Search Results (2,679)

Plant–pollinator interactions are essential to ecosystem functioning, yet the mechanisms that determine why some plant species become highly connected within interaction networks remain insufficiently understood, particularly in tropical coastal systems. Here, we examine how multiple plant traits predict the interactive role of species within a bee–plant network in a coastal ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico. Using an existing dataset comprising 35 plant species and 47 bee species, we quantified each plant’s interactive role through species degree, betweenness, and closeness centrality. We then evaluated how six traits (i.e., flower number, flower size, flower color, number of stamens, plant height, and life form) influence these network positions. Our results show that four traits significantly predicted plant interactive roles. Plants surrounded by more open flowers and those with larger flowers interacted with a greater diversity of bee species, indicating that resource detectability and accessibility strongly shape visitation patterns. Herbaceous species also exhibited higher interactive roles than woody plants, likely due to their rapid growth, abundant and synchronous flowering, and predictable resource availability in dynamic coastal environments. Additionally, yellow-flowered species received disproportionately more visits and achieved higher interactive roles, consistent with known sensory biases of bees toward yellow wavelengths. In contrast, plant height and stamen number showed no detectable influence on network position. Overall, our findings demonstrate that a combination of vegetative and floral traits (particularly those signaling abundant, accessible, and visually detectable resources) drives the emergence of key plant species within bee–plant networks. Integrating plant traits with network metrics provides a powerful framework for identifying species that sustain pollinator diversity and for predicting community responses to environmental change. Full article

Digital technology is profoundly transforming the experiential landscape of tourism. However, its application does not necessarily produce cultural experiences, creating a critical bottleneck that constrains the sustainable development of the cultural tourism industry and broader societal culture. To address this gap, this study introduces psychological ownership theory as an overarching explanatory framework. It constructs and validates an integrated model that examines how digital technology characteristics (interactivity and innovativeness) influence cultural experience through three parallel mediating pathways: cognitive evaluation (perceived usefulness and ease of use), scenario construction, and flow experience. Based on 540 visitor questionnaires, structural equation modeling validated the theoretical model. Findings reveal that the interactivity and innovation of digital technology jointly stimulate visitors’ psychological ownership through three parallel pathways. Specifically, technological innovativeness exhibited the strongest effect on perceived ease of use (β = 0.387, p < 0.001), while the indirect effect via the flow experience path was also significant (effect size = 0.036). This process stimulates visitors’ psychological ownership, ultimately leading to cultural experiences. The study systematically reveals the pathways through which digital technology empowers cultural experiences across three dimensions: as a rational tool, an emotional narrative medium, and an intrinsic psychological catalyst. It highlights that strategically allocating technological resources to cultivate visitors’ psychological ownership is crucial for driving high-quality industrial development. Furthermore, the research offers significant implications for cultural sustainability, suggesting that such internally motivated identification provides a more effective foundation for the living transmission of culture and socio-cultural sustainability than external regulations or imposed norms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Vending machines in hospitals offer convenient access to snacks and beverages for employees, visitors, and patients. However, their contents are typically energy-dense and nutritionally poor, which can potentially reinforce unhealthy eating habits. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of introducing healthier vending machine options on purchasing behaviour and consumer perceptions in a hospital setting. Methods: An interventional study was conducted at a university clinical centre in Slovenia. Sales data were collected from a standard vending machine and a pilot machine stocked with healthier products over two 14-day periods. Additionally, a consumer survey assessed factors influencing purchasing decisions and opinions on the healthier offerings. Results: The proportion of healthy items purchased increased from 22% to 39% in the pilot vending machine, indicating a positive shift toward healthier choices. However, total sales declined by 18.81%, suggesting consumer hesitation toward the new product mix. Survey results identified price, ingredients, and visual appeal as the primary factors influencing purchase decisions. Conclusions: The introduction of healthier vending machine options can promote better food choices in hospital environments, though challenges remain regarding consumer acceptance and sales performance. Expanding the variety of healthy items and adopting more competitive pricing strategies may enhance uptake. Further long-term research is needed to assess the sustainability of such interventions and their broader impact on hospital food environments. Full article

