Search Results (132)

The following research study is an analysis of Catholic lay influencer activities on the TikTok platform in the context of digital religion. The goal is to apply a previously developed model of influencer communication strategies to Polish-language Catholic TikTokers and to identify the media forms through which these strategies are implemented. The study is a qualitative content analysis based on a previously developed and established model of influencer communication. We analyzed 1790 presentations on TikTok published during a single liturgical year (2024–2025) by ten influencers who were selected using a proven methodology. The results indicate the presence of eight key strategies: narrative, linguistic, interactive, community building, multimedia, creativity, adaptation of TikTok trends, and visualization of religious content. The analysis reveals a strong personal message that unites the sacred sphere and religious experiences with daily life, including organizing the successful communications according to the logic and aesthetics of the social platform. Simultaneously, we can see that there is limited innovation among Catholic influencers. The risk of superficiality stemming from the short video format is also highlighted. This article organizes the communication strategies of lay Catholic influencers and proposes a model for their analysis that can be used in further research. Full article

The digital preservation and dissemination of historical and cultural heritage is a pivotal area at the intersection of digital humanities and geographic information science. To address the challenges of multi-source heterogeneity, limited dimensionality, and inadequate public engagement, this study designed and implemented an interactive visualization platform using modern Web technologies. Taking the Leshan Confucian Temple (religious heritage) and the former site of Wuhan University (educational heritage) as case studies, the platform integrates four types of heterogeneous data (geospatial coordinates, architectural attributes, visitor behavioral records, and multimedia imagery) into a unified spatiotemporal information model. Core technical implementations are built upon a lightweight front-end stack including the Gaode Map JavaScript API for geographic visualization, ECharts for dynamic statistical charting, and the Tailwind CSS framework for a fully responsive front-end interface. Key interactive features encompass linked map markers with contextual information windows, user-driven chart filtering, and paginated loading of cultural relic cards. Evaluation results demonstrate that the platform achieves cross-device response delay ≤3 s, supports spatially grounded, dynamic, and presentation of cultural heritage information, and attains a System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 82.5. This work offers a lightweight, scalable technical solution for advancing digital recording and public communication of historical and cultural heritage, while contributing to the theoretical discourse on spatial narrative and multi-source data integration in digital humanities. Full article

The diversification of research outcomes produced within scholarly communication practices has led to a growing production of non-traditional research outputs (NTROs) such as datasets, software, databases, exhibitions, and multimedia materials, which are often poorly tracked by institutional systems. This study presents an exploratory study about knowledge production at the University of Bologna (UNIBO). This prominent national research institution offers a compelling case study to assess coverage, cross-repository overlap, and citation activity of NTROs across repositories. By harvesting and integrating metadata from the University of Bologna’s institutional CRIS system, the institutional repository AMS Acta, the general-purpose repository Zenodo, the disciplinary archive Software Heritage, and OpenCitations to gather citation information, we analyse the availability of UNIBO-affiliated NTROs and show that, while the UNIBO CRIS platform (i.e., IRIS) remains the primary registry for information on NTROs, a substantial number of them are hosted exclusively in external repositories. These findings highlight structural gaps in tracking NTROs in UNIBO IRIS and underline the need for improved interoperability and coordinated Open Science strategies and policies, at least at the local level, to ensure recognition of diverse research outputs. Full article

Scalable production of interactive 3D assets is a key requirement for XR-based applications, yet the functional integration of GenAI-generated assets into game engines remains challenging for non-expert users. This article proposes and validates a Prompt-to-Trigger workflow that links GenAI-based asset ideation and generation with the implementation of basic interactive behaviors (triggers) in accessible XR platforms. The study adopted a qualitative and exploratory approach, using systematic observation throughout a two-stage development process. This process included an initial phase where 3D assets were generated and refined using tools such as Tripo AI and Meshy, followed by an optimization stage to ensure compatibility with Blender and XR environments like A-Frame and Godot, and subsequently, the creation of AI-powered activation scripts. The results show that GenAI’s current 3D outputs frequently exhibit topological inconsistencies and rigging errors that compromise performance and real-time interoperability, requiring cleanup and optimization before deployment. The Prompt-to-Trigger workflow formalizes this bridge, positioning AI assistance as a functional layer for iterative logic generation. The resulting model provides non-expert creators with structured, actionable framework to prototype complex XR experiences for applied domains like education and multimedia communication. Full article

