Search Results (1,040)

As hybrid organizations that combine market-related logic with social logic, social enterprises (SEs) play a crucial role in addressing the challenges faced by people in employment while creating economic benefits through innovative solutions to drive economic and social rural revitalization. Focusing on social enterprises, this study employs environmental analysis and theoretical reasoning to examine the logic and approaches through which social enterprises participate in rural revitalization in China’s northwest regions from the perspective of “new-quality productive forces.” Research findings indicate that in the face of an external environment characterized by weakened investment and consumption and the decline of the demographic dividend, and an internal environment marked by lagging socio-economic development and ecological fragility, SEs should integrate devotion and profit logic based on a mixed action logic of multi-value co-creation. Through approaches such as cultivating new quality talent, constructing a new quality industrial system, shaping a new quality rural environment, promoting synergistic innovation between science and technology and culture, and actively participating in the revitalization of rural areas in China’s northwest region, SEs can play an active role in China’s rural revitalization efforts. Full article

Recommendation systems applied to tourism are widely recognized for improving the visitor’s experience in tourist destinations, thanks to their ability to personalize the trip. This paper presents a hybrid approach that combines Machine Learning techniques with the Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) aggregation operator to achieve greater accuracy in user segmentation and generate personalized recommendations. The data were collected through a questionnaire applied to tourists in the different points of interest of the Special, Tourist and Cultural District of Riohacha. In the first stage, the K-means algorithm defines the segmentation of tourists based on their socio-demographic data and travel preferences. The second stage uses the OWA operator with a disjunctive policy to assign the most relevant cluster given the input data. This hybrid approach provides a recommendation mechanism for tourist destinations and their cultural heritage. Full article

This study develops a multi-dimensional sustainable tourism optimization framework for Juneau, Alaska, integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions to balance tourism-driven prosperity with ecological and socio-cultural integrity. Utilizing a hybrid Analytic Hierarchy Process and entropy weighting method, the model assigns robust indicator weights. Optimized via the NSGA-II algorithm, it identifies an optimal tourist threshold, achieved through a strategic tax adjustment. This policy not only sustains economic revenue at USD 325 million but also funds a critical feedback loop: revenue reinvestment into environmental conservation and social infrastructure, which stabilizes cost indices and enhances community well-being. The model’s projections show this approach significantly mitigates environmental degradation, notably glacier retreat, and alleviates social pressures such as infrastructure overload and resident dissatisfaction. A key contribution of this research is the framework’s adaptability, which was validated through its application to Barcelona, Spain. There, the framework was recalibrated with social indicators tailored to address urban overtourism, achieving substantial reductions in housing and congestion costs alongside environmental improvements, while economic recovery was maintained. Sensitivity analyses confirm the model’s stability, though data limitations and subjective weighting suggest future enhancements via real-time analytics and dynamic modeling. Key policy recommendations include dynamic tourist caps, diversified attractions, and community engagement platforms, offering scalable solutions for global tourism destinations. This framework advances sustainable tourism by providing a blueprint to decouple economic growth from ecological and social harm, ensuring the longevity of natural and cultural assets amidst climate challenges. Full article

The aims of the current study included gathering cultural knowledge and stories regarding parenting young children within a Tribal community and learning community members’ perspectives on key components of a promising parenting prevention program. Qualitative data were drawn from a focus group including seven participants and semi-structured phone interviews with 21 additional participants, all of whom were parenting children in the community. Hybrid coding and applied thematic analysis revealed five themes: (1) Desire to Learn and Gain Parenting Skills; (2) Relationships and the Caregiver Role; (3) Culture and Caregiving, which included subthemes of Diversity Among Tribal Bands, Intergenerational Knowledge Sharing, and Reconnection and Revitalization; (4) Historical Trauma and Behavioral Health; and (5) Curriculum Terminology Considerations. The information gathered collectively informed the development of the culturally grounded stim’ aspuʔús (What’s in Your Heart?) parenting program. This addresses the great need for culturally grounded interventions to support trauma healing within Indigenous families. The development process and implications for program development by and for Indigenous communities is discussed. Full article

