Search Results (594)

Botswana provides a setting in which to examine pastoral power. Customary authority, Christian institutions, public-health programmes, and state law have each helped to shape the social regulation of gender and sexuality. This systematic review brings together Botswana-specific scholarship on the ways care, counselling, scriptural interpretation, and institutional support affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and other gender- and sexually diverse people. The review followed PRISMA 2020. Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar were searched from database inception to 15 May 2024, and a supplementary search of publisher sites, indexes, and citation networks was updated to 31 July 2026. Five independent sources met the eligibility criteria: one qualitative interview study, one field-informed country report, and three documentary, legal, church-historical, or biblical analyses. The CASP qualitative checklist and the JBI text-and-opinion checklist were used for design-appropriate appraisal. Across this small and varied literature, four patterns recurred: the moral authority assigned to scripture and culture; care that was conditional or incomplete; interaction among religious, health, legal, and civil-society institutions; and dialogical alternatives to exclusion. Evidence is strongest for public discourse, institutional positions, and reported counselling experiences; no included source directly observed a pastoral ritual. Religious care may offer belonging and support, but it may also carry expectations of conformity. Broader claims will require ethnographic and participatory research developed with, and responsive to, LGBTIQ+ Batswana. Full article

Electric vehicles (EVs) are attracting choice and adoption as a travel mode in global transportation systems, driven by technological innovation, economic considerations, and advancing sustainable urban development. The planning, development, design, and location of EV charging stations are challenging tasks for underdeveloped countries such as Pakistan. To propose the site location for an EV charging station, this study comprises Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis and Geographic Information Systems. The study adopts a mixed-methods design, combining qualitative expert input with quantitative spatial analysis to investigate technical, social, and infrastructural criteria. The study considers indicators, including site suitability, population density, interaction between land use and transport, road network, transportation interactions, existing electricity grid infrastructure, and existing fueling and charging stations. This research presents pairwise expert comparisons, indicating that grid capacity (0.28) and demand (0.30) are important factors to consider. A composite suitability Index (CSI) through GIS-weighted overlay was used to classify the area into low, medium, and high suitability zones. According to the CSI, 26% of the area falls in highly suitable areas for EV infrastructure in Islamabad, and 41% falls in medium-to-high suitable areas. The remaining 33% area lies in low-suitability peripheral zones near the hilly region of Islamabad city, which is not considered suitable for EV infrastructure. A total of 67% of the city’s area is suitable for EV infrastructure. Full article

Industrial heritage tourism depends on more than the preservation of visible structures; it also requires visitors to perceive historical and cultural meaning. This study examines public perceptions of eight representative industrial heritage tourism sites in Wuhan. Drawing on Scene Theory, we developed a three-dimensional framework encompassing physical, social, and cultural scenes. We collected user-generated content (UGC) from Dianping.com and evaluated 12 perception elements using semantic network analysis and a modified Importance–Performance Analysis based on topic salience and satisfaction. Public perceptions were dominated by visual aesthetics and social-media engagement. Ecological atmosphere received favourable evaluations despite its lower salience, whereas homogeneous commercial offerings weakened the visitor experience. Era memory and industrial heritage combined relatively high salience with low satisfaction, revealing a gap between visible physical remains and the communication of industrial history and collective memory. A hierarchical analysis further showed that only 8.40% of culture-related reviews contained deep industrial narratives. We therefore propose strategies that improve spatial interpretation, embed site-specific industrial identity in commercial and social experiences, and connect heritage objects with historical processes and workers’ memories. These findings provide an evidence-based framework for strengthening cultural interpretation in the revitalization of Wuhan’s industrial heritage. Full article

To address the coordination between social and spatial relationships within villages in the loess gully region, this study developed a joint Geospatial–Social Network analytical approach. Taking Caojian Village in Zizhou County, Shaanxi Province as the study case, geospatial and social network models were constructed, respectively, with time cost and social interaction frequency as measurement indicators. The two network models were analyzed using cohesive subgroups and node centrality, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed the dominant role of spatial relationships in shaping social relationships, as well as the reinforcing effect of kinship on cross-geographical connections. Furthermore, the joint analysis of the two networks was used to identify village spatial hierarchies and core areas. On this basis, targeted strategies were proposed for public space allocation, public service facility layout, and site selection for relocated dwellings. Ultimately, this research aims to provide quantitative analysis tools and decision-making support for optimizing the spatial structure of villages in the loess gully region. Full article

