Search Results (98)

The accelerated development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities and systems is driving a paradigm shift in productivity, innovation and growth. Despite this generational opportunity, AI is fraught with significant challenges and risks. To address these challenges, responsible AI has emerged as a modus operandi that ensures protections while not stifling innovations. Responsible AI minimizes risks to people, society, and the environment. However, responsible AI principles and practice are impacted by ‘principle proliferation’ as they are diverse and distributed across the applications, stakeholders, risks, and downstream impact of AI systems. This article presents a systematic review of responsible AI principles and practice with the objectives of discovering the current state, the foundations and the need for responsible AI, followed by the principles of responsible AI, and translation of these principles into the responsible practice of AI. Starting with 22,711 relevant peer-reviewed articles from comprehensive bibliographic databases, the review filters through to 9700 at de-duplication, 5205 at abstract screening, 1230 at semantic screening and 553 at final full-text screening. The analysis of this final corpus is presented as six findings that contribute towards the increased understanding and informed implementation of responsible AI. Full article

This study integrates Sustainable Energy Development (SED) with an Energy Ecosystems (EE) framework in Greece to reveal how macrolevel policies, mesolevel infrastructures, and microlevel behaviors shape energy transitions. Drawing on historical data primarily spanning 2010–2024, supplemented by 16 semi-structured expert interviews and a macro–meso–micro analytical approach, it examines SED dimensions—affordability, supply, consumption, and security—within the supplier–producer–distributor–consumer nexus. The findings show notable progress in solar and wind adoption but also underscore persistent challenges such as high import dependency, regulatory inefficiencies, and infrastructural gaps. By proposing targeted policy directions and suggesting a new modus operandi of local-level institutional coordination, the research illustrates how an SED–EE synergy can foster resilience, innovation, and social equity, thereby informing sustainable energy strategies not just for Greece but also for other regions facing similar structural hurdles. The novel integrative perspective of this paper, unlike prior approaches that address either macropolicy targets or microlevel entrepreneurial activity alone, clarifies how mesolevel dynamics facilitate or hamper SED goals. This theoretical and practical synthesis is expected to inform the design of more resilient, equitable, and innovation-driven energy policies. Full article

The restoration of medieval wall paintings often involves the combination of heterogeneous techniques and materials considering their nature and period. One of the many obstacles in the study of the restoration of these types of artifacts is the paucity of sources that remain and the fragmentary nature of the paintings. As support, we can identify information about the modus operandi of the artists and artisans’ workshops that were active in the medieval period. Such information can be derived from important treatises-for example, Theophilus’ mid-12th-century treatise, the Diversarum artium Schedula, and chapter XV of Cennino Cennini’s Book of Art. These all coincide with the paintings presented in this paper, which represent the Virgo Lactans (or Madonna del Latte, Nursing Virgin) and a likely pre-existing figure of a praying woman. The investigated wall paintings are located in the porch of St. Andrew’s church, situated in the neighborhood of Pianoscarano (Viterbo, Central Italy). The historical context and the execution technique of the paintings were carefully studied, supported by a diagnostic and analytical campaign carried out by means of hypercolorimetric multispectral imaging, spot X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy using a portable instrument, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and cross-section analysis. These analyses allowed us to characterize the original materials, the stratigraphic sequence of the paintings, and the previous interventions applied to the paintings’ layers, giving relevant data to support the recently concluded restoration. Full article

Research purpose—Economy digital transformation has had a strong impact on several areas, such as employment, economic organization modus operandi, or the digital modernization of economic agents. Technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence, have resulted in new digital products and services that are smarter, autonomous, and complex. This evolution requires ethics and social responsibility as critical components of economic sustainability. Design/methodology/approach—This article analyzes the relevance of ethics and social responsibility among young information systems professionals. Given the technological specificity of the new generation, it was considered an opportunity to analyze sensitivity to their ethical obligations and responsibilities. A survey was sent to about 40 information systems and technology young professionals, as a convenience sample, to assess several dimensions of ethics and social responsibility, and to identify an opportunity for future studies. Findings—The results show that there is responsibility regarding the social effects of technology on technology users. However, it is noted that there is still a long way to go, because decisions regarding ethical and social responsibilities cannot be left to the discretion of each individual professional. Economic organizations should assume values, policies, and rules appropriated to the new order in the context of the information society. Originality/value/practical implications—The present study aimed to evaluate the relevance of ethics and social responsibility to information systems young professionals, and we expect that these results can encourage them to develop greater sensitivity to this issue, contributing to the change needed and desired. Full article

