Search Results (632)

This systematic integrative review examines methodological frameworks used to evaluate educational technologies in biomedical higher education. We synthesize five complementary approaches frequently reported in the literature: the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the System Usability Scale (SUS), Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), and the ARCS motivational model. Each framework addresses distinct but interrelated dimensions of evaluation, including technology acceptance and intention to use, perceived usability and user experience, technological maturity and implementation risk, and learner motivation. Drawing on representative studies in e-learning platforms, virtual and extended reality environments, and clinical simulation, we discuss the strengths, limitations, and common pitfalls of applying these models in isolation. Based on this synthesis, we propose a pragmatic, multi-phase evaluation workflow that aligns usability, acceptance, motivation, and technological maturity across different stages of educational technology development and adoption. Finally, we outline exploratory future perspectives on how existing evaluation models might need to evolve to address emerging AI-driven, immersive, and haptic technologies in biomedical education. This abstract was prepared in accordance with PRISMA 2020 for Abstracts, ensuring structured reporting and transparency. Full article

Accurate gas analysis plays a critical role in aerospace missions, including spacecraft safety assurance, crew health monitoring, and deep-space scientific exploration. Although conventional gas chromatography (GC) techniques are well established, their large size, high power consumption, and long analysis time limit their applicability in modern aerospace missions that require miniaturized, low-power, and highly integrated analytical systems. The development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology provides an effective pathway for the miniaturization of gas chromatography. MEMS-based micro gas chromatography columns enable the integration of meter-scale separation channels onto centimeter-scale chips through micro- and nanofabrication techniques, significantly reducing system volume and power consumption while improving analysis speed and integration capability. Compared with conventional GC systems, MEMS µGC exhibits clear advantages in size, weight, energy efficiency, and response time. This review systematically summarizes the fundamentals, structural designs, fabrication processes, and stationary phase preparation of MEMS micro gas chromatography columns. Representative aerospace application cases along with related experimental and engineering validation studies are highlighted; we re-evaluate these systems using Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) to distinguish flight heritage from concept demonstrations and propose a standardized validation roadmap for environmental reliability. In addition, key technical challenges for aerospace deployment are discussed. This work aims to provide a useful reference for the development of aerospace gas analysis systems and the engineering application of MEMS-based technologies. Full article

The transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in urban management is severely constrained by pervasive systemic fragmentation. While AI applications demonstrate high efficacy within isolated domains, they rarely achieve the cross-domain integration necessary for realizing systemic benefits. Our prior research identified this fragmentation paradox, revealing that 91.5% of urban AI implementations operate at the lowest levels of integration. While the Urban Systems Artificial Intelligence Framework (UAIF) offers a technical blueprint for integration, realizing this vision is contingent upon organizational readiness. This paper addresses this critical gap by introducing the Urban AI Governance Maturity Model (UAIG), developed using a Design Science Research methodology. Distinguished from generic maturity models, the UAIG operationalizes Socio-Technical Systems theory by establishing a direct Governance-Technology Interlock that specifically links organizational maturity levels to the engineering requirements of cross-domain AI. The model defines five maturity levels across five critical dimensions: Strategy and Investment; Organizational Structure and Culture; Data Governance and Policy; Technical Capacity and Interoperability; and Trust, Ethics, and Security. Through illustrative applications, we demonstrate how the UAIG serves as a diagnostic tool and a strategic roadmap, enabling policymakers to bridge the gap between technical possibility and organizational reality. Full article

Agricultural marketing increasingly integrates Agriculture 4.0 technologies—Blockchain, AI/ML, IoT, and recommendation systems—yet systematic evaluations of computational maturity and deployment readiness remain limited. This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) examined 99 peer-reviewed studies (2019–2025) from Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore following PRISMA protocols to assess algorithmic performance, evaluation methods, and Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) for agricultural marketing applications. Hybrid recommendation systems dominate current research (28.3%), achieving accuracies of 80–92%, while blockchain implementations (15.2%) show fast transaction times (<2 s) but limited real-world adoption. Machine learning models using Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and CNNs reach 85–95% predictive accuracy, and IoT systems report >95% data transmission reliability. However, 77.8% of technologies remain at validation stages (TRL ≤ 5), and only 3% demonstrate operational deployment beyond one year. The findings reveal an “efficiency paradox”: strong technical performance (75–97/100) contrasts with weak economic validation (≤20% include cost–benefit analysis). Most studies overlook temporal, geographic, and economic generalization, prioritizing computational metrics over implementation viability. This review highlights the persistent validation–deployment gap in digital agriculture, urging a shift toward multi-tier evaluation frameworks that include contextual, adoption, and impact validation under real deployment conditions. Full article

