Search Results (567)

The dehesa, as a socio-ecological system and cultural landscape, is a strategic resource for environmental education, territorial sustainability, and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge. This study analyzes the perception of primary school students in Extremadura regarding this environment, using a mixed methodology that combines statistical, semantic, and spatial analysis. The results show a generally positive assessment of the dehesa heritage, although accompanied by a disconnect between this symbolic assessment and direct experience of the territory, especially in urban contexts. It identifies significant differences between students from rural and urban environments in terms of their knowledge of trades, products, and dehesa spaces, as well as their preferred activities in the dehesa. While rural students show greater interest in operational activities and direct contact with the environment (such as feeding livestock and milking), urban students lean toward sensory or symbolic experiences (such as consuming products or occasional harvesting), reflecting different ways of connecting with the territory. Spatial analysis reveals that more than 80% of schools are located less than 5 km from well-preserved dehesa areas, which represents an opportunity to integrate these landscapes into formal education. However, inequalities in access from special education centers have been detected, posing challenges in terms of territorial and educational equity. This study concludes that the dehesa should be recognized as an open classroom, capable of fostering roots, ecological literacy, and cultural sustainability through contextualized and territory-sensitive pedagogical approaches. Full article

Stroke-surviving patients may present a wide range of neurological deficits affecting both sensory and motor functions as well as the cognitive and the emotional domains, with an impact on independence on daily activities and quality of life in general. Assessment scales are essential tools for evaluating all these aspects of a patient’s condition and for monitoring their evolution in time, attempting to provide a quantitative index to complex and sometimes indirectly observable parameters. In fact, the use of these scales entails methodological and interpretative challenges that can limit their applicability and effectiveness. This narrative review explores the current state and limitations of assessment scales used in the rehabilitative evaluation of post-stroke patients. Common neurorehabilitation techniques and traditionally used assessment scales for measuring patient progress are reviewed, highlighting their main limitations. As an alternative to the observational approach, direct assessment of the effect of the ongoing rehabilitative process on the functional recovery of the damaged neurological network, based on the recording of their electric signaling or on the modification in regional cerebral blood flow, have been recently proposed. Innovative rehabilitation assessment methods based on quantitative data are reviewed, with a special focus on ultrasound-based techniques, aiming to improve accuracy and sensitivity in clinical assessment. Full article

Biophilic design has traditionally evolved from temperate-zone contexts, where access to nature is more readily available, and has rarely addressed the challenges of extreme climatic conditions. The potential of biophilic design to enhance health and well-being in cold environments, where exposure to nature must adapt to low temperatures, limited solar radiation, and pronounced photoperiod variation, remains underexplored. This study conducts a systematic meta-synthesis of biophilic architectural design strategies in Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions, adopting the SALSA (Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis) framework in alignment with PRISMA guidelines to ensure methodological transparency and reproducibility. Nine peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2024 were analyzed using qualitative coding and synthesis in NVivo. The findings identify thermal comfort, daylight, and circadian regulation as the most influential biophilic parameters, while greenery and water features, common in temperate frameworks, were limited due to environmental constraints. Key interventions include adaptive envelopes, optimized window design, intermediate buffer zones, and materials that balance insulation with sensory enrichment. The study proposes an “Interventions–Parameters–Outcomes” framework that illustrates the interrelationships among biophilic strategies, health-related outcomes, and climatic adaptation. While all studies originated from northern Canada, the conceptual framework provides a transferable foundation for future empirical validation and comparative research across diverse cold-climate regions, contributing to the advancement of climate-responsive, human-centered design in extreme environments. Full article

Rootstocks play a crucial role in viticulture because of both their agronomic benefits and impact on grape and wine chemical composition. Their influence on vigor, yield, and phenolic maturity has been widely studied, but only recently have studies begun to examine their effects on wine aroma compounds and sensory profiles. This review compiles findings of studies investigating 33 rootstocks for their influence on wine aroma composition and 29 rootstocks for sensory evaluation across 10 red and four white grape varieties. The most studied rootstocks include 1103 Paulsen, 110 Richter, Sélection Oppenheim 4 and 101-14 Millardet et de Grasset. Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet-Sauvignon are the most frequently assessed varieties. Despite growing works in this research area, results are highly variable due to differences in experimental design, winemaking protocols, and sensory methodologies. Only five studies have simultaneously analyzed both wine aroma compounds and sensory attributes. While some consistent trends emerge for certain aroma compounds, such as β-damascenone or linalool, most findings remain context-dependent. This review emphasizes a lack of standardization, including that of winemaking conditions, and highlights the critical need for multi-site, multi-year studies to better understand rootstock effects on wine aroma and sensory quality. Full article

