic growth and national sustainability. Digitised EE has been proposed as a means to strengthen entrepreneurial effectiveness and economic transformation. This literature review [...] Read more.
Entrepreneurship Education (EE) is acknowledged for developing entrepreneurial skills, ideas, and knowledge to support individuals and foster independence, thereby promoting economic growth and national sustainability. Digitised EE has been proposed as a means to strengthen entrepreneurial effectiveness and economic transformation. This literature review classifies studies on digitised EE, emphasises how it supports entrepreneurial effectiveness, and suggests guidelines for digitised EE performance in Tertiary Institutions (TIs). A search strategy was used to identify publications in databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, DOAJ, WOS, IEEE, and Cochrane. The publication range spanned from 2012 to 2024. A total of 912 publications were identified in the database, of which 43 met the inclusion criteria. Digitised EE requires considerable study to determine its impact on reducing unemployment, economic development through TIs, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A descriptive research design was adopted; the themes selected were acknowledged in the research and discussed based on data extracted from the included criteria. Additionally, most of the included criteria are recent publications, with journals the most frequently identified and quantitative methods the most commonly applied. The lack of improved EE deprives the realisation of entrepreneurial effectiveness, which is attributed to Artificial Intelligence (AI), entrepreneurial knowledge, competitiveness, and strategic decisions. It is imperative to research digitised EE practices for entrepreneurial effectiveness and efficiency in the education sector for a country’s growth. Recommendations for related studies are provided in the review. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurship in the Digital Era)
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25 pages, 2706 KB  
Entry
High-Entropy Alloys and Related Compositionally Complex Alloys: Design Principles, Structures, Processing, and Applications
by Mihail Kolev and Krasimir Kolev
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080171 - 13 Aug 2026
Viewed by 471
Definition
High-entropy alloys (HEAs), complex concentrated alloys (CCAs), medium-entropy alloys (MEAs), and multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) are compositionally complex material classes in which design is based on multiple principal elements present in substantial, often comparable, fractions rather than on a single dominant constituent. In [...] Read more.
High-entropy alloys (HEAs), complex concentrated alloys (CCAs), medium-entropy alloys (MEAs), and multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) are compositionally complex material classes in which design is based on multiple principal elements present in substantial, often comparable, fractions rather than on a single dominant constituent. In this Entry, the discussion focuses primarily on metallic alloy systems within this broader framework. HEAs are commonly described as alloys containing five or more principal elements and relatively high ideal configurational entropy; CCAs represent a broader, phase-agnostic category of chemically complex alloys in which multiple elements occupy significant fractions and can form solid solutions, ordered phases, intermetallic compounds, or multiphase microstructures; MEAs generally refer to systems containing fewer principal elements or lower configurational entropy than typical HEAs; and MPEAs describe alloys designed around multiple principal elements without requiring a specific entropy threshold. These terms overlap and are not universally hierarchical, and their use depends on composition, phase constitution, and research context. The large compositional space enabled by these materials provides opportunities for designing face-centered cubic, body-centered cubic, hexagonal close-packed, ordered, eutectic, refractory, interstitially alloyed, and precipitation-strengthened alloy systems. Their properties are governed by the complex interactions among composition, phase stability, chemical ordering, processing route, microstructure, and service environment. This Entry summarizes the fundamental concepts, design approaches, structural characteristics, processing methods, modeling strategies, properties, candidate engineering applications, limitations, and future perspectives of HEAs and related compositionally complex alloys. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Material Sciences)
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26 pages, 5832 KB  
Review
Non-Muslim Cemeteries as Multicultural Urban Heritage in Istanbul: The Case of the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery
by Meryem Müzeyyen Fındıkgil, Ilke Ciritci and Semih Göksel Yıldırım
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080170 - 12 Aug 2026
Viewed by 360
Abstract
This review examines non-Muslim cemeteries in Istanbul as multicultural urban heritage landscapes, using the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery as its principal case. Rather than treating cemeteries solely as religious or funerary spaces, it conceptualizes them as material archives of urban memory, minority presence, spatial [...] Read more.