As sustainable tourism gains global momentum, extended reality (XR) technologies have emerged as important tools for enhancing visitor experiences at overburdened World Heritage Sites while mitigating physical deterioration through non-consumptive engagement. However, existing research on immersive technologies in heritage tourism has largely relied on single-cultural samples and has paid limited attention to theoretically grounded boundary conditions in post-adoption behaviour. To address these gaps, this study extends the Expectation–Confirmation Model (ECM) by incorporating cultural distance (CD) and prior visitation experience (PVE) as moderating variables, and empirically tests the proposed framework using a mixed domestic–international sample exposed to an on-site XR application at the Badaling Great Wall World Heritage Site. Data were collected immediately after the XR experience and analysed using structural equation modelling. The results validate the core relationships of ECM while identifying significant moderating effects. Cultural distance attenuates the positive effects of confirmation on perceived usefulness as well as the effect of perceived usefulness on continuance intention, while prior visitation experience weakens the influences of enjoyment and visual appeal on satisfaction. These findings establish important boundary conditions for ECM in immersive heritage contexts. From a practical perspective, the study demonstrates that high-quality, culturally responsive XR can complement physical visitation and support sustainable conservation strategies at large-scale linear heritage sites. Full article

Digital cultural heritage platforms face a dual challenge: preserving rich historical information while engaging an audience with declining attention spans. This paper addresses that challenge by proposing a modular information architecture designed to mitigate cognitive overload in cultural heritage tourism applications. We begin by examining evidence of diminishing sustained attention in digital user experience and its specific ramifications for cultural heritage sites, where dense content can overwhelm users. Grounded in cognitive load theory and principles of user-centered design, we outline a theoretical framework linking mental models, findability, and modular information architecture. We then present a user-centric modeling methodology that elicits visitor mental models and tasks (via card sorting, contextual inquiry, etc.), informing the specification of content components and semantic metadata (leveraging standards like Dublin Core and CIDOC-CRM). A visual framework is introduced that maps user tasks to content components, clusters these into UI components with progressive disclosure, and adapts them into screen instances suited to context, illustrated through a step-by-step walkthrough. Using this framework, we comparatively evaluate personalization and information structuring strategies in three platforms—TripAdvisor, Google Arts and Culture, and Airbnb Experiences—against criteria of cognitive load mitigation and user engagement. We also discuss how this modular architecture provides a structural foundation for human-centered, explainable AI–driven personalization and recommender services in cultural heritage contexts. The analysis reveals gaps in current designs (e.g., overwhelming content or passive user roles) and highlights best practices (such as tailored recommendations and progressive reveal of details). We conclude with implications for designing cultural heritage experiences that are cognitively accessible yet richly informative, summarizing contributions and suggesting future research in cultural UX, component-based design, and adaptive content delivery. Full article

The Wua-Lai silvercraft community in Chiang Mai is experiencing a widening disconnect with younger visitors, raising concerns about the erosion of intangible cultural heritage. This study evaluates “Silver Craft Journey,” a location-based augmented reality (LBAR) system designed to revitalize cultural engagement and enhance cultural-heritage experience through context-aware, gamified exploration. A quasi-experimental field study with 254 participants across three age groups examined the system’s impact on cultural-heritage experience, knowledge acquisition, and real-world engagement. Results demonstrate substantial knowledge gains, with a mean increase of 7.74 points (SD = 4.37) and a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.77), supporting the effectiveness of LBAR in supporting tangible and intangible heritage understanding. Behavioral log data reveal clear age-related engagement patterns: older participants (41–51) showed declining mission completion rates and reduced interaction times at later points of interest, which may reflect increased cognitive and physical demands during extended AR navigation under real-world conditions. These findings underscore the potential of location-based AR to enhance cultural-heritage experience in real-world settings while highlighting the importance of age-adaptive interaction and route-design strategies. The study contributes a replicable model for integrating digital tourism, embodied AR experience, and community-based heritage preservation. Full article