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) remains a critical environmental governance challenge in rural and peri-urban regions of the Global South, where service delivery gaps exacerbate illegal dumping and public health risks. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are increasingly promoted as decision-support tools to improve waste collection efficiency and environmental monitoring; however, their adoption in resource-constrained municipalities remains limited. This study investigates the institutional and policy barriers shaping GIS readiness in four rural municipalities within South Africa’s Vhembe District. Using a qualitative case-study design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 municipal officials across managerial and operational levels, complemented by 399 community responses to an open-ended survey question. Thematic analysis, guided by Institutional Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), identified five interrelated themes: waste production and disposal behaviours, collection and infrastructure constraints, institutional and operational challenges, policy and standardisation gaps, and technology readiness. The findings reveal that weak service reliability, fragmented governance structures, limited human and financial capacity, and inconsistent policy enforcement collectively undermine GIS adoption, despite its high perceived usefulness among officials. The study demonstrates that the effectiveness of GIS as an environmental management tool is contingent on institutional readiness rather than technological availability alone and highlights the need for integrated reforms in service delivery, institutional capacity, and policy implementation to enable GIS-supported sustainable waste management. Full article

In recent years, interest in carbon dioxide (CO₂) hydrogenation technologies has intensified. Driven by the continuous rise in greenhouse gas emissions and the unprecedented negative impacts of global warming, these technologies offer a viable pathway toward sustainability and support the development of low-carbon industrial processes. In addition to methanol and methane, other possible hydrogenation products (i.e., hydrocarbons, formic acid, acetic acid, dimethyl ether, and dimethyl carbonate) are of industrial relevance due to their wide range of applications. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the various aspects associated with thermocatalytic CO₂ hydrogenation processes, from thermodynamic and kinetic studies to upscaled reactor modeling and process synthesis and optimization. The review proceeds to examine different integration strategies and optimization approaches for multi-product systems, with the objective of evaluating how distinct technologies may be combined in an integrated flowsheet. It then concludes by outlining future research opportunities in this field, particularly those related to developing comprehensive kinetic rate expressions and reactor modeling studies for routes with low technology readiness levels, the exploration of prospective reaction pathways, strategies to mitigate the dependence on green hydrogen (which, today, exhibits high costs), and the consideration of market price or product demand fluctuations in optimization studies. Overall, this review provides a solid base to support other decarbonization studies focused on hydrogenation technologies. Full article

This study examines the effectiveness of an eight-week AI training program aimed at enhancing teacher candidates’ pedagogical competence and AI literacy in rapidly changing and evolving educational environments. As the modern world continues to change and develop, the transformation of education, which is one of the most important elements of our lives, cannot be ignored. Accordingly, the integration of teacher candidates, who constitute key education stakeholders, into technological developments is very important in terms of both efficiency and sustainability. The “parallel–simultaneous design”, one of the mixed research methods in which quantitative and qualitative research methods are used together, was employed. In line with the stated purpose, the study started with a needs analysis conducted with 33 teacher candidates studying in different branches at the faculty of education. As a result of the needs analysis, knowledge gaps, digital skill levels and readiness for integration of artificial intelligence tools in future classrooms were determined. Its application to teacher candidates, instead of teachers in the profession, was determined by the needs analysis. The results indicate that it would be more beneficial to apply the education of the future to the teachers of the future and that they will find it easier to adapt to such training. Accordingly, a pre-test–post-test design was applied to observe how the participants changed, and an artificial intelligence literacy scale was also used. QDA Miner Lite was used for the analysis of the qualitative data, and SPSS 29.0 was used for the analysis of the quantitative data. During the eight-week training, Gamma programs were used for the presentation, Suno for audio, Midjourney for visuals and ChatGPT-4 for a descriptive search in order to provide better quality education to the participants. While practicing with these applications, the aim is to provide more up-to-date education that reveals problem-solving skills that include critical thinking exercises. According to the results, the teacher candidates who expressed that they were undecided or had insufficient knowledge reached a sufficient level in the post-test. In the light of these results, it can be stated that artificial-intelligence-oriented education is effective in developing sustainable pedagogical skills, digital literacy, readiness and professional self-confidence. The study also offers evidence-based recommendations for the design of future teacher training programs. Full article

