Search Results (961)

As carriers of traditional culture, Chinese idiom allusions contain rich semantic and emotional content. High-quality illustrations of these idioms hold significant potential for applications in cultural communication and education. Although generative artificial intelligence has achieved substantial progress in general image synthesis, it remains challenging to produce idiom illustrations in culture-intensive scenarios that simultaneously preserve cultural symbols, maintain affective ontology, and exhibit high visual aesthetic quality. To address this gap, we propose a three-dimensional evaluation framework—Zhen-Shan-Mei (Truth-Goodness-Beauty)—for idiom illustrations. The ‘Truth’ module uses Chinese vision–language models to quantify cultural symbols; the ‘Goodness’ module applies cross-modal affective analysis to assess affective ontology; and the ‘Beauty’ module computes quantitative aesthetic metrics (composition balance, color harmony, and line expressiveness). Based on this system, an AI-idiom prototype system is constructed to realize closed-loop iteration of generation-evaluation-regeneration and threshold screening. Experiments show that the proportion of illustrations selected by subjects after the “Truth-Goodness-Beauty” screening reaches 78.1%. The results suggest that the proposed method is effective in maintaining cultural symbols, strengthening affective ontology, and improving visual aesthetics and offers a potentially interpretable and reproducible evaluation and optimization framework for culture-intensive image generation tasks. Full article

Cranial vault reconstruction is a critical component of care following trauma, decompressive craniectomy, infection, or oncologic resection. Large and complex cranial defects present unique reconstructive challenges, as autologous reconstruction may be limited by donor availability, contour mismatch, and long-term resorption. Consequently, alloplastic materials have become central to contemporary cranioplasty. Advances in imaging, computer-aided design/manufacturing (CAD/CAM), and three-dimensional workflows have enabled increasingly accurate patient-specific reconstruction with improved operative efficiency. This narrative perspective summarizes the evolution and clinical application of commonly used alloplastic materials in cranial vault reconstruction, including titanium, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and hydroxyapatite (HA), with a focused discussion of polyetheretherketone (PEEK). We discuss the design rationale, material properties, and clinical performance of PEEK, emphasizing bone-mimicking elasticity, radiolucency, and compatibility with CAD/CAM workflows. Institutional experience is integrated to contextualize durability, aesthetic restoration, neurologic improvement, infection management, and technical considerations that influence outcomes. Overall, PEEK represents a versatile option for large and complex cranial reconstruction by combining favorable mechanical performance with patient-specific design capability. Continued advances in biomaterials and surgical planning, coupled with rigorous long-term outcome evaluation, will further refine material selection and optimize reconstructive outcomes in cranial vault reconstruction. Full article

This article examines the depiction of multiple forms of marginalization and exclusion in a recent Chinese film, Like a Rolling Stone (2024), through the prism of noise at the interface of politics and aesthetics. It starts with interrogating the ways in which the film transmits and amplifies the patriarch’s “Sacred Noise” as a dominant sonic presence in the domestic space, translating hierarchical social and familial structures into an oppressive acoustic order. As Jacques Rancière has reminded us, aesthetic hierarchies materialize political economic hierarchies, giving them sensible forms that structure our everyday embodied experiences. Therefore, the following section explores how political economic conditions devalue women’s domestic care work and recast their enunciations as undesirable, even non-human, noises. In this part, a series of Asian women’s films and writings are referenced to demonstrate a broader cultural trend in exposing the intertwined aesthetic and political economic inequities under capitalist patriarchy. Moreover, what has often been overlooked even in feminist scholarship and movements is that ageism, in conjunction with sexism and classism, reinforces aesthetic–political hierarchies that produce chasms and divisions even among women themselves (including between mothers and daughters) and push the aging (grand)mother further into the peripheries of the auditory regime. Unsettling such a patriarchal “distribution of the sensible,” Like a Rolling Stone deploys creative acoustic strategies to make audible the hidden exploitation of women’s affective labor and revitalizes the subversive potentials, affective energies and aesthetic values of women’s embodied experiences and everyday gendered noises. Full article