The present study investigates the hypothesis that green plantain peel (GPP) could be used as a functional ingredient to enrich fermented milk, thus improving its nutritional profile and bioactive content. The objective of the present study was to develop a fermented milk product with added GPP and to evaluate its physical–chemical, technological, microbiological, and sensory characteristics, as well as the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds after in vitro digestion (INFOGEST). The methodological strategy involved the formulation of four treatments: one control (Fermented Milk Control, FMC) and three with different concentrations of cooked plantain peel (5%—FM5, 10%—FM10, and 20%—FM20). The results demonstrated that the incorporation of peel had a significant impact on the technological properties, resulting in increased syneresis and color change. In contrast, pH and acidity were more influenced by storage duration. Lactic acid bacteria demonstrated viability at probiotic concentrations (≥10⁶ CFU/mL) for a duration of up to 11 days. The incorporation of GPP resulted in a substantial increase in the phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity of the product, with the FM20 treatment showing the highest antioxidant activity (DPPH: 1555 ± 16 µmol TE/mL, ABTS: 576 ± 29 µmol TE/mL, FRAP: 2427 ± 58 µmol Fe²⁺/mL) compared to FMC. Sensory analysis revealed that texture and color were the most influential attributes, with formulations FM5 and FM10 being the most accepted, as indicated by an acceptability index above 82%. The simulated in vitro digestion led to an increase in the measurable phenolic content and a corresponding enhancement of antioxidant activity. This suggests that the digestive process enhances the release of these compounds from the food matrix, thereby increasing their bioaccessibility. Full article

The Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) process is widely utilized in industrial production, requiring careful selection of appropriate procedures to ensure the highest quality. A key area of study closely related to GMAW quality is the control of process stability. This research presents a methodology for analyzing welding data to identify instability, thus enabling the development of a stability indicator. Our approach focuses on sensory fusion by integrating multiple sources of information, including sound signals, images, and current signals captured during the welding process. This work explores various configurations of variables to analyze the three primary transfer modes. Additionally, a comprehensive statistical analysis of the results obtained is conducted. Image processing techniques, sound analysis, and artificial intelligence methodologies are employed to enhance the analysis process. Full article

The built environment plays a crucial role in shaping residents’ quality of life and emotional well-being. In the context of growing efforts to promote livable and walkable cities, a key question emerges: how can emerging technologies—particularly virtual reality (VR)—be leveraged to evaluate and enhance urban environments through the lens of pedestrian emotional perception? This study systematically reviewed the literature published between 2015 and 2024 in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WOS) databases, ultimately identifying 37 Chinese-language and 113 English-language journal articles. Using bibliometric analysis and CiteSpace, the research mapped publication trends, research hotspots, and disciplinary networks across linguistic contexts. Results reveal that Chinese-language studies often emphasize embodied cognition and electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring, while English-language studies focus more on VR application in stress recovery and health assessment. Based on this synthesis, this study proposes a “sensory–cognitive–affective” framework and a set of spatial intervention strategies, offering a novel perspective for emotion-driven urban design. The findings highlight a paradigm shift from engineering-oriented planning to human-centered approaches, with VR technologies serving as a critical enabling tool. This review contributes both conceptual and methodological foundations for future research at the intersection of immersive technologies, built environment studies, and urban emotional well-being. Full article

The transition to a circular economy depends on the widespread adoption of sustainable products by consumers. However, the point-of-sale purchase decision is a complex process, influenced not only by ethical arguments but also by sensory cues. This study investigates how the aesthetics (visual design) and materiality (tactile sensation) of green products shape value perception and purchase intention. Using a qualitative methodology based on a focus group, the research directly compares consumer reactions to green products (e.g., a bamboo toothbrush) versus their conventional alternatives (e.g., plastic). Thematic analysis of the data reveals a fundamental dichotomy among consumers: while one segment associates high-tech aesthetics and perfect finishes with quality and hygiene, another segment values natural materials and their “imperfections” as signs of authenticity and responsibility. The results demonstrate that there is no single, universally accepted “sustainable aesthetic” and highlight the need for designers and marketers to align the visual and tactile language of products with the value system of the target consumer segment. The study provides a framework for understanding how design can act as either a barrier to or a catalyst for the adoption of sustainable products. Full article

