Search Results (1,433)

The complexity of the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus demands a comprehensive framework for its implementation, particularly concerning place-based governance and sustainable transitions. In this work, the WEF Nexus is conceptualized through the lens of Socio-Technical Systems Transition Theory and its interconnections with geo-ecological system components, enabling its recognition as a place-based Socio-Technical–Ecological meta-System (STES). The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are introduced as landscape drivers of the WEF Nexus, as they acknowledge the crucial role of society, technology and ecological systems in its interconnected domains. A novel integrated methodology to develop the WEF Nexus as a STES transition is presented, encompassing literature review, qualitative analysis, conceptual mapping, and multi-stakeholder co-creation. This theoretical framework was empirically tested and improved across selected case studies on hydrological basins in Africa within the ONEPlanET Horizon Europe Project. Both leverageable subsystems and promising transitional innovation assets were identified. The transitional X-Curve assisted in the discussion in the empirical context of ONEPlanET to generalise the findings and the visual presentation of the identified pathways. The methodology that resulted is suitable for supporting a concrete exploration of systemic mapping, analysis, and planning towards a sustainable WEF Nexus in complex geographies, facilitated through multi-stakeholder engagement and co-creation. Full article

The highly competitive nature of the online food delivery (OFD) market faces a serious retention problem, with acquiring new users typically being much more expensive than retaining existing users. Traditional prediction methods that rely primarily upon static transactional metrics such as recency and frequency are often unable to capture the psychological ‘disconfirmation’ which occurs prior to churn. To fill this gap, this study proposes a framework based on Expectation-Confirmation Theory (ECT). Unsupervised K-Means clustering was employed to classify a simulated and filtered dataset with 1500 customer records containing behaviour, geography, etc. This framework also couples sentiment analysis from BERT, allowing it to identify psychological “silent” attrition. Heterogeneous cohorts, which exhibit different psychological antecedents (utilitarian versus hedonic), were identified. The empirical results of our analyses demonstrated that Random Forest Classifiers with segment-specific features outperform baseline transactional models (F1 = 0.76) with an F1 Score of 0.89. The visual analytic interface developed provides a holistic view of the consumption process than traditional prediction models, including prescriptive, automated segment-based mitigation strategies. Our findings contradict the assumption that the “frequency–loyalty” model applies to all users. High-frequency discretionary users are found to be elastic in terms of retention and will experience significant churn. By utilising the automated action log, managers can plan targeted, highly efficient retention strategies rather than blanket discounting approaches. Full article

Traditional craft education relies heavily on hands-on practice; however, novice learners often struggle with procedural complexity, material behavior, and the tacit knowledge typically transmitted through prolonged apprenticeship. This paper presents an integrated framework that combines semantic Knowledge Graphs (KGs), real-time Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation, and high-fidelity physically based rendering (PBR) to support the teaching, understanding, and preservation of traditional crafts. Craft processes are modelled as ontologically grounded KGs that capture tools, materials, actions, decision points, and common procedural errors through an extensible representation aligned with CIDOC-CRM. These semantic structures drive an interactive FEM-based simulation that enables learners to enact craft actions in a virtual environment while receiving predictive feedback and corrective guidance derived from expert-defined execution parameters. The resulting workpiece states are visualized using PBR techniques, providing perceptually accurate cues essential for assessing surface changes, deformation patterns, and material conditions. The methodology is embedded within an eLearning ecosystem that supports the generation of structured courses, multimodal exemplars, and instructional design informed by Cognitive Load Theory. A use case involving wood and aluminum carving demonstrates the system’s ability to simulate realistic tool–material interactions and produce visually interpretable outcomes. The results indicate that coupling executable semantic knowledge modelling with physically grounded simulation offers a viable pathway toward scalable, safe, and contextually rich craft training while supporting the long-term preservation of domain expertise. Full article