This review examines non-Muslim cemeteries in Istanbul as multicultural urban heritage landscapes, using the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery as its principal case. Rather than treating cemeteries solely as religious or funerary spaces, it conceptualizes them as material archives of urban memory, minority presence, spatial displacement, and heritage governance. Drawing on a literature review, historical documentation, spatial mapping, and field observation, the article first traces the transformation of non-Muslim cemeteries from the Ottoman period to the Republican period, with particular attention to their relocation, disappearance, and reuse within processes of urban modernization. It then analyses the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery in terms of its establishment, multinational governance structure, architectural and funerary features, transferred memorial elements, digitisation practices, and conservation initiatives. The case illustrates the layered relationships among urban development, multicultural identity, and sustainable conservation. The article argues that Istanbul’s surviving non-Muslim cemeteries should be understood as living spaces of memory and cultural landscapes whose protection requires documentation, public awareness, and multi-actor heritage governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Encyclopedia of Heritage)
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14 pages, 646 KB  
Review
School-Based Speech–Language Therapy Services for Children with Hearing Loss in Inclusive Education: A Narrative Review
by Duygu Büyükköse and Merve Nur Sarıyer Temelli
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080169 - 11 Aug 2026
Viewed by 410
Abstract
Children with hearing loss increasingly participate in inclusive educational settings; however, many continue to experience difficulties in language development, communication access, and classroom participation. This narrative review examines school-based speech–language therapy (SLT) services for children with hearing loss in inclusive educational settings, focusing [...] Read more.
Children with hearing loss increasingly participate in inclusive educational settings; however, many continue to experience difficulties in language development, communication access, and classroom participation. This narrative review examines school-based speech–language therapy (SLT) services for children with hearing loss in inclusive educational settings, focusing on language development, service delivery models, and intervention practices. The reviewed literature suggests that language development in children with hearing loss is multidimensional and influenced by multiple interacting factors. Evidence further indicates that intervention outcomes are shaped not only by intervention approaches but also by educational context, classroom communication environments, collaboration among professionals, and students’ individual needs. Interventions tailored to students’ individual needs and implemented within meaningful educational contexts may support communication access, classroom participation, and the functional use of language. At the same time, the available evidence remains heterogeneous, suggesting that service delivery decisions should be guided by students’ individual needs and educational contexts. Overall, the reviewed literature suggests that school-based SLT may contribute not only to children’s language development but also to communication access, classroom participation, and interdisciplinary collaboration in inclusive educational settings. The review also identifies implications for clinical practice and priorities for future research. Full article
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25 pages, 585 KB  
Entry
AI Competence Frameworks for STEAM Educators: A Knowledge Codification Perspective
by Michalis Ioannou, Natalia Spyropoulou and Achilles Kameas
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080168 - 10 Aug 2026
Viewed by 519
Definition
Competence frameworks function as structured knowledge codification systems: authoritative, domain-wide representations of professional knowledge that define what counts as competence within a field and how it should be organised. As such, they constitute a form of professional knowledge encyclopaedia, structured to comprehensively map [...] Read more.
