Search Results (796)

The evolution of modern warfare and civil exploration requires platforms that can operate seamlessly across the air–water interface. The folding-wing Hybrid Air and Underwater Vehicle (FUD) has emerged as a transformative solution, combining the high-speed cruising capabilities of fixed-wing aircraft with the stealth characteristics of underwater navigation. This review thoroughly analyzes the advancements and challenges in folding-wing FUD technology. The discussion is framed around four interconnected pillars: the overall design driven by morphing technology, adaptation of the propulsion system, multi-phase dynamic modeling and control, and experimental verification. The paper systematically compares existing technical pathways, including lateral and longitudinal folding mechanisms, as well as dual-use and hybrid propulsion strategies. The analysis indicates that, although significant progress has been made with prototypes demonstrating the ability to transition between air and water, core challenges persist. These challenges include underwater endurance, structural reliability under impact loads, and effective integration of the power system. Additionally, this paper explores promising application scenarios in both military and civilian domains, discussing future development trends that focus on intelligence, integration, and clustering. This review not only consolidates the current state of technology but also emphasizes the necessity for interdisciplinary approaches. By combining advanced materials, computational intelligence, and robust control systems, we can overcome existing barriers to progress. In conclusion, FUD technology is moving from conceptual validation to practical engineering applications, positioning itself to become a crucial asset in future cross-domain operations. Full article

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDSs) are essential for stormwater management in urban areas, with varying hydrological, social, ecological, and economic benefits. Nevertheless, choosing the SUDS most appropriate for public spaces poses a challenge when balancing details/specifications against community decisions, primarily social implications and perceptions. Building on the SUDS design pillar of the amenity, this study outlines a three-phase methodological framework for selecting SUDS based on social facilitation. The first phase introduces the application of the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Classificatory Expectation–Maximization (CEM) techniques by modeling complex social interdependencies to find critical components related to urban planning. A Likert scale survey was also conducted with 440 urban dwellers in Tunja (Colombia), which identified three dimensions: Residential Satisfaction (RS), Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change (RACC), and Community Participation (CP). In the second phase, the factors identified above were transformed into eight operational criteria, which were weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the collaboration of 35 international experts in SUDS planning and implementation. In the third phase, these weighted criteria were used to evaluate and classify 13 types of SUDSs based on the experts’ assessments of their sub-criteria. The results deliver a clear message: cities must concentrate on solutions that will guarantee that water is managed to the best of their ability, not just safely, and that also enhance climate resilience, energy efficiency, and the ways in which public space is used. Among those options considered, infiltration ponds, green roofs, rain gardens, wetlands, and the like were the best-performing options, providing real and concrete uses in promoting a more resilient and sustainable urban water system. The methodology was also used in a real case in Tunja, Colombia. In its results, this approach proved not only pragmatic but also useful for all concerned, showing that the socio-cultural dimensions can be truly integrated into planning SUDSs and ensuring success. Full article

Regarding the functions of Cave 285 at the Mogao Caves 莫高窟 during the Western Wei period, scholars have generally considered it a meditation cave. The main chamber has four small chambers each on the southern and northern walls, believed to serve as meditation spaces. However, a close examination of the architectural features of these eight small chambers reveals that they may have had another purpose, fundamentally different from meditation. Close visual analysis shows that the lintels of each small chamber are adorned with honeysuckle patterns, between which stand two birds forming paired bird images, with considerable variation in the types of birds. The lintel imagery of the eight small chambers in Cave 285 differs from the honeysuckle and lotus-rebirth themes commonly emphasized in the lintel designs of the main niches of contemporaneous caves that highlight the significance of the Pure Land of the Buddha. It also does not align with the flame-pattern-dominated designs seen in other niches on various faces of the central pillar during this period. This indicates a difference in symbolic meaning. At the same time, the paired birds or individual birds appear in depictions of the Pure Land on the truncated-pyramidal ceilings of caves from the same period, alongside images of honeysuckle, lotus-born beings, celestial beings, winged deities, jewels, and animals. Similarly, paired birds (such as parrots, vermilion birds, phoenixes, and bluebirds) found on the walls, heavenly gates, and screens of the Wei and Jin dynasty tombs in Dunhuang symbolize the deceased’s ascension to immortality. The frequent appearance of paired birds on lintels, doors, door frames, and walls outside the doors of tombs from the medieval period signifies the deceased’s ascension to immortality. Considering the funerary nature of the eight small chambers in Cave 285 and the symbolic meaning and development trajectory of paired birds in tombs and caves during the medieval period, the eight pairs of birds on the lintels of these small chambers were meant to aid the deceased’s soul in its ascension to immortality and rebirth in the Pure Land. Full article

