Search Results (637)

Tourism plays a vital role in promoting local economic growth and preserving cultural heritage, with creative cultural tourism increasingly recognized as a strategy for enhancing tourist engagement. This study examines antecedent factors influencing tourist engagement in creative cultural tourism activities at the Tha Plee Fishing Market community, focusing on creative tourism experience, cultural and emotional perception, and travel motivation. The research also evaluates the overall level of tourist engagement and explores the relationships between these factors and engagement. A quantitative research design was employed, with data collected from 400 Thai tourists visiting the community. Descriptive statistics and Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to analyze the data. The results indicate that all three antecedent factors and overall tourist engagement were rated at a high level. Creative tourism experience had a significant positive effect on tourist engagement (β = 0.286). These findings suggest that immersive, hands-on cultural activities and strong emotional connections to local heritage can enhance engagement. From a practical perspective, community stakeholders and tourism planners should focus on developing unique cultural experiences, improving visitor interaction with local traditions, and promoting storytelling to strengthen emotional bonds. Future research should include international tourists to broaden the generalizability of the results. Full article

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology is advancing toward higher operating temperatures and lower costs: current systems operate at 565 °C, while next-generation systems are targeted to reach 800 °C to overcome efficiency limitations. In this context, low-cost, adaptable molten chloride salts have emerged as ideal heat transfer and thermal energy storage media. Metallic materials are susceptible to performance degradation under such conditions, which not only shortens equipment service life but also entails potential safety hazards. Thus, the development of alloy protection technologies resistant to molten salt corrosion has become an urgent priority for the deployment of next-generation CSP plants. Research has indicated that high-aluminum stainless steel is a promising candidate due to its unique advantages: it can form a stable Al₂O₃ protective film in oxygen-containing anionic environments, effectively inhibiting the dissolution of Cr, Fe, and other elements, and preventing the penetration of corrosive species. Additionally, the incorporation of magnesium-based corrosion inhibitors into MgCl₂-NaCl-KCl ternary molten salt systems has been proven to be an economically viable and efficient corrosion mitigation strategy. This study focused on high-aluminum 310S heat-resistant steel, with its performance validated through targeted experiments: samples subjected to pre-oxidation at 800 °C for 2 h were immersed in a specific ternary molten salt mixture (20.4 wt.% KCl, 55.1 wt.% MgCl₂, 24.5 wt.% NaCl) containing magnesium corrosion inhibitors, followed by a 600 h static corrosion test at 800 °C. The results revealed that the addition of magnesium significantly enhanced the corrosion resistance of high-aluminum 310S. These findings demonstrate that this material holds application potential in the storage tank and pipeline systems of next-generation CSP plants. Full article

Traditional training methods for first responders are often limited by time, resources, and safety constraints, which reduces their consistency and effectiveness. This study focused on two main issues: whether exposure to virtual reality training scenarios induces measurable physiological changes in heart rate and heart rate variability, and whether these responses differ between police and firefighter contexts. The aim of this study was to explore the integration of virtual reality technologies into responder training and to evaluate how biomedical monitoring can be used to assess training effectiveness. A pilot measurement was conducted with ten participants who completed systematic crime scene investigation scenarios in both domains. Heart activity was continuously recorded using a wearable sensor and analyzed for heart rate and heart rate variability parameters, while cognitive load and task performance were also assessed. The collected data were statistically evaluated using tests of normality and paired comparisons between baseline and virtual reality phases. The results showed a significant increase in heart rate and a decrease in heart rate variability during virtual reality exposure compared to baseline, with higher cognitive load and success rates in police scenarios compared to firefighter scenarios. These findings indicate that virtual reality scenarios can elicit measurable psychophysiological responses and highlight the potential of combining immersive technologies with biomedical monitoring for the development of adaptive and effective training methods for first responders. Full article

As sustainable tourism practices gain traction globally, immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have emerged as effective tools to enrich visitor experiences while supporting heritage site preservation. Particularly within built cultural environments, these technologies facilitate non-invasive interpretation of architectural spaces, enabling sustainable interaction with fragile historical structures. Despite growing scholarly attention, existing research has primarily focused on the pre-adoption phase or the technical affordances of AR/VR, with limited understanding of user behavior in the post-adoption phase. To address this gap, this study integrates the Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM) with the experiential attributes of AR/VR-enabled heritage applications, proposing an integrated theoretical model to identify key determinants of tourists’ continuance intention. Based on 434 valid survey responses collected at the Terracotta Warriors Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM), the results reveal that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, satisfaction, and confirmation directly influence continuance intention, while visual appeal, entertainment, enjoyment, interactivity and confirmation exert indirect effects through mediating mechanisms. The findings contribute theoretically by extending ECM to the heritage tourism domain and empirically by providing robust evidence from a high-profile non-Western site. Practically, this study offers actionable implications for designing immersive experiences that enhance post-visit continuance intention and align with broader sustainability objectives. Full article

