Search Results (264)

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

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

In this article, we document our experiences as teacher educators as we designed and implemented two courses that scaffold primary preservice teachers to engage critically with postmodern picture books and to explore a range of pedagogical practices for using postmodern picture books in classrooms with young children. Initially, our preservice teachers told us they did not have many experiences with postmodern picture books. Postmodern picture books are a special form of children’s literature that showcase some unique characteristics such as breaking boundaries, excess, indeterminacy and parody. In this article, our research investigation includes two case studies which draw on Schon’s classical approach to exploring the epistemology of our own practice through a reflective lens that brings together academic theory and professional practice. Firstly, we each recount our preservice teachers’ most adverse reactions to postmodern picture books. In response, we use the multiliteracies framework of the New London Group, that of situated practice, overt instruction, critical framing and transformed practice, to describe how we designed the learning activities and assessment tasks at two different universities in Australia. We do not attempt to generalise from our findings; rather, we explore the pedagogical framework that takes our preservice teachers from places of not knowing, resistance, and critique to one where they can articulate their understandings of postmodern picture books as social and cultural commentary and demonstrate a range of effective pedagogical applications. Full article

From an outside perspective, it is not clear whether the Catholic Church is an active digital entity, or at least, it is not perceived as such. This paper analyses this issue. The methodology involved the monitoring of ecclesiastical Internet activity, SWOT analysis and in-depth interviews (seven) with clergy and technological suppliers of the Church in both Spain and Latin America. Results: Catholic Church digitalisation is spontaneous, as a reflection of society at large, and is heterogeneous due to its decentralised management. There is more inner acceptance of digital mediatisation for proclamation or support in faith (i.e., apps for praying) and less acceptance for the digitalised practice of rites (digital mediation in the celebration of sacraments is an open debate); however, the presence of ICTs in sacred places is increasing (i.e., liturgical books on screen). The evangelisation of the digital continent is an objective of the Church, whereby clergy influencers are the most striking but less solid case. There is almost full digital implementation at the functional level (i.e., digitised accounting and archives). Only charitable action with vulnerable groups remains analogue. Polarisation is also present, as ultra-Catholic groups are over-represented on the Internet. Conclusion: The Catholic Church is integrated in the Information and Digital Age but is also concerned with spiritual impoverishment, as online fragmentation does not feed real humanitarian communities. 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

This research aims at identifying the prevalent conceptual metaphors in Kamala Harris’s discourse and analysing their role, function and significance in shaping her personal image and the image of her political opponent Donald Trump. This research was conducted using a qualitative research method and applying a conceptual framework, encompassing political discourse analysis and Conceptual Metaphor Theory. Harris’s pre-election political discourse demonstrates a three-dimensional image formation model, including conceptual models as the main image shaping tool: conceptual metaphors aimed at Harris and the political party she represents; conceptual metaphors targeted at her political opponent Donald Trump; and bi-directional conceptual metaphors aimed at both competitors, but targeted at forming reverse images and evoking opposite connotations, with diverse goals. Conceptual metaphors, aimed at a positive formation of Harris’s image, include the following: STATE IS A BUILDING, STATE IS A PERSON and POLITICS IS A PLANT. A negative image of Trump is shaped upon the following conceptual metaphors: POLITICS IS WAR, POLITICS IS CHAOS, POLITICS IS BUSINESS, POLITICS IS A RACE, POLITICS IS FICTION, POLITICS IS A BURDEN, and POLITICS IS A RELATIONSHIP. The bi-directional group comprises such conceptual metaphors as POLITICS IS A KNIFE, POLITICS IS A CRIME, POLITICS IS LOVE, POLITICS IS A JOURNEY and POLITICS IS A BOOK. Full article

Postmodern picture books offer valuable opportunities for children to engage with multiple perspectives and develop critical thinking skills. When used in pedagogical practices that prioritize children’s rights, agency, and voices, these books can effectively challenge dominant social norms and promote justice and equity. Within the framework of the SMOOTH project (Educational Common Spaces, Passing through Enclosures and Reversing Inequalities, Horizon 2020, EU), this qualitative study explores how children aged six to eight attending a public primary school in Lisbon, Portugal, make sense of gender through postmodern picture books. Grounded in the Educational Studies and Sociology of Childhood, the research analyses children’s understandings of gender and the meanings they construct concerning it. A six-month intervention program, consisting of read-aloud sessions, was conducted with children from diverse linguistic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Data were collected through focus groups and observation. Qualitative content analysis highlights how picture books can stimulate critical discussions on the social construction of gender, providing children with opportunities to reflect on differences, power relations, and social change. These findings indicate that embedding a care perspective further strengthens the recognition of children’s lived experiences and enriches educational practices by fostering inclusiveness and deeper understanding. Full article

