Search Results (870)

In many developing countries, seismic vulnerability remains high due to the widespread presence of informally constructed buildings without professional design or technical supervision. In Colombia, where nearly 60% of structures are non-engineered, this issue is especially acute. The objective of this study is to design, implement, and quantitatively evaluate the Learning Experience for Earthquake Awareness Program (LEAP), an experiential educational strategy for young students that enhances seismic knowledge, promotes sustainable construction awareness, and contributes to disaster risk reduction as a component of social sustainability. To address this challenge, LEAP introduces students to basic principles of structural mechanics and seismic behavior through playful, hands-on activities combining theoretical instruction, practical experimentation, collaborative design, and the testing of model structures. An experimental design with pre- and post-surveys was implemented with 141 participants, including 80 secondary school students (grades 8th–11th) and 61 university students enrolled in engineering, architecture, and construction programs, using 3D-printed models, earthquake simulators, and interactive games. Statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test ($p<0.05$) revealed significant improvements in conceptual understanding and perception, including gains in distinguishing between the hypocenter and epicenter ($+45.39\%$, $p=5.10\times {10}^{-8}$, $r=0.50$), understanding seismic magnitude ($+39.01\%$, $p=1.67\times {10}^{-12}$, $r=0.71$), and visually identifying structural vulnerabilities ($+25.50\%$, $p=4.50\times {10}^{-2}$, $r=0.41$). Overall, LEAP contributes to disaster risk reduction and social sustainability by strengthening seismic awareness and responsible construction practices. The most significant results were observed among secondary school students, while university participants mainly reinforced applied and visual comprehension. Given its convenience sample, lack of control group, and immediate post-test, findings should be interpreted as exploratory and associative. Full article

Environmental sustainability has become a global priority due to its profound implications for human health. Universities play a pivotal role in advancing sustainability through education, research, and institutional practices. This study investigates faculty awareness, perceptions, and sustainability practices, as well as factors influencing these outcomes. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 118 faculty members across various disciplines and academic ranks in Saudi universities. A structured self-administered questionnaire assessed three constructs: awareness of environmental sustainability, perceptions of health implications, and sustainability practices. Descriptive statistics were computed for overall scale means and item-level responses. Independent-sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to examine group differences across gender, academic rank, discipline, teaching experience, and formal sustainability training. Chi-square tests assessed associations between demographic variables and training participation. The result shows that the faculty demonstrated high awareness (M = 4.09) and strong perceptions of the environmental–health nexus (M = 4.16). Awareness items ranged from 3.96 to 4.22, while health perception items ranged from 3.87 to 4.34. Sustainability practices were moderately high (M = 3.97), with the highest engagement in pollution reduction and the lowest in energy-saving behaviours. Training emerged as the strongest predictor of sustainability outcomes, with trained faculty scoring significantly higher across all constructs (p < 0.001). Therefore, Saudi university faculty possess strong awareness and positive perceptions of environmental sustainability and its health implications, relating to SDG. Full article

Background/Objectives: Super-selective intra-arterial chemoradiotherapy (SSIACRT) is an alternatively effective treatment for locally advanced oral cavity cancer although no comparative studies on prognosis between SSIACRT and surgical resection with or without post-operative radiotherapy (S+R) have been reported. This study aimed to compare the 5-year survival rate and Quality of Life (QoL) between S+R and SSIACRT for locally advanced oral cavity cancer. Methods: From a total of 326 patients with stage III and IV oral cavity cancer treated between 2000–2020 at a single institution, 149 patients treated with S+R and SSIACRT were analyzed by using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method, a pseudo-randomized controlled trial, and the matched cases were retrospectively evaluated. The 5-year survival rate and QoL were evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier method and the University of Washington QoL questionnaire, respectively. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model were used to compare 5-year survival rate and to assess factors affecting survival rates, respectively. Paired t-test was used to compare QoL. Results: To compare the 5-year survival rate and QoL between S+R and SSIACRT, 48 and 15 cases were matched after PSM. The 149 cases were further evaluated for covariates affecting survival rates. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate and 5-year crude survival rate were 52.4% and 44.3% for S+R and 71.3%, and 62.9% for SSIACRT, respectively. There was no statistical difference in survival rates between both treatments, based on Log-rank test analysis. Treatment method was the only independent variable that influenced survival rates. SSIACRT showed better statistical difference in QoL evaluation, specifically in appearance, activity, recreation, swallowing, speech, shoulder, taste, mood, and total score. Conclusions: Propensity score-matched analysis demonstrated survival outcomes that were comparable to, and not inferior to, S+R. However, SSIACRT was associated with superior quality-of-life outcomes compared with S+R, as shown by Cox proportional hazards modeling. These findings suggest that SSIACRT is an effective treatment option and, from a quality-of-life perspective, may be considered a preferable approach in the management of locally advanced oral cavity cancer. Full article