The lack of accessibility in digital gaming platforms remains a significant barrier to equitable user participation. To address this issue, this article presents an inclusive solution developed as a multimedia project designed to promote access to digital games for any user through the ipcb.games platform. The platform offers features that enhance accessibility, including voice-based authentication, voice-assisted registration, facial recognition, visual and auditory feedback, and a simplified interface. It also enables users to submit their own games for subsequent approval and integration. The development process followed a multimedia project methodology, structured into phases of analysis, planning, design, production, testing, and validation. The proposal was informed by a systematic review of scientific literature on digital inclusion and accessibility, complemented by a comparative analysis of existing platforms. During usability testing, the platform was evaluated by approximately 50 teachers from different educational levels, who provided highly positive feedback. Future work includes implementing voice-controlled gameplay, enabling keyboard-based navigation, re-implementing a functional eye-tracking system, and creating pedagogical groups, further strengthening the platform’s role in educational contexts. Full article

Recommender systems represent an essential infrastructure for digital platforms. To understand their evolution, we analyze 15,944 Web of Science publications (1980–2025) using bibliometric techniques, generative and transformer models for sentiment analysis and latent topic modeling. Our analysis yields three major findings. First, e-commerce recommendation research exhibits rapid growth in advanced representation techniques, with compound annual growth rates for contrastive learning (187%), graph neural networks (89%) and federated learning (72%). Second, algorithmic fairness and privacy preservation have emerged as critical research directions. Third, collaborative networks indicate a geographical shift, with Asia–Pacific regions becoming influential research hubs. The methodology integrates CAGR analysis with Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA, coherence score = 0.687) and BERTopic for thematic mapping and network analysis. Additionally, we employ sentiment analysis (VADER, TextBlob and a sentiment analysis pipeline from Hugging Face Transformers) and temporal heatmaps to capture research narratives. Topic modeling with LDA identifies five core themes: (1) Collaborative Filtering; (2) Machine Learning and Educational Systems; (3) Web Services and Business Applications; (4) Content and Multimedia Recommendations; (5) Graph Neural Networks and Advanced Models. BERTopic provides eight more nuanced themes based on semantics. Citation patterns follow the Pareto principle, where the top 1% of articles account for 29.1% of all citations, confirming a highly skewed impact distribution. Notably, established keywords show declining trajectories, indicating a methodological evolution toward newer, deep learning and generative AI-based paradigms. Full article

Automated inspection of power infrastructure with drones requires processing video streams in real time and performing object recognition from image data with constrained resources. Server-based object recognition algorithms depend on transmitting data over a network and require considerable computational resources. In this study, we present an automated system designed to inspect power infrastructure using drones in real time. The proposed system is implemented on the Rockchip RK3588 platform and uses a lightweight YOLOv8 architecture incorporating a Slim-Neck model with a VanillaBlock module integrated into the backbone. To support real-time operation, we developed a digital video stream processing system (DVSPS) to coordinate multimedia processor (MPP)-based hardware video decoding, with inference performed on a multicore neural processing unit (NPU) using thread pooling. The system can navigate autonomously using a closed-loop machine vision system that computes the latitude and longitude of electrical towers to perform multilevel inspections. The proposed model attained an 84.2% mAP50 and 52.5% mAP50:95 with 3.7 GFLOPs and an average throughput of 111.3 FPS with 34% fewer parameters. These results demonstrate that the proposed method is an efficient and scalable solution for autonomous inspection across diverse operational conditions. Full article

