Search Results (8,169)

This study develops and validates the Cultural Heritage Awareness Scale (CHAS), a multidimensional measurement instrument designed to assess individuals’ awareness of cultural heritage within the context of sustainable heritage management. The study addresses the need to move beyond cognitively oriented awareness models by conceptualising cultural heritage awareness as an integrated construct encompassing ethical responsibility, functional engagement, and governance-oriented conservation. The scale was developed using a quantitative scale development design, informed by expert-generated items and psychometric validation procedures applied to university student samples. Factor analyses confirmed a stable three-dimensional structure with satisfactory model fit and strong internal consistency, indicating that the proposed model reliably captures distinct yet interrelated dimensions of heritage awareness. The findings demonstrate that cultural heritage awareness extends beyond recognition and appreciation to include ethical accountability, engagement with use, and participation in governance-related processes. By integrating ethical, functional, and governance dimensions within a single validated instrument, the CHAS offers an original contribution to heritage awareness measurement. The scale provides a practical tool for assessing heritage awareness in educational, planning, and policy-related contexts, particularly in relation to participatory and sustainability-oriented heritage governance. While the scale shows robust performance within a university-based sample, further research is recommended to examine its applicability across more diverse socio-cultural contexts. Full article

(1) Background: HTPLA FDM-printed cutting guides enable the low-cost, in-hospital production of patient-specific instruments. However, annealing, which is required for steam sterilization, may alter the dimensions of fit-critical fixation pin holes. (2) Methods: HTPLA cylindrical specimens (height 5 mm) were printed with fixed process parameters and vertical orientation. Inner diameter (1.6–5.0 mm) and wall thickness (2–6 mm) were varied using a two-factor Central Composite Design (n = 13). Following a two-stage annealing treatment (80 °C, 10 min; 100 °C, 50 min), post-annealing dimensions were measured and modeled using Response Surface Methodology. An illustrative verification was performed on additional specimens. (3) Results: Annealing induced a systematic decrease in inner diameter (−0.4 to −0.9 mm) and an increase in wall thickness (+0.1 to +0.4 mm). A reduced quadratic model accurately captured these trends within the investigated range, with small residuals observed during verification (≤0.1 mm). (4) Conclusions: The proposed local, geometry-driven model supports compensation in fixation pin-hole dimensions in annealed HTPLA cutting guides, improving dimensional predictability within a defined design and process window. Full article

This study proposes an indicator system for evaluating AI-assisted learning in higher education, combining evidence-based indicator development with expert-validated weighting. First, we review recent studies to extract candidate indicators and organize them into coherent dimensions. Next, a Delphi session with domain experts refines the second-order indicators and produces a measurable, non-redundant, implementation-ready index system. To capture interdependencies among indicators, we apply a hybrid Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory–Analytic Network Process (DEMATEL–ANP, DANP) approach to derive global indicator weights. The framework is empirically illustrated through a course-level application to examine its decision usefulness, interpretability, and face validity based on expert evaluations and structured feedback from academic staff. The results indicate that pedagogical content quality, adaptivity (especially difficulty adjustment), formative feedback quality, and learner engagement act as key drivers in the evaluation network, while ethics-related indicators operate primarily as enabling constraints. The proposed framework provides a transparent and scalable tool for quality assurance in AI-assisted higher education, supporting instructional design, accreditation reporting, and continuous improvement. Full article

Background: During social foraging, individuals typically adopt one of two mutually exclusive strategies: (1) producing, which involves searching for, discovering, and acquiring resources, or (2) scrounging, which entails exploiting resources previously discovered by others. The distribution of these strategies within a group is referred to as the Producer–Scrounger (P-S) Game. Although the influence of personality on the Producer–Scrounger Game has been examined in non-human species through measures of individual differences, few studies have yet explored this relationship in humans. Objective: We aimed to examine the association between social foraging strategies and personality traits in human participants, using the Big Five dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism, with their higher-order metatraits measured as composite scores: stability and plasticity, and psychopathy traits measured with the Antisocial Process Screening Device (APSD): callous–unemotional, impulsivity, and narcissism. Methods: Forty-five participants completed the Guaymas Foraging Task (GFT), designed to simulate a social foraging scenario under two 4 min conditions: one in which the cost of producing was 0 s, and another in which it was 8 s. Participants also completed the Big Five Inventory and the APSD. Results: Openness (p = 0.018, R² = 0.124), agreeableness (p = 0.002, R² = 0.209), extraversion (p = 0.019, R² = 0.121), stability (p = 0.022, R² = 0.117), and plasticity (p = 0.007, R² = 0.160) traits were associated with higher producer’s indexes. However, these correlations emerged only under the low-cost condition. No correlations were found between the producer’s index and psychopathic traits; nonetheless, participants above the APSD’s cutoff score scrounged significantly more, but only in the low-cost condition. Conclusions: Individual differences such as personality seem to be correlated with different foraging strategies; nonetheless, the behavioral expression of these traits seems to diminish when the environment is not favorable for their preferred strategy. Full article

