Search Results (8,284)

The present study aimed to examine how parents’ psychological characteristics and positive beliefs about multilingualism predict children’s emotional well-being in 51 multilingual families with an immigrant background. Parents were interviewed to assess their beliefs about multilingualism and completed a battery of questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, psychological distress, parental competence, quality of life, and acculturative stress. They also completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which assessed their children’s socio-emotional and behavioral characteristics. The results from regression analyses showed that parents’ depressive symptoms were significant concurrent predictors of children’s conduct problems. In contrast, higher acculturation stress was associated with more emotional problems and better prosociality in children, although the stronger predictor for the latter variable was parents’ self-efficacy. Positive beliefs about bilingualism were not related to children’s well-being. The discussion highlights the importance of targeting parents’ depressive traits and acculturation stress as possible risk factors for children’s emotional and behavioral problems. Conversely, fostering parental self-efficacy may promote children’s prosociality. Full article

For the last decade, cultural heritage has been recognized as the fourth most important field of sustainability, but insufficient empirical research has focused on social participants’ intent to inherit intangible cultural capital. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study investigated the influence of cultural significance and successors’ perceptions of traditional foods served during landmark birthday rituals in South Korea. The results show that, while historical stability and instrumental healing are important cultural values for South Koreans, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, and a perceived female role affect the intention to preserve traditional food heritage for landmark birthdays. In addition, we examined the differences between genders and age groups in terms of the influence of perceived behavioral control and the perception of the female role and found that both impacts increased in the older group. The contributions to the field are discussed in terms of cultural sustainability and TPB, along with the managerial implications for policymakers. Full article

This study examines the transformation of the urban fabric by analyzing changes in both structural and numerical parameters of spatial organization, with a particular emphasis on the hierarchical relationships between streets, blocks, and buildings. The research utilizes Bursa, the former Ottoman capital in Turkey, as a case study to explore these dynamics. The elements of streets, blocks, and buildings are posited as fundamental components in conceptualizing cities as layered palimpsests, where successive historical layers coexist within the urban fabric. The research establishes a conceptual parallel between the methodologies and analytical tools of urban morphology, particularly through the shared notion of the palimpsest. In the case of Bursa, the architectural remains and urban form of the Early, Classical, and Late Ottoman periods and of the Republican period are superimposed. In particular, the late Ottoman reform era, the Tanzimat period of the 19th century, brought great change. Historical maps from this era serve as primary sources for comprehending the evolving character and spatial configuration of the city. This research presents a novel methodological contribution by extending the analytical framework of urban morphology to integrate both qualitative and quantitative data. It employs Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and statistical methods to quantify changes in the urban fabric, assessing both pre-modernization and post-modernization phases. Historical maps from the 19th century are utilized as primary sources to trace and compare transformations within the urban fabric, with clustering techniques further aiding this analysis. The findings provide a deeper understanding of the dynamic processes that shape the historic structure of cities, offering a dual approach to urban transformation that harmonizes historical continuity with modern development. Full article

Since November 2022, the use of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) technology has increased in many customer service industries. However, little is known about AI’s language choices and meaning-making resources compared to human responses from a systematic linguistic point of view. The present study is a discourse analysis that explores negative online guest complaints made to four luxury heritage hotels in Hong Kong that are classified as cultural heritage sites with rich interpersonal and historical values. We collected authentic guest complaints and responses from hotel managers from April 2012 to October 2022 in online travel forums, and then had GAI draft response letters on behalf of the hotel managers. Our total dataset was 65,539 words and consisted of three subcorpora: guest complaints (Text a of 115 complaints totaling 26,224 words), hotel manager responses (Text b of 115 response letters totaling 14,975 words), and AI-generated responses (Text c of 115 response letters totaling 24,340 words). This study used systemic functional linguistics to explore interpersonal meanings in texts; for example, appraisal resources, verb processes, and personal pronouns were compared between texts. First, we identified the most frequent words of the common themes across the three subcorpora and found significant differences in lexicogrammatical features between hotel managers and AI-generated responses using the log-likelihood ratio. The results suggest that AI-generated texts are able to provide a tailored and empathetic response to guests, but hotel managers may need to introduce some modifications, such as time indicators, sensory verbs used, and complimentary offers. This study explores the differences in word choices and communication strategies, which have implications and insights for the hospitality industry, especially luxury heritage hotels where caring and personalized customer service are considered important. Full article

