Search Results (2,221)

Phase unwrapping is a critical step in interferometric imaging modalities such as holography and synthetic aperture radar, yet conventional analytical algorithms struggle in low signal-to-noise and high-speckle environments. This study presents an artificial intelligence (AI)-based phase-unwrapping framework using a Pix2Pix conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN). A model was designed for robustness under Rayleigh-distributed speckle noise and phase decorrelation, conditions representative of realistic interferometric measurements. Trained on synthetically generated wrapped–unwrapped phase pairs, the AI approach was compared against established analytical phase-unwrapping methods, a quality-guided unwrapping algorithm (Herraez)and a minimum-norm network-flow optimization method (Costantini). Quantitative evaluation using the root mean square error (RMSE), structural similarity index measure (SSIM), and a composite performance index demonstrated that the cGAN was superior under noisy conditions, successfully recovering phase information beyond its training noise range at $\sigma =10$, and accurately unwrapping phases up to $\sigma =20$. This was under a pure unwrapping performance analysis, utility performance was also tested comparing all images to clean noiseless phase. The Pix2Pix model also proved resilient to detector artifacts, despite not being explicitly trained on them, and its worst performance yielded RMSE and SSIM values of 0.089 and 0.927, respectively, with perfect values being 0 and 1. The proposed framework simultaneously unwraps and denoises the phase, offering a simple, open-source, and highly adaptable alternative for phase unwrapping in noisy interferometric systems. Future work will focus on extending the framework to experimental datasets. Full article

Digital harassment is an increasing challenge in higher education, with implications for students’ psychological well-being, perceived safety, and engagement in digital learning. As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly mediates communication, visibility, and interaction across educational platforms, students’ exposure to online harm is shaped not only by individual behaviour but also by algorithmically structured interaction environments. Understanding these conditions is essential for protecting student well-being and supporting sustainable participation in AI-enhanced learning. This study examines university students’ exposure to digital harassment in AI-mediated learning environments using an expanded Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework. Survey data were collected from 2185 students, including Saudi nationals and international students enrolled in Saudi Arabian universities, representing Saudi Arabia and 32 other developing and emerging countries (33 countries in total). The model analyses associations among technological literacy, cybersecurity awareness, social media engagement intensity, digital identity visibility, AI-mediated interactions, and cultural norms, while also accounting for disciplinary and cultural context differences. The results indicate that AI-mediated interactions are most strongly associated with exposure to digital harassment. Higher social media engagement, more restrictive cultural norms, and greater visibility of digital identity are associated with increased exposure, whereas technological literacy and cybersecurity awareness are associated with lower reported exposure. Furthermore, greater exposure to digital harassment is linked to poorer mental health outcomes and reduced continuity in e-learning participation. Overall, the findings suggest that digital harassment in AI-driven educational settings is a structural sociotechnical issue associated with greater embeddedness in algorithmically mediated learning environments, rather than an isolated behavioural issue. The study highlights the need for responsible AI governance, enhanced digital literacy education, and culturally responsive institutional policies to support inclusive and sustainable higher education. Full article

This study examines the impact of social media use on public behavioral intentions regarding waste sorting in China, integrating the Cognition–Affect–Conation model with the Social Amplification of Risk Framework. The proposed framework explores how social media exposure and gratification influence waste sorting intentions through anticipated emotions and environmental risk perception. Regression analysis confirms that information gratification primarily activates positive emotions, while information exposure has a stronger effect on negative emotions. Both affective pathways significantly predict waste sorting intentions, with comparable predictive strengths. Mediation analysis further reveals that information gratification and information exposure indirectly influence behavioral intention through dual emotional pathways and environmental risk perception. Qualitative interviews highlight two structural deficiencies: fragmented knowledge dissemination, which weakens environmental norm internalization, and uneven community integration, which limits behavioral translation. These findings underscore the need for diversified communication strategies and community-based policy interventions to enhance public participation in waste sorting. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dietary behaviors among young adults in Japan have become increasingly polarized, highlighting the limitations of traditional knowledge-based health education. Behavioral science-based approaches such as nudging and gamification may offer alternative strategies. This study aimed to develop and examine a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB)-based path model of healthy dietary choice behavior among young Japanese adults and to examine patterns associated with a star-rating gamification feature embedded in a nutrition management mobile application. Methods: A total of 188 participants aged 18–39 years completed an online survey assessing TPB constructs and normative factors. Participants used either a star-rating or non-rating version of the FoodLog Athl application. Composite-score-based path analysis and conditional process analyses were conducted to examine relational patterns among constructs. Results: Intention and self-efficacy jointly explained 48% of the variance in dietary behavior, with self-efficacy emerging as the strongest predictor. Several moderation patterns were observed, including those of gender, university year, diet app use, awareness of consequences, and ascription of responsibility. Compared with users of the non-rating version, star-rating users were observed to show higher nutrient scores but lower self-efficacy and dietary behavior scores, along with greater awareness of dietary consequences. These post-intervention findings are exploratory. Conclusions: Self-efficacy plays a central role in healthy dietary choice behavior among young adults, and its association with behavior appears to be shaped by perceived consequences and responsibility. By applying a composite-score-based path analysis within an SEM framework, this study clarifies the structural relationships among TPB components in everyday dietary choice behavior among Japanese young adults. Star-rating feedback may enhance reflective awareness and shows potential as a gamified nudging tool but further research is needed to clarify its effects. Full article

