Search Results (1,547)

Understanding lighting practices is crucial for ensuring social robustness and sensitivity to context when implementing technical solutions in real-life settings. As lighting can create functional, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing environments, it is important to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and social and physical situations. Domestic lighting is no exception; however, the sociocultural, perceptual, and sensory qualities of light have been neglected in engineering-oriented practices, while ethnographic approaches to domestic lighting seldom cover the material and technical aspects of the phenomenon. The role of light evolves according to people’s changing needs and abilities, as seen in age-related changes and incipient vision loss, so a broader understanding of domestic lighting practices can help in preparing for senior life. Combining methods from ethnography, architecture, and engineering, this article provides new knowledge on the dynamics of the socio-technical elements of domestic lighting. Interviews, lighting measurements, and field observations conducted in 37 Danish homes revealed that the mundane, everyday practices of the home environment embody patterns as well as diverging conventions and norms. People navigate their domestic lighting in accordance with specific activities and orchestrate micro-atmospheres between light and darkness, resulting in a composite palette of task light, isles of light, and lightscapes. Full article

Tasmania has some of Australia’s worst potentially preventable hospitalisation (PPH) rates linked to chronic illness. This means that people are living with increasing pain and incapacity. PPHs are also an unnecessary social and financial cost and signal a failure to address the drivers of chronic illness, disproportionally experienced by people with poor access to the social determinants of health. Systems thinking (ST) is increasingly being applied to understanding such problems and designing solutions from a whole system perspective. This case study describes a novel, exploratory application of ST tools in four communities with high chronic disease risk to better understand and develop place-based interventions in the prevention approach known as ‘Anticipatory Care’ (AC). With community members, recruited through four community bodies, we used causal loop diagrams (CLDs) to implement three of the WHO’s recommended steps to ST in health systems: collectively brainstorm, conceptualise effects, and adapt and redesign. Community stakeholders developed CLDs to understand the locally relevant AC system, determine boundaries and priorities, and identify barriers to and opportunities for change. Opportunities focused on the relationship between safe access, place, belonging, relationships and culture, health information, and health services. At the project’s end, a second set of CLDs identified indicators of changes to local AC systems. Given a ‘blank slate’ for chronic disease prevention, communities developed unique, place-based responses orientated towards strengthening resources, connections, and collaboration. We argue that ST can be used to support community understanding of the behaviour of the local chronic disease prevention system, surface the interdependence of system parts, and identify formerly unrecognised opportunities for and consequences of intervention. The impact of place-based approaches is constrained by structural forces, including policies, norms, institutions, and resourcing. Full article

Background: Gaucher disease (GD) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the GBA1 gene. Traditionally, GD is classified into three subtypes based on the severity of neurological involvement; however, overlapping clinical features increasingly suggest a continuum of phenotypes rather than distinct categories. In this prospective observational cohort study, we conducted a multidisciplinary assessment of patients with GD to identify and monitor neurological, cognitive, auditory, and visual impairments. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive clinical and instrumental evaluation was performed at baseline and repeated at follow-up, with a median interval of 37 months (IQR 36–38). Neurological assessments included physical examination, clinical rating scales, video-EEG, and brain MRI. Cognitive status was assessed using a standardized battery of neuropsychological tests. Detailed audiological and ophthalmological evaluations were also conducted. Paired parametric or non-parametric tests were applied as appropriate, with Bonferroni correction for cognitive outcomes (p < 0.05). Results: Of the 22 patients assessed at baseline, 18 completed the follow-up evaluation. Neurological assessments showed a worsening of subtle parkinsonian signs, with significant increases in Movement Disorder Society–Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III scores (p = 0.04) and non-motor symptom scores (p = 0.01). Two of the eighteen patients developed epilepsy during follow-up. A high prevalence of sleep disturbances was confirmed, with 27.8% exhibiting excessive daytime sleepiness and 16.7% reporting REM sleep behaviour disorder on standardized questionnaires. Compared with baseline, cognitive assessments revealed a higher proportion of patients with performance below normative population scores in at least one cognitive domain, particularly memory. Sensorineural hearing loss was confirmed in 11 of 15 patients (73.3%) who underwent audiological evaluation, with progressive worsening of audiometric thresholds observed in 7 of 11 (64%). Ophthalmological evaluations showed no changes in visual acuity or OCT findings; however, multifocal electroretinography abnormalities were detected in 12 of 13 patients. Conclusions: Through in-depth phenotyping, this study identifies measurable neurological, cognitive, and sensory progressive changes in patients with GD over time, supporting the value of tailored, multidisciplinary long-term care strategies to monitor and address emerging clinical needs in this rare disease. Full article