Digital twin technology provides new opportunities to integrate heterogeneous architectural heritage information and to support value interpretation. However, existing digital heritage studies are primarily concerned with geometric modeling and visual presentation, making it difficult to organize and interpret the relationships underlying heritage value formation and promote public understanding of heritage. To address this challenge, this study proposes a value-oriented digital twin framework for interpreting heritage value. The framework organizes existing physical modeling, semantic organization, dynamic simulation, and interactive representation around heritage value, structuring the information carriers and relationships associated with value formation for further interpretation. This study confirmed the efficacy of the model framework by utilizing the Hegui Building, a Fujian Tulou World Heritage site, as a case study. The results demonstrate that the proposed framework enables fragmented heritage information to be integrated into an interconnected value network. Physical entities, traditional knowledge, dynamic mechanisms, and interactive experiences can be linked to systematically organize and interpret relationships among construction techniques, structural logic, social pattern, and environmental adaptation. Furthermore, dynamic simulation and interactive visualization provide new possibilities for public understanding of heritage values by transforming static information into observable processes. This study contributes a value-oriented perspective for applying digital twin technologies in architectural heritage, shifting the focus from object-oriented representation toward value-oriented interpretation. Full article

Securing legal titles to land for transmission lines shapes the pace and cost of the energy transition and sharpens the conflict between security of supply and the protection of the landscape and of ownership rights. The article evaluates the legal and financial instruments compensating for the siting and operation of transmission facilities: whether the Polish framework is complete, how far impact zones enter the planning provisions of a large city, and where Poland stands among EU member states. Doctrinal analysis and a comparative review of twelve EU jurisdictions are combined with a case study of the 254 local plans in force in Kraków and with model calculations of electromagnetic fields. Power networks appear in 48% of Kraków’s plans, yet restricted-use zones in only 24%; EU models range from full compensation with a 25% statutory supplement (Sweden) to a gratuitous easement (Romania). The Polish model, based on a valuer’s appraisal, occupies an intermediate position and includes no component rewarding the compulsory character of the encumbrance; recommendations for future legislation aim to accelerate the acquisition of titles. Compensation design is therefore an institutional condition of the energy transition: it governs how fast corridors can be secured and how the costs of decarbonisation are distributed, and uncompensated losses mark where the social acceptance of grid expansion is most at risk. Full article

This article examines practices of meditation and aspiration performed during the Kagyu Monlam Chenmo in Bodh Gaya, within the Karma Kagyu institutional and devotional network associated with the 17th Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje. It focuses on the collective recitation of Samantabhadra’s King of Aspiration Prayers, not only as a liturgical performance, but as a contemplative practice shaped by attention, bodily endurance, repetition, and joint participation. The article argues that Bodh Gaya provides a setting in which meditation is not separated from ritual, place, institution, and religious labour. Drawing on James A. Beckford’s social constructionist approach, I examine how lay and monastic practitioners take part in forming a contemplative space under the Bodhi Tree. Based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork, the article shows how collective aspiration works within a disciplined meditative framework, while allowing individual attention to take shape by accompanying a common ritual rhythm. The Monlam may therefore be understood as a site where lineage continuity is ritually sustained within a specific Karma Kagyu setting. By focusing on aspiration, repetition, and sacred place, the article contributes to discussions of lived Buddhism and to the study of meditation as a social and spatial practice. Full article

Hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) represent a promising strategy for reducing carbon emissions across multiple sectors by integrating complementary resources such as solar, wind, hydropower, and energy storage technologies. Identifying the most suitable location for a pilot installation requires a comprehensive evaluation that balances technical performance, environmental benefits, social considerations, and economic feasibility. This study employs an enhanced multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework, supported by machine learning (ML) techniques, to assess four pilot sites developed within the HY4RES project: a rural community, an aquaculture facility, a port installation, and an agriculture network. A comprehensive set of key performance indicators (KPIs) was established to capture technical, environmental, social, and economic dimensions. These include the degree of hybridization, carbon intensity, community benefit scores, net present value, levelized cost of energy, and payback period. After collecting and normalizing the site-specific data, ML EL-SVM, decision tree, and logistic regression models as computational surrogates designed to bypass the multi-step, matrix inversion mathematical requirements of the AHP when screening massive numbers of future scenario outputs supporting consistency checks and sensitivity exploration were used, along with criterion adjustments, to refine the relative importance of each KPI. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed to assess potential factors and rank the sites, with the rural site achieving the highest overall score in the system, driven by its complex four-source hybrid configuration and strong community-level benefits. The agriculture scheme ranked second, demonstrating significant potential for carbon emission reductions. The port pilot placed third, distinguished by high technical innovation but more limited social impact. The aquaculture site ranked fourth, primarily due to environmental scores, despite its economic self-sufficiency. Full article