Universal accessibility remains a critical challenge for effective public transport and urban equity. This study addresses the need for operational prioritisation tools by proposing a robust hybrid methodology to rank interventions at urban mobility nodes. The approach combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for integrating expert and participatory criteria weighting with four Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques (TOPSIS, VIKOR, COPRAS, and ARAS) to ensure solution reliability. Empirical validation, conducted on 30 bus stops in Segovia, Spain, confirmed the methodological soundness, evidenced by near-perfect correlations (ρ = 0.99) among the compromise and additive ratio models (TOPSIS–VIKOR and COPRAS–ARAS) and stability across over 85% of sensitivity simulations. The findings validate that the methodology effectively guides resource allocation towards interventions yielding maximum social impact and demonstrate its transferability to complex urban supply chain contexts, such as logistics microhubs. Ultimately, this replicable and adaptable model supports the transition towards more equitable, resilient urban systems, aligning directly with Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Full article

Background/Objectives: Acute sinusitis (AS) is a common infection of the upper respiratory tract that places considerable clinical and economic burden worldwide. Although frequently encountered in practice, the factors that predispose individuals to AS remain poorly understood. This study examined how different respiratory disorders and comorbidities influence the likelihood of developing AS, aiming to clarify its underlying risk profile. Methods: A longitudinal analysis was performed using electronic health records from the Clinical Center of the University of Debrecen Hospital. The study cohort (2007–2022) encompassed 37,164 observations. To evaluate the risk of AS progression, Log-Rank tests and Cox proportional hazards regressions were applied whilst adjusting for covariates. Results: The risk of developing AS was significantly higher among individuals with preceding respiratory conditions. Patients with common cold demonstrated a 2.3-fold increased risk of developing AS (95% CI [1.51–3.40]). Compared to those without such disorders, participants with acute bronchitis had a 2.5-fold higher hazard of AS (95% CI 1.90–3.26). The strongest association was observed for allergic rhinitis (HR = 4.04, 95% CI 3.18–5.13), followed by chronic sinusitis (HR = 3.10, 95% CI 2.13–4.51). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was also identified as a significant predictor for AS (HR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.04–2.52), whereas dental pathologies were associated with a modest protective effect (HR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.48–0.97). Conclusions: Patients with allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, acute bronchitis, common cold, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have a markedly higher risk of developing AS. Clinicians should actively screen for these conditions when assessing patients with recurrent or severe sinus infections. Early recognition and management of underlying respiratory disorders may reduce AS episodes, promote symptom control, and lessen healthcare burdens. Future research should concentrate on precision medicine to leverage AS preventive and management strategies. Full article

Universal electricity access remains elusive in Lesotho, with only a 53% connection rate. This statistic highlights a significant urban–rural gap of 60% to 18%, favouring urban areas mainly served by the main grid. The rugged terrain renders extending the grid to most rural areas impractical. To address this, the energy policy and electrification master plans aim to leverage abundant renewable energy resources and deploy mini-grids in rural regions. However, progress has been slow since the first advanced mini-grid projects began in 2018. The paper reviewed policy and framework documents from 2010 to 2025 that are pertinent to the deployment of mini-grids. It employed a hybrid qualitative-quantitative approach of SWOT-TOWS-AHP, which is rarely applied in energy policy analysis. It used the SWOT analysis tool to identify the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats faced in implementing sustainable renewable energy mini-grids. This was followed by the TOWS-AHP (Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses, and Strengths-Analytical Hierarchy Process) method to develop strategies that utilize strengths and seize opportunities while tackling weaknesses and mitigating threats. These strategies were ranked based on their potential impact on mini-grid deployment. Despite supporting policies for mini-grids, the lack of political will from the government has emerged as a major obstacle. The three top strategies suggested to accelerate the deployment of sustainable mini-grids and advance efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal no. 7 by 2030 are establishing a mini-grid financing fund, reviewing the mini-grid regulatory framework, and reforming rural electrification institutions to improve coordination and collaboration. The top strategies carry weights of 8.5%, 7.8%, and 7.7%, respectively. Full article

