Search Results (329)

Generative artificial intelligence in higher education is typically framed as either a student productivity tool or an institutional disruption. This agenda-setting essay advances a third position: mobile generative AI functions as relational infrastructure—a persistent communicative presence that mediates identity, meaning-making, and belonging during institutional transition. Focusing on international graduate student onboarding, we abductively “think through” two complementary theoretical lenses. Constitutive Artificial Intelligence Identity Theory (CAIIT) conceptualizes AI as a co-constitutive participant in identity formation through recursive communicative feedback loops. Language Convergence/Meaning Divergence (LC/MD) theory explains how shared institutional language masks interpretive gaps across intercultural and bureaucratic contexts. Reading narrative vignettes through these frameworks, we argue that generative AI is neither simple curricular tool nor personal aid, but both relational and organizational infrastructure, redistributing translational, emotional, and interpretive labor in higher education. We outline four design principles for AI-integrated onboarding: distinguish communicative scaffolding from cognitive replacement; design systems that assume meaning divergence; center equity in AI-mediated transitions; and anticipate ethical risk. Reframing AI as relational infrastructure shifts AI-in-education research toward relational accountability and institutional care. Full article

Scalable production of interactive 3D assets is a key requirement for XR-based applications, yet the functional integration of GenAI-generated assets into game engines remains challenging for non-expert users. This article proposes and validates a Prompt-to-Trigger workflow that links GenAI-based asset ideation and generation with the implementation of basic interactive behaviors (triggers) in accessible XR platforms. The study adopted a qualitative and exploratory approach, using systematic observation throughout a two-stage development process. This process included an initial phase where 3D assets were generated and refined using tools such as Tripo AI and Meshy, followed by an optimization stage to ensure compatibility with Blender and XR environments like A-Frame and Godot, and subsequently, the creation of AI-powered activation scripts. The results show that GenAI’s current 3D outputs frequently exhibit topological inconsistencies and rigging errors that compromise performance and real-time interoperability, requiring cleanup and optimization before deployment. The Prompt-to-Trigger workflow formalizes this bridge, positioning AI assistance as a functional layer for iterative logic generation. The resulting model provides non-expert creators with structured, actionable framework to prototype complex XR experiences for applied domains like education and multimedia communication. Full article

As the global climate change mitigation efforts urge the transition towards a green economy, comprehending the carbon footprint of forest industry supply chain is crucial to ensure sustainable management and utilization of renewable resources. This research quantified the carbon footprint of four different forest product industries: chip mill, hardwood sawmill, softwood sawmill, and in-woods chipping in the Northeastern U.S. Additionally, the impact of transportation (road and rail) on carbon footprint was analyzed. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed using SimaPro 9.3.0.3 software and allied databases (USLCI and US-EI). The functional unit was 1 tonne for chip mill (wood chips) and 1 m³ for sawmill (planks). The highest-contributing inputs for the chip mill and softwood sawmill were transportation. However, in-woods chipping and the hardwood sawmill had raw materials, residual wood, and round wood as the highest-contributing input. The study also enumerated the substances that contributed most to environmental impacts. The carbon footprint of chip mill, in-woods chipping, hardwood, and softwood sawmill were 49.5, 21.7, 72.9, and 73.7 kg CO₂ eq per respective functional units, respectively. The results could assist the forest industry in promoting wood feedstock with a minimal carbon footprint and have educated engagement in an ever-evolving carbon market. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly transforming architectural education, shifting design studios toward human–AI collaborative workflows. This study investigates the impact of AI integration across the six stages of the architectural design process: pre-design, conceptual design, schematic design, design development, documentation, and presentation. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining survey data from 17 master’s degree students with reflective insights from eight faculty members involved in hybrid AI-supported studio environments. AI’s influence was evaluated using six indicators: efficiency, creativity enhancement, accuracy, interdisciplinary integration, adoptability, and environmental or architectural impact. The findings indicate that AI is most effective during early design stages, where it supports idea generation, visualization, and rapid iteration. Its impact becomes less pronounced in later technical phases, where human expertise and critical reasoning remain essential. Students perceived AI as a creative catalyst and productivity enhancer, while faculty emphasized its analytical and evaluative potential in supporting informed decision-making. Overall, AI functions most effectively as a complementary partner rather than a replacement for human agency. The study proposes a structured framework to guide ethical and pedagogically sound AI integration within architectural design studios. Full article

