Search Results (1,642)

In the native açaí groves of Lago do Maicá, in western Pará, harvesting is still performed using traditional techniques such as the peconha, which is a rope device tied to the feet that helps with climbing açaí palms. The absence of affordable and locally adaptable technologies compromises the safety of extractivists and limits the strengthening of the açaí value chain, affecting the development of a forest-based bioeconomy. This study focused on the Quilombo of Murumuru to understand the profile of local extractivists and identify which technologies could be more easily adopted in floodplain environments. After ethics approval, fieldwork involved participatory activities including knowledge-sharing meetings, transect walks, community discussions, and structured interviews. The results indicated that most collectors identify themselves primarily as açaí extractivists. Some rely exclusively on this activity for income, while others complement it with fishing or agro-extractivism. Reports of occupational risks were frequent, especially due to falls and contact with venomous animals. There was also a clear lack of technical assistance and limited access to context-sensitive technologies. The study highlights the need for institutional partnerships that support income diversification, value traditional knowledge, and improve working conditions. Strengthening the native açaí value chain in floodplain regions is essential for reducing socioeconomic vulnerability and advancing a regenerative, community-centered bioeconomy in the Amazon. Full article

The mutagenic potential of coffee by-products, including Coffea leaves, blossoms, cherries, and silverskin, was studied using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) coupled with the recent planar Ames bioassay via pH indicator endpoint. The 2LabsToGo-Eco allowed for the separation and detection of mutagens in complex samples. Hot water was the most effective extraction solvent in terms of yield and closely simulated the typical human consumption of coffee by-products. Separation was performed on TLC plates with a mixture of ethyl acetate, n-propanol, and water, followed by bioassay detection. The positive control 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide exhibited clear mutagenic responses, confirming the proper bioassay performance. In the Ames bioautogram, none of the tested coffee by-products showed mutagenic zones, suggesting the absence of strongly acting, acute mutagens under the applied test conditions; however, given the only 5 h short incubation and the use of TA98 strain only, a longer incubation time and testing with additional Salmonella strains is recommended. The results provide new safety data for Coffea leaves and blossoms and are consistent with some previous studies demonstrating the safety of coffee by-products. However, further improvements in the sensitivity and selectivity of the planar Ames bioassay are demanded, and further in vivo and long-term safety studies are recommended. Considering natural variability, the different uses of pesticides and treatments, and the fluctuating supply chains, coffee by-products may differ highly. The planar bioassay technology using the affordable 2LabsToGo-Eco is a powerful toxicological screening option for the coffee industry, considering the increasing interest in utilizing coffee by-products. Full article

This paper explores the rise in voice-based social media as a pivotal transformation in digital communication, situated within the broader era of chatbots and voice AI. Platforms such as Clubhouse, X Spaces, Discord and similar ones foreground vocal interaction, reshaping norms of participation, identity construction, and platform governance. This shift from text-centered communication to hybrid digital orality presents new sociological and methodological challenges, calling for the development of voice-centered analytical approaches. In response, the paper introduces a multidimensional methodological framework for analyzing voice-based social media platforms in the context of surveillance capitalism and AI-driven conversational technologies. We propose a high-level reference architecture machine learning for social science pipeline that integrates digital methods techniques, automatic speech recognition (ASR) models, and natural language processing (NLP) models within a reflexive and ethically grounded framework. To illustrate its potential, we outline possible stages of a PoC (proof of concept) audio analysis machine learning pipeline, demonstrated through a conceptual use case involving the collection, ingestion, and analysis of X Spaces. While not a comprehensive empirical study, this pipeline proposal highlights technical and ethical challenges in voice analysis. By situating the voice as a central axis of online sociality and examining it in relation to AI-driven conversational technologies, within an era of post-orality, the study contributes to ongoing debates on surveillance capitalism, platform affordances, and the evolving dynamics of digital interaction. In this rapidly evolving landscape, we urgently need a robust vocal methodology to ensure that voice is not just processed but understood. Full article