The current global academic system, rooted in a reductionist, materialist and westernized worldview, reflects the modern industrial era in which it took shape and is therefore ill-equipped to address the complex challenges of today’s polycrisis. This viewpoint offers a vision for a complementary system aimed at filling this gap, one grounded on an expanded notion of what science and higher education can be and how best they can serve the world. It is part of an independent research and book project on the broad topic of Reimagining Academia, developed in dialogue with pioneering and spiritually oriented scientific and professional networks. Moving from the recognition of the principal limits of today’s universities, the paper describes an alternative home for all those scholars, students, practitioners and social constituencies whose worldviews and knowledge systems are shifting towards more holistic approaches. Grounded on a new ontological framework and on a human-centered modus operandi, the proposed system would aim to revive scientific disciplines from the inside out, by means of new life-affirming assumptions and purposes. The paper concludes by outlining practical steps for the realization of this vision, proposing a global alliance of scientific, cultural, and social actors. Full article

In the current landscape dominated by Artificial Intelligence, the integration of Machine Learning and Deep Learning within the realm of Cultural Heritage, particularly within architectural contexts, is paramount for the efficient processing and interpretation of point clouds. These advanced methods facilitate automated segmentation and classification, significantly improving both the clarity and practical use of data acquired from laser scanning and photogrammetry. The present study investigates the Palacio de Sástago—a prominent Renaissance palace in Zaragoza, Spain—and introduces a cutting-edge modus operandi for the automated recognition of architectural elements within the palace’s inner courtyard. Employing the well-established Random Forest algorithm, implemented in a Python environment, the framework begins with a comprehensive evaluation of the geometric features identified in the LiDAR point cloud. This process employs the Mean Decrease in Impurity metric to evaluate the relevance of each variable. To boost the accuracy and efficiency of the final classifications, the features are refined post-assessment, enhancing both the training phase and the algorithm’s later evaluation. The research’s findings demonstrate significant potential, supporting advancements in CAD systems and HBIM that will enable more precise, automated modelling of architectural elements, thereby enhancing the accuracy of digital reconstructions and improving conservation planning for heritage sites. Full article

The Cyclades Islands are significant to Greece’s economy, and their role has grown dramatically during the two crisis periods of the Greek Financial Crisis in 2009 and the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020. The crises shaped the Cyclades Islands’ tourist and water resource management due to water crisis events that took place between 2012 and 2024. The heavy dependence and emphasis on tourism revenues and less focus on water quality regulations made the situation more complex. Taking Mykonos and Santorini Islands (Greece) as a case study, this research’s main aim is to analyze hospitality stakeholders’ perceptions concerning water quality problems and reveal the ways of operation (modus operandi) that trigger shifting between stages in the lifespan of tourism destinations. Data are gathered through face-to-face interviews with hospitality stakeholders. The results show that the hospitality stakeholders believe that water quality issues exist in connection with short-term water resource management and tourism activity on the islands. Secondly, water quality issues and water shortages have begun to have a detrimental influence and negative cumulative impact on water availability and quality on the islands. These findings shed light on the critical points of the stage changes in the lifecycle and modus operandi of destination evolution. Full article

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurring lifelong condition, the exact etiology of which remains obscure. However, an increasing corpus of research underscores the pivotal role of cellular signaling pathways in both the instigation and management of intestinal inflammation. Drosophila, owing to its prodigious offspring, abbreviated life cycle, and the conservation of signaling pathways with mammals, among other advantages, has become a model organism for IBD research. This review will expound on the feasibility of utilizing Drosophila as an IBD model, comparing its intestinal architecture with that of mammals, its inflammatory responses, and signaling pathways. Furthermore, it will deliberate on the role of natural products across various biological models of IBD pathways, elucidating the viability of fruit flies as IBD models and the modus operandi of cellular signaling pathways in the context of IBD. Full article

