Search Results (244)

Biomimetic lattice structures, inspired by natural architectures such as bone, coral, mollusk shells, and Euplectella aspergillum, have gained increasing attention for their exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, energy absorption, and deformation control. These properties make them ideal for advanced engineering applications in aerospace, biomedical devices, and structural impact protection. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research on biomimetic lattice structures published between 2020 and 2025, aiming to identify thematic trends, collaboration patterns, and underexplored areas. A curated dataset of 3685 publications was extracted from databases like PubMed, Dimensions, Scopus, IEEE, Google Scholar, and Science Direct and merged together. After the removal of duplication and cleaning, about 2226 full research articles selected for the bibliometric analysis excluding review works, conference papers, book chapters, and notes using Cite space, VOS viewer version 1.6.20, and Bibliometrix R packages (4.5. 64-bit) for mapping co-authorship networks, institutional affiliations, keyword co-occurrence, and citation relationships. A significant increase in the number of publications was found over the past year, reflecting growing interest in this area. The results identify China as the most prolific contributor, with substantial institutional support and active collaboration networks, especially with European research groups. Key research focuses include additive manufacturing, finite element modeling, machine learning-based design optimization, and the performance evaluation of bioinspired geometries. Notably, the integration of artificial intelligence into structural modeling is accelerating a shift toward data-driven design frameworks. However, gaps remain in geometric modeling standardization, fatigue behavior analysis, and the real-world validation of lattice structures under complex loading conditions. This study provides a strategic overview of current research directions and offers guidance for future interdisciplinary exploration. The insights are intended to support researchers and practitioners in advancing next-generation biomimetic materials with superior mechanical performance and application-specific adaptability. Full article

This paper examines a previously unknown anonymous Hebrew letter inserted into a postwar edition of Shem HaGedolim, found in the library of the Jewish University in Budapest. The letter, composed in Győr in 1947, consists almost entirely of passages copied from Tiferet Chayim, a hagiographic genealogy of the Sanz Hasidic dynasty. Although derivative in content, the letter’s form and placement suggest it was not meant for transmission but instead served as a private act of mourning and historiographical preservation. By situating the letter within the broader context of post-Holocaust Jewish and Hasidic memory practices, including yizkor books, rabbinic memoirs, and grassroots commemorative writing, this study proposes that the document constitutes a “micro-yizkor”: a bibliographic ritual that aimed to re-inscribe lost tzaddikim into sacred memory. Drawing on theories of trauma, religious coping, and bereavement psychology, particularly the Two-Track Model of Bereavement, the paper examines the letter as both a therapeutic and historiographical gesture. The author’s meticulous copying, selective omissions, and personalized touches (such as modified honorifics and emotive phrases) reflect an attempt to maintain spiritual continuity in the wake of communal devastation. Engaging scholarship by Michal Shaul, Lior Becker, Gershon Greenberg, and others, the analysis demonstrates how citation, far from being a passive act, functions here as an instrument of resistance, memory, and redemptive reconstruction. The existence of such a document can also be examined through the lens of Maurice Rickards’ insights, particularly his characterization of the “compulsive note” as a salient form of ephemera, materials often inserted between the pages of books, which pose unique challenges for interpreting the time capsule their authors sought to construct. Ultimately, the paper argues that this modest and anonymous document offers a rare window into postwar Ultra-orthodox religious subjectivity. It challenges prevailing assumptions about Hasidic silence after the Holocaust and demonstarates how even derivative texts can serve as potent sites of historical testimony, spiritual resilience, and bibliographic mourning. The letter thus sheds light on a neglected form of Hasidic historiography, one authored not by professional historians, but by the broken-hearted, writing in the margins of sacred books. Full article

Generation Z (Gen Z; born 1997–2012) is reshaping global tourism through digital fluency, ethical awareness, and a desire for authentic, sustainable travel experiences. This study surveys 413 Gen Z travelers across France, Portugal, Romania, and the USA to map their booking behaviors, information sources, transport modes, accommodations, dining practices, and leisure activities. The findings reveal a strong preference for independent online bookings and social-media-influenced destination choices (Instagram, TikTok), with air and car travel being used for long-distance journeys and walking/public transit being used for local journeys. Accommodation spans commercial hotels and private rentals, while informal, local dining and nature- or culture-centered leisure prevail. Chi-square tests were performed to identify differences between countries. To reveal distinct traveler segments and their country’s modulations towards sustainability, a hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. The results uncover four segments: “Tech-Active, Nature-Oriented Minimalists” (32.3% in France); “Moderate Digital Planners” (most frequent across all countries, particularly dominant among Romanian respondents); “Disengaged and Indecisive Travelers” (overrepresented in the USA); and “Culturally Inclined, Selective Sustainability Seekers” (>30% in France/Portugal). Although sustainability is widely valued, only some segments of the studied population consistently act on these values. The results suggest that engaging Gen Z requires targeted, value-driven digital strategies that align platform design with the cohort’s diverse sustainability commitments. Full article