This article offers an exploratory overview of the contemporary Ethiopian textile, fashion and apparel system. The contribution originated from a teaching experience in Addis Ababa within the framework of the AICS–UNIDO-funded project “Ethiopia: Support to Youth and Women through Products and Services Development and Public–Private Partnerships in the Fashion Value Chain” which prompted the authors to deepen their understanding of the local fashion ecosystem. Drawing on informal conversations, observations, and ethnographically oriented field notes, the authors developed the analysis through desk research and a review of the relevant literature. The picture that emerges reveals both the creativity and strong entrepreneurial drive of Ethiopian designers, alongside the structural barriers they commonly face, including limited access to materials, investment, and institutional support. Designers are shown to negotiate ongoing tensions between cultural heritage and global aesthetics, while also contending with local consumption patterns situated between second-hand clothing markets and international brands. These dynamics highlight both the challenges and the potential of the Ethiopian fashion scene, pointing to opportunities for mutual learning and for fostering fashion practices that are sustainable, globally relevant, and firmly grounded in local contexts. Full article

Background and Objectives: Frontal bone osteomas are benign tumors characterized by the abnormal proliferation of bone. Though typically asymptomatic, these masses often produce visible forehead deformity and may cause localized discomfort. Endoscopic resection has emerged as an optimal technique for appropriately selected frontal osteomas because it enables complete excision while minimizing visible scarring and risk of neurovascular injury. This case series reviews the senior author’s patient outcomes and complications using a scalp-based, endoscopic-assisted surgical approach for frontal bone osteoma excision. Materials and Methods: A review was conducted of all patients (n = 22) who underwent endoscopic-assisted frontal bone osteoma excision performed by a single surgeon between February 2019 and December 2025. All procedures involved endoscopic visualization through remote scalp incisions, osteoma excision, and frontal bone contouring. Patient demographics, presenting symptoms, CT imaging findings, operative details, histopathology results, and postoperative outcomes were recorded. Results: Twenty-two patients underwent endoscopic-assisted excision of frontal bone osteomas performed by the senior author (NT). The primary concern prompting surgical intervention was aesthetic deformity, with localized pain reported in some cases. For all patients, CT imaging was obtained preoperatively to evaluate lesion size and anatomical relationships to nearby facial structures. Histopathology confirmed cortical bone consistent with osteoma in all cases. Postoperative swelling and ecchymosis were common in the first week but resolved spontaneously. No contour irregularities, fluid collections, residual bone, or sensory deficits were observed. Some alopecia was noted in the first three patients, prompting the senior author to modify the technique. All patients healed with small, flat, well-concealed scars adjacent to the hairline. Conclusions: This single-surgeon experience demonstrates that endoscopic-assisted excision of frontal bone osteomas is a safe and effective technique that permits complete excision with excellent aesthetic outcomes and minimal morbidity. The operative framework presented in this study, including surgical planning, technique steps, and postoperative management, supports endoscopic resection as an ideal alternative to traditional direct approaches for frontal bone osteomas. Full article

Background: NexoBrid^® (NXB), an enzymatic debridement agent approved in Japan in 2022, provides a less invasive alternative to surgical excision for burn treatment. However, its optimal therapeutic benefit depends on appropriate patient selection and proper application technique. Existing international consensus documents are not fully applicable to clinical practice in Japan because of differences in available devices and drugs. Therefore, a Japan-specific consensus document was developed by a panel of seven Japanese burn experts, including four plastic surgeons and three emergency physicians. Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted using the Delphi method to achieve expert consensus. Consensus was defined as agreement by at least 80% of committee members for each statement. A total of 27 statements were evaluated over two rounds. Results: Consensus was achieved for 20 of 27 statements (74.1%) in the first round and for 21 of 27 statements (77.8%) in the second round. The finalised statements were organised into seven categories according to their attributes: indications, pain management, application timing, application technique, post-application wound care, skin grafting, and scarring/aesthetic outcomes. Conclusions: This consensus document integrates the opinions of plastic surgeons and emergency physicians in Japan, while also incorporating relevant international perspectives, to provide practical guidance on the use of NXB for burn treatment. It is intended to improve the quality of burn care by clarifying efficacy, safety, and precautions associated with NXB use. These recommendations should be updated as further clinical experience accumulates. Full article

The following research study is an analysis of Catholic lay influencer activities on the TikTok platform in the context of digital religion. The goal is to apply a previously developed model of influencer communication strategies to Polish-language Catholic TikTokers and to identify the media forms through which these strategies are implemented. The study is a qualitative content analysis based on a previously developed and established model of influencer communication. We analyzed 1790 presentations on TikTok published during a single liturgical year (2024–2025) by ten influencers who were selected using a proven methodology. The results indicate the presence of eight key strategies: narrative, linguistic, interactive, community building, multimedia, creativity, adaptation of TikTok trends, and visualization of religious content. The analysis reveals a strong personal message that unites the sacred sphere and religious experiences with daily life, including organizing the successful communications according to the logic and aesthetics of the social platform. Simultaneously, we can see that there is limited innovation among Catholic influencers. The risk of superficiality stemming from the short video format is also highlighted. This article organizes the communication strategies of lay Catholic influencers and proposes a model for their analysis that can be used in further research. Full article