In recent years, there have been significant advances in the application of technology in professional kitchens. This evolution of “smart kitchens” has transformed the food processing sector, ensuring higher standards of food safety through continual microbial monitoring, quality control, and hygiene improvements. This review critically discusses the recent developments in technology in commercial kitchens, focusing on their impact on microbial safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability. The literature was sourced from peer-reviewed journals, industry publications, and regulatory documents published between 2000 and 2025, selected for their relevance to the assurance of food safety using emerging technologies especially for use in commercial kitchens. Some of the most significant of these technologies currently being employed in smart kitchens include the following: smart sensors and IoT devices, artificial intelligence and machine learning systems, blockchain-based traceability technology, robotics and automation, and wearable monitoring devices. The review evaluated these technologies against criteria such as adherence to existing food safety regulations, ease of integration, cost factors, staff training requirements, and consumer perception. It is shown that these innovations will significantly enhance hygiene control, reduce the levels of waste, and increase business revenue. However, they are constrained by high installation costs, integration complexity, lack of standardized assessment measures, and the need for harmonizing automation with human oversight. Thus, for the widespread and effective uptake of these technologies, there is a need for better collaboration between policymakers, food experts, and technology innovators in creating scalable, affordable, and regulation-compliant solutions. Overall, this review provides a consolidated evidence base and practical insights for stakeholders seeking to implement advanced microbial safety technologies in professional kitchens, highlighting both current capabilities and future research opportunities. Full article

This study examined factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decisions to use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for agricultural information in Mbombela Local Municipality, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Data were collected from 308 respondents through a quantitative cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire, with systematic sampling to select participants. Multivariate probit regression identified factors affecting ICT tool choices. Analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between gender, age and language use with smallholder farmers’ preference for using radio. Factors like farm size, off-farm income, and language positively influence the choice of basic cell phones. In contrast, educational level, marital status, and electricity supply negatively influence the choice to use radio and basic cell phones. Network connectivity and ICT awareness positively influence TV use, while household size and ICT costs have a negative effect. Educational level and ICT awareness positively influenced the use of computers and smartphones, whereas age, gender, off-farm income, electricity supply, farm size, household size and network connectivity had a negative influence. When smallholder farmers have access to multiple ICT tools, they can select the most beneficial combination for improving crop productivity. To maximise ICTs’ potential, policymakers should promote inclusive ICT access, awareness and training tailored to farmers’ needs, focusing on affordability, connectivity and literacy to support agricultural information dissemination. Full article

STEM education is constantly seeking innovative methods to enhance student learning. Virtual Reality technology can represent a critical tool for effectively teaching complex engineering subjects. This study evaluates an original Virtual Reality software application, entitled Submarine Simulator, which is developed specifically to support competencies in hydrodynamics within an Underwater Engineering course at MINES Paris—PSL. Our application uniquely integrates a customized physics engine explicitly designed for realistic underwater simulation, significantly improving user comprehension through accurate real-time representation of hydrodynamic forces. The study involved a homogeneous group of 26 fourth-year engineering students, all specializing in engineering and sharing similar academic backgrounds in robotics, electronics, programming, and computer vision. This uniform cohort, primarily aged 22–28, enrolled in the same 3-month course, was intentionally chosen to minimize variations in skills, prior knowledge, and learning pace. Through a combination of quantitative assessments and Confirmatory Factor Analysis, we find that Virtual Reality affordances significantly predict user flow state (path coefficient: 0.811) which then predicts user engagement and satisfaction (path coefficient: 0.765). These findings show the substantial educational potential of tailored Virtual Reality experiences in STEM, particularly in engineering, and highlight directions for further methodological refinement. Full article

Equipment renewal and replacement strategy as well as smart capital investment is a vital focus in engineering asset management, particularly for water utilities aiming to improve asset reliability, water quality, service continuity and affordability. This study presents a novel decision support model that integrates whole-life costing principles across all asset lifecycle phases—from capital delivery and daily operations to long-term maintenance. The proposed model uniquely combines asset degradation and failure patterns, operating and maintenance costs, and the impact of technological advancements to provide a holistic and comprehensive asset management decision-making tool. These dimensions are jointly analysed using a hybrid approach that combines optimisation with stochastic dynamic programming, allowing for the determination of optimal asset renewal and replacement timing. The model’s performance was validated using historical data from eight critical wastewater pump stations within a township’s sewerage network. This was performed by comparing the model’s cost-saving results to those achieved by the water utility’s current strategy. Results revealed that the proposed model achieved an average cost saving of 12%, demonstrating its effectiveness in supporting sustainable and cost-efficient asset renewal decisions. Full article

Microscopy is a fundamental tool in biological research. However, conventional microscopes require manual operation and depend on user and equipment availability, limiting their suitability for continuous observation. Moreover, their size and complexity make them impractical for in situ experimentation. In this work, we present a novel, compact, affordable, and portable microscope that enables continuous in situ monitoring by being placed directly on biological samples. This chip-sized lensless holographic microscope (CLHM) is specifically designed to overcome the limitations of traditional microscopy. The device consists solely of an ultra-compact, state-of-the-art micro-LED display and a CMOS sensor, all enclosed within a 3D-printed housing. This unique light source enables a size that is markedly smaller than any comparable technology, allowing a resolution of 2.19 μm within a 7 mm distance between the light source and the camera. This paper demonstrates the CLHM’s versatility by monitoring in vitro models and performing whole-organism morphological analyses of small specimens. These experiments underscore its potential as an on-platform sensing device for continuous, in situ biological monitoring across diverse models. Full article