The use of treated wastewater constitutes a strategic alternative for agriculture in water-scarce regions. This study developed and applied a distance-based and sodium-constrained deterministic allocation model integrating geoprocessing tools with environmental and logistical constraints to optimize the spatial distribution of treated effluent from 48 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the semi-arid region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The deterministic allocation algorithm prioritizes geographic proximity and favorable topographic differences as a proxy for reducing potential pumping requirements. Two scenarios were evaluated: (1) full effluent availability and (2) sodium-regulated allocation limited to 300 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of Na, in accordance with Normative Deliberation CERH-MG 65/2020. Under Scenario 1, cotton demand exceeded (184%), while coffee and sugarcane reached 69% and 24% of annual demand, respectively. Under the sodium-constrained Scenario 2, demand fulfillment changed to 37% for coffee and 42% for sugarcane, while cotton remained above full demand (108%). The proposed model differs from previous deterministic spatial allocation applications by integrating regulatory sodium constraints and dual-scenario regional assessment, providing a spatially explicit and regulation-compliant decision-support tool for sustainable wastewater reuse in semi-arid agricultural systems. Full article

Remote sensing image change captioning (RSICC) aims to generate semantic textual descriptions characterizing changes between bi-temporal remote sensing images, with wide applications in disaster assessment and urban planning. However, existing methods face specific drawbacks: CNN-based models have limited ability to capture long-range spatial correlations due to local receptive fields, and Transformer-based models suffer from quadratic complexity while distributing attention uniformly across all spatial positions, resulting in weak perception of salient changes in background-dominated scenes. In this paper, we present PM3Net (Progressive Mask-guided Multigranular Mamba Network), which leverages Mamba state space models with linear complexity for efficient spatiotemporal change modeling. The Progressive Mask-guided Encoder (PME) creates dual-source change masks combining L2 norm spatial differences with cosine distance semantic differences for progressive change feature extraction from detailed structures to high-level semantics. The Mask-guided Feature Enhancement (MFE) module applies mask-weighted refinement and cross-layer fusion to emphasize salient change regions while suppressing background interference, producing multigranular visual representations. Experiments on LEVIR-MCI and WHU-CDC datasets show PM3Net achieves superior results compared to existing methods, with BLEU-4 scores of 66.89 and 73.05, respectively. The results confirm PM3Net’s ability to solve the RSICC task while demonstrating how Mamba models can succeed in this specific field. Full article

Background: The interrelationship between craniofacial morphology and respiratory function is a central focus of orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic research. This study aimed to evaluate the volumetric changes in the sinonasal complex (combined nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses) following Right Angle Maxillary Protraction Appliance (RAMPA) therapy using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to compare these outcomes with established longitudinal growth benchmarks. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 60 pediatric patients (24 males, 36 females; mean age: 86.60 ± 24.22 months) with radiologically clear paranasal sinuses at baseline (T1). Participants underwent RAMPA therapy for an average of 8.38 months. Volumetric quantification of the entire sinonasal complex—including the nasal cavity and all four paranasal sinuses (maxillary, ethmoid, sphenoid, and frontal)—was performed to ensure methodological alignment with existing normative growth data. Results: Total sinonasal volume increased significantly from 27,741.63 ± 10,675.85 mm³ at T1 to 32,248.00 ± 10,084.07 mm³ at T2 (p < 0.001), representing a mean gain of 4506.37 mm³ (16.24%). Notably, the annualized growth velocity under RAMPA therapy (6453 mm³/year) exceeded the physiological increment of age-matched normative data (~5418 mm³/year) by approximately 1.2 times. Despite a constricted baseline at T1 compared to normative values, the treatment group demonstrated a rapid “catch-up” growth trajectory. Conclusions: RAMPA therapy induces rapid and significant volumetric expansion of the sinonasal complex in pediatric patients, demonstrating a potent “acceleration effect” that surpasses natural physiological maturation. These findings suggest that orthopedic midfacial remodeling can effectively restructure the upper respiratory environment, bridging the gap between pathological constriction and normative developmental benchmarks in patients with maxillary hypoplasia. Full article