This study examines the profiles of secondary special education teachers regarding their readiness for inclusive teaching, with technology-enhanced practices operationalized through participation in STEAM-related professional development. A total of 323 teachers from vocational high schools and integration classes participated. Four indicators of professional preparation were assessed: years of teaching experience, formal STEAM training, exposure to students with special educational needs (SEN), and perceived success in inclusive teaching, operationalized as self-reported competence in adaptive instruction, classroom management, positive attitudes toward inclusion, and collaborative engagement. Cluster analysis revealed three distinct teacher profiles: less experienced teachers with moderate perceived success and limited exposure to students with SEN; well-prepared teachers with high levels across all indicators; and highly experienced teachers with lower STEAM training and perceived success. These findings underscore the need for targeted professional development that integrates inclusive and technology-enhanced pedagogy through STEAM and is tailored to teachers’ experience levels. By integrating inclusive readiness, STEAM-related preparation, and technology-enhanced pedagogy within a person-centered profiling approach, this study offers actionable teacher profiles to inform differentiated professional development in secondary special education. Full article

Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) are intense bursts of high-energy photons which, in just a few seconds, outshine all other $\gamma$-ray emitters in the sky. Due to their extreme luminosity, GRBs are not only important as high-energy astrophysical phenomena but also serve as valuable probe models of the far, high-redshift Universe. The importance of these events has pushed the High-Energy Astrophysics community to propose new mission concepts over the past decade, prompting dedicated research and development efforts to achieve the required technological readiness levels. The X and Gamma-Ray Imager and Spectrometer (XGIS) is one of the two GRB monitors onboard the proposed, upcoming THESEUS space mission. Building on strong heritage from previous studies, ongoing developments and optimizations are focused on enhancing the instrument’s capabilities and increasing its technological maturity. This work presents the current status of the XGIS instrument and the latest technological advancements achieved in preparation for its deployment on THESEUS. Full article

Schinus molle L. Essential Oil (SMEO) displays a rich scientific literature, including preliminary studies on its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. This review seeks to systematically analyze the influence of the chemotype diversity of SMEO on its biological and pharmaceutical applications, with a particular focus on antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activities, and to identify research gaps for effective pharmaceutical exploitation. The article selection process was carried out in June 2025 and focused on the PubMed, Scopus, and MDPI databases, producing 176 articles, of which 51 were selected for this review. The present systematic review included the articles published in English and Spanish, with no limitations on the year of publication; data from patent and symposium abstracts were excluded. A qualitative assessment of the selected articles was carried out, including a TRL (Technology Readiness Level) analysis. The results were summarized using hierarchical cluster analysis and a strategic patent search tree, and were processed into tables, graphs, and a heat map, which enabled discussions and proposals for new research trends to be developed. The chemical composition varies significantly depending on the production area, climatic conditions, and seasonality, but the presence of two prevalent chemotypes is evident, α-phellandrene and sabinene, respectively. Data on antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activity were promising, and some formulation prototypes are available, pointing toward the potential development of pharmaceutical and veterinary products. The use of nanotechnology appears to be crucial for the potential pharmaceutical application of SMEO, but further studies are needed. Specifically, further investigation of the properties of SMEO or its components in wound healing applications could represent a new research trend. This review highlights the state of the art of pharmacological research on SMEO and suggests future research directions with a view to develop formulations suitable for safety and efficacy improvements. Full article

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) is a green and readily scalable platform for the recovery and upgrading of bioactives from agri-food and forestry byproducts. This expert-led narrative review examines HC processing of citrus and pomegranate peels, softwoods, and plant protein systems, emphasizing process performance, ingredient functionality, and realistic routes to market, and contrasts HC with other green extraction technologies. Pilot-scale evidence repeatedly supports water-only operation with high solids and short residence times; in most practical deployments, energy demand is dominated by downstream water removal rather than the extraction step itself, which favors low water-to-biomass ratios. A distinctive outcome of HC is the spontaneous formation of stable pectin–flavonoid–terpene phytocomplexes with improved apparent solubility and bioaccessibility, and early studies indicate that HC may also facilitate protein–polyphenol complexation while lowering anti-nutritional factors. Two translational pathways appear near term: (i) blending HC-derived dry extracts with commercial dry protein isolates to deliver measurable functional benefits at low inclusion levels and (ii) HC-based extraction of plant proteins to obtain digestion-friendly isolates and conjugate-ready ingredients. Priority gaps include harmonized reporting of specific energy consumption and operating metrics, explicit solvent/byproduct mass balances, matched-scale benchmarking against subcritical water extraction and pulsed electric field, and evidence from continuous multi-ton operation. Overall, HC is a strong candidate unit operation for circular biorefineries, provided that energy accounting, quality retention, and regulatory documentation are handled rigorously. Full article