Higher education is undergoing a constant paradigm shift, transforming itself into a system of innovation for society. This study has explored and determined the relationship between educational innovation and research in university contexts in order to distinguish, compare, and establish dynamics of interaction. The contributions of scientific articles published in WoS-indexed journals between 2019 and 2025 in a total of 108 sources were analyzed using the PRISMA method and an analysis inspired by grounded theory with open coding and axial coding (mixed method). As a result, both functions have been conceptually differentiated while establishing these points of contact, productive interactions, and their relationship with university institutional management. It is concluded that higher education is facing a paradigm shift, transforming itself from a center of knowledge and professional training to the hub of innovation systems. The main contribution of this study is its exposition of how this profound change is taking place and the conditions of research–innovation interaction in the university setting. Full article

Background: Burn injuries have both physical and psychological impacts on patients. Factors such as personal beliefs, prior experiences, and geographic, economic, or cultural barriers, as well as fear of hospitals, can contribute to delays in seeking specialized care. When combined with inadequate first aid or the inappropriate use of pharmaceutical or traditional remedies, these delays may worsen burn severity, prolong healing, and negatively affect quality of life. From a clinical perspective, delayed presentation following burn injury has been linked to burn wound progression, which increases the risk of local infection, hypertrophic scarring and prolonged functional impairment. Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinical Emergency Hospital of Bucharest between January and September 2025. The primary objective was to characterize adult burn patients presenting more than 24 h after injury (Group A) and to describe self-reported psychosocial/behavioral characteristics and explore unadjusted patterns among delayed presenters. Data were collected from medical records and a structured questionnaire administered to delayed presenters. A secondary descriptive comparison was performed with patients presenting within 24 h (Group B) to provide contextual reference. Results: The majority of patients were male (62.2%) and of working age (18–65 years, 82.4%). Thermal burns from domestic accidents were most common (58.8%), with scalds predominating. Second-degree burns were the most frequent (60.5%), primarily affecting the upper and lower limbs. Mean total body surface area (TBSA) was low (2.86 ± 1.91%), although higher values were observed in radiation burns and closed-space accidents. More than half of the patients did not receive any first aid, while the remainder used various pharmaceutical or natural products, some of which were inappropriate for burn treatment. The main reasons for delaying specialized care were the expectation that injuries would heal spontaneously, negligence, and fear of the hospital. In contrast, escalating pain, edema, and family insistence were the primary motivators for seeking professional medical attention. Delayed presentation was associated with older burn lesions, higher burn severity and an increased likelihood of hospitalization or refusal of recommended admission. Conclusions: Burn injuries predominantly affect working-age males and most frequently arise from domestic thermal accidents. Delayed presentation and inadequate first aid are common and influenced by behavioral, social, and demographic factors. Targeted public education, improved first aid practices, and timely healthcare-seeking are essential to reduce burn severity and improve patient outcomes. Full article

This study investigates how parents and students interpret and form continued engagement intentions with a radar visualisation tool designed to present multi-subject academic performance. While data visualisation is increasingly used in education, limited empirical attention has been given to whether parents and students, who share the same performance information but hold distinct roles, respond to visualised reports through similar behaviours. To address this gap, an interactive radar visualisation was developed to present secondary school students’ achievement across subjects with peer reference points. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as an analytical framework, this study examines the determinants of continued intention to use the visualisation tool. Questionnaire data were collected from 706 parents and 264 students in a Macao secondary school. Structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed fundamentally different ideas of continued engagement. For parents, continued intention was significantly associated with performance expectancy (PE) and effort expectancy (EE), social influence (SI) and facilitating conditions (FC), suggesting the tool functioned as a decision support system for academic planning. For students, only social influence (SI) and facilitating conditions (FC) emerged as significant predictors, indicating that peer comparison and external expectations may not fit their needs. Parents also reported significantly higher continued intention than students. The finding extended UTAUT by demonstrating that core acceptance relationships are moderated by different roles, reframing technology acceptance in educational visualisation from system adoption to information interpretation. The study provides empirical evidence that visualised performance reporting functions not merely as a data display but also as a communication medium whose meaning is actively constructed by users. These insights highlight the need for role-sensitive design, emphasising actionable planning support for parents and personally meaningful, agency-oriented feedback for students, in order to foster productive home–school communication and sustained engagement with learning information. Full article