Pedestrian safety at urban intersections is influenced by complex interactions among environmental conditions, social cues, and boundedly rational behavioral responses, making intervention planning under uncertainty particularly challenging. Existing studies have largely emphasized descriptive analysis or predictive modeling, with limited attention to prescriptive decision support under data scarcity. This study proposes a Bayesian-network-based robust optimization framework for pedestrian safety planning, complemented by a large language model (LLM)-assisted parameter-elicitation process. We first construct a three-layer Bayesian network based on the stimulus–organism–response paradigm to represent the propagation of risk from environmental cues through latent psychological mechanisms to behavioral violations and accident risk. To support model initialization when site-specific behavioral data are limited, we introduce an LLM-assisted elicitation protocol that maps literature-based qualitative evidence to intervention mechanisms, effect directions, and qualitative strength classes. Numerical parameter ranges are subsequently assigned through explicit mapping rules rather than generated directly by the LLM. We then formulate a bi-objective robust optimization model that distinguishes between physical interventions, which alter root-node distributions, and cognitive interventions, which modify conditional probability tables. Using the $ϵ$-constraint method, the framework generates Pareto-optimal intervention portfolios and evaluates cost–risk trade-offs under behavioral uncertainty and adverse operating scenarios. Full article

This study investigates the mechanism of “reverse spatial production” in contemporary urban China by examining the transformation of the Hangou Dawang Temple in Yangzhou. Utilizing a multidimensional framework that integrates Henri Lefebvre’s spatial triad with Michel de Certeau’s theory of everyday practice, the research explores how a state-constructed, secular “cultural landscape” was reclaimed as a living field of popular belief. Data were collected through intensive fieldwork (2025–2026), including participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and digital ethnography. The findings reveal that following the temple’s entrustment to the Taoist Association in 2017, grassroots actors—centered around a Taoist cleric and the local congregation—successfully resacralized the site through the introduction of material media, ritual performances, and social networking. This process dissolved the official spatial discipline of the “landscape island,” transforming it into a substantive religious hub. The study identifies a “Non-Antagonistic Symbiotic Model” of spatial production, characterized by a cycle of top-down construction, bottom-up reconstruction, and mutual negotiation. It argues that the state’s heritagization strategy inadvertently provides a legitimate vessel for religious resilience, while grassroots tactical appropriations allow for the survival of popular religion within modern urban landscapes. This research offers a prototypical case for understanding the resilience of popular belief and the reconstruction of heritage authenticity in the post-secular urban context of China. Full article

The proliferation of gambling infrastructure within the urban environment has emerged as a significant public health concern, particularly in contexts where commercial interests intersect with the socio-economic vulnerability of resident populations. The paper investigates the spatial distribution of slot-machine gambling venues across important Romanian cities, testing the hypothesis of predatory placement. Utilizing February 2026 official licensing data from the National Office for Gambling (ONJN) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the research conducts a comprehensive geospatial accessibility analysis relative to sensitive community infrastructures. These include educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and religious sites, alongside socio-economically vulnerable residential zones. The methodology integrates network-based isochrone analysis, spatial density mapping, and proximity modeling to quantify effective accessibility within defined spatial ranges. These techniques identify high-exposure zones where dense gambling clusters intersect with protected institutional environments and marginalized populations. Results indicate a statistically significant spatial correlation between venue density and the immediate proximity of these sensitive community facilities. Furthermore, the findings provide a spatial evidence base for recent legislative shifts which empower local authorities to implement localized bans on physical gambling venues. Ultimately, this research illustrates how venue accessibility fosters urban risk landscapes, suggesting that local spatial autonomy is an essential pillar in mitigating gambling-related social harm. Full article

Rubble management in Aleppo is a complex recovery planning problem because debris removal is closely linked to transport access, recycling capacity, reconstruction demand, disposal limits, and local acceptance. This study develops a multi-objective reverse-logistics model for managing post-conflict rubble in the city. The proposed network consists of 21 rubble source nodes, 5 collection and sorting sites, 4 recycling facilities, 5 reconstruction-demand nodes, and 2 disposal sites. The model is formulated as a weighted non-preemptive goal programming problem that considers four objectives: total cost, carbon emissions, dust/social acceptance penalty, and operational implementation risk. Because the last two objectives are strongly context-dependent, they were developed through a Delphi process with 13 experts, and the related subcriteria were weighted using fuzzy FUCOM. Four compromise formulations were tested: weighted goal programming (WGP), augmented max–min fuzzy goal programming (AMM-FGP), weighted additive fuzzy goal programming (WA-FGP), and Max–Min optimization. The resulting solutions were ranked using MARCOS and validated using CRADIS. WGP ranked first, with a MARCOS utility score of 0.697919, followed by Max–Min at 0.654658, AMM-FGP at 0.633123, and WA-FGP at 0.629647. The policy analysis also showed that a 30% recycling subsidy produced the largest improvement, reducing the WGP achievement value from 0.192 to 0.046. These results suggest that, for Aleppo, a rubble-management plan cannot be judged only by cost or emissions. Social nuisance, site operability, and policy support also affect whether a technically efficient network can be implemented in practice. Full article

