Search Results (95)

This article examines how everyday architecture can advance spatial justice in post-active conflict cities through ethnographic and participatory design. Drawing on a decade of work by the StreetSpace studio in Belfast (2015–2025), the paper explores how architecture students and community participants co-design spatial strategies that enhance mixed-use mid-density living, inclusive mobility, and street-level accessibility. In a context where car dominance, segregation, and privatisation of public space continue to fragment urban life, the everyday street becomes a testbed for envisioning an equitable and community-centred city. The studio’s methodology is grounded in ethnographic engagement, informed by an embedded anthropologist, and includes stakeholder mapping, walking workshops, and collaborative drawing. These practices reveal lived experiences and shape community-driven briefs for housing, schools, public spaces, and multifunctional infrastructure. Anchored in spatial justice discourse and feminist theory (Jane Jacobs, David Harvey, Roberto Rocco, Phil Hubbard, Leslie Kern, and Caroline Criado Perez), the work positions the everyday as a site of architectural agency and proposes a contemporary vernacular that is socially embedded and climate-resilient. This work unfolds through complex and often contested processes that require sustained, iterative engagement with people and places. Meaningful collaboration is neither linear nor inherently caring; it frequently involves conflict, disagreement, and competing priorities that must be navigated over time. Through long-term relationships with government departments, local authorities, and NGOs, StreetSpace demonstrates how architectural pedagogy can nonetheless contribute to policy formation and more inclusive urban redevelopment by engaging in compromise, critical negotiation, and moments of care alongside friction and resistance. Through a series of collaborations and public events the project has contributed to the transformation of Botanic Avenue, informed studies of the East Belfast Greenways through contributions to Groundswell and participated in embedded public processes in collaboration with PPR, culminating in an exhibition at the MAC in Belfast in 2025. Full article

Spermatogenesis is a tightly coordinated differentiation program that sustains male fertility while transmitting genetic and epigenetic information to the next generation. This review consolidates mechanistic evidence showing how RNA-centered regulation integrates with the epitranscriptome and three-dimensional (3D) genome architecture to orchestrate germ-cell fate transitions from spermatogonial stem cells through meiosis and spermiogenesis. Recent literature is critically surveyed and synthesized, with particular emphasis on human and primate data and on stage-resolved maps generated by single-cell and multi-omics technologies. Collectively, available studies support a layered regulatory model in which RNA-binding proteins and RNA modifications coordinate transcript processing, storage, translation, and decay; small and long noncoding RNAs shape post-transcriptional programs and transposon defense; and dynamic chromatin remodeling and 3D reconfiguration align transcriptional competence with recombination, sex-chromosome silencing, and genome packaging. Convergent nodes implicated in spermatogenic failure are highlighted, including defects in RNA metabolism, piRNA pathway integrity, epigenetic reprogramming, and nuclear architecture, and the potential of these frameworks to refine molecular phenotyping in male infertility is discussed. Finally, key gaps and priorities for causal testing in spatially informed, stage-specific experimental systems are outlined. Full article

The Erasmus+ YOU4BLUE project represents an interdisciplinary educational initiative aimed at fostering a youth culture of sustainability through hands-on learning, scientific literacy, and critical thinking focused on the marine environment. The project aimed to encourage lasting behavioural change and empower young people to act. It engaged secondary school students aged 14 to 18 on three Mediterranean islands (Sardinia, Crete, and Mallorca) through a blended Place-Based Education (PBE) model that integrates online learning with local, experiential activities. Forty-nine students completed a pre-assessment questionnaire measuring baseline marine ecosystem knowledge, sustainability-related behaviours, and attitudes toward the sea. Following three international exchanges involving the learning activities, roughly the same cohort of students completed post-activity surveys assessing self-perceived knowledge gains and intercultural interaction. Qualitative data from emotional mapping, field observations, and group reflections complemented the quantitative analysis. The results indicate substantial self-perceived increases in students’ understanding of marine ecosystems (+1.0 to +1.7 points on a 5-point scale), enhanced collaboration with international peers, and strengthened environmental awareness. Across all three sites, students applied their learning by co-designing proposals addressing local coastal challenges, demonstrating emerging civic responsibility and the ability to integrate scientific observations into real-world problem solving. These findings suggest that combining place-based education, citizen science, and participatory methods can effectively support the development of sustainability competences among youth in coastal contexts. This study contributes empirical evidence to the growing literature on education for sustainable development and highlights the value of blended, experiential, and intercultural approaches in promoting environmentally responsible behaviour. Full article

