Search Results (1,677)

Background: Augmented-reality (AR) navigation is emerging as a means of turning pre-operative cone-beam CT data into intuitive, in situ guidance for difficult tooth removal, yet the scattered evidence has never been consolidated nor illustrated with a full clinical workflow. Aims: This study aims to narratively synthesise AR applications limited to dental extractions and to illustrate a full AR-guided clinical workflow. Methods: We performed a PRISMA-informed narrative search (PubMed + Cochrane, January 2015–June 2025) focused exclusively on AR applications in dental extractions and found nine eligible studies. Results: These pilot reports—covering impacted third molars, supernumerary incisors, canines, and cyst-associated teeth—all used marker-less registration on natural dental surfaces and achieved mean target-registration errors below 1 mm with headset set-up times under three minutes; the only translational series (six molars) recorded a mean surgical duration of 21 ± 6 min and a System Usability Scale score of 79. To translate these findings into practice, we describe a case of AR-guided mandibular third-molar extraction. A QR-referenced 3D-printed splint, intra-oral scan, and CBCT were fused to create a colour-coded hologram rendered on a Magic Leap 2 headset. The procedure took 19 min and required only a conservative osteotomy and accurate odontotomy that ended without neurosensory disturbance (VAS pain 2/10 at one week). Conclusions: Collectively, the literature synthesis and clinical demonstration suggest that current AR platforms deliver sub-millimetre accuracy, minimal workflow overhead, and high user acceptance in high-risk extractions while highlighting the need for larger, controlled trials to prove tangible patient benefit. Full article

With the rise of e-commerce, mobile devices, and social media, consumers’ online social and shopping behaviors have become increasingly integrated, making social commerce a major force in the digital marketplace. In this context, consumer behaviors on social media can exert a profound influence on purchase decisions. This research investigates the impact of social media self-presentation, a key social behavior on social media, on consumers’ preference for experiential consumption. Drawing on one survey study and one experimental study, the findings reveal that social media self-presentation significantly predicts a stronger preference for experiential consumption (e.g., travel) over material consumption (e.g., tangible goods), with this effect being particularly salient among female participants. Furthermore, self-concept clarity mediates this relationship: both positive and authentic self-presentation enhance individuals’ clarity of self-concept, which in turn promotes a greater inclination toward experiential purchases. These findings highlight the key role of social media behavior in shaping consumer behaviors. The results offer important theoretical and practical insights into consumer decision-making in digital contexts and guide platform design and personalized recommendation systems. Full article

Smoking tobacco is a prominent activity in Cameroon, with each region holding different views on the devices used for smoking. In Bamum, these vessels are called kiis. Many of these pipes, or kiis, have been removed from the kingdom and displayed without proper contextual information in Western institutions since the 1920s. This paper highlights discrepancies in academic pursuits regarding the kii and their decontextualized displays, while also providing ethical guidelines for their future displays. Understanding the intended purpose and cultural significance of a kii allows for the process of restitution in the form of ethical display to take place. Using the Heritage Context Retrieval Analysis (HeCRA) method, the research aim to explore the cultural origins of the kii in the GWU collection, retrieve its cultural context, critique the prevalent cabinet of curiosities display format used in displaying them in museums, and propose ethical frameworks for handling such devices, which are both utilitarian and culturally charged in 21st-century museums. This paper uncovers the true identity of a brass kii and dismantles the cabinet of curiosities and the alignment of African tangible heritage to oddities. The goal is to instigate a new approach to approaching such cultural objects by invoking their original spiritual and cultural symbolism in exhibitions outside of Bamum. Full article

