Search Results (537)

The sustainable integration of technology into educational practices is pivotal for modern teaching and learning. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study explores the psychological and contextual factors that influence technology acceptance among pre-service and in-service teachers. Employing a nonexperimental, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 347 participants to examine the relationships between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward use, behavioural intention, and actual system use. Results indicate that pre-service teachers demonstrate stronger openness to technology adoption, driven primarily by attitudinal factors, whereas in-service teachers’ acceptance is more closely linked to perceived utility and usability. This study advances the TAM by integrating a dual serial mediation model and testing the moderating role of professional status, thereby offering a nuanced understanding of sustainable digital engagement across career stages. Our findings underscore the importance of fostering positive perceptions and providing differentiated support throughout teachers’ professional trajectories to achieve long-term, meaningful technology adoption in education. Full article

Sustainable building design is significantly impacted by the local climate response knowledge ingrained in traditional architecture. However, its integration and dissemination with contemporary green technologies are limited by the absence of a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the regulation of its humid and temperature environment. The Ganzhou Wei family compound from China’s wind–heat environmental regulation systems are examined in this study. We statistically evaluate the synergy between spatial morphology, material qualities, and microclimate using field data with Thsware and Ecotect software in a multiscale simulation framework. The findings indicate that the compound’s special design greatly controls the thermal and wind conditions. Cold alleyways and courtyards work together to maximize thermal environment regulation and encourage natural ventilation. According to quantitative studies, courtyards with particular depths (1–4 m) and height-to-width ratios (e.g., 1:1) reduce wind speed loss. A cool alley (5:1 height–width ratio) creates a dynamic wind–speed–temperature–humidity balance by lowering summer daytime temperatures by 2.5 °C. It also serves as a “cold source area” that moderates temperatures in the surrounding area by up to 2.1 °C. This study suggests a quantitative correlation model based on “spatial morphology–material performance–microclimate response,” which offers a technical route for historic building conservation renovation and green renewal, as well as a scientific foundation for traditional buildings to maintain thermal comfort under low energy consumption. Although based on a specific geographical case, the innovative analytical methods and strategies of this study are of great theoretical and practical significance for promoting the modernization and transformation of traditional architecture, low-carbon city construction, and sustainable building design. Full article

Background: Digital platforms and inclusive leadership are pivotal in modern healthcare, influencing organizational performance and patient outcomes. Despite the growing adoption of these factors, their combined impact on leadership effectiveness and patient care remains insufficiently understood. Prior research has primarily examined digital technology or leadership inclusivity separately, lacking integrative studies that address their joint effect on healthcare outcomes. There is a need to explore how these variables interact to improve leadership and patient-related metrics. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 250 participants, including healthcare leaders, professionals, and patients, using structured questionnaires. The data analysis involved multiple regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to examine the direct and hierarchical relationships among digital platform usage, leadership inclusivity, leadership effectiveness, and patient outcomes. Results: Leadership inclusivity showed a significant positive effect on leadership effectiveness (β = 0.16, p < 0.01) and patient satisfaction (β = 0.09, p < 0.05). Digital platform usage demonstrated a smaller but positive association with leadership effectiveness (β = 0.04) and patient satisfaction (β = 0.03). Leadership effectiveness was found to correlate moderately with patient safety (β = 0.23) and treatment efficacy (β = 0.25), with minimal organizational-level effects. Conclusions: This study uniquely integrates the adoption of digital technology with inclusive leadership, highlighting their synergistic influence on healthcare delivery. It advances the existing literature by providing quantitative evidence on how these elements interact to shape leadership and patient care outcomes. Full article

Background: Telehealth is an essential component of modern healthcare, and it was especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic, but disparities in digital and technological literacy among health professionals may limit its equitable adoption and impact. Objective: This study seeks to validate an eight-item telehealth literacy survey among health professionals in Central–South Chile and to examine demographic and behavioral determinants of literacy levels, developing predictive models to identify key factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2182 health professionals from urban and rural centers in Central–South Chile completed the adapted survey along with questions on age, gender, nationality, and frequency of telehealth use. We assessed internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), explored factor structure via exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and tested associations using Pearson correlations, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and both linear and multinomial logistic regressions. Results: The instrument demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.92) and a two-factor structure explaining 65% of variance. Age negatively correlated with literacy (r = −0.26; p < 0.001), while the frequency of telehealth use showed a positive correlation (r = 0.26; p < 0.001). Female professionals and those in urban settings scored significantly higher on telehealth literacy (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively). The reduced multinomial model achieved moderate classification accuracy (51.65%) in distinguishing low, medium, and high literacy groups. Conclusions: The validated survey is a reliable tool for assessing telehealth literacy among health professionals in Chile. The findings highlight age, gender, and geographic disparities, and support targeted digital literacy interventions to promote equitable telehealth practice. Full article