Weed management has become a critical agricultural practice, as weeds compete with crops for nutrients, host pests and diseases, and cause major economic losses. The invasive weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) is particularly problematic in Hungary, endangering crop productivity and public health through its fast proliferation and allergenic pollen. This review examines the current challenges and impacts of A. artemisiifolia while exploring sustainable approaches to its management through precision agriculture. Recent advancements in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with advanced imaging systems, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning models such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs), enable accurate detection, mapping, and classification of weed infestations. These technologies facilitate site-specific weed management (SSWM) by optimizing herbicide application, reducing chemical inputs, and minimizing environmental impacts. The results of recent studies demonstrate the high potential of UAV-based monitoring for real-time, data-driven weed management. The review concludes that integrating UAV and AI technologies into weed management offers a sustainable, cost-effective, mitigate the socioeconomic impacts and environmentally responsible solution, emphasizing the need for collaboration between agricultural researchers and technology developers to enhance precision agriculture practices in Hungary. Full article

The agricultural sector is predominantly male, with approximately 30% of farms in the EU operated by women. The European Union Rural Pact, the Agri-Food Pact for Skills, and the Common Agricultural Policy have catalysed an increase in agricultural 4.0 research, with the role of women emerging as a subfield of sustainable agriculture. The primary objective of this paper is to evaluate the current literature on women’s roles in smart agriculture, examining the advantages of their participation as a digitally competent workforce that could catalyse improvements in productivity and resilience in rural areas and promote women’s empowerment. A bibliometric study was conducted utilising the Scopus database to fulfil the research objective. This led to the incorporation of 253 articles into the sample. The records were examined using performance analysis and bibliographic coupling (science mapping), facilitated by Biblioshiny 5.0 and VOSviewer 1.6.20 software. The primary findings elucidate essential concepts, predominant study themes, and the temporal progression of the research domain. The identification of numerous women’s role and socio-economic constraints affecting women, which are overlooked in the creation and implementations of technology advancements. Additionally, a research agenda was developed, alongside practical implications for managers and policymakers, to aid the formulation of inclusive agriculture 4.0 projects. Full article

Even though environmental health and climate change are rapidly intensifying the severity of determinants of disease and inequity, training for health professionals in these areas remains fragmented across Europe. To address this gap, the European Medical Association (EMA), in collaboration with the European Network on Climate and Health Education (ENCHE), the International Network on Public Health and Environment Tracking (INPHET) and University College London, convened a one-day hybrid roundtable in London on 17 September 2025, focused on “Preparing Health Professionals for Environmental Health and Climate Change: A Challenge for Europe”. The programme combined keynote presentations on global and European policy, health economics and curriculum design with three disease-focused roundtables (respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological conditions), each examining the following topics: (A) climate and environment as preventable causes of disease; (B) healthcare as a source of environmental harm; and (C) capacity building through education and training. Contributors highlighted how environmental epidemiology, community-based prevention programmes and sustainable clinical practice can be integrated into teaching, illustrating models from respiratory, cardiovascular, surgical and neurological care. EU-level speakers outlined the policy framework (European Green Deal, Zero Pollution Action Plan and forthcoming global health programme) and tools through which professional and scientific societies can both inform and benefit from European action on environment and health. Discussions converged on persistent obstacles, including patchy national commitments to decarbonising healthcare, isolated innovations that are not scaled and curricula that do not yet embed sustainability in examinable clinical competencies. The conference concluded with proposals to develop an operational education package on environmental and climate health; map and harmonise core competencies across undergraduate, postgraduate and Continuing -professional-development pathways; and establish a permanent EMA-led working group to co-produce a broader position paper with professional and scientific societies. This conference report summarises the main messages and is intended as a bridge between practice-based experience and a formal EMA position on environmental-health training in Europe. Full article

This article presents a conceptual framework linking responsible leadership competencies to organizational processes relevant for sustainability transformation. A leader’s personal impact is conceptualized as indirect through organizational governance, prioritization, collaboration, and innovation. The article provides a conceptual mapping approach that systematically connects individual leadership competencies with strategic organizational impact areas. The framework builds on the Competency Assessment for Responsible Leadership (CARL) and the Positive Impact Organization (PIO) concept to relate leadership capabilities to organizational transformation requirements. Five responsible leadership competencies—ethics and values, self-awareness, stakeholder relations, change and innovation, and systems thinking—are mapped to five organizational impact areas: governance alignment, sustainability culture, external stakeholder validation, purpose-driven product and service innovation, and transformative sustainability. The article identifies how specific leadership competencies align with distinct organizational leverage points, clarifying the mechanisms through which leaders shape structures, decision processes, cultural norms, and innovation pathways associated with sustainability transformation. By specifying these relationships, the framework distinguishes leadership impact at the organizational level and provides a structured basis for analyzing how leadership competencies contribute to an organization’s capacity for societal and environmental contribution. The framework is applicable to research on responsible leadership and business sustainability and informs leadership development and management education concerned with sustainability-oriented organizational change. Full article