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly reshaping how cultural heritage institutions design and deliver digital visitor experiences, particularly through adaptive Augmented Reality (AR) applications. However, most existing AR deployments in museums and galleries remain static, rule-based, and insufficiently responsive to visitors’ contextual, behavioral, and emotional diversity. This paper presents ARIA (Augmented Reality for Interpreting Artefacts), a conceptual and architectural framework for AI-supported, adaptive AR experiences in cultural heritage settings. ARIA is designed to address current limitations in personalization, affect-awareness, and ethical governance by integrating multimodal context sensing, lightweight affect recognition, and AI-driven content personalization within a unified system architecture. The framework combines Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) for controlled, knowledge-grounded narrative adaptation, continuous user modeling, and interoperable Digital Asset Management (DAM), while embedding Human-Centered Design (HCD) and Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics (FATE) principles at its core. Emphasis is placed on accountable personalization, privacy-preserving data handling, and curatorial oversight of narrative variation. ARIA is positioned as a design-oriented contribution rather than a fully implemented system. Its architecture, data flows, and adaptive logic are articulated through representative museum use-case scenarios and a structured formative validation process including expert walkthrough evaluation and feasibility analysis, providing a foundation for future prototyping and empirical evaluation. The framework aims to support the development of scalable, ethically grounded, and emotionally responsive AR experiences for next-generation digital museology. Full article

Globally, ecomuseums, as examples of integrated museums, have prioritised local community participation as well as the promotion of cultural heritage and territoriality in the field of ecotourism since the 1970s. However, in Ghana, ecomuseums are a less explored extended activity at ecotourism sites. Preliminary research at the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary in the Ashanti Region of Ghana revealed that there is less patronage of the ecotourism facility due to the absence of extended activities targeted at visitor engagement and experience. This convergent parallel mixed methods study rooted in phenomenology and descriptive survey design investigated the possibility of establishing an ecomuseum at the sanctuary. The study found that the establishment of an ecomuseum facility would promote Kumawu’s cultural heritage. Also, it would enhance visitor engagement, promote local community ownership, increase revenue generation, and lead to the conservation of nature. The study contends that the establishment of an ecomuseum would lead to greater patronage of Ghana’s Protected Areas while creating job avenues, especially for forest-fringe communities. The study proposes an investment into the establishment of locally specific extended activities in the various nature reserves, zoological parks, and gardens, as well as wildlife sanctuaries in the country, to enhance ecotourism development in Ghana. Full article

Active involvement in creative activities, known as creative health, has been shown to enhance wellbeing, with museums serving as unique spaces for health promotion; however, visitors often require guidance to derive significant benefits from these institutions. This study, part of the larger ASBA (Anxiety, Stress, Brain-friendly museum Approach) project, evaluates the first phase of an intervention specifically focused on a Mindfulness protocol adapted to museum contexts. It has employed a single-group pre–post design with 79 healthy adults recruited from the non-clinical population. Participants were involved in a 15 min standardized mindfulness practice adapted from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in either an art or science museum. State anxiety (SAI) and mood (VAS) were assessed at baseline and post-intervention, alongside personality traits (BFI-10) and interest measures to identify individual moderators of treatment response. The practice appeared to reduce state anxiety significantly in both settings, with large effect sizes. Specific moderators emerged: openness to experience predicted anxiety reduction in the art museum, whereas science interest predicted outcomes in the science setting. These findings suggest that brief, standardized mindfulness protocols implemented through the ASBA framework can provide promising immediate benefits for visitor wellbeing across diverse museum environments. Full article