Immersive technologies are increasingly acknowledged as powerful tools in sustainability education, capable of fostering deeper engagement and emotional resonance. This study investigates the potential of 360° VR storytelling to enhance learning through embodied knowledge, attitudinal change, and emotional awareness. Conducted within the EMOTIONAL project, the research explores a first-person narrative told from the perspective of a ceramic object rooted in Italian cultural heritage, designed to facilitate meaningful, affective learning. The present study addresses the following research questions: RQ1 Can 360° VR story-living narrations effectively promote embodied learning and semantic and attitudinal shifts in the context of sustainability education? RQ2 What added insights can be gained from integrating subjective assessments with physiological measures? To this end, a hybrid assessment framework was developed and validated, combining subjective self-report tools (including attitudinal scales, semantic differential analysis, and engagement metrics) with objective physiological measures, specifically Electrodermal Activity (EDA). Sixty participants, including students and entrepreneurs, experienced the immersive narrative, and a subset underwent physiological tracking to evaluate the effectiveness of the experience. The findings show that immersive storytelling can enhance emotional and cognitive engagement, producing shifts in semantic interpretation, self-perceived knowledge, and attitudes toward material culture. A convergence of high emotional engagement, embodied learning, and technology acceptance was observed, although individual differences emerged based on prior experience and disciplinary background. EDA data offered complementary insights, identifying specific moments of heightened arousal during the narrative. The study demonstrates that emotionally driven immersive narratives (supported by integrated assessment methods) can make abstract sustainability values more tangible and personally resonant, thereby fostering more reflective and relational approaches to sustainable consumption and production. Full article

Field workers require expeditious and pertinent access to information to execute their duties, frequently in arduous environments. Conventional document search interfaces are ill-suited to these contexts, while fully automated approaches often lack the capacity to adapt to the variability of situations. This article explores a hybrid approach based on the use of specialized small language models (SLMs), combining natural language interaction, context awareness (static and dynamic), and structured command generation. The objective of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of providing contextualized assistance for mobile agents using an intelligent conversational agent, while ensuring that reasonable resource consumption is maintained. The present case study pertains to the supervision of illumination systems on a university campus by technical agents. The static and the dynamic contexts are integrated into the user command to generate a prompt that queries a previously fine-tuned SLM. The methodology employed, the construction of five datasets for the purposes of evaluation, and the refinement of selected SLMs are presented herein. The findings indicate that models of smaller scale demonstrate the capacity to comprehend natural language queries and generate responses that can be effectively utilized by a tangible system. This work opens prospects for intelligent, resource-efficient, and contextualized assistance in industrial or constrained environments. Full article

A sense of belonging among university students is widely perceived as critical to engagement, retention and outcomes. The aim of our research is to improve understanding of how staff and students conceptualise belonging, how sense of belonging can be enhanced, and factors which work against it in the post-COVID era. Using interviews and focus groups, we asked professional services staff, academic staff, and students (n = 34) at one English university for their views. Thematic analysis generated three major themes: (1) understandings of belonging; (2) connections, caring and mattering; (3) challenges to belonging. The most significant finding was that sense of belonging is mostly located within non-tangible ‘moments’ which are mainly owned by students themselves. Sense of belonging is conceptually messy and complex in practice due to these non-tangible moments. Relational pedagogy, caring, mattering and consistency are key factors in improving belonging, and these can only be established in the context of authentic and trusting relationships. Student belonging was found to be mostly reliant on both relationships with staff and peers, but also the physical environment. Recommendations are for universities to review current roles and responsibilities of staff who provide pastoral care for students, ensuring they are adequately trained and supported; to recognise that belonging is largely about authentic, trusting relationships, and to allow the necessary time for it; and to consider the threats to sense of belonging, such as high staff sickness and turnover. This qualitative study helps unravel varying understandings of sense of belonging and provides original empirical insights to further contribute to the development of sense of belonging in higher education. Full article

Rice (Oryza sativa), a crucial global staple, grapples with environmental stress and resource constraints, necessitating sustainable farming. This review explores the transformative role of transcription factors (TFs) in revolutionizing rice agriculture and their potential impact on global food security. It underscores TFs’ pivotal role in gene expression, particularly in responding to environmental stimuli, presenting a promising avenue for enhancing rice resilience. Delving into key TF families in rice, it highlights their multifaceted roles in abiotic stress responses, defense mechanisms, yield improvement, nutrient uptake, seed development, photosynthesis, and flowering regulation. Specific TFs, including DREB (Dehydration-Responsive Element-Binding), WRKY, NAC, MYB (Myeloblastosis), AP2/ERF (APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor), and bHLH (basic Helix–Loop–Helix), are examined for their contributions to stress resilience, defense mechanisms, and yield enhancement. Concrete examples from cutting-edge research illustrate the tangible benefits of harnessing these molecular regulators. However, manipulating TFs presents challenges, necessitating innovative approaches such as predictive models, collaborative field testing, and transparent communication to navigate intricate regulatory networks and regulatory hurdles. Ultimately, a promising future emerges where manipulating rice TFs leads to the development of resilient, high-yielding, and nutritious varieties. Embracing research advancements and addressing existing challenges is imperative to unlock the full potential of these concealed regulators, ensuring sustainable food security for a growing global population. Full article