This paper presents the Living Lab Assessment Method (LLAM), a context-sensitive framework for assessing impact and value creation in Living Labs (LLs). While LLs have become established instruments for Open and Urban Innovation, systematic and transferable approaches to evaluate their impact remain scarce and still show theoretical and practical barriers. This study proposes a new methodological approach that aims to address these challenges through the development of the LLAM, the Living Lab Assessment Method. This study reports a five-year iterative development process embedded in Ghent’s urban and social innovation ecosystem through the combination of three complementary methodological pillars: (1) co-creation and co-design with lead users, ensuring alignment with practitioner needs and real-world conditions; (2) multiple case study research, enabling iterative refinement across diverse Living Lab projects, and (3) participatory action research, integrating reflexive and iterative cycles of observation, implementation, and adjustment. The LLAM was empirically developed and validated across four use cases, each contributing to the method’s operational robustness and contextual adaptability. Results show that LLAM captures multi-level value creation, ranging from individual learning and network strengthening to systemic transformation, by linking participatory processes to outcomes across stakeholder, project, and ecosystem levels. The paper concludes that LLAM advances both theoretical understanding and practical evaluation of Living Labs by providing a structured, adaptable, and empirically grounded methodology for assessing their contribution to sustainable and inclusive urban innovation. Full article

Background/Objectives: One of the pillars of optimal footballer performance is the gradual preparation of the body for physical exertion in terms of intensity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a structured warm-up and cool-down program on flexibility, perceived fatigue, and injury prevention in young football players. Methods: Participants were 60 junior football players (U17), with a mean age of 16.5 ± 0.5 years, mean height of 172.5 ± 6.7 cm, and mean body mass of 70.2 ± 6.4 kg. The participants were assigned to experimental (EXP; n = 30) and control (CON; n = 30) groups during 8 mesocycles. A 4-week training stimulus was applied in parallel, consisting of an author-designed exercise routine with a profiled intensity (warm-up and cool-down parts) for the EXP group and standard exercises for the CON group. Selected variables (motor, endurance, injuries) were assessed before, during, and after the intervention. Additionally, the profile of selected correlations was analysed. Statistical analysis was performed using t-tests with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: In the EXP group (post-test), a significant improvement in flexibility was observed in the forward trunk flexion test (d = 1.13 cm; p < 0.001; d_c2 = 1.05). Simultaneously, participants reported lower levels of subjective fatigue (RPE = 6.86 ± 0.82 points) compared to the CON group (p = 0.016; d_c = 0.46) and demonstrated fewer injuries during the annual cycle (0.97 ± 0.83 vs. 1.33 ± 0.66; p = 0.026; d_c = 0.48). Both groups showed a strong negative correlation between flexibility and the number of injuries in the annual cycle, training experience and the number of injuries, as well as training experience and RPE (all r_p > −0.50). A strong positive correlation was found between RPE and the number of injuries (r_p > 0.60). Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the structured warm-up and cool-down program significantly improved flexibility, reduced perceived fatigue, and decreased injury occurrence in the participants. Full article