Issues of economic inequality are inextricably linked to the present climate and environmental crisis, with disadvantaged groups facing disproportionate impacts. This paper explores the intersection of socioeconomic status (SES) and degrees of emotional, cognitive, and behavioural engagement with the climate crisis, as well as equity in the provision of climate change and sustainability education (CCSE). We surveyed over 2000 students (ages 11–14) in England, comparing responses between students with the most (n = 599) and fewest (n = 389) books at home (as a proxy for SES). Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were significantly less worried about a climate-altered future, had lower levels of knowledge about climate change, and were less likely to undertake a range of pro-environmental behaviours. Our findings also emphasise the critical role of the school environment in promoting engagement with the climate crisis and the need to improve provision of CCSE for disadvantaged groups. Further, they reveal severe socioeconomic inequalities in the perceived experiences of CCSE and participation in climate and sustainability action, which was observed even when these activities were made available. This suggests that school systems must consider other possible explanations for whether disadvantaged children and young people engage with these issues beyond their opportunity to do so. Full article

In the context of big data and intelligent connectivity, optimizing scheduled bus dispatch can enhance urban transit efficiency and passenger experience, which is vital for the sustainable development of urban transportation. This paper, based on existing fixed bus stops, integrates traditional demand-responsive transit and travel booking models, considering the spatiotemporal variations in scheduled travel demands and passenger flows and addressing the combined scheduling issues of fixed-capacity bus models and skip-stop strategies. By leveraging intelligent connected technologies, it introduces a dynamic grouping method, proposes an intelligent connected bus dispatching model, and optimizes bus timetables and dispatch control strategies. Firstly, the inherent travel characteristics of potential reservation users are analyzed based on actual transit data, subsequently extracting demand data from reserved passengers. Secondly, a two-stage optimization program is proposed, detailing passenger boarding and alighting at each stop and section passenger flow conditions. The first stage introduces a precise bus–traveler matching dispatch model within a spatial–temporal–state framework, incorporating ride matching to minimize parking frequency in scheduled travel scenarios. The second stage addresses spatiotemporal variations in passenger demand and station congestion by employing a skip-stop and bus operation control strategy. This strategy enables the creation of an adaptable bus operation optimization model for temporal dynamics and station capacity. Finally, a dual-layer optimization model using an adaptive parameter grid particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed. Based on Beijing’s Route 300 operational data, the simulation-driven study implements contrasting scenarios of different bus service patterns. The results demonstrate that this networked dispatching system with dynamic vehicle grouping reduces operational costs by 29.7% and decreases passenger waiting time by 44.15% compared to baseline scenarios. Full article

Background: Cognitive processes play a crucial role in the perception of pain. Catastrophizing, defined as a tendency to focus on a painful experience or amplify its unpleasantness, even in an anticipated form, might increase patients’ negative expectations and feelings of helplessness. In fact, high levels of pain catastrophizing are associated with a reduction in resilient behaviors among patients with physical pain. The objective of the present study is to investigate the employment of psychological and psychotherapeutic interventions in patients reporting pain, focusing on their improvements in terms of resilience and catastrophizing. Methods: This review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines using three databases including articles published from 2006 to February 2024: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search strategy was based on the PIO (Population, Intervention, Outcome) scheme. Following the Cochrane recommendations, quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0) for randomized studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias for NonRandomized Studies (ROBINS-I). We included all English language studies reporting on psychological interventions in the context of pain management and related catastrophic thinking and resilience behaviors. Reviews, book chapters, editorials, conference abstracts and notes, observational studies, and non-English studies were excluded. Two independent authors were involved in the screening and data extraction phase. Results: A total of 10 studies were finally selected. The selected studies included five randomized controlled trials (RCTs); three single group, nonrandomized pilot trials; one single case study; and one nonrandomized pilot trial. The studies were mostly conducted in the United States (n = 7). Overall, the studies reported that psychological interventions in patients with physical pain may improve their psychological health and pain management. Reduced levels of catastrophic thinking and improved psychological resilience were found in subjects undergoing psychological treatments in most selected studies. Conclusions: Further studies are needed, above all controlled trials, to confirm the impact of these interventions in improving patients’ emotional and physical health in the long-term management of physical pain, improving their resilience and reducing catastrophic thinking. Full article

