Search Results (91)

Rapid advancements in the field of deep learning have had a profound impact on a wide range of scientific studies. This paper incorporates the power of deep neural networks to learn complex relationships in longitudinal data. The novel generative approach, Variational Deep Alliance (VaDA), is established, where an “alliance” is formed across repeated measurements via the strength of Variational Auto-Encoder. VaDA models the generating process of longitudinal data with a unified and well-structured latent space, allowing outcomes prediction, subjects clustering and representation learning simultaneously. The integrated model can be inferred efficiently within a stochastic Auto-Encoding Variational Bayes framework, which is scalable to large datasets and can accommodate variables of mixed type. Quantitative comparisons to those baseline methods are considered. VaDA shows high robustness and generalization capability across various synthetic scenarios. Moreover, a longitudinal study based on the well-known CelebFaces Attributes dataset is carried out, where we show its usefulness in detecting meaningful latent clusters and generating high-quality face images. Full article

Global climate change has emerged as a critical challenge for human society in the 21st century. As hubs of population and economic activity, urban and rural areas are increasingly exposed to complex and compounded disaster risks. To systematically evaluate the role of educational intervention in climate adaptability capacity building, this study employs a case study approach, focusing on the “Climate Change Adaptation Education and Teaching Alliance Program” launched in Taiwan in 2014. Through a comprehensive analysis of its institutional structure, curriculum, alliance network, and practical activities, the study explores the effectiveness of educational innovation in cultivating climate resilience talent. The study found that the program, through interdisciplinary collaboration and a practice-oriented teaching model, successfully integrated climate adaptability content into 57 courses, training a total of 2487 students. Project-based learning (PBL) and workshops significantly improved students’ systems thinking and practical abilities, and many of its findings were adopted by local governments. Based on these empirical results, the study proposes that urban and rural planning education should be promoted in the following ways: first, updating teaching materials to reflect regional climate characteristics and local needs; second, enhancing curriculum design by introducing core courses such as climate-resilient planning and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration; third, enriching hands-on learning through real project cases and participatory workshops; and fourth, deepening integration between education and practice by establishing multi-stakeholder partnerships supported by dedicated funding and digital platforms. Through such an innovative educational framework, we can prepare a new generation of professionals capable of supporting global sustainable development in the face of climate change. This study provides a replicable model of practice for education policymakers worldwide, particularly in promoting the integration of climate resilience education in developing countries, which can help accelerate the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG11) and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to address the global climate crisis. Full article

Amid escalating ecological degradation, social fragmentation, and rising mental health challenges—especially in rural and agricultural communities—there is an urgent need to reimagine systems that support both planetary and human flourishing. This viewpoint examines an emerging paradigm in agriculture that emphasizes the role of farmers’ inner development in fostering practices that enhance ecological health, community well-being, and a resilient food system. A key goal is to draw more academic attention to growing community calls for more holistic, relational, and spiritually grounded approaches to food systems as an important focus for ongoing research. Drawing on diverse case studies from Japan, India, and Europe, we examine how small-scale and natural farming initiatives are integrating inner development, universal human values, and ecological consciousness. These case studies were developed and/or refined through a program led by the Conscious Food Systems Alliance (CoFSA), an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that seeks to integrate inner transformation with sustainable food systems change. The initiatives are intended as illustrative examples of how agriculture can transcend its conventional, anthropocentric role as a food production system to become a site for cultivating deeper self-awareness, spiritual connection, and regenerative relationships with nature. Participants in these cases reported significant shifts in mindset—from materialistic and extractive worldviews to more relational and value-driven orientations rooted in care, cooperation, and sustainability. Core practices such as mindfulness, experiential learning, and spiritual ecology helped reframe farming as a holistic process that nurtures both land and life. These exploratory case studies suggest that when farmers are supported in aligning with inner values and natural systems, they become empowered as agents of systemic change. By linking personal growth with planetary stewardship, these models offer pathways toward more integrated, life-affirming approaches to agriculture and future academic research. Full article

