Search Results (818)

The rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fundamentally transforming creative practices across all design disciplines. However, the commitment to addressing the ethical and environmental consequences of this transformation remains critically underexplored. This study aims to quantify the volume, track the evolution, and map the intellectual structure of academic literature at the intersection of AI, Design, and Sustainability. Using a comprehensive bibliometric approach, four distinct datasets were retrieved from the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases on 3 October 2025. The study compares core “AI + Design + Sustainability” papers against an “AI + Design” baseline to assess the relative contribution of the sustainability dimension. The analysis identifies critical research gaps and offers strategic insights for scholars and institutions committed to fostering a more ethically and environmentally responsible design future. Full article

Predicting student performance has emerged as an essential element of contemporary learning assessment, allowing educational organizations to determine problematic students and offer early intellectual assistance. Many machine learning (ML) methodologies prioritize predicted accuracy at the expense of interpretability and practical insights. This paper provides a framework for predicting student performance that is both risk aware and explainable utilizing a chaotic educational competition optimizer (ECO) in conjunction with a support vector classifier (SVC) to overcome existing challenges. The ECO serves as a metaheuristic feature selection technique for selecting the most significant features from a multivariate educational dataset consisting of 1195 students and 29 behavioral, demographic, and academic characteristics. Experimental findings demonstrate that ECO effectively condenses the feature space to 11 essential indications and improves generalization of model while maintaining classification robustness. Utilizing the chosen features, the ECO–SVC model attains a complete classification accuracy of 87.03%, with F1-scores of 0.92, 0.69, and 0.82 for high-, medium-, and low-performance student categories, respectively, surpassing other benchmark ML methods. The proposed framework incorporates explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to improve transparency by utilizing local explanations and permutation-driven feature significance. The XAI research verifies that institutional support, learner engagement, and previous academic success are the most important contributing factors to predictive results. Notably the ECO functions as a classifier-independent feature selection mechanism; however, the support vector classifier (SVC) is adopted in this study due to its strong generalization capability and effectiveness in exploiting the optimized feature space. The findings are analyzed using a semiotic-linguistic framework, wherein certain qualities are correlated with symbolic, indexical, and temporal educational signs, converting numerical significance into substantive pedagogical insights. Furthermore, an initial academic risk profile strategy is established by utilizing SVC decision confidence and elucidating feature contributors. The consequent risk ratings accurately categorize students into low-, medium-, and high-risk categories, facilitating the detection of at-risk learners beyond mere final score assessment. The proposed risk-aware and explainable ECO–SVC framework enhances learning outcomes assessment by integrating interpretability, high accuracy, and proactive academic reasoning, rendering it suitable for real-life educational decision-support systems. Full article

Increased debates over the higher objectives of Islamic law (maqāṣid al-sharīʿa) have emerged in recent decades, with considerable attention devoted to their potential for intellectual and legal reform. Nonetheless, a very prolific contemporary contributor to the maqāṣid debate, the Moroccan scholar Aḥmad al-Raysūnī (b. 1953), has received very limited attention in Western scholarship to date. Therefore, this article offers a comprehensive critical analysis of al-Raysūnī’s interpretation of the maqāṣid and its implications for contemporary Islamic normativity. Aiming to assess the relationship between al-Raysūnī’s theoretical elaborations of the maqāṣid and their practical implications, both his publications and his legal opinions (fatwas) are considered and analysed. Thus, methodologically, the article combines textual analysis of al-Raysūnī’s works with an analytical evaluation of his legal reasoning in practice. The study demonstrates that while al-Raysūnī stresses the importance of a structured maqāṣid-reasoning and suggests models for their organisation, his fatwas rarely implement these concepts directly; instead, they rely predominantly on a broader notion of public welfare (maṣlaḥa). By choosing al-Raysūnī as an example, the article argues that this tension highlights both the reformist potential and the practical limitations of contemporary maqāṣid discourse, thereby contributing to broader discussions on Islamic legal reform. Full article

