Search Results (1,781)

The rapid decline of linguistic diversity, driven by globalization and technological standardization, presents significant challenges for the preservation of endangered languages, many of which lack sufficient parallel corpora for effective machine translation. Conventional neural translation models perform poorly in such contexts, often failing to capture semantic precision, grammatical complexity, and culturally specific nuances. This study addresses these limitations by proposing a hybrid translation framework that combines dictionary-based pre-translation, retrieval-augmented generation, and large language model post-editing. The system is designed to improve translation quality for extremely low-resource languages, with a particular focus on the endangered Paiwan language in Taiwan. In the proposed approach, a handcrafted bilingual dictionary is the first to establish deterministic lexical alignments to generate a symbolically precise intermediate representation. When gaps occur due to missing vocabulary or sparse training data, a retrieval module enriches contextual understanding by dynamically sourcing semantically relevant examples from a vector database. These enriched words are then processed by an instruction-tuned large language model that reorders syntactic structures, inflects verbs appropriately, and resolves lexical ambiguities to produce fluent and culturally coherent translations. The evaluation is conducted on a 250-sentence Paiwan–Mandarin dataset, and the results demonstrate substantial performance gains across key metrics, with cosine similarity increasing from 0.210–0.236 to 0.810–0.846, BLEU scores rising from 1.7–4.4 to 40.8–51.9, and ROUGE-L F1 scores improving from 0.135–0.177 to 0.548–0.632. These results corroborate the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid pipeline in mitigating semantic drift, preserving core meaning, and enhancing linguistic alignment in low-resource settings. Beyond technical performance, the framework contributes to broader efforts in language revitalization and cultural preservation by supporting the transmission of Indigenous knowledge through accurate, contextually grounded, and accessible translations. This research demonstrates that integrating symbolic linguistic resources with retrieval-augmented large language models offers a scalable and efficient solution for endangered language translation and provides a foundation for sustainable digital heritage preservation in multilingual societies. Full article

The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a health promotion-based psychoeducational intervention on Health Literacy (HL) and Digital Health Literacy (DHL) levels in older people. This one-group pre–post design study includes a sample of community-dwelling older people, at risk of social isolation, sedentary lifestyles, or physical deterioration. A multidimensional assessment protocol, with specific measures of HL and DHL, was applied before and after the intervention. The psychoeducational intervention includes 20 sessions, conducted by a multidisciplinary team and focused on four core areas (Health Promotion, Interpersonal Relationships and Citizens’ Rights, Health Literacy, and Digital Health Literacy). Non-parametric statistics tests (Wilcoxon signed-rank test) were used, since data did not follow a normal distribution. Seventy-nine older persons participated, with a mean age of 71.7 (SD = 4.6), mostly female (66%) and with basic education (91%). There was a statistically significant increase in the mean total HL score (Z = −3.132; p = 0.002; effect size r = 0.76) and DHL score (Z = −4.735; p < 0.001; effect size r = 0.61) after the intervention, reflecting an improvement in HL and DHL levels. This study showed that this intervention was effective in improving the HL and DHL levels of older adults. These results are particularly noteworthy, considering that HL and DHL are modifiable factors that influence self-management, as well as health outcomes in older adults. Full article

This study examines how technological innovation and sustainability jointly reshape contemporary public administration by integrating digital transformation with public value creation. Using a mixed-method approach, we compile a Scopus-based bibliographic dataset and conduct descriptive and network analyses on 199 articles to map publication trends, methodological patterns, and core keyword clusters. We then perform an in-depth qualitative content analysis of 83 papers, coding public sector domains, actors, technological innovations, and sustainability dimensions. Findings highlight a shift from early e-government, centered on administrative efficiency, toward a paradigm of “sustainable digital governance”, where AI, IoT, blockchain and data analytics drive the twin digital–green transition. Five conceptual clusters and several application domains show that public value increasingly emerges within collaborative ecosystems involving administrations, firms, universities, citizens and digital platforms. The study offers an integrated overview of this evolving field and clarifies technology’s role as an enabling factor in sustainable governance. Building on the review results, we propose the Sustainable Public Innovation Ecosystem (SPIE) framework, which links systemic enablers (technological and sustainability innovation) governance efficiency and sustainable public value through ecosystem dynamics and governance mechanisms. It also outlines a future research agenda on hybrid actors ethical and regulatory issues, and approaches to measuring sustainable public value, providing guidance for scholars and policymakers designing digitally enabled and sustainability-oriented public reforms. Full article

