Search Results (4,995)

In the current era of rapid technological change, where artificial intelligence and quantum computing are reshaping knowledge, quantum literacy in high schools is becoming increasingly relevant. An understanding of quantum science is now important for fostering future readiness to prepare students for the future, as it directly affects research, technology and innovation. Introducing quantum computing through educational tools and interactive platforms in schools will make quantum science accessible, equipping students with the necessary skills to understand and participate in future developments. This work investigates the necessity of quantum literacy among secondary education students, as well as their perceptions and understanding of basic concepts of quantum physics. Prior to data collection, students participated in two 90 min educational presentations that introduced fundamental principles of quantum physics through quantum computing and its applications, with an emphasis on cryptography and key distribution. Then, through the application of a specially designed questionnaire, data were collected from 78 students of different kind of schools and background and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results showed positive trends in students’ responses regarding their familiarity with quantum literacy and their understanding of fundamental principles such as superposition and entanglement. In addition, the analysis highlighted students’ interest in quantum computing and technology and its potential applications. This study highlights the need to integrate quantum literacy into the secondary education curriculum in order to foster scientific thinking and prepare students for the challenges of the quantum era. The educational intervention with the two presentations seemed to contribute positively to the development of students’ quantum literacy. Full article

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) can improve efficiency, documentation, and diagnostic quality in ophthalmology. This study examined clinical AI adoption, institutional readiness, perceived utility, trust, ethical concerns, and educational needs among Swiss ophthalmologists and residents. Methods: In May 2025, an anonymous online survey was distributed to board-certified ophthalmologists and residents across Switzerland. The structured questionnaire addressed clinical AI use, institutional infrastructure, perceptions of diagnostic utility, trust, ethical–legal concerns, and educational preparedness. Responses were recorded on five-point Likert scales. Results: Of 106 respondents (mean age 42.4 ± 11.4 years, 48.1% female), 20.8% reported current clinical AI use. Willingness to use AI exceeded 65% across all 10 diagnostic scenarios, but active use remained ≤12.1%. Institutional readiness was low: 6.6% reported AI-related guidelines, 26.4% had access to an institutional AI contact person, and 28.3% received supervisor support (more often among residents). While 80% agreed that AI can support diagnostics, only 12.1% trusted AI recommendations as much as those from colleagues; 87.9% critically reviewed the results, and 93.9% endorsed the use of AI in an assistive but not independently decision-making role. Ethical–legal concerns included unresolved liability (74.8%), informed consent (66.7%), and data protection adequacy (49.5%). Structured AI education was supported by 77.8%, yet only 15.1% felt prepared, and two-thirds (66.7%) indicated they would use AI more with better training. Conclusions: Ophthalmologists and residents in Switzerland express strong interest in the clinical use of AI and recognize its diagnostic potential. Major barriers include insufficient institutional structures, lack of regulatory clarity, and inadequate educational preparation. Addressing these deficits will be essential for responsible AI integration into ophthalmologic practice. Full article

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 articulates the need for a clear understanding of responsibilities across public and private stakeholders, including academia. This study aimed to clarify how university faculty members in Aceh Province, Indonesia, devastated by the 2004 Aceh Tsunami, perceive the role of universities in suggesting policy recommendations for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and sustainable development, and their perspective on the relationship between those roles and the main functions of universities. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 400 respondents in Aceh Province from July 2023 to November 2023. The authors examined descriptive statistics, followed by Kruskal–Wallis tests and structural equation modeling (SEM). The authors found that most university faculty members were optimistic about the role of universities in providing policy recommendations for DRR. Furthermore, interest in DRR activities and relevant past experiences may influence their perception of these roles. The SEM analysis showed that faculty members perceive universities as key contributors to DRR policy recommendations. Based on the above, the authors posit that universities must adopt measures that empower faculty members to gain interest and experience in DRR activities. Steady progress in the main functions of universities is essential for articulating DRR policy recommendations. Full article