Virtual Reality (VR), particularly when integrated with Building Information Modeling (BIM), is transforming architectural practice in developed economies. However, its adoption in developing countries remains limited due to infrastructural, economic, and organizational challenges. This study addresses this gap by empirically evaluating VR readiness among emerging architectural professionals in Oman through a novel integrated framework. This framework combines the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), which focuses on functional drivers like usefulness, with Presence Theory, which captures experiential drivers like immersion. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the survey data and assess VR readiness. The analysis revealed that prior VR exposure significantly predicts adoption intention, a relationship that is partially mediated by perceived usefulness. Organizational support emerged as a key moderator, effectively mitigating the impact of technical barriers on adoption decisions. The model explained the variance in adoption intention, highlighting that experiential familiarity, functional evaluation, and institutional support were critical for advancing digital transformation. The findings provide actionable insights for educational institutions, policymakers, and industry stakeholders aiming to prepare the next generation of architects in Oman and similar economies for VR adoption. By validating a dual-pathway adoption framework, this research contributes both theoretically and practically to understanding immersive technology assimilation in resource-constrained professional contexts. Full article

The digital transformation of journalism—from text-heavy to multimedia-reliant—has changed storytelling approaches, with multimedia integration becoming central to online news formats. Incorporating multimedia elements such as photographs, videos, and photo galleries has been shown to significantly enhance audience engagement in online journalism. The growing capacity for multimedia integration has expanded the possibilities for digital storytelling, allowing for more interactive and immersive news experiences. Effective multimedia implementation in online journalism, incorporating elements such as photographs, videos, and photo galleries, enhances audience engagement. A news website’s capacity for multimedia integration has created new opportunities for storytelling, enabling more interactive news presentation. This study examines multimedia implementation patterns across four major international news websites, TheGuardian.com (UK), TheNationalnews.com (UAE), USAToday.com (USA), and Stuff.co.nz (New Zealand), analysing 280 articles published between February and April 2023. The findings reveal significant variations in multimedia integration strategies across different content types, geographic focuses, and thematic areas. The findings indicate that despite technological capabilities, multimedia integration remains uneven across platforms and content categories. The findings show differences in how multimedia is used, depending on the type of content, geographic focus, and subject matter. Even with the technology readily available, the level of multimedia integration still varies widely across platforms and content categories. Local news receives more multimedia treatment than foreign news, while feature articles demonstrate higher multimedia density than standard news content. Full article

This paper examines how 360-degree panoramic tours can enhance heritage promotion, accessibility, and engagement, illustrated through two case studies: the Understory Art and Nature Trail in Northcliffe and the Subiaco Hotel in Perth, Western Australia. The Understory Art Trail was deployed in Google Street View to deliver an interactive, virtual walkthrough of outdoor art installations. This made the site accessible to a geographically diverse global audience, including those unable to visit in person. In contrast, the Subiaco Hotel tour was created with 3DVista. It integrated multimedia features such as historical photographs, architectural drawings, and narrative audio, offering users a layered exploration of built heritage. The two studies were designed so that frameworks like Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) could be applied to them to evaluate visitor experience. However, this paper focuses on the workflow for providing 360-degree panoramic tours, the integration of AR, low-cost digital twins, and the testing of interactive web platforms. Google Street View demonstrates ease of use through familiar navigation, while 3DVista reflects usefulness through its richer interpretive features. By analyzing workflows and digital strategies on both platforms, the study evaluates their effectiveness in increasing online visitor engagement, supporting heritage tourism, and communicating cultural significance. Challenges related to technical limitations, geolocation accuracy, audience targeting, and resource constraints are critically discussed. The findings demonstrate that context-sensitive applications of 360-degree tours are valuable for visibility, education, and long-term preservation. The paper concludes with targeted recommendations to guide future heritage projects in leveraging immersive digital technologies to expand audience engagement and support sustainable heritage management. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study examined the efficacy of a physical activity (PA) intervention augmented by a non-immersive Virtual Reality (VR) gaming system (i.e., Virtual Reality-infused Movement and Activity Program; V-MAP) on physical activity (i.e., sedentary behavior, moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA], vigorous PA [VPA]) and cognitive skills (i.e., response error, movement latency and reaction time) in Head Start preschoolers. Methods: Using a repeated-measure with 1-month follow-up design, a sample of 13 Head Start preschoolers (Mage = 67.08 ± 4.32 months; 36.2% boys) engaged in a 6-week V-MAP intervention (30-min session; 8 sessions) that focused on non-immersive VR based movement integration. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was used to measure cognition; school-based PA and sedentary behavior were assessed by ActiGraph accelerometer. Pedometers were used to monitor real time engagement and implementation over eight intervention sessions. Results: On average, children obtained 1105 steps during the 30-min intervention (36.85 steps/min). There was a significant increase in VPA after the V-MAP intervention, whereas no significant changes in MVPA or sedentary behavior were observed (ps > 0.05). Although we did not observe significant improvement in studied cognitive function variables (ps > 0.05) after the V-MAP intervention, some delayed effects were observed in the follow-up test (Cohen’s d ranges from −0.41 to −0.73). Conclusions: This efficacy trial provides preliminary support that implementing V-MAP in recess may help Head Start preschoolers achieve or accumulate the recommended daily 60-min MVPA guideline during preschool years. The findings also provide insights that VR-based PA for as little as 30 min per day may benefit cognitive capability. Full article