This paper introduces a novel approach to tree modeling architecture integrated with blockchain technology, aimed at enhancing landscape spatial planning and forest monitoring systems. The primary objective is to develop a low-cost, automated tree CAD modeling methodology combined with blockchain functionalities to support smart forest projects and collaborative design processes. The proposed method utilizes a parametric tree CAD model consisting of four 2D tree-frames with a 45° division angle, enriched with recorded tree-leaves’ texture and color. An “AI Text-by-Voice CAD Programming” technique is employed to create tangible tree-model NFT tokens, forming the basis of a thematic “Internet-of-Trees” blockchain. The main results demonstrate the effectiveness of the blockchain/Merkle hash tree in tracking tree geometry growth and texture changes through parametric transactions, enabling decentralized design, data validation, and planning intelligence. Comparative analysis highlights the advantages in cost, time efficiency, and flexibility over traditional 3D modeling techniques, while providing acceptable accuracy for metaverse projects in smart forests and landscape architecture. Core contributions include the integration of AI-based user voice interaction with blockchain and behavioral data for distributed and collaborative tree modeling, the introduction of a scalable and secure “Merkle hash tree” for smart forest monitoring, and the facilitation of fintech adoption in environmental projects. This framework offers significant potential for advancing metaverse-based landscape architecture, smart forest surveillance, sustainable urban planning, and the improvement of citizen involvement in sustainable forestry paving the way for a greener future. Full article

To contribute to the emerging knowledge on the sustainability impacts of small, circular clothing reuse businesses in the US, we employed a case study research methodology to empirically test the case of Circular Thrift, an innovative, community-based startup business model with potential to create a circular fashion ecosystem on the firm level. Primary data on circular activities were collected on site within the first year of business operation. The Life Cycle Assessment methodology was conducted to assess environmental impact avoidance. The social impact of reused products was assessed to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the benefits of born circular business models. Tangible environmental benefits accounted for the collection of 10,772 apparel units and resulted in the diversion of 2311.05 kg (approximately 5095 pounds) of clothing from the local landfill. Social impact accounted for 45.86% of the collected items that were given back to the local community. Empirical testing of the environmental benefits of a Circular Thrift business model makes a strong case for scaling up reusable efforts as a means to address post-consumer textile waste at the local community level within the US, where formal and government-regulated resource collection and recovery systems still do not exist. Full article

This study investigates the effect of the educational level of top management team (TMT) family members on firm innovation among publicly listed family firms in China. Using a panel of 14,338 firm-year observations from 2015 to 2023, this study employs fixed effects regressions to show that the educational background of family members positively influences firm innovation, measured by the proportion of R&D personnel and capitalized R&D expenditures. Moreover, this positive effect is more pronounced under greater industry competition, higher transparency, and smaller firms. The mediation analysis identifies potential channels of asset tangibility, ownership concentration, and management fees through which family education influences firm innovation. Sectoral heterogeneity reveals a more pronounced effect within the manufacturing and service sectors, while no statistically significant relationship emerges in the agriculture sector. Concerns over endogeneity are mitigated using lagged family education, two-stage least squares regressions, and panel vector autoregressions. The baseline result remains robust when firm innovation is alternatively measured by the number of patents. These findings contribute to the literature on innovation in family firms and offer implications for investors, corporate decision-makers, and policymakers in emerging markets. Full article

The logistics industry saw substantial growth in the second half of the 20th century, and logistics companies play a vital role in today’s modern market. Constant shifts in the market present challenges for logistics firms, which must find the optimal balance between achieved goals and utilized resources. The primary indicator that reflects this relationship is efficiency. Measuring and monitoring efficiency in logistics companies is extremely demanding because the final product is not a tangible item; instead, it often consists of transportation, storage, transloading, and forwarding services that require extensive resources. This paper focuses on measuring and improving efficiency. Numerous approaches and methods for evaluating the efficiency of logistics companies are examined. To measure and enhance efficiency, as well as rank companies based on operational efficiency, a three-phase DEA-fuzzy AHP model has been developed. This model was tested using a real-world example by analyzing the efficiency of ten logistics companies in the Republic of Serbia. The results of the analysis indicate the applicability of this model for measuring and improving the efficiency of logistics companies, as well as for their ranking. Full article