Non-celiac villous atrophy (NCVA) is a multifaceted and under-recognized clinical entity with an etiology beyond celiac disease. This review critically examines the diverse pathophysiological mechanisms underlying NCVA, including autoimmune enteropathies, immune deficiency-related disorders, infectious processes, drug-induced trauma, and metabolic or environmental influences. A comprehensive synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, clinical studies, and case reports was conducted, adopting a multidisciplinary perspective that integrates immunologic, infectious, metabolic, and pharmacologic insights. The literature search was performed in three phases: identification of relevant studies, critical assessment of selected publications, and synthesis of key findings. Searches were carried out in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases. The final search, completed in June 2025, included international, English-language articles, electronic books, and online reports. Studies were included if they addressed NCVA in the context of pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, or management strategies, with priority given to publications from the last ten years (2015–2025). The search strategy used the primary term “non-celiac villous atrophy” combined with supplementary keywords such as autoimmune enteropathy, common variable immunodeficiency, tropical sprue, drug-related enteropathy, pathophysiology, immunological mechanisms, chronic inflammation, genetic factors, environmental influences, and clinical management. Histopathological evaluations reveal that NCVA often manifests with varying degrees of villous blunting, crypt hypertrophy, and intraepithelial lymphocytosis, albeit without the gliadin-specific immune response seen in celiac disease. Various immune pathways are involved, such as autoimmune deregulation and chronic inflammatory responses, while drug-induced and environmental factors further complicate its clinical picture. These findings highlight significant diagnostic challenges and underscore the need to adapt diagnostic algorithms that combine clinical history, serologic evaluations, and histopathologic analysis. In conclusion, an in-depth understanding of the heterogeneous etiology of NCVA is critical to improving diagnostic accuracy and optimizing therapeutic strategies. Future research should prioritize the identification of specific biomarkers and the development of targeted interventions to address the unique mechanisms underlying NCVA, thereby improving patient management and outcomes. Full article

Bank operations are contingent upon investor confidence, particularly during periods of economic distress. If investor confidence drops, a bank faces difficulties obtaining money, higher borrowing costs, and lower stock values. Non-performing loans (NPLs) potentially jeopardize a bank’s long-term viability and short-term profitability, and investors are naturally wary of institutions that pose a high credit risk. The purpose of the study was to explore how non-performing loans influence investor confidence in banks. A purposive sampling technique was used to identify 253 New York Stock Exchange banks in the Thomson Reuters Eikon DataStream that satisfied all the inclusion and exclusion selection criteria. The Common Correlated Effects Mean Group (CCEMG) and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) models were used to analyze the data, providing insight into the relationship between the variables. The study discovered that NPLs had a negative and significant influence on price–earnings (P/E) and price-to-book value (P/B) ratios. Furthermore, the bank’s age was found to have a positive and significant relationship with the P/E and P/B ratio. The moderating relationship between NPLs and bank age was found to have a negative and significant influence on price–earnings (P/E) and price-to-book value (P/B) ratios. The findings underscore the importance of asset quality and institutional reputation in influencing market perceptions. Bank managers should focus on managing non-performing loans effectively and leveraging institutional credibility to sustain investor confidence, particularly during financial distress. Full article

Housing retrofit plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainability goals. The fragmented nature of the retrofit industry has been identified as a barrier to driving retrofit at scale. The study aims to analyse how to strategically improve the concept of the one-stop-shop model to drive housing retrofit at scale with the help of existing literature. The concept of a one-stop-shop model provides all the retrofit services with a single contact to the client. A systematic literature review approach was used. Only peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and conference articles published from 2016 to 2025 in English were selected. There are 12 shortlisted journal and conference proceedings articles critically evaluated under three themes: delivery method, ownership structure and level of responsibility. The findings highlight the different characteristics of the one-stop-shop model under these themes. Considering the existing case studies, starting a one-stop shop under a hybrid delivery method and a medium level of responsibility is recommended for retrofit at scale. The ownership structure shall be context-specific. Limitations could be given as the researcher bias and the missed articles in databases not considered for this review. Further research is suggested on how the characteristics of a one-stop shop can be customised, considering the context-specific resources and purposes. Full article