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is consistently associated with a high prevalence of sleep disturbances across the lifespan, with reported rates ranging from 60% to 86% depending on age and clinical characteristics. Although this issue has been widely described in the international literature, Spain currently lacks large-scale data to estimate the prevalence of sleep disturbances or to examine their relationship with factors such as age, intellectual disability, and co-occurring conditions. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and severity of sleep disturbances in individuals with autism spectrum disorder in Spain and to examine their associations with developmental stage, intellectual disability, affective symptoms, and contextual factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational survey with nationwide dissemination approved by the Ethics Committee of the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia. Data will be collected through an online survey (SurveyMonkey) including validated instruments: the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire–Autism (CSHQ-Autism) and the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) for pediatric participants; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for adolescents and adults without intellectual disability; and the Diagnostic Assessment for the Severely Handicapped–II (DASH-II) for adults with intellectual disability. Anxiety and depressive symptoms will be assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in children and adolescents and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and DASH-II. Statistical analyses will be conducted using SPSS v22 by applying parametric or non-parametric tests according to data distribution. Conclusions: This study represents one of the first survey protocols with nationwide dissemination designed to assess sleep disturbances in individuals with ASD in Spain. The resulting findings are expected to help identify vulnerability profiles, inform public health strategies, and support the development of multidisciplinary interventions aimed at improving sleep and, consequently, the quality of life of individuals with autism and their families. Full article

In this research, the primary aim is to conduct a systematic review of the thematic evolution of green finance, which remains fragmented and unevenly represented in global academic debates. The objective of this analysis is to scientifically map out the scholarly output on green finance from 2015 to 2026, detailing its intellectual structure, trends, thematic clusters, and emerging lacunae in the field. Primary data extraction from Web of Science was employed to construct the bibliometric database, whereas the identification, screening, and selection of the final dataset were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines to ensure the study’s transparency and reliability. The main findings highlighted an increasing scholarly interest in the field’s publications from 2019 onward. Key occurrences and citation maps, using RStudio (version 4.1) and Biblioshiny (version 4.5.2), indicate dispersed clusters comprising sustainability transitions, digital finance, bibliometric methods, and a weak link to governance and behavioral perspectives. The co-authorship and country analyses confirm a pronounced geographic imbalance of green finance-related research in academia, with an overrepresentation in the Global North and an underrepresentation in Africa, Latin America, and the MENA region. The analysis further emphasizes the growing role of institutional and ESG regulatory frameworks in shaping research trajectories, while also identifying a limited integration of emerging technological dimensions such as digital finance and artificial intelligence. Thus, the study’s contribution to the literature relies on its critical understanding and structuring of the field’s evolution. The implications include synthesizing research gaps and the need for outcome-oriented impact assessments and mechanism-based models of green finance to ensure significant inclusivity and resilience in the subject’s future agenda. Full article

Although Smart City transitions are typically assessed using technological and financial indicators, the underlying structural correlates remain insufficiently explored. This study examines how different forms of capital within the Quintuple Helix model—natural, social, intellectual, economic and institutional (governance)—are associated with a country’s position in the Global Smart Cities Index and the Eco-Innovation Index. The methodology is based on data from 26 EU Member States. Correlation analysis was used to identify key factors of city performance, cluster analysis was applied to categorize countries/capitals based on their capital profiles and the impact of Smart Cities and eco-innovation. This study identifies three distinct clusters of EU countries/capitals, ranging from leaders to economies in transition. The results show that intellectual capital and institutional governance are the most significant correlates of Smart City success. In addition, governance emerged as a primary association of eco-innovation. These results provide a roadmap for lagging regions to optimize their Quintuple Helix synergies to achieve higher smart city rankings and environmental sustainability. Full article