A strictly anaerobic bacterium denoted as strain NIT-TF6 of the genus Desulfitobacterium was isolated from a trichloroethene-dechlorinating culture with formate. Cells were straight rods of 1.6–6 µm long and 0.25–0.5 µm in diameter and used H₂, lactate, pyruvate, and malate as electron donors and thiosulfate and Fe (III)-citrate as electron acceptors. The genome of strain NIT-TF6 was 4.8 Mbp in size and included nine 16S rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences showed that NIT-TF6 shared the highest sequence similarity (96.39%) with Desulfitobacterium hafniense DCB-2ᵀ, forming an independent clade in the phylogenetic tree. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain NIT-TF6 and other Desulfitobacterium species ranged from 15.9 to 16.9% and from 71.68 to 72.51%, respectively. These are well below the thresholds for species delineation. A distinguishing feature of strain NIT-TF6 was its possession of both L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH) and D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH), in contrast to other Desulfitobacterium strains that exclusively express D-LDH. Based on the dDDH and ANI results, combined with physiological, phylogenetic, morphological, biochemical, genomic, and metabolic iron-related characteristics, strain NIT-TF6 has been proposed as a novel species within the genus Desulfitobacterium. The name Desulfitobacterium elongatum sp. nov. has been proposed for this strain, with NIT-TF6ᵀ designated as the type strain. Full article

Somatic hybridization represents a powerful tool for generating novel chemotypes with enhanced biosynthetic capabilities. This study provides the first comprehensive phytochemical characterization of interspecific somatic hybrids between Gentiana cruciata L. and Gentiana tibetica King ex Hook.f., two medicinally important yet regionally rare gentians. A total of 107 compounds were detected using UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS³, of which 31 were identified as metabolites across eight phytochemical classes. Comparative profiling revealed that all hybrids retained a conserved core of iridoids and secoiridoids while integrating lineage-specific compounds and producing hybrid-specific metabolites not detected in either parent. Despite inheriting plastids from G. tibetica, hierarchical clustering showed that the phytochemical profiles of hybrid lines were more similar to G. cruciata, the donor of the nuclear genome. Quantitative analysis of the major secoiridoids, such as gentiopicroside, swertiamarin, and sweroside, demonstrated that several hybrid lines, particularly F30A-5 and F30A-6, matched or surpassed the biosynthetic output of G. tibetica, the more productive parent. These lines also exhibited elevated antioxidant capacity, underscoring their phytochemical and functional potential. Altogether, our findings show that somatic hybridization not only preserves but may amplify the secondary metabolite capacity of the parental genotypes, offering a viable platform for sustainable in vitro production of pharmacologically relevant secoiridoids. Full article

This article provides a critical review of the current design and research challenges in contemporary timber architecture. Conducted from the perspective of a designer-researcher, the review focuses on the role of wood as a material at the intersection of environmental performance, cultural meaning, and spatial practice. The study adopts a conceptual, problem-oriented approach, eschewing the conventional systematic aggregation of existing data. The objective of this study is to identify, interpret and categorise the key issues that are shaping the evolving discourse on timber architecture. The analysis is based on peer-reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2025, sourced from the Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection databases. Fifteen thematic challenges have been identified and classified according to their recognition level in academic and design contexts. The subjects under discussion include well-established topics, such as life cycle assessment and carbon storage, as well as less commonly explored areas, such as symbolic durability, social acceptance, traceability, and the upcycling of low-grade wood. The review under consideration places significant emphasis on the importance of integrating technical, cultural, and perceptual dimensions when evaluating timber architecture. The article proposes an interpretive framework combining design thinking and transdisciplinary insights. This framework aims to bridge disciplinary gaps and provide a coherent structure for understanding the complexity of timber-related challenges. The framework under discussion here encourages a broader understanding of wood as not only a sustainable building material but also a vehicle for systemic transformation in architectural culture and practice. The study’s insights may support designers, educators, and policymakers in identifying strategic priorities for the development of future-proof timber-based design practices. Full article

