Search Results (5,378)

Interventions on Heritage Buildings (HBs) involve significant challenges due to their tangible (embodied in the material, architectural, physical and technical integrity of the cultural asset), and intangible values (linked to socio-historical–cultural and collective identity, memory, customs and symbols meanings), which must be preserved while also adapting to current sustainability and circular economy goals. However, current conservation and management practices often lack systematic tools to trace, assess, and organise material and component information, hindering the implementation of circular strategies. In line with the European Union’s objectives for climate neutrality and resource efficiency and sufficiency, Material and Product Passports (MPPs) have emerged as digital tools that enhance data traceability, interoperability and transparency throughout a building’s lifecycle. This paper examines the potential of MPPs to support circular management of HBs by analysing the structure of MPPs and outlining the information flows generated by rehabilitation, maintenance and adaptive reuse strategies. A mixed methods approach, combining literature review and data structure analysis, is adopted to identify how the different categories of data produced during maintenance, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse processes can be integrated into MPP modules. The research highlights the conceptual opportunities of MPPs to document and interlink historical, cultural, and technical data, thereby improving decision-making and transparency across intervention stages. The analysis suggests that adapting MPPs to the specificities of historic contexts, such as authenticity preservation, reversibility, and contextual sensitivity, can foster innovative, sustainable, and circular practices in the conservation and management of HBs. Full article

While drill music is often talked about in relation to crime, it is often overlooked as an art form and cultural practice. Consequently, its artists are rarely heard from. To address this societal and academic gap, we have conducted in-depth interviews with ten UK artists from this genre and subculture. This article presents the shared meanings these UK drill artists attach to the motivation to make their own music, the music subgenre and its culture, and its ongoing criminalisation. We do so by conceptualising these meanings as counter-narratives. The article departs from the observation that these counter-narratives present themselves in drill, as a form of expression, on two dimensions: drill as the outcome of intra-group expression of emotions and social relations, and as the platform to engage with social injustice on the inter-group level. An interdisciplinary theoretical framework, combining psychological insights on needs, philosophical cues on (mis)recognition, and the lens intersectionality, allows us to study and bridge these two dimensions. We identify twelve counter-narratives that were validated by a majority of respondents. The study, besides analysing these in-depth counter-narratives, also foregrounds UK drill artists’ agency generally absent from both societal and academic discourse. Full article

Digital transformation is crucial for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as it enhances organizational efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness by enabling process automation, cost reduction, and faster decision-making. It also allows for SMEs to leverage emerging technologies, improve customer engagement, and access new markets, thereby fostering innovation and sustainable growth. The proposed study aims to reveal the most significant aspects regarding the digital transformation in the SME business environment. Even though the concept of digital transformation has gained much research interest, SMEs still face significant obstacles, including limited financial resources, a shortage of skilled personnel, and resistance to change within organizational culture. A systematic literature review on the digital transformation of SMEs was conducted to reveal the enablers and obstacles encountered by these businesses in their pursuit of digital maturity. This review underscores the importance of human resources and digital maturity, emphasizing the need for a digitally skilled workforce and a culture of continuous learning. The results can enforce future research on this subject and could focus on the relationship between digital transformation and organizational performance, the role of digital entrepreneurship, and the long-term effects of digital transformation, providing valuable insights to help SMEs navigate the complexities of digital transformation and achieve sustainable growth. Full article

This comprehensive review examines pathogens affecting adult anadromous Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) during their terminal freshwater migration and spawning across populations from California through Alaska, including Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. We systematically reviewed selected pathogens based on their significance to adult salmon health or role in epizootiology, categorizing them by their impact on prespawn mortality (PSM), disease severity, and maternal or ‘egg-associated’ transmission risks to progeny. Our analysis encompasses macroparasites, microparasites, bacteria, and viruses affecting anadromous Pink (O. gorbuscha), Chum (O. keta), Coho (O. kisutch), Sockeye (O. nerka), and Chinook Salmon (O. tshawytscha) and Steelhead Trout (O. mykiss), integrating extensive literature analysis with direct field observations and case studies from representative geographic regions. Understanding pathogen impacts during the spawning life stage is crucial for salmon population sustainability, as the unique semelparous nature of Pacific salmon makes this terminal phase critical for reproductive success and the continuation of these ecologically, economically, and culturally vital species. Full article

Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—framed around social, environmental, and governance dimensions—offers societies across the world the possibility of achieving long-term prosperity and ensuring that future generations enjoy a high quality of life. Governments pursue the 17 SDGs in accordance with their own socioeconomic and cultural contexts, institutional capacities, and available resources. Because countries differ substantially in structure and capability, their progress toward these goals varies, making the systematic measurement and analysis of SDG performance essential for appropriate timing and efficient resource allocation. This study proposes a hybrid assessment system to evaluate the sustainable development performance of upper-middle-income developing countries under both fuzzy and non-fuzzy environments. This integrated evaluation system consists of four main stages. In the first stage, evaluation criteria and alternative countries are specified, relevant data are obtained, and an initial decision matrix is developed. In the second stage, an efficiency analysis is conducted to identify countries that are efficient and those that are not. In the third stage, evaluation criteria are weighted using AHP and Fuzzy AHP methods. In the final stage, the TOPSIS and Fuzzy TOPSIS methods are used to rank efficient countries depending on sustainable development performance criteria. As a result, six countries were identified as inefficient countries based on sustainable development: China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Paraguay, Namibia and Turkmenistan. The AHP and Fuzzy AHP methods produced similar criterion weight values compared to each other. The criteria were prioritized from most important to least one as follows: Life expectancy, expected years of schooling, mean years of schooling, gross national income per capita, CO₂ emissions per capita, and material footprint per capita. While some countries achieved similar rankings using the TOPSIS and Fuzzy TOPSIS methods, most countries achieved different rankings because of the multidimensional nature of sustainable development. When the rankings obtained from the fuzzy and non-fuzzy approaches were compared, a noticeable level of overlap was observed, with a Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient of 68.73%. However, the fuzzy TOPSIS method is considered more reliable for assessing sustainable development performance due to its ability to handle data uncertainty, imprecision, and the multidimensional nature of SDG indicators. The results of this study demonstrate that analyses related to sustainable development, which may not contain precise and clear values and have a complex structure encompassing many areas such as social, environmental, and governance, should preferably be conducted within a fuzzy logic framework to ensure more robust and credible evaluations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Even with solid proof of its benefits for cardiovascular health and metabolism, adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) in Spain has noticeably declined in recent years. The socioeconomic changes occurring in recent decades have prompted shifts in cooking habits and in how food is socially experienced, particularly among children and adolescents. The MD is more than just food: it is a cultural tradition and a lifestyle, rich in food and cooking skills, and food wisdom passed down over generations. When these practices fade, it affects both health and the environment, making them vital components in strengthening support for food knowledge, cooking abilities, and a healthier lifestyle. Considering these shifting dietary patterns and the growing need for targeted educational strategies, the present study aimed to investigate the association between cooking skills, MD-related health literacy, and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet across different developmental stages: childhood, adolescence, and adulthood in a sample of the Spanish population. Additionally, a secondary objective was to identify potential critical windows for intervention based on the strength of these associations. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 832 Spanish participants grouped by age: children and early adolescents (n = 408), older adolescents (n = 136), and adults (n = 288). Cooking skills were assessed using CooC11 for children and FCSk for older groups. Adults also completed Lit_MEDiet to assess MD-related health literacy. Adherence was measured with KIDMED (children/adolescents) and MEDAS (adults). Spearman correlations and standardized linear regressions were used. All statistical tests were two-sided, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: In children, no significant association was found between cooking skills (CooC11) and KIDMED scores (β = 0.008; p = 0.875). Among adolescents, a strong positive association emerged between FCSk and KIDMED (β = 0.313; p < 0.001; ρ = 0.371), indicating a large, standardized effect and suggesting that this stage is particularly sensitive to food skills. In adults (18+), both food and cooking skills (FCSk) (β = 0.189; p = 0.001) and MD-related health literacy (Lit_MEDiet) (β = 0.187; p = 0.004) were moderately associated with MEDAS scores. Conclusions: These findings suggest that mid-adolescence could represent a favourable developmental window where food skills may hold potential to influence positive dietary behaviours. Regarding adults, the results indicate that combining practical and educational components appears to beneficial for dietary quality. Overall, this study supports the relevance of age-tailored public health strategies to potentially enhance long-term adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. Full article