Groundwater–surface water interactions were investigated in the Highwood River (3952 km²) and Sheep River watersheds (1568 km²), originating in the Rocky Mountains headwaters of the South Saskatchewan River (Alberta, Canada), to improve understanding of hydrological processes that potentially influence water use and vulnerability to climatic change in representative, alpine-fed mixed-use watersheds. Similar to adjacent regions of the Bow, Red Deer and Oldman watersheds, the upper reaches of these watersheds are sparsely populated with significant seasonal glacier and snowmelt influence, while the lower watersheds are currently under increasing water supply pressure from competing agricultural–municipal interests, with notable risk of flooding during high-flow events and drought during the growing season. Investigations included mapping of hydrologic and hydrogeologic controls (aquifers, buried channels, colluvial deposits, etc.,) and synoptic geochemical and isotopic surveys (δ²H, δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C-DIC, ²²²Rn) to characterize evolution in water type and seasonal progression in streamflow sources and underlying mechanisms. Our findings confirm seasonal progression in streamflow water sources, characterized by a pronounced snowmelt-dominated spring freshet, but with a sustained recession fed by colluvial, moraine, fluvial, and fractured bedrock sources. Seasonal isotopic variations establish that shallow groundwater sources are actively maintained throughout the spring freshet, often accounting for a dominant portion of streamflow, which indicates active displacement of groundwater storage by snowmelt recharge during spring melt. The contrast in the proportion of alpine contributions in each watershed suggests these systems may respond very differently to climate change, which needs to be carefully considered in developing sustainable water-use strategies for each watershed. Full article

This study conducts an Academic Literature Analysis of 75 maturity models to clarify how Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 are being conceptualized and assessed. We map model scope, level structures, evaluated dimensions, and enabling technologies and complement descriptive statistics with exploratory non-parametric tests on the relationship between level structure and dimensional breadth. Results show a persistent dominance of Industry 4.0 models (≈92%), alongside a recent but steady emergence of Industry 5.0 and hybrid approaches in the latest models. Structurally, five-level schemes prevail, balancing diagnostic granularity and comparability. Content-wise, Technology and Digitalization, Processes and Operations, and Management and Strategy remain core, while People and Competencies and Innovation gain relevance; Sustainability and Social Responsibility and Human–Machine Interaction appear with the rise of Industry 5.0. We contribute (i) an operational definition of “hybrid” maturity models to make the I4.0→I5.0 transition measurable, (ii) a meta-typology of maturity levels explaining the five-level preference, and (iii) an evidence-based technology cartography across models. The findings suggest that future designs should retain the digital backbone of I4.0 while integrating explicit indicators for human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience with transparent weighting and scenario-based validation. Full article

The rapid advancement of emerging technologies is reshaping industries, widening skills gaps, and increasing the demand for technology talent. Limited university–industry collaboration further constrains the alignment between educational outcomes and labor market needs. This study proposes an Integrated Competency-Based Framework for Employability and the Sustainability of Higher Education, focusing on institutional and knowledge sustainability. The Framework integrates a Competency Map that establishes a university–industry shared language and a Digital Platform that facilitates actor interactions, strengthening the characterization, visibility, and connection of student talent and industry opportunities through digital portfolios. The research followed a two-phase approach: design and pilot implementation. During the pilot, the core components of the Framework were developed, and its initial feasibility and potential relevance were assessed through a survey, a workshop, and semi-structured interviews with students, professors, and industry stakeholders. The findings suggest that the Framework may enhance student employability, access to industry opportunities and talent identification, and strengthen institutional processes that support teaching, curriculum development, academic quality enhancement, and accreditation, thus highlighting the potential contribution of the Framework to institutional, knowledge, and socio-economic sustainability. The study makes theoretical, empirical, and practical contributions by advancing competency-based education for employability and the sustainability of higher education. Full article

This paper presents the development of an Impact Framework for STEAM education created as part of a project to support systemic, evidence-based reform. The framework was derived from an extensive synthesis of data collected through policy mapping, national and European strategy reviews, comparative case studies, and three stakeholder consultations with educators, industry representatives, and policymakers. The analysis used thematic synthesis, root cause analysis, and impact mapping to link the identified challenges with their causes, proposed actions, and measurable indicators. The resulting framework is organised into four interconnected domains: Policy and Governance, Institutional Conditions and Infrastructure, Educator Competence and Resources, and Collaboration Ecosystem, each linked to specific stakeholders, proposed solutions, and anticipated benefits. By consolidating diverse evidence into a coherent logic chain, the framework provides a practical and adaptable tool for guiding reforms that strengthen the coherence, inclusivity, and sustainability of STEAM education across various contexts. Full article