This study aims to examine eating practices during pregnancy as socially organized everyday labor (foodwork) embedded in daily life. Drawing on the sociology of food, it analyzes how pregnancy reshapes eating routines, food classifications, procurement practices, and care responsibilities. The research is based on in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with 38 pregnant women living in Türkiye. The findings demonstrate that eating during pregnancy becomes a multilayered social practice shaped by normative expectations, structural inequalities, and identity construction. First, eating routines emerge as a central site for the construction of maternal identity, as women regulate their food practices through expert advice, risk discourses, and norms of “good motherhood.” Second, body-related norms concerning aesthetics and weight control discipline eating practices under conditions of public surveillance and self-monitoring, shaping everyday eating arrangements. Third, pregnancy functions as a social lens that intensifies concerns related to food safety and food security; pesticides, additives, regulatory uncertainty, and economic access become central elements of everyday foodwork. By moving beyond medical and ideological approaches to pregnancy nutrition, this study foregrounds eating practices as foodwork and contributes to the sociology of food by linking motherhood, care labor, and food systems. Full article

The stability of deep neural networks during training is related to the structural symmetry between gradient dynamics and parameter updates. Existing Adam-type optimizers are prone to breaking this dynamic symmetry when the gradient scale changes drastically, leading to training instability. In addition, quantitative metrics of stability are serious lacking. A novel Optimizer, Gradient-Norm-Aware Adam (GNAdam), is proposed in this paper. It introduces a gradient norm-based smooth learning rate mechanism to adjust the step size, effectively maintaining the structural symmetry and exhibiting strong training stability. A new stability evaluation metric, Stability Score Plus (SS+), combining gradient norm and parameter update norm, is designed in this paper to quantify algorithm stability. Experimental results on the CIFAR-10 dataset demonstrate that GNAdam reduces gradient ripple and parameter update instability. The stability quantification results are highly consistent with the visualization results, with the SS+ value being only 24% of Adam’s and 8% of RAdam’s. Experimental results on glaucoma datasets demonstrate that the proposed method shows significant advantages in classification metrics such as accuracy and AUC, as well as medical metrics such as sensitivity and specificity. This indicates that improved training stability can effectively translate into more reliable clinical diagnosis in complex medical image classification tasks. Full article

This paper presents a set of survey-style notes linking core themes of pure algebra with central topics in algebraic and analytic number theory. We begin with finite extensions of $\mathbb{Q}$ and describe algebraic number fields through their realization as finite-dimensional $\mathbb{Q}$-algebras (via multiplication operators and matrix representations), leading naturally to the arithmetic invariants—trace, norm, and discriminant—and to the ring of integers, ideals, Dedekind domains, and the ideal class group. We then develop the classical theory of cyclotomic fields, emphasizing their Galois structure and their role in abelian extensions of $\mathbb{Q}$. Next, we discuss ramification in general extensions, including decomposition and inertia groups, the Frobenius element, and the Chebotarev density theorem. The exposition continues with a concise algebraic introduction to elliptic curves and their L-functions, and it places key conjectural links (including Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer) in context. Finally, a collection of examples highlights a common operational language between fractional calculus and number theory: Laplace and Mellin transforms turn convolution-type operators into multiplication, clarifying the appearance of $\Gamma$-factors, Dirichlet series, and zeta- and L-function structures in both settings. Full article