The rapid growth of populations and industrial activities has intensified the need to optimize resource management and reduce environmental impacts. A promising pathway toward sustainable development is the gradual replacement of fossil fuel vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs). However, managing EV operations, particularly regarding depot siting and vehicle routing, is a complex challenge that requires balancing economic, environmental, and social objectives. This research proposes a model for designing an intelligent and sustainable transportation system for waste collection using EV fleets. The model simultaneously determines optimal depot locations from a set of candidates and identifies efficient vehicle routes. Its dual objectives are to minimize total costs, including depot set-up, operation, and travel costs, and to minimize maximum travel time, ensuring equitable workload distribution among drivers. Beyond reducing costs and emissions, the model incorporates social equity considerations in balancing driver travel times. EV limitations, such as restricted range, are explicitly addressed. To solve small-scale instances, the $ϵ$-constraint method was applied, while medium- and large-scale instances were tackled with two multi-objective metaheuristics: the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) and Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO). The results demonstrate the model’s sensitivity to system parameters such as vehicle capacity and demand rates. Statistical comparative analysis revealed that both algorithms successfully optimized the primary objective functions without significant differences. However, they exhibited distinct performance metric strengths; NSGA-II demonstrated statistically significant advantages in computational efficiency, solution quantity, and uniform distribution, while MOPSO excelled in convergence quality and closeness to the true Pareto front. Furthermore, the practical applicability of the proposed model is validated through a real-world case study of a municipal solid waste management network in Southern Tehran. This research contributes a comprehensive framework for optimizing EV-based waste collection systems, offering a meaningful step toward sustainable and intelligent urban transportation. The findings provide a theoretical framework and strategic insights for transportation managers and policymakers seeking effective strategies for environmentally responsible and socially equitable waste collection. Full article

Despite extensive research on social engineering victimisation on social networking sites (SNSs) across the Internet, user susceptibility continues to increase, indicating that existing explanatory models remain incomplete. Previous studies have predominantly examined susceptibility through isolated factors, including individual traits, message characteristics, or source attributes, while often overlooking how evolving Internet-based SNS environments interact with human and social factors. To address this gap, this study presents an interdisciplinary qualitative investigation into emerging determinants of user susceptibility to social engineering cyberattacks (SECAs) on Internet-enabled SNS platforms. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 18 experts from cybersecurity, psychology, sociology, criminology, and linguistics, the study captures perspectives that are rarely integrated within a single analytical framework. Using NVivo 14 and inductive thematic analysis, six core themes and seven sub-themes were identified, revealing previously underexplored cognitive-emotional, social-relational, and platform-mediated mechanisms of victimisation. The key contribution of this research is not the identification of entirely new susceptibility factors, but the development of an interdisciplinary framework that integrates these previously disconnected dimensions. By foregrounding the role of SNS design affordances within the broader Internet ecosystem and their interaction with human cognition and social dynamics, this study advances current understanding beyond fragmented models of user vulnerability. The findings provide a novel conceptual foundation for future empirical research and inform the design of more effective, context-aware mitigation and awareness strategies for SECAs on Internet-based SNSs. Full article

The city of Bologna (Italy) boasts an outstanding hydraulic heritage linked to the development of the silk industry, embodied in an extensive and valuable canal network. These public works, such as the Canale di Reno and the Canale Navile, were fundamental to the urban and economic shaping of the city from the Middle Ages onwards; however, many were concealed or dismantled from the 19th century. This article analyses recent heritage engagement and dissemination strategies regarding Bologna’s historic canals and proposes new tools to overcome their spatial fragmentation and enhance their interpretation as a continuous network. The methodology combines analysis, fieldwork or valorisation of the hydraulic system, proposing two complementary promotion actions: the design of a mobile application and the development of a straightforward urban intervention consisting of linear pavement marking of the underground canals layout. The proposed operational hypotheses suggest that integrating digital resources with on-site signage brings invisible heritage to light, improves the spatial understanding of the hydraulic system, and fosters both community and tourist engagement. The study concludes that these strategies reinforce the territorial understanding and social awareness of civil engineering heritage, offering a transferable approach for the outreach of hydraulic networks. Full article