The construction and development of digital infrastructure have emerged as a crucial indicator of national competitiveness, which holds significant importance in driving the sustained growth of the national economy and the comprehensive advancement of society. This paper explores the impact of digital infrastructure on farm households’ scale management, aiming to reveal the role and potential of digital technology in agricultural modernization. Additionally, it seeks to offer a scientific foundation for the government to formulate agricultural policies and advance agricultural modernization. Using the OLS (Ordinary Least Squares) model, moderating effect model, and other methods, this study investigates how digital infrastructure affects farm households’ scale management based on micro-level research data of 2510 farm households from the CRRS (China Rural Revitalization Survey). The following conclusions are drawn: Firstly, the enhancement of digital infrastructure can motivate farm households to expand the land management area and increase the unit output of land. Secondly, farm households’ digital literacy positively moderates the effect of digital infrastructure on their land unit output; moreover, digital skills training for farm households exhibits a positive moderating effect on the influence of digital infrastructure on their management area. Finally, there is a heterogeneity in the impact of digital infrastructure on farm households’ scale management. Specifically, the promotion of farm households’ scale management is stronger in plain areas and weaker in hilly and mountainous areas; stronger for middle-aged and older and small-scale farm households; and weaker for youth groups and large-scale farm households. Based on this, this paper suggests increasing the investment in digital infrastructure construction, improving farm households’ digital literacy, carrying out digital skills training, and formulating differentiated regional policies for reference. Full article

This paper focuses on the complex dynamics that concern assembly line balance in the context of mass customization within manufacturing. In fact, the increase in demand for customized products has heightened the complexities associated with achieving optimal efficiency, productivity, product quality, and customer satisfaction. The research proposes a multi-criteria analysis of statistical methods to determine the fluctuation of parameters affecting the state of balance of an assembly line. A 3D matrix model is suggested to analyze the parameters managing the assembly line. This representation is executed using the MATLAB R2024b tool, and a methodology for finding the variability of parameters affecting balance through statistical approaches is proposed. We observed that changes in parameters such as task times, worker efficiency, or material flow led to significant changes in the line’s overall balance. As a result, static balancing becomes inadequate to deal with the complexities introduced by these highly variable parameters. The novelty of this paper consists of the innovative integration of multi-criteria statistical analysis and 3D matrix modeling to detect parameter variability and optimize assembly line balancing. Conventional static approaches are often unable to capture the process-dynamic aspect of modern manufacturing. This work presents a systematic methodology capable of identifying, quantifying, and moderating the variability of key operating parameters. This methodology, carried out using MATLAB-based simulations, is based on principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis to detect critical factors influencing balancing efficiency. By structuring assembly line parameters in a 3D matrix representation, this research gives a holistic, data-based method for improving decision-making in balancing procedures. The research goes beyond theoretical modeling by applying the approach to a real automotive assembly line, validating its effectiveness and demonstrating its practical applicability in industrial conditions. Full article

Oases in arid regions are critical ecosystems, providing essential ecological, agricultural, and socio-economic functions. However, urbanization and climate change increasingly threaten their sustainability. This study examines land cover (LULC) and land surface temperature (LST) dynamics in four representative North African oases: Tolga (Algeria), Nefta (Tunisia), Ghadames (Libya), and Siwa (Egypt) over the period 2000–2023, using Landsat satellite imagery. A three-step analysis was employed: calculation of NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), NDBI (Normalized Difference Built-up Index), and LST, followed by supervised land cover classification and statistical tests to examine the relationships between the studied variables. The results reveal substantial reductions in bare soil (e.g., 48.10% in Siwa) and notable urban expansion (e.g., 136.01% in Siwa and 48.46% in Ghadames). Vegetation exhibited varied trends, with a slight decline in Tolga (0.26%) and a significant increase in Siwa (+27.17%). LST trends strongly correlated with land cover changes, demonstrating increased temperatures in urbanized areas and moderated temperatures in vegetated zones. Notably, this study highlights that traditional urban designs integrated with dense palm groves significantly mitigate thermal stress, achieving lower LST compared to modern urban expansions characterized by sparse, heat-absorbing surfaces. In contrast, areas dominated by fragmented vegetation or seasonal crops exhibited reduced cooling capacity, underscoring the critical role of vegetation type, spatial arrangement, and urban morphology in regulating oasis microclimates. Preserving palm groves, which are increasingly vulnerable to heat-driven pests, diseases and the introduction of exotic species grown for profit, together with a revival of the traditional compact urban fabric that provides shade and has been empirically confirmed by other oasis studies to moderate the microclimate more effectively than recent low-density extensions, will maintain the crucial synergy between buildings and vegetation, enhance the cooling capacity of these settlements, and safeguard their tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Full article