Background: Dietary habits established during young adulthood have long-term implications for health, and food choices among university students are strongly shaped by contextual factors. Institutional eating environments represent a relevant setting for promoting healthier dietary behaviors, yet limited evidence integrates students’ engagement with these settings, their food consumption patterns across contexts, and the individual decision-making processes underlying food choice. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed survey data from 1519 students enrolled at a large Italian university. Measures included sociodemographic characteristics, self-identified dietary style, engagement with the university canteen, consumption frequency of selected food categories across institutional and non-institutional contexts, and category-specific food-choice motivations. Data were analyzed using descriptive analyses, Borda count rankings, paired comparisons, and multiple linear regression models. Results: Clear contextual differences in food consumption emerged across all food categories, with consistently lower consumption frequencies within the university canteen compared to outside settings (all p < 0.001). The largest contextual gap was observed for fruit consumption (d = 0.94), with similarly pronounced differences for plant-based foods. Taste was the most salient decision-making factor across food categories (overall M ≈ 4.4), while health-related motives were more prominent for healthier foods and gratification for desserts. Across contexts, self-identified dietary style was the most consistent predictor of food consumption, explaining substantial variance for animal-based protein consumption (R² = 0.293 in the canteen; R² = 0.353 outside), whereas age and gender showed smaller, food-specific associations. Conclusions: The findings highlight institutional eating settings as distinct food environments in which individual dietary preferences are only partially expressed. Effective strategies to promote healthier eating among university students should move beyond generic approaches and integrate interventions targeting service-related engagement, category-specific choice architecture, and students’ dietary identities. Full article

The Pathfinder Algorithm (PFA) is a bionic swarm intelligence optimization algorithm inspired by simulating the cooperative movement of animal groups in nature to search for prey. Based on fitness, the algorithm classifies search individuals into leaders and followers. However, PFA fails to effectively balance the optimization capabilities of leaders and followers, leading to problems such as insufficient population diversity and slow convergence speed in the original algorithm. To address these issues, this paper proposes an enhanced pathfinder algorithm based on multi-strategy (EODE-PFA). Through the synergistic effects of multiple improved strategies, it effectively solves the balance problem between global exploration and local optimization of the algorithm. To verify the performance of EODE-PFA, this paper applies it to CEC2022 benchmark functions, three types of complex engineering optimization problems, and six sets of feature selection problems, respectively, and compares it with eight mature optimization algorithms. Experimental results show that in three different scenarios, EODE-PFA has significant advantages and competitiveness in both convergence speed and solution accuracy, fully verifying its engineering practicality and scenario universality. To highlight the synergistic effects and overall gains of multiple improved strategies, ablation experiments are conducted on key strategies. To further verify the statistical significance of the experimental results, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test is performed in this study. In addition, for feature selection problems, this study selects UCI real datasets with different real-world scenarios and dimensions, and the results show that the algorithm can still effectively balance exploration and exploitation capabilities in discrete scenarios. Full article

Higher education institutions are increasingly expected to excel in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, but questions remain about how a university’s core missions contribute to its ESG outcomes. This study investigates the relationships between the missions of universities—education, research, and entrepreneurship—and their ESG performance, focusing on environmental and social dimensions. We utilize data from 12 research-intensive Dutch universities from 2023 to 2025, drawing on QS World University Rankings (WUR) indicators, the QS Sustainability Rankings, and Times Higher Education (THE) metrics. A partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach is employed with formative constructs for each mission and outcome. The results reveal that the entrepreneurship mission (knowledge exchange and industry income) has a strong positive influence on both environmental and social performance, while the research mission significantly boosts social performance. The education mission shows no significant direct effect on either outcome in our model. The findings underscore the critical role of the third mission in driving university ESG performance and suggest that research excellence translates to social impact when aligned with societal needs. Full article