Cultural property includes immovable assets that are part of a nation’s cultural heritage and reflect the cultural identity of a people. Hence, information about armed conflict’s impact on historical buildings’ structures and heritage sites is extremely important. The study aims to demonstrate the application of Earth observation (EO) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology, and in particular Sentinel-1 SAR coherence time-series analysis, to monitor spatial and temporal changes related to the recent Russian–Ukrainian war in the urban areas of Mariupol and Kharkiv, Ukraine. The study considers key events during the siege of Mariupol and the battle of Kharkiv from February to May 2022. Built-up areas and cultural property were identified using freely available OpenStreetMap (OSM) data. Semi-automated coherent change-detection technique (CCD) that utilize difference analysis of pre- and co-conflict coherences were capable of highlighting areas of major impact on the urban structures. The study applied a logistic regression model (LRM) for the discrimination of damaged and undamaged buildings based on an estimated likelihood of damage occurrence. A good agreement was observed with the reference data provided by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) in terms of the overall extent of damage. Damage maps enable the localization of buildings and cultural assets in areas with a high probability of damage and can serve as the basis for a high-resolution follow-up investigation. The study reveals the benefits of Sentinel-1 SAR CCD in the sense of unsupervised delineation of areas affected by armed conflict. However, limitations arise in the detection of local and single-building damage compared to regions with large-scale destruction. The proposed semi-automated multi-temporal Sentinel-1 data analysis using CCD methodology shows its applicability for the timely investigation of damage to buildings and cultural heritage, which can support the response to crises. Full article

In previous studies, drones have been used to carry out visual inspections of heritage elements. To complement the information obtained with common drones, a new underwater drone model is proposed for the specific case of old bridges. The aim is to verify the applicability of underwater drones for inspecting submerged elements of old heritage bridges, given the large number of bridge disasters and collapses linked to failures in their foundations. To this end, we carried out an underwater inspection of the visible submerged elements (submerged but not buried) of three old bridges crossing different rivers. The different locations and characteristics of these bridges allow us to draw some initial conclusions. The results of the operations carried out show that underwater drones are not only useful for this type of inspection, but also the work is much safer than with the means currently used (underwater divers). In addition, the use of drones makes it possible to study certain parameters that can anticipate subsequent foundation problems affecting the entire bridge, such as the settlement or rotation of piers or abutments. This is the main innovation and contribution of this research: the possibility of inspecting submerged elements of masonry constructions using unmanned vessels. Full article

We conducted a multi-scaled Ecoregional Conservation Assessment for the Southern Rockies (~14.5 M ha) and its trailing edge, the Santa Fe Subregion (~2.2 M ha), from Wyoming to New Mexico, USA. We included a representation analysis of Existing Vegetation Types (EVTs), mature and old-growth forests (MOG), and four focal species—Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus), Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida), and northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)—in relation to 30 × 30 and 50 × 50 conservation targets. To integrate conservation targets with wildfire risk reduction to the built environment and climate change planning, we overlaid the location of wildfires and forest treatments in relation to the Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) and included downscaled climate projections for a lower (RCP4.5) and higher (RCP8.5) emission scenario. Protected areas were highly skewed toward upper-elevation EVTs (most were >50% protected), underrepresented forest types (<30% protected), especially MOG (<22% protected) and riparian areas (~14% protected), and poorly represented habitats (<30%) for at least three of the focal species, especially in the subregion where nearly all the targets underperformed compared to the ecoregion. Most (>73%) forest-thinning treatments over the past decade were >1 km from delineated WUI areas, well beyond the distance at which vegetation management can effectively reduce structure ignition risk (<50 m from structures). Extreme heat, drought, snowpack reductions, altered timing of peak stream flows, increasing wildfires, and potential shifts in the climate, favoring woodlands over conifer forests, may impact forest-dependent species, while declining snowpack may impact wolverines that den at upper elevations. Strategically targeting the built environment for fuel treatments would improve wildfire risk reduction and may allow for expansion of protected areas held up in controversy. Stepped-up protection for roadless areas, adoption of wilderness proposals, and greater protection for MOG and riparian forests are critical for meeting representation targets. Full article

Cultural heritage faces significant threats from environmental challenges and unchecked development. Sustainability has made its way into the field, and there is a growing interest in seeing it thrive. The particular field of the conservation and restoration of tangible movable cultural heritage is also being improved by new concepts and treatment options more aligned with environmental standards. This article investigates the integration of sustainability into the conservation and restoration of this specific cultural heritage by leveraging the SCOPUS and BCIN databases to examine the evolution of scientific content on the topic over the past 24 years. Key trends in research include assessing greener practices in conservation and education and guidance for the promotion of sustainable practices. These themes are also championed by organizations and initiatives that disseminate this message to conservation professionals through effective and less formal communication strategies. The findings emphasize the critical value of bridging the gap between scientific research and practical application, advocating for accessible resources and collaborative efforts to advance sustainable conservation practices. Full article