The increasing prevalence of mental health disorders highlights the need for innovative and accessible interventions. Although existing digital meditation applications offer valuable basic guidance, they often lack interactivity, real-time personalized feedback, and dynamic simulation of real-life scenarios necessary for comprehensive experiential training applicable to daily stressors. To address these limitations, this study developed a novel immersive meditation system specifically designed for deployment within a metaverse environment. The system provides mindfulness practice through two distinct modules within the virtual world. The experience-based module delivers AI-driven social interactions within simulated everyday scenarios, with narrative content dynamically generated by large language models (LLMs), followed by guided inner reflection, thereby forming a scenario–experience–reflection cycle. The breathing-focused module provides real-time feedback through a breath-synchronization interface to enhance respiratory awareness. The feasibility and preliminary effects of this metaverse-based system were explored in a two-week, single-group, pre-test/post-test study involving 31 participants. The participants completed a battery of validated psychological questionnaires assessing psychological distress, mindfulness, acceptance, self-compassion, and self-esteem before and after engaging in the intervention. This study provides exploratory evidence supporting the feasibility and potential of immersive metaverse environments and LLM-based scenario generation for structured mental health interventions, providing initial insights into their psychological impact and user experience. Full article

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases cause both progressive motor and cognitive impairments for which no curative treatments exist. Virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance physical rehabilitation by offering immersive, engaging, and personalized environments. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines, examining studies published between 2020 and 2025 in the Web of Science and Scopus. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, focusing on VR-based physical rehabilitation in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. Results: Most studies reported significant improvements in balance, gait, postural control, and motor function. Some studies also found benefits in processing speed, executive function, emotional well-being, and activities of daily living. Across different levels of immersion, VR interventions showed high usability and were well tolerated, even among older adults. However, methodological limitations, such as small sample sizes, a lack of control groups, and short intervention durations, were prevalent. Conclusions: VR has demonstrated to be an effective and well-tolerated tool for the rehabilitation of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. However, the confirmation of its clinical efficacy and long-term impact necessitates the execution of randomized controlled trials with larger samples and extended follow-up periods. Full article

Background: The global rise in the aging population presents significant challenges to healthcare systems, especially with increasing rates of chronic illnesses, mental health issues, and functional decline among older adults. In response, holistic and tech-driven approaches, such as telehealth and remote virtual interactive agents (VIAs), are potential emerging solutions to support the physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being of older adults. VIAs are multimodal digital tools that provide interactive and immersive experiences to users. Despite its promise, gaps still exist in the insights that explore ways of delivering geriatric healthcare remotely. Objective: This systematic review examines the existing literature on remote virtual interventions for older adults, focusing on bibliometrics, study purposes, outcomes, and network analysis of studies extracted from major databases using selected keywords and managed using the Covidence application. Methods and Results: Following five stages, namely, problem identification, a literature search, data evaluation, data analysis, and presentation, the review found that the studies on remote VIAs for older adults (2013–2025) were mostly from a positivist perspective, multi-authored, and U.S.-led, mainly showing positive outcomes for most studies (n = 13/15) conducted in home settings with healthy older participants. The dominance of positivist, US-led studies reflect an epistemological stance that emphasizes objectivity, quantification, and generalizability. VIAs, often pre-programmed and internet-based, supported health promotion and utilized visual humanoid avatars on personal devices. Keyword and network analysis additionally revealed four themes resulting from the review: Health and Clinical, Holistic and Cognitive, Home and Caring, and Hybrid and Connection. Conclusions: The review provides innovative insights and illustrations that may serve as a foundation for future research on VIAs and remote healthcare delivery for older adults. Full article