This research investigates the impact of digital math serious educational games (SEGs) on enhancing math skills and motivation, specifically focusing on first-degree equations for students with learning difficulties. A comparative study was conducted among two groups of students with learning disabilities. One group engaged with the digital math serious educational game “Battleship”, while the other received traditional curriculum-based instruction. The study’s dual objectives were to assess the effectiveness of digital math SEGs in improving mathematical performance and to evaluate motivation levels. Additionally, gender differences in performance and motivation were examined to understand how SEGs impact boys and girls differently. Employing an empirical approach, a test comprising standard exercises on first-degree equations, typically encountered in seventh grade, was administered. The Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) was administered to measure motivation. The research sample consisted of 104 seventh-grade students with learning disabilities, aged 12–13 years, from four public schools in the northern sector of Attica, Greece. The sample was evenly divided into two groups of 52 students each. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Excel. Results indicated that students who engaged with the digital math SEG demonstrated significantly improved math performance compared to their peers who used the standard curriculum book. Interestingly, the control group, which used the standard curriculum book, reported higher levels of motivation, underscoring the complex interplay of motivational factors among students with learning disabilities. Furthermore, the analysis by gender revealed that both boys and girls benefited from SEGs in terms of performance. However, motivation levels were only slightly affected by gender, highlighting the potential of SEGs to support diverse learners. Full article

This paper reports on the affordances and constraints encountered in the case of an innovative project designed to support early literacy development in Arabic and English while enhancing father-child wellbeing in Abu Dhabi. The project sought to encourage Emirati fathers to engage in interactive shared book reading at home with their young children. In a context where adult–child home reading is not a traditional practice and where children’s reading proficiency in public schools is often below international standards, the project sought to support families with their children’s early literacy development and to develop positive dispositions towards reading. Fathers (N = 80) of kindergarten children (4–5 years) in state schools in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were invited to participate in interactive workshops about shared parent–child reading. Fathers were provided with selected, high-quality books in both Arabic and English to read aloud with their children at home and were given guidance on ways to read interactively. In this paper, which draws upon survey results, focus group recordings, and researcher field notes from the workshop sites, the affordances and constraints encountered in supporting early home reading and parent–child wellbeing are explored. Recommendations are made for similar reading and wellbeing programs in multilingual contexts. These include providing accessible information to both fathers and mothers on the importance of reading with their children at home, sharing tips and modelling parent–child interactive reading, and the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate books for families. Full article

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, as well as memory and language comprehension difficulties. This study investigated the effects of a storytelling paradigm on language comprehension and memory skills in children with ASD. A traditional approach, using an illustrated book to deliver the narrative, was compared to a novel paradigm based on Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) combined with multisensory stimulation. A group of 28 children (ages between 6 and 10 years old) was asked to listen to a story over four weeks, two times a week, in two different experimental conditions. The experimental group (n = 14) engaged with the story using TUIs, while the control group (n = 14) interacted with a corresponding illustrated book. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using NEPSY-II subtests on language comprehension and memory. At the end of the intervention, a trend of improved performance was found. In particular, a greater number of subjects benefited from the intervention in the experimental group compared with the control group in instruction comprehension and narrative memory-cued recall. These preliminary findings suggest that TUIs may enhance learning outcomes for children with ASD, warranting further investigation into their potential benefits. Full article

The construction industry faces persistent inefficiencies, with projects often failing to meet time, cost, quality, and other conditions of satisfaction. This study investigated real estate owners’ early perceptions of Lean Integrated Project Delivery (Lean IPD) as a potential solution, analyzing the acceptance of principles such as early stakeholder involvement, risk–reward compensation, and open-book accounting, among other key features in Lean IPD. A survey of 62 professionals in real estate development companies in Spain was conducted, analyzing their experience with collaborative contracts and Lean techniques, including Last Planner System and Target Value Design. Statistical methods such as hierarchical clustering and PLS-SEM modeling revealed two distinct groups: those receptive to Lean IPD’s economic mechanisms and those less inclined. While governance principles like early collaboration and team co-responsibility received widespread support, skepticism was noted toward economic transparency practices due to cultural and structural barriers. Additionally, the findings indicate a significant gap in formal training for Lean IPD. Despite challenges, there is strong interest in adopting Lean IPD, driven by its potential to address critical project inefficiencies. This study concludes that successful Lean IPD implementation requires strategic leadership from owners, targeted training programs, and a cultural shift within the industry to embrace collaborative and transparent practices. Full article