The ideals of community and collective action are key tenets of the environmental justice (EJ) movement. Yet the pervasive grind culture that underpins capitalist societies makes it challenging to embrace these core values. EJ convenings are organized by a variety of entities, including grassroots organizations, government agencies, environmental non-governmental agencies, and academic institutions, and often reflect the tone of the organizing entity. This work explores the impact of a community and academic partnered EJ summit in addressing ecological grief (eco-grief) and ecological anxiety (eco-anxiety), supporting collective action, and attending to healing justice. We interviewed thirteen participants who attended the 2024 Pittsburgh Environmental Justice Summit using semi-structured, open-ended questions. Drawing on insights from lived experiences with the environment and environmental harms, we sought to understand how participants perceived EJ, health, and healing, as well as the role of summits and community efforts in shaping these perspectives. Emotional impacts like eco-grief, eco-anxiety, and intergenerational trauma were other common themes established through the interviews. Despite negative emotions being more commonly expressed than positive emotions, hope emerged as the most widely expressed theme. The summit was viewed as a space for reflection, support, establishing new contacts, and promoting growth and resilience. The results underscore the importance of integrating emotional and psychological aspects into EJ frameworks as well as the value of community-based approaches that combine EJ and healing practices to foster resilience, promote equitable health outcomes, and cultivate hope through collective action and support. Full article

Droplet microarrays are increasingly used for miniaturized, high-throughput biochemical assays, yet their fabrication commonly relies on complex lithographic processes, custom masks, or specialized coatings. Here we present a simple method for generating hydrophilic arrays on hydrophobic plastic substrates by combining ultrasonic atomization with off-the-shelf perforated masks. A fine mist of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution is directed through commercial diamond sieves onto polypropylene (PP) sheets and polystyrene (PS) sheets, forming hydrophilic spots surrounded by the native hydrophobic background. Static contact angle measurements confirm a strong local contrast in wettability (from 100.85 ± 0.91° on untreated PP to 39.96 ± 0.71° on patterned spots, from 95.68 ± 3.61° on untreated PS to 52.00 ± 0.85° on patterned spots), while Image analysis shows droplet CVs of 6–8% in aqueous dye solutions for 1.2–2.0 mm masks; in complex media (LB), droplet uniformity decreases. By mounting the moving mask on a motorized stage, we generate one-dimensional reagent gradients simply by controlling the moving mask motion during atomization. We further demonstrate biological compatibility by culturing Escherichia coli in LB droplets containing resazurin, and by performing localized antibiotic screening using a moving mask-guided streptomycin gradient. The resulting droplet-wise viability data yield an on-chip dose–response curve with an IC₅₀ of 5.1 µg · mL⁻¹ (95% CI: 4.5–5.6 µg·mL⁻¹), obtained from a single array. Covering droplets with Electronic Fluorinated Fluid maintains volumes within 5% of their initial value over 24 h. Compared with conventional droplet microarray fabrication, the proposed method eliminates custom mask production and cleanroom steps, is compatible with standard plastic labware, and intrinsically supports spatial gradients. These attributes make masked ultrasonic atomization a practical platform for high-throughput microfluidic assays, especially in resource-limited settings. Full article

Traditional villages are vital carriers of cultural heritage and key foundations for rural revitalization and sustainable development, yet rapid urbanization increasingly threatens their survival, making it necessary to clarify their spatial distribution and driving mechanisms to support effective conservation and rational utilization. Yunnan Province, home to 777 nationally recognized traditional villages and the highest number in China, offers a representative context for such analysis. Methodologically, this study uses a 12 km × 12 km geographic grid (3005 cells) rather than administrative units. The count of catalogued traditional villages in each cell is taken as the dependent variable, and nine indicators selected from five dimensions (traffic accessibility, natural topography, climatic conditions, socioeconomic factors, and historical and cultural factors) serve as explanatory variables. Assuming that relationships between villages and their environment are spatially nonstationary and operate at multiple spatial scales, we combine spatial autocorrelation analysis with a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model to detect clustering patterns and estimate location-specific coefficients and bandwidths. The results indicate that: (1) traditional villages in Yunnan exhibit significant clustering, with over 60% concentrated in Dali, Baoshan, Honghe, and Lijiang; (2) the spatial pattern follows a “more in the northwest, fewer in the southeast, dense in mountainous areas” distribution, shaped by both natural and socioeconomic factors; (3) natural geographic factors show the strongest associations, with sunshine duration and water availability strongly promoting village presence, while slope exhibits regionally differentiated effects; (4) socioeconomic development and transportation accessibility are generally negatively associated with village distribution, but in tourism-driven areas such as Dali and Lijiang, road improvements have facilitated protection and revitalization; and (5) historical and cultural factors, particularly proximity to nationally protected cultural heritage sites, contribute to spatial clustering and long-term preservation. The MGWR model achieves strong explanatory power (R² = 0.555, adjusted R² = 0.495) and outperforms OLS and standard GWR, confirming its suitability for analyzing the spatial mechanisms of traditional villages. Finally, the study offers targeted recommendations for the conservation and sustainable development of traditional villages in Yunnan. Full article