This study examines the determinants of energy efficiency in G20 economies over the period of 2000–2024 using the method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) to analyze the variation in the impacts of green innovation, green investment, green finance, the strength of energy policy, and trade openness across different levels of energy intensity. The results reveal that these variables do not affect all countries equally; their effects vary with the maturity of institutional and technological structures. Economies with strong regulations benefit more from green innovation and expanded environmental financial instruments, whereas countries with limited ready-made institutions struggle to turn these variables into tangible gains. This study also showed that energy policy was the most stable factor across all levels, while innovation, finance, and investment became more impactful in countries that had made significant progress in energy intensity. This study proposes a differential policy that responds to various institutional readiness levels. Low-intensity energy economies should prioritize strengthening regulatory frameworks and improving energy governance, medium-performing countries should expand green finance opportunities and direct investments toward clean technology, and developed countries should focus on deepening innovation and broadening the base of technology transfer to promote long-term sustainability. Overall, the results confirm that the green shift in the G20 economies requires specialized strategies rather than uniform policies that overlook economic structural differences. Full article

Indonesia faces growing pressure to strengthen waste management while expanding renewable energy generation, particularly from high-moisture biomass such as palm oil mill effluent (POME) and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). Anaerobic digestion technology (ADT) is technically suitable for both feedstocks; however, its deployment depends on broader operational, financial, social, and institutional conditions. This study evaluates ADT readiness for biomass waste-to-energy (BWTE) development in Indonesia using a multistakeholder Japanese Technology Readiness Assessment (J-TRA) framework. The results and discussion are supported by a literature review, secondary data analysis, and interviews with government agencies, industry actors, financiers, non-governmental organizations, and researchers. The results reveal a clear divergence in readiness outcomes. POME-based ADT reaches Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of 6–8, supported by a stable and homogeneous feedstock supply, established industrial operations, and corporate incentives to mitigate methane emissions. Key remaining constraints relate to high capital costs for smaller mills, low electricity purchase tariffs, and competing export incentives for untreated POME. In contrast, OFMSW-based ADT remains at TRL 2–4, constrained by inconsistent waste segregation, insufficient operation and maintenance capacity, limited municipal budgets, residential safety concerns, and fragmented governance across waste and energy institutions. Across both cases, readiness is shaped by five interacting forces. The first three are technical: feedstock characteristics, operations and maintenance (O&M) capability, and financial certainty. The remaining two are enabling conditions: social acceptance and institutional coordination. This study concludes that Indonesia’s BWTE transition requires integrated technological, behavioral, and policy interventions, supported by further research on hybrid valorization pathways and context-specific life-cycle and cost analyses. Full article

Low-altitude logistics (LAL), supported by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and emerging urban air mobility operations within the low-altitude airspace (typically <1000 m), is rapidly reshaping last-mile distribution and time-critical delivery. However, LAL systems remain vulnerable to compound disruptions spanning weather, infrastructure, governance, and cybersecurity. Using a PRISMA-guided protocol, this systematic review synthesizes 1600 peer-reviewed studies published from 2020 to 2025 and combines bibliometric mapping (VOSviewer) with qualitative content analysis to consolidate the knowledge base on low-altitude logistics resilience (LALR). We conceptualize LALR via four coupled pillars, including robustness, adaptability, recoverability, and redundancy. The synthesize evidence across key vulnerability domains consists of platform reliability, communication and infrastructure readiness, regulatory fragmentation, cyber exposure, and weather-driven operational uncertainty. Building on the synthesis, we propose a Technology–Policy–Ecosystem roadmap that links (i) AI-enabled autonomy and risk-aware planning, (ii) adaptive governance tools such as regulatory sandboxes and dynamic airspace/UTM management, and (iii) ecosystem-level interventions, notably public–private partnerships and equity-oriented service design for underserved areas. We further outline a research agenda centered on measurable resilience metrics, activate redundancy design, climate-adaptive UAV operations, and digital-twin-enabled orchestration for scalable and sustainable LAL ecosystems. Full article

This article presents the results of the Innovation Support Program (ISP), designed to enhance the market readiness of 12 bio-based innovators from six European rural regions: Northern Sweden, Mazovia (Poland), Upper Austria, Pays de la Loire (France), Strumica (Macedonia), and Andalusia (Spain). Over three years, the ISP applied a modular and flexible methodology, beginning with a cross-regional needs analysis to identify knowledge gaps, followed by a call for Expressions of Interest to select promising bio-based solutions, and concluding with tailored support delivered through regional Task Forces. These provided mentoring and capacity-building activities focusing on business modeling, market analysis, and funding opportunities. The program identified market access as a major barrier to scaling up and noted that many solutions followed Social and Solidarity Economy principles, prioritizing social and environmental impact over profit. Through targeted assistance and knowledge exchange, the ISP strengthened local innovation capacity and contributed measurable progress in companies’ Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Positioned within the framework of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the ISP demonstrates how combining regional insights with a structured support framework can effectively accelerate the scaling of bio-based solutions, highlighting the need for iterative, long-term support to sustain regional bioeconomy growth. Full article