Effective communication between construction sites and engineering or architectural offices is critical to the success of construction projects, particularly in the maintenance of critical infrastructure such as bridges. In scenarios where distance limits the physical presence of specialists, Requests for Information (RFIs) are the primary formal exchange tool. However, issues such as incomplete data, poor quality, or delayed responses often lead to significant project delays. This study proposes a multi-user Virtual Reality (VR) platform to optimize communication workflows in these contexts. Using the Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM), an immersive environment was developed to connect up to 20 users simultaneously, integrating BIM models with support for technical details, language, and contextual factors. The tool was validated through a case study focused on the maintenance of a railway bridge, where five real RFIs were simulated. Results show that the immersive experience enhances spatial understanding, improves remote collaboration, and accelerates decision-making. Users highlighted the sense of presence and perceived usefulness, positioning this tool as an effective alternative to overcome communication barriers in geographically distributed infrastructure maintenance. Full article

The durability of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars is typically evaluated using accelerated conditioning protocols (ACP), which are applied to bar samples, either directly exposed or embedded in small concrete specimens, under aggressive environmental conditions. Thus, this study investigates the applicability of the ACPs recommended by ACI440.9R (2015), from the American Concrete Institute, to assess the potential effects of chloride exposure on reinforced concrete beams. Twelve beams—six reinforced with steel and six with Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)—were tested under two scenarios: (1) a reference condition, with beams stored for 1000 h in a controlled laboratory environment, and (2) a conditioned condition, where beams were immersed in a 3.5% NaCl solution at 50 ± 3 °C for 1000 h prior to beam casting. After, the beams were evaluated through three-point bending tests, focusing on load–deflection behavior, failure modes, crack patterns, and strain distribution in concrete and reinforcement. The results indicated that chloride exposure adversely affected both steel and GFRP-reinforced beams. Steel-reinforced concrete beams exhibited a 12% reduction in load-bearing capacity due to steel corrosion, while the GFRP-reinforced concrete beams showed a 10% reduction in load-bearing capacity due to water absorption by the GFRP. Full article

Background/Objectives: Effective clinical handover is a critical component of nursing care, particularly in mental health settings, where the transfer of clinical and behavioral information is essential for both patients’ and health personnel’s safety. Gamification has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance clinical education, yet few interventions have focused specifically on mental health care contexts. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a serious game designed to teach the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) handover framework to undergraduate nursing students through a psychiatric care unit scenario. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre–post design was employed with a convenience sample of 48 nursing students from a Northern Italian university. Participants completed a test assessing their ability to organize clinical information according to the SBAR model before and after the game intervention. Students’ experience was assessed using the Player Experience Inventory. Results: A statistically significant improvement in SBAR application was observed post-intervention. The majority of students reported a positive experience across PXI domains such as Meaning, Challenge, Progress Feedback, and Enjoyment. Comparisons with a previously validated video-based nursing serious game showed a consistent overall pattern in response trends. Conclusions: The SG was an effective and engaging educational tool for improving structured handover skills in nursing students. Gamification may represent a valuable complement to traditional instruction in nursing education, especially in high-communication clinical areas such as mental health. Further research is needed to assess long-term retention and to explore more immersive formats. Full article

Late bilingual speakers immersed in a second language (L2) environment often experience the non-pathological attrition of their first language (L1), exhibiting selective and reversible changes in L1 processing and production. While attrition research has largely focused on long-term residents in anglophone countries, examining changes primarily within a single L1 domain, the present study employs a novel experimental design to investigate L1 attrition, alongside L2 acquisition, across three domains (i.e., the lexicon, syntax–pragmatics interface, and prosody) in two groups of L1-English L2-Italian late bilinguals: long-term residents in Italy vs. university students in the UK. A total of 112 participants completed online tasks assessing lexical retrieval, anaphora resolution, and sentence stress patterns in both languages. First, both bilingual groups showed comparable levels of semantic interference in lexical retrieval. Second, at the syntax–pragmatics interface, only residents in Italy showed signs of L1 attrition in real-time processing of anaphora, while resolution preferences were similar between groups; in the L2, both bilingual groups demonstrated target-like preferences, despite some slowdown in processing. Third, while both groups showed some evidence of target-like L2 prosody, with residents in Italy matching L1-Italian sentence stress patterns closely, prosodic attrition was only reported for residents in Italy in exploratory analyses. Overall, this study supports the notion of L1 attrition as a natural consequence of bilingualism—one that is domain- and experience-dependent, unfolds along a continuum, and involves a complex (and possibly inverse) relationship between L1 and L2 performance that warrants further investigation. Full article