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Challenges caused by secularization, ideological pluralism and the transformation of religious institutions in the modern world have raised the question of what role the Christian priesthood plays in a changing society. The focus of this study is the Orthodox priesthood in Russia in the context of its historical development and theological conception. The article analyzes the position of the parish clergy, which, despite its theoretically exalted and sacred status in the Russian Empire, remained socially vulnerable and dependent on both the state and the community of believers. Particular attention is paid to St. John of Kronstadt, whose ministry became a model for a new type of pastoral care. This combined ascetic strictness, Eucharistic revival, and deep involvement in the lives of the laity. An analysis of Fr. John’s diaries reveals the following: in contrast to the Western tradition, where the crisis of the priesthood is often associated with its excessive sacralization and separation from the laity, in Russian Orthodoxy the response to the challenges of modernity was the sacralization of both the clergy and the entire parish community. This author suggests that, under the circumstances of revolution and persecution, the ideal of the ascetic priest and spiritual father contributed to the formation of stable church communities, which remains relevant in the context of contemporary discussions on the place of religion in the secular world. Full article

The rapid development of contemporary artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has given rise to the emerging paradigm of the AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things), which is profoundly impacting human life and driving the digital transformation of industries and society. The AIoT not only enhances product functionality and convenience but also accelerates the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the widespread adoption of these technologies still poses challenges related to social inclusivity, particularly regarding insufficient accessibility for elderly users, which may exacerbate the digital divide and social inequality, contradicting SDG 10 (reducing inequality). This study integrates AIoT product development processes based on sustainability and universal design principles using methods such as Quality Function Deployment, the Analytic Hierarchy Process, the Scenario Method, the Entropy Weight Method, and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation. The features of this process include ease of operation and high flexibility, making it suitable for cross-departmental product development while prioritizing the needs of diverse age groups throughout the development process. The research findings indicate that the AIoT product concepts proposed can meet the needs of diverse users, contributing to the realization of age-friendly products. This study provides a reference point for future AIoT product development, promoting the inclusive and sustainable development of smart technology. Full article

The educational philosophy of the Nuns’ Buddhist Academy at Pushou Monastery, Mount Wutai, is based on the principles of “Hua Yan as the foundation, precepts as the practice, and Pure Land as the destination.” This philosophy draws upon Buddhist scriptures, integrating descriptions of the Pure Land practice found in the Avatamsaka Sūtra and the Amitābha Sūtra. This approach translates the textual teachings of Buddhist classics into real-life practice, expressing the concept of “the non-obstruction of principle and phenomenon” in the tangible activities of practitioners. It also allows for the experiential understanding of the spiritual realms revealed in the scriptures during theoretical learning and practice. The philosophy of the Nuns’ Academy embodies the practical emphasis of Chinese Buddhism, guiding all aspects of learning and practice. This paper argues that the pure land practice is living. In order to understand pure land practice, there should be a comprehensive viewpoint. It is needed to explore this way of practice through the analysis of textual analysis, figuring its root in Buddhis sūtra, as well as a sociological method to investigate its manifestation at the present society. Moreover, the spiritual dimension should not be neglected for a full-scale study. In this sense, the pure land school is living at present. Full article

Research has well documented the far-reaching benefits of providing educational opportunities for individuals who are incarcerated, applicable to the students themselves and society. Given the many benefits, it is encouraging that access to U.S. Pell Grants for incarcerated students was restored in July 2023—the first time in nearly 30 years that need-based federal postsecondary financial aid was available to individuals in U.S. prisons. Although Pell Restoration enables an increasing number of colleges and universities to provide higher-education-in-prison (HEP) programs, this funding guarantees nothing about the quality and rigor of programming. In fact, relatively little is known about the nature, scope, and quality of HEP programs within the United States, and it is both timely and important to deeply examine these topics. The present study is a critical qualitative case study of three college-in-prison programs in the southern United States. To interrogate the nature and quality of the programs, this study explores the experiences and practices of program faculty and directors, drawing from research and scholarship in education and the behavioral sciences to examine two key areas: faculty training and the educational experiences made available to students. Multiple forms of data were collected, and two main findings emerged: (a) faculty training is piecemeal and limited, and (b) the educational experiences made available in the three programs are simultaneously empowering and disempowering. Using Ladson-Billings’s concept of the education debt (including its historical, moral, and economic underpinnings), this study highlights that the three college-in-prison programs—like many HEP programs across the United States—both contribute to and challenge the education debt. Full article