A global interest in the cultivation of Kalibaus (Labeo calbasu) has emerged due to decreasing natural stocks and a consistent rise in market value and demand. Given these concerns, understanding the species’ physiological responses to environmental changes is crucial. The present research aimed to assess the effect of varying environmental temperatures on metabolism, haemato-biochemical indices, hormonal concentrations and immune responses in L. calbasu. This study was conducted in triplicate using 100 L glass aquariums at four different temperatures: 22, 26, 30, and 34 °C. The highest weight and length gain were observed at 30 °C, while the lowest occurred at 22 °C. Notably, the best feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.51 ± 0.03 was also recorded at 30 °C. Although haematological and biochemical parameters remained within normal ranges, they varied with temperature changes. Indicators of cold and heat stress were evident through lower hematocrit levels and higher white blood cell (WBC) counts. Biochemical indicators such as serum albumin (1.84 ± 0.05 g dL⁻¹), serum globulin (1.64 ± 0.06 gdL⁻¹), HCO₃ (30.93 ± 0.62), Na⁺ (115.60 ± 3.72 mmolL⁻¹), alkaline phosphatase (93.33 ± 9.39 AP, IUL⁻¹), and AST/SGOT (21.00 ± 4.55 UL⁻¹) were significantly higher at 30 °C. Regarding hormonal responses, peak levels of growth hormone (GH), triiodothyronine (T3) (1.44 ± 0.07 ngmL⁻¹), and thyroxine (T4) were recorded at 30 °C. Meanwhile, serum cortisol (1.62 ± 0.06 µgdL⁻¹) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (18.01 ± 3.26 pgmL⁻¹) were highest at 34 °C. Immune responses were strongest between 26 and 30 °C. In conclusion, the results suggest that L. calbasu should ideally be cultured between 26 and 30 °C for optimum growth and health, making it ideal for commercial farming. Full article

New nano-biomaterials for specific dentistry applications have been developed thanks to contributions from materials science. The present work aims to characterize the physicochemical properties of a composite nanomaterial scaffold in block form for maxillofacial bone regeneration applications. The scaffold was composed of block-shaped elements and consisted of a mixture of nano-hydroxyapatite, β-tricalcium phosphate, and type I collagen of bovine origin. Collagen I molecule is biodegradable, biocompatible, easily available, and a natural bone matrix component. The biomaterial was analyzed using a range of methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), chemical composition microanalysis, and X-Ray diffractometry (XRD). The wettability was measured. This was carried out by measuring the contact angle of a 0.9% NaCl solution on the surface. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to measure the phase transformation temperatures. In the SEM and TEM analyses, it was possible to identify the layers of the materials and, with microanalysis, quantify their chemical composition. The XRD spectra showed the presence of nano-hydroxyapatite and ß-TCP. Wettability testing revealed that the material is highly hydrophilic, and BM-MSC culture analyses demonstrated that the biomaterial can promotes cell adhesion and interaction. The higher wettability is due to the higher density of the porous material observed in the SEM analysis. The results of the DSC testing showed that the sample analyzed undergoes endothermic transitions and transformation between 25 and 150 °C. The first phase transformation during heating occurs at 61.1 °C, which is above body temperature. The findings demonstrated that the composite was devoid of any contamination arising from manufacturing processes. It can be concluded that the n-HA/β-TCP and type 1 collagen are free of manufacturing contaminants. They also have high wettability, which increases the spreading of body fluids on the biomaterial’s surface and its interactions with cells and proteins. This makes them suitable for clinical application. Full article