Energy security has emerged as a critical concern amid intensifying climate risks and surging energy demand driven by economic growth. This study examines the impact of climate risk on energy security by constructing a panel dataset covering 30 Chinese provinces from 2006 to 2022. Using the instrumental variable generalized method of moments (IV-GMM) model, we estimate the marginal impact of climate risk on energy security and further investigate its asymmetric, direct, and indirect relationships via panel quantile regression and mediation analysis. Our key findings are as follows: (1) Climate risk exerts a significant negative impact on energy security, indicating an inverse relationship. (2) The effect of climate risk is asymmetric, with a stronger adverse impact in regions with lower levels of energy security. (3) Climate risk undermines energy security by reducing energy accessibility, affordability, sustainability, and technological efficiency. (4) Energy transition and energy efficiency serve as critical mediators in the relationship between climate risk and energy security, offering insights into potential mitigation pathways. Unlike previous studies that primarily examine energy security in isolation or focus on single dimensions, this research integrates a multidimensional indicator system and advanced econometric techniques to uncover both direct and mediated pathways, thereby filling a key gap in understanding the climate–energy nexus at the provincial level in China. Based on these findings, we propose targeted policy recommendations to enhance energy security by improving climate resilience, accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, and optimizing energy infrastructure investments. Full article

The pods from Neltuma ruscifolia (vinal), an underutilized species, are rich in bioactive functional compounds. However, the extraction procedures to obtain the highest proportion of these compounds, considering sustainability aspects, have not been optimized. This study aimed to optimize and compare three affordable extraction methods—dynamic maceration (DME), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UE), and microwave-assisted extraction (ME)—to obtain enriched extracts. The effects of temperature, ethanol-to-water ratio in the solvent, extraction time, and frequency (for ME) were evaluated using a Box–Behnken design and response surface methodology to optimize total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), and antioxidant capacity (DPPH). Energy consumption and carbon footprints were also assessed, and phenolic compounds in the optimized extracts were identified by HPLC. The ethanol-to-water ratio emerged as the most influential factor, showing synergistic effects with both time and temperature, enabling optimal yields at intermediate ethanol concentrations. Gallic acid, rutin, and theobromine were found to be the most abundant components, followed by cinnamic, caffeic, and chlorogenic acids. Although UE exhibited the lowest energy consumption (0.64 ± 0.03 Wh/mg of TPC), the simple and easily implementable DME—optimized at 40 min, 50 °C, and 42% ethanol—proved to be the most efficient method, combining high extractive performance (TPC 1432 mg GAE/100 g Dw), reduced solvent use, and intermediate energy efficiency (1.84 Wh/mg of TPC). These findings highlight the potential of vinal as a natural source of bioactive ingredients obtained through simple and cost-effective techniques adaptable to small producers while underscoring the value of experimental design in optimizing sustainable extraction technologies and elucidating the interactions between key processing factors. Full article

Virtual Reality (VR) is a useful educational tool in healthcare, allowing students to practise and improve practical skills. In speech therapy (ST), the need to revise academic curricula to adapt them to university contexts and integrate them into advanced clinical practices has highlighted the need to analyse the use of VR in this sector. The objective of this scoping review was to investigate whether research has considered using VR to support ST students’ training and highlight potential gaps in the literature. The study followed the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and was reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A protocol to conduct the current review was developed and registered on the Open Science Framework. The articles considered were retrieved from databases specialising in healthcare, computer science, and education, and were enhanced by results found with the help of AI-based tools. No constraints were applied and all study types were considered. Fourteen studies were included in the review and analysed under four core subjects: VR technology, ST context, training purposes, and main outcomes and assessment methods. The VR types identified in the studies were grouped into four categories, i.e., non-immersive VR (6/14, 42.9%), immersive VR (5/14, 35.7%), non-specified VR type (2/14, 14.3%), and semi-immersive VR (1/14, 7.1%). Most studies (5/14, 35.7%) focused on clinical skills acquisition, others addressed communication and interpersonal collaborative skills (3/14, 21.4%), while the remaining focused on person-centred care and awareness, clinical interviewing or reasoning skills, and performance knowledge (2/14 each, 14.3%). VR is still in its early stages in ST education. Some recent studies suggest VR supports students’ communication, interdisciplinary, and clinical skills. Although still limited in the context of ST education, the increasing affordability and ease of development of VR, along with its growing use in other healthcare fields, suggest that its underuse might be due to institutional barriers and lack of standardised frameworks. Overall, the findings suggest that VR offers promising support for experiential and skills-based learning. Full article