This research focuses on ontology-driven conversational agents (CAs) that harness large language models (LLMs) and their mediating role in performing collective tasks and facilitating knowledge-sharing capabilities among multiple healthcare stakeholders. The research addresses how CAs can promote a therapeutic working alliance and foster trustful human–AI collaboration between emergency department (ED) stakeholders, thereby supporting collaborative tasks with healthcare professionals (HPs). The research contributes to developing a service-oriented human–AI collaborative framework (SHAICF) to promote co-creation and collaborative learning among patients, CAs, and HPs, and improve information flow procedures within the ED. The research incorporates agile heavy-weight ontology engineering methodology (OEM) rooted in the design science research method (DSRM) to construct an ontological metadata model (PEDology), which underpins the development of semantic artifacts. A customized OEM is used to address the issues mentioned earlier. The shared ontological model framework helps developers to build AI-based information systems (ISs) integrated with LLMs’ capabilities to comprehend, interpret, and respond to complex healthcare queries by leveraging the structured knowledge embedded within ontologies such as PEDology. As a result, LLMs facilitate on-demand health-related services regarding patients and HPs and assist in improving information provision, quality care, and patient workflows within the ED. Full article

Mental disorders affect nearly one billion persons worldwide, having a substantial burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches could fail to reach optimal outcomes, highlighting the need for more effective and personalized interventions. Precision psychiatry aims to address this challenge by integrating multidimensional data, ranging from genomics and epigenomics to neuroimaging and psychometric assessments, through advanced computational tools such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. This transdisciplinary approach could allow the study of biologically informed endophenotypes, improve diagnostic accuracy, and support individualized treatment strategies. Emerging technologies, including pharmaco-neuroimaging, virtual histology, and large-scale consortia, are advancing the field by elucidating the molecular and circuit-level correlates of mental disorders. Although significant progress has been made, the translational gap between research and clinical practice remains a critical issue. Effective implementation will require the systematic integration of bioinformatic tools, big data analytics, and clinician-guided interpretation, in a context in which the evolving landscape of precision psychiatry continues to prioritize therapeutic alliance and individualized patient care. Full article

Cities are increasingly using electric buses as a viable alternative to diesel buses. This is a crucial undertaking to achieve sustainability in the transport sector. However, integrating them in transport systems in developing countries such as Sri Lanka, which is characterized by environmental and economic challenges, is complex. This work examines the factors that influence the shift from diesel to electric buses with particular attention to the stakeholders, their motivations, and how they seek to achieve their objectives regarding each other, both conflicting and cooperative angles. This study adopts a comprehensive stakeholder-centric methodology to analyze electric bus adoption in the public transit system in Sri Lanka. The research employs a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative stakeholder analysis with quantitative barrier prioritization, following established project management principles. Based on the case study of Sri Lanka, the research investigates how the electric bus transition can be expedited by leveraging such alliances while considering local challenges like infrastructural deficits, policy gaps, and funding limitations. Lessons learned and best practices from international case studies are considered to provide strategic recommendations to policymakers and other stakeholders to promote the electric bus. By mapping out the interactions between various stakeholders and outlining where key leverage exists, the research provides a roadmap for introducing electric buses. This will be aligned with the sustainability targets and the vision to deliver sustainability goals for the long term. Full article

When young children come to the attention of helping professionals because they are experiencing significant behavioral or emotional challenges, effective solutions frequently involve establishing whether there are strains or ruptures in the child’s coparenting network impeding functional communication about the child. Coparenting refers to the shared—and ideally, mutual—parenting efforts of adults working together to socialize, care for, and raise children for whom they share responsibility. Among the most important aims in understanding and strengthening the family’s coparenting alliance is evaluating who the various adults are comprising the functional coparenting network. As part of a coordinated effort to provide guidance in best practices for evaluating coparenting, an International Coparenting Collaborative (ICC) has highlighted the use of a pictoral mapping tool—a child-centered ecomap—as one effective means of assessing coparental engagement and learning more about existing levels of child-related teamwork and conflict. Completed ecomaps provided by multiple coparenting adults in the same family also provide an opening to highlight and explore child focus and to facilitate pivotal information sharing among the multiple caregivers. In this article, we examine the use of child-centered ecomaps in a variety of family-centered cases seen in four different collaborating sites and services partnering in the ICC. The cases highlight the unique value of an assessment tool that goes beyond simply illuminating the nature of the child’s coparenting system to afford the interventionist with a means of refocusing coparents’ attention on the perspective of the child. Closing reflections focus on the child-centered ecomap’s advantages, both as a method for learning more about coparenting in the family and for setting a stage for subsequent child-centered work with the family through more comprehensive and nuanced case conceptualization. Full article