Over the last century, improvements in computational power resulting from the exponential growth of microelectronics have been the driving force of outstanding global economic growth as well as of deep changes in society and ethical values. Manufacturing of silicon-based memory cells has, as a matter of fact, become an industry of strategic importance also from a geopolitical perspective. Despite such advancements, a lot of concern has recently aroused as physical limitations such as tunnel-effect phenomena, current leakage, and high power consumption are increasingly hindering further improvements in dynamic random-access memory. Spintronic technologies are promising alternatives to overcome such issues, being considered no longer merely an academic subject of interest, but increasingly becoming an industrial reality. In this review work, the history and the physical principles of spintronic devices are presented, focussing on new, groundbreaking materials. Concepts are exposed step by step and in an easy-to-understand manner, allowing even researchers who are not specialized in the fields of spintronics, microelectronics, and hardware engineering to understand the fundamentals and gain initial insight into the topic. Special attention is paid to half-metallic ferromagnets and Heusler alloys, which are considered among the most promising materials for the future of spintronics. Full article

In recent years, the science of sustainability has evolved in alignment with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to achieve a more just and sustainable world across various domains, including the environment, economy, society, and health and well-being. The International Olympic Committee has also established sustainability guidelines related to Olympic sports and athletes’ mental health. Additionally, the sustainability of sports training has already been explored, and the psychology of sustainability has generated a significant body of literature. This cultural and scientific movement has led to the emergence of the concept of psychological sustainability in elite sport, which can be defined as athletes’ capacity to maintain mental well-being, cognitive functioning, emotional resilience, and adaptive performance over time, particularly in response to environmental, social, training, and competitive stressors. This article revisits the existing literature to explore the connections between sustainability and elite sport psychology, resulting in the development of a model of psychological sustainability in sports training. This model aims to balance training procedures in a way that enhances athletic performance while safeguarding athletes’ mental health. Within this framework, an approach to psychological preparation for the Olympic Games is discussed, taking into account its various preparatory phases. Full article

The concept of green cities promotes efficient utilisation of resources, with urban rooftop farms (URFs) being a key initiative involving a series of actions and decisions between stakeholders and the state. The new public governance discourse (NPGD) emphasises this interplay between the state, the market, and civil society to strengthen collaboration and network-driven social innovation and requires a comprehensive understanding of human/stakeholder behaviour. In this study, we explore the connection between organisational rational choice in URF policy development and social innovation. Through a review of the existing literature on URF policies and a case study of Dhaka, Bangladesh, we investigate the development of a comprehensive policy via participation and collaboration, considering the popularity of URFs and the absence of governing mechanisms in Dhaka. The results suggest that, despite the rising popularity of URFs in Dhaka, existing policies and strategies lack clarity. The review findings suggest that a participatory and co-productive approach is optimal for URF policy formulation. This would require active engagement from community members, local governments, and non-governmental organisations and gaining an enhanced understanding of stakeholder dynamics by testing stakeholder salience and co-production theories for successful URF governance. Full article

Although concern for animal welfare may have been linked to humans since the domestication of livestock, the term itself first appeared in the United Kingdom in the 1960s. The emergence of the concept of animal welfare occurred in a society undergoing a clear transition from patriarchal to emancipatory values based on the concept of freedom. However, coinciding with the recognition of animals as sentient beings in the EU and the emergence of concepts such as a “Life Worth Living”, the Five Freedoms were complemented. In fact, the values of a knowledge society—through autonomy, justice, and equality—create the conditions for a society more connected to its emotions. This entire movement culminated in an updated and complementary definition called “the Five Domains,” in which the mental states of animals and their emotions are essential. However, in the meantime, the market is dominated by several animal welfare certification schemes that focus on inputs (what humans provide) rather than outcomes (animal-based indicators), reflecting an anthropocentric perspective that does not consider the actual experiences of animals from farm to farm. In a knowledge society, where emotions are so important, this approach will be considered unacceptable someday. Full article