Collaborative mapping has emerged in recent decades as a key practice for producing open geospatial knowledge and fostering critical citizenship. However, several studies have shown that these platforms may reproduce existing gender inequalities, both in terms of participation and representation. This article examines the potential of collaborative feminist cartography as a strategy for making inequalities visible and promoting gender equality in public space. Methodologically, the study focuses on the project Las Calles de las Mujeres, developed by Geochicas OSM, combining quantitative analysis of street naming in urban development with qualitative implementation in educational contexts. A global overview of 32 cities in 11 countries is provided, with a detailed case study of 11 Spanish cities. Results confirm the persistence of a significant gender gap in urban toponymy: streets named after men not only outnumber those dedicated to women but are also on average longer, more central, and symbolically more prominent. Educational experiences in Spain provide learning outcomes and demonstrate that collaborative mapping strengthens spatial thinking, digital competence, and critical awareness, linking geography education to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5 and SDG 11). The article concludes that feminist mapping initiatives are simultaneously pedagogical, social, and political tools, capable of fostering more inclusive and sustainable cities. Full article

As a pivotal indicator in terrestrial ecosystems, forest aboveground biomass (AGB) reflects the capacity for carbon sequestration, the sustenance of biodiversity, and the provision of key ecosystem services. Precise quantification of AGB is therefore fundamental to evaluating forest quality and optimizing management strategies. However, there are bottlenecks in estimating forest AGB from a single data source, and traditional parameter optimization methods are not competent in complex environmental areas. This study proposes an interpretable Bayesian-optimized XGBoost model to improve forest AGB estimation, integrating polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) and optical remote-sensing data for forest AGB mapping in Quanzhou County, southern China. The results demonstrate that the proposed Bayesian-optimized XGBoost (BO-XGBoost) significantly outperforms traditional non-parametric models, achieving a final R² of 0.75 and root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 9.82 Mg/ha. The integration of PolSAR and optical data improved forest AGB estimation accuracy compared with using single data sources alone, reducing the RMSEs by 36.2% and 20.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed method enhances the interpretability of the contributions made by remote-sensing features to forest AGB modeling, offering a new reference for future forest surveys and resource monitoring, which is particularly valuable for sustainable forestry development. Full article

Theatre-based methodologies are increasingly recognized as complementary approaches that can enhance nurses’ empathy, communication, critical thinking, and person-centred care, all essential for managing chronic illnesses. This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize evidence on the application of theatre in continuing nursing education. A systematic literature search was conducted across five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Education Source) for publications in English and Italian up to 30 December 2024, supplemented by grey literature from ProQuest and reference screening via Google Scholar. Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria, identifying two main theatre methodologies, Forum Theatre and Drama, with four variations. These interactive methods were reported to foster reflective practice, enhance person-centred care, and improve interprofessional collaboration. Positive outcomes included improved nurse–patient relationships, quality of care, emotional engagement, cultural competence, teamwork, conflict management, and acceptance of diversity. Key facilitators were institutional support and active participation, while barriers included resistance to change and limited resources. These findings indicate that theatre-based education can serve as an effective complementary strategy to cultivate empathy, creativity, and reflective skills in continuing nursing education, supporting the development of holistic and patient-centred care practices. Further research is needed to explore the sustainability of acquired competencies in clinical practice. Full article

This review synthesizes research from cognitive psychology and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) to propose a new conceptual framework for understanding and fostering international student success. It argues that traditional EAP approaches, while effective in developing analytical intelligence—evidenced by a focus on critical reading, argumentation, and source-based writing—provide an incomplete model for the multifaceted demands of global academia. Drawing on Robert Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, this paper posits that “successful intelligence,” defined as the capacity to achieve one’s goals within a specific sociocultural context, is a more holistic and ecologically valid construct. It depends equally on creative intelligence (e.g., formulating novel research ideas, adapting to unfamiliar academic genres) and practical intelligence (e.g., navigating academic norms, acquiring tacit knowledge, demonstrating pragmatic competence in communication). This paper conducts a critical review of pedagogical practices within EAP that implicitly or explicitly cultivate these three interdependent intelligences. After providing a balanced overview of Sternberg’s theory, including its scholarly critiques, this review broadens its theoretical lens to incorporate complementary perspectives from sociocultural approaches to academic literacies. It systematically maps specific EAP tasks—such as source-based synthesis essays (analytical), research proposals for occluded genres (creative), and simulations of academic email communication (practical)—onto the components of the triarchic model. Drawing on this analysis, the paper concludes by proposing an integrated pedagogical framework, the “Triarchic EAP Model.” This model consciously balances the development of analytical, creative, and practical abilities through integrated tasks, explicit scaffolding, and a focus on transferability. It offers a more holistic approach to student support and strategically positions the EAP classroom as a unique environment for the cultivation and assessment of the multifaceted intellectual skills required for sustainable success in 21st-century global academia. Full article