This study focuses on exploring the nature of inter-organizational learning and the types of knowledge that are transferred/shared between foreign multinational companies (MNCs) and their local partner firms within international interfirm alliances in developing countries, particularly those operating in the Nigerian oil industry. The aim is to identify/examine the types/quality of knowledge transfer and the viability of interfirm knowledge transfer for boosting the knowledge base and innovation capacity of the alliance partner firms, particularly of the local partner firms, in such a distinctive type of international alliances. Using a qualitative case study research method, four cases of international interfirm collaborative arrangements between foreign and local companies in the Nigerian oil industry were studied. The findings of this study show that the local partner firms in the alliances were able to access and acquire mainly technological and international market knowledge through the collaborations, but not managerial knowledge. Contrary to the extant theory/literature, the foreign partner firms did not seek to acquire local market knowledge from the local firms but clearly demonstrated “knowledge transfer willingness” that facilitated the acquisition of knowledge by the local firms in the alliances. However, the technological and international market knowledge acquired by local firms were limited to mainly the explicit dimension of the knowledge. In effect, the local partners in this study mainly acquired explicit technological and international market knowledge with limited tacit knowledge. A key implication of this finding can be a reduced ability to develop innovation capacity through alliances. This paper, therefore, highlights the necessity for an increased focus on tacit knowledge acquisition by local partner firms and the importance of utilizing appropriate learning mechanisms to achieving tacit knowledge acquisition through the collaborations. Full article

Routine Early Intervention services are an ideal context to evaluate parent-mediated intervention (PMI) delivery. While effectiveness research suggests that receiving manualized PMIs positively affects caregivers’ learning and use of intervention strategies, the impact of other aspects of delivery, such as PMI adaptation, on caregiver engagement and learning is less clear. The current study aimed to address this gap by closely characterizing the delivery and associated outcomes of an autism PMI, Project ImPACT, within an Early Intervention (EI) Part C system. In total, 21 EI providers and 23 caregivers of children with social communication delays participated. Following training in Project ImPACT, the providers submitted videos of their Project ImPACT sessions as part of routine service delivery. The sessions were behaviorally coded for Project ImPACT coaching fidelity and instances in which Project ImPACT was adapted. After each session, the caregivers rated their participatory engagement and therapeutic alliance. Before and immediately following the intervention, the caregivers also completed measures of their self-efficacy and their child’s social communication skills, and their use of Project ImPACT strategies (i.e., fidelity) was behaviorally coded. The results demonstrated that EI providers’ Project ImPACT coaching fidelity was not related to caregiver ratings of therapeutic alliance or participatory engagement at the session level. Augmenting Project ImPACT sessions was associated with higher caregiver ratings of therapeutic alliance but not with participatory engagement. Although provider coaching fidelity was not associated with changes in caregiver ratings of self-efficacy, it was associated with caregiver use of Project ImPACT strategies focused on teaching their children new skills. There was no association between provider fidelity and caregiver report of child social communication outcomes. The current study highlights the complicated relationship between the delivery of autism PMIs and caregiver-reported outcomes. The findings highlight the value of holistic delivery models that support adaptations in response to child- and family-level factors. Full article

Transdisciplinary challenge-based learning (T-CBL) has emerged as a transformative educational approach in life sciences and sustainability education, promoting the development of students as change agents. T-CBL engages learners from diverse disciplines in addressing real-life challenges—such as environmental, societal, and ethical issues—through collaboration with both academic and extra-academic actors. However, the role of coaches, who are often key academic actors within T-CBL, remains insufficiently defined and under-evaluated. In this study, 18 coaches from six T-CBL courses offered by an alliance of four Dutch universities were surveyed using a combination of baseline questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to explore their perceptions of their role within T-CBL. Coaches described their role as versatile and complex. Beyond assigning grades, they were responsible for providing feedback on group processes and individual students’ development, including self-reflection, personal goal setting, and overall well-being. Support offered by coaches primarily focused on cognitive processes and social dynamics, rather than content-specific guidance. Regarding preparation for the coaching role, most coaches reported having received no formal training and expressed feeling insufficiently prepared. The findings indicate a need for further investigation into the role of coaches in relation to other actors involved in T-CBL, with the ultimate aim of identifying factors to consider in designing T-CBL courses, including determining which actors to involve and how to prepare them for their respective roles. Full article