This paper outlines the implementation and core results of a combined archaeological, historical, and ethnographic study of the histories of well construction and water management among Boran, Gabra, and Rendille pastoralists in arid and semi-arid areas of Northern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia. Co-developed with representatives from different local communities from the outset, this project sought to document the spatial distribution of different types of hand-dug wells found across the study areas, their associated oral histories and, if possible, establish through archaeological means their likely date of initial construction. Concurrent with addressing these academic objectives, this project aimed to train a cohort of local heritage stewards in archaeological, historical, and ethnographic data collection and interpretation, equipping them with the necessary skills to monitor sites of heritage value and further record additional elements of the tangible and intangible heritage of the study areas. This paper discusses the archaeological work that the community trainees participated in, the strategies developed with them to create wider awareness of this heritage, and its implications for identifying ways to ”weather” climate change in the future. Full article

In elective hernia surgery, the primary aim is to improve quality of life, rather than to save life. Therefore, outcome measures should emphasize domains such as pain, function, and overall satisfaction. While some principles also apply to other benign procedures, this perspective article centers on hernia repair as a paradigm for redefining surgical success. We perform hernia surgeries primarily due to quality-of-life concerns, and, consequently, it makes sense that outcome measures should emphasize quality-of-life indicators such as pain, other complaints impacting daily life, and most importantly, overall patient satisfaction with the procedure. Nonetheless, many interventional studies related to hernia disease tend to focus on tangible surgical outcomes like recurrence, infections, hospital stays, and readmissions. Therefore, we advocate for a shift in the evaluation of surgeries to prioritize more relevant patient-reported outcomes when assessing the effects of surgical procedures for benign conditions. These considerations not only apply to hernia surgery but also to other surgical interventions where the indication for surgery is based on quality-of-life issues. We urge the systematic incorporation of patient-reported outcomes into surgical practices and outcomes research to promote a more patient-centered approach, aligning surgical success with the outcomes that matter most to patients. Full article

The evolution of traditional rural settlements is a dynamic process. During urbanization, traditional rural settlements, as dual carriers of natural and cultural heritage, face the structural contradiction between preservation and development. The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake caused systemic damage to the Linpan settlements in western Sichuan. The post-seismic reconstruction (2008-) and rural revitalization (2017-) phases have offered a unique case for exploring sustainable cultural landscape patterns. This study innovatively devises a “preservation–development” dual-system evaluation framework. Using the coupling coordination degree model, it analyzes the characteristics of Linpan at different stages within a composite cultural–economic–social system. The study found that while tangible carriers can be quickly repaired through financial support, intangible culture is often at risk of losing its inheritors. Over 60% of Linpan depend on government support, exposing the fragility of “dependence-based development”, and few achieve high-quality “preservation–development” synergy (coupling coordination degree D > 0.8). Most remain in a “preservation lag–development obstruction” cycle (D < 0.5). This paper explores ways to balance Linpan preservation and development dynamically and suggests creating a self-cycling “resource empowerment–cultural identity–value transformation” development pattern. It provides a theoretical reference for cultural heritage preservation and disaster resilience building and contributes a unique solution for the revitalization of traditional settlements. Full article

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance has emerged as a critical indicator of corporate legitimacy, resilience, and long-term value. However, translating ESG strategic intent into tangible results remains a pressing theoretical and managerial challenge. This paper introduces an integrated framework elucidating the pathways through which Corporate Citizenship (CC), understood as a participatory, relational evolution of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), influences ESG outcomes at the employee level. Drawing on both Social Exchange Theory (SET) and Social Identity Theory (SIT), the model explains how reciprocal obligations and identity-based alignment jointly influence employees’ discretionary behaviors. Perceived Organizational Support (POS) is introduced as a moderating factor that shapes the strength of the CC–OCB pathway. This study contributes to the micro-foundations of ESG by illuminating how individual discretionary behaviors mediate and condition the impact of strategic corporate citizenship initiatives. By advancing a dual-theoretical, micro-foundational approach, the framework moves beyond reputational CSR models and provides a testable, behaviorally anchored account of ESG implementation. Practical implications are offered for organizations seeking to cultivate trust-based cultures that align employee engagement with sustainable performance. Full article