This study aimed to establish normative in-shoe plantar foot temperature patterns across three static postures—lying, sitting, and standing—in healthy individuals, providing a clinically relevant baseline for interpreting in-shoe thermograms in diabetic or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) populations. A single-center prospective study included 20 healthy adults (40 limbs; 22–74 years) who underwent vascular and neurological screening prior to data collection. Plantar temperature was continuously recorded using Tarsos^® Smart Insoles with 21 embedded sensors per foot during three consecutive 10 min phases: supine, sitting, and standing. Data were analyzed for regional differences across the toes, metatarsals, arch, and heel using statistical and visual methods. Distinct posture-related temperature patterns were observed. The arch consistently exhibited the highest temperatures, while the toes remained cooler across all phases. Supine positioning resulted in relatively uniform temperature increases, whereas sitting and standing demonstrated more-stable but region-specific patterns, with slower rates of temperature change and more pronounced regional variation. Compared with barefoot thermography, the in-shoe condition showed greater heat retention and reduced evaporative cooling, highlighting the importance of context-specific baseline data. These findings demonstrate the influence of posture on plantar thermal distribution in the in-shoe environment and support the use of embedded monitoring systems for continuous assessment where surface thermography is not feasible. Full article

Background/Objectives: Due to their positions, professional baseball catchers are at elevated risk of concussion, which can impair visual processing. There is a need for sensitive sensorimotor monitoring tools to track concussion-related neurophysiological changes more accurately. We investigated whether oculometrics can address this need. Methods: Four Major League Baseball catchers completed an oculometric assessment shortly after suffering a concussion (Time 1) and again after completing vision rehabilitation (Time 2). The assessment produces 10 z-scored measures, including a summary score. Results: Players’ Time 1 summary score tended to be typical of a normal healthy adult (Mean = 0.07 z-scored units). On average, players improved by 1.3 z-score units from their Time 1 summary score (SD = 1.07). Exploratory analyses revealed that sensorimotor recovery was driven by smooth pursuit latency, proportion of tracking comprising smooth pursuit, and the amplitude of catch-up saccades. Conclusions: Our analysis was based on a very small sample of concussion cases, each of which was unique. Despite this limitation, our data show how oculometrics can measure improvements in visual processing following a concussion among baseball players with exceptional perceptual-motor skills. Our data highlight the risk that brain injuries in high-performing individuals go undetected due to standard-of-care tools normed to behavior from healthy control populations; for these athletes, “normal” scores cannot be interpreted as neurologically “healthy”. Full article

Moving beyond traditional sociodemographic models, this study investigates the psychometric drivers of lexical change. Using Swiss German as a case study, we compare historical data from the Sprachatlas der deutschen Schweiz (1939–1958) with a recent large-scale app-based survey (N = 1013) to quantify trajectories over the past century. We identify four distinct mechanisms: exogenous convergence (Schmetterling), endo-normative leveling (Rande), endogenous innovation and divergence (schlittschuhlaufen), and diachronic persistence (Stäge). For the locally rooted speakers in our dataset, structural analysis indicates that traditional variables carry less weight than expected. While age remains the primary vertical predictor, psychological factors outperform traditional variables (e.g., gender, social networks) in this environment of ubiquitous exposure. Multivariate models demonstrate that lexical choices are strongly influenced by individual disposition: traits such as agreeableness accelerate the adoption of supraregional forms, whereas a strong local identity functions as a “brake” against standardization. Ultimately, while macro-factors create the pressure for change, individual micro-factors determine whether it takes hold. A speaker’s attitude acts as a “filter” and their personality as a “gate,” deciding whether they accept or resist new forms. These findings challenge purely structural accounts, suggesting that for these locally rooter speakers, even without high physical mobility, lexical change is shaped by a psychometric architecture. Full article