Background: Molecular classification has reshaped prognostication and treatment in endometrial carcinoma (EC). However, real-world evidence from Asian populations remains scarce. This study evaluated clinicopathologic characteristics and survival outcomes across molecular subtypes of EC in a Thai tertiary care center. Methods: This retrospective cohort included patients with histologically confirmed EC who underwent primary surgery at Chiang Mai University Hospital between 2015 and 2023, and had at least one investigation for molecular classification, including immunohistochemistry (IHC) for mismatch repair (MMR) proteins and p53, as well as POLE sequencing using the Idylla™ POLE–POLD1 Mutation Assay with confirmatory Sanger sequencing. Final molecular subtype assignment followed established hierarchical algorithms. Clinicopathologic variables were analyzed using Chi-square and logistic regression. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated with Kaplan–Meier and compared using the log-rank test. Results: Among 803 EC cases diagnosed during the study period, 184 met the inclusion criteria. Of 184 patients, molecular subtypes were classified as POLE-mutated in 2.2%, dMMR in 38.6%, p53-abnormal (p53-abn) in 45.1% and NSMP (1.6%). dMMR tumors occurred predominantly in older women and exhibited mainly endometrioid histology, whereas p53-abn tumors were largely non-endometrioid and high-risk in the vast majority. In multivariate analysis, histologic type was the only independent predictor of both MMR deficiency (adjusted OR = 15.22; 95% CI 4.99–46.37; p < 0.001) and p53 abnormality (adjusted OR = 79.42; 95% CI 10.60–595.05; p = 0.003). Survival outcomes varied by molecular class: POLE-mutated tumors had excellent prognosis with no recurrence or death, dMMR tumors had intermediate outcomes, and p53-abn tumors showed the poorest PFS and OS. Overall survival differed significantly among subtypes. Conclusions: Molecular classification provides strong prognostic discrimination in EC, even with selective testing. MMR and p53 IHC serve as practical frontline tools, while POLE sequencing should be prioritized for intermediate- and high-risk endometrioid tumors. Expanded molecular testing in Asian populations is essential to refine risk stratification and optimize individualized management. Full article

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between Cultural Intelligence (CI) and Intercultural Sensitivity (IS) and to test the mediating role of Internationalisation in Higher Education (IHE). A correlational survey design was employed with full-time academics in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (N = 391). Standardised instruments were administered: the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS), the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS), and the Internationalisation Perception Scale for Academics (IPSA). Construct validity and reliability were verified via confirmatory factor analysis, and the structural model was estimated using structural equation modelling (SEM) in SPSS–AMOS. The analysis revealed that CI exerts a positive and statistically significant effect on IS. CI was also found to be positively associated with IHE, and IHE demonstrated a positive and significant effect on IS. Mediation testing indicated that IHE functions as a significant partial mediator of the CI–IS relationship. Robustness checks with control variables showed that academic rank and faculty type have small but significant positive associations with IS. Overall, the findings suggest that the development of CI among academic staff directly enhances intercultural responsiveness and, additionally, strengthens IS through engagement with internationalisation processes. The results provide practical guidance for universities seeking socially sustainable internationalisation, indicating that institution-level strategies that embed intercultural learning and support academics’ international engagement may amplify the translation of CI into demonstrable intercultural sensitivity. Full article

University rankings based on scientometric indicators frequently rely on compensatory aggregation models that allow extreme values to dominate the evaluation, while also remaining sensitive to outliers and unstable weighting procedures. These issues reduce the reliability and interpretability of the resulting rankings. This study proposes a hybrid BWM–GRA–PROMETHEE (BGP) framework that combines judgement-based weighting Best-Worst Method (BWM), outlier-resistant normalization Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), and a non-compensatory outranking method Preference Ranking Organization Methods for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE II). The framework is applied to an expert-validated set of scientometric indicators to generate more stable and behaviorally grounded rankings. The results show that the proposed method maintains stability under weight and threshold variations and preserves ranking consistency even under outlier-contaminated scenarios. Comparative experiments further demonstrate that BGP is more robust than Additive Ratio Assesment (ARAS), Multi-Attributive Border Approximation Area Comparison (MABAC), and The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), achieving the highest Spearman. This study contributes a unified evaluation framework that jointly addresses three major methodological challenges in scientometric ranking, outlier sensitivity, compensatory effects, and instability from data-dependent weighting. By resolving these issues within a single integrated model, the proposed BGP approach offers a more reliable and methodologically rigorous foundation for researchers and policymakers seeking to evaluate and enhance research performance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting up to 10–15% of women of reproductive age and is frequently associated with pelvic pain and infertility. Non-invasive biomarkers remain insufficient for accurate diagnosis, often necessitating laparoscopic confirmation. The fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR), a composite marker of systemic inflammation, has been proposed in both oncological and cardiovascular disease but has not yet been evaluated in endometriosis. Methods: We conducted a retrospective monocentric study including 390 women who underwent laparoscopy between January 2015 and December 2021 at the Medical University of Vienna. Of these, 218 had histologically confirmed endometriosis and 172 had benign ovarian cysts. Preoperative laboratory data was collected, and FAR was calculated. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test. ANOVA was used to compare FAR across revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine (rASRM) stages, and Spearman’s rank correlation assessed associations with disease severity. Subgroup analyses were performed for adenomyosis and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). Results: FAR was significantly higher in women with endometriosis than in controls (median 0.0679, IQR 0.0588–0.0778 vs. 0.0641, IQR 0.0559–0.716; p = 0.0035). Across rASRM stages I–IV, FAR values were comparable (means 0.0691–0.0709) and did not differ significantly (p = 0.822, ANOVA). Spearman’s correlation confirmed no significant association with disease stage (ρ = 0.085, p = 0.24). In exploratory analyses, women with adenomyosis (n = 35) showed a non-significant trend toward a higher median FAR compared to those without adenomyosis (0.0707 vs. 0.0669; p = 0.073, one-sided). No difference in FAR was observed between women with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE; n = 144) and those without (0.0680 vs. 0.0672; p = 0.389, one-sided). Conclusions: Although FAR alone cannot replace surgical confirmation, the difference observed between the groups may reflect the systemic inflammatory aspect of endometriosis and should be investigated further in future studies. Given its accessibility and cost-effectiveness, FAR may support the development of non-invasive, personalized diagnostic approaches when combined with other clinical and molecular markers. Full article