Background: Parental knowledge and perceptions towards Functional Foods (FFs) play a critical role in shaping children’s dietary behaviors. This study aimed to investigate dietary habits, FFs knowledge and perceptions among Greek primary school children and their parents and to evaluate the feasibility of a one-month pilot asynchronous nutrition education program. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 374 children aged 9–11 years and 159 parents from urban (Thessaloniki) and rural (Lemnos) areas. Children completed questionnaires on dietary habits, FFs knowledge and Mediterranean Diet (MD) adherence (KIDMED score), while parents provided sociodemographic information, BMI, dietary habits, FFs knowledge and perceptions. A pilot asynchronous nutrition education intervention was delivered via pre-recorded videos on FFs, the MD, portion sizes and food label interpretation, with participation tracked and program evaluation conducted among parents. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (version 28). Descriptive statistics were calculated, group differences were assessed with t-tests and ANOVA and associations between variables were examined using chi-square tests and Pearson correlations (p < 0.06). Results: Children showed moderate MD adherence, frequent fast-food and soft drinks consumption and low FF knowledge, with a substantial gap between perceived and actual understanding. Parental FF knowledge was uneven, higher among normal-weight participants and largely limited to fortified products. Positive associations were found between children’s and parents’ diet quality and natural FF consumption, as well as between parental and child physical activity. The asynchronous intervention was positively rated; substantial attrition was observed across sessions and follow-up, which limited the ability to assess the intervention’s effects on behavioral change. Conclusions: This study highlights critical gaps in FFs knowledge among families and demonstrates that asynchronous, family-based nutrition education is feasible but challenged by engagement attrition. Targeted interventions are needed to clarify FF concepts and promote healthier family dietary behaviors. Full article

This practice-led research examines how virtual production represents a circular return to scenographic practice, reactivating integrated modes of spatial authorship that have long underpinned screen storytelling but were obscured by industrial fragmentation. Drawing on a single-day intensive workshop at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), the study analyses how spatial authorship emerged through embodied, collaborative engagement with an LED volume environment. Grounded in scenographic theory and concepts of distributed cognition and situated authorship, the article reframes virtual production as a condition that renders pre-digital, collaborative modes of making visible within contemporary screen production. The LED volume functions simultaneously as scenic environment, lighting instrument, and compositional partner, requiring participants to negotiate space, light, movement, and camera as a unified spatial event. Analysis identifies how scenographic understanding emerged through virtual scouting, world-responsive storytelling, physical-digital integration, and embodied realisation. The findings extend production design theory by challenging ocular-centric models of mise-en-scène and positioning scenographic integration as screen practice—an epistemic mode of enacting through collective, materially grounded spatial experimentation. While situated within an educational context, the study points to broader implications for how spatial authorship and collective practice are understood in contemporary screen production. Full article

In Philippine state universities and colleges (SUCs), faculty are mandated to balance instruction, research, and extension as “trifocal” functions. Yet, research often competes with heavy teaching loads, administrative work, and community engagement, especially in science disciplines that demand laboratory-based and fieldwork. This qualitative multiple-case study examined how twelve science faculty members across academic ranks in a Philippine SUC system enact the research function within their trifocal roles. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, institutional and policy documents, and cross-case analysis, this study employed a case study design through the lens of systems thinking to identify how research function is embedded in institutional structures and professional life-worlds. Findings show that faculty construct research as (1) a catalyst that propels instruction and anchors extension programs; (2) a strategic requirement intertwined with promotion and career progression; and (3) a relational and infrastructural practice dependent on collegial networks, mentoring, and institutional support systems. Feedback loops link these themes wherein research output fuels promotion and time protection, which, in turn, shape opportunities for further research and mentoring. Additionally, verbatim accounts reveal how faculty members navigate structural pressures, such as bureaucratic processes and workload policies, while framing research as a moral and professional responsibility. This article argues that designing research support in SUCs requires moving beyond compliance-driven metrics to system-level arrangements that honor research as a form of scholarly work deeply connected with teaching quality and community impact. Implications are suggested for workload policy, mentoring, and research-capable learning environments in the Philippines and comparable higher education contexts. Full article

The lack of accessibility in digital gaming platforms remains a significant barrier to equitable user participation. To address this issue, this article presents an inclusive solution developed as a multimedia project designed to promote access to digital games for any user through the ipcb.games platform. The platform offers features that enhance accessibility, including voice-based authentication, voice-assisted registration, facial recognition, visual and auditory feedback, and a simplified interface. It also enables users to submit their own games for subsequent approval and integration. The development process followed a multimedia project methodology, structured into phases of analysis, planning, design, production, testing, and validation. The proposal was informed by a systematic review of scientific literature on digital inclusion and accessibility, complemented by a comparative analysis of existing platforms. During usability testing, the platform was evaluated by approximately 50 teachers from different educational levels, who provided highly positive feedback. Future work includes implementing voice-controlled gameplay, enabling keyboard-based navigation, re-implementing a functional eye-tracking system, and creating pedagogical groups, further strengthening the platform’s role in educational contexts. Full article