Cultured meat is emerging as a sustainable alternative to conventional animal agriculture, with scaffolds playing a central role in supporting cellular attachment, growth, and tissue maturation. This review focuses on the development of gel-based hybrid biomaterials that meet the dual requirements of biocompatibility and food safety. We explore recent advances in the use of naturally derived gel-forming polymers such as gelatin, chitosan, cellulose, alginate, and plant-based proteins as the structural backbone for edible scaffolds. Particular attention is given to the integration of food-grade functional additives into hydrogel-based scaffolds. These include nanocellulose, dietary fibers, modified starches, polyphenols, and enzymatic crosslinkers such as transglutaminase, which enhance mechanical stability, rheological properties, and cell-guidance capabilities. Rather than focusing on fabrication methods or individual case studies, this review emphasizes the material-centric design strategies for building scalable, printable, and digestible gel scaffolds suitable for cultured meat production. By systemically evaluating the role of each component in structural reinforcement and biological interaction, this work provides a comprehensive frame work for designing next-generation edible scaffold systems. Nonetheless, the field continues to face challenges, including structural optimization, regulatory validation, and scale-up, which are critical for future implementation. Ultimately, hybrid gel-based scaffolds are positioned as a foundational technology for advancing the functionality, manufacturability, and consumer readiness of cultured meat products, distinguishing this work from previous reviews. Unlike previous reviews that have focused primarily on fabrication techniques or tissue engineering applications, this review provides a uniquely food-centric perspective by systematically evaluating the compositional design of hybrid hydrogel-based scaffolds with edibility, scalability, and consumer acceptance in mind. Through a comparative analysis of food-safe additives and naturally derived biopolymers, this review establishes a framework that bridges biomaterials science and food engineering to advance the practical realization of cultured meat products. Full article

The design and planning of Western-style constructions during the early Qing Dynasty in China constituted a significant multicultural encounter that fused technological advancement with aesthetic innovation. This cultural interplay is particularly evident in the imperial garden and pavilion projects commissioned by the Qing court, which served as physical and symbolic sites of cross-cultural dialogue. Influenced by the intellectual and artistic movements of the European Renaissance, Western architectural concepts gradually found their way into the spatial and visual language of Chinese architecture, especially within the royal gardens and aristocratic buildings of the time. These structures were not simply imitative but rather represented a selective adaptation of Western ideas to suit Chinese imperial tastes and principles. This article examines the architectural language that emerged from this encounter between Chinese and European cultures, analysing symbolic motifs, spatial design, ornamental aesthetics, the application of linear perspective, and the integration of foreign architectural forms. These elements collectively functioned as tools to construct a unique visual discourse that communicated both political authority and cultural hybridity. The findings underscore that this architectural phenomenon was not merely stylistic imitation, but rather a dynamic convergence of technological knowledge and artistic vision across cultural boundaries. Full article

This systematic literature review explores the socio-ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in contemporary media content generation. Drawing from 44 peer-reviewed sources, policy documents, and industry reports, the study synthesizes findings across three core domains: bias detection, storytelling transformation, and ethical governance frameworks. Through thematic coding and structured analysis, the review identifies recurring tensions between automation and authenticity, efficiency and editorial integrity, and innovation and institutional oversight. It introduces the Human–AI Co-Creation Continuum as a conceptual model for understanding hybrid narrative production and proposes practical recommendations for ethical AI adoption in journalism. The review concludes with a future research agenda emphasizing empirical studies, cross-cultural governance models, and audience perceptions of AI-generated content. This aligns with prior studies on algorithmic journalism. Full article

Organoids and microphysiological systems (MPSs) have emerged as physiologically relevant platforms that recapitulate key structural and functional features of human organs, tissues, and microenvironments. As one of the essential components that define the success of these systems, hydrogels play the central role of providing a three-dimensional, biomimetic scaffold that supports cell viability, spatial organization, and dynamic signaling. Natural polymer-based hydrogels, derived from materials such as collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, and alginate, offer favorable properties including biocompatibility, degradability, and an extracellular matrix-like architecture. This review presents recent advances in the design and application of such hydrogels, focusing on crosslinking strategies (physical, chemical, and hybrid), the viscoelastic characteristics, and stimuli-responsive behaviors. The influence of these materials on cellular processes, such as stemness maintenance, differentiation, and morphogenesis, is critically examined. Furthermore, the applications of organoid culture and dynamic MPS platforms are discussed, highlighting their roles in morphogen delivery, barrier formation, and vascularization. Current challenges and future perspectives toward achieving standardized, scalable, and translational hydrogel systems are also addressed. Full article