This study examines the motivations, socio-demographic profiles, and behavioural orientations of residents in Northern Italy toward mountain and forest visitation, with a focus on their propensity to engage in forest-based health and wellness activities. The analysis draws on a large stratified survey conducted between December 2023 and January 2024, involving 1218 respondents, of whom 976 reported regular forest visitations. Exploratory factor analysis identifies two main attitudinal dimensions: “Health and Wellness-Driven Forest Engagement”, centred on psychophysical restoration, and “Comfort-Oriented Forest Use”, related to accessibility and low physical effort. Regression models show that wellness-oriented engagement is strongly associated with psychological well-being, walking and hiking habits, and gender, while comfort-oriented use reflects seasonal patterns and preferences for easily accessible forests. A small subset of respondents reports discomfort in forest environments, forming a distinct attitudinal barrier. Overall, the results indicate substantial potential for forest-based wellness tourism to support healthier lifestyles and diversify mountain economies. Policy implications highlight the need for accessible infrastructures, targeted communication, and the integration of wellness-oriented services into regional development strategies. Full article

In this paper, we propose a data-driven decision-support approach for conceptual trail planning and management in protected natural areas, where environmental awareness (particularly climatic comfort and noise levels) is critical to ensuring a sustainable and enjoyable visitor mobility. Our case study is the Natural Park of La Mata and Torrevieja in Spain. The paper begins by identifying climate refuges in this park (areas offering shelter from heat and other adverse conditions based on meteorological data). We extend this with a novel comfort indicator that incorporates ambient noise levels, using acoustic data from sensors. A key challenge is the integration of heterogeneous data sources (climatic data and noise data from the park’s digital twin infrastructure). To demonstrate the potential of this approach for trail planning, we implement an A* pathfinding algorithm to explore comfort-oriented routing alternatives, guided by our combined climate-noise comfort index. The algorithm is applied to trail management in the Natural Park of La Mata and Torrevieja, enabling the identification of indicative high-comfort routes that can inform future trail design and management decisions, while accounting for ecological constraints and visitor well-being. Results show that the proposed comfort-aware routing improves average environmental comfort by 66.3% with only an additional 344 m of walking distance. Finally, this work constitutes a first step toward a data space use case, showcasing interoperable, AI-ready environmental data usage and aligning with the European Green Deal. Full article

With the acceleration of modernization, historical residences are facing increasingly prominent conflicts between cultural inheritance and contemporary visitor experiences. However, existing research on the revitalization of architectural heritage predominantly focuses on spatial functional replacement and value assessment, with insufficient attention paid to user-perceived issues and the transformation of architectural features into specific design practices. To address these gaps, this study takes the Ganxi Former Residence as an example and proposes an innovative pathway that integrates online review data, architectural meme theory, eye-tracking experiments, shape grammar, and design application, aiming to explore the contemporary transformation of architectural heritage in a user-demand-oriented manner. Based on 2845 valid online reviews, the study identified an imperfect signage system as the primary existing problem of the Ganxi Former Residence. Subsequently, comprehensive architectural meme maps encompassing architectural form memes, spatial memes, and cognitive memes were constructed based on architectural meme theory; high-visual-attention architectural factors were objectively screened through eye-tracking experiments; and these factors were innovatively evolved using shape grammar and applied to signage board design. Evaluation results indicate that the design proposal yielded positive effects in wayfinding clarity, aesthetic appeal, cultural fit, and overall satisfaction. This study not only accomplishes the cross-media transformation of traditional architecture from its physical form to visual signage boards but also provides a replicable and verifiable methodological paradigm for the creative transformation and innovative development of other architectural cultural heritage sites worldwide. Full article