Traditional multi-criteria decision-making methods often operate on the assumption of symmetry, presupposing that the positive impact of a criterion’s presence is perfectly complementary to the negative impact of its absence. However, in real-world decision problems, this relationship is frequently asymmetric; some criteria act merely as “delighters,” while others represent “must-have” constraints. This study proposes a novel methodology, the Presence–Absence Synthesis (PAS) Method, which addresses this asymmetry by treating the “Presence Effect” and “Absence Effect” of criteria as two independent dimensions. The method is built upon intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) to effectively model the uncertainty and hesitation inherent in expert evaluations. The applicability of the proposed approach is demonstrated through a real-world workforce management problem aimed at assigning employees to the most suitable tasks based on their competencies in a retail store. In the study, the suitability scores derived from the PAS method are integrated into a mathematical optimization model for weekly employee scheduling, presenting a two-stage decision support framework. The results and comparisons with the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution method reveal that the PAS method more effectively distinguishes critical competency gaps (i.e., criteria with high absence effects), leading to more realistic task assignments and a measurable reduction in operational risks, such as skill mismatches and infeasible schedules. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis confirms that the proposed model yields consistent and robust results under varying conditions. Beyond the retail context, the proposed PAS framework is applicable to a wide range of decision-making problems, including healthcare staff allocation, project team formation, supplier selection, and other resource allocation settings where their presence cannot compensate for the absence of critical criteria. Full article

The production and assembly of large engineering structures, many requiring tight tolerances, demand accurate long-distance measurements. This poses a major challenge for metrologists across industries such as energy, aviation, automotive, and machinery. Contact measurements provide high accuracy but are slow, as tactile probes must be moved over large distances. Optical methods are much faster, yet their effective range is usually limited to a few meters, and they generally offer lower accuracy. Measurements of large-scale components are further complicated by varying environmental conditions (e.g., temperature gradients) and the accumulation of different error sources, making high-accuracy measurements difficult to achieve. These challenges motivated the authors to develop hybrid measurement systems (HMS) and methods for improving their accuracy. This paper describes the steps taken to build an HMS combining a large-volume, high-accuracy coordinate measuring machine with a structured-light scanner. It also presents a dedicated method for determining measurement uncertainty in HMS, based on a multiple-measurement strategy. A series of tests were performed on material standards with various shapes, dimensions, and geometric features, using both contact and optical systems. The measurement uncertainties were then evaluated using the developed method. Finally, the method was validated through tests conducted on a selected large-scale engineering object. Full article

Despite the increasing emphasis on residents’ prosperity aspirations in rural development initiatives, the lack of a psychometrically sound measure limits comparability and rigor, as existing studies primarily focus on structural and policy factors influencing community prosperity, with insufficient attention to residents’ psychological processes and subjective experiences. Drawing on community psychology, this study develops and validates a measure of rural residents’ aspirations for common prosperity, integrating personal fulfillment with collective advancement across material and spiritual domains. Employing a three-phase mixed-methods design, Study 1 used in-depth interviews and grounded theory procedures (N = 28) to develop a theoretical model comprising four dimensions: material–individual, material–collective, spiritual–individual, and spiritual–collective. Study 2 generated a 19-item, four-factor scale via exploratory factor analysis and exploratory graph analysis (N = 581). Study 3 confirmed the scale’s second-order factor structure and psychometric properties with confirmatory factor analysis (N = 659). The Common Prosperity Aspiration Scale (CPAS) demonstrated strong reliability and validity across its four dimensions and the overarching second-order factor. This pioneering study elucidates the psychological structure of common prosperity aspirations and provides a psychometrically reliable measure for rural contexts. It serves as a valuable tool to explore their influence on behaviors and promote sustainable community development. Full article