Competence frameworks function as structured knowledge codification systems: authoritative, domain-wide representations of professional knowledge that define what counts as competence within a field and how it should be organised. As such, they constitute a form of professional knowledge encyclopaedia, structured to comprehensively map an emerging or established knowledge domain. This paper examines how eight EU and international competence frameworks codify AI-related knowledge for STEAM educators, using a dual analytical lens comprising AI-TPACK and STEAMCompEdu. Read through this dual lens, the cross-framework analysis identifies four knowledge dimensions insufficiently addressed in the existing landscape: interdisciplinary pedagogical knowledge, creative-aesthetic AI knowledge, ethics as embedded disciplinary practice, and inquiry-oriented AI pedagogy. Based on these findings, the paper proposes three emerging theoretical extensions to AI-TPACK to address the identified lacunae and discusses implications for the design of structured professional knowledge codification systems that better represent complex, interdisciplinary, and rapidly evolving knowledge domains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Encyclopedia of Social Sciences)
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62 pages, 5855 KB  
Review
From Fundamentals to Industrial Prospects: Ion-Imprinted Polymers for Metal Ion Separation
by Heru Agung Saputra, Muhammad Hanif Amrulloh, Nadiya Ayu Astarini, Fathan Bahfie, David Candra Birawidha, Kyeong-Deok Seo, Yuanhui Huang, Widi Astuti and Yeni Wahyuni Hartati
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080167 - 4 Aug 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 891
Abstract
Ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) are advanced adsorbents featuring selective recognition cavities for targeted metal ion capture, offering a promising route to high-efficiency separation in extractive metallurgy. In the present work, the evolution, design principles, synthesis strategies, separation mechanisms, and practical applicability of IIPs for [...] Read more.
Ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) are advanced adsorbents featuring selective recognition cavities for targeted metal ion capture, offering a promising route to high-efficiency separation in extractive metallurgy. In the present work, the evolution, design principles, synthesis strategies, separation mechanisms, and practical applicability of IIPs for metal recovery from complex aqueous matrices are overviewed. Key material components, including functional monomers, crosslinkers, template ions, initiators, solvents, and support materials, are discussed in relation to adsorption capacity, selectivity, kinetics, stability, and recyclability. Major preparation routes, such as surface imprinting, bulk polymerization, in situ polymerization, and sol–gel methods, are critically compared to clarify their advantages and limitations. Recent applications for base metals, precious metals, and rare-earth elements demonstrate that IIPs can achieve high specificity and rapid equilibrium under optimized conditions. However, their translation from simulated solutions to real leachates remains constrained by interfering ions, organic contaminants, mass transfer resistance, incomplete template removal, and matrix complexity. Mitigation strategies, including sample pretreatment, improved polymer architecture, and hybrid supports, are therefore emphasized. Additionally, chemometric modelling, machine learning, or artificial intelligence-assisted design may be implemented to advance the prospects of IIPs in industry. Conclusively, IIPs represent a strong separation platform, yet industrial deployment requires robust validation with real feed streams and scalable regeneration protocols during column operation, as well as under chemically aggressive conditions at scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Chemistry)
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11 pages, 636 KB  
Entry
The University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI)
by João Marôco
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080166 - 4 Aug 2026
Viewed by 1014
Definition
The University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI) is a multidimensional self-report instrument designed to assess student engagement in higher education through three interrelated dimensions: behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement. Developed within a hierarchical framework, the USEI provides both dimension-specific scores and an overall indicator [...] Read more.
The University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI) is a multidimensional self-report instrument designed to assess student engagement in higher education through three interrelated dimensions: behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement. Developed within a hierarchical framework, the USEI provides both dimension-specific scores and an overall indicator of student engagement, supporting research, institutional assessment, and educational quality evaluation across diverse cultural and educational contexts. Student engagement is widely recognized as a key determinant of academic success, persistence, and educational quality in higher education. The University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI) was developed to provide a theoretically grounded and psychometrically sound measure of engagement that captures students’ behavioral, emotional, and cognitive involvement in learning activities. This encyclopedia entry reviews the conceptual foundations, development process, factorial structure, psychometric properties, and applications of the USEI. Evidence from multiple studies indicates that the instrument exhibits satisfactory reliability, construct validity, predictive validity, and measurement invariance across different countries, languages, and educational settings. The USEI has been translated and adapted for use in diverse cultural contexts and has been employed extensively in research examining academic performance, well-being, persistence, and learning environments, including online and blended education. Its brevity, multidimensional structure, and cross-cultural validation have supported its use in educational research and institutional assessment. Overall, the USEI represents a robust and versatile instrument for evaluating student engagement and supporting evidence-based improvements in higher education. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Sciences)
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29 pages, 773 KB  
Review
Deepfakes and Synthetic Media: Generation, Detection, and Governance
by Alexandros Gazis, Efstathios Karypidis, Kleanthi Santamouri, Theodoros Vavouras, Nikos E. Mastorakis and Stylianos Pappas
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080165 - 3 Aug 2026
Viewed by 3656
Abstract
Deepfakes, synthetic audiovisual content produced by deep generative models, have escalated into a critical threat across civilian and military domains, enabling identity fraud, disinformation campaigns, and evidence fabrication. In high-stakes environments, ranging from journalism and finance to healthcare and legal contexts, the consequences [...] Read more.