This paper examines why identical investments in human capital generate divergent growth outcomes across countries. Using a global panel of up to 193 countries observed from 2000 to 2021, we investigate whether the growth returns to education depend on basic infrastructure conditions, proxied by electricity access. Employing a fixed-effects framework combined with likelihood-based threshold exploration, we find that the growth effect of schooling varies systematically with electrification levels. While the likelihood function suggests a reference threshold around 40 percent electricity access, the confidence set is wide, indicating that complementarities emerge gradually rather than at a sharp cutoff. Regime-based estimation reveals that schooling has no statistically significant impact on GDP growth in low-electrification environments, but becomes strongly growth-enhancing once electricity access is sufficiently high. A Wald test rejects equality of the schooling coefficients across regimes, providing direct evidence of infrastructure-dependent returns to education. These findings highlight that human capital accumulation alone is insufficient to drive economic growth and underscore the importance of coordinated investments in core infrastructure to unlock the productive potential of education. Full article

The disruptive acceleration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) has amplified the phenomenon of Global Friction (Globofriction), where technological speed undermines informational stability and weakens democratic resilience. Within higher education, this scenario demands training models capable of preparing future communicators to act as guarantors of truth amid automated erosion of discourse. This research evaluates the digital competence of Communication students through an interdisciplinary STEM-SSH (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics—Social Sciences and Humanities) nexus approach based on the Kirkpatrick model. A mixed-methods methodology was employed, analyzing self-perception and cybersecurity data (n = 59), technical performance in the production of interactive infographics (n = 25), and qualitative evidence from reflection forums on systemic risks. The results reveal a “showcase digital competence”: a functional dissonance where future communicators demonstrate technical excellence under academic supervision but maintain negligent habits in their autonomous praxis. The study concludes that, given risks such as data porridge and strategic disinformation, it is urgent to transition toward a model of ethical resilience. This shift is imperative to reclaim the sovereignty of human judgment and ensure the integrity of public debate amidst current technological friction. Full article

A well-developed national park scheme is of great significance in ensuring the sustainability of the ecological environment and addressing the risks of community green development. As a key mechanism for the transformation of ecological product value, the implementation and optimization of the concession system contribute to the coordinated development of national park protection and community interests. How to promote the transition of national park concession from “system establishment” to “system efficiency improvement” is an important issue in system optimization, and the key to solving this issue is to assessing the credibility of national park concession systems in the community. Community residents are important stakeholders in the national park concession system, and their perception of this system’s credibility reflects its levels of rationality, efficiency and sustainability. This study takes residents of four villages in Wuyishan National Park as an example, obtains data through a questionnaire survey, and uses linear regression analysis to study the influencing factors of residents’ credibility of national park concession systems from five aspects, including household location, demographic characteristics, functional perceptions of the concession system, normative perceptions of the concession system, and expectation perceptions of the concession system. The results show that: (1) Residents show different perceptions of the concession system in national parks; they generally believe that it conforms to the collective interests and should be permanent. (2) The normative perceptions and expectation perceptions of the concession system in national parks have a significant positive impact on its credibility. Furthermore, age and educational attainment significantly influence residents’ perceptions of the system’s credibility. The impact of household location on the credibility of national park concession systems is not significant. Full article

This study investigated Brazilian consumers’ perceptions, attitudes, and purchase intentions regarding traditional and reformulated chicken meat products (fresh sausage and burger) enriched with natural antioxidants obtained from avocado by-product extracts. A mixed-methods approach was applied, using a word association task, a Likert-scale attitudinal questionnaire, and purchase intention scales (n = 422). Word association revealed predominantly negative perceptions toward products containing synthetic antioxidants, while natural antioxidant formulations elicited positive associations related to health, naturalness, and sustainability. Attitudinal data indicated strong alignment between health consciousness, environmental concern, and openness to food innovation. Pearson correlations (p < 0.05) showed moderate-to-strong relationships (r ≥ 0.40) among beliefs about healthy eating, perceived benefits of natural antioxidants, and support for sustainable production. Contingency analyses demonstrated that belief in the health benefits of natural antioxidants significantly increased purchase intention for reformulated products, whereas consumers less engaged with healthy eating were more accepting of synthetic formulations. Noting sample limitations primarily comprising young, educated females, who correspond to the group of consumers who tend to be more sensitive to health and environmental responsibility claims, the findings highlight consumer interest in natural, functional, and sustainable meat products. These results reinforce the potential of using agro-industrial by-product extracts as natural antioxidants in meat formulations and underscore the importance of communication strategies emphasizing health, naturalness, and sustainability to improve consumer acceptance. Full article