As global airspace operations grow increasingly complex, the risk of near-mid-air collisions (NMACs) poses a persistent and critical challenge to aviation safety. Traditional collision-avoidance systems, while effective in many scenarios, are limited by rule-based logic and reliance on transponder data, particularly in environments featuring diverse aircraft types, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and evolving urban air mobility platforms. This paper introduces a novel, integrative machine learning framework designed to analyze NMAC incidents using the rich, contextual information contained within the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) database. The methodology is structured around three pillars: (1) natural language processing (NLP) techniques are applied to extract latent topics and semantic features from pilot and crew incident narratives; (2) cluster analysis is conducted on both textual and structured incident features to empirically define distinct typologies of NMAC events; and (3) supervised machine learning models are developed to predict pilot decision outcomes (evasive action vs. no action) based on integrated data sources. The analysis reveals seven operationally coherent topics that reflect communication demands, pattern geometry, visibility challenges, airspace transitions, and advisory-driven interactions. A four-cluster solution further distinguishes incident contexts ranging from tower-directed approaches to general aviation pattern and cruise operations. The Random Forest model produces the strongest predictive performance, with topic-based indicators, miss distance, altitude, and operating rule emerging as influential features. The results show that narrative semantics provide measurable signals of coordination load and acquisition difficulty, and that integrating text with structured variables enhances the prediction of maneuvering decisions in NMAC situations. These findings highlight opportunities to strengthen radio practice, manage pattern spacing, improve mixed equipage awareness, and refine alerting in short-range airport area encounters. Full article

This article explores the integration of food ethics as a proposed fifth and emerging pillar of food security, complementing the four dimensions established by the FAO 1996 framework (availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability). Using Romania as a case study, the research combines descriptive statistical analysis, legislative review, and conceptual interpretation to examine how moral responsibility, social equity, and food citizenship shape sustainable food systems. Quantitative data from Eurostat (2020–2022) reveal that Romania generates over 3.4 million tons of food waste annually, with households accounting for more than half of the total. This wasted abundance coexists with persistent food insecurity, affecting 14.7% of the population who cannot afford a protein-based meal even once every second day. Given the short time series (n = 3), including the entire data that was reported to date and the exclusive use of secondary data, the statistical results are interpreted descriptively and, where applicable, exploratorily. In this context, the findings demonstrate that food waste is not merely an issue of economic inefficiency, but rather a profound ethical and social imbalance. This research argues for the conceptual recognition of an ethical pillar within the food security framework linking moral awareness, responsible consumption, and equitable access to food. By advancing food ethics as a normative and societal foundation of sustainable food systems, this article offers a framework relevant for policy design, civic engagement, and collective responsibility, reframing food security beyond a purely technical objective. Full article

Organ-on-a-Chip (OOC) platforms are microfluidic systems that recreate key features of human organ physiology in vitro via controlled perfusion. Fluid mechanical stimuli strongly influence cell morphology and function, making this important for cardiovascular OOC applications exposed to pulsatile blood flow. However, many existing OOC devices employ relatively simple chamber geometries and steady inflow assumptions, which may cause non-uniform shear exposure to cells, create stagnant regions with prolonged residence time, and overlook the specific effects of pulsatile perfusion. Here, we used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to investigate how chamber geometry and inflow conditions shape the near-wall flow environment on a cell culture surface at a matched cycle-averaged volumetric flow rate. Numerical results demonstrated that pillarized chambers markedly reduced relative residence time (RRT) versus the flat chamber, and the small pillar configuration produced the most uniform time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) distribution among the tested designs. Phase-resolved analysis further showed that wall shear stress varies with waveform phase, indicating that steady inflow may not capture features of pulsatile perfusion. These findings provide practical guidance for pillar geometries and perfusion conditions to create more controlled and physiologically relevant microenvironments in OOC platforms, thus improving the reliability of cell experimental readouts. Full article

