Search Results (122)

The Sohodol Gorges has become a location of interest for tourists seeking ecological experiences and outdoor activities. The main purpose of the present study is to evaluate the attitudes of Romanian tourists toward the development of geotourism in this region following the COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunction with the research questions, hypotheses, variables, and research methodology, the following research objectives were emphasized in this study of the Oltenia region: (1) investigate how certain socio-demographic variables, such as age, gender, level of education, and occupation, influence tourists’ perceptions of the various aspects of geotourism development in the Sohodol Gorges; (2) analyze the different dimensions of geotourism, including its economic, ecological, and socio-cultural impacts, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of how geotourism is perceived in the study area in the post-pandemic context. For a qualitative evaluation of the information presented in this study, the authors used a qualitative survey with open questions and closed questions as a data collection method. For data processing and analysis, the EViews version 12.0 software package was used, enabling complex statistical analyses such as multiple regressions and correlation coefficient determination. These techniques were essential for identifying and interpreting the relationships between demographic variables and tourist perceptions. The research results provide a detailed picture of the influence that demographic and behavioral factors have on tourists’ perceptions in the context of post-COVID-19 geotourism development in the Sohodol Gorges of Romania. Education level and age play a significant role in shaping economic and environmental perceptions, indicating that tourists with higher education levels are more aware of the economic and ecological impact of tourism. Full article

The continuous evolution of technology compels higher education leaders to adapt to VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) and BANI (brittle, anxious, non-linear, and incomprehensible) environments through innovative strategies that ensure institutional relevance. While VUCA emphasizes the challenges posed by rapid change and uncertain decision-making, BANI underscores the fragility of systems, heightened anxiety, unpredictable causality, and the collapse of established patterns. Navigating these complexities requires agility, resilience, and visionary leadership to ensure that institutions remain adaptable and future ready. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of digital academic leadership in higher education transformation, examining empirical studies, reviews, book chapters, and proceeding papers published from 2014 to 2024 (11-year period) in the Web of Science—Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Science Citation Index (SSCI). Using CiteSpace software (version 6.3. R1-64 bit), we analyzed 5837 documents, identifying 24 key publications that formed a network of 90 nodes and 256 links. The reduction to 24 publications occurred as part of a structured bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace, which employs algorithmic thresholds to identify the most influential and structurally significant publications within a large corpus. These 24 documents form the core co-citation network, which serves as a conceptual backbone for further thematic interpretation. This was the result of a multi-step refinement process using CiteSpace’s default thresholds and clustering algorithms to detect the most influential nodes based on centrality, citation burst, and network clustering. Our findings reveal six primary research clusters: “Enhancing Academic Performance”, “Digital Leadership Scale Adaptation”, “Construction Industry”, “Innovative Work Behavior”, “Development Business Strategy”, and “Education.” The analysis demonstrates a significant increase in publications over the decade, with the highest concentration in 2024, reflecting growing scholarly interest in this field. Keywords analysis shows “digital leadership”, “digital transformation”, “performance”, and “innovation” as dominant terms, highlighting the field’s evolution from technology-focused approaches to holistic leadership frameworks. Geographical analysis reveals significant contributions from Pakistan, Ireland, and India, indicating valuable insights emerging from diverse global contexts. These findings suggest that effective digital academic leadership requires not only technical competencies but also transformational capabilities, communication skills, and innovation management to enhance student outcomes and institutional performance in an increasingly digitalized educational landscape. Full article

The subsequent research has been grounded in the recently enacted education legislation, the Organic Law amending the Organic Law on Education (LOMLOE, by its acronym in Spanish), within the Spanish educational context. The development of this research is predicated on the following three objectives: firstly, the identification of the main issues of interest that have arisen in the network surrounding the LOMLOE; secondly, the analysis of the socio-educational repercussions that it has generated; and thirdly, the establishment of relationships between the different educational facts and elements involved. The objective of this study is to establish a frame of reference in terms of the current social perception of the new law and how it may or may not be based on the different changes that will occur after the implementation of the LOMLOE. In order to carry out this research, a qualitative methodology was used to collect a total of 1536 tweets during the debate on the law, using ATLAS.ti software, which was also used to carry out a content analysis of the data. Following a thorough inductive analysis, seven distinct codes were identified. These codes yielded a range of statements that collectively emphasised the pivotal role of subsidised education, religious education and special education in shaping the prevailing discourse. Full article

Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagrams serve as essential tools for visualizing system structure and behavior in software design. With the emergence of Large Language Models (LLMs) that automate various phases of software development, there is growing interest in leveraging these models for UML diagram generation. This study presents a comprehensive empirical investigation into the effectiveness of GPT-4-turbo in generating four fundamental UML diagram types: Class, Deployment, Use Case, and Sequence diagrams. We developed a novel rule-based prompt-engineering framework that transforms domain scenarios into optimized prompts for LLM processing. The generated diagrams were then synthesized using PlantUML and evaluated through a rigorous survey involving 121 computer science and software engineering students across three U.S. universities. Participants assessed both the completeness and correctness of LLM-assisted and human-created diagrams by examining specific elements within each diagram type. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and effect size calculations, validate the significance of our findings. The results reveal that while LLM-assisted diagrams achieve meaningful levels of completeness and correctness (ranging from 61.1% to 67.7%), they consistently underperform compared to human-created diagrams. The performance gap varies by diagram type, with Sequence diagrams showing the closest alignment to human quality and Use Case diagrams exhibiting the largest discrepancy. This research contributes a validated framework for evaluating LLM-generated UML diagrams and provides empirically-grounded insights into the current capabilities and limitations of LLMs in software modeling education. Full article

It has been demonstrated that needle guidance systems can enhance the precision and safety of ultrasound-guided punctures in human medicine. Systems that permit the utilization of commercially available standard needles, instead of those that necessitate the acquisition of costly, proprietary needles, are of particular interest. The objective of this phantom study is to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of magnet-based ultrasound needle guidance systems, which superimpose the position of the needle tip and a predictive trajectory line on the live ultrasound image. We conducted fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules. The needles utilized in these procedures are of a slender gauge (21–27G), with lengths ranging from 40 to 80 mm. A dedicated training workstation with integrated software-based analyses of the movement of the needle tip was utilized in 240 standardized phantom punctures (angle: 45°; target depth: 20 mm). No system failures occurred, and the target achieved its aim in all cases. The analysis of the software revealed stable procedural parameters with minor relative deviations from the predefined reference values regarding the distance of needle tip movement (−4.2% to +6.7%), needle tilt (−6.4% to +9.6%), and penetration depth (−7.5% to +4.5%). These deviations appeared to increase with the use of thin needles and, to a lesser extent, long needles. They are attributed to the slight bending of the needle inside the (phantom) tissue. The training workstation we employed is thus suitable for use in educational settings. Nevertheless, in intricate clinical puncture scenarios—for instance, in the case of unfavorable localized small lesions near critical anatomical structures, particularly those involving thin needles—caution is advised, and the system should not be relied upon exclusively. Full article

The fashion industry is facing increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices given its significant impact on the environment. This research aims to analyze the implications of marketing strategies in the fashion industry’s transition towards a sustainable and responsible business model. The study starts from the premise that marketing can influence consumer behavior and turn sustainability into a competitive advantage. To investigate this aspect, SmartPLS software was used and hypotheses were tested on the relationship between marketing strategies to educate and sensitize consumers on sustainability issues in the fashion industry and the creation of a sustainably engaged community. Moreover, it becomes essential to collaborate with non-governmental organizations and other brands that share their sustainability values. The research was based on a sample of 227 respondents, and the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that marketing strategies that promote transparency in supply chain and production processes, enhance brand reputation and credibility and, promote innovation in sustainable materials and production processes through marketing strategies contributing to creating an engaged community, as well as through brand commitment to sustainability through concrete actions and access to new markets and growth opportunities. Marketing strategies to educate and sensitize consumers on sustainability issues in the fashion industry contribute to increasing consumer interest in sustainable products. The implications of the study highlight the need for coherent marketing approaches to support the sustainable transformation of the fashion industry. Full article

This paper introduces an Interactive System for Education in Modelling and Control of Biotechnological Processes (InSEMCoBio) for biotechnologists, including students and researchers. The system integrates advanced optimisation algorithms for identifying models of nonlinear systems, along with algorithms for monitoring and controlling biotechnological processes. InSEMCoBio was developed in MATLAB R2017a, featuring a user-friendly graphical interface that bridges complex computational tasks. Three metaheuristics for model identification are built in: an evolutionary algorithm, a genetic algorithm, and a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm. The software allows users to execute integrated algorithms and obtain desired results through visualisation (graphical and tabular) of data, without requiring programming knowledge. The functions of the system are demonstrated through the operation of the algorithms on two biotechnological processes. The ability to compare results of different algorithms is shown. The embedded identification algorithms are applicable beyond biotechnology. This provides the developed system with potential for other interesting applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: The increasing application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in health and medicine has attracted a great deal of research interest in recent decades. This study aims to provide a global and historical picture of research concerning AI and ML in health and medicine. Methods: We used the Scopus database for searching and extracted articles published between 2000 and 2024. Then, we generated information about productivity, citations, collaboration, most impactful research topics, emerging research topics, and author keywords using Microsoft Excel 365 and VOSviewer software (version 1.6.20). Results: We retrieved a total of 22,113 research articles, with a notable surge in research activity in recent years. Core journals were Scientific Reports and IEEE Access, and core institutions included Harvard Medical School and the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, while core countries comprised the United States, China, India, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia. Citation trends indicated substantial growth and recognition of AI’s and ML impact on health and medicine. Frequent author keywords identified key research hotspots, including specific diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s diseases, COVID-19, and diabetes. The author keyword analysis identified “deep learning”, “convolutional neural network”, and “classification” as dominant research themes. Conclusions: AI’s transformative potential in AI and ML in health and medicine holds promise for improving global health outcomes. Full article