Parental involvement in youth sports is an increasingly relevant topic because of its key implications for children’s development in youth sports. This study’s aims are threefold: (1) to investigate parental involvement practices based on parents’ previous sports experiences, (2) to examine athletes’ and parents’ perceptions on parental involvement practices across different age categories, and (3) to compare the athletes’ and parents’ overall perceptions on parental involvement practices. In total, 423 participants (151 youth players and 272 parents) completed the Parental Behaviors in Sports (PBSP) questionnaire. The PBSP includes separate versions for parents and athletes, each assessing five key dimensions: (1) sports support, (2) competition attendance, (3) technical influence, (4) performance pressure, and (5) sports expectations. In the parents’ group, 154 participants (56.6%) reported previous sports experience. No statistically significant differences were observed in the PBSP dimensions between parents with and without previous sports experience. Parents’ years of sports experience negatively correlated with performance pressure (r = −0.155, p = 0.013) and expectations (r = −0.149, p = 0.017). Age group analysis showed lower competition attendance in the U18 group and higher expectations in the U12 group. When comparing parents’ and athletes’ responses, statistically significant differences emerged in all PBSP dimensions except for performance pressure. These findings underscore the importance of aligning parental involvement with children’s experiences to foster enjoyment, reduce pressure, and support sustained engagement in youth sports. Full article

To address the difficulty frontline commanders face in accurately perceiving fireground risks during the early stages of oil storage tank fires, in this study, we propose a method that integrates complex network theory with a multi-source information fusion approach based on cloud models and Dempster-Shafer (D-S) evidence theory for situational analysis and dynamic perception. Initially, the internal evolution of accident scenarios within individual tanks is modeled as a single-layer network, while scenario propagation between tanks is represented through inter-layer connections, forming a multi-layer complex network for the storage area. The importance of each node is evaluated to assess the risk level of scenario nodes, enabling preliminary situational awareness, with limited reconnaissance information. Subsequently, the cloud model’s capability to handle fuzziness is combined with D-S theory’s strength in fusing multi-source data. Multi-source heterogeneous information is integrated to obtain the confidence levels of key nodes across low, medium, and high-risk categories. Based on these results, high-risk scenarios in oil storage tank emergency response are dynamically adjusted, enabling the updating and prediction of accident evolution. Finally, the proposed method is validated using the 2015 Gulei PX plant explosion case study. The results demonstrate that the approach effectively identifies high-risk scenarios, enhances dynamic situational perception, and is generally consistent with actual accident progression, thereby improving emergency response capability. Full article

Diversity, equity, and inclusion, most commonly known as DEI, serves as a framework for practices that promote the fair treatment and full participation of all members of a community. Culturally responsive teaching and critical pedagogy are commonly associated with DEI as part of the larger strategy to validate and inspire learners while improving their self-efficacy and using education to challenge oppressive systems. While DEI is becoming increasingly better known in higher education, Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) are heralded in the literature as a model for this work. Nevertheless, there is relatively limited empirical research exploring facets of DEI and culturally responsive teaching on HBCU and other minority-serving institutions’ campuses. This paper examines the campus of an HBCU located in the Mid-Atlantic United States, with an institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, via a comprehensive DEI climate study that included separate surveys of students and faculty/staff. More specifically, the study explored whether all community members consider the campus inclusive, whether all community members experience a culture of belonging, whether adequate resources and supports exist for all campus members to succeed, whether faculty exhibit culturally responsive teaching practices, and whether the perceptions of faculty and staff differ from those of students. The purpose of the study was to help address the gap in the DEI literature exploring the practices of minority-serving institutions. According to the results, participants found the University to be an inclusive place, expressing strong satisfaction with the campus climate and experience. Further, when the presence of culturally responsive teaching practices was explored, strong evidence was indicated. Possible areas for improvement include greater supports and resources for LGBTQIA+, Indigenous, and disabled community members. Full article