We review the evolution of the concept of utility in economics, addressing the conceptual and terminological fragmentation that characterises the interdisciplinary debate. This study adopts the scoping review framework to systematically analyse the main theoretical approaches, ranging from utility as preference to utility as subjective satisfaction and well-being. Particular attention is paid to procedural utility, i.e., the utility derived from the way decisions are made and interactions develop, divided into three areas: individual, linked to autonomy and self-determination; interpersonal, related to the quality of social relations; and institutional, referring to participation and recognition. The analysis is based on three aspects: (i) how different theoretical traditions have interpreted utility and well-being; (ii) what convergences and divergences emerge in the contemporary literature; (iii) and what implications these factors have for research and public policy. We highlight the complementarity between approaches and suggest extending economic reflection to dimensions that are central to the well-being of individuals and societies. The insights of this study have public policy implications, indicating that, through well-defined institutions, distributive justice, and welfare systems, taxpayers’ hedonic utility can be transformed into the chrematistic utility of beneficiaries. Full article

RTK 2 is an unordinary example that helps unravel the complex process of establishing, operations, and the role of minority-language media within public service broadcasters in transitional societies that have a legacy of war. As a Serbian-language television channel within the Radio Television of Kosovo, RTK 2 also provides an opportunity to analyze media outlets that were established as part of conditions imposed by foreign political decision-makers in countries where the largest minority is subject to the dual influence of both the official majority’s politics and that of the kin-state. Through an analysis of legal documents and an analysis of the news discourse, this study addresses two key aspects: the practical implementation of the concept of a public television channel for the largest ethnic minority within a multiethnic PSB at the managerial and news content level. The analysis confirms that RTK 2 attempts to maintain a balance between rival political factors influencing it, but this has a negative impact on the quality of its news content. This study contributes to the field by presenting a unique but under-researched case that can inform future comparative research on minority programs within the framework of public service broadcasting in multiethnic environments. The findings provide lessons learned from the operational practices of programs essential to the concept of multiethnic societies, yet shaped and constrained by political conditions. Full article

The rapid increase in the aging population presents significant challenges to sustainable development. This is particularly true in relation to the areas of social inclusion, healthcare, and lifelong learning. As societies try to adapt to demographic change, it is important to develop innovative approaches that improve the quality of life of older adults while promoting their active participation in community life. Firstly, this paper examines current methods of activating seniors through social and technical engagement, with a particular focus on the concept of men’s sheds—a concept originating in Australia, in which a space where older adults men can socialize and engage in woodworking and other technical activities is offered. Despite the benefits of such initiatives, digital exclusion remains a key barrier that limits the full participation of seniors in a rapidly digitizing world. This paper explores the potential of integrating augmented reality (AR) into men’s sheds as a tool to limit digital gaps and support inclusive, active aging. The authors present a proposal and a practical implementation scenario for the use of AR in men’s sheds as a new concept to activate seniors. This paper examines the example of metal processing performed in men’s sheds using AR. The concept was then evaluated by experts. This paper presents the results of these experts’ opinions. The authors conducted interviews with seven experts. There were ten questions: seven closed-ended (rated on a scale from 1 to 5) and three open-ended questions. This study aligns with the concept of smart cities and the wider goals of sustainable development by promoting lifelong learning, intergenerational exchange, and improved well-being among seniors. Full article