The scour process of sand particles and multi-grain size and density particles were studied to investigate the segregation process of different particles in a confined channel. The effects of jet intensity and submergence as two controlling parameters were studied, and scour characteristics and profiles were measured. The time history of the scouring process was measured and the results were compared with the scour process in a uniform sand bed as benchmark tests. Experimental data revealed that the eroded area of different particle types increased with the jet intensity, but the erosion of relatively heavier particles was limited due to jet diffusion. The local erosion was affected by the level of submergence and more erosion occurred near the nozzle at low submergence. Increasing the jet Froude number increased the area of deposition, while submergence reduced the overall area of deposition. As submergence increased from 4 to 12, the area of sand particles reduced by more than 50% while the jet intensity was constant. In shallow submergence, increasing jet intensity from 1.46 to 2.11 increased the area of lead balls by 120%, whereas in relatively deep submergence, incrementing jet intensity increased the area of lead balls by more than five times. The effect of flow intensity on variations of scour dimensions was quantified by the densimetric Froude number. While a densimetric Froude number based on mean particle size, D₅₀, was found to be suitable to estimate maximum scour bed in uniform sand beds, experimental data indicated that the best fit is achievable to predict maximum scour depth in multi-grain size and density once D₉₅ is used. Semi-empirical models were proposed to predict scour dimensions as a function of the densimetric Froude number. Full article

Restorative justice within the juvenile justice system has gained increasing attention as an alternative to punitive approaches, particularly in relation to the social reintegration of adolescents in conflict with the law, while complementary interventions such as music therapy are often implemented to support emotional regulation, social skills, and personal development within restorative contexts. This observational, cross-sectional study examined the associations between restorative justice practices, participation in music therapy, and indicators of social reintegration among 317 adolescents involved in restorative programs in Peru. Data were collected using a structured survey composed of ordinal-scale items assessing dimensions of restorative practices, engagement in music therapy, and perceived social reintegration, with the instrument demonstrating satisfactory internal consistency. Statistical associations were analysed using Somers’ d, a non-parametric measure appropriate for assessing ordinal associations in observational research. The results revealed statistically significant and directionally consistent associations between restorative justice practices and social reintegration outcomes, as well as positive associations between participation in music therapy and higher levels of reported social reintegration. These findings should be interpreted in light of the study’s cross-sectional design and non-probability sampling strategy, which limit causal inference and generalizability. While the results are consistent with the potential relevance of integrating music-based activities within restorative contexts, future research employing experimental or longitudinal designs is required to examine causal mechanisms and long-term effects and to further clarify the role of therapeutic interventions in supporting the social reintegration of justice-involved adolescents. Full article

As a key structural component of rockfill dams, the load-bearing capacity of large-sized concrete slabs under complex multi-axial stresses is directly related to the long-term safe operation of the dams. This study conducted uniaxial and biaxial lateral compression strength tests on C25 concrete slabs with dimensions of 1500 × 1500 × 150 mm using a large-scale bi-directional loading reaction frame test system, systematically revealing the mechanical properties and failure criteria of large-sized concrete slabs. The results indicate that the biaxial compressive strength of the concrete slabs is significantly greater than the uniaxial compressive strength. The stress–strain curves of the concrete slabs and standard specimens exhibit good consistency before failure. Based on uniaxial compressive strength data, the concrete size effect strength reduction formula proposed by Neville was modified, and a compressive strength prediction formula applicable to large-sized concrete members was established. Further integration with code-specified failure criteria led to the development of a biaxial failure envelope for large-sized concrete slabs, which was validated to agree well with measured data. The research findings can provide reliable experimental evidence and theoretical support for the strength reduction, load-bearing capacity assessment, and revisions of relevant design codes for large hydraulic components such as concrete face slabs in rockfill dams. Full article