Castles situated in rural areas occupy a distinctive position within the European heritage landscape, serving economic, residential and symbolic functions. While the great urban royal residences have benefited from constant attention, conservation and valorisation in Central and Eastern Europe, castles in rural areas have often been subjected to systematic neglect. The objective of this study is to analyse three castles (Bulci, Căpâlnaș and Petriș) in the Lower Mureș Valley in Romania, with a view to observing how these symbols of a fragmented past have been marked by historical ruptures, regime changes and marginalisation policies, and the current potential of these castles to be transformed from derelict spaces into spaces of local importance. Should our research contribute to the study of the transformation of derelict spaces of historical castles into invigorating spaces, from a methodological point of view the following three steps were taken: (1) an assessment of the state of conservation and the factors that led to the degradation of these noble domains was carried out; (2) research was conducted on the perception of stakeholders regarding how castles can become a generator of local development; and (3) an analysis of the development proposals around these castles from stakeholders was performed. The study is based on 35 semi-structured interviews conducted with stakeholders and residents of the castle communities analysed, and on a thematic content analysis of these interviews. The findings of the research suggest a state of conservation that is insecure, and the perceptions of stakeholders indicate a necessity for institutional intervention and public–private partnerships. There is also a conviction that attracting large-scale investors is essential for the revitalisation of these monuments. The responses indicate a genuine concern for the future of the castles. The proposals for the development of the castles are oriented towards their utilisation in cultural tourist circuits. Full article

In response to the growing importance of vocational education for youth employability, this study examines students’ perceptions of dual vocational education and training (dVET) in Bulgaria, focusing on the following determinants of student loyalty (SL) and word-of-mouth communication (WOM) in the secondary education context: brand associations, brand relevance, brand image, image of dVET, service quality, and student satisfaction, based on previously validated scales adapted to the Bulgarian context. A structured questionnaire was administered to a target population of 608 students across nine vocational secondary schools in the Plovdiv region. A total of 507 usable surveys were collected from students in 11th and 12th grades who were actively participating in work-based learning. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the SmartPLS 4 software. The findings indicate that brand image is the strongest direct predictor of the image of dVET. Furthermore, student satisfaction stands out as the most influential antecedent of WOM. The indirect pathways from service quality to both SL and WOM, mediated by student satisfaction, underscore the pivotal role of satisfaction as a transmission mechanism. The study contributes to the limited empirical research on branding in dVET and offers insights for policymakers, school administrators, and employers seeking to improve the attractiveness of these pathways. Full article

As China’s housing market shifts from quantity expansion to quality improvement, consumer expectations for both functionality and aesthetics in residential products are rising. Drawing on the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) framework, this study develops a perceptual mechanism model to examine how display design identity and facility service satisfaction influence millennials’ willingness to purchase improved housing, mediated by an elevated sense of style and moderated by upward social comparison. Based on structural equation modeling with 491 valid responses, the findings reveal that facility service satisfaction has a significant direct effect on purchase intention, while display design identity affects behavior indirectly through an elevated sense of style. Moreover, the elevated sense of style serves as a critical mediator in multiple pathways, and its effect is significantly moderated by upward social comparison. This study contributes to the housing consumption literature by clarifying how functional and symbolic factors jointly shape purchase intentions, especially under the influence of social comparison dynamics. It also highlights the role of artistic display design as a symbolic stimulus that enhances style perception and self-identity among younger consumers, offering practical insights for improved housing design and marketing strategies. Full article

The purpose of the study is to research emotional labor and cognitive effort in radar-based collision avoidance tasks within a nautical simulator. By assessing participants’ emotional responses and mental strain, the research aimed to identify negative emotional states associated with a lack of experience, which, in the worst-case scenario, could contribute to navigational incidents. Fifteen participants engaged in multiple sessions simulating typical maritime conditions and navigation challenges. Emotional and cognitive effort were evaluated using three primary methods: heart rate monitoring, a Likert-scale questionnaire, and real-time facial expression recognition software. Heart rate data provided physiological indicators of stress, while the questionnaire and facial expressions captured subjective perceptions of difficulty and emotional strain. By correlating the measurements, the study aimed to uncover emotional patterns linked to task difficulty with insight into engagement, attention, and blink rate levels during the simulation, revealing how a lack of experience contributes to negative emotions and human factor errors. The understanding of the emotional labor and effort in maritime navigation training contributes to strategies for reducing incident risk through improved simulation training practices. Full article