The Social Study of Science (SSS) constitutes an interdisciplinary domain dedicated to examining the profound influence of social, political, and cultural factors on the development of scientific research and practice. Rejecting conceptions of science as an autonomous, self-directed enterprise, SSS posits that scientific knowledge is fundamentally a social product, deeply embedded within specific historical and cultural contexts. This field employs analytical frameworks from sociology, history, philosophy, and anthropology to elucidate the practices, institutions, history, and intellectual content of science. The scrutiny of science’s social dimensions has fundamentally reconfigured understandings of scientific work and methodology. During the 1960s and 1970s, the field was significantly shaped by contemporaneous protest movements, with historical materialism emerging as a critical framework for sociologists and historians of science seeking to critique power structures and alienation inherent in scientific practices. However, a subsequent intellectual shift witnessed a movement away from this materialist approach towards postmodern and constructivist analyses. Recently, a resurgence of interest in Marxian historical materialism has become evident. This is marked by a renewed engagement with pre-World War II Marxist theorists such as Boris Hessen and Edgar Zilsel, whose works are being republished and re-evaluated in light of the ongoing technological revolution in automation and machine intelligence. This paper delineates this development within SSS, highlighting the contributions of these foundational Marxist thinkers to the critical assessment and understanding of the social ramifications of the new technological revolution. Full article

Modular construction (MC) is frequently promoted as a path to circular economy (CE) outcomes in built environments, yet circular adoption and performance remain uneven. This study investigates how systemic barriers shape the implementation of circular strategies in MC. A systematic literature review combined with bibliometric mapping and systems-oriented synthesis was conducted using 124 Web of Science records published between 2011 and August 2025. Bibliographic coupling, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence analyses were used to characterise the field’s intellectual structure, while 30 studies were selected for thematic coding and systems mapping. Ten recurrent barriers were identified and consolidated into six clusters: technical, financial, regulatory, stakeholder and organisational, quality assurance, and institutional and knowledge-based challenges. Their relative severity was assessed across four MC-relevant circular strategies: reuse, repurposing, design for disassembly, and multifunctionality. Systems mapping revealed three reinforcing feedback dynamics involving financial, stakeholder, and supply-chain pressures, knowledge and quality assurance constraints, and regulatory and design lock-in effects that stabilise conventional delivery and constrain circular implementation. Despite being underrepresented in the literature, multifunctionality emerges as a cross-cutting leverage point for enabling adaptable modular systems. The study synthesises five implementation pathways, including adaptable multifunctional design, interoperable interfaces, digital traceability, collaborative life-cycle integration, and policy alignment, and outlines systems-derived leverage points to guide future research and practice in circular modular construction. Full article

Background/Objectives: As a global chromatin organizer, SATB1 is increasingly implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). This study aims to delineate the clinical and molecular characteristics of a novel de novo SATB1 variant in a patient presenting with epilepsy-dominant NDDs phenotypes. Methods: Triggered by the onset of seizures, trio-based whole-exome sequencing (Trio-WES) was performed to identify the genetic etiology. Subsequent sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were then conducted to further characterize the patient’s clinical phenotypes. Pathogenicity was assessed through structural modeling and functional characterization. Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) status, protein expression profiles, and subcellular localization were determined by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. The transcriptional regulatory impacts of the variant were quantified using dual-luciferase reporter system targeting known downstream regulatory elements. Clinical responses to antiepileptic intervention was also monitored. Results: We identified a novel de novo heterozygous pathogenic frameshift variant in SATB1 (NM_002971.5: c.1718_1719insCA; p.Val574Argfs*134) in a patient presenting with early-onset epilepsy, mild intellectual developmental disorder (IDD), speech delay, and dental anomalies. Functional assays demonstrated that the variant-derived transcript escaping NMD, yielding a truncated protein that forms irregular punctate aggregates within nuclei. Dual-luciferase assays revealed significantly increased transcriptional activity, indicating a loss of the protein’s innate transcriptional regulatory capacity. Clinically, treatment with sodium valproate (VPA) successfully stabilized seizures of the patient, markedly reducing both frequency and intensity. Conclusions: The study reports a novel SATB1 frameshift variant that exerts pathogenicity significant functional impairment by disrupting protein localization and transcriptional regulation. These findings expand the genetic spectrum of SATB1-related NDDs and underscore the efficacy of targeted antiepileptic management in genetic diseases. Full article