This study investigates the challenge of affordable housing in Riyadh, a city undergoing rapid transformation aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. It aims to bridge the structural gap in the housing market by developing a comprehensive analytical framework that measures housing suitability for emerging middle-income families, linking it to economic, spatial, and behavioral dimensions. The research employs a sequential mixed-methods design. The first phase involved a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) of 106 residential neighborhoods, constructing a Housing Suitability Index (HSI) based on financing cost (≤SAR 880,000), quality of urban life, and geographical accessibility. The second phase utilized focus groups with 16 participants from real estate developers and new families to explore behavioral drivers and subjective trade-offs. Quantitative results identified “convenience clusters” primarily in the city’s southeastern and southwestern sectors, offering an optimal balance between price and accessibility. Qualitative analysis revealed a significant trust gap and a misalignment of priorities: new families are increasingly willing to sacrifice unit size for central location and construction quality, a preference that conflicts with developers’ strategies focused on luxury units or peripheral projects for higher margins. The study concludes that achieving the 70% homeownership target requires a hybrid policy model, combining supply-side stimuli (e.g., subsidized land) with demand-side management (e.g., progressive mortgages). It recommends integrating the HSI into urban planning to direct investment towards logistically connected areas, fostering sustainable communities. Full article

District heating systems are central to Europe’s decarbonisation strategy and its 2050 climate-neutrality objective. However, district heating is deeply embedded in the socio-economic system and the built environment. This makes compliance with policy targets at the local level particularly challenging. The issues are attributable to two factors. Firstly, the process is characterised by a high degree of complexity and multidimensionality. Secondly, there is a scarcity of local resources (e.g., land, surface waters, waste heat, etc.). In Bucharest, Romania, the largest district heating system in the European Union, the process of decarbonisation represents a particularly complex challenge. The system is characterised by large physical dimensions, high technical wear, heavy dependence on natural gas, significant heat losses and complex governance structures. This paper presents a strategic planning exercise for aligning the Bucharest system with the Energy Efficiency Directive 2023/1791. Drawing on system data, investment modelling, and local resource mapping from the LIFE22-CET-SET_HEAT project, the study evaluates scenarios for 2028 and 2035 that shift heat generation from natural gas to renewable, waste heat, and high-efficiency sources. The central objective is the identification of opportunities and issues. Options include large-scale heat pumps, waste-to-energy, geothermal and solar heat. Heat demand profiles and electricity price dynamics are used to evaluate economic feasibility and operational flexibility. The findings show that the decarbonisation heat supply in Bucharest is technically possible, but financial viability hinges on phased investments, interinstitutional coordination, regulatory reforms and access to EU funding. The study concludes with recommendations for staged implementation, coordinated governance and socio-economic measures to safeguard heat affordability and system reliability. Full article

The intensifying pressures of urbanization and climate change on coastal zones necessitate a holistic understanding of the interplay between human activity and ecological integrity for sustainable development. However, prevailing methods for assessing coastal vibrancy often overlook direct measures of human presence and fail to quantitatively capture its complex relationship with ecological vulnerability. To address these gaps, this study develops a novel multi-dimensional assessment framework for Coastal Landscape Vibrancy (CLV) and empirically examines its interaction with ecological vulnerability factors in Beihai, China. Moving beyond built-environment-centric approaches, our framework integrates the ‘Crowd’ dimension, directly quantified using Baidu Heat Index data, with the ‘Place’ dimension, characterized by urban features, natural attributes, and visual experience. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to objectively weight these indicators and construct a composite CLV index. We then applied multiple linear regression to analyze the influence of ecological factors constructed based on the Sensitivity-Resilience-Pressure (SRP) model. The results revealed that vibrancy was highly concentrated in urban cores and exhibited significant spatiotemporal variations. Regression analysis revealed that while ecological quality factors like green coverage (β = 0.236, p < 0.001) positively influenced vibrancy, anthropogenic stressors such as slope (β = −0.457, p < 0.001) and the impervious surface index (β = −0.092, p < 0.001) had significant negative impacts, highlighting a critical trade-off between human activity and ecological conditions. The findings provide a quantitative, evidence-based foundation for spatial planning, demonstrating that sustainable coastal vibrancy is achieved through a balanced integration of human activity and ecological conservation, rather than through unchecked development. This framework offers critical insights for formulating strategies that simultaneously enhance ecological resilience and optimize human service facilities. Full article