Urban blue-green spaces (UBGS) are crucial nature-based solutions for enhancing urban resilience and improving public health. This study examined the experiential relationships linking BGS use to human well-being among users of five urban parks in Delhi, India. Using an integrated experience-centered framework, we collected in-situ survey data (n = 411) to profile usage patterns, assess environmental quality, and quantify restorative outcomes grounded in Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and Stress Reduction Theory (SRT). Advanced analytical techniques, including ordinal logistic regression and interpretable machine learning (SHAP), were used to identify the key factors associated with user satisfaction. The results revealed that for these respondents, BGS appeared to function as an essential neighbourhood, with over 40% visiting three or more times per week. Although visual attractiveness was rated positively, deficits in noise buffering and amenities indicated a gap between aesthetic and functional qualities. Restorative benefits, including emotional calmness, mood refreshment, and fatigue recovery, were consistently reported among respondents. Analyses showed that embodied experiences, particularly post-visit relaxation and physical comfort, were more strongly associated with user satisfaction. SHAP interpretation highlighted seating adequacy, routine use, and thermal comfort as prominent contributors, suggesting somatic relief may be particularly salient. This study provides exploratory evidence from a Global South megacity and context-sensitive insights into how restorative processes operate under high-density urban conditions. The findings show that routine accessibility, basic amenities, and thermal comfort are central to the everyday functioning of blue-green spaces as urban infrastructure, underscoring the need for experience-responsive and equity-oriented urban greening policies in high-density cities. Full article

This paper develops a rigorous mathematical and computational framework for four-dimensional chess defined on the discrete hypercubic lattice $\{1,\dots , 8{\}}^4$. We formalize piece movement using displacement sets in ${\mathbb{Z}}^4$, define adjacency via the Chebyshev metric, and analyze the resulting move graphs for rooks, bishops, knights, queens, and kings. We establish exact mobility formulas, parity invariants, and connectivity properties, consolidating known product-graph results for rooks and kings while introducing a boundary-sensitive analysis of the four-dimensional knight verified by exhaustive enumeration. The mathematical framework is complemented by a fully implemented 4D chess engine and interactive visualization environment rendering all 64 (z,w)-slices of the hypercube simultaneously. The system supports full move legality, generalized special rules, multi-king checkmate detection, and reproducible state enumeration. Performance measurements and exploratory branching-factor estimates are obtained through reproducible random playouts using the publicly available implementation. We contextualize this ruleset within existing work on move graphs on ${\mathbb{Z}}_n^m$, higher-dimensional leapers, spectral properties of grid graphs, toroidal analogs, and multidimensional visualization. Exploratory qualitative feedback (N = 18) is included to examine whether the visualization design is interpretable and navigable in practice, providing feasibility-oriented observations on how slice-based 4D projection and layered board rendering are perceived by non-expert users in an exploratory context. Together, the mathematical results, implemented engine, and visualization form a coherent foundation for the study of strategy, complexity, and human interaction in four-dimensional game systems. The framework provides a basis for future investigations into spectral analysis of move graphs, symmetry-aware search, hierarchical planning, and educational applications in high-dimensional geometry. Full article

This article examines the politics of visuality in Israel through the case study of Alami House, a Palestinian home in the village of Hiribya that became the nucleus of Kibbutz Ziqim in 1949 and was later transformed into a heritage site near the Gaza border. Drawing on theories of visual culture, affect, and heritage, the study traces the shifting visual and ideological functions of the site—from its early use as a kibbutz “watchtower,” through its renovation and rebranding as a heritage museum and wine bar, to its symbolic role during and after the Gaza War. It argues that the Israeli gaze toward the Palestinian—manifested in both the spatial design and the performative experience of the site—embodies a dual operation of seeing and unseeing, whereby the Palestinian is simultaneously acknowledged and erased. The essay introduces the concept of disciplined visuality to describe this politically orchestrated management of what may be seen, remembered, or forgotten. By analyzing Alami House as a microcosm of Israeli heritage-making, the article reveals how visuality functions as a tool of power, shaping both the material and conceptual landscape of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Full article