Visual attention mechanisms are modulated by chromatic properties of the environment, with significant implications for human–computer interaction, interface design, and cognitive ergonomics. Despite extensive research on color perception, a critical gap remains in understanding how background colors differentially affect initial attentional capture versus sustained processing efficiency during text reading. This study investigates how seven different background colors (yellow, orange, red, green, blue, purple, and black) influence visual attention and cognitive load during standardized reading tasks with white text, revealing a fundamental asymmetry in chromatic processing stages. Using high-frequency eye-tracking at 120 Hz with 30 participants in a within-subjects design, we measured time-to-first fixation, total viewing duration, fixation count, and revisitation frequency across chromatic conditions. Non-parametric statistical analyses (Friedman test for omnibus comparisons, Wilcoxon signed-rank test for pairwise comparisons) revealed a systematic dissociation between preattentive capture and sustained processing. Yellow backgrounds enabled the fastest initial attentional capture ($0.65$ s), while black backgrounds produced the slowest detection ($1.75$ s). However, this pattern reversed during sustained processing: black backgrounds enabled the shortest total viewing time ($0.88$ s) through efficient information sampling (median $5.0$ fixations), while yellow required the longest viewing duration ($1.75$ s) with fewer fixations (median $3.0$). Statistical comparisons confirmed significant differences across conditions (Friedman test: ${\chi }^2\left(6\right)=138.4$–$154.2$, all $p<0.001$; pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction: $\alpha =0.0024$). We note that luminance and chromatic contrast were not independently controlled, as colors inherently vary in both dimensions in realistic interface design. Consequently, the observed effects reflect the combined influence of hue, saturation, and luminance contrast as they naturally co-occur. These findings reveal a descriptive pattern consistent with functionally distinct mechanisms, where chromatic salience appears to facilitate preattentive capture while luminance contrast appears to determine sustained processing efficiency, with optimal colors for one stage being suboptimal for the other under the present experimental conditions. This observed chromatic asymmetry suggests potential implications for interface design: warm colors like yellow may optimize rapid attention capture for alerts and warnings, while high-contrast combinations like white-on-black may optimize sustained reading efficiency, though these preliminary patterns require validation across diverse contexts. Green and purple backgrounds offer balanced performance across both processing stages, representing near-symmetric solutions suitable for mixed-task interfaces. Given the controlled laboratory setting, university student sample, and 15 s exposure duration, design recommendations should be considered preliminary and validated in diverse real-world contexts. Full article

Understanding consumer preferences is vital for rational decision-making in the agri-food sector and for effective product development. This study examines two comparative evaluation methods, Best–Worst Scaling (BWS) and Pairwise Comparison via the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), focusing on the sensory attributes of coffee. The objective is to explore which attributes influence the preferences of students from the International Hellenic University in Sindos and assess the effectiveness of each method in capturing these preferences. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires where participants ranked six attributes: taste, aroma, aftertaste, body, acidity and intensity. Taste emerged as the most significant attribute across all methods. However, discrepancies in the ranking of the remaining attributes revealed methodological differences. This research contributes to the applied evaluation of qualitative attributes in coffee and proposes the combined use of BWS and AHP for a more comprehensive understanding of consumer behavior. Full article