This paper develops a quantitative framework for climate–financial risk measurement that combines a spatially explicit jump–diffusion asset–loss model with prudentially aligned risk metrics. The approach connects regional physical hazards and transition variables derived from climate-consistent pathways to asset returns and credit parameters through the use of climate-adjusted volatilities and jump intensities. Fat tails and geographic heterogeneity are captured by it, which conventional diffusion-based or purely narrative stress tests fail to reflect. The framework delivers portfolio-level Spatial Climate Value-at-Risk (SCVaR) and Expected Shortfall (ES) across scenario–horizon matrices and incorporates an explicit robustness layer (block bootstrap confidence intervals, unconditional/conditional coverage backtests, and structural-stability tests). All ES measures are understood as Conditional Expected Shortfall (CES), i.e., tail expectations evaluated conditional on climate stress scenarios. Applications to bank loan books, pension portfolios, and sovereign exposures show how climate shocks reprice assets, alter default and recovery dynamics, and amplify tail losses in a region- and sector-dependent manner. The resulting, statistically validated outputs are designed to be decision-useful for Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) and Pillar 2: climate-adjusted capital buffers, scenario-based stress calibration, and disclosure bridges that complement alignment metrics such as the Green Asset Ratio (GAR). Overall, the framework operationalises a move from exposure tallies to forward-looking, risk-sensitive, and auditable measures suitable for supervisory dialogue and internal risk appetite. Full article

Modern construction projects face persistent challenges with cost overruns and fragmented management across disconnected service phases. Whole-Process Engineering Consulting (WPEC) addresses these issues by integrating investment decision-making, design, supervision, and cost management into a unified delivery framework. Therefore, this study aims to develop a WPEC competitiveness influencing factor system to identify the key influencing factors and the impact pathways. Firstly, a WPEC competitiveness framework comprising five dimensions and 28 factors is developed. Secondly, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is applied to calculate factor weights based on 225 questionnaires. Then, the multi-level structural model is constructed based on Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM) to identify the critical impact pathways. Finally, BZ Consulting Enterprise was selected as a case study to verify the rationality and practical value. The results show that the Corporate Full-Service Consulting Capability and Corporate Foundational Resources are identified as the core pillars, in addition to highlighting three key pathways—resource-integration drive, legacy-capability transfer, and service-awareness transformation—all of which link foundational drivers to market performance. Theoretically, this study introduces a systematic analytical framework for WEPC by mapping its competitiveness factors into the multi-level structural model. Practically, it enables enterprises to assess their transition readiness and formulate targeted strategies to secure a sustainable competitive advantage in the integrated consulting market. Full article

This study specifies and validates a three-layer Structural Equation Model (SEM) that accounts for how tourists’ evaluations of destination attributes translate into loyalty; the model is based on UN Tourism’s sustainability pillars. Guided by service-science and Customer Experience (CX) logics, and adopting a Tourist Experience (TX) framework that treats Tourist Experience as a domain-specific case of CX, we define five first-order antecedents—Emotions (EMS), Local Culture (CTL), Authenticity (AUT), Entertainment (ENT), and Servicescape (SVS)—that load onto a higher-order appraisal, Global Perception (GEN), which in turn drives Destination Loyalty (LOY). Using ordinal indicators and a robust diagonally weighted least squares estimator (WLSMV), the model exhibits a good global fit (CFI/TLI = 0.970/0.968; SRMR = 0.049; RMSEA = 0.073 [90% CI = 0.070–0.076]). Standardized effects indicate that GEN is primarily explained by Emotions (β = 0.445, p < 0.001), Authenticity (β = 0.271, p < 0.001), and Servicescape (β = 0.241, p < 0.001), whereas CTL and ENT are not significant when competing with these other predictors. GEN strongly predicts LOY (β = 0.967, p < 0.001), mediating sizable indirect effects from EMS, AUT, and SVS to LOY. The findings corroborate a parsimonious mediational chain in which affective, meaning-related, and infrastructural inputs cohere into a single global appraisal that is proximal to loyalty. Our study provides a decision-focused blueprint for designing emotion-rich, authenticity-protecting, and well-orchestrated servicescapes to enhance GEN and, consequently, LOY; it adheres to established SEM reporting standards and articulates a holistic transactional conceptualization grounded in recent tourism literature. Improvements in GEN reflect not only better experiences but also designs consistent with long-run destination sustainability. Full article