Organ-on-a-Chip (OOC) platforms are microfluidic systems that recreate key features of human organ physiology in vitro via controlled perfusion. Fluid mechanical stimuli strongly influence cell morphology and function, making this important for cardiovascular OOC applications exposed to pulsatile blood flow. However, many existing OOC devices employ relatively simple chamber geometries and steady inflow assumptions, which may cause non-uniform shear exposure to cells, create stagnant regions with prolonged residence time, and overlook the specific effects of pulsatile perfusion. Here, we used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate how chamber geometry and inflow conditions shape the near-wall flow environment on a cell culture surface at a matched cycle-averaged volumetric flow rate. Numerical results demonstrated that pillarized chambers markedly reduced relative residence time (RRT) versus the flat chamber, and the small pillar configuration produced the most uniform time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) distribution among the tested designs. Phase-resolved analysis further showed that wall shear stress varies with waveform phase, indicating that steady inflow may not capture features of pulsatile perfusion. These findings provide practical guidance for pillar geometries and perfusion conditions to create more controlled and physiologically relevant microenvironments in OOC platforms, thus improving the reliability of cell experimental readouts. Full article

The decision-making process for the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage requires the evaluation of multiple criteria because of its multifaceted structure. The criteria determined through a literature review were weighted by experts and ranked according to their degree of importance via the DEMATEL method, which is a multicriteria decision-making technique. This study, conducted by integrating the importance levels of the criteria determined by the DEMATEL method with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques, was applied to Yediocak Primary School, one of the significant buildings in Osmaniye, affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Pazarcık Earthquake and heavily damaged during the event. The DEMATEL analysis demonstrated that economic value, regional potential, and compatibility with the new function are the primary cause-group criteria, whereas architectural, cultural, and social values are predominantly situated within the effect group. The spatial assessment yielded a low suitability score for the current primary school function (0.3954). The hybrid DEMATEL + GIS index (0.2598) confirmed that a building’s reuse as a high-occupancy school is constrained by seismic risk, its position on a heavily trafficked corridor, and relatively limited access to healthcare and emergency assembly areas. This study aimed to establish a new framework for the adaptive reuse of historic buildings. Full article

Objectives/Background: In this study, we aimed to examine the associations of participation in leisure dance activity with perceived health status, happiness level, and perceptions of leisure, and the relevance of demographic characteristics to these associations. Moreover, we sought to explore ways of revitalizing leisure dance activity. Methods: We used data from the 2022 Korea National Leisure Activity Survey organized by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The 2022 Korea National Leisure Activity Survey was conducted from September to November 2022. The survey was conducted among 10,046 Koreans aged ≥15 who lived in 17 cities and provinces across the country. The participants were informed about the survey schedule in advance, and interviews were conducted at the participants’ homes using tablet PCs. Random telephone verification was performed on the recovered questionnaires to ensure the accuracy of responses. Questionnaires that passed the first verification were subjected to secondary verification by a computerized program, and questionnaires that did not pass the verification were supplemented and re-examined. The collected data were entered electronically through an encoding process, and only the data that passed the final test were compiled in the multi-stage verification process. The data were analyzed using frequency analysis, chi-squared tests, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 1004 participants, 655 (6.5%) participated in leisure dance activity. Women, individuals in their twenties and thirties, college graduates or those with lower-level educational qualifications, and unmarried individuals were more likely to participate in leisure dance activities. In addition, leisure dance activities were found to be likely to increase happiness levels and leisure life satisfaction, and leisure expenses were likely to be low. Conclusions: Schools should provide high-quality dance education and enhance the professionalism of physical education teachers in the management of dance classes. This is because dance-related experiences in childhood can increase the likelihood of engaging in dancing in adulthood. Efforts are also needed to increase men’s awareness of and participation in leisure dance activities and to lower barriers to entry. The convergence of dance, games, and technology can make this possible. Full article

This entry, which identifies nine paradoxes particular to popular culture in a digital society, begins by distinguishing art and culture, since scholars have historically relied on these terms to differentiate popular culture, mass culture, and mass art. Digital societies, which exist both online and offline, are awash in digital products such as LED signs, digital imagery, video games, film, podcasts, and social media. In a digital society, popular culture is effectively “mass art,” which exhibits five properties: (1) digital media’s low-cost products and low-skill tools are (2) created and distributed to appeal to as broad a cultural sector as possible (qualitative) and thus aim to (3) attract consumers (quantitative) who capably enjoy and deploy cultural content both (4) offline and online, yet “popularity” ultimately depends on (5) efforts to maximize unity and minimize fragmentation. Except for localized events, popular culture has largely disappeared, while mass art will likely flourish until human beings clamor once again for firsthand experiences or go extinct. The next frontier will be finding ways to prevent artificial intelligence from producing cultural products, not because they will be terrible, undesirable, or fake, but because the culture-making process itself engenders human wellbeing. Full article