Background: Patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) in total knee arthroplasty represents an increasingly relevant component of personalized surgical planning. As nearly half of orthopedic patients search online for medical information before or after clinical consultation, the quality, accuracy, and readability of publicly available digital resources directly influence patient expectations, shared decision-making, and rehabilitation engagement. This study assessed the content, quality, and readability of online information about PSI in TKA. Methods: Google searches using four predefined PSI-related terms were conducted on 6 March 2025. After applying exclusion criteria, 71 websites were included for evaluation. Websites were categorized as academic or non-academic and analyzed for authorship, reporting of advantages and disadvantages, inaccurate assertions, use of peer-reviewed references, multimedia content, and mention of specific PSI platforms. Website quality was assessed using validated quality evaluation tools (QUEST and JAMA criteria), and readability was evaluated using established readability indices (SMOG, FKGL, and FRE). Results: Academic websites demonstrated significantly higher quality than non-academic sources based on QUEST (25.4 vs. 9.8; p < 0.001) and JAMA criteria (3.7 vs. 1.7; p < 0.001). Disadvantages of PSI were reported in 69.1% of academic sites versus 12.5% of non-academic sites (p < 0.001). Inaccurate claims occurred in 31.3% of non-academic sites but were absent in academic sources (p < 0.001). Peer-reviewed references were present in 81.8% of academic websites and only 12.5% of non-academic sites (p < 0.001). Readability was uniformly poor across all websites, with no significant group differences (mean SMOG 13.5; mean FKGL 11.8; mean FRE 32.4). Conclusions: Online information about PSI in total knee arthroplasty varies widely in transparency and accuracy, with non-academic websites frequently omitting risks or presenting misleading claims. Given the role of individualized implant planning, accessible and evidence-based digital content is essential to support personalized patient education and shared decision-making. Because limited readability restricts patient comprehension and informed participation in personalized orthopedic care, improving the clarity and accessibility of digital patient resources is essential. Full article

Background: Digitalisation is transforming medical education, but its integration into ultrasound training remains limited. This study evaluates the needs of students and physicians regarding digitally supported ultrasound education. Materials and Methods: A multi-year cross-sectional study (2017–2022) employed two standardised questionnaires. The first assessed the perceived relevance of ultrasound in medical education, the desirability of compulsory teaching, and the integration of digital media and case-based learning. The second explored user-centred requirements for e-learning formats, including functionality, multimedia design, usability, interactivity, and financing, as well as current use of digital devices and reference materials. Data were collected using dichotomous and 7-point Likert scales (1 = high need/strong agreement, 7 = low need/weak agreement). Results: A total of 3479 responses were analysed (2821 students; 658 physicians). Both groups showed strong support for integrating ultrasound into curricula (1.3 ± 0.7) and mandatory education (1.4 ± 0.9), with students expressing significantly greater support (p < 0.001). There was broad agreement on the integration and development of digital media (1.7 ± 1.0), as well as the use of case studies (1.4 ± 0.8), with no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). Case-based learning as a stand-alone format was less favoured (3.4 ± 1.9). In the user-centred needs analysis, both groups rated features like search functions (1.4 ± 0.8), usability (1.5 ± 0.9), and learning objective checks (2.7 ± 1.6) as important. High-quality media (1.5 ± 0.9) and pathology explanations (1.6 ± 1.1) were also highly valued. Students primarily relied on digital platforms, while physicians used a more varied mix of digital platforms, guidelines, and textbooks. Conclusions: The study highlights the need for more extensive, digitally supported ultrasound training, with a focus on functionality and usability. Standardisation through structured certification processes should be considered for future implementation. Full article