This article explores the implementation of a tandem course that integrates gamification and interactive teaching methods and investigates how this model affects teacher motivation and participant engagement, particularly in higher education contexts. This study also highlights the potential of tandem teaching beyond its traditional use in language learning and provides qualitative and quantitative insights into the experiences of both course participants and educators, showing how collaborative, gamified teaching strategies can inspire more effective, student-centered pedagogy. It examines how the course was developed, the outcomes in terms of teachers’ engagement and the enhancement in learning experiences, and proposes a new perspective on how education can be restructured. The study emphasizes that traditional, lecture-based teaching is no longer sufficient in engaging modern learners and teachers too. By adopting more digital, student-centered approaches, we suggest that subjects can be reimagined as more interactive and teacher–student-friendly. The main question stated in the article sounds like the following: “How does gamification and interactive teaching methodologies, like tandem course, affect teacher and participant engagement and motivation?”. To address this question, a study was conducted based on the tandem course titled “Gamification in the learning process and interactive teaching methodologies” prepared within the FORTHEM Alliance by three united universities. It was delivered online during four meetings in May 2024. Full article

The rapid neutron-capture process (r-process) is responsible for the creation of roughly half of the elements heavier than iron, including precious metals like silver, gold, and platinum, as well as radioactive elements such as thorium and uranium. Despite its importance, the nature of the astrophysical sites where the r-process occurs, and the detailed mechanisms of its formation, remain elusive. The key to resolving these mysteries lies in the study of chemical signatures preserved in ancient, metal-poor stars. These stars, which formed in the early Universe, retain the chemical fingerprints of early nucleosynthetic events and offer a unique opportunity to trace the origins of r-process elements in the early Galaxy. In this review, we explore the state-of-the-art understanding of r-process nucleosynthesis, focusing on the sites, progenitors, and formation mechanisms. We discuss the role of potential astrophysical sites such as neutron star mergers, core-collapse supernovae, magneto-rotational supernovae, and collapsars, that can play a key role in producing the heavy elements. We also highlight the importance of studying these signatures through high-resolution spectroscopic surveys, stellar archaeology, and multi-messenger astronomy. Recent advancements, such as the gravitational wave event GW170817 and detection of the r-process in the ejecta of its associated kilonovae, have established neutron star mergers as one of the confirmed sites. However, questions remain regarding whether they are the only sites that could have contributed in early epochs or if additional sources are needed to explain the signatures of r-process found in the oldest stars. Additionally, there are strong indications pointing towards additional sources of r-process-rich nuclei in the context of Galactic evolutionary timescales. These are several of the outstanding questions that led to the formation of collaborative efforts such as the R-Process Alliance, which aims to consolidate observational data, modeling techniques, and theoretical frameworks to derive better constraints on deciphering the astrophysical sites and timescales of r-process enrichment in the Galaxy. This review summarizes what has been learned so far, the challenges that remain, and the exciting prospects for future discoveries. The increasing synergy between observational facilities, computational models, and large-scale surveys is poised to transform our understanding of r-process nucleosynthesis in the coming years. Full article