The rapid advancement of digital information technology in rural China has positioned smart agro-rural development as a key driver of agricultural modernization. This study focuses on the theme of digital rural construction (DRC) and high-quality agricultural development (HAD), combining the two into smart agriculture and rural development. Utilizing panel data from 31 Chinese provinces from 2011 to 2022, a comprehensive evaluation index system is constructed to assess development levels. The entropy weight method and kernel density estimation are employed to evaluate indicator performance and capture dynamic distribution patterns. A coupling coordination model is used to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution of the interaction between the two systems, while a hybrid SD-LSTM (System Dynamics–Long Short-Term Memory) model forecasts coordination trends over the next six years. Results reveal a steady upward trend in both systems, with coordination levels improving from “moderate imbalance” to “moderate coordination.” A distinct spatial pattern emerges, characterized by “high in the east, low in the west” and a mismatch between high coupling and low coordination. Forecasts suggest a continued progression toward “good coordination.” The findings offer policy implications for enhancing digital village initiatives, accelerating rural technological diffusion, and strengthening regional collaboration—providing valuable insights into advancing China’s smart rural transformation and agricultural modernization. Full article

The realization of forest ecological functions value is an important path for implementing the “Two Mountains” theory. Improving the efficiency of forest ecological functions and benefits value realization faces several challenges, such as an underdeveloped value evaluation system that makes it difficult to quantify ecological value, a weak policy system lacking effective incentive mechanisms, and unclear ecological property rights leading to unfair benefits distribution. Forest new quality productive drivers are a key factor in promoting high-quality forestry development, and can effectively address several issues hindering the efficiency of forest ecological functions and benefits value realization. Forest ecological functions and benefits are divided into tangible forest products and intangible ecological services, with the efficiency of realizing their economic and welfare values reflecting the input–output status of forest ecological value. This paper constructs an indicator system for assessing the modern productive capacity in forestry and the efficiency of forest ecological value realization, and uses a two-stage network DEA model and a double fixed effects model for empirical analysis. The study finds that the advanced drivers of forestry productivity significantly enhance the efficiency of forest ecological economic value realization but constrain the efficiency of ecological welfare value realization, with significant regional differences. As a moderating variable, enhancing the resilience of the industry chain can significantly deepen the effect throughout the process, while improving the informatization level of residents can weaken the constraints of forest new quality productive drivers on the efficiency of forest ecological welfare value realization. Therefore, this paper offers targeted recommendations aimed at providing theoretical support and practical guidance for optimizing the efficiency of forest ecological value realization. Full article

Modern fighter aircraft have an increasing need for at least a moderate level of stealth, and the shape design must bear a part of this constraint. However, the high frequency of close range radar makes high-fidelity radar cross-section computation methods such as the boundary element method too expensive to use in a gradient-free optimization process. On the other hand, asymptotic methods are not able to accurately predict the RCS of complex shapes such as intake cavities. Hence, the need arises for efficient and accurate methods to compute the gradient of high-fidelity radar cross-section computation methods with respect to shape parameters. In this paper, we propose an adjoint formulation for the boundary element method to efficiently compute these gradients. We present a novel approach to calculate the gradient of high-fidelity radar cross-section computations using the boundary element method. Our method employs an adjoint formulation that allows for the efficient computation of these gradients. This is particularly beneficial in shape optimization problems where accurate and efficient methods are crucial to designing modern fighter aircraft with stealth capabilities. By avoiding the need for solving the actual adjoint problem in certain cases, our formulation provides a more streamlined solution while still maintaining high accuracy. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method by performing shape optimization on various shapes, including simple geometries like spheres and ellipsoids, as well as complex aircraft shapes with multiple variables. Full article

Background/Objectives: Tooth bleaching is a widely requested aesthetic procedure in modern dentistry. However, the structural effects of high-concentration peroxide-based bleaching agents on enamel remain insufficiently understood. This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects of three in-office bleaching agents—Opalescence Boost (40% hydrogen peroxide [HP]), Opalescence Quick (45% carbamide peroxide [CP]), and BlancOne Ultra + (35% hydrogen peroxide [HP])—on enamel surface characteristics and color change using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and spectrophotometric analysis. Methods: Forty-two extracted human teeth were sectioned and divided into experimental and control halves. Each experimental specimen underwent bleaching according to the manufacturer’s protocol. Color measurements were conducted at baseline, immediately post-treatment, at 3 days, 7 days, and 6 months following treatment using the Vita Easyshade^® spectrophotometer. Color differences were calculated using the CIEDE2000 (ΔE₀₀) formula. Enamel surface morphology was assessed by CLSM. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon and Kruskal–Wallis tests (p < 0.05), performed with SPSS v23. Results: All bleaching agents produced clinically perceptible color changes (ΔE₀₀ > 3.3). Opalescence Boost achieved the highest and most consistent whitening effect (mean ΔE₀₀ > 11), while Opalescence Quick showed moderate efficacy (ΔE₀₀ ~6–8), and BlancOne Ultra+ induced milder changes (ΔE₀₀ ~4–5). CLSM imaging revealed surface alterations in all bleached samples, with more pronounced changes observed in specimens treated with higher peroxide concentrations. Conclusions: All three bleaching systems were effective in improving enamel color, with Opalescence Boost delivering the most substantial and durable effect. CLSM analysis confirmed morphological changes in enamel without evidence of severe damage. These results underscore the importance of selecting bleaching protocols that balance efficacy with enamel safety. Further in vivo studies are recommended to validate long-term structural effects and support clinical decision-making. Full article