Academia has undergone significant changes recently, such as financial cuts, restructuring, new management policies, precarious employment, and rapid technological advancement. We argue that these shifts can lead to organizational anomie, characterized by deregulation and a breakdown of academia’s normative structure, impacting teaching, learning, and research. In Norway, we conducted qualitative individual interviews with academics (n = 12) and two group interviews with students (n = 13) to explore whether they perceive their academic environment in terms of organizational anomie. Staff participants see the academic environment as transformative but increasingly shaped by economic rationality. They also see a conflict between academic ideals and current work designs and practices, which are highly gamified, reliant on quantified performance measures, and dependent on external funding. They view these changes negatively, casting doubt on whether universities can still fulfil their mission in pursuit of independent critical inquiry. Students report a mismatch between expectations and reality, with some viewing academia instrumentally as a platform to the labor market, reflecting governmental policies to promote employability as a key goal of higher education. Others regard academia as a space for critical inquiry. Although the focus group discussions ultimately converged on the university’s norms and values being a space for critical inquiry, both groups expressed dissatisfaction that the current system fails to fully meet either of these goals. These findings are discussed in light of our understanding of organizational anomie in academia. Full article

Background/Objectives: Developmental language disorder (DLD) has widespread and persistent consequences for children’s development, extending beyond language. Quality of life (QoL) can also be affected, potentially related to difficulties with cognition (e.g., language ability), behaviour (e.g., social–emotional functioning), and/or environmental factors (e.g., multilingualism). This study set out to characterise changes in the QoL of children with DLD and to identify related factors. Methods: Data were collected at 4 and 9 years from children who had attended early language intervention groups before age 4. Parents completed online questionnaires, including the KINDL for QoL. The KINDL measures QoL on six domains: physical well-being, emotional well-being, self-esteem, family well-being, social well-being, and school functioning. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to assess the relationship between change in QoL and cognitive, behavioural, and environmental factors. Results: At both time points, the QoL of children with DLD was reduced compared to the normative group on all domains except self-esteem and family. Emotional well-being and self-esteem scores were significantly lower at 9 years compared to 4 years. Peer problems and multilingualism emerged as influential factors regarding changes in QoL over time. Conclusions: The QoL of children with DLD is vulnerable between age 4 and 9. Overall, QoL might deteriorate in this period, specifically emotional well-being. Early peer problems and multilingual status influence the changes observed in different aspects of QoL, although these effects should be interpreted with caution. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic alcohol use accelerates biological and cognitive aging, yet it remains unclear how cognitive aging progresses during abstinence in alcohol use disorder (AUD). It is also unknown to what extent this follows models such as accelerated aging or the age-related decline as proposed by the vulnerability hypothesis. This study examined age-related changes and cognitive recovery during abstinence in patients with AUD. Methods: A total of 197 clinically admitted patients, referred for detoxification and extensive neuropsychological examination, were included. Neuropsychological testing was administered in the second and sixth week of admission using well-normed instruments. Using both multi-assessment and cross-sectional data, relationships between age and normed cognitive outcome scores were examined. Results: After six weeks of abstinence, age-related deviations were observed for perceptual reasoning (PRI), verbal comprehension (VCI), and short-term memory (SMI) but not for ten other cognitive indices. During admission, age significantly influenced the change in belonging to a specific recovery category. Each additional year of age reduced the odds of showing no cognitive impairment by 5% and reduced the odds of cognitive recovery by approximately 4%, compared to non-improvers. Conclusions: Age-related influences appear limited to specific cognitive functions and do not follow a uniform or easily interpretable pattern. Perceptual reasoning seems negatively affected after age 60 for participants with six weeks of abstinence. Older participants showed a reduced likelihood of cognitive recovery and a reduced likelihood of having no cognitive problems at all. The findings do not support accelerated aging and are still too weak to be considered evidence for the vulnerability hypothesis. Implications for future research are discussed. Full article