Concrete placement surfaces are characterized by intensive construction processes, frequent equipment interactions, and strong spatial dynamics, which make it difficult to identify unsafe actions of construction workers in real time and to accurately quantify and warn about regional safety risks. To address these challenges, this study proposes a safety monitoring method for construction workers operating on complex concrete placement surfaces. First, a coupled risk assessment framework integrating regional hazard levels, unsafe action risks, and worker authorization is established based on trajectory intersection theory (TIT). Subsequently, a multi-source continuous sensing system is developed by integrating global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning, inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based human activity recognition (HAR) using a BiLSTM-Attention model, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based 3D realistic scene modeling. On this basis, real-time visualization and risk warning of worker trajectories, action states, and spatial risks are achieved through multi-source data fusion and a WebGL-based visualization platform. Field validation results indicate that the proposed system can generate alarm outputs that are consistent with the predefined risk rules within 3 s in typical construction scenarios, demonstrating rule-consistent real-time feasibility and stable system response performance. Full article

The ACE-funded project Clay and Augmented Reality (CAR) explored how the combination of tactile and digital media might activate embodied memory, foster art expression, and stimulate new forms of creative learning. The project investigated memory recollection by integrating clay sculpting with immersive Augmented Reality (AR), focusing on psychoanalysis and participatory art research. The created multisensory environment was a significant element in reconnection with early-life experiences. Six workshops engaged over 40 participants in memory-mapping through AR interfaces and tactile activities. Extensive theoretical and methodological research focuses on theories of Freud, Polanyi, Ettinger, and art practice of Hepworth, integrating embodied making with experimental technologies, including 3D scanning, ARvid/HoloLens experiences, and qualitative feedback analysis. The outcome is a hybrid repository of over 120 memory-informed artefacts titled My Mother and I, presented on the sketchfab platform. The collection showcases intergenerational memory, imprints of intangible and visual storytelling. During the research, the significance of slowness, play, and relational presence was underlined as conditions for memory activation. It concludes that memory lives in gesture, spatial perception and given care, and that hybrid arts-based methods offer new epistemologies of healing, creativity and pedagogical inquiry. CAR presents a model for participatory research that bridges physical and digital realms in deeply human ways. Full article

The engawa, a threshold space in traditional Japanese architecture, has been widely cited as the archetypal manifestation of Kurokawa’s grey space theory. However, prevailing interpretations treat it as a static prototype, overlooking the transformation of its spatial mechanisms across history. The present study addresses this lacuna through a comparative case analysis of three representative teahouses. The following three styles are examined in this study: the sixteenth-century sōan style, the early seventeenth-century samurai style, and the early seventeenth-century shoin-zukuri style. The evolution of the engawa’s mediating function is traced through these three styles. An analytical framework comprising five dimensions—boundary permeability, sequential flow, material tactility, integration of natural elements, and visual transparency—is applied consistently across all cases. The analysis demonstrates a discernible evolutionary trajectory, commencing with an inwardly contracting spiritual threshold in Myōki-an, progressing to an outwardly differentiating social interface in ma, and culminating in a meticulously crafted aesthetic artefact in Mittan. The present findings demonstrate that the engawa is not a fixed spatial prototype but rather a dynamic mediator whose form adapts to shifting social, cultural, and spiritual demands. The study posits that the essence of intermediary space does not lie in any specific configuration, but rather in its capacity to mediate between opposing realms, including self and nature, individual and society, and function and beauty. This reinterpretation provides a theoretical foundation for contemporary architectural practice, proposing that designers should prioritize diagnosing the relational challenges that intermediary spaces are designed to address, as opposed to merely imitating historical forms. Full article