Dietary factors may be implicated in the formation of kidney stones and should be closely monitored. To achieve this aim, patients are routinely assessed by means of generic dietary recall, a tool widely used by authors in a range of extensive patient populations to record food intake; the findings obtained, however, may be skewed due to dietary variations and underestimation of the effect of food additives. Fifty Frequent Kidney Stone Formers (FKSFs, mean age: 54.3 ± 13.9 years) with normal kidney function, absence of comorbidities, and reliable compliance were selected from a total of 68 patients’ resident in Sardinia, an Italian island where genetic admixtures have been relatively rare for generations. The study, conducted from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023, was aimed at assessing nutritional values based on the meticulous recording of food quantities, quality, and potential modifications related to food preparation. Patients were selected during an initial clinical check-up and all efforts made to ensure they were capable of reliably recording all food and drinks consumed. A seven-day food diary was provided in which food and drink intake and their impact on 24 h urine output was recorded. The following parameters were measured in both foods and urine output: citrates, oxalates, calcium, phosphorous, uric acid, proteins and nitrogen compounds, magnesium, sulfates, potassium, carbohydrates, free fatty acids. Study outcomes established the presence of hypocitraturia, hyperoxaluria, hypercalciuria, and moderately high levels of nitrogen compounds. Univariate analysis followed by multivariate analysis for further confirmation were performed and the following observations made. Citrate intake correlated with citraturia but did not promote oxaluria; calcium intake promoted onset of sulfaturia, azoturia, and ammoniuria, whilst magnesium correlated with magnesiuria but not with oxaluria, calciuria, phosphaturia, and azoturia; sulfate intake elicited onset of azoturia but not kaliuresis; potassium intake promoted oxaluria and protein intake resulted in onset of ammoniuria and azoturia. (A) The chemical composition of urine based on dietary intake is hard to predict without taking into account the presence of dietary and urinary interferents; (B) the geographic isolation of patients studied underlines the importance of epigenetics in maintaining a traditional dietary heritage. (C) Moreover, the widespread use of food additives should consistently be taken into account to ensure a correct diagnosis of FKSF and set up a valid treatment plan. Full article

Historically, railway facilities have been intertwined with daily life, communities, geography, and history, contributing to a rich cultural heritage and collective memory. However, current research on railway reuse primarily focuses on converting railway architecture into artistic displays, with limited exploration of urban railway revitalization. Addressing the challenges of urban railroads requires reevaluating space reuse models. Therefore, local revitalization has emerged as a key driver of society. We empirically explored the benefits of reusing urban old railroads from the perspective of local revitalization using the SMART Ecological Innovation Framework in revitalizing old railroads. We identified five forces: storytelling, market sensibility, aesthetics, regeneration, and local cultural design. Measurement items for these concepts were assessed using a five-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree). With a solid theoretical foundation, we employed confirmatory factor analysis to affirm the reliability and validity of these concepts, ensuring their stability. This study aimed to delve into regenerating old railways in Taichung City and explore the reuse benefits of urban railways to offer valuable insights for similar cases. The confirmatory factor analysis result revealed that storytelling, market perception, aesthetics, regeneration capability, and local design significantly contributed to the benefits of railway revitalization. Furthermore, the concept of local revitalization was effectively applied through these five forces in planning and design, stimulating economic development in idle areas. Full article

Background: The pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may begin developing years or even decades prior to the manifestation of its first symptoms. The APOE ε4 genotype is a prominent genetic risk for AD that has been found to be associated with brain changes across the lifespan since early adulthood. Thus, studying brain changes that may occur in young adults with an APOE ε4 status is highly relevant. Objective: Examine potential differences in grey matter (GM) and functional connectivity (FC) in brains of cognitively healthy young APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers, denoted here as ε4(+) and ε4(−), respectively. Methods: Three Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans were acquired from cognitively healthy young participants aged approximately 20 years (n = 151). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was employed to identify potential structural differences in GM between ε4(+) and ε4(−). In a subsequent seed-based connectivity (SBC) analysis, brain regions that structurally differed in the VBM analysis were considered as seeds and correlated with all the remaining voxels across the brains to then measure the differences in FC between groups. Results: The VBM analysis suggested that ε4(+) (n = 28) had greater GM densities relative to ε4(−) (n = 123) in the left hippocampus and the left posterior insula (p_uncorr < 0.001). However, the effect did not survive the correction for multiple comparisons, suggesting minimal structural differences in this age range. In contrast, the SBC analysis indicated that ε4(+) exhibited significantly decreased FC between the left hippocampus and areas of the left middle temporal gyrus (n = 27) compared to ε4(−) (n = 102). These results remained significant after multiple comparisons (p_FDR < 0.05). Lastly, no statistically significant differences in FC between groups were observed for the left insular seed (p_FDR > 0.05). Discussion: These results suggest early structural and functional brain changes associated with the APOE ε4 genotype on young adults. Yet, they must be cautiously interpreted and contrasted with both older adults with genetic risk for AD and patients diagnosed with AD. Full article