Heliciculture farms are susceptible to significant biotic issues that can impact snail breeding, among them, the entomofauna predation of snails. Predatory insects can cause damage to snail shells during predation, and sometimes, the specific type of damage may be characteristic of certain insect families or species. Under laboratory conditions, we analysed the predatory activity of the species Silpha tristis Illiger, 1798 (Coleoptera: Silphidae), Ocypus olens (Müller, 1764) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus constantinus Kraatz, 1899 (Coleoptera: Carabidae), and Lampyris sardiniae Geisthardt, 1987 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) against the gastropod Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774) reared on snail farms located in the Sardinian region. The adult and larval stages of each species were tested, except for L. sardiniae, as only the larval stage preys upon snails. This study showed that among all of the species considered, only two insects were able to damage the shell of C. aspersum: C. morbillosus constantinus and O.olens. This may prove valuable in C. aspersum breeding for the recognition of specific lesions, even in the absence of the predator. Full article

Currently, the demand for heat production by geothermal energy is increasingly strong amid the controversy surrounding non-renewable forms of energy. In France, the Dogger aquifer in the Paris Basin (DAPB) produces saline geothermal waters (GWs) that are hot (70–85 °C), anaerobic, and slightly acidic (pH 6.1–6.4), and are characterized mainly by the presence of Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, CO₂/HCO₃⁻, and H₂S/HS. These GWs are corrosive, while the well casings used are carbon steel. GWs have been continuously treated since the 1990s by corrosion inhibitors at the bottom of production wells to reduce water–steel interactions and scaling issues. Electrochemical experiments to optimize inhibitors were carried out on site, protected from the ambient atmosphere, with actual geothermal water, using water tapping at the wellhead. Currently, carbon steel corrosion/scaling, corrosion inhibition phenomenology, and kinetics evaluation remain important challenges. These issues are, of course, linked to the durability of installations. The novelty of our work consists of our validation of a modus operandi that properly reproduces, at the laboratory scale, operating conditions similar to those encountered on the types of geothermal installations. Particular attention was paid to characterizing waters and gases from 13 production wellheads that were modelled with PhreeqC^® Version 3 hydrogeochemical software and the Thermoddem thermodynamic database for implementing standardized reconstituted geothermal water (SRGW), a well-balanced water representative of the major elements and dissolved gases of actual DAPB geothermal waters. The developed electrochemical setup enabled us to analyze corrosion mechanisms such as those observed on site and to investigate corrosion inhibition using petrosourced and biosourced inhibitors. The modus operandi constitutes a reference for further investigations, at the laboratory scale, of corrosion inhibition. These investigations may include screening and optimizing the formulas of petrosourced and biosourced inhibitors for use in DAPB waters. Full article

Bone remodeling is an intricate process executed throughout one’s whole life via the cross-talk of several cellular events, progenitor cells and signaling pathways. It is an imperative mechanism for regaining bone loss, recovering damaged tissue and repairing fractures. To achieve this, molecular signaling pathways play a central role in regulating pathological and causal mechanisms in different diseases. Similarly, microRNAs (miRNAs) have shown promising results in disease management by mediating mRNA targeted gene expression and post-transcriptional gene function. However, the role and relevance of these miRNAs in signaling processes, which regulate the delicate balance between bone formation and bone resorption, are unclear. This review aims to summarize current knowledge of bone remodeling from two perspectives: firstly, we outline the modus operandi of five major molecular signaling pathways, i.e.,the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK)-osteoprotegrin (OPG) and RANK ligand (RANK-OPG-RANKL), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), Wnt/β-catenin, Jagged/Notch and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathways in regards to bone cell formation and function; and secondly, the miRNAs that participate in these pathways are introduced. Probing the miRNA-mediated regulation of these pathways may help in preparing the foundation for developing targeted strategies in bone remodeling, repair and regeneration. Full article