As population aging accelerates, age-related declines in visual sensitivity and attentional control make older drivers more vulnerable to suboptimal in-vehicle interface designs. Head-up displays (HUDs) are intended to reduce gaze shifts by overlaying information within the forward field of view, yet empirical evidence remains limited on how specific HUD presentation strategies reshape older drivers’ visual attention allocation. Grounded in theories of visual attention and cognitive load, this study systematically investigates three design variables that are increasingly common in contemporary HUDs (including AR-HUDs): (1) dynamic versus static navigation cues, (2) pedestrian warning strategies under different lighting conditions, and (3) the spatial placement of high-priority information. We first conducted a formative user study to define variables and operationalizations, and then carried out three within-subject driving-simulator experiments using controlled HUD stimuli and eye tracking. Objective gaze measures (e.g., fixation count, total fixation duration, and time to first fixation) were combined with subjective preference ratings to characterize attentional capture, search efficiency, and potential attentional costs. Findings reveal a robust trade-off: continuously changing navigation cues enhance attentional capture but can also increase attentional “stickiness,” unnecessarily consuming older drivers’ limited attentional resources. In pedestrian hazard tasks, real-time overlay warnings that were spatially aligned with the hazard significantly improved visual localization under low-light conditions, outperforming early warnings and multi-stage strategies. Across tasks and layout conditions, the central HUD region showed a stable attentional advantage—placing critical information centrally elicited greater visual attention and stronger subjective preference. These results provide mechanistic evidence for how HUD parameters modulate older drivers’ attention and yield actionable implications for prioritization, temporal pacing of dynamic navigation cues, and a “center-first” layout strategy to guide age-friendly HUD design. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nurse–mother communication is central to maternal participation in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), yet high acuity and workflow rhythms can compress dialogue and weaken shared understanding. This study used Communication Accommodation Theory and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping to explain multilevel drivers of communication barriers and to co-produce feasible improvement strategies. Methods: A dyadic qualitative design was conducted across four Level III NICUs. Data were triangulated from 37 semi-structured interviews (18 mothers and 19 nurses, recruited through purposive maximum-variation sampling), approximately 40 h of non-participant observation, and 12-unit documents. A team-based codebook thematic analysis was applied, integrating observational logs with interview and document data to refine patterns and mechanisms. Results: A context-produced pattern of interactional compression was identified. Mothers contributed 2 or fewer speaking turns in 21/30 logged bedside encounters and were present in 13/16 observed round episodes, speaking in 5/13 of those episodes. Interpretability and language access gaps were common: unexplained technical terms occurred in 24/46 logged interactions; teach-back prompts occurred in 7/18 education encounters; professional interpreters were present in 3/9 language-discordant events. Three participation configurations described coping-linked engagement: threat–compression (n = 8), convergence-to-coping (n = 6), and resource-scaffolded participation (n = 4). In co-production, stakeholders co-produced (i.e., collaboratively identified and prioritized) three mechanism-targeted changes: protected post-round question-and-answer time incorporating teach-back, standardized visual “mini-packs,” and 24/7 interpreter access. Conclusions: Nurse–mother communication in NICUs can be structurally compressed by workload rhythms and uneven interpretability supports. Co-produced organizational scaffolds may expand opportunities for accommodation, comprehension verification, and equitable maternal participation. Full article

This paper explores the value of imperfections and curated decay in the conservation of architecture and public art as vehicles of cultural memory. While conventional heritage practice treats physical degradation as a threat, newer conservation ethics argue for embracing material impermanence within an aesthetics of care. We examine how acknowledging patina, weathering, and even structural decline can become an act of care, maintaining the “spirit” and authenticity of a place. The theoretical framework integrated the aesthetics of imperfection, including concepts like the Japanese wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in the incomplete and impermanent, critical heritage theory (which questions whose memories and values are preserved or excluded) and cultural memory studies (notably Nora’s notion of lieux de mémoire, where material sites become symbolic elements of communal memory). Methodologically, the article is grounded by two case-study video essays, Imperfections (Genoa) and Scars (Nicosia), as instruments of research, which provide visual analyses of decayed architectural environments. These examples illustrate how curated decay can transform abandoned buildings and war-scarred urban zones into powerful mnemonic devices, provoking reflection on history, identity and the ethics of preservation. Despite extensive theorisation of patina/age-value and curated decay, recent heritage debates offer limited operational criteria for distinguishing intentional curated decay from unmanaged neglect in lived urban conservation contexts. Drawing on ethics and aesthetics of care, this article asks if and how care can be operationalised into a decision framework for urban conservation and tests this framework through two selected buildings: Albergo dei Poveri (Genoa) and Home for Cooperation (Nicosia). The authors argue that caring for heritage does not always mean restoring it to an as-new state; curating ageing and traces of time can support remembrance, resilience, and reconciliation, enriching heritage’s role in future urban imaginaries. Full article