In this paper, we investigate a class of nonlinear fractional boundary value problems involving the Caputo fractional derivative under two-point boundary conditions. By combining the Green function of the associated linear problem with a generalized Gronwall inequality, we derive pointwise estimates for solutions expressed explicitly in terms of the Mittag–Leffler function. In contrast to existing Lyapunov-type inequalities, which are mainly restricted to linear equations and rely on global supremum norm estimates, our approach preserves the nonlinear structure of the problem and captures the local behavior of solutions. These pointwise estimates lead to a Lyapunov-type inequality for nonlinear fractional equations, extending the classical result of Jleli and Samet beyond the linear framework. Moreover, we show that the obtained Lyapunov condition serves not only as a necessary condition for the existence of nontrivial solutions, but also as a sufficient criterion ensuring Hyers–Ulam stability and uniqueness. An illustrative example is provided to demonstrate the applicability of the theoretical results. Full article

Under strict ecological protection regimes, identifying development pathways that can be integrated into forest governance without undermining conservation boundaries remains a critical challenge. This study adopts a qualitative case-study approach to examine how forest birdwatching is governed as a form of low-disturbance forest use in Mingxi County, China. Based on semi-structured interviews, field observations, and governance-related materials, the analysis examines governance mechanisms and interaction processes shaping everyday regulatory practices. The findings indicate that forest birdwatching does not function as low-disturbance use by virtue of its activity type alone, but through its progressive embedding within routine forest governance under rigid institutional constraints. Institutional enforcement, spatial zoning, community-based benefit coordination, and media-supported normative regulation interact to stabilize behavioral boundaries, manage participation, and mitigate disturbance risks. The governance significance of forest birdwatching lies not in its direct replicability across regions, but in its value as an analytical reference for understanding how governance elements may be conditionally configured under specific institutional, organizational, and spatial contexts. By clarifying the minimum enabling conditions under which low-disturbance forest use can contribute to collaborative governance outcomes, this study provides a context-sensitive analytical framework for forest governance in ecologically valuable but development-constrained regions. Full article

Objective: From a family perspective, this study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week digital platform-based parent–child exercise intervention on children’s behavioral level (physical activity), psychological level (physical exercise attitude), and mental health. Methods: This study included 218 students aged 10–11 years who underwent a 12-week standardized parent–child exercise intervention. The intervention group completed two structured parent–child tasks per week through a digital platform (Ding Talk App) while maintaining regular physical education classes; the control group only maintained their regular physical education classes. Assessments were conducted using the Physical Activity Rating Scale, Exercise Attitude Scale, and mental health scales (The Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale (SCAS) and The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)) at four stages: pre-intervention (T1), mid-intervention (T2), post-intervention (T3), and a 2-month follow-up period (T4). The intervention effects and effect sizes (ηp²) were examined using Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance. Results: At the behavioral level, a significant group × time interaction was found for physical activity volume (F = 17.651, p = 0.04, ηp² = 0.138), indicating the presence of a moderate effect. At the psychological level, significant interactions were observed across exercise attitude dimensions (behavioral attitude: F = 3.699, p = 0.002, ηp² = 0.033; perceived behavioral control: F = 4.189, p = 0.006, ηp² = 0.037; subjective norm: F = 4.616, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.040) and mental health measures (depression: F = 4.009, p = 0.026, ηp² = 0.044; anxiety: F = 3.1, p = 0.016, ηp² = 0.020), though no significant effect was found for behavioral intention (F = 1.346, p = 0.259, ηp² = 0.012), with all significant effects being relatively weak. Conclusions: The home–school collaborative, digital platform-based parent–child exercise intervention demonstrated positive effects on children’s physical activity volume, exercise attitudes, and mental health, offering a feasible and promising strategy to support more integrated child health promotion initiatives. Full article

This paper examines the European Central Bank’s institutional capacity and readiness to introduce a digital euro in the context of accelerating digitalization, geopolitical uncertainty, and growing competition in the global monetary system. Rather than treating the digital euro primarily as a technological innovation, the study conceptualizes it as a multidimensional institutional project shaped by regulatory mandates, governance choices, stakeholder expectations and risk considerations. Drawing on institutional theory and stakeholder theory, the analysis adopts a qualitative research design combining semi-structured expert interviews with systematic document analysis of ECB and EU policy material. The findings indicate that while the ECB has developed a structured roadmap encompassing investigation, preparation and potential issuance phases, significant challenges remain across regulative, normative and cognitive dimensions of readiness. These challenges include tensions between privacy and compliance requirements, cybersecurity and interoperability risks, potential effects on financial stability, and the management of public trust and stakeholder acceptance. The paper argues that the success of a digital euro will depend not only on technical feasibility, but on the ECB’s ability to align design and implementation choices with institutional legitimacy and behavioral expectations. By integrating institutional readiness and risk analysis, the study contributes to the literature on central bank digital currencies and offers insights relevant to policymakers concerned with monetary sovereignty and financial resilience in the digital age. Full article