Music, movies, books, pictures, and other media can change a user’s emotions, which are important factors in recommending appropriate items. As users’ emotions change over time, the content they select may vary accordingly. Existing emotion-based content recommendation methods primarily recommend content based on the user’s current emotional state. In this study, we propose a continuous music recommendation method that adapts to a user’s changing emotions. Based on Thayer’s emotion model, emotions were classified into four areas, and music and user emotion vectors were created by analyzing the relationships between valence, arousal, and each emotion using a multiple regression model. Based on the user’s emotional history data, a personalized mental model (PMM) was created using a Markov chain. The PMM was used to predict future emotions and generate user emotion vectors for each period. A recommendation list was created by calculating the similarity between music emotion vectors and user emotion vectors. To prove the effectiveness of the proposed method, the accuracy of the music emotion analysis, user emotion prediction, and music recommendation results were evaluated. To evaluate the experiments, the PMM and the modified mental model (MMM) were used to predict user emotions and generate recommendation lists. The accuracy of the content emotion analysis was 87.26%, and the accuracy of user emotion prediction was 86.72%, an improvement of 13.68% compared with the MMM. Additionally, the balanced accuracy of the content recommendation was 79.31%, an improvement of 26.88% compared with the MMM. The proposed method can recommend content that is suitable for users. Full article

In 1900, Francis Herbert Jennison’s book The Manufacture of Lake Pigments from Artificial Colours was published in London. In the early 20th century, the technical literature focussing on synthetic dyes mainly dealt with their use for dyeing. Conversely, the literature on lake pigment manufacture is less comprehensive, and Jennison’s publication was the first monograph on this topic. His book comprises descriptions of the dyes, substrates, and various methods for lake making. Practical examples complete the work: sixteen colour plates with original samples of lake pigments showcase the practical effect on colour of the different dyes and preparation methods. Herein, we present an overview of the context of Jennison’s research and delve into a selection of formulations. Green lake pigment plates were sampled and analysed by liquid chromatography coupled with spectroscopic and spectrometric detectors and by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy to correlate the chemical composition with the recipes reported in the book. Seldom or no longer used and unexplored historical dyes were detected, along with polyphenolic compounds possibly used as precipitating agents in lake pigment formulations. Moreover, the examination of two different editions of the Jennison manuscript (i.e., the English and German books) revealed different chemical profiles corresponding to the same lake pigment formulation. This emphasizes the significance of Jennison’s book, confirming how understanding of early formulations is needed to elucidate the later ones. Full article

In the era of rapid technological advancement and ever-increasing data availability, the field of risk modeling faces both unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Traditional risk modeling approaches, while robust, often struggle to capture the complexity and dynamic nature of modern risk factors. This paper aims to provide a method for dealing with the insurance pricing problem of pricing predictability and MLOT (Money Left On Table) when writing a book of risks. It also gives an example of how to improve risk selection through suitable choices of machine learning algorithm and acquainted loss function. We apply this methodology to the provided data and discuss the impacts on risk selection and predictive power of the models using the data provided. Full article

I start this paper by giving a general account of Wittgenstein’s relationship to the Bible, especially to the Old Testament. I will then examine those passages in his work where he explicitly refers to the Old Testament. It will turn out that all these mentions relate to books of the so-called wisdom literature or to texts that are close to it. I will argue that Wittgenstein’s selection is not arbitrary but reflects his interest in wisdom—an interest that is, however, motivated by critique and reservation. Full article

Introduction: The rapid growth of mobile health (mHealth) applications has revolutionized healthcare delivery worldwide. These digital tools encompass a broad array of functionalities, including telemedicine, appointment scheduling, medication management, and health data tracking, all of which contribute to enhanced healthcare accessibility, increased patient engagement, and improved operational efficiency. However, despite their increasing prominence, the design, deployment, and use of mHealth applications continue to face several challenges, such as usability issues and overall sustained adoption. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate mHealth applications in Saudi Arabia, focusing on their design characteristics, usability features, and current feature gaps. Method: A total of 21 mHealth applications were selected and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. The apps were selected based on usage popularity in the Saudi market and relevance to national digital health strategies. Data were drawn from publicly available app store information, official app documentation, and expert evaluations. Results: The findings reveal that while mHealth applications excel in areas such as telemedicine, appointment booking, and health education, there are notable gaps in features such as behavior modification, patient monitoring, and health management. Conclusions: This study contributes to the growing body of research on mHealth by offering grounded insights into the functional landscape of digital health tools in Saudi Arabia. It also outlines practical recommendations to enhance usability, feature diversity, and alignment with evolving healthcare needs in Saudi Arabia and beyond. Full article