As a dominant typology of urban development and a critical component of public infrastructure, super high-rise buildings have transitioned from a speed-driven expansion model to one that emphasizes a balanced approach between development pace and quality. Within the context of urban stock renewal, numerous super high-rise buildings now face pressing needs for retrofitting to enhance their sustainability and urban integration. This study establishes “urbanity”—defined as the capacity of the built environment to foster vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable urban life—as a core evaluation criterion for assessing the retrofitting and renewal of super high-rise buildings. Based on a comprehensive literature review and field investigations, 21 representative indicators were identified, and the key factors influencing the upgrading of such buildings were determined. Subsequently, 20 super high-rise buildings in Shanghai were selected as case studies, and their urbanity performance was assessed using a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model (FCEM). The findings reveal common challenges, including architectural homogenization, functional singularity, limited vitality in near-ground spaces, weak integration with surrounding infrastructure, and inefficient utilization of urban landscape resources. Furthermore, the study analyzes urbanity-oriented enhancement strategies implemented in the selected cases and proposes targeted improvement measures across five key dimensions: building morphology, functional configuration, near-ground space, infrastructure, and urban landscape. The research contributes to the body of knowledge on sustainable urban regeneration by providing a practical evaluation framework and actionable strategies for retrofitting super high-rise buildings. The findings aim to support more livable, inclusive, and resilient urban environments, with implications for both Chinese and global cities facing similar challenges in high-density urban contexts. Full article

Introduction. Although the aortic valve and mitral valve differ significantly in structure, function, and location, they both play a significant role in left ventricular (LV) function. The aim of the current study was to analyze the relationship between the mitral valve annulus (MVA) and the aortic valve annulus (AVA), as measured by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) in the same healthy individuals with average or smaller/larger annular diameters (Ds), areas (As), and perimeters (Ps) in end-diastole (D) and end-systole (S). Methods. This study comprised 134 healthy adult participants with a mean age of 31.0 (16.0) years (73 males). A complete medical investigation included physical examination, laboratory tests, standard 12-lead electrocardiography, and two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography supplemented with 3DSTE. Results. Almost all end-diastolic and end-systolic MVA dimensions increased significantly with enlarging MVA. Similarly, as MVA-D-D and MVA-P-D increased, nearly all end-diastolic and end-systolic AVA dimensions exhibited a positive trend. Lower-than-average MVA-A-D was associated with a trend toward higher AVA dimensions (excluding AVA-P-D) compared to the mean MVA-A-D; conversely, higher-than-average MVA-A-D was also associated with increased AVA dimensions. AVA perimeter values were notably higher than those recorded in the lower-than-average MVA-A-D subgroup. In subjects with lower-than-average end-diastolic MVA dimensions, a non-significantly higher proportion of larger end-systolic AVA was observed relative to end-diastolic AVA. While AVA dimensions remained unchanged despite increasing MVA-D-S, a positive trend in AVA dimensions—reaching statistical significance for certain parameters—was observed alongside increasing MVA-A-S and MVA-P-S. In subjects with lower-than-average end-systolic MVA dimensions, there was a non-significantly higher prevalence of larger end-systolic AVA compared to end-diastolic AVA. Furthermore, nearly all end-diastolic and end-systolic AVA dimensions increased significantly with increasing AVA. Increases in AVA-D-D, AVA-A-D, and AVA-P-D were generally accompanied by a trend toward higher end-diastolic and end-systolic MVA dimensions; however, MVA-D-S peaked in the presence of lower-than-average end-diastolic AVA dimensions. In subjects with lower-than-average end-diastolic AVA, a non-significantly higher proportion of larger end-systolic AVA was noted compared to end-diastolic AVA. Notably higher MVA parameters were observed in the presence of mean AVA-D-S and AVA-A-S compared to their lower-than-average counterparts. Finally, end-diastolic MVA parameters showed a positive trend with increasing AVA-P-S, and subjects with higher-than-average end-systolic AVA dimensions demonstrated a significantly higher proportion of larger end-systolic AVA compared to end-diastolic AVA. Conclusions. There is a strong and complex association between the dimensions of the MVA and AVA, as assessed by 3DSTE, when measured simultaneously in the same healthy adults. Full article