Urban communities have long been pivotal in wealth creation and technological innovation. In the contemporary context, their modus operandi is intricately tied to a diverse array of critical infrastructure systems (CISs). These systems—encompassing utilities, transportation, communication, and more—are indispensable for daily life; however, historical lessons underscore that the ever-growing interdependence among modern CISs has sapped their robustness. Furthermore, this vulnerability is compounded by the intensifying natural hazards catalysed by climate change, leaving urban communities with eroded resilience. Against this backdrop, pilot studies have harnessed breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) to chart a new course toward resilient urban communities. This paper illuminates AI-driven resilience by reviewing the latest research in key aspects including (1) the limitation of state-of-the-art resilience assessment frameworks; (2) emergency response as a novel blueprint featuring swift response following catastrophes; (3) efficient loss assessment of CISs using AI algorithms; and (4) machine-learning-enabled autonomous emergency response planning. The remaining challenges and hardships faced on the journey toward resilient urban communities are also discussed. The findings could contribute to the ongoing discourse on enhancing urban resilience in the face of increasingly frequent and destructive climate hazards. Full article

Digital deliberation has been steadily growing in recent years, enabling citizens from different geographical locations and diverse opinions and expertise to participate in policy-making processes. Software platforms aiming to support digital deliberation usually suffer from information overload, due to the large amount of feedback that is often provided. While Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing techniques can alleviate this drawback, their complex structure discourages users from trusting their results. This paper proposes two Explainable Artificial Intelligence models to enhance transparency and trust in the modus operandi of the above techniques, which concern the processes of clustering and summarization of citizens’ feedback that has been uploaded on a digital deliberation platform. Full article

In the era of Industry 4.0, digital transformation has become a cornerstone for modern organizations, fundamentally altering how businesses operate and compete. This study delves into the impact of digital transformation on human resource management (HRM), human resource development (HRD), and employees’ innovative work behaviors and job performance in a rapidly evolving business environment. In conducting a survey among 391 employees from information and communication technology (ICT) companies in China, structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data. The findings reveal a correlation between digital transformation and innovative work behaviors and job performance, with HRM and HRD playing partial mediating roles. Digital transformation not only optimizes work processes and enhances productivity but also fosters the innovation of business models and processes. Moreover, the research indicates the critical importance of implementing efficient digital systems and processes in promoting an organizational culture of innovation and enhancing employees’ innovative capabilities. Thus, digital transformation is seen as a pivotal strategic tool, altering not just the modus operandi of organizations but also influencing employee behavior and performance. Full article

This paper presents the first insight into how Almada Negreiros, a key artist of the first generation of modernism in Portugal, created his mural painting masterpiece in the maritime station of Rocha do Conde de Óbidos in Lisbon. This set of six monumental mural paintings dates from 1946 to 1949 and is considered Almada’s artistic epitome. As part of the ALMADA project: Unveiling the mural painting art of Almada Negreiros, the murals are being analyzed from a technical and material perspective to understand his modus operandi and the material used. This is the first study of this nature carried out on site and in the laboratory using standard and more advanced imaging, non-invasive analysis, and microanalysis techniques. This article reports the results obtained with visual examination, technical photography in visible (Vis), visible raking (Vis-Rak), complemented by 2D and 3D optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), and Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy (µ-FTIR) of the paint layers. The results show the similarities, differences, and technical difficulties that the painter may have had when working on the first, third, and presumably last mural to be painted. Vis-Rak light images were particularly useful in providing a clear idea of how the work progressed from top to bottom through large sections of plaster made with lime mortars. It also revealed an innovative pounced technique used by Almada Negreiros to transfer the drawings in full scale to the walls. Other technical characteristics highlighted by the analytical setup are the use of textured, opaque, and transparent paint layers. The structure of the paintings does not follow a rigid build-up from light to dark, showing that the artist freely adapted according to the motif represented. As far as the colour palette is concerned, Almada masterfully uses primary and complementary colours made with Fe-based pigments and with synthetic ultramarine blue, cadmium pigments, and emerald green. Full article