The effectiveness of industrial heritage conservation relies on the collaborative efforts of multiple stakeholders. However, existing research lacks systematic exploration of stakeholders’ perception of heritage value and the pathways through which such perception translates into conservation behaviors. This study takes the Shaanxi section of the Baocheng Railway, a typical linear industrial heritage, as a case study. Based on the “Cognitive Appraisal Theory of Emotions” (CATE) theory, it examines the mechanism between heritage value perception, place identity, and heritage responsibility behavior. Through structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis of 414 questionnaire responses, the study finds that heritage value perception of the Baocheng Railway’s Shaanxi section not only significantly positively influences stakeholders’ place identity but also directly promotes the formation of heritage responsibility behavior. Among these, the perception of social value has the most pronounced impact on place identity and responsibility behavior. Furthermore, place identity plays a key mediating role between value perception and responsibility behavior. This study introduces the CATE theory into industrial heritage research, revealing the mechanism of behavior generation from the path of “cognition → emotion → behavior”. By focusing on linear industrial heritage sites, it broadens the scope of heritage research and highlights the central role of social value perception in driving conservation intentions and behaviors. The study further enriches research on heritage responsibility behavior, and the proposed theoretical model and findings can provide theoretical references for the management and conservation of industrial heritage. Full article

The leaves and stems of Bauhinia guianensis Aubl. are used in traditional Amazonian phytotherapy for the treatment of pain and inflammation. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of hydroethanolic extracts from B. guianensis Aubl. leaves and stems (HELBg and HESBg, respectively) in vivo models of inflammation and hyperalgesia. Danio rerio experimental animals were submitted to the acute inflammation test, induced by intraperitoneal (ip.) administration of carrageenan 20 μg/animal (abdominal edema); the groups were previously treated orally with saline solution 2 μL/animal (SS), dimethyl sulfoxide 2 μL/animal (DMSO), indomethacin 10 mg/kg, HELBg 100 mg/kg and HESBg 100 mg/kg, n = 12 per experimental group to evaluate the inhibition of edema and alteration histopathology of the liver, intestine and kidney of these animals. The antinociceptive effect was observed from the body curvature index and the behavioral responses of Danio rerio, after an experimental protocol for the induction of hyperalgesia, by ip. administration of 10 μL/animal of 2.5% acetic acid; the animals were orally treated orally with saline solution 2 μL/animal (SS), dimethyl sulfoxide 2 μL/animal (DMSO), morphine 2.5 mg/kg, HELBg 100 mg/kg and HESBg 100 mg/kg, and n = 5 per experimental group. In carrageenan-induced edema, the group treated with HESBg inhibited edema formation over the 3 h of the experiment. Maximum edema was inhibited by 54% (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group. Both HELBg and HESBg prevented body curvature index changes (t_(df=3,8) = 6.96 and t_(df=3,8) = 6.61, respectively, both p < 0.0001). In the behavioral parameters sensitive to antinociceptive pharmacological modulation, due to the abdominal constriction induced by acetic acid, the administration of HELBg and HESBg resulted in an improvement in swimming activity, with the following results: increase in distance covered (F_(df=3,16) = 6.50 and F_(df=3,16) = 7.72, respectively, both p < 0.0001), decrease in freezing time (F_(df=3,16) = 2.04 and F_(df=3,16) = 1.28, respectively, both p < 0.0059), increase in the number of ascents to the upper area of the tank (F_(df=3,16) = 33.02 and F_(df=3,16) = 35.62, respectively, both p < 0.0009) and decreased time spent in that area (F_(df=3,16) = 101.19 and F_(df=3,16) = 103.59, respectively, both p < 0.0038). It is reasonable to suppose that both extracts modulated the variations induced by carrageenan and acetic acid through the inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis, thereby decreasing the release of inflammatory mediators, the sensitization of peripheral nociceptors, and, consequently, the perception of pain. These results suggest that HELBg and HESBg have anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities, likely of peripheral origin and associated with the inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis. Full article