To promote Chinese-style modernization, we must unremittingly promote the all-round revitalization of the countryside. Industry and agriculture are inseparable. The light industry is a traditionally dominant industry in China and is closely linked to the revitalization of rural areas. The coordination and resonance between the high-quality development of the light industry and rural revitalization is a significant area of research. This study developed models for coupling coordination degree and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis. It utilized data from 2012 to 2022 to empirically analyze the relationship between the high-quality development of China’s light industry and rural revitalization. Both of the systems had reached a condition of moderate coupling and showed dynamic interactive coupling. The degree of coupling coordination is affected by multiple variables, like economic development and scientific and technological innovation. There are two ways to promote the two to achieve a highly coupled and coordinated state. Therefore, this study opens up a novel methodological perspective and innovative path for research in related fields. Full article

The detection of abusive language in Roman Urdu is important for secure digital interaction. This work investigates machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), and transformer-based methods for detecting offensive language in Roman Urdu comments collected from YouTube news channels. Extracted features use TF-IDF and Count Vectorizer for unigrams, bigrams, and trigrams. Of all the ML models—Random Forest (RF), Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Naïve Bayes (NB)—the best performance was achieved by the same SVM. DL models involved evaluating Bi-LSTM and CNN models, where the CNN model outperformed the others. Moreover, transformer variants such as LLaMA 2 and ModernBERT (MBERT) were instantiated and fine-tuned with LoRA (Low-Rank Adaptation) for better efficiency. LoRA has been tuned for large language models (LLMs), a family of advanced machine learning frameworks, based on the principle of making the process efficient with extremely low computational cost with better enhancement. According to the experimental results, LLaMA 2 with LoRA attained the highest F1-score of 96.58%, greatly exceeding the performance of other approaches. To elaborate, LoRA-optimized transformers perform well in capturing detailed subtleties of linguistic nuances, lending themselves well to Roman Urdu offensive language detection. The study compares the performance of conventional and contemporary NLP methods, highlighting the relevance of effective fine-tuning methods. Our findings pave the way for scalable and accurate automated moderation systems for online platforms supporting multiple languages. Full article

Amid the accelerating processes of modernization and commercialization, traditional rural public spaces are increasingly losing their cultural value and social functions. This study investigates the transformative role of art intervention in enhancing the quality and cultural significance of rural public spaces, with a focus on Machang Village in Tengchong, China. The study first develops a conceptual model to explore the causal relationships and pathways between these influencing factors. Drawing on this framework, the research then uses Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to empirically test a multi-dimensional resident satisfaction model that incorporates spatial aesthetics, functional suitability, historical-cultural identity, and emotional cognition. Through field surveys and data collected from 224 residents, the study reveals that cultural emotions and functional completeness are the most influential factors in driving overall satisfaction. Artistic innovation and aesthetics contribute moderately, indicating that visual creativity alone is insufficient without deeper cultural integration and functional coherence. The findings suggest a dual-pathway satisfaction mechanism, where both symbolic emotional resonance and practical usability shape residents’ perceptions of public space quality. The study offers theoretical and practical insights into optimizing rural public space design, advocating for art-led, community-engaged, and culturally embedded approaches to rural revitalization. Full article

The convergence of International Marketing (IM) and Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) with the help of Institutional Technologies (IT) can be an important tool in the transformation of global business models. However, there is a clear gap in the current literature regarding the role of technology, organization, and environment (TOE) in this integration. In particular, it is unclear how these aspects of institutional technologies enable or impede integration and how the capabilities of enterprises change as a result. To fill this gap, this research describes the role of TOE aspects through a systematic literature review (SLR) of 40 analyzed papers. We used a subjective analysis of secondary data to show that technology modernization, organizational flexibility, and environmental policies are key drivers of integration, while technology incompatibility and limited information-sharing capabilities create barriers to the process. We present a conceptual framework that clarifies the stages of integration and propose 12 questions for future research. The results suggest that moderators should focus on the synergies between TOE aspects to develop effective integration strategies. This research provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the bilateral relationship between institutional technologies and integration, helping to create sustainable global business models. Full article