JPEG images are widely used in multimedia transmission, such as on social media platforms, owing to their efficiency for reducing storage and transmission requirements. However, because such images may contain sensitive information, encryption is essential to ensure data privacy. Traditional image encryption schemes face challenges when applied to JPEG images, as maintaining compatibility with the JPEG structure and managing the effects of lossy compression can distort encrypted data. Existing JPEG-compatible encryption methods, such as Encryption-then-Compression (EtC) and Compression-then-Encryption (CtE), typically employ a single encryption stage, either before or after compression, and often involve trade-offs between security, storage efficiency, and visual quality. In this work, an Encryption–Compression–Encryption algorithm is presented that preserves full JPEG compatibility while combining the advantages of both EtC and CtE schemes. In the proposed method, pixel-block encryption is first applied prior to JPEG compression, followed by selective coefficient encryption after compression, in which the quantized DC coefficient differences are permuted. Experimental results indicate that the second encryption stage enhances the entropy achieved in the first stage, with both stages complementing each other in terms of resistance to attacks. The addition of this second layer does not significantly impact storage efficiency or the visual quality of the decompressed image; however, it introduces a moderate increase in computational time due to the two-stage encryption process. Full article

To address the limitations of traditional acoustic experimental equipment, such as large volume, discrete modules, and complex operation, this paper proposes and implements a set of digital portable acoustic teaching systems. The hardware component is based on an FPGA, enabling a highly integrated design for signal source excitation and multi-channel synchronous acquisition. It supports the output of various signals, including pulses, sine waves, chirps, and arbitrary waveforms. The software component is developed based on the Qt framework, offering cross-platform compatibility and excellent graphical interaction capabilities. It supports signal configuration, data acquisition, real-time processing, result visualization, and historical playback, establishing a closed-loop experimental workflow of signal excitation–synchronous acquisition–real-time processing–data storage–result visualization. The system supports both local USB connection and remote TCP operation modes, accommodating scenarios such as real-time classroom experiments and cross-regional collaborative teaching. The verification results of three typical experiments, namely, multi-media sound velocity measurement, TDOA hydrophone positioning, and remote acoustic detection, demonstrate that the system performs well in terms of measurement accuracy, positioning stability, and the feasibility of remote detection. This study demonstrates the technical advantages and engineering adaptability of a digital teaching platform in acoustic experimental education. It provides a scalable system solution for cross-regional hybrid teaching models and practice-oriented education under the framework of emerging engineering disciplines. Future work will focus on expanding experimental scenarios, enhancing system intelligence, and improving multi-user collaboration capabilities, aiming to develop a more comprehensive and efficient platform to support acoustic teaching. Full article

Background/Objective: Video games offer an innovative tool for delivering active aging interventions. The objective of this study was to analyze the efficacy of an enhanced version of a cognitive–behavioral intervention to promote active aging, administered through a video game, on perceived health and healthy lifestyle habits. Methods: A total of 556 participants aged 45 or older (74.3% women, mean age of 60.8 [SD = 8.0]) were randomly assigned to a cognitive–behavioral intervention to promote active aging administered via an interactive, multimedia, online, and serious video game with a complementary smartphone app (CBI-V; n = 279) or to a control group receiving non-specific online information (CG; n = 277). Perceived health (General Health, Body Pain, Physical Functioning, Physical Role, Vitality, Social Functioning, Emotional Role, Mental Health, Physical and Mental Summary Indices); healthy habits, including sleep hygiene behaviors, physical activity, and eating habits; dropouts; adherence to the intervention (completed modules; total playtime; time devoted to cognitive training; number of cognitive task attempts and tasks completed between modules); and satisfaction with the intervention were assessed by independent, blind evaluators via an online platform before and after the intervention. Results: At the post-intervention, the CBI-V group obtained significantly better scores in General Health (p < 0.001), Mental Health (p = 0.015), sleep hygiene (p < 0.001), physical activity (p = 0.024), and eating habits (p = 0.001) than the CG. The effect sizes were small (d = −0.188 to 0.334). Clinically significant changes were higher in the CBI-V group than in the CG in General Health (p = 0.029), Physical Function (p = 0.028), Social Function (p = 0.011), Emotional Role (p = 0.008), Mental Health (p = 0.026), Physical Summary Index (p = 0.010), sleep hygiene (p = 0.020), and eating habits (p = 0.019). Participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the intervention, with a mean score of 25.4 (SD = 4.0) out of a maximum of 32 on the intervention satisfaction measure. Conclusions: These findings support the efficacy of a cognitive–behavioral video game intervention in enhancing perceived health and promoting healthy lifestyle habits among people aged 45 and above. Full article