Milk products are a diverse group of foods and important sources of essential nutrients, including high-quality proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Among their key quality attributes, texture is particularly critical, as it strongly influences consumer perception and overall product quality. Numerous devices and techniques have been developed to evaluate the texture of milk products, most of which rely on mechanical tests such as puncture, compression, shearing, creep, and relaxation. Instrumental evaluations are essential for correlating physical measurements with sensory perceptions, yet several challenges limit their reliability. Inconsistencies in testing protocols—such as reporting force versus penetration depth versus force versus time; variations in testing temperature, sample shape and dimensions; probe geometry; compression depth; and container size for semisolid samples contribute to discrepancies across studies. Additionally, many studies omit these critical methodological details, reducing reproducibility and comparability. This review systematically examines the current methods used to assess dairy product texture, identifies gaps and challenges in standardization, and provides guidance to support future research aimed at obtaining accurate, reproducible, and meaningful texture measurements. Full article

Despite the oligotrophic conditions of the southeastern Levantine Sea and northern Red Sea, six lobster species—five slipper lobsters (Scyllaridae) and one spiny lobster (Palinuridae)—maintain permanent, reproducing populations in the study area. Additionally, there are isolated records of four other sporadic lobster species. In the southeastern Mediterranean, permanent species include the Mediterranean slipper lobster,Scyllarides latus, small European locust lobster, Scyllarus arctus, and pygmy locust lobster, Scyllarus pygmaeus. In the northern Red Sea, they include the clamkiller slipper lobster, Scyllarides tridacnophaga, Lewinsohn locust slipper lobster, Eduarctus lewinsohni, and pronghorn spiny lobster, Panulirus penicillatus. This review synthesizes current knowledge of their biology and ecology, including distribution, habitat, reproduction and development, feeding, predators and anti-predatory adaptations, behavior, sensory modalities, environmental impacts, threats, and conservation. Recent advances focus mainly on larger, commercially valuable species (S. latus, S. tridacnophaga, P. penicillatus), while major gaps remain for oceanic post-embryonic stages and the nektonic nisto postlarva, as well as for smaller, often cryptic species (S. arctus, S. pygmaeus, E. lewinsohni). Addressing these gaps will require targeted research, using modern methodologies, in coastal, deep, and open waters, coupled with citizen-science surveys. While many Indo-Pacific decapods have been established in the Mediterranean, no immigrant lobster species have successfully colonized Levant waters, despite rare records of three non-indigenous species (NIS). However potential NIS predators and shifts in mollusk compositions, the main prey of some native lobsters, may affect the latter. Large lobsters remain targeted by fisheries despite protective regulations, which are not always effective or obeyed. No-take marine protected areas (MPAs) or nature reserves can be effective if sufficiently large and well-managed. Habitat loss from marine construction can be partly compensated by stable, environmentally safe artificial reefs tailored to lobster behavioral ecology. The categories of the studied lobsters’ species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, last updated over fifteen years ago, should be re-evaluated. Full article

This study systematically investigated the effects of key fermentation parameters—initial sugar content (24–28 °Brix), temperature (15–20 °C), and yeast inoculation rate (0.04–0.12%)—on the quality, volatile aroma characteristics, antioxidant capacity, and bioactive properties of mulberry wine. Through a combination of single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM), optimal fermentation conditions were determined as follows: initial sugar content of 25 °Brix, temperature of 18 °C, and yeast inoculation rate of 0.08%. Under these conditions, the resulting wine exhibited superior sensory characteristics, enhanced antioxidant activity (total phenolic content, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity, and FRAP), and significantly higher levels of key aroma compounds (e.g., ethyl acetate, phenethyl alcohol) compared to unfermented mulberry juice. Furthermore, the wine exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation in HepG2 and HT29 cells with IC₅₀ values of 0.82 mg/mL and 1.05 mg/mL, respectively, and demonstrated selective antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing the production of mulberry wine with enhanced sensory qualities and functional properties, highlighting its potential as a health-promoting fermented beverage. Full article