This study examines how rural Indonesian women entrepreneurs navigate the gendered structures and institutional barriers that shape their entrepreneurial experiences. Grounded in the Gender and Development (GAD) framework, the research employs a qualitative, interpretive design and draws on 22 semi-structured interviews with women entrepreneurs from diverse regions and sectors. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns of constraint, agency, and transformation within women’s narratives. Findings reveal that patriarchal norms and time poverty continue to restrict women’s visibility and resource access. Nevertheless, they exercise negotiated agency through adaptive strategies such as front-stage/back-stage role division, emotional resilience, and collective peer support. Over time, these adaptive behaviors evolve into transformative practices, such as digital market-making, gender-conscious leadership, and intergenerational empowerment, that challenge structural inequalities from within. The study refines GAD theory by conceptualizing empowerment as cyclical and context-embedded, rather than linear or absolute. Policy implications emphasize reforms linking inclusion to transformation through childcare-linked training, collateral access, digital literacy, and institutional support for women’s networks. Overall, entrepreneurship emerges as both a livelihood strategy and a transformative social practice redefining gender relations in Indonesia. Full article

Migration is often viewed through an economic lens, but it also drives a profound transfer of intangible resources, including ideas, attitudes, beliefs, practices, values, and norms. This review examines the emerging literature on social remittances across post-transition economies. These countries are characterized by their shift from socialist planning to market-oriented systems. Based on an analysis of twenty-six publications, this literature review examines the mechanisms through which intangible resources are acquired, transferred, and implemented among migrants, their communities of origin, and even their destination societies. The evidence reveals that migrants often act as agents of change, transferring knowledge and practices that influence areas from entrepreneurship and politics to science, gender norms, and everyday life. Future research should analyze the social networks, structural constraints, and digital tools that facilitate these knowledge transfers across the skill spectrum. Such work is important for developing holistic policies that can leverage the social remittances of diverse migrant groups as a sustained resource for social innovation and development in evolving economies. Full article

This study investigates how online discussion forums in an undergraduate Social Responsibility course support students’ SDG-oriented idea generation and collaborative knowledge construction. It also examines how participation roles, behavioral intensity, interaction-network influence, and goal-aligned discourse shape idea visibility and discussion. Using a mixed-methods learning analytics design, we analyzed forum logs and message texts across five SDG-linked themes (SDGs 6, 7, 12, 14, 15) by classifying contributor types, computing a Behavioral Participation Index (BPI), constructing a directed reply network and estimating PageRank centrality, extracting solution proposals, scoring semantic goal alignment, modelling weekly temporal dynamics, and fitting multivariate regressions predicting visibility (reads) and engagement (replies) while controlling for theme, message level, time, PageRank, and BPI. Results show role-differentiated participation (N = 514), meaningful cross-theme solution proposals that varied across academic groups, and peak-driven weekly activity. PageRank centrality emerged as the strongest and most consistent predictor of both visibility and engagement, whereas goal alignment showed weaker direct effects after controls, suggesting that SDG-aligned ideas do not necessarily diffuse without structural embeddedness. Among highly goal-aligned posts, specific communicative features differentiated which proposals attracted attention and interaction. These findings suggest that SDG forum design benefits from structured interaction pathways and scaffolded discourse strategies to support equitable diffusion and productive sustainability dialogue. The study does not evaluate the normative quality of sustainability positions but examines how interaction structures and discourse features shape the visibility and diffusion of student-generated ideas. Full article

Engineering remains a highly gendered and racialised profession in South Africa, shaped by enduring historical inequalities and the imprint of institutionalised exclusion that structures women’s experiences of belonging and professional legitimacy. While women’s underrepresentation in STEM is well documented, there remains a limited body of qualitative, intersectional, identity-focused research examining how women engineers negotiate professional identity within everyday organisational contexts. Addressing this gap, this qualitative study draws on semi-structured interviews with nine women engineers working across diverse engineering fields in South Africa and employs inductive reflexive thematic analysis informed by an intersectional and social constructionist framework. The findings identify one overarching theme, Negotiating the Intersection of Multiple Identities, capturing how women’s professional identities are continuously negotiated within engineering cultures characterised by the continued privileging of narrow norms of competence and belonging. Identity negotiation was shaped by intersecting gendered and racialised norms, with variation linked to pressures of professional legitimacy, relational positioning, and anticipated life-course considerations. The study demonstrates that professional identity negotiation among women engineers is a relational and ongoing organisational process rather than an individual or episodic response to workplace demands, and offers analytically transferable insights for scholarship on identity, belonging, and legitimacy in masculinised and historically unequal STEM contexts. Full article