The digital transformation of journalism—from text-heavy to multimedia-reliant—has changed storytelling approaches, with multimedia integration becoming central to online news formats. Incorporating multimedia elements such as photographs, videos, and photo galleries has been shown to significantly enhance audience engagement in online journalism. The growing capacity for multimedia integration has expanded the possibilities for digital storytelling, allowing for more interactive and immersive news experiences. Effective multimedia implementation in online journalism, incorporating elements such as photographs, videos, and photo galleries, enhances audience engagement. A news website’s capacity for multimedia integration has created new opportunities for storytelling, enabling more interactive news presentation. This study examines multimedia implementation patterns across four major international news websites, TheGuardian.com (UK), TheNationalnews.com (UAE), USAToday.com (USA), and Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand), analysing 280 articles published between February and April 2023. The findings reveal significant variations in multimedia integration strategies across different content types, geographic focuses, and thematic areas. The findings indicate that despite technological capabilities, multimedia integration remains uneven across platforms and content categories. The findings show differences in how multimedia is used, depending on the type of content, geographic focus, and subject matter. Even with the technology readily available, the level of multimedia integration still varies widely across platforms and content categories. Local news receives more multimedia treatment than foreign news, while feature articles demonstrate higher multimedia density than standard news content. Full article

With the rapid expansion of digital knowledge platforms and intelligent information systems, organizations and communities are producing a vast number of unstructured knowledge data, including annotated corpora, technical diagrams, collaborative whiteboard content, and domain-specific multimedia archives. However, knowledge sharing across institutions is hindered by privacy risks, high communication overhead, and fragmented ownership of data. Federated learning promises to overcome these barriers by enabling collaborative model training without exchanging raw knowledge artifacts, but its success depends on motivating data holders to undertake the additional computational and communication costs. Most existing incentive schemes, which are based on non-cooperative game formulations, neglect unstructured interactions and communication efficiency, thereby limiting their applicability in knowledge-driven scenarios. To address these challenges, we introduce SC-NBTI, a smart contract and Nash bargaining-based incentive framework for federated learning in knowledge collaboration environments. We cast the reward allocation problem as a cooperative game, devise a heuristic algorithm to approximate the NP-hard Nash bargaining solution, and integrate a probabilistic gradient sparsification method to trim communication costs while safeguarding privacy. Experiments on the FMNIST image classification task show that SC-NBTI requires fewer training rounds while achieving 5.89% higher accuracy than the DRL-Incentive baseline. Full article

This paper examines how 360-degree panoramic tours can enhance heritage promotion, accessibility, and engagement, illustrated through two case studies: the Understory Art and Nature Trail in Northcliffe and the Subiaco Hotel in Perth, Western Australia. The Understory Art Trail was deployed in Google Street View to deliver an interactive, virtual walkthrough of outdoor art installations. This made the site accessible to a geographically diverse global audience, including those unable to visit in person. In contrast, the Subiaco Hotel tour was created with 3DVista. It integrated multimedia features such as historical photographs, architectural drawings, and narrative audio, offering users a layered exploration of built heritage. The two studies were designed so that frameworks like Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) could be applied to them to evaluate visitor experience. However, this paper focuses on the workflow for providing 360-degree panoramic tours, the integration of AR, low-cost digital twins, and the testing of interactive web platforms. Google Street View demonstrates ease of use through familiar navigation, while 3DVista reflects usefulness through its richer interpretive features. By analyzing workflows and digital strategies on both platforms, the study evaluates their effectiveness in increasing online visitor engagement, supporting heritage tourism, and communicating cultural significance. Challenges related to technical limitations, geolocation accuracy, audience targeting, and resource constraints are critically discussed. The findings demonstrate that context-sensitive applications of 360-degree tours are valuable for visibility, education, and long-term preservation. The paper concludes with targeted recommendations to guide future heritage projects in leveraging immersive digital technologies to expand audience engagement and support sustainable heritage management. Full article