High-altitude environments characterized by low air pressure, hypoxia, and strong solar radiation have a significant impact on human thermal comfort; however, existing thermal comfort theories and evaluation models are primarily developed under low-altitude climatic conditions, and their applicability in plateau regions remains limited. With the acceleration of urbanization and the increase in residential, tourism, and occupational activities in high-altitude areas, systematically reviewing the research progress on thermal comfort in such environments is of great practical significance. This study combines systematic literature retrieval and bibliometric analysis, based on the Web of Science Core Collection and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases, to analyze relevant studies published since 2001. Using CiteSpace, research hotspots, collaboration networks, and evolutionary trends are visualized. The results indicate that current research hotspots mainly focus on physiological responses and thermal adaptation mechanisms under low-pressure and hypoxic conditions, thermal comfort regulation strategies for high-altitude buildings and environments, and the applicability and modification of conventional thermal comfort models. Emerging trends include multi-environmental factor coupling analysis, adaptive model development, region-specific building design approaches, and health-oriented comprehensive evaluation frameworks. The findings provide valuable references for building thermal environment design, regional revision of thermal comfort evaluation standards, and policy-making in high-altitude regions. Full article

Globally, sustainable seafood has become an important marketing means to promote sustainable fisheries practices. To support its production, however, characterising the consumer market, such as the demand, awareness and identification of sustainable products, is essential. This study investigated the current status of sustainable seafood and consumer awareness in Hong Kong, a city with one of the highest levels of per capita seafood consumption in the world, using the framework of Cognitive-Behavioural Theory. By conducting market surveys across 18 supermarkets using a stratified and convenience sampling approach, as well as face-to-face questionnaires (n = 415) to assess consumer traits, we found that the availability of sustainable seafood was highly polarised, with a complete absence of ecolabelled seafood in low-end supermarkets and only limited availability (~17% in proportion) in mid- and high-end supermarkets. In terms of price, ecolabelled fish products were more expensive than those without certification labels, but ecolabelled molluscan products were cheaper. Consumer cognition, attitudes, and behaviours towards sustainable seafood varied with supermarket grade, with sustainable products being more aware of and accepted in high-end supermarkets than in other supermarkets. Both younger age and higher education were key demographic factors enhancing the cognition level on sustainable seafood. This research contributes a transferable framework for assessing sustainable consumption in high-density urban markets and identifies retailer-driven information barriers as a key constraint. We propose targeted strategies, including visual nudging and enhancing information transparency, to promote responsible consumption. Full article

This study investigates the dynamics of information diffusion and uncertainty evolution in online public opinion systems under human-made disasters. A variant of the SIR model considering individual psychological involvement and group herd behavior is proposed. The theoretical analysis derives the propagation equilibrium points and the propagation threshold and further examines the stability of the system. The results indicate that the transmission rate, immunity rate, and herd behavior coefficient are key parameters influencing the dynamics of public opinion propagation. The simulation results validate the theoretical findings and provide a visualization of the sensitivity of the key parameters. Finally, an empirical case study is conducted to verify the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed model. The results indicate that controlling contact rate, reducing herd behavior, and lowering psychological involvement can effectively suppress opinion diffusion, with herd behavior and psychological involvement exerting a greater influence than contact rate on spreaders of the public opinion system. Consequently, mitigating public emotional resonance and herd effects constitutes an effective strategy for managing public opinion in human-made disasters, but reducing herd behavior makes the system relatively more uncertain compared with other scenarios. Finally, managerial implications for public opinion governance in human-made disasters are proposed. The findings enrich the theoretical system of information evolution modeling for complex social systems based on entropy and information theory, offer practical guidance for governments in developing scientific public opinion management strategies, and realize the transformation of public opinion systems from high-entropy disorder to low-entropy order. Full article