Audiovisual Entrainment (AVE) is a non-invasive, non-pharmacological neuromodulation approach that aims to align brain activity with externally delivered auditory and visual rhythms. This review surveys AVE’s historical development, technical parameters (e.g., frequency, phase, waveform, color, intensity, presentation mode), components and delivery methods, reported clinical applications, and safety considerations. Given the heterogeneity of AVE protocols and terminology, we conducted a structured narrative review (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar; earliest records to July 2025), including human and animal studies that met an operational definition of regulated AVE and consistent administration of specified auditory and visual frequencies, with critical methodological details reported. We highlight AVE’s accessibility and versatility, outline a stepwise parameter reporting framework to support standardization, and discuss putative mechanisms via sensory and oscillatory pathways. However, current findings are heterogeneous and include null or limited effects. Mechanistic understanding and parameter optimization remain insufficiently developed, and premature claims of efficacy are not warranted. Rigorous, standardized, and adequately controlled studies are needed before AVE can be considered a reliable therapeutic tool. Full article

Edible composite coatings represent an alternative approach to reducing postharvest losses and extending the shelf life of perishable fruits. This study developed a nano-biopolymer coating by integrating pullulan (PUL), nano-silica (Nano-SiO₂), and tea polyphenols (TP) to retard deterioration in cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme). Optimized through response surface methodology (0.06% Nano-SiO₂, 0.1% TP, 1.8% PUL, 0.77% glycerol), the resulting Nano-SiO₂/PUL/TP composite film showed improved barrier properties (water vapor permeability, WVP: 0.2063 g·mm·m⁻²·h⁻¹·kPa⁻¹) and increased mechanical strength (tensile strength, TS: 2.62 MPa; elongation at break, EB: 67.67%), which may be attributed to a homogeneous microstructure stabilized via intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The composite coating exhibited significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity (59.04% DPPH·scavenging) compared to the PUL film (1.17%) and showed efficacy against S. aureus. When applied to cherry tomatoes stored at 4 °C for 15 days, the coating contributed to improved postharvest quality by reducing weight loss (−27.6%) and decay incidence (−32.3%), delaying firmness loss (2.40 vs. 0.54 N in uncoated group, CK), suppressing respiration rate (−38.8%), and enhancing the retention of total acidity (+9.7%), vitamin C (+49.6%), and total soluble solids (+48.6%) compared to the CK (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis supported sensory evaluation results, indicating the coating helped maintain sensory quality (scores > 6.0) and commercial value while extending shelf life from 9 to 15 days. These results suggest that the Nano-SiO₂/TP/PUL composite coating may serve as a preservative for extending the shelf-life of cherry tomatoes by effectively reducing decay and mitigating quality degradation. Full article

This paper presents a methodology for determining manufacturing tolerances of feature lines on automotive outer panels using visual sensory tests. Feature lines—narrow and long curved surfaces on automotive panels—play a critical role in the visual appeal of vehicles. However, achieving precise feature lines in mass production is challenging due to material spring-back during the stamping process. Conventional tolerance determination methods are unsuitable for these esthetic elements. To address this, we employed psychophysical sensory tests to find the visual difference thresholds for feature lines. By creating geometric models and conducting controlled sensory tests, we identified the minimum radius variations perceptible to the human eye. Thirty-four participants were tested using the method of constant stimuli, resulting in psychometric functions for feature lines with radii of 8, 10, and 12 mm. The findings suggest manufacturing tolerances of ±1.2 mm, ±1.3 mm, and ±1.5 mm, respectively. This approach provides a quantitative foundation for setting tolerances that balance visual quality with production feasibility. Full article

Dairy products harbor complex and dynamic microbial communities that contribute to their sensory properties, safety, and cultural distinctiveness. Raw milk contains a diverse microbiota shaped by seasonality, storage conditions, lactation stage, animal health, farm management, and genetics, serving as a variable starting point for further processing. Fermentation, whether spontaneous or starter driven, selects for subsets of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), yeasts, and molds, resulting in microbial succession that underpins both artisanal and industrial products such as kefir and cheese. Kefir represents a balanced LAB–yeast symbiosis, with species composition influenced by grain origin, milk type, and processing parameters, whereas the cheese microbiota reflects the interplay of starter and non-starter LAB, coagulants, ripening conditions, and “house microbiota”. Methodological factors—including DNA extraction, sequencing platform, and bioinformatic pipelines—further impact the reported microbial profiles, highlighting the need for standardization across studies. This review synthesizes current knowledge on raw milk, kefir, and cheese microbiomes, emphasizing the biological, technological, environmental, and methodological factors shaping microbial diversity. A holistic understanding of these drivers is essential to preserve product authenticity, ensure safety, and harness microbial resources for innovation in dairy biotechnology. Full article