Designing optimal heritage tourism routes in secondary cities involves complex trade-offs between cultural richness, travel time, carbon emissions, spatial coherence, and group satisfaction. This study addresses the Personalized Group Trip Design Problem (PGTDP) under real-world constraints by proposing DRL–IMVO–GAN—a hybrid multi-objective optimization framework that integrates Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) for policy-guided initialization, an Improved Multiverse Optimizer (IMVO) for global search, and a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) for local refinement and solution diversity. The model operates within a digital twin of Warin Chamrap’s old town, leveraging 92 POIs, congestion heatmaps, and behaviorally clustered tourist profiles. The proposed method was benchmarked against seven state-of-the-art techniques, including PSO + DRL, Genetic Algorithm with Multi-Neighborhood Search (Genetic + MNS), Dual-ACO, ALNS-ASP, and others. Results demonstrate that DRL–IMVO–GAN consistently dominates across key metrics. Under equal-objective weighting, it attained the highest heritage score (74.2), shortest travel time (21.3 min), and top satisfaction score (17.5 out of 18), along with the highest hypervolume (0.85) and Pareto Coverage Ratio (0.95). Beyond performance, the framework exhibits strong generalization in zero- and few-shot scenarios, adapting to unseen POIs, modified constraints, and new user profiles without retraining. These findings underscore the method’s robustness, behavioral coherence, and interpretability—positioning it as a scalable, intelligent decision-support tool for sustainable and user-centered cultural tourism planning in secondary cities. Full article

The olive oil sector constitutes a fundamental pillar in the Mediterranean region from socio-economic and cultural perspectives. Nonetheless, it produces significant amounts of waste, leading to numerous environmental issues. These waste streams contain valuable compounds that can be recovered and utilized as inputs for various applications. This study introduces a novel value chain for olive wastes, focused on extracting lignin from olive pomace by ionic liquids and polyphenols from olive mill wastewater, which are then incorporated as hybrid nanoparticles in the formulation of an innovative starch-based biofertilizer. This biofertilizer, obtained by using residual wastewater as a source of soluble nitrogen, acting at the same time as a plasticizer for the biopolymer, was demonstrated to surpass traditional NPK biofertilizers’ efficiency, allowing for root growth and foliage in drought conditions. In order to recognize the environmental impact due to its production and align it with the technical output, the circularity and environmental performance of the proposed system were innovatively evaluated through a combination of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Material Circularity Indicator (MCI). LCA results indicated that the initial upcycling process was potentially characterized by significant hot spots, primarily related to energy consumption (>0.70 kWh/kg of water) during the early processing stages. As a result, the LCA score of this preliminary version of the biofertilizer may be higher than that of conventional commercial products, due to reliance on thermal processes for water removal and the substantial contribution (56%) of lignin/polyphenol precursors to the total LCA score. Replacing energy-intensive thermal treatments with more efficient alternatives represents a critical area for improvement. The MCI value of 0.84 indicates limited potential for further enhancement. Full article

Grapevine breeding programs face difficulties in preserving germplasm, especially from species and interspecific hybrids, since most collections are maintained in the field and exposed to biotic and abiotic stress, which can lead to material loss. The Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF) Grapevine Breeding Program faces similar challenges, limiting studies on hybrids resistant to the nematode Pratylenchus brachyurus and downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola), which are valuable for genetic improvement. This study aimed to implement in vitro conservation under minimal growth conditions for interspecific hybrids of Vitis spp. from the UENF program. The protocol followed a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial scheme: two hybrids (CH1.2 and CH1.3), two temperatures (18 ± 1 °C and 27 ± 2 °C), and three sucrose concentrations (10, 20, and 30 g L⁻¹), over 180 days of in vitro culture. The results showed that conservation of the UENF hybrids is feasible using nodal segments as explants, at 18 ± 2 °C and 10 g L⁻¹ of sucrose, for up to four months. This protocol may also be applied to other Vitis spp., contributing to the preservation and continued study of valuable germplasm. Full article

Amid global environmental changes, urbanisation erodes nature connectedness, an important driver of pro-environmental behaviours and human well-being, exacerbating human-made risks like biodiversity loss and climate change. This study introduces a novel hybrid agent-based model (ABM), calibrated with historical urbanisation data, to explore how urbanisation, opportunity and orientation to engage with nature, and intergenerational transmission have shaped nature connectedness over time. The model simulates historical trends (1800–2020) against target data, with projections extending to 2125. The ABM revealed a significant nature connectedness decline with excellent fit to the target data, derived from nature word use in cultural products. Although a lifetime ‘extinction of experience’ mechanism refined the fit, intergenerational transmission emerged as the dominant driver—supporting a socio-ecological tipping point in human–nature disconnection. Even with transformative interventions like dramatic urban greening and enhanced nature engagement, projections suggest a persistent disconnection from nature through to 2050, highlighting locked-in risks to environmental stewardship. After 2050, the most transformative interventions trigger a self-sustaining recovery, highlighting the need for sustained, systemic policies that embed nature connectedness into urban planning and education. Full article