Recent studies in rural heritage tourism have highlighted that watermills could stand as an important part of the pre-industrial tourism heritage. We contribute to rural heritage tourism by basing our study on the perceptions of tourists and local officials on the Rudăria Watermills, Romania. Based on survey and interview data, we document the strengths and limits of local watermills for tourism and describe the entrepreneurial agents involved in path development. Our findings point to the important role played by a local NGO in developing a path for tourism for the watermills, as well as the active involvement of local authorities and other local cultural leaders in including the mills in national and international tourism circuits. Full article

Buddhist culture in Liaoning has a long and rich history. The continuous spread of Buddhism has promoted the development of Buddhist architecture, leaving us a rich architectural art heritage. Furthermore, it has also profoundly influenced China’s architectural characteristics, social culture, and economic development. This paper takes Buddhist temples and pagodas in Liaoning as the research objects and uses methods such as the geographic concentration index, nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation, and standard deviation ellipse to analyze their spatio-temporal distribution characteristics and influencing factors across different periods. 1. Temporal distribution. During the Liao Dynasty (907–1125 AD) and the Qing Dynasty (1636–1912 AD), the construction of Buddhist temples and pagodas was the highest, with a linear increase in the Qing Dynasty. 2. The overall spatial distribution of Buddhist temples and pagodas in Liaoning is uneven, showing an agglomeration distribution state. The distribution status of different periods was different, and the Ming (1368–1644 AD) and Qing dynasties (1636–1912 AD) showed obvious aggregation distribution. The overall state is “more in the west and less in the east” and “more in the north and less in the south”. 3. In different periods, the spatial distribution direction of Buddhist temples and pagodas in Liaoning was relatively obvious and was southwest–northeast, and the center of gravity gradually shifted to the northwest. 4. The kernel density of different periods presents the density distribution and area of each period. The overall distribution is dense to scattered and then to highly dense. 5. The spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of Buddhist temples and pagodas in Liaoning are mainly composed of deep-seated political factors, rapid economic development and stable social environment, diverse culture, natural geography, cultural relics protection, and the artistic value of Buddhist architecture in the Liaoning region. Full article

To achieve the color matching rules for the textiles discovered during Silk Road excavations between the 4th and 8th centuries, this research proposed an image-based matching network modeling method. The Silk Road facilitated trade and cultural exchange between the East and West, and the textiles found along the way depict the development of fabrics in a color scheme with great cultural significance. A total of 165 images with brocade patterns were collected from a book with a detailed description of the Western influences on textiles along the Silk Road. Two different clustering methods, including the K-means clustering method and octree quantization approach, were used to extract the primary and secondary colors. By combining the HSV color space with the PCCS color system, the color distribution was analyzed to discover the features of representative color patterns. The co-occurrence relationship of the auxiliary colors was explored using the Apriori algorithm, and a total of eight association rules were established. The results showed that the K-means clustering algorithm can show a better effect of color classification to obtain three primary colors and nine secondary colors. The matching mechanism with a visualized network model was also proposed, which showed that reddish-yellow tones are the main colors in the brocade patterns, and the light and soft tones separately account for 27% and 20%. Beige and brown are the most common colorways, with a confidence level of 47%. One style of brocade pattern was used to demonstrate different appearances within various color networks, which could be applied to 3D virtual fitting. This image-based matching network modeling approach makes the color matching schemes visible, and can assist fashion design with fabric features influenced by historical and cultural development. Full article

Rehabilitating heritage buildings is a common practice in developed countries. In contrast, developing countries experiencing conflict lack the financial support and qualified experts to restore heritage buildings. This article focuses on the restoration of the al-Khader building in the Gaza Strip, part of a UNESCO project aimed at preserving historical buildings. This study aims to explore the challenges and impacts of the adaptive reuse of the al-Khader building as a children’s library for the local community and to explore the impact of this project on sustainable development and its importance locally, as well as the role of this building restoration and rehabilitation through Quintuple Helix dimensions. Qualitative methodology was used, including field observation and interviews, to present the project stages during restoration in 2016. The interviews were conducted with library users, employees, and visitors to evaluate their experience in 2019. The research revealed that the restoration process faced several challenges, including a lack of experience and professional workers in conservation work. Despite challenges, the building’s transformation positively affected heritage preservation and the local community, aligning with 11 Sustainable Development Goals—directly with 7 goals (SDGs 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 16, and 17) and indirectly with 4 goals (SDGs 1, 5, 9, and 13). The findings emphasise the role of the library’s rehabilitation in contributing to the success of the Quintuple Helix in economic and civil society systems and the need to enhance the consideration of government, education, and environmental systems. Finally, this project, which external donors funded, increased awareness among local people of the importance of heritage buildings. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the current status of the building is unknown. This study, therefore, serves as necessary documentation of the building as it was in 2023 and prior. Full article