Morocco ranked 9th in the 2024 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), placing it among the world’s top 10 performers in climate action. Building on this leadership, our review outlines practical and real-world steps to strengthen Morocco’s agricultural efforts to curb greenhouse gases. We base our analysis on a comparison of national communications, updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and findings from peer-reviewed research. We identified four main areas where Morocco can boost its impact: advanced livestock methane reduction, systematic soil carbon monitoring, precision nitrogen management, and integrated renewable energy systems. To inform these levers, we studied best practices from other six high-performing countries in the 2024 CCPI—Denmark, Sweden, India, Estonia, the Netherlands, and the Philippines—and considered how their strategies could be adapted to Morocco’s semi-arid, smallholder-dominated farming context. This study delivers four concrete, multi-phase implementation roadmaps spanning 2025–2035. These roadmaps outline the technical steps, regulatory changes, and financial mechanisms. They also specified emissions reduction targets associated with each pillar: 15–30% for livestock methane, 0.3–0.8 tons of carbon per hectare per year for soil carbon sequestration, 18% for precision nitrogen management, and fossil fuel displacement through five renewable energy initiatives. The roadmaps are designed to inform the next update of Morocco’s Generation Green strategy and support the country’s 2030 NDC goal of a 45.5% emission reduction. Full article

Low-altitude logistics (LAL), supported by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and emerging urban air mobility operations within the low-altitude airspace (typically <1000 m), is rapidly reshaping last-mile distribution and time-critical delivery. However, LAL systems remain vulnerable to compound disruptions spanning weather, infrastructure, governance, and cybersecurity. Using a PRISMA-guided protocol, this systematic review synthesizes 1600 peer-reviewed studies published from 2020 to 2025 and combines bibliometric mapping (VOSviewer) with qualitative content analysis to consolidate the knowledge base on low-altitude logistics resilience (LALR). We conceptualize LALR via four coupled pillars, including robustness, adaptability, recoverability, and redundancy. The synthesize evidence across key vulnerability domains consists of platform reliability, communication and infrastructure readiness, regulatory fragmentation, cyber exposure, and weather-driven operational uncertainty. Building on the synthesis, we propose a Technology–Policy–Ecosystem roadmap that links (i) AI-enabled autonomy and risk-aware planning, (ii) adaptive governance tools such as regulatory sandboxes and dynamic airspace/UTM management, and (iii) ecosystem-level interventions, notably public–private partnerships and equity-oriented service design for underserved areas. We further outline a research agenda centered on measurable resilience metrics, activate redundancy design, climate-adaptive UAV operations, and digital-twin-enabled orchestration for scalable and sustainable LAL ecosystems. Full article

Electrokinetics has established itself as a central pillar in microfluidic research, offering a powerful, non-mechanical means to manipulate fluids and analytes. Mechanisms such as electroosmotic flow (EOF), electrophoresis (EP), and dielectrophoresis (DEP) re-main central to the field, once more layers of complexity emerge heterogeneous interfaces, viscoelastic liquids, or anisotropic droplets are introduced. Five research directions have become prominent. Field-driven manipulation of droplets and emulsions—most strikingly Janus droplets—demonstrates how asymmetric interfacial structures generate unconventional transport modes. Electrokinetic injection techniques follow as a second focus, because sharply defined sample plugs are essential for high-resolution separations and for maintaining analytical accuracy. Control of EOF is then framed as an integrated design challenge that involves tuning surface chemistry, engineering zeta potential, implementing nanoscale patterning, and navigating non-Newtonian flow behavior. Next, electrokinetic instabilities and electrically driven micromixing are examined through the lens of vortex-mediated perturbations that break diffusion limits in low-Reynolds-number flows. Finally, electrokinetic enrichment strategies—ranging from ion concentration polarization focusing to stacking-based preconcentration—demonstrate how trace analytes can be selectively accumulated to achieve detection sensitivity. Ultimately, electrokinetics is converging towards sophisticated integrated platforms and hybrid powering schemes, promising to expand microfluidic capabilities into previously inaccessible domains for analytical chemistry and diagnostics. Full article