Virophages are satellite viruses that depend on the replication machinery of giant double-stranded DNA viruses and influence the structure and dynamics of viral communities through multilayered interactions among giant viruses, their hosts, and virophages. Since the discovery of the Sputnik virophage in 2008, virophages have been increasingly recognized for their roles in regulating giant virus replication, contributing to host defense mechanisms, and shaping the evolution of mobile genetic elements. However, quantitative syntheses examining how virophage research has developed over time, particularly in marine environments, remain limited. Here, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of virophage research published between 2008 and 2025 using the Web of Science Core Collection. By comparing an overall virophage research corpus with a marine virophage sub-corpus, we assessed publication and citation trends, collaboration structures, and keyword-based intellectual and thematic evolution. Our results show that virophage research has gradually transitioned from an early phase dominated by landmark discoveries and experimental model systems to a data-intensive stage driven by genome- and metagenome-based analyses and computational approaches. Although marine virophage studies represent a relatively small proportion of the total literature, they exhibit sustained citation impact and form a distinct research axis within the field. In particular, marine-focused studies emphasize metagenomic discovery, genome sequence alignment, and the analysis of mobile genetic elements such as polinton-like viruses, highlighting the role of marine environments in accelerating the intellectual transition of virophage research. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that virophage research has moved beyond a “discovery and definition” phase toward data-driven integrative interpretation, with marine virophage research emerging as a key domain for understanding the structure and evolutionary dynamics of marine viral ecosystems. Full article

With the proliferation of digital platforms, virtual brand communities have become important contexts for examining how individual perceptions shape discretionary behaviors in online environments. However, the mechanisms through which user experience translates into value co-creation behaviors remain underexplored. Drawing on relationship marketing theory and a behavioral perspective, this study develops and tests a theoretical model linking user experience to value co-creation citizenship behaviors through distinct dimensions of quality of relationship-satisfaction, trust, and commitment. Using a two-wave survey with 549 matched responses, we employ multiple regressions and bootstrapping analyses to assess mediation and moderation effects. The findings indicate that different dimensions of user experience have differential impacts on satisfaction, trust, and commitment, which in turn promote value co-creation citizenship behaviors, supporting their roles as central psychological mechanisms. Specifically, affective and behavioral experiences exert significant positive impacts on value co-creation citizenship behaviors, mediated by all three dimensions (satisfaction, trust, and commitment), whereas the influences of sensory and intellectual experiences are only mediated by two dimensions (satisfaction and trust) of the quality of relationship. In addition, perceived community support strengthens the relationship between satisfaction and value co-creation citizenship behaviors, while it exerts no significant moderating effects on the impact of trust or commitment on value co-creation citizenship behaviors. By situating value co-creation within a behavioral framework, this study contributes to the literature by exploring the mechanism through which user experience influences voluntary, citizenship-like behaviors in digital communities from a relational perspective, and by identifying boundary conditions under which these effects are amplified. Full article

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an inherited cause of intellectual disability and autism, arising from silencing of the Fmr1 gene and loss of Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMRP). FMRP is an RNA-binding protein critically involved in neurodevelopmental processes, including neurogenesis. We examined the proliferation and maturation of adult-born dentate granule cells (abDGCs) and glial populations in Fmr1 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice at 4, 12, and 24 weeks of age under control and early-life stress (ELS) conditions. Based on prior findings, we hypothesized that KO mice would exhibit increased neurogenesis and atypical responses to ELS compared with WT mice. Using immunohistochemistry, we quantified multiple stages of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus, including proliferating (Ki67+), immature (doublecortin [DCX]+), and apoptotic (cleaved caspase-3 [CC3]+) cells. We also assessed glia using Iba1 (microglia) and GFAP (astrocytes) immunoreactivity. KO mice displayed significantly increased Ki67+ proliferating and reduced CC3+ apoptotic cells across ages, accompanied by increased Iba1+ and GFAP+ glial densities. However, KO mice exhibited fewer DCX+ neuroblasts at later time points. When reared in ELS conditions, KO mice show blunted or no changes in neurogenesis and glial populations relative to WT mice reared in ELS conditions or KO mice in control conditions. These results indicate that FMRP loss disrupts hippocampal neurogenesis by increasing cell proliferation while limiting neuronal maturation and expanding glial populations. Moreover, the absence of neurogenic and glial responses to ELS in KO mice highlights a gene–environment interaction that may influence FXS-related neuropathology by limiting the adaptive capacity of the hippocampal neurogenic niche. Full article