With the rapid development of immersive digital technologies, location-based entertainment (LBE) exhibitions have emerged as a new medium for cultural dissemination, particularly in cross-cultural contexts. While prior research on immersive experiences has predominantly emphasized immersion and virtual presence, limited attention has been paid to how audiences develop a sense of place within digitally constructed, culturally foreign environments. Drawing on sense of place theory and environmental psychology, this study develops the concept of cross-cultural virtual sense of place and proposes an S–O–R framework to examine the psychological mechanisms underlying immersive experiences. Specifically, entertainment, education, aesthetics, and escapism are conceptualized as stimuli (S), perceived restoration and place attachment as organism states (O), and continued engagement intention as the behavioral response (R). Data were collected from 383 participants who experienced an LBE immersive digital exhibition in China. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results indicate that escapism has the strongest effect on perceived restoration, followed by education, entertainment, and aesthetics. Perceived restoration significantly enhances place attachment and continued engagement intention, and place attachment partially mediates the effect of perceived restoration on continued engagement intention. The findings contribute to the literature by reframing immersive digital exhibitions as processes of experiential place-making rather than mere content delivery, and by identifying perceived restoration as a critical psychological pathway linking immersive stimuli to sustained engagement in cross-cultural digital environments. Full article

Visual learning is not merely a form of visual memory—the ability to associate an object of learning with its spatial and temporal context—or simply an explanatory aid or instrumental support, as is often assumed. The kind of visual learning addressed here aligns, more broadly, with the notion of visual thinking as conceived in the 1960s by Rudolf Arnheim, the German psychologist and art historian, for whom art and expressive forms help us understand the world, generate active and creative comprehension, and organize one’s interpretative universe. The aim, therefore, is not to describe didactic practices that employ images, maps, videos, or simulations, but to go beyond the apparent familiarity of the topic and ask: When and how does the visual dimension foster learning? And, above all, what role does the image play within the educational process? Historically, the visual has been assigned an instrumental function—or so it was believed. Yet one might doubt that this fully captures the experiences of Leonardo, Giotto, or Michelangelo. Can we truly think that sketches or elaborated images have ever been mere mnemonic aids? In both art and education, images do far more than illustrate or serve as tools for remembering, orienting, or recognizing. Especially today, in the presence of technological interference, the visual covers broader horizons: it is used to generate information, explain complex concepts, and produce new experiences—and possibly even new forms of knowledge. In a world saturated with images, there emerges a growing risk of simplification and trivialization: images abound, yet meaning often escapes us. We distrust images, and perhaps we have never truly learned how to read them. Here lies a crucial anthropological fracture: between the mnemonic and the constructive functions of the visual, genuine visual literacy is often missing. A broad methodological approach is therefore needed—one that, through theoretical, historical, and pedagogical analyses, can problematize the educational use of images beyond their mere instrumental dimension. Such reflection must draw from aesthetic and philosophical traditions while acknowledging technological influences and maintaining a clear focus on the specific contexts of contemporary teaching and learning. Full article

The orthographic simplification of Chinese pictographic characters may place a cognitive strain on contemporary learners. Historical evolution has reduced the visual transparency of Chinese pictographic characters, making them increasingly difficult for learners of Chinese as a second language to recognize intuitively. Although current technologies assist in the acquisition of Chinese pictographic characters, how the design of instructional materials shapes learners’ emotional experience in Chinese pictographic character learning remains underexplored. This work, grounded in Emotional Design, designed four versions of instructional materials for 32 Chinese pictographic characters under the title Revitalize Character. A within-subjects experiment with 32 learners of Chinese as a second language (CSL) was conducted, employing recognition-based learning tasks, to assess the effects of four conditions: no emotional design (ND), anthropomorphizing emotional design (AD), colorful emotional design (CD), and anthropomorphizing & colorful emotional design (ACD) on cognitive load, aesthetic pleasure, and intrinsic motivation. The experimental findings demonstrate that, in contrast to ND, CD significantly diminished extraneous cognitive load (ECL, $p<0.01$), and both CD and ACD elevated germane cognitive load (GCL, $p<0.01$) and markedly improved learners’ aesthetic pleasure ($p<0.001$). Regarding motivation, AD led to a significantly greater decrease in intrinsic motivation compared to CD ($p<0.05$). Qualitatively, ACD received more favorable responses from learners than the other conditions, while AD resulted in a subpar learning experience. This study offers empirical evidence for the implementation of emotional design in the recognition-based learning of Chinese pictographic characters, illustrating its potential to improve important aspects of the learning experience. Full article