Bamboo, renowned for its rapid growth, high carbon sequestration capacity, and superior mechanical properties, has become a strategic sustainable material in product design. Through bibliometric and content analysis, this study systematically examines its current applications across multiple sectors, including furniture, consumer electronics, transportation interiors, fashion, and cultural and creative products. It further proposes four core innovation strategies: material-driven optimization, digital manufacturing process innovation, cultural narrative design, and circular economy system transformation. Despite its potential, bamboo faces several challenges, such as inconsistent material properties, precision processing limitations, and biased market perceptions. To address these issues, future research should prioritize the development of standardized material databases, functional bamboo-based composites, integration of digital technologies, and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration. By framing bamboo not merely as an alternative but as a preferred material, this study provides theoretical foundations and strategic directions for sustainable design and green industrial advancement. Full article

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs), into education, marks a profound shift in how knowledge is accessed, processed, and applied. These tools offer clear advantages—including improved efficiency, immediate support, and high productivity—but it may simultaneously weaken foundational skills. This Perspective examines the dual impact of AI on education, arguing that over-reliance on AI may displace essential cognitive processes that reinforce professional competence. Emerging evidence points to troubling associations between frequent AI use and diminished critical reasoning. We propose a model of critical alliance, in which AI augments but does not replace core intellectual processes. Unlike existing AI competency or digital literacy, this model centers on preserving human cognitive agency, judgment, reflection, and intellectual ownership, as primary educational outcomes. This framework not only emphasizes cognitive independence, but also equitable access, ethical vigilance, and faculty development as cornerstones of AI literacy. Addressing these questions is essential to safeguard both intellectual growth and educational equity in an AI-augmented era. Unlike existing digital literacy or AI competency frameworks, the critical alliance explicitly centers on preserving human cognitive agency and intellectual ownership as educational priorities, particularly in environments increasingly shaped by high-performing generative systems. Full article

As a critical infrastructure carrier underpinning the cross-regional circulation of data elements within socioeconomic systems, intelligent computing centres (ICCs) confront a pivotal practical challenge amid the transition to a green economy: whether they can synergistically drive digital economy development while facilitating green growth. This question demands empirical verification from the perspective of social science systems practice. Drawing on panel data covering 292 Chinese cities at the prefecture level and above over the period 2010–2023, this study constructs a multidimensional difference-in-differences model with ICC construction as the core explanatory variable. Adopting a systemic analytical framework that integrates urban governance, industrial organization and regional coordination, it explores the impact of ICC deployment on urban environmental performance as well as the operational mechanisms embedded in socioeconomic practices. The findings demonstrate that ICC construction significantly enhances urban environmental performance. This conclusion remains robust after addressing endogeneity concerns and conducting multiple robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis, grounded in social and regional contextual disparities, indicates that this positive effect is more pronounced in non-resource-based cities, cities with a strong focus on environmental governance and cities located in western China. Mechanism tests further clarify that such effects are achieved through two critical pathways of organizational and systemic transition, fostering green innovation and advancing industrial structure optimization. Moreover, by constructing a Spatial Durbin Model to analyse interregional systemic linkages, this study identifies a significant positive spatial spillover effect of ICC construction. This outcome reflects the cross-regional synergistic value of digital infrastructure within the national green economy system. From the perspective of social science systems practice, this study innovatively reveals the embedded role of digital infrastructure in the green economy system. It provides empirical support for optimizing the spatial layout of ICCs and offers targeted policy references for promoting the coordinated development of the digital economy and ecological environmental protection. Full article