The rapid expansion of sustainable construction practices has significantly increased research on recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) over the past four decades. However, despite the growing volume of studies, a comprehensive longitudinal assessment of the thematic and structural evolution of RAC research remains limited. This study presents a bibliometric and thematic evolution analysis of global research on recycled aggregate concrete from 1983 to 2025, based on 1624 documents indexed in Scopus and analyzed using PRISMA guidelines and VOSviewer mapping techniques. Results reveal four indicative stages of development: (i) an exploratory feasibility phase focused on compressive strength and replacement ratios (1983–2000); (ii) a mechanical validation phase emphasizing durability and interfacial transition zone performance (2000–2010); (iii) a performance enhancement phase integrating supplementary cementitious materials and service-life assessment (2010–2018); and (iv) a recent sustainability-driven phase characterized by life-cycle assessment, circular economy frameworks, and emerging AI-assisted optimization approaches (post-2018). China, India, and the United States dominate scientific production, while co-citation networks highlight the consolidation of specialized yet interconnected research communities. Keyword evolution analysis indicates a progressive shift from mechanical feasibility toward environmental impact mitigation and predictive modeling. Despite substantial advances, research gaps persist in tropical climate performance assessment, full-scale structural applications, and standardized mix-design methodologies for high-replacement RAC. The findings provide a structured understanding of the intellectual structure and evolution of the field, offering guidance for future research directions and performance-based sustainable concrete design strategies. Full article

Background: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated demographic factors of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children aged 3 to 6 years in Bahrain, as well as to identify co-occurring developmental disorders. Methodology: The study sample comprised 500 children who attended eight health centers across four governorates (Group A) in Bahrain. A second group (Group B) consisted of all children who completed their diagnosis at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit for ASD from June 2023 to May 2024 to identify associated developmental disorders (n = 232). Group A mothers were interviewed using the M-CHAT-R. For Group B, we used children’s files, the General Intelligence Scale (Stanford-Binet), the M-CHAT-R, the CARS, Conners’ Form, and the Zarit Burden Interview to assess family burden. Additionally, a file review was conducted to determine the presence of intellectual disability (ID) in Group B cases. The Conner-3 Short Forms Test was administered to all cases aged 6 years or older (n = 64), and family burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview Scale for reachable cases (n = 176). Results: Group A findings indicated an overall screen-based/at risk prevalence of ASD of 2.6%, with a higher prevalence in males (1.6%) compared to females (1%). In Group B, there was a78% prevalence of ID and a 17.2% prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study also found that the impact of having a child with ASD on the family varied based on the nature and severity of the disorder or disability, with moderate to severe burden reported at approximately 38%. Conclusions: The prevalence of ASD among young children was notably high, particularly among males. The most common comorbidities were ID followed by ADHD. The family burden associated with ASD was significant, with more than one third reporting moderate to severe burden. These data are essential for informing health education and social service planning. Full article

Background: Persons with intellectual disability have a significantly higher prevalence of diabetes than the general population. Special Olympics Fit Feet, a major screening process for evaluating foot health in persons with intellectual disability, has not included an assessment for the risk of diabetic foot ulcers thus far. A probable reason for this may be that clinicians in the past have felt that persons with intellectual disability were not capable of understanding how to complete the Semmes-Weinstein test for lack of protective sensation. A study was designed to assess whether the Special Olympics athletes could complete the Semmes-Weinstein test for lack of protective sensation. Methods: 31 Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disability participating in a Fit Feet foot screening underwent a Semmes-Weinstein test for lack of protective sensation (LOPS). An assessment was completed using predetermined criteria to establish whether the subject understood what was required and could satisfactorily complete the test. Likewise, it was also determined if the Special Olympics athletes believed they understood the test. Results: Study findings determined that approximately 67% of the athletes in the study were able to successfully complete the test and 90% of the Special Olympics athletes reported they completely understood the test. These results do not apply to the intellectual disability population at large. Conclusion: A significant percentage of the test population appeared able to successfully undergo the Semmes-Weinstein test for lack of protective sensation (LOPS). Therefore, it is recommended that any foot screening process for Special Olympics athletes should include an assessment for loss of protective sensation including use of monofilament testing. Full article