This paper examines the philosophy and practice of interfaith dialogue (IFD) developed by Daisaku Ikeda (1928–2023), a prominent religious leader and peace philosopher. It explores how his dialogical approach can contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and pathways to global peace. Ikeda’s dialogue is not confined to doctrinal debate or temporary reconciliation among faith communities. Rather, it is framed as a transformative process in which participants from diverse religious and civilizational traditions rebuild relationships through mutual respect and understanding, thereby contributing to personal transformation and broader societal change. Focusing on Ikeda’s core concepts—humanism, the dignity of life, and human revolution—this study first clarifies the philosophical foundations of his interfaith dialogue rooted in Nichiren Buddhism and a life-affirming worldview. It then examines major dialogues with global thinkers and leaders (e.g., Arnold J. Toynbee, Linus Pauling, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Johan Galtung) and selected institutional practices associated with Soka Gakkai International (SGI), the Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP), and the Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue. These cases illustrate how Ikeda’s IFD functions as praxis for civilizational understanding, social cohesion, conflict transformation, and solidarity for the public good. The paper further analyzes the linkages between Ikeda’s IFD and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), SDG 4 (Quality Education—especially Target 4.7 on Global Citizenship Education), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). It argues that IFD can operate as both a normative and practical resource for mitigating religious conflict, strengthening inclusion, enhancing global citizenship education and education for sustainable development (ESD), and fostering multistakeholder partnerships. The paper also reflects on the challenges of translating an approach grounded in a particular religious tradition into broader SDG governance contexts. Full article

The determination of landslide thrust is one of the premises of slope protection. The normative calculation methods of landslide thrust are often difficult to develop because of the structural complexity and paroxysmal instability of rock slopes. In this study, the thin-plate buckling model was adopted to simplify the upper bedding slope rock mass of the protective structure into a rock plate considering transverse shear deformation. The critical load of bedding rock slope instability was selected as the primary indicator for landslide thrust analysis. The double Fourier series was used to solve the mechanical properties of rock plates with simply supported edges under unidirectional and bidirectional pressures, and the critical load expressions of small-deflection buckling of rock plate mechanics were modeled under corresponding conditions and obtained. The relationship and change rules of the dimensionless load coefficient and rock plate geometry size with different cases of thickness is discussed in detail. Finally, the model test and field test were conducted, and the obtained data were used to verify the theoretical results and applied to the landslide thrust calculation and protection structure design of bedding rock slope, providing a theoretical reference for guiding the design of anti-slide piles for slopes and ensuring the stability of slopes. Full article

Weight stigma often appears in research as individual prejudice and its interpersonal harms, yet women’s accounts show that devaluation also persists through routine, socially organized evaluation. This article examines weight stigma through visibility by treating looking as a patterned interpretive practice with moral and relational consequences. We conducted three in-person focus groups with women in Chile who self-identified as fat (N = 20) in Santiago, Coquimbo, and Valdivia between April and September 2024 and analyzed the data using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants described visibility as a shifting landscape of evaluative looks that travel across everyday domains while retaining recognizable moral logics. We develop a typology of four gazes: an expulsive/invisibilizing gaze that denies fit and belonging; a disciplinary gaze that frames correction as care and produces self-surveillance; a derisive gaze that punishes through contempt; and a brave gaze that offers conditional recognition by praising ordinary presence as exceptional. Women located these gazes in ordinary interactions and in infrastructures that stabilize evaluation, including public seating norms, retail sizing routines, clinical measurement, mirrors, and photographic and digital practices. These findings suggest that reducing weight stigma requires changing not only attitudes but also the scripts and material arrangements that organize visibility and make evaluation routine. Full article