Background and Objectives: The integration of digital planning and point-of-care (POC) manufacturing has expanded rapidly in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS); however, evidence focusing on regulated, platform-based workflows and their clinical impact remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and organizational impact of implementing a unified digital ecosystem centered on the B-Onic platform in routine OMFS practice. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted comparing OMFS procedures planned and executed using the B-Onic platform with a historical control cohort managed with conventional workflows. Surgical cases were categorized into four pathology-based subgroups: facial trauma, oncologic resection and reconstruction, orthognathic surgery, and craniofacial or skull base surgery. Outcomes included preoperative planning time, validation time for guides and implants, surgical duration, intraoperative plan modifications, postoperative complications, 30-day rehospitalization rates, length of hospital stay, and estimated intraoperative blood loss. Results: A total of 110 cases managed using the B-Onic platform were compared with 72 historical control cases. Implementation of the platform was associated with significant reductions in preoperative planning time, validation time, and surgical duration. Clinically relevant improvements were observed in postoperative outcomes, including lower complication rates, reduced 30-day rehospitalization, shorter hospital stays, fewer intraoperative plan modifications, and decreased estimated blood loss. The magnitude of benefit was greatest in high-complexity procedures—particularly oncologic resection and reconstruction and craniofacial or skull base surgery—while more modest effects were observed in orthognathic surgery, reflecting optimized baseline outcomes. Conclusions: The adoption of a regulated, platform-based POC digital ecosystem in oral and maxillofacial surgery is associated with meaningful improvements in workflow efficiency, surgical reproducibility, and postoperative outcomes, especially in complex procedures. These findings support the integration of unified digital platforms as a core component of contemporary OMFS practice and provide OMFS-specific evidence of their clinical and organizational value. Full article

The performance upgrading of stratospheric airships hinges on breakthroughs in the mechanical properties of envelope materials. As a multi-layer composite, the envelope’s load-bearing layer exhibits orthotropic and nonlinear mechanical behaviors owing to its unique structure and manufacturing process. To overcome the limitations of traditional testing methods and classical strength criteria in characterizing envelope materials, this paper presents a systematic investigation of typical airship envelope materials. The classical cruciform biaxial specimen was modified with a double-layer heat-sealed loading arm design to ensure preferential failure of the core region. Combined with digital image correlation (DIC) equipment, tensile tests were conducted under seven warp–weft stress ratios to acquire full-range stress–strain data. A three-dimensional stress–strain response surface was fitted based on the experimental results, and biaxial tensile constitutive models with varying precisions were established. Furthermore, a five-parameter implicit quadratic strength criterion was adopted to characterize the failure envelope of the envelope material. The model was calibrated using five biaxial failure points and independently validated against uniaxial tensile strengths, achieving a prediction error of less than 4%. The criterion’s generalization capability was enhanced through systematic parameterization based on the present test data. This work provides experimental evidence and reliable support for the engineering design and strength prediction of envelope materials. Full article

The snowpack in the European Alps is declining due to global warming, which affects both the amount of seasonal snow and the timing of accumulation and melt. As the European Alps is the largest winter tourism destination in the world by revenue, this decline in natural snow poses an existential threat to the sector. Several smaller ski areas have closed permanently since 1980, and all Alpine regions face rising costs due to an increasing reliance on snowmaking. Professional winter sports are also affected, with several canceled events in recent years due to unsuitable snow conditions. In this study, we present the first remote sensing-based assessment of long-term snow reliability for winter tourism in the European Alps. Using snowline elevation (SLE) data derived from Landsat observations from 1985 to 2024, combined with OpenStreetMap ski infrastructure data and digital elevation models, we quantified the monthly snow coverage of ski area segments across 43 Alpine basins. Theil–Sen trends and Mann–Kendall significances were calculated for the full season and for three subseasons, with quality checks applied to guarantee sufficient data coverage. The results show predominantly negative trends across all seasons, with the strongest declines occurring in the late season. In this period, 97.8% of all downhill ski areas and 99.5% of the cross-country ski areas for which a trend was derived exhibited negative trends. For the full season, the corresponding shares were 94% for downhill ski areas and 99.2% for cross-country ski areas. In addition, areas located at the geographical edges of the European Alps showed more pronounced negative trends compared with the core regions. These findings align with previous studies on the subject and highlight the ongoing shortening of natural snow seasons and thus the increased challenges for the winter tourism sector in the Alps. Full article