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are unique digital assets stored on a blockchain that certify ownership of an item, giving rise to NFT art, where digital creations are tokenized to provide verifiable scarcity and provenance. To clarify the polarized debate surrounding this phenomenon, this paper conducts a systematic literature review of 18 academic articles (2020–2025) to synthesize the current state of research on its aesthetics. The review first maps the field’s methodological and typological landscape, and then presents three core thematic findings: the reconfiguration of value from intrinsic visual merit to social factors like community and identity; the evolution of the artist’s role from creator to system designer and community manager; and the adaptation of traditional art world frameworks. The study’s primary contribution is the articulation of a new theoretical framework, “decentralized aesthetics,” which posits that the value of NFT art is derived from the holistic, participatory experience it generates across perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and socio-cultural dimensions, rather than from its isolated visual properties. Finally, the paper identifies critical research gaps, such as a lack of longitudinal and cross-cultural studies, and proposes an agenda for future inquiry into digital creativity and ownership. Full article

The growing interest in visual methodologies within the educational field reflects the need to rethink teaching–learning processes from a participatory, multimodal, and inclusive perspective. Among these approaches, PhotoVoice emerges as a research–action and training strategy that combines photography and autobiographical narration, activating accessible expressive practices centred on subjectivity and lived experience. This contribution presents a theoretical–methodological analysis grounded in pedagogical and visual research literature, aiming to outline an operational framework for the educational application of PhotoVoice in inclusive pathways addressed to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Framed within the paradigm of Visual Education and a pedagogy oriented toward recognition and relationality, PhotoVoice is examined as a pedagogical device capable of fostering symbolic mediation, identity construction, and narrative agency. The photographic image, conceived as an embodied, situated, and relational language, enables access to forms of knowledge often excluded from dominant verbal codes, restoring visibility and epistemic dignity to marginalised subjectivities. The paper delineates key operational phases of the method and identifies core educational objectives, including the strengthening of narrative agency, self-determination, and reflective participation. From this perspective, visual narration is configured as a situated pedagogical practice integrating aesthetics, ethics, and social transformation, capable of generating equitable and meaning-generative learning environments. Within this framework, PhotoVoice shifts inclusion from an abstract principle to a concrete educational process, enabling participants to narrate, interpret, and actively reshape their own learning contexts. Full article

The increasing demand for better dental aesthetics has driven the development of tooth-whitening techniques that are effective while reducing invasiveness. Hydrogen peroxide (HP) and carbamide peroxide (CP) continue to be the most common active ingredients in bleaching products. Various types of light and laser activation have been introduced to speed up the bleaching process and decrease clinical application time. However, published results regarding their effectiveness and biological safety are inconsistent and sometimes contradictory. Aim: The objective of this study was to identify irradiation conditions that optimise the whitening performance of peroxide-based bleaching agents while ensuring safety for dental hard tissues and ocular structures. This objective was achieved through a systematic synthesis and meta-analyses of both experimental and clinical evidence on bleaching techniques, light or laser activation, and related treatment outcomes. Additionally, the study aimed to provide an integrated overview of currently used irradiation technologies, bleaching agents, treatment protocols, and relevant safety considerations. Methods: A multi-stage analytical approach was employed. Evidence was collected from systematic reviews, randomised and non-randomised clinical trials, and laboratory-based in vitro investigations. The studies assessed differences in bleaching agents (HP and CP), their concentrations, and application protocols, as well as various activation systems, including halogen lamps, conventional LEDs, violet LEDs, metal–halide lamps, and laser wavelengths such as visible blue (~440 nm), red or near-infrared (~1.7 µm), and other spectral ranges. Extracted outcome measures included tooth colour improvement (ΔSGU, ΔE), incidence of tooth sensitivity, changes in enamel surface morphology, temperature increases in the pulp chamber, and the bond strength of restorative or orthodontic materials. When methodological compatibility permitted, quantitative synthesis and meta-analysis were conducted to estimate the effects of activation modalities and irradiation parameters. Results: Analysis of data from 28 systematic reviews and numerous clinical and laboratory studies showed that the degree of colour improvement did not consistently rely on peroxide concentration or on whether bleaching was performed in-office or through home-based protocols. In most studies, adding light activation did not produce a clearly superior whitening effect compared to chemically driven bleaching alone. However, certain laser-assisted methods—especially those using blue diode lasers around 440 nm or near-infrared diode lasers near 1.7 µm—were linked with faster whitening responses and, in several in vitro experiments, fewer enamel surface irregularities. Increases in pulp temperature remained below the generally accepted safety threshold of 5.5 °C in the reported experimental conditions. While laser activation reduced treatment time, some studies observed a temporary decrease in the bond strength of orthodontic brackets following bleaching. Photobiomodulation techniques seem promising for reducing post-treatment sensitivity, although more robust clinical evidence is still needed. Conclusions: Targeted activation with diode lasers, especially within the blue and near-infrared spectral ranges, may speed up the whitening process and potentially minimise structural changes to enamel when irradiation parameters are carefully managed. Despite these positive findings, current clinical evidence remains limited. Well-designed randomised controlled trials with standardised treatment protocols are essential to determine the best wavelengths, energy delivery settings, and safety limits for laser-assisted dental bleaching. Full article