Artificial intelligence is transforming higher education, particularly in flipped classroom settings, in which students learn independently prior to class and collaborate during in-person sessions. This study examines the role of ChatGPT as a virtual peer in a veterinary anatomy course centered on cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Over two academic years (2023–2025), 297 first-year veterinary students worked in small groups to explore anatomy through structured prompts in English and Spanish using ChatGPT versions 3.5 and 4. Activities involved analyzing AI output, evaluating anatomical accuracy, and suggesting alternative names for vascular variations. Learning outcomes were assessed using Bloom’s Taxonomy-based questions, and student perceptions were captured via online surveys. Progressive performance improvement was noted across three instructional phases, particularly in higher-level cognitive tasks (Bloom level 4). Responses to English prompts were more accurate than those to Spanish prompts. While students appreciated ChatGPT’s role in reinforcing knowledge and sparking discussion, they also flagged inaccuracies and emphasized the need for critical evaluation. Peer collaboration was found to be more influential than chatbot input. Conclusions: ChatGPT can enrich flipped anatomy instruction when paired with structured guidance. It supports content review, fosters group learning and promotes reflective thinking. However, developing digital literacy and ensuring expert oversight are essential to maximizing the educational value of AI. Full article

Nanostores—micro, independent grocery retailers—are often defined overlooking their socioeconomic roles and relational significance in favour of their primary functional aspects. To close this gap, this study adopts a systemic perspective to examine how multiple stakeholders (owners, customers, and suppliers) shape nanostore identity. Accordingly, this study proposes a framework of X-Y-Z identity statements, along with the use of the TASCOI tool, to examine nanostore descriptions and map their roles, expectations, and transformation processes. This systemic framework, rooted in management cybernetics, enabled the collection and analysis of 168 survey responses from 34 stores in Mexico City. The results show that nanostore identities are varied and context-dependent, operating as grocery stores, family projects, community anchors, economic lifelines, and competitors. This diversity influences stakeholder engagement, resource utilisation, and operational decisions. Overall, this study provides a transferable framework for analysing micro-business identity and transformation, with implications for problem-solving, decision-making, and policy development. Future research should address the current limitations of this study, including its geographical cross-sectional design, limited sampling method, reliance on self-reported perceptions, and lack of generalisability to other populations. Future work will involve exploring other urban contexts, utilising longitudinal data, expanding the sample, and adopting a participatory research approach to gain a deeper understanding of identity dynamics and their implications for nanostore resilience and survivability. Full article

With so many people becoming distanced from the world of agriculture, what is the best way to bridge the knowledge gap? Studies have shown that video messaging could be a key factor in lessening this gap. This study assessed the perceptions of young adults about animal agriculture and the effectiveness of emotional and cognitive videos featuring local farmers and industry experts to alter perception and build trust in the beef industry. An invitation to participate was sent to 10,000 Auburn University students, and responses were closed after 500 complete responses were received. Participants were directed to a Qualtrics (2022) survey with a 5-point Likert scale and open-ended questions. The questionnaire included opinions on animal welfare, the diet/health of red meat consumers, and environmental/sustainability aspects of the beef industry. After viewing one emotional and one cognitive video, each lasting four minutes, participants retook the survey. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests in SPSS (Version 28). Results showed participants’ views improved by 82% after watching the videos. ATLAS (Series 9) was used to code key positive and negative words in open responses. Participants reported a stronger preference for the emotional video compared to the cognitive video (190 vs. 99, p < 0.05). However, because the videos were always shown in the same order, this finding should be interpreted with caution, as order effects may have influenced participants’ responses. Full article