Deepfakes, synthetic audiovisual content produced by deep generative models, have escalated into a critical threat across civilian and military domains, enabling identity fraud, disinformation campaigns, and evidence fabrication. In high-stakes environments, ranging from journalism and finance to healthcare and legal contexts, the consequences extend to severe misinformation, market manipulation, identity fraud, and the erosion of institutional trust. This entry explores how modern visual intelligence and computer-vision techniques are used to detect deepfakes. It outlines key deepfake generation models, such as GANs, autoencoders, neural rendering, and diffusion systems, while also explaining how adversarial methods enhance realism and challenge existing detectors. The overview highlights visual artifacts, digital patterns, and physiological cues commonly leveraged in detection and reviews major CNN, transformer, and frequency-based approaches. It also summarizes evaluation practices and the difficulty of achieving strong generalization. Finally, it identifies emerging directions, including modern intelligence techniques for civilian and military content verification. This survey covers generation architectures (GANs, latent diffusion, neural rendering, video synthesis), the spatial, temporal, frequency-domain, and physiological artifacts they produce, and the detector families that exploit them. We examine evaluation benchmarks and protocols, highlighting cross-generator generalization as the field’s central open challenge. Beyond detection, we discuss cryptographic provenance standards, watermarking, and regulatory frameworks (EU AI Act, DSA, GDPR). We conclude that effective deepfake governance requires defense in depth integrating forensic detection, verifiable provenance, and institutional accountability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City)
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23 pages, 4032 KB  
Entry
Virtual Reality-Based Intervention in Neurorehabilitation
by Sebastián Eustaquio Martín Pérez, Carmen Lucía Hernández Stender, Aday Infante Guedes, Paulino Vico Rodríguez, Marta Cano Orihuela, Ana María González Martín, Antonio Bernal Suárez and Isidro Miguel Martín Pérez
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080164 - 30 Jul 2026
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Definition
Virtual Reality is an interactive technology that creates immersive, computer-generated three-dimensional environments for therapeutic and rehabilitative purposes. In neurorehabilitation, it has been increasingly adopted to support motor, cognitive, emotional, and functional recovery via task-oriented, multisensory, and feedback-driven interventions. Originally developed for exposure-based therapies, [...] Read more.
Virtual Reality is an interactive technology that creates immersive, computer-generated three-dimensional environments for therapeutic and rehabilitative purposes. In neurorehabilitation, it has been increasingly adopted to support motor, cognitive, emotional, and functional recovery via task-oriented, multisensory, and feedback-driven interventions. Originally developed for exposure-based therapies, its applications have expanded to neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and chronic pain. Its therapeutic rationale is thought to rely on mechanisms including neuroplasticity, multisensory integration, motor learning, embodiment, and adaptive feedback. Despite the fact that standardized clinical protocols are still evolving, VR is considered a complement to conventional neurorehabilitation, with advances in artificial intelligence and wearable technologies expected to further enhance its clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medicine & Pharmacology)
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10 pages, 2310 KB  
Entry
Disciplinary Literacy in Secondary Teacher Preparation
by Michelle R. Eades-Baird and Emily Hayden
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080163 - 28 Jul 2026
Viewed by 510
Definition
Disciplinary literacy refers to the specialized practices of reading, writing, and reasoning that are unique to each academic discipline—the distinct ways in which scientists, historians, mathematicians, and literary scholars construct, communicate, and critique knowledge within their fields. Although disciplinary literacy is relevant across [...] Read more.