Small bookstores constructed before the 1970s have a high fire risk in the context of the revitalization of historical buildings; while the setup of simple sprinklers is an effective and cheap method of extinguishing fires, the parameters of the sprinklers are uncertain. In this study, small bookstores in Beijing were selected, and physical combustion experiments with/without a sprinkler system were carried out following the provisions of the Code for the Design of Sprinkler Systems. After the experiments, an FDS model was set up using fire dynamics software. The results show that the total heat release rate (HRR) of books and desks is related to the square of time, with a coefficient of 2.528 × 10⁻⁶, and the maximum heat release rate is 40 KW. Unlike the standard test, the physical combustion experiment is significantly affected by the space. According to numerical simulations, when the sprinkler flow velocity is 60~100 L/min, the water consumption of the sprinkler is 195~218 L. This study lays the foundation for the analysis of the combustion characteristics of small bookstores and provides data support for the installation of simple sprinkler systems in small bookstores. Full article

The medical profession is a prestigious position that requires very extensive higher education, to which only a small proportion of applicants are accepted. Changes in selection criteria can profoundly impact applicants’ pre-educational choices, early medical studies, and the characteristics of future medical professionals. This study assesses the impact of changing the admission requirements of medical schools in Finland. We examined two cohorts of students admitted to the University of Oulu’s medical school: 2009–2011 (n = 316) and 2013–2015 (n = 339). The first cohort prepared for the entrance exam with a field-specific book, while the second cohort focused on secondary school subjects such as biology, chemistry, and physics. We analysed the effects of the changes on accepted students’ profiles and the relationship between their prior performance, entrance exam success, and performance in medical studies. Changing the entrance exam content did not significantly alter accepted students’ profiles or ease access for recent matriculants. However, minor changes in correlations between prior performance, entrance exam performance, and medical study success were observed. The entrance exam’s predictive power for academic success was weak in both admission periods. This comparative study found that changing the entrance exam material did not notably influence the characteristics of accepted students. The changes to the selection criteria appear to have a minor impact on the actual success of students studying medicine. Regardless of the selection criteria, those who are accepted typically demonstrate strong learning capabilities. Despite modifications in the required entry-level knowledge, students with strong skills are admitted. Full article

Objectives: We aimed to develop and validate a simple, easy-to-use risk stratification tool to use in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to triage those more likely to require insulin treatment. Methods: Using an audit of patients with GDM in 2019, multivariable logistic regression was used to select variables and develop a prediction model for insulin requirement. A stratification tool was developed by dichotomising these selected variables; its performance was assessed with an internal cohort from 2021 and externally from patients managed at a separate hospital. Results: Patients with a higher fasting blood glucose concentration (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.84–3.15) and higher booking body mass index (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.07–2.03) were more likely to require insulin therapy whilst a later gestational-weeks-at-diagnosis value gave a lower risk of insulin therapy (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.62–0.81 per week). The low-risk group for insulin requirement was defined thus: fasting blood glucose < 5.6 mmol/L, booking BMI < 30 kg/m², and gestational weeks at diagnosis ≥ 24 weeks. This classification had a negative predictive value (NPV) of 94% for insulin requirement, with a sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 56% in the development cohort. Similarly, in the internal and external validation cohorts, the NPVs were 93 and 90%, with sensitivity values of 77 and 78%, respectively. Conclusions: This study developed a pragmatic tool with three criteria for stratifying the GDM group not requiring insulin treatment, with successful validation for clinical use. Full article

We present data from a qualitative study examining how one class of preservice teachers (PSTs; n = 34) engaged in book club discussions about young adult literature featuring multilingual text and protagonists. Data focus on audio recordings and written reflection notes from a book club meeting where PSTs were asked to analyze transcripts of their previous book club conversations to explore their stances related to multilingualism. We ask the following questions: (1) What moments of their own previous talk during book club discussions about multilingual texts did PSTs select to analyze, and what reasons did they state for selecting those moments? (2) How did PSTs reflect on these moments during group discussion? and (3) What larger ideologies or discourses were manifested in these reflective discussions? We used descriptive coding to identify the topics of their selected events and rationales for selection, as well as tools of microethnographic and critical discourse analysis to consider how PSTs discussed and reflected on their own and others’ stances and how these conversations pointed to broader ideologies about multilingualism and the experiences of multilingual students. Full article