This study aims to explore how industrial heritage regeneration spaces influence employees’ physical and psychological health through restorative perception. With the rapid urbanization and increasing emphasis on sustainable development, the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage sites has become a vital strategy in urban renewal. However, the impact of such spaces on people’s health remains underexplored, especially in terms of how the work environment and restorative psychological mechanisms interact. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data from 486 employees in adaptive reuse projects across major cities in China were analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Employees were chosen as the target population because they represent a group with stable, repeated, and long-term exposure to the regenerated environment during daily routines. Compared with visitors, whose exposure duration, activity purposes, and spatial routes are highly variable, employees provide a more consistent context to test the proposed restorative mechanisms. The results revealed that industrial heritage attribute perception (IHAP), including scale, materiality, historical presence, and functional transformation, significantly predicted restorative perception (β = 0.546, p < 0.001), which in turn positively influenced both psychological health (β = −0.647, p < 0.001) and physical health (β = 0.688, p < 0.001). Instrumental variable analysis using “building age” and “green coverage rate” confirmed the robustness of these findings, showing that restorative perception still significantly improved mental (β = −2.295, p < 0.001) and physical health (β = 0.528, p < 0.001) after addressing endogeneity issues. Furthermore, individual differences such as work tenure (β = 0.239, p < 0.001) and environmental sensitivity (β = 0.054, p > 0.05) moderated these effects. This study extends Attention Restoration Theory (ART) by applying it to historical industrial environments, offering both theoretical insights and practical guidance for designing adaptive reuse spaces that promote employee well-being. Full article

Downtime, also known as an animal avoidance period, refers to a 24–72 h period during which individuals who have had contact with one animal species avoid subsequent contact with other susceptible species. This scoping review critically evaluated the effectiveness of downtime as a biosecurity measure. Peer-reviewed studies were identified and analysed using three electronic databases (Pubmed, Web of Science and Scopus). Two experimental studies directly evaluated downtime, nine additional articles examined human nasal carriage of pathogens after exposure to infected animals and seven articles evaluated the effectiveness of hygiene-based biosecurity measures targeting indirect mechanical pathogen transmission via humans (n = 14 unique articles in total; topical overlap noted where studies contributed to multiple categories). No evidence indicated an added benefit of downtime over other, more evidence-based measures such as hand hygiene, changing of clothes and boots and showering. While certain studies were able to identify the nasal carriage of pathogens, only one study indicated possible consequent transmission to naïve animals. This limited and species-specific evidence base reveals a critical gap between policy recommendations and scientific support for downtime. Based on these results, no clear benefit or necessity of downtime over other measures have been identified, other than its ability to deter unnecessary visitors, but these do not outweigh the impracticalities associated with an ‘animal avoidance period’. Resources and policy efforts should therefore shift from enforcing downtime toward ensuring and verifying adherence to fundamental hygiene measures. Full article

The impact of tourism on Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in Patagonia is a complex issue that requires a balanced approach between conservation and sustainable tourism development. While tourism in the region can bring significant economic benefits, it can also have a negative impact on the penguins by disrupting nesting behavior and chick rearing, and even increasing the risk of disease and predation. We examined a comparative analysis of scientific papers on the impact of tourism on Magellanic penguins in two breeding colonies in Argentinean Patagonia, which have been visited for 10 to 50 years and whose visitor numbers range from 10,000 to 120,000 per year. We analyzed different physiological parameters (i.e., immunological, hematological, biochemical, and stress parameters) and behavioral respond (alternate head turns) in adult birds and chicks in these colonies. Although the results suggest that Magellanic penguins have adapted well to the presence of tourists in their breeding colonies, we documented changes in certain physiological parameters that indicate chronic stress due to high exposure to tourism. It is important to promote sustainable tourism in Patagonia that not only minimizes these negative impacts but also improves the protection of the penguins and their habitat. This includes the creation of new nature reserves, environmental education, and the regulation of tourism activities. Implementing responsible tourism practices can ensure economic benefits while protecting the well-being and health of penguin populations. The combination of increased tourist awareness and concrete conservation measures can protect not only the Magellanic penguins but also the natural wealth of the entire Patagonia region. Full article