In the context of accelerating digital transformation and growing sustainability imperatives, entrepreneurial ecosystems increasingly rely on open innovation and strategic collaboration to foster resilient, knowledge-driven growth. This study aims to examine how leadership behaviors and strategic alliances interact as enablers of sustainable innovation across macro (systemic), meso (organizational), and micro (individual) levels. To achieve this, this study employs a literature review, supported by bibliometric analysis, as its core methodological approach. Drawing on 86 influential publications from 1992 to 2024, two major thematic streams emerge: leadership dynamics in entrepreneurial settings and the formation and governance of strategic alliances as vehicles for innovation. The findings underscore the pivotal role of transformational and ethical leadership in cultivating trust-based inter-organizational relationships, facilitating digital knowledge sharing, and catalyzing sustainable value creation. Simultaneously, strategic alliances enhance organizational agility and innovation capacity through co-creation mechanisms, digital platforms, and crowdsourcing, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper highlights a mutually reinforcing relationship: effective leadership strategies empower alliances, while alliance participation enhances leadership capabilities through experiential learning in diverse, digitalized environments. By bridging leadership theory, open innovation practices, and digital transformation, this study offers critical insights for entrepreneurs, managers, and policymakers seeking to drive inclusive and sustainable innovation within interconnected global markets. Therefore, this study provides practical guidance for business leaders aiming to strengthen alliance performance through adaptive leadership and for policymakers seeking to foster innovation ecosystems through supportive regulatory and institutional frameworks. Full article

Background and Objectives: Cervical cancer remains a critical public health challenge in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), where systemic barriers have hindered prevention efforts. This descriptive regional study evaluates progress toward achieving Target 1 of the WHO Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination—vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15—in 17 countries and territories. The research is situated within the context of the Regional Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention in EECA, a multi-stakeholder platform launched by UNFPA in 2021 to accelerate regional progress toward WHO targets. The Alliance supports countries through technical collaboration, shared learning, and political engagement. Therefore, as a secondary endpoint, the study explores possible correlations between national achievements and the post-2021 scale-up efforts supported by the Alliance. Methods: A standardized questionnaire, consolidated by United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) technical experts, was disseminated in November 2024 to 17 national focal points, yielding 19 responses due to disaggregated submissions from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The survey collected data on HPV vaccination policies, delivery models, vaccine type, target populations, and coverage. Results: By late 2024, six countries had implemented HPV vaccination before 2021, while six more launched programs after the Regional Alliance’s formation in 2021. Coverage varied widely, from 0.2% in Brčko District to 99.3% in Uzbekistan. Most countries targeted girls aged 9–14, with increasing male inclusion and catch-up cohorts. Gardasil 4 was the most used vaccine, though Gardasil 9 is gaining ground. School-based and hybrid delivery strategies were associated with significantly higher coverage (p = 0.0121). Inferential analysis also showed significant variation by vaccine type (p = 0.0067) and a positive correlation with program maturity (ρ = 0.52, p = 0.067). However, findings should be interpreted considering limitations including reliance on self-reported country data and absence of independent validation. Conclusions: The results offer actionable insights into delivery models, gender inclusion, and regional disparities—supporting efforts to close the gap toward 2030 elimination targets in EECA Countries. Full article

While research on psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) continues to show promise, challenges in its clinical application persist. One relevant domain includes how supervision might enhance both client and trainee outcomes. Current data suggest that, despite supervisor reports and the enthusiasm of trainees, supervision accounts for extraordinarily little variance in treatment outcome. We propose that as supervisors model relevant skills, these skills can also improve in the therapist, which should lead to enhanced alliances and improved self-care for the client, trainee, and supervisor. Thus, we propose a model of supervision that rests on key Motivational Interviewing (MI) principles and supports the integration process—a pivotal phase of PAT where clients translate psychedelic-induced insights into meaningful behavioral change. This Motivational-Interviewing-Enhanced Integration Supervision (MIE-IS) model bridges the gap between psychedelic experiences and personal growth by ensuring supervisors can effectively encourage trainees to support their clients through this crucial integration process. Supervisors would model the use of MI with trainees in supervision, who would, in turn, apply those same MI technical and relational skills to support clients’ integration experiences. Beyond enhancing client outcomes, this supervisory model could also increase each trainee’s motivation to personally engage with wellness-promoting integration behaviors, potentially enhancing professional development and minimizing burnout. By reinforcing a culture of self-care and reflective practice, this model might inspire better self-care in supervisors as well. By fostering an MI-informed supervisory relationship, the model promotes a culture of continuous learning and skill development, benefiting clients through the effective and meaningful integration of their psychedelic experiences. Full article