Urbanization reduces biodiversity and affects plant–insect interactions, creating a need for more functional green spaces. Urban meadows with native species are a promising option, but their use is still limited due to a variety of reasons concerning the utilization framework of suitable plant species. The present study aimed to develop seed germination protocols for 26 native Mediterranean herbaceous species originating from northeastern Greece selected to support the establishment of species-rich and self-sustaining urban meadows. To the above end, seed germination experiments were conducted ex situ under controlled environment conditions using seeds collected from the wild for each species. Seed viability was assessed using the tetrazolium (TTZ) test to determine the maximum germination potential in each case. Freshly collected seeds were stored under ambient conditions for approximately 3 months (after-ripening) prior to germination testing, which was followed by cold stratification as a pretreatment for dormancy release. The results showed high embryo viability in all species and indicated that most taxa exhibited either no dormancy or relatively shallow physiological dormancy. Germination tests revealed that 14 of the 26 species presented high germination percentages in the control treatment, which suggests that after-ripening contributed to dormancy release in a significant portion of the seed lot. However, it remains unclear whether freshly collected seeds require an initial after-ripening period before responding to cold stratification. Furthermore, cold stratification significantly enhanced germination in 12 species confirming its effectiveness as a simple and practical method for dormancy release. In addition to the seed germination results, the selected species present a wide range of functional and esthetic characteristics, including variation in plant height, flowering phenology and flower and leaf color. These traits are important for both ecological performance and visual quality in urban environments. The combination of extended flowering periods and color diversity suggests the potential for continuous floral resource availability, which can support diverse pollinator communities and, indirectly, urban fauna such as insectivorous birds. The results indicate that the studied species are suitable for biodiversity-oriented urban plantings. Their relatively shallow dormancy and ease of propagation, coupled with their functional and aesthetic traits, support their use in the development of resilient and self-sustaining urban meadows. Full article

The concept of sacred harmony implies a set of relations between human beings and the natural order that include a divine or transcendental aspect. These types of correspondences as they relate to music are found among many of the ancient civilizations. In the West, the principles of sacred harmony emerged in ancient Greece with Pythagoras and Plato, such that the implicit connections between philosophical thought and musical experience laid the groundwork for ideas of sacred harmony and the practices of tonal music that have shaped the development of Western music for centuries. In ancient India, the unity between human beings and the universe was understood through the concept of Brahman, the highest metaphysical truth that encompassed all reality. The spirituality of Indian classical music was based upon the tonal centricity of the sacred syllable of OM, the concept of Nāda-Brahman, Yoga philosophy, and divine aesthetic principles (rasa) embedded in the musical notes and scales handed down by generations of musicians and Gurus. This essay first outlines the basic foundational elements of sacred harmony with examples from ancient Greece and India, followed by particular challenges in the twentieth century imposed by Neo-Marxist thought, Gnosticism, and theosophy, and finally by a return to sacred harmony in the 1960s as reflected in popular music as well as in the proliferation of chant and music from India, each of which has attracted admirers seeking spiritual transformation via a musically ordered universe. Full article