Water planning and governance strategies must adapt to challenges associated with population growth, climate change, and projected water shortages. In the Western United States, agriculture is the dominant water use, and agricultural water users are being asked to conserve or share their water with other uses. Managing scarce water supplies at the local level often involves creative solutions, many of which are not well documented, especially in the agricultural sector. It is therefore critical to understand ideas to manage scarce water resources from the perspective of agricultural water users and those who work with them. In our research, we used interviews to explore how agricultural water users are managing increasing water scarcity in the Middle Rio Grande basin of central New Mexico and what enables or prevents them from taking innovative action to manage water scarcity. We hypothesized that we would find undocumented water use innovations born out of water users’ responses to lower and more variable water availability in recent years. We primarily recruited interviewees through snowball sampling, with a total of 42 (47%) agricultural water users, decision makers, and non-profit leaders influencing agricultural water governance in the basin accepting our invitation to participate. Our approximately one-hour, semi-structured and open-ended interviews explored agricultural water users’ lived experiences with water governance and opportunities to manage water scarcity. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using HyperRESEARCH software (version 4.5.4). Our results did not support our hypothesis. Instead, we found that agricultural water users struggled to implement well-known innovations amid the pressures of water scarcity, supply uncertainty, administrative complexity, and constraints on their time, labor, and money. Water users and decision makers were mutually interested in implementing innovations in crop choice, flexibility in water storage, use, and management, stricter enforcement of water use efficiency, and access to more efficient irrigation equipment. However, high costs, a lack of knowledge, education, and training, and challenges related to water distribution and scheduling prevented agricultural water users from accessing these and other innovations. Recommendations include incentive-based policies to promote agricultural water use innovations that require high initial costs, improved water accounting at the basin and regional levels to promote flexible and reliable access to agricultural water, targeted education and outreach programming on alternative irrigation methods and cropping patterns, and improved access to irrigation scheduling information to support agricultural water users in planning for water scarcity. Full article

Digital literacy is the core competitiveness and necessary ability that international students should cultivate while studying in China in the context of education digitalization, and this paper mainly explores whether epistemic curiosity can affect the digital literacy of international students in China. Based on the Technology Acceptance Model, this paper introduces the variable of epistemic curiosity, uses questionnaire survey method and quantitative tools (SPSS and AMOS software) to construct a model of the cognition–perception–formation mechanism of international students’ digital literacy in China, and obtains the following conclusions: Firstly, both interest- and deprivation-type epistemic curiosity can directly promote the digital literacy of international students in China. Secondly, this paper discusses how interest- and deprivation-type epistemic curiosity can affect digital literacy under the mediating effect of perceived usefulness. Finally, perceived ease of use can also indirectly promote the relationship between epistemic curiosity and digital literacy of international students in China. The contribution of this paper is to highlight the formation mechanism of digital literacy in cross-cultural contexts and to explore how interest- and deprivation-type epistemic curiosity affect the digital literacy of international students in China. To a certain extent, this paper reveals the potential process of international students in China to use digital resources to transform into digital literacy and also provides useful evidence for the further development of attractive digital resources. Full article

This research analyses the results obtained from a survey performed on the nutritional and eating habits of Spanish university communities (students, faculty and administrative staff), involving four multiple-choice questions which determine the respondents’ level of interest in dietary topics. The study sample comprised 124 respondents from three Spanish universities: Complutense University of Madrid, University of Valencia and University of Malaga. The statistical software program R was used to conduct both analyses (quantitative and qualitative), using frequencies and percentages for the multiple-choice questions. The main results reveal that the respondents’ level of interest and motivations were decisive when deciding on whether to verify nutritional information or not. The use of different verification platforms underscores the urgent need for reliable sources and educational intervention in nutrition fields. Full article