Disciplinary literacy refers to the specialized practices of reading, writing, and reasoning that are unique to each academic discipline—the distinct ways in which scientists, historians, mathematicians, and literary scholars construct, communicate, and critique knowledge within their fields. Although disciplinary literacy is relevant across the lifespan and across all phases of education, its demands become most salient as learners advance through schooling and encounter increasingly specialized texts and discourse conventions. It is distinguished from content-area literacy, which applies general study and comprehension strategies across subjects, and from the foundational literacy skills emphasized in the early-grades Science of Reading. Where foundational literacy concerns the components by which children learn to read (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension), disciplinary literacy concerns how learners read, write, and think as participants in a discipline once those foundations are largely in place. In secondary teacher preparation specifically, disciplinary literacy denotes both a body of pedagogical knowledge and a set of instructional competencies that content-area teacher candidates are increasingly expected to demonstrate—including the capacity to make discipline-specific reading and writing practices visible and teachable for their students. Its theoretical foundations lie in scholarship documenting that literacy demands become more specialized, rather than more general, as students advance through schooling. As educator preparation systems, particularly in the United States, formally integrate Science of Reading principles into program requirements, disciplinary literacy has emerged as the established, though comparatively less codified, extension of that movement into the secondary content areas, where disciplinary reading and writing instruction have historically received limited systematic attention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Sciences)
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20 pages, 1469 KB  
Review
Walking Through the Scientific Landscape of Occupational Burnout Research: A Bibliometric Analysis (2000–2025)
by Chaima ElHichou-Ahmed, Pedro R. Gil-Monte and Hugo Figueiredo-Ferraz
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080162 - 25 Jul 2026
Viewed by 1017
Abstract
Occupational burnout has become a major topic in occupational health psychology because of its implications for employee well-being, mental health, and organizational functioning. Although the scientific literature has grown steadily, the field still requires an integrated picture of its development, collaboration patterns, and [...] Read more.
Occupational burnout has become a major topic in occupational health psychology because of its implications for employee well-being, mental health, and organizational functioning. Although the scientific literature has grown steadily, the field still requires an integrated picture of its development, collaboration patterns, and thematic structure. This study examined the evolution, collaboration patterns and thematic structure of occupational burnout research through a bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection between 2000 and 2025. A total of 3227 publications were retrieved using a topic-based search focused specifically on occupational burnout terminology. Bibliometric analyses used VOSviewer to map and visualize trends in scientific production, co-authorship networks, country/region collaboration, keyword co-occurrence, and journal citation patterns. The findings indicate an accelerating increase in publication output, from 17 publications in 2000 to 454 in 2025. The period 2020–2025 alone accounted for 2142 publications, representing 66.4% of the corpus. Collaboration analyses revealed an increasingly international field involving 122 countries/regions, with the United States occupying a highly connected position and collaboration clusters emerging in Europe and Asia. Spain also appeared to connect European and Latin American research communities. Thematic mapping showed that burnout is closely associated with organizational variables, psychological distress, healthcare settings, and measurement-related issues. Overall, occupational burnout research has become an internationalized and multidisciplinary field, shaped by the growing relevance of psychosocial risks, mental health, and work-related well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Behavioral Sciences)
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2 pages, 130 KB  
Correction
Correction: Tetteh, N.; Noguchi, M. Re-Conceptualizing Vertical Subdivision Development for Sustainable, Affordable Housing Delivery. Encyclopedia 2024, 4, 256–272
by Nathan Tetteh and Masa Noguchi
Encyclopedia 2026, 6(8), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6080161 - 24 Jul 2026
Viewed by 285
Abstract
The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper [...] Full article
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