The concept of Brain Health is transforming the neuroscientific landscape, promoting an integrative and preventive approach to care under a unifying vision. This position paper, developed by Swiss junior societies in neurology and psychiatry, presents a trainee perspective on how Brain Health should be addressed from the earliest stages of postgraduate training. It explores current gaps in postgraduate training, including the continued separation of neurology, psychiatry and other specialties involved in brain disorder care, limited interdisciplinary and interprofessional exposure, and gaps in leadership, public health, and advocacy skills. We highlight promising models such as Switzerland’s integrated training components and the proposed “brain medicine” framework, inspired by internal medicine. Additionally, we examine innovative initiatives from trainee associations that promote collaborative learning, advocacy, and Brain Health awareness through academic and creative channels. The paper also stresses the importance of equitable global access to training, the integration of research into clinical education, and the urgent need to address burnout and working conditions among early-career professionals. By reframing trainees not as passive learners but as active agents of change, we call for systemic reforms that support their role in advancing Brain Health. Ultimately, we advocate for the development of international core competencies, adaptable curricula, and structured interdisciplinary pathways that embed Brain Health into every level of medical training. Only through this comprehensive approach can we equip the next generation of clinicians to promote lifelong Brain Health across specialties, systems, and populations. Full article

Ageing societies place new demands on urban spaces, such as aligning with the 15 min city concept prominent in the European Union’s strategies for urban planning. Promoting the idea of a supportive open public space for all, reducing inequalities, and improving health and well-being are considerations in line with Sustainable Development Goals. However, achieving accessible environments requires focusing on specific needs, such as street infrastructure for seniors, and urban benches are crucial for enhancing older adults’ mobility and societal participation, yet their placement often lacks systematic analysis. In this study, we address the above gap by developing a data-driven application that allows users to analyse bench locations and spacing along city streets. Our case studies from selected European cities show that current bench distributions along streets frequently deviate from designated good practices. The results of these case studies can serve as references for other cities around the world and provide insights into developing new standards. With the proposed tool, users can not only visualise the current level of street age-friendliness in terms of urban benches, but also potentially simulate future urban bench location scenarios, supporting evidence-based decision making by city authorities worldwide, thus promoting more sustainable cities and communities. Full article

As digital technology continues to embed and influence everyday life, its social and environmental impacts need to be addressed seriously. This article introduces and clarifies the concept of Ecological Citizenship (EC), defining it as a form of citizenship that extends rights and duties beyond the human social sphere into ecological systems, requiring individuals, communities, and institutions to take responsibility for the environmental consequences of their digital practices. Unlike traditional forms of citizenship tied to legal or territorial boundaries, EC is grounded in shared ecological accountability and civic responsibility. We argue that EC offers a distinctive lens for shaping the evolution of a Sustainable Digital Society (SDS), where digital innovation and sustainability are co-aligned. Through theoretical analysis and case studies, this article examines how EC can support community-based, policy-led, and design-focused approaches towards digital sustainability. We look to highlight ways in which EC can be embedded in digital behaviour, infrastructure, and product design while acknowledging barriers such as the digital divide, unequal resource allocation, and adverse policy settings. This research aims to offer policymakers, technologists, and educators’ pragmatic advice for realising sustainable design, environmental literacy, and universal digital access. The study looks to argue for a more systemic reconsideration of digital development, a consideration which places environmental values at the forefront of technological progress, to ensure that digital transformation is both socially equitable and beneficial to planetary well-being. Full article

This study investigates how student teachers engaged with data science and machine learning (ML) through a collaborative, scenario-based project in a graduate-level online course, AI in STEAM Education. The study focuses on the pilot implementation of the module Responsible AI & Data Science: Ethics, Society, and Citizenship, developed within the EU-funded DataSETUP project. This module introduced student teachers to core data science and AI/ML concepts, with an emphasis on ethical reflection and societal impact. Drawing on qualitative artifacts from the pilot, the analysis applies a five-dimensional framework to examine participants’ thinking across the following dimensions of data engagement: (1) asking questions with data, (2) collecting, cleaning, and manipulating data, (3) modeling and interpreting, (4) critiquing data-based claims, and (5) reasoning about data epistemology. Findings show that student teachers demonstrated growing technical and ethical awareness and, in several cases, made spontaneous pedagogical connections—despite the absence of prompts to consider classroom applications. A supplementary coding lens identified four aspects of emerging pedagogical reasoning: instructional intent, curricular relevance, learning opportunities, and the role of the teacher. These findings highlight the value of integrating critically reflective, practice-based data science education into teacher preparation—supporting not only technical fluency but also ethical, civic, and pedagogical engagement with AI technologies. Full article