Remote teaching has been becoming increasingly important in higher education since the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, fast and precise modeling of the main operating values of industrial systems is a key point for production and efficiency calculation. After a review of the main modeling equations of an induction motor, this paper proposes to include them in spreadsheet software in the form of practical work so that readers will improve their level in multiple competency fields, such as data processing, the use of spreadsheet software, deepening understanding of induction motors, classical induction motor testing, and modeling and the use of the models to solve classical electrical engineering issues. Furthermore, the fact that this work was designed to be conducted autonomously and asynchronously gives readers the feeling of freedom, which is very useful for developing their desire to progress by their own means and to do their utmost to succeed in their task. Finally, the provided Excel file, which includes an initial spreadsheet with gaps, allows readers to familiarize themselves with the concepts, experiment with them, and extend the base file to their own topics of interest. This work can serve as a proof of the readers’ ability to succeed in industrial modeling tasks and aid in their employment prospects. Full article

Data analysis can unearth important insights like patterns, trends, and deductions. In education, it can be utilized to tailor teaching methods to suit student traits or devise new activities to foster different skills or reinforce existing ones, for example. Understanding the particular context and past experiences can aid in this endeavor. Surveys and questionnaires yield a wealth of data. Yet, the sheer volume of questions can lead to challenges in data management for teachers and a decline in student interest due to the time-consuming nature of fulfilling these tasks. This work presents a methodology designed to decrease the number of questions in questionnaires. This method can be applied to general questionnaires that consist of closed-ended questions with a set number of response choices, where each question can have a varying number of options compared to the other questions in the form. This methodology has been adapted into a newly developed software tool for examining learning styles based on a specific learning styles questionnaire: the Honey–Alonso Learning Styles Questionnaire (CHAEA). This software is available to the public and integrated with Moodle, arguably the most extensively used learning management system globally. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, it has been used across various subjects in Computer Sciences Engineering degrees over different academic years. The outcomes from this case study validate the appropriateness of the technique. Consequently, these findings could establish patterns that could assist in devising more suitable learning methodologies for students. Full article

Background: Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology is becoming a more significant means of providing prosthodontic treatment due to its impact on clinical performance and patient outcomes. It has been integrated into dental education to allow students to experience digital work-flows. Despite these advancements, many dental students still lack sufficient knowledge of CAD-CAM technologies. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. Based on previous studies, a validated questionnaire was distributed to undergraduate dental students and interns. The questionnaire assessed their knowledge and attitudes toward CAD-CAM technology in prosthetic dentistry. Statistical analysis software utilized in the study was the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: The responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a chi-square test was used to study the association between knowledge and practice and the study year level. A total of 170 students participated in the study, with a mean age of 22.2 (±2.5) years. The proportion of female participants was 65.9% and the proportion of males was 34.1%. Knowledge varied across academic levels, with fourth- and fifth-year students demonstrating greater theoretical knowledge, while sixth-year students and interns showed more practical experience. Only 3 of the 18 knowledge-related questions received a correct response rate above 70%. Most participants (86%) reported acquiring knowledge from undergraduate courses, and 88% expressed interest in further training. Conclusions: CAD-CAM technology was most commonly practiced for fixed prostheses, and intraoral scanning was the most frequently used digital work-flow. The study highlights the need to improve CAD-CAM education. While lower-level students displayed solid theoretical knowledge, advanced students benefitted from more practical exposure. Increasing hands-on experience and access to digital equipment is essential for preparing students to meet the demands of modern digitalized dentistry. Full article

This paper presents methods for a UAV-based survey of the site “Kuklica” near Kratovo, North Macedonia. Kuklica is a rare natural complex with earth pyramids, and because of its exceptional scientific, educational, touristic, and cultural significance, it was proclaimed to be a Natural Monument in 2008. However, after the proclamation, the interest in visiting this site and the threats in terms of its potential degradation rapidly grew, increasing the need for a detailed survey of the site and monitoring. Given the site’s small size (0.5 km²), the freely available satellite images and digital elevation models are not suitable for comprehensive analysis and monitoring of the site, especially in terms of the individual forms within the site. Instead, new tools are increasingly being used for such tasks, including UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). Since professional LiDAR is very expensive and still not readily available, we used a low-cost UAV (DJI Mini 4 Pro) to carry out a detailed survey. First, the flight path, the altitude of the UAV, the camera angle, and the photo recording intervals were precisely planned and defined. Also, the ground markers (checkpoints) were carefully selected. Then, the photos taken by the drone were aligned and processed using Agisoft Metashape software (v. 2.1.4), producing a digital elevation model and orthophoto imagery with a very high (sub-decimeter) resolution. Following this procedure, more than 140 earth pyramids were delineated, ranging in height from 1 to 2 m and to 30 m at their highest. At this stage, a very accurate UAV-based 3D model of the most remarkable earth pyramids was developed (the accuracy was checked using the iPhone 14 Pro LiDAR module), and their morphometrical properties were calculated. Also, the site’s erosion rate and flash flood potential were calculated, showing high susceptibility to both. The final goal was to monitor the changes and to minimize the degradation of the unique landscape, thus better protecting the geosite and its value. Full article