Renewable Energy Communities are expected to play a key role in the decarbonization of power systems, but their design and operation involve multiple, often conflicting objectives and evolving regulatory frameworks. However, prospective REC promoters and members must make early-stage design choices under policy constraints while balancing economic, environmental, and reliability goals, which motivates the need for transparent and reproducible decision-support tools. This paper presents Adapters, a two-level decision-making tool that couples long-term planning with short-term operational adaptation for hybrid renewable energy systems. The core optimisation model is explicitly multi-objective, with three weighted terms (w₁, w₂, and w₃) that represent total cost, CO₂ emissions, and unserved energy, respectively, allowing users to explore trade-offs between economic performance, environmental impact, and reliability. The tool integrates detailed component models (such as photovoltaic, wind, and battery storage) with a flexible optimisation layer and architecture compatible with digital-twin approaches. Its capabilities are illustrated through prototype single-household case studies, showing how different stakeholder preferences and regulatory conditions can be reflected in the choice of objective weights and system configurations. The overall aim is to provide a transparent and reproducible environment to support the emergence and operation of RECs in line with EU energy and climate goals. Full article

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a key component of secondary prevention after acute coronary events, coronary and valve interventions, and device implantation, yet participation and long-term adherence remain suboptimal. Digital technologies offer the potential to extend CR beyond the centre-based model and to support more flexible, patient-centred care. Methods: This narrative “review on a systematic backbone” synthesizes original clinical studies published between 2005 and 2025 that evaluated the use of digital technologies as an integral part of CR in adults after myocardial infarction, revascularization, valve procedures or implantation of cardiac devices. Interventions were grouped into four categories: mobile health (mHealth) and tele-rehabilitation, virtual reality (VR) and exergaming, virtual education platforms, and other multi-component digital CR solutions. Only original studies with clinical, functional, or patient-reported outcomes were included. Results: Twenty-one studies on the categories mentioned above met the eligibility criteria. mHealth-enabled home-based or hybrid CR programs consistently achieved improvements in functional capacity and physical activity that were broadly comparable to centre-based CR, with generally high adherence. VR and exergaming interventions were feasible and safe, produced at least similar functional gains, and showed more consistent benefits as far as anxiety levels and engagement levels. Virtual education platforms delivered knowledge and produced behaviour change similar to traditional education and, in some studies, supported better control of blood pressure and lipids. Comprehensive digital CR platforms improved risk-factor profiles and quality of life to a degree comparable with face-to-face CR. Conclusions: Digital technologies can credibly support core objectives of CR in high-risk patients and expand access, but must be implemented as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, multidisciplinary, patient-centred rehabilitation. Full article