The Middle East and North Africa region has not played a major role in climate action so far, and several countries depend economically on fossil fuel exports. However, this is a region with vast solar energy resources, which can be exploited affordably for power generation and hydrogen production at scale to eventually reach carbon neutrality. In this paper, we elaborate on the case of the United Arab Emirates and explore the aspirations and feasibility of its net-zero by 2050 target. While we affirm the concept per se, we also highlight the technological complexity and economic dimensions that accompany such transformation. We expect the UAE’s electricity demand to triple between today and 2050, and the annual green hydrogen production is expected to reach 3.5 Mt, accounting for over 40% of the electricity consumption. Green hydrogen will provide power-to-fuel solutions for aviation, maritime transport and hard-to-abate industries. At the same time, electrification will intensify—most importantly in road transport and low-temperature heat demands. The UAE can meet its future electricity demands primarily with solar power, followed by natural gas power plants with carbon capture, utilization and storage, while the role of nuclear power in the long term is unclear at this stage. Full article

This systematic literature review examines the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Extended Reality (XR) technologies in language education, synthesizing findings from 32 empirical studies published between 2017 and 2024. Guided by the PRISMA framework, we searched four databases—ERIC, Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore—to identify studies that explicitly integrated both AI and XR to support language learning. The review explores publication trends, educational settings, target languages, language skills, learning outcomes, and theoretical frameworks, and analyzes how AI–XR technologies have been pedagogically integrated, and identifies affordances, challenges, design considerations, and future directions of AI–XR integration. Key integration strategies include coupling AI with XR technologies such as automatic speech recognition, natural language processing, computer vision, and conversational agents to support skills like speaking, vocabulary, writing, and intercultural competence. The reported affordances pertain to technical, pedagogical, and affective dimensions. However, challenges persist in terms of technical limitations, pedagogical constraints, scalability and generalizability, ethical and human-centered concerns, and infrastructure and cost barriers. Design recommendations and future directions emphasize the need for adaptive AI dialogue systems, broader pedagogical applications, longitudinal studies, learner-centered interaction, scalable and accessible design, and evaluation. This review offers a comprehensive synthesis to guide researchers, educators, and developers in designing effective AI–XR language learning experiences. Full article

This paper describes the ScratchJr Bots project aimed at helping young children develop maker literacies, which is the ability to design, program, and build technology-rich projects with developmentally appropriate tools to express themselves. Maker literacies can involve hands-on learning, collaborative experimentation, critical thinking, and problem-solving, as well as the development of socio-emotional skills. By engaging with the design process, children become active creators rather than passive consumers—brainstorming ideas, prototyping, testing, and making improvements toward sharing a final project. Maker literacies engage children in Positive Technological Development in the form of six behaviors—content creation, creativity, choices of conduct, communication, collaboration, and community building. Additionally, children develop character strengths, or virtues, such as patience, generosity, and forgiveness while making. This paper will first introduce the concept of maker literacies as it applies to early childhood and the theoretical background supporting this work. Then, it will introduce the ScratchJr Bots project developed by the DevTech Research Group, a new technology and curriculum that affords the development of maker literacies. Finally, by using design-based research as the methodological approach, two pilot projects are described, including children’s learning experiences, to illustrate the positive behaviors and character strengths that children can exhibit while engaging with ScratchJr Bots. Full article

Education 4.0 promotes active, personalized, and competency-based learning aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), yet most current platforms rely on centralized architectures that restrict access, agency, and adaptability. To address this problem, Web3 technologies—including blockchain, decentralized identifiers (DIDs), peer-to-peer storage, and smart contracts—enable the creation of platforms that uphold equity, data sovereignty, and pedagogical flexibility. This paper investigates how the convergence of Education 4.0 and Web3 technologies can drive the development of sustainable, inclusive, and learner-centered digital education systems. We examine two decentralized education platforms, EtherLearn and DeLMS, to assess their design affordances and limitations. Building on these insights, we propose a layered architectural framework grounded in sustainability principles. Our analysis shows that decentralized infrastructures can expand access in underserved regions, increase credential portability, empower learners with greater autonomy, and foster participatory governance through decentralized voting, token-based incentives, and community moderation. Despite these advantages, significant challenges remain around usability, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance. We conclude by identifying key research priorities at the intersection of sustainable educational technology, digital equity, and decentralized system design. Full article