Digital competence has become a key component of teaching excellence in higher education. This study, from a global framework, presents a bibliometric analysis of scientific production on digital competences in the university context to identify research trends, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution in Latin America. A total of 1985 papers published between 1993 and 2025 in the Web of Science Core Collection were analyzed using a PRISMA-based protocol. The results show exponential growth in publications since 2019, underscoring the global relevance of digital literacy in transforming teaching and learning processes. Spain stands out as a leading country in productivity and impact, supported by consolidated institutional frameworks such as DigComp and DigCompEdu. Keyword analysis reveals a transition from a tech-skills-focused approach to a more holistic perspective that incorporates critical thinking, ethics, and responsible use of emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence. Although Latin America shows an increase in its contributions, its international visibility remains limited and requires strengthening scientific collaboration. This study provides a broad understanding of the field’s academic structure and outlines strategic directions to advance teachers’ digital competence and promote more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable university systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Health Promotion Centres (HPCs) in Slovenia represent a European best practice for integrated prevention and health promotion. This study explores the feasibility of adapting the Slovenian HPC model to Bergamo Province, Lombardy, considering local population needs and health system characteristics. Methods: We conducted a qualitative feasibility and policy analysis based primarily on documentary review, complemented by a webinar, a study visit to Slovenia, and expert consultations (conducted in two group discussions) with professionals from ATS (Agenzia Tutela della Salute) Bergamo and local ASST (Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale) providers. Data were analysed using the PIET-T framework (Population–Intervention–Environment–Transfer). Results: Eight key elements define the Slovenian model: (1) governance and stewardship; (2) structural financing; (3) standardized service portfolio; (4) systematic preventive referrals; (5) integration with primary care and screening; (6) multidisciplinary teams with codified training; (7) community outreach and equity orientation; and (8) information systems and reporting. While Bergamo shares similar demographic and epidemiological profiles, differences in behavioral risk factors, project-based financing, fragmented initiatives, and limited digital integration necessitate adaptation. The comparative assessment highlighted key areas requiring contextual adaptation, including financing mechanisms, organisational coordination, workforce capacity, digital interoperability, and approaches to equity. Conclusions: The Slovenian HPC experience demonstrates the potential of integrated, community-based health promotion. Its adaptation to Lombardy appears feasible if core components are preserved and tailored to local governance, population, and health system conditions. These organisational features may be particularly relevant for time-dependent conditions, such as acute cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, by potentially supporting more timely risk-factor management and coordination across diagnostic and emergency pathways. Rather than a blueprint for reform, this experience offers useful insights to reinforce prevention and health promotion within the ongoing territorial care reform in Lombardy. Full article

Existing research in extended reality for education emphasizes learning outcomes rather than the process for developing their materials. Design thinking, a method in Research through Design, which often generates artefacts and systems, can help address this limitation. As such, this paper presents a process for developing 360° videos based on the six steps of the design thinking process with a new step for planning. The authors also propose a novel approach emphasizing co-creation and Indigenous Research Values throughout the process, showing respect, and minimizing misinterpretations, appropriations, and weak translations that often result from recording stories. Presented through an example titled ‘Tipi Teachings’, a digital story rooted in Indigenous Knowledge of Engineering, the authors demonstrate how design thinking and co-creation can be applied to digital storytelling, proposing a procedure which aims to provide guidance to future researchers utilizing digital storytelling, minimizing trial and error, and providing an opportunity for researchers to share and document lessons learned. While the proposed process was created within a Canadian Indigenous research context, and centers Indigenous storybasket values, these values require researchers to listen to and build relationships with the community, incorporating their core values, regardless of whether they directly align with the storybasket values, adjusting the process to their specific context. The decolonial design process aligned with design thinking also considers decolonization globally, rather than locally. Full article

Digital signal processing plays a central role in intelligent railway communications under high-mobility, strong-multipath, and time-varying-channel conditions. This review surveys representative techniques for multi-carrier modulation, precoding, index modulation, and chaos-inspired physical layer security and highlights their mathematical foundations. Core themes include transform-domain representations typified by time–frequency analysis, linear-algebraic formulations of precoding and equalization, combinatorial structures underlying index mapping and spectral efficiency gains, and nonlinear dynamical systems theory of chaotic encryption. The methods are compared in terms of bit error performance, peak-to-average power ratio, spectral efficiency, computational complexity, and information security, with emphasis on railway-specific deployment constraints. The synergistic application of these methods with intelligent railway transportation systems is expected to enhance the overall performance of railway transportation systems in terms of transmission efficiency, reliability, and security. It provides critical technological